PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

Dear Fellow Bansh'ees,

If you have already glanced through the Gazette, before reading my message you will notice that we have chosen not to send the regular edition of the Bansh'ee Gazette this month. This is a special "REUNION" issue full of information pertaining to the 1998 REUNION that will be held in August at Clarksville, TN.

There is one very important fact that was brought to our attention at the reunion is Shelbina, MO, last year. We want to make all of you aware that wives or significant others and children are invited and welcome at our reunions. If you choose to attend by yourself, please keep in mind the fact that other Bansh'ees may have brought their families with them and please act accordingly.

I can not stress how important it is that if you are planning to attend the 1998 Reunion, please complete the registration form and return it with your fee as soon as possible. We have to finalize certain arrangements that we have locked in, but we need to supply more than a ballpark figure for the services we have contracted.

We understand that some of you will not know if you will be able to attend, until the last possible minute. We can allow for this, but please contact one of us and let us know that there is a possibility that you might attend, so that we can make tentative arrangements. If you do arrive at the last minute, we may not have a keepsake 1998 Reunion shirt for you since we have a production cut off date and will have to mail it to you at a later date.

If you haven't realized, there are some expenses involved with putting on any type of organized reunion. We tried to offset some of these expenses by assessing everyone a $30.00 registration fee, which includes the cost of your keepsake shirt. Whether you register early or register when you arrive, you will still be assessed the Reunion registration fee. Also, several times during the reunion we will conduct 50/50 drawings where the winner get 50% of the pot and the association gets 50%, to offset some of these expenses. So I'm asking all of you that attend the reunion to be as generous as possible when it comes to the 50/50 drawings.

Finally, I would like to thank all of you who responded with your compliments about the first part of "Finally At Rest." We will try to include the conclusion to my story in this issue of the Bansh'ee Gazette, if we have enough room.

Hope to see all of you in Clarksville,

Jim Matthews

MEETING

We would like to remind you that on Saturday August 8, 1998 immediately following the Reunion Dinner, there will be a short Association business meeting.

For those of you who are unaware, according to the Association By-Laws, you do not have a voice or a vote in Association business unless you are a regular member. If you have not sent in an application and the yearly dues , you are not an regular member in the Association.

If you want to vote or have a voice in Association matters please send in your application and dues as soon as possible. If you can not find an application contact Jim Matthews, Dave Martin, or Randy Kunkleman and we will get one to you. You can also download the application from the Association web site on the Internet. Last but not least, we will have applications at the registration area during there union.

Please provide us with any change of address you have. This is very important especially now, since we are using bulk mail. This will insure that you receive future information about our Association.

REUNION.RTF - Advanced Registration Form in Rich Text Format

ADVANCED REGISTRATION FORM

NAME _______________________  NUMBER OF GUESTS _________

ARRIVAL DATE _______________   DEPARTURE DATE ___________

NUMBER OF ROOMS NEEDED ____  (We have locked in a block 
of 60 rooms at the Holiday Inn Clarksville, TN. The rates are $56.00 
per night per double occupancy and $6.00 per additional adult.  
Maximum 4 people per room. 

        THIS RATE INCLUDES A FREE BUFFET STYLE BREAKFAST 
        EACH MORNING FOR EACH GUEST.

ANY SPECIAL NEEDS: _________________________________________
   __________________________________________________________

IF YOU ARE DRIVING YOUR OWN VEHICLE WE NEED THE FOLLOWING 
INFORMATION FOR THE PROVOST MARSHALL'S OFFICE TO OBTAIN 
PASSES SO YOU CAN ENTER FT. CAMPBELL FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND.

MAKE ___________ YEAR _____  MODEL ____________ COLOR _______

VEHICLE REGISTRATION PLATE # _____________ STATE _____________

YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE # ________________  STATE ________________

INSURANCE COMPANY __________________ POLICY # _______________

THE REGISTRATION FEE FOR THE REUNION IS $30.00. THIS INCLUDES A 
KEEPSAKE "POLO STYLE" SHIRT WITH THE  1998 REUNION LOGO 
EMBROIDERED ON THE LEFT BREAST.  ADDITIONAL SHIRTS MAY BE 
ORDERED FOR THE COST OF $25.00 FOR EACH SHIRT.

