PLEASE SUBMIT NEWS FROM YOUR BATTALION TO MAJOR EDDIE WILLIAMS. SEE PAGE 8.

INSIDE: SILENTTRIBUTEPAGE 3

GSDF’S OWNBRAVEHEARTPAGE 2

ACTIVE 2008HURRICANE SEASONFORECAST PAGE 8

COL Rusty Hightower and CSM Michael Diciacca promote 1BDE soldiers on last day of FTX.

First Brigade FTX starts with a blastThere will be mud: Rainy weekend on Rainey Mountain can’t extinguish First Brigade’s fire

HEADS UPThe Official Newsletter of the Georgia State Defense Force

P A R A T I S E R V I R E • R E A D Y T O S E R V EVOL.4 • ISSUE 2 JUNE 2008

By MAJ Bobby Anderson • 1BDE S3

CLAYTON, GA - A simulated 5-Kiloton nuclear explosion in Atlanta andthe resultant radiation plume moving up I-85, was the kick-off for a weekenddeployment of the GSDF’s 1BDE FieldTraining Exercise (FTX) to Camp RaineyMountain Boy Scout Camp in NortheastGeorgia near Clayton in April. Thenuclear explosion scenario was developedby the 1BDE S3 (Operations) staff afterreceiving input from UGA’s Dr. ChamDallas, about the type of nuclearexplosion to use and its impact on thesurrounding area.

The FTX was designed as a TacticalOperations Center (TOC) exercise, toimprove the preparation of andcommunication of orders from the 1BDECommander down to the lowest trooplevel units.

Though it rained much of the weekend,the 120 troops who participated in theexercise did not let it dampen theirenthusiasm. They were housed inAdirondack huts, tents and cabins. Theyespecially enjoyed a hot chicken dinner onSaturday night coordinated and served bythe brigade’s auxiliary, SIDEKICKS. Thedinner was followed by singing and atalent show at an outdoor amphitheater.

A new 1BDE tradition was started onSunday morning as the sun began to rise.Tired and sleepy troops were awakened toa radio transmission by PFC Edgar Leichtin the BDE TOC, “Net...Aurora, Goddess of the morning, has arrived. Will you bethere to greet her? Please respond.”

COL Hightower, 1BDE Commander,immediately proclaimed, “the messagewill be a tradition to be followed eachtime the Brigade is in the field.”

SEE MORE FTX PHOTOS ON PAGE 6PHOTO BY CPL JEFFREY STONE

Reprinted from http://www.dod.state.ga.us

MARIETTA, GA - Seven members ofthe 911th Support Command, GeorgiaState Defense Force (GSDF), werepromoted in April during uniqueceremonies at Dobbins Air Reserve Base.

The GSDF members were all pinned byCOL Brent Bracewell, Commander of theGeorgia Army Guard’s 78th Aviation

Troop Command. The event marked the first joint

ceremony between support command andthe aviation unit since they began drillingand training together last fall and reflectsthe close partnership that the two unitshave developed.

“I was honored to promote these troopsas the GSDF Aviation SupportDetachment has truly become a part of our

team,” said COL Bracewell, who has beena strong and early supporter of theintegration of the two units. “We are ableto offer them our experience and trainingopportunities across the entire aviationspectrum, and in return, they bring skilledand discipline troops that help assure ourunit readiness and capability.”

Enlisted GSDF soldiers RobertHoffman, Boyd Cox and Chris Lindquistwere promoted to Private First Class.Officers Susan Schuetrumpf, KatherineSalone, Mario Cesar and Bill Skeean werepromoted to First Lieutenant.

COL Noel Bambrough, commander of

the 911th said that augmenting theGeorgia National Guard is a forcemultiplier. “It is a core part of our mission.We are very pleased with the results of ourintegrated drilling and look forward tofurther strengthening our relationship with78 ATC and other Guard units,” he said.

The 78 Aviation Troop Command is theheadquarters for all Army Guard aviationassets in the state of Georgia. It iscomprised of several units, all which haveeither been deployed, are currentlydeployed, or are preparing for adeployment in the Global War On Terror.

911th Support honoredCOL Brent Bracewell takes part in promotion ceremony

RIDER WINSSOLDIER OF

YEAR HONORPAGE 2

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“Make sure you have the time and finances it takes to

be involved.”

