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May 20, 2008 - Added comments to In Their own Words by 74th TCS glider pilot Roland Minot. Added photos by Jack Bastin to the 71st Reunion 2008 page. April 9, 2008 - Added John Lewis' response to the Where were you on April 11, 1968 page. April 4, 2008 - Added Paul Werner's response to the Where were you on April 11, 1968 page. April 3, 2008 - Added John Roseborough's response to the Where were you on April 11, 1968 page. Updated the 'Who's Coming' list to the 71st SOS Reunion 2008 page. March 14, 2008 - Added a page Where were you on April 11, 1968 for 71st SOS reserv April 1, 2008 - Added Dale Burgan's response to the Where were you on April 11, 1968 page. March 30, 2008 - Added very interesting experiences by Al Heuss to the Where were you on April 11, 1968 page. March 26, 2008 - Updated the 'Who's Coming' list to the 71st SOS Reunion 2008 page. March 14, 2008 - Added a page Where were you on April 11, 1968 for 71st SOS reservists to post comments about receiving notification of activation on that day. March 12, 2008 - Added a message from Chad Hageman, grandson of Herbert Zumhingst in the Guestbook. Chad is seeking information and photos of his grandfather during his Air Force career. March 8, 2008 - FINAL FLIGHT - It is with sadness we report the passing of another 71st SOS member. Lt. Colonel Herbert H. C. Zumhingst passed away Friday March 7, 2008. Herb was pilot and flew out of Nha Trang, served 28 years in the Army Air Corps/U.S Air Force, and received many awards and citations during his flying career. Sincere condolences are extended to the Zumhingst family and friends. March 5, 2008 - Added a page with full details about the upcoming 71st SOS reunion 2008 at Columbus, IN on April 25-27. All 71st SOS reservists, family members and survivors are encouraged to attend. Sign up now - time is short. Also added a page about the AC-119 Gunship Association Reunion IX at Branson, MO on September 11-14, 2008. January 25, 2008 - Posted a tribute in the Guestbook to Col Jim Pyle by Bob Tate. January 19, 2008 - FINAL FLIGHT - It is with sadness we report the passing of 71st SOS Commander, Colonel James E. Pyle. Jim passed away late on Friday, January 18, 2008. Sincere condolences are extended to wife Ruth, daughter Michele, their family members and friends. January 13, 2008 - Jim Pyle and Gene Mangin are experiencing health issues and need your thoughts and prayers for their return to good health. Please keep them in mind. December 16, 2007 - Added a photo of the autographed flag of 'C' Flight to the Tan Son Nhut memorabilia page. November 1, 2007 - Added the November 2007 issue of 'The Briefing' quarterly newsletter of the Columbus-Bakalar Chapter #288 of the Air Force Association. The newsletter is in PDF format. September 21, 2007 - Col (ret) Ron Terry, an honorary AC-119 Gunship Association member and the father of the fixed wing gunship, has been diagnosed with leukemia and is undergoing testing to determine the extent of upcoming treatments. Please join us in holding Col Terry and his wife, Carole, in your thoughts and prayers. August 17, 2007 - FINAL FLIGHT - LuAnn Pease (Walter Pease's daughter) informed me of the passing of her father MSgt. Walter W. Peace on July 24, 2000. Sincere condolences are extended to LuAnn, their family and friends. August 5 , 2007 - FINAL FLIGHT - It is with sadness we report the passing of another 71st SOS member. TSgt. Lloyd I. Hobbs passed away on July 21, 2007 in Milton, FL. L.I. was a Flight Engineer on Robert Conley's ferry crew, and Bernie Knapic's crew #13 at Phan Rang. L.I. is survived by his loving wife Mary, two brothers, and his loyal pet, a miniature border collie "Shadow". Sincere condolences are extended to Mary, their family and friends. June 5, 2007 - Added photo of CMSgt Raymond Bridges to the Tan Son Nhut memorabilia page. Thanks to Bart Dye for providing the photo. May 2, 2007 - Added the May 2007 issue of 'The Briefing', the quarterly newsletter of the Columbus-Bakalar Chapter #288 of the Air Force Association. The newsletter is in PDF format. May 2, 2007 - Added the May 2007 issue of 'Firing Circle', the newsletter of the AC-119 Gunship Association. This issue summarizes Reunion VII at Albuquerque last fall and contains all details of Reunion VIII October 5-7, 2007 at