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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Topic Author's Reply - May 2, 2009 - 02:24pm PT
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Thank you so much Laura.
I'll make sure to pass this along to some folks in AK who might not be reading here.
That is awesome, wish I could be there.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Topic Author's Reply - May 2, 2009 - 02:41pm PT
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One of us:
Someday, the light will shine like a sun through my skin & they will say, What have you done with your life? & though there are many moments I think I will remember, in the end, I will be proud to say, I was one of us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Topic Author's Reply - May 2, 2009 - 03:24pm PT
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December, 1982, When John was my first PJ student as a new Survival Instructor.
After meeting so many students over the years, there are very few that you really remember. I always remembered John Evans.
Of course it was exciting to get my first PJ as a student. Even more interesting when he turned out to have a funny accent! I had a great time teasing him about the heat coming off of our fires as ATU's!! (American Thermal Units)
And of course, there was the pipe, from the very beginning.
PJ's do not normally come to the survival school with maroon berets. The survival school is one of the things they have to pass before they EARN their beret. But through some medical delay or other scheduling glitch, John had somehow ended up with his beret before coming to the survival school. This caused quite a stir amongst the survival instructors, a bit like a slap.
Of course there was never a doubt in my mind about whether John would pass the course. It's just not as tough for a PJ as it is for the average Air Force crewmember.But none the less, I had a marvelous time trashing him about what that impractical hat was good for, besides buffing my car. He took it all in fine humor and always had a smart, yet respectful comeback.
It was a harsh weather trip, rain, snow, ice, wind, a bit of everything. John wore that beret through everything but the most bitter moments, when he would temporarily don a wool watch cap. As soon as he could, back on would go the maroon beret.
He was damn proud of that thing, and I didn't blame him.
I respected him from the moment I met him.
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Swerv
climber
Eagle River, AK
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I was terribly saddened to hear of the tragic news about John. I met John in 1974 when I was a PJ at RAF Woodbridge. We became close friends and remained so since. Every time I had the opportunity to return to the UK I made a special trip to Capel Curig just to visit with John. You can imagine my happiness when he became a PJ and was assigned with me in Alaska. We had many trips together and thoroughly enjoyed each one. One of my fondest memories is when Tony Jones came to AK for a visit. Tony, John, me and my 14 year old took a trip to Matanuska glacier to do some ice work. My son still talks about that trip to this day. He was very fond of John. Another great memory is when John, Tony and some of the Oggie boys and grils came to Woody for our annual Christmas party. In the PJ world there is a carved idol named Charlie. It is highly revered and travels from unit to unit after being "freed" from a team by another team. Well, at that Christmas party, John and the others introduced "Oscar" to our team and a new idol was born. I know that Oscar had several "assignments" between the 67th PJ team, the Oggie team as well as other PJ teams around the world. I wonder what ever happened to Oscar? Its been a loooong time since I've seen any of the Oggie crew but I still remember some of the names. But the name I will never forget is John Evans. You've made the summit my friend. Keep an eye on us all. I miss you John. Swerv.
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Swerv
climber
Eagle River, AK
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This is from one of John's classmates thru PJ school:
John and I were on the same team from the OL-J, through the pipeline to graduation at Kirtland. The man taught me much, including an appreciation for classical music. He also introduced my young dumb ass to the conflict between the English and Irish while at SCUBA School. We stumbled into one of the smaller Key West bars one night and were immediately confronted by a very drunk Irishman. While blows were just barely avoided it was a thing of beauty to listen to Johnny's silver tongue work this poor slob over, he never knew what hit him!
You will be GREATLY missed...brother!
M. McDonald
81-01
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Swerv
climber
Eagle River, AK
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More words from one of John's PJ team mates:
Thanks for passing along info on John. He will be missed. I have fond memories of Chamonix trips and watching and learning from John in his element. Some people are born with Alpine waters in their veins. John was one of them. All of us will be lucky to pass doing the thing we were born to do.
Please pass for me to John's family that he introduced me to something that changed me forever. I'm sure that's the case for many PJs.
Having a fine single malt on the porch (habit Tony Jones taught us all) after an evening rain in KS. If I squint hard enough I can almost see John and the Ogwen valley boys sitting around a table near the campground in Chamonix singing drinking songs. I remember that as a very special part of those trips. Not sure how blokes know that many songs...
B. Stephens
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Topic Author's Reply - May 2, 2009 - 09:32pm PT
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Right on Swerv!
What great tales about John. Thanks to all the PJ's.
More Fair:
They left me with your shadow, saying things like Life is not fair & I believed them for a long time. But today, I remembered the way you laughed & the heat of your hand in mine & I knew that life is more fair than we can ever imagine if we are there to live it
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Topic Author's Reply - May 2, 2009 - 09:36pm PT
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OK Welshmen, here you go.
Dyma at pawb Cymraeg ddringedyddion a cripiedig ag Ioan!
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Swerv's Son
climber
Issaquah, WA
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John Evans, Tony Jones, Me, Jim Homokie (sp?) [Left to Right]
We made this day trip after an aborted trip that was to take us from Girdwood to Eagle River. On my list of adventures this is one of the favorites. John and my dad (Swerv) taught me to climb a vertical wall using crampons and axes. It was a little unnerving at first (something about a couple inches of steel being my only contact points), but after some encouraging words I was okay.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Topic Author's Reply - May 2, 2009 - 10:12pm PT
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Scott!!!!
