Gamewardens History

From a December 18, 1968 Gamewardens of Vietnam Association Membership Roster, the following twelve individuals were identified as "Charter Members":

LCDR H.R. Brenneman
LT Cliff J. Clifton
LCDR Richard H. Coupe
BMC Grant E. Fuqua
CWO2 William E. Gambrell
BMC Paul A. Killeen
LT Richard Marcinko
CDR John R. Miller, Jr
LT H.J. Rhinebolt
LCDR Edward L. Schneider
LT Fernley R. Wagner, Jr
CAPT Burton B. Witham, Jr

The original objectives of Gamewardens of Vietnam Association were to:

1. Perpetuate the name of the Naval Task Force 116 known as Operation Gamewarden.

2. Continue those friendships commenced in Vietnam by those personnel who served in Task Force 116 (Operation Gamewarden).

3. Foster the security of our Nation by supporting all measures calculated to strengthen the Armed Forces of the United States and to support the Constitution of the United States of America.

4. Revere the memory of our shipmates who sacrificed their lives in Vietnam.

The first Reunion of Gamewardens of Vietnam Association was held in Norfolk, VA on 24 August, 1968.

Officers elected to serve at this meeting were:

President:     LCDR Edward L. Schneider
Vice President (East Coast):     SMC Glen A. Braden
Vice President (West Coast):     LCDR R.R. Cosgrove
Secretary/Treasurer:     YN1 John C. Williams

Board Members elected to serve at this meeting were:

Chairman:     Captain Burton B. Witham, Jr
Member:     LT Richard Marcinko
Member:     CWO2 William E. Gambrell
Member:     WO1 John Lewis

LT Cliff J. Clifton was certified by the Board of Directors as East Coast Vice President on August 19, 1969 as a result of an election.

Gamewardens of Vietnam Association was incorporated August 14, 1970 in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Past Presidents:

Edward L. Schneider
Cliff Clifton
Burton B. Witham
Richard H. Coupe
Al Van Horne
John Williams
Tom Thomson
Ken Kalish
Steve Watson

Current Officers:

As elected at National Reunion, August, 2006—Denver:

National President:

John Woody
Gamewardens of Vietnam Association
PO Box 701786
San Antonio, TX 78270
1 (866) 220-7477

Vice President (WC):

Jim Davy

Vice President (EC):

Vaughn Shuler

Secretary:

Charles Benninghoff

Treasurer:

Herb Stephan

Supply:

Larry Bissonnette

Newsletter:

W.W. Cater

Scholarships:

David Ajax

Executive Committee:

Gamewardens of Vietnam has an Executive Committee which is made up of all the National Officers listed above and local chapter Presidents:

Mid Atlantic Chapter:

Larry Weatherall

North East Chapter:

Ray Snow

North West Chapter:

Heinz Hickethier

South East Chapter:

Ron Laratta

West Coast Chapter:

Gene Glasco

Board of Directors: