Commander's Corner PROVIDENCE, RI 18-22 JUNE 2003 REUNION 2003: Word from Bonnie and Don LaReau, sponsor of Reunion 2003 in Providence, RI, 18-22 June 2003. -HOTEL: HOLIDAY INN, 3009 TOWN HILL ROAD, SOUTH KINGSTON, RI (suberb of Providence) 02874. -RATE: $109.00. Mention you are with Jumping Mustangs. -HOTEL IS AT JUNCTION of Rt 1 and Rt 138. -PROVIDENCE AREA AIRPORT is T F GREEN AIRPORT, LOCATED IN WARWICK. -TEL toll free 1 877 805 9008 or 1 401 789 1051 -Prices for meals should be confirmed in mid November. Arrangements have been made for a Buffet breakfast at $5.95 per person. SEE BASIC HOME PAGE FOR REUNION LINK AND REGISTRATION FORM *************************************************************************** COL JIMMIE NICHELS PASSED TO VALHALLA ON 24 Feb 2001, as the result of a sudden stroke. He was a great Warrior and an Outstanding leader. HE SHALL BE MISSED.(03-02-01, JM6 COMMENTS: FROM JACK PEEVY: Very sorry to hear that Jimmie Nickels died. He was highly thought of. At range firing at Benning in July 65, he(a lLT at the time) showed me how to set the battle sight on the M-16. Now sure when the 1/188 converted from M-14's to M-16's, but it was spring of 65, when they first got to Benning. It was different from all rifles I had ever fired. The front sight controlled elevation-lower to raise strike of projectile and raise to lower the strike. Tue of this week, I was firing my personal AR-15 A2 down by the Chatahoochee River and I remembered Jimmie had shown me how to set the battle sight. He was a wealth of knowledge and was always helpful. CHARLIE COMPANY was blessed with two outstanding Company Commanders in 1965-66 that I personally knew. First, Captain William H. Smith, who activated, trained and led the company, including the first six months in combat in Vietnam. He set the high standards and demonstrated the combat leadership that enabled C Company to perform its many combat missions in an outstanding manner with miniumum casualties. He turned the company over to Captain Willilam Mozey (who had served as Battalion Adjutant S-1)in February 1966 in a normal combat rotation. *** Capt Willilam Mozey assumed command of C Company just in time for the BONG SONG OPERATION. A talented and aggressive young officer, he quickly became equally effective as a combat rifle company commander as he had been as our Adjutant. He took care of the troops, saw that they remained combat ready, motivated and ready to go and successfully led them through many battles including the famous CRAZY HORSE OPERATION where he and his "Warriors" performed in a truly superb manner. Two members of C Compay won the Silver Star, and there should have been more. There were many other acts of individual heroism demonstrated by other members. *** I am proud to have known and served with the first two outstanding Rifle Company Commanders of Company C, I personally fought with, Captain Willilam H. Smith and Captain Willilam Mozey. I would welcome them by my side any time, any place and any combat action. They were both true "Warriors" of the highest degree. (From Mustang 6). This certificate was presented at our 16th. Jumping Mustang Reunion to LT. Jon Williams, by our Company Commander, Capt. William Mozey. Lt. Williams was the Second Platoon Leader. This event occurred one evening while we where in standown at the An Khe base camp. This event has become the fabled "Lights Of An Khe" story that Bill Mozey likes to tell at every gathering of Jumping Mustangs. No one can tell it better or funnier than Bill himself. It gets better every year. Now we have it documented and posted on this page for all to see. It is now part of our history. I still want to hear the story of the night that we made our famous night air assault with practically the whole Company drunk. The CP group was already already on the LZ when the company landed. This happened one day while we were in standown and everyone was pretty drunk when "Charlie" decided to hit the base camp with mortars and our whole Batallion was sent out to find them. If anybody can remember this night , send me what you can recall about it and I will put something together on it. ([email protected])