July 2012 The Currahee! The Newsletter of the 506th Airborne Infantry Association (Airmobile — Air Assault) We Stand Together – then, now, and always

...and a good time was had by all! 2012 Currahee Reunion After Action Report John Lally, Chairman and Newsletter Editor, A Co. 1/506—Vietnam 1970-71

Towards the end of the Business Meeting at the 2010 Happy Birthday Currahees! Currahee Reunion in Harrisburg, the members took up The 506th celebrates 70 years of service the last agenda item...a discussion of possible venues for Bob Seitz Association President th the 2012 reunion. After a number of suggestions were C , 2/506 – Vietnam 1970-71 made, MG(Ret) David Grange rose to advance the idea of On July 20, 1942, seven months after Pearl Harbor, going to , . He cited the new Infan- the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment came into existence try Museum then being completed, as well as many other at , Georgia – a month ahead of formation of attractions of the post and the nearby city of Columbus. the 101st Airborne Infantry Division. Seventy years later, As is the usual process, the Reunion Committee (Gene active duty troopers and veterans of the regiment came Overton and Fred May along with others) did its due dili- together to celebrate the “birthday” of the famous regi- gence in exploring all of the suggestions, Their recom- ment. For all the Currahees it was a day of competition, mendation to the full Board of Directors supported Co- cooperation and recognition. lumbus as the best site for our 2012 Reunion. It turned out to be a very good recom- The day started with an early morning brigade run (Continued on p. 4) led by the regimental , (Continued on p. 9) Inside this issue:  President’s Column 2  Currahee History 10  Treasurer’s Report 21  Currahees in 25  4th BCT CO Column 3  Doc Lovy virtual clinic 11  Last Roll Call 22  Ken Johnson honored 26  Lesllie Sabo MOH 6  Reunion:Business Meeting 13  Currahee Chaplain 23  Membership report 27  2/506 Report 8  Board of Directors minutes 14  Writer’s Block 23  Sink Library 30  Fred Spaulding DSC 10  Forms 15-20  Scholarship winners 24  New BOD and officers 31

Messages from the new President . . . the new Chairman of the Board . . . Bob Seitz Association President John Lally, Association Board Chair C Company, 2/506th – Vietnam 1970-71 A Co., 1/506th – Vietnam 1970-71 Currahee Brothers, I truly love the Currahee reunions, with the chance to I am deeply honored to serve as president of the see old friends and make new ones, and this year was no Currahee Association for the next two years. For many exception. Stories and laughter mixed with occasional years, I’ve led support for our wounded soldiers and serious moments filled the days and nights at Columbus. their families at Walter Reed Army Hospital, visiting I’m looking forward to the next reunion, wherever it may them every week. During my upcoming term as asso- be; if I’m alive and kicking, I will be there—and I’ll see a ciation president, I have two goals-- the first is to bring lot of familiar faces there. I’ve met men from all years of in younger Currahee veterans into the leadership of our history, and am honored that I can call many my our association and the second is to set up a program friends. for mentoring assistance for It would be great if more our younger Currahee veter- people would come and give ans as they leave the Army themselves the opportunity of for civilian profession ca- widening their circle to include reers. Here are my thoughts more of the remarkable clan of on these goals .