THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
"My husband Col. Kenneth Harrell and I were on your 60TH Anniversary tour to Peleliu with Mr. Giles. It was a highlight for Ken who had been badly wounded in the Battle for Peleliu. We often talked about the amazing time we had and the wonderful people we met, the Rock Islands, the boat trip to Peleliu, the feast given by the people of Peleliu, etc. Ken died on July 23, 2009 and I want to tell you how much your tour meant to us both.... Thank you for some wonderful memories."
Jill McNichol-Harrell
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Read Our New Valor Tours Blog
Postings by our tour guides and those who have enjoyed our tours.
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I was on the 2007 trip to Normandy with my two sons, it was the best trip we ever took together. Thank you once again. I just wanted to let you know that by some coincidence I happened to be up early on Saturday June 6th and was watching all of the proceeding taking place at Omaha beach live on Fox News and who do I see???... Bob Reynolds. I was quite surprised. Well I hope I look that good at 88.
David Gilkeson, Normandy, 2007 |
Standing on top of Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima
"What a wonderful time we had on our World War II Pacific tour. Andy Giles did a superb job as our tour leader. His knowledge of what went on in the Pacific is incredible! The memories we have of the trip will be something we will cherish forever. And we certainly want to do another trip with you soon."
Don & John Mc Neill, World War II Pacific tour, 2009
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"Superb accommodations. Guide and driver very friendly and knowledgeable. Most meaningful event was finding my cousin's name on the MIA Wall at the American Cemetery in Manila. Great tour. I would love to travel with that group again."
Kathleen Smith, Ghost Soldiers of Bataan tour, 2009
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Letter from Bob Reynolds to ADBC Convention (click to read full letter) |
"The tour was great! Mike Hanlon is extremely knowledgeable. The coverage of the battles was comprehensive and we saw a lot of interesting battlefields, cemeteries and monuments. I would unqualifiedly recommend this tour to any of my friends."
Jackie Moton, WWI Tour, 2008
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2008 WWI group at Verdun Museum with Honor Guard |
"Thanks for your professionalism and can do attitude. I would recommend Valor Tours!"
Jim Robinson, Operation Galvanic tour to Tarawa, 2008
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"You should be very proud of the wonderful opportunities you provide for veterans, their families and history buffs. Keep up the great work."
Art and Dorothy Marske, AWON tour to the Philippines 2008 |
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All frequent participants on Valor Tours, from l. to r.: Fred Guyer, Glenn Frizzell, Ron Real and John Eckersley, at Midway, June 2007. (Fred has been on 22 tours in 22 years.)
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WWII Veterans attend Anniversary Ceremony on Iwo Jima, March 2007. |
WWII Veterans with local officials at American Memorial, Guadacanal, August 2006
"We've been on dozens of foreign trips, but none were better organized or run than this one (Return to Guadalcanal 2006). It was much better than we expected... we were consantly amazed at the extent of [the tour leader's] knowledge of Guadalcanal and of the WWII actions that occurred there. You've got a great team!"
Gil Jensen
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"...Bonnie joins me in thanking you for the fabulous tour of the Philippines during the Hellships Memorial Dedication tour. Your loving care and thoughtful attention to our desires is much appreciated. It most certainly was a noteworthy experience..."
Bonnie & Gerry Schurtz |
Hellships Memorial tour to the Philippines to dedicate the Hellships Memorial at Subic Bay.
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Eldon Clapp
60th Anniversary of the Atomic Mission Tour to Tinian
August 2005. |  |
| 60th ANNIVERSARY D-DAY TOUR (2004) with photos by passenger John Shively |
American Cemetery at Omaha Beach
| "...This (60th Anniversary D-Day tour) was certainly the trip of a lifetime and traveling with Valor Tours made each day more special because all the details were expertly handled. Thanks for a job well done!"
Marty Ehlert, Houston, TX
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"...My congratulations on putting together a well run tour (60th Anniversary D-Day tour), reasonably priced and excellently staffed....your tour guides were well informed..."
Ray Lavendier, Farmington, CT
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German Battery on Omaha Beach |
Young men dressed as D-Day soldiers
| "...Hats off to Valor Tours. That was a superbly organized tour (60th Anniversary D-Day). It was an honor to be escorted by true Gentlemen..."
Bruce MacKenzie, Canada
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"...It was indeed an honor and a privilege to meet and stand with all the chaps from the "greatest generation"...."
John Peters
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Pte du Hoc |
Row of crosses in cemetery on Omaha Beach
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USS Enterprise- July 1942
Photo sent by Bill Loyd.... who is looking for anyone who is in the photo.(see our Discussion Board- "VF-6 U.S.S. Enterprise July 1942 Tulagi-Guadacanal Offensive - Bill Loyd 06:16:01 06/19/00".)
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| Bob Reynolds of Valor Tours, Ltd., leads a commemorative service for the passengers on board the "War in the Pacific" cruise, October 2002, while passing Savo Island on their way from Guadalcanal to Guam. |
| Dick Francies, a Death March survivor (left), stands with members of our "Ghost Soldiers of Bataan" tour at KM Zero at Mariveles, Bataan. | 
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"... The tour (Ghost Soldiers of Bataan, April 2003) was extremely well planned and the size of the group allowed us to include activities which made the tour even more exceptional. All in all, it was a wonderful tour which included lots of history, much local color, very interesting people, and many, many treasured memories."
