Brothers meet in the most unlikely places. Chapter Brothers Wayne Edminston, Cal State Chico ’65, and Lanny French, Cal State Chico ’66, connected during the summer of 1969 while they were both deployed in Vietnam. For over 40 years the brothers didn’t speak again, until 2020 when they had the opportunity to catch up.

Submitted by Wayne Edminston, Cal State Chico ’65:

After listening to our Fraternity’s President, Dale Holland, I think back to my time in Vietnam supper of ’69. That was when a fellow chapter brother spent a day with me at Ton Sa Nhut Air Force Base, near Saigon.

Lanny French, Cal State Chico ’66, had been in the country for over a year when he came to see me. We reminisced about the chapter house and how strange it was to be here like – nothing like home – but how wonderful it was to see a familiar face.

He shared several of his stories about Army training and how he was very good at it in the jungles. I shared what my life was like as crew chief for the RF-101s (reconnaissance). Both of us were doing our part serving our country. He remained in Vietnam for over two years while I was there for 11 months and seven days.

We lost touch for 40 years – until 2020 when we had a chat on the phone.

So, Brothers, you never know where one might connect with another Phi Tau – no matter where it is.

Thank you,

Wayne Edminston, Cal State Chico ’65

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