7th Annual E 2 7 Reunion
(Click here for photos)
Our 7th
Annual E 2 7 Reunion went off very well - mostly as per our itinerary.
DAY 1) We started getting together Sunday afternoon, the 17th - Tim & I tried to
check in and found out that the incredibly incompetent Group Sales had somehow
forgotten to book both our room and the Hospitality Room. After a long few
minutes, it got straightened out so Tim & I put bags up & went to a grocery
store and loaded up on snacks and beer and even bought a coffee pot & coffee so
we could have coffee in the Hospitality room. Later, a bunch of us went to THE
RAT PACK group who were performing at our Hotel - they put on a good show.
DAY 2) Most everybody got together for a Buffet breakfast at the Hotel and we
had a very nice visit. Then a group of us boarded a very nice COOL bus and went
to see the Vintage Auto Exhibit at The Imperial Palace - since I had seen the
auto's a couple years ago - I had the driver take me to KMART so I could buy a
white shirt (I forgot to pack one!). Picked up the group and went over to the
Mandalay and after a long walk, we all ate together at their buffet - WHICH WAS
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!! The best meal I had while in Vegas. Then the group went
to the Sharks Reef (a 130 million gallon shark, etc., exhibit) and everybody was
impressed with it. Then we headed back to the Plaza. After a couple hours, we
re-loaded back on the bus and went to THE LEATHERNECK CLUB and had a great time
being in the place - it is loaded with memorabilia from all the wars and they
serve good beer, too. Col Wayne Morris was there, with his brother Tim and I had
been emailing back and forth to him for over three years and it was great to
finally get to meet him - - Col. Morris was serving under Capt Greenlaw as
enlisted when Capt Greenlaw got him into the Officer Corps so it was an
especially nice reunion for them. On the ride back, we had a complete tour of
the Strip and Vance Cannon, who wrote the history of Las Vegas - gave all of us
the the straight skinny on HOW VEGAS GOT STARTED - especially the mob
connection, and stories about Howard Hughes.
DAY 3) Most everybody got together for a Buffet breakfast but some went across
the street to a very good handy restaurant. Mostly a visiting day together -
which we did, except a few of us went gambling - - Vegas does not seem to be
hurting; at least as far as I can tell. The downtown Fremont Light show
attracted thousands each evening and only a couple of the Strip Hotels were not
bulging with Gamblers and tourista's from all over America and the world. A
group of us went to see the really great Terry Fator Show tonight - - ALL were
very impressed with his amazing talent.
DAY 4) After our Buffet breakfast, By the Way, TIM never made any of these - -
he was out each night till 4:00 am and after all the gambling, he still came out
several hundred dollars ahead. OK. I'll fess up - - I ended up $105 down TOTAL
so I can't {dangit} complain too much. I did see, at one time or another -
nearly all our group at the tables having a great time. The Echo Co Marines
arrived about 1300 and out of the donations from all of you, I took them to
lunch at the Hotel Buffet. Every one of the Marines were combat veterans of Iraq
and Afghanistan and a couple had Purple Hearts. Everybody was very impressed
with all of them - we were extremely Happy that they were able to be with us.
They are preparing now for their next deployment back to Afghanland and expect
to leave in 60-90 days. Our Banquet also came off very well - I didn't hear any
complaints this year about the food - Some kind of Crusted Chicken and Prime Rib
was available on the Buffet AND WE ALL GOT DESSERTS!! SSgt Good gave us an
update on Echo Co., Then Harry Smart brought us up to date on the Status of
getting the Purple Heart stamp issued as a FOREVER stamp and highly encourages
each of us to contact our Representatives in Washington to ask for their
support. Then the inimitable Pete Womack gave us a thrilling rendition of "BROWN
SIDE OUT" - - you will be able to see that on our website soon - BE SURE AND
LOOK FOR IT!!. Capt. Greenlaw brought everybody up to date on the legal status
of Sgt Larry Hutchins, who, as you know is serving 11 years in Leavenworth FOR
DOING HIS JOB!!! I then told about the hardship that Larry's Father and Mother
are having and we passed the hat and collected $501.00 to assist them. I sent
that money to them immediately after arriving home - they should get it on
Tuesday.
Also, a couple more signed up to donate some amount of money on a monthly basis
till they can get back on their feet. If you would like to be added to that
list, let me know and the amount you agree to send - for my eyes only - - and
the money goes straight to the Hutchins. THEN the main speaker - Corpsman Max
Beerup, Pres. of the 1st Marine Division Association of Kansan City gave us a
very good talk - mostly about how he supports mothers of Marine recruits,
recruiting officers, etc. BTW, Max received the CMC award 'CIVILIAN OF THE YEAR"
in 1999. We then made him an Honorary member of E 2 7 and I presented him with
an Inscribed Vietnam Memorial Kabar - with his name and other info on it. I also
presented Sgt Good with a Marine Corps Statue of the 'EAGLE, GLOBE AND ANCHOR;
and presented Capt. Greenlaw with a beautiful USMC Pen & Pencil set - for his
ongoing assistance in support E 2 7 in promoting our Reunions. Max closed with a
prayer and thus ended our 7th Annual reunion - - I wasn't ready. It is always
such a lift for me to be with my brothers and to get to spend some quality time
with my son.
DAY 5) A lot of Marines had to go home early and didn't make breakfast but some
of us did. During the night, Vito had some painful stomach problems and due to
his brilliance, he did not screw around - HE WENT ON TO THE HOSPITAL. I made
those comments because I am so dang hard headed that I ignored several
dizzy/fainting spells prior to my having the heart attack last November and when
my heart quit on me on the waiting room table - - I HEREBY SWEAR THAT I WILL NOT
IGNORE ANY MORE WARNING SIGNS AND WILL BE AS SMART AS VITO WAS WHEN IT HAPPENS.
I want each of you to SWEAR that you also will not be plum dang stupid!! If you
have problems, get your butts to the hospital ASAP!!! If you do, you probably
will be around to make several more reunions.
I WANT YOU
THERE!
ALL IN ALL, I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THIS YEARS REUNION AND HOPE TO SEE EVERY ONE
OF YOU NEXT YEAR - ALSO I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHERE AND WHEN IT WILL BE HELD AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SEMPER FI,
Troy Watson