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12/16/08 - NNHS Newsletter
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

“Whatever else be lost among the years, Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing:
Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears, Let us hold close one day, remembering;
Its poignant meaning for the hearts of men. Let us get back our childlike faith again.”

- Grace Noll Crowell
(31 Oct 1877 - 31 Mar 1969)

Dear Friends and Schoolmates, 

   The beloved Christmas song for today's Newsletter was first used here four years ago today:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/12-16-04-NNHS-Have-Yourself.html 

BONUS #1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC9o4oYMIqI - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland from Meet Me In St. Louis

BONUS #2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpPdl0StUVs - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Frank Sinatra

HOMEWORK:

   The Battle of the Bulge was fought sixty-four years ago today.  If your memory of the facts is a bit muddled, you could check here:

http://www.mm.com/user/jpk/battle.htm

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_CONT.HTM  

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/bulge/

http://www.battleofthebulge.org/

http://www.criba.be/

   Take some time to remember.

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS:

     Happy Birthday today to   Betty Brockwell McClure ('58) of VA!
   Happy Birthday tomorrow to    Tom Oxner ('65) of AR!

   Happy Birthday this week to:

18 - James Strickland ('57);

19 - Durwood Adams ('57);

22 -    Kitty Norman Haskins ('57) AND    Harry Barritt ('64) of VA AND    Dale Mueller ('64) of VA AND Bill Rash ('67) of VA;

23 -   Tom Flax ('64) of VA AND   Joyce Lawrence Cahoon ('65) of VA AND Holly Hill Campbell (Hampton Roads Academy - '72) of VA!

   Many Happy Returns to You All!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/Happy-Birthday.html

    From Johnnie Bateman ('70) of VA - 12/15/08 - "  Betty's (Brockwell McClure -'58 - of VA) Birthday ":

Carol,

I want to Wish Betty McClure a very Happy Birthday... and I do have her burgundy scotch tape dispenser that I relocated into my cubicle after she left Surry Power Station. I don't know what happened to the matching stapler, but I'd like to have it also!
Also I know JoAnn would like to wish Betty a Happy Birthday as well!

We Love You, Betty!

   Thanks, Johnnie! I forwarded your note to Betty - and we'll add our own Best Wishes!

  From Joyce Lawrence Cahoon ('65) of VA - 12/15/08 - "Match the Dogs":


Merry Christmas and Enjoy!

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=XE13117730
 

 Joyce Cahoon

 

   OH, WHAT FUN!!! Thanks so much, Joyce - Merry Christmas to you, too!

          From My #6 Son, Dale Harty (Hillsboro HS, IL / American School, IL - '02) of MA - 12/15/08 - "Portfolio":

Do you like my online portfolio?

http://www.theamazingturnip.sys-techs.com/portfolio/ 

   To quote a good friend of mine, "That's amazing!!!" And yes, I do indeed like it, my Sweetie-Weetie! Great job; I wish you much success!

http://www.theamazingturnip.sys-techs.com/pastry_art/   

  From Joyce Lawrence Cahoon ('65) of VA - 12/15/08 - "Santa's Jigsaw Puzzle":


MERRY CHRISTMAS 

When you finish putting it together, watch what happens

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=ER13610552

 

 Joyce Cahoon
 

   HOW CUTE!!! Thanks again, Joyce! Merry Christmas!

    From Al Simms ('60) of VA - 12/15/08 - "Chu Lai, Viet Nam, Christmas 1967":

Phil,
 
Attached is a map of Chu Lai in two pieces that has many things marked on it including the main USO - look at the southern end of the North Ky Ha peninsula on the beach and you will find it easily.  There were other clubs and perhaps even another USO but I am pretty sure that this was the main one and was located there throughout most of the years that we had a base there.
 
As for where the "fixes" to fire on came from many of them came from my own radar section.  When we were at Chu Lai they probably all went thru you since we reported them to CLDC but during the 7 months that we were in the field we usually gave them directly to the Arty FDC on our hill.  Many times they fired on them as soon as we gave them to the FDC.  They may have been supposed to go thru you but I think that many times, especially if they were hitting us, they did not take the time to do that because if they had the mortars would be gone by the time that they got clearance.  That may have been stretching the combat contact mission permission a bit but we had to do what we had to do to "take them out" and get them off of us.
 
Re your 20 day trip to Nam on the ship: Did you come over on the USS General Walter H Gordon with the 198th Brigade?  My unit did, although I came a little later in late Nov by air - 20 hours instead of 20 days!  Picture of the USS Gordon is attached.
 
