SgtMacsBar Camaraderie Award

SgtMacsBar Camaraderie Award		Bringing Us All A Little Bit Closer
A Small Token of the Appreciation From the Brotherhood

I looked up the word Bond; a uniting or binding element or force. I looked up the word Brotherhood; Fellowship, Alliance, An association for a particular purpose. We talk a lot about bonds and brotherhood, but this doesn't describe my feelings.

Fellowship? A community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience; A company of equals or friends, the quality or state of comradely.

Camaraderie; a spirit of friendly good-fellowship. We are comrades bonded through a force around your experiences and feats that defy reality. It's about pushing yourself beyond reason and accomplishing the impractical. It's about those people that share your pain as you endure the strains of "mission accomplished", living life on the edge. It's about the sacrifices you share and the fellowships that formed, connecting you to your Teammates and The Combat Control Brotherhood.

Camaraderie, now that's how I feel, a spirit of friendly good-fellowship. How do I define Camaraderie? When I pick up the phone and call Gordy Swayze and say, you don't know me, but I'm going to be in your area and I'm looking for a place to stay. I did the same thing to Roy Kitchen and both these guys and their families welcomed Jill and me with open arms.

I wanted to meet Bill and Linda Frankenberger, so I invited us to their house (it just happened to be the 4th of July weekend, Bill & Linda's Anniversary, and Bill's Birthday) and just barged right in on their big family gathering. We became family that weekend and we're going to do it again this year.

I'm impressed that people I've never met accept me as a long lost friend and invite me into their homes treating me as a special guest. Many spending only years in Combat Control and those years being long past, but "Fellowship" is still strong and that's what I call Camaraderie.

We all have it and know the feeling, force, or spirit that lives within you and bonds you to the Brotherhood and that is Camaraderie. SgtMacsBar is all about "Bringing Us A Little Bit Closer" and it's your Camaraderie, your involvement with fellow CCTer's; past, present and future that makes SgtMacsBar work and it's time to recognize this involvement through the SgtMacsBar Camaraderie Award.

Mike entered the Air Force in the early 60's and spent some time at Dyess before going to Viet-Nam. While in Nam, Mike suffered some injuries that left him in a coma for months and he was medically discharged in 1968.

Thirty Eight (38) years later Mike's Camaraderie continues to grow stronger. He's attended every CCT Gathering and carries a photo album along with a camera. He gave me an 8X10 laminated picture from Dyess, 1965 and the other side is from a CCT Gathering at Lamar Peninsula, TX in 1998.

He took it upon himself to drive into Dallas and visit with Bill Frankenberger when he was being treated for cancer. They had never met before, but Mike wanted to give Bill some support and let him know he was there.

Mike also drove days out of his way to visit with Chad Giesige and his parents. He didn't know the Giesige's, but wanted to give them comfort and reason to believe recovery will happen. Mike told them about his experiences and his recovery, have faith.

Then, John Norsworthy comes up with Brain Cancer and guess what? Yes, Mike's already at the hospital keeping us updated with John's progress.

Mike, continues to go out his way "Bringing Us All A Little Bit Closer" and showing us the meaning of Camaraderie. If you think Mike's compassion reminds you of Red Ghormley, you are correct, Red being Mike's nickname.


Chad and Red	Red and John

Red Ghormley is the definition of Camaraderie and his actions were the catalyst for the SgtMacsBar Camaraderie Award making Red the first recipient and it was my honor to present him a plaque at the Nashville 2006 Reunion.

The plaque is way over due and you know I believe in coincidence and that great minds think alike. When I got the message from Red about John Norsworthy, something went off in my head and I started designing a plaque for the SgtMacsBar Camaraderie Award. I knew I had to do something and then I get this note from Bill Frankenberger, which put a big smile on my face and sent me to the engravers.

From Bill Frankenberger; The reason for my note is the info on John Norsworthy. I posted a note to him today. Red Ghormley deserves a medal for what he does for our brothers who are ill or injured. I'll never forget my surprise when Red, a complete stranger to me, came and sat through one of my marathon chemo sessions with his photo albums and war stories. It was a great morale booster at a time when I needed one. I know he visits the V.A. and other locations supporting the DAV. He is one hell of a man.

Bill, I second it….. Red you're one hell of a man! HooYa……….

Short Story; Having met Gordy Swayze and Bill Frankenberger and knowing their interests, I thought they should know each other. Gordy's an artist and on one of my visits since meeting "LiveStrong" Bill I noticed an abstract Gordy named Lance and it just screamed Bill Frankenberger to me.

Sure enough, Bill loved the picture and Gordy agreed to give it to him at a very reasonable price. The picture was rather large, so Bill and Linda decided to drive from Texas to Arizona to pick it up. I just happened to be in the area (driving my folks from Arizona to Missouri), so we stopped by too.

Pictured to the left; Mac, Gordy and Bill
and to the right.....Lance

Click Here to see more of Gordy's Art Work

I didn't realize how much hillbilly I had in me, but I got to thinking about it and I'm sure Gordy's wife, Marcelle, must have given him an earful. First I invite my self over and it escalates to bringing my folks and the Frankenberger's. Damn Gordy, I hope you're not sorry you ever met me, I continue to take advantage of your camaraderie……….. but it's only because I love you!

I found out later, Gordy wouldn't accept any payment for the painting; he has a spirit of friendly good-fellowship and I salute you Gordy!

I'm lucky to have such friends and as my old friend Steve Polofka once said at a CCT Gathering; "I hardly know anyone in this room, but I've never been around so many friends!"

Combat Control is a Brotherhood, we are comrades bonded through a force around your experiences and feats that defy reality. It's about pushing yourself beyond reason and accomplishing the impractical. It's about those people that share your pain as you endure the strains of "mission accomplished", living life on the edge. It's about the sacrifices you share and the fellowships that formed, connecting you to your Teammates and The Combat Control Brotherhood.

I'm lucky to have such friends and look forward to meeting those I haven't. If you know a Combat Controller that's "not connected", do him a favor and send him to SgtMacsBar and let him know about the Combat Control Association.

It's all about "Bringing Us All A Little Bit Closer", and Red; We recognize and thank you for your Camaraderie; a spirit of friendly good-fellowship!

Speach, Speach, Speach.........

SgtMacsBar Camaraderie Award		Bringing Us All A Little Bit Closer
A Small Token of the Appreciation From the Brotherhood

Wayne Norrad is the second person to be recognized;

Wayne Norrad

Showing us the Meaning of Camaraderie

Wayne has served more time than anyone else as CCA President and I wanted to recognize this with an insignificant plaque, but it’s the thought that counts. He’s given more than a lifetime and I wanted thank him for helping “Bring Us All A Little Bit Closer!”

Wayne also received the last award given out by SgtMacsBar. Red and Wayne have gone far beyond any expectations with their service to the Combat Control Brotherhood, they need no recognition and those who serve in their shadows, serve from within and their own purpose. Your name is listed at www.SgtMacsBar.com and you are also recognized for your involvement with our Brotherhood, I Salute You!

I also Thank You for your involvement and hope to enjoy some of your Camaraderie, either at a reunion or by Road Trip. I also encourage you to join the Combat Control Association, for they are the CCT Hub keeping us all together and "Bringing Us All A Little Bit Closer!"