3/5 Reunion 2003

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3rd Battalion, 5th Marines
Together Again!

May 15-18, 2003
West Point Lake
La Grange, Georgia

3rd Battalion, 5th Marines Reunion 2003
15-18 May
La Grange, Georgia

Brad and I have just returned from our 4th reunion with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. We are just in awe at what we saw and heard for 4 days and 3 nights...again! We will be posting pics here as they come in.

Also, check out more Reunion pics here:
Brenda Eidson's 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines Reunion website
http://www.usmcvietvet.org/Reunion2003.html

"Fantastic job on the reunion, a task which required unmeasurable hours of hard work and great attention to all the details. It was a great experience for me, and seeing old shipmates again after a quarter of a century was an emotional event. Thank you sincerely for what you (Curtis and Brenda Eidson) and your assistants accomplished. All the best, and Get Some! Bill Rockey

(Click images to enlarge)

Submitted by Jim Bisesi

3rd Battalion, 5th Marines and their Ladies

H&S 3/5, India 3/5, Lima 3/5, Mike 3/5

India 3/5 Mortar Crew
Carl Blankenship, Slick Mowery, Larry Vaught, Walter Hall, Chuck Strong, Mark Hanley, Curtis Eidson, Larry Jones

"I had a great time at the reunion--everything was wonderful, the food, the music, and especially all the people there." Mark Hanley

Submitted by "Doc" Everett Wood
"Just thinking of the great time we had!" Doc Wood

M/3/5 Marines who served together on "Hill 1192", May '68
Front: Jim Blankenheim, "Doc" Everett Wood, Jerry Lomax
Back: Frank Pacello, Art Diabo, Curtis Batten, Rock Giambrocco, Dan Hignight, Brad Reynolds

"The reunion was great especially for me and Dan Hignight. It has been a long time since we have seen or spoken to the Mike Co men. They are all special. Semper Fi," Frank Pacello, Mike 6 Actual

Submitted by Curtis and Brenda Eidson

Families honored at our Saturday presentations

1. Cooper Family accepted a shadowbox of medals for their great-uncle, Francis Williams, KIA at Belleau Wood, WWI.
2. Jeffrey Goss' Family was presented a shadowbox of his medals.
LCpl. Jeffrey Goss served with M Co. 3/5, KIA 24 May '68 on Operation ALLENBROOK.
Marines John Gundersen (I/3/5), Frank Ambrose (M/3/5), Bob Montgomery (M/3/5), Jim Blankenheim and Terry Otell (M/3/5) served with Jef and escorted his family.
LCpl. Jeffrey Goss Memorial page
3. William Gray Ross Family was presented a shadowbox of his medals. 2Lt. Ross served with I Co. 3/5, KIA 15 June '68 during Operation MAMELUKE THRUST. Standing in support of his family are Marines Craig Tschetter (I/3/5), Jerry Bain (I/3/5), Terry Welcher (I/3/5), and Jim Moss (I/3/5).
2Lt. William Ross Memorial page
4. Leslie Thompson Family presented with medals for Sgt. Leslie Thompson, KIA 5 March '69.
Marines escorting the family are Tom Mahlum, Ed Browder and Paul O'Connell.
Sgt. Leslie Thompson Memorial page

