Bob Peck, Gloria, John Hines, Steve Burgoon, Karen Poor Peck and Carol Hines Hoffman at John Hines' 60th birthday party
Saturday, December 31, 2005
JOHN HINES' 60TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
Bob Peck, Gloria, John Hines, Steve Burgoon, Karen Poor Peck and Carol Hines Hoffman at John Hines' 60th birthday party
Friday, December 30, 2005
SANDY MINOR SMITH - Class of '63
I work for Mauldin & Jenkins, CPAs as an office manager. We have 4 offices now; Macon, Albany, GA, Marietta, GA and Birmingham, AL and employ about 150 people total. I started here in 1979 so I guess I've become somewhat of a fixture!
Col. and Mrs. Jack Turnipseed
Col and Mrs. Turnipseed - Carol Turnipseed Haberle's (Class of '64) parents - living at the Air Force Village, San Antonio, TX
FRAN and BILL CAMPBELL
Fran (84) and Bill (87) - celebrating 62nd Anniversary
Gloria's parents - living at the Air Force Village, San Antonio, TX
GLORIA CAMPBELL GALLAGHER - Class of '65
Gloria with husband, Danny and dogs, B'mer and Abby
MERRY CHRISTMAS 2005
MOTORCYCLE RIDE - Texas Hill Country
Ed Kilford, Whizzy Broome, Gloria Campbell Gallagher, Bill Campbell and Judi Adair - Luckenbach, TX - 2005
WHIZZY BROOME - Class of '65
Whizzy Broome and his motorcycle with Gloria's friend, Judi in tow. Hill Country ride.
MOTORCYCLE RIDE - Texas Hill Country
Judi Adair, Ed Kilford (Class of '65), Gloria '65, Bill Campbell (Gloria's dad) and Whizzy Broome (Class of '65). Riding in the Hill Country -- on the side of the rode in Sisterdale, TX
JANET FRANCIS MURILLO - Class of '64
Janet Francis Murillo (left) with daughter in laws and granddaughter
JANET WATKINS JENDRON - Class of '65
Janet Watkins Jendron, her mom and her daughter, Kathleen and her granddaughter
BILL FITZPATRICK - Class of '64
Gloria and Ruby Fitzpatrick after lunch at Clear Springs Restaurant, New Braunfels, TX - July 2005
BILL FITZPATRICK - Class of '64
Gloria and Bill after lunch at Clear Springs Restaurant, New Braunfels, TX - July 2005
RESPONSE TO "BRATS" EMAIL
12/20/2005
Gloria,
If you or others you keep in touch with are not familiar with this film, this offer might be of interest. Though I have not seen the film as yet, the people I know who have seen it think it does a wonderful job of capturing the unique lifestyle of Brats. You might want to direct others to the website (http://www.bratsourjourneyhome.com/) so they can learn of this project and the resulting film.
Best wishes to you and your family,
Jim Pepitone (Randolph AFB HS '65)
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Sent: 12/20/2005 9:13:04 PM
Subject: Fwd: FW: Brats: Our Journey Home
The attached might be of some interest to some of you BRATS. Thanks to Jim Pepitone for forwarding it to me. Take care
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Wow! people are coming out of the woodwork tonight with information...Jerry Ball--Jim Pepitone. The BRATS site was interesting. Mostly ARMY brats in the site, but probably applicable to us, also. The movie ought to be interesting. If you see it, please mention it to all of us other 'brats', if you remember.
thanks, tom madsen
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From: Pam Viles [mailto:pamviles@alltel.net] Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 12:45 AMSubject: Re: FW: Brats: Our Journey Home
Hi, and Merry Christmas to everyone.
After reading the blurb, I find it interesting that the slant of this movie sounds to be somewhat negative re: the Brat experience. I didn't find life as a military brat to be negative at all, and never felt as if I didn't fit in when returning to civilian life. I always considered us to be special in some odd way. When my brother, Bill, died in 1996, the Monroe, LA television station covered the funeral. (It was a slow news day.) The reporter interviewed one of our second cousins, who described us as "strange birds who had been places the cousins never even dreamed about." Funny, because they always thought we must be really, really rich, to be able to travel like that. God knows that none of us military brats were rich.
I remember a comment that our typing teacher once made. I cannot remember her name right now, but she was asked how we differed from the other kids she taught over the years. She opined that we were adaptable, which leads to success in life. I agree with her.
I plan to order the movie, just to see what the slant actually is, and because I have the hots for Kris Kristofferson.
I enjoyed the Brat experience. Are there any of you who hated it?
Love to all, Pam Pratt Viles
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At 07:45 AM 12/22/2005, Robin West wrote:Hi Pam, Gloria and everyone. I have to agree that growing up in the military was not always easy or fun … as a kid the whole cleaning quarters, packing, moving, unpacking, new school cycle was a drag. But the places we have seen, the friends we have made and the friends we have kept over a lifetime, are irreplaceable experiences! Who-else and where-else could we, 40+/- years later, still stay in touch and share such profound thoughts! Maybe the impact of this film is that we remember that we have overcome the bad, expanded our horizons because of the good, and “indifferent” will probably never describe any one of us. My love to all and Best Wishes for a Safe and Wonderful Holiday. Robin (Howell) West, ’63, Corpus Christi, Texas.
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Hey everyone and happy holidays, too. I love the dialogue! Will have to see this movie. I agree with Pam and Robin. I thought we were lucky to see as many different things as we did growing up. I knew it at the time. I think I learned the gift of flexibility and also, the gift of security in myself and my family. I went to three high schools in four years and I knew not to put my security in a circle of friends, but more in my family, the stable element amidst all the moving. That has stood me in good stead through the years. Janet Watkins Jendronin Columbia SC**************************************************************
Merry Christmas Rohawks!! Just wanted to say that as for me, I loved the military and miss it to this day. I loved seeing all the different places we were stationed and always figured that if I didn't, we'd be moving in two or three years anyway! It was such a great education and certainly broadened one's view of the world. I wouldn't trade it for anything. My dad once asked me and my sisters if we thought it was a difficult way to live because he sometimes felt guilty about uprooting us all the time..I didn't know he felt that way and assured him that we loved every minute of it - well, except for maybe the packing! Love to all of you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Sandy Minor Smith Macon, Georgia
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Christmas Blessings to All,
What a great set of emails, celebrating our lives as part of the greatest military in the world! In my life, which has definitely been a ride, God blessed me with a father who chose the Air Force as a way of life and thus set my life on a course which brought me to where I am today. As a minister, I know this shocks many of you, traveling and dealing with so many issues the average citizen never even thinks about has made me much more aware of how to deal with people. I am still in the Army, Installation Chaplain at Fort Sill, OK, and gladly serve those who serve America. It was my life as a Brat that prepared me for life, real life, and I will be ever thankful for that. May God bless each of you this Christmas season and give you abundant Grace in the New Year, Whiz Broome, 65'.
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From: Janet Jendron [mailto:jjendron@usit.net] Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 7:53 AM, Texas. I think we all should do our own reunion reality show. Janet Watkins JendronColumbia SC'65
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At 11:49 AM 12/22/2005, Dave McDowell wrote:Wow! Who knew an email about a film would get so many emails flying around from so many Rohawks?? I don't remember seeing this many emails in so short a time from this group in a long time (if ever). It's great to hear from so many of you - names I haven't seen or heard in quite a while. I was very sorry to hear we weren't going to be getting together for a 40th this year. I hope it eventually happens. That is one of the drawbacks to the military lifestyle - I think we all end up more spread out geographically than the traditional "hometown" culture, and therefore rarely see each other again. But there are so many advantages, I think those have definitely outweighed the challenges. Thanks again, Gloria, for all you've done to keep the lines of communication alive all these years. And Merry Christmas to all of you (I don't care if it's not politically correct)! Dave McDowellRHS '65
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Figured I'd chime in on this too, basically to wish you all Merry Christmas. Agree with what most are saying, being a Brat was a great experience especially going to RHS with you all, one of the most enjoyable times of my life. Can still remember you all very well.
The Military can be strenuous, but the benefits far out weighted the down side. Have to admit that my time in the Army during the Vietnam war was not my favorite, but being around the Military always made me fill comfortable. One of the reasons I guess I liked working for AAFES, PX/BX, all those years and PCSed all over the world just like the Military have to do. Sort of a way to help take care of them. My last assignment running the AAFES operations in Kuwait was really worth it, taking care of the best customers in the world in a place and at at time it was needed. Agree, being associated with the Military makes us special and adaptable.....They sure are the best folks in the world, deserving our support and respect no matter what we think about the politics of it all these days.
Dewey Brown ‘65
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Dear Gloria and All other Proud Air Force Brats,
I am just responding to all the positive thoughts from all about being a military brat. I am very proud of it and always will be. I always thought we were kinda special and we were. We were more prepared to face the world due to our upbringing--adaptable is a great word to describe us. I loved my military brat life. The best time of my life was at Randolph. We were our own kind of family. We always stuck together. We knew we were different and we were proud of it too. Someone said we didn't have a lot of money but we didn't know it. We all had what we needed, were well cared for and loved. The civilian world can't top that.
