Est. March 31, 2000 30,654 Previous Hits November 11, 2002 Editor:Tommy Towery http://www.leealumni.com Class of 1964 Page Hits This Issue e-mail ttowery@memphis.edu Staff Writers : Barbara Wilkerson Donnelly , Joy Rubins Morris ,Terry "Moses" Preston Cherri Polly Massey Staff Photographers: Fred & Lynn Sanders Contributers: The Members of Lee High School Classes of 64-65-66 |
_________________________________________________________ From Our Mailbox Subject: Sandy Smith Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 22:22:09 EST From: CEB1947@aol.com I met Sandy the first day she came to Lee. We had at least one class together. She was a real head turner. All the guys said. "Who's that?" She was a little nervous being in a new school and being around all these new kids. I sat in the desk right behind her and I started up a conversation with her. I couldn't believe a beautiful girl like her would give me the time of day but she was more than pretty. She was a nice genuine person. I've thought of her often and am saddened at the news of her passing. Eddie Burton Class of '66 _________________________________________________ Subject: Sandy Smith Ray and suggestion for an ailing classmate Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 10:15:44 -0500 From: "Smoak, Julius B." <Julius.Smoak@sba.gov> I was fortunate enough to have a class with Sandy. She has always been one of my best memories of Lee. She was always down to earth and always had time to speak to others. She was not a person that let her status as a cheerleader or as a very attractive young lady go to her head. Her passing causes sadness for all who knew her. However, let each of us remember her family in prayer. They need God's strength and comfort after this most untimely loss of one they loved deeply and who loved them deeply. On a brighter note I hope to suggest a possible help for Dianne Ralston Lashbrook in dealing with her arthritis. Dianne, talk to your doctor about the possibility of using Arava and getting Remicade infusions. Although Carol Carroll had a reaction to the Remicade, that is a very rare occurrence. My wife had such severe pain and weakness from arthritis at this time last year that she was saying, "I don't want to live like this," daily. She could hardly walk or lift anything. She is not the same person today. She occasionally has some pain but not like last year. She is active again. She is a member of a quilting group that meets every week to make quilts for the children that lost parents on 9/11. She could not quilt at all last year. This vast improvement is attributed to the Arava and the Remicade. I encourage you to talk to your doctor and give it a try. In the mean time, I shall pray for you and hope that you can report major relief from your arthritis in the future. I know that relief from your pain will not only improve your quality of life but will also improve your whole family's quality of life. They may not suffer your pain, but they suffer a pain of their own from knowing what you have to endure. Tommy, we all tell you what a great job you and the staff are doing. That hardly scratches the surface of what we owe all of you for the good that all your hard work does. You not only provide us a venue for re- establishing contact with each other, but this venue enables each of us to support, inspire and uplift our friends and classmates. Thanks are inadequate but I really appreciate all that each of you have done for all of us. Chip Smoak ________________________________________________ Subject: Article Date: Sun, 03 Nov 2002 16:49:47 -0600 From: Ginger <gcmoore@charter.net> That was a great article you did on Sandy, a nice poem. She really was a great girl. I still have my orginial skates and I wish I could meet everyone there Thanksgiving w/e. I still love skating and even go in Auburn when I have a chance. So everyone have fun. Ginger Cagle Moore Class of '66 __________________________________________ Subject: Poem Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2002 23:17:13 -0600 From: "Cheryl Massey" <cherylmassey@attbi.com> Tommy, Your poem is absolutely beautiful and I'm sure that Sandy is smiling down on you for dedicating it to her. I hope that you will make sure that Larry gets a copy of it. I think it will mean so much to him and the family. Cherri Polly Massey Class of '66 _________________________________________________ Subject: store Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2002 21:23:37 -0600 From: "Pat Stolz" <pstolz@knology.net> Tommy, please thank everyone who wrote in with the name of the grocery store I asked about. Thanks especially to Paula Kephart who e-mailed me personally to let me know. I was so saddeded to hear of Sandy Rays passing. Like alot of people, I didn;t "know" her, but she was always smiling and was a sweet person. This world will surley be a dimmer place without her bright smile. Thanks again for all you do to keep us in touch with our past. Pat Torzillo Stolz Class of '66 __________________________________________________________ Subject: Your poem Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 10:41:56 -0500 From: "Smoak, Julius B." <Julius.Smoak@sba.gov> I submit that rather than one less memory of your past that what you have is only this memory of your past. Chip Smoak (Editor's Note: I wrote to Chip to explain the meaning. Here is the explination of the poem that I gave to him: "The idea behind this is a little weird, and it took a while for it to really sink into my own brain as to what I was saying. It's funny, the phrase "one less memory of my past" was the first line that popped into