Volume 1, Issue 7A Message FromThe President

MG Joseph P. O'Leary (Ret)

SCHEDULEOF

MEETINGS

To Promote the Espirit de Corps and Fraternity of the Signal Corps

Summer 2009

ANNUAL DUESARE

$12.00 E6 & Up$2.00 E-1 to E-5Due in AprilEach YearCheck YourMailing LabelIn Apr 08 for

Expiration Date

Upcoming Events

Monday11 Jan 101930 HrsOrangeburgArmory

Monday13 Jul 20091930 HrsYonkersArmory

Monday12 Apr 20101930 HrsYonkersArmoryAnnualElections

Thursday15 Oct 20091930 HrsPolish C.C.Yonkers,NY

The Military Association of New York (MANY) hostedits 155th annual convention on 24 thru 26 Apr 2009in Saratoga Springs, NY. Many Liberty Chaptermembers attended, including the Company andBattalion Commanders of the 101st Sig Bn. Timelyand informative briefings were presented to theattendees which included members from the Army,Air, Naval Militia, Marines, and State Guard. Inaddition, time was allotted for a representative fromeach branch to brief their respective organizations,missions, strength, capabilities, and currentactivities. These briefings brought home to us thatwe are part of a much larger organization.

The Division of Military & Naval Affairs (DMNA) withover twenty thousand military personnel, with diversecapabilities and dedicated, professional individualsstands ready to perform military missions in supportof State or National Objectives.

The National Guard Association(NGAUS) will host its next conventionin Nashville, TN on 11-13 Sep 09

The Liberty Chapter Fishing Trip fromCity Island is tentatively schedule forWednesday 2 Sep 2009. Everyone isinvited. See our flyer on the web site.

It is my sad duty to report the death of CSMVasilios E. Telegadis, a member of the LibertyChapter SCRA & the former CSM of the 42IDand CSM of the 187th Signal Brigade.CSM Telegadis suffered from heart failure andentered into eternal rest on 24 May 2009.

Obituaries

There was ample time for attendees to mingle andshare experiences including a formal banquet onSaturday night. The New York State MilitaryMuseum is located on Lake Avenue in SaratogaSprings and is worth a visit. MANY also arrangedprograms for spouses and children while the militarybusiness was being conducted. The Associationexists to support the uniformed services in New Yorkand deserves the support of all of us. We supportMANY by becoming members and adding our voicesto those of our comrades.

The annual boat ride on the Hudson river departedfro the south dock at West Point at 1330 hrs onSaturday 13 June, as planned. There were abouteighty passengers on board, including members ofthe Liberty Chapter, the 42ID Association and theAUSA. Many children also enjoyed the trip as therewas plenty of food, cake, and drinks. We proceedednorth, passed Bannerman island with its distinctivecastle, to just south of the Newburg-Beacon bridgewhere we turned and headed south again.

We note with great sadness that CSM Vasilios (Bill)Telegadis passed away on Sunday 24 May 2009.He enlisted in 1958, and was promoted to 1SG in1970. In 1978 he was promoted to CommandSergeant Major. He served as CSM of the 42ndInfantry Division from 1983 until 1986. In 1986 hewas assigned as CSM of the 187th Signal Brigade.He quickly acclimated himself to our signal trainingand mission and made himself a true Signaleer. Weremember him as a professional NCO and a goodfriend. Rest in Peace.

Photo provided by Jake Young

The 187th Sig Gp/Bde renunion was held on17 May 09 at the Fort Hamilton CommunityClub. Approximately 25 members were inattendance. It was nice seeing the old gangagain and all had a good time. More photoshave been posted to the web site.

Photo provided by Jake Young

The Annual Boat Ride on the Hudson was abig success on 13 June 09. We had about80 people on the boat. All in all a mostenjoyable day sight-seeing and in thecompany of good friends.

The Liberty Chapter newsletter willbe published 4 times a year priorto each scheduled meeting.Contributions, comments andsuggestions should be e-mailed to:psuchanyc@yahoo.com or tonysignal@nysignal.org All Addresscorrections should also beforwarded to the above address.

Liberty ChapterSignal Regiment Assn

State Armory, Quincy PlaceYonkers, New York 10701

Visit our Web Site at

The e-mail address is:nysignal@nysignal.org

If you are not receivinge-mail notices, pleaseupdate your e-mail address.

www.nysignal.org

LIBERTY CHAPTER OFFICERSPRESIDENT: Joseph P. O'LearyVICE PRES : Edward D'AnnaTREASURER: Carlos RodriguezAWARDS: Paul SuchanycMEMBERSHIP: Matt BaylessEVENTS: George DesimoneSECRETARY: Gerald Steckmeister

101st Signal Battalion - "Lighting Warriors" - Get the Message Through

Returning from Ft. Drum, New York for only our second Battalion level fieldexercise, the 101st Signal Battalion is reinvigorated by the receipt of newequipment and the seemingly unlimited future potential awaiting us. Onlylast year I reported that we successfully transformed from an EchelonAbove Corp (EAC) Signal Battalion into an Integrated Theater SignalBattalion, (ITSB) hoping to field new Satellite and Line of Site Shelters andget the message through.

Fewer than three months earlier all three line companies received threedozen newly reset AN/TRC-190's which we tested at Ft. Dix, New Jerseyand again during our annual training in a standard network configuration.The capstone to this fielding was the fielding of eight newly reset AN/TSC-85

Article by: LTC Tom Kilmartin, Commander 101st Sig Bn NYARNG

and 93's tactical satellites systems at Ft. Drum. Imagine, newly trained and recentlytransferred satellite operators (31S's) arriving at Ft. Drum to inventory and open sheltersthis battalion had no experience with. Add to the mix a well trained staff, new tosatellite operations, with no experience requesting or implementing a successfulsatellite shot. I had no doubt that our staff's ability to plan, implement and executedboth the fielding and successful implementation of our new satellites into a battaliontraining network.The mission exceeded my expectation and successfully executed on schedule by dayfour, as planned. The culminating event was the green light from Ft. Bragg to enter theDefense Services Network (DSN) that same day we established the satellitecommunications link. It was shear joy expressed by all signalers involved from the31S's to the 31F's, Operations and Engineering Staff, Warrants, NCO's and enlistedSoldiers when a tactical call was placed to the New York State Joint ForcesHeadquarters by myself to announce our success. We traveled to Ft. Drum, hopeful,but unsure of what the challenges ahead might prevent us from accomplishing ourmission. Fully trained, well educated and demonstrating significant determination allaided us in achieving this signal milestone.

Of course, once in the network, we were capable and successfully spoke with colleaguesin the 146th Signal Battalion (Florida, ARNG) currently on duty in Iraq. In addition wespoke with former 101st Signalers currently stationed in Afghanistan as well as reportingto both FORSCOM and National Guard Bureau (NGB). The Battalion Staff, Officers,NCO's and Enlisted Soldiers at every level accomplished their annual training goals andthey are all to be commended for their successful accomplishment at every level ofcommunication. Having now returned to home station, we are again poised to changeour MTOE again in November of this year. We are readying ourselves to be fielded thelatest technology available to the United States Military, as we transform once againinto an Expeditionary Signal Battalion (ESB). Our future is bright with unlimitedpotential and the bright light of success is once again shinning on our"Lighting Warriors".