Classnotes 1966-7 Class of 1966 - West Point Class of 1966

Bill Thomas...Williamsburg, cont'd:...Classnotes 1966-7, Page 26T6 Golf Tourney--Williamsburg6T6 Golf Tourney--WilliamsburgMIKE FULLER REPORTS ON '66 PARTICIPANTS IN GOLFING GRADSOF USMA OUTING“This year's event, held atInnisbrook Golf Club in Floridawas attended by some 160 gradsfrom classes spanning ’62- ‘83,and was dedicated to DanWillson '63, the long timeorganizer of the event whopassed away unexpectedly lastyear. Our team improved on itsrather dismal showing in 2012 topost a respectable 16 points, butstill trailed in the final standings.Nevertheless, it was a great threedays of golf on three magnificentgolf courses.Recruiting for the very best sandbaggers in our class has already begun fornext year. Gary Droubay echoed Mike’s sentiments, “We won a little money and a fewpoints (16) this year, but need more participants in order to really compete.For instance,Class of 62 gets close to 40 participants. One day is a 4 person scramble, one day is a twoperson scramble, and the final day is individual medal play. Points are awarded to classesbased on the team and individual results.participating next year.”l-r: Mike Fuller, Ken Carlson, David Pearce, Welch Agnew,Brad Hartley, Gary Droubay, Jerry Edwards, Bill Kirtley, andKen's son, MattWe hope more classmates will consider

..Classnotes 1966-7, Page 3CHAN MCKEARN RETURNING TO SOUTH AMERICA“I'd like to report that I'm off onanother expedition to SouthAmerica, this time in Chile. Overthe past year I've been having a 47'sailing catamaran built in Valdivia,Chile.It was designed by ChrisWhite and built by a companycalled Alwoplast here in Valdivia.My son Jay and I came down hereon 15 March this year to overseathe final stages of installing thenavigation gear and electronicsand we've been living on the boatand sailing it in the local area while we conduct sea trials on all of the components. My wifeElaine and daughter Heather came down and spent a month with us, but they're back in CAnow.Chan's custom boatWe've started a blog to keep track of the adventure so if anyone is interested, theycan read about it at http://escapeexpeditions.blogspot.com/ . Our plan is to leave Valdivia ina couple of weeks and then proceed to the Galapagos Islands via Robinson Crusoe Islandand then back to Costa Rica via Treasure Island and on up the coast to Baja where we planto store the boat. My son Chris is getting married in Germany in September and mydaughter Joey is having a third grandchild in late June or early July.”STEVE OHOTNICKY'S SON ON USAF O-6 PROMOTION LISTSteve and Pete Ohotnicky with family membersSteve sent a picture of his son Pete, AFA'92, and family taken last summer whenSteve visited them in AK. Pete is on O-6list, promotion expected soon. Pete isDCS for Alaska Command. I'll attach apicture when we were there last summer.Steve added, “We have a winter home inHuntsville, AL and met with Ted Sendakwhile there. You, Ted, and I were theoriginal L-1 turnbacks from ’65.”

..Classnotes 1966-7, Page 4JIM McCALLUM VISITS 2nd ACR IN GERMANY, MEETS DOUG SIMS'SON“Occasionally I am a facultymember on TRADOC fundedleader education programs for unitleaders preparing for deployment.From 11-13 Feb ‘13 we did aprogram for the 2nd CavalryRegiment in Vilseck, Germany.The 77th Commander of theRegiment, which is the l ongestserving unit on active duty in theUnited States Army, is ColonelDouglas A. Sims II, the son of ourclassmate, Doug Sims. It was an honor and privilege to work with such an outstandingleader and unit as they prepared t o deploy to Afghanistan. The class of 1966 has anadditional link to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment as the Honorary Colonel of the Regiment is ourclassmate John Eberle.” Always the proud father, Doug chimed in. “ Although he has onlybeen in command a few months, DA is having a ball. As I told Jim, I continue to be pleasedabout the '66 connection to DA - Freddy McFarren was his leadership coach atLeavenworth, John Eberle the Honorary Regimental Colonel (there is a good story behindthis), and now Jim McCallum.”.Jim McCallum & COL Doug Sims IIIBRIAN ASHBAUGH'S DAUGHTERGRADUATES SUMMA CUM LAUDE FROMAMERICAN UNIVERSITYBrian and Rhoda Ashbaugh’s daughter, Kirstsen,graduated 12 May ’13 from American University. “Shegraduated summa cum laude with a degree ininternational studies with an emphasis in security. Shestarts work next week with DOD.”Brian, Kirsten, Rhoda Ashbaugh

