James D. Donnelly:
CLASS OF 1981
Colonia High SchoolClass of 1981
Colonia, NJ
Colonia Junior High SchoolClass of 1978
Colonia, NJ
Lynn Crest Elementary School 22Class of 1975
Colonia, NJ
James D.'s Story
In a nut shell, so far
USAF ==== 11/16/81 - 12/31/92 Aicraft Electro Enviro Systems Specialist(FL,CA,Egypt,England,Turkey} Campaigns: Bright Star 87, Operation Dessert Shield/Storm, Operation Provide Comfort.
USAF Reserves 08/07/93 - 07/01/05 Interior/Exterior Electrician{TX,England,OK,Germany,Guatemala}
Campaigns: Joint Task Force Six,Joint Task Force Quetzal (New Horizons 2004) Operation Northern Watch.
USPS ==== 03/05/95 - Present {Rahway,Colonia P.O.- Letter Carrier}
School
Hi most of you probably don't remember me I was the stay in the shadows dude who worked in Audio/Visual A.V. I brought the projectors to the class room so you could all catch up on your sleep from all the partying you were doing in the back parking lot before class, which I still have on film of course. Just kidding I left those tapes back in school, Marty probably has them now and is waiting for you to get involved in Politics than bambozzle you for some hush money, God Bless America.
It's funny when you look back at all those crazy times then and think damn that person isn't in jail or is still alive? Is married with children? Time will change us but we can't change Time. But don't we all wish that we could in one way or another go back and do it a little different. Hopefully we learn to live with our mistakes and become a better person and not repeat them again. Peace to all the Fighting Patrioits of 1981.
College
It would have been like Animal House part two, had I gone. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz not that I ever really wanted to go in the first place
Workplace
Letter carrier extraordinary. Been injured in the line of duty while performing my humble duties by a wide array of W.M.D.:
Up rooted sidewalks, broken/loose steps, mad diving Momma birds, Wasps/hornets nest in mail boxes, garden hoses, divits/holes in lawn, sharp old rusted metal mail boxes, crazy dogs/cats....yes, cats! And my favorite rock throwing kids that probably should be on some kind of medication to curb their ADD or Parents who aren't afraid to discipline their little Joey or Melissa because they might get mad at them.
And then of course there are the Supervisors of the USPS. Now to be fair they are not all created equal. Some are quite fair to good but that's a small percentage and a large percentage of them have been run out into retirement. That leaves us with a larger group of so called leaders who aren't qualified to run an ant farm. How can someone who never was in the craft have enough of a working knowledge to Supervise those who have been in the craft longer than they have been a supervisor. I think all Supervisors would gain all of our respect if only they would grow a backbone and stand up for their workers w...Expand for more
hen upper management outside the office come up with this off the wall agenda that makes such a simple job like this so much harder to do. (Too many Catch-22's)
On a happy note, the appreciation from my customers who take the time to shovel their steps/sidewalks/paths for me when it snows. Offer me hot coffee/cocoa when it's cold and cold drinks when it's hot. Invite me in to cool down or warm up in the summer/winter. Who always have a friendly smile and a fine hello, I say thank you very much. You make my job tolerable, and thanks for lending me your ear. Remember keep America strong, buy American (No Wal-Marts), support your Union Workers and their products. America was asleep at the wheel in 2004 but hopefully we will wake up in 2008 and make America a strong Union labor nation as it once was many years ago. End Nafta and Gatt now, HOAHH, MY Union Brothers and Sisters, HOAHH.
Military
Joined the USAF Nov. 16, 1981 wasn't sure what it was all about but looking forward to the unknown. Graduated BMT on Dec. 31, 1981 at Lackland AFB, Texas. It snowed in Texas that day, kind of freaky since we never had a cold day before that. Then that day I went to Chanute AFB, Ill. Must have been the same snow storm cause Chanute was burried in snow. It was so cold there the coldest winter I ever expierienced in my whole life. I remember on a few occasions with the wind chill factor would be 60 degrees below zero. We weren't allowed to be outside without at least two other people in case someone passed out. Marching to school in formation, slipping and sliding on the ice, my mustache being caked in ice by the time we got to school. Sometimes I miss that place not for the location/weather but for all the crazy times we had there. I truly believe we might have been the reason for the phases the new recruits had to go thru before they can start to drink cause we acted like uncaged wild animals at times who were just freed after a 6 week captivity.
