Seguin Magazine November 2022

in this issue

Tome Walters recounts the many ways he contributed to defending and protecting as a decorated airman 18 DEFENDING YOUR DREAMS

Curiosities of young Latino Chris Aviles fuel the fight to reach his dreams of becoming a pilot

FROM THE SWORD TO THE PEN

Self-published author Donna Hoffmeyer has a passion for helping fellow veterans in pursuit of their dreams

Neubert

on the cover

Photo courtesy Tome Walters

Tome Walters flew more than 3,500 hours for the United States Air Force, provided in-flight fuel for fighter jets during the Vietnam War and directed a defense agency at the Pentagon.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Welcome to a very special issue of Seguin Magazine. This edition is dedicated to all of the veterans that have served and defended the United States of America. The issue is especially close to my heart as my grandfather, Major Paul L. Bark, served three tours in the Viet nam War and retired from the U.S. Army in 1976 and my brother, Chief Petty Officer William F. Bark, Jr. served in the U.S. Navy for 12 years.

Coming from a military family, I know the heartache and stress of having your loved ones deployed for months even years at a time. Not knowing where they are, what kind of surround ings they’re in and not being able to communicate with them on a regular basis really takes a toll. But the support, love and honor we show our veterans are what keep them going every day.

In this issue you will find stories centered around local veterans and their dedicated service to our country. We also recognize some of our local heroes with photos submitted by their loved ones.

As you turn the pages in this beautiful maga zine, be sure to think about what all these people have gone through in their lives and where it brought them today. When you see someone with a veterans ballcap on, be sure to thank them for their service. That means more than you could ever imagine. From all of us here at the Seguin Gazette, thank you to all those who have served and protected our great country.

Elizabeth Engelhardt

Elizabeth

Memories from the air

From combat missions in Vietnam to the pentagon and beyond

Story by Dalondo Moultrie Photos by Victoria Gaytan AND COURTESY TOME WALTERS

As a decorated airman and retired military leader who flew Air Force jets during the Vietnam War and later directed a defense agency at the Pentagon, Lt. Gen. Tome H. Walters Jr. said he and his fellow veterans are no better than any other American.

As a vet, however, he said he deeply respects and honors them, while some others are just as worthy of the same deep honor and respect.

“We ain’t nothing special,” Walters said. “I hold teachers and, after COVID, medical personnel in as high regard as I do my fellow veterans.”

Now a New Berlin resident on

the ranch home he shares with his wife Claire, Tome spent more than 30 years in government service. He flew more than 3,500 hours for the United States Air Force, led men and women, and served the country’s Joint Chiefs.

But all of that came after his begin nings in Shreveport, Louisiana, where Tome was born and raised.

He joined his high school’s Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, graduated and went to Loui siana Tech. There, ROTC leadership learned of his stint at JROTC and offered Tome one of 160 coveted spots in the Air Force Academy’s ROTC program. He took it.

Tome graduated with a Bach elor of Science degree in international affairs in 1970 from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He counts three Rhodes Scholars among his 745 graduating classmates from a class of 1,035 cadets.

“Some in this area may know one famous classmate pretty well, Gregg Popovich,” Tome said.

After the academy, Tom thought he would try his hand at law school, but pilot training called his name and his path was set. Shortly after graduation, he married Claire Potter, a girl from his hometown who he met during a spring break trip to Louisiana State Univer sity where she was a co-ed. They’ve been married 52 years.

Shortly after graduating the acad emy, Tome became a pilot and flew in an air refueling squadron that provided in-flight fuel for fighter jets flying combat missions during the Vietnam War. Tome flew more than 100 air refueling support sorties in Southeast Asia during the conflict.

The next few years saw Tome serving as a flight evaluator and chief before becoming a tanker requirements project officer at the Directorate of Research, Development and Acqui sition at the Pentagon in Washing ton, D.C in 1981. It was one of several stints he spent working at the Air Force headquarters.

“I spent a lot of years traveling the world,” Tome said. “I met with defense secretaries, presidents, prime ministers. … I visited 50 countries, many of them 10 or 11 times.”

Of his accomplishments, Tome said he is proud to have commanded three different squadrons of 14 planes and 17 crew members.

"The opportunity to command any pilot is as good as it gets,” he said.

Another of his prouder moments was working at the Pentagon on the modernization of KC135 tanker planes. He led the $16 billion project to put a new engine in the place respon sible for helping to keep America’s jet fighter pilots aloft.

During his time of service, Tome was presented many awards and decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Vietnam Service Medal with bronze star, Defense Distin guished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Cross of Merit, Second Class (Republic of Estonia), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, according to the U.S. Air Force website.

