Meeting The 281st Helicopter AHC Group

We had breakfast at the hotel and sat and visited with the Vietnam Veterans that came in from different states to attend this Ceremony.  All of these Vietnam Veterans, in the following blog, were in The 281st Helicopter Company as SFC Richard M. Garcia, who is Missing In Action, since March 19, 1971.  The ceremony that will be held tomorrow will be to Honor SFC Richard M. Garcia and PFC Leonel Aleman who was killed on September 11, 1950 during the Korean War.

This was a great reunion for these great men who had not seen each other in many, many years; some as many as 40 years.  It has was a Great Reunion so far!

We had a beautiful scenery for the 11th floor dining room and our room, too.

My Brother, Jesse brought them from the airport.  They are just so happy to see each other.

They unload their luggage and head on to get a little rest. 

I will try to get all the names correct but my memory is so bad, please excuse me for any errors.

Sitting:  Gambino (dark shirt) and Roark (Blue) & Standing:  Riley (white) and Evangelho (dark)

They all had so much to catch up on. Gambino and his wife came in from Lewiston, Michigan &

Roark rode in with Boling. He lives in Idaho.

The Evangelhos came from Granite Bay, California.  The Rileys came from Laramie, Wyoming.

Boling drove from Grayling, Michigan.  He picked up Roark who lives in Idaho.   They drove all the way here.  

The Ladies visit in the lobby.  Left to right:  Mrs. Riley, Mrs. Evangelho, myself and Mrs. Gambino.

My Brother, Jesse with Daryl and Darlene Evangelho.

Manuel with Becky and Chris Riley…

Evangelho is showing them a YouTube video of the “281st Assault Helicopter Company-Vietnam-1968” by Paul Greiner.

Some of them found pictures of themselves in the video….

Riley, Evangelho, Boling and Roark.

Comrades for ever!!

Jesse with the Gambinos.

Left to right:  Dawn and Wes Schuster who arrived yesterday.  They spent a few days in San Antonio.  They are from St. Helena Island, South Carolina.  Chris Riley, Daryl Evangelho, Becky Riley and Darlene Evangelho sharing pictures.

A lot of conversation.

Much more to come!