9 July 2010
Needless to say this was one of the best luncheons. Especially to be able to listen to each of us telling about that first day at the Academy. I have it all on tape and will forward the tape to you Andi in the next few days. It will be interesting to see how you use this historical information!!!!!!
Twelve of the DC '60 group were able to attend. Ken Alnwick was a no show, but we saved his seat til the end. Al Johnson never responded. Where are you Al??? Nobody knew how to contact you. Mike Loh was out in Colorado pinning astar on his son's shoulders. Mike Jr. is with the COANG. Higgins, Req, Goodyear, Hales and Fischer just could not make it.
Mike Clarke was able to attend thanks to the Haller taxi service. He is doing well. His vision is slowly returning and he is working with the VA visual experts to get him ready to get back to work. One knee is not doing so good but he is not up to having it operated on after the trouble he had with the first one. Cannot say I blame him. I am not doing too well and right now would "not" have another operation. I am very unsteady and need two canes or two of Jock Schwank sticks to get around. time will have to be the healer. Incidentally Mike's wife Nancy is publishing her book on thirty years of working in the White House. That should be a best seller. Norm Haller had some great news as he just returned from Annapolis, yes the US Naval Academy, where his grandson entered with the new class of Midshipmen. Ralph Lalime's daughter-in-law is an analyst at Navy Station Fallon. Same job as Kelly Mcgillis had in the movieTOP GUN. She even got to fly in the F-16. Ralph has a new used motor home we can use for the next USAFA/Navy game at Annapolis.
Norm Haller and Liz just celebrated their 50th wedding reunion as did Jerry and Betty de la Cruz. The Hallers have 15 grand children so that must be the class record. Leon Goodson was at the graduation of the Class of 2010 USAFA. He could not say enough good things about being able to hand new Lieutenant bars to two squadrons of cadet grads. There was no doubt in Leon's mind that the class of '60 did a good thing in sponsoring that event. Leon's son and his wife just had twins. He still has a long way to go to catch the Haller's or the Burke's. Bob Badger says there is a glimmer of hope that his book will get published. He meets with a publishing agent next week. Bill Carnegie has been given a clean bill of health from his cancer doctors. His hair has grown back and he has a flat top like we all had 54 years ago. Looks great, Bill!!!!
Les Querry gave a great run down on the reunion plans, the 50 year book status, and the state of the DVD he is preparing for the reunion. He also enthralled us all with a super collection of pictures of our first day at Lowry II. Les also said he is planning another festival at his mountain retreat the 4th weekend in Oct. Either the 23rd or the 24th. More to follow on that. Bill Hockenberry warned me that this e-mail has been picked up by some tell all sight. I hope I have not said anything that might embarass any of you. GJC Fries wants to know who may be headed to West Point this fall to see the AF/Army game. If you are going let him know.
Rosie, Ralph Lalime, Bob Badger and George Fries went to the Miss America contest in 1959. they will contact you with the details. Tom Burke had to leave early to get back to work so no new update other than his son had another baby a few months ago. Is that 13 now, Tom?By the way, thanks again for sponsoring our group at your Golf Club. A great place for our luncheons. Since we have the reunion and than Les's gathering at the ROOST we probably won"t get together at the club until January.
Again a great luncheon. You all have a good time at the reunion.
1 April 2010
Our guest was Ben Furuta.
Another great luncheon to celebrate the anniversary of the President's signing of the papers that created the USAFA. I thought that was done in 1954, but the AOG says it was 1955. Any comments?
