Honors and Awards, 50th Infantry Association

1st 50th Infantry Association

HONORS AND AWARDS

1. Association Honors and Awards Scheme
2. Association Founder
3. Life Members
4. Honors and Awards

50th Infantry Regimental Colors

The First Battalion, 50th Infantry Association

50th Infantry Regimental Colors

The 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry Association Honors and Awards Program

"Sometimes awards given to those who deserve are far more than the sum of their parts... Wood, plastic, pewter, crystal cannot preserve the mem'ry, pride and thanks in our hearts. But when honors turn to dust in the hand for they've been given far too lightly... No plaque, graphic or statue however grand emerges from time's test shining brightly".

"The Mysterious Scoreboard", by Ray Sarlin

The 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry Association Honors and Awards Program was established as a way to publicly recognize the achievements of Association Members and others based upon service to the Association, service to Vietnam Veterans, service to the United States Military community, and/or other contributions worthy of note. In general, awards will be presented presented every two years at the Association Reunion: however, the Association may issue awards and/or honors at other times when circumstances warrant.

Association Founder, Ken Riley

In recognition of his extraordinary effort in forming the Association and seeing it through its formative years, often single-handedly, organizing reunions and helping so many of us in many ways, Kenneth G. Riley has been bestowed with the lifelong title of Chairman Emeritus of the 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry Association. Ken's vision, dedication, hard work and personal sacrifice are consistent with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself, the Association and the battalion.

Ken was an original boat person, arriving in Vietnam with the battalion aboard the USS General Pope on 21 September 1967 to begin his year-long tour of duty as an infantryman with Charlie Company.

Thanks, Ken, for showing us through your actions how to "play the game".

Kenneth G. Riley
Chairman Emeritus

Life Members

Following is a list of Life Members in the Association of the 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 50th Infantry as of 31 March 2006.