I, too, would love to see us have another reunion but it takes a lot of hard work from Gloria--Karen Poor Peck--as well as a lot of others hard working individuals in
San Antonio. I live in Colorado and absolutely love it. If anyone--and there are a bunch that live up here- want to help me organize a Colorado Randolph reunion--just let me know.
Love and Merry Christmas to All,
Janet Francis Murillo-Class of 1964
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This has just been wonderful - it's almost like being together again, and at Christmas, too! I second anyone's motion that growing up a BRAT was one of the greatest experiences in life. I remember never feeling like we were going to be the "new kids on the block" when a move came - we were always sure there'd be a bunch of other "new kids" moving in over the summer, too. And if it was a summer of NOT moving, we'd be waiting with excitement to hear about who had moved in! I keep the most wonderful memories of "growing up" in my heart - of people, places, laughter and tears, first love - all of it. What a blessing life is, and I hope each of you, dear "old" friends, has a wonderful Christmas, filled with the gifts only God can give us - the things of eternal worth. Thank you for being a part of my life. xxxs Dickie Buchert O'Banion
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Merry Christmas, and safe holidays to all.........military brats ROCK!
Dennis (Welch) Taylor "70"
Dallas, Texas dent1100@comcast.net
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Merry Christmas from a '62-'64 Ro-Hawk!
We seem to be almost unanimous in our appreciation for the advantages of being a brat. Adapting to changing circumstances and making new friends became second nature to us. This became invaluable to me when I had to leave Randolph after my junior year and start as a senior in a Florida school where I knew absolutely no one, and where everyone else had grown up together in the same neighborhood (how boring!). Turns out my senior year was great and I have lifelong friends from that school as well.
I have a small painting of the RAFB Taj Mahal in my office (picked up in a gift shop across from the Alamo on a recent trip) as a constant reminder of the great days I spent there, especially with my closest friends Mike Wagner and Randy Scott. Mike and I remained close friends for the next thirty years, and his passing in 1992 is a constant stone in my heart.
On this holiday season let us keep in our hearts all of the good times and friends we had back at Randolph. If there's a heaven, I'm sure it will have a Flight Line Snack Bar with wonderfully greasy hamburgers, and an Outer Octagon to stroll around late at night!
Terry Smiljanich ‘65
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I’m not sure you ever imagined the response … Pam to your email forwarding Pepi’s news and Gloria through your website … would have in bringing us all together again, but I for one am so grateful!!! It has been so wonderful to read everyone’s wonderful comments (I keep sitting here crying every time I open my mail box now!) I hope you are capturing some of this … it’s our military story through Randolph over and over again … wherever we’ve been and wherever we are now, it’s “home” to so many of us. We may need to document this somehow for RHS.
My love to you both – Robin Howell West
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From: Gutsking@aol.com [mailto:Gutsking@aol.com] Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 10:57 AMTo: rwest@stx.rr.comSubject: Re: Emails
No, I had no clue the response I'd get. I was just passing along info. I'm glad I did - I too am sitting here crying and berating myself for thinking that "no one cares" .... I vow to start believing that "I am worthy". Thanks Robin. Much love for the holidays
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I know! We lost our mom this time last year to cancer, super quick and terrible, but being the gentle person she was and as she had done throughout our military life, she held us together through it all. So, I’ve done the usual and spent the last year wondering what it was all about, if she would have chosen different, were there any regrets. Reading these has been the door that opened for me … no regrets, wonderful memories, strong ties and friendships that I had forgotten were there. As ready as my father was to leave the military far behind him after Vietnam, with her and his choosing she is buried at Fort Sam Houston on a hill with Randolph off in the distance. I’m not sure that was the motivation, but it surely has meant a lot to us kids.
By the way, my oldest son Karl lives in Boynton Beach … he says he knows a Kelly but she’s a she. He’s 30, works as an accountant for the hospital in Del Ray, and is marrying a wonderful local girl in March. They will be leaving Florida in May for a few months with friends in Costa Rica (he’s an avid surfer!) and then will also be moving back to Texas. I guess our kids are following our footsteps, thank heavens!
Talk with you as we go …
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is this a hoot, or what!?! pam mentioned our beloved theater..remember the time i had to bring my darlin little brother (paul david, 10 years younger) with a group of us girls and he snuck up behind all the girls and tweaked their boobs?! he's so lucky to be alive! we spent 2 years in france..lived on the economy where there was only one other english speaking playmate..that's when, out of desperation for someone to play games with, my big brother (john boy) became my best friend (and he still is) ..we quickly learned the language and made lots of friends in our neighborhood.. another advantage of brats..learning new languages (we picked up german and japanese too)..then, before rhs was built and we were riding the bus to macarthur high, i picked french as an elective course and became teacher's pet because of my superior ability to grasp her model teachings..don't believe i ever mentioned i had lived there and was pretty fluent already..more than one way to bring home those straight A report cards! another advantage of the brats..sneaking out of the house at night was a lot safer knowing the ever-mindful apes were on patrol..side-note to janet..then there was the time mom came downstairs when you and some others were waiting outside for me..no problem, she asked me why i was up and dressed at 3:00 am..pretended to be sleepwalking..opening the pantry door..just making my lunch to take to school!..and the time we had a stupid attack and drove downtown about 2 am to visit d.j. ricky ware, who paused to play the famous commercial, but used one of our names (busted!) ..' and teri mahr, what do you have on when you go to bed at night..all i have on is KTSA!'
i'll end this with more kudos to gloria and a challenge to everyone reading that have not jumped into this pool yet to immediately hit the 'reply to all' button and send us all a message! you rock ro-hawks!! carol ann hines hoffman, now in kansas city
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From: Tlgreece@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 10:23 PM
Subject: Re: Brats
Isn't it amazing that after 42+ years (for the first class) that we still manage to get excited enought to contact one another. I think that the common link of being military brats sets us apart from all other high school classmates. Check with a few of your non military friends and see if they still have contact with their classmates.
Flexibility, adaptability, and a willingness to take on new challenges with an open and optimistic mind are the greatest gifts that I got as a military brat. Moving around the world (to Turkey with a 6 week old son) when I was 22 seemed to me a very natural course of events. My non military friends and family were appalled that I thought is was an adventure of a lifetime. ( I was right). I loved being a brat, and was lucky enough to have parents that made each new tour of duty something to be looked forward too. Hooray for all of us that realized the benefits and priviledges that we had. God bless our troops and those who continue to serve our country willingly wherever they are sent; to do whatever is required of them. A merry Christmas to all of you. May it be filled with those you love and all things bright and beautiful. Toni Buchert Greece ('63).
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----- Original Message -----
From: Pam Viles
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 1:53 AM
Subject: Re: Brats
Everything you say is true, Toni, but I don't think we would be having this conversation if it were not for Gloria Gallagher's hard work over the last forty years. We all owe her a huge round of applause and many thanks. She is the one who really kept us in contact.
After marrying and settling in the Houston area, and living in one house for 21 years and another for the last ten, I still joke that when a light bulb burns out, I am ready to pack. I wonder how many of us have become packrats, keeping things long past their need? I haven't, and am still in military mode: if I haven't used it in a year, I don't need it, and it gets tossed. I only wish I could convince my civilian husband. ;)
Does anyone remember the Cuban Missile Crisis? I was a sophomore at RHS at the time, and I recall being banned from using the telephone, because our fathers were on red alert. I also remember, under more normal circumstances, having to answer the phone with, "Colonel Pratt's quarters, Pamela speaking". How odd that sounds today!
Sandy Minor's comment about her dad asking if he had done his daughters harm by making them part of a military family resonated with me. My dad never asked, but my answer would have been the same as hers.
Remember when we could see a movie at the base theater for 35 cents, and the same movie the next night, and the next after that? And when everyone had to be home by the time the Taj Mahal played "Taps"?
Patti Tyler died recently, and I am pretty sure that I lost my first car because I hit hers in the RHS parking lot. I can remember my father standing there, in uniform, his chin working, so I knew I was going to get it when we got home. Military men were actually responsible for the acts of their children back then.
I am rambling, so I shall desist. I, too, have enjoyed our walk down memory lane, but I wanted to make sure that Gloria's contribution was not forgotten.
Pam Pratt Viles '65
Sugar Land, TX
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Gloria, I haven't told you often enough, so let me tell you now, that I am so grateful you have singlehandedly held us all together these many years. You are a treasure - and I really do thank you from the bottom of my heart for being you and doing what you've done. xxxs Dickie
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Ah Gloria, you can construct an instant reunion by simply sending an email. What a wonderful and special Christmas present you gave to each and every one of us. At this time of year when we celebrate with family and good friends, you have brought every good friend we had in high school right back into our lives one more time. Thank you is inadequate for the gift given. You have always been the one who kept us together and without your unceasing devotion to every single one of us, we would not be emailing as we are this weekend. You have warmed my heart, and given me a gift that I will treasure this year above any other. May our Heavenly Father bestow His unending blessings upon you and all you love, for you deserve no less. Merry Christmas. Toni
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Gloria,
What a delight it is to see that your mention of this film has triggered a display of the "something special" this film discusses. [Is there a word for that?] Hopefully you see the tremendous value of your efforts and feel the appreciation of everyone who writes in each and every message.
