In Memory: Harold Walter Aleshire

VickieRock In Memory

Harold Walter Aleshire, 73, of Delaware passed away Tuesday morning, November 9, 2021 at his residence surrounded by his loving family.

He was born August 24, 1948 in Delaware to the late Harley and Jessie (Matlack) Aleshire. He proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army during the Vietnam War earning a purple heart and 3 bronze stars.

Harold worked as a traffic technician for the City of Delaware and he was a lifetime member of the AmVets Post #102 and the American Legion. He was also a member of the Delaware Eagles #376. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing, classic cars, baseball and OSU football.

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Cindy (Marcus) Deemer of Marion, Harold Aleshire of Marion, Christy (Vince) Lavette of Marion, Chad (Kim) Aleshire of Prospect, and Tammy Aleshire of Columbus; 11 grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren; brothers, Robert (Caroll) Aleshire of Medina, Gene (Laura) Aleshire of Texas and Richard (Debbie) Aleshire of Delaware; several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Harold was preceded in death by his grandchildren Lyndsay Clever and twins William and Zachary.

Planning is underway to get together again …

VickieRock Announcement, Reunion

Now that COVID is easing up, Roger and Vickie Rock have started planning for the Battalion’s next reunion. They’re looking at a different place where we’ve not congregated before, the Rising Star Casino and RV Park located just SW of Cincinnati, Ohio airport in southern Indiana. It offers both rooms AND RV sites to accommodate your stay all on the same property. Thus, if any of you have become full-time RVer’s, you’ll be able to park your RV in a full-service site and mingle with all the others who book rooms in their hotel facilities.

While we cannot yet confirm the dates for the reunion (we can’t do that until Sept. 2022), we can say we’re looking at dates during the last two weeks of September 2023, and most likely Tuesday through Thursday dates. The change from weekend dates to middle-of-the-week dates is two-fold.

  1. A lot of us are retired and no longer “working” those middle of the week days, and
  2. Both airline fares AND room rates are considerably less expensive for middle-of-the-week dates than what we would incur on Friday-Sunday dates.

Now that we’re all pretty much working with fixed, retirement incomes, we figured a more budget-friendly set of dates might work better.

This reunion, like the others that Roger and Vickie have hosted, welcomes ALL who served in the 70th Engineer Battalion, regardless of the company in which you served or the timeframe in which you served.

We sent emails to those for whom we have email addresses this week.  If you didn’t get one, that means that we don’t have a working email address on file.  Thus, you might want to get hold of Roger and give him your updated email address to ensure you get updates on what we’re planning.  Also, let us know if you’re interested in coming to the next reunion so we have a good idea for setting room blocks and food arrangements, and if there is something in particular you’d like to see incorporated in an agenda.

You can contact Roger via email at 70engrs@gmail.com .

 

 

 

 

In Memory: Richard Burch and Benjamin (Ben) Calloni

VickieRock In Memory

Richard A Burch Benjamin P Calloni

We sent out emails this week announcing that we were beginning to plan for another Battalion reunion this week and got two sad emails back in return from relatives of two of our members. Both were members of “D” Company while in Vietnam, and both have been attendees at previous reunions with whom you may have shared stories.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to their family members and anyone Engineer who may have been close to them throughout the years.  We will miss their happy faces at this next reunion.  You can click the link under their pictures to read through their obituaries.

