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SURVIVOROP Harry Survivors Association Newsletter

Editor’s NoteStumbling through Webster’s Dictionary we found

that the word “survivor” is derived from the Frenchword ‘suvivre’ and the Latin ‘supervivere’, “One who

remains alive or existent”.

After considerable thought and consultation withmembers of the Executive Committee we have decidedto name our Newsletter “SURVIVOR”.

When the last battle for that desolate “Death Place”,as it was called by our Greek Allies, was over, therewere many descriptive words we could and did use forthose who were left alive: Wounded, traumatized,unscathed, lucky, God’s answer to a prayer, MIA, POW-Except for the MIAs and POWs, whom we prayed hadsurvived, all the rest clearly qualified to be described by,the key word, SURVIVORS. Here is your newlynamed newsletter. We hope you like it and continue tocontribute your inputs (Text and Pictures) for inclusionin ‘SURVIVOR’. It’s your Newsletter.

Outpost Harry Documentary FilmBeing Planned

A documentary film crew will attend both OutpostHarry Survivors reunions in Des Moines, Iowa USA andin Gazi, Crete, Greece to interview all veterans who areprepared to archive their memories. More information onhow to participate in the interviews at either reunion willbe published at www.outpostharry.org and www.outpostharry.com

It will be very much appreciated if veterans who areattending either reunion can bring relevant photographswith them that may be used in the film documentary orpublished at www.outpostharry.com. Veterans who are

not attending either reunion may forward photographs tothe documentary production team for archive atwww.outpostharry.com. Details on how to do this will

be posted on the website. All original photographs willbe returned.

Greek Bn. Reunion Announced

Word on the OP Harry Documentary and the

following article were sent to us by Mike Pagomenos,

son of OPHSA member George Pagomenos [Ed.]

The first (and probably only) Greek Outpost HarrySurvivors reunion (Greek Expeditionary Force of theKorean War) will be held on Saturday 16th and Sunday17th September 2006 in Gazi, Heraklion Prefecture,Crete Greece. This will be 53 years and 3 months, to theday, that peter Company of Sparta Battalion walked ontoOP Harry

The local town hall is sponsoring the event byproviding a meeting place. A memorial service will beheld on Sunday at a small church called Saint Nicholasin Gazi.

It is appropriate that the memorial service takes placeat Saint Nicholas since the Greek Army Chaplain,Archimandrite Andreas, who conducted services for theGreek Expeditionary Force troops, re-established theOrthodox Church of Korea at Saint Nicholas in Seoul, in1953.

More information will soon be available about thisreunion at www.outpostharry.org including the itinerary

and hotel accommodations.

IN THIS ISSUEOP Harry Documentary Pg 1OP Harry Greek Reunion Pg 1Des Moines Reunion Data Pg 2Hotel Reservation Information Pg 3Driving Directions Pg 3President’s Corner Pg 4OPHSA Donors Pg 4Notes from the Chaplain Pg 5New Members Pg 5Markley Honored by Greek Commander Pg 6Tale of the Pipeline Pg7

April 2006 Issue 41

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OUTPOST HARRY SURVIVORSASSOCIATION FIFTEENTH

ANNUAL REUNION

June 15 ---18, 2006

Downtown Marriott Hotel700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309

Phone: 515-245-5500 Fax: 515-245-5504

TOLL FREE—(800) 514-4681

Check-in time: 4:00pm Check-out time: 12:Noon

Reunion Registration fee: Includes ThursdayWelcome Reception Heartland Buffet, Saturdayevening 6:00pm Home style Country Buffet andSunday Morning 8:00 am Farewell Breakfast Buffet. City and Museum bus tour scheduled FridayMorning at 8:00 am is an extra cost item, For detailssee the registration form on the last page of thisNewsletter.

Thursday Welcome Reception: June 15th:

6:00pm One hour Cocktail time (on your own) in

the Cedar Rapids/Council Bluffs Room, 3rd

Floor

REUNION SCHEDULE AND EVENTS

Thursday June 15th

Arrive at the Downtown Marriott. After check-in at thehotel visit the Outpost Harry registration desk to sign inand receive your check-in package.

