Col. Lawrence E. Dudney Jr (right) awards Staff Sgt. Robert K. Brock (left) the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara Medallion that features a relief of Saint Barbara, patron of artillerymen during the Chatham Artillery's Saint Barbara Day celebration. (Georgia National Guard photo by Pfc. Adam Dean)

SAVANNAH, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006 – First Battalion, 118th Field Artillery, in conjunction with the Chatham Artillery, celebrated Saint Barbara’s Day and Christmas with an evening gala held at this city’s Alee Shrine Temple.

As an annual event, not only the patron saint of field artillerymen, Saint Barbara, is celebrated, but also selected Soldiers are honored with an Order of Saint Barbara medallion.

The most distinguished is the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara, awarded to those who have achieved long-term, exceptional service in field artillery. Receiving the Ancient Order were colonels Lawrence E. Dudney Jr. and Kenneth D. Lee.

A second level of recognition, the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara, recognizes those who have achieved excellence in their field artillery service. Honorable Order recipients included Maj. Kevin T Hamm, captains Robert C. Davis, Joseph P. Fairfax, Michael C. Ferunden, and Jimmy W. Boan, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Paul D. Huber, sergeants first class Christopher S. Mullins, Scott F. Payton, Henry C. McClain Jr. and Robert K. Brock; Staff Sgt. Ross R. Sevlie; retired Chief Warrant Officer 3 Earl G. Kirkley; and civilians Charles L. Davis Jr., Benjamin Itzkovitz, and Mike Manhatton.

“This is a really big deal to all field artillerymen,” said Sevlie. “The Saint Barbara’s Day celebration is always a special event, and this year, for me, it means even more,” he added, his medallion hanging proudly around his neck.

As an organization, the order is an honorary military society of the United States Field Artillery. Both Army and Marine artillerymen, along with their military and civilian supporters, are eligible for membership. The U.S. Field Artillery Association manages the order, and two levels of recognition exist.

The Field Artillery Association also recognizes those wives who have demonstrated extreme loyalty and support of their Soldiers with the Molly Pitcher Award.

Receiving this year’s award were Micki Boan, Katherine Gentry, Denise Fields, Iris Wolff, Julie Hynes and Florrie Kirkley.

All honorees receive a certificate documenting their achievement and a medallion.

A key aspect of the Saint Barbara’s Day festivities is the making of the locally famous Chatham Artillery Punch. Among the ingredients of this year’s punch was a  pair of Soldier’s socks, the stockings of a Soldier’s wife, and sand from Iraq.

After the punch is concocted, a number of toasts are made, and a separate toast is made by each group of honorees after they receive their medallion.

As the legend goes, Saint Barbara was the daughter of a heathen in Asia Minor. When she converted to Christianity, her father, Dioscorus, became enraged and put her to death. After he put his daughter to death, he was struck by lightning and his body was completely consumed. 

Mary Hays McCauly is a legendary figure from the American Revolutionary War. The wife of an artilleryman, she earned the nickname Molly Pitcher during the battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778. On that hot summer day she braved the perils of the battlefield and brought pitcher after pitcher of cool water to the men fighting for their young country. During the battle, when her husband fell wounded, she took up his position and manned a cannon. For her heroics that day, General George Washington personally issued her a warrant as a non-commissioned officer. Thereafter she was known as Sergeant Molly.

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