INSIDE THE 201 FILE OF LTC WARREN S. MCLENDON

By PVT Jim Zegers • PAOEdited by CWO2 Arni Katz

ATLANTA, GA - SGTAlecia Rider, 105thBrigade, was awardedGeorgia State DefenseForce Enlisted Person ofthe Year by BG MichaelMcGuinn on Sunday, 8 June.Rider was also promoted toSGT during the presentation.

SGT Rider joined GSDF18 months ago aftergraduating from the Universityof Wisconsin- Platteville with aBA in Music Business. Currently,her music career is on hold,outside of GSDF, as sheworks as a ProjectManager at PattisonSign Group inNorcross.

CPL Rider isin the 105thBrigade, theBand Brigade.She plays thetrumpet forthe band and

the bugle for Taps during funerals. Originally she enlisted in the National

Guard, but due to a knee injury, shecould not join. She immediately joinedthe GSDF because of her desire to

serve.CPL Rider won the award because of

her abilities to step outside of herboundaries, her leadership skills and herwillingness to work with other brigades.

“I really enjoy what I am doing. Theopportunities to learn in the GSDF have

exceeded my expectation,” CPL Rider said.Her advice for new recruits, you get as much out

of it as what you put in.CPL Rider was accompanied at the

ceremony by her boyfriend 2LT DaveWalgrave who serves in the

National Guard.

SGT Alecia RiderGSDF Soldier

of the Year

Rider wins 2007 Enlisted Soldier of the Year award

June 8 promotions left to right: LTC Beshiri to COL, MAJ McShane to LTCCPT Henderson to MAJ and 1LT Surrusco to CPT. Congratulations!

GEN Michael McGuinn and CSM Randy Garrett present the2007 GSDF Soldier of the Year Award to SGT Alecia Rider

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By MAJ Rich Elwell • PAO

CANTON, GA - Over 30 volunteers from theGeorgia State Defense Force, 1BN/1BDE, assisted thestaff of the Georgia National Cemetery with trafficflow, parking, emergency medical care and assisting theelderly and handicapped to their seats. The GSDF wasthere also to assure no disruptions to the ceremonies.At the request of Mr. Brion Moore, Director of theCemetery, the GSDF has assisted in each of the threeyears the event has been held.

“We have 5 traffic control points set up, as well asfour parking lots staffed. The troops are relieved every

hour and we keepthem well

supplied with water.” said CPT Phillip Fischer, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) at the Canton ceremony. The late Mayday was bright and hot. CPT Fischer, a semi-retiredminister living in Rome, has been in the SDF 7 yearsand is currently Commander of A Company, 1BN. Hepreviously served both in the Army Reserve an the AirForce Reserve. 1BDE also provided two volunteersfrom the Medical Detachment. There were someelderly visitors who sought relief from the heat. OfficerCandidate Mike O’Rear, an SDF medic from Jasper,treated an older guest in the MEDDET tent. “I gave himsips of water and a seat out of the sun,” said O’Rear.

The guest speaker at the Canton Memorial Dayceremony was Major General Terry Nesbitt, theAdjutant General of Georgia. General Nesbittreminded us that Memorial Day was to honor those

who died in service to our country, whereasVeteran’s Day in November honors the

l i v i n g

veterans. He paid special tribute to the 28 soldiers ofthe Georgia Army National Guard 48th InfantryBrigade who died in Iraq. The General referred to themas his commrades and they represented those who“came not to conquer but to free nations.”

Among the honored guests attending the MemorialDay event was Brigadier General Mike McGuinn,Commanding General of the Georgia State DefenseForce. First Battalion commander, CPT HaydenCollins, was pleased with the response of volunteersfrom the battalion that were supporting the event.

“We are actually overstaffed, but I wanted toaccommodate everyone who wants to be here,” saidCPT Collins. “Requests for help from the SDFhave been increasing and the volunteerspirit has been keeping up.”

Silent Tribute honors soldiers that gave all

Georgia National Cemetery in Canton opened in 2006, and only 37 of its 775 acres have been developed and 1,300 veterans are buried on the beautiful grounds so far.The cemetery serves an estimated 395,000 veterans in Georgia and will provide burial space for eligible vets and dependents for the next 50 years.

