Special Mission Warning Order

PGR Plaque / United States Flag Presentation

To/From Chief Warrant Officer Phillip Brashear, USANG

In Honor of

BMCM(MDV) Carl M Brashear, USN – Retired

Mission Summary:

BMCM(MDV) Carl M. BRASHEAR, U.S. Navy (Retired), the Navy’s first black Diver and Master Deep-Sea Diver who later successfully fought to continue his undersea career after he became an amputee, also a U.S. Naval and National icon, died at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia  on Tuesday, July 25^th, 2006.   The Brashear Family Spokesperson and son, Chief Warrant Officer Phillip Brashear, USANG, invited the PGR, to which  the Patriot Guard Riders executed an Honor Mission and Escort, on Friday evening and Saturday Afternoon, July 28^th  & 29^th, 2006.

Since that Honor Mission, Chief Warrant Officer Brashear, USANG returned to the Global War on Terrorism, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq.  Having completed his Combat Tour of Duty in March, 2007, Warrant Officer Brashear requested a Special Mission of his family and the Patriot Guard Riders to present a United States Flag flown in country Iraq in honor of the Patriot Guard Riders. The Patriot Guard Riders Senior Ride Captain of Hampton Roads excepted, and will present the Patriot Guard Riders Honor Plaque to the Brashear Family.

Date:  April 21, 2007

Time:  15:00

Location:       NAS Oceana POW/MIA Eternal Flame Memorial Park

                S. Oceana Blvd (just past Bells Road), Virginia Beach, VA 23454

Weather:  Forecast for Saturday, April 21^st, 2007 is Sunny with a High of 67 degrees.

Staging Time and Date:  13:45 – 14:45, April 21, 2007 at Double L Lounge (Parking Lot) 1713 Virginia Beach, VA 23454

http://www.google.com/maps?q=1713+Virginia+Beach+Blvd,+Virginia+Beach,+Virginia+23454,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title

Kickstands UP at 14:50 PM – The Patriot Guard Riders contingent will depart the staging area by way of Virginia Beach Blvd.  Four (4) Way Safety Flashers (if available) will be employed during the transit to the final destination point.  Cages (Auto, trucks) will employ headlights and 4 way flashers. The ride formation will adhere to the provisions of the PGR Hampton Roads Standing Orders.  Two columns with 2 to 3 second intervals in a staggered ride formation.

Lead Ride Captain for this Mission will be Woody “RustPicker” Wagner, Virginia Beach, VA.   Tail Gunner for this Mission will be announced at the staging Point.

Provisions:

A.      1 U.S. 3’x5’ American Flag and staff. Smaller U.S. Flags are appropriate if you do not have a 3’x5’ U.S. American  Flag.   NOTE: If mounting a 3’x5’ U.S. or PGR Flag  to your bike or vehicle, I highly recommend you pre rig your bike/auto to ENSURE flag stability and safety at speeds up to but not limited to 55 mph.  Flags & staffs MAY be rigged to bikes & vehicles at the Mission Staging Area.

B.      PGR Windshield Banner and/or small PGR flag (bikes/autos/trucks).  Highly desired (but not mandatory).  We will transit from the Staging Point to the Final destination Point parking with bikes RIGGED for escort.

C.      Ride Protocol:  Motorcycles:  Large (3’ x 5’) U.S. Flags rigged for Honor Ride / Escort.

Small(er) U.S. Flags Rigged for Honor Ride / Escort.

No Flags

                Autos:          Same Flag/No Flag order; same as bikes.

Final Destination Point

15:00 – End of Special Mission (TBD)

NAS Oceana POW/MIA Eternal Flame Memorial Park

S. Oceana Blvd (just past Bells Road), Virginia Beach, VA 23454

Mission Scope & Execution

Hampton Roads PGR Contingent will roll to the NAS Oceana POW/MIA Eternal Flame Memorial Park en-masse. Upon Arrival, we will dismount our Bikes and/or Vehicles, and proceed to the Eternal Flame for the duel presentation.

Other - Miscellaneous

The Brashear family has authorized the use of cameras.

Return Trip

TBD

We will conduct a short Debrief at the Final Destination site. You are free to dismiss and depart from the final destination point on your own accord.

