Where are we now?

I graduated in '68 as CPT of "E" Company and prior to that spent 3 years in the Retan Rifles. After graduation, I went to Univ of Richmond with hopes of medical school. After too many fraternity parties and the decision not to do to Uof R summer school, I enlisted in the U.S. Army. Surprised that I was not sent to Viet Nam, I was sent to Germany. I then spent almost 8 ears in law enforcement and earned my BA in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo Univ. I then decided to enlist in the USCG (too old for OCS) where I served 22 years until I retired in 2001. I have been Civil Service (DoD) since 2002 where I now serve as a Safety & Occupational Health Manager. I plan to retire in another year or two.

I salute all FUMA grads who have served in the U.S Armed Forces or served in law enforcement.

I see now that not everyone becomes a physician, dentist, lawyer, or engineer.

I look back on my FUMA years and now realise they were some of the best years of my life.

I was there around that time. I remember a few of those names.

This is a board full of success stories. Although, we might never admit it, FUMA is part of the fabric that makes us who we are today like it or not. I do not define success as a job or academic achievement rather are you happy and are you satisfied. I am happy and satisfied I may not make the most money or travel like I use to but I do enjoy life because we never know when it may change.

OK here is my story and I am sticking to it!

Graduated FUMA in 1987 and went to ODU on a swimming scholarship.
Had a great time! Graduated in 1993 with a degree as a professional geologist.

Decided to surf and fish the world and did!

Worked as a professional geologist for 2 years.

Moved to NC and sold sport fishing yachts and surfed and fished some more.

Lost my parents in 99 and spent 18 months with their estate

Went back to school at ODU got a MS is Computer Science 01.
Started working for the Corps of Engineers in 2000 in Norfolk and have never looked back.

Met my awesome bride in 2005 and got married 3 months later and we now have 2 wonderful boys

I am now a senior strategic planner (GS15) for the chief of the Corps of Engineers and love the fact that I get to think about cool things.

I am getting ready to attend the Executive MBA program at University of Maryland.

Just got done building a vacation home on a island in the Chesapeake Bay and we are having our dream boat built. Life is great! Not to say there are not hills and valleys in life because there are!

I keep in touch with many alumni through facebook and other ventures. My de-facto brother is John Galbraith another FUMA Alumni and my de-facto father is his Dad also an alumni.

I would say this was the second best thing I ever did (first being married).

FUMA spiritually grounded me, physically sharpened me, and mentally allowed me to excel and gain self confidence (it's not for everyone though). Did I make mistakes at FUMA? Yes, but mistakes build character and that is what happens when you are young.

I also work with several alumni's anywhere from student hires to executive staff members. When I find out they went to FUMA that is instant brotherhood!

Matt Parks
Class of 87

I don't know buddy - you may have 7 years hard FUMA experience, but we've shared the same 30 since leaving. By the way, very nice pictures - I did some photog work for the army but nothing as high quality as your stuff.

Pat,
Always nice to have another fan of my photography. I hope that during our 30th anniversary Alumni weekend in '08, I will have the opportunity to capture a few images as well.

I am Patrick Jennings, Class of 1978, 1SGT Retan Rifles. After graduation I gave college a try but the Marine Corps offered her siren call and off I went. Like FUMA, it was a life-changing great time but it had to come to an end. Back to college, this time for real, and eventually a Ph.D. in US History. Higher Ed is, of course, quite expensive, so I went back into uniform in the Army National Guard. To say the leaset I got quite the higher education! Now it is 2007, next year I will be at FUMA for my 30th Reunion (ouch)! Military wise, I have campaign and expeditionary medals from Lebanon, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq (twice). I was, after 9/11, the only photographer allowed at Ground Zero in NYC for almost a month. Presently I am at West Point where I will help establish an Oral History center. Very exciting times!

The last time I was at FUMA had to be 1999 or 2000. I remember talking to a class mate back then and we noted how FUMA grads tend to be late bloomers, always taking the hard way to great things.

I would love to hear from guys from '77, '78, '79.

Take Care.

