413 Branch Creek Trail, Summerville SC, 29483
Published Quarterly by
the 20th Airlift Squadron Alumni Association
413 Branch Creek Trail, Summerville SC, 29483
FALL 2008
Fall brings many welcome things; the first signs of cool crisp air, the wonderful color of the Northeast woods. And since it also brings a presidential election, I feel compelled to share a few of my favorite election quotes:
“I know nothing grander, better exercise, better digestion, more positive proof of the past, the triumphant result of faith in human kind, than a well-contested American national election”
-Walt Whitman
Here’s one that seem appropriate following the economic bailout bill:
"When the people find they can vote themselves money,
that will herald the end of the republic."
- Benjamin Franklin
I hope this letter finds all alumni in good health and spirits. Here’s to Spirits!
And speaking of elections, here’s a reminder of our elected officials:
President
John Mellert: 914 S. Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483
843-871-2407
Email: dave747fe@bellsouth.net
Vice President
Pete Thode: 5452 Roxbury Drive, Charleston Heights, SC 29481
843-207-7084
Secretary/Treasurer
Kaye Mellert: 914 S. Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483
843-871-2407
Email: kimellert@bellsouth.net
Editor/Webmaster
Warren Graf: 413 Branch Creek Trail, Summerville, SC 29483
843-873-9403
Editor@20thAlumni.com
Unofficial Officers
Chaplain
Lee Drangstveit: W. 11477 S. River Rd., Taylor WI 54659
Parliamentarian
Elmer Andrews: 898 Seahouse Dr., Port Lucie FL 34983
Reunion 2009
2009 is right around the corner, and although next October might seem far down the road, we all know how time fly’s. I’ve received quite a bit of information from our Reunion Czar and Flight Engineer Extraordinaire, Mr Elmer Andrews, regarding our next reunion, so with no further adieu:
2009 20TH ALS REUNION MANAGER’S UPDATE
By Elmer Andrews – Flight Engineer
At the 2007 Reunion in Myrtle Beach I was appointed as Reunion Manager for the 2009 Reunion to be held at the Rodeway Inn International in Orlando, Florida.
This is the same hotel, formerly known as the International Inn, where I managed two very well attended and successful reunions in l987 and l990. As I recall we had about 100 attendees in l987 and 150 attendees in l990.
I have maintained contact with Harris Rosen, who owns the hotel and have now firmed up dates, some events, and a very reasonable price for rooms.
For those of you with computers who want to see photos and information on the Rodeway Inn International just enter: www.rodewayinnorlando.com on your browser and you can get all of the details on the hotel. This nine story hotel has 315 guest rooms, all semi-suites with microwaves, refrigerators, coffee pots and a safe. Each room has two double beds. There is free parking at the hotel and the location right in the heart of International Drive is outstanding. Every type of eating establishment is a short walk away. Right across the street is a Ponderosa Steak House which is far bigger than the old one, a Bennigans, and many other fast food and restaurant locations. The Wet and Wild Water Sport playground is half a block away. For the ladies, a huge discount mall is about a mile away! The hotel has a Shogun Japanese Steak House and the Dining Room has a large buffet breakfast every morning. There is a fine swimming pool, a lounge bar, and a snack area which is open most of the time. You can purchase shuttle tickets round trip from the airport and there are many shuttles to Disney World, Universal City, Sea World and other local attractions. For those of you who attended the 1987 or 1990 reunion, you know how many attractions are nearby.
On Thursday night I am planning to have a poolside barbeque outside at the hotel. We’ll have a Hospitality Room on the 9th floor as we did in the past and will ask for donations to keep the drinks flowing.
For Friday night, I was able to book us for a super discount price to go by chartered round trip busses to the Dinner Show at Arabian Nights in Kissimmee. To get this price, I had to guarantee 80 attendees, so it will be included in your Reunion Registration Fee when we finalize it. I have been to this show several times and it is rated as the Number One dinner show in Orlando. It’s a great show with comedy and adventure and the horses are spectacular! This is also something you can check out on your computer. Just enter: www.arabian-nights.com on your browser and you can find out all about it.
We will have a group Dinner Buffet in the Rodeway Dining Room on Saturday night, and I am working to get music for dancing that night.
For those of you who have previously attended reunions there, you find that International Drive has expanded greatly and there is even more to do there than there was in the past. Since many of you may want to combine this reunion with visits to the Orlando attractions, I have requested that the hotel give us the reunion rate for three days before and after the reunion. When you book your room next year you just need to tell them that you are attending the 20th Airlift Squadron Alumni Reunion and they will grant our $52.00, plus tax per room per night for the entire period from 5 October to 14 October 2009. This is for up to four people in the room. The reunion itself will be from Thursday 8 October to Sunday 11 October 2009.
