Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/11/14 - VETERANS' DAY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFeURcM73xw
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10 Bombers and Don Sorenson (NAB) sent stuff:
Mike CLOWES ('54), Diane AVEDOVECH ('56)
Helen CROSS ('62), John CAMPBELL ('63)
Dennis HAMMER ('64), Linda REINING ('64)
David RIVERS ('65), Duncan SINCLAIR ('65)
Tedd CADD ('66), Spencer HOUCK ('71)
Don Sorenson (NAB)
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BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Bev COATES ('52)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jack SINDERSON ('53)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Bob JOHNSON ('54)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Ted NETH ('55)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Don BRACKENBUSH ('63)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Don ECKERT ('64)
BOMBER ANNIVERSARY Today:
Jerry BOYD ('52) & Patsy McGREGOR ('54wb)
BOMBER LUNCH Today: John Ball "Kids", noon, Sterling's Queensgate
BOMBER CALENDAR: Richland Bombers Calendar
Click the event you want to know more about.
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>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54)
I would have wished the Marines a Happy Birthday yesterday, but
to paraphrase General Douglas MacArthur; "they have enough
birthdays." But, since they are veterans, we can still thank them
for their service to the nation despite being, as Harry Truman
once called them, "Sea going bell hops." For the rest including
the "Coasties" and the Air Corps, nice going guys and girls. You
make what was once a celebration of the end of "The War to end all
Wars" worth the effort.
Now, for something completely different.
First off, on this date a few years ago, Jerry BOYD ('52) married
Patsy McGREGOR ('54). They've been going strong ever since and I
hope they continue to do so. Happy Anniversary guys,
Now for the work out of the ol' propeller bean. There is one
Bomber Babe and three Bombers who were born on this date. Must be
kind of hard when you were little kids to wonder why people were
waving flags and selling poppies on your birthday. So a bunch of
"Happy Birthday!" cheers for (in seniority order): Bev COATES
('52); Jack SINDERSON ('53); Bob JOHNSON ('54) and Ted NETH ('55).
I trust you won't over-indulge in ice cream and birthday cake.
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) ~ Mount Angel, OR, where the
battle of the falling leaves continues.
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>>From: Diane AVEDOVECH ('56)
Re: Veterans' Day
On Veterans' day I proudly fly the flag as I do every Friday and
all official holidays. I was an Army reservist for 7-1/2 years and
though I never saw or was part of a foreign war, I still respected
those who serve past and present in our armed forces and put
their lives on the line. My most in-depth wish and hope is that
hostilities world over be stopped and world peace be a reality so
that the those we entrust to secure freedom as we know it, may
come home whole.
-Diane AVEDOVECH ('56)
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>>From: Helen CROSS Kirk ('62)
Happy Birthday to Doug LUKINS ('62), my fellow Richland classmate
all the way from Spalding Grade school (I think we were in the
same kindergarten class) to graduation at the Bomber Bowl!! Hope
you had a great day!!
-Helen CROSS Kirk ('62) ~ Hope,IN where winter is setting in
with below freezing nights, but we love the 50° days when
the sun shines!!
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>>From: John CAMPBELL ('63)
Don BRACKENBUSH ('63) and I started sharing this journey called
life in Mrs. Sterling's first grade class in Marcus Whitman about
63 years ago. Throughout, he has been a great friend (along with
his wife, Lila JENNE Brackenbush ('63). Marilyn and I wish him the
best on his birthday November 11th. We are going to Las Vegas with
them this weekend to celebrate our 70th birthdays - kind of like
the movie "Last Vegas". Rivers will hopefully point us to the
cheap buffets that the geezers all go to ;-)
-John CAMPBELL ('63)
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>>From: Dennis HAMMER ('64)
Re: Veterans' Day
I thought this might be a good day to post this photograph.
USS Saint Paul - Turret I Fireing off Vietnam -- 1970
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/Xtra/Ham/141111-USS_St_Paul.jpg
It is of the heavy cruiser USS Saint Paul CA-73 firing one of her
8" guns off Vietnam. I took it in 1970 shortly before we returned
home for the ship to be decommissioned. I guess I should be a
little bit proud of this photo as it is currently on display in
two museums. The USS Saint Paul Association has a rather large
display aboard the museum ship USS Massachusetts at Battleship
Cove in Fall River, MA. A few of my photographs are on display
and one artifact that I donated. I have not been there to see it
(bucket list), but have seen pictures.