In Memory: Vince Acosta, Adrian Tworek and Larry Harris

VickieRock Announcement

Thus far, 2021 hasn’t been a very kind year as we’ve lost three very close and dear friends, Vince Acosta, Adrian Tworek and Larry Harris.
Vince Acosta
Vince Acosta
 The first of the three to pass on, was Vince Acosta who served with the 70th in A Company in 1969. Roger and I had kept in close contact with Vince and Gail over the years and when traveling through Las Vegas to one place or another, we always included time in our schedule to spend time with Vince and Gail. A home health worker brought COVID19 into their home and while Gail, a cancer survivor, overcame the virus, Vince, who had a number of health issues, wasn’t strong enough to overcome it.  Vince passed away on January 10, 2021.
Adrian Tworek
 If you’ve been to one of the Battalion reunions, you like met Adrian and got to share a number of stories.  After being locked up for a little over a year avoiding COVID, we’d finally headed out in our coach to attend a rally and while there, got a call from his wife Jane letting us know that he’d been out working in the yard when he’d rung the doorbell and she found him sitting on the porch.  He’d suffered an aneurism and while he survived the surgery to repair the damage, he passed away the next day on Friday, May 21, 2021.  Adrian served in HQ company 1966-67.
Larry Harris
Larry Harris
 This morning, we learned that Larry Harris, who served with the 70th in HQ Company from 1966-68 before moving on to 1st CAV in Vietnam, passed away on May 2, 2021. In all, Larry received 5 purple hearts throughout his multiple tours in Vietnam. He’d pretty much dropped off the face of the earth a while back and try as we did to keep in touch we’d been unable to reach him. Roger finally made contact with one of his local friends this morning and learned of his passing. He had been suffering from heart-related issues for some time.

May they all now rest in peace.  In the interim, ’til we meet again on the other side … we will sorely miss their presence.

In Memory of Robert Ayers

VickieRock In Memory

Robert Ayers
April 30, 1931 – June 27, 2020

He was a devoted father and family man, a loyal friend, and an engaging conversationalist who always sought to put others at ease. He loved travel, leading many family travel trailer adventures all across the country on the way to the next assignment or down to Florida to visit his parents. He valued friends and family and greatly enjoyed spending time visiting with them through all his years.

Born in Woodbury, Georgia on April 30, 1931 to Ed Lee Ayers and Elizabeth Garrison, he grew up in Bradenton, Florida. He attended the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, graduating with the class of 1953, and subsequently attended California Institute of Technology. On June 4, 1960, he married Harriett Ann Mahle of Baltimore, Maryland.

He served in the Army Corps of Engineers, rising to the rank of Colonel, and retired in 1981 to work for Brown and Root in Houston, Texas. He grew out his hair and adapted to corporate life, rising from Project Manager to Vice President of the Brown and Root Services Corporation he helped to found, and then on to Program Director of KBR Services. He retired from corporate life in 1999, and aside from occasional consulting jobs, enjoyed many years of camping, fishing, and visiting with family and friends before and after his wife, Harriett, passed away on their anniversary in 2006.

Bob is survived by daughters; Jennifer Ayers of Austin, Texas and Elizabeth Ayers who, with her husband. Philip Wattenbarger lives in Houston, Texas, with granddaughters; Marisa, Tamara and Evelyn. He is also survived by brothers; Capt. William Ayers of Seguin, Texas, Cicero Ayers of Tampa, Florida, and Ed Lee Ayers of Brownsville, Texas.

In Memory of James Howard Seago

VickieRock Announcement

James Howard Seago

JULY 31, 1931 ~ JUNE 3, 2019 (AGE 87)

James Howard Seago, Sr., 87, of Sarasota, FL, formerly of Atwater, IL, died at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, FL on Monday, June 3, 2019 at 6:25 pm. He was born July 31, 1931, in Atwater, IL to Charles Seago & Evia (Jackson) Seago. He married Norma Jean (Karrick) Seago. She preceded him in death on September 29, 2006. He then married Wanda (Winfrey) Blackburn Seago. He was retired military after having served with the Army as an E7 during Vietnam. He was also a retired supervisor from the US Postal Service. James loved playing the violin and telling people about the Lord and leading them to Christ. He is survived by his spouse Wanda (Winfrey) Blackburn Seago, children, James (Leigh) Seago Jr., Deborah (Charles) Crump, Kimberly Richardson, Rebecca (Steve) Brown, Belinda (Dan) Cooper, Jenni (Marvin) Kuentzel, Kim (Terry) Walker, Mary (Cathy) Blackburn, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren and brother, Charles Seago. James was preceded in death by his parents, first spouse, daughter, Kathleen Gail Seago, grandson, James Kallis Richardson, great grandson, Jeffrey Black, sibling, Orville, Truman, Clara, Bernice, Mayme and Paul. Friends may call on Sunday, June 16, 2019 at Kravanya Funeral Home in Gillespie, IL from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm. Funeral services are Monday, June 17, 2019 at 10:00 AM at Kravanya Funeral Home in Gillespie, IL. Burial will be at Bethel Ridge Cemetery, Atwater, IL. Memorials are suggested to CEF of Alaska and National Veterans Golden Age Games. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, IL is in charge of the arrangements.

