Aerial Rocket Artillery Association Home Page

Aerial Rocket Artillery

This site was built to honor ALL who served in any of the Aerial Rocket Artillery and Aerial Field Artillery @ any time and ANY Blue Max unit!

The Original site: Blue Max Aerial Rocket Artillery was built on honesty, integrity and equality for ALL Aerial Rocket Artillery, Aerial Field Artillery and Blue Max units and their families WITHOUT prejudice to rank or job description. The intent is to continue this support.

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.

Welcome you are on fire mission number.

Please sign my guest book honoring EVERY ONE who served in the ARA/AFA or Blue Max.

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


1. Membership is 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 open to anyone who served with Echo Battery (Avn) 82nd Artillery in Vietnam. Also any person who feels they have a special bond or connection to the ARA units such as the Air Traffic Controllers who served in Vietnam.

Below is the suggested set up for the group, but we are open to any ideas YOU may have for this structure because we want the group to grow. Since none of us are getting any younger, we have to be open to YOUR suggestions. Our goal is to find eligible members and staying connected with the units of today.

CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS


RODGER McALISTER..........PRESIDENT

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

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

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

ASA TALBOT..........EDITOR STRAPHANGER GAZETTE

RUSS WARRINER........PAST PRESIDENT

GARY BISHOP........... 2010 REUNION CHAIR {Bozeman, MT}

JESSE HOBBY and RAY HATFIELD..........2011 REUNION CHAIR {Charleston, SC}


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 first modern issue was published in July 2008 after the reunion at Ft Rucker. The original STRAPHANGER GAZETTE was published in 1965 when Major Al Woodruff of the 2/20th created it. In the early years of the ARA Association, when the group went under the name Blue Max ARA Association, Russ Warriner wrote a newsletter. After a suggestion by Russ the group decided that a newsletter needed to be published again. Asa Talbot volunteered to be the editor and publisher.
Because of web space only the latest issue of the STRAPHANGER GAZETTE and the previous three are are listed on the web with the lasted listed at the top.

The STRAPHANGER GAZETTE Issue 2 volume 3 [Jan/Feb/Mar, 10]

The STRAPHANGER GAZETTE Issue 2 volume 2 [Oct/Nov/Dec, 09]

The STRAPHANGER GAZETTE Issue 2 volume 1 [Jul/Aug/Sep, 09]

The STRAPHANGER GAZETTE Issue 1 volume 4 [Apr/May/Jun, 09]

Aerial Rocket Artillery

Reunion 2010, Bozeman, MT.

If you served 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 this association is for you! For those of you that were a member of the Air Traffic Control team and those who were with Echo 82, we have also invited you to join us. 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.


Here is a
Printable Membership/Information Application
to join the Aerial Rocket Artillery Association

If you were a member of the First Cavalry Division, but have never joined the First Cavalry Division Association, moved or forgot to renew your Saber subscription, you can join the association or renew your subscription below.

First Cavalry Division Association membership form

If you served with the 101st AB Division and wish to join their association, then you need to use the link below!

101st AB Association Membership form

If you are looking for UNIT PATCHES, they will be available in the future. Watch this space for further developments.


ONLY TWO Aerial Rocket Artillery Battalions in the history of the Army served in Vietnam.

The 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) had the first ARA Battalion followed by the 101st ABN.
Below is a photo taken in 1965/66 of the first Battalion Commander of 2/20th, LTC Nelson Mahone and Major Roger Bartholomew Commander of C Battery 2/20.  After returning to the states Bartholomew was promoted LTC, he returned to Vietnam, becoming the the first Battalion Commander of 4/77th 101st. He was killed in action, while attacking an enemy position north of Da Nang on 27 November 1968. LTC Nelson Mahone died 16 March 1991 and was posthumously inducted into Army Aviation Hall of Fame at Rucker.
First two ARA Battalion Commanders
(Left) Major Roger Bartholomew (Right) LTC Nelson Mahone
Photo by WO Chip Parker - pilot for LTC Mahone



Jerry Barnes had this stone placed in the Memorial Garden at the site of the National Vietnam War Museum in Mineral Wells, TX.  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.


1st Cavalry Division was in Vietnam from 1965-1971


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.

1974-1974

101st ABN Div was in Vietnam from 1968-1971


The patches on the above icon were the Battery patches worn by the respective batteries.


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 are 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 their aircraft and have made patches for the respective units.

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

The Blue Max unit at Hunter Army Air Field, Savannah, GA. was re-flagged Blue Max C Company 1-10 (now under the Tenth Mountain Division Ft Drum, NY)

This unit was formally Blue Max C Company 3-3rd ARB Bn and before that it was formally C Company 1-229th out of Ft Bragg, NC Note the Blue Max on the aircraft.
unofficial C 3-3 Apache Web page

If this unit has a web site we would be glad and proud to connect with them.


The second unit using the name Blue Max name is B/ 3-101 out of Ft Campbell, KY.

The B 101 web site has moved or is gone. We would very much like to reconnect, so if anyone is in contact with the unit, please help us reconnect.

The link was added on November 8, 2007, when were were contacted by a member "Blue Max" B/ 3-101 from Ft Campbell, KY. I am sorry to say this, but we have lost communications with the unit. Therefore, the photo of the aircraft has been removed.

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. We desperately need a contact with the unit and/or a contact point.

GET YOUR COPY FROM THE AUTHOR!!!!

A non-fiction book based on the memories of an Aerial Rocket Artillery crew chief/door gunner

Anyone wishing a copy of this book should go to the following link.

Click here or go to the "Empty Tubes and Back Seat Memories" web site and find the ordering information.


A non-fiction book based on the memories of an Aerial Rocket Artillery pilot

Click here to view Blue Max Missions and Memories web site and order your copy


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

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

VA Button

There are forms and a great of 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 be able to get some money each month after you are gone. So please check out the VA web site. Some items of interest are: Health benefits and services, Vocational Rehab, Education, Homeless Veterans, Appeals, Compensation, and 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, RESPIRATORY CANCERS, PROSTRATE CANCER, SPINA BIFIDA, DIABETES, AND CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA.

VA Button

If you want information on PTSD this link will give you some of the most up to date

The "MEMBERS only link", below is PASSWORD protected. This password will only be given to members in good standing and will only be given by the board of directors after verification of membership status.

If your dues are past due, you will need to re-up.

Index of Pages

ARA HALL OF FAME and stories

First Cavalry Division Association

101st AB Association

Women who died in Vietnam

VHPA

VHCMA

other veteran groups

2-20 MLRS photos

  

Not Used

Virtual Wall

VVnW

VFW

Purple Heart

American Legion

DAV

Amvets

VVA

Russ Warriner
Association Founder
Summerfield, FL. 34491


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

NOTICE*

It is illegal to copy or use our web site, trade marked/copyrighted text and/or images without permission. Such acts may be reported to the proper authorities.

Such acts could result in a copyright infringement lawsuit in accordance with the The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)

Copyright 1995 - 2009 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


January 12, 2010