Alfeld-Augsburg-Bad Aibling-Bahrdorf-Bamburg-Baumholder-Bebra-Berlin- Bremen-Coburg-Frankfurt-Fulda-Giebelstadt-Giessen-Hammelburg-Heidwinkel-Heilbronn- Herzogenaurach-Hof-Kassel-Königslutter-Linz-Mahring-Malmsheim-Mannheim- Memmingen-Munich-Mt. Meissner-Nottau-Nürnberg-Oberursel-Offenbach-Passau-Rothwesten-Sontra-Salzburg-Scheyern-Vienna-Wasserkuppe-Weiden-Wels
The E-Mail Newsletter for SIS, ASA and INSCOM Veterans who served in Germany or Austria
Volume 3 – Number
5
June 1, 2007
Ralph R, Thadeus, Editor
E-mail
us
ASMN
What a blast. Well our 16th reunion is history but the memories will linger on and on and on. Our congratulations to Gus Gruneisen, and the Breckinridge Inn of Louisville, for making our stay comfortable. The hotel staff was especially responsive to our changing needs.
Some of our members arrived early and enjoyed touring the area. Jim Natividad did a Yeoman’s job of handling all of the reunion finances and making up the members packets. Jim also did a great job on seeing that our Hospitality Room was well stocked with various libations and snacks. And, believe me, the Hospitality Room got a good workout what with lie swapping, war stories, magic tricks, photo albums and catching up with what has been going on with each other’s life since the last reunion.
Friday night was our German theme dinner which was superb. Even to the extent of passing muster by the Rhine Maidens. The chef outdid himself. The sauerbraten was perfectly marinated and cooked, the red cabbage outstanding and the strudel to die for. The only complaints registered were that we had potatoes instead of spaetzle and that there was just too much food – ha.
Saturday afternoon we had our Reunion Business Meeting. Our President, Jim Natividad, opened the meeting by requesting nominations for Board Members. Receiving none from the floor Jim nominated the current Board for another tour of duty which passed by acclimation. Your old and new Board members are Jim Natividad (Scheyern 47-54) President, Ray Lash (Scheyern 53-57) Vice President and Ralph Thadeus (Scheyern 53-56) Treasurer/Editor.
The next order of business was to discuss and vote on the frequency and season of future reunions. Thoroughly discussed, and then passed by an overwhelming majority, it was decided to have our reunions once a year, during autumn, starting in 2008. Discussion largely centered on the availability of so many German oriented festivals available in the fall.
The location of the next reunion was tabled to await the results of detailed information regarding the sites nominated. Sites being considered for the Fall of 2008 reunion are: The Frankenmuth (Michigan) Oktoberfest. Get a preview of this nominee at http://www.frankenmuthfestivals.com; Las Vegas (Nevada) and the Hofbrauhaus. Get a preview of this nominee at http://hofbrauhauslasvegas.com. And, last but not least, the Saint Louis (Missouri) Soulard Oktoberfest. Preview this nominee at http://soulardoktoberfest.com.
Saturday evening was our well attended Banquet. After a moment of silence in memory of those no longer with us, Jim Natividad introduced our honored guest, Oscar Loveless. Oscar was the earliest arrival in Scheyern, getting there on May 17, 1945 with the 116th Signal Radio Intelligence Company. Oscar, who is pushing 90, drove himself from Elberfeld, Indiana, (North of Evansville) to Louisville. Special thanks have to go out to Ray Lash who provided us with some great recorded oom-pa-pa music, to Gabriele Atkinson the consummate hostess for her efforts to keep things lively and moving along and to the “Memmingen Gang” for their kind remarks and gifts to Natividad and me.
Sunday morning saw small gatherings of attendees in the hotel’s dining area, saying goodbyes, as we departed at various times. And thus ended a great 16th reunion.
Chris Homeier (Herzo 56-58) made a great presentation for Las Vegas. So much so that about five of us at the reunion are inclined to join Chris this coming November to “test the waters”. Chris is organizing the third Herzo reunion in Vegas and he has invited us to join his group which will be meeting November 26-28, 2007. If you are interested in attending, let me know as soon as possible. In order to keep the room rates as low as possible, Chris has scheduled the reunion during the slowest business week of the year in Las Vegas as well as scheduling it during the week rather than on a busier weekend.
By the time of the next newsletter we expect to have some great pictures of the reunion posted on our web site. We will also publish the listing of the reunion attendees so you can have a ball matching names to pictures.
LOST CONTACTS
Supporting Member John Saari (Bahrdorf/Heidwinkel 59-61), Chuck McMurray (Bad Aibling/Pocking/Memmingen 64-67), Robert G DuBos Herzo 48-50, William B. Channel (Herzo 54-56)
TAPS
James W. (Bill) Clark (Scheyern 54-56) passed away on April 15th as reported by his wife Reva to John Yurich (Scheyern 47-48). Bill, who was a member of the 116th Signal Service Company basketball team, passed away from liver cancer. Bill and Reva last attended the Hershey, PA reunion.