We are very grateful for all of the men and women who serve, and who have served, in our military. We have several of them among us as co-workers, and it’s great to see one of them be recognized for “demonstrating the highest standards of integrity and moral character; displaying an outstanding degree of professional competence; serving the United States Army or Marine Corps Field Artillery with selflessness; and contributing to the promotion of the Field Artillery in ways that stand out in the eyes of the recipient’s seniors, subordinates and peers alike..” Congratulations, Paul!
“RED BULL CHAPTER”
United States Field Artillery Association
1st Battalion 194th Field Artillery
1659 Nelson Avenue, Fort Dodge, IA 50501-9613
1 December 2013
MEMORANDUM FOR: SFC Paul Hansen
SUBJECT: Recipient of the Honorable Order of St. Barbara
Congratulations! You have been awarded the Honorable Order of St. Barbara medallion by the United States Army Field Artillery Association. This is a prestigious award given by the association for the select few who stand above their brethren within the Field Artillery Community.
The Honorable Order recognizes those individuals who have demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and moral character in ways that stand out in the eyes of the recipients, seniors, subordinates, and peers alike. L TC Derek Adams, the 1 ST Battalion l 94th Field Artillery Commander, was the approving authority for your award.
As you know, our annual St. Barbara’s Day Celebration is being held on 18 January 2014, at The Wild Rose Casino, Emmetsburg, IA at 1830 hrs. Social hour will begin at 1730; your award is to be presented after dinner. Following closing comments, all attendees are welcome to enjoy free entertainment in the casino.
Congressman Leonard Boswell, former United States Representative for Iowa’s 3rd District and fellow Redleg Officer (RET), will be the guest of honor/speaker for the event.
Matthew P. Guerttman
MAJ, FA, IA ARNG
Red Bull Chapter President
The Ledged of Saint Barbara 
According to legend, Saint Barbara was the extremely beautiful daughter of a wealthy heathen named Dioscorus, who lived near Nicomedia in Asia Minor. Because of her singular beauty and fearful that she be demanded in marriage and taken away from him, he jealously shut her up in a tower to protect her from the outside world. Shortly before embarking on a journey, he commissioned a sumptuous bathhouse to be built for her, approving the design before he departed. Barbara had heard of the teachings of Christ, and while her father was gone spent much time in contemplation. From the windows of her tower she looked out upon the surrounding countryside and marveled at the growing things; the trees, the animals and the people. She decided that all these must be part of a master plan, and that the idols of wood and stone worshipped by her parents must be condemned as false. Gradually she came to accept the Christian faith.
As her belief became firm, she directed that the builders redesign the bathhouse her father had planned, adding another window so that the three windows might symbolize the Holy Trinity.
When her father returned, he was enraged at the changes and infuriated when Barbara acknowledged that she was a Christian. He dragged her before the perfect of the province, who decreed that she be tortured and put to death by beheading. Dioscorus himself carried out the death sentence. On his way home he was struck by lightening and his body consumed.
Saint Barbara lived and died about the year 300 A.D. She was venerated as early as the seventh century. The legend of the lightning bolt which struck down her persecutor caused her to be regarded as the patron saint in time of danger from thunderstorms, fires and sudden death.
When gunpowder made its appearance in the Western world, Saint Barbara was invoked for aid against accidents resulting from explosions–since some of the earlier artillery pieces often blew up instead of firing their projectile, Saint Barbara became the patroness of the artillerymen.