'Ohe  
(ieorgia (iuarJJman 
 
* * * * * * * ':Bri'3 <gen ettarLed ~. ':Dauid 
o4cceptd ':Diuidion eoLord 
'grom <gen ':B. 'g. crr[erritt 
 
 GOVERNOR LESTER G. MADDOX 
 
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S MESSAGE 
 
MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE J, HEA RN 
 
My Fellow Guardsmen: 
A momentous year has passed, one which has brought me great personal pride in your accomplishments. 
In this time of reflection, as the year ends and another begins, I would like to express to you my appreciation for your Esprit de Corps, for your unwavering loyalty, and for your attention to duty in the face of news reports about an impending reorganization of our Army National Guard components. 
Your unfailing attitude of responsibility and dependability in such a yea.r of change has resulted in the highest number of superior ratings ever received at our division's final summer encampment, 68 superiors out of 95 units inspected. Our Air Guardsmen have also performed most remarkably in their communications and air transport missions. It is encouraging to note, too, the highly developed sense of civic responsibility among both Army and Air components during recent task force training for the control of civil disturbances. 
In the coming year, we will meet the challenge of reorganization. But we will lose the famed 48th Armored Division, a division rich in the annals of military history and tradition. This event will be a note of personal sadness to me; however, we shall continue to march forward in a manner which justifies great pride as we adapt to new units, new missions, new equipment and with renewed strength. 
 
 ~--------------------------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN 
THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN 
Vol. I7 Sep - Dec 1967 No. 4 
A publication of the Department of Defense, Military Division, State of Georgia. Published in the interest of the Georgia National Guard and distributed free to members of the National Guard of Georgia. The Guardsman uses AFPS material. 
 
HONORABLE LESTER G. MADDOX GOVERNOR OF GEORGI A 
MAJ GEN GEORGE J. HEARN THE ADJUTANT GENERAL 
L T COL DOUGLAS EMBRY Editor 
Public ation and Editorial Office P. 0. Box 4839 
Atlanta, Georgia 30302 
OUR COVER ... 
Change of Command ceremonies were held in Moeon at the Shurl ing Drive armory 9 Dec when retiring Generol Benjamin F. Merritt, right, presented the colors of the 48th Armored Division to Brigadier General Charles L. Davis. The ceremonies were attended by many of the division's senior officers. In the background is Brig General Roy W. Hogan, ossi stont division commander. Sergeant Major James L. Kirkwood is the color bearer. Story on General Merritt's colorful career appears on 
page 2 of this issue. 
SEP  DEC 1967 
 
The NGB On-The-Job Unit Training Achievement Award is presented to T/ Sgt 
John Harte of Mori etta's I 29th Toe Con Flight, Go ANG, as other Guardsmen of the flight observe. It is the third consecutive year the I 29th has earned the award for "attainment of above overage ANG skill manning and specialty knowledge test passing rote." Presenting the certificate is Brig Gen Paul S. Stone, Asst AG for Air. Others in the group ore, 1-r, SMSgt Robert N. Bryans, Lt Col Iverson H. Copeland (I 29th commander), SMSgt Joseph T. Waldrop, MSgt Harold Light, 
MS~t Bobby J . Dodd and (for right) Moj Howard J . Duff, Air Advisor. 
 
ANG Tac Conf 
Held in Savannah 
A conference of 125 senior Air National Guard officers from 29 states. was held at the Manger Hotel in Savannah 7-8 November. 
The officers met to schedule annual field tra1mng and Joint Chiefs of Staff exercises for the coming year. 
The group was welcomed by Brig. Gen. Paul S. Stone, assistant adjutant general of Georgia for Air. The initial phase of the conference was opened by Col. John Pesch of the National Guard Bureau at the Pentagon, and Col. John Susott of the Tactical Air Command at Langley AFB , Va., who discussed the projected joint exercises of the Air National. Guard and the U. S. Air Force fighter units. 
Maj. Gen. Charles H. DuBois addressed the group on "The Concept of Future TAC Exercises. '' DuBois was comma nder of the first Air National Guard tactical exercises in Indiana called "Guard 
Strike One." Lt. Col. Albert S. Ellington , 
ANG Training Site Supervisor a t Travis Field, was host and in charge of all arrangements. 
Col. Joel B. Paris, form er Commander of the Ga ANG' s 128th Fighter Squadron at Dobbins AFB , 
 
TITLE I REPORT ED, 
TITLE II DEFERRED 
On 7 November 1967, the Senate Committee on Armed Services voted unanimously to take the following action regarding H.R . 2. 
Title I was reported, with certain proposed amendments, to the Senate for action. Title II (Techmclan Retirement) will be deferred in order to permit a further review of a number of questions. 
Senator Stennis, acting for the Committee Chairman, emphasized that the nature of the committee' was not to vote down Title II, but to defer it in order to review the rssues involved. 
It was the consensus of the committee that action on the tech mc1an problem should be completed as soon as possible. It was hoped that committee action could be completed early in the next s ession of Congress. 
T itle II of H.R. 2 would convert National Guard te;hnici ans to federal employee status with recognition of past service for Civil Service Retirement and other benefits. 
was one of the conference delegates. Col Paris is ANG liaison officer of the Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, Va. 
 
