The following page provide planning information for our next Reunion of the units of the 145th Combat Aviation Battalion when it served in Vietnam:
Contact:

     Andrea Smith                                        Frank C Maus

     5648 Buenos Aires Blvd                       181 Greendale Dr

    Westerville, OH 43081                           Kettering, OH 45429

    614-890-5576                                              937-293-7943
   after 4pm   614-728-1825

andrea.smith@oit.ohio.gov                          fgmaus@aol.com                          
SCHEDULE 
 REUNION FORM
 HOTEL INFO

Click here for a list of people attending past Reunions

REUNION 2009

The planning for the 2009 Reunion of the units of the 145th CAB is on going.  The dates so far are Wed 30 Sept 2009 to Sunday 4 Oct 2009. Much of the activities being on Wright-Patterson Airforce Base with the main banquet at the Air Museum. Andrea Smith is the Reunion chairperson with Frank Maus assisting, and Gary Coppes also agreed to help with the Reunion. More volunteers are needed. Start making your plans and check back here for updated info.

Hotel information, the details are still being worked on
When details are firmed up I'll add info in HOTEL INFO above

  The Holiday Inn Dayton North has blocked 70 deluxe guestrooms available from Wednesday 9/30/09 through Monday 10/05/09. They are at the rate of
$85 + tax. There is a complimentary hospitality room.
                         Holiday Inn Dayton North
                         2301 Wagner Ford Road
                         Dayton, Ohio 45414
                          937-278-4871
Check-in time: 3:00 pm. Check-out time 12:00 pm
Their sleeping rooms are comfortable and spacious. Each room has a work area, remote control TV, pay per view movies and complimentary high speedinternet access. Each room is equipped with coffee, coffee maker, iron, ironing board and hair dryer. A number of the rooms are on the inside of their atrium and overlook the pool area and game room. (They have 215 luxurious guest rooms and 16 two-room suites with kitchenettes. Their suites feature a separate living room with a sofa sleeper and a king size bedroom, each suite being equipped with microwave and refrigerator.) They have a free shuttle to/from the National Museum of the United States Air Force and to/from Dayton International Airport. There are two malls (Dayton Mall and Beaver Creek Mall) that are also accessible with the shuttle. The Air Museum is a short easy access from the hotel.
When making reservations ask for the inside rooms. Smoking/Nonsmoking and accessible rooms available.
 In the atrium is a large gathering area, an intimate area. They have a workout facility, an indoor pool and whirlpool. For the person looking for fun, the Holidome offers Ping Pong, billiards, Air Hockey and Foosball. They also have "Pop-A-Shot" Basketball and Arcade Games.
 Holiday Inn Dayton North is located to major points of attractions. Among these are Wright Patterson Air Force Base, The Historical Oregon District, Carillon Historical Park, Cox Arboretum, Packard Museum, and local shopping.
 They have a restaurant on site called Zach's, but 2 minutes away are numerous restaurants such as: Cracker Barrel, O'Charley's, Bob Evans, Red Lobster, Ryan's Steakhouse, Damon's, Outback Steak House, Lonestar Steakhouse, Joe's Crab Shack and Don Pablos, just to name a few.
 Zach's Restaurant: offers a casual, relaxing atmosphere, along with a new menu. Hours are from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm for breakfast and lunch and  5:00 pm - 10:00 pm for dinner. Registry Lounge: Is casual, sophisticated gathering spot with soft set living room style furnishings.
 Holiday Inn Dayton North is easy access to the highway. Take I-75 to Wagner Ford Road, exit 57B. They are a couple miles south of I-70 and only 8 miles from Dayton International Airport.
 
Schedule ideas, the details are still be worked on.
Friday 10/2/09 This will be a tour of Dayton with special stops at: Huffman Prairie Flying Field and Interpretive Center, Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center, Wright Brothers Memorial, Carillon Historical Park, and the Historical Oregon District. Huffman Prairie Flying Field. This national historic landmark is located at Gate 16-A on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The 84-acre pasture is where the Wrights undertook the difficult and dangerous task of creating a dependable, fully controllable airplane and training themselves to be pilots. The field looks just as it did when the Wright Brothers flew here. Huffman Prairie Flying Field and Interpretive Center The Huffman Prairie Interpretive Center is part of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and features exhibits on the Wrights' activities at the flying field and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
http://www.nps.gov/daav/pla_fac_huffmanprairie.htm
Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center is part of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and features exhibits on not only the Wright Brothers but their friend and internationally acclaimed poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar. Wright Brothers Memorial Erected by Daytonians in 1940 on Wright Hill to honor Wilbur and Orville Wright as the inventors of the airplane. Carillon Historical Park Home of the 1905 Wright Flyer III, the world's first practical airplane. If time permits we can tour the Air Museum Friday afternoon.
On Saturday 10/03/09 early: The National Museum of the United States Air Force. The world's largest and oldest military aviation museum. Over 300 aircraft and missiles including the Wright Flyer, the Stealth Fighter and JFK's Air Force One. www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
Saturday 10/3/09 Dinner Under the Wings   The National Aviation Museum is reserved for the 145th for four hours. This is guaranteed to be a night you will remember and talk about. The menu is being worked on - but I've been told that the food is excellent as well as the program. There is enough time for suggestions and special request. We have the three major buildings to tour on our own. There is one section designated for the banquet with food and beverage.
 
