Rick Layman Takes Over as Class Scribe
Greetings, 75…I’ve found my first attempt at journalism was fairly easy. I guess it’s due mostly to Jeff Hackett’s recent letter. I got a nine-pager from Jeff last week, and it seems that he either knows where everyone is, or knows who knows. In any case, the following few paragraphs are from that letter:
“Dave Haugen is busy rescuing people, that is, he’s flying HC-130s. Sam and Patti Ryals and Willie Drow associate with the rest of the gas-passers in KC-135s on the SAC side of Kadena. Gary Exelby works in the 400th MMS, also at Kadena. TAC Fighter types on the rock include Mike Gudmundson, Mark Jefferson, and Tug McGraw. Ken Nease, Ken Smith, Rick Finke, and Tom Calhoun. Tom’s wife, Candy is due in November.
Randy James, Carl VanPelt, and Sam Hollins are all flying F-4s at Osan. I guess Sam is tickled to death that he’s got a concurrent overseas assignment. He’ll be going to Clark soon.
Speaking of Clark, (What a transition!!!) Bruce Hopkins is in fighters there and John Wolter is in C-9s. For all of you who were wondering if that was John’s wife Meg in the Air Force Times a couple of weeks ago, the answer is yes. She’s apparently doing a great job working with kids with disabilities. Charlie Sargent is also at Clark, but it appears that Jeff can’t ever get in touch with him.
Jeff tells me that Frank Dubuisson is working in RC-135s out of Offutt, and my boss saw Scott Hente and Bruce Hevey on his last trip up there to fly the LOOKING GLASS.
Larry Colletti and Jan are at McConnell and Paul and Kathy Williams are at Plattsburgh. Both are new parents. On my last trip to Plattsburgh I saw Hugh Gray and Charlie Beadling. Hugh flies choppers and Bead is in KCs.
Tom Popp got married the first of July and Kent Traylor ties the knot on the twenty-second. Welcome to 75, Vicki and Carole.
Apparently all of our classmates who aren’t in the Pacific are at Williams. Rich Chanick and Mary announce Rich’s selection as Junior Officer of the Quarter for Willy. Dave and Barb Commons, John and Dianne Turner, Mark Donnelly, Bob Walden, Scott Hammond, and Marlo Mellum are all still at Willy. Brent Hall is out there somewhere.
Jeff also asked that I mention his BUFF buddies at Ellsworth, Mike Anderson and Chuck Holland.
Dave Fleming wrote in from somewhere in the Pacific. According to he and Ann, his job is classified so secret that he’s prevented from knowing what’s he’s doing.
I figured that part of being in New England was visiting Loring in the dead of winter, so I went there a couple of times. Brian Gomes, Al Krukowski, Dan Kolakowski, Denney Mellen, Don Gunther, and Joe Stein were all there enjoying the scenery. Joe married Patti Brown, daughter of Chief Brown, formerly the Wing Sergeant Major at AFA, and gave Joe a son in January. Al is married too, but I can’t say for sure about any of the others.
Have you ever noticed how some people just seem to keep showing up time after time? Every time I move I run into Rod Hennek. We went to maintenance school together, then met at SOS. Rod was a distinguished grad both times. I guess he can’t be held down…He’s just become aide/exec to the division commander at Blytheville.
Bob Shappell is doing the same. DG at Maintenance School and second in his class at SOS. Bob and Nancy will be going to Elmendorf in December if all goes well this time. This is the third time he’s been on orders for Alaska and they keep falling through.
Al Nash, the class squid, just completed the Navy’s Aviation Indoctrination Course at Pensacola. From the description in the news release, it looks like he just repeated SERE and basic Aero.
For those of you who haven’t found out since last issue, Marc Simonitsch was in a C-130 accident in late April. He died of injuries received in that accident on 4 May. He was buried at the Academy on the eighth. I don’t have Jane’s address, but if you want to write her, you can likely reach her through Jed Vanden Dries at Sheppard.
Pease is normally the jumping-off place for the overseas KC-135 task force operations, so I know some of you guys must be traveling through. Ed Sienkiewicz, Dale Smith, and Tom Laurie are also in the area. If any of you get in the area, look one of us up and we’ll give you a tour of the New England area and put you on to a couple of good restaurants for lobster and shrimp.
I promised Jeff that I’d include a note from him in exchange for writing half of this article. He is very anxious to receive a post card or letter from any or all of the BACK DOOR BOYS. Please send a letter to Jeff if you are a member of the BACK DOOR BOYS or if you want any news published in the Fall issue.
Well, Diane’s asleep in bed and Heather needs changing and I’ve fallen asleep on the typewriter twice, so I guess I’d better wrap it up..
Drop a line if you get a chance…
You may or may not know, but Mike Wisloski is now in the US Marine Corps. Since graduation from basic, he has commanded a weapons platoon, been an assistant Operations Officer, an Intelligence Officer, and a Supply Officer. He is now a Series Commander at Parris Island. What a career!
Milestones: Richard E. Sarver earned the USAF Commendation Medal for meritorious service at Beale AFB. He serves at Ellsworth AFB as an EC-135 co-pilot.
Mike Lischak and Rudolph Roth are now attending the Uniformed Services University. They are in the first year of medical schooling.
