Fellow Rakkasans,
This is the official notification for the upcoming the 51st Anniversary/Reunion for the Weldon F. Honeycutt /Hamburger Hill Chapter of the 187th Regiment Association. The dates for the 51st Anniversary / Reunion are Monday, May 11th to Friday, May 15th. Important to understand that we will officially start with arrival on Monday the 11th of May, and organized activities on the Tuesday morning the 12th of May. We will continue to work details in the months to come. You will receive updates by email, on social media www.facebook.com/nationalrakkasan , www.HamburgerHill.org and through this website.
Our 51st Reunion / Anniversary is very significant to all of Rakkasans and to the entire U.S. Army. The combat actions of the 187th Infantry Regiment as gliders soldiers, paratroopers, and air assault troopers have always been significant. I am writing to ask that you join all of your brothers for the celebration of the 51st Reunion / Anniversary of the Regimental action on Dong Ap Bia/Hill 937/Hamburger Hill. In May of 1969 the 3rd Battalion 187th Infantry Regiment ventured forth to a significant “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 in both Clarksville and Ft. Campbell that will honor our comrades and renew our friendship.
This letter contains the most recent schedule of events at the 51st Anniversary/ Reunion. It is also important to note that we are working with the 3rd Battalion 187th Regiment but the Battalion may be away from Ft. Campbell during the Reunion / Anniversary. We appreciate all of the support they will provide to this event. This letter gives you a summary of the activities, registration details, and the cost of the events. 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 Harkins
President, Alpha 6
LODGING: A block of rooms has been reserved in the name of the Hamburger Hill / Rakkasans at the Riverview Inn. The address is 50 College Street, Clarksville, TN 37040.
Please contact the hotel directly telephone for your room reservations. You cannot do it on line. When you call mention that you are part of the Hamburger Hill / Rakkasan group. Our group room rate is $84.00 per night, double occupancy, plus any taxes. Be sure to make your reservations early and remember to let them know you are with our group. Room reservations are separate from our reunion costs. Riverview Inn: 877-487-4837 or 931-552-333.
REUNION COSTS: $150 Per Person (The cost includes: Hamburger Hill Chapter Dues, Reception, Commemorative Dinner, Chapter wives luncheon Wednesday, and meeting and room fees). Funds are NOT included for the purchase of refreshments for the hospitality room (20). Please earmark any donations for its operation to Bob Harkins. Additionally, Mike Smith will be collecting contributions to sponsor enlisted soldiers to attend the informal reception and memorial dinner ($40 to Sponsor a soldier - 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.
This year there are two option for registration and sponsorship. First is the traditional check to Mike Smith. PLEASE LET US KNOW YOUR NUMBER OF RESERVATIONS AND FORWARD PAYMENT TO Mike Smith, OUR TREASURER, AT THE BELOW LISTED ADDRESS,
Make 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
The Second option is to register or send funds for sponsorship via credit card via web registration by clicking HERE. ( rakkasanassociation.org/events )
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 51st Reunion/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 bharkins6@utexas.edu . 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 187th REGIMENT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION! THEY ARE $25 PER YEAR AND SHOULD BE SENT TO: ERIK LIND WITH THE NATIONAL CHAPTER (www.rakkasanassociation.org). 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 the Hamburger Hill Board.
*President Bob Harkins, bharkins6@utexas.edu
Vice President Tom Martin, tommartin9385@yahoo.com
*Treasurer Mike Smith, michael_smith672@yahoo.com
Secretary Margie Vander Luitgaren, rakshimbun@wk.net
Non-Officer Director #1 Wayne Olson, wayne.olson187th@yahoo.com
*Non-Officer Director #2 John Dewyse, jpdewyse@sbcglobal.net
*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 Bob Harkins.
BATTALION EVENT: The Battalion will be away from Ft. Campbell this year during our Reunion/ Anniversary. However, supporting our activities is always hard while continuing their training mission. Regiment and 3rd Battalion specifically will support this Reunion / Anniversary as best they can. I am certain we all appreciate their effort. In support of our Reunion, LTC Ed Arntson, the Battalion Commander (Iron 6) has announced:
"The Iron Rakkasans will again conduct the Iron Warrior Challenge this spring while we are supporting Operation Southern Guardian. Both those deployed and at home station will conduct the three challenges associated with being called an Iron Warrior for 2020. The final event will be an 18.7 mile run, and the veterans - along with our Rear Detachment Soldiers and leaders - are welcome to walk the final 1.87 miles as part of the reunion activities. If someone does not wish to walk the final 1.87 miles, they can hand out water or greet our Iron Rakkasans at the finish line of the 18.7 mile run."
Veterans can run / walk all or part of the 18.7 mile course. Last year several veterans walked the last 1.87 mile of the course. This year most veterans will be at the War Stories discussion doing most of the run / walk. However, we will be there for the end. Veterans can hand out water on the route. Look at Tuesday on the tentative schedule.
LADY’S LUNCH: This year 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.
QUARTERMASTER: We have established a special Rakkasan Store for the 51st
Anniversary / Reunion Shirts, Hats and decals. Click on the image to go to the store. If you need help ordering or want to customize an item, for the event in May, email info@rakkasanassociation.org
COINS, SHIRTS/ HATS/ BELT BUCKLES:
Mike Smith still has HH Coins and Hats from previous reunions. Contact him by email at michael_smith672@yahoo.com
GRAND OLE OPRY: On Tuesday evening May 12th there will be a bus to Nashville to attend the Grand Ole Opry. The details are still working but the cost will be about $80 per person for transportation and ticket to the event. Bus will leave at 1730. If you wish to attend please add that cost to your Registration.
GOLF OUTING: Tuesday Morning 12 May, we will have a golf outing at the Ft. Campbell Club. It will be a scramble for those that want to Play. Cost TBD.
HAMBURGER HILL SCHOLARSHIP: We will established a Hamburger Hill Scholarship but not the umbrella of the 101st Airborne Division Association. We hope to present two $1,000 scholarships in May 2021. More to follow
WEB SITES: We have established a web site for all of the members of the Hamburger Hill Fight 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.
Additionally, the 187th Regiment Association has established a presence on social media at www.facebook.com/NationalRakkasan/ , an Association Website at
www.rakkasanassociation.org and a store at www.rakkasanstore.com . Stay current with the ongoing activities of the Association.
See you in May!
Comments