It is May! 12 days from this morning, we will be restless with anticipation of beginning our trek as we cross our Nation. As of this morning there are 1,181 participants registered for Run For The Wall! Outstanding!
HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE!!
We are 1 Mission, 4 Routes! Our Run For The Wall mission for all 4 Routes is “To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.”
In the April Newsletter, we discussed fuel payments. We are now offering new pre-paid options:
1) $10.00 per day at the first fuel stop.
2) Pre-paid fuel – At “check-in” registration you will have the option of pre-paid fuel for a one-time cost of $100.00. You will receive a wristband and sticker. This process will expedite the fueling process. Riders will not need to search for the “$10.00.”
All “extra” monies collected will support fuel and our charities and the schools we support along the Midway Route during the Run.
It was fantastic to “see” everyone at the FNG orientation meeting. We introduced members of the Midway Leadership, various factors and conditions of the Run, Staging and Fueling procedures, & Gina “Le’ Spice” Cutrer, Staging Team Lead, revealed her new staging team flags, and we discussed the expectations of the riders while on the Run.
Midway Route Leadership continues to work on the finer details. Cookeville Outreach registration/participation is continuing to grow daily. And the Ft. Sill visit is going to be phenomenal.
This will be my last newsletter prior to Ontario KSU. I pray for safe travels for everyone on your journey to join the Run. See you soon.
Honor
Hope
Healing
Jerry “Corp” Wilkins
2023 RFTW Midway Route Coordinator
Is it May yet? No, but we are less than 60 days from KSU for all routes!
May is just around the corner and many of the RFTW participants are ready, while others are still busily preparing for their journeys to Ontario, CA for the start of one of the 3 cross country routes. The Southern Route (SR), Central Route (CR), and Midway Route (MR) depart Ontario, CA on May 16th (MR) and 17th and travel cross country arriving in Washington DC on May 26th. The SandBox Route (SB) follows the 3 cross country routes, departing Washington, DC on May 28th and arrives at the Middle East Conflicts wall on May 30th.
We are 1 Mission, 4 Routes! Our Run For The Wall mission for all 4 Routes is “To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.”
The SandBox Route may be the newest route, but our mission remains the same and we look forward to adding new RFTW members to this Route. If you are brand new to the RFTW family and this will be your first time participating in RFTW, welcome home! We look forward to seeing you in Arlington, VA; St. Clairsville, OH; Lafayette, IN; Marseilles, IL or wherever you will be joining us!
Thus far, the percentage of Veterans registered for SandBox Route and listed as having served in the Persian Gulf and Middle East Conflicts is way up over last year – 49.6% vs 33.2% and 38.4% vs 21.7%, respectively. Our goal is to increase the participation of veterans, families, and friends of those who served during the War on Terror, the Persian Gulf, or the Middle East Conflicts on the SandBox Route each year.
We currently have 281 participants registered for the SandBox Route. Of the 281 participants, 222 of us will be riding all, or a portion of, one of the cross-country routes (SR, CR or MR) and an additional 59 of you will be joining us for the SandBox Route. I want to ask everyone to please be safe in your travels leading up to our departure for the SandBox Route. If you haven’t already, please begin your pre-run checklists and begin getting your bikes and bodies ready to include hydration. Beginning proper hydration does not begin the day before your departure, it begins weeks, if not months prior to your departure for this mission!
If you are brand new to RFTW and have not ridden all or part of one of the RFTW Routes prior to the SandBox Route this year you will indeed be an FNG! As that “Funny New Guy/Girl” please take the time to review the RFTW.us web site and review the rider guidelines, frequently asked questions, and emergency information form.
Operation Eagle Claw was a failed operation by the United States Armed Forces ordered by U.S. President Jimmy Carter to attempt the rescue of 52 embassy staff held captive at the Embassy of the United States, Tehran, Iran on April 24, 1980.
The operation, one of Delta Force’s first, encountered many obstacles and failures and was subsequently aborted. Eight helicopters were sent to the first staging area called Desert One, but only five arrived in operational condition. One had encountered hydraulic problems, another was caught in a sandstorm, and the third showed signs of a cracked rotor blade. During the operational planning, it was decided that the mission would be aborted if fewer than six helicopters remained operational upon arrival at the Desert One site, despite only four being necessary. Field commanders subsequently advised President Carter to abort the mission, which he did.
As the U.S. forces prepared to withdraw from Desert One, one of the remaining helicopters crashed into a transport aircraft that contained both servicemen and jet fuel. The resulting fire destroyed both aircraft and killed eight US servicemen and wounded 4. Additionally, the operation left 1 helicopter and 1 transport aircraft destroyed and 5 helicopters abandoned.
OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT/PROVIDE COMFORT II
Operation Provide Comfort and Provide Comfort II were military operations initiated by the United States and other Coalition nations of the Persian Gulf War, starting in April 1991, to defend Kurdish refugees fleeing their homes in northern Iraq in the aftermath of the Gulf War, and to deliver humanitarian aid to them.
