United States Army Infantry Officer Candidate School
Class 14-67; 52nd Company
40th Anniversary Reunion and
Memorial Re-Dedication Ceremony
Columbus, GA and Ft. Benning, GA
6 - 8 March 2007

After Action Report
27 March 2007

For the better part of three days from March 6th to March 8th, 35 of our classmates and one Tac Officer gathered in Columbus, Georgia for a special 40th anniversary mini-reunion to share memories, update each other on activities since seeing each other last, and honor our fallen brothers. This was the fourth time since being commissioned on March 7, 1967 we've reunited and the sessions are improving each time. Especially noteworthy this time, were the eight classmates participating in their very first reunion and the nine who continue to have a perfect attendance record. (We trust you'll all be back for more!) We were also accompanied by 16 wives (including Patty Longgrear), 2 grown children, and 3 very special guests – Claudia Jackson (widow of Bill Zimmerman [6th Platoon] – KIA in Vietnam) and Nora Ordway (cousin of Billy Ordway [5th Platoon] – KIA in Vietnam) with her husband, Tom Theurer. Welcome back Claudia (for the third time) and a fresh new “welcome to our family” to Nora and Tom.

We are continuing to expand the involvement of family of our brothers who were killed in action and it is ever so gratifying. Over our first four reunions we've been honored to be with:

----	Nancy Trick	-	widow of Omar Jones	(3rd Platoon)
----	Brent Trick	-	son of Omar Jones	(3rd Platoon)
----	Mary Lazaro	-	sister of Bobby Lazaro	(4th Platoon)
----	Nora Ordway	-	cousin of Billy Ordway	(5th Platoon)
----	Claudia Zimmerman	-	widow of Bill Zimmerman	(6th Platoon)
----	Chuck Zimmerman	-	brother of Bill Zimmerman	(6th Platoon)

Thanks to all of you for being a part of our family.

We used the Columbus Marriott Hotel (formerly the Hilton at the time of our first reunion in March 2002) as the “Tactical Operations Center” for all our activities. We again employed a Hospitality Suite for our “Firebase” and it was filled with wonderful discussion, quite a few hugs, many smiles and yes, several tears as well. There was lots of heavy-duty storytelling – washed down with soft drinks and beer made available in our “field expedient” cooler, better known as the bath tub. Plenty of memorabilia were also available, from Class Books, to a Biography Book telling “all” about our found classmates (at least those who have submitted “bios” for publication - if you wish to submit your bio, send it to Bob Usher) for the last 40 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; even John Shaeffer (6th Platoon) reminded us of our “glory days” when he hung his original green dress uniform on the TV cabinet for all to see. (John insisted he could still fit into it – no bets were taken!).

Name tags with our original Class Book pictures were provided by Bob Usher's wife, Jean, and special order hats were also procured by Bob Usher (6th Platoon) and picked up at the supplier and driven all the way to Columbus from Jacksonville, Florida by Leon Ooton (5th Platoon). A real hit was the 52nd Company “Challenge Coin” which was designed by Bob Usher, purchased from our treasury and provided to each attending graduate. Coins will be mailed to every living classmate not attending – and for those who have passed on – to their oldest child or widow or closest relative we can locate.

After the idea of Army buses or charter buses for transport from the Marriott to Ft. Benning on March 7th fell through at the 11th hour, we began our formal program by car-pooling to Ft. Benning using our own vehicles. This was a real “follow me” exercise and proved once again that when everything else went “SNAFU” around us, the Infantry came to the rescue.

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

We began with coffee and donuts set up by the 3/11th Infantry Regiment in Wigle Hall, now the OCS Hall of Fame. Our classmates Preston Funkhouser (2nd Platoon), Jules Lloyd (4th Platoon) and Rick White (6th Platoon) are honored there for their distinguished Army careers. And how about this everyone -- in an induction ceremony on March 30th of this year, Paul Longgrear (3rd Platoon Tac Officer) will join the ranks of the OCS Hall of Fame. We send our most sincere congratulations to Paul and Patty on this achievement – a fitting tribute to a spectacular military career.

