Happy New Year! 2003 The Staff of Lee's Traveller want to wish each of our classmates a very Happy New Year. Below is a little something we found on the web about the song many of you have sung and will sing on New Year's Eve. It seems fitting that we share it with you our friends in light of what all has happened this year. ...Of course Auld Lang Syne is more than a New Year's song. It is one of the great expressions of the tragic ambiguity of man's relation to time, which mixes memory with desire, carrying away old friendships and bringing new, turning childhood escapades into old men's recollections, making change the very condition of consciousness, and at the same time the creator and the destroyer of human experience. Click Here for More... Auld Lang Syne Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne. Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne? And here's a hand, my trusty friend And gie's a hand o' thine We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet For auld lang syne |
Est. March 31, 2000 33,410 Previous Hits December 30, 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, Cherri Polly Massey, Paula Spencer Kephart Staff Photographers: Fred & Lynn Sanders Contributers: The Members of Lee High School Classes of 64-65-66 |
Still Crazy After All These Years |
Est. March 31, 2000 33,410 Previous Hits December 30, 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, Cherri Polly Massey, Paula Spencer Kephart Staff Photographers: Fred & Lynn Sanders Contributers: The Members of Lee High School Classes of 64-65-66 |
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Not Just A New Year But A New Life by Rainer Klauss Class of '64 I was born on October 31, 1945 in Waiblingen, Germany, a small town near Stuttgart. Under the auspices of the U. S. Army occupation forces, Waiblingen, for a time, provided temporary living quarters for some of the scientists, engineers, technicians, and their families, that had worked for the German missile program in Peenemuende, on the Baltic coast. With the Americans and British pouring in from the west, the surging Russian forces in the east, and the general collapse of Germany, research and development at Peenemuende essentially ceased early in 1945. On February 1, 1945, Wernher von Braun received an order from SS General Kammler, the overall head of V-1 and V-2 development, to transfer the missile program operations to central Germany. A mass evacuation by train, barge, truck and car convoy began on February 17. My father and his group, who were working on the design and development of an anti-aircraft missile in a lab near Peenemuende, joined the exodus. My mother and my older brother, 6, accompanied him. Newly added to my father's responsibilities at the time were my maternal grandmother, my mother's three sisters, and one of their children. Arriving at my parent's doorstep at the end of January, they were among the thousands of refugees streaming out of East Prussia, my mother's homeland. Now they would have to flee again. As the train moved south into the interior of Germany, the passengers witnessed the widespread devastation of several large cities and endured a night-time bombardment at the Magdeburg railway station. By day, they were in constant danger of attack by fighter-bombers. After several harrowing days, they halted at Leutenburg, a small town distant from any centers of transportation, industry, or population. My father immediately began trying to find accommodations for everyone, and the family ended up scattered across three locations in the city. It was in Leutenberg that my mother realized she was pregnant with me. My father was also charged with finding a workplace for his group, but, in reality, there was little possibility of carrying on their work. The various groups were too dispersed, there was limited communication between them, and they didn't have adequate facilities. Most of them realized the futility of continuing their technical labor, anyway. The war was lost. They understood, however, that it was vital to maintain the illusion of cohesion and commitment to the war effort. In those grim times fanatics abounded who would deal harshly with anyone they considered defeatist. There were forces, too, concerned with utter annihilation. On March 17, Adolf Hitler ordered that all research facilities and their documentation were to be destroyed, part of his "scorched earth" policy. More ominous still was an order from General Kammler on April 1, that 400 members of the rocket teamthe brain trust, one could saywere to report to Oberammergau, a town in the Bavarian Alps, and place themselves under SS control. Although there was immediate suspicion that they might be travelling to their doom, the team had no choice in the matter. SS troops rounded them up and escorted them to a train. My father and three others somehow got permission to travel by car. My father took leave of his family not knowing if they would ever see each other again. He had not shared with my mother what everyone was so worried about. It would be the end of June before he knew what had become of his family and the end of August before he would see them again. When my father and his group arrived in Oberammergau, they approached the assembly site, a Messerschmidt airplane factory, warily. They were able to talk surreptitiously to one of the team members and found that the SS was indeed in control, but that the team was still intact, every one still alive. They decided not to announce their arrival to the SS guards, and, curiously, it never led to trouble. They simply hung around the area in their car, ready to flee again if necessary. After the team had been sequestered for