March 11 - 15, 2004

All Batteries Represented

From March 11 through March 15th 2004 the Alumni of the 6th Battalion (HAWK), 65th ADA celebrated their service by having a reunion in Key West, Florida. This was for some attendees the first time they had returned to their duty station in 40 years. Men representing all the HAWK batteries were present. Friendships were renewed and new friendships were made.

The Attendees were:

Jeffrey Barton
D Battery 1977-1978
Bob Campbell
B Battery 1970-1971
Rod Getsey
C Battery 1969-1970
Geoff Gooley
C Battery 1969-1970
Wes Guidry
C Battery 1969-1970

David Hinton
D Battery 1970-1971
Tom Lyons
C Battery 1964-1965
Jerry Rhyne
C Battery 1969-1970
HQ 1970-1971
C Battery 1972-1973
Frank Ronkowski
C Battery 1963-1964

Don Scanga
C Battery 1969-1970
Lowell St. Cyr
C Battery 1968-1969
B Battery 1971-1972
A Battery 1977
Headquarter 1978
Richard Whitt
HHB 1966
A Battery 1967

Thursday, March 11th we all met at 5 pm for our first evening together. We had been arriving at the NAS all day long and this would be our first time together as a group. Wes Guidry had things set up so a buffet was waiting. The reception started by the pool in the early evening and eventually ended up in the lounge after sunset.

The HAWK veterans posed by the pool.
From left to right:
Richard Whitt, Lowell St. Cyr,
Jerry Rhyne, Wes Guidry,
Geoff Gooley, Tom Lyons,
Jeff Barton and Frank Ronkowski.

The Ladies of HAWK present
were from left to right:
Audrey Ronkowski,
Lynne Rhyne,
Christa Whitt, Judy Guidry
and Karen Gooley

As the sun set, spirits rose. The pool side
was decorated with lights. We moved
out of the breeze and eventually
to the lounge.

After receiving a certificate of appreciation for our service at Alpha Battery and a tour of the new facilities Richard Clowns around with the unit commander and Sergeant Major.

Alpha Battery were Lowell St. Cyr, 1977, and Richard Whitt, 1967. We were welcomed back to the Alpha Battery site by the new tenants, Special Forces Underwater Operations School.

The certificate we were given shows the layout of what was
 Alpha Battery today. Nothing is left of the old HAWK
battery except one run down missile burm and the remains
of one radar tower base. The Special Forces Underwater
Operations School converted our old ready room into a
lounge and rec room. Everything else is new.

Bravo Battery Alumni are Lowell St. Cyr (Left) 1971
And Bob Campbell (Right) 1970-1971

Bravo Battery is now run by the Key West Police Department.
Note the antenna farm, it is the product of the FAA.

Bravo J-Box is overgrown with mangroves and the ponds are full of stagnant water.

This is a shot of one of the missile berms. That is Richard Whitt getting a look at the air port.

CWAR tower looms over J-Box standing in mangrove undergrowth.

Up range with generator shed in background. Assembly & Service was to the left.

Don Scanga, Geoff Gooley, Lowell St. Cyr, Rod Getsy, Jerry Rhyne, Wes Guidry and Tom Lyons.

Charlie  Battery is in the worse shape of any of the batteries.  It is completely overgrown and not maintained by any one.

The Bravo Illuminator tower stand silent among the Australian Pines.

The old A&S building  is a total mess. Apparently  it has been the home to hobos for years.

As usual, you can find everyone hanging around the guard shack. Just hanging out. We almost expected to see Jim Powell still standing there.

We all felt the spirit of Jim Powell there. Although not there in body, he was with us in spirit.

Jeff Barton

Richard Whitt

Christa Whitt

Lowell St. Cyr

Geoff Gooley

Karen Gooley

Bob Campbell

Jerry Rhyne

Rod Getsy

These shots were all taken as we
dined at the Geiger Key Marina
after visiting Charlie Battery.