WI CLASS OF 1959 NEWSLETTER
| Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith | Veteran's Day Issue | Veterans Day 2000 |
by Major John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies
grow
In Flanders fields.
Marines landed on Iwo Jima on Feb 19, 1945, attacked Mt Suribachi and raised the American flag on its summit on Feb 23rd. Conquest of Iwo Jima was completed by March 16.
The new Korean War Veterans' Memorial lies in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, near the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial on the west end of the Mall.
It consists of 19 larger-than-life statues of U.S. ground troopers equipped for battle moving toward an American flag.
Etched into the granite are photographs of hundreds of faces taken from military archives.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., known simply as "The Wall," is one of the most visited sites in the city of Washington.
"The Wall" was built in Constitution Gardens in Washington, D.C., through private donations from the public, and dedicated in 1982.
Listed below you will find the name and branch of service of some of the graduates from WI who are veterans. Several wrote about their years serving our country. This is our way of saluting them on Veterans Day and saying "THANK YOU."
Tom Brown -------- Navy
Charles Burkhammer------Army
CBhammer12@aol.com
I served in the US Army from August 1966 to August 1968. I was stationed the entire period at the Army Aviation Center at Ft. Rucker, AL. About 18 of us were drafted together in Clarksburg and received our basic training together. Others in that group included Mike Moore, Irvin Miller, and Dick Lejeune. I spent my time after basic in the personnel shop, processing guys returning from Vietnam, who then helped train future helicopter pilots and mechanics. My first daughter was born in the Army hospital at Ft. Rucker, three months before discharge. The most excitement I had was receiving riot training when Martin Luther King was killed. Thank God it was not needed.
John Christie --------- Navy
submitted by: Glen Cowgill ------- Air Force--retired
gcowgill@ix.netcom.com
Entered the USAF in July 1959. Completed basic training and then went to Aerial Photo Intelligence School which I did for 4 years serving at Homestead AFB, Fl. and then K.I. Sawyer AFB, Mich and then to Yokota, AFB, Japan. When I returned to the states I went to Air Traffic Control School at Keesler AFB, Miss. From Keesler I went to Dover AFB, Del and then off to Thailand where I trained Thai and Laotian Air Traffic Controllers. While there I received my first of three Distinguished Service Metals.
Upon return to the U.S., I was again stationed at Homestead AFB, Fl. and then back to Thailand with Headquarters 7/13 AF. I worked for General Petit and served with the IG team and was a troubleshooter traveling to Vietnam and throughout Southeast Asia and received my second Distinguished Service Metal. I was then transferred to Utapao AFB in Thailand as Chief Controller for the Contol Tower where I received my third Distinguished Service Metal. Returning to Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina, I served as Chief Controller of the Radar Approach Control and then as Training and Standarization for the Air Force Air Traffic Control Officer Training Program. In 1976 I returned to Homestead AFB as Detachment Commander for the 2016th Air Traffic Control Detachment and then to the 1942nd Comm Squadron as First Sergeant. I retired in August 1979 with 20 years as an E-7, turning down E-8 to retire.
submitted by: Bob Davis ------ Navy
Davis29063@aol.com
I joined the U. S. Navy on July 29, 1959 and was sent to Great Lakes, IL for training. We did luck out and went to the Pan American Games near Chicago and worked some at the Rifle Range. After boot camp, I stayed at Great Lakes for school as an Electrician's Mate. Again luck as I was able to work in the office and did not have duties after school and graduated as the "Honor Graduate".
I was assigned to the USS Corry DDR 817--a destroyer built in 1944 and was specialized in radar. I went to the Mediterranean in 1960 and was able to see one day of the Olympics in Rome--the day Wilma Rudolph won her race. Also saw great scenery, buildings, etc. in Florence, Rome, Naples, Monaco and Athens. There was a fashion show on the fantail of our ship and both models wore bikinis--the first I had ever seen.
