May 2005 Newsletter

The Fifteenth 178th ASHC/400th TC BOXCAR REUNION was held at the Radisson City Centre Hotel on 11-12-13 August in Indianapolis, Indiana. Twenty-one Veterans of the 178th and 400th were present, along with wives and two guest.

Barry Beldin	Indiana	Bill Jeczalik	Florida
Jim Bennett	Illinois	Ron Johnson	Maryland
Joe Boylan	Pennsylvania	Andy Killian	California
Don Bryan	Pennsylvania	John LeCates	Maryland
Tom Chism	Kentucky	Jack Knotts	Florida
Earl Evans	Indiana	Josh Logan	Florida
Bill Golding	Indiana	Dean Nelson	Minnesota
Bob Hans	Texas	Steve Niedbala	Georgia
Joe Hawkins	Nebraska	Clint Poston	Virginia
Ed Henry	Indiana	Ken Sines	Georgia
Dick Janousek	Kansas

Guest: Mike Sicilian - with Jack Knotts
Dave Zollers - with Bill Jeczalik; Dave is a Veteran of the 147th ASHC, 200th ASHC and 101st Airborne.

The Annual Business Meeting was called to order at 18:38 on Saturday, 13 August, by two-time President and former Boxcar Six Ken Sines. President Sines spoke about the positive experiences he has had as Association President for the past two years and two Reunions. Secretary Nelson read out Honor Roll of 178th Veterans who were killed in action in Vietnam. As there was only one proposal for the 2006 Reunion site, the group chose Fresno, California as the site for our 16th Boxcar Reunion. Volunteer Site-Host Andy Killian was elected President for 2005-06, and at his suggestion, Bob McLaughlin was elected Vice-President. Andy and Bob both live in Fresno, and will serve as Site Co-ordinators together. Dick Janousek will continue as Historian, John LeCates as Treasurer, and Dean Nelson as Secretary.

Activities: Tours of the military monuments in the center of the city, and associated museums... A tour of the Racing Museum and Indianapolis Speedway... Reunion banquet in a cetntury-old German restaurant... and on Sunday, a wonderful family cook-out and dinner at Jim and Sue Bennett's farm near Paris, Illinois. Congratulations to Berry Beldin and Jim Bennett for an outstanding job as 2005 Reunion Site Hosts.

The INdianapolis Reunion was our Fifteenth Boxcar Reunion, since the Association was formed by twelve Vets who attended the first-ever Annual Business Meeting during the First-ever Reunion, in Arlington, Virginia in June, 1991. Although we had no fanfare whatsoever about it, this also marked the Fortieth Anniversary of the formation of the 178th at Fort Benning in 1965. Although we have met in Nevada twice, the 2006 reunion in California will be our first Reunion in a West Coast state. Over the years, we have met in the months of June, July, August, and September. After a number of phone calls and emails seeking feedback as to dates for our 2006 gathering, new Association President Andy Killian setled on the dates of 14 through 18 June, 2006. This should be after most schools have finished for the school year, and be before the hottest Summer weather sets in in that part of California. Andy and Bob are already well into the planning.... Look forward to lots of terrific activities, side trips, and hopefully a chinook at the nearby California National Guard base.

The following is a letter from Ed Henry, a Boxcar Vet from Indianapolis who attended his first Reunion in August:

I am writing to express my gratitude to you and all my boxcar friends for the warm welcome I received in Indianpolis. This as you know, was my first reunion. Not quite knowing what to expect on my arrival, I was overwhelmed with the reception I received, and the willingness of all to foster such a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. I was touched with heartfelt joy to visit with, and share time with my friends of many years past. I was shocked to find how much I had forgotton, and how much came back in such a short time. I must say with all sincerity, it was the helthies thing I have done for myself in many many years. I will confess, I shed tears the next morning when gazing at the group photo. I was misty to again reflect on the evening past, and already a sense of missing these special men with whom I shared such special times. Thank you my friends, for what you did for me! God Bless each and every one of you. I will say to all our boxcar comrades, do something for yourself that will bring a sense of comfort and clolure to the times of Chu Lai. If you do no, you will never know the peace of sharing those experiences again, good or bad, with only those that could ever understgand. Give yourself the opportunity to reflect with the most important things you lef, the friendships you made, and the bonds that give life special meaning to us all. Don't allow yourself to reflect back some day and say, I wish I would have gone. As NIKE would say, Just Do It!