The All American Beef Battalion, headquartered in Ashland, is a group of individuals within the United States beef cattle industry dedicated to support the troops fighting the global war on terror. They focus is to organize and sponsor steak feeds and provide entertainment and programs with Service Members and their families.

The All American Beef Battalion is the vision of Bill Broadie of Ashland, KS. Bill is a 4th generation cattleman in Ashland who served with the 3rd Marine division in Vietnam in 1967. Bill says, "I am an old mud marine from Vietnam and do not want our troops treated like we were." He continues, "I have lived three times longer than anyone thought I would after being wounded in the war, maybe the reason I was spared was for the purpose of starting this group." Their vision is to support the troops fighting the war on terror while promoting American Beef. They will do this as an industry by having steak feeds for deploying troops and at their homecoming. As they advance into this mission they hope to take the cookouts directly to the combat zones wherever they may be. The organization is governed by a board of directors including Jim Odle, Bill Broadie, Larry Bilberry, Kendal Kay, Kevin Hathaway, Craig Mock. Mr. Broadie remembers, "I was on my way to Colorado when I got this idea of feeding steaks to all the troops. I called Jim Odle with Superior Livestock Auction and told him about the idea and he said, OK, we can do this!"

Mr. Broadie adds, "As our experience grows we believe there are many avenues we can take to support the troops and promote American Beef. There are many ways we can help the troops, not only by feeding them but also by helping their families or by helping the families of those killed in combat. To do this we have a dream... its a mission bigger than any individual, but not bigger than our industry. Mr. Boadie asks, "Who wouldn't buy a steak for a soldier? No matter how you feel about the war in Iraq, for it or against it, everyone wants to support the men and women who are fighting for our freedom."

All American Beef Battalion hosted its first steak feed for the 731^st Transportation Company on April 26, 2008 in Olathe, Kan whose guard members just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq.

Creekstone Farms Premium Beef generously donated 420 pounds of ribeye steaks for the event. The Beef Empire Day PRCA Rodeo Committee prepared the meal.

They fed approximately 200 people consisting of members of the 731st TC, their spouses, and also some members of the Patriot Guard.  The Patriot Guard members led the troops from their meeting place to the Armory on their motorcycles.  The Kansas Adjutant General was also present for the steak feed.

It was a great opportunity for the All American Beef Battalion to say "Thank You" for all that our troops are doing for us, and you could tell that the troops present appreciated the steak feed. 

Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives, Melvin Neufeld, spoke briefly as well as AABB Chairman, Jim Odle.  The 731st TC presented Jim Olde and the All American Beef Battalion with a certificate of appreciation.

The 731st Transportation Company consists of approximately 180 soldiers of the company deployed to Iraq in November 2006. The 731st Transportation Company is headquartered in Larned with detachments in Hays, Liberal, and Wichita. It is part of the Kansas National Guard’s 287th Sustainment Brigade.

In Iraq, the 731st Transportation Company served as a convoy security force – one of the most dangerous missions in theater. As a Company they completed more than 360 convoy escort missions safely moving more than 21,000 trucks loaded with food, fuel and supplies. The average soldier in 731st conducted 58 combat missions. The unit put more than one million hard miles on their Convoy Protection Platforms (CPP).

The 731st was the most decorated company in the 11th Transportation Battalion and was known throughout the theater as one of the elite Convoy Security Companies, having one of the best Improvised Explosive Devise found and clear rates of 60 percent which was well above the theater average of 35 percent.

The All American Beef Battalion began in Aug. 2007. Organized exclusively for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes, the All American Beef Battalion strives to serve as a contact group for the United States Beef Industry.

The organization plans to carry out more projects that provide support and morale to the members of the United State Armed Forces Military Services. These projects may include organizing and sponsoring steak feeds, entertainment, programs, meetings, and projects with Service Members and their familes. Overall the organization seeks to foster among the people of the United States an appreciation, respect, and honor for our Armed Forces Military Services Members whose sacrifices have and will continue to make our freedoms possible.

Jim Odle, Chairman of the organization, belives that "The success of our troops requires the support of all Americans, and each American should do a part to help." "Our organization is here to help Americans show their support by helping to raise funds to support the programs of the All American Beef Battalion."

For more information on the All American Beef Battalion and the Steaks for Troops program, check out www.steaksfortroops.com. The mailing address is P.O. Box 458, Ashland, Ks. 67831. Bill Broadie may be reached at 620-635-4462, 620-635-4043 or his cell phone at 620-635-5870.