”Together Then – Together Again”

Monday, November 9th through Wednesday, November 11th

The 2009 Reunion is being planned for November 9-11 this fall. If you’ve never attended before, this event is something you don’t want to miss. It’s a casual and family friendly affair. We have a block of rooms reserved at a special rate, and a conference room that we keep open throughout the three days. This is a place where we hang out, renew old friendships and make new ones. Guys bring old photos, souvenirs, equipment, and other stuff from their military and Viet Nam experiences. We just sit around, swap stories and share memories. We have coffee, soft drinks, beer, and snacks available. On Nov 10 we attend Marine Corps Birthday Ceremonies at the Iwo Jima Memorial and we’ll be having a birthday pizza party that night. On November 11 there are Veteran’s Day Ceremonies at “The Wall.” There are no registration fees or charges to reunion attendees and there is no charge for the refreshments or pizza party. A “donation can” will be set out in the room, or you can send a donation designated for the reunion in advance.

Reunion attendees are responsible for making their own reservations with the hotel, payment of room, and guaranteeing for late arrival. Please reserve early. Last year, there were so many last minute people that we didn’t have enough rooms and it was too late to add more. If you change your mind, you can cancel with no penalty as late as 2 days before your reservation date.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE BY OCTOBER 9, 2009 TO QUALIFY FOR THE GROUP RATE.

Danny Schuster (E2/9, 1967) has posted photo shows from many of our reunions on the internet at Google Video. You can view these shows by clicking on 2/9 Reunion Photo Gallery on the “Links” page of our website, or by typing the following into your web browser: http:video.google.com/videoplay?docid+3369541798240246959

There are other videos of 2/9 on Google that you can watch by going to the Google Videos site and typing 2nd battalion 9th marines into the search box.

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY STEPHEN BARTLETT

Stephen Bartlett sent a couple of photos that have been posted on the photo gallery of our website. One is of Bn Headquarters in Quang Tri around Nov 1968 taken by Eugene Hawkins (G2/9) who was KIA 23 Feb 1969. The other photo shows Bartlett’s gun team (F 2/9), after patrolling in LST 1195 off the coast of Cambodia during the 70’s Cambodian Crisis. It was taken in Okinawa at “CTA-2” and the reservoir is 75-90 meters to the rear.

Bn Headquarters, Quang Tri, Nov 1968

Back: Gilmore, Bartlett, Best / Front: Alexander

NOTES FROM THE MAILBOX

Gloria Malcolm widow of Harold “Hal” Malcolm (E2/9, 1968) writes’ “Hal died from cancer, due to the exposure of Agent Orange in Viet Nam, on 2 Feb 2007 exactly one week before what would have been his 58th birthday. I would like to hear from others that served with and remember Hal. He was a fine man, and I know that he was a fine Marine.” Contact Gloria at: hgmalcolm@msm.com

Dale Strawn (H 2/9, 65-66) writes,” Who remembers Horrible Hog? Mike Schille rescued him on one of those sweeps. He was growing well when I left for CONUS.” Contact Dale at:strawntx@aol.com

Tom Brandt (E 2/9, 68-69) writes, “I have some old photographs of 2/9 action during Dewey Canyon. One of my RO Jerry Clariday is particularly good and if I could find him I would send it to him. I would love to hear from anyone from 1st platoon, E Co. who was on Dewey Canyon.” Contact Tom at (630) 879-3031.

Chris Moline (HQHS, 88-89) writes, “I stumbled across the network by accident and memories of some good buddies came flooding back, the ‘Beastie Boys’, jerk-o SSgt Miller (ha ha), Gunner Smith, Alder the wingnut, Beltran, Yanez…good guys. In fact, I was at the Iwo Memorial on the 10th and saw a couple of French Foregets and didn’t even know I was in the middle of a 2/9 reunion! You can rest assured that I’ll be at the 2009 reunion and look forward to it.” Contact Chris at: CMoline@carpetcca.com.

Marcy Bentler writes, “I am the daughter of Keith Koski (E 2/9, 66-67) It is a year now since my father passed away and I have been thinking about everything that he loved so much, and the Marines was at the top of the list. I would like to know if anyone has any memories, stories or pictures to share. He was a very proud veteran and my husband is currently serving with the Minnesota Army National Guard in Iraq, so the military is a very important part of our lives. Contact Marcy by mail at: 2128 Fors Road, Two Harbors, MN 55616 or by email at: bbentler@frontiernet.net.