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By MAJ Rich Elwell • PAO

KENNESAW, GA - The First Brigadeof the Georgia State Defense Force(GSDF) turned out in large numbers tosupport the Kennesaw Police Departmentand local civic groups for Big ShantyFestival Days, April 18-20. Over 40members of the four Battalions and theMedical Detachment of 1BDE., alongwith volunteers from the 911 SupportCommand, provided security, crowd andtraffic control, and emergency medical aidfor thousands of visitors to the Festival.

1LT Lee Stone, Officer-in-Charge(OIC) for the event, maintained radiocommunications with 18 manned stationsplaced strategically throughout downtownKennesaw. Stationed at the downtownrailroad crossing were SGT Robert

Farmer and SGT Louis Hopkins. “Trainscome through frequently and the crowd

does not always pay attention when thecross bars are coming down”, saidHopkins, a prior service Army veteranwho served with armor units at Fort Hood.SGT Farmer, from Kennesaw, was a priorservice Navy veteran who served inVietnam.

Many State Defense Force volunteersare not prior service, however, like SGTMike Quinn with the MedicalDetachment. “I came into the GSDF inNovember 2001. After 9/11 I searched theinternet looking for some way I couldhelp, and found the GSDF. I participate inabout eight missions each year, but one ofmy favorites is the Christmas “Shop witha Hero” with the youngsters”, said Quinn.

The Medical Detachment staff roamedthe Festival monitoring condition of theSDF troops and dealing with anyaccidents or emergencies involving the

visitors. This included reuniting a lostchild with his parents. PFC David Littsfrom Canton is a retired paramedic withthe Medical Detachment and was able toprovide first aid to an elderly lady whohad taken a fall. “She was clearlydistressed, but was not hurt”, said PVTLitts.

First Brigade commander, COL RustyHightower, was on the grounds observingthe performance and professionalism ofhis troops. “They are doing a splendid jobin support of the Kennesaw police and theFestival organizers”, said Hightower. “Weget frequent request for help from localpolice chiefs who are now quite familiarwith the GSDF and our capabilities. It hasbecome a challenge to balance supportingthe requests and over committing avolunteer force”, said COL Hightower.

SGT Louis Hopkins keeping the civilians in line

Big Shanty gets big support from Georgia State Defense ForceFirst Brigade Commander COL Rusty Hightower impressed with the professionalism of soldiers

GSDF SAR Dog being trainedSaber to be used for GSDF Search & Rescue missions

Vets visited on ValentinesHand-drawn cards brighten day of hospitalized vets

By MAJ Rich Elwell • PAO

ATLANTA, GA - Every year duringthe week of Valentine’s Day, the Nationsalutes hospitalized veterans. During thisspecial week Atlanta area schools areencouraged to send Valentines and postersto the Veterans Administration MedicalCenter (VAMC) in Decatur. Thousands ofchildren send their hand-drawn cards ofsupport and affection for the veteranpatients.

This year on February 15 members ofall the military branches in the Atlantaarea as well as VIPs representing sports,the media, politicians and beauty queens,including Miss Atlanta, were invited to theVAMC to deliver the Valentines to theseheroes. The Georgia State Defense Forcewas invited to participate and wasrepresented by MAJ Rich Elwell,Command Historian, Public Affairs Officeand Captain Peter Catlin, Judge Advocate

General’s Office. The children’s art workand personal messages visibly touched theappreciative vets. One young veteran saidhe was going to write a thank you note tothe child who had obviously worked veryhard on his Valentine. The hospitalizedmen and women range from those whoserved in World War II to those recentlywounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Oneolder Army veteran was most impressedby the three Atlanta Falcon cheerleaderswho made a fuss over him, as heexclaimed, “I had my blood pressureunder control up till now.” The VA staffdid a fine job planning and organizing thisannual event and the veterans seem togreatly appreciate the recognition they sorichly deserve. The VAMC takes to heartthe charge made 143 years ago byAbraham Lincoln, “To care for him whoshall have borne the battle and for hiswidow and his orphan.”

CPT Tom Caudle with Saber.

