09/01/2013
I want to introduce myself and little info. on the 51st Signal Bn. Alumni Assoc.. I am Tommy Thompson. I served for eight years in the military. My highest rank was S/Sgt. I am a 100% disabled veteran. I am especially nostalgic about the 51st Signal as it was during my service with the 51st during the Korean War that I received my injuries. I joined the 51st
Signal Battalion Alumni Assoc. 1998. I have been to every Reunion since then. Glen Carpenter, the originator of the Reunion group, became ill in 2002 and asked me to help him run the Group. Glen illness worsened in 2004, and I have been taking care of the group since then.
In 2009 Col John Baker (now Gen. Baker) nominated me for Bronze Mercury Medal and Ltc Paul Fredenburg presented it to me at our 2009 Reunion.
As we are a nationwide group, it is hard for all the Alumni to come to either the East or West Coast, so I have tried to make is possible for them to come to one Reunion every other year. 75% of our membership lives East of Texas. This is not meant to take away any loyalty to 51st Signal Battalion, but is an effort to keep our Alumni together. We are continuing search for new and younger Alumni, and especially those soldier that fought in the Granada, Panama, and Saudi Arabia conflicts. If you have time, you might look at our Web site: www.51stsignalbattalion.com
I get two to three hits a week from many of the organizations that list and support our annual Reunions. I send them all a message with this theme; that if you had been to our last Reunion you would be in these pictures”. I include a picture of the Alumni gathered around the Bn’s. Headquarters sign, one on the firing range and one at the Signal Corps Ball. Our whole theme and idea is for us being able to “Support Our Troops”, chat, break bread, visit, and going out in the field with them.
With the help of Col. Jachon Thomas we were able to hold our 2006 Reunion at Ft. Bragg, Hosted by Ltc Mark Elliott, now Col. Elliott, CO 51st Sig. Bn.
With the help of Col. John Baker, ( now Gen. Bake ) we were able to hold our 2007 Reunion at Ft. Lewis, hosted by Ltc. Matthew VanderFeltz, and in 2008 Ltc Paul Fredenburgh hosted our Reunion at Ft. Lewis, WA.
With the help of Col Marc Harris we were able to hold our 2009 Reunion at Ft. Gordon, Host by Ltc Joe Tragakis, CO 67th Sig. Bn.
Our 2010 Reunion was hosted by Ltc. Gary Ridenhour, CO 51st Sig., Ft. Lewis, WA.
With the help of Col Thomas Pugh we were able to hold our 2011 Reunion at Ft. Gordon, GA, Hosted
by Ltc. Keith Garwold, CO 63th Sig. Bn. And in 2012 our Reunion was held at Ft. Bragg, Hosted by Ltc. Christian O’Conner, CO 50th Sig. Bn.
I am planning on going to the 51st Sig. Bn. change of command this Fall. I am hoping we will have a chance to discuss the usefulness of our Alumni Assoc. to the Army.
Semper Constans,
Betty and Tommy Thompson (TX)