I remember you. I started FUMA in 76 and did the upper school 4 year stint in "C" company. My brother was in "E" company. The McCoys. My brother is still in Virginia, sadly an alcoholic and I am working on the north border in central Montana.

Hi All,

I am Patrick Jennings, Class of 1978, 1SGT Retan Rifles. After graduation I gave college a try but the Marine Corps offered her siren call and off I went. Like FUMA, it was a life-changing great time but it had to come to an end. Back to college, this time for real, and eventually a Ph.D. in US History. Higher Ed is, of course, quite expensive, so I went back into uniform in the Army National Guard. To say the leaset I got quite the higher education! Now it is 2007, next year I will be at FUMA for my 30th Reunion (ouch)! Military wise, I have campaign and expeditionary medals from Lebanon, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq (twice). I was, after 9/11, the only photographer allowed at Ground Zero in NYC for almost a month. Presently I am at West Point where I will help establish an Oral History center. Very exciting times!

The last time I was at FUMA had to be 1999 or 2000. I remember talking to a class mate back then and we noted how FUMA grads tend to be late bloomers, always taking the hard way to great things.

I would love to hear from guys from '77, '78, '79.

Take Care.

I'm Cliff Williams, I graduated in 99. I currently live in Lexington, Kentucky. I attended Transylvania University in Lexington, with a semester or two at the University of Kentucky. I did the good ol' five year plan. I recently quit my job managing a successful horse farm. Great pay yet unfullfilling and no room to move up. So if anyone out there is looking for a management and marketing major with a minor in art/art history, a job would great. I kept up with a few guys for a couple of years but that started to fade. So anybody out there, gimme a shout.

Hey hey, John McCord here,
I graduated in '88 after being there for 5 of six years. Good to see you "old timers" like Marvin Moy, Dave Fleenor, Brian Narkinski, Ozzy, Taxi!, and who all else, wow.
I went to several higher learning institutions but it didn't take right away. I got my girlfriend pregnant and had to go make a living. SO I became a car mechanic, for awhile. I got divorced after the second daughter in 98 and remarried in 2000. I work at a shipyard now as a designer in an engineering department. I am working on my bachelor's in Mech Engineering. My daughters are 12 and 9, going on 30.
I am also in the Army reserve.

Guy Osborne! Good to hear from you and I'm glad you're alive and well!! Yes I'm still am traumatized by roaches, though through years of psychotherapy I've gotten a good handle on it now! (just joking) ....but for real...there was a roach infestation in that room -- found em' live in my shoes, crawling on the sheets at night after lights out, under the foot locker, etc...(taxiarchus can attest to this)

Good to hear and read that the class of 88's are posting alot. brings back a lot of fond memories!

On a side note...I rented a movie "grandma's Boy" from Netflix and a fellow 88' (P.G. class) starred in the movie -- Pete Dante -- he was playing a real laid back stoner in the movie and it reminded me much of the way he was even in real life back at FUMA..I see him alot in the Adam Sandler flicks.

i can't believe that i stumbled upon this forum while doing research for a book i'm writing & just about every thread i read in the alumni section is filled with the guys i went to FUMA with! what was it about our class that out of all twenty years since the last of us were there - WE control the threads?

if you haven't figured out by my username, i'm guy OSBORNE. i was there in 8th & then in 10th grade with what became the class of '88.

i moved to california after our sophmore year and wandered aimlessly (a little school here, a lot of partying there) until '94 when i moved to vegas to straighten up my act. i worked at MGM Grand up until a few years ago when i changed careers to become a fulltime writer/webmaster. i got married & divorced, but have a wonderful son (7 yrs) to show for it. The ex and get along great & exchange the boy freely.

now here's the real story about cockroaches: one night wilson and i killed this big one in our room and i had the bright idea to put it in moy's bed (sorry marvin!). he didn't discover it until about five minutes after taps. we heard him scream and jump up and turn on the light freaking out! for the rest of the year, he pulled apart his bed before he got in it. for all i know you still check for cockroaches... so sorry. i could be such a jerk back then!

good to hear that you all are doing well! feel free to write!

