honor-roll-memories

58B Classmates Recall
Their Memories of those on our Honor Roll

This page was inspired by Dorie Dowell (Miss Young, 7th Squadron). Dorie sent the following message to me on December 17, 2000: "Seeing your Christmas card made me realize that even though we have honored our fallen comrades with a nice tree and plaque, their identities on the website are still just a picture, and I know nothing about them other than OCS memories. After the new year, it might be a good gesture to poll the e-mail folk in an effort to collect some information about these men as well as some memories about them. We have two widows who could shed some biographical material, and then the rest of us could fill in what they know - where they came from and what happened to them -- and others could fill in with a special memory. 

 

 

Subject: What a nice thought!
Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2000 19:42:59 EST
From:  [email protected] 
 
I still have to laugh about the time Mr. Barnett lost his shirt garters right in front of the reviewing stand. First class was all over him like flies as he left the parade field. I wonder how many hours he walked for that one, though it wasn't his fault. And I also remember many ramp tours walking step by step alongside Mr. Van Drew. He was chairman of the honor council and such a nice man.   

Remembering those who have passed on is a tribute to their memory. After all, it is a short trip from a biography to an obituary. 
Edward Garcia wrote:

The OCS "experience" has always been an endeavor that I take great pride in. It changed my life so dramatically that I hate to think what kind of life my family and I might have had without it. None of us knew all of us while cooperating to graduate... we were all working very hard to make a success of an opportunity not given to many.. so when graduation day came the reality is that many "strangers" scattered to the four corners of the globe in pursuit of a destiny yet to be realized. It is only now because of the efforts of our beloved Ollie, Our Irish Don "The Quinn" and Tiny Jim Colvig and his wonderful wife Lane, and all the others who worked so hard to give us a great reunion, that we realize just how truly wonderful those folks were with whom we struggled so hard so long ago. Ollie has asked that we not forget those on the Honor Roll. How can we forget that bandy legged, skinny and very funny Ben Cacciamani ? Lenny Dice... he was smarter than most but tried to act the dry wit type.. Norman West was another very bright light that kept a pleasant personality even in the darkest of times. John Henry could be mischievous and then be a picture of innocence..... Bob Burt was a lot of fun and a little wild... so those are my memories of some of those a few steps down the road from us.. I'm sure you all have yours.... the point is the OCS "Experience" isn't over... not by a long shot! There is a lot more to come at our future grand and mini reunions... I love you all and wish you good health, happiness and continued joy in the blessings of your families.
Subject: Bio Info
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2001 14:43:15 -0600
From: "Jim Marx" <[email protected]> 

Carlton Buchart

I was sitting at the bar in the Pleiku O-Club in December 1968, when from behind me, a deep voice boomed out "Those are mighty new looking oak leaves, mister." When I turned around, it was Carlton with a wry grin on his face. We had a great evening updating each other on our escapades since OCS.

Since I was just there on a staff visit from Tan Son Nhut, I didn't have the pleasure of any more contact with him.

A salute to a great classmate,

Jim
Subject: 

It was a big surprise when Carlton Buchart arrived to replace me as Squadron Commander of the 1977th Communications Squadron, Panama Canal,  in 1970.  Needless to say we proceeded to recall our saga associated with OCS.

Ollie
Subject: Joe Rita
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2001 19:22:17 EST
From: [email protected]

Hi Ollie, 
Was looking at the file you posted for Russ Ross info on 1st Sq and found 
that I gave you bad info on Joe Rita. The address for his son's e-mail is 
long obsolete and Joe is now at [email protected]. 

Also looking at our Honor Roll for Ben Cacciamani. He and I were 
stationed together at Kincheloe AFB, MI in the Upper Peninsula right after 
Graduation. He was a Personnel Officer and I was Statistical Services (now 
Data Systems). We had a number of long chats when I decided to leave Active 
Duty in 1960 for personal reasons and he tried hard to convince me to stay 
Active thinking I was throwing my career away. Wish I had been able to tell 
him that I was fortunate to be accepted for recall to Active Duty 2 short 
years later in 1962 and had a wonderful career from then to retirement. 
Bob Wallace
Subject: Jay Yawger
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 17:26:31 -0500
From: "Frank Chavers"  <[email protected]>  
Organization: Brevard Family of Housing Authorities
To: "Prentis L. Ollis"  <[email protected]>  

Ollie, An update on Jay Yawger, We were roommates during upper class and spent several
sessions with Jay trying to hypnotize me and never succeeding. After OCS we both went to
Moore A.B. Mission, Texas for pilot training. Jay and I had the same instructor along with
Edward White a navigator who was going through pilot training. I held over at Moore while
Jay and Ed went to Laredo. During the six weeks hold over Jay and Ed were in a mid air. Ed was flying solo coming down the back side of a lazy eight when he sliced Jays aircraft in half between the pilot seats. The instructor ejected and Jay went in with the bird.

Frank.
Subject: Re: honor-roll-memories
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 21:56:19 EST
From: [email protected]

HI OLLIE-I have been remiss in adding to the honor roll memories. John Amesbury Edwards and I came from Mather AFB to OCS along with Ruley (2nd Sq). I saw John several times at Keesler in the early 60's. I moved my family to Colo Springs in Aug 68 when xfering from exchange duty with the RCAF to Korat RTAFB. John had just had cancer surgery at the Air Force Academy Hospital. He had finished a tour on SAC Airborne Command Post and was stationed at Cheyene Mountain with NORAD. He passed away in Jan or Feb 1969. I think his wife and family returned to Idaho.
Jim & Lane Colvig wrote:

Quite often we ask ourselves hard to answer questions, like: "What is a sonofabitch? "

And we wax philosophic with metaphysical postulations, incomplete aphorisms and inconsistent sophism that make one more and more sure that the only true thing is that a picture is worth a thousand words.

In this photo, the guy on the right is a member of a bomb squad in the midst of deactivation. The guy behind him, well, he's a sonofabitch.

Subject: Re: SonofABitch
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 20:21:26 -0700
From: George Crongeyer <[email protected]>
To: Jim & Lane Colvig <[email protected]>

Mr. Durward Price of 58B, 2nd Sq. was a demolition NCO. One day in open ranks while standing behind Mr. Price, an upper classman (I think it was Mr.Sheeders) asked Mr. Price what his specialty was prior to OCS. Mr. Price told him and the response was something like "What was so good about that job?". Remember that Sheeders was behind Mr. price as Mr. price said "Sir, no one looks over your shoulder". My smirking put Sheeders directly in front of me. Sheeders had this problem that when he became agitated a blood vessel would enlarge very noticeably across his forehead. That day his face was redder than a baboon's ass and the vessel was throbbing.

Strange, the pleasant things you remember about OCS.

George