Trains

Nov 1960-Mar 1961 We are at Connelly AFB in Waco, Texas.  We live in Bell in a little home with a big garden next to a train engineer.  He invites Tim, Fran and this old train lover to to downtown Waco at __time.  We go up into the cab and Tim is excited (I think) he is so small.  But a pic there shows Tim extremely unhappy.  Crying as loud as he can.  Why? The train engineer toots the train horn and all hell breaks loose as far as Tim goes.  I remember red-yellow or Katy RR.

Dear Amy,

Now I know you know about this man of yours.  So long ago in far off Turkey this man was 3 years old on the local radio station. (1961-63) You knew this not, we even have a pic with Tim in the room there.  A "peanut" size power on base only radio station.

Then we noticed his attention to detail.  Lots of neat stories about him there.  But let's move on to 1963-65.  Now we are in Germany not far from your birthplace at Rhein Main.  First we lived with the Cliff Devilles in Plattestrasse in Frankfort, then when Fran's mom came in September of 1963, we were in a two bedroom.  Cliff 4 stories.  We were on the bottom.  A Ray Otte and his family above us on the 3rd floor.  We moved to Gateway Garden on Rhein Main and a big apartment.  Our stairwell had 66 children so Tim and Granny made lots of friends.
We have Cindy the cocker spaniel flown to Frankfort in 1961 when Fran and Tim left San Antonio for Turkey.  Cindy was then PVT. Weiland and stayed with LT. LeCompte and his wife while a mission plane heading for Turkey will bring Cindy to us.  So she comes on a secret mission, non-stop from Frankfort to Incivlik AB.

Our general is a toy guy I think.  For some reason Nuremberg in southern Germany the #1 toy store in the world (1963-65).  Should you guys ever get a chance to go back to Germany stop there, it is worth your time. Well, one day we get a call for a one day trip to Nuremberg.  I was so excited! Hard to put into words.  Now the Germans do first class work and and yet even toys, oh my, you can buy a house as a kit of this place and beam and by beam you put these very small parts together and WOW what a house! I mean, detailed window treatments, flower pots with flowers, I mean detail.  So Tim had the track and train in wood that he had easy put together but all the other stuff he did.  I would open the kit and paint the pan and away he went.  Talk about attention to detail.  Guess I did not tell you I too was a train guy.

Lionel train guy.  At 5 years, it's Christmas Eve and well, we open one or two presents only.  The big deal is singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and then after a time in the morning.  Now that was a big.  Apple, oranges,  you know.  Shirt with tie, but the TRAIN.  Now that was given to me on Christmas Eve.  I cannot explain how excited I was.  Smoke, a tablet, came out of the top of the engine.  Tim had 2 boys there in Salt Lake City, so all my train stuff we gave him there.  All the things in our life that just, well, not room for everything.  You would have to ask him ok, whatever.  But that is all in the history books now.

When I was about 14 or 15 a leader in our Scout Troop had a friend who was a model rail roader and told us (Troop 67) to call him and we would be expecting to hear from the scouts for an appointment. Somewhere between 5 and 15 my train and all it's parts were still working but I sorta changed priorities.

I bought knee action world bike and did not have all the cash.  $35 is all I had from a paper route so I gave some Sunther and buildings to make up the difference.  $62, it was a huge amount. OH ME! So these scouts go to this house. It has a full basement.  As we walk down the stairs we put one a train mans hat and a hankie around our neck that was red.  At the bottom of the stairs we all are in near total darkness and hear the train way off in the distance.  A light we can see, and then more things are about to happen.  Trains, stations, forms, land, cities, buildings, pets, people, cars, trucks, water towers; I mean, trains everywhere! I will never forget that place.

Tim would make all kinds of little things to go on the train.  He as a young boy was into trains.  Attention to detail was his name.  But now you have for him his very own tool box.  Yes indeed he is in heaven sorta.  I remember well the look on his face, that hug and his very first train.

FLASH MESSAGE = YWW (Young Weiland Warriors)

Contest of the tribes
Chicago=1
Salt Lake=2+2=4
Seattle=2
Ohio=1
TOTAL=8

CONTEST WITH CASH REWARD

Goal: To cause interest in the building of buildings.  Big ones.

