The Rent-A-Battalion blog
Message from Mick
by Donna Fuller on 05/23/24
Marines, We all have friends, Brothers in Arms, who gave their last full measure on the Battle Fields of Vietnam. We'll remember them on Memorial Day and most or us, if not all of us. will remember them every day of our lives. We pray for them, their families and loved ones.
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with meShall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day."*
*From Shakespeare's "Henry V".
SEMPER FIDELS
News from Mick
by Donna Fuller on 05/10/24
Member Marines, Associate Members, Partners and Friends.
Many thanks to Rudy Tovar for getting our 2024 Reunion Information to the following media outlets:
"The Purple Heart Magazine", "Vietnam Veterans of America Magazine" and the "Semper Fidelis Newsletter for Retired Marines".
Publicity is what 2/3 V.V.A. needs to grow our Membership. Feel free to use the template below. It's so easy. Semper Fidelis
U.S.M.C. 2nd Battalion Third Marines (Vietnam War) Annual Reunion
to be held in Savannah, GA, 4 September - 8 September 2024. For additional information contact:
Marine Fergy Hughes
P.O. Box 211
Baldwin, NY 11510-0211
(623) 780-1819
clydesdadfergy@aol.com
Passing of Doc John W Hardin
by Donna Fuller on 03/30/24
We have some sad news to face. Doc John W. Hardin (H/2/3, Vietnam War) passed away on 22 March 2024.
Master Chief Hardin (USN, ret.) had been a staunch supporter of 2/3 V.V.A. Many of us had the distinct privilege of seeing him one last time at the Branson Reunion 2023.
Doc, you and your family are in our prayers. May you be forever blessed with "fair winds and following seas".
Semper Fortis, SEMPER FIDELIS
Message from Mick
by Donna Fuller on 03/28/24
T.I.P.S. # 1 (Tactical Information for a Perfect Stay); Savannah Reunion 2024
Greetings Marines and All,
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS INFO TO ANY 2/3 MARINE (VIETNAM) THAT YOU KNOW.
Free information is available from these 3 Savannah (& Pooler) experts.
1. Contact Visit Savannah at 1 877-SAVANNAH.
OR VisitSavannah.com Ask for a 2024 Insider's Guide and a map of Savannah to be mailed to you.
2. Contact Old Town Trolley at 1 912 339-8191. Tell them you're interested in their Trolley Tours. Ask for a Map Showing Trolley Stops and any info they'd care to mail you. Website: TrolleyTours.com.
3. Contact the Pooler Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Bureau at 912 748-0110. Ask for a map of Pooler. The Reunion 2024 Hotel (Embassy Suites Airport) is right next to the Pooler Area. Website: visitpooler.com
Make some easy preparations OR just wing it! Have Fun at all costs!
Semper Fidelis. Mick
Message from Mick
by Donna Fuller on 03/28/24
Marines, 2/3 VVA Members,
The position of "Message Board Monitor" has been vacant since Ron Poness passed away.
Until we get a permanent "Message Board Monitor", I'll step up on an INTERIM basis. If anyone wants this position, let me know.
If you have info that would be of interest to our Membership, put it in an email and send it to me. Please refrain from politics, foul language and personal attacks. I'll review your email and have it posted by our Web Director, or rejected or sent back to you for editing.
Our website is available to the world. Think twice before posting personal information.
Semper Fidelis
Hotel info for Savannah
by Donna Fuller on 03/25/24
Marines, Associate Members, Spouses and Partners,
The following informational note to A.F.R.I. has been approved by 2/3 V.V.A., Armed Forces Reunions Inc. (A.F.R.I.) and the Embassy Suites Hotel (Airport), Savannah, GA. It provides details regarding registering for rooms at our Reunion 2024 Hotel.
If registering for the hotel by phone, call 800 362-2779 (Embassy Suites Hotel Central Reservations). Do not call Embassy Suites Hotel (Airport) for registrations. Group name is: USMC Vietnam Veterans, Code: V I E.
Our Association Room Block is four nights: check in 9/4, check out the morning of 9/8. Room availability during these four nights is "very good", but not unlimited.
Our group rate is also good for the nights of 9/1, 9/2, 9/3 AND 9/8, 9/9, 9/10. Room availability during these 6 nights (3 before and 3 after Reunion dates) is "good", but again only if AVAILABLE.
If booking rooms outside the time frame of 9/1-9/10, it'll be at standard rates and subject to availability. Think $350 (+/-) per night, taxes and fees included.
Please remember that the Labor Day National Holiday is the Monday before our Reunion.
If you plan on attending Reunion 2024, it's in your best interests to make your hotel reservations NOW.
Be aware of the Cancellation Policies of Embassy Suites Hotel and Armed Forces Reunions Inc.
