The Honor Flight Network
As many may recall, at our 2012
Reunion in
Richmond,
VA,
attendees were afforded the opportunity to visit the WWII
Memorial in
Washington DC,
through the efforts of Honor Flight Historic Triangle
Virginia
and a donation made to the 503rd
by Harry Akune.
The mission of Honor Flight
is to transport America’s
veterans to Washington,
DC
to visit those memorials dedicated to honor their service
and sacrifices.
Currently the program gives
top priority to survivors of WWII and any veteran with a
terminal interest.
If you know someone who is
a WWII veteran and has not yet visited the WWII Memorial,
visit the Honor Flight Network online at
www.honorflight.org
or call the headquarters office (9:00 am – 5:00 pm) at
937-521-2400 for information on how to make it happen!
Bits and Pieces from
the Reunion
The 56th
reunion was held in Richmond, VA.
Nancy and Natalie Young
served as hosts, along with a lot of help from friends and
503rd
members!
The hotel facility was
lovely and the staff was very helpful.
Each morning we enjoyed a
delicious hot breakfast and our two evening banquet meals
were great.
We had
16 troopers in attendance,
Tony Sierra, Richard Leslie, Russ Nelson, Paul Scheuerman,
Nelson Gatewood, Donovan Wasson, Kenneth Lyle, Cecil
Duquesne, Robert Weber, Anthony Cicchino, Doc Llewellyn, Joe
Shannahan, Frenchie Hazarian, Gordon Bates, Lloyd LaRue and
Anthony Bodonaro (a first timer!).
Our widows were out in full
force, as well, with Edna Pittenger, Sara Mosey, Beverly
Wasmund, Sandi Kubicek, Jean Lohin, Mary Jane Sheehan (a
first timer!), Eveline Dombrowski, Gene Oakey attending.
Our “big” excursion took place on
Thursday when we took 2 buses to Washington, DC to visit the
World War II Memorial.
We are extremely grateful
to Honor Flight Historic Triangle Virginia for sponsoring
our trip.
Each veteran and widow was
assigned a military guardian for the trip.
We toured Arlington
Cemetery and watched the changing of the Guard at the Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier.
Then we were treated to
nice lunch at the Knights of Columbus Lodge.
Next we went to the WWII
Memorial and the Korean War Memorial.
We even had a police
escort!
It was a wonderful trip!!
Friday was a busy day with our
board meeting and general membership meeting.
Dinner on Friday night was
followed by a lively game of BINGO, complete with prizes,
led by the grandchildren of Tom Young.
As always, there was lots
of visiting and fun taking place in the Hospitality Room!
Our Saturday night banquet
was highlighted by several activities.
Our keynote speaker was
Matt Hartman who organized our Honor Flight trip.
He spoke about the mission
of the Honor Flight organization, showed a DVD of pictures
from our trip and presented us with copies of the DVD and
Honor Flight jackets.
What a treat!
Susan Marr auctioned off a
large stone marker with the 503rd
emblem on it that Suzanne Pittenger-Slear won.
Susan donated the proceeds
of the sale to the Honor Flight.
Saturday night’s banquet
attendance hit close to
100, including our Honor
Flight and Color Guard guests.
Sunday morning, we bid each other farewell until next year.
Special thanks go to all of those
family members, caretakers and friends who attended with a
loved one or just because they love the 503rd!
20 November 2010
Bits and Pieces
from the 2010 Reunion
The 54th reunion was held in
Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. Marvin Edwards and his wife Carol
served as our hosts and did a wonderful job! The hotel
facility was lovely and the staff could not have been
friendlier and more helpful. Each morning we enjoyed a
delicious hot breakfast from the breakfast bar, and the two
evening banquet meals were great! Our numbers continue to
dwindle, but we still had approximately 42 attending the
reunion. We had 14 troopers in attendance, Burl Martin,
Bill Calhoun, Richard Leslie, Nelson Gatewood, Tony Sierra,
Russ Nelson, Paul Scheuerman, Gordon Bates, Bob Wagner, Bill
Walker, Chuck Breit, Frenchie Hazarian, Fred Stabenow and
Tony Lopez. Of course, let’s not forget our widows, Ruth
Castillo, Sas Mosey, Sandi Kubicek, Bev Wasmund, Elmae
Dugas, Edna Pittenger and Jean Lohin who had a great time
visiting and catching up!
