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Officers Of The Organization

The" Pleiku MP Association" was incorporated January 26, 1998, by the Internal Revenue Service per Section 501(c), (19) as the "Pleiku MP Association Incorporated." It is a tax-exempt, non-profit Organization, for members who served honorably with Co. B 504th Military Police Battalion in Pleiku, and its detachments, during its tour of duty in The Republic of Vietnam.

Creation of the association was originally the idea of Karl Klink and Don Peyton, who set out to find men who served with Company B in Pleiku and who shared the same experiences. In 1986, Karl and Don, along with others they had found - Richard Walkup and Vernon Park, started a campaign to find more members through ads in Veterans magazines and other publications. The first roster contained about fifty names and possible addresses, which had been obtained from mostly unreadable files in St. Louis.

The first of what would become an annual reunion of the Association was held in New Orleans in October 1987.  In attendance were Karl Klink, Vernon Park, Stanley Nelms, Fred Dickens, Don Mason and Bob Fowler. This initial meeting set the standard of camaraderie and friendship through the viewing of old pictures, slides and movies. The attendees were excited to see each other and talk about the "old days", a time that everyone understood and could relate to.

In 1988, the Association met in Las Vegas. Six members attended that reunion as the roster grew slowly.  Eleven members attended the 1989 reunion in Nashville.  Subsequent reunions steadily increased in attendance as the roster grew. Although the 1990 meeting in Philadelphia had only six attendees, San Francisco 1991, Atlanta 1992, Memphis 1993, and Seattle 1994 saw a marked increase in attendance and membership. Alexandria 1995 saw the largest increase in first timers in attendance, due mainly to a march to The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, where the group presented a small memorial tribute.

Las Vegas 1996 and Williamsburg 1997 continued to draw first timers as the roster expanded. The 1997 meeting was the start of the incorporation process and the adoption of a dues schedule. Louisville 1998 witnessed the biggest changes of the Association. In 1998, the Association was incorporated as a tax-exempt organization through the efforts of Vernon Park. A board of officers was elected to comply with the incorporation process. Karl Klink was elected President, Vernon Park as Vice President, Mike Little as Secretary, and Ron Sledge as Treasurer. "Operation Rice Lift" was also adopted as a charitable program of the Association. Also implemented was the semi-annual newsletter sent out to each member with news, updates and informational items of interest to the membership.

San Francisco 1999 introduced Certificates of Achievement and Appreciation to members who have distinguished themselves professionally and who have brought credit to the Association. Savannah 2000, the "Mother of All Reunions", was the largest attendance. It was the first reunion where the membership was invited to Ft Stewart GA by the Provost Marshal to observe Military Police operations in use today. The same operations had been tested by the Military Police in Vietnam. Planning also began for an Association Web site.

St Louis 2001 was well attended despite the 9/11/01 terrorist attack on our country. Those in attendance were not to be intimidated by the cowardly acts four weeks earlier. A Resolution showing support to our President, our elected Representatives and our Comrades-in-Arms was signed by those present and forwarded to the White House and also to the Commander of the 504th MP Battalion and the Commander of the Military Police School. A "Return to the Wall" at "Alexandria 2002" was the highlight of the reunion, as were the White House and the Pentagon tours. Bringing the Association into the 21st Century is the implementation of the Pleiku MP Association Web site, designed by Vicki Goldbach.  To date, the roster contains more than 233 names and continues to grow.

As the Association prepares for "Cocoa Beach 2008" and future reunions, the members hope that the history of the Association will continue to prosper, the friendships survive, the memories never fade and that the members continue to serve and help those in need.