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Class of '50 classmates that are Gone but Not Forgotten.
Jerry Ablesen
Stephanie Ainsworth-Barnes
John Akin Jim Ames
Gerald Bouch
Jerry Bradshaw
Richard Brandes Don Briggs
Richard Carlston
Charles Cope
David Corbin
Earl Crapo
Beverly Dierlam-Sommer
Peggy MacGougan Duntley.
Richard Duntley
Vaughn (Buddy) Edgar
Allen Fleming
John Gates
Bunny Gillette
Carolyn Goen
Nancy Hetler-Saylor
Chuck Hoggatt
Doris Johnson-Randall
Max Jones
Walter Jones
Larry (Durkee) Keating
Cora Kinnard-Meinel
Edward Kemp
Robert Lee
Ron Lee
Richard Leonard
Bob Miller
Don Montgomery
Milan Moody Earl Mortensen
Betty Norman-Eggstaff
Kenny Palmer
Neil Peterson
Dave Pittman
Ann Rasey- Rethlefsen
Arlitha Rosedale-Wertz
Darwin Rosen
Dennis Selleck
Shirley Sherman
Bill Sink
Dorothy Snow
Beverly Turk Salter Patricia Summers
Tom Sutherland
Ferris "Tommy" Thompson
Tony Wynn
Paul Zednichek
'50
Gary Dayton '49/'50
Imperial Beach CA
Please note, I have changed my email address
2-3-12 Happy Birthday to Vangie Brownwood Regan, she has joined our 80 club and will be hosted tonight on the Midway. A fitting place for her birthday celebration since she has been so involved with it for so many years. Sorry we can't make it.
Looking good.
1-31-12 We have another great. Gary's daughter, Lexi Dolan has her second girl to go with her boy. Gary has 3 girls and a boy, they have 10 between them and Kylie is due in Mar. Bruce has 2 daughters and 2 granddaughters. Lisa, Gary's wife has 2 daughters and a son, one daughter has 2. That makes 14 going on 15.
1-31-12 From Lorraine Alley, Gene and Lorraine stood up for us at our wedding and we did the same for them both back in 1951. Barbara and Lorraine have been friends since kindergarten, I would have thought this would have come from Gene, he drives a Bentley. Gene and I go back to grammar school, him in Englewood and staying at his grandparents on Diamond St next to our place. He would spend the summers there, later many knew him from Carpenters and parties.
Check out the 'man caves' ..... I thought you all might enjoy this new
form of enjoyment going on up in Minneapolis !!!
What a concept! It's a 'guy thing'..... in Minnesota
... Brilliant idea and successful in this economy
....http://bcove.me/a52ky1yi
1-29-12
Dire Straits - Walk Of Life [ HD Music Video ]
This is one of my favorite videos, just plain fun, music and sports clips.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZxVC0GB838
If you like this, there are links to lots more free fun videos from this one, I must have watched another 6-8 of them.
1-29-12 An old friend sent these links, it is a treasure trove of history. Here is just one of probably hundreds.
Santa Anita Racetrack with the housing for the Japanese during WW2, this is just a sample of what it there.
THIS IS VERY INTERESTING. IF YOU CLICK ON THE CAPTION , ON THE TOP OF THE PHOTO IT WILL SHOW YOU MORE.
infocus/pages/ww2/ ( klik op de foto's )..........enz...enz....archieven :
1-29-12 I have been reading a great Trilogy that I think should be used as History books, WW2 is presented as a novel using real people based on diaries, letters, and interviews. The first in the series is the last one I am reading, our son, Gary, sent me the middle one and the Library had the last one and the first one. They are available from amazon.com at very reasonable prices used. The author is Jeff Shaara, and he is great.
No 1 Rising Tide
No 2 Steel Wave
No 3 Final Storm
Jeff has several others that I plan to read, Civil War etc.
Jim Regan reviewed " The Final Storm" in Dec.
A BLOODY REVIEW – 12/16/11
This week’s review is a work of historical fiction, THE FINAL STORM by Jeff Shaara (2011), and recreates the bloody conquest of the island of Okinawa. Dubbed code name “Operation Iceberg,” it was one of the most costly battles fought during WWII. Reportedly, there were over 100,000 Japanese casualties vs. 50,000 allies. The capture of this strategic island set the stage for the final bombing missions of Japan and its ultimate surrender. Okinawa is the largest (about 60 miles long and 2 - 18 miles wide) in the Ryukyu Island chain and is 350 miles from the homeland of Japan.
