Tag Archives: El Paso Texas

FASF Member appointed as M/G – 1st CO of Infantry Division

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Who is this distinguished member of both the FASF and the El Paso Flight 24 of the Daedalians?  When she last attended and spoke at one of the Daedalian Meetings, she was already a Brigadier General, but upon her return to her native California, she was soon promoted to Major General, a rank displayed by two General’s Stars on her epaulet.

It is U. S. Army and California National Guard Major General Laura Yeager.

Yeager, already an accomplished U.S. Army Black Hawk combat pilot, made news by becoming the first-ever female to command a full U. S. Army Infantry Division, ranging in its ranks from 12,000 to 20,000 troops.  Yeager is her married last name, and her maiden name is Brandt.  Her father, before her, was also an Army aviator and flew many missions in Vietnam.

Newly retired in May of 2022, the General is already busy traveling about speaking to various civic and military groups about leadership and her stellar career of 36 years in the U.S. Army.

Here are some photos taken when she was the speaker at the El Paso, Texas Daedalian Flight 24, which was also attended by our own Treasurer and long-time member, Alma Villezcas.  They are pictured below along with FASF member, Cadet Amber Valverde.

December 2018 at Daedalian Flight 24 Meeting: L to R: Amber Valverde, General Yeager, and Alma Villezcas

General Yeager explains the mission of Task Force North’s Mission out of El Paso TX

                     Major General Laura Yeager On the Cover of the Toastmaster National Magazine

In Full-Dress uniform, Major General Laura Yeager addresses her troops . . .

The following photographs are courtesy of the Los Angeles Times and their staff photographer, Raul Roa:

Maj. Gen. Laura L. Yeager, walks past Adjutant General, California Military Department Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, left, during the change of command ceremony for the 40th Infantry Division at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos on Saturday. Yeager, from Fountain Valley, CA is the first woman to lead a U.S. Army Infantry Division.

Maj. Gen. Laura L. Yeager, left, with retiring Maj. Gen. Mark Malanka, right, rides along for a review of the troop formations during the change of command ceremony for the 40th Infantry Division at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, CA.

Major Gen Laura Yeager, facing the camera and grasping the Division Battle Flag, takes over command of the US Army’s 40th Infantry Division.

Close-up of Maj. Gen. Laura L. Yeager, left, with retiring Maj. Gen. Mark Malanka, right, reviewing the troop formations during the change of command ceremony for the 40th Infantry Division at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.

Maj. Gen. Laura L. Yeager, left, looks on during the change of command ceremony for the 40th Infantry Division at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos with General Malanka on the right.

A member of the 40th Infantry Division, Captain Capt. Gerrelaine Alcordo talks about her excitement to have a woman in charge of the 40th Infantry Division at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.

The following photos of the General are from various other sources, including the US Army:

T                                     hen full-Colonel Yeager when on active duty in Iraq.

Maj. Gen. Laura Yeager speaks during the 40th Infantry Division’s change of command ceremony on May 15, 2022, at Camp Roberts, San Luis Obispo, CA.  (Courtesy U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Lani Pascual, 40th Infantry Div.)

MG Laura L. Yeager and her Father MG Robert Brandt, both Army Combat Helicopter Pilots, pose before US Army Chinook Troop Carrier Helicopter – US Army Photograph

Below is a brief (2:04) News Clip of General Yeager by KPIX | CBS NEWS BAY AREA about her taking command of the 40th Infantry Division at Los Alamitos, CA.

Below: Official Army Video of the 40th Infantry Division change of command ceremony from MG Laura Yeager to MG Michael Leeney (2:03 minutes long)

 

Next, courtesy of the UC Irvine Alumni Association, is a (44:30-minute-long) interview of now-retired Major General Laura Yeager by her childhood friend and fellow class of 1986 graduate, Libby Doughty. Both women sit as Directors on the University’s Alumni Board.

