The message forum is an ongoing dialogue between classmates. There are no items, topics, subtopics, etc.

Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Message" button to add your entry to the forum.

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 first 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 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.

David Mitchell

Thanks Mike,

Yes, it does help to have some good material to draw from. But there were times when I'd have traded my situation for any sort of "dear God, get me the hell out of here" free card.

Nina Osborn (Rossi)

Hope I turned the photo around..

Nina Osborn (Rossi)

Nina Osborn (Rossi)

Nina Osborn (Rossi)

Joseph Gentilini

Sure wish that I would have been able to be there. Thanks for all the pictures.  joe

Michael McLeod

just got a call from a fella I've known for a while; wrote a profile of him several years ago: Billy Collins.

thought I'd mention it here in case anybody's a fan.

He's a poet, a down to earth, charming one.

lives down here in orlando now.

Hope everybody's doing well.regards 

plug his name into youtube if you are looking for something to pass the time. he's funny. 

try billy collins and "the rain in portugal." that's the title of a recent collection 

i suppose you might have rolled your eyes when i said i was excited about lunching with a poet but if you read something of billy's you'll change your mind i bet. he's a blast.

sure, i'd be more excited if i was lunching with a hooker or a gangsta but this will do just fine. 

regards to all from sunny fla.

Lorraine Heitchue

Monica Haban (Brown)

Monica Haban (Brown)

Monica Haban (Brown)

Joseph D. McCarthy

Had a great ;lunch today at the TAT, Livingston and James.  It was the monthly Aquinas Alumni lunch.  I share a table with a great Individual, the oldest living Aquinas Alumni; he is only a few months shy of his 99th birthday. His daughter drove him.  Was presented with the card below, never saw one for Watterson.

Tonight, for the second time in a week, we ate dinner at Der Dutchman.  Love the desserts.  grabbed one of the flyers in case anyone has an interest in a free car show,

Sorry about the display.