It Was Great. We Went Back to a Place That Time Has Hardly Touched. I Had 12 People In

Ricki,

It was great. We went back to a place that time has hardly touched. I had 12 people in my group, they left from 5 different airports and we meet in Keflavik, transferred to Reykjavik and flew to Isafjordur,being meet by Fridthor Eydal with his daughter Tina and Einar ( Highpockets) Jonsson with his son Jone. Later Fridthor,s brother came by with his son Paul, this only gets better and better.

Stayed the first night in Hotel Isafjordur , then after looking around that town we took a boat out into the North Atlantic to the Bay of Adalvik , seas were calm with White beaked dolphins swimming off our bow, going under the boat coming up on the port and starboard sides. In the bay of Advlik we watched a Minke whale with calf. Meeting us was the Bolungarvik rescue crew who helped get us out of the Zodiac boat when we came ashore. They had 2 6 wheel ATV’s with trailers which had some seats attached, boards with blankets wrapped around 2 by 6,s for seats to hang on to. Everyone pitched in and we unloaded our luggage

Going to the cabin where Kristbjorn Eydal and his wife Steinunn Gumundsdottir greeted us. After a wonderful welcome, Larry Robin and I started out for Mt Straumnes walking past Latrar Intl Airport. As we walked the group caught up to us

Some in trailers on the ATV Mike Mangone ,Len Lang, Ira Majo,Ray Atkins,Jerry Golledge also David Gillespie along with Erica Gillespie, Patty Atkins , Betsy Atkins and John Atkins with Tina Eydal and Paul. We climbed the road , it was exciting as it could get.I sit here with a heart full of warmth this does not get any better then this group of wonderful companions. John and Patty and Betsy keep a good check on me and Ray and all the old vets, making sure we didn’t over exert our selves. When we made the 7mile trip up to the top camp also know as 934th AC&W Sq Latrar Air Force Station ,there was 25 Icelandic people waiting to welcome us. Icleand TV was also there and they interviewed some of the group. It was sad looking at the buildings we occupied for a year at a time, to see them crumbling with snow inside up to the roof.

We explored and talked to all the Icelandic who asked questions of what we did when stationed there. Going down the mountain was just as challenging, looking over the side from a little trailer with a board to sit on

The blanket seat helped, HaHa. John,Erica,Betsy and Patty hiked down the valley side to see a dead Sperm Whale on the beach by the lake. When we arrived back to the cabin Kris and Steinnem and Tina had a supper of lambpotato with vegetables waiting for us. Everyone ate well swapped stories and found a place to sleep. Ray and his son and daughters took the outside porch. We had artic fox pups roaming on the mountain above the cabin. Morning came and we had a great time talking about our trip and eating eggs and bacon with coffee and danish. The boat ISK Romania came back to pick us up for our trip back to Isafjordur and our flight to Reykjavik. Arriving at the Reykjavik airport we saw ourselves on Icelandic TV channel 2 news. Our bus was waiting to take us to the NAS Keflavik, Lt Col Joseph (Papa John) Richardson was at the gate to welcome us. We went to the Navy Lodge and Lenny Lang and John Atkins were dispatched for a beer run, with John carrying the case on his shoulder. Betsy and Patty placed an order for food

from The Grill. This was delivered by a navy corpmanwho was just up to H-4 , he stayed with us and had a beer or 2 and swapped his stories with us. Our accommodations of 2 to the room with 2 queen size beds

and a very comfortable room. On Thursday morning we ate in the Navy mess ,where the Icelandic chef told us he saw the TV news program. The 932ACS hosted us for the rest of the day. We had a tour of CRC and we had the honor of toasting the deactivation using the emergency Crowne Royal . At 1534Z 12Jul06 the final LOKI message was given. All Stations , All Stations this is LOKI Control All Stations , All Stations

this is LOKI Control! This is the final transmission after 54 years of Air Defense and Air Sovereignty Operations. This station has been the eyes and ears of the North Atlantic during wartime, crisis and peacetime ops.

Thank you to all of our Allies and our Foes for keeping things safe and interesting. LOKI OUT !!! This message given by MSgt Jon Hazard 932nd ACS OPS Supt. 1534Z 12Jul06. H-4 Vets attending this Reed Thomas, Ira Majo, and Mike Magone.H-1 Larry Robin and H-2 William A Chick. We then split up to do other things. Bill Chick went with Baldur Sveinsson an aviation photographer for a tour of the flight line KEF.

As luck would have it a call went out to Fridthor for help as the 2 flight line adventurers where surrounded by the Police. With Chicks hands in the air he told the cops I have to pee. Some leniency

was given and they returned to the Navy Lodge. I could never tell the story of the H-4 Vets the way it really should be. On Thursday we bid goodbye to what I call a fantastic adventure and returned home to our loved one’s.Thank you to all who joined me on this adventure. Thank you to all who helped plan and put this plan in force. Thank you 932ACS Sq members and our Icelandic family of friends.

God Bless

God Bless America

God Bless Iceland

Reed Thomas H-4 5859

From: rl hammell [mailto:
Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 6:38 PM
To: Reed Thomas
Subject: reply to you

I wld love it if I cld "re-unite" w/my old NAVY "buddies".

Ricki