This fourth newsletter for the RETIRED AIRBORNE RIGGER REUNION has the information you have been waiting for. The REUNION will be from the 19^th May THROUGH the 23^rd May 2010 right here in greater Fayetteville, NC. The hotel will be the Hampton Inn at 1700 Skibo Road, Fayetteville, NC 23803 and the phone number for Reservations is (910) 487-4006. Tell them you are with the Retired Rigger Reunion. You should plan on arriving on the 19^th and get checked in and ready to see and do some action things here in Fort Bragg, North Carolina and plan on departing on the 23^rd May 2010. You need to read this newsletter slowly and let all the information sink in. As an item of interest, all you Riggers who are sending me a check for the T-Shirt and also Golf fees, that money is being broken out and kept on a separate list from the reunion money. Attached to the hard copy newsletter will be a list of the paid golfers and also a list of individuals who have ordered a T-shirt.

Now I know I said I was not going to publish a summer newsletter, but some of you have been so generous on stamps, that I will try and get a few more items straightened out. I need to the intent of the following veterans: LTC Daniel and Gloria, Dr. Williams and Georgia, COL Causey and Jennifer, Col Riley and Donna, MSG Serrano and Emily, SSG Green, CW4 Goedert, CPL Brumfield and Nanci, CW2 Hardegree and his son, MAJ Wise and Christine, SGT Griswold, LTC Flanagan and Trish, COL Tanner and Ann, CW4 McDonald and Delia, CW4 Thomas and Jean, CPL Blackburn and Shirley, and SGM Simmons and Marty.

The same goes for SFC Hempstead, MSG Hudson, SFC Johnson, R.I., MSG Keller, CW3 Lamonica, CW2 Llacuna, SFC Maggard, CW4 McDonald, SFC L.C. Miller, SFC Mortensen, SFC Payne, COL Peterka, COL Cuthbertson, CW4 Potter, CW3 Puckett, SFC Rodriguez, CW3 Snell, 1SG Stainaker, MSG Stevens, and SFC VanCura. Anyone who knows these guys fcan fire them up. I can give you their phone numbers.

I have not had but one request for an over-70 plaque. You know I need a short BIO on these so we will have something to read about you. Any one who will be over 70 and has not yet received their plaque contact me and lets discuss it.

As of this writing, we have over 100 paid, signed up, and ready to travel. This will be a BIG ONE, so help me out here and step forward early. Let me know your intent with your check and stamps, if you want a T-shirt, and if you are playing golf, "sound off" now. I will stop taking orders for T-shirts and the orders will go in on 1 September. I get a discount if I order more than 180 days out.

Several of the old riggers are lagging behind becaust the say they don't know anyone any more. They say all the old guys have died, and that is true. Some times I feel the same way. Help me get tow or three more veterans. I can send these letters out by the dozens, but I can't make them put up their money or attend the reunion. It takes all of us working as a team.

Hopefully we will be touring some new facilities here on Ft. Bragg, and we hope to have MG Scott West as our guest speaker. Everyone really enjoyed him at the last Fort Lee reunion, as he is an excellent speaker. We will have a special wives tour as we always do, so be sure to bring some extra money. Reunions are nothing but old friends having fun seeing each other and spending quality time together. OK, so there you have it.