Here is the hotel information:
RODEWAY INN INTERNATIONAL
6327 INTERNATIONAL DRIVE
ORLANDO, FL 32819-8213
Phone: 407-996-4444
This is the preliminary information. After we finalize the prices for the included meals and dinner show we will compute and give you a Registration Fee. I will prepare Registration Forms well in advance of the reunion next year to get the complete information from you.
VERY IMPORTANT TO ME FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, I NEED INFORMATION FROM YOU – RIGHT NOW!
If you THINK you will be attending please email me, call me or write to me with the following information:
Number AND names of those who plan to attend. That includes wives and children or friends who are coming. I need to get started on a head count for my further negotiations. We will be able to adjust this at a later date but need the preliminary information now. Please list your Crew Position or other Position.
When you send this to me please include your address, telephone number and email address if you have one.
Here is my information for you:
ELMER R. ANDREWS
898 SE SEAHOUSE DRIVE
PORT ST LUCIE, FL 34983-4693
EMAIL: ELMERANDREWS@AOL.COM
PHONE: (772) 878-2486
Lets work together to make this the best reunion ever. For those of you who have not attended a previous reunion, you don’t know what you have been missing!! We have a great time and the war stories really are great to hear again. We had a great squadron and a great bunch of guys and gals so let’s all come to Orlando to celebrate.
ELMER R ANDREWS, Flight Engineer
2009 20th ALS Alumni Reunion Manager
20th Airlift Squadron Alumni Website
Well our Airfield in Cyberspace; www.20thAlumni.com is safely at cruise altitude. To date we’ve had over 1700 hits to the homepage, and 475 visitors to, and 37 messages in our Guestbook. If you haven’t visited the guestbook lately, have a look, you might recognize more than a few friends leaving messages. As always the webmaster requests any stories or pictures for inclusion on our website. On the homepage of our site is a link to the 20th Alumni Store.
20th Airlift Squadron Alumni Store
Currently the store features 24 items relating to the 20th Airlift Squadron. Prices range from $2.49 for a XX lapel pin, to $20.99 for an embroidered military-style 20th cap.
I’m putting together a 20th Alumni 2009 wall calendar. If you have a photo you’d like featured for one of the calendar months, email it to the editor.
Presidential Campaign 2008
Looks like this year’s Presidential race will bring record numbers to the voting booths in November which is a wonderful thing regardless of your choice of candidates. As always, military members across the globe will be doing their part, whether it’s casting an absentee ballot, or in the case of the C-17 Globemaster’s stationed at Charleston AFB, flying Presidential Support missions during this busy election season. Passions for both candidates are high, spawning some pretty wild rumors and subsequent email traffic. Before you forward a negative rumor about either candidate, here’s a few resources you can use to check for truthfulness:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/politics.asp
http://www.truthorfiction.com/
Farewell Friends ~ Last Post
MSgt. Harold L. Lamma, USAF (Ret)
MSgt Harold L. Lamma died Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, at his home in Dover DE. He was born Aug. 18, 1935 in Tiffin, Ohio. He enlisted in the U.S. Marines following high school, then entered the U.S.Air Force. He retired after 28 years of honorable service and was a Flight Engineer logging more than 7,500 flight hours.
MSgt Lamma was assigned to Dover AFB in mid 1966 and flew with the 9th and 20th Military Airlift Squadrons. Following his retirement from active duty he volunteered for additional military service with the U.S.Air Force Reserve's 512th Military Airlift Wing, Dover AFB DE. He was assigned to the 326th Military Airlift Squadron. MSgt Lama was a member of the VFW Post 3238, American Legion Post #2 and the 20th ATS/MAS Alumni Association since 1983.
Col Gerald E. Hallas, USAF (Ret)
Of Durham, North Carolina passed away at his home on 8 June, 2008 at the age of 85. He was born November 16, 1922 in Omaha, NE to parents Clifford and Marjorie (Collins) Hallas. He grew up in Omaha, became an Eagle Scout and graduated from North High School in 1940.
World War II interrupted his studies at Doane College (Crete, NE). He enlisted in 1942 with the Army Air Corp where he flew the P-61 Night Fighter in China as part of the 14th Air Force (Flying Tigers) aligned against the Japanese invasion. After the war he returned to school at the University of Southern California to earn a BA in Psychology in 1948.
Jerry remained with the United States Air Force. Along with a battle star from the China campaign his medals included the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. His tours included the Berlin Airlift (1948), staff officer at the Pentagon (1954-1958), defense operations advisor to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF- 1959-1962), Kansas University (ROTC, 1962-1965), and Vietnam (1966-1968).
Jerry will be buried with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, DC.