Reunion!
Well the CAP 2-7-2 reunion has come and gone and we had a great time. Folks started showing up as early as Thursday, then we opened the hospitality suite just after noon Friday at the Embassy Suites Hotel. There were soon half-a-dozen CAP Marines standing around, introducing themselves and having some long-awaited reunions. Our number continued to grow until we gathered at a nearby barbecue restaurant for supper. Twenty-two of us had just finished eating when three more arrived, so we headed back to the hotel for a long night of conversation and looking at each others’ photo albums.
Most of Saturday was again spent crowding into the hospitality suite — marked by our red and gold “Welcome MARINES“ banner — although we kept an OP at the atrium bar most of the weekend. Mike Kubina talked the hotel into loaning us a conference room where we showed Vietnam slides provided by “Doc” Doggett and Roch Thornton through the afternoon. We gathered again Saturday night for a picnic at the Independence, Mo., home of Dennis “Huck” Prock and his wife, Sue. We had roughly 46 CAP Marines and family members, including 17 former members of CAP 2-7-2.
We’re calling it the biggest gathering of Marines from a single CAP since the war!
The hospitality suite was crowded again until late Saturday, then Sunday morning we had 33 for brunch at Roch and Daphne Thornton’s house nearby in Overland Park. Folks gradually had to leave for home throughout the morning and afternoon, but the last die-hards stayed talking in the family room until nearly 5 p.m.
Here is a poem Doc Doggett’s wife, Vicki, wrote about the reunion while on their way home:
Here’s a list of those who attended (compiled from memory):
| Rick “Doc” Doggett & Vicki | 2-7-2 |
| Roch Thornton & Daphne | 2-7-2 |
| Paul “Tex” Hernandez & Suzanne | 2-7-10, 2-7-2 |
| Ken “Dunc” Duncan & Debra | 3rd CAG, 2-7-2 |
| Dennis “Huck” Prock & Sue | 3rd CAG, 2-7-2 |
| Sam King & Charli | 2-7-3, 2-7-2 |
| Mike Kubina & Sandi | 2-7-3, 2-7-2 |
| John “Crazy” Sigouin | 2-7-2 |
| Bob “Doc” Hipple & Melinda, Aaron | 2-7-2 |
| Nelson Kilmister | 2-7-2 |
| Luis “Marty” Martinez | 2-7-10, 2-7-2 |
| Raphael “Marty” Martinez | 2-7-2 |
| Mike Harper & Robin | 2-7-2 |
| Jim Vollberg & Ann | 2-7-4 |
| Scottie Shirley & Sammi | 2-7-2 |
| Jim Wallace | 2-7-1, 2-7-2 |
| Glenn Trimble & Barb | 2-7-2 |
| Willie Fulfer & Brenda, Phillip & Wesley | 2-7-2 |
| Guy Melton | 2-7-6, 2-7-8 |
| Al “Big Al” Simmons & wife, daughters | 2-7-1, 2-7-4, CACO 2-7 |
| George Befort & Janet | 2-4-3, 2-4-4, 2-7-6 |
| Steve Schizer | 4th CAG |
| Ed Saragoza | 4th CAG |
| Terry Hoover | 4-3-1, 4-3-9 |
| Pat Morris & Susan | Delta 6 |
CAP 2-7-2 is having a reunion! In fact, any CAP Marine or corpsman is invited, with special emphasis on CACO 2-7 Marines. All family members are welcome, too!
The plans are somewhat tentative, but the details we know are included here. We will gather in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, Kan., on June 26, 27 and 28. Our headquarters will be at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 10601 Metcalf Ave., just off Interstate 435. More hotel information will be provided below.
At least 23 former Marines, from several CAPs, are already planning to attend. Several others say, “Maybe.” We even have guys from 3rd and 4th CAG on the reunion roster. Below is a list of guys who have said they’ll come. We are actively seeking more guys to attend. If you know a former CAP Marine anywhere, let him know we’re getting together!
A few weeks ago I got a call from a former member of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines who lives here in Kansas City. He has been looking for his buddies from 2-7, and somebody told him about our reunion listing on the Internet. He was disappointed it wasn’t the 2nd of the 7th having a reunion, but I invited him to come anyway. If he comes, he can be our token line grunt.
