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Battalion Runner Gabe
Coronado P.O. Box 611535, Pt. Huron MI 48060 WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT?
That spirited attitude of teamwork helped maintain the camaraderie and the flow of food and beverages throughout the event. Thanks to everyone who pitched in when needed and special thanks to the following people for great logistics support: Steve Clemons, Ed Gorman, Pat Jackson, Ted & Wanda Cleckler, James & Judy Joyce, and Sandy Gilliam. Also, special thanks to Tom Lohimar for his donation of 2/9 T-shirts, to Bill Ackland for donating decals, magnets & bumper-stickers, and to Wanda Cleckler for donating a quilt & pillows. The reunion is growing every year, and first-timers like Pete Gonzalez (HQHS, 66-67) and Larry Yepez (H2/9, 67) are always excited to see old friends, and promise to come again next year. A total of 93 members along with many of their friends and family came to the 2006 Reunion and a great time was had by all. On the Marine Corps Birthday, some attended ceremonies at the Iwo Jima Memorial, and others attended the opening of the new National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, VA. But, everyone gathered together in the evening for the annual 2/9 pizza party & celebration. Speeches were made by Col. Peeler and Col. Coti, and the cake was cut by the oldest & youngest marines present at the reunion.
NOTES FROM THE MAILBOX "HELL IN A HELMET" RISES AGAIN Mike also sent a variety of publications about Agent Orange exposure that are available from the Veteran's Affairs - Environmental Agents Service. Their contact information includes: a toll-free Agent Orange Hotline 1-800-749-8387, and websites www.va.gov/Environ Agents and www.va.gov/AgentOrange. Bob Sawyer (E2/9, 67-68) writes: "A federal court judge ruled that all vets that were on patrol duty off the north Vietnam coast are eligible for disability benefits for Agent Orange as of August 18, 2006 and could get back pay to the time they were exposed. Prior to this ruling you had to set foot on Vietnam soil to receive benefits. Diabetes has been linked to Agent Orange along with several types of cancer, and independent testing is showing that neurological damage may also be linked." Glen Elvey (G2/9, 65-69) sent Season's Greetings to members of the network and could use our support as he writes: "my cancer has come back. I'm in the middle of 7 weeks, 5 days a week, ½ day radiation treatments. If this doesn't work, I'll have to start chemo. This is being blamed on Agent Orange-Vietnam and my over 3 years there." Thurman Moore, webmaster for One Four writes: "One of your squads, 1st Sqd, 3rd Plt, Echo 2/9, was in the battle for the Cam Lo Headquarters on 2 February 1968 as a supplement to two squads from D 1/4. I'm in possession of the official after action report from 3rd Div and Lt Stick, the platoon commander. If you can contact any of your guys from that squad that can or would remember what happened that night let me know, I'd like to get their version of what happened to include on our site. Also, found three friends I remember on your site and would appreciate any help you can give in trying to find out how they died. All three were with Echo 2/9: Clyde D. McDonald, KIA Mar 66 - Leroy W. Williams, KIA 10 May 66 - Bobby Joe Jacobs, KIA 15 May 66." You can e-mail Thurman Moore at t.moe@sbcglobal.net. Larry Barnett (G2/9, 75-77) invites members to visit a website for the Kohtang Beach Club at www.kohtang.com. Arnie Murillo (G2/9, 67-68) Pittsburg, CA is looking for members for his group. You can call him at 925-432-0273. Geoffrey Steiner (H2/9, 67-68) shared some interesting information about his activities. After coming home from Nam, he decided to create his own Vietnam memorial by planting a tree for every serviceman killed or missing in Vietnam. He has now planted over 100,000 trees on or near his property in Minnesota. This effort was recognized in a 1987 Newsweek article and by President Reagan in a November 1987 meeting at the White House. He has survived alcoholism and suicide attempts in his struggle with PTSD, and is now fighting the debilitating effects of Lyme disease. To lend your support, email him at: livemen@brainerd.net or call 320-749-2565. Curt Leslie (F2/9, 66-67) found that the article on La Tho Bac in the last newsletter triggered some memories. He writes, "Those accounts have helped stimulate my memory and to break out some very dusty documents, including my 1:50,000 map sheet (Nong Son) that I used in operations there, beginning with the Double Eagle ops in early 1966. I made some key discoveries, based on my own review and the comments of my brothers in the Runner. I was with F2/9, Weapons Platoon (3.5" rockets) when we ran into a shit-storm in La Tho Bac (3) on 18 March 1966. I have not had anyone since then - 40 years ago - mention the name of that ville to me." He goes on to describe at length his experience. Any one who would like a copy of this account can contact me and I will gladly send you a copy. Curt ends his letter with these questions: "Did it really do any good Gabe? Did our brothers die for a righteous cause? Are many of our own family wounded, inside and out, because it needed to happen? I only know this - I would fight to the death and die for any of my 2/9 brothers but I am not sure I would necessarily be doing it for my country any more." Curt's Vietnam tours were 1966-67 (LCpl), 1969-70 (SSgt), last assignment was S-2 Officer 6th Marine Regiment, Camp LeJeune, and he retired in 1987 (Major). He participated in Double Eagle I, Double Eagle II, New York, King, Georgie, Macon, Liberty, Prairie, and various County Fair operations. You can call him at 309-755-6452. COMMENTS FROM NEW MEMBERS Rob Engle Jr. (Weapons Co. 2/9, 91-93) "While on deployment we were the lead force that went into Mogadeshu, Somalia. I was with Weapons Co. and detached to Golf Co. I would definitely be interested in the 2/9 reunion for 2007." Phone: 616-862-4081, e-mail: engle97@charter.net. Larry Yepez (H2/9, 67) sent in a copy of a book he has been working on since 2005. It is the story of how the men and women who fought in the war have been treated and how the laws and rules protecting the rights that were earned, in many cases with our blood, don't matter. He has traveled to the Capital to fight for the rights of all veterans and is working with the Military Order of the Purple Hearts, and the American Legion. You can contact him by phone at: (209) 608-5992
Our condolences and gratitude go out to the family of Corpsman Robert S. Black LETTERS & E-MAILS HELP TROOPS If you remember how important it was for you to get a letter from home when you were in Nam or Korea, you may want to consider visiting www.mysoldier.com, a website founded by army Staff Sgt. Juan Salas. He started the site on Veteran's day 2004, after returning from 14 months in Iraq. This is a pen pal program that connects Vietnam, Korean and WWII veterans with a new generation of soldiers battling loneliness and fear in a far-off land, and in an unpopular war. There is also an online message program to troops at www.aarpmagazine.org/mailcall. DONATIONS OOH-RAH to the big donators for the 2006 Reunion including Dick Sasser, Jerry Parker, Bobert Barclay and Frank LeMay. Other donators that help keep the network running are Bob Sawyer, Pete Padilla, Raymond Weisgerber, Kenneth Blankenship, Kathy Upchurch, Robert Slattery, and Thomas McCarthy. The 2/9 Network, Gabe Coronado |
Marines attending the reunion encountered a tactical problem when the power at the hotel was out for about 6 hours the first day. At 10 am, some people were still in their rooms, some in the conference room or lobby, and a few were caught in complete darkness in the stairwell. But, the members of the Corps adapted and overcame to survive another adventure with teamwork and spirit.
