Citation: Ridenour, Hugh, compiler. "Company B 3rd Regiment Pershing Rifles Western Kentucky University 1960s: A Collective Memoir, 2007."

Choose One In Memoriam Special Tribute Introduction Good Samaritans? A Missed Party Fire in the Hole An Inside Job Last Laugh The Mayflower Manchu Belt Buckle Forgetful Best Man Nervous Expectant Fathers Bad Influence Part Time Job R M Ducks?? Zinging & Cracking Voice from Above Rebelettes Rebelette Vignettes Biographies - Alcott, Fred Biographies - Carneal, Sandy Biographies - Case, George Biographies - Clark, Blake Biographies - Crider, Steve Biographies - Cunningham, Ramey Biographies - Davis, Rita Biographies - Dillard, Pat Biographies - Dillard, Ron Biographies - Divine, Mike Biographies - Froedge, Jerry Biographies - Fussell, Jerry Biographies - Galloway, Joe Biographies - Houston, Bill Biographies - James, Eddie Biographies - Karr, Ed Biographies - Kenney, Mike Biographies - Kohlmeyer, Kandi Biographies - Kramer, Bennie Biographies - Lewman, Tom Biographies - Mays, Carol Biographies - Meuth, Mike Biographies - Mize, Bill Biographies - Moore, Wayne Biographies - Morrow, Ellis Biographies - Osburn, Ron Biographies - Pearson, Bill Biographies - Ping, Glen Biographies - Ridenour, Hugh Biographies - Ritter, Bill Biographies - Roper, Jackie Biographies - Scott, Ken Biographies - Toppass, Janice Biographies - Traughber, Don Biographies - Verdier, Doug Biographies - Vititoe, John Biographies - Westerfield, Beverly Biographies - Wilson, Roye

IN MEMORIAM

Diance Chance - Rebelette	Allan Pardon
Fred Dyrsen	Gene Percefull
Dickie Hunter	Jack Sanders
David Mackey	Jerry Taylor
Patricia Norman	Charlie Thomas

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These verses are a tribute to Patricia Norman, the beloved sponsor of Company B-3 in 1962/63 and 1963/64. She endured endless smokers (rowdy business meeting conducted in a cloud of cigar smoke), numerous dances with company members with two left feet, hot days on the drill field, and all the while giving the impression she was enjoying the honor.

Damn, where has the time gone?

We wore red and white beanies, swallowed goldfish, got covered with cornmeal and molasses while guarding the girl’s dorm, and adored Pat Norman.

We had black paratrooper boots with white parachute cord laces, chrome helmets and white uniforms, drill meet trips in broken down buses, and dances with Pat Norman.

Damn, where has the time gone?

We endured hell week, relaxed at spring formals, conducted panty raids, skipped classes, learned to spit shine shoes, and daydreamed about Pat Norman.

We built floats with chicken wire and napkins, went to Wednesday chapel, drank beer at Beech Bend, ordered white mums with red “W”s, and thought wistfully of Pat Norman.

Damn, where has the time gone?

We kept a good supply of Brasso, attended Caravan of Stars concerts, listened (sort of) to Captain Westlake, attended the Tangerine Bowl, and ogled Pat Norman.

We had crew cut hair, ironed military creases in our shirts, ate at the Goal Post Restaurant, wore cardigan sweaters, and one of us in particular fantasized about a date with Pat Norman.

Damn, where has the time gone?

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Introduction

When we look back to the 1960s, a time when we were a bunch of callow young fellows with our entire lives before us, most of us did not have a clue as to what we were about to face. Immediately after college many of our brothers went into military service, some off to fight a war, and some made the supreme sacrifice. Others began civilian life and merged into the mainstream of society. During this time, our nation was in a state of upheaval and change. Race riots erupted in many cities, war protests disrupted college campuses, political assassinations shocked the nation, and a general discontent prevailed throughout the country. These events touched each of our lives and colored our futures in some way.

In 2006, as the first reunion of our fraternity approached, we anticipated with great excitement and nostalgia renewing the bonds that we forged at a young age. We were curious to learn about the lives of the brothers with whom we had shared a special time. How much would we remember after not seeing one another for more than forty years? Excitement built as each brother “reported for duty” via a telephone call or email, offering a sense that time had stood still since those long ago collegiate days. Reflective comments, reports, and questions resonated throughout the long-distance conversations:

Also, constant queries searched what each remembered about those “olden days.” Some doubted their own recall abilities and indicated that nametags would be a must for the first reunion, unless a “who am I” guessing game was the goal.

