Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/11/15 - VETERANS' DAY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9 Bombers and Don Sorenson sent stuff and 1 Bomber Memorial today:
Rex HUNT ('53), Mike CLOWES ('54)
Ann BISHOP ('56), Diane AVEDOVECH ('56)
Margaret EHRIG ('61), Ann ENGEL ('63)
David RIVERS ('65), Shirley COLLINGS ('66)
Barb BELCHER ('72), Don Sorenson (NAB)
***************************************************************
***************************************************************
11/11 - VETERANS' DAY
Coins on a soldier's grave:
A coin left on a headstone lets the deceased soldier's family
know that somebody stopped by to pay their respect. Leaving a
penny means you visited. A nickel means you and the deceased
soldier trained at boot camp together. If you served with the
soldier, you leave a dime. A quarter is very significant because
it means that you were there when that soldier died.
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) 70 in '15
BOMBER ANNIVERSARY Today: Jerry BOYD ('52) & Patsy McGREGOR ('54)
BOMBER CALENDAR: Richland Bombers Calendar
Click the event you want to know more about.
***************************************************************
***************************************************************
>>From: Rex HUNT ('53)
Re: Richland
The uniqueness of Richland/Hanford is based on the diversity...
So many people from so many different places with so much
different backgrounds. There were people from every strata, Some
highly educated, many not so much, forced to live in a barren
place in the middle of nowhere that most of us found to be a
paradise. The family dynamics were as diverse as the accents and
drawls. Some had never left the farm till that major upheaval, I
personally came from a small town in Central Louisiana. But my
step dad had been employed by the government for several years
when we were sent to Hanford.
I had never had to make friends. I had grown up with neighbors
and their kids and we just were friends. Richland offered a new
concept both in the schools being so much MORE of everything.
and we lived in a small trailer upon arrival. (what a shock to
my system) to all the strange kids with strange ideas. New
games, new places and the magnificent rivers. We had a shallow
muddy bayou, about 20 feet wide except in flood time. So all of
it was strange and wonderful. Mom and dad both worked, but mom
kept a lot of her home upbringing. When a new family moved in
near us, she made something for them to eat. As they busily
unloaded their car, Mom took it over so they could feel a bit
less lost.
Well enough... just random thoughts.
-Rex HUNT ('53wb) ~ Hanford, CA
***************************************************************
***************************************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54)
On this day of commemoration for the end of the "War to End
All Wars", let me add my belated congratulations to The Corps
on having lasted as long as they have (Harry Truman not
withstanding). But we got more important things to take care of;
like 4 birthdays and an anniversary (almost sounds like a movie
title).
The anniversary is that of Jerry Boyd ('52) and Patsy McGREGOR
('54). Don't know how long it has been, but good going guys!
The birthdays celebrate on Bomber Babe and 3 guys who happen to
be Bombers. I shall do this in order of appearance.
The Bomber Babe in question is Bev COATES ('52). Next comes Jack
SINDERSON ('53); followed by fellow classmate Bob JOHNSON ('54)
and last (but not least) Ted NETH ('55). A quadruple tip of the
ol' propeller beanie and a hearty "Happy Birthday!" shout out to
all of you on attaining another year.
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) ~ Mount Angel, OR where the
lull between monsoons doesn't seem be as long as it
has been.
***************************************************************
***************************************************************
>>From: Sara Ousley, aka Ann BISHOP ('56)
To: Gary BEHYMER ('64)
I lived at 1523 Mahan, across from Jack MOORMAN, until I joined
the Women Marines in November, 1956. As for the "jack of all
trades" dads, not my stepdad! I'm not sure Sam knew which end
of a hammer was the working end, or how to use a drill (hand OR
electric! He replaced the brakes on our car one time and had
'parts left over'... his comment? "Oh h***, they weren't
necessary anyway". Give him a locomotive and he could tar that
thing apart and put it back together again. I saw him sit at a
crossing one time, listening to the diesel and KNEW that there
was a problem, and what it was. He could look at a blueprint of
one and tell you where every wire started and ended and what it
was for. He was the first Diesel Electric Engineer trained by
the Santa FE railroad. My folks left Richland in 1957 when Sam
went to work for PanCanal and they moved to the Canal Zone in
Panama. Seems like a "hunnert years" ago!
