Officer Candidate School Class 57C December 2001 Newsletter

President-Jack Fox Vice President-Gil Whiteman Treasurer-Phil Meek Secretary-Dave Harvey

JACK’S CORNER: A former member of our OCS group admonished me for sending messages when I lacked something important to say. A sensible suggestion except he offered no guidelines for evaluating what is important and what is trivial. I consider the next five months important, wishing you all a joyous holiday season and hope you can arrange to join us in Las Vegas next April. These accomplishments may not be as simple as in past years, but if we go about our lives as before September 11, good times will return someday. I'm confident our OCS members are setting a positive example for our comrades, friends and families. You've probably noticed a change in attitude toward those who served in the armed forces. A welcome change, especially for us living on the left coast where patriotism has been rather dormant since Vietnam.

At the top of my wish list is reuniting with classmates and wives who haven't had an opportunity to attend any of the four reunions held since June 1999. I suspect most of our members who have attended at least one of the gatherings have similar desires. The excitement is growing as plans for Las Vegas fall into place. We expect to improve on the Laughlin experience - there will be surprises.

There are important issues needing resolution at our next class business meeting. Send discussion items to me for inclusion in the March 2002 newsletter. Gathering our thoughts beforehand will make our meeting much more productive. Jack

GIL’S GAB: I know that we all share the same sadness and outrage over the heinous, savage, barbaric attacks of September 11, 2001. I know, too, that we keep in our prayers those who lost loved ones on that day. We are all seriously concerned for our military folks who are now attempting to bring the culprits to atonement and justice. My personal hope is that the mass media does not lend its hand to the enemy with its zealous “reporting,” thus interfering with our mission and the ongoing operations. We had that problem with America’s wayward press during the Vietnam war, and that was before the days of electronic news gathering and CNN.

On a more pleasant note . . . As mentioned by Jack, and as shown by the registration updates that are put out periodically by Dennis, we’re all looking forward to a wonderful reunion in Las Vegas in April 2002! The survey responses last year indicated that most of our classmates want more time to interact, without a lot of structure. So, this time we have arranged for a hospitality suite that will accommodate that desire, and have left sufficient time for renewing friendships. The few things that are planned on the schedule (the floor show, our class meeting, the Thunderbird museum tour, our banquet -- and golf for those who are interested) provide sufficient “organized activity.” Turnout so far looks promising, and we all hope that more and more of our classmates (as well as 57B and 57D guests) will sign-up for the reunion.

If the heartfelt emotions of our first reunion in Laughlin during 2000 and the smiles and sincere feelings of our laid-back weekend in Connecticut in 2001 are any indication, we’ll have a GREAT time in Las Vegas in April 2002.

A current class roster is attached to this newsletter. We hope you will find it useful for your holiday greetings. Looking forward to seeing all of you in the spring. Gil

HARV’S HARPINGS: I know that to say some things is to create a jinx or a set up a sure thing. Things like, “He’s bowling a perfect game.” Or, “He’s about to sink this putt.”… are what I’m talking about. That putt will miss or the pins don’t fall is the usual result. Despite that particular jinx thing I feel it particularly of note that since our last newsletter, a whole quarter of a year, no member had a seriously life threatening situation nor did anyone pass on. Not that we did not have had reason to pray and support ourselves, but let’s face it, September 11 was the situation we had to face and that was quite enough. Operations and medical problems are the norm for folk at our stage of development but…Thanksgiving this year is blessed by a sincere scarcity of sadness in this respect.

It is once again my sad duty to bring you correspondence recently received. Those of you from 6th Squadron may be particularly interested in this letter from a fellow OCS grad from 57B:

Dear OCS Friends,
I should have sent this message months ago, but it is one of the things (of which there are many) which I have put off--trying to get everything resolved that needed to be taken care of. The sad message is that Loy passed away May 20th of this year. Even though I and our family had 4 and 1/2 years to prepare for this because of his bedridden condition, it still is hard for us to deal with, because it was so sudden. He went into the hospital for a minor "glitch" with his feeding tube, etc., and a massive heart attack claimed his life. Thank you all so much for the wonderful memories you provided us with last year of your reunion; he enjoyed everything so much, his eyes would sparkle with remembrance. Thank goodness he had his mind pretty much intact through all his ordeal over the past few years, and I was able to keep him at home all that time. His favorite saying was "My home's in Heaven, I'm just here on a visit." That was part of his service, and the beautiful military honors from Scott AFB, IL were just the best I have ever seen. I love you all and appreciate your having contacted us so very much. Have a wonderful reunion next April.
Sincerely,
Helen Wilson

Also, a better duty, reports on good things:
We've made new contact with Ken (KC) Barnes. He's now retired and living in Benson, Arizona (see info on current roster). He and Marilyn just celebrated their 50th anniversary. Dr. Roger Singer is one of the few among us still working. He just took on added duties as a clinical psychologist in a juvenile incarceration center in New Jersey. Heard from Paul (PD) and Audrey Parton. They're still active with their campground and motel in Idaho. And finally, from one of our brothers:

Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2001 22:38:48 EST
Hope you are doing well.
Operation was a breeze. The doc removed three spinal processes. I saw him 10 days later and he said my degree of recovery exceeded ones of eight weeks. No more pain in the ass, or legs. It's good to be pain free and flexible again. Anybody want a back surgeon, tell 'em where to come.
In Brotherhood,
Sam Houston

I do look back over the past year and a half, the time since our reunion in 2000 at Laughlin, and a lot of stuff has gone on. In particular I have had the pleasure to watch a lot of planning, work, newsgathering, and information dissemination going on. It has been a day brightening and life uplifting series of events for me and my whole family. Without all this activity my dreary life would have been a lot more sedate and boring. Thank you all for that. I am sincerely looking forward to seeing everyone in April of ‘02 at Vegas. Dave

PHIL’S BILLS & THINGS:
TREASURY REPORT

Our treasury remains healthy with dues payments received during the quarter. Our current
status is as follows:

Beginning Cash Balance: $l,389.88
Receipts (Dues) 480.00
Sub-Total $l,869.88
Expenses:
Artwork (OCS Logo) 26.89
Ending Cash Balance: $l,842.99

Advance deposit on 2002 reunion 250.00

Total Assets: $2092.99

We encourage all OCS Class 57-C members to become members of the association. At present 30 class members belong to the association. The dues provide the basis for our quarterly newsletter, our reunions, and any humanitarian or commemorative projects the association may wish to undertake. Dues are $10 per year or $150 for lifetime membership. Payments for more than one year (multiples of $10) are accepted. Please remit dues to: Phil Meek, 1319 E. Palo Verde Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85014-2302.
Phil

A P.S. OF SORTS:
I can not allow so much white space to appear on my pages…In April we, as a class, will be celebrating 47 years since we first met at the sidewalk outside wing headquarters of OCS at Lackland. Most of us have memories of that day and the 180 that followed which have affected and effected our outlook on life ever since. Our lives have been forever changed and made different by the attitudes and behaviors given and enforced there. These are reflected in our lives as experiences and events which we too have passed on, whether we intended them or not, I know that I am completely engrossed in learning about the lives of the rest of our class and that is why I once again ask you to send in to me your autobiography if you have not already done so. Our New Register is big and full but never as full as it could be if only we had your life story too. It cost me a “special” plus three drinks to get one out of J.J. Egan, and a lot of “ditty closet” tours and a roll of “lounge tape” to get Dick Nagel’s. What will it cost to get yours????
Dave “The Harv” Harvey