Just a couple days after our Col-Hi class of '64 reunion the USS
Saint Paul Association had a reunion in Boise, ID. I had planned
all along to go, but in the end did not. I was contacted earlier
to send another copy of this photo as they could not find one that
did not have lettering on it. I was told it was going to be for a
display and I assumed it was to be at the reunion. When I got the
latest newsletter I found out the display was for the Warhawk Air
Museum in Nampa, ID and was unveiled when the attendees visited
the museum. Now I get to add the Warhawk Air Museum to by bucket
list.
If you have seen the movie "In Harm's Way" with John Wayne, the
cruiser he commands, "The Old Swayback," is played by the USS
Saint Paul.
You know... after becoming a veteran... I don't believe I ever got
Veterans' day off.
-Dennis HAMMER ('64) ~ U. S. Navy 1968-1972
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>>From: Linda REINING ('64)
Maren, I LOVE your idea, in yesterday's Sandstorm, about keeping
kids home on Veterans Day and the excuse to fill out. GREAT idea.
If I still had kids in school, I'd be filling it out!
I also liked it MUCH better when the actual date was celebrated,
not the "Monday-Holiday Bill"... most kids don't know that
Veterans' Day is actually the 11th of November... they just think
it's the second Monday in November! I know, "picky, picky".
My youngest daughter is an elementary teacher in Bakersfield, CA
and they take November 11th off, no school on that day at all, so
the kids know why they aren't in school on that date.
I am also very proud to say that a member of my family has served
or is serving, in every branch of the Military. My oldest grandson
just joined the Marines and is in boot camp at Camp Pendleton,
CA... he will graduate in January... has wanted to be a Marine
since he was a little kid... am so proud of him for fulfilling his
dream... am betting that my dad (RIP) is bursting with pride,
knowing that a grandson followed in his footsteps (Dad was a
Marine during WW II).
-Linda REINING Pitchford ('64) ~ Kuna, ID
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>>From: David RIVERS ('65)
Re: Thank you for your service; Welcome home
It's not just a day off; today we honor those men and women who
answered when our country called... they may have volunteered;
they may have been drafted, but they loved our country enough to
serve... how well do you know your friends, loved ones, neighbors
or maybe the guy on the corner with the sign: "homeless Vet"...
Since the war in the pacific theater they have fought an enemy who
considered them less than human... an enemy which believed the
only good American was a dead American... an enemy who did not
believe in the sanctity of life and believed that such a belief
was a weakness to be used and exploited... an enemy which hid
behind women, children and civilian populations... during law
school I had a young Navajo who told me he "watched the Vietnam
war when he was a kid on TV"... I wanted to grab him by the collar
of the utility (aka fatigue) jacket he often wore and yell at him
that the carnage he so casually watched on TV was real and that
those soldiers and Marines (most of whom were much younger than he
was when he started law school) he saw killed or maimed were
really DEAD or crippled for life... how many of those you know
suffer in silence... can't get a full nights rest because they
cannot shut off what goes on in their heads or have to turn every
few minutes to find a place to lay where the pain is less... how
many are afraid to tell the VA of all that they experience for
fear of getting "the Letter"... the letter that informs them that
the government in which they so strongly believed has determined
they are no longer competent to manage their affairs or to own a
weapon... how many have had to endure surgery after surgery for
the injuries received... have you seen their hands cramp up so
badly that they literally have to pry their thumbs from the palms
of their hands or jump up in the middle of the night because their
limbs are so spastic that they actually do the "happy dance" until
they are able to walk it out... you see, the men and women we
honor today gave more than you will perhaps ever be able to
understand so that you may continue to voice and hold the opinions
which are dear to you... each and every one of us knows someone
who served... so from now on when you see a Vet... how about
saying: "thanks".
Thank you to all my fellow Vets and, again... Welcome home!
-David RIVERS ('65)
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>>From: Duncan SINCLAIR ('65)
To: Rex DAVIS ('49)
Wishing a Happy Birthday [on 10/31]. Been thinking of Rex's warm
up drills since retirement. Trying to get in shape for golf, so
need some flexibility, never had any but trying. Even pushups hurt
the joints, but no handstand pushups. Toby always embarrassed us
all with his ability to hold handstands. My tendons hurt when I
try to stretch the leg joints. Again HB, Rex.
To: Gene VOILAND ('65)
Congratulations on the Honor of the naming of the Engineering
Department in your name. It is great that an oldest sibling, CKer,
Bomber and WSU grad can have such a beneficial impact on the WSU
community. Thought of Gene while trying to play basketball with my
6 year old grandson. I found my shots were all short like in 7th
grade. Guess I lost the Pistol Pete moves and back to the Al
Yencopal set shot. Could use Pat QUANE ('59) chasing me to hustle.
