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Welcome to The Home Page Of The 17th Signal Battalion Association
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Welcome to The Home Page Of The 17th Signal Battalion Association
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This page last updated on August 23, 2008
| If you have an Email address please send it to the WEBMASTER. Please update your Email address when you change it!! If we have urgent or breaking news we can contact you. We will not share your Email with anyone else. If anyone asks for your Edress we will forward the message to you and you can do as you see fit. |
Click on the links below to visit these Organizations.
| 1
of 2 Websites that have 102nd and 17th information. | 2nd of 2 Websites that have 102nd and 17th information. |
The
Battalion was deactivated on August 16, 2006.
After
the Battalion was deactivated many historical items were given to the Association,
most important was the Punch bowl.
Other
miscellaneous items were also sent to us.
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| 2006 to 2008 BOARD
OF DIRECTORS |
2008
REGISTRATIN FORM |
| Please fill out this pagecompletely
and include with a check for the registration fees and mail it to: 17th Signal Battalion Association, 403 Queens Row Street, Herndon VA 20170 by 10 September 2008. Hotel Reservations must be made individually! Thursday 18 September through Sunday 21 September 2008, Killeen Texas Name________________________________ Guest(s) _____________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________________________ Phone______________________________eMail Address___________________________________ 1. My/Our arrival at the Shilo Inn to sign in will be on ____________September 2008 2. I/We will attend the following events: NOTE: All other meals are either included in Shilo Inn room cost (breakfasts) or on your own. 3. I/we will make reservations for my party at the Shilo Inn by calling (254) 699-0999 or (800) 222- 2244 by 10 September 2008 in order to get the 17th Signal Battalion Association Rate of $95 per day. This rate will be honored for a few days before and after the reunion for anyone who wants to come early or leave late. Any other hotel reservations are the sole responsibility of the member, however many more motels/hotels serve the town of Killeen. A sampling include: Comfort Suites, Days Inn, Economy Motel, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, La Quinta, Motel 6, Residence Inn and Rodeway Inn. |
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2008
REUION |
17th Signal Battalion Association 2008 Reunion SCHEDULE
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| BOARD
OF DIRECTORS MEETING |
| We'll
be meeting at the Shilo Inn & Suites in Killeen Texas on Saturday and Sunday
I will be out of town for the next
several days and when I return I'll provide more detail information on the meeting
times and agenda. If anyone needs to contact me please send email to my work email
address: james.bondi@militarychild.org. |
PRESIDENTS
MESSAGE President's Corner: Happy New Year! It's 2008 and the next association reunion is fast approaching and on track for September 18 - 21 (Thursday - Sunday) at the Shilo Inn Suites Hotel, Killeen, Texas located approximately 1 hour north of Austin, Texas or 3 hours south of Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. I am truly excited about this reunion as much has changed in Central Texas over the past decade and many of our veterans of the 17th Signal Battalion either reside locally or are stationed on Fort Hood, the largest Army post in the Continental of United States. Since September 2007, the board has officially convened twice to discuss the details of the upcoming reunion. Everyone is hard at work, and we have partnered closely with the community both Killeen and Fort Hood in planning for the best schedule of events to make this reunion truly memorable. Here's a snapshot of how the reunion is shaping up: Theme: "Leading the Way to the 17th Roundup" · September 18 (Thursday) - arrive with hospitality
suite open, pick up banquet tickets and obtain information for the various tours
planned. Many other activities are being planned to make this a truly memorable reunion experience for all to enjoy. Our board is scheduled to convene in March and again in June, so if you have any particular questions that you would like us to research prior to our reunion please contact me or any of the board members. The month of September in Central Texas is a beautiful time of the year and with over 1000 hotel rooms to choose from and a fantastic Killeen-Fort Hood Regional (GRK) Airport that is only 15 minutes from downtown Killeen it makes for an easy commute. Our great Airport accommodates American Airlines (Killeen-Dallas), Continental Airlines (Killeen-Houston), and Delta Airlines (Killeen-Atlanta). So plan now and circle those calendars to be at Killeen Texas for the greatest of reunions. I truly look forward in seeing each and everyone of you. Be sure to read up on reunion details at our website: http://www.17signalbattalionassociation.com/. Thank you so much for your superb support, and please continue to remember our deployed service members, civilians, and their families. With warmest
regards, Jim Bondi
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2006
REUNION
