High School Reunion - Lip Sync Patsy Cline

Whiz Broome - Book Review

"Wheeler brings that misbegotten war in Vietnam up into your face. A quagmire of bullets, blood, bravery, fear and death."

"Wheeler, and those of us, whose stories he told, understand the truth of going to war. Part of you just never comes back."

Colonel William "Whiz" Broome (ret) Warrant Officer and Rattler pilot '69 Pentagon Chaplain (ret)

"Danang, up by the DMZ, a bad place." The faded soldier went back to staring at his warm beer. It was late 1968 and the Americal Division had a mean reputation. It was going to get a lot worse. Wheeler was assigned to the 71st Assault Helicopter Company, Firebirds and Rattlers. A frontline Huey outfit, not only responsible for their own NVA infested Area of Operations, but also chosen to do the "Sneaky Pete" stuff for Special Forces in the far off jungles of Laos. The U.S. Government would deny any knowledge of their existence if they went down out there. It didn't matter. If you went down out there, you were never coming back.

Read this book before going to war..... or sending your children.

DUBIOUS HONOR, a true story by D.E. Wheeler
Vietnam War, Helicoptor combat, concise, informative, grippint, without bravado

She's Hot Publishing Atten: Josephine Wheeler
P.O. Box 753, Saint George, Utah 84771
(435) 668-84771
Sales@shes-hot.com

NOW AVAILABLE: AMAZON.COM

DEE WEWER '65 n/k/a WEWER KOEHANE

Gloria…….you can post this if you like……..and…..Thanks for your interest in and support of my art.


For my old high school buds……..A film was created from my exhibit at Aspen Art Museum and it is now on YouTube. Please enjoy and pass along!

Happy Holidays. Wewer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-kritJ4T6Y&feature=email

http://www.wewerart.com/

Visit with my daughter Allison - December 2010

I visited with my daughter in Gainesville, Florida in early December. We had an early Christmas with her 6 kids. I just wanted to share just part of my crazy family with you all.

Love, Gloria
Click on the picture and it will take you to the slideshow.

TERRY SMILJANICH '65 and Gloria Campbell Gallagher '65

I visited with Terry Smiljanich when I went to Florida to visit my daughter. He is preparing to retire and has two houses in which to retire in the Gainesville area - he just hasn't set the date yet!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM GLORIA 2010

 MERRY CHRISTMAS – 2010


Danny and I have been so blessed this year – We are in our new house and enjoying meeting our new neighbors and getting involved. We’ve traveled to Rome and New York and Florida. Our children are thriving and doing well. However, our son, Mark, will be deployed to Afganistan beginning in March. So please pray for his little family – he and his wife, ChongOk and their 10 year old son, Hanul, as well as all of our soldiers stationed around the world. I love you all and cherish each and every one of our friends and family. And hope that all of you have a

Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and Happy New Year!

In the wonder of Christmas, may you find peace
…In the beauty of Christmas, may you find hope
…In the love of Christmas, may you find joy.   Peace~


Love, Danny and Gloria Campbell Gallagher

Christmas 2010

NANCY OLSEN GIAMBALVO '65

Nancy is expecting two new grandchildren in 2011.... here is a picture of her current grand daughter, Stella Giambalvo with Nancy's son Ross:

Chuck Pechuls '64

Chuck Pechuls and his wife, Lyn

pechulscb@aol.com

PEGGY McDOWELL OLIVER'S BLOG (Class of '68)

Please take some time to read Peggy's blog - I've also added the link to her blog on my "front page". After you've read her entries - please feel free to add comments to either her blog or this entry in mine.

Gloria,

I wanted to send these links to you because I thought you’re one of the people I know that would appreciate this. My dad is 86 now, and doing pretty well, but of course, we never know how much longer. He has always kept pretty quiet about his World War II experiences, since a lot of it was pretty painful (he was shot down in France and was a POW for much of the war). Recently he has started opening up and relating some of his stories, and my sister decided to get it all down for others to read, and she has posted one of these stories (in two parts) on her blog. Here are the links to the two articles:

Part 1:
http://olivercomments.blogspot.com/2010/11/prayer-of-downed-airman.html

Part 2:
http://olivercomments.blogspot.com/2010/12/luftwaffe-major.html

Thanks,

Dave McDowell "65
President
Lodging & Gaming Systems
dmcdowell@LGSreno.com
775-688-4448

SUSAN LIVINGSTON JOHNSON '64

Susan came to town to visit her dad who turned 90 !!! Susan lives in Leadville, CO - Col. Livingston is quite spry as he still works in Walmart in the electronics department here in San Antonio.

Here's a picture of Susan and her Father

This one is of me, Janet Francis Murillo and Susan eating lunch at Macaroni Grill (yum)

What is "HOME"?

