Happy Birthday Warren Anderson (’65): Rolette, ND
North Dakota in July
Reply from Bill Hosmer (’48): Tucson, AZ
Gary, I intend to be there (North Dakota), preferably in July. No plans at this point, but
the odds are good that we will again shake hands. Bill
Gary’s reply
Bill,
I am really looking forward to seeing you in July too and everyone else. We’ll have to plan some group gatherings with some of the folks too.
Gary
Seeking information about Clark Hosmer.
From Robert Pelley, Quebec, CA
Good day sir!
I am writing you from Canada, hoping that you may be able to put me in contact with a relative of one of your alumni members. I expect you have never had a request like that before, so let me briefly explain!
I am a former resident of Gander, Newfoundland, which in !939–45 was the largest airport in the world. It was jumping-off point of a very large percentage of USAAF bombers headed to Europe during Would War 2. You Americans were good enough to cheat a little bit and in fact already had personnel in Gander even before Pearl Harbour and the official start of the war.
The first urgency was obtain proper weather information and to that end, the first American weather personnel of 8th Weather Squadron, under Captain Clark Hosmer, arrived at “Gander Field” to support the later arrival of the US 21st Reconnaissance Squadron on 09 March 1941. Captain Hosmer was therefore the first American officer in Gander during World War 2.
However, even though this was an important occasion, nothing else in known about him. Through in internet search, I came across the name of a Bill Hosmer in your blog of 06/14/2009. Mr Hosmer spoke about an uncle Clark who belly landed in was one of the early models of the Curtis P-40. Given the relative rarity of the name Hosmer and the probable age of a P-40 pilot, it could very well be that Bill Hosmer’s uncle is the chap I am trying to learn more about.
In the 1950s the wartime airport was pretty much bulldozed over and in new terminal opened in 1959. This means that the history of “old Gander” is slowly disappearing as people with recollection of that era are fewer with passing of time.
I would like to add to my website an article giving more info on Captain Hosmer. I would appreciate it enormously if you were able to get in contact with Bill Hosmer to see if i could have been his uncle. I thank you very much in advance.
Robert Pelley
2967 rue de la Faune
Québec QC G2A 1J1
Canada
Gary Stokes’ Reply
Hello Robert Pelley,
I think Bill’s Uncle, Clark Hosmer, is the same guy you remember.
The following excerpt is from the 1982 Dunseith Centennial Book
Clark Hosmer was a 1936 graduate of Wes Point Military Academy and made the Air Force a Career. He retired a Lt. Colonel and now lives in Shalimar FL. His son, Bradley, a graduate of the U.S. Air Force academy, was recently promoted to Brig. General. They have two other children, Gay Hosmer Lawrence and Phillip Hosmer”
I am including Bill Hosmer, Bob Hosmer and Colette Hosmer with this reply. They know the Hosmer History well and should be able to answer your questions.
Sincerely,
Gary Stokes
Colette Hosmer’s Reply
Dear Mr. Pelley,
I am Colette Hosmer, niece of Captain Clark Hosmer. Although I loved him dearly (he was a rare and exceptional person) I do not have the detailed information that you’re looking for. Therefore, I will forward your inquiry to cousin Brad, Clark’s oldest son. You’ve likely heard from cousin Bill already (another exceptional pilot).
I’ve bookmarked your website and will look forward to checking in.
Bill Hosmer’s reply
Gary, Thank you for getting the word to me from the Canadian gent trying to contact me. I’ve responded to him and put him in touch with my cousin, Brad Hosmer, Clark’s eldest son. It should complete the circuit.
My best to you and to Bernadette, I hope she is in good order and comfort.
Cheers, Bill Hosmer
Robert Pelley’s Reply
Hello Colette and thanks for taking the time to answer – much appreciated.
BTW completely as an aside, just love the name Colette. A former Ganderite, I now live in Quebec City where my everyday language is French. Your name has very nice ring to it!!!
