06/10/2010 | Dunseith Alumni

Folks,

We got back home to the Philippines last night about 11:00 PM. When we landed they announced that it was 86F. That is about 4 degrees warmer than normal for that hour of the day. It’s currently 94F at 4:00 PM. This is the warmest that I have ever seen it here in Cebu.

We most certainly had a great trip seeing so many of you folks. It was absolutely wonderful. We so enjoyed the many small gatherings before and after the reunion as well. Last Friday, the evening before we left ND, we gathered at the Pizza Inn, in Bottineau, with Dick/Brenda Johnson, Jim/Connie Halvorson Kester, John/Margaret Bedard and Darrel/Debbie Stokes for Pizza and some good conversation from years past. When we were leaving, one of the workers in the back said to Dick, “You guys are leaving”. What was he thinking, we had only been there a little over 5 hours! We sure had fun reminiscing old times and stories from the past. Some day we’ll have to pick up from where we left off. We weren’t finished by any means, right Dick, Margaret & Connie.

I have not had a chance to down load any pictures from our camera that we took in the states yet today. I need to download and get them all separated. Hopefully I’ll get that done later this evening so I can post a few tomorrow.

I have posted some pictures, at the bottom of this message from our Alaska Cruise, that Phyllis McKay provided. When we were in Federal Way on Sunday with our Grandkids, we called Phyllis to join us for dinner at the “Old Country Buffet”. It’s always a pleasure visiting with Phyllis.

Gary

Reply from Verena Gillis: Dunseith, ND

Gary,
I went and cleaned up on Sunday and didn’t find any camera so someone may
have picked it up Saturday evening. They may respond to your posting on
the blog, I hope.

Got everything all cleaned and put away and returned to key to George plus
$100.00 to cover any electric expenses. He told me anywhere from $30.00
to $80.00 so I just gave him $100.00 and that seemed to satisfy him.

I have been getting so many compliments on the food, the organization, the
decorations, etc. from people in the community that attended and this
makes everything all worthwhile! I am so happy it was a huge success and
this makes my heart soar like an eagle!

Later,
Verena (*-*)

Verena, Your heart has every right to soar like an eagle with the huge success of this wonderful reunion. You made it happen and we so appreciate you going the extra miles to make this whole event the success that it was. When I visited you at that school several days before the reunion, I can not for the life of me figure out how you manage to do all that you do with all the things that you have on your plate. To top things off you were tasked by the school to make up graduation announcements, banners, etc for the DHS gradation the day following our reunion. How do you manage to do it all and so efficiently? You are most certainly a super woman. DHS will be lost when you retire someday.

We want to thank George Gottbreht too, for letting us use the Bingo Barn rent free. He only ask that we pay the utilities that were incurred for this event. Thank you George. I was also pleasantly surprised to see my name on Dale’s Bill Board out by the road too “Welcome Stokes Bogglers”. Bernadette first noticed it when we drove into Dale’s several days after we were in the area. Her words were “Look at that, your name is posted on that sign!” Sure enough it was and for three weeks too. Again, thank you George.

Reunion:

Reply from Brenda Hoffman (68): Greenville, SC

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. What a great reunion. I missed talking to so many people- just ran out of time even though the lights were shut off on Dick, Brenda, me and Tim Hill! I thought Bernadette was probably a lovely lady but know so now – a entire week of listening to our stories PLUS manning the reception area. Way to go Bernadette. And I can’t even begin to tell you how important the San Haven info at the Museum was/is to me. Kudos big time to Mel and Dick and Kudos to you for using the blog to tell us about it. Great weekend that I wish had been longer.

Love Brenda

You are so welcome Brenda. You were among those of us that were there to the most enjoyable end. We all had to leave about 12:30 AM so they could lock the place up. Brenda, you are a hoot and so much fun. I am so glad that you were able to attend. We enjoyed seeing Dave too, at the Museum. Gary

Message from Aime Casavant (66): Jamestown, ND

Gary,

Not sure if your checking your blog on vacation.