 THE GEORGIA G U A R D S M A N - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - _ _ _ ; -- - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -- 
 
':/3. Cj. CJJlerritt ~etire._, a._, ~t ~eneral 
 
The commanding general of the Georgia's 48th Armored Division, Major General Benjamin F. Merritt of Macon, has retired after more than five years at the helm of Georgia's major National Guard component. 
Named to succeed General Merritt, who has served as Mayor of Macon for the past four years, is Brigadier General Charles L. Davis, former assis tant division commander from Savannah . 
Major General George J. Hearn, 
Adjutant General of Georgia, announced the change of command effective 1 December 1967 and the promotion of General Merritt to the retired rank of lieutenant general. 
Merritt joined the National Guard in Macon 1 Dec 24 and was commissioned ORC, Infantry, 21 Aug 27. He became captain in the Guard in 1937. He entered active federal duty 16 Sep 40 as commanding officer, Hq Co, 59th Inf Brigade, 30th In Division, Macon. Later he served in the G- 3 section of the 30th Div. 
General Merritt served overseas from February 1942 to July 1945 with duty in England, Africa and the continent tci Europe, where he served on the staffs of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Omar Bradley, and Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. He holds the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, both French and Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm, EuropeanAfrican-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 5 battle stars, and many others. 
Returning to Georgia as a colonel, Merritt assisted in the organization of the 48th Infantry Division and served as its first chief of staff upon the division's activation 18 Aug 47 . 
After a year's service as division artillery commander in 1956, he became assistant division commander and was promoted to brigadier general 19 Nov 57. On 29 J ul 62, General Merritt was promoted to major general of the line and assumed command of the 48th. 
2 
 
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BENJAMIN F. MERRITT 
 
An eloquent and powerful spokesman for National Guard interests, General Merritt graduated from the Command and General Staff School in 1942 and attended refresher courses at the Staff College 16 times since 1949. 
General Merri tt , who is married to the former Pauline Spratling of Macon , has recently accepted the position of Vice President, In- 
 
dustrial Development, Southern Railway System. 
Official change of command ceremonies took place in Macon at division headquarters armory at 4 P.M., 9 Dec 67. 
The best wishes of the Georgia National Guard were extended to General Merritt on this occasion for his long and faithful servic e to his Nation and the State of Georgia. 
 
SEP- DEC 1967 
 
 ------------------------------------------~----------------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN 
 
Air Guard Loses Veteran Aaron Roberts To Heart Attack 
 
Major Aaron B. Roberts, assistant aircraft maintenance officer of the ll6th Consol Acft Maine Squ a dron , died 20 October in Marietta following a heart attack. 
As one of the earliest members of the ANG during its formative yea rs , Major Roberts joined the 128th Observation Squadron 9 Dec 41. One week later, he was on fed eral active duty as an aerial gunner, serving until 8 Sep 45 . 
On 19 Jan 47, he joined the Gua rd's 54th Fighter Wing at Marietta, and trained as an aircraft mechanic , rising in grade to ma s ter sergeant by October 1950, wh en he was again inducted into fe deral service for the Korean Conflict. After compltting this tour of duty, most of which was spent in Alexandria, La. with the !37th Fer Bmr Wing , he returned to Dobbins AFB, becoming a Line Ch i e f . 
As an expert in the maintenance of both conventional and jet aircraft assigned to the Guard, Roberts was given a direct commi s sion to captain 13 Oct 59 and was elevated to assistant aircraft mai ntenance officer. 
An indefatigable worker , Roberts was promoted to major 30 Dec 63 , serving as aircraft maintenance sta ff officer , 116th Materiel Sq. He had a key role in the transition of the squadron through several changes of aircraft and can be cr edited with being largely responsible for the high in-commiss ion rat e and low accident rate experienc ed by the s quadron in two dec ade s of post WW II fly ing . 
SE P  DEC 1967 
 
MAJOR AARON B. ROBERTS 
In 1958 , Major Roberts was awarded the Georgia Distinctive Service Medal for outstanding performance during field training the previous year when the squadron transitioned into the new F84F Thunderstreak supersonic fighters. 
His WW II service was orimarily in the European Theater of Opera tions where he earned the ,\ir Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Unit Ba dge, and the European-African-Middle East Campaign Ribbon with two battle stars . He also held the American Service Medal with battle star for anti-submarine duty. 
He was a graduate of Rus sell High School , East Point, and had lived for the pas t seven years in Woodstock. He served as a Cherokee County Deputy Sheriff, a director of the Victoona Civic Club and was a member of the East Point Methodist Church. 
His survivors include his wife, the former Margaret Thayer, former Air Guardsma n Woodroe E . Roberts , Sr., present Air Guards man Ri chard A. Roberts, Harold Roberts of College Park, and two sisters . 
Burial was at the Marietta National C emetery wi th the Air T e chnician Detachment of the ANG at Dobbins AFB as honorary escorts. 
Mission Accomplis hed! In Fiscal Ye ar 1967, Air Guard tran sport uni t s airlift ed 41,845 tons o f cargo and 146,092 passengers whi l e logging some 34, 343, 122 nauti cal mi l es flown. 
 
