Richard Ball Lindsay
USAFA Classes of 1959 & 1960
died on 30 October 2010
S. San Francisco, CA

Date: 27 Nov. 2010

From: Fred Marino

Subject: A reply from Fred

"It was good to hear from you after all these years. I have wondered how the class of '60 fared after graduation and the website provided many answers.

It was a privilege to be associated in any way with the Academy and especially that class. My only regret is that I could not graduate with the others.

For the purpose of the website, here is a brief update on my life since 1959:

I obtained a degree in journalism and worked chiefly in broadcasting for 45 years, serving as reporter, writer, announcer, and, in the latter half of my career, as manager of public television and radio stations in Pennsylvania, Idaho, Illinois, and Maryland. Along the way I married, raised two sons and three daughters, and today am enjoying 16 perfect grandchildren.

I retired in 2007 and spend my time fishing, bicycling, and building furniture in Virginia.

Thanks again. I appreciate your interest."

Fred Marino

Date: November 2, 2010

To: Classmates

From: Jack & Elaine Brush

Subject: Thank You One and All

Jack and Elaine Brush

Elaine and I so much enjoyed being able to host a so long till-- brunch and open house. Folks were well spaced out, but we wish we had more time to visit with everyone. Thanks for the flood of thank you notes. We welcome visits. We join you all in thanking Andi and the worker bees for the wonderful time.

Maybe we can persuade Andi to have a 51st reunion!

>Jack and Elaine Brush

Date: November 1, 2010

To: Classmates

From: Carole & Andi Biancur

Subject: Cruise Trip

"Hi, Classmates: Several of us are going on a trip together next summer and want to make sure everyone knows they are invited.

It's a River Trip with Grand Circle Travel, the same line we used two years ago to cruise up the Danube to celebrate several 70th birthdays! This trip is named: The Romance of the Rhine and Mosel, departure date August 10, 2011 from Antwerp--Group Number G123163. If you wish to join us, register at 1-800-597-2452, Option #2. Prices are somewhat higher this time, as this is a longer trip in a more expensive part of Europe. Beginning prices are $125 per person per day, double occupancy (including three fabulous meals, with wine), and some tours of cities along the way. There are many optional tours, depending on your budget. 

We hope everyone in the Class of 1960 will consider going. Friends, family, neighbors are also welcome, just like last time. You can go to www.GrandCircleTravel.com to view the ship, voted one of the Top Ten Small Ships in the world, look at the optional day tours, see comments by previous travelers, and air fares from your departure city.

Any Questions, please feel free to contact Carole at Bacfly60@msn.com or telephone (719)-488-4317.

Consider coming along....time for traveling is getting shorter each year!

Carole and Andi Biancur"

Date: October 30, 2010

Subject:  50^th Reunion Yearbook Thank You

To:  Classmates

I send my special appreciation to all of you who put up with the hounding, prodding and near threats from the Regional Agents to supply your inputs to the Yearbook. Your portraits, family pictures and Class activities snapshots added color and life to the Yearbook. Your biographies gave everyone a little view of your past 50 years. Your war stories allowed us to capture combat actions that may have been lost to many of us. And your funny stories bought me tears of laughter as I relived your experiences. Thank you all for your support. Your individual contributions were the grist that made this Yearbook mill a success!

I have thanked the Yearbook staff individually, but I would like to do so again here:

The Regional Agents: Bob Fischer, Joe Higgins, Don Stevens, Pete King, Tom Seebode, Bill Kornitzer, Dick Schehr, Jim O'Rourke, and Van Van Inwegen. Section Editors, Staff and Contributors: Rosie Cler, Andi Biancur, Bill Goodyear, Vic Yoakum, Chuck Diver, Ken Alnwick, Ken Werrell, Les Querry, Bruce Mosier, Jock Schwank, Nels Delisanti, Paul Vallerie, Mike Loh and Ron Yates.

I have a special thank you to Jim Glaza, the Layout Editor. Jim spent many countless days taking all of the data from the Section Editors and weaving them into the well organized and impressive book that we have. He was the main interface between us and the Pikes Peak Publishers. For every thank you that I receive, most of it goes to Jim for his superb success!

