July - September 2016
As Compiled by JT Smith
Nels Delisanti sends this in a message to Ken Alnwick:
"Ken, found out about George Luck at Oshkosh. His name was added to the EAA memorial wall.
https://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-airventure-news-and-multimedia/eaa-airventure-news/eaa-airventure-oshkosh/07-31-2016-eaas-annual-memorial-wall-ceremonyI've attached [a scan of] the write up for the ceremony.
He and Carolyn had been going there for years, and they were both very active in Oshkosh activities. If you want more info, it would be best to contact her. --Nels"
Charlie Liggett relates this chance encounter: "I had one of those small world moments yesterday. Kathy and I had been to Los Angeles to pickup our granddaughter [Sydney] who was coming to visit for a few days. We stopped at the Mission Inn and Spa in Riverside for lunch, and as were leaving we ran into Jack and Elaine Brush who were just checking in. It turns out that Jack and Kathy went to the same high school in Riverside but a few years apart; so, they did not know each other while in school. --Charlie"
> Sydney, Charlie, Kathy, Jack, and Elaine
Ken Alnwick passed along these pictures:
And finally, Ken adds the following news regarding Tony Burshnick:
"I forgot to mention that Tony has recently (and successfully) undergone a series of surgeries in the abdominal area and is now in a rehab facility in Burke, VA. The phone number at the rehab center is 571-386-3267, ext 267. I spoke to him today. Like any normal US male, he only wants to get out of there--but I think it might take some serious rehabing before they will cut him loose."
Les Querry recently received an inquiry from a writer in Louisiana regarding Jim Fey. Excerpts from that message follow:
"My name is Rickey Robertson. I write historical stories for Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas. However, I live in Louisiana near Peason Ridge Military Reservation which until 1992 was the Bomb and Gunnery Range for England Air Force Base in Alexandria La. ... Each month I write a story on the history of our area and of the heritage and culture of the region. ... I have been doing research on the crash of Captain James C. Feys F-100 in October 1965. Several days after this event my Dad and I along with my brothers visited the crash site in the Kisatchie National Forest. ... It will be 51 years on October 19, 2016, and ... . I would appreciate the opportunity to remember and honor Captain James Carl Fey, USAFA Class of 1960, in this story and use the photo of him ... ."
Gentlemen, if anyone, especially those who were at England AFB at the time of the accident, has information pertaining to and/or photographs of Jim that you would like to share with Mr. Robertson for potential inclusion in his proposed story, please send it to Les at usafaclassof1960@gmail.com who will pass it along to Mr. Robertson.
Bill Hodson, responding to a message from Tony Bilello, sends this:
"Thanks so much for the note and, more so, for your thoughts and prayers. This has been a difficult time for Fran so the rehab and pulled me out within a few days ran and myself and your support has made it much it easier.
"I'm home now - three days in the hospital and three is a rehab facility. I felt like a prisoner in the rehab facility. The hospital was better, but not by a lot. Apparently the meds were not right for me there. I had a speech disorder as well as a loss of strength. -- so my speech is better after some therapy and I feel I can stand up now without fear of falling. But it's better now.
"Please pass this on to the rest of the class.
"Best wishes,
"Bill"
Andi Biancur passed along this very welcome news concerning Rosie and Karen Cler from their son Scott. Here are excerpts from Scott's message:
" ... The short answer is they're fine. Still in Sarasota as a home base ... . I think that after he spent so much time coordinating communications for the Class of '60, he got burnt out and took a sabbatical from typing. And email. And computers ... .
"We just saw both of them while in Maine visiting my sister and her family. Spent a week with them and they're doing great other than my mom's mobility is limited due to issues with her lung capacity ... .
"They both look good. Attached is a picture of the both of them from one of the days we were on the water in Maine. Dad looks real excited and he's the guy who left the Academy and joined the Navy!
Bill Hodson sent the following update:
"Dear Classmates,
"I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the kindness that you showed Fran and me throughout my recent hospitalization and rehabilitation. Your messages and trips to the hospital kept us going through a difficult time -- and, its probably not completely over yet. Briefly, here is the story. I've fallen 10 times over the last three years following a severe concussion which has resulted in slurred speech, weakness, short term memory andreduced considerably. The last fall was in the bathroom two weeks (or so). Fran took me to the Memorial North ER right away. The docs couldn't reach any conclusion on a diagnosis or a treatment plan so they sent me to Health South - a rehabilitation facility. After four days Fran "rescued" me -- nothing useful was being done for me, so here I am at home. Somewhat better but with not with "independence" yet.
"What has worked for me are (1) your thoughts and prayers, and (2) to my trusting that my Lord has me firmly in His grip.
"We are moving in a week to Kissing Camels Estates -- more details later.
"Bill"
Dick Sexton relays the following from Fran Hodson:
"Bill has been in the hospital and is now in Health South Rehab facility. He is very weak and has fallen quite a bit which has resulted in several injuries. I'm letting you all know because I know you are a close knit group and Bill thinks the world of his classmates."