PGR Sr.  & Mission Ride Captain, Hampton Rds/5, VA

Woody “RustPicker” Wagner

VA State Ride Captain

Tony “ElvisZappa” Turner

CW4 Phillip BRASHEAR, VA USARNG

In Honor of BMCM(MDV) Carl M. BRASHEAR, USN-Retired

Flame of Hope, POW/MIA Memorial Park, Naval Air Station Oceana

Virginia Beach, VA

21 April 2007

Mission Summary:

On April 8^th, 2007, PGR Senior Ride Captain for Hampton Roads Contacted CW4 Phillip Brashear, USARNG, via email requesting his presence  to present the Brashear Family a Patriot Guard Riders memorial plaque in honor of their father, a Navy and National Icon, BMCM(MDV) Carl M. Brashear, USN-Retired.  After agreeing to a date and place, a Mission Warning Order & Ride brief was drafted, updated, tweaked, finalized, and posted in the Patriot Guard Rider National Web site’s Special Mission Forum topic area. The Mission Warning Order was modified to the Mission Operational Order on the morning of April 21^st, 2007 and executed.

Mission Execution:

After planning, liaison with Family, Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) Warning Order and Ride Brief was disseminated. The Warning Order was posted Thursday evening, April 19^th, 2007, followed by conducting a reconnaissance on Friday, April 20^th, 2007, of the staging area, route and critical route transitions and destination point.

Mission commence at the staging area with sunny skies and temperatures in the lower 70s (degrees) with winds at 2-5 mph at 13:30. Riders rolled into staging area located at the intersection of Virginia Beach Blvd and Oceana Blvd, rallying around the flag. At 14:00; the Senior Ride Captain received a cell phone call from the Brashear family informing the PGR contingent of a traffic tie up on I-64 in Newport News/Hampton, VA, and therefore delaying his arrival time.  At 14:45 Ride Brief, Mission Warning Order, and Safety Brief was given by the Senior/Mission Ride Captain. After all Q&A were completed,  the Mission Ride Captain directed all to form up the Ride Column in accordance with the promulgated Mission Order.  Kickstands up at 15:15, the contingent made way for the POW/MIA Flame of Hope Memorial Park, NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA, arriving at 15:20. Tail Gunner, Ed “AmerBadAs” Lonecke ensured  a safe and orderly transit.  Total PGR contingent included 25 motorcycles, 1 cage, 42 participants. Upon arrival, Patriot Guard Riders formed a loose group around the Brashear Family, and introductions were made. 

In the Shadow of the Eternal Flame Of Hope, the Senior / Mission Ride Captain formally commenced the presentation requesting Johnny “Dilqnt” George to open the ceremony with a Mission prayer.  The Mission Ride Captain continued with a brief description and summary of the PGR Honor Mission for BMCM(MDV) Carl M. Brashear, which CW4 Phillip Brashear invited the Patriot Guard Riders.  The Mission Ride Captain then read the plaque and presented to the Brashear family.  CW4 Phillip Brashear proceed to give a brief background of the United States Flag flown on UH-60 Helicopter 26338, Mission # 01264-1 (Call Sign: Punisher 62) by Alpha Company, 2^nd Battalion, 224^th Aviation Regiment, 29^th Infantry Division at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Global War on Terrorism.  CW4 Brashear then presented the United States Flag, with a Certificate of Authenticity, a portrait of his father, BMCM Carl M. Brashear, USN-Retired, with brief biographies, to the Senior/Mission Ride Captain.  Upon the completion of the plaque and U.S. Flag presentation, the Brashear family request group photographs. At that time Mission Complete pins were presented to Tyler Brashear (grandson of BMCM Brashear); Todd and his daughter Anne for completing their very first PGR Mission.

Upon the conclusion of the presentations, PGR Member were dismissed.

Conclusion:   

A successful “Mission Complete.” The Patriot Guard Riders thank the Brashear family for their presence, and the United States Flag flown in country Iraq.  The Flag, Certificate and portrait will be displayed in a place of honor for all Patriot Guard Riders to observe and reflect upon.

  Mission Ride Captain  (Repot Author)

Sr Hampton Rds/District 5 Ride Captain

Woody “RustPicker” Wagner    

Virginia PGR State Captain

   Tony “ElvisZappa” Turner