I have been attending this event over the past 15 years. There is nothing like it anywhere. All camaraderie, all fun, all non-sequitir conversation and dark humor. Ain’t no one like Col. Joe Abodeely, 1st Air Cavalry Officer in the Nam, owner and host of the 40 acre property outside the town of Maricopa. He is witty and wild. Lots of sharing of days in combat with fellow veterans who fully understand each other in an environment of respect. The ceremony with the South Vietnamese Rangers who fought with us is simply transforming. I will be there in the Marine Corner!
BASE CAMP 2011
Veterans and friends are cordially invited to attend Base Camp 2011 to be held April 1, 2, 3 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) 2011. The purpose of Base Camp is to provide a location for veterans and friends to assemble and share camaraderie. Live music and entertainment is provided on Saturday night. ADMISSION IS FREE.
Base Camp is an area lined with bunker/fighting positions simulating a firebase. Military apparel and military vehicles are welcomed to add to the ambiance. We fly a large American flag and the Republic of South Viet Nam flag on a 90-foot high flagpole. There are an observation tower, Vietnam style bar, other military type structures, two flush toilets, a shooting range dug into the ground at the base of a mountain as a backstop for target shooting, and a stage for live entertainment on Saturday night. Camp out Friday and Saturday nights. Bring your own food, beverages, drinking water. The AZ legislature has declared March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day, and DOD is celebrating the 50th commemoration of the Vietnam War. All veterans are encouraged to attend.
DIRECTIONS TO BASE CAMP
Exit I-10 at Wild Horse Pass and take the first left turn (Maricopa) to go past Firebird Lakes and the fire station to the T intersection with the stop sign. Turn right. Now you are on the road (Highway 347) to Maricopa. Go through Maricopa, cross the Railroad tracks, and continue 2 miles to Ak Chin Casino on Highway 347 (also called John Wayne Highway). Go 2 miles past the casino to Papago (you will see a large Santa Rosa Cooling sign) where you turn right (west). Go west 4.5 miles on Papago until you curve left (south) on to Warren. Go .9 miles south on Warren to Val Vista and turn right (west). Go west .5 miles on Val Vista through the wash and past the canal to Deer Trail. Turn left (south) at Deer Trail, and go .5 miles to Quail Run. Go right (west) on Quail Run for 1/10 of a mile to the entrance of 9014 North Wealth Road and Base Camp. The house phone number is 520-868-6777 and my cell phone number is 602-509-8762.
SCHEDULE:
April 1—1200—Set up camp
April 2—1000—US and RVN flag-raising, Betsey Bayless and other dignitaries
1015—Stearman Bi-planes fly-over
1200—1800–Open Time
1800–Entertainment
April 3–Break camp—go home
THERE ARE A FEW SIMPLE, FAIR RULES TO FOLLOW WHILE AT BASE CAMP.
- You WILL have fun.
- Shooting range use—SAFETY FIRST—and police all brass and ammo.
- NO ILLEGAL DRUGS.
4. HOLD HANDLE DOWN until toilet flushes completely as a courtesy to others.
5. POLICE your areas of ALL TRASH and respect other people’s rights and property.
We’ll see you at Base Camp 2011. For further information, call Joe at 602-509-8762 or 602-253-2378 or 520-868-6777.
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