PAST SERVICES
Paratroopers Helping Veterans! Our Chapter provided assistance to a very disabled Veteran in need in Hickory this morning…a ramp for Lewis Kirby, who was much appreciative. Thanks to an “assist” from the Newton Elks Lodge #2042 for providing an unused ramp as long as Lewis needs it, and to fellow St Michael’s Paratroopers Kris Kearns, John Williams, and Eric Miller for their muscles and installation expertise!
Very honored to be the non-profit selected for this event this year. Come out and see Paratroopers, NC National Guard Soldiers & equipment, race cars & drivers, vendors, food trucks, sponsors at the largest Trunk or Treat in the area on Saturday, 25 October at the Hickory Motor Speedway from 3-6PM. Tons of treats & candy for the kids!
Last week, we helped two Veterans in serious need. One, a former Army Airborne Pathfinder Scout from Andrews, NC, was laid off, struggles with PTSD from two combat tours in Iraq, and supports a family of five. We covered vehicle repairs so he could get to a new job.
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The other, a severely disabled Veteran in Hickory, could no longer get out of bed. With help from a generous donor, we provided a power lift recliner, giving him a safe place to rest—an act that deeply moved him to tears.
Was honored to present the coveted 82nd Airborne Association Award from the St Michael’s All Airborne Chapter to Navy JROTC Cadet Lieutenant Eric Tyler Clontz last night at Alexander County High School. When he informed me he’d enlisted to become an Airborne Ranger, I HAD to ensure he knew how to do proper pushups…and all Cadets and I joined in to “knock out 10”!
We are in the midst of presenting Awards to deserving ROTC and JROTC Cadets - the best of the best. Here, our Awards Committee Chairman Tim Bozeman has awarded the 82nd Airborne Association award to Cadet Shayla Johnson, Chesnee High School in Upstate SC. Also pictured is Chapter Member James House presenting the award to UNC-Charlotte ROTC Cadet Jakob Chandler, while ensuring he has good push-up form for a future in the Airborne!
St Michael’s is represented at the Catawba County Veterans Helping Veterans Spring Stand Down!
UNC-Charlotte Cadet Rayhan Nabi being presented the prestigious 82nd Airborne Association Award from the St Michael’s All Airborne Chapter by Chapter member Master Sergeant (Retired) Craig Williams at last nights Military Ball in Charlotte
St. Michael’s All Airborne Chapter helped a military family in Western NC who lost their home to Helene by coordinating the donation and transport of a travel trailer. With support from fellow Paratroopers, Marines, local churches, fire departments, and veteran organizations, the trailer was delivered near their former home and will be moved into place by Army Chinook. This joint effort highlights ongoing needs among mountain families still recovering.
Airborne All The Way!
Another great partnership Sunday between our St Michael’s Chapter and the 82nd Airborne Association providing disaster relief to Western NC. More warm weather gear, clothing, cooking stoves, and other currently needed items for the cold weather. A special thanks to the 82nd DIVARTY OPS SGM, Sergeant Major Chapman and his dad. Making a difference! Veterans helping our communities in need - walking the talk!
Another great day of Paratroopers Helping Paratroopers. Former 82nd trooper and Iraq War veteran Ed Murdock donated the car he’d owned since West Point in the mid-2000s to Paratrooper Thomas Frank, a disabled Veteran who totaled his car in an accident. Ed’s father-in-law, COL (Ret) Mike Cloy helped St Michael’s by orchestrating the donation. Thanks also to others who donated $$ that will help get this great car to full 10/20 Standards
SERVICES
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Provide Help to Paratrooper Veterans and Families:
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Financial Assistance
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Possible assistance with Bills
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Help with the Veterans Administration
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Grief Counseling
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Morale-enhancing programs: teaching disabled veterans to fly fish (for example); taking disabled veterans motorcycle riding, and other activities
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Connect with other veteran organizations and social services to help address veterans' needs.
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Other assistance as determined by the Chapter members
St. Michael's All Airborne Chapter assisted:
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Our largest support over the last two years was provided to a young 101st Airborne Division Veteran and his family, Brian Barnes. Our Chapter raised funds and provided support totaling more than $16,000 for necessities such as housing at Duke Hospital for Brian and his mother during his bone marrow transplants/chemo, clothing, apartment expenses after leaving Duke, furnishings, utility deposits, and many other related expenses.
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We provided $2,500 directly to the Lung Health Institute in Nashville, TN to help the spouse of a 100% Disabled Veteran who required stem cell treatment for a rare lung disease.
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We paid $500 towards the funeral of the child of a 100% disabled Veteran who did not have adequate funding to pay for a respectable funeral and burial.
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We purchased 82nd Airborne Division medals of accomplishment to present to North Carolina JROTC students who provided outstanding support to our Veterans throughout NC.
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We have “adopted” numerous deployed platoons of Soldiers from Fort Bragg over the past several years, and provided them with periodic care packages during their deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.
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We purchased a new recliner for a needy, disabled Veteran who had half his tongue and parts of his throat removed. This provided the Veteran with a comfortable environment until his recent death.
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We assisted with funeral expenses for a 101-year-old Paratrooper Veteran who made all 4 combat jumps with the 82nd Airborne Division in World War II. Without our help, this Veteran and American hero would not have had the funeral he so richly deserved. We also coordinated an 18-man funeral detail from the 82nd Airborne Division to ensure he received full military honors.
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We donated to Fort Bragg to assist young enlisted families affected by various hurricanes over the last 2 years. These funds replaced food items lost during power outages and assisted with non-insured losses from flooding.
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We assisted an Airborne veteran in Texas who was impacted by the severe freeze in early 2021, with his pipes freezing and bursting. He has 4 young children and is cash-strapped. We paid for his entire repair bill.
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We assisted financially in making a vehicle payment for a 100% disabled Veteran who the Veterans Administration erroneously reduced to 10%. We also worked with the VA to rectify the mistake; however, it took 3 months to resolve, and the disabled veteran would have had his only vehicle repossessed had we not intervened.
VETERAN FAMILY
We are funding Brian’s daughter Lillian’s college education. While she is expected to receive VA and state scholarships as the child of a 100% disabled veteran, we committed to Brian that all of her college-related expenses would be covered. To honor that promise, we created the Lillian Barnes Scholarship Fund, which is on track to fully meet this goal before she begins college.
UNITS
We donated $1,000 to support low-ranking enlisted families at Fort Bragg to provide Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. The 82nd Airborne Division Chaplain identified deserving families throughout the Division and provided turkeys with all the “fixings” to these great families. Our Chapter donates annually to this cause.
EVENTS
The West Family and the St Michael’s All Airborne Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Association have teamed together to host the annual HOOAH. OORAH, ALL THE WAY Road Race to raise funds and awareness to the needs of Veterans and Veteran Families.