Below, is an official Army biography of General Yeager’s 36-year career through her retirement in 2022:

SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE:  ROTC

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
University of California – Irvine – BA – Psychology
Chapman University – MA – Psychology
United States Army War College – MSS – Strategic Studies

MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED
AMEDD Officer Basic Course
AMEDD Officer Advanced Course
Combined Arms and Services Staff School
Aviation Officer Advanced Course
United States Army War College
United States Army Command and General Staff College, Brigade Pre-Command Course
Dual Status Commanders Course (NORTHCOM)
Army Senior Leader Development Program-Basic (ASLDP-B)
Harvard University, General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar
CAPSTONE
Joint & Combined Warfighting School (JCWS) JPME-II
Army Strategic Education Program – Advanced (ASEP-A)
Harvard University, Senior Executives in National and International Security (SENIS)
Army Strategic Education Program – Command (ASEP-C)
Combined / Joint Forces Land Component Commander Course (C/JFLCC)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE(S)  None Recorded

PROMOTIONS DATE OF APPOINTMENT
2LT 30 May 86
1LT 21 Oct 87
CPT 1 Dec 89
MAJ 1 Dec 98
LTC 23 Mar 04
COL 1 May 11
BG 8 Mar 16
MG 20 Jun 19 (2019)

 

FROM TO ASSIGNMENT
Jun 19 2022 Commander, 40th Infantry Division, Los Alamitos, California
Sep 17 Jun 19 Commander, Joint Task Force North, USNORTHCOM, Fort Bliss, Texas
Jun 16 Sep 17 Director, Joint Staff – California Joint Force Headquarters, Sacramento, California; dual-hatted, April 2017 – September 2017, Army National Guard Assistant to the Commander, United States Army Alaska, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
Aug 13 May 16 Chief of Joint Staff, Joint Forces Headquarters-California, Sacramento, California
Mar 12 Jul 13 Commander, 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fresno, California
Sep 10 Mar 12 Deputy Commander, 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fresno, California and OPERATION NEW DAWN, Taji, Iraq
Sep 08 Sep 10 Chief, Operations, Training and Standardization, Joint Forces Headquarters-California, Sacramento, California
Mar 06 Sep 08 Commander, 3-140th Aviation Regiment, Stockton, California
Apr 04 Feb 06 Brigade Executive Officer, 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fresno, California
Jun 02 Apr 04 Aviation Maintenance Officer, Headquarters California National Guard, Sacramento, California
Mar 01 Jun 02 Brigade S-1, Aviation Brigade, 49th Armored Division, Austin, Texas
Oct 99 Feb 01 Brigade Equal Opportunity Advisor, Aviation Brigade, 49th Armored Division, Austin, Texas
May 97 Oct 99 Battalion S-3, 3-140th Aviation Regiment, Stockton, California
Aug 96 May 97 Assistant S-3, 3-140th Aviation Regiment, Stockton, California
Mar 95 Aug 96 Flight Platoon Leader, 1-126th Medical Company, Mather, California
Feb 94 Feb 95 Military Subjects Instructor, Department of Healthcare Operations, Army Medical Department Center and School, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
May 92 Feb 94 Air Ambulance Platoon Leader, 507th Medical Company (AA), Fort Hood, Texas
Dec 91 May 92 Student and Commandant’s List graduate, Army Medical Department Officer Advanced Course, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
Aug 90 Dec 91 Company Commander, Medical Center Brigade, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
Aug 89 Aug 90 Assistant Administrator, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
Jan 89 Aug 89 Aeromedical Evacuation Officer, Fort Rucker, Alabama
Feb 88 Jan 89 Student and Commandant’s List graduate, Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course, Fort Rucker, Alabama
Sep 86 Dec 87 Platoon Leader, 423rd Medical Company, Fort Lewis, Washington
Jun 86 Sep 86 Student and Commandant’s List graduate, Army Medical Department Officer Basic Course, Fort Sam Houston, Texas

 