Tnx again and hopefully I will do justice to Clark and other Americans who helped defeat tyranny, RP
Robert Pelley’s Reply
Hello Gary……..wow, that was fast – I will check to see if they give a Victoria Cross or the equivalent for blogging over and above the call of duty !
Your help is extremely appreciated. I hope to get enough info from Mr Hosmer and other resources to do an article worthy of the American weathers officers and men who help flyers get safety from Gander and other airfields safely across the Atlantic, back in the early days when it was an uncommon and pioneering experience.
Thanks again! Robert.
Joke of the day
Posted by Trish Larson Clayburgh (’73):
Murder at Costco
Tired of constantly being broke and stuck in an unhappy marriage, a young husband decided to solve both problems by taking out a large insurance policy on his wife with himself as the beneficiary and then arranging to have her killed.
A ‘friend of a friend’ put him in touch with a nefarious dark-side underworld figure who went by the name of ‘Artie.’ Artie explained to the husband that his going price for snuffing out a spouse was $10,000.
The Husband said he was willing to pay that amount but that he wouldn’t have any cash on hand until he could collect his wife’s insurance money. Artie insisted on being paid at least something up front, so the man opened his wallet, displaying the single dollar coin that rested inside.
Artie sighed, rolled his eyes and reluctantly agreed to accept the dollar as down payment for the dirty deed.
A few days later, Artie followed the man’s wife to the local Costco Supermarket. There, he surprised her in the produce department and proceeded to strangle her with his gloved hands. As the poor unsuspecting woman drew her last breath and slumped to the floor, the manager of the produce department stumbled unexpectedly onto the murder scene. Unwilling to leave any living witnesses behind, ol’ Artie had no choice but to strangle the produce manager as well.
However, unknown to Artie, the entire proceedings were captured by the hidden security cameras and observed by the shop’s security guard, who immediately called the police. Artie was caught and arrested before he could even leave the premises.
Under intense questioning at the police station, Artie revealed the whole sordid plan, including his unusual financial arrangements with the hapless husband who was also quickly arrested.
The next day in the Newspaper, the headline declared…
(You’re going to hate me for this….)
“ARTIE CHOKES 2 for $1.00 @ Costco”
Oh, quit groaning! I don’t write this stuff, I receive it from my warped friends and then send it on to you.
====================================
Blog (289) posted on November 21, 2008
Folks, I just talked with Marsha Getzlaff Bakken. She just got back from Colorado, visiting her daughter and her family. She will be sending information and identities of her Dad, Darrel’s, family that are in the Getzlaff family photo that I posted several days ago. She wants to talk to her dad first, to make sure she gets everything correct. Marsha lives in Anchorage, Alaska. I will be posting all the replies that you folks sent along with what I get from Marsha. I will be posting the picture again too. Gary
Message from Minnie Mary McKay Merrill (48):
This is my first response to the very enjoyable “memories” of my
Dunseith days.
I taught school at the Lockhart rural school north of Dunseith. The
school house was 1 mile south of the Canadian line. This was about 1950
and 1951. One pleasant memory was walking to Tommy Hagen’s school to
play ball. What a “field trip!” Curt Millang, Dennis Espe, Curt Kavlie
were my heavy hitters.
Cheering for Lockhart were the first graders because I think we had to
have everyone on the team to make a go of it. That had to be Sandra
Zeiler and maybe Garrett Myers. What a bunch of good kids I had. There
were 6 Millang kids, 2 Zeilers, 3 Handlands, 1 Kavlie, 2 Salmonsons, 2
Espes and 1 Myers. I most likely have the two years mixed up but then
that was over 50 years ago.
I live in Renton, WA and have been here for about 35 years. Most
of my family of the McKays live in North Dakota so I do go “home” to
visit. My sister, Phyllis, lives in Auburn, WA.
Thanks to you, Gary, for this unusual connection for all of us on
the receiving end.
