NEWSLETTER FORMAT AND DELIVERY METHOD:

Future newsletters will not be sent via e-mail but will appear at the newsletter site by the 10th of each month. Each person on the CATCOM e-mail list will receive a brief e-mail notification, with URL, when this happens. This procedure will help reduce your download time and save e-mail account storage space. If you have any problem accessing the newsletter site, please let me know. Don Ricks.

SAD NEWS:

This information submitted by Charles R. Welsh (crwelsh@juno.com), former member of the original 220th:

"Colonel Charles L. "Woody" Woodhurst, the first Supply Officer of the 220th RAC, died on 25 March 2003. Woody's funeral will be on April 14th at 9:00 AM, at Arlington. Arrive at Arlington Administrative Building by 8:30 AM for departure to cemetery. Attendees may travel in their POV in procession to cemetery.

Woody and I (and many others) organized the 220th at Ft Lewis, April through June 1965. We Arrived in Hue Phu Bai on 5 July. Woody went to Hue City. I went to Quang Ngai. We saw little of each other in Vietnam.

Thirty-six years later we organized a reunion. Twelve of our original group took a cruise to Alaska from Vancouver, BC. Woody and Mel Davis were among our group. Mel e-mailed me last week to let me know of Woody' s passing. I know of no announcement on the Internet.

Thanks to Scott [Cummings] for keeping us together.

Charlie"

E-MAIL LIST UPDATE:

The latest e-mail listing, Catkiller Group Mailing List, is available in text format, if needed. E-mail CATCOM EdPub or Bob McComiskie for a copy. His latest list [CatkillerList2.xls] came out a few days ago. Bob states that Mark Duenow hasn't responded to e-mail in a long time. Does anyone know Mark's current e-mail address or how we can contact him?

Welcome to the list Chuck Goodrum, Charlie Welsh, John Holihan, Willis Blades, and Randy Jones.

Here is a note from John Holihan:

"Hello Don,
Dong Ha in 1967 was a very long time ago. I think my call sign was "catkiller 31" but am no longer sure. Too many heart attacks and other health problems. Memory not what it once was... then again, neither is anything else. Glad to have found this group. Never knew you existed. Reading through the guest book has brought back many memories. Serna and Wisenthal were in my flight school class, WOFWAC 65-9...."

CATKILLER REUNION:

To restate the specifics: 220th Reconnaissance Airplane Company REUNION

When:

October 19, 20, 21, 2003

Where:

Palace Station Hotel &Casino
2411 West Sahara Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89102
(Reservations) 800-634-3101
702-367-2411

Staff:

Reunion 6 - Paul V. Brennan
Reunion 5 - John Hillman (Executive in Charge)
Reunion 4 - Jerry Bonning (Logistics) Rooms, hotel, meeting rooms, banquet
Reunion 3 - Jerry DiGrezio (Operations; notifications, etc.)
Keeper of the E-List - Bob McComiskie (send your changes and updates to Bob)
Newsletter- Don Ricks
Golf One-Joe "Beans" Brett (Sundowner Yankee)

We have reserved a block of rooms under: "220th RECONNAISSANCE AIRPLANE COMPANY" (CATKILLERS). Please state this when you make your reservations. Cost of rooms: $69 per night. You can make reservations now. Contact Paul V. Brennan (Reunion 6) with questions, suggestions, and recommendations.

REUNION RECON (ADVANCED PARTY):

Some members of the planning committee are meeting at Las Vegas in June, as an advanced party to gather information and make necessary arrangements, and anyone who wants to come is invited.  The dates are June 6-8, at the Palace Station Hotel. If you plan to attend and want reservations, just mention the Catkiller Reunion and seek the same room deal we have in October. For further information, contact Jerry DeGrezio, Jerry Bonning, John Hillman, or Paul Brennan.

CATKILLER HOME PAGE:

Thanks to Scott Cummings for maintaining this site at:http://www.catkillers.org

Photo page:www.catkillers.org (contains a link to previously published newsletters and alerts).

IRAQI WAR:

While this is the last paragraph in this newsletter, its subject certainly stands out as foremost in our thoughts and concerns these past few weeks. As indicators of your intense interest in our troops, many of you have passed around comments, photos, and news articles, most of which contained an appropriate call for prayer for our most excellent military force. Our soldiers are amazing, and their training and equipment continues to tell us that our national investment in those areas has produced unparalleled results. There has never been a better fighting force, and as veterans we recognize with pride and thanksgiving that this fact is saving lives. Our hats are off, and our hands are over our hearts in awe of those brave men and women. For those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, we honor their place in history. Our leaders, from the president on down to the squad level, exemplify the American spirit in this war, and we cheer such acts as the rescue of Jessica Lynch, the success of BG Brooks in his daily briefings, and the manner in which even the private and corporal respond not only to the combat situation, but also to questions posed by imbedded combat media representatives. Across the board there are documented instances of their bold and heroic conduct, as well as combat action. God bless our nation and those who keep us free.