Diane Ferro Hawley
1965
Right out of high school, I was married for nine years and had three wonderful sons all three years apart in age. When the marriage ended, I went to work for the police department with the City of Simi Valley. There I met my second husband, who was a police lieutenant. We married and later moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. After seventeen years that marriage also ended. Soon after he passed away (he liked Jack Daniels better than me - oh I didn't kill him - the alcohol did). Fast forward to the present day, I've spent my career as a paralegal working for the Ford Motor Company attorneys for the first 15 years followed by 27 years with a major Intellectual Property law firm here in the Bay Area. I've enjoyed a couple of long term relationships but nothing more than that. Basically, I've lived my life solo enjoying my lovely home in San Jose, CA. I had a very colorful life but it hasn't been without a few speed bumps along the way. I've enjoyed such hobbies as taking the gold at racing and showing Corvettes, building and showing a '23 Model T, at all Good Guys events and Hot August Nights in Reno. I also attended many motorcycle Street Vibrations events in Reno and American Graffiti in Modesto in past years. This lifestyle is in my DNA and it's like a disease and I can't shake it even today - ha! My tricked-out vehicle inventory has been reduced down to a custom Chevy stepside, a nice motor home and my Toyota Tacoma as my daily driver. I retired this past November and am enjoying traveling the countryside in my RV with my dogs; a 105 lb German Shepherd (named Harley) and 8 lb Miniature Pincher (named Paige), aka Beauty and the Beast!
I just returned from a trip to Washington, D.C. where the annual reunion for the men of Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 2nd Platoon, 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division was held. Charlie Company was the last American combat infantry to be drafted, trained and sent to fight the unpopular Vietnam War. My brother, Phil Ferro (GCHS Class of 64 and accomplished track champion) was a member of Charlie Company. Phil paid the ultimate price on July 11, 1967. Charlie Company has conducted annual reunions for the past 14 years, and I'm so honored to be a part of Charlie Company's extended family.
This year's reunion was hosted at the National Geographic headquarters in DC. National Geographic invited Charlie Company for the prescreening of "Brothers in War" based on the best seller book by widely published author Professor Andrew Wiest titled "The Boys of 67." This documentary about Charlie Company was narrated by Charlie Sheen and was aired on March 26th. This documentary was a collection of first-hand accounts of the Vietnam War as taken from the battlefield's harrowing combat experiences of Charlie Company which captured the horror, the pain, the misery, the happiness, and above all, the comradery on 8 mm audio/video film by many of Charlie Company's men. It took Nat Geographic a year and a half to put this together. You could feel the emotion in the theatre, and I don't think there was a dry eye to be found. Kudos to National Geographic, Prof. Wiest and Lou Reda Productions for a well done documentary. I hope Lou Reda Productions wins an Emmy. If anyone would like a copy of "The Boys of 67" (now in two editions) or a DVD copy of "Brothers in War," contact Amazon. Note that Professor Wiest collected so much information from Charlie Company that he had to continue the story in a second paperback edition of "The Boys of 67."
If you know of any class of '65 members living in the San Francisco Bay Area, I would love to re-connect with them before the 50-year class reunion. I've marked my calendar and God willing, I plan to attend.
Diane E. (Ferro) Hawley
This year's reunion was hosted at the National Geographic headquarters in DC. National Geographic invited Charlie Company for the prescreening of "Brothers in War" based on the best seller book by widely published author Professor Andrew Wiest titled "The Boys of 67." This documentary about Charlie Company was narrated by Charlie Sheen and was aired on March 26th. This documentary was a collection of first-hand accounts of the Vietnam War as taken from the battlefield's harrowing combat experiences of Charlie Company which captured the horror, the pain, the misery, the happiness, and above all, the comradery on 8 mm audio/video film by many of Charlie Company's men. It took Nat Geographic a year and a half to put this together. You could feel the emotion in the theatre, and I don't think there was a dry eye to be found. Kudos to National Geographic, Prof. Wiest and Lou Reda Productions for a well done documentary. I hope Lou Reda Productions wins an Emmy. If anyone would like a copy of "The Boys of 67" (now in two editions) or a DVD copy of "Brothers in War," contact Amazon. Note that Professor Wiest collected so much information from Charlie Company that he had to continue the story in a second paperback edition of "The Boys of 67."
If you know of any class of '65 members living in the San Francisco Bay Area, I would love to re-connect with them before the 50-year class reunion. I've marked my calendar and God willing, I plan to attend.
Diane E. (Ferro) Hawley
The front of my '23 T Bucket. It's powered by a bored out Chevy motor with large angle plug heads and has a polished Jag rear end. This ride is a violation sitting still!
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Side view, same specs as photo to the left.
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My custom Chevy stepside returning from Hot August Nights in Reno. On the road, this ride is poetry in motion. It's a real magnet and a joy to drive.
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Harley and Paige playing
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My first RV
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With Arizona Sheriff Joe
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My second RV---a 2014 Fleetwood 29-footer
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Comments
Dear Diane, I so wish I had known you live in No Ca! I just came back, my youngest daughter, Mary is up there doing her grad degree at Sonoma. She lived in SF for 6+ years & will return. I lived there too from 1976 until 1982, I loved it. Your story is fun, real & delightful. I remember Phil so well & there is a very nice tribute posted to him on a class of 64 Facebook page. If you can't find, let me know. Looking forward to seeing you again.
Gloria Dorcy
Gloria Dorcy
Dear Gloria,
Thank you for your kind comments. There is so much more to my life's story since graduation, and I'm so proud of my achievements. I can't wait to share more and learn more about others at the reunion. Yes indeed, I saw Phil's tribute on the GCHS Class of 64 FB page. Phil and I were only 10 months apart in age. We were always very close. Bill Reynolds and Charlie Company will forever have a special place in my heart. Next time you visit the Bay Area, please do look me up. Paul Andersen has all of my contact info.
Diane
Thank you for your kind comments. There is so much more to my life's story since graduation, and I'm so proud of my achievements. I can't wait to share more and learn more about others at the reunion. Yes indeed, I saw Phil's tribute on the GCHS Class of 64 FB page. Phil and I were only 10 months apart in age. We were always very close. Bill Reynolds and Charlie Company will forever have a special place in my heart. Next time you visit the Bay Area, please do look me up. Paul Andersen has all of my contact info.
Diane
Diane,
I don't think we ever met in school, but I was mezmerized by your story and had to comment.
You've gone through some tough times and some good times, like a lot of us, and have come out of it for the better. I love your vehicle collection! I would have died for your "T" when we were younger and it's impressive that you rumble around the country in your RV.
I'm so sorry about your brother. We lost several friends in Nam, but a brother has to be the worst. God rest his soul.
Thanks for sharing your life with us. I feel like I know you a little now, and look forward to hearing some of the stories you allude to at the 50th.
Jeff Davis
I don't think we ever met in school, but I was mezmerized by your story and had to comment.
You've gone through some tough times and some good times, like a lot of us, and have come out of it for the better. I love your vehicle collection! I would have died for your "T" when we were younger and it's impressive that you rumble around the country in your RV.
I'm so sorry about your brother. We lost several friends in Nam, but a brother has to be the worst. God rest his soul.
Thanks for sharing your life with us. I feel like I know you a little now, and look forward to hearing some of the stories you allude to at the 50th.
Jeff Davis