Every time I get asked “where are you from?” I have to hesitate. Sometimes, I say – Louisiana - because that’s where I was born. I only lived there two and a half years. Then my brother was born and we were transferred to Illinois. From there we moved “all over”. You know what I mean. Sometimes, I answer, “well, I was born in Louisiana, but my dad was in the Air Force, so we moved a lot. I lived in Texas more than anywhere else, so I guess, Texas”. Very confusing. My parents had a home and my kids have a place they call home.

Wikipedia defines “home” as

“A home is a place of residence or refuge.[1] When it refers to a building, it is usually a place in which an individual or a family can rest and store personal property. Most modern-day households contain sanitary facilities and a means of preparing food. Animals have their own homes as well, either living in the wild or in a domesticated environment. "Home" is also used to refer to the geographical area (whether it be a suburb, town, city or country) in which a person grew up or feels they belong, or it can refer to to the native habitat of a wild animal. As an alternative to the definition of "home" as a physical locale, home may be perceived to have no physical definition--instead, home may relate instead to a mental or emotional state of refuge or comfort. There are cultures in which members lack permanent homes, such as with nomadic people.”

I guess we were nomads.

Religion is complicated also – What religion are you? I always said “Protestant” – I went to the Protestant services at the Chapel on base, right? I really didn’t realize that Protestant contained several religions for a long time. I guess I’m “multi-religional”. I married a Catholic, divorced, married a Lutheran, got a religious annulment and converted to Catholic and then started going to Protestant services again. I miss the Chapel!!!!

I left Texas with my first husband in 1972 – I spent 31 years in Florida. I never liked it there. I felt alone and alien. I never realized how much I missed Texas – or how different Florida was as compared to Texas – the people, the culture, the fact that I wasn’t near an Air Force base and there were no military people around. I met and married my second husband, Danny, in Boca Raton, Florida. He moved there when he was 2 years old and lived in the same house for 20 years. Who does that? I thought I was stuck in South Florida forever. When the opportunity to move back to Texas presented itself I held my breath. I didn’t believe it was true. You can never go home – right? Well, I guess I didn’t think I was returning to my home because I don’t have one, right? I’m a nomad. I spent 31 years of my life in a place I didn’t really like – but I made a ton of friends, I had a career, had another son – had a life. I lived there longer than anywhere else. I even lived in a house for more than 2 ½ years!!! I even stopped moving furniture!!

One day shortly after I moved back here I was driving down I-35 on my way from New Braunfels to Air Force Village – south of San Antonio, near Lackland AFB, where my parents lived. I’m nearing the exit to Randolph AFB and I look up and I see jets flying overhead. I saw another set of jets right behind them and they flew over me as I was driving. My eyes started burning and tears started flowing – I was HOME.

I still don’t know what to say when people ask where I’m from or what religion I practice. I do know that I feel like this is my home and I do believe in God. So I must be from here.

Where are YOU from?

Gloria Campbell Gallagher '65

Zip Line in Wimberly

Janet Francis Murillo and Gloria Campbell Gallagher and friends go Zipping in Wimberly, TX....

WEBSITES FOR FALLEN SOLDIERS

Helping Veterans | Donations to Troops | Remembering Fallen Soldiers | Militar

Wreaths Across America | Our Mission: Remember, Honor & Teach | Our goal is to

JOURNEY BACK - Corky Smith (Schertz Grad)

October, 2010
Gloria,

I have really enjoyed the great work you do and the time and effort that you put into the Ro-Hawk Blog. It is a pity that someone had to take advantage of the system and destroy the ability of others to communicate due to their unnecessary comments.

I was inspired by the article entitled “A Soldier Died Today”. As you know Patty and I have been going back to Vietnam since 1989. I had the privilege to serve this country as a Ranger on the ground and as an Army Aviator. Vietnam was not very popular, but many men and women answered the call and served this country well. They were our peers who came from the Randolph Ro-Hawks and Schertz Cibolo High. “Our Cause Was A Just Cause” We carried out our school spirit, and the banner of our country to help free another country from communist aggression. It was not a question if it was right or wrong. We answered the call. Some of our brothers, sisters, fathers, aunts, and uncles, did not come home, and their sacrifice was not in vain just as the men and women who serve our country today here and abroad.

Patty and I often conduct the communion service for the veterans that travel back with us each summer. I have attached what I wrote for the 2002 Journey Back Service. If you would like to post it on your blog you can. If not that is fine also. It is a tribute to all who serve this great country and their relationship with our Father.

Corky and Patty Smith
smithc@ntsb.gov

Journey Back, 2002

It has been said that real soldiers stand together.

It is with this truth in mind that I write you this letter.

The life of a soldier is one that few understand. That life will change you.

You learn that life, as a soldier is one that brings about a unique family.

A family that does everything together.

