HOTEL AMENITIES

ALL our guests will enjoy a 2-Room Suite during their stay at the Embassy Suites Downtown Hotel and get a FREE Breakfast (fully cooked-to-order) every morning, plus a FREE Cocktail Reception (2-drinks) every evening.  Includes beer, wine, spirits and hors d’oeuvres.

We will have our own 2500 square foot meeting room to use as our Hospitality Room each day of the reunion.

On our last day of the reunion, we will have a Texas BBQ Buffet Luncheon, along with a cash bar inside of the hotel atrium for everyone in our group to enjoy together.


Flat Reunion Fee Cost

Our Reunion Fees includes a Name Badge, access to our Hospitality Room, all of the Hotel Amenities, (1) Raffle Ticket for a $500 Best Buy Gift Card, and one (1) Texas Style BBQ Buffet Luncheon Ticket, along with another chance to see and visit with your buddies!


Reunion Fee: $100/per person


Payment Deadline: February 24, 2023.  No refunds after January 31, 2023


Other Events: The National Vietnam War Museum Tour & Lunch

Veterans who are planning to attend are listed below by their HERD unit:


Gordy Anderson

Pilot


Gary Berdon

Avionics



Tony Bolivar

Pilot


Sonny Caughlin

Crew Chief


Joe Cole

Pilot


Ned Costa

Crew Chief  / Gunner



Michael Dow

Door Gunner


Bob Durand

Pilot


Mike Gauntt

Pilot


Steve Greene

Pilot


George Heard

Pilot


Paul Heyer

Pilot



Zelner Houchin

Crew Chief


Robert Horowitz

Pilot


Harold James

Crew Chief


Bob Jameson

Crew Chief


Jim Jeffryes

Pilot


Phil Johnson

Pilot


Neil Kimerer

Crew Chief  / Gunner


Virgil Lamb

Door Gunner



Robert McDonald

Crew Chief  / Gunner


Don McKeough

Pilot


Chuck Merkel

Pilot


Bruce Neva

Crew Chief  / Gunner


Terry Lee Parker

Avionics


Tomas Rendon

Crew Chief  / Gunner


Jim Revoir

Pilot


Don Sholett

Crew Chief  / Gunner



Tony Simmons

TOC Specialist



Rick Smith

Door Gunner



Sal Sosa

Crew Chief  / Gunner




Ken Thibodeaux

Crew Chief  / Gunner



Bill Wansing

Crew Chief  / Gunner



Cliff White

Pilot


Dave Woodard

Door Gunner


___

35












James Chin

A/319th Field Artillery



Jim Jenkins

A/3/503d Infantry


Rusty Kulp

C/1/503d Infantry



___

3




Donny & Leslie

Kidd, Jr.

KIA: Donny Kidd, Sr.

Casper Platoon Challenge Coin

$10/per coin

Our latest coin design challenge coin was reproduced for the 2020 reunion.

(No Mail Orders)

You can purchase your coins in advance now and pick them up ONLY at the reunion.  For information contact:

Steve Greene

YES - Casper Coin


In Stock



Marilyn Jones

Wife

DAT: Joe Jones




LaRue Terry

Wife

Tom & Denise Terry

Son & Daughter-in-law

DAT: Jerry Terry

Patrick Beltz

N/75th ABN RGR



___

1


173d Airborne Brigade:

HHC/Casper Platoon

173d Airborne Brigade:

Infantry

173d Airborne Brigade:

LRRP/LRP/RANGER

Our Mission

Casper Aviation Platoon (CAPO) sponsored reunions are designed to provide a good time for ALL of the Caspers, affiliate Veterans, their family and friends. Click below & let us know if you will be joining us in Fort Worth:

YES – 2023 Reunion

Who Can Attend Our Reunion

Besides the Casper Aviation Platoon Veterans, all other affiliated Vietnam Veterans that were members of the: 173d Airborne Brigade (1/503, 2/503, 3/503, 4/503) and various HHC and support Battalions, N/75th RANGER/LRRP, 335th AHC “Cowboys” and the 61st AHC “Lucky Star” are also invited.


Casper Aviation Platoon REUNION 2023

LZ: FORT WORTH

March 27, 28 & 29

ROOM RESERVATIONS

Our 3-day Reunion Dates are: March 27 thru March 29 Check-out is: March 30.   However, our special Casper Platoon Room Rate can also be used to check-in early on Sunday, March 26 (most of our guests do).  Come and enjoy yourself, relax and have fun with your family, friends and war buddies!  

►►Special Online Booking Link below is the best and easiest way to reserve your suite. Just click:

https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=FTWESES&groupCode=CESCAS&arrivaldate=2023-03-26&departuredate=2023-03-30&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT


The Sunday, March 26 date will automatically appear as your check-in arrival date. However, you can change/edit your arrival date during this process.  However, most will want to arrive earlier to spend more time in Fort Worth.

Telephone Reservation: (817) 332-6900 or (817) 200-2870 · You must identify yourself with our group: "Casper Platoon Reunion" to get our special rate. Our Group Code is: CAS.

