USAFA Honor Graduate Program
Effective with the Class of ’73 the Cooperative Masters Degree Education Program was terminated as a means for Academy graduates to pursue and receive graduate degrees immediately following graduation from USAFA. In its place AFMPC, The Air Staff, AFIT, and the Academy instituted the Blue Chip graduate education program. In this program the Academy could give the top 15 percent of each graduating class (honor graduates) a letter which identified these officers for future graduate education at some point following their first few years of active duty.
Specific procedures have been developed which are now being followed to facilitate graduate education of all Blue Chip holders. Specifically, these procedures are as follows:
During May/June of the fourth year following graduation, AFMPC provides AFIT with a list of all honor graduates of that particular year who have not already received an Air Force sponsored graduate degree. (If you already have received a graduate degree through Air Force sponsorship,
your Blue Chip no longer applies.) If you are on this list, AFIT will contact you by letter, advising that you will be reviewed for AFIT entry program eligibility. This letter will request your volunteer status, fields of study in which you are interested, and the time frame in which you prefer to enter school. You must respond to this letter in order to cash in your Blue Chip. Should you decide not to respond, you should be aware that you are no longer eligible for AFIT graduate education under the Academy Honor Graduate program. You can apply at any time in the future as a normal applicant under AFR 50-5; however, no preferential treatment will be given your application. Should you decide to cash in your Blue Chip, you should first contact your career advisor at AFMPC to discuss your degree and your career plans. While you may apply for any program for which Air Force projects a need over the next four years, you should be aware that as a result of steadily declining AFIT quotas (roughly one-half of those available in 1974) nearly all requirements are in
engineering, science, and quantitative management. After you answer the letter, AFIT will evaluate your record and desires and determine if school opportunities exist in your areas of eligibility. They will then tell you the programs for which you are eligible. If you accept one of these programs and your performance as an officer meets AFIT selection criteria, an availability/school entry date sometime during the next four years will be established by AFMPC.
This four year window allows AFMPC and AFIT to work you into a degree program for which (1) there is an Air Force need (2) you are qualified and (3) you will be available for based on normal PCS rotations. Thus, you should not expect to attend a program right away. This procedure allows AFIT and AFMPC to honor your Blue Chip in the most effective manner compatible with Air Force needs, your desires, and AFIT Program availability. Should you encounter problems in working your Blue Chip, you should contact AFIT/ED, Autovon 785-6231.
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* * *
Gone But Not Forgotten
Captain David W. Powell, Class of 1971, was killed in an F-111E accident, 24 July 1979, near RAF Upper Heyford, England. He is survived by his wife, Ellen, daughter and son, of 5336 Smoke House Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80917; and by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William R. Powell, 176 Mountain Vista Place, Santa Rosa, CA 95402.
While at the Academy, Dave was a member of the 8th Cadet Squadron; he participated in the Ski Club and served on the Class Ring Committee. He majored in Electrical Engineering and was on the Superintendent’s List five semesters.
After receiving his pilot’s wings at Moody AFB, Dave was assigned to the 361st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron at Nakhon Phamom AB, Thailand. Upon his return to the States, Dave served as an Instructor Pilot in the 82nd Flying Training Squadron, Webb AFB. At the time of the accident, he was assigned to the 20th Tactical Figher Wing, 55th Tactical Fighter Squadron, RAF Upper Heyford, England.
Graveside services were held at the Air Force Academy Cemetery on 10 August 1979. A memorial fund has been established in his memory; contributions may be sent to the Association of Graduates.
Dave’s pleasant smile and friendly, understanding attitude won him the respect of all who knew him. His death is a great personal loss to his many friends and family. (Jon Bonner, ’70)
First Lieutenant Harley Ray Stone, Class of 1977, was found handcuffed and mortally wounded on the Laguna Indian Reservation 25 miles west of Albuquerque, New Mexico, on 8 July 1979. A Security Police Officer at Kirtland AFB, he had been missing since he disappeared on 16 April while talking to a friend from a pay phone in Albuquerque. Police believe he was killed within hours of his abduction. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd E. Stone, Route 1, Box 15, Dexter, New Mexico, 88230, and a brother, William E. Stone of Colorado Springs. As a cadet, Lt Stone served as commander of Cadet Squadron 01. He was the Outstanding Cadet in Political Science, a Rhodes Scholarship finalist from New Mexico, and a Distinguished Graduate. A memorial fund to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been established through the Baptist Student Union, c/o Don Gurney, 1230 North Cascade, Colorado Springs.
(Tom Eller, ’61)
FOR HARLEY There are men too gentle to live among the wolves, too gentle to live in the night’s silence choked by bitter tears, too good to spend precious moments fighting back, too warm and blessed to bear the coldness of others’ hearts. There are men too wise to live among the ignorant, too loved to witness hatred, too happy to wish sad. There who touch earth like a butterfly and leave mark but the beauty of their grandness. There are men who break free of the bondage of humanness and leave us silent. Jenny Williamson Hoffmantown Baptist Church July 11. 1979
Thomas L. Rosenstock, '70
Captain Thomas L. Rosenstock, Class of 1970, was killed in a motorcycle accident in Jamesport, New York on 7 July 1979. He is survived by his son, Jason, and by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Rosenstock of 413 Oakhurst Drive, Union Grove, WI 53182.
Tom was a member of the 31st Cadet Squadron, majored in Economics and played varsity lacrosse. He was on both the Dean’s List and the Commandant’s List for two semesters. After graduation he was stationed at Pease AFB for a year and then went on to pilot training. Following UPT he was a T-41 instructor at the Academy until leaving active service in 1976 to fly H-3’s with the 102nd Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron of the New York Air National Guard. While with the Guard Tom was credited with saving several lives during rescue missions and at the time of his death was serving “full time” as an Air Technician with the 102nd.
His memorial service was held at Suffolk County Airport, New York on 11 July 1979.
Tom’s quiet intensity and humor are greatly missed by each of us who valued his loyal friendship.
Captain Edward J. Cruice III, Class of 1973, died on 19 August 1979. He is survived by his wife, Kathy, a son, of 184 Andover Drive, Vacaville CA 95688; and by his father, Edward J. Cruice Jr., 21 Creekridge Court, San Mateo CA 94402.
Ed participated in cadet activities such as the Ski Club and water skiing while at the Academy. He lettered in Soccer and was named to the Commandant’s List three semesters for his hard work and leadership in the 23rd Cadet Squadron.
Upon receiving his pilot’s wings at Williams AFB, Ed was assigned to the 7th Military Airlift Squadron at Travis AFB flying the C-141. He also earned an MBA from Southern Illinois University. Ed was medically retired on 7 December 1978.
Graveside services were held at the Air Force Academy Cemetery on 23 August.
Ronald L. Diehl, '69
On 28 August 1979, Captain Ronald L. Diehl, Class of 1969, was killed in an F-4 aircraft accident at Nellis AFB. He is survived by his wife, Therese, and his two children, of 3856 Cherokee Avenue, Las Vegas NV 89121; and by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Denver A. Diehl, Route 1, Polo, IL 61064.
Ron, a member of the 29th Cadet Squadron, served as Executive Officer during his first class year and was on the Superintendent’s List seven semesters in a row. He also lettered in wrestling, served on the Dance Committee, and majored in Astronautical Engineering.
Ron went to pilot training at Craig AFB after receiving his masters degree in Astronautics from Purdue. His assignments then included duty as a T-38 I.P. at Craig AFB and F-4E pilot at Homestead AFB, Seymour Johnson AFB, and Osan AB, Korea. Ron received an Individual Safety Award while an IP at Craig AFB for his outstanding airmanship and courage in preventing the loss of a valuable aircraft and injury to the crew.
Funeral services were held at the Protestant Cadet Chapel on 1 September 1979 with burial at the Air Force Academy Cemetery.
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Timothy J. McAllister, ’73
Timothy J. McAllister, Class of 1973 (Capt, USAF, Ret) died 7 September 1979 after a courageous 9 month struggle against cancer. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lee, and his daughter, Katie, of 42 Dunvegan Road, Baltimore MD 21228; and by his parents, Bernedette and Edward McAllister, 304 Stonewall Road, Baltimore, MD 21228.
Tim was on the Superintendent’s List during his entire time at USAFA and served as the Squadron Commander of the 7th Cadet Squadron. He was very active in the Cadet Chapel, the Cadet Forum and Ski Club.
After graduation Tim married his high school sweetheart and attended pilot training at Columbus AFB. In the top 10% of his class, Tim received his first choice of a DC-9 to the 20th Aeromedical Airlift Squadron (AAS) at Clark AB, PL In 1977 he was reassigned to Scott AFB where he was a flight evaluator in the 11th AAS. While at both Clark and Scott AFB, Tim won the respective talent contests for his expressive talent in song writing and singing. Unknown to Tim, his song, “We’ve Been to the Mountain,’’ was chosen by the Catholic Cadet 4th Class Choir to be their theme for the last two years. This song, written while he was still in High School, has become a popular favorite in many Catholic congregations around the country. At their annual choir workshop, held this year in late August at Lawrence Paul Lodge, the Doolies especially dedicated their efforts to Tim.
Tim’s untimely death has left us with a longing emptiness impossible to fill. We find comfort that Tim’s spirit being was dedicated to the Lord, and that his beautiful songs will continue to lift the spirit of others.
Graveside services were held for Tim at the Air Force Academy Cemetery on 12 September. Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society. (Stalker Reed, ’73)
Donald R. Backlund, ’71
Major Donald R. Backlund, Class of 1971, was killed in an A-10 accident near Davis Monthan AFB, on 29 August 1979. He is survived by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Donald F. Backlund, 7481 Sixth Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53140, and his sisters, Barbara Crooks and Nancy Backlund.
Don was a member of the 1st Cadet Squadron his initial two years at the Academy and spent his second and first class years as an intricate part of Tuff Two’s “Wild Bunch.” During his final semester as a cadet, Stretch, as he was known to his classmates, was 1st Group Commander. He was consistently on the Superintendent’s List, was a member of the Ski and History Club, and was a Distinguished Graduate.