...Classnotes 1966-7, Page 5ED AND RUTH HATHAWAY TAKE EUROPEAN TRIP“Ruth and I are on a long awaitedjourney to Europe that I startedplanning in Oct ‘12. Got a greatticket price for business class toLondon from Detroit with seats thatlay flat for sleeping and greatservice. Spent 6 days in Londonand even got to see an exhibit ofPompeii in the British Museum.Weather was kind to us also. Thenoff to Rome for 10 days where wegot in most of the top attractions toinclude special Friday eveningentrance to the Vatican Museumswith out the crowds. But thistourism is hard on the old feet andback. In both London and Rome westayed in rental apartments whichwe highly recommend for 5 or moreday stays. We used Trip Advisorand Vacations by Owners(VRBO)web sites. Nice to spread out. Thenon to Geneva where we are stayingwith my daughter and 3 grandsonsfor 9 days. So nice to see them andhow much they have grown plusspeaking French and English.Return to Dexter,MI on the 28th ofMay and will be good to get home.DAVID RAY MOVES FROM OREGON TOVIRGINIA“Judy and I have moved back to Strasburg, Virginiafrom Bend, Oregon. We came back to be near the kidsand grandkids.I am still doing management andfinancial consulting thru DRA Consulting Group inWashington and other east coast cities.Anyonetraveling to, through, or near the beautiful ShenandoahValley is invited to stop by.”DICK EKLUND UPDATES HIS MEDICAL STATUS“I want to update you on the ongoing saga of my battle with Hepatitus-C (HCV). I apologizefor the lack of correspondence, but I'm going to blame it on the virus. (Sure, blame it on thevirus.Ed Hathaway at Villa Borghese Art MuseumRuth Hathaway at Coliseum in RomeContinued on page 6....

….Classnotes, 1966-7, page 6...Continued from page 5, “Dick Ecklund....”First and foremost: I am thankful to be alive since I actually had a small malignant tumor inmy liver that hadn't shown up on my MRI's prior to my transplant on 5/5/08.While the transplant eliminated my liver cancer, HCV remained in my bloodstream. So theHCV is slowly damaging my new liver.The primary symptoms with HCV are fatigue and flu-like symptoms which vary in intensity.Most days I run out of energy after 5 or 6 hours and hit the rack.As with most drugs there are side effects. There are two primary antirejection/immunosupressivedrugs for treating HCV: Prograf and Rapamune. Prograf is toblame for two skin cancers which had to be removed. Rapamune is causing inflammation inmy right lung. So I am now taking a lower dose of Rapamune to hopefully decrease theamount of inflammation. The bottom line is this: If I can't cure my HCV, the virus willustimately cause my liver to fail. Fortunately, there is no indication that will happen in thenear future.The good new is that in the next 10-12 months, the FDA will likely approve a new drug thatis producing great results in trials. Even better news is that is curing HCV without all themiserable side effects that I experienced with three prior attempts to kill the virus. So, life isgood and will get better.As President G. W. Bush would say: Stay the course, a thousand points of light, yada,yada, yada.Thank you for your concern and support.ED JOHNSON AND RUSTY CORREIA REPORT ON FOUNDERS DAYEd Johnson had lunch with Rusty Correia recently. “Rusty keeps in touch with our entireclass, or so it seems. I am not on the class forum as it generates too much e-mail traffic forme. Rusty is the Society President again, for the 4th or 5th time. He likes the authority. As Imentioned, Bob Scales was our speaker this year. I didn't know Bob as a Cadet and wenever crossed paths. I believe he was also Infantry (Scribe's Note: Artillery). Bill Gangcame to Founder's Day. Bill and I serve on a board together, so I see him regularly. ReggieAudibert is at sea, so to speak. I wish I could get him more involved.”

