189th Assault Helicopter Company
Greetings: Ghostriders, Avengers, Caretakers, friends and, family members. Time is quickly
Going by. October, is just a few months away and, we will gather in Atlanta for another 189th reunion.
REUNIONS:
VHPA 26th NATIONAL ANNUAL REUNION in Philadelphia: 1-5 July 2009. More information can be at www.vhpa.org.
Chinook Reunion 2009: A reunion for Vietnam Era Chinook outfits at Ft. Rucker October 2-4, 2009.
The 57th AHC is also having a reunion, but I do not have the dates.
189th AHC Reunion October 8-11, 2009: The 189th AHC reunion will be held October 8-11, 2009 at the Hilton-Atlanta Airport. Room rates are $99 per night. . You can now make your reservations on line at http://189thahc.org/reunion.html click on TO BOOK A ROOM CLICK HERE, or call 1-404-767-9000 and tell them that you are with the 189th AHC reunion. The group code is AHC. On Friday they will be a tour of the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca Cola and a drive-thru tour of the Atlanta Historical District. On Saturday we will go down to the Sky Soldiers and do Huey rides. Please make your reservations as soon as possible with the hotel and then send me your reunion application. Cut off for the hotel is September 17th. Send me your reunion applications before August 15th, 2009. We will be traveling this summer and it takes two weeks for the mail to catch up with me. For those who register early I will award a nice prize. Pat Leary is getting shirts made in Pleiku. Photos are on the 189th reunion web page www.189thahc.org/reunion.html. Please send Pat an email at leary_patrick@yahoo.com Please indicate your size and quantity desired. The cost is $20 at the reunion and $30 if you are not attending the reunion.
I will have a few t-shirts and caps available. I have a few flight jackets that will be awarded as prizes. You never know what else we will find for prizes.
Huey Rides: We need a confirmed number as soon as possible if you plan to take the huey ride. They are going to charge veterans $40 and non veterans $45. Please send me an email if you have not sent in your reunion application and tell me names and how many for the huey ride.
Reunion Application: A reunion application is enclosed with the newsletter. If you want to attend the reunion and need to use a credit card to pay for the cost. Email me and I will tell you how you can use a credit card to pay for the cost. Not everyone please. You must have access to a computer because you will be using PayPal. Remember applications must be received by August 15th.
Get Your Bricks Together The National Vietnam War Memorial in Mineral Wells is taking shape. There is a Memorial Garden with the Camp Holloway Wall as the center piece. There is also a section near the wall for memorial bricks. One of the tributes we often pay to departed buddies is purchasing a brick in their name. One of us is going to be last and that guy gets left out. We can’t let that happen. I suggest we all make an effort to get our bricks now and give the rest of our buddy’s time to celebrate. When it is my turn I would prefer everybody focus on the celebration. I want the music to be McNamara’s Band and a wee bit of the grain to be raised with a smile and a laugh.
Gerry is making arrangements for a section of the memorial bricks to be reserved for the 189th. Send him your checks and inscription (3 lines, 15 characters each line). Let’s get this done before the reunion. We can make a final statement….we can have our bricks together. Brothers for ever “Pat Leary” Avenger III
Vinh Son Orphanages in Kontum
In March 2008 I was fortunate to return to Pleiku …40 years since my last visit. Much has changed and much has stayed the same. The highlight of my trip was discovering Vinh Son Montagnard Orphanage in Kontum. The main facility is just off the west end of what we used know as Kontum Airfield. The beautiful wooden church is the main facility and there are 3 more facilities for the children between Kontum and Dakto. When I returned home I discovered that there is a group of vets who have “adopted” the orphanage. These are a most dedicated group of guys who have a well organized effort to help the Sisters who run the orphanage. You can learn a lot more than I could ever tell at www.friendsofvso.org. The scope of their support is amazing. They have provided everything from textbooks to farm tractors. They visit when they can. I have done a little to support them and the return has been wonderful. This Christmas I received a hand drawn Christmas card from a little girl named Tran…it is very precious. If you do make the return trip…please make time to visit SVO..they love visitors…and the kids ….well ..the kids are special. Visit the web page…I think you will become as captivated by SVO as I am.
Brothers for ever “Pat Leary” Avenger III
HELP WANTED: This is one thing you don’t see much of today. “Help Wanted” signs. This year we are asking for your help. We need a Master of Ceremony, assistant tour leaders and an assistant to Skip in the Hospitality Room. So step right on up and volunteer for the job and I will buy you a drink or two, or at least twist your arm.
Due to weight I left the big laser printer back in Yuma and only brought the small black printer on this trip. So this newsletter is back to black and white. Also the mailing labels have not been updated with the current expirations dates since last newsletter. PLEASE. Send me a change of address when you move.
PILOT’S PERCH: By Steve Schmidt
Another wall got dedicated at Mineral Wells, Texas. This time it was the replica of the National Vietnam Memorial Wall which is about half scale wall similar to the one in Washington, DC. I was able to attend the dedication and finally met Vern Gano who is the leader of the 52d Combat Aviation Battalion and Camp Holloway Association. Please the pictures on the web of Vern and James Wood and myself standing in front of the new wall as well as the Camp Holloway wall. The dedication was great as Dana Bowman parachuted into the event and gave a short presentation concerning the respect he had for all Vietnam vets and encouraged us to make the guys coming home today get a better reception than we got. If you don’t know the name Dana Bowman be sure to Google his name as he has had a great problems, but has become a hero for all of us.
Regards, Steve (“Silver Lead”)
(Check the 189th web page www.189thahc.org/newsletter.html for the photos.)
