To: E Company Rangers

From: Rick Stetson

Unit Director

It is time to say farewell to 2009, a year that will be remembered with fondness by all who made it to San Diego for a truly great reunion. For those who were not able to attend, don't despair because 2010 will offer not one, but two E Company reunions to choose from. 

Emory Parrish and Joe Castagna will be honored May 29 at the Mountain Ranger Camp open house in Dahlonega, Georgia. We are planning an E Company get together from May 26 to 30 in Dahlonega as we support the Parrish and Castagna family members who will attend the ceremony. Doug MacCallum has already been conducting recons in North Georgia locating interesting attractions and good places to dine. More info will follow in the months ahead.

Mac is excellent at scouting interesting locations across the country for reunions as was evident when we met two years ago in Colorado Springs. He has been back out west, this time to Santa Fe, New Mexico where he is putting together a reunion for May 2-9. A good way to get details about what he has found in that area is to visit his blog at: MACLRRP@BLOGSPOT.com  . You will need to create a password and sign in, but once there, information about the hotel, local attractions and even some excellent photos can be viewed. And back by popular demand: "Mac's Ramblings." Those who enjoy his wry sense of humor will enjoy Mac's views on subjects ranging from Tiger Woods to how John Kerry "won" three purple hearts. We are happy to see "Ramblings" back in circulation.   

Our E Company web site has been experiencing some technical problems that have prevented Jonesy from making updates. He tells me the publisher is working on it and that in the near future he should be able to post information about the reunions as well as include thoughts from regular contributors like Clancy Matsuda and Roy Nelson

Due to the technical problems, the unit fund's last status report was in October when it showed $281. Since then, Jonesy tells me that another $200 has been contributed. Thank you to everyone who has helped keep the unit fund active. If you would like to make a contribution, a check made out to E Company Unit Fund can be sent to: Hilan Jones, 15815 Baytree, Houston, TX 77070. The fund has been especially important when flowers are sent to families of deceased E Company Rangers. 

The rave reviews continue to come in for "Last Light With the Boys," by Prescott "Puck" Smith. The book is a valuable addition to our E Company history, especially for the year 1968. The book can be ordered on-line from LULU.com . I ordered the paperback edition ($23.13) and it was quickly delivered. The book is 505 pages and you won't want to put it down once you start reading about Puck's year in Vietnam, much of it spent with E Company.