As for your unit location I am pretty sure that it was on the east (seaward) side of Ky Ha not far back from Rosemary's point.  There was a very tall radio broadcasting antenna there that your unit may have had some involvement with.  It was also a very restricted area or at least part of it was.  A photo showing the antenna is attached.  The Antenna is just about dead center of the small photo.

I was there for the entire TET68 offensive since I did not leave Vietnam until December of 1968. I don't know if you know this or not but we (the USA) almost completely destroyed the Viet Cong during that offensive and they never really recovered from it. After that the North Vietnamese Regular Army began moving south and took over the fight.

 
Three pictures that I took at the Bob Hope show are also attached.  I was on a cue card handling detail and because of that had a front row seat just off to the right side of the stage.  Also met Bob Hope at the airport to pick up the cue cards.
 
Carol, please note that I have also sent this email directly to Phil, just in case you don't want to burden your website with all of the maps, photos and old soldier stuff.
 
Al
 
           
           

   "BURDEN"?!? Not at all, Al! I am honored to include them here for the edification of all - and as a small thanks for the sacrifices of y'all and so many others!

    From Norm Covert ('61) of MD - 12/15/08 - "Christmas in the War Zone":

Webdoll,

Regarding     Al Simms ('60 - of VA) and   Phil Hammond 's ('64 - of UT) recollection of Chu Lai, I thought I sent the attached picture last year. I found it last November (2007) while researching a Christmas commentary on the USO and it's support of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. I couldn't find it on the NNHS site; it may be among your temporarily lost images (I trust).

Anyway, here is the wonderful picture of the Bob Hope Christmas show as recorded Christmas 1967 by the 25th Infantry Division's Tropic Lightning News, no doubt read by Al and Phil. The late and beloved Bob Hope and the lovely ladies made Christmas a bit brighter for them, I'm sure, but also made them a bit more homesick. (I was en route to Heilbronn, Germany, then). The caption read:
 
 
LAUGHS TOO -- Comedian Bob Hope and part of his Christmas troupe as seen by nearly 10,000 screaming fans at the 25th Inf Div's Lightning Bowl. Hope and his bevy of beauties visited the 12th Evac(uation) Hospital after the show. Shown are (from left) actress Raquel Welch, singer Barbara McNair, Hope, "Miss World" Madeline Hartog Bel, and actress Irene Dunn.
 
The Hope aircraft was reportedly fired on while leaving Cu Chi and he later had this comment about the action, "Taking off from Cu Chi they took a couple of shots at us. Even the Cong gets sore when you don't leave the girls behind."
December 1967
Image by SP5 Rod Bryan

Merry Christmas to you, all our classmates and especially those who served and still serve our great nation on the frontiers of freedom.

Norm Covert ('61) MD

   You did indeed send that image almost exactly one year ago today, Norm, and yes, it is now in the Twilight Zone, but you have thoughtfully restored it to us!  And to prevent it or Al's images from never being seen again except by "chance", I created a new page to hold such memories, as surely they pertain to a large number of our subscribers, and just as surely the rest of us may be enriched by reading of them.  This page is shamefully overdue, and is obviously still in process, but here it is, waiting to be extended with the addition of more such recollections:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/SITE-MAP.html

     http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/Christmases-in-Viet-Nam.html - brand new page!

   Thanks again, Normie - and Merry Christmas!

      From Dimples Dinwiddie Prichard ('58) of NC - 12/15/08 - "Legend of the Candy Cane ":

Carol,

This is why I hang candy canes on my tree !  My contribution to the recipes you have been printing !

Dimples AKA Sepi

***********************************************************************

This is a beautiful legend of the candy cane. 
 
As you watch do not click on anything (except "Start") as it will automatically turn the pages for you. 

http://www.angelrays.com/fla/legend.html

   GIGGLES!!! We've posted this twice already this week, Dimples, but it's a very busy time of year, and I'd certainly not want anyone to miss it!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/12-10-08-NNHS-Gesu-Bambino.html 

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/12-11-08-NNHS-We-are-the-Reason.html 

   As I mentioned to Joyce, Snopes.com will tell you that the legend isn't really true, but simply "latter day attempts to infuse secular holiday traditions with specifically religious origins and meanings."

http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/candycane.asp

    To all such unimaginative souls who choose to believe that symbolism cannot be aptly and justly ascribed after the fact, I say - BAH! HUMBUG!!! You eat your candy cane and I'll eat mine!

   Thanks so much, Lady - Merry Christmas!

      From Me ('65) of NC - 12/16/08 - "And speaking of food...":

   This is a recipe I've had since 1968.  I'm NOT planning to make these cookies while I'm visiting in Illinois, but you might wish to do so, because despite the name and the strange ingredients, they are uber-delicious, and the recipe makes enough to feed the Army and the Royal Navy.  Hmmmm - maybe I should make them.....

