In a two-day span, a total of about seventy CHA members and guests got together for our biannual CHA reunion and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Evening Parade, held on 5 July fifty years ago 1957! The reunion and anniversary events were held in the Washington, D.C. area at: (of course!) Center House at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.; the USMC Museum in Quantico; and the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia. They consisted of: a couple of receptions; a tour of the USMC Museum; a membership meeting; a parade; many hours of partying and catching-up in the hotel's hospitality suite; and a farewell breakfast on our last day. We came to this reunion with the indefatigable spirit of former Barracks Officers who were there to have a great time with those who share fond memories of their tours at the Barracks, no matter the "era"! We succeeded, of course -- never letting 'em see us sweat, in typical Barracks style and panache! (Well, maybe they saw a drop or two on that bus ride down to Quantico!)

We were incredibly privileged to have present with us for the reunion several of the men, and their wives, who were either very critical to the process of breathing life into that first evening parade or who were actually there that night performing one or more of the wide variety of duties required to pull off a successful parade. They are:

The S-3, Col Larry Marousek and his wife, Jeanne

The MCI Supply Officer, Col Bill McGrath and his wife, Nancy, and guests LtCol Dave Higley, USMC(Ret) and his wife, Joan

The Barracks Property Control Officer, Mr. Tom Regan and his wife, Judith

One of the USMCR MCI Course Writers, Dr. Frank Mainzer (his wife Joan was there with us in spirit all the way from Erie, Pennsylvania!)

Another USMCR MCI Course Writer, Mr. Jack Dougherty and his wife Jo Anne

As a point of considerable interest to all of us who have served at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., Steve Trimble, another 1957-era CHA member who marched as the Platoon Commander of 1st Platoon, MCI Company in that first Evening Parade (but unfortunately couldn't be with us during the reunion) has created the following items:

A presentation which focuses on the first Evening Parade and life at the Barracks in the mid- 1950's. To view this program, turn up your sound and click here. (If you would like to save this presentation on your own computer, right-click on the "click here" line, and on the drop-down menu select "save target as .. . " and then designate the folder in which you would like to save it.)

A four-part, in-depth history of the Evening Parade -- click here.

The rest of this august group who gathered during these two days of reunion/anniversary activities was composed of the follow-on crew, and their guests, proud to carry on the high standards set for them by the 1957-era Officers:

Col Chuck Akstin, USMC(Ret); 1972, Property Control Officer, and wife Pat

Maj Bob Burge, USMC(Ret); 1983, PltCdr/XO/CO CoB; MCI AWSNRP

Mr. James Cooney, 1966; Dir MCI Test Section; S-3A; WHSA, and wife Patricia

Mr. Doug Davidson, 1966; XO/CO H&S Co: MCI; WHSA, and wife Charlsie

Mr. Kevin Flynn; 1994, CO CoB, and wife Joelle

Col Jim Flynn, USMC(Ret); 1991, CO MarBks, and wife Josie

LtCol Pat Fontaine, USMC(Ret); 1992, OpsO/XO MCI, CO H&SCo; Parade Cdr, and wife Nancy

LtCol Glenn Gearhard, USMC(Ret); 1985 and 2000, PltCdr A1/XO CoA, S-3A, then DepDir MCI, and wife Karin

Maj Donna Gerlaugh, USMC(Ret); 1994, Chief MCI StudOps/MIS

MajGen Frank Hamilton, Jr, USMC(Ret); 1976, MarBks S-4, and wife Sandy

Mr. Ron Holman; 1974, S-3A, XO H&SCo

Maj John Hoogerwerff, USMC(Ret); 1979, OIC MCI Writer Unit #1, and wife Florence

Dr. Gene "Hud" Huddleston; 1966, MCI Inf Writer Unit #2, MCI PltCdr, and wife Victoria

LtCol Nancy Hurless, USMC(Ret); 1994, MCI Registrar, Director MWR, CO H&SCo, Parade Staff FlankO, and husband Pat

LtCol Mike Kessler, USMC(Ret); 1995, XO MarBks, and wife Kim

Maj Fred Lash, USMC(Ret); 1975, CO SctyCo, CO H&S Co

Col Steve Lindblom, USMC(Ret); 1974, CO H&SCo, Head MCI Writer Unit, and wife Ann

Col Mike McGowan, USMC(Ret); 1964, PltCdr GdCo, SpecCerePltCdr, AsstOps&TrngO, Parade Adj, WHSA, and wife Rita

Maj Neal Noem, USMC(Ret); 2000, MarBks S-6/InfoSysO, and friend Julie Stanich

Col Dan O'Brien, USMC(Ret); 2002, CO MarBks, and wife Charlene

Maj Mike Owen, USMC(Ret); 1984, PltCdr B Co; XO HQSvc Co

Maj Roger Patton, USMC(Ret); 1975, S-4A, and wife Alaine

MajGen "Duff" Rice, USMC(Ret); 1975, CO MarBks

LtCol Gil Robinson, USMC(Ret); 1978, CO H&SCo, XO MCICo

Maj Bob Rudolf, USMC(Ret); 1976, MCI StudSvcsO (author of MCI's first and very long-lived automated information system!), and wife Donna

Maj Carter Valentine, USMC(Ret); 1967, Registrar MCI; Parade Cdr, and wife Carvel

Col Jim Van Riper, USMC(Ret); 1970, XO/CO GuardCo, CO H&SCo, S-3B, and wife Connie

Additionally, as a delightful surprise addition to our group, the son of the Barracks S-4 who played a crucial role in implementing the first Evening Parade, Maj Bud Schmid, was able to join us with his family at our farewell breakfast on the morning of 7 July at the Hilton.

