THE REST OF THE STORY – Twenty-one graduated and distributed themselves as follows; 9 to the Air Force, 5 to Artillery, 1 Corps of Engineers, 4 Infantry, and 2 went Signal Corps. Out came one general an Air Force LTG. The average rank achieved equals Lieutenant Colonel and the average number of years equals 17.6. However, when considering only those who stayed in for at least twenty years the average rank is Colonel and the average number of years is 26.6.

Decorations ‑ In F2-Co McMullen was decorated with 3 Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility; Hampton, McMullen and Riley were decorated with the Purple Heart for wounds received in action against an enemy. Hampton and McMullen were decorated with the Silver Star for distinguished gallantry in action and Jorstad was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal for superior meritorious service on joint staffs and other joint activities of the Department of Defense. There were 12 Legions of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services; 4 Distinguished Flying Crosses for distinguished heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight; 6 Bronze Star Medals for distinguished heroism against an enemy; 7 Meritorious Service Medals for conspicuously meritorious performance of duty in a non-combat situation; 25 Air Medals for meritorious achievement beyond that normally expected, while participating in aerial flight; 2 Joint Service Commendation Medals and 10 Commendation Medals for distinguished service.

Advanced Degrees - They returned to the classroom and earned fourteen advanced degrees as follows; five MBA's, five Master of Science degrees in Engineering, two Master of Arts and a Master of Science in Aero Physics.

National Defense University - Two attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley McNair; two the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; one the Foreign Service Institute; one the Navy War College and one the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia.

1.   Ken Riley died of wounds received in action in Korea on February 9, 1953.
2.   Fred Hampton died in action in Vietnam on March 6, 1968.
3.   "desI" des Islets died on July 18, 1975.
4.   Bob Massenburg died on June 14, 1983.
5.   Pappy Taylor died on May 11, 1985.
6.   George Filchak died on September 28, 1992.
7.   John Hinton died on August 26, 2002.
8.   John W. Cunningham died on April 4, 2003.
9.   Charles E. Bryant died on November 22, 2005.
10. Peter Matthews died on September 8, 2006.
11. Bob Johnson died on December 12, 2007.
12. Norm Jorstad died on November 14, 2007.
13. George Bicher died on April 24, 2008.
14. Tom McMullen died on May 20, 2009.
15. Bill Crouch died on September 19, 2013.


For complete list of deceased classmates go to: Casualties

Those planning on attending the 65th look thusly now.

Bruce Bailey

David Betts W Kay

John Brown W Priscilla

"BJ" Crouch W Bill

Adam Gorski W Laddie

Guigi Johnson W Bob nd

Update on Bruce ...Bruce's last military assignment was to Fort Devens, Massachusetts; where he served until 1978 when he retired from the United States Army as a Colonel. After retirement Bruce was appointed Superintendent of the Steam and Engines Paper Mill and served from 1979 until 1989 when he established the National Safety Association. Bruce makes his home in Orange Beach, Alabama. Cullum No 32439 is Bruce Bailey, II Class of 1974.

Update on David ...Dave resigned his commission as a First Lieutenant in 1954. In 1956 Dave became a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State and from 1957 to 1959 served as Vice Counsel in Ankara Turkey. From 1960 to 1962 Dave served in San Jose, Costa Rica and then went to Budapest, Hungary where he served from 1962 to 1965. In 1966 Dave was posted to Palermo, Italy and served until 1968 when he was posted to Saigon, Republic of Vietnam where he served from 1968 to 1970. From 1970 to 1973 Dave held a number of Consul General positions; first in Paris and then in Manila from 1973 to 1976, in Munich from 1976 to 1978; in Montreal from 1978 to 1979; in Frankfurt from 1979 to 1983; and finally in Toronto from 1983 to 1984. Dave's last Diplomatic assignment was to the Commander in Chief, United States Army Reserve, Europe from 1985 to 1990 when he retired from the Department of State. Dave and his wife Kay make their home in Toronto, Canada.