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE
Commander, Joint Task Force North, USNORTHCOM, Fort Bliss, Texas Sep 17 – Jun 19 Brigadier General
Chief of Joint Staff, Joint Forces Headquarters-California, Sacramento, California Aug 13 – May 16 Brigadier General

 

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE
Deputy Commander, 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, OPERATION NEW DAWN, Taji, Iraq Nov 10 – Dec 11 Colonel

US DECORATIONS AND BADGES
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star)
Iraq Campaign Medal (with 1 Campaign Star)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with 1 Bronze Hourglass and “M” device)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon
Expert Field Medical Badge
Senior Army Aviator Badge
Parachutist Badge

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Army Aviator
Flight hours: More than 1500
Aircraft flown: TH-55, UH-1, UH-60
Pilot wings: Fort Rucker, Alabama

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Toastmaster’s International, Club Number 04391254
Association of the United States Army
Military Officers Association of America
Daedalians
Whirly-Girls

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2019, Joint Qualification Level IV
1986 Army Reserve Officers Training Corps, Distinguished Military Graduate.

DAEDALIAN FLIGHT 24, ALL FASFers, TEST NEW LOCATION

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A few days ago, at their monthly meeting, the Daedalian Flight 24, all long-time members of the FASF, tried out a new meeting location in picturesque downtown historic El Paso, Texas.  They had most recently been convening at the Ft. Bliss Golf Club but missed the elegance and efficiency of the old El Paso Club, which was also downtown.

The Daedalians had held their regular monthly meetings at the El Paso Club for some 37 years, but it was closed because of the COVID pandemic and has not yet re-opened.  In the meantime, the group decided to try the historic ANSON ELEVEN restaurant as a substitute gathering facility.  The ANSON is dedicated to the memory of General Anson Mills, who built the building in which the restaurant (named in his honor) is located, back in 1911, thus the number after his first name of Eleven.  Interestingly, General Mills was the actual designer of El Paso as a city, drafting the plans back in the late 19th Century while stationed at Ft. Bliss.  General Mills, after retiring from the U.S. Army, became an extremely successful entrepreneur and millionaire.

Below are a few photos taken of the Daedalian Meeting (Click any picture for hi-resolution):

L to R above: Early arrivals; Col. Bob Pitt, Julie Pitt, Connie Sullivan, Marian Diaz, Josiane Solana, Gerry Wingett, Roger Springstead, Jerry Dixon, Col. Mario Campos, and Judy Campos, Virg Hemphill, and Kathleen Martin.

L to R above: Marian Diaz, Josiane Solana, Gerry Wingett, Roger Springstead, Jerry Dixon, Col. Mario Campos (Flight Captain), Judy Campos, Virg Hemphill, and Dr.Kathleen Martin.

L to R above members and guests watching “An American Love Affair” about the Curtiss Jenny . . . Mariana Diaz, Josiane Solana, Gerry Wingett, Roger Springstead, Jerry Dixon, Melissa, and Alan Fisher . . .

Clockwise from lower R: Mariana Diaz, Josiane Solana, Gerry Wingett, Roger Springstead, Jerry Dixon, Julie Pitt, Melissa Fisher, Cols. Alan Fisher and Mario Campos, Judy Campos and Ulla Rice . . .

FASF’s Home Town Celebrated Founding Day Over Weekend

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    Mayor Bruce Salas

After several less than exciting false starts, Mayor Salas‘ idea of starting a new day on which Columbus will celebrate it beginnings – now called Founding Day – was a great success two weekends ago.  If you’d like to guess when that historic date was, just go to the end of the post/story.

Other old time FASF members in addition to Mayor Salas also played an active role in helping the event go over the top.  July McClure, our Recording Secretary and Aerodrome Editor busily entertained the crowds at the East end of town in front of her Tumbleweed Theater. Another long-time member and major donor, our FASF landlord, Norma Gomez, also answered many questions thrown her way by a number of festival attendees as well as participants and caballeros.  Your  Webmaster took the Mayor aside for a five minute interview about the event, which appears below.  Click in the lower right of the screen to view the video full-size.

