Pray for Pop Top's Family at the Passing of his mother, Vi.

Posting this for Crash

All:

I have just heard from Colleen Alicoate, daughter of our late great friend Tim (Pop Top) Alicoate that his Mother, Violet has passed away peacefully this morning in Phoenix, Arizona. Vi was 101 years old. Many of us had the pleasure of meeting Vi when Pop Top died. She was a wonderful and very religious lady. She will be missed.

Please keep Vi, Pop Top, and the family in your prayers. I will try to provide details as they become available.

Crash

Donna Clarke Obituary

Donna Clarke Obituary.
Crash asked if I would post this for the family.   I am posting the link also in case you would like to visit the website.  There is a place for leaving a personal condolence.
http://www.burbagefuneralhome.com/home/index.cfm/obituaries/view/fh_id/14208/id/2796152

Mrs. Donna Jean Clarke

Born: March 30, 1948
Died: November 06, 2014

Mrs. Donna Jean Clarke, 66, of Berlin, MD passed away on Thursday morning, November 6th, 2014. Born March 30, 1948 in Carlisle, PA, she is the daughter of Shirley McKeehan Kipps and the late Cletus Kipps, Sr. She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Martin D. Clarke; Two daughters, Meaghan Rosso and husband Kevin of Annapolis, MD, and Lindsay Abruzzo and husband Mark of Annapolis, MD; One brother Cletus Kipps, Jr. and wife Sandy; one sister, Cathy Neff and husband Jim of Mount Holly, PA. She was also the beloved “Mimi” to four grandchildren; Ryder and Emmaline Rosso and Madlyn and Tobin Abruzzo, all of Annapolis, MD. Donna enjoyed working with her “extended family” at Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates in Berlin and Salisbury for the past 17 years. Donna was a beautiful person inside and out. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and devout Catholic. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her grandbabies. Donna was an amazing lady who everyday lived her life with sincerity, kindness, loyalty, and generosity. She had an infectious smile and laugh that will be missed by all who were honored to call her their friend. The world has lost a beautiful person. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at 11:00 AM at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11211 Beauchamp Rd, Berlin, MD 21811. The family will be receiving friends beginning at 10:00 AM. Father Greg Shaffer will officiate. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Relay for Life Northern Worcester County. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.burbagefuneralhome.com “If you wish to know, see, hear, and feel me; search for me in the music you hear and the flowers you see.”

SERVICES

Funeral Service Tuesday, November 11, 2014
11:00 AM

St. John Neumann Roman Catholic Church

Berlin, MD 21811

 

In Memory of Donna

In Memory of Donna

What Testimony is there to give truth to my existence.  Where is there proof of the mark I lay upon my journey, to be remembered by those who wish to know me.

Interpretations of stories passed down and images studied give partial witness to the entirety of who I am. 

If you wish to know, see, hear and feel me; search  for me in the music you hear and the flowers you see. 

I linger near the laughter of children,
And always in the embrace of my family.

The gentle breeze that softly rustles through leaves high in a tree,
will find me outstretched on large sturdy limbs, pondering. 

I am the quest in dark soft nights that reveal heavenly lights and early streaks of dawn's glory.

I am in the soft movement, on pillows of air and quiet industry of colorful;
delicate wings that seek nourishment in rhythms of perfect harmony. 

Heart sharing tears and laughter of friends and foe are my banner, with ornaments of love, joy and peace.

Look not in wooden chests for medals and treasures.  Look to my beloved who shares my days and nights, joys and sorrows. 

Great battles were fought back to back, wielding the sword of the Spirit and fire of the Holy One.

Count my wealth by each hair and bone, fashioned by the creator to be masterpieces of my lineage.  My coffer is full: my joy is overflowing. 

Forests on glacial landscapes with crisp air and nips of cold;
Gentle hills full of color and pageantry;
Rugged shorelines, bold and hungry for all it touches;
Warm, wet sandy loam under canopies of sycamore that have trunks carved with names long gone but bearing the truth of their existence, are the promenade of my wandering. 

I sojourn in deep arches of hair flowing in the wind that produce heart swelling laughter with legs out stretched to reach the highest pinnacle; In Patches of berries and thorns laden with fruit and unfriendly hitchhikers;  Among the dance and loud calling of winged mating, followed by careful preparation of nature's birthing place.

I will meet you there to share a moment, until you cross the great River on the path to the ancient of ancients.

Written by Elaine Abbott

Your prayers and support are needed

This is Elaine ( Mrs. Guru)....I am posting this for Larry.   I am sure many of you are as numb as we are about the passing of Crash's lovely Donna.  I didn't have the opportunity to spend time with her in person but we became friends through email and Facebook and looked forward to actually meeting.   We both remarked that we felt like we already knew each other and I found her to be a beautiful person inside and out.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many.   She was an amazing Christian and I am so blessed and grateful for being able to know her.

Crash is always the one to rally you guys to pray, send cards, email, letters, love and support to anyone in need.   He needs you now to stand by him.  I am including his address and email just in case you do not have it.    Please take time to reach out to him.  

He has only asked for one thing...and that is prayer for his family.   Please keep them soaked in your prayers.   It makes a difference. 

Martin Clarke
855 Ocean Parkway
Berlin, MD  21811

calibanrealty@mchsi.com

We will post ( or perhaps you all may have the information and can post) when we know more about family arrangements.  

