ICQ & Potpourri Mail - 2012
Informal or Partial Messages
Most recent first...as determined by arrival.
April 30, 2012
From: Blaine Emanis at emaniswb@sbcglobal.net
Subject: Bad Weather & Government
George, glad to hear that you are still alive and kicking.
Also glad to know that you still have a sense of humor. Hope everything is alright after those terrible storms.
Hang in there, your friend ... Blaine [482nd Tech. Rep.]
ANSWERING Blaine's forwarded mail in response to excessive Government intrusion on the right to bare arms as they see fit, etc.
GCW wrote: "Do I keep a loaded gun(s) in the house? Just the ones that go bang or boom. All old people keep them loaded ... that way they don't have to remember what the hell they did with the bullets or shells. Don't pack one, however. Too damned heavy at my age. I just need something that will blow out windows and kill cats."
April 13; 10:30
A VERY TIRED and frustrated web-master here ... anyone checking the 482nd web-page will know it has been a mess for a couple weeks and still not up to snuff. BUT have restored most of the data to its expected place. Biggest problem at the moment is that the lower half of the title page is not responding to every trick I've tried to reduce the text width. Let me know if you see anything else that is not present or has obvious data missing. We were hit by MULTIPLE problems ... hacked in 4 or more ways ... not an accident or domain shutdown problem.
DAMN boys...this is getting hard.
George C.
T/Sgt Eugene Wilson Doss
Jan 12, 1930 - Mar 31, 2012
482nd Reunion "Barbeque Specialist"
Mar 3, 2012
From: James Cunningham at hematite2@bellsouth.net
Subject: Bad Weather
Glad to see from your post that things survived the storms at your house. They made up East of us around Nashville and went on East from there. Got a lot of wind (straight line) but little rain and no damage. Had planned to mail you and ask since most of the destruction was quite close. Upon checking the web site (a nightly routine), found the welcoming news. The tornado that got Clarksville in '90 came down the highway about 100 yards from the house. Woke me up which is a major feat itself. Must have been in the air because there was no damage around here. But 10 miles away in town things really got ripped apart.
Glad you and Mama are safe. Stay that way!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mar 4 --- GCW here: Thanks Jim. Its bad. The death toll is still rising. A family of five completed today with the passing of the third child, in the Henryville, IN area. Saw some CBS motion pictures there on tonight's news ... didn't see anything left standing. Snow forecast for tonight (will ruin photographs/damage uncovered furniture etc). One woman was interviewed and said that whatever she could clean up to help, was one less thing for someone else to do. Tried to watch what the men were doing ... seemed like they were keeping two-by-fours or better, while junking siding and misc wood where the walls went down. I didn't see anything un-damaged ... 50% or worse. CBS talked to the guys working for lights, water, and phone services ... all just shook their heads. No way to quantify it.
Mar 3, 2012
From: Geo. Willick
About: The Twin Tornados yesterday.
I was in the local tornado of 1974 ... it passed directly over the factory I was working in, a little after 4 in the afternoon (we were on overtime), and only two things I recall are still fresh, 1) the roof lifted in sections, letting in light and then slaming back down, and 2) it sounded like a freight train.
Yesterday, it didn't sound like a train. One BIG roar, coming from miles away, crossing the Ohio River just below Madison, tearing across the hilltop on the Milton, Kentucky side, and left damage there. It was loud, like a mixture of earthquake and bombers, with a roar that hurt the ears. It dropped large hale both coming and going, easily golf ball size. [I went off my front porch and got one for my wife to see and was surprised that it wasn't like ice, much lighter. Minor debris floated/dropped here and there ... mostly torn shingles and splintered wood that had been finished housing, schools and churches. (Hey ... I'm almost 75 with Alzheimers so no reason to be afraid.)
The family house was lucky once again ... no damage (so far noted).
But this is why I'm writing ... earlier in the day watching TV coverage of identical massive tornados, one tracking the other, with Henryville, IN directly in their path ... I started to cry.
My wife said something about "Its not coming here ... "
"I'm not crying for me, I'm crying for Henryville ... its about to be destroyed." And I went outside, looking west, but from the get-go the roaring sound was from the southwest.
The storm chasers are trying to track its route and prove it was the longest tornado on the ground ... from some point in Illinois to Ohio. I sure wouldn't bet against it.
