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The
Battalion Runner December
1999 2nd
Battalion 9th Marine Network “Hell in
a Helmet” Together Then
.....
Happy New Year! Reunion 99’Well,
once again the reunion was a tremendous success. I am constantly surprised each year by the turnout that we
have. This year 88 persons signed in the log book and we had 156
people at the banquet. That
was 2 less signing in and 9 less eating chow.
The weather cooperated and I believe a good time was had by
all. Well, I know that I had a great time. Birthday DinnerAs
I mentioned before there were 156 people at the dinner. Colonel John Carson was the guest speaker.
The Colonel was introduced by Tim Dewolf. Colonel Carson was
very moved by this entire experience.
He and his wife Wanda traveled all the way from Washington to
be with us. But not
only was he “moved” by the outpouring of affection for not only
him but also for the men who served under his son 1st Lt.
John Harvey Carson. The
Network in appreciation presented him with a glass etching of the
‘Hell in a Helmet” logo which was inscribed “In Memory of Lt.
John Harvey Carson.” He was also presented with a 2/9 coin. Again,Thank You Colonel for being with us. I hope that you
realize you are a member of our band of brothers. Tim
Dewolf also introduced Michael Crossman, nephew of PFC Bobby Abina
Fox Co. KIA on November 30, 1967 to the reunion. Bobby Abina saved
Tims life that day, and the lives of several other Marines.
Tim presented Mike with a nice framed print and also a 2/9
coin. This
year the Network honored 3 of its unsung heroes. Dave and Ruthanne Bigler were presented with a Tuns Tavern
Eagle, Globe and Anchor sculpture for their help each year with the
banquet. Each year they
have provided the sound system for our speakers to be heard. Also
Don “Snoopy” Truesdale was presented “in absentia” with the
same honor. Don was the catalyst to get me to start the reunions
going. And each and every year Don has set up and presented us with
table Honoring our POWS/MIA’s and severely wounded. Unfortunately this year Don was unable to attend due to
medical problems. We
missed you Snoopy! And
again this year we raffled off a NCO saber.
Ray Nieto of California was the winner. Special Thanks
I
really want to thank Steve and Marnette Clemons again for
their help with the reunion. They
once again provided the cakes
for the banquet. Thanks
Steve. Thanks Marnette.
And
Ken Elliott.......what can I say about brother Ken. Again he provided a beautiful wreath that was placed at
“The Wall” to remember are fallen brothers.
Thanks Ken. You
can view the wreath at the website in the “Picture Gallery.” And
to my daughter Rickie.
Rickie has been a tremendous help the last five years
with keeping things straight. A
“Thank You” to my wife Darnell for the help and support
she has provided. She
watches me sit at the computer night after night putting the reunion
packets together and answers the phone and says "It's a
‘Red’ call." And
for her help keeping things straight at the reunion.
I am going in twenty different directions and she points me
in the right one. And
both Rickie and Darnell run the table with the t-shirts, hats, pins
and the raffle tickets. Welcome Pre
and Post Vietnam era 2/9ers
As
you will see on the “Network Roster” there are the names of men
that served in WW II, Korea, pre Vietnam, post Vietnam, Desert Storm
and up until the colors were retired in 1994.
I know you men are wondering why you would be in a Network
that is mostly Vietnam era. Well,
we all served in 2/9. If
you have any info’ that you would like to have written such as a
WW II reunion or Desert Storm Reunion or Korea Reunion or whatever,
get in touch with me and I will put it out in the newsletter.
This is the 2/9 Network. I will
help in any way I can. You
will also notice that instead of being listed alphabetically I have
changed it to listed by years.
But it will be listed in order alphabetically within the
years. Reunion 2000
As
usual the dates of the reunion will be the same. They will be on November 9,10 and 11. That will be on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday. If you wish
to get an early start the telephone number is 1-800-424-1501.
Mention the 2/9 reunion and group number 1454.
And get a confirmation number!
2/9
Website! The
site has been a tremendous success.
In the first year there have been over 4000 + visitors. We have been seen virtually from all corners of the globe.
If you haven’t been there here is the address: http://www.2ndbattlion9thmarines.org (all one word). If
you would like your e-mail address posted please go to the site and
section that says “BECOME A MEMBER OF 2/9.”
I do not enter data on the site.
The service that I use does that. If
you have any suggestions about the site please let me know.
And do not be dismayed if it does not appear the next day.
E-mail addresses will be done periodically and not on a daily
basis. They wait until
they get a few names before making entries. There
is a “Picture Gallery.” If
you have a photo you would like placed there send it to me at graymarine@aol.com in a JPEG format.
If you scan a photo you can “save as” and it gives you
options. Please use
JPEG format. If you
don’t have a scanner just mail me the photo and I will scan it and
mail it back to you. And please don’t bombard me with photos for there are space
constraints on the website. Comrades
of KIA's & MIA's The
Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (FVVM) have instituted a
no-cost program designed to put the families of Vietnam casualties
in touch with veterans who served with them and it helps the vets
get in touch with the families of their fallen comrades. The
following list contains the names of those 2/9 casualties whose
families are seeking Marines who served with them. FAIRFIELD, Dennis H.
L/Cpl Anyone
desiring to get in touch with the families of any of the above
should contact: IN
TOUCH, c/o Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, 2030 Clarendon
BLVD., Suite 412, Arlington, VA
22201 or telephone (703) 525-1107.
Also, Nancy Rylee, 241 Gower Rd., Maysville, GA
30558 would like to hear from anyone who served with PFC
Weldon G. Lynn who was a machine gunner with Hotel Company and KIA
on Feb. 17, 1969. Buddy Search
If
you’re looking for a lost buddy you can give myself or Ed Gorman a
call. We are both
listed in Echo Company. We
have the phone disc with 88 million names and addresses and phone
numbers listed. We have
been very successful. Replacing
lost Medals
You
can replace lost service medals by filling out a standard Form 180
(request Pertaining to Military Records).
You can request via a copy of the form by visiting their
web site at http://www.nara.gov/regional/mpr.html.
If you are using the mail send to:
Navy Liaison Office, National Personnel Records Center, Room
3475/ N-314, 9700 Page
Blvd., St. Louis, MO
63132-5100. Whether
using the internet or by mail you need to send proof that you
received these medals. Providing
a copy of your DD 214 will satisfy that requirement.
Also include your full name, DOB, Service Number, Social
Security Number, approximate dates of service and your return
address. Personnel
Rosters
If you are looking for the names of the men that you served with
you can request that info’ by writing the DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, Headquarters USMC, Personnel Management Support Branch, 2008 Elliot Rd., Quantico,
VA 22134-5030.
Just write that you are looking for men that you served with and
give them the time frame and unit you served with. You might also be able to request copies of the Unit Diaries at
this place. Circumstances
of Death
If
you are looking for information on how a “Brother” or loved one
died you can request the circumstances of the death from: NATIONAL
PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER, MILITARY PERSONNEL RECORDS, 9700
PAGE AVENUE, ST. LOUIS, MO 63132-5100. Include
service number if you know it or at the least all of the info’
surrounding this event. Network
Contributors
A
very special Steve
& Marnette Clemons And
as I usually do at this time, if you can contribute anything it would be greatly appreciated.
We have added 227 brothers this year.
That’s 1122 newsletters to mail.
And along with the addition of the web page
I am going to definitely
need your help to get out the reunion announcement. Thank
You for your help.
Semper
Fi
“Red” 
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