11 November 2011
Here's how the STARGAR crowd (DC '60 life members of the VFW) spent Veterans Day, getting together at Ken Alnwicks house for a Veterans Day luncheon.
11 July 2011
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The luncheon commemorating the 55th anniversary of our entry into the USAF Academy was outstanding and extra special since our wives came to this one.
We missed those of you who could not attend: Bill Goodyear was tied up down South, Bob Odenweiler was busy with his stamp work, Doug Rek was just plain busy, Ken Alnwick and Judy left today for a summer vacation in Florida, Bill Taylor we need a check in when you get a chance. How is Texas besides hot and dry? Ralph and Darlene Lalime were up in Massachusetts getting the new grand baby settled in the new house. When will you head back to VA, Ralph? Al and Gale Johnson were on vacation in Maine getting their house fixed up. Mike Loh was absent. Mike Clarke and Nancy were going to try to make it but they are getting ready to move south and unfortunately the movers were there and they could not break away Bill Carnegie will soon visit the VA for a review of health conditions from the lymphoma and perhaps the effects of Agent Orange from his war days. He will have another scan in August. Other than a bout with pink eye he is doing great. Norm Haller pulled off a coup when he finally got the Falcon Foundation to partner with Randolph Macon Academy to help get candidates for the USAFA. He has worked that for a number of years. Well done Norm. Norm's grandson just finished his first year at the Naval Academy in fine style. Norm ask him if his Academy girlfriend has met my cadet, Ben Christ? Joe and Sue Higgins drove up from Greenville, SC where they recently moved to be a bit closer to his son and family. Bob Badger is still waiting for his book to be published. Meanwhile he is playing trumpet at his local church. That guy has real talent. Lil has a few problems with her hearing but looks great. Leon Goodson is still riding the motor cycle but has decided to drive a car to the West Coast this summer to visit family. Good decision, Leon!!! Les Querry encouraged us all to visit a wonderful D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA. He also told us that his Doolie room mate, Beatle Bailey just recently passed away. Do any of you remember him? He was with us for only the Doolie year. Les will also open up his house on 1 October for those who want to go up and watch the AF/Navy game on TV. Then on the 2nd he will host the Falcon Roost at his mountain home. Bob Fischer tells us that Lutzi just had a very successful cataract operation and the new vision is great. Bob also told us about the demise of Willow Grove Air Station. The government may try to tear it all down but Bob and his neighbors are trying to keep the runway open and keep the govt. from tearing down the buildings and hangers. They would use it as a museum and a place to teach young people about airplanes since there are still a bunch of WW2 planes there. Good luck, Bob, we hope you and your friends can save the place. Bill Hockenberry is busy as ever traveling and advising the workers unions. His grand daughter will soon enter ELON U. GJC has a new grandson. George's shoulder is getting better but still needs work. Jerry de la Cruz was in a great mood since Betty is doing really well after her double knee operation and is now back to cooking the meals and taking care of the house. Jerry gets a break!!!!! Tom Burke did another great job setting up the luncheon. You may have seen him working the US Open in Maryland last week. This week he sponsors the Grandma Bessie tournament at the Springfield Golf Course. He named that after his Mom!!. Finally I get no better with the back but with my two canes or Jock Schwank sticks I am mobile. Got some minor arthritic problems but the ER at Ft. Belvoir is taking care of them. I might also brag that today my grand daughter entered the University of Indiana on a volley ball scholarship. Maybe some day you will see her playing beach volley ball in the Olympics, HURRAH!
We all would like to congratulate Jock on getting the Academy Distinguished Service Award. Andi, I told the guys about the awards and they will see if there are awards out there that they can help with. They liked your plans for the class monies and are amenable to the out year reunion plan. I encouraged them all to write a bio if they had had not done so and to see if they can add to the collection of unusual stories from our cadet days. Hopefully they will do that. They will also contact you for the class crests or shirts. Well I think that covers everything.
Gents if I missed anything please send me a note.
1 April 2011
Well a dozen of the stalwarts got together today, April 1st, and acknowledged Founders Day.
