Article in Sgt. Grit Newsletter - Sept. 3, 2009 by Harvey Rosenfeld

Old Friends and Faded Memories

As a matter of introduction, I served in the United States Marine Corps from 1961 to 1965. In that short tour of duty I found myself in Parris Island, South Carolina, 1st Composite Radio Company, Kaneohe, Hawaii and, from Hawaii hop-scotched to many of the garden spots of the Pacific, the Sea of Japan, and the East and South China Seas. This story, however, isn't about me. It is about a band of Marine brothers who served with me, who are among the first Marine boots on the ground in South Vietnam and who still today hold each other in high regard. Few of us represent what are commonly referred to as "lifers", but each retains a lifelong love of the Corps and for those with whom we served.

It was a little more than six year ago when I received a call from one of my Marine brothers. With a familiar mid-western farm-boy's accident I heard, "is this Rosy"? That call began answering the question I always asked myself throughout my Defense Department career as parallel work experiences took me to many of the same places and dealing with many like tasks. I continually wondered what happened to Dennis, Hagan, RJ, Swamp Jockey, Roundman, Poncho, etc. They all shared many of my experiences and Darrell Haines' call started to answer most of those questions and began recovering memories I had long ago put away somewhere in that gray matter atop my shoulders. Many more answers were found as our numbers began to increase and we began to meet together at different venues around the country.

Our first reunion was in Memphis, Tennessee in 2005. It was attended by six 1st Radio Marines (Cpl Haines and his wife Judy, Cpl Fouts, Cpl Hagan, L/Cpl Campos, Cpl Bryson and me, L/Cpl Rosenfeld). The following year we joined with many of the Marines who served in 1st Radio before and following my assignment to the unit. That reunion was held in San Antonio, Texas, and wives, significant others and friends attended. Again we joined with the larger group of 1st Radio Marines and families at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina the following year. The Marines of 1st Composite Radio and their wives and friends chose Alexandria, Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C., for the 2008 reunion. This reunion was very enjoyable and exciting. To see what the United States Marine Corps Heritage Foundation has done to establish a home for Marine Corps history in Quantico, Virginia is an outstanding tribute for those of us who have served. Visits to The Wall, and Arlington National Cemetery left each of us to our own thoughts and prayers. While at the Wall, we took the opportunity to brasso the Marine Corps emblem embossing the base of the flag pole adorning the entrance to the Wall. Selected Marines also lifted names of those 1st Radio heroes who are among the 50,000 plus names on that very impressive memorial. Last year's reunion was in Charleston, South Carolina and in 2010 the Marines, their family and friends will reunite in Asheville, N. Carolina.

With the passing of time and reunions we have grown in numbers of those attending these gatherings while the number of those who once served our great nation in the United States Marine Corps and in 1st Composite Radio Company is dwindling. The honor rolls of those who now guard Heaven's Door are: Roscoe Chatelain, Garret O'Hara, R.J. Kelly, Pat Casler, Ted "Roosevelt" Cash, Paul Futtrup, and J.J. Leist.

Harvey Rosenfeld
Please visit http://www.1st-radio-company-usmc.org/