After many years of moving around, he realized it all was becoming a bit much for his wife and two young children. Tome moved his family about eight times in the children’s 18 years with them.

So in finding a way to balance work and family life, he took an assignment at Randolph Air Force Base, allow ing his daughter to spend three years and graduate from the schools here and form a semblance of a normal life, Tome said.

She went to Rice University, where she met her college sweetheart and eventually married. The couple decided to move after marriage.

Tome and his wife bought a tract of land on which their daughter and son-in-law built a home. Just a few years later, Tome began thinking about retiring and started building their own home on the same acreage, he said.

He retired from the Air Force in 2004. But he remains linked to the service and, more importantly, the veterans with whom he served all of those years.

“Folks who serve share a bond, they have something in common,” he said. “As I get older, I think more and more about veterans.”

On one day each November, he definitely is not alone. People across the nation celebrate Tome and his brethren every Nov. 11 on Veterans Day, deservedly so.

Defend Your Dreams

A Local Soldier’s Journey From Street to Seat

Story by Bianca Rawlings Photos courtesy Chris Aviles

Seguin resident Chris Aviles per fectly exemplifies the discipline and sense of purpose that runs deep within veterans and active duty service members of the armed forces. Aviles was a Black Hawk Medical Evacuation pilot in the United States Army, who attributes his success in life to his undying determination and desire to be all he could be.

Aviles said he will never forget his humble, small town beginnings in Nixon, Texas.

“My father was an immigrant from Mexico and my mother was from Seguin,” he said. “As I grew up, I remember seeing the buses come through Highway 87 and stop at the DQ…or at the gas station. I would see these soldiers come out of the bus and would always ask my mom about these soldiers,” he said.

His mother did not have an swers for him about the soldiers, but that did not stop his questions or his curiosity about the armed services.

Aviles said his dreams of becoming a pilot started from a very early age.

“I remember back in the day when I was very young, about 8 or 9, there was a show that came out in 1984 called ‘Airwolf.’ It was about a helicopter, a supersonic attack heli copter, and I had always said ‘I am going to be a helicopter pilot,’” he said. “As I grew up, my intentions were to be an aviator by age 25, then possibly become a policeman later on.”

From a young age, Aviles began paving his own way in life and imagining a world beyond what he was shown. His family did not sup port his dreams and desire to pursue a career in either the armed forces or law enforcement. Aviles’ father worked in the poultry business and, for a time Aviles tried to put his ambitions aside and follow in his father’s footsteps.

“I hit rock bottom in the workforce making $6.35 an hour, smelling like chicken every day. But I thought, I am a young American Latino man and there has to be a bigger future for me…so I enlist ed,” he said. “I first enlisted as an engineer, so I was what you would call a ground pilot. But I wasn’t happy there. I always wanted to advance, so I said what about heli copters? I’ve always been interested in helicopters.”

Intent on chasing that child hood dream, Aviles went to school and became a Black Hawk me chanic. While that placated part of his dream, he pushed forward to making it a reality.

“So I got out of the reserves in August of 1997 just before I turned 19 and I went to school to become a Black Hawk mechanic,” he said. “I said, ‘you know what, I still want more. If I can work on this, I can fly it.’ I had always wanted to be a pilot

and now I had my opportunity to do it.”

Aviles found that he had to fight to reach his dream of becoming a pilot . He described his mindset and got innovative when he spoke about his path to finally going to aviation flight school.

“They put a stop to my career as a pilot [due to the Iraq War,] so as soon as my contract ended I got out,” he said.

Aviles then used his GI-Bill to become a full-time police offi cer, and he eventually advanced to police chief. But he refused to let his dreams of flying a helicopter be completely side-tracked and found a way back to the pilot seat as he re-enlisted.

“In 2007, I quit law enforce ment and from 2008-2015 I was on active duty,” he said.“I came back on a program that the Army has had for years that I was not aware of that was called ‘Street to Seat’ where you come in as a civilian and immedi ately go into the MOS (military operational specialties) of a helicop ter pilot. I had to work hard for [my dreams]. I learned if you didn’t ask the recruiter the right questions… you had to go research it yourself.”

Aviles’ said his journey taught him the importance of mentor ship and he plans to use what he’s learned to help children in and around Seguin. To achieve that goal, Aviles is currently working on his Master’s degree in Public Adminis tration with a plan to continue on to obtain a doctorate.

Aviles said he truly appreciates the drive and discipline that he gained from all his experiences in life because it had made him into the person he is today.

“I have gotten to the point where my previous education, skills and abilities have worked in my favor in the future,” he said. “I am a part-time tourist pilot and deputy constable. But it came at a price, time and effort.”