my head when I started writing. It sounded good. Then I thought that the phrase makes it sound like I will not have the memory of this classmate anymore - which is wrong. But the deep thinking part of this is that I count on all of you, just like you all count on each other, to help us remember our own past. Now the memories of my past and of your's that Sandy has, and each classmate that we lose, is gone - hense, there is one less memory (Sandy's) of my past." Chip wrote back "After re-reading your e-mail, I got a better grasp of what you were saying and have to agree with you." __________________________________________________ Subject: This week's issue Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 18:38:49 -0500 From: "Barbara Donnelly" <barbdonn13@charter.net> I cannot get over the poem you wrote! What a wonderful piece! In fact, I think you should approach Jim about possibly making it into a song. It's funny -- I am in the process of writing a book (just basically have the idea and a plot outline), Terry's doing the book thing, and now you, too! Barbara Wilkerson Donnelly Class of '64 _______________________________________________ Subject: Once again ..... Date: Wed, 6 Nov 2002 16:58:35 -0600 From: annette gallagher <tipigal@earthlink.net> Once again we are drawn together to share in the grief of a passing friend. That's what makes this site so important. It makes us bond into tighter friendships with those of us who are left behind. My condolences are extended to our friend Larry Ray and his and Sandy's families. I wish there were someway we could take away some of the pain. On these occasions I like to honor the passing over of a friend or loved one by lighting some sage and watching the smoke carry my prayers to the Creator. Smoke and prayers are rising. This is a sacred ritual of certain Native Americans that I learned from a Lakota Souix friend, and I hope I don't offend anyone by sharing it with you. I hope to see many of you November 29th and 30th (if I can get someone to change shifts with me) In love and sadness, Annette McCraney Gallagher Class of '64 ________________________________________________ I could not believe the fantastic job Tommy has done with this website. I logged in out of curiosity and can't get enough of it. Hard to believe we have lost so many classmates. Would love to hear from any of you. Old memories are precious. From: Jimmy (Randy) Russell Hurst, Texas E-mail: russ283@charter.net Year of Graduation: 1965 _________________________________________________________ |
Our Veteran's Day Music Trivia Contest I bet that you are not aware of how many of the songs we listened to and grew up with had combat and military themes. Oh, I'm not talking about the patriotic songs we sang in the Lee auditorium during assemblies. I'm talking about the Top-40 songs we listened to on WAAY radio and went down to Hornbuckle's Music Store and bought the records. These are among the ones we watched being sung on American Bandstand. The end of World War I fighting took place at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as "Armistice Day". Realizing that peace was equally preserved by veterans of WW II and Korea, Congress was requested to make this day an occasion to honor those who have served America in all wars. In 1954 President Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day. In honor of the special meaning of 11, this week I give you 11 trivia questions based on the songs that we grew up with that have military connections. Here they are for you to answer. To make it through this music Boot Camp, you have some very challenging obstacles in your way. Our Traveller Trivia rule remains; you need to give a special memory about one of the songs. This week, pick your favorite memory of only one song and send it along with your answers. And please be fair; this is a closed book test. No cheating. Anyone can look up the verses on the Internet. How do you think we got them? 1. Smoke and fire upon the sea, ev'rywhere they looked was the enemy 2. They say we sail tonight, And we may have to fight I want with all my might to stay 3. We fired our guns and the British kept a'comin', There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago 4. That famous day in history the men of the 7th Cavalry went riding on, And from the rear a voice was heard, A brave young man with a trembling word rang loud and clear 5. The british guns were aimed; And the shells were comin' fast 6. Take my love with you, To any port or foreign shore 7. But then one day my Uncle Sam, He said (tap... tap...tap) "Here I am", "Uncle Sam needs you, boy", I'm-a gonna cut your hair, Ah-Take this rifle, kid 8. Trained to live off nature's land, Trained in combat, hand-to-hand 9. Eighty men tried, and eighty men died, Now they're buried together on the countryside 10. We'd like to be heroes, but all we do here is march, And they don't give the Purple Heart for a fallen arch 11. I still hear your sea waves crashing, While I watch the cannons flashing, I clean my gun __________________________________________ |
Est. March 31, 2000 30,654 Previous Hits November 11, 2002 Editor:Tommy Towery http://www.leealumni.com Class of 1964 Page Hits This Issue e-mail ttowery@memphis.edu Staff Writers : Barbara Wilkerson Donnelly , Joy Rubins Morris ,Terry "Moses" Preston Cherri Polly Massey Staff Photographers: Fred & Lynn Sanders Contributers: The Members of Lee High School Classes of 64-65-66 |
Still Crazy After All These Years |
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