about a week, Kammler arrived, called von Braun in for a meeting, and informed him that he, Kammler, had higher duties to perform for the Reich and would no longer be his commander. He dismissed von Braun and soon left Oberammergau. It will never be known for certain what orders or plans Kammler had for the disposition of the rocket team. Was he going to kill them or use them as a pawns in bargaining with the Allies? He disappeared as the war ended, and no one really knows what happened to him. Once Kammler was gone the dire threat seemed to lift, and von Braun, in a move to further strengthen the safety of the team from attack, received permission to disperse the team members in towns around Oberammergau. Although the general situation was still dangerous and uncertain, the rest of April was spent waiting for the American forces to arrive. Von Braun and his leadership group had long since decided that's who would receive their surrender. Magnus von Braun, Wernher's brother, made contact with American forces on May 2. By May 7, all the rocket team members were in an occupation internment camp in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a town near Oberammergau. During May and June, the Germans were interrogated and interviewed, first on political matters and then, when it became clear who they were, on technical matters. Negotiations for their postwar services began during that period but were inconclusive. The Germans were hoping for three-year contracts in America, with the families brought along as part of the package. The Americans were unwilling to agree to those terms. At the end of June my father found out that his family was in Waiblingen, all the way across Germany from where he had seen them last. During the interrogations in Garmisch, the locations of the dependents had been noted, and then the U.S. Army swung into action, gathering up the women and children and taking them to safety at several gathering points. Leutenburg was in the area that soon became a Russian Occupation Zone and, after that, East Germany. My father was cleared to leave the internment camp in August and headed to Waiblingen. There were about 50 families quartered in a former schoolhouse, four families to a room. Because my mother was pregnant, she received a bed; the rest slept on the floor. My father said that he dealt on the black market in order to supplement their food ration. In spite of the hard conditions and general insecurity about the future, the main thing was that the families were together again. In July, 1945, Operation Overcast (later renamed Operation Paperclip), the official government project to procure German technical personnel to work in the US, was authorized by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Army Ordnance Department, under whose aegis the rocket team first worked, was allotted 100 slots. Once the transfer of personnel became official government policy, logistical matters were addressed and contract negotiations began anew. Basically, the contract that was offered to the Germans stipulated six-months guaranteed employment in the United States, with the possibility of a six-month extension - a far cry from the 3 years the Germans wanted. The salaries the men earned were to be paid into accounts of the dependents in Germany; back in Texas, the men would receive a $6 per diem. What swung the deal was that the Army undertook to support the dependents completely in terms of housing rations, and medical carevery important considerations in the harsh postwar conditions. The definition of dependents was extended quite liberally: my maternal grandmother, a minor-age aunt, and even my paternal grandmother, who didn't want to leave Berlin, were all under this mantle of protection and support. Not everyone was offered the contract, and not everyone took the contract. My father, after looking at the uncertainty of life in Germany, agreed to its terms in September. In the end, 120 men came to America. In September the authorities decided to headquarter Operation Overcast in Landshut, Bavaria, just north of Munich, and a former German cavalry barracks became a housing and adminstrative center. Because my birth was imminent my father made arrangements for my mother to be admitted to a small Lutheran hospital in Waiblingen when the rest of the families moved to Landshut. After getting my grandmother, aunt, and older brother settled in Landshut, my father went back to Waiblingen and stayed with my mother until October 30. He had to return to Landshut then because the big move (that eventually helped lead to "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind") was near at hand. He made arrangements with Army contacts in Waiblingen that he was to be notified of my birth as soon as possible. He left Germany on November 3. Because of communication breakdowns, forgetfulness, or matters of security, he didn't find out he had another son until January, 1946. Once mother and son were deemed fit for travel, we were escorted to Landshut to rejoin the others at Camp Overcast. We lived there until the spring of 1947 and were finally reunited (and, in my case, just plain united) with my father on May 27, 1947, in El Paso, Texas. Huntsville became our home in 1950. ___________________________________________ |
The Klauss family at Ft. Bliss, Texas in 1948. |
