WELDON F. HONEYCUTT / HAMBURGER HILL CHAPTER
RAKKASANS – 187TH AIRBORNE INFANTRY REGIMENT
49th COMMEMORATIVE AND REUNION
MAY 14th – 18th 2018
Fellow Rakkasan: I am writing to ask that you join all of your brothers in combat at our 49th reunion of our action on Dong Ap Bia / Hill 937 / Hamburger Hill. In May of 1969 we ventured forth to our “rendezvous with destiny”. With each passing year we get older, our health changes, and unfortunately, we lose a few comrades. I am asking that you come join us and renew old friendships forged on the field of battle. I believe that we have put together a program both in Clarksville and FT. Campbell that will honor our comrades and renew our friendship.
This letter gives you a summary of the activities and the cost of the event. I hope that each of you will be able to join us and bring a friend to experience our bonding. Look forward to seeing you.
Rakkasan
Bob
Bob Harkins
President, Alpha 6
LOCATION:
RIVERVIEW INN
50 COLLEGE STREET – CLARKSVILLE, TN – 37040
877-487-4837 931-552-3331
A block of rooms has been reserved in the name of the Hamburger Hill Rakkasans. Please contact the hotel directly for your room reservations. Our group room rate is $84.00 per night, double occupancy, plus any taxes. Please make your reservations early and remember to let them know you are with our group. Make your room reservations on your own, they are separate from our reunion costs.
Tentative Agenda
Monday May 14, 2018
Arrive
Montgomery Room and Lobby for arrival.
Hospitality Room Open Always
Tuesday May 15, 2018
Breakfast at the Riverview Inn
0630 – 1900 Iron Warrior 31.87 Mile Road March (Veteran Participation Encouraged)
1000: Bus Depart Hotel for Range / Road March Area to cheer participants on
1030 – 1200: Command Brief RAK6 / Iron 6
1200 – 1330: Lunch at Cole Commons Center (Veterans and guest pay)
1400 – 1600: HH War Stories Video and discussion at Cole Park Commons Ft. Campbell.
1600 – 1900: Bus to Road March last mile/finish line
1900 – 2100 BN BBQ with Active Duty Soldiers at Kemple Yates (BBQ to celebrate the end of the Iron Challenge and Award recipients. Most of the BN Equipment will be on Static Display During the BBQ
Hospitality Room Open Always
Wednesday May 16, 2018
Breakfast at the Riverview Inn
0930 – 1000: Bus to Depart Hotel / Arrive at Range Area
1030 – 1200: Activities with Battalion (Range Shoot Event and Static Displays of all the
Battalions equipment)
1200 – 1330: Lunch at DFAC (Mess Hall). Cost is about $5.45
1200 – 1330: Ladies Lunch at Hotel
1400 – 1600: Battalion Area Open/Family Readiness Group Sale
1830 – 2100: Bar Open
1900 – 2100: Informal Reception with Active Duty Troops, Riverview Inn (Ballroom)
Hospitality Room Open Always
Thursday May 17, 2018
Breakfast at the Riverview Inn
1030 – 1130: 49th Commemorative of Dong Ap Bia, Rakkasan Pylon Ceremony,
Pratt Museum. (Fort Campbell).
1200 – 1300: Lunch at the Rakkasan BDE Dining Facility accompanied by Active Duty
Rakkasans. Cost is about $5.45
1400 – 1500: Hamburger Hill Chapter Meeting (Hotel)
1830 – 2100: Bar Open
1900 – 2100: Hamburger Hill Memorial Dinner
Hospitality Room Open Always
Friday May 18, 2018
Breakfast at the Riverview Inn
Depart
No formal Activities planned during the afternoon and evening
REUNION COSTS: $135 Per Person (The cost includes: Chapter Dues, Reception, Commemorative Dinner, Chapter Luncheon Thursday, and meeting and room fees). Funds are NOT included this year for the purchase of refreshments for the upstairs hospitality room. Please earmark any donations for its operation to Bob Harkins. Additionally, Mike Smith will be collecting contributions for the enlisted soldier to attend the reception and dinner. Need your help please!!!!.
It is very important to all of us that each and every vet of “The Hill”, be present at the reunion. We want to see you. If there are financial constraints that may prohibit your attendance, let me know and we will try to arrange assistance. Please let us help.
