Dave Gerard

DAVE GERARD

8822 Harbor Circle

Terrell, North Carolina 28682

828-478-9813

gerardd@charter.net

www.west-point.org/class/usma/1968

Among the unfinished issues of what was the best attended reunion ever (should be known as the Dutch & Megan Hostler extravaganza) are who our five oldest and youngest classmates are. Both ends of the spectrum were well represented. Of the five oldest (Bob Hunt is THE oldest), Credit Union Executives Society Pres Fred Johnson, lawyer Bill McCauley, and real estate development, design and construction management entrepreneur Skip Greeby attended and contributed to the fun. Frank Audrain missed out again. Interestingly, of the five youngest, only the very youngest, Pediatrician Vic Garcia, attended. The next oldest, orthopedist Art Sands, surgeon Jared Florance, scientist and author Pete Bonasso, and architectural master planner Paul Baerman – all no more than a month and a half behind Vic – couldn’t make it. I’m sure Jesse Gatlin is proud to know that the third most asked question was how many wives he has had – four, and he admits that it took a long time to find Ann, but they just celebrated their 10^th anniversary by taking a cruise through the Greek isles. Another question I heard from classmates who had not attended previous soirees was, have all the other reunions been this much fun. No – each one keeps getting better.

[Photo #1 – “Fred Hoblit and Bill McCauley at the Memorial Brunch in June”]

[Photo #2 – “Eleanor & Mike Peters, Carol Fabrey, Jim Jennings, and Bob Fabrey (Jim introduced Carol and Bob) at our 40^th Reunion”]

Another open issue is that over 15 classmate couples attended the Friday night gala and inadvertently forgot to pay for it. That tallies out to over $2,500 that the class is trying to scrape together. If you think that you may not have paid, please contact Dutch or Megan and they can help. The only good news to this incident is that classmates used the time to get some great company pictures while the staff rolled out three extra ten-person tables and found and prepared more food.

[Photo #3 – “The old A2/D2 (new G2/H2) gang: F-R/L-R: Bob Alexander, John ONeal, Dutch Hostler, Mike Mears, Larry Hart; Gary Roberson, Rick Wright, Orca the Clown, Andy Shaffer, Phil Samuel, Tom Simmons, Rich Witherspoon; Carl Woessner, Joe Fowler, Steve Winsor, Jim Bodenhamer, Dave Drummond, Chris Ohlinger, Peter Wallace, Dick Shipley, and Vic Hiatt filling in while everyone else got some food”]

[Photo #4 –“D3 – “F-R/R-L: Bob Shaw, Steve Caldwell, Jim Furr, Jim Madora, Rick Rhoades, Tom Burnette, Gary Grant, Chuck Giasson; Sam Brooks, Myles Crowe, Claude Johnson, Mike Dauth, John Kruger, Bob Swedock also filling the food void”]

[Photo #5 – “Chick James, Dick Steiner, and Tom Wantuck at our 40^th Reunion”]

Our thanks to Dick Steiner, who not only provided a super CD of memorable hits during our cadet years, and regaled families with his illusionist slight of hand from the Friday night gala to the Sunday brunch, but also for providing another collection of rock n roll hits for our enjoyment in the class hospitality room (Snuffy’s). Fortunately, Dick created these CDs prior to switching over to i-pod technology. Wonder what format next reunion music will be in? Maybe, it’ll all blend together with Frank Lynch’s bio book and Bob Merritt’s Google Map location projects. Thanks, again guys.

On September 3, Rich & Julie Cliff were in NYC, planning to attend our reunion. Since there was a hurricane heading toward their home in Charleston, they opted to return home to care for their pets and prepare for the storm. As it turned out, the storm missed them, but their decision enabled them to be present on the day of their first grandson’s, Richie, birth at the Fort Bragg AMC. Their son Richie Jr, was allowed to spend a week with Stacy, his bride, and his new son before deploying to Afghanistan to take command of a Special Forces "A" Team in the 7th Special Forces Group. This was his third deployment. Within a month, the Cliff’s son, Richie Jr, was killed by an IED, with two of his comrades. Rich & Julie thank the class for its generosity in contributing to their grandson’s education fund. In case you missed the email, a college fund has been set up for Rich’s & Julie’s grandson – make your check out to, “Stacy Cliff FBO Richard Sanders Cliff,” and send it to Yadkin Valley Bank, PO Box 1865, West Jefferson, NC 28694.