On 26 August Dave Betts writes, " My 85th birthday was Aug. 25 and Kay and I celebrated with youngest son Mark who came in from DC. We toured some of the historic sites in Toronto where we live part of the year. I am writing this from our lake home on Georgian Bay, near Parry Sound, Ont.. We have planned a trip to Paris, London, and Scotland in October. Mark and I are looking at a trip to South America next winter. We were very interested in the video on Heidelberg. We were there from 1985-1990 when I was assigned as Political Advisor to CINC USAEUR, first Glenn Otis'53 with his deputy Tom Ayers'52 and then Butch Saint'58 and his deputy John Shalikashvili. "Shali", as he liked to be called, who went on to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs,was understandably interested in Eastern European politics and since I had spent several years at our legation in Budapest, we talked on several occasions about the political unrest in Eastern Europe which eventually led to the fall of the Berlin Wall during our time in Heidelberg. Living most of the year in Canada,we are sort of "out of the loop" and really appreciate all the efforts of classmates who keep us informed on the class of '51. Best to all, ....Kay and I are looking forward to the 65th class reunion." Dave

Update on John ...Upon graduation Brownie went in the Air Force and after flying training reported to the 310th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 58th Fighter Bomber Group in Korea; served until 1953 and was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for distinguished heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight and three Air Medal for meritorious achievement beyond that normally expected, while participating in aerial flight. In 1955 Brownie resigned his First Lieutenant's commission. In 1969 Brownie was appointed a Project Engineer with the Boeing Aircraft Company and in 1977 he established himself as a rancher in Ellensburg, Washington where he and his wife Priscilla make their home.

Update on Bill ...Bill's last military assignment was as Commanding Officer of Aircraft Development Test Activity, Fort Rucker, Alabama and served from 1977 to 1981 when he retired from the United States Army after a distinguished career of thirty years as a Colonel. After retirement Bill accepted a position as Office Manager with McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Division from 1981 to 1991. Bill and his wife Betty Jane make their home in Panama City, Florida. (Bill and Betty will be at the 60th.)

On 5-28-12 Bill writes, "I am reminded of a sign in our dentist’s office “if I had known that I would live this long I would have flossed more often”. BJ and I are both doing well and enjoying reasonably good health for 84 years. Correction I am 84 she hasn’t reached that number yet. A handful of pills helps each of us and other that arthritis and a few minor aches and pains we get by without complaints. We have lived in the same gated community for the past nineteen years. The plan was to move to a Continuing Care Community in Huntsville, AL some three years ago but the real estate market in Panama City brought that idea to a screeching halt for the time being. Golf is no longer on the agenda and I stopped flying sailplanes as a precautionary measure. BJ’s bridge club has dwindled from three tables to three chairs so she substitutes with two groups now. She is still active in her book club and is tasked with recommending books for each coming year. I read a lot of military history books, watch TV news and check the stock market daily. A daily task of walking for 30 minutes is in the mill but I haven’t reached that goal yet. While I am active in the Coast Guard Auxiliary I have reduced my activities in most part to the local flotilla by teaching classes and doing some new member training. The best of health to everyone. BEAT NAVY!" Bill

We hear from Adam ...In '55 I decided to make a career change. I resigned my commission, and Laddie, our two boys, and I left Tucson (Davis Monthan AFB) and headed for Cincinnati, Ohio. There I accepted an engineering position with the Procter & Gamble Company and began a 32 year career with this fine organization. The focus of my P&G career was project management and construction management with broadening assignments in technical engineering and plant engineering. Career highlights included the challenges managing P&G's international construction and finally managing major domestic and international construction for the entire company. During my working years we enjoyed sailing on Lake Erie on weekends and on vacations. My love of flying was satisfied by soaring in high performance sailplanes. My current involvement with airplanes is limited to building and flying radio controlled miniature aircraft. In addition to our two boys, we also have two daughters, and we now enjoy 14 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. I retired from P&G in '87 and one year later, we moved to Atascadero in the central coast area of California where our two daughters and 12 grandchildren also reside. Our daughter with nine children also home schools so they can arrange their studies to help us around the house when necessary. This gives us loads of joyful company as we begin our `golden years’."

We hear from Guigi on Bob...His last military assignment was as Commander, NATO Support Activity in Brussels, Belgium. In 1975 he retired from the United States Army as a Colonel. We made our home in Frederick Illinois until his death in Decembeer of 2007. We had a family of four, with ten grandchildren. Bob was the Honorary Colonel of the glh Infantry (Manchu) Regiment.

