On Friday Night September 20, 2013 47 190th AHC Spartan, Gladiator, Horse Unit members gathered for Our First Ever Reunion. Some had not seen Flight Crew, Hangar or Maintenance Brothers in 45 Years. We gathered at the Comfort Suites in Carlisle PA, hooking onto the 145th CAB Reunion, and had a wonderful time. 

Danney and "Mama",  I'm giving you "Five Stars" and an "At a Boy" for the dinner last night. Thank God for the few people like you willing to sacrifice your time and I'm betting out of pocket expense putting it together.  Acie Stewart 

Danney -  Was good seeing everyone in 190th last night.  Thanks again for your efforts in putting it together. Spartan 26  Roger Leigh

Danney, I wanted to thank you and thank Linda for an outstanding evening at our reunion.  As someone who has in the past done many special programs, I know there are many behind the screens details that no one understands or appreciates, however I do, and did not want the weekend to go by without saying WELL DONE!!! AND THANKS!!!  
Jack (67-68) Tombstone Kid 

Danney,   I hope you and mamma made it home safe.  I had a wonderful time at the reunion.  You did a fantastic job with the dinner.  Ray 

Danney, I heard from Jon that you all had a great time. I am so sorry that I missed it. Thanks for all that you have done in getting the 190th AHC off its ass. Bud Spartan 13 

DANNEY,  I DON'T HAVE THE WORDS TO THANK YOU & LINDA FOR A MOST WONDERFUL EVENING, EVENT.  WE WILL SEE U AT THE NEXT ONE, FORT RUCKER.  FRED 

Great pics and I’m looking forward to seeing more. I'm starting plans to make the next reunion. Jerry Grappi 

So, I looked at all the photos and was wondering who those people were, surely not the young aviators I served with!!! Looking forward to the next reunion, you and momma are doing one hell of job keeping us together, thank you!  Steve Caliendo 

Danney - as one of the folks who enjoyed the GREAT time, I want to thank you for all the time, effort and great gift that you gave each of us. You and "Mama" are truly GRRRRRREAT people and we all owe you.  As Bob Hope sang, "thanks for the memories...."  Bill Zanow, Spartan 69 

Danney, I can't thank you enough for all that Mama and you did to put the reunion together. It was beautifully done and personally rewarding to me. When is the next one?  Lol Paul Ouellette

Thank you, and Thanks for all of your and Linda's work.  I think everyone had a good time. Have a great day, Don Bortz 

You make us sound so experienced. Tell Mama thanks for me, y’all do good. David Mays

Danney, I am sure that you are being flooded by mail thanking you and " Mama " for all your work bringing us together. Brenda and I would like to add our thanks for your stellar work. Everything went exceptionally well and you were a great host. Nick Hun

Danney, you and mama are jewels!  Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for everyone.  God Bless you and your families always.  Send rain.
Best wishes Linda and Bob Escamilla. 

Danney, You and Momma sure did a wonderful job with everything.  I thought having a 190thAHC web site was a great,  but difficult,  undertaking but then you two come up with an awesome reunion.  I don't know how you two do it but thank you very much.  You two are great. Thank You again and Love you both, Tony & Bonnie Peters

The reunion was one of the highlights of my life. It was good to see some people I knew from long ago and to see what accomplishments some members had achieved in their careers. Most of us didn't have a clue what we would do after the Army. Some decided to stay in and continue their service. I knew no matter what, I wasn't staying in.

 This trip was great therapy for me. I got to finally meet the California crew and still didn't get there addresses or Emails due to my forgetfulness. I hope they contact me.

 Von I still have that sweatshirt I want to send you. Fred, you and I still have a lot in common. Sorry we didn't spend more time. Steve Lemar and Chelsea, thanks for the great memories. Steve Caliendo, it was finally good to see you in person. I liked your haircut.

Tony Peters, I hope to stay in touch through life. Danney, you and Mama did good!! You will always be remembered.  What a great and memorable trip.  Tom Gilmartin

 I just wanted to say how much my wife and I enjoyed the Reunion.  After getting used to us all being so much older, when we sat down to talk with each other it seemed like no time at all had passed.  Many thanks to you and mama for all your hard work. 

