2002 After Action Report



For three days from March 7th through midday on Sunday, March 10th , 48 of our classmates, 32 wives, 2 grown children and one Tac Officer and his wife gathered in Columbus, Georgia to share memories, update each other on the activities in our lives since 1967 and honor our fallen brothers. This was the first time since being commissioned on March 7, 1967 that most of the group had seen each other. And we traveled from 28 states, the District of Columbia and one foreign country (Bosnia) to do it.

We used the Columbus Hilton Hotel as the "Tactical Operations Center" for all our activities. The Hospitality Suite there was our "Firebase" for the weekend. It was a place where anyone could stop by at any time (and did—the room was open until 3am Friday night). There was lots of chatting and soft drinks and beer were provided in the "field expedient" ice chest, better known as the bath tub. Lots of memorabilia were available, from Class Books, to Data Books on our "found" classmates, to a Biography Book telling "all" about our found classmates for the last 35 years, to a special book honoring all of our KIAs. The walls were filled with pictures from upended barracks' rooms to spit-shined floors to the programs from our Blue Day Ball and Graduation Day.

Name tags with our original Class Book pictures and Welcome Packages were provided by Judy and Jerry Harmon (3rd Platoon) and Sandy and Dave Harmon (3rd Platoon). We also had special order golf shirts and hats which included the OCS logo and our motto, "52nd, Never Second."

The weekend began when, immediately after "checking in" at the hotel, most headed for the Hospitality Suite. For almost all, 35 years apart made it a little challenging to recognize each other. ( Wayne Glover [3 rd Platoon] was betting everyone who came into the room that they could not guess who he was - - most could not.) That obstacle lasted all of about 10 seconds until the hugs and tears washed away the many years and we were back together again.

After many got together for breakfast on our first full day (Friday, March 8 th ), we began our formal program when the order of business had everyone board chartered buses to head to Ft. Benning.

Our first stop was a visit to Infantry Hall, better known as Building 4 (how could you forget where we had interminable classes and we also had our official Graduation Ceremony and "pinning of our bars") for an outstanding briefing by COL Jose Torres (considered the current "Mayor of Ft. Benning") on the Infantry School and Ft. Benning as it is today. Prior to the briefing we all had time for plenty of photo opportunities in front of the "Follow Me" statue.

We then walked over to the old 5 th Battalion area, now part of what is called the 3 rd Battalion of the 11 th Infantry Regiment, which is responsible for OCS. Today OCS at Ft. Benning is what is known as "Branch Immaterial" --- candidates now attend for about 14 weeks to learn the basics of being an Officer and then ship out to individual "branch" training schools.

Several of our classmates and their wives made a quick tour of our old barracks, now housing an NCO school, and also of Wigle Hall, now the OCS Hall of Fame where Preston Funkhouser (2nd Platoon) and Rick White (6 th Platoon) are honored for their distinguished Army careers. Remember Wigle Hall? It was the small building where we all took the oath as new Second Lieutenants on March 7, 1967 and upon exiting were required by tradition to pay one dollar to the first enlisted man who saluted. How could we ever forget 1SG Cochran squeezing in so close to the door that no one else was going to get in the way of his $169 that morning.