Bill Quinn W Shay

Bill Spence

Update on Bill Quinn ...Bill's last military assignment was as Commander of Johnston Atoll from 1976 to 1978 when he retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel. After retirement Bill earned an MBA degree from Penn State University in 1978 and became engaged as a Real Estate Advisor in 1980 and later a Business Consultant since 1981. Bill and his wife Shay make their home in Montgomery, Alabama. The July 1991 Assembly noted, "Bill and Shay left HI in the very capable hands of Kintz, as well as Hackleman and Meyers, and are located in Montgomery, AL, where two of their children are stationed at Maxwell AFB." (Bill will be at the 60th.)

Update on Bill Spence ...Bill resigned his Regular Army Commission in 1958 and transferred to the US Army Reserve. As a reservist, Bill had varied assignments at regimental and division level in the 90th Infantry Division. He was an instructor with an Army Reserve School for officer training at advanced and general staff levels. He pulled short active duty tours as a ROTC summer camp instructor, an adviser for G-3, III Corps on USAR mobilization plans review, and other interesting and hopefully useful assignments. On other occasions, he came back on active duty to complete the Infantry Advanced Course at Ft Benning and the Command and General Staff College at Ft Leavenworth. He also come on active duty for more than a year with the Fourth US Army as facility officer and unit advisor at the USAR training center in Austin, Texas. For this last position he was awarded the Commendation Medal. In addition to the Infantry School and the CGSC mentioned above, he completed the National Security Management course of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces - with a local study group in Austin - and a short familiarization course on amphibious warfare at the Naval facility near San Diego, CA. In civil life Bill has worked at a number of jobs involving sales, and economic and scientific research before entering the Federal Civil Service as a technician with the 90th Division headquarters. When the Army retired all its USAR divisions (Not because of Bill!) he transferred to the Internal Revenue Service and remained with that organization as an employee and manager until he retired in 1983. Subsequently he held several positions as a computer programmer with companies in Austin and San Antonio, Texas. Bill retired from the Army Reserve in 1980 as a colonel with over thirty years of commissioned service. At this point he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. In 1986 when he turned 60, the Army placed him on the AUS Retired List. Bill makes his home in San Antonio. The May 1991 Assembly noted, "Bill Spence's former wife, Jean, died 19 January, 1991. Although divorced, Bill cared deeply and was with her often in her last month." Cullum 5521 is William Spence, Class of 1916, Bill's father. Cullum 19756 is Craig H Spence, Class of 1954, Bill's brother. Cullum 3553 is Robert E L Spence, Class of 1893, a cousin of Bill's father.

On Sat, 5/8/10, wrote: Now that I have reached the exalted age of 84, I find that it is no different from how I felt on the day before. Bad letdown. A week ago I joined my brother to help celebrate our sister at 90 years and this week our families had a gathering for my late wife's sister at 76 and my own day as well. Wonderful!! My nephew came from Virginia and my own kids came from all over Texas to cheer us on. This has to be the way to live. My best wishes to all of you Old Timers. If possible I will see you next April. Grip hands." BS

On 4-30-11 BS was one of the Black '51 Parachutists at the 60th Reunion. His jump is on FaceBook
Tex Spence, Bill's son, reports "photo album dedicated to my Dad and niece, Rai." Just Click Here!

On May 31, 2011 BS writes, "Hi, guys. Despite all reports to the contrary, I'm alive and still well here in San Antonio. I regret missing the Saturday night gathering at the Thayer but I had to cope with the air sicknes I developed on the way down during my parachute jump that afternoon. That was not something to display at the party. The jump, however, was a truly great exercise for our small group. At least half of us were first timers and for me, it was first time since 1957. Fun! I turned 85 this year and joined the Old Guys in our crowd on 3 May. My year has been great aside from bad ears, bad eyes and a gimp hip from a fall early in 2010. I almost missed that wonderful reunion but my hip finally recovered early in December and I was on my way. All you guys were a treat to visit and I would have loved to visit with more of you than the comparatively few I was able to talk with. My son and granddaughter had great time and the young girl was impressed with all she saw and did. My son and granddaughter had great time and the young girl was impressed with all she saw and did. My kids and their kids had a great year, too. One college graduation, three engagements and three prospective weddings this year will round us off. I also have my first great granddaughter as well. She is the fourth first child in four generations of the Spence family, all girls. Is this good or not? This next year has great promise for us. I hope all of you fair as well as I have. Best wishes to all and Beat Navy!!" BS