Best wishes for the holidays,
Jim Pepitone
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Dear Gloria and all my other Rohawk Classmates:
Just had to take this opportunity to say hello and merry Christmas to all of you on Christmas Eve! However briefly I may have known you during our first assignment (two years) at RAFB in 1961-63, I remember all of you who were there at that time. As others have said, even at that young age, I knew that there was something really special about that time and place and the people that I came into contact with. Some of my closest friends to this day are people I went to 8th and 9th grade with at Randolph. Unbelievable. I want to thank each of you for the part you played in the wonderful memories that I have from that time - some of my best.
My husband and I are retired and living in Savannah, GA. If you are ever in this area, pls let us know. We are the only "Joe Villari" in the phone book! My mother and father (who was a Chaplain) are doing fairly well and live only two miles from us. They are 83 and 85 now!
Best wishes to all of you this Christmas season. Here's to a wonderful and healthy new year for us all!
Would love to hear from you when you have a minute!
Best wishes and fond regards,
Judy Minor Villari
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Ahoy and Merry Christmas to all you RoHawks,
Well, what a pleasure it has been to read over these messages and thoughts from you all. All the memories that pop up just seeing your names after lo these many years. I'm one of those that totally dropped out after leaving RHS, have not been back to the base except for one drive through a few years back when I drove by the school then back out the front gate. About a year ago I found Gloria online and she has been kind enough to keep me posted. Many years ago I somehow lost my yearbooks and confess to having lost many memories of those wonderful years along with them.
Hated to learn of Coach Mickler's fate and would appreciate an update on Terry English. Would enjoy hearing from any of you who remember me and would like to touch base. My home is in Dallas, but I spend most of the year in the Caribbean where I am captain aboard a 44 foot catamaran.....if you'd like to come sailing let me know!! Currently based in St. Thomas, USVI.
Happy holidays to you all,
Bob White
Class of '66
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Your disagreement is received and honored! The only circle of friends through three high schools that I kept (despite many efforts on my part) was this group..Which tells you a lot. And is largely because of Gloria.And I wanted to concur with what your mom said about "Brats" --- my mom was also offended by the term. We had heard that Air Force kids were called "Fledglings" but... that term never seemed to catch on. My mom is 83 by the way, lives in Austin and is still teaching music! I wish I had her mind. Janet Watkins JendronColumbia SC
*****************************************************************************************At 10:55 PM 12/23/2005, Ronald Bergquist wrote:It is interesting how one item really kicked off a lot of thoughtfulreflection about how we all saw our upbringing. I haven't seen the movie,but on reading the title, I recalled my mother telling us never to callourselves "brats." She felt that spoke ill of us, her attitude being thatwe were interesting, interested, and energetic kids because of the liveswe were living. I also recall Coach Mickler (I think it was in 1962, ifyou can believe it) telling some of us in Earl Abel's one night after afootball game that he could have fed normal kids chicken fried steak, butwe all had been around and he couldn't get away with that with us. Nottrue - I didn't know what chicken fried steak was until a dorm mate fromShiner introduced me to it when I was in college. But his point was wellmade - as a group, we had lived in different places and had a differenttake on things than did kids who never had the same opportunity.I have to slightly disagree with Janet about not putting faith in a circleof friends. It seemed to me that by moving around, one had an everincreasing circle of friends, friends who tend to pop up in the mostinteresting places. I ran into a junior high school classmate fromDelaware in a mess hall in Saigon in 1970, into an acquaintance fromcollege in Turkey in 1991, into an RHS classmate in the postofffice atRamstein Air Base, Germany in the 1980s. Right after my arrival inGermany in 1983, I heard a voice on Armed Forces Radio that soundedfamiliar to me and later read in the paper that it was Susan Tomasovic,who we had gone to school with up through our junior years. I still knowthat I will always encounter people I met either as kid living indifferent places, or as an adult who chose to follow the same career pathas my dad.At some time in the past, my sister sent us a small, painted wooden plaquethat says "Home is where the Air Force sends you." And that is the truth- home is where you are and home is what you make it. I always felt athome everywhere I was sent during my Air Force career because I alwaysfelt at home with the people who were also sent there by the Air Force.It's a big family.But, in agreement with What Jerry Ball said, a life of moving aroundbecomes a real force and even after retirement from the Air Force, theurge to move every few years is still there. My neighbor in the firstplace we lived after leaving the Air Force said he was suspicious that wewere actually in the witness protection program. We just showed up, setup house, were good neighbors, then just disappeared. But in thoseneighbors, we again widened our circle of friends, widened our extendedfamily. I may not know my cousins, but I know a lot of people who I wouldnever have met were it not for the life begun as a "brat" (sorry Mom) andcontinued as an adult. It's a good life and I am really glad to have beena part of it and to have had you all a part of my life. I am a rich man.Ron Bergquistbergr@ils.unc.edurbergquist@alumni.unc.eduhttp://www.unc.edu/~bergr/
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Hi Ron, Gloria, Whizzy, Janet, Bob, Pam, Jerry, Teresa, Dewey and Dave - I directed this email to the people my failing mind can remember. It was great hearing from you. Everyone has had such a great career and accomplished so many interesting things. I hope we can get together in 2010. Unfortunately in my travels, only Pam visited me in Australia one time. I visited Jerry at the Air Force Academy when I was at West Point, remember that Jerry? I missed Teresa in Las Vegas a few times. I was just there visiting my Mom who is 84 and still out dancing two or three nights per week. After my 5 years in the AF, I did 30 in the hotel business, GM of 9 hotels on 4 Continents. I have my own consulting company now with a few clients to keep me busy. Met my wife at West Point and got married in 1970 and we live in Williamsburg VA. My golf club has 3 18 hole courses and I am down to an 11 handicap in my first full year of playing. So, life is good. The one thing I can add to the conversation, is that without being a military brat I don't think I would have been successful in the diverse cultures that my jobs found me in. Anyway, I remember you all fondly and hope to see you at RHS in 2010 if not sooner in Williamsburg! Always, Art. PS I still can't believe Whizzy became a Chaplain! PPS Pam weren't you driving in my car when you hit Patti's? PPS Bob, how do I get a job captaining a catamaran!! I had 3 different boat in Australia, but they were all fishing boats.
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Comments on Terry's message - from Janet Watkins Jendron At 03:05 PM 12/28/2005, Tsmiljan@aol.com wrote:Merry Christmas from a '62-'64 Ro-Hawk!We seem to be almost unanimous in our appreciation for the advantages of being a brat. Adapting to changing circumstances and making new friends became second nature to us. This became invaluable to me when I had to leave Randolph after my junior year and start as a senior in a Florida school where I knew absolutely no one, and where everyone else had grown up together in the same neighborhood (how boring!). Turns out my senior year was great and I have lifelong friends from that school as well.
I too, left after junior year and moved to Canada where I wasn't even a senior (they have 13 grades). Bummer. But I just wrote Terry --- I sure did better in college because of that year. Only my AF upbringing could have enabled me to make the best of that year instead of moping and resenting. I have a small painting of the RAFB Taj Mahal in my office (picked up in a gift shop across from the Alamo on a recent trip) as a constant reminder of the great days I spent there, especially with my closest friends Mike Wagner and Randy Scott. Mike and I remained close friends for the next thirty years, and his passing in 1992 is a constant stone in my heart.
My husband Bob and I were married in the Randolph Chapel where I remember many good times with (mostly) Schertz kids in the AFB youth group. I have a picture of the chapel and I think I'll pull IT out for display! On this holiday season let us keep in our hearts all of the good times and friends we had back at Randolph. If there's a heaven, I'm sure it will have a Flight Line Snack Bar with wonderfully greasy hamburgers, and an Outer Octagon to stroll around late at night!
And some APs slinking around to catch us having water fights at the stables. And... that infamous "sex party" out in some field in Schertz when the police cam and MY dad was the only dad they called and I had to cover up for everyone else who was there. :( :) I'll never forget Whizzy Broome was the only person who had the guts to greet the cops, standing in the middle of the circle with a beer in his hand...?JJ
Gloria,
If you or others you keep in touch with are not familiar with this film, this offer might be of interest. Though I have not seen the film as yet, the people I know who have seen it think it does a wonderful job of capturing the unique lifestyle of Brats. You might want to direct others to the website (http://www.bratsourjourneyhome.com/) so they can learn of this project and the resulting film.
