Pat Knowles, President, USAF Combat Camera Reunion
Once again a great Reunion. Many thanks to all who made it a great success! At the risk of leaving anyone out, I will only say that we had a lot of folks who pitched in to help over the three days to make it an enjoyable time for all.
One thing I need to share with all our members who could not be there is a letter sent to me by Col. Jim and Ruth Elmer to be read at the Banquet. I hope everyone can appreciate the support the Elmer’s have given us throughout the years.
Dear AAVS/Combat Camera Friends,
I sincerely regret that I will not be able to attend the reunion in San Diego this year. Your plans for the Reunion sound great and your efforts to remember the historical importance of the audiovisual world are excellent. It will be a memorable time for the attendees and I’m sure those attending will enjoy it tremendously.
On a personal note, my wife Ruth and I will always treasure our eight years in AAVS. We had the chance to meet some of the most talented Combat Camera/Audiovisual people in the world. While it hurt to see Building 248 crumble, we all have to accept that we live in a highly technical world filled with rapid change.
The most memorable award I received in my thirty years in the Air Force was the Order of the Sword. I regret that many of the outstanding AAVS enlisted personnel who made that happen are no longer with us. The skilled performance of all of the AAVS officers, enlisted and civilian personnel made my job easy.
As you probably surmised, my years in AAVS remain some of the best memories in my Air Force career. The main reason we were successful is because we had talented people who accepted tough assignments, often with limited support.
For thirty years, Ruth has followed me all over the world, but always on my schedule. This year her high school class has a reunion is in direct conflict with the Combat Camera reunion and she is the reunion chairman. I feel it’s her turn to dictate the schedule priority.
There will be a special feeling of loss when I miss this year’s Combat Camera Reunion. Father Time has starting taking his toll. Problems, physical and mental, make it unlikely I will ever be able to attend another Combat Camera Reunion. I have been blessed with a full life and a wonderful family. I hope I do not become a burden on my family and friends.
In the meantime, my address and phone number remain unchanged. Please tell my friends in Combat Camera that I will miss seeing them and that I would welcome hearing from them.
Have a great 2018 Reunion!
Col. Jim Elmer, former Commander of AAVS
2512 Fairway Avenue
North Little Rock, AR 72116