George Luck, Editor

From: Tony Burshnick

Sent: 20 October 2010

Subject: Viet Nam Memorial

Here is a great listing of the names on the Viet Nam Memorial.

Lt. Col. (Ret) Derry A. Adamson
USAFA Class of 1960
died on 2 October 2010.

Derry Allan Adamson, 72, of Kennesaw, died Oct. 2 at Brittany House Assisted Living, 1780 Macby Drive, Marietta, of Lewy body dementia, a rare neurological disease. His memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church of Marietta. Premier Crematory is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in his memory be made to Cross Roads Hospice, 1957 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 500, Tucker, GA 30084.

From: Jerry de la Cruz

Sent: 9 October 2010

Subject: 50-yr Reunion

"I am in awe of all the work that our classmates did to make our reunion such a spectacular success.

These include the crew in C. Springs that made all of the wonderful arrangements, particularly Andi; our yearbook staff that put out such an outstanding book; and Les and the herculean effort he must have put in to create the DVD. I have just begun to scratch the surface on looking through all that great material.

How do we thank these guys?

There will be larger reunions at the Academy in the future, but there will never be a better one than 60's 50th."

Update on Dean Vikan, 8 Sept. 2010

As reported by Wende, Dean's daughter, both casts were removed from her dad's legs on Thursday. On Saturday he was released to go home. His right arm, hand, and fingers are still difficult to use due to the deep gash that he suffered and, he cannot put weight on his legs at this time. None-the-less, Dean is eager to enter rehabilitation. Wende is concerned about his travel to the reunion but, knowing Dean, he will be there if at all possible. Dean enjoys telephone calls and he can be reached at 1-218-556-7152. 

Update on Dean Vikan, 1330 hrs, Aug 18, 2010

I just concluded a lengthy telephone conversation with Dean and he is in excellent spirits. Tomorrow morning he will be transported to the FIRST CARE MEDICAL SERVICES HHC, 900 Hillgross Blvd SE, Fosston, Minn., 56542, where he will continue his rehabilitation program. Since both legs are in a cast they will concentrate on his upper body until the casts are removed. Dean said that his head is healing fine but his fingers on both hands are stiff and, coupled with his healing right arm, writing is a bit of a challenge. I asked him if he could remember anything about the accident and he said that he remembers leaving the house and checking his watch, which read 2:26 (AM). His next memory was his falling out of bed in the hospital on Sunday night. All else between these two events is blank. He did say, however, that his normal routine was to carry a 6V flashlight with him while jogging which he would use to insure that approaching vehicles saw him. If it appeared that the vehicle had not seen him his final act was to shine his light into the drivers eyes, if it became necessary. He had his flashlight with him and believes that he must have signaled the approaching vehicle. I asked if the involved driver had given his view of what happened. The Deputy Sheriff had told Dean that they could not release any information until their investigation was complete.

Dean said that he very much appreciated the telephone calls from his friends and classmates and that the Front Desk telephone number at First Care in Fosston is 218-435-1133. He couldn't remember all who had called but he did mention George Luck, Charlie Thompson and Dave Sweigart, his Academy room mate. Dean was also grateful that George Luck had helped Dean fill out the paperwork for attending our 50th reunion. He believes that he will be able to walk well enough by then so he is making travel arrangements. Please keep Dean in your prayers and give him a call or send a card.

From: Gary Sheets

10 August 2010

Dean's daughter, Wende Sheets, reported today that Dean is experiencing some unforeseen complications. While attempting to start rehabilitation exercises he experienced acute pain in his left leg. It turns out that it is broken, which pretty well immobilizes Dean with both legs in casts. As well, his left arm which was severely lacerated, is quite stiff and both hands are badly bruised and discolored. None-the-less, Dean's spirit is high and he just adds these setbacks to his list of obstacles to be overcome. Wende asks that we continue to pray for her dad.