We did manage to have quite a productive membership meeting wedged in between all the fun times and friendship renewals -- to read the minutes of the membership meeting, please click here. And of course, throughout the entire time, there were countless priceless "Kodak Moments", some of which are captured in this slideshow. (Click here to view).

If you have any photos that you would like included on our website, please don't hesitate to forward them to me at: chamembers@centerhouse.org.

Our next reunion will be held in 2009, two years from now. Now, though, as we bask in the warm afterglow of the company of old and new friends, 2009 seems a mite too far away...

Donna Gerlaugh Center House Association, VP Membership August 2007

CHA Luncheon and Happy Hour, 28-29 March 2007

The annual luncheon of current Barracks Officers and Center House Association members occurred again this year at the Topside Club, Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, 28 March 2007.  After welcoming remarks by Colonel Jim Flynn, USMC (Ret), CHA Senior VP and the Pledge of Allegiance, Jim introduced our Guest of Honor, Major General W.H. "Duff" Rice, USMC (Ret).  As the Barracks CO during the years 1975 to 1978, General Rice had some great stories about his and the Barracks' involvement in the events and ceremonies surrounding the 200th anniversary of the birth of the USMC (1975) and of our nation (1976).  Needless to say, there were several hair-raising behind-the-scenes moments during those highly public events - and General Rice's recollections of them brought many wry chuckles and nods of empathy from his audience!

Jim Flynn then presented General Rice a traditional mug on a wooden mug board, hand-made by CHA's VP Special Projects, LtCol Mike Kessler, USMC (Ret), and introduced General Rice as CHA's next President.  (More on the recent CHA elections below.)

After an invocation by the Barracks' Chaplain, Lt John Logan, USN, Mr. Russ Pantleo, the Barracks' MCCS Director, opened a delicious buffet line and he and his staff served the hungry diners with their usual fine care and attention to detail.

Colonel Terry Lockard, the current Barracks CO, then gave us an update on Barracks happenings and provided some information that will have a direct impact on CHA planning for the next several months:

1) the Barracks plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first evening parade (5 July 1957) at the regular Friday night evening parade of 6 July 2007, and
2) the Barracks has decided how they would like CHA to assist in commemorating the dedication of the Truman Crawford Band Hall, namely, assistance in funding for a larger-than-life-sized portrait of Col Crawford to hang in the band hall.

Jim Flynn then announced the new CHA Board of Directors:

MajGen W. H. Rice, USMC (Ret) (replaces LtGen Christmas, USMC (Ret) as President)
Col Jim Flynn, USMC (Ret)
Col Chuck Akstin, USMC (Ret)
LtCol Mike Kessler, USMC (Ret)
LtCol Nancy Fontaine, USMC (Ret)
Maj Donna Gerlaugh, USMC (Ret)
Mr. Kevin Flynn (former Capt, USMC)

Then, Jim closed the luncheon with the presentation to Colonel Lockard of a book written by a fellow CHA member, Maj Bill Lee, USMC (Ret), of the 1962 era, entitled, "The Light Side of Damnation".  It is a book about war from a Vietnam-era Marine Captain's point of view, told in an autobiographical style with a large dose of humor and an easy reading style.  It has been chosen as a finalist for the 2007 North Texas Book Festival Book Award, and is receiving great accolades on Amazon.com. Colonel Lockard will present it to the Center House library, where it will be available with all other books in the collection for Barracks Officers to read.

 After the luncheon, as before it, many current Barracks Officers and CHA members lingered to continue conversations, trading experiences and observations on the Barracks "then and now". The following CHA members were present at the luncheon (in alphabetical order):

     Year      Name

     1941      Col Roy Batterton, USMC (Ret) - Marine Raider, and also served in 1955 as Barracks XO and his son Barry (For a brief but very interesting summary of Col Batterton's career, click here.
     1999      Col Kevin Brickhouse, USMC (Ret) - CO MarBks
     1991      Col Jim Flynn, USMC (Ret) - CO MarBks
     1985      LtCol Glenn Gearhard, USMC (Ret) -- PltCdr (A-1) / XO Co A; S-3A, and also served in 2000 as DepDir MCI
     1994      Maj Donna Gerlaugh, USMC (Ret) -- Chief StudOps/MIS Dept, MCI
     1980      LtCol Art Gorman, USMC (Ret) - Supply O/Asst LogO
     1995      LtCol Mike Kessler, USMC (Ret) - XO MarBks
     --      Col John Kinneburgh, USMC (Ret) -- Aide-de-Camp to General Chapman, 24th CMC, luncheon guest of MajGen Rice
     1974      Col Steve Lindblom, USMC (Ret) -- CO H&S Co; Head, Writer Unit, MCI
     1965      LtCol Don Mayer, USMC (Ret) -- Post Supply Officer/S-4
     2002      Col Dan O'Brien, USMC (Ret) - CO MarBks
     1975      MajGen W. H. ("Duff") Rice - CO MarBks
     1987      Col Courtney Whitney, USMCR - Registrar, MCI; CO, CoB

The next day, 29 March, many of the current Barracks Officers and a few CHA members met at Center House to quaff a few and strike up new conversations at a traditionally favored hour:  Happy Hour.  Chalk up yet another fine time with fellow Marine Officers at a place special to us all.  Looking forward to next year to do it all again!