Alex Zimmerman sends the following via Jerry de la Cruz:
"Hello Jerry
"I've attached a photo of a typical situation. Thats me in the red shirt digging horizontally using a trowel and dustpan. The black things are made of old tires and are used to transport dirt from one place to another. I sent your draft to Dr Collins for review but he has not responded (the Jordanian government is sensitive about publications). ... Alex"
Permission to publish the above referenced article [authored by Jerry] was received, and here it is:
An archaeological team led by Dr. Steven Collins from Trinity Southwestern University in New Mexico believes that the biblical city of Sodom (yes, that city of Sodom and Gomorah fame) has been found in Jordan. The team investigating the region of Tall el-Hammam in Jordan believe the remains of a 'monstrous' Bronze Age city match the Biblical description of the city destroyed by God. They have been excavating and investigating the site every February since 2006. For nine of those digs, a member of the team has been Alex Zimmerman. Living in Albuquerque, NM, he learned of the effort from reports and lectures by Dr. Collins at the University in Albuquerque.
Alex volunteers a week at a time in February. With his Indiana Jones hat, trowel and dust pan, he searches and carefully collects artifacts from designated sites for later cleaning, identification and cataloging. The site dates back to dates between 3500 BC and 135AD including the periods of the Chalcolithic period, the Bronze age, the Iron age and finally the Roman/Byzantine period. The main period of interest is the Bronze age when Sodom was a huge city that was abandoned. Buildings, roads and walls are some of the major features found. From kitchens and homes, Alex finds pottery used for things such as perfume and oils. It is exacting, but satisfying work.
The next dig will be in Feb., 2017. Alex is planning to go and invites any of his '60 classmates to go with him for this Raiders of the Lost Ark adventure. More information on the dig can be found at the Tall el-Hammam web site at www.tallelhammam.com/home.html.
Charlie and Kathy Liggett continue to travel, and here is Charlie's latest report:
Kathy and I continue our traveling as we get older and a little grayer; this time it was a month cruise aboard the Silver Whisper to the Scandinavian and Baltic countries including Saint Petersburg, Russia.
We had been hoping to do this trip for several years, and finally the pieces fell into place, and we spent mid June to mid July in a very fascinating part of the world. We started in Copenhagen where we spent two days before boarding our ship. Im happy to report that the Little Mermaid is still where we saw it during our cadet trip and is a major must see tourist attraction.
As we cruised to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Saint Petersburg and visited the cities along the way, each new sight was as spectacular or more so than the last. Ill only include two of the about 1500 pictures that I took. Yes we ate the king crab and a few more. -- Charlie Liggett
A life-changing event is recalled by Denis Walsh :
This is about a day 60 years ago when two events changed my life forever.
According to the log book of N/C D L Walsh. Solo check ride in SNJ-5, #84997, on 14 May 1956. Check Pilot, Ensign Lewis. From North Whiting Field, Milton Florida. 1.9 hours, 3 solo landings at Pace field (grass.)
It took a little longer than the normal time, since Ens. Lewis had to spend a few extra minutes showing me how to fly.
I still remember how.
60 years is the blink of an eye. In this case a teary eye. I will never forget Ens, Lewis. I will always also remember Lt. Jarrell, my instructor, who was the recipient of a fifth of Haig and Haig Pinch, from me.
It was the custom in the Naval Cadet program to throw the soloist in the pool and cut his tie off. Next I was expected to report to the Cadet Club and buy beer for all hands, which I did. It was after staggering my way back to my room that I found a note pinned to my door, saying I should call the OOD regarding a message from the Sec of the Navy. It was my appointment to USAFA.
My first phone call was to my brother, Mike, who was just up the road at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Our discussion was centered not about the solo, but about the appointment to the USAF Academy. My desire was to decline it, but big brother had another forceful opinion. He prevailed. I have never gone wrong following his advice. But that is another story.
It is my contention that I may lay claim to being the only member of our class who was drunk when notified of his appointment.
Post Script. The day before this date, 13 May 2016, marked the 19th anniversary of my first solo in my home made airplane, an RV 6A. So far I have accumulated 3200 hours in this plane.
I have flown several classmates in the plane. These include Rosie and Jack Brush. I have lots of pics of Bill Goodyear and myself. I am on the left and he is on the right, with USAFA '60 apparel. He loved to fly it and we made several trips together in it.
This picture of Bill and me was from 2010, likely around our 50th. The other pic is one of thousands. I have been flying it a long time. --Denis Walsh
Ken Alnwick sends this report on his recent family gathering in the UK:
I assume that everybody has a bucket list of sorts. Mine had two main entries. The first item was to sit in the luxury seats behind home plate in Nationals Park. Judy and I did that, courtesy of our children, on the occasion of our 50th wedding anniversary last year. It was a fantastic experience--I'm just glad it was on someone else's dime.
"The second item on the list is a little more complicated.
Some 30 years ago, I was in London on AWACS business when RAF AVM Tony Mason, a former DFH colleague of mine, arranged for me to travel to Northumberland to visit the famed Alnwick Castle. Alnwick Castle has stood on its current location beside the river Aln for almost 1000 years and has been owned by the Percy family for the last 700 years. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and vowed that someday I would return with my entire family so that we could appreciate the origins of the Alnwick name (pronounced Ah-nick) as well as learn something about lands and people that supported the Duke of Northumberland and were protected by him in times of strife.
