HOME PAGE
________
American
Ex-POW List of
Officers
_________
Stalag XVII-B
List of Officers

In Memorium

A New Ex-POW WebSite
Mukden POW Museum

Some old Photos of
POWS smuggled out of Stalag XVII-b

We Pledge Allegiance
A website for all Americans

Reunion 2008

April 30 - May 3, 2008 - Never to be Forgotten
Hotel Arizona Tucson AZ Convention Center

Lee Jenks Rides Again
(Don't forget to Left Click smaller photos to enlarge)

First of all, a big Thank You to Marge and Vince Pale for their effort in putting together this reunion. They had a lot of help from one of our Kriegie widows, Helen Fifield, who lives in Tucson.
(Many more Pictures and Stories coming every week)

       A lot of attendees arrived on Wednesday, and the Kriegie Kids had the hospitality room all set up so they could just sit around and talk. There were 36 Kriegies in attendance, a total of 113 people one night to 115 other nights. The Kriegie Kids did a tremendous job in keeping the hospitality room supplied with goodies and beer and wine. Thanks to all of them. They put a lot of time into it and take pride in what they are doing for the Kriegies. Whenever someone needed something done, they were there.
      Thursday morning the bus arrived at nine am for those that had signed up for Pima and it made an exciting day. Bob Lash, Lee Jenks and Ed Dostie made the local newspaper while standing underneath a turret next to a B-17 and as the paper said “Remembering The Bad Old Days”.
      The busses arrived at 4 to take the group to the Golden Corral for dinner. Every one seemed satisfied with the selections and the quality of their food and the staff. Then it was on to Gaslight Theatre, where all the tables had baskets of popcorn on, just what we needed after filling our faces at the restaurant, but most everyone picked at it. The piano player that played before the show was great. She sure could tickle those ivories and asked us to join her in singing some of the songs. Then after the main show, they held a Las Vegas Revue, which was really great. Returned to hotel to catch up on sleep after a busy day.
      Friday was our Memorial Service for the 45 names of deceased that we had received since our last convention.
      Friday night was the Commander’s reception, a buffet dinner, followed by a show put on by dancers of Tap Sensation of Tucson. These ladies ranged in ages from 60 to 80 plus. The costumes they wore were beautiful, they danced to songs we all knew and they had everyone tapping their feet along with them.   They were a fabulous dance group.

This is a thank you that Vince received on his return home:

"Dear Vince, We all wish to thank you for the opportunity to entertain the wonderful Vets of Stalag 17B. We have never had such an enthusiastic, joyful audience and we loved every minute of it. The terrific response certainly made us better performers! I hope everyone had a great time in Tucson and that if you return you will let us know. Best wishes to all of you wonderful people. With warm regards."
Laura Latack and The Ladies of Tap Sensation

While we were there the HOGs were also there. (Hogs, meaning the Harley Owner Group) were also holding their state convention with many of their activities at the hotel. A lot of them just walked into the hospitality room at different times just to thank the Kriegies for what they had done, but Saturday morning with hundreds of bikes around and many lined up out front of hotel, they started giving everyone rides, wives, daughters and sons of Kriegies, and the Kriegies themselves, Men in wheelchairs, walking with walkers and canes, those cyclists made sure everyone had a ride if they wanted one. The excitement outside the hotel was beyond anyone’s expectations. Even Lee whose legs are so stiff he couldn’t straddle a two wheel cycle, later they got a three wheeler, and away he went. Everyone who went came back with a grin from ear to ear. I suppose it brought back another memory of what they might have done in their twenties!

Our business meeting was at 10 am Saturday, the secretary of HOGS came in and asked them to attend their opening games at the convention center during their posting of colors, the singing of the National Anthem, so they could honor the men and salute them. Several of them walked over to the center and when the cyclists turned to salute them up in the stands, where we were all seated, it brought tears to a lot of eyes. What a wonderful bunch of people and the respect and thanks they gave these Kriegies all week was really great. They sure added a lot of enjoyment to our reunion.

Business meeting Saturday morning, there were no acceptable proposals on the floor, (we had one in Denver, one in Colorado City but it snowed there on Friday) so it was decided, both at the board meeting (if this should happen) and it did, that the members that were in attendance and eligible to vote that morning, would be sent a letter with three new proposals for selection. The letters would be returned to the Adjutant and the majority of votes will rule, (if all of our criteria can be written into a contract) and then Vince and Marge will take over. We hope to have something to be mailed out by first week of June, and returned within 7 days so Vince can follow up and then when finalized will be posted in the July newsletter. You need to remember that until Vince has a signed contract it will not be finalized.

Saturday evening was our banquet and installation of officers. The center pieces were made, donated and raffled off to members by Helen Fifield, white bears with the vest of the POW and a hat, on the back of vest the POW emblem and each was carrying a flag.

Our speaker was USAF Colonel Don McMonagle, retired. This is a partial listing of his Air Force service: (you can read all about him on the NASA website) He has over 5,000 hours on flying experience in a variety of aircraft, primarily T-38, F-4, F-15 and F-16.The Colonel was selected by NASA in June 1987 as an astronaut. He has logged over 605 hours in space, as mission specialist on Space Shuttle Discovery mission STS-39 in April 91. In January 1993 he served as pilot on STS-54 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavor. He commanded a crew of 6 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-66 in 1994. In 1996 he was assigned the task to establish a new Extra-Vehicular Activity Project Office to conduct space walks in support of Space Shuttle and International Space Station. He is currently Vice-President of Quality and Mission Effectiveness of the Missile Systems business unit of Raytheon, in Tucson.
His speech was about the space shuttle and programs that he participated in was very interesting, and he received a standing ovation.

The 50/50 winners were:
James Baker, Ginny Bridda, M. E. Bence, D. J. Holtzman and Becky Rogers, each receiving $100.00

The winners of the beautiful mahogany models were the B-17, Louis Bridda and the B-24 was Joe Ortiz. Tracey Jackson was responsible for getting these donated and if anyone is interested the man who makes them is Mikesmodels@aol.com or phone #610-286-6838.

There were two quilts that had been made and donated by Linda Thompson, daughter of John Russell, and raffled off for the benefit of the hospitality room. One quilt was won by Lydia Granados and I’m sorry to say I do not remember the winner of the second one. If someone out there remembers or knows, please let me know so I can add it to the recap. Thanks. This is how to reach her: Linda Thompson 2301 Christian Ave Reading, CA 96002 phone #530-221-2725 or triscatmom@aol.com if anyone wants to order one. I have already had two phone calls on how to reach her.

A fabulous time for everyone and enjoyed by all. It is going to take a lot to top a reunion such as this one.

By Lydia Dostie, Adjutant

(FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE COMPUTERS WE WILL TRY TO HAVE STALAG XVII-B INFO IN THE AUGUST OF THE FOUNDATION TIMES - IT'S FREE)
JUST SEND YOUR NAME & ADDRESS TO:

Military Ex-Prisoners of War Foundation Times
916 Bingham Drive
Fayetteville, NC 28304

threatt273@aol.com
(910) 867-2775 (910) 867-0339-fax