Minnie Mary McKay Merrill
Reply from Tom Hagen (51):
Hi, Gary, another of my pupils at the Wetherault School I noted had
written with the cowboy serial (Warren Anderson) Tom Hagen
We love E-mail letters, Love Tom and Dot
Tom, Warren is part of the class of 65, along with me and all the others. Warren and his wife Cora are living in Rolette. Gary
Message from Vickie Metcalfe (70):
Gary and friends,
In the Minot Daily News today,November 20, 2008
LAURA POTRATZ, 99, Rugby, died Wednesday in a Rugby hospital. (Elick
Funeral Home, Rolla)
Mrs. Potratz was formerly “Miss Olson”. My Dad Cliff, and Aunt
Leona (Metcalfe) were very fond of her.And spoke highly of Miss
Olson as a their HillSide country school teacher in the late 1920’s
and early 1930’s.
As an adult, my dad plastered her farm house and they renewed their
acquaintance as dad’s favorite teacher.
When Aunt Leona (Metcalfe) Oswell and son Ron came back to ND in
June 2000 they had dinner at the Dunseith Senior Center. “Miss
Olson” ie. Mrs. Potratz came because it was put in the Dunseith news
that Leona would having dinner there, renewing friendships ,they had
a very lengthy visit.
When, Leona came back to my house that afternoon, she brought school
pictures of herself that Mrs. Potraz had kept all those years and
gave to Leona. My Aunt Leona was absolutely delighted about this
visit at Dunseith Senor Citizens, especially with comments by “Miss
Olson” that she recalled Leona was one of her “brightest and most
intelligent students” . Leona was like a little school girl. again
tickled and …. awed that Miss Olsen would say that.
Mrs.Laura (Olson) Potraz taught at many Rolette and Bottineau
County rural schools. Maybe some of you recall her?
A side note, she and her husband donated monies to decorate one of
the rooms at Metigoshe Lutheran Christian Center. It seems to me it
was a room with a “schoolhouse” motif.
—
Vickie L. Metcalfe
Follow up message from Vickie Metcalfe (70):
Gary and etal, I notified my cousins this am of Mrs. Potratz passing….thought you might be interested in what Geri and Chuck Munro wrote. I then realized it was HillSide School (Bergan) not Hilltop School. My dad used to sing..”.HillSide will shine to night, Hillside will shine” . etc Thank you!………….. |-O Vickie
X-EduTech-MailScanner-From:
Geri here—I had Miss Laura Olson for a teacher at our little Hilltop Country School–she was excellent and told me she had taught Leona and Cliff and others–maybe at Hillside?? Vickie, we’ve shared pics from Hillside when relatives went there. Chuck had her in 4th grade in Rolla; and she started him playing the bass drum in Grade 4-5 Rhythm Band–his introduction to playing the drums He, too, felt she was an excellent teacher–no one seemed to forget that she had been their teacher. She was a CLASSIC. We visited with her a few times after she married Bill Potratz.
Reply from Shirley Olson Warcup (49):
A message for Lloyd Awalt.
You probably didn’t know this, but a small contingent of freshman girls (myself included) spent a few hours awaiting your arrival in Dunseith the day you arrived home from military service. We had heard you were coming home that day and we waited in the Drug Store–intermittently going out to see if we could see your Dad’s car coming . I’m not sure how long we waited , but we did catch a glimpse of you as you came down main street. We were too shy to wave and cheer–but you were silently and happily welcomed home that day!! Belated thanks for your service to the country and to all of us!
Shirley Olson Warcup
Reply from Mel Kuhn (70):
Howdy Gary,
Great story from Lloyd Awalt. Thank you Lloyd for sharing it with us.
Mel Kuhn[70]
Picture provide by Neola Kofoid Garbe:
Folks, The three guys standing in the back are Emil Hazeldahl, John Kofoid & Bob Stokes. Lillian Houle is the lady with a red top in the front. John Kofoid is Neola’s Dad. He owned the Corner Stone Garage, in Dunseith, in the 50’s/60’s. Lillian is the mother of Allen Houle and all the Houle children that attended Dunseith in the 60’s/70’s. Emil Hazeldahl was married to my dad’s sister Olga. Olga was first married to Bert Hanson, brother to Francis Morinville. She married Emil a few years after Bert’s death.
