Lee High School - Huntsville Alabama Alumni

A 2006 Christmas Message

by Tommy Towery

Class of '64

I graduated from Lee High School in the year of 1964, as uncertain of my future as most of my classmates with whom I graduated. Of all the possibilities of what lay ahead in my life, never did it dawn on me that I would find myself sitting on the Pacific Island of Guam during Christmas of 1972. Even less believable was the idea that during that most glorious of holiday celebrations, I would be involved in a war in which the risk of losing friends was a constant in my life. It was odd to watch men walk out of a briefing room and know that you might never see them again.

I was safe, or as safe as any human can be in the process we call life. I was sent to Guam to work on the planning staff due to being grounded from a flying crew for developing kidney stones. I had been scheduled to fly as a staff member on a B-52 bombing mission on December 22nd. On December 18, 1972, the strategic bombing campaign of North Vietnam began. When the campaign that came to be called Linebacker II kicked off, all staff flights (including mine) were canceled as we were given extended duties to plan and execute the mission packages for the bombers. During that campaign, B-52 bombers were committed for the first time with full scale bombing of North Vietnam, including Hanoi – the most heavily defended city in the world at the time. According to records, during that campaign a total of 10 B-52s went down inside the borders of North Vietnam. 61 total crewmembers. 33 survivors became POWs and were released at the end of the war. 28 of the downed 61 warriors perished. Fifteen other B52s went down outside of North Vietnam. Eight were due to combat. Seven were “operational losses,” which occurred while B52s were enroute to combat areas in Vietnam.

You might wonder why I use Lee’s Traveller as a soapbox for this story, since it appears to have no direct association with my Lee High School classmates of 1964, 1965, or 1966. I use the story as the setting for the real story that I cannot get out of my head during this season of the year. That is the story of the uncertainty of life itself.

We all have favorite Christmas songs that we enjoy during the holidays, not all of which are religious. Some are funny, some cute, and some have a special meaning. During that period at Guam, one song took on a special meaning that will haunt me to my grave.

Even those who never wore a uniform cannot help but be aware of the famous USO shows which Bob Hope performed for our overseas troops. They were a source of many television specials and were very popular events. That 1972 Christmas period, Bob Hope brought his USO show to Guam, and in the process, gave us a break from the realities of death and war. As I sat on the grassy field where the stage was sitting and shared the laughs with my fellow airmen, it seems an odd setting and years distant from the Christmas period I sat in the Lyric Theatre with my grandmother and watched Bob Hope sing and dance in White Christmas.

Bob and his crew sang White Christmas for us that day as well. Though White Christmas is a beautiful song, it was not the song that struck me as I sat in my Hawaiian shirt in the 80 degree weather. The cameras were rolling trying to recreate a clip of a song that they had done in Vietnam a few weeks earlier that really did not work out well. We were asked to sing along and repeat it so that the folks back in the states watching the TV special could share it with us.

That song was “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” a song that was written during World War II and one that I had heard and sang along with during many of my previous Christmas seasons. I had sung it and yet had never really thought about the words. In today’s internet search for the lyrics, I found a statement that says, “The song Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas was first published in 1943. The title of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is undoubtedly one of the saddest Christmas songs of the century.”

The lyrics to the song are:

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,

Let your heart be light

From now on,

our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,

Make the Yule-tide gay,

From now on,

our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,

Happy golden days of yore.

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Gather near to us once more.

Through the years

We all will be together,

If the Fates allow

Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.

And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.

Up until the day I sat in the Christmas tropical breeze on Guam, I had never really listened to the words. Since that day, I can never forget them or their meaning. The most haunting lines that stuck me were “Here we are as in olden days, happy golden days of yore. Faithful friends who are dear to us gather near to us once more. Through the years we all will be together, if the Fates allow.” It was then that I became aware that I had lost many friends in the bombing missions and that the “Fates” would no longer allow us to all be together through the years.

It was then that I truly became aware each year when faithful friends who are dear to us gather near to us once more. Because of that, I find myself much more aware and much more appreciative of the faithful friends that I am allowed to enjoy each year, even though some of them may not be able to gather near to me. Even knowing that they may be hundreds or thousands of miles away, it is comforting to know that they are still with me in spirit and that the “Fates” have allowed me to share one more Christmas in some way or another, even long distance, with them.

The words of the song so impacted me, that 25 years after I sat on the grass on Guam, I had tears streaming from my eyes as I sat in a high school auditorium and listened as my daughter Tiffany sang it with her high school choral group. The tears were a combination of joy and sadness. I realized as I listened to her group, that even though I had lost so many friends in my life, I had also gained many more. Tiffany was not even a part of my life when I spent that Christmas in Guam, since she was not born until 1977. It was somewhat reassuring that there were new souls which were now dear to me, and that God was not only calling my old friends to him, he was giving me new ones, not to take their place, but to enjoy in their own way. I am sure that the parents around me had no idea what was going on inside my head.

I am also so cognizant that I have no idea who the “Fates” will allow to gather together next year. In the past we have talked about “Angels in Waiting” the song about the fragility of life our classmate Jim McBride’s co-wrote. Unfortunately I am aware that a few who are dear to me will spend this Christmas as angels in waiting. Some who we may not even know about may also be a part of that group. In many ways we are all in that category and never know when we will spend our own last Christmas. So, we must celebrate as best we can the days we have left, with the friends we have left.

I do not write this story to be a Grinch, but instead to make you aware. It is time to remember and celebrate the friendships of the “Happy golden days of yore.” It is time to express yourself to those who are near to you while the “Fates” still give you that opportunity. We do not know what the future holds, but we do have some control on the present, and we need to be aware and take advantage of that.

