ACA News 5-17 March 2003 Trip to SEA Thailand & Ho Chi Minh Trail REUNION! 10-13 Oct 2002 Radisson Beach Resort (850)243-9181 Agenda Info Order Form 18 Jun 2002 Special Report McCoskrie/ Threshold Foundation (get reader) Jessie, We'll Miss You! 15 May 2002 Your Help Needed 05 Apr 2001 John Grove Message Army Times Presidential Citation "a collection of heroes that was not equaled" 05 Apr 2001 John Grove Message Army Times Pappy Pettigrew years of dedicated support for Special Operations 15 Feb 2001 Joe Sheldon the sounds of his banjo will forever fill the skies 11 Feb 2001 Order of the Sword 7 Feb 2001 True Warrior Special People 6 Feb 2001 Tuscaloosa Tornado 16 Dec 2000

e-mail the President e-mail Hap Lutz The Great Adventures of Bob and Don Air Commando Association, Inc. Officers President 2004 Robert A. Downs Vice President 2003 Rip Kirby Treasurer 2003 David Sloan Board of Directors 2005 Joe Harris Charles E. McDaniels Gordon H. Scott 2004 Edwin Jerry Rhein Felix L. Sambogna Taco Sanchez Chaplain Richard Knowles Executive Secretary Pete Bowman The Board of Directors normally meet at 4:00 pm the last Tuesday of every other month at our building on West Highway 98, Mary Esther, Florida. McCoskrie/ Threshold Foundation, Inc. Director Harry C. Aderholt Assistant Director John Grove Treasurer Richard Geron Field Advisor Karen Kramer Medical Advisors John Peters, M.D. Hap Lutz Secretary Richard Geron Supply Coordinators Jim & Lois Blakeslee Press Agent Tom Green

Active duty, retirees join to help others
by Capt. Carol Kanode
20 April, 2001
Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

With little room to spare, members of the 165th Georgia Air National Guard crew and retired Maj. John Grove push a pallet back off of a C-130 to realign the load properly.

While the majority of wing people enjoyed a down day April 13, several transportation troops here pushed out cargo.

Members of the 16th Transportation Squadron and area Air Force retirees loaded a Georgia Air National Guard C-130 from Savannah with 13,800 pounds of donated clothing bound for the Republic of Georgia - a country that declared independence from the U.S.S.R. in 1991.

The load was collected and palletized into three pallets by Hurlburt Field volunteers and local retired Air Force members who belong to the Air Commando Association and McCoskrie Threshold Foundation - which are local agencies made up primarily of former military members.

The crew of retirees, who joined the active duty members to palletize, used to work together on active duty but now do humanitarian work with the foundation. One association, that of retired Chief Master Sgt. Tom Green and Maj. John Grove, has lasted for more than 30 years.

"The big test came when the pallet was inspected by mobility operations," said Mr. Grove, who regularly volunteers at the 20th Special Operations Squadron.The crew of retirees hadn't built a pallet in more than 14 years, but the three they assembled passed inspection and were loaded onto the transportation plane.

Once the load left from here, it went back to Savannah with the 165th Georgia ANG unit, where it was to be combined with items collected by other organizations, then packed in a container for delivery by ship to the Republic of Georgia.

"The former Soviet country has had a devastating winter and these items will help a few families survive," Mr. Grove explained. This is the third load to that location the McCoskrie Threshold Foundation has been involved with.

The transportation members who helped move the supplies said they didn't mind doing the task.

"Sometimes it feels good to know that our small part helps the big picture," said Tech. Sgt. Kevin Williams, 16th TRANS.