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Kitfox Design Group Releases The Vietnam Throw Blanket

Friday, July 30th, 2021

IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. – (July 30, 2021) Kitfox Design Group is proud to launch their latest and most exciting product yet, The Vietnam Throw blanket. A concerted effort to recognize our military’s history, and a humble nod and a thank you to the servicemen and women who fought in Vietnam.

The Vietnam Throw is woven in a small family-owned mill located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The throw features a Colt XM177E1, Huey helicopters, and a selection of other items and foliage reminiscent of the Vietnam War. The throw blankets are made on European Jacquard looms with roughly eight miles of American made, 100% cotton yarn.

“I had a very rough draft of the pattern tucked away for a few years. My grandfather is a Vietnam Veteran, and because of him, the Vietnam War has always intrigued me, but especially so with his silence on the matter,” said Sara Westman, the owner and illustrator at Kitfox Design Group. “But I never could figure out what to do with the artwork. The idea finally came to me on a beach in Pensacola when I couldn’t stop thinking about how inconveniently small my beach towel was. I thought to myself that I’d rather be laying out on a blanket – and here we are. I am hoping that both military history fans and Vietnam Veterans enjoy this project as much as I have enjoyed learning about the Vietnam War and creating the art.”

Pre-orders open July 30th at 9am Central and will close at 11:59pm Central on August 9th. The orders will begin shipping roughly 4-6 weeks after pre-orders close.

The throw will retail at $125 + shipping, and will ship worldwide. All orders placed on July 30th will receive an early bird gift. In addition to the throw blanket, Kitfox will also be launching a small collection of other items within the Vietnam War theme.

“Items in the collection will include the enamel pins and stickers that our fans are used to seeing from us, but we are also pretty excited about some custom apparel and lifestyle items that we have been working on.”

The throw blanket and other items in The Vietnam Collection are available for purchase on the Kitfox website.

Kitfox Design Group is a marketing and illustration company located in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Kitfox Design Group specializes in marketing goods for the firearm, automotive, and aerospace industries. Pre-order The Vietnam Throw on their website at www.kitfoxdesigngroup.com

Posted in History, Morale, Press Release | 8 Comments »

SCUBAPRO SUNDAY – The Men with Green Faces

Sunday, July 25th, 2021

I remember watching this movie/ video more than once when I was getting ready for BUD/S. It was old, but I used it to look for clues on what would happen and what exercises I should be doing to get prepared. I still like to watch it once a year or so just for fun and to help motivate me to stay in shape. Its, also great to hear the guys talk about being quite professional and that they are doing the job for their brother standing next to them and not so they can write a book when they get out. Maybe they should start having people watch it before they start training.

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, History, Maritime, SOF | Comments Off on SCUBAPRO SUNDAY – The Men with Green Faces

Silent Warrior Foundation Presents – The Glow Tape Story From The Son Tay Raid

Saturday, July 24th, 2021

Our friends at the Silent Warrior Foundation have released another video on SOF history, this time focusing on an aspect of last year’s Whiskey & War Stories event, the 50th anniversary of the Son Tay Raid.

On November 21, 1970 SFC Tyrone Adderly (he retired from the Army as a CSM) fired an amazingly accurate M-79 shot into a guard barracks window while under effective fire during the Raid on the Son Tay Prison Camp to rescue American POWs. In this video he describes in detail the technique and training he used that perfectly prepared him for the high performance he displayed during the raid.

Posted in History, SOF | 3 Comments »

Silent Warrior Foundation Presents – SGM Phill Hanson Discussing Early Delta Assault Vest

Thursday, July 22nd, 2021

In their latest of a series of videos, the Silent Warrior Foundation takes us through an early Delta Force Custom Made Assault Vest with hosts Dave Hall and Retired Delta Force Veteran Sergeant Major Phill Hanson.

The Silent Warrior Foundation is honoring Operation Eagle Claw during their upcoming Whiskey and War Stories event in August. This will include an auction of artifacts signifigant to the mission.

