Bruce Cunningham San
Jan 3, 2023 11:58:20 #
Bruce was one of my classmates, first as a fish at Texas A. & M. and the later at University of North Texas. However, after graduation he was difficult to find. We were all commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force and within the next few months were called in to active duty.
That is where the trail ended, at least for several years. Later we discovered that Bruce, as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, had been sent to Japan. There in addition to his military duties, he had befriended a Japanese family and had a part time job in a Japanese match factory. He spent a lot of time with this Japanese family and learned to speak Japanese.
Upon the end of his military commitment, he and his wife returned to the United States where they were immediately divorced. Bruce immediately returns to Japan and a lifestyle he apparently was happier with than here in the States. The next few years, it isn’t clear what he was doing, but he continued to work and learn the Japanese language and customs.
Somewhere, somehow, Bruce migrated to doing a children’s T.V. show on Saturday mornings to great success. He apparently was a quick success and gained a highly recognized reputation in Japan.
No knowledge how long he was employed doing this children’s show, but it led him eventually to joining Merrill Lynch as a broker and through this he built up considerable wealth. It was reported that he was recognized all over the country and parlayed this into his becoming wealthy.
Long before I knew his story, I had attempted to arrange a deal with the branch manager of my firm, Shearson Lehman in Hong Kong. I had proposed working two weeks in Houston, then two weeks in Hong Kong. He wasn’t particularly interested. I believed that my experience with doing energy and other commodity trades would appeal to the wealthy Chinese, but he only offered me a desk and phone.
Much later I learned this office would soon be moved to Singapore. Because of this, I can understand why he wasn’t particularly interested in my proposal. I believed that having been the president of the largest Rotary Club in the world would allow me both access and contacts with the Rotary Club in Hong Kong. There had to be a wealthy group there I could gain as clients. It was not to be due to bad timing.
The next we heard about Bruce San was he had developed an illness and retired from Merrill Lynch, moved back to Dallas, and was suffering from central nervous system disorder and possibly Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, as far as I know none of his college friends were ever to contact Bruce after he came back to the States.
I tried several times to call and make contact, but never was successful. We had a lot in common although all my brokerage experience had been in the U.S. The future we anticipated as new Second Lieutenants was far different than reality. Of our class of around 25 officers, as far as I ever learned only two actually got to fly.
And only one of those flew in Viet Nam in combat. The other was a B-52 pilot but was never ordered into combat. He finally decided the path to promotions was blocked and resigned, to fly commercial for the rest of his flying career.
I am proud to have been a classmate of Howard Kidwell. He was a very small guy and had to take several physicals to get his weight up to the very minimum. He flew fighter aircraft and was assigned a secret mission while in the Viet war zone. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Only later did we learn what he was doing. He was flying missions over Laos and when there would be suitable thunder storm activity, he would fly into those storms and seed them to cause torrential rains to fall on the Ho Che Mien Trail. It was believed that would slow down or impede the movement of men and supplies to the south.
After he retired from the service, he flew executive jets out of Austin, Texas. He became ill and died soon after and in a conversation with his wife, she believed it was due to Agent Orange that Howard’s life was shortened. Just Sayin…RJS
That is where the trail ended, at least for several years. Later we discovered that Bruce, as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, had been sent to Japan. There in addition to his military duties, he had befriended a Japanese family and had a part time job in a Japanese match factory. He spent a lot of time with this Japanese family and learned to speak Japanese.
Upon the end of his military commitment, he and his wife returned to the United States where they were immediately divorced. Bruce immediately returns to Japan and a lifestyle he apparently was happier with than here in the States. The next few years, it isn’t clear what he was doing, but he continued to work and learn the Japanese language and customs.
Somewhere, somehow, Bruce migrated to doing a children’s T.V. show on Saturday mornings to great success. He apparently was a quick success and gained a highly recognized reputation in Japan.
No knowledge how long he was employed doing this children’s show, but it led him eventually to joining Merrill Lynch as a broker and through this he built up considerable wealth. It was reported that he was recognized all over the country and parlayed this into his becoming wealthy.
Long before I knew his story, I had attempted to arrange a deal with the branch manager of my firm, Shearson Lehman in Hong Kong. I had proposed working two weeks in Houston, then two weeks in Hong Kong. He wasn’t particularly interested. I believed that my experience with doing energy and other commodity trades would appeal to the wealthy Chinese, but he only offered me a desk and phone.