Thank you.  Dick Donald

Hello Danny! Thanks for all of Yours & Mamas efforts on our behalf. Sgt Burge & I were talking on the way back to his place from your great get together @ Carlisle, and since then on the phone: would it be possible or practical to put out a proposal in say the Great Lakes area to try and put together a similar get together. Sgt Burge lives near Cleveland & I am over past Detroit. The thought was that driving distances for those from say, Wisconsin around the lakes to New Jersey, New York, would not be so great. But every one would be invited.  Marvin brought it up & it sounded good to me. But he does not have working email & I do, (sort of).    Jeff Wagus

(From 145th CAB Website) Thanks to the Bodkins, all of these reunions are possible.
I want to say this last reunion was very special to many of us from the 190th. This I hope will insure a prosperous reunion every other year since the Pickards took on the task of finding the guys from our small company to take part in Carlisle, Pa. (which is a great town, by the way). I hope many that came this time will come again to Ft. Rucker in 2015.
To all who came, Thanks. I met a lot of nice people this trip. Tom Gilmartin

  No matter what one may think of Nixon now - watch this! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=LemllfcAY8A&sns=em

You will see the Individual Pictures, taken by Ray Wilhite, of 190th AHC members attending Our First Ever Unit Reunion Supper

 Read at Our 190th AHC Supper: From Our First CO

Greetings fellow Veterans of the 190th Assault Helicopter Company.  I was privileged and honored to command this outstanding unit from its inception for nearly a year.  That period of my life is remembered as "The Best of Times and the Worst of Times" and was the highlight of my military career.  You must surely agree that our tour in Vietnam was certainly a time of unforgettable experiences.

I regret that I can not be with you during this time of revelry with old friends and retrospect of the glorious days of our youth.  Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am simply unable to attend. 

Know however, that I am with you in spirit and stand proudly with you in acknowledging how we collectively once answered the call to arms as members of this outstanding unit.

I also want to commend Danney and Mama Pickard for their efforts in locating most of our past members and providing the leadership and momentum that led to this point in time.  We also need to thank those who contributed with historical data and supporting them in the effort.  I challenge each of you to continue in keeping the unit history alive through future participation.

May God Bless you all and Bless our Great Nation. David E Hagler Lt Colonel, US Army Retired  Spartan Six & Old Warrior Three

 9/20/13

I will add more pages to Our First Ever 190th AHC Reunion in the coming week.

 Read at Our 190th AHC Supper: From Our Last XO

To the Men of the Spartans, Gladiators, and Horse:

I am Curt Loop and it was my privilege to serve as the Second Platoon Commander, Operations Officer and, finally, the last Executive Officer for the 190^th Assault Helicopter Company back in 1969 - 1970.   Let me first extend my sincere gratitude to Danney and Linda “Mama” Pickard.  For without their dedication, tenacity and hard work, this celebration would not have come to pass.

I send everyone that made the trip to Carlisle my greetings and best wishes for a very happy time.  I apologize for not being able to join you in this, the first reunion for the company.  I looked at the list of reunion attendees and wish to send a “Special Hello” to Bud Holzman, Jon Logan, Norm Lefebvre, Quinton Petra, and Jim Willett - a few of the names that I recall.  You’ll forgive me if I missed anyone from 43 years ago.  I wish I could join you in telling a few “War Stories”, catching up on all that has happened since 1970, and toasting those who were called before us.  I know it will be a fun filled evening. 

As Colonel Keith Nightengale writes on our web site, “The helicopter was a simple machine – a single engine, a couple of rotor blades and four crew members.  But it transformed almost everyone in country.”  

We were part of a very unique group in Vietnam; those who mastered all the assigned missions that involved the helicopter.  For the Infantry, we were their rides both into and out of danger.  We rained down rockets on their enemies.  We brought them food, ammo, and supplies.  We were their eyes in the sky.  We evacuated their dead and wounded.  We were the ones who answered their every call, regardless of the time, terrain or weather.  The story of the Vietnam War begins and ends with the helicopter.  There isn’t a Grunt alive who doesn’t freeze for moment and feel the hair rise on the back of his neck when he hears the Whup, Whup, Whup of the rotor blades.  It is a sound that will never be forgotten.  It is our sound. 

Let me end by telling you I am as proud as you are to be part of this select group.  I wish I could be there to share in the special evening.  

I wish you all the blessings and good health that this life can provide. God’s Speed. 

Curtis A. Loop  Spartan 26, 3 and 5

 9/20/13