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TAC Tanker Tales Volume 8 Issue 3 March 2008 Mount Up Partners- We‘re Heading to Texas!!! Tactical Tankers Assn., Ltd 231 King Street Lancaster, OH 43130 At this point in the registrations, we have received a total of 130 participants planning on coming to San Antonio and as you might guess we had to add another Officers 2006-2008 riverboat to our first three contracted. We are delighted, but the 4th boat is fast filling President: up so hop to it if you want a seat. Rufe Mewborn 727-220-1806 [email protected] The hotel, Holiday Riverwalk (1-210-224-2500) has been keeping us posted Vice President: on the reservations and we have passed our expectations of 70 rooms per night. Our Nate Hill 740-653-3835 special rate of $99 ++ will be honored until April 18, as long as they have the rooms. [email protected] John Bessette, our Historian who spoke on our TAC Tanker history at Wright Secretary: Jim Boyington 509-922-4377 Patterson Reunion, has graciously consented to have another ”briefing‘ in May at the [email protected] hotel-probably the Hospitality Room. We have scheduled him for Monday afternoon Treasurer: from 3-4:30pm. It will listed in our Yellow Book agenda. Y‘all come!! Bo Ault 804-747-3841 I apologize for the confusion about our Tours 3 & 5. The descriptions were [email protected] Historian: correct but the titles were misleading. #3 was Ole San Antone (not Antoine-per Bes- John Bessette 703-569-1875 sette) and will be the missions and the Marketplace by Daisy Tours (not Dixie!) [email protected] Dhrr….. Tour #5 is the Spirit of Texas, wild west etc-the —More of Ole San Antone was Legal Counsel: for LaVilita which is the very ole village in early SA with shops and quaintness to en- Joe Fur ukawa 310-217-0606 [email protected] joy. Chaplai n: If you have not sent in your Registrations to us (231 King Street, Lancaster Rev. Geo Burrows 231-347-5393 OH 43130) or called the hotel for a room (tel. No. above), please do so ASAP. We [email protected] have lots to do that last month to get ready. Thanks, Natalie Quarter master: Gordon Jacobson 785-969-7075 Editor: Natalie Hill 740-653-3835 '@RS 'NQV@QC SN 0BSNADQ bgÖbj @MC SGD 4DBNMC ckki [email protected] 5"$ 5@MJDQ 3DTMHNM HM 8@RGHMFSNM %$ Board of Directors Chair: Bill Wolford 802-660-9934 As we have mentioned in an earlier issue, plans and contracts Tom Blake 870-588-4414 have been prepared for our gathering in the Washington DC area this fall. Ted Buck 618-244-2739 Our hotel, the Holiday Inn Tysons Corner has changed its name to a Robert Cleckler 334-365-2108 John Hanna 210-658-0819 Crowne Plaza, but we still have our rate of $94+tax and there have been T.O. Williams 540-951-1234 45 rooms blocked for our group. Heritage Tours, Ltd. has been hired to do our tours with Carole and John Bessette being our guides. The agenda will be as follows: Thursday 10/16-(5:45-10 pm)-Washington By Night Union Station (dinner on own there), FDR , Lincoln, Viet Nam and Korean Memorials. Friday 10/17-(8:30 am to 4:45 pm)-Capital Highlights To Air Force Memorial for a special ceremony, Arlington Cemetery for JFK Gravesite, Changing of Guards, National Mall, Smithsonian Muse- ums, lunch on own. Saturday 10/18–(9:15 am to 2:30 pm) Kennedy Center/Georgetown or the National Air & Space Museum‘s Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center The first tour was geared to the ladies and the latter for the men, but YOU choose where you want to go. Our Banquet will be at the hotel that evening. Sunday 10/19 -(9 am-2:30 pm) Mount Vernon (if checking out luggage may be kept in the Hospitality Room or you may stay another night). That‘s it in a nutshell–Registration forms will go out in the June issue . Page 1 President’s Corner New Life Members by Rufe Mewborn Roger J. Donaldson, Colleyville TX-622nd, 431 Al B. Zambrano, Boerne TX–427th I hope that your travel arrangements have been completed and that you are anticipating a great reunion Welcome New Members with the TAC Tankers in San Antonio. Natalie and Nate Keith E. Bellman, Bremen IN–429th have put together another great program. It will be diffi- Donald L. Berge, Casa Grande AZ–421st cult to surpass the Branson activities, but it will be close. Tom L. Bridges, Portland TX–431st (renewal) We send a special —THANK YOU“ to this cou- ple. Their