Falling so close to Easter we had quite a few guys celebrating the holiday away from Virginia. Ralph and Darlene Lalime are at their favorite resort area on Sanibel Island, Florida, tanning and biking. He is also trying to repair that ancient motor home. Bob and Lutzi Fischer were also in Florida spending some time with Rosie and Karen Cler. Lutzi, Ben remembers your having your leg on his chest at the 45th reunion, but cannot remember what that was all about. Mike Loh is recovering from an abdominal hernia and left early for the AOG Founders Day Dinner at which he will receive the Distinguished Grad Award. Congrats again, Mike. We reviewed your articles from the Defense News and the AF Magazine, Mike. Two great pieces of writing. Bob Odenweller was busy getting his stamp and book awards. Al Johnson decide to vacation in Maine so he headed North to get out of the VA cold weather. George Fries was out in California to get warmed up. Bill Goodyear and Bill Hales decided to stay down South this time around. A bit of sad news: Joe Higgins's mother -in-law was under the weather so he and Sue had to stay home. Leon Goodson's Mom just passed away, so he and Maryn are enroute to Oklahoma for the services. The Goodson's had just come back from Washington state where they celebrated the birth of twin grandchildren, Isaac and Pippa.
We were delighted that Ben Furuta was able to join us for today's luncheon. He is in town to celebrate the birth of his grandson. Ben told us about his life in the LA area after leaving the Air Force in the sixties. This was followed by a bunch of Ben stories from the rest of the guys. Too many to relate. Ben's wife is from Japan so she had a double delight in not only seeing the new grandson but enjoying the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC which happens this weekend. The blossoms are gorgeous and the weekend will be warm and sunny. Ralph Lalime and family celebrated the marriage of son Chris to a lovely lady, Robyn, back in late January. Mike Clarke was able to make it to the luncheon with Norm Haller's help. Mike is doing OK. His vision is still impaired and the VA is helping him obtain some devices and provide vision classes that will allow him to see better. He also told us that his lovely wife, Nancy, will be one of the judges for the floral displays at next years Tournament of Roses. Naturally Mike will join her out there in California. He says he is about 80% back to normal and may be able to return to work by June. Bill Carnegie is doing well recovering from his non-hodgkins lymphoma. He should have a doctors report in a few days and will send us an update. Then he does battle with the VA. Meanwhile Ken Alnwick encourages all of us who may have an illness that can be traced back to Viet Nam to petition the VA for some tax relief. In the end it should be financially worth the effort. I have been trading letters with them for almost nine months and still no relief. Ken is working on a project that requires people to make a prediction on what will be happening in the world by 2025 +. The guys came up with some wild predictions. Perhaps one of these days Ken will write up the results of his survey and share them with us. Bill and Kitty Taylor will soon be heading South to Dallas for what may be a final move into retirement. He will still work for Rand there in Dallas at least for a while. The Badgers are doing fine and Bob's book is done but he still needs a literary agent. Meanwhile he is still writing another book. Les Querry filled us in on the Joe Yeager (former ATO) story. He also had just talked to Ace Holman. The Ace had a relapse but is doing OK for the time being. Les is also in touch with Steve Holt. Does anyone remember him? Les also complimented Jim Glaza on all the work Jim is doing on the 50th Year Book. We must also acknowledge all the work Les is doing to get all the photos put together and ready as an addition to the book. We will soon see the results of his labor. Bill Hockenberry says that life is good!!!!! He works as an arbitrator for folks dealing with labor and the economy. If you need more info give Bill a call or send him an e-mail. Jerry de la Cruz gave a rundown on events at the Al Johnson Ski School this winter. Over 30 grads and family members were there. He would not divulge who won the ski award and will leave that to Andi at the reunion. Norm Haller had nothing new going on at his country estate but is still heavily involved with the National Academy and Randolph Macon. Finally Tom Burke, our gracious host, announced the birth of his twelfth grandchild. He may catch Haller one of these days. Tom is President/CEO of AVMAK inc. He loves the challenge but just might have to take the company into bankruptcy. Call him if you want details.
So with that we concluded another great luncheon. Our next get together is up in the air. i would opt for a 9 July luncheon to celebrate the 54th anniversary of our entry into the Academy. However, many of you might have summer plans. Besides there will be the big reunion at USAFA to think about. I take it just about everybody is going there. Whatever, let me know in the next few weeks if you want the July get together.
Again great to see all of you.