We lost 4 people in our county (Jefferson) before the first tornado crossed into Kentucky. Unfortunately, my premonition was correct for Henryville ... pretty well wiped out ... schools, churches, etc. Have no idea how to help those people.
Feb 22, 2012
From: Nick Luzie at nluzie@yahoo.com
Have been married 9 years. Met at meeting of people in the same boat, "To Live Again" a group of widows and widowers. We were snowbirds for a number of years staying 3 or 4 months at a time, in Pierpoint, Stuart Fla. We spend the Summers in Cape May, NJ. Our house is only a couple miles from the beach and we can walk to the bay beach. We just live the re-tired life, and we love it. The rest of the time we live in our townhouse in PA.
It was good to hear from you, I haven't heard from any one in a number of years.
Nick
Feb 21, 2012
Subject: I Am Engaged
From: Richard Fairlamb at rcfairlamb@tx.rr.com
Hello to all…..Good Greetings and Salutations.
I wish you all to know that on Monday, February 5, 2012 at a family dinner party in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii, I proposed marriage to Miss Carol Terrell of Celina, TX—and she accepted…..foolish girl!!! But she’s pretty cagey, as she has not yet agreed to a date for the wedding.
Apologies for not informing sooner….but I’ve been a bit busy. Carol & I spent a full week on Oahu, and then spent the following week in San Antonio, TX, where I was teaching a DRII course. And where I was introduced to her entire side of the family!
Carol Terrell is a Native Texan; born in San Antonio, TX, on 14 July 1957; she is 54 years old. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 1984. We were colleagues at General Dynamics in 1988-1989, and became re-acquainted last Summer (2011). Carol has not ever married. She has a 23 year old son, who is a Marine, an E6 (Tech Sergeant), and a recruiter in Durant, OK, and McKinney & Plano, TX. She also has a 2 ½ year old GrandDaughter, who is the apple of Carol’s eye.
Carol graduated with a BS in Industrial Engineering. She was a Systems Engineer at GD/Lockheed Martin Tactical Systems for 18 years, and moved to Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems in McKinney, TX, in 2005 as a Senior Systems Engineer. At this time, Carol is the Whole Life Cycle Systems Engineer with responsibility for provisioning spares for all USAF UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles-Drones), world-wide. Pretty smart and capable; needless to say, I will have to run a good race, just to keep up with her!
The Engagement Party in Kailua was attended by both my daughters, Tina and Nadia, their significant others/friends, and by Nadia’s Godparents from Australia, Bob & Robyn Fuller. So,….there’s pretty much no way I can back out of this situation!
Please welcome the very beautiful, loving, intelligent, capable and happy Carol into my circle of family, friends and colleagues.
With all Best regards, Great Happiness and Joy,
Richard
Feb 11, 2012
From: Nicolo Luzie at nluzie@yahoo.com
Hey George, It's me. Haven't heard from anyone in quite a while.
Nick
Feb 3, 2012
From: Roger McCumber at Or1851@aol.com.
Hi George,
I'm finally going to retire March 2, so my work email will no longer respond. The above is my new home email.
My body is finally mostly recovered from the Chemotherapy. It did a great job on the cancer, but I don't wish it on anyone. It's pretty nasty stuff and does a number on your body.
Wish you the best. As bad as the cancer/chemo was, I'd rather go thru that than the crap you're dealing with.
Hang tough, buddy ... Roger
GCW here: Thanks. No sweat - piece of cake - Mom showed me how to do it.
Jan 21, 2012
GCW here: "It occurs to me that I have a shameful habit in regards to obituary research."
"I have no idea why ... but every time I run across the death of a DDS (or other dentist) ... I smile and always feel better about Life. Most disturbing ... no ethics left in me I fear ... or teeth."