The reunion was like a dream – familiar faces, voices, and war stories that picked up right where we left off the last time. And laughter – lots of laughter. A tour of new West Point facilities – including the Corps Squad weight room and year-around football facilities that have made the Army Team the powerhouse it is today. There’s no doubt that the Jefferson Hall Rotunda dedication, our Class Gift, with the spectacular statue of Thomas Jefferson created by James Muir was one of ourfavorite activities – I loved watching the Dean cook in his blues in direct sunlight.

[Photo #6 – “Poopschool classmates and first time reunion attendees (Honorary Classmate) Bob & Claris Dance with Paul & JoAnn Pedrotti sailing in lieu of football game”]

[Photo #7 – “Gordie Sayre and Mike Havey – a reunion unto itself”]

[Photo #8 – “Jan & Bob Swedock with Tina & Claude Johnson at our 40^th reunion”]

Tay Yoshitani brought me up to date since he left the rigors and stress of being the Executive Director of the Port of Oakland and decided to retire back in Maryland. Like Mike Mears, Tay failed in retirement and is currently running the Port of Seattle while the family remains in Maryland.

[Photo #9 – “Retirees Vic Hiatt and Andy Shaffer at our 40^th Reunion”]

[Photo 10 – “Becky & Rob Broderick, Huong & Dale Nelson, and Kitty & Steve Rodgers before the football game”]

[Photo #11 – “Seated: Sue Nagy, Nadine Rebovich, Alix Sayre, Pat Coogler, Marcia Shields; Standing: Ross Nagy, Gordy Sayre, Ed Thal, Peggy Thal, George Rebovich, Art Coogler, By Shields still at Happy Hour”]

Jack Mayer concedes that BMWs are no longer the only car he will drive. Last year, Booze Allen Hamilton presented him with a new Porsche Boxter, associated maintenance and insurance, and a place to park it in McLean for his work on the BAH Leadership Committee. Jack says it’s fun to go to work…

While Mike & Becky Fellows were displaying Quilts Of Valor examples, Pat Jonas was offering the 2007 Reunion Glee Club CDs and DVDs for sale. If you didn’t get at least a CD, consider it – it not only has Pat, Jesse Gatlin, Bruce Korda, and Dick McClelland participating, it also has the original The Corps and Alma Mater. John Wing also asked all who ever sipped on a Sam Adams at any reunion to consider mentoring a returning wounded warrior by helping them navigate through the DoD and VA red tape in search of getting them the best care possible for some horrific injuries. His program is Operation Grateful Nation and more info is at http://www.operationgratefulnation.org/mentors.htm.

Thanks also to the folks who volunteered to keep the Memorial Article and NOK contact projects going. John Keane is supporting Gordon Tillery and Ralph Tildon in 54 the search for more NOK. Since regiments and companies expanded differently while we were cadets, Lamar Ratcliffe is researching how it was done to trace our original company beginnings in an effort to get more support in creating future Memorial Articles. Mark Hansen re-dedicated himself to finishing JJ Clark’s Memorial Article, and Steve Nyquist has volunteered to take on Keith Quinney’s. Ralph Tildon is teaming with Charlie Beckwith to finish Jim Baird’s Article and Ed Lorentzen volunteered to work with Steve Frushour to finish Ken Knit’s. For those who have volunteered and not quite followed through, define what’s holding you up and expect a call from Greg Camp, who will work to find you what you need.

The No Task Too Great award was proposed by D3 when it was announced that Mike Simonich, after allegedly adopting a wife in Albania is now the daddy of a less than one year old. Not to be outdone, Tom Banks email to change his email address and inform us that he is retiring from his VP for Operations, Capability and Training position at Frito Lay in the midst of the stock market cratering. On a more sane venue, Lee Norton dropped a note to let us know that he is now with Tetra Tech as the VP of DOD Programs.

The down side to the reunion was that it was either not long enough or too concentrated. I missed cigars with Bob Alexander, Dick Shipley, Jon Dodson, and everyone else. If you have read through our class memoir, Both Sides of the Wall, and desire to contribute to a new/2^nd edition, get your thoughts/stories on paper or into electrons now and stand by. An update is in the works. Since we’re concerned about the stock market tanking and soaring gas prices, next time, we’ll carpool, take smaller bites, visit longer, and laugh even more because YOU’RE ALL WE’VE GOT.