birddog l19

Our L-19 Birddog

1951 L-19 Birddog, used for flying reconnaissance missions to locate military vehicles and also used for aircover during MVPG convoys. Flown by MVPG's chief pilot Colonel Ray Boland, Ret.,(a.k.a. Tail Wheel Ray) veteran of two tours of duty in Vietnam, commander of the first Cobra helicopter units in Vietnam. Former commander of Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, and retired Secretary of Veteran's Affairs, Wisconsin and our buddy.

Ray Boland and Washburn County Sheriff, Terry Dryden, both Veterans of the Vietnam War, provided air cover for our convoy during the 2006 MVPG Fall Party

Congratulations to Ray Boland! All of us at MVPG are very proud of you!

Secretary of the Army Francis Harvey invested the newest civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army, Raymond G. Boland, from Deerfield, Wis., in a ceremony held today in the Pentagon. Retired Colonel Raymond Boland, and former Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Wisconsin was selected by Harvey to support the Army throughout his state and local community.

CASAs were first formally recognized in 1922 and have since become a vital part of the Army. Their mission is to promote good relations between the Army and public by acting as spokespersons for and advisors to the secretary. “(CASAs) bring to Americans the understanding of the values of the Army, the sacrifices that Soldiers and their families make, and connect the Department of the Army with communities,” said Harvey, before he administered the oath of office.

Civilian aides are appointed for each state, in addition to the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and American Samoa. CASAs are actively involved in their communities and are usually business or civic leaders who bring to their position an interest in the Army. Once appointed, CASAs serve a two-year term without compensation. To date, more than 500 aides have served the Army.

“It is an honor to be appointed as a (CASA) and a distinct privilege to be connected to the courageous men and women who are serving their country during such difficult and dangerous times,” said Wisconsin CASA Ray Boland.

Boland retired from the Army as a colonel in 1991 and who now works as an independent consultant in Deerfield, Wis. He is president of Boland & Associates Consulting and has more than 40 years of management experience with the federal and state governments.

In 1992 he was appointed to the position of the Secretary of the State Department of Veterans Affairs for Wisconsin where he served for 11 years. He was appointed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in 2003 to serve as a member of the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Service Commission.

Boland is a graduate of Troy State University in Troy, Ala. He received his master’s degree from Shippensburg State University, Shippensburg, Pa. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pa.,

He is a member of the Association of the U.S. Army, Military Officers Association of America, American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.