82nd Airborne Division (Vietnam) Golden Brigade

 Register for the Golden Brigade 44th reunion in Biloxi!

Troopers:  Reservations, registrations and donations are flowing in. We should have a super showing!  Rick, Charlotte and Dickie have done a great job.  To help your buddies get everything right, please send in your registration ASAP. Encourage your buddies to attend. (If you are a life member, there is no rush as you are guaranteed to live to be 100 years old with all the benefits so you can probably wait till the 60th or 70th reunion). The closest airport is Gulfport/Biloxi Regional (GPT).  It has good flights but reserve your ticket now. See you there!!!   Rich O’Hare

 All outstanding certificates have been mailed. Thanks to all for your support of the Chapter and the Memorial Fund – see you in Biloxi!

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• Robert Carrizales commented on Looking for Buddies.
• Golden Brigade portrait “First Contact” available for ordering.
• Are You Ready to Go Home? December 1969 – Pacific Stars & Stripes.
• Edward Dykes commented on  Phu Bai Ammo Dump.
• New post by Bill Bunch – Kit Carson Scout – Nguyen Dac Cau “Caaus”
• George Peter Algar commented on MG Alexander Russell Bolling, Jr. Memorial Services.

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 2012 Golden Brigade Reunion – Biloxi, Mississippi

OK folks – Rick Randazzo and Dickie Keaton; under the watchful eye and supervision of Charlotte Randazzo, have put together a wonderful program for the 44th anniversary of the Brigade’s deployment to Vietnam. They have worked hard to provide an expanded program for the family. Both Rick and Dickie have told me that the hotel has vowed to do it’s best to accommodate us in a highly welcoming and professional manner.

So far, they have bent over backwards to accommodate us. As we always do, we will need everyone who is able to volunteer to do various tasks. This is the way we keep costs down and spread out the work load. Donations will be gratefully accepted to defray costs.

Rick knows everyone in Biloxi so he is making sure that we are well treated. The hotel is right on the beach so – ladies bring your swim suits and suntan lotion. Us able bodied Macho men will drag, – and I mean literally drag- a cooler full of beverages and other items down to the beach. Weather should be warm but not too hot.

Dates: April 26 – April 28, 2012

Hotel: The Treasure Bay Hotel and Casino, 1980 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39531. Call 1-800-747-2839 for reservations and mention “82nd Airborne Golden Brigade Reunion”. Reservations must be made directly – no Expedia etc. The hotel rate is $82 + tax per night and available from April 23 – April 30, 2012.

Reunion registration: $82 per person – includes 2 dinners, Friday lunch, hospitality suite with all the usual beverages and finger food as well as incidentals. Click here for the registration Form. 

Agenda:

Wednesday: For those that want to come in early, Rick Randazzo has worked on an optional fishing trip. Rick has arranged a charter boat that (more…)

LOOKING FOR SOME OF MY SQUAD BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO 101ST….LIKE TO FIND MEMEBRS OF 82ND AIRBORN CO. A 505TH INF//…LOOKING FOR BOB TROJAN/RAY SARDINAS..OR ANYONE IN THIS OUTFIT THAT WAS AT HOC MON BRIDGE APRIL 1969-SEPT 1969

ALSO LOOKING FOR BUDDIES WITH 101ST C OD. 1/506 INF FROM SEP 1969-APR 1970….ESPECIALLY FARR/ERNIE KELLER/GABBY/DOC PEREZ….

TOM FULLER
TOMMY4921@HOTMAIL.COM

My late husband Lt Lance B Lanier was with Co B, 3rd Brigade, 82nd AB and was deployed to VietNam with this group in Feb.1968.  I would like to know if you have his name on your roster or if anyone remembers him.  He died in 2003 of agent Orange related cancer.  He retired in 1989 (LtColonel Lance B. Lanier) at Central Command in Tampa.

Carol Lanier-Michaels
carol.l.michaels@gmail.com

Served with 82nd from July 1968 – Jul 69 (Bien Hoa 4 mos and Phu Loi 8 mos). I was responsible for orders, records and awards…..and a ton of legal work toward the end. Had a Sergeant Cephus break the egg eating contest (Cool Hand Luke was popular) and the article appeared in Stars and Stripes.

Ran into another 1Lt (Warner) in Kingston, NY – we both started work at IBM about the same time.

Question: Did anyone have any medical issues due to Agent Orange spraying at Phu Loi?

