Fort Benning, Georgia. - More than 600 Soldiers, civilians and family members, past and present, of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, gathered together Oct. 18 to 21 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Army Marksmanship Unit.

The Military Marksmanship Association - the alumni association of the Army Marksmanship Unit - conducted the festivities. The MMA Reunion honored the shooters and staff of the Army Marksmanship Unit and provided an opportunity for the shooters of the past to meet the new shooters of the present.

The high point of the Marksmanship Reunion was a 50th anniversary celebration banquet at the Columbus Trade and Convention Center. During the banquet, the Army Marksmanship Unit inducted six of its former members into the USAMU Hall of Fame. Inducted were Master Sgt. Erich Buljung, Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Dryke, Sgt. Maj. Emil Heugatter, Capt. Daniel Puckel, Col. Thomas J. Sharpe and Sgt. 1st Class Earl Waterman.

U.S. Army Accessions Command Commanding General Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp was the guest speaker; USAAC Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Dennis E. Rogers also attended. A special guest of honor was Dr. Olegario Vázquez Raña of Mexico, president of the International Shooting Sport Federation.

One of the highlights of the evening was the taking of a historic group photo as Van Antwerp, Rogers and Lt. Col. Gordon R. Roberts, the Army's only active duty Medal of Honor recipient, joined 11 current and former USAMU Olympic Medalists. This group represented 16 of the 21 Olympic medals earned by USAMU Soldiers.

The two current USAMU Olympic medalists, Maj. Michael E. Anti and Sgt. 1st Class James T. Graves, posed with nine former USAMU shooters -- Maj. Margaret L. Murdock, Maj. Lones W. Wigger Jr., Capt. Lanny R. Bassham, Capt. Wanda R. Jewell; Capt. John H. Writer, 1st Lt. Gary L. Anderson, 1st Lt. William Morris, Buljung and Dryke

Oct. 20, 23 former members of the Army Marksmanship Unit were inducted into their section Hall of Fame at a ceremony conducted at USAMU headquarters, Sharpe Hall. USAMU former commander retired Col. Lory M. Johnson was the guest speaker.

Inducted were: 1st Lt. Joe A. Deckert, Lt. Col. John R. Foster, Sgt. 1st Class John P. Kingeter, Lt. Col. Harry A. Lucker and Maj. Willis L. Powell, Running Target Hall of Fame; Lt. Col. Sallie L. E. Carroll, Sgt. Maj. Emil W. Heugatter, Sgt. 1st Class Barbara Hile and Master Sgt. Ralph O. Thompson, Service Pistol Hall of Fame; and Master Sgt. Burl Branham, Shotgun Hall of Fame.

Also Sgt. 1st Class Terry W. Daugherty, Master Sgt. Martin D. Edmonson, Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Gill, Staff Sgt. Willie D. Jordan, Spc. 5 Diane Klimas, Capt. John R. Kolb, Spc. 4 James Lamm, Capt. Merrill R. Menlove, 1st Lt. David Meredith and Staff Sgt. Eric A. Uptagrafft, were inducted into the Service Rifle Hall of Fame, and Lt. Col. Raynold S. Dobak, Lt. Col. Frank Palmer and Master Sgt. Warren E. Wiley, were named to the Support Hall of Fame. Carroll was also inducted into the International Pistol Hall of Fame and Hile was additionally inducted into the Service Rifle Hall of Fame.

Later, at the reunion barbecue, the MMA conducted its annual general membership meeting and elected new officers. Former USAMU Commander retired Col. Robert I. Hoidahl Jr. was elected as the 2007 MMA President and Ronald F. Martere was voted as vice president; they will replace current MMA President Bruce A. Meredith and Stephen C. Goff. The following MMA officers were re-elected: Laurence K. Mosely, secretary; Samuel W. Hunter, treasurer; Richard D. Rebidue, membership; and Carter Berry, public affairs. Goff will take over as the new historian.

The USAMU's newest Action and Combat Shooting Range located at the intersection of Jamestown and Brinson roads was dedicated the afternoon of Oct. 21. This newest addition to USAMU's six other ranges is named Krilling Range in honor of former USAMU shooter and coach Master Sgt. William E. Krilling, a Distinguished Service Cross recipient. Roberts was the guest speaker. An oil portrait of Krilling, painted by Alexander Reid, exhibit specialist with the National Infantry Museum, was unveiled and subsequently hung in the range's administrative office.

(Formed in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to raise the standards of marksmanship throughout the U.S. Army, the Army Marksmanship Unit is assigned to the Accessions Support Brigade of the U.S. Army Accessions Command. The Marksmanship Unit trains its Soldiers to win competitions and enhances combat readiness through train-the-trainer clinics, research and development. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, paula.pagan@usaac.army.mil or www.usamu.com.)