8 August 2010

I just got off the telephone with Dean and he sounded completely normal. Wende had told me in advance that the Doctor was "stunned" with his rapid recovery to awareness, thinking, and speech. He is now assigned to a rehabilitation unit in the facility but as Dean said, right now that entails getting out of the bed, getting dressed, and getting in the wheel chair." Knowing Dean, he will do all that he can to push the envelope. He is done with operations, his arm is healing nicely,no infection is present and the considerable blood loss that he suffered while in the ditch is now replenished and the vitals are good. PTL.

Dean was touched by the concern of his classmates & friends and he welcomes telephone calls to his room, 1-701-780-4819. Please continue to pray for his complete and rapid recovery.

Gary

Mr. David Charles Uimari
USAFA Class of 1960
Died on 11 February 2010

From: JoAnna Lowrey

Sent: August 4, 2010

Subject: Dave Uimari '60

Dear Mr. Biancur;

My name is JoAnna Lowrey and I am the former fiancèe of David Uimari, one of the members of your class. Please be advised that David Uimari passed away on February 11, 2010 in Corona, California. I was living with David as he had moved from New Mexico to Lake Elsinore, California. We were to have been married this past May. He went into cardiac arrest while golfing. He was on life support for two weeks; however, sadly, there was no response. In the second week on life support all of his organs started to shut down and his children decided to end the torture he was going through.

I have been going through a lot of his things, including paperwork, and I found your letter to David regarding the USAF Academy Class of 1960 reunion. David had mentioned the reunion to me and stated that he did want to go. I don't know if Dave sent you any paperwork to attend or not; however, I am fairly certain that you do not know that he has passed away.

Good luck on your reunion. I know that Dave will be with you in spirit. Please contact me at my e-mail address: joannalowrey@yahoo.com or call me at 714-721-3342 if you have any questions. Thank you.

Warm regards,

JoAnna Lowrey

[webmaster's note]

Many of you have seen this photo of Dave with Ken Werrell during bivouac in 1956. It has appeared in Checkpoints several times and was on the cover of the AFA Fund Calendar in 2008.

From: Gary Sheets

Sent: 2 August 2010

Subject: Dean Vikan

Dear Alum:

Dean Vikan lives in Fosston, MN, approximately 50 miles from the North Dakota border. On July 31, 2010, Dean took his usual jogging route to the west of Fosston, and a cousin, who checks on him daily, did not find him home. Aware of his routine, he went looking for him in the early morning hours, eventually finding Dean in a ditch along the road where he had been hit by a vehicle some five hours earlier. Evacuated to Grand Forks, ND, the preliminary diagnosis was a broken leg, broken arm, and undetermined head and internal injuries.

Dean has a bad back, the pain had recently been increasing, and he had been taking heavy doses of pain medication which caused drastic weight reduction to around 117 pounds, making him vulnerable to falls. Phyllis, his wife since 1960, is in a Veteran's Nursing Home near Fosston; and, Dean's daughter Wende is married to Gary and Sylvia Sheets' son, Jeffrey, and they live in Franklin, TN.

Dean went into surgery last night, and the operation lasted six (06) hours. Although his arm was not broken, in the deep cut there was much "dead tissue," yet to be removed. He has a deep head gash, and his right leg below the knee, ankle and foot bones were broken or crushed, requiring heavy pinning and surgery. Dean is now out of ICU, but remains heavily sedated. 

The hospital telephone number is (701) 780-5450, located in The Altrue Trauma Center, 1200 S. Columbia, Grand Forks, ND 58201-4044.

Sent: 19 July 2010

Subject: Dean McDermott's Academic Enrichment Progam

Dear Classmates,

I am working on some early USAFA history. If any of you have some time to e-mail or call with answers to

the following questions I would appreciate it. I am defining academic enrichment program as anything from

allowing us to take advanced classes on subjects to allowing us to petition for courses not usually offered.

My e-mail address is lewprice@softcom.net and the phone number is (530) 333 - 9470.

Thanks.

