The Purpose behind the Run

"Truman's Own"

In 1918, Harry S. Truman, in command of Battery D 129th Field Artillery, Missouri ARNG, is reported to have said, while engaging German troops in Brittany, "Right now, I'm where I want to be-in command of this battery. I'd rather be here than president of the United States".

Every great cause has a story behind the passion that lights the fire within. With the number of ongoing deployments that continue to come and go, Delta Battery has stood strong over the years in their passion and desire to help communities not only abroad, but also local communities and families left behind.

In 2009 the first poker run was set up to help raise money for the unit. The outreach and camaraderie from the community was overwhelming but very inspiring.

Listed below are a couple of stories where Delta Battery pulled together help other families or Soldiers in need:

The wife of a Delta Battery's soldier was struggling with taking care of her home and dealing with being very ill while her husband was deployed. Her roof started to leak and then her refrigerator quit working. The unit pulled together with the community and help boost her spirits and delivered a working refrigerator to her doorstep and helped repair her home.

A Delta Soldier came home from a long deployment to find that his home caught on fire and destroyed all of his belongings. He lived there with his wife and children. The unit pulled together and donated enough clothing & items to completely refurnish his new home.

In 2008 the entire unit deployed to Kosovo. Over 100 care packages were mailed during the winter months. The family members left behind pulled together and rallied the community to help raise enough postage funds so that each Soldier received their own individual care package!

Our goal is to bring the community and unit together to have some fun and to benefit entire unit and their families. These poker runs have brought together such a diversified group and it brings a great satisfaction to Delta Battery to know that others supporters have a deep desire to help.

You don't have to ride to participate. There will be a party held at the last checkpoint destination The Independence Delta Battery FA in Independence MO. We appreciate each and every one of you for your caring and generosity and willingness to make a positive difference for the Soldiers & their families of 1/129th Delta Battery FA!