SGM JOHN R. BRASWELL 
Winder G'rdsman 
Is Sgt Maior 
John R. Braswell, one of the Georgia Army National Guard's sergeants major, is serving as Brigade Operations Sergeant of HH C, 3rd Bde , 48th Armd Division, in Winder. 
SGM Braswell , who resides in Monroe , was an aircraft mechanic with the Army Air Corps , 1945 through 19 47, serving on the Pacific Island of Guam the last year of his active federal duty. 
He first joined the Guard as a member of Co C, of the old !90th Tank Battalion, in Americus in April , 19 53, becoming a tank commander. In December of 1953, he was assigned as Commo Chief of Hq Btry, 108th AAA Bde in Win der. He has had continuous duty with the Winder headquarters hav ing served in such positions as Intelligence Sergeant, First Sergeant and Operations Sergeant. 
SGM Braswell holds the Armed Forces Reserve Medal and the Ga ARNG Service Medal. He attended the Cooks and Bakers School in 1946 and Installation Intelligence School in 1962. 
He is a graduate of Walker High School in Monroe and is presently employed as Repairman-Installer for the General Telephone System in Monroe. 
A 5. 6% boost in basic pay retroactive to 1 October has been approv ed by Congress. Th e pay effects th e National Guard, as well as the active Armed s ervic es. 
3 
 
 THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN 
 
MISS GEORGIA, SANDEE MCCREE, OPENS ROME RANGE 
 
L T HILLMAN BAKER GIVES SIGHTING TIPS 
 
G; T;: ~; :N ;:~: hR;M~:~ ROME YOUTHS GET INSTRUCTIONS ON AIMING POSITIONS Guardsmen at 
 
I 
2 ol: 
 
Daisy target rifles plus thousands 
 
paring the tent, arranging for sand- 
 
I 
 
Beaming happily, more than 
 
of BB's and targets. Using guide- 
 
bags and for coordinating the 
 
10 , 000 children from Georgia have 
 
lines and experience gleaned from 
 
transportation to and from each 
 
come from five State fairs with the 
 
other States which had been putting 
 
fair." 
 
credentials of "Junior Sharpshooter 
 
on similar exhibits, a committee 
 
Initial placing of the proj ect 
 
of the Georgia National Guard." 
 
headed by Lt Col Douglas Embry, 
 
was in Rome at the Coosa Valley 
 
As an adjunct to Governor Lester 
 
Guard Information Officer, planned 
 
Fair, where Capt. William V. Wigl ey 
 
Maddox's safety programs, Major 
 
a "package" display which could 
 
processed 1,430 boys and girls, 
 
General George J. Hearn inaugu- 
 
be shuttl_ed from one fair site to 
 
ages 10-14, through the safety 
 
rated an air rifle safety program, 
 
another. 
 
program. Lt Hillman Baker, Ex Off 
 
sponsored by National Guard units 
 
Workhorse from the word "go" 
 
of Co A, 2nd Bn , 108th Armor , 
 
in communities where fairs were 
 
was Major Charles C. Ricketts, 
 
briefed the first group in the pro- 
 
held in September, October and 
 
Asst. State Maintenance Officer, 
 
per techni que of aiming and hand- 
 
November. 
 
who was commen ded by General 
 
ling of the air rifles . 
 
The Adjutant General, with the cooperation of the Daisy Manufacturing Compan y, obtained 12 
 
Hearn for "arranging for the mechanics of setting up the exhibits, designing the layout, pre- 
 
Each child was given 10 shots all for free, a fter which he or she received the punctured target and 
 
4 
 
SEP  DEC 1967 
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN 
 
"FLOAT" CREATES INTEREST DURING ATLANTA PARADE 
 
SONS OF ATLANTA GUARDSMAN AIM FROM "FLOAT" 
 
WALTON COUNTY BOYS LINE UP IN MONROE 
 
MONROE BOYS DISPLAY TARGETS AND "SHARPSHOOTER" CARDS 
 
School Children to Shoot Safely 
 
a "Junior Sharpshooter" card with his or her name typed on it. 
Six target positions were set up in a large maintenance tent with sand bags and plyboard for protection. Strong emphasis was placed on safety procedures used by Guardsmen on "real" firing lines . 
A nearby trailer was handy for storing the rifles, tables and chairs, typewriter and other essentials for the complete display. Miss Georgia, Sandee McCree, was on hand to open the Guard exhibit at Rome 18 September. 
Next, the rifle range was taken 
 
to Atlanta for the Southeastern Fair. Kicking it off was a National Guard "float" entered in the annual SE Fair Parade. Two sandbagged "fox holes" on a pinestudded flat-bed trailer, manned by 11 kids with air rifles, called attention to the free attraction. Atlanta and Decatur units manning the display processed 3,541 children through the rifle range. 
Next, the exhibit was taken to Monroe, where Capt Mell Cleaton's Guardsmen "qualified" 870 sharpshooters. The following week, Waynesboro's unit, commanded by Capt Edward E. Glisson, processed 
 
