Alpha Company Monument
Dedication
May 20, 2007


This is Page 3 of a 3-page series of photographs of the building, installation,
and dedication of the reconstructed 1971 Alpha Company Monument.

PAGE 1 2 3


photos from Peggy Pearson and Ken Parr (A Co, 1st BN, 1970-1971)
Before the Ceremony
The monument, bronze plaque, and two benches were covered with Currahee Flags
before the ceremony. 1SG(R) John Foley (C Co, 1st BN, 1990-1991, ROK), historian
at the Don F. Pratt Museum, provided the helmet, rifle, and boots. Stephen Lewis
(C Co, 1st BN, 1970-1971) wore these boots in Vietnam and had donated them to the
museum.


CPT Justin Michel

CPT Justin Michel [A Co (CO), 1st BN] initiated the ceremony.
SPC Alex Cook (Currahee Press staff) filmed the events.

Attendees included:
Theresa and COL Thomas Vail [HHC (RCT CO), 506th RCT]
Simona and LTC Ronald Clark [HHC (BN CO), 1st BN]
CSM Michael Catterton [HHC (BN CSM), 1st BN]
A/1-506th Vietnam veterans and their family members
A/1-506th active-duty soldiers and their family members
From the 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association (Airmobile-Air Assault)
   - Brise Bickerton, President
   - Gene Overton, Membership Director
   - Other Association Members


Fred May
Fred May (A/1-506th, 1970-1971) gave a brief history of the original monument.


Tom Duckett
MAJ(R) Tom Duckett, III (B Co, 1st BN 1971) explained what happened to the
original monument when the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry stood down in Vietnam.


Reading KIA Names
The names on the monument and bronze plaque were read by:
(L): Ken Parr (A/1-506th, 1970-1971) -- who designed and built the original monument
(R): Ray Sowinski (A/1-506th, 1970-1971) -- who checked Morning Reports and created
the list of 18 KIAs for the original monument


Removing the Flags

Uncovering the benches, monument, and plaque (L-R): Ray Sowinski, Ken Parr, and
Jodie Glore, the A/1-506th CO who gave the order to build the original monument.


Moment of silence
A moment of silence


A/1-506th Active-Duty Currahees
A/1-506th active-duty Currahees volunteered to attend the monument ceremony.


PFC Eric "Pudding"Jones

Taps was played by PFC Eric "Pudding"Jones, who had been the bugler
for all of the 1-506th 2006 KIA remembrance ceremonies in Ramadi, Iraq.


18 KIAs
The monument contains the names of 18 A/1-506th KIA, 1970-1971.


Bronze Plaque

A bronze plaque, which included names of additional A/1-506th KIA, 1967-1971 was
designed, installed, and dedicated along with the replica of the original monument.


Monument and Bronze Plaque
Monument and Bronze Plaque


Alpha Company Vietnam Veterans

A/1-506th Vietnam veterans who attended the monument dedication ceremony

(Kneeling L-R): Allen Sander, Jim Holden, Gregg Munro, Lenard Farnsworth, Tom
Waggoner, Alan Duffy, Gary George, Bruce Moore, Dudley Estay, Roger Evans,
Ken Brokaw, Howard Robertson, Ron Wiese, Michael Slaton, Frank Puma

(Standing L-R): Joe Wilson, Vernon Jaramillo, Ken Parr, Larry Odde, David McMinn,
Glen Guidry, Jodie Glore, Fred May, Jim Wake, Paul Martinez, SGT(R) Mike Rogers,
Onesimo Abrego, Larry Lee, Brian Heeg, John Brown, Ted Taraski, Larry Hendricks,
Ray Sowinski, Bill Clift (D Co, 1st ABG, 1957-1960), Mike Oakley, Ron Rami, Ed Krohe,
Robert Linn


Weapons Display
A/1-506th active-duty Currahees set up a weapons display in the area.


Memorial Day
May 2008

photo from Dan Nightingale (A Co, 1st BN, 1970)
Dan Nightingale

Dan Nightingale (A Co, 1st BN, 1970), who was unable to attend the May 2007
dedication ceremony, visited the monument on Memorial Day, 2008.

July 2009

During the 2009 Alpha Company Reunion in Nashville, TN, a group drove
to Fort Campbell, KY to replace the 5 original holly bushes with arbovitae.
John Lally (A Co, 1st BN, 1970-1971) has photos of this work detail on his
Currahee! Alpha Company Shutterfly web site.


November 2009

photos from CPT Al Lamaire (Commander, A Co, 1st BN, 506th, 2009-current)
We Remember
This is how the Memorial appeared approximately one month after Veterans Day 2009.
Items recently left at the Memorial are (from left to right) a framed print of the poem
"I Am the Infantry" which the wind has knocked off its stand. There is a grave marker
that contains two A/1-506 Infantry Challenge Coins, a Currahee Crest Pin, and a set of
crossed rifles with 506 between the barrels. At the far right is a wreath with a framed
statement in the center that says "We Remember - A/1-506 RVN Veterans".


November 2009
One of the custom concrete memorial benches had been damaged by lawn
mowing equipment operated by a private contracting service. A new bench
was ordered and replaced the damaged one. To keep large mowers away
from the benches, small white picket fence sections were added to enclose
an open area near the memorial.

These pages are maintained by veterans of
The 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association (Airmobile - Air Assault)
Send any changes or corrections to: Hoyt Bruce Moore, III "The Moe"
This page updated 12/18/09