Combat Vets Texas History

1. This abbreviated history of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association has been
compiled from the following sources; CVMA National website, Texas State website,
personal photographs and stories. Credit is given to the following members; Joe Causey,
Scott Chisholm, Poncho Mitchell, Bill Byrd, Greg Davis, Jim Sherrill and the thousands of
Texas members who have joined the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association.
A comprehensive history will be put out spring of 2016.
“Safety Jim” Sherrill, State Historian, LM 1823

2. Texas only had a few members in the early years of the association. My records count 12
members through 2004. On one roster I have dated June 15, 2006 there are 17 members
listed. Early communication was weak to say the least and contacting of members was a
struggle. Members came and left the State. Several that did find each other began riding
together with those members living around the DFW area. Similar to other locations the
membership was mostly Vietnam Veterans and maybe a Desert Storm Veteran that had
joined from across Texas. Greg “Vagabond” Davis told me he moved to Texas from
Colorado in July 2004 and found Scotty, Swamprat and couple other members in the Dallas
area and they started to ride together.
In the beginning ….

3. It would not be until late 2006 that a couple of
members would start inquiring about the forming of
a chapter in Texas. Preacher FM 1140, just by
chance ran into Greg Haake FM 1147 at North
Texas Harley Dealership who was wearing his
CVMA vest. They talked and found out they both
had recently joined. Preacher says he contacted
the State Rep Whiskey Joe who then contacted
Scotty to set up a “Meet and Greet”. Within a
couple of months the few members in Texas
agreed to come together.
This is Bill Byrd, FM 110, at the DFW Cemetery,
Veterans Day 2002. (notice the old VFW style patch)

4. Chapter members present were: left to right; Preacher, Scooter, Cole, Mustang, Whiskey Joe, Poncho,
Swamprat, Scotty, Steve Anderson (Scotty's Friend) and Vagabond. On a side note, Scooter a Desert Storm
Vet was the newest member who had joined the chapter just two days prior. The first Auxiliary member in
Texas was Sunshine who was present and took this photo at that initial meeting.
Chapter 23, Dallas , as most of the officers were from the Dallas/Ft Worth metroplex area. Scotty accepted
and was elected as the Commander, Preacher ,Executive Officer (XO), and Cole, Sergeant At Arms. The
Commander appointed Scooter as Secretary and Whiskey Joe as Treasurer. Poncho soon assumed the
Treasurer duties. The membership was dispersed throughout Texas and the founding members looked
forward to increasing the members and expanding with new chapters and detachments. It was not too long
before the membership grew sufficiently to form detachments.
Starting up Texas 23:
Membership across Texas had been
invited to a meet and greet on April 29,
2007. The area selected needed to be a
central location for members on the rolls.
The Coffee Shop off highway 84 in
McGregor, TX was that spot. Even though
there were 22 current CVMA members
within the State of Texas only a few had
shown up. The State Representative
informed members present that there were
enough members to start a chapter in
Texas. It was decided to start what would
become Texas Chapter 23.

5. Not even thought about in April 2007, the term “Chapter Original” has since come up many
times. Some would call the below list of 22 “Texas Chapter Originals” even though they had
never met. Others would argue that the members in Texas when the CVMA patch was
approved to be worn constitute the Original Members. On April 8, 2008 when the Combat
Veterans Motorcycle Association was officially approved to wear the patch there were 51
members in the State of Texas.
Prior speculation had membership at 28 or 30 when the TX 23 Chapter was formed. The above is the
actual roster listing from the CVMA National site that “Whiskey Joe” provided to me. It lists the CVMA
members in Texas on 27 April 2007.

6. Chapter 23 members at one of the United
Clubs monthly meetings.
Chapter 23 members who went to the Dallas United Clubs meeting in
Burleson, Texas on Apr,8, 2008. The CVMA Patch was officially
approved to be worn in Texas. No vests were worn until after it was
approved. Ace donned his quickly.
Although there were not many chapter members, the backpatch could not be worn until it was
approved by the Texas United Clubs. That actual process began later in 2007. Scotty
prepared a spiral bound briefing and Preacher introduced the CVMA patch in Oct 2007 during
a United Clubs Dallas meeting. Without question the first five chapters that spawned from
Texas Chapter 23 have them to thank for getting that patch approved to be worn.
From left to right; Nester, Cole, Greg Haake, Sunshine, Ike, Ace,
Preacher, Debo, Pinstripes and Scotty.
From left to right; Jungle Grunt, Cole, Scooter, Maddog, Swamprat,
Aint Right T, Pinstripes, Nester, Debo, Ace, and Scotty.

7. You knew one day it would happen. Texas 23 branches out across the
State and creates detachments across the areas where members
lived.
 Detachment 23-1 Central Texas Feb 21, 2008
 Detachment 23-2 Houston Jul 1, 2008
 Detachment 23-3 San Antonio Jul 1, 2008
 Detachment 23-4 El Paso Dec 31, 2008
As the next slide shows…..the party in Texas begins and it has
continued to grow!!

8. Texas 23
Apr 2007
Texas Det 23-1
Killeen/FH
Feb 2008
Texas Det 23-2
Houston/FH
May 2009
Texas Det 23-3
San Antonio
Jul 2008
Texas Det 23-4
El Paso
Dec 2008
Texas 23-1
Dallas
May 2009
Texas 23-1A
Killeen/FH
May 2009
Texas 23-1B
Houston/FH
May 2009
Texas 23-1C
San Antonio
May 2009
Texas 23-2
El Paso
May 2009
Texas 23-5
Killeen/FH
Feb 2010
Texas 23-4
Houston/FH
Jan 2010
Texas 23-3
San Antonio
Sep 2009
Texas 23-1A
East Texas
Feb 2012
Texas 23-6
Ft Worth
Aug 2011 Texas 23-7
Austin
Dec 2011
Texas 23-5A
Concho Valley
Jul 2012
Texas 23-10
I-35 Central
Jul 2012
Texas 23-4A
Bryan/Coll Sta
Feb 2012
Texas 23-4B
Golden Triangle
Feb 2014
Texas 23-3A
Costal Bend
Feb 2012
Texas 23-11
East Texas
Sep 2013
Texas 23-11A
Tyler
Sep 2013
Texas 23-14
Tyler
Sep 2013
Texas 23-12
Concho Valley
Nov 2013
Texas 23-9
Bryan/Coll Sta
Jan 2013
Texas 23-13
Golden Triangle
Mar 2014
Texas 23-8
Costal Bend
Jun 2012
Texas 23-8A
Rio Grande Valley
Nov 2014
Texas 23-15
Rio Grande Valley
Nov 2014