Destin, FL. March 13, 2007 - Added a message to the Guestbook from former 71st First Sergeant R.L. (Bob) Tate. March 9, 2007 - FINAL FLIGHT - It is with sadness we report the passing of another 71st SOS member. Colonel Richard E. Morgan passed away Wednesday March 7, 2007. Dick was pilot of crew #16 out of Phan Rang, and will be remembered as a gentleman and friend to all. Sincere condolences are extended to Dick's wife Frances, their family and friends. February 6, 2007 - Added the February 2007 issue of 'The Briefing' the quarterly newsletter of the Columbus-Bakalar Chapter #288 of the Air Force Association. The newsletter is in PDF format. January 31, 2007 - Added two recent additions to the Guestbook; one from SSGT Darrin Kast of the new 71st SOS, and a gentleman seeking contact with 434th Troop Carrier Group veterans. January 17, 2007 - Added the June-July 1969 issue of 'Wing Script', the 434th Tactical Airlift Wing newsletter. This 10 page issue documents the return home of the 71st Special Operations Squadron on Friday June 6, 1969. January 9, 2007 - Added two photos of the 72nd TCS/434th TCG granite bench that sits immediately outside the main emtrance to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. January 1, 2007 - Added photos from Gunship Association Reunion VII August 24, 2006 - Added the Special Reunion VII issue of 'Firing Circle'. A link to the newsletter can be found on the AC-119 Gunship Association webpage. April 16, 2006 - FINAL FLIGHT - It is with sadness we report the passing of another 71st SOS member. Captain William "Bill" H. Hamilton, 64, of Mountain Home, died Friday, March 31, 2006, at a Boise hospital. He began his career as a navigator in B-52s before serving in Vietnam as an Instructor Navigator and Night Sight Operator on the AC-119G Shadow Gunship of the 71st and 17th SOS. Sincere condolences are extended to Bill's family and friends. March 9, 2006 - Added a note on the Messages for 71st SOS Members page regarding the availability of many Basic Military Training flight photos from Lackland AFB and other training locations. Air Force personnel are gathering and posting basic training flight photos from 1947 to the present. Check it out. Your BMT flight photo may be there. March 1, 2006 New Vietnam era 71st SOS caps are now available in the 71st Base Exchange (BX). Order yours now. February 7, 2006 - Added the February 2006 issue of "Wing Script", a newsletter of the Atterbury/Bakalar Air Museum. "Wing Script" carries on the title of the newsletter published by the 434th Tactical Airlift Wing, Bakalar AFB in the 1960s. Added a message to the Guestbook from a gentleman seeking historical information about Lockbourne/Rickenbacker AFB, Columbus, OH. January 30, 2005 - FINAL FLIGHT - It is with sadness we report the passing of another 71st SOS member. Robert L. Conley passed away on January 13, 2006 in Panama City, FL after an extended illness. Bob's wife Fran passed away in 2005. Sincere condolences are extended to Bob and Fran's family and friends. January 23, 2006 - Initiated a new Guestbook for visitors to post appropriate comments. January 18, 2006 - Updated the AFA Chapter #288 page by updating the link to the February 2006 quarterly newletter "The Briefing". October 25, 2005 - Added a page of photos from Reunion VI (2005) that includes 71st SOS attendees. October 19, 2005 - Updated the 71st Messages and AC-119 Gunship Association pages. June 4, 2005 - The May 27, 2005 issue of the Kirtland AFB newsletter "Nucleus" contains an article about the activation ceremony of the 71st SOS. Click here to view the two-page article (PDF). May 31, 2005 - Added a PDF file of the program from the 71st SOS Reactivation and Assumption of Command Ceremony held on May 20, 2005. May 30, 2005 - The United States Air Force conducted the 71st SOS Reactivation and Assumption of Command Ceremony on Friday, May 20, 2005 at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. It is a great honor the legacy of the 71st SOS will continue. The new 71st SOS will become the first unit in the USAF to receive Bell/Boeing CV-22 Ospreys for crew training. Al and Helen Heuss attended the reactivation ceremony. Be sure to read the newly posted account of their experiences. February 20, 2005 - Added a page with information about the AC-119 Gunship Association. 