SOUTH DAKOTA Chapter 1  
     
 
Our History  
 
On March 2, 1965, thunderous waves of B52s began dropping bombs on the communist state of North Vietnam.
The operation was aptly named ROLLING THUNDER.
  
   
   
  In 1988, a group of veterans, led by Ray Manzo and Sergeant Artie Muller organized the first motorcycle run to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The ride struck a nerve with veterans, bikers and patriotic Americans and quickly became the largest gathering of its kind in the world. Since their Harley-Davidsons collectively sounded like thunderous B52s soaring overhead, the men decided the perfect name for the run would be "Rolling Thunder®." Rolling Thunder has grown to become the Veterans’ voice of concern for soldiers listed as POW or MIA. Their mission is to educate the public and direct government policy that no soldier will be left behind or unaccounted for. For the last 15 years Rolling Thunder® has brought into view veteran’s issues developing incredible grass-roots support and helping guide legislation to protect those men and women serving in the military. What better cause than to ensure the exact status of all soldiers listed accurately, whether casualties of war or POW/MIAs?
Incorporated in 1995, Rolling Thunder is a class 501 C-4 non-profit organization with over 70 chartered chapters throughout the United States and members abroad, while new chapters continue to form.

LEGISLATION
Rolling Thunder has advocated and co-authored legislation on the POW/MIA issue and other veteran concerns and interests.

Missing Service Personnel Act of 1997
Since the mid-1980's, Rolling Thunder has worked tirelessly on this bill that would guarantee missing servicemen or women could not be arbitrarily "killed on paper" by the U.S. government without credible proof of death. The bill was originally sponsored by Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Colorado) in 1993. Rolling Thunder co-wrote 17 resolutions to revive the bill after it was gutted by former POW, Senator John McCain. Rolling Thunder's efforts helped facilitate passing of a majority of the resolutions, and efforts continue to restore the law as it was originally written.

Bring Them Home Alive Act of 2000
Rolling Thunder also co-authored the Bring Them Home Alive Act of 2000, which was coauthored and sponsored by Senator Nighthorse-Campbell. The Act provides for the granting of refugee status in the United States to nationals of certain foreign countries in which American Vietnam War POW/MIAs or American Korean War POW/MIAs may be present, if those nationals assist in returning POW/MIAs alive.

Persian Gulf War POW/MIA Accountability Act of 2002, S.1339
First introduced by Campbell in August 2, 2001, the legislation amends the Bring Them Home Alive Act of 2000 which was signed into law in November of 2001. That law provides for the granting of refugee status in the United States to nationals of certain foreign countries in which American Vietnam POW/MIAs or American Korean War POW/MIAs may be present, if those nationals assist in returning POW/MIAs alive. The new law extends the granting of refugee status in the United States to nationals of Iraq or the greater Middle East region. It provides for the International Broadcasting Bureau, which includes the Voice of America, to broadcast information about the law in the Middle East. The necessity of this legislation is illustrated by the case of Captain Scott Speicher, a Persian Gulf War Veteran who has been missing for more than ten years. Speicher was originally listed as Killed in Action and is now officially listed as Missing in Action/Captured.

The POW/MIA Memorial Flag Act (S-1226)
This bill was signed into legislation by President George W. Bush in part due to Rolling Thunder’s lobbying efforts. The main force behind this bill was Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Congressman Dan Burton. The POW/MIA flag will fly below the American Flag any day the American flag is flown in Washington, DC at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean Memorial and the WWII memorial when it is completed.


VETERAN & COMMUNITY SERVICE
In 2002, the National Chapter of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. donated over $50,000 in financial support, food, clothing and other essentials to sanctioned veterans' groups, veterans and veterans' families in need, homeless veteran programs, women's' crisis centers, and toys for children.
In 2002, Rolling Thunder®, Inc. expended over $170,000 educating the public and increasing awareness about the POW/MIA issue and other injustices suffered by veterans from all wars, and to improve legislation that would rectify the POW/MIA situation and improve veterans' benefits from all wars.


The National Chapter of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. sponsors search and retrieval missions into Southeast Asia for POW's, MIA's, and the remains of those killed in action.
Over 4,000 hours were logged in by members of the Rolling Thunder organization in the year 2002 at local VA hospitals around the country; members visited with and provided moral support to nursing home veterans, patients suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and homeless veterans.


Rolling Thunder®, Inc. veterans regularly speak to youth and parents of their communities at local area schools, ROTC programs, and other community gatherings about the honor of serving their country and educating them about the POW/MIA issue.


The organization regularly donates POW/MIA flags to local schools, various organizations and interests groups, and organizes flag raising ceremonies promoting public awareness about the POW/MIA issue.


Rolling Thunder greatly facilitated the publishing of a POW/MIA U.S. postage stamp through the U.S. Postal Service that displayed dog tags with the declaration, "POW & MIA - NEVER FORGOTTEN".


Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is on the Board of Directors of the Ride to the Wall Foundation, a veterans' fund established through the sales of the musical C.D., "Ride to the Wall," produced for Rolling Thunder XIV by the legendary Paul Revere and the Raiders in cooperation with Rolling Thunder®, Inc. Proceeds of the sale of the CD are donated to the Homeless Veterans foundation established by Miss America 2000 Heather French-Henry (presently the Second Lady of Kentucky).