The author is well known for his World War II novels, including No Less Than Victory, The Steel Wave, The Rising Tide, To the Last Man, The Glorious Cause, Rise to Rebellion and Gone for Soldiers. Many readers may recall Jeff father’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Killer Angels.
It was in the spring of 1945, not long after the fall of Iwo Jima, that allied forces invaded the key island of Okinawa. Securing the island with its four air bases was considered essential in order to escalate bombing missions over Japan. The battle of Okinawa lasted 80+ days. In the beginning, two marine and two army divisions landed at Hagushi Bay where they met little resistance. The invasion seemed to be going well until our troops encountered fanatical Japanese forces who were literally “dug-in” the rocky volcanic hillsides and reinforced with heavy artillery. A warren of caves, connected by tunnels, were riddled throughout the steep hilltops and provided safe shelter from any frontal attacks and from our off-shore guns. Despite the advanced shelling by our naval guns and heavy air strikes, the Japanese mountain fortresses suffered little damage.
The author has constructed the battle through the eyes and minds of key personnel. Throughout the book, Marine Private Clay Adams takes the reader to the battlefront as he struggles to become accepted by his fellow veteran platoon members after being hospitalized with an infection. Having lived in the shadow of his older brother, a decorated army paratrooper, Adams portrays a young marine who is confronted by the brutality of war while fighting for his life and for the lives of his fellow mates. In the end, Adams is one of six marines in his platoon that survived the battle. Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief, Pacific, was appointed in charge of the invasion of Okinawa. The author paints the in-fighting between inter-branch Generals & Admirals (Air Force (Curtis LeMay), Army (Simon Buckner Jr.), Navy (Chester Nimitz) and their staffs as they wrestle with their respective problems in carrying out the mission. Their personalities and divergence of opinions in strategic planning and operations created frustrations in getting the job done. After all, why should a Navy Commander tell an Army General how to fight a land battle?
The book outlines the decision making process and how these decisions affected the invasion and eventually the outcome of the war.
Each chapter takes the reader back and forth between the two sides as they engage in battle. The Commanding General of the Japanese land forces on Okinawa was Samurai General Ushijima who subscribed to the ethic code of “bushido, (“The Way of the Warrior”). His reaction to the invasion provides some interesting insight into the Japanese Empire’s aspirations for global supremacy and the struggles he encounters from his superiors and subordinates while fighting to retain the island of Okinawa. Initially, the superiority of his army was demonstrated from their hilly fortified positions. As his army slowly erodes, and as he witnesses the death and destruction of his army, he chooses suicide over capture.
Shaara does a good job describing the battle with the use of simple maps.
General Simon Buckner was the land commander directing the U.S. ground troops. Unfortunately, he was killed while performing a risky reconnaissance mission at a forward outpost by artillery fire. He became the highest ranking officer to be killed throughout WWII. After a smooth landing, our troops were divided and sent into opposite directions, north and south. The marines who went north were met with sporadic and minimal opposition. The army foot soldiers who were sent south, however, encountered fierce resistance. The result was that most of the marines who went north were sent back south to assist in countering the Japanese hillside strongholds. The assault on Sugar Loaf Hill proved to be the beginning of a lengthy nightmare. Our forces would gain ground inches at a time while suffering many casualties. Enemy fire and grenades would rain down from the caves and trenches above necessitating periodic retreats to the safety of foxholes and limited shelter, only to regroup and push forward, once again. Throughout this ordeal, the author makes you feel as if you were there. At the time, Okinawa had a large civilian population, and they, too, suffered huge losses from both sides. As the fight turned against the Japanese army, General Ushijima, acting on the advice of his staff, decided to launch a final counter-attack by relocating his remaining troops in a compact southerly area. Their headquarters had been demolished and relocation became a necessity. Air drops of napalm and heavy artillery bombardment, flame throwers and grenades became the weapons of choice on the enemy’s new battle lines. This proved too much for the Japanese fighters and after 80+ days of intense fighting, there was no more enemy to pursue. Allied forces had reached the southern end of the island and victory was declared. As the mopping up process began across the island, most of our troops were taken to Guam for some rest and recreation. Many veterans, including Pvt. Adams, were given a thirty-day leave – time to return to the States – a time to reflect.
