3rd Batt 503rd IN (ABN) 173rd BDE

03/27/2024

Attention Vets of the Best Damn fighting Unit that ever served in Vietnam:

Our Reno Reunion is approaching fast and faster. We are just a couple months out from another wonderful time of Brotherhood and comradery 3-7June 2024. The many Reunion scheduled noon Events leaves one best day to have our

3rd Batt Luncheon - Monday 3 June at 11:30

at Chickies and Pete’s a Restaurant in the Grand Sierra Resort.

A link to their menu: https://www.grandsierraresort.com/restaurants/chickies-and-petes

Our Luncheon is to establish at the earliest possible time, the opportunity for you to know who is present and the option to make shared plans. You will also see, on the Schedule, that Monday is a busy day - Registration opens at 7 am. The Hospitality Room is also open at 8 am and there will be a Welcome Reception at 1800.

Andrew Lucero, Manager of Chickies and Pete’s, Grand Sierra Resort, has agreed to reserve a portion of Chickies that will seat the approximate 30 Vets for the 3rd Batt Luncheon on 3 Jun between 11:30am – 1 pm. Only potential glitch is that he wants table service to be with one Tab per table. Recommend that you come prepared to pay cash to ease the potential hassle.

More Reunion Info at: https://www.skysoldier.net/2024RenoReunion/

Kimberly Hubbard, Director of Sales and Marketing, San Diego Concierge Worldwide – Our “Acting General Officer-in-Charge”, is presently working on establishing a policy for table assignment and/or reservations at the Thursday 6 June Banquet – Cocktail Hour starts at 5:30. She will announce the procedure sometime in April. It will be so-o-o-o-o nice to actually be all dressed for a Banquet and not be involved in a mad cattle rush to claim tables.

ATW

**Attendees with special limitations are NOT recommended to take this tour, 1800s boardwalk, and the area has a hill to walk up.

12/21/2021

Interesting to learn that the Vietnamese have erected a War Memorial on the site where LZ Uplift stood during the War.

A short look at what was found by returning Veterans of The War In Viet Nam on their Return Journey to see what has become of Viet Nam after 39 years, and a ...

03/28/2020

3rd BATT BULLETIN BOARD – 3 - 7 June, 2020 Ohio Reunion

Hope and pray that this information finds you in good health. Just received following in an email regarding the 2020 Ohio Skysoldier Reunion that was scheduled 3 – 7 June, 2020.

Sky Soldiers,
On behalf of the Association President:
The 173rd Airborne Brigade Reunion in Dayton, Ohio is pending cancellation or postponement for this year. The health and welfare of everyone is at stake during this time of crisis. If postponed, August dates are under consideration. (12-16 or 19-23), Please contact your Chapter President this week to make your wishes known. Chapter leadership will vote on Saturday, April 4th after receiving your input. Please stay safe and update your contact information on the site.

It appears that the decision to cancel or postpone the Reunion is still in consultation. I encourage you to participate, as requested, by contacting our Chapters with your opinion. The click following link to get you some information for the Association Chapters: (also click on the large logos that follow below)
www.skysoldier.net/Chapters-and-Chapter-Presidents/

Once at the webpage you will find phone numbers and email addresses. I highly recommend using the email contacts.

As much as I appreciate the opportunity to once again meet and greet my fellow Skysoldiers; I value your health and well-being much more. Please take care of yourselves, your families and your communities. Mason Branstetter 3/503 70-71

05/30/2019

Update on the 3rd Batt Luncheon during the Charleston 2019 Skysoldier Reunion. Tim Austin is actively searching for a site and will post the latest and greatest information about the Luncheon on the 3rd Batt Sign-in Sheet at the Reunion.

07/24/2017

Mason Bransetter and his wife along with Tim Austin and his wife were among the Herd paratroopers who attended Bayonet Week in Vicente, Italy to celebrate with the Brigade.

