CLASS NOTES like to see included in these notes. I also hope that if you’re in Lexington this fall for a football game or this winter for a basketball game, please stop by the press box and say hello.
Class of 1995: Thom Brashears, left, and Ben Bird at a summer concert at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.
’96
Peter Segersten
Brother Rats, I hope you all are enjoying the summer. I’m actually writing these notes on the 20th anniversary of our matriculation to our beloved Institute. Time does sure fly! First off, I would like to congratulate all of our Brother Rats who were recently promoted to lieutenant colonel in their respective services. Congratulations to Christopher Noe, Josh Keesal, Keith Kruelski, Shannon Hume, Christopher Lowe, and Ryan O’Connor. Congratulations to Paul Dickinson who was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the USAFR and JJ Rivera who was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the USMCR. Thank you, Chris Noe, for the list of people. If I missed anyone, I apologize. Chris Noe wrote in to give an update. Chris and family have moved to Elizabethtown, KY, after four years in Germany. Before leaving Germany he talked with Sean Murray who is stationed at Kaiserlautern for the European Regional Medical Command. He also ran into Ryan O’Connor. Ryan is a Majors assignments officer for the infantry branch in the US Army.
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It’s been a busy summer for me to say the least. After some planes, trains, and automobiles, I was able to attend none other than Harri Humaloja’s wedding in Jämsä Finland for a Finnish adventure. As always there was a VMI presence there. Max Casteleyn and family were there to attend the wedding. They were also traveling around Scandinavia and the Baltic countries on vacation. It was great to catch up with him and to meet the family. Also in attendance was Harri Jahkola ’01. He brought back memories of picking him up at the airport in DC and driving him down for matriculation where there where the dozens of media satellite trucks around the parade deck waiting for the first matriculants of women at the Institute. As an added bonus Harri’s wedding was during ‘midsommars’ where the sun is out past midnight and the country is one big party to celebrate the holiday. We did the traditional sauna, cooked out at his lake house, and had a great time. Speaking of foreign adventures, Doug Bartlett checked in from Israel. After five years in Colorado, his company acquired an Israeli company and he has been tasked to lead the integration process. So, he and the family packed up and are all settled in the Middle East. The kids are fascinated with the “Saferoom” (as required by Israeli law) consisting of steel doors, bullet proof glass, and NBC ventilation. Hopefully that will never have to be used! Tom Danielsen dropped a line from Beantown for an update. JJ Rivera was in town for
USMC reserve duty orders and stopped by to visit Tom. JJ is doing really well. In addition to his USMC service, he is flying for the University of Pennsylvania Life flight. They traded many a sea story of their days at Camp Lejeune with John Pearce. Tom also made a trip with his wife Leanne to visit Stephen Johnson in Providence, RI. Steve was at the Naval War College in Newport for a few weeks for training for his new command in San Diego. Corrie Brice checked in from Fort Sill. Corrie has returned from Iraq in July and started as a battalion executive officer of the 1st BN 79th Field Artillery at Fort Sill. His wife has been holding down the fort while he is away. Corrie’s children, Victoria and Alexander, have started up school again. Corrie received the Bronze Star Medal for service in Iraq. I talked to Darren Braylo via Facebook. Darren says, “As I’m sure you’re aware from FB, it’s been a rough year in terms of my Crohn’s disease and I appreciate all the prayer and support our BRs have shared with me. God has blessed me to be part of three strong families; His, my biological family and the VMI family. I did get to spend a few days with BR Simonds, his wife PJ and their brood when they came to VA for VMI’s Honor conference back in March. I also recently got to spend a good afternoon with BR John Dwyer at the Museum of Valor a couple weeks ago. Good times.” Hang in there Brother Rat! John “Mudd” McElroy is making a move
Class of 1996: Harri Humlaloja was married in Jyväskylä, Finland. Attending were Max Castelyn, Peter Segersten, Humlaloja and Harri Jahkola ’01.
VMI ALUMNI REVIEW