Kettle Falls American Legion gives back to veterans

By Liv Stecker

Legion Member Bob West presents Dan Litzenberger with a donation for Freedom Has a Face

American Legion Post 146 in Kettle Falls, Washington make up in might what they lack in numbers. The small collection of dedicated veterans who provide a place for service members from all generations to congregate has stepped up to the plate one more time to make a donation to the Freedom Has A Face Foundation (FHAF).

Freedom Has A Face was recently the focus of a fundraising Historical Shootout at Bull Hill Training Ranch outside of Kettle Falls that involved veterans, active duty service members and civilians from all over the area. Kettle Falls American Legion heard about the fundraising effort and voted to contribute to the cause. Legion member Bob West visited Bull Hill Training Ranch to present former Army Ranger Dan Litzenberger with a check for the donation. Litzenberger started the ranch and historical shootouts as a way to not only provide a recreational outlet for veterans but also to raise funds for causes like FHAF.

The Freedom Has A Face foundation is dedicated to the financial and emotional support of family members of service members killed in action. Based in California, the foundation provides resources for families of fallen soldiers all over the United States. Extended family of the founders of FHAF live outside of Northport, Washington, and were on hand at the shootout to help feed the competitors.

Because of generous contributions from dedicated individuals and groups like American Legion Post 146, Bull Hill Training Ranch was able to support FHAF in their mission to care for military families. The Kettle Falls American Legion Post 146 is committed to the well-being of veterans from all generations and welcome all to their monthly meetings and the many social events they have scheduled throughout the year.

Traditional veterans organizations like the American Legion and the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) have seen a steady decline in membership since they burgeoned after the first World War. Changes in social trends and technology have removed the younger generation of veterans from the face-to-face gathering that was so crucial to the veterans of World War 2, Korea and Vietnam. Younger veterans find themselves absorbed in a less personal network of online socialization and often miss the connection that sitting down in a Legion Post or VFW Hall with veterans from other generations can provide. If you are a vet, check into what your local veterans organizations have to offer you, or maybe more importantly, what you can offer them. (Many of them have Facebook pages!)

Kettle Falls American Legion Post 146

amlpost146kettlefallswa@hotmail.com

https://www.legion.org/

Chewelah V.F.W. #2047

PO Box 913, Chewelah, WA  99109           

Frank Starr American Legion #47

103 E. 6th Ave, Colville, WA  99114

509 684-8480 or 509 685-9680

J F Folsom Chewelah American Legion #54

111 W. South Ave, Chewelah, WA  99109

509 935-8464

Kelley O’Keefe V.F.W. #6963

135 Highway 20 E., Colville, WA  99114

509 684-8795

Kettle Falls American Legion#146

1057 Highway 395 N., Kettle Falls, WA  99141

509 738-6999

Northport American Legion #158

PO Box 96, Northport, WA  99157

Wellpinit V.F.W. #10711

PO Box 180, Wellpinit, WA  99040

509 258-7331

Remembering D-Day

Omaha Beach Memorial

By Liv Stecker

June 6, 1944

“...The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you.”

- Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s address to invading troops

 160,000 allied troops descend upon a 50 mile stretch of coastline in Northern France. 13,000 aircraft and 5,000 sea-going vessels spread across Normandy like a swarm for Operation Overlord. It was the turning point of the war. It was do or die. It was D-Day.

 Never before and never since has such a broadly coordinated attack taken place on the global theater of war. Within the day, the allies had the foothold they so desperately needed on the European Continent in order to take the Nazi Regime in hand. 9,000 men died on those beaches and cliffs. A high price to pay to gain the strategic upper-hand, but it was the first step the Allies needed to begin their slow sweep across Europe, routing Hitler’s army.

 Interestingly, in one of the largest sea-to-land offensive strikes in history, the US Marines, who were created for just such attacks, were not deployed. Waiting in the wings to provide support, they watched as the US Army Infantry and AIrborne descended en masse along with British and Canadian forces.

Memorial to the Army Rangers at Pointe du Hoc

 Six 155 MM German guns sat perched atop a cliff between beaches that had been dubbed Omaha and Utah by invading forces. The artillery posed a critical threat to troops as they landed on both beaches. Army Rangers from the 2nd and 5th Battalions, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James E. Rudder were assigned to capture the cliff at Pointe Du Hoc, considered by allied planners to be one of the most dangerous offensives of the operation. The Germans believed the point to be impenetrable by enemy forces. Even a US Intelligence Officer told strategists that “Three old women with brooms could keep the Rangers from climbing that cliff.” But Rudder and his Rangers were undaunted. Landing on the narrow beaches at low tide, the die-hard Rangers scaled the cliff with ropes and ladders, securing the German guns ultimately determining the outcome of the entire operation. The Rangers suffered a 70% casualty rate that day.

 The initial phases of the largest airborne attack in history were characterized by disorganization and confusion that resulted in paratrooper scattered far beyond the targeted drop zones. In spite of the chaos, Allied troops pushed through with such determination that German forces were eventually pressed back and the objectives of Operation Overlord were achieved.