Note: 2006 After Action Report for the Newly Created TF 3-506th Group
Well another reunion has passed and a great time was had by all. A very special well done to the reunion committee that worked to make this a success! Some of us were a bit skeptical when it was decided to hold our reunion alongside the 101st Airborne Division Associations reunion but what a good decision that was! For 90 dollars per person you got 2 dinners (Memorial dinner program & 101st awards dinner program) and the hospitality room or you could just pay 30 dollars per person for just the hospitality room which included a continental breakfast, lunch and all beverages. What a deal. Our gathering room was about 50 feet from the 101st hospitality room and contained our silent auction items, snacks, photo albums and the work of Jane Fulkerson and Anne Colone on the location and details of our KIA’s. Looking at all that documentation really showed how much time and effort Jane and Anne have put into that endeavor.
On Thursday night we held our 3-506th dinner at the local American Legion Post and what gracious hosts they were. Everyone present could have gone through the buffet line 3 times and there still would have been food left over. There was enough ham and turkey to feed a small army and it was delicious.
Our new KIA Memorial was unveiled that night much to the surprise and pleasure of all! The Memorial consists of a GI dog tag with the name, rank, unit and date of death of all our KIA’s. Mike Krawczyk and Dee Dallas collaborated in its design and construction. A special thank you to CSM Larry Smith and his staff at the Indiana National Guard for their assistance in making the Memorial possible.
After the dinner it was on display in our gathering room and many Veterans from other 101st Units stopped by and were impressed with the Memorial and said that they wished they had something like that.
After dinner our Founding Members were presented with their certificates, membership cards and Founding Member lapel pins. We have 49 Founding Members.
Our live auction conducted by Ray Mayfield brought in around 1800 dollars that night (complete financial report pending) which will be deposited in the flower fund account.
Many of our ladies enjoyed visiting the Mall of America and several of us took part in the various tours and cultural events offered at the reunion. Doc Jones got on the wrong bus and missed our dinner but we understand he really enjoyed the musical Singing in the Rain.
On Saturday the Midwest All Airborne Alliance held the dedication of
the 506th Memorial at the Airborne Circle at Fort Snelling National
Cemetery wher over 173,000 Veterans are interned including one of
our Fallen Comrades, Vincent Parkhurst who was KIA 20 February 1968
Dan Gaworecki and his wife Margaret have adopted Vincent's grave
and visit every Memorial Day with Currahee Flowers. All Currahee's
attending the reunion were invited and their special guests. There
were Currahee Veterans from all eras including present day Currahee's
including the 506th CSM Wagoner who is recuperating from grievous
wounds received in Iraq. The All Airborne AllianceVeterans went all
out for this ceremony with fly bys with Blackhawk helicopters, WW II
fighters and bombers with the active duty 101st Airborne Division Color
Guard posting the Colors and the local Recruiting Command providing
the 7 man firing party for 3 volleys. Our 3-506th Colors were proudlyon
display with the Company guidons encircling the Currahee Memorial.
The entire event was conducted with professionalism and our gratitude
goes out to the men of the Midwest All Airborne Alliance for treating us
in the mannor they did. All Currahee's that missed the dedication
should visit the site if ever in the Minneapolis area.
A special award was given to our own Freeman Dee Dallas by
the 101st Association for his work in the publication of the history of the 101st being certain to include our time in <ST1:COUNTRY-REGIoN w:st="on">Vietnam</ST1:COUNTRY-REGIoN>. Dee has worked very long and hard on that project and is a wealth of information on Unit history and military protocol. If Dee doesn’t have the answer he sure knows where to get it. Much of this work will soon be published on our website. It should also be noted that three of our members are on the board of governors of the 101st Association. They are Joe Alexander, Dee Dallas and Roosevelt Mitchell is an alternate.
The decision was made to again hold our next reunion alongside the 101st Association next year in Omaha. With the success we had this year it was felt that holding it alongside the 101st gives our members the best bang for their buck. For example the 30 dollar hospitality fee included 4 full days of continental breakfast, lunch and all beverages. That is tough to beat and you get that kind of deal with the numbers the 101st Association brings to the table. It is also nice to see other Troopers that you may have served with in other 101 Units.
The silent auction was again a success (exact figures to be posted soon) and with the money raised at the live auction we are over half way in funding Memorial Day flowers in 2007. A big THANK YOU to all who participated.
Another highlight of our gathering room was Tom Lundgren’s significant other Dee who is a massage therapist. She brought in her table and between her and Bac Si Lovy many Currahee’s and their wives enjoyed an afternoon of bone crushing and muscle relaxing massages. We may have to make this an annual undertaking and offer it as a silent auction item.
On a final note we would like to thank the 101st Association for their gracious hospitality and the Currahee banner they presented to us and to invite all Currahee’s from all eras and Units to join us and the rest of the 101st in Omaha next year for some fun, fellowship and to remember all of our comrades.