CAMP HOLLOWAY MEMORIAL WALL DEDICATION:  The dedication for The Camp Holloway Memorial Wall will be November 8, 2008 at 11:00 AM on the grounds of The National Vietnam War Museum in Mineral Wells, Texas.  This dedication will be rain or shine.  In the past few years the Veterans Day Weekend has been dry.  However please plan accordingly for the weather.  The CWO Charles Holloway family will be attending this dedication from whom Camp Holloway was named.   Motel accommodations are limited in Mineral Wells.  I have placed a list on the web at http://52dcab.org/memorial_wall_dedication.html.   Just click on the Hotel Information link.  Weatherford is a nearby town and has more to select from.  Plan to make this special event.  It will not be a reunion as stated in the October newsletter due to the hotel situation.  Please let me know if you plan to attend.  Check out the latest photos, as the construction is just about finished.  We still need funds to complete the project.  We need lights, flagpoles, and signage.  We had a local man volunteer his weekend of March 15-16 to finish laying the block.  Steve Schmidt also came out and worked hard.  Thanks James and Steve.

 Pilot’s Perch

– 12 March08 – Steve Schmidt

Spring is coming!  This is the time for renewal and looking forward to the blossoms and colorful beauty of nature.  Butterflies and humming birds will be here soon (later, in some places) but we know they are coming. 

When was the last time you hugged your spouse, or your child or your grandchild, or one of your parents?  Those are precious moments that we men need to cherish while we can and save in our memories for the rest of our lives.  God knows we have enough other memories that we will never forget!

Yes, these words are for us all, especially for my friend Boyd Clines who has lost his wife Diedre to cancer.  She was a friend to us all, especially to Beth and me.

NOTICE:  2008 VHPA Reunion at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, San Antonio, Texas, 2 - 6 July 2008. 

Anybody going to San Antonio in July?  Plan now to attend the VHPA annual reunion and the 189^th  

AHC mini-reunion scheduled there on Saturday, July 5^th at 1:00 PM.  That is the same day as the VHPA dinner banquet so come to the mini-reunion and stay for dinner.  The www.vhpa.org website will lead you pilots to the registration page for the VHPA reunion.  Also, anyone can attend the 189^th mini-reunion at no charge.  It is a great excuse to have a bunch of Ghost Riders, Avengers, Caretakers and others get together for fun and make new memories.  Beth and I are planning to attend.

Regards to all, Steve

Membership:  You can now have a lifetime membership for the 189^th AHC Association for $250.  It can be paid in 5 payments of $50, but must be paid within one year.  For those who have already paid dues for 2007-2009 you will be credited $25.  We have added one small clause.  With your application for Lifetime membership we need a copy of orders or something to indicate that you were in the 189^th.

VNAF PILOTS:  I have been contact by former VNAF pilots who trained with the 189^th.  One of them has contacted Jim Riovo who trained him to fly the UH-1.  They want to join us in our reunions.  They are about 10-12 of them in the US.  I told them to come on.

PLEIKU:   Pat Leary stopped by Pleiku on his way back from China recently.  He wrote a very interesting article on his visit.  I will place it on the 189^th AHC web site.

Address Changes:  Please remember to send me your change of address when you move.  Also if you change your email address, please send this to me also.  Speaking of email.  Please update your address book for my new email address gerry.sandlin@gmail.com.  Bobbye’s is bobbyej49@gmail.com.

Computer Glitch:  Have you ever had a computer glitch?  Well I did a couple of months ago.  So I got it fixed and thought everything was put back on my computer.  Two programs were missing.  A photo program that I used, and loved and the mailing list program that I used to print the label for mailing the newsletter.  So this newsletter you are getting generic labels without membership dates and your spouses name is missing.  I have found a membership program that I am toying with to purchase that will have all the information in one place and I can back it up on my external hard drive.  I will have it worked out by next newsletter. 

Gerry’s travels: Our travels have been limited this winter although we did make a trip to Laughlin, NV for a few days for a motor home rally. If fuel prices stay as they are now our travels will be limited this summer.  Can you believe almost $4.00 a gallon?  Now when you fill your car up you put in 15-19 gallon.  We put in 65-90 gallon. OMG.  Oh well, its just money.  Our plans do call for us to be back in Mineral Wells, TX by mid June.  Then up to Ohio to see our son who is coming back in April from Iraq and then up to Chicago to check out locations for the 189^th 2009 reunion, back to Alabama to get our stuff out of storage and ship to Yuma.  Then back to Yuma.  Then in late October back to Mineral Wells for the dedication.  Now you figure the mileage.  Uh, I hope we get a tail wind and get 9 mpg or better.   I would like to thank all you who thought I needed to be influenced in one political party or another or which candidate is the dirtiest during this long-long campaign.  I just quickly delete your email and add it to my trash.  Boy have I had a lot of trash.  I enjoy your emails and I do read a lot of the jokes.  Most days I get over 100 emails.  I like to stay in touch with you.  One of the fulfilling things that have happened in the last few weeks is getting in touch with the CWO Charles Holloway’s family.  Camp Holloway was named after him.  Chuck, Mr. Holloway’s son is a retired Command Sergeant Major and lives in El Paso.  We plan on having dinner with him when we go that way in June.  I have contacted the Chicago area checking on locations for our 2009 reunion.  Room rates are going to be a bit more than we have been paying.  We will take this into consideration before locking us in.  We also plan to check the Atlanta area for a second location.  We hope to see you in St. Louis at the 52d CAB reunion.

Clear on the right…Clear on the left.

Gerry

189th AHC