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113th Column

27 Aug (Nov-Dec Assembly). The following was cut from 112th (Sep-Oct): Not unlike Pooh, a bear of little brain, I have forgotten to mention a book all DC files should buy, "Washington, D.C. Past and Present," by Peter R Penczer, son of Lynn & Pete. The younger Peter has matched historical photos of DC with current photos he took from the computer-matched, exactly the same perspective. Many old photos could not be used because a photographer cannot stand at the same place to take the current version. Judy & I take some small credit for this book because we introduced Lynn & Pete during EOBC in Sep-Oct 1958. If it made the current edition, no sweat, the book is worth advertising at least twice.

Photos promised last time will appear now: Camp Buckner then (Jul-Aug 1955) and now (Jun 1999), Walker Debate Room dedication (Jun 1999) and Ramsden Plaque unveiling (9 Apr 1999) and another from 1999 Mini (also called Graduate Enrichment Seminar). These make five of seven allowed. Trying to cut a deal with my editor, more photos and fewer words.

Marriage. Official welcome to Betty Meshel Miller, bride of Lee! Lawton’s timely email announced their 2:45pm wedding today, 27 Aug. More from George: "(the couple) are heading to the beach for their honeymoon--just the weekend. You know high energy Lee: he'll be at work Monday morning and teaching a course somewhere that night! Congratulations Lee & Betty Miller."

Company Micros. K-1 is having one in Sep in San Diego—Margaret Groves promises info. She sent a photo of three couples in San Antonio.

F-1 had one and Harriett Connell wrote, "We had a fabulous time in Montana—I can’t get enough of those reunions."

I-2 has one coming up at McGrew’s "Baywatch" place. The photo is an earlier I-2 gathering in 1995

Vietnam then, you have your memories. Vietnam now courtesy of Tom Morgan, who highly recommends Dick Schonberger’s travel agency

Tri-Cities Founder’s Day in Kingport, TN with Toni & Norm Gustitis. They are so young looking their pic was sent to Joe Coreth ’59 Scribe

From class math prof Walt Patterson comes validation of my long-held position that attending reunions helps with longevity. After our 40th Walt wrote, "This should convince everyone to start attending the reunions, great and small. Of those attending the 40th reunion, 100% were living (it appeared). But among the 325 not attending, 154 or 47% were deceased. It appears that statistically it is very unhealthy to miss a reunion. That is HIGH death rate. See you at the next reunion" (which, by the way Walt missed in June).

Lost & Found. Recent successes for George Lawton, our former EC Chairman who retired after ten years of running ’58 who has retained his duties as class detective to find lost classmates, reported via email: "we found both Fred Seiler and Joe Keyes in the same week. Now we are back to zero lost, although in all honesty, I have doubts about guys like Joe Paes for whom we may not have a good address." Pop your chest up, Lawton!

FCC Turnover Ceremony. Excerpts from email report by John Schaffer of the annual turnover orchestrated by Bob Pointer (there was a photo of prior gathering in a recent column). John's’report: "It was great fun to join Butch Saint, Bob Pointer and Branch Worsham at the West Point First Class Club. We received a rousing cheer from the entire Corps in the mess hall, ate supper with the First Captain and his staff, and witnessed the turnover of the club to the class of ‘00 later at the club. It is a great sports bar. The firsties were seeing it for the first time this week. They thanked us profusely. Butch and Bob gave terrific talks during the turnover.

"The firsties were in civies, about 8 to 1 men/women. At least one brave soul brought his drag, an Alabama beauty. Speaking of which, the female cadets were gorgeous. Herb Johnson and his stock pickers would have stopped their trading. In cute mini skirts, hair done well, I found myself asking (after three cups of beer, a lot for me), are you a cadet? They would giggle, yes. (Did I remember my blood pressure medicine?) I think I fell in love five times. (Careful John, you are related to them through The Long Grey Line).

"By the way, the head bartender is Donny MacLeod. Born at West Point, his

father was one of the "Hell Cats" when we were there. The Cadet Activities Officer is LTC Tom Enders, '80 (?). For two years he was an All-American lacrosse player for Army."

Corvettes. Category begun recently with listing of John Manos, Bob Miller and John Shimerda prompted comments from John May: "At Bragg, in the same BOQ, there were two ‘Vettes,’ both white with red seats, mine and Ben Crosby's. We were soon joined by another (RA) Lt, Frank Yon (U of Fla ‘58), also with a white model. Crosby moved to another BOQ, and Hugh M Fisher (ex '58) moved in with, guess what, a white Corvette. They were splendid autos, and now one in excellent condition sells for about $25,000."

And from Dick Buckalew, "Your friendly webmeister was one of the purchasers of a 1958 Corvette. The attached MS Word document contains a photo from the dealership in Fort Montgomery with my brother in the pax seat and my mom behind the wheel." Scribe confession: I could not open the photo. Class total is seven Corvettes and counting…

Most recent class baby "Ultimate Cup?". Note from Fred Easley’s phone conversation with Judy Sibert. Fred was reporting on his roommate Jim McCauley’s son (about one now). Fred holds little hope for photo, details, or Jim’s attending a reunion. Fred speculated that if the class had an "Ultimate Cup," he might get Jim there to accept!

Great report from Tom Morgan on his Vietnam trip, but details another time. Must stop in order to get the extra photos included.

You have no excuse for missing class gatherings in 00. The "Main Event" is Portland Mini, 7-10 Sep with Alaskan Cruises before and after. The numbers climb daily. Most recent email from Paul Vanture (22 Aug) has the count at 111 classmates and 223 total. To warm up for Portland Bill Gillette has arranged Austrian Skiing in Jan 2000 (questions, contact Bill or Hugh Trumbull). Another warm-up event: Francophiles Phil Pryor and Jerry Mitchell are hosting a "romantic two river cruise on the Rhone and Saone aboard 4 star Princesse de Provence" 3-10 June.

Who would have thought on 4 Jun 1958 we would (1) get this damned old and (2) be having Austrian ski trips, barge tours of Southern France, company micro-reunions, annual mini reunions all around the country and Thailand 92 with cruises to Bermuda and now two to Alaska? My crystal ball was too cloudy to see our current-present which was then-very- distant-future as we traded Cadet Gray for Army and AF Blue in those heady days of basic courses, jump school, Ranger School, pilot training, engagements-weddings and butter bars.

PHOTOS SENT VIA US POSTAL SERVICE EXPRESS MAIL:

  1. Camp Buckner then, Jul-Aug 1954.
  2. Camp Buckner now, Jack Downing on firing line 16 June 1999.
  3. Camp Buckner now, L-2 at breakfast 16 June 1999.
  4. ’58 files on Fort Putnam terrain walk, 16 June 1999.
  5. Tom Carpenter and George Walker’s sister, 16 Jun 1999.
  6. Jim Ramsden Professorial Plaque Dedication, 9 Apr 1999.
  7. L-R; Lynn & Joan Shrader, Dick & Marg Groves, Dick & Bev Graves
  8. I-2 Micro 5-6 June 1995.
  9. L-R: Tom Morgan, Jim Adams ’59 and Dick Schonberger at the "Rockpile" on DMZ June 1999.
  10. Toni & Norm Gustitis, Tri-cities Founder’s Day 1999.