I graduated FUMA in 1983, and had a very brief career at Northeastern University. Very brief. Did a stint in the Army, culminating with being deployed for the first Gulf War (1990-91), where I was with the 1st Infantry Division.

I did the 17-year plan for college, finally getting my B.A. in Criminal Justice from Curry College in 2000, followed by my M.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell in 2002. I've been a police officer for more years than I care to remember, although it still has its satisfying moments. I've been married for almost 9 years to an awesome woman, we have boy/girl twins that will be 5 in October, who are our life.

Overall, no complaints!

Where are the DeVine Brothers? Any members of "The Group" out there?

Bill Schwerdtfeger

I attended in 88 and 89 and wish my parents would have made me go back. And, now at 33 years old, my wife will not help me make our bed because I'm too damn particular about it being perfect.

After FUMA, I attended University of Houston but got tired of it pretty much from the start. Left to start trading currencies and then co-founded my own firm after a few years. Got burned out and became a Financial Advisor. Wanted to trade currencies again so went back to that for a couple of years and got burned out again. Now I'm a recruiter for engineers in the petrochemical industry here in Houston. I've been married almost 10 years now to a beautiful, understanding woman who puts up with all my crap and we have two kids, a seven month old boy and a seven year old girl. Can't complain, life has been good so far.

Life at FUMA, as far as my fellow cadets is pretty blurry. Spent time in Band Co. until they figured out that I really couldn't play the French Horn. Moved over to Echo, 1st Platoon and roomed with David Moller. I think that is the correct spelling. Roomed with a kid named Turner in Band Co. and he had a poster of Freddy Kruger on our wall. Scared the crap out me every time I got out of bed in the mornings. Roomed with Scott Rush for a while and he got me into soccer. I made the team and he didn't. Couldn't figure it out. He was so much better than me. I had never even heard of lacrosse being from Texas but tried out anyway and made the freakin team. Ended up first string keeper. Taxi may remember this. Everyone called me nerdburger because some guy from NY couldn't pronounce my name. Anyway, I don't remember how many demerits I had my first year but they about booted my butt back to Texas before the end of the year. My second year I barely had any. Except for helping Chad Taylor with his first ones ever in his FUMA career. He and I kept in touch until he got married and moved down to southern Florida. Can't find him now.

If anyone know where any of these guys are...pass their info on. Or if you remember me...say hello and how you remember. Maybe it will jog the memory. A lot of names sound familiar but just can't place them.

Glad to hear everyone is doing well....God bless.

just off the subject a little. I wrote in my first reply "Still Single, never married. waiting for the right woman" my girlfriend read this and an arguement ensued. Correction guys....not married yet...but will be soon.

marv

Joseph Greene...Did you have a way to contact Lew Upchurch? I have been trying to get in touch with him (we were roommates in 86 3rd floor zoo I am mean band co. ) forever. Seems I always miss him by a step.

