Military Marksmanship Association Formerly AMUA - Army Marksmanship Unit Association

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Click here to view the 50th Anniversary issue of the MMA Times Newsletter. Click here to view 50th Anniversary Reunion photographs. USAMU Celebrates 50th Anniversary Six soldiers inducted in USAMU Hall of Fame MSG Erich Buljung, SSG Matt Dryke, SGM Emil Heugatter CPT Daniel Puckel, COL Thomas Sharpe, SFC Earl Watterman Krilling Action and Combat Shooting Range dedicated in honor of MSG William E. Krilling, a Distinguished Service Cross recipient. By Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army Marksmanship  Unit, Accessions Support Brigade FORT BENNING, Georgia – More than 600 Soldiers, civilians, and family members, past and present, of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, gathered together October 18 to 21, 2006, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the United States Army Marksmanship Unit. The Military Marksmanship Association (MMA)—the alumni association of the Army Marksmanship Unit—conducted the festivities. The MMA Reunion honored the shooters and staff of the Army Marksmanship Unit and provided an opportunity for the shooters of the past to meet the new shooters of the present. The high point of the Marksmanship Reunion was a 50th anniversary celebration banquet at the historic Iron Works, Columbus Trade and Convention Center. U.S. Army Accessions Command Commanding General Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp was the guest speaker; USAAC Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Dennis E. Rogers also attended.  During the banquet, the Army Marksmanship Unit inducted six of its former members into the USAMU Hall of Fame. Inducted were Master Sgt. Erich Buljung, Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Dryke, Sgt. Maj. Emil W. Heugatter, Capt. Daniel Puckel, Col. Thomas J. Sharpe, and Sgt. 1st Class Earl Waterman. A special guest of honor at the banquet was Dr. Olegario Vázquez Raña of Mexico, President of the International Shooting Sport Federation. One of the highlights of the evening was the taking of a historic group photo as Lt. Gen.Van Antwerp, Brig. Gen. Rogers, and Lt. Col. Gordon R. Roberts, the Army’s only active duty Medal of Honor recipient, joined by 11 current and former USAMU Olympic Medalists. This group represented 16 of the 21 Olympic medals earned by USAMU Soldiers. The two current USAMU Olympic medalists, Maj. Michael E. Anti and Sgt. 1st Class James T. Graves, posed with nine former USAMU Olympic medalists—Maj. Margaret L. Murdock, Maj. Lones W. Wigger Jr., Capt. Lanny R. Bassham, Capt. Wanda R. Jewell; Capt. John H. Writer, 1st Lt. Gary L. Anderson, 1st Lt. William Morris, Master Sgt. Erich Buljung, and Staff Sgt. Dryke On the 20th of October, 23 former members of the Army Marksmanship Unit were inducted into their section Hall of Fame at a ceremony conducted at USAMU headquarters, Sharpe Hall. USAMU former commander retired Col. Lory M. "Mac" Johnson was the guest speaker. Inducted were: 1st Lt. Joe A. Deckert, Lt. Col. John R. Foster, Sgt. 1st Class John P. Kingeter, Lt. Col. Harry A. Lucker, and Maj. Willis L. Powell, Running Target Hall of Fame; Lt. Col. Sallie L. E. Carroll, Sgt. Maj. Emil W. Heugatter, Sgt. 1st Class Barbara Hile, and Master Sgt. Ralph O. Thompson, Service Pistol Hall of Fame; and Master Sgt. Burl Branham, Shotgun Hall of Fame. Also Sgt. 1st Class Terry W. Daugherty, Master Sgt. Martin D. Edmonson, Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Gill, Staff Sgt. Willie D. Jordan, Spc. 5 Diane Klimas, Capt. John R. Kolb, Spc. 4 James Lamm, Capt. Merrill R. Menlove, 1st Lt. David Meredith, and Staff Sgt. Eric A. Uptagrafft, were inducted into the Service Rifle Hall of Fame, and Lt. Col. Raynold S. Dobak, Lt. Col. Frank Palmer, and Master Sgt. Warren E. Wiley, were named to the Support Hall of Fame. Lt. Col. Carroll was also inducted into the International Pistol Hall of Fame and Sgt. 1st Class Hile was additionally inducted into the Service Rifle Hall of Fame. MMA Membership Meeting  Later, at the reunion barbecue, the MMA conducted its annual general membership meeting and elected new officers.  