| REUNION REPORT. The 2006th, our 11th Reunion was held as planned in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from September 14th to September 17th, 2006. Speaking for the members in attendance "a great time was had by all". Many members began to arrive on Monday or Tuesday and got the Hospitality Room up and ruining late on Wednesday under the management of President Sam. It was great to see all the old friends again and to meet new ones. Our resident photographer Bernie Owens was unable to attend this year so Don Roupe volunteered to assume the duties of Official Photographer. He was every place with his ubiquitous camera. We will get some of his pictures posted here when we receive them. On Thursday afternoon we had our first Board of Directors Meeting and completed plans for the remainder of the reunion. In the late afternoon we had Open Bar Happy hour, that evening we enjoyed dinner at various restaurants and finished up in the Hospitality Room. On Friday morning the golfers left before sunup to accomplish their ritual of ground pounding and verbalizing severe profanity. On Friday morning we had an excellent talk by Ranger, Bob Grau. Bob explained many of the intricacies of the Revolutionary War and Philadelphia and its involvement. Our hotel was so located that it was an easy walk to many of the historic places, such as Independence Hall, The Liberty Bell and Betsy Ross's house ( where she did not live).Saturday morning began with our Memorial Service lead by Chaplain Emmett Autrey,remembering our comrades that had departed our worldly abode since the last reunion. Next on our Agenda was the General Membership Meeting. We elected a new slate of officers. In the late afternoon we had pictures taken for the Memory Book, another Open Bar Happy Hour and then our Banquet, raffle and 50-50 drawing. There were a lot of great prizes and everyone that won were very happy with their winnings. On Sunday morning at the Final Board meeting the most important item was the location of the 2008 Reunion, which will be held in Killeen/Fort Hood, TX area. Below are some of the pictures from the Reunion. |
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THE HISTORIC AREA
| Independence Hall |
Desk in Independence Hall | Court
Room Independence Hall |
| Main Chamber Independence Hall |
Betsy Ross House | Liberty
Bell |
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| Our
Flags | Our
Hotel | Ranger Bob & Sam |
MEMORIAL SERVICE
| Memorial Group |
Chaplain Emmett Autrey at Memorial |
Memorial Candles |
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| Memorial Bell |
Candle Lighting | Candle
Lighting |
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| Candle Lighting |
Candle Lighting | Candle
Lighting |
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| Candle Lighting |
Candle Lighting | The
Guys That Made The Bell |
HOSPITALITY ROOM
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GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
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HAPPY HOUR
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THE TOAST
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BANQUET
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| Our Distinguised Speaker, COL John Koivisto, Executive Officer of the 17th Signal Battalion 1998-1998. Speaking on "The Army's Role in the Global War on Terrirism (GWOT) |
AWARDS
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2007 BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING & 2008 GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
The next Board of
Governors Meeting will be held in Killeen/Fort Hood, TX
in September 2007. The purpose will be arrangements for the 2008 Reunion
General Membership Meeting will be held Killeen/Fort Hood, TX in September 2007.
Details will be provided as they become available.
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| If you are moving or planning to move or have moved, please pass that information to the Secretary. We have had a large number of Newsletters and Rosters returned this spring. When we mail them they go Bulk Mail (pretty reasonable like $0.70 each) but when we have to re-mail them they have to be sent 1st Class (very expensive like $1.75 each). As you know Postal Rates have risen faster than gas prices, so please help us conserve our funds. |
17th
SIGNAL BATTALION ASSOCIATION PUBLICATIONS
Click
below to view publications
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| Aviation
History Written by Robert N. Dempster, April 1988",LTC USA (Ret)". Prepared for the 17th Signal Battalion Association WEB Site by Arlo Janssen in September 2006. | History of the 175th Signal Company |
Any member of the Association wishing to bring up any matter either at the Board Meeting or the General Membership meeting should contact the Secretary of the Association at least 90 days prior to the meeting.
OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS ARE
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PRESIDENT |
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VICE PRESIDENT |
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CHAPLAIN |
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LIETZ, MARILYN K. (SAM) | ![]() |
SECRETARY IMMEDIATE |
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TREASURER |
P.O. Box 370426 Denver, CO 80237-0426 Phone 303-770-2160 haltaylor@earthlink.net |
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SPECIAL PROJECTS OFFICER |
| MANNING, MONROE (RUTH)
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HISTORIAN |
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MOORE, BRIAN, LTC (DESIREE) 8169
Sneed Loop Gainsville, VA 20155 Phone
571-261-3532 Work Phone 703-679-7675 Email
brian.p.moore@us.army.mil | ![]() |
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| MOORE, BILL (DIANE) 27 Roger Rd. Edison, NJ 08817-4531 Voice 732-572-4262 FAX 732-393-1352 wwm1939@yahoo.com |
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RECRUITER |
| VELLMURE, HENRI J. (THERESA)
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WEBMASTER |
| ROUPE, DONALD L. 17 Hampshire Dr. | ![]() |
PHOTOGRAPHER |
| MEMBER
NEWS | |||||||
| This article from Army Echoes Sep-Dec 2007 Still Saluting - At several
Army Retiree events, some retirees have saluted when "Old Glory" passed
or when the National Anthem was played. Strange? There were also children saluting.
