Doyle Claxton

I joined the Air Force right out of HS. I spent a year in Denver going to tech school for nuclear weapons and where I met my wife of 49 years, Bonnie. We went to Okinawa and lived in a little Japanese apartment where several other enlisted non-career GIs lived. I was there 18 months and Bonnie 13.

We had two sons who have both made us proud. Not that they were perfect but they both have good jobs and families. Our oldest, Jay, is in management and works for Marriott Vacation Club. His office is at the beautiful Marriott Newport Coast Villas near Newport Beach CA. Our youngest, Dean, works in management for Glovis International. You've never heard of it but they do all the logistics and shipping for all of the Kia and Hyundai cars. They have blessed us with 5 grandchildren and 3, yes 3, great grandchildren.

After graduating from Santa Ana College with honors I joined the LAPD. While working Hollywood division I was wounded in the face during a shoot out with two home invasion robbers. We ran them to ground and the shooter got 6 years. I was awarded the Medal of Valor (LA's highest award) which included a lunch sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce (Jack Web narrated the awards), a trip to Dodgers Stadium where I got (along with 6 other award winners that year for different actions) to sit in the dough out with Steve Garvey, Ron Cey and the likes and was introduced to the fans before the game (they also put my name on the Jumbo Tron). I was forced to retire with 19 years on when I fell in a ditch and injured my knee and back and had 3 surgeries.

A few years later I got a job as an applications developer, with Riverside County. I used VB, VBA and SQL languages. I was able to retire from Riverside as a master developer.

Bonnie and I were able to do some traveling. We took several overnight trips to Catalina, flew to Hawaii, went to Niagara Falls, Seattle, Vancouver Canada, Victoria Island Canada, the Kodiak, cruised the Inland Passage to Alaska, went to New York NY and stood on the World Trade Center, went to a Broadway show (Cats), cruised to Nassau, went to Miami, South Beach, spent several nights in Key Largo, drove all the keys all the way to Key West, spent several nights in London, took the 186 mph train through the Chunnel to Paris, went up the Eiffel Tower and made a few missionary trips to Mexico. Whew, all in one breath. Bonnie went to Uganda and helped a friend from our church who started an orphanage which has been doing well for nearly 20 years. We certainly were not rich but things just seemed to work out when we loved to travel and put our efforts towards that.

In 2009 my wife, Bonnie, suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. She was completely paralyzed on her left side and weakened on her right side. She required 100% assist and care. I provided that for her. She felt much more secure and comfortable knowing I was happy to do it. She was able to hold on for seven years. It turned out to be a really good time for us. We became even more close and in love. But she just couldn't keep holding on forever. She slowly got weaker. On 7/21/2016, she peaceably passed away while I was holding her. So, after 49 years of marriage I'm a reluctant bachelor. I've taken up flying lessons to get my LSA pilot license. I'm just trying to find my way. I'm sure I'll do some traveling but not right now. Hope you all are doing well and having a great time in your retirement. I'm still undecided on coming to the reunion. I still feel out of place everywhere I go.

I joke that I graduated from HS and left Ridgecrest on my 18th birthday to join the USAF. (Sorry Navy.) But it wasn't a joke. I remember those comfortable sundowns riding my motorcycle in a short sleeved shirt. I remember riding up and down the access road to Burroughs HS and stopping by A&W for a float. Had a great time with the boys. Al Craver, David Anders, Russ Halgen, John Smith, Steve Rehdor and when they let me, John Halvorsen and Mark Connelly.

I remember driving fast down the access road after school and passing Mrs. Goforth (the teacher) on the right. I remember being called into the principle's office the next day. I remember spending the next day home with my one and only suspension day (speeding on the access road). I remember that Margie had been sitting in the passenger seat of her mom's car when I passed her and Margie tried to protect me. It wasn't until she was threatened with no soda after school that she gave me up.

Yes

jd.claxton@yahoo.com