Where were you 25 years ago
today? No more from me on Vietnam nostalgia. Today I am recovering from stomach bug, missed
three days at the office, going on travel again on Tuesday, but ahead of the power curve
for this edition which will be mostly “cut and paste” as in modern laptop
understanding of those words.
Sad news first. Most know that Eddie Jasaitis died on 3 April. His final P-rade by the Old Guard at Arlington was
superbly done on 14 Apr. The following is
from CCQ Bob Rhodes: “Once again Company F-1 stands tall, but very sad, with our
loss of Eddie Jasaitis. Company mates and their ladies who will attend the services on
Friday include: Dick & Barbara Bauchspies
(RI), Terry Connell (OR), Jerry Cook (AL), Bob Gall (VA), Bruce & Wilma Hamilton (PA), Harvey Jahn (VA), Tony & Billie Nadal (VA), Peeps & Carolyn Pedersen (VA), Bill & Nona Shepard (DC), Bill Stambaugh (VA) and Dick Johnson's sister, Linda (VA). Company-mates
who are not able to make the services but sent condolences are Dan & Pat Charlton, Ben & Jane Crosby and John & Mary Kubiak (Scribe thinks John was
there). I talked with 'Bulldog' Drummond ’55 and, unfortunately, he will be at West
Point on Friday to honor one of his own classmates. 'Bulldog' thought the world of Eddies,
as you know.” Bob gave an
excellent after-action report to his company-mates, but I have used his email info, easier
to paste. Thanks, Bob.
Many
classmates from other companies attended as well—too many to name. As most of you know, Eddie was a hero for
democracy in his native Lithuania. He is
missed here and there! It can certainly be
said, “Well done, be thou at peace.”
Elected Officials. Both Georges worked the class email net to come up
with a listing of classmates who have been elected to public office. My thanks to the “other George” for
pulling this information together.
Adam Benjamin (C-2) was
elected to Indiana State Legislature in 1968, then to US Congress in 1976, serving as a
Congressman until his untimely death on 7 Sep 82.
Glenn Brown (F-2) is
serving his third four-year term of four years on the Hartford County, MD Republican
Central Committee and is currently Chairman.
Bob Clark (C-1) was
mayor of Louisville, MS for four terms and was an alderman on the Town Council for sixteen
years.
Ken Clark (M-2) was
Mayor of Freehold, NJ in 1972. He also served on the Freehold Township Committee from
1970-74. Sadly, Ken joined Sam Benjamin in
the Ghostly Assemblage on 3 Apr 83.
Mike Davall (K-2) served
two four-year terms, one as Chairman, on the Hartford County, MD Republican Central Committee.
Pat Donovan (G-2) was
mayor of Ouray, CO for two terms from 1992-95 (during this period the mayor hosted a
company reunion in conjunction with the 1994 Winter Park Mini. His Honor reserved space in the city jail for George Lawton).
Tony
"Rooster" Forster (B-2), served
as Mayor San Juan Capistrano, CA (When? How long? Who know?
The swallows love decorating his memorial statue.
Better swallows than pigeons).
Bill Gillette (D-2) is
serving his second four-year term on the Anne Arundel County, MD Republican Central
Committee.
Heyward Hutson (E-1) served
as a representative in the State Legislature of South Carolina and ran unsuccessfully for
the state senate.
Tom Looney (C-1) has been
elected to the City Council of Rocky Mount, NC three times and is still serving.
Bud & Holly
Moentmann (C-1) both ran
for elected office, however, our databank needs help with some details.
Joel Moore (E-2) is an
elected county commissioner in Hart County, GA.
Bonnie
Moscatelli was on the
Council of Frisco, CO; however, she resigned because husband Bob (I-1) was recently elected as Mayor.
Ron Olson (D-2) was Mayor of Minot, ND for several
years (When?).
Dave Parsons (M-1) served
on the City Council of Dayton, MI in the 1970s.
Jack Peters (L-1) served
as an elected member of the school board of Chelnsford, MA from 1978-80.
John Schaffer (C-1) is Chairman of the
City Council of New Carrollton, MD. Was first elected to the City Council in May 1993 and
has been re-elected four times.
Jack Tierney (C-1) served two terms in
Montana House of Representatives and ran unsuccessfully for US Senate in 1976.
Van Van
Fleet (M-2) is running for City Council of Alexandria, VA with election day 2 May 00. I hope to have good results before sending this
column to my editor.
Stu Willis (D-2) is Mayor of Washington, VA.
If guilty of
sin of omission, blame Scribe. Drop me an
email, fax, snail mail or call to correct the record.
It is clear that public service for ’58 did not stop with Army and AF. Classmates have served their countries (USA, Peru,
Philippines, Thailand) on active duty, in the reserves and National Guard from Germany to
Korea to the rice paddies of VN to Pentagon. And
as elected officials from school boards to city halls to state legislatures to Capitol
Hill. At least two have served in high
appointive office on the King’s Privy Council (Pete
Kullavanijaya) and Defense Minister (Sammy
Sookmark). And many are still in active
service! Pop your chests up!
2 May. Once again behind the power curve. My editor’s email informed me yesterday was
the deadline. Glad I began this on 30 Apr. Sorry I did not finish before hitting the road
again. The rest will be quick and dirty. First, results of a class election from Chairman Palmer McGrew: “I am pleased to announce that
two new members have been elected to the Class Executive Committee and have begun their
duties already. Andy Andreson will oversee our class gift
activities, and John Herren will coordinate
class social activities.