SEP- DEC 1967 
 
1,200 more. The display wound up in Savan- 
nah for the Coastal Empire Fair where Col Ed Evan's artillerymen accounted for 3,379 more young riflemen being exposed to National Guard firing indoctrination. 
In all, a total of 10,420 youngsters were given personal instructions in firing technique and safety. The "free" event received wide acclaim from the press, radio and television news media, plus the expressed thanks of many citizens who viewed the public service display and saw the beneficial results of the rifle training. 
5 
 
 THE GEORGIA G U A R D S M A N - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - 
PICTORIAL HIGHLIGHTS OF GUARD ASSN CON FERENCE FEATURE KEY MILITARY SPEAKERS, ADDRESS BY COMMANDER-fN-CHIEF 
L T COL ROSCOE LOWERY , GA ASSN PRES, MAKES KEY ADDRESS 
 
HAPPY, M/ G CANTWELL, NGAUS CHIEF, ADDRESSED GEORGIANS AT ASSOCIATION GATHERING 
 
GENERAL MERRITT REPORTS ON GUARD MEMBE RSHIP 
 
B/ G SOUTHWARD SPEAKS FORTHRIGHTLY 
 
M/ G TWITCHELL SHOWED VIETNAM SLI DES 
 
L T GEN VICCELLIO TELLS CONTI NENTAL AIR COMMAND STORY 
 
6 
 
SEP - DEC 1967 
 
 --------------------------------------------~~--------------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN 
 
L T W. J . NELSON CONGRATULATED ON COMMISSION BY GEN HEARN, GEN MERRITT, COL EVANS, L!C WILLIAMS 
 
SEN AND MRS. TALMADGE GREETED BY GUARD COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 
 
GOY MADDOX ADDRESSES GUARDSMEN AND GUESTS AT ANNUAL BANQUET 
 
GEN LLOYD RECEIVES CONFEDERATE COLONELCY FROM GEN HEARN AS MADDOX'S BEAM APPROVAL 
 
LANNY FREY'S SAX STIMULATES TERPSICHOREAN MOOD SEP- DEC 1967 
 
"LIGHT FANTASTIC" TRIPPED BY GUARD COUPLES 7 
 
 THE GEORGIA G U A R D S M A N - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
AERIAL PORT FLIGHTS ACTIVATED TO PRO VI DE FORWARD AIR TERMIN ALS 
 
SGTS HAROLD DAVIS, LEFT, AND BARI'fEY FRANKLIN, RIGHT, RECEIVE PLAQUES FROM MAJ EVERT HEATH FOR "FAITHFUL SERVICE" 
 
Awards Presented at First 
 
Recon Alumni Assn Party 
 
Proving that "old soldiers" are reluctant to "fade away," the "Alumni" of Troop D, lst Reconnaissance Squadron, 108th Armor, met November 3 at the Ma rietta National Guard Armory. 
Highlight of the festivities consisted of presenting plaques for honorable and faithful service to Ma ster Sergeant Barney H. Frankl in, who retired from the Guard with 22 years service, and to Ha rold D. Davis for 21 years service , by the men of Recon Alumni and Company B , 248th Signa l Battalion. 
Col or movies and s lides of past Summer Field Trainings at Fort Stewart were shown to revive old memo ries of past experiences. 
Everyone was glad to see old fri e nds once again , and to discuss current positions and events. Three of the former Guardsmen came from out-of- s tate , as far as Chattanooga, Orlando and Alabama. 
The men formed the Recon Alumni Association to meet annually for parties. Music was furnish ed by the Alumni. 
When the partying was finished , the 70 former Marietta Guardsmen indicated they were looking forward to the next meeting in the summer of 1968. 
8 
 
M!Sgt Dickerson 
1st Aeromed in SEA 
M/ Sgt. C harles B. Dickerson , Jr., 
116th Aeromed Evacuation Squadron (ANG) , recently became the 
first medical technician from his unit to participate in a live Aero- 
medical Evacuation mission within Southeast Asia. 
On authority from 22nd AF (MAC), Sgt. Dickerson proceeded on July 
20, 1967 to Travis AFB , California, to arrange for airlift to Tachikawa 
AB, Japan , arriving there 22 July 1967. He then reported to the 56th 
Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Yakota AB , Japan to be scheduled 
for missions throughout Southeast Asia. 
While TOY , Sgt. Dickerson participated in aeromedical evacua- 
tion missions to Alaska, Viet Nam , Philippine Islands and Travis AFB, 
California. Many battle casualties were on board during these missions. USAF C-1 4 1 Starlift Aircraft ~ere utilized. 
Sgt. Dickerson's tour ended with his return to Dobbins AFB on 5 August 1967 , having paved the way for other members of his unit who are scheduled to participate throughout FY 1968 . 
 
