May 3, 2010

Dear classmates,

I assumed I had submitted a narrative of my recent European adventure, but intentions succumbed to jet lag. To quickly recap, we flew from Seattle to Atlanta (RON) and then onto Athens. We traveled within Greece and onto Turkey by train and airplane. Greek trains are not up to European standards. The return was from Istanbul, to Amsterdam (RON) and then onto Seattle.

Eastbound Lynn and I traveled using my Delta retiree travel benefits from Seattle to Atlanta (overnight) and then onto Athens the next afternoon. The long oceanic legs were both in business class (nice). What made it especially pleasant was memories of the five hours I had spent the departure day in far back of a 757 seated next to a Navy wife and two kids. The munchkins were 2 years and six months old and both in diapers. I raised a couple of kids and changed plenty of diapers, but this Navy wife never changed a diaper during the long flight. I figure the kids went at least six hours without a diaper change, or at least that was the best estimate of my olfactory glands. I even offered to baby sit while she take them separately to the lavatory. The two year old darling kicked, squirmed, screamed, and generally took glee in pestering me. Hold on there is more to the story.

When I was a stupid college freshman (redundant) I accompanied my roommate to his northern Indiana hometown for the weekend. El Roommate fixed me up with a girl who was “a local hot item”, whatever that implies. Well it turns out that Mrs. Navy wife with the munchkins was from the very same town as the ‘hot item in Indiana .’ Do you suppose that the much overrated girl of my youth was the Navy wife’s grandmother? You can almost lay money on it.

Our attempt at far reaching travels had to come as Iceland decides to self destruct. What a mess in Europe ! I heard incredible stories from Northern Europeans and Brits in Spain . It was reported that the used car market in major Spanish cities almost sold out as Northern Europeans bought cars to drive home. We were fortunate to be in Greece and Turkey where domestic air travel continued uninterrupted. I suspect the Brits botched the handling of the volcano incident. It was no surprise that the Dutch (KLM) were the first to launch test flights to test the concentration of lava dust in the atmosphere. Didn’t we used to have USAFE RB-57s & U-2’s routinely doing this sort of thing? Since when did private airlines have to do atmospheric sampling.

We had no serious problems getting home, albeit a lot of anxiety, but we made it. I was watching the news all the time, not a good idea for the news in Europe was over dramatized just like the USA. We had purchased tickets a month earlier on Pegasus Airlines, a not recommended Turkish Airlines, from Istanbul to Amsterdam . Great airplanes, but the passengers were unruly. We arrived at Amsterdam Airport and found a small local area hotel. Had the best Chianti wine and a marvelous meal that night (so it cost $100). Great time wandering around the residential area of the small town with the small canals. Getting on the Delta non-stop to Seattle was a real cliff hangers, but we made it and were in Bellingham three hours after landing Seattle.

Now Greece is a real mess. Athens is still a dirty city. We observed idle youth everywhere, usually wearing some combination of black clothes often festooned with Marxist slogans, hammer and sickle logos, Che Guevara photos, all the standard revolutionary lingo. These kids were also surly and the males all unshaven. Graffiti was everywhere, including up on the Acropolis. A lot of the graffiti was involved obscenities directed toward the police. Not the case in Turkey. Young Turks were working or studying. We observed students in Turkey on trams doing homework – never in Greece. It seems that every young man under 30 in Greece owns a motorbike and drives it as fast as he pleases, where he pleases. Thieves were obvious and numerous. We took some pretty radical security measures with our belongings and cash.

Thessalonica was much more to our liking than Athens, a much safer and relaxed city. Thessalonica is a wonderful city for Christian history, antiquities, and superb dining. I discovered the finest pastry shop known to man. The weather was toward the cool side, but the young women were already displaying some pretty daring cleavage. Hotel accommodations were good and reasonable.

Istanbul was much more to our liking than we expected. There were the normal compliment of annoying, obnoxious carpet salesmen, but out of the tourist area people were kind and courteous. Military and police everywhere and they look like they meant business. I really enjoyed taking the ferries across the Bosporus. Dress was much more conservative in Turkey than Greece, only a few women with Berkas (sp?). We had lunch in a small café one day on the Asian side and three young men picked up the tab for our lunch. Amazing! We were careful about pick pockets in Turkey, but they were not so obvious as in Greece.

I would like to do the trip again, the next time see more of the Greek Islands. We would endeavor to avoid the popular tourist islands with the wild and crazy European and American kids. The next time I want to see more of southeastern Turkey. Now Harry what did I forget? I already sent a message out about the old base in Athens.

Warm Regards to all you USAF Navigators.

