Whiskey Battery Reunion 2007

September 14-16, 2007

     The 2007 Reunion of Whiskey 1-12 was held September 14-16, 2007 in Brentwood, Tennessee. Dick Stroud had done a great job of making

arrangements and to attending to all the details, including a wonderful poolside hospitality  room.

     Many of the members chose to arrive a day early.  to no one's surprise, there was more than enough to talk about for several or weeks if we had the time.  It seems just like yesterday that we were just a bunch of young men, kids really, carrying responsibilities of a agnitude greater than most people experience in their entire lifetime; howeer, to quote Larry the Cable guy, we did "gitter done!"   Stomachs have grown in girth, hair has thinned and grayed and man of us have children who ae much older than we were in Viet Nam, but still we are proud, as well we should be. 

     Saturday morning we had our breakfast business meeting.  Dick Stroud formally welcomed everybody and introduced Melonie Carideo who had been a tremendous help to Dick in arranging the reunion.  Melonie's daughter Bethany led us in the pledge of allegiance.  Tim Wolf led us in prayer.  Former W-1-12 CO's  Rich Richey and Hugh Walters provided comments, observations and memories.  Dick Huslander updated the battery on Joyce Salmon's health, which was not good at that point.  Since that time, her health has improved; however, she is still very ill and weak. 

     Lt. Saunders gave us a recap of his time with W-1-12 including a very moving remembrace of the heroic actions of Doc Carothers who died while tryin to save "his Marines."   We were indeed honored to have Bill Carothers, Doc's brother, attend the reunion.  Dick Stroud presented Bill with a pin.  I believe all Whiskey Battery Marines were thinking that the "corps in Marine Corps is trulythe Corpsmen" so bravely, selflessly and sometimes at the loss of their own lives to attend to us Marines.

     Dick Hulslander reported that the battery fund contained $615.77.  Note; a pass o the old hat yielded another $511.00.  So,  as of this writing, W-1-12's fund has $1,126.77. 

     Charlie Biddix noted that our reunions often provide closure to the families of our lost Marines, such as with the case with Jerry Glaze's family last year. 

     Dick Hulslander read the names of the departed battery members.  It was especially emotional noting the passing of Bob Huber who was battery CO between Rich Richey and Hugh Walters.

     Rich Richey had some update on the history of the battery since 1966.  We learned that W-1-12 had been reactivated and sent to Iraq as a military police unit.  It was a little difficult trying to imagine a W-1-12 person being on the so called good side of the law.    Ron Cummins gave the history of Blizzard, possibly the most all time unusual member of W-1-12.

     Many of those attending the reunion enjoyed a dinner at the The Stockyard Restaurant on Friday night and a dinner theater and ride on the replica steam/show boat General Jackson on Saturday.

     Melonie Carideo provided a slide show and information on a possible tour of Viet Nam with emphasis on Con Thien.  She will follow up with members who expressed interest.

     Jonn Forslin used to note that he learned in Kiwanis to never miss a meeting because doing so would result in your being assigned to a difficult or undersirable job, Apparently Jonn did not learn that lesson as well as he might have because: 1 He was absent from this year's reunion; 2.  Jonn was unanimously named to head up next year's reunion.  (Jonn, did you go to Boot Camp on the short bus?)

     After breakfast , coffee and goodbyes, W-1-12 dispersed until next year.

     PERSONAL NOTE;   My personal highest thank to every member of Whiskey1-12.  I do not believe I have ever seen a finer group o men that those of you who held Con Thien and the W-1-12 who raided the

battery's reputation elsewhere.  It is perhaps the highest honor I have ever had and greatly appreciate seeing each of you at the reunions.

Dick Huslander

2007