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The RETURN TO SEA 2002 Reunion is over. If numbers are the sign
of success we did very well. An even 200 signed in for the reunion
and 232 more signed in for the banquet.
1. Air America was well represented with the entourage being led
by none other than Jack"69"Knotts. Lots of mini reunions
took place among the AAM attendees, both Thai and American.
2. TLCB was well represented. Not only the organizers but also
quite a few other brothers and sisters were in attendance. Most
obvious were John and Nancy Sweet. We can expect a few new members
to sign on as a result of the reunion
3. China Post 1 was well represented with the group
being led by none other than Post Commander and Adjutant Fred Platt.
Fred was actively recruiting as was Jim Lint who came from Korea.
(see above)
4. The Air Commando Association and the USAF contingent was headed
by Gen Heinie Aderholt and Hap Lutz and included several Ravens
and other notables.
5. Among other groups represented by both Thai and American participants
were: CASI, Embassy, USAID, IVS, SKY, Army, Marines.
The organizers showed up at the Ambassador Hotel on Tuesday the
24th to make sure that arrangements were in full swing. Turned out
that there were quite a few attendees already ensconced in the hotel.
This led to a bit of bar hopping that ended for some of us at 0330
on Wednesday morning after doing some serious meeting and greeting
in the hotel coffee Shop.
Wednesday was more supervising of the set up of the Hospitality
Suite and meeting and greeting of early arrivals.
The Hospitality Suite was to be a bright, glass enclosed room with
a round bar in the center of the room. Just outside was an aviary
with large, tree trunk furniture that added to the atmosphere and
gave the non smokers an escape from the profusion of cigar smoke.
(Sorry about that but the hotel did not get the exhaust fans operating
until Saturday morning.)
Thursday finally arrived and the Hospitality Suite was being stocked
with the party essentials (BOOZE, delivery of which was arranged
by Mac Thompson), the bar was set up and finishing touches being
applied. Some early comers tried to crash the gates a bit early
but they were held at bay until 1200 when Mayuree Strouse opened
the Registration Desk and Sunee Thompson and Bob Vaughn opened the
bar. It did not take long for the Reunion to get into full swing.
(Really it had gotten started earlier in the Lobby Bar but the prices
in the Hospitality Suite were more to everyone's liking!)
To the disappointment of a few hangers-on the bar was closed at
0100 that evening.
Friday was Bloody Mary morning……well, Jeff Johnson was
kept busy keeping the bar stocked with his tasty Bloody Mary mix
all day. More new comers, more meetings and greetings and a full
house until the wee hours when we again had to run out a few so
that we could get a bit of sleep.
Saturday, The BIG DAY. Bloody Marys all day. The Thai started showing
up in numbers before the banquet. One of the highlights were the
reunions between old friends and co-workers. Even some of the Thai
had not seen one another for almost 30 years.
We had planned on having 320 people attend the banquet. We ran
out of name tags, tickets, and patience after 432! Yep, some got
to eat free. And the comments about the "hotel" food indicated
that it was really top notch. The hotel kitchen managed to have
enough food for all even with the tremendous overage.
Saturday had the only formal activity of the entire reunion. The
Banquet, complete with speeches. Bill Lair was the featured speaker,
followed by General Pichit Kulavanich, a member of the Thai Privy
Council . Heinie Aderholt also made a few comments.
Jack Knotts was presented with a photograph of LS20A taken in October
2001. The presentation was made by Tom Claytor who is flying his
Cessna 180 round the world and took the picture. Jack then made
a few appropriate comments.
Before and after the speeches the banquet attendees were entertained
by Thai Classical Dancers.
The Hospitality Suite overflowed and the bartenders were almost
overwhelmed with the crowd after the banquet. Many back slapping
and hugging reunions were observed throughout the evening.
At 0030, Les Strouse gave the "30 Minute Notice". At
0100 he went around the Hospitality Suite giving everyone last call.
Well, one of the hangers-on turned out to be Thai Royalty. HRH Prince
Yugula. Hey, if Les can throw out a real Prince, he can throw out
anyone!
Sunday morning Jeff Johnson cranked up his Bloody Mary mix again
and Mac Thompson made yet another booze run and then another for
more Vodka as the Bloody Marys became the best seller. When last
call was given many stocked up on beer and drinks and adjourned
to the aviary outside the hospitality suite to carry on their social
activities while we, the organizers, began dismantling things and
looked for rest, after a full and eventful five days. We've agreed
amongst ourselves to host another such reunion in 25 years.
As an aside, the youngest attendee was 4 years old and the oldest
rapidly approaching 90.
One attendee is reputed to be the youngest China Marine. I have
to tell one of his stories. He is a double amputee but only wears
one artificial leg. The reason for this….."if you wear
two artificial legs and fall down everyone thinks you are drunk
and will make no effort to help you get up". "If you only
wear one they quickly come to your aid." And you can imagine
what happened when he removed the artificial leg and asked Sunee
Thompson to take it for a massage. "Just tell the girls that
I will pick it up in half an hour!"
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