Reunion

2025 – San Antonio, TX

Published on by CapVeteran

2025 CAP Unit Veterans Association Reunion

Good morning to all,

2025 San Antonio Reunion – 250th Marine Corps Birthday and 60th Anniversary of the CAP Program,

I contacted several of the board to see if they returned home or were at least camped for the night, all made it home safely. From all I have heard and of course what I saw it appears our CAP Marines and Corpsmen enjoyed the reunion having a great time. All worked out as planned and it is because we have great people in our membership that will help accomplish all that we need to do to make our membership know that they matter. Thank you to all our members our volunteers, our Board, and our great membership for being who you are.

Many have asked where next year’s Reunion will be and we did take a vote on where members would like to go based upon availability. Two of the top places were San Diego and Phoenix. The board will devote a great deal of time doing our due diligence checking out these locations and maybe a couple more. As usual we will more than likely announce the location in December or January once we finalize our process. Members can make suggestions and volunteer ideas in advance of any decisions. I am looking forward to another great reunion next year.

We announced our Legacy general membership and we are moving forward with spouses, children, grandchildren and siblings of CAP Marines and or CAP Corpsmen to be part of this membership. More to come on this as times goes by to update our membership, we had a tremendous response to the survey with only 27 no’s 199 yes’s for the program. We needed a coordinator for this program that wasn’t a CAP Marine or Corpsman and I am happy to say we have one. Twayne Hickman (son of Donna and Wayne Hickman) who is a retired Marine Corps Major was honored to accept this duty and will begin program development immediately. He will need volunteers to assist please contact Wayne Hickman if you would like to assist.

Our Keynote Speaker this year was the 11th Sgt. Major of the Marine Corps – Sgt. Major Donald W. Sommers, he joined us for the Marine Corps Birthday and circulated meeting as many of the men as he stated he wanted to do. Our Association is very close to his heart as he was the very first CAC Platoon leader in Vietnam, he is where our program started. What a great speaker and truly an inspiration to all Marines, we were very fortunate to have him join us on the Marine Corps Birthday and celebrate with all the Marines/Corpsmen and gusts.

We also announced a recognition program for our membership that truly needed to be recognized for what they do for our membership the Bravo Zulu, Above and Beyond and Humanitarian recognition. These are for the past reunion, in other words we will recognize 2025 next year for people who stepped up in those categories at the Reunion. For 2024 Nancy Davis Matricardi was given the Bravo Zulu for all her hard work and dedication to our Monument/Ladies Luncheon’s and so much more, Debra Murphy was given the Above and Beyond for her years of service with general assistance but most of all the registration process with tracking all reunions information, Chet Mattern and Cheri were given the Above and Beyond recognition for their years of dedication and financial donations to the Association and last but not least Michael Lawson was given the Humanitarian recognition, Mike stays busy with a multitude of organizations spending most of day and nights volunteering. Most of this for Mike revolves around helping out Veterans and some non veterans the list is too long, trust me it is a full page of volunteering. Congrats to all these great people you are much deserved. If you know a member that devotes time and effort to any organization Veteran or not please have them contact Richard Stoehrmann so we may consider these people for Humanitarianism recognition.

Additionally, we introduced a table donation fee to help raise funds for the Association. Most of these donations we raise go towards mailing and/or non offset costs of the reunions we have. We will have two different types of Table donation fees Members $100.00 and Non Members $250.00. This will allow board approved items to be sold at the reunions, non members could be merchants that would like to bring their items to sell, members are our membership that could sell their items (if a member donates a part of their sales no fee will be expected).

During the last two Reunions we have had expenses that were not offset by the charges on the registration forms we send to out members. We want to make sure our Reunions are affordable so we will continue to find ways to raise donations so we make our Reunions the best we can without encumbering our membership with high costs. 

I do hope all returned safely and had no time delays. All that I spoke with said everything was on time and no issues on getting to San Antonio or returning home with flights or transportation. Another great thing at least to me knowledge and thank for Rich Stoehrmann’s reminder, NO ONE came down with COVID this year or got seriously sick, that’s a big winner.

See you all next year!

Semper Fi,
Eric Webb
Chairman/President

Additional Gratitude

I wanted to take a moment to thank all the people on this list which have helped and are helping to make this 2025 Reunion a great success. If anyone has been off this list please let me know as it is not intentional.  Thank you for all your time, effort, input and your selflessness to continue to support our CAP Unit Veteran’s Association along with all our members. We couldn’t accomplish this with you!

Thank you and Semper Fi,

Eric

VOLUNTEER LIST:
Registration – Deb Murphy, Barb Kaupas, Denise McDonald, Colette Stoehrmann & Donna Hickman
Hospitality Suite Host – Mike Mullins
Hospitality Suite Manager – Wayne Hickman
Photography – Gary Quernemoen
Ladies Luncheon – Nancy Matricardi, Alice Casto & Cheri Mattern
Ladies Luncheon Token of Appreciation – Fred Caleffie
Barge Guides – Rich, Mark, Rick, Eric, Wayne & Mike
Bus Guides – Mike Lawson and Rich Stoehrmann
Banquet Attendants – Rick Frantz, Rich Stoehrmann, Mike Lawson and Mark Morales
Cake cutting ceremony – Wayne Hickman
Missing Man table – Mike Lawson
Sales table team – Mark Morales and Rich Stoehrmann
Raffle (Collect items and set tables up) – John and Denise McDonald
Birthday Cake & cupcakes – Deb Murphy
Banquet Decorations & table centerpieces – Donna Hickman – Volunteers & Sara Walker Events
Finances & Inventory – Mark Morales, Mike Mullins and Mike Smith
Reunion Tours, Transportation, Raffle M.C. & Asst. Reunion Organizer – Rich Stoehrmann

2025 Reunion Photos

2024 – Washington D.C.

