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My Dear Friends and Comrades,
Another reunion has come and gone and if comments from attending members mean anything
(and they DO) it was a great reunion. Liz and I could not have been more pleased with all the
“Thank You’s”, and great comments you made. You made our day.
Although the attendance was about the same as last year, they were an enthusiastic group, made
even better with new members. We are encouraged. A warm welcome to two new members and
spouses. One couple from nearby Kentucky, William and Mary Bland. The other couple Wilburn
and Trudy Gibson from Indiana. This member had been the best man at Dennis and Ursula Ellis’s
wedding. This was the first time together again after over 40 years. This is what it is all about folks.
The Louisville Marriott was first class and, for a hotel that stepped in at the last minute, did a great
job. Staff was great meeting our every need. Our contact person and catering manager was
always there for us. Rooms were large and clean. Meals were great. Management and staff were
100% and their service will be reflected in a letter to Marriott. Although this hotel did not have an
airport shuttle, they went out of their way to assist to the point of paying for taxi’s to and from the
airport at their own expense.
Special Thank You
Special thank you to all who brought door prizes and snacks. You are most generous.
Historian
Once again we were able to display the photo boards and other artifacts. They are an important
part of our History and will be at future reunions. They were not displayed in 2008 as Historian
Elliott Becker had family members from Europe come for a vacation with short notice. We do have
a member who has a moving company and has offered to move the displays to and from the
Becker’s home, but this was such short notice it could not have been done and would have been
unfair to that member.
The G.I. Teddy Bears were again a big hit and tickets were sold for a raffle. Five bears were
offered and the ticket sale made $242.00 for the Association. Thank you all, and congrats to the
winners.
Chaplin
In a recent letter from Frank DeRosa he has sadly resigned as our Association Chaplin due to
family health problems and travel to the reunions.
When this Association came into being it was an awesome task for Art and Gerda Sherokow to get
things organized and up and running.
In stepped Frank and Dolly, who have served this Association with honor, dedication, love and a
great deal of very hard work. Together with Art and Gerda they forged this Association into what it
is today.
Frank and Dolly together have served as Historian, Chaplin, Reunion Planners, Administrator,
Secretary/Treasurer and as our Chaplin again. Their positions were completed with great
dedication and love for a battalion Frank served in, and repeated itself in his love for the
Association and everyone he made contact with.
No words I can ever say, can thank these great folks for all they have done. Liz and I can try and
fill their shoes but it is an awesome tasks. We can only try our best, and in the words of a Sinatra
song, “Do It Our Way”.
Thank you both, Frank and Dolly. I’m sure I echo the thoughts and prayers of all our members
when I say that.
Joe Frazier has volunteered to be our Chaplin and should he not be able to attend the reunions,
Bill Hampton will fill in. I thank them both for their dedication.
Supplies
We have ample supplies in stock and will not need to reorder any items for a while. Sales went well
at the reunion.
Reunion Locations
A motion to have a permanent reunion location was discussed at a previous business meeting, and
was voted down in favor of rotating locations throughout the U.S. I see no reason to reopen this
subject.
We try our best to rotate reunions, giving everyone an equal chance to attend. I know there are
health concerns with members and I wish a reunion were closer to accommodate them. There are
others that have money concerns and can’t attend. Where does it end? We cannot make
everyone happy. If a member really wants to attend they will make the effort.
2010 Reunion, ATLANTA
This location was suggested and voted on and approved at the 2008 business meeting. We have
many members in the Georgia, Florida, Texas areas and attending members (2008) after
discussion, were enthusiastic about attracting people from that area.
With that in mind we left Louisville and traveled to Atlanta in what has been described as the worst
rainstorm in many years. Severe flooding occurred and I can tell you all it was a scary time.
We did onsite inspections of three Marriotts, one of which we dismissed immediately as too
expensive and not willing to compromise. The remaining two are first class, and meet all our needs
and proposals. We are still in discussions with both hotels in determining a good contract. That
still needs more detailed discussions as the “sample contracts” had left out pertinent details that
had been discussed in person but not written into the contracts. I’m sure this will work out as they
really want us. Room rate offered was $89.00 including a full breakfast. The dates will be
September 22 to 26.
The hotel we stayed at was very good as are the rooms and food. Service was first class, typical
Marriott.
Shuttle service is available to and from the airport, with a fast turnaround. Service from the airport
to downtown by local service is inexpensive, affordable for those who wish to visit other places or
shopping.
More details later, after we decide.
The second hotel is still under construction and we were assured it would be finished in time.
However, we are a little nervous about this one. New staff, untried food service, etc. We don’t
need complications. We will see!