71st SOS members, relatives, and any military personnel who supported the 71st from May 1968 to June 1969 are encouraged to visit this page and consider joining the AC-119 Gunship Association. February 18, 2005 - FINAL FLIGHT - It is with sadness we report the passing of a 71st SOS member. A1c Edwin E. Holbrook passed away in his home at Longview, TX on February 13, 2005. A native of Greensburg, IN, Ed lived and worked in Indiana until moving to Texas in 1976. He was an aircraft maintainer and was assigned to "C" Flight at Tan Son Nhut. Sincere condolences are extended to Ed's wife Dean, their family and friends. February 2, 2005 - The 71st SOS will live on. The U.S. Air Force will officially reactivate the 71st SOS in May 2005, and will become the first Air Force unit to receive the new CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. Check out this link for more details. December 10, 2004 - Clarified information pertaining to the "Goooooooood Morning Vietnam" sound clip recorded in the spring of 1969 from the American Forces Vietnam Network (AFVN). December 1, 2004 - Added the names of Sgt. Jerold E. Thomas, Sgt. Roger D. Stephens, Sgt. John H. Sturm, and Sgt. John Temoney to the 4413th CCTS Flight Crew Class Photos (bottom photo). Thanks to Sgt. Greg Terral for his help in identifying the individuals. November 26, 2004 - Added a segment of the life memoirs of Alvin E. Robinson, 1st. Lt. 74th Troop Carrier Squadron, 434th Troop Carrier Group. "Robby' achieved a very notable and colorful aviation career, beginning with WW II. He was initially selected to be the lead pilot of the whole D-Day glider formation, and later selected to be General Omar Bradley's personal pilot. This is a very historical and interesting document, and can be found on this page; In Their Own Words - The Greatest Generation. November 15, 2004 - FINAL FLIGHT - SSgt. John M. Burks passed away on Saturday morning November 13, 2004. John was a Crew Chief at Tan Son Nhut and participated in the ferry mission of Acft. #53-3178 on Major Ben Mc Pherson's crew. Sincere condolences are extended to John's wife Sandy, their family and friends. August 15, 2004 - Added a photograph of Sid Petty's flight crew (Crew #3) to the Tan Son Nhut flight crew page. Thanks to Dale Burgan for providing the photo. Also added a new page Lockbourne AFB Memorabilia that contains a new page of photos of the Enlisted Barracks Area. July 31, 2004 - Updated the AC-119 Gunship Reunion 2004 page with more details and a new graphic. July 1, 2004 - FINAL FLIGHT - It is with sadness we report the passing of another 71st SOS member, Second Lt. Leo M. Stadmiller Jr. Additional details are not known at this time. Lt. Stadmiller worked in the intelligence area at Nha Trang. June 20, 2004 - Changed the graphic on the 434th Troop Carrier Group main page. The new graphic depicts the troop carrier role during WW II. June 11, 2004 - Added a page containing an outstanding air-to-air photograph of a 71st TCS C-47 taken during a supply mission to France. The photo was taken by 71st Pilot 1st. Lt. John M. Jones, and is included in his autobiography. March 24, 2004 - Added a new page pertaining to Development and Employment of Fixed-Wing Gunships, the definitive book about gunship development published by the Office of Air Force History in 1982. The page contains access to four PDF files, two of which contain information specific to the AC-119 gunship development, and the 71st, 17th, and 18th Special Operations Squadrons. March 16, 2004 - Opened the 71st SOS Base Exchange. Show your affiliation with the 71st by purchasing and displaying one or more of the items. 71st license plates and caps are now available. Be sure to visit the new 71st BX and pick up a few items. March 10, 2004 - Added new pages with photographs that document the origin, placement, and dedication of the 71st/17th SOS Memorial Plaque at the Air Force Museum on July 13, 1995. March 6, 2004 - Air Force Association Added a new page pertaining to the Air Force Association national organization, and the Columbus-Bakalar Chapter #288. Learn much more about the AFA, and how to join. March 1, 2004 - FINAL FLIGHT - Colonel James McMaster Tom Cougill received a Christmas card from Majorie McMaster, Colonel James McMaster's widow. She said Jim had died in 2003 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Colonel