After graduation Don received his Master’s degree in History from the University of Indiana, and then completed helicopter pilot training. In 1975, as commander of an HH-53 Jolly Green Giant, he was awarded the Air Force Cross for the heroism he exhibited during the recovery of the S.S. Mayaguez and crew which had been seized in the Gulf of Siam. He was also selected as a corecipient of the 1975 Jabara Award for Airmanship for his performance during that mission. Stretch finally realized his dream to attend fixed-wing UPT, and was completing A-10 RTU at the time of his death.
Funeral services were held for Don at the Protestant Cadet Chapel on 5 September 1979. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Association of Graduates, USAF Academy, CO 80840.
The “commitment to excellence” and high standards which Don demonstrated throughout his life will live in the hearts and thoughts of those who knew him. We will certainly miss him; we could never forget him. So long, “Big Fella.”
(Tom Callen, ’71)
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On 1 August 1979, Captain Francis W. Townsend, Class of 1970, was declared KIA after having been listed as MIA since 13 August 1972. Fran was the navigator of an RF-4C aircraft which was reported missing while on a photo reconnaissance mission in North Vietnam. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, 209 Hacienda, Waxahachie, TX 75165; and by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Norman W. Townsend, 501 South Crockett Street, Rusk, TX 75785.
Fran served as the Squadron Operations and Training Officer and Flight Commander of the 10th Cadet Squadron and was a member of the Ski Club, the History Club, and the Professional Studies Group. He majored in Engineering Science and was on the Dean’s List four semesters, the Commandant’s List one semester, and the Superintendent’s List one semester.
Upon receiving his navigator wings at Mather AFB, Fran was assigned to the 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Shaw AFB. At the time of the crash he was assigned to the 14th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Udorn AB, Thailand.
2Lt Robi James Hill, Class of 1979, died on 23 September 1979. Robi was assigned to Helicopter Training at Fort Rucker at the time of his death. Robi Hill is survived by his parents, Charles H. and Grace E. Hill, 3A Oxford Place, Whiting, NJ 08759. Robi was Squadron Commander of 21st Squadron during his senior year. He was an inspiration to all of us who knew him. His continual search for excellence set him apart from his contemporaries and made him a leader that everyone respected. Robi also came to be the spiritual leader of many cadets by providing moral guidance to those who desired it. Robi can be best remembered by his friendliness and concern for others. These qualities paint an everlasting picture of Robi in the minds of those who knew him. He will not be forgotten in our prayers.
(Juan Ramirez, ’79)
On 30 June 1979, 1st Lt Richard L. Kumpf, Class of 1977, was killed in a T-33 accident near Taos, New Mexico. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne Reese Kumpf, 4820 Bluestem Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80917 and his mother, Mrs. Norma Kumpf, 918 Reed Canal Road, Lot 194, South Daytona, FL, 32019.
Rick started his career at the USAFA Prep School and was a Wareagle of Fifteenth Squadron. He was a star athlete of the squadron, excelling in Lacrosse and Basketball. He attended Pilot Training at Vance AFB, OK, and was named the Outstanding Formation Pilot of his class.
After pilot training, Rick was assigned to the 95th Figher Interceptor Training Squadron at Tyndall AFB, FL where his aggressive style and warm smile brought him into the hearts of all of the 95th “BONEHEADS.”
Rick always excelled and inspired others to do their very best. Rick will be sadly missed, yet always remembered by everyone who met him.
Funeral services were held for Rick at the Cadet Chapel on 6 July 1979. A Memorial Fund has been established in his memory; contributions may be sent to the Association of Graduates.
(Eric and Gill, ’77)
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Robi James Hill, ’79
Class of 1959
Lt Col Wayne Pittman
145 S. Haardt Dr. Montgomery, AL 36105
I hope you all enjoyed the newsletter in the last issue of CHECKPOINTS. This one will definitely not be up to that standard. I guess it takes a reunion to smoke out the news. Or perhaps you all missed my change of address please note above. Whatever the reason, I have little to report this time.
First, I hope you all noticed elsewhere in the last issue that we have an additional second generation 59er in the Class of ’83 I didn’t know about Jim MILHOLICK’s son for my column.
My only contact with classmates since I got to Alabama other than those in school with me has been a brief visit with Wayne JEFFERSON and Kent MONTAVON, both down here for the AU Commanders’ Course in August. It strikes me that more of you will be attending that course. Be sure to give us a call when you do pass on the news and maybe get together for one. Speaking of War College classmates, A1 WATERS’ son recently underwent serious and successful surgery at the Mayo Clinic. He’s home again now and recovering well.
A couple of assignments to report: in July, Art SHUMATE became Vice Commander of the 4950th Test Wing of the Aeronautical Systems Division at WrightPatt. Jim RHODES is now the Exec for the Asst Chief of Staff, Plans and Policy, at SHAPE.
The only other input I received this quarter was from Charlie RODGERS. He reported a local change of address to Laguna Hills, Calif., and used the opportunity to extend an invitation to “all visitors.” Should you be in a position to take him up on it, his office number is 714 - 523-4820.
The Association reports that we still have one “lost soul” in the class John STEVENS. Anyone have any
information? It would be appreciated. Other information needed: Any more retirements? Any of you settled on retirement jobs since I saw you at the reunion? Any news of any kind?
After Washington, I feel a little out of the mainstream down here. I have hopes (as of this writing) of staying out of that mainstream by going back to the field for a while after school. If any of you in Washington, Colorado, Wright-Patt, or another location with a concentration of classmates would be willing to take over the newsletter, I’d be willing to relinquish it. If not, I’m going to need help from all of you. How ’bout making it a habit to drop me a postcard each quarter. If you do it the week you receive your copy of CHECKPOINTS, the timing will be just right to make the next issue.
Remember if you’re reading this, it’s time to drop me a line.
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A Distinguished Group
John Macartney
160 Arequa Ridge Dr
Colorado Springs, Co 80919
AV 259-2270
Merry Christmas to you and yours! As I write this (Oct 10) the aspen leaves are in full color, the prime rate and the price of gold are skyrocketing, and the stock market is tumbling. Where will things be when you read this? I hope my house sells before a recession really sets in.
Class Crest: Jock SCHWANK is still looking for 20 dollar contributions. He tells me that he has 40 responses so far and we are about one-third of our way to our goal. The bad news, incidentally, is that our goal receded a bit when the 59’rs started a new tradition at their reunion by presenting a $350 ’59 flag to the new doolie class. (Jock says that judging by the cost they must have reincarnated Betsy Ross herself to make it.) The good news is that we escaped several hundred dollars of inflation on our crest because Tony BURSHNICK had the foresight to order it last year. But that leaves Tony holding the bag for over a thousand more dollars let’s get him off the hook. If you haven’t done so, make your tax deductible checks payable to “The Class of ’60, AOG Fund,” and mail them to Lt Col Jock Schwank, c/o The Association of Graduates, USAF Academy, CO 80840. If you have already done so, turn your holier-than-thou face to a delinquent classmate and gently kick his ass.
20-Year Reunion: Plans are moving ahead for next summer’s reunion in Colorado Springs. It will be 26 through 29 June at the Raintree Inn. We’ve already reserved rooms for you and your family make sure you have your calendars marked and summer plans in order. Our chairman, Tom BURKE (Andrews AFB AVT 856-6184), would like some feedback on agenda ideas. How would this be?
Thursday PM
Friday AM
Friday PM
Friday Ev
Saturday AM
Saturday PM
Saturday Ev
Check in, cocktails
Check in
Tour of USAFA, update briefings
Dinner in Mitchell Hall followed by Memorabilia Party at Arnold Hall Memorial ceremony and Crest presentation at USAFA ? ? ? ? ?
Dress-up dinner dance with distinguished guest speaker
What do you think? Any ideas for Saturday afternoon, or should it be free? Do we want a special session for teen-age children who might be thinking about applying for the Academy? Guest speaker? Let Tom hear from you.
Gossip: Doug MILLER writes that he retired at WrightPatt a year ago and is now a Department Manager with Simulation Technology, Inc. in Dayton. Other retirees I am aware of include Greg BOYNGTON, John GIFFEN, and Hardy LEBEL. Who else? The guy who deviously lured me into writing this column several years ago, Bill TAYLOR, sends this message from the Far East:
“I lay claim to being the first grad to command two distinct fighter squadrons. I had the 67 TFS (F-4Cs) at Kadena from February 1978 to March
1979 then assumed command of the 90 TFS (F-4G Wild Weasel) at Clark on 2 July 1979.”
Congratulations Bill! By the way, I flew with the Dice at Bien Hoa 11 years ago.
Guess who is the Outstanding Academy Liaison Officer for the Northeast. He was honored in October at an Antlers Hotel banquet, and this reserve major lives in Pennsylvania and flies for Pan Am out of New York. Who is he? None other than Dale MAYO!
The AOG is looking for “lost souls.” They thought Denny O’KEEFE was lost, but I told them he is alive and well, on active duty and working in a Systems Command office in Crystal City, Virginia. How about Tony BILELLO anyone know anything? An ex-lost soul who has recently written the AOG from Toledo, Oregon is Dave LUCE. What are you up to Dave?
