Date:     May 9, 2008

To:        Former Members of the 2^nd Radio Squadron Mobile-Darmstadt, Germany from 1949 to 1955

From:    Bobby Terry   Phone (228) 586-0898      e-mail – Bterry2ndrsm@aol.com

Subject:  2008 Reunion in Biloxi Mississippi

Although we had a small turn out, 62 people from the 2^nd RSM, 4 from 6910th/6911th and 7 guest from Keesler Air Force Base. The reunion was a great success.

Bob Terry took the podium and thanked the following for making the 2008 2^nd RSM reunion possible:

Leslie Barfield - Sales Director  and all her staff at the IP Hotel and Casino

Charles (Buzz) Hundley - Co-chairman and golf coordinator.

Hap Arnold - Master of Ceremonies

Bill Campbell - Coordinator/Advisor

Dick and Barbara Gaffeny - Registration and Name Tag distribution

Michael Skutar - Hospitality Suite Coordinator

Daryl Reaney - Group Photographer

Steve Elkins - Entertaining us with a few silly songs.

John Muniz - M&M Tour & Travel

Monday

We had a cocktail party and Dick and Barbara Gaffeny handed out the 2^nd RSM name tags.

This year we opened the Hospitality Suite from noon to 04:00 PM and again at 10:00 PM to midnight to give the troops a place to gather instead of the hotel lobby.  It seemed to work out better this way. The hospitality room was manned by Gene Ockerman, Dick & Barbara Gaffeny, Mike Skutar and a few more that helped.

Hap Arnold announced the tours and time of departure. He advised the time and place for the golf outing. He also ask people to think about where we should have the next reunion and would anyone volunteers to be the chairman. He stated that we have one volunteer, John Puterbaugh, that was willing to take charge, be the chairman, and have the 2010 reunion in Dayton Ohio.

Tuesday

Thirty two people took the tour to New Orleans. It was a full day event and everyone said they had a great time.

Tuesday night at the cocktail party and Hap Arnold announced the Tour of the Mississippi Coast would depart from in front of the hotel at 10:00 AM on Wednesday morning.  He also announce the golf outing, foursome, (Bob Terry, Benson Merritt, Dick Campbell & Mel Cohen) should meet in front of the hotel at 08:00 AM Wednesday morning. 

Hap again asked people to think about where we should have the next reunion and was there anyone who would volunteer to be the chairman. 

Wednesday

There were approximately 60 people that took the Mississippi Coast Tour from Biloxi to Bay St Louis. Again everyone said they enjoyed the tour.

The foursome that played golf at Keesler Air Force Base said they had a great time. We think Ben Merritt was the big winner although no one paid out any cash.

Wednesday night was the highlight of our reunion.  Buzz Hundley had arranged with Keesler Air Force  Base to have a speaker at our reunion and give a talk on the destruction Hurricane Katrina caused to the base. We had 7 guests, Lt. Col. Jeff Szatanek, his wife Amy and his mother Marilyn, 2^nd LT. Drew Myers and his wife Cristina, SSgt. Tanya Holditch and her friend SSgt Duane King from Keesler Air Force Base. Lt. Col. Szatanek narrated a slide show and an actual movie of the damage Hurricane Katrina did to the infrastructure of Keesler Air Force Base.  After the presentation Bob Terry presented a certificate of appreciation to Lt. Col. Szatanek, 2^nd LT. Myers and SSgt. Holditch. He also gave each member of the military one of our 2^nd RSM caps.  Everyone enjoyed this very informative presentation.

Hap Arnold again brought up the question if anyone would be the chairman of the 2010 reunion. No one volunteered. A showing of  hands agreed that John Puterbaugh would be our next chairman and  the reunion would be held in 2010 in Dayton Ohio.  John will check with all the hotels, museums and tours then will advise of the exact date.

Steve Elkins sang a few of his silly songs after the Lt. Col’s presentation.

Daryl Reaney took the 2^nd RSM group photograph. The cost of each photograph will be $10.00 dollars. When you receive your photograph please send your $10.00 to Daryl Reaney. 

The 2008 reunion in Biloxi Mississippi came to a close

Bobby Terry

2008 2^nd RSM reunion

Chairman