Fast forward to 2 July where 14 of us, including grand kids, children and spouses and my brother and his wife travelled from Oregon, Florida, Virginia, New York and Maryland to convene at Grey Barns, the Duke's former 14 room cottage on the grounds of the Alnmouth Golf Club, overlooking the North Sea. This converted barn became our home base as the families fanned out to sample the attractions of Alnwick and the surrounding environs, including side trips to St. Andrews and Edinburgh. We were warmly welcomed by the castle staff, who had been briefed on our impending visit, and by just about anyone we met in the shops or on the street. We travelled by foot and left hand drive cars (with teeth clenched). On his way to Alnwick, son Keith also participated in a 20-mile orienteering race in the foothills of the Cheviot mountain range near the Scottish border, the only American runner in a field of some 200 runners.
Here are some of Keith's observations:
England's North East is an exciting place! Two of the most wildly popular activities are walking and tea. Bird watching is a close third but too racy for some.
Stay to the left. Except when there is no left, only a narrow middle, in which case, when confronting an oncoming car or truck, drive yours into the nearest field. Maybe have a nice picnic while you're at it.
Things "Made in England" generally stand for exceptional taste and quality, unless the thing you're trying to order is a hamburger.
Brexit is less important a topic of concern than breakfast.
With all the Loves, Lovelies, Cheers, Sweeties and Dears one hears (and feels) from Northumbrians, one would think there's enough goodwill secretly stored up here to address global shortages of kindness and courtesy.
I now have a better appreciation for George Elsea's annual summer sojourns to his home in Scotland.
Here's Chuck Diver's account of a recent gathering of the Northwest Falcons:
"On the 9th of July, the Northwest Falcons got together at Edie and Chuck Diver's house to celebrate 60 years since arriving at Lowry. Some of the usual suspects were unable to attend on that specific day, and were sorely missed. However, in attendence were Bev O'Rourke; Carolyn, Mike and Gabe Luck; Bobbi Mason Starr; Louisa Congdon; Vic and Suzanne Yoakum; Neil Delisanti; and Kay and Paul Vallerie. The weather cooperated and we reviewed old pictures, reunion pictures, perused the 50 year book and enjoyed a select reading written by Wayne Kendall-to remind us of just how well 'things' went that first day. We toasted our departed classmates, absentee classmates and the class in general. Then we enjoyed a super potluck dinner. No naps were taken to my knowledge."
See more about the NW Falcons HERE.
Ken Alnwick reports the unwelcome news that Ed Nogar's wife, Gay, passed away on 4 July.
Gay's memorial service is today in Allen, TX. Those wishing to read her obituary and express personal condolences may do so HERE.
Yesterday I rode Diane's beloved Honda Pacific Coast motorcycle to my daughter Rocella's house in northern Illinois, pursuant to her checking it out and potential ownership. It wasn't a "comfortable" ride in the summer heat, but it was an enjoyable 522 miles nonetheless.
Rather than taking the efficient interstate routes the whole way, I rode U.S. and State routes for the most part. Along the way, I dropped in for a brief, improptu visit with Tom Schlechte who lives near Evansville, IN. Tom has had some serious heart-related problems in the past, and he is still dealing with some short-term memory issues, but his long-term recollections are as sharp as ever.
After visiting with Tom, I continued northward, following US 41 to Terre Haute, IN and then IN 63 to a planned turn westward on US 136 to Danville, IL--the place of my birth. However, as I rode up IN 63, I noticed a sign, as I neared US 36, that said, "Ernie Pyle State Memorial." I'd noticed that sign many times in the past, and each time I vowed to "someday" go see that tribute to the famed WWII war correspondent. "Someday" was suddenly "today," and I took the exit and followed US 36 westward toward Dana, IN, Ernie Pyle's hometown. About 2 miles east of Dana stands the memorial, a replica of the monument erected in his honor on the island of Le Shima (near Okinawa) where he was killed.
From there, I continued the journey pretty much as planned, passing by the site of the old Erven family farm near Penfield, IL where I used to spend my summers during my junior-high and high-school days--I used to ride the Santa Fe "Super Chief" from LA to Chicago and then the C&EI railway to Danville. Now, sadly, it is no longer a family farm but simply a house on a rural gravel road.
Next, I rode through what is left of the little town of Penfield, IL and continued westward on US 136 through Rantoul, IL (where Chanute AFB used to be) to IL 47 that would take me northward to the west of Chicago and my eventual destination in McHenry, IL. It was a good day. -- J.T.
This most appropriate message comes from Jerry Garber ('59) via ATO Robert C. Hess:
Take five minutes to watch this video interview -- Listen carefully to what he says and how he says it. You won't regret a second of it. Ask yourself, how many of the few surviving WWII veterans kept themselves and their uniform in such good condition for over 70 years and can still proudly wear it? Notice his superb delivery, no teleprompter, no script--just a 91-year-old fighter pilot representing the greatest generation at home and abroad who won WWII. He has some surprises and a great take on the philosophy of life. click below ... .
The Last Fighter Pilot of WWII