There are several of us that made "THE LAST SMOKE" that are trying to get a reunion up for any and all RVAH-1 Smoking Tigers. We are wanting to meet back in Key West, Florida in September 2016. We have just begun gathering contact information on those guys who made the last two cruises with RVAH-1 and making plans on what to do and where to go.
Please if you made the last cruise with RVAH-1 or have contact information on any of the former Smoking Tigers please get in touch with me Michael "Rookie" Hampton at mhampton971@gmail.com so that we can an you or them to our contact list. I am also listed on Facebook if you want to add me as a friend just send me a message.
As anyone who has ever lived in Key West knows tourist season is not the cheapest time to visit Key West, so several of the guys have been looking into places to stay and their costs. We decided on September 28 to October 3 because it is not in the middle of tourist season and the lower costs for hotel rooms, plus who wants to visit Key West in the middle of July, it just to dang hot there then.
Let's all get together back in Key West to remember the past and see just how much time has changed us and Key West, from what I gather we wouldn't recognize each other or the place.
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Well the "Last Smoke" reunion went off without a hitch. Mother Nature even waited until most of us had gone home before she showed her face.
The only real planned events that we had were the tour of the base and the picnic on Saturday. We kept the over planning down so that everyone could have plenty of time to do what they wanted to do. Some went out on snorkeling trips on the reef and some just walked the beaches and chatted but I think everyone did the Duval crawl at least once. There was lots of good food, drink and music taken in by all.
The walk down memory lane with everyone made the trip back down to the Keys worth every penny. I hope everyone will post their personal pictures for all to enjoy on here. If you have trouble posting them you can e-mail them to me and I will see about getting them up for you.
Everyone seemed to want to do it again in a couple of years. There were several that commented on holding the next event someplace else, like Jacksonville, Florida, San Antonio, Texas and even Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We can all take time to think about what we would like to do for the next reunion and voice our oppinion on the facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/779451552162105/
Keep working on finding our lost Tigers so that our next event where ever it maybe will be even bigger and better!
Here is a real short version of what we have planned in Key West:
Wed. Sept. 28: Start arriving and get base access - meet and greet at the Pavilion behind the Fly Navy Building, hang out and visit with old friends - Visit some of the old hang outs on Duval Street.
Thurs. Sept. 29th: more arrivals - meet and greet at the Pavilion behind the Fly Navy Building - Visit some of the old hang outs on Duval Street.
Fri. Sept 30th: visit Boca Chica Naval Air Station - Look at the old barracks and hangers etc. Probably have drinks at the Marina.
Sat. Oct. 1st: Squadron party / picnic at Truman Annex beach area - we will have access to cookers on site (collect donations for hamburgers and hot dog cook out or whatever else members might want)
Sun. Oct 2nd: Some are planning on going fishing and some are departing for home
Mon. Oct 3rd: check out and head for home or other parts unknown.
everything is subject to change without notice.....lol
Planning now how to escape from work for a few days in Key West with all the old Smoking Tigers. Still trying to locate Chuck Smith, Larry Kunz, and Bob Forster.
Its been a long time but I cant wait to see as many as you as I can. My last cruise was on the Enterprise to Australia in '76-'77. All most 4 years in same squadron.
Party Hours:
back in the day: 24/7
today: lights out by 10:30 and not back on before the first pee wake up.
LOL
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