Gene, Mai and Fred Wilson as the holy family during Christmas services on Christmas Eve at the EUM. Church in Oblong, Illinois.

Our family enjoyed the opportunity to portray the holy family. The privilege traditionally goes to the family with the youngest child and this year Fred was the youngest.

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I had just returned to Germany after 60 days of TDY (temporary Duty) to Eastern Turkey where there were troubles and and the Turkish forces needed airlift capacity. A group of air crewmen and aircraft from mostly from VII Corp in Germany were tasked with providing rides to Turkish and allied troops. It was an intense 60 days. We lost aircraft and crew to hostile fire.

I was back in Germany about a week and was walking down the street in a small town with my friend Fish. As we strolled down the street a German housewife ran out of her house saying loudly, “Come here!” in German.

We entered her home and were shown into her living room where her entire family was seated around a television. The moon landing was about to take place. It was amazing to watch. It was even more amazing to watch from the home of complete strangers who had invited us because they saw us walking down street in our Army uniforms.

We watched the landing and heard the famous words, “One step for a man…” the family insisted that we join them for snacks and stay for conversation. as the day passed we thought perhaps we were staying too long and our hosts were just polite about saying anything. We were apparently mistaken as the family insisted we stay for a wonderful dinner prepared in traditional German style and share a large amount of liquid refreshments of various flavors and potency.

When the time to leave actually arrived we left as lifelong friends. It is a memory I treasure. My friend and I as well as our other comrades on TDY were not aware that the spacecraft had been launched or that the landing was about to occur.

We were treated with kindness, love and generosity by people we did not know simply because we were American soldiers and they wanted to share the moment with my friend and I. Where ever they are today I send them love.

Gene

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Mai was excited as she had never been fishing before. She likes to eat fish and was hoping for some new taste delights if we caught some nice fish. We caught fish! Mai caught the largest one of the outing, a six pound catfish! Dave and I both caught smaller fish.

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Tony’s boat s prepared and eady for our outing.

Dave looks serious as we travel to the Olney Lake, Mai looks, actually I don’t know how to describe the way she looks.

In the first picture Dave and Mai Wilson wait patiently at the boat dock as Tony prepares to launch the boat. In the second picture the sign with the rules of the lake as well as size and catch limits informs all fishermen the rules for this lake. In the third picture Dave Wilson looks playfully on with interest.

Tony backs the boat down the ramp to launch the boat and then lets Dave drive. Dave enjoyed this a lot. Tony is a good teacher and is good with Dave.

Dave is still driving and Mai is enjoying the experience.

Dave Catches his first fish!

Mai catches her first fish and with Tony’s help gets the fish in the boat. She was very happy!

Mai catches fish and catches fish! It seemed to me that she had fish waiting for her hook before she even threw her line in the water.

Dave was catching fish pretty well and I thought for a while I would just enjoy what a wonderful fishing trip Mai and Dave were having but would not catch fish myself.

Mai catches a six pound catfish! She caught this on six pound test line! I find that amazing. It would have been nice to catch such a fish anytime but especially rtemarkable to catch the catfish on her first fishing trip and on such light tackle.

When Mai hooked the fish, Tony was there telling her how to play the fish, Tony is a natural at working with people and helping hem to be better fishermen. I salute him.

Gene catches the largest bass of the day. Of course it was the only bass of the day but at least I caught a fish.

Here we are back at Tony’s house in Newton Illinois looking at our catch of the day. Mai caught the big fish and probably half of the others. Her catfish makes the others look small.

As we prepared to leave Tony’s house for our fishing trip he gave Dave Wilson some lessons on casting. Dave enjoyed this and as the pictures show was giggling and laughing.

Thank you Tony for a wonderful experience fishing and for the conversation about so many things. We loved fishing with Tony!

Gene, Mai and Dave Wilson

Gene

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May you have many happy and wonderful years together!

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Gene

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Dad seemed to enjoy his birthday and we certainly enjoyed being with him as he celebrated 90 years of life.

Below are some pictures of the day.

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Gene

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Someone asked me to take a picture of her butt. Can you guess who it was?

Thanks Kyle and Tawnya!

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I want to ride a roller coaster!

I want to ride a roller coaster!

I want to ride a roller coaster!

I want to ride a roller coaster!

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After Mai literally staggered off of the roller coaster, she proclaimed,”I will never do that again!”

I think she had a nice time at Holiday World with everyone but the roller coaster was a little too much too soon. She tells me and everyone else she will never ride one again thus having two rides in one, her first one and her last one.

I suspect later she may relent and try another one. What do you think?

Here are two pictures of the members of our OTHS graduating class who also attended Bend school before OTHS.