Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/11/15 - VETERANS' DAY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9 Bombers and Don Sorenson sent stuff and 1 Bomber Memorial today: Rex HUNT ('53), Mike CLOWES ('54) Ann BISHOP ('56), Diane AVEDOVECH ('56) Margaret EHRIG ('61), Ann ENGEL ('63) David RIVERS ('65), Shirley COLLINGS ('66) Barb BELCHER ('72), Don Sorenson (NAB) *************************************************************** *************************************************************** 11/11 - VETERANS' DAY Coins on a soldier's grave: A coin left on a headstone lets the deceased soldier's family know that somebody stopped by to pay their respect. Leaving a penny means you visited. A nickel means you and the deceased soldier trained at boot camp together. If you served with the soldier, you leave a dime. A quarter is very significant because it means that you were there when that soldier died. BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Bev COATES ('52) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jack SINDERSON ('53) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Bob JOHNSON ('54) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Ted NETH ('55) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Don BRACKENBUSH ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Don ECKERT ('64) 70 in '15 BOMBER ANNIVERSARY Today: Jerry BOYD ('52) & Patsy McGREGOR ('54) BOMBER CALENDAR: Richland Bombers Calendar Click the event you want to know more about. *************************************************************** *************************************************************** >>From: Rex HUNT ('53) Re: Richland The uniqueness of Richland/Hanford is based on the diversity... So many people from so many different places with so much different backgrounds. There were people from every strata, Some highly educated, many not so much, forced to live in a barren place in the middle of nowhere that most of us found to be a paradise. The family dynamics were as diverse as the accents and drawls. Some had never left the farm till that major upheaval, I personally came from a small town in Central Louisiana. But my step dad had been employed by the government for several years when we were sent to Hanford. I had never had to make friends. I had grown up with neighbors and their kids and we just were friends. Richland offered a new concept both in the schools being so much MORE of everything. and we lived in a small trailer upon arrival. (what a shock to my system) to all the strange kids with strange ideas. New games, new places and the magnificent rivers. We had a shallow muddy bayou, about 20 feet wide except in flood time. So all of it was strange and wonderful. Mom and dad both worked, but mom kept a lot of her home upbringing. When a new family moved in near us, she made something for them to eat. As they busily unloaded their car, Mom took it over so they could feel a bit less lost. Well enough... just random thoughts. -Rex HUNT ('53wb) ~ Hanford, CA *************************************************************** *************************************************************** >>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) On this day of commemoration for the end of the "War to End All Wars", let me add my belated congratulations to The Corps on having lasted as long as they have (Harry Truman not withstanding). But we got more important things to take care of; like 4 birthdays and an anniversary (almost sounds like a movie title). The anniversary is that of Jerry Boyd ('52) and Patsy McGREGOR ('54). Don't know how long it has been, but good going guys! The birthdays celebrate on Bomber Babe and 3 guys who happen to be Bombers. I shall do this in order of appearance. The Bomber Babe in question is Bev COATES ('52). Next comes Jack SINDERSON ('53); followed by fellow classmate Bob JOHNSON ('54) and last (but not least) Ted NETH ('55). A quadruple tip of the ol' propeller beanie and a hearty "Happy Birthday!" shout out to all of you on attaining another year. -Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) ~ Mount Angel, OR where the lull between monsoons doesn't seem be as long as it has been. *************************************************************** *************************************************************** >>From: Sara Ousley, aka Ann BISHOP ('56) To: Gary BEHYMER ('64) I lived at 1523 Mahan, across from Jack MOORMAN, until I joined the Women Marines in November, 1956. As for the "jack of all trades" dads, not my stepdad! I'm not sure Sam knew which end of a hammer was the working end, or how to use a drill (hand OR electric! He replaced the brakes on our car one time and had 'parts left over'... his comment? "Oh h***, they weren't necessary anyway". Give him a locomotive and he could tar that thing apart and put it back together again. I saw him sit at a crossing one time, listening to the diesel and KNEW that there was a problem, and