...Classnotes, 1966-7, page 7AL & CARROLL LINDSETH ENTERTAIN CLASSMATES ON THEIRBOAT—SOFT LANDINGBill Kirtley, Jerry Edwards, and AlLindsethClassmates Bill Kirtley and Jerry Edwards joined theLindseths in January '13 on their boat after a round of golfas Al and Carroll cruised south to Florida. “The groupplayed a round of golf with our wives on a great course towhich Jerry belongs. We also had the good fortune to gettogether with Mike and Mary Fuller and John andCynthia McKnight on the same trip. We have put morethan 15,000 miles on Soft Landing since we got her andgetting to see classmates has been one of the best thingsabout the cruises we have taken.CLASSMATES GATHER FOR LUNCH IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INAPRIL 2013Reggie Audibert, RustyCorreia, Ed Johnson, andJoel Gartenberg gathered at aMexican restaurant forcamarderie. When your scribereceived the photo, the banterback and forth between theseguys was “typical cadet.”Reggie offered, “Say what youwant—there's something inRusty's genes—he looks 15years younger than the rest ofus—and if you can't see that, I'durge an optometry appointmentfor yourself, dude. Of course,like the rest of us, he's sucking alittle gut—but he's donewonders there as well!”Reggie Audibert, Rusty Correia, Ed Johnson, and JoelGartenberg

...Classnotes, 1966-7, page 8LEE, LIGON, LINDSETH, AND CECIL ATTEND AIRBORNEANNIVERSARY AT BENNINGPeyton Ligon, Jerry Cecil, Jim LeeJim Lee, Peyton Ligon, Jerry andMarion Cecil, and Al and CarrollLindseth represented the class at the50th Anniversary of the activation ofthe 173d Airborne Brigade in March2013 at Fort Benning. The usual slateof activities was arranged; battalionreunions, memorial service, dinners,photos, and visit to the NationalInfantry Museum.Peyton Ligon, Larry and Jo Jackley (former 4/503rdCommander), and Jim LeeDRISCOLLS STAY BUSY IN RETIREMENTGene and Carol Driscoll still live in Woodbridge, Virginia. “Our children are dispersed,though; Gene Jr. and family, in Richmond VA; Erin and family in Dubai, UAE; and son Johnat Ft. Huachuca AZ. John is in National Guard now and taking a 44 week course incomputer technologies. He graduates in September '13, and will be assigned to this areasomewhere. Carol and I are proud of all our children and 5 grandchildren, but really proudof unmarried son John who was VA National Guard Soldier of the Year in 2012, Honor Gradat BCT, Ft Sill OK, and now student and leader at Ft. Huachuca. Go Army! It is great tosee our children grow in wisdom with age. We do local travel, see doctors and support ourClass 50 Year Affiliation Program with the Class of 2016 (through Ken Carlson), and I stillsing with the West Point Alumni Glee Club. (Continued, page 9.......)

…..Continued from page 8, “Driscolls....”...Classnotes, 1966-7, page 9We have gigs at the Intrepid (NY), Richmond Coliseum (VA Republican Convention), HonorSings for West Pointers who pass away, Honor Flights for WWII Vets who visit DC,Nationals Baseball Team games where we sing the National Anthem. In February we sangwith the West Point Glee Club at Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University at theVETstravaganza for Wounded Warriors. So in retirement we keep busy, but looking forwardto our Class 50th Reunion at West Point in 2016!”BILL TRAUBEL COORDINATES CLASS LONG GRAY LINE PROJECTTO COMPLETIONBill Traubel presents copy of LONG GRAY LINE to CadetWill Oakley of Company D-3 after meeting at RecognitionDay eventsBill and Bunny Traubelspearheaded the Class project topresent copies of Rick Atkinson'sbook, The Long Gray Line, to eachmember of the Class of 2016, our50th anniversary affiliated class. “On8 May, Bunny and I delivered 1,141copies of The Long Gray Line to theUSMA Brigade Training Officer in 72boxes, 2 for each company, tailoredto each company's strength. Theassistance from Norm Cooney,Jerry Cecil, Rick Atkinson, TomCarhart, and Joe Bubriski wasinvaluable in obtaining the books anddeveloping the inserts. One hundredmember of our Class signed sincere,well written, encouraging notes onthe inserts. This Class Affiliation Giftproject is now successfullycompleted.”Marcia Bonifas signs an insert at Traubel home afterneed for extra copies of LONG GRAY LINE after copieslost or delayed in mail

