Charleston, Maine
Newsletter Click Here For Reunion 2002 Information Click
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CHARLESTON AIR FORCE STATION SMALL WORLD DEPARTMENT Recently we got in contact with Michael Raymond. “Sure is a small world. I went to a play in Manchester, NH, and a woman sitting at our table was from Maine. We started talking about high school reunions. Later on we talked about Charleston AFS and she told me about (Pauline) and the reunions. I was an Electronic Computer Systems Repairman from 1975-1978. I can remember events but not names. I worked for one group and then I seem to remember working for another group. I would love to go to the 2002 reunion. I am so excited about getting in touch with you. I know one other person who was on base during my stay. His name is John Brandolini. I would like to make a donation. Please let me know how I can do that. How can I get the details about the reunion? I am definitely going. I can hardly wait. Dick Cynewski. Wow! Another blast from the past. This is so awesome. I used to coach kids basketball with him. One year we sold Christmas trees to raise money. The base let us borrow a dump truck and we all went into the woods to collect trees.“ Michael Raymond, Central Software Applications Engineer, Systems Integration Services, Andover Controls Corp, 300 Brickstone Sq, Andover, MA 01810 Michael’s e-mail is raymondm@andovercontrols.com. NOTE: Pauline‘s friend Pat LeBlanc who lives across the street from her on Tate Road was the one who met Michael at the dinner theatre and passed the word along about CAFS Reunions. Good job, Pat!! Maybe we can get her to come to the Reunion too??? ++++++++++ CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE Locate it at http://www.agate.net/~ce/cafs.html Ably handled by Dick Cynewski, alias dickieputt@aol.com, you will find all sorts of radar site memories. He would like any photos of CAFS days to add to the site. Contact him by email. REUNION DONATIONS Bob & Nancy Phillips Harvey & Lydia Pechacek Bob & Ann McCarthy Billy & Kathy Yarber George Milner Mel & Diana Pridgen Lloyd & Judy Egers Larry (Mac) McClenaghan Thank you for your continued dedication to keeping those old memories of Charleston AFS alive. If your name gets omitted from the thank you list from time to time, please forgive the Editor’s occasional (or NOT so occasional) lapses! E-MAIL AND OTHER ADDRESS CHANGES (Or just in case you do not have the address) Arn & Mary Lou Shein ashein@cox.net Dick & Jane Lovall loveall34@msn.com Clay Jenkins cjenkil@earthlink.net Charles & Irene Croan HCR 88 Box 505 Harned KY 40144 Phone 270-756-1169 Larry (Mac) & Noreen McClenaghan 3061 Cedar Trace Tarpon Springs FL 34688 Phone 727-942-3488 ++++++++++ “I’m doing fine. One day I’ll make the reunion.” Doris Clark Bullhead City, AZ ++++++++++ Billy & Kathy Yarber sent a write-up about their daughter Karen Chandler which included a picture of her and her two sons William and Andrew. We will be sure to include this article with items for general viewing at the Reunion 2002. Billy writes: “This is a very happy period in Mom and Dad’slife too. Our daughter is a breast cancer survivor and her life goes on !! Thanks for recent note of Charleston Reunion. We pray all of you are well and a happy bunch. We stay in touch with lots of Maine people from 1971-1975 era. Happy memories of Chas AFS.” Billy Yarber WHAT IS TOPSHAM? In reply to Joe R. Notaro, Newsletter, August-September 2001. It was quite an experience for many of us that’s for sure. In a nut shell, it was the post Charleston generation radar system named SAGE (Semi Automatic Ground Environment) located in Topsham, Maine. Many from the hill were pcs’d there in the late 50’s. Considering the number of troops and not being too far from Charleston, I guess some of us felt it was just an extension of the 765th, so that’s probably why it gets referenced every once in a while in the Newsletter. Initially and until barracks were completed at Topsham, the troops were housed at Brunswick Naval Air Station a few miles away. Here we learned to speak “navy“, latrine and coffee shop had different names and when you entered the main gate, “welcome aboard” was the greeting and departing the base was referred to as “going ashore“ even thought we never were on water. The Operations troops had to attend school at Waltham, Mass, where classes and housing were accommodated in the old Murphy General Army Hospital Building (think WWII barracks, open bay, foot lockers, etc., and all connected as in Alaska remote sites). A lot of us managed to acquire an extra foot locker which held electric fry pans and food supplies. To see that place at chow time was something else (Emeril did not get his start here). The hottest (no put intended) items were multi-sockets and extension cords, why that place did not blow up I‘ll never know. Housing availability (rents) in the Topsham area was rough and almost all of us with families left them where they were until our schooling was completed. So Fridays after class, Dover-Foxcroft here we come. Since this was before the two car