Dear Marigold:

I received your letter today.  Asking me if I enjoyed the tour, I sure did.  Buck told me I would enjoy it very much.  It was so much more than I expected.  The tour guides (Ron, Jake and Mark) were great.  They were so helpful with Buck and me.  Buck is 87 and he needed some help sometimes and they were always there to help.  I'm a little bit younger than Buck but I needed some help sometimes also.  Buck never talked about his time in Easy Co., but I learned more of what he did in the army when we were on tour.  He is quite a person and always was.  I took one hundred and five pictures and I'm showing them to my family and friends.  I had a wonderful time.  Thanks for letting me go with Buck.  I know Elaine would have liked to go but she is not up to it.  Thanks again for letting me have such a great two weeks, and I met some great people on the tour also.

Bob Taylor

WWII Veteran

Participant, Band of Brothers Tour - September 2007

Dear Marigold,

I wanted to write you and express my deepest gratitude for your help in organizing such a memorable tour. I would highly recommend the Band of Brothers experience to anyone, and frankly, hope to find myself on another one of your tours very soon.
 
I am grateful for the opportunity to have met such wonderful people and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the experience through the eyes of a true veteran-our guide Buck Taylor-it truly brought such a special element to the trip.
 
The accommodations and food were outstanding and I feel very lucky to have experienced things I know I would not have on other tours-I attribute this to the special relationships Stephen Ambrose Tours has cultivated over the years. For example, the private dinner at the Eagle’s Nest was the pinnacle of the trip for me. I appreciated the fact that all details were thoughtfully planned out-everything seemed smooth and effortless.  
 
As a history buff, I looked forward to this trip with great anticipation and you exceeded my expectations to the fullest. I thank you very much and look forward to traveling with you again.
 
Warm regards,
 
Jim Compton

Participant, Band of Brothers Tour - September 2007

Marigold,

I'm writing to you to ask you to tell the entire staff how perfect the recent Band of Brothers Tour was for all of us!  The group was unusually congenial, and every moment of the tour was just spectacular--we ladies agreed that each day outdid the preceding one, and that's a difficult thing to accomplish.  Lee and I, personally, enjoyed wholly each activity (as did Lee's brother) and we especially appreciated the very knowledgeable (and entertaining!) commentary by Ron, Jake, and Mark.  I've just selected and ordered 179 of the 680 pictures my husband-cameraman took, and I'm looking forward to creating a huge scrapbook which will enable us to enjoy this trip for years to come.  We are so grateful to Mark for contacting us originally about the tour, and also to you for your kind answers to my emails before we left.  I think you're looking for comments to improve the tour--and actually, everything was just great!  You might mention to the ladies that there are not hairdryers in each hotel (we had three rooms with them of the seven hotels); and I'm glad my friend clued me in to the no washcloth, no top sheet customs in Europe!  These, however, are extremely minor matters which I just tell you because you asked for suggestions--they're not a criticism....In a few days I'll try uploading some group pictures of our tour, which, I repeat, was absolutely perfect and the experience of a lifetime! Thanks so much for the help all of you granted us!  

Liz Eilers

Participant, Band of Brothers Tour - September 2007

Dear Marigold,

To begin, I'd like to say that Kathy and I had a marvelous tour with Ron Drez and the other tour participants.  We saw and experienced things that we may never see again and that made it quite special.

Second, Ron is truly a gifted tour guide and a classy gentleman and I would gladly follow his lead on a tour again as he really makes the tour come alive for the participants.
One critique that I would have is I would have enjoyed more time in each of the museums that we visited.  I know it is difficult when you are trying to keep to a schedule, but a few more hours in the Imperial War Museum and the Churchill Museum would have been appreciated.

That aside, Kathy and I can't say enough about how we enjoyed our Stephen Ambrose Tour and we are highly interested in doing it again in the future.
 
Sincerely,
John O'Shaughnessy 

Participant, D-Day to the Rhine Tour - September 2007

Marigold,

I am pleased to say that I had a great time on the L&C pre-tour and the Tour.  

