1999, 2000

19 December 2000.  Sierra Vista, AZ.  Cornelius Nash, A3, dropped a line to fill us in on some classmates, including his brother Ben Nash, F2.  Here's what he had to say: "My brother, Ben Nash, is currently a company commander at Ft. Lee, VA and will be leaving the service in FEB 2001.  He is looking at some government jobs and has the CIA eye-balling him for possible service with them.  It is even rumored that he tried to align himself politically with the upcoming George W. Bush presidency, although I thought that army officers were not afforded the right to be politically active. His sister-in-law, Heidi Trush, E2 also left the army last August and has taken on a management position in some Chicago area business.  She is doing well and reported lives in a very posh Chicago apartment.  I suppose it beats the tents and quarters provided by the Army, especially in the Balkans!!!!!   Ben and I also got a Christmas card from John Hedstrom, F1.  He left the Army years ago on the early-out National Guard thingy, and has finished a graduate degree in history or something like that.  What does that degree earn you you might ask? Well, it seems John is a curator for a small museum in Minnesota.  It always pays to study and earn high marks.  Speaking of high marks, that's what I am chasing. After I left the Army in July 2000, I started a full-time, professional rodeo (PRCA) career. I compete in both saddle bronc riding and bull riding.  It has been a lot of fun bouncing around the country from rodeo to rodeo, and despite the occasional aches and pains, it sure beats being tied down!!!!!   Well, I hope all things are well with yall and your families and that this holiday time finds yall merry. Take care, Happy Holidays, and God bless you." 

5 December 2000.  Columbia.  I received word from Louis Cifuentes, H2, who writes "On Novemeber 4, 2000 at 10:30 AM Diana C. Torres and I were happily married at the Colombian Military Academy in Bogotá.  Jose Cotto-Rivas, F3 from El Salvador was able to attend.  It was a great surprise and by far the best wedding gift for I didn´t know he was coming until the day before.  After the religious ceremony Diana´s family offered a reception at the Military Golf Club, 40 minutes north of Bogotá."  Congratulations from the class to Louis and Diana.  Here are some great photos of the wedding and reception.

30 November 2000.  I received a personal note from friend and classmate Luke Omey, D2, who mentioned that he is out of the Army and is planning on attending dental school in August at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.  He's now married and he and his wife Kimberly have a little girl named Olivia.

10 October 2000.  Here's a great photo sent by Ron Warner, E1, taken at Zeke Harvey's (E4) wedding.  Pictured are Ron, Justin White, E1, and Scott Baker, C2.

25 August 2000.  Ft. Benning, Georgia.  Angela Weston, E4 and her husband Jeff left Fort Huachuca for Ft. Benning earlier this summer where Jeff began his SF training.  Angela's now out of the Army and a full time mom for their beautiful daughter Sierra.  Here are two great photos of Sierra, age 6 months, taken in August.

15 July 2000.  Ft. Campbell, Kentucy.  Here is an adorable photo sent in by Adrienne and Adam Appleby, I2, of their son Samuel, who was born on November 2, 1998 at Ft. Campbell.  Little Samuel is 18 months old in the photo.

4 July 2000.  Hereford, AZ.  Well, you're web administrator is back after a few months of transition.  I am now Mr. Anthony Iasso, working for Computer Associates here in sunny Arizona.  I've gone through the transition that many of us are going through--finding a new job, buying a home, moving the family, and watching friends move on.  Recently, Suzie and Ethan Vessels, B2,  Jeff and Angela Weston, E4, and Rachael and Matt Passante, D4 departed Fort Huachuca.  Ethan is out and attending law school in Ohio (all pursuing law degrees can contact him about the Class of 95 Bar Association).  Jeff and Angela head to Fort Bragg with their beautiful daughter Sierra.  Jeff is going SF and Angela is now out and working at the tougher (trust me) job of being a full-time mom.  Matt and Rachael are in New York City where Matt now out and pursuing his MBA at Columbia.  Kevin Johnson is still here at Fort Huachuca, but will soon be out and is eyeing several jobs around the country.   Below is photo of my two boys, Nick (almost 3) and Alex (8 mos.)--two crazy kooks!  Now to catch up on news...

