9th
Annual Reunion
A Memorable
Success
What do you get when you fill a hotel with sixty-three B Company men, their wives and family? You have a wonderful weekend of laughter, some tears, plenty of camaraderie, and lots of pictures and memorabilia to reminisce over. A comfortable and gratifying time.
With 63 men in attendance, we reached a new record while setting a goal for our 2014 10th annual reunion. Thirty-four states were represented including all four of the North, South, East and Western most corners of the US, Maine, Florida, California and Washington. Rodney White from Seattle traveled the furthest this year with over 2080 miles.
We welcomed 14 first timers: Dennis Ast, Harry Beck, Mike Brown, Les Chyba, Delbert Carolus, Gary Demark, Bill French, Gary Hirsch, Clarence (Skip) Laliberte, Daniel Lee, Paul O’Connell, Jimmie Vaughn, Claude Weaver and Ron Williby.
St Louis presented us with fantastic weather for our bus trip downtown for our tour of the Anheuser Busch Brewery and the Arch. Many went back the next day to take in more of the downtown sites. The ladies always manage to find the best shopping areas. And while the St. Louis Cardinals did not win the World Series, they did win the support of 22 of us as we took in their final season home game beating the Chicago Cubs.
Our hats are off to the Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel, who provided us with a beautiful and comfortable place to hold our reunion. The management and staff were most accommodating.
A special thanks to everyone who donated an item(s) to the silent auction as well as everyone for all their bids. Our “made in America” challenge proved to bring out the talents and craftiness in many as there were many beautiful handcrafted items. The silent auction, which provides funds to cover reunions expenses, brought in over $1800 this year.
Our Friday evening banquet was opened with a “Welcome” by Fred Golladay, our MC and a blessing over our meal by Chaplin Gover. After dinner, it was once again this year, an honor to have Chaplin Gover (Chappy) address “his boys”. Chappy’s message is always heart-warming and it is such a pleasure to have him with us each year.
Jerry Benson, Chappy’s assistant, offered a memorial service reading the names of B Company men who have passed away since our last reunion in Tampa. B Company was then called into formation for a salute and the playing of taps.
Once again this year Dianne Bacorn, dressed in Native attire, presented a moving tribute to Native Americans who have fought for our country through her wonderful signing performance.
On Saturday morning, the wives gathered for our 4th “Ladies Get Together lead by Crystal Lake. This has become a very special time that the ladies look forward to as we get together to share our thoughts, feelings, our tears and our joys. This year offered a special treat as June Hodder had crochet scarves for each of us. Thank you, June for making us look so colorful.
Saturday night, Bob Bounpane made a very special presentation. After attending his first reunion last year in Tampa, Bob offered to make a box to house and preserve the “Last Man Standing” bottle. Each year one B Company man has the bottle in his possession until he passes it on to someone new each reunion. Bob put much thought into his handcrafted wooden box that will hold the bottle. The bottle was first presented in 2008 in San Antonio and will continue to circulate for many years before being opened by the last B Company man as he drinks a toast to each and every B Company 1/22nd 4th Infantry soldier.
After our Saturday evening program, there was still plenty of time to head back to the Hospitality room to continue the many conversations that went on for several more hours.
Sunday morning Chappy held a brief Sunday morning service for those who were still at the hotel. It was a service like he did in Vietnam. He usually came in to the troops on the first resupply helicopter and left on the last one. There is always a good message mixed with a little humor in his services and a hymn was sung and closed with a prayer. The service was well attended with approximately 25 Company B “Boys”, wives and family. For many it was the first time they had a chance to attend one of his regular services. Thanks, Chappy, for a great service to send us on our way.
What do you get when you fill a hotel with sixty-three B Company men, their wives and family? You have a wonderful weekend of laughter, some tears, plenty of camaraderie, and lots of pictures and memorabilia to reminisce over. A comfortable and gratifying time.
With 63 men in attendance, we reached a new record while setting a goal for our 2014 10th annual reunion. Thirty-four states were represented including all four of the North, South, East and Western most corners of the US, Maine, Florida, California and Washington. Rodney White from Seattle traveled the furthest this year with over 2080 miles.
We welcomed 14 first timers: Dennis Ast, Harry Beck, Mike Brown, Les Chyba, Delbert Carolus, Gary Demark, Bill French, Gary Hirsch, Clarence (Skip) Laliberte, Daniel Lee, Paul O’Connell, Jimmie Vaughn, Claude Weaver and Ron Williby.
St Louis presented us with fantastic weather for our bus trip downtown for our tour of the Anheuser Busch Brewery and the Arch. Many went back the next day to take in more of the downtown sites. The ladies always manage to find the best shopping areas. And while the St. Louis Cardinals did not win the World Series, they did win the support of 22 of us as we took in their final season home game beating the Chicago Cubs.
Our hats are off to the Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel, who provided us with a beautiful and comfortable place to hold our reunion. The management and staff were most accommodating.
A special thanks to everyone who donated an item(s) to the silent auction as well as everyone for all their bids. Our “made in America” challenge proved to bring out the talents and craftiness in many as there were many beautiful handcrafted items. The silent auction, which provides funds to cover reunions expenses, brought in over $1800 this year.
Our Friday evening banquet was opened with a “Welcome” by Fred Golladay, our MC and a blessing over our meal by Chaplin Gover. After dinner, it was once again this year, an honor to have Chaplin Gover (Chappy) address “his boys”. Chappy’s message is always heart-warming and it is such a pleasure to have him with us each year.
Jerry Benson, Chappy’s assistant, offered a memorial service reading the names of B Company men who have passed away since our last reunion in Tampa. B Company was then called into formation for a salute and the playing of taps.
Once again this year Dianne Bacorn, dressed in Native attire, presented a moving tribute to Native Americans who have fought for our country through her wonderful signing performance.
On Saturday morning, the wives gathered for our 4th “Ladies Get Together lead by Crystal Lake. This has become a very special time that the ladies look forward to as we get together to share our thoughts, feelings, our tears and our joys. This year offered a special treat as June Hodder had crochet scarves for each of us. Thank you, June for making us look so colorful.
Saturday night, Bob Bounpane made a very special presentation. After attending his first reunion last year in Tampa, Bob offered to make a box to house and preserve the “Last Man Standing” bottle. Each year one B Company man has the bottle in his possession until he passes it on to someone new each reunion. Bob put much thought into his handcrafted wooden box that will hold the bottle. The bottle was first presented in 2008 in San Antonio and will continue to circulate for many years before being opened by the last B Company man as he drinks a toast to each and every B Company 1/22nd 4th Infantry soldier.
After our Saturday evening program, there was still plenty of time to head back to the Hospitality room to continue the many conversations that went on for several more hours.
Sunday morning Chappy held a brief Sunday morning service for those who were still at the hotel. It was a service like he did in Vietnam. He usually came in to the troops on the first resupply helicopter and left on the last one. There is always a good message mixed with a little humor in his services and a hymn was sung and closed with a prayer. The service was well attended with approximately 25 Company B “Boys”, wives and family. For many it was the first time they had a chance to attend one of his regular services. Thanks, Chappy, for a great service to send us on our way.