6:00 PM Welcome Reception One hour Cocktail timeon your own in the Cedar Rapids/Council Bluffs Room,3rd Floor, followed by—7:00 PM Heartland Buffet (See menu elsewhere inthis newsletter and your reunion program.)

Friday June16th

8:30 AM Four hour City and Museum Tour. For tourdetails see “Tour Schedule” in this Newsletter and in thereunion program. Buses will arrive at the hotel atapproximately 1:00 PM. The afternoon and evening isfree time. Hospitality room will be open.

Saturday June 17

8:30AM to 9:00AM OPHSA Memorial Service in theCouncil Bluffs Room, 3rd Floor.9:15 to 10:00AM Reminiscences of Outpost Harry.Same location.10:15 AM to 12:00 Noon Members business meeting inthe Davenport Room, 3rd Floor10:15 AM to 12:00 Noon Ladies Session in theDubuque Room, 3rd Floor.12:00 Noon to 6:00 PM Free time. Hospitality Room isopen.6:00 PM to 11:00 PM Banquet Dinner in the SalonsABC Room, 2nd Floor. Quilt Raffle Drawing, 50:50Drawing and raffle of donated items.Our Dinner Speaker is our own Mr. Richard R. Kilgen.He has lectured in many venues on the history of theKorean War and OP Harry in particular.

Sunday June 18

8:00 AM to10:00 AM Farewell Breakfast Buffet in theDavenport/Dubuque Room, 3rd Floor.

Hospitality will be located in room 3108. Hours of

operation will be announced at the Welcome

Reception

The Outpost Harry Survivors staff and I highly

appreciate everyone for their attendance. We wish you a

safe journey home. We hope to see everyone next year

in Ft. Benning, Georgia, our home base.

“WE HELD”

Jerry Cunningham

Reunion Chairman

Thursday Reception, Heartland Buffet

Warm Whole Grain, Sourdough and Onion DillCheverney Rolls and Butter

Creamy Cabbage Slaw/Red Skin Potato Salad/FreshGreens with shredded Carrots, Diced Tomato, KernelCorn, Diced Cucumber with Iowa’s own Farm House

DressingBoneless Breast of Chicken with Roasted Garlic and

Tomatoes

Roasted Beef Brisket with Smokey Barbecue Salsa

Roasted Baby Potatoes with Bleu CheeseSauteed Zucchini, Mushrooms and Onions

Assorted Bars and BrowniesGourmet Bean Coffee, Decaf Coffee, Bigelow Tea, Milk

and Lemonade(Cont. next page.)

To register with OPHSA for the reunion pleaseuse the registration form. Send the filled out formto Martin Markley with your remittance. Newmembers or first time attendees be sure to checkthe provided box so we may have badges made upfor you. Meal tickets, bus tickets, badges andprogram and roster will be included in the check-in package you will receive upon arrival.

MENUS FOR ALL EVENTS

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Saturday Night Banquet, Homestyle Country Buffet

Fresh Garden Greens, Sliced Mushrooms, Diced Tomatoand Carrots, Mustard Potato Salad

Julienne Red Onion, Shredded Cheddar Cheese withBacon Ranch Dressing and a Tomato Vinaigrette.

Turnip and Cabbage SlawRoasted Beef Brisket with Chili Smoked Onions and

Spicy Tomato Jam

Homefried Chicken with Southern Cream Gravy

Cornmeal Breaded Catfish with a Four Onion Relish

Horseradish Whipped Potatoes/Turnip and CollaredGreens, Pinto Beans with Fried Okra

Buttermilk Biscuits and Sweet Cornbread with SweetButter and Sorghum

Peach and Blackberry BuckleGourmet Bean Coffee and Decaf Coffee, Bigelow Tea,

Milk and Lemonade.

Sunday Morning, Des Moines Breakfast Buffet

Squeezed Florida Orange Juice, Carafes of Tomato Juiceand Grapefruit Juice

Seasonal Fresh Fruit with Cottage CheeseFreshly Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Maple Cured

Bacon—Country Sausage LinksGriddled Potatoes—Freshly Baked Biscuits, Danish

Pasteries, Muffins and a Variety of BreadsSweet Butter and Berry Preserves.