The letters and visitors bearing Class Crest contributions have been a gold mine of news. To wit: Ed HAERTER has been at the Academy several times to visit his son, Chris, a fourth classman. Ed flys for TWA and the Illinois ANG. Jerry STACK and wife Susie were here from Dallas on a September vacation. Jerry is a 727 captain for Braniff and a C-130 driver for the Texas ANG. Charlie LIGGETT was here on a squadron sponsor trip. He’s Chief of Ops and Tng for the 307 Air Refueling Group at Travis, while Kathy is busy selling real estate. Ralph LALIME and Darlene are in Alaska with the 43 TFS. George PUPICH is busy as a successful Los Angeles businessman and a DC-10 pilot for Western. Bruce MOSIER, the only out-of-town ’60 grad to make homecoming, has been house hunting in Colorado in between flying for TWA and the Iowa Guard. Bill SIEBECKER and his instrument-pilot-rated wife, Nancy, have their own Piper Arrow up in Wausau, Wisconsin. Dave SWEIGART dropped by a few weeks ago. He commands the 1401 MAS at Scott, a CT-39 outfit with four detachments, the largest flying squadron in MAC. Dave reports that Phil COOKE, Sid GURLEY, and Walt FUTCH are the last of the ’60 contingent at Scott. Andi BIANCUR is apparently having some “role identity problems” at Yale where his compatriots there view him as an ultra-conservative troublemaker, while his ’60 classmates recall him as a radical, black sheep troublemaker. He is looking forward to rejoining the real Air Force for a
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re-blueing next summer. Bill KORNITZER is ADO of the 437 MAW at Charleston, Dean VIKAN is ADO of the 354 TFW at Myrtle Beach, Howie BRONSON is ADO of the F-15 wing at Bitburg and Tom SEEBODE is Vice Commander of the 60 MAW at Travis. George ELSEA writes that there isn’t much sunshine in Kalkar, Germany, nor was there in Scotland where he went fishing this summer. Bill CARNEGIE says all is well in New Jersey where he is a bank computer auditor. Hal BROST is now at Wright-Patt, and ANTOM, PH has PCSd from Aspen to Cannes. Chris and Pat WARRACK are still at sunny (and smoggy) Norton AFB. Jock SCHWANK was TDY at Fort Sill recently where he ran into Major General Charles HALL, USA, who was AOC of Fightin’ Fourth during our cadet years. Neal and Niki REAVELY have moved to Bozeman, Montana. Neal is in the log cabin business and also flies F-106’s for the Guard. Steve HOLT and Earl VAN INWEGEN, bless their hearts, are now defending democracy by pushing paper around the Pentagon. Bill ZERSEN, who is still at SAMSO, just moved to San Pedro. Denny WALSH, whose selection to colonel was maliciously overlooked in this column, is at AWC while Vic THOMAS is at Nellis and Mike J. CLARKE has just assumed rough duty at the Minsterio Del Aire in Madrid.
And in conclusion Pikes Peak or bust, at the end of June next. Thanks to all of you who (wonder of wonders) wrote in this time and thanks to Jock who put much of this column together. Jock also wants to thank those who have already contributed to the Crest fund, especially those who have been extra generous and those who have contributed additional amounts in memory of fallen classmates. Keep your cards, letters and checks coming!
Lt Col Thomas L. Sutton
1714 Meadowbrook Dr Abilene, Texas 79603
Home Phone: 915-677-8730
Autovon: 461-3332
After several attempts at composing a well written piece of prose, I have thrown it all away and reverted to my former practice of just saying what seems important at the time. What’s most important to me at the moment is that I’m on my way to Mildenhall, England for 75 days of European airlift. I get to spend the first two weeks of the “rote” in Turkey shepherding three or four aircraft and aircrews in the local airlift mission there. I told my boss that I had had that opportunity once before and that I would prefer the mission in Athens, but he thought he ought to send a navigator there. So, for all of you 61ers who are stationed in Turkey, look for me there too.
It is nice to be back in the operational end of the Air Force. Flying still has its own rewards. While I chattered with Lee BUTLER a few days ago, he expressed a similar feeling. He said that even while he sat at his typewriter pounding out a letter for the Chief of Staff’s signature, his mind often wondered back to the flight line and his hands paused over the typewriter keys as he heard the whine of engines and felt the desire to be off and away. For those of you who don’t know, Lee’s tour at Griffiss AFB as Deputy Commander for Operations in the Bomg Wing there was cut a little short when he was called back to the Pentagon
to head up an ad hoc staff group of himself and four action officers. This group, CVAX, for those of you in the know, is responsible to the Assistant Chief of Staff and does all the cats and dogs stuff that the chiefs don’t want to pass out to the regular staff. Lee says it is a very challenging job and he knows not how long it will last, but that’s the long and short of it.
Lee says that the one good thing about being back in the building is that he gets to see so many 61ers in his voyages up and down the halls. Tom LaPLANTE has transitioned nicely from playing Army down at Fort Hood to an AFLC engine manager responsible for half the engines in the USAF. Lee says that there is a regular 61 community in his neighborhood with Jimmie POOLE attending ICAF, Charlie STEBBINS, and Wayne JONES all within a few blocks. Charlie THOMAS reportedly just roams the halls kind of like the man on the Boston subway that that long forgotten folk group used to sing about years ago.
I received a scribble from Norm CAMPBELL reporting that having now become commander of the 36th TFW, his job now more accurately befits his hairline. One of Norm’s former personnel officers just reported in to my trash hauler squadron and confided that he thought Norm was soon in line for some stars. For what that’s worth Norm, we hope it bodes well for you. Additionally, our 61 roving reporter, Hector Andrews NEGRONI, writes a byline from Madrid.
“We spent seven great days with Norm and Barbara CAMPBELL. As you know Norm is “Eagle One” or better said, the Wing Commander of the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing at Bitburg Air Force Base, Germany. You might want to read the August 1979 article in the Airman Magazine (pp 41-48) in which the 36th TFW is highlighted and our “old head” classmate at 39 is the head honcho. My surprise was doubled by the fact that I was also able to share some enjoyable moments with Marc ANDERSON who has just taken over as the Deputy Commander for Operations in the 36TFW. He and his lovely wife Ginger are looking great. With Norm and Marc at the helm I would be willing to wager that the 36th TFW is the best in the USAF.”
Bitburg AB, Germany August 1979. Col Norm Campbell, 36 TFW/CC (left), Lt Col Hector Negroni, JUSMG-MAAG (Spain) and Col Mark Anderson, 36TFW/DO, all class of 1961 discuss Lt Col Negroni’s flight in the F-15 Eagle. Lt Col Negroni said, “Great it is almost as good as F-86s and P-5Is.
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That’s what Hector said. Now Norm told me that Marc is the chief of maintenance in the wing. But whatever the case, the wing is in good hands. Hector also lauded Norm’s flying ability in the F-15 as he was privileged to fly a mission with Norm. The accompanying photographs are documented evidence that our roving reporter is on top of it.
“The Spanish Flyer” Class of 1961 is seen here “messing around with red guarded switches.
Hector also visited Darrell and Mary Francis KOERNER at Rhein Main. I hope to see them in a few days too. Hector says that Darrell looks very distinguished with white hair much more so than those with no hair at all; but then, there are some things that none of us can do anything at all about.
I was privileged to talk with TWC WILSON recently as well. Tom is the DETCO of the T-39 detachment at Bergstrom. He reports that he has four L/Cs working for him who outrank him. Remember those terrible days in the mid sixties when our front and left seats were filled with old L/Cs and we outstanding captain pilots had to ride second seat and moan at their ineptness? Well, those times are here again, but THEY is US. My airlift wing has over 30 L/Cs just flying the line and our sister SAC wing at Dyess has a similar situation. But like windmills, these things keep turning too and there is little point in jousting with them.
TWC WILSON asked me to pass on some good news to the class. There is hope in every dark hour. Tom was passed over for L/C the first go you will recall. Since that time he has been struggling to get an OER removed that was primiarly responsible for that pass over. He has been successful, and his date of rank has been moved back to
that of the rest of his class. We are pleased Tom, and enjoy the news with you.
TWC says that he visits with psychiatrist Rich MAYO of Austin frequently, (not on a professional basis I assure you) and that Rich is handling success well. He also has visited with Charles MOORE, a three year classmate of ours, who is in the electronics business in Austin.
Bob BEST, Ripley, Tenn oil tycoon, stopped through Austin to visit with TWC. He is enjoying his bachelorhood and is staying busy juggling oil shipments.
Gene DAVIS is now serving at Lajes Field in the Azores as a political advisor to the commander of U.S. Air Forces, Azores. He has moved out of the swollen flying ranks and put aside his C-5 jockeying for the more subtle jockeying of politics.
While we’re in the Davis’s, Dick DAVIS sent in an advertisement from McLean, Virginia. Dick works with Northwest Mutual Life Insurance and offers a Capital Needs Analysis Service to graduates in the D.C. area. He says that he is also interested in meeting eligible ladies in the 22 to 40 age bracket, but he doesn’t go into detail on the goal of such solicitation. I presume you have a special insurance package you’d like to wrap around certain willing young ladies Dick?
We haven’t heard from Bruce HINDS lately. Bruce seems to be anchored out in the desert as the Director of Test Forces at Edwards AFB. Dale TABOR has moved from the Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations of the 355 TFW at Davis Monthan to the National War College. I suspect Dale is destined for TAC Headquarters or the Pentagon after that schooling.
And finally, Tom ELLER, our AOG president, forwarded a note from Lee MC CLESKEY. Lee is destined for bigger and better things after his promotion as he is moving to Hahn AB to become the 50TFW Resource Manager. The AOG also requests any information you might have concerning the whereabouts of Reid SCHAFFNER. He might not know it, but he’s lost. Hope you all have a great football season. I will have to miss it I guess.
John W. (Jack) Jamba
Qtrs 60-A
F.E. Warren AFB, Wy 82001
AV 481-3081, Home (307) 632-3834
Hi REDTAGS! I keep saying this will be a short column. But this time I really mean it. I got caught up in some priority tasks and didn’t set aside time to make some phone calls. So here it is.
In September, my wife and I went over to the O Club here for a little dancing. While we were standing in the lounge, a man nearby started staring at my wife and inching closer to her. She started to feel uneasy and I started to feel irritated. Finally, the stranger leaned over to my wife and, as he pointed to me, asked, “Is it all right if I kick him?” Caroline was startled. I looked at the stranger whom I definitely now knew was a wise guy. He still didn’t look that familiar to me. Before I could do or say anything, he said, “Hi Jack, it’s me, Bill BROWNING.” I haven’t seen Bill since graduation and didn’t recognize him until he said his name. He has grown a mustache and has slimmed down. And he has remained an eligible bachelor
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Smile!!
all this time. Bill was in Cheyenne to visit his half-sister and had stopped in at the Club to see if he would run into any old friends. He had 3'A years of enlisted time, so he retired this summer. He has purchased the family farm in Missouri where he will settle as a gentleman farmer. He figured that the difference in pay between active duty and retirement wasn’t big enough to stay in the service for. He has spent the last couple of years flying the Air Force Chief of Staff and other VIP’s out of Andrews. Good luck in your new endeavor, Bill.