Bill Day

May 4, 2010

Oh, Bill!

You forgot to make the coffee ….. again! And, please do SOMETHING about those legs!

Horrible Harry

May 9, 2010

Clerk/Typist fourth class, Sir Wilyum of Ferndale, is at it again! He thinks that someone wants another 61-09 class reunion in 2011!

Somebody needs to tell him to get a life!

After 50 years, he can’t seem to understand that no one cares any more! No one communicates among the class! No one asks about others. And … nobody is interested in seeing his worthless person! Certainly … Not me!

If anyone bumps into Bill Day, please remind him that he still owes me $8.12 for the pizza we had delivered in Greenville, 1962! Cheap Bum!

And … then he even hit on my date! Worthless, incorrigible, sorry maggot! I sure am glad that we live a full continent apart!

Horrible Harry

May 13, 2010

Don,

I'm with you! I would like to see a reunion next year, but I'm still 
reeling from Harry's entry just above yours! I got past the part 
about William owing Harry $8.12, but when I came to Harry saying that 
William "hit" on Harry's date..... I WAS GOBSMACKED!!!! How the H... 
did Harry ever find a female that would consent to go out with him???

Chris Neale
61-09 B3/B6

May 14, 2010

Chris … et al,

Harry’s date attended out of curiosity!

She was told to “come on over … Bill Day is buying us a pizza!”

Her reply was: “YGTBSM! This I have to witness! He can find his wallet?”

After Wilyum of Fernpatch “conveniently” disappeared, I paid the bill … she left in disgust … and, neither Willy nor I scored that night!

Horrible

May 17, 2010

HH,

Are you putting me on...??? Fernpatch Willy got free pizza and can 
boast of watching you go down in flames..... Seems like a pretty good 
score all round for him!

Chris Neale

May 20, 2010

Guys,

When the "50th" comes along, it's SPECIAL!!!! It doesn't matter if 
it's High School, College, Wedding, or "just" our day of 
Commissioning and getting our WINGS!!!  IT'S A BIG DEAL!!!! Let's all 
support this effort to renew old friendships, or just get with old 
friends for a drink or a talk.

If you haven't been with old friends after many, many years, you are 
missing a great time with each other. Do make the effort to see each 
other and get together with guys that really want to shake your hand 
and give you a big hug after all these years!!!

Chris (I'll be there) Neale

May 22, 2010

GENTLEMEN
WE HAVE ANOTHER ANNIVERSERY
TO CELEBRATE. I KNOW ALL OF YOU CAN REMEMBER THE DAY WE RECEIVED OUR WINGS AND BARS.
I HOPE ALL OF YOU WILL BE AROUND THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.
JOHNNY FLOYD

May 22, 2010

“Bong Bunnies,”

Fernpatch Wilyum reminds us … again … of our heritage! And, I echo his sentiments.

Forty-nine years ago … some one pinned bars and wings on us … and we suddenly became “men!” We traversed the globe at age 20-21 … we saw things never to be seen again!

When we stepped into the “tragic alley” heat, of Harlingen, Texas … most of us said: “Oh, Shit! What have I gotten myself in for?”

We are honored!

We did the impossible! We went from “no one” to “some one” … worthy of a salute, respect, and … “Damn it, Follow Me … I’m in charge here!” We became instant leaders!

Oh! How I wish our grandchildren could envision such a success! Oh! How I wish our grandchildren could have such an opportunity … to succeed! We were truly blessed!

If we never again have a reunion … I pray that none will ever forget what we once had; what we once accomplished; and, what we “stood for” in this magnificent Nation!

We … Cadets … are truly a PROUD FEW … we did it all without help from anyone; without concessions; without excuses! We have made our way through life, asking for nothing but the opportunity to do it ourselves!

What a fantastic epitaph for all of us!

Horrible Harry

May 22, 2010

"6109"

To: All fellow classmates

From: Don Rizzo

Subject: 50th Reunion

I live just south of Austin, Texas. It is a great place to have our reunion next year. " Who'd a thunk it? 50 years.!!"

Anyway, My daughter and I would be willing to work on putting together a reunion here in Austin next year if anyone is interested.
It is centrally located. It is the music capitol of the southwest. It is the capitol of Texas. There are so many things to do that it is impossible
to list them all.

