During the first part of August 2015 we attended the 3d Marine Division reunion in Orlando, Florida, where Ron Deverick allowed us to set up in their hospitality room. We met a great group of Marines including those who served in Vietnam with 1st Battalion, 3d Marines. We learned much from the stories they shared about their time in Quang Tri Province. The unit historian, Don Bumgarner, shared with us his compilation of unit histories which are phenomenal. Bill Taylor shared photographs of his time in country at Marine Base C-4, and Jerry Wilson (pictured above with Pia) recounted some interesting stories about his time in Iceland as well as Vietnam. Photo by Richard A. Carmer and courtesy of Jerry Wilson.
On 25 to 30 August, we attended the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA)Reunion in Washington, DC. We had a great time meeting helicopter pilots of all units, including John Flanagan, author of "Born in Brooklyn...Raised in the CAV!", and Jim Pratt, of 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, who shared incredible stories and photographs. We got to meet Les Hines, in person, who was instrumental in helping to preserve the memory of many servicemen included in the book IN HONOR AND MEMORY. John Turner of the 92d AHC contributed photographs and footage of his time in Vietnam, and I got to speak with members of the 93d Transportation Company about there time in Soc Trang in 1963. We also touched bases with Annie Delp, Director of Historic Photographs, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, who is locating photographs of the fallen for the future educational center. We were happy to learn that IN HONOR AND MEMORY contributed over 60 photographs that the fund did not have.
On 25 to 30 August, we attended the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA)Reunion in Washington, DC. We had a great time meeting helicopter pilots of all units, including John Flanagan, author of "Born in Brooklyn...Raised in the CAV!", and Jim Pratt, of 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, who shared incredible stories and photographs. We got to meet Les Hines, in person, who was instrumental in helping to preserve the memory of many servicemen included in the book IN HONOR AND MEMORY. John Turner of the 92d AHC contributed photographs and footage of his time in Vietnam, and I got to speak with members of the 93d Transportation Company about there time in Soc Trang in 1963. We also touched bases with Annie Delp, Director of Historic Photographs, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, who is locating photographs of the fallen for the future educational center. We were happy to learn that IN HONOR AND MEMORY contributed over 60 photographs that the fund did not have.
Burt Leach and Carl Lorence, of the 93d Transportation Company stand with Ray Bows Photo by Pia Bows 
Thanks to Gene Shurtz, of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, whom we met at VVA National in July, we made contact with President Dave Eichhorn, who graciously made space for us to set up with IN HONOR AND MEMORY at their reunion at the Hilton, Daytona Beach in October 2015. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting and talking to members of 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry, including those who were stationed with Corporal Michael J. Crescenz, for whom Camp Crescenz in Da Nang was named; members of 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry, Captain Belcher's unit, for whom FSB Belcher was named; and members of 2d Battalion, 1st Infantry, SP4 Donald Sloat's unit, for whom the Donald P. Sloat Day Room at LZ Hawk Hill was named; and members of the 8th Medical Support Battalion. We also made strides in our project as, after years of research, we finally found out for whom LZ Mellon was named - survivor Captain Dan Mellon of 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry.
In November 2015 we returned to DC for Veterans Day and got to spend time with our good friends, Ron "Big Doc" Smith and Carolyn, and spent time at the 1st Cavalry Division reunion. When we returned home to Florida we received a couple of DVD's from Karl F. Haartz (VP), 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry Association, about Shakey's Hill in Cambodia, named for SGT Chris A. Kefalos, and the MIA's on Tiger Mountain - the DVD's were very interesting and much appreciated.
The rest of the year was spent promoting IN HONOR AND MEMORY and FIRST ON THE WALL at local libraries and shows in Florida.
In November 2015 we returned to DC for Veterans Day and got to spend time with our good friends, Ron "Big Doc" Smith and Carolyn, and spent time at the 1st Cavalry Division reunion. When we returned home to Florida we received a couple of DVD's from Karl F. Haartz (VP), 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry Association, about Shakey's Hill in Cambodia, named for SGT Chris A. Kefalos, and the MIA's on Tiger Mountain - the DVD's were very interesting and much appreciated.
The rest of the year was spent promoting IN HONOR AND MEMORY and FIRST ON THE WALL at local libraries and shows in Florida.
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