Chapter member Jim Ryan (2nd. from L) also attended the reunion with Russ.

AFTER THE SERVICE AND HONORING OF FELLOW MARINE JIM BROOKS AT SCHRADER FUNERAL HOME THAT EVENING IN JANUARY, MANY OF US WERE INVITED AND WENT TO THE BALLWIN VFW POST 6274 TO GATHER AND TOAST JIM AND SHARE STORIES OF HIM. WHILE THERE, JAMIE BROOKS VERY QUIETLY CAME INTO THE HALL AREA AND PRESENTED A LARGE MOUNTED FLASK TO HIS MARINE FRIEND, RON PORTIS. MY WIFE AND I HAPPENED TO BE SEATED CLOSE BY AND HEARD JAMIE TELL RON THAT JIM HAD PLANNED TO GIVE IT TO HIM ON THAT  WEDNESDAY. WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO PREVENT THAT. THE FLASK WAS TO BE A SURPRISE PRANK GIFT FOR RON'S TAILGATE CELEBRATING. BEFORE SHE LEFT I ASKED FOR A PHOTO OR TWO OF HER PRESENTING IT TO RON ONCE MORE. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE MEMORABLE MOMENTS YOU DON'T FORGET. MY PERSONAL THOUGHT WAS, 'EVEN AFTER HIS PASSING, JIM WAS STILL GIVING’. LATER I ASKED JAMIE IF IT WOULD BE OK TO FOWARD THE PHOTOS TO SOME ORGS SO THEY COULD POST ONE OR BOTH IN THEIR NEWSLETTERS OR ON WEBSITES. SHE SAID THATS FINE. IN THE SECOND PHOTO, JAMIE LOOKS TO BE TELLING RON 'SSHHHH'....THE SAME HUMOROUS MESSAGE THATS ON THE FLASK !! 
SEMPER FI, BOB HOWARD 2/16/16​

Russ Whitener (L.) with Col. John Clark, a former POW of the Vietnam War, who was held captive for six years in the Hanoi Hilton.

Soldiers Memorial Military Museum

Michael Klingeman

10/30/24

Gary Hutchison Memorial Chapter 1028

On August 14th, 2022 member Bob Hanak participated in the  Joshua Chamberlain Society's annual Bike Run benefiting Wounded Warriors. Bob rode 50 miles in support of the fundraiser.

Bill De Armond and Jesse Lee Kinslow

Bob Hanak

Russ with Pee Wee, the Battery's laundry boy.

Vietnam Display Inside the Museum

Russ Whitener attends the 2nd / 94th Field Artillery Reunion in September 2016

James Kinslow presented photos of his father Jesse Lee Kinslow at the December 2016 meeting. Jesse was a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen Group in WWII.

Odds and Ends

Mike Erxleben and his driver at Silver Dollar City

On May 29th, 2023, Chapter Member Mike Klingeman attended the Memorial Day Celebration at the Soldiers Memorial in Downtown St. Louis. Mike read a section of names from a list of area veterans who made the Supreme Sacrifice in the Vietnam War.

For more information on The Joshua Chamberlain Society click here

Vietnam Veterans of America

Bob Howard attends the Reunion 1st Force Reconnaissance Co and Mike Co, 3rd Bn, 5th Marines 

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Bob Howard (L.) and Elliot (J.J.) Rubenfeld of the 1st Force Reconnaissance Co and Mike Co, 3rd Bn, 5th Marines, (i.e Mike 3/5) had a reunion in Florida in January 2016.