Best wishes to you and your family,
Jim Pepitone (Randolph AFB HS '65)
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Sent: 12/20/2005 9:13:04 PM
Subject: Fwd: FW: Brats: Our Journey Home
The attached might be of some interest to some of you BRATS. Thanks to Jim Pepitone for forwarding it to me. Take care
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In a message dated 12/22/2005 9:26:36 A.M. Central Standard Time,
jcrsdj@aol.com writes:
Hello, Rohawks!
This cyber-reunion has done a couple of things. First, it
sent me scrambling to find my 1965 "Talon" so I could try to put
long-ago names together with long-ago faces. Forty years ago?
Really?
The second thing is to read the e-mails and think about growing up
as a "brat." I agree with most of the comments. Growing
up in a military wasn't perfect. In fact, sometimes it stank to walk in
to the house and see the "we've got orders" look on my parents'
faces. Goodbye to friendships. Off to the unknown. That was
the bad news. Also the good news, since it meant making new friendships
and going to a place we hadn't been before. Usually the route between
assignments took us through Cincinnati, Ohio - my parents' home town - no
matter that the old and new assignments were in Louisiana and Virginia. I
think many of us brats remember traveling to see grandparents "on the
way" between bases. Also, on a number of Christmases - except when
we were overseas.
Overseas years were a special highlight of growing up as a
brat. In my case, I spent the first three years of high school at a
dependent school near Seville, Spain. We saw many of the
European tourist attractions, of course, but the best part was living in a
close-knit American military community. We didn't have all of the options
which tend to divide people today. We had a base theater. The
options were "see the movie at the base theater" or "don't see
the movie at the base theater." We had a base swimming pool. We
could choose: "Go to the base swimming pool" or "don't go
to the base swimming pool." What entertainment alternatives we
had, we had one of. The school sports united the community since we were
a significant part of the available entertainment on a Saturday (usually) when
we played against our intense rivals, the other dependent schools
in Spain. We had FM radio but no English-language TV, so we spent a
lot of time just visiting with each other - and talking. I think military
brats can pick up and run with conversations with just about anybody because
we've had a lot of experiences and a lot of practice talking.
We usually knew, of course, when our overseas assignments
would end. We knew our DEROS (something like "date expected return
from overseas service.") Knowing that date meant that
it didn't have the shock impact that a no-notice PCS did in the
States. That didn't stop it from hurting as the time to leave
approached. Then you would hear about upcoming events that would happen
after you were no longer going to be there. I had three and a half great
years in Spain. We knew we were going to leave Spain in the summer of
1964. We just didn't know where we were going until the spring of that
year. The word came down, and the word was Randolph.
And so, we flew to New York and drove through Cincinnati on our
way to San Antonio. We were happy to get base quarters, and I hoped there
might be somebody I had known before when I registered at Randolph "What
the Hell is a Rohawk" High School. Nope. Not a familiar face
in any class. But great folks. One thing great about RHS was going
to classes with a bunch of folks who had the same "new kid"
experiences - lots of times. I was grateful for acceptance shown by a
bunch of folks in those opening weeks as they included me in going to football
games and "after game" parties. They may not remember at all,
but I'll always appreciate the initial weeks' welcome from (in alphabetical
order) Barbara Callahan, Babs Clay, Ken Payne, Jim Pepitone, Jeanne
Roberts, and Diane Rogers, among others. Then there was Mike Wagner
whose incredible sense of humor set a number of us up for
trouble. Mike would say, under his breath, the most devastatingly funny
comment just when you absolutely knew that you couldn't laugh - but also knew
that you weren't going to be able to avoid it and that you were going to get
"the look" from whichever teacher was in charge of that
class. Randolph High School was just a one-year experience for me,
but I'm thankful to have gone there - with a group of brats who could
make it a great senior year and not just a year wasted while waiting to
graduate.
I spent a career in the Air Force, retiring in 1999 to a job in
the Washington DC area. In 2001, I took another job - at Randolph
AFB. I've been here for four and a half years, and am experiencing
another part of the legacy of being a brat. I'm getting anxious to move
on. Don't know where. Don't know to do what. Just know that I
don't think that I'll ever have what my more situated cousins have - a sense of
"home" that's tied to a physical location. That may be a
downside of being a brat, but for all of the places I've been blessed to visit
and live, it's a tradeoff I'm glad to make.
Please forgive the length of this reminiscence. Thanks
to all of you for the thoughts you've shared in this flurry of e-mails.
It has, indeed, been good to hear from you.
Merry Christmas and God bless,
Jerry Ball
RHS, '65
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Wow! people are coming out of the woodwork tonight with information...Jerry Ball--Jim Pepitone. The BRATS site was interesting. Mostly ARMY brats in the site, but probably applicable to us, also. The movie ought to be interesting. If you see it, please mention it to all of us other 'brats', if you remember.
thanks, tom madsen
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From: Pam Viles [mailto:pamviles@alltel.net] Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 12:45 AMSubject: Re: FW: Brats: Our Journey Home
Hi, and Merry Christmas to everyone.
After reading the blurb, I find it interesting that the slant of this movie sounds to be somewhat negative re: the Brat experience. I didn't find life as a military brat to be negative at all, and never felt as if I didn't fit in when returning to civilian life. I always considered us to be special in some odd way. When my brother, Bill, died in 1996, the Monroe, LA television station covered the funeral. (It was a slow news day.) The reporter interviewed one of our second cousins, who described us as "strange birds who had been places the cousins never even dreamed about." Funny, because they always thought we must be really, really rich, to be able to travel like that. God knows that none of us military brats were rich.
I remember a comment that our typing teacher once made. I cannot remember her name right now, but she was asked how we differed from the other kids she taught over the years. She opined that we were adaptable, which leads to success in life. I agree with her.
I plan to order the movie, just to see what the slant actually is, and because I have the hots for Kris Kristofferson.
I enjoyed the Brat experience. Are there any of you who hated it?
Love to all, Pam Pratt Viles
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At 07:45 AM 12/22/2005, Robin West wrote:Hi Pam, Gloria and everyone. I have to agree that growing up in the military was not always easy or fun … as a kid the whole cleaning quarters, packing, moving, unpacking, new school cycle was a drag. But the places we have seen, the friends we have made and the friends we have kept over a lifetime, are irreplaceable experiences! Who-else and where-else could we, 40+/- years later, still stay in touch and share such profound thoughts! Maybe the impact of this film is that we remember that we have overcome the bad, expanded our horizons because of the good, and “indifferent” will probably never describe any one of us. My love to all and Best Wishes for a Safe and Wonderful Holiday. Robin (Howell) West, ’63, Corpus Christi, Texas.
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Hey everyone and happy holidays, too. I love the dialogue! Will have to see this movie. I agree with Pam and Robin. I thought we were lucky to see as many different things as we did growing up. I knew it at the time. I think I learned the gift of flexibility and also, the gift of security in myself and my family. I went to three high schools in four years and I knew not to put my security in a circle of friends, but more in my family, the stable element amidst all the moving. That has stood me in good stead through the years. Janet Watkins Jendronin Columbia SC**************************************************************
Merry Christmas Rohawks!! Just wanted to say that as for me, I loved the military and miss it to this day. I loved seeing all the different places we were stationed and always figured that if I didn't, we'd be moving in two or three years anyway! It was such a great education and certainly broadened one's view of the world. I wouldn't trade it for anything. My dad once asked me and my sisters if we thought it was a difficult way to live because he sometimes felt guilty about uprooting us all the time..I didn't know he felt that way and assured him that we loved every minute of it - well, except for maybe the packing! Love to all of you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Sandy Minor Smith Macon, Georgia
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Christmas Blessings to All,
What a great set of emails, celebrating our lives as part of the greatest military in the world! In my life, which has definitely been a ride, God blessed me with a father who chose the Air Force as a way of life and thus set my life on a course which brought me to where I am today. As a minister, I know this shocks many of you, traveling and dealing with so many issues the average citizen never even thinks about has made me much more aware of how to deal with people. I am still in the Army, Installation Chaplain at Fort Sill, OK, and gladly serve those who serve America. It was my life as a Brat that prepared me for life, real life, and I will be ever thankful for that. May God bless each of you this Christmas season and give you abundant Grace in the New Year, Whiz Broome, 65'.
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From: Janet Jendron [mailto:jjendron@usit.net] Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 7:53 AM, Texas. I think we all should do our own reunion reality show. Janet Watkins JendronColumbia SC'65
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At 11:49 AM 12/22/2005, Dave McDowell wrote:Wow! Who knew an email about a film would get so many emails flying around from so many Rohawks?? I don't remember seeing this many emails in so short a time from this group in a long time (if ever). It's great to hear from so many of you - names I haven't seen or heard in quite a while. I was very sorry to hear we weren't going to be getting together for a 40th this year. I hope it eventually happens. That is one of the drawbacks to the military lifestyle - I think we all end up more spread out geographically than the traditional "hometown" culture, and therefore rarely see each other again. But there are so many advantages, I think those have definitely outweighed the challenges. Thanks again, Gloria, for all you've done to keep the lines of communication alive all these years. And Merry Christmas to all of you (I don't care if it's not politically correct)! Dave McDowellRHS '65
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Figured I'd chime in on this too, basically to wish you all Merry Christmas. Agree with what most are saying, being a Brat was a great experience especially going to RHS with you all, one of the most enjoyable times of my life. Can still remember you all very well.
