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SECOND REUNION OF THE 459TH SIGNAL BATTALION
The Second reunion of the 459th Signal Battalion was held in Richmond, Virginia on October 8th-10th 2009 at the Sheraton West Hotel. Almost 90 people attended the gathering which included a bus trip to Washington DC on Friday, to visit the Vietnam Memorial where we placed a wreath in honor of our battalion members who died in Vietnam. We also visited the Korean War and World War Two Memorials. A highlight of the WW2 Memorial stop was meeting many veterans of that war, many in wheel chairs and thanking them for their service. Leaving Washington, we stopped for lunch and a visit to the new US Marine Corps Museum at Quantico Virginia.
On Saturday, we had a free day to visit sights around Richmond which was followed by a battalion photo session, cocktail hour and banquet. We had a wonderful banquet at which we were addressed by our battalion commander Brigadier General Ken Symmes who led us to Vietnam. General Symmes was followed by Colonel Scott Lofgren who commanded the battalion in 1993-1994 in Germany. We also heard from Navy Commander Paul Galanti a former POW who spoke to us about the “Families of the Wounded Fund”. Our keynote speaker was LTG. Peter A Kind, former commanding officer of the 1st Signal Brigade in Korea. A grand time was had by all and many old friendships were rekindled and new ones made.
At the same time that the whole battalion was gathering in Richmond, a group of 459th soldiers who served in the unit from 1962 until the 1966 deployment were gathering in Hinesville Georgia. This fine group of soldiers, have been meeting for years in various locations and are under the leadership of Bobby Copes and Dave Tart. They are truly our brothers and were the backbone of the unit from the battalion’s activation in 1962 until we left for Vietnam. They set the tone and tint of our proud history as a Combat Area Signal Battalion.
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