Ground Rules

(By posting in this forum, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these rules.)

The website was continued after the 2013 reunion for the enjoyment of the members.  They shouldn't be subjected to annoying posts when they come to the Message Forum.  Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful.  But be respectful.  This may seem like a private chat room, but 800 of your classmates have access to it (along with ~two dozen of our former teachers), and many more classmates read than participate.  

The administrators reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.  Access and participation on this forum is not a right, it is a privilege and abuse may result in suspension or revocation of WHS60s site access at any time.  

Abuse includes but is not limited to personal attacks, offensive, demeaning, excessive or nonsensical posts, badgering, foul language, etc.  It is not a place to disparage others, especially deceased classmates.  Posting involving politics or religion are prohibited as they typically and quickly become offensive/demeaning.    

We don't actively monitor the forum, but respond to complaints and take action as deemed appropriate.

V/R, Co-site Administrators Joan Lucchesi ('60) and Gary Wegener ('66)

Click the "Post Message" button to add your entry to the forum

(you always have the option to edit or delete your post). 

Gary Tibbals (1965)

Teresa,   great picture. I too was a blackcat in Vetnam. Nice to see family members.lol

Jim Barger (1963)

Jim Barger (1963)

Here is the Young First LT in his Room in Phu Loi, Vietnam in January of 1970 with the 128th Tomahawks..  Getting ready for the Days Missions flying Helicopters with troops and supplies.

Theresa Eve (1964)

Gary, I remember you posted you were a Black Cat.  So interesting that the troop remained active!.  Dad was very pround to be in the Army, and wanted to make it his career, but he was colorblind, which stopped his progression up the ranks.  But as, Chief Warrant Officer, he had moved along.  Thank you Gary.  Jim, nice to see your active duty picture also.  We are all thankful for all service work toward our freedom for our Country!!  Appreciation.  

Jim Barger (1963)

Jim Barger (1963)

Here was the sign for the 11th Combat Aviation BN Headquarters in Phu Loi, Vietnam when I was there in 1969-70.   I was with the Tomahawks, Robinhoods were located in Lai Khe,   The Germinoes and the Black Cats were Chinooks Helilcopter Units and were also located at Phu Loi, Vietnam.   There were times when we worked together on Missions.    The Black Cat symbol is a bit dark.     LTC  Jim Barger

Gary Tibbals (1965)

Gary Tibbals (1965)

sorry all the pictures are up side down,  but I tried 3 times and they still come out wrong. 213th A.S.H.C. 1968 just up the street from Jim.

Theresa Eve (1964)

Nice to see your Black Cat symbol, compared to Dad's from World War II.  Dad was in the 13th Armord Division, the Black Cats. Landed in France, January 29,1945.  The theme of the Black Cats was that the enemy would be in total "bad luck" if confronted by this U. S. Armed Division of power.  Great history.  And, happy that you both made it home from services served.  

Gary Tibbals (1965)

Theresa Eva, thanks, not sure about the history behind the blackcat in our outfit, but we sure had to keep an armed guard on ours. the Vietnam people would eat him.  It is kind of funny that 2 good old boy, found there way to PhuLoi, Vietnam coming from the same school and not knowing each other. I was there in all of 1968, Jim Burger was there from 69-70. we kept it covered for 3 years. We came home safe. not so for Many. lets give thanks to all those who didn't. this weekend stands for thats.

Theresa Eve (1964)

Good words Gary!!  Our hearts are with those who served and for all who gave their lives.  In honor to you all this Memorial Day!! Enjoyed your pictures of history!   In 1948 Camp Beale became known as Beale Air Force Base.  Walt Disney designed the Black Cat. 

Jim Barger (1963)

Jim Barger (1963)

Long Before the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC,   The 128th Aviation Company of Phu Loi had a Memorial Rock outside of the Operations Office with the names of Tomahawks and Gunslingers who died while serving with the 128th in Vietnam.    After we left Vietnam the Rock disapeared but their names will never be forgotton.   They are on the Vietnam Memorial Wall now.     LTC  James Barger  Retired.