The Military can be strenuous, but the benefits far out weighted the down side. Have to admit that my time in the Army during the Vietnam war was not my favorite, but being around the Military always made me fill comfortable. One of the reasons I guess I liked working for AAFES, PX/BX, all those years and PCSed all over the world just like the Military have to do. Sort of a way to help take care of them. My last assignment running the AAFES operations in Kuwait was really worth it, taking care of the best customers in the world in a place and at at time it was needed. Agree, being associated with the Military makes us special and adaptable.....They sure are the best folks in the world, deserving our support and respect no matter what we think about the politics of it all these days.
Dewey Brown ‘65
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Dear Gloria and All other Proud Air Force Brats,
I am just responding to all the positive thoughts from all about being a military brat. I am very proud of it and always will be. I always thought we were kinda special and we were. We were more prepared to face the world due to our upbringing--adaptable is a great word to describe us. I loved my military brat life. The best time of my life was at Randolph. We were our own kind of family. We always stuck together. We knew we were different and we were proud of it too. Someone said we didn't have a lot of money but we didn't know it. We all had what we needed, were well cared for and loved. The civilian world can't top that.
I, too, would love to see us have another reunion but it takes a lot of hard work from Gloria--Karen Poor Peck--as well as a lot of others hard working individuals in
San Antonio. I live in Colorado and absolutely love it. If anyone--and there are a bunch that live up here- want to help me organize a Colorado Randolph reunion--just let me know.
Love and Merry Christmas to All,
Janet Francis Murillo-Class of 1964
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This has just been wonderful - it's almost like being together again, and at Christmas, too! I second anyone's motion that growing up a BRAT was one of the greatest experiences in life. I remember never feeling like we were going to be the "new kids on the block" when a move came - we were always sure there'd be a bunch of other "new kids" moving in over the summer, too. And if it was a summer of NOT moving, we'd be waiting with excitement to hear about who had moved in! I keep the most wonderful memories of "growing up" in my heart - of people, places, laughter and tears, first love - all of it. What a blessing life is, and I hope each of you, dear "old" friends, has a wonderful Christmas, filled with the gifts only God can give us - the things of eternal worth. Thank you for being a part of my life. xxxs Dickie Buchert O'Banion
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Merry Christmas, and safe holidays to all.........military brats ROCK!
Dennis (Welch) Taylor "70"
Dallas, Texas dent1100@comcast.net
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Merry Christmas from a '62-'64 Ro-Hawk!
We seem to be almost unanimous in our appreciation for the advantages of being a brat. Adapting to changing circumstances and making new friends became second nature to us. This became invaluable to me when I had to leave Randolph after my junior year and start as a senior in a Florida school where I knew absolutely no one, and where everyone else had grown up together in the same neighborhood (how boring!). Turns out my senior year was great and I have lifelong friends from that school as well.
I have a small painting of the RAFB Taj Mahal in my office (picked up in a gift shop across from the Alamo on a recent trip) as a constant reminder of the great days I spent there, especially with my closest friends Mike Wagner and Randy Scott. Mike and I remained close friends for the next thirty years, and his passing in 1992 is a constant stone in my heart.
On this holiday season let us keep in our hearts all of the good times and friends we had back at Randolph. If there's a heaven, I'm sure it will have a Flight Line Snack Bar with wonderfully greasy hamburgers, and an Outer Octagon to stroll around late at night!
Terry Smiljanich ‘65
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I’m not sure you ever imagined the response … Pam to your email forwarding Pepi’s news and Gloria through your website … would have in bringing us all together again, but I for one am so grateful!!! It has been so wonderful to read everyone’s wonderful comments (I keep sitting here crying every time I open my mail box now!) I hope you are capturing some of this … it’s our military story through Randolph over and over again … wherever we’ve been and wherever we are now, it’s “home” to so many of us. We may need to document this somehow for RHS.
My love to you both – Robin Howell West
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From: Gutsking@aol.com [mailto:Gutsking@aol.com] Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 10:57 AMTo: rwest@stx.rr.comSubject: Re: Emails
No, I had no clue the response I'd get. I was just passing along info. I'm glad I did - I too am sitting here crying and berating myself for thinking that "no one cares" .... I vow to start believing that "I am worthy". Thanks Robin. Much love for the holidays
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I know! We lost our mom this time last year to cancer, super quick and terrible, but being the gentle person she was and as she had done throughout our military life, she held us together through it all. So, I’ve done the usual and spent the last year wondering what it was all about, if she would have chosen different, were there any regrets. Reading these has been the door that opened for me … no regrets, wonderful memories, strong ties and friendships that I had forgotten were there. As ready as my father was to leave the military far behind him after Vietnam, with her and his choosing she is buried at Fort Sam Houston on a hill with Randolph off in the distance. I’m not sure that was the motivation, but it surely has meant a lot to us kids.
By the way, my oldest son Karl lives in Boynton Beach … he says he knows a Kelly but she’s a she. He’s 30, works as an accountant for the hospital in Del Ray, and is marrying a wonderful local girl in March. They will be leaving Florida in May for a few months with friends in Costa Rica (he’s an avid surfer!) and then will also be moving back to Texas. I guess our kids are following our footsteps, thank heavens!
Talk with you as we go …
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is this a hoot, or what!?! pam mentioned our beloved theater..remember the time i had to bring my darlin little brother (paul david, 10 years younger) with a group of us girls and he snuck up behind all the girls and tweaked their boobs?! he's so lucky to be alive! we spent 2 years in france..lived on the economy where there was only one other english speaking playmate..that's when, out of desperation for someone to play games with, my big brother (john boy) became my best friend (and he still is) ..we quickly learned the language and made lots of friends in our neighborhood.. another advantage of brats..learning new languages (we picked up german and japanese too)..then, before rhs was built and we were riding the bus to macarthur high, i picked french as an elective course and became teacher's pet because of my superior ability to grasp her model teachings..don't believe i ever mentioned i had lived there and was pretty fluent already..more than one way to bring home those straight A report cards! another advantage of the brats..sneaking out of the house at night was a lot safer knowing the ever-mindful apes were on patrol..side-note to janet..then there was the time mom came downstairs when you and some others were waiting outside for me..no problem, she asked me why i was up and dressed at 3:00 am..pretended to be sleepwalking..opening the pantry door..just making my lunch to take to school!..and the time we had a stupid attack and drove downtown about 2 am to visit d.j. ricky ware, who paused to play the famous commercial, but used one of our names (busted!) ..' and teri mahr, what do you have on when you go to bed at night..all i have on is KTSA!'
i'll end this with more kudos to gloria and a challenge to everyone reading that have not jumped into this pool yet to immediately hit the 'reply to all' button and send us all a message! you rock ro-hawks!! carol ann hines hoffman, now in kansas city
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From: Tlgreece@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 10:23 PM
Subject: Re: Brats
Isn't it amazing that after 42+ years (for the first class) that we still manage to get excited enought to contact one another. I think that the common link of being military brats sets us apart from all other high school classmates. Check with a few of your non military friends and see if they still have contact with their classmates.
Flexibility, adaptability, and a willingness to take on new challenges with an open and optimistic mind are the greatest gifts that I got as a military brat. Moving around the world (to Turkey with a 6 week old son) when I was 22 seemed to me a very natural course of events. My non military friends and family were appalled that I thought is was an adventure of a lifetime. ( I was right). I loved being a brat, and was lucky enough to have parents that made each new tour of duty something to be looked forward too. Hooray for all of us that realized the benefits and priviledges that we had. God bless our troops and those who continue to serve our country willingly wherever they are sent; to do whatever is required of them. A merry Christmas to all of you. May it be filled with those you love and all things bright and beautiful. Toni Buchert Greece ('63).
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----- Original Message -----
From: Pam Viles
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 1:53 AM
Subject: Re: Brats
Everything you say is true, Toni, but I don't think we would be having this conversation if it were not for Gloria Gallagher's hard work over the last forty years. We all owe her a huge round of applause and many thanks. She is the one who really kept us in contact.
After marrying and settling in the Houston area, and living in one house for 21 years and another for the last ten, I still joke that when a light bulb burns out, I am ready to pack. I wonder how many of us have become packrats, keeping things long past their need? I haven't, and am still in military mode: if I haven't used it in a year, I don't need it, and it gets tossed. I only wish I could convince my civilian husband. ;)
Does anyone remember the Cuban Missile Crisis? I was a sophomore at RHS at the time, and I recall being banned from using the telephone, because our fathers were on red alert. I also remember, under more normal circumstances, having to answer the phone with, "Colonel Pratt's quarters, Pamela speaking". How odd that sounds today!