PLEASE LET US KNOW YOUR NUMBER OF RESERVATIONS AND FORWARD PAYMENT TO Mike Smith, OUR TREASURER, AT THE BELOW LISTED ADDRESS, checks payable to:
Weldon F. Honeycutt /Hamburger Hill Chapter
Mike Smith
Treasurer, Weldon F. Honeycutt /Hamburger Hill Chapter
630 Waverly Avenue
Washington Court House, Ohio 43160
DRESS: Dress is always casual for all events except the Memorial Dinner. The active duty group will be in Dress Blues and it would be nice if we were in business attire (Coat and Tie). Not mandatory, but just because of the type of occasion.
PRIORITY REQUEST: This is the 49th Anniversary! Please contact everyone you know! Beat the bushes, there are a lot of our former buddies who still don’t know we exist or that we do this every year! If you know anyone who served alongside us, Artillery, Aviation, let them know they are welcome. Our contact list is dwindling due to people moving or not informing us of an e-mail change. If you are not getting emails from me please send me an email at [email protected] We need all the help we can get to have a large turnout!
REMINDER / IMPORTANT: TO BE A VOTING MEMBER OF THE CHAPTER YOU MUST BE CURRENT IN YOUR CHAPTER DUES AND A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION. CHAPTER DUES ARE $10 PER YEAR, PLEASE INCLUDE WITH YOUR RESERVATION. ALSO, IF YOU ARE NOT A LIFETIME MEMBER, MAKE SURE YOUR DUES ARE CURRENT WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION! THEY ARE $25 PER YEAR AND SHOULD BE SENT TO: GARY DAVIS WITH THE NATIONAL CHAPTER (WEB SITE: http:rakkasan.net). MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE CHAPTER AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AT THE WELCOME TABLE WHEN YOU ARRIVE.
BOARD MEMBERSHIP: Below is the current makeup of our Board.
President: *Bob Harkins [email protected]
Vice President: Tom Martin [email protected]
Treasurer: *Mike Smith [email protected]
Secretary: Margie Vander Luitgaren [email protected]
Non-Officer Director #1: Wayne Olson [email protected]
Non-Officer Director #2: *John Dewyse [email protected]
*This year the office of President (Bob Harkins), Treasurer (Mike Smith), and Non-Officer Director #2 (John Dewyse) are up for election. All officers that are up for election have agreed stay on the Board. If there are others that want to join the Board, please contact me. Other Activities:
Battalion Event: The Battalion is not deployed from Ft. Campbell this year during our Reunion. However, supporting our activities is always hard while continuing their training mission. As indicated above the Battalion will support our Reunion as best they can. I am certain we all appreciate their effort. In support of our Reunion, LTC Martin “Jeremy” Bowling, the Battalion Commander (Iron 6), sent me the following message:
Great to hear from you as always. CSM Houston and I along with all of our Iron Rakkasans absolutely look forward to making this year’s event just as great and hopefully better than the last. As you may recall from our previous discussion, building a bridge from our current generation of Iron Rakkasans to past generations is one of my top 3 priorities and that will not change. Let’s work together to see who we can secure as the guest speaker. I’m sure between all those involved, we have several great options and most importantly someone who truly understands the importance of this event to our Iron Veterans and this great Regiment. Also, we will be conducting the inaugural 31.87 mile foot march (part of our Iron Warrior Challenge) at some point that week and we are opening it up to Veterans interested in either walking the course or supporting the course and will close it out that evening with a social at the finish line.
How can we support?
Who among us will walk?
Veterans can walk all or part of the 31.87 mile course. Veterans can hand out water on the route. Look at the Tuesday schedule.
Wednesday Noon Lady’s Lunch: This year as last we will have a special lunch for those that do not want to go to the range. I will need a count of attendees.
Silent Auction: We ask that each attendee bring an item that we can include in a silent auction to help raise some funds for the Chapter. We are also exploring Shirts, Hats, Coins, and Belt Buckles for sale to the attendees. The items will be displayed at the Reception, Dinner and the Chapter Luncheon, as needed. Items can be “re-gifted” items that you have received that you might not “need”, military items that you have duplicates of, and in case you forget, get over to Wal-Mart and get a gift certificate.
Diet Restrictions:
If any attendees to the Reunion have dietary considerations, please indicate on your registration sent to Mike. We will need a final count a week prior to the event for any gluten free guests or other diet restrictions. We will do our best to see that and they receive a special pre-plated meal for the dinner.
Shirts/ Hats/ Belt Buckles: Contact Mike Smith by email at [email protected]
if you are interested in purchasing a Tee Shirt for this year’s reunion. We will also have hats, belt buckles, and coins available for purchase.
WEB SITE: We have established a web site for all of the members to share their pictures and experiences of the “Hill” and the reunions that we have had. Please go to (http://hamburgerhill.org/members) to gain access. Make sure to click on “Create an account” first on the members page. See you there.
REGISTRATION FORM