Thanks,

I graduated FUMA in 86 as you can see by my signature. I went there my junior and senior years. Afterwards I went to Campbell University and was a Business major. I graduated there in 90’. During 2 summer sessions I went to Marine Corps Officer Candidate School (called the PLC program). I was commissioned an officer in 1990 and flew CH-46 troop transport helicopters. I left as a Captain in 1999. Most of my time was spent at MCAS New River in Jacksonville NC. After the Marine Corps I went into medical equipment sales for about 4 years. The money was good but sales gets old quick. In 2003 I started my own business franchising with Valvoline Instant Oil Change (similar to Jiffy Lube). I have 3 locations in the Lake Norman area near Charlotte, NC. I have been married for almost 14 years and have 2 children. You know it’s funny, we all complained about Fork Union when we were there, but looking at the posts I think most guys agree, it was one of the best things that ever happened to us. I recognize a few posts out there, Fleener, Moser, Falbo, Pappas and others. I hope all of you are doing well. It is great to see you posting on here. I visited FUMA on Alumni day 1990 and will go on my 20-year class reunion. Over my time I have run into several alumni and I will list what they were doing the last time I talked to them. I may be incorrect on their graduation dates and units so correct me if I am wrong. Mark Farmer Alpha Co, Class of 85’ is a police officer in Charlotte NC. He has been doing this I believe over 16 years. He is married and has one child. I talked to Mark in 2003 and should keep up with him more often. He had a serious incident as a cop about 12 years ago. He pulled over a DWI suspect and was making an arrest. His upper torso was inside the vehicle when the suspect started the car and drove off dragging him. The only was he could survive was to shoot the suspect. He did and she was mortally wounded. There was an investigation and he was cleared of any wrongdoing. Shane Leipertz Bravo Company 87’ is a CWO3or 4 in the US Army and flies UH-60 Blackhawks. I talked to him about a year ago. He had been in the Army since around 89 or 90 and was active duty until the late 90’s. Afterwards he went into his family business. Last year when we talked he decided to go back into the Guard or Reserves and continue flying. In 1995, while in the Marine Corps I went on a 6 month Mediterranean deployment on the USS Kearsarge. I ran across Mike Little, Class of 87’. He hung out with Ty Crowder from Bravo Company. There were 2 other FUMA alumni that were Naval Officers. Mike was a Navy LTjg in 1995 and I believe he was a Surface Warfare Officer. One of the alumni graduated from FUMA between 88 and 90 and I never knew him from school. He also was a SWO. The third was a ship doctor. He was a Navy Lt. His name was Rosenbaum (not sure) and I believe he graduated in 84. Anyway we stood for a picture together and Rosenbaum sent it back to FUMA. Bill Makepeace was in the Marine Corps and stationed at New River the same time I was. He and his wife Amy lived in my neighborhood. Bill was in awesome shape. For the ones that knew Bill and his family, Bill’s Dad was very overweight and Bill was pudgy at FUMA. When I saw him the Marines, this was no longer the case. Bill was nothing but lean. The last I heard Bill was still in the Marines, His wife Amy watched after our son when my wife was giving birth to our daughter. I lost contact with Bill, if anyone has his number please send it to me. In 2002 I ran into Lou Upchurch, class of 87’. He was a pharmaceutical rep in Raliegh Durham area. He was married, had children and seemed to be doing well. One other cadet that I just got done talking to was John Mueller, Bravo Company, 87’. He owns a bicycle shop in Southern Pines, NC, is married and has a son.

Marvin...you are correct. Max was there before us. I thought there was 7 of us that attended the school for 6 years, but good ole Max...he beat us all.

Nark...I need to talk to you about this investment I am working on....jusk kiddin..lol.

Love the new cadet uniforms. White athletic socks and black "low quarter" shoes..while wearing those shorts. What a classic "I'm new here" look. When you returned the next year, you made sure to wear your uniform even if it no longer fit to avoid having to wear the "new cadet" uniform. I swore I would turn blue from lack of circulation before wearing that again.

Thanks guys. Nark, Dave, Jose...It is good to be in touch again. Yes I need to add a caveat to the above -- I did room with Jose Montes my first year at Univ of Bridgeport before transfering out to NYU. I remember the both of us self imposing study time in the room on the weeknights. we lived on the "quiet floor" in the dorm room, but Jose Montes and I got a little rowdy with the european exchange students and the room usually wreaked of tequila. It got so bad that the carpet we had was soaked with tequila & fruit flies started to hatch in the room. The RA on the floor always gave us crap.

Dave--
I'm actually a 6 year cadet as I started out in the 7th grade Junior school where I vividly remember meeting you guys -- recall the blue FUMA athletic shirts, "bombay" khaki shorts and black shoes when we first started as a "new cadet"

I agree with Nark in regards to the cross cultural mix of the seemingly homogenous student body.... and those parking spaces are still a premium in manhattan but they are now $500 per month secondary to the housing boom and the crazed real estate prices in NYC.

Marv

I recommend you stick with the "most military" award winner.

I doubt living with me in college would've helped your academic prowess. :P

However--I can relate to the early rising. I was up at SIX for my first day of classes and actually hit the mess (um dining) hall before they opened!!!