On April 5, 1991, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 688, calling on Iraq to end repression of its civilian population. On 6 April, Operation Provide Comfort began to bring humanitarian relief to the Kurds. A no-fly zone was established by the US, the UK, and France north of the 36th parallel, as part of the Iraqi no-fly zones. This was enforced by US, UK, and French aircraft. Included in this effort was the delivery of humanitarian relief of over an estimated 1 million Kurdish refugees by a 6-nation airlift operation commanded from Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, involving aircraft from the US, UK, France, Germany, Canada, and Italy. Soviet aircraft participated in logistical aspects of the operation. During the 31-day airlift, more tonnage was delivered, and more air miles flown, than in the entire Berlin Airlift. Operation Provide Comfort officially ended on 24 July 1991; Operation Provide Comfort II began the same day and was military in nature with a mission to prevent Iraqi aggression against the Kurds. On 14 April 1994, two USAF F-15 Eagle fighters on patrol mistakenly downed two US Army Black Hawk helicopters carrying 26 Coalition citizens, killing all aboard. Operation Provide Comfort/Provide Comfort II claimed the lives of 5 U.S. service members (25 WIA) and 26 coalition citizens.
The names of the US service members lost during Operations Eagle Claw, Provide Comfort/Provide Comfort II are engraved on the Middle East Conflicts Wall in Marseilles, Illinois.
Don’t let them die a second death, say their names, say them out loud. Never forget; This is why we ride!
Please take the time to visit the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial page here, at https://middleeastconflictswallmemorial.org/ and become more familiar with the history of this memorial and the names included on this Wall.
Sandbox Route Status
The 2023 SandBox Route itinerary has been posted on the RFTW website. Please download and review the itinerary and become familiar with the route prior to our departure. All FNGs to RFTW will receive a printed copy of the itinerary during check-in. It is strongly recommended that all participants also upload a copy of the itinerary on their smart phone for easy access at your fingertips. Having a copy of the itinerary easily accessible will assist participants in managing their time at stops. The last thing anyone wants is to be left behind when it’s time for the pack to depart.
The SandBox Route hotel list was published in January and can be found at the link below. Please keep in mind that some of the hotels on all 4 Routes may have cutoff dates to be able to reserve rooms under the RFTW negotiated prices. This is the case for the Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites in Lafayette, IN. The cutoff date is currently set for April 29, 2023, so if you haven’t already, please make your reservations ASAP!
The SandBox Route has multiple fundraising items being offered to riders, participants, and supporters from all Routes. These items include those pictured below. Additional photos and items will be posted on the RFTW Facebook page as they become available. Items should be available for viewing along with details at the SandBox Registration in Ontario, CA and Arlington, VA. All funds go directly to RFTW SandBox Route in support of our mission.
Volunteer’s
The Sandbox Route still has some openings for Leadership Teams such as the Ambassador Team and a few Platoon leadership positions! If you are qualified to volunteer and are looking for a way to continue your commitment to the Mission please complete the volunteer sign-up form using the link below!
And remember, “Nothing Great is ever accomplished alone!” Let’s work together to make the Sandbox Route great! Together we will Continue the Mission safely and successfully!
Leave no one behind does not end on the battlefield!
If you or someone you know find themselves struggling with their mental health, please know you can contact the VA Veteran’s Crisis Line by dialing 988 then press 1 or text 838255 and speak or chat with a qualified responder.
I have been unable to sleep much tonight. I am often asked, “Why do you do this motorcycle thing”. We all know the Mission statement, however, when we are on the Run, we see every day why we ride; the Mission is part of our heart and soul. I received an email last night from Rich “Cadillac” Crombie. With Rich’s permission I have copied and pasted his email below:
My name is Rich “Cadillac” Crombie and I am registered for this year’s RFTW event and I will be doing the Midway route with my fellow shipmate Bill “COB” Brehler who was an FNG last year. I am an FNG this year.
I hope I am not too late, this whole process is still new to me, but COB mentioned that I need to contact you to arrange for me to do a Missing Man leg along the route. He did it last year on my behalf for my son David “Nick” Crombie.
My son was killed in action while serving in Iraq (Ramadi to be exact). He was a PFC medic serving in the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry, U.S. Army and was killed on June 7th, 2006 while on a night patrol and I will be riding in honor of him this year. I’d be so grateful if I could participate in the Missing Man formation in honor of my son Nick if there are any spots still available.
The Run For The Wall mission is “To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.”
This is why we ride – to support this mission!
In reference to Fuel Stops, due to the hard work and donations from many of our Midway Family, each rider will need to plan for a $10.00 per day payment at one fuel stop. The $10.00 will help pay for fuel and our charities and the schools we support along the Midway Route during the Run. I would encourage you to participate in the 50/50 raffles and other promotions (the promotions team has worked hard to have special and different items daily) so the Midway Route can further it’s support for the Veterans Organizations, charities, churches and communities that support the Midway Route as we travel across our Nation.
Day 4, Friday, May 19, 2023, Amarillo, TX to Shawnee, OK: Words are not sufficient to describe how amazing this day will be. This will be our visit to Ft. Sill, OK where we will meet with approximately 20 Gold Star Families. Fort Sill and Lawton supports the largest geographic concentration of Gold Star Families in the US, approximately 105 families. It will be our honor to pay tribute to the Native American community at the Chief’s Knoll where three tribal leaders are buried. The tribal Counsel including Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache local tribal leaders and members will participate with us throughout our Lunch and will Bless our bikes during our departure from Fort Sill. We hope to have a Medal of Honor Recipient, State and Local leaders, and the Commanding General as our guest for Lunch also. Midway Advance and Fuel Teams will visit and luncheon at the Lawton Veterans Center, lay wreaths at the National Cemetery in Elgin, OK and Oklahoma Veterans Memorial in Shawnee, OK. Thanks to Mark “Mazz” Masman, OK State Coordinator, and Mike “Heavy” King, Asst. OK State Coordinator.
