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President's Message

Ten years ago, with the encouragement of my wife, Judy, I attended my first reunion at Buffalo.  I went anxiously thinking of old and unhappy things in a place far away.  We left four days later with enough new friends to ensure our return the next year and each one thereafter.

I am now privileged to represent the Association and its membership for the next two years. Thank you.  Immediate Past President Jim Beddingfield has served us extraordinary well. A patient, soft-spoken man, he seems always to have the proper words to place in the proper spot at the right time.

 That was never more apparent than during the challenges he experienced in supervising the construction and placement of the Cacti monument at Ft. Benning’s Walk of Honor. The completion of the monument is a testament to how members of the 35^th Infantry Regiment Association feel about our organization and their service.  It is the largest single project we’ve embraced, and was funded entirely by private donations.

This year’s Virginia Beach reunion (the 15th) was the third largest in our history. More than 400 Cacti and guests attended the Memorial Banquet. The Association has a membership of nearly 1,000 – a number we hope will increase with your help.  Each of us knows how challenging it is to attend that first reunion. Extend a hand to someone you don’t know, or invite someone you do and that Cacti will discover what a remarkable organization we enjoy. This year, eight first-time attendees joined us.

We are fond of one another because our war experiences are the same. Or, as Jonathan Swift once suggested, “our ailments are the same.” The board members understand that: each president has been fortunate to enjoy the support and advice of motivated, board members with needed skills. David Hockett, HHC, B and C Cos. is a newly elected director and will serve as Vice President/Membership during 2013-2015. Rick Strawn will serve as Sergeant-At-Arms and Doc Johnson, our first president, was elected to replace Secretary Steve Rainbolt, who resigned from that position with our thanks for his service.

A number of committee positions are being filled and if a member is a certified public accountant, the Audit Committee is particularly interested in you. Contact me if you’re able to join that group.

Next year we will gather at the Hilton Northbrook in Illinois near Chicago. I look forward to seeing our extended family there.  If a kindness was shown you at Virginia Beach, pass it on.

Please Welcome Your Board of Directors 2013-2015

The Summer 2013 Issue of the Cacti Times, John Lorts, Editor and Bill Henson, Associate Editor, is out.

Here's a sample of page one of this issue. If you haven't seen the electronic color version Click Here to see what you're missing. Members wishing to change from a Mailed to Emailed Times may email Don "Doc" Johnson, our Secretary, to Sign Up.

Cacti Times - Size Does Matter!

As everyone who has read it knows the Cacti Times is full of great stories of the Cacti, both past and present. And it seems the issues just keep not only getting better, but larger as well. The inclusion of the many photos just adds to its size. All great unless you happen to be the few that can not receive it because it is too large for you email provider to accept. Such was the case for the Summer issue and to a certain extent the Spring issue as will.

Because of this we will be sending out notices to you as before when the next issue is ready but it will not have the attached Times issue. It will include a link to the Times that we will upload to this website. To open you copy just click on the link included or copy and paste it into your browser. Once the file downloads, just select "save as" and hit enter. It will be saved to your computer for viewing or you may then print it and sit back and enjoy a slow, enjoyable read.

If you have missed either the Summer or Spring 2013 issues please send Doc Johnson an email and he will send you the link for either or both issues. If by chance you are a mail recipient of the Times and have not received your copy of the Times, then by all means let doc know and he will send you the link also. Once you see the Times in full color you just might opt to keep receiving it by email.

You can reach Doc Johnson at this email address. We hope this helps in the delivery of these and future issues of the Cacti Times. Thank you for being members in a great Regimental Association.

35th Infantry Regiment Monument at Ft Benning Walk of Honor

Monument Dedication Photos Posted (View Here)

 Follow the link below to view Video of the Monument Dedication Ceremony

http://youtu.be/daOxXIRe2gA

WAR STORIES SECTION

The War Stories Section has turned into a huge success with almost 50 stories written by our Cacti Members. Got a “Cacti Story?”  It can be a battle story,  A funny or sad story. Just put it down the way you remember it. If you want a “creative license” to embellish a little you got it. Only rule is not to be malicious. Submit them to Wiley "Tiny" Dodd by Email, today!

Vietnam KIA Photos Needed

Dick Arnold, Doc Hall, and Pete Birrow have been gathering KIA Photos for a number of years. Their work has added immensely to our mission to memorialize our war dead. But we still need a few more. Click Here to view a list of Vietnam KIA photos needed. If you're a fellow Cacti, or a friend or family member, please consider sending a photo to Dick Arnold at his Email address.

Vietnam War - Gravesite Location Project

Doc Hall and Pete Birrow have been compiling a list of gravesites for our Vietnam KIAs for some time now. Through personal visits and searches on the web they have located hundreds. The information is now available by Clicking Here. If you have personal knowledge of a gravesite not found on the list, please contact Doc Hall at his Email address

Vietnam Memorial Replica Wall Visits

From time to time, we have been posting, in the guestbook, appearance schedules for the various replica Vietnam Memorial Walls around the country. We will continue to do this but just so you can make future plans below is a complete schedule of all the replica Wall appearances that we are aware of for the balance of 2013. 

We encourage anyone who lives near the appearance site to visit these Walls.

And if you go we would ask, if you have time, for you help us to memorialize  our old friends whose names appear on the Wall by leaving a placard in Memorial  to them. This placard will also serve to allow any old Cacti out there who happen to visit these Walls to find that we exist as an Association.

Just contact Doc Hall at jimdochall@yahoo.com and he will send you via snail mail a placard to leave at any Wall that you visit.

2013 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

The 35th Infantry Regiment (Cacti) Association is pleased to announce they have again awarded $1000.00 scholarships to three deserving high school graduates. After reviewing the applications received, scholarships were awarded to:

Gabriela Alicia Santos of Manitou Springs, Colorado. Gabriela is the granddaughter of Isidro Salas Santos, Bravo Co 1/35th 1966-67. Alex Cy Hewit of Mapleton, Illinois. Alex is the grandson of Russel Hewit Jr., KIA 21 January 1969 while serving with Delta Co 1/35th. Alexandria Nicole Alvarez of Fayetteville, Georgia. Alexandria is the granddaughter of David Hockett, Bravo Co 1/35th 1966-67.

We congratulate all of our applicants upon their high school graduations, and especially congratulate our three awardees.

Cacti Scholarship Program

All of our Cacti families are encouraged to apply for scholarship awards. To be eligible the applicant must: Be a child, stepchild, grandchild or great-grandchild of an Association member or a 35th Infantry Regiment member who was killed in action.  Be a graduating high school senior.  Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale).  Relatives of Association Board members are not eligible.

For more information see the Scholarship page of this website, or contact the Chairman, Wiley "Tiny" Dodd by email at this address. Wiley.Dodd@yahoo.com