CLASS NOTES strategic engagements for the project. Translated to English. Mike has become the guy who has to do all the interviews and speeches and associated travel. He remarked that if he spends much more time in the DC area he is going to have to start paying Virginia income tax. On another note, Mike tells me it has taken 55 years to figure out he has an inverted stomach valve and will be going in for repairs in November. On a plus side, the procedure has about a 95% chance of putting his diabetes in remission. His doc is predicting he will lose a bunch of weight, about 65-75 pounds, which will make him about 45 lbs. less than what he weighed when we graduated from the I. Sounds like an interesting weight loss program, Mike. Joe Cafarella checks in and is still working for Ball Aerospace; just went over 10 years. Joe says it seems like forever since he retired from the Air Force. In early July, Joe left the comfort of Dayton Ohio to “deploy” to a DHS Ops Center in upper Michigan working with Customs & Border Protection (CBP), Coast Guard, National Guard, FBI, DEA, ICE, and a lot of other three letter agencies along with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Border Security Agency trying to secure the northern U.S. border – in the air, on land, and on the big water of the Great Lakes. He states it is exciting work for sure. Who knows when you might see Joe in a future episode of Border War. In the few short months he has been there, Joe has become an adopted fan of the Detroit Tigers and Lions. Joe says he would like to get home soon, but his boss told him he can’t go home until he finds a backfill, so if anyone wants a job in Michigan and has Intelligence background, have them email him at: jcafarel@ball.com. Does the job come with a parka and long-johns Joe? Bob Magnan says he survived the alleged “hurricane” in August, although his brother had some damage, and became Bob’s house guest for a few days. In helping his brother clean up Bob thought he’d merely pulled his back. Wrong! It turns out to be a pinched nerve in his lumbar spine and is now dealing with “sciatica”. He got a series of anti-inflammatory shots to the lumbar spine, and was doing much better, after about eight weeks of hell. Bob says with any luck, he will be “ambulatory” in time to hear Terry McKnight’s presentation when he joins the NJ chapter of the VMI Alumni Association in November. Hope the back feels better soon Bob. Chip Shelhorn sent a quick note that all is well in Jupiter, Florida. He hopes to get in a few ski trips out west this year. Chip is playing golf and has been doing spin classes at the gym. Also from the Sunshine State, Joe Mounts checked in with all is fine. By the time these notes are out I’ll be wishing I was down there still.
2012-Issue 1
Jimmy Leech reports he just moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, to be closer to his oldest son, who is an attorney there, and also to his parents, Lloyd L. Leech Jr. ’42 and Ginny Leech, who still live in San Antonio. Leland Horn is another BR on the move in Texas. He finally settled in Dallas and is down to about a dozen boxes to unpack. Leland had forgotten how painful moving can be! His biggest issue was deciding which favorite team to cheer on. He was hoping to see the Cards come to town. Leland guesses, since he likes them both, he’ll just root for whoever is trailing. When we read this, we will know who he was rooting for. That concludes the news from the class. I thought it would be lacking in input but as usual, you guys came through. Thanks for all your support, and keep the news coming. BTW, as you read this, “send more news!”
’79
Michael Ogden
Hope this finds everyone well and in good health. I appreciate the quick turnaround for Class Notes on such short notice. Eddie Semler writes “I now have two grandchildren. Braden James, a grandson born Oct 19th, 2009 to my daughter Megan, and Josephine, a granddaughter born July 17th, 2011
to my oldest son, Cogan, and my daughter-inlaw, Meghan. Still have the house on the market with plans to head down to Panama early next summer to start a surf and fish resort/camp.” Thanks, Eddie. Your BRs are anxiously awaiting invites to surf in Panama! John Kailey is back in the U.S. following out processing at Ft. Benning in September. He had a touch of bad luck when his employer laid him off by form letter in August … while he was deployed! Ain’t there a law against that?! Welcome home, BR, and hope things improve on the job front. From the different perspective department: For those who do not know it, Tom and Nancy Trumps’ son, Sam, is a Rat this year. So, BR Tom is a graduate, the commandant AND now a Rat parent. Nancy says that both her and Tom’s perspectives have changed and for the good. Tom feels he is a better commandant for the experience, although still getting used to the “situation.” Sam is doing well taking things in stride. Ya gotta think he had a clue about what he was getting in to! Both Mom and Dad are pretty dern proud. Best of luck to Sam from ’79! Russ Zech was not able to make it up to Parents Weekend and asked that I check in with son Roland ’13. I did as requested. It turns out Roland was SOG that day but this most impressive Regimental Color Sergeant made time to stop by and say hello. Fine lad, that Roland! Mighty fine lad.
Class of 1979: Members of the class of 1979 gathered at VMI for Parents Weekend, September 2011. From left: Dave Taylor, Col. Tom Trumps, Chip Humphrey, Tom Baltazar, Bill Albro, Dave Jeter, Jeff McLean, Nester Pace, Mike Ogden, Gleb Taran, and Tim Cordle. Attending but not pictured were Jeff Curtis (his residence is in the background) and Al Soltis.
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