First Composite Radio Company
Fleet Marine Force Pacific
2005 REUNION - Memphis, Tennessee
View photographs from the reunion
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July
22 to July 24; a fortieth year reunion of six 1st Composite Radio
Marines:
There is some question if this reunion would have happened if it wasn’t
for Darrell Haines. Everyone contributed to a degree, but of the six who
participated in this reunion of 1st Composite Radio Company and of Sub
Unit 1, Pleiku, South Vietnam Marines, Darrell did yeomen’s work in
arranging the gathering. Semper Fi and thanks Darrell.
Darrell Haines, and his wife Judy, Gordon Hagan, Gary Bryson, Apolinar
“Poncho” Campos, Dennis Fouts, and Harvey “Rosy” Rosenfeld, all pictured
above, arrived in Memphis for the reunion. It would be the first time
that all six of them had seen one another since the early to
mid-sixties. They all left their homes by car or plane from such places
as Knightstown, Princeton, or Mandeville and arrived in Memphis,
Tennessee.
Poncho drove all night and was first to Memphis. He chose to drive 13
hours from Detroit and check out the surroundings. I found him sitting
in the corner of the Holiday Inn Select, our home away from home) when I
arrived. He was immediately recognized. I flew into Memphis from Ft.
Myers and was kindly met by Darrell and Judy who delivered to the
Holiday Inn Select in Memphis. The others staggered into town throughout
day one (July 22, 2005). The rooms weren’t ready at the time of check-in
time. They weren’t ready well after check-in time either so Ponch,
Darrell and I sought a place that was cool and had cold drink. We found
such a place at the Peabody Hotel. Little did we know this would be a
story all unto itself.
The Peabody is a rather large beautiful hotel. We learned latter that
afternoon there was more to the Peabody than a large/expansive lounge,
cold beer and a friendly atmosphere. They are know for the Peabody
Ducks. Yep, they have ducks. The Aflac Duck has nothing on these little
performers. The hotel rolls out the Red Carpet for them. The ducks are
dressed in formal tuxedo garb, march down the carpet to a rather large,
waiting water fountain in the middle of the lobby. No one calls cadence
and the ducks manage to find their way to the water before an adoring
crowed of photo-popping tourists. They crowd the lounge and the large
balcony that engulfs the entire room. Amidst all of this Rosy, Darrell,
Dennis a Ponch managed to stay cool and draw their own attention. No we
weren't drunk and disorderly.
(Continued)
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