Antonio (Tony) Arzate:
CLASS OF 1968
Castle Park High SchoolClass of 1968
Chula vista, CA
San Diego State UniversityClass of 1977
San diego, CA
Southwestern CollegeClass of 1975
Chula vista, CA
Antonio (Tony)'s Story
Life
"Trojan" 1965-68, you knew me as 'Tony'
played in the Jazz/Marching/Concert Band
was in a couple of A.S.B. Clubs, some Sports, mainly Track n Cross Country,and guess what? yeap! still running! have ran a few marathons since,and , jog most everyday in n around the Beautiful Forests I have near and across my home here in Europe..After Graduation, joined the USAF, earned my Wings, then volunteered and was assigned to fly in a Special Operations Squadron (Gunships) over Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia from.1969-72., 3 consecutive Years …. Then Returned back from the War, to a prevailing apathy and contempt for all Veterans, how Sad and True that was then and for many years thereafter...So, After a short pause of' just hanging out' sort to speak, ,missed my Flying, so naturally,.. joined the U.S.A.F. R (73-84)..
Shortly there after I was fortunate to have 'made the Cut' and Joined The Airlines!! and have been flying Jumbo Jets Internationally Overseas ever since,- Worldwide..My dream came true when I was promoted to the B747 Jumbo, which I am still flying. Along with all this of course, came the great opportunity to visit and live in most every Continent in the World to date. Including the Far East- China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, The Middle East- Saudi Arabia, Dubai, U.A.E., Iceland and Greenland, and Finally ending up where I now reside (and still live)... in Europe!!., so, it's been 'A Great Flight' so far....
My accomplishments?..humm, lets see, how can one tell this stuff without sounding 'ones bell' a bit too loud??..well, the above you know by now,some other stuff?..
I was, and am, very Proud and Honored to have been awarded the 'Distinguished Flying Cross', 3 Air Medals, both the U.S. and Viet Nam Presidential Unit Citations , and as of late to have found out that My Unit was also awarded the Outstanding Unit Award with "V" (Valor) attached, and The Republic of Viet Nam Gallantry Cross with Palm attached,.. for my stay in 'The Nam', although, truthfully, I strongly believe my other 'Brothers in Arms', deserved the Honors, including The 'DFC' more than I.... and more so 'Those left behind' -The Fallen.. I will forever Honor and Remember them to the end of 'my Days'....I think about Them each and everyday since 'Then'...
I am also proud to have stayed fit enough to still be able to fit into my College jeans and to practice 'Karate- Do' ( Tae Kwon Do , Kendo and Shito-Ryu) all this years. It started while in Nam and continued until now, it became a 'way of life' for me, as they say.. took a lot of hard work though, but I have managed! This has brought Me 'inner peace and awareness' of the World around Me.
As for C.P., I must say though, I have always thought back on my days as a 'Trojan' with fond memories, of Days Gone By, . The Gym Dances at the C.V. Rec Center, The U.C.S.D. Dances,(Yea, how I loved to Dance back then as well as even now).. The Coronado Beach Parties, the Summers at The Pier, The Senior Walk (when We where finally able to sit there and have lunch), the Hamburgers at Dairy Queen, the Ice Cream at 31 Flavors, and who can forget the 11 cents Tacos and Burritos at Taco Bell ?.. yea, All those Memories !!! and more...
............................................Some Years later,...
Now a kind of an Up Date... That Sad and dreaded Day is here, one which I thought would never come.. That of Hanging Up my Beloved 'Wings'... I have Taxied the Beautiful and Powerful B-747 Jumbo to the End of The Runway and to the End of My Flight and All the Wonders that went with it... To say I will dearly Miss it, is not putting it as it should be, but I think you get the idea... Now, to go on to the Challenges of' Life here on Earth' as an Old and Dear Flying friend once told Me, upon His Retirement..
...
My Plans?.. eh..eh.eh.eh. well, lets see!!.. for one, I have started Training for an Iron Man Competition, specifically one that will be very similar to a 'Special Ops' Obstacle Course, (oh boy!, the memories come flooding back!), the competition?… basically means.. Run, Climb, Swim, Crawl while doing all this thru Mud and Grime and the ton of challenges that go with it…. eh..eh.eh..eh.. it should be a very interesting Day !, I will also catch up on my Book and Literature reading, try to learn maybe another Language (speak 4 now), listening to my favorite music Smooth Jazz, and of course spend a lot more time playing with my dear Little Friends.. my Cats!!!.. in other words, I will keep busy!!!....
So Dear Trojans, take the time because I would love to hear from any of you, and let’s take a 'walk' thru memory lane.. life is too short!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Some time later,...
Up Date-(yet another,) eh..eh..eh.....That is, if anyone is interested.. eh..eh..eh..!!... so, how did I do in my Iron Man thingamagig... only thing I can say is .. I finished!!.. how?.. very, very tired and crawling on my knees dragging my behind, practically, and all beat up from head to toes!!, eh..eh..eh..eh.!! but what Da Heck, right? The pain always ends sometime later on... Books read?.. well, some Tom Clancy, Brown, Socrates, Buddha, Passages by Zen Masters Kokushi, Takashina, Kyugaku and more, and still reading... My Little Friends? My Dear little Cats.... I have lost 4 now (But We will meet again down the road, of this I am certain ), so now there are only the 3 of Us ...Two (Bro N Sis) and Me left now... The other 4 reached the ages of .. from 14 to 18 yrs... my Little Two are n...Expand for more
ow over 15... and sadly my home gets more and more 'quiet and lonely' as time moves on...
