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James Hamilton, M. D.

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Sorry I can't join you this time but I want to wish you a fantastic 60th Reunion, friends!! 

Mark Schweickart

I won't be there either, but like Donna, I hope you have a great time and manage to recognize one another among the fossilized geezers who show up. Just kidding! I wish I were there among you. 

David Mitchell

Aplogy in Advance

To my classmates - This weekend is "Be Kind to Old Men Week". 

If I see you tonight or tomorrow and I can't recall your name, be patient with me.

Ever since a bad accidetnt almost 3 years ago, I have been left with very spotty memory.

I forget the main point of my comment or the subject's name often.

Mary Rabe (Talbert)

So sorry I will not be able to attend the reunion. Will be thinking about you and wishing all the best!

Michael Boulware

Thanks to those of us who were able to show up at Woodland's Backdoor. I thought the place was perfect for our befote the reunion party and it was so good being with Watterrson people.

Deborah Alexander (Rogers)

My dear Classmates, I was so looking forward to seeing you all at the reunion, but unfortunately, my mom fell this weekend and broke her hip.  At her age of almost 102 it is very serious.  She requires surgery to put a rod in her hip, and will hopefully have rehab after a hospital stay.  I humbly ask for you to keep Mom in your prayers.  She will be receiving the Annointing of the Sick.  It is difficult to see her suffering especially at her age.  I truly regret not being able to be there to see all of you. Hopefully there will be another chance to gather down the road.  Hope you made some wonderful memories! 

Debbie

David Mitchell

First things first.

Debbie,

I think I can speak for all of us that we are so sorry to have missed you these last 2 nights, and will definately have your Mom in our prayers.  

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Dear Classmates, 

Lucky me!

I have just spent one of the most heart warming evenings I have ever enjoyed - an evening that I wish could have gone on and on. I had a list of people I especially wanted to see, and got to see them all.

I am fortunate to have a God who loves me so that he would put such friends in my childhood as Keith Groff, Kevin Ryan, Tommy Swain, and Charlie Kaps - and then later add Tom and Tess McKeon and Steve Hodges.

(and at least a sweet visit Carol Plank Jackson - Johns wife.) 

Talk about being lucky.

Michael Boulware

The reunion went very well due to the extra efforts of Monica and Don Brown, Brian McNamara, Joe McCarthy, Janie Albright, and Nina Osborn. Sue Lally jumped in to help Nina and Monica set up before hand. Happy Birthday to Sue and Barb Boggs today. Deb Alexander was missed and I sure hope your great Mom pulls through. Fr. Larry Hummer gave a fantastic sermon. Steve Hodges and Bill Reid were extremely inspirational and I sure enjoyed seeing everyone. 

John Jackson

I talked to Carol last night after the reumion.  She gave  it an enthusiastic thumbs-up - she was planning to come for maybe an hour and stayed the whole time.  She even took notes on who she talked to.  So sorry I couldn't have been there. 

From all reports the organizing committe did a great job - take a bow!

Deborah Alexander (Rogers)

Dave, thank you for your kind words.  I realize how lucky I am to still have my Mom at my age, but it is hard seeing her suffer.  She trusts in God, as I do, that she will go to heaven when it is her time. 

All, I'm so glad to hear the reunion was a huge success.  I'll always regret that I couldn't be there.

David Dunn

That was a great 60th Reunion!   Thanks to everyone for showing up, being there, and for paticipating!

David Mitchell

Just got home a few hours ago. 

Heck - my drive is only about 13 hours. Why don't we do it again next week?

Jeanine Eilers (Decker)

I agree with Dave, although our drive was a little more than thirteen hours.  So, let's do it again next year!

David Dunn

And, I agree also, Jeanine!  Lets try to do it again next year!

David Mitchell

I"M IN !

Michael McLeod

thanks to all who worked so loyally to make the reunion work! even hearing accounts of connections made and friendship rekindled makes me happy, though I was only there in spirit. YAY EAGLES!

Michael Boulware

Someone left a gold hoop earing at The Eck Center Saturday. Monica Haban Brown has it. Lert me know and we will return it to you.. 

Michael Boulware

At our reunion some of our classmates wanted to discuss politics . I think they came to me because they know that I love political discussion and deeply believe in our Constitution .Our nation is not what it is.supposed to be. We used to be the leader of the free world; we are not anymore. The Eagles and I agreed that our great nation has to WAKE UP and get to the ballot box. Due process has been ignored by blowing up Venezuelan boaters in open waters, engaging in a useless war in Iran, attempting to take other nations territories without any approval from anyone, having our peresident's worth rediculously improve though BITCOIN sales, blocking our ability to vote, attacking social security, medicare and medicaid, and ignoring our Constitution. He has lessened the influence of NATO. Please vote in November.

Fred Clem

Next September we could celebrate the 65th Anniversary of starting our BWHS Journey. 

Joseph D. McCarthy

I can almost feel the pain for those who had to travel about thirteen hours to drive home.  When I've finally rested I will start my 48 hour drive, if it isn't snowing out West.

On the other hand, or correct me Mike is it "on the other foot', let's plan on the major event (Reunion) that takes place nest year.  Let's plan on a county wide Catholic grade school reunion celebrating the 65th year that we graduated from Grade school.  Get the word out in the various Church bulletins.  Besides we all need a year to recoup from that terrific reunion we just went through.  Just a stupid thought.

David Mitchell

Missing Contacts?

Ever since my drive home, several names have popped into my head that were missing from the weekend.

Anybody know the latest with

- Mike Del Bianco?

- Kathy Burk?

- Stan Kronenberger?

- Tim Lavelle?

- Dennis and Carolyn Winchester? (Carolyn and I were pretty close for years after graduation - but have fallen out of touch).

And have Donna Bain or Kathy Shanahan ever showed up? They were two of my late grade school crushes.

David Mitchell

Another "no-show" jsut occured to me. I was expecting to see Larry Foster, but I think he's in California now and that's a long trip.

Larry, if youre out there, give us a heads up sometime.

David Mitchell

Exclamation point.

At the reunion, I recieved several nice compliments on my tales from Vinh Long. It promted me to recall a little detail that should have been included in one long story,,                                          "My Wildest 6 or 8 minutes - Ever! (April/26 - page 686 - post #17111.

Briefly recapping:

- Bob Tow and his Observer get shot down

- Their ship is burning

- I am at the stick, flying the C&C and fall into in a state of shock while my CO is going berserk in the right seat

- Jack Abbott lands his Loach, gets out, and runs over - under fire - from just across the rice paddy, sticks his face in the burning cockpit - but they are already out.

- Our gunships are pounding the source of fire (with rockets and mini-gun) and my left door gunner is firing his M-60 out at the source of fire (about 60 yards away). I hear his spent cartriges pinging on the floor at his feat.

- We get Bob on board and have to go hunting for his Observer - about 60 or 80 yards the other way where he had run and was hiding behind a dike line.

We pick him up and get the hell out of there.

WHAT DID I FORGET YOU ASK?

Get this.** It was that Observer's firt day in the air, flying one of our missions !

Talk about timing?

If I recall correctly, he then went into the CO's office and asked to be transfered from flight status to ground maintenance duty - and they granted his request.

Michael McLeod

that right below me is one hell of a yarn dave.

got a great humorous ending to boot.

you've got a knack. and lord knows you've got good material.

this is the kind of stuff i used to live for, finding stories like this, particularly the years when I had the police beat, and then when I got in magazine writing and scouted out profiles of adventuresome types.

But nothing's better than a been-there, done-that first person story.