COMBOAT! 96
Cruise Update: 07/17/96

Three months and counting down to the first-ever reunion of our beloved men from Company K.

NEW RECRUITS

I'm happy to inform you that our guest list for the cruise has expanded. No need to ask if there’s a doctor in the house: Conlan Carter (“Doc” from seasons two through five) will be part of COMBOAT! '96. Also on board, Steven Rubin, co-producer of the upcoming "Combat!" feature film and long-time Combat! fan.

WE WANT YOU!

We’ll have lots of Combat! activities for our cruisers while on board. If you don’t see some activity that you would like (or better yet, one that you’d like to volunteer to organize), just let us know. We’d love to hear from you. Plus, we need volunteers to help at all these activities. If you can lend us an hour or two, we’ll recommend you for a medal and a promotion. Remember, this event is completely fan-run and fan-organized.

SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES:

Everything is subject to change, but here are the activities as they stand at press time.

Sunday night:

Our West Coast people arrive the night before the cruise. Volunteer Linda Schweitzer is arranging a little get-together nosh for those who’ll be in town early. We’ll send details and price information along with your cruise tickets 30 days prior to sailing.

Monday:

Meet your fellow COMBATants and our special guests at the Welcome Aboard cocktail party before dinner on the day of embarkation. After dinner, enjoy a special "Combat!" video presentation.

Tuesday:

Question-and-answer session with Rick Jason and Conlan Carter. Plus a Photo session, where the ship’s photographer will photograph each of our cruisers with the "Combat!" actors. These portraits will be available for purchase through the ship’s photographer.

Wednesday:

Question-and-answer session with Pierre Jalbert and Jack Hogan. Plus an autograph session: photos of each of the actors provided free to each cruiser, the actors will autograph them for you.

Thursday:

Question-and-answer session with Dick Peabody and Tom Lowell. Plus, charity auction: collectible items will be auctioned, with all proceeds to the International Committee for the Red Cross, in the name of Vic Morrow. Some of the items up for sale are "Combat!" trading cards, an authentic WWII uniform, prop knife used on the show, Rick Jason’s Academy of Motion Pictures membership card, autographed celebrity photos, and more! Other Thursday activities include a question-and-answer session with Steve Rubin, plus a panel about "Combat!" fandom featuring the ladies on the homefront: Nancy Durgin (the keeper of the internet "Combat!" mailing list), Susan Balnek (to our knowledge, "Combat!" fandom’s first fan writer), Jean Noack (editor of "The Squad"), and Jo Davidsmeyer (reunion organizer and fan writer).

Other activities during the cruise include video programming, trivia contest, and general frivolity.

VIDEOTAPING, PHOTOS, AUTOGRAPHS

We request that you refrain from videotaping the question-and-answer sessions onboard. Also, we are restricting autographs to the one autograph session. Please do not ask the actors for autographs at any other time during the cruise. Like you, the actors are on vacation and we wish them to be free to enjoy their vacation along with you. Photos are permitted at any time during the "Combat!" events. The photo session with the ship’s photographer is offered as a courtesy; you are not obligated to participate, nor are you obligated to purchase any photos taken by the ship’s photographer.

FIT TO A “T”

In response to several requests from our cruisers, souvenir t-shirts will be available. Linda Schweitzer has kindly volunteered to be our t-shirt officer and is handling the logistics of this operation. The moss green t-shirt is printed in cream, featuring the phrase COMBOAT! '96, a cartoon caricature of Lt. Hanley and Sgt. Saunders, and the phrase "Combat! Reunion Cruise, October 21-25, 1996." Cost per shirt is $12.00 for adult sizes small through X-Large, $14.00 for 2X. Cost includes shipping and handling. A portion of proceeds from the sale of the shirts will be donated to the International Committee for the Red Cross.

It’s easy to take advantage of this offer. Send check or money order (sorry, no credit cards) along with your order stating quantity, size, and delivery address to:

Your order will be processed upon receipt of payment. Allow four to six weeks for delivery ARO. Hurry! This offer valid until July 31, 1996.

If you miss that date, Linda will be processing a second order for t-shirts in September. Send your order to arrive by September 6, 1996. Please include a SASE so that Linda can verify receipt of your order and inform you when to expect delivery. If you would prefer to receive your shirt onboard the ship instead of through the mail, please let Linda know.

For further T-Shirt information, please email Linda Schweitzer at

or write to her at the above address.

WHAT ELSE THE WELL-DRESSED FAN IS WEARING

NCL’s suggested dress is as follows: daytime is casual.

Monday -

casual (please, no shorts after 6:00 pm in lounges or restaurants).

Tuesday -

evening attire is formal tuxedos or jacket and tie for the men, formal gowns or cocktail dresses for the ladies.

Wednesday -

casual or Country-Western wear (please no shorts after 6:00 pm).

Thursday -

casual or '50s/'60s wear (please no shorts after 6:00 pm). Some of our cruisers will be doing ‘40s attire on Wednesday.

As usual, everything subject to change, but we’ll try and keep you informed.

AT A SUPERMARKET NEAR YOU

"The Globe," that famed supermarket tabloid, is doing an article about the reunion. At the time of this printing, we don’t know when the article will appear, but keep an eye open at the check-out counter (it will be on one of their color pages, and may appear as part of a “remember when” issue). The writer promises that it will appear sometime between now and September. [NOTE: The article will be on newsstands July 30, 1996]

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments, please email Jo Davidsmeyer, reunion organizer, at

or write to her at [note: address changed since this notice]. Please include a SASE for prompt response.