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Spring Chapter Meeting

Smithfield, North Carolina
18 - 20 March 2005

Smithfield, North Carolina once had only two things going for it. A really famous Smithfield Ham and the large, well equipped shopping mall a couple of miles north of the thriving metropolis. Before this weekend would end, it would join that elite group of towns and villages that share the experience, the thrill of a lifetime, of hosting a Chapter 33 quarterly meeting. Members from this Special Forces Association Chapter would soon descend upon this quaint village for their Spring Meeting. The Sleep Inn (for better or for worse) was designated as our base of operations for this event. Couple this event with the upcoming re-enactment of the 140th Anniversary of the Bentonville Battle and, voila, the Perfect Storm !

Smithfield is about fifty miles north of Fort Bragg and about thirty-five miles east of Raleigh. Some members, those who lived points west, north and south of Smithfield, decided to make the journey a day early so they could partake in some of the refinements of Fort Bragg, Brag Blvd and Raleigh. The main body of troops, however, arrived on Friday, 18 March 2005. And you really lucked out, James. Not only was there no water in the pool (again), but the temperature was above freezing... nice dreams...

The Sleep Inn was perfectly situated for our purposes. Not only was the MegaMall of North Carolina only a few hundred yards from the front door, but there was also a Bob Evans (I thought they had all closed) and an Outback Steak house between the Mall and the front door of our Inn. If weren't enough to fill your eating needs, there was also a Cracker Barrel within the confines of the MegaMall of North Carolina and a couple of Mexican restaurants only a few hundred yards away.

Once again, the troops and their ladies moved into the Forward Observation Base--- the Sleep Inn ---for a few days of rest and relaxation. The hospitality room was well stocked with all the liquid refreshments that befit the requirements and tastes of those members of Chapter 33. Those items on the bar are for the high-born, those items under the bar are more fitting for the low-born. In addition to the liquid refreshments, there were tables and tables of finger food, sandwiches, nuts and dips and even a Panamanian delicacy...Empenadas. As Bobby would say, with all this chow, who needed the Outback, Bob Evens and Cracker Barrel ?

And we partied into the wee, wee hours of the morning.

As is the custom, Saturday morning dawned early. For some ungodly reason, Saturday mornings always dawn early when you're having so much fun the night before. For some of us Saturday came earlier than usual. Some of us had barely laid our heads down for a few zzzzzz's when it was time to get up. I, your lowly correspondent and story-teller, could definitely be included among that select group. I was off to Bob Evans for a hearty breakfast at 0930 when someone mentioned the chapter meeting was to be held at 1000 hours. The change from our normal 1400 hour meeting time was to accommodate the troops that wanted to venture out into the wilds and relive the life and times of 19 - 20 March 1865. I needed breakfast more than I needed the meeting so I was a few moments late.

With the meeting under our belts, we sat about doing what we do best...shooting the bull and telling more war stories. What can I tell you? Most attendees at our meetings had served in the military when Washington crossed the Delaware so you can well imagine the tone of some of those war stories. But we had to have something to do besides drink Alabama Tea and eat the crumpets until 1200 hours.

Twelve O'clock High!

The ladies, for the most part, had departed the premises early on so as to get a leg up on the shoppers that would flood the mall by noon. Some of us had decided to see how the troops lived way back on 19-21 March, 1865. We wanted to take in the sights and sounds of the Battle of Bentonville.

On 19-21 March, 1865, eighty thousand men met head on in what would become the largest battle fought on North Carolina soil. Sherman, with sixty thousand Union troops (the Yankees), and General Joseph Johnston, with twenty thousand Confederate troops, fought for three days. General Johnston wanted to stop the Union Army from reaching the railhead in Goldsboro. Johnston's initial offense surprised Sherman and his troops (the Yankees), but the surprise was short lived. The Confederates fought gallantly but were outnumbered some 3 to 1 and were soon overwhelmed and the door to Goldsboro was flung open. The great battle was overshadowed by Lee's surrender at Appomattox on 9 April 1865.

Every five years, the lads don their uniforms and re-enact this famous engagement. This Saturday would be the 140th Anniversary of that battle. We, along with about forty thousand (I've been known to exaggerate some)other people, decided to visit the encampments and view the battle field one more time. Just once, though, I'd like to see the South win one of these fights. The Union troops were surrounded and I thought for sure the South was going to rise again, but at the last moment the superior fire power and the numerically superior Union forces took the day---again.

Dinner was served at 1830 sharp. The tables were cleared and Woody and Wanda were directed to the back table where they could open the wedding gifts the members had donated. We all knew they weren't going to be married until the following month but this was our Chapter meeting and so they got to enjoy our gifts a couple of weeks early.

And then came the auction. Things went fast and furious for awhile but then everyone settled down into a "No-buy" mood. Talk about pulling teeth. You couldn't auction anything. Still the Chapter made about $850 on the evening. Thanks guys and gals. It could never happen without your help and participation.

A lot of pictures were taken at this event. I took a thousand, Bob Hines took a couple thousand and Bennie McDonald must have taken a million or more. They took so many pictures I figured I had to give them some credit so I've placed all the photos in a series of mosaics. This is my first attempt at this so you'll have to bear with me. And if you want to see if one of the Candid Camera guys caught you in an uncompromising pose, you can click on the link below

The Mosaics

P.S. Before I forget, the next meeting will be in Nashville during the National Convention. See you there.


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Copyright © 1994 Chapter XXXIII All rights Reserved.

The Larry Alan Thorne Special Forces
Memorial Chapter XXXIII Spring Meeting
was created 4 April 2005
and last update 3 April 2008