Our Saturday night banquet was
highlighted by a lively auction of 503rd nail
head plaques donated by Sas Mosey, a wooden engraved
Airborne plaque donated by Terry Boggs and a Born to Be an
American, 503rd Airborne plaque donated by
Yolanda Goad, daughter of Tony Lopez. Special thanks go to
our auctioneer, Janet Mahoney, and our high bidders, Fred
Stabenow, Burl Martin, Caffery Dugas, Nelson Gatewood and
Yolanda Goad.
We had two excursions while in the DFW
area. On Thursday, a group went to the Sixth Floor Museum
at Dealey Plaza, highlighting the life, death, times and
legacy of President John F. Kenney. It had a wonderful
exhibit. The taxi rides home may have been the highlight of
the trip with 2 taxi drivers arguing over who takes the
group and another taxi taking the group to the wrong Wyndham
Hotel. It was an adventure, to say the least!! Saturday’s
trip to Grapevine Mills was considerably calmer and everyone
had a delightful time being able to shop ‘til they drop! As
always, we so appreciate the family members, caretakers and
everyone else who attended the reunion with a loved one as
well as those who attend because they love the 503rd!!
Sunday morning we sadly bid each other
farewell until next year…
FROM THE NOVEMBER 2010
NEWSLETTER
The 503d Heritage Battalion and its website:
Paul Whitman,
the webmaster is looking for folks with direct lineage to
the 503rd WWII. He would like to get them actively involved
in the 503rd Heritage Battalion. Please let me know if you
can help in this capacity.
The website is great! If you haven’t
checked it out, you need to!
http://corregidor.org We have had several people who
have found out about the 503rd and contacted us as a result
of going to the website! Thank you, Paul, for all you do.
FROM THE NOVEMBER 2010
NEWSLETTER
The Pacific War Museum
Thanks to Sandi and Ed Kubicek,
who visited the museum, I am in contact with the museum! As
soon as I figure out how to scan the information that has
been sent by various members of the 503rd, I will be sending
a package to the museum. If anyone has 503rd memorabilia or
artifacts to donate to the museum, please send them to me.
You may recall that its 2009 meeting, the 503rd voted to
donate the banners, flags and memorabilia to the Pacific War
Museum.
10 September 2010
Medal of Honor to a
member of the 503d Lineage
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2010 – The Medal of Honor will be
awarded for the first time to a living veteran of the
wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, White House officials
announced today in a written statement. Army Staff Sgt.
Salvatore Giunta is to receive the nation’s highest
award for his service and extraordinary bravery in
battle. The event occurred Oct. 25, 2007, in eastern
Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley. Giunta was a specialist
at the time and rifle team leader. He served in Company
B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment,
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based out of
Vicenza, Italy.
(See More)
14 August 2010
Quick report from attendees of 173D Airborne Brigade Reunion…
As you may recall several 503rd
members were honored guests at the 173D reunion in Myrtle Beach,
SC. Margee Linton said that the 503rd has never been
honored like they were. Paul Hinds felt like a celebrity and
thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship, entertainment, food and events.
We look forward to hearing more about their experience in Dallas!
2-6
June 2010
503rd Members feted as
special guests at the 173D Airborne Brigade Reunion
What began as an idea to showcase the 503rd PRCT in the April
edition of 2/503d Vietnam Newsletter has grown to several of our
members attending the 173D Reunion in Myrtle Beach, SC, June 2-6!
The May edition of their newsletter gives bios of: Chuck Breit;
John Cleland; Paul Hinds; Charley Hylton; Sleepy Linton and Chet
Nycum. Chuck, John, Paul, Charley and Chet will participate in an
interactive presentation called “Operation Corregidor” on Friday,
June 4, 4:00-5:30 p.m. Dee, Clara (I think), Ginny, Edith, Margee
Linton and other family members will be accompanying the men to this
reunion. This opportunity was made possible by Lew Smith, editor of
the 2/503d Vietnam Newsletter as well many members of the 173d who
have given financial support to make this happen! Thank you, Paul
Whitman, webmaster of the 503rd Heritage Battalion, for putting
Smitty in touch with us! Those attending will have lots to share
with us and we look forward to hearing about their trip!
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