Dear members,

Arkansas is called the Natural State because of its beauty. The Natural State’s six geographic regions are filled with outdoor beauty, colorful history, and diversity. Arkansas has numerous national parks, rivers and streams, a park where you can dig for diamonds, a stunning cavern complex, three mountain top parks, a botanical garden, civil war battlefields, museums, restoration village teaching Arkansas history, and many more too numerous to name.

In the Little Rock area there are dozens of "must see" places to get a sample our great State’s history. Arkansas Air Museum, Museum of Natural Resources, Arkansas State Capitol Building, Vietnam War Memorial, Medal of Honor Memorial, the Old Statehouse and the General MacArthur Museum are only a few.

The reunion dates are June 26, 2003 thru Saturday, June 28, 2003. We will be staying at the Doubletree Hotel, one of Little Rock’s most luxurious hotels, located in downtown at 424 W. Markham, 72201. The hotel rate will be $89 per room per night plus taxes. Additional persons in the room are at no charge.

Make your hotel reservations by calling the Doubletree Hotel at 501-372-4371, fax 501-372-0518. Be sure to ask for the special rate for the Americal Division Veterans Association reunion. For more information on the hotel click here. For more information on the city of Little Rock, click here.

This location is on the banks of the beautiful Arkansas River and within walking distance to the River Market. The River Market is an exciting public food market and, relaxing entertainment center. It houses more than 17 permanent merchants who offer fresh from the oven pastries, hand roasted coffee, smoked barbecued beef, chicken, and turkey. They also feature Mexican, Japanese, Middle Eastern and Central European cuisine. I hope that made you hungry.

The Schedule is not totally complete as yet but it looks like the following:

Wednesday June 25, 2003

Visit and Hospitality

Thursday June 26, 2003

Local Walking Tours as desired; Hospitality

Tour of Old State House Museum; Tour of Little Rock Air Force Base – Home of the C-130, 119^th Airlift Wing; River Market for southern fried catfish and entertainment

Saturday June 28, 2003

Women's Tour; General Meeting; Memorial Service; Dinner and Program

Our Friday night fish fry will be in clear view of the glittering lights reflecting from the Arkansas River. We will be entertained by the soothing sounds of a top class Jazz band led by world class saxophone player, Mr. Tommy Henderson. The Mayor of Little Rock Jim Daily and Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee will welcome you to the city.

I plan to have General Wesley K. Clark, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, commander of 37 NATO and other Nations participating in operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo – "A fellow Americal Soldier" as our Keynote Speaker at the Saturday night dinner.

These details are just a part of what we are putting together for your 2003 Reunion in our great State. More information and a registration form will be in the next issue of the Americal Newsletter. Keep up to date on reunion news on the internet at www.americal.org/reunion.shtml.

See you real soon.

Nick D. Bacon

B-CO 4/21, 11^th L.I.B.

Nick.Smith@mail.state.ar.us