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Alpha Avengers of Vietnam NEWSLETTER SPRING 2004 A Company, 2/501st Infantry, 101st Airborne |
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Alpha Avengers of Vietnam NEWSLETTER SPRING 2004 A Company, 2/501st Infantry, 101st Airborne |
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REUNION 2004 Thursday-Sunday, June 17-20, 2002. Reunion Headquarters will be the Atrium Inn, All reservations for lodging and group activities should be made by contacting Peggy Sturgis, Veteran Reunion Specialist at “All Over It” Travel, Branson, MO. Peggy’s new toll free number is 877-941-8787 or you can reach her by cell phone at 417-230-1106. You can also reach her by email at psturgis@alloverittravel.com. Peggy is handling our local arrangement and is currently taking reservations. A $50 deposit is due no later than May 1, 2004 to secure the activities and transportation. Final payment is due June 3, 2004. When you call, be sure to tell Peggy that you are part of the Alpha Avengers of Vietnam Reunion. AVENGER ASSOCIATION STATISTICS 85 Attendees at the 2002 Reunion 123 Active Members (dues pd in last 3 yrs) 423 Avengers Receiving this Newsletter MESSAGE FROM VICE PRESIDENT BOB MORRIS The plans are finished for the reunion and I think all of you will agree this will be one of the best. There will be something for all of the family to do. Branson goes out of its way to make the veterans groups welcome and I’m sure we will feel right at home there. I hope everyone is making plans to attend this reunion. I don’t know of a location more centrally located for us to get together. Most of the attractions will be within walking distance of the motel and shuttles are available for those that are not. See you in June 04. Bob Morris, Vice President
MESSAGE FROM PAST PRESIDENT JOHN (TEX) FAIRSgt. John Wentworth has been nominated for the “Some Gave All” award this year. Wentworth’s Mom is still alive and she was thrilled to hear from us. It’s the first time she had ever heard from any of his fellow comrades. His brother and sister are planning to attend the ceremony at our reunion. I want to extend an invitation for each of you to attend the Branson reunion. Our organization was instituted to preserve & extend our camaraderie past our times in Viet Nam. The reunions are a wonderful way of renewing old friendships & enjoying the brotherhood that will never leave our minds or hearts. There are very few days that have gone past without thinking of someone or an event that happened 30 some odd years ago. Come enjoy a fun-filled weekend with your comrades. JOHN
FAIR MESSAGE FROM PAST PRESIDENT JOE LUDWICK Hope to see all of you at the 2004 Reunion in Branson. They are now the largest Military Reunion city in the U.S. Please call and make reservations as soon as possible. Branson is a perfect location for our group. Call your buddies and make a commitment, you won’t be sorry. Remember, bring all your pictures. To all members of Alpha with e-mail please send correct e-mail addresses to GijoeLudwick@cox.net. JOE LUDWICK ‘S Important Websites & Phone Numbers Explore Branson: www.explorebranson.com In Brotherhood, Joe Ludwick Ret. Army SSG VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT It is expected that volunteers from the Veterans History Project will be available to interview anyone who would like to contribute to the project. The mission of the Veterans History Project is ro preserve our US military history. Interviews are conducted individually or in groups and are preserved on video. If you would like a copy of the video, there is a $10 copy fee.
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Fellow Avengers:
Does it surprise you that of all the units deployed in Iraq, the 101st Airborne has the most casualties? Doesn’t surprise me. Weren’t we deployed about as close to North Vietnam as you could get? They all have our thoughts and prayers. *** I was sorry to hear that many of you have had problems making reservations for the reunion. In February, “All Over It” Travel moved their corporate offices. They changed their toll free, 800 number. Health issues are also playing a role. In this newsletter, I have given you three ways to reach Peggy — hope that solves the problem. If you still haven’t made reservations, please call or email her as soon as possible. If you don’t reach her, just leave a name and a phone number — she will return your call. I am told things will be back to normal in mid-April. Also, please send me your pre-registration (last page), if you haven’t done so already. There has been a change in the Friday Group Activity. “Remember When” has closed and has been replaced with another great show “50’s at the Hop — You can Rock It...You Can Roll It... Bop & Even Stroll It!” — Anyway it should be a lot of fun. John (Tex) Fair has nominated Sgt. John Wentworth for the “Some Gave All” award this year. He was killed in a fire fight near Firebase Veghel around May 1971. I was serving in Alpha Company at the time and I knew him well. He had served his time in the field and was given a rear echelon job, but after our ambush on Veghel, he came back out to the field to support us through the fire fights that followed. He gave all. See you all in Branson. Please let Peggy and I know you are coming. If you can’t reach Peggy, let me know and I’ll pass on the information. Ray (Lt) Houghton, President TENTATIVE SCHEDULE & COSTS Thursday Afternoon 3-6pm -- Registration in the Atrium Inn
Hospitality Room Thursday Evening (Hotel cost — $58.00 per night for 1 or 2 people). Get-togethers continue in the Hospitality Room -- Snacks, beverages, great conversation and/or see a evening show in Branson. Friday Group Activity Shows and attractions including lunch with shuttle transportation. The group package has been planned to include (1) a group visit to the Veterans Memorial Museum with over 2000 exhibits progressing from the World Wars to Vietnam to Desert Storm — an emotional, powerful experience, (2) a visit to the Radisson's Hall of Heroes, (3) lunch in Radisson’s Veterans Café, (4) a performance of “50’s at the Hop” — “The fresh, young cast flawlessly captures the essence of the playfulness in the 50's music. They brilliantly entertain with song after song, along with fast-paced dancing and incredible musicianship,” and (5) shuttle transportation until midnight to and from shows for groups of 10 or more. The cost is $95 per person. We would like to have about 60 people to get this group rate. Friday Evening 6:30pm -- Cookout outside the Hospitality Room at the Atrium (Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, etc.) Saturday Morning and Afternoon Free for sightseeing, a show, the Veterans History Project or shopping. Get-togethers in the Hospitality Room -- Snacks, beverages, great conversation Saturday Evening Group Photos, Banquet at Dockers Restaurant ($16 per person), Business Meeting Sunday Coffee, donuts, etc. in the Hospitality Room. |
Click here and REGISTER FOR REUNION 2004 ONLINE.