Gourmet Bean Coffee, Decaf Coffee, Tea, Lemonadeand Milk

All members and guests who have booked the FridayMorning City and Museum tour will meet in the hotellobby at 8:30 AM. We will be formed into two groups toboard the buses at 8:45. Departure time is 9:00AM. Thetwo buses will take the same route but in oppositedirections, returning to the hotel at 1:00PM. The tour isfully narrated with stops at the Fort Des MoinesMemorial Museum, Iowa State Capitol Grounds and theIowa Gold Star Museum.

Des Moines Marriott Downtown Hotel

HOTEL RESERVATION INFORMATIONDes Moines Marriott Downtown Hotel

700 Grand Ave

Des Moines, IA 50309

(515) 245-5530 (Direct)

(800) 514-4681 (Toll Free)

As always, members are responsible for making

their own hotel reservations. Use the telephonenumbers listed above, being sure you referencemembership in the Outpost Harry Survivors Associationto ensure you get the special rate of $79.00 per night.

The reunion will take place on June 15th to June18th, 2006. The Hotel has extended the special rate fromJune 12th to June 20th for those who may want to arriveearly and leave late.

The Hotel is accepting reservations now. Thereis a cutoff date of May 18th for room reservations.Room availability is not guaranteed after that date.Make your plans and reservations N O W to avoiddisappointment.

If you plan to fly into Des Moines InternationalAirport, shuttle and taxi service is available. TheAirport is located about five miles southwest of theHotel.

If you plan to drive, detailed driving instructionsand a map to the Hotel follow.

From Airport: Turn left (north) onto Fleur Drive.Take Fleur Drive to Locust Street and turn right (east).Proceed on Locust Street to 6th Avenue and turn left. Goone block to Grand Avenue and turn left. The Hotel ison the cxorner of 7th and Grand Ave. Enter the Hotelparking on the south side of Grand Ave.

From I-235 Westbound: Take the 2nd and 3rd

Street exit. Turn left (south) onto 3rd St.. Follow 3rd St.south to Grand Ave. Take Grand Ave. to 7th Street. TheHotel entrance is just after 7th St. on the far side of GrandAve.

From I-235 Eastbound: Take the 7th Street exitand curve to the right onto 7th Street. Follow 7th Streetsouth staying in the far right lane. At Grand Ave. turnright (west) and get into the far left lane. The Hotelentrance is immediately on the left.

The Hotel has underground valet parking only, at$14.00 per day, flat rate. There are three large city-owned parking facilities within 1 block of the hotel withdaily rates not exceeding $9.00 per day. These garagesare free on the weekends beginning at 9:PM on Fridayand continuing through Monday morning.

A map of the central area of Des Moines for generallocation of the Hotel is on the next page.

CITY TOUR ITINERARY

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Location reference map. Hotel is the star in the

center

A Note About Des Moines & The WeatherDes Moines, the capital city of the state of Iowa has a

population of 198,682 and is at an altitude of 817’.Though the AAA tour book notes that ice fishing at

nearby Polk City is popular in the winter, averagetemperatures in June are highs of 83, lows of 61.

BAD NEWS & GOOD NEWSBad News First: We regret to inform you that Mrs.

Therese Park, the Korean-American author andmusician, who was to be our speaker at the banquet, hasregretfully withdrawn participation due to healthproblems. We thank her for her offer and wish her aspeedy recovery.

Good News Next: Richard Kilgen, one of our ownOPHSA members, has accepted an invitation to be our

speaker. Rich in recentyears earned a degree inh i s to ry f rom Eas tStroudsburg University. Hehas lectured on aspects ofthe Korean War on severaloccasions and beeninterviewed on the subjecton radio stations inPennsylvania.

His subject for hisspeech at our reunion willbe “Four Generals”, the

Generals who commanded the Eighth Army during theKorean War. Rich served in Korea in ‘D’ Co. of the 15th

Infantry Regiment, He speaks from the study of historyand the viewpoint of an Infantryman who didn’t gain hisknowledge of what War was like, from a book.

