2025 Debrief
Another Bastards Reunion is in the books and as always a wild mix of laughs, games, drinks, camaraderie, reminiscing, lessons learned and enough leftover food to supply Eastern Texas.
Final Numbers
Despite having 63 total people register for this year, 46 show up. Last year still holds the record for having the most people with 53 total. Check out the Paddle Club or the Attendance Matrix pages for more info.
30 Marines
15 Significant others
1 local Marine, Gary Richardson, came for a couple of hours
46 Total
We had several Boots going into this year, adding 3 more in 2025: Ruttledge, Steger, and Richardson. With so many Boots, I’m losing track of the old Boots and who they recruited so as a result, I’m changing the definition of a Boot.
In the past, to lose the Boot status, you need to have a new Marine from our unit attend a reunion. Now it just means you’ve never attended one of our reunions, simple. It’s everyone’s job to bring new Marines to our reunions.
The Advance Party
About a dozen of us met up in Sulphur Springs on Wednesday as the advance party, making sure we had enough beer and liquor to last throughout the night and getting groceries Thursday morning. The drinks flowed before, during and after dinner. I remember going to bed that night thinking this will be a long week but it went by as fast as Dirty sending a round down range on the hog hunt.
The Food
Let’s talk about the chow. We had way too much of it. Seriously – Everyone paid $400 to attend and I think Barganier probably left with just as much in leftovers lol. We always seem to have too much food but this year was outrageous.
With that said, the meals were top-notch thanks to the Marines (and female Bastards) who stepped up in the kitchen. I hate to try to mention everyone that helped so as not to omit anyone but you all know who you are. It was tougher this year since there was no big flat top to cook on, everything was done on a single kitchen stove and oven.
Thank you for cooking, cleaning, and keeping the grub flowing!
This Year Set Some Records!
Besides having the most food left over, this year marks the first year that I can recall where NOBODY received Rob’s ass plant. Of course we saw his “buns” (as per usual) but we didn’t see it planted on someone’s face as they were passed out. People are getting better at not passing out.
This reunion was also the hottest we’ve ever had. I like the heat but I know I’m not your average bear.
Cornhole
Our annual cornhole tournament was short and brutal as a single elimination bloodbath, and in the end, Linda and Mooney took home the bragging rights and maybe a few sore shoulders since they had to play 4 games to win it. As far as I know, they donated their winnings back into the ammo can.
Check out the bracket and final standings here.
Live Entertainment
Thank you to the Bastards Band for entertaining us. I know they spent some time coming up with their playset and rehearsing to make sure we can sing and dance along (I’m referring to you Tina!).
Someone please send me a better picture!
Extra Curricular Activities
Hog Hunt
Friday’s hog hunt? Well, that was two completely different stories depending on which team you ask. The only thing we shared is the rain… if it ain’t rainin’, we ain’t trainin’!
Team 1 (Sal, Monty & Dirty) in the beat up ol’ SUV saw all kinds of critters to shoot, from hogs and coyotes most of the night. They were issued their rifles at the beginning of the night, able to shoot from their vehicle and only needing to check them back in after the night was over. Despite Dirty shooting early at the feeder, scaring all the targets away while Monty was taking a leak, they still found hogs to shoot all night long.
Team 2 (Rob, Dave, Chad & Petey) in the UTV, only saw 1 hog to shoot. We saw 2 others early in the night but they ran off before we got anywhere close. Plenty of deer to shoot but wasn’t allowed to. We also saw a deer with a white reflective collar on it! To make things worse, we were given our rifles only when we stopped for the ambush but had to check them back into the “armory” once we got back in the UTV, taking up valuable time. We paid for the “not so scenic midnight tour” of Eastern Texas only to see darkness, rain, dairy farms and milking factories. Booo.
It was still a good time ridiculing our guide every 5 minutes because he couldn’t put us on the pigs, I mean we didn’t let up at all. We did manage to drink all our moonshine & beer as well as every one of theirs. It was time well spent with the Marines in my group despite us all wanting to shoot more pigs.
I enjoyed seeing Monty giddy all night long and we did come back with a hog’s head that “fell into formation” the next day when Gunny called attention.
Horseback Riding
A bunch of you saddled up for horseback riding and I want to know… who wore it better?
Off Road Trails
Meanwhile, a small group hit the UTV trails, exploring the ranch. It was great seeing folks partaking in activities. While I wasn’t there, I did hear it was a good time.
Homeward Bound
While some spent extra time in Dallas airports due to cancelled flights, the “Buckeye Bunch” went to the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, AKA the Texas Schoolbook Depository, where JFK was assassinated, getting our education on. For you conspiracy theorists thinking Oswald wasn’t skilled enough to make that shot, after seeing the distance from the window down to where the motorcade drove (around 88 yards), It wasn’t that far… even Nidy could’ve made those shots.
Technology Lost
This year’s fun didn’t come without its losses. Barganier lost his phone and bugle to the bottom of the lake while kayaking and my drone decided to take a face plant off the top deck at the Rambling Rose, breaking the camera gimble… damn auto hover. Now I’ve got a reason to invest in new technology.
Lessons Learned
#1
Instead of assigning cabins based on platoons, cabins should be assigned to “like personalities.” Doing this will ensure everyone’s got the right mix of comfort and chaos. I think it went well enough this year but I still want to apologize to those affected.
#2
After discussing it with several people, next year we’re scaling back to 2 meals per day instead of 3. Some say we should do breakfast/dinner, others say lunch/dinner and someone else suggested brunch/dinner.
No matter which way we go, we’ll vote on that before next year’s reunion and get a common consensus. This should help reduce cost, the amount of food and the meal prep allowing us cooks to be more social instead of “working”.
#3
On cornhole tourney day, lunch will be either catered or you’ll make your own cold cut sammiches, this way everyone can play cornhole rather than cook. That way we won’t skip lunch during the tourney like this year.
Other improvements
I’m working on setting up a newsletter to deliver information to your inbox. This should help spread the word to those not loitering in our Messenger group. People can know when to sign up or when to get shirts.
We’re always looking for ways to make these better. If you have a suggestion, let us know.
Wrapping Things Up
Sara and Jason Dahl, thank you for hosting in Texas this year. I know Rob and I asked a lot from you and some on a very short timeline. You jumped through some hoops getting this year’s caterer set up.
And an extra shoutout to everyone who respected quiet time at the common house. That little bit of courtesy went a long way.
A sincere thank you to everyone who helped make this reunion run smooth. From the volunteers in the kitchen to those who kept things clean and organized – you made this gathering what it was.
Finally, thank you to everyone that spent their hard earned vacation time coming to our reunions. If it weren’t for the men of Golf 2/4 (then 2/6) and the women that come or support them, we would not be as happy as we are. This is our therapy.
Until next year – Semper Fi, and keep the stories coming in the comments below.