The White Falcon - 27.02.1960, Side 1

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THE WHITE

tieauquaiters, Iceland Defense f orce, Keflavik Airport, Iceland Saturday, February 27, 1960 >|
2nd BCT Sails lor Home Next Thursday
“Compassionate” Whines
Switch “George” to AF
Seven year old “George”, mascot for the 2nd BCT, was
deemed too young for the Old Soldiers Home in Washington
D.C. and that posed a serious problem for the shaggy
Army veteran and for the officers and men of the 2nd BCT.
This problem was solved last week when George officially
became a Technical Sergeant with the United States Air
Force with permanent assignment in Iceland.
A letter, written to the Old
Soldiers home in Washington, D.
C., asking if “George” might be
retired there, was answered by
the Deputy Governor there who
stated that there were no facili-
ties available for “pets”. So, a
decision had to be made as to the
disposition of George upon the de-
parture of the Army.
Representing the 1400th Air
Base Squadron of the Air Force,
First Lieutenant William L. Ric-
hards accepted the “shaggy dog”
from 1/Lt. Godfrey Ludlow, Com-
pany A’s executive officer. Since
the 1400th ABRON will move into
the billets now occupied by A
Company, George will not have
to move.
During the ceremony attended
by Colonel B. F. Evans, Jr., com-
mander of the Army forces in
Iceland, and Major Walter H.
Snelling, commander of the 2nd
BCT, George was cited by the
Company Commander, Captain
John L. Chilelli, for his contribu-
tions to the morale of the bat-
talion. The citation stated that
George “... .disregarding his own
personal comfort and welfare, . .
could be depended upon to provide
the battalion .... a new mascot
every year or so. Subsequently,
we have “Nato and Arsop,” both
sons of George. The citation con-
tinued: “It is with great sorrow
and pride that we leave George
to his surroundings and his habi-
tat.”
George, who does not take well
to publicity and photographers,
upset the proceedings temporarily
when he became aware of the
flashbulbs to which he protested
with vigor. Otherwise his only
statement was an highly articul-
ated: “rowf!”
Thus is the problem of George
settled and it is now the responsi-
bility of the Air Force. It is hoped
that George will brighten the lives
of the men of 1400th ABRON as
he has done so faithfully for the
men of the 2d BCT and, especial-
ly, those of A Company. Goodbye,
George!
Here’s How
If you’ve ever wanted to help
somebody and didn’t know how
.... here’s your chance to help
a lot of “sombodies” by giving
your dollars to the Federal Ser-
vice Campaign for National
Health Agencies.
Toastmasters
Invite NCO’s
To Meeting
Air Force and Navy NCO’s at
Keflavik Airport are urged to
attend the local organizing meeting
next week of one the most practic-
al social-education organizations
in the world, Toastmasters Inter-
national.
Toastmaster’s is a world-wide
educational and social organization
featuring the systematic and
“painless” training of public
speakers. The program utilizes
educational materials and indivi-
dual workbooks prepared by the
head office of Toastmaster’s Int-
ernational at Pasadena, Calif.
And how is the Toastmaster
system of training public speak-
ers “painless?” Because the new
club member doesn’t get on his
feet until he volunteers (usual-
ly after two or three meetings)
and then his talk is limited to
one minute. After he has made
several talks he volunteers to
give a four minute speech during
the formal part of the program.
From then on he is placed on
a regular schedule and can ex-
pect to make a talk almost every
other meeting.
From his first talk the new
member will receive friendly
evaluation from other club memb-
ers and soon he is selected to
evaluate speakers himself. In ad-
dition to becoming better speakers,
Toastmasters also become better
listeners!
Although primarily and educa-
tional organiation, many close
friendships are formed among
Toastmasters, all of whose com-
mon background includes broad
interests and the desire to im-
prove themselves.
For training purposes the busi-
ness portion of Toastmasters
meetings are conducted according
to strict parliamentary procedure.
Old Toastmasters invariably end
up in key positions in clubs, fra-
ternal organizations and PTAs.
The time and exact meeting
place for the organizing meeting
will be publicized in the the NATO
Blade and on Radio. For further
information call TSgt Duane La-
Baumbard at 4132 or SSgt Frank
C. Rogers at 4156.
Final Chapter Written
On Famed Arctic Rangers
By PFC James H. Fay
On Thursday, March 3, the main body of the second
Battalion Combat Team will move to the Army Port at
Reykjavik, and board the troop ship which will take them
to the United States. The embarkation will mark an end
to an era, that of the tactical U.S. Army forces in Iceland.