Lew

Questions:

1. What do you recall regarding Dean McDermott's academic enrichment program?
2. What benefits did you receive from the Dean's academic enrichment program?
3. Did you have a major sufficient to have it included on your academy transcripts? If so, what was it?
4. What do you recall about the disagreement between Dean McDermott and the academic traditionalists at West Point and Annapolis?
5. What do you remember about any meeting that the Dean called with Class of '60 in reference to aid in preserving USAFA's academic enrichment program ?
6. What do you recall about the results of any actions taken to preserve USAFA's academic enrichment program?
7. Do you object to having your name associated with your answers in a published article? Since the answers come largely from memory, it is understood that some inaccuracies may occur.

From: Doug Rekenthaler

Sent: 22 June 2010

Subject: Veteran Websites

[Webmaster Note: The entire contents of Doug's message--a substantial list of websites that may be of use/interest to veterans--has been moved to a separate section that may be accessed using the "Veteran Related" option under the "Related Links" section of the Main Menu. Thank you, Doug]

From: Wayne Peterson

Sent: 16 Jun 2010

Subject: Investment Alert

Dear Classmates,

I'd like to share something with you.

I've been in the investment business for the past 20+ years. Seven years ago, I learned a few "new" things and started positioning client assets into gold, silver, natural resources and foreign currencies . . . with very favorable results. In 2008, our losses were in the single digits; some clients registered gains. Along the way, I've developed some extremely good information sources. These sources, most of whom forecasted the 2008 market crash, are saying that we are going to experience even more challenging conditions in 2010.

I'm NOT looking for more clients . . . we have all we can handle. What I am trying to do is alert people I care about--and AFA classmates fit in that category--to give them a chance to think it out before the ax starts to fall. In addition to describing conditions in our weekly newsletter, I've started issuing a series of bulletins. I'm doing it now because the fireworks could start in July.

Below is a copy of the first bulletin, which was written on May 8 for our regular mailing lists. If you have an interest in receiving future bulletins, send me a short email to opt-in at wpeterson@familybusinessoffice.net.

Hope to see you in September.

Wayne Peterson, '60 .. 817.422.4990

____________________________________________________________

Winds are picking up and turned downright nasty last week. We were treated Thursday to a preview of how markets are likely to react to major disruption: the Dow seized up, dropping 10% before getting a push back up to a 3% loss, while gold rose $30 to $1200 and pulled silver and mining stocks up with it. The Dow, S&P and NASDAQ are now in the red for 2010, while gold and silver are up 10%.

As we have been reporting for some time, the financial skies remain very dark and (in our opinion) the backside of a monstrous financial storm is heading our way. The administration has employed money printing and happy talk to keep the eye of this hurricane over us for 12 months. In the process, they have turned the backside of the Category 4 storm that hit us in 2007-08 into a Category 5. We are now staring into the "perfect storm."

What do we recommend? Start boarding up your windows NOW. Specifically: If you are 100% in US dollars you will be ok . . . for awhile. Fixed income diversification with a few selected foreign currencies would improve your position.

High quality bond holdings are also ok (especially if they are of short duration) . . . but again, only for a limited period of time. When inflation hits, they will be blown away.

The stock market could be torn to shreds, so it's best to get out now, while you're near the rally top.

Real estate is most likely NOT a good buy right now. If you're in gold, you're set . . . especially if you're physically holding bullion. Silver will also endure, but it will be more volatile.

Yes, it is remotely (in my opinion) possible that our "leaders" have literally papered over our problems and that this is just a minor correction in the year-long rally. Let's hope so. Our perspective, however, is that there is a high probability that we are going to be hit full force, thanks to irresponsible US congressional, administrative and central bank actions. Although no one knows how bad this crisis will become, some timely, diligent preparation seems in order.

While we are hoping for the best, as you are, we are also planning for the worst.

If we can answer questions or help you in any way, please let us know.

Wayne Peterson

Feel free to pass this information to others that you think might be interested.

From: George Luck 18 June 2010

Dear Classmates,

[Webmaster Note: this message was to change contact information. It has been removed for personal security.]

Thanks,

George Luck