Aerial Rocket Artillery Association Home Page
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Aerial Rocket Artillery Association ®

A Veterans group for ALL those who served in the Aerial Rocket Artillery and Aerial Field Artillery in Vietnam!

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Associate membership is open to the two Blue Max units of today as well as anyone who feels a special connection to the ARA or AFA.

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Welcome you are on fire mission number.

Please sign the Aerial Rocket Artillery guest book.

Enter the view guest book and click on the post icon.

Awarded June 2nd, 2008

Many changes have taken place since the 2008 reunion at Ft Rucker and more are to come.

1. Membership is now open to anyone who served in any of the Aerial Rocket Artillery or Aerial Field Artillery units that served in Vietnam or state side, 2-20th, 4-77th, F Btry 79th Arty, 77th Field Battery (ARA) Provisional

2. Associate Membership is now open to anyone who is serving in either of the two active duty Blue Max units of today as well as Echo Battery (Avn) 82nd Artillery (a unit that flew many missions with us in Vietnam) and people who feel they have a special connection to our units. ( Air Traffic Controllers fall into this group)

Below is the suggested set up for the group, but we are open to any ideas YOU may have with this structure becasue we want the group to grow and non of us are getting any younger, which means we have to be open to YOUR suggestions, finding members and staying connected with the units of today.

CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS

ROGER McALISTER..........PRESIDENT

JESSE HOBBY...........VICE PRESIDENT

BRUCE WILDER..........SECRETARY/RECORDER

LARRY MOBLEY..........TREASURER

GLENN BROWN..........2009 REUNION CHAIR

GARY BISHOP........... 2010 REUNION CHAIR


FOUNDER RUSS WARRINER...........PAST PRESIDENT 1995-2008

If you want to contact us
our address is:

AERIAL ROCKET ARTILLERY ASSOCIATION ®
C/O Larry Mobley
779 County Road 106
OZARK, AL 36360

The STRAPHANGER GAZETTE is a quarterly news letter published on or about the 1st of January, April, July and October by the Aerial Rocket Artillery Association.
The issue was published in July 2008 after the reunion at Ft Rucker. The orginal STRAPHANGER GAZETTE was published in 1965 by the 2/20th when Major Al Woodruff thought the news of the unit should be heard by it's people. In the early years of the ARA Association when the group went under the name Blue Max ARA Association Russ Warriner wrote the newsletter, but he could not keep it going as there was to much on his plate. The group decided that a newsletter needed to be published again and Asa Talbot volunteered to step up the plate and be the editor and publisher.

The STRAPHANGER GAZETTE Issue 1.1

WAYS that YOU can help keep this group alive ARE:

1. BECOME A MEMBER in good standing.

If you have slipped away, it is never to late to return.

2. MAKE AN ACTIVE ATTEMPT TO ATTEND A REUNION

DON'T LEAVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE TO DO THE JOB! WE NEED YOU! IT IS YOUR ASSOCIATION AND WITH YOUR HELP WE CAN MAKE IT WORK.

YOUR GROUP IS ABOUT TO HAVE SOME CHANGES. WATCH FOR THESE CHANGES TO TAKE PLACE SOON!

We are not getting any younger and many of you have expressed interest in seeing old friends so lets support the changes that were voted on at the 2008 reunion!

2008 MEMBERSHIP MEETING at Fort Rucker 2008

To see some PHOTOS taken at Ft Rucker 2008 Reunion click on the link below.

Dewey King photos of reunion 2008 @ Ft Rucker

There were only two ARA Battalions in the history of the Army that served in Vietnam.

The 1st Cav had the first ARA Battalion followed by the 101st ABN.
Below are LTC Nelson Mahone the 2/20th ARA Battalion commander and Major Roger Bartholomew who was the C Battery commander at the time this photo was taken and later became LTC and the BN commander of 4/77th 101st for his second tour. COL Nelson Mahone died 16 March 1991 and was posthumously inducted into Army Aviation Hall of Fame at Rucker. LTC Bartholomew was killed 27 November 1968 on his second tour while attacking an enemy position north of Da Nang. There were several of the officers from 2/20th that either returned for a second tour in the ARA, some of which helped to form the 4/77th such as LTC Bartholomew.

Major Roger Bartholomew and LTC Nelson Mahone.
First two ARA Battalion Commanders
Photo taken 1965 or 1966, by C W "Chip" Parker who flew with Col Mahone

Because COL Nelson Mahone was the first BN Commander of 2/20th 1st Cav and MAJ Roger Bartholomew returned to Vietnam as a LTC and the first Bn Commander of the 4/77th 101st ABN Division, this photo is important to the history of the ARA.

Jerry Barnes had this stone placed in the Memorial Garden at the site of the National Vietnam War Museum in Mineral Wells. Jerry, thank you for your service to your country and your continued support to our ARA Alumni. It is an honor to have you on our team.

F Btry 79th Artillery was just that, a Battery, form in Vietnam and de-activated in Vietnam. Many of the former 2/20th Personnel and aircraft were used in this Battery.
If you are looking for any of the Aerial Rocket Artillery (ARA) units, they are all here.

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1st Cav Div was in Vietnam from 1965-1971


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In 1971 when the 1st Cav Div stood down and the records say that at this time F Battery 79th Artillery was activated in Vietnam using elements from 3rd Brigade and the de-activated in 1972 in Vietnam. This happened in March 1971 and we were told the truth is C Battery 2BN 20th Artillery (ARA) was redesignated as F Battery 79th Artillery. The guys were proud of the Blue Max name and call sign and carried on witht he name and logo. Col Jerry Zynda was the first Blue Max Six of that unit and it was still called Blue Max when he left the unit in August 1971. Thank you for your input sir!

