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Oct. 31!

Staff Sgt. Shawn Richardson, 6th Air Defense Artillery sen-ior instructor, demonstrates to Vietnam War veteran RikGroves of Minneapolis, Minn., how Stinger missiles areloaded into the Avenger weapons system. Groves was oneof 41 members of the 27th Field Artillery Regiment, whichheld its regimental reunion at Fort Sill Oct. 14.

Story, photoBy Ben Sherman

For Hank Parker of Boise,Idaho, returning to Fort Sillwas “coming home.” “I toldour guys that we were goingto honor the fallen but to dothat we had to go ‘backhome,” Parker said. “Andthey said ‘Where is that?’andI said to them ‘Fort Sill,Oklahoma.’ And that juststruck a chord and everyonesaid we want to do it. So thisis our home.”

Parker was a captain withB Battery, 5th Battalion, 27thField Artillery in the VietnamWar from 1968 to ‘69. He andhis men trained at Fort Sillon the 105 mm towed how-itzer. Forty-one members ofthe 27th FA came ‘home’ fortheir regimental reunionrecently. But they were herefor more than just renewingacquaintances and recallingmemories.

“The purpose of thereunion is to come together,not just with us and ourspouses, but also to invitethe family members of ourkilled in action to come visitwith us, so that they canlearn about their loved ones,too,” Parker said. Their threebattalions lost 48 killed inaction during their time inVietnam.

These veterans came fromall over the United States.While they were here theytoured the 6th Air DefenseArtillery school where theysaw the Avenger weaponssystem. Staff Sgt. ShawnRichardson, C Battery, 6thADA senior instructor,showed the veterans thetraining simulators wherethe crews train on theAvenger vehicle systemsand the Stinger shoulder-launched weapons. Many ofthe veterans were impressedwith what they saw.

“The new technology is

phenomenal, Parker said.“In the time it took us toload a howitzer and put outone round, they can put outa battery six in the time itwould take us to put outone. Their reaction time hasto be instantaneous. Thechange is phenomenal.”

Retired Col. JohnMunnelly was also veryimpressed. “We were ‘slip-stick artillery’ using mapsand visual location to thetarget, whereas this takesadvantage of the new gener-ation’s ability to master theelectronics that goes withtheir modern life,” he said.“It’s amazing, absolutelyamazing.”

Munnelly commanded the5-27th FA in Vietnam, 1966 to‘67. For him and his men,coming back to Fort Sill wasan emotional and spiritualexperience.

“They come together andshare memories that wehave together, commonmemories and our triumphsand losses that we haveexperienced while we werein combat.”

The memories cameflooding back as theylooked at photos from thepast. Parker reflected ontheir feelings,“Last night aswe were showing slideshows of the various units incombat action, and thebonding that we have, eventhough we might have beenin different battalions, dif-ferent batteries, never metone another, but 45 yearslater, it’s as if we were thoseyoung kids, skinny, no hair,no shirts – our familiesthought the Army didn’thave any cloth back thenbecause we never wore ourshirts in Vietnam, but it’s aphenomenal bonding thatwe have that takes place,”hesaid.“These men will alwaysbe our brothers.”

27th Field artillery remembers fallen

Leave sharingThe Voluntary Leave Transfer

Program allows civilian employees todonate annual leave to other civilianemployees. Submit completed forms toDenise Scott at the Civilian PersonnelAdvisory Center, 6608 Fort Sill Blvd.,Building 1721. For more information,call CPAC at 442-5726.

The following employees areapproved for the program:

Teumalo Tasi, Charmaine Hernandezand LaVita Williams from the AdjutantGeneral.

Laurie Sweetser, Regina Benois andQuarneata Green from the 434th FieldArtillery Brigade.

Kathy Carlson, Jean Downs and LuzOtero from the Dental Activity.

Shanda Fortenberry and Anthony

Zinn from the Directorate ofEmergency Services.

Diane McNeal from theDirectorate of Contracting.

Jeffery Humphries from theNetwork Enterprise Center.

Larry McNeely, Stephanie Denneyand Wednesday Gilbreath from theDirectorate of Plans, Training,Mobilization and Security.

Vickie Morgan from the FieldArtillery School.

Bonnie Baker, Hector Carreras Jr.,Denise DeJesus, Tammy Gaskin,Ackeilia Heatrice, Linda Libby,Dorothy McCoy, Maria McGee, JamesMcGuire, Robert Shields, JoAnnSorenson and LaShonda Tarry fromReynolds Army Community Hospital.

Constance Bryson and John Soosfrom the Oklahoma City RecruitingBattalion.

Delisa Cliatt from the Directorate ofLogistics.

Phillip Holman, Katrina Wetsellinefrom the Directorate of ResourceManagement.

Cathy Singleton from the Directorateof Family and Morale, Welfare andRecreation.

Edward Bench Jr., Jacqueline Cook,Felicity Curette, Inez De Jesus andRobert York from the Department ofHuman Resources.

LaGayla McGahee from Fires Centerof Excellence G3.

Edward Baker from Fires TestDirectorate.

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