Day 7, Monday, May 22. 2023: There have been many different name variations for this day. I prefer, Continuing the Mission. There are three voluntary Outreach Missions. Outreach #1 to Murfreesboro, TN; Outreach #2 to Lebanon, TN; and, Outreach #3 to Sunbright,TN. We will stage in the host hotel parking lot, riders briefing at 9:00am, we will depart NLT 9:30am and be back at host hotel NLT 3:00pm. We will parade as a group at 4:45 pm to dinner at the Leslie Town Center that evening escorted by the Local Leos. Those pulling trailers will be able to unhook for the day. Cookeville has rolled out the red carpet for us so let’s give them all our support with 100% participation the entire day. A sign up sheet has been added to the Midway Hub for you to choose which Outreach you wish to participate in if any. There is also a question on the form to measure rider interest and size requirements for the Cookeville long sleeve white ONE OF A KIND Honor T-shirt. Click here to go directly to the form, or click the link under my picture on the Midway Route Hub webpage.
Midway Route leadership and state coordinators are meeting monthly. From platoon leaders, to the gas stops, to the law enforcement escorts, every detail of our journey is being scrutinized, analyzed, reviewed and reviewed again. 2023 Midway Route is going to be a ride you will not forget. This ride will change your life!
In less than 50 days we will be gathering in Ontario, be prepared for the ride of your life!
Welcome Home
Is it May yet?
Jerry “Corp” Wilkins
“Service Before Self”
RFTW 2023 Midway Route Coordinator
Email- jerry.wilkins@rftw.us
Four Routes, One Mission!
We are rapidly approaching May and the official start of our Mission. Our Run For The Wall mission is “To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.”
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM
March 20, 2003, marked the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) with preemptive airstrikes on Saddam Hussein’s Presidential Palace and military targets followed by approximately 67,700 “boots on the ground” with 15,000 Navy personnel on ships in the region. OIF was authorized when Iraq was found to be in breach of U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 1441 which “prohibits stockpiling and importing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).” Iraqi forces were overwhelmed quickly, and Baghdad fell a mere five weeks after the invasion began. With the invasion complete, an insurgency and influx of al Qaeda inspired fighters poured into the country which sparked guerilla warfare tactics against U.S. troops and civil war between the Sunni and Shia tribes.
On 15 December 2011, The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other top U.S. military leaders observed the official end of U.S. Forces Iraq’s mission after nearly nine years of conflict that claimed the lives of 4,419 U.S. service members (3,481 KIA, 938 non-hostile) and 31,994 wounded in action (WIA).
OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE
After U.S. forces withdrew from Iraq, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) invaded areas of Syria and Iraq causing widespread causalities, destruction of the country’s infrastructure and barbaric practices against citizens. In response to the terrorist group, Operation Inherent Resolve began 17 October 2014. Operation Inherent Resolve claimed the lives of 86 U.S. service members (17 KIA, 69 non-hostile) and 80 WIA.
OPERATION FREEDOM’S SENTINEL
U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan ended on December 31, 2014. As part of Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL (OFS), U.S. forces remained in the country to participate in a coalition mission to train, advise, and assist Afghan National Defense and Security Forces and to conduct counterterrorism operations against the remnants of al Qaeda. Operation Freedom’s Sentinel claimed the lives of 80 U.S. service members (60 KIA, 20 non-hostile) and 471 WIA.
The US service members lost during Operations Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Freedom’s Sentinel are engraved on the Middle East Conflicts Wall in Marseilles, Illinois.
Don’t let them die a second death, say their names, say them out loud. Never forget; This is why we ride!
I encourage everyone to visit the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial page HERE,
and become more familiar with the history of this memorial and the names included on this Wall.
Sandbox Route Status
Currently, there are 1022 total registered participants on all 4 Routes! The SandBox Route currently has 276 registered participants with 252 of those on motorcycles!
Many of us are less than 60 days from KSU marking the beginning of our Runs to the Run. Please remember that anytime you wear your Run for the Wall vest, you are representing Run for the Wall and our mission to the public and potential supporters. Please be kind, courteous, and respectful to everyone on your journey to Run for the Wall no matter where you may be joining us.
The Sandbox Route Leadership team continues to meet monthly and has pretty much finalized our 2023 itinerary. We have managed to incorporate a few changes to our schedule and stops. On day 1, our lunch stop has been changed to the American Legion Post #257 in Stoystown, PA. Our coordination with the Flight 93 National Memorial is ongoing and they are welcoming us as one of the largest groups to visit on a very busy weekend for them at the memorial.
Although we have been able to make some changes to our itinerary, the fact remains that we have a long distance to travel to our destination at the Middle East Conflicts Wall in Marseilles, IL on May 30, 2023. Even with the new changes to our itinerary this year, our first two days will still be fairly long days covering 300+ miles each day. Now is the time to start preparing your mind, body, and bike for the mission, especially if you are participating in one of the 3 cross country routes prior to the SandBox Route!
