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Gary Clark on November 3, 2012 at 8:46 AM said:

The song that brings back nam to me is, "Knock Three Times" by Tony Orlando & Dawn. I hated that record, it was on the radio all the time.

Jack McCabe on November 3, 2012 at 7:49 AM said:

What song do you identify most with your Vietnam experience? Mine was We Gotta get Out Of This Place by Eric Burdon and The Animals

Richard Dees on November 2, 2012 at 10:39 PM said:

I met Dennis Cole at the 2011 Reunion. He was at AVEL Central a short time after I was. We toured Savanah together and had some great conversations and shared a lot of memories. My condolences to his family. He will be missed. May he rest in peace.

Dennis Kanetake on October 29, 2012 at 7:17 PM said:

I met Dennis Cole a few weeks ago at the AVEL
Reunion. He was a friendly guy, laughed a lot and we shared stories at the Hospitality Suite. We even joked about having a great name! I'm glad I went to the reunion and had a chance to share some memories with Dennis. Aloha, my friend.

Bob Madore on October 29, 2012 at 11:11 AM said:

Posted by Bob on facebook:


I just returned form a Vietnam Veterans Reunion on Sunday October 14, 2012.

I really enjoyed meeting up with some old friends for the company that I had the privilege to serve as the Executive Officer (XO) from July 1971 till sometime in 1972, when I was "PULLED" up to battalion.

During the reunion I met NEW friends from other times and other units of the AVEL system . . an avionics repair unit.


One of the persons I met was Dennis Cole, who knew that I had attended the reunion by myself, and called my room and invited me to drive through Vegas on a sight seeing tour with himself and two others. I enjoyed the drive and enjoyed his company during that time.

We had also had other interesting discussions and he left a very favorable impression on me.

I received notice that Dennis Cole has passed, on last Thursday, only two weeks after I met him and made a friend for life.

Life is unpredictable, even though we attack each day like there will be a tomorrow.

REST IN PEACE Dennis Cole, you will always live in my memories!!!!

The Vietnam War is finally over for you, hopefully you will be greeted in Heaven, without the spiting and hatred that welcomed you back home to the States.

Warren Beneville on October 29, 2012 at 11:10 AM said:

He will be missed…..

Manny Ramos on October 29, 2012 at 11:09 AM said:

May he rest in peace.

Pete Poirier on October 29, 2012 at 11:07 AM said:

Mary Lee and I send our condolences. I am glad he made it to this year's reunion and I wish he were going to next year's visit to the Vietnam veterans' memorial. We will remember him there.

russ mason on October 29, 2012 at 5:37 AM said:

Some of you might have read the email that Jack just sent out about the passing of Dennis Cole, Thursday night, apparently in his sleep. He was at the reunion we just had and looked to be the picture of health, was feeling good, laughing a lot and making everybody around him feel good. We don't know any details yet. Dennis and I were at Phu Loi at the same time and became friends there, and I was thrilled to see him for the first time at last year's reunion and again at this year's event. I would have told everyone that from outward appearances, he probably would outlive most or all of us. He had no aches or pains, was physically fit and felt energetic and good. Bob Madore, Marvin York and I spent Saturday with Dennis riding around seeing the sights of Vegas, and he was quite obviously feeling good as his constant conversation and upbeat comments bespoke of a person in good spirits and of great humor. I will miss him greatly at future reunions. All of us should bear in mind that it can happen any day, unexpectedly. Make plans to go to the next reunion and see those old buddies and make new buddies while you can. I am thankful for having been able to see Dennis one more time.

May he rest in peace.

russ mason on October 22, 2012 at 8:17 AM said:

What a great reunion. I am so glad to have met more new friends who are every bit as much brothers as the guys we actually served with, the common thread is so strong. Thanks mucho to the guys who helped, to Dennis Kanetake for his generous donation again this year of those fabulous Hawaiian treats, To Roger Shiley for his financial help in stocking the bar even though he could not be there. To Bob Madore for his contribution at the banquet and indeed the entire reunion, Michael and Dawn Blatt for the RVN service ribbon key chains, Brigitta Parish for the wonderful poem she wrote and recited at the banquet, To Jack McCabe and Jerry - Chief Raincloud- Mahanay for all of their running around doing the shopping for the hospitality suite, John Peacock for his slide show, and most especially to the great people at the hotel who pulled everything together for us, especially Ms. Mandy Morgan. If I forgot someone, I'm not surprised...my memory has slowly but surely deteriorated into a soup sloshing around in my head....it's all still in there but sometimes is difficult to locate a specific group of memory cells....what? Anyway, the point is, a big thanks to everyone who helped out and a big thanks also to everyone who came. See you next year, Ya'll.

Pete Biancalana on October 22, 2012 at 6:18 AM said:

My wife and I enjoyed the reunion immensely. It was our second reunion and it was great to meet the new comers and see everyone again. We look forward to next year's reunion in DC. Hopefully Dave D'Alonzo and Steve "Easy" Avisa can make it to DC; it's time for a full reunion of the line crew. I'd like to thank the organizing committee, Jack, Jerry and Russ for making it happen! These reunions keep getting better!

Greg Garrison on October 21, 2012 at 8:51 AM said:

Gayle and I make it back home after 4703 miles yesterday. What a great road trip seeing a lot of this beautiful country. The icing on the cake was the AVEL Reunion. It is hard for me to express how grateful I am to Jack, Russ and Jerry for doing these reunions for us. It was so much fun seeing all of my brothers from last year and seeing the guys who made this their first reunion. It was so great seeing my old friends Dennis Kanetake, Randy Means, Rodney Shimabukuro, Bob Madore, and Manny Coronel. On the way home we went by Colorado Springs and met Orbin Hall and his wife and his grand daughter for dinner. How nice it is to have brothers all over the country. I can't wait to see all of you next year. Don't miss these reunions guys, as Jack pointed out only 1/3 of the Vietnam vets are left. Our generation is fading fast.

Tony Stribling on October 19, 2012 at 4:24 PM said:

Thanks Jack, Jerry and Russ for getting the AVEL reunion together. I had a great time and made new friends. I don't know why anyone from one of the AVEL's would not want to come. I can't wait until DC but I will have to. I am still making my way back home and seeing this beautiful country of ours. If anyone reads this and did not come try to make plans to do so. I did not know but one from my time in AVEL but had made new friends last year and more this one. It was great to talk with someone that has something in common with me. May we never forget.

Jerry Mahanay on October 19, 2012 at 8:03 AM said:

I thought I saw a shadowy figure hanging out in the background at the Reunion.

Cap't. AVEL on October 19, 2012 at 7:47 AM said:

I came, I saw, I went. I was there. It was fantastic.
See you next year, ya'll.

Didimau!!!

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