
“The Battle of the Bulge” as Remembered by Lt Col Samuel Lombardo
“The Battle of the Bulge” as Remembered by Lt Col Samuel Lombardo was recorded on January 28, 2019 the Fort Walton Yacht Club for the Military Affairs Committee, Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. Lt Col Lombardo recounts his journey to America as a child and how the lessons learn then help him in WWII. Lt Col Lombardo will become a centenarian in July 2019.
Recorded by RJ Murdock, EmeraldCoastTV.com

Lt Col Sam Lombardo at Military Affairs Committee, FWB Chamber, 28Jan19
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2nd Annual ODA-595 Horse Soldiers Reunion 2023
On October 21, 2023, the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2nd Annual ODA 595 Horse Soldiers Reunion at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds.
Below is a replay video of the event. If you have a Smart TV, search for and install the VidFlow app to watch this video on your big screen TV. This video player also also you to select chapter points to specific speakers and presentations.
(if you’re interested in checking out the Inaugural Reunion video from 2022, click here)
Eleven of the original 12 members of ODA 595 were in attendance for this inaugural reunion event.
Captain Mark Nutsch – Detachment Commander
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bob Pennington – Assistant Detachment Commander
Master Sergeant Paul Evans – Team and Operations Sergeant
Sergeant First Class Andy Marchal – Intelligence Sergeant
Sergeant First Class Steve Kofron. – Weapons Sergeant
Staff Sergeant Mike Elmore – Weapons Sergeant
Staff Sergeant Chad Jacklet– Engineer Sergeant
Staff Sergeant Pete Walther – Engineer Sergeant
Sergeant First Class Steve Bleigh—Medical Sergeant
Sergeant First Class Vince Makela – Communications Sergeant
Staff Sergeant Will Summers– Communications Sergeant
Staff Sergeant USAF Steve E. Tomat – Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)
Ted Corcoran, CEO of the FWB Chamber, was Master of Ceremony. “This event is not merely an occasion. Ti’s a profound journey, a homage and a celebration of American tenacity and unity. Dive into history. Honor both Air Force and Army legends.”
The National Anthem was presented by Voices of Northwest Florida from Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, Florida
The Invocation was provided by Chaplain (Capt) Steven Richardson, USAF, from Hurlburt Field, Florida
The first guest speaker was Captain Joseph Mulholland, 7th Special Forces Group, Eglin AFB, Florida, who presented a statement from his father, Lt Gen John Mulholland (retired), a former Associate Director for Military Affairs at the CIA.
The second guest speaker was Col Kurt Buller, USAF (retired), a former Special Tactics Officer, who provided an insight into the operations in Afghanistan after 911.
The third guest speaker was Col Alison Black, USAF, Commander, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida, also know as the voice of the Angel of Death during the initial operations in Afghanistan.
The featured guest speaker was Lt General Marshall Brad Webb, USAF (retired), former Commander, USAF Special Operations Command
The final presentation was provided by Lt Col Rich Cole, USAF (retired), Former USAF Pilot, Son of Dolittle Raiders’ Lt Col Dick Cole. He provided some background and noted the similarities between the mission of ODA 595 and the Dolittle Raiders, as well as recognize several key personal from both operations who are no longer with us today.
In 2022, special commemorative canteen cup were created by the Bohlin Company and presented to each member of ODA 595 in honor and recognition of their heroic actions in America’s first response against the Taliban after the 911 attack.
A representative from each event sponsor was given the honor to present the personalized cup to each member of the ODA 595 Horse Soldier team.
If you are interested in learning more about ODA 595 as well as other stories about America’s 1st response to the 911 attacks, check out these sources:
First Casualty by Toby Harnden
Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton
Swords of Lightning – Green Beret Horse Soldiers and America’s Response to 91112 Strong – The Declassified True Story of the Horse Soldiers
Post Views: 474 -
Official 2019 Billy Bowlegs Torchlight Parade
The 64th Billy Bowlegs Festival closes it’s celebration with it’s Torchlight Parade on Monday night on Eglin Parkway in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The parade took place on June 3, 2019.
