Harry and I started hangin around and going to parties and Alameda's South Shore beaches back in 1964 at the end of our sophmore yr. We would always come up with a new Joke to tell about once everyday. When we graduated in june '66. At some point after graduation, We went to a party, had a few beers and we talked about joining the Air Force. ( I wasn't drunk). We both went down to Oaklands main Post Office and joined-up on the buddy system, DEC. 7, 1966. We were told that we would go to boot camp together, then after boot camp we would probably go to Tech school together also. Our recruiter said that he couldn't promise anything after Tech School. Some Buddy system,........I left for boot camp in Amarillo,Texas on Feb.21,1967. Harry left for boot camp 3 days later, 24 feb.1967 to San Antonio, Texas. Some buddy system!!! I went to Tech School in California, Harry's Tech school was in Illinois. Some buddy system!!! My home station was Travis A.F.B. Calif. Harry's home station was in florida then the Bahamas. I ended up in Viet-Nam. Geezzzz. What a ride that was for 4yrs On the buddy system. We kept in touch through all these yrs and even got together and partied for awhile until one of us got married and then divorced, then we started it up again. We had Great Times Partying and Socializing. Harry and I even Hiked up to the Top Of Half-Dome in Yosemite Park. And even threw a Beach Party in Half moon bay the Day before we hiked Half-Dome. I was beside Harry's V.A.Hospice Bed along with my cousin ( Jeff Lamata ) and one of Harry's Ex-girlfriends, when Harry past away. He had stated months before his death, that he didn't want to die alone. My cousin and I made sure that he didn't. Harry was a good friend to me til the End. Rest In Peace Bye Good Buddy. Randy Decena
Died August 9, 2006
Joseph Randy Decena (1966)
Harry and I started hangin around and going to parties and Alameda's South Shore beaches back in 1964 at the end of our sophmore yr. We would always come up with a new Joke to tell about once everyday. When we graduated in june '66. At some point after graduation, We went to a party, had a few beers and we talked about joining the Air Force. ( I wasn't drunk). We both went down to Oaklands main Post Office and joined-up on the buddy system, DEC. 7, 1966. We were told that we would go to boot camp together, then after boot camp we would probably go to Tech school together also. Our recruiter said that he couldn't promise anything after Tech School.
Some Buddy system,........I left for boot camp in Amarillo,Texas on Feb.21,1967. Harry left for boot camp 3 days later, 24 feb.1967 to San Antonio, Texas. Some buddy system!!! I went to Tech School in California, Harry's Tech school was in Illinois. Some buddy system!!! My home station was Travis A.F.B. Calif. Harry's home station was in florida then the Bahamas. I ended up in Viet-Nam. Geezzzz. What a ride that was for 4yrs On the buddy system.
We kept in touch through all these yrs and even got together and partied for awhile until one of us got married and then divorced, then we started it up again. We had Great Times Partying and Socializing. Harry and I even Hiked up to the Top Of Half-Dome in Yosemite Park. And even threw a Beach Party in Half moon bay the Day before we hiked Half-Dome.
I was beside Harry's V.A.Hospice Bed along with my cousin ( Jeff Lamata ) and one of Harry's Ex-girlfriends, when Harry past away. He had stated months before his death, that he didn't want to die alone. My cousin and I made sure that he didn't.
Harry was a good friend to me til the End.
Rest In Peace
Bye Good Buddy.
Randy Decena