family, doubling up was the thing, the guys shared one car, the wives the other. Prior to becoming operationally ready, the work schedule was a nightmare. Our training time hinged on when the computer was available and then we may or may not get it. Fitting in one or two hours in the middle of the night or a weekend afternoon became routine with lots of hurry up and wait. Eventually, Topsham went the same way Charleston did. Not sure on this part, maybe someone can fill us in. So, Joe, I hope this throws a little light on “what is Topsham”. Hope you make the reunion. Side note: On one of those trips home from Waltham I came to the conclusion the people of Maine are among the greatest in the world. Our second child was due so the trips were a weekly thing for me. Just outside Augusta, I developed car trouble. As I came to the circle/rotary in Augusta I pulled into the first service station just as the bad wheel bearing noise was telling me to stop. It was late and the fellow was ready to close but he made a few phone calls to no avail. As I left his station, I noticed another station around the circle with a ‘55 Chevy parked there, just like mine. I had an idea...what the heck, give it a try. The fellow, who had just closed the station, pulled his wheel bearing and put it on my car. He said he’d put a new one on his in the morning when the parts stores were open and recommended I do the same. Now, the rest of the story. Before he did this, I explained my situation with a baby due anytime and the fact I was broke, i.e., no money and could I pay him Sunday on my way back. Never blinking he answered, “Shuuah” ... that’s “sure” for any outside of Maine folks. On the way back I paid him, he would only accept the price of the new bearing, no labor. With orders to Tripoli, Libya, one year later, I sold the car with that same wheel bearing. Steve Molnar ‘54-’58 Alamogordo, New Mexico ++++++++++ PATCH WANTED The Maine Aviation Museum in Bangor would like a 702nd Missile Battalion patch for their use in a display. The Museum is scheduled for an Open House on May 27th, right after the Memorial Day Parade in downtown Bangor. There is much work to be done at the building at the south end of Bangor International Airport, so any of you who live nearby and could volunteer an hour or a day (some work is done evenings), for more info please contact Mike Cornett dmcmac@peoplepc.com. People with carpentry expertise are sorely needed. The Museum has had a 7,000 lb F-8 jet engine with afterburner donated but it is in a 26-foot container in Norfolk, Va, and the logistics of moving it are to be worked out. A UH1H has also been donated and is not at the Museum site yet. ++++++++++ ANYONE REMEMBER THE 3080TH AVIATION DEPOT GROUP?? John Garbinski, a member of the Maine Aviation Historical Society, has collected information concerning the 3080th ADG which was located at Caribou Air Force Station, Maine, between 1952 and 1962. He has written a book entitled 3080th Aviation Depot Group which should be available soon. If you want to contact John or have additional historical info, email him at jgarbinski@hotmail.com or by writing to Pauline Sodermark and she will pass the info to John. ++++++++++ DON‘T FORGET TO UPDATE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESSES !! Occasionally we move and/or change internet servers, but do YOU remember to notify Joe Mizda, via e-mail jcm-mstpba@juno.com of YOUR change? Keep us in mind when these changes occur so that we can get in touch with you, like when Pauline’s calendar gets frozen up and notification or correction is necessary!! |
E-MAIL MESSAGES LETTERS & NOTES “While cleaning out my desk, I came upon the newsletter dated Aug-Sep 2001. It was nice to read some of the letters written by the “old timers“ as well as some of the “youngsters. I guess I would fall into the latter class. I was assigned to CAFS during the mid summer of ‘71. I believe I was the first AFSC 75172 Training Technician to ever be assigned to the unit. If I remember correctly, the unit had just recently been tested (ORI) and failed in the area of Training. I had a couple of months to get it up to snuff and thankfully, we passed the “follow-up ORI”. My assignment there followed an assignment to SEA and I believe the First Sergeant there was also a recent returnee from SEA. I have some difficulty remembering any names of personnel as I did not stay there too long. I submitted my paperwork for retirement shortly after the ORI and did in fact retire at the end of April in 1972. My thanks to Robbie Robertson of Winchester, VA, for getting me back on your list AND a big thanks for the work you do. Not sure if we will be at the 2002 reunion as some members of the family are planning to visit us sometime in July. They are coming in from Hawaii. Please keep me on your list for future reunions and I will be sending a little to help you in your mailings. Sincerely,“ Frank Hileman Winchester, Virginia frankenjoey@juno.com ++++++++++ “Enjoyed the CAFS newsletter as usual. We enjoyed the reunions and appreciate all your time and effort that goes into planning them. Please send us info on the 2002 Reunion as we plan to attend. Enclosed is our check for newsletter and mailing expenses. We appreciate and thank each and every committee member. Keep up the good work. By the way, I recently found out that friends of ours were stationed at Charleston AFS as well as at Watertown, NY, AFS, where Nancy and I were involved in getting a reunion together for 2001. Their nam is James C. & Mary Lowe, 25405 Bows and Arrows Rd, Zuni, VA 23898. They would enjoy receiving the newsletter. Thanks again and hope to see everyone in July.