On April 15, 1961, I came back to WV and married Janet White (class of '60 WI). I then went to Guantanamo Bay in the summer of 1961 and had shore patrol in a very nice house on a hill at Kingston, Jamaica (a house of ill repute). A month later, a hurricane came though and struck Belize, British Honduras (country now is Belize). Our ship had a low draft, didn't require deep water, so we went to help along with a British destroyer. I helped work on the generating plant which had been under water--about 3 miles inland. Others on our ship helped carry and bury bodies, and other duties.
Upon return to the states, I was assigned to the USS Sierra AD-18, a destroyer tender. It was in port most of the time, so Janet came to Norfolk for the last 9 months of my Naval career. I was a second class Electrician's Mate Petty Officer when I left the Navy in September 1962--I was a kiddie cruiser and got out before my 21st birthday. A lot more stories, as every service person has, can be told. It is a part of my life which makes me proud. I had seen Tom Brown, Mickey McGowan, and Eddie Kerns from our class while in the Navy.
submitted by: Gene Davis ------- Army
Gened@cwpaper.com
From 1965 thru 1971 I was in the United States Army Reserve...On active duty I was at Fort Campbell, KY. and Fort Huachuca, AZ. I served as Battalion Signal Officer for a Service and Supply Battalion in Wausau, WI. My last rank was 1st Lt.
submitted by: Vince Fragomene ------- Navy
vfragomene@maximsys.com
I literally joined the Navy to see the World in 1964! If I would have paid more attention to the headlines then, I would have known about a place called VIETNAM! I might have been influenced to go another direction with my life, but being a naive "country boy from West Virginia" and wanting to serve, off I went to Pensacola Florida!!
I got my Naval Commission and was sent directly to the Carrier USS Ticonderoga to become the Intelligence Officer for a Navy Attack Squadron operating in the Gulf Of Tonkin. For the next 8 years, except for 20 months in Washington DC, I was in and out of the Far East from California on 6 different Navy Carriers involved in the Vietnam War. In 1968 on the way to Southeast Asia, I was on the USS Enterprise in Japan when the USS Pueblo was captured by the North Koreans. (I have the reputation in the Naval Intelligence Community of having been in the right place or the wrong place during my career depending on how it would affect your promotion - mostly the right place, unfortunately!)
Off to Spain in 1972 with my young family to start seeing the world, little did I know that the 1973 Middle East War was around the corner!! Again, right place or wrong place? After Spain, I spent 3 years in the Pentagon learning how our government really works!!
By 1979, I was promoted to Commander (that's Lieutenant Colonel for you Army and Air Force guys) and off to see the world again aboard the USS Midway home ported in Japan!! Amazingly, the Carrier task group was in the Indian Ocean when our Embassy in Tehran was overrun by the Iranians and the whole of Southwest Asia erupted! Right place again!
Two years on the Midway was followed by 4 years in Hawaii which we enjoyed! In 1985, after being promoted to Captain, we went back to Japan for 3 years. All I can say about these tours of duty would be to read the book, "Blind Man's Bluff"..Some of the most courageous Americans I have ever known rode on US Submarines.
In 1988 I went to Norfolk as the Fleet Intelligence Officer for the Atlantic Fleet and then as the Commanding Officer of the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center. Two great jobs. Then in 1992 it was on to Stuttgart Germany for my last assignment as Deputy Chief Of Staff for Intelligence for the US European Command. I had become a little more observant and knew there was a major issue brewing over Bosnia before I left, but little did I know how it would affect my last three years in the NAVY. Not only did I go to places like Moscow, Zagreb, Geneva, Paris, London, many places all over Germany and Italy, I looked into Northern Iraq from Turkey! I finally got to see some of that world I had signed on to see 30 years before!!
I retired in June of 1995. My family and I spent more than 18 years of those 30 years outside the continental US. My children went to a dozen different schools, both became Naval Officers and are now in very satisfying civilian careers. The elegant lady I married in 1966 is still following me around and for that I am uniquely lucky and grateful..