Sandy Minor's comment about her dad asking if he had done his daughters harm by making them part of a military family resonated with me. My dad never asked, but my answer would have been the same as hers.
Remember when we could see a movie at the base theater for 35 cents, and the same movie the next night, and the next after that? And when everyone had to be home by the time the Taj Mahal played "Taps"?
Patti Tyler died recently, and I am pretty sure that I lost my first car because I hit hers in the RHS parking lot. I can remember my father standing there, in uniform, his chin working, so I knew I was going to get it when we got home. Military men were actually responsible for the acts of their children back then.
I am rambling, so I shall desist. I, too, have enjoyed our walk down memory lane, but I wanted to make sure that Gloria's contribution was not forgotten.
Pam Pratt Viles '65
Sugar Land, TX
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Gloria, I haven't told you often enough, so let me tell you now, that I am so grateful you have singlehandedly held us all together these many years. You are a treasure - and I really do thank you from the bottom of my heart for being you and doing what you've done. xxxs Dickie
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Ah Gloria, you can construct an instant reunion by simply sending an email. What a wonderful and special Christmas present you gave to each and every one of us. At this time of year when we celebrate with family and good friends, you have brought every good friend we had in high school right back into our lives one more time. Thank you is inadequate for the gift given. You have always been the one who kept us together and without your unceasing devotion to every single one of us, we would not be emailing as we are this weekend. You have warmed my heart, and given me a gift that I will treasure this year above any other. May our Heavenly Father bestow His unending blessings upon you and all you love, for you deserve no less. Merry Christmas. Toni
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Gloria,
What a delight it is to see that your mention of this film has triggered a display of the "something special" this film discusses. [Is there a word for that?] Hopefully you see the tremendous value of your efforts and feel the appreciation of everyone who writes in each and every message.
Best wishes for the holidays,
Jim Pepitone
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Dear Gloria and all my other Rohawk Classmates:
Just had to take this opportunity to say hello and merry Christmas to all of you on Christmas Eve! However briefly I may have known you during our first assignment (two years) at RAFB in 1961-63, I remember all of you who were there at that time. As others have said, even at that young age, I knew that there was something really special about that time and place and the people that I came into contact with. Some of my closest friends to this day are people I went to 8th and 9th grade with at Randolph. Unbelievable. I want to thank each of you for the part you played in the wonderful memories that I have from that time - some of my best.
My husband and I are retired and living in Savannah, GA. If you are ever in this area, pls let us know. We are the only "Joe Villari" in the phone book! My mother and father (who was a Chaplain) are doing fairly well and live only two miles from us. They are 83 and 85 now!
Best wishes to all of you this Christmas season. Here's to a wonderful and healthy new year for us all!
Would love to hear from you when you have a minute!
Best wishes and fond regards,
Judy Minor Villari
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Ahoy and Merry Christmas to all you RoHawks,
Well, what a pleasure it has been to read over these messages and thoughts from you all. All the memories that pop up just seeing your names after lo these many years. I'm one of those that totally dropped out after leaving RHS, have not been back to the base except for one drive through a few years back when I drove by the school then back out the front gate. About a year ago I found Gloria online and she has been kind enough to keep me posted. Many years ago I somehow lost my yearbooks and confess to having lost many memories of those wonderful years along with them.
Hated to learn of Coach Mickler's fate and would appreciate an update on Terry English. Would enjoy hearing from any of you who remember me and would like to touch base. My home is in Dallas, but I spend most of the year in the Caribbean where I am captain aboard a 44 foot catamaran.....if you'd like to come sailing let me know!! Currently based in St. Thomas, USVI.
Happy holidays to you all,
Bob White
Class of '66
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Your disagreement is received and honored! The only circle of friends through three high schools that I kept (despite many efforts on my part) was this group..Which tells you a lot. And is largely because of Gloria.And I wanted to concur with what your mom said about "Brats" --- my mom was also offended by the term. We had heard that Air Force kids were called "Fledglings" but... that term never seemed to catch on. My mom is 83 by the way, lives in Austin and is still teaching music! I wish I had her mind. Janet Watkins JendronColumbia SC
*****************************************************************************************At 10:55 PM 12/23/2005, Ronald Bergquist wrote:It is interesting how one item really kicked off a lot of thoughtfulreflection about how we all saw our upbringing. I haven't seen the movie,but on reading the title, I recalled my mother telling us never to callourselves "brats." She felt that spoke ill of us, her attitude being thatwe were interesting, interested, and energetic kids because of the liveswe were living. I also recall Coach Mickler (I think it was in 1962, ifyou can believe it) telling some of us in Earl Abel's one night after afootball game that he could have fed normal kids chicken fried steak, butwe all had been around and he couldn't get away with that with us. Nottrue - I didn't know what chicken fried steak was until a dorm mate fromShiner introduced me to it when I was in college. But his point was wellmade - as a group, we had lived in different places and had a differenttake on things than did kids who never had the same opportunity.I have to slightly disagree with Janet about not putting faith in a circleof friends. It seemed to me that by moving around, one had an everincreasing circle of friends, friends who tend to pop up in the mostinteresting places. I ran into a junior high school classmate fromDelaware in a mess hall in Saigon in 1970, into an acquaintance fromcollege in Turkey in 1991, into an RHS classmate in the postofffice atRamstein Air Base, Germany in the 1980s. Right after my arrival inGermany in 1983, I heard a voice on Armed Forces Radio that soundedfamiliar to me and later read in the paper that it was Susan Tomasovic,who we had gone to school with up through our junior years. I still knowthat I will always encounter people I met either as kid living indifferent places, or as an adult who chose to follow the same career pathas my dad.At some time in the past, my sister sent us a small, painted wooden plaquethat says "Home is where the Air Force sends you." And that is the truth- home is where you are and home is what you make it. I always felt athome everywhere I was sent during my Air Force career because I alwaysfelt at home with the people who were also sent there by the Air Force.It's a big family.But, in agreement with What Jerry Ball said, a life of moving aroundbecomes a real force and even after retirement from the Air Force, theurge to move every few years is still there. My neighbor in the firstplace we lived after leaving the Air Force said he was suspicious that wewere actually in the witness protection program. We just showed up, setup house, were good neighbors, then just disappeared. But in thoseneighbors, we again widened our circle of friends, widened our extendedfamily. I may not know my cousins, but I know a lot of people who I wouldnever have met were it not for the life begun as a "brat" (sorry Mom) andcontinued as an adult. It's a good life and I am really glad to have beena part of it and to have had you all a part of my life. I am a rich man.Ron Bergquistbergr@ils.unc.edurbergquist@alumni.unc.eduhttp://www.unc.edu/~bergr/
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Hi Ron, Gloria, Whizzy, Janet, Bob, Pam, Jerry, Teresa, Dewey and Dave - I directed this email to the people my failing mind can remember. It was great hearing from you. Everyone has had such a great career and accomplished so many interesting things. I hope we can get together in 2010. Unfortunately in my travels, only Pam visited me in Australia one time. I visited Jerry at the Air Force Academy when I was at West Point, remember that Jerry? I missed Teresa in Las Vegas a few times. I was just there visiting my Mom who is 84 and still out dancing two or three nights per week. After my 5 years in the AF, I did 30 in the hotel business, GM of 9 hotels on 4 Continents. I have my own consulting company now with a few clients to keep me busy. Met my wife at West Point and got married in 1970 and we live in Williamsburg VA. My golf club has 3 18 hole courses and I am down to an 11 handicap in my first full year of playing. So, life is good. The one thing I can add to the conversation, is that without being a military brat I don't think I would have been successful in the diverse cultures that my jobs found me in. Anyway, I remember you all fondly and hope to see you at RHS in 2010 if not sooner in Williamsburg! Always, Art. PS I still can't believe Whizzy became a Chaplain! PPS Pam weren't you driving in my car when you hit Patti's? PPS Bob, how do I get a job captaining a catamaran!! I had 3 different boat in Australia, but they were all fishing boats.
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Comments on Terry's message - from Janet Watkins Jendron At 03:05 PM 12/28/2005, Tsmiljan@aol.com wrote:Merry Christmas from a '62-'64 Ro-Hawk!We seem to be almost unanimous in our appreciation for the advantages of being a brat. Adapting to changing circumstances and making new friends became second nature to us. This became invaluable to me when I had to leave Randolph after my junior year and start as a senior in a Florida school where I knew absolutely no one, and where everyone else had grown up together in the same neighborhood (how boring!). Turns out my senior year was great and I have lifelong friends from that school as well.
I too, left after junior year and moved to Canada where I wasn't even a senior (they have 13 grades). Bummer. But I just wrote Terry --- I sure did better in college because of that year. Only my AF upbringing could have enabled me to make the best of that year instead of moping and resenting. I have a small painting of the RAFB Taj Mahal in my office (picked up in a gift shop across from the Alamo on a recent trip) as a constant reminder of the great days I spent there, especially with my closest friends Mike Wagner and Randy Scott. Mike and I remained close friends for the next thirty years, and his passing in 1992 is a constant stone in my heart.