“ Bob & Nancy Phillips Hopewell, Virginia ++++++++++ “We always have a great time attending the CAFS reunions and we are planning to attend the 2002 reunion. We still communicate with many CAFS people and in our Christmas Card exchanges with many from the 1954 to 1958 era; we should be well represented again during this reunion. Hopefully Jim and Jean Silvius, Mont and Joan Hill, Steve and Phyllis Molnar, Bill and Carolyn Amos, Don and Mary Lou Hatt, Charlie and Irene Croan, and Burke and Barbara Soileau will all be there. It’s amazing, how after nearly fifty years, that we all are still good friends and that we keep in touch with one another. Here’s a special note to Dick Farrington: You stated you were going to be at the 2000 reunion and I was looking forward to seeing you again --“Let’s not be a no-show this time”. Enclosed is a donation to help defray the cost of the newsletter and other expenses connected to planning the 2002 reunion.” Harvey & Lydia Pechacek Orlando, Florida ++++++++++ “The 9/11 events did have an effect on our family here in Rocky Mount. My younger son, Steve, is a member of the 916th SFS, Air Force Reserve, and his unit was activated for a year last 9 Nov. He spent 10 weeks at McDill and two weeks ago they brought his unit back to Seymour Johnson at Goldsboro NC. This is home grounds for them as they train there and familiar with the base. So his recall meant that I returned to work. He was called up and I was called back. It has been fun and I have enjoyed seeing old friends and old customers. Now, my second son is a member of the Army National Guard and his unit supports the 82d Airborne and his status for recall is category 2. They have been told to get their affairs in order. So, right now unless something changes, we will be unable to attend the reunion. I have enclosed a check to help with printing and other stuff. As it gets closer I will send a door prize up. Will miss not making this trip up this year. It had been on calendar. Give our hello to all who show up. Regards.“ Mel Pridgen Rocky Mount, North Carolina ++++++++++ “I’m sorry that it has taken me so long to send this donation to you. I am probably the number 1 procrastinator in the world.” George P. Milner Jr 1967-1976 Bangor, Maine ++++++++++ After putting the wrong dates for the reunion in the newsletter, Pauline received the following via e-mail: “Pauline, you must have gotten a big pile of snow and it froze your calendar up on you. Right? I guess that you guys have been getting a bit more “Winter” than we have down here in the Baltimore area. Lordy, last weekend there was a forecast for 2-6 inches of snow (North to South sides of the city) and, as usual, everyone went ape. Off to the stores for the essential four, that would be PB, TP, M &B (peanut butter, toidy paper, milk, and bread), this would be in quantities sufficient for an army for at least a week. The extent of our winter weather so far can be summed up as follows -- Spring “greenery” is showing itself through the dead leaf blanket. This, in turn, has required my going out and intoning said greenery to “go back to sleep since it was entirely too early to wake up“. Don’t know if it will work or not. Keep up the good work with the newsletters and the e-mail.” Some time later, another e-mail message: “Hi, North Country Type. Snow all gone yet? Ah well, as Doc Stitham used to say when we would be out raking our leaves, “Fall is very pretty but when I think of the 10 months of winter ahead, it takes all the enjoyment out of it“. The date of the Dry Hill AFS reunion (Watertown, NY) is in October of this year. Watertown, at that time of year, has about the same weather expectations as Charleston has, being right off the eastern end of Lake Ontario and all.” Gary Ryan 57-63 Philco Site Eng/Westinghouse EIC ++++++++++ In an exchange of e-mail messages discussing what year CAFS opened: “If my memory serves me correctly, I think the base opening got under way during June of ‘51. I say that because when I arrived for assignment in December we were pretty well staffed (+/-200). There was still a “new smell” about the rooms, etc. I had heard that a small contingent from Dow had come in about May to clean up and get ready for opening. I don’t recall hearing about a “grand opening” as such.” Bill Larrabee At Sebec Lake Weather Station ++++++++++ “I do not recall ever hearing of Dow Pines before and am sure it was not part of Charleston AFS when I was there in the early 1970s period or I would have heard about it and remembered it. I do recall heading into that area from