300th Battalion members met, share stories

Surviving members of the 300th Armored Field Artillery Battalion met at Thermopolis Café Saturday morning for a reunion, among them Bob Brown, Bob James, AJ Burns and John Dodge.

Members of the 300th fought in the Korean War, with Battery “A” personnel activated for Korea on Aug. 14, 1950. Some of the battalion shipped out from Thermopolis in February of 1951. Upon their return, the unit had annual reunions, the first and last of which were in Thermopolis.

Though the official reunions have come and gone, Saturday’s meeting gave these members a chance to reminisce, sometimes about their service but largely about their lives since and occasionally sharing news and addresses.

James noted during the conversation that the battalion made sure every one of its soldiers made it home. The camaraderie they had during their time in uniform is certainly not lost on these men, and continues to unite them.

Deceased members of the 300th Battalion include Marion Andreen, Bryson Bain, Leonard Bell, Alvin Blakesley, Ike Blakesly, Ken Boyer, Jim Burnell, Don Cox, Howard Cox, Beny Crow, Bill Dillard, Jim Duncan, Chink Fields, Johnny Galac, John Gosney, Art Gossens, Clarence Hall, Bud Hancock, Jim Harris, Bob Heron, Ed Johnson, Roland Johnson, Chuck Jones, Tritz Jurovich, Mudo Jurovich, Ken Laverents, Charlie Lollar, Frank Manning, Ray Maret, Conrad Mayfield, Delmer Mentch, Chuck Mills, Dean Mills, Earl Myers, Ray Peterson, Gerry Peyton, Jack Prickett, George Quarles, Jim Radovich, Moe Radovich, Chuck Ray, Al Remsburg, Dick Robertson, George Romagno, Paul Romagno, George Rushin, Glidden Sanford, Bob Scoggins, Walt Slane, Clyde Smith, Gene Smith, Dennis Snyder, Bob Titus, Jack Toth, Ed Vandusen, Bob Whitt, Slim Whitt, Bill Whitt and Mops Wilde.