TAPs Page Update ! !

January 21, 2012. Entries for Ronnie Miller, B Battery, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery (9-70 to 3-71) and Charles Ray Potts, Jr., B Battery, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery on TAPs Page.

January 21, 2012. Added photo and information of the passing of Roger L Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan in January 1976. He served in VietNam from Jan/1969 through Feb/1970 with Battery B, 1st 77th at LZ Eleanor and LZ Dolly near Tay Ninh. The family would love to hear from fellow soldiers Roger served with. Catherine (Schmidt) O'Connor and her children may be reached by email (Click her name).

February 3, 2012. John Difani is looking for any information about his father's unit and experiences in Korea with A Battery, 77th Field Artillery Battalion. More informaton about Harold Difani on our Rosters and TAPs pages.

Click Here for more information from the TAPs Page.

NEW - Origin and History of the 77th Artillery Association! !
January 21, 2012. Click Here for more information.

2012 Reunion ALERT ! ! !

Latest information concerning the 77th Artillery Regiment Association reunion. 

Place:  Fernandina Beach, Florida on the beautiful Amelia Island.

Dates:  Confirmed for September 13th, 14th, and 15th. 

If you have never heard of Fernandina Beach, it is the NE most point in Florida. The next island to the north is Cumberland Island, Georgia.  Cumberland Island was the winter home of several notables such as the Carnegies and Rockefellers.  Amelia Island is 18.5 miles north to south and 2.5 miles east to west.

The hotel, the 'Amelia Hotel At The Beach', is located across the street from the ocean, and a seaside restaurant. It is new construction and features free American style breakfasts (eggs, toast, waffles, sausage, etc.). The rates are $89.00 for a standard with king bed or two doubles, $99.00 for ocean view with two doubles or $109.00 for a balcony king room.  Reservations may be made individually by calling 1/877- 263-5428 and referring to the 77th Artillery Regiment reunion. Our guaranteed number of rooms for the reunion expires on August 8, 2012 or when they have been filled, whichever arrives first.  

Amelia Hotel At The Beach

Trolly tours of the island are available, downtown shops are within a 6-8 minute drive, and there are 7 golf courses within a 15-20 minute drive.  The best part is the hotel is easy to find and in September, traffic is low except for 7-8 a.m and 5-6 p.m. 

Jim Bowers grew up in Fernandina and he knows a bunch of folks there who can be counted on to help him make this an exciting and enjoyable event.  Jim will be campaigning hard at getting guys in FL, GA, SC, NC, TN, ALA, MS to come to the reunion as it will be virtually in their backyard.  He has asked others to contact guys in their state as well. We now have a team concentrating rounding up members for the 1st Cavalry Association in Texas as well.

The 2012 77th Artillery Association reunion is open to all veterans and their families who were supported by the 77th or who supported us.  We were all part of a great team that truly made the sum greater than the parts.  As my Battalion Commander used to say, the only reason for our existence is to support the infantry.  I have never met an infantryman that wasn't grateful for our support as we were of their firebase protection and the support we received from the "non combat" branches".  Come join us as we spread the smell of cordite over the beaches of Fernandina.  If you know anyone who served in the 77th Artillery Regiment, please let them know about the reunion.

1st Battalion, 77th Artillery members hosting the meeting. Schedule of events will be out in the near future.

Mike Maynard will chair the meeting.  Per our constitution, only the Third Vice President will be elected - think about whom to nominate.

Many of you know other 77th Artillery Regiment Veterans - so please contact them and be sure ask them to join.  This reunion promises to be another great one.  Last year's at Fort Carson was a great one.  Loved the smell of 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Cordite in the morning.   We get a chance to renew lost friendships and make new ones.  All of us that have attended past reunions have been glad we did;  it seems to settle some things and make you more confortable.

For those of you we met at the 1st CAV reunion and/or you who have not joined the 77th Field Artillery Regiment Association, please do so before the reunion.  It makes it easier on our Treasurer.  One year dues is $20.00 and Lifetime membership is $100.00.  We are a registered 501 c 19 Military organization.  Contributions are tax deductible, but not dues.  We record all contrbutions on the membership database maintained by our Secretary.  However, we do not send out individual contribution information or forms at tax time. The Secretary gets the application with check, makes the dues deposit, and records the contribution information in the member's record.  After depositing funds, information is sent to the Treasurer to record on his system. At tax time, the Association will publish our corporate ID number so contributors can claim their deduction.

Personally I believe "lifetime" is the better choice, as you don't have to keep up with year to year dues.

To join the 77th Field Artillery Regiment Association, you may contact Jim Bowers and he will send you the registration form and collect dues. Another way to join is to go to 77th Artillery Regiment Association Membership page on this website.

I know we'll have a great time this coming year - Great Location for tourists and golfers.

EN GARDE

Mike Maynard,
Incoming President,
77th Field Artillery
Regiment Association

If you have any questions or comments, contact Mike Maynard

2011 Secretary Report:

Paige Lanier assumed duties as Association president on 1 Jan 2011. He is also our official LNO to 2/77FA.

The 2/77 FA hosted our 2011 Reunion in September at Colorado Springs, CO and Ft Carson. A good time was had by all attendees - to include a member of the 5th Missile Battalion, 77th Artillery (Germany).