PRESIDENT’S CORNER With the 2006 Annual Reunion #15 coming aroundsoon, June 15th to 18th, in Des Moines, IA, I am lookingforward to meeting oncemore with old and new friends alike. Bring your pictures,stories, memories, maps, etc.to share and compare. Likethey say, "The more, themerrier!" If you have not checkedour website Guest Book in a while, do so. TheComments that are made are so "apropos" in saying howhelpful the site has been to them. Sort of gives theOPHSA another good reason for existing. Register early for all the good reasons! Support Our Troops!

WE HELD!

Claude Williams

WELCOME NEW MEMBERSWe have some new members to add to the roster this

quarter. Doug Jones has placed reunion notices in thevarious veterans’ magazines that have been findingqualified people who inquire about membership inOPHSA.

We wish to heartily welcome the following newmembers:

Edward J. Cleary lives in Olney, IL. Hisservice in the military put him into the 5th RCT, ‘L’ Co.

Jack B. Coffey is in Claremont, NC. Jackserved with ‘G’ Co of the 65th Regiment as well as in the15th Infantry in Korea.

Daniel A. McMonagle lives in Port Matilda,PA. He served with 15th Infantry Regiment, ’G’ Co.

Charles C. Sperow resides in Punta Gorda, FL.He was with 3d AAA AW Bn.

We hope you will all attend our 15th reunion in DesMoines, in June this year. The Association started witheleven survivors. Over the last 15 years we have foundover 200 veterans of the battles that we fought in Koreadefending that useless piece of real estate called OPHarry. We will never forget the price our lost andwounded comrades paid for our victory. We lookforward to meeting and greeting you in person.Our motto says it all- - - WE HELD!

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NOTES FROM THECHAPLAIN

Ed Hanrahan

During the winter Martin Markley informed me ofthe passing of Shirley Carlson, wife of the late Wayne

Carlson (Med. Co. 15th InfantryRegiment, 3 ID) Last fall wehad received a beautiful handmade thank you card, thankingus for the picture of the OPHSAMemorial Plaque. We will missthem dearly. A sympathy cardwas sent to the Carlson familyin January 2006.

Another sympathy card andOPHSA prayer card was sent tothe Freitas Family. (Edward

Freitas was with ‘G’ Co, 15th

Infantry Regiment)

Dorothea Weibel, wife of the late Paul Weibel (‘A’Co. 15th Infantry Regiment), sent us some great photocopies, 7 in all, of Paul and his Co. ‘A’ buddies, whichwill be on display at the OPHSA Memorial Service andthe Hospitality Room in Des Moines.

A thank you card was sent to us from Alice Tolen

who has moved into the new home she and her husbandDel Tolen (‘A’ Co. 5

th RCT) had planned to build

before his unexpected passing in 2004. Alice’s newaddress is Alice Tolen, 1224 Sunset Drive, Delta CO81416.

So far so good – No picture plaques have beenreturned that I sent out in 2005 which means that thefamilies of the deceased members have received them.

I received a note from Dr. Harry Lee who hopes toattend this year’s reunion in Des Moines.

This past winter I had the chance to spend some timewith OPHSA members Don Chase, Cora and Walden

Storie and Jane and Bob Grillo. After their departure Igot to thinking about all these renewed friendships,going back to over 53 years ago and how they gotstarted. GOD BLESS our OPHSA Founding Fathers forcreating this remarkable Association. Lord, we ask thatyou keep them and all our members in good health.

Please pray for all our military people, scattered in allparts of the World, especially in the Middle East.

Stay well, and see you in the ‘Heartland’ in June.

Ed Hanrahan

THANK YOU OPHSADONORS!

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Here is a list of members who have sent donationsto OPHSA since the end of September 2005. There maybe a few duplications in here but each name represents adonation.

As you know OPHSA does not levy dues. We arenot money hungry and use the funds received forfunding the publication of the “Survivor” and planningand funding for the upcoming reunion. There are someincidental expenses but the elected and appointed staffmembers receive no compensation for their efforts inOPHSA. As you all know, the greatest wealth derived fromthis Association is the comradeship we experience fromeach other at our reunions. We were all engaged in aseries of vital defensive battles fifty-three years ago inKorea. Our Association has been instrumental ineducating thousands of people about our little knownendeavors in winning those battles. Through theOPHSA Web Site and probably next year, a TVdocumentary, thousands, perhaps millions will bereminded about the sacrifices made by our comrades inthose bloody hills far away!

