U.S.M.C.        

                   3D 155s MIKE 4/12

   REUNION 2K4 NEWSLETTER # 2

1 AUGUST 2004

UPDATED INFORMATION: At present, 18 members have made room reservations and/or made a commitment to attend this, our 4th Annual Reunion, from September 20 thru September 23. This list includes Ted BAHRY, Gary BOHNA and guest, Don and Pam BRENNAN, Paul and Alice CHRISTENSEN, Clyde CUMMINGS and guest, Ed and Lorraine DARMETKO, Ted and Linda FINLEY, Red Dog and Lureen FOSTER, Don FOSTER, Larry and Deborah FRIEDRICH, Owen and Audrey GILLICK, Alex and Charlene JABLONOWSKI, Tom LOCH, Jack MARSTON, Mike and Mary MOYA, Richard and Cindy RODRIGUEZ, Joel and ToniLee SCHUETTE, and Ron Voeller. Those who have expressed an interest in attending but have yet to commit include Doc and Adrienne BISHOP, Rocky CHAVEZ, Dave and Sally CRANFORD, Henry and Dean DEMPSEY, Pat BENT, Joe GODDARD, Gary BURNS, Ralph RYDER, Reuben SANCHEZ, Kent STEEN, Don HORN, Joe FABRIZIO, Gary and Delores WARTICK, Edward VILLANUEVA and Stanley ZANN. We have had tremendously positive feedback from those eager enough to attend the first three reunions, and we're planning to make this one even better. Also, most of those who were able to attend earlier reunions have come back to attend another one.

ROOM AVAILABILITY: Once again, we are in downtown Las Vegas where we have blocked 40 rooms at the Four Queens Casino and Hotel. This is a good local because it's in the heart of all the festivities, such as the nightly, grand Light Show on Fremont Street, and you can walk around the area to sightsee and explore other venues. The hotel management took good care of us last year and seem committed to making this reunion even better by providing us with some complimentary items (such as a dance floor, piano, monitor for karaoke and all 4 nights in the Hospitality Suite "on the House". There are 25 rooms on the 19th floor, not including Room 1948, which is our Hospitality Suite. The hotel staff has agreed to place our attendees on the 19th floor, on a first come, first served basis. Any overflow would be placed in rooms on the 18th floor. These rooms will be blocked until August 19th, at which time they will be made available to the general public. The guaranteed room rate of $ 41 per night will not apply for those members making a reservation after August 19th (the rate increases to $ 65 per night after August 19th). If you are planning to attend this year, it is important that you call the hotel (1 - 800 -634 - 6045) and make your reservation in the very near future. Be sure to inform the reservations clerk that you are with the M-4-12 Marine Reunion group (Hotel Code: MMG0919). This will ensure that your room will be booked at the $ 41 rate, which is available Sunday through Thursday night for those who wish to arrive early and/or stay late. We need commitments soon from all who can attend this year. You are invited to come on out and enjoy USMC gung-ho spirit, good fellowship, and good times that set the table for re-bonding experiences! Although we have a fairly active event schedule, we have left plenty of time for you to enjoy the local activities (of which there are many). Aside from the reunion activities, there are numerous shows, sights and restaurants available. Let's face it, Las Vegas is one of the least expensive venues for our reunion, and it's an exciting place to visit (especially with a group of Marines like us there).

E-MAIL VERSUS SNAIL MAIL: If you have changed your e-mail address in the past year, please e-mail me @ burntorangejoel@aol.com. As evidenced by the transmission of Newsletter # 2, many e-mail addresses are out-dated. It makes our work easier if we have a current address (e-mail or snail mail), so please update.

REMINDERS: We are grateful to those members who have donated items to be auctioned or raffled during the reunion. If you have something collecting dust around the house that may be suitable for the raffle/auction and you want to part with it, contact Jack MARSTON after your arrival. Members have been very generous in the past with donations for door prizes/raffle/auction and beverages, etc. We can always use more donations since the paltry activities fee of $ 75 doesn't cover everything.

WEB SITES: We have a web site up and running. The Web Master is Alex JABLONOWSKI. You can check it out at the following: http://www.3rd155s-mike4-12.org.. You can also leave mail for me there. Another web site you might wish to check out is

that of the 3rd Marine Division: http://www.caltrap.com. Incidentally, the 3rd Marine Division Reunion is being held in early September in Scottsdale, AZ. If you are planning to attend, please let us know.

REUNION 2K5 SITE: Thought is being given to a different site for next year's Reunion (2K5). Will a site in the mid-west or on the east coast entice more members to attend? Anyone have any suggestions or specific ideas? What do you think of making this a 4th Battalion, 12th Marines reunion group? Who can help with the work involved? Please contact me if you have any input to provide.

BUSINESS AGENDA: Among the items to be discussed at the annual business meeting are discussions relative to the delineation of Staff responsibilities, proposed expansion of our member data base by allowing Marines from other artillery units to join our Association, possibility of "piggy-backing" off the 3rd Marine Division reunion, election of a Reunion Coordinator and various assistants for Reunion 2K5, and the financial status of the Association.