Comments:
Native Austinite. Enlisted in the U.S. Navy shortly after High School serving on the Aircraft Carrier USS Ranger, CVA-61, with duty during the Vietnam War.
I was in the Navy on the USS Ranger, CVA-61 Aircraft Carrier, off the coast of Vietnam when Mike Arrants, our classmate's helicopter, was shot down shortly after he arrived for duty in Vietnam. My duties on ship were in the Weapons department in support of the Underwater Demolition Team (UDT's) which were the World War II, Korea, and Vietnam precursor of the Navy Seals and were re-designated as Navy Seals in 1983. I got the message about Mike from one of them that had a relative in Mike's unit. We lost a lot of pilots that were shot down over Vietnam on that cruise, but knowing Mike as well as I did from our school years really hit me hard. I said a prayer and dropped some personal items in the South China Sea in his honor. Wish you were still with us, as well as all our other departed classmates. Rest in peace, Brother!
In 2024, I was selected as a Vietnam Veteran to go on an Honor Flight to Washington, DC. Honor Flights are to honor veterans of WWI, Korea, and Vietnam by flying them to Washington to visit all the Memorials, including the Vietnam Wall. At the Vietnam Wall I did an etching of our classmate, Mike Arrants, who lost his life in Vietnam. I also was honored to be selected to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Photos and videos of this are posted under Honor Flight 90, https://www.facebook.com/Honorflightaustin. Going on an Honor Flight is advertised as the "Trip of a Lifetime", and it gave me and the other Vietnam Veterans on Flight 90 the recognition and gratitude for our service to our country that we did not get when we returned home from Vietnam in 1969.
After the Navy, worked for a couple of years at the Infamous 'White House - on Lavaca' with classmate and best friend, 'Bubba' Wayne McManners. We still call it the "Best Job We Ever Had". After that, went to the University of Texas at Austin graduating with a degree in Radio-TV-Film. During UT College years, took informal classes in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu (Bruce Lee style) from Sifu Master Shu Wong, and earned the Chinese equivalent of a Black Belt becoming Assistant Instructor at his school. Still love the martial arts and working out at Cowboy Fit (Dallas Cowboy's affiliate club) regularly.
Worked at the Texas Employment Commission for 30 years as in-house TV Producer/Director, Trainer, Photographer, and Editor of the Agency newspaper. Retired in 2001 and worked various other full and part-time jobs until retiring for good in 2013.
The third photo is Peter Fonda, actor, of Easy Rider movie fame, and Noreen, my wife of 43 years, and me at a charity Bike Ride event.
Sadly, Peter passed away at age 79 in 2019 a few years after the charity Bike event where we met and had some one-on-one time to talk to him about the movie Easy Rider, his career, and life in general. He was down to earth, friendly, and an every day type of guy. Treated us and everyone like they were his best friend. We enjoyed riding our motorcycles with him and will remember this special time forever. The movie Easy Rider inspired me to ride a 350 Honda, that I bought in Japan in the Navy in 1969, from San Francisco to Austin - whew - what a ride on that small bike - something only a 20 year old could do.
And, yes, I still have the same long hair now as in the first photo, and as I did at the 50th Reunion, even after being a 4 time cancer survivor with Chemo (hair came back). Very lucky and glad to still be here.
Keep on Truckin', Never Grow Old, Allright, Allright, Allright!
Volunteered to take over all functions as Class Site Administrator in July 2022. Looking forward to updating, maintaining, and communicating with our Class of 1966! Especially excited about planning future events, both Reunions and informal get-togethers in between.