On the pre-tour, Les Dolezal and his assistant, Travis Crawford, were totally professional, personable, competent and knowledgeable.  They were tireless, and their patience with us greenhorns was without limit.  I have searched thoroughly my memory of the trip down a 48-mile stretch of the Missouri River with them and can find nothing to complain about – only praise.  It was simply a fine experience.  I would recommend the pre-tour to anyone, so long as Les is in charge.  

One suggestion I have for you in qualifying prospective members for the pre-tour river trip: Let them know that, to do the trip well, one needs good physical conditioning and stamina.  For our group, that posed no problem, but I could understand that a member not in reasonable physical condition wouldn’t enjoy it.  I’m just glad we were going downstream, not upstream, when, all day on the first day of our float, we had to struggle to overcome a strong headwind to make any progress.  But we did it and it was worth it.

As to the Corps of Discovery tour, the same.  I can’t imagine a pair better than Don Snow and Dorothy O’Brien as guide and wrangler for such a tour.

Don was superb as our professor.  He is authoritative on the L&C Tour of Discovery, the geography, and even the plants and wildlife.  In addition, his delivery is so smooth and natural that listening to him put me back in college, when sometimes I would get so wrapped up in what was being said I would forget that I was supposed to take notes.  Stories, dates and details just roll out of Don’s head, with rarely a pause for recollection.  He is an excellent teacher and communicator.  Those traits, plus his just being so easy to like, made the Tour for me.

In what I gather was her first venture into wrangling for a tour, Dorothy was excellent.  Her patience and good humor were never exhausted, in my observation.  Her attention to detail, flexibility and competence in dealing with people made a huge difference in the quality of the trip.  In the interest of full disclosure, I must inform you that I may be biased.  She gave me a written award which reads as follows: “Best Non-Swimmer.  For being the first one in the Jefferson River not of his own volition.”  I concede the award was informal, and I acknowledge I earned it merely because of my natural lack of prowess in keeping my balance while standing up in a canoe.  Nevertheless, I am proud of her generous recognition.

To summarize, I enjoyed every minute of the trip.  I believe that Ambrose Tours lived up to the all-important business principle that the customer comes first.  In addition, I achieved my objective of experiencing a taste of what the Corps experienced, but I did that while being educated, entertained and cared for extremely well.  

Hebron Cutrer

Participant, Corps of Discovery - June 2007

Dear Marigold,

I wanted to express my thanks for all your help in preparing me for my trip. I have to say I was nervous in my expectations as I was a reluctant participant on this May 2007 Band of Brothers Tour. My 21 year old daughter as well as my husband were eager and enthusiastic as they have a great love for Easy Company; I didn't share their passion. I have to say I was elated to gain a new knowledge as well as an insight to all that Easy Company experienced. Ron and Jake with their treasure of knowlege and the skill they possess in retelling the tales were extraordinary. The way the whole trip is planned step by step brings through the reality of war. I was enthralled and hung on every word. I cannot express how thrilling every moment was. Having Bill Wingett along and being able to spend time with him was a gift I will treasure always. There are no words to express our pleasure with this trip. The sights were beautiful, the people were fantastic and Ron's wife Judy was the touch of elegance!

ce. Husbands take your wives and older children on this tour, this is a once in a lifetime learning and sharing experience and one trip you will never forget.

Thank you for the memories,

Kathy Zilinski

Participant, Band of Brothers Tour - May 2007

My sincere appreciation for the wonderful D-Day tour he led earlier this month. This was a trip I have wanted to take for years, and his expert knowledge of the history of that important time really brought the events to life for me. I only wish I could have continued on for the full twelve days and heard him speak on the meaning of WWII in Frankfurt. Again, many thanks Ron.

Michael Russo

Participant, Operation Overlord Tour - June 2007

Dear Marigold,

 Ron Drez truly brought to life many heroes from Easy Company and World War II for Elliott and me.  Their inspiring stories and history came alive for us as we walked their paths and stood in their fox holes while Ron took us back to that important period in our history.  What a privilege to stand on the same ground as the heroes of my Father's generation! 

Clint and Eliott Cavett

Participants, D-Day to the Rhine Tour - June 2007

Dear Friends:

I just wanted to write a quick note of thanks to all of you regarding the May 2007 “Band of Brothers” Tour.

