Newsletter

Spring 2003

The Alumni News of the United States Army Parachute Team

Warm weather at last!! Hello everyone.

Easter has just passed and it's time for another letter to bring everyone up to date as to what has happened and is happening. I'll start where I left off in December. Two days before Christmas we lost a dear friend and sweet, swet lady, Shirley Phillips. She was very sick and had spent most of her last 3 months in the hospital. We miss you, Shirley. Joe is doing mighty fine. Roy Matthews has him bowling on a team with him. Any chance of you guys bowling a perfect game??

Tim Geoghegan checked in to let me know his son will be entering the Army after graduation. He and Steve Salisbury were going to bring their sons to Bragg so they could get in the wind tunnel. Is the trip still on? Had a nice chat with Bob Von Derau in mid January. Said he had received a note from Matt O'gwynn. Hope Matt is getting better. Have not heard any more from Bob. Understand Pork and Pat VanCamp are doing well. Pat's Coffee Shop and Luncheonette has really taken off. Pork is doing some terrorist prevention training for some airline pilots. Never a dull moment with Pork!! Mom and Pop Johnson are mending well. Both have had some mahjor surgeries since last year. Are they going to miss the '03 reunion? NOT! They have a friend who is planning to drive them down to good ole Carolina. WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR?? Bill Wenger and family are still at the Air Force Academy. Bill has been there long enough that he can now talk sh--.

I would like to take this time to say "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you" to each and everyone for your generous and timely donations to get our monumnet for the ABN and Special Operations Museum. We not only exceeded the amount for one monument, we also have enough to place another one at our new team complex. Although we had a bad winter, the complex is coming along nicely and we're scheduled to have the dedication in the spring of '04. The date for the monument unveiling at the museum is presently on hold. The Board of Directors are pursuing a different company to supply the stones. (Ye-Ah "Team 6" we corrected the wings.)

Tom O'Hara, class of '66 and owner of Gone Bananas Beach Bikini Shop in San Diego is going through heart surgery for the second time this year. His body rejected some of the materials used. This time the Docs will replace metal with plastic. Tom aslo lost his son a few years ago in a mid-air mishap. Hope by the time your read this Tom, you're up and back to work. Just got word that Alsee Richardson is having neck surgery out in Oakland. Got to where he couldn't even button his shirt. Good Luck Alsee, We're thinking of you.

Had a quick call from Dan Williams. He and Bob McDermott get together and play golf ever so often. Dave Rodriquez is doing ok. He is still with the Sherriff's Department in St. Louis. He and Bob "Chappie" Chapman link up in St. Louis to come to the reunions. See you both at the next one!

Kevin and Stacey Breaux are now in Copperas Cove, TX breeding some high class dachshunds. Nice e-mail from Paul Horn updating me on the past 20 some years. He's done really well as we all knew he would, since he always gave 100% when he was on the team. He also sent a check for 10 years of back dues. Now your conscience is clear and... we love ya, man. Paul also got me in touch with old friend, MG Ken Jolemore. Thanks Paul!

Will everyone please update us on e-mail addresses and for goodness sake notify us when you move. Speaking of email the GKAAUSAPT address is no longer valid. Please send all e-mail to me at: wrspider@aol.com.

Coy. O. and Rick Young called the same night, both wanting and "Oldie-Goldie" weekend; so along with Gary Ocenas and a few more, there will be an impromptu get-together at Raeford on the 12th, 13th and 14th of September. Nothing is planned, we just do everybody's thing, so keep in touch 'cause ain't nothing promised.

Ed Sanders, father of the famous Sander's girls is getting married in September. Best of Luck, Ed, she's a real sweet lady.

JUST IN:
Jim and Jane Garvey are hosting the real "Oldie-Goldie" at their home in Westercille, Ohio, the 8th - 10th of August, 03. Tel. # (610)890-7450 and email is garveyjames@earthlink.com . Please notify them ASAP if you plan to attend. They have to plan for food and beverages. And it is well organized: shopping, state fair, the arts and golf.

For all alumni who are planning to attend the '03 Reunion in Dec., we are planning our GK monument unveiling on Sat. the 6th at 11:00am at the Airborne and Special Ops. Museum. Let's have a great turn-out for the reunion and the unveiling!! The museum is located at the corner of Hay St. and Bragg Blvd.

John and Margaret Tippy are still managing our "safe house" in Hawaii. Ran into Annie Gallagher Gross at the "Festival of Flight". She's remarried and doing great. Brice Swindell was visiting his family in Alabama recently and on the way home he stopped off to see former Aviator of the Year, Johnny Gressett. Johnny is doing fine. He's collecting old farm tractors. We are sorry to learn of the loss of his wife. Find it hard to believe that Candice Mohler won't be answering the phone anymore; but happy that she found a job in Fl. and can transfer to be with Gary. Will surely miss that gal. She had a great "farewell" from the guys. Team that is!!

Would you belive Pvt. Sean Sweeney is in jump school? Where have the years gone to? I remember when Papa Sweeney was his age. Everyone, put Dan Williams on your prayer list. He is being treated for prostate cancer. Jerry Bourquin is keeping tabs on him while he is taking the radiation treatments. It was discovered early and things look good. Dan, we will see you in Decemberher.

Memorial services for Jeff Moon is schedule for July 18th. For further information contact Bruce Wicks @ (910) 487-3941 or e-mail wicksbk@aol.com.

Well folks, it's been a year of heartache and happiness, good times and bad, but we've weathered the storms of life and I think it has made us all stronger. I know it has me. Take care my brothers and I hope to see a lot of you at the Reunion.

Love Ya, Man,

Spider

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New Team Commander
LTC Paul MacNamara

... comes to the Team from the US Army Special Ops. Command, where he was Chief of Training. And with his background credentials, the Team continues to be in good hands.

Good Luck, Sir.

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