the North West when fishing opened in 1954 and I was a Lieutenant assigned to the 49th FIS at Dow. I was alone and was lucky that I told friends just where I was going. The road was a muddy mess and my lust to fish drove me ever further down this deteriorating road until finally I was stuck in the middle of a 200 yard pool of icy mud in my 1951 Merc sedan sans anything like AWD. I tried to jack the car up out of the 12 inches of mud and caused it to fall back toward the direction which I had come. In time the bumper bent and the jack broke and I was lucky to have warm gear with me. I curled up on the back seat and went to sleep. About midnight a few officer friends and some airmen from the alert shack showed up laughing and having a big time at the sight of my very stuck car. I do not recall the exact extraction process but it was very quick, given the fresh manpower then available. I learned several obvious things,one was that the fishing in this pond I was knocking myself out trying to get to was strictly trash fish only. It was great to see friends show up when really stuck. Another was that greenhorns can provide endless entertainment.“ William A. “Bill“ Evans ++++++++++ “It‘s hard to believe that a year has passed already. Please accept the enclosed donation in support of keeping the website going. There is no need to mail the newsletter to me as I visit the website at least once every two months and can access it there. Bill Becker contacted me through the website. He and I were stationed at CAFS in the early 60s, hopefully he will be signing the guest book soon. He certainly hasn‘t changed.....Through Bill I was able to obtain the home town of another fellow airman, Ron Carty. I may have located Ron in Classmates (website). I have tried to contact him and am waiting for a reply. None of this would have happened had it not been for your website. Bill and I have been looking for each other for a number of years. It turns out that he lives about 100 miles from my sister-in-law and I was able to visit with him last week. A day that will live forever. Thanks to you and the rest of the crew that keep this going. It certainly is a treasure. Larry (Mac) McClenaghan Tarpon Springs, Florida ++++++++++ 2002 REUNION COMMITTEE Joe Mizda 66 Fourth St, Bangor ME 04401 E-mail jcm-mstpba@juno.com (Keeper of the Mailing List) Ted Robinson 557 Stetson Rd, Exeter ME 04435 (Keeper of the Funds) Peter Caristi 5596 Patten Dr, Hermon ME 04401 E-mail caris195@aol.com (Reunion Emcee) Woody Breedlove 211 Maple St, Bangor ME 04401 E-mail wwoodyb@hotmail.com (E-mail Watch & Committee Meeting Place) Pauline Sodermark 449 Tate Rd, Corinth ME 04427 E-mail pghildreth@gwi.net (Keeper of the Newsletter) The Usual Volunteers Greg Hildreth Becky Robinson Margaret McKinney Marcia Hatch Dick Cynewski SEE YOU AT THE 2002 REUNION! |
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cafsnewsltr0502WELCOME TO REUNION 2002 We thought 2002 was so far away and now the time is fast approaching for us to meet again and see old friends and meet new friends. The past two years we have added many new contacts and hope to find many more and get them to the Reunion. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 6:00 PM MEET AT PILOTS GRILL AT OUTER HAMMOND STREET FOR A SOCIAL HOUR WITH FREE MUNCHIES AND CASH BAR. AT ABOUT 7:00 PM ORDER DINNER OR AN APPETIZER FROM THE MENU IF YOU WISH. This has always been a great opportunity for people to meet early and make plans or to see those who cannot attend the Reunion on Saturday. As you enter Pilots Grill driveway, bear right. The side door of the building is where we enter. There is plenty of parking. Relax. The room is ours for as long as we would like to stay and talk. SATURDAY, JULY 27, 10:00 AM VISIT THE MAINE AIR MUSEUM located at the south end of Bangor International Airport in what once was the missile assembly building. The museum will be open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Members have worked hard to get this museum open to the public. We look forward to growth in the future with an emphasis on military aviation in Maine. We have a good start, thanks to the interest of members and friends such as yourself. SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 27, 6:00 PM RETURN TO PILOTS GRILL TO SOCIALIZE AND ENJOY A BUFFET DINNER. MUSIC & DANCING TO FOLLOW! The band we have booked is the Alumni Big Band who are Foxcroft Academy alumni and proceeds go toward scholarships for Academy students. If some folks have difficulty driving after dark ... not to worry .. one of us will see that you get transportation to and from the restaurant. SUNDAY, JULY 28 WORSHIP AT THE CHURCH OF YOUR CHOOSING. Catch up with friends, visit, and enjoy Maine. DOOR PRIZES/GIFTS We ask each person who attends the Reunion to please bring a prize which is representative of your home area. Such as peanuts from the South, maple syrup from Vermont or New Hampshire, etc. It does not need to be a big prize, but we wouldn’t turn them down!! Don’t forget now, prizes are up to you. Archives:
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