dedicated support of the Association continues to keep the dreams alive and the memories fresh of our days in TAC Tankers. Rita and I will not be able to at- tend, but promise to be at the reunion in October and send our wishes that you have a great time in Texas. Our KB-50 is still guarding the gate at Mac Dill AFB. Efforts to move it to Dover AFB are still alive and we should hear soon of the Air Forces‘ decision to place several KC-135E models in storage. When this happens, we will exert pressure on the Air Mobility Command (AMC) to carry out their promise and move this gallant bird to the AMC Museum (at Dover). Mac Dill wants the KC-135E to replace it on their display. Lt Gen Talbott, USAF, retired, celebrated his 88th birthday on January 28. He was our guest speaker at the reunion in Hampton in 2002. He led the F-100s that flew from London to Jamestown to celebrate the 350th Anniversary of Jamestown. The TAC Tankers refueled his flight over Iceland and Goose Bay and he still recalls with pride the outstanding support we provided. To celebrate his birthday, I presented a video of this mission and the high lights of his military career./ The presentation was before a distinguished group of gentlemen at a luncheon in Williamsburg. The new World War II Memorial to be seen in Washington DC in October 2008 Here are some — other distinguished gentlemen.“ The Northern Sub-Chapter - Our Humme‘s Merrymen , who still have their meetings and social lunch- eons in the Williamsburg-Hampton area. Left to Right: Harvey Margulies, Zee Siekirski, Don Hiemstra, Rufe Mewborn, Jim Underhill, Gary Myers, George Rose (in chair) and Carel Humme. All these TAC Tankers are LIFE members. Page 2 Letters Received From New Members The Board Chairman‘s Corner 6y Bill Wolford Tom L Bridges of Portland TX (February 2008) This is a tardy renewal. I retired in 2000 as local Shalom Y‘all. First of all I want to thank both Nate District Attorney. My wife, Mary, and I own a local real and Natalie for all they do for us and I know we all appreci- estate agency; she is the broker and manager. I am part- ate the important info they send from time to time. time practicing law as the local city court prosecutor. I also have another part-time business providing legal training for Since March is determined to come in like the pro- prosecutors and peace officers. verbial lion, I‘m sure we‘re all looking forward to the reunion in San Antonio. We could certainly use a little of that ”balmy Donald L. Berge of Casa Grande AZ (February 2008) air.‘ It‘s getting so it takes longer to dress to go out with our Retired from USAF in September 1972. Currently black lab, Sadie, than it does to do our four walks a day spending seven months at the Arizona address and five with her. Even she is ready to come back in as soon as months in Illinois. possible. Al B. Zambrano of Boerne TX (February 2008) It‘s tax season and my office is as busy as ever. If Retired as a colonel from the Texas Air Guard in we can just keep the equipment all working, we‘ll be fine. It 1988, for a total of 28 active years. Flew the F-102s, KC- starts getting a little tired like the rest of us about now. 97, and T-33s. Retired from Continental Airlines January 2001 as So far we‘ve had a relatively healthy winter and a maintenance test pilot in the DC-10 and 727. Also was a pray the same for you all. Please keep our daughter, Fran, check airman and in the advance team to open services to in your prayers as she is scheduled to go back to Iraq in Latin America (Mexico, Central and South America). A May. We have mixed emotions about the month because very interesting and enjoyable job. we are really looking forward to the reunion. Some places you will see during the 2008 Washington DC trip- Chaplain’s Corner Friday : The Air Force By George Burrows Memorial where we will have a TAC Tanker wreath laying I’m spending the Win- ceremony. ter in Florida. I’ve been doing that for some Saturday : The visit to years now. Every time I see the weather re- the National Air and port; I look to the North and shake my head. Space Museum at the Udvar Hazy Center The snow, low temps, bad wind, freezing rain near Dulles Airport. –what a hardship for my family and friends back ho9me. I’m concerned and I pray for them. I realize that many of you are in the same boat as I.