Remembering Veteran's Day by Bob Ramsey Class of '64 The people in Leavenworth, Kansas, a small town northwest of Kansas City, know how to throw a parade. They celebrate not only the major holidays, but also numerous local events. And the best parade of all is the Veterans Day parade. In this town where you can go anywhere and return in less than twenty minutes, every year the Veterans Day parade lasts over an hour and the sidewalks are always crowded, whether fair or foul weather. Each year, I go to participate in this local remembrance, to show my support to those who serve and served our country, and to remember those with whom I soldiered: Hugh Brown of Talladega who befriended me my first year at West Point, KIA in Vietnam; Paul Sawtelle who was my roommate in New Cadet Barracks, KIA in Vietnam; Ron Hunt who was my best man at our wedding, WIA in Vietnam and an amputee several years later from his wounds; John Woodrum who ushered at our wedding, KIA in Vietnam; Carl and Susan Smith who were our neighbors at Ft. Campbell and life-long friends; the planeload of soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 502 Infantry, who perished in the crash at Gander; and the numerous men and women and their families with whom we were privileged to serve during twenty-four years service. When Tommy asked me to write something about Sandra's and my life in the Army, I felt it would be more appropriate on Veterans Day that all those from our class who served or whose spouse served should be acknowledged. I remember talking at our ten-year reunion with Vietnam veterans Joe Barran who served with the Marines, Wayne Deason who served with the Navy, and hearing of the fine Army record of Mike Chisam, to name but a few and talking with others C.E. Wynn, Rainer Klauss, and J.R. Brooks who served other places or in the National Guard or the Reserve. I hope this story of our family two classmates will be followed by stories from other military veterans from the Class of 64. Despite recommendations and effort, I failed to get an appointment to West Point upon high school graduation. Disappointed, I went off to study engineering at Tennessee Tech. That winter, after almost enlisting in the Army, I was persuaded to try for West Point again. So, I sent off my 1st quarter grades and a brief note asking to be reconsidered. This time I received an alternate appointment and underwent testing. In late May, I was accepted and on 1 July I became a New Cadet. That fall, out-of-the-blue, I received a letter from Sandra Schiff, then a nursing student at the University of Alabama Nursing School, congratulating me on becoming a cadet. Letters were exchanged, interspersed with dates and visits, which culminated in a marriage engagement. Since cadets cannot be married and Sandra graduated from nursing school in 1967, we maintained a long-distance relationship for a couple of years. Upon graduation, I was commissioned an infantry officer with orders for Vietnam. Ten days later, 14 June 1969, Sandra and I were married at St. Marks Lutheran Church in Huntsville. After the obligatory schooling at Ft. Benning, GA officer basic, airborne, ranger, we went to a six-month assignment with the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC. Then Sandra returned to Huntsville to work when I went to Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, serving as a rifle platoon leader and company commander. I spent most of my tour in Binh Dinh provence north of Quinh Nhon in Phy My disrict. Binh Dinh was the northern most coastal province in II Corps. My unit returned to Ft. Campbell, KY in August 1971 and eventually became a part of the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). While there, I commanded units for almost 2 ½ years; Sandra saw little of me because of field training. We did, however, see each other enough for our son, Ronald Paul, to be born there. Following the infantry officer advanced course at Ft. Benning, I left Sandra and Ron in Huntsville, when the Army sent me to Korea to serve with the 2nd Infantry Division. This unaccompanied tour was followed by two years of graduate study in history at Rice University. While in Houston, our daughter Rebecca Carol was born. After graduate school, I taught in the Department of History at West Point for three years. Then Sandra and the kids moved to Chattanooga, TN, to be close to my folks, while I went to Korea again, serving this time as an operations and plans officer on the staff of the Combined Field Army (ROK/US). Upon returning to the US, I attended the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth. During this year, Sandra returned to part-time nursing and developed a dislike for Leavenworth. We were pleased to receive orders back to Ft. Campbell and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). I served as a battalion and then brigade operations officer for three years. Shortly after arrival, my battalion departed for six months to the Sinai as part of the Multinational Force and Observers that was put in place by the Camp David Accords. That is where I got the Christmas card from Sandra asking if I realized that I had not been home for Christmas two out of the last three years a personal reminder of the sacrifices that all military families undergo. Mixed emotions met the orders to return to Ft. Leavenworth. I became a member of the Combat Studies Institute, the history department of the staff college. However, after two years there, Sandra and the kids actually liked Ft. Leavenworth. Of course, that meant time to move again. This time we went to Ft. Jackson, SC, where I commanded a basic training battalion. After that two-year tour ended, we returned to Ft. Leavenworth and