Weeks later I still find my mind incapable of true focus on my workaday life as my deepest thoughts leap back to the forests of Bastogne or the Beaches of Normandy. The vivid memories always accompanied by the fascinating and passionate lectures given by either Ron Drez or Jake Powers, or even more powerful, the few wizened words of our veteran Bill Wingett. Your passion for the subject and deep respect for the men who served our country so fearlessly will forever inspire me.  I miss my many friends on the tour as well. What better company could one ask for than those who understand the great need to honor our heroes?  Everyday was an adventure, every evening a celebration, this was more than a vacation, it was an experience of a lifetime.

Thank you sincerely,

Paul Danielson

Participant, Band of Brothers Tour - May 2007

We rate you a solid 10!

Dear Marigold,

We didn't think it possible to top the experience of the September 2006 Band of Brothers tour but we be believe that you did it with the March 2007 War in the Pacific excursion.  It was truly a "once in a lifetime" experience.

Ron Drez's insight into the WWII history of the islands we visited was invaluable and added greatly to our appreciation for the American fighting men.  Our attendance at the Reunion of Honor on Iwo Jima was the highlight of the trip.

The presence of Ron's wife, Judy, his greatest asset, was a real bonus.

Yakir helped keep things running smoothly except for missing the bus at Lake Susupe.  Everyone enjoyed the way he handled the situation with good humor.

Thanks again, Marigold, to Stephen Ambrose Tours for arranging such an entertaining and informative trip.  We rate you a solid 10!

Tom & Shirley Colwell

Participants, War in the Pacific - Iwo Jima Tour, March 2007

Dear Marigold,

Thanks to your and your organization for making the 2006 Band of Brothers Tour such an outstanding event.  From the reception in Atlanta to the return flight from Munich, each day was filled with unforgettable sights and experiences.

Chris' knowledge of and love for the men of Easy Company was obvious and contributed greatly to the tour.  Steph's quick wit and driving expertise made our travel easy and care-free.  Joel's gentle manner and good humor was appreciated by all.

What can I say about Paul Rogers?  We were indeed privileged to have him on the tour to add his first-person accounts to Chris' vivid narrations.  What a great American!

Thanks again for making the 2006 Band of Brothers Tour so unforgettable.

Sincerely,

Tom & Shirley Colwell

Participants, Band of Brothers Tour, September 2006

Marigold,

It was a great trip.....Thank you for all your help getting us squared away and answering our multitude of questions.  The crew, Chris, Steph and Joel, were so helpful and made the tour terrific.  And Paul, such a gentleman, added to the tour with his stories and his modest attitude about his service to our country. It was a honor to have visited it with him. The knowledge that Chris has and his willingness to share it with us was unbelievable. His energy level seemed to be never ending.  Steph's help and concern added to the emotion and flow of the trip, especially the cemetery service.  I have already contacted my friends and told them to sign up now for the May tour. Marge and I would recommend this tour to anyone who has an interest in history.
Thanks again.

Rolla and Marge Harding  

Participants, Band of Brothers Tour, September 2006

Dear Marigold and Stephen Ambrose Tour Staff,

Jennie and I just wanted to say thank you to all the staff at Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours, but especially Marigold, Ron and Judy; with whom we have had the most direct contact, for the wonderful experiences and memories you provided to us through the D-Day to the Rhine Tour.  And please include Heija and Roelie in our round of applause for a grand trip.  When we 'signed on' for the tour, there was no way we could have anticipated such a fulfilling experience.

This was our fifth trip to England, but the time spent in London and Portsmouth was far beyond any two days we had spent in England in past visits.  And that was just the beginning, as we were soon to learn.

The two days we spent in the Normandy area could easily have filled three or more days, but we learned SO MUCH while there.  We had, of course, lived through radio descriptions of the things Ron, Judy, Heija and Roelie led us to experience first hand in those days.  They were all so wonderful.  This was followed with more adventues in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.  And then, the crowning experience, the lagniappe 'Cruise on the Rhine'.  Thank you so much for that surprise ending to a memorable trip.

Keep us in mind for the Iwo Jima excursion.  We hope to be able to make that trip soon.  Thanks again to all of you for a marvelous experience.

