HELLO '68! Were you solar-eclipsed?! While the D.C. area experienced only a partial eclipse on April 8th, it was over 80% and I saw a crescent sun for the first time. It is amazing how utterly insignificant we seem to be when compared to the wonders of the universe.

"Searching for Roots: Jim Thompson; daughter, Jovonna Thompson Williams; and Brinda Thompson."

GOING! GOING!! GHANA!!!: Jim Thompson went on an incredible journey to Africa during the time of our 55th reunion. His saga, in his own words: “This trip was planned several months ago to celebrate my 80th birthday on 9/9/23. Obviously, I didn't know that the date would conflict with our reunion! I had hoped that it would be a “Roots” journey; however, my family history turned out to be a bit more complicated. We learned that Africans from all over the continent were brought to west Africa to join the slave trade. At that time, there were no defined countries! While my DNA points to West Africa and perhaps Ghana, that country didn’t exist at that time! Consequently, according to the African historians we met, it will be exceedingly difficult to pinpoint my actual origins until more African DNA is shared internationally!
We tried to spend as much time with indigenous Africans as possible and found them to be warm, accepting, and curious. In one case, we stayed in a village that, with the help of our tour company, has successfully moved from clearcutting the forest to tourism and agriculture. The tour company, in concert with the village, built a school, and apartments for tourists. The money from the tourist trade and from sustained agriculture has changed their economy and the lives of the villagers. Instead of forest clearcutting, they subsist on tourism and agriculture.
One of the more consequential discoveries was that the “Post Colonial” powers are taking the natural resources of the continent, with the help of puppet African governments. Very little of the money from those resources get back to the common Africans. They are furious at the way they are treated by the Post Colonial Powers, their own governments, and the way they are perceived, as they say, ‘the world’s wildebeest’.
While I missed spending time with my classmates at the reunion, the trip was an awakening for me. For the first time, I could feel comfortable that I also have a tradition and roots!”                                  

"Chez de David and Marche Ann Mann"

PARLEZ VOUS FRANÇAIS?: Another classmate (and former Doolie Summer roommate) on the move is David Mann. In his own words: “I am very sorry that we could not attend the reunion but we were very busy getting ready for the big move, selling our house, arranging for movers, getting visas, etc. We departed the first week in March after going over the second week in January for the closing on the house and getting some modifications started. Our new address is 19 Rue du Portail de Viterne, Vezenobres, 30360, France. The top, right window in the picture (back of the house) is the guest bedroom. Please come see us.”

NEWS FROM FORT LEAVENWORTH: I received an email from Henry Hungerbeeler, who resides in the town (not the prison) of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He wrote that his daughter, Lisa McKenzie, is the founder of a 501(c)3 called “The Namayana Project.” Namayana is Swahili for blessings, It is a preschool for at-risk Tanzanian children whose parents are too poor to afford to attend the government schools. They are taught in English and Swahili. It is also a Christian school and supported strictly by donations. Lisa takes nothing for herself—not even for her expenses. For more information on this work of love and devotion, please see their website at www.NamayanaProject.com.

REESE AFB UPT CLASS OF 70-01 55-YEAR REUNION: The Reese UPT Class of 70-01’s next reunion will be at the Hilton Pensacola Beach from 23-27 October. The itinerary includes: a visit to the 479th Flying Training Group, a memorial service at the Naval Aviation Memorial Chapel, lunch at the Mustin Beach Club, a visit to the National Naval Aviation Museum, a visit to the Institute of Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) for leading edge research on artificial intelligence and robotics, and a Luau banquet. For further information, contact Tony Eden or myself.

"Doolie 2nd Squadron at 55th Reunion. From Left to Right: Bobby Beanblossom, Mark Torreano, Bill Hoge, Rhip Worrell, John Freeman, Ralph SanAntonio, Bill Wood, Steve Staley. and Mike (a.k.a., Dave) Phillips"

MORE FROM OUR 55TH REUNION: My thanks to Bill Hoge for sending the photo above. If any of you have some reunion photos that you wish to share, please send same to me.

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS: We were saddened by loss of three of our classmates—Richard G. Paquin on 8 February in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, Edwin A. Thomas on 21 March in Wheaton, Illinois, and Michael A. Fitzgerald on 28 March in Torrance, California. Please keep Greg’s, Ed’s, and Fitzer’s families in your thoughts and prayers.

THAT’S A WRAP: Mind the flak; keep ‘em flying, and keep those cards, letters, e-mails, and photos coming in to Pat Russell and me. Reunion photos and news are most welcome! Ciao for now. Tim