The second of two Ga ANG units is to be activated 13 January 1968 when the 165th Aerial Pore Flight will be established at Travis Field, Savannah. The 128th Aerial Port Flight was activated at Dobbins Air Force Base on 20 May 1967. 
Both units are to provide additional air terminals and air heads in forward operating locations fo r the purpose of expediting loading and unloading the ANG' s giant C-124 Globemasters. 
Each Aerial Port Flight is authorized 10 loadmasters and one officer, a captain , plus 13 other specialists. 
On the above missions, he experienced a rapid decompression , and the failure of the hydraulic system which controls the lowering of the landing gear and nose steering. The landing gear was lowered manually and the nose steering was controlled by the foot brake. Also his aircraft was fired upon going in and out of Viet Nam. 
During Sgt. Dickerson's tour in 
the Regular Air Force during the Korean War, he performed many patient movement missions in the far east. These missions carried battle casualties from the Korean battlefront to Pacific area hospitals. 
Since being assigned to the 116th Aeromed Evac Sq. ANG ., Sgt. Dickerson has participated in missions to Greenland, Germany, Scotland, New Foundland, Canada, Mexico, Viet Nam, Puerto Rico, Panama, C. Z. , Hawaii and Alaska. 
Sgt. Dickerson is employed by Lockheed Aircraft Georgia Company as an Expediter in Production Control. He had been assigned to the C-141 Starlifter project but recently was re-assigned to the C5A Galaxy Program to alleviate all critical shortages. 
Sgt. Dickerson resides with hi s wife and four children at 247 3 Mellville Avenue, Decatur. 
SEP  DEC 1967 
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN 
 
GUARD "LIFE" 
Air Guardsmen will begin receiving their pay monthly and in th e form of checks issued by a computer in the Air Reserve Forces Centralized Pay System, after 1 Jan. Checks will be issued by the Air Force Accounting & Finance Center in Denver, Colorado. 
 
 ~~oUAR7t.tJ 
~~------=::------=- i~ 129tb 
TAC CON FLT 
 
SFC Arthur N. Yeargin has retired from the Georgia National Guard after . 24 years ''honorable and faithful" service. 
SFC Yeargin is the former Chief of Firing Btry of Btry B 1st Bn (HJ) 214th Arty, Elberton . His retirement was effective 31 Dec 67. He has been a Guardsman since 11 Aug 49 when he joined Btry A 950th AAA AW Bn in Elber.ton. 
For economy, or other reasons, the famed "P erry Match es" have been cancelled for 1968. The annual Ohio Shoot-Out will not be supported by the Army next year and hopes to save some $2 million dollars in pay of personnel and ammunition expenses. 
 
General Gabriel P . Disosway, Commander af Toe Air Command, visited Dobbins AFB in November and inspected !29th Toe Control Flight. In the group are LTC Iverson H. Copeland, .!29th Commander; BG Charles S. Thompson, Jr., Commander, I 16th Mi I Alft Wg; Col Joel B. Paris, Georgi a Air Guardsman on duty at Toe Hq; and General Di so sway. The four star general also vi sited Lockheed-Go Company. 
 
SFC Jim W. Cooper has retired from the Georgia Na tional Guard after 20 years "honorable and and faithful" service. SFC Cooper is a former tank commander of Co B, 2d Bn , 108th Armor, Ga ARNG . His retirement was effective 1 December. He has been a Guardsman since July 1949 when he joined Co F, 122d lnf, GaARNG in Cedartown, Georgia. 
The State Public Information Officer, Lt Col Douglas Embry, has wun two first place awards in photography in the third annual National Guard Photo Contest. A color shot of Tifton Guardsmen dueling with "pugil sticks" was tops in the Infantry classification, and the black & white Air Transport award was won by Col Embry's photo of two armored personnel carriers emerging from the cavernous nose ramp of one of th e Ga AN G' s C124' s at Dobbins AFB. The awards consisted of framed en largements of the winning entries. 
SEP- DEC 1967 
 
Guardsmen of Cedartown's "old" Btry F, 214th Coast Arty, got together again November 25 with other members of the unit for a reunion and buffet supper. Guest speaker was W. D. Trippe. Ninety-two of the original 100 members are still living. Jam es L. Carter was program chairman. Forrest L. McKelvey was 
named reunion chairman for 1968. 
Colonel James M. Johnson, Ieft, receives the State Di sti ncti ve Service Medal from Brig Gen Paul S. Stone, Asst AG of Ga for Air, in October ceremonies honoring the Senior Air Force Advisor to the Ga ANG for "meritorious service" from July 64 to Oct 67. The popular advisor, who was former Chief of Staff of the 21st AF, was cited for his "invaluable aid to the Wing in its global air transport mission. His insistence upon rigi d compliance with MAC directives has instilled a sense of discipline and competence in assigned aircrews. " Colonel Johnson retired from the Air Forc e 31 Oct 67 after 30 years service and also received the Air Force 
Commendation Medal . 9 
 
 THE GEORGIA G U A R D S M A N - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
Advisor Awarded DSM 
Under the prov1s10ns of Section 86-1112, Code of Georgia Annotated, for exceptionally meritorious and distinctive service, the Distinctive Service Medal of the State of Georgia is awarded Lieutenant Colonel Barth C. Kaigler, advisor to the 406th Ordnance Company. 
~olonel Kaigler was cited for "meritorious and distinctive service in the performance of his duties as advisor to the 406th" since 1 December 1965. 
"His enthusiasm and tireless efforts in behalf of the unit have contributed materially to the high state of readiness and effectiveness the unit has attained. These accomplishments demonstrated his initiative, resourcefulness and untiring efforts to achieve maximum results in all phases of his duties as an Army Advisor." 
* * * 
On today' s market there is anew chlorine scented deodorant, so you'll smell like you have a swimming pool in the back yard. 
* * * 
Have you tried a Hemline Cocktail? Two of em, and you're higher'n a skirt. 
 
