The following is some information relative to the 589th Association’s director election process. Please give me a call with any questions.
1. Board seats are 2-year terms, elected at the business meeting.
2. Candidates must be nominated through the President and posted on the Website in advance of the business meeting, or nominated from the floor during the meeting itself.
3. We currently have 6 director seats, plus the Chairman of the Board seat which remains unchanged.
4. Out of the total number of candidates nominated, the 6 candidates with the greatest number of votes will be seated.
5. When you run for the Board, you are not running for a specific office. Once elected, the Board will organize itself, selecting a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and any-and-all positions and committees from inside or outside the Board as the Board deems appropriate.
6. Director candidates are not required to possess a certain set of requisite skills; however, the ability to communicate by e-mail and have basic computer skills would be difficult to function without. The desire to work with divergent thoughts and opinions to achieve unity is a must.

It is time to begin thinking about the election of directors at this year’s Reunion. Every organization is better for having new blood come in; that is why I will not be seeking reelection this year. I will always be available to help if called on, but it is time to encourage others to step into leadership positions. Every successful organization has an undercurrent of differences in thoughts and opinions – those should be celebrated. But to do that, you must be flexible in thought and action, and I have become too rigid – I wasn’t going to do it, but I have become my father. I feel I need a break; but more important than me, we have members who are full of energy and deserve some time in the saddle. Don’t wait until the Reunion to think about it. Start today. I will write a short narrative to follow on the election process.

I think I counted 12 members coming to the 2017 reunion for the first time! That is really great! The more members that come to reunions the better they will be and the more fun we all will have. Won't be long now that we are together after these long two years! Don't like it myself but that was voted so I will adapt to that! See you all in a few weeks!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLES BEGLEY

Happy Birthday Charles Begley.

Success! We have located Allen W. Holt who was with Earthmoving Platoon, Company C in 1968. He will be attending the reunion.

P.S. Gary passed at Santa Paula, CA.

It is with heavy heart that I report the loss of another brother - Gary D. Strong. I report this with frustration since we missed finding Gary by only three weeks before he passed. Clyde Hutson reports that he and Gary departed to Vietnam on June 29, 1967. They were initially assigned to the 517th Engineer Company, and then reassigned to Company C, 589th around November 1967. That means that Gary would have been at Cha Rang and then with Earthmoving Platoon "up north." His wife reports that he was proud of his Vietnam service, and often spoke with fondness of those he served with (yes, that means someone was positive about EM Platoon, C Company). He and his wife were together during high school, and were married 13 days before he departed to Vietnam. Gary passed on June 29, 2017, the 50th anniversary of his departure to Vietnam.

I've located another brother who we have lost: Thomas G. West who died February 14, 2009 in Springfield, TN. Tom was a crane operator with EM Platoon, C Company in 1968.

Another member of C Company has been found: William (Bill)A. Lent. Bill was a dozer operator with C Company in 1968. Hopefully he will be turning in a membership application.

Hello Gentlemen...
My name is Bryan Owen, I am Bob Owen's oldest son. He was in Co. C. My mother received a phone call from Larry Jinkins today. He was looking for my father. He found him. At least his family. Bob passed away in 2012 from complications due to agent orange exposure. He would have loved this website had he known about it. Thanks to all who tracked him down! God Bless, The Owen Family

I'm sorry to pass on the loss of another brother: Robert C. "Buck" Owen who died on February 24, 2012 in Eagan, Minnesota. We had a difficult time locating his family because, for a long time, no one remembered his fist name. His family has confirmed we have the correct person from 589th on-line photographs. Buck did two tours in Vietnam, one with EM Platoon, Company C on the DMZ and at Song Pha. He died of VA confirmed Agent Orange complications. His family says the Minneapolis Veterans Administration was wonderful in assisting him and the family. Buck started talking about Vietnam the closer he came to dying. Many of us remember him carrying his cigarettes in the left sleeve of his T shirt - something he did all of his life.

Hope all my 589th Brothers have a great 4th of July holiday. Drive safe if you're travelling and be careful not to blow off any hand parts with fireworks!!

DP