With sincere appreciation,

Don and Jennie Walsh

Participants, D-Day to the Rhine Tour, June 2006

Dear Ms. Pascual,

Thank you for your letter of May 24 with the roster of participants of the recently completed Band of Brothers tour.  I am pleased to share my comments with you about the tour.

It was truly a memorable experience for me and one that I will long cherish.  Although I had visited many of the sites on previous trips to Europe, revisiting them on tour with Chris Anderson was like being there for the first time.  Chris' knowledge and his clear in-depth descriptions of the events that occurred gave each place an entirely new and meaningful dimension.

The hotels, meals and accommodations were all good - and frequently excellent.  Steph was friendly and helpful and his bus comfortable and always convenient.  As much as anything that made the tour a great experience was the opportunity to meet and make many new friends who share a common interest.

I am home - weary but happy - to have had the opportunity to share the great experience of Band of Brothers with so many wonderful new friends.  Thank you!

Sincerely,

Frank Komenda

Participant - Band of Brothers Tour, May 2006

We would not hesitate in taking the tour again.

Marigold –

Your letter of June 1 was waiting for us on our arrival. Many thanks for enclosing the roster of participants of the tour. The group was very amicable and interesting and the list will help in maintaining contact. I promised you our reaction to the tour, so here goes:

We would not hesitate in taking the tour again. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate the tour 9.5 with the following highlights:

1. The Historians, namely Chris and Jake. They put the pieces together and gave life to the areas we visited.

2. The French and Dutch families on whose lands some of the battles took place which provided us with additional insight to those events.

3. The climb to the bell tower at the church in Ste. Marie du Mond. Excellent!

4. The re-enactors in Holland whose tour on the their vehicles provided even more detail to the events that occurred in Holland.

5. The ride on the C-47 over the battle area in Holland. Excellent!

6. The presentation of wreaths to those killed in action. Extremely touching. I was particularly affected when we laid the wreaths at the headstones of Warren Muck and Alex Penkala as I identified them from the HBO Band of Brothers series.

7. The ending of the tour at Berchtesgaden was a perfect conclusion. It was a time for the tour participants to relax as it had been for Easy Company with the war in Europe winding down. The final dinner at the Eagle’s Nest was an excellent ambiance in which to finalize the tour.

8. Last but not least on the plus side was the inclusion of the two Easy Company Veterans in the tour. We have to thank God that both Forrest and Buck are in good health and can take the rigors of the 6, 7, and 8 routine of the Tour. Their commentaries gave the rest of us a “feel” of what they went through. It is a shame that we as a nation did not start recognizing the veterans until nearly 50 years had passed. Due to our lapse not all the stories that should be told will ever come out.

In conclusion I would like to add that I had been to the battlefield areas of Normandy, Holland and Belgium before. I was therefore familiar with the area and what occurred there. However by having two Historians and two Veterans, everything that happened in these areas was magnified and given life. This could not have occurred without their input. Keep up the good work and many
thanks for a most enjoyable tour.
.
Sincerely,
Joan and Jon Forsyth
Participants – Band of Brothers Tour, May 2005

I highly recommend this tour to all educators. For students, it is probably the most educational opportunity they will experience.

To Ambrose Tours:

I would like to thank everyone involved in the planning for our "D-Day to Berlin 2005" tour. Andy Ambrose, Yakir Katz, Marigold Pascual, Connie Eason and Bebe Williams did a great job of planning the itinerary, scheduling the tours, arranging the hotels, and so on. Thanks to their hard work, we could forget about the logistics of the trip and enjoy more history than most would even dream of packing into 13 short days!

I would also like to thank both Ron Drez, Jr. and Albert "Spoony" Sponheimer for adding invaluable commentary throughout the trip. Ron Drez, Jr. is an outstanding historian. We took 14 high school students and Ron was able to keep their attention throughout the trip—which is something teachers strive to do. Spoon, a veterand of D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, was able to make the battles come to life with his excellent recollections of his experiences. These gentlemen made it an extremely educational and enjoyable tour.

I highly recommend this tour to all educators. For students, it is probably the most educational opportunities they will experience. There is nothing more powerful than to be standing on Omaha Beach, listening to Spoony describe the opening hours of the battle—it is a memory students will never forget. I truly look forward to working with Ambrose Tours in the near future.