My husband Bob and I were married in the Randolph Chapel where I remember many good times with (mostly) Schertz kids in the AFB youth group. I have a picture of the chapel and I think I'll pull IT out for display! On this holiday season let us keep in our hearts all of the good times and friends we had back at Randolph. If there's a heaven, I'm sure it will have a Flight Line Snack Bar with wonderfully greasy hamburgers, and an Outer Octagon to stroll around late at night!
And some APs slinking around to catch us having water fights at the stables. And... that infamous "sex party" out in some field in Schertz when the police cam and MY dad was the only dad they called and I had to cover up for everyone else who was there. :( :) I'll never forget Whizzy Broome was the only person who had the guts to greet the cops, standing in the middle of the circle with a beer in his hand...?JJ
Thursday, December 29, 2005
WELCOME RO-HAWKS
Due to the recent response we received when I sent information to you regarding the Military Brats and the film about to be released, I thought we should start a BLOG and see how it goes. Please respond to my email address to give me permission to post any photos I have from prior Reunions and/or photos you have recently sent to me. If we all had email/computers it would be simple to keep in touch. By word of mouth I think we can get back in touch with our friends. So if you know anyone without access to a computer, please let them know about this. Take care and have a HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2006, do you believe? Gloria Campbell Gallagher, Class of '65
Year Book Picture - Gloria Campbell '65
Hi, this is me from 1965 --- remember when someone got the great idea to change the way we draped our drapes around our shoulders. I think we are the only graduates who ever did that. My hair was so short - I cut my own hair!!! surprise... I was very insecure during high school but I don't think this pictures shows that. Maybe it was all in my mind. I remember having friends but I desperately 
wanted to be in the "in crowd". I've later found out that there was no in crowd.... it was the figment of my imagination. Everyone there was insecure and unsure of themselves and trying to find their place in the school. We all moved around so much that we were all "new" to every school. Some of us had lived on the base for a long time - since elementary school so knew the ropes so to speak. I lived off base during my 7th, 8th and 9th grade and attended Schertz High School. I remember going to the Youth Center on base. One night we waited for the End of the World - it never came. I also lived in New Braunfels during my 5th and 6th grades and attended Lamar Elementary School. For some reason, my dad kept getting transferred to Randolph and I think all told he was stationed at Randolph 4 times. Twice before I was born. My sophomore year was spent in Springfield, Virginia. I hated it there - it was so foreign. The girls wore stockings to school!!!! I learned to dress in Bass Wegens and madras. I learned the Greek Alphabet because there were high school sororities. Who knew??? I didn't do very well there - the school was huge and I never could make it to my locker and to a class in time so I ended up dragging all my books to classes --- I was only about 98 lbs so that was an accomplishment!!! As soon as my dad bought a house in Bren Mawr Park we found out that we were being transferred back to Randolph -- Dad was in the Personnel Center. I was soooo happy but we were going to live on base and that would incur meeting new people. But since I had left my best friend Ann Dorman and her family had moved on base so at least I had a contact. I was so afraid to speak up but I did make friends. Eventually, I was friends with Nancy Olsen and Teresa DeArza too. Their parents also square danced with my parents. Ann Dorman and I have been friends since we were 12 and she will always be one of my dear friends. I also got back in contact with my Schertz buddies. I was "home"..... My grades were better and I was dating which brought new adventures. My dad bought me a car - a VW bug and brought it home the last day of my junior year. That was a very exciting day for me. One thing that brought me down tho was the day my dad got "rifted" and had to re-enlist as his highest enlisted rank which was a Master Sgt. He quickly was promoted to Chief. We had to move to the "other side of the base" in enlisted quarters. I couldn't go to the Officer's Pool anymore or to the Officer's Club. But I quickly got an officers patch to pin on my swim suit and surreptitiously went to the Officer's Pool. During the summer of my junior year we sat at the pool every day getting suntanned with our baby oil and playing hearts or spades. Some of the college kids played bridge. We were so cool. ha ha. I was so envious of the girls with boobs. Mine were fake. Oh, wait a minute --- you didn't know that??? Oh well. My secret is out. I hated my glasses, my snaggle front tooth - my skinniness. During my senior year I started dating Chuck Pechuls - a '64 graduate who had caught my eye. He was going to St. Mary's University and eventually went to SWTSTC in San Marcos. We had out ups and downs - break-ups and get back togethers. I was the Sweetheart of his ROTC Battery at St. Mary's and we went to a Military Ball where his father and mother (General and Mrs. John Allison Pechuls) were guests of honor. My mom made me this beautiful white satin gown with matching long coat and I wore long white gloves. I felt like a princess. My mom made all my clothes and she really made the most beautiful dresses for Prom and Homecoming. We would have a great time finding a pattern like I designed and then the right material at Scrivenor's. I don't think I really appreciated what she did back then and I know she stayed up the night before the dance a lot of times. I didn't make Queen of the Ball but I was a princess that night in my mind. My Senior Prom was wonderful as well. Of course, Mom made my dress. I felt special bringing my date, Chuck, to the Prom. He was very popular so I thought I would be popular too. That summer after graduation brought real conflict. Chuck and I broke up and I dated several guys who were wonderful to me who I could have loved but I didn't give myself a chance because I was determined to win Chuck back. I eventually did and we were engaged on September 15th 1966. (Interestingly enough I married my second husband on September 15th, 1978). We were married December 28th, 1966 at Chapel One on RAFB. It was a beautiful wedding. The chapel was totally full on both sides. It WAS Christmas break after all. I think the photographer was more nervous than I was. For some reason I was very calm. During the mass I noted that one of the alter boys was wearing tennis shoes and the other one dress shoes. That started me laughing and then I looked up at my brother who was a groomsman and he started smiling at me .... so I was laughing and crying at the same time. Chuck and I were finally married after that hour long mass. The reception was a blur - I remember that we ran out of punch. The party room wasn't big enough .... but I don't think anyone minded. Chuck and I settled into our little house on Irvington in San Antonio and he started working ... we were one of those suburban newly weds. I had no clue what to do. I didn't work and I couldn't have a baby yet so I busied myself with my neighbors playing Bunko, writing letters to my many friends all over the states. We had parties and went to parties. We played cards with friends. I cooked (yes, I did cook - I do know how to cook - I just don't like to cook)... We had a dog - a German Shepard named Hercules. He was bigger than I was. I was not well so I was always tired and slept a lot. I eventually had my thyroid removed and I got better. On March 18, 1969 we had our first child - a daughter, Allison Elaine Pechuls. She is named for her Grandpa Pechuls and my friends Nancy Elaine Olsen and Marsha Elaine McGregor. She was everything I ever wanted. I spent the days after her birth taking pictures of her in all her little outfits. Shopping and visiting with friends and family. Four months after Allison was born I got pregnant again. This pregnancy was really different. I started showing right away but I thought that was normal because I had just had a baby even tho I had lost my baby weight and got back down to 105 lbs. Because I was and still am organized .... I knew that my weight and measurements were kinda over the limit from my first pregnancy. I started feeling movement in weird places. I told my doctor and he just told me that I was having a big baby. Well, eventually, an X-ray was taken at 28 weeks. TWINS --- OH MY GOD!!! We just wanted one baby!!! So my life then revolved around Allison and trying to stay off my feet (not possible with an 11 month old) and making lists of names (fraternal girls, fraternal boys, boy/girl, identical boys, identical girls) and going to the library to research twins and trying to figure out why I was having them. My friends decided to throw me a shower - but on that day - a Sunday - I went into premature labor. I was only 31 weeks along. We drove to the Methodist Hospital and I immediately was put in a room and hooked up to all kinds of medicine. I don't remember anybody telling me what it was but I'm sure they did. I spent 24 hours in that room with the doctors trying to stop my labor. But it didn't work and I ended up delivering two little boys - identical twins - April 6, 1970 (eight weeks early). Kyle Andrew first weighing 4'1oz and Mark Alan weighing 4'7oz. God they were big and little all at the same time. They were both 17 inches long. Since they were early they were in the premature nursery and hooked up to monitors and given medicines and we were told to pray for their survival. Mark and Kyle beat all odds and they came home a month later. Allison did a second take look in the crib at two babies!!! I think she only wanted one too!!! I spent the next 3 years totally taking care of my kids. They consumed me. I joined the Mothers of Twins Club here in San Antonio and the women there were life savers AND it was the one night I got to go somewhere without any baby with me. I didn't watch the news, I didn't read the paper. I had no clue what was happening in the world. Viet Nam was a distant thought. We eventually moved to Florida, Chuck became a State Trooper. We got out of Viet Nam. Chuck and I struggled - we moved from Tallahassee to Ft. Lauderdale, to Miami and back to Ft. Lauderdale. He left me December, 1976 - 10 years after our marriage. I was devastated.... that's a whole other story. I eventually got a job, moved up to Boca Raton, I left my kids with Chuck and saw them on the weekends. I met Danny Gallagher one July morning and I think it was one of those meetings you see in the movies - our eyes met, yada yada yada. I was not going to marry again or even get serious with any man again. We saw each other again a month later and we were married September 15th, 1978. He was 23 and I was 31. OH MY GOD!!! He was a child!!! We eventually had a son on July 21, 1982 - Kelly James Lloyd Gallagher. Danny and I have been married 31 years. Has it been perfect? Have I had a perfect life? Well, not exactly - but I'm alive now and grateful.