Strange? Not really. Soldiers like you and me spent a large part of lives saluting,
a clear sign of respect and pride. I've checked; there is no prohibition against
saluting. Saluting vs. placing your hand over your heart is a matter of personal
choice. Given that each of us is still proud and still serving, saluting seems
a For me- I'm Still Proud, Still Serving, and, from now on, Still Saluting. Join in! Frederick E. Vollrath Lieutenant General U.S.
Army, Retired Co-Chairman
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102d
Signal Bn. Reunion in Wiesbaden Germany 2008 | |||||||
Cassidy Adcox sent these pictures of her fathers from WWII. Barracks looks like Camp Crowder tar paper shacks, single story with 2 pot belly stoves. The big building is apparently French.
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Send
them to the Secretary at least 45 days
before the due date along with any necessary corrections to the Roster information.
It will save the trouble and postage of sending out a notice to you. Dues
are $20.00 for two years or $38.00 for 4 years.
Dues for Surviving Spouses
are $5.00 for two years or $10.00 for 4 years. Thank You.
Anyone
interested in joining the Association should contact the Secretary
by E-mail.
The current Newsletter, Volume III Number 26 was MAILED ON December
06, 2005. The Association Roster #37
was mailed with the Spring 2005 Newsletter
on June 01, 2005.
Any members in good standing that have
not received these items by December 13, 2005 should contact
the Secretary
at the E-mail address shown below and provide complete updated mailing information.
Limited items from the Newsletter and/or Roster will be E-mailed upon request.
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| A
new roster was mailed on May 01, 2006 showing all Active Members |
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| Below are listed members that have joined the Association since our reunion in September 2006 |
| Loomis, Wayne A. and Shirley. Wayne was a member of the 17th Signal Battalion, 175th Signal Company in 1959 & 1960. They are currently living in Lorena TX and can be reached by Email at wloomis@hot.rr.com. They are members # 544. |
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Pierlina "Rind" DeLester also joined our association
at the 2006 reunion. Rina was married to Homer Felker who served with the 175th
Signal Company from 1955 - 1958. Rina joined us via Email from friends urging
her to join them at the reunion. Rina now lives in Joplin, MO and can be reached
a X-4MFARM@prodigy.net. |
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Richard and Melba Dean joined our Association in December
2006. Richard was a SP-5 in the 102nd Signal Battalion from November 1957 - October
1958. They now reside in Omaha, NE and can be reached a darime99@msn.com. They
are Members # 547 |
| Michael
and Margaret Dimoff joined our Association at the 2006 reunion in September 2006.
Mike was with the 17th from 1959-1961 as a SP-5 and lives in Youngstown OH where
Michael retired after working as a tool and die maker. They are Members # 548 |
| James A. & Carita
Gold were with Charlie Company of the 102nd Signal Battalion from 1959 to 1962.
James retired as a LTC and they now reside in Rockport TX. Maybe we can meet them
in person at the 2008 reunion in Kelleen. They are Members # 549. |
| Wesley D. Hall served
with the 102nd Signal Battalion from 1957 to 1959 in Konigsthul Germany as a Microwave
Radio Repairman. Wesley and his wife Frances joined the Association after getting
a call from our Recruiter, Bill Moore. They now reside in California. They are Members # 550. |
| John
Patrick "Pat" Page was a PFC with one of our units from November 1953
to March 1955. He joined after receiving a phone call from our recruiter, Bill
Moore. Pat and his wife Peggy now reside in Bloomington, IN They can be reached
at patfrombton@aol.com. Pat said ":Sorry I couldn't make it to the reunion
this year. Keep me informed. They are Members # 551 |
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Jerome Podestra joined us after finding us on the Internet.
Jerome served as a Corporal with the 17th Signal Battalion from July 53-Jan 55.
He now resides in Anaheim, CA. Germ spent 40 years in telecommunications-- 30
years with Pacific Bell, 5 years with Hughes Aircraft Corporation and 5 years
with Teknon Corporation. He is proud of his two daughters Gena and Lisa and has
four grandchildren -- Avery, Susie, Sydney and Alexis He is Member # 552 |
| Valdimir "Walt"
and Dorit Gelnovatch recently joined the organization in March 2007. Walt was
assigned to Company B, 102nd Signal Battalion, at the Hohenstadt Radio Station
from June 1957 - June 1959 as a SP-2/E-5. He and Dorit now reside in Manasquan , NJ and Walt's Email is vggelnovatch@optonline.net. They are Members # 553. |
| Richard and Pok Nam
Meicho joined our association in November 2006. Richard served as a Staff Sergeant
with the 69th from 61-65. He located the Association via the Internet. Richard
and Pol Nam who now live in Tacoma, WA can be reached at meicho@peoplepc.com. They are members # |
| Richard
and Patricia Sowle joined us in November 2006 after getting a call from Bill Moore.
