Monty Jack Small

Bill Wade

Reflection time:  How very fortunate we have been. Not all of us went to Bell, Moore Junior High, but did evolve out of the Robert E. Lee crucible.  How very fortunate we were to be a product of this process.  Have you ever reflected of the representation of schools of higher education that some of us migrated to.  The achievments of this group are truly remarkable.. The corps of leadership of the teachers and instructors we were so fortunate to have.  Thankfull is the most appropiate word.

As we tiptoe through the 70 age bracket, know that we shall start dwindling. We have been friends in life  for some of us, eventuall eternity for all of us.  Live! Love! and Laugh!  There ain't no reverse on this vehichle called life or a cul-du-sac to reverse our direction.  CIAO

Patty Fox (Sanders)

I join you Bill in thankfulness to all who influenced and supported us along the way!!

Suzy Phipps (Gorneau)

I agree Bill. Very well said.

Linda Dorough (Jernigan)

Bill,

I, too, agree with everything you just said.  Is there something specific that prompted  this to come forth at this  time?  Another thing that I have been aware of is just how much influence and continual presence (at least for me) our high school experience together as a cohort has had and continues to have in daily experiences and memories.  Part of that has to do with having a great web site to turn to so often.

~ Linda Dorough Jernigan

Bill Wade

How very lucky I have been.  Life is an adventure and if you have the right attitude, is very similar to one of the beer commercials, "It dosent get better than this". I have made alliances around the world and strangely enough, most of them are usually glad to hear from me. From our English instruction, I recall the three(3) tenses are:: Past, Present. and Future. Only one of them can we participate in. My three plus years in Vietnam, I read alot of books and wrote letters until the voice recorder came along. How very fortunate to have servered with a unique group.  Read "Unlikely Warriors" by Lonnie Long.

I am very pleased to have grown up in Tyler and to be a product of this process.  Remember your alaphabet, especially the three L's and F's.  LAUGH, LIVE AND LOVE.  FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FINANCES. Strange that there are 3's like a three legged milk stool; Each is independent of the other, but dependent to remain up-right.  CIAO

John Bentley

Well said indeed, Bill...on both of your recent posts. Tyler and Lee were great places to be and we got a great foundation from teachers and a community that cared about us. We were fortunate indeed and I am eternally grateful for the many blessings I received...hope I was able to pass a few along to those who shared my journey.

Bill Wade

Charles Neal Miller has departed this life, bourne for a destination which no traveler returns.  Since last Sunday, Moody and I have spent hours reflecting on Charles' life as well as our own. As we travel through this life, a vehicle that has no reverse, we confront the realality that time is the only comodity that is our own.  What you have is all that you are ever going to get.  SO: LAUGH  LOVE  and  LIVE while you can.  For those that knew Charles, we will miss him and deal with the void created by his departure.  Charles, like millions of our fellow young Americans, answered the call of  HONOR   DUTY   COUNTRY.  George Nathan Oliver would and was proud of us. 

Bill Wade

Just in case some of you do no know, Mr, Edwin H. Irons, once told me that George Nathan Oliver, for some of you knew hime at J. R. Moore Junior High and later at Bobby Lee High, was a very highly decorated soldier of WW2.  Mr. Irons said, that next to Audie L. Murphy, was the second most decorated soldier from Texas in WW2.  THAT IS SAYING something and is the reason I have made reference to Mr. Oliver. 

Jim Patterson

Bill,

Your thoughts were all very true.

Hats off to all of you who served in Vietnam!

Jim

Patty Fox (Sanders)

To Bill Wade,

I noticed in your writings that you wrote a lot of letters during your time in Vietnam!

You are such a verbal person, have you ever thought of compiling those letters in a book or memoir??

Patty Sanders

Bill Wade

Patti Fox

I would encourage all that view this, to take the time and read  "Unlikely Warriors" by Lonnie Long.  It is a narrative of the U. S. Army Security Agency from May, 1961 to April 1975.  This unit, the aviation portion, was the " Bah Bah Black Sheep" of the Vietnam Era.  Worked hard(dedicated) and Played hard.  Though my name is not mentioned, I was a contributor of information or visit our web URL of www.oldspooksandspies.org.