Sincerely,
Scott Ackman
Social Science Teacher
Niles West High School
Skokie, IL

Dear Marigold,

Thank you for your nice letter of 14 July and for the list of all of our fellow travelers on the D-Day to the Rhine trip. It has been a month since we said goodbye to our newfound friends in Weisbaden and still, it seems like yesterday that we were sharing such vivid memories.

It is difficult to find the words to describe my feelings, as I recall each day’s historical significance and I had the advantage of having been there 61 years ago. In short, I never expected to be so deeply moved. Even now, in comparing notes with my children and grands, I find that they too are emotionally reliving and re-seeing something of history that they had never before fully comprehended.

As a family, Jonathan expressed it best in saying that, “we have concluded that in doing it once opened our eyes, but we would all like to do it again to help us to fully appreciate what we saw and felt.” And I hasten to add that, if we do it again, it will have to be with Ron and Judy.

If there is one suggestion that I could make to improve the trip, and the children agree, it would be to add one day in England, two days in Normandy and one day each to “Market Garden” and “The Bulge.” We say that simply because the family consensus is – “It was so meaningful, but we moved along so fast that there wasn’t time to fully absorb it and keep pace with the flow of the action.”

Those are big words and they come, mostly from the kids. I see it simply that all of them, (myself included) have just acquired a very deep appreciation for a very touching moment in living history. And it won’t be forgotten. Thanks again to all of you that made such an experience possible and our special thanks to Ron and Judy Drez. Very sincerely and with best wishes to all,

Paul Rudloff
WWII Veteran
Participant – D-Day to the Rhine, June 2005

Dear Yakir,

I’m still in the process of transcribing my notes that I took along the way so I’m kind of still living that experience. I thought the whole trip was a good work of planning and scheduling. All our accommodations, meals and tours were great. There wasn’t anything that I would leave out if we did it again. I was impressed with your work with the cell phone confirming arrival times, etc. I was especially impressed when you arranged our last minute air shuttle to Tinian when the sea was too rough for the ferry. That’s one of my favorite parts of the story.

I thought that Ron Drez was so knowledgeable and had the ability to pass it on to us. I scribbled down notes as much as I could, but I wish Ron would put the Pacific story in a book some day. Being able to see all those places in the company of the veterans who were there was a special privilege.

My thanks for a great trip.

Sincerely,
Carl Hoppes
WWII Veteran
Participant – 60th Anniversary of Iwo Jima – War in the Pacific Tour

You deserve an A+ for the Iwo trip.

Dear Yakir, Ron and Judy –

You deserve an A+ for the Iwo trip. It is a bittersweet experience for Walter going back to the beaches, so many memories, but I am so glad I finally got to see it all. We have no complaints. Our flights, hotels and food were very good. Keep us informed of your trips.

Thank you for a great experience,
Jean O.

Jean and Walter Ohnemus (WWII Veteran)
Participants – 60th Anniversary of Iwo Jima – War in the Pacific Tour

The tour was surely a memorable one, especially meeting and talking with some of the combat veterans.

Dear Yakir,

I want to thank you and the Captain for a great tour. I enjoyed it thoroughly! The tour was surely a memorable one, especially meeting and talking with some of the combat veterans. I also enjoyed my hike with Capt. Ron to the top of Mt. Suribachi. Perhaps we’ll meet on another tour. Thanks again for your company and assistance. As they say in Guam – HAFA ADAI!

Yours truly,
Ollie Harker
WWII Veteran
Participant – 60th Anniversary of Iwo Jima – War in the Pacific Tour

Because Whitman Alumni Association trips always include our own faculty, one of the criteria I use in selecting a tour company to work with is willingness to be flexible in designing a trip specific to our group...was an excellent match.

Dear Bebe

I want to let you know what a wonderful experience my Whitman College Alumni Association group had on our recent "Corps of Discovery" trip through western Montana. There is so much to see and do along this section of the Lewis and Clark journey, we could have spent many more days exploring, visiting museums, and simply having fun and sharing special time together.