21 June 2000.  North Olmstead, OH.  Heather Sheldon (Rykard), H2, dropped me a note on June 21 to let me know that she is now out of the Army and working for GE Lighting in Cleveland as a Commercial Quality Manager.  She loves civilian life--especially having every night home with her 16 month old son Zachary.  She also sent in some great photos to share with the class.  The first is Heather at her Farewell to the Army luncheon on April 19.  The second is of Matt Gaffigan ('98), Paul Urban, E2, Heather, Ben Marx and Brian Buehler ('98) at the luncheon.  The third is of adorable Zachary in his car seat.

16 May 2000.  Fort Huachuca, AZ.  Jeff and Angela (Pease) Weston, E4, had their first child, Sierra Marie Weston, on February 17, 2000.  Below is a picture of their beautiful little red-head.  Angela will be separating from the Army on July 31, but Jeff is staying in.  They are first headed to Fort Benning for Jeff to attend IOAC, and then on to Fort Bragg for the Q-Course.

28 March 2000.  Fort Lee.  I received some news recently from my old Buckner ranger buddy, Ben Nash, F2, who I'm glad to announce was married on January 8, 2000 at the Old Cadet Chapel at West Point.  Ben's wife, Kelly Trush is a United Airlines Flight Attendant (so I'm sure Ben's racking in those discount airline tix!).  She's the sister of '95er Heidi Trush, E2.  The wedding party consisted of best man Cornelius Nash, A3, groomsmen John Hedstrom, F1, and Ben and Cornelius' brother Matt.  Heidi was the maid of honor.  Other classmates and grads in attendance were Paul Kirshbaum, B1, and Matt Helm ('94).  Paul is at Fort Meade.  Ben is currently at Fort Lee after attending MIOAC, CAS3, and the Counter Intelligence Course, and as of February 17, he's taken command of the Garrison HQ company.  Another '95er doing great things!

02 February 2000.  Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo.   Since arriving in Kosovo in December, Tom Carey, B3, has been hard at work in support of Operation Joint Guard.  He's run into several classmates in Kosovo, including Bill Taylor, B4 (at Camp Monteith), Jen Dormire, C1 (at Camp Able Sentry), and Sharon Jefferies, I3 (at Camp Bondsteel).  Tom will be heading to the aviation advanced course at Fort Rucker in May.  Below are two great photos of Tom in a very cold-looking Camp Bondsteel. Tom also sent a URL for his website, which has more photos of operations in Kosovo.  [http://www.geocities.com/tomcarey_kosovo/index.html]

29 January 2000.  Andy Hilmes, F1, recently wrote our Assembly scribe, Mike Jason, with some great news.  Andy married Nicole Hess at West Point on November 13th, 1999.  Nicole is a speech language pathologist from Bloomington, Illinois.   A whole bunch of 1-8 CAV folks were at the wedding, including Phil Sounia, F1.  Andy and Phil graduate IOAC next month, and after CASSS, Andy and Nicole are headed to Fort Stewart and Phil is heading to Germany. Other people at IOAC from '95 are Keith Deloach, B4 (going to the Q course), Derek Thomson, E1 (heading to Alaska), Pat Work, B4 (going to Ft. Lewis), Matt Denny, A3 (headed to Germany), and Kevin Saatkamp, F4 (staying at Benning to be a lane walker for Ranger School).  He also bumped into Andrea Viera (French), A1, who is in an Army Physical Fitness Unit at Benning.  Andrea just had her second child and is leaving the service this summer.   When Andy first arrived at Benning, he bumped into a bunch of F1 Friars.  John Murphy, F1 is headed to Ft. Bragg, Joe Ross, F1 is going to Ft. Campbell, Matt Little, F1 is headed to Hawaii, Phil Dacunto, F1 is headed to Ft. Drum, and Jeff Gribschaw, F1 to Fort Hood.  He's also spoken with Joel Burbank, E1, who is at Ft. Rucker finishing up AVCCC.  Derek Hasty, A3 is at Ft. Knox, commanding "knuckleheads" and Shaun Hodge, F4 is at ACCC, followed by Korea.  Whew!  Thanks to Andy for the great update.  Here's a photo of Andy and Nicole at their wedding in November, 1999.

