Welcome Golden Dragons,
We posted the germ of an idea to start the 14th Infantry Association shortly after 3 members
of B/1/14 met at the 25th Infantry Division Association reunion in September, 2007. Since
then the response has been growing steadily. As of December 31, 2007, we’ve heard from
64 veterans who have shown an interest in the formation of a 14th Infantry Association.
So far 17 veterans have completed and returned membership forms, and many have even
included a donation with their form so that we already have a bank account of over
$400.00. As we move into 2008, our next step is to set up some committees to begin the
actual work of establishing our organization.
The first committee will involve membership. As the 1/14th and 2/14th websites brings in
more of our old friends, follow up with each will be required. It makes sense to have folks
from each Company-size unit of friends out there searching for old Golden Dragons and
working to make contact by letter, phone or e-mail. Each veteran should be encouraged to
line up and bring in as many old buddies as he can.
Another committee will start working on meetings and reunions. As a jumping off point for
our association, our very first meeting will be held in Orlando, Florida, in conjunction with
the 25th IDA convention in August, 2008. More specific information, once our plans are
firm, will appear on the website in the “News and Reunions” section. By the time we have
this meeting, we need be organized and prepared to elect officers. Arrangements have
already been made with the 25th IDA to design and order a commemorative 14th Infantry
Regiment (Golden Dragons) challenge coin to be given to all who pre-register for the
convention. We’ll be at their site, enjoying a reduced room rate, but our committee can set
up our own Hospitality Room and, if we wish, our own smaller banquet.
We also will form a Memorial Committee to honor our fallen comrades. They are all listed
on the web site, but we need to obtain photos of each person, as well as their burial location.
Our committee could then work with families to coordinate visits and decorations for such
things as Memorial and Veterans’ Day, by those of us who live nearby.
So you see we have a lot of work to do. We encourage you to start communicating with
each other using the “Bulletin Board” section of our web site and toss around some ideas.
Our initial “volunteers” from B/1/14 look forward to hearing from you:
Tom Jones
David Riebe
Send us your name, unit and contact information and we will provide you with details
and a membership application.
Remember that old saying: “you only get out of an organization what you put into it”.
All of you have already put a lot of your lives into the Golden Dragons and the unit played
a big part in those lives. We need your help to get this Association up and flying.
... Tom Jones...
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