All in all, the festive celebration was a genuine step back in time to the late 19th Century, when the streets of Columbus were as actively used by horses as by its citizens.  Here are some photos taken of the occasion.  If you’d like to see them full size and in high resolution, simply click on them:

                        FASF Office the Chamber of Commerce (White Building) & Tumbleweed Theater (yellow)

                                                              Looking West along Broadway Avenue

    This was back then, above – and below is today: 1916-Ravel Bros. Mercantile Store Downtown Columbus

                                                              City Hall and Sheriff’s Office complex

                                                         A look down Broadway to the West in 1916

                                             Broadway blocked off for the Horse Parade- Looking to the West

            To East: The Railroad Depot and the railroad to El Paso in 1916 – Today’s Depot is the Historical                        Society’s Museum.  Today that railroad is the bed for NM State Route 9 to El Paso, Texas!

                                                                            Columbus Court House

                                          Former Mayor Philip Skinner’s Los Milagros Hotel

                 Celebrants and horsemen chatting outside the Restored Senior Center Facility

                                     View inside the Senior Center where Free lunch was provided for all . . .

                                                            Sheriff’s Team Joined the party in the Park

                                                Visitors enjoying lunch outside the Borderland Cafe

After the parade there were still many horses to be loaded for their trip home . . .unless they were among those who rode to Columbus.                                                              COLUMBUS WAS FOUNDED ON JUNE 18, 1891!

It Took 2 Years – But The FASF Has its NM Historical Marker!

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Thanks to the untiring efforts of our 1st VP, Jason Adams, the FASF now has its own local NM State Historical Marker firmly planted near our historic 1916 Airfield, which, as Columbus Mayor Bruce D’Salas’ official business card proudly states:  is “The Cradle of American Air Power.”

Let’s take a photographic look at the sequence of actual physical events that took place before the two-year long process of obtaining state approval for the Historic Marker was successfully completed.

The entire lengthy process took place under the jurisdiction of the New Mexico Department of Culltural Affairs. The Department’s web pages describe the process involved: “The markers happen through a strong partnership among the Historic Preservation Division, the Cultural Properties Review Committee, New Mexico Department of Transportation – and the public.” 

All of these agencies and groups must have been queried and counselled in order for such a Historical Marker to be approved, and then finally contructed for the site it represents.  As you might imagine, Jason had a big task in hand to get this objective reallized, and it took no small amount of patience to weather the long process involved in the achievement.  But, today, we now have this marker in place, with its own highway tourist/visitor pull-off parking area so that passing motorists can conveniently pull off state Highway 9, right in the town of Columbus itself, to safely read both sides of the sign’s historical inscription.

Remember: Just click on any photo below to see it in full-size and hi-resolution!

L to R: Miguel Garcia, of Deming, NM, and Baltazar Granados, who actually  hails from Columbus, are with the New Mexico Department of Transportation (DOT), and did the original site survey work for the new FASF Historical Marker.

Miguel and Baltazar pose by their truck before commencing the survey work. The FASF billboard marking the 1916 airfield is behind them to the left.

Here is Baltazar measuring the dimensions for locating the new Marker Sign. Highway 9, in the forefront, has a steep drop-off shoulder closer to the Airfield, so these men had to find the nearest place where the shoulder was relatively flat, so that passing motorists might easily park their vehicles when they go over to read the Marker Sign. These men began this stie work almost exactly one (1) year ago!

Here we see the men from the P&M Sign Company Team working to erect the new sign, which was made by their firm under contract to the state of New Mexico. P&M makes most of these historical marker signs for New Mexico.  They are located in picturesque Mountaiinair, NM.  This work was completed by them this past September

Here are the actual text portions of the two-sided Marker, which clearly point out the historical information regarding the location’s importance.  This sign is heavy-duty and completely weather proof.