the Combat Studies Institute for our last four years service. On 31 August 1993, I retired from the Army. After over twenty-four years service, fifteen moves, 3 ½ unaccompanied tours, innumerous separations with Sandra home alone with our children, we became civilians. With the kids in high school and then college, Sandra began working full-time at a local hospital and I worked for a defense contractor. Ron graduated from Tennessee Tech. He teaches biology and runs the summer program at St. Andrews Academy in Sewanee, TN. Last August, he climbed Mt. Rainer. Rebecca, who swore she would never marry anyone in the Army, graduated from Kansas State with a degree in accounting. After running a marathon at Disney World, she, out-of-the-blue, received a letter from an old high school flame who was a West Point cadet. Jeremy and Rebecca are now married (so much for never) and living at Ft. Knox, KY. Reflecting back nine years after retiring from the US Army, I am convinced that our family has been truly blessed not every day, but more days than not. First, we live in an amazing country not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but compared to any other, it sure seems to beat the alternatives hands down. Second, we were privileged to serve with men and women and their families who daily submitted to the demands and dangers of military service, both in peace and in war, to ensure our fellow Americans could enjoy the joys of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Third, we were able to create a family, not without the proverbial ups and downs, that could withstand the trials and tribulations and take advantage of the many opportunities of military service. To end on a personal note, Sandra and I welcome hearing from friends from the past. What is written above is a brief sketch maybe too brief and maybe too serious; if so, I apologize. However, if you contact us, we can share with you numerous tales that will make you laugh and some that will make you cry. We can be reached by mail at 2212 South 19th Street Terrace, Leavenworth, KS 66048; by phone at 913-651-9435; or by email at rramsey@lvnworth.com. We look forward to hearing from you and to reading about veterans and their families in future Veterans Day stories. _____________________________________________________ |
A Veteran's Widow Remembers by Cherri Polly Massey Class of '66 As I wrote a few weeks ago, my husband, Ray, and I just got back from a trip to Tennessee by way of Huntsville. When we visited Lee High School, we were allowed to go to Hall 1 where there is a display of trophies and other memorabilia from the early classes that attended there. I believe it is called the "Wall of Fame", You may already be aware of it, but I'm attaching a photo taken of the picture and plaque for my first husband, Dennis Faber (Class of 1965) who was killed in an Air Force C-130 plane crash. It is among plaques for Lee alumni who were killed on active duty. Dennis was the only one from the first three classes. And all of the others were killed in Vietnam. There was a photo of Dennis and a plaque which stated: Faber, Dennis Class of 1965 Capt. USAF Died 8 September 1978, Flight Training, Arkansas, Age 30 Does anyone know who provided the information to whoever put up this display ? I don't know where they got the 5x7 photo of Dennis. I suspect it may have been Dennis's mother, but she is deceased so I can't ask her. Dennis's nieces who live in Huntsville are the ones who told me about the display at their grandmother's funeral a couple of years ago. One of them attended Lee for awhile. There is also a display of engraved plaques for Lee students who served in Vietnam. I wrote down the ones from the classes of 64, 65, and 66. Some were decorated veterans. Following is the list of our Classmates on the Wall of Fame who served in Vietnam : Robert Gorum, Class of 65, USN James Pierce, Class of 64, USAF Billy Taylor Wright, Class of 66, Army Steve Bennet, Class of 65, Army, Bronze Star John Scales, Class of 66, Army National Guard, Bronze Star Everett Broulette, Class of 65, Army, Bronze Star and Viet Cross William Glough, Jr., Class of 65, USMC, Viet Cross Charles Treece, Class of 65, Alabama National Guard John Fulda, Class of 65, Alabama National Guard Jack Meeks, Class of 65, Alabama National Guard I hope that we can get the display updated with the ones of you who were left out. All of you need to be recognized. I also wanted to tell you that I am ordering a memorial brick for the new walk in memory of Dennis. As for me, after Dennis died, friends were reluctant to let me know who else was killed after him. ( Editor's Note: There were seven other aircrew members killed in the crash with Dennis, part of the five C-130 aircaft crashes in 1978 that killed a total of 27 Air Force personnel.) The entire squadron was devastated and families worried terribly when their men had to go on a mission. The 4-year-old son of dear friends of ours cried one morning when his daddy had to leave. He said, "Is your plane going to crash, Daddy?" It was affecting even the youngest who adults thought didn't understand what was going on. The squadron commander retired because he couldn't bear to ring another doorbell and tell a wife that her husband was dead. What a burden he had! __________________________________ |