Dick wrote that he had suffered a broken hand he typed his application ( and did
a darned good job of it too!). Richard served with 102nd from December 1958 --
July 1960 as a Sergeant First Class (E7). Richard and Patricial live in Savanah,
GA and can be reached at thore382003@yahoo.com. They are members # 555 |
| Master Sergeant (USA
Ret) Eugene & Teresa Rhodes joined us in April 2007. Eugene served with B
Company, 102nd Signal Battalion from May 57April 1961. They found out about
the Association through Bill Moore. They are members # 556 |
| Arlis & Marita
Needham also joined us in April 2007. You may remember Arlis as a SP4 in the 175th
Signal Company when he served from November 1958October 1960. |
| Dale
& Peggy Calnon responded to a phone call from Bill Moore to join our association.
Dale served in B Company, 102nd Signal Battalion from 1957-1959 as a Specialist
Five. Dale and Peggy now live in Pennsylvania. |
| William E. Burnham
joined our Association at the urging of his good friend (CSM Ret) George DeHaven.
William served in the 69th Signal Battalion from 1954-1956 and with the 516th
Signal Group, 17th Signal Battalion from 1956-1959. He must have really liked
Germany! William now resides in Hampton Virginia. They are Members # 559 |
| James P. Freese who served with the 17th Signal Battalion in Karlsruhe from 61-62. Jim was in Headquarters Company as a SP4 and left the Army in July 1962. He stated in his application that Ive thought of all those many years gone by and good lasting memories still lasting". I wanted to connect for some crazy reason, maybe I could scare up a roster of names of HQs Company from that time and see if any fellas are still around. Jim does not yet have email but does get his snail mail at 7807 State Route 56, Apartment A, Athens Ohio 45701 or phone at 740-591-8017 if you can help Jim reconnect with his old crew from the 17th! He is Member # 560 |
| Ron Raucci was a SP4, a Communication Center Specialist. The one thing that I will always remember when I was with the 17th was that we had no doors or heaters in our jeeps, it was great in the summer but the winter was brutal. Also my frequents trips to Heidelberg on message runs was fun, we spent a lot of time in the field and when we wern'tt we were in the motor pool working on our vehicles. I also recall a time when I had the opportunity to fly to Laon , France with a Warrant Officer who was piloting a single engine plane, we were delivering a message and I was the courier. I only had the chance to work my MOS at the Com. Center at Nuerit Kaserne two or three times. I was transported to Karlshrue, Germany by boat, the USNS Upshur, we landed in Bremerhaven and went the rest of the way by train. I also recall once when I had to guard a prisoner on the way to the stockade at Mannheim, Germany. Some of the guys I remember were a Frank Ferando, Ed Ashworth, Tom Joyner and a Paul Ledford. I dont recall our COS name but the Exex. Was a Lt. Good, and a real nice person. I hope this information helps, if I think about anything else of interest I will let you know, one thing I would like to say was that my time with the 17th was great and the German people were very friendly. Ron served with A Company 17th in 62-63 He is Member # 561 |
| We are looking for Member Number 562 Can you find 'em? |
We are indeed pleased to have you and welcome to the 17th Signal Battalion Association.
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| Since the publication of the Spring 2006 Newsletter we have learned of the passing of Three of our members. John M.Krnyevich, Member # 501 passed away on June 9, 2006. Rosco Peterson, Member # 524 Passed away in June 2006 Braxton
C. Wallace Member # 216 passed away in August 2006 Jowarren B. Shively Founding Charter Member 32 passed away on September 19, 2006 Joe was 88+ years old. Dorothy Oliff the wife of Charles, passed away March 09, 2007 Ike Huff a member of the 440th passed away on April 01, 2007
. 1SG,
Ret. Rene L. Gaudette,(MBR NO. 349), passed away on June 17, Ron Strand , Member # 11, passed away during the summer of 2007. He is survived by his wife Judy. WE EXTEND OUR SINCEREST CONDOLENCES TO THEIR FAMILIES |
We are looking for a few beat up old soldiers to join our Association, Recently we signed up Another new member.
If you know of anyone ask them to join. If you ask them they will join.
But first you must ask.
Any member of the Association wishing
to have information published in this Homepage please contact the Webmaster
or
for publication in the Newsletter, please contact the Secretary
by E-mail as listed below. All input in actively solicited.
Webmaster 17th Signal Battalion Association