First off the guys who could not make it to Tom Burke's Golf Club. Chaplain Lalime and Darlene are basking in the Florida sunshine. Hope that big storm missed Sanabel, Ralph. Bill Goodyear was in Florida to attend funeral services for his sister-in-law. You have our condolences, Bill. Too far for Rek, Bill Taylor, Long, and Joe Higgins to come at this time. Bob Odenweller is really tied up with the Philatelists. He has a number of speaking engagements and events in Europe. Besides it is a long way from North Jersey. Nobody knew where Bill and Ann Carnegie were. Bob Badger thought they were in Hawaii. Mike Loh was going to be at the USAFA for an Endowment Committee meeting but at the last minute Barb and he decided to attend a mini family reunion in Kansas City with Bill Kornitzer and brother John. Mike, Norm Haller took one of the calendars for the men at Randolph Macon Academy. There were no other takers. I think they all wanted a 2011 calendar!!! Ken Alnwick was hard at work with the sponsors of a Futures War Game.
Every one is set to vote for the AOG Board members and complimented Dick Sexton on his rundown of candidates. Al Johnson told us all about his ski lift accident at the last ski school session. He had an MRI taken and it showed damage to a disc and some other problems with the neck area and lower back to include stenosis. He has been able to cope with the pain so no operation for now. His Mount Vernon mansion is up for sale again so let him know if you are interested. In a month or so he and Gale will head back to Maine and time at their summer home. Mike Clarke is getting along well. Nancy stays busy making speeches and very soon her book "My First Ladies" will be on the market. It should be an interesting account of her time in the White House with six different First Ladies. Mike plans to retire in a few months and then will move to the Richmond, VA area. Bob Badger regaled us with the story of the fire in the Shenendoah Mts. He watched it for three days from his house. Liliane is doing well. Jerry de la Cruz advised us that Nancy is doing great after her double knee replacement. She is in PT and walking pretty well. Jerry had a great time at the ski school and did not get hurt. Norm Haller is still trying to help get Randolph Macon to be one of the Academy prep schools. His grandson is doing very well at the Naval Academy. Les Querry told us about spending some time with our classmate Noel "BEETLE" Bailey. Beetle is having lots of health problems. Les also wanted to remind us that he and Marty will host the annual roosting at his house on the second of October. That is the weekend of the AF/Navy football game. His house will be open on the 1st for those of you that want to come watch the game on TV. Speaking of the game remember that George Fries has agreed to order a block of tickets for the game so let him know if you want to sit with the gang. Of course you will have too send him the money for the tickets. Let him know ASAP. GJC is also working with the Virginia MOAA to give out medals and money to deserving college and high schoolers. He also told us that Dean Bristow had a stroke after the reunion. However he is recovering and plans to be with George at the AF/NAVY game. Bob Fischer fought a typical Pennsylvania spring storm of snow, rain, sleet and fog on his drive down to attend the luncheon. He and Lutzi spent a wonderful month down at Marco Island in Florida earlier in the year. Can you believe he was watching eagles grow???? Bill Hockenberry was busy as ever working and traveling. He is tied up NATCA (National Air Traffic Controllers Association) trying to be sure they do the job right. We all got a lesson in how NATCA works or doesn't work!!!! Leon Goodson seems to be slowing down with work and is enjoying spending more time with the grand kids. He advised us that JT Smith's wife Diane has been slowed down with a serious foot problem. Tom Burke stays busy with his company, TEB Associates. He is working with two big customers. He also showed us a magazine with articles about his aircraft appraisals. As far as my condition: No improvement. I meet with my neuro surgeon on Tuesday to see if some way I can get rid of the back pain and the unsteadiness. I still need two canes or two of Jock Schwank's walking sticks to get around.
We all agreed to get together again on Monday, the 11th of July, for a 55th year entry to USAFA anniversary luncheon. I will be sure to send you all a reminder as the date approaches.
So in all a great time was had by all. Enjoy your spring.
11 January 2011
It just gets better every time we can get together. Despite the cold and the threat of snow 14 stalwarts braved the elements and got together at the Springfield Golf and Country Club for still another year opener lunch. Thanks again to Tom Burke for setting up the luncheon.