...Classnotes 1966-7, page 10TOM ALMOJUELA IN U.S. WITH SON IN JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2013Son, Tommy (15), and I traveledto Seattle, Phoenix, and PalmSprings during January-February,which is summer school vacationhere in Chile. We got inplenty ofgolf, except in Seattle, where theweather was its usual nasty self inthe week we were there. Visitedwith my siblings in the Seattlearea and had great lunch visitswith classmates Mike Brown andRoger Sherrard. Mike and hiswife, Mary, were just about readyto leave for a week in Valparaiso,Chile, and I was able to pass onsome local information for theirtrip. Mike said they had a greatvisit. Tommy and I got in somegreat golf in Phoenix and PalmSprings and were able to take in acouple of PGA Tour events. Whilein Palm Springs, we were able tostay with my old C-1 roommate,and my only golf teacher, RichardDoty. He's a dermatologist thereand last year lost his lovely wifeBarbara to lung cancer. Weactually got Richard out on thegolf course a few times as hecouldn't remember when he lastplayed 18 holes. It was a greatvisit and Richard was impressedwith Tommy's golf game. He wasranked #4 in Chile for the Pre-Juniors (under 14) category andhits it a ton. We're hoping for agood year as he steps up to the Junior level. He'sactually asked me a coule of times about West Point. Sowho knows?”Richard Doty, son Tommy, and Tom AlmojuelaTom Almojuela and Mike Brown at VA Hospital at AmericanLake WA

...Classnotes 1966-7, page 11WRIGHT AND NASON ATTEND CLASS OF 2016 CREST UNVEILINGAl and Susan Nason along with Cooper and LindaWright represented our Class at the Class of 2016Crest Unveiling during Plebe Parent Weeikend. AlShared some of what occurred. “We started with areception at the Commandant's (BG Richard Clarke)Quarters where we were able to talk with severalPlebes and their Parents who were there for PPW.From there we went to Washington hall, met ourPlebe escorts and their parents.The evening began as you would expect, the round oftoasts, comments by the Class President, the Crestunveiling, comments by the Com. The Class of 1966was recognized several times by the Class Presidentand the Com for the work we continue to do insupport of the 50-Year Affiliation Program; kudos toall '66ers. Coop and I sat there proud and took it allin stride.Prior to the Com's talk, Nicholas Greene, Chair of theRing & Crest Committee, unveiled the 2016 ClassCrest. He explained the soldier, the eagle, and so on.When he got to the top of the Crest, he pointed outthe American Flag. Now get this, he explained thatthis flag only showed 6 stars on the left and 6 stripeson the right in honor of the Class of 1966, their 50-Year Affiliation Class. At that point, Coop and Ilooked at each other and did our bestto maintain our decorum. To thinkthat these Plebes, who haven't beenat WP very long and who really donot yet understand the Long GrayLine, would even think to include asymbol of our Class on their Crestwas unexpected and overpowering.BOB SATTER AND 'COZ' 'WINTER OVER' IN THE SAME FLORIDACOUNTYBob Satter wrote, “This winter Frank Cosentino and I discovered after 18 years that weboth had winter homes in Palm Beach County, Florida. We met for a golf game and werejoined by my daughter-in-las, Michelle McGann, an 8-time LPGA winner. Their picture isattached...it was pleasure watching these tow great athletes compete!”Class of 2016 Crest(Web edition formatter's note: the picture allude to did not arrive for inclusion in web edition—two additional pictures not associated with text did arrive and are posted after next article)

...Classnotes 1966-7, Page 12RUSTY CORREIA LUNCHES WITH CLASSMATES IN NEW ENGLANDAttached is a photo of me, JoeBubriski, Larry Hanson, JohnHannaberry, and Dick Eklund.“We usually get together for lunch atthe N.E. Patriots stadium when I amback East. Dick managed to lureLarry out of his South Shore redoubtfor the first time.JimBrunnhoeffer, who is teaching atRoger Williams University in myhome town was unable to attend, butI did manage to have dinner with Jim& Marilyn twice. For those who havebeen there, I have sold my mother'shouse in RI and moved her to CA.l-r: Rusty Correia, Joe Bubriski, Larry Hanson, JohnHannaberry, and Dick EcklundThe following two photos were receivedwithout accompanying text:Cam Ely, Steve Hanau, & Fred UlrichBarry DeBolt, Frank Cosentino, GeneAtkinson, Phil Trella