John H. Hastings:
CLASS OF 1965
Lawrence D. Bell High SchoolClass of 1965
Hurst, TX
Calvary Christian AcademyClass of 9999
Ft. worth, TX
Burkburnett High SchoolClass of 1971
Burkburnett, TX
Westcliff Elementary SchoolClass of 1959
Ft. worth, TX
South Hurst Elementary SchoolClass of 1956
Hurst, TX
John H.'s Story
Life
Hi all,
I started school at Westcliff Elementary in Fort Worth, about 1954-56 before my dad moved us out to Hurst between 2nd and 3rd grades. While at Westcliffe, Jimmi Clay and I were classmates in Ms Scotts 1st grade class.
It was so gratifing to see so many of you guys at the BELL65 Reunion. Especially enjoyed seeing Judy Moser, Bruce, John Miller and Don Hutchins and always "Puppy Dog" Gardner. Also, would be thrilled to hear from many of my old buddies listed on this site.
My bride, Lois Hatcher, and I were married in 1973; she is from Burkburnett, Texas, near Wichita Falls. We have only one daughter, Sabrina, who was born in 1985, graduated from Fort Worth's R.L. Paschal HS in 2003 (varsity cheerleader). Sabrina, also, graduated from Texas A & M University...whoop!! in August, 2006, where she was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority. We live in the Mistletoe Heights section of Fort Worth (near to the zoo, but not in it). I have worked for Pier 1 Imports since 1980 in the Information Technologies field.
My current hobby or interest is Genealogy and shaking the family tree (and finding out I was the sap.)
College
Gary Harbin and I were roommates in the West Dormitory at NTSU.
Workplace
My first real job was in the summer after high school. I worked as the night desk clerk at the old Astoria Motor Lodge on the old Hwy 183 across from Bell Helicopter. One of my duties was to drive a short yellow school bus shuttling pilots to the American Airlines Academy. Being across from Bell and ...Expand for more
being around all those pilots, I think, formed my opinion that one day, I wanted to drive airplanes... one of my lifetime goals I never achieved.
Have work for 25+ years for Pier 1 Imports at the Home Office in beautiful downtown Foat Wuth. I'm in the Information Services Division (computers) primarily in financial applications. I once managed a staff of 4 programmers, but hated management and its politics. Now, just an 'Application Specialist' that knows more about our systems than the bean-counters.
Military
Joined the Army to avoid being drafted and to have some choice over my destiny. Don Gardner and I enlisted together on the buddy system, which was a joke... and lasted long enough for the bus ride down to Fort Polk, Louisiana.
Applied for Warrant Officer training as a helicopter pilot. Passed all the academic and mental stuff, but failed because of my eyesight... even the Army wanted its pilots to have almost perfect eyesight.
They did offer me an opening in the Infantry Officer program. Keep in mind this was in 1966 and Vietnam... I said, no thanks.
I kept my original enlistment choice and was trained as helicopter mechanic and crewmember.
Out of my 36-month military career, 21 months were spent in Vietnam, flying as Huey crewchief. Survived with all my body parts intact and functioning; served with some of the most couragous and bravest men I have ever known and will remember them forever.
During my tour of duty in Vietnam, I crossed paths with classmates Randy Byers and Ken Lassiter.
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