It is hosted by the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce (Ted Corcoran) and this year’s parade sponsor, Step One Automotive (Maureen Bierman).
This 60 minute video airs on ox Cable Channel 6 at various times and dates throughout the month of June. It was produced by EmeraldCoastTV.com .
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Billy Bowlegs Torchlight Parade! Here are the 1st Place winners in each category:
Float
1st Place: AJ’s Krewe of LegendsKrewe
1st Place: Emerald Coast Krewe of Airship PiratesMarching/Walking
1st Place: Studio FitTruck/Car/Van
1st Place: Cumulus Media and Bank of England MortgagePost Views: 94 -
USAF 75th Community Celebration – “The Story Behind the Story” – Eglin AFB & Hurlburt Field
Check out “The Story Behind the Story” event video for the 75th USAF Anniversary Community Celebration, which took place on September 13, 2022 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Florida. This event celebrates the USAF military operations that were supported by both Eglin Air Force base and the Special Operations units of Hurlburt Field. Hosted by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, this event provides two panels of service men & women who participated in several notable USAF operations, including operations in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Iran, Afghanistan, and the Obama Bin Laden Raid.
* Chapter points can easily be selected by watching this video directly on YouTube
00:00 Opening Video – USAF Aircraft Fly-bys
02:09 Official Welcome – Ted Corcoran
02:45 Posting of the Colors
03:33 National Anthem
05:35 Invocation
06:58 Event Overview
08:34 Introduction of Dale Dye
10:43 Dale Dye Movie Compilation Video
13:56 Eglin AFB Background History
14:51 Dr Devin Stephenson Introduction
17:35 Florida Representative Patt Maney Introduction
21:44 Recognition Distinguished Guests
23:01 JCOS Senior Enlisted Advisor Ramon Colon-Lopez Introduction
25:32 Recognition of Notable Local Veterans
26:57 Ted Introduces 1st Panel
30:13 Cindy Cole Chal (Doolittle Raiders)
48:29 Dale Dye Stories (Korean War)
1:13:05 Col Howard Hill (Vietnam War)
1:24:54 Col Larry Ropka (Sun Tay Raid)
1:38:17 Col Bill Keeler (Vietnam Refugees)
1:47:34 Sponsors Recognition & Jerry Williams EFCU
1:51:54 Introduction of 2nd Panel of Speakers
1:52:36 CMSgt Bill Walter – Operation Eagle Claw (Iran Hostage Rescue)
2:00:42 Lt Col Kirby Locklear – Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada)
2:08:35 Lt Col Corby Martin – Operation Desert Storm (Iraq)
2:19:06 Lt Col Allison Black – Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan)
2:27:24 The “MOAB” Story (Bill Walter)
2:29:05 Task Force Dagger & ODA 595 Horse Soldiers Event
2:30:49 Lt Gen Marshal “Brad” Webb – (Bin Laden Raid)
2:41:33 The Voices of NWFSC – America the Beautiful
2:47:02 The Air Force Song Sing-AlongEMCEE
– Ted Corcoran, CEO – Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of CommerceSPONSORS
– Eglin Federal Credit Union
– The Boeing Company
– Northwest Florida State College
– Fort Walton Beach Chamber of CommerceTHANKS TO
– Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce Staff: Seth Luttrell, Rachelle Graves, Dayna Stinebiser, Chrissy Flanigan, Debbie Dodge
– Mattie Kelly Arts Center Staff and Volunteers
– The Voices of Northwest Florida State College
– Air Force Public Affairs/Historians: Dawn Hart, Amy Nicholson, Shelby Pritchett, Jasmine Porterfield, Alan LandersSCRIPT
– Bill WaltersLODGINGS
– The Island Resort;
– Holiday Inn Resort-Fort Walton Beach
– Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton BeachPROMOTION
– Frances Roy AgencyVIDEO PRODUCTION
– RJ Murdock, Emerald Coast TVPost Views: 204