United States Army Infantry Officer Candidate School

Class 14-67 -  52nd Company

47th Anniversary Reunion and

Memorial Re-Dedication Ceremony

Tacoma, WA

19 - 21 September 2014

 

 

AFTER ACTION REPORT

 

 

Over the weekend of Sep 19th to Sep 21th, 9 of our classmates gathered in Tacoma Washington to remember the 47th anniversary of our commissioning and again to honor our fallen brothers.  This was the seventh time since being commissioned on March 7, 1967 that we’ve reunited and this year we had one classmate participating in his very first reunion – John Bohlman (1st Pltn) made his first appearance.  John, recovering from his latest chemotherapy treatment, flew out to be with his brothers at the reunion.  His platoon mates were excited to see him and to sit with him at the banquet Saturday night.  Four of us (Doug Bulthaus, George Hunsaker, Bob Usher and Rick White) continue to have a perfect attendance record.  We were also accompanied by 8 wives, 1 son, 3 daughters, 1 daughter-in-law, 1 grandson and 4 guests.

 

While the numbers were somewhat disappointing this year, we did have a wonderful reunion.  Although small in numbers, the group was very elite.  Carl and his committee (Jim Cline, Bob Glassley, Dave Huebner and Wayne Humphrey)  are to be commended for putting together one of our best reunions.

 

We used the Murano Hotel in Tacoma as the “Tactical Operations Center” for all our activities.  Our Hospitality Suite was filled with great reminiscing, lots of hugs and kisses (for the ladies), many smiles and some tears.  There was much heavy-duty storytelling (sprinkled with some very tall tales) as usual.  Plenty of memorabilia were also available, from the Class Book, to a Biography Book, telling “all” about our found classmates who have submitted “bios” for publication to a book dedicated to all of our KIAs.  Thanks to Jack Hogg (3rd Herd) for providing all the snacks for the Hospitality Suite.  Jack has provided snacks for every reunion we have had to date.

 

Name tags with our original Class Book pictures were again provided by Jean Usher, who deserves much more credit than she receives.  As our former Company clerk – remember Jean Fox? – she continues to keep things on the straight and narrow, (at the direction of CPT Ballou and the TAC's) which as we all know is a massive challenge. 

 

Our official program began Friday morning with a welcome and orientation meeting in the Hospitality Suite by Company Commander Carl Jones.  We had beautiful Northwest weather all weekend (a little chilly Saturday morning) making our excursions even more delightful.  People were free to visit all the local attractions or join the group on a visit to the USN Destroyer Turner Joy.  This is the Navy ship that was there at the very beginning of the Vietnam War (fired the first shots).  From there, it was onto the car ferry for a trip across Puget Sound to Seattle and a tour of the Pike Place Market where they throw salmon, once you buy it, (we saw some of the weirdest people on earth there - they would have made excellent OCS Candidate for LT Longgrear to straighten out).  People were then free to tour downtown Seattle on their own and make it back to Tacoma through murderous rush hour traffic.  Remember the Saigon traffic?  That is nothing compared to Seattle. After returning to Tacoma Carl arranged a tour of Tacoma’s only distillery, the Old Soldier’s Distillery.  This distillery is owned by a couple of Carl’s friends, both retired military and they had just received their license the day of the visit.  Besides making whiskey they are also brewing several flavored liquor drinks and a bottle of their butterscotch whiskey was consumed in the hospitality suite after the tour.


Saturday morning began with a re-dedication of our fallen comrades’ memorial plaque at Fireman's Park in Tacoma.  The ceremony opened with the posting of the colors by the Lincoln High School Army JROTC Color Guard and the Pledge of Allegiance followed by COL (R) Rick White reading the names of our brothers who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam and our other classmates who have passed away in the past 47 years.  All were remembered with reverence and fondness.  It was then off to Mount Rainier.  The ride up to the base and lodge was beautiful.  The northwest rain forest was as thick as the jungles of Vietnam (no snipers though) and then around the last corner, up popped the breathtaking vista of Mr. Rainier.  After lunch in the lodge, some chose a short hike up the mountain trail a little way while others partook in strenuous shopping in the gift shop.  It was then back in the convoy to the Hotel for the banquet.

 

At 6:00 PM, we gathered for cocktails and more reminiscing prior to Northwest Grass Fed Beef Steaks with all the trimmings.  Following dinner, we were treated to a very interesting talk by Mr. Richard Shortridge (MAJ, USAF Ret).  Richard flew close support missions in Vietnam directing Air Force support for our ground operations.  He provided many interesting and funny accounts of some of his missions.  Seems the Air Force did a lot of "Smoking and Joking" just like we did when the opportunity arose.

