Reunion 2011

A large group from Bravo Company participated in the reunion hosted by the
8th Cavalry Regiment Association and Angry Skipper, at Columbus, Georgia, 18-22 May 2011. As always, it was a memorable and festive occasion that provided us all with lots of fond memories. We had a fantastic hospitality suite with a well-stocked bar, coffee machine and plenty of chairs. Here we spent a lot of time reminiscing about our tour with Bravo and discussing a wide range of other subjects ranging from health issues to grandchildren.

On 19 May, we had a very enjoyable dinner together at a nearby restaurant where we had one long table in a semi-private room. We ordered from a menu and most agreed that we should repeat this type of arrangement at future reunions. Many thanks to Bob Patterson for this initiative, and for making the reservation and coordinating this function.

On 20 May, special buses took us to Fort Benning, the home of the infantry, for numerous activities that lasted all day. The first was a graduation ceremony for an airborne class who had successfully completed the three week training course, including five jumps, that is required for the award of parachutist wings. It was a wonderful experience that also included a demonstration of their parachuting skills by several jumpers from the US Army Parachute Team, commonly known as the Golden Knights. Next we received a briefing at the command headquarters and then by bus to an area called Harmony Church, where we had an excellent lunch with the troops. Group photos were taken after lunch besides a huey and then we participated in a very interesting visit to hands-on-weapons training simulators.

Many thanks to Fred Fish who was responsible for making special arrangements with the Holiday Inn Hotel for a Bravo Company dinner in a separate room. Once again we all had a very enjoyable dinner together. We started with a special invocation by the Rev. Tom De Young. Following-up on a recommendation from Tom Beach, the names of our Bravo troopers who departed to Fidler’s Green were mentioned in a moving ceremony. We should repeat this ceremony at future reunions to include our fallen comrades.. In his other function as our finance officer, Tom collected for the meal and the $400 required for paying for our hospitality suite. Tom was so successful that he has been reelected as our finance officer for another year.

On 21 May, we went by bus to the new National Infantry Museum which was erected as a tribute to the long legacy of valor and sacrifice of the US Army
Infantryman. This was another wonderful experience and for a reminder, see www.nationalinfantrymuseum.com

At 1800 hours we returned to the National Infantry Museum for our Banquet
Dinner in a wonderful atmosphere. When we returned to the hotel later in the evening, most of us spent several very enjoyable hours at our hospitality suite and then the sad part - saying farewell and see you next year.

Many thanks to Jim Beck for taking these wonderful photos during the reunion. Jim has posted more reunion photos at his website

PHOTO GALLERY: 77 photos from Reunion 2011
Rear- Jim Smith, Jim Beck, Gene Hedberg, Al Hecker, Bob Patterson, Steve Bird, Art Jacobs, Peter O'Sullivan, Gary Stine, Ralph Mercado, Tom DeYoung
Sitting- Jim Ford, Jim Miles, Pete Genecki, Henry Nylan, Gary Happel, Bill Sherwood
Bravo Company Dinner
20 May 11
Standing - Kathy Sherwood, Carol Genecki, Barbara Stine, Karen Happel Sitting - Barbara Hedberg, Carol Mercado, Vibeke O'Sullivan, Evelyn Nylan, Ruth Ford
Bravo Company Dinner
20 May 11
Graduates of the Jump School at Fort Benning 19 May 11  

Bravo Company Troopers Jim Ford, Ralph Mercado, Peter O'Sullivan, Bob Patterson, Gary Stine, Bill Sherwood, Henry Nylan, Steve Bird, Ben Evans, Gene Hedberg, Jim Beck (standing)
Art Jacobs, Jim Smith, Pete Genecki & Jim Miles (kneeling)
Fort Benning, GA
20 May 11
Bill Sherwood, Bob Patterson & Tom DeYoung Jim Beck in Bradley Simulator Harmony Church Simulations Facility
20 May 11
Harmony Church Simulations Facility Fort Benning, GA
20 May 11
Jim Ford & John Casey Harmony Church Simulations Facility
20 May 11
Evelyn & Henry Nylan Bravo Company Dinner
20 May 11
Carol & Ralph Mercado Bravo Company Dinner
20 May 11
Barbara & Gene Hedberg Bravo Company Dinner
20 May 11
Steve Bird, Jim Smith & Jim Miles Bravo Company Dinner
20 May 11
James & Ruth Ford Bravo Company Dinner
20 May 11
Barbara & Gary Stine Bravo Company Dinner
20 May 11
Bob & Jean Patterson Bravo Company Dinner
20 May 11
Gary & Karen Happel Bravo Company Dinner
20 May 11
Vibeke & Peter O'Sullivan Bravo Company Dinner
20 May 11
Kathy & Bill Sherwood Bravo Company Dinner
20 May 11
Art Jacobs, Pete Genecki, Carol Genecki Bravo Company Dinner
20 May 11
Al Hecker & Jerry Mote Bravo Company Dinner
20 May 11
Bravo Dinner (Olive Garden ) 18 May 11
Bravo Dinner (Olive garden) 18 May 11
Steve Bird, Barb Hedberg, Gary Happel, Happel Jim Smith and Gene Hedberg (standing)
Gary Stine, Peter O'Sullivan, Jim Smith Bob Deyoung (facing camera) Bravo Dinner 18 May 11