Meanwhile, lurking in the background was the U.S. secret program known as the Manhattan Project, headed up by Dr. Robert Oppenheimer. Often referred to as “the Father of the Atomic Bomb,” he along with General Leslie Groves developed the “mother of all bombs.” The death of President Roosevelt, and the subsequent assumption of the presidency by then vice president Harry Truman, brought mixed emotions to our country. Truman had military experience as an artillery officer during WWI and understood the necessity for using “the bomb.” The new 33rd Commander-in-Chief was credited with bringing the war to an end. The crew of the B-29 bomber named the “Enola Gay,” was selected and Colonel Paul Tibbets was designated the pilot in command of the mission. When given the green light, their secret assignment was to unleash an atomic bomb on one of three chosen targets, Hiroshima, Kokura or Nagasaki. Multiple targets were selected in order to assure acceptable flight conditions. The author takes the reader on this dramatic mission (August 6, 1945) over Hiroshima as he traces the entire event from take-off, to “bomb away” and to the return to base. Later, Nagasaki became the target of another bomb. As the reader knows, Japan surrendered soon thereafter. And, the fanatical thirst by Japan’s Imperial High Command to conquer the world came to a historical end.
Jeff Shaara’s account of the battle of Okinawa gives the reader pause at the bravery and heroics shown by our military. One wonders what could have happened if we had lost our freedom…..Marines like Pvt. Adams wasn’t about to let that happen. And, thanks to all of our brave military men and women who thought, and acted likewise.
JR
1-22-12
A View From The Top of Hotel to Replace Seacoast Inn
A view from the fourth floor of the hotel expected to open in September.
In the first pix you can see building material stock piled across the street. This is quite a big project for our little town.
Pix from the IB Patch website.
1-16-12 I have been meaning to put this up, this is really interesting again. Reid is back at sea with his family and a crew. You can back up to where they left NY and the storm they went through and having the rudder shaft break during the storm. http://1000days.net/home/
1-16-12 Here is something Gene Bunch sent out that you may enjoy, I sure did.
Wyman Meinzer graduated from Texas Tech. When he graduated, he moved back to his ranch near Benjamin, Tx so he could begin his photography.He lived in a dugout for quite a few months, to be in the middle of the roadrunners, coyotes, and snakes.
Tremendous work.If you're from West Texas and love the outdoors….or not, this will stir your heart!Be sure to turn on your speakers!!
http://player.vimeo.com/video/22132017?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0
1-8-12 We had a nice Christmas here in IB, son Gary and wife Lisa came down from Reno for a week. They had a Honey Baked Ham delivered and we had many meals off it, then Lisa made a huge pot of bean soup that was/is out of this world, we still have some to enjoy. Lisa also made many other dishes, she is a fantastic cook. I do most of the cooking these days, so it was nice to have a real cook in the house. We ate out at Jalisco's, Carrow's, and the Outback Steak house. Gary did a lot of walking and bike riding. He also brought 2 new kites that we flew down at the beach. My sister, Nancy & husband Jim joined us for dinner two nights, the second she brought dinner in her little wagon (they live 4 doors up the street). Gary is in a lot of pain still from a motorcycle wreck over a year ago. He still needs surgery on his left shoulder. They bought us an avocado tree, half barrel and soil to plant it in.
Gary and Lisa, and one lone piece of pumpkin pie that Nancy brought.
Jim and Nancy
Barbara, notice all the cans of Diet Pepsi on the table. I bought 3 36 can packs before they got here, we went thru 2 of them.
While the kids were here the movie "Overboard" with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell was on TV. We watched it but I can't stand all the commercials so I ordered it from the library. We watched all the way through in peace. I liked it so much that I Googled Goldie and found this great 46 min bio on her life. Barbara and I both enjoyed it and thought you might too. Overboard is a real cute movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfBuaRgos1o Overboard trailer.
http://www.biography.com/
people/goldie-hawn-9331873
12-25-11 A blast from our past, Jim Tedeschi, our old next door neighbor in Havasu. We moved to Elko NV in '71 so this was after out time there. It sure brings back some great memories though. A Christmas video from Lake Havasu City in 1984.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=2363156603109&mid=5616
12-23-11 Jim Regan forwarded this little ditty to me about living in San Diego.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=bQfpD3Mocs0 )
Dec 28th is Richard Edwards 81st Birthday
12-21-11 I talked to Richard for a few minutes today, he is still hanging in there, on oxygen 24/7, but he has been for years. He said his lungs are just shot from all his smoking. He said he can walk about 10 feet, but he has an electric scooter. He was using the scooter when I visited him when we were planning the Midway Reunion. If you want to give him a call his cell # is: 714-514-9595 and his address is: Gold Coast Retirement Ctr. Rm 243B, 13881 Dawson St, Garden Grove CA 92843.