March for Health
The Federal Service Cam-
paign for National Health
Agencies is in full swing here
at Keflavik Airport. S ated to
run through March 15, Ke.'la-
vik’s Campaign director, Major
J. L. Hartman has appointed
key men in each unit to seek
contributions from all person-
nel.
Designation cards will be giv-
en so that each contributor may
select the health agency or ag-
encies of his choice .. or he
can give to the campaign as a
whole.
Admiral Visits
Admiral Fitzhugh Lee visited Kefl-
avik Airport last week as a part
of a familiarization tour of North
Atlantic Bases. The high ranking
naval officer is making the tour
in connection with his new job of
Deputy Commander in Chief of
the Atlantic Fleet. During his stay
at Keflavik he inspected several
base facilities. Admiral Lee was
formerly Chief of Naval Air Tech-
nical Training at Memphis, Tenn.
The primary function of the
2nd BCT has been to maintain a
high state of combat readiness for
the ground defense of Keflavik
Airport against an enemy ground,
airborne or waterborne attack.
The maintenance of the Security
Camp, and the guarding of the
fuel tanks at Hvalfjordur, have
been other functions of the Com-
bat Team. .
This unique organization, the
only active Battalion Combat
Team carried on the roles of the
United States Army today, was
activated in July, 1955, in Iceland.
It was composed mostly of per-
sonnel who had served in other
Army units in Iceland which were
inactivated simultaneously.
Dates Back to 1943
The origin of the 2nd BCT dates
back to April, 1943, when the
Second Ranger Battalion was act-
ivated at Camp Forrest, Tennes-
see. In August, 1943, the unit was
redesignated the 2nd Ranger In-
fantry Battalion as it was kno vn
until its inactivation in October,
1945. As the 2nd Infantry Bat-
talion, the unit was reactivated
again in September, 1949, at Fort
Gulick, Canal Zone, and inactivat-
ed at the beginning of the follow-
ing year.
Since its activation in Iceland,
until the present time, the 2nd
BCT has been the principle tactic-
al Army force here and has emerg-
ed as a highly trained unit, well
adapted to sub-arctic conditions.
The Combat Team, known as
the “Arctic Rangers”, is composed
of five elements: The 2nd Infantry
Battalion (Separate); Battery
“C”, 19th Artillery (105mm);
525th Engineer Platoon (Comba1);
95th Tank Platoon (76mm gun);
and the 52nd Infantry Platoon
(Heavy Mortar). The 2nd Infan-
try Battalion is composed of H&S
Company, Companies A, B, C, D,
and the Medical Detachment.
Many Contributions
The Army unit has contributed
to the Base activities in a variety
of ways. The five tanks of the
95th Tank Platoon have proven
indispensable during the seasons
of rough weather. The tank’s
maneuverability in ice and snow
has rendered that machine in-
valuable for recovery of stranded
vehicles and personnel. The heli-
copters of the Army Aviation
Section have been called on for
emergency rescue missions and
(Continued on Page 4.)
American Artist’s Paintings
To he Shown in Reykjavik
Artist Frank Ponzi stands beside “Myvatn and Blue Mountain” one of
the paintings to be exhibited in Reykjavik.
A selection of 30 original oil paintings done in Iceland
by the American artist, Frank Ponzi will be on exhibit at
the National Museum of Iceland in Reykjavik beginning
Feb. 27th till March 8th, 1960. The exhibition will feature
landscape, still-life and portrait and will be the first of its
kind to be shown here by an American.
The artist received his art train-®’
ing both in the U.S. and abroad.
He attended the Art Students
League in N.Y. and after serving
in the Armed Forces during the
Korean crisis, continued his stud-
ies at Oxford University in Eng-
land for three years. His works
have been exhibited extensively in
the U.S. and many of his paint-
ings are in private collections.
(Continued on Page 4.)
You Can Help
The Federal Service Cam-
paign for National Health
Agencies seeks the aid of every-
one here at Keflavik Airport
to reduce the toll taken among
Americans by disease and crip-
pling afflictions.
Congregational Dinner
The Quarterly Protestant Con-
gregational dinner will be held in
the Civilian Club February 29, at
7 p.m. It will be a buffet supper
and all Protestant personnel are
invited to attend.
Colonel Howard E. Kreidler,
Deputy Commander, Air Forces
Iceland, will be the main speaker
for this occasion. Music during
the supper hour will be provided
by the “Esquires” from the 519th
AF Band under the direction of
Red Foster.
Further details of this program
are available through the Office
of the Staff Chaplain, Headquart-
ers, Air Forces Iceland.
NATO
UNIFIED POWER FOR PEACE