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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 predigest to rank or job description. The intent is to continue this support.

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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 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.

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1. Membership is now open and always was been 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 been opened to anyone who was in Echo Battery (Avn) 82nd Artillery (this unit flew many missions with us in Vietnam) and any people who feel they have a special connection to our units such as Air Traffic Controllers.

Below is the suggested set up for the group, but we are open to any ideas YOU may have with this structure because 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.

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CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS

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

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

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

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

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

JESSE HOBBY & RAY HATFIELD..........2011 REUNION CHAIR {Charleston, NC}

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

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If you want to contact us
our address is:

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

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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 issue was published in July 2008 after the reunion at Ft Rucker. The original STRAPHANGER GAZETTE was published in 1965 by the 2/20th when Major Al Woodruff thought the news of the unit should be heard by its 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. After a suggestion by Russ the group decided that a newsletter needed to be published again and Asa Talbot volunteered to step up to the plate and be the editor and publisher. Russ would like to see this continue but feel this should be for members only as benefit to being a member and not be available to everyone.

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

The STRAPHANGER GAZETTE Issue 1 volume 2 [Oct/Nov/Dec]

The STRAPHANGER GAZETTE Issue 1 volume 3 [Jan/Feb/Mar]

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

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

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Aerial Rocket Artillery

Reunion 2010, Bozeman, MT.

Start planning now click here MT

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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 aPrintable Membership/information Application to join the Aerial Rocket Artillery Association

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

First Cavalry Division Association membership form

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

101st AB Association Membership form

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Are you looking for UNIT PATCHES? GO TO and down load the order form contact the supplier list at the bottom of order form.

PATCHES? DEAL WITH SUPPLIER ORDER FORM.

We also will have a patch store with-in the association soon. as soon as I have that information I will post it to the site.

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

The 1st Cavalry Division had the first ARA Battalion followed by the 101st ABN.

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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. 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 Cavalry 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.

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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 Cavalry Division was in Vietnam from 1965-1971

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In 1971 when the 1st Cavalry 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 re-designated as F Battery 79th Artillery. The guys were proud of the Blue Max name and call sign and carried on with the 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

This link will take you to the F Battery 79th Artillery web site

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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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Here is a 4/77th web site

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!

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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

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

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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 8, 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.

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

click here to view the "Empty Tubes and Back Seat Memories" web site and information

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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

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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:

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

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 Veterans, 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, RESPIRATORY CANCERS, PROSTRATE CANCER, SPINA BIFIDA, DIABETES, AND CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA.

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

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

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

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Index of Pages

™ MEMBERS only link	™ CONTACT MEMBERS	™ Reunion news page link	™ ARA HALL OF FAME and stories	ARA KIA roster	™ Photos, Photos & more ARA Photos
™ 2/20th Aircraft	™ 4/77th links & Aircraft	™ F Btry 79th Aircraft	™ Maxwell System (XM3/M22 hybrid)	™ Last ARA Unit	VIETNAM MAPS
First Cavalry Division Association	101st AB Association	Women who died in Vietnam	™ VHPA	™ VHCMA	other veteran groups
2-20 MLRS photos	™ Air Trafic Control group	2-20th Artillery Korea 61-62	Russ' family album	Virtual Wall	VVnW
VFW	Purple Heart	American Legion	DAV	Amvets	VVA

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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

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May 27, 2009
Non-fiction book about the memories of a crew chief/door gunner with the Aerial Rocket Artillery