RICK KUBAL and CHUCK LUTTRELL were two Minnesota kids who did everything together. Wherever one went, the other was sure to follow.

When Rick would brief Chuck on his plan for a particular day, Chuck’s trademark response was, “Sounds good to me,” code for “everything is copacetic.”

Chuck spent so much time at their Eden Prairie home, he became like a second son to PAT and HAROLD KUBAL. They count those times among their sweetest memories.

After graduation from high school, Rick announced he planned to enlist in the U.S. Navy. Chuck said, “Sounds good to me.” They even got orders together to NAS Whidbey Island where they shared a room at Barracks Eight.

Chuck recently observed that Rick was 25 years ahead of his time. “He enrolled in Skagit Valley College and once again dragged me along, saying we’d go to Aviation Officer Candidate School and fly Navy jets.

“I said ‘Sounds good to me. When are we leaving?’”

Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Rick Kubal, a Search and Rescue swimmer, was just 20 when he died on Sept. 11, 1980, part of a team that launched to rescue an injured hiker on Mount Shuksan. Dan Mahoney, Pat Kidgell, Roy Lewis and Tom Sanders were also lost when Firewood One, a twin-rotor SeaKnight CH-46, encountered violent wind gusts and went down in the North Cascades.

Chuck, now a Navy commander and CO of VAQ-139, stood with Rick’s parents, their daughter Mary Lee Harrell and grandsons Erik and Craig Osborne, plus Andy Mahoney, who was a baby in 1980, in front of their former barracks, now officially renamed Rick Kubal Hall. Pat’s voice was strong as she said, “The one thing a parent who has lost a child wants most is to know he has not been forgotten.” She thanked Chuck and the many people who worked on the complex process of renaming, saying the building may bear Rick’s name, but it is intended to inspire everyone who lives and works there.

The Kubals are back home in Minnesota this week but expect to return to Whidbey Island for Chuck’s change of command on Aug. 30. The Luttrells consider them part of the family and the Kubals feel blessed to have him as their “second son.”

Can’t fool him …

MATT IVERSON isn’t easily fooled, and he doesn’t want you to be either.

As he opened a letter written on Euro Millions Lotteria letterhead, his radar went up when he read he had won $815,950!

Apparently he had won the Spanish Sweepstake Lottery International and was now urged to invest “part of his prize” in the USD 1.3 Billion International Lottery.

“First of all,” Matt said, “they had my home address. I’d like to know how they got it.” Matt, a family man and busy local insurance broker, safeguards his private information. The envelope, postmarked Madrid on Aug. 6 and bearing an original stamp, has been turned over with the letter to the local postmaster for further investigation. Please, do as Matt did. If you receive word that you have a sudden windfall, proceed with caution and never send anyone money for advising you of your “lucky win.”

No unpleasant surprises …

DON GROVE can’t stop praising the professionals at North Cascade Cardiology and at the cardiovascular center at St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham where he went for a recent checkup.

“The good news,” said the retired U.S. Navy Master Chief, “is that the cardiologist found my heart arteries are virtually unblocked. So since he had no repair work to perform there, he decided to clean out the blocked artery in my left leg. Now the leg feels like it did when I was 25, not like an appendage I have to drag along.

“St. Joseph’s is top-notch, one of the best in the country. Those folks have got their stuff together, and the hospital chow is not bad either.”

Fair enough …

CYNDI WHELPLEY of Oak Harbor won a family fun pack worth $60 in the Island County Fair Questionnaire drawing. The fair runs Aug. 17 to 20 and is bound to be a corker. Give the Fair your feedback at www.islandocountyfair.com. Call (360) 221-4677 for more information.

Comings & goings …

Folks seemed happy and friendly at this year’s Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival. Last year, I bought a rustic garden chair from MARK, a stained glass artist. By chance, he was at the same spot this year and even gave me the 2005 price on another one. Who knows, maybe next year a bench?

What’s new with your family this summer? Company coming? Vacation tales? Kids getting ready for school? Drop me a note at lifeonwhid

bey@yahoo.com or call me at 675-6611. I’d love to talk to you.