However, there are many things to take into consideration if we have it here in Austin or wherever we have it. I'll try to list a few:
1. How many of you are interested in having a 50th reunion and would attend? We need a close approximation.
2. How many of you are interested in having it here in Austin or wherever?
3. When? Remember; the 22nd of May 2011 is graduation time for many of our grand children {both high school and college}. It is also graduation time at the University of Texas
here in Austin which fills the hotels and motels for miles around. So if we had it here, I think we would need to get working on this project not later than 8 months in advance.
4. Before I can start making any plans, it is necessary to have the answers to the first 3 questions.
5. If anyone else has a better idea for a reunion {Time and Place}, I would be very happy to help in any way I can.
6. Also, for security's sake it would probably best to communicate through the "6109" site until we can get some idea as to how many would actually come to a 50th reunion,
when, and where?
7. Bill Day and Harry, stop your infernal "quibblling Mister" and help us put together a 50th reunion. Who ever did the work on the one in Dayton did a wonderful job and your help would
be very much appreciated. I'm sorry I couldn't attend the boat party, I understand it was a great time had by all. Your input would also be valuable.

May 24, 2010

Don, et al.

May I humbly suggest that instead of responding on the 61-09 
GuestBook, we direct our comments/remarks/ and all round signing up, 
to Bill Day. He already has everyone's email addresses and he can 
track responses and update us with a 'shotgun' email now and then.

Sorry for volunteering you Bill, but this might work better....

Chris Neale

May 24, 2010

Chris,

I agree. It makes a lot more sense to have Bill see if there is enough interest to have a reunion. My offer regarding Austin is still open. What do you think Bill?

Don Rizzo

May 24, 2010

I will be at a 50th reunion whereever an whenever it is if I am still with the living. I have my bride of 16 months looking forward to meeting the group. Life has been good and if our health cooperates we will be at all the 61-09 reunions.

Bob Nelson
61-09 B1

May 25, 2010

Much Beloved Classmates,

On May 23, 1961 I was driving north toward Bloomington, Indiana for my sister’s wedding. At the time I was rather indifferent to whether I would ever see any of you again. I suspect we had worn out our mutual hospitality. (Brothers Siegrist and Gaddy you might be exceptions.) The passing years have a way of sweetening that year at Harlingen. Yesterday I had an enjoyable surprise visit from 61-09 classmate Gene Goldsmith (Goldie) and today I had lunch will Gil and Sharon Armenta. What fun! You guys are still very much alive, that includes you Vic.

Our classmate Don Rizzo recently proffered a message on the class website proposing the 2011 reunion to be in Austin, Texas. Six months ago I would have said this is a splendid idea, because I prefer a Texas reunion. Unfortunately no one came forward to take the helm. Talk about total silence! We pondered other reunion sites, such as St. Louis. After much discussion the decision was made to have our gala 50th in the suburbs of Washington, DC. What better place than down the road from the finest aviation museum in the world and the new Air Force Memorial?

Don Rizzo: Lynn and I were in Austin last October for a classmate’s anniversary party. I like Austin! The County Line BBQ is one of my all time favorites. However, my obligation is to move forward in accordance with the consensus of the group. If any of your mute brothers, who plan to attend the reunion, have a dissenting opinion speak forth now or forever hold your peace. Meanwhile I am moving forward with plans for a Virginia reunion.

I have had an encouraging affirmative responses to the Virginia 2011 reunion plans. Most classmates are pretty indifferent to the location. This will be ‘the big one.’ Give me your suggestions about what needs to happen to make this one a success.

Keep our pal Vic Fukai in your prayers. I suspect Vic was sole military ‘Chief Navigator’ in our class.

Gentlemen the door is open, talk to me. I do listen.

Bill Day
Clerk Typist Third Class

HAFB 6109/B-4

May 26, 2010

To: Bill Day and your other planners,

I'm sorry that I jumped into your plan for Washington, but I must have missed something on the web site about it. Although I can see I am not alone.
Would you please give me and our other fellow classmates more info about it on the web site or email. I will attend the 50th wherever we have it.

Don Rizzo
61-09 B2

 May 30, 2010

Preparation for Memorial Day

Keep it
moving, please, even if you've seen it before.

It is the
VETERAN,
not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the
VETERAN who
salutes the Flag,

It is
the
VETERAN
who serves
under the Flag,


ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD,
AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

I'd be
EXTREMELY proud if this email reached as many as possible. We can be very
proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.

God
Bless them all!!!

Makes you proud to be an AMERICAN!!!!

From: Don Rizzo

June 17, 2010

Just a quick note … to keep the web-site active … Is anyone else out there?

Horrible Harry

June 17, 2010

I look at it Harry, but then again, I maintain the site. My suggestion for the fifty year reunion is Harlingen itself. I'm sure the city would welcome us back after fifty years. Also, Bill Day, Clerk Typist Third Class could march off the some of his well deserved tours on the tour ramp. That in itself would be worth the trip to Harlingen!