I have been assigned a bus charter run to Oklahoma City next week.
Were supposed to be back around 1:00PM on Friday – I’m hoping for no
problems so I can make it to Dunseith. Hope to see everyone there.

I drive charter tours in the so called semi-retirement.

Wild Weasel Mission in Viet Nam

Bill Hosmer’s (48) reply to DIck Johnson (68): Tucson, AZ

Bill Hosmer wrote:
> Dick, Thanks for your reply. Yes, the Wild Weasel mission is somethingthat I, personally, initiated by way of recommendation to the general who asked each of us flight leaders what we thought of a mission the day before in 1965 when six of us got shot down attempting to kill SAM sites very near Hanoi. Forty eight F-105 “Thuds* attacked two sites. We had to fly at very low level in order to not be shot down by the missiles themselves, but the AAA guys had a ball. My wing man was hit and had to eject as we were attacking one of the sites. I was leading eight birds and were supposed to hit everything left standing after the other forty had attacked. My guy was the only one not killed or taken prisoner that day, out of the six shoot downs. I was pretty pissed when the general asked me what I thought of the mission. I told him it was the f—ing dumbest thingI’ve ever experienced in my life. He said, ok, you get a meeting set up with representatives
> from all the units involved and give me a recommendation on how to kill SAMs. By the way, you will be leading the next effort to get them. Igot the other guys together and we put together a long range and short range plan to kill SAMs. The long range one was to get a group of fighterpilots, with stuff already on the shelf,trained to do just that one specialty and develop tactics to lead the attack force into those high threattargets close to town. The F-100 was the first bird they had available to do this. The commander of that first outfit was and is a good friend of mine, Gary Willard. Later F-105s were modified with more advanced avionics to try to do it better, and finally F-4s got into the act. I led a twelve ship flight of F-105s on the next effort after the bad day of losses. I was able to develop my own tactical approach to getting the job done. We damaged the site and guns around it and did not lose one bird. I got some recognition
> for doing it, and was proud of the people who volunteered to go with me on that one, in the face of the bad day with all those losses. So, Dick, I got carried away when you mentioned Wild Weasel and got a little offthe track. By the way, I flew the F-100 my second time over there, and it was all strikes against targets in Laos, and close air support for troops in South Vietnam. The president called off strikes in North Vietnam which boiled my blood. Cheers, Bill

Dick’s reply to Bill:

Bill,

Gary Willard was the guy they we interviewing, I’m quite
sure—Brig. Gen. Gary Willard–if my memory serves me. Thanks for the
info and you can ‘get off track’ with me anytime—I love it!! It’s too
bad they didn’t ask you guys the day BEFORE rather than after the black
day. Thanks again.

Dick

Dick’s reply to Bill:

Bill,

I will certainly greet the reunion goers on your behalf. We will
miss you and Pat . The news about Pat’s improvement is great! This is a
step in the right direction for her and just being home will be
therapeutic in itself. Tonight the Military Channel ran a documentary on
the Wild Weasels in Vietnam. It told the in depth course of action you
guys did in the F 100s to decoy the SAMs ahead of the strike force. The
entire NVA trick with ‘off and on’ radar to hide their sites was
explained in detail. It was interesting but made me realize even more
the danger you guys faced on a daily basis. It sounded like the Wild
Weasels started the sorties in late ’65. Were you in the initial
squadrons? We bought a new satellite TV system and now get some real
good channels—-for history and aviation buffs, anyway. Hope things
keep improving for Pat. Give her our best!

Dick

Mike Hill:

Reply from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Bottineau & Minot, ND.

Gary,

I think I’ve mentioned Wally’s nephew was married this past Saturday. Once again, it’s a small world. Shane’s “best man” was Mike Hill, Tim Hill’s son. I met Tim at the reception.

Neola

Message from Cecile Carbonneau Marchand (50): Kenosha, WI & Clearwater, FL.