07/10/2017

3rd Batt in Vicenza, Italy 3-8 July, 2017. Left to right - Tim Austin, Mason Branstetter, Carlos Hernandez, George Farris, George Bremischew, Sam Maslowski and Bennie Griggs. Charlie Hill was there but left before our Dinner. BTW Elvis was in the house.

05/21/2017

The Herd just had a marvelous Reunion Banquet in OKC. They report that nearly 700 of our Brothers, spouses and friends were present to celebrate our Brotherhood. Airborne! Here attached is a photo of Echo 3rd Batt.

05/18/2017

We had a wonderful 3rd Batt Luncheon at the Bourbon Street Cafe - Jazmoz'z in OKC yesterday - 17 May 17. About 42 were present to enjoy the food and most importantly our Brotherhood.

04/23/2017

Rally Point Luncheon: It looks like the best day to hold a luncheon is the FIRST DAY of the Reunion on Wednesday the 17th of May at 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (1400). So plan on arriving at the Reunion on the first day to join the best of 3rd Batt in a marvelous lunch to be held at Jazmo’z Bourbon St Café, The first day will be a “feast” day. Will have a 3rd Batt Cajun lunch at 1100 and a BBQ Picnic hosted by the Reunion organizers at 1800. So make plans to be there on the 17th and encourage other 3rd Batt Brothers to get out there and walk point in the direction of OKC.

The first day offers the best opportunity to gather at a Rally Point and see who might be in town and to make personal plans for the week. I know the National Reunion organizers state that Friday is available for Batt activity, however, that is also a major Tour day to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. After traveling to OKC everyone will be wanting to take in some “clover leaf” tours and secure our perimeter. We don’t want our Rally Luncheon to have compete with the Cowboys and Indians!!

Tim Austin volunteered his “boots on the ground” expertise and after some early RECON extraordinaire efforts, he initiated coordination with the Jazmo’z Bourbon St. Café. Check out the place at: http://www.bourbonstreetcafe.com/ The management at Jazmo’z has been very gracious to offer their facility without a room rental fee or minimum guaranteed attendance fees. Join me in rewarding their generosity by giving them a full house of hungry and thirsty Vets.

Who would have “thunk it” we’re going to eat New Orleans Style in OKC. Jazmo’z offers us the opportunity to order off a Menu and pay individually.

Other Banquet facilities in OKC were expensive and not very accommodating. We were going to be charged $35 plus per person and I was being required to commit to a guaranteed number of meals and to pay them a minimum fee regardless of who might attend. Our menu was also going to be limited to a few choices. Not my kind of holiday. We just don’t know how many will be present - - - and I am not prepared to pay for uneaten meals.

Speaking of attendance - - -kindly give me a “Reply” to this email and help provide a quick count just for general knowledge and planning. Thanks much in advance if you would do that.

Bring your Company Guidons – let’s show our colors.

I am thinking of being a “Sooner Boomer” and arrive in the area a couple days early - before the cannons blast starts the land rush. Looking forward to seeing “Ya’ll”.

Welcome to Jazmoz's N'awlins style dining and entertainment. Enjoy the food, the music and our well stocked bar. We're an upscale dining experience with locations in Tulsa and Oklahoma City

09/11/2016

Greetings fellow 3rd Batt Paratroopers.

08/07/2015

I like this man everytime I hear him.

07/14/2015

We will hold our 3rd Batt Rally Point Luncheon during the 2016 Skysoldier Reunion being held at Columbus (Ft Benning), GA at the National Infantry Museum at 1130 - 1400 on June 9, 2016 in the Continental Room. They have a special Menu with several reasonably priced items available so we may personally order and pay without a room fee. The National Reunion is 7-12 June 2016. Please note that the main Reunion hotel, the Marriott is sold out and rooms are going fast at the other Reunion designated hotels. I am staying at the Hampton Inn South which is within walking distance to the Infantry Museum and is one of the Reunion special rate hotels. Trip Advisor has it as the #1 out of 46 Columbus hotels. They have only 18 reunion designated rooms left as of 7.10.15. I will be sending out a Newsletter in the next couple weeks.