This is the Home Page for
the 2002
Honolulu Reunion (2002 HNL).
FAC
Reunion and Memorial Dedication 2002:
by Bill Ernst, Rustic 04
The FAC
memorial was dedicated on April 13, 2002 in Punchbowl
Cemetery before a crowd of about 330 people. The 15th ABW
Honor Guard provided the Color Guard, Firing Party and
Wreath Bearers; the 15th ABW provided a Chaplain; the Air
Force Band of the Pacific provided the music, anthems and
taps; the University of Hawaii AFROTC detachment provided
cadets to greet, usher, and seat attendees; the Australian
Consulate General attended; the New Zealand Honorary Consul
and the Mayor of Honolulu sent representatives to
participate; and the FAC Assn., both Consulates and the
Mayor provided four large floral wreaths to honor the
fallen. Two local pilots flew an O-1 and an 0-2A over the
ceremony as the monument was unveiled.
The
Hawaii Reunion 2002 committee members want to thank all of the
donors for making it possible to create and install a lasting
tribute to all of the American, Australian and New Zealand
aviators who served together in Southeast Asia.Editors note: Bill Ernst impressed his
colleagues on the FR2002 planning committee by his diligence
and attention to detail. If I were writing his ER, I'd put all
the Xs to the farthest right they could go and recommend him for any project you'd want zero
defects performance. Along with him, Mike Cavanaugh deserves
special mention for his work as Chairman of Protocol and
Banquet MC.
Did you know that the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog
flown over the Hawaii FAC
Reunion dedication ceremony was making its final flight
before being donated to the Military Aviation Museum of
the Pacific, which is slated to reopen at its new location
on Dec. 7, 2004 in the historic hangars and control tower
on the south side of Ford Island?
Banquet
Guest Speaker
At the Saturday night banquet, Gen.
William Begert spoke of alternative methods used in recent
operations in Afganistan in lieu of flying FACs. His
presentation included video surveillance clips testifying to
the awesome accuracy and timely response upon target
identification. Gen. Begert was a Covey FAC with 300
missions in an O-2A
A PARTING SHOT FR2002
Hawaii R&R was a success because those who were asked to
serve, did so with enthusiasm, pride, and generosity. Please
join me in using that momentum to make the FAC Association an
icon among veterans' organization. …MAHALO
The Board of Directors Left to
right :"Gibber" Gibbs (director), Howie Pierson (secy), Randy
Hetherington (director), Glenn Bremenkamp (database keeper),
Toby Rushforth (President), George Ferkes (treas) and Hen Min
Hiu (Newsletter editor).Dennis Crouch (vp) was missing from
the group photo.
Hen Min Hiu, Chairman, FR2002
The Hawaii FAC Association gratefully
acknowledges the help of many volunteers during FR2002. Carolyn and Ben Petty (Nail FAC) of EEM
Tours provided professional advice and on-site assistance from
beginning to end while many of you made spontaneous donations
of goods and greenbacks.
I am happily in debt to the HIFACs for
their loyalty, hard work, and cheerful encouragement. Namely:
William Begert, Vic Bonfiglio, John
Callahan, Mike Cavanaugh, Bill Ernst, David Greenlee, Mac
McNeill, Putt Richards, Toby Rushforth, and Buck Welch. And thanks of course to my wife Arlene
for her usual indulgence and support. MAHALO to all of you!
Punchbowl
Cemetery before a crowd of about 330 people. The 15th ABW
Honor Guard provided the Color Guard, Firing Party and
Wreath Bearers; the 15th ABW provided a Chaplain; the Air
Force Band of the Pacific provided the music, anthems and
taps; the University of Hawaii AFROTC detachment provided
cadets to greet, usher, and seat attendees; the Australian
Consulate General attended; the New Zealand Honorary Consul
and the Mayor of Honolulu sent representatives to
participate; and the FAC Assn., both Consulates and the
Mayor provided four large floral wreaths to honor the
fallen. Two local pilots flew an O-1 and an 0-2A over the
ceremony as the monument was unveiled.
The
Hawaii Reunion 2002 committee members want to thank all of the
donors for making it possible to create and install a lasting
tribute to all of the American, Australian and New Zealand
aviators who served together in Southeast Asia.
FAC
Reunion dedication ceremony was making its final flight
before being donated to the Military Aviation Museum of
the Pacific, which is slated to reopen at its new location
on Dec. 7, 2004 in the historic hangars and control tower
on the south side of Ford
Banquet
Guest Speaker
Howie Pierson (secy), Randy
Hetherington (director), Glenn Bremenkamp (database keeper),
Toby Rushforth (President), George Ferkes (treas) and Hen Min
Hiu (Newsletter editor).Dennis Crouch (vp) was missing from
the group photo.