HOW TO CONTACT GERRY: To call us for the next two months our number is 541-587-4291 or by email gerry.sandlin@gmail.com our address is Gerry Sandlin C/O Wells Creek Inn, 32761 Hwy 38, Scottsburg, OR 97473. Please do not email large files of photos as we are on dialup. If you want to mail your reunion application and check here make sure it is mailed by August 1st or it will be returned to you.
Gerry’s Travels: Well since the last Ghostrider News Letter Bobbye and I have arrived in Oregon. Wow is the weather cooler and rain, yes rain that we have not seen since a freak storm in January. We are in the middle of nowhere having to use dialup for internet and the trees have grown since we were last here so the big satellite on top of the coach does not pickup the signal. Oh they are no local channels for TV. So it’s going to be a long two month without DSL and only partial satellite channels. We will leave our favorite water hole (park) here in Oregon about August 16th go to Eugene for a doctors appointment and then start making our way East stopping along the way to see a few of you. Plan to spend a few days around Ft. Smith, Arkansas to see if we can find where Bobbye’s great grandmother was buried and more information on her family, then into Alabama to visit my folks before heading to Atlanta. We will be at the hotel Wednesday the 7th. We are looking forward to another reunion. It is sad to say that we have lost some of our brothers since the last reunion in Seattle. But we will remember them just as we do all those who have past on before us. Remember to invite someone to the reunion. I have received where there are going to be several crews that served together attend. This is great. Let’s see how many full crews we can get there. See you in Atlanta.
Brothers Forever Gerry
189th AHC REUNION APPLICATION
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
October 8-11, 2009
Last Name:______________________ First Name:___________________
Name on Name Tag:________________________
Spouse or Guest Name ______________________
Name on Name Tag__________________________
Address:___________________City:______________State:_____Zip:________
Home Phone:______________ Cell:___________________ Work Phone: _____________
E-mail:___________________________________@_______________________________
Unit:_______________________________Date :__________________
Unit:_______________________________Date :__________________
CALL Sign: _________________________________________________________
Membership dues: A donation of $25.00 for 2 years. $25.00 $_________
REGISTRATION FEE: For member $45.00 + $15.00 for each
additional person that attends with you. (Husband and wife/friend- $60.00)
TOTAL: $________
(Registration fee includes: Nametag, hospitality rooms with drinks and snacks, free events, meeting rooms.)
Dinner: Cost $45.00 per person X ______ = $__________ TOTAL: $_________
Events:
Transportation Cost to the Huey Rides:
$16.00 per person X ______ = $__________ TOTAL: $________
PLEASE NOTE: Cost for the huey rides are $40 per veteran and $5 for non veteran.
All monies for the huey rides will be paid directly to the Aviation Heritage Foundation.
Shirts made in Pleiku, Vietnam? Cost $20.00 Each for those attending the reunion
Size: ____________ Qty: __________ Size: __________ Qty”______ (See Newsletter)
shirts will paid to Pat Leary at the reunion
TOTAL AMOUNT INCLOSSED $_________
Do you have any special Dietary or ADA Needs?
______________________________________________________________________________________
HOTEL RESERVATION CONFIRMATION NUMBER_________________________
ARRIVAL DATE: ________________________ TIME:_________________________
DEPARTURE DATE:______________________TIME:_________________________
NAME:_____________________________ SPOUSE/FRIEND:__________________________
EMERCENCY CONTACT: Name___________________________________
Relationship_____________ Phone Number: ___-_____-______ Cell Number: ______________
An EMERCENCY CONTACT IS REQUIRED IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
Cannot be the person attending the reunion with you.
Please Note: All Money must be received No Later Than August 15, 2009.
NOTE: IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL DIETARY OR ADA NEEDS AND DO NOT INDICATE ABOVE, THE 189TH AHC ASSCOCIATION WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE. No application will be accepted without an emergency contact.
Please Note:
This year we are asking you to provide an emergency contact. We never know when an emergency may arise, therefore to better serve you and your family we ask you to cooperate with us. We also recommend that you bring a list of medicines. If you wear eyeglasses you might consider bringing a copy of your prescription. We will not ask for a list of your medicine or a copy of your prescription, but it is better to be prepared in the event you loose your medicines are glasses. (Do not put your list or prescriptions in your checked baggage.) We will not accept your application until we receive a emergency contact name and phone number.
If you are on a special diet or have a handicap that would require handicap accommodations we ask that you provide that information also that we might prepare for you. These areas must also be addressed on your application.
IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL DIETARY OR ADA NEEDS AND DO NOT INDICATE IN THE APPLICATION, THE 189TH AHC ASSCOCIATION WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.
If you plan to bring a guest we must have their name(s) also.
If you live in the Atlanta area and plan to attend any part of the reunion, but do not plan to stay at the hotel you will be required to provide the 189th AHC Reunion with an application and pay a registration fee. We ask that you include your spouse or guest information on the application and emergency contact information.
Cancellation Policy: If you provide the 189th AHC Reunion with an application and pay the applicable fees before August 15, 2009 you will be reimbursed all fees except membership dues. August 15 thru September 1, 2009 all fees except membership and registration fees will be reimbursed. After September 15, 2009 reimbursements will be made on a case-by-case bases.
We must negotiate with the hotel for the dinner, hospitality room, the bus company and other venues early on to hold this reunion. In most cases we have already paid out to these venues before you arrive for the reunion. After we give a final count of expected attendee’s to the venues we cannot get your money back. We regret this, but we have no control over this.
Mail TO: Gerry & Bobbye Sandlin, PMB F364389, 3590 Round Bottom Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45244-3026
Call: 928-344-5613 or 619-507-2213 most any place in the world.
E-mail gerry.sandlin@gmail.com