First Reunion

Looking back from the recent First Armored 25th reunion and in view of how far we have come makes the very first reunion a special event.

The idea of a reunion of the First Armored Amphibian Battalion began at a meeting at the home of Donald Ferchau and transferred to the Ivanhoe Restaurant in downtown Chicago. Those attended that meeting were Jack Brown, Oliver “Ollie” Dowling, David Cavadini, Maurice “Mo” Burns, Tom Coleman, Don Ferchau and Gottlieb (Bud) Sporele. All had a good time and plans for future reunions were formulated with Tom Coleman putting out a letter under the heading as Reunion Planning Committee.

L to R George Legino, Bill Brummond (dec)
George has attended all 25 reunions

The letter from the Reunion Planning Committee was sent out to 15 Marines on May 22, 1959 with the idea to gauge the reaction of those receiving the letter. Coleman stated that with the number of Marines in the battalion that 200 men to attend a reunion would be feasible. It was felt that the planning committee to organize a battalion reunion would need the help of three times the number receiving the letter. The word does get out and if many other Marines are found getting together could be a reality.

Almost twenty years would pass before the reunion was a reality.

The first reunion of the First Armored Amphibian Battalion was held on October 8,9 1977, which was 32 years after the main portion of the First Armored came home from almost 23 months overseas in World War II.

Marines and wives grather at the first reunion of The First Armored amphibian Battalion

L to R Moe Burns, Bernice Laferrier, Don Ferchau with Mount Rushmore in the background

This memorial event was held at the Holiday Inn, Rapid City, SD and hosted by the Innkeeper, Ollie Dowling. Ollie, A Company, graciously put these proud Marines up for the sum of ten dollars a room.

Those attending the reunion said Ollie treated them like VIPs. Nothing but the best.

The efforts of Ollie Dowling and Jack Brown made the first reunion possible. Jack wrote several pressing newsletters to those whose addresses he knew. He urged more addresses and opinions to get started. The reunion resulted because a group of A Company Marines kept in close contact with each other. Jack’s hard work was well rewarded when 26 Marines showed up, many with their wives.

L to R Ollie Dowling, host to reunion, Bob Schwaninger, Moe Burns

Not enough can be said for the wife factor as to formulating plans for future reunions. Over

the years the Marine wives have been a great help in supporting, promoting and organizing the First Armored reunions.

Those attending were:

A Company- Jack Brown, Maurice (Mo) and Jean Burns, Harry J. and Marge Broderick, William (Bill) and Virginia Carroll, David F. Cavadini, Paul and Lee Dotur, Oliver (Ollie) and Millie Dowling, Donald F (Frenchie) and Helen Ferchau, Ralph and Melanie Hauth, Lucius Q. Henderson, William (Bill) and Bernice LaFerriere, Elga and Lillian Lee, Howard and Lois Mueller (on their honeymoon), Robert (Bob) Pierce, Robert L. Schaninger, William T. Shader.

B Company- William (Bill) Brummond, George Legino.

Site of the first reunion

C Company- William (Bill) Eubank.

D Company –Lawrence Dhom, John and Dorothy McKay, Harold and Ruth Miller, William Moir, Lloyd and Dolores Tidd, Richard and Betty Warp.

H&S Company- Charles Bahin.

The first reunion set the tone of reunions to follow. The date was set as when children were back in school and vacationers were generally home. Columbus Day weekend has held up as the time of choice for the 24 reunions that followed. Each company was assigned a representative who was to establish a company mailing list, put out a company newsletter and try to find as many company members as possible.

Marines and wives grather for the first bus tour to Mount Ruchmore--Ollie Dowling, reunion host, in the front

Later these company representatives would maintain a known deceased list for reading at our annual memorial service. Honoring those comrades that fell in battle and others that died later in life has become the pledge of the First Armored Amphibian Battalion.

A special room was set-aside as a hospitality room where the Marines served their own drinks and snacks. This room was to have tables and an undisturbed place where Marines, families and guest could visit. The availability of a hospitality room has been the trademark of all First Armored reunions.

L to R Jack Brown and Paul Dotur
Jack's hard work made the reunion possible

The Rapid City area set the stage for future reunions to have a tour (or tours) so those

attending away from home could learn something of local area. A bus tour to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument and Black Hills areas provided the Marines and their wives with an educational vehicle.

A single word description of all attending this first reunion was emotional, more accurate would be very emotional. Marines who had walked away from their service in the Corps as young men came back together as fathers, and grandfathers. Many Marines brought their wives, shared photos of their grandchildren and reminisced about what had happen in their lives since being discharged from the Marines.

L to R Larry Dhom and Harry Broderick

It is sad that in March of 1978 Ollie Dowling died and was buried in a National Cemetery north of Rapid City, SD. It was noted for all the effort Ollie put in the first reunion he was not feeling well doing the reunion having later been diagnosed with cancer. Among those attending the funeral were Don and Helen Ferchau, Harry Broderick, Dave Cavadini, Bill and Bernice LaFerrriere, and Jack Brown. Bill Shader also died shortly after the reunion. He was master of ceremonies at the reunion banquet and greatly entertaining.

For more information concerning the 1st reunion of the First Armored Amphibian Battalion consult the well-written First Armored book, Hitting The Beaches, page 406.

Grady Coker