Because Whitman Alumni Association trips always include our own faculty, one of the criteria I use in selecting a tour company to work with is willingness to be flexible in designing a trip specific to our group. The combination of Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours' logistical framework and itinerary, and the educational opportunities provided by our three accompanying faculty members, was an excellent match. You did a wonderful job making sure there were meeting venues and A/V equipment where we needed them, arranged great meals and lodging, and were more than willing to accomodate our needs. The planned itinerary, which we were able to adapt slightly as we went along, covered the territory well. Barry Ambrose, the local guide, was excellent. He was always prepared to take care of anything that came up along the way, and his knowledge, as well as his sense of fun and down-to-earth nature, made him an integral (and very much appreciated!) part of our group.

Any time a group sets out on an adventure where a bunch of strangers are going to be stuck with each other for an extended period of time, there are concerns about adapting to each other, different levels of physical abilities, varying personalities, and many other things to worry about. This group, comprising a large span of ages, bonded within a very short time. Most felt that experiencing the same things as the Corps of Discovery experienced—walking through the prickly pears, standing in the rivers, seeing the mountains spread out to the west of Lemhi pass—gave us a glimpse of those long-ago explorers and the bonds they must have built among themselves. Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours provided just the right balance of outdoor adventure and comfortable accomodations, and the flexibility to include our own teaching where and when we needed time.

Thank you again for all your hard work to make this a memorable journey for us.

With all sincerity,
Margaret Hoglund
Office of Alumni Relations
Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA

The recent tour taken with you to Normandy plus, has to be the most outstanding tour I have ever taken, except the one sponsored by Uncle Sam and taken in June, 1944.

Attn: Mr. Ron Drez, Sr. and Jr.

Dear Friends,
…and that is the only way I can address both you gentlemen.

The recent tour taken with you to Normandy plus, has to be the most outstanding tour I have ever taken, except the one sponsored by Uncle Sam and taken in June 1944. The reception we all received then was pretty hot, but not as warm as this one. Our group bonded after the first hour together and never wavered from that point on until the end of the trip.

Your tour was the best planned, organized and executed than any other one in which I have ever participated. You have to be congratulated on your efficient operation. I look forward to traveling with your group again next year.

Again, thanks for the memories you helped create for us.

Sincerely,

Maurice Kaye
WWII Veteran
Participant – SAHT’s 197th AAA Battalion
60th Anniversary of D-Day Tour, June 2004

Attn: Andy Ambrose

This note is a short piece to convey to you and through you to your organization the wonderful experience that the tour provided. It served as a memento to the great labors that the 197th provided during that trying time in the great history of our country. As you know, my brother, 1st Lt. Ben Gleason, was the Executive Officer of Battery A of the 197th during that time. The trip provided one and all of us with a sense of great pride in what those men were able to accomplish in the most trying of times and circumstances.

About the tour, it was a very demanding task and your people handled it with wonderful results. The food and accommodations were first rate. However, more to the point, the tour initially led by Ron Drez, Sr. and thereafter by his son Ron, Jr. left nothing to be desired. The additional commentary by Al “Spoony” Sponheimer (my roommate for the trip) added a real sense of time we were all enveloped in. It was great.

There were too many highlights to mention individually, but the service on D-Day and the visit with the children at Bourcy will long live in all of our memories.

In that familiar old bromide, “thanks for the memories.”

Best Regards,

Paul C. Gleason
Participant – SAHT’s 197th AAA Battalion
60th Anniversary of D-Day Tour, June 2004

I was part of your 60th Anniversary of D-Day tour earlier this month. I want you to know that I was thoroughly pleased with all the arrangements. The tour was all I hoped for, and more. I saw a lot, learned a lot, and met a lot of interesting people. Coordinating that many people and that many buses and hotels was a huge effort. Thanks, too, for arranging the preferential seating for us veterans for the June 6th celebration.

I appreciated Chris Anderson's leadership and patience in what I'm sure were some stressful situations with all the increased security and crowded conditions. I enjoyed the historian's narrations on each outing of the tour - especially Kevin Hymel and John McManus.

The hotel accommodations and the food were excellent at every stop.

Please keep me on your mailing list. This was my first trip to Europe, but I may try it again someday.

