News

	
	Greetings to one and all.  Once again it's time
for our News Letter so we can catch up on all the latest
on our 819th friends and buddies.  This will be the last
letter before the annual reunion in Lancaster, PA. so
read every word carefully.  The final details of this
reunion will be found later on in this letter so don't
stop reading yet.

	
	I want to take the time to enter a personal 
note if you don't mind.  I just want to offer my heart-
felt thanks to everyone who has responded to my illness
far, far beyond the normal call of duty.  All your cards,
letters, phone calls and most of all your prayers were,
and still are, making a somewhat rough tour of duty more
bearable, to say the least.  There is a light at the end
of the tunnel though - I have two more chemo treatments
to go and should be finished by mid-July.  Then I can
start growing back some hair and hopefully get back my
appetite that's been missing for 4 months.  Thanks again
for all your devoted support - Truly, I doubt if I could 
have handled it alone!  What a great bunch of guys and 
gals and I'm so proud to be on of you - Joan says "Amen".

	TAPS have sounded for 4 more of our buddies.  I
received word from Mary Strauss that her husband, Russell,
passed away in April.  Russell was in B Company.

	I also received word from Betty VerMeer that her 
husband, Richard, passed away on March 18, 1999.  Richard
was in Headquarters Company.

	Robert Naylor (A Company) passed away very suddenly
in May.  I attended his funeral and placed a TD Patch on 
his coffin.

	Received a phone call from Mavis Minor reporting
that her husband, Reese, passed away in early June.  Reese
had been doing very well but took a turn for the worse
and his passing was a shock to all of us.  Memorial
donations can be made to MARC Foundation of Dane County,
Inc., 2001 W. Broadway Ave., Madison, WI  53713. 

	Our heartfelt sympathy to the families of these
4 grand men.  We now have 101 veterans left on the roster
plus 11 honorary members (widows, sons, sisters & friends)
for a total of 112.

	I'm still selling hats for $5.00 and can still
order sweatshirts, T-shirts and Sport shirts.  If you 
order now and accept delivery at Lancaster you will save
postage.  Sweatshirts $19.00:  T-Shirts $15.00:  Sport 
Shirts $17.00: Color White only with the big TD Logo.
For sizes 2X and up add $1.50. 

	Received a nice note from John Gerard.  John is
the son of Al Gerard who served with Headquarters Company.
John reports that after 40 years of single life he finally
broke down and got married last October.  Congratulations
to you and best wishes to the new bride.

	Ralph & Ida Johnson (Medic) check in from time to
time.  They are doing fairly well for a couple of seniors
and aren't complaining.  Ralph is doctoring for Asthma
and Ida had a blood clot in her hand which is responding
to medication.  In spite of this Ralph has 2 acres of 
sweet corn planted and just mowed a field of hay.  Imagine
what they would be doing if they were in A-1 condition!

	
	Dan Trevarrow (Rcn) and I keep in touch almost 
weekly, either by phone, letter or E-mail.  What he knows,
I know, and vice versa.  He's working on plans for the 
reunion in 2000 and there will be more on that as they 
develop.  I mentioned this on another page of this letter
but it won't hurt to repeat it.

	MINI-REUNION:  We had another most enjoyable mini-
reunion at Somerset, PA  on Sunday, May 23, 1999.  The 
very capable hand of Geno and Mary Jane Cavallo molded 
another masterful reunion together and was enjoyed by 51
enthusiastic well wishers.  Counting a phone call to the
hotel from John Kachuba (C) we actually had 52 there.
John couldn't make the trip because of health problems
but he wanted everyone to know he was thinking of them
and sent his best wishes to all.  Those in attendence
were:  Don & Betty Scherer (Rcn), James & Lillian 
Mink (Rcn), Cahrley & Jane Keith, Earl & Agnes
Buchheit (C), and their friends Keith & Theresia Knouse,
Bill & Annabelle Drenner (B), Ed Andria (C) and
Mary Stossel, Ward & Wilma Houpt (C), Buck Tomalavage (A),
Bob & Lois Powell (Hq), Don George (A) & Fran Weaver,
Dan & Lois Trevarrow (Rcn) and guests Tony and Karen Ahart,
Ken Oney (C) & Norma Jump, Joe & Gloria Mastra (B), Pauline
Drawbaugh (Hon), Palmer & Joan Dawson (Hq), Robert &
Martha Anderson (B), Joe & Betty Utchenik, Bill & Anne
Bossi (Med), Dayton & Mim Lohr (Rcn), Wilmer & Miriam 
Stitt (Rcn), Geno & Mary Cavallo (A) and family Helen
Pelesky, Joe & Barbara, Nichole & Sarah, and Warren &
Doris Beach (Hq).

	Warren reported on the plans for the upcoming
reunion in Lancaster, PA and all the details for this big
event will be found a little later on in this letter.

	Thinking ahead to the year 2000, Dan Trevarrow 
gave a report on some of the pre-planning being done for
that reunion in Pittsburgh, PA.  He's going to try and
reschedule the "Strolling Strings" for a repeat 
performance and for those of us who heard them before
know what a treat that will be - for those who missed 
them you are in for a wonderful evening I can assure 
you.  Dan also introduced his friend Tony Ahart - Tony's
father is a member of the 809th TD Bn and they are also 
planning a reunion for the year 2000 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Dan suggested that we hold a joint reunion with the 809th
providing dates and other details can be worked out to 
everybody's satisfaction.  Tony will coordinate this 
with the 809th at their regular reunion this year in 
September and we will go from there.  More on this later
as plans and details are worked out.