Our full itinerary is expected to be published soon with a targeted on-line publication date of March 15, 2023. The SandBox Route Itinerary can be found here:
The SandBox Route has multiple fundraising items being offered to riders, participants, and supporters from all Routes. These items include the knife shown below along with 2 quilts, jewelry, wall hangings etc. Additional photos of the items will be posted on the RFTW Facebook page as they become available. Items should be available for viewing at the SandBox Registration in Ontario, CA and Arlington, VA.
All funds go directly to RFTW SandBox Route in support of our mission.
Volunteer’s
The Sandbox Route still has some openings for Leadership Teams! If you are qualified to volunteer and are looking for a way to continue your commitment to the Mission please complete the volunteer sign-up form using the link below!
And remember, “Nothing Great is ever accomplished alone!” Let’s work together to make the Sandbox Route great! Together we will Continue the Mission safely and successfully!
Romeo – Tango – Mike
I encourage everyone to visit the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial page HERE and become more familiar with the history of this memorial and the names included on this Wall.
Leave no one behind does not end on the battlefield!
If you or someone you know find themselves struggling with their mental health, please know you can contact the VA Veteran’s Crisis Line by dialing 988 then press 1 or text 838255 and speak or chat with a qualified responder.
I want to take this opportunity to again welcome everyone to the SandBox Route, especially all our FNG’s. I encourage everyone to visit the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial page at https://middleeastconflictswallmemorial.org/ and become more familiar with the history of this memorial and the names included on this Wall. The names of our fallen listed on the Middle East Conflicts Wall actually date all the way back to 1967 with the attack on the USS Liberty during the Six-Day War, also known as the Arab-Israeli War of 1967. The attack on the USS Liberty resulted in the loss of 34 crew members and wounded an additional 171 crew members. This Wall also includes names from the 9/11 Pentagon attack; the Ft. Hood attack in 2009; Bosnia and Kosovo. The Middle East Conflicts Wall and the names listed on it are not exclusive to the Middle East conflict areas; but encompasses the entire “War on Terror” since 1967.
The Run For The Wall mission is “To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.”
This is why we ride – to support this mission!
Operation Desert Storm
In last month’s newsletter I discussed the build up to and the beginning of Operation Desert Storm in January 1991. February 1991 marks the beginning of ground combat operations in Iraq.
On February 15, 1991, US Army Task Force 1-41 Infantry became the first coalition force to breach the Saudi Arabian border, and conduct ground combat operations in Iraq engaging in direct and indirect fire fights with the enemy on February 17, 1991.
The subsequent ground campaign in Iraq consisted of three or possibly four of the largest tank battles in American military history. Some consider the Battle of Medina Ridge the largest tank battle of the war. Other sources consider the Battle of Norfolk the largest tank battle of the war and the second largest tank battle in American history. The tank battle at 73 Easting is also considered among the largest tank battles in history. The US Marine Corps fought the biggest tank battle in its history at the Kuwait International Airport.
One hundred hours after the ground campaign started, President Bush declared a ceasefire, and he also declared that Kuwait had been liberated. By the end of the ground campaign and combat operations on February 28, 1991, U.S. VII Corps (the primary combat formation of the coalition forces) had driven 260 kilometers, captured 22,000 Iraqi soldiers, and destroyed 1,350 Iraqi tanks, 1,224 armored personnel carriers, 285 artillery pieces, 105 air defense systems, and 1,229 trucks.
The primary combat vehicles of the American divisions were the M1A1 Abrams tank and the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The primary American artillery system was the self-propelled M109 howitzer. The primary American attack helicopter was the Boeing AH-64 Apache (Army) with the Bell AH-1 Cobra (Army and Marine Corp) also being in theatre. The USAF A-10 Thunderbolt II (commonly referred to as the “Warthog”) ground attack aircraft would distinguish itself during the Gulf War, inflicting significant damage on Iraqi ground forces. USAF A-10 “Warthog” crews would destroy 900 Iraqi tanks, 2,000 other military vehicles and 1,200 artillery pieces during combat operations.
By the end of combat operations, US Forces had suffered a total of 148 battle-related deaths (35 to friendly fire). A further 145 Americans died in non-combat accidents. The largest single loss of life among coalition forces happened on February 25, 1991, when an Iraqi Al Hussein missile hit a US military barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, killing 28 US Army Reservists from Pennsylvania.
The US service members lost during Operation Desert Storm are engraved on the Middle East Conflicts Wall in Marseilles, Illinois.
Don’t let them die a second death, say their names, say them out loud. Never forget!
This is why we ride!
Registration
Don’t forget to get registered! By the time you read this newsletter, the registration fee will have increased. Don’t procrastinate, now is your time to register for the SandBox Route!
The SandBox Route Leadership team continues working out final changes to the 2023 itinerary. There will be some minor changes, but that’s the case with all 4 Routes. The hotel list has been published since early January and can be found here:
The new Missing Man Coordinator for SandBox Route this year is Ray “Cornman” Cornmesser. Ray is currently soliciting volunteers to ride in the Missing Man formation. If you are interested in riding a leg of the SandBox Route as a member of the Missing Man formation, please reach out to Ray directly (cornman88@hotmail.com) and discuss the opportunity with him!
Fundraising
The SandBox fundraiser and 50/50 rouser is Lynette “Sleepy” Handleson. Lynette has already started one of the SandBox’s fundraising initiatives by selling raffle tickets to a Knife/Sheath set donated by a SandBox rider and participant from Philips Blades.
