HELLO '68! Political pundits are going crazy in D.C. and around the country following the Presidential debate on June 27th. We are living in interesting times! Don’t forget to vote!!

“Go West ‘Young’ Man! From Left to Right: Bob Denny, Gene Rose, and Rocky Gaines”

’68ER RETRACING OREGON TRAIL: Bob Denny put on his hiking boots and sent me a couple of emails about his most recent adventure. Bob writes: ”One of my activities this year is retracing the Oregon Trail—the route of my ancestors in 1851 when they traveled from Illinois to Seattle. I’m retracing it in a gentlemanly fashion—cars and motels instead of wagons and campsites. No horses or lengthy walking. I’ve divided the journey into three (now four) separate trips from my home in Texas. I started back in April with my sister from the homestead in Illinois to eastern Wyoming. Gene Rose joined up with me on the second leg through Wyoming in June. It turns out he has an ancestor who took the Union Pacific to California in 1880 and left correspondence about his journey. So, we’ve tracked the separate routes of each of our sets of ancestors as they transited Wyoming.
We tried to make it more fun by bringing our golf clubs and fishing poles to break up all the history. We golfed every other day in Cheyenne, Casper, and Laramie. However, we really didn’t have enough time to consider it a serious fishing expedition. We did drop our lines in the Green River, but that was about it. The sites on the Trail were very fascinating and occupied most of our time. My plans are to continue on to Oregon in July, and then to complete the journey in August with a trip from Oregon to Seattle.
Rocky Gaines linked up with us at a lodge in Canada. We were at the Ontario lodge (on Lake of the Woods) for a week (June 15 -22) fishing for Walleye, Northern Pike, and Muskies. Gene has been going to this lodge since he was a kid and set up the whole visit. Rocky is holding his latest version of Checkpoints on his cellphone. We were with Gene's son and about 10 of his flying buds. Fishing was good—not as good as in the past perhaps due to the Mayfly hatch. I'll pick up the journey for a third leg in July through Idaho and Oregon, stopping to see Bill Radasky on the way. The final leg from Portland to Seattle will be in August.” To Bob and Gene: Time to fade out with Roy Rogers sending you on your way with his theme song, “Happy Trails.”                  

"Normandy Remembered. Steve and Connie Staley Honor Fathers’ Service During WWII"

‘68ER ATTENDS 80-YEAR REMEMBRANCE OF D-DAY: Steve Staley writes: “Our tour from Paris up into Normandy to learn more about and celebrate D-Day was a tremendous experience. We traveled with a number of outstanding American military veterans and their families--I've included a photo of us at the Normandy American Cemetery. We were privileged to travel with officers and enlisted, men and women, rated and non-rated, from all four branches.
An added point: both of our fathers were in B-17s during the war. One of the most meaningful parts of the tour was the recognition that Connie's father, Samuel Courtney (Major, US Army ret.), a 21 year-old B-17 pilot, was shot down over Germany on his first bombing mission in early 1945. He was liberated from his POW camp by our advancing GIs in late April of that year--and some of them had come ashore on the beaches of Normandy a mere 10 months earlier. Many of our group had similar memories to share of fathers and grandfathers involved in or affected by D-Day, and we took part in a beautiful ceremony dropping roses into the Seine in their memory. We're very thankful to be able to share these experiences with family, friends, and classmates.” Steve and Connie, Thank you for sharing this meaningful tribute to your fathers.

"Visiting Sam” From Left to Right: Ben Stevens, Sam Gibson, & John Swanson"

REESE AFB UPT CLASS OF 70-01 REUNION: 23-27 October, Pensacola Beach Hilton. Contact Tony Eden or myself for more information.

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS: We were saddened by loss of two of our classmates—Joel N. Gordes on 16 June in Newington, Connecticut and David K. Allen and his wife, Jeanne, in an aircraft accident on 30 June in Sheridan County, Kansas. Please keep Joel’s and Dave’s families in your thoughts and prayers. My thanks to Ben Stevens and John Swanson for sending the photo of their visit with Sam Gibson at a VA care facility in San Fernando Valley (north LA). Sam had a severe stroke that has created significant memory issues. He is unable to walk, but was in good spirits. John lives close to the VA complex where Sam is and has visited him a couple times, but Sam doesn’t remember the visits.

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