CLASS NOTES through my son what things have changed at VMI and what remains the same there. I would encourage everyone who has not been to VMI in the last few years to plan on attending our upcoming class reunion so they can see firsthand some of the physical changes that have taken place under General Peay’s ’62 leadership. Drew, thanks for being our class agent. I appreciate all the work and time you put into it. Take care and hopefully I will see you around Post one football weekend. Rob Taylor I connected (through channels) with Todd Freiwald who provides the following update: I received your card with your e-mail address and it finally hit me that it has been a quarter century since you and I have connected. Time does fly. I pray this e-mail finds you and yours well. Over the past years I have maintained regular contact with Wayne Sinclair and that’s about it. Within the past year or so I have managed to hook up with Stachelek, Keppeler, Goff, Owens and Bordelon and have had great fun seeing how each of them has grown and prospered. As for me, I’m not sure where to begin. Been married for 23 years, four kids (oldest two want to go to VMI). My career has been Marines/Secret Service/DOJ-OIG (for 11 months) and ATF - since 1999. Now, as I look back, I realize that all the e-mails HQ sends me about retirement eligibility might mean something – age is catching up with me. In fact, next week I get my third knee operation. Fortunately it is not a replacement. Anyway, that is about all I can think of. Take care ... Todd. Hopefully, I’ll link-up with Todd Freiwald and Todd Oakes as we prepare for a Spartan Race in Leesburg, VA later in August. Todd Freiwald is fresh off of knee surgery and may not be able to run but his two older sons will be participating, and I’m sure we can count on some “Old Corps” motivation from the senior Freiwald! Other team members running will be Kirk, Mark and Victor Dewyea, Charles Cayce and Scott Stachelek. I’ll be sure to get “before and after” photos of the big race! Drew
’89
line, keep the updates coming! Before I share those updates with you, I do need to let you know that we are getting better at reconnecting with each other. The Richmond first Friday of the month breakfast has been rolling for 6 months and plans are underway for another NOVA mini reunion this spring. If you live in a town/state with another BR that’s enough reason for a party…make it happen! The next reunion I am looking for will be in Vicenza, Italy, because both Bill Crone and Paul Pardew are living there. “The Crone family is doing well. My wife, Mo, and I are currently living in Vicenza, Italy where I am managing construction for Naval Facilities Engineering Command. I have two awesome girls, Amity (10) and Haven (8). My wife is a freelance artist. I haven’t been to any reunions because I’ve been living overseas for most of my career; however, I hope to make it to the 25th reunion.” I also got a great update from Paul Mele: “I’m still in the Army and we’ve recently moved to Carlisle, PA and are living on a small Army outpost here called Carlisle Barracks. Julie and I now have 2 kids (Virginia 12 and Jake 7). We’re living in some old barracks converted into apartments – all built in 1836 with concrete, transoms over the doors, pipe railings all around, sound familiar? It’s Army school for one year and then next summer off to Joint Base Lewis McChord out in Washington State between Seattle and Tacoma. We’ve never been anywhere near the Northwest and fear there’s no Sweet Tea or Grits or white gravy,
but we’re up for the adventure. “Out running on Friday and bumped into BR Rob White, (the white Rob White), and his family who will also be here at Carlisle for the next year – they’ve just moved here from Germany. “No surprise, the BRs I most keep in touch with are Tom Hernandez and Jim Masella – roommates of three years. We see each other as frequently as deployments and geography allow and recently held our first annual “Pony Palooza,” as all three of us are now driving Mustangs. Cold beer, red meat, and some friendly side by side drag racing against your friends at the local strip always make for a good weekend. “Tom is living in Chesapeake and still working in Norfolk for the Department of Navy. He’s also still serving in the Virginia National Guard as an aviator – so when you see a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter go over it could be Tom or my dyke Carl Engstrom ’92 as he also flies in the Virginia Guard. “Jim is living in Augusta, GA but is looking for ways to get back to the great Commonwealth of Virginia. He’s with RLM Communications and through all their government contracts he spends almost as much time with Soldiers as I do.” Well, we are all getting older, but when Al Versoza called to check in and we started discussing heart surgeries and procedures …REALLY, are we that old? Anyway, Al is attending the Industrial College of Armed Forces with Joe Grealish. The school is in D.C. and lasts for a year. Al is living in Alexandria, so I hope to
Nathaniel L. Cross
So, I just read the latest notes that I wrote, and we have this down to a science! When you get this edition, I should be working on the next one in a matter of weeks. So, that means when you think about it, get off your fourth point of contact, (that’s airborne talk for your legs) and send me an update. Now, after saying that, the November edition will run early, so the staff can have some time off for Christmas. Bottom-
2012-Issue 4
Class of 1989: Members of the Class of ’89 Rod and Gun Club had a great day fishing off of Hatteras, North Carolina, in June 2012. Pictured, from left, were Harrison Bresee, Mitch Fridley and Ken Cobb.
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