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Val Lasko

Hey Norman K.

Glad to be of service.  Love to all the "Grunts", you guys were the real heroes.  I alway felt the ground guys were shorted on service recognition; also the Nurses& Doc's.  As far as "slick drivers" and "gunship drivers", we always tried to get an accurate head count of good guy's moving toward the "LZ".  The # 1 gun would do a semi dry run directly over the team to be extracted; roll 90 degrees and look straight down, once we had a count and good location #2 gun was cleared in "hot".  The slick was given 15 to 20 seconds to load guys, then bug out at high speed.  Many extraction did not go as planned.  The bad guys at time would not fire at the slick until it was backing out of the "LZ" fully loaded.  Google U-Tube James Fleming M.O.H. my 20th SOS squadron buddy. The badge of honor for a gun driver, was to put hot empty shell casing into the slick pilots lap and come home with tree branches stuck in the skids.

Write your story-100 years from now your prodgy will ask, " what the hell were you thinking"?

Warm Regards,

Val L.

Tod Maltby

I have the utmost respect for you guys. After High School I was part of the non-violence movement. We actually believed we could teach people to get along! When Uncle came knockng at my door I was really scared; not of dying, but of killing other people. Fortunately, I was able to become a medic; Do my duty and help save lives. Seeing the damage done to fine young people made me even more non-violent but it also inured me to the fact that it's not gonna' happen. Gandhi taught his lessons of non-violence very well but he never had to face a Taliban crazy wired with bombs wanted to become a martyr.

Nam was such turning point in our generation. I often wonder how my life would have gone if Kennedy had never gotten us involved in SE Asia.

Norman K. Morrison

Thank you for your responses. Todd, we loved the medics. Obviously you guys saved lives but the care we received for jungle rot etc was great. A friend who went in with me became a medic also. It was a wonderful way to serve but I didn't feel like I would be a great patcher upper.

After my two years in Mexico trying to save souls, it was perplexing to be called on to take someone's life. As far as I know I wasn't responsible for an individuals life. It took many years to come to an understanding an acceptance of that purpose.

The Book of Mormon insures us that there must be opposition in all things and I definetly saw that in my life experiences. When I watched the huge parade for the return of the hostages held captive in Iran I remarked to my wife that they never did that for us. Those individuals could have left before because of warnings of unrest but chose to stay. I served my country as did thousands of others and learned an even deeper love of the freedoms provided us in our great country.

i think some of our classmates have been offended by our comments but the Vietnam war became a great divider in our beloved land.

if we were all to share our life's history it would fill many many books, but the day will come in the next life many of these experiences will be seen.

Frank Baden

Classmates I was so sorry to learn that Cheryl Ann Becraft Allred Larson passed away on September 16, 2014.  She was a great classmate and a lot of fun to be around.  May she rest in peace.

Frank Baden

Dan a lot of guys had a crush on Cheryl back in high school but Alan Allred was the only guy for her.  I talked to her last year and had no idea she was ill.

Martha (Martie) Peck (Bond)

Cheryl was such a lovely youngg woman.  I am so sorry to hear of her passing.

Martie Bond

Frank Baden

Dan,

You can go to the Ogden Standard Examiner deaths and click on Meyers Mortuary abd you will find Cheryl's obituary.

Ruth Young (Adams)

To all my wonderful Ben Lomond Veterans.......All my respect and gratitude.  Thank You.

Happy Veterans day.     Love Ruth

Joy Fields (Wardleigh)

Thank you Ruth for telling me about this site.  I got on it about midnight and it's 2 AM.  I had no idea what ever happened to everyone.  So many deaths, so sad.  I am totally grateful to all of you who have served our wonderful country.  My son is now serving in the Army, my heart goes out to him and all of you.  God bless you. JOY W.

Joy Fields (Wardleigh)

Dan, my son is stationed in El Paso TX.  He was in the Navy for a while, serving in Korea for one year and Quait for about 9 months.  He then transfered to the Army (more chance for schooling and better pay).  He was stationed in Hawaii for 3 years, then deployed to Qatar for a year, & now Texas. His son that just turned 17 last week can't wait to finish high school so he can join.

