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MAJ Mark E Cooper
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Auger, Alvin Bernard, MSG.
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Funeral services with full military honors for Alvin Bernard Auger, 78, of Palestine were at noon Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, at Herrington/Land of Memory Funeral Home Chapel. The family received condolences from 11 a.m. to noon prior to the service. Mr. Auger died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. He was born Aug. 10, 1931, in West Warwick, RI, to Leroy and Eva Lachappelle Auger. Mr. Auger was raised as a Roman Catholic in Rhode Island with a childhood full of clambakes and family. He was a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant and Green Beret having served 24 years with two tours in Korea, six in Vietnam, and two in the Dominican Republic. He graduated from the Monterrey Defense Language Institute and was a private pilot. He was an operations and intelligence sergeant on a Special Forces Operational Detachment (A Team) having served in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 10th Special Forces Groups (Airborne). His assignments also included White Star mobile training team, the Worcester Polytechnic Institute ROTC, Special Forces adviser to the Saudi Arabian Airborne Forces, and active duty adviser to Florida Special Forces Reserve and National Guard units. His military awards and decorations included the Bronze Star Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Medal (6th Award), Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Laos) (Dominican Republic), Master Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge (2nd Award) Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal. After retiring, he worked as a defense and telephony contractor. He moved to Palestine in 1995 and enjoyed raising rabbits with his wife near Brushy Creek.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and wife, Geri Auger, in July 2009. Mr. Auger is survived by two sons, John Auger and Joseph Auger; two daughters, Melissa Auger and Diane Jones; two brothers, Roy Auger and Eddie Auger; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; cousin, Leola Curan; and fiancé, Evelyn Laird. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Dallas Chapter XXXI of the Special Forces Association, Jerry Jochum, Ron Fory, Ben Lyons, Jim Ames, Gene Pugh, Charlie Barksdale and Paul Herrington. Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kan. 66675-8517 (a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization).
Operation Power Pack (Dominican Republic)
From Month/Year
April / 1965
To Month/Year
September / 1966
Description The mission fell to Lt. Gen. Bruce Palmer, the newly-designated commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps, and Maj. Gen. Robert York, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division. They initiated "Operation Power Pack" and ordered a task force comprised of U.S. Marines and the 82nd Airborne to deploy beginning on April 28. The 7th Special Forces Group, Psychological Operations units, and various logistical support elements also participated.
For the Army, this was the first test of the new ROAD Concept (Reorganization Objective Army Division) designed to develop flexible, deployable forces capable of responding to multiple contingencies.
The initial Marine force arrived by helicopter from the USS Boxer and landed on the western edge of Santo Domingo. The 82nd Airborne Division's first elements were air-landed at San Isidro airfield east of the capital. Maj. Gen. YorkAca,!a,,cs plan called for a battalion size element from the 82nd to advance westward and secure the Duarte Bridge connecting the eastern and western sections of the city. They would then be assisted by loyalist elements in regaining control of Santo Domingo.
The 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry advanced to secure the bridge with close air support from Marine F-4 Phantom jets. Securing the area around the bridge was a hazardous undertaking, requiring house-to-house clearing operations while under fire from rebel forces. The effort was further complicated by the fact that the rebels were assisted by Dominican military defectors who wore the same uniforms as loyalist forces allied with the United States. By mid-afternoon on April 30, both the bridge and the cityAca,!a,,cs main power station were secure. By the following morning, the 82nd had advanced further west and linked up with Marine forces. Additional troops worked to permanently secure the east-west transportation route and this Line of Communication (LOC) was dubbed the "All-American Expressway" by the 82nd. To demonstrate that the U.S. military was firmly in control, Maj. Gen. York marched the 82nd Airborne Division band all the way through the corridor.
By the end of the first week, 500 Marines and two full battalions from the 82nd were conducting security operations on the ground, and by the end of May, the entire division was in country. Lt. Gen. Palmer directed subordinate commanders to begin stability operations. Soon the troops were conducting constabulary operations and distributing food, water, and medical supplies to the members of both factions. Ultimately, more than 40,000 U.S. troops participated in Operation Power Pack.
