Editorial. April 97’ Dear Life Support Community. This issue is brought to you by Chief Robert "Tommy" Tompkins and the Life Support Reunion Committee.

The following is from Russ Newman of GENTEX Corporation regarding the reunion:

Greetings to all past and present Life Supporters. Hope the new year is turning out to be fantastic for each of you.

Planning for our 2nd Life Support Reunion is underway. Last year’s event was spectacular and the next one promises to be even better. For the second year in a row, I’ve been asked

(and cheerfully volunteered) to chair the contractor’s activities for our reunion committee. Last year we were very fortunate to make available a hospitality suite in the hotel where everyone had a great time drinking, snacking, drinking more, recounting memories of the past, drinking a lot more and exchanging all those so famous war stories. It was a very safe and comfortable environment. We would like to do it again this year and make this social event better. Now comes the sales pitch...

I solicit support from those of us in industry to contribute a generous donation to help cover the cost for sponsoring another hospitality extravaganza. Like last year, we would book a suite in the hotel and make available plenty of liquid and solid refreshments for everyone’s pleasure. It would be nice to have the suite available for 2 nights this time. A $200.00 donation from each sponsoring company would be appreciated. All the money collected will be used solely for the contractor’s hospitality events. Any extra funds will be donated towards the family picnic. To ensure we plan this properly, I would appreciate a commitment from those who want to help with a contribution. The suspense date is 1 Jun ‘97. Give me a call at the office: (909) 481-7667, or drop me an e-mail. My address is rustynail3@juno.com. At a later time I will establish a cut off date for collecting the funds. Hoping we get a terrific response this year, and I’m counting on those who generously donated the last time to do it again this year. All the best to each and everyone. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

The address list is getting longer and longer. Need some help with the postage. Any amount you can afford will help out. Send donations to Tommy.

Not much new news. It’s difficult to keep up with every body (unless you send in the change of addresses..unless you do not want to be included on the newsletter). I can find you on the internet but with stamps going up next year ..Well nuff said. Polly and I really appreciated the notes and cards around Christmas. Keep them coming. I want to acknowledge the passing of MSgt (ret) Tony Villanueva formally of the 355 TTW, Davis Monthan AFB, AZ. We also lost Marilyn Saint and Chief Jim Rooney’s father. Marilyn made a home away from home for all of the troops at Bitburg while Mike Saint was the 525^th " Bulldogs" NCOIC and Wing Super at Bitburg.

Karen Barnhill writes to tell of Chief Bob Barnhill’s trip to Scotland to check on long lost relatives. He was lucky to be able to fly space-A direct from Norfolk to England. All of this was to celebrate his first social security check. As with most of our best laid plans Bob detoured through Spain, Italy. and Germany before arriving in England. When they started fighting in Ireland Bob headed for home. Bob and Karen’s son were installed as the President of Toastmasters International in 1996. What an honor. I know that several of you, and in particular Chief Ron Zeigler, are active in toastmasters.

Under the column of "who would have believed it" John Damron is now on e-mail. John has not let any grass grow under his feet, he’s always on the go! He had a 3 hour visit with Dickie Fallon in FWB. In John’s words he is still the same Dickie that we know and loved. John said Dickie is doing well and has about a dozen people working for him. Chief Milt Yopp and Sherry are doing fine and they again want to thank all the "family" for their support during Sherry’s recent illness. Milt says that they are doing fine. He is going to school full time (and also doing some rabbit and deer hunting). He got his first deer in 96. Also heard from Dick Traufield who provided some new names for the newsletter. Al Sines who worked at MAC Requirements is living in Orlando and Dick Bauch, who was an instructor at Chanute while I was there. According to Dick Traufield, Dick Bauch is a famous published author in the style of Steven King. Wonder what happened to his brother, Bernie Quick and Jeff Jones ?? Four good young instructors. Dick also had heard from Dallas Long who was doing well. We need more names and addresses. Keep them coming.

I had the pleasure of visiting with Chief Rob Darter and Michael Grost, Esquire just before my retirement last year. If you are in the San Antonio area you must stop and visit Michaels facility. There is some equipment and publications that were before my time!! Maybe even before Chief Ray Struble? Seriously, Mike Grost’s laboratory and life support history museum are outstanding. When you come across that old gear or publications as you clean out the garage/basement/attic pass it on to Michael Grost, 2015 Riva Ridge St. San Antonio TX 78248-1142. You may have the piece of life support history that could unlock one of the many puzzles to be solved regarding MIA’s.

Found Col Marty Clement in Kansas after his retirement but not sure what he is doing. Working for Sprint?? Nancy and Chief Jim "Coop" Cooper are in place at ARF ( AFRES) replacing Chief Joe Lynch who headed for Randolph as the head Survival Chief Enlisted Manager. Some of us remember when the two career fields were one. There has to be something illegal about Jim Cooper and Chief Terry Ache being in the same office. The Bass in Georgia don’t have a chance.

Got a chance finally to travel with College Graduate "Fast Eddie" Chewning down to his Kentucky farm. Many beautiful rolling country side acres and of course two dog boxes and an old Ford Fairlane jacked up in the front yard (Just kidding). Think I know where I’ll be deer hunting this year! Turkey hunted with Chief Dennis Struck again this year but the only Turkeys so far are Dennis and me.

Chief John (Johnnie Nevada) Shields is once again undergoing cancer treatment. I know that he can beat it if he keeps the same positive outlook as the last time. John, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. And also with Chief Ellie Handley’s spouse Tillie who is recovering from illness.

In closing, and as I hand the publication of the newsletter over to Bob McElwain and Kemper B. Kinchen (along with their committee who did such a bang up job on the first reunion), I want to personally thank all who helped in its publication and provided inputs. I specifically want to thank Greg Dean who as my boss, and leader of the Wright Patterson life supporters allowed me the time and resources to do the research for the "old-timers list" and to publish the newsletters. Thanks to Chief Billy Goss for the initial inputs that got me started.

Thanks also for the retirement cards and letters. Polly and I really appreciated all. So far retirement has been great but do miss daily contact with all of you. May start looking for work soon.

Keep the cards, letters, and news of you and yours coming to Bob, KB, Ed or me. That’s the only way we can keep this going and keep it interesting. If you have e-mail I am at tombob@shawneelink.com.

Keep in touch Cheers Tommy