The Bullwhip Squadron Reunion was a
huge success, with about 175 (?) troopers and their
families in attendance. From my perspective it was a
chance to see some other Gold Star Family members;
Bullwhip leadership that I had corresponded with but
never met; my own beloved C Troopers and their families
who I see too infrequently; and four of the guys I was in
Vietnam with in 2009.
In Atlanta I met up with Mike Sprayberry, the 5/7th
Cav Trooper and MOH recipient who I was in Vietnam with
in both 2006 and 2009. That evening we had dinner with
Norman Lloyd, who was an embedded CBS cameraman in 1970
and who is making a documentary (Norman was in Vietnam
with us in 2009). Also Bob Witt, a 227th pilot and
Atlanta resident who I had corresponded with for some
years but never met. We met Bob's wife Tanya the next
morning before departing for Columbus.
In Columbus we started running into troopers like
Galen & Ilah Rosher, Pat & Carol Bieneman, Larry
&Carol Brown, Bert & Eileen Chole, Vaughn Caine,
Tom & Karen Betts, Chuck & Judy Kinnie, Debbie
Lewis, Jim & Diane Pressman, Jim Kurtz, Doug Ricks,
Jack Shields, and many more. I hate to name names because
of fear of leaving somebody out. There were some who had
planned to be there but were not, who were very much
missed.
We had dinner that evening with Norman Lloyd, John
Powell and Ed & Lee Garr. Ed, a Marine, is of John's
co-tour leaders at Military Historical Tours. Ed led our
Vietnam tours in 2006 and 2009. It was a delight to meet
his wife Lee, herself a former Marine (if there is such a
thing as former).
That evening in the hospitality room, they had
arranged a live feed connecting with 1st Squadron 9th Cav
troopers currently serving in Mosul. The team left Fort
Hood for Iraq on September 15 & 16. Bullwhip Squadron
members in the hospitality room had a chance to go to the
microphone and talk to (and actually see on the screen)
the guys over in Iraq who are carrying on their legacy.
The current troopers had high praise for their forebears.
In the hospitality room was a huge wooden cross
carved especially for the BWS by Joe Nave, son of Maj
BillyJoe Nave, who was killed in 1966 in a mid-air while
serving as commander of C Troop. Joe had brought some of
his other wood carvings for the silent auction. Since we
had corresponded earlier this year, it was great to
finally meet him and see the work he has done out of love
for the squadron and the guys who helped him get to know
his dad better.
Saturday we toured the National Infantry Museum
where I was introduced to Betty Porrazzo, widow of Louis
Porrazzo who was a B Troop scout pilot killed in 1967. It
did my heart good to see Betty being so well taken care
of by Bert Chole, John Flanagan, Larry Brown, and Jim
Pratt who knew her husband. The museum is a huge place
that's very well done. While walking through the first
line of exhibits portraying each of the wars, we came
into the Vietnam portrayal of the Ia Drang battles where
they had a Huey with some Vietnam (Cambodia) footage
running on a screen - to his surprise Norman Lloyd saw
some of it was footage he had shot back in 1970. We also
ran into Jim Talley who works at the museum, and another
fellow there on a tour totally unrelated to the Bullwhip
Squadron Reunion by the name of Phil Merritt who asked if
we knew Pat Bieneman as they had served together. Sure
thing, I took his contact info and passed it on to Pat.
It's a VERY small world. Phil was very excited about a
book he was writing about his time in the service,
primarily for his kids and grandkids, and was eager to
hear about the reunion and the organization.
The banquet Saturday evening was perfectly paced,
as troopers from all units gathered for group photos at
the convention center and then had dinner and a great
program. Along came Russell and Rena, "locals" who always
seem to show up at just the right time and place and I am
always so glad to see them. Having Russell there, who was
first to the scene of my brother's crash and helped put
David on the medevac helicopter, along with John Powell
who was flying Cobra high bird on that last mission, plus
Jim Pressman and Ed Gruetzemacher who served with David
during his short time in Vietnam, completed the picture
for me. Thank you all for being there.
The BWS asked widows of our fallen troopers to
stand and gave them each a yellow rose in recognition of
their sacrifice. Much to my surprise, the presentations
also included a C Troop Guidon (flag) given to me by Jim
Pressman, Ed Gruetzemacher and John Powell. I should have
known something was up when they asked those who served
with David Kink to come to the podium. Additionally,
presentations were made to Betty Porrazzo, Sandee and Tom
Swanson, the widow and brother of Capt. Jon Swanson who
was killed in 1971 while on his second tour, with B
Troop. He was awarded the MOH posthumously. And also Joe
and Terri Nave, children of Maj BillyJoe Nave. Did I miss
anybody?
What an honor it was to receive the C Troop flag. I
can't express what it meant to me. I am so blessed by my
relationships with all those who have so warmly welcomed
me into the extended family. As I have said many times,
Vietnam took a lot away from me, and it also gave me a
lot. I know David would be proud of John, Ed and Jim for
standing up there that evening in his memory.
The Memorial Service Sunday morning was very short
and well-run - a roll call of some of the names of the
men we lost, who were not there to answer when called. It
was quite touching.
Joe Bowen, Jim Kurtz, Walt Titchenell, Larry
Wright, Chuck Ridenour and the rest who I'm neglecting to
name are really to be commended for a superb reunion.
Everything ran so smoothly and it was an unforgettable
experience for those of us who attended in the place of a
loved one who could not be there. I can easily remember
how worried I was when I attended my first gathering of
veterans, feeling like I would be unwelcome and would
represent only pain and bad memories better forgotten.
That was in 1996. As you know, those concerns were
quickly erased. I really feel that I am a part of this
large extended family. I can't say enough about the
warmth that just seemed to surround the whole event.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliekink/sets/72157625166936238/show/
Little sister,
Julie Kink
sister of WO David Kink C Troop 1/9th Cav KIA
8-3-1969
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