2003 Reunion

Fort Sill, Oklahoma - October 9,10,11 

 


Written by: Norman R. Jones  

The 5th annual reunion of the 17th Artillery Regiment Association was held October 9, 10, and 11, 2003, in the Red Lion Hotel at Lawton, Oklahoma with a tour to the top of Mount Scott, The Wildlife Refuge and The Holy City and a stop in Fort Sill.

Veterans started arriving on 8 October. On 9 October 2003, most all of our veterans had checked in. The Hospitality Room was a gathering place for most during the entire day. We had a good crowd and we all gathered at the open-air grills on the courtyard grounds of the Red Lion Hotel, fired up by Chief Chef Richard Jones, Mike Burke and Ray Comeaux. The main menu was Homemade Texas Sausage from Giddings, Texas and Hamburgers. Afterwards when it became dark, there was a slide show on the outside. We enjoyed the slides of Gerald Brown. 

On the morning of October 10, we boarded the chartered  buses for our tour.  We were very fortunate to have Leslie Scott (Korean War Veteran) as our tour guide. The weather was great. After the tour we returned to the Red Lion Hotel, and most of us went to the Fisherman’s Cove for Dinner.

On  October 11 we held our general membership meeting and then our banquet lunch. Our guest speaker was Colonel Thomas S. Vandal accompanied by Major Dale Owen and Mrs. Price (wife of LTC Price Commander of the 1/17th Artillery in Iraq). We ate lunch, took pictures and said our good byes. The pictures of all events of the reunion are posted below.

Click on thumbnail image to enlarge.

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Norman R. Jones 
with Artillery Crest Apron
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Ray Comeaux, Thomas Vernor, William Wright, Thomas Kurtz
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Jack Picciolo

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 Hospitality Room - Food Table, Displays, Photo Albums, T-shirts, hats.

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The Wall of Fame
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The Cookout
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Jack Picciolo, Rod Guerrero & Mike Turner
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William Wright, Bob West,& Richard Jones
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Thomas (Top) Vernor pulling KP
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Charles Riley, George Schaefer, Buddy Armstrong
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Ed Hitchner (webmaster)
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Dave & Judy Bickler
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Tom Kurtz, New President
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Charles Riley & Richard Smith
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Paul Raymond
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Ed & Nancy Hitchner
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Gene Johnson, Norman Jones, 
Dave Bickler
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Ed Hitchner, Ray Comeaux, 
Rich Siebe, Mike & Pat Bell, Peter Coffin, Bob West
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Entire Group at Mount Scott

 

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Vee & Gerald Brown, 
Lonnie & Peggy English, 
Annette & Richard Jones
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Nolan Putman, George Adkisson, 
Barry Maurer, Mike Burke

The views from atop Mount Scott.


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Mike & Rebecca Mason
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Richard & Phyllis Flowers
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The "Mountain Creek Restaurant" 
in Meers, OK
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Group Outing having lunch
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Chow line, 17th Arty Style
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Pat & Bob West, Annette & Richard Jones, Peggy & Lonnie English, Diana & Stanley Kendall
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Tim & Mike Triplett

 

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Seated Richard Jones, Peter Coffin, Standing Shirley & Leslie Scott, 
Back to camera Jack & Connie Barron
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Cathy & Webster Cole, Betty Putnam
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Major Dale Owen, 
Col. Thomas Vandal, 
Diana & SFC Stanley Kendall
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Daniel Lazenberry Entertaining

 

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Banquet
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Ed Hitchner receives Life Membership
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Mike Burke receives Life Membership
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William Wright receives Life Membership
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Peter Coffin receives Life Membership
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Mike Mason receives Life Membership
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Bob West receives Life Membership
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Jack Picciolo receives Life Membership
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Col. Vandal, Cmdr, 75th FA Brigade, Guest Speaker
 
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