1955
Your correspondent in the wild Southwest is happily seated in his adobe hut, writing what should be the last epistle to originate at Hondo "by the sea." Henceforth - for five or six months to come - you will be able to communicate with your fellow Fifty-fivers via Bryan AFB, a few hundred miles to the east, where yours truly will be in jet training. At least, it's a move in the right direction. Friend Demas will likewise be departing for multi-engine training at either Vance AFB in Enid, Okla., or San Angelo here in good 01' Texas.
Glenn Wilson was in town this week to participate in a basketball tournament. Glenrr; who has just completed his jet training at Laredo AFB, was married early this month to Adelaine Crawford of San Antonio. Glenn and Adelaine are living at Laredo where he's being held over to participate in another Air Force tourney in San Antonio.
A letter from Bob Leopold brought much news of the Injuns in navy blue so without further ado, pardon me while I quote from his epistle at great length (Bob, by the way, is currently aboard the U.S.S. Donner sailing out of Little Creek, Va.): "The (Donner) spent all summer up north of the Arctic Circle dodging icebergs as a part of the DEW line radar site supply operation. (Bob's) duties aboard included Communications Officer, OOD Underway, CIC Officer etc., etc., etc." This past December Bob became engaged to Peg Reeves of Bethesda, Md. Peg's a senior at Hood College at present, and will become Mrs. Leopold immediately following her graduation this June.
Bob writes that he "got a card from Steve Wilson — still aboard the U.S.S. Glacier. Steve's now in New Zealand where he s been mountain climbing with Sir Edmund Hillary (no kidding) skiing and drinking lager beer to lose weight (a new twist) prior to heading for Antarctica for this year's Operation Deepfreeze."
"Al Walker's ship, the USS Cambria was in Port Said during the recent rumblings there. They got close enough to the scene to evacuate some of the U.N. delegation from the beach during some of the shooting. Al is Boat Group Commander, and undoubtedly got mixed up in the evacuation in some way. Incidentally, Al and the Mrs., the former Lois Gagnon, joined the ranks of proud parents last spring with the arrival of their first - Patricia Ann.
"Bob Gud Branson and Fred Crocker are Operations officer and Engineering officer respectively aboard LST's 1166 and 1164. Chuck Gilgore has departed the Amphibious Navy for submarine training, starting this month in New London, Conn....Rett Knowles was fortunate enough to draw a destroyer assignment, and, having seen the Mediterranean once during the past year, he informs me that he expects to make two more cruises to that area during 1957."
"Tom Blumberg came off of the bounding main to a staff billet ashore, only to be shipped out to the Med immediately. And, just too keep our Eastern allies happy, the Navy ordered Jim Kerbin to Yokosuka, Japan. It broke his heart — ha!"
Dick (L.) Wilson writes from Tonawanda, N. Y., where he is currently employed by DuPont as an engineer. His wife Carolyn is teaching school "down the street" while Dick initiates his engineering career, ever anticipating a tap on the shoulder from good oF Uncle Samuel. Dick reports that he has heard from Eliot Smith several times in recent months. "Pvt. Smith got tackled by one heck of an impatient draft board in Milwaukee soon after his graduation from Thayer school, and is now on a special technical assignment down at Fort Belvior, Va. John Harlor evidently got hooked into the same tour de force - although he is in the six-months program whereas Pvt. Smith is in for the full glorious 24."
Pvt. Bob Hadley was recently selected the Outstanding Trainee of the "Cycle" for his basic training battery at Fort Hood, Texas. Bob's been in the Army since July 1956.
Frank Chase recently graduated from the Army Language School in Monterey, Calif., and after a 30-day Christmas leave, he is shipping out to Tokyo. Anyone in that area can contact Frank through the Tokyo Arsenal. Frank writes that Dick Drake will wind up his T-33 training in the middle of March, and receive his wings, but is completely in the dark as to further assignments after he leaves Laredo. John Stoughton is now in Germany with the A and R Officer, c/o 5th Inf. Regiment. John's now playing "hoop-ball" for the regimental team, and plans to play baseball when the season rolls around.
Gus Aberle also came through with a lengthy note full of newsy tidbits. Gus is now stationed at the U. S. Naval Supply School in Athens, Ga., along with Jack Doyle, another Tuck graduate. Gus and Jack complete this phase of their training in July. According to Gus, Doug Archibald has received his postbasic air force assignment and will be stationed at Sumter AFB, S. C.
News comes from Jim and Jan Venman of an eight pound three and a half ounce addition to their family. As we Texans says, "a purdy lil' 01' thing" — Jane Miller Venman by name.
Frank Tepper, who spent the summer touring Europe and vicinity, is currently enrolled in the University of Miami Law school, and doesn't seem to mind the change of clime to a great degree.
Mark Ginsberg is employed by the Sperry Engineering Co. as an associate engineer in the Fighter Flight Control Department of the Aeronautical Equipment Division.
Mai Roth was married on December 24 to Sarah Roth of Yonkers, N. Y. Sarah's a graduate of Skidmore and attended the Columbia Teachers College for her M.A. Mai is currently studying medicine at the New York University Bellevue College of Medicine.
Lt. Ry Woolson and Pat Lorandeau of Keene, N. H., were married December 29 in that New England town. Pat, a Skidmore graduate, and Ray will settle down at Ellington AFB in Houston, Texas, where he is taking navigator training. John Harlor was a witness at the ceremony.
Ray Lenhard is engaged to Margaret Drury of Goucher College in Baltimore. Ray is now attending Johns Hopkins Med school.
Charlie Hulsebosch is engaged to marry Elizabeth Ferguson of Bethlehem, Pa. Elizabeth is a senior at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pa. Charlie is currently affiliated with The Ford Motor Company in Detroit.
That about winds it up for another month. Keep the good news coming in — hang by your thumbs, and write if you get work.
Secretary, Class 57-T, BOX 693 Hondo Air Force Base, Texas
Treasurer, Ship off Division, USS Yosemite, Ad 19 Newport, R. I.