Former USAMU Commander retired Col. Robert I. Hoidahl, Jr. was elected as the 2007-2008 MMA President and Ronald F. Martere was voted as vice president; they will replace current MMA President Bruce A. Meredith and Stephen C. Goff.  The following MMA officers were re-elected: Laurence K. Mosely, secretary; Samuel W. Hunter, treasurer; Richard D. Rebidue, membership; and Carter Berry, public affairs. Goff will take over as the historian. Range Dedication The USAMU’s newest Action and Combat Shooting Range located at the intersection of Jamestown and Brinson roads was dedicated the afternoon of October 21st. This newest addition to USAMU’s six other ranges is named Krilling Range in honor of former USAMU shooter and coach Master Sgt. William E. Krilling, a Distinguished Service Cross recipient.  Lt. Col. Roberts was the guest speaker. An oil portrait of Krilling, painted by Alexander Reid, exhibit specialist with the National Infantry Museum, was unveiled and subsequently hung in the range’s administrative office.  (Formed in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to raise the standards of marksmanship throughout the U.S. Army, the Army Marksmanship Unit is assigned to the Accessions Support Brigade of the U.S. Army Accessions Command. The Marksmanship Unit trains its Soldiers to win competitions and enhances combat readiness through train-the-trainer clinics, research and development.  For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436. Click here to read detailed report about the 50th Anniversary by our Immediate Past President. Back to Top On-line Reunion Photograph Albums Click here to here view the 50th Anniversary Reunion Photo Albums listed below.   • 50th Reunion Album 01 (40 photos) taken by USAMU PAO Paula Randall.   • 50th Reunion Album 02 (36 photos) taken by MMA member Jerry Lebish.   • 50th Reunion Album 03 (221 photos) taken by MMA member Ken Hamill.   • 50th Reunion Album 04 (244 photos) taken by MMA member Ken Hamill.   • 50th Reunion Album 05 (17 photos) taken by MMA member Ray Carter.   • 50th Reunion Album 06 (319 photos) taken by MMA member Ray Arredondo.   • 50th Reunion Album 07 (304 photos) taken by MMA member Ray Arredondo.   • 50th Reunion Album 08 (313 photos) taken by MMA member Ray Arredondo. Also, click here to view a 50th Reunion Album (100 photos) taken by MMA member Scott Pilkington. A big, big thanks to the photographers who made their photos available. Notes: 1. The MMA nor the MMA Webmaster do not receive any monetary compensation should you purchase a photo from one of the on-line photo processors. 2.The special 50th Anniversary baseball cap, MMA logo pin, and USAMU 50th Anniversary coin are sold out. Since the reunion was a one time event, the Executive Board voted not to order additional 50th anniversary caps, coins, or pins. Back to Top Formed in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to raise the standards of marksmanship throughout the U.S. Army, the Army Marksmanship Unit is assigned to the Accessions Support Brigade of Fort Knox, Ky., which is under U.S. Army Accessions Command, of Fort Monroe, Va.  Accessions Command is charged with overseeing recruiting and training of the Army's enlisted Soldiers and officers.  The Marksmanship Unit trains its Soldiers to win competitions and enhances combat readiness through train-the-trainer clinics, research and development. The world-class Soldier-athletes of the USAMU also promote the Army and assist recruiters in attracting young Americans to enlist in the Army. For more information about the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Mr. Michael Molinaro, Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, michael.molinaro@usaac.army.mil  or http://www.usamu.com

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