Joy McEachern writes, “I am writing for my dad. His name is Charles Raines and he served with 2/9 from Aug 1966- Aug 1967. He is trying to get benefits for PTSD and things like that from the VA in SC, because he still remembers everything that happened while he was in service and has flashbacks and nightmares. The problem is they want to know at least the month that these things happened. He only remembers that it was sometime between 66 & 67. If you could help remember any dates during this time when you were in battle and lost many men, or just a really traumatic time, that would help. He remembers the following events but doesn’t know the dates: a man named Munson’s arm was blown off, a man named Shelton was shot in the head by a sniper, and a man named Jack Orr was shot in the stomach. He remembers a time when they were having to put bodies stacked ten high into tanks. This may have been at the Rock Pile, but he also thinks he was at Phu-bai, Dong-ha, and Khe-san. If you remember any dates from these places during those times, or knew any of those men could you please let us know. Thank you.” Contact Joy at: butterfly20085@yahoo.com.

Earl Lukaszewski (2/9, 66-67) writes, “I served with 2/9 from Nov 66 thru Dec 67. I was in a rocket squad at first, and later transferred to a battalion recon squad. There were two 11 man squads made up of volunteers from our battalion. This was Col Peeler’s idea and it worked well for a while. We started patrols in Feb of 67, but by early July, we were down to six or so. Our radio call signs were Romeo 1 & Romeo 2. After disbanding what men were left, we returned to our original units. The rest of my tour was with Hotel Co 3rd platoon. I got a little shrapnel on July 29th and then shot in the hand & more shrapnel wounds on Aug 29th around the Marketplace.” “I found out about the 2/9 website through a Navy friend of mine. This site has helped me find 2/9 buddies I couldn’t have found without it. It has also helped me to better understand the big picture of some of the operations we were on, particularly Buffalo & Kingfisher. This site has also helped me pursue some benefits and disability from the VA. I hope this site will continue for a good long while. Someday I hope to make it to a reunion.” Contact Earl at: (715) 445-3395 or eyluk@tds.net.

Glenn Elvey (G 2/9, 65-67) reports that life is good and he is doing well after three surgeries for Agent Orange related cancer. He is now giving back by visiting wounded vets from Iraq and Afghanistan at the Balboa Naval Hospital. He sends his gratitude for all the support he received from 2/9 members during his difficult illness and says, “Semper Fi, Devil Dogs.” Thomas Van Winkle (H 2/9, 66-67) writes, “Does anyone remember Major Murphy on July 29th 1967? How does this man not have the Medal of Honor? We would have perished if not for his leadership. I owe my life to him. I will never forget how he kept us positive all night long when they had us so close to being overrun. I will never forget that night. God Bless Major Murphy & Capt Southard.” Contact Tom at: (321) 305-4236 or ripper29er@yahoo.com.

Jim Fronkier (3/3, 66-67) writes, “This past weekend while in Virginia Beach, VA I met a young lady named Vicki Lord who told me her brother was a Marine who was KIA in Vietnam on 12 Feb 1966. His name was Stephen Geoffrey Lord but she didn’t know anything else about his unit or the circumstances surrounding his death. She was a little girl at the time and her parents kept very little of his Marine Corps items and would not talk to her about her brother’s death. She wanted to know if I could find out anything more about him. In checking your unit records I found he was a member of H&S Co 2/9 and on the date of his death your unit was involved in Operation Double Eagle in Quang Ngai Province. She said her brother was “a scout.” Of course that could mean just about anything as anyone who had ever walked point knows, but he might have been one of the S-2 Scout /Sniper personnel as well. I would certainly appreciate it if you could link me up with someone who could provide more information for this young lady about her brother.” Contact Jim at: JG_Hunka@cox.net.

NOTES FROM THE WEBSITE

John Foster (E 2/9, 67-68) wants to know if anyone has a picture of the 2/9 Guidon in Vietnam, preferably from Echo Co. Contact John at: johnnoel@earthlink.net

Jerry Royce (E2/9, 67-68) “And another April 6th a really bad a day for those of us who went to Hill 190. Least we forget those who gave all.”