The P&M team halfway through to completion. L to R: Larry Archuleta of Las Vegas, NM, Marcos Tavera ,Charles Padilla, and Andrew Lopez, all three from Mountainair, NM

Here is the front side of the sign, with page one of the story facing to the West.

And here, above, is the back side of the Marker, facing East towards El Paso, Texas. You can see by the construction of the Maker that this ediface is both sturdily made – and situated.

L to R: FASF celebrants of the new Sign’s Official Dedication: Columbus Mayor Bruce D’Salas, Airfield Director, Bob Wright; Long-time FASF member and just-retired Manager of the nearby Pancho Villa State Park, John Read; FASF Treasurer, Alma Villezcas; Bill Madden, Airfield Site Chairman; Fritz Wagoner, Airfield Survey & Artifact Team; and Historical Marker Committee Chairman, 1st VP of the FASF, Jason Adams, and his daughter, Chloe.  All four of the FASF members on the right side of the sign are from Las Cruces, NM.  At the left in photo, The Mayor and Bob Wright are from Columbus, and John Read and Alma Villezcas are both from Deming, NM.

MEMBERS PHOTOGRAPHED AT VARIOUS HOLIDAY EVENTS

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The following photos were taken at the annual Christmas Luncheon for Daedalian Flight 24 at the El Paso Club,  All members of the Flight are active members of the FASF.  The guest of honor and presenter at the event was Army Aviator, General Laura Yeager (no relation to the famous American Test Pilot, Chuck Yeager!), who briefed the members on her mission at Fort Bliss as Commander of the JOINT TASK FORCE NORTH.  All of the below photos are in high-resolution and can be more fully appreciated by simply clicking on them.

FASF members, Col. Bob Pitt (L) chats with (at center) Aviation Hall of Famer, Bob Dockendorf, at Daedallian holiday event.  AT the podium, at right, in the background is Flight Captain Roger Nichols.

Daedalians and guests prepare for General Yeager’s presentation . . . Her staff is at left: Aide de Camp, Capt. Sperry, and USAF Sergeant Oliver.  The General’s Command is a Joint Command, composed of all the military services.

L to R: Julie and Col. Bob Pitt, Roger Nichols and Bob Dockendorf

L to R at wall: Alma Villezcas, Virg and Jenine Hemphill, Lt. Pfluger, David Ginn, Alan and Melissa Fisher, and forefront, Julie Pitt, District Court Judge Angie Juarez Barilland her husband, Patrick Barill

L to R: Loading up their buffet lunch, Bob Dockendorf, Judy Campos, Alan and Melissa Fisher

Brig. General Laura L Yeager opens her presentation

       General Yeager explains how her Command coordinates with many other Federal Agencies in its mission.

                                                          Col. Bob Pitt and General Yeager

L to R: Outgoing Flight Captain, Roger Nichols, Gen. Yeager, Sgt. Oliver, Capt. Sperry and Col. Pitt

L to R: Gen. Yeager chatting with Cadet Ammber Valverde, the youngest FASF member and UTEP student.

                                              Col. Alan Fisher speaking with Cadet Ammber Valverde

L to R: Ammber Valverde, Gen. Yeager, and Alma Villezcas, FASF Treasurer

The following photos and the video are of the Civil Air Patrol Squadron 24 Christmas party in Las Cruces, NM.

L to R: Michelle Phillips, William Benziger Juanita and Robert Macklin, Alan Fisher, and Walter Dutton, at whose home the event was held.

In front row kneeling or sitting are, L to R:  Alan and Melissa Fisher, Ric Lambart, Walter and Barbara Dutton,  and in the rear: Alma Villezcas, Travis McKenzie, Jim and Luann McConnell, Damien and Carol Blaschka, Robert and Juanita Macklin, William Benziger, Michelle Phillips, and Michael LeGendre. 

