CLASS OF '40 - NEWS PAGE!!

CLASS NOTES for the September/October '99 Issue of ASSEMBLY Magazine

Col (Ret) Francis R Sullivan
2662 SE Gowin Dr
Port St Lucie, FL 34952-5576
800-GRAND40(Recorder)
My home phone: (561) 337-1626
e-mail: franksul@aol.com
Class e-mail address: classof40@aog.usma.edu
Class Home Page on the web: http://www.aogusma.org/class/1940/

     By early July you should have received the 2d notice on the Oct 4-8 99 Cape Cod Mini (Mine arrived 24 June). Responses to the first letter from Scotty & Priscilla Case, the hosts of the Mini, indicated about 60 affirmatives and quite a few maybes. So it looks good for a fine mini. The 2d notice asks you to make reservations at the Sea Crest in rooms set aside for USMA '40 The third notice to be mailed about the end of August will spell out activities costs and request your check therefor. Obviously, if you were a "nay" sayer to the first notice and/or other wise have not received the 2d notice and wish to attend you should get in touch with Scotty ASAP. He is at his N Falmouth MA summer address, telephone (508) 563-5759. If you cannot reach Scotty try Kerm Dyke at (410) 326-2649; Hq for the Mini will be at the Seacrest Resort and Conference Center in Old Silver Beach, near Falmouth

     AOG, Assembly circulation manager wrote in May with a list of our class non-subscribers and asked my efforts to bring them "into the fold". I wrote letters to each with a copy of the subscription request form from the May-June issue of Assembly. Since many of these classies have not been heard from in my tenure as scribe I suggested that even if they did not subscribe for reasons like vision and/or other health problems a brief family status report would be welcome information to share with other classmates. So far to my knowledge no new subscriptions have resulted. But then, 82% of our class are already subscribers - a better percentage than all but two classes senior (or junior) to us! Some status reports may still come.

     Got a note from Walt Gunster down Tennessee way where he and his wife Ella-Keen live quietly on five acres in the country. Heard from Swampy Marsh in Hampton VA. He and spouse June are the proud heads of a family which includes five grand children now of college age. They have suffered the loss of their son C T III, a USAFA Grad who served nine years in the AF before resigning to fly for a commercial air line. He also joined the ANG where sadly he was killed in an aircraft accident two years ago.

     Lee& Marion Fritter write of their attendance at the 10 May WPS of NH FD in Bedford NH where over 100 others heard Sen John McCain speak on Kosovo and military readiness. The senator was awarded an Army "B" robe for his efforts. . A letter from Bill & Kathy Porte in Palm Desert CA reports they are keeping busy in volunteer activities at Palm Desert and Idyllwild - latter their summer place in the mountains nearby. They travel in CA to visit the three children, seven grand children and two great grand children. Their grandson is a Capt, graduate of USAFA stationed at Vandenberg AFB , near Santa Maria, CA. Bill sent a picture taken of him and Jack Wright at the WPFD luncheon 27 Mar 99 at Air Force Village West at Riverside, CA. Both the Portes and Jack expect to make the Cape Cod Mini this fall. (Insert photo # 1 here.)

     A letter from Mary Edith Freudendorf (Chet's widow) enclosed photos of her pinning 2dLT bars on her grandson Travis Barrett Smith '99 just after his graduation from WP. (insert photo # 2 here.) In addition to her happy news Mary E advised of the Mar 99 death of Jeanne Lincoln Buchanan (remarried widow of H R Brewerton); further details of place and date of burial were not provided.

     Kiki Goodwin (widow of Sam) sent a long letter describing the affair she lovingly staged as a Memorial for Sam 22 May 99 at their Crossed Sabers Ranch. at los Cerrillos NM. Guests included friends and associates of the Goodwin's military service and later retirement years in NM. Cl'40 was represented by Carey & Winnifred O'Bryan, Babe & Stella Rogers, Bob & Jane Fate, Obie O'Brien and Frank Watrous.

     So far my Notes have relied on snail mail rather than e-mail. The latter are volumetrically by far the greater source of information The remainder of this piece will be from picking and choosing among the Es and their varying subject matter. First, Bart Barton's several messages from San Antonio. At the outset he gives an accounting of all our mates in the SA area. and assures his readers that Texas has not rejoined Mexico or slid into the Gulf. He says Les Schockner is fine but is not into computers. Pete & Vi Kramer are having a few health? problems; you may recall Vi had some time in a health facility last year. Let's hope things improve for them. Ed Verner has a computer but has some vision difficulty so sometimes needs wife Grace's help on that score. Morry Shoss is active trying to get over his loss of his dear Flora; he also is not yet into computers. The rest of Bart's E is an entertaining and thought provoking eight page satire (he titled it: Mirabile Dictu!) on the Balkan situation. Sorry to tantalize you about something you (non e-mailers) can not read and decide on its worth for yourself. You need to be on the class e-mail list for that! Bart's message expresses a point of view which may not be totally shared by all of us. In fact the views expressed by our most eloquent and literate e-mailers differ with each other in many respects. Nevertheless, those who have expressed themselves on this subject are to be commended. Even though their numbers are relatively few it means all of us have not shut ourselves off from anything not in our own yard. Some of those classmates among the thinkers (and writers) are: Sam Patten, Bob Williams, Kerm Dyke, Ross Milton, Bryce Denno, Bob Brewer, Allan Crockett, Steve Morrissey, Phil Elliot, Dale Epley, and Andy d'Elia to name a few.

