This fifth newsletter for the RETIRED AIRBORNE RIGGER REUNION has the information you have been waiting for. The REUNION will be from 19 May THROUGH 23 May 2010, right here in greater Fayetteville, NC. The hotel will be the HAMPTON INN at 1700 SKIBO ROAD and the phone number for reservation will be (910) 487-4006. Tell them you are with the RETIRED RIGGER REUNION. You should plan on arriving on 19 May 2010 and get checked in and ready to see and do some action things here in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. You can plan on departing on 23 May 2010. Hey, did I mention that we will have a BLUEGRASS BAND playing for us…who can dance other than WALLACE? We have a little over $16,000.00 in the bank - not counting the money for T-shirts and golf fees. Some of you are really laying back and I cannot understand why. If you are coming, then get your check in the mail. If you are not coming, then send me a note saying, "Roy, I am not coming". Then I can take you off the list of maybe attendees.

OK, over 70’s plaques this time. We are looking at SFC John E. Gagan, SSG Bob Carhuff, CPT Carl R. Pate, MAJ Bob Roughton, LTC Carl Flanagan, LTC Jim Emery, CW3 John LaMonica, SFC Bobby LaBlanc, CW4 Willie T. Motley, COL Jim Kalanges, and LTC Don Gregor. Anyone else who is in the 70’s and will be in attendance can send me a short hand written BIO and we can get everything ready. So far I have the BIO’S from COL Kalanges and LTC Gregor. Now keep in mind I am cutting off T-shirts and over 70 plaques as of this mailing. Anyone coming in with money after this mailing will have to get my special blessing. This is going to be the largest gathering we have had in many years and I need time to get it all together.

I am carrying several people on the finance roster with money from the 2008 reunion, and if I don’t hear from you like RIGHT NOW I am integrating the money into the general fund and moving on without you. I cannot run this reunion not knowing who I have and who is or is not coming. These riggers are COL Causey, COL Riley, LTC Flanagan, CW4 Goedert, CW2 Hardegree, SGT Griswold, COL Tanner, MAJ Wise, SSG Duncan, and CW4 Thomas. Would also like to hear from the following Rigger Veterans and know your intentions about maybe attending: Malloy, MSG Keller, CW2 Llacuna, CW4 Mathis, MSG Mc Dermott, SFC McKinney, CW4 Miller, CW4 Morris, SFC Pastecki, CW3 Puckett, CW4 Potter, SFC Settle, COL Spicely, MSG Stevens, SFC Van-Cura, PFC Van-Scyoc, and CW3 Wadlington.