Wounded veteran presented Valentine greeting by Atlanta Falcons players

By CPT Tom CaudleFirst Battalion / First Brigade

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA -One ofthe primary objectives of the GeorgiaState Defense Force is the “Search andRescue” of lost souls. In 2007, GSDFexperienced several search and rescuemissions, where, as a team, we became theGround Pounders looking for the lost,loved ones.

We are given an area for the search.The area may deep and broad, takingseveral hours. We look for clues; footprints, recent pathways that push thefoliage down, or move it to aside. Welook for refuse, like recent water bottlesleft behind, or clothing like a scarf left asa sign, etc. We are aware we have verylittle time before the lost one experienceshis/her final loss of life.

With great sadness, I wondered if therewas more that we can do.

I then attended a seminar entitled“Search and Rescue” offered to the GSDFwherein the main component was the useof K-9 bred dogs for this purpose. Searchand Rescue teams are available around thestate to law enforcement for suchsearches. I was impressed with thetraining of the K-9’s, and I bought Saber,a K-9 bred german shepard.

He is extremely smart, 10-11 weeks oldwhen I acquired him, and very obedient.At the moment, Saber is more into“Search and Destroy” as a puppy than amature, “Search and Rescue” K-9 dog.

The K-9’s are used for the search of lostpersons, drowned victims and humanremains. The owners of these types ofdogs spend many hours training their dogsto established, professional standards.These dogs are trained for searches inurban and rural settings, including water

searches on rivers and lakes.It takes 18-24 months to train a dog to

“mission ready” status. There are manybreeds such as bloodhounds, GermanShepard’s (like Saber) Labradors, goldenretrievers, and mixed breeds that canfulfill this role. It takes a lot of time andfunds to form a licensed, professionalteam.

The handler and dog need to be inreasonable health to participate. Trainingand actual searches take time and aredemanding of family commitment. Boththe handler and his/her dog must be readyto work on short notice.

If anyone is interested, please contactCPT Tom Caudle at 404-299-2013 or cell404-388-8547.

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MARIETTA, GA - Georgia StateDefense Force today announced that2BN/1BDE has been awarded the 2007President’s Volunteer Service Award, anational honor offered in recognition ofvolunteer service. The Award waspresented to 2BN Commanding Officer,CPT Amie Toole, by Congressman TomPrice following the Memorial Day Serviceat Marietta Cemetery where 2BN handledsecurity and traffic control.

2BN/1BDE of the Georgia StateDefense Force has a long history ofvolunteer service on behalf of the citizensof Georgia. In 2007 the 2BN logged over14, 812 hours of volunteer service.

“In his 2002 State of the UnionAddress, President George W. Bushcreated the USA Freedom Corps, andcalled on every American to make alifelong commitment to volunteer service.The President’s Volunteer Service Award

recognizes individuals, families, andgroups who have answered that call,” saidCongressman Price.

“America’s volunteers work to makeour communities stronger and safer.Georgia State Defense Force should beespecially proud of their volunteers whohave made volunteer service a central partof their lives.”

The award is issued by the President’sCouncil on Service and CivicParticipation, a group created by PresidentBush to recognize the valuablecontributions volunteers are making to ourNation. Chaired by two-time Super BowlChampion Darrell Green, with formerU.S. Senators Bob Dole and John Glennas honorary co-chairs, the Councilcomprises leaders in government, media,entertainment, business, education,nonprofits and volunteer serviceorganizations, and community volunteering.

By CSM Richard ParmenterAcademy Commandant

The purpose of the Basic Non-Commisioned Officer Course (BNCOC)is to prepare enlisted members to performthe duties expected of a Non-Commissioned Officer in the variousassignments such members will have inthe Georgia State Defense Force.

This program includes Drill andCeremony, map reading, communications,duties and responsibilities of an NCO,decision making, problem solving, sexualharassment, leadership and other relatedmilitary subjects.

This program is five months in length,one weekend a month. It is offered once ayear, next year 2009 this program will

begin in June and is on the third weekendof each month for five months.

SGT Brierley won the 180 degreeaward which is given to the student whotransforms into a Soldier (180 degreeturn.) SGT Gaines was picked by his peerswinning the Leadership Award and CPLBailey had the highest academic gradetaking home Honor Graduate.

