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

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 ….

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)

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.

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.

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.

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!!

Texas 23Apr 2007

Texas Det 23-1

Killeen/FHFeb 2008

Texas Det 23-2

Houston/FHMay 2009

Texas Det 23-3

San AntonioJul 2008

Texas Det 23-4

El PasoDec 2008

Texas 23-1Dallas

May 2009

Texas 23-1AKilleen/FHMay 2009

Texas 23-1BHouston/FHMay 2009

Texas 23-1CSan AntonioMay 2009

Texas 23-2El Paso

May 2009

Texas 23-5Killeen/FHFeb 2010

Texas 23-4Houston/FH

Jan 2010

Texas 23-3San Antonio

Sep 2009

Texas 23-1AEast TexasFeb 2012

Texas 23-6Ft WorthAug 2011 Texas 23-7

AustinDec 2011

Texas 23-5AConcho Valley

Jul 2012

Texas 23-10I-35 Central

Jul 2012

Texas 23-4ABryan/Coll Sta

Feb 2012

Texas 23-4BGolden

TriangleFeb 2014

Texas 23-3ACostal Bend

Feb 2012

Texas 23-11East TexasSep 2013

Texas 23-11ATyler

Sep 2013

Texas 23-14

TylerSep 2013

Texas 23-12Concho Valley

Nov 2013

Texas 23-9Bryan/Coll Sta

Jan 2013

Texas 23-13Golden

TriangleMar 2014

Texas 23-8Costal Bend

Jun 2012

Texas 23-8ARio Grande

ValleyNov 2014

Texas 23-15Rio Grande

ValleyNov 2014