-Sara Ousley, aka Ann BISHOP ('56) ~ Texarkana, AR
***************************************************************
***************************************************************
>>From: Diane AVEDOVECH ('56)
Re: Mr. Harding
I also had Mr. Harding in math at Chief Joseph Jr. High and
he saved my bacon, so to speak. When my parents finally got me
to admit that I didn't understand math, they made me go to Mr.
Harding and confess. He went the extra mile, stayed after school
with me and tutored me until I finally got through my thick
head how math worked and finally, "I got it!" Many years later
when teaching microbiology, biology, anatomy/physiology and
Introductory pathology at the community college level I found
myself spending numerous hours after school, or even on
weekends, tutoring several students at a time to help them get
over the hurdles of brain block on challenging subjects. I have
Mr. Harding as one of the most worthwhile examples of putting
students first in helping students who just don't initially get
it! Thank you. Mr. Harding.
-Diane AVEDOVECH ('56)
***************************************************************
***************************************************************
>>From: Margaret EHRIG Dunn ('61)
Judy WILLOX ('61)
Pat DORISS Trimble ('65)
Betti AVANT ('69)
Re: All-Bomber Lunch, aka Patti's All Bomber Lunch
To: All Richland/Col-Hi Bombers
Last weekend was the West Richland Veterans' Day Parade and
today (the 11th) is the anniversary of the end of the First
World War which is now the day when we honor all veterans. This
coming weekend is when we can get together to celebrate a good
time and conversation with old and new friends that are Richland
Bombers of any age.
WHEN: Saturday, November 14, 2015 (always 2nd Saturday)
TIME: We gather about noon or 12:30
WHERE: JD DINER, 3790 West Van Giesen, West Richland
(Second building on the right after crossing the
Yakima River Bridge.)
Hope to see you there.
-Margaret EHRIG Dunn ('61)
-Judy WILLOX (Classic Class of '61) ~ Richland
-Pat DORISS Trimble ('65)
-Betti AVANT ('69)
***************************************************************
***************************************************************
>>From: Ann ENGEL Schafer ('63)
All this talk about where we lived has brought back great
memories but also I thought David DOUGLAS ('62) lived behind
me on Cottonwood. I lived at 407 Birch and who ever I talked
to over the fence was a year older that me. If you remember
talking to Ann ENGEL let me know who you were/are.
-Ann ENGEL Schafer ('63)
***************************************************************
***************************************************************
>>From: David RIVERS ('65)
Re: Welcome Home my brothers and sisters
If I couldn't be born on November 10th... November 11th would be
a good choice... missed both... ALSO I jumped the gun yesterday
on Doug LUKENS ('62) and was a month early... ah well... so the
b-day Bomber today has an easy b-day to remember... and today we
remember our fallen brothers and sisters and those among us who
were blessed to come home... It wasn't the Disneyland world we
remembered and not the land of the big PX as we had anticipated.
.. in my day and many of yours we were not welcomed home and we
were called names and spat upon... the Hell's Angels rescued me
and I will always be grateful to those men who took so many of
us in till we were ready to face the outside again... many are
home in body only and many are home only partly in body... war
is very real and if you ain't seen it you really don't know
what's going on in the heads of the veterans you meet on the
street... they were kids with guns in a place they didn't really
want to be and the order of the day was to stay alive... they
did not fight because they hated someone (tho hate does set
in... it cannot be avoided)... they fought because they loved
you and the United States of America. I am grateful that today's
Vets are receiving a welcome home... the one we never got...
when you see Viet vets most of us welcome each other home tho
it's been years since we got back... it's just what we do...