Congressman Tom Price presenting award to 2BN’s CPT Amie Toole

The black hats left to right SSG Warren S. Langley (NCOIC of BNCOC), CSM Richard D. Parmenter (Academy Commandant), SSG Jay M. Lancaster (Instructor, I.T.)Students standing L to R: SFC Ulmer, SGT Brierley, CPL Moorhead, SGT Jarrard, SGT Chappuies, CPL Baker, CPL Bailey, SGT Watson, and SGT Patrick. Kneeling L to R: SGT Gaines, CPL Ford, CPL Babcock, SGT Price, SGT Cole, SGT Flavin, SGT Miller, SGT Griffith, CPL Hale, CPL Faron.

2BN/1BDE presented with President’s Volunteer Service Award

Grueling 5 month BNCOC course preparesGSDF soldiers for NCO responsibilities

2BN logs over 14,812 hours of volunteer service in 2007

2008 GSDF BNCOC CLASS

PHOTOS BY CPL LEONARD GOODELMAN

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HURREX 2008 BLOWS IN

3BDE PARTICIPATES IN THE RECENT ST. PATRICK’S DAY IN SAVANNAH

FIRST BRIGADE FTX 2008 PHOTOS

3BDE soldier shakes hands with a potential GSDF recruit.

No hurricane is getting past the impenetrable barrier of PFC Wilson and PFC Scruggs

CPT Collins, 1BN CO, showing his game faceThe Good, the Bad and the Bailey

CSM Diciacca explains to First Brigade that there will be no GSDF paychecks this week

Due to budgetary constraints, the GSDF could not afford to provide accomodations with 4 walls

2BN contemplates complaining to management

COL Rusty Hightower and CSM Michael Diciacca wager over which soldier has the coolest chin strap

The ladies of the GSDF SIDEKICKS

PHOTOS BY CPL JEFFREY STONE AND CPL TRAVIS WEEKS

PHOTO BY MAJ EDDIE WILLIAMS

PHOTO BY MAJ EDDIE WILLIAMS

IN MEMORIAM

COL JOE RHINEHARTBIG GSDF SUPPORTER

LT COL (Ret.) Harry Joe Rhinehart,age 70, of Kennesaw, GA., diedSaturday, May 17, 2008, at HeartlandHospice House in Cartersville, GA.COL Rhinehart was the keynotespeaker at the GSDF Dining-In twoyears ago. He served in the Armyduring Korean War and Vietnam Warhaving been awarded three BronzeStars and three Silver Stars for valor.He was the son of the late GastonRhinehart and the late Emma (Hipps)Rhinehart. He is also survived by hiswife Jin (Cho) Rhinehart; daughters;Marina, Yuki, and Helen, a son; Johnand a step-daughter; Lea, twobrothers; Bill and Phillip.

CONDOLENCES TO SKINNER FAMILY

William D. “Buster” Woodall(grandfather of CPL Douglas Skinnerof 1BN/1BDE) passed away. He was aUnited States Navy veteran of WWII &The Korean War. Born in Atlanta,Georgia, November 12, 1923. Hegraduated from O’Keeffe and TechHigh School in June of 1942 andenlisted in the U.S. Navy that samemonth. He served in the Pacific wherehe was decorated for his service as acorpsman attached to the 1ST MarineDivision for the duration of the war.Honorably Discharged in 1948.Worked for the L&N railroad untilrecalled to the Navy reserve as aPharmacist Mate 3RD Class duringthe Korean war and was stationed atNAS Atlanta untill his final discharge.He then returned to the railroad wherehe retired in 1985 after 40+ years.

1BN/1BDE RECRUITERS SETTING THE PACE

As of April the Recruiting Team for1BN/1BDE is as follows: CPT ThomasCaudle (OIC), CPL Russell Samples(NCOIC), CPL Douglas Skinner(ADMIN) and PFC Jonathan Ray(Assistant Recruiter). As a dedicatedrecruiting team in the brigade, theirgoal is finding those interested,motivated and service orientedindividuals who want to make adifference, mentoring of new enlisteesprior to IET and easing the adjustmentto a military organization.

“ MELT AWAY”BY SGT LOUIS HOPKINS

Being recognized is OK,But doing your job to help and disappearing is better,

just to melt away.

Some do it for the job,some do it for the glory.I do the job, end of story.

If you do the job and seek attention,

then you have no placein your position.