I went to Omaha recently to the SAC Squadron Commanders Workshop, otherwise known as Charm School. Also in the same workshop was Marv ODEFEY from ’63. Ken SMITH saw my name on the class roster and sought me out. I spent a nice evening at his house enjoying a home cooked meal and meeting his family. Besides his wife, Nan, and the two boys, Todd and Matt, I met his motherin-law, Mrs. Augenstein. We had a nice evening, talking about the Air Force, retention, careers, volunteer work, and generally solving many of the national problems. Thanks for the fine meal and pleasant evening.
I also saw Lefty ADAMS who is in DOT at SAC. We got to chat for about 10 minutes but, because of schedule problems, didn’t get a chance to talk more. Hope to have more news from Lefty next time.
On my last morning at Offutt, I saw Mike BUTCHKO at the O Club for breakfast. I only had a minute to say hello to Mike and promised I would call him soon.
Now for some changes of address: Ken FLEMING has reported to Sembach and has become the Sq Ops Officer for the 20th TASS. Dick HOFFERT is stationed at the Defense General Supply Center, Richmond, VA, as the Chief, Operations Research and Economics Analysis Office, Defense Logistics Agency. George LARSON is at Plattsburgh as the Commander of the 4007th CCTS. Dick RAMSEY is in Granville, Ohio, as a Controller, Missile Systems Division, for Rockwell International. Dino LORENZINI has decided to share his expertise with the Navy. He is a member of the Management Faculty at the Naval War College in Newport, RI. Paul LANDERS has moved on to the DO position in the 438th MAWG at McGuire. George HARRISON is comfortably seated at the Pentagon as the Chief, OT & E Division, HQ USAF. Dick PERLOTTO is at Hahn as the Sq Commander of the 496th Tac Ftr Squadron. And it looks like the Space Shuttle Program at Vandenberg will not need any Lt Col’s for a while, so I’m job hunting for another engineering spot. More news next time. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!
• Notify the AOG
• Update your records
• Join a Chapter at your new base
• Use your Register to locate friends
Skip Lee
811 Reiss Road
O’Fallon, IL 62269
Home: 618-632-1399
Work: AV 638-5816
Here we go again! Reflecting on this the 10th anniversary of my participation in the Class News section of CHECKPOINTS, somehow my life seems delightfully oriented around this article. I write the copy and pass it on to the AOG usually missing the suspense (deadline in the world of journalism) by a few days and then wait for the magazine to reach my mailbox. While waiting I find a letter or two or get a call from one of you all. By now I have learned to keep a separate spot for AOG correspondence and my notes for the next article. I have also learned the bulk of my contacts with the class take place within two weeks after we get the latest edition. Then comes the package from Jim with what data he has scrounged through AOG sources and we start all over again. I usually have only two weeks to procrastinate before submitting the next copy. The deadline for this missive is tomorrow and I have an unusually large pile of new data on the “Golden Horde.’’
Once in awhile I receive a letter from one of the wives and, to be truthful, they are much more informative and enjoyable to read than anything you guys can send. Carol (Larry) THOMPSON’S note was no exception. From the activities described by Carol it’s a wonder she has time to write.
First, Larry is a copilot (First Officer?) for Continental Air Lines based in Houston. The THOMPSON family resides in Austin where Jeffrey (10) and Maureen (7) who calls herself “Steve’’ are involved in soccer. On the side, Larry runs a nationwide mail order business (Lufkins) selling collector plates and many Hummell figurines. As part of the business Larry performs as a live auctioneer two times a year. His latest venture is a Computer Store in Houston. For fun Larry has been working on a Lear Jet rating under the G.I. Bill. That is something I plan to undertake. Carol reports they really enjoy Austin. Another activity they enjoy is traveling throughout the world, thanks to Continental. Thanks Carol, I loved the letter.
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MOVING??
Can you pick out the civilians?
Rather than just sending a change of address card, Arnie PATCHIN decided to write a letter on his up and coming PCS. Of course Arnie knew of his move a good 90 days or more in advance which allowed for the letter. A change of address card is sometimes hard to get out during the mad scramble of most moves. Arnie was usually a bit more systematic about things than most of us and this assignment bears his trademark. He will be on the PCS trail to Osan AB, Korea in December with a job working for “Constant Watch” as Chief of Program Control. The whole thing has something to do with underground TACCs. Patti and the children will stay in Dayton where they have lived for 3'A years. Upon his return from Korea, Arnie will go back to work at Wright-Patterson in the Aeronautical Systems Division.
The weakest excuse I have ever heard for writing a letter was passed by Larry MC LAUGHLIN. Larry wanted to let us know about his new assignment to Athens, Greece and, to make it worse, he tells this story about missing out on a neat job at Templehof AB in West Berlin. Well, I think he just wanted to rub it in and make all of us feel bad or worse. Imagine! PCS to Hellenjkon AB, Greece. Larry and Jeanne move in November where he will be in Recon Ops for the 922nd Strat Sq. Said he had it on his Form 90? Tell you what Larry; I’ll let you make up for your misdeeds if you send all of us a detailed travel report on Greece. OK? Also, send your $25.00 to the 1963 AOG Fund for the Class Wall Project. Deal?
Since reporting into HQ Rescue I have run into or talked to the following: Tom CARDOZA called soon after he checked in with HQ AFCS. Tom and Sandy came in from Hanscom Fid. and are planning to reside on base at Scott. I almost tripped over Dick and Diane SULA at a local O’Fallon High School football game. Dick is to be with XPQ at HQ MAC. They will move into their home in O’Fallon in November. Until then it is the old familiar apartment routine. Another O’Fallonite I have yet to get in touch with is George FREDERICK over in HQ AWS Technical Plans. George finally finished his tour (6 yrs) with the “Grunts” at Ft. Hood and is readjusting to all blue again. The Army guys thought he was one of them. Jack KOCHANSKI has reported in to MAC after spending a few years at Kirtland. I think Jack said he was going to be in XP?? One thing is for sure, he has found a way to get a raquetball court at noon. Around here that takes skill, cunning, luck, and/or friends in the right places. Lastly, J.T. HEAL called us up a few weeks ago and insisted we get together soon. We talked about kids and houses and the economy and such things and then promised we would make the effort to set up a reunion either in St. Louis, Youngstown or on neutral grounds in Chicago. Linda and I are looking forward to seeing Jeff and Sandy again real soon; its been too long.
A summary of recent changes in status follows: Merrill EASCOTT at Tyndall as Operations Officer of the 2 FITS (F-106); Jack ZYGNER a Flight Engineer for TWA and living in Sonoma, California; Greg FAIRHURST to Bergstrom and the 91st TRS (RC-4C); Hank HORTON to the “Puzzle Palace” and the Air Staff Air Defense Branch, Strategic Forces Division, DCS Plans Ops and Readiness or XOOTS for short. That’s what the card said! Joe COATES is Deputy Commandant for Operations at USAFA need someone to sweep floors? Jerry THIES did go to the Pentagon and he is in the Pilot Training
section (MPPTF). I hear they are working on a new training airplane. Hamilton HAGAR is at LAAFS (Los Angeles Air Force Station) as a mission analyst at the Jet Propulsion Lab. Dr. Gary WEST is Chief, Radio Therapy, Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, while Michael LLOYD is Executive Vice President of Research for Woolcott Research Associates in the “Big Apple.” The note on Mike’s card, presumably written by Dottie, asked Joe PETERS to get in touch with Mike’s mom. She also added Jim MC DONALD and Jerry MC CLELLAN made a visit while on a stop over in New York. If you want to visit with Mike he can be found in the Pan Am Building a few floors below the “Best Damn Commandant Ever.”
Other changes include: Mike HORNER at Shaw as Chief, Social Actions; Ruf HARRIS at Newport, R.I. and the Naval War College; Jimmie SCHUMAN at Dover and the 9MAS (C-5A); Marv ODEFEY as Squadron Commander of the 740 Strat Missile Squadron at Minot. Why not? Jim HANNAM moved from HQ TAC and Chief, Armament Req Division to the Air War College and Mike ANDERBERG left the Joint Staff after four years with the Studies, Analysis and Gaming Agency for Satellite Beach and the Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) as Chief, Atmospherics Branch. Mike was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his outstanding work with the OJCS. Or, was it serving four years in Washington and surviving to escape to sunny Florida? Congratulations! Two final changes were Jimmie BUTLER to Air War College and Andy CHUBATY to University of Tulsa Law School.
HELP! The Association wants to update their records. Does anyone know of Bob MACFARLANE’s whereabouts? Specifically, we need his address.
That’s it! Don’t forget to send your checks to the Class of 1963 AOG Fund so we can move on the Class Wall Project. You will be hearing more from me on that subject. Until next time I would like to say I really appreciate all the good things everyone has said about my efforts with this column. I can only say that it is fun.
P.S. Jim DIFFENDORFER’s letter ‘Supplement Losses’ in the 17 Sep 79 AIR FORCE TIMES was an excellent statement of the dilemma faced by many officers of our experience.
Joe Rodwell
7035 Oak Hills Place
Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Office: 303-636-3844
Home: 303-599-8230
After fifteen months of attempting to build a house, Sue and I are finally moved into it. Now it will probably take another fifteen months to become settled. Believe me, anyone who wants a truly great experience should build a house! Seriously, any Blue Tags passing through the area are sincerely welcome to give us a call or drop in. We hope to be in this house and this beautiful city permanently.
The shades of fall at USAFA are in the process of change. The scrub oak at the foothills of Rampart Range accentuate the beauty of the Academy area environment. The aspens of the high country have already turned to the golden hue of fall. Old favorite mountain communities like Cripple Creek, Aspen, Vail, and Durango are now
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preparing for hopefully much snow and many skiers. Fall is an incredibly beautiful time in Colorado.