	Don & Aggie Fox (B) missed the reunion this year
due to a funeral in their family but we hope to see them
in Lancaster.  Don is a regular correspondent and he
reports that they recently celebrated their 50th wedding
anniversary with a 3 week Amtrak tour across the US.
They spent sone time in Monterey and San Francisco with
their kids and spouses.  Even though they missed the 
mini reunion they did take the time to raise a glass or
two as a salute to the 819th guys and their ladies 
gathered up in the mountains.

	Dick & Alice Scalise (Rcn) also missed the mini
this year.  Dick fell heir to a bad case of Shingles and
was in no condition to make the trip.  We all hope he
will be fully recovered in time for the Lancaster 
reunion.

	Virgil Clemetson (A) keeps in touch and manages
to keep busy on his yard, going to antique shows, attending
his grandsons ball games and many other things to numerous
to mention - he'll be 80 in June and is planning to
celebrate in Branson, MO, thanks to his daughters.
He is also planning another trip north to South Dakota
in June and to Texas in October - I get tired just writing
about it.

	Harold Bode (Hq) keeps in touch and by now has 
had some eye surgery which we hope was successful and
well on the road to recovery.  Tried to pass off a cat
and 5 kittens to me but he got a very firm "NO" - any 
takers?

	This letter may appear to be fragmented and I
apologize for that - I told Joan I don't think as well
without my hair.

	June & Earl Lee (Hq) are still hanging in there.
June suffers with shingles and Earl now has a swallowing 
problem - says the golden years are very tarnished but
immediately follows with, "I can't complain though, I'll
be 80 in October".  What a positive attitude.

	We have Bill Dean (Hq) and Chuck Shorter (C)
researching the mission for the 819th had we invaded 
Japan.  Maybe we'll come up with something yet.  If not
lets make up a up a good one - who can prove us wrong!!

	I must confess I'm not sure who sent this to me but
I feel sure it came from either Bill Dean or Virgil Clemetson
but I thought it worth passing along:

	STRANGE LAWS:  It is illegal to read the Bible in 
public schools in one of our States, but a law requires
that State to provide a Bible for every prison inmate. 

	The moral of the story:  "Don't worry kids, if
you can't read the Bible in your school, you will have
the opportunity to do so when you get to prison."
	"I can live with my arthritis and my dentures
fit me fine - I can see with my bifocals but I sure do
miss my mind."  I can hear the "Amen's" loud and clear.

	HELP - I received a telephone call from friend
Don Williams (C Co) from Coos Bay, Oregon recently - they
are flying in this September to the Lancaster reunion but
will be landing at BWI Airport in Baltimore, MD.  They
need transportation from there to Lancaster.  I thought
perhaps there are others who may be coming on the same
route as I understand this was a deal they couldn't pass
up, price wise.  If so why not contact Don at his home,
3970 Wallace Ave., Coos Bay, OR  97420, telephone
541-888-4437.  Maybe a car pool can be worked out to share
the expense.  I would also check out USAir to see if 
there is a commuter flight into Lancaster or Harrisburg
from BWI.

	We are all proud of the special accoomplishments, 
whether they be big or small, that come to our children
from time to time.  Our good friend, John Kachuba (C Co)
and wife Eleanore are no exceptions.  Their Son, The Rev.
Fr. John S. Kachuba was recently honored with the cele-
bration of his 25th Anniversary of Ordination (May 12,
1974-May 16, 1999).  The Liturgical Program was held at
the St. Stephen Church, Euclid, Ohio in the afternoon
with a banquet following that evening at the Cathedral
of St. John, Parma, Ohio.  I received a very beautifully
prepared program complete with many memorable photographs
of his past 25 years - each one told a special story of
it's own and needed no explanation.  We all join John
and Eleanore in this memorable occasion and share their
proud feeling that we know is beyond words.

	Our "Goodwill Ambassador", Wilmer Stitt, has 
been on the move again.  Following the mini he traveled
out to Ohio and visited friends John Kachuba and Julius
Vendely.  They are on their way again - leaving Penn-
sylvania on June 27th with plans to be away until
July 10, 1999.  In between they will visit Lewis & Clark
State Park Atchison, Scotts Bluff, Ayres Park Natural
Bridge in Wyoming, Jackson Hole, Yellowstone, Cody, WY,
Mt. Rushmore, and many places too numerous to mention.  
If you live in any of these areas you just may have a 
visitor.  He has also visited recently Bill Drenner in
Hollsopple, Pennsylvania and Paul Tertel Shoemakersville,
Pennsylvania.

	Nick Mekis tells me that he returned from a trip
to Costa Rica and had a wonderful time.  Said his Army
experience sloshing through mud and rain came in handy.  
Following that he and Betty left for a short cruise with
750 shriners.  Sounds like they don't let much grass 
grow under their feet and more power to them.  Will be
nice seeing them again in Lancaster.

Your Buddy,

Palmer

{The information for the 1999 reunion can be found on the
reunion page.  The link is on the Home Page. (wrh)}