Do it again, sure!, Do it differently, you bet!!
submitted by: RKHanifan ------ Army
RKHANIFAN@aol.com
I was in the Army. I went to the Benning School for Boys (Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, GA.) and received my commission as a 2nd Lt. Infantry, Oct 68. In '69 I took advantage on my next assignment. I told them thanks but no thanks. I got out of Nam alive once. I wasn't about to try my luck a second time.
submitted by: Jim Hornor ------- Army
JYH2125@aol.com
I enlisted in January of 1964 in the army and went through basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Later that same year I was accepted to Officers Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. I was commissioned a second lieutenant in June of 1965. Active duty was completed in January 1966 and I retired my commission in 1969 as a first lieutenant.
submitted by: John Iaconis --------- Navy
jiaconis@erols.com
Military - Graduated from USNA as an unrestricted line [combat] officer. Tours of duty included shipboard deployments to Mediterranean and southeast Asian on mostly destroyers. Duties included being chief engineer and officer-of-the-deck for fleet operations.
Eddie Kerns --------- Navy
submitted by: Jim Martin --------- Army
jemartin12641@email.com
Served US Army 3 years 1961 - 1964
Tour of duty France
Mickey McGowan ------- Navy
submitted by: MIKE MOORE ------ Army
MMOORE4405@AOL.COM
Served from August, 1966 to August, 1968 in the US Army. I was connected with an aviation company at Ft. Rucker, AL where I took basic training and was stationed there the entire two years of my military service. My job was flight operations. I assisted in the training of helicopter pilots for Vietnam. Charles Burkhammer and I left Clarksburg together, served together and were released together at Ft. Rucker.
Jerry Paugh -------- Navy
Jerry Warne ------ Army Reserves
Terry Warne ------ Army Reserves
submitted by: Ronnie Werner ------ Air Force
KLA6247@aol.com
I was in the military from 1960-1964. I was in the United States Air Force in Biloxi, Mississippi at Keesler Air Force Base. Two of my three children were born there. Lorie Ann and Greg. Kelly was born in Clarksburg.
submitted by: Ed White ------ Navy
ewhite@villageschool.com
I served in the US Navy, from 1963-1965, on the USS Northampton (CC 1), a command ship (cruiser) out of Norfolk VA.
submitted by: Jim Ashley (62) ------ Army Reserve
jashley@erols.com
You have tapped some very special memories for me with your request for Veterans' Day thoughts. Although my own military service consisted only of a 6 year enlistment in the Army Reserves, I went through basic training and advanced training with guys who were on their way to Vietnam and I have always had a great deal of respect for the people who went away to serve. I have made repeated checks of the Vietnam Wall Registry to ensure that all the people that I went through training with survived and I'm happy to say that all their names are absent from that list.
If I could take up a few more lines, I'd like to recognize two heroes in my life, my uncles Lacoe Alltop and Lee Alltop (Purple Heart recipient) who were WW II combat veterans. My mother's stories of their contributions always made them stand tall in my view and their own personal achievements of using the GI Bill to rise from poverty in Gilmer County, WV, to the world of professional success made them even more heroic to me. Recognition is also due to my late father-in-law, Charles Bachini, who was a D-Day infantryman and who spent 9 months as a prisoner or war.
Finally, some of my greatest WI memories are of the fun of the Armistice Day parades with all the veterans (we had WW I vets in their "40 and 8" floats....remember what the 40/8 stood for??) along with all the still young men from WW II and Korea marching proudly down the street. After the parade, my dad would always take me for hot dogs at a place on Milford St (Rita's ??) on our way to Hite Field to watch the WI - Victory game. It was always a very special day.
submitted by: Brooke Beall (ND 58) ------ WV Air National Guard
bbeall9346@aol.com
Served in the West Virginia Air National Guard from May 1963 to May 1969.
submitted by: Jim Hovey (62) ------ Marines
Jimparsons@hotmail.com
Went to Pot State but was thrown out (I kept flunking ROTC - mandatory for guys at that time). Mom heard I was going to get drafted into the Army so I joined the Navy - Vietnam was starting and I didn't want to have to run around jungles.