As reported in the Summer issue, Dave RICKEL’s status was changed from MIA to KIA on May 22, 1979. Mrs. (Annabella) Rickel has arranged for a memorial service to be held at the Catholic Chapel at 2:00 PM, November 9, 1979. She has also established a Memorial Fund to be used in lieu of flowers. Again, our sincerest of condolences are extended to his family.
Tony COVIAS recently graduated from the Naval War College at Newport, RI, and now resides at 15817 Sap Wood, Tampa, FL. Congratulations, Tony. Nick LACEY says he thinks anyone can live through a Pentagon tour. He is looking forward to his assignment with an operational unit, the 347th TFW. Nick’s address is RR 1, Ray City, Georgia. Lanny BURRILL hopes that Nick is correct in his analysis of a Pentagon tour. Lanny is an Action Officer, Fighter Requirements, at HQ USAF. His address is 13623 Greenwood Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22192. Lanny said he was spoiled by Bill and Jan SAKAHARA in his first three weeks of the assignment.
One of my old roomies, the Markham, IL flash, Ken ANDERSON, is now Commander of the 22nd OMS. Ken’s new address is 2400 Haddington Road, Montgomery, AL. Another ex-roomie, Jeff D. BAKER, just moved up to Woodland Park, CO 80863 (SR 1173F). Jeff is still an Assistant Professor at USAFA. Joe BAVARIA is an Air Operations Officer for AFCENT at Brunssum, the Netherlands. Somehow, we always knew that Joe would obtain the goodies. Nels RUNNING joins Bob CLARK and Jim VER STREATE at Kadena AB, Japan. Bob has been named Commander of the 44th TFS, which is in the process of converting to F- 15s. Nel’s assignment is Chief of Stan Eval.
Kris MINEAU is an F-15 pilot at Luke AFB now, residing at 310 Bandera Circle, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340. I’ll never forget Kris’ going away party from Woodbridge, England (nor will my neighbors two doors down) You’ve come a long way, Kris! Congratulations for hanging in there. Another RAF Woodbridger and class historian, Tim KLINE (you should have heard him talk about the “brown shoe” days when he was here) is now Chief of the Fighter Section at Hurlburt Field, FL. Tim is probably telling all the new troops, “That’s Barney the Bushmaster and his eye’s on the target.”
Rich PORTER is doing research in Soviet Studies at the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, CA. He’ll be there for one year then on to the Pentagon. Rich joined Greg HILDEBRANDT who is on a one year sabbatical from USAFA. Rich and Sherry live at 4605A, W. 136th Street, Hawthorne, CA 90250. Ed PEGG is Chief of Stan Eval in C-141s at McGuire AFB, NJ. Ed lives on base at 4330 FLN, McGuire AFB, NJ 08641.
On the 30th of June, Larry ROBINSON III wed Marion Hersey Swett at the Congregational Church, New Canaan, Conn. Congratulations are in order! A1 ROGERS is a SAC Sqd Cmdr and currently lives at 4128 Thistle Down Drive, Fair Oaks, CA 95268. Pete MORRISON is an analyst for the Assistant Chief of Staff, Studies and Analyses, Hq USAF. Pete’s residence is 7101 Plandome Ct., Springfield, VA 22153. Bill SKAER is the OTS Sqd. Cmdr. at Lackland AFB and sends his greetings from sunny San Antonio. Bill lives at 2600 Westward, Apt. 2507, San Antonio, TX 78227.
John LORBER liked England so much that he’s in transit checking out in the FB-111 so he can keep the world safe for democracy at RAF Upper Heyford. Knowing John, he’ll probably be coaching the Heyford football team to the U.K. championship it would be quite an experience after four years with the Falcons! Terry ISAACSON is now a Sqd. Cmdr. at Columbus, MS. His address is Route 7, Box 139A, Columbus, MS 39701. John SCHUMACHER is now Sqd. Cmdr. of the 96th AMS, Dyess AFB, TX.
If anyone knows the whereabouts of these “LOST SOULS” please let us know where they are: Rich BOURGOIS, Ron HERSHEL, Dan KEARNS, and Ernie MILLER.
October 2, 1979 was a sad day in the history of early AFA athletics, for it was on this day that former Falcon Sports Information Director, Bob Peck, passed away. Bob was the first Falcon SID and helped many of us through some difficult times in our athletic lives. For the past ten years Bob has been the Sports Information Officer for the Denver Broncos. Bob was eulogized in The Rocky Mountain News by Sports Editor Bob Collins the week of his death. Bob Peck had become one of the finest, if not the finest, SIDs in all of professional football. He was dedicated, hard-working, empathetic, and a great family man as well. I personally attended the memorial service in Denver and was moved by the tremendous following of
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Maryanne Bushnell and friend.
A good turnout to honor Marty.
people who paid their last respects. His memory will live on with all of us that knew him.
Don’t be discouraged by the lack of Falcon football success. The rebuilding process is a painful, albeit necessary one. As I mentioned last time, Ken Hatfield is an outstanding individual and he will do an excellent job. However, it will take some time. We came within one play or two of being victors in the Tulsa, Kansas State, Navy, and Oregon games. The “cardiac” kids of the 1958 Cotton Bowl season used up all the good fortune (luck) for the next 25 years, I am afraid. However, 1 firmly believe that the corner has been turned in the football program.
Please be certain to take a few moments and drop me a line, call, or stop in. Good skiing!
F. X. McCann
23 Lee Avenue Poquoson, VA 23662
Time marches on, and with it a changing of the Guard. Mike RYAN, who has done superb work in writing this column for the past few years, has moved on to a new assignment at MacDill. Mike took over as Commander of the 61st Squadron in April and is doing quite well. Best of luck, Mike and Jane. The new guy on the block, me, is Frank MC CANN. My first order of business is to make the annual plea for information on anyone. Your assistance will be a major factor in keeping class news flowing, and it certainly will make my job easier.
Fortunately, when Mike handed over the reins, he also passed on some information he received from Jerry WILKOWSKI. “Ski” was home on leave in Tampa from sunny Kunsan, Korea. Bob WALSH is in Seoul with the 314th Air Division and apparently is going back to Pease in FB-11 Is. Steve AMDOR is enroute to the 497th Squadron at Taegu where Lionel LUXICH is presently holding the operations officer job. Lionel is about to return to the states, possibly to HQ TAC. Joe LE MIRE missed a shot at going to the “Kun” and ended up at Clark. Joe came from a job on the PACAF staff where Gene KOROTKY is serving his time. Gene was having it too good as Ops Officer in the 62nd Squadron at MacDill and moved to Hawaii. “How’s the surf, Koroto?” “Ski” also mentioned that Jim SWALLOW was working in the Chicago area as a
plant manager. He was formerly with Proctor and Gamble; however, has moved on to another firm whose name I do not have.
I ran across a couple of old “Fitin 4th” troops at Andrews a few months ago, Vic GENEZ and Guy ENGLER. Vic was TDY from Wright-Patterson and Guy was coming in PCS. Neither had changed very much at all; Guy looked about a day older than when he graduated. Also heard that Howell ESTES had taken command of the 20th Squadron at George. Congrat and best of luck to Howell and Deanie.
Before I sign off, I want to repeat my earlier request for information on classmates. Anything you have a post card is fine.
Eddy Shirley
2260 Cascade Drive
Atwater, California 95301
AV: 347-2518/2509
Home: (209) 357-0903
Hi!
Castle AFB has become a crossroads for ’66ers. It seems that everyone who came here after UPT or UNT is coming back for requalification or instructor upgrade. Stretch STRZEMIECZMY is enroute to Grand Forks. Doc NEWTON is going to McConnell, Warren DIXON is here from Barksdale to upgrade to IP in the B-52. Bob HAUGE is avoiding the snow at Pease by going through CFIC in the KC-135. If you’re coming to Castle, please give us a call.
Butch SCHRECKER called and said that he had seen Don HALLENBECK and Pat O’BRIEN at Kadena. Butch is Chief of Stan/Eval for the RC-135 Wing at Offutt. Don and Pat are in the 18th TFW. Jim HIGHAM is the Ops officer of the T-38 Squadron at Vance. Bill SHEPARD is at AFTEC at Kirtland. Ross GUBSER has made the long distance move from Fort Carson to USAFA to join the growing RED TAG contingent in the Comm Shop. Pete NASH has checked out in the A-10 at Davis-Monthan. Pete, don’t you know flight surgeons aren’t supposed to fly alone? Good Show! Dale SCHMIESING is a Vice President of Merrill Lynch in Omaha. Bruce MC BRIDE is at George as the Base Comander’s Exec and part-time flyer in F-105G Wild Weasel. Dorsey PRICE watches them both from the George Command Post. Ron DAVIS has moved from Alaska to Kansas City as the Air Force Representative at KC Center. Ron BROOKS took his place on the AAC Staff at Elmendorf. Joe HURST, Ron DASKEVICH and Rick STRONG and Lee SMITH are all attending ACSC. Congratulations to Gregg SWANSON who wins the “Welcome Back to Reality” Award for his move from flying the F-4 with the Luftwaffe to a Pentagon job in XOX. Vic ANDREWS has traded his desk near the “purple water fountain” in the Pentagon basement for an F-4 to Kunsan. Jim MULLEN is now the Assistant City Manager of Casper, Wyoming. That’s a little cold for a South Carolina boy, isn’t it, Jim? Joe FAIX is a Test Pilot at Wright-Patterson. Bill LEYDORF is flying C-141’s out of Charleston and Donna is opening a law office in nearby Summerville, South Carolina. Ed CANNON has left USAFA for Minot and a job as Chief of Operations in
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Civil Engineering. Paul VIOTTI is now a Tenure Associate Professor in the Poli Sci Department. May you have better students than we were, Paul! The Air Force has finally repaid Steve SWARTZ for his assignment to UPT in Selma, Alabama. He now flies JC-130’s for Systems Command at Hickam AFB. Wayne MYERS (Pilot) and Walt KING (Nav) have given up pounding knowledge into the heads of cadets to fly the E-3A AWACS at Tinker. Tim BROWN has gone from Korea to Bergstrom as the 12 AF Flying Safety Officer. Evan QUIROS is now back in Laredo running his family ranch. Thanks for the call Evan. How about making sure I’m home next time! Wayne SKORA is in Flying Safety at TAC HQ. We look forward to having you visit the 84th, Wayne, now that we are in TAC. Bob DUNAHM is at Tyndall in the QF-100 drone program. Bob was married last December; welcome to the RED TAG community, Jan. Jerry MROZEK has left Vandenberg for C-130’s at Pope. Dick THOMPSON is the Wing Exec at Laughlin. Does that mean you fly, Dick?
