July 16, 2001
Atomic Veterans Day
NAAV Portland, Oregon Chapter Meeting
Tigard American Legion Post #158
1100-1400
Click on the images for a larger view.
Buster-Jangle Atomic Veteran Bill Bires stands next to Keith Whittle, Atomic Veterans History Project webmaster, in front of the Tigard American Legion Post on March 17 during a visit to inspect the facilities for the upcoming meeting in July.
July 16, 2001 -- NAAV Portland, Oregon Chapter Commander Keith Whittle opens the meeting and makes announcements to the group. Twenty-five atomic veterans and about 10 guests gathered in the American Legion Post meeting hall. Several traveled to Portland from other communities. Three drove from Dallas, Oregon; one couple drove up from Corvalis and another came in from Bend, Oregon.
Forrest Bahler reads Oregon governor's proclamation to the group. Operation Hardtack atomic veteran Bahler made the necessary contacts with Governor Kitzhaber's office resulting in this official rememberance. He did such a fine job, Keith Whittle asked Forrest Bahler to read President George Bush's letter which had been sent to us by the national NAAV directors.
Douglas County Veterans Service Officer, Mary Newman arrived later in the meeting just in time to have a moment to talk with the group about their VA Benefits. We were glad she could attend.
Operation Crossroads veteran Cecil Herald finds some tastey Navy bean soup waiting for him as he makes his pass at the generous buffet table. Behind Cecil is the Oregon DAV Commander Joseph M. Grabowski. The most excellent lunch was prepared for us by the great fellas at the Tigard American Legion Post #158.
Bridget Smith stands poised with the knife to cut the cake which completed the meal. Notice the atomic photo on the left side of the cake. Smith is sure the cake contributed to people's feeling of attending a reunion. All people attending reported having a great time visiting and exchanging their stories with each other. Most felt that they learned more about their VA benefits and welcome a chance to meet again in three months. The three hours literally flew by.
After lunch was time for photo-taking. Five Operation Hardtack veterans pose for the camera beside the poster created for the meeting. Left to right, Bob Pfeifer, Joe Lines, Roger Going, Forrest Bahler, and Doug Brannock. They had a great time talking about their atomic duty and one of the fellas remembered picking strawberries with Bahler ~ not, he said because he remembered him, but because he had "such a good looking sister."
Group photo of Atomic Veterans present and accounted for on July 16, 2001. Left to Right ~ Leo Cox, Robert Westmark, Earl Easly, Joe Lines, Glenn Griffith, Gerald Cetto, Doug Brannock, Bob Pfeifer, Bill Bires, Forrest Bahler, Howard Farrington, Louis Cowan, Cecil Herald, Clyde Wygant, Roger Allen, Henry Dittmer, Paul Landry, Dean Booster, Roger Going, Fred Schafer. Not shown, Duane (Whitey) Coker, Don Byers.
Photos Courtesy Bridget E. Smith, editor
Historical Gazette
The photo of Bridget was taken by Keith Whittle.
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