Remember back to 2002, only 5 short years ago when our plaque was designed by Wayne Glover, Brian Smith, Bob Usher and Rick White. Fabrication was commissioned and supervised by Bob Usher in Alabama, and paid for by the contributions of the majority of our fellow classmates. Yes, it belongs to all of us, as well as to those whose names are there inscribed and to their families near and far.

And the main purpose of this “mini-reunion” was, on the occasion of our 40th anniversary of being commissioned, to re-dedicate our class plaque in honor of our 10 classmates and 2 Tactical Officers who were killed in action in Vietnam. The official ceremony began at 9:30am – the exact time on March 7, 1967 we took the oath of office as “officers and gentlemen.” The “colors” were posted to the rear of our plaque and our 52nd Company guidon stood tall on the left flank.

The invocation was provided by George Hunsaker (3rd Platoon) followed by a stirring commentary by Bob Holt (3rd Platoon). Very poignant and personal remarks were also made by Paul Longgrear, LTC Curtis Carson (CO of the 3/11th Infantry Regiment) and one of the current OCS candidates.

Bob Usher then formally re-dedicated our class plaque by reading the names of each of our classmates and two Tac Officers who were killed in action in Vietnam. Upon completion of the re-dedication, each of the names and dates of death of all of our deceased classmates were read one by one by individual platoon member volunteers.

At the conclusion of the reading, TAPs was played in the background by a lone bugler. At that time, each of the attendees placed a singe red rose on the plaque as we remembered our brothers in our own way. We were joined in the rose laying ceremony by a full platoon of OCS candidates in recognition of those who went before them and made the ultimate sacrifice. This extraordinary re-dedication came to a close with a Benediction by Paul Longgrear (3rd Platoon).

Additional guests at our ceremony were, as noted above, LTC Curtis Carson (3/11th Regimental Commander) and MAJ Alvin Brown (3/11th Regimental S-3). Each was presented one of our class hats and challenge coins as mementos of March 7, 2007. Thanks to all of the current cadre for helping us to make it happen.

One of the most heartwarming scenes was the dozen plus plaques that have been installed since we placed the 1st one there in 2002. It's good for all to remember the sacrifice of those who have passed through those gates.

After the ceremony, several of our classmates and their wives made a tour of our old barracks – heavens, no spit shined floors, air conditioning in the dropped ceiling and girls in the barracks!!! Several tried to demonstrate how we swung from the transom above the door to the bunk to get to our lockers without walking on the spit shined floors. All are recovering nicely at the Ft. Benning hospital.

Everyone joined up again for lunch at the Officers' Club where our guests included LTC Carson and his wife, MAJ Brown, his wife and their newborn baby.

Upon returning to the hotel and spending more time at the Hospitality Suite, about 30 of us got together and drove to Hunter's Pub in Hamilton, Georgia, north of Columbus, for steaks and other good tings to eat. More important than the food, however, was the spontaneity of this meal which was sparked by our camaraderie and the suggestion of Paul Longgrear. Afterwards, more time at the hospitality suite capped off the evening.

Many of us concluded our mini-reunion on Thursday, March 8th, with breakfast at the hotel and good-byes in the hotel lobby and parking lots.

As you all know, we've accounted for 167 of the 169 graduates of our class and all the Company Cadre. This leaves only 2 graduates still to be accounted for (Ed O'Brien and John O'Connor – both 5th Platoon). We plan to continue the search until the whereabouts of the last man is known. This is nothing more than following in the spirit of our class motto --- “52nd, Never Second, Sir!”

Any assistance locating these two lost brothers and any of the other classmates we located but have since become “lost again” would be greatly appreciated. Expect to hear more from Bob Usher on this matter.

