In the years following Korea, former Dog Company Marines met in small, scattered gatherings throughout the nation. A select few of Lt. Paul Mullaney's 1st Platoon gathered in or around Marlboro, Mass. on several occasions. Col. Al Mackin, former CO of Dog Company, maintained contact with several Marines in his "outfit" and in response to a letter from Al, nine former D Company Marines and their wives managed to get together in Kansas City, Mo. during a 1st Marine Division Assn gathering there.

Seven former Dog Company Marines managed to find each other, thanks to a notice posted by Al Bradshaw, at the first gathering of the Chosin Few in San Diego in 1985.

And, through the efforts of "Friend of Marines", Peter Mozzone, a resident of East Taunton, Massachusetts (home town of D Company "Doc" and posthumous Medal of Honor recipient HN Richard DeWert, USN), to contact former Dog Company comrades of DeWert, connections were made and ...

If the post-Korean War years can be likened to an ash-heap of (truly "forgotten") history, there were obvious stirrings during them that gave birth to what "we" consider a unique brotherhood among many others so considered. In 1987, some 35 former D Company, 7th Marines gathered in Austin, Texas for the first ever reunion of Dog Company. The experience was such that all present promised to "do it again" .... soon.

The formal association "came to be" the following year in San Jose, Calif., our second reunion, where a board of directors was elected, Dog Seven Association was selected as the organization name and an agreement made to incorporate as a non-profit organization. Also approved, a reunion "next year", somewhere in the area of Boston, Massachusetts.

Since then, a reunion has been held each year and the membership rolls grew to number almost 850, a great many active and, sadly, many deceased and over 475 "inactive" for any of a number of reasons. The association mailing list last stood at just over 300, including about 80 Honorary and Associate Members, plus Friends of the association.

Planned future informal reunions have been posted on the Reunions page and a historical summary of all reunions, including a sampling of photos, can be accessed from there.

Each reunion seemed to exceed expectations and enjoyed a turnout at or slightly higher than the reunion previous. First time attendees, early on, numbered in the 6 to 10 range and observing that interaction was, as some might say, worth the price of admission. It was truly heartwarming.

The Association was and remains, if anything, a family. Old wartime and post-wartime bonds were re-established and strengthened, new bonds were created. And, while this camaraderie was always extremely special, it became decidedly subdued, for a few hours, at the traditional Saturday night banquets, which were dedicated to remembering our fallen brothers and those who had departed our unique "family".

It is worth noting that the three or four reunion days were increasingly extended by members arriving early and/or departing late and virtually all thinking ahead about the days that must pass before the next gathering.

The search for approximately 1000+ still missing former brothers has slowed to a virtual standstill due to various things ... we've gotten older and less able to do the necessary research. Now, of course, we no longer exist, so to speak. Thanks to the dedication of two members, one now deceased, almost 150 brothers were "found" between the 1995 and 1996 reunions. Efforts fell off for a brief time however new "recruiters" stepped into the breech, including one who has found over 100 former D Comany Marines in the year and a half following October 1999. But, the search continued. The fact that ten of 37 Smiths who served with D Company have been accounted for does suggest a certain dedication. Efforts today seem limited to scanning the TAPS/Memorium pages of the various military magazines and newsletters.

The experience of finding a brother who, seemingly, has been waiting to be found is one to be treasured. Occasionally our discovery was made too late and we were moved to wonder why things didn't come together, say, in 1977 or 1967 or even earlier. Such was not the case so we continued our determined search for our missing comrades. Our aim was, one day in the then not too distant future, to account for all who served with or were attached to D Company, 7th Marines in Korea, September 1950 though March 1955. We eagerly looked forward to being able to respond to the command, "Company .... Report!", with a resounding, "Dog Company, 7th Marines, Korea ... All Present or accounted For, Sir!".

Such was not to be.

Final business of the Association dealt with final official duties (the last Membership Directory, final Marine Bugle, etc.) and handing over the Association's treasury after outstanding expenses had been paid.

As early as the gathering in San Jose in 1988 and the birth of the Association, consideration had been to "what to do, when". Initial thoughts were given to the International Korean War Memorial in Los Angeles or, if that project had been paid off, to the First Marine Division Association.

Subsequent alternative suggestions were made in the ensuing years and the final decision to turn over assets to The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation was agreed to by the Board of Directors and put to a vote of the membership ending with the Dayton Reunion annual membership meeting. 87% of members voting affirmed the decisions.

And so, the story of Dog Company, Seventh Marines, Korea and the Dog Seven Association has drawn to a close.

It ... and we, will be remembered.