When Terry DAVIS ('65) first began speaking to Viet Vets, he
asked what to say... I told him open and close with: "Welcome
home and thank you for your service"... he does and gets
standing ovations every time... and he means every word... so
thank you my brothers and sisters I love each and every one of
you... and if nobody told you today... Welcome home and Thank
you for your service... the lucky duck to have been born on this
day gets a hardy HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Don ECKERT ('64) on your
special day, November 1, 2015!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozpdBvB0hek&feature=youtu.be
-David RIVERS ('65)
***************************************************************
***************************************************************
>>From: Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66)
Re: Veteran's Day
We honor our 1966 classmates who served so bravely in the
military. And to those classmates who gave their lives, we
ask a blessing of peace...
http://richlandbombers.1966.tripod.com/66military.html
Those who live in freedom will always be grateful to those who
helped preserve it.
Happy Veteran's Day ~
-Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) ~ Richland
***************************************************************
***************************************************************
>>From: Barb BELCHER Valinske ('72)
Re: Mr. Anderson at Spalding
Thanks, Linda REINING ('64), for remembering my grandpa, Craig
Anderson (RIP). He was a sixth grade teacher at Spalding for (I
think) 27 years - all in the same room. I think he was probably
a very good teacher - at least, he was a fantastic grandpa, and
I miss his common sense and wisdom every day. It makes me feel
really good that he isn't forgotten.
-Barb BELCHER Valinske ('72) ~ Olympia, WA, where winter storm
warnings are up for later this week, after having a
wonderful fall.
***************************************************************
***************************************************************
>>From: Don Sorenson (NAB)
Re: Veterans' Day
To All Bombers,
November 11th Veterans' Day. A day of remembrance and reflection
for those who knew service above self, witnessed events too
tragic to recall and their comrades who shared the same.
When I was younger I did not appreciate the magnitude of that
kind of service. I can remember having some romantic notions of
what it must have been like. How foolish I was to entertain
those thoughts. During my early years at Hanford I was
surrounded by former service men and women. I don't remember
them openly sharing that time of their lives. A few days after
the Christmas of '77 or '78 I had brought to work a book on
World War II my wife had given me. On break I was thumbing thru
its pages when one of the Radiation Monitors leaned over my
shoulder and asked me to go back a few pages. He stopped me at
one of the pictures and pointed a face out to me. "the man with
the beard was our cook." he said. The photo was of American
P O W's being freed shortly before the war in Europe was over.
That's all he said. I never approached him about it afterwards.
I didn't feel it was appropriate. I tucked that memory away for
a few years and did not tell folks what he had said to me. A
couple of years later I had transferred to 234-5Z to work day
shift and after several months I got to know a few more of the
older folks in the building and learned form others where they
served and some of their experiences. Fighter pilots, marines
who served in the Pacific, paratroopers and infantry. Ground
crews in England with the 8th Air Force. Knowing something about
their background I respected them a little more and would set
aside my youthful pride and allowed them to teach me in some of
the finer points of working at 234-5Z.
Fast forward a couple of decades about the time I discovered the
Sandstorm I exchanged emails with a Bomber and she told me of
an instance while riding the bus back home it passed the Uptown
Theater and on the marquee was the film title "And Three Came
Home". The woman who was sitting next to her mentions "I knew
Mrs. Keith"! The woman goes on to tell her about the atrocities
inflicted by their captors. When I finished the email I thought
about the men I had worked with so many years ago that served in
that terrible war and wondered if any one at Hanford could have
been one of the service men that freed her and others.
Getting back to that RM who pointed out that photo in my book.
I boarded the bus to go home after swing shift at PUREX he sat
next to me and remarked how dark it was that evening. After a
small silence between us during a quiet ride back to town he
told me of his capture by the Germans after running out of ammo
following a long engagement. That was the last I spoke to him.
He passed away a few months later. At the funeral many of the
veterans I came to know attended his service. Afterwards I
followed them for a few paces and listened as close as I could
to be taught a little more.
-Don Sorenson (NAB)
***************************************************************
***************************************************************
Bomber Memorial
>>Darrell DesCHANE ~ Class of 1954 ~ 1936 - 2015
Bomber Memorials
***************************************************************
***************************************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
***************************************************************