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Swerv's Son
climber
Issaquah, WA
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I knew John while he was a PJ with the 71st ARRS at Elmendorf AFB in AK with my dad.
I stayed a night with him once while my parents were out of town. He had a friend from Wales visiting and they took me climbing that evening down along Turnagain Arm. I was a little nervous and a lot excited but I knew I was in good hands.
My sister and I tried to meet up with him in July of 1992 while in Wales for a few days. While having dinner at Cobdens Inn I asked the person at the front desk about getting in touch with John. Unfortunately he was out of town at the time.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Topic Author's Reply - May 2, 2009 - 10:42pm PT
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Chod llwncdestun i mewn Ioan s chof!!
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McMulch
Social climber
England
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I have posted the funeral arrangements on your web. We will of course gather at Cobdens Hotel, Capel Curig, North Wales to hoist a few after the funeral with John's loved ones and friends and team mates from OVMR.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Topic Author's Reply - May 3, 2009 - 09:37am PT
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McMulch,
Thank you for that. Well it's Sunday, and the day of the gathering in Talkeetna. I hear that the weather was great yesterday. Today too? I hope it all goes smoothly and that you all have a wonderful time celebrating Johns life.
You certainly had a good and successful run John.
Here's to you!
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Topic Author's Reply - May 3, 2009 - 11:35am PT
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By Brian Andreas:
'n anawdd at anghofia : Gorllwynwn 'n gyfryw a ddyhea amsera , ddeudai. Dybiais anghofiaist. 'i s 'n anawdd at anghofia , Ddeudais , pryd mae 'n gyfryw an arllwys blwc pryd ach cerddedig. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Topic Author's Reply - May 4, 2009 - 10:56am PT
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From PJ Dave McCallan:
I second BJ's comments. I was right behind John's 81-1 class at the OLJ and Kirtland, they were a tough act to follow because they were older and new how to follow orders therefore my team paid dearly (right Sgt Blakeslee) We were Pups together in Korea where I learned the fine art of sipping Scotch. Forgetabout the Sojo you bum drink civil man! Problem was he didn't teach this Irishman when to stop! Big trouble for all in Osan bee San day.
Later we both shipped out to Woody where the civil PJ's were, I thought. Till we got up to Wales and Cobdens and a lot of hard core climbing preceded by a night of heavy drinking and little sleep.
John was in his element in North Wales and we had the best guides between him and Dr. Tony Jones and the Ogwin Mountain Valley Rescue Boys. I'll never forget the Snowden bike race where we had three guys race over the start line disassemble the bike, one carried the front tire, one the rear tire, one the frame (I followed as the official photog, I wasn't committing to that kind of punishment) then we ran, scrambled, and climbed over 5 hrs around the Snowden horseshoe, reassembled the bike at the finish line and road over it and the clock stopped. We tried to beat the Ogwin Valley Mtn rescue boys but they had a secret weapon! COBDENS till 3am the night before the race.
The PJ team of Rothermel, Steve Smith, and Mike (PA) ? with me on there behind with the camera won the military division though, who ya! I think John was torn between the PJ's and the OVMRT, but up in Wales we nw where his heart was. He was in the hood!
About five years ago I bumped into him in Alaska while borrowing Marty Kimbles truck in Talketna. We spent the afternoons lunch eating and downing a few pitchers of brew reminiscing. Than I got the grand tour of the Denali Mtn rescue ops and all the cool stuff that goes with it( awesome job the PJ's and the Mtn rescue guys do). Again John was in his element. I was even tempted to train for a future Mckinnely climb, till reality hit me two weeks later in Florida (forgetaboutit)
Like many others, many fond memories of John Evans.Me and Greg Hehir just had a pint of Newcastle brown in Johns memory in the only english pub in town.
RIP John
Dave McCallan
PJ Brother
Top pic me, Lief Arvidson , John, Mike Perron, Cop agresssor (Osan, ROK 1983)
Bottom Pic , Adam Pope san, John, Lief, George
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Topic Author's Reply - May 4, 2009 - 10:59am PT
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Photos from Dave McCallan:
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Sad news. Sounds like an amazing man.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Topic Author's Reply - May 4, 2009 - 02:25pm PT
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Just got this from Jim. Very Cool.
Thanks Jim!!
Survival,
The PJ Association is sending letters and donations. Some PJs throughout he States have gathered at various places to raise a glass to John. There will be 6 PJs in uniform at the funeral on Thursday. Myself (retired PJ and long time friend of John and Tony Jones) and my wife are going to Wales on Wednesday to see Tony and will attend the funeral on Thursday. thursday afternoon we will gather at Cobdens and raise a few with OVMRT members, PJs, friends and loved ones to John.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Topic Author's Reply - May 5, 2009 - 11:23am PT
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From PJ Andy Moser. I love this story, short and sweet!
One of my favorite memories of John Evans: We'd been climbing in Chamonix , France and the trip back to Woody was long - big bag drag, hours and hours on trains. We finally cross the English Channel and, once on British soil, we head straight for the first pub we see. Everyone ordered a pint except John - he ordered 2. He guzzled the first one straight down in a flash, shook himself like a big dog shaking off water, and busted out with a huge smile. He was, at that moment, truly a man in need of a beer. Andy Moser
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