Project DREW partners a veteran with a songwriter to capture and memorialize the veterans’ service. It is a two-day event. Saturday’s session is the veteran and the songwriter. Sunday the veteran returns with family and friends to hear the song performed.

Captain Richard M Rees, SF - Memorial - KIA RVN December 1973

• Memorial Day 27 May 1200 hours

• Warren Amphitheater public event

• All Chapter XXXV Members are encouraged to attend in Berets & Blazers

• Private Ceremony at Oakwood Cemetery

• Dedication  of Grave Marker (new) 

• Sole surviving sibling, Mary Fraser, to attend

On 15 DEC 1973, in South Vietnam, during a pause in hostilities between American and communist forces, Captain Rees was killed by gunfire.  The captain and two Special Forces sergeants came under intense  fire while conducting an unarmed Joint Casualty Resolution  Center (JCRC) mission near Saigon.   According to the sergeants, who were rescued, Captain Rees ordered them stay down while he himself stood up and went forward to meet the hostile commander.  The captain's body was recovered later that day by the JCRC force to which he was attached.

His combat decorations included the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars and the Bronze Star.  We are working with the Trumbull County Veterans Service Commission to add the DSC, the second SS and the BS to a new grave marker which will reflect his valor and sacrifice.

Captain Rees was a graduate of Warren G. Harding High School, Class of 1959.

RSVP here.

Our president, and Chapter Founder, passed away April 13, 2024.

We will give Jim a proper send-off Friday May 10th from 5pm to 10pm at VFW 9871, 6805 Lear Nagle Road in North Ridgeville. (map)

Jim’s friends who are organizing the memorial started a GoFundMe in lieu of flowers.

Jim’s obituary is here.

Make sure you RSVP by March 27th. Call Carol Ann at 440-219-6971 or Sharon at 216-225-4082.

Keith R, a friend to Chapter 35, is putting together this unique Tactical Competition. Check it out…

A couple of folks have asked how the Sawmill FTX is different from other tactical competitions. The differences are mission orientation, fitness component, fieldcraft, shooting skills, and decision making while stressed. The Sawmill FTX is built around a rescue mission scenario. Every activity in the FTX is in support of successful execution of the mission. Tactical shooting competitions mostly don’t have a mission scenario. Tactical shooting competitions add fitness components with the goal of stressing the shooter. The fitness/work component is inherent in the tasks of the Sawmill FTX. You’ll understand when you live with your rucksack for the entire competition. Fieldcraft is an integral part of the Sawmill FTX.  Tactical shooting competitions mostly don’t include fieldcraft at all. Rifle and pistol skills are comprehensively tested in the Sawmill FTX, both in a “range” environment and in an environment that mimics real life as closely as practical. Decision making is a significant requirement in the Sawmill FTX. Practicing decision making while stressed leads to better decisions.  Finally, the Sawmill FTX has both a training division and an OG division. I am not aware of any other competition with both those divisions.

Register for the Sawmill FTX at https://practiscore.com/sawmill-ftx-january-7-2024/register