BRAD AND TINA KOPP CRUISING TO RUSSIA IN 2005

I saw Danny’s last email about the Alemany blog and he mentioned that a reunion book was being put together. I thought I would contribute. I was very happy to get in contact with Dan a few months ago and of course finding out about the reunion. I went to elementary school, Our Lady of Peace, with Dan, Marty Molidor, Paula Carabelli, Robert Cosgrove, etc. I live in Germany and initially I could not make the reunion, but things have changed where I am able to attend now.

I lost contact with everyone after my senior year because my parents had moved to Simi Valley and I went to Ventura JC for a year. If anyone remembers the big white house across the street from Alemany in the orange and lemon orchards, that is where we (the Kopp family) lived for my sophomore and junior years of HS. My father rented it from the San Fernando Mission and got a good deal on it because of being Catholic and having eight kids. Some of you might remember my twin sisters (Sheri and Sandi). They were a year behind us in school until 1965 when they started school in Simi.

I joined the Army in 1968, went through helicopter pilot training and direct to Vietnam. However, that is another story. I love to fly and stayed in the Army for 22 years when I retired and went to fly DC-10s for World Airways. Flying as a commercial pilot was everything I had achieved to be, but after the military I did not like the separation from my family. In 1990, after a year of being gone flying around the world, I took a job as a GS Civilian for the US Government in Germany. I am currently chief pilot for the US Army in Europe flying helicopters and their fixed wing aircraft over here.

After returning to Europe in the early nineties I received my Masters Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. A half a year later they asked if I would teach for them part time in Germany and of course I said yes and have been doing it ever since. I enjoy teaching a lot and beside the tax free money is nice. The teaching compliments my government job very well and I am happy to be doing it. There is no doubt in my mind that I have the best job in the world.

I have three grown daughters from a previous marriage and one granddaughter. They all live in Houston, Texas and I do see them quite a bit I usually make it back to the states 4 or 5 times a year for flight schools/training and vacation. My wife now, Tina, is a beautiful girl who I have been with the past twenty years.

Here I am in an English pub, on one of my recent trips.
(Ed Note: If you live in Germany, do you still have to go to Great Britain for a good pint of stout?)

This is Robert ‘Bob’ Cosgrove (on the right) and myself at our Alemany graduation. I have not talked to Bob for 40 years and just touched base with him a month ago. What a thrill. I am really looking forward to seeing him at the reunion.

Anyway, I hope to see you and a lot of our classmates at the reunion. For some reason, over the past few years, I have been reminiscing about the good old days more then ever. I also want to thank everyone on the Reunion committee for making this all possible. I know that a lot of time and money has gone into setting this all up and it is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely

Herr Bradford and Frau Tina Kopp
Weinheim Germany