12 Jan. 2010
Well, it was cold and windy here in Northern VA but a perfect time for our year opening luncheon. This one was special since it was also the 73rd anniversary of my birth. The guys were most generous in not only singing Happy Birthday to me but with a little coaxing agreed to pay for my lunch. We had 15 classmates there. Tom Burke and Bill Taylor had to work. It was a bit too far Bill Goodyear, Joe Higgins, Bill Hodson and Bill Hales to make a winter trip. Bob Odenweller wanted to come but he is recovering from laser retinal surgery probably caused by his fall earlier this year. Bob is also retiring after 40 years from his position as Governor of the Collectors Club. Congratulations, Bob.
Bill Carnegie gave us a rundown on his medical problems. He was discovered with lymphoma earlier this year and is undergoing chemo therapy. He has had four treatments and has two more to go. A recent CT scan looked good so he may have won the battle. Bill feels good but tires very easily and of course the chemo treatments fatigue him. Mike Clarke was able to come and appears to be doing very well in that he no longer needs a walker or canes to move about. His knee has healed and is giving him no further problems. His one issue yet is his vision and that will take some time. Things still are dark to him which keeps him from reading unless the fonts are humongus. GJC Fries seems pretty much recovered from his shoulder replacement. He is getting along well and has a full travel schedule for the next few months here in the USA. Ralph Lalime has his hands full preparing for the wedding of his oldest son, Chris, which will take place on the 23rd of Jan. He is also planning to attend the mini ski in Feb. Ken Alnwick is still coaching lacross and doing work with the Naval Ops Research outfit. Bob Fischer underwent a stress test and the docs found a blockage which had no physical indicators. So the docs have him on medication and he is strenuously working out to keep the blockage from causing any damage. Bob Badger is in great shape and says his wife, Liliane, seems to have overcome some of the problems she was having with her digestive system. Norm Haller is always in great shape and still working for the National Academy of Science and the National Science Foundation. He also keeps an eye on the Randolph Macon Academy and is still trying to get it affiliated with the USAFA. Al Johnson had laproscopic surgery for a double hernia. He is doing well. He is trying to sell his Virginia home and will soon travel to Florida to see if there is a place he and Gale like for a winter home to compliment his Maine summer home. Part of the Florida trip will include visits with our many classmates who now make Florida home.
Les Querry has been snowed in on his hill top home with all the snow and wind VA has recently had. He mentioned our great web site and encouraged us all to visit it every few days. The 50th yearbook is coming along and he is putting together a DVD which can incorporate voice. So if you would like to leave a voice message to our classmates give Les a call. Leon and Maryn are well. His son and daughter-in-law are expecting twins in the near future. Leon will be going out to USAFA to swear in a friends daughter who will graduate with the Class of 2010. The Goodsons also had a fantastic trip recently to Israel with their church group. He said the Jewish nation is a real eye opener and has a long way to go to insure peace in that part of the world. Jerry de la Cruz was happy to tell us that Betty's operation for a thyroid problem went well and she is recovering in fine fashion. Jerry will be going to mini ski with Ralph, GJC and Al. Bill Hockenberry is working full time since arbitration seems to be the name of the game. He now has six grandchildren who are all doing well. Mike Loh's son is a commander with the Colorado National Guard and in his spare time flies the Boeing 777 for United Air Lines. Mike is still campaigning to improve our Air Force. He feels the leaders are making too many excuses and not bragging on the many capabilities we have and the job the AF does in the war zones. Mike also is after the AF hierarchy to improve our buying policies. He is also working on the nuclear arsenal and the nuclear delivery systems. All I can say is we are lucky to have a knowledgeable guy like Mike taking the message to the CSAF.
Well that pretty much sums it up for todays get together. Tom Burke, give me a call when you get home and we can settle the bill for the lunch. Our plan is to have the next luncheon on the 1st of April which is the day we celebrate Founders Day. I will send out a message in March to remind you all. Enjoy the cold.
)
(click photo to enlarge)
)
(click photo to enlarge)