Terry Higgins
61-09 B2

June 17, 2010

Terry,

If you can convince anyone to go back to Harlingen … to watch Bill Day march off tours … I shall, personally and with great glee, stand on company street and call cadence!

Harry

June 18, 2010

Sir Terrance, I will make your reunion location preference known to the reunion committee. A couple of the guys who have made the pilgrimage back to the Old Base on the Rio Grande have recommended against the location for a reunion. Frankly, I would like to go back. I wonder if anyone can tell if Mr. Rogers paid his Cadet Club chits? Cost is a major concern for the upcoming reunion. Some of the fellows are stretched pretty tight. Thanks for the suggestion.

Bill Day
Commissar Day

June 18, 2010

Gentlemen,

There is a suggestion posted on the 61-09 website from our webmaster Terry Higgins. He would like to see us go back to Harlingen for a reunion. I responded to his suggestion and hopefully he will post my response. In an attempt to be up front with everyone I am informing you. Mull it over please.

Are we together on the dates of the reunion?

The reunion starts at breakfast on Wednesday, May 18th. Thursday the 19th will be our biggest activity day. Friday, the 20th, could include a partial day structured activity and the banquet that evening. Saturday, the 21st, would be the day of departure and a day of optional group exploration/travel.

Please sound off for next week these days will be chiseled in stone. Are you happy with the length of the gathering?

Bill Day

wlday@comcast.net

Please recheck my e-mail address and update if necessary. Some of you are still using my old earthlink address.

Bill Day
Commissar Day

Editors note: I guess Bill Day, Clerk Typist Third Class, got promoted to Commissar.

June 21, 2010

Gentlemen,

I'd like to give you some details on what my pilot class and I did
for a reunion in Washington D.C. two years ago this past May. We
elected to spend three days in the area near Dulles airport, and
found a hotel near there. Our only organized activity was a good tour
through the new Udvar-Hazy aviation museum at Dulles. Our only regret
was that we didn't spend all three days inside that wonderful place.

The U-H museum is part of the downtown Air and Space museum, but in
my estimation, is a much more interesting display of rare and unusual
aircraft and missiles. After the museum tour, we spent most of our
'free' time sitting around and catching up on past times, and just
talking. A few people went downtown the next day, but it rained all
day, so they were not fortunate in their sightseeing tour.

For our last night, we had a buffet and cash bar set up in one of the
big meeting rooms and we all enjoyed a good meal, a few drinks and re-
introduced ourselves to each other and visited. You could definitely
say that "a good time was had by all."

There has been some suggestions that the reunion be held in
Harlingen, but I think that there won't be much, if anything, still
remaining from our cadet days, and once we've seen what little is
there, there is NOTHING else to see or do in that area. I don't think
any of us would want to cross over into Mexico considering what has
been happening along our Southern border.

Just my thoughts on this, and nothing more....

Chris Neale

June 22, 2010

Forwarded from John Walker for posting.

After seeing some of the ideas for the reunion, I think the DC location is my choice. In 1995 I was in Harlingen for a company meeting on Padre Island. I hardly recognized anything. I rented a car and had a lot of time to look around. First, I couldn’t even find what I remembered as downtown Harlingen. I did find the Marine boys school on what would have been the base. All of the wooden buildings were gone but the concrete barracks were still there but they had been fixed up with awnings and other dress up structures. I was unable to go inside. Part of the tour ramp was there but it was much narrower that when we were there.

Padre Island was unrecognizable. 15 and 20 floor hotels and condos were crammed together for miles. The beach certainly wasn’t what it was when we were there. It seemed as if I was in an urban area all the way from Harlingen to South Padre Island. I didn’t get to see any of the attractions there but as far as being a nostalgic visit it was not. There were a lot of restaurants and charter boats for pleasure and fishing available.

The International Airport at Harlingen bore no resemblance to what I remembered. I think most of the buildings by the flight line had been torn down for the terminal. Some of the outlying hangers and whatever were either gone or being used for some industrial purpose.

I agree with the DC location because of the new Aviation museum near Dulles airport and hopefully good hotel accommodations. I also agree with Bill Day on the dates which should be fairly mild weather (Harlingen might be very hot). Also, some of us have plans to extend to see some of the other attractions. I personally have not been to DC since 1972. Neither my wife or I have seen the Vietnam Memorial or the newer WWII memorial.

I think with Speer and Shuts and others taking the lead in getting this reunion set up, DC should be the location. I know it will be hard for some due to health to travel that far but It should be rather easy to fly in to Dulles and take public transport to most places.

Bill, feel free to put any or all of my comments on the web site or in and email to other 61-09ers.