In Memory of Harold Guy

VickieRock 70th Engineers, Announcement

Posted by Harold’s daughter, Laurie Kiester

This is the update I never wanted to write. Yesterday (5-13-2019), we lost dad.

We lost him from this earth, but never from our hearts and we know he has another reunion he attended yesterday beyond the veil.
We want to thank everyone for all the help, the visits, texts, cards, everything.

All we take with us is the experiences and love we have gained and he was more than loved. He was beloved.

Here are the details for the funeral:

  • Viewing is Friday, May 17th (5:30-7:30 pm) at Zeyer’s Funeral Chapel located at 83 N. Midland Blvd. In Nampa.
  •  Funeral is Saturday, May 18th (10:30am) at the LDS church located at 7809 Deer Flat Road in Nampa.
  • Burial will follow at the Melba cemetery which is about 10 minutes from the church.  He will be honored with a 21-gun salute from the Legion Hall in Meridian and the Gowen Field Honor Guard will do a flag presentation and TAPS.
  •  Following internment, lunch will be provided at the Melba Senior Center (arrangements pending) and food will be provided by my church.
  • There will be a short open mic portion in the funeral program to allow the sharing of brief memories. However, if you are more comfortable sharing pictures or stories/memories on here, we will include them in the videos and someone is doing a life sketch and will be sharing stories from others.

OBITUARY

Harold D Guy Jr. was born on November 25, 1945 in Ontario, Oregon to Erma and Harold Guy. He spent his younger years and school time in Midvale. This hometown is where he gained life-long friendships and learned his well-respected work ethics. While there he enjoyed participating in football, FFA, and rodeo life when rodeo was more than just a sport.

Midvale is also where he joined the military. First, he joined the air guards and then he went active duty in the army before being deployed to Vietnam. He later served in the Idaho National Guard including serving for a time with his son Robert. The military and the friendships he made there remained a big part of his life.

When he returned from Vietnam in 1969, he married Linda (Lyda) Tucker. They shared a love of dancing, music, and family. This December would have been their 50th wedding anniversary.

Their first home was in Fort Hood, Texas where Harold was stationed. From there he was transferred to Fort Wainwright, Alaska. From there he returned to Idaho and civilian life with three children he would adopt and call his own from Linda’s first marriage, and with a baby Eskimo girl they adopted while in Alaska.

Their life in Idaho saw more traveling as Harold worked for Western Construction as a heavy equipment operator. He worked on major roadways from Elmore County’s Great Wall and the Mesa Hill, to Soda Spring and Oregon.

In 1975 he moved his family to Glenns Ferry, Idaho where they remained for 17 years. While here Harold continued working in construction but also became a volunteer EMT which began his new love. From Glenns Ferry they moved to Payette where they remained for 26 years and where Harold worked with United Ambulance out of Payette County and then Treasure Valley Paramedics out of Ontario. Here he acquired a whole new family who continued to visit him as he and Linda moved to Caldwell this past year to be closer to family as Harold’s health and the effect of Agent Orange took its toll. Through it all, he never stopped smiling, joking, and loving everyone. He was a well-loved man who touched so many lives. Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Erma and Harold; his sister, Marlene Maxwell; and his brother, Dennis Reynolds. He is survived by his wife, Linda (Tucker); his sister, Donna Howard; and his children: Sonja Weeks, Laurie (Greg) Kiester, Robert Guy, Carrie (Dean) Kaiser, Melissa Osborn. He also has 22 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, May 18 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 7809 Deer Flat Rd in Nampa. A viewing will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, Friday, May 17, at Zeyer Funeral Chapel, 83 N Midland Blvd, Nampa. Burial at Melba Cemetery where Harold will be honored with a 21 gun salute and flag presentation for his military service. Condolences may be expressed at ZeyerFuneralChapel.com. 208-467-7300

