One of the highlights of the reunion was seeing General and Mrs. Williford, COL Cuthbertson and grandson, CW4 & Mrs. Coy McDonald, CW4 & Mrs. Darrell Barber, CW4 Vern Hughes & his buddy, CW3 Charlie Churchill, SGM Wally Gurden, MSG & Evelyn Forrester, SGT & Mrs. Hartnett from Canada, SGT & Mrs. Drew Wardlaw, SGT & Mrs. Taylor, SGT & Mrs. Red Geraghty, SGT & Mrs. Nelson Blackburn. This is just to mention a few of the new faces.

The tours were a huge success, and as far as I could tell, all enjoyed themselves. The active duty personnel went out of their way to help make it a success. Red Hats off to LTC Zunde, CPT Glisson, and all the outstanding riggers from E Company, 507^th. Did anyone see me jump the 34-foot tower?? Did anyone see my wife jump the 34-foot tower?? Each night at the hotel there was good food, good company, and good liquid refreshment. The reunion dinner went very well, and all enjoyed themselves. A BIG "Thank You!" to CPT Glisson for passing out the coins from E Company. The cookbooks from my wife went over BIG with the women.

Golf never ceases to amaze me. BIG talk before the game, but after the game, all golfers got very quiet. LTC Rougeau did a great job of running the tournament and passing out the golf prizes.

General Williford provided some amusing moments when he spoke. He demonstrated his easy, friendly style with all attendees, and graciously did whatever I asked him to do. His lovely wife, Sarah, only added to the reunion with her grace.

I was so pleased to see the women really getting into the reunion, and supporting their husbands and enjoying themselves. All the comments I received concerning the bus trip to Warm Springs, led by Brenda, were very positive.

Although several of you indicated you want to go to Fort Lee for Retired Rigger Reunion 2004, I have asked seven (7) of our retired veterans to "research" several locations and select the one they deem best for our next reunion.

Now is the time to set your vacation plans to tie into the reunion schedule, and to assist me in getting more people and more new faces. Let’s have a great turn out. The reunion is in a strong position, both financially and in number. It is now that we need to keep in touch with each other and me. We don’t need bickering and petty arguing. Our only goal in life should be to stay together and enjoy each other’s company in years to come.

As you all know, postage went up another 3 cents, so what I really need from each of you who receive a copy of this letter is a book of 37-cent stamps by return mail, or more if you care to send it. Get your friends on board. Help Me get new faces.

I will let you know in a few weeks if I can sell you a copy of the videotape of the reunion. I am asking a civilian company to make me a few copies and I have no idea of price yet. By the way, I would like to thank SGT Wardlaw for providing some very nice footage of the trip to Warm Springs.

I would like to know the following:

• What happened to SFC Bobby Ledbetter back in the 60’s?
• What happened to CW3 John McCrea?
• What happened to CSM Robert S. Oneal?
• What happened to SFC Frank Bristol?
• What happened to SSG Dean Branson?
• What happened to LTC Dave Currin?
• What happened to Ltc Jimmy Ray?

Can anyone help locate these men??? Anyone who has some of the old year books, I would appreciate if you could copy the individual pictures (good quality) and send them to me for the hospitality room.

--- Things You May or May Not Know ---

• CW4 Howard P. Melvin died this month (July) in the Veterans Home in Washington, D. C. He was 89 years old.
• There were two fairly good articles written up about our reunion, one in the Columbus newspaper and the other in the Fort Benning paper (Bayonet). Both articles are attached.
• LTC Brent Gudmundson, down in Florida, is recovering slowly from open heart surgery. Brent had the surgery prior to the reunion, and as of 20 July, has been released by his surgeon but is still closely monitored.
• I need some BIO’s from SFC Voelker, LTC Gudmundson, CW4 Vaglienti, COL Weisinger, COL Cuthbertson, 1SG Dossey, 1SG Eury, SGT Harlow, COL Kovach, CPL Lackey, SFC Malloy, LTC McDonald, MSG McGeer, and all the rest of you guys who have turned 70, or will be 70 by the next reunion, and have not received a plaque. I do not need anything fancy. It can be hand written – as long as I can read it.
• CW4 Wallace Stahl had a left knee replacement and is recovering slowly.
• Spoke with my old boss, MAJ Richard J. Haines, who is retired and living out in Sierra Vista, AZ. He is 66 years old and in good health.
• Received some very good pictures of the good old days in the 549^th from PFC Bob Jester. Thank you, Bob.
• Spoke with SGT Joyce A. Kutsch (48 years old) and SSG Rita Johnson-Diehl. These women were the first female jump school/rigger school graduates. SGT Kutsch works in the post office now and SSG Johnson-Diehl is a registered nurse who has four children. They both say they would love to attend Rigger Reunion 2004. Their names and address are on the roster.
• Sent an e-mail to Mike Hogan, who used to be assigned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. I am trying to get him to Reunion 2004.
• SFC Tom "OD" O’Donnell has finished his treatment for lung cancer and so far he says he is doing well. OD is turning 72 years old.

News is really hard to come by, so if you know anything, let me know. I cannot call everybody and I try hard to stay in touch three ways: one – newsletter, two – e-mail, and three – telephone. Continue to put your comments on the web site: http://rrrnc.tripod.com. It will be periodically updated. I will continue to keep notes on the status of our people and planning activities and send out e-mail/letter updates. I am also accepting any pictures that you may have – that I don’t have already; it is never too early to start getting things ready. I am especially looking for the group picture we took on the bleachers after we watched the Airborne 5000 presentation and jumped from the 34-foot tower. It will be returned.

Clear Skies,