359 entries.
wrote on March 29, 2022 at 2:42 pm:
Ref. BIll BEERS- Bill called me early this afternoon to talk about his condition and what Dr.'s have said
1) The Dr. told him that the dye used in him at the VA messed up his liver and kidneys causing him to retain water thus making him swell. They drew 5 liters of water off of him yesterday. (He said it seemed strange having a flat stomach now.)
2) The kidney Dr. said if dialysis was started it might mess up the rest of his liver and spleen and take him out. (He's been dealing with non-alcoholic cirrhosis for a while) Bill asked the Dr. what he would do if it was him and the Dr. told him, "I think I'd probably take my chances to ride it out. It might be tomorrow or it might be a few months." Bill is asking everyone to keep him in prayer. He is at Lewistown hospital in PA. No word yet on positive causes for the two small heart attacks.
Remember cards, calls, emails and prayers go a long way and right now this old soldier and a pillar to our organization needs a lot!
wrote on March 28, 2022 at 6:54 pm:
Ref. BILL BEERS: I just got off of the phone with Bill. He sounded like he might still be a little sedated but still he was in good spirits as always. He informed me they drew fluid off of his stomach today as he watched it go down. He hasn't heard anything else from the other Dr.s attending to him today. He still doesn't know when he'll be discharged. He wants to thank everyone for the prayers and concern. Please continue to do so for this trooper! Remember cards, calls, emails, and prayers go a long way.
wrote on March 26, 2022 at 3:33 pm:
Ref. BILL BEERS-I just got off of the phone with Bill Beers after not hearing from him in over a week. He is back in the hospital in Lewistown, PA. (unable find out if VA or not) after being taken to the ER last Sunday from extensive vomiting. He told me had been swelling up in his chest and stomach since returning home from his last stay. The Dr.s have told him 1) he's had two light heart attacks recently that he didn't know about 2) His kidney level is down to around 4%-40% 3) They are going to draw fluid off his stomach 4) He has non alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver 5) He still can't see well from his last eye operation. He's happy that one of his nieces is his nurse. Bill and I had prayer together and right now a lot more would be great as he has asked for. He has his cell phone with him but sounds very tired. Remember cards, calls, emails, and prayer go a long way! ( I will be back in touch with him within the next two days.)
wrote on March 23, 2022 at 11:00 am:
Ref. Susan Dahlin (Bill's wife) I received to following update from Bill yesterday.
Hi, Chaplain Richard.
Susan is doing great. Praise God!
She finally completed her tests. The final one was an outpatient MRI on her head last Thursday and it showed "nothing" - I mean no injuries. It has been seven weeks since she fell in our kitchen and hit her head on our hutch. She was leaning over to pick up something from the floor she had dropped.
Time heals, I mean God provides us self healing bodies along with the power of His answers to our prayers. We still stay pretty busy with doctors appointments and physical therapy twice a week - but still find plenty of time to eat, if you know what I mean! and sleep! Ha!
Remember cards, calls, emails, and prayers go a long way!
wrote on March 15, 2022 at 9:37 am:
Ref: Susan Dahlin- Bill's wife Susan is no longer in the hospital. She does however have to go back to the hospital Thursday for an MRI of her skull. Please continue to keep this family in your prayers. Remember cards, calls, emails, and prayers go a long way.
wrote on March 7, 2022 at 11:52 am:
Ref.: Bill Dahlin- I talked with Bill today and he told me about an accident Susan, his wife, had.
"Susan fell here at home at the beginning of February. Because she continued to have some vertigo, some pain and some blurred vision,
I took her to the hospital for exams and treatment Friday afternoon.
We hope she'll be released this afternoon - Monday - today."
Remember cards, calls, emails, and prayers go a long way.
wrote on February 17, 2022 at 11:51 am:
Ref. Rich Siebe- Please keep the family of Rich Siebe in your prayers. His uncle, Les Berggren passed away this week due to cancer.
Remember cards, calls, emails, and prayers go a long way.
wrote on February 16, 2022 at 6:54 pm:
Any B 2nd 17th veterans have any knowledge of a rocket attack in late Nov or early Dec 1970 that injured a member of the FDC bunker?
I was that guy’s replacement.
Any comments would be helpful as I would like to locate that injured individual.
Thanks,
Jack Buckler
Butler, PA
wrote on February 8, 2022 at 6:28 pm:
Ref.: Bill Beers-One of our board members and a friend to all, has been in the VA hospital for 2 days due to a detached retina from one of his eyes. They gave him a shot in it and had to keep him two days He's finally making out a few figures on TV but still can't read.
Let's all join in and hope he regains his full sight and I think this time prayers and phone calls will help a lot being he can't fully read yet.
wrote on February 7, 2022 at 1:22 pm:
Ref.- STEVE SCHLICHER- I spoke with Mrs. Schlicher today. Her husband Steve passed away Jan.31, 2022 after a long battle with cancer as a result of Agent Orange. He was in C/2/17th FA in Viet Nam. There will be a memorial service Feb. 28,2022 at Kentucky Veterans Memorial cemetery at 1330 hrs. in Radcliff, KY. (The location is across from Ft. Knox. A full obituary is online at Owens Funeral Home, Louisville, Kentucky. (No addresses are published here due to it being a public site) Mrs. Schlicher asks for all veterans that can to please come to the memorial service. Remember cards, calls, emails, and prayers go a long way!
