1

2nd Missile Battalion, 71st Artillery

(Taiwan) Association

271 Shady Oak Drive

New Market, AL 35761

Volume 3

Newsletter 3

October 1999

From the Editor

This edition of the newsletter is being mailed in a large

envelope in hopes that you will receive it in one piece.

There are three enclosures with the newsletter. The first is a

copy of SF 180 for updating your DD Form 214, the second

is the

Willard Ottman

news clipping, and the third is the

Commander’s Narrative from the 2/71 After Action Report

dated August 1959. This adds bulk and makes it difficult to

fold the newsletter. The added bulk greatly increases the

chance of having the newsletter mangled by the Post Office,

so we are trying this approach.

In Memoriam

James Pannell

reports that

Bobby C. Ratliff

, C Btry,

died of cancer, 30 March 1999.

A Sons’ Perspective:

The 1998 Reunion

By

Gregory E. Hamrick

“I was honored and deeply touched to attend the reunion.

I had always wondered about the mission my father was sent

away on.

I only know in my young mind in ’58 that “Dad” was

going away and would hopefully be back soon. He returned

in ‘59 happy to be back but not saying a lot about his

mission.

In Oct. of 1997 the newsletter arrived concerning the

reunion. I made a last minute decision to attend the reunion

due to recent hospitalization and job constraints. I feel it was

one of my best “last minute decisions.”

I had always felt that my father was surrounded by fine,

outstanding troops. And upon my meeting the battalion

members, I was proven right.

I also was quite touched, somewhat amused by a nick-

name my father was given by his fellow troops “MAJOR

HOWDY”. I felt that it was quite fitting too, knowing that

he was all business but very personable.

My only regret was that he was not able to attend but I

definitely know he was there in spirit.

Again I say thank you to everyone for proving my

thoughts right and hope to see everyone in St. Charles, MO.

for the next reunion.”

New Assn. Members (Total 110):

Neal

A. Boothe

Jerry

B. Chapman

Donald

L. Einkauf

Raymond E. Gradick

Robert

H. Heilman

Joseph

C. Hungate

James

J. Kjersgard

Franklin G. May

Ronald

D. Morgan

Donald

G. O’Neill,Sr.

Thomas R. Stinnett

Aubrey

L. Toney

Charles

A. Trost

James

T. Vuncannon