Our plan is to provide as much time as possible for just getting together. Three former CAP 2 members met in Kansas City last November and had a terrific time just sitting around, drinking coffee, looking at old photos and telling stories. We ate a couple of meals together and that was about all. That was plenty! Our wives and children heard some funny and hair-raising stories.
At least four of our attendees are dealing with alcohol problems, and others no longer drink for various reasons, so the hospitality suite and all “official” gatherings will be “dry” the weekend of June 27. That doesn’t mean you won’t be able to meet old pals in the hotel bar for a couple of cold ones, or have drinks in your room. We just want to provide an event that’s “dry” enough so that everybody can attend. If you have an alternative plan that will suit everyone, please contact Roch Thornton at (913) 648-4180, or e-mail me at rthornton@knightridder.com.
Hospitality suite (24 hours)
Saturday—- Breakfast on your own
Hospitality suite (24 hours)
“Doc” Doggett’s slide show
Lunch on your own
Group photos at 4 p.m.
Barbecue* — 5:30 p.m.
Sunday —- Brunch* — 10 a.m.
*Dennis “Huck” Prock and his wife, Sue, will host the Saturday evening barbecue at their house in Independence.
*Roch Thornton and his wife, Daphne, will host the Sunday morning brunch at their house in Overland Park. Driving directions will be provided at the hospitality suite.
Please car pool to these events, as parking will be limited.
Reunion info packets (containing printouts of this page) were mailed to those on the following list on March 7, or the date listed. If you or someone you know would like an information packet, please call Roch Thornton at (913) 648-4180, or e-mail me at rthornton@knightridder.com.
Jim Vollberg 2-7-4 Nelson Kilmister 2-7-2 Sam King 2-7-3, 2-7-2 Ken Duncan 2-7-2, 3rd CAG Capt. Bob Mallard 7th CACO Glenn Trimble 2-7-2 R.D. Erpelding 2-7-2 Bob Hipple 2-7-2 Mike Kubina 2-7-2, 2-7-3 Walter Wallace 2-7-2 Luis Martinez 2-7-2 John Sigouin 2-7-2 Steve Schizer 4th CAG? -- March 24 Scottie Shirley 2-7-2 -- March 27 Al Zarosinski 2-7-2 -- March 27 Art Delgado -- March 27 William T. Moore 2nd CAG -- March 27 Bob Tommas 2-7-5, 2-7-6 -- April 8 Frank Bianchino 2nd CAG HQ -- April 8 Roy Vest 2-7-4 -- April 14 Dennis Prock 2-7-2 -- April 14 "Big Al" Simmons 2-7-4, 2-7-1, CACO 2-7 -- April 16 Mike Harper 2-7-2 -- May 13 Pat Harris 2-7-2 -- May 26 Terry Short 2-7-2 -- May 27
Reunion information has been e-mailed to the following:
Pat Morris — Delta 6 — jpmorri@nppd.com — March 30
Dalls Dotty — dadoty@feist.com — March 31
Terry Hoover — THOOVER@KUMC.EDU — March 31
Jack Driggers — JACLINJOSMAT@prodigy.net — April 3
The Embassy Suites Hotel of Overland Park will be our headquarters for the CAP 2-7-2 reunion. They will give us a group rate of $104 per two-room “suite” per night. Their usual weekend rate is $119 per night. It’s not much of a break, but better than paying the full freight. They will try to put us all on the same floor, but did not PROMISE that, what with some rooms already reserved and some of us wanting non-smoking rooms, handicapped rooms, etc.
To get the lower rate you can call the hotel’s toll-free reservation number (listed below). However, Tex and Suzanne Hernandez recommend calling the hotel directly, 913-649-7060, and asking for “Jason” in reservations. Apparently they’ve got him trained. You must mention our “group name” to get the group rate. Our group name is “CAP 2-7-2 Reunion,” but don’t be surprised if they think it’s CAP “two-hundred seventy-two.” I have signed a contract promising we will use 8-15 rooms. I’m not sure why they want the contract, but they say I won’t be financially liable if we fall short of those numbers. The CAP 2-7-2 group rate won’t be guaranteed on reservations made after June 6. If you call after that date, they will try (but won’t promise) to get you into a nearby room at the group rate.
The Embassy Suites Hotel is a fairly new place, used during the week by business types in suits. Each suite has a “living” room separated from the bedroom by a short hallway. This will be handy if your wife wants to sleep and a couple of old buddies are still yakking away in the living room. The bathroom opens off the hallway. Two-bedroom suites are available at a higher nightly rate. The hotel is near the intersection of Metcalf Ave. and Interstate 435 in south suburban Kansas City.