wrote on February 1, 2022 at 6:33 pm:
REF: Steve Gerhardt- I spoke with Steve this morning referenced his accident several months ago. He says he's doing fine and pretty much back to normal. Let's hope he continues on this way. Remember cards, calls, emails, and prayers go a long way!
wrote on January 26, 2022 at 4:54 pm:
Ref.: 1st Sgt. BOBBY WEST (Ret.) Norm Jones informed me this week of his 1st Sgt Bobby West passing away Nov.21, 2021 in Arizona. He was a LM of the association as well. He was 89 years old and joined the Army in 1949. I got in touch with his son Tim this afternoon, who also happens to be a retired 2nd generation artilleryman and retired Army. Tim informed me that his father had been in the 17th FA three different times but knew definitely the 2nd Bn in Viet Nam 1968-69, but not sure of the others and he would try to locate his dad's papers. Being this is a public site no addresses or phone numbers are published here unless the family wishes it. 1st Sgt. Brown's son can be contact by contacting me at my email or my phone number which are on the roster and prior Newsletters. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers. Cards, calls, emails,
and prayers go a long way!
wrote on January 1, 2022 at 12:34 pm:
REF. CECIL LeGrand- I spoke with Cecil's wife Judy just minutes ago. Cecil passed away with a combination of COPD and pneumonia. We had a prayer together and she gave me his obituary which is as follows: Cecil Paul LeGrand
Henderson - A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Monday, January 3, 2022, at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Henderson for Cecil Paul LeGrand, 73, who passed away on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at St. Martin Hospital.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at the funeral home in Cecilia from 2:30 pm until 9:00 pm on Sunday and continue on Monday at 8:00 am until 10:30 am.
A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 pm on Sunday.
Rev. Keith Landry will officiate at the Funeral Mass. Interment will follow at St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery in Henderson.
Cecil honorably and proudly served in the United States Army in the Vietnam War. He was also a member of the VFW posts in Cecilia and Arnaudville. Cecil was a devout Catholic and parishioner of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church. Cecil worked as a boat captain for over 50 years. He was an avid sports fan, but especially enjoyed watching LSU and the Saints. Cecil was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, who will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Judy Belaire LeGrand; sons, Dwayne LeGrand and Dwight LeGrand; daughter, Danielle Montet (Daniel); grandchildren, Dylan LeGrand, Devon LeGrand, Madison LeGrand, Tristan LeGrand, Nadelyn LeGrand, Chloe Hollier and Cadence Hollier; brothers, Jimmy LeGrand (Liz) and Charlie LeGrand; and sisters, Peggy Choplin and Sally Blanchard (Gary).
He was preceded in death by his father, Paul LeGrand; mother, Solange Huval LeGrand; and stepmother, Lorena Louviere LeGrand.
Pallbearers will be Dwayne LeGrand, Dwight LeGrand, Devon LeGrand, Tristan LeGrand, Daniel Montet, and Shawn Belaire.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dylan LeGrand, Jimmy LeGrand, and Charlie LeGrand.
Pellerin Funeral Home of Cecilia, 2238 Bushville Hwy., Cecilia, LA 70521, (337-332-2111) is in charge of arrangements.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Cecil LeGrand, please visit our flower store.
Please remember cards, calls, emails, and prayers go a long way in troubled times.
wrote on December 31, 2021 at 11:04 am:
I would like to wish all you 17th FA vets a very Happy New Year and hope it is much better than 2021.
wrote on December 30, 2021 at 12:31 pm:
Ref. CECIL LeGrand- Buford Califry notified me today that Cecil passed away either today or last night. I will post more info as I obtain it. For those that knew him know that he could make anyone laugh. Please keep Cecil's family in your prayers. Remember cards, calls, emails, and especially prayers go a long way!
wrote on December 27, 2021 at 12:27 pm:
Ref. ED DINGMAN- I received a thank you card from Judy Dingman today. It reads as follows: To the 17th Artillery Regiment Association. "Your kindness and concern have meant so very much and will always be remembered. Thank you for the floral spray and the many prayers offered on our behalf." The family of Ed Dingman.
Please continue to to keep Judy and her family in your prayers and thoughts.
wrote on December 24, 2021 at 9:41 am:
I just want to wish all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year! Just keep in mind, "Jesus is the reason for the season."
Prayers go out to all of our members who are sick, those of families that have lost their spouses, loved ones as well as to those lost to Covid.. Let us not forget them. Let us pray that this upcoming year that Covid goes away and all of those affected by it are healed. Give thanks "for unto us a Savior is born!" Merry Christmas and God Bless you all. Richard A. Smith -Chaplain
wrote on December 17, 2021 at 7:07 am:
Ref. DAN REEVESI spoke with Dan yesterday and he told me that he was home from the hospital and was only taking four aspirins daily for pain. He says he's doing really well. He was surprised at how much better he felt and how little amount of pain he's had.
Let's continue to keep him in our prayers. Remember cards, calls, emails and prayers go a long way
wrote on December 13, 2021 at 10:52 am:
Ref. GENE Johnson's wife Carol. I spoke with Gene and he told me that Carol's Carotid artery procedure was successful and she's doing well.
wrote on December 13, 2021 at 10:48 am:
Ref. DAN REEVES Dan called me today telling me he was hoping to go home tomorrow. He said as far as pain went, he's taking two Tylenol daily. Last night was the first night sleeping all night. The surgery was a double bypass which lasted six hours and they had to defibrillate him once. Please continue to pray for Dan on his good recovery so far. Remember cards, calls, letters and prayers go a long way!