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GATHERING NEWSLETTER #4
DECEMBER 2009 Kathy, Mary Ann, Penny and I (Barbara) are working hard to make this next Gathering a BIG success. We have so many volunteers willing to help organize tours, exhibits, displays, etc and for that we are very grateful. This cannot be done alone! We have developed a tentative schedule (which seems to change every day), and will continue to keep you posted as things are finalized.
Please continue to pass the Gathering Newsletters on to any vets you know that might be interested in news and/or attending the Gathering. The newsletters are sent from the old registration lists, and unfortunately, many email addresses were not recorded or have changed. Please help me to correct email addresses and add to the mailing list! If you have news that you think should be included, please email it to any of us. Barbara Bower [email protected] Kathy Blackstone [email protected] Mary Ann Deeks [email protected] Penny Throne [email protected]
IN MEMORIUM: Thomas William Ravenscroft (Jun 26, 1950 - Novr 6,
2009) Thomas William Ravenscroft, age 59, of Edgewater, Florida died Friday,
November 6, 2009 at Bert Fish Medical Center, New Smyrna Beach. No services were held. Born in Cumberland, Maryland, Mr. Ravenscroft moved to Florida in 1987 from Romney, West Virginia, where he was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Belington, West Virginia. He served in the U.S. Army for two combat tours in Vietnam as NCOIC on the Guntruck "Frustration" (444th Trans Co), received a Purple Heart, a Presidential Unit Citation, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and was a lifetime DAV member. A retired long distance truck driver, Mr. Ravenscroft logged over 3.5 million miles and received numerous safe driving awards. Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Mickey; 1 daughter, Mary Loescher and her husband Josh, of Edgewater, 1 son, Kristopher and his wife Shay, of Ponce Inlet, 2 grand children, Joey and Gabriel; 1 brother, Bob and his wife Mikki, of Priest River, Idaho; and 1 sister, Cathy Lacey and her husband James, of Manassas, Virginia. Mr. Ravenscroft was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jeff. Donations may be made in Mr. Ravenscroft's name to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 21475, St. Petersburg, Florida 33742, or any local Veteran nursing home.
If you would like to send a card or email, his wife’s name is Michelle, email: [email protected] , address: 3118 Victory Palm Drive, Edgewater, FL 32141.
VETERAN’S DAY: Idaho: The 64th Transportation Company flag saw action On 11 November 2009
as Sam Hovey proudly carried it in the Salmon, Idaho, Veterans Day parade. Sam brought the flag home with him when he departed from Pleiku, VietNam, in 1967. He’s in the middle in the photo:
Pennsylvania: Rod Keckler participates with the Carlisle Vietnam Vets Post #1 every year on Veteran’s Day by putting on a Pasta Dinner to raise money to support the local ROTC’s from Carlisle, PA. Also pictured is a memorial to Vietnam Veterans.
HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS: Erik Freeman (Untouchable gun truck) has been working for several years with Homes for Our Troops, an all volunteer, non-profit group that builds homes for severely injured service men and women and their families at no cost to the families. He just helped to complete a home for Eric Morgan and his family in Bakersfield, CA, where the community several community officials and the district congressman were present at the ceremony to hand over keys to the Morgans. Erik was presented a “Quilt of Valor” by the local president of the Cotton Patch Quilters for his
work. If you are interested in participating in Homes for Our Troops, go to their website www.homesforourtroops.org
XEROX SAYS THANKS TO VETS: Xerox is sponsoring a project to send a thank you card to a soldier currently serving in Iraq. You can pick out a thank you card, but you can’t pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the Armed Services. It’s free and only takes 10 seconds. Please take the time to send one from you and pass this word on to others also. We can never say enough thank you’s!! Here’s the web site: www.LetsSayThanks.com
RETIREES AND VETS ALLOWED TO SALUTE THE FLAG: In case you missed it last year, President Bush signed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 to allow un-uniformed service members, military retirees, and veterans to render a hand salute during the hoisting, lowering or passing of the US Flag. A later amendment further authorized hand-salutes during the National anthem by veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel.
NEW WEB SITE FOR 124TH TRANS BN: Steve Peters, a crewmember of
BRUTUS in 1969, has started a new web site for the 124th Transportation Battalion: www.124thtransbn.com Steve says it’s still in draft form, but I’m sure he’d love to hear from you with suggestions, additions, etc. Steve will be attending his first Gathering next August in Carlisle, PA!!! VIETNAM ORDER OF BATTLE, TC UNITS: Attached, please find the Vietnam Order of Battle for Transportation Corps units compiled by Rich Killblane, formerly historian for the Transportation Corps, now historian for CASCOM (Combined Army Support Command, Fort Lee, VA. Most have you have met him at previous Gatherings and may have been interviewed by him as well. He begins the listing with units before 1965 and carries it through 1973. If you have corrections or additions, please contact Rich at [email protected]
That’s about it for this month! This quarterly newsletter has become a monthly thing. Keep on sending me articles and photos!!! We all wish you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays surrounded by family, friends and good food! Barbara, Kathy, Mary Ann and Penny