Welcome t5o the states. I can not be there for the reunion but I will be looking forward to hearing all about it. Wish you good weather and good times.. Cecile Marchand (1950)

Message from Marge Longie Langan Wilcox (56): Vancouver, WA.

Gary/ Bernadette,

hope you both have a great time at the reunion.

one of these years I will try and make a reunion.

tell everyone hello for me.

Marge Langan Wilcox tigerlady414@aol.com

Message from Donald Malaterre (72): Sioux Falls, SD.

Hi Gary,

This is Donald Malaterre from the class of 1972.

Would you please add my name and my wife’s name, Joann Malaterre to the list of attendees of the Dunseith Reunion next week.

Joann is not a Dunseith alumni, but she thinks you are some kind of a legend.

We live in Sioux Falls, SD.

Thank you, and we will see you there.

Donald Malaterre

Donald, I am so glad that your were able to make it to the reunion. I enjoyed meeting you and Joann. It was nice of you to stop by at Dale’s to visit with our class of 65 folks on Friday too, the day before the reunion. I noticed you knew a number of folks and they too were glad to see you. Gary

Message from Paulette LaCroix Chisholm (68): paulette.chisholm@verizon.net Newark, Delaware

Gary,

Have a safe and pleasant trip back to the US! You and Bernadette should have a great time visiting family and staying in the area. Better bring a jacket, it’s been downright chilly in the US. Thank you so much for keeping the blog going and for the opportunity for the extended community of ND to stay connected to their roots, memories, and old friends. You are a peach without the pit!

Paulette LaCroix Chisholm

Posted on the Dunseith Alumni Web Site:

From Beverly Hamnes Handeland Hamnes (48): Bottineau, ND

From: beverly hamnes
Phone:
E-mail:
Message:
DEAR GARY;
HERE IS MY EMAIL ADDRESS WE SURE HAD A GOOD EVENING WTIH EVERY ONE SATURDAY NITE. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND ALSO BERNADETTE.
BEV

Reply to the pie postings sent from ND.

From Gwen Struck Dumas (68): Havre, MT

I just made my first ever angle food “pie”! Not sure how that happened, but it’s definitely different!

Clint went outside to cut firewood. It’s raining pitchforks and hammer handles and has been all week. I think he needed to get away to have a good ol’ belly laugh!! I may do the same…..some day.

Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (70): Bottineau, ND

Thank You Gary for making things happen.

Your blog continues to be like the old General store where folks gathered or Central Telephone Exchange of yesteryear. Many folks use quite frequently (other folks just listen in /view). All of us benefit by the exchange of positive communication.

I sincerely hope you and Bernadette had a good vacation. I here stateside felt it was great seeing you both again.

Happy Trails to you until we meet again……….Vickie

Vickie, Thank you so much for this nice compliment. It was most certainly a pleasure seeing and visiting with you both at the reunion and at the Bakery hashing out days gone by. I am hoping you are enjoying your trip back to Scotland with your cousin Geri Metcalf Munro and her husband Chuck. You may be back now. Please fill us in? Gary

Note from Bob Leonard (51): Lake Metigoshe & Dunseith, ND.

Hi Everyone:

Just a quick note to let you know I will be moving my computer to Lake Metigoshe, effective today, 5-23-2010. I am assuming I will have my same Metigoshe e-mail address, which is

If I find that I have to use another address, I will let all of you know.

Plan on having it up and running tomorrow afternoon, perhaps best if you do not use it until Tuesday.

We plan on making our physical move this week, perhaps on Wednesday or Thursday.

Hope all is well with all of you, have a good summer.

Sincerely,

Bob

Trying to locate Jim Olson – Former Teacher

From Larry Nagel (Former Teacher): Shields, ND

I have been trying to locate Jim Olson for sometime. He taught at Dunseith High School Business Department until the spring of 1966.

Thank you!

Larry Nagel

July 2009 Alaskan Cruise pictures: