Welcome

50th Company

  

50th Company Infantry OCS

OC 24-69 “ First and  Best”


Click Here for Audio:   https://vimeo.com/420771833 


On August 1, 1969, 161 out of the original complement of OCS 224 “candidates” (as we were called) graduated from the rigorous six-month Officer Candidate School program at Fort Benning, Georgia and sallied forth as newly minted Second Lieutenants. The training was designed to place the candidates under intense psychological, emotional and physical pressure, and included a challenging academic component. It changed our lives profoundly.  After OCS, we disbursed and headed out to stateside assignments before heading overseas, mostly to Southeast Asia, but also to Korea, Germany, and elsewhere.  We then scattered further and set off on the rest of our lives.  Some remained in the military, but most  chose an amazing variety of civilian careers. We lost contact and our memories of each other, and of 50thCompany OCS, faded. 


Thanks to the magic of the internet and the dogged effort of a few members, we were able to locate and reconnect with most of the Company and had our first reunion in 2017 at Fort Benning. The bonding of members and spouses was instantaneous and powerful. A second wonderful reunion in Washington DC two years later built on friendships established at the first gathering. 


This website tells our story and serves as a repository for 50th Company OCS memories. The intent is to inform and entertain us and, when we are gone, future generations. It contains narratives (largely drawn from our publication, The Men of 50thCompany), after action reports for our reunions, photos, videos, OCS documents, personal musings, and much more. The focus is on the intense OCS experience itself and how it influenced our lives as individuals. We invite 50th Company members, their families and friends, and anyone else curious about OCS in the late Sixties to take some time to explore and enjoy what we have included in the site.  

Current Events

 

Welcome to the 50th Company OCS Current Events Page


This is where we will post a variety of current discussions and plans for 50th Company.  The Company’s ad hoc leadership group (fifteen or so active members) “meets” via Zoom calls on the second Monday of each month. The minutes of these meetings are written up by our current leader (Lou Lallo) and sent out to the group. We will post these on this site, to help keep our 50th Company classmates informed on current events. 

If there are any 50th Company classmates who would like to become more involved in 50th Company activities, we would be delighted to hear from you.  Just send an email to the following address:  50thcompanyocs@gmail.com

 

Lou's Monthly Message

December 2025 AT EASE




Thanksgiving 2025

Veterans Day Message 2025

 


Dear Classmates:

This is my fourth year of sending Veterans Day messages to you.   Quite frankly, I have run out of things to say except that I really like this holiday because we get to share a knowing look, a hand shake and a salute with other veterans.  To me it is a day of bonding with each other and other vets who have pledged their lives to ensure our way of life.  I don't really care about all the people who give the obligatory "thank you for your service".  I just care about my family knowing what I did and sharing the day with fellow soldiers.  As you watch parades (or march in them), go to pancake breakfasts or other ceremonies remember to stand tall, shake a veteran's hand and give them a salute.  Remember, we may not have been the greatest generation but we sure as heck were the best that our generation had to offer.

I salute you all and will be thinking of you on OUR day.

Lou Lallo

Memorial Day Message 2025

 

Dear Classmates:

As we enjoy the Memorial Day Holiday, let us reflect on all the brave soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice in wars throughout our country's history.  Especially the memories of our own classmates, Jim DuPont and Tom Edgren, who we will never forget.  Also, this year let's reflect on all of our classmates as well as soldiers from all wars who suffered combat injuries, lasting effects from Agent Orange and other chemicals, and psychological effects that will never go away.  This year when you are enjoying your holiday barbecues please join me in a silent salute to all our fellow soldiers who gave so much.

Lou Lallo

 

Remembering V-E Day 2025

Greetings 50th Company


As we enter the week of goodwill cheer I feel as if we got a head start on it because of our renewed 50th Company  friendships.  I feel as if everyday has been a gift since we started getting back together seven years ago. Let's hope and pray that the rest of the country and world  can share the same level of goodwill and fellowship as we have experienced.


From my family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.


Lou and Suzie Lallo

Merry Christmas from Lou, Mike , and Steve

Vietnam Veterans Day 2024


Hello 50th Company:

Did you know that March 29 is officially designated as Vietnam Veteran's Day?  I have to confess that until last year I didn't know that there was such a thing.  Kind of says something about the public's appreciation for the disruption in life that we all experienced in those days.  Personally, I think the official name of the day should be Vietnam ERA Veteran's Day.  No matter where we served we still turned our lives over to the "green machine" to do with us as they wanted.  If you are like me, you probably haven't had many non-military people recognize or understand your sacrifices during those stressful years.   It is up to us to recognize each other's service.  So, to all of you, it has been my distinct honor and privilege to go through those times with you.  Thank you for your service!


Lou Lallo

 

Memorial Day Remembrances 2023

 

If you are like me, I always kind of cringe when non-military people wish me a Happy Memorial Day.  While it is a day off from work and a BBQ for "civilians"  it is not, and shouldn't be, a happy day for those of us who lost friends and comrades at a very young age.  This year, rather than try to say something poignant for a message, I asked our 50th Company Chaplain, Mike Eberhardt to lead us in a nondenominational prayer of remembrance.  

Lou Lallo

Veterans Day 2023

 

 

Once again, we are observing my favorite holiday.  For me, Veterans Day has a special  meaning.  First, the country gets to thank all soldiers, living and departed, for their service and sacrifices.  I love the way some of our classmates participate in the ceremonies.  Even more importantly to me, it is a day when veterans get to salute each other, knowingly look into each other’s eyes, and silently share thoughts of our own service to country.

At our Kansas City reunion, Brian Flora gave a short presentation to remind us of what the late 1960s were like.  Not many of us truly understood the war; we didn’t want to go; and we darn sure weren't looking to get ourselves injured or killed.  But we still stepped up and did our duty!

It seems like tumultuous times and conflict in the world have become the new normal, and we are going through yet another very tense and scary period.  Your experience and insights can help the younger generations get through it.  If you haven’t already done so, do your kids and grandkids a favor and tell them what it was like back in the day when you became of age.  Reassure them and tell them to stay strong. 

I salute you all and thank you for your service.  

Happy Veterans Day!

Sincerely, Lou Lallo

    The Lifer by Brian Walrath

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