Chuck Klasek

Short Bio: Rotated back to US in 1973; graduated in OKC, OK in 1977. Enlisted in USAF and became a 60370 (Motor Pool) NCOIC before a medical discharge in 1990 (blew my knees out, developed spinal and heart trouble). Married 3 times, 2 kids from first marriage. Attended college after discharge, earned degrees in Journalism, Advertising and Graphic Design; worked for two newspapers after graduation and now am trying to work from home. Home business involves writing/graphic design freelancing as well as buying/selling/trading audio equipment made before 1980. Passions are music, audiophilia, Petroliana collecting, Route 66, photography, reading, poetry, cooking, gardening and my '68 Impala, but my greatest passion is for my wife, Cathy, a Hoosier who'd only left Indiana to spend a summer in France and moved to Oklahoma just after our May 3 tornado extravaganza. I'm also looking for a few friends which I can remember... One, Robin Dewiss, was my first 'real' girlfriend, and one whom I always treasure in my memory; As I understand it, her mother passed shortly after they left Lajes, and I've wanted to get in touch with her ever since we moved from Lajes. Another is Brian Hawkins. Ah, the days we used to spend out on the porches on Cruz Street singing and playing 'air guitar' Hahahahahaha! He taught me a lot about respecting the races, creeds and religions of others, and believe it or not laid the foundation for how I've interacted with people ever since. I talked briefly with his older brother Buzby some years ago, but never heard from him again, nor found Brian. I'd very much like to find him and just shoot the breeze. Lord (and she) forgive me, but my 'other girlfriend' I remember was a beautiful blonde girl whom I met when she'd just broken up with a mutual friend...it didn't hurt that her brother and I were friends, too, and that she lived just a couple of blocks up the street from me on base (I lived in T-16-B). As I recall, her hair was quite long and flowing, she favored wire-rimmed glasses and wore what we then called 'granny dresses,' which I always thought made her look quite elegant and smart! Finally, there was a blonde girl who had the misfortune of being quite amply endowed for a junior high-schooler. She tended to wear this gray t-shirt with a big bunch of purple grapes on the front....and as a result, gained the unfortunate moniker of 'grapes,' which she loathed. I always had a crush on her and felt sorry for her inappropriate attentions (maybe because I was also always the fat kid with the BCG's who got picked on a lot...?). Anyway, if she remembers (and isn't scarred for life from the experience), I'd like to touch base with her as well. Anyone who'd like to make contact with me, please feel free to do so at cmk59@yahoo.com. I've attached a few pics of me; one just a year or two after my discharge (in the Cowboys shirt), and the other just taken a few months ago.