 

During dinner, we were treated to music provided by a local DJ friend of Carl Jones'.  Carl and Fran and others who still could, rocked out to the sounds of the 50's, 60's and 70's (Good Morning Vietnam Music).  Some stiffness and soreness was reported at the breakfast meeting Sunday morning. 

 

There were lots of photographs taken during the reunion and some will be posted on our OCS website along with the After Action Report (AAR).  The web site was designed and is maintained by brother Carey Boyles.  The web site address is: https://www.tele-onecom.com/ocs_52nd/  You will be advised when the AAR and pictures are uploaded and ready for viewing.  Thanks again Carey.

 

After breakfast Sunday morning, a short business meeting was held..  We elected Bob Usher as the Company Commander and Brian Smith as the Executive Officer for the next reunion which was voted on at the San Antonio Reunion in 2012 to be held at Ft. Benning 6 - 8 March 2017.

 

We concluded our 2014 (47th) reunion after the business meeting and said all our goodbyes in the hotel and parking lot with wonderful memories to take with us on our travels home.

 

Special thanks to those brothers who couldn’t make the Reunion this time around, but who made contributions to the class treasury to help cover expenses. 

 

While the final financial figures are not yet completed awaiting Carl Jones' transfer of all the receipts, records and treasury assets back to our permanent  treasurer, Brian Smith.  Brian has maintained this enormous task since the beginning of our reunions.  Thanks Brian for all you hard work with the money.

A separate email providing a full accounting of the funds received, expended and remaining will be sent out as soon as computed.

 

End Note: Honor Platoon (most attendees) this reunion was a tie between the 3rd Pltn (3rd Herd) and the 6th Pltn (DragonAss)  with 4 participants each.  

 

The next reunion will be our 50th which is a special benchmark of time.  We encourage each and every one of you to make plans now to attend the 50th reunion 6 - 8 March 2017 at Ft Benning (Columbus).

 

We have some special plans in the works to get a really fabulous speaker for the 50th as it will probably be the end of "Formal" reunions with any additional reunions being on a small scale "Come As You Are" gathering.

 

Respectfully submitted:

 

 

 

         

                                                Carl Jones                 Bob Usher                 Brian Smith                                                                           Outgoing                   Incoming                   Incoming                                                                               CO CDR                    CO CDR                    XO & Treasurer       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 REUNION ATTENDEES

Those attending the 2014 Reunion of Infantry OCS Class 14-67 (52nd Company) were as follows (first time reunion attendees are noted in “blue”):

 

First Platoon

Terry & Donna Boettner                                                                              -           Raleigh, NNC

John Bohlman                                                                                             -           Carol Stream, IL

Doug & Mary Bulthaus                                                                               -           St. Anthony, MN

 

Second Platoon

Pres & Charlene Funkhouser                                                                   -           Clearwater, ID

 

Third Platoon

David Huebner                                                                                             -           Lakeville, MN

Wayne & Cheryl Humphrey                                                                       -           Maple Valley, WA

George & Karen Hunsaker                                                                                    -           Lauderdale-

                                                                                                                                    By The Sea, FL

Carl & Fran Jones                                                                                       -           Sumner, WA

 

Fourth Platoon

 

Fifth Platoon

Tom Medina                                                                                                  -           Buda, TX

 

Sixth Platoon

John Shaeffer                                                                                              -           Hartville, Ohio

Bob & Jean Usher                                                                                       -           Lacey’s Spring, AL

Kemper & Mary Winstead                                                                           -           Suffolk, VA

Rick White                                                                                                     -           Johns Creek, GA

 

Relatives and Friends

Shirley Burt                                                                                                   _          Anniston, AL

(Sister-In-Law of Bob Usher)

Gretchen Bulthaus                                                                                      -           St. Anthony, MN

(daughter of Doug & Mary Bulthaus)

Peter Thompson                                                                                          -           Mound, MN

(Guest of Gretchen Bulthaus)

Angela Damato                                                                                            -           Carol Stream, IL

(Daughter of John & Sukhui Bohlman)

Evan Damato                                                                                                -           Carol Stream, IL

(Grandson of John & Sukhui Bohlman)

Neil & Julie Jones                                                                                        -           Tacoma, WA

(Son & Daughter-In-Law of Carl & Fran Jones)

Alyson  Crouch                                                                                             -           Tacoma, WA

(Daughter of Carl &  Fran Jones)

Susie Olguin                                                                                                 -           Buda, TX

(Guest of Tom Medina)

MAJ (R) Richard & Bev Shortridge                                                           -           Walla Walla, WA

(Guest Speaker)