I help because I can,and I do it for my fellow man.

Once again being recognized is OK,But it’s best to melt away.

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BDU LBE NOT ON ACU PDQTO ALL CONCERNED

Effective 30 May 2008, use of theBDU LBE (belt and suspenders)

will not be worn on the ACU Uniform. Until further notice, thebdu accessory pouches can be

used(canteen cover, ammo pouch,first aid kit, etc). All Units have been

issued ACU Load Bearing Vest or TAC Vest. At present,

the only items authorized for wear on the

LBV is as follows.

2 canteens with cover

(one on each side)1 flashlight pouch or flashlight

1 map pouch2 ammo pouches1 first aid pouch

1 compass pouchThe camel pack water system is

authorized if you have one.

1BDE PROMOTIONSMAJ BOBBY ANDERSON

PROMOTED TO LTC

CPL WILLIAM BABCOCKPROMOTED TO SGT

SGT. ROBERT FLAVIN PROMOTED TO SSG

SSG JAIME GARCIAPROMOTED TO SFC

SGT BRIAN GRIFFITHPROMOTED TO SSG

CPL NORMAN HOSCHPROMOTED TO SGT

1LT MICHAEL KENTPROMOTED TO CPT

2LT PETER LATKAPROMOTED TO 1LT

SGT MARC THOMASON PROMOTED TO SSG

WHAT’S THE POOP?

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

FROM THE GSDF pooppoopSTATE DEFENSE FORCE NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

WHAT’S THE

?

PFC Jack Dupp is in yoursquad and he has justarrived at a missionwhere GEN McGuinn

will be appearing.

How many things canyou find wrong

with PFC Dupp’sappearance before

the General arrives?(Hint: I count at least 25 things)

AT EASE!CPL JEFFREY STONE

COMMANDER’S AWARDA point based Unit competition

intended to improve Unit morale andincrease Unit recruitment & retention.Awarded each year at Annual Training

(AT). Contest runs from October 1,2007 through September 30, 2008.

See your unit CDR, CSM, SGM, or 1SG for details.

1BDE 170911th SCD 150105th BAND 1275BDE 1201MEDCO 1022BDE 964BDE 593BDE 36

CURRENT STANDINGS

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EDITORIAL:Reprinted from http://www.gema.state.ga.us/

Sunday, June 1, marks the official startof the Atlantic hurricane season, whichlasts until Nov. 30. We are in the midst ofan active hurricane cycle, mainly due to anatural fluctuation that the Atlantic Oceanendures. Since 1995, the Atlantic basin

has averaged 14.5 named storms (tropicalstorms and hurricanes), eight hurricanes,and four major hurricanes (winds morethan 110 mph). Contrastingly, the era from1971 to 1994 averaged only 8.5 namedstorms, five hurricanes and 1.5 majorhurricanes.

The Atlantic is showing signs ofanother active hurricane season. Thisyear’s forecast is calling for 12-16 namedstorms, six to nine hurricanes, and two tofive major hurricanes. The NationalHurricane Center also said there is a 65percent chance of an above averageseason. One factor that has contributed tothis active period over the last decade plusincludes warmer than average sea surfacetemperatures in the Atlantic. Warm oceanwaters are like added fuel for hurricanes.That is why we see more activity farthersouth in the Atlantic.

Another major factor is stronger thanaverage convective activity in westernAfrica. Basically that means more weatherdisturbances come off the African coastinto the eastern Atlantic. They can be theseeds from which tropical systems cangrow when they hit the warm oceanwaters. Another factor this year is the factthat we are in a La Nina. La Ninastypically mean weaker upper-level windsin the tropical Atlantic. Strong upper-levelwinds create something called shear,which can rip the tops off of tropicalsystem, and not allow them to grow asstrong.

By CPL Jeffrey StonePAO • Heads Up

Imagine for a minute that you own anold book that is full of knowledge andhistory and stories beyond your wildestimagination. You’ve owned this book foras long as you can remember. This bookhas always been on your shelf and youtake it for granted that it always will be.You tell yourself you will always have achance later to read the stories and learnabout the history encased between thecovers of this book.

Now imagine one day someone comesto your door and says, unfortunately, theyhave to take your book away forever andyou will never see it again. They tell youthey may come next week, 6 months fromnow or maybe even next year but, withouta doubt, they will take the book away.Despite your pleading they refuse to tellyou how much time you have.

