Florida
Gulf Coast Chapter"The Above & Beyond Chapter"
Active Duty R & R Program
Florida Gulf Coast Chapter R&R Program
Each December for the past eleven years the Gulf Coast Chapter
has hosted two soldiers from the Division during a week-long R&R
at Clearwater beach. The soldiers are selected by the Division
CSM and o
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onsite coordination is accomplished by A. J. Murdock, a Chapter
member and Vice President of the Association. Our
Secretary/Treasurer, Jack Nolan, does all the heavy lifting,
coordination, and reception at our end. The Chapter covers all
the soldier’s expenses, transportation, rental car, gas,
lodging, and food along with tickets to Busch Gardens. The
program is timed to coincide with our annual Bastogne Luncheon
and the Troopers attend the event as our guests of honor. They
are each presented with the Specialist Fourth Class Joseph G.
Lapointe Jr. Award by Chapter President Dick Pack. Specialist
Lapointe was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on June
2nd, 1969, for his actions while serving as a Medic with the 2nd
Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 101st Airborne Division, Republic of
Vietnam. I always make it a point to introduce the Soldiers to
our World War II veterans. Quite honestly, I cannot tell which
group is more excited about meeting the other, but the
interaction of the two is incredible to watch. This year, it was
our honor to host Specialist Kevin Murphy and Specialist Allen
Wilson from B Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry. Both men
had been wounded in Afghanistan. During their stay here they
were able to visit one of their buddies, Jeff Argrave. Jeff was
being treated at the James A. Haley VA Hospital Spinal Cord
Injury Center which handles some of our seriously wounded
Soldiers from Iraq
and Afghanistan.
Randy Stollmack presents SPC
Wilson and Murphy with combat knives
ur
onsite coordination is accomplished by A. J. Murdock, a Chapter
member and Vice President of the Association. Our
Secretary/Treasurer, Jack Nolan, does all the heavy lifting,
coordination, and reception at our end. The Chapter covers all
the soldier’s expenses, transportation, rental car, gas,
lodging, and food along with tickets to Busch Gardens. The
program is timed to coincide with our annual Bastogne Luncheon
and the Troopers attend the event as our guests of honor. They
are each presented with the Specialist Fourth Class Joseph G.
Lapointe Jr. Award by Chapter President Dick Pack. Specialist
Lapointe was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on June
2nd, 1969, for his actions while serving as a Medic with the 2nd
Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 101st Airborne Division, Republic of
Vietnam. I always make it a point to introduce the Soldiers to
our World War II veterans. Quite honestly, I cannot tell which
group is more excited about meeting the other, but the
interaction of the two is incredible to watch. This year, it was
our honor to host Specialist Kevin Murphy and Specialist Allen
Wilson from B Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry. Both men
had been wounded in Afghanistan. During their stay here they
were able to visit one of their buddies, Jeff Argrave. Jeff was
being treated at the James A. Haley VA Hospital Spinal Cord
Injury Center which handles some of our seriously wounded
Soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Bill Priest and SPC Murphy
Randy Stollmack presents SPC
Wilson and Murphy with combat knives
The following is Specialist Murphy’s After Action
Review of the R&R SPC.
Shopping For Food
1. As soon as we arrived, Mr. Nolan took us to get food for the entire week.
2. Without us asking, Mr. Nolan paid for the food and helped us bring it back to the room.
Rental Car
1. Mr. Nolan took us to get a rental car after shopping for transportation.
2. Without the rental car, we wouldn't have been able to see the amount of Florida that we have gotten to.
Hotel
1. The hotel was amazing because of its location.
2. The view of the ocean was awesome and so was the hotel service.
Hospitality
1. Mr. Nolan and his family treated Wilson and I as if he had known us for years.
2. I am very grateful to Mr. Nolan for taking time out of his day to show us around Florida.
Busch Gardens
1. The free tickets Mr. Nolan had set up for Wilson and I were outstanding.
2. The park was one of the best experiences of my life.
Visiting Jeff Argrave
1. It meant so much to me to see and visit my friend, Jeff, at the Tampa VA Hospital.
2. Mr. Nolan set it up with Mr. Keene to take Wilson and I to the hospital. This was outstanding.
Location
1. The location of the hotel was awesome.
2. There were many activities for the day and night to do within fifty miles of the hotel.
Ceremony
1. It meant so much to me to have that much history in the same room as me.
2. To be awarded the SP4 Joseph Lapointe Jr. Award was the most memorable moment I have had in the army.
Improvements
I would liked to have spent another week.
This is not an inexpensive operation, so I’d like to take the opportunity here to formally thank Jack Nolan and all the Gulf Coast Chapter members and private donors that have supported this great program with their personal donations. If anyone would like to make a contribution towards the 2011 R&R they can contact our Chapter Secretary, Mr. Jack Nolan at (727) 797—7706, jnolan7@tampabay.rr.com .
William Ball, Gulf Coast Chapter VP
Shopping For Food
1. As soon as we arrived, Mr. Nolan took us to get food for the entire week.
2. Without us asking, Mr. Nolan paid for the food and helped us bring it back to the room.
Rental Car
1. Mr. Nolan took us to get a rental car after shopping for transportation.
2. Without the rental car, we wouldn't have been able to see the amount of Florida that we have gotten to.
Hotel
1. The hotel was amazing because of its location.
2. The view of the ocean was awesome and so was the hotel service.
Hospitality
1. Mr. Nolan and his family treated Wilson and I as if he had known us for years.
2. I am very grateful to Mr. Nolan for taking time out of his day to show us around Florida.
Busch Gardens
1. The free tickets Mr. Nolan had set up for Wilson and I were outstanding.
2. The park was one of the best experiences of my life.
Visiting Jeff Argrave
1. It meant so much to me to see and visit my friend, Jeff, at the Tampa VA Hospital.
2. Mr. Nolan set it up with Mr. Keene to take Wilson and I to the hospital. This was outstanding.
Location
1. The location of the hotel was awesome.
2. There were many activities for the day and night to do within fifty miles of the hotel.
Ceremony
1. It meant so much to me to have that much history in the same room as me.
2. To be awarded the SP4 Joseph Lapointe Jr. Award was the most memorable moment I have had in the army.
Improvements
I would liked to have spent another week.
This is not an inexpensive operation, so I’d like to take the opportunity here to formally thank Jack Nolan and all the Gulf Coast Chapter members and private donors that have supported this great program with their personal donations. If anyone would like to make a contribution towards the 2011 R&R they can contact our Chapter Secretary, Mr. Jack Nolan at (727) 797—7706, jnolan7@tampabay.rr.com .
William Ball, Gulf Coast Chapter VP