Theresa Eve (1964)

Very sad about the loss of lives.  As from "Gone with the Wind": "Most of the miseries of the world were caused by wars, and when they are over no one remembers what they were all about", Ashley Wilks.  

John Davis (1965)

I think I'd be nice to remember our classmates who were KIA in Viet Nam -

I'll start with David Boyle who was a fellow Swift Boat sailor killed in my same aor.  I'd also like to remember Art Miramontes an Army Infantryman and one of my neighbors growing up. 

Richard S. Klenhard (1967)

John - thanx for your input - therefore I would like to add:

PFC George Brookshire

PFC Christopher Casias

PVT Thomas Rossi

SP4 James Scott 

SSGT William C. Shinn (MIA)

PFC Robert L. Stewart

SGT Bradley D. Tillinghast

Additionally:

Davis HS lost 6

Esparto HS lost 1

and 2,539 remain M.I.A.

On a very personal note my Uncle Curtis Hagen was a Combat Medic and was killed at Anzio during WWII.

We shall never forget.........

Gary Wegener (1966)

Gone but not forgotten. Between 1963 and 1972, Yolo county lost 38 young men in the war.  Here are rubbings from 'the Wall' ... for the ten from WHS.    You can glean from the ruggings that our patriots are surrounded by comrades, never alone.

Died 2/14/1966; David Boyle '66

Died 6/3/1967; Gerald Ackley '65

Died 6/26/1967; James G Scott '64

Died 7/12/1967; Bradley O Tillinghast '64

Died 10/27/1967; Arthur F Miramontes '66

Died 5/16/68; Robert L Stewart '66

MIA 1/28/1969; William C. Shinn '66

Died 2/23/1969; Christopher Casias '68

Died 9/1/1969; George D Brookshire '68

Janice Haughn (Zuniga) (1969)

Can we also remember those that weren't KiA but was scarred by Viet Nam.  I am talking about soldier suicide. William Shinn's brother Loren came home with PTSD and took his own life.

Janice Haughn (Zuniga) (1969)

Ttheir names are not on the wall 

Dennis Amaral (1966)

I agree to that Janice.  Also those suffering now from Agent Orange exposure. 

Paul Schattauer (1961)

My brother Donald, WHS 65, Came back from Vietnam with three stripes, a combat infantrymans badge, a purple heart and agent orange.  We lost him a couple of years ago.  I remember.

Janet Long (Levers) (1966)

Thanks to all of you who have posted about the  classmates we lost in Vietnam; special thanks to Gary W., (or Joan?)whom I'm assuming did the rubbings; so moving, anytime I see them, I choke up. Also good to see John Davis (long time...); he could tell us of some harrowing times in the Navy. Thank you John and all the others who served there. My dad, Jim Long ('39), was shot down over France in Aug. 1944; his parachute was cut down from a tree by passing Canadian infantry. He always wished he could find/connect with them to say thanks. Shortly before he died in 2015, he was awarded the French Legion of Honeur medal for his efforts on behalf of France.

Joan Richter (Lucchesi) (1960)

Janet Long. Have you read the book "The Nightengale". Since your father's experience reminded me of the book. Thank you all for your service. We just finished putting flags on the veteran's graves at the Woodland Cemetery. I've done it for 40 years and it still tears me up. Some I don't know but after all these years it seems like saying hello. 

Gary Tibbals (1965)

I thank all of you for your support, Thanks for the rubbings, that is not all of them. I remember in my senior year that we had lost a number of class mates from 1964 and the class of 1965 was going over to revenge them. all talk tell I got drafted. let us not for get fathers, uncles, grandfathers, brothers and sisters, yes, even the ladies who served in the wars. We have alot of women serving in the armed forces today. WW1, WW2, Korean War,VietNam, Iran-Iraq Gulf war, and now Afghanistan, we are still losing our troops in these conflicts today. I belong to the Patriot guards and we are still putting our children," Men and Women" in their resting place. I would like to say YES we can honor all those who fought in the wars, PTSD (post-traumatiic stress disorder), Agentr orange, Amputees, " war related", all deserve our respect and support.

Theresa Eve (1964)