Spirit of Oplin - Dyess Air Force Base

Spirit of Oplin Crew - 1962

Three of The Top Guns at Oplin

E. Ray Smyth, Site PMA - Earl Coon, Group Leader - Gene Jesensky, Site Supervisor - 1962

42 Years Later in 2004

E. Ray Smyth, Site PMA - Earl Coon, Group Leader - Gene Jesensky, Site Supervisor - 2004

"The Spirit of Oplin Lives On" 42 Years after turning over to the Air Force the very First Operational Atlas Missile Silo at Dyess Air Force Base, the "Top Guns" got together for reminiscing and nostalgic stories of the Pioneering Days of Rockets and their time together with General Dynamics Astronautics at Dyess Air Force Base - Abilene, Texas
The three currently live in Titusville, Florida and although each worked for different Aerospace Companies they were together at Kennedy Space Center and helped launch all the Saturn V Apollo Moon Rockets and therefore helped America Land all the men on the Moon in the Sixties and Seventies

Not necessarily intended but, it so happened their reunion was held on July 16, 2004 exactly 35 years to the day after the 3 of them helped launch Apollo 11 which 4 days later on July 20th was Man's First Moon Landing

43 Years Later in 2005

E. Ray Smyth, Site PMA - Earl Coon, Group Leader - Gene Jesensky, Site Supervisor - 2005

"The Spirit of Oplin Lives On" Since their reunion and get together of July 16, 2004 it was by pure intentions that the 3 Top Guns got together again on July 16, 2005 exactly 36 years to the day after the 3 of them helped launch Apollo 11 which 4 days later on July 20th was Man's First Moon Landing.

The Oplin Top Guns have now planned for a 3 Guys reunion on July 16th of each year.

44 Years Later in 2006

E. Ray Smyth, Site PMA - Earl Coon, Group Leader - Gene Jesensky, Site Supervisor - 2006

"The Spirit of Oplin Lives On" As decided 2 years previously, the 3 Top Guns got together again on July 16, 2006 exactly 37 years to the day after the 3 of them helped launch Apollo 11 which 4 days later on July 20th was Man's First Moon Landing.

2006 also marked 44 years since the 3 guys turned over the Spirit of Oplin Launch Complex to the United States Air Force.

45 Years Later in 2007

E. Ray Smyth, Site PMA - Earl Coon, Group Leader - Gene Jesensky, Site Supervisor - 2007

"The Spirit of Oplin Lives On" As decided 3 years previously, the 3 Top Guns got together again on July 16, 2007 exactly 38 years to the day after the 3 of them helped launch Apollo 11 which 4 days later on July 20th was Man's First Moon Landing.

2007 also marked 45 years since the 3 guys turned over the Spirit of Oplin Launch Complex to the United States Air Force.

46 Years Later in 2008

The 2008 Reunion was not held due to the death of Ray's mother on July 13, 2008. Fact of the matter, Ray was in Stamford, Texas burying his mother some 65 miles north of Oplin, Texas.
After a years illness and time in a Nursing Home, Group Leader, Earl Coon passed away on October 26, 2009 at age 87.
Gene and Ray are doing well considering as of 2010, Gene is 93 years of age and Ray is 75, they and their wives had dinner together in February 2010.

Irregardless, Life goes on And:... "The Spirit of Oplin Still Lives"

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