Please feel free to take part in our discussion– this forum serves as a guestbook for everyone, not just members. Offensive, spam, and inflammatory posts may be deleted.
If your comment does not show up right away, do not worry, it was probably temporarily marked as spam for some reason. However, your comment will be manually approved and later posted once an administrator has reviewed it.
Guys
Wish I could be there but slowly recovering from surgery. Will need some treatment after I heal
Thanks
Bullwinkle
I was sorry to hear that Larry Jones is unable to attend this year’s reunion do to his work log at his company. Larry sent me a very generous donation for expenses of Charlie Company. Thank you Brother Larry
I would be Honor if Larry to Bill read my Short Poem at the Dedication!
What is a Grunt?
Urban Dictionary states: A lower ranking or unskilled soldier
Our Skills have kept the wolfs from our borders for hundreds of years
Our Skills have enriched Jungles of Vietnam, the beaches of Normandy, the Islands of the Pacific and the deserts of the Middle East with our Blood
Our Skills have filled the Rolling Hills of Arlington with the honor dead
We are 10’ tall & bullet proof
We lived the Spartan life
Without the Artilleryman’s or Pilot’s vision we must look the beast in the eyes
We live with the pride of service but the guilt of survival
We killed & we died, that was our job
We are Proud, Arrogant & Righteous
We Stand for our Anthem and Kneel in church
Do not anger us, we are America’s best and her enemy’s worst nightmare
We are Grunts and Proud of It!
Thank you SO much for that, brother. I hope they read it at the dedication.
I will make sure it gets read.
Guys
Wish I could be there but slowly recovering from surgery. Will need some treatment after I heal
Thanks
Bullwinkle
Hey LT and Larry,
Thanks for the note about Jim Tooth. I sent him an email and he called me back within a day. It was a great hour long phone call just catching up with one another. Jim is on a mission to find all the guys that we went thru BT and AIT. I could only help him with a few but it was fun to talk. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Texas.
Due to medical issues I not be attending the reunion. Bullwinkle
Sorry to hear that.
Carl,
As soon as I got the Americal magazine I called Tom and let him know that Jim Toth was wanting to get in touch with him. Tom said he and Jim went to BCT and AIT together and I believe came home from Nam together>
Thanks Lt. I saw it too and wanted to get in touch with Tom.
I got an email from Mike Lynd, one of our army reunion host. “Larry just got call from Vicky, Dwight Sutcliff’s wife that they were planning to come to reunion, but Ike passed away suddenly. One day said didn’t feel well went to bed and next morning went to doc who diagnosed pancreatic cancer. He was gone in two weeks. Ike was from my home state as was in the command group when I was in field.â€
Does anyone know Tom Scanlon’s email address? Yesterday, I received my Americal Journal and a guy named Jim Toth is looking for him. I sent Tom an email but it can back saying that it couldn’t be delievered. Tom, if you see this, send me an email and I will give you his email address. My email address is carlfryman”at” fuse.net.
Just wanted to let you all know , Al Taylor aka Rocky passed away yesterday, Sept 12, RIP Rocky
Larry,
My wife was wondering where she is to find that we are confirmed as registrants of the “C” Company Reunion. The only confirmation we received was from the Drury Hotel and nothing in that confirmation mentions the reunion? Thanks,
If you are confirmed by the hotel, you are in. There will be someone there to hand out packets about the reunion. There are no planned tours because of all the activities at Mr. Lynd’s office building. He is going to have the moving wall there, grand opening of the Viet Nam museum, and other activities. There will be buses there to take the group where ever they want to go.
To any of my brothers who live in the path of Dorian, may God protect you from all harm!
LT
We are the West coast of Florida.
So much of nothing. The weather man is having a field day. Unless you live in the Bahamas where you might need a bucket, mop and a few body bags.
Did anyone watch the ESPN show on the Rocky Bleier return to Vietnam? I forgot to set the DVR and was wondering how it was.
Missed the program Wally
I ended up missing it too Wally. Gotta be re-aired or on YouTube soon I hope.
Here is the Agenda for the reunion:
Schedule of Hosted Events –
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Guests check into hotel- Drury Inn & Suites
15806 IH-10 West
San Antonio, Texas 78249
Don’t forget to stop by the Lynd Table near check in to pick up a special gift from your host
Michael J. Lynd, Sr.
Testimonials- Hotel Hospitality Suite- 11:00am-1:00pm
Stryde Studios will be recording testimonials from any of the guests and spouses that would be willing to share experiences during their tour in Vietnam. They will also be at the ceremonies on Friday if you are not able to give a testimonial on this day. These will be shown in the museum for future visitors to experience.