“John Nun has become treasurer. John Nun also continues to be the publisher of our
class roster, which he maintains with the help of George "Tracer of Lost
Persons" Lawton. No other class has zero
lost
“Congratulations
to Andy and John. Many thanks from all of us
to our departing members, George Lawton and Al Chase.”
An
earlier class election reported for the record. Class
Perpetual Fund board, old news from Oct 99: Ed
Weckel (9-year term), Lee Miller (8-year
term), Pete Brintnall (7-year term), Church Hutton (6-year term) and Meg Roosma ’85 (Descendent grad member).
Airplane Owners.
This category prompted a “First letter to Scribe in nearly 42 years, but
couldn’t resist your plane survery.” Charlie Miller came out of the closet, complete
with picture of his 1981 Beech B55 Baron. He
continues, “I am not in the picture because I was probably inside the FBO paying for
gas! We owned a 1980 Cessna Skyvan for a
number of years and moved up to the Baron in 1995. I
started flying at age 16 (1951) and received my private license in 1952.” (Scribe
says this is a Class First. Can anyone beat
this one?) Back to Charlie’s letter,
“Katie & I have had some great trips
in the Baron – couple of runs to Calif and the Bahamas and our condo in Ft Myers
Beach.”
“Great
way to travel, but be prepared for the old axiom ‘time to spare, go by air.’ There have been a few times when prudence required
returning home commercially and retrieving the plane a few days later. It’s always better to be on the ground
wishing you were in the air, than in the air wishing you were on the ground.” AMEN
says this former Army Aviator. Great first
letter. I must check my email for other plane
owners.
Mentioned
Chuck Densford last time, but here are the
“gory details” of his aircraft ownership escapades (quoted piece is from that
famous WWI aviator and author, Snoppy of Peanuts fame): “Andy Andreson and I bought our first airplane
together in 1982. It was a brand new 1982
Cessna 172. In 1984, Andy and I sold the
airplane to DLT Aircraft Leasing, which was a partnership with Densford, Lee, and Teeter. That
continued till 1988 when Phil Lee got out and a new partnership was formed, DT Aircraft
Leasing, which was ‘guess who?’ The
entrepreneurs bought some more aircraft, and at one time (1993) owned 7 airplanes (4
Cessna 152s, the Cessna 172, and a Cessna 177 Cardinal RG).
“Chuck
Teeter and I had two of the C-152s painted white, with black, gold and gray stripes down
the side and up the tail. The interiors were
black and gray. The Fixed Base Operator we
had them leased to ran on some hard times in 1994, so we sold the two West Point colored
C-152s and the Cardinal RG, and moved the rest to Waco, TX to Texas Aero. In 1995, the Kittie Hill Flying Club was started,
and DT moved its fleet to Kittie Hill Airport. In
1997, the club needed a "tail dragger" for instruction and rental (the FAA now
requires a "tailwheel endorsement" in pilot log books for those who have never
had the pleasure), so I called on Andy,
who traded me his share in our
partnership airplane hangars (AD Hangar Leasing) for the 1941 Piper J-3 Cub. As Andy said, the Cub is a favorite among club
members and is usually carrying the club in flight revenue.
Why a Delta or Southwest airlines captain would want to fly a cub is beyond me,
unless it is to see what it is they miss by flying at or above 30,000 ft most of the
time!” Seven planes! These guys had more planes many third-world
country air forces.
Company Mini Reunion. “Company A-2 will have a
mini reunion at Pensacola May 4 – 7 (virtually as this column is being
completed—Scribe would rather be there than sitting in my hotel room at the American
Helicopter Society annual meeting—too few classmates here at AHS). Purpose of the
reunion is to plan for the Mini Reunion in 2002. Actually
it is to have a vacation, renew old friendships and party.
Attendees, as of 12 Apr are: Holecek, Toney, Ellis,
Raign, Densford,
Montgomery, McCullough and Phillips. It
looks like a great weekend. Will send pix's
and info on the activities afterwards.” Thanks
to Ken Phillips for keeping Scribe informed.
Old
gem found on post. Bob Grete became Doctor of Pedagogy (Honoris
Causa) from Clearwater Christian College in May 1999.
He & Trinky have 23 grandchildren! Can anyone top this number?
Oldest
classmate checked in on 30 Mar 00. “A message from the oldest member of the class. I ran a delightful 5K race at Georgia Tech as an
alumni (Class of ‘67). Being an
engineering school, it was called ‘The Pi (3.14) Mile Road Race.’ It was a great race and I was able to finish 2nd
in my age group (over 60). The award was a
really nice medal with an inscription on the back with date and race position. I am looking forward to the Peachtree Race on the
4th of July. Keep up the good work. Wally Ward.”
Another new category.
Lost class rings. John George had
his stolen from gym locker in Okinawa in 1962. Bob Tallgren lost his in Orlando on 23 Mar 88. Troy
Chappell had his stolen in Bangkok in 1975. Jack Halsey lost his near San Diego in 1972. Bill
Edwards lost his in Kentucky Lake water skiing in 1960.
Pete Penczer lost his in 1980 while
visiting colleges with his son. Bin Barta had his stolen from hotel room in
Chicago in 1973 just after they returned from France.
Others? Must close and get this
launched to Assembly so my editor will have it in the morning. Cheers, George