Donna Harbertson (Persinger)

I haven't been on for a while, so thought I would catch up on what is happening.  Wish more people would get on the forum.  I do appreciate all who have and who are serving in the service.  My dad served in the navy before, during, and after WWII.  He even had a ship shot out from under him, and I very proud of his sevice.  My brother, Mike, who went to Ben Lomond, but is 5 years younger than we are, was drafted into the army and was scheduled to leave for Viet Nam,   His unit was taken on night maneuvers just before leaving, and he jumped a ditch and had a lucky break, his leg that is.  They figured that by the time his leg healed he would not be able to complete his tour so was never sent to Viet Nam.  We, his family and Mike too, considered a broken leg a "lucky break".  If not for that he would have been over there.  The Viet Nam Vets were treated very poorly and it is not until recently that they are getting the respect they deserve.  Now we are possibly going to become embroiled again (though we have never really left) in the middle east.  I haven't made up my mind about that.  The Middle East is a bottom less pit from which it seems we cannot escape.  I hate the thoughts of sending more foot soldiers over there, but not sure there is another solution.  I know that our foreign policies leave much to be desired.  A change of topic:  Charlie and I just finished our Medicare part D (prescription insurance) and I am sure all or you out there have or will be.  When you see the cost of medication, you can only be thankful for having insurance.  Charlie does the research for my cousins, Sharyl, her sister Karen, and the both of us.  He had lots of computer problems when helping my cousins, but today everything went through fine.  I hope that all is well with the graduating class of 1962.  In just two days it will be Thanksgiving.  In reality we all have very much to be thankful for.  I think we were lucky to be born when we were and raised when and where we were.  Life is full of twists and turns, ups and downs, and also great joy.  I am wishing all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving.  Enjoy and love your family and friends, and let them know it.  Charlie and I moved away from Utah when he graduated from Weber State and we were pregnant with our first child.  We always made good friends where ever we lived, but there is nothing like family to be there during the tough times.  I know I have been fortunate in that area.  Charlie's parents were both dead by the time he was 13, and on his own at 15.  He is a tough and determined guy and finished high school and college.  He has always been so appreciative of my family.  We just went back to Virginia  to celebrate Charlie's 50th HS reunion.  It was fun and interesting.  They have had reunions every 5 years, but this is the first one we have gone to.  As time goes by fewer and fewer are there to celebrate.  Well, good health to all, good turkey too all, enjoy and again a Happy Thanksgiving !!.  Donna

Mike Liptrot

Well said Dan & Donna

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Joy Fields (Wardleigh)

I am so grateful to Ruth for telling me about this site.  It has only been a few days, but I have gained so much knowledge about many of you and your life.  I feel like I have been granted a second chance to know so many of you again.  At this time of year I am blessed to be with friends and family.  Mt daughter Sherrie is here from Provo for a few days to celebrate and reflect on the many things that we have to be grateful for. We will join my brother, his wife, children and grandchildren tomorrow for dinner in Shingle Springs.  My friend that I have known about 31 years, just left for the drive back to her home in Stockton.  While she was here we went to the Sacramento Temple then out to dinner.  It was a woderful day together.  Today we started my Christmas movie watching .  (I  jave a growing collection)  We had a great time together.  She's a completely cool person even though she DIDN'T attend BLHS.  She went to school in SLC.

Donna, it was great to hear about your life and especially your brothers lucky break.  Dan it was so good to hear from you again.  And, yes I am forever grateful to all of you who have served and are now serving our blessed country, especially my son Rob who is in the Army.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving to all and God bless you.

Tod Maltby

Dan, you mentioned being onboard at the time on the Tonkin Gulf Incident. I wondered if you have seen the movie: "The Fog of War"? One scene that was especially moving to me was the interview with Robert Macnamara broke down and was sobbing as told how he planned the Aug 4th attack (the 2nd one) with the CIA in order to convince LBJ to ramp up the War. If you haven't seen that movie you should. It won an academy award for Best Documentary and is sort of macnamara's deathbed confession.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Tod Maltby

I would love read whatever you have. If you dont want to post it here send it to tod@utahan.org.