That is why Onsite Inspections in my opinion is the way to go and important. In the early years we
depended on members and their word that areas and hotels met our needs. That did not work out
and is why On Sites were adopted by Frank DeRosa. I cannot imagine any hotel manager
downgrading his or her hotel, no matter the chain, when on the phone regarding a proposal.
Locations are also important and bear looking over. We don’t want or need “bad” or industrial
sites. Security for our attending members is important.
Tours
We have some tours in mind that do not involve very much walking. One is the Cyclorama Theater
involving a 15 minute film and a 40 minute visual view of the Battle of Atlanta in a rotating diorama.
It is a Must See.
The other is a Dinner Theater, Comedy Mystery, with attendee’s participation. (Another Must
See). The owners will put on a private show and meal if we have a good turnout anticipated before
the reunion date. I hope that happens, as it would be an unique experience.
More details later.
Great Team
Thank you Ann and Ray Wenzel, Elliott and Irma Becker and Liz for all the hard work that made this
and other reunions a pleasure to attend.
Donations
This will be covered in the business meeting section, however, I would personally like to thank
Commander Bobby Huggins and all the dedicated people in his area for making our Disabled Vets
more comfortable plus the other agencies within his area he does so much for.
Our campaign to get members to donate new unopened soaps, etc they sometimes collect while
traveling, was a great success. Bobby was presented with a large bag of various items for those
homeless Vets who are not in a position to buy these items. THANK YOU all for your generosity.
Please continue to save these items.
We received an email from two members of the 793rd, Fourth Germany 66-68 Co A, 793rd. They
requested that I post their intention to have a mini-reunion in Las Vegas, May 1st, 2010. Any
793rd members that served at that time and with Co A are requested to contact them for more
information. Rick Ruiz, phone 626-793-9324 email rr1515@aol.com- address 1827 San Pasqual
Street, Pasadena, Ca. 91107 or Richard Tyler, email dsrdt@yahoo.com. We hope that perhaps
they and other members will consider joining this association sometime in the future.
Thank you all for your attendance. Now it’s on to Atlanta which I’m confident will be another
success and we hope well attended. I urge all our members in that are to come together and make
this a special time.
Our very best to all those members that could not attend due to ill health. We wish you a speedy
recovery. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Best Regards to all.
Richard and Liz Kealy
Another reunion has come and gone and if comments from attending members mean anything
(and they DO) it was a great reunion. Liz and I could not have been more pleased with all the
“Thank You’s”, and great comments you made. You made our day.
Although the attendance was about the same as last year, they were an enthusiastic group, made
even better with new members. We are encouraged. A warm welcome to two new members and
spouses. One couple from nearby Kentucky, William and Mary Bland. The other couple Wilburn
and Trudy Gibson from Indiana. This member had been the best man at Dennis and Ursula Ellis’s
wedding. This was the first time together again after over 40 years. This is what it is all about folks.
The Louisville Marriott was first class and, for a hotel that stepped in at the last minute, did a great
job. Staff was great meeting our every need. Our contact person and catering manager was
always there for us. Rooms were large and clean. Meals were great. Management and staff were
100% and their service will be reflected in a letter to Marriott. Although this hotel did not have an
airport shuttle, they went out of their way to assist to the point of paying for taxi’s to and from the
airport at their own expense.
Special Thank You
Special thank you to all who brought door prizes and snacks. You are most generous.
Historian
Once again we were able to display the photo boards and other artifacts. They are an important
part of our History and will be at future reunions. They were not displayed in 2008 as Historian
Elliott Becker had family members from Europe come for a vacation with short notice. We do have
a member who has a moving company and has offered to move the displays to and from the
Becker’s home, but this was such short notice it could not have been done and would have been
unfair to that member.
The G.I. Teddy Bears were again a big hit and tickets were sold for a raffle. Five bears were
offered and the ticket sale made $242.00 for the Association. Thank you all, and congrats to the
winners.
Chaplin
In a recent letter from Frank DeRosa he has sadly resigned as our Association Chaplin due to
family health problems and travel to the reunions.
When this Association came into being it was an awesome task for Art and Gerda Sherokow to get
things organized and up and running.
In stepped Frank and Dolly, who have served this Association with honor, dedication, love and a
great deal of very hard work. Together with Art and Gerda they forged this Association into what it
is today.
Frank and Dolly together have served as Historian, Chaplin, Reunion Planners, Administrator,
Secretary/Treasurer and as our Chaplin again. Their positions were completed with great
dedication and love for a battalion Frank served in, and repeated itself in his love for the
Association and everyone he made contact with.