Blessings,
Ms. Guru

**normally I would not post on your blog...but after talking to Larry and Tim Nutter, I agreed to go ahead and post a personal note to you.**

Guys
With a heavy heart, I am forwarding some bad news Crash, Marty Clark's wonderful wife; Donna, was killed in a car wreck this morning. Sugarfoot says that Crash said the best way to contact him is via email. (calibanrealty@mchsi.com) Crash requests that we offer up prayers for the family, especially the children. I will update as I receive more information.
Thank you
Larry ( Guru)

2014 Update

There seems to be more Pathfinder activity in the last year.  Some of it thanks to Facebook and this blog seems to allow non facebook pathfinders to find us..       PopTop's untimely passing seem to bring to mind the fact that we are not bullet proof nor do we have an expiration date and stirred a desire in some of us to find each other again.   Many of our group are retired or semi retired and that too can account for the "search" for our Vietnam brothers.   Time, availability, great technology, God....all play a role in revisiting a unique time in our lives.   My priest told my wife in years past when I was still recuperating from cancer that it would be a good thing for me to reconnect with the men I served with.  He went on to explain that a bond occurs when you put your life in the hands of another person day after day and when you lay down at night.   That was the catalyst for the creation of this blogsite.  

I am making a new 2014 resolution to try again to regularly update this blog.  Please pass it on to any pathfinders that served with us.   This is not intended to reach the larger pathfinder association group but to allow discussion, memories, shared experiences and photos or information about possible reunions for the group we served with in Vietnam.    I will attempt to fill in a few gaps from my last 2013 post from our Facebook page, conversations, visits and emails or phone calls I have received.  This may take a few posts.    If you have not joined our group please send an email by using this link   Reply and we will add you to the group.  It is closed to anyone other than the ones we served with in Vietnam.

These great video reproductions are from Maverick ( Lawrence Dawson )  He uses You Tube to make them viewable to all of us.  Great job Maverick and many thanks!

 Combat Assault 1969 Opening a Fire Base

 Firebase Cannon Oct. 1969

This one he calls  part 1 of The Tower and features yours truly.  Thanks Maverick. 

 This is Part 2

It is great to see actual footage and that Maverick lends his expertise so we can revisit it.

Here is another he posted called Little Larry.   

Sgt. Sisson, Cement Mason

Last weekend I had the opportunity to spend some hours with Black Magic ( Rick Damon)  and his wife Brenda.     It had been since the early 70's at a pathfinder reunion in Oklahoma since we had a chance to visit.    We both had a little ( well maybe a lot) more grey hair and each had adversities we had overcome but we were able to share some great conversation and lunch at the Gaylord Texan in Dallas and vowed to try to get together again.   The wives hit it off and were already comparing and sharing a German recipe.

Guru & Black Magic

Brenda Damon, Black Magic, Guru and Ms. Guru...Elaine 

A little background on Black Magic... He and Brenda live in Louisville, Kentucky.  They raised six children together and have I think about eight grandchildren...or maybe I think everyone has as many as I do.  Regardless they have a fine sounding family....    I think I recall that he is in insurance or perhaps a financial planner.  Most important is that he is still working and enjoying life.  Brenda told Elaine they were going on another trip next month to Cabos for some R&R.  Probably a bit different than the one we took together in Vung Tau.     Our visit brought up more memories and that is why I decided to make the resolution to update this blog more and encourage you to find more of our group to reconnect here and on our Facebook group.  There is a link posted on the home page of this blog that will take you directly to the Facebook page where you can request to be added to the Pathfinder group.   Also thanks to Crash (Marty Clarke), JP (Tim Nutter) and Attitude (Dan McGibbon) we have been compiling a list of call signs, names, email addresses and contact information.  Please help us with this so we can try to make contact with all our Pathfinders.   You can send them to me by clicking this link.    Contact Info

Looking forward to hearing from and seeing more Pathfinders in the upcoming year.

Guru (Larry Abbott)

A note from Crash:
 All:
 The National Pathfinder Association is hosting a Pathfinder reunion in historic Williamsburg Virginia on Friday October 4, 2013 through Monday October 7, 2013. The following is copied from their web site  www.nationalpathfinderassociation.com

"Our 2012 October Planning Conference in Williamsburg, VA was highly successful and our small RECON force is now ready to host the full NPA membership in October 2013. Our NPA Vice President is extremely knowledgeable of early American history and even serves as one of the reenactment volunteers at Yorktown. His expertise and easy manner makes him the perfect guide for our visit to Colonial Williamsburg's historical area.

 The Holiday Inn Patriot is both economical and spacious with its large sports bar, indoor pool, conference suites, and hospitality and dining rooms. Our fall "Legacy" Reunion in Virginia promises to be very special and memorable for all who attend. More detailed information will be posted during the months to come."You do not have to be a dues paid member of the National Pathfinder Association in order to attend, however, you must be willing to humiliate yourself publicly by admitting to having served as a Pathfinder. You should bring your black hat, wings, and either a letter from your local AA representative or a copy of your DD-214 as proof. Joking, if you are on this list you are in.

 Let me hear from you if you plan to attend and I will try to provide up-dates as I get them.

  Crash