Bravo Company Reunion After Action Report

Seattle Police Motor Cycle Drill Team Salutes Vets From Bravo Company

In short, we had a blast!

Now, the longer version:


The Bravo Company reunion in Seattle is still going on as I write this on Sunday evening, July 22, 2007 at 11:00 P.M. PDT. It should continue through Tuesday for those that were able to stay.

I arrived on Friday morning after driving most of Thursday night to get to Seattle. Fred Hill, Joe and Pat Hare, and Ron Moreno already had a one-day head start on me. Dale Carry arrived within an hour of my arrival. We spent all day Friday sharing stories, reminiscing, and getting caught up on what we have done since Vietnam and telling about our families. Mostly, though, we relived many moments from our tour. We spent more than ten hours getting caught up on Friday.

On Saturday, we had a police motorcycle escort to a V.I.P. section of a parade route. Thanks to Officer Henry and Officer Chin for the escort!! The Seattle P.D. Motorcyle Drill Team was the first part of the parade, and when they arrived in front of us, they put on a 15 minute display of tight formation motorcycle drills. To say they were the Blue Angels on wheels would be an understatement. The finale was when the drill team split in two, and rode in opposite directions until they were about four blocks apart. They then turned around and started riding towards each other. When they got in front of us, their wheels were almost touching, they stopped, dismounted, faced us, came to attention, and saluted us! Joe Hare called us to attention, and we gave them "Black Lions, Sir!" salute in return. The vets from Bravo Company at this reunion got their home coming parade! It was late by 40 years, but well worth the wait! Thank You Seattle P.D. Motorcycle Drill Team!

After the parade, Fred Hill took us to "The Lock Spot." A restaurant where part of the documentary, "The Deadliest Catch" was filmed. Fred bought us all lunch (Thanks again, Fred). After Lunch, we were taken to Lake Union (which is connected to both Puget Sound and Lake Washington (do a Google search to see it), where the Seattle P.D. has their Harbor Patrol boats. We were taken out on their largest boat (I believe it was 42 feet or so), given life jackets and then given a tour of Lake Union (where Sleepless In Seattle was filmed). After about a two-hour tour, the police officers manning the boat gave us a fire-fighitng demonstration. Pumping more than 3,000 gallons a minute, they sent a geyser more than 60 feet in the air and bout 75 feet out in front of the boat. Using thrusters, they turned the boat on a dime for 360 degrees. Unbelievable experience! We then were returned to shore, thanked for our service and invited to come back.

After that, we returned to our motel, which had an EXCELLENT Vietnamese Restuarant, and we ate supper and I tried my rusty Vietnamese with some luck. It was my turn to buy Fred Hill a meal. More talk ensued about Vietnam and our day's experience.

On Saturday night we had to say good by to Dale Carry who had a family reunion to go to. I swear, there was not a dry eye around when we said our first good bye. It did not get any easier when I left on Sunday afternoon.

Motorcycle Drill Team Performs For Black Lions

Fred arrived at our motel at noon on Sunday, and he escorted us to his Condominium about an hour north of Seattle on Puget Sound. We thought we had died and gone to heaven. Fred has quite the layout, and his wonderful wife Chris had dip, cheese and crackers waiting for us. Fred served us Canadian Beer and Oregon Beer (the Oregon Beer was Henry Weinhart Reserve). Both were good beers, but the Oregon Beer was much better than the Canadian Beer, Aee? We enjoyed the view of Puget sound literally feet from Fred's deck, while reminiscing and enjoying Fred's Beer. We were later treated to a late lunch or early dinner of excellent Pizza. Ron Moreno went with Fred to get the pizza and rumor has it he met a young lady at the pizza parlor that has him thinking more Black Lions should live in Fred's neighborhood!

Fred and Chris Hill - The Perfect Hosts - Relax On Their Patio Overlooking Puget Sound During The Sunday Get-Together

Due to committments and a promise to stop and see former Bravo Company member Don Anderson on our way home, my wife Maria Elena and I left the Joe and Pat Hare and Ron Moreno in the excellent care of Fred and Chris Hill. Just before leaving (at about 4:30 P.M.), Fred had one last surprise for us. At the request of his Drill Team, we were presented with gold commerative coins of the Seattle P.D. Drill Team, An image of a police Harley on one side and the Seattle P.D. logo on the other side. Thanks, guys!!

Don Anderson At Home In La Center, Washington

Our visit with Don Anderson on our return home was short - less than an hour - as we still had three more hours to drive. It was about a three hour drive from Seattle to Don's house. Don, as always, was fun to be with. He loves working with wood, and some of his work is visible on his house. Don was unable to attend the reunion, but had sent his photo album from Vietnam and some First Infantry Division Year Books to the reunion via myself. I returned Don's photos and books and gave him a report on the reunion.

Plans are already underway for a reunion next year (2008) in Kentucky. In order to try to meet or exceed the hospitality that Fred Hill gave us in Seattle, rumor has it on good authority that their will be a private tour of the Jack Daniels Distillery! Rabbit, I hope you really CAN pull that one off!

My personal thanks to Fred Hill and his wonderful wife Chris for all that they did for us. I also want to thank the great men and women of the Seattle P.D. for their hospitality above and beyond the call of duty. We will remember this reunion to the end of our lives. Thanks folks. But most of all, I want to thank those that attended this reunion and made it so great. My wife thoroughly enjoyed it. We enjoyed meeting Pat Hare and hope next year more spouses will be there. For some odd reason, as I sit here thinking back over the last 72 hours, I realize I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders...one I had been carrying for 40 years and did not even realize it. Black Lions!


John McCoy

Black Lion Wives Pat Hare and Maria Elena McCoy Enjoy Boat Tour Of Lake Union

Return To B Company Base Camp