Posted in Charity, History, Load Carrying, SOF | 11 Comments »

MG Eldon Bargewell Delta Park Challenge Coin Fundraiser

Thursday, July 22nd, 2021

The MG Eldon Bargewell Delta Park Challenge Coin is a fundraising effort for the MG Eldon Bargewll Foundation (EBF) to assist in the completion of the Delt Park project.

The purpose of the MG Eldon Bargewell Foundation (EBF) is to honor Hoquiam native Major General Eldon Bargewell USA (ret.) by building Delta Park. Our goal is to raise $300,000 to erect a statue of Eldon and three plaques showing his service to our country, his leadership and the honors he earned, including the Distinguished Service Cross (our nation’s second highest award for valor), 6 bronze stars (3 with V for valor and 3 for his service), and 4 purple hearts.

With permission from MG Eldon Bargewll family and the MG Eldon Bargewll Foundation (EBF), Special Operations Group (SOG) www.norbay.com – History of MACV-SOG, www.sogsite.com, has minted the MG Eldon Bargewell Challenge Coin.

The coin is 1.75″ with a diamond twist cut. One Side MG Bargewell picture, the other side MG Bargewell’s units and commands. Years that he served enlisted and years as an Officer with the United States Army. The cost of the coin is $20.00. $15.00 goes to the park project. $5.00 cost and Admin fees. So far $120.00 has been raised for the park.

Donations will also be used to landscape the park and provide a fund to maintain the park in the future.

100% of donations go to the Delta Park Project and are tax deductible.

We will post monthly on this site the amount of funds raised for this project.

You can purchase this coin on: www.norbay.com

Posted in Charity, Fundraising, History, SOF | Comments Off on MG Eldon Bargewell Delta Park Challenge Coin Fundraiser

US Army Soldiers Experience The Great Escape Tour

Thursday, July 22nd, 2021

?AGAN, POLAND — U.S. Army Soldiers with the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division participated in a guided tour at the Great Escape museum in ?agan, Poland, July 5, 2021.

The Great Escape was a massive escape attempt from Stalag Luft III, a prisoner of war (POW) camp in ?agan, Poland, controlled by Nazi Germany during WWII.

The Troopers walked approximately three miles through the woods to get the chance to learn about an essential piece of military history. Upon arrival, the Troopers were provided with a guided tour from the curator around the remains of Stalag Luft III.

The curator began the tour by leading the troopers to the memorial near the entrance of the museum. He explained the history behind the monument and the dedication to the Soviet prisoners that perished at Stalag Luft III. Outside, Troopers were able to see a replica of an old wooden watchtower and an exit to one of the three underground tunnels.

Once inside, the Troopers saw a miniature model of the camp and where the three tunnels — known as Tom, Dick, and Harry — were dug. This miniature model gave the Troopers a visual of the camp’s diversity. The museum displayed multiple flight suits from different countries.

The curator explained all the planning that went into the escape attempt and mentioned a few facts that aren’t commonly known. The camp was nearly impossible to escape from because of the elevated prisoner housing, loose, collapsible soil, and seismograph microphones in the ground around the perimeter of the camp. The prisoners had to be extremely cautious while preparing to escape under the guards’ watch.

The Troopers were able to explore a barracks replica outside the museum that would have housed prisoners of war. To their surprise, the living conditions in the barracks were much better than expected. There’s a common misconception that Stalag Luft III had living conditions similar to those of a concentration camp.

Although it was a prison camp, the Germans had to follow the rules set by the Geneva Convention according to the curator of the museum, so there was a standard of living that the prison had to uphold.

Staff Sgt. Noah Hill, a brigade religious affairs noncommissioned officer with 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, set up the guided tour. He said he enjoys seeing the Troopers get off base and learn more about the Polish culture near their area of operation.

“We went through our training rotation,” Hill said. “However, I also wanted them to be able to talk about the good that’s in Poland and build that trust with the Polish people who we’re working with.”

