The week of October 14
2018
You may remember our campground the last time we were here
was not in the most desirable neighborhood. That RV park had a 6 foot security
wall with coiled razor wire strung along the top. Despite the alarming border defense,
we felt very secure inside, what with the squad of ladies who paroled the
sidewalk out front! Seriously, the only good thing about the place was it is part
of our campground membership and we stayed there for free.
This year I rectified that situation by booking at the
nicest RV Park in Las Vegas As a bonus, it is just four miles from the Orleans
Hotel where the reunion is held. On Monday we drove over and picked up our
registration credentials. While we were there we spoke with some of the early
birds to the reunion.
The next several days Millie stayed at the campground while
I attended the reunion activities. Millie
was welcome to come along, but she wanted me to be with my friends without
distraction. Besides, she had a sewing project for the grandsons that was promised
to be delivered on our return trip thru Los Alamos.
Yes, Millie has a sewing machine in the motorhome, she also has another one she
leaves at her daughters, and two or three more at home in Myrtle Beach.
Orleans Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas |
The reunion is mostly a guy thing, a hospitality room (bar),
a symposium on the aviation assets that flew for SOG, an MIA/POW update, stuff
like that. I also attended a memorial for the 16 KIA who perished in an attack
on Forward Operating Base 4 on August 16 1968.
War reporter and author Joe Galloway was guest speaker at the aviation symposium. Mr Galloway coined the term "Gods own lunatics" in reference to Army aviators. |
On Wednesday evening I worked the security desk at the
hospitality room, which was much more interesting than I thought it would be. I
had almost a constant stream of folks stopping to chat including the president
of the SOA and a retired general.
Gregg Allton's M Town Show |
During the week I took Millie out to eat as often as she
wanted and we saw a Mo Town show on Tuesday night. And what Las Vegas trip would be complete without
visiting some local thrift shops!
Larry, Millie with SOA Secretary (and also our friend) Duffy Jensen |
Thursday night’s banquet brought the reunion to a close,
Afterwards Millie and I cruised Las
Vegas Blvd to take in the sights under the sparkle
of millions of lights. Just like ocean blvd in Myrtle Beach there was a long line of
vehicles in the makeshift parade.
Special Operations Association Banquet |
One last story about the reunion. This year there was an
interesting program in conjunction with the other activities. The families of
the KIA on FOB4 never knew any details of their loved ones demise. The
operations of MACVSOG (Google it) were Top Secret for 30 years after the war
ended. Because this past August was the 50 year anniversary of that tragic day
the SOA invited the family members of the fallen to SOAR. Sixty two family
members accepted the invitation. At the memorial service they heard details of
that fateful morning in 1968, for many of them it was for the first time. At
the banquet every family member received an SOA (Special Operations
Association) challenge coin and each family was presented with a plaque
honoring the sacrifice made by their loved ones.
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