Written by: Norman R. Jones
The 2nd annual reunion of the 17th Artillery Regiment Association was held June 1-3, 2000, at the Best Western Washington Gateway Hotel in Rockville, Maryland. Veterans started arriving on 30 May. On 31 May 2000, some of us took the subway and went to the Pentagon for a tour. There we were escorted by a US Army sergeant and walked about 1 and 1/2 miles of the hallways. The tour was quite interesting and very educational. Upon returning to the hotel, we found out that a few more of our veterans had checked in.
On 1 May, the remainder had checked in. We had a good crowd and went to eat at a family restaurant. We enjoyed the company of Harold & Erma Brown Sr. and Harold M. (Buck) & Bonnie Brown Jr. with daughter, Jessica. They are family members of Robert R. Brown (KIA) C/2/17th Artillery. That evening we went back to the hospitality room in the hotel, sat around, and looked at pictures. Harold and Erma Brown Sr. were presented with a life membership. On 2 May, the group went in several different directions to tour DC. Everyone met at the Vietnam Memorial Wall at 1pm. Webster Cole assembled the group and said a prayer before touring the wall. Thanks Webster! Upon returning to the hotel, everyone then proceeded to the Home of Richard S. Shrout for a cook out. Richard and his lovely wife, Sandy, opened their home to all of us. Paul Fusco and a couple of others did the honor of grilling the burgers and hot-dogs. Then all of a sudden, a thunder storm came up and everyone went inside. After it passed over, we all went back outside and took group pictures. (At the bottom of this page ) The cookout turned out great. Everyone enjoyed it! Sandy and Richard, we thank you very much. Both of you are wonderful people. After things wound down, we all went back to the hospitality room.
Just before our general membership meeting, on 3 May, we had a gentlemen named Steve Kostecki (Retired Air Force) arrive. He was representing one of our casualties from Vietnam, Nickolaus C. Zozula (Ukrainian American born in West Germany the year of 1945 and came to the United States in 1953) C Battery 2/17th Artillery. Steve, we enjoyed your visit. Also on that same morning we welcomed the first Battalion Commander of the 2/17th Artillery in Vietnam, LTC Harry O Amos. He brought along some slides and told us of the early days in the central highlands and Camp Radclift. He also told us how they devised a harness and practiced slinging a howitzer by using a 5 ton wrecker. Harry, we enjoyed your visit and hope to see you at Fort Sill. A lot of men that served in your command are there and would love to see you.
The following officers were elected and a search committee was formed. We also voted to have our next reunion at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, on June 18-23, 2001.
Association Officers are :
Norman R. Jones ——–President
Paul Fusco —————1st Vice President
John Ryan —————–Secretary
Richard Siebe————–Treasury
Search Committee:
Mike Burke ———Committee Chief
Webster Cole
Neal Fouts
Jack Picciolo
Dick Truslow
Terry Wallace
The evening of 3 May, several of us went to the old town of Gaithersburg to an open air concert . At the beginning of the concert, they recognized the 17th Artillery Regiment Association. There we saw them perform. One of our members, Richard Shrout, participated in the singing. They were outstanding, we enjoyed it. Thanks for the invitation! We then returned to the hospitality room at which time we took pictures and said our farewells. There were a total of 43 in attendance. I want everyone to know that the Brown’s were with us every step of the way. They were there every day. Harold And Erma Brown, we love you both and we’ll see you at Fort Sill.
Note of Interest:
Albert R. (Bud) Hoffman has been back to Vietnam 5 times since 1990. He has toured both the North and South. Bud has an outstanding collection of pictures that make some very interesting history. Some of the pictures were shown at the reunion. Thanks Bud!
The following persons attended:
| Albert & Mary Alberico———NY | Jesse L. Hamilton——–GA | Harry O. Amos——-VA | Ed & Nancy Hitchner——–PA | Dave & Judy Bickler——–OH | Bud & Charyn Hoffman——–MI | Harold M. & Erma Brown Sr.——-MT | Art & Teresa Jennings——–NY | Harold M. (Buck) & Bonnie Brown Jr.——–MD | Richard & Annette Jones——–TX | Jessica Brown——–MD | Steve Kostecki——–MA | Mike Burke——–CA | Paul Raymond——–MA | Webster & Cathy Cole——–TX | John L. Ryan——–MI | Faustino & Judie Estrada w/4 family members——–AZ | Richard & Sandy Shrout——–MD | Neal Fouts———NC | Rick Siebe——–TX | Paul & Jane Fusco——–NJ | Dick Truslow——–CT | Tom & Mary Gatzke——–WI | Terry Wallace——–NC |
Bob & Eileen Gieselbach——–GA
Thanks to all who attended. The reunion was a success.
The following pictures were taken at the reunion (Click On An Image To See Full Size).