An Item Posted on The Classmates Dot Com Message Board by Tommy Towery Class of '64 In one of my frequent visits to the classmates.com web site, I found the following message that was posted back in April. It was posted by a member of the Lee High School Class of '67, which means that most of us went to school with this person at least part of time there. I have read it before, but overlooked it. I thought since this was the beginning of a new year, it might be interesting to see if any of you might have a comment on what the writer has to say. "Hello everyone! Well, I recently told my 15 year old son, who does not fit the typical All-American profile (ballet dancer/actor, bi-racial, non-jock), not to worry about high school because high school "sucks" (not a term I usually use with my kids, but he related). I also told him that folks who consider high school the best years of their lives, haven't had much of a life since and to just hold on, because life offers a wild exciting ride for those who buckle up and hang on. A funny thing for me to write on a high school reunion board, I guess. But, doesn't anyone else besides me remember agonizing about "fitting in"? And yet, if I had become the person I thought I had to be to "fit in", I never would have taken the risks later in life that I have taken that have led me down some very interesting and challenging paths. I am a single adoptive mother of 3 great kids boy 8, girl 11, boy 15. My boys are bi-racial and my little girl is Paraguayan. My high school plans were to be a doctor, get married, have a house with a picket fence, a dog and six kids. Well, I am a school counselor (after 15 years as a clinical social worker), have 3 kids, chain link fence, no husband, but two dogs and a cat. Don't know now where I would put a husband, and don't have much time to think of it. But.....just making the point that it was nice passing through high school in some ways, but I wouldn't wanna go back for nuthin'. " ________________________________ |
Remembering The Classmates We Lost in 2002 We honor the following classmates that passed from our company during the year of 2002. Their memories will remain in our hearts and minds. Sandy Kay Smith Ray Sept. 13, 1948 - Oct. 26, 2002 Class of '66 Terry Lee Preston Nov. 12, 1945 - Dec. 14, 2002 Class of '64 Frankie Juanell Kennedy Weeks June 20, 1946 - Dec. 29, 2002 Class of '64 ____________________________________ |
From Our Mailbox Wishing everyone a very happy, healthy, safe, and prosperous 2003. In southwest Florida, Christmastime is warm and sunny, and we drive around to look at all the lights on the trees - palm trees, that is. And if we want to see some white stuff, we can always go to the beach. I am very sad to hear about Terry Preston's passing. He will be missed! Barbara Seely Ridgeway Cooper Sunday, 12/22/02, 4:04 PM From: Bonita Springs, FL E-mail: TIABJ@aol.com Year of Graduation: 1964 ___________________________________ Subject: Thank You Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 18:36:19 -0600 From: "Jimmy Preston" <jdpreston@mchsi.com> Tommy: Thank you so very much for your special recognition of Terry. The articles were a tremendous tribute from the hearts of Terry's very special friends. I also want to thank you for traveling to Huntsville to attend Terry's funeral. Your presence and companionship helped us through a most difficult period. You will always be special to me and to Terry's family. May God continue to bless you and your family in a very special way? Jimmy Preston (jdpreston@mchsi.com ________________________________ Subject: Terry Preston's death Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 21:13:47 -0600 From: "paula kephart" <paulakay7@knology.net> Though I did not know Terry, I was most impressed with his writing and his gift of humanity that he demonstrated in that writing. My thoughts and prayers to his family. The loss of a loved one is the hardest situation anyone ever has to deal with. I know all too well. Paula Spencer Kephart Class of '66 _________________________________ Subject: Terry Preston Memories Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 08:47:18 From: "Glenn James" <glennj@mail.azhsv.com> I did not become close friends with Terry until after the 2000 reunion, but in that time he has become an inspiration for me. His joy for life and positive out look is something that I admired and I have tried to follow his example since being around him.I will miss seeing Terry when we get together, as he was always a "spark plug" for us. He will be greatly missed. S. Glenn James ______________________________ Subject: My memories of Terry Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2002 14:35:15 -0600 From: "winona brown turner" <rwturner1@msn.com> My memories of Terry The first time I met Terry was at Shoney's Drive Inn, he and Sonny Turner were out cruising as were me and some friends. Even though Sonny and I lived on the same street, McKinley Ave. he was older and we had never seen each other. It was love at first sight. That was in 1964, and we married in Aug. 1965. Sonny and Terry had been best friends since they were young children. Terry was best man at our wedding and then he met and married Linda McCoy in Dec. of that year, Sonny was best man at their wedding. For the next seventeen years we were inseparable. Linda and I became best friends and still are, I love her like a sister. Terry and Linda moved to Atlanta soon after they married and that involved a lot of traveling back and forth. Our oldest son David was born in Jan. 1967 and their oldest daughter Ginny was born in March. They had another daughter Missy in 1968, then our daughter Dena was born in 1970. We were like an extended family. Our children grew up together and are very close. In 1969, Sonny's mother died and Terry and Linda got to us from Atlanta also sooner than some of our family that lived right here in town. We had a lot of good times, too numerous too mention. We laughed a lot and cried some, as we lost people that were dear to us. That was the good old days. After seventeen