This time, 35 years later, we met again to honor our 10 classmates and 2 Tactical Officers who were killed in action in Vietnam. The official dedication ceremony began at 4:00pm when a Color Guard of today's OCS candidates posted the colors behind the podium. The invocation was made by George Hunsaker (3rd Platoon) , who reminded us that life is made up of many "choices" and"chances" and that each played important roles in the events that shaped this day. Claudia Jackson of Atlanta, widow of Bill Zimmerman (6th Platoon); Mary Lazaro of Mantua, New Jersey, sister of Bobby Lazaro (4 th Platoon); and Tim Peters, combat comrade in the same Infantry Company with Bill Bray (1 st Platoon) and Bobby Lazaro the day they were killed, were introduced. Wayne Glover, Bob Usher (6 th Platoon); Rick White; and Brian Smith (6 th Platoon) then added their personal remarks about those being honored. The moving memorial climaxed when Claudia Jackson and Mary Lazaro unveiled the granite stone affixed with a bronze plaque engraved with the name and date of death of each of our fallen brothers. (The "plaque" was designed by Wayne Glover, Brian Smith, Bob Usher and Rick White, commissioned by Bob Usher, manufactured in Alabama, and paid for by the contributions of the majority of our fellow classmates.) And while each of the names, home towns, dates of birth and death of our fallen brothers were read, TAPs was played in the background by a lone bugler. Jean Usher (wife of Bob and our former Company Secretary, known then as Jean Fox) then led the group in an emotional singing of "Proud to be An American." This extraordinary dedication came to an end with an eloquent Benediction by Howard Renker (5 th Platoon) . Additional guests at the ceremony were COL Steve Sifers (11 th Regimental Commander), COL Jose Torres, MAJ Rick Crowther (3/11 th XO), CPT Miller (B/3 rd /11 th CDR) and a platoon of current OCS candidates (from B/3 rd /11 th ).

Upon returning to the hotel, several groups got together for early dinners to review the events of the day. Afterwards, a reception at the hotel capped off the evening. And the surprise guests were none other than Paul Longgrear (3 rd Platoon Tactical Officer) and his wife Patty. In the Hospitality Suite following the reception, a large group gathered again to watch the local television coverage of the memorial ceremony, which was shown as the lead story on the 11 o'clock news.

Saturday proved to be a quiet morning with small groups gathering for breakfast and more talk and reminiscing at the Hospitality Suite. In addition, we all had copies of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer newspaper which covered our memorial dedication ceremony and reunion in a first page "above the fold" story.

Just before lunch, 33 people went for a "cruise" on the Chattahoochee enjoying each other's company, the beautiful weather, a barbecue lunch and the scenery up and down the river. This gave a whole new meaning to the song's words – "Far Across the Chattahoochee."

Also during the day, some of our classmates got together to play golf at Ft. Benning --- word has it that they also got their money's worth, were able to see the whole course and that the average cost per stroke was quite low. Others took drives to Callaway Gardens; the Civil War village at Andersonville; and President Roosevelt's Little White House at Warm Springs.

Everyone joined up again for dinner at the Officers' Club on Saturday evening which was nothing short of spectacular. After our meal we listened intently to a thought provoking as well as humorous speech by our honored guest, COL Robert B. Nett (Ret.), an OCS graduate from 1941 and a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient for heroism in the Philippines during World War II. Additional highlights included unscripted and spontaneous comments by several of our classmates and a presentation of the "Search Engine Medal of Honor" award by Brian Smith to Bob Usher for "finding" the most classmates up to the point of the reunion. (Bob finally admitted that the award should have been presented to his wife, Jean!) Finally, dancing to the music of the 50s, 60s and 70s enlivened the evening, with Pres Funkhouser splitting his pants as he forget it wasn't still 1967!! Dancing took a heavy toll on some of the "old soldiers". Getting old is not for sissies.

Guests at the dinner included COL and Debbie Sifers and MAJ Rick Crowther, who was a tremendous help in our planning and execution of the reunion.

We concluded our weekend with a breakfast at the hotel on Sunday morning when everyone had ample opportunity to say their good-byes, agree to visit and stay in touch with each other and do some planning for an encore reunion. Prior to the breakfast, the graduates held a "Business Meeting" at which it was agreed by those attending that we should—


* * * * *

But how did this all begin? By a sheer coincidence, in October 2000 Bob Usher was surfing the Internet. In looking at a Vietnam Wall web site, he came across a message that was left by his OCS roommate (Brian Smith) on a web page memorializing Bill Zimmerman. One email later and the idea of a reunion was put into motion.