HOW TO A VOID SNAKE-BITE 
 
CWO James A. Yancey 
 
A troop train rolled through the summer night, across eroded red hills through darkened little towns and darker forests. Now and then at ~ 
 
crossing its whistle wailed mournfully. 
 
Inside the train it was noisy. Someone strummed a guitar. A group of 
 
men sang loudly, and a quick burst of laughter followed an old joke. A 
 
poker game drew a crowd of watchers who were either too broke or too 
 
smart to play. 
 
A tall, skinny private detached himself from a group and strode toward the rear of the train. He came finally to the last car, occupied by officers 
 
of the regiment, and stopped to watch an infantry captain dealing black- 
 
jack. He suddenly sat down on the seat arm. In doing so he brushed 
 
lightly against a major who, until then, was engrossed in the game. The 
 
major looked up now, and his surprise was comical. 
 
"What the h--- you doing in here, Snake?" the major asked, his face 
 
reddening. 
 
"Why, nothin' Major," the private said. "I'm just watchin' the game." 
 
"Well, you just haul your carcass out of here -- and get back where 
 
you belong." 
 
The private jumped up, waved a quick salute, and hurried out. Back at 
 
his car, noting the clouded look on Snake's face, someone asked the 
 
trouble. "Boy!" Snake said. "What a snob! That Major Rosser pulled his rank 
 
on me." 
 
That was Snake Harrigan, a career private in the old guard. He came 
 
from a run-down, impoverished place we used to call Tumipville, and if 
 
he had a first name nobody remembered it. 'Snake' was a fitting name, 
 
for it described his moral make-up perfectly, and, to a lesser degree, his 
 
physical form. He stood six- four, weighed in at 130-odd pounds, and his 
 
eyes reminded me of a benign cotton-mouth. He finished the 6th grade, 
 
and his IQ was roughly the same as his collar size, but he had a sort of 
 
left-handed, weasel shrewdness that got him by in most situations. 
 
By some miracle Snake had become affluent enough by the second day 
 
of camp to indulge in a little poker. Through luck --- or unusually agile 
 
fingers --- he cleaned another private of his money, and then, in order, 
 
his uniforms, boots, razor, toothbrush and a loud sport shirt. With that 
 
kind of luck Snake clung to the sucker like a leech, and in the end he won 
 
the private's personal services for the remainder of camp. The implica- 
 
tion is staggering. For the next 12 days he would shine Snake's boots, 
 
make his bunk, pull his KP and virtually anything else. Since Snake was 
 
indolent by nature, he was understandably jubilant over his sudden windfall. 
 
The arrangement lasted two days. Then Snake over-played his hand. 
 
When the Topkick found Snake in his bunk after missing reveille forma- 
 
tion he wanted to know why. He was advised that Private Sucker was 
 
supposetj to make formation in Snake's place. Such a statement is guaran- 
 
teed to arouse the curiosity of any First Sergeant and this was no ex- 
 
ception. A brief question-and-answer exercise followed, and when it was 
 
over the Top-kick said, in a voice suddenly cold, "Follow me, Snake." 
 
"Well, Snake," the captain said a few minutes later. "Tell me all 
 
about it." 
 
And Snake did. But as he began to sing he lost, for once, his usual 
 
composure. This was understandable. Snake had never seen the captain's 
 
face tum purple before. It didn't take a mental giant to realize the cap- 
 
tain was very angry. 
 
The captain then carefully explained that holding another in bondage 
 
was illegal and implicitly forbidden, and in the light of this Snake was 
 
to immediately free the private from slavery and return his personal items 
 
besides. He had a few other words for Snake too, but they are hardly 
 
worth repeating here. 
 
(continued on next page) 
 
10 
 
SEP- DEC 1967 
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN 
 
Drive Unto Others As You Would Have Them 
Drive Unto You 
As Billy Graham said in his article, "I am convinced that highway safety is a spiritual problem, and that we Christians have a definite obligation to drive carefully and safely on the hiihways. Most people do not associate careful driving with spiritual living, but there is a connection. 
"The basic problem has its roots deep in the hearts and minds of the people. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Safely Commissioner has said, "Highway safety cannot be achieved by engineering alone, neither can it be brought about by education and law enforcement alone." Thus the basic problem points to a moral and spiritual solution. 
"One of the greatest causes for highway accidents is the breaking of the Golden Rule."' 
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so unto them."--Matthew 7..:12. 
In other words -- "Drive unto others as you would have them drive unto you.'' 
"'":--... ,: /,, ~.:<M,1,tt.~ '.A .. 
.> 
 
