1/92nd Field Artillery Association
Vietnam

Reunion

The 1/92nd Field Artillery had a Battalion march order in November 1999. As in the past, the participants traveled by road and by air. The soldiers were converging on Fort Bragg, North Carolina, home of the 1/92nd prior to deployment to Vietnam. The danger in this trip was not an enemy army, but Mother Nature. Only weeks before, a hurricane swept though the area, causing much damage and flooding. Now a second hurricane was approaching, due to arrive Sunday, the 17th.

The reunion attendees would have to party hard and fast.The attendees all stayed at the Comfort Inn Cross Creek in Fayetteville. Friday was our travel day, and no activities were planned, other than check-in and a little socializing. We had nice rooms, and were given a reasonable rate. The hotel also gave us a small meeting room, at no charge, for our small business/social meeting. Our reunion group was small, but we all had a nice time meeting Friday night, and planning our next day's events. Saturday would be our big day in Fayetteville NC.

Our big event of the day was a tour (self guided) of Fort Bragg, followed by our noon meal, at the XVIII ABN Corps dining facility. The tour went very well, and we saw the entire post, several times. Chuck Gall was navigating using map skills honed in Vietnam. Like riding a bike, you never loose your sense of direction. The post looked great and we were amazed at the beautiful buildings the soldiers of today were occupying. The buildings would fit in anywhere as modern townhomes. Three of the attendees found another building of great interest. They were able to locate, and thanks to a very obliging E-7, receive a quick tour of their quarters of 30+ years ago. Nearby buildings were also noted, although their use has changed over the years. It was a very nostalgic trip back in time for these soldiers. During our time on post we also toured several of the museums available to the public, once our navigator was able to find them. The outdoor exhibits of vintage aircraft and artillery pieces probably attracted the most attention.

We had a very memorable lunch with the soldiers of the XVIII Corps. The dining area was a far cry from the mess halls we knew as soldiers years ago. The term "dining area" is very appropriate. Wonderful food from an array of serving areas was presented in a pretty nice setting. There were all types of salad and desert bars, plus, the area was stocked with large screen TVs so no one would miss their favorite sporting event. The seating was really nice also, and all in all, everyone enjoyed a good time. Saturday evening, the group dined at a local restaurant. We were all pretty tired from our day on post, but we still had a nice time.

The weather was becoming more of a threat, and those who would be traveling by air Sunday were becoming a bit concerned. At breakfast Sunday morning, we said our good byes, and headed for our homes. The storm was hitting Fayetteville and this was a good time to head home, but we all left with great memories of a good time, and hopes for a good time again, at reunion 2000.

Reunion 2000

The 1/92nd Field Artillery Association recently held a reunion in Kinder, Louisiana. Fifteen members and spouses converged on Kinder, for five days of fellowship, renewing friendships, and reliving the experiences of 30 years ago. Kinder is approximately 60 miles southeast of Fort Polk, and is home to the Coushatta Tribe Grand Casino, where the reunion was staged.

The reunion was held November 8-12, 2000, centering around Veteran's Day, November 11th. This coincided with the International Vietnam Veteran Reunion which was held in Oberlin, LA. Wednesday and Thursday were used as travel/arrival/rest days. We were free for site seeing, gathering with other members, or just relaxing. Due to the unexpected weather conditions, many of us needed to rest up a bit after extended travel times.

Friday was our day to tour Fort Polk. It was a pleasant drive up to the post, and we were greeted by Carol Connor, our Public Affairs contact. We boarded the Army bus and were off for a great day of seeing how the 'New Army' works. We had our noon meal at the 1/509th Inf. dining facility. We all ate well, and there were no complaints. We visited several museums and displays, including 'Force Provider' a tent city similar to the set up used by our troops in Bosnia. A graduation ceremony took place on post, and we were able to see an Air Assault class receive their wings. Several guys in our party took basic training at Fort Polk, so it was a trip back to the past for them when they spotted familiar areas. As we left the Army bus, we were all given a pack of MRE's, and the ones sampled were quite good.

Our hosts, Bruce and Mary Esther Courville, arranged for the 1/92nd to march in the Veteran's Parade on Saturday, and we looked outstanding. The weather was on the cool side, but did not hamper the stellar marching capabilities of the Brave Cannons stepping off in cadence through the streets of Oberlin. After 30 years, we still kick butt. We enjoyed a wonderful group dinner at the Grand Casino that evening, followed by several hours of shooting the breeze.

Sunday was the day for farewells, and we all returned to our homes, a little tired, but still very excited from the experience of the previous days. The 7th Reunion of the 1/92nd Brave Cannons had come to a close.

Webmaster's note: Pictures will be rotated as they become available. It is hoped that there will be many to draw from.