Peg Skelly
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"... I wish to reiterate my feeling that our 2003 Twelve O'Clock High tour (to Europe) was a most enjoyable experience. I continue to express my feelings to my friends and associates... we covered a great deal during our trip... our driver deserves special praise... Thanks again for a really great experience."
John Mahoney
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Wendall Clift, 81st Infantry, and Bob Reynolds on Guam, November 1999 (Photo by Clift) |
"…It was 55 years ago that Wendall fought at Peleliu. This was a trip back in time for him under peaceful conditions. I had had a great desire for many years, to visit that island - to see the war remnants which remain as grim reminders of the sacrifice and bravery of our servicemen during that terrible struggle. This trip will long remain vividly in my memory. I'm glad we were able to share it together."
Wendall & Jean Clift, Laurel, FL- Return to Peleliu 2000
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"We had a wonderful time...was the best organized and most closely focused tour...ever been on."
Mary Brubaker (daughter of Gen. Simon Bruckner), Oregon
U.S. Army tour to Okinawa, 2000
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"Thanks (Bob Reynolds), for the wonderful opportunity of our trip to Normandy and.. to hear your stories and the stories of my father and other veterans on the trip."
Diane Moy (Saudi Arabia)
D-Day Normandy Invasion tour, 2000 |
"(the feature I enjoyed most was) visiting with those who had been there- both the Veterans and civilians. Experiencing the hospitality and fellowship with Belgians and people of Luxembourg..."
James Power, Memphis, TN, 55th Armored Infantry Bat.
Battle of the Bulge tour, 2000 |
"...We waited a long time to find the right tour, and you had the only one and naturally the best. It was more than just the best, it was perfect. There were some great memories on the tour..."
Frank Dillon, Palm Desert, CA
D-Day 55th Anniversary tour, 1999
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"The beaches, museums and cemeteries we visited, as well as the battle areas, gave us a most thorough exposure to what happened in the invasion of 1944. You know how to bring people together and make them comfortable. "
Douglas and Marjorie Witt - D-Day Normandy 55th Anniversary, 1999
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Museum at Utah Beach, Normandy, June 1999
(Photo by Valor Tours) |
"…(We enjoyed) hiking the trails of Corregidor…exploring the tunnels…and the sharing of experiences of those who had been there at the time of the war."
Don and Barbara Challman, Shoreview, MN
"...we enjoyed our tour with you to Corregidor and Bataan. I really understand so much more of what my husband went through. I felt as I hiked the trails that I was walking over his footsteps..."
Hazel Campbell, Yuma, AZ- General Wainwright Memorial tour, 1999
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Dedication of new Wainwright Memorial on Corregidor, May 1999 (Photo by Valor Tours)
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Group preparing to take off on you chartered twin-engine Donier to explore WWII relics in the Marshall Islands.
(Photo by Mace Coleman) |
"…(I enjoyed) my return to my old ship or what was left of it - USS LST 342 - and standing on the rusty deck, and thinking back 55 years to the days of my youth."
Theron MacKay - Solomon Islands cruise, 1998
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"Great trip to areas I was stationed in in '45. Great air force and army receptions in Okinawa. Bob Reynolds knows how to bring back the past in a most memorable and educational way! Wish I had more time to travel extensively with him…"
Robert and Lynn Browne - U.S. Army tour to Leyte/Okinawa, 1998 |
Jim Koslow makes a rubbing of his brother's name (Peter Koslow, 96th Div.) at the Okinawa Battle Monument. Tour Director Don Dencker on right (96th Div.) |
"Thanks for the wonderful trip experience. We both came home feeling it was the best trip we had ever been on. You really went the extra mile…."
Charles and Audrey Weidler - U.S. Army tour to Leyte/Okinawa, 1998
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Bob Reynolds, right, with members of the Leyte Landing Day group standing in front of MacArthur Memorial
(Photo by Gerald Graves) |
"You opened up another interesting way to see and enjoy our world…"
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Eugenia and Milton Wyatt - Aviation Buffs tour to England, 1998
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"This was a go-go trip. Up early and out. Not a moment to spare. Bob was adamant in showing us all the features that were presented in the brochure."
William Kanellis - Aviation Buffs tour to England, 1998
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"...wish to compliment you (Bob Reynolds) as a tour guide for giving us such a fantastic tour of London's VE Day celebrations... all the highlights surrounding this extremely important event... our heartfelt thanks for a very educational and sentimental experience, one we will never forget..."
Rober & Carol Olson, Danville, CA
VE-Day in London, 1995
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"Bob, you and Ed planned an ambitious schedule and pulled it off. Well done, you get an A+. The choice of accommodations was excellent and the food left nothing to be desired."
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Ray and Natalie Hall - Aviation Buffs tour to England, 1998
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Members of our 1999 Guadalcanal/Solomons Island group on Plum Pudding Island where
Lt. J.F. Kennedy swam ashore from
his PT boat 109.
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Bob Reynolds, President of Valor Tours, in Ste. Mère Église, where the 101st Airborne landed on D Day, June 6, 1944.(Photo by Alfred Evans) |