21 January 2000.  Budapest, Hungary.   Grover Harms, A4, sent me these photos of him and our class president, Chris Green, ringing in the new year in Budapest!

10 January 2000.  Camp Montieth, Gjilane, Kosovo.  After attending CASSS and the advance course last year, Bill Taylor, B4, was assigned to 3 BDE, 1 ID in Vilseck, Germany.  After just 8 days in Vilseck (just enough time to draw his TA-50) he was shipped out to Kosovo, where he's currently serving as the S-3 plans officer for 2-2 IN Bn.  Bill writes that although he's armor, all is working out well--he's "currently enjoying the beautiful war-torn scenery in the country side and the lovely freezing weather and snow."  He hasn't run into any other classmates, but is keeping an eye out.  As reported earlier, Bill and his wife Tracey were married last March 27 at the Old Cadet Chapel, and had "one hell of a party" at the Alumni Center after the ceremony.  Just before Bill left for Germany, they were thrilled to learn that Tracey is pregnant and due in June 2000.   Bill also reports that he recently attended Mark Thompson's, H2 wedding.  Mark was married on November 28 to CPT Michelle Dade, who is an MP Captain.  They were married in the original chapel of the Jamestown Settlement in Virginia!  Bill was the only classmate in attendance.   Thanks for the news!  You can click on Bill's name above to drop him an e-mail in Kosovo.

6 January 2000.  Fort Story, Virginia.   John Giodano, D3, dropped a line from Fort Story.  After a short tour in Korea, where he served as an MP platoon leader, and an even shorter tour at Ft. Lee, Virginia (due to inactivation) John and his wife Doreen have spent the last 26 months at Fort Story.  They're enjoying the tour and living just a block and a half from the beach!   During his first two years, John was the S2 for a transportation battalion.   He's now in command of an AIT company, and has started pursuing a masters degree in public administration.  He and the former Doreen O'Connell of Brooklyn were married in October 1997.  They had a reception in January 1998 at Ft. Hamilton, Brooklyn, and among the attendees was Rod O'Connor, A1 and Rob Krotee, A3.  John and Doreen have a 2-year old daugter, Caroline, and are currently considering either a branch transfer or leaving the service.  Anybody in the Fort Story area is free to drop by and visit!

5 January 2000.  Orange, California.   Here is a ton of news sent in by Mr. and Mrs Dhunjishah, parents of Mike Dhunjishah, D2.  Mike successfully completed the selection course for Special Forces and has just completed phase I of the qualification course.  He and his wife Margie have a home in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, and Margie is a CPA working for PricewaterhouseCooper.  Grace and Andy MacLean, A3, are expecting their first child in April.  Luke Omey, D2, married in October, and he and his wife are expecting a baby in March.  Luke is planning on leaving the service in May and pursuing dentistry.  Ben Udall, D3, has been married to Stephanie since October 1996, and they have one child.  Stan Buchesky, D3 was in Kosovo for a while, but is now back in Germany.  He's planning on leaving in May to pursue an MBA. The Dhunjishas also received a letter from Tracey Smith, who finished college at the University of Houston and now has a commission.  She's stationed in Japan and is expecting to leave in mid 2000.   Thanks to the Dhunjishas for all of the great news!

4 January 2000.  Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.   Kristen Argus, I3, and John Nelson, B2 were married in August in Chicago before heading to Germany.  Kristen took company command just last month.