Pat Corvalia (E2/9, 67-68) “I lost a good friend on that day. I was already home by then, but I was the first person Rudy Salazar met when he got off the chopper at Con Tien and was running towards my hole as rockets were landing. We got to be good friends and he was one tough guy, he was a boxer and had won the golden gloves in Texas. One day I was coming out of my tent back in Camp Carol, and I see Rudy in the middle of a bunch of guy's with his shirt off and they were having a boxing match. Rudy was around 5 ft. 8 in., and the guy he was fighting was around 6 ft. The fight lasted about two minutes. Rudy knocked the guy out. You could tell he would have been a pro at some point in the future. It was unbelievable the way he moved around in the ring, the other guy couldn't touch him. I still miss him today.”

UPDATED 2/9 HONORS PAGE ON WEBSITE

Special thanks to Doug Goodin (E2/9, 1967) for making corrections and updates to the Unit Honors page on our website. He spent a considerable amount of time researching and building a great looking page that includes ribbons, campaigns, and dates. Check it out when you get a chance.

NEW MEMBERS

Ralph Coons (HQHS Co. 66-67), Mitch Sadler (Wpns Co. 90-91), Barney Cummings (HQHS Co. 84-85), Roger Caplinger (HQHS Co. 90-91), William Brown (H Co. 67-68), Dale Strawn (H Co. 65-66), Richard A. Russell (F Co. 67), Eric Hohnstadt (F Co. 86-92), John Siple (HQHS Co. (67-68), Chris Moline (HQHS Co. 88-89), Kenneth Kitchen (HQHS Co. 66-67), Glenn Leimbach (HQHS Co. 72-74), Michael Wells (E Co. 67-68), Robert P. Fowler (HQHS Co. 69-70), Donald Payton (E Co. 69), William John Boyle Jr. (HQHS Co. 64-65), Kim Beckman (E Co. 65-66), Robert Usher (HQHS Co. 69-71), Jack Henderson (G Co. 68-69), Ryan Barr (G Co. 65-66), Eric Dunn (G Co. 89-93), Kenneth R. Wilkerson ( E Co. 66), Larry Neville (G Co. 78), Patrick M. West ( E Co. 67-68), Ronald G. Kennedy (HQHS Co. 68-69), William Overby (G Co. 82-85), Michael Granberg (G Co. 68), Loren Lycan (F Co. 73-75), Larry Dean Johnson (G Co. 68-69), Ronald Harris (G Co. 68-69), Joseph Jones (Wpns Co. 92-94), William Hausch (H Co. 67-68), Robert Popp (HQHS Co. 71-72), Steven Bragg (F Co. 66-67), Jerry Lee Underwood (HQHS Co. 65), James Smolucha (G Co. 08- Pres), Neal P. Reese (Wpns Co. 82-85), James Donohue (E Co. 67-68), Malon I. Shelton (G Co. 67-68), Benton Curly (G Co. 68-69), Sam Samples (HQHS Co. 66-67), Lawrence Kirby (E Co. 43-45), Sol Freeman (HQHS Co. 94-95).

Donations

OOH-RAH to the Marines who have helped to keep the network running with their donations since the last newsletter: Robert J. Slattery, Eugene W. Long, Pete Padilla, John Roger, Timothy Forbes, Robert J. Driver, Ed Gorman, Arnold Forbes, James McMillen, Timothy G. Gavin, Charles Cooper, Gary Webb, Stephen R. Wartalski, Thomas Leach, Kenneth Blankenship, Robert Mumper, Ralph C. Martinez, Dick Sasser, Earl Lukaszewski, Tom Brandt, Joseph Guggino, Salvatore Lictra, Raymond Weigerber, Garrett Peck, Bernie Truschka, Charles M. Nicholson, Roger Wells, Charles Malone, Gerald Hornick . The Network is organized and run by unpaid volunteer members, but there are some costs involved in keeping it going. Money is needed to pay the web host, printing charges and postage for the newsletter, along with costs incurred for the reunion. There are no charges of any kind to members. Everything is paid for strictly through donations. If you feel moved to donate any amount, make your check out to Gabe Coronado and mail to: The 2/9 Network – Gabe Coronado, PO Box 611535, Port Huron, MI 48061-1535.