Better news is that I am still jogging about 10 or so miles every other day or so , more or less, depending on the weather, still fit into my College jeans... still practice Martial Arts and do a lot of walking in the Forest nearby (hence my 'back when' jeans still fit) !!!!!, eh..eh..eh..eh.... Languages?.. still trying to master my 5th one.. but it's taking some time .... maybe its due to me not Flying around the World anymore and not being exposed to the Cultures as much.. oh, well,.. I'll keep trying... how are YOU ALL doing?... please drop a line and let me know ok?... I will answer,... Promise.. til then do take good care of yourselves and yours....Your Classmate- Tony ———————————————————————————
Still some time later——————Well, guess it’s time for a further update.......Since last I wrote I’ve found that Retirement is not what it’s made up to be!..try as I may,I still dearly miss the Big B747 Jumbo Jet and flying all around the World...Bummer Really!...don’t get me wrong, I keep busy jogging, reading, walking in th Forests, Martial Arts and now working for Uncle Sam, albeit, part time ( who wants to work full time, right? Eh, eh, eh!)....the sad part is that I’ve lost one more of my Dear Little Friends....now there’s just the Two of Us left, She’s now 18 plus yrs. young....I quit counting my yrs a very long time ago!... I keep telling myself that I am only as young as I feel…. new stuff?... have started learning Tai- Chi, trying to learn this new IT-technology., not an easy task…. planning a trip around the World, , ok, maybe...more later
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An Update-Sometime later******* Well how time ‘Flies Uh?.... and how Life always seems to hold surprises when We least expect it.. , This has happened to me... just when I thought All was going well, health wise and I would just ‘sit back n enjoy life’s ride’...Nature raises it’s voice and not so eloquently yells out...’Wait a darn minute!, there’s something else I gotta show you n challenge you with...So, She did... about a year ago, out of no where during a regular routine Medical exam, my Dr noticed something not right and within days got told the diagnosis indicated the Big C!!..Cancer of all things!.. ME? I asked, How Da &#%, can that be? I was perfectly Healthy shortly before!.. Well, long story short, .. Remember my before mentioned Vietnam Experience?..All 3 years of it?…. Well, IT came back to Haunt me one more time! And Agent Orange seems to be the culprit....So in short order was immediately flown via Military Med Evac to Walter Reed Military Hospital in Washington DC.. a week later I was operated on (14 hrs on the op table with 3 different sets of Doctors) I had a bone transplant along with all its blood vessels etc., and a complicated reconstruction done and spent the next 10 months in the Hospital …. I somehow managed to survive the pain, the tears, the constant poking to the extent that I was black n blue all over and all the long sessions of very intense and painful Therapy I was put through and that I had to endure. After the operation My body pretty much shut down, lost muscle weight and my body pretty much also forgot how to function , so I had to ‘re-learn’ most everything all over again, and still am.... you know? The basic stuff like swallowing, talking, moving my extremities etc., …. Finally they let me go back home…. I am back home now, trying to put my life together again and working hard everyday to try and recuperate all that I lost…. Each day is a new challenge and I seem to be making progress. I was told my body n mind it seems, were in very good condition prior to the Cancer, so that had helped in making good progress throughout this very difficult ordeal... I am now putting myself through the valuable lessons learned through both my Vietnam War experiences and Martial Arts Training, and it’s helping a lot...
I know the road ahead will be long and at times very painful, but I am determined to make it through it all... My Little Girl, My Cat- Fina is always by my side and this is my greatest asset n strength... She gets me through each day, and I am so thankful she’s there.... So, anyone of you who finds yourself ‘in a hard, dark place’... let me assure you that All is possible!... have strong faith in yourselves, find the strength within you, it’s there.... and Fight On... Never give Up!!... All my Best Wishes to You n Yours....
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An Up Date of Sorts.... Well, as they say, 'Life must go on', and it does, somehow … and it's never easy... I am still fighting 'the Fight' and trying my best to move forward.. Alas!, Alone now,.. My Dear Little Fina has 'gone on' to join her Brothers and Sister, though I am sure All are keeping a 'Good Eye Out' for yours truly... How I miss them!!.. Now Sadly, My Home is very quiet and still.... But as I said before, I will keep this promise to Them,... I will see and be with Them again, of this I am sure... enough of this, so, How are you all doing? I very much hope ok and staying healthy... Always know that I wish You and Yours all the Best that Life can bring into your lives.... Tony
So… 55th Reunion is just a couple of days away…. Really looking forward to reconnecting with all CP Alumni…. Hope to get to see you all there!… Remember: Reunion is at Corky’s House in. D St CV…. Starts at 15:00- 22:00….. *****
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