First duty station after Tech School was Patrick AFB, Cocoa Beach Fl. Paradise. The Atlantic Ocean on one side the Banana river on the other. Surfing, sailing, shrimping, clamming, surf fishing and thats stuff just to do on your lunch break. The night life was wild/crazy when you're a young 19 year old. Clubs/bars/tatas lord have mercy if only I could remember it all I probably still wouldn't believe it myself. We never had it so good there. Work wise we hardly ever worked the weekends and almost never past Mid night. Good people, good times, Pig roasts just about every month for meeting the flying quota, you never realize how good it is until it's gone. A major reason why I re-enlisted. But, 6 months later I was sent to the Desert, George AFB, Victorville,Ca. You had to have wheels though to enjoy this place. In the Middle of no where but close to everything. Even the night sky you felt like you could reach out and touch it. Those dust devils were a trip, one time this dust devil ripped the bed liner out of my truck. I had to change my windshield 3 times while I was there from all the sand blasting into it. Work wise the exact opposite from Patrick AFB. Lots of 12 hour shifts, working weekends, Aircraft breaking down constantly. If I remember right we worked over 18 12 Hour+ days, people were like walking zombies and accidents started to happen and Colonel Henry couldn't understand why. The OSI was called in and a few good people got shafted that didn't deserve it.
Then Jolly old England was next, loved the Country but the rest was not so Jolly. By this time in my Military life I was making it a carreer and it all changed from the moment I met the OIC of this Unit and the rest is history. Got out on Dec. 31,1992.
I joined the USAF Reserves on Aug. 7, 1993. I changed Career fields and was sent to the 514th CES as an Interior/Exterior Electrician was there 11 years also like my Active Duty status until I retired in Jul/2005. More good times than bad but by then I had enough of all the Politics of who you know and people who were on power trips. Peace to all my Brothers -n- Sisters of the 514th.
Life
Of all my Family, 13 in all, I am the only True Colonian who lived here from the moment of creation. All others were Jersey City transplants. I don't know how they could fit 10 kids into that Apartment in J.C. let alone 11 when I was born in our house. It definitely was less of a fast pace world growing up in Colonia; Less houses, traffic lights, Cars (Most people had only one), more Trees, and of course neighbors who were neighborly. Divorce was something you whispered about and was rare and it used to be okay to discipline your kids when they're bad, imagine that.
I remember when they were putting in the cement curbs on our streets and the Vacant houses where the Colonia Natural Pharmacy is and 7/11 and some sort of a nursery where Greiner towers is today. It's amazing how much Inman ave has changed in 35 years.
Growing up in Colonia was a lot of fun as a boy. Playing in all the woods, the creek, going blackberry picking, riding our bikes everywhere, playing kick ball in the street, sleigh riding on Fagan place (less cars on the road back then). Making a couple of bucks selling ice tea/kool aid to the older kids playing stick ball in the street. Waiting nightly in the summer for Sam the good Humor ice cream man. Riding our bikes behind the Township mosquito trucks spraying that toxic DDT into the air each summer (hmm...I wonder if that's the reason I never went to college). Back then you let your kids out in the mourning during summer and didn't see them until supper time and you knew everything was gonna be alright.
the times they were a changing, I never had the chance to experience the Shalom house I was too young (after the tragic event) I believe they closed it down. Then we had the summer of Sam and people started to lose their spirit of trust for one another and the me decade was in full swing (in my opinion). Colonia seemed so much bigger as a young kid but so does everything in your life. I went into the Military after High school and came home on Leave/vacation after Technical School at Chanute AFB and everything about my life in Colonia seemed so small, it was disheartening at first but I realized thru the eyes of a child everything is bigger than life. Even though Colonia isn't as suburban as she used to be she's still one mighty fine town to be living in. If anybody read all this I'm sorry if I came across as some sort of a pompous ass, I just wanted to express my opinions and get it off my chest.
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