Casper Reunion 2013 Wreath Laying Ceremony & Memorial Service

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The "OLD GUARD" prepares for the Casper Aviation Platoon Wreath Laying Ceremony at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.

Arlington National Cemetery

Washington, D.C. | June 23, 2013

Casper Platoon Wreath Laying Ceremony

On Sunday morning, more than 100 Caspers, family members, and friends met at Arlington National Cemetery to attend the Casper Platoon Wreath Laying Ceremony.  This was an opportunity for us to honor our 12 Casper Platoon crew members who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving in Vietnam.  They were: Douglas Lee Jones, Carl Fredrick Louvring, Terry Dean Finch, Donny Ramon Kidd, Richard Wade Joles, Richard Driggs Le May, Larry Dean Smith, William John Bassignani, Rigoberto Gomez-Diaz, Richard Bruce Canning, Eric Peter Busch and John Nelson Crawford.

Those participating in the laying of the wreath were: Ned Costa, Donny Kidd, Jr., Martha Beasley and Nan Williamson.

Click on thumbnail image below to enlarge the photo

Ned Costa & Don Bachali waiting to board our bus	Terry Lee & Bethanne Parker	Richard Hathcock & Chuck Merkel	Randy & Susan Plese	Patricia King, Phyliss Kahlia, Kitty Costa & Marylin Jones	Sal Sosa
Buddy King	Loretta & Reverend Henry Tucker and Pastor Jim Hutchens	Our bus arrives at Arlington National Cemetery	As we got of the bus it started to rain	Caspers, family & friends arrive at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers	An hour before the ceremony
Instructions are given to ceremony participates	More Caspers	More Caspers	More Caspers	Ceremony begins	The Casper Aviation Platoon Wreath
Ceremony participates are escourted outside	The OLD GUARD prepares for our Wreath Laying Ceremony	Detail brings the wreath to the front of the tomb	Participates ready to receive wreath	Donny Kidd,Jr. & Ned Costa receives the wreath from our host	Donny Kidd, Jr. & Ned Costa set the wreath on the easel in front of the Tomb
Bugler plays "Taps" at The Tomb of the Unknowns	Ned Costa, Donny Kidd, Jr., Martha Beasley & Nan Williamson rendering salute or hand over heart	Other Caspers, family & friends also show their respect	More caspers	Ceremony participates finish the wreath laying ceremony	Caspers leaving The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers

Casper Platoon Memorial Service

Following the Wreath Laying Ceremony, many of the Caspers, family members, and friends visited the grave sites in Arlington National Cemetery of former Casper crew members Rod Beasley and Richard "Dirke" Le May.  

Reverend Henry "Sonny" Tucker led the memorial service that was followed by a moment of reflection and the reading of our fallen Caspers names.  An Old Guard bugler played "taps" and Pastor Jim Hutchens gave the benediction that ended the memorial service.

This solemn time together gave our group an opportunity to pay formal respects to the 12 Casper Platoon service members who were killed in action and the nearly 90 other Caspers who died after their tour. 

Background:

Richard Le May was killed in action during his second tour in the Republic of Vietnam.

Rod Beasley died after his tour in the Republic of Vietnam.

Henry Tucker was the Company Commander of C Co, 1/503 during Operation Hump from November 5-9, 1965.  His Company was attacked by a force in superior numbers on November 8, 1965 on Hill 65 in the Iron Triangle.

Pastor Jim Hutchens was the Battalion Chaplain during that same time and was actually wounded by a 30 caliber bullet in the leg when he rescued a wounded soldier whose life he was credited for saving.

Click on thumbnail image below to enlarge the photo

Memorial service begins led ny Reverend Henry Tucker	Caspers, families & friends	More Caspers	Caspers Buddy King & Chuck Merkel reads KIA names	More Caspers	More Caspers
Bugler from the Old Guard

Ice Breaker Party | U.S. Capitol | Riverboat Cruise | Wreath Laying & Memorial | Men's Luncheon | Ladies Luncheon | Banquet Dinner

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This site was last updated 07/08/13