The list below includes a donation from oneindividual who enclosed a greenback with a note thatyour editor promptly lost.

Bob Brandon, Gene Forsberg, Cornelius

Hindall, Charales Herch, John Martin, Egan Fehnel,

Charles Trout, Joseph Manley, John Spencer,

Robert Bates, Chester Fudalla, Thomas Chilcott,

Clyde Shinault, Robert Baker, Mark Woods, Jim

Fields, Jim Evans, Joseph Kolgat, James Day,

Rankin Burchfield, Michelle Berg for her dad,

Paul Meyers, Lupe P. Carasco, Martin Markley,

Don R. Patton, Sam Buck, Charles Scott, Jim

Evans, Jerry Cunningham, Richard Martinet,

Ray Scherrman, Henry Flaack, Rich Kilgen,

Robert H Baker, Mark Woods, Claude Williams

and the unidentifiable cash donation. Thank you

all.

OP Harry Caps will be available for

purchase at the reunion as well as the OP

Harry Memorial Medal and the OPHSA

Emblem,(without ribbon)

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Markley Received Greek Award

Martin Markley, one of OPHSA’s founding fathers,received the honor of being awarded honorarymembership in the Greek Expeditionary Forces inKorea, by Lt. Col George Koumanakos.

Dated 15 Sept. 1953 The citation letter read: “It is adistinct pleasure to me to appoint Captain MartinMarkley, U. S. Army, an honorary member of the GreekExpeditionary Forces Battalion in acknowledgement ofhis services offered to this gallant unit.

The sincere co-operation of Captain Martin Markleyand his utmost contribution to the successfulaccomplishment of the missions assigned this Battalionare greatly appreciated by every Officer and Men of theGreek Expeditionary Forces and reflects great credit onhimself and the United States Army.

Effective this date, Captain Martin Markley, anhonorary member of the heroic GEF Bn. is entitled towear the “HELLENIC FORCES” Patch.”

Signed byKoumanakos George

Lt. Col. Inf.Commanding GEF Bn.

At the time this letter was written Martin Markleywas in a military hospital in Denver, Co. recoveringfrom the severe wounds he suffered defending OP Harryin June 1953. The letter was addressed to :Captain Martin Markley

Cheynne, Wyo. (sic)

U. S. of America

Martin’s records indicate that Cheyenne, WY was hishometown. Some anonymous USPS employee backthen did the right thing. The letter was eventuallyforwarded and delivered to Martin in Denver.

Paul Harvey would say, “That is the rest of thestory.” . . . .”

Then 1st Lt. Martin Markley near OP Dick with a

Greek officer Photo from M. Markley

Korean War. First for the U.N.

3rd Infantry Division put upon the support from smallcountries for the battle against international communism.

In Apr i l 1953 the d iv i s ion he ld a r ev iew a t Thestory of Martin Markley’s work with and for the GreekBattalion reminded us of the emphasis the Division HQcommemorating the founding of the UN in 1945. Atthat time the division had many ROK soldiers in theranks as well as the Greek and the Belgian Battalions.

A ROK Officer, the Commander of the Belgian Bn., Lt.

Col. George Koumanakos, Commander of the Greek

Bn, and 3rd

Infantry Division Commander Major

General George W. Smythe engage in a four way

handshake symbolizing the joint effort in the Korean

War. Photo by Jarboe

The UN Review at 3rd

ID HQ, April, 1953. The

Division Band on the far left ROK, Belgian, Greek and

American units in the division including a platoon of

the 5th

RCT that had been recently attached to the

division. The formation extended as far to the right as

to the left. The flags of all Nations represented are

massed in the center with unit flags behind. You will

note that it was hard to find a flat place in most of

Korea so even the Division Parade ground sloped

downhill! Photo by Jarboe

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Another ‘Pipeline’ TaleBy Jim Evans

OPHSA founding father, Jim Evans, has sent us

some pictures and his comments concerning his

pipeline trip from Japan to Korea. Many of us

followed the same track on our way to the Iron

Triangle, but he, as well as most of us, did not know

where he was going to wind up. This particular

Ranger knew he wanted to be in the middle of it.