years Terry divorced Linda and married and divorced two Liz's before going out to California. He sorta drifted in and out of our lives after that. Linda remarried and had a wonderful marriage to Bobby Bradford, sadly he passed away in March of this year with cancer. Ginny and Missy have had two deep losses this year. I am sure they would love to thank everyone that came to the funeral or sent flowers and all of the messages that were in the last Traveller with memories of their Dad. Winona Brown Turner Class of 1965 _______________________________ Subject: '64 yearbook Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 17:51:42 -0600 From: "Richard Simmons" <frsimmons@earthlink.net> Tommy, Is there an on-line yearbook available for '64? Regards, Richard Simmons (Editor's Note: Due to space limitations we do not have the yearbooks on-line. However, we do have the CD-ROM copies of the 1964, 1965, and 1966 Silver Sabre yearbooks for sale in the Souvenir Shop which can be accessed by clicking on it at the top of this page. We also have some audio CD' from Lee High musicians and photo CDs and VHS tapes from the reunions.) ______________________________________ |
My Christmas Toy of 2002 by Tommy Towery Class of '64 Now that the packages are all opened and the bows and paper that once covered the mysteries under the tree now fill the garbage can, I cannot help but share some parting Christmas thoughts. The photo above is of one of my Christmas presents from Sue, and I am thinking about the differences of the "toy" I got for 2002 and the ones we got back in the 1960s. Several of you have commented on the transistor radios we got and treasured back then. This year's toy is not a radio, but an MP3 jukebox, even though it is about the same size. It is a jukebox because I can selectively play any of the songs that I have transferred to it from my computer. The jukebox we dropped all the coins in at Mullins back then held about 100 songs. Right now, the one pictured in my hand, has 3,229 songs stored in it and is only using one-third of the storage space. Using my personal computer I have converted 150 CDs of music to the MP3 format and have room for 300 more using the current technology. It is full of all "our" music as well as soundtracks and even Disco music. I can use it with earphones, or connect it to an amplifier and play the songs over big stereo speakers. I can also connect it to a turntable and convert all the vinyl records if I want to. As I sit here writing this, North To Alaska playing in my head and I have cued up many others on a playlist that I can build of any of the songs and selectively listen to. The great thing is that I don't have to drop dimes in it. Ain't technology great? _____________________________________________ |
Can You Name This Week's Mystery Classmate? ____________________________________ |
This is the last issue of Lee's Traveller for 2002. With the publication of this, we have successfully completed the entire year without missing a weekly issue. With God's help, perhaps we can claim the same next year. I can honestly say we have had laughter and tears with the words and photos that have appeared on your screens each week, and I hope more laughs than tears. We have prayed for the ones that we have lost, and have offered prayers for the ones among us that still have health problems. We successfully completed an Atlanta Area Mini- Reunion, a summer Mini-Reunion 2K2, and a Thanksgiving Mini-Reunion, along with many monthly breakfast gatherings at Mullins and Gibson's. Next year it would be great to have just as many opportunities to visit with our friends and classmates. Our readership and reader participation has grown tremendously on the website, and we hope that it continues to grow in the new year. I continue to contact each classmate from our classes that register on classmates.com and invite them to join in on our fun here. We still would like to find some more of our teachers and perhaps will do that in the new year as well. We await the entries for the $500 scholarship we have established through your pledges. As a final note I have to offer praise for the classmates that volunteered to join the staff and help write the articles that are needed to keep the issues alive, and to each of you classmates that contribute your thoughts, like Rainer who contributed this week's main story. I also realize that there are still many of you who read the Traveller each week, but stay silent. That's okay, because I know that someday something will come up and you will have to speak up. Happy New Year to all of you. You be safe out there, ya' hear? T. Tommy __________________________________ |
Happy New Year! 2003 The Staff of Lee's Traveller want to wish each of our classmates a very Happy New Year. Below is a little something we found on the web about the song many of you have sung and will sing on New Year's Eve. It seems fitting that we share it with you our friends in light of what all has happened this year. ...Of course Auld Lang Syne is more than a New Year's song. It is one of the great expressions of the tragic ambiguity of man's relation to time, which mixes memory with desire, carrying away old friendships and bringing new, turning childhood escapades into old men's recollections, making change the very condition of consciousness, and at the same time the creator and the destroyer of human experience. Click Here for More... Auld Lang Syne Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne. Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne? And here's a hand, my trusty friend And gie's a hand o' thine We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet For auld lang syne |
Play the music. |