FROM THE

SWORD

TO THE

Pen

Self-published author and veteran helps fellow service members reach their dreams

Story by Grim Gilbreath Photos courtesy Donna Hoffmeyer

From quill and parchment to computers and the internet, the concepts of the warrior poet and the soldier scholar have been around in one form or another for most of human history. When the first stick was sharp ened, there was a storyteller telling us how sharp it was.

As time marched on and became almost as complex as the stories and lives within it, the invention of books and publishing became a necessity, one that has both aided and hindered authors for ages. After tackling the ins and outs of self-publishing twice, local author and retired Air Force veteran Donna Hoffmeyer decided there must be an easier way.

“The problem with self-publishing is it’s the wild west,” she said. “You know what it’s missing? It’s education and

educators in publishing.”

Hoffmeyer set out to establish her own publishing company to help both fellow armed forces members and civil ians who were ready to tell the world their story but were too intimidated or overwhelmed by the publishing world. Having served more than 20 years in the United States Air Force, she wanted to help fellow service members accomplish their dreams of becoming published authors.

Hoffmeyer’s military career was one of community and was marked by teamwork. In the Air Force, she had various jobs including flight nurse (where she transported wounded all over the world), labor and delivery nurse and clinical case manager. Her years in the service were filled to the brim with accounts of helping fellow service

members either directly or indirectly, and that trait has shined through since her retirement as well.

Hoffmeyer has come to the aid of more than her fair share of people during her career, whether through physical or mental assistance. Her generous nature is evident in her actions and efforts, her podcast, public outreach, and even her first book. They are all focused on help ing service members with their mental health, transitioning to civilian life or helping them realize their dreams of becoming published authors.

“I’m trying to get people to take the leap and feel safe doing it,” Hoffmeyer said.

Her journey through the publish ing process was indeed full of obsta cles, but it was also chock full of close friends and happenstance connections that helped Hoffmeyer navigate the process. She realized that not everyone was fortunate enough to have this help, so she set her gaze on assisting others as they sift through the proverbial mine field of scam artists, contracts, publi cists, editors and critics. For service members, this already daunting task is compounded by the high demands of their daily lives in the military, making their time in short supply and forcing countless individuals to abandon their voices early in the process. Unfortu nately, many never see their words on paper as a result, and with more and more service members taking to the keyboard, the need for someone to lead the charge and show them the way is greater than ever.

Fortunately for them, Hoffmeyer already dedicated a significant part of her life to assisting people in this very pursuit, and has gone above and beyond to seek out and aid people in her cause.

The passion of this veteran, mother, podcaster, blogger and author shines brightly through everything she does; And those flames are now burning brighter than ever to illuminate the path for others to tell the world their stories.

Like a lighthouse’s beam piercing through the veils of an unruly storm, her light is guiding others safely through their journeys to their final destinations.

“I’m trying to get people to take the leap and feel safe doing it,”

Chuck Neubert

‘Maverick’

Artist, Pilot, Adventurer

Local Veteran Shares how his journey shapes his art

Growing up in east Texas with a military family, Chuck “Maver ick” Neubert’s respect for service was paramount.

“I knew from the time I was little I’d be in the army,” he said.

His young life was spent in the Boy Scouts and then as he got older, he earned his Eagle Scout rank. He learned all he could about the world and the creatures in it. Neubert’s love of the arts was often coupled with animals, even back then.

“I used to sketch my horse’s ears in charcoal while I was out riding,” he said, thinking of his childhood. Neubert’s formative years certainly fostered his sense of adventure and desire to get out and see the world.

Story By Rebecca Harrison photos by Rebecca Harrison and courtesy Chuck Neubert

Those desires intensified during his service in the military. Neubert enlisted in the Army, and made his way through Texas A&M University. He then was told he was a poor fit for the infantry. Undaunted, the blow landed him in flight school, a pipeline to piloting Huey helicopters for the 9th Infantry Division.

Painting the nose cones of the aircraft kept his creative spark alive. He even brought a leatherworking kit with him on tour and used his free time to make holsters for his fellow officers.

Neubert recalled getting shot, getting shot at and getting shot down about 60 times during the course of his service.Yet, in all the harrowing experi ences, Neubert was unphased.

“I was never afraid. My grand mother, a Cherokee woman, told me I was coming home,” he laughed. “ …And you did what grandma said.”

From 1968 to 1975, he served three tours in Vietnam — two as an enlisted officer and one as a civilian.

His experiences there gave him a unique outlook that follows him to this day. From delivering babies in helicop ters to scanning for uranium from the air, Neubert looks forward to each new learning experience with fervor.

