The Combat Wind Tour of Vietnam Veterans will begin and September 1, 2021, and travel a whirlwind schedule involving stopping and staying in 12 locations originating and ending in Milwaukee.
Each stop and stay has an Amtrak station, as well as a major airport. It is going to be presented, advertised, and encouraged that many veterans join in along the way, either by car, truck, motorhome, air, or train.
This will allow a small core group to proceed in the motorhome, handing off some chores and responsibilities to other volunteers (cooking, parking, security, driving, and so on). Each stop/stay will have a host who has invited the Wind to their location and will be in charge of local placement and other needs and wants, from tables to tents to catering and more. This is an extraordinary tour that will be podcast live throughout its entirety to people who want to join in at home while the vets on are on the road, the rail or in the air coming and going. There will be no charges along the way, for anything, including food and drink unless vets seek libations and food at local establishments nearby at each stay/stop. The only request we have in working to complete the planning and then implementation of this mission is your contributions ahead of time for those who want or feel that they can afford to help fund such a wild and strange endeavor.
Nothing like this tour has ever been done before, to our knowledge.
Not in this way.
Please send checks to James Strauss, 507 Broad Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147. We are not a 501 3c non-profit yet. That may come later as we decide whether to make this an annual event or not, so you can’t deduct the money you might give on your taxes.
There is also a GoFundMe site: https://www.gofundme.com/f/cantuy-thirty-days-has-september.
We pay taxes on that money collected.
So far, we are about halfway there. Anything you might want to do is going to be so appreciated by all of us.
This is a massive undertaking but the benefits could be extraordinary, especially as the media along the way comes aboard.
As of April 12, 2021, this is the Schedule and Itinerary
Milwaukee: Depart September 1 to Minneapolis
Arrive Minneapolis September 1
Minneapolis: September 1 to September 3
Arrive Spokane September 4
Spokane: September 4 to September 6
Arrive Portland September 6
Portland: September 6 to September 8
Arrive San Francisco September 9
San Francisco: September 9 to September 11
Arrive Los Angeles September 11
Los Angeles: September 11 to September 13
Arrive Phoenix September 14
Phoenix: September 14 to September 16
Arrive El Paso September 16
El Paso: September 16 to September 18
Arrive New Orleans September 19
New Orleans: September 19 to September 21
Arrive Atlanta September 22
Atlanta: September 22 to September 24
Arrive Washington D.C. September 24
Washington D.C.: September 24 to September 26
Arrive Boston September 26
Boston: September 26 to September 28
Arrive Pittsburg September 28
Pittsburg: September 28 to September 30
Arrive Milwaukee when the Combat Wind gets there.
Sign Up for Updates on the Trip Planning
In my estimation, the three worst cities on your schedule (and “worst” in this case is what Jim Flynn said above) are Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco. I agree that you should try to find somewhere away from the downtown in all of them, plus some of the other hot-spots in the area.
On a different subject… I sure hope you’ll have several drivers in the bus. That schedule is grueling and there are a lot of miles between some of those cities. The Minneapolis to Seattle leg is close to 1,400 miles and the schedule looks like you plan to make that in one day. The El Paso – New Orleans is also 1,200 miles, again a very long day. Remember, most states have lower speed limits for truck, Busses, RVs, and any vehicle towing.
Bless you for making this trip for all your brothers in arms…
Mac
Thanks for your input, Michael
There ate many items for consideration.
Semper fi,
Jim
I concur with Henry. The big American Flag would be a target for some of our “protestors” to focus on. South of town in Tualatin or Wilsonville would be a better RON I think. I keep hoping for a hospital CO’s wife to step out and help you! Amazing reading about Mickey, Smokey and OnGas! I was staying at the Treasure Island BOQ late summer of ’69 while our ship was getting worked on at Hunter’s Point. Keep up the great writing!
The remarkable Jim Flynn. Remarkable for things I can’t even write about here, but I’m not that easy to impress either.
Thanks for the comment and discussion about the RV. I cannot imagine that both the left and right have anything against the flag itself.
Would having it on the RV be considered a violation. I hadn’t even thought about that. Outside of Portland would indeed be best since
the downtown of large cities lack most facilities for RV parking and services. You were in Treasure Island in late 69. Amazing.
But then you are pretty amazing, anyway. It will be good to meet you in person in September.
Thank you, which I’m getting pretty used to saying to you.
Semper fi,
Jim
Which Pittsburg?
Really? You really have the given name of John Rambo? There is only one Pittsburgh in the USA, another in Canada.
The tour will not be going to Canada. Interesting question, though.
Semper fi,
Jim
Don’t forget the one in Kansas
Please let people know where you will be when you arrive in the respective city. I will do what I can to pay respects. god bless and continue the good work!
Yes, the next tome that will go out of the planning process will include contact ability, narrowed down locations and hosts along the way.
Semper fi, and thanks for the great appropriate comment.
Jim
It looks like you and the crew will be a tired bunch at the end of the trail.
Downtown Portland is a very dangerous place because of a weak Mayor and the large Antifa presence plus Proud Boy skirmishes. USCG and USCG Auxiliarists (and probably other military) are not to be downtown at night and not to wear uniforms getting to where working or doing courtesy vessel exams or other helpful tasks. Recommend meeting in one of the towns around Portland like Beaverton, Tualatin, Tigard, Wilsonville, Lake Oswego, etc. I live in Sherwood.
Yes, avoiding combat is a particularly helpful way to stay alive. The politics of where we are going on the trip is of little consequence to most of the veterans, or so I believe. Portland has a crime rate
of 2895 per 100,000 residents. Half the cities we will be going to have that high a rate or higher. We were in combat so we know fear but we are also not cowards or frightened by normal American life.
Thanks for the heads up.
Semper fi,
Jim