* * * 
If you can't get away for a vacation just tip every third person you meet, you'll get the same feeling and become just as broke. 
Dublin Guardsmen 
Honor Lions Club 
For Vietnam "Roll" 
The NGEM Association, composed of enlisted members of the Dublin unit of the Army National Guard, recently presented the Dublin Lions Club with a plaque which recognized and expressed their appreciation for the Dublin Lions erecting an honor roll to Laurens County men serving in one of the branches of service in Vietnam. This honor roll is maintained on the public park square in the heart of Dublin and lists the names of men who have given their lives in Vietnam as well as all those who are serving there from Dublin and Laurens County. 
Col. Joe Wingard, USAF (Ret), president of the Dublin Lions, accepted the award from MSG Vernon L. DeLoach of Hq Co, 1st Bn (M) 12lst Inf, at a ceremony following a drill assembly at the local unit Armory in Dublin, with the company assembled. 
 
Delaware Group 
Wins Recognition 
For 0/R Capability 
WASHINGTON, D. C. (NGAUS) -The !66th Military Airlift Group of Delaware was named as the most operationally ready Air National Guard Military Airlift unit at ceremonies during the 89th General Conference of the National Guard Association of the United States. 
A plaque symbolizing the honor was awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Albert A. Poppiti, Commander of the I66th Support Squadron. 
The I66th, based at Greater Wilmington Airport, flies C97 "Stratofreighters." Commanded by Colonel Clarence E. Atkinson, the 166th is one of 24 Air Guard Military Airlift Groups that in the first seven months of this year have flown more than 17 million miles carrying 59,964 passengers and 22,433 tons of cargo in support of the Air Force's Military Airlift Command. 
FLIPPER FLIPS FOR THE HEART FUND 
 
HOW TO AVOID SNAKEBITE 
After Snake was dismissed, the First Sergeant entered the orderly room. He stood just inside the door for a moment, and then he said. "Captain?" 
"Yes, Sergeant?" the captain said. "Can I choke Snake a little?" "No," the captain said. "Absolutely not." Then he turned and looked out the window. His eyes were half closed and he seemed to be daydreaming. After a moment he stood up, took a deep breath, and sighed. "It's probably against regulations," he said. 
SEP  DEC 1967 
 
FAMED TV PORPOISE, wearing heart-shaped collar, invites your support of the 1968 Heart Fund Campaign, being c on duct e d here and ~throughout the nation during February. 
II 
 
 THE GEORGIA G U A R D S M A N - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - _ : _ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - 
 
FIRST SGT DEWITT WATERS 
NE GA. GUARDSMEN WIN JOURNAL AWARD 
HEADQUARTERS, THIRD US ARMY, Fort McPherson, Georgia -The fourth annual Atlanta Journal Army Achievement Awards ceremony honored three outstanding Georgia U. S. Army Reserve enlisted men and three outstanding Georgia National Guard enlisted men Nov. 18, on Hedekin Field, Fort McPherson. 
National Guard w.inners are: First Sergeant DeWitt Waters, and Private First Class Larry J . Webb, 1st Battalion (Honest John), 214th Artillery, Elberton, Ga., and Staff Sergeant Albert Brown, Company C, 648th Maintenance Battalion, Field Support, Toccoa, Ga. 
Mr. Jack Spalding, Editor of the Atlanta Journal, accompanied by Lieutenant General J. L. Throckmorton, Commanding General , Third U . S. Army , presented the awards. 
The Gold Medallion Award was established to recognize the achievements of reserve component members in summer field training and in armory training. Recipients are nominated by unit commanders for their outstanding performance of duty. 
Winners are selected by a panel of officers who judge the nominees on their citizenship qualities , instructional ability, enthusiasm , loyalty, attitude, military courtesy, appearance, knowledge of their jobs, initiative, reliability, judgment and common sense. 
12 
 
STAFF SGT ALBERT BROWN 
Savannah Crew Takes 1st Vietnam Mission in Cl24 
After only four brief months of training in the Cl24 Globemaster, an aircrew of Savannah's I 65th Military Airlift Group took off for its first mission to Vietnam in the massive Douglas-built transport on 16 October. The four-engined goliaths were assigned to the Travis Fielq ANG unit in July as replacements for its C97 Boeing Stratofreighters. The October flight, to take military supplies to Tan Son Nhut Airbase outside Saigon, continues on a monthly basis. 
''l'M AFRAID WE.'VE SEEN FOLLOWING A C!<EASe /N TKE MAP/'' 
 