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

• Received a check from SFC Ernie Button. He is an old 549^th veteran and retired years ago. SFC Button says he does not need a hat or T-shirt, but we will get him a hat to wear to keep the sun out of his eyes.
• Received a check from CSM Arthur Simmons, who would you believe, is a 549^th veteran and several other outfits. It is a pleasure to have him on board with his wife, Marty. Look forward to seeing them in the hospitality room. CSM Simmons will not be staying in the hotel because he has two daughters and a son-in-law who is a CW4 stationed at Bragg.
• Well, well, well surprise. I was up in Asheville on business and stopped over at Lamonica’s house. He gave me a check for the reunion and will be playing golf. How about that??
• Coy McDonald, CW4, Aviator Extraordinaire, called to say he was sending me a check for the reunion and to take back the golf championship. I immediately called CPT Terry Mason to inform him that he may have some competition, and that he should continue to practice.
• Received a call from BG Paul Smith. He informed me that he was sending me a check, but because of his advanced age, he may not be able to make it. I told General Smith that I would send him and Connie a reunion T-shirt and hat. BG Smith is one fine individual and he taught Wallace everything that Wallace knows.
• I called SGT Bob Nichols to get his correct mailing address, and he promised me he would send me a check and stamps. He also said his new girlfriend has a driver’s license and she would be able to drive him to Fort Bragg. So, with any luck, we should see SGT Nichols next May.
• Received a check and stamps from CSM Walker out in Raeford, NC. Glad to see him back on board. He is always a good Rigger to have around.
• Spoke with my OLD Boss man from Okinawa, Major Richard J. Haines. Once again he says that he will be unable to attend, just too busy---which we all know is bull-hockey. MAJ Haines is an old QM Soldier from the late 50’s maybe. Don’t know his exact year group. Anyway, his deputy, CPT Carl Pate, will be on board.
• Received an additional check from SFC Jumping Joe Kratcoski and a new address, which I posted. Jumping Joe is in his 80’s and doing rather well. It will be good to see Joe come next May.
• Received an E-mail from CW2 Dave Sharbutt that he was at the INDY, 82d Airborne Convention, and that they were going to have a live jump….Why aren’t you jumping in Dave?
• Received a check from MSG Lou and Pat Tawney. Will be nice to see Lou after all his surgery. MSG Tawney is an old 187^th veteran.
• Received an additional check from SGT Dick Taylor asking for a T-shirt and he will be playing golf. He also said he looked forward to whipping up on CPT Mason, the current champion.
• Received check and stamps from MSG Arthur Umphrey, who in his time, was a legend in the United States Marine Corp as a jumper, Rigger, and Marine Instructor/ Some JAR-HEADS even referred to him as the KING OF THE SAW-DUST PIT. Oh well, it will be good to see MSG Umphrey. He has also given me several addresses of other Marines who were Riggers and a newsletter has been sent to all of them.
• Received a check and nice letter from Pastor Charles A. Williams. He is on board with his lovely wife. Be good to see them again.
• Received a check from TOKYO JOE Hartnett up in Canada, and he says that he will be attending by himself. His wife is getting up in years and not moving so well.
• The wife and I returned from a quick trip up to see John and Kathy Lamonica in Asheville. They both are doing well and we had a wonderful lunch. Be good to see both of them back at the reunion come May.
• Spoke with LTG Dick Seitz and he assures me that he will be at the reunion next May and very anxious to see and tour Fort Bragg. LTG Seitz will be 92 next year. I asked him what he was eating these days and he said that he had mixed cereal for breakfast, ate a banana every day, and went swimming five (5) days a week. I eat almost the same thing, so hopefully I can make 92.
• Received word by E-mail from MAJ Feasenmyer that MSG Richard "Rick" Raskin died on 8 September 2009. Have no word on how old he was, any units that he served in, or when he retired. Someone did say that he died of lung cancer.
• Received an additional check from LTC Dave Kline and I called him just to get updated. He asked about MAJ Dave Norris and COL Pete Peterka. I later tried to call both of them, but some people run from me, especially if they don’t want to give me money or attend the reunion.
• Also had a very long conversation with MAJ Bill Feasenmyer this morning and we were discussing Okinawa and guys like Glenn Aasal, CPT Pete Feliciano, and the 1^st SFG in the late 60’s.
• Received word from COL Pete Peterka that one of our members, COL Rome Stephen (WWII veteran with a combat jump) has been selected to fly up on the HONOR-FLIGHT to Washington, DC, for a big celebration of World War II heroes. COL Stephen is 87 years old and I must add one fine individual. I did call and talk with him for a few minutes. In case you do not know about HONOR FLIGHT there is a WEB PAGE explaining it all and you can also make a donation to help it along. It is very interesting.
• Received a check and picture from MAJ Bobby Roughton. He says no T-shirt this time that I would not have one to fit him, but that he is looking forward to seeing everyone.
• Received a check and stamps from CW3 John and Norman Tallo. Will be good to have them back in the fold. CW3 Tallo and Norman are always a great addition to any party.
• Received checks today from LTC Don Gregor and SP4 David Hastie. They also asked for T-Shirts. LTC Gregor was the Rigger Platoon Leader for the 1^st SFG back in the 60’s. Specialist Hastie was a three year man out of the ACE Board way back in the old Army. Be good to see both of them.
• Received check and stamps from MSG Al and Sandy Houston. They say that they look forward to seeing everyone here in May. MSG Houston says he cannot play golf any longer because he cannot walk very far. There is other reason involved but they will be here.
• Received a check from COL "Mick" Weisinger and he says that he is ready for the reunion. Not sure if he is playing golf.
• I received this very sad news from LTC Dick Graham and I must say it sort of put tears in my eyes. LTC Graham says that on 29 Sept he was informed that he had stomach cancer, called ADENOCARCINOMA (a-DEE no-car-sin-0-ma) which is usually treated by surgery to remove part of the stomach, followed by chemo. But on 2 October they told him the stomach cancer had spread to the point where surgery isn’t possible. He also says in addition to the two-inch tumor in his stomach, it has spread to both lobes of the liver, a spot on each kidney, plus he has a total of at least 10 lesions spread across both lungs, plus numerous lymph nodes. He says that he wouldn’t survive the amount of surgery it would take to get rid of all the lesions, let along remove the lymph nodes that are affected. He says that he still hopes he can attend the 2010 reunion if he is well enough to travel, and am not in the midst of a chemo or radiation routine that can’t be interrupted. Let’s all take a moment and put DICK and JANEY GRAHAM in our prayers. LTC Graham is one fine individual.
• CW4 Terry Wallace had chest pains and ws feeling tired last week.  When he visited his doctor, it was discovered that his BY-PASS, which was 30 years old, had collapsed ant the doctor placed three new stents in CW4 Wallace's chest.  Spoke with him this morning (12 October) and he says that he is feeling fine, but that his lovely wife, Angela, is still having recovery provlems from her heart surgery several months ago.
• I was informed that SFC Thomas Chadwick's oldest son has died at the home in Wilmington NC.  He was in his early 50s.

CLEAR SKIES: ROY & BRENDA WARREN