This Veteran's Day, besides honoring Dennis, we also feature an update on Bob Ramsey, Class of '64, who graduated from West Point and went on to have a career of dedicated service to our country as well. We salute both the dead and the living on this day dedicated to our nation's veterans. Bob and I did more together in the Boy Scouts than as classmates at Lee. He broke my collar bone while we were playing football with our troop up on Monte Sano one afternoon. Bob was the first person I knew that made Eagle Scout, and was the poster boy for the Scout's theme of Duty, Honor, and Country. I am proud to call him friend. When I read Bob Ramsey's tribute to his fallen comrades, I thought back about my own fellow airmen who should be remembered on this Rememberance Day (what the English call Veteran's Day). There were eight officers in my Electronic Warfare Officer Training class. All eight of us were assigned to B-52 aircraft after our training. While they are not my Lee classmates, they were classmates of another kind. Four of those eight (50%) were involved in major aircraft incidents. 1. Capt. Lee Knutsen was killed in a B-52 crash in California. 2. Capt. Denny Anderson's B-52 was hit by a SAM over Hanoi but was to get to Laos before he bailed out. 3. Capt. Hank Barrows became a POW, after his B-52 was shot down over Hanoi. Hank died this year of a heart attack. 4. Capt. Steve Roseman was killed in a B-52 training accident in Guam. Also one instructor of that class, Maj. Nutter Wimbrow, was killed when his B-52 was shot down over Hanoi. Another war story of mine is that during the same Christmas 1972 Hanoi B-52 bombings, I was grounded for kidney stones and was replaced on an aircrew by Lt. Col. Bill Conlee from the bomb wing staff. Because I was working on the bomb wing staff in his place, he had to go back onto a crew, which could have easily been mine had it not been for the kidney stones. Their B-52 was the only plane from our base that was shot down over Hanoi. He and the rest of his crew became POWs. That crew was the only six-man B-52 crew shot down over Hanoi to return intact after the war. I am sure that both Bob's and my losses are only sample representations of what our other classmates could list if they sat down and did so. Like Bob, I also take off every Veteran's Day and go down and march in a parade. _______________________________________ |
This Veteran's Day issue of Lee's Traveller is dedicated to Capt. Dennis Faber, Lee High School Class of '65. Dennis is the only member of the classes of '64-'65-'66 we know of that was killed while on active duty in the military serving his country. The poem above is a favorite of Air Force members and was read at Dennis' funeral. John Gillespie Magee, Jr. , the author, trained as a pilot in Ottawa with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He died in a mid-air collision in England while on active service on 11th December 1941. __________________________________________________ |
Above is a family photo from our daughters wedding. From left to right: Bob, Rebecca, Sandra, Ron. |
Thought Provoking Reading... Submitted by: Pat Torzillo Stolz Class of '66 Perhaps you missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American. So I just thought I would write to let them know what an American is, sothey would know when they found one. An American is English, French, Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Australian, Iranian, Asian, Arab, Pakistani, or Afghan. An American may also be a Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans. An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses. An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God. An American is from the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each man and woman to the pursuit of happiness. An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need. When Afghanistan was overrun by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country. As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan. The best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best athletes. Americans welcome the best, but they also welcome the least. The national symbol of America welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America. Some of them were working in the Twin Towers in the morning of September 11, earning a better life for their families. [It has been reported that the people in the Towers were from at least 30, and maybe many more, other countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.] So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history of the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American. So look around you. You may find more Americans in your land than you thought were there. One day they will rise up and overthrow the old, ignorant, tired tyrants that trouble too many lands. Then those lands, too, will join the community of free and prosperous nations. And America will welcome them! ______________________________________ |
Attention Vietnam Veterans Let's Stand Up And Be Counted by Tommy Towery I agree with what Cherri said above, that it is way past time that we get Lee High School to update the Vietnam Veteran's Board in the Wall of Fame. I will start the list here with some names that I know of, and I need anyone who is not listed above or listed by me to send me your information. When we compile the list, we will contact the powers at be at Lee and get these names added, even if we have to pay for it ourselves. Mike Griffith, Class of 66, Army Mike Kuettner, Class of 65, USMC Roger Pentecost, Class of 66, USMC Bob Ramsey, Class of 64, Army Tommy Towery, Class of 64, USAF Bob Walker, Class of 64, Army So classmates, if you received the Vietnam Service Medal, we want you to add your name to the list. I think it is only fair that we show the future generations of Lee students that we were there. ______________________________________ |
