SEP2004News
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USAF Officer Candidate School -- Class 1957C
Newsletter: September 2004 Our Staff: President . . . . . . . . . . Jack Fox Vice President. . . . . . . Dale Shipley Secretary. . . . . . . . . . Dave Harvey Treasurer. . . . . . . . . . Phil Meek Webmaster. . . . . . . . . Dick Nagel Photographer . . . . . . . Bobby Sims Golf Pro . . . . . . . . . Milt Jones Bar Tender . . . . . . . . . Frank Walls Gopher . . . . . . . . . Dennis Goudy |
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Our Website:
WWW.Webspawner.com/user/ocsclass57c/index.html
JACK’S CORNER: (JACK FOX)
It has been said by some of our members that I haven't seen a reunion that I didn't like - a true statement for which I offer no apologies. Our gathering last April in Las Vegas was another fine affair and I wish to thank all who attended. Besides the attendees, we all owe a debt of gratitude to the members of the planning committee who cooperated in every way to make the reunion enjoyable. The main topic for discussion at our business meeting revolved around the suggestion to hold the next gathering in San Antonio in 2007 - the fiftieth anniversary of our graduation from OCS. It is hoped that this reunion will develop into an all-class affair with classes 57-A, B, C and D all participating. Dick Edwards was tasked to investigate possible sites, dates and activities and he will be our man in San Antonio as this project unfolds. Members of 57-B are in favor of the idea and we should know soon if 57-A and 57-D will be on board. Since this event is almost three years away, there undoubtedly will be some such as I who would like to reunite somewhere in one or both of the intervening years. Suggestions are welcome. I hope we can arrange a European tour as a reunion before we're too far over the hill to handle the travel logistics.
One of the highlights of the Gold Coast reunion Tom Boyatt's address on world politics over the past century. His speech was a follow-up to the enlightening address delivered at the 2000 reunion in Laughlin. Despite his retired status, Tom still takes on special projects for the State Department. Have you noticed that his predictions and analysis are unfolding just as he stated, particularly those involving the terrorist situation in Iraq and Afghanistan? We can only hope that Tom is wrong about the prospects of our nation being attacked before the November election. He left us with the impression that the current administration expects such a scenario to unfold.
Watch for updates on the 2007 reunion in upcoming newsletters.
Jack
DALE’S Domain (DALE SHIPLEY)
How good are our retirement benefits? Quite often Elaine and I go to Warren AFB near Cheyenne, Wyoming or Buckley AFB near Denver, Colorado. It's a toss up between which base to visit-distance wise it is six one way and half a dozen the other.
But what I want to say is how much we enjoy visiting a small base as we were always on large bases. Each base has an excellent commissary, base exchange and pharmacy. Those at Warren are a scaled down version of those at Buckley where the sizing is based a whole lot on a large retired population. What I like about a small base is that everyone is extremely friendly, courteous and respectful. At Warren they even invite retirees and spouses to eat in the dining hall-what a change from what we had forty or fifty years ago. It is still a buffet serving line but that's about the extent of similarity. The pricing is a la carte with side dishes like salad or vegetable at about a quarter each and main entrees are around a dollar to a dollar and a half. The dining room has booths and tables. Around the walls there are several plasma type televisions. The chairs are plush with fabric seats and you don't even have to bus your dirty dishes-note that I said dishes not tin trays.
We were in Alaska recently with our daughter and her family. Alaska is pretty pricey. At Eielson AFB the entire family enjoyed Sunday brunch in the dining hall and it was a good one. Cost was about sixteen bucks and that's not bad when you're feeding four adults and two hungry boys. On Elmendorf AFB only Elaine and I could use the dining hall so for the two of us it was about five bucks for breakfast and six to seven for the noon meal-that's the cost of two meals not each. Elaine and I stayed in the VOQ at Elmendorf three nights while Susan and her crew were in an economy motel at $95.00 per night plus tax. For two nights we all stayed in the TLQ at Eielson. We had three bedrooms, bath, living room and kitchen at $32.00 per night. Then we stayed in the Fort Richardson TLQ for two nights for a little more than double the Eielson rate but still less than half the going off-base prices.
When you are traveling, I encourage you to use the USAF toll free number (1-888-AFLODGE) for your lodging. A recent policy change now allows bases to make space available reservations more than 24 hours in advance. How far in advance varies from base to base as they must consider their projected vacancy rate but in any case it is worth a try.
While I'm on the subject of saving dollars, here is a little on our experience with getting prescriptions from the base pharmacy. We make a pharmacy run for refills about once a quarter. How much would these prescriptions cost us if we didn't have base pharmacy or TRICARE for Life benefits? Out of curiosity I made a computer check on the prices for the medicines we take. We are quite fortunate with good health, age considered, but when I saw the total it was staggering. Many of those pills are a dollar, two dollars or even more. For the ninety days my bill came to $748.19 and hers was $810.78. That amounts to more than $17.00 a day. No wonder people without prescription coverage are
seriously hurting financially. Our social security would pay for less than one-third of our prescriptions. In my research, I spent very little time looking for the best prices. What I did learn is that for the same prescription the prices are sometimes more than double depending on source. Price difference is really noticeable when the source is Canadaor, Mexico. You might try a similar exercise for your prescriptions.
