SADDLE UP AND PULL PITCH!  SHAMROCK STAND DOWN 2011 HEADED FOR FORT WORTH!

Yep, Partners!  Orlando 2010 was great, but since everything IS bigger and better in Texas, Shamrock Stand Down 2011, April 28 - May 1, is sure be our best Shamrock Stand Down ever.  Located at the center of the USA, with convenient access via DFW Airport, Fort Worth has something for everyone, and promises to be a great site for this event.

We've partnered with American Airlines for 5% discount on best available airfares to DFW.  Simply go on line to www.aa.com and use the booking code 2341BU.  There is also a discount program on Avis Rental Cars.  Reservations should be made by calling Avis directly at (888) 754-8878 or by going on line to www.avis.com.  Use discount code AWD: GO27999.

ORIGINALS HAVE WILD WILD WEST EXPERIENCE IN MINNESOTA

Al Peterson invited The Originals to his swankienda in Monticello, in the Minneapolis area, for a reunion weekend, and those who attended had an old west weekend experience not soon to be forgotten, thanks to Bob "Boomer" Beck and his pals from the Minnestota Western Heritage Association.  D Troopers enjoyed chuck wagon style eats and lots of western style hospitality.  "Boomer" Beck and company even provided some entertainment, with music, rope tricks, and even a "shoot out" that found Boomer on the losing end.  Attending were Rick Skindrud, Norm Hansen, Bill Leadingham, Charlie Marcure, Leroy Warborg, Rich Emde, Phil Passmore, and, of course, Al.  Thanks to Al and Boomer for making this a memorable experience for all who attended.

SHAMROCK STAND DOWN 2010 ROCKS "MICKEYWORLD"

It’s hard to say enough about Shamrock Stand Down 2010!  What a group, what a spot, what a great time.  83 D Troopers eventually signed in, and total attendance with family members was 130.  Attendees came from near (Bob Mayer, 65-66, lives in Orlando) and far (Bill Schweitzer, Shamrock 6, 69-70 came in from Germany).  All eras had first time participants.  The Buena Vista Palace turned out to be a terrific venue, too.  Handsome facilities and beautiful grounds made ideal backdrops for the event.  And the Hotel really went out of their way to accommodate our somewhat unruly group.

Saturday night, a banquet (photo at left) featuring a number of surprises was the high point of the Stand Down.  Even Spiderman himself (aka - Bill Miller, Shamrock 29) couldn’t resist an appearance.  And that was just the beginning.  Along the way, Steve Moreno (66-67) and Paul Hradil (ditto spouse Elaine) were recognized as “Shamrock Legends” for their special places in the history of D Troop and our reunions since 2004.  “But wait, there’s more!” John Gayle hosted a ceremony in which Doug Donnell (66-67), former Remington Raider, and Ron Adams (69-70), former Ground Pounder were made honorary (?) “gunnies”.  (Will pennicilin cure that?)  David Kyle (68-70) topped off the evening with a karaoke show, and then all who were in any shape to do so headed to the HQ suite as festivities continued into the early morning hours.

A large group gathered in the meeting room on Saturday as Al Peterson conducted a break-out session on VA access and benefits to a large group.  It is very important that all D Troopers (and all Vietnam vets) make themselves and their families aware of the elevated health risks that exist for us because of "Agent Orange" defoliant exposure.  Risk from exposure is NOT limited to those who had direct contact with the chemical, or by its application.  Please visit the VA/Agent Orange advocacy section of this website for more information.  Al coordinates our information network, and there are others available who can help, as well.

Thanks to everyone who pitched in to make Shamrock Stand Down 2010 a huge success.  Watch this site for announcements of future reunions.  We encourage smaller, local groups to get together also.  John Gayle and Ron Adams have a group of Atlanta area D Troopers who meet for dinner occasionally.  Discussions of a Texas area reunion are taking place.  Thanks to our larger, and growing, group, the network for involving more guys at these smaller, less costly, local gatherings is in place.  That having been said, also make every effort to attend the large, full group reunions.  We truly have a great time, and they are guaranteed to be the least structured event you'll ever attend.  Over and over again, we hear from participants, "It's been 40 years since I talked about these things...and it's great!". 

REUNION MEMORIES

Our First Official "Original D Troop" Reunion, took place in Las Vegas, April 1-3, 2005, with renewed friendships, great fellowship, and lots of laughs (along with a tear or two here and there).  (Photo from 2005 reunion.  Top Row, L-R:  Doug Donnell, Manuel Maldonado, Rick Flores, Steve Pratt, Jerry Lehman, Raymond Frederick, Marty Contreras;  Bottom Row:  Steve Moreno, Al Coy, Paul Hradil, Rick Ginter.  Photo courtesy:  P. Hradil.)  Steve Pratt had the greatest statement of all:  "I had to come just to verify that all that really happened."  We have found that verification and acknowledgement to be valuable benefits of the reunion process.

We have been collectively saddened over the last couple of years with the passing of Rick Ginter, Al Coy and Jerry Lehman.  Rick passed away in 2007 after a long bout with MS; Al lost his battle with cancer in the fall of 2009; and Jerry succumbed to cancer in May, 2010.  Rick, Al, and Jerry are, no doubt, on heaven's flight line.

In 2006, a reunion was in Gig Harbor, WA, marked the 40th anniversary of D Troop's deployment, from nearby Fort Lewis, to Vietnam in 1966.  (Photo at Left:  2006 Reunion at Fort Lewis.  Top Row (L-R) Bob Mayer, Bob Beck, John Hart, Phil Passmore, Doug Donnell, and Jim Bergquist.  Attending but not in photo:  Paul Hradil, Rick Flores, and Rick Ginter.

 In 2007, the group was back in Las Vegas.  It was a "short notice" deal, but attendance was great, and again, "new" D Troopers added to the growing group.

In 2008, we made our first attempt at a Shamrock Stand Down to involve D Troopers from subsequent years of D Troop's deployment in Vietnam ("Newbies"), and the response was more than we could have hoped.  47 D Troopers plus spouses and visitors showed up, including a strong Original contingent, and a burgeoning -- and only slightly annoying -- group of 69-70 Shamrocks.

2009 had The Originals gathering in July at Rick Skindrud's place in Wisconsin, and the "Newbies" occupied the Clarion (again) in Las Vegas in November.

So get your wings on and plan on rolling in to the next big event.  We'd like to see all our photos have to go "wide angle" to show all those present.  We have a unique brotherhood and each D Trooper has something unique to contribute.