Read the welcome letter from Erik Lind, Association Secretary.
Hello Fellow Rakkasans,
I would like to introduce myself to you all, my name is Erik Lind and I have accepted the duties and responsibilities of the Secretary for the 187th Rakkasan Association. I take over the position from Gary Davis who has been the Rakkasan Secretary for the last the years.
I have been a member of the Association since 1990 and actively involved since 2011. I served in the regiment for approximately four years in A company 3/187 from 1989 through June 1993. For the past 25 years since leaving the Army and the Rakkasans, I have been working in the corporate world at several companies and various positions.
Needless to say, I have received a lot of help from good people in the Association but none more than my predecessor Gary Davis being the biggest supporter and a wealth of knowledge. I wish to extend my gratitude to Gary, and his wife Ruth, for all they have done for the Rakkasans.
As we begin this endeavor, I look forward to the challenges and will do everything I can provide you with the support you deserve and need. We are moving quickly into the holiday season and know that Thanksgiving and Christmas will be on us before we know it. Myself and the governing board will be focusing on a few things to close out this year successfully and charge into the new one. I will be attending the 3rd Battalion ball and look forward to visiting with the troops of the Brigade.
Gary had said something in the Spring of 2017 that has had great meaning to the Rakkasan Association and to our members. Membership is a focus of many of us on the board and Darel Schoening (Membership Chairman) is working to develop mailings to past members to revive interest. There has been a lot of interest from Facebook and I encourage all Rakkasans out there on Facebook to contact fellow Rakkasans and encourage them to join.
Moving on the future activities for the Association, the big event will be the combined reunion. I say "combined" because the Association will be conducting its 2019 reunion in May, in conjunction with the Hamburger Hill Chapter, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Dong Ap Bia. I look forward to seeing everyone there.
I leave you with the following, have a safe and great holiday season, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Rakkasan
Erik Lind
Sec/187 Rakkasans