Much later I learned this office would soon be moved to Singapore. Because of this, I can understand why he wasn’t particularly interested in my proposal. I believed that having been the president of the largest Rotary Club in the world would allow me both access and contacts with the Rotary Club in Hong Kong. There had to be a wealthy group there I could gain as clients. It was not to be due to bad timing.
The next we heard about Bruce San was he had developed an illness and retired from Merrill Lynch, moved back to Dallas, and was suffering from central nervous system disorder and possibly Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, as far as I know none of his college friends were ever to contact Bruce after he came back to the States.
I tried several times to call and make contact, but never was successful. We had a lot in common although all my brokerage experience had been in the U.S. The future we anticipated as new Second Lieutenants was far different than reality. Of our class of around 25 officers, as far as I ever learned only two actually got to fly.
And only one of those flew in Viet Nam in combat. The other was a B-52 pilot but was never ordered into combat. He finally decided the path to promotions was blocked and resigned, to fly commercial for the rest of his flying career.
I am proud to have been a classmate of Howard Kidwell. He was a very small guy and had to take several physicals to get his weight up to the very minimum. He flew fighter aircraft and was assigned a secret mission while in the Viet war zone. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Only later did we learn what he was doing. He was flying missions over Laos and when there would be suitable thunder storm activity, he would fly into those storms and seed them to cause torrential rains to fall on the Ho Che Mien Trail. It was believed that would slow down or impede the movement of men and supplies to the south.
After he retired from the service, he flew executive jets out of Austin, Texas. He became ill and died soon after and in a conversation with his wife, she believed it was due to Agent Orange that Howard’s life was shortened. Just Sayin…RJS
Jan 3, 2023 12:56:10 #
TooMuch
Loc: NE Alabama
RJ, I do look fwd to a compilation of your life in storied form. I know I would enjoy it as much as I enjoy reading them here. Pls keep em coming!
Jan 3, 2023 13:03:04 #
Too Much! You don't have to wait! I have already written two books of stories of my life. Separate and different from what appears on Fishing Forum/Stages!
There are two ways to access them. You can contact Lulu Publishing and buy them. Or you can send me $21 for book one, and $22 for book two. I will mail both to you. This price covers both the books and shipment and sales taxes.
My address is 310 Chisholm Trail, Apt 111, Round Rock Texas 78681 I will also write something in these books if you like. Just Sayin...RJS
There are two ways to access them. You can contact Lulu Publishing and buy them. Or you can send me $21 for book one, and $22 for book two. I will mail both to you. This price covers both the books and shipment and sales taxes.
My address is 310 Chisholm Trail, Apt 111, Round Rock Texas 78681 I will also write something in these books if you like. Just Sayin...RJS
Jan 3, 2023 13:13:39 #
Jan 3, 2023 13:22:52 #
Robert J Samples wrote:
Too Much! You don't have to wait! I have already ... (show quote)
Too Much: I forgot to mention if you are in anyway disappointed in either, or both books, send them back for a full refund. Just sayin...RJS
Jan 3, 2023 19:49:46 #
TooMuch wrote:
RJ, I do look fwd to a compilation of your life in storied form. I know I would enjoy it as much as I enjoy reading them here. Pls keep em coming!
I’ve got the books. Worth every penny!!
Jan 4, 2023 18:27:14 #
Robert J Samples wrote:
Too Much! You don't have to wait! I have already ... (show quote)
Hi Mr. Samples. I would love to purchase both of your books . I will try to purchase them on line.if I purchase online do I still get a personal note!!!!
Jan 4, 2023 19:31:16 #
Still above water wrote:
Hi Mr. Samples. I would love to purchase both of your books . I will try to purchase them on line.if I purchase online do I still get a personal note!!!!
Just PM him and he has a very fair way of getting them to you.
Jan 4, 2023 19:47:27 #
Still above water wrote:
Hi Mr. Samples. I would love to purchase both of your books . I will try to purchase them on line.if I purchase online do I still get a personal note!!!!
IF you mean from Lulu Publishing "no" there will not be a personal note. If you purchase them from me, yes, I will write something in each book purchased.
Just Sayin...RJS
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