What would you do? Knowing youhave not read the book and knowing youhave no other written account of all theknowledge and history in the book, wouldyou start reading and writing down all thisinformation? If you didn’t how else wouldyou pass the contents of this book on toyour children and future generations?

Do you know of a book like this in yourlife? My guess is that this very scenariohas already happened to a lot of you.Without any warning you may havealready lost this book and will neverknow what was contained within itscovers. I also know that a lot of you stillhave your book and still have time to readand write down all that you can so that itwill be preserved forever.

A few years ago I wrote out a long listof questions, set up my video camera andsat down to interview my book, I mean,my grandfather who during World War IIfought his way through Europe with GEN Patton’s Third Army in the 807thTank Destroyer Battalion. For those ofyou who are, like me, fortunate enough tostill have a living relative who was aliveduring World War II or fought in thePacific or in Europe, I plead with you to

do the same. It does not take much timeand the benefits will last a lifetime.

Here is what I did. I put myself in hisshoes and imagined what life would havebeen like and started brainstormingquestions. I asked my grandfather abouthis reaction when he first heard about theattack on Pearl Harbor. Did he enlist orwas he drafted. Was he scared? What wasBasic Training like? What was the foodlike? What did he and his friends do ontheir off time? How long did it take toget to Europe on a transport ship? Whatwas it like as an assistant driver on anM-10 tank? How cold was it fighting inthe Battle of the Bulge? A lot of theiranswers will lead you to otherquestions and other fascinatinganswers. Don’t just write it down. Getit on tape so you have it in their ownwords and don’t miss a thing.

Imagine how cool it would be tohave a written account of anancestor’s life during the AmericanCivil War. How did they react whenthey first heard Fort Sumter hadbeen fired upon? What was like tosee GEN Robert E. Lee pass by onhis horse? What was their memoryof President Lincoln’sassassination? What if someone inyour family had had theforethought to interview themwhile they were alive. There camea time in our country when there

were no more veterans from The CivilWar left to interview. That time is comingfor us as it relates to our WWII veterans.According to estimates, we lose up to1,100 WWII veterans every day. Thisresource will not be around forever. Wehave to take advantage of what little timewe do have so the knowledge from thebook it is not lost forever. Don’t put it off.Do it now! You don’t know when your

book will be taken away.12-16 named storms,6-9 hurricanes,

2-5 major hurricanescould mean busy

time for GSDF

ACTIVE HURRICANESEASON PREDICTED

ANSWERS TO MARCH ISSUE QUIZ

Charlie Worthington, 807th Tank Destroyer Battalion

HEADS UP is the official newsletter of The Georgia State Defense Force

Submit articles & photos to Major Williams at ewilliams@weberassociates.com. Articles are intended for publicizing unit missions, activities and events and to highlight GSDF members. Provide details: date, time,

location and a brief description. Photos are encouraged. Photos with GSDF personnel should include the rank and full name of the person(s). Provide a point-of-contact and phone number

or email address with any submissions.

HEADS UP CONTENT SUBMISSION

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE

HEADS UP LAYOUT & DESIGN

HISTORIAN / JOURNALIST

WEBMASTER / JOURNALIST

REPORTER/LEGISLATIVE LIAISON

JOURNALIST

PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTOGRAPHER

VIDEOTAPE EDITOR

NEWSPRINT EDITOR

OFFICER-IN-CHARGE / PAO

MAJ Eddie WilliamsNCOIC

SFC Marc MorrisDEPUTY PAO

CPT Clark HowardCPL Jeffrey Stone

MAJ Rich Elwell

CPT Bill Pamplin

1LT Sandra Kinney

2LT Dianna Clarkson

WO2 Arni Katz

WO1 Mario de Carvalho

CPL Natalie West

CPL Leonard Goodelman

PFC Nancy Stolz

PFC Jim Zegers

1

1663

1

3184

1

3142

1

10011

9260

6

12033

27994

14284

31394

32084

27613

27673

SODIUM

GASOLINE

3206

30653

ALCOHOLICBEVERAGES

6

1690

SODIUM FLOURIDE

6

3184

A B C D

A B C D

A B C D

A B C D