what it was. He could look at a blueprint of one and tell you where every wire started and ended and what it was for. He was the first Diesel Electric Engineer trained by the Santa FE railroad. My folks left Richland in 1957 when Sam went to work for PanCanal and they moved to the Canal Zone in Panama. Seems like a "hunnert years" ago! -Sara Ousley, aka Ann BISHOP ('56) ~ Texarkana, AR *************************************************************** *************************************************************** >>From: Diane AVEDOVECH ('56) Re: Mr. Harding I also had Mr. Harding in math at Chief Joseph Jr. High and he saved my bacon, so to speak. When my parents finally got me to admit that I didn't understand math, they made me go to Mr. Harding and confess. He went the extra mile, stayed after school with me and tutored me until I finally got through my thick head how math worked and finally, "I got it!" Many years later when teaching microbiology, biology, anatomy/physiology and Introductory pathology at the community college level I found myself spending numerous hours after school, or even on weekends, tutoring several students at a time to help them get over the hurdles of brain block on challenging subjects. I have Mr. Harding as one of the most worthwhile examples of putting students first in helping students who just don't initially get it! Thank you. Mr. Harding. -Diane AVEDOVECH ('56) *************************************************************** *************************************************************** >>From: Margaret EHRIG Dunn ('61) Judy WILLOX ('61) Pat DORISS Trimble ('65) Betti AVANT ('69) Re: All-Bomber Lunch, aka Patti's All Bomber Lunch To: All Richland/Col-Hi Bombers Last weekend was the West Richland Veterans' Day Parade and today (the 11th) is the anniversary of the end of the First World War which is now the day when we honor all veterans. This coming weekend is when we can get together to celebrate a good time and conversation with old and new friends that are Richland Bombers of any age. WHEN: Saturday, November 14, 2015 (always 2nd Saturday) TIME: We gather about noon or 12:30 WHERE: JD DINER, 3790 West Van Giesen, West Richland (Second building on the right after crossing the Yakima River Bridge.) Hope to see you there. -Margaret EHRIG Dunn ('61) -Judy WILLOX (Classic Class of '61) ~ Richland -Pat DORISS Trimble ('65) -Betti AVANT ('69) *************************************************************** *************************************************************** >>From: Ann ENGEL Schafer ('63) All this talk about where we lived has brought back great memories but also I thought David DOUGLAS ('62) lived behind me on Cottonwood. I lived at 407 Birch and who ever I talked to over the fence was a year older that me. If you remember talking to Ann ENGEL let me know who you were/are. -Ann ENGEL Schafer ('63) *************************************************************** *************************************************************** >>From: David RIVERS ('65) Re: Welcome Home my brothers and sisters If I couldn't be born on November 10th... November 11th would be a good choice... missed both... ALSO I jumped the gun yesterday on Doug LUKENS ('62) and was a month early... ah well... so the b-day Bomber today has an easy b-day to remember... and today we remember our fallen brothers and sisters and those among us who were blessed to come home... It wasn't the Disneyland world we remembered and not the land of the big PX as we had anticipated. .. in my day and many of yours we were not welcomed home and we were called names and spat upon... the Hell's Angels rescued me and I will always be grateful to those men who took so many of us in till we were ready to face the outside again... many are home in body only and many are home only partly in body... war is very real and if you ain't seen it you really don't know what's going on in the heads of the veterans you meet on the street... they were kids with guns in a place they didn't really want to be and the order of the day was to stay alive... they did not fight because they hated someone (tho hate does set in... it cannot be avoided)... they fought because they loved you and the United States of America. I am grateful that today's Vets are receiving a welcome home... the one we never got... when you see Viet vets most of us welcome each other home tho it's been years since we got back... it's just what we do... When Terry DAVIS ('65) first began speaking to Viet Vets, he asked what to say... I told him open and close with: "Welcome home and thank you for your service"... he does and gets standing ovations every time... and he means every word... so thank you my brothers and sisters I love each and every one of you... and if nobody told you today... Welcome home and Thank you for your service... the lucky duck to have been born on this day gets a hardy HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Don ECKERT ('64) on your special day, November 1, 2015!