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Welcome to the Rakkasan Big Apple Chapter
187th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association

NEWS AND INFORMATION

Mildred T. Hodgson  R0704CFL 


I write this with Great joy and sorrow only because it is what my wife gave me and my children and to her friend and all others she encountered. I had my wife, friend and mother for 64 years  she was my total life, she gave me her family and gave me our family Two Boys. The sons gave me a Boy and a girl. They are both healthy and mentally brilliant. I guess these words must sound like made up back patting but if you’ve ever met Millie you would understand. We all LOVE AND CHERISH OUR FAMILY. I had no  family when we met I was alone and unloved. Millie gave of herself a life that I cherished for all those 64 passing years. Everyone can say words but the feeling of wifely and motherly love and friendship is unequaled. I said I never cry but if you ever met Millie you would know I am still crying and will until I also cross. One Mommy, One Daddy One wifely love I have been blessed beyond all blessings. ROBERT C. HODGSON, Big Apple Chapter President, and E Company Golden Rakkasan. GOD BLESS AND REST the weary souls and lonely spirits.


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Lewental,Hugo– R5106 –11-26-15

Lewental, Lucy–R0564-ladies reserves-2014

Niemiera, Priscilla–R0800-ladies reserves-12-1-15

I am sorry to have to report the following Big Apple Chapter Rakkasans who have crossed over. I am proud to say I personally knew such great humans in my life as my friends and RAKKASANS.
Mine and Mildred’s Prayers are always.  Bob Hodgson.


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To my seniors and fellow Rakkasans-

I’m honored to announce the selection of MG(R) Robert F. Dees and CSM (R) James Musgrove as our next Honorary Colonel and Sergeants Major of the Regiment. While there were many deserving candidates, CSM Patton and I believe that we have selected the best candidates for the positions. We would like to execute the change of responsibility ceremony at the same time as the BCT change of command on 17 JUN; however, that will depend on the availability of the selectees. Invitations will follow shortly.

COL (R) Blair Ross and CSM (R) Mark Nielsen have done a tremendous for our Regiment in the last two years. We will be forever indebted to their wise counsel and leadership. Again, I want to thank you for the tremendous support you have given to our Troopers. One thing that has remained constant- your Rakkasan Troopers continue to uphold the honor, legacy, and fighting spirit of our Great Regiment.

V/R

RAK 6

LET VALOR NOT FAIL! RAKKASAN!

COL Viet Luong

CDR, 3d BCT, 101st ABN DIV (AASLT)
 



Fallen Trooper John Buscemi-R2819—4-26-50–12-6-51

It is with deep sorrow that I must pass on these messages. I have known John Buscemi for the longest period of time and John was always there to support myself and The Troopers of the Big Apple and all others of our Troopers. John not only served in Korea he also was a WWll vet. and served as an active Green Beret reservist. John was at every meeting and Parade the Big Apple had. I consider that my wife and family were close friends. If you ever met John, you would always be a part of his life. John and his wife Dot were also survived by his Sons, (by age) Steven-H0100 the famous Actor, Michael and Kenneth. He was so proud of his sons he would sometime tear with pride when he spoke of them. Time has been good to us old foggies and our curtain calls have been applauded wherever we went. The Golden Rakkasans and now the platinum Bless all our troopers where ever they have been or will be. Bob Hodgson.


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Samuel Wilson Of Call  TX. passed away Saturday 25 January 2014. He was
a Squad leader in the First platoon of “E” Company.

He was wounded at Munsan-nI, 23 March, 1951 with severe shrapnel wounds.
God Bless you Sam.

 

Blessings to all.    ~ Bob Hodgson  

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A Rakkasan passed on Nov. 30, 2012. Due to family problems it was not reported to me until now.

 

Lt. Col. Ret. Arnold DeAngelo – #6314R – Reg. Hq. – Big Apple Member

 

Blessings to all.    ~ Bob Hodgson  

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I have been handed the disturbing detail of reporting these Rakkasan Warriors as Passed away. I got this from my friend and fellow Big Apple Rakkasan Richard Scott.

