The following is a summation of the 2021 reunion at the
Sonesta Select Tucson Airport Hotel
Tucson Arizona
14th Transportation Battalion association of Vietnam Veterans
1965 - 1972
2021 8th Biennial Reunion memories
Tucson Arizona
The reunion planning started in January 2019 to go to Tucson Arizona for our 2020 reunion. Plans were made with the Desert Diamond Casino and resort to have it there. In June 2019 Tucson tourism flew Linda and I down to tour and finalize things with Denys and Monica at the Desert Diamond.
In 2020 covid-19 was spiking again so the reunion had to be postponed to October 2021. In August 2021 covid-19 put limits on what Desert Diamond could offer, so we could have no limits on what we wanted to do Desert Diamond suggested we move to a county location so we could follow the State of Arizona rules. Sonesta Select Tucson Airport Hotel. Our banquet was moved to the Pima Air Museum so everyone could attend. Desert Diamond absorbed any and all extra charges and furnished busing to and from new location for the banquet and our group tours. Thank you Desert Diamond.
Saturday October 23rd: Thank you goes to Tom, Dan and Art for Stocking and setting up our hospitality room, also for putting the welcome envelopes together for registration. The Dog Tags and P-38 Were donated by Dan Quackenbush. These are great memories of the past. Thank you. Dan Quackenbush. Art Harrison for manning our hospitality room. Carl Woods for selling 50/50 tickets.
October 24th: Registration and visiting began.
October 25th: More registration visiting or touring on their own. Desert Diamond set up a trip to their casino from the Sonesta Select Airport Hotel with complimentary busing to and from.
October 26th: The group went to the Pima Air Space Museum for on your own tour. Tuesday evening Pizza was enjoyed by all. Desert was a welcome home cake for all Veterans and a Birthday cake for Joyce Woods. Thanks to Linda Thomsen Lori Thomsen and Kim Lucier for serving Pizza and cake. Followed by the general meeting.
October 27th: This was a free day for touring Tucson as you wished.
That evening there was a one-hour social hour, donated by Tom Myles. Thank You Tom. Pictures were taken for the Webb page. The National Anthem was sung by Joyce Woods. Thank You. You did a great job. Russell Plank gave the invocation. Thank You Russell. The Banquet was catered by the Pima Air and Space Museum under many airplanes. Nicely done Pima Air and Space Museum. Tom welcomed the group for the evening. Tom introduced the speaker. James Wolf our guest speaker provided by Benny Aleman. Speaker was Benny ‘s Brother-in-law. Thank You James great job. Door prize was won by Dan Quackenbush. Congratulations! Drawings were done on Quilts donated by Dan Sipple’s wife, Pat and Mrs. Gary Alcorn. Pictured donated from 79th done by Jim Krienbihl. Thank You for the donations.
October 28th: Lots of visiting and good byes. The Desert Diamond forfeited our hotel reservation and other services due to the covid-19. Thank You Desert Diamond for you concern for our safety.
We would also like to thank Ralph Frank for keeping our Webb page up to date. This is a big job. Benny Aleman for being our treasure. Thank You to all Officers and Directors and other members for all your input. It takes Team Work!
Now Thank You to all who were able to attend and Thank You for any help you may have contributed. For those who were unable to attend or choose not to come due to covid-19. We missed each and every one of you and hope to see you at our next reunion. Tentatively set for Branson Mo. 2023. Confirmed updates will follow.
President; Tom Myles
Vice President; Dale Thomsen
Treasure; Benny Aleman
Secretary; Lori Thomsen