Amenities include a central atrium (with a waterfall), a gift shop, bar, restaurant, indoor pool and jacuzzi, complimentary breakfast, room service until 11 p.m., complimentary transportation within five miles of the hotel. Each suite has a sofa that pulls out into a full-size bed, wet bar with refrigerator, coffee maker, two telephones, two televisions, Sony Playstations and hair dryers.
For those who might enjoy more privacy, or prefer something cheaper than $104 per night, there are three hotels/motels within easy walking distance of the Embassy Suites. They are the mid-priced Hampton Inn about a block away, and the mid-priced Wyndham Garden Hotel — also only one block away. The Red Roof Inn (the cheapest) is about two blocks away.
If you think you might come to the reunion, please MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW! We have a lot of June weddings in Overland Park and those hotels and motels fill up pretty fast. If you decide not to come, you can always cancel your reservation.
Embassy Suites Hotel (Headquarters)
10601 Metcalf Ave.
Overland Park, Kan. 66212
(913) 649-7060 Voice
(800) 362-2779 Toll-free reservations
(913) 649-9382 Fax
http://www.embassy-suites.com/
CAP reunion rate: $104/night
Wyndham Garden Hotel
7000 West 108th St.
Overland Park, Kan. 66211
(913) 383-2550 Voice
(800) 996-3426 Toll-free reservations
(913) 383-2099 Fax
http://www.travelweb.com/
Weekend rates for June: $69 single-$79 double
Hampton Inn
16555 Midland Dr.
Overland Park, Kan. 66216
(913) 248-1900 Voice
(800) 426-7866 Toll-free reservations
(913) 248-8567 Fax
http://www.hamptoninn-suites.com/
Published rates (may change): $79-$84
Red Roof Inn (motel with walk-out rooms)
6800 West 108th St.
Overland Park, Kan. 66211
(913) 341-0100 Voice
(800) 843-7663 Toll-free reservations
(913) 341-2757 Fax
Published rates (may change): $60 single-$70 double
Also near the Embassy Suites, but too far to walk comfortably, are the Marriott, the Drury Inn and the Residence Inn.
Marriott (high-rise hotel)
10800 Metcalf Ave.
Overland Park, Kan. 66210
(913) 451-8000 Voice
(800) 228-9290 Toll-free reservations
http://www.marriott.com/marriott/MCIOP/
Drury Inn (motel)
10951 Metcalf Ave.
Overland Park, Kan. 66210
(913) 345-1500 Voice
(800) 325-8300 Toll-free reservations
Residence Inn (large suites)
6300 West 110th St.
Overland Park, Kan. 66211
(913) 491-3333 Voice
(800) 228-9290 Toll-free reservations
There is a regular shuttle service from Kansas City International to the hotels and motels in the vicinity of the Embassy Suites. It’s called the “KCI Shuttle.” They have bright red ticket/information booths in each of KCI’s four terminal buildings. All you do is grab your luggage, walk up to one of the KCI Shuttle booths and tell ’em where you want to go. No reservations are required for incoming passengers, though you might want to call and reserve a seat for the trip from your hotel back to KCI.
KCI Shuttle charges $15 one-way and $27 round-trip for the ride between KCI and lodgings in Overland Park. A shuttle bus leaves the airport at :10 and :40 after each hour and the trip is about 40 minutes, depending on how many stops they make. The last departure from KCI is at 11:55 p.m.
If you want to double-check the details, call KCI Shuttle at (816) 243-5000. At KCI you can pick up any white “courtesy” phone and dial 5000 for a direct connection to the KCI Shuttle HQ.
1. Play “connect the dots” with “Crazy’s” shrapnel scars.
2. Ask “Duncan” why a contractor wears a cowboy hat.
3. Borrow “Tex’s” wheelchair for hallway races.
4. Meet a room full of guys who actually care what your MOS was.
5. A good excuse to break out your old poncho liner.
6. Shout “incoming” and watch 10 guys dive under a table.
7. Feel at “home” in the heat and humidity of a Kansas summer.
8. Mutter “do mammy” at a slow waitress and hear somebody laugh.
9. Good fields of fire from the Embassy Suites balconies.
10. No C-rations — we promise!