News

Anyone who is an annual member who would like to convert to lifetime membership - the national association sent out  a flyer last week about this special deal. 

You have to do it on Airborne Day, which is August 16. 

"Join the legacy. Celebrate National Airborne Day with the 82 Airborne Division Association and take advantage of this once-a-year opportunity to become an All American Member regardless of status for just $82 - regularly $350!

This price will only be good from

12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. EST on Saturday, 16 August, 2025.

You don’t want to miss this!"

Apply here: https://82ndairborneassociation.org/join.html

While working on the membership list, I ran across Roger Lee Coon. 

Roger was born in 15 January 1952, passed away 14 February 2022. 

His extremely brief obituary only mentioned "He honorably served in the United States Army"

The picture that accompanied the obituary shows him as a young paratrooper, in class As with airborne wings and fourragere. 

He apparently lived a full life, and his picture showed him as a young paratrooper.

A fitting tribute; we all want to be remembered when we were sharp young paratroopers. 

May God, St Michael, and the great jumpmaster in the sky keep an eye on him.  

A few days ago we got a quick email from Michael Sullivan. 
He mentioned his computer was hacked or crashed or something, and he has a different email address. He said he has also had some health issues. 
But he is a cheerful paratrooper, living in Crown Point Indiana. 
Here's his story, briefly, in his words: 

"I have been sick , had my computer crash, amongst other older life maladies.

I don’t think I’ll be making many Chicago trips these days, but would like to get the Chapter news.

I took basic at Ft. Lewis Wa. in 1971 anyone climbing, flying, or had a MOS guarantee went there.

I took MOS at Ft. Mother Rucker for aircraft mechanic and door gunner school.

I was 1st place in door gunner school , which resulted in me being assigned to the world’s largest Chinook unit in Viet Nam.

I was in the last full combat brigade in Viet Nam, 229th Assault Support Helicopter Bn.. 1st Cav. 3rd Brigade my unit had 25 Hooks and was commanded by Maj. Carle E. Dunn.

Returning stateside I went to Ft. Bragg with A Co. 82nd Aviation Bde.

I was a UH-1H crew chief in the 1st Flt. Platoon. I made trooper of the month with much help from the 1st Flt. platoon. 

I re-enlisted and went to Ft. Knox with the 235th attack Helicopter co. I was medically discharged in Aug. of 1974 with PTSD, survivor guilt and "concussions and contusions" of the head.

Currently I am in some good health. . . [some medical info redacted] . . . [he has some medical challenges] . . ., All agent Orange related. I get 100 % disability, which I am most grateful for.

I'm going to be 74 in the fall, and have a 3 and 1/2  year old grand daughter that I watch 3 to 4 days a week.

I feel blessed that I'm still alive to enjoy her. I still feel 18 and remember all the pains, sorrows, and Brotherhood that made serving our country one of the most important and endearing facets of my life." 

All the Way! - Mike Sullivan

I love his cheerful outlook. 
Sounds like he is focusing on the important parts of life! 
Airborne, Mike!! 

When I was working on the member list, I ran across this paratrooper's name; our website had recognized his email wasn't working so stopped sending emails. 
I tried the phone number and it was disconnected. 
Next step;  google his name and hometown. 
Sadly, there was a very brief obituary. 
He passed away 8 June 2017. 
He is the care of God and St Michael and the great jumpmaster in the sky. 

As many of you know, I've been working on the membership list in my spare time. When i got to Richard Dean, there wasn't much hope. . . no address, no email address, no mention of any contact really. 
But, there was a phone number and I called and left a msg. 
Didn't expect to hear back. 
A couple hours later I got this call our of the blue from a cheerful-sounding old paratrooper! 
It seems Richard L. Dean joined the Army immediately after 9/11 and served for 12 years. He was in the 82nd and suffered a back injury that caused him to be medically discharged. But he's still kicking. 
He lives in NC and wants to continue to be a part of the Chicago Chapter even if he can't make it here often, or at all.  
It makes me feel old to think he joined after 9/11 and could have served 20 and been retired a few years ago. 
I was about a month or two from retiring when the whole world-trade-center thing happened. 

the Challenge coins arrived this week. 
I'll bring at least   50 of them tomorrow. 

I just got an email from All About Challenge Coins! 
They said the new coins are on their way! 
I'm  going out of town tommorrow but I'll alert my wife to keep an eye out for them. 
Hopefully I'll be able to bring them with me next Sunday! 

 - Mike 

Treasurer

Well, I guess it's not an official chapter event, but we could plan one in future. 
It doesn't take a lot of planning. 
Rene and I spent an hour or two practicing with our 12-guage shotguns. 

The venue is easy to get to, friendly, and pretty much trouble free. 
You walk in, they give you a lanyard and say "have fun" . . . 
The lanyard is used to activate the machines that toss the clay pigeons. 
When you finish they put the lanyard in the computer and they charge you so much per throw. 
We visited 6 or 7 stations, each of which were semi-shaded, and we had a nice breeze, which was really welcome as it is just a bit warm out today. 
The venue is     Rock Ridge Sportsman's Club 

Website: shootrockridge.com  -  Phone:(815) 382-1232

Anytime you want to go out there, give me a call; if I'm not out of town on business, I might meet you there. 
Or, we could plan a chapter event. 

 

It's almost impossible for me to describe how it made me feel when that young soldier at the gate said "Welcome home, sir!" 

it's been 46 years (august 1979) since I earned my basic parachutist badge at Ft Benning and I've always wented to go back, just to see the 250-ft tower. 
I've seen pictures but it's just not the same. 
Monday afternoon I made it back; the big towers look just the way I remember them. 
The 34-foot towers too - they look just like I remember them. 
The covered training areas where we learned to do PLFs. . . the same except there are a couple C-130s with the wings removed - I'm pretty sure we used a wooden frame to simulate the door and it looks like they have real air frames for that now. 

I wandered around a while, and exchanged pleasantries with a few other old paratroopers that were doing the same thing. 

One guy had his wife and a couple  kids with him - they were taking a picture in front of the C 130 there. They were all cheerful, acting like they enjoyed being there and asking their dad about jumping and stuff. I was happy for him. 

Another fellow had his wife and one teenager with him. 
WHen he tried to talk to the teenager about the Army the young man acted very indifferent, even dismissive. 
The veteran was stoic but clearly wished the younger man was a bit less dismissive. 

A younger guy - apparently on active duty - was walking on the sidewalk speaking loudly to someone on a cell phone - clearly upset about something. In passing I said "how are you doing" or something. 
He sayd "Great - my wife just cleaned out my bank account". 
I said "I hope you get that sorted out, soldier". . . I didn't know what to say. 

The Airborne Walk is awesome. 
I have a lot of pictures; I promise I am going to learn how to post pictures on our website. 

Chicago Chapter June 2025 Meeting

When: 29 Jun 2025 14:00, CDT
Where: Gatsby’s Pizza and Pub, 427 E Rand Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60004

BE SURE TO NOTICE WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE OLD PLACE IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS.  

I sure look forward to seeing all you old paratroopers there!