Posted on: Aug 30, 2026 at 4:33 AM

Posted on: Aug 30, 2025 at 4:33 AM

Thomas Callen class of 67:

            Dean and I were teamates on the 1966-67 Basketball and Baseball teams at Mastbaum. I knew Dean went to Temple on scholarship in 1967.

While serving off the coast of Viet Nam in 1970 on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. America CVA66, I had a surprise one day when walking through the mess deck area. I happen to see one of my classmates from the 1967 class, Jonas Johnson who was also on the basketball team with Dean and I. Jonas had come aboard as part of the Air-Wing deployed to Nam with our ship. As we saw each other we came together in a brief hug and hanshake. Then Jonas said to me, I'm afraid I've got bad news, "Dean's been killed over here"! I said What? but he went to Temple. Jonas said right, and then told me of the story of Dean leaving school because of an injury and being drafted into the army. Years after my Navy time, I later saw a philly paper on the phila. kids killed in Nam with the picture of Dean. He was a good friend and team mate, but most of all a good person. Thank you for your service and sacrifice Dean

                                                                                                                                                              Tommy

Yo Anna: Tommy Callen here I'd be interested in a 50th