I didn't have a good camera with me when I visited Richard, you can see he was flying the US flag on his scooter.
I will never forget the story about him coming through the roof of a drugstore and the cops were there. He hollered "Don't shoot, it's me, Richard", nice to be on a first name basis with the cops. I always thought it was in Monrovia, but I asked him about it and he said it was in Arcadia. He served time in prison way back and said he was working in the kitchen and actually served Charles Manson, he said he was a spooky little guy. Richard went straight and became a carpenter for many years.
Richard at Clifton with his dog "Jet"
They say the good die young, I guess that tells you something about Richard and me.
Let's go to the beach and then for a little sea cruise, shall we?
http://www.youtube.com/watch_
popup?v=T4FIS1FnOQg
12-1-11 We met Noel '41 and wife Nancy at the Hotel Del Coronado for lunch to day, beautiful day, we ate outside in the Shearwater restaurant. I forgot my camera, but here is a pix of them taken here 4-29-05
Below, Joe Coombs '44 President of Trico, our engineering company,. Noel '41 (Noel, Milt Cox '50 and myself '49, were minor partners in Trico, Tom Griffin '51 & Phil Eggstaff '51 were major partners) The pix was taken in Mazatlan in '74. I had flown Joe, & Barbara down in the Piper 250 Comanche, the rest took the train from Nogales Son. We were supposed to take it but Joe was late getting to the Reno airport where we picked him up and the train didn't wait. Noel, Nancy and Woody, Joe's wife all took the train. Then coming back the Mexican government said Joe had to leave the way he came in, so he had to fly back with us.
The Piper 250 Comanche that we went to Mexico in, I flew it over a 1,000 hours, fun plane, 1960 model. Pix in Elko, NV before I got a hanger (after having it sabotaged with dirt in both gas tanks).
I see in the "Wildcat that Noel's brother, Paul '44 died this year, he was married to Marion Edwards (Richard Edwards '50 sister, she died about a year ago), she was his first wife. Paul had "Mercury Fence" in Azusa, I think his son has run it for years.
11-28-11 Our oldest great-granddaughter will turn 14 on Dec 5th. This is Gary's oldest daughters daughter. Gary must be getting old, son Gary that is. I will only be 80. Gary's son turns 30 on 12-1-11.
11-21-11 More sad news, Kathi Henry '53 editor passed away 11-17-11, see the '53 page for details. I enjoyed working with Kathi all these years. There is one of her paintings at the bottom portion of this page. She sent it to my wife, Barbara, as a mothers day card and had me put it on her page. Barbara still treasures it. Here is a pix her daughter, Kristi sent with the information I put on the '53 page. Note is was taken the day before she died.
Making works of art right up to the last, doing what she really enjoyed and was great at.
11-20-11 Sad news, Betty Peterson, Pete's widow, emailed me tonight that Pete's sister, Shirley Jan '48, passed away this morning. I just saw her at Gene and Lorraine Alleys in San Clemente Sept 17th. Barbara wasn't able to make the trip. Here is a pix I took of some of those there, her son Hal and wife Julie Roach were there too.
9-17-11 We were invited up to the Alley's in San Clemente today, Barbara wasn't up to it as she was getting over the effects of a bout of diarrhea. Pete's widow, Betty had flown in from Austin Thurs. Pete's sister, Shirley Jan '48 was there with her daughter, Jana'73 and a friend Kay Dalbec '70. Quite a bunch from MAD at various times, Pete '50, me '49. I didn't get a pix of Shirley's son Hal Roach and wife Julie, Hal was MAD not sure about Julie. They had come over from Lake Havasu City to see his mom Shirley. Shirley had been at the Midway Reunion.
11-21-11 Hank Morris '47 sent me this pix of Shirley and noted:
Gary:
Sorry to hear about Shirley. We were both at Wildrose and I remember her at Clifton and MAD. Talked to her aboard Midway. Picture attached.
Thanks Hank '47.