wanted to be in the "in crowd". I've later found out that there was no in crowd.... it was the figment of my imagination. Everyone there was insecure and unsure of themselves and trying to find their place in the school. We all moved around so much that we were all "new" to every school. Some of us had lived on the base for a long time - since elementary school so knew the ropes so to speak. I lived off base during my 7th, 8th and 9th grade and attended Schertz High School. I remember going to the Youth Center on base. One night we waited for the End of the World - it never came. I also lived in New Braunfels during my 5th and 6th grades and attended Lamar Elementary School. For some reason, my dad kept getting transferred to Randolph and I think all told he was stationed at Randolph 4 times. Twice before I was born. My sophomore year was spent in Springfield, Virginia. I hated it there - it was so foreign. The girls wore stockings to school!!!! I learned to dress in Bass Wegens and madras. I learned the Greek Alphabet because there were high school sororities. Who knew??? I didn't do very well there - the school was huge and I never could make it to my locker and to a class in time so I ended up dragging all my books to classes --- I was only about 98 lbs so that was an accomplishment!!! As soon as my dad bought a house in Bren Mawr Park we found out that we were being transferred back to Randolph -- Dad was in the Personnel Center. I was soooo happy but we were going to live on base and that would incur meeting new people. But since I had left my best friend Ann Dorman and her family had moved on base so at least I had a contact. I was so afraid to speak up but I did make friends. Eventually, I was friends with Nancy Olsen and Teresa DeArza too. Their parents also square danced with my parents. Ann Dorman and I have been friends since we were 12 and she will always be one of my dear friends. I also got back in contact with my Schertz buddies. I was "home"..... My grades were better and I was dating which brought new adventures. My dad bought me a car - a VW bug and brought it home the last day of my junior year. That was a very exciting day for me. One thing that brought me down tho was the day my dad got "rifted" and had to re-enlist as his highest enlisted rank which was a Master Sgt. He quickly was promoted to Chief. We had to move to the "other side of the base" in enlisted quarters. I couldn't go to the Officer's Pool anymore or to the Officer's Club. But I quickly got an officers patch to pin on my swim suit and surreptitiously went to the Officer's Pool. During the summer of my junior year we sat at the pool every day getting suntanned with our baby oil and playing hearts or spades. Some of the college kids played bridge. We were so cool. ha ha. I was so envious of the girls with boobs. Mine were fake. Oh, wait a minute --- you didn't know that??? Oh well. My secret is out. I hated my glasses, my snaggle front tooth - my skinniness. During my senior year I started dating Chuck Pechuls - a '64 graduate who had caught my eye. He was going to St. Mary's University and eventually went to SWTSTC in San Marcos. We had out ups and downs - break-ups and get back togethers. I was the Sweetheart of his ROTC Battery at St. Mary's and we went to a Military Ball where his father and mother (General and Mrs. John Allison Pechuls) were guests of honor. My mom made me this beautiful white satin gown with matching long coat and I wore long white gloves. I felt like a princess. My mom made all my clothes and she really made the most beautiful dresses for Prom and Homecoming. We would have a great time finding a pattern like I designed and then the right material at Scrivenor's. I don't think I really appreciated what she did back then and I know she stayed up the night before the dance a lot of times. I didn't make Queen of the Ball but I was a princess that night in my mind. My Senior Prom was wonderful as well. Of course, Mom made my dress. I felt special bringing my date, Chuck, to the Prom. He was very popular so I thought I would be popular too. That summer after graduation brought real conflict. Chuck and I broke up and I dated several guys who were wonderful to me who I could have loved but I didn't give myself a chance because I was determined to win Chuck back. I eventually did and we were engaged on September 15th 1966. (Interestingly enough I married my second husband on September 15th, 1978). We were married December 28th, 1966 at Chapel One on RAFB. It was a beautiful wedding. The chapel was totally full on both sides. It WAS Christmas break after all. I think the photographer was more nervous than I was. For some reason I was very calm. During the mass I noted that one of the alter boys was wearing tennis shoes and the other one dress shoes. That started me laughing and then I looked up at my brother who was a groomsman and he started smiling at me .... so I was laughing and crying at the same time. Chuck and I were finally married after that hour long mass. The reception was a blur - I remember that we ran out of punch. The party room wasn't big enough .... but I don't think anyone minded. Chuck and I settled into our little house on Irvington in San Antonio and he started working ... we were one of those suburban newly weds. I had no clue what to do. I didn't work and I couldn't have a baby yet so I busied myself with my neighbors playing Bunko, writing letters to my many friends all over the states. We had parties and went to parties. We played cards with friends. I cooked (yes, I did cook - I do know how to cook - I just don't like to cook)... We had a dog - a German Shepard named Hercules. He was bigger than I was. I was not well so I was always tired and slept a lot. I eventually had my thyroid removed and I got better. On March 18, 1969 we had our first child - a daughter, Allison Elaine Pechuls. She is named for her Grandpa Pechuls and my friends Nancy Elaine Olsen and Marsha Elaine McGregor. She was everything I ever wanted. I spent the days after her birth taking pictures of her in all her little outfits. Shopping and visiting with friends and family. Four months after Allison was born I got pregnant again. This pregnancy was really different. I started showing right away but I thought that was normal because I had just had a baby even tho I had lost my baby weight and got back down to 105 lbs. Because I was and still am organized .... I knew that my weight and measurements were kinda over the limit from my first pregnancy. I started feeling movement in weird places. I told my doctor and he just told me that I was having a big baby. Well, eventually, an X-ray was taken at 28 weeks. TWINS --- OH MY GOD!!! We just wanted one baby!!! So my life then revolved around Allison and trying to stay off my feet (not possible with an 11 month old) and making lists of names (fraternal girls, fraternal boys, boy/girl, identical boys, identical girls) and going to the library to research twins and trying to figure out why I was having them. My friends decided to throw me a shower - but on that day - a Sunday - I went into premature labor. I was only 31 weeks along. We drove to the Methodist Hospital and I immediately was put in a room and hooked up to all kinds of medicine. I don't remember anybody telling me what it was but I'm sure they did. I spent 24 hours in that room with the doctors trying to stop my labor. But it didn't work and I ended up delivering two little boys - identical twins - April 6, 1970 (eight weeks early). Kyle Andrew first weighing 4'1oz and Mark Alan weighing 4'7oz. God they were big and little all at the same time. They were both 17 inches long. Since they were early they were in the premature nursery and hooked up to monitors and given medicines and we were told to pray for their survival. Mark and Kyle beat all odds and they came home a month later. Allison did a second take look in the crib at two babies!!! I think she only wanted one too!!! I spent the next 3 years totally taking care of my kids. They consumed me. I joined the Mothers of Twins Club here in San Antonio and the women there were life savers AND it was the one night I got to go somewhere without any baby with me. I didn't watch the news, I didn't read the paper. I had no clue what was happening in the world. Viet Nam was a distant thought. We eventually moved to Florida, Chuck became a State Trooper. We got out of Viet Nam. Chuck and I struggled - we moved from Tallahassee to Ft. Lauderdale, to Miami and back to Ft. Lauderdale. He left me December, 1976 - 10 years after our marriage. I was devastated.... that's a whole other story. I eventually got a job, moved up to Boca Raton, I left my kids with Chuck and saw them on the weekends. I met Danny Gallagher one July morning and I think it was one of those meetings you see in the movies - our eyes met, yada yada yada. I was not going to marry again or even get serious with any man again. We saw each other again a month later and we were married September 15th, 1978. He was 23 and I was 31. OH MY GOD!!! He was a child!!! We eventually had a son on July 21, 1982 - Kelly James Lloyd Gallagher. Danny and I have been married 31 years. Has it been perfect? Have I had a perfect life? Well, not exactly - but I'm alive now and grateful. After 30 years of working as a legal secretary, I retired... We moved to Texas to take care of my parents - my mom especially. I had 4 1/2 years not working and being able to take care of my mom.... I got to know her as a person, not as a mom. I got to thank her for everything she did for me and she got to know me. Now that she is gone I'm having the pleasure of being with my dad. I'm here for a reason and I appreciate my life. When my dad goes - my life will then focus on my kids and my grandkids. But my eyes are always focused on my husband, Danny who saved my life from self destruction. I will always appreciate and love him.
I will also be very appreciative of my friends and the forever friendship I have with them. Please know that this blog is my gift to you and I hope it is accepted as such.
Love and Peace, Gloria Campbell Pechuls Gallagher - Randolph Class of '65
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