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Meet Dick Gallmeyer
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Dick Gallmeyer is a Korean War veteran who lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He served with the 3rd
Infantry Division, 58th Field Artillery Battalion in Korea in 1952-53. In 1994 he was in the hospital
recovering from a cerebral hemorrhage and two major surgeries. By the next year he was coordinating a
reunion of veterans in which over 1,000 participated. He was also well on the way to having one of the
largest databases of lists of Korean War veterans in the United States.
During his stay in the hospital, he began to browse through photographs he had acquired while in the service
during the Korean War. He vowed that once he was out of the hospital, he would find his old buddies.
That he did--and more. He developed a computerized registry that allows Korean War veterans to enter their
own information in Gallmeyer's records, as well as a way for other Korean War veterans to do what he did: find
their buddies.
Gallmeyer points out that, while each branch of the military has its own record-keeping system for personnel
records, most veterans don't know how to access them. To make matters worse, there was a fire in the
National Records office in St. Louis in the 1970s, and thousands of service records were destroyed.
Gallmeyer helps to fill in the gap of missing information by adding to his database seven days a week, ten hours
a day. With the push of a button, he can find a Korean War veteran by name or by unit--sometimes even if
the buddy trying to find that veteran doesn't even have a name to go by. During the war years, it was not
uncommon for buddies to call each other by nick names. Many times they never even knew the last names of
the guys they were serving with. And when they rotated back to the States, contact information was lost or
their old buddies have since moved to another state or location. The cross-referencing system that Dick
Gallmeyer developed can go around this problem.
Whenever it is financially possible (some veteran's magazines have advertising rates that go beyond his
budget), Dick advertises that his service is available at no cost to his fellow veterans. His ads state,
"This makes my life worthwhile. It's what keeps me going." Another thing that keeps him going is
assistance from other veterans who believe in Dick's cause. For instance, Donald Sutherland of Cathedral
City, California, has generated a long list of veterans to add to the database, and he attends the annual
reunions held in Nevada. But in spite of their efforts, as well as the efforts of hundreds of other
veterans who have provided names for Dick's database, it is estimated that some 600,000 veterans who served in
Korea during the Korean War are unaware of the existence of Dick Gallmeyer's valuable service. "Our goals
are (1) to find all Korean War veterans before they leave our earth, and (2) to extend an invitation to all
Korean War veterans and their families to attend our annual reunion." Details about the 12th annual
reunion are listed below.
On a personal note, Dick is a former professional bowler. He has recovered enough from his health
problems to bowl once a week. He also married Dee Kuehne, whom he met at a church singles dance that he
attended at the urging of a war buddy, last year. "She is someone who makes me feel alive again," Dick
says. And the honeymoon isn't over. Dick and Dee can frequently be found on the dance floor when he
isn't at his computer entering information into his ever-expanding database of Korean War veterans.
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Combat Buddy Locator Service
Retired M/Sgt. Richard R. Gallmeyer and his associates have found 29,486 Korean War veterans. Is the
buddy you are trying to find among them? His group, "The Korean War Veterans Reunion, Inc.", is searching
for everyone who has served on active duty from 1950 to 1953.
Providing the following information will help to facilitate the search for your combat buddy:
- Name
- Address
- Phone Number
- Unit Served
Please note that there are no fees charged to use this combat buddy locator service. Once you
provide the above information about yourself and at least partial information about the buddy you are trying to
locate, Dick Gallmeyer will mail a list of guys from your combat unit by name, address, phone number, and name
of unit. He will also do his best to search for and help you find your lost buddies.
This unique buddy locator service was originally funded entirely by Dick. He still funds the service,
but now he has a little help from funds that are left over from the annual reunions. After the cost of the
dinner dance and other reunion expenses are paid, 100% of the remainder goes toward the buddy locator services.
In addition, occasional donations of $5, $10, $25 or more are given by buddies who have found the locator
service helpful. All donations are appreciated and really do help out, but they are not a prerequisite in order
to receive Dick's help in finding your combat buddy.
Pass the Word Along...
Please notify every person you know who was on active duty between 1950-1953 about registering with us or
finding their existing combat buddies. As we have mentioned, thousands of Korean War veterans are not yet
aware that this free service is available to them just for the asking. You can write or call in to us (see
contact information below) or you can submit the above information to us via e-mail to
Dick Gallmeyer.
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14th Annual National Reunion
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When: September 29-October 2, 2008
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Where: Tropicana Express Hotel/Casino, Laughlin, Nevada
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Contact: Korean War Veterans Reunion, Inc., 1125 Evert Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464-5007; ph. Dick
Gallmeyer at 1-800-523-4717 or e-mail msg1gal@aol.com.
Registration and Events:
- Registration fee for EACH person - $30.00
- Welcome Breakfast Buffet per person - $20.00
- Dinner/Dance per person - $35.00
Schedule of Events:
- Monday, 29 September
- Check-In - Those pre-registered will receive their handouts, which include: magazine, calendar, name
badges, tickets, and information about the latest events. Walk-ins will fill out registration forms
and request events available.
- Social Evening (6-11 p.m.) - There will be entertainment and the media is invited to meet Korean War
veterans, "Our Combat Buddies."
- Tuesday, 30 September
- Welcome Breakfast (8:30-10 a.m.) - Breakfast is held in the hotel's Veteran Pavilion. Only 400
tickets available.
- Displays of artifacts and sale items. 18,850 names, addresses, units served on display. Turn
in names of buddies you are looking for and info of Korean War vets you know. We will mail them info
also.
- Wednesday, 1 October
- Auction (1-3 p.m.): There will be an auction of many valuable items. You bring in the items
you want to donate: TV's (small), art work, personnel items, tools, and much more. The funds will help
continue our mailing out to veterans and also help in our search for finding "Our Combat Buddies."
- Social Hour before Dinner (6-7 p.m.)
- Sit Down Dinner (7-8 p.m.)
- Honors, Entertainment, Music and Dancing (7-8 p.m.)
- Thursday, 2 October
- Memorial Services (10 a.m.) - Remembering all our long lost brothers and sisters. This is the last
formal event of our 14th National Reunion.
Features:
- Tropicana Express Hotel Casino (formerly Ramada Express) caters to the mature traveler with an adult tower
as part of their beautiful, newly-renovated, nearly 1,500 rooms. VIP check-in, casino, live
entertainment, and nightclub. There's a lot to see and do: railroad memorabilia train rides,
award-winning dining at the Steakhouse, Passaggio Italian Gardens, soul Mexican Grill plus a buffet and a
24-hour cafe.
- 400 rooms available for $20.00 per night plus tax. Make your reservations ASAP.
- Budget Rent-a-Car discount at the airport in Las Vegas. We have been given the code of: BCD#089723.
This must be presented. Call 1-800-722-3773 for reservations also.
- Free Shuttle to Mall - Daily as Needed
- Free Entertainment - Caboose Lounge - Swing & Contemporary
- Gaming - Slots, Video Poker, Keno, Table Games
- Tours - 12 various tours available at hotel
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