|
3rd Annual Airborne Snowbirds Yuma Arizona BBQ Bash |
 |
 |
 |
Group shot L to R: Ray Hardy, Gerry Vida, John Johnston, Clint McGregor, Larry Hildebrandt and Bill Dickson
Planned a year ago, and by agreement to meet on the first Tuesday in March, this hardy group of desert wanderers gave up sitting in some outdoor patio in Los Algodones, Mexico, sipping marguerites - for an afternoon of airborne camaraderie. (Oh, how the poor people live!!) With wives in tow the following attended this years gathering: Ed and Ardith Domshy, Ray and Mary Hayden, Larry and Gloria Hildebrandt, Clint and Sheelah McGregor and Gerry and Fran Vida. Of course the host John and Shirley Johnston were there. And, at great expense to his Air Miles bank and pale by comparison – a winter Alberta tan compared to others - Bill Dickson arrived to inject current news of the Olympics, courtesy of the Edmonton Journal.
Obviously, the weather dictated shorts be the dress of the day for the BBQ. The winners of the famous Arizona Golf game (Sling Golf) played that afternoon were Gold - John Johnston, Silver - Gloria Hildebrandt and Bronze – Ardith Domshy. (The host had to stay sober so with a sweep by the ladies it looks as if the rest of us where blitzed!! Then again if you live in the sun all winter, I guess you can afford to practice senior type games!!)
It was a pleasant afternoon and even though attendance was down this year everyone had a good time. It was nice to share the experience and hear the various stories of how our snowbirds spend their winter months. Shucks…the best marguerites blended, or clear, daily in the sun only 10 miles away, quad runs in the desert into California, casinos abound, swimming pools everywhere, bingo games, Wednesday senior shopping and no noise after 10 PM…what a life!!
Thanks guys. By the way, I’ve got enough Air Miles left over for next year. And Gloria, I got a Sling Ball game set up in my basement now…just watch it!
Hosts John & Shirley Johnston at their park pad.
Gerry and Clint – There’s too many rules! I’d rather boon dock it!
Ed it’s a corkscrew!
Just like in the galley, eh!
Chow time…the only time the ladies were quiet!!
Sheelah McGregor untangles the Sling Ball game.
|
|
June 6, 2010–10th Anniversary Ceremony of the Dedication of the Airborne Monument, Siffleur Falls |
|
|
|
|
Believe it or not, this year is the 10th Anniversary of the dedication of the Airborne Monument in Siffleur Falls Staging Area. The monument was contributed by the late Lt-Gov of Alberta Lois Hole in September 2000. The monument and surrounding area has become a place many of us have come to know and love. The mountain range that overlooks the site and acts as a sentinel – Mount Ex Coelis – has become a resting place for a number of our fallen comrades and a pillar of strength and endurance to their faith and belief that we who follow “will remember them”. It is on this note we commit ourselves to parade again this year on the 6th June and celebrate this important milestone.
The format for this annual gathering has become polished to the point of routine but not baseless or insignificant. There is a reason for this gathering and that is reflected in the responsibility we that are left need to remember.
So again, at approximately 1330 hours on the 6 June 2010, we will parade at the monument and pay our respects in the name of the Airborne Brotherhood as we remember those that have crossed the Great Divide.
For those of you with short memories, or indeed, for those who may be attending for the first time (heaven forbid!), our gathering takes place at the David Thompson Resort (DTR) and involves a 5-7 June package. I’ve been informed by the DTR that the rates were frozen and therefore they are essentially the same as last year. For reservations, or questions about the event, the contact number for the DTR is 1-888-810-2103. If you can’t get a satisfactory answer from the gal who takes your message, ask to be put in touch with Kelly, or Wendy, or Ron! The bottom line is to get booked for this year soon.
Format!!! Well, we Meet and Greet on the 5th, breakfast on the 6th and then a Parade at the Monument in the early afternoon. Reception and BBQ that night – war stories and party babble usually follows – departure breakfast on the 7th. Can it be any clearer? Hopefully, that’s soldier-proof enough. Bring your blazers, tie and medals and be prepared to stand tall. It might be the last time we have a package deal ceremony!
I’ll be out of country 17 – 31 May, so if you need answers from me you know what to do. (780-459-0947 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
) In the meantime, I look forward to seeing everyone in June.
Oh ya, pray for good weather!
