This reunion celebrated our 35th Anniversary of serving together in Vietnam.  It also celebrated the 5th Anniversary of establishing the LZ Russell Association and the 35th Anniversary of pulling the 3rd Marine Division out of Vietnam.  Our main objective was to lay a wreath at The Wall honoring those who died on LZ Russell and LZ Neville, especially all of those who died in the battle of Feb. 25, 1969.  We had a small ceremony on the grounds of The Wall and the names of our dead were read by several of our members.  Ted Lively played a beautiful rendition of "Amazing Grace" on his bag pipes as our procession toward the wall began.

The names on The Wall are laid out according to the day they died.  Most of the men we knew on Russell and Neville died in the February 25th battle and were memorialized together on Panel W-31.  Our ceremony attracted the attention of hundreds of Wall visitors and they actually became part of it, in a way.  Seeing all those names of people we know, together on the wall, made me feel like they were there with me.  When I wished them happiness on their eternal journey, I felt as if every one of them heard me. 

Greg Bachnik, our Chaplain, made a wonderful prayer and it was over.  We stood around for an hour or so, just looking at the names, taking pictures and chatting with passersby.  Then we all wandered off to reflect on the memories in our own ways.  I have no doubt that most of us benefited from the closure this ceremony provided us.  It was as close as we could get to saying "Farwell" to our buddies in person.

Business Meeting Minutes

Reunion Financial Report

Greg's Pictures

Doc Smith's Pictures

Skip's Pictures