"How many workers built the building that will be completed sometime in 2015?"

Hint > it is 1776' high in NYC

A. 4

B. 3961

C. 369

D. 5000+

Send your Grandpa your answer.  The winner will receive a cash award prize.

(SASE included)

Before the true answer, I spoke with #3 son John and found that my question was not specific enough.  My reason for writing this question was to move each of you to ask your parents for help.  Then I thought your parents could use the TV or computer/internet to find out about this one hour program on the building of this tallest in the USA, yes 1776' high.  Why this amount? Beacause the last 5 minutes of this program one of the four who built this building explains why and how this team put every part together with another part.  

I was amazed and then I was able to understand.  So I thought you all being Weiland Warriors would like to know more.  Maybe even hav an interest in how buildings are built.  For example, there had to be perfect union with all areas before work could start.  For example, wind direction and speed, weather, temperature, humidity, rain, snow, sleet, hail, etc.  All, every possibility of error had to be not.  Never there.  That's a double negative we do not use in the English language, but in Russian language a TRAIN WALKS.  So all the different parts must be absolutely in harmony (just like the band) when it plays.  No errors so when two parts of metal are joined, one has a hole in it and the other has whole in it and then a big bolt is passed through these two parts and must line up perfectly.  All in the area had to be absolutely quiet so these four men went to work.  These two parts together use all kinds of instruments to make sure this happened.  Absolute quiet.    Step one complete, now many people come and fill in all the "holes" that need these big bolts through all the parts.  Then a big nut goes into the thread (your dads will show you).

These four men built this building.  Yes, thousands of others started to work now connecting all the other parts, then these four men move on to connect the next parts, then the next and so on.  For years, almost every single day, until it was finished just a little while ago.  Remember, this was the most perfect building to date, no errors.

After September 11, 2001 and all those people lost their lives, some things were changed in the replacement building so there would be more physical structural help for example wide, really wide stairs and tape on the stairs so if some was there, people could see.  Pressure inside the the stairwell so people could breathe better and so on.  for many, many, many in proving building changes!

Watch this one hour PBS program.  It might interest you in learning more about his this 1776' building was constructed.  

Love you all, 

Pops, Grandpa, the Old Geezer

PS Please find $2.00 for each of you.  My error I did not explain the question well enough according to John.  Ok. He said, "Dad this was fun.  How about more questions for us to work on?" Ok.

9 August 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our favorite POP!!!!

We love you so much! Thanks for leading our family in love and righteousness!!

Go get a root beer float and a corn dog :)

04 August 2013

Dear Ones,

It's one of those once in a long time events-all you "star" people.  I know Tom told me once that he purchased a telescope and Tim, I remember in Orange County or Phoenix, someone he worked with was a "star" person so TIm went out one night in the hills east of San Diego, is that correct.

Well, it looks like from what I read here today this one comes on 11-12 August.  Will the "clear sky" be there? That would be the only hang up. (Read the Article Here)

Know you are all very busy so please enjoy what is given to say "Did you see that?"

Pop!

P.S.  Edith's dad is home.  It's near the end.  Pete and the girls came down yesterday so Edith was able to see him and they spoke and the girls too. Held his hand.  Pete said, "We were really in a wonder if we would make it in time."  Breathing not good.  Who knows.  ?? and her daughter from Alaska came down last week.  She, his daughter, works in this medical area some way.  Not a nurse, but an aide maybe, I am not sure.

Anyway, good to have her here.  They brought a bed and she said no that's the wrong bed.  So whoever it was brought a bed to meet her specs.  24/7 someone is with him now.  It's okay to be at home during this time.

Love you all-

Dad

31 July 2013

Dear Ones,

Every Saturday night the whole town (Helotas, TX) meets and dances on this cement slab behind John Floores' Store.  So there was a crowd, maybe 80-100+ all having fun consuming adult beverages.  It was maybe midnight or so when big fat John Flores, the man of this town-he ran the general store, the dance behind, mayor and friend to everyone-one great old Texan that I was proud to meet that night.  Then in the daytime we (the tower operator and I) with the press.  Old John just wrote to the General he was some kind of an operator.