Mac had served in just about every slot available in the 71st, 930th, & 434th. His leadership helped mold the outfit in to a unit that was ready to be recalled and I truly believe he was one major reason that the 71st was chosen (Tom Cougill). February 20, 2004 - FINAL FLIGHT - It is with sadness we report the passing of a 71st SOS member. Major Robert A. Farmer passed away on Sunday February 15, 2004 in New Castle, Indiana. Bob was a B-17 pilot in WW II and was awarded the distinguished Flying Cross. He taught veteran classes after WW II and Vietnam, and retired from the Air Force in 1973. Although Bob did not go with the unit to Vietnam, many Reservists will remember him form his days with the 71st at Bakalar Air Force Base. February 14, 2004 - Added an autobiography by 1st. Lt. John Marshall Jones, WW II Military Service With The 71st Troop Carrier Squadron. Lt. Jones' autobiography is the second that documents the circumstances and events he encountered as a pilot with the 71st TCS. Included with the autobiography are many good photographs taken by Marshall. We are grateful to add Marshall's excellent autobiography. January 3, 2004 - Added a second page for photographs from Nha Trang with two photos provided by SSgt Jack Study. December 1, 2003 - Added manning rosters for Nha Trang, Phan Rang, and Tan Son Nhut. The rosters include the names of the reservists, regulars, and TDY personnel that were assigned to the 71st SOS during the Spring of 1969. The rosters can be accessed at the memorabilia page for Nha Trang, Phan Rang, and Tan Son Nhut. November 19, 2003 - The voice of the Goooooooood Morning Vietnam sound clip recorded in 1969 may be that of game show host Pat Sajak. Click here to learn more. November 15, 2003 - Updated the graphic appearing on the Home Page. The graphic was designed by Dave Chandler of AERO-GRAFIX, 26119 Calvary Lane, Suite 400 Kingston, WA 98346, and is presented with his permission. Also updated Miscellaneous Nha Trang Photos. July 15, 2003 - Added an unforgettable sound clip of the 'Huey' helicopter arriving during the opening ceremony of the appearance of 'The Wall' at Columbus Municipal Airport, July 20, 2002. May 23, 2003 - Added a 24 page PDF file of an autobiography by Marvin Litke, C-47 pilot of the 71st Troop Carrier Squadron. Marvin was a member of the 71st from its formation at Alliance Field, NE through the end of WW II. He also had the distinction of flying C-119Gs into the 50s. Marvin also included a copy of the 'Awards of the Air Medal' for officers and enlisted men following D-Day. Flying With the 71st TCS can be found at In their Own Words. May 20, 2003 - FINAL FLIGHT - It is with deep regret that I write this to inform all of the passing of yet another Shadow. LtCol (Ret) Sid Petty died on Sunday, May 18, 2003. Funeral services will be in Las Vegas, Wednesday, May 21, 2003. Sid was with the Indiana reservists that were called up and ultimately became the 71st SOS. He was a pilot assigned to "C" Flight at Tan Son Nhut AB. When the 71st members rotated home, Sid remained on active duty and finished his tour with the 17th SOS. Sid ultimately settled in Las Vegas and founded Air Vegas Airlines, a Grand Canyon air tour company. I had the opportunity to fly for him many times during my involvement in that business. Have a good flight Sid, and may the good Lord keep you in peace. Al Reynolds April 6, 2003 - Added a fourth photograph of 4413th CCTS flight crew training class at Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, fall, 1968. Thanks to Major Richard E. Morgan for providing the photograph and most crewmember's names. March 20, 2003 - Identified additional personnel in the 4413th CCTS class photos taken at Lockbourne AFB, 1968. February 3, 2002 - Added sound clips recorded during a mortar attack at Phan Rang Air Base. February 1, 2003 - Added two more Vietnam related sounds to the 71st SOS main page. January 23, 2003 - Added the voice of the original 'Shadow' from the 1930s - 40s radio series. January 20, 2003 - FINAL FLIGHT - It is with sadness we report the passing of two of our 71st SOS members. MSgt. Floyd Lamberson passed away on Friday, 17 Jan 2003 in his hometown of Edinburgh, Indiana. Floyd was a machinist in the shops at Nha Trang. Word has also been received of the recent passing of Captain John I. Parish. Additional