Spike, a replica of the Vietnam Wall is coming to the Butler VA in a few months. Class of '64 graduates living in the area will have the opportunity to pay their respects to him and all the others lost in this war.
Sheila, Would you please let us know when the wall comes to Butler. I saw Marlin Miller's name on the wall in DC. It's imposible to express the feeling you have when you stand by the wall or find the name of someone you knew.
It has been 50 years since we lost Walt. I continue to think about him all the time. I wonder what he would be doing now if he has survived the war. He was talented in High School and a great person to know. I know he would have made a great life for himself. I think back and I hope he enjoyed his time at our High School. It was a difficult time for some of us to get into college. I applied to multiple schools and was not accepted. Then the draft was breathing down on everyone so I decided to go into the service and joined the Air Force. I picked the Air Force since my father was in the Army Air Corp in WW2 and I enlisted on the buddy plan with Paul Greg. The experience in the Air Force started me on the work that I would do for my working life.
Anyone that served in Viet Nam was always under the cloud of danger no matter where you were stationed in country. Many in the front lines and in the field had a difficult task but even stationed on an Air Force base was not entriely safe. The base I was on had mortar attacks after the Tet Offensive. It was a little unnerving when we had our first one but after that we adjusted and tried to protect ourselves. I guess I was lucky or the enemy was a bad shot.
I have been thinking about this day all year and had to write something. It was a very sad day when I received the news about Walt. I continue to think about him and wish he was with us today.
Thank you so much for sharing this, Spike. I did not know him as well as some of you but it is always good to reflect & remember someone we lost. Helps us to know each other a bit more. Take care. Guess Sheila & our committee are starting to think about planning our 55th. Hard to believe!!!
Walter and I started school together at St Peters elementary school. We spent 8 years together in the same classroom with the same teachers. When Walter and his family lived in the vicinity of St Paul’s school I remember an afternoon when we traded/flipped baseball cards and traded marbles. Several years later when he and his family had moved up to 4th street ( I lived on 2nd) we used to get together occasionally at The Hill playground and play tennis. His game improved, mine not so much.But I have to say that I best remember Walter for an incident that occurred in 5th grade at St Peters. Sister Adrian was the teacher. Now we all know we shouldn’t speak ill of anyone, but in Sister Adrian’s case it can’t be helped. She was cruel and sadistic and anybody on any given day was a potential target. On this particular day Walter was her target and he had enough. With a metaphorical middle finger salute he stormed out of the classroom. I know I was stunned and suspect everyone else was also. This is where my memory may fail me, anyone that was there can feel free to correct the record. Walter returned with his mother and peace was restored but not for long. Sister Adrian being Sister Adrian started again and Walter stormed out again. Over the years and decades I have come to view this episode as the first courageous act of rebellion against authoritarian tyranny I had ever witnessed.Walter was lost to us in a terrible tragic war in a far off place most of us had never heard of in 1963/64. I will always remember him with great affection.
We have another Veterans day and I am thing of Chick again. I keep wondering what Chick would have done with his life if he had survived Viet Nam. He was such a great friend and we had a good time in school. I was at the reunion in September and took his picture with me so he could attend the reunion.
It is another year that we lost Chick. I keep thinking about him. We had another class reunion and I enjoyed the pictures of all the classmates that have left us. I still think of him often and wish he would have made it out of Vietnam. With all the things that are going on right now I have been staying home and only going out to the grocery store and walking the dog.
Charles (Spike) "Greenawalt"
49 years ago we lost Walt. I think about him often. Miss him.Sheila Giesler (Gealey)
Spike, a replica of the Vietnam Wall is coming to the Butler VA in a few months. Class of '64 graduates living in the area will have the opportunity to pay their respects to him and all the others lost in this war.
Sheila Giesler Gealey
Milann Ruff (Daugherty)
Sheila, Would you please let us know when the wall comes to Butler. I saw Marlin Miller's name on the wall in DC. It's imposible to express the feeling you have when you stand by the wall or find the name of someone you knew.
Patricia Chappell (Shanor)
Jack, Thank you for posting the wonderful information and photos for Walt. He is well remembered and missed.
William J. "Green"
Chick was a classmate @ St. Peters schoool. . .he was a buddy to all.
Thanks for reminding us of this good man who gave his life for all of us.
Charles (Spike) "Greenawalt"
It has been 50 years since we lost Walt. I continue to think about him all the time. I wonder what he would be doing now if he has survived the war. He was talented in High School and a great person to know. I know he would have made a great life for himself. I think back and I hope he enjoyed his time at our High School. It was a difficult time for some of us to get into college. I applied to multiple schools and was not accepted. Then the draft was breathing down on everyone so I decided to go into the service and joined the Air Force. I picked the Air Force since my father was in the Army Air Corp in WW2 and I enlisted on the buddy plan with Paul Greg. The experience in the Air Force started me on the work that I would do for my working life.
Anyone that served in Viet Nam was always under the cloud of danger no matter where you were stationed in country. Many in the front lines and in the field had a difficult task but even stationed on an Air Force base was not entriely safe. The base I was on had mortar attacks after the Tet Offensive. It was a little unnerving when we had our first one but after that we adjusted and tried to protect ourselves. I guess I was lucky or the enemy was a bad shot.
I have been thinking about this day all year and had to write something. It was a very sad day when I received the news about Walt. I continue to think about him and wish he was with us today.
Karen Brady (Isovitsch)
Thank you so much for sharing this, Spike. I did not know him as well as some of you but it is always good to reflect & remember someone we lost. Helps us to know each other a bit more. Take care. Guess Sheila & our committee are starting to think about planning our 55th. Hard to believe!!!
Dana A. Long
Walter and I started school together at St Peters elementary school. We spent 8 years together in the same classroom with the same teachers. When Walter and his family lived in the vicinity of St Paul’s school I remember an afternoon when we traded/flipped baseball cards and traded marbles. Several years later when he and his family had moved up to 4th street ( I lived on 2nd) we used to get together occasionally at The Hill playground and play tennis. His game improved, mine not so much.But I have to say that I best remember Walter for an incident that occurred in 5th grade at St Peters. Sister Adrian was the teacher. Now we all know we shouldn’t speak ill of anyone, but in Sister Adrian’s case it can’t be helped. She was cruel and sadistic and anybody on any given day was a potential target. On this particular day Walter was her target and he had enough. With a metaphorical middle finger salute he stormed out of the classroom. I know I was stunned and suspect everyone else was also. This is where my memory may fail me, anyone that was there can feel free to correct the record. Walter returned with his mother and peace was restored but not for long. Sister Adrian being Sister Adrian started again and Walter stormed out again. Over the years and decades I have come to view this episode as the first courageous act of rebellion against authoritarian tyranny I had ever witnessed.Walter was lost to us in a terrible tragic war in a far off place most of us had never heard of in 1963/64. I will always remember him with great affection.
Charles (Spike) "Greenawalt"
We have another Veterans day and I am thing of Chick again. I keep wondering what Chick would have done with his life if he had survived Viet Nam. He was such a great friend and we had a good time in school. I was at the reunion in September and took his picture with me so he could attend the reunion.I think of Chick often.
Charles (Spike) "Greenawalt"
It is another year that we lost Chick. I keep thinking about him. We had another class reunion and I enjoyed the pictures of all the classmates that have left us. I still think of him often and wish he would have made it out of Vietnam. With all the things that are going on right now I have been staying home and only going out to the grocery store and walking the dog.Everyone stay safe.