First we have to thank those who put on the mini-reunions and special kudos to Bob & Charlie Ann Hayes for all their organization and work. Bob as usual went above and beyond the call of duty including hosting Tom Fryer and yours truly for a round of golf at the Eisenhower Blue Course. Bob plays a very nice game of golf but more importantly he is possessed with the patience of Job. Tom and I had fun. Gordon Bredvik did a terrific job of hosting the cup turning when we had the chance to remember six of our classmates: Dan Harbura, Cal Nay, George Byron, Dick Bunce, Wes White and Dan Taylor. One very nice moment during the event was listening to Cal Nay’s sister and daughter talk about their Dad. The weather on Friday and Saturday was very pleasant—mid 70’s by game time and the tailgate was well attended. We were especially honored to have Jack McTasney and Phil Maywald join us. See more on Jack and Phil below.
 

Mini-reunion Oct 2007
Back Row L to R: Bredvik, Reynolds, Fryer, Johnson, Lee, Hayes, McClellan, LeFors, Porch, Shutack, Walrath, Winzell, Front Row: Gaston, Thacker, Probst, McTasney, Boeck, Verdier, Butler, Steinbrink

A number of folks sent their regrets for not being able to attend the mini-reunion but I have to say that Dick Guild may have sent the best story for himself as well as a few friends. As Dick put it, the Frostics, Gilligans, Guild, Hardgraves, Heals and Sabans send regrets because on 20 Oct we will be arriving in Athens via the good ship Regent Seven Seas Navigator. And if that ain't [sic] enough to make you eat your heart out consider that I am typing this at Les Platanes in Provence where after a fine dinner in St Remy, Fred is snoozing, while Bud is at the kitchen table behind me reading the International Herald Tribune, and meanwhile Doug, Jeff, and Gary are diddling about Prague. Keep a good Mach.

Jack McTasney and Phil Maywald were among combat veterans invited as honored guests of the Fall 2007 Falcon Heritage Forum. The forum allowed cadets to hear war stories from grads who had experienced combat and included ceremonies in Vandenberg and Sijan Halls on Friday afternoon. At those ceremonies, most surviving graduates who are Air Force Cross recipients along with families of others placed plaques alongside alcoves that include early rooms of these decorated grads. With the plaques their service and sacrifice were commemorated, for all cadets to remember when they daily walk past these rooms. Seeing those graduates as they once were, where they once lived, will hopefully motivate the members of the cadet wing to pursue their own greatness when, upon graduation, they join the Long Blue Line. We are honored to have such heroic men among our Class of 1963. Many thanks go to Jimmie Butler for summarizing the event.

Charlie Parker wrote that he and Sandie are well and still in Ogden, UT, where he continues to work with Northrop Grumman. In August while taking their motor home for a trip to the northern CA coast and Napa/Sonoma wine country they happened on Butch and Carolee Verdier and daughter Jen and family while checking in to the Bodega Bay RV Park. Butch annd Carolee were over from their homes in Santa Rosa for a few days of beaching it in their RV. Sandie, according to Charlie, was put back a little at the sight of two old guys hugging in an RV park until she recognized Butch. A good time was had by all!

 

CA Sept 2007
Charlie & Butch

Back in late September I bumped into Ed and Terry Reisdorf with Bob Mazet and a close friend while having dinner at a restaurant in Scottsdale. Ed said he wanted to send a photograph of himself and a friend on a hunting trip to Alaska. Ed was good to his word and here is the photograph.
 

Ed and Friend
I was hunting on the Copper River in Alaska with Tim Furst, a 78 grad. The Bear is 8 and a half feet tall, maybe 850 pounds. I got him on his final charge at me with about 40 yards to go.

Roger Graham’s new book, The Nimrods, has been published and it is available for sale at authorhouse.com. Simply click on Book Store, then enter The Nimrods or Roger’s name in the search function and you will be taken to the computer page listing the book for sale (either in soft cover or hard cover). I tried it and it works. The book should also be available for sale at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. Best price, according to Roger, is at authorhouse. Roger worked on the book for the last two years and he is very excited that it is finally in publication. The book is an accurate true-life story about a magnificent band of A-26 pilots and navigator/co-pilots who flew--from 1966 to 1969—countless high-intensity night time dive-bombing missions in “The Secret War in Laos” (Steel Tiger, Barrel Roll and along the Ho Chi Minh Trail). Roger flew 182 combat missions with the A-26 Nimrods during 1967-68. Good stuff and I am working to get my copy of the book—maybe a review sometime in the near future.

Jack Martines wrote a note from his vacation place in Viera, FL (near Patrick AFB) saying he and Alice would not be able to make the mini-reunion but they are looking forward to next year. Since Jack retired back in June from his JROTC job he and Alice have been on the road to Boston, Virginia and now Florida. In October they headed for a 2 month trip to Brasilia. In all cases they have been visiting sons and daughters.
 

John Nehring moved back to Colorado to Pagosa Springs at the end of June He is busy as can be teaching 2 online economics course for Embry-Riddle, plus another at their Albuquerque campus.

Chuck Bush’s e-mail about daughter Bettina's recording of the single "She Is" was pure pleasure. I checked in to the web site (www.BettinaMusic.com) and listened. It is no wonder the song has moved up the Billboard Hit Singles; as of this writing it is in the top 10. Great song—take a listen and you will be amazed.
 

Class Reunion: Spoke with Drue DeBerry recently about inputs from Classmates regarding a class gift at our 45th Reunion. We need more suggestions and comments from you on this subject. One idea generating some interest is the gift of an oral history of our class. Cadets are interested in experiences of earlier classes at USAFA and in the USAF. We could collect individual or group interviews from all of you who wish to participate, record those interviews on CDs, and give copies to USAFA. That collection could become an important part of the USAFA heritage. Send your comments about this proposal as well as ideas for other class gifts - or no class gift to drue.deberry@comcast.net.

Bob Hayes reported the reunion committee will send out a formal update on reunion planning in February. Meantime you can get reunion information as it happens either through the AOG web site or our on Class of 1963 website http://www.usafa63.org/. Remember the dates are confirmed as October 1-5, 2008, and the location as the C-Springs Marriott (same place as the 40th). All you need do at the moment is two things: put the dates on your calendar and talk up the reunion with Classmates.

That’s it for this time. Many thanks and sincere appreciation for all the contributions to this issue your response has been spectacular. Keep it up. Here is our wish to all of you for a happy and safe holiday season. See you in 2008