Patti, I did not realize that I was famous or notorious.  Chris Curtis was reading letters that I sent RCC. not knowing she was reading my travels in Europe. Home commings were special, which I did about once a year.  Love Field in Dallas was very special.  TTA from Pounds Field and how you used to enter aircraft has certainly changed.  I certainly was fortunate to have lived in three countries and traveled to 20+ more in six and one half years.  The letters are long gone, but most of the memories are still fertile.  Can't match George Richardson, but then we are very lucky to have the human representation. Got to brag just a bit!  I have all my hair and VERY little gray.  I am going to see Moody Miller Monday, and let him examine my hair AGAIN.  He accused me of dying my hair some years ago,  I told him then, " Moody it is one thing to go gray and another to fall out.....damn if yours did not do both!!!!!!!!!!!   YUK  YUK

Tom [Tommy] Brown

Bill, read your post and agree with you.  Did not know that you were in Vietnam.. I was in the Air Force and was stationed in Pleiku from April in 71 until April of 72. In early April, Saigon called us and told us to leave as soon as we could.  We were always fighting up in Kontum which was 30 miles away until Saigon told us to leave. We flew to Cam Ranh and the next morning we learned that our base took 10 to 20 rockets so we were glad to have left. I had less than 6 months to serve so I got out.  I remember about 2 weeks aftter I returned home, I was mowing my parents back yard when I heard a loud explosion and l  let the mower go and took cover.  The oil tub on a telephone pole in front had blown up.and it was much louder than the mower.  In fact it sounded just like the rocket that landed in the parking lot next to my hut at 6 AM.  I had just gone to bed after driving around the perimeter all night trying to keep the guards awake up in the towers. It does take a while to adjust back to normal life without other problems.  I was lucky.  Guess you were too., especially after 3 tours. I had a buddy that I went through basic with who went to Vietnam and drove a General around for his whole year.  I ran into him in one day at Ton San Nhut as he was leaving to go home. He still had 7 months and was going to K I Sawyer Air Base in cold Michigan  I told him I was getting out the next month because I had 5 months to go and if you had less than 6 you could get out. He told me he would have traded places with me. He was never shot at while driving the General and would like to get out early.  My reply was, No you wouldn't  Are you still in Arkansas. I used to drive thru Arkansas when I wpuld go to the Indy 500 or take my wife to Branson. We haven't been for a few years and since Andy Williams died, we may not go back. Take care.  Tom Brown

Marc Bailes

I recall that Sam Bell was also a decorated vet of WW2 and perhaps Korea. I still have scars from his lanyard and can testify about his strength. 

Bill Wade

 Porter Marcles Bailes

That is what you get for playing basketball!  I was unaware of Sam Bell's military experiences. Rick Hughes and I speak often of OUR Sunday School Class at 1st Baptist.  Good to hear of  and from you.

Marc Bailes

We kept that church in the family for some time. First my grandfather was the minister for many, many, years, then my uncle, Bill Shamburger (married to my mother's sister). 

I've often thought about showing up there some Sunday morning, throwing open the doors, and declaring that I'm taking it back. 

Bob Macnab

I remember all that at the FBC and was very sad when PMB left. He baptized me in 1951 or 2 and I though I was drowning. I,m sure he felt I had a lot to wash away and held me under for a little extra. Bobby Macnab

Bill Wade

I don't know why I was unaware that Marc Bailed uncle was Wm. Shamburger.  He precided over my mothers

funeral in April 1959.  Rick Hughes and I refer to our Sunday School class and those that were members.

Marc Bailes

It was interesting being around those two preachers. My grandfather was an old traditional fire and brimstone kind of preacher. With him, you listened and did not question. Each Sunday, my family would go out to lunch with Porter Sr. and his wife. We would usually go to a cafeteria, where he would "make the room" at least once, then loudly pray before we were allowed to eat.

Uncle Bill Shamberger was a much more approachable guy. With him, you discussed things and exchanged ideas and thoughts. Much more understated and thoughtful.  

Gail McKinzie (Clark)

Mike Gross

Bob:  He did not finish the job.  You still havea lot more to wash away.

Michael Gross

Bill Wade

Gail, I think what Marc was trying to convey, P. M. Bailes and Wm. Shamburger.  Yes, P. M. Bailes #2 was a physican. If memory serves me correctly, You were in the Sunday School Department.  Hairy leg boys........most of us were in Gassaway's jurisdiction. 

Marc Bailes

Bob Macnab

To your observation about being baptized - I'm sure this was an early form of waterboarding. 

Gail McKinzie (Clark)

Bill I was explaining that to Leroy. I have no recollection of ever seeing you at FBC. Dr Bailes also Baptized me when I was 8.. Mine took.

Bill Wade

Gail, that is flattering that you have no recolection of me being in FBC along with Marc Bailes, Gary Walker, Gaylon Dingler, Randy Ross, Will Turman, Dee Hendrix, Rick Hughes and some others that require thought/.  I don't remember all the girls other than Judy Campbell and maybe Carrol Cannat.