It has a 5″ antler handle, with a 7″ Damascus Steel Blade. Plus it comes with a Leather Sheath. We will draw for the Knife in Ontario at 4pm on Tuesday, May16th at the host hotel. You do not need to be present to win. Tickets will be: 1 – $10.00; 2- $20.00; or 3- $25.00.
You can enter by the following ways:
Cash App – $LynetteHandleson
Paypal – lynettehandleson@hotmail.com
Check – made out to RFTW SANDBOX, sent to Lynette Handleson P.O. Box 1624, Springtown, TX 76082
Please identify SandBox Knife in the subject line.
We will have more items coming soon! Be sure to share this with all your friends and family as it is available for everyone to participate in. All funds go directly to RFTW SandBox Route in support of our mission.
The SandBox Route has had an excellent turnout of volunteers for leadership positions, and I want to thank each one of you who has already volunteered. Although many of our positions have already been filled, please don’t let that stop you from submitting a volunteer request form. We are working to compile a list of stand-by volunteers to be able to call upon should the need arise!
If you have questions about any specific team, please reach out to those Team Leaders to get additional information on that team.
And remember, “Nothing Great is ever accomplished alone!” Let’s work together to make the SandBox Route great! Together we will Continue the Mission safely and successfully!
Ride safe!
If you or someone you know find themselves struggling with their mental health, please know you can contact the VA Veteran’s Crisis Line by dialing 988 then press 1 or text 838255 and speak or chat with a qualified responder.
My name is Jerry Wilkins, and I have been honored by the Run For The Wall (RFTW) Board of Directors by being appointed as the 2023 Midway Route Coordinator. This will be my first newsletter, with many more to follow.
I ride this year in memory of my Father, my Hero, Robert B. Wilkins, WW II Army Veteran.
In early 2004 Glen “Wombat” Waggoner, 2019 Midway Route Coordinator, told me about Run For the Wall. I participated in 2004. Upon my return I told my wife, Patti, I had participated in an event greater than anything else I have ever been involved in. I am not a Veteran. I knew in my heart and soul; this is a manner in which I could say thank you to those who have given so much to our Freedoms. Due to work restrictions, I was not able to go All The Way until 2011. Since that time, I have volunteered 2010 – 2013 as Central Route Fuel Team, Tailgunner and Fuel Team Lead, 2014 – 2019 Midway Route as Fuel Team Tailgunner and Fuel Team Lead, Asst. Advance Team Lead, Advance Team Lead, 2020 – and 2022 Midway Assistant Route Coordinator.
The Midway Route is not just a route but is a FAMILY. We have developed a family culture over the years and I intend to carry on that tradition. We don’t just say the words; it is part of our culture. We have a “servant leadership” that is there to help you get safely across the country. Everyone, whether in a leadership position or not, is here to answer your questions. The route is about you and the Mission and not about leadership. Everyone’s safety is of utmost importance.
Earlier this month, Midway Route long time supporters Bill and Cathy Clark, Merchandise Lead and Quartermaster informed RFTW they would not be able to participate in 2023. I would like to personally thank Bill and Cathy for many years of Service to Run For The Wall. For those of you interested in taking over this awesome task and giving back to the Run, feel free to contact me directly at jerry.wilkins@rftw.us
Midway Route needs you to consider volunteering to help with both Staging and Promotions teams. The Staging process will be changed for 2023. Staging has come into the modern era with changes to the platoon placement markings making the job physically easier and less stressful. We will improve hydration opportunities and provide medical support. Staging is such an important aspect of daily organization on the route and we need your help. Please contact Gina Cutrer by email at gina.cutrer@rftw.us or call her directly at 225-202-5328. If you would like to volunteer for any position on Midway Route, please fill out the Volunteer Request Form (CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER). Between now and May 2023 there will be openings on different teams. By volunteering now, you will be on the ready list to be asked to join a team.
It is my Honor and Privilege to announce Don “Ten-A-See” King as Assistant Route Coordinator, Leo “Rucksack” Rachmel as Road Guard Captain and Ryan ‘Pipes” Long as Assistant Road Guard Captain. I know each of them personally and we all ride for the Mission.
Hope that all MIA and POW’s find closure
Honor all KIA
Healing for our Veterans and the 22 per day
Mission First.
Jerry “Corp” Wilkins
“Service Before Self”
RFTW 2023 Midway Route Coordinator
Email- jerry.wilkins@rftw.us
Four Routes, One Mission!
From a warm and NOT cold and snowy Pearland, Texas. I want to wish the entire Run for the Wall family a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. This time of the year finds most of us spending time with family, friends and loved ones and is something I look forward to every year. Hopefully you have the majority of your shopping and holiday preparations completed! Also, happy Birthday to all of the other December babies like myself!
The month of December is not just one of the longest months of the year, but many years, it’s the month with the longest and coldest nights. While many of us are looking forward to a well-deserved winter break, many others are struggling with their own mental health. From holiday stress to winter-related anxieties and negative thoughts, December and the holiday season as a whole is a time many struggle the most. There are many things we can do to help our mental health such as staying active, getting plenty of daylight, keeping a consistent sleep schedule, eating healthy, avoiding alcohol, and even volunteering!