SPECIAL NOTES:
The people of Fort Thomas, Kentucky have named a new highway bridge the “Joe Ross” Bridge. It is a fitting tribute to a great guy.
Where is Damon RICKARD? Anyone who knows please write me.
RED TAGS with Silver Leaves
A quick look at the Lt Colonel’s list revealed some familiar names. Primary zone: John CASPER, Jamie GOUGH, Bob RHAME and Bill RYAN. Secondary zone: Joe ALLEN, Dick BETHUREM, Geoff EGGE, Ken FUNKHOUSER, Tom GUENTHER, Ken HACKER, Don HAUSAM, Jim HIGHAM, Bill HOHWIESNER, Bill HUDSPETH, Harry ICKE, John MARSHALL, John MC FALLS, A1 MEYER, Joe NARSAVAGE, Pat O’BRIEN, Gary VAN VALIN, and Don WALKER.
Thanks to Jerry MROZEK and Gregg SWANSON for their letters. We could always use more inputs for the column. Most of the info comes via the grapevine and has a tendency to get twisted. Stay tuned next time for a reunion rundown.
Tom Greisser
132 Stacy Drive
Fairview Heights, IL 62208
AV 638-5009
Home: 618 - 632-4718
It’s a boy!! Our son, William Thomas was born on 6 September and everyone is doing well. Of course, there have been some slight changes to our daily routine! Congratulations from all of us in the class to Paul BURNETT, Roger CARLETON, Ralph FEMRITE, Doug HAWKINS, and Bob SELKE whose names were on the last O'-5 list. Those promoted below the zone were Bob MULDROW, Dave NOWLIN, and Buddy SAMS. Good show! I’ve got some other great news to report! My search for an individual(s) to work on the Class Wall Crest project has ended on a happy note. Seems as though there are two hardy souls out there ready to take a crack at the task. Tom TWOMEY from Pease AFB called and said he’d like to participate. That surprise was heightened when Pete MILNE (here at Scott AFB) approached me about the same time with a similar, generous offer of help. They will be discussing our plan of attack and will be getting in contact with all 67’ers. I think the current scheme is to mail requests for donations (tax-deductible) to everyone and see how the initial response turns out. I’ve got a few questions someone out there may be able to help us with. (1) Who are/were our class officers? (2) Does anyone know if we have a class fund and if so, how much is in it? (and most importantly where is it and how do we get it?) The cost of mailing our solicitations (and prepaid return mailers) will be substantial so we’ll need all the funds we can secure. Pete and Tom are making preparations now but anyone who is interested can pitch in and help, that’s for sure. Let’s get the ’67 Crest up on the wall as quickly as possible!! I’ve had a request from the AOG to try and locate some “Lost Souls”. If anyone can help in running these guys down, please contact me or the AOG office. They are: Bob CONNOLLY, Steve CAIN (formerly Stephen SEIGLER) and Art FISHER.
Let’s take a moment for a more somber note. The last issue of CHECKPOINTS reported the change of status of Scotty ALBRIGHT to KIA. We lost a good friend and fine person. Our condolences to his family and loved ones.
I received lots of change of address cards, a few phone calls, a letter and a visit by a classmate from which to glean info, so here goes. The letter from Jim ICENHOUR recounts his adventures as an ALO at lovely Camp Casey just below the DMZ in Korea. All that Jeep time after 12 years of flying nothing but fighters! Jim also reports that Pete BETTINGER “. the poor guy is down the road 19 KM from me at Camp Red Cloud working in the DASC.” You two guys take care over there. The visitors we had were Clay and Susan MAGEE. Clay said he hated to pull himself away from the DIA but duty called and now he’s at Altus AFB for C-5 training and will eventually be stationed at Travis where he’ll fly and work on completing his PHD in Int’l Relations (I think). Roger COFFEY called with an update that Stump SOWADA, Mike OGRADY, Ron BLUM, and Doug HAWKINS are each taking turns keeping the Air Staff headed in the right direction. I also believe Doug suffered a hand injury of some kind (so did I!!) Hope you recover soon and completely.
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Homecoming A ttendees
A few regulars; some new faces.
Ted LEGASEY jestfully took offense to his title as a “Beltway Bandit” and informed me that his correct title is V.P. of the SRA Corporation in Arlington, VA. Roger CARLETON wrote that he’s departing Ft. Leavenworth and Army CGSC for the Pentagon to the same office where Paul SELLERS works (in AF Plans and Operations). Fred WILLIAMS is also in the area working as an intell type in AF/INY.
I also got word that A1 HUNTER separated in June and is working as a staff member at Los Alamos Labs. He was a physics instructor/LASER man at AFIT so I’m sure he made the move to his position in New Mexico with no problem.
One Hometown News Release reported that John GNALL participated in Black Fury II, a U.S. Army Southern Command joint air, ground, and naval exercise in the Panama Canal Zone (or is that now the Republic of Panama?). He’s with the 24th Composite Wing at Howard. Did you get to go to the changeover ceremony, John?
Change of Address Cards: Rich HUGHES has returned to the roost where he’s now an Associate Professor in the Behavioral Sciences Dept at USAFA. Two other guys at Travis are Stuart BOSTROM and John WINGFIELD. Stu is an OB-GYN at David Grant Med Center and John is a C-141 aircraft commander with the 7 MAS. Larry BECK
writes that he’s an academics instructor with the 465 TTS at Holloman but his return address is Det 11/2ADG (?). Rich REITAN is a NM ANG A-7 pilot (active duty advisor?) in the Albuquerque area. Dennis MANSELL is also there as a senior staff member for BDM corporation. Terry CARROLL is Hying with the 355TTW (A-10 RTU) at Davis Monthan AFB. From the land of George Wallace: I’ve heard that George GIBSON is an ACSC student (along with many other classmates I’m sure) and Gerry CORWIN is Chief of Info Mgmt at LMDC in the Professional Military Comptroller School. Larry MORRIS terminated his service career on 1 June, and now works for LOGICAN, INC in Omaha. Dave KNOX is a Tupperware Distributor in Goose Creek, SC. Dan MORGAN served six weeks at Wilford Hall as part of Clinical Psychology training and should permanently return to active duty in August 1980. Mike LUMBARD is an Asst SJA for HQ ATC at Randolph. Poor Ted MC ADAM writes about his lament from Zaragoza, Spain where he’s a weapons liaison officer for the 406 TFTW. Hang in there Ted, things may get better! Rich HAYNES is a special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms in Las Vegas. John DAVIS is Chief, Conepts Branch for the USAF Special Plans Office, HQ/USAFSS. Rich RESLING transferred from FAA Fairbanks, AK for FAA Denver, CO where he’s a 727 flight examiner. Danny PIPER has upgraded to C-9 Aircraft Commander at Rhein Main. Finally, an important correction to the Register of Graduates must be made. Rick WEIZENEGGER’s name was erroneously printed in italics. He says that would be great for his dealings with the IRS and Social Security office, but it’s not a way to get a warm fuzzy feeling. Most importantly he reports on the birth of their “second beautiful daughter, Katie Elizabeth.” Belated Congratulations!!
That’s about it for this time. Keep in touch and remember photos are needed; send ones of good quality please (no Polaroids). Auf Wiedersehen!
That’s about it for this time. Keep in touch and remember photos are needed; send ones of good quality please (no Polaroids). Auf Wiedersehen!
<&' Mark Torreano
? 8469 Brainerd Court
f Springfield, VA 22153 (703) 455-4960 Home
AV 222-5011 /(202) 692-5011 Office
As I sit down to write, sports are on my mind. Last week, Navy squeaked by a determined AF squad 13-9 at Annapolis. The day before, the Capital Chapter hosted luncheon for Falcon football fans at the Pentagon and heard from General Tallman, Colonel Clune, and head football coach Ken Hatfield. All three voiced strong support and determination to make our football team competitive and I believe they will. While our 0-6 record so far doesn’t bring much solace to us now, I think the overall program is going to turn the corner shortly. Ken is a dynamic and dedicated individual who can motivate and lead our players. The Academy’s recent entry into the WAC will also restore some balance to our schedule and give us a shot at a post-season bowl game. As I said last time, we can all help by asssisting in the recruiting of qualified players. Pass on your prospects to Jim Bowman
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Sylvia Langston was selected “Mrs. Hawaii” in Jan 79. She later was 2nd runner-up in the Mrs. America contest.
at (303) 472-2843. The Chapter also had a luncheon in September, where General George Keegan (USAF, Ret.) provided some in-depth insights into the early development of the Academy curriculum and the issues surrounding the SALT II debate.
Good news recently for Brook BAILEY, Bill ECKERT, Ron KERCHNER, Bob MAGUIRE, and Tony ROBERTSON who become the first in the class to be promoted to 0-5. Congratulations. To follow up on the results of the recent 0-4 board, I called Brook, who is on the Selection Board Secretariat at MPC, for some stats on the class. Two hundred forty one of us went up before the board, and 210 were promoted, for a promotion rate of 87%. The board’s quota was 10% higher than last year, so we all had a little better opportunity. Pin-on rank should come by January or February. Then around mid-year 1981, we will be considered for permanent major. And if present promotion trends hold, we will be considered in the primary zone for temporary Lt. Col. in the summer of 1983, with pin-on in 1984. On another subject, the AOG asks for information on the whereabouts of Ian DUNCAN.
