F-COMPANY REUNION, 2004

ARLINGTON HOTEL, HOT SPRINGS, AR

June 17-19, 2004

Donna and I really enjoyed the F-Company Family Reunion in Hot Springs, AR this year. For one thing, we had never been to this part of Arknasas and it was a very interesting part of the country. For another, we got to visit with Donna's uncles, Omer and Carl in addition to the veterans and their families. Some people might wonder why Carl and Omer Meredith and Donna and I would attend a reunion of her Dad's old Army unit after he has already passed away. The answer lies in the family bonds that are formed in military units. We always hear a soldier returning from war speak of his family of buddies in the war as well as his family at home. Over the years of attended these reunions, these family bonds have merged. None of the surviving veterans could attend the reunion without the support of their home families. As these "home family" members met the veterans "wartime family" members, everyone became one big "F-Company family". The reunions are partly a chance for the veterans to get together to talk and remember old times as well as inquire about the health and well being of those who are not there. There are reunions within individual families such as Donna and I getting to spend time with her uncles. Also, there is an opportunity for a good relaxing vacation.

Only two meetings were held in addition to the bull sessions. One was a Memorial Service on Friday night. I did not take any photos there. The other was for entertainment and fun on Saturday night. The Men of Faith Quartet provided an excellent concert after perfoming in the hot sun all day long in Little Rock.

First, lets focus on the reunion of the veterans and their F-Company family.

Pictured at left are the five
veterans who attended. Left to right:
Robert Hynds, TX, Banker;
Charlie Hampton, TX, School Principal;
James Wooten, AR, Construction, Farmer;
Howard Bohannan, AR, Rice Farmer;
Leonard Hall, TX, Teacher and Administrator.
Click on image to enlarge. The reunion was held at the Arlington Hotel on the left.  This fountain marks the beginning of bathhouse row.  Note the tower on top of the mountain overlooking the Ouachita Valley. Click on image to enlarge. The reunion primarily consisted of bull sessions in a room reserved for F-Company. Here, Donna and I are joined by her Uncles Carl and Omer. Left to right is Omer, me, Carl and Donna.
Click on image to enlarge. Robert Hynds chats with James Wooten. Click on image to enlarge. Howard Bohannan catches up on the news with Don Meredith's brother, Carl.
Click on image to enlarge. Leonard Hall on the right chats with Omer Meredith. Click on image to enlarge. Charlie Hampton, Robert Hynds, and James Wooten watch and listen to the Men of Faith Quartet.
Click on image to enlarge. Jean Sullivan, widow of Bill Sullivan. Click on image to enlarge. Jean Sullivan with her family including children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Click on image to enlarge. The Men of Faith Quartet put on a great gospel singing concert on Saturday night. Click on image to enlarge. Family members applauded the harmony of every number performed by the Men of Faith.
Click on image to enlarge. Louise Sullivan's great-grandson was a part of the show for us in his patriotic outfit. What a handsome young man! Click on image to enlarge. Here the Men of Faith pose with the five veterans. It was the end to a great F-Company Reunion of 2004.

Now for a short tour of Hot Springs.

Click on image to enlarge. This is the view of the Arlington up the street from the Park Visitor Center which was one of the bath houses. They showed a movie of how the natural hot springs have grown from the days of the Indians through their heyday in the 1920's to their present status today. Note that the bath houses are on the right side of the street and the businesses are on the left side. Click on image to enlarge. Carl and Omer Meredith pose by the National Park Service sign. Hot Springs was the very first area preserved by the federal government.
Click on image to enlarge. Donna, Carl and Omer stand by one of the natural hot springs. Temperature of the water is 153 degrees. Click on image to enlarge. My beautiful bride of 37 years, Donna.
Click on image to enlarge. Donna and her Uncle Carl posing by a fountain of hot spring water. Click on image to enlarge. Former President, Bill Clinton's boyhood home. He lived here from age 7 to 15.
Click on image to enlarge. Omer and Donna admiring the view from the top of the Ouachita Mountain. Click on image to enlarge. The view of Hot Springs and the whole Ouachita Valley.

Leonard Hall told me about two websites that are very intersting for the F-Company family. FOX COMPANY 1941 -1945, is by Peter Flood who is the son of F-Company 1stSgt, Francis E. Flood. Peter has done a great job with this website and even documents the plans showing that F-Company would have been part of the invasion of Japan had President Truman not ended the war by dropping the atomic bomb.

The other is SS President Coolidge Index by scuba diver, Michael McFadyen, who has written an extensive documentaion of the SS President Coolidge as it lies on the floor of the Pacific. Mr Hall also provided me with much more information on F-Company members which I will be addding to my list as time permits.

Company F, 4th Platoon Photo
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