YOUR SHIRT SIZE _____ ADDITONAL NO SHIRTS ____  SIZES _________


RETURN THIS FORM WITH THE $30.00 REGISTRATION FEE AND WE WILL
SEND YOU A REUNION PACKET WITH MOTEL REGISTRATION CARDS, 
MAPS, SCHEDULES AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION RELATED 
TO THE REUNION.

COMPLETE THIS FORM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SEND IT AND YOUR 
CHECK OR MONEY ORDER FOR $30.00 (OR MORE IF ORDERING EXTRA 
SHIRTS) TO:
                                      RANDY KUNKLEMAN
                                      2395 N. CONANT ROQD 
                                      ELIDA, OHIO 45807

MAKE CHECK / MONEY ORDERS PAYABLE TO:

                        B TROOP 2/17TH CAVALRY ASSOCIATION

For those of you who are reading this for the first time, this story is about my meeting and relationship with Mrs. Georgia Respecki. Georgia was the mother of Sgt. Donald Respecki who was killed in action while serving with B Troop 2/17th Cavalry on April 22, 1969.

Veteran's Day, November 11, 1993, the 10th Anniversary of the Vietnam Memorial, was approaching fast. In fact too fast. With only one week to go, my wife began chastising me as to why we have not made any hotel reservations yet and almost harassing me, pointed out that if we wait any longer we might not be able to get reservations. With all the turmoil going on inside me, maybe that is what I was really hoping what would happen. That way we had a good excuse not to go and I would still save face with my family.

It did not work out that way. The group from "Shrapnel In The Heart" was staying at the Howard Johnson's, across from the Watergate Hotel. When I did call to make reservations, I was almost sure that they would be totally booked due to it being the 10th Anniversary and all. Much to my surprise they did have a room to accommodate my family and me. Now, I seemed trapped and I had to fully commit myself to go. There was no other way to not go and look like a complete fool.

The day we checked into the motel I called "Soup" Campbell and was invited to come up to his room and meet a few people. My wife and family were still a little uncertain about who or what this was all about and decided to stay in our room and rest while I ventured out to see what these people were like. Much to my surprise I met the friendliest, most warm-hearted people I have ever met. John introduced me to his wife and the rest of the small crowd that had assembled in his room. He explained that not everyone had arrived yet and I would be meeting more people all weekend. He also told me that they were expecting Georgia Respecki later that evening and she was really excited about coming to meet me. After my brief visit I returned to my room to let my family know what I found out and what these people were really like.

The moment of truth finally came. My family and our newly found friends were going to visit the "Wall" as a group and meet even more people associated with "Shrapnel" there. Yes, Mrs. Respecki would be there also. We all piled into our cars and made the short drive down to the Memorial where we were introduced to other people that were associated with the book. Since this was my first visit to the "Wall" at night I was somewhat shocked to find that there were no large crowds of tourists, but only the serious visitors that frequent the "Wall" after the crowds vanish.

We were there for some time before I actually came face to face with the person that was causing all of these conflicting emotions inside me. I can not exactly remember how it actually happened, but I finally was introduced to Mrs. Respecki. I found her to be a very statuesque, vibrant person who was yet, very soft spoken. She also had eyes that seemed to be compassionate yet she was able to see right through you. After I introduced her to my family, it seemed like they and everyone else in the group faded away so Georgia and I were left alone to get to know each other better. It seems ironic that when everyone in the group seemed to fade away so did all the fears and anxiety that were building up inside of me over the past couple of weeks.

Since she was more that several years senior to me, I kept calling her Mrs. Respecki out of respect and she brought that to a quick halt. She wanted me to call her Georgia, like everyone else. We made small talk first, the weather, the trip down and so on. Then after we felt comfortable with each other, our talk became more serious. The first thing she wanted to do was thank me for sending her the original memorial program that I had saved. She did not know that there was even a memorial service for Don and she was shocked to learn that her son was not the only person killed that day. She also explained that she had not been to Washington for a few years, but she was glad she came this year to meet me. She arrived at the "Wall" before us, but as usual she wanted to spend some time there by herself. She said that although Don was buried in their home town and she visits his grave on a regular basis, she felt more closer to him here at the "Wall" than at his grave site. We talked for quite some time but I could not tell you how long. It seemed like five minutes, yet seemed like an eternity. Finally, Georgia had to excuse herself because she had a long day traveling from upper Michigan and needed some rest. We parted with the promise of spending more time together tomorrow.