Many of our fellow veterans and friends fall prey to their own mental health year-round, but the holiday season can amplify those issues. If you or someone you know find themselves struggling, please know “I’ve got your 6” and you can contact me at any time if you wish. You can also contact the VA Veteran’s Crisis Line by dialing 988 then press 1 or text 838255 and speak or chat with a qualified responder.
If you know of any other mental health hotlines or contacts, please share that information in a comment for all of us to see, use, and share!
Most importantly, please stay safe and enjoy the holidays. We really do want to see you in May!
Operation Just Cause
Operation Just Cause was the name given to the U.S. invasion of Panama in December 1989 for the purposes of removing General Manuel Noriega from power and extraditing him to the U.S. to face charges of drug trafficking and money laundering. Foreign relations between Panama and the United States had grown increasingly strained during the 1980s. Following the death of Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos in 1981, Lieut. Col. Manuel Noriega, who had participated in the military coup that paved the way for Torrijos’s rise to power, consolidated military and then civilian power in the Central American country. For decades Noriega had served as a paid informant for the Central Intelligence Agency. He also was a supporter of the contras, the counterrevolutionary force that sought to overthrow Nicaragua’s left-wing Sandinista government. It became known, however, that, in addition to monopolizing power in Panama, Noriega had lined his pockets by smuggling illegal drugs into the United States. Moreover, in the mid-1980s, allegations grew regarding Noriega’s involvement in the brutal murder of an outspoken opponent, Hugo Spadafora. In 1988 Noriega was indicted on drug trafficking charges by a U.S. grand jury. The administration of U.S. President Ronald Reagan offered Noriega a deal: if he agreed to relinquish power and depart Panama, charges against him would be dropped. Noriega wanted no part of the bargain.
Despite the presence of international observers, Noriega annulled the results of the May 1989 Panamanian presidential election when it appeared that it had been won by a wide margin by Guillermo Endara, the opposition civilian candidate. In addition to overturning the results of the election and installing a former classmate, Francisco Rodríguez, as a puppet president, Noriega had Endara and his supporters beaten in the streets. U.S. Pres. George Bush dispatched 2,000 troops to U.S. bases in the Panama Canal Zone. In the meantime, having survived a coup attempt in October, Noriega persuaded the Panamanian National Assembly to name him “maximum leader” on December 15, 1989. At his behest the Assembly also declared that a state of war existed between Panama and the United States. Within days an unarmed U.S. Marine officer dressed in civilian clothes was ambushed and killed by Panamanian soldiers.
On December 21, 1989, President George H.W. Bush reported that he had ordered U.S. military forces to Panama to protect the lives of nearly 30,000 American citizens living in Panama, protect the integrity of the Panama Canal, help establish democracy, neutralize the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF), and bring General Noriega to justice. The total number of U.S. troops, 27,000, was more than double that of the PDF, and they had the advantage of additional air support—in the first 13 hours, the Air Force dropped 422 bombs on Panama. The U.S. gained control in just five days. On December 24, the true winner of the May 1989 elections, Guillermo Endara, was officially named president and the PDF was dissolved. By February 13, 1990, all U.S. forces were officially withdrawn from Panama.
Twenty-three brave U.S. soldiers were killed; in addition, it was estimated that 200 to 300 Panamanian combatants (soldiers and members of paramilitaries) and more than 300 civilians were killed in Operation Just Cause. Hundreds on both sides were wounded.
These 23 service members lost during Operation Just Cause are engraved on the Middle East Conflicts Wall in Marseilles, Illinois.
Don’t let them die a second death, say their names, say them out loud. Never forget!
This is why we ride!
Remember the Run for the Wall Mission – “To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.”
CURRENT SANDBOX ROUTE STATUS
The Sandbox Route Leadership team continues its monthly meetings and continues to work on updating and improving the Sandbox Route. Logistics of stops is still ongoing in an effort to improve the overall Route. Our State Coordinators continue to do excellent work on getting our stops confirmed and have done an excellent job preparing our overnight stops and hotels and camping accommodations.
HOTEL LIST
The 2023 Sandbox Route Hotel list should be posted on the RFTW.us website January 1, 2023. The list will include hotel names, date, and contact details. Please be polite and patient when you contact the hotels to make your reservations. We want to preserve the great relationships our state coordinators have developed with them.
SANDBOX LEADERSHIP
Let’s meet some more of our new Sandbox Team Leaders! Our Advance Team Leader is Anthony “Goombah” Cercone and his Asst. Advance Team lead is Mikal “No Drama” Brevig. I want to thank them both for volunteering for this challenging position and their work to keep our group safe! I’d also like to introduce our Mission Man Coordinator Ray “Cornman” Cornmesser. Ray will be working to find volunteers and eligible riders to join us in the Missing Man formation.
VOLUNTEER’s – yes, we still need you!
The Sandbox Route continues to be on the lookout for volunteers for all positions. If you have questions about any specific team, please reach out to those Team Leaders to get some insight on what each team does and how you can help! Remember, the same volunteer form is used for all the Routes, just select the Route or Routes you are volunteering for and the position(s) you are interested in! If you volunteer on one of the 3 cross country routes, please consider bringing your experience to the Sandbox Route!
And remember, “Nothing Great is ever accomplished alone!” Let’s work together to make the Sandbox Route great! Together we will Continue the Mission safely and successfully!
