03/28/2024

2018 Tenn Reunion 1st Platoon

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Contributed by Ellen Gause

2018 Tenn Reunion 1st Platoon

Fifty years after they were first united on the battlefields in Vietnam, 18 veterans and 11 wives met again for their 8th annual reunion.  The venue for the gathering was the picturesque Oak Haven Resort in Sevierville, Tennessee.  These veterans served with the Americal Division, Alpha Company 5th/46th 198th Light Infantry Brigade.  Most were members of the first platoon, but one served with the second platoon while four others were assigned to the fourth platoon.

John Dyer and his wife Belva from Ohio were attending their first reunion.  Most of the others have attended all eight reunions.  For Richard Bergman and his wife Dale of Illinois, this reunion was especially meaningful.  Richard has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was probably attending his last reunion with his war buddies.   These veterans were extremely emotional as Richard left the gathering to fly back home.

Attendees from L-R on the back row:  Bob Latham, Tennessee; Bob Cummings, North Carolina; Aaron Rochester, South Carolina; Kenneth Quinn, South Carolina; John Dyer, Ohio; Dwight Saddler, Tennessee; Wendell Roberts, Tennessee.  Middle row L-R are Bob Scott, California; Kenneth Butcher, Tennessee; Oliver Gause, North Carolina; Jerry Laack, Wisconsin; Sid Liming, Ohio; Rodney Outten, Virginia; Paul Sprouse, South Carolina.  Front row L-R are George Lakins, Tennessee; Jack Vater, Wisconsin; Jack Crisp, Missouri; and Richard Bergman, Illinois.  The empty chairs are in memory of Don Sheffield, Texas; Ray Utley, North Carolina; Vaughn Delong, Indiana; and Alan Casazza, New York.

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