Information about signing up for Reunion 2024 through A.F.R.I. will be forthcoming. As will "T.I.P.S." via email and brochures via U.S. Mail. To get U.S. Mail from 2/3 V.V.A., please confirm your U.S. Mail address with your Company Representative (no Rep. for "H" Company) and me. It would also help to update your cell phone number(s) with us. If we don't have good comm, we'll be hamstrung. Stay healthy, stay safe, God Bless, and "see you in September". Semper Fidelis. Mick
To A.F.R.I.Please forward this reservation/booking link to everyone and let everyone know to reserve their rooms by the block release date of 8/14/24 in order to receive the special group rate of $149.00 plus tax per room, per night for the dates of September 4-8, 2024. Rate does not include 15% state and local taxes, plus $5.00 Georgia Transportation Fee, per room, per night. Rates apply to single and double occupancy.If any would like to arrive or depart on different days, they just need to change the arrival and/or departure dates on the link to their individual dates (They must click "Update" button to confirm the dates change). If anyone requires an accessible room, they will need to click the "Accessible" button on the link for those rooms to show available. Please let everyone know, we are limited on accessible rooms, so please only reserve if absolutely necessary.Please instruct individuals to use the link. If they prefer to reserve by phone, they will call 1-800-EMBASSY to make their reservation. They should not call the hotel directly. It is best to use the link.Complimentary Airport Shuttle: Please call front desk switchboard (912-330-8222) to request shuttle from the airport. The front desk will send the shuttle asap. We are only 4 miles from the airport. For shuttle to the airport, please let the front desk know your flight time and time you would like to leave the hotel. They keep a log of departing flights.Your Attendee Reservation URL (long version) is immediately below. Please use this link specifically as copying it from one browser to another browser will remove the connections required.Thank you!Embassy Suites Hotel (Airport), Savannah GA
Message from Mick
by Donna Fuller on 03/25/24
Member Marines, Associate Members, Partners and Friends,
H&S Company Representative Dan Rom has notified the Pacific North West Chapter of the Third Marine Division Association of our 2024 Reunion. A notice will appear in their Newsletter.
Do you know of an organization that will publish our "Reunion Notice" in their Newsletter? It's EASY. See the "template" below. We need the publicity to increase our membership AND to have "All Hands on Deck" in Savannah 2024.
U.S.M.C. 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines (Vietnam War) Annual Reunion
to be held in Savannah, GA, 4 September - 8 September 2024. For additional information contact:
Marine Fergy Hughes
P.O. Box 211
Baldwin, NY 11510-0211
(623) 780-1819
clydesdadfergy@aol.com
Our Reunion planning is nearly complete. A schedule of events and tour descriptions appear on this Website. Memento Pint Glasses will be offered to all for $14 each. When we nail down details of the 2024 caps and polos, hopefully by 4/1, an email will go out to y'all and lots more info will be posted to the "2024, Savannah, Georgia" button on our official website (homestead).
I'm very much looking forward to meeting with each and every Attendee at our Savannah 2024 Reunion. Let's have a great turnout! Stay healthy, stay safe and Semper Fidelis! Mick
Message from Mick
by Donna Fuller on 03/15/24
Member Marines, Associate Marines, Partners and Friends, I have notified the "American Legion Magazine" about our upcoming Reunion 2024.
Thanks to Art for resurrecting this past practice.
If any of you want to notify other Print Media (Leatherneck, Marine Corps Gazette, Naval Proceedings, VFW, local newspapers, etc.) please feel free to use the template below. Yes, the "Marine" name is a creation. Please notify Mick of any notification you make to cut down on duplicate notices and to track info for future Reunions. Let's make good on our Branson 2023 Reunion resolution to grow our Membership.
Please forward this email to all the 2/3 Marines (Vietnam War) that you know. Thank you.
Semper Fidelis. Fergy and Mick
U.S.M.C. 2nd Battalion Third Marines (Vietnam War) Annual Reunion
to be held in Savannah, GA, 4 September - 8 September 2024. For additional information contact:
Marine Fergy Hughes
P.O. Box 211
Baldwin, NY 11510-0211
(623) 780-1819
clydesdadfergy@aol.com
from the president "Mick"
by Donna Fuller on 09/07/23
Marines,
We're putting the pieces together for a Reunion in Savannah in 2024. Would like to nail down the details early so we can begin looking to the West Coast for 2025.
We had some glitches in Branson:
1. Lack of transportation between Springfield and Branson.
2. Lack of a hotel shuttle as well as taxis and car service.
3. Somewhat erratic operating hours at the bar and restaurant.
4. "College of the Ozarks" tour should have been done, if possible, on a day when their famous on-campus restaurant was open for business.
5. "Train Trip" was a bust. No stops for scenic views. No food/beverages in each car. Encouraging passengers (some 80+ years old) to walk between moving cars to get a bottle of water doesn't seem sensible. Spotty air conditioning.
6. Shirts and hats not made in the U.S.A. White color and quality of product drew some attention.
7. The heat in Branson, MO in August can be "intense".
On the plus side:
1. The two dinners we had didn't suck.
2. The folks who staffed the hotel were excellent.
3. Most rooms were OK.
4. Hospitality room seemed to work well.
Company Representatives please canvas your Marines. What are their thoughts for the Savannah (2024) reunion?
We are currently looking at a hotel that has shuttle service to/from the airport, shuttle service to nearby attractions, free parking, a hospitality room, and decent prices for rooms, banquets, and Association functions.
Staying downtown in Savannah usually involves higher prices for EVERYTHING and smaller, often older, rooms and facilities.
Please survey your Marines about Savannah and get back to me by noon on 9/18/23. Negative reports also appreciated. That means, if none of your Marines have ideas about Savannah in 2024, let me know that. There is no obligation to contribute to this process.. Only this request.
Thanks for your assistance. Semper Fidelis. Mick
From President Mick
SF Poness
'H" company
by Donna Fuller on 08/30/23H company:
Please e-mail me your Name and E-Mail address. I will try to keep you informed on happenings.
H co Rep. Ron Poness
rponess@rochester.rr.com