Thanks for asking for my opinion.

John

June 22, 2010

From Clerk Typist Third Class Day

Dear Classmates,

I detect that some of you object to my dogmatic, egregious leadership style. A style renown for lacking breadth of view. Not everyone is apparently unhappy with my performance, one classmate promoted me from Clerk Typist Third Class to Commissar. Frankly I find the later title offensive, I much prefer Emperor For Life. A fitting title for my pay grade.

Anyone wanting to relieve me of this post will find me totally cooperative.

William Day, JSI
Emperor For Life

HAFB 61-09/B-4
June 22, 2010

June 23, 2010

To: Bill Day, "the committee", and all of our fellow classmates,

I've obviously missed the designated place for the reunion. That’s why I offered my services for planning the reunion here in Austin. Then Bill Jumped in and said he had it under control,
but he never said where he had planned to have it. Then a few more guys jumped in with their ideas for a place for a reunion. They obviously didn't know either.

Oh most excellent commissar, won't you please inform those of us in the hoi polloi who can not read your mind when and where the reunion is going to to take place !!!!!

Washington DC seems like a fine place as long as we stay in a nice suburb with sightseeing tours planned to the Air museum, the Viet Nam Wall, etc along with off time and a
reunion dinner similar to the Dayton reunion.

Oh yes!! Please put the location for the reunion on this site, just in case anybody is still reading it, or send us an E-mail. Mine is rizzo.donald@gmail.com

Don Rizzo
61-09 B2

July 5, 2010

The U.S.O. is expanding its services to support returning, wounded soldiers ... and
their families ... as well as military widows, and their children.

The U.S.O. will continue to provide entertainment and "care" packages for those
overseas. Bob Hope, Ann-Margaret, turkey dinner ... a USO "goodie bag" ... home!

A few brief moments out of harm's way ... to remember their "world!"

Most of us career veterans had two (2) automatic deductions from our paychecks, each
month ... for our entire military career.

First, was the "Savings Bond a Month" program;

Second, was our "fair share" United Way contribution ... a day's pay, in twelve monthly
installments. Mine was always dedicated to support the U.S.O.

Most of us career veterans have maintained our United Way contributions, for more than
fifty (50) years ...

I wish to encourage each of you to consider two charities:

(1) The Marine Corps "Toys for Tots;" (www.toysfortots.org) and,
(2) The U.S.O. (www.USO.Org)

Many airline hubs have a U.S.O. in the terminal, for transiting service men and women
... and, it always feels good to know you might be paying for a few "in-flight" meals,
or candy bars for those kids ... enroute to combat ...

I enjoyed my Independence Day holiday weekend ... and, I pray that you did, too!

Let none of us ever forget that we owe a huge debt ... in payment for our weekend's
enjoyment! Correction ... for our daily enjoyment.

So ... when you think about "giving," this year ...
When you think about writing those checks to your favorite charities ...

Please consider the active military service members ...
Consider widows and fatherless children ..."Toys for Tots" means a Merry Christmas ...
Consider the disabled - relegated to V.A. hospitals ... until "Taps" is played for them.

And ... consider a "thank you" U.S.O. send-off ... to those who proudly wear our
Nation's uniforms ... and, who may never see America again!

One final ... and ... very simple thought ...

When you are out "bumming around" in your air conditioned Lexus, and you see a VFW or
American Legion post ... think about dropping in ... just for two minutes ...

Many homeless and destitute veterans depend on those posts for their "single" daily
meal! Do you know how many ham sandwiches and potato salads the volunteer cooks can
provide from a $10.00 bill? I do ... I've made hundreds of sandwiches!

No veteran will ever ask anyone in this Nation for a "hand-out" or a "thanks." They did
their duty with no expectations, other than our respect - not our appreciation.

They deserve a helluva lot more!

Horrible Harry

July, 6, 2010

Guys,

If you've ever been sorry that you didn't get a model of some plane
(or even ship) that you served on, then here is a place to look:
http://www.motionmodels.com/

I found this in a friends email to me. He was looking for a T-38
model and found this site.

Enjoy,

Chris Neale

July 16, 2010

Gentlemen, least you think we are all asleep at the switch, your lowly
clerk typist has been in Minnesota for ten days. Ten long days doing
grunt details. That is why the 61-09 circuit has been a bit quiet.
You will soon receive a reunion activity questioner that was prepared
by our on-site reunion coordinators. Allow me a little time at home
to put our some fires and I will get the questionnaire off to you.
Sorry, but I have been mostly without internet service during the time
away from home. We were darn lucky to electricity.

Warm regards to all you good guys. Bill