First Platoon Reunion July 2016 Dallas, Texas
This photograph shows everyone who attended the reunion. Sitting in the first, row left to right: Grace Deppen, Tarie Haynie, David Haynie, Katz Granddaughter, Hannah, Katz Grandson, Christian. Sitting in the second row left to right: Joanna Rhoades, Irene Harrington, Gloria Ramos, Maurice Harrington, Mike Dankert, Fred Katz, and Dixie Katz. Standing in the last row left to right: Sherrie Haynie, Glyn Haynie, Sean Ayres, Don Ayres, Laura Sivadge, Cliff Sivadge, Dusty Rhoades, Leslie Pressley, Charlie Deppen, Chuck Council, Alice Council, Dennis Stout, Peggy Stout, Jan Jacobo, Chris Hamilton, John “Mississippi” DeLoach, Ray “Alabama” Hamilton, Brenda Cartee, and Melanie Deppen. Photograph by David Haynie, July 15, 2016.
The reunion met most of the platoon members expectations of being with their brothers of First Platoon. We enjoyed sitting and watching them interact and witnessing the affection they had for each other. To a man, you would believe they were 20-year-olds again, and the connection they had from their Vietnam days in 1969 held true today. They showed genuine interest in their platoon brothers’ accomplishments and failures during the years after the Vietnam War. The wives bonded and became friends and family, too. It was unbelievable how quickly they included each other in their families. Many of the wives are in contact with each other to this day.
Leslie Pressley had this T-Shirt made with the names of the reunion attendees and presented to Lt. John Baxter.