Harrisburg, PA – Annual Convention – August 16 – 19, 2007. You should have seen this in Paraglide. The Golden Brigade will host a hospitality suite starting on Wednesday night in the William Penn Room on the 2nd floor. We will have a nice reception in the Penn Room starting at 6:30 PM on Thursday night with an open bar and hors d’ourves so as to enjoy each other’s company and meet new friends. There is no charge for this – just throw some money into the helmet or ammo can and we’re good to go. There will be no dinner this year as we are trying to squirrel away some MPC for our 40th Anniversary Reunion – see below. Check your Paraglide or our web site for more details.
Veteran’s Day – Washington, DC. While I don’t have exact details at this time, it is anticipated that the 82nd Association will sponsor a number of events to honor our fallen heroes over a 3 day period. It is a great event that you won’t want to miss. Check your Paraglide.
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40th Anniversary of the Golden Brigade’s Service in Vietnam – Dallas, TX. April 4 & 5, 2008. We will only have one 40th Anniversary so mark your calendars and plan to be there. Some folks are planning to bring their families. I want to spend some time on this. MG Bolling, Bob Murrill, and Mike Hood are coordinating one of the most fantastic events that you will probably ever experience. For those who have never been to one of our events, it is a time to enjoy friendship, tell some lies and renew or make new friends.
The hotel is bending over backwards to accommodate us and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed! Plans are still in the works but here’s what it looks like:
- Hotel – Dallas Forth Worth Hilton Executive Conference Center – a beautiful, high class hotel. www.hiltondfwlakesecc.com Rates – Deluxe Rooms Around $95 per night + taxes
- Welcome Dinner – Friday Night – The Austin Ranch – next to the hotel – meet, greet, renew friendships and make new ones.
- Activities Available (Additional Cost) – Spa, Golf, Horseback Riding etc.
- 82nd Chorus to perform – dependent upon combat situation
- Hospitality Room
- Breakfast included
- Magnificent Gala Reunion Dinner – Saturday Night – Hotel Ballroom
- Shuttles to and from the Airport – 10 minutes away
- Expected Registration Cost $50 to $60 per person – but generous donations greatly accepted/needed to defray actual costs which will be much higher due to what will be provided to you.
- Plans are to finalize plans and get a reservation forms out to you in early Fall. We need to have an accurate count so don’t be a slacker and wait till the last minute.
Save up your MPC and mark your calendars – do it now!!
Lastly, if you haven’t renewed your dues, do it now. Check the website for an application or give Rich a call on the horn for an application. We don’t want to have to chase you down the Candy Stripe for a few bucks.
Hope to see you all soon. Let’s make our 40th a time for you and your families to remember. Check the website frequently for updates.Â
Airborne, All the Way, God Bless Our Troopers and God Bless America!!!
Carl H. Bludau, Chapter Chairman
Richard F. O’Hare, Treasurer
When we came home in 1968, 1969 or 1970, we were lost sheep. We knew that we had fought well and served with honor but nobody seemed to want us so eventually we formed the Golden Brigade Chapter – just for us. Whether we knew it or not when we formed, we started out as a “Last Man’s Clubâ€. You have probably heard of these clubs that go back as far as WWI. The youngest of us are now in our middle 50’s while there are a few of us are in the 80’s. Jim Littig has proposed and is starting research on establishing a Last Man’s Club for just for us. Simply, those that want to join would chip in a few bucks and a fine bottle of champagne from 1968 would be bought and stored. The last 2 or 4 guys left alive would get together and crack the bottle and toast all who had gone before them. Any extra funds would go the last guy alive or charity. Jim’s working on the details. It’s a great idea and I hope to be one of those guys sipping the Champagne!!
John Therrien called me last night and suggested that for our 40th Anniversary, we do a “Dining Out”. I’ve heard what they are but never participated as E5’s in very worn out and smelly jungle fatigues who didn’t wear underwear or socks never got invited! My best memory of John was outside of Hue as he rammed my head into the ground (with the normal expletives) as Marine F4’s put napalm came in so close to us that I still can feel the heat and O2 sucked from my lungs. I now blame John for my dim wittedness. Those were the days my friends!
After John’s call I got to thinking – a dangerous thing mind you. During WWII Col Ruben Tucker (504) bought a beautiful and massive Sterling silver champagne cooler – a big silver bucket – at a antique shop in London. He had it engraved with various 504 PIR crests etc and it now sits in the 82nd Museum. With much required MP security, it is today used for various 504 events.
We are as special as the 504 PIR so why don’t we do something like this for us. We could christen it in Harrisburg 2007 or in 2008 in St. Louis. We can afford it and we deserve it!
Please email me or click on “Comments” under this message to give me your feedback.
Airborne, All the Way and God Bless America!!!
Richard F. O’Hare, Treasurer
Golden Brigade Chapter, 82nd Abn Div. Assn. Inc.
gbc82abnvn@aol.com
2006 Orlando Reunion   The convention in Orlando was great. We had an excellent showing of our chapter members and their ladies. Importantly, we had a number of first timers show up and they were welcomed with open arms. Many new friends were made. Thursday night was a fun time as we all went to Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede. This was a very patriotic horse show with an excellent dinner.
Veteran’s Day, Washington, DC   Men, this is our day! I urge you to make it to DC for Veteran’s Day. Check your Paraglide for details. If you’ve lost it or thrown it away, let Rich O’Hare know and he will send you the info. We lay wreaths at numerous graves and monuments throughout Arlington Cemetery and then at the WWII, Korean and Vietnam memorials. Don’t miss it!
All American Week – May, 2007   It is unknown if there will be an All American Week this year due to the deployment of the 82nd. The 3rd Brigade (505) is now in Iraq and the 4th Brigade (508th) and the division headquarters will be going to Afghanistan later this year. We’ll just have to wait and see but our prayers should be with these brave young troopers.
Convention- August 15-19, 2007   Next year’s convention will be held in Harrisburg, PA at the Hilton Harrisburg and Towers. Reservations (717) 233-6000 mention code (82ABN). Rates are $99 plus tax. Check your Paraglide for more details as the time grows closer. We had our 30th Anniversary there and it is a great hotel. The Central PA Chapter did a great job and treated us very well. I again urge you to mark your calendars and make it to this wonderful event. We will again put together a fun evening on Thursday night just for Golden Brigade heroes and their ladies.
Our 40th Anniversary – August 13 – 16, 2008   The 2008 Convention will be held in St. Louis, MO. Believe it or not guys, this will be the 40th Anniversary of the Brigade’s deployment. We are already in the preliminary stages of planning a gala event similar to the 30th and 35th Anniversary celebrations that we have held. It will be on the Thursday night of the convention and will be a very nice affair. If you attended either the 30th or 35th you have a very fine memory of them. More will come as our plans move along but do mark it on your calendar. We are not getting any younger and you owe it to your self to celebrate your heroic service to this Country and our fine Division.
Tom and Mary Holtzman Bring the Entire Family to Orlando   Tom is a relatively new member of the chapter and attended the convention in Milwaukee last year. He and Mary were welcomed as all new troopers are and decided to bring the whole family to Orlando this year. The Holtzman’s had and entourage of 12 including children, spouses of the children and grandchildren. It looked like everyone had a great time. All the Way, Tom and Mary!
That’s it Troopers,
Airborne, All the Way and God Bless America!!
Richard F. O’Hare, Treasurer
Golden Brigade Chapter, 82nd Abn Div. Assn. Inc.
gbc82abnvn@aol.com