NEAH BAY — Four years ago, 369th Engineer Amphibious Support Regiment members held what they thought was their final reunion.
The late Ed Claplanhoo of Neah Bay, who had served with the regiment, said then he had a dream that a memorial would be celebrated with the veterans in Neah Bay.
On Saturday, Claplanhoo, who died March 14, was honored posthumously at the 60th anniversary of the reactivation of the unit for reserve status.
Other vets honored
Also remembered were two of Neah Bay’s last World War II veterans, John H. Ides Sr., who died July 21, and Bob Green Sr., who died June 21.
Forty-seven people came in by bus from Port Angeles, including 30 veterans and their spouses and relatives.
Prayers were led by the 369th’s serving chaplain, Bill House, and Neah Bay pastor James Kallappa, and taps was played at the Fort Nunez Gaona-Diah Veterans Park.
The group also had a traditional-style baked salmon dinner at the Makah Marina and toured the Makah Museum and Cultural Center.
Members of the 369th included veterans from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Montana, South Dakota and New York, who had been holding meetings since the unit was disbanded in 1953.
This is the fifth reunion of the 369th in the area.
The event was organized by Thelma Claplanhoo — Ed Claplanhoo’s widow — as well as veteran John Singhose and his wife, Lelah, of Port Angeles, and Kallappa and his wife, Jeanne.
Commenting on the fog, Thelma Claplanhoo said, “The weather is usually sunny, but this weekend they got the liquid sunshine.”
A Clallam County commissioners’ proclamation declaring Sept. 13-19 as a time to honor the 369th, was presented at the banquet.
Port Angeles Army recruiters provided “goodie bags” that contained hats, pens and name-tag lanyards for the veterans.
Ed Claplanhoo had designed the reunion hats, with a logo that included the 369th’s sea horse insignia.
Singhose said all the veterans who were available and able had come to the event, which is always held during the third weekend of September.
Based at Fort Warden and Fort Flagler, the 369th served in Korea, France and Greenland.
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Donna Barr is a freelance writer and photographer living in Clallam Bay.