 

1–John E Worthington—08836L—135 Scudder Ave. Copeague,  LI, NY.– Hq&Hq 2nd Bn.187th ARCT–50-53

Passed 11-5-13–while in the Hospital. John suffered silently for many years with a debilitating disease.

 

2–Richard L. Gage –0083L—82 Grant St. , Maniatee, Misch.– A co.187th ARCT-48-51

Passed Sept 2013

 

3–Andrew Zamora–2437L–13121 Oak Hills Drive-233D—-Seal Beach, Cal,  90740 Hq& Hq 2nd Bn. 187th ARCT49-51

passed April 2013

  

Bob Hodgson Pres. Big Apple Chapter.

 

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9/11/13 – We regret to report the passing of Walter F. Krumholtz

BIG APPLE CHAPTER MEMBER SINCE INCEPTION 

Walter F Krumholtz –2946CFL–Wife Margaret
11 Trout St
Oakdale St,LI NY–11769-1528
Tel-1-631-1363

HQ1BN 3/51–3/53 

Ret Det NYPD 

Waiting for oldest son, Walter, who lives in Japan , to let us know what plane he will be able to get.

 

President Big Apple Chapter RC Hodgson

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Rakkasan Paul J Cawley #3044L  Died 1040Hrs of Pneumonia, this 8th month -13th day -of 2013 in the Hospital.
Wife Grace was present. 

President Big Apple Chapter RC Hodgson

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I received a call from Connie Alwell that her husband Bern Alwell died of a heart attack just prior to being
moved to a new VA nursing facility. He died on August 5, 2013. He was in E Co in the Korean War and was a
25 year military until the last reunion in Myrtle Beach he made them all. ~ Irv Weinsoff – National President

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A Rakkasan passed on Nov. 30, 2012. Due to family problems it was not reported to me until now.

 

                 Lt. Col. Ret. Arnold DeAngelo – #6314R – Reg. Hq. – Big Apple Member

 

 

Blessings to all.   
Bob Hodgson  

 

 

PLEASE REMEMBER OUR BIG APPLE CHAPTER FALLEN MEMBERS

Rak #

Last

First

Company

From

To

3819CFL

ALWELL

BERNARD

E Co.

0303L

BACHETY

JOSEPH

G Co.

7/1/1950

10/1/1951

3345

BOTTGE

EDWARD F.

L Co.

1948

1952

R2819

BUSCEMI

JOHN

MED Co.

4/26/50

12/6/51

4299R

CARONI

HAROLD

E Co.

1948

1953

1720R

COLLUCCI

JOHN

E Co

9/1/1948

5/1/1952

0728CFL

CORBERT

ROBERT

D Co

7/1950

9/1952

A0760

CROCE

JOSEPH

82nd Abn Div  

0-1942

0-1946

3044L

CAWLEY

PAUL

H Co.

1950

1951

6314R

DeANGELO

ARNOLD

LTC

1950

1951

0056L

DOMETROVITS

ROBERT F.

E Co.

1956

1958

R0344L

DOMETROVITS

WILHELMINA

Ladies Reserve

A0201

FELDMAN

IRVING J.

 

1946

1948

2428R

FINNEGAN

GERALD

M Co.

10/1950

6/1952

3063L

FOGARTY

PATRICK

I Co.

1950

1952

0571R

FRANCO

JOSEPH

A Co.

1952

1953

0083L

GAGE

RICHARD L.

A Co.

1948

1951

5020L

GILI

SPIRIDONE

C Co

10/1/1952

1/1/1953

4370L

GOZICK

RICHARD

D Co.

6/1957

2/1959

0115RD

HEIMRICH

EDWARD J.

H Co.

1950

1951

R0704CFL

HODGSON

MILDRED T.

Ladies Reserve

186L

MAJ HOLLAND

SAM

E Co. RAK 3

1950

1951

4089R

JOHNSON

WALTER

B Btry 674th Abn FA

9/1/1950

6/1/1952

2767R

MAJ RET WALTER

KLEPEIS

A 674th Abn FA 

1943

1969

2946CFL

KRUMHOLTZ

WALTER

HQ1BN

3/1951

3/1953

5310R

LEHMANN

MICHAEL

G Co

R5106

LEWENTAL

HUGO

 

R0564

LEWENTAL

LUCY

Ladies Reserve

0211CFL

LtC (R) LICHTER

LESTER

Sv Co.

1/1/1952

Retired

2798R

MAHER

DANIEL B

F Co

2/1/1950

2/1/1953

r0800

NIEMIERA

Priscilla

Ladies Reserve

6446L

NOLAN

WILLIAM

SPT Co.

1951

1953

4846R

PALMETTO

JOHN

E Co.

1952

1953

2962R

PIATO

MAURICE J.

K Co.

1952

1952

1022

RHATIGAN

JOHN P.

M Co.

1951

1954

4308R

SANDIN

JOSEPH

C Co

6/1/1949

9/1/1952

5023R

SCHMIDT

HAROLD E

D Co

07/01/50

12/01/51

4055R

SWEENEY

FREDERICK

K Co

 02/52

2/53

1527L

VAN HOVEN

DAVID

HQ-HQ

1951

1953

1986CFL

VAN LINDT

RICHARD

L Co.

10/1947

1/10/1951

1054R

WARD

THOMAS T.

B Co.

1951

1952

1275R

WILLIAMS

FRANCIS

B Co.

1951

1953

2617r

WING

ADNEY

HQ 3rd

1951

1953

08836L

WORTHINGTON

JOHN E.

HQ & HQ 2nd BN

1950

1953

2437L

ZAMORA

ANDREW

HQ & HQ 2nd BN

1949

1951


Great Day Rangers!


A serious note this day to recognize the valor and intrepidity of all who fought along the Wonju Line in February of 1951. It was there the Chinese Army was turned in what many refer to as the “Gettysburg of the Korean War”.  It was a violent and savage battle of not one –but- two enemies.  The first being the many waves of the Chinese Peoples Volunteer Army and the second was the combined rugged mountainous terrain and extreme cold in excess of -30*f. Soldiers dressed in cotton clothing, leather boots, and light gloves, fought with a determined stubbornness expected of Americans and won.


Attached to recognize their Valentine’s Day of 1951 is the Distinguished Service Cross citation of LT William Dolan the Platoon Leader of 1st Platoon,  Easy Company, 2nd Bn-187th ARCT. 1st Platoon seized Hill-255 at Wonju in a fight of epic proportion. Importantly, Lt. Dolan’s Platoon Sergeant who was also there that day, is on the TO: line of this message. He’ll kick my @ss for mentioning that but it will be worth a whoopin’.


“Lest we forget!”


Arlie



To All Who See These Presents Greeting:


This is to Certify that The President of the United States of America Takes Pride in Presenting The Distinguished Service Cross to

DOLAN, WILLIAM J.


Citation:


The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to William J. Dolan (0-1688721), First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving Platoon Leader of the 1st Platoon of Company E, 2d Battalion, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division. First Lieutenant Dolan distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Wonju, Korea, on 14 February 1951. When Communist forces seized hill 255 four miles northwest of Wonju and. Seriously threatened the communications center in that city, Company E was ordered to retake the hill and surrounding high ground in a coordinated attack with other elements of the 2d Battalion. Lieutenant Dolan was ordered to attack with his platoon on the right of Company E. The platoon reached the military crest of the hill, but was forced to fall back in the face of withering machine-gun fire. In this initial attack Lieutenant Dolan was wounded in the thigh by grenade fragments but refused to leave his platoon for medical aid. Three subsequent attempts were made to reach the crest of the hill, but each time the platoon was forced back. With casualties steadily mounting in his platoon, Lieutenant Dolan decided his only chance for success was to storm the enemy position. Reorganizing his platoon, he instructed each man of his plan, and on his signal the platoon made an assault up the hill and into the very midst of the enemy. In the savage hand-to-hand fighting which ensued, Lieutenant Dolan personally killed over thirty of the enemy with his carbine, hand grenades, and rifle butt. Inspired by the actions of the 1st platoon, another element of the attacking force reached the hill crest from the flank and engaged in the fray. After the objective had been secured, a total of 451 enemy dead were counted, the majority of which were credited to Lieutenant Dolan’s platoon.

Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 151 (March 20, 1951)

Home Town: Mackinac, Michigan