We spent almost the entire weekend in each other's company. Since it was the 10th Anniversary of the Vietnam Memorial, along with the official ceremonies, the group from "Shrapnel" had several events planned. It was during one of these events that Georgia did something that you could have knocked me over with a feather. The group from "Shrapnel" were going to pass by the "Wall", read the name of every deceased veteran associated with the book and lay a rose infront of each panel that displayed their name. Georgia was caring a large envelope with her but did not say what the envelope contained. When it became time to read Donald Respecki's name Georgia pulled me aside and showed me what she had in the envelope. It was the original memorial service program that I had sent her and she had it laminated. She explained that she was up in her years and if something happened to her she would not know what would happen to the program. She felt that if she left it here at the "Wall", in front of the panel displaying Don's name, it would be kept forever in the National Archives. Georgia told me she hoped that I would not be mad or think that she was ungrateful giving the program away, but how can you get upset with a person that has intentions like that?

Over the years, we kept in touch with phone calls and letters not to mention our yearly get togethers in Washington and every year Georgia would do something or say something that would have a lasting impression on me. We all gathered in Washington for the dedication of the Woman's Memorial and even participated in the parade. As we walked through the streets of Washington Georgia insisted on holding hands with me and the rest of my family. The way she walked you would have thought she was a veteran herself. Even though she lost a son to the Vietnam War, she was proud of all of us that served and loved this country. As soon as the dedication of the Woman's Memorial was over we headed for the refreshment stands nearby to grab a quick bite to eat. At the exit of the Vietnam Memorial walkway there were several veterans standing there drinking beer dressed in leather motorcycle outfits. When Vice President Gore's motorcade left the Memorial site, some of these veterans began yelling a screaming a Gore's vehicle to which Georgia responded "Why do they have to act like that? All they do is disgrace themselves and this memorial by acting that way." By no means did I consider Georgia prudish but she felt that all the veterans were special people and should be respected for what they did, but this group, acting this way were only bringing disrespect to themselves and all of the other veterans.

During Georgia's last trip to Washington, she unfortunately had an accident, which landed her in the hospital. We arrived in Washington later that usual and when we met up with the group from "Shrapnel" we were told that Georgia fell in a restaurant and fractured her hip. We immediately went to visit her and found that she had to have a hip replacement. Even coming out of surgery, she was still the same caring, vibrant Georgia that we have come to know and love over the years. She did not feel sorry for herself but was only mad at herself for being so clumsy. Looking at the bright side, she said she would have to stay in Washington longer that what she had originally planned. Over our weekend stay in Washington we visited her several times, not knowing that it would be the last time we would see her. Georgia eventually made it home and I was able to talk to her several times by phone and was assured that she was all right. She was mad at herself because she was having trouble getting around, which kept her from her busy schedule and had to depend on other people, which she was not accustomed to.

In late June 1996, I received the first letter from another family associated with the "Shrapnel" group informing me that Georgia had passed away on June 14th at the age of 72. Not only did that letter or the one's following inform me that she passed away, they also told me that Georgia had a three year battle with cancer and the hip problem only made things worse. This all came as a shock, because for as well as I considered knowing her, she never told me about the cancer. This is the type of person Georgia was. No matter how bad things were for her, she rarely mentioned her own problems. She was more concerned with other people and what she could do for them. Her passing away was a great loss to everyone that she came in contact with, especially me and all the members of my family. She made a great impression on all of us, probably more that she will ever realize. Then again, maybe she did. Now, all I can say is "Thank You." I think that I can honestly say that I now believe Georgia is truly happy, finally at rest with her son Donald G. Respecki, who's name brought us together. It was only for a short time, but its effects will last several lifetimes.