2/17TH CAVALRY WATCHES, WatchOrderForm Dear Fellow Banshees,
We would like to apologize for this unorthodox issue of the Gazette, but due to many circumstances beyond our control and too many to list here, we had to make some quick changes to the publication and distribution of the Gazette.
If you haven't been on the website lately you are probably not aware that there are some changes to this year's reunion. At our last meeting in Dayton, the membership chose to have the 2004 reunion at Ft. Campbell as a special "Welcome Home" for the current Banshees and all of their fellow troopers of the 2/17th Cavalry Rgt.
Although our intentions were honorable, when we checked into the logistics, it couldn't be done. When it came time to lock in the dates for room reservations, dinners, etc. we could not comply since we were not sure of the actual returning date of the unit.
Secondly, to be quite frank, our treasury is still recuperating from the huge beating we took at the Washington D.C. Reunion 2002 and will probably take about another year to be stable enough to put out large outlays of cash deposits to lock in reservations and banquet arrangements.
The big change is that Dave and Jinger Martin have agreed to host the Banshee Reunion 2004 at their home in Whitney, Texas from September 10th to September 12th 2004.
Since we are running short of time, we don't want to jam a lot of information about the reunion arrangements into this limited space so we are only sending out the reunion information if you plan on coming.
If you would like to come please fill out the enclosed registration form and get it back to us as soon as possible.
Hope to see you there,
"Out Front"
Jim Matthews
Dues, Endowment Fund Donations and Reunion Registration Fees (any monies)
Randy Kunkleman
2395 N. Conant Road
Elida, OH 45807
419-339-3984
kunkleman@hotmail.com
ADDRESS CHANGES
Jim Matthews
6743 Madison Avenue
West Mifflin, PA 15122
412-466-3557
jhmatthews1@verizon.net
BANSHEE GAZETTE
David Martin
232 Rabbit Shadow Trail
Whitney, Texas 76692
254-694-5529
Banshee694@yahoo.com
If you haven't been on our website lately or were not aware of it, our website address has changed. Our site is now hosted by Texas Tech University at no expense to the Association and very little restrictions
This was accomplished thru the efforts of the staff and management of TTU, the Vietnam Archives and our own webmaster Dan Schave.
If you haven't visited us on the web for awhile please drop by for some important information about the Association's activities. The new web address is at the bottom of this page.
| THE TTU BOARD OF REGENTS CREATED THE VIETNAM CENTER AND THE VIETNAM ARCHIVES IN 1989. THE MISSIONS OF THE VIETNAM CENTER INCLUDE PROMOTING THE STUDY OF THE WARS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND SUPPORTING THE COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES OF THE VIETNAM ARCHIVES. |
We recently received a letter from Sue Schneider that we felt very important to share with you:
Hi,
My name is Sue Schneider. I am writing to you about my husband and your fellow comrade, Dietmar Schneider. Dietmar has always been a very active man until he had a brain tumor January 25, 2004. He no longer can teach, like he has for the last 29 years. Dietmar needs help with the everyday activities of getting dressed, walking to the bathroom, etc. He has come a long way since January, but his recovery will be slow.
I'm writing to you, not to get sympathy, but to encourage you to get a check-up and CT Scan of your brain. Dietmar served 19 months in Viet Nam and was surely touched by Agent Orange. Our family feels deeply that Agent Orange is the cause of Dietmar's tumor. If he would have gotten a CT Scan earlier, he may not have suffered a stroke during his surgery. Dietmar was a strong and physically active man of 55 years old. He planned to live until 100! We would have never thought that he would be so sick and helpless. It can happen to anybody, but especially those of you that served in Nam.
Many of you, like Dietmar, wanted nothing more than to forget the war and go on with your normal life. I agree, but encourage you to deal with reality. You were there…now please get checked!
Also, I would appreciate hearing back from anybody that may be dealing with the same or similar problems. We are dealing with our local VA Office concerning Agent Orange. If we get enough feed back from fellow comrades, it could show the government that our issue is real and tragic.
Thank you,
Sue Schneider
Sue Schneider
2312 E. West Hart Rd
Beloit, WI 53511
sueschneider@charter.net
Editor's note: As we have said over and over, we can not stress how important it is for any of you that served in the Republic of Vietnam, please get a medical check up. If you don't trust the VA, go to your own private physician, but at least go ….not only for Agent Orange related diseases, but get tested for Hepatitis C, Diabetes, Melanoma and any other types of cancer or medical and skin disorders. Charlie didn't stop you but not taking care of yourself and ignoring your health certainly will.
We would also like to thank Joe Campbell (1968) and Gene (Chip) Schiappacasse (1968) for sending photos of the Bushgangsters that we will use on the pictorial history of B Troop.
Thanks again guys, they are very much appreciated.| COMING SOON |
| We are pleased to announce that in the very near future there will be an addition to our Web Site. Currently Jim Matthews is working on putting together a pictorial history of B Troop 2/17 Cavalry Regiment and B Troop 17th Cavalry Regiment from it's creation in 1916 to present day. Anyone wishing to contribute information or copies of photographs, please contact Jim at 412-466-3557 or at jhmatthews1@verizon.net |
| We would like to thank those of you that have already contributed to this important historical project but we are in need of information and copies of photos from pre-Vietnam era, the 1968 era, DS/DS, Kosovo, Iraqi Freedom and anytime in between. |
IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE REUNION THIS YEAR YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER PURCHASING A CUSTOM MADE 2/17TH CAV WATCH. ALL PROFITS BENEFIT THE LAPOINTE ENDOWMENT FUND.
2/17TH CAVALRY WATCHES, WatchOrderForm
The continuous portion of the road known as state route number forty-nine running in a northerly and then northwesterly direction, located within the municipal corporation of Trotwood and extending into the municipal corporation of Clayton, shall be known as "Joseph Guy LaPointe, Jr. Memorial Parkway.
Hello All!
The Dedication of the Joseph G. LaPointe, Jr. Memorial Parkway has been tentatively planned for 25 September, 2004 at 11:00 AM. See: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=124_HB_527
I do not yet know the exact location of the dedication, but wanted to give everyone a "heads-up" of the date and time in case you were interested in trying to attend.
If anyone would like to come to Dayton to attend, please reply or call me at 937-409-5202.
Thanks! Cindy LaPointe
http://www.virtualwall.org/dl/LapointeJG01a.htm
The Banshee Gazette is the OFFICIAL PUBLICATION for B Troop 2nd 17th Cavalry Association.