1
2nd Missile Battalion, 71st Artillery
(Taiwan) Association
271 Shady Oak Drive
New Market, AL 35761
<http://www.2-71adataiwan.com>
Volume 10
Newsletter 3
November 2006
2006 Reunion in Rapid City, SD
The recent reunion was held in Rapid City, SD, 27 Sep. to
1 Oct. 2006. It was one of our smaller reunions but everyone
had a great time. The weather was outstanding. We had
70° weather that was freezing shortly before we arrived and
soon after we departed. Details of the reunion are provided
by Karen O’Connell later in the newsletter. Originally, 100
people were signed up to attend but twelve people did not
make it, mostly for health problems. The following were
almost there; they were with us in spirit:
Don Friese, Nick and Beth Hodge, Claxton and Mitti
Hurst, Ken and Helen Johnson, Fran Nezelek, Vern and
Blanche Trupp, Merle Weller and Darlene O’Shields.
While we were missing some of our old-timers, we were
blessed with some fi rst-timers: Joe Duchesne’s son Joe, Gil
and Petra Garcia, Bill and Elaine Hutchison, Dan and
Mary Anne Otting, Mel Reichstadt’s wife, Ginny, and
John and Becky Roberts. We were fortunate to have one
old-timer join us. Nancy O’Neill lost her husband, Ron,
shortly after the San Antonio Reunion, but she decided to
attend this reunion. Hopefully we will be able to encourage
more widows to join us for the 2008 Reunion.
Our banquet guest speaker, Francis Gary Powers, Jr. gave
us a very interesting talk about his father’s U-2 mission over
Russia and his work in establishing the Cold War Museum
on an old Nike site in Lorton, VA. Gary is a very dynamic
speaker and salesman for the museum. He asked us to con-
tribute artifacts from our Taiwan tour to the museum. Jim
Peoples gave him the shirt off his back – actually the jacket
off his back. Those of you who have been to a reunion will
remember the 2nd Missile Bn. embroidered jackets that both
Jim and Milo Morin had made in Taiwan. Milo plans to
hold on to his jacket a while longer.
Willard and Pat Ottman had sold us on South Dakota for
the reunion when we were in San Antonio, then proceeded
to select a fi ne reunion hotel, reasonably priced, with great
food and with a surprising number of outstanding tourist at-
tractions in the area. They also provided a shuttle and guide
service to downtown Rapid City.
Karen O’Connell’s View of the Reunion
Two years ago, when I heard the guys had decided to go
to South Dakota for this reunion, I thought it was a great op-
portunity. However, S.D. is not an easy access area, but what
a wonderful destination!
Before I tell you about the actual reunion, let me tell you a
bit about our drive from Buffalo, NY to Rapid City, SD.
The fi rst night, we stayed in South Bend, IN, and being a
HUGE Notre Dame fan, that gave me the thrill of a lifetime
- seeing the Golden Dome! My heart is still a? utter. The next
day, driving through Wisconsin, Dave suggested we stop
in Lyndon Station, to see if we could locate “Little Mac”,
otherwise known as Harold McDonald, from D-Battery.
There was no answer on his phone, but being the little town
it is, one of the ladies in the convenience store knew where
he lived. He wasn’t home. Before we left his house, though,
he drove up, so he and Dave had a nice chat and we got a
few pictures.
The third night, we stayed in Mitchell, SD. Lo and behold,
when I walked into the hotel, I saw Neal Boothe! Yes, he
and Nancy were staying at the same hotel. We sat in the
lobby and talked for a few hours.
All along Route 90 in S.D. are signs (a la Burma Shave)
telling the traveler about Wall Drug and all the “stuff” you
can get there. Since this was the last leg of our journey, Dave
decided we should investigate this place. What a fun place.
And, we ran into the Boothes again and had lunch together.
As you can see, our reunion actually started a couple days
early.
We arrived in Rapid City shortly after noon on Wednesday.
Some anxious reunioners were already in the hotel! Although
we were all spread around this sprawling hotel, the accom-
modations were great. The staff were friendly, gracious and
attentive.
Our fi rst meal there was in the hotel dining room - Mi-
nerva’s. That began our love affair with their food. Both
banquets were delicious and well presented. No complaints
from anyone. The breakfasts in the restaurant were the same
caliber as the dinners. The coffee was always good, too.
Several of us sat for hours in the lobby that fi rst evening
and talked, reminisced, caught up, laughed and took pic-
tures. Just like Old Home Week. Each time another member
walked through the door, the chatter got louder.
On Thursday morning, the Board of Directors met, while
a few of us put the reunion packets together for all members
and guests. A nice, new touch this year was an identifying