REUNION
2002
A Decade of Reunions
"Reds" Final Reunion
Mail Call Ladies!
Here it is……The
Reunion Announcement. Reunion number 10. It's once again time to
grab family and friends and get ready to have a GREAT time seeing
old friends and making new ones.
I want to point
out that this is basically the "Vietnam Era" reunion."
But any 2/9er's invited to attend. We are all a "Band of Brothers!"
In this letter
you will find an " Updated" addition to the Network Roster.
These are the names of the men who have signed on since the last
newsletter was mailed out in January. That is one reason why this
letter has been mailed out to all of the men in the Network from
WW II to Korea through the Post Vietnam Era. We have picked up members
from all these periods. So if you men who served in the times other
than Vietnam were wondering why you are receiving this, that is
the reason.
There again will be a hospitality room open for all three days.
So bring whatever photographs and memorabilia you have. There will
be ample display areas.
If you wish to indulge in a drink or two, there is a bar located
in the restaurant at the hotel. The Network will provide the brewskies,
you will be allotted 2 warm cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon, or two warm
cokes. (just a joke) Anything harder than that you will want to
bring. Soft drinks and coffee will be provided as well. This will
be in the conference room. There is no registration fee so feel
free to bring any pogey bait you desire.
A Change to the 2/9 Network
This is a very
important announcement that I am making. I am announcing major changes
to the Network
As you all know I started this Network back in 1984 with a handful
of names and a desire to find four men that I served with in Vietnam.
That was 18 years ago.
I have also put together 10 Reunions. However this will be my final
Reunion that I put together.
The change to the Network is that I will not be mailing out any
more newsletters. There will not be any more Battalion Rosters mailed
out. The cost to do so has outweighed the monies donated.
The 2/9 Website will still be carried on. Two members of the Network
have graciously agreed to contribute the $720 per year to keep the
website up and running. I will maintain a database such as you have
seen in the Network Rosters that you have received over the years.
I will also maintain a "mailing list" or the mailing labels
in case one of you would like to have a Reunion in the future.
If any of you would like a "Roster" I would suggest that
you send your request to me with a self-addressed and stamped envelope.
I will be more than happy to provide you with what you need. If
you are requesting a Battalion sized Roster please send a number
of stamps. If you have on-line capabilities I can send you what
you want via e-mail.
It has been a great run but after 18 years I am ready to take somewhat
of a break. I had planned on announcing my retirement away from
the network but I have gotten in a better frame of mind. I e-mailed
over eight hundred 2/9ers' about my departure completely and received
about 25-30 replies. Many people had suggestions of a possible successor
but no one really volunteered to do it themselves. So after some
cajoling I have decided that I will keep on doing what I have been
doing.
Important
Banquet Announcement
I will NOT
be taking banquet orders at the reunion. This year there are dates
that have to be met with the restaurant. The dinner will be held
at the Ft. Myers NCO Club. If you haven't made your dinner reservations
by October 25th don't come into the Reunion on November 9th and
ask me to get into the banquet. If you are planning on attending
the Banquet you MUST have your reservations mailed to me no later
than OCTOBER 25, 2002. I repeat, I will not be taking Banquet orders
at the reunion.
I made this same announcement last year and I still had people asking
to get reservations made. And the problem is that your problem becomes
my problem I am serious on this. Make your reservation by mail by
October 25th. Don't mail it to me after that date. It will not be
honored. I will bring your check back to you. I hate to be hard-ass
on this but after 10 years you would think we could get this right.
Alternative
Hotels
|
If the Quality Inn Iwo Jima
has been filled up these are two hotels that can be used.
|
|
Hyatt
Arlington (within 2 blocks)
1325 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209
Tel: 705-535-1234
|
The
Virginian Suites (Across the Street)
1500 Arlington Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209
Tel: 800-275-2866
|
Contributors
I would like
to at this time thank Colonel Dave Garner, Peter Anderson, Sam Conner,
Joe Mannino, Jim Chase, James Joyce, Joe Henebury, Robert Bennett,
General Dennis Murphy, Scott Whelan, Robert Bilow & Jeannine
Mehrhoff in Honor of Arch Mehrhoff, Jack Swallows, Lester Wadleigh,
John Harley, Ed Gorman, Dennis Voge, Leroy Reno, Thomas Weinhold,
Stephan Trimble, Colonel John Peeler, Eugene Lant, "Gunny"
Ed Harker, Michael Olson, Robert Mumper, George Kinnaman, Colonel
W.J. Wood, Major J.T. Guggino, Timothy Forbes, Glenn Siegler, James
"Buddhadoc"Beyersdorf, Robert and Edna Driver in Memory
Od Bob Staump, Walter Thomas, Ted Licitra, Colonel William Cryan,
Clayton Cochran Jr, Richard Folk, Charles Conley, Captain William
Whorton, Larry Taylor, Kenton Dean, Douglis Goodin, Colonel W.D.
Kent, Ward Hoffman, Jr., Tony Newsom, Richard Arehart, Alex Montoya,
Pedro Rivera, Don "Snoopy" Truesdale, Bob Slattery, Tom
Dickinson, John Goulart, S/Sgt Ken Tomlinson, Tim Hermsen, Jim Burney,
Tony Newsom, Ralph Fatello, Warren Atkinson, Anthony Newsome, Peter
McClaine and Patrick McKenna. Everyone's support is greatly appreciated.
My Last Begging!
Since the last
mailing in December the Network has been running in the red. In
fact there are still about $1000 that need to be taken care of.
And with this Reunion Announcement I will definitely be further
in arrears. So I am begging you guys for one last time to please
help me out. If you can spare a dollar or two or whatever please
do so. I have donated much time in keeping this Network going for
the last 18 years that I hope you can find it in your heart to send
in a small contribution. This mail-out has been sent to over 1500
members. The costs of copying and postage is up there.
See you
in November!
I just want to
say that I hope to see a great group once again in November. Each
year I expect the reunion to be smaller. Each year it grows. Last
year 170 at the banquet. So again, there are 65 rooms blocked this
year. After those rooms are taken the regular hotel rate kicks in.
So if you're planning on coming don't wait until the last moment
to make your reservation. And please send in your banquet order
early.
So
once again,
Sempier Fi and See You at the Iwo Jima
“Red”
PS;
This will be the ONLY Reunion Announcement. This is due to the fact
that the Banquet Facility had chosen to drag its feet on its correspondence
with me. So do not expect another update.
Also
the Birthday Ceremony at the Iwo Jima Memorial will be held on Saturday,
November 9th at 9:30 AM. The Marine Corps rests on Sunday.
The
"Guest Speakers" this year will be any of you who wish
to get up to the microphone. I request that you do not make it a
political rallying cry. Please get contact me if you wish to speak.
Please limit your comments to just a few minutes to accommodate
any others who might wish to say something. Thanks.