Published on by CapVeteran

2024 CAP Unit Veterans Association Reunion and Monument Dedication

Our Reunion this year included the long-anticipated dedication of our CAP Unit Marine/Corpsman Monument. To begin our reunion started with a meet and greet at registration, it was well organized and members were full of excitement. Over 500 attendees were expected for the Monument Dedication and over 300 for the reunion itself. This was the largest group of CAP Marines and Corpsmen in one location since Vietnam. These numbers included family and friends as well, the actual number of CAP Veterans was in excess of 180.

The first full day planned a trip to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall which included a magnificent speech by Dr. Jeannie Johnson about the CAP Platoons and their focus while in Vietnam. Protecting the villages, the people, providing civic duties as well as training the P.F.s with day patrols and night ambushes.

We conducted a wreath ceremony led by Rick Frantz with the wreath bearers Chet Mattern, Mike Lawson, Bob Ravencroft, Bill Riddle and Mike Smith. The crowd remained in place as these CAP Veterans ceremoniously walked in front of the wall to place the wreath at the center in recognition of those that gave all in the CAP’s in Vietnam. The Bugler began to play taps as all placed their hand over their hearts from our group, and it was amazing everyone at the monument stopped and didn’t move a muscle while Taps played. This was an extremely moving and emotional moment for all.

The following day seven buses loaded CAP Veterans and their guests taking them to the National Marine Corps Museum in Triangle, Virginia. Rain was called for this day and evening but it couldn’t spoil the absolutely magnificent CAP Monument Dedication organized by Nancy and Ed “Matt” Matricardi. The museum ambiance added to this historical event. Speakers Lt. General Ron Christmas and Bing West gave outstanding speeches while Maj. General Lukeman and CAP Unit Veterans Association President/Chairman Paul Kaupas acted as emcees.

Emotions ran high for all with pride, tears and sadness with the video of the Monument Unveiling as it should. Over fifty years has gone by since our time in Vietnam living with the villagers, getting to know the villagers as family, caring about them, protecting them and now our Monument will tell the story of why the CAP Platoons were so successful. A yearlong project of time, effort and care by the Matricardi’s was a video of CAP Marines and Corpsmen interviewed from the 2023 reunion on their experience in CAP. Moving and emotional doesn’t begin to describe these personal videos. The Marine Corps had representation with colors, Mr. Britton sang multiple songs which sent shivers through the audience, this was a night that will never be forgotten.

The next event, which was on our final day. A dinner banquet with CAP Veterans dressed with their mini ribbons or medals and their wives beautifully dressed for the evening banquet. Socializing was a happy occasion for all seeing each other and sharing stories of whatever. Almost 300 in the room to enjoy one last event with all their fellow Brothers for this year. Before the meal was served our CAP Chaplain John McDonald led us all in prayer allowing all to reflect on our Lord’s grace. As dessert was being served, final call for raffle tickets raising funds for the Association. All week-long Chet and Cheri Mattern sold raffle tickets at their table for this evening, tonight many of our volunteer wives of the members were making sure all were able to participate. Some of these volunteers were Denise McDonald, Anne Sloan, Cheri Mattern, Nancy Matricardi, Colette Stoehrmann, Trena Philo and Margaret Webb (if I left someone out my apologies). There were at least 42 items for the raffle which included 16 free room nights, 2 complete sets of artwork etchings on the Monument, USMC leather jacket, Mugs and Shirts, autographed books from Dr. Jeanie Johnson, Bing West and Edward Palm and much more. All had a great time; the night had come to an end while there was talk about the next reunion in 2025. See you all there!

Semper Fi,
Eric Webb
President

More information on the CAP Marine Monument and its Dedication Ceremony can be found in the “CAP Monument” tab above, or by clicking here.

Dr. Jeannie Johnson’s talk at the Wall

This is a 25 minute video of Dr. Jeannie Johnson speaking to the CAP Unit Veterans Association members at the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washinton DC at this past reunion:

2024 Reunion Photos

2023 – Jacksonville, FL

Published on by CapVeteran

2023 CAP Unit Veterans Association Reunion – Jacksonville, FL

The CAP Unit Veterans Association Reunion was held in Jacksonville, Florida. We had a great showing with our CAP Brothers and their guests. During this Reunion we had the opportunity to tour the U.S.S. Orleck a famous ship of the Vietnam and Korea era. Lunch was served at the ship dock area for all attending this very interesting historic ship tour.

Additionally we were able to tour on separate day a Marine Corps Amphibious Company locally and see the newer Amphibious vehicles. I as well as others who had been in the original AM Trac’s many times were anxious to view these and of course talk about the old days as we inhaled all the obnoxious fumes after debarking the ship in these amazing machines. Another thing we relived was the sinking feeling as exiting the ship into the ocean, what a feeling that was. These are definitely a step or two above what we rode in during our time in service.

All had an outstanding time; the weather was perfect and the company was even better.

Semper Fi Brothers,
Eric Webb
President

2023 Reunion Photos

2022 – Chandler, AZ

Published on by CapVeteran

The reunion in 2022 was in Chandler Arizona.

2022 Reunion Photos

2019 – Washington, D.C.

Published on by CapVeteran

This was the 35th reunion, at the Hilton Doubletree Crystal City in Washington, D.C.

2019 Reunion Photos