details were not available. John was CoPilot on Burl Campbell's Crew at Tan Son Nhut. Sincere condolences are extended to the families of both 71st members. January 10, 2003 - Added details about the 71st SOS Reunion 2003 on March 7-9 at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel, Ft. Walton Beach, FL. January 1, 2003 - Added photographs from the appearance of 'The Wall' at Columbus Municipal Airport, July 19-21,2002. Also added a page of links to other WW II Troop Carrier websites. December 28, 2002 - Added a historically significant document titled Brief History of 434th Troop Carrier Group, 1943 - 1956. This document was prepared by the USAF Historical Division, Research Studies Institute, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL, March 1957. November 14, 2002 - Added a photograph of Major Richard Morgan's ferry crew taken at St. Augustine, FL prior to the journey to Vietnam. Thanks to Maj. Morgan for providing the photo. Also added a note on the Home Page noting the next 71st SOS Reunion at Ft. Walton Beach, FL on 8-9 March 2003. More details about the reunion will be forthcoming. October 18, 2002 - Added several photographs to the Miscellaneous Nha Trang Photos page. The photos were provided by Major Dan Uland, Navigator on Gene Tippy's crew at Tan Son Nhut. September 14, 2002 - Added a link to the Phan Rang Memorabilia page for Mike Vogel's 315th CAMS web site. Mike was stationed at Phan Rang during 1968-69, and has many good photos of the base. Mike's site will bring back a lot of memories for personnel who were stationed at Phan Rang. August 28, 2002 - FINAL FLIGHT It is with sadness we report the passing of another of our 71st SOS members. Lt.Col. Burl G. Campbell passed away on Wednesday August 28, 2002 in his hometown of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Lt.Col. Campbell was pilot of Crew #6 at Tan Son Nhut, and retired from the Air Force Reserve with the rank of full Colonel. Sincere condolences are extended to Col. Campbell's family. August 22, 2002 - Added a listing of Reunion 2002 attendees. August 11, 2002 - Added a page that includes a historically significant photograph of the 434th TCG at Aldermaston, England. The date is September 18, 1944 and Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe is speaking to the flight crews of the 434th TCG prior to operation 'Market-Garden', the liberation of Holland. August 9, 2002 - Added a link to an excellent web site Ramsbury at War - Wiltshire, England that contains historical information about a sister Troop Carrier Group(437th) assigned to this British airfield. The 437th TCG was assigned to the 50th Troop Carrier Wing along with the 434th, 435th, 436th, and 438th. The site also contains documentation of an unfortunate mid-air collision of two C-47s of the 71st TCS. July 22, 2002 - Added several pages and images from the 71st SOS 'Homecoming II' Reunion held May 17-18, 2002. The highlight of the reunion weekend was the dedication of a historical marker in recognition of the 71st SOS' service in Vietnam in 1968-1969. The marker is located at the Columbus (IN) Municipal Airport, site of the former Bakalar Air Force Base. July 21, 2002 - Added a photograph of flight Crew #16, Major Richard E. Morgan to the Phan Rang Flight Crew page. Thanks to Major Morgan for furnishing the photograph. July 2, 2002- FINAL FLIGHT It is with sadness we report the passing of another 71st SOS member. MSgt. Hubert C. Schopmeyer passed away on Saturday June 29, 2002. Hubert was a civil servant for 32 years, having worked at Atterbury Army Air Field, Bakalar AFB, and Grissom AFB. Hubert served in WW II, Korea, and the Phase Dock at Nha Trang, Vietnam. Sincere condolences are extended to the Schopmeyer family. June 27, 2002- FINAL FLIGHT It is with sadness we report the passing of one of our 71st SOS members. Major Edmon C. Tucker passed away on Tuesday June 25, 2002 in his hometown of Lawrenceburg, IN. Major Tucker was Co-pilot on LtCol. John Lewis' crew at Nha Trang. Sincere condolences are extended to Major Tucker's family. June 8, 2002 - Added a special page documenting the appearance of the 3/4 scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the Columbus Municipal Airport, July 19-21, 2002. May 19, 2002 - Added a photograph of the 71st SOS monument that was dedicated on Armed Forces Day, May 