Many of the brothers brought to the reunion items of memorabilia from their college days as well as their military careers, first for “show and tell” and then as donations to the Kentucky Museum located on Western’s campus. The mementoes included pledge plaques, demerit books, photographs, and an 8mm movie, all of which elicited memories of our experiences during pledge initiation: spit shining shoes, polishing belt buckles (remember the Brasso?), running errands for members (maybe following orders is a better phrase), making sure all signatures were in our pledge books, and surviving that final “hell night.” Our comradeship had blossomed those many years ago when we first wore the blue and white cord that signified our final acceptance into the brotherhood. Wearing our black paratrooper boots with special parachute cord lacing and black helmets sporting gold lightning bolts, we marched in the homecoming parade to the cheers of spectators. What pride we held for our country and our newly developed “band of brothers”! These recollections were just some of the memories that raced through our minds forty years afterwards as we remembered a time now long past. We were once again fraternity brothers, minus navy blazers, Weejuns, English Leather cologne, and Madras, and now also with less hair, larger waistlines, and grandfather faces.

Through the combined efforts of Sandy Carneal and Mike Meuth, the first reunion in Bowling Green in 2006 proved to be a resounding success. It had begun several months earlier when Sandy, deep into a “happy hour” mode and feeling nostalgic, began contemplating the possibility of a reunion of Company B-3 of the Western Kentucky University Pershing Rifle fraternity of the 1960s. The first and most formidable obstacle would be to contact as many of the brothers as possible. Because we had not maintained communication through the intervening years, this task would not be an easy one. Sandy made numerous phone calls, then sent emails, and the list began to grow. Perhaps the reunion that had started only as a thought would turn into a reality. However, before that realization, others would need to become involved in the endeavor. So Sandy contacted Mike and the effort moved into high gear. As Sandy continued to locate long lost buddies, Mike began to take on some of the logistical aspects needed to make the event a success. He contacted hotels in Bowling Green and enlisted the assistance of fellow PR and Bowling Green resident Sam Hall to help coordinate the Saturday night activities at a local restaurant.

Although the reunion was no spring formal with the general rowdiness that accompanied those affairs, attendees did consume several beers, as well as a few bottles of wine and participated in considerable backslapping and hearty laughter. To quote Mike Meuth:

The second reunion in 2007 neared with great anticipation of again seeing those from the first reunion and the excitement of reacquainting with others attending for the first time. This year’s inclusion of the Rebelettes also heightened the anticipation. Sandy Carneal urged, “If you are ever going to make one of the reunions, this is the one.” By now word had spread about how much fun the first reunion had been and the list of contacts had grown, so the number of attendees for the second reunion grew to nearly forty brothers and their wives, plus several Rebelettes. The reunion was again held in Bowling Green with the Holiday Inn Plaza as headquarters. As the brothers reported in, conversations continued from the previous reunion as if no time had intervened and, with the arrival of a brother not at the first reunion, a new round of hugs, backslaps, and exclamations of excitement punctuated the atmosphere. The reacquainting continued Friday night at a casual dinner, and the next day the group toured Western’s campus and the Kentucky Library and Museum, which is amassing a collection of Pershing Rifle memorabilia.

The highlight of the second reunion was the dinner Saturday night at the 440 Main Street Restaurant in downtown Bowling Green. The night’s festivities began with a happy hour, when everyone enjoyed reminiscing, reacquainting with brothers, and enjoying liquid refreshments. In fact, it was an atmosphere not so different from those gatherings many years ago at some fraternity function. As the night progressed, each brother and Rebellette was encouraged to take the microphone to share some memory. Several of the group took advantage of the invitation and gave humorous accounts of incidents from college days that had everyone reeling with laughter. Ron Dillard, Ken Scott, and Ron Nunn’s rollicking remembrances of the “Mayflower,” Tom Lewman’s rescue from the law as verified by Bill Pearson’s mother, who was in attendance, and Carol Dillard’s Rebelette reminiscences were highlights, but perhaps it was Bill Mize’s recollections of David Mackey that stole the show. The group also enjoyed a short drill routine by the Rebelettes with Ron Dillard again as the drillmaster

As the evening and the second reunion came to a close, speculation arose regarding the date and location of the next such gathering, with no decision made. So we parted, not knowing when or where we would meet again—but knowing for certain that we would.