Reservation Deadline: February 24, 2023 to get our special guest room rate + tax (reservations are based on room availability).

Hotel Parking & Airport Transportation

There is no self-parking available at the hotel. Casper Platoon guests who drive will receive a discounted valet parking rate of $22/day (reg. $32) at the Embassy Suites Downtown Fort Worth hotel.


Hotel Shuttle: The hotel does not have a hotel shuttle.  But there are a variety of shuttle/limousine $$ services available at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport or from Love Field Airport. There are also $$ Taxi and UBER rides available.


Street Address: 600 Commerce Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102, USA.

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Last updated: 2/17/2023

AT A GLANCE

The Embassy Suites Downtown Fort Worth is an all-suite hotel located in the heart of downtown Fort Worth and only one block away from Sundance Square Plaza. There is easy access to more than 30+ restaurants and bars within a short walking distance of the hotel.  There is also a lot of indoor and outdoor lounge seating inside of the hotel to meet, eat, drink, etc.  There is also a FW Metro bus stop nearby the hotel that can take you all over town including the Fort Worth Stockyards and much more.


BOOK NOW!  The rooms are limited to availability!

Special 2-Room Suite Rate: $206/night (reg.$239)

DAY TRIP: Lunch at Shep’s Restaurant & Private Museum Tour

The National Vietnam War Museum

12685 Mineral Wells Hwy, Weatherford, TX 76088

The National Vietnam War Museum is located in Mineral Wells, Texas and is about an 1 hour drive from our hotel. The museum project was formalized in 1998 to develop a national venue that would create an atmosphere of learning about the Vietnam War era.  


At two previous Casper Platoon Reunions to Fort Worth, we visited the museum both times during the first phase of development.  During that time, we as a group donated several Casper Platoon Artifacts for display. The construction of the main museum building has now been completed and several of us have already discussed another visit there during our 2023 reunion (Tuesday March 28).  Several of our group may have their own vehicles at the reunion and perhaps can offer rides to others?  In 2015 and 2018 we as a group rented a chartered bus for the round-trip and stopped for lunch (pay your own) at a local cafe near by the museum.  


The admission to the museum is free to veterans, but everyone else is $5.00.


LUNCH STOP: Our Chartered Bus will leave the hotel at 10:15 am and arrive at Shep’s Restaurant for lunch break at around 11:00 am before heading to the museum. (See restaurant information  below).


Watch this promotional video to see the current state of the museum. (You will be taken to a new window)

https://vimeo.com/283716623


The National Vietnam War Museum

https://www.nationalvnwarmuseum.org

SHEP’S RESTAURANT

202 Fort Worth Hwy., Weatherford, TX 76086

Shep’s is a full service restaurant & bar with a fun friendly atmosphere. The restaurant is veteran owned and extremely Military Friendly. In fact, everyone will receive a military discount on your order.  You will be responsible for your own check.


Our group will have the entire second floor reserved for us.  Its a large space.  You can checkout their full MENU online.  They serve appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs and wings.  

https://shepstx.com/


>> Our chartered bus will arrive at Shep’s at around 11:00 am.  If you are driving your own vehicle, you can follow the bus from the hotel or meet our group at the restaurant.  We will leave Shep’s at 12:30 pm and arrive at The National Vietnam War Museum at 1:00 pm.  We’ll stay at the museum until 3:00 pm and should arrive back at the hotel at 4:00 pm.

Sundance Square

Shopping & Entertainment

Located 1 block from our hotel, Sundance Square is the name of this 35-block commercial, residential, entertainment and retail district in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Named after the Sundance Kid in western folklore, it is a popular place for nightlife and entertainment in Fort Worth. The area includes numerous hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, museums, clubs, movie theatres, performing arts, and venues throughout the year.  There are a lot of things to do throughout this area.

Some Of The Fun Things To See & Do In DALLAS & FORT WORTH

The Embassy Suites Downtown Fort Worth is our reunion base and where our Reunion Cocktail Receptions, Buffet Luncheon and Hospitality Room will be held/located. There is also a lot of FREE time during our reunion for you, your family and buddies to explore fun things to do in Dallas and Fort Worth.

Fort Worth Stockyards

Attractions · Shopping · Entertainment · Dining

Located 3 miles from our hotel and you can ride The Molly Trolley to get you there.

The Fort Worth Stockyards consists of mainly entertainment and shopping venues that capitalize on the "Cowtown" image of Fort Worth. Home to the famous Boot Making, fine Western Wear and a Saloon where customers "can “belly up” to the bar, relax and have a cold beer while in the Stockyards; just like they did in the days of the big cattle drives", as they shop around the store. The city of Fort Worth is often referred to as "Where the West Begins."  Whatever kind of entertainment you’re looking for, there are plenty of ways to cut loose at the Stockyards. Take a train ride, catch a shootout show, explore our museums or enjoy the nightlife at a saloon-style bar.