Happy Hour- Hotel Hospitality Suite- 4:00pm-6:00- Cocktails and appetizers will be provided for guests Thursday thru Sunday.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Daisy Shuttle Service
 9:00am Shuttle will be at the hotel to take any guests to downtown San Antonio. A map of downtown San Antonio will be found in this booklet.
 3:00pm Shuttle will then pick up all guests from drop off point downtown at 3:00pm to transport to The Lynd Company’s new corporate office located at 4001 Pond Hill Rd, Shavano Park, TX 78231.
 3:30pm Appetizers and refreshments will be prepared and served by Casanova Barbecue Co.
 7:00pm Shuttle will take guests back to hotel after the ceremonies. Transportation will be available for guests that may need to return to hotel prior to end of the ceremonies.
Ceremonies/Dedications Begin-
3:45pm- Antonian High School Band to play patriotic songs & National Anthem
4:00pm- Presentation of The AVTT Traveling Wall-
 4:00pm- Deacon Hilbert- Prayer
 4:05pm- Bob Holt- Veteran and Author of “Cowboyâ€
 4:15pm- John Baines-Veteran
 4:20pm- General Dozier- Veteran
 Susan Brannon- Retired Veteran-will play Amazing Grace on Bagpipes as group proceeds to Vietnam War Museum inside of Corporate Building
4:30pm- Grand Opening Ceremony of the Vietnam War Museum-The Grunts Story
 4:40- Bill “Pat†Beckhum- Prayer
 4:45- Ralph Santillo- Founder, Southwest Florida Military Museum
 4:55- Ted Van Aulen- Veteran
 5:00- General Ulmer- Veteran
 5:05- Michael J. Lynd, Sr.- Ribbon Cutting of Museum
5:10pm- Guests are invited to tour the museum and Corporate Building
5:20pm- Corporate Building Dedication- will be held on the 3rd floor patio area
 Deacon Hilbert- Prayer
 Brent Givens- Bank of San Antonio
 Scott Brymer- EVP, Lynd Development
 Adam David Lynd- CEO
5:30pm- 6:00pm- Cocktails on the patio- guests are free to stay later or head back to the hotel- Shuttle will pick up all guests that are ready to leave at 7:00pm.
Saturday, October 12, 2019- Private Dinner C-2-1 unit of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade (Americal Division) 50th Anniversary
 5:00pm-6:00pm- Happy Hour Drinks will be served on the patio area of the Lynd Company’s new corporate office.
 6:00pm- Dinner Buffet style dinner will be served in the patio area
Menu for dinner: By special request- “Good Ol’ Texas BBQâ€
Sliced Brisket, Sausage Links, Barbecue Chicken and Pork Ribs
Potato Salad, Coleslaw and Borracho Beans
Served with sliced wheat and white bread, pickles, onions, jalapenos and BBQ sauce
Dessert- Peach Cobbler with Vanilla Ice Cream
Hi guys . I am very sorry to here that AL Taylor is not well. He was in my squad , and replaced Tiny as my machine gunner. By the way; I gave him the nickname of Rocky. As far as hiep duc is concerned; we got there on Aug. 15th 1969; the same day as Woodstock started. Hoot Gibson was wounded on the first night. He took 3 rounds from Spooky. Tooch
Prayers for Al Taylor (Rocky). He passed away this afternoon from cancer. He was from the Bronx with a career on the post office after he returned. Lived in Melbourne Florida area with wife Ella with family nearby.
Rocky , Al Taylor passed away yesterday Sept 12.
Walking a half of a mile a day on my artificial knees so I can get ready for the River Walk!
Glad to hear you are up and moving. See you in a little over a month.
A fellow 196th grunt will show his return to Hiep Duc on ESPN next Tuesday 8pm eastern. Rocky Blier got hit there on Aug 20, 1969. His name and Hiep Duc sound a little familiar.
Also, very sorry to hear that Rocky’s in hospice. That Bronx personality always kept our squad’s sense of humor and sanity.
Ron Hurst wanted to post this notice to this web site, but was having trouble getting it posted: I just wanted to let the guys know about Rocky and give his address because we think It would be wonderful for Rocky to receive cards from the guys that were with him or that remembers him. he is fighting a different battle now. Al Taylor AKA (Rocky) 1624 Bonelli Ct. Melbourne ,Fl. 33934
I forgot to put in the last post that Rocky is in hospice care.