But, out of 169 graduates all they had were addresses, which were 35 years old. Solely using Internet search engines they went to work. One year later and with help from other classmates, they had accounted for 123 of the 169 graduates and 6 of the 8 cadre. As of the writing of this "After-Action Report," they had accounted for 127 of the graduates. Sadly, in addition to our 10 classmates and 2 Tac Officers who gave their lives in Vietnam, we know of another 13 who have died in civilian life. This, of course, still leaves 42 graduates and 2 Tac Officers that have yet to be accounted for. In keeping with one of this country's greatest military traditions to never leave anyone behind, Class 14-67 pledges to continue the search until the whereabouts of the last man is known. This is nothing more but following in the spirit of our class motto --- "52 nd , Never Second, Sir!"

The power of today's technology and the determined spirit of all our classmates has resulted in revitalizing old friendships. These friendships – 35 years old that they may be – will, as our classmates and cadre who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, never be forgotten.

And so that we would never forget this awesome experience, Tom Vassar (5 th Platoon) has put together a Compact Disc of hundreds of still photos and Mike Murray (5 th Platoon) videotaped all of the key events of the weekend and has combined them all on a Video Cassette.




Those attending the 2002 Reunion of Infantry OCS Class 14-67 (52 nd Company) in Columbus, Georgia were as follows.







First Platoon
Ray and Kudie Able - Van Wert, Ohio
Pat and Gwen Adams - Nashville, Tennessee
Paul and Carol Biesemeier - Austin, Texas
Terry and Donna Boettner - Crofton, Maryland
Rick and Sheila Brame - North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Ervin and Kathy Bridges - Pisgah Forest, North Carolina
Mike and Cindy Briggs - West Lafayette, Indiana
Doug Bulthaus - St. Anthony, Minnesota

Second Platoon
Chuck Bowens - Washington, D.C.
Werner ("Turk") Chamberlain - Basye, Virginia
Hector and Margaret Colon - Moline, Illinois
Wayland and Kay Denton - Concord, North Carolina
Pres and Charlene Funkhouser - Cascade, Idaho

Third Platoon
Paul and Patty Longgrear (Tac) - Midland, Georgia
Wayne Glover - Clinton, Utah
Henry and Betty Gold - Lipan, Texas
Dave and Sandy Harmon - Stockton, California
Gerry and Judy Harmon - Clovis, California
Dawson Heck - Woodbridge, Virginia
Ted Hoey - London, Ohio
Bob and Margarite Holt - Georgetown, Texas
George and Karen Hunsaker - Indianapolis, Indiana
Ralph Italia - Sierra Vista, Arizona

Fourth Platoon
Walt Kazor - Bellevue, Washington
Dan and Bette Kellogg - N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
John and Andrea Lakian - New York, New York
Jerry and Yvonne Latta - Columbus, Georgia
Jim and Barbara Lemmond - Gretna, Louisiana
Jules and Nadine Lloyd - Southington, Connecticut
Don and Terry Magness - Bois D'Arc, Missouri
Ted and Gail Mathis - Harrison, Michigan

Fifth Platoon
Ed Mazurek - Carlsbad, California
Mike Murray - Manlius, New York
Dean Plager - Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Joe and Louise Porter - Lakewood, New Jersey
Charlie and Darlys Preslar - Fenton, Missouri
Allen Reid - Loma, Colorado
Howard and Linda Renker - Southington, Connecticut
Tom and Lynn Vassar - Glen Ridge, New Jersey

Sixth Platoon
Harry Arend - West Babylon, New York
John and Fran Shaeffer - Hartville, Ohio
Fred and Ann Shannon - Orleans, Massachusetts
Brian and Janet Smith - Boca Raton, Florida
Rick St. John - Las Vegas, Nevada
Bob and Jean Usher - Lacey's Spring, Alabama
Rick and Pamela White - Alpharetta, Georgia
Pat and Kathy Wing - Ft. Wayne, Indiana
Gary Yardley - Dover, Idaho
Paul Zima - Downer's Grove, Illinois

Relatives and Friends
Jennifer Harmon (Gerry's Daughter) - Clovis, California
Claudia Jackson (Zimmerman) - Atlanta, Georgia
Mary Lazaro - Mantua, New Jersey
Aric Lloyd (Jules's Son) - Southington, Connecticut
Tim Peters - Clearwater, Florida