Happy Summer to everyone who's a member of our Cacti family.

It seems both really good and surprising that Summer is here so quickly, but it is. Skies are bluer and clearer; temperatures have risen to the point where we want to enjoy the air conditioning we might have available; and golf season has returned for those of us not blessed to be able to enjoy the game all year round. Summer has returned.

This year, 2020, has turned into a real bear of a year. The COVID 19 pandemic has just raised Hell with everyone and everything we once enjoyed. Regardless where it originated the disease hit the world and our country hard. It has managed to disrupt our life like nothing else. Government regulations on top of government regulations, work closures, travel restrictions, quarantines, and a host of additional changes have challenged Cacti in all 50 states to stay healthy. I personally hope we all are here to reunion with us in September 2021.

In case you've not heard the 2020 reunion has been postponed until next year. As difficult as this decision was I believe postponing the reunion is the right thing to do. The Reunion Committee has been hard at work ironing out the details so check the Association website to stay current with our plans.

So what's next for the 35th Regiment Association? We'll continue as we have been since our beginning in 1999. We'll keep searching for our Cacti veterans and offering them the opportunity to join us. (I'd like to see every living Cacti veteran and Active Cacti join the Association. It would be fantastic to see our numbers swell and to meet all these folks at future reunions.) We'll also administer the website; search out and record our history; administer our Health and Welfare and the Scholarship funds. In short we'll continue doing all the things we've been doing to keep our association viable and active.

I wish each and everyone of us an extremely healthy and happy Summertime this year. Stay safe and enjoy your families as much as possible. Until next time...

Mike Slyck
35th Infantry Regiment (CACTI) Association
President 2020/2021
Bravo 2/35 1969-197
Cacti Forever

"The Tigers of Mary Etta" by Joe Farmer

"Sayonara Frozen Korea" by Frank Dahl

Anyone interested in the history of the 35th Infantry Regiment can do no better than Jim Anderson's website "A Walk With the 35th". It is the most complete and comprehensive collection of documents, maps, logs, afteraction reports, and so much more, on the web.

The locations for all Vietnam KIAs are listed on the Map page linked below.

The 35th Infantry Regiment Association is saddened by the passing of our fellow Cacti LTC Thomas J. Blue USA (Retired). He will be sorely missed by his fellow Cacti from B Company, 1/35th. T.J. served in Vietnam from September 1966 to September 1967. He passed away peacefully on July 28, 2020 in Savannah, Georgia.

T.J. is survived by his wife, Carol. T.J's Obituary.

See photos of T.J.'s tour in Vietnam here .

On February 13, 2020, our Cacti Association friend and brother-in-arms Fred DeWitt passed away from a heart attack. Click the photo above to read an article about Fred from 2009.

On May 1, 2020 Cacti Rudy Berger celebrated his 90th birthday with a drive-by organized by his daugther Dianna and attended by our own Tom Gragg. Click the photo above for the whole story.

Membership in the 35th Infantry Regiment (Cacti) Association is open to all persons who now serve with, or previously served with the 35th Infantry Regiment, United States Army; provided they were honorably discharged.

You have earned the right. Join your brothers-in-arms and explore the history and traditions of the Cacti!

One of the benefits of membership in the Cacti Association is the Cacti Times. Click on the logo above to see a previous electronic version.

John Kelly Vietnam Photos

John Kelly, Vietnam 1968-69, shares his extensive library of photos complete with illuminating captions. Click the photo to go there.