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Charlotte Stone

Frank Baden

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Joy Fields (Wardleigh)

As I sit here on Christmas eve, reading the messages you have posted,, I am reminded of some of the Christmas seasons in my life.  Like Dan, I was raised in a way that is becoming more normal than the TV image of "Leave it to Beaver", and the "Dona Reed Show".  I was the only one of my siblings born in California.  My Mother left Mr. Fields when I was only 9 months old.  I only saw him 2 times in my life..  My Mother made the decision to leave him and go back to Ogden, so that we could have a better life.  He was a heavy drinker and she didn"t want us to be exposed to that negitave influence .  My older brother, sister and I were in foster care for a little over a year.  In fact my foster mother was Mrs Jarman, one of the cooks at BLHS.  My mother remarried and we were back together as a whole family.  I wasn't adopted by James Steele until much later.    I also have a younger brother and sister.  Dad always treated us equally tough.

My parents always made sure we had a special Christmas season and especially Christmas day, gifts under the tree and gathering of the whole extended family.  One of my favorite memories was the Christmas before we graduated, all the girls in PE were talking about the beautiful cedar chest they were gooing to get for Christmas.  I wanted to have one so bad that I told them that I was going to get one too.  I had no idea that I was telling the truth.  I was so surprised when I did get it that I cried.  I still have that Lane Cedar chest.  It isn't that it is so important, but the knowledge of what it represented.  I was loved and to me at that time that cedar chest was the proof, because I knew how expensive it was.

I must bring up my worst Christmas.  It was 1962, I was now out of school, married, and expecting my first child in a couple of months.  I just always knew that Christmas was supposed to be a joyfull time of loving and giving.  My husband had been out late and was trying to sleep off the night before party that he had been to and wouldn't get up.  We had a big discussion about the expectations that I had for the day.  He finally came around, but it was stressful.

It was a gradual lesson to learn the real important things about Christmas, and that it's the knowing that we are celebrating the birth or our Savior Jesus Christ  and it's the giving not the getting that is important no matter how or exactly what day we choose to remember.  It's being with those we love, like tomorrow when I go to my daughter's home, spend the day with her, my son-in-law and three of my beautiful grandchildren, and. helping those who are less fortunate than we are.

I was so blessed just last Saturday to be able to have a few members of the Church choir and some missionaries go with me to an assisted living facility to sing and share stories about the birth of Jesus Christ.

                                          MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

                                  SINCERELY, JOY FIELDS WARDLEIGH

Joy Fields (Wardleigh)

Well kids, I've read it all, and said it all, so I think, I will go put another log on the fire and watch one of my favorite old Christmas movies.  MERRY CHRISTMAS AGAIN!!!

Ruth Young (Adams)

Thanks Joy, Dan and Bobby....and all the rest of you.  Your posts are VERY interesting and I really enjoy  hearing about your  worlds.   I do wonder about our classmates and what they have been up to.  My life has been pretty uneventful but please everyone keep posting. 

        Merry Christmas to you all       

Beverly Brown (Purser)

Parry Willard

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone--the grandkids are gone and it's quiet again. 

I retired from full-time motion picture work last year but I still get calls to "day play" on some local productions.   

Occasionally I get invited to work on something that I am happy to share (providing clouds for the angel choir).  Click on the title to see this beautiful  YouTube video.  

Over A Thousand People Came Together To Break a Record And Bring This Moving Christmas Hymn To Life

Tod Maltby

Bev Brown.... The Boulder HiWay (Highway 12) is considered to be one of the top motorcycle roads ever. People come from all over just to ride that road. I have guided people from as far away as Germany and the UK around the area. Great fun!

What ever happened to Janiel?

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to everyone!!

Beverly Brown (Purser)

Joy Fields (Wardleigh)

Parry, I just watched the beautiful music video a few minutes ago.  I loved it.  I had the sister missionaries over for family home evening and part of the lesson was "Share the gift." or "The Gift".  It was lovely. I truely enjoyed it.  JOY W.

Tod Maltby

http://www.prageruniversity.com/History/The-Truth-about-the-Vietnam-War was interesting and very relevant. This certainly applies to today's Government where playing "Party Politics" trumps "Welfare of the People".

In a recent conversation with my granddaughter; who is a Senior at Ben Lomond she stated that she knew nothing about the Viet Nam War and had only seen mentions in the history books.

I just finished reading "Unbroken". A good read! Disheartening in the facts of what evils humans can inflict on each other but heartening in human resiliency.

Pete Belliston

Wow! You really have a memory for details.

The guy would probably go to prison for doing that kind of thing today even if someone deserved it.

Tod Maltby

Remember Coach Winger with his paddle? I was on the receiving end of that more than once! 

Steven Nielsen

I would sure like to hear from Ron Hall, Ron Nielsen, Gerald Carr (who lives in Willard) Arnie Garr, Bob Tracy, Margaret Black, Dave Spindon, Bonnie and Kenny Frew, Paula Welker, Iris Ellis, Mary Margaret Lee-Thomas  just to name a few, and most certainly more about their service in Viet Nam from Norman Morrison, Val Lasko, Tod Maltby, and anyone else who served our country. God bless anyone from our class for their for their service! - Steve Nielsen

Steven Nielsen

My dear Class Mates, I had dropped off the earth for the last two years (working book five the final in the series) but after reading all the past messages in the Message Forum was so touched by the candor and love expressed by everyone wanted to express my thanks: to Dan Hutchison (hey Danny!) for his interesting stories, Norman Morrison, Val Lasko, and Tod Maltby for Viet Nam experiences, (tell us more) and most especially to Karen and Pete Belliston for their hard work maintaining the web-site!! Also for Mound Fort year book.! Thanks a million guys! What a wonderful class we had; but I'd sure like to hear from Dale Youngman, Pete Crompton, Steve Blood, Gary Acker and others I mentioned earlier. - Steve Nielsen