11-14-11
I got a link to this, I don't think there are many young enough to watch it all, but there are sure some memories here. Thanks to Gene Bunch. http://www.oldiestelevision.com/
11-20-11 I just finished "An Irish Country Girl", this is my 4th book I have read in this series, they are fantastic. Tonight I started the 5th, "An Irish Country Courtship". Start with the "Irish Country Doctor"
An Irish Country Girl
An Irish Country Courtship
11-10-11 Jim has another great review, I had just finished reading it this morning. "An Irish Country Christmas"
He has been featuring "An Irish Country" series and this one is the third. They are fantastic. I have 2 more to read. That ought to give you a hint as to how great they are. I have been buying them from Amazon.com or ABE.com for great prices. The author is actually a doctor.
The one to the left is "An Irish Country Village"
11-6-11 A little life saving for us old folks, and anyone else that needs it. This is really pretty simple.
http://medicine.arizona.edu/spotlight/learn-sarver-heart-centers-continuous-chest-compression-cpr
11-1-11 That is unique. Here is a youtube video called "People are Awesome". The ones in this video sure are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Vo0Cazxj_yc&vq=medium
10-30-11 Last night while reading one of Jim's great reviewed picks, "An Irish Country Village", I first read "An Irish Country Doctor", next is "An Irish Country Christmas". These are fantastic books, you can't believe all that is going on in the little Irish town. I have to stop and go read a bit to Barbara now and then, it is so funny.
The girl named Deana, that turned out to be a boy when she/he went to the vet for the first time. He came from next door when the lady died. His chip was never registered and I have it in my name now. Cassy, our black cat sleeps with Barbara and is strictly her cat, she doesn't want anything to do with me anymore.
He is an indoor/outdoor cat, and last night he wanted in, and after eating joined me reading "An Irish Country Village"
10-26-11 The Zimmers again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqfFrCUrEbY
In the next one, I am sure Pat '49 is in there somewhere, or maybe she had to be edited out.
Here is another great Zimmer video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=GLaPBHg0fcI
A little fun in jolly old England again.
10-9-11 This one of the best stories out of WW2, be sure to watch it and pass it on. Two flyers find out they had both been in the same 2nd grade class when they were 8 years old, they found this out just recently.
WOW what a story...
Two WWII Pilots, a story of coincidence and mateship...
Red circle around Herb & John in their 3rd grade pix.
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=agwnwqCdwl8
9-19-11 A BLAST FROM THE PAST, we were there. The following is from the Havasu Pioneers Facebook page
Jim Tedeschi Does this site, he lived down the street from us on Sunflower as I remember.
www.youtube.comSelected scenes from the episode titled "Go Read the River" (1962) from the classic TV series "Route 66" starring Martin Milner and George Maharis, Season 2,...
8-29-11 Gary:
The CLASSMATES website has a listing of yearbooks available as reprints; you can preview them on the website, http://www.classmates.com/yearbooks/96438/96438?s=email& e_prod=&e_date=&e_ver=&e_slot= &e_content=BLPROMO091510_P_ R3A1&e_target=CM4578&e_sub=& fromEmail=true&hitwiseSegment= paid
At present, the following are available:
1942, 1944, 1945, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1956 & 1958
Might be nice to post info on our website. BTW, Jan (MAD 49) had her yearbook swiped at a reunion many years ago. If CLASSMATES comes up with a 49, we'll probably buy it.
Hank
Imperial Beach aerial view from a Century 21 post card. We back up to the dark open space, right center. Not a very big town. The south end of San Diego Bay is at left center. The pix doesn't show all the way south to the condo on the beach where we lived from '88 to '95 when we moved to 5th St. That is when I retired.
2-3-11 Did you lose your cat?
Is there a reward?
Be sure to watch the 4 year old on the drums below. I probably have watched it 20 times, any time I need a smile.
7-31-10 What are your 4 year old kids up to? Click below to see this one in action. Every time I need a smile I watch this little guy. I think I need to get some greats a drum set.
http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/drummer.html
Kathi Henry '53 did this card and sent it to Barbara as a Mothers Day card and for me to scan for her page. What a talent.
If needed download the free Power Point viewer from this site
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?
FamilyId=428D5727
-43AB-4F24-90B7-A94784AF71A4&displaylang=enI found this doesn't seem to always work with AOL, if you have
that problem download
Firefox from here, it works great. I use it to monitor the websites.http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
Barbara thinks this is me every time she goes in my office or the garage.
This is hard work.
Our curb art address, fun things at the beach. The sloop is from a painting of our old sloop "Bluejeans". Below, the artist at work.