When he retired from the mili tary, Neubert hardly skipped a beat. His drive and creative spirit pushed him to do more. Following his service in the military, he owned a casino company and made his own branded tables. He also ventured into marine vessel life, and became a SCUBA instructor. Neubert even became a balloon twister and artist. He found and filled as many roles as he could to keep himself learning.

“I get bored! I need to keep my hands on something,” he said.

His most recent endeavor includes opening a survival training school where he teaches all ages to make use of what you find and what you have, and how to survive in emergency situations.

As if he didn’t quite have enough to do, Neubert continues drawing, painting and creating. In all his creative pursuits, he’s mostly known for his roses

— subjects that he beautifully articu lates into his paintings. Birds and florals are often paired together in his work, peacefully serene in their compositions.

“I like painting. It relaxes me,” Neubert said.

His work often denotes a sense of calm when viewed. The colors and subjects offer a shared feeling of relaxation with the viewer. This is even true of his work that touches on his history in the military. Pen and ink drawings of his helicopters sit stately and poised in his portfolio. Photography of national and local services honoring the fallen and the up-and-coming soldiers add a special lens to view these occurrences through.

These are only magnified by his involvement in the Honor Guard at Fort Sam Houston, and the VFW in New Braunfels, as well as the Seguin Art League. Neubert wastes no oppor tunity to honor his country and his fellow veterans.

His most recent work, a photo graph of LeAllen Buerger — a Seguin High School alumnus who recently graduated from West Point — is a prime example.

“It’s not about me,” Neubert said. “It’s about him and what he’s achieved.”

The photograph along with other veteran-made artwork is on display in the Seguin Art League throughout November in honor of veterans and first responders.

This, like so much about Neubert, speaks to the indomitable spirit of those who have served this country. Humble in their achievements, eager to share their knowledge and proud of where they live.

After all is said and done, Neubert is the first to tell you “If I died tomor row, I’m happy. It’s been a completely full life.”

One he is obviously making plans to make even more full. If anything is gleaned from the example that Neubert offers it’s this: Be true to yourself, learn a new thing each day, and fight for what you love. If these poignantly simple lessons can be followed, then life surely can be an adventure like Neubert’s.

savethedate

EVENT CALENDAR

-November-

Veterans’ art show : sixth - twenty-sixth

Join the Seguin Art League in presenting artwork created by veterans and active military in Guadalupe and adjacent counties. Veteran artwork remains on display in the gallery until Saturday, November 26. Location: Seguin Art League, 104 S. Austin St.

Third Thursday: Seventeenth – 4 - 8 PM

Come out to see what Downtown Seguin has to offer! Late-night shopping, food trucks and live music. Location: Central Park, 201 S. Austin St.

Turkey Ham Bingo: nineteenth – 6 PM

Come out and try your hand at bingo to win a Thanksgiving turkey or ham. Play with your friends and neighbors to benefit a good cause. CASH ONLY EVENT. Benefits the New Berlin Volunteer Fire Dept. Location: New Berlin Community Center, 8773 FM 775, New Berlin.

Fall Artisan & Craft Show: nineteenth – 11 AM - 7 PM

Support the Nutty Elks and local artisans by shopping for home decor, vintage and repurposed items. Location: Elks Lodge, 1331 CH Matthies Jr.

-December-

Jinglebell 5k run - holiday stroll: Third – 8:30 AM

The Jingle Bell 5K Run is open to athletes of all levels – walkers, joggers and runners. Strollers and friendly dogs on a leash are welcome. Come dressed in your best holiday gear. Prizes for top three holiday costumes! Location: Central Park, 201 S. Austin St.

YULE FEST: FOURTH – 10 AM - 4 PM

Enjoy a fine arts and crafts show featuring handmade items, gifts and decorations; over 100 vendor booths. Location: Seguin Events Complex, 950 S. Austin St.

Rising stars: fifth – 6 - 9 PM

Rising Stars of Guadalupe County seek to recognize the county’s most promising young professionals in the areas of professional leadership and positive community impact. Benefiting Seguin Young Professionals (SYP) of the Seguin Chamber.

Location: Columbus Club of Seguin Hall, 1015 S. Austin St.

Send event details to seguinmagazine@seguingazette.com to have your event added to this calendar

Bill

Randy Burnsides Marvin L. Grimm

Nathan Brittain

David Drown

John B. Dunn

Nina Brittain

Calvin Henze

Matthew

EDWARD FRAZAR

Lionel L. Redix

Michael Redix

Patricia A. Redix

Larry Weir

Philip Silvia

Marion Stolicki

Andrew Starlin

Frank

Reno A. Reiley

THE ANSWER IS YES