Comments About Reunion 2008

We got the festivities started on Tuesday afternoon on the 9th. Tim & I were not comfortable with the Hospitality rooms that were offered at the Guest house Inn so we checked out the Flying Bridge Restaurant next door and settled on a great set up for our get togethers - they made Hors d Ouerves available as well as soft drinks, coffee and it was a short walk to the well fortified Bar for those of us who were so inclined to indulge and we DID indulge. It was a great way to initiate our reunion and later we all got to eat - mostly together - at least in the same area - and the food was really good. We then went back to Hosp area and stayed for quite awhile.

WEDNESDAY 10 SEPTEMBER: After we all had breakfast together - and BTW, SOS was available every day and it was very good - - we loaded up and went to San Diego and went aboard the USS Midway - - now, you talk about a huge aircraft carrier - - over 70,000 tons with a complement of over 3,600 sailors and Marines. It was a floating city of people and equipment for the over 50 years it was in service. Then we all went aboard a smaller ship for a cruise of the San Diego harbor - - Lawsy, that is a very HUGE inland harbor and we got to see dozens of ships being updated with the latest "AEGIS" firing computerized weaponry. It was very interesting - - when we got back to Oceanside, we all went back to our Hospitality room and enjoyed another evening of being together.

THURSDAY 11 SEPTEMBER: After our breakfast buffet, we went aboard Camp Pendleton and visited the shopping areas and the PX - then had breakfast at one of the mess halls - along with all the troops - - the lady who ran the place was a heckuva lot better looking than any Marine Mess Sgt I ever laid eyes on - -and the food was GOOD!! A Staff Sgt Snelson had joined us and was our tour guide and did a very good job. We went to the different areas - where tent Camps USED to be and as you would suspect, NADA was the same except the hills we used to tromp all over. Camp Pandleton is a very modern military base and NOBODY lives in a tent anymore. We had the privilege of getting to visit one of the newest 'training equipment' to get our Marines ready to fight the type of war that is going on now in Iraq and Afghanistan. A huge multi-media set of computers had a down-to-the-inch map of one of the Iraq cities and a Humvee set up where Marines can get in it - drive in it and fire from it to 'bad guys' as they popped up = their weapons also were identical to what they will be using and they have to reload after firing thirty rounds or the Marine who manned the 50 Caliber machine gun also had to totally reload after firing a belt of ammo. It was very realistic and the noise of weapons, although they softened the sound for us - was deafening, especially when the IED went of - I'm glad they warned us when it would explode - and even then - a couple of us jumped 25' in the air - naw, I'm kidding. Tent camp 3, where many of us had our advanced infantry training was nearly the same as 57 years ago - some old quonset huts were still in use - so it brought back many memories. After we concluded our tour, we went back to our hospitality room and about a dozen of us went to PALA Gambling Casino - - I know for a fact that three of us won - - I also think that the food I ate there was better than any food I have ever eaten in any Casino anywhere - WE got back about 10:45.

FRIDAY 12 SEPTEMBER: Breakfast together then we loaded up on the very nice Blue Bird bus and took off for San Diego to MCRD. We got there a little early and had time to shop a little prior to being seated for the Graduation Ceremony. Five Platoons of new Marines marched in lock step and we heard several great speeches - they acknowledged Easy Co Marines three times and we were very honored. As I was watching these new Marines, it sure brought back many Memories - - I nearly lost it a couple times as the memories came flooding back - - afterwards, I found out I was not alone - several of our brothers also were nearly overcome with emotions. Being teary-eyed was in vogue and no one was ashamed, nor should we have been. My son, Tim also said he had lots of thoughts about what those young Marines had been through - and what they still had to go through and he was giving prayers for them as he knew many would be in either Iraq or Afghanistan in a few months.

We then had lunch at another mess hall ran by civilians - and it was also very good food. Then we went shopping again at the many base stores as well as visiting the MCRD Museum - which features a section dedicated to the Korean War as well as WW2 & Nam with plans to open a section for Iraq & Afghanistan. The highlight of this trip was definitely seeing the young Marines graduating and our re-living the event. Tonight we held our Reunion Banquet at Sharky's - on board Pendleton. We had the privilege of having three young wounded warriors join us - they were all from 2 - 7 - one from Weapons Co., one from

Fox Co and one was from Echo Co. Here are their names but I screwed up and did not get the info as to which was in which Company. BRANDON STEINMO, FRED SANKS AND RAY WARREN. These were outstanding young men and we were all very impressed with them and it was such an honor for them to be with us. We can all sleep better tonight knowing that these Marines and others like them have our back. We also had a very good speech given to us by Major Scott Flagg. He had just recently returned from Iraq and brought us up to date as to HIS perception of what the situation is. He has some concerns that the entire situation is shaky and that in the next few months - it could go either way - Ie., it could get better or MUCH worse very quickly. Our bus driver, Mr. Lynn Hart also spoke to us for a few minutes about what his future plans are - He is going to Iraq in a support position and was still not real clear as to exactly what he'll be doing. He really did a fantastic job of taking care of us and driving us all over the place for the three days,

In my opinion and in the opinion of a couple more, I really screwed up on the menu for the Banquet - - I have excuses but will not proffer them - and then we DID NOT get any dessert with our meal and when I found out they were not going to serve dessert - adjustments were made - WE STOPPED AT BASKIN-ROBBINS on the way back to the Hotel and nearly everybody had some Ice Cream. Except for that mess up, Everything else went off very good and I for one, had a wonderful time.

By the way; Our resident Easy Co author, Mr. Vito Pileggi has written a very good book titled; EASY COMPANY MARINES MORE THAN BROTHERS. He is offering them at a very good price of $17.50 delivered to your door. This is either his 4th or 5th revision and I had read a couple of the prior copies - but I looked over and read part of this latest and consider it to be truly an excellent book. It covers Vito's year in Korea ending in about June of 52. No one will be disappointed after reading it and you and your children will cherish it,