Blake Proctor, better known in NASAA circles as Harry the Bear, was born in Tredegar, Wales, on October 20, 1947, the son of a career army aviator and his Welsh war bride. Attending university in Munich, Germany, with a 2-S draft status yet, Bear, very obviously delusional or drunk or both, shrugged his shoulders, turned in his deferment, and returned to the Land of the Round Doorknob. He entered the ASA on July 31, 1968, doing his Basic Training with C Company, 9th Battalion of the 2nd Training Brigade at Ft. Jackson, SC; then, whilst awaiting his TS/C, he was cordially invited to attend an elite eight-week KP course at Con-4, Ft, Devens, MA; upon successful completion of this crucial training, Bear became eligible for Traffic Analyst (98C) school, which he completed, appropriately enough, on April 1, 1969.

Bear, still known as Russ because he had red hair and the Legend of the Bear had not yet been born, promptly shipped out to the exotic orient, spending an aromatic year (eau de klong, doncha know) as a Traffic Identification Specialist in the Chicom Ops Bay at the 7th RRFS (that's "Ranger Recon," for the Zoomies!) in beautiful downtown Nong Soong, Thailand. From the land of gentle rains to the frozen tundra of eastern Europe, Bear journeyed to Berlin for a four-year stint. He spent 17 months on top of Teufelsberg as a Site 3 TA and a dry-fire target for Russian arty practice; he then went down into the Gruenie as Senior TA of Site 4 for another 29 exciting fun-filled months. At 1:37 p.m. on Monday, May 20, 1974, after 5 years, 9 months, 19 days, 13 hours, and 37 minutes (ahhh, but who's counting?), Bear and the ASA parted ways.

Taking advantage of the GI Bill, Bear got his undergraduate degree in Accounting at the University of Central Florida, then took his graduate studies there in Public Administration. He spent 17 years as a municipal "gunslinger," managing sick cities no one else wanted. He got his PhD in Public Policy from Pacific Western University in 1995, and opened his own municipal crisis management firm in suburban Charlotte, NC. Bear is divorced, and has a 17 year old son, Evan.

With a love-hate relationship between himself and the ASA, and never having learned, Bear volunteered AGAIN, and became the Interim NASAA Treasurer. Recognizing a patsy when they saw one, the Interim Board members (obviously comprised of ASA recruiters) soon stuck him with Secretary's duties, and then pushed him onto the Board of Directors, where he now sits as an elected member. Thank you and good night.

The NASAA Board of Directors (BOD) are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend and BOD Secretary "Duke" (Donald Raymond Dodge) on 7 Jun 13, at the age of 81. Duke is survived by his wife Ruby of 34 years and countless family members. We're proud that many of us on the BOD actually got to meet and spend time with Duke and Ruby; they were a role model couple. Ruby will forever remain in our thoughts and prayers. Duke was a staunch patriot. He served with the ASA during the Korean War and after that spent 50 years plus supporting the Masons, American Legion Post 712, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 914 and, for numerous years, as a very dedicated and loyal member of the NASAA BOD. Duke will be missed.

Wayne died on Tuesday, June 17, 2014. Born in Dupont, PA in 1933. He graduated from Corning Free Academy in 1951. Wayne enlisted in the Army and served with the Army Security Agency, MOS 1717 (Direction Finding). He served at Fort Devens MA, Baumholder Germany, Bremerhaven Germany and at the National Security Agency. After his service he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Hobart College in Geneva, NY in 1961. He spent 25 years working for GTE, retiring as Director of Benefits. Wayne served on the Board of Directors for the NASAA from 2001 to 2007.

The National Army Security Agency Association (NASAA) regrets to announce the passing of our webmaster, RICHARD W. JASLOVSKY. Rich passed away suddenly, on Friday, 12 August 2016, at the age of 70, leaving behind his wife Gail, children and grandchildren.

Rich's ASA time went from 14 Oct 65 to 7 Jul 71. He was a 05H and 05D and served 5+ years in Thailand, serving at multiple locations. Rich was obviously very proud of his time in the ASA and in Thailand. In 1999 he started a website www.83rdrrsou.org which is one of the most comprehensive ASA related sites of the internet. In 2001, he folded in data from the 7th RRFS site, as William Bogart was no longer able to maintain it.

No good work goes unpunished! The NASAA noticed Rich's talent and drafted him to be Assistant Webmaster in Jan 2016 and he accepted. Based on demonstrated performance, he was promoted to Webmaster, giving Chui a much-deserved rest; Chui became the assistant. The new look, feel, and functionality of our site are due to Rich's effort. We’ll miss Rich and the technical expertise he brought to our site. It will be hard to fill his boots, but Chui will give maintaining the site his best shot.

Slow hand salute out for Rich. We thank him for his service. For Gail, we offer our heartfelt thoughts and prayers.

It is with deep sadness that the NASAA board announces the passing of long-time board member Charles "Charlie" Ziehl. Born August 4, 1941, he passed away at his home in Tawas City, Michigan after a long illness. Full military honors took place at the memorial service after the funeral ceremony on Friday, March 17, 2017. Charlie served in the ASA from 1959 to 1962.

In his own words he recounted that "after being given the ASA speech I was "Volunteered" into the ASA. We shipped out to Frankfurt, Germany, where we stayed a couple of weeks, and then we were assigned to ASA Units throughout Germany, I and some others were sent to 507th USASA Group in Heilbronn, Germany. I worked in the Message Center, sending and receiving hard copy material; I moved to Baumholder in the summer of 61, and was OJT'ed as a 980 then as a 982... or at least given the MOS! I returned to the USA in August of 62. Civilian life brought a list of jobs: glass cutter, construction laborer, cement finisher, and finally, meat cutter for Kroger Co. I quit there in 73 to work with my father and mother in the Greenhouse/Landscaping business. In 1992, my wife and I purchased the business."

