Region IX — Northwest Region
Greetings from Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the Great Pacific Northwest!
Chapter XVI enjoyed yet another busy and memorable quarter that saw its members actively engaged in a variety of 1st SFG(A) and local SF Family events.
In November, the chapter provided support to the 1st SFG(A) Veterans Day observance in which two major supporters of the Group’s benevolent organizations (Chapter XVI, First in Asia Association and the 1st SFG(A) Scholarship Fund) were invited to join the Command Group in laying wreaths at the Group Memorial Wall.
As it does each year, Chapter XVI sponsored the opening social of 1st Group’s Menton Days celebration in early December. The event was well attended by 1st Group members and families, foreign guests from Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Canada, the UK and Ireland and, of course, the chapter. During the social, Heritage Distilling Company again presented a check to the heads of Chapter XVI, the First in Asia Association and the 1st SFG(A) Scholarship Fund.
In January, the chapter funded an SFA/Chapter recruitment event - its inaugural “Recruitment Duck Hunt” - that brought together a number of retiring 1st Group members and chapter representatives. While credit for most ducks downed remains in dispute – the debate continues between CSM(R) Danny Orosco and CSM Mike McKenzie – a great time was had by all…and the chapter gained several new members.
With his permission, we’re happy to report that CSM(R) Skip Ettinger is recovering nicely following the stroke he suffered while attending the recent SOG Reunion in Las Vegas. Skip’s moving very well and friends will be particularly pleased (or disappointed) to hear that his ability to give a “ration” to friends and teammates remains undiminished. We hope to see Skip at the next chapter meeting in March. Anyone interested in communicating with Skip can contact Rick Thomas for his contact info.
Save the Date! The 3rd Annual SOF Benefit Golf Tournament will be held at Indian Summer Golf and Country Club, Olympia, Washington, on 11 June 2026. Proceeds go to the benevolent organizations supporting JBLM’s 1st SFG(A), 4/160th SOAB, 2/75 Ranger Battalion and 22 Special Tactics Squadron. Anyone interested in sponsoring or participating in the tourney is invited to contact Doug Henry or Rick Thomas.
Elder members of Chapter 23 join in celebrating the lifelong dedication of Pete Laurence to the betterment of SFA and to the Chapter.
Chapter 23 engaged in numerous activities in the last quarter of 2025 and looks forward to a bright and productive 2026. Much of the Chapter’s effort was in visiting members of the Chapter who are no longer able to travel to events. Member care and support has become a primary focus of the Chapter.
In December we held our annual Holiday Gala with Dr. John “Doc’ Padgett and Vicky Padget as special guest presenters. At that event the Chapter took time to honor one of the Chapter originals, Pete Laurence and his wife Sher who have served the Chapter and SFA for more than four decades. Pete and Sher were catalysts in getting Chapter 23 formed and operational.
The Chapter engaged with the larger community and with other veterans! On November 09, 2025 several Chapter Members joined in a salute to Veterans by participating in a flag ceremony at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The salute preceded an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers.
The next event is planned for March 21st at the Monarch Bar and Grill in Rio Vista California.
“Lacey Lady” B-17 Presentation
January 17, 2026 – Terry (Theresa) Scott, The “Lacey Lady” B-17, Alliance Executive Director, gave a presentation at the Chapter 47 meeting about the restoration of the "Lacey Lady." She, the "Lacey Lady," began her journey from Oklahoma to Oregon in 1947 when Art Lacey met with the commander of the Altus Army Airfield in Altus, Oklahoma and convinced him to sell him a surplus B-17. The B-17 was flown to Troutdale, Oregon, disassembled, and transported covertly during the night to Milwaukie and ultimately placed over The Bomber gas station.
In 2014 the Lacey Lady was disassembled and moved to the McNary Field in Salem for restoration buy a team of many volunteers with varied skills needed to complete the restoration.
The Lacey Lady is the most intact wartime B-17 Flying Fortress in the world under restoration today and holds the lowest amount of engine hours of any B-17 still in existence. Fewer than 50 B-17 Flying Fortresses survive in the entire world today; all in different stages of repair, as war inventory was parted out and melted down decades ago. She still has a long way to go. For more information go to: www.B17Alliance.com
“Beyond providing resources and benefits, the event served as a platform for Veterans Groups to recruit new members. Kevin Knapp, President of Special Forces Association Chapter 89, the Northern California Veterans Historical Association, and the newly formed General George Washington Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, highlighted the importance of staying active to combat mental health struggles.
"The more that you can participate, the more that you can be a part of, the less opportunity you have to go within yourself, which can be haunting for many," said Knapp, a retired U.S. Army Major.
Meeting at Branding Iron Cafe Dec.13 2025
Greetings from Northern Nevada and the Biggest little city in the world.
Not much to report this quarter, we had one meeting since December, but that's also a time for family and friends to get together for the holidays.
We had breakfast at the Branding Iron Cafe in the Bonanza Casino, Reno NV. After breakfast we started our meeting with the pledge of allegiance and a prayer by Brad Smalley , our acting Chaplin. After reviewing old business we started looking forward to next year, we usually have Memorial day Veterans day, a summer picnic and a party at the end of the year, Christmas time, that is usually a dinner at a restaurant some where in Reno. So do we want to do more? Maybe have a guest speaker, we'll even buy there breakfast.
We spoke a little about the last Special Forces Convention, where SFA and SOA got together at the Orleans in Los Vegas. A good time. There was the MIA POW symposium that explained what we as a nation are doing to find the remains of or anything else that can be found of those missing in action.
While we were there we ran into some old friends that have moved away from the Reno area, Rick Grabianowski and David LaMorte came by to say hello. Rick moved to Alaska and David moved to Virginia. Also Robert Bluemer decided to stand up and volunteer to be Chapter Treasurer.
those present at the Dec. 13 meeting were; Bill Conrad, Brian Beetham, Ken Snyder, Russ Mann, Brady Hines, Brad Smalley ,Ray Gonzales, Wes Fowler, Brad Hines, Justin Dille, Bob Bluemer, Art Glass, Rick Brown and Steve Estep.
Also while I was in Las Vegas I met my new Grand son , Coby Kenneth Herrmann.