In Memory of Roland Morin

VickieRock 70th Engineers, Announcement

Roland E. Morin of Saco passed away on April 25, 2019 at the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born in Lewiston, the son of Irene and Edmond Morin; he attended Lewiston schools and graduated from Lewiston High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1968 and served a tour in Vietnam from 1968-1969 as a combat engineer in Company A-70th Engineer Battalion. When he returned from Vietnam, he served in Company B- 17th Battalion-5th Brigade as the personnel specialist in Fort Knox, Kentucky until 1971. Roland was very proud of his service and enjoyed discussing his service with anyone but really got joy discussing military service with other veterans.

After his service in the Army, he enrolled in USM and began working at the Department of Human Services (DHS) where he met his wife of 45+ years. Roland spent over 30 years at DHS mostly as a caseworker in the Aspire program, where he helped countless clients. He was also a valuable peer to his coworkers assisting and offering advice to further their careers. Those that worked with “Rolie” got to see firsthand, his dedication to his work while maintaining a light-hearted and fun attitude towards life. After retiring from DHS, Roland worked as a job coach, helping those with disabilities in the workplace, showing his compassion in helping others. He retired from job coaching in 2016 and began working at Xuron in Saco, crafting the tools that he used regularly when building models.

Roland was an expert scale model builder, winning countless awards for the models he built. He was known for the extra fine detail of the dashboards and wiring of engines in the models he built and specialized in military armor, classic cars and rat rods. He was a proud member of the Southern Maine Scale Modelers club; he had many close friends and fellow modelers that he thoroughly enjoyed spending time with and learning tips and tricks on building models.

Roland was known for his quick wit, snide comments/remarks, and overall laidback fun demeanor. He is known for using acronyms and had one for just about any situation, his favorites were PITA and WAFM. He enjoyed camping and was easy to spot at local campgrounds by looking for the most elaborate campsite setup including a very large (Taj Mahal-sized) tent and several canopies covering the “kitchen” and “living room” of the campsite. He also enjoyed music; mostly oldies and classic rock, his favorite song of all time IN A GADDA DA VIDA, where he showcased his air guitar and air drums skills.

Roland is survived by his wife, Joanne of Saco; cats Max and Alice; son David and his wife Jessica of Portland; grand puppies Belladonna and Pennylane; sister Diane Morin-Berman and her husband Larry of Mashpee, Mass., brother Raymond Morin and his wife Jackie of Sanford, N.C., nieces and nephews; and many very close friends.

The Morin family would like to especially thank the doctors and staff of Maine Centers for Healthcare, Maine Medical Center Gibson Pavilion and the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough for their expert care and compassion for both Roland and his Family during the past nine months. A special thank you to Scott Chase for providing Roland and Joanne with a special afternoon ride, one that none of us will ever forget!

A Military Honors Ceremony will be held on June 28th at 2 p.m. at the Southern Maine Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Springvale.

In Memory of Paul Kentes

VickieRock Announcement

Paul Kentes

Paul Kentes III, 72, of 700 E. Main Street, Elizabeth City, died Friday, March 29, 2019 at Sentara Albemarle Medical Center.  Paul served with Company B from 1967-68.

He was born May 8, 1946 in Preston, England to the late Michael Kentes and Gladys Curran Kentes and was the husband of Diane DeMedio Kentes. A Vietnam veteran, he served his country honorably in the U.S. Army and was awarded the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. After his military service he entered the field of telecommunications and retired from an executive position after many years. He enjoyed golf, adored his wife and family and loved being a Dad to his daughters and PaPa to his grandchildren.

In addition to Diane, his wife of fifty plus years, he is survived by two daughters, Christine A. Zell and husband, Bryan and Jillian A. Shifflett and husband Mike all of Bristow, VA; and four grandchildren, Abigail, Jake, Drew and Luke. He was preceded in death by a brother, Michael Kentes.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.