You survived boot camp together. You go to chow together. You laugh and sing and drink... together.

In the quiet moments, you speak of home and of those you

Love...together.

On the battlefield where death and destruction are ever present; you protect one

Another; you bleed for one another; and you weep for one another... and in time you come to love one another as brothers.

As a soldier you live by a different standard. You live by different words.

Words such as "Siemper Fi" Always faithful. The Para-rescue units live by the

Words "That others May Live". Honor and Duty.

The Rangers have a code. "Complete the mission, though I be the lone survivor" and never leave a

fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy."

I wanted you to know that I have been your sacrifice.

When you were standing the night watch, I was with you.

When you were pinned down by the enemy; I was there;

When your strength was giving out, and your courage almost gone;

I was with you...when you were afraid... I was with you...

I am with you still...

You see, I know what it is like to take the night watch and stand-alone...

I know what it is like to miss home...

I know what it is like to be afraid to die... and to weep in the darkness

I know the heart that it takes to rise above the fray for a cause that is greater than

Your own life...

I know what it is like to climb a hill under impossible odds, to be

wounded, to suffer and die... I know.

"There is no greater love than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends."

I wanted you to know that there is a day that is coming soon. A day

when we will all gather together. 

We will raise the cup of Freedom and Peace together.

We will laugh and sing... tell our stories and we will heal... together... this I promise

From one soldier to another... We will stand... and we will be Free ... and we will be...

Home... Together.

Together in Arms

GLORIA CAMPBELL GALLAGHER '65

October 2, 2010
Danny and I went on a motorcycle ride up to Dripping Springs to visit Janet Francis Murillo ('64) and her husband Ray. We enjoyed a Mexican breakfast in Johnson City and then we were on our way back home to New Braunfels.  I took the close up pictures with my cell phone - I guess not the safest thing....

Hippie Go Senile Art Work by John & Paul Hines

John Hines ('64) and his brother, Paul worked on this all day yesterday. Paul is going to place it on his property which is near Universal City, TX - I wanted it for my yard but the HOA rejected it.

The art part was Paul's creation. He put together those 6 sides of some cable reels together to form that sphere, which is 11 foot tall. They each had 6 spokes. It was unique, but Peggy (Paul's wife) said that wasn't going to be in her back yard. the peace symbols was what he could come up with, with what he had to work with. We had to cut out the middle hub and cut/weld the connecting pieces to make the peace symbol. It was a good day. Not finished. More welding to do. Then prime it an paint it, all white, as we speak He is going to set it upon a 10 or 12 foot pole on his new piece of property. Might try to get Willie to have a concert out there.



NEW BASE NAMES - A COMENTARY

I just received my electronic version of The Afterburner(http://www.retirees.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100920-010.pdf), news for retired personnel. The thing that caught my eye was the article on page 7, "Bases get new names in realignment".


Let me quote one particular part:

Seven bases received new names in January: ... Lackland and Randolph Air Force bases and Fort Sam Houston, Texas, became Joint Base San Antonio, led by the Air Force

Wow, Randolph is now part to Joint Base San Antonio. Fort Sam is now part of Joint Base San Antonio.

I know I'm just an old geezer, but I don't think I am going to feel comfortable using that new nomenclature. I guess this is part of the long running Goldwater-Nichols (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldwater%E2%80%93Nichols_Act)  saga to make a more coherent, joint force. It looks like it has been in the works for a while since Fort Lewis-McChord AFB have been "have been preparing for joint basing since 2006".

Ah, well, I guess I just have to get used to change.

Ron Bergquist
zielbewusst@gmail.com

TO OUR SOLDIERS PAST AND PRESENT

JUST A COMMON SOLDIER

(A Soldier Died Today)

by A. Lawrence Vaincourt

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.

© 1987 A. Lawrence
Pass On The Patriotism!

You can make a difference

TERRY SMILJANICH '65

September 19, 2010

Hi! Check out the following blog I'm doing for the Astronomy Department at the U. of Fla. I'm in the Canary Islands right now with a group of astronomers, and writing a daily blog for them of my experiences, plus taking photos. The blog explains what we're doing. Needless to say, for an amateur astronomer, I'm having the time of my life working with the world's largest telescope!


http://ufastro.blogspot.com/

Terry '65
tsmiljan@aol.com

WEWER '65

 This is some of Wewer's Jewelry line and information on her art show in November...

September 19, 2010

Gloria….just wanted you to know that in November I am having my fist Museum Solo Exhibition………at the Aspen Art Museum. I have been in many Museum exhibitions, but always group, and I have had solo shows in galleries, etc., but this is a biggie for me………


So, any Rohawks who are anywhere near Aspen on November 4……please come!! Here is one of the pieces in the exhibition. Love, Wewer

f/k/a Dee Wewer '65
wewer@wildblue.net