2026 REUNION

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

October 7-11, 2026

“RETURN TO OUR BEGINNING”

Think back and try to remember what you were doing on April 13, 1966. The Viet Cong attacked Tan Son Nhut airport in Saigon causing 140 casualties while destroying 12 U.S. helicopters and nine aircraft. The amphibious landing of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines did not make any of the papers or TV news. I was not 16 years old then and didn’t have my driver’s license. I did have my learner’s permit which allowed me to ride a motor cycle. I was very mobile riding my Yamaha trail 80.

The top rock hits in April 1966 included:

• “(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration” by The Righteous Brothers
• “Good Lovin'” by The Young Rascals
• “Paint It, Black” by The Rolling Stones. Other major rock hits that month were
• “Daydream” by The Lovin’ Spoonful
• “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” by Cher,
• “Kicks” by Paul Revere & The Raiders
• “Wild Thing”, The Troggs,
• ”Monday, Monday”, The Mamas & the Papas
• “The Ballad of the Green Berets”, SSgt Barry Sadler
• “Paperback Writer”, The Beatles.

However, I was secretly listening to country music. And YES, I was hiding it from my friends because it wasn’t cool.

The top country hits in April 1966 were:

• “I Want to Go with You” by Eddy Arnold
• “Waitin’ in Your Welfare Line” by Buck Owens
  “Almost Persuaded” by David Houston
• “Distant Drums” by Jim Reeves
• “Take Good Care of Her” by Sonny James
• “Flowers On the Wall” by The Statler Brothers
• “I Get the Fever” by Bill Anderson
• “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)” by Loretta Lynn
• “Open Up Your Heart” by Buck Owens & His Buckaroos
• ”Giddy-Up Go” by Red Sovine

Even though not in the top 10, I was listening to Merle Haggard:

• “Shade Tree (Fix-It Man)”
• “(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers”
• “Falling For You”, “Please Mr. D.J.”
• “I’m Gonna Break Every Heart I Can”
• “Swinging Doors”
• “The Bottle Let Me Down”
• “I’m A Lonesome Fugitive”
• “Branded Man”
  “Sing Me Back Home”
• “Mama Tried”

And even though most people had never heard of him at this time, Willie Nelson:

• “She’s Not for You”
• “Healing Hands of Time”
• “I Just Can’t Let You Say Goodbye”
• and “One in a Row”

Let me know what you were doing.  It is anticipated that we will visit both MCRD San Diego and Camp Pendleton during the reunion. The visit to MCRD will be on Friday, October 9th. The visit to Camp Pendleton will be on Thursday, October 8th or Saturday, October 10th. We are still working out the logistics and details will be announced as soon as we are able to confirm with the appropriate authorities.  Camp Pendleton has the 5th Marines Memorial Garden for our memorial service. However, Vice President Vance may have ruined our chance for a live fire demonstration. MCRD has scheduled a graduation of Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion Series 2129-2133 for us.  Everyone will need either a “Real ID” or a passport to access both MCRD and Camp Pendleton. Don’t wait until the last minute to obtain one or both of those forms of identification.  We previously in 2014 had the reunion in San Diego at the Crowne Plaza. We have been able to secure that location again for our reunion.

I have a group of people who have agreed to help out as needed in planning and organizing this reunion. I have advised Larry Tyler that I am willing to accept full responsibility if everything works out well. However, if anything goes wrong I will blame it on him.  If you have any suggestions or thoughts you would like to share please feel free to contact me at:

jayapeterson@hotmail.com
Jay Peterson
2026 Hotel Company Reunion Planner & Host.