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1971-1972

On the 21st of March 1974 F Battery 79th Artillery (AFA) was activated at Ft Hood, TX and was de-activated December 1974. This was the last ARA or AFA unit ever in the US Army. As soon as we can get more information on F Btry 227 Avn BN we will post that on the web as well. We know CPT Lichtenberger was original commander of this ARA or AFA unit.

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1974-1974

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101st ABN Div was in Vietnam from 1968-1971

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In December 1971 the 77th Field Artillery Battery, Aerial Rocket Artillery (Provisional) was formed from A Battery 4th BN 77th Arty (ARA). This unit was in operation from 23 December 1971 until 2 February 1972. Many people did not even know this unit existed and when asked many would tell you they were in A 4/77. Information given to Russ Warriner at 2008 reunion and verified with a set of orders furnished by Steve Melancon. Thank you Sir!

There is two units using the name Blue Max today. Both say they have the rights to the name but we do not know or have the right to say who really has the bragging rights. Both sport the Blue Max logo on the aircraft and have made patches for the respective unit.

The first of these two units using the name Blue Max we will tell you about has gone to the extent of getting the FAA permission to use the radio call sign at airports and airfields in the US

C Company 3-3rd ARB Bn is the Blue Max of today and their home is Hunter Army Air Field, Savannah, GA. Formally the unit was C 1-229th out of Ft Bragg, NC Note the Blue Max on the aircraft.
unofficial C 3-3 Apache Web page

If the unit has a web site they wish us to connect to we would be glad and proud to do so.


The second of these two units using the name Blue Max name is B/ 3-101 out of Ft Campell, KY.

For their web site click hereHERE our use the aircraft or their patch above.

This link was added on November 8th 2007 when were were contacted by a member "Blue Max" B/ 3-101 from Ft Campell, KY.

We wish to welcome any and all members of "Blue Max" B/ 3-101 aboard past or present that wish to join the Alumni Group.


HERE IS A BOOK written about the ARA by an ARA pilot, click here to view and order

Read what some reader say about the book.

See interviews with N. G. Brown on YOUTUBE

THIS LINK will take you to N. G. Browns web site.

After you enter the site you can order the book from Barnes & Noble.com or Amazon.com, but if you would like to have your book signed by N.G. Brown, then click on the book icon above.

Use this link if you wish to print the form in HTML


If you were in the ARA in Vietnam with the 1st Cav 2/20th (ARA), 101st AB 4/77th (ARA), F Battery 79th Arty (AFA), 77th FA Battery (ARA), or served with C 1-229th which is now C 3-3 ARB (Blue Max) today out of Ft. Bragg, you will be interested in discovering the following information! Maybe you were protected by the ARA or AFA and feel a special bond with the unit or maybe you're a student wanting to know more about Vietnam. Links to more of our web pages are listed below.


If you would rather mail your information in here is a:
Printable Membership/information Application
to join the Aerial Rocket Artillery Association

To read some items on this web page and others on the web you will need Adobe Acrobat reader.

Click here and download FREE Adobe Acrobat .PDF Reader:

Acrobat Button
In the links listed below you will find a "MEMBERS only link", to enter this site you must get a pass word. This pass word will only be given to members and those that are in good standings on their dues. If you are current on dues and can't get into the web site the pass word may have changed. To get the pass word please contact the office for the new pass word. If you due are past due you will need to re-up.

If you need to contact the Department of Veterans Affairs click on the seal below:

VA Button

There are forms and much information to help you at the Department of Veterans Affairs link. Remember your spouse may be eligible to get benefits if you are 100% disabled veterans. If she survives you she may also get money each month after you are gone So please check out the VA web site. Some items of interest are: Health benefits & services, Vocational Rehab, Education, Homeless Veterns, Appeals, Compensation, Burial

Were you exposed to AGENT ORANGE in Vietnam?

CLICK HERE

Here is a list of Medical Conditions that have been linked to Agent Orange:

BIRTH DEFECTS, CHLORACNE, NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA, SOFT TISSUE SARCOMAS, PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY, HODGKIN'S DISEASE, PORPHYRIA CUTANEA TARDA, MULTIPLE MYELOMA, RESPIRTORY CANCERS, PROSTRATE CANCER, SPINA BIFIDA, DIABETES, AND CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA.

Index of Pages

Artillery History Photos

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CONTACT MEMBERS

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MEMBERS only link

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Reunion news page link

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ARA HALL OF FAME and stories

ARA KIA roster

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2/20th Aircraft

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4/77th links & Aircraft

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F Btry 79th Aircraft

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Maxwell System (XM3/M22 hybrid)

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Last ARA Unit

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Photos, Photos & more ARA Photos

First Cavalry Division Association

101st AB Association

Women who died in Vietnam

VIETNAM MAPS

Blue Max Little League Team

2-20 MLRS photos

other veteran groups

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VHCMA

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VHPA

2-20th Artillery Korea 61-62

AH-1G Cobra rebuild job offer

Virtual Wall

VFW

Purple Heart

American Legion

DAV

Amvets

VVA

Russ' family album

VVnW

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2/20th Aircraft

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4/77th links & Aircraft

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F Btry 79th Aircraft

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Air Trafic Control group

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Russ Warriner
Association Founder
Summerfield, FL. 34491


e-mail: crewchief@aerial-rocket-artillery.org

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July 15, 2008