| 14th
Infantry Regiment Association 2008 Annual Report 2008 was a year of growth and progress
for our newly formed Association. One year ago we reported that
17
veterans had completed and returned their membership applications to
be posted on our web site “Roster”.
As of January 1, 2009, we
have 126 on board. We owe many thanks to our initial two
“volunteers”,
David Riebe (B/1/14) and Kirk Ramsey (A/2/14)
who
have been building and maintaining our information database by
Battalion.
Many of our new members have been
enclosing donations with their applications and these are very much
appreciated. I have established an organizational checking account
that currently has a balance of almost $1600.
Expenditures for
2008 amounted to $414.25 and consisted of $43.00 for postage; $146.25
for web domain 9 year
registration; and $225.00 for one Golden Dragon
flag and two Battalion guidons. Our Association held it's first Reunion in August, 2008, in Orlando, Florida. In the interest of speed, ease and cost of putting something together, we arranged to share the group rates and hospitality rooms of the 25th Infantry
Division Association which, in honor of our new organization, had designed and minted a commemorative
Golden Dragons challenge coin for each registrant. Details were posted on both Battalion websites and our
efforts were rewarded with 13 of our members attending. Attendance was pretty evenly split between Battalions...
7 from the 2-14th and 6 from the 1-14th. Many enjoyable hours were spent in the hospitality room going over
photo albums and telling "I remember one time"s. Men from the 2nd Battalion were amazed to meet men from
the 1st Battalion who had never seen or sunk into a rice paddy while in the Central Highlands of Vietnam!
Likewise, guys from the 1st Battalion were introduced to the concept of "tunnels" near Cu Chi. Geography and
AOs meant nothing... the bonding and pride in being "Golden Dragons" was there. We finished our individuals
mini-reunion with a group family dinner at a local restaurant that was fantastic!
For 2009 we have plans to establish a separate webpresence for the 14th Infantry Regiment Association...
one separate from the 14th Infantry websites of the 1st and 2nd Battalions. As the Association becomes
stronger, the need for our own base of operations for current-day communication and efforts becomes more
apparent. It made sense to us to adapt to this growth, thereby multiplying our efforts. We will all be
interconnected, with links to direct interested veterans, families, students and historians to both of our
Battalion websites.
Each of you is on our Membership Committee. We need your help to let this spark of a beginning take off
to become a roaring fire. Ever talk to a Wolfhound or Cacti buddy and hear about the wonderful organizations
they've
got going? If you haven't joined our 14th Infantry Association,
get with it! If you are already a member
and in touch with old buddies, please take the time to talk it up and recruit them. The internet has provided
us with excellent tools to find and reconnect with old comrades, and to join together to tackle today's projects
and tasks.
I mentioned commitees a year ago and the silence has been deafening. It's time to bury that old Army adage
drilled into each one of us years ago to "never volunteer anything"! Right now we need a Reunion Commitee
to plan future events. How about a 3-day weekend event... a mini-reunion... someplace like Memphis or
St. Louis? Discuss it amongst yourselves on the net and let me know who is willing to step up and
join our team.
Right of the Line!
14th
Infantry Regiment Association 2008 Annual Report
By Tom Jones
C/2/14 1963-1964
B/1/14 1964-1966 |
