“The Best Healing Is Reunion With Peers”: The Story of First Platoon

SSG Thomas Kaulukukui served as a Platoon Sergeant in 1st Platoon, A Company, 3rd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam. He left the Army in 1970. In 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., and SSG K began wondering “what happened to my Platoon?” In the days before the internet, searching for former platoon members was arduous, but he pulled out his little green notebook and began doing research. By 1985, he had reassembled his troops and the veterans held their first reunion. They have reunited every two years since 1985, and now also meet to celebrate life events, which unfortunately is increasingly becoming attending funerals and supporting surviving family members of the platoon. This is the story of their platoon. Back Row: Thomas Kaulukuki, Ken Hammock, David Wright, Joe Ryan, Dale “Boy” Roth Front Row: Carmelo Adame (and wife), Robert “Doc” Moore, Dave Rhoades, Bill Bacon, Alex “Crash” Sahaheen