PFC LARRY J. WEBB 
129th Tac Con Flt 
In "Guard Strike" 
The 129th Tactical Control Flight, which participated in "Guard Strike I" during the period 16 June through 15 July 1967, operated a radar control and reporting post with all associated communications and support equipment. The 129th furnished all operational equipment for a similar unit to operate the CRP. 
The 129th, with the assistance of the 116th Military Airlift Wing (ANG), placed into operation, and proved, the Tactical Control Systems' Mobility Plan by moving the tactical elements of equipment by MAC aircraft. This move required ten C-124 aircraft. Support equipment and personnel were moved by organic surface transportation. 
During this operation at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the 129th Tactical Control Flight utilized the vast land area and ranges to team with fighter-bomber aircraft of the Navy and A G to provide close air support for Army personnel participating in ''Guard Strike I" the largest such operation ever attempted by the National Guard . 
The 129th is commanded by Lt Col. Iverson H. Copeland. 
The National Guard Bureau staff con sisted of 276 p erson s, of whom 9 2 were military, on 30 J un e 1967. 
SEP- DEC 1967 
 
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INFO KIT ANSWERS ATTACK ON GUARD BY "LIFE" MAGAZINE 
 
Response to the vtcwus attack on the National Guard contained in recent issues of Life and Time magazines, has come in the form of an information kit prepared by 
the National Guard Association of 
u.s. 
 
Kits were mailed to senior commanders in each Georgia NG community. The kit contained a pattern radio script, fact sheet on the Guard to be used as an editorial, a sample feature article and other valuable data that can be used as material for a speech to local 
 
audiences. Commanders concerned were 
urged by General Hearn, in a cover letter, to take action at an early date to conta<. _news media in each NG locality so that a factual account of the Guard's accomplishments can be given to the public. 
 
Lt Col Ed Westlake Responds 
To Life Magazine's "Comic Soldier" Slander 
5 November 1967 
Mr. Charles A. Adams, Vice-President "Life" Subscription Service Chicago, Illinois 60611 
Dear Sir: 
After more than 20 years as a subscriber, I want my subscription cancelled immediately. Rebate the unused balance paid on my subscription. Do NOT mail another issue to me. 
Your article "Favorite Haven for the Comic Soldier" in the October 27, 1967 issue is a gross slander maligning the National Guard, an organization that has played a vital role in preserving our nation throughout its history. 
It seems obvious that your Mr. William McWhirter started with a preconceived plan for the article he planned to write- - then set out to find the "facts" to support it. He became an "expert" on the National Guard by attending four training assemblies as a self-confessed yardbird who "lied a great deal" to get in. 
As a veteran with four years of active duty during World War II - three years as an enlisted man, with service in the Philippines as an Artillery officer, 17) years as a reserve officer, and over 20 years as an officer proudly serving in the Georgia National Guard, I can say from personal knowledge and experience that McWhirter's article is a wanton distortion of the facts. I won't attempt to ascribe a motive to him. It is sufficient to say that this type of biased, dishonest reporting is a disservice to the National Guard, its members who give it proud and devoted service, to the American public and to your own publication. 
EDWARD W. WESTLAKE Lieutenant Colonel, Artillery Georgia Army National Guard 
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 rUifON.\l GUARD 
OEFEN~S 
 ., ,. It 
Acquisitions Division The University of Georgia Libr a r i e s The University o f Georgia Athens, Georgia 
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Experimental Sports 'Plane Built by CWO Metts 
 
A "hot" little experimental aircraft has been constructed by CWO Marquis Metts, vehicle maintenance officer of the ANG Training Site Detachment, Travis Field, Savannah. The highly talented Metts, a World War II veteran of the European and CBI Theatres, began his Guard career in 1946 when he became an aircraft inspector technician. He was recalled to active duty for the Korean Conflict in 1950. Returning to Travis Field, he became vehicle maintenance officer in 1953. 
C WO Metts said he got his idea of building a ' small sport airplane by talking to a friend, Ed Woods, a pilot on the Mexican Border Patrol. It took five years and "a lot of fun building it, ' ' but Metts finally glued on the finishing touches in January of 1967 after 
,,.,,,,,,, 
 
putting some $1800 worth of materials into it. Plans for the aircraft were traded to Metts by the Experimental Aircraft Association for an aileron for a Reawin Sporster. Metts redesigned the plans and started on the aircraft in May of 1962. It was licen sed on 21 January 1967. 
The sleek little by-wing monoplane is powered by a 130-horsepower Lycoming engine. It has a medal prop, 68-61 length and pitch, giving his bird a 140 MPH cruising speed. Metts, who has logged some 15 hours in the aircraft so far, says it lands around 80 miles per hour, "handles real well in the air," but is real tricky on the ground. It is only 17 -feet long with a 20-foot wing span. It has a Mark 3 Narco 180 channel with an omni radio and almost a full panel. It is 
 
stressed for 9-G' s and 1s fu lly acrobatic. 
CWO Metts entered the Army Air Force on 17 January 1942 at Fort Bragg, NC and was sent to Hunter AFB, Savannah as an aircraft and engine instructor. Later he volunteered for overseas duty and went to Casablanca, Africa as a gunner on a B25. He saw duty throughout North Africa -- at Oran, Algi ers, Tunis and Tripoli -- then he went to Sicily, Plezmo , Cantania and Messina. He later moved on to Italy, Bombay , India, Assam and Burma. From Burma he flew 106 missions "over the hump" to China. He has five battle stars for European action and three for the CBI Theatre. Metts says he has rebuilt many aircraft in his lifetime, but never before has he constructed a complete airplane from raw material. 
 
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