With that said, I do want to celebrate the birthdays of all branches of service and hope that all of you have a meaningful VETERANS DAY. We need to continually honor our veterans every day of the year and this gives us a special day to honor them. All have given so much to assure that you and I have the freedoms that we do. It takes a lot of sacrifice and dedication and many have suffered individually as a result of that service and dedication. A great deal of you return home and you do not feel the same as when you left, and many of you are not the same person while still on active duty. These symptoms had different names over several centuries and in 1980 the behavioral health community developed diagnostic criteria and officially recognized POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD). The United States military and the Department of Veteran Affairs have developed programs to more effectively help active-duty personnel and veterans. Even with the availability of these programs, there are thousands of individuals still suffering. I am speaking in terms of military personnel here, however, PTSD can affect anyone. In several newsletters, my intention is to create more awareness about this problem. Part of the Run for the Wall mission is to “promote healing among all veterans, their families and friends”. The information presented below is from the National Center for Post Traumatic Stress which is part of the Department of Veterans Affairs:
“(The National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress) We are the world’s leading research and educational center of excellence on PTSD and traumatic stress.
PTSD is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening or traumatic event. If symptoms last more than a few months, it may be PTSD. The good news is that there are effective treatments.
It’s normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after a traumatic event (also called “trauma”). At first, it may be hard to do daily activities you are used to doing, like go to work, go to school, or spend time with people you care about. But most people start to feel better after a few weeks or months. For some people, PTSD symptoms may start later, or they may come and go over time. If it’s been longer than a few months and thoughts and feelings from the trauma are upsetting you or causing problems in your life, you may have PTSD.
Anyone can develop PTSD at any age. Some factors can increase the chance that someone will have PTSD, many of which are not under that person’s control. For example, having a very intense or long-lasting traumatic event or getting injured during the event can make it more likely that a person will develop PTSD. PTSD is also more common after certain types of trauma, like combat and sexual assault.
Personal factors—like previous traumatic exposure, age, and gender—can affect whether or not a person will develop PTSD. What happens after the traumatic event is also important. Stress can make PTSD more likely, while social support can make it less likely.”
I want to thank Mike “Papa Mike” Cash and his foundation, OPERATION FAMILY, for providing us with this information and guidance on this very important issue.
Next month we will publish more on this subject.
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On another note, Midway Route needs you to consider volunteering to help with both staging and promotions teams. The Staging process will be changed for 2023. Staging has come into the modern era with changes to the platoon placement markings making the job physically easier and less stressful. We will improve hydration opportunities and provide medical support. Staging is such an important aspect of daily organization on the route and we need your help. Please contact Gina Cutrer by email at gina.cutrer@rftw.us or call her directly at 225-202-5328. If you would like to volunteer for any position on Midway Route, please fill out the Volunteer Request Form (CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER). Between now and May 2023 there will be openings on different teams. By volunteering now, you will be on the ready list to be asked to join a team.
I am pleased to announce the Midway Route will have two fundraiser activities for this coming year that were successes last year. Our Promotions Team Leaders for 2023 are Gina “LeSpice” Cutrer and Randy “Mullet” Olgion. The first is the HOTEL DRAWING. This was an awesome fundraiser in 2022 and we are doing it again. The prize is $1000 which is approximately the amount it will take to pay for most of your hotel expenses or anything you need. The money raised from this drawing will go to support our adopted schools and our fuel stops.
The cost per ticket is $10.00 or you can purchase seven tickets for $50.00! If you purchase $100.00 worth, you will get 20 tickets and $150 gets you 30 tickets. ANYONE CAN PARTICIPATE. You do not have to be a registered rider for Run for the Wall. You can be a non-participant. You can sit at home or be on the beach in Cabo.
DRAWING IS JANUARY 1, 2023
If you would like to purchase HOTEL DRAWING tickets, please make a check out to RFTW Midway Route and send it to:
Gina Cutrer 33538 Nancy Drive Walker, LA 70785
You may also use Venmo:
@Gina-Cutrer-1
Our next fundraiser is the SUPER BOWL DRAWING. It is early, however, we are beginning to make an effort to raise the money to support the fuel cost for every rider on the Midway Route this year by conducting various fundraising activities. So, we are offering a Super Bowl Football Board opportunity to support the Midway Route fuel costs. Winners will be receiving a gift card to use during the 2023 RFTW ride.
Buy a Super Bowl 2023 square for $25.00 or $100.00 buys you 5 squares or buy as many entries as you like! The winning square at the end of each Quarter will receive a $100.00 Walmart Gift Card. End of game score is the fourth quarter, no overtime.
The Board will be filled out from the top to bottom and left to right based on the time and date of the receipt of your entry and payment. The numbers will be drawn from the hat after a board is complete, so there will be no particular order. All entries must be received by 31 January 2023.
Once the Board is filled and numbers assigned, the Board will be emailed prior to game start and posted to RFTW Facebook.
Those receiving gift cards will be contacted the day after the game to ensure we have the correct contact information for mailing the gift card to you.
Thank you all for your continued generosity in this fundraising effort and GOOD LUCK. We appreciate and need your support for the Midway Route. If you want to help but do not want to participate in these drawings then please send a check to Run for the Wall-Midway Route to Gina Cutrer at her address listed above. Please do note “Midway Route” on your check.
