RAFINO Report
ISSUE 21 - Fall 1998  - Return to Index

Bits 'N Pieces

TED SORENSEN, who had been living in Salt Lake City for quite awhile sent a note in June saying that he and WALDTRAUT were moving to Utah's "Dixie", where "there is sunshine and golf all year round."  (Ed:  For those of you looking for that year round golf place check it out with George, who it turns out moved to St. George, Utah.  Who knows?  Maybe Ted knows something the rest of us don't!) 

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JOE and MIL FEENEY came across a death notice in a West Point Assembly magazine which reported that DAVE FINK, USMA Class of '45, an Infantry officer and a former member of the FSUSA Staff & Faculty in the early '60s, died 1 Feb 98 in Richmond, VA.

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On the walls of the city of Albuquerque Convention Center in the People's Hallway, there are photos of city's Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.  Should you wander down that hallway, you'll chance to see the familiar face of AL ABBOTT (now 86 years of age) smiling down on you.  Annually, the Senior Foundation of that city screens nominees who have been leaders in public service both professionally and personally.  They are recognized for helping the community in government, education, environment, arts, and social issues.  After Al's 28 years of active duty and a second career as a teacher, he was the director of a volunteer tutoring center for students.  He also served on the Crime Victims Assistance Board, the Friendship Force and the Albuquerque Council for International visitors.  Al is credited with helping develop the University of New Mexico's Life Long Learning Center.  On top of that, he also raised money for victims of natural disasters in Mexico and Italy. ( Ed:  Even though Al's now legally blind, like the Energizer bunny he just won't stop!) 

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SHEILA BISCHOFF, who attended our reunion at Columbia, SC, placed in the registration packet of each widow or widower also attending a note written by hand on beautiful stationery decorated with butterflies.  It read:  "Dear Friends, Welcome to the RAFINO reunion where we hope to get together and meet each other.  I have been a widow for three years.  I came to my first reunion two years ago and had a wonderful time seeing old friends.  This time I hope to get together with other widows and widowers.  There are 135 of us.  At present, I believe 16 of us are present at this reunion.  Anyone with a Butterfly sticker or a Bird sticker on our name tags is one of us.  I hope to contact each of you so we can all get together for dinner, etc.  See you soon, Sheila."  (Ed: Sheila has volunteered to see what she can get going which would be of interest to and benefit for RAFINO widows and widowers who are interested.  We should be hearing more from her about this soon.)

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Just before Veterans Day this year, JIM MARTENS forwarded to RAFINO the below reprinted poem via the internet which had in turn been forwarded to him by a member of his family.  The originator of the message, who had closed his message with the USMC admonition of "Semper Fi!", suggested that it be passed on to his buddies.  The poem was authored by Father DENIS  EDWARD O'BRIEN, USMC:

"Remember, November 11th is Veterans Day

It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, who salutes the flag,
Who serves the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag.
Who allows the protester to burn the flag."

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RAFINO thanks DICK DAHONEY for continuing to distribute to our members by Email the active duty Finance Flashes.  The "Finance Flashes" give us a live connection with those carrying out today the FC functions we once did.  (It's like looking over the shoulders of our successors LIVE!  But remember, NO kibitzing!)  If you have an Email address but aren't currently receiving Dick's Finance Flashes, he will be happy to add you to the distribution if you send him via Email your Email address to http://www.asafm.army.mil:8080/~2. 

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Another ode to the GI in parody form appropriate to this season of the year was sent to us by TED PICKETT, who you will remember is not only a member of RAFINO but is the Honorary Colonel of the 72nd Armor Regiment!  The 72nd served with great distinction during the Korean campaign.  Ted was a member of the 72nd in those days.  He furnished us a copy of a poem titled, Korea Christmas Card, written by LTC DARRELL T. RATHBUN of St. Petersburg, Florida.  It was dedicated to those fallen comrades who made the supreme sacrifice in the "Land of the Morning Calm":

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The Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the tent
Was the odor of fuel oil (the stove pipe was bent).
The shoe paks were hung by the oil stove with care;
In the hope that they'd issue each man a new pair.

The weary GIs were sacked out in their beds,
And visions of sugar-babes dances through their heads.
When up on the ridge line there rose such a clatter
(A Chinese machine gun had started to chatter.)

I rushed to my rifle and threw back the bolt,
The rest of my tent-mates awoke with a jolt.
Outside we could hear our platoon sergeant Kelly,
A hard little man with a little pot belly.

"Come Yancey - come Clancy - come Connors and Watson
Up Miller, up Shiller, up Baker and Dotson". 
We stumbled outside in a swirl of confusion,
so cold that each man could have used a transfusion.

"Get up that hilltop and silence that red,
and don't you come back till you're sure he's dead."
Then putting his thumb up in front of his nose, 
Sergeant Kelly took leave of us shivering Joes.

But we all heard him say in a voice soft and light,
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL-
MAY YOU LIVE THRU THE NIGHT!

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