Norwegian Pepper Cookies
 
1 cup sugar
1 cup dark corn syrup
1 cup butter
1 Tbsp. vinegar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper		 1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
5 cups sifted flour
  
   Combine sugar, corn syrup, butter, and vinegar into small pan and bring almost to a boil.  Cool to room temperature, then stir in eggs.  Sift together remaining ingredients and stir into butter mixture, blending well.  Chill overnight.  Divide into 8 or 9 equal portions and roll each out very thin on floured board.  Cut into diamond (or any other) shapes and bake on greased baking sheet at 350 degrees for 7 or 8 minutes.  Makes about 225 3" cookies.  Store in loosely covered jar in dry place so cookies will remain crisp.  They will keep for a long time. 

                                                       - Winifred Jardine, Salt Lake City, UT

From My Friend, Judy, of IL AND     Glenn Dye ('60) of TX - 12/15/08 - "'Tis the Season' - Ho Ho Ho":

IF YOU SEE A FAT MAN ...   

Who's jolly and cute,
Wearing a beard and
A red flannel suit,
And if he is chuckling
And laughing away,
While flying around
In a miniature sleigh,
With eight tiny reindeer
To pull him along,


 Then let's face it...
 Your eggnog's too strong!   
 
 Merry Christmas and a Happy 2OO9!!!

      Thanks, Judy and Glenn - Merry Christmas!

HOLIDAY REUNION NEWS:

The NNHS Class of 1958 Gathering and Dinner will be held Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 6:00 PM at Al Fresco Ristorante, 11710 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA 23606.  CONTACT: Joe Drewry (jwdvt@aol.com, 757-244-4443, ext 4)

DATES TO REMEMBER:

1. Thursday, January 1, 2009, 11:00 AM - Class of 1955 Lunch Bunch - Steve & John's Steak House on Jefferson Avenue just above Denbigh Boulevard in Newport News, VA  - ld Style"> OPEN TO ALL WITH FRIENDS IN CLASS OF 1955

2. April 23, 24, & 25, 2009 - Class of 1954 will hold their 55th-Year Reunion. For details contact Dr. Harry Simpson at 804-694-0346 or email him at hdsdds@aol.com - CLASS OF 1954

PRAYER ROLL:
 http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/requests-prayers.html - updated 12/10/08		 NNHS BLOG:
 http://nnhs.wordpress.com/ - updated 12/15/08

   Y'all take care of each other!  TYPHOONS FOREVER!  We'll Always Have Buckroe!

                                  Love to all, Carol

==============================================

NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com

PERSONAL WEB SITE: http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat

==============================================
Carol Buckley Harty
219 Four Ply Lane
Fayetteville, NC 29311-9305  
910-488-9408		      
Official PayPal Seal		     To donate, click on the gold seal on the left, 
             or just mail it to my home. Thanks!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Credited to Hugh Martin (b. 11 Aug 1914) and Ralph Blane (26 July 1914 - 13 Nov 1995), 1943
Featured in Meet Me In St. Louis., 1944


Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star
upon the highest bough.
And have yourself
A merry little Christmas now.

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” midi courtesy of http://www.freemidi.org/download/4612.html - 12/14/04

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” lyrics courtesy of http://www.christmas-carols.net/carols/have-yourself-merry-little.html - 12/14/04

Animated Christmas Tree clip art courtesy of Renee Helterbran Benton ('59) of VA - 12/11/08
Thanks, Renee!

Animated Greenery with Flashing Amber Lights Divider Line clip art courtesy of http://www.christmas-graphics-plus.com/free/wreaths.html - 12/15/08

Animated Tiny Birthday Cake clip art courtesy of Sarah Puckett Kressaty ('65) of VA - 08/31/05
Thanks, Sarah Sugah!

Hillsboro High School's Topper (Band Version) clip art courtesy of http://www.hillsboroschools.net/schools/hhs/activities/music2/Band/bio.html - 06/07/08
Thanks, Mark!

American School Logo courtesy of http://www.americanschoolofcorr.com/grads.asp - 09/05/06

Army Seal clip art courtesy of Al Farber ('64) of GA - 05/24/06
Thanks, Al!

Animated Laughing Smiley courtesy of Janice McCain Rose ('65) of VA - 02/07/05
Thanks, Janice!

Animated Laughing Jerry courtesy of Cookie Phillips Tyndall ('64) of VA - 06/14/06
Thanks, Cookie!

Christmas Bells clip art courtesy of http://www.christmas-graphics-plus.com/ - 12/15/08

Animated "NEW" clip art courtesy of http://gifsnow.com/ - 03/07/06

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