I think I lasted four days with that too. People were REALLY interested in turning me into a screw-up once they figured out I went to a military school. They didn't have to push very hard.

Hi! My husband graduated with the Class of '81. We met the next year and got married in '85. We are celebrating 21 years this spring. He's done many different things since leaving FUMA. He attended college but decided that electronics school was more his taste. After graduation top of his class, when to work for Grumman @ the DOJ. Got bored of the daily commute grind and started his own company which he ran for several years. Decided to go back to the "real" world when child number 2 was on the way. Started with Dyncorp in '90. It was an interesting period - lots of travel overseas :cry: But Fedex rode to the rescue in the form of a Tech job (read IT) in 1995 and here we are. Along the way we had two kids - our daughter, Dani, who's now 18 (groan) and our son, Logan, who is a freshman at FUMA this year. Following in dad's footsteps - poor school!! LOL

I'm trying to remember you...For some reason I'm having Fleming Straughn flashbacks....Are you one of the guys that he tortured in health class? I remember there were a few guys he was relentless on and I think you were one of them.

Aaron Snyder
1989

Yeah Sam...still got a plastic tooth in front. :lol: That is the only bone I have ever broken in 35 years. Quit playing the guitar after I finally came to the realization that I was terrible at it. Other than working almost 7 days a week to make ends meet, I'm fine.

I unfortunately did not graduate from FUMA though I did spend three years there. After graduating high school, I joined the US Army and was waiting to get on the plane for basic training when the first Gulf War broke out. I however, was transfered from Field Artillery to Military Intelligence and spent the war in Monterey, California (oh darn) learning how to speak Czech.

After the Army, I got married, divorced, married again and now have three boys (the oldest is exactly like me and I am looking at trying to find a way to send him to FUMA). I attended St. Joseph's College of Maine for a BS in Criminal Justice (which I never finished) and gave up the chase for riches to be a policeman (which was my lifelong dream anyway). I also work a second job as an EMT and volunteer as a Firefighter/EMT in both West Virginia and Virginia. Oh, and the pics:

Mike Owens
Charlie Co 3rd Platoon
1986-1988

Christopher Banas Class of '78. Returned to Myrtle Beach after graduation and lived it up for 5 years.

Joined the AF for 6 years and picked up two degrees and a wife.
Joined Pall Corporation (aerospace) as a Production Eng. for 2 years.
Joined Semiconductor Diagnostics as Prototype Eng. Eventually worked up to General Manager while growing the company from 4 people to a global operation. Divorced/remarried/had two kids/fought and beat cancer during this time. After 12 years of working 7/24 (but admittedly being well paid for the pain) I decided it was time for a change. Took 18 months off to reconnect with the family.
In mid '04 accepted a position as Director of Technology Alliances with UTEK Corp. It's good but I miss running the show so I am currently looking for a business to buy or to start something of my own.

Grad in 95'...Went to UNC Charlotte. Joined a fraternity, and one of the famous Brothers was Wicker..of Wicker Chapel....I always thought that was interesting.
Anyway, I got out of NC and went to Maui and bartended at Margaritas Beach Cantina for a year, then moved to the other side of the island and worked at a Saloon in the town of Paia.
Decided to come back to NC.
When I got back I got a job as an extra in the movie The Patriot as a part of the militia, that was a fun 3 months.
Got to travel to Charleston with the production crew and visit the Citadel (which in hindsight I should have attended).
I died in the scene where they set the church on fire.
Fun stuff.
I tried to act after that and realized that I sucked.

In 2001 I started working for a Nightclub in Charlotte called Varga, it was bought out and renamed the V Lounge and I am now the General Manager. We are located next to the Panthers Stadium and often get NFL and NBA guys in here.
Me being a 29 year old skinny white guy Managing a R&B/Hip Hop club is interesting to say the least.

Anyway I thank FUMA for many things.....I also wish the best for all of the fellow Alumni.

Be good.
Drew McClintock

That's what I'm doing ...and that's the rest of the story.