SOAR

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

Las Vegas Blvd

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.