---THINGS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW---

• Received checks today from LTC Billy Penick, Col Jim Kalanges, CPT Vasquez, Col Hutcheson, and SFC Straat Evans. It is going to be a good reunion and a great bunch of veterans.
• Received word from CW4 Wallace that his lovely wife, Angela, developed a need for open heart surgery that came rather quickly. As a result of a physical exam, it was discovered that she had some blood flow restriction on the aortic valve. An angiogram was ordered, and it revealed that the opening at the aortic valve was less than 1 cm. The normal opening is 4 cm. Her surgery went well. The doctors have said there were no complications. All this was done between 10 June and 18 June. As to be expected, she will be in the Intensive Care Unit for a few days. Will keep you posted on this.
• LTC Penick, who has a heath issue, say that he is looking forward to seeing everyone next May, and if he can still swing a club, these 'flat bellies' better look out.
• Today (25 June) was a very good day at the Post Office. Received a check from LTC Gill and a note informing me that his lovely wife Nancy had the next thing to a hip replacement, but that she is doing well in recovery. Also received a letter from COL Kovach with stamps informing me that his lovely wife Doris had a full blown hip replacement after going through a kidney procedure. He says that she is in true airborne spirit and recovering well.
• Received a note and check from SFC Henry McLaney telling me that his wife has almost fully recovered from her fall several months ago, and that she will be at the 2010 reunion.
• Received a most generous check from LTC Williford along with his T-shirt order. LTC Williford is always a great supporter.
• Received reunion funds from CSM Lowell Jergens and his wife, Norma. CSM Jergens has not decided yet if he will be playing golf. He is sort of getting up in years.
• Received a stamp donation from MAJ Ulsh and a very interesting article which will be attached to the next newsletter---thank you.
• Received a check for golf fee and T-shirt from CPT Mason.
• Received a check and stamps from MSG Lynwood Walker - will be good to see him at the reunion.
• Received an additional check from CW4 Bob and Jean Page. CW4 Page is always an outstanding supporter.
• Received word from LTC Dick Graham that SFC Johnny Johnson had died. SFC Johnson was the Airborne Dept. supply sergeant at Ft. Lee back in '68-'69. I do not have his age.
• I have also received word that 1SG Lewis has died. 1SG Lewis was a 187^th combat veteran and former member of the 11^th Airborne Division. Once again, I do not have his age.
• Received checks today from SFC Bobby and Donna LeBlanc way out in Oklahoma, and from my old buddy SFC Fred Updike down in sunny Florida. Also received a check from LTC John Schiffer down in Florida. Will be nice to see all of these fine folks.
• In a note I received from SFC Fred Updike, he made mention the SP4 Tom (Red) Geraghty's wife had called CPL Dick Taylor to inform him that Red had died. Red was out mail clerk in the 82^nd ABN PM Co. back in the early '60s and was well liked by all who knew him. He attended the reunion at Ft. Benning in the year 2002 I believe. Red was 62 years old when he passed away.
• After returning from vacation the mail box was full of reunion checks and stamps and it looks as if the T-shirt sales have picked up. Received checks from CW4 Jones, LTC Sturgeon, MAJ Garvey, MAJ Pate, SGM Vincent, SSG Carhuff, and CW3 Willes. All have been posted.
• Received a note from LTC Sturgeon that he may not be able to attend because it is the same time frame as his West Point reunion, plus he is having more tests done on his thyroid, knee, and process, plus getting an eye exam. He says with all this coming up, he is not sure he will be traveling much.
• Received word from SGM Jack Thomas (86 years old) that his companion, Marie T. Scioscia (92 years old) who attended the Cape Kennedy and Branson reunions with SGM Thomas, has passed away after surgery. I called SGM Thomas to offer my condolences. SGM Thomas said he will be at the reunion.
• Received a check for stamps from MSG Umphrey and his wife. She also called to tell me that a reunion check would be coming shortly. MSG Unphrey also gave me the names of six retired Marines who were rigger trained. I am in the process of contacting all of them.
• Received a check from SGT Forshaw for T-shirts for him and his wife--will be good to see them again.
• SFC Gagan called to tell me that both Norman Hoegger and CW4 Al Hargest are interested in attending the 2010 reunion here at Bragg. Both of these gentlemen will receive this newsletter.
• Spoke with CW4 Wallace and he tells me that his wife Angela is making slow but sure recovery and hopes to be out and about by the 1^st of September.
• Received a check from CPL Blackburn, our company clkerk in the 82^nd PM Co.back in the early '60s. He will be at the reunion withour his wife. It will be good to see Blackie again.
• I have spoken to CW3 Lamonica, SGM Shaffer, CW4 Parker, and CW2 Llacuna and they tell me they are not coming to the 2010 reunion.

CLEAR SKIES: ROY & BRENDA WARREN