 

 
On a sad note
Richard K Smith 80th Trans Det, 121st  AML and his wife Andrea volunteered to head up the 2009 Reunion for us, but it was not to be, Richard passed away very suddenly March 31, 2007.

SMITH Richard K. Smith, age 63, of Westerville, Saturday, March 31, 2007, at St. Ann's Hospital. Member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Westerville. U.S. Army Veteran of Vietnam War. Member of Armed Forces Community Relations Council, Vietnam Veteran War, Inc., Post 8, V.F.W. Post #15036, 145th Combat Aviation Vietnam Assoc. and American Legion Post #0443. Survived by loving wife of 39 years, Andrea M.; children, Timmothy K. (Marcie) Smith of Westerville, Chris (Mike) Langhans of Westerville and Matthew Smith of Orlando, Fla.; 2 granddaughters; 1 sister; and 4 brothers; numerous nieces and nephews. Graveside service and burial will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, April 5, 2007, at Northlawn Memory Gardens in Westerville. Arrangements by the MORELAND FUNERAL HOME, Westerville, Oh. Friends, if they wish, may contribute to the American Red Cross, Columbus Area Chapter, 995 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205.       Published in The Columbus Dispatch on 4/4/2007.

 

REUNION 2007
REPORT


    The 2007 Reunion of the units of the 145th CAB was held at Fort Rucker, AL on  June 22, 23, and 24, 2007 We started the Reunion on Thursday 21 June with Registration and reception at the Quality Inn in Ozark, AL with wine, beer and soft drinks provided. A golf outing was also scheduled that day. On Friday we started off with the Change of Command for the 1st BN, 145th Regt, award of DFC for Jack Saint, Fort Rucker Brief update, Helicopter Static Display, lunch with new Army Aviators, open visitation to Army Aviation Museum, and a tour of the Seneff Center and the Flight Simulators. Saturday we started off at Adams Hall with social time and Business Meeting. From there we went to Old Warrior Field for a picnic hosted by the troops of the 1st Bn, 145th Regt,  great food and a good time. Saturday night we held our main banquet where we socialized, drew raffle ticket prizes, and presented awards. I want to thank everyone involved for the presentation of the plaques to my wife and I in recognition of 21 years of extraordinary selfless service to the 145th C.A.B. (VN) Assoc. Mike Davis UTT-197, Steve Yaeger 197th AHC, and Norm Turner USAF, performed the Songs of the UTT and a few other after the meal, thank you Mike, Steve and Norm. Sunday we had a Non-Denominational Memorial Service at the Museum and wrapped up the Reunion.  As an addition to the main schedule  we maintained a hospitality room at the Quality Inn in Ozark where many reunions and conversations occurred. The 242nd ASHC  Muleskinner  (CH-47) had a large mini-reunion going and was by far the largest unit group there, thanks guys we really enjoyed your unit group holding your reunion with us. Also the 184th Avn Co (fixed wing  guys) had a good showing. We had many H-21 people and many UH-1 people, about equal number of pilots, crews and support people. Because Fort Rucker is a closed base most of the people rode the bus in and out. I couldn't because I was helping organize stuff, but I heard rumors of what the buses was like, sorry I missed the fun. They sounded like a party on the way to the party. I had a great time and I think everyone else did to, hope to see all of you in Dayton, OH in 2009.
    I want to thank MG (Ret) Dick Kenyon, CSM (Ret) Chuck Frye, CW4 (Ret) Willie Ruf, Norm Laumeyer, the Command and the troops of the 1st Bn, 145th Regt for their hard work putting together a great Reunion for us. On a sad note we lost Willie Ruf, Willie had a heart attack and stroke just before the Reunion and has passed away since then. I plan to have a lot more about Willie in our next newsletter.  
 

 
Thank you and I hope to see you in Dayton in 2009. Stay safe and keep healthy. Jim Bodkin jbodkin145@aol.com