He got his wish! (Ed.)

Here are a few pictures and comments about my tripto Korea from Japan in the fall of 1952.

This is the ship that took us from Japan to Pusan,Korea late August, 1952. This ship was a small freightercontracted to move troops, aided to the dock by a tug.

The view from the top deck of the ship. The hills aheadare in Korea in the area of Pusan. I took this picturefrom the top deck since it was not rolling as much asbelow. Or at least I could see the horizon and not getsick. (Another Officer and I tried to drink the Officers Club atGifu dry two nights before we left Japan. I guess weknew where we were going and wanted to have a lastfling.)

Made it to land and feeling better. Lt. Evans (left) andfriend whose name I cannot remember waiting to startthe trip to the replacement center. 2nd Lt Evans had nocomprehension as to what he was going to see and do. Ifhe had known, he would not be smiling.

Stopped at a train station during the ride from Pusan tothe replacement center. This is a picture of a boybegging. He had a very old baseball glove where hewould catch candy, etc., that we threw to him.He was dirty and had ragged clothes. There was a lot ofthis in Korea at that time. But because of what we did,Korea now has a beautiful country.

Since we did not have many working windows, the coalsmoke and dust blew in and covered us with coal dust.

All photos by Jim Evans

(Cont. next Pg)

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There were wooden seats in the passenger cars setclosely together. I slept on the floor since no one couldstretch out in the wooden seats. Somewhere during the

train ride I caught a terrible cold. I was “Sick LikeDawg” for a week.After being assigned to the 5th Infantry Regiment, 5th

Regimental Combat Team, I was given command of arifle platoon in Company A.. We were on the northernrim of an area called the “Punch Bowl”. The picture atleft is a view of the Bowl looking south from thenorthern rim.

It is approximately 15 miles across and took about 5hours to drive from where this picture was taken to theMASH hospital in the bottom of the Bowl. Fortunately,we had the helicopters to transport the seriouslywounded from our aid station not far from where I wasstanding.

Editor’s Post Script: The quality of the photo above shows that Jim

Evans was able to get a new camera! Since his recent

retirement, Jim has become very interested in digital

Photography.

This would not have been possible in the year it was

taken because the picture is a merge of four photos that

Jim took from the same position, never dreaming that, in

the future, he would have the ability to achieve this

composite image. Jim took a course in the use of the

computer software called Photoshop. It looks as though

he learned his lessons well.

In the spring of 1953 the 5th RCT was attached to

the Third Infantry Division. In June Jim Evans became

very well acquainted with another hill called OP Harry.

(Ed.)

OP Harry Quilt RaffleThe quilt was a real labor of Love by this lovely

lady. She put many hours of meticulous work into thisbeautiful, one of a kind, collector’s item. By the timeyou receive the Survivor you will have already receivedyour raffle tickets for the OP Harry Quilt made and

donated by CarolynFerrara.

Carolyn (lft) used astar motif with 16 starscommemorating theunits that served todefend OP Harry.

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OUTPOST HARRY REUNION 2006 REGISTRATION FORM

Member Full

Name:_______________________________________________Date___________________

Spouse Full

Name:______________________________________________________________________

Children Full

Name(s):_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Guest(s) Full

Name:_______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

( )Check here if this is your first Outpost Harry Survivors Reunion

Your Address:________________________________________________________________

City:______________________________State___________ZipCode____________________

Your unit during Defense of OP Harry:__________________________________

Reunion Fees:

NUMBER Cost Total

_____________ X $95.00 ea $_________Age 16 and above

_____________ X $50.00ea $_________Age 10 to 15

____________ X FREEAge 1 to 9

Des Moines City Tour

Age 16 and above ___________ X $15.00 ea $__________

Age 15 and below ___________ X FREE

Voluntary Donation (not required) $___________

Net Total $___________

Make checks payable to:

OP Harry Survivors

Association

Mail form, with registration fees andvoluntary donations to:

Martin Markley

1601 West Woodcrest Ave

Fullerton, CA 92833-4531