So, to those of you who are near to me, I want you all to know that I am thinking of you this year and appreciate the fact that the “Fates” have allowed me to spend one more Christmas with you. I hope all of you feel the same way. For all of my classmates, I want to remind you that perhaps this Christmas it is time to send that card, or make that call that lets your own friends know how dear they are to you.

Merry Christmas to all of you. Let’s all meet back here next Christmas. I’ll buy the eggnog.

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A Familiar Voice in the Night

Dianne McClure

Class of '64

December 17, 2006

I am sitting here at the computer and just heard the sound of the train that I have been listening to for many years. The same one that I am sure Tommy heard many times also.It brings back memories of a front porch on Grove Ave and the many times it was heard from that porch.

I know time moves on but the past is with you always. Tomorrow Carolyn McCutcheon Hanks, Class of '64, would have been 60 and since she could not be here to share the Sixties birthday parties I just thought it would be nice if we could all just take a minute out of our day to remember her

It is funny that I heard the train tonight.I do not hear it often. She told me she would always be close if I would just pay attention. I like to think the train whistle that we both listened to many times as we sat on that front porch and talked is her way of saying "See here I am just as I promised."

Merry Christmas to all of you and I hope your new year is all you want it to be.

(Editor's Note: Dianne had no idea that I had written my 2006 Christmas message when she sent this heart felt memory. She is one of my dearest friends, and Carolyn was her's. She and Carolyn and Bob Walker and I spent many hours in "happy golden days of yore." Dianne is one that I want to send a special "Merry Christmas" to this year, along with Bob - my best high school buddy. It seems to fit the mood. And by the way, ever since I read this e-mail I hear Carolyn every time I hear a distant train horn.)

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Subject:Loved One's Health

Paula Spencer Kephart

Class of 1965

I would like to request the prayers of my classmates for my Mother.

She had surgery and is having some complications, not too bad, but enough to slowdown the best dynamo I have ever had the blessing to know. Also, my son, Tim, is having some major health problems. They could be life threatening, but we are praying that the cause of all his symptoms will be found and he will get back to his normal, kind self.

This is my request for Christmas. I, especially will be praying for the Mother with the liver failure. You know, this is what Christmas should be about--give the kind of gifts that come from the heart, not some department store. God has brought me and my family through some very tough times, and I am still learning from those losses and wish they never happen to anyone else.

My hope for Christmas is that all of you are healthy, happy, and so are your families. Merry Christmas to all and may God continue to bless you through this next year, too.

_______________________________________

Subject:Season's Greetings, Fami-LEE

Chip Smoak

Class of '66

Thanks to Don Wynn for a beautiful Christmas story. It is indeed a wonderful thing to see Christmas through the eyes of a child, even if you are not the child.

Karen Oliver, I for one shall keep your mother and you and all of her loved ones in my prayers. Your testimony on behalf of your mother and your attitude are an outstanding example for the rest of us. Not many people can be so upbeat in such times of trial and tribulation. Your prayers for God to show you his will, and I presume to exercise his will, regarding your mother's life are a brave thing and are revealing of your character and your mother's teaching. I have no doubt that she, and you, is a child of God and He is with you all.

For the rest of us, let's keep God and His Son in our hearts this Christmas Season as we celebrate and remember that the first Christmas gift was Christ.

Merry Christmas all

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Classmates' Mother Passes Away

Dear Classmates,

Lucy Maureen Tucker passed away on Friday, December 15th. She is survived by four children - all proud graduates of the Lee Familee - Karen Tucker Oliver (Class of 65), Robert (Bobby) Tucker (Class of 67), Melanie (Muffie) Tucker Moore (Class of 78) and Laurie Tucker Franklin (Class of 83).

Thank you all for your prayers. May you all have a holiday filled with love and happiness, Karen Tucker Oliver, Class of '65

Lucy Maureen Walker Tucker

Oct. 19, 1925 Dec. 15, 2006

(From The Huntsville Times)

Lucy Maureen Walker Tucker, 81, of Huntsville passed away Friday. Visitation will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Spry Funeral Home of Huntsville. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Dale Clem and the Rev. Earl Gordon officiating. Burial will be at Stewart Cemetery in Fayetteville, Tenn. Mrs. Tucker was born on Oct. 19, 1925 in Fayetteville, Tenn., to Horace and Susie Fanning Walker. She was a devoted wife, mother, Christian, and friend. For over 20 years, she worked outside the home as a dental receptionist for the late Dr. Don L. Pickens. Among her favorite activities were those associated with Epworth United Methodist Church, where she worshipped and served almost all of her adult life. Her greatest joys came from time spent with family and friends, whether it be one-on-one, or in large gatherings. She had an enormous zest for life, loved to laugh, and always put others before herself. Her late husband often described her as "dignity personified." She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Robert L. Tucker Jr. Left to cherish her memories are two brothers, Gordon Walker and wife Monnie, and Melvin Walker; sister, Joyce Monks and husband Russell, all of Fayetteville; four loving children, Karen Lynn Oliver and husband Richard of Conyers, Ga., Robert L. Tucker III and wife Katie of Huntsville, Melanie Lea Moore of Decatur, and Laurie Elaine Franklin and husband Bill of Tupelo, Miss. Her grandchildren include Kimberly Oliver Bell and husband Chuck, Robert L. Tucker IV and wife Sarah, Brian Ross Oliver and wife Allison, Kalli Maureen Causey, William Edward "Trey" Franklin, Jennifer Lauren Franklin, and Angela Haynes Mefford and husband Jeff. She has four greatgrandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be her five grandsons and nephew Steve Monks. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Epworth United Methodist Church in Huntsville, or your favorite charity.