Yours truly,

Carl O. Hoppes
WWII Veteran
(Mr. Hoppes is joining us this March for our 60th Anniversary of Iwo Jima - War in the Pacific Tour)

Dear Bebe,

I pronounce the Corps of Discovery Tour an unqualified success from my standpoint. Ron Drez' enthusiastic mastery of the subject was catching. He read from the journals at just the right moments. I think we all felt an underlying patriotism revived. Canoeing down the river, the hikes, camping out, meals, etc. seemed to be handled with little logistical fuss - a major accomplishment!

We suffered only one departure from our superb tasty cuisine - the lunch on Bitterroot Mountains.

I had such a great room at the Grand Union Hotel - a window on the river. All the accommodations, even the tents, were just right (one does need a thick foam or inflatable mattress.)

Dinner at the Montana Club provided an elegant break in our rugged routine. A word about the captain's wife: Judy, I think, has a gift for hostessing. She gave me an extra camera out of the blue, and I suspect she did other kindnesses unnoted because of her unassuming grace and good humor. We had such good laughs about those horses!

With good wishes to all involved,

Waldo (Nancy Cobetto)
Participant – Corps of Discovery Tour, July 2004

Dear Ron, Judy, Marigold, Andy and Bebe,

We are still aglow from our tour with all of you and our side trip back to Paris and London. We arrived in Denver, Sunday evening, safe and sound, full of great adventures and good memories.

I have been on several tours, but yours was the best organized, and most versatile of all. (We rode ferries, subways, boats, trains and our great bus and driver.) The people were so much fun and the food and accommodations were 1st class. Again, thank for all you did and hope to see you again soon on the Italian Campaign.

Best Wishes,

Evelyn Drake & Phil Cafasso
Participants – D-Day to the Rhine tour, September 2004

I will never forget it as long as I live!

Dear Mr. Ambrose:

I felt compelled to write this letter to thank you, thank you, and thank you. I also wanted to inform you of my own experiences on your D-Day Tour, through the Post Tour. This was the best trip of a lifetime for me! I have dreamed of going to Normandy most of my life. On two different occasions, I attempted to make the trip, but due to circumstances beyond my control, I was repeatedly forced to cancel. Then my good fortune brought me to your advertisement in World War II Magazine and the rest truly is HISTORY!

Once I actually committed to go, I called your people to discuss the trip. I was clearly informed, that due to unusually tight security, this trip would at best, be very hectic and could be subject to change at any time during the tour. Your recommendation was that if I was determined to attend the ceremony I should be aware that due to extremely large crowds and the many government officials attending (including the President) that: a) I probably would not see all the beaches; b) I probably would not get close enough to see any of the actual awards; and c) delays would be the order of the day. But the ceremony was important to me and I made the decision to go for it, in spite of the careful warnings. Luckily, it was a great decision! But you did not exaggerate at all, it WAS hectic and crowded and everything that I was warned about, but it was also very moving, emotional and historical. I met and accompanied a veteran from our tour group and was right in the middle of everything! I will never forget it as long as I live!

I had never traveled to Europe (or any other place outside the US) and was pretty anxious about the whole thing. Even without the threat of terrorism, I would have been uneasy. But I just want you to know that I think the trip was handled in a professional manner and I was not disappointed with any aspect of the trip. My hotel accommodations far exceeded my expectations; the meals were excellent; your staff (our daily tour guides) were professional, helpful, courteous and well informed of their duties.

I also feel the cost of the trip was very reasonable and I am more than a little sure that had I attempted to repeat the tour on my own - staying at the same accommodations, making my own travel arrangements, etc., the trip would have cost me far more than the packaged deal I got from you.

In fact, I have no complaints whatsoever, and felt each and every day of the tour was better than the day before. I will highly recommend your company to friends, family and anyone else that should ask, and I intend to return someday for another tour. This, again, was indeed the trip of a lifetime. I made new lifetime friends and had I been able to hand pick my own roommate, I couldn't have chosen a better partner than your selection put me with!

I know that I received more than my money's worth and feel somewhat saddened that you've had to offer a discount on future trips, due to some of the delays that you clearly warned everyone about from the beginning. Your company, like everyone else, is in the business to provide a service as well as make a profit. My observation was that you provided that service in the most professional way possible and as far as I could see you earned your money. For the record, when I DO elect to travel with your tours again, I certainly won't be accepting your discount.