Event Update
50th Vietnam Veterans Reunion
Hello Veterans & Families! The reunion is quickly approaching and we are so excited. I need to know if anyone has any food allergies or is a vegetarian. We are working on the menu and want to be able to make sure to accommodate everyone. Please let me know if there are any aversions to the following menu. The tentative menu for Saturdays dinner is as follows: Sliced Brisket, Sausage Links and BBQ Chicken Potato Salad, Coleslaw and Borracho Beans Served with sliced wheat/white bread, pickles, onions, jalape̱os and BBQ sauce Dessert РPeach Cobber with Vanilla Ice Cream I can be reached at abbrymer@hotmail.com or 805-710-1378 as I am assisting in planning. Thank you, Ashley Brymer
WOW!
Good morning guys, Ronnie and I just wanted to let you know what is going on . Most of you know Al Taylor AKA ( ROCKY) is fighting another hard battle, he has cancer and is with Hospice, not doing very good. It would be nice if he could receive cards from his buddies. Al Taylor 1624 Bonelli Ct. Melbourne, Fl 32934. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. Thank you
Of interest, I think, to all of us here but especially to the infrequently represented early members of Charlie Company are two downloads available on the 196th LIB homepage.
They are the yearbooks from 1966 and 1967.
The first has a photo and caption of the entire company from basic training and the second a roster from the first year in Vietnam.
They are both large downloads but are great reading about the whole Brigade.
http://www.196th.org/Yearbook/Yearbook.html
Jersey Shore with my grandsons. Water is great and huge waves due to a storm off shore.
Great boardwalk dinng and went to the Stone Pony (Bruce Springsteen) fame in Asbury park.
Silva the water is actually warm enough to swim in unlike the Big Ocean on the West. coast.
Later
LT:
Must be the heat. Here in Florida the heat was follow by 15″ of rain. Past a Forrest Ranger Station and the sign said ” Fire Danger LOW”. B- 52’s full of Napalm couldn’t campfire!
Testing 123! Testing 123! I think the radio has gone dead. No traffic for over 3 weeks!
I keep trying to post something and it has not posted because the software found a spelling error in the last name of one of our brothers. Their last name was spelled correctly, but the software thought it was spelled wrong. Anyway you should be able to guess who came to see Judy and I in the mountains of Colorado. Cliff and Kathy Steve came up on Monday and they left yesterday. We rode a lot of forest service roads in our ATV. We saw some beautiful mountains. We got up to elevation of 13,200 and we got to play in some snow. Kathy started a snow ball battle. They was not looking forward to being back home in Missouri as they are having a heat wave there. We had a great time.
Wow! I posted the last comment and the ones that I had been trying to get posted appeared, so sorry about the same comments.
Cliff and Kathy Stueve are here in Creede with us. We are having a great time and seeing the beautiful mountains.
Judy and I stay in the mountains in Creede, CO for the summer months. Today, we welcomed Cliff and Kathy Stueve to our RV resort today about noon. We went on an ATV ride in the mountains and enjoying the beautiful sights. It is great to see my brother Cliff and my sister-in-law Kathy. We toasted you brothers and sisters with a brew today.
Cliff and Kathy have been planning a family reunion this year in October for several years. Unfortunately this year’s reunion is planned for the same weekend, so Cliff and Kathy will not be able to attend this year’s reunion.
Hi everyone. once again, I will not be able to attend this years reunion in San Antonio. I will be in the process of being treated for prostate cancer. I will certainly miss seeing all of you. Tooch
A sad welcome to the PC club. I am currently in the wait and watch part of it.
I am sure you know that this disease is considered to be the result of exposure to Agent Orange and both treatment cost and disability status are available.
Good luck.
Jim Armstrong C/2/1 9/65-5/66
Hi Jim. I am already on the agent orange registry and my disability rating is 100%. Good luck to you as well . Tooch
Tooch:
Sent my prostate into the landfill about seven years ago, I choose to skip treatment & got cut. It work out find for me.
See you when come to Florida
Bullwinkle
Tooch,
I was really looking forward to seeing you at this years reunion! My thoughts and prayers are with you for a full recovery!
Get well, Tooch
The best to you on your recovery.
Mary Porath said she took Bill(Doof) out of the nursing home after 6 days as he just seemed to not be happy and didn’t care if he lives or dies. She said he thanked her no less than 24 times for bringing him home and his spirits picked up.
Just read on facebook a posting by Mary Porath that she has put Bill(Doof) in a nursing home. She said that if someone could visit him it would be nice but he may not recognize you! This is an insidious disease!
LT
It steals your soul and leaves a empty shell of the person. Medical care has taken great advances over the years but it lacks any progress in the treating
Alzheimer’s. I have seen too many go down and it sickens me.
Best to Mary
.
I want to give a big thanks to LT Ken Ruesch for a nice donation for web site expenses. Thank you very much LT,
I am really looking forward to the reunion this year. Mike Lynd and Ron Causey has planned a great reunion in San Antonio. Look at the reunion tab above for information.