Bill Dickson
ABSC Edmonton
Coordinator
6 June 2010 Airborne Monument Ceremony |
|
Private Morris Zakaluk 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Recollection Of The Rhine Drop - March 1945 |
|
|
|
|
The greatest Armada of aircraft in the air; different shapes and sizes, circling getting their respective formations, ever assembled in history. What a sight! What a feeling of strength! It was something beyond one’s imagination. One must give credit to all the pilots and crews for getting us to our objectives. A lot of them gave their lives in the line of their duties. There was heroism in their ranks, as well as ours.
We are in a C-47 aircraft, about 11 or 12 of us heading for Germany. This morning is beautiful over the Channel, and part o the Continent. It was a ride to enjoy, but as time dragged on I could see puffs of smoke in the air between hundreds of planes. These are anti-aircraft shells exploding, and tracers arcing their way into the sky. I see a ball of fire – one of our aircraft – men are bailing out of it in quick order.
My turn to leave the aircraft! I am out, chute opened, cascading down. What are all these bees doing a t 300 – 400 feet in the month of March? Buzzing all around me!! I can’t see them but I can hear them - a little early to be buzzing around at these heights. Hey! These guys are shooting at me!! I made a landing within a few seconds. I notice that these killer bees are down here too! They are kicking up dust everywhere – too close for comfort. They have gone berserk! I dive into a crater. Hey, there is a parachutist in there. This is great! But he looks kind of still. I utter a greeting – no response. I felt his pulse – no there. He is dead. I hear gunfire and see men running and shooting in the edge of the woods 70 – 100 feet away. These are our guys. They are clearing Germans that were releasing all the bees that were flying around me on my descent and landing. I dive into the woods and help them put the bees back to sleep. Now, let me see – where is my Section? I look and behold I see Headquarters’ colour marker at the edge of another clump of woods next to the road, and a couple of farm establishments, about 300 or 400 yards away. I head for it. Here again somebody released more bees. They are buzzing at my ears and kicking up dust at my feet. This is not funny at all! I thought we eliminated the beekeeper in the first clump of bush, but these bees are coming from the farm establishment. My rendezvous is closer than the beekeeper. We will deal with him later. Must deliver ammo for Vickers Gun and I carry a sniper’s rifle with a scope. The rifle worked well from the hip, also at close range.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Simple Article Posting is Now Here! |
|
|
|
|
We have had a few comments from our users about them having difficulties in posting articles. Users can now post articles very easily. It is difficult to make a database site like this interactive and easy at the same time but I think we have found a solution that many of you will be happy with.
1) In order to post, you must be a member and you have to be logged in.
2) After you are logged in, new link buttons will appear the the top of the page. Click "Post An Article".
3) Enter a TITLE into the "Title" window.
4) Type your article or copy-paste it into the "Body" window. You can edit the text, change the font size and style.
5) When you are done, click the "SAVE" link at the top right of the article. You will also be able to view your article later and edit it also.
If you have problems, contact us through the "CONTACT US" section on the left.
*PLEASE GIVE YOUR NEW ARTICLE 24 HOURS TO APPEAR. For obvious reasons, all articles must be approved by us before they are available for the world to view. |
|
Airborne Burgers and Beer Get Together in YUMA |
|
|
|
|
On March 3, 2009 twelve jumpers and their spouses got together in Yuma, Arizona to enjoy some old-fashioned burgers and beer. The 2nd Annual event was hosted by John Johnston and his wife Shirley at their winter home in Westwind RV and Golf Resort. The warm desert southwest weather and the airborne camaraderie ensured that everyone had a most enjoyable time.
During the afternoon people had fun with the "Arizona Golf Challenge" which was an individual skills event where participants threw six golf-ball strings at a three rung scoring frame from a distance of 14 feet. There was no limit to the number of times a person could throw, but each time they did, they had to put 25 cents into the pot. The highest possible score was 18 points. One half the pot went to the man with the highest score and the other half went to the woman with the highest score. Congratulations to the winners, Laz Tollas with 17 points and Trudi Dominie with 11 points. The former paratroopers that attended represented a wide cross section of the airborne family with service in different airborne units such as Z Battery, 2 PPCLI, the Canadian Airborne Regiment, 28 COD, CFPMD, the Airborne School and the Sky Hawks. Here is a list of the 2009 attendees:
Don and Gail O'Connor, Clint and Sheelagh McGregor, Barney and Marge Barnhart, Gerry and Fran Vida, Len and Adrienne Freeman, Larry and Gloria Hildebrandt, Ray and Mary Hayden, Murray and Eileen Ingle, John and Chris Waddington, Gerry and Trudi Dominie, Laz and Linda Tollas, John and Shirley Johnston An American friend of Gerry Vida, "Doc" Bernie, also joined in. Bernie was the base surgeon at Yuma Proving Ground when the Sky Hawks trained there in the 1980s and Gerry got to know him quite well, even arranging for the Doc to jump with the Canadian team. Can you identify the jumpers in the group photo above? The answer is:
Front Row L to R
Gerry Vida, Laz Tollas, Larry Hildebrandt, Murray Ingle, John Waddington, Don O'Connor, Gerry Dominie Back Row L to R
Barney Barnhart, Clint McGregor, "Doc" Bernie, Ray Hayden, Len Freeman, John Johnston The 3rd Airborne Burgers and Beer Bash will be held in Yuma on March 2, 2010. Anyone interested in attending can contact John Johnston at 780-489-4270 or 780-717-7555 for details. Hope to see you there!
