BRANSON, MO

JULY 2008

• I went into Duke Medical Center on 28 June for a look-see and the good doctor decided I needed an additional stent put in my chest. He did this on 30 June at REX Hospital in Raleigh, NC.  All seems to be going well.
• I mailed reunion hats out to the following non-attendees: CW4 Richard, COL Foley, LTC Daniel, SGT Nichols, SGT Harlow, SFC Kratcoski, and MSG Zelascek.  This is a lot of work and costs. Wish these guys would let me know why they did not show up.  Still have several more hats to get in the mail.
• Spoke with my old buddy, MSG Lou Tawney.  He said his wife is still taking treatment.  Lou and Joan are two fine people.
• SSG Fred Updike, who was at the Cape Reunion, was hit in the face with a softball and was in a coma with some bone damage.  Will keep you posted. He is home now with instructions to just rest and take it easy.  I have never known Fred to take it easy.
• Received an E-mail that 1SG Delma Weitman had a stroke. He is the President of the Red Hat Chapter. He is currently 69 years old. Spoke with 1SG Troy Oates who had been up to see him, and he said they were going to try and build up his strength before placing stents in his neck.  I spoke with SFC Kennebeck and volunteered to set with him at night whenever they needed me.  I really don’t know Weitman that well and have never served with him.  I understand he cannot move his legs and one arm.
• It was just reported to me that SGM Lloyd Godfrey’s wife, Mrs. Ruby Godfrey, recently died.  Remember, SGM Godfrey died last year.
• LTC Bud Butte is in and out of the hospital and I am not going to tell you why, but I will say LTC Butte is fighting it very hard.
• Spoke with my life-long friend, CSM Robert S. Oneal, who just had back surgery and is pending another surgery early next month.
• Once again I would like to thank CW4 Terry Wallace, CW4 Bob Page, Sgt Drew Wardlaw, Sgt Steve Beach and Pastor Charles Williams and golf "guru" LTC Jim Rougeau. All of the affore- mentioned did an outstanding job in helping keep the reunion running on a smooth keel.  B/Gen Williford did his ususal outstanding job in handing out the prizes.  THANKS AGAIN GUYS.
• Wife and I ran into LTC Carl and Trish Flanagan at the golf course Sunday having breakfast.  Carl was most apologetic for missing all the reunions, but as always he had many questions about several people he knew.  He also asked about MSG Raul Serrano. LTC Flanagan is 74 years old.
• Received a very nice letter from LTC Charles "Bud" Butte telling me that he had every intention of attending the RETIRED RIGGER REUNION at Cape Kennedy, but the BUG got him and he spent three (3) weeks in bed and a couple of trips to the local VA emergency room.  He said he was especially sorry he did not get a chance to see Churchill, Hughes, and Warren.  He also said he was very sorry he missed seeing BG Paul Smith.  He said he and BG Smith received their commission to 2 LT’s back during WWII….OK, Bud, SEE YOU IN BRANSON, MO, in 2008.
• Received an E-mail from my good friend, MSG Lou Tawney, telling me that the leukemia has returned in his wife, and that they will be starting on another experimental program this week.  Let’s all keep Joan and Lou in our prayers.
• Received an E-mail from SFC Jim Kennebeck that CW3 Gaylin Jesmer had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital by ambulance.  Will keep you posted on this as I receive word.
• Once again SGT Steve Beach has come through with some outstanding pictures and is mailing some to select individuals.  He has sent me a large package and I will forward some of them on to the WEB MASTER.  Hopefully the WEB SITE will have the Cape Kennedy pictures posted by the end of August 2006 so you can go on line and view them.
• Spoke with CW3 Charlie Churchill, and he says that his family took him to the beach for his 80^th birthday.  He had a birthday cake and a most enjoyable day.
• Received a very nice THANK-YOU card from Dee and Coy McDonald, two very nice people, and always a pleasure to have around.
• Would truly like to try and get the following RIGGER VETERANS to the next reunion.  They are CW4 Manley Thomas, SFC Hudson Trices, MSG Arthur Unphrey, CW4 Kenneth and CW2 Nancy Studer, CW3 Timothy Skinner, SFC Elmer Shelton, 1SG John Stainaker, CSM Robert Oneal, MAJ Richard Haines, SFC James Pouliot, SFC William Payne, MSG Alphonzo Millsapp, CW2 Curtis Minge, CW4 Willie Motley, MAJ Dave Norris, 1SG Troy Oates, CPT Terry Mason, MSG Sam Mayfield, SFC L.C. Miller, CSM Willie Lewis, CW2 Joe Llacuna, COL Ted Maddry, SFC Horst Maggard, CW4 Jack Harrison, CW2 Buford Knight, LTC Brian Irving, 1SG Arthur Goodrid, CW4 Dexter Hall, SFC Raymond Hanson, CW4 Francis Fournier, MAJ Jim Garvey, COL Chuck Whittle, MAJ Paul Ferguson, and LTC Carl (Pat) Flanagan.  Now there are 35 names you can work with.  Call me and I will provide their phone number.