A Great Honor, Serving Vietnam Vets

     The Kornerman remembers. Loren Frazier, BHS-58, reminded me of a family name I hadn't heard in quite some time.......Kost.
     Loren had received a note from his BHS classmate, John Kost, regarding his, John's, experiences in helping Vietnam vets and received permission to pass that info on to the Kornerman.
     John wrote, "I'm sorry to hear of Dick Hamilton's death. We grew up together, went to school at Page elementary and then BHS. I was just thinking about the fun times we had growing up in Boone. We did grow up in the best time, which cannot be repeated by another generation. We were so lucky."
     John went on, "We, in Story County, have organized a Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1102. I have the honor of being elected Chapter President and work with Viet veterans and families throughout Story County. We meet the fourth Thursday of every month at the Ames Public Library, 1830 hours (6:30 p.m.). What a great honor and I am humbled to work with VV and veterans. Also, I was honored to be elected to President of Vietnam Veterans of America, Iowa State Council, which is headquartered at the U.S. Federal building in Des Moines. I served in the U.S. Navy from 1962-68, stationed out of Long Beach, CA. The ship I was assigned to was the USS Ashtabula, AO-51, refueling ships and providing supplies to the Pacific fleet. We operated off the coast of the Gulf of Tonkin. I made three deployments to Vietnam, 1963, 1964 and 1965. I am very honored to have served those years and I'm very proud to be a Vietnam Veteran."
      Loren wrote, "I want to thank John for his service in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam era. I also want to thank him for the service he is performing now for the Vietnam Veterans and all other vets. His email address is.........magicjk40@yahoo.com."
     I, the Kornerman, remember the Kost family. In addition to John, there was a brother, Harold (Dune) Kost, BHS-52, and a daughter, Jean Kost, BHS-54. Never did hear any explanation for the nickname Dune. If memory serves me, the Kost dad was also Harold and it seems to me he was a painter. Mrs. Kost, a sweet lady, gave piano lessons didn't she?
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     Vern Modeland, BHS-50, had an addition to the recent mention we made of Tom Grasso's, BHS-60, work connection with various celebrities. From down in Ozark country, Vern wrote, "enjoyed your blog today. It brought admiration and memories of some of those "names" I, and I'm sure, Dick Longworth, BHS-53, can recall having had various levels of contact with through our career years. But, to keep it all where it belongs, I recall the thoughts of the late Paul Henning, creator of the "Beverly Hillbillies," "Green Acres," and "Petticoat Junction" at their TV peak. Perhaps, because of his successful career, he became a friend and booster of Silver Dollar City, the Branson, MO. theme park during the 1970's. That led to some trips for me to Filmways Studios in Beverly Hills, CA., escorting some of Silver Dollar City's loveable characters for cameo parts, and details for the "Hillbillies" filming of five shows at Silver Dollar City. During one of those visits, while Paul, as most creative writers are wont to do, was still writing the ending of a show already filming in the studio a few yards away, I had to use his "facilities." I found its walls, ceiling and "most anywhere else they could be put," were full of black-framed awards from, and for, about anything you could imagine and from anywhere you could imagine. When I later asked about those awards and their location, he replied "it helped keep it all in perspective.""
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     Outside construction time will soon be slowing down but not yet. The former Lynn's Lounge site, the northwest corner of Tenth and Story, and the former Imperial Lanes site, on West Mamie Eisenhower, have "come down." They've been demolished.
     The brand new and huge Redeker Furniture store, a few miles from downtown Boone, east and a bit south of  the former location, is now open.
     The former location of Redeker's apparently has been sold and there is a RUMOR that some of the building may eventually be occupied by Des Moines Area Community College.
     No official word on the old Tic Toc/Calmer Company restaurant building but there have been some hints by city officials that  some interest has been shown in a  possible reopening.
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     The Kornerman very much appreciated a kind note from John Kueck, BHS-61, who wrote from Minneapolis, "as ever, I enjoy Kelley's Korner so much. Thanks for keeping us all "in touch.""
     Wow! What a neat thank you card. Very colorful and it includes pictures of John and his wife and a couple inspirational "sayings,"........."how beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it" and a repeat of a Shakespeare "saying," "we can no other answer make, but thanks and thanks."
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     The Kornerman knows that many Korner viewers were taught/touched by former Dayton/Boone High School teacher/coach Rose Hall. Rose will celebrate a big "O" next Saturday, October 31. I know she would love to hear from friends and former students who may be many miles away from her Boone home these days. Her address is.........232 South Boone Street, Boone, Iowa 50036.
     Rose will be 90 years young.
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     Boone Connected Deaths: Shirley Tomlinson, 82, Boone. Born in Boone and attended Boone schools. Worked in nursing in Des Moines and California. Boone area survivors include sisters Pamela Jones and Mary Ann Walters, both of Boone...........Avenelle Olson, 88, Boone. Born in Ogden. OHS-44. Attended AIB in Des Moines. Worked at Percivals in Boone and for 30 years as a secretary at Augustana Lutheran Church. Retired in 1994. Boone area survivors include daughters Maureen Stoneburner and Janelle Hilsabeck both of Boone, brothers Raynold Johnson of Woodward and Daryl Johnson of Ogden and sister-in-law Jean Johnson of Boone..........Dan Miller, 64, Hermosa, S.D. OHS-69. Parents were Albert and Doris Miller of Ogden..........Viola Gustafson, 103, Boone. Grew up and lived in Ogden. Boone area survivors include sons, Doug and Steve Gustafson, both of Boone..........Pat Snow, 64, Boone. Lived in several Iowa communities before moving to Boone. Was a beautician who operated Golden Shears Salon at the First Evangelical Church Home until retirement in 2008. Boone survivor is her husband Tom.........Rendall Franklin, 47, Boone/Stratford. Worked at Ledges Manor as a CNA. Boone survivors are her mother, Julee Willits, and sister, Amanda Ristvedt.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/support..........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.