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Our First Hall Of Fame Inductee

Col. Linden J. Accurso 
Class 24-66

Colonel Accurso’s initial assignment after Officer Candidate School was with the 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg. He then attended Flight School at Fort Rucker and served a tour of duty as an Aviator in Vietnam. He served two years in Germany with the 28th Field Artillery prior to a second tour in Vietnam. He left active duty and joined the Reserve Components, where he served in many leadership positions as a Special Forces Officer, Master Army Aviator, Battery Commander, Military Intelligence Detachment Commander and Medical Battalion Commander. He was called to active duty during Operations Desert Shield/Storm and accompanied the 429th Medical Battalion to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

His last assignment was as the Assistant Chief of Staff Comptroller with the 143rd Transportation Command, Orlando, Florida. He was appointed to Federal Civil Service as a Budget Counselor for the U.S. Army Community Services, Fort Stewart, Georgia. He served in positions of increasing responsibility in the Accounting field and culminated his career as the Deputy Director of Finance, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Orlando, Florida. Colonel Accurso’s decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster with V- device and the Air Medal (28 awards).

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West Chester, Pa. - December 2008
Read The 2009 Christmas Newsletter

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A Remembrance Of Our Classmate,
Donn L. Sweet, By His Younger Sister, Evie.

The Book Is Available In Hard Or Soft Cover At The Following Link:

http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?ISBN=978-1-4327-1779-7

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Received From A Class Member's Son In Response To The Book, "His Name Was Donn"

From: Steve Schuette
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 5:44 PM
To: Evie (Sweet) Hurd
Subject: OP WebPage Contact 

Hello Evelyn, 

I am hopeful that this email might reach you directly - or perhaps through your publisher.
I just finished reading your book about your brother Donn. 
My father, Myron Schuette, met Donn at OCS.  My Dad was fortunate enough to get stationed in Korea
yet still kept tabs on Donn until his untimely passing.
I was born in October of 1969, and my parents were gracious enough to give me the middle name Donn.
For most of my life, I have only known Donn as "the fellow that my Dad knew who died in Vietnam".  It's
been a constant point of conversation with new friends and acquaintances who demand to know what
"Donn" must be short for.   Countless times I've been able to politely shake my head and say, "no.. it's not
short for anything  ...  it's just Donn  ...  with two n's"
Your wonderful book has helped me to finally place context around nearly 40 years of my life.  I knew only
that my father thought quite highly of your brother -but could never quite understand what that really meant.
Donn's words from his letters have helped me to see so much more.
Thank you so much for your courage and will to write the book. 

Steven Donn Schuette
p.s.   should you want to see photos of my father Myron (now almost 65) as well as our family - we have a
website almost completely dedicated to our son Max ...   www.schuettes.com
Myron claims to have met your mother once - perhaps at some OCS event.

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West Chester, Pa. - December 2008
Read The 2008 Christmas Newsletter

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Ft. Sill, Ok. - Posted 4/23/08
Len Rudin's Involvement In The Restoration Of The Last Surviving 175mm Tube From Viet Nam

Click this link http://proudamericans.homestead.com/Reunion01.html to read the story of a "lucky find" and the subsequent restoration of an historic relic of "our war".

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West Chester, Pa. - November 2007
Read The 2007 Christmas Newsletter

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Media, Pa. - 11/06/07
Once again, Candidates DelSordo, Marrocco and Wambold were able to arrange their schedules and meet for lunch at Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant in Media, Pa. for a "smoke and joke" session.
Schilling and Swank were unable to attend because of business commitments.

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Fort Sill, Ok - May 9-11, 2007
2007 FAOCS Reunion

(Photo Used With Permission Of Patrick O'Kelly)

Three of our classmates attended this year's FAOCS Reunion at Fort Sill in early May.  Sam Dauer and Mike Lucas (labeled and circled) were present for the "Mandatory Photo Formation".  Of additional interest is the white-haired gentlemen kneeling between Sam and Mike.  He's Mike's wife's uncle, COL Chester O. Stephens, USAR, Retired, and a member of  Artillery O.C.S. Class 1943-86. Evidently, Frank Linster MISSED THE FORMATION and will be Jarking for several weekends

 ... to this destination !!  Good Old MB-4

During their stay at Sill the group visited the Post Cemetery and paid their respects to our classmate, John Hughes.

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Media, Pa. - 10/07/06
The East Coast 40th Anniversary Reunion was held at Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant in Media, Pa. on Saturday, October 7th from 1:00 until 4:00 PM.  In attendance were:  Joe and Sandy DelSordo, Rich Marrocco, Rick and Cathy Schilling, Larry and Karen Swank, Jim and Marie Wambold.

Informality reigned.  We did take time to remember those classmates who lost their lives in service to our country and to read many e-mail messages from other class members who were unable to attend the event.

Of special note were congratulatory messages received from Vice President Dick Cheney, General Tommy Franks and the Durham Family.  It's an honor to be recognized by such respected individuals.

At the close of the event there was a consensus that we must get together again in honor of our 80th Anniversary ... if not sooner.

Jim Wambold

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Media, Pa. - 07/12/06
Officer Candidate Graduates DelSordo, Marrocco and Wambold attended the "Mandatory Mid-Day Meal Formation" at Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant in Media, Pa.

Rich Marrocco, who lives in Rhode Island, was traveling in the Philadelphia area on business ... Joe DelSordo works in Media, Pa. ... Jim Wambold lives about 15 miles away in West Chester.  Several telephone calls and e-mails were exchanged and an impromptu luncheon was arranged at an area restaurant.

All arrived at the appointed place promptly at 12:00 noon and recognized each other immediately; each looked exactly as he did 40 years ago ... no hair loss, no weight gain, and certainly no increase in our IQ's ... just the tanned, hard-bodies of seasoned Artillerymen.  The waitresses swooned !

It's peculiar how time heals some of the wounds of warfare.  Our "war stories" of years ago turned into humorous memories of particular events during our varied military careers.

I would encourage any of you from our class to use our web site to locate others in your area and plan a mini-reunion of this type.  We had an excellent time together and plan to do it again; hopefully, with more in attendance.

Jim Wambold

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Fort Sill, Ok. - 06/14/06

VIEW SAM DAUER'S PHOTOS AND NARRATIVE OF HIS RECENT VISIT TO FT. SILL

Click Here