The thirteenth BOXCAR REUNION deployed at the Hampton Inn in Pensacola Beach, Florida from 21 to 25 September, 2003. Thirty-four Veterans of the 178th and 400th TC attended, along with wives, and six guests.

BOXCAR VETERANS Attending:

Veteran	State		Veteran	State
Weldon Allen	Florida		Roger Lichte	Michigan
Barry Beldin	Indiana		David Lloyd	Tennessee
Jim Bennett	Illinois		Josh Logan	Florida
Dan Bolick	North Carolina		Ed Monroe	New York
Don Bryan	Pennsylvania		Dean Nelson	Minnesota
Larry Busbee	Florida		Steve Niedbala	Georgia
Jim Butler	Louisiana		Joe Pelarske	Minnesota
Tom Chism	Kentucky		Ron Quigley	Oregon
Davis Clark	Alabama		Don Reck	Alabama
Robert Hans	Texas		Dennis Rogers	Louisiana
Joe Hawkins	Nebraska		Dennis Rowe	Alabama
Dick Janousek	Kansas		Fred Sass	Florida
Ron Johnson	Maryland		Ken Sines	Georgia
Bill Jeczalik	Florida		Bill Sly	Virginia
Andy Killian	California		Robert Stoudenmire	Alabama
Jack Knotts	Florida		Doug Tate	Indiana
John LeCates	Maryland		Harold TenBrink	Georgia

Guest:

Robert Caron	147th Hillclimbers and Air America
Khana Caron	Bob's wife
Eloise Elliott	Mrs. Bill Elliott
Carol Morrison	Visiting Mark Seeley
Mark Seeley	Son of John Seeley
Paul Smithey	52nd CAB CO

BUSINESS MEETING:
The meeting was called to order at 16:30 on 23 September, by Association President and Reunion Host Larry Busbee. Thirty-three (of 34 at the reunion) Boxcar Veterans were present.

Treasury matters: We discussed Newsletter costs (approximately $1200-1300 each year) and the Calendar Sales fundraisers for the past two years. We were in the red on Summer Newsletter, but we collected enough in our annual (pass-the-hat) that we should be OK for 2004. At meeetin time, we were unsure whether there would be a 2004 Boxcar Calendar or not, so we do not want to leave ourselves dependent on that income. [There WILL be a 2004 BOXCAR CALENDAR - see enclosed flyer].

Bill Jeczalik announced that Wal-Mart is selling plastic model Chinook helicpoters. Also, Bill has plans and instructions for building a Chinook mailbox, with letters delivered through the ramp. If interested, contact Bill by email at: jeczalikb@aol.com

REUNION for 2004: We had one definite proposal (Bougie Criswell - Ocean City Maryland) and four (if you need me I'll do it) offers: Barry Beldin - Indianapolis, Larry Busbee - return to Pensacola, Steve Neidbala - return to Savannah, Al Stratton - return to Las Vegas. We discussed all the offers, and voted among them all, and voted again between the top two choices and ... REUNION 2004 will be in mid September, 2004 at the Nassau Motel on the beach in Ocean City, Maryland, with Robert "Bougie" Criswell as the Reunion Host. See letter from Bougie.

REUNION for 2005: We have four potential proposals: Anchorage, Alaska (Al Romaszewski), Branson, Missouri (Jim Bennett), Fresno, California (Andy Killian), and Indianapolis, Indiana (Barry Beldin). We didn't reach a consensus, although Branson was the most popular choice. As always, a definite deecision will be made at next year's business meeting.

ELECTION: After nominations and "volunteers", the following slate of officers were elected by acclamation for 2003-2004:

President: Kenneth Sines
Vice President: Ron Johnson
Treasurer: John LeCates
Secretary: Dean Nelson
Reunion Host: Robert Criswell

After the meeting, we moved to the hotel deck for a group photo session, as several families were departing that evening, and would not make the professional photo planned for the next day.

ACTIVITIES: The Beach!! Large waves from off-shore storms, and a sighting of sharks from a nearby pier kept us out of the water. But lots of walks on the beach were taken, and the large deck on the beach-side of the hotel ws a popular (and scenic) gathering place. NAS Pensacola...On Wednesday morning we attended a special practice demonstration by the Blue Angels (very LOW, very LOUD, very IMPRESSIVE). After the Blue Angels, we spent hours touring the Naval Aviation Museum. Our Professional photographer took two group photos: one of everyone present with the group, and one of just the Boxcar Veterans present.
DINNER: Wednesday evening we all met for a dinner at The Flounder, an excellent seafood place within waking distance of the hotel. DEPARTURE Thursday morning...

There were only two disappointments, but neither detracted from our Reunion pufpose. The Wall South in Pensacola is in a beatuful park, and from a distance it looks like The Wall in Washington, D.C. However, it only has thirty-two panels on each wing (the big one has seventy on each wing) and the names are not arranged the same. Consequently, our wall-listings did not match, and there was no reference there, so we could not look up names. We did conduct our Roll Call of Honor of KIA's while at the park. And...The Army Aviation Museum at Ft. Rucker was closed for repairs...again! They were closed when we met in Dothan in 1998, as well.

NOTES FROM BOXCAR 6

Hope that everyone got home from our great reunion in Pensacola, Florida. I wrote them a special letter of appreciation to the Hampton Inn for all their outstanding services and hospitality while we were there. I especially thanked the girls that provided those three-hour breakfast. I want to visit them again soon.

I got the wonderful group picture that we took at the museum. I showed it to Snford Parr (Boxcar member not there) and he said that the ladies looked great but that the men looked like they could stand a little workout at the gym!!

Looking forward to our next get together. I am trying to make contact with some of the other commanders. If the other pilots, flight engineers, crew chiefs and maintenance personnel can make the reunion then we should be able to police up more than one commander. I will keep you posted.

Ken Sines
Boxcar 6 (1968-69)