From: LTC Russell L. Rickert/CAP
To: AF16526225@yahoo.com
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Today, Jan 17, 2012 I was browsing the Web and came across the 482nd FIS "Share Your Memories" page and was reading some of the posts when I came upon the name of the late S/SGT Harold Absher in Harold Hinson's posting. That name certainly brought back memories of the Seymour Johnson Base Aero Club of which I was a member in 1960. In 1959 I had just recieved my Private Pilot certificate and had been mostly flying tail draggers (7ACs, J3s) and PA-22s when Sgt Absher asked me if I would like to fly a T-34. Of course I jumped at the opportunity and on April 9th, 1960 we rolled out N2592B (The aero club's high performance T-34 aircraft) and Sgt. Absher let me fly the plane for almost one hour. Needless to say this was one of the highlights of my flying career. Since then I have upgraded my credentials to an commercial/instrument ticket and have logged over 2,600 hours. In January of 2010 I was awarded the FAA's Master Pilot Award for 50 years of flying without an accident or citation for that period of time. It just shows how one person can inspire another to pursue a dream. I was very sorry to hear of his passing.
Jan 18, 2012
From Col. Jose Stuntz at jstuntz1@verizon.net
Subject: 482nd info
"Hi George ... An old friend sent me your 482nd history, and after finally finding the stuff, I'd like to share some filler with you ... orders, pictures, citations. In addition, I'd like for you to forgive me for leaving you hanging all these years when you were kind enough to include me in our "spotty" past.
"If, in relenting, you can find it in your heart, please pass on the contact info for Nate Pessah and Dave Connett. God Bless you ... Jose."
GCW here: "Jose included various contact information which I will forward to any Officer/Airman that wishes to make phone contact. The web is becoming a bit too unethical to trust with personal information. Good to hear from you Colonel ... I NEVER gave up on you!"
T/Sgt William Everett PAFFORD
Sept 6, 1930 - Jan 12, 2012
Jan 13, 2012
GCW here:
FRIDAY the 13th.
Peachie and I were married on Friday the 13th ... 51 years ago.
Hardly lavish ... daughters (6), grandchildren (15), step grandchild (1), and great-grandchildren (2). Losses, 1 son at birth. I call that lucky as odds go ... just wish I could remember their names and husband's names.
Because so many of us are gone, or lost wives or children ... I have nothing to add. But the big clock on the wall keeps ticking and its message is for us all. Good luck, God bless.
George C.
Jan 12, 2012
From: Don Wieser at superkraut99@webtv.net
To help save the economy, the Government will announce next month that the Immigration Department will start deporting seniors instead of illegals in order to lower Social Security and Medicare costs. Older people are easier to catch and will not remember how to get back home.
I started to cry when I thought of you. Then it dawned on me ... oh, crap ... I'll see you on the bus!
[GCW here: NOTE: Gotta get this man something to do. :) ]
Date: Jan 6, 2012
From: Don Wieser at superkraut99@webtv.net
Can't touch my toes {bad back} but WILL watch them!
You may be shorter but no less crazy!
[GCW here: True, true ... but it keeps the girls away ... something sure as hell does!]
Jan 1, 2012
From: James Cunningham at hematite2@bellsouth.net
Guess since the site is still up you either fixed or bluffed someone. Whichever, congratulations and am glad for it to still be there!
Wishing you and the lovely "Better Half" a most prosperous, healthy, and satisfying year ever!
"Better Half" and Jim ... "The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime!"
Jan 1, 2012
From: 482nd FIS - Webmaster
Subject: Semi-WebPage-Extention
2012. I'm surprised to be here.
Some years back, at one of the later Reunions, a collection was taken-up to help the 482nd web-page cover costs. At that point in time, I had just renewed for several years and my web server had a policy of 2/3 years maximum out-reach. So I declined and Tom held the funds. Apparently, when he became ill, he sent the funds to the web server anyway. At which point, my time to renew had dropped under the limit and the Reunion funds were simply added to mine ... unknown to me.
When I decided my time and health issues were reaching a point of no return, I knew my domain renewal was near at hand and opted to excuse myself and warned the membership to copy anything they wanted to save. Which triggered a search from one of the domain clerks that turned up the Reunion money ... enough for about five months, minus a perk or two.
Therefore, if that holds up, I think I can make the five months ... so, as it currently stands (and might change tomorrow), the 482nd FIS has until late Spring.
Please don't mis-understand and send more money. I just want to use up whats been paid in good faith, as there is no way that I can see to return those funds to the rightful donors and it would be a shame not to use the time (and only a small inconvenience for me) ... and it will also lengthen everyones opportunity to backup the web pages they might want to keep.
(Incidentally, anyone having any luck at that?)
Old George C. :)