2007 First Armored
Amphibian Battalion Reunion
Place Denver ,CO Company B host-Legino family/Coker and many others
The 31st First Armored Amphibian Battalion reunion was held at the Radisson
Hotel Denver Stapleton Plaza on October 3-6, 2007. The reunion was well
attended with 36 Marines registered and 129 people attending the Saturday
banquet. As Denver is a good place to visit many people came early for
the reunion on Tuesday, October 2nd.
The registration desk opened on Wednesday, October 3rd where those registering
were given a nice lucky horse shoe set hand made be the Legino family.
Also, the ladies were given a beautiful hand made Hawaiian Lei from
Ruth Cutright, wife of deceased C Company Marine Chick Cutright.
We were very happy to see Cork Blaemire and Bill Walker, C Company
Marines, who both recently had coronary bypass surgery. Bill Walker
having the surgery twice. Both seem to be doing well.
The hospitality room was open on October 3rd with good attendance and
functions as meeting place where we can personally serve our own snacks
and drinks. Added bonus this year was a view of the front range mountains
from the hospitality room balcony. TV watching was available from a
secondary room for the major league baseball playoffs and football games.
A chart was maintained in the hospitality room where Marines could register
their names in their Company file. Display of personal books and articles
of Marines were available. For Charles Henderson, our guest speaker,
we displayed five books on the Marine Corps he had written.
Thursday, October 4th tour was well attended to the famous "Lesnin
Tree" museum and sculpture garden of western art. lunch was provided
at the Golden Corral Buffet. the afternoon part of the tour was to the
Denver Downtown Aquarium.
Friday, October 5th tour was an evening tour for dinner at the "Trail
Dust Steak House" where we were entertained by a live western band.
The trip at 4 PM gave the two bus loads of out of town reunion attendance's
a chance to see the Denver evening traffic. Our bus driver was a welcome
plus.
Saturday, October 6th started our memorial service at 10 AM. We were
privileged to have a very good Marine Corps Color Guard with a first
class trumpeter to blow taps. We stood as the Color Guard marched in
showing our respect to our flag. Still standing we said the Pledge to
our flag. Alvin Wallace led us in prayer. Grady Coker updated us on
recent deceased Marines as posted in the TAPS section of our website.
This was followed by the reading of our deceased Marines by companies.
A Company was read by Bob Pierce, B Company by Marlin Blayden, C Company
by Corky Blaemire, D Company by Joe Blumbach and H&S Company by
Richard Vogel.
We stood as the Color Guard departed and when they were out of the
room taps was sounded-a very beautiful tune. after the memorial service
we took time to visit with our Color Guard.
The business meeting followed the memorial service conducted by George
Legino. Don Ferchau gave the treasury report which was accepted. Dale
Barker gave a book report and it was decided not to reprint any more
books but to stay on sell for the remaining copies. Grady Coker gave
a report on our website www.marineamphibians.com.
Funds will be provided for our website over the next year. A proposal
of Salt Lake city for our 2008 reunion was made by C Company Marine
Vic Rainey. The proposal was accepted to be studied.
Saturday night October 6th we had our banquet preceded by the usual
cocktail hour. We started with a prayer by Alvin Wallace followed by
singing the Marine Corps hymn. Guest speaker was Charles Henderson,
noted Marine Corps author. Mr. Henderson gave an updated speech reflecting
on our present political problems referenced to our being Marines. Concluding
the banquet a series of nice door prizes were presented.
There were many guest at our reunion. We welcome the kin of our departed
Marines. We are pleased to see many of our aging Marines accompanied
by their family members. Those guests to our reunion will be posted
under the Welcome Aboard section of our website.
Grady N. Coker,M.D.
8220 Bar X Terrace
Colorado Springs, CO 80908
naptiger@pcisys.net
Our
Book: 