Troopers of 1st Cavalry have had the opportunity to partake in a few military history tours like this one. They have also toured Auschwitz concentration camp and been given a Polish military history presentation to understand Poland’s culture better. The 1st ABCT is currently undergoing redeployment operations before heading back to its home station in Ft. Hood, Texas.

By PFC Michael Baumberger

Posted in Army, Guest Post, History, SERE | 1 Comment »

Rocky Account Manager Ralph Borja To Be Inducted Into US Army Ranger Hall Of Fame

Tuesday, July 20th, 2021

NELSONVILLE, Ohio — Ralph Borja, a national military account manager for Rocky Boots, has been selected for induction into the National Ranger Association’s Ranger Hall of Fame. Borja is one of 15 members of the 2021 Hall of Fame class and will be honored in a ceremony July 21st at Fort Benning, Ga.

“Ralph embodies every quality you would expect of a former Army Ranger, and Rocky has been fortunate to have him as a part of our sales team,” said Mark Dean, Vice President of Rocky’s Commercial Military division. “We thank him for his service to our country and salute him for his induction into the Ranger Hall of Fame.”

Borja, a native of Agana, Guam, served a total of 31 years in the military in numerous special operations roles. He entered the Ranger Indoctrination Program immediately after basic training and then joined the 75th Ranger Regiment in January 1980. During his career, he served as a Ranger instructor, Sergeant Major at multiple battalions, Brigade Command Sergeant Major with the 10th Mountain Division, and Command Sergeant Major at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

He is also a Master Parachutist with two combat jumps, first into Grenada during Operation Urgent Fury in 1983 and again into Panama as a part of Operation Just Cause in 1989. For injuries sustained in Panama, he was awarded a Purple Heart. He later deployed to Afghanistan twice, earning a Bronze Star during one of those tours.

Borja holds several other awards and decorations including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit award.

After concluding his military service, Borja joined Rocky in July 2013 and has demonstrated incredible acumen and leadership as a sales manager. He is a highly valued conduit to the world’s largest tactical distributors and has played an integral role in establishing Rocky’s Commercial Military Brand domestically and abroad.

The Ranger Hall of Fame was formed in 1992 to honor and preserve the spirit and contributions of America’s most extraordinary Rangers. The Ranger Hall of Fame takes particular care to ensure that only the most extraordinary Rangers are inducted, a difficult mission given the high caliber of all nominees. Inductees are impartially selected from the Ranger community and represent all units and eras of Ranger history.

Posted in History, Industry, Press Release, Profession of Arms, SOF, Veterans | 2 Comments »

Silent Warrior Foundation Brings Us More Information On The Operation Eagle Claw Modified Field Jackets And Gear

Sunday, July 18th, 2021

A few weeks ago I participated in an unboxing of a modified M65 field jacket and other gear worn on Operation Eagle Claw, the 1980 raid into Iran to attempt to free American hostages held by Iran.

Since then, several unit veterans have come forward to allow Dave Hall, President of the Silent Warrior Foundation charity to examine their jackets. In this second video, Dave meets with retired Sergeant Major Phil Hanson.

We’re fortunate that they produced not just one video during this visit, but two.

In the first unboxing video there were some surprises like the dog tags and watch cap. This time we get to see the non-issue boots worn by SGM Hanson in Iran along with some other items. You have got to watch these videos, if just to see the rigger modification to the Bianchi holster to make it a drop leg.

The information gleaned from these videos isn’t just of historical significance. The Silent Warrior Foundation is working Bergspitze Customs and Alpha Industries to recreate 10 examples of these jackets for a charity auction as part of their upcoming Whiskey and War Stories honoring Operation Eagle Claw event in August.

The jacket reproductions and many other items will be available for auction on www.auctionfrogs.org during the event.

Posted in Charity, Fundraising, History, SOF, Veterans | 9 Comments »