Carey Boyles (1st Platoon) has promised to post the best pictures and this After-Action Report on our class web site at: http://www.tele-onecom.com/ocs/. Thanks, Carey, for keeping up with this labor of love.

And special thanks to everyone for the transportation cost contributions, the coin contributions and other general contributions to the class treasury. They keep our organization strong and prepared to pay for any up-front costs associated with our reunions or any other activities/costs.

The next reunion is scheduled for 6-8 March 2009 again at Ft. Benning, Georgia. We are hoping for a record busting crown at that affair. As time goes on, less and less brothers will be around for these gatherings. It behooves each of us to reunite while we can.

The final financial figures are almost completed and our treasury is in good shape. One the last remaining expenses are paid we will provide all class members with a full accounting of the funds received, expended and still remaining.

We had a three way tie for honor platoon (most attendees) this reunion between the 1st, 2nd and 5th platoons.

Respectfully submitted:

Bob Holt	Brian Smith	Bob Usher
Acting CO	Treasurer	Acting XO & 1SG

*************************************************************************** Those attending the 2007 Reunion of Infantry OCS Class 14-67 (52nd Company) in Columbus, Georgia were as follows (first time reunion attendees are noted in “blue”):

First Platoon
Ray and Kudie Able	----	Van Wert, Ohio
Tom and Deborah Bell	----	Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Paul and Carol Biesemeier	----	Austin, Texas
Terry Boettner	----	Crofton, Maryland
Carey and Sandy Boyles	----	Tyler, Texas
Ellis Brown	----	Oakland, California
Doug and Mary Bulthaus	----	St. Anthony, Minnesota
Second Platoon
Werner (“Turk”) Chamberlain	----	Basye, Virginia
Hector Colon	----	Moline, Illinois
Mike Day	----	Evans, Georgia
Bob DeGrass	----	Swampscott, Massachusetts
Wayland Denton	----	Concord, North Carolina
Jeff Fleuren	----	Southbury, Connecticut
Pres Funkhouser	----	Kooskia, Idaho
Third Platoon
Farrel and Sheryl Hobbs	----	Westminster, Colorado
Bob Holt	----	Georgetown, Texas
Dave Huebner	----	Lauderdale by the Sea, Florida
George and Karen Hunsaker	----	Lakeville, Minnesota
Paul and Patty Longgrear (Tac)	----	Pine Mountain, Georgia
Fourth Platoon
Jerry Latta	----	Columbus, Georgia
Howard LeFebore	----	Hollywood, Florida
Jim and Barbara Lemmond	----	Gretna, Louisiana
Vic and Thai Martine	----	Pensacola, Florida
Fifth Platoon
Tom Medina	----	Buda, Texas
Mike Murray	----	Manlius, New York
Jim O'Leary	----	Austin, Texas
Leon and Diane Ooton	----	Jacksonville, Florida
Ralph and Ines Perez	----	San Juan, Puerto Rico
Dean Plager	----	Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Allen Reid	----	Loma, Colorado
Sixth Platoon
John and Fran Shaeffer	----	Hartville, Ohio
Brian Smith	----	Santa Barbara, California
Ed Stephens	----	Lumberton, North Carolina
Bob and Jean Usher	----	Lacey's Spring, Alabama
Rick White	----	Alpharetta, Georgia
Pat and Kathy Wing	----	Ft. Wayne, Indiana
Relatives and Friends
Gretchen Bulthaus (daughter of Doug Bulthaus)	----	St. Anthony, Minnesota
Hilma Denucci (guest of Bob DeGrass)	----	Swampscott, Massachusetts
Claudia Jackson (widow of Bill Zimmerman)	----	Atlanta, Georgia
Nora Ordway (cousin of Billy Ordway)	----	Kennebunk, Maine
Sean Smith (son of Brian Smith)	----	Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Tom Theurer (husband of Nora Ordway)	----	Kennebunk, Maine