Claude and I met as members of the Roam in' Angels Car Club way back when. He had a fleet and I was growing a fleet. We both saw each other frequently back in the day at the Friday Morning breakfasts.

It was always interesting ‘yaking’ with Claude because it turned out we did so many common things. I keep repeating myself but. .. It is a small world!

2Claude followed me to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo a few monts hafter I left. I was in ROTC there as was he. I left Cal Poly and joined the Army to go to flight school at Ft. Wolter, Texas. I volunteered to fly Medivac Helo. Claude followed me to that very school a few months after I left for Vietnam. We both know what a Th55 is & a TH37!. Claude wound up as one of the Army's great pilots flying fixed and rotary wing then went into the Coast Guard for his career after leaving the Army. If you ever watched the movie "The Perfect Storm" you watched Claude fly rescue off the East Coast in an adventure good enough for a movie.

Claude introduced me to the American Legion and " Boys State" which he grew over the years. The 100th anniversary of the Post was great thanks to Claude's connections and leadership.

We lost Claude at the end of August. He's now got a pair of the best wings that can be earned & awarded.

This Post, this Community, and the many, many Vets and their families helped by Claude are going to miss the Colonel. Rest easy my friend.

– Adjutant Mike