VOLUME XIII September 2011 Issue 3
AIRBORNE – AIRMOBILE – AIR ASSAULT
The Banshee Gazette is the Official Publication of B Troop 2nd 17th Cavalry Regiment Association
Presidents Message
by David Martin
As you can see by the newsletter we have been busy getting items for the Supply Room and planning next years Reunion.
All items from the Banshee Supply Room will be available for shipment no later than November 1, 2011. If we do not have items that you want let me know your wants and we will see if we can make it happen!
Jinger and I were in Branson on August 15 til the 18th for the Annual Military Reunion Planners Conference. Branson is very Military Friendly, as most of you know they go out of their way to show appreciation to Veterans.
We have not picked out our Official Hotel yet but that should be completed in the next month. You can read more about the Reunion further in the Gazette. We have picked out shows for our Official dates and Transportation will be provided for these events. If you missed Branson last time we were there…you do not want to miss this.
Vice Presidents Challenge
by Larry Allen
The one thing that I would like to see would be more B Troopers at our next Reunion in Branson. There are still a lot of our people out there that need to be contacted. So my concern is, if everyone of us could just come up with one more person that we can find, we would double our Membership. I’m asking everyone of us to bring at least one more person to Branson. We have a whole year to get this right!
BRANSON SEPTEMBER 2012
YA’LL COME !
2012 Reunion…Branson, MO
Our 2012 Reunion will be held in Branson, Missouri…September 6-8, 2012
We will have activities going on beginning September 5th and ending on the 11th. We are doing this because of the many activities available in Branson.
Show’s that we will be seeing are; #1 Hit’s of the 60’s, PRESLEY’S Country Jubilee, Dixie Stampede, and The Clay Cooper Show. These shows were picked because of their commitment to honoring Veterans…you will be impressed and surprised at the presentation we will receive from these shows. This is NOT TO BE MISSED!
On the 5,6,9, & 10th we will arrange activities based on how many people we have joining us for those days. Jinger and I will be in Branson at least 10 days for this Reunion. We have arrangements in place for group pricing when we have over 10 people at most attractions in the area.
When I know how many are going to be there I will let you know what our options for each day will be.
It is very important for you to get signed up early for the Reunion…we will have a cut-off date and if you are not signed up you will not be Guaranteed hotel, transportation nor show tickets.
As soon as we have a Hotel picked out I will put the Reunion information out via the Website.
USAA
All veterans are now eligible for membership in USAA !
This is new and you could save substantially on Insurance for your needs.
They have great rates on internet savings!
B Troop Supply Room
We have 1” Hard Enamel Hat Pins for B Troop Guidon, Banshee Patch, Scout Patch, Bush Gangsters, and 333rd TC Detachment.
We have patches for the Association, Banshee, Scouts, Bush Gangsters, and 333rd TC Detachment.
We also have numerous other items that you might be interested in.
If you need a copy of the Supply Room Brochure e-mail me at
Banshee694@yahoo.com and I will get one to you.
Sale Prices are good for orders thru October 15th so make sure and get your order placed if you want anything.
Some items are limited to the stock on hand so please check with Dave Martin before sending Randy a check. Dave will also let you know the postage costs.
All items will be available at future Reunions.
New Bush Gangster Patch Available
Challenge Coin Competition
Tom Hughes’s design was chosen as our new Association Challenge Coin.
We had his and mine submission so I bowed out because I liked his design better with minor changes.
Thanks to Dan Schave for his assistance with help Tom with the design. Tom and Dan will receive a FREE Challenge Coin for the efforts. Thanks guys for a job well done!
Here is what the coin will look like
Association Challenge Coins are available thru the Banshee Supply Room.
Doc’s Silence
By David C. Martin
SILENCE…THE SUN IS RISING…A REFLECTION UPON THE BLACK GRANITE WALL. MY EYES ARE IMMOVABLE FROM THE NAME JOSEPH LAPOINTE JR., ONLY ONE OF 58,182 PRESENT. HIS NAME SPEAKS LOUDLY OF A STORY THAT TOOK PLACE IN A DIFFERENT TIME AND PLACE. AS THE VISITORS WALK PAST, MANY IN AWE, MANY HEAR STORIES CONSTRAINED BY THEIR KNOWLEDGE. MANY DO NOT HEAR YOUNG JOSEPH SPEAK…FOR NOT ALL KNOW HIM. HOWEVER, JOSEPH’S IS A BITTERSWEET STORY.
JOSEPH’S STORY IS NOT SO DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS GATHERED THIS MORNING. HIS CONCERN FOR HIS FELLOW MAN PARAMOUNT IN HIS BELIEFS. HE WOULD EVEN SACRIFICE HIS LIFE FOR HIS FELLOW MAN…IF NECESSARY. HE HAS BECOME AN AID TO THOSE IN PAIN. MENDING THEIR WOUNDS AND COMFORTING THEM IN THEIR TIME OF NEED. HIS FOLLOWERS INCLUDE THE CHILDREN OF THE VILLAGE WHO HAVE COME TO KNOW HIS COMPASSION. IT IS FOR THESE DEEDS HIS STORY REMAINS TO THIS VERY DAY.
YOU SEE…JOSEPH WAS A CONSCIENCENTIOUS OBJECTOR OF THE VIETNAM WAR IN 1968. HE WAS DRAFTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND CHOSE TO SERVE QUIETLY INSTEAD OF PROTESTING. WHEN THE ARMY TOLD JOSEPH TO TAKE UP ARMS AGAINST OUR ENEMY, JOSEPH SAID. “I WILL NOT.” WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A SOLDIER WHO WILL NOT BEAR ARMS? THE ARMY MADE HIM A MEDIC, WHICH IS WHERE JOSEPH GAINED HIS NICKNAM “DOC.”
ON JUNE 2, 1969, DOC WAS TENDING TO COUNTLESS COMRADES WHO HAD BEEN WOUNDED, WHILE IGNORING HIS OWN WOUNDS. DOC’S COMPASSION FOR HELPING HIS FELLOW MAN WAS PARAMOUNT IN HIS MIND. HE CONTINUED TO HELP THOSE AROUND HIM UNTIL…THE END.
DOC’S PASSING AT AGE TWENTY LEFT A WIDOW AND NEWBORN SON. HE WAS AWARDED OUR NATION’S HIGHEST MILITARY HONOR, THE CONGESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. SPEAKING FROM THE WALL, DOC’S SILENCE TODAY AS IN 1969 DOES NOT ENCOURAGE ACCEPTANCE OF THE VIETNAM WAR…INSTEAD COMPASSION FOR ALL.
New Association Patch
If you would like to have anything included in the Banshee Gazette please send it to Dave Martin at
Banshee694@yahoo.com.
We are always in need of items of interest to the Association.
Where to send things:
Dues, Endowment Fund Donations and Reunion Registration Fees (any monies)
Randy Kunkleman
2395 N. Conant Road
Elida, OH 45807
419-339-3984
kunkleman@hotmail.com ADDRESS / TELEPHONE / E-MAIL CHANGES / SUPPLY ROOM ORDERS
David Martin
3018 Hickory Glen Drive
Orange Park, FL 32065
904-505-4218
Banshee694@yahoo.com
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