Past Ripcord Reunions
Ripcord Association — Together Since 1986
Every year since 1986, the veterans of Firebase Ripcord and their families have gathered to remember, honor, and keep the brotherhood alive. What began as a small group of soldiers finding each other has grown into a family that spans the entire nation.
All 14 available reunion yearbooks — filled with portraits, group photos, and memories from each gathering — can be downloaded as PDFs from the Yearbooks page.
📚 View All Yearbooks →2025
📍 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Veterans group photo — 2025 Reunion
Ladies group photo — 2025 Reunion
A veteran and family holding a wartime photo from Firebase Ripcord — past and present
2024
📍 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Veterans group photo — 2024 Reunion
Ladies group photo — 2024 Reunion
2023
📍 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Veterans group photo — 2023 Reunion
Ladies group photo — 2023 Reunion
2022
📍 Springfield, Missouri
First reunion after two years cancelled due to COVID-19 — a joyful return for the brotherhood.
The packed banquet room — a joyful return after COVID
Veterans group photo — 2022 Reunion
Ladies group photo — 2022 Reunion
2021
Cancelled — COVID-19 Pandemic
Reunion not held due to the pandemic.
2020
Cancelled — COVID-19 Pandemic
Reunion not held due to the pandemic.
2019
📍 Springfield, Missouri
Veterans on the field at Hammons Field — their photo on the scoreboard!
Veterans group photo with grandchildren — 2019 Reunion
Ladies group photo — 2019 Reunion
2018
📍 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Veterans group photo — 2018 Reunion
Ladies group photo — 2018 Reunion
2017
📍 Laughlin, Nevada
Veterans group photo — 2017 Reunion
Ladies group photo — 2017 Reunion
2016
📍 Springfield, Missouri
Veterans group photo — 2016 Reunion
Ladies group photo — 2016 Reunion
2015
📍 Springfield, Missouri
Veterans group photo — 2015 Reunion
Ladies group photo — 2015 Reunion
2014
📍 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Veterans group photo — 2014 Reunion
Ladies group photo — 2014 Reunion
2013
📍 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Veterans group photo — 2013 Reunion
Ladies group photo — 2013 Reunion
2012
📍 Indianapolis, Indiana
Veterans group photo with 101st Airborne patch — 2012 Reunion
Ladies group photo — 2012 Reunion
2011
📍 Indianapolis, Indiana
Veterans group photo — 2011 Reunion
Ladies group photo — 2011 Reunion
2010
📍 Fort Worth, Texas
Veterans group photo — 2010 Reunion
Ladies group photo — 2010 Reunion
2009
📍 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
First reunion held in Myrtle Beach — a city that would become the permanent home of the Ripcord reunion.
2008
📍 Laughlin, Nevada
Veterans group photo — 2008 Reunion
Ladies group photo — 2008 Reunion
2007
📍 Springfield, Missouri
Photos not available for this reunion.
2006
📍 Charleston, South Carolina
Photos not available for this reunion.
2005
📍 Indianapolis, Indiana
Veterans group photo — 2005 Reunion
Ladies group photo — 2005 Reunion
2004
📍 Des Moines, Iowa
Outdoor group photo — 2004 Reunion
Award ceremony — 2004 Reunion
2003
📍 Charleston, South Carolina
Group photo with military flags — 2003 Reunion
2002
📍 Colorado Springs, Colorado
Photos not available for this reunion.
2001
📍 Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Photos not available for this reunion.
2000
📍 Shreveport, Louisiana
Chuck Norris with Ripcord veterans. His brother Weiland served in Alpha Company and was killed in the battle. Frank Marshall laid a wreath with Chuck’s mother in Weiland’s honor.
1999
📍 Savannah, Georgia
Group photo — 1999 Reunion, Savannah, GA
1998
📍 Atlantic City, New Jersey
Group photo — 1998 Reunion, Atlantic City, NJ
1997
📍 Mobile, Alabama
Photos not available for this reunion.
1996
📍 Fredericksburg, Virginia
Photos not available for this reunion.
1995
📍 Golden, Colorado
Reunions resumed after a gap — organized by John Mihalko. Photos not available.
1987
📍 Washington, D.C.
Second reunion. General Berry and General Harrison attended. The highlight was an emotional visit to The Wall — the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Reunions were not held from 1988 through 1994 as the association was still growing and finding its members.
★ The First Reunion
1986
📍 Whippany, New Jersey — Where It All Began
Organized by John Mihalko, Chip Collins, Chuck Hawkins, and Frank Marshall at VFW Post 5351 in Whippany, NJ. Thirteen veterans attended: Ray Blackman, Fred Behrens, Rick Blythe, Dick Cable, Chip Collins, Jim Fairhall, Chuck Hawkins, Bill Heath, Frank Marshall, John Mihalko, John Sherba, Tom Sheppard, and George Westervelt. From this modest beginning, an annual brotherhood was born.
The very first Ripcord Association reunion — Whippany, NJ, 1986. A small group of brothers finding each other again.
🌏 Where We Have Gathered — Reunion Cities
8
Myrtle Beach, SC
2009, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2023, 2024, 2025 + 2026 upcoming
5
Springfield, MO
2007, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2022
3
Indianapolis, IN
2005, 2011, 2012
2
Charleston, SC
2003, 2006
2
Laughlin, NV
2008, 2017
2
Colorado
Golden 1995 • Colorado Springs 2002
1
Fort Worth, TX
2010
1
Atlantic City, NJ
1998
Other Cities
Washington DC • Whippany NJ • Fredericksburg VA • Mobile AL • Savannah GA • Shreveport LA • Carlisle PA • Des Moines IA