     Through the kind thoughtfulness of Connie Hughes (widow of Huey) Many of us have learned of the difficult time Al & Beth Gillem are endur ing with Beth's incapacitating illness Any classie wishing to get word to the Gillems can e-mail it to Connie; she sees or talks to the Gillems frequently.

     Good News! - Thad Nosek and Kerm Dyke got the oldest grad award for their participation in the WPS of DC annual black gold and gray golf outing. Ross Milton was the memorial day speaker in a gathering at his community of Sun City, Tucson This community of about 5000 includes a number of retired military. This community and much of the SW US are favorably disposed toward those of the military persuasion.. I am sure Ross' talk helped in that direction Fred Yeager is also lives in Tucson.; he has graduated to the use of a walker and reportedly can get around much better than with a cane. Understand he intends to make the Cape Cod Mini.

     Much of the exchange among our class e-mailers for some time has been about the "war" and its strategy and tactics. Now the subject matter has broadened to include birds and other animals mostly cats. It's been a surprise to me to note how many of our classmates are into birds--mostly feeding and watching. Fran & Bob Brewer have sent several messages a week about "their" birds for all of us to enjoy but particularly addressed to other classmate bird fanciers like Sam & Jean Patten, Kerm & Bobbie Dyke and from Mexico Allan & Jeanne Crockett. These messages have roused responses from many other classmates who have had happy experiences with birds - like Bryce & Sherry Denno, Ed & Sarah Hoover, Dudley & Betty Maxwell, Betty Parker with a parakeet that could say "Beat Navy" and Ed Verner - about a lost canary!

     From Kerm Dyke came an E about coming year activities of the DC contingent. All classmates are welcome to these events if you are willing, able and want to do so. Events are: Oct 4-8 the Cape Cod Mini, Dec 5 Class Fall Co-Ed luncheon at Belle Haven CC, Feb 9 a Co-Ed luncheon with USNA '40 hosting, April the Annual Class Co-Ed Spring Luncheon.

     A nice E from Cay Chamberlain(Tom's widow) indicates she is ready for her part in the Cape Cod Mini; she lives on Martha's Vineyard She gave us a list of her and Tom's progeny: five children, 11 grand children, and one great grand child - with two more on the way! Janet Bavaro advised by E that Mike had fallen 22 Apr, broke his hip, was to be a month in hospital for a pin, plate and rehab. Mike'll be in a walker for some time before he will be able to get by with the cane he has had to use since his stroke last year.

     Andy & Marianne d'Elia sent an E about a gathering they attended of some F Co files in York PA for a luncheon at Chapps incidental to Mark Klunk's coming from CA for the 65th anniversary of his high school graduation. Others in attendance were: Walt & Dot Swank and Russ & Dot Manzolillo. It was a nice opportunity to renew old ties, discuss old days, and differ about the "war" in Kosovo.

     FINAL ROLL CALL: It came 26 May for Scotty Greene in an assisted living residence at Palm Harbor, Fl. near Dunedin, FL where he has lived for many years. With his death we learned that his beloved wife, Sally had predeceased him 8 May 98. They are buried together at Curlew Memory Gardens, Dunedin, FL A son and daughter survive; the daughter, Kimberley can be reached at the Greene address in the '95 class roster.

     For Lawrence R Klar it was 12 Nov 98 at St Petersburg, Fl. He is survived by Patricia, his wife of 25 years, two daughters, a son, a brother, three stepsons, nine grandchildren and a great grand child. His wife, Patricia, presently resides at the Klar's St Petersburg address shown in the '95 class roster.

     For Hobart B Pillsbury, it came 9 Apr 99 in Nova Fair Oaks Hospital, Fairfax VA while in recovery from an earlier multiple by pass surgery at Walter Reed. He was buried at WP after funeral services at the Old Cadet Chapel. Survivors include his wife, Mollie, three .daughters, a son, a sister, and 12 grandchildren.

     For Jeanne Lincoln Buchanan(remarried widow of H R Brewerton) it came in Mar 99 Funeral , burial data and exact DOD not furnished.

     For Helen Slee Gleszer(beloved wife of MG Roland Gleszer for 59 years) it came 15 April 99 at College Harbor Nursing facility after a protracted illness. In keeping with her wishes celebration of her life and sharing of memories of it were private.

     For Helen Hamelin (wife of Rolland Hamelin) it came 2 Mar 99 at their home on Oahu, HI. Helen had long suffered from Alzheimer's. After a memorial service her cremains were scattered in the ocean off shore of their Oahu home.

     With the above sad news written it's time for a lifting statement such as the one below sent to all of us on the Class E Net by Connie Hughes (widow of Huey):

A BELATED GRACE by Richard J Kent, Springfield, VA

Best, from your Scribe.

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