ANOTHER UPDATE FROM AUSTRALIA'S BRUSH FIRES ( JIM ZICKEFOOSE)

Just a quick update on the bushfire report in Victoria. In reading through the email which I sent earlier I am afraid I made it sound as though some members of my family actually live in the area of the fires. That is not the case, all my family live in the area (within 90 miles) of where Lesley & I live in Young, NSW. On last report there have been 209 bodies accounted for and over 1500 homes destroyed because of the bushfires that hit the area. The rebuilding process is now underway but will take a long time before the task is completed. Over $200 million dollars has been raised through various appeals which have been held to assist the victims of the fires. While all these fires have been hitting the southeastern part of Australia the northern coastal regions of NSW and Queensland have been underwater from the worst flooding ever experienced in that area of Australia. Almost sounds like being in Kansas with the erratic weather patterns.
Very sorry to hear of the passing of Roger Keller, my thoughts and prayers go out to the family. After reading through the Blog reports it sounds as though there have been a few of our 1011th members that have passed away. I have become friends with several Vietnam veterans which live here in Young and surrounding areas and it seems there are always reports of Vietnam vets which have also passed away here in Australia. I guess we are in that age group where we can expect more reports of deaths which reminds us that we are here for what could be called a short visit.
Hope everyone that is able to attend this years reunion has a great time. Also hope to be able to catch up with a few of the 1011th members during my visit back to the states in September. Will have to try and send a couple of photos of the family so that people can put a face to the name. Not that any of us still look like we did back in the late 1960's. Catch you later.

Jim Zick

Report on Wild Fires in Australia

We recently received an email note from Jim Zickefoose a unit member who has lived in Australia for many years.

Email from Jim:

Just a quick note to let you know that we are about 400 miles from where the fires hit in Victoria. It is the state south of New South Wales which is where our families are located. We went through that area on holidays about 6 months ago. It is very similar to the Ozarks as far as forests and terrain. If you get caught in the area it would be difficult to get out. Looking at the news coverage of the actual event and the aftermath I can say that I have never seen anything like it. It looks like the towns were hit by about 1000 fighter jets dumping napalm on their towns. Watching the houses and trees ignite in fireballs looks just like they were hit by napalm. Anyone in the area or in the houses would be very lucky to survive. It is hard to imagine the horror that the people were going through. Last report was 165 dead, 750 houses destroyed, 5000 homeless. The fire front was about 30 miles wide. Weather conditions were terrible across the Southeastern part of Australia for the week prior to the fires, that iscludes here in Young and a lot of NSW. Has been 40 plus centigrade (about 110 F). Several places reached above 120 F during the heat wave.We are planning our trip back to the states but it will be right at the end of August when we leave Australia so will not be back in Kansas in time for the reunion which is disappointing. May have to try and organize a get together with a few people in Emporia during our visit. Will have to let you know our actual travel plans when we know them ourselves.

Regards,
Jim Zickefoose

Reunion Post Card Sent

1011th S & S Co. Reunion


A reunion to celebrate the 40th anniversary of our return to the

states from Vietnam will be held on Friday & Saturday evenings,

August 28 & 29, 2009, in Emporia, Kansas.

Save the date! Mark your calendars now!

We hope that you & your significant other will be able to join us for a good time!

Detailed information will be sent as the reunion draws nearer.

If we do not already have your email address, please send it to bearcat1011th@yahoo.com

Thanks! 2009 Reunion Planning Committee

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY AT CHRISTMAS

Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.

Know the line has held, your job is done.

Rest easy, sleep well.

Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.

Peace, peace, and farewell... Author unidentified

UNKNOWN ADDRESSES

Addresses of these members unknown


Freddie J. Britton, Gale E. Britton
Steven E. Clark, Thomas F. Curran
Gerold J. Diltz, Harold Eklund
Richard A. Greig, Nicolas J. Haiducek
William P. Henn Jr., Jon N. Kirk
Dwayne W. Miller, William P. McGuire
Donnie A. Rainwater, David L. Ruch
Gary L. Smith, Kenneth L. Smith
Larry N. Smith, John W. Tharp


We are starting to shorten this list. The organizers would like to make one more attempt to get as many addresses of our members as possible before they mail out the notice of our 2009, reunion. If any addresses of the members above are known, please email them to the unit's email address: bearcat1011th@yahoo.com

1011TH FAMILY MEMBER BATTLING LEUKEMIA

( left click on the article to enlarge)

The unit has been notified that Lisa Spillman Mesa is going through extreme chemotherapy in her battle with Leukemia. (article above).

A fund has been set up in a Tulsa bank to help with some of her non-covered medical expenses. The address for Lisa's medical expense fund in the article above is not correct, the address should be:

Lisa Mesa Arnest Cares Account
502 S. Main St.
Tulsa, Ok. 74103

Her father, Glen Spillman was a member of the 1011th in Emporia and served with our unit in Vietnam. Glen passed away with cancer in 1995.

Lisa's mother, Judy Spillman Welch, has been in attendance at many 1011th reunions over the past several years.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lisa and all of her family.

Please feel free to help out with Lisa's medical fund. All donations will be very much appreciated.

40TH YEAR REUNION (from our return to the states)

The 40TH YEAR REUNION DATES HAVE BEEN SET

The organizers of the reunion ( Larry Gales and Ron Worchester) have set the dates for August 28th (Friday night) and the 29th at the Best Western in Emporia.

On Friday night the 1011th will have a room reserved just off of Annie's West bar (in the Best Western). The thought on setting up this room was the group would have a place to visit away from the bar if they choose.

The Friday get-together will run from 4:00 PM until about midnight.

On Saturday the group will meet in the Courtroom with an open (cash) bar at 4:00 PM and then dinner will be served around 6:00 PM.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the same hotel for those who want to stay closer to the activities.

If there is anyone you know that does not have any email registered with the 1011th, be sure to let them know about the reunion and ask them to send their email address to us at bearcat1011th@yahoo.com. We use this email for correspondence with unit members as well as notification of new posts on our blog.

There will be further notice coming via postal mail sometime in early 2009.

Hope you all can make plans to attend the reunion this year, it should be a good one!