I think you all did it exactly right and I was more than informed about the delays because you told me they “would be the order of the day.” Had I not wanted to deal with the large crowds and delays, I certainly could have taken your advice and chosen a different date. However, I'm glad I didn't. Anyone complaining the trip wasn't exactly as it was represented are the same folks that seem to find fault in everything - all the time! Those people make it harder for everyone else, but, hey, what do you do?

I wish you the very best, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart and look forward to traveling with your company in the future.

Sincerely,

Jon Avent
Participant – SAHT’s 60th Anniversary of
D-Day Tour, June 2004

Dear Ms. Williams:

What a wonderful tour we had this past month, under the leadership of Ron Drez and his wife Judy! The leadership and planning were excellent, giving a taste of the struggles involved in the 1804 tour of Lewis and Clark, but tempering it with some very comfortable accommodations and delicious meals.

My favorite parts were canoeing along the Missouri River for two days and a half, with occasional stops along the way for climbing to the Hole in the Rock and sleeping in tents at night with the sound of the river close by. Also loved the climb up to Lemhi Pass and seeing the headwaters of the Missouri. While Ron led the major group, Judy very kindly walked with me at a slower pave and helped me over the steeper places. My son Peter enjoyed the horseback ride tremendously also. Our accommodations at night were for the most part good, as were the meals, although they heaped our plates way too full at almost all of the stops, especially at Lolo Hot Springs. The catering during our trip along the river was outstanding. Celeste and Barry Ambrose did a superb job with only an open fire to cook on, bringing all the fresh vegetables from their farm and local elk and buffalo steaks bought nearby. Bringing all the equipment for cooking and serving, and cleaning up afterwards, was a remarkable achievement in itself.

The group we traveled with was most congenial. We all felt a great bond with one another.

All in all, it was a very memorable trip. I shall treasure all my pictures and journal records and am sharing them with friends and family.

Thanks for all the good planning that went into this tour.

Sincerely,

Nell Martin
Participant – Corps of Discovery Tour, July 2004.

This tour was the pinnacle of all the study I have done on World War II…Any books I read, films or documentaries I watch or veterans I talk to from here on will be much more enriching because of what I have heard, seen, and done as a result of the D-Day to the Rhine Tour.

The most outstanding feature of the tour was the historical overview of the D-Day invasion, combined with the little known acts of valor, presented by Ron Drez in conjunction with the opportunity to see and touch the actual battlefield sites. The most outstanding day was being at Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery, Pointe du Hoc, and Ste. Mere Eglise. Having two D-Day veterans on tour with us made the entire experience most spectacular.

In my opinion, the last two days of the tour were my least favorite. Spending half a day in Luxembourg City, although nice, seemed to deviate from the historical time line of World War II events leading up to the advance to the Rhine. Perhaps the free time in Luxembourg City could have been used as extra time in Bastogne, or maybe as travel time to go to some of the battle sites in Germany. However, without a doubt, my very least favorite feature of the tour was having to end the experience and return home.

This tour was the pinnacle of all the study I have done on World War II by reading books, watching films and documentaries, and talking to some veterans. I had wanted to go on this tour for a long time, and now have a complete sense of satisfaction and fulfillment; Any books I read, films or documentaries I watch, or veterans I talk to from here on will be much more enriching because of what I have heard, seen, and done as a result of the D-Day to the Rhine tour. The tour met, and by far exceeded all of my thoughts and expectations. It has been, and always will be, an invaluable experience I will never forget; I would do it all again in a minute. Stephen Ambrose Tours, Ron Drez, Judy Drez, and Bebe Williams were all excellent "hosts". Ron's presentations, planning, and historical insight are invaluable. The support given by Judy and Bebe was clearly evident, and helped make the entire experience smooth and enjoyable. Your efforts and hard work are much appreciated. The tour participants, especially our two World War II veterans, are wonderful people. Sharing the experience with them was very enjoyable, and I consider it an honor to have been part of this group. The hotels were, for the most part, very plush. The food was very good, and added to the experience of being in Europe.

Scott M. Oglesby
Participant – D-Day to the Rhine Tour, September 2004