I would like to hear your comments after you view "The Fog of War". I was very moved by Macnamaras insights into how badly the whole thing went down.

Waiting to hear from you.

Val Lasko

Val Lasko

Hey Todd-interesting you mentioned McNamara.  My son works with McNamara's son and grandson; the few times I have asked about him they responded with the cold shoulder.  They seem to clam-up when they discovered I was a helicopter pilot and working on a writing project for PTSD veterans.  Maybe I can flush-out some juicy details.

Val

Tod Maltby

Yes Val; by all means! Dig us up some good dirt. I,m there is plenty to go around.

Joy Fields (Wardleigh)

Yea! It's raining.  We need it so bad here in CA.  It has rained all day today and is supposed to rain again Friday and Saturday.  It's begining to look a lot like Christmas.  I had my grand kids over on Friday, to decorate, eat pizza, and watch Home Alone again.  Life is good.  Merry Christmas.

Shanah Goodman (Michaelson)

Happy Holidays to my oldest friends.  Lets take a vote for our next reunion.  Our upcoming 55th in  2017 or sooner.

Have such fond memories  of our last.

Let's get active about this.

Thanks,  Shanah

Beverly Brown (Purser)

Donna Harbertson (Persinger)

Hi:  It has been pre-Thanksgiving since I have posted.  Hi Joy and Bev and Shanah, Dan, Todd, and Val.  It is good to see some new faces posting.  I hope everyone had a good family and or friend Thanksgiving.  Our son cooked his first Thanksfiving dinner and did a great job.  Charlie (dad) went to his house and talked him through turkey preparation.  Casey did all the rest and it was lovely and nummy.  Everyone was there except our little granddaughter.  Our son is in the process of a divorce and so Elizabeth was with her mom.  We missed her.  My oldest grandson is moving back home from St. George either at Christmas time or in January.  Will be glad to have  him home.  Christmas is drawing near and I do have decorations up, but not ready.  Charlie and I have been sick with bad colds since Thanksgaiving.  We have traded germs several times.  I think I am on the mend, but Charlie still not as well.  Tomorrow is our 47th wedding anniversary.  We are going out to dinner with friends.  Hoping to work up to 50 plus years.  I know a number of you have made it already.  Good for you.  I was glad, Joy, to see California getting rain, just too bad it was so much all at once.  Hope this is the end of your drought and hope that nothing bad happened to your home or family.  At the same time I have been jealous,  cuz we are woefully behind in rain and snow so far this year.  We did get some rain and snow this weekend.  Hoping and praying for more.  By the way Shanah I also vote for a 55 year reunion.  We aren't getting any younger.  When we were at my husband's reunion in VA, in October, I found out they have a reunion every 5 years and have since graduation.  It seems to work for them.  I will even offer some of my services.   

