Update April 26, 2016

1/83rd Unit News	1. Support - please keep all the members of our group who have various health issues in your prayers. They all could use our continued support. One who I just learned of is Sandy Ray (68-69) who is recovering from some heart related problems. 2. 1/83rd 50th Anniversary - Just a reminder that our Reunion this year coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the day that the 1/83rd sailed from Oakland to Vietnam. We sailed on October 13, 1966 and arrived in Vietnam on Halloween. 3. ANZAC Day - April 25 was the commemoration of ANZAC Day, a day deep in significance to our Australian and New Zealand brothers. This is a very solemn occasion for all Australians and New Zealanders, particularly the Veteran community. Let us all say a prayer for all the brave souls who sacrificed so much in all wars. Here is more on ANZAC Day. Lest We Forget! 4. Australia News - I just posted a picture of a plaque dedicated to all the men who served in the 131 Divisional Locating Battery of the Royal Australian Artillery from 1966-1971. This also the 50th Anniversary of their original posting to Vietnam. Look for it in News. 5. Reunion News - If you have not already told me you are attending the Reunion, please let me know a. The current list of those planning to attend can be found here. b. For more details on the 2016 Reunion, see this section on the 1/83rd website. Optional Post-Reunion Tour to Gettysburg on October 17 - Please contact Mike Reetz directly with any questions on this excursion. His contact info is on the Roster. 6. 83rd Unit Merchandise - See this section on the 1/83rd website.
Photo of the Week	Crowds gather at the Australian War Memorial for the Anzac Day dawn service in Canberra
General News	1. Please remember that all contact info that we have for our group can be found on the Roster. This is the best spot to start if you need to contact one of the group.
Interesting Links and More	1. Tom Spicer (66-67) sent this moving video, Soaring Valor. With a hero's welcome, the Gary Sinise Foundation brought WWII veterans and their guardians to The National WWII Museum in New Orleans. A one-of-a-kind experience that included a tour of this incredible museum, as well as entertainment, celebratory meals and an opportunity for community with their fellow veterans. This is a great story. 2. 24th Corps Pin - Ron Sims (70-71) passed along this link in case anyone wants a 24th Corps pin. 3. Allen Saltzman (66-67) sent this inspiring commentary from Fort Meade Command Sergeant Maj. Rodwell L. Forbes discussing Vietnam Vets. Click on his photo to hear this 3:15 minute video. 4. Walt Noechel (69-70) sent this story "US soldiers burned their waste in the Mideast wars — and now it’s killing them". 5. Walt Noechel (69-70) sent this story for all of us who remember the Lone Ranger. Welcome back to those thrilling days of yesteryear, the Lone Ranger Rides Again.
Did you Know	There are many countries in Central Asia with names that end in -stan, like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and others, all thanks to the Persians–the Persian root -istan means land, so the places they visited became “Land of the Kazakhs” and so on. (Courtesy of How-To Geek Newsletter)
Website Updates	1. If you come across anything that you think may be a good addition to our website let me know. Also, if you have any questions or suggestions regarding the website, let me know. 2. Check out all the latest updates by looking at the website Table of Contents.
Vietnam Veterans of America Update	1. VVA Update for April 8, 2016 2. VVA Update for April 15, 2016 3. VVA Update for April 22, 2016 4. VVA website
1/83rd Roster	Review your entry on the website Roster and let me know if any changes are necessary. If your email stops working, I cannot reach you if you have incomplete contact details on the roster.
Missing members of the 1/83rd	Help us find those former 83rd members who haven't found us yet!! I am sure that each of us has someone they would really like to reconnect with. If we all pitch in, we may find many more of our old buddies. Here are some ways to do that: 1. If you are in contact or have contact info for any 1/83rd guys please contact them and tell them about our group or at least tell me and I will contact them. 2. Look through the roster on the website and if you know of others who are not listed, let me know who they are. Also, if you see any incorrect or missing info (including your own entry) let me know. 3. If you have copies of old orders tucked away someplace, send me a copy so I can make sure those names are on the roster. 4. Sometimes all it takes is a name and location and we can find someone but the more details we know the better our chances.
Rules & Regs	If anyone would like an updated copy of the "Rules & Regs" document which has helpful information about the website, let me know. Go to Contact Us and submit your request or email me directly.
Advisory	If you get an email from and it has a website link included anywhere within the email, most times you should be able to just click on the link and you will be taken to the website. Sometimes however, the link will not work because, in sending you the email, the link is deactivated although it is still usable. If this should happen, another way to use the link is to copy and paste it into the address line on your browser. Please be sure to let me know if you have any questions on this. Please make sure that your email system allows emails to be received from both of my email addresses, bill_t_08012@yahoo.com and artillery_83rd@yahoo.com Please note that there are no blank spaces in email addresses. What you see in mine between words/characters is the underscore (_) character.