Greetings!

Welcome to the Charlie Company (1966-68) 4^th Battalion (Mechanized), 23^rd Infantry Regiment blog!  Please feel free to look for old friends, share memories, and find information about our annual reunions.

Unfortunately, our 2020 and 2021 reunions were canceled as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.  However, a 2022 reunion was held at Columbus, GA, near Fort Benning.  

Our 14th reunion is scheduled for September 27 to October 1, 2023.  Dates and hotel information can be viewed by clicking on the "Upcoming Events" tab above.

Our reunions are mostly “free-form” and casual.  Jeans, shorts, and T-shirts are welcome.  Some wear shirts and hats commemorating their service in Vietnam.  Men meet, often for the first time in recent history, and are refreshed and energized by the bond that connects them to their combat brothers.

If you are a 4/23 Charlie Company veteran, or a family member of one, and have never attended our reunions before, you are most welcome to join us at our next reunion.  

2022 Reunion in Columbus, GA

1st Platoon

2nd Platoon

3rd Platoon

Headquarters

Outside the Army Museum of the United States

Our 11th annual reunion was held October 3-5, 2018, in Junction City, Kansas, just five minutes from the Army garrison Fort Riley.  The photo at the top of this page was taken at the reunion.  Many of the 23 men who attended are pictured. 

We chose this area in the Central Flint Hills region of northeastern Kansas so we could visit Fort Riley.  Our Captain in Vietnam, William Hartzog, made the Army his career and retired as a four-star General.  He was actually Commanding General at Fort Riley from August 1991 through July 1993.  A few of our Charlie Company men completed their military service time at Fort Riley, which is currently the home of the 1^st Infantry Division, known as “The Big Red One.” 

We toured the fort by bus.  The installation covers an astounding 101,000 acres.  With approximately 15,400 active duty members, 19,600 family members, and 6,100 civilian employees, it is a small city, spread out in a rural area. In fact, the Army leases out some of their land to local farmers.

The fort was established in 1853 and was named in honor of Bennet C. Riley, a Mexican War hero.  In 1892, a cavalry school began operation there and became critical to the development of cavalry tactics and training. 

During our time at the reunion, we enjoyed chatting, sharing meals together, and sightseeing in the area.  Several of our group traveled to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in nearby Abilene, Kansas, as well as to other sites of local interest. 

Our reunions are mostly “free-form” and casual.  Jeans, shorts, and T-shirts are welcome.  Some wear shirts and hats commemorating their service in Vietnam.  Men meet, often for the first time in recent history, and are refreshed and energized by the bond that connects them to their combat brothers.

If you have never attended before, you are most welcome to join us at our 2019 reunion.  It will be held Tuesday, October 8th, through Thursday, October 10th, 2019 in Alexandria, Virginia--close to Washington, D.C.  For more details, please click on the tab, "Upcoming Events."

1st Platoon

2nd Platoon

3rd Platoon

Company Headquarters Staff

Charlie Company Women

The photo above was taken on September 15, 2011, at our fourth annual reunion, held in the Seattle area.  Most of the 27 men who attended this reunion are shown.  The highlight of our time together was going to Fort Lewis, headquarters to the current 4/23rd, where we were treated to an incredible tour of their facilities.  (Many thanks to Colonel Greg Harkins, Command Sergeant Major Paul Bigs, and the many more involved, including our own "Doc" John Wood, Bill Dillehay, and Dave Guilland, for arranging this awesome event!)

The army base sent two buses to transport us from our hotel in Seatac.  On base, we ate breakfast in the mess hall (more like a cafeteria), were greeted by the current command of the 4/23rd, examined closehand a "Static Display" (men from the Stryker Brigade in combat garb with their weapons, along with several variations of Stryker vehicles), visited the barracks (more like college dorms), traveled in Strykers to the firing range (where those who wanted to could fire weapons--including the "SAW"), ate MRE's, saw a demonstration of night vision equipment and helmet-mounted communication devices, and later were guests at an impressive military banquet.  All of us Vietnam veterans were treated with the utmost respect and consideration by the men of the current unit.

For some interesting photos of our tour of Fort Lewis, go to the "Pictures" tab.

"All Gave Some... Some Gave All."