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From the President
While scratching my head trying to come up with something to write for
the Newsletter I came across some interesting bit of trivia that I thought
I might share with you.
I recently found a book in the Library titled "The Memoirs of Bridget
Hitler". Bridget was married to Alois Hitler who was Adolf's half brother.
From this marriage came William Patrick Hitler who grew to be Adolf's
favorite nephew. Uncle Adolf worked hard on his nephew (little Willie) to
make him a good Nazi, and hoped that he would some day fit into his plans
for domination of the world.
Little Willie, however, did not care much for Uncle Adolf, and in spite
of all his Uncle's efforts to work him into a nice government position,
little Willie immigrated to America. He and his mother secured visitor
visas and arrived in New York in March of 1939. After WWII broke out
William Patrick Hitler at age 33 joined the U.S. Navy and was sworn in at
a recruiting center in NY by LTJG Gary Hess.
He served until the end of the war and was honorably discharged and
lived and worked in the U.S. at a hospital as a urologist until his death.
How's that for a bit of trivia.
John Reynolds
Taps
Viola "Vi" Victory, wife of Tom Victory,
September 19, Port Orchard, WA.
Binnacle List
Michael Thomas, SN (62-65), Sherman IL, cancer surgery.
Irye Couch, BM1 (60-65), Grand Junction, CO, cancer surgery.
New Members (Since August)
Daniel Thomas PN3 (64-66) Spokane, WA
Ellie Holden RD2 (66-68) Deer Park, TX
Gary Grabowski MM 2 (66-69) Sterling Heights, MI
Theodore Clouser SH1 (59-68) Reading, PA
John Hammock EM 1 (59-61) Saint Cloud, FL
Allan Andres FTG2 (62-64) Township, PA
Doug Stoliecki MMFN (66-68) Lowell, MI
Robert "Bob" Bond LTJG (66-68) Greensboro, NC
Edward Williams SN (63-65) Slater, SC
Bill Warner QM2 (66-68) Yucca Valley, CA
Richard Sanchez , Weapons (60-64) San Antonio, TX
Nelson Anderson BT3 (66-68) Mercerville, NJ
Charles Guenther GMM3 (60-64) Wichita, KS
Richard Stolee, LT (64-67) Palo Alto, CA
David Bohannon, SFP2 (66-69) Sanger, CA
Bob Hale, 59-61, Kansas City, MO.
Let’s go to Laughlin March 9-10
Let's meet March 9-10 at Laughlin NV for a Topeka get-together. Ruth
and Dudley Cass will host the event, arriving Sunday and departing
Tuesday.
Happy Hour will be in the Cass room at the Riverside on Sunday and
Monday afternoon. Bring your own drink. A "cover charge" of $4/person ($8
per couple) will provide snacks and cover the upgrade to the larger suite,
necessary to handle the crowd.
For rooms at the Riverside, the "standard" room is $39/nite, the
"River-View" $49/nite. A package deal which includes tickets to the Vicki
Lawrence Show (Sunday): $115 for 2 nights/2 tickets, $85 for 2 nights/1
ticket). Riverside phone is 1-800-227-3849. If you elect the package deal,
request show seats at the "Cass Table."
For Laughlin information on the internet, check out the website
www.visitlaughlin.com.
Please email or phone Dudley and Ruth if you plan to attend and/or you
have questions. (619) 267-3123. Email at BonitaRCDC@AOL.COM.
As I walked out of the store I noticed a young man looking at my
license plate.
"Tell me about the Topeka Reunion Association," he asked,
as he looked at my license plate cover. I did, and added that I would soon
be going to another reunion. "It’s nice that you can get together
occasionally, he commented."
As we ended our conversation, he shook my
hand and said, Thank you for your service to our country." That’s the
first time anybody has ever said anything like that to me. It was
overwhelming. It made my whole day - - my whole week.
A few weeks later
when I parked at another store, I noticed the car next to mine had a
"Bronze Star" license plate. Remembering how much those words meant, I
decided to do the same thing if the opportunity permitted. When we talked,
I congratulated him, and thanked him, and I know that it made his day too.
As it turned out, he was a gunfire spotter for the 101st
Airborne Division in 1965-66. We may have provided him gunfire support.
Shipmates, when you get a chance to thank a Veteran, do so. It will make
your day as well.
Jack Connery (64-66)
