OE Attends Alamo Scouts Reunion meeting with several WWII heroes, historians, and their families.
March 13-14th, 2008

The OE team was fortunate to be honored with an invitation to attend the ALAMO SCOUTS 2008 reunion in San Antonio, Texas held at the historic Menger Hotel.
Russ Blaise (Ass. Executive Director), was our gracious host, and Lance Zedric (Alamo Scouts Historian) and his family regaled us with stories of the amazing history of this elite unit.............................
The Alamo Scouts, Sixth Army’s Special Reconnaissance Unit of WWII, provided intelligence-gathering and tactical reconnaissance in the PTO. The Scouts performed over 108 known missions in the Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea and the Philippines, most deep behind enemy lines. The Scouts took part in liberating two P.O.W. camps, the first at Cape Oransbari, Dutch New Guinea, 4-5 October 1944; the second being the famous Cabanatuan Camp Liberation, Luzon Island, Philippines on 27 January-1 February, 1945.

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The Alamo Scouts did all this and much more we will never know, and unbelievably yet true, without losing a man (killed or captured) for the duration of the war. These MEN were BAD before bad was bad!! The activities began with the dedication of a plaque honoring the service of the Alamo Scouts during WWII on Thursday the 13th of March at The National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas. We felt so privileged to be included in this powerful ceremony.

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The group then moved back to San Antonio and the Menger for drinks and dinner. After dinner the OE team gave its presentation to the reunion group, which was well received by all. I felt as giddy as a schoolgirl amongst this group of true U.S. hero’s and their families, so much history, so much honor, coupled to unbridled pride.
What a day!!
The Scouts and their kin welcomed us with open arms, and engaged us in conversation about all things then and now. The Scouts, who still grace us with their presence, are to a man impressive individuals and one can see even 64 years on how these men were selected to fulfill the role of Scout for the U.S. Sixth Army. For me, with my acute interest in the PTO, and more specifically the SWPA of New Guinea, meeting the following two Alamo Scouts is the fulfillment of a long time dream. First, William F. Barnes (BARNES Team Leader), graduate of the first Alamo Scouts class and an active member of the first two Alamo Scouts missions of the war; and second, John L. Geiger (LUTZ Team Member) graduate of the second Alamo Scouts class. These men took part in key missions in the New Guinea and Bismarck’s regions.

OE wishes to thank all of the Alamo Scouts and their families for including us in this exceptional reunion and for presenting us with an official Alamo Scout Banner which we will proudly fly from the mast of our expedition vessels. John and I are already looking forward to the next reunion.

“You Were First”