Phone Calls: Vern MC GRAW is the new Chief of Soaring at USAFA. Vern says he was provided this opportunity when the previous Chief, Dave ALLEN, decided to hawk his skills on the civilian market and landed a position with TRW in Colorado Springs as a quality control engineer. Vern says the soaring team placed 17th in the nationals and he also had some info on other classmates. Blair STEWART and Ken STEWART are apparently out; Blair’s plans unknown and Ken is looking to fly for Eastern. Pat HURLEY is also out and looking for an airlines job, while Mike CHAPMAN and wife have become first-time parents with the birth of a baby boy. Finally, Doug MENARCHIK is teaching Poly Sci at USAFA, and Vay JENSEN is the XO for the Airmanship Division in the Comm Shop.
Dave PREVOST is newly arrived in D.C. as a Mideast analyst in AF Intelligence. He has just come from one of the most interesting jobs I’ve run across lately the Mideast UN peacekeeping force. With his family living in Israel and Cairo, Dave served as a liaison officer with PLO and Israeli forces. But the kicker is he worked for a Russian Lt Col! Can you imagine going up for major with a “3” OER written by a Soviet officer?!! Actually, a US officer wrote his OERs, but its an interesting thought. As a Mideast area specialist who speaks Arabic and has an MA from the Univ of Utah, I’m sure Dave’s involvement in Mideast affairs will continue.
Greg PAQUIN and Bill VAN AMERONGEN called to offer employment assistance/counselling. Greg is Manager of Corporate Recruiting for Container Corp of America and lives in Atlanta. He says CCA looks quite favorably on military experience and he spends a lot of time at bases conducting interviews. Greg invites anyone who wants more info about CCA opportunities or the civilian job market in general to call him collect at CCA at (404) 237-0338 or at home at (404) 952-0893. Meanwhile, Bill is in Dayton where he works for Boeing as a marketing rep for electronic warfare avionics systems. Although not a professional “head hunter,’’ Bill invites inquiries from grads concerning Boeing and can help put you in touch with the right people if you want more details. He can be reached (not collect, please) at (513) 222-3711 or write to
him at the Boeing Co., 333 West First Street, Suite 450, Dayton, OH 45402. Bill also mentioned that the WPAFB Chapter of the AOG held a luncheon recently with General Pete Todd (’59) as speaker. Classmates in attendance included Ken BOWERS, Mike CRYER, Mike HEMBROUGH, Ken MADSEN, and John RITTENHOUSE.
Rick (Pat) PATTERSON dropped a quick note about his short notice (2 days) PCS. He is now in the Netherlands, as Chief, Communications System, NATO E-3A (AWACS). Jim PARKER writes from Medford, Oregon, where he is an FBI agent. After 8 years in AF SP work, Jim resigned and joined the Wisconsin State Patrol. While awaiting a call from the FBI, Jim worked Interstate 90/94; hope none of you were customers of his. Kingsley Airfield is in Jim’s area, so give him a call if you pass through and visit him, Janice, and their two daughters.
A long letter from Dana DRENKOWSKI revealed he is no longer an editor for Soldier of Fortune magazine in Boulder, but a law student at UC San Francisco’s Hastings School of Law. Dana lives in a small apartment near Golden Gate Park and the Pacific Ocean, and is serving as a managing editor of the school newspaper. One of his coeditors is a lass by the name of Vicki McCartyEnglund, the September Playmate. I tried to get the CHECKPOINTS editor to run her picture, but he’s not ready to print a centerfold, so you’ll have to go to the neighborhood news stand. Dana is still writing articles for his old magazine, but probably uses pseudonyms (I saw an article in one issue by Nino Baldachi; is that you, Dana?)
Give Dana a call at (415) 665-6284 or 557-1950 if you’re going to San Francisco.
Moves and News (Releases): Abe ABRAMSON has taken the position of Managing Director, Investment Mgt Services at Bernstein Co, NYC, specializing in pension, profit-sharing and individual accounts. Skip and Cindi BALAZS have recently had their third baby and now live in Apple Valley, CA. Skip is an IP at Geroge AFB along with Sam BOLE. Mike BOOTS is a long range strategic planner on the Air Staff. John CHAPMAN is an F-4 pilot at Torrejon AFB. Tim DAVIDSON is Chief of the Scenario Branch (he tells stories) at the Tactical Air Weapons Center, Eglin, and was named an Outstanding Young Man in 1979. Bob DENNY is a (RC-135?) pilot at Offutt. Tony EDEN is a “Mister’’ and works at the Solar Energy Research Institute in Golden, Colorado. Bill EISENMAN has a new address in Columbia, SC and lists
37
no rank, so he may also be a “Mister”. John FREEMAN, now with Braniff out of Dallas, notes that he and Priscilla share the “most offspring” title with the MC BRIDES, with five of their own. Chuck JACKSON is Chief of the Ops Branch, 82 CE Squadron at Willy. Art MILLER is a design engineer with Texas Instruments in Austin. Art MOXON is upgrading in A-lOs and will go to RAF Bentwaters in February. Mike MUELLER flys C-130s at Dyess, Dave MULKEY is an airlift ops action officer in Air Staff Plans. Mike NAVARRO is in Ottawa, Canada. Ron RASOR is an internist at USAF Hospital Bitburg. Jim SEEVERS is Chief, Technical Support Branch, AF Mgt Engineering Agency, Randolph AFB. Wayne SHATTUCK received the new Defense MSM while serving as Administrative Asst/Aide to the Cdr, Defense Mapping Agency. Neal STARKEY is a senior buyer for Digital Equipment Corp in Colorado Springs. Dave STROBEL passes on his thanks to Bob SHUMWAY for a great Homecoming and adds that he is now with Science Applications, Inc. in San Bernardino. And Gary TACEY is the Safety and Sanitation Mgr, Redwood Food Packing, Redwood, CA.
The holiday season is almost upon us. Mimi and I hope this will be a time of joy and peace for you, your families and loved ones. We look forward to hearing from you.
Michael R. Thiessen
1205 W. 75th Terrace Kansas City, MO 64114
816/474-0777 Business 816/444-0053
What was true in 1969 continues to be true in 1979, it is a privilege to be in Colorado. Over 200 of our classmates were officially registered for our reunion activities Homecoming Weekend but unofficial reports indicate that closer to 300 actually attended. The reunion was a complete success and all those present will attest to the gorgeous “Indian Summer” weather which prevailed from Thursday through Sunday. The skies were as clear as ever, temperatures were in the high 60’s and low 70’s and the Aspens were providing their annual color show.
Many 69’ers deserve acknowledgement and thanks for the effort that was put into our reunion. Certainly Jeff CAMPBELL and Tom BAUMGARDNER should be at the top of the list, but Mike GUYOTE, Ralph FROEHLICH, Dave WAGNER, Mike ROSE, Chip WOOD, Jim DOWNEY, Dave STANICAR and Ed WEISE (and I am sure many others I have omitted) deserve our gratitude for their efforts.
The festivities commenced Thursday evening with a cocktail party and dinner at the Holiday Inn North. This was the official ’69 reunion function which provided a forum for renewing acquaintances and planning the balance of weekend activities. Jeff CAMPBELL, the chairman of our reunion project, conducted the program for the evening which included appearances by Mike GUYOTE, Ed WEISE and Tom ELLER ’61. Tom is our AOG President and spoke briefly to welcome ’69 to Homecoming and to caution ’69 to avoid the outrageous conduct witnessed at previous USAFA ten year reunions. I am sure you will all be interested in knowing that as Tom reached the heart of his appeal for decorum, a 69’er
launched a dinner roll, the trajectory of which took it from the far corner of the dining room to the wall just behind Tom. I am sure Tom knows no disrespect was intended and his welcoming remarks were appreciated by ’69. I am able to report that our class was successful in conducting a very enjoyable reunion without inflicting any damage, physical or mental, on USAFA.
The hi-lite of our reunion dinner was not the baked chicken meal with one 69’er indicated was cooked in ’69 in Mitchell Hall, flash frozen and preserved for our use ten years later. The main event was the screening of a Monty Python style review of our days at USAFA. Ed WEISE narrated this epic that starred among others Chip WOOD. This ancient footage had survived the ten years with dignity, although this same word should not be used in association with content of the movie.
Friday activities included a Homecoming parade followed by lunch with the Wing. These two events although enjoyable, were in reality rather uneventful, except for the Homecoming Parade cheers led by none other than H. OWNBY. For a copy of H’s two word cheer you may send a self-addressed, stamped, plain brown envelope to H.
Friday night the real happening occurred. Mansion Party ’79 was an overwhelming success. Dave WAGNER and Mike ROSE were primarily responsible for the staging of this event, which was held in Denver. The all-cadet 31st Street Exit performed and, in the opinion of most, were better than they were in 1969 which is high praise indeed. The composition of the Exit was as follows:
Steve STOWE, rhythm guitar, Ron NELSON and CRITTENDEN, vocalists, Lynn DAEKE, bass; Tom NELSON, organ and guitar and from 1970, Mike CANNON, drums and Mark EMERSON, lead guitar. Thanks guys for taking the time to prepare for the performance. You were great!
Saturday our Class Crest was dedicated during the memorial service exercises. We can all be proud that we are one of the first classes to see our Crest mounted on the Chapel Wall. It was a very moving ceremony, one that the participants will not soon forget. The ceremony had particular significance for our class this year due to the recent deaths of Gary COMBS and Ron DIEHL and the declaration that Ron BOND was KIA in Laos. Additional details concerning the passing of these three 69’ers appears elsewhere in this issue.
In our Homecoming football game with Kansas State, our team was competitive to the last minute and would have won the game but for a Falon fumble into the K-State end zone in the final minutes followed by a long K-State
38
touchdown run. The Homecoming Ball Saturday night provided more opportunities for small talk and renewed friendships.
Having given you a brief outline of the Reunion activities, its time to report the news I was able to gather. Some of the information reported herein was supplied by Steve KAY, Tom SOLOMON, and Tom BAUMGARDNER. My reporting may lack accuracy in some instances and for this I apologize. There were a lot of friends to talk to and I may have confused some of the information received. Please forward any correction you may have.
