A Trip Down Memory Lane with AAFMAA

BG Michael Meese — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 16:19:26 -0500

It’s a story for the history books. In June 1876, The Battle of the Little Bighorn led twelve companies of the 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment to a devastating loss, including the death of the Regimental Commander, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer. An ill-timed attack against an unusually large encampment of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes in the southeastern Montana Territory proved to be the regiment’s downfall. The campaign faltered when Custer underestimated the number of warriors in the native village a few miles away. When his scouts informed him that his troops’ position had been discovered, Custer immediately attacked their village, thinking he held the upper hand. But his decision proved disastrous, which is why the Battle is also known as “Custer’s Last Stand.”

Approximately 700 men under Custer’s charge were embroiled in battle that day, and 263 did not make it out alive. The outcome of those events has endured as a cautionary tale of a valiant, yet failed military engagement in history books for over 140 years.

There is another story intertwined with the outcome of that battle that also endures to this day — one that is inspiring and equally significant. It’s our unique and meaningful story, which began simply with the tradition of “passing the hat” between the remaining officers on the battlefield to raise funds for widows left behind upon their soldiers’ passing. At the Battle of the Little Bighorn, that tradition faced a challenge: There were too few survivors to pass the hat — leaving the deceased soldiers' families in need.

To avoid facing that unfortunate situation again, in 1879 the Army Mutual Aid Association (AMAA) — our original name — was created to ensure families would receive the care they required and deserved. Since then, we have written our own history book — a book that boasts the signatures of our original members, including many well-known names still celebrated as part of U.S. military and world history.

Today, 142 years later, what used to be “AMAA” is now known as the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association (AAFMAA). Though our name has changed over the decades and our services have expanded — with life insurance options, as well as wealth management and mortgage solutions — our mission remains. AAFMAA still stands beside all American warfighters, Veterans, and servicemembers with a continuing dedication to aiding their family members “in a prompt, simple, and substantial manner.”

In fact, we consider it our imperative responsibility to provide all AAFMAA Members and their families with exclusive survivor assistance services that treat them with compassion, trust, and protection at the most challenging times in their lives. We’re there for them always, because we are part of their story — as a team of dedicated employees, most of whom are military themselves or have military members in their families.

Helping others is a commitment AAFMAA has never taken lightly. We’re proud to say that we’ll be there with our nation’s servicemembers on every battlefield they face, ready to write the next chapter of history together.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Feb 22 at 2021 4:29 PM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 16:29:12 -0500

I lived and taught among the band Sitting Bull was a leader of, and they remember this as the battle of Greasy Grass.

Response by CW3 Dick McManus made Feb 22 at 2021 4:36 PM

CW3 Dick McManus — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 16:36:43 -0500

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We are in a war on science.
Richard McManus
Chief Warrant Officer-3/counterintelligence special agent (more like an FBI agent than CIA officer) and combat paramedic/LPN, Vietnam US Army retired, BS psychology and nursing, ,former 911 telephone guy Seattle police department and King County Police officer, Everett, WA, USA (near Seattle).

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2021 4:51 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 16:51:22 -0500

The battlefield is quite an impressive site. I have made the trip a few times.

Response by Wayne Soares made Feb 22 at 2021 7:41 PM

Wayne Soares — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 19:41:33 -0500

Great post/pic sir

Response by LTC John Griscom made Feb 22 at 2021 8:32 PM

LTC John Griscom — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 20:32:31 -0500

I joined AMAA in 1969 and they have been an outstanding agency to work with.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Feb 23 at 2021 1:37 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 13:37:42 -0500

Wasn’t it TWO troops of second squadron 7th Cav

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 26 at 2021 3:11 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 15:11:43 -0500

Sometimes in battles commanders are forced to make assumptions when crucial intelligence is lacking. The scouts told Custer that the village was immense in size and but he believed the official estimate of 800 braves. He also assumed he could take women and children as hostages and the braves will surrender and comply with federal mandates. Both assumptions were false.

I am going on pure memory now:
- The Native Americans had repeating rifles and the 7th had single shot rifles.
- Custer divided the 7th into 3. The warriors collectively focused on one group at a time, thus making the ratio perhaps 9:1 in favor of the warriors.
- Custer group dismounted and fought on the ground, thereby curtailing their mobility.

Custer had no chance of winning.

Response by LTC Steve Mannell made Mar 4 at 2021 11:27 AM

LTC Steve Mannell — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 11:27:48 -0500

Thanks for sharing that AAFMAA history, BG Michael Meese! We've come a long way since 1879!

Response by SFC Randy Hellenbrand made Apr 8 at 2021 11:52 AM

SFC Randy Hellenbrand — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 11:52:11 -0400

I served in Troop E 4th cavalry. E Troop was George's rear guard at the Little Big Horn. He forgot to tell us were he went. We survived.

Response by Jackie Toops made Mar 13 at 2023 2:57 PM

Jackie Toops — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 14:57:35 -0400

I’m proud to work with AAFMAA Wealth Management & Trust!