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Success Stories
Inspirational stories posted by veterans, active military, family & friends telling how they successfully found and reunited with their old
friends & family, enjoyed a reunion together, along with the feelings and emotions that were evoked.
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Meeting sister & step brother at Camp Pendleton Ca
It was a great feeling to finally meet my half sister & brotherIn 1980 I entered into the US Marine at Parris Island, SC. After graduation that on 2 Dec., 1980 my next stop was Camp Pendleton Calif., where I was assigned to the SAC ITS (Infantry Training School) San Onofre. While at the ITS School I made a phone call to my father back in Pa. As we spoke he had informed me that he had heard from Geri my half sister in Alaska where he last saw her when she was about 3 years old. He proceeded to tell me that Mike, Geri's adopted brother had gone into the Marine Corps & he was coming to San Onofre Camp Pendleton for ITS after boot camp at San Diego. After severl weeks of asking around for Mike I finally met him. At this time we had become very good friends and we went on weekend liberty all over Calif.,& no more than a month later Mike had told me that our sister was coming to Camp Pendleton to meet me & to be with us both. This had been the first time I had met my half sister. It was a great feeling to finally meet her after only speaking with her on the phone & being stationed for a short time with my step brother, Mike. ' |
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Reunion
We all agreed that our first reunion was one of the greatest experiences in our livesOur unit is Co."A", 160th R.C.T., 40th Infantry Division. Forty five years after we left Korea, I was able to locate a buddy of mine in North Bend, Oregon. In a telephone conversation with him, we decided to get together in Reno, Nv. in 1997. We were successful in contacting 3 other buddies and invited them to join us. Four of us and our wives did meet in Reno. The fifth couple was unable to join us for health reasons. We all agreed that our first reunion was one of the greatest experiences in our lives. It was like we had never been apart. Some of our wives were a bit apprehensive about spending 3 days with someone they were meeting for the first time. As it turned out, they thoroughly enjoyed our time together, and were amazed at the compatibility of our group. Today they are our strongest reunion supporters, because each year they learn more about our experiences in Korea, our difficult times (the war stories) and our "fun" times. Since 1997, we have reunited each year. With the aid of the internet, we have accumulated a list and are in contact with 89 guys who were in our unit. We also have an additional 49 on our deceased list. At our reunion in Laughlin, Nv. in 2003, forty-five were in attendance including wives, children and friends. I am personally overwhelmed by how far we've come in the past seven years and I want to send a message to all others in our unit who have not been contacted. "We welcome you to get in touch, join us at our reunions and enjoy one of the most satisfying experiences of your life". ' ' ' |
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Reunion
What a great way to find old friends. Thank you VetFriends.After I became a member of VetFriends I entered a message looking for an old WWII combat buddy. We were both riflemen in the 34th div, 133 inf. On Anzio beach head, one night we were out in a forward observation post in front of our line and in the morning when we returned to our fox hole Paul decided to light up a cigarette. It was not quite daylight yet and his match lit up the entire world, and in very few seconds the Germans started a screaming meme barrage. They peppered the area around my fox hole and we heard a thud close to us, and as soon as the barrage ended we got out of the hole and ran to another one. There were plenty of unused foxholes along the Mussolini canal, more holes than men. When full daylight came on I went back to my fox hole and there was the answer to the thud that we heard: One mortar shell embedded itself in the side wall with the tail fins showing. Lucky for us this one was the dud, lucky for us it missed both of us. Both Paul and I lost track of each other after leaving Italy, but I thought of him all the time. I knew that he lived in W Virginia and a few days after I posted the add looking for Paul I received an Email from a young man named Larry Strothers, who also was looking for Veterans who might have known his father who fought on Anzio. Larry said to me that he lived near Paul Feike and would hand deliver a letter to Paul, so I Emailed a letter to Larry and he delivered it to Paul. In conversation Larry found out that his Father and Paul knew each other, so I found an old war buddy, Larry found a friend of his father, and Larry and I are going to meet in Anzio at a 60th reunion this coming June. What a great way to find old friends, thank you VetFriends. ' ' |
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Meeting relatives of WWIIBuddy
The doctor saved my life. Now I will meet one of his nephews. |
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reunion
After 35-40 years, we laughed so hard and had so many stories to share.About 7 years ago I received a surprise letter one day from an old buddy of mine, when I was in the navy. He stated that he had been trying to contact some of the old crew, to possibly try to get a reunion together. Well he made all the arrangements and we had a first reunion in Pensacola, Florida. At first I said to my wife that I won't be going to it. She asked why? I said it has been 35-40 years since I have seen these guys-I'll never know any of them anymore. Well, she nagged and nagged and I finally gave in and we made arrangements to go. To say the least I was very apprehensive. We were to all meet at the hotel at a certain time for "cocktail hour and get to meet again" time. As I entered, one of the guys came from across the room and said Gus-old buddy-how the hell ya doin! I looked but didn't recognize him, until he opened his mouth. He had a voice you would recognize anywhere. I couldn't believe it. We shook hands and hugged, and believe you me, it choked me up. From there it just went on and on. Many recognized me and I recognized many more. We had three days of being together. We all brought pictures from when we were together and lots of memorabilia we laughed so hard and shared the many stories. Our commanders were there as well. I must note our wives accompanied us, and my wife said she had a ball, because this was part of my life she had never heard before. The wives found many things to do together, like shopping, museums, etc. All in all, it was just the best weekend I ever had. We were composite squadron vc-7-boot camp in the great lakes, then shipped to moffet field, calif. where vc7 was formed. Thanks for listening. ' ' |
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Reunion
We spent 3 days together and it was as though the 50 years between had never happened. |
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