Please register for the RFTW if you have not done so (CLICK HERE TO REGISTER). Registration information helps the Midway Route in planning all the details necessary for a successful ride. If you register early, you save money. Registration is set up on a graduated system where the later you register, the more it costs. A good incentive plan for registering early.
Welcome to the Sandbox Route RC Newsletter for November 2022.
Operation Urgent Fury
The situation in the Caribbean nation Grenada had been of concern to American officials since 1979, when the leftist Maurice Bishop seized power and began to develop close relations with Cuba. In 1983, another Marxist, Bernard Coard, had Bishop assassinated and took control of the government. Protesters clashed with the new government and violence escalated. There were approximately 1,000 Americans in Grenada at the time, many of them students at the island’s medical school.
Citing the danger to the U.S. citizens in Grenada, Operation Urgent Fury was hastily thrown together; U.S. President Ronald Reagan ordered U.S. troops to the island, where they soon found themselves facing opposition from Grenadan armed forces and groups of Cuban military engineers, who were there to repair and expand the island’s airport. The new airport under construction in Grenada was deemed a transfer point for weapons destined for Latin American revolutionaries. Marines and paratroopers, supported by air strikes, led the invasion on October 25, 1983. Fighting was fierce, especially around the airport defended by the Cubans—and, unexpectedly for the U.S., the Grenadan militia put up a stout fight. U.S. helicopter gunships, naval gunfire, and reinforcements were deployed until, after three days, resistance ended. U.S. losses totaled 19 dead and 150 wounded out of approximately 7,000 who participated in the invasion. November 21, 1983, marked the official end of the Grenada campaign.
These 19 servicemembers lost during Operation Urgent Fury are engraved on the Middle East Conflicts Wall in Marseilles, Illinois.
This is why we ride!
Remember the Run for the Wall Mission – “To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.”
Registration
Registration for all 2023 RFTW Routes opened on September 11, 2022. Based on current registration numbers, the Sandbox Route is already up to 147 registered riders and participants including 18 FNG’s! Remember, the Early Bird Registration time frame began September 11, 2022, and runs through January 31, 2023. Beginning February 1, 2023, through April 30, 2023, we will enter the Regular Registration time frame and the registration fee increases for all routes; so be sure to register early and save some money!!!
After registering, even returning riders are encouraged to go to the Rider Guidelines and familiarize themselves with the RFTW rider responsibilities. These Guidelines also include a standard of conduct expected of RFTW participants as well as RFTW Fueling guidelines and a RFTW Safety Briefing.
If you have questions after reviewing the Rider Guidelines, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page to find the answers to many of your questions about registration and general questions about preparing for the Run for the Wall.
And finally, please take the opportunity prior to departing home in May to download and complete the Emergency Information Form (in duplicate if possible). A completed Emergency Information Form is a requirement while participating in RFTW; but is also a great way to assist emergency responders in case of any emergency while traveling to and from RFTW.
The Sandbox Route Leadership team is meeting monthly and continues to work on updating and improving the Sandbox Route. We are still working out the logistics of changing some stops, in an effort to improve the overall Route. Our State Coordinators continue to do excellent work on getting our stops confirmed.
SANDBOX LEADERSHIP
Let’s meet some of our new Team Leaders! Our Staging Team Leader is Steve “Depends” Berniklau and our Fuel Team Leader is Steven “Poppop” Rishel. Both “Steve’s” are doing a great job planning out each of our stops, but they need your help! We need volunteers to join both the Staging and Fueling Teams, no experience needed! Those of you interested in assisting on the Sandbox Route by volunteering to be a member of the Staging or Fueling Teams please go to the volunteer link below and submit your volunteer form!
VOLUNTEER’s – Raise your Hands!
The Sandbox Route is continuously looking for volunteers for all positions. If you have questions about any specific team, please reach out to those Team Leaders to get some insight on what each team does and how you can help! Remember, the same volunteer form is used for all the Routes, just select the Route or Routes you are volunteering for and the position(s) you are interested in! If you volunteer on one of the 3 cross country routes, please consider bringing your experience to the Sandbox Route!
And remember, “Nothing Great is ever accomplished alone!” Let’s work together to make the Sandbox Route great! Together we will Continue the Mission safely and successfully!
NOTICE: Previous year’s route itineraries are provided as archival reference/examples only. Specific details including exact route, stops, hotels, etc are dynamic and change from year to year. Current year route itineraries are typically released in March. Only the current year Route Itinerary should be used to plan your trip.
NOTICE: Previous year’s route itineraries are provided as archival reference/examples only. Specific details including exact route, stops, hotels, etc are dynamic and change from year to year. Current year route itineraries are typically released in March. Only the current year Route Itinerary should be used to plan your trip.
NOTICE: Previous year’s route itineraries are provided as archival reference/examples only. Specific details including exact route, stops, hotels, etc are dynamic and change from year to year. Current year route itineraries are typically released in March. Only the current year Route Itinerary should be used to plan your trip.
REGISTRATION LOGIN: Due to security and privacy concerns there is NO ACCOUNT created when you register for Run for the Wall. Account logins are for merchandise purchase and/or Forum participation ONLY. Registration is a completely separate system and we do not offer any level of user access to this system. If you have a question regarding your registration or you need to make a change, please email [email protected].