Since it is almost Christmas, I thought I would insert a bit of spirituality into the conversation.  I don't consider myself a scriptorian, or a deeply spiritual person, but I do attend church regularly and believe in God, his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.  I take a little magazine called the Gudeposts.  When Charlie and I were first married 47 years ago his Aunt Mildred (such a sweet lady) sent a subscription and I have kept it up ever since.  It was started by Norman Vincent Peale.  I read a story which started out "Have you ever been to a "thin place"?  I am wondering what is a "thin place"?  "The idea comes from Celtic spirituality and it applies to a location where the barrier between earth and heaven feels, well, thin.  In spots like this, we can feel ourselves closer to the divine."  Her words.  She is talking about Sainte-Chapelle in Paris where she first went as a young teen on tour and about the beauty of the stained glass windows and how the beauty of  the light coming through them affected her and as soon as she saw the light that was all she could think about.  "Thin places", the term fascinated me, and I started to think of where I had been in a "thin place".  In the LDS church we talk about the veil between heaven and earth.  I thought about when I was pregnant with our first child, and when I first felt life.  About when I felt the soft, flutter of a life thas was growing in me, and would become our son.  It was like the soft flutter of butterfly wings.  I will never forget that moment.  A miracle from God as each of the children born here on this earth are.   When we  were in VA in October we drove along the Skyline Drive, which about 100 mile drive.  It was fall and the views, the changing leaves, the changing weather, from sun, to rain, clouds, sun again was spectacular.  That is a "thin place".  I have thought of more, and I have been thinking about this for the past few days.  Each time I thought of a "thin place", I have tried to think of my feelings.  So here are a few, love, beauty, peace, happiness, joy, calm.  Some of my "thin places" would not affect others as they did me.  So my question to you is, can any of you think of some "thin places" in your life where you were brought closer to the divine?  You don't have to tell them, just reflect upon them, be thankful for them, ponder them.  Now is the time of year when we are supposed to be considering the spiritual and not all the material.  So I am trying harder to think of the spiritual or divine and not the shopping, and gifts, and parties.  I am wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  May we all have good health, good family, love, beauty, peace, happiness, joy and calm.  Donna

PS, I hope I did not come across as preachy.  I am really not.   

Shanah Goodman (Michaelson)

Hey,  Donnie Hutchinson.  If we are going to be friends, I must teach you the correct spelling of my name.  It's Shanah. like Hannah .    Hope to get more responses from our class mates.  Be well and have a Merry Christmas

Love to all

Shanah

Shanah Goodman (Michaelson)

Dan,

Apologie accepted!

L.   Shanah

Joy Fields (Wardleigh)

Hi Dan, I just had to laugh when you described El Paso,  I agree 100%, however, like I said before, that's where my one and only son, Rob lives, so I have to go there.  He is about 5 miles from New Mexico.  Their front yard is just like you said, ROCKS, the back yard has a beautiful pool, so that is the saving grace.  My Son is in the Army and my darling little 6 foot grandson joined the Army reserves yesterday.  He is a jr. in high school so he will do the one weekend each month until school is out for the summer then do his two weeks.  He wont do boot camp until after graduation from high school.  Both he and my son plan to have the Army pay for their college education.  I sure hope their plan works.

About Christmas trees, I don't even have one anymore.  I sure do have millions of decorations around though.  Christmas is great.  I love it.  However, I don't love the post office,  they just ripped me off for a mint just to mail two packages , $23.00 One was $18.00.  Next time they get gift cards. HA!. 

Your Michelle, (I have a daughter Michelle) would have loved to be here, it is the most culturally diversified ward I have ever been in.  The people are wonderful and there is no cultural problems.  From what I have been told it's the same in the High School too.

Got to go, my friend is comming up from Manteca to do lunch and some movie about ALS, I think that's what it is.  JOY

Oh; Just one more thing, I laughed about Shanah G's comment.  "Donnie"

Tod Maltby

I believe I have posted before about Texas. I agree; El Paso is a disaster. I have friends in Houston that I spend time with. Houston is a nice place but I'm just a Big City person, and Houston is BIG! My other spot is a little town about 80mi SW of Houston called Palacios. (Population 5000) It sits right on Matagordo Bay which is an arm of the Gulf of Mexico. The main industry there is fishing (shrimp & oysters) The weather there is very pleasant all year and the people there are very friendly. I have a place I can stay that is only 100 yds from the water.

Fishing there is quite interesting. Here in Utah we have only a few species of fish; Matagordo Bay has over 100! On my last trip, my friend Bill caught a 3ft sand shark, We grilled it on the barby and it was delicious! Nothing like the shark you buy at the fish store in SLC. One of our friends who is a shrimper came to eat grilled shark brought 10 lbs of shrimp caught that morning. What a FEAST!

In summation; I have been to a lot of places but overall it is hard to beat the Wasatch Front!

I hope all of you have an enjoyable Holiday Season with friends & family, filled with Good Cheer.

Condolences to the families of those we lost this year. I hope their Holidays are filled with fond remembrances an not sorrow.

Tod