1. Frank Ambrose
2. Bill and Sherry Avery
3. Jerry and Karen Bain
4. Curtis and Ella Batten

1. Jim Bisesi
2. Jim and Phyllis Blankenheim
3. Jake Bortcheller
4. John and Pat Bowers

1. Joe and Mitzi Boydell
2. Ed Browder
3. Randy and Judy Cernick
4. Jimmie and Kathy Christy

1. Earl and Debi Collyot
2. Ed and Susan Combs
3. John Costello and Britt Heinrichs
4. Steve and Nancy Cottrell

1. John Crowe
2. Chuck and Pilar Cummings
3. Gil Currie
4. Carlos and Teresa Delgado

1. Art and Marina Diabo
2. Joe and Pat Dodson
3. Curtis and Brenda Eidson
4. Col. Dean Esslinger

1. Dan and Vickie Fields
2. Ken Fields
3. Howard and Linda Fowler
4. Vernon and Barbara Ford

1. Willis and Karen Ford and son
2. Eddie Garcia
3. Rock Giambrocco
4. "Doc" Glenn Glasgow

1. Ken and Dee Godkin
2. Chuck Goebel, sister Mary, mom Irene
3. Art and Mary Greene
4. Steve Grey

1. Ed and Kay Groves
2. John Gundersen and son, Roy
3. Walter Hall
4. Mark Hanley

1. Bill and Joan Harner
2. Bill and Marilyn Hendrix
3. Hank Henry
4. Doug and Jean Hensen

1. Dan Hignight
2. Byron Hill
3. Richard and Barb Hodgdon
Lloyd and Deloris Jeffries

1. Jim Johnson
2. Ed and Mary Johnson
3. Larry and Marge Jones
3. Frank Jurney

1. Kevin and Merry Kelly
2. Dave Krueger
3. Ric Lee
4. Tom and Peggy Lindsay with daughters Julie and Candice

1. Jerry and Beth Lomax
2. "Doc" Wolfgang and Janis Ludge
3. "Doc" Dave and Sherry Magnenat
4. Tom Mahlum

1. Jim and Margie Marbury
2. Carl and Robin Matlock
3. Tom and Laura McCracken
4. JR McElroy "The Judge"

1. Bob and Nancy Montgomery
2. Jim and Sue Moss
3. Bob "Slick" Mowery
4. Bill Mulcrevy

1. JD and Beth Murray with daughter Paige
2. Roger "Nick" Nicholson
3. Paul O'Connell
4. Troy and Suzanne Odum with daughter Stephanie

1. Hank and Linda Oliver
2. Terry Otell
3. Frank Pacello
4. Terry Parlee

1. Randy Pelt
2. Dan Praytor
3. Mike "Gomer" and Bev Pyle
4. Brad and Debbe Reynolds

1. Fred and Anita Riddle
2. Col. Bill Rockey
3. Elliott "Recon" Rubenfeld
4. Ruben Salazar

1. Lynwood Scott
2. Gordy Seablom
3. Carlos and Mariana Septien
4. Paul and Georgina Smith with son John

1. Bob Snowden
2. Skip St. Clair
3. "Chunky" Stonebreaker
4. Tony and Phyllis Stovall

1. Leroy "Chuck" and Carla Strong
2. Craig and Barri Sullivan
3. Charles and Nancy Tate
4. Dennis Tenety

1. Craig and Della Tschetter
2. Ronnie Tucker
3. Tom and Sandy Uebel
4. Bill and Kayla Vandegriff with daughter Sarah, son BJ, and dear friend Marilyn

1. Larry Vaught
2. Conrad Vierow
3. Rob Whitlow
4. Mike Wilson

1. Warren and Shirley Wilson
2. Tom Wityak
3. Tom and Goodie Wolf
4. "Doc" Everett and Barbara Wood
5. Donald and Sally Wotring

Submitted by Warren Wilson, 1stMarDiv Combat Photographer

Warren was combat photographer with M Co. 3/5 on Operation SWIFT, Sept. '67
Warren Wilson, Kevin Kelly, Chuck Goebel, Chuck Cummings, Randy Cernick

M/3/5 Marines from Warren's hometown, Birmingham, Alabama
JR McElroy, Warren Wilson, Dan Praytor, Frank Jurney

Submitted by Frank Jurney

M Co. 3/5 Marines JR McElroy, Frank Jurney, JD Murray

Submitted by Ric Lee

Ric Lee with Gil Currie holding our 3/5 colors

From our 3/5 Wall, George Earl Glenn, Jr. (Boone), Kilo Co.
"Died from one of our own friendly mortar rounds. He was my best friend." Ric Lee

1. Jimmy Moss and Ric Lee
2. Jimmy Moss
3. Gill Currie and Ric Lee

Columbus Brooks and Ric Lee

This is after the reunion on Sunday in Mississippi,. Nolan Nunnery and me. Nolan was a great Machine gunnner, he taught
me how to walk point shortly after I got to Nam.

1. Art Green, Jimmy Moss, Ken Godkin, "Chunky" Stonebreaker, Gil Currie, Ric Lee, Terry Welcher (back, right)
2. "Webbedebbe" Debbe Reynolds and Vernon and Barbara Ford
3. India 3/5 Marines Ric Lee, Chuck Strong, Jimmy Moss, Terry Welcher

Submitted by Chuck Goebel

1. Steve Cottrell (left), Chuck Goebel
2 . Chuck's sister Mary Johnson and Mom Irene
3 . Mary, Kayla Vandegriff and her good buddy, Marilyn (in back)
4. Steve Cottrell, Kevin Kelly and Frank Jurney

Jerry Bain, Gil Currie, Bill Rockey, Craig Tschetter, Jim Moss, JD Murray

1. Randy Cernick, Bill Hendrix, Chuck Cummings
2. Linda and Hank Oliver
3. Curtis Eidson, Daniel Fields, Mike Wilson
4. Jim Bisesi (Raffle King)

1. Lloyd and Deloris Jeffries, Fred and Anita Riddle (back)
2. Phyllis and Tony Stovall
3. Walter Hall and son Darryl

1. Col. Dean Esslingler and Ed Browder
2. Brad Reynolds and JR McElroy

M/3/5 Marines 1968
Jerry Lomax, Curtis Batten, "Skipper" Frank Pacello, "Dirty" Dan Hignight, "Doc" Everett Wood,
Rock Giambrocco, Art Diabo, Jim Blankenheim

