2021

 We are working our way through 2021. Having had our COVID vaccinations we are staying safe from that terrible disease. We still stay home as much as possible. No gigs on the calendar for this year as most groups are doing the same.

We Lost a Dear Friend

 

On January 18, 2021, we lost our dear friend and fellow musician, William F. "Toby" Hughes. Toby and Dick first met at George AFB, California, in 1967. They were both learning to fly the F-4 Phantom in preparation for their air combat tours of duty in Southeast Asia. They performed together for the first time as members of the Incountry Group. First came the Incountry album, followed by Austin City Limits with Kris Kristofferson hosting.

Toby was an excellent singer, songwriter and musician. In addition to his "Fast and Low" CD, Toby worked with Dick on several albums preserving the songs and stories of the Vietnam War. 

In May of 2018, Toby joined Dick, Irv LeVine and Chip Dockery at Maxwell AFB to present an evening of songs as the culmination of a paper on the military/warrior music history. It was at this concert that "The Light In The Window" was first introduced which later became the title song on Dick's #32 CD. "The Light In The Window" is about the wives and families who waited at home while their husbands and fathers were away in the military. As part of the dedication on that CD Dick wrote: "I've known some pretty good fighter pilot lyricists through the years, Bobby Middleton, Thud Jock, Irv LeVine, also a Thud Jock and Chip Dockery who has flown the Phantom and a bunch of other stuff. But the warrior song-writing talent of Toby Hughes are unmatched by any of us. If there is a heavy thought you want to leave to posterity and you don't know how to say it, check with Toby."

On February 9, 2021 Toby was laid to rest with full military honors at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX.

Toby, we will miss you now that you have "Flown West".

2020 is almost gone. THANK GOODNESS!

Well, needless to say, this has been one ugly year. All of the potential gigs that Dick might have attended were cancelled due to COVID 19 so we stayed home safe and healthy in Chino Valley. So...there wasn't much to "Blog About".

Dick did manage to publish CD # 32 in March titled The Light In The Window. 

Below is a list of the songs on the album.

1. The Light In The Window		10. No-Son-Of-A-Gun's Gonna Take My Gun
2. Mom and Me (Angela Jonas)		11. Off To War
3. Old Farts		12. Warthog
4. Willing To Fight		13. Son of the Warrior
5. Single Gold Bar		14. Whiskey Bill
6. Kay Cee One Three Five		15. Take a Stand
7. Red, White and Blue		16. Itazuke Tower
8. FNG		17. Medevac
9. Bill Kirk

In addition to Dick, authorship credits go to Toby Hughes for the title song: The Light In The Window. What a wonderful wordsmith he is. Also Bridget Bradshaw for 8 songs and Jake Brooks for three songs. For more information about this album and all of Dick's efforts take a look at his website: www.erosonic.com.

80 Years Young and still going strong!

Dick celebrated his 80th Birthday this March!

As you can see from the list below, he his looking forward to a full year of performances.

If you are in the area please drop in, say Hi and share the fun.



PERFOMANCE DATES & LOCATIONS:

29 March POW reunion 560FTS, Randolph AFB TX - Auger Inn

12 - 13 July, Patriotic Celebration, Forest Lakes AZ

25 September, F-105 Thud Reunion, Dayton OH

4 - 5 October, TLC Brotherhood Reunion, Las Vegas NV {Thailand-Laos-Cambodia Brotherhood}

We will be doing a lot of traveling this year and doing our best to criss-cross the country.

For more information about the performances contact the organization or Dick at .

"Dick's Gig Schedule" is also at his website .

The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Induction Ceremony

Well, we did it! On October 28th Dick was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society. He was among 28 individuals who had been nominated for this honor. They all went through a rigorous selection process. "The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame recognizes and honors our Arizona veterans who have made significant civic contributions at the local, state, or national level. Honorees are veterans who serve, or have honorably served, their country through military service and who also serve and inspire their fellow citizens with deeds and accomplishments outside their military service." [excerpt from the program]

Michele Reagan, Arizona Secretary of State and 
Colonel Wanda Wright, Arizona Department of 
Veterans Services Director
presented the medallion and plaque to Dick 
and all the other inductees.

 Here is Dick's biography from the program: Born in Hildreth, Florida in 1939, Lieutenant Colonel Dick Jonas served in the US Air Force as a combat fighter pilot/instructor who retired in 1986 with 21 years of service. For 15 years Dick served as an aerospace science instructor at Cactus High School, Glendale; and Mohave High School, Bullhead City; during which time he volunteered the equivalent of a school year guiding the cadets to drill meets, field trips, and summer camps. An active lifetime member of the Military Officers Association of America the the Air Force Association, Dick advocated veterans issues to Arizona's Congressional delegation, increased scholarship donations, and actively supported several veterans StandDowns. A military folk musician, Dick Jonas has traveled to Germany, Japan, and Korea to entertain the troops and to perpetuate the legacy of the warrior musician."

We appreciate Ron Perkins for successfully nominating Dick for this honor. 

Also we want to thank all the family members and friends who made the time to join us for the ceremony.

I am extremely proud of Dick for receiving this recognition.