The problem was bad PR in that a lady was (she said) riding her horse, a jet flew by, she fell off the horse, broke her leg I guess and wanted to sue the Air Force.  "The noise of the jet engine spooked my horse and that's why I was bucked off and broke every bone in my body" or something like that.

So here I come many days later.  The PR people wrote "The noise of the jet brought attention to all 107 people (round about) the area for 21.7 miles and led the people to the fire."  It's a stretch of the truth but so positive.  Not true.

I was on red light with 65 gallons left.  To top off the total gas in the T-33 is 813 gallons.  The refueling crew told me 801+ gallons into this group of tanks, 12 gallons to spare.  Oh sure-my knees moved a little and alas we're on the Terra Ferma at this time.

Love you all,
Mom & Dad

12 July 1956

Letter from the mayor, John Foote, to the General

Air Force response

One of the many newspaper articles about the incident

Air Force Times 14 July 1956

Honorary Fire Marshall

Twin Village News 19 July 1956

THE WHOLE STORY:

While flying on a local test hop in T-33 aircraft I was making an approach for landing from the north of Kelly AFB on the new runway about 15 miles north of the field. In the foothills of San Antonio is a community, Helotes.  Not for maybe 3 or 4 miles I see a big brush (trees not tall in this point of Texas) "fire".  I call the tower "any reported aircraft in??" I said, the tower operator said, "No".  So I buzzed around looking close at the fields houses.  No people, some cattle, etc.  Maybe 6 or 7 passes of the area.  I see no life, no movement. Of course I'm I am flying 100-200 feet above ground.  I fly over Helotes on these passes.  No I am low on fuel.  I report to the tower no sign of life but the fire is spreading maybe 50 -100 acres by now.

That night I leave for Dover, Delaware as co-pilot in YC124A.  Come back Sunday and Monday in the paper-here it is.  "Jet Pilot Saves the Town".  Leads in the fire trucks, saves the cows, the chickens, etc... the "noise" of the jet engine alerts the town folks.  John Floore, mayor, sends a letter to the General and the tower operator and I are invited to the next Saturday in the square dance where we are made Honorary Fire Chiefs.

I get a note from an old classmate who is flying C119's in Japan, Doc Blanchard.  "Hey David, I read about you saving the town there near San Antonio with your T-33 leading the fire trucks and all that then Honorary Fire Chief in the Pacific Times (Military newspaper).  I always knew you would do some fancy flying."  Doc and I sent Christmas cards for years after this.

In Vietnam one late afternoon our crew C123K was loading at GiaNghia (like an aircraft carrier) was a very tricky place to land and we caught fire in the right engine upon landing.  We did not want to RON (remain over night) because the bad guys would love to blow up a C123 just for fun.  What to do.  It's getting darker and darker.

A C-7 lands and out jumps Doc Blanchard from St. Louis my roommate at C-119 school at Randolph AFB and sang in the choir at Morone?, AZ and Laredo, TX.  A good friend, Doc.  It's 1969 and I haven't seen him since December 1955.  He looked great.  Our crew chief engineer and the load master did the best they could checking for leaks of fuel.  All looked good.  Gave Doc a hug and off he went in his C-7.  We crank the engines OK no fire and off we go back to Phon Rong.  Small world.  I saw Doc and his wife at '55 flying class reunion in San Antonio around 1995.  Some old classmates about half of the original bunch.  One became a 2 star General.

So now you know how this little fire chief badge came to me.

27 July 2013

(In response to article "US Students need better words than LOL and BFF")

Power is not gold, power is KNOWLEDGE and vocabulary skills follow reading comprehension.  That made me think on SOS school 1958 in Montgomery, Alabama.  Speed reading and speed writing courses taught.

I took speed reading: WPM 260, comprehension 35%.  This is not good.  At the end of the speed reading course almost 500 WPM and comprehension went up to almost 60%.  So there you have it.  I could comprehend more, almost twice as much.  That was in 1958.  This is July 2013.  55 years ago.  What advancements have been made in speed reading and comprehension and that would mean POWER and if you Warriors remember I told you to (as soon as you get a position in some company/enterprise) get a copy of the SOP's, the company book on how to do the work they want, because no one READS the book of instructions.