CAP Squadron Commander, Natalie Franc, Briefs Daedalians

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Major Natalie Franc, a native of Glenhrothes, Scotland, is the current commanding officer of the El Paso, TX Civil Air Patrol (CAP) “Composite” Squadron. As distinguished from a regular squadron, a Composite Squadron includes a CAP Cadet Corps, along with its Senior Members.

Natalie began her career with the CAP when living in Hawaii after having been in the Royal Air Force (RAF), in which she enlisted when 18 years old, after having first served, since she was 13, in the Air Training Corps of Great Britain.  In the RAF she was assigned to Intelligence, where she used her skills as a linguist with a fluency in the Russian Language.

When on active duty with the RAF she met and married her husband, Michael, who was also in the Intelligence branch of the U. S. Army.  When he was transferred back to the U.S. in 2002, she moved there with him.  Before finally settling in El Paso, Texas, Natalie had lived in Maryland, Hawaii, Arizona, and Germany.  As a civilian, in addition to her work with the CAP, she has worked in various capacities in Emergency Services and has been a volunteer with Army Family Programs and has also been an Armed Forces Caseworker.  Natalie now runs her own business in El Paso.

The Major showed a custom prepared Power Point slide show to the Daedalian Flight members, who are also members of the FASF.  The following photographs of this event are all in high-resolution, and can be seen full-size by simply clicking on them as they appear below.

L to R: Major Natalie Franc, Colonels Mario Campos and Bob Pitt.

L to R: FASF Aviation News Scout, Virgil Hemphill, Colonels Norman Rice (back to camera) and Alan Fisher. Colonel Fisher is also an active volunteer pilot for the Las Cruces, NM Squadron of the CAP.

L to R: Mark Pfluger, Active Duty Army Rotary Wing Pilot from Ft. Bliss’ Biggs Army Airfield, and his mentor, Flight Captain, Roger Nichols.

L to R: Maj. Franc, Col. Campos and his wife, Judy, Julie and Col. Bob Pitt, Retired USAF Colonels, Melissa and Alan Fisher, Virg Hemphill and Roger Springstead (USNR Ret.) Anselmo Rocha, Assistant to Col. Norman and Mrs. Ulla Rice, Jerry Dixon (USMC), Dave Ginn, Charlie Overstreet,  Jim Brandon, Col. Pete Brandon’s visiting brother, and just out of camera range to Pete’s left is his guest,  Skip Orrell.

Major Franc adjusts computer projector . . . as she explains that the CAP has the largest single-engined fleet of Cessna Aircraft in the world.  The powered aircraft total is about 560, and she reported that the CAP also owns 47 glider-sailplanes, which are used to train Cadet members, along with several Hot Air Balloons, which select Cadets are also taught to operate and fly.

The Major explains the National CAP organization’s composition . . . which inlcudes the Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

In this set of slides, Major Franc gives some examples of the CAP role in Search and Rescue Operatrions (“SAR” Ops).

L to R: Melissa and Alan Fisher and Virg Hemphill listen to Maj. Franc explaining her El Paso TX CAP operation . . .

Here the CAP Commander explains the role of the CAP in disaster Relief Operations, noting her own squadron’s heavy involvement in Hurricane Harvey, which struck East Texas, in particular, the Houston area.

In this slide the Major explains that the CAP mission also includes other roles in addition to Search and Rescue and Disater Relief . . . pointing out that her squadron plays an important role in Border and National Air Space Security.

Here Natalie describes the numerouis mission qualifications in which CAP members work throughout the Squadrons.

And here she shows the Daedalians and their guests how the CAP stays in constant radio contact with its mission personnel and aircraft during operations . . .

Major Franc sums up her presentation and takes questions from the audience . . .

L to R: Major Franc and Flight Captain Roger Nichols study one of the slides shown during the presentation.

L to R: Col. Bob Pitt, Major Natalie Franc, Flight Captain Roger Nichols, and Colonel Campos, who invited the Major to make the presentation . . .

L to R: Flght Captain Nichols and newly inducted Daedalian, Dave Ginn, and Colonel Bob Pitt.