Charlie is survived by his loving wife Diane, two sons and four grandchildren. He will truly be missed by so many who had the honor and privilege to know him over the years.

The NASAA regrets to announce that Charles "Chuck" H. Collins Jr., vice-chair and treasurer, died peacefully in Ledgewood, N.J., on June 5, 2018, at the age of 74 after a long battle with cancer. Chuck was born on Nov. 20, 1943 in La Crosse, Wis., and grew up in Florham Park, N.J. He enlisted in the Army in 1961, serving in the US Army Security Agency. He graduated from Drew University. He was involved in Roxbury GOP and Morris County politics and honored for his military service and civic leadership. He had a multi-faceted career as a chemist, an information technology consultant, a project manager, IT quality assurance specialist, and most recently the special deputy surrogate for Morris County. Chuck was a devoted husband, father and grandfather with a wide variety of interests. He served his community as president of the Roxbury Board of Education for six years, long-term treasurer of the National Army Security Agency Association, president of the NJ Arms Collectors Club, recording secretary of the NJ Association of Rifle and Pistol Clubs, and a member of Acacia Lodge 20 in Dover, N.J., and Scottish Rite Freemasonry. He received the Distinguished Military Service Award from the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Distinguished Achievement Award from the director of ISD, PANY&NH. Recently, his service to the community was recognized in a NJ Joint Legislative Resolution by Senator Anthony R. Bucco and Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco.

It is with a great deal of sadness that the National Army Security Agency Association announces the death of Donald Helton, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. Donald Wayne Helton (Don),75, of Pewee Valley, passed away on April 24 2019 in Louisville, KY.

Don was the founder of Veterans Memorial Park of Kentucky, recipient of Kentucky Veterans Medal of Honor, Army Chief Warrant Officer and Vietnam War Veteran and a Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver recipient. He organized the project resulting in the Crestwood by-pass being named the Veterans Memorial Parkway as well as Crestwood becoming a Purple Heart City.

He has served as a member of the Kentucky Governor’s Advisory Board for Veterans Affairs, Veterans Trust Fund Board, state Joint Executive Council of Veterans Organizations, and US Representative’s Veterans Advisory Board. Don was also a graduate of Eastern High School and Boston University.

After leaving the Army, he was employed with the Department of the Army in Germany before returning to the United States in 1990. Since then, he has used his skills and experiences to become an outstanding entrepreneur including owning his own businesses.

Don actively participated as Vice Chairman of the NASAA Board of Directors and played an important role in the effort to place a memorial to the contributions made by the Army Security Agency during the Cold War, the Korean War and the War in Vietnam. His guidance will be missed by the veterans of ASA as will he.

It is with regret that NASAA's Board of Directors reports the passing of fellow board member, Tino "Chui" Banuelos. Chui served as our site's webmaster from October 2006 until his death other than a short period from February to August 2016. In 1997, prior to serving with the NASAA, he created a COMSEC/SIGSEC website, www.chui101.com, which was inspired by the work of other ASA webmasters; Mad Dog, Crazy Dog, Steve Stickley, Jim Graves and most notably, Bonnie Cooper. There are many others who also influenced his ASA web experience including Vern Greunke and Rocky Chilson. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Bio in his own words:
I enlisted in June of 65 and took basic at Ft. Ord, CA. I was a member of class Cl#2-98D20-66, Traffic Analyst, (link goes to a page which includes some photos) which started 11 Oct 65, at Ft. Devens. Three members of my class and myself, volunteered for Vietnam after graduation (Len Manelski, Jim Kubala, and Brad Williams). Most of the rest of the class requested Europe but were assigned to units which were later sent to Vietnam.

Our 1st tour began in Feb 66 with the 7th RRU at Davis Station. For the first 2 months we were assigned to HHC but after the mortar attack at TSN in April 66, we began a series of TDY assignments to various MACV compounds in II and III Corps on 4 or 5 man monitor teams. By late 1966 I was assigned to the 2nd, Platoon, Engineer Hill, Pleiku. The 7th RRU had become the 101st RRC and my MOS was changed to 05G30, COMSEC Analyst. After chopping down the elephant grass, putting up the tents, building the shower, and going TDY each month in II Corps, my 1st tour was over and I was sent home to the land of the Big PX. After 30 days leave, I served about 45 days with the 301st Battalion at Ft. Bragg but didn't want to go to Airborne school so I requested a 1049 transfer back to VN. My second tour began back at Davis Station but I was soon assigned to the 1st Platoon, at Danang. I went TDY to MACV detachments and other locations within I Corps. My 2nd tour ended and after 30 days leave Stateside, I returned to Vietnam for 7 months and an "early out" in January 1969. During my 31 months in-country, I was present for the festivities at Tet '68, an NVA artillery bombardment at Dong Ha and other lively events. Total time in the Army: 3 years, seven months and 18 days.

After the Army, I held different jobs and attended college off and on in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1977 I moved to Hawaii where I met my wife and also completed my education with a BA in Art History. In 1983 we returned to California where we raised our son and where we currently reside. In 1988 I started working at the County Office of Ed. as a shipping clerk and ended up as a database/"web guy" in the health education library until retirement in 2010. I am a lifetime member of the VFW and I maintain the NASAA and chui101 websites and also engage in artistic endeavors in the local arts community.

ASA All the Way! is more than a motto to ASA Vets, it is the essence of the ASA experience. Even though my time in service was not as lengthy as many others, I still feel the bond which all ASA Vets experience and which gives new meaning to Shakespeare's quote "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers". I adopted the first part of this famous quote as a reference to ASA Veterans since we are members of a specialized community within the Army connected by our similar duties and service at the same duty stations. "We Few we Happy Few...."