HELLO '68!! Oy Yea! Oy Yea! Second Call for
'68's 45th Reunion in 2013! Our Colorado-based crew is working to
make this a spectacular event. If you wish to assist or have suggestions,
please contact Al Blumberg at ablum68@hotmail.com.
2012 EAST COAST REUNION: Hot off the press . . . Ed and Karen
Eberhart will be hosting '68's East Coast reunion at their
home in Arlington, Virginia on 9 June. Start time is 6:30PM. All classmates
are invited and RSVPs for those planning to attend are requested ASAP.
Reese 70-01 UPT Reunion on USS Midway. L-R: Scribe, Tom Dreier, John
'Sully' Sullivan, Dana Drenkowski, J Ferron, George Hoffman, Bill
Gauntt, Brian O'Hara, Charlie Holland, Rhip Worrell, Mike Morrison,
and Jim Lozito. Not pictured: Marty Cole.
REESE AVIATORS OCCUPY SAN DIEGO:
Not wishing to wait until their 45th reunion in 2014, Reese's 70-01
UPT class took San Diego by storm in Oct 2011 with visits to the Navy
SEALS Basic Underwater Demolition School in Coronado, the USS Midway,
the San Diego Zoo, and a cruise around San Diego Harbor. A memorial
service for deceased classmates was held on the Midway. It was a rewarding
and memorable reunion for one and all.
GENTLEMAN FARMER AND ATTORNEY AT LAW CHECKS IN: After sending
out my first e-mail address change in 19 years, several classmates
came up on the net who I had not heard from in quite a while. Such
is the case with Jim Thompson, who left the environs of Washington,
D.C. to enjoy a less stressful life on a small farm in Crossville,
Tennessee. Jim is an eight-year prostate cancer survivor and is thankful
for the prayers offered by so many of you during his ordeal. His wife,
Brinda, and he recently traveled to Thailand to attend a board meeting
and to visit his old B-52 base at Utapao. While touring the base,
the Thai Commander gave him a car and a driver, closed the runway,
and allowed Tony Marshall and him to drive its full length.
As Jim stated, "The trip down the runway created some interesting
emotions!" (Scribe Note: How many of you are now flashing back
to our Third Class year and the Management class where we all watched
12 O'Clock High?)
Beyond farming, and fishing in a pond that is a stone's throw from
his front porch, Jim is still practicing law. He recently completed
a Masters of Law in Estate Planning and Elder Law and plies his practice
by making house calls, where he actually goes to the clients. If you
would like to catch up with Jim, or maybe get some good advice for
your "elder years," you can contact him at jetblak1@gmail.com.
Charlie Holland and Classmates at 2011 AFA Air & Space Conference.
L-R: Bill Begert, Charlie Coolidge, Bobby Floyd, Charlie Holland,
and Scribe. Not Pictured: Lindsey Bierer
HOLLAND HONORED:
For most of us, February is fondly embraced for Valentine's and President's
Days. In 2012, for Charlie Holland and his family, I believe
it is more likely to be remembered as "Honors Month in Washington,
D.C."
On February 7th, during the National Defense Industrial Association's
(NDIA's) Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC) Division's
Annual Awards Banquet, Charlie received the R. Lynn Rylander Award (the
SO/LIC Division's most prestigious award) for his outstanding contributions
to the Special Operations Community throughout his distinguished military
career and in retirement by remaining faithful to core values that support
the goals and objectives of our nation's SOF through his time, mentorship,
and support of special operations organizations such as the SOF Warrior
Foundation and NDIA's SO/LIC and Stability Operations Divisions.
On February 24th, Charlie became only the 12th recipient of the Dwight
D. Eisenhower Award from the Association of the Industrial College of
the Armed Forces (the Association's most prestigious award) for his
outstanding accomplishments and service in the integration of technological
and industrial resources for a strong U.S. national security and industrial
base.
Charlie, your classmates are very proud of you! Thank you for continuing
to provide such stellar service for our country. Please accept our heartiest
congratulations for a job extremely well done!
MORE HOLIDAY CORRESPONDENCE: The bounty of news from last holiday
season continues with greetings from Bill and Jody Begert. While
Jody plied her nursing skills on the two family dogs, Cleo and Kassie,
our classmate, Bill, replaced his knees from the "Original Manufacturer"
with newer and stronger bionic ones. Jody writes, "Bill is also
¾" taller because they straightened his knees and put in
some plastic cartilage. His golf game hasn't improved, so he's searching
for a neurosurgeon that might be able to help. He tried to retire from
Pratt & Whitney in 2011, but he flunked. We'll see what happens
in 2012."
Charlie Coolidge chimed in with season's greetings and updates
on he and his family. Charlie is still working for EADS North America
and now has a longer commute after their corporate offices moved from
Arlington to Herndon, Virginia. Other activities on his plate include
his appointment to the USAFA Athletic Corporation Board of Directors
and continuing work on the Board of Managers for the National Museum
of the Air Force and the AF Academy Falcon Foundation. Wife, Bonnie,
remains the stalwart in coordinating and supporting family activities
and son, Charlie IV, serves as her fulltime helper. Son, Brad, is an
AWACS Instructor Pilot and Chief of Standardization Evaluation of his
flying squadron at Tinker AFB and daughter, Colleen, works with Green
Olive Media in Atlanta. Charlie's father turned 90 in 2011 and they
had a wonderful family celebration in Chattanooga.
'68's Aloha Contingent. L-R:
Tom Devereaux, Mark Torreano, Jim Estes, Vic Bonfiglio, John 'Sully'
Sullivan, and Walt Yamamoto.
In addition to sending the photo shown above, Mark Torreano
writes: "I am enjoying retirement in the Aloha State. I am working
on a variety of political campaigns to help elect leaders who can put
our government at all levels back on the path to fiscal responsibility
and limited government. Mimi is an active Assistance League volunteer,
working in their thrift shop to fund programs for children and the poor.
Son Mark Jr, LCDR USN, Class of '94, is serving with the NATO Hqs in
Kabul, while daughter Marcy is in Las Vegas where her husband Jack,
Maj USAF, Class of '94, is flying UAVs."
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS: After last column, I heard from Abe Abramson
who said he appreciated our Class' prayers. He is on dialysis and continuing
to fight the good fight.
As I was completing this column, I received a note from Bob Marks
telling me about the recent death of Don Duncan's wife, Barbara.
To Don, my fellow 3rd Squadron classmate, please accept the entire Class'
most sincere condolences for your loss.
THAT'S A WRAP: Mind the flak; keep 'em flying,
and keep those cards, letters, e-mails, and photos coming in to Pat
Russell and me. Please go to our Class Website to see photos
included in this column in full size by clicking on Scribe's Page. Ciao
for now. Tim
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