Page 1 - Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior, June 2019
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Volume 15, Number 6 Published in the interest of the National Training Center and Fort Irwin community • www.irwin.army.mil June 7, 2019
NTC has large presence in SoCal
Armed Forces Day celebrations
By: Janell J. Lewis Ford Ken Drylie, Garrison Public Affairs Saturday’s parade. The vehicles, included an
M1A1 Abrams Tank, M3 Half-Track, M2A2
Garrison Public Affairs NTC’s 11th ACR horse detachment road in Torrance’s 60th annual Armed Forces Day Bradley, M109 Howitzer (Paladin), M997A2
TORRANCE, Calif. — Soldiers, leaders, parade, along with military tanks. Ambulance, M88A2 Hercules, RG-33 Cat II,
staff and spouses from the National Training and M992 Ammunition Support Vehicle.
Center/Fort Irwin had a prominent pres- their appreciation Saturday with a luncheon, NTC. Fort Irwin soldiers led the way, kick-
ence at the 60th annual Armed Forces Day parade and banquet, where Fort Irwin leaders ing off the parade with the joint color guard. Five-hundred new service members were
weekend celebration in Torrance. The events and spouses were present. Broadwater and his The 11th ACR had its horse detachment, sworn in to military during a group ceremony
took place from May 17 – 19 and the parade wife, Alicia, rode in the parade, representing dismounted platoon and military tanks in for all branches during the parade.
draws in about 60,000 people as the nation’s
longest-running military parade sponsored Song Tran and his wife live in Torrance
by any city. All branches of the military were and brought their 10- and 8-year old sons
represented over the weekend — the United out to the parade for their first time. He said
States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force he doesn’t have a connection to the military
and Coast Guard. but, “I think it’s very useful for kids to know
On Friday, guests enjoyed a free concert by military history.â€
the Navy band, then more than three dozen
of NTC Soldiers ran in the Louis Zampernini Oscar Berman served during the Korean
5K Freedom run on Saturday, including NTC’s War and he thinks it’s important to try to at-
Commander, Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater. tend the Torrance parade every year.
General Jeffery Broadwater, Command Sgt.
Maj. Matthew Lowe and CSM Robert Ed- “It’s important to see these veterans from
wards. Fort Irwin’s group finished with a time all over, from different wars, from different
of 30:26. The winner of the race completed it walks of life,†Berman said. “It’s great to be an
in 15 minutes out of hundreds of participants. American.â€
Sgt. 1st Class Angel Nunez helped organize
Fort Irwin’s participation in the weekend events Other notable participants of the parade in-
and said he had a little inspiration during the cluded city councilmembers, congress members
run. “In the run, my motivation was a kid Maxine Waters and Ted Lieu, World War II
about 5 to 6 years old,†he said. “He stuck veterans, The Bob Hope USO and high school
with us almost the entire the run, he just didn’t marching bands, as military jets flew overhead
want to give up.†throughout the parade. The parade grand mar-
The events honor and thank the men and shal was Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar, commander,
women of the Armed Forces for their sacri- Navy Region Southwest. The honorary Grand
fices and, after the run, city leaders showed Marshall was actor, Emilio Rivera, of the Ma-
yans MC and Sons of Anarchy.
On each day, there was also a military
exhibit static display, which showed military
See CELEBRATE, Page 9
Weather postpones Island Beach Bash, many still attend, enjoy
Garrison Public Affairs
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Three rounds of rain and stormy
weather couldn’t stop a Hawaiian Luau from coming to the
desert. The MWR had its annual Island Beach Bash scheduled
for March 22 but weather forced them to reschedule it for
May 25. More than 1,500 people in the Fort Irwin community
still came out to support and see the Polynesian dancers and
vendors, and enjoy the food, activities, bounce houses and even
the fire dancer and beach sand. 1,000 leis were distributed in
just the first two hours and the dancers featured NTC/Fort
Irwin’s Samoan Dance Group and the Islanders Luau Dance
Group demonstrating traditional moves from various islands
of the Pacific. A shuttle was provided to escort residents to
and from the event throughout the evening and organizations
were able to purchase cabanas for their group.