Life Membership Certificate

NAME	MEMBER #	DATE AWARDED		NAME	MEMBER #	DATE AWARDED
John Albertson*	305	June 28, 2003		Michael Kauffman	341	May 15, 2007
Noel Allen	203	June 4, 2008		Jack R. King*	306	June 1, 2004
Herman Allmendinger	148	April 18, 2003		Tom Knepp	48	October 1, 2009
Dennis Apana	316	December 1, 2007		Robert Knightly	261	May 27, 2001
Edward Arispe	164	April 29, 2002		Fred Lohman	63	March 23, 2000
Charles R. Ball	360	May 1, 2009		Ron Leraas	304	July, 2003
John Banales	325	March 8, 2005		Chuck McAleer	229	January 17, 2001
Kevin Begley	171	June 23, 2001		Gerald Miller	199	December 31, 2003
George E. Bell	359	March 10, 2009		Neil Miller	47	December 13, 2004
George R. Bell	330	January 20, 2008		Toby Milroy	109	July 20, 2002
Anthony L. Benitez	361	August 5, 2009		Billy L. Mims, Jr.	179	June 1, 2004
Cheney Bertholf	40	December 31, 2003		Kim Mitchell	310	January 1, 2004
Bernard Biermann	232	July 20, 2002		Joe Mlinac	105	February 22, 2001
Walter Billups	54	February 1, 2001		Matt Morrison	81	January 24, 2000
Tom Blankenship	158	January 22, 2000		Dan Neely	260	December 24, 2005
Harry Bloomquist	70	April 20, 2000		Glen L. Nicholls	329	February 23, 2006
George A. Borges	225	March 1, 2004		John Nichols	195	January 22, 2000
Bruce Braun	79	December 31, 2003		John Noble	67	April 7, 2001
Wilber Breseman	175	December 5, 1999		Nate Nordin	161	December 31, 2003
John Brodigan	209	December 21, 2002		Robert M. O'Connor	317	April 24, 2004
Thomas Brown	352	June 4, 2008		Dan Odom	206	April 6, 2002
Paul Buckholdt	292	April 18, 2003		Steve Oliphant	238	February 13, 2002
Roger Burch	60	June 26, 2000		William Page	268	August 6, 2001
Francis B. Burns	322	May 7, 2005		David Parker	168	December 31, 2003
Colonel Greg Camp	363	August 5, 2009		Bill Parkerson	345	August 18, 2007
John Carlson	3	December 31, 2003		Gary Parks	97	October 16, 2000
Michael Cavavan	72	March 12, 2006		David Payne	140	April 24, 2000
Matt Chapman	4	April 19, 2002		William Payne	300	April 18, 2003
Mike Chisam	271	October 2, 2001		Parker Pierce	98	December 31, 2003
Thomas Clark	270	April 18, 2003		Thurman Pike	155	April 18, 2003
Ronald Clements	43	October 10, 2001		Norman Poage	29	July 17, 2000
Jerry L. Cooper	338	April 7, 2007		Otis Ponds	218	April 18, 2003
Jimmy W. Copeland	269	January 15, 2009		Sandy Pottinger*	124	February 9, 1998
Jay C. Copley	343	May 17, 2007		Bobby Quick	342	May 17, 2007
Michael Craney	282	March 30, 2002		Wilber Rahiser*	258	March 15, 2005
George Crist	295	December 31, 2003		Don Rainwater	61	January 22, 2000
James R. Croker	147	February 1, 2004		John Rhatigan	121	January 17, 2000
Jaime Cruz	336	February 5, 2007		Peter Richardson	337	April 7, 2007
Tim Culbertson	64	March 15, 2005		Ken Riley	5	October 17, 1999
Lawrence Curtis	239	September 2, 2002		Joe Rinaldi	101	December 31, 2003
Ronald Davison	138	February 1, 2004		Warren Rocky	90	January 24, 2000
C. William Dean	191	March 1, 2004		Ventura Rodriguez	253	October 10, 2003
James Delemeester	11	October 2, 2001		Frank Romano	247	March 12, 2001
Theodore H. Dennis	326	October 25, 2005		Richard L. Roschy	344	May 17, 2007
Stephen K. Dennis	356	January 7, 2009		William Roskilly	038	July 6, 2008
Larry Dossey	129	March 18, 1998		Russ Roth	125	January 15, 2004
Elliott Dresher	55	December 10, 2001		Ray Sarlin	150	March 30, 2000
Dennis Driscol	234	December 31, 2003		Bob Schaller	107	September 16, 2000
Marshall Duer	243	April 29, 2002		David Schillaci	185	April 24, 2000
Joseph Dulany	216	August 14, 2000		Dan Schlecht	283	December 31, 2003
Henry M. Dunn	370	February 21, 2010		Edmund Scott	151	May 24, 2003
James Edwards	133	September 20, 2001		James Segars	145	January 25, 2000
Paul Ehrlich	220	August 20, 2001		James Sheppard	137	May 7, 2002
Gary Epperson	183	January 19, 2001		James Slattery	334	August 26, 2006
Stephen Escott	36	December 31, 2003		Bradley Smith	324	April 12, 2005
Gordon Fennell	296	April 18, 2003		Dennis Smith	362	August 5, 2009
Edward Fischer	236	December 31, 2003		John D. Smith	227	December 31, 2003
James E. Fitzgerald	59	April 1, 2005		Randy Smith	166	November 12, 2000
Eugene Foppe	39	November 29, 2001		Richard Smittle	141	January 26, 2000
Louis Frisbie	14	March 26, 2001		Darrell Sourwine	110	March 31, 2000
Aaron Gage	244	December 31, 2003		Darwin "Scotty" Stamper	349	February 7, 2008
Vilnis Gailitis	222	January 15, 2004		Richard Tande	85	December 31, 2003
Leon S. Gallant	12	March 15, 2005		Jon Thelen	8	December 14, 1999
Luciano M. Garza	350	March 13, 2008	Brian Thomas	120	April 15, 2000
Joseph Gelarden	71	December 31, 2003	James A. Tilley, III	364	August 5, 2009
Walter V. Gilbreath, Jr.	289	March 15, 2005	Charles Tilton	323	April 1, 2005
Robert Gold	134	March 28, 2001	John Topper	78	February 23, 2000
Gladys Grubb	45	October 6, 2002	Joe Torres	213	July 12, 2000
Dick Guthrie	89	December 20, 2000	Pedro Tovar	205	January 15, 2004
David Haag	6	December 31, 2003	Walter Tracey	57	May 10, 2002
Toby Hamon*	135	April 23, 2000	Mel Valasek	113	August 24, 2002
Billy Hayes	88	January 27, 2000	John Vanden Heuvel*	103	February 4, 2000
Harley Mick Hawkins	208	June 18, 2007	Jack Vann	42	December 31, 2003
Donald Hoag	307	December 31, 2003	Melvin Wadleigh	73	March 7, 2000
Richard Hooker	280	April 29, 2002	Stan Walulek	100	December 16, 2000
Russell Hope	84	April 22, 2000	Joseph Whitehorne	116	December 31, 2003
John Hopp	82	February 23, 2000	W. R. "Tennessee" Williams	369	January 19, 2010
Johnnie Hughes	348	January 29, 2008	Harry Wilson	160	November 18, 1999
Paul G. Humphreys	340	May 15, 2007	James Wonsick	119	January 14, 2000
Tim Hurley	194	October 11, 1999	James Woodall	202	January 16, 2001
Roger C, Irvin	223	June, 2003	Walter S. Wroblewski	026	December 20, 2008
Johnny Johnston*	99	December 31, 2003	Robert Wuestenberg	319	March 27, 2008
Toby Jordan	87	January 27, 2000	Joseph Zimmerman	311	January 23, 2004
			* Indicates Member is Deceased

Association Honors and Awards

Throughout the Association's history, appropriate honors are developed and presented on an individual basis at our bi-annual reunions. Our Association has a rich history of providing quality gifts and awards of lasting value.

This news article (right) from the "Fort Benning Bayonet" of 2 May 2003 shows the presentation of the bronze statue "A Tribute to a Fallen Comrade" by Wyoming artist Ben Foster to our Reunion 2003 hosts, the modern-day 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry. In addition, the Association presented statuettes to outstanding graduate and DS of the 1/50 OSUT (BCT + AIT), a signed original print of Lee Teters' painting "Reflections", a World War I photograph of the assembled 50th Infantry, and several Brunton's "Gentleman's Compasses".

The Association also has a Certificate of Appreciation available for presentation to those individuals or organizations who make a significant contribution to the welfare or services of our Association or our Members or to Vietnam Veterans and/or their families.

Any Member in good standing in the Association may make a nomination for the Certificate of Appreciation in writing to the President of the Association.

Award of the Certificate of Appreciation requires the formal approval of all elected Officers of the Association. The President shall arrange for a suitable presentation of each Certificate of Appreciation, and all awards shall be posted in the newsletter and on the website.

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