Our Web Page-Let's all give Dick Nagel a big round of applause and a friendly pat on the back for his work on our web page. I've looked at many other web pages and none compare with the tremendous product Dick has developed. Here is the URL http://www.webspawner.com/users/ocsclass57c/index.html and if you're like me it will be an enjoyable repast to browse the guestbook for a few moments. Take a moment and go have a look. While there, leave a note on the guestbook and give Dick some kudos.
Till next time,
Dale
PHIL’S BILLS (Phil Meek)
Our treasury remains sufficient for the forseeable future.Activity has been a bit more brisk for this period with reunion activities. My report for activities since March 1, 2004 follows:
Beginning Balance:
(March 1, 2004) $3,308.98
Receipts:
(MembershipDues:) $260.00
Sub-total $3,568.98
Disbursements:
(Reunion Expense
Exceeding Income) $474.61
Newsletter
(Mar 03 thru Mar 04) $172.45
Memorial Picture Frames $79.28
Web-Hosting
(2004-2005) $41.91
Check Printing $9.50
Total Expenses $777.75
Ending Bank Balance
(August 8, 2004) $2,791.23
Phil
SIMS'S SMILES (Bobby Sims)
If any of you have used my 2004 Reunion photo disk or have used it at Wal-Mart or the like, I would like some feedback on what successes or failures you may have had.
Bobby
DICK'S PICKS (Dick Nagel)
Betty and Dick Nagel went to the funeral home for the viewing on 5 August. Stan was dressed in his dress blue uniform with wheel hat. We gave our condolences to Nancy and met Stan and Nancy's children, grand children and great grand children - what a loving family! We attended the funeral on 6 August. It was an unusually cool, clear morning for August. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. After a service at the "Old Post Chapel" on Ft. Myers, the casket was placed on a caisson pulled by 6 horses. The lead horse was mounted. A 7th horse was ridden by an Army Sergeant. Leading the procession was the Air Force Band and Air Force Color Guard. Following the caisson was an honor guard from Stan's Shriner Temple, then the walking party which included Stan's large family, then the long procession of cars. It was a mile to the burial site. Stan was buried with his son, who died several years ago. The Air Force Band played as the funeral procession gathered. After Taps, Stan received a 21 gun salute followed by a bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace by one of Stan's friends from the Shriner's. The flag was folded and presented to Nancy. It was a beautiful ceremony! After the Funeral we attended a party to celebrate Stan's life at the Shriner's Temple.
Dick
dave's dEPOSITIONS (Dave Harvey)
Happy After-Reunion to you all. The 2004 reunion in Las Vegas is now part of the class history and has left all attendees with an enhanced appreciation for the fellowship and experiences of being together again. Though the total attendance shrinks a bit with each succeeding reunion, the degree of closeness and appreciation of those who remain is always as strong as in those heady days of the late fifties.
That Stan has been added to the list of heroes has affected us all, we regret the loss of such a dynamic and wonderful soul from our company. God knows that we, the surviving classmates, will forever be touched and feel the losses as they occur. It is with great compassion and support that I wish the Lowry family all the very best and take this opportunity to speak for the remainder of the class when I say, "Well done Stan, very well done! We salute you!"
After all that has been said, and attested to, these past few weeks, I hasten to say that I thoroughly hate and wish to remain above and beyond politics, BUT, I wish to impress upon you a feeling of extreme importance in the coming election...even a sense of urgency...please consider carefully and VOTE, don't let this chance to speak up pass you by...VOTE. Only in this way can you rightfully claim your position as a citizen and show the world that we value our democracy. To have offered a lifetime of service to our country in a time of extreme need is apparently not enough.
This issue of our newsletter is being distributed, as decided at the 2004 reunion general meeting of class 57C, to all surviving class members regardless of alumnus membership. It is with this issue that we as a class celebrate the forty-seventh anniversary of our graduation on the 20th of the month. Like each and every one of you, I have memories of that exact day which are unique to me only. We must remember however that on that day 109 of us were sworn in as officers and gentlemen and were pinned with the bright shining golden bars of a second lieutenant. From that singular special event for all of us the records began to diverge. Now we look back, converging upon that moment again... ...Do it again?
If you have any still unshared pictures or memories of those wonderful hot days in San Antonio get them to Dick Nagel right away. We all want to see them while we still can. And that goes for biographies as well.
Respectfully, Your staff
Dave
Stan Lowry
Goodbye Old Friend
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