18, 2002 at the Columbus Municipal Airport (formerly Bakalar Air force Base). Also added a photograph of Tom Cougill's Crew #2 at Ton Son Nhut. March 17, 2002 - Added a page showing the 71st SOS Organizational Structure in the spring of 1969. March 16, 2002 - Added four pages of the May 1968 issue of "Wing Script", newsletter of the 434th Tactical Airlift Wing. This issue contains information about the mobilization of the 930th Tactical Airlift Group. March 10, 2002 - Added a new page of flight crew photos taken at Lockbourne AFB in 1968. Help is needed in identifying as many, or all of the men in the photographs. Please email the web master if you can help. March 2, 2002 - Updated Reunion 2002 with more specific information. February 22, 2002 - Added an article written by Aviation Historian Lou Thole about BUILDING AN AIRFIELD: Atterbury Army Air Field. This is a well written and interesting article about the construction of Atterbury Air Field, now known as Columbus Municipal Airport. February 10, 2002 - Updated Reunion 2002 information. February 5, 2002 - Added excerpts from three different issues of Phan Fare, the weekly newsletter published by the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing at Phan Rang Air Base. The excerpts contain information about "B" Flight, 71st SOS operations and are available at Phan Rang Memorabilia. January 16, 2002 - Added a page with initial information about the 71st SOS Reunion 2002 to be held May 17 - 19, 2002 at Columbus, IN. Check this site frequently for updated reunion information. January 5, 2002 - Added a new page The Unsung of WW II. The page displays a commemorative plate from the Airborne Troop Carrier Grand Reunion held in Las Vegas on 21-26 July 1987. December 24, 2001 - Added a home page for the 74th Troop Carrier Squadron and a link to photographs from the Squadron's reunion at Elk Grove Village, IL on October 6 - 9, 2001. October 19, 2001 - Added a Tan Son Nhut Memorabilia page. October 18, 2001 - Added the Service Recognition Certificate that was presented to each 71st SOS Reservist. Added a photo of Flight Crew #15, Lt Col. Robert L. Conley, to the Phan Rang flight crew page. (Thanks and appreciation are extended to Paul Werner for providing these items.) October 14, 2001 - Began the process of adding individual flight crew photos to Nha Trang Memorabilia and Phan Rang Memorabilia . September 2, 2001 - Added a link to the National World War II Glider Pilots Association. September 2, 2001 - Added a link to a Douglas C-53D 'Skytrooper' currently on display at the McClellan Aviation Museum, Sacramento, CA. The C-53D (USAAF S/N 42-68835) was assigned to the 72nd Troop Carrier Squadron, 434th Troop Carrier Group. September 2, 2001 - U.S. Army Air Force Station 467 Aldermaston. was home for the 434th Troop Carrier Group in England from 3 March 1944 through 12 Feb 1945. September 2, 2001. The world's first operational atomic bomb was delivered by the U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) to the island of Tinian on 26 July 1945. September 2, 2001. Visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Memorial was dedicated on May 28, 1999, the last Memorial Day weekend of the 20th Century. July 15, 2001 - Added a 71st SOS Ferry Crew List that documents the members of the ferry crews and the aircraft ferry route from the Fairchild-Hiller facility in Florida to Nha Trang, Vietnam. July 15, 2001 - Added a new page In Their Own Words with links to articles about the 434th Troop Carrier Group in WW II. This page is by and for members of the 434th TCG to tell their true stories and to be recognized for their contributions to our freedom. July 15, 2001 - Added a wish list page to encourage visitors to this web site to contribute material that will further document the history of the 434th during and after WW II, and the 71st Special Operations Squadron. May 6, 2001 - Added four documents pertaining to the history of the 434th Troop Carrier Group during World War II; Battle Honors, 5 - 7 June, 1944 | French Croix De Guerre with Palm, 5-6 June 1944 | French Croix De Guerre with Palm, 20-28 Aug 1944 | French Fourragere, August 1944. A special Thank You to 74th TCS Flight Officer/Glider Pilot George E. "Pete" Buckley for sharing these documents. January 13, 2001 - Launched first version of the 71st SOS web site. |