Course I didn't need to shoot at CK cause Gene or Mike TONER ('65-
RIP) were always open. TURPING ('65), BOTT ('65-RIP) and I knew
who the scorers were. The attached photo shows the great jumping
ability and classic release.
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/Xtra/Sin/141111-The_Shot_11-10-14.jpg
Congrats again.
-Duncan SINCLAIR ('65)
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>>From: Tedd CADD ('66)
Re: Veterans' Day and Separation Orders
To: Bill SCOTT ('64)
I recognize the sentiments of the separation prose you mention,
Bill. That goes along with all those "short" jokes, no? (For the
non-vets: "Short" means a person has very little time left before
their next assignment or separate from the service.)
They all run like this: "I'm so short I can sit on the edge of a
dime and dangle my feet."
Anybody got any others?
Re: Veterans' Day
On the invitation of a good friend, I decided to attend my first
Veterans' Day event.
Highlands Middle School in Kennewick put on the most amazing
celebration. There were 75 vets in attendance including one WW2
veteran. There was even a contingent of active duty Coast Guard
men and women who are assigned to the ATON (Aids to Navigation)
unit in this area.
First was a gathering in the library with snacks. Then we were led
to the gymnasium past dozens and dozens of students (all of whom
were expecting high-5s). In the gym, the vets were given a small
gift in a box (a memorial packaged by the First Commemorative Mint
including a one dollar George Washington presidential series coin
plated in 24k gold and a 1/2 cent stamp issued in 1932. (At least
that's what mine contained. I suppose they could have varied.)
After a nice program, we were treated to a great lunch catered by
Olive Garden and Starbucks. Then those of us who were willing were
taken to various 8th grade classes (we had the opportunity to do
as many as 3 for each vet). The students in the classes had an
8.5x11 sheet of paper that had suggested questions on both sides.
("Were you in a war?", "What advice would you give to somebody
considering entering the military?", "What awards did you receive
and what are they for?", "What is D-Day?", "Why did the U.S. get
involved in WWII?", "Why did we get involved in Vietnam?" There
were many personal questions and a few of the information type.
And the kids were also coming up with their own, as well. I ended
up in four classes. My friend taught 6th grade and wanted me to
come to her room as well.
All in all it was a great day. Most of the vets didn't wear their
uniforms but I did. It felt good to be back in uniform. (Yes, I
can still wear it.) And it was such a contrast to how those of us
who served in Vietnam were treated.
-Tedd CADD ('66)
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>>From: Spencer HOUCK ('71)
Re: Veterans' Day
Wonder why someone would sign up for six years? Two stripes out of
basic but after tech school went to Great Falls, MT for 3 years
and ended my six years in the Azores. Only to return to the Tri-
Cities to live. I hope all have a great Veterans' day.
-Spencer HOUCK ('71)
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>>From: Don Sorenson (NAB)
To All Bombers,
On September 26th of this year the Department of Energy celebrated
the 70 year anniversary of B Reactor start up. It was exciting to
be a part of that celebration. I was asked to set up a historical
display of Hanford Construction memorabilia. Some of which I
borrowed from a couple Dick and Virginia who live in Kennewick. A
few days later I returned the items to Virginia and she asked how
things went and remarked on the immensity of the Hanford Project.
As we spoke further she told me Dick still carries his 4-F card
in his wallet and how guilty he felt of not being able to serve.
When the war broke out he like many others wanted to enlist. Each
branch of the service turned him down. He even tried to join the
Merchant Marines but no luck. Feeling he is letting the country
down Dick began a search for work to support the war effort he
eventually landed a job at Hanford as a machinist. He was assigned
to the 101 Building. The 101 building is where all the graphite
was machined and test laid for each of the reactors. Years ago
when I first interviewed Dick he could readily recall the specs
for each part of graphite and length of the caliper they used to
check the graphite pieces. He (like all the other workers) knew
the work was secret but no one knew the end result. Most other
war jobs folks knew what they were manufacturing. They were told
repeatedly it's important to the war effort. Our conversation drew
to a close and I left for my car. Driving home I thought about
that 4-F card in his wallet. Now I have never served in the
military and I don't know if I can completely understand (I do
respect it!) the sense of duty felt by him. It must have been
quite the burden to carry. In August of 1945 I wondered if after
the announcement "IT'S ATOMIC BOMBS" he felt a sense of relief
from that self imposed pressure of not being able to fight.
Perhaps it's not even worth mentioning in the larger scheme of the
impact of the Manhattan Project let alone Hanford on the world.
But this man who took his sense of Duty seriously that relief, I
believe, is worth considering.
My Thanks to all who have and are serving our Country!
-Don Sorenson (NAB)
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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