Dick Tunstall
rltunst@gmail.com

Nearly 44 years to the day since the 3rd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division deployed to Vietnam, the Golden Brigade’s official portrait ”In Contact”  has been completed. It  is available for ordering from Somerset Fine Art. Prices and size information are available on the order page.Please direct all questions regarding the portrait to Somerset.

The story of the painting “In Contact” commissioned by the 3rd Brigade (Golden) of the 3rd Brigade in Vietnam began on February 12, 1968, when the 3rd Brigade was deployed to the Republic of Vietnam.  Many years after the Brigade returned its colors to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, several of the troopers who served with the 3rd Brigade in Vietnam formed the Golden Brigade Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association.  The early troopers who spear headed the Chapter’s formation included Dave Stits, deceased, Carl Bludau and Richard O’Hare.  Through their guidance, the Chapter grew and reunions of the 3rd Brigade were held commencing in the 1990’s.  Starting with the first reunion, Chapter Members discussed commissioning a painting to commemorate the service of the3rd Brigade in Vietnam and therefore to preserve its history. 

At the 2010 Reunion in Dallas, Texas, Chapter Chairman Carl Bludau appointed a committee, John Kapranopoulos, John Therrien and Ken Steelman, charged with the responsibility of bringing the painting from a discussion to a reality.  In October of 2010, committee members met in Scottsdale, Arizona, and interviewed a renowned artist.  Prior to that meeting, other artists were discussed and considered.  The award winning, nationally recognized artist was not a military artist and that fact was important as the committee did not want a “cookie cutter war” painting.  After viewing the artist’s work, investigating his background and based upon his passion for the project, Bruce R. Greene was retained to paint “In Contact”.    (more…)

Paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division, operating north of Saigon, shout assent as their platoon leader asks “Are you ready to go home?”

Troop B 1/17th Cav.

Does anyone remember Nguyen Dac Cau “Caaus” our Kit Carson Scout, or what happened to him ? He was transferred to the 101st before Jan 69.

Sgt. William “Bill Bunch
roycebunch@yahoo.com

Feedback has been more than positive on these certificates. Order yours today and give them to your kids for their heritage while supporting a great project! Be aware that you will need to order soon if you want yours by Xmas (remember – I’m doing this in my ‘spare’ time).

See the full info page under the Main menu on the right – Vietnam Combat Certificate, or click here to go straight to the certificate order form.

Please note than you can redact (black out) your SSN on your supporting documents.

Served in Vietnam from January 17,1969 – November 16, 1969 in Company C, 3rd platoon, 1st Batallion, 508th Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division.  Was wounded October 11, 1969.  Looking for any buddies who served with me.

Steve Smith
debandsteve@charter.net

Click photo to enlarge; click on the new photo to enlarge again.

Any resources by this organization or soldiers he served with.  We are looking into placing a dedication to the soldiers in San Jose Calif.  Any help would be appreciated.  “They signed the ultimate check”

Pete Pomerleau
trilex1@aol.com

Per Ken Steelman (GBC portrait coordinator):

All, I spoke with our artist, Bruce Greene. We should soon have pictures of the painting for Chapter Officer review and critique. Following that, the painting will go to Houston for imaging. After the imaging is approved by Bruce, we will be able to provide the link and images and the price structure for the painting/prints. We are pushing it for delivery before Christmas so the orders may end up being processed and shipped after the first of the year.

See more pics and read more about the artist and the re-enactment here.

Fellow paratroopers,

I need help. I came over with the the third brigade february 1968. We landed at chu chi in C-141′s we trucked up highway one to phu bai our base. I was with the 1/505 HHC anti-tank platton I was turned down for my ptsd claim because va said ni evidence i had been in combat. No record of CIB according to them although i was a squad leader in one the squads.

If anybody remembers my name or how i looked Black soldier. please call or write 518 489 2359. some people you may remember. platoon leader young west point grad 2nd lt kowalski,sgt Inke, sgt fowler,goudy,mckenna.

If you have a copy of your original CIB ORDER’S SEE IF MY NAME IS ON IT TOO. SINGLETARY REMEMBER THE NIGHT THAT 101ST GOT HIT AT CAMP EAGLE, REMBNER LZ GERONIMO.

THANKYOU FOR YOUR HELP BROTHER’S.

SGT E-5 SAMUEL SINGLETARY.
samsingletary17@gmail.com