Steven Nielsen

Dan, I appreciate your understanding of the Middle East and the radical factions of Islam. If you search through history you will find the ignorance and hatred common in Muslim extremists to be at the root of many of the world's conflicts. For instance the spark that kindled the fire that ignighted the blaze that became the blood bath of World War I, was the assination of Arch-Duke Ferdinand by a Muslim extremist. Just one example --- Personally, I know something about anger, frustration, and ignorance. Growing up in an alcoholic family, my younger brothers and I went without for many years until at age twelve I began earning my own way. Being short I also had the small man's syndrome and would fight at the drop of a hat. Frustrated and struggling in school and in life until the light of The Gosple opened my eyes, I finally began to realize and understand that Love, - sincere caring and service to others - is really the only resolation for an indivdual's (and the world's) problems. The trouble is; that this understanding only seems to happen one person at a time. ---  Islam, call it a nation/religion, (whereever you find Muslims they normally don't assimilate) is steeped in ignorance, anger, force, frustration and hate. Unfortunately the United States of America, is fast becomming more and more similar. It is a major concern, with no easy answer out there! --- Not to get too negative here Danny, it is a fine thing to have men of your understanding and experience out there to teach and inform others. If we all do our part, perhaps we can reverse the trend, of ignorance and hate. May god bless you as you continue forward. All the best, Steve Nielsen

Martha (Martie) Peck (Bond)

Steve,

What are the names of your books I would like to download them to my kindle aand read them.

Martie Bond

Tod Maltby

Reading the previous posts leads me to believe I have given some people the wrong impression. I did NOT serve in Vietnam. All my service was Stateside. My MOS (job) was 91B Medical NCO. My longest posts were: Womack Army Hospital, Ft Bragg & Reynolds Hospital, Fort Sill. I did sign up for a tour at the 61st Medical Battalion in Da Nang. I did that so I could get my first rocker (lower stripe). Before the paperwork was processed it was all over. They were evacuating Saigon! No more Viet Nam conflict.

In my job I worked to try to repair shattered bodies and broken souls. The second being much more difficult than the first. When people think of injured soldiers, they usually think of being shot or hit with shrapnel.  I was shocked to learn about the Burns....Terrible Burns. Naval Medics told me this is the most common injury on shipboard. I don't know which affected me most: the horror of what humans can do to each other or the tenacity of the human spirit that kept some of these guys alive.

I just didn't want anyone thinking I hogging credit for something I didn't do. My hat is off to anyone who was a "Ground-Pounder" in that terrible war. My Military records and my Drivers License list me as Vietnam Veteran but I never felt I really earned that.

Incidentally; in Basic Training i was a crack shot and got high marksmanship ratings. So, they asked me to volunteer to go to Sniper Traring instead of Medic Traning. With my non-violence beliefs it was an easy choice to make. I don't think I could have ever been a Sniper.

Steven Nielsen

Martie, the first four books in the "Two Runs of Stone" series are subtitled: "A Beckoning Call" -  "Windships America" -  "Hearts Desire" and "Wagons West"  --- Book Four, "Wagons West" was edited by our own Karen Petersen Belliston! All four are now available for download on Amazon/Kindle. -- Book Five, "Full Circle" the final in the series will be out by Christmas 2015 --- Thanks for asking! I look forward to our 55th Reunion; See you there!

Steven Nielsen

Todd, You Served. Period. You were ready, willing and able. Carry that Viet Nam Veteran card in your wallet proudly! Reading your response gives us all a deeper look into your personality, thanks for sharing.

Steven Nielsen

Dan, I share your beliefs...example: Muslim Pirate ships terrorized the Barbary Coast for over 300 years! Capturing English, French, and Spainish ships and forcing their sailors to row themselves to death chained in Muslim Gallies. Finally in the mid 1840's United States warships converged upon Muslim pirate ships and strongholds and blew them into oblivion!! --- Brute force is often needed, there is no doubt. Even today where Islamic brutality, and terrorism enslave people, freedom loving people must step forward! 

Karen Peterson (Belliston)

Dan, Tell us about Benghazi, Libya. You old classmates are providing interesting reading for Pete and me, and hopefully others are tuning in!

Joy Fields (Wardleigh)

Wow! Tod, I am amazed at what you did in the service of our country.  You were there for those dammaged people who needed healing to thier wounded bodies and spirits. You should NEVER feel bad because you didn't go over to Vietnam.  My brother-in-law did and he taught typing while there.  You all did your part and especially Those who were involved with the care and healing of others.  Thank you to all of you who served and  are serving now.  My son is one of them.  THANK YOU

Tod Maltby

Must be something in the blood.......

A postscript to my story of being an Army Medic:

My son is a Paramedic at Ogden City Fire Dept. and my daughter is a Nurse and teaches Nursing at Utah State University. Both are dedicated and very skilled at what they do. I am very proud of them!

Tod Maltby

I thoroughly enjoyed your Benghazi post! These kinds of accounts are best when they come from the source. I hope you have more; I want to hear them.

I am still trying to wrap my head around the Muslim mindset; and it's not easy for me. What kind of religion would venerate those who intentionally kill innocent people, including women & children?

In my youthful naivete in firmly believed in non-violence. In my Utopian world people would talk out their problems; there would be no wars or murder.

Then I Grew Up..........

The reason people like Gandhi or MLK were able to persevere was because they were dealing with reasonable, honorable people. The Muslim zealots are neither! A crazed Muslin bomber wouldn't care diddly-squat about my non-violence . He just wants to kill himself so he can be a Martyr! If he takes some non-believers with him, that's even better.

I still believe there is a better way but we won't see it in our lifetime.