First a quick run down on those who could not attend. Bill Hales and Goodyear were down in Florida for the Destin '60 dinner. That should be a great dinner get together. Bob Odenweller had a must attend stamp collector session where he will receive still another award. He will also deliver a speech to a group here in DC on the 4th of Feb. Doug Rek had business out West in Cal. and Oregon. Bob Fischer had to help register some folks in PA for the upcoming school semester. Mike Loh was busy too. This time it was a speech he had to make at the NDU and then the Senior Statesman session with the CSAF. By the way Mike I brought up the subject about letting attendees select the luncheon date but they all agreed that the way we do it now suits them just fine. We agreed that the next luncheon should be in commemoration of Founders Day on Friday the 1st of April. Hope you can make that one.
Tom Burke decided to spend some of his money (Yes he still works full time) and bought a new Lincoln MKZ. His son had a child born last year so Tom and Mary now have 12 grandkids. He will never catch up with Norm Haller (15). Jerry de la Cruz recently met with a '91 grad stationed at the Pentagon who is going to set up a session where we can get briefed on AF planning. That will be in the Pentagon in the near future. GJC Fries and Beckey had a nice trip out to Idaho prior to the AF/Navy game. He recommends we all see America first. George discussed tickets for next years AF/Navy game and in order for everyone to sit together we will have to order the tickets through one person. George is willing to take on that task. So don't order your tickets before you check with GJC. More to follow as the date approaches. On the weekend of the game Les Querry and Marty will again sponsor the Falcon Roost at their mountain top home. More details will follow as that day approaches too. Bill Hockenberry is recovering from the first cold of the winter but he was well enough to really brag about the 50th reunion. No question that Cathe and he had a great time. Les Querry also wanted me to remind you to be on the lookout for even more pictures and clips from the reunion. He certainly did a tremendous job with the book and the DVD. I am sure that like me you marveled at his greaat work. Al Johnson also extolled the effort expended in making the reunion book. His thanks to all of you who worked on it. Al & Gale will be going back to their summer home in Maine in the next few weeks. If any of you are looking for a home in the DC area he will put his Mount Vernon home on market in just a few weeks. Al reminded us all that the mini-ski and the Johnson Ski School will open on the 19th of February. Ken Alnwick took on the new computer books. He said the best bet is still the public library. Leon Goodson took him on and says KINDLE is the only way to go. So go figure. Leon has made a few cross country trips. He rode the motor cycle out to Seattle to see his twin grand babies. He also drove down to Texas and viewed an RAF Air Museum on the base where British pilots trained prior to WW II. At Christmas he was back in Seattle. Anne Carnegie's Mom has been very sick and recently passed away. This caused Bill and Anne to delay their trip to Gautemala where they will visit with their son. They will now leave in a few more days. Bill is doing good health wise. He will need a another scan in a few months to be sure the lymphoma cancer is still benign. Bob Badger sounds like he is thinking of a new book, "Plunging Toward Death". That comment lead to further discussion on health care/lawyers/and law suites. We got a good review on health care in Hawaii. Lil Badger is still having a few stomach problems but they are coping. Norm Haller also bragged on the reunion. He told us that the AFA baseball team had a nice reunion the week before our bash. He got to put the old uniform on and took a few swats. Could not hit the ball out of the park though. Also told us that John Kuenzel tried to give the USAFA football coach a copy of the play book from his varsity days but time did not allow it to happen. Maybe next year. Ralph Lalime had son, Jay, and his family with them for the Christmas Holiday. They will soon head back to California and pack up their LA home to relocate here on the East Coast. That is a story in the making since Ralph and Darlene will probably go out there to help them move. His other son and his bride are getting ready for a honeymoon trip to Tierra Del Fuego and other parts of South America. Oh to be young and adventurous, Mike Clarke is really doing well and is back to work full time. You guessed it the work deals with AF projects and where the force is headed. He and Nancy wer out in Los Angeles for the New Year where Nancy was judge at the Rose Parade. Nancy stays very busy with her many projects to include her latest book. I finished up the session by telling everyone that the back gets no better. It is painful and I seem to be getting more unsteady. I need two canes or two of Jock Schwanks ski poles just to walk. I just know like , Mike Clarke, no more operations.
That was the day. The snow started as we were leaving. Hope GJC gets home before it gets too bad.
Oh, for those of you who could not make it. This was a free lunch!!!!!! We enjoyed it.
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