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozpdBvB0hek&feature=youtu.be -David RIVERS ('65) *************************************************************** *************************************************************** >>From: Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) Re: Veteran's Day We honor our 1966 classmates who served so bravely in the military. And to those classmates who gave their lives, we ask a blessing of peace... http://richlandbombers.1966.tripod.com/66military.html Those who live in freedom will always be grateful to those who helped preserve it. Happy Veteran's Day ~ -Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) ~ Richland *************************************************************** *************************************************************** >>From: Barb BELCHER Valinske ('72) Re: Mr. Anderson at Spalding Thanks, Linda REINING ('64), for remembering my grandpa, Craig Anderson (RIP). He was a sixth grade teacher at Spalding for (I think) 27 years - all in the same room. I think he was probably a very good teacher - at least, he was a fantastic grandpa, and I miss his common sense and wisdom every day. It makes me feel really good that he isn't forgotten. -Barb BELCHER Valinske ('72) ~ Olympia, WA, where winter storm warnings are up for later this week, after having a wonderful fall. *************************************************************** *************************************************************** >>From: Don Sorenson (NAB) Re: Veterans' Day To All Bombers, November 11th Veterans' Day. A day of remembrance and reflection for those who knew service above self, witnessed events too tragic to recall and their comrades who shared the same. When I was younger I did not appreciate the magnitude of that kind of service. I can remember having some romantic notions of what it must have been like. How foolish I was to entertain those thoughts. During my early years at Hanford I was surrounded by former service men and women. I don't remember them openly sharing that time of their lives. A few days after the Christmas of '77 or '78 I had brought to work a book on World War II my wife had given me. On break I was thumbing thru its pages when one of the Radiation Monitors leaned over my shoulder and asked me to go back a few pages. He stopped me at one of the pictures and pointed a face out to me. "the man with the beard was our cook." he said. The photo was of American P O W's being freed shortly before the war in Europe was over. That's all he said. I never approached him about it afterwards. I didn't feel it was appropriate. I tucked that memory away for a few years and did not tell folks what he had said to me. A couple of years later I had transferred to 234-5Z to work day shift and after several months I got to know a few more of the older folks in the building and learned form others where they served and some of their experiences. Fighter pilots, marines who served in the Pacific, paratroopers and infantry. Ground crews in England with the 8th Air Force. Knowing something about their background I respected them a little more and would set aside my youthful pride and allowed them to teach me in some of the finer points of working at 234-5Z. Fast forward a couple of decades about the time I discovered the Sandstorm I exchanged emails with a Bomber and she told me of an instance while riding the bus back home it passed the Uptown Theater and on the marquee was the film title "And Three Came Home". The woman who was sitting next to her mentions "I knew Mrs. Keith"! The woman goes on to tell her about the atrocities inflicted by their captors. When I finished the email I thought about the men I had worked with so many years ago that served in that terrible war and wondered if any one at Hanford could have been one of the service men that freed her and others. Getting back to that RM who pointed out that photo in my book. I boarded the bus to go home after swing shift at PUREX he sat next to me and remarked how dark it was that evening. After a small silence between us during a quiet ride back to town he told me of his capture by the Germans after running out of ammo following a long engagement. That was the last I spoke to him. He passed away a few months later. At the funeral many of the veterans I came to know attended his service. Afterwards I followed them for a few paces and listened as close as I could to be taught a little more. -Don Sorenson (NAB) *************************************************************** *************************************************************** Bomber Memorial >>Darrell DesCHANE ~ Class of 1954 ~ 1936 - 2015 Bomber Memorials *************************************************************** *************************************************************** That's it for today. Please send more. ***************************************************************