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17th
Artillery Regiment Association
2010
Reunion
Country
Cascades
Pigeon
Forge, Tennessee
27
October – 30 October 2010
By:
Thomas R. Kurtz, Association President
Most
veterans and their family members arrived on Wednesday October 27 and signed
into the Hotel. There were a number of veterans who could only stop by and say
hello or stay for a couple of days. We were glad to see them all. The turnout
for this reunion of veterans, spouses, family and friends is the best to date.
Many thanks to those who attended and hopefully all will be able to attend one
of the future reunions.
There
was much to do in Pigeon Forge with all of the shows and sights to see, plus the
Smokey Mountains, in their fall colors, and close by Dollywood. A number of
local shows and sights were taken in by our veterans, spouses and friends. All
had to get use to the bumper to bumper traffic down the main road.
Our
guest speaker this year was Command Sergeant Major Carlos Esmurria, who
currently is serving as the Command Sergeant Major of the 2nd Battalion, 17th
Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington. CSM Esmurria previously
served as the Command Sergeant Major of the 3rd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery
Regiment both at Fort Lewis and in Afghanistan. Most had a chance to talk to him
and he took a lot of questions about the soldiers who are currently serving.
Carlos also joined the association and became its 122nd Life Member.
Thanks
to all who donated items for either the silent or the live auctions. The live
auction was held after the annual banquet and special thanks to all who made
bids. This year the stained glass 17th Field Artillery Regiment
Distinctive Unit Insignia was donated to CSM Carlos Esmurria, by Norman Jones on
behalf of the association, for the Regimental Room of the 2nd
Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment. Thanks again to Mike
Klingeman for the donation of the stained glass items and donating his winnings
from the 50/50 drawing back to the scholarship fund.
This
year the general membership voted to give the same number of grants and money to
the 2011 scholarship grants as last years. Without the great support of our
member this program would not be possible.
Thanks to all who attended this year's reunion and hopefully all will be able to attend the 2011 reunion to be held at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
CLICK ON THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO MAKE LARGER
A current CSM and two former CSMs |
Annette Jones |
Bert Ryan & John Melasecca jr. |
Bob & Eileen Giselbach |
Carl Trammell & Larry Sanders |
Carlos Esmurria & Norman Jones |
Carol jean & Dan Lazenberry |
Charles Garner & Jerry (Doc) Cody |
Charles Garner & Rod Guerrero |
Charles Morrison & Larry Miller |
Guest Speaker |
GW & Kathy Adkission |
Served in B Battery |
Served in C Battery |
Served in HQ Battery |
Served in Service battery |
Jack Brady |
Jean & Jim Sanders |
John Ryan |
Korean War Vets - Jack Brady & Dan Lazenberry |
Larry & Annette Hightower & daughter Jane Williams |
Larry Hightower, Rich Siebe, Norman Jones, Carlos Esmurria, Jack Stroud |
Larry Sadler, Bill Beers Jr., Larry Lovejoy & Rich Siebe |
Molly Stroud - highest bidder |
Norman Jones presenting 17th DUI to CSM Esmurria for 2nd BN HQ |
Paul Raymond & Joe Russo |
Peggy & Michael Dages and Leigh Gobel and Steve Gerhardt |
Rich Siebe |
Rod Guerrero |
Terry Wallace, Norman Jones, Terry Earnst |
Terry Wallace, Paul Raymond, Joe Russo, Charles Morrison |
Tom Kurtz and CSM Carlos Esmurria |
welcome sign at the Country Cascades |
Phyllis & Richard Flowers |
Rich Siebe and Jerry (Doc) Cody |
Rich Siebe, Carl Trammell, Jack Picciolo |
Ron & Teresa Hood |
Ruth & James Will |
Served in C Battery during the attack on LZ George, April 3, 1968 |
Some of the ladies |
Terry & Janet Earnst |