Our organization officer structure is: Elected officers: President, 1st VP, 2nd VP, 3rd VP, Appointed positions are Secretary and Treasurer who serve at the pleasure of the President. All elected officers serve a 1-yr term Jan-Dec. We elect a new 3rd VP each year and all officers move up one position. The President upon completion of his term, serves 1 yr as immediate Past President. This reason for this is to have a new President with 3 years experience and exposure before assuming the position. Note: Our Fiscal Year is 1 Jan to 31 Dec.

Fred Taylor is our new Treasurer and since he is a CPA, I am sure he will keep us straight with the IRS.

To Doc Bosma and Mike Pectol, thanks for the information on guys contacting you because of the websites. I added 4 new members.

Thanks for all that you are doing to get more folks active in the Association!

Jim Bowers
Secretary

1-77th FA COMMANDER IN GRAFENWÖHR, GERMANY

Lt. Col. Christopher J. Cardoni is from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and graduated from West Chester University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration. He was commissioned through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps in 1990. Lt. Col. Cardoni also holds a Master of Arts degree in Computer Resources and Information Management from Webster University.

After completion of the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course in 1991, Lt. Col. Cardoni was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 29th Field Artillery "Fidelis Et Versus", 1st Armored Division, in Baumholder, Germany. He served as a Company Fire Support Officer, Platoon Fire Direction Officer, Firing Platoon Leader, Executive Officer of Service Battery, Battalion Ammunition Officer, and Battalion Maintenance Officer. Upon graduation from the Field Artillery Advanced Course in 1995, he was assigned as a Staff Officer in G-1, Plans and Operations, 1st Corps, at Fort Lewis Washington. In 1996, Lt. Col. Cardoni was assigned as the Assistant S-3 for the 2d Battalion, 8th Field Artillery "Automatic", 1st Brigade "Lancers", 25th Infantry Division. In 1998 Lt. Col. Cardoni assumed command of Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery. In 1999, following battery command, he was selected to command Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.

In 2000, Lt. Col. Cardoni was assigned to 2nd Brigade, 78th Infantry Division (Training Support), Fort Drum New York, with duty at 1st Battalion, 156th Field Artillery, 27th Enhanced Infantry Brigade (NYARNG) in Kingston, New York. He was assigned as a Field Artillery Staff Observer/Controller - Trainer. Upon completion of the Command and General Staff College in 2003, he was assigned to the 6th Battalion (MLRS), 37th Field Artillery "On the Minute" at Camp Stanley, where he served as the Battalion Executive Officer. In 2004, Lt. Col. Cardoni returned to Fort Lewis, Washington where he was again assigned to the 1st Brigade (Stryker), 25th Infantry Division as the Brigade Effects Coordinator. He then deployed with the Brigade to Mosul, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. In July 2005, Lt. Col. Cardoni was assigned as the Operations Officers for the 2d Battalion, 8th Field Artillery "Automatic" in Quayarrah, Iraq. Upon redployment, 1st Brigade (Stryker), 25th Infantry Division later reflagged to 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment and received orders to relocate to Germany. In July 2006, Lt. Col. Cardoni relocated to Vilseck, Germany and served as the Squadron Executive Officer for the Fires Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment.

In 2007, Lt. Col. Cardoni was assigned as a Land Warfare Subject Matter Expert in the newly formed NATO Joint Force Training Centre in Bydgoszcz, Poland. He was later assigned as the Section Head of the Operational Mentor Liaison Team Section.

Lt. Col. Cardoni’s awards include the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with one bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with three bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, and Iraqi Campaign Medal. Lt. Col. Cardoni also wears the Valorous Unit Award, Combat Action Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.

Lt. Col. Cardoni is married to the former Monika M. Wesolowska of Kcynia, Poland. They have a son Dominik.

2-77th FA COMMANDER AT FORT CARSON, CO

Lieutenant Colonel Gary R. Graves was commissioned into the Field Artillery in 1994 upon graduation from the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. In 1995 Lieutenant Colonel Graves was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (AASLT), Fort Campbell, Kentucky. There he served as a Company Fire Support Officer for A/3-502 IN, Assistant Operations Officer for 1-320th FA, and Fire Direction Officer and Battery Executive Officer for C/1-320th FA. After PCSing from Fort Campbell, Lieutenant Colonel Graves graduated from the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Coursed and was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division (MECH) in Vilseck, Germany. There he served as a Task Force Fire Support Officer for 2-2 IN and deployed to Kosovo in support of KFOR 1B. Nine months after returning back to Germany from Kosovo, Lieutenant Colonel Graves was re-assigned to Bamberg, Germany to take command of HHB/1-6 FA. After commanding HHB/1-6 FA for 12 months, Lieutenant Colonel Graves was selected for a second command, in which he took command of HHB/1ID DIVARTY, also located in Bamberg, Germany.

In 2003, after completing two years of command, Lieutenant Colonel Graves was assigned to the Combat Maneuver Training Center (CMTC), Hohenfels, Germany as an Observer/Controller (O/C). There he served as a Battalion Combat Service Support (CSS) and Direct Support Battalion Operations O/C. From 2005-2006 Lieutenant Colonel Graves was assigned to the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA where he graduated from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS). Lieutenant Colonel Graves arrived at Fort Drum, NY in 2006 and immediately deployed to Afghanistan in support of OEF VII as the 10th Mountain Division (LI) Assistant Fire Support Coordinator. Upon redeployment from Afghanistan, he was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team where he served as the Brigade Fires Support Coordinator and Battalion Executive Officer for 4-25th FA in OEF IX-X.

Lieutenant Colonel Graves received his bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy and hold a Masters degree in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy from the Nations Defense University in Washington DC.

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