Donations
at the reunion added $20.00 to our fund.
MINUTES
OF BUSINESS MEETING - JUNE 19, 2004 The meeting was called to
order by host, Ken Manning who led the group in prayer and
then the Pledge of Allegiance.
No
financial report was given but the group got an idea of what they
had from the last one.
A
motion was made and seconded that the next reunion be held in the
Washington D.C. area and hosted by Gerald St. Amand and his
daughter Doria Grimes. The exact location and date is to be
decided later.
A
motion was made to keep Juanita Waldrep as MuzzleBlast
editor. The meeting was adjourned.
Wanda
Cluck, Secretary
ProTem Phyllis Christian wrote us in June that
her father, Jesse P. Ratliff, Jr died November 11, 2003. To
Phyllis and her entire family we send our condolences.
J.C. and Eleanor Orange wrote that they had hoped
to attend the reunion in Norman but their son and his wife who are
missionaries in Africa would be home for three weeks.
Ethel Mohn sent greetings from Pennsylvania.
Charlie's health has not been too good as he has osteoporosis
and stenosis of the spine. We hope the drugs will help him. A donation
was included for the MB.
A note with a donation to the MB, was sent by Betty
and Bob Willoughby. Bob fractured his shoulder in a fall and has
been unable to walk without a cane. Betty is on oxygen 24 hours a
day due to emphysema but " despite it all, Bob and I are still enjoying
the fruits of life - and having fun! " she states. Now that's' a wonderful
attitude!
On July 4th I had an Email from Robert C. McCabe,
Jr. (Micky) , Col. McCabe's son, who had attended
the Norman reunion. A few days later he sent a check to the MB
for him to receive the MB. His address is P. O. Box
1007 Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 and his telephone is 850-622-9761.
His Email address is MMHGWT@aol.com.
We do hope that Ivan the Terrible didn't visit your abode, Micky.
A letter from Jim and Patti Boston wrote that
they had hoped to attend the reunion since it was so close but Jim
had prior commitments with school reunions. One class gave him a commendative
plaque and another funded a scholarship in his name. He stated these
"kids" were 57-58 years old. Jim also states he has a small pecan
grove (100 trees) and Patti works at the church three days a week
So, as a group, I would say most of us are busy. A donation to the
MB was enclosed.
Telephone calls have come in quite often and I try to
write all of them down on the nearest scrap of paper. Well, I found
"my scrap" after publishing the last MB. Gene Wells called
on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2003 to wish us a Merry Christmas!
He also stated he had a stroke in January 1999 but was getting along
fairly well. Thanks, 2 Gene, for your call and I finally found my
scrap of paper.
Juanita and Charles Ray called and reported that
their oldest daughter had passed away on March 30 due to cancer of
the lung which had metastasized to the brain. Our sympathy goes to
the Ray family.
Calls from Bonnie Porter are frequent and I enjoy
hearing from her. She has been having a lot of physical problems but
seems to cope very well. We all remember the two reunions she hosted
for her father, the late Harold Laity.
Lee Ann Gardner called telling of the death of
her father, John Gardner on August 17 due to injuries from
an automobile accident. The funeral was August 21 in Thomson, Georgia.
Our sympathy goes out to his wife and all the family.
Ken Manning calls often and we enjoy hearing
from him. He stated that he is no longer able to write easily and
possibly will send no Christmas greetings. Ken hopes that all the
419th has happy holidays. One good idea from Ken is to ask each of
you for your new phone numbers; area codes have changed so much and
residences change also.It is difficult to keep up with the changes
but I will try to get a new MuzzleBlast directory for
the next reunion.
Emails are a fast, fun way to keep in touch. I had an
Email from Joyce Gronefeld Huff requesting an address. She
stated that her mother, Norma, had passed away nine years ago and
her dad, Larry, two years ago. She sent greetings to all the 419th.
A sentence from an Email of Micky McCabe speaking
of his father Col. McCabe "I know one thing for sure, leading
the 419th was definitely the highlight of his life!"
Joanna Gebhardt sends copies of interesting Emails
she receives about the 419th. Also we get a few personal ones. Thanks,
Joanna.
Rose Lemberg Emailed that she had received a
surprise telephone call and talked with Micky McCabe twenty
minutes or so. The next day Micky called and talked with Larry
about his experiences with his dad, the Colonel.
Gerald St.Amand has called to give tentative
plans for next year's reunion. The date will be June 9th, 10th
and 11th, 2005 at the Marriott Suites near the Dulles airport.
The rates for the rooms will be $59.00 plus tax. More information
will be sent along with the motel brochure in the next newsletter.
Plans are being made for the group to visit the World War II Memorial.
This should be an incentive for everyone to attend.
It is always good to hear from each of you; if you did
not send the news, then no newsletter. Thanks for all you do. 3 Rome,
Georgia did not receive the flooding or downed trees from Ivan but
we did receive 4.7 inches of rain, which we needed. We were told to
tie down garbage cans, patio furniture; I managed to rope the garbage
cans! What neighbor wants my garbage?
We are still kicking and hope the rest of the year is
as good as the first 3/4ths. A quote from a favorite book of sayings
- "We don't quit playing because we grow old, we grow old because
we quit playing." Have Happy Holidays.