CLASS NOTES golf) like newlyweds, despite our approaching other great interest since leaving the Institute has drew and Susan Bradley (Brownwood, Texas) been in competitive power weightlifting. I only on the occasion of his retirement as the pastor 40th anniversary next month.” Cary Cook (Albuquerque, New Mexico): “We wish we had a strength coach at VMI during our of the Episcopal Church in Brownwood, then a live in Albuquerque. I feel like we have come years there, as I would have been a much better few weeks later with Jay and Sharon Slaughter home. While California was good, the money athlete. Now, even as a senior lifter in the heavy (Frisco, Texas). We spent a few hours trying to and crowding got to be too much. We feel like weight ranks, where everyone is drug free and locate Lonnie Yanda ’65, who we determined this is where we can retire when we decide to. tested at every meet, I have gotten very close also apparently lived in Frisco, as I wanted to I am still working as a social worker talk with him about Rick Martinez, at the Department of Veterans Affairs, who I think was his dyke when we only now here in Albuquerque (all the were rats. Some years ago, Rick bad press makes things challenging had told me a story that I wanted to now) with my transfer I have gotten hear the rest of from Lonnie, but we back into mental health, which is my were unable to contact him. On our love and training. Working with vets last visit up there to Frisco, we also just is so deeply felt, and I believe I am had dinner with Rev and Dot Jones blessed to do this work.” (Prosper, Texas) at Jay Slaughter’s “Bob Berezoski (Houston, Texas): new house. We had a fun picnic “I stepped down from decades of priwith Barry and Iris Archer (New Braunfels, Texas) on their pontoon vate practice performing every form of boat at Canyon Lake, between New cosmetic surgery. I enjoyed being the Braunfels and Blanco. We jumped in pioneer of several procedures and techthe water on a really hot day, and it niques that are today’s world standards was great ... made me think I should in areas like liposuction and free tissue get a pontoon boat and just give up grafting and transplanting, but I always on building the house. But we’ll kept doing those suffering massive infinish the house before entertaining juries, including performing numerous such ideas! We hear from Bob and reattachment surgeries for amputated Sharon Waldron (El Paso, Texas) hands and fingers, and massive facial that things are well with them. All trauma where rebuilding of nearly the this contact with VMI people here entire face was required. These cases in Texas just reinforces the reasons are very similar to those seen daily we moved from Maryland out here during the Vietnam War, and having a to Texas. We highly recommend it surgeon on call with experience in haneveryone else, so come on out!” dling such trauma is a big help in trainJohn Augustine (St. Petersburg, ing new physicians to carry on. During my initial years in training in general Class of 1968: From left, Skip and Kay Roberts and Pete Florida): “Still in St. Pete, Florida. surgery, Wilford Hall Medical Center and Patty Farmer Aug. 9, 2014, at Jackson Hole, Wyo- My wife, Rosemary, and I are pretty was the principal place where treatment ming. Pete said, “Patty and I drove to Glacier National busy taking care of my 90-year-old of the worst injuries came, arriving ev- Park, Montana, and decided to ‘swing by’ [the Roberts’] mother and my sister who has Parery few hours around the clock, usually Idaho vacation rental. Only added another 600 miles of kinson’s, so we tend to spend more being from the Marines and Army, with driving. It was well worth it.” time playing doctor and physical a few pilots who survived. Many were therapist than we do playing things so badly injured it seemed they arrived often to several world records – especially in bench like tennis, golf or out on the water. Makes one missing nearly half their bodies and clinging to pressing with a life best of 555 pounds and can appreciate good health while you still have it. life. The Air Force had the flying hospital planes still do around 430 pounds today. Too bad I Very sad to hear about Al Orgain ’65. He was that could make it from Da Nang to San Anto- didn’t have this strength and mass on the defen- such an aviation expert and experienced combat pilot. We all do remember him as an energetic, nio in 17 hours. Every second counted for sur- sive line for the Corps.” Bob Westbrook (Irvington, Virginia): “I was gung-ho ‘risk taker,’ but also as a sharp guy who vival, and we were located several hours closer to the battlefield than Walter Reed or Bethesda elected to the Lancaster County School Board knew what he was doing and was in control of Naval Medical Centers, the end point hospitals last November and chosen as chairman at our things. I’m coming to the conclusion that nothfor the other two services, in Washington, D.C. first meeting in January. A steep learning curve ing in life in guaranteed, and that damn few of These were very difficult years, and I spent nine for me, but a worthy endeavor.” us can really expect to get out of it alive. OrHal Switzer (Blanco, Texas): “Sandy and I are gain’s bio reminded me of our BR Bob “Earl the in specialty training. Since then, I have enjoyed teaching as a professor of surgery, then adjunct nearing our ‘breakout’ from our RV trailer and Pearl” Mills (Orange Park, Florida) – roommate instructor after retirement, as today’s new resi- into our house, which is ever nearer to comple- to Roddy Delk (Suffolk, Virginia), Bogie Holdent physicians simply do not see or get to treat tion. Last week saw the air conditioning installed land (Virginia Beach, Virginia), Irv Grodsky a fraction of the numbers we handled and need to and turned on, so now the crew can work inside (Mobile, Alabama) and me. He, too, was a decoget the best teaching they can on the cases today in complete comfort! I’m for that. The color rated Vietnam chopper pilot who was shot down, that still keep happening. I keep helping where scheme in the laundry room will be red, white badly wounded and evaded the searching enemy I am needed, which makes me feel retirement and yellow, according to Sandy, who of course patrols on the ground for something like 4 days is only a name since the work never stops. My is the master of the residence. We visited An- and nights before finally being rescued! Bob
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