The Year 2003 edition of the Swift Boat Sailors Association Reunion was held during March 20 to 23 in Norfolk, Virginia. Over three hundred Swift Boat Sailors and their families attended what was called by the event organizer, Dr. Mike Solhaug, "The best ever reunion to date." Everyone there heartily agreed and "Bravo Zulu" best describes the fantastic time had by all. The homebase of the reunion was the Sheraton Waterside Hotel, with its sparkling downtown waterfront, tall glimmering buildings and storied maritime heritage. Besides being at the epicenter of US Navy activity on the east coast of the United States, Norfolk's vibrant harbor front extends from the Sheraton and adjacent Festival Marketplace along Town Point Park with a sweeping view of one of the world's busiest waterways to the prominent location of NAUTICUS, The National Maritime Center, an exciting 120,000 square-foot technology center exploring the power of the sea and home to the Battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64). Activities during the reunion included tours to the many historical sites in the Hampton Roads area, a harbor tour past the adjacent US Naval Bases and Ships, a reception on Friday might at the NAUTICUS, and a Saturday night banquet with distinguished speakers and presentation of awards / mementos of our service on the boats. On Sunday, March 23, a memorial service was held on the USS Wisconsin to remember those Swift Boat Sailors that did not return from their tour of duty in a conflict long ago and far away.

But without a doubt, the highlight of the 2003 reunion was the availability of former training Swift Boat, PCF-2, to provide an opportunity for many of the attendees to get back out on the water in a genuine "Patrol Craft Fast" and recall the excitement and pleasures of the better times experienced and remembered from an important period of their lives.

US Swift Boat	Malta Swift Boat

An additional part of the reunion activities was "Operation Radio Free Swift." This entailed two Special Event Amateur Radio Stations: One at the Norfolk Reunion in the Sheraton, and the other at the simultaneous Swift Reunion being held at the Haywharf Maritime Squadron Base on the island of Malta. The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) operate two of the very few examples of Swift Boats still on active duty thoughout the world. Interaction between the US Swift Boat sailors and their counterparts in Malta featured the pride that both organizations have in the accomplishments of their common vessels in areas separated by significant geographical distances and time.