I noticed in the first issue 2011 of the Checkerboard that my membership ran out at the close of 2010. I enclosed a check for $100 to cover whatever number of years it will credit me with. Hopefully, I can outlive those years.

In reading through the list of names, I saw the name of Haskell Wolff of Dumas AR. He died shortly before last Christmas, but apparently had paid his dues before he died. “Hack” had been bedridden for several years. I last visited him the year I attended the reunion in Little Rock AR, driving to Dumas on one of those days.

Your records may show that Jim Cloud of Oklahoma City died the year of the Little Rock reunion. His health was going down, but I called him before leaving for Little Rock, telling him I was going. When I returned home, I found a recorded message on my telephone, telling me that Jim had died.

Another 99’er who died last year was Clarence Deal of Jones OK. He and I were prison bunkmates in a German labor camp. We were captured while on a reconnaissance patrol behind enemy lines during the German build-up for what became the Battle of the Bulge.

Pendleton Woods B/394

541 NW 31 St

Oklahoma City OK 73118