No words I can ever say, can thank these great folks for all they have done. Liz and I can try and
fill their shoes but it is an awesome tasks. We can only try our best, and in the words of a Sinatra
song, “Do It Our Way”.
Thank you both, Frank and Dolly. I’m sure I echo the thoughts and prayers of all our members
when I say that.
Joe Frazier has volunteered to be our Chaplin and should he not be able to attend the reunions,
Bill Hampton will fill in. I thank them both for their dedication.
Supplies
We have ample supplies in stock and will not need to reorder any items for a while. Sales went well
at the reunion.
Reunion Locations
A motion to have a permanent reunion location was discussed at a previous business meeting, and
was voted down in favor of rotating locations throughout the U.S. I see no reason to reopen this
subject.
We try our best to rotate reunions, giving everyone an equal chance to attend. I know there are
health concerns with members and I wish a reunion were closer to accommodate them. There are
others that have money concerns and can’t attend. Where does it end? We cannot make
everyone happy. If a member really wants to attend they will make the effort.
2010 Reunion, ATLANTA
This location was suggested and voted on and approved at the 2008 business meeting. We have
many members in the Georgia, Florida, Texas areas and attending members (2008) after
discussion, were enthusiastic about attracting people from that area.
With that in mind we left Louisville and traveled to Atlanta in what has been described as the worst
rainstorm in many years. Severe flooding occurred and I can tell you all it was a scary time.
We did onsite inspections of three Marriotts, one of which we dismissed immediately as too
expensive and not willing to compromise. The remaining two are first class, and meet all our needs
and proposals. We are still in discussions with both hotels in determining a good contract. That
still needs more detailed discussions as the “sample contracts” had left out pertinent details that
had been discussed in person but not written into the contracts. I’m sure this will work out as they
really want us. Room rate offered was $89.00 including a full breakfast. The dates will be
September 22 to 26.
The hotel we stayed at was very good as are the rooms and food. Service was first class, typical
Marriott.
Shuttle service is available to and from the airport, with a fast turnaround. Service from the airport
to downtown by local service is inexpensive, affordable for those who wish to visit other places or
shopping.
More details later, after we decide.
The second hotel is still under construction and we were assured it would be finished in time.
However, we are a little nervous about this one. New staff, untried food service, etc. We don’t
need complications. We will see!
That is why Onsite Inspections in my opinion is the way to go and important. In the early years we
depended on members and their word that areas and hotels met our needs. That did not work out
and is why On Sites were adopted by Frank DeRosa. I cannot imagine any hotel manager
downgrading his or her hotel, no matter the chain, when on the phone regarding a proposal.
Locations are also important and bear looking over. We don’t want or need “bad” or industrial
sites. Security for our attending members is important.
Tours
We have some tours in mind that do not involve very much walking. One is the Cyclorama Theater
involving a 15 minute film and a 40 minute visual view of the Battle of Atlanta in a rotating diorama.
It is a Must See.
The other is a Dinner Theater, Comedy Mystery, with attendee’s participation. (Another Must
See). The owners will put on a private show and meal if we have a good turnout anticipated before
the reunion date. I hope that happens, as it would be an unique experience.
More details later.
Great Team
Thank you Ann and Ray Wenzel, Elliott and Irma Becker and Liz for all the hard work that made this
and other reunions a pleasure to attend.
Donations
This will be covered in the business meeting section, however, I would personally like to thank
Commander Bobby Huggins and all the dedicated people in his area for making our Disabled Vets
more comfortable plus the other agencies within his area he does so much for.
Our campaign to get members to donate new unopened soaps, etc they sometimes collect while
traveling, was a great success. Bobby was presented with a large bag of various items for those
homeless Vets who are not in a position to buy these items. THANK YOU all for your generosity.
Please continue to save these items.
We received an email from two members of the 793rd, Fourth Germany 66-68 Co A, 793rd. They
requested that I post their intention to have a mini-reunion in Las Vegas, May 1st, 2010. Any
793rd members that served at that time and with Co A are requested to contact them for more
information. Rick Ruiz, phone 626-793-9324 email rr1515@aol.com- address 1827 San Pasqual
Street, Pasadena, Ca. 91107 or Richard Tyler, email dsrdt@yahoo.com. We hope that perhaps
they and other members will consider joining this association sometime in the future.
Thank you all for your attendance. Now it’s on to Atlanta which I’m confident will be another
success and we hope well attended. I urge all our members in that are to come together and make
this a special time.
Our very best to all those members that could not attend due to ill health. We wish you a speedy
recovery. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Best Regards to all.
Richard and Liz Kealy