I became a Hospital Corpsman and was promptly "drafted " into the Marines who did not have their own medical personnel. After Field Medic School in Camp Lejuene, N.C., I shipped to Vietnam with the 1st Marine Division. I was shipped around various places including Chu Lai, Tam Ky, Ky Ha, Quang Nai City, Duc Pho and Da Nang as a Corpsman (HM3) with (mostly) the 7th Marines - 2/7 and 3/7.
I spent 1967 - the "year of love" in Vietnam and when I returned, finished my four years at Bethesda Naval Medical Center as an Emergency Room Corpsman. By this time I knew more about trauma medicine than most Doctors. While there I saw several Marines I had treated in the field arrive back in the States.
After my release from the service I bummed around several colleges - finally graduating from Salem in 1974. I took graduate courses here and there and am now a Principal Project Controls Engineer with the Parsons Transportation Group.
I have been married 30 years and have three children - the youngest a Sophmore in high school here in Columbia, Maryland.
submitted by: Don Sager (56) ------ Navy
dks@davtv.com
I served four years 1956-60 as an Electronics Technician and came out of service as an ET2 (Petty Officer 2nd class).
While my service years were known as "peacetime"--the period between the Korean War and Vietnam Conflict-- I was involved somewhat in the "first" Lebanon crisis in 1958. At that time I was stationed in Morocco at a Communications base. We were responsible for the Sixth Fleet communications link between the Fleet and the mainland U.S. We were on full-alert for 6 months and our time off the base was restricted. We had local natives working for us in the antenna fields and we had to cancel their entrance to the base during this time for fear of sabotage from the Muslim world. Luckily I was "high enough up" rank-wise and did not have to climb the poles.
After 18 months in Morocco (where I met my wife of 40 years), I was aboard the USS Fremont (APA-44). This was a troop carrier and we spent a great deal of time in the Caribbean practicing war games and Marine assaults on Viegas. This should sound familiar since this is where all the present day protests are taking place in Puerto Rico. We were there over 40 years ago firing shells on the island and landing Marines and it is still going on.
Would I enlist again, under the same circumstances--yes. Enjoyed the Navy and all the world I got to see and especially the camaraderie. But four years of my life was enough, so out and on to WVU.
submitted by: Warren Whaley (58) ------- Army
WKWHALEY@cs.com
I went in the Army immediately following high school. I want to take this opportunity to give recognition to all my friends who were killed or injured in action. There are a few of us that remember them and appreciate the sacrifices they made.
WOULDN'T IT?
by CeCe Upson Covera
Wouldn't it be wonderful
if we could go back somewhere in time
And, undo the things that hurt us
without any reason or rhyme?
Erase all wars throughout history..
bring loved ones back from the dead.
Replace all the ugliness we have seen,
leaving plenty of happy times instead.
To meet up with all your buddies
where you last saw them on that trail...
Tell them about the ambush ahead;
warn them the mission was about to fail.
To be able to bring back the sparkle
to the eyes of a proud mom and dad
Who now have only their memories
of all of the good times they had.
To reunite a young husband and wife,
who will now be together for many years
Instead of offering your condolences,
helpless to take away her tears.
To allow a proud father to be there
to pick his child up from a fall..
Instead of that child knowing only
daddy's the picture that hangs on the wall.
Wouldn't it be wonderful
if we could go back to any year
And undo the things that hurt us,
leaving smiles to replace all the tears?
Copyright © 1999 by Cecilia Upson Covera, All Rights Reserved --Permission given for printing in this Veteran's Day Salute.
http://www.usmc.mil
http://lovethissite.com/memorial
http://www.buffnet.net/~ambrosia/icq/holiday/memorial2.htm
http://www.terracom.net/~vfwpost/poppy.html
http://members.nbci.com/web_lady/veteran/
http://www.sherylfranklin.com/holidays/veterans_day.html
http://www.designsbydaybreak.com/holidays/veteran/index.html