|
|
65th Anniversary of D-Day Ceremony, Siffleur Falls |
|
|
|
|
Just a reminder to those who are planning to attend the 65th Anniversary of D-Day Ceremonies at the Airborne monument, Siffleur Falls Staging Area, 5-6 June 2009, accommodation at David Thompson Lodge is rapidly filling up. In fact, the Lodge itself may already be filled! You need to call them at 1-888-810-2103 and get your accommodation or RV spots confirmed. |
|
Mt Ex Coelis Information. Some general information that has been used in our 6th June Abn Ceremonies previously. It will give those Ex Coelis that are unaware of the Ex Coelis Mountain Range a small outline for information. EX COELIS MOUNTAIN - BRIEF HISTORY EX Coelis Mountain Ranges are located within the Siffleur Falls area in Alberta. The Staging Area has over the past years become the "unofficial gathering place" for many of the Canadian Airborne Brotherhood of Canada, in particular veterans of 1 Can Para Bn and the Canadian Airborne Regiment. 1 Can Para Bn have some 16 memorials worldwide, with Ex Coelis being the only mountain memorialized after them. Additionally, to the best of this committee's knowledge no other military unit has had a mountain in Alberta named in its honour. The northeast peaks of Ex Coelis Mountain are located in the Saskatchewan River Valley between the Siffleur River and White Rabbit Creek. A panorama viewpoint, Abraham Lake, can be seen from Highway 11. Ex Coelis Mountain is a complex feature with five peaks. Referred to as Kadoona Mountain by Mary Schaffer, the name was not formally adopted and the feature was officially named in 1994. Ex Coelis is Latin for "Out of the Clouds" and is the motto of the First Canadian Parachute Battalion - one of eight battalion's that made up the 6th British Airborne Division during World War II. When the mountain was named the battalion association's president referred to the peaks as, "A bold memory of jumpers buried on foreign soil." When the invasion of France began on D-Day members of the battalion were among the first Allied forces on the ground, taking off from their base at 23:30 and landing in France shortly after 01:00 on June 6, 1944. The unit had orders to demolish a bridge over the Dives River, thus hampering any German advance to the invasion beaches, and then to cover British paratroopers attacking a coastal artillery battery, which was thought to threaten the beaches. They accomplished these tasks but with the loss of nineteen killed, ten wounded, and 84 taken prisoner. The large proportion taken prisoner occurred because many of the paratroopers became isolated when they landed far beyond the intended drop zone.. In 1997 names were assigned to the five individual peaks of Ex Coelis Mountain. Normandy Peak, Ardennes Peak, and Rhine Peak were named after battles in which the battalion participated. Elbe Peak was named after a river in Germany near the point where the battalion met the Russian Army, which had been advancing from the east. The fifth, Stan Waters Peak was named after a battalion member who had an outstanding career both as a soldier and businessman. Stan Waters joined the Calgary Regiment (Tank) in 1940 and, while serving in the First Special Service Forces was awarded the US Silver Star for gallantry in action in Italy. He commanded the first battalion to liberate Rome in June 1944 and in 1945 saw action as a company commander with the First Canadian Parachute Battalion. After retiring from the military in 1975 with the rank of Lieutenant General, he had a successful business career and was involved with a wide variety of community service organizations in Calgary before being appointed to the Canadian Senate. In September 2000, the monument honouring the Battalion was unveiled at a viewpoint parking area off of Highway #11 near the mountain. (Additional information: "Out of the Clouds" by John A. Wiles) |
|