I believe your next move-that if you don't like the words-you submit your own and offer them as a "change to improve the SOP's (standard operating procedures)" then up the ladder of success you went.

OK, so stupid me....What is LOL and BFF?

Turn off the TV and have your children read a book.  As I recall, Tom and NanC no TV for 3 children and to date how many books have they studied and what do they remember and apply in their daily lives? Oh me. I believe they love books.  WOW.  There is no stopping someone who is well read.

I remember in Trabsay? Turkey I met with an LDS airman.  We shared some good times together and we met in the library.  Shared some great moments there not just religious discussions.  1965-68.  He was reading great books someone (where he was stationed in the states) told him, "You will be gone for one year then on the coast of the Black Sea.  Here is a list of 84 great books."  I wish now, as I did then why did I not get that list? He gave it to me but when I got back to Germany I could not find the list then he was transferred.  I lost contact with him.  I'll bet if you go to a library and ask one fo those workers, maybe an old very old grey hair worker just ask them.  I'll bet there are more books added to that list.  Hey that was 48 years ago-ok.  The list must be 84 x 10 now.

My input to new Warriors is ONE first after all the scriptures-Old, New, Book of Mormon, D&C, Pearl of Great Price, Jesus the Christ-there is one I cared a lot about, Music in Western Civilization by Lang.  Our music played a part in our civilizations history, trade, commonwealth, a myriad of areas that effected and affected mankind.  Read this one too, it's not an easy read but will make you become a better musician in all forms of musical expression.

Which brings me back to reading.  I agree it's SO much fun.  I am very happy I can see well, my vision today is near 20/20 without glasses.

Love to all,
Grandpa, Pops, the Old Geezer
Love U!
xxxooo

10 July 2013

Whittling wood and making a whistle with my dad in the woods about 1938-39.  All my life I would see men at dad's service station just sitting there whittling wood making "stuff".  Amazing to me! as a young boy.

Dad cut a green branch from a hazelnut bush.  The key is to have the bark 360 degrees move no knots so it will slide.  Then notch a V, cut out and blow air 360 degrees between bark and wood so it slides easy.  It will make a sound to use to help your friend.  A lost friend.  Survival help.

Operation Sage Brush C-119
We supported along with other C-199's there at Randolph AFB all over the SE USA for 4 days hauling troops.  Troops that jumped from aircrafts and load other passengers/cargo from San Antonio to Valdosta, Georgia.  We were a crew of 8 all together walking down a paved street curb-side walk with mom and pop shops-a negro alone is coming at us all 2-3 abreast on the sidewalk.  He steps in the street and continues towards us and speaks, "Good evening gentlemen." We reply "Good evening." When in a little more distance he moves back on the sidewalk.  Hmmm... I've never in my life experienced anything like this before in my life.  Hmmmm.....

After 0100 midnight to 4AM to an army base near Murfreesboro, Tennessee in the next afternoon we are free will fly at night back to San Antonio.  There is the center of town.  Our instructor had been to this town before so it was a guided tour with him telling of these people and what really impressed him.  All around the court house were out the door bunches with ?? married- 5 or 6 people, we could sit here and watch people in their walk abouts.  He told us not to start conversations just nod your head and be respectful.  If the whittler speaks to you, it's ok to talk to him.  Lot's of men (no women) just sitting there busy in their work of whittling wood.  One man making a chain out of a tree branch, a long stick. Just so much.  Wow I've never seen so much whittling going on at one time at one place in all my living.  It was a quiet time.  Some men were taking a practice nap.  Canes decorated, all items so beautiful things.

Whenever my dad would make something he would give it away.  He must have made 20-30 of those wood hazelnut branch whistles maybe 1/2 inch or a little smaller.  Slide bark it was.  What happened to them?

Next time you're in Murfreesboro, Tennessee take time to watch these old and young whittlers making beautiful "stuff" out of wood there on the benches in front of the courthouse. (All white building).