"We thoroughly had a great time at the reunion. Having the Skipper, Doc, and Hignight there with the rest of us was something I'll never forget. It was like a homecoming. I can't wait until we all get together again. this past reunion meant a lot to me. It really makes a fellow realize that Marines are definitely a breed of their own. Marine buddies are for life. I just thank God that I chose this path. Everybody, keep in touch. Semper Fi!" Jerry Lomax

Submitted by Tom Lindsay
"Can't tell you how good it was to see those guys again after all these years!" Tom Lindsay

Joe Boydell, Tom Wityak, Jerry Farrell, Randy Pelt, Troy Odom, Tom Uebel, Carlos Delgado, Tom Lindsay

1. Jerry Farrell and Tom Lindsay
2. Ronnie Tucker and Tom Wityak
3. Tom Uebel and Jerry Farrell
4. Randy Pelt, Troy Odom, SgtMaj. Wright

Tom Lindsay, Jerry Farrell, "Doc" Joe Boydell

Our 3/5 Wall

Troy and Suzanne Odom

1. Sandy and Tom Uebel
2. Carlos and Teresa Delgado
3. Candi, Peggy, Tom, and Julie Lindsay

Julie Lindsay

1. Stephanie, Troy, and Suzanne Odom
2. Peggy Lindsay, Suzanne Odom
3. Tom Lindsay pinning Bill and Kayla Vandegriff's beaded purple heart on his wife, Peggy.
4. Julie Lindsay, Stephanie Odom, Candi Lindsay

1. Sgt. Major Wright at Our 3/5 Wall
2. Tom Lindsay getting help with pogey rope
3. Ronny Tucker, Troy Odom, Tom Wityak

3/5 Marines and their Ladies

Submitted by JD Murray

1. JD and Beth Murray with daughter, Paige
2. Jim Johnson, JD Murray, Bill Mulcrevy, Dave Krueger
3. Jack Swan and JD
4. Kevin Kelly, Frank Jurney, Steve Cottrell, JD

1. JR and JD
2. Merry Kelly, Steve Cottrell, Kevin Kelly
3. Steve Cottrell, Frank Jurney, Nancy Cottrell
4. Chuck Goebel with Mom, Irene, and sister Mary

Officers cooking breakfast for their troops

1. Bill Vandegriff, Craig Sullivan, Ed Combs
2 . Steve Cottrell, JD and Beth Murray
3. Steve Cottrell and Skipper McElroy

Submitted by Frank Ambrose

3/5 Marines and their Ladies

1. Sgt.Maj. Wright holding our 3/5 colors for M/3/5 Marines Bob Montgomery and Frank Ambrose
2. Charles Tate, Bob Montgomery, Frank Ambrose
3. Charles Tate, Frank Ambrose
4. Bob Montgomery, Chaplain Roger Richards, Frank Ambrose

Col. Dean Esslinger, Col. Bill Rockey, Frank Ambrose

1. Charles and Nancy Tate (Charles was the Marine criminal investigator for I Corps in Nam)
2. Bob and Nancy Montgomery
3. Frank and Barbara Ambrose
4. Nancy Tate, Nancy Montgomery, Barbara Ambrose

Submitted by Steve Cottrell

1. 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines and FMF Corpsmen
2. 3/5 Ladies
3. M Co. 3/5

1. Steve Cottrell, JR McElroy, Frank Jurney
2. JR McElroy, Steve Cottrell, JD Murray, Bill Mulcrevy
3. Frank Jurney, Steve Cottrell, JD Murray
4. JR McElroy and JD Murray

1. Steve Cottrell and Frank Jurney with our 3/5 Colors
2. Steve Cottrell and Bill Mulcrevy with M Co. 3/5 Colors
3. JD Murray and Steve Cottrell
4. BJ Vandegriff
5 . BJ Vandegriff with 3/5 Colors

Steve Cottrell presenting Frank Jurney with NCO sword won at the raffle

" I won the sword....Nancy was holding my tickets and went up and got it. Frank and I were in line together to buy tickets. I bought mine first and then he said, 'Boy...that sword is going to look good on my mantle,' and I said 'Well, the bad news is I've got the winning ticket right here...but the good news is when I win it, I'm going to give it to you.'" Steve Cottrell

1. Chuck Cummings and Kevin Kelly
2 . Kevin Kelly, Frank Jurney, Steve Cottrell, JD Murray
3 . Bill Vandegriff and son, BJ
4. JR McElroy, Steve Cottrell, JD Murray

1. Nancy Cottrell and Brad Reynolds
2. Steve Cottrell and Chuck Goebel
3. Steve Cottrell and Bill Mulcrevy
4. Byron Hill and Debbe Reynolds

Warren Wilson (1stMarDiv Combat Photographer) and Steve Cottrell

1. Debbe and Brad Reynolds, Bill Vandegriff
2. Steve Cottrell and JD Murray
3. "Doc" Glenn Glasgow and "Doc" Dave Magnenat
4. Bill Vandegriff's 3/5 cover