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Static Line - Three Winds of Death

April 1991
April is currently the fourth month of the year. The word currently is properly used because April was not always the fourth month, and sometime in the future it may not remain the fourth month. It is named for April-is, a Latin word meaning "to open," April was the second month in an early Roman calendar, but it became the fourth month when Julius Caesar established the Julian calendar in 46 B. C. In most of North America the term "to open" is an appropriate one. The last of the snow and ice has disappeared, the grass has started to turn green, leaves begin to appear on the trees, and many of the spring flowers come into full bloom. Small animals leave their burrows, and birds that haven't been around for a while begin to reappear. It just seems that Mother Nature "opens" her basket of goodies for us to enjoy. And how fortunate are the people that take time to enjoy the time of Nature's rebirth! II you haven't done so as yet, then get out there tomorrow and take a look around and marvel at what you see. Of course, for all of you who have forsaken these "rebirth of Nature" delights by moving to those areas of the country in which they do not occur — what can I say? This time of rebirth is so important that most religions, both large and small, mark the occasion in some manner. Easter usually falls in April, and one sure sign that a new life cycle has commenced is the cry of "Play ball!” That is if they haven't gone on strike. The cry of the wild goose heading North in the spring is such a delightful sound. The wildfowl airspace of the Atlantic flyway goes over my house, and it is truly a tremendous and delightful experience to hear the cries of the wild geese and to look up and watch rank after rank of them heading for their Canadian breeding and feeding grounds. These are without a doubt the sounds and sights of spring! 
And one can only marvel at the shifting patterns of the flying birds and realize that there has to be some design and some form of communication to keep their formations so orderly and so structured.

And speaking of birds — there are also those referred to as "snowbirds." These are the ones who seek the warmer climes in January and February. My wife, Mary, and I were "snowbirds for 18 days in February. We merged a short vacation in Florida with visiting some 503rd friends and with attending the Corregidor reunion of the Deep South Chapter in Columbus, GA. We stopped by to say "Hello" to Jim Nagy in Rockledge, FL, and stayed several days with John and Min Petersen in Tampa. While there the four of us were able to get together for supper with Lou and Rose Hadrava. While in Tampa I had hoped to get together with Bob Kitchen, who lives in St. Petersburg and who I have not seen since 1945. We just made contact last November, and I was looking forward to seeing him again. But it was not to be, because his youngest brother had just had a heart attack and Bob returned to Fall River, Mass to be with him. Our reunion is still something that can be looked forward to. So, the Reynolds and the Petersen’s headed for Columbus, Ga. There were 67 in attendance at their Corregidor remembrance dinner. We went out to Ft. Benning on Thursday to watch aspiring troopers make their qualifying jumps. A few changes in procedures have been made since our agonizing days. Jump training is only three weeks in length, trainees do not have to pack their chutes, and they make more than one jump on the same day. Jumps were being made from C130s, which can hold 64 jumpers, and the "sticks" were of 16 jumpers, who were using 37-foot diameter chutes. We also visited the Airborne Walk, which is now the location where all ceremonies are held for the graduating jump class. 

I met Kai Henriksen for the first time, and he asked me to inform you that the trip to Norway had to be canceled because of the air travel situation. He is, however putting together a 50th anniversary trip to Australia for October 1992. There are 4-5 couples who have already expressed interest. For more information, you can call 1-904-245-4666 or write to him at 9701 BE Co. Rd. 25 No. 175, Belleview, FL 32620. 

I want to congratulate Kermitt Jackson, president of the Deep South Chapter for conducting such an enjoyable get-together and to thank Tom Young, Cracker Atkins, and all the other members of the Deep South Chapter for their hospitality. And I must mention that the accommodations at the Columbus Hilton Hotel were excellent. Also got to see Tom and Helen McNerney, Raymond and Beatrice Mitchell, Elmer and Mildred Ketzel, and my editor and publisher, Don Lassen. 

I hope that all of you have returned your intent cards with a positive answer concerning the annual reunion in Phoenix, AZ. Reunions don't just happen. They require a lot of planning, and the planners need all the help they can get. The chairman for this year's event is George B. Funk, 1042 N. 45th Place, Phoenix. AZ 85028. See ya there! 

JOHN D. REYNOLDS 
Joppa, MD 21085
Static Line - Three Winds of Death

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