Quite a few 69’ers are now or are soon to be doctors. Paul FARRELL is a flight surgeon and I think he is the first LC in our class. I’m sure I will hear if someone else has beaten Paul to LC rank. Craig HINMAN is a specialist in urology at Luke. Warren JAEGER is in family practice at Warren AFB. Denny RYLL, Diane and their two boys are at Mayo Clinic where Denny is in opthamology residency. Brian NELSON is also in opthamology and has two months left in his program at Minnesota. Rick GRANDJEAN is a surgeon at Carswell. Harry LAWS is a pediatrician in Europe and has a new baby boy. Mike BEEZLEY and Nancy are in Southern California where Mike is in a vascular surgery program. When he is finished they will return to Travis. Mike and Harry L. participated in the Alumni Rugby Game, an annual event of Homecoming. I heard that the Alums beat the cadets this year 15-0. Joe HASEK is out of the AF and is in internal medicine in D. C. Zygmunt ORZECHOWSKI is interning at Keesler AFB., Mike MARTIN is doctoring in Denver for the AF. P.K. CARLTON is at Luke. Tom LOVE and Karen have moved further South. Tom is continuing his medical studies and practice.
Tom and
Karen Love
Many 69’ers have joined various private air forces. Tom PARK is flying with a commuter airlines in Texas. Tom MC GRAIN is with Hughes Air West out of Las Vegas. Kit BUSCHING, Bill JOHANNES, Rick DENAULT, Joe PERSONETT and George BONELLI are flying out of El Paso for Continental. Flip KECK and Gene CAMP fly with Braniff out of Denver. Two other Braniff pilots are Craig UPTON currently in Dallas and Joe QUINN in Kansas City. Mike KLINDT and Tom MURPHY fly for Delta out of Atlanta. Tom is also studying law in Atlanta. Terry BRADY and Bugs FORSYTHE fly for United out of Denver and Salt Lake City respectively. Bugs is also flying F-105’s for the Guard. Bob BENNETT is flying for Western out of LA. Gene FOSTER is also with the private air force. Finally, Chuck HOSMER is flying for American
69ers cheer on the Falcons.
Airlines out of New Jersey. Chuck swam from Catalina Island to the mainland earlier this year. He did the 23 miles in a little over 12 hours.
Rick WILKINS is Hying F-15’s at Clovis. Tom SHUMWAY is with AWACS Hying the E-3. Ron NELSON is also with AWACS. Wildcat PHILLIPS and Lynn have two girls and one boy. They are at Dover where Cat Hies C-5’s. Barry CLINE is also in C-5’s and is on his way to Guam from Travis. Randy HERBERT is a C-5 IP at Altus. Geroge KOTTI is Hying C-135’s at Ellsworth. Tom KENDALL is at Nellis in F-4’s. Scott INGRAM is a navigator (I hope that is the right job description) in F-Ill’s in England. Jim HEWITT is an F-106 pilot at Langley AFB. Don MC SWAIN and Jerry are heading for Frankfurt and C-130’s. Bill and Pam HORACEK are at Carswell where Bill is Hying.
Many 69’ers are stationed at or near USAFA. Dennis TOPPER is an instructor in CE, after obtaining his PhD from Texas A&M. It is rumored that Dennis is engaged. Chip WOOD is in Sociology. Steve STURM is in the Political Science Department. Larry LOUDEN is in the Comm Shop. Jack DAVIS is working in the field house in the Business office. Denny MC GUIRK is AOC of Fourth Squadron. Dave STANICAR is an AOC with 24th Squadron. (Take a look at his shoes the next time you see Dave, he never had them that well shined in ’69!) Chuck ALDRICH and Richard DOWNES are with the History Department. Mike GUYOTE is a Double “E” prof. Tom BAUMGARDNER, Steve EDELMAN, Ralph FROEHLICH, and Roger HARTMAN are also staffing various faculty positions. Walt HOWLAND, John HOPPER and Jeff CAMPBELL were all at the reunion and are all at USAFA in various capacities which I am unable to specify due to my illegible notes written late Thursday night. Jon BEAR is still playing with computers and is at Ent.
Tom FLEMING is currently at Army Command and Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth. T. J. DOHERTY and Peggy are at Scott AFB where T.J. is with Air Weather Service. Stan ROSEN and Lisa are in LA where Stan is working on aerospace related matters. (Note: One unconfirmed report placed Stan in DC if I have goofed here please advise!). Harry UTTER is living in Manhattan Beach while he works at SAMSO. Jeff TRENTON is working in the office of the Secretary of Defense. He has
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1969: The Honored Class
received masters degrees from Harvard and the Sorbonne. Tom ALLEN is on his way to KADENA. Cary MARSH, Alice and daughter Amy are in Florida. Tim COUR1NGTON is at Wright Patt AFB.
Quite a few 69’er lawyers surfaced at the reunion. Tom SOLOMON is with Prappas, Moncure, Harris & Termini in Houston. Mike STEARNS is a tax lawyer with Touche, Ross & Co in Houston. Tom and Mike attended the University of Houston Law School at the same time. Mike ROSE has departed his law practice in Minneapolis for studies at the Harvard School of Business. Dave WAGNER and Bill WALLER are practicing law together in Denver. Chris PAULSON is also practicing law in Denver. H. OWNBY is practicing law in the Dallas-Ft Worth area. Glenn SCHLABS and Barbi are at Hickham with a 2Vi month old baby boy. Glenn is a JAG specializing in labor law. Brad DEAUSTIN and Ellen are at Mountain Home AFB where Brad is a JAG engaged in various duties, including many courts martial. Frequent readers of this column know that I am practicing law in Kansas City.
Several of our classmates are in the real estate business. Steve KAY and Linda Sue are in the LA area where Steve has his own development and contracting business. Bill and Marti MARVEL are also living in the LA area where Bill dealt in residential real estate prior to moving into the apartment work he is now doing. John STAVELY is a rancher and real estate salesman in eastern Colorado.
Jim ABBOTT has his own wholesale fish business in South Carolina. Brandon BLONSHINE is in St Petersburg, Florida working on the civilian side of CE at MacDill. Bob TROY is in New Orleans and LNG Producing Company. Kirk STEWART is in Boulder, Colorado in aerospace related work. Bud SPEACE is in
Phoenix. Ken NUSS is in Alaska. Bill HANEY is in San Marcus, Texas in the chemical business. Doug and Patty FITZPATRICK are in Tulsa, Oklahoma. John BANBURY is in Seattle working with Boeing on the 767 project. Jeff TOBOLSKI is also in Seattle working with the Earl Combs Company. Dick SWANSON is in Portland where it is rumored he has found employment although Swannie never was able to explain what exactly he is doing. Jim CHASE is working on his PhD in demographic and economic psychology at CU. Dennis SHORTRIDGE is working in Salt Lake City as a medical consultant. Clark BUNTON is a CPA in San Bernardino, Calif. He and his wife Marilyn have a daughter Allyson. Buzz BELDEN is a CPA in Culver City. Dennis MC CARTHY is a petroleum broker in Manhattan. B.Y. STEPHENSON is in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Ron OLDS is working for Michelin in Detroit. Dave HENRY is getting his PhD in Bio Medical Engineering. Pat RYAN is out of the AF and is in Wisconsin. Elton HUMPHREY is working in Psychology in Phoenix.
The following 69’ers were also at the reunion: Bill ALEXANDER, Tom ALLEN, Dave ANDERSEN, Curt ANDRUS, Jim ARNOLD, Chuck BALDWIN, Terry BRADY, Lance CARGILL, Mike COOK, Barry CREIGHTON, Chris CURTIS, Tony DELCAVO, Don DEWITTE, Ken FRESHWATER, Paul GALLI, Steve GOETTLER, Mike GOODE, Bill GRIFFITH, Terry HAMMOND, Bob HERKLOTZ, Terry HODGES, Gary HOWE, Bob HOWE, Chris JOHNSON, Gene JUSTIN, Bill KENNEDY, Steve KIRBY, Larry KUBICZ, Jeff MEECE, Tom MOSELY, Jim PETEK, Ed POWELL, Bill POWELL, Earl ROBERTS, Bill ROSS, Bob SCHUTT, Ron OLDS, Jim STOREY, John WARNER and Dave YOST.
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A few final notes on some classmates that were unable to join us at the reunion. George ZIER is the SJA at Izmir, Turkey. Cliff PARSONS is back in the U.S. after living in Australia for several years. Bill MC NAUGHT is in the D.C. area involved in some “think tank’’ work I believe. Jeff SMILEY is working with the Department of Energy in Maryland. Dave WAGNER reports that Minnie SMILEY is expecting a child. Mike WALDROP is working in the textile consultant business in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Dave Nielsen is practicing law in Omaha, Nebraska.
Tom BAUMGARDNER has asked that I announce the availability of ’69 T-Shirts. A picture of the shirt is included herein. Price is $5.50 for adult size (Specify Extra Large, Large, Medium and Small) and $3.75 for children’s sizes (Specify Youth Large or Youth Medium or Youth Small). Send your checks with your order to Tom at 5988 Del Paz Dr., Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918. Checks should be made payable to “Class of 1969 AOG Fund’’. Most reunion participants purchased the shirts they are very good looking.
I look forward to hearing from many of you in the following months. If you write to correct inaccurate information be sure to include any news you have about 69’ers. I would also appreciate any and all information anyone has about our classmates that are not referenced in this issue.
Form A Chapter
It only takes some interest to get an AOG Chapter organized. The AOG office can assist and the first step in the process is to contact the Executive Director for a kit that may help in your initial efforts.
Bear in mind that a Chapter can fill many different roles social club, professional forum, recruiting vehicle, etc.
Why not give it a try?
Larry Vaughn
2840 Downhill Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Home: (303) 599-7764
AV:259-2655
The first thing I have to do this time is make a correction from last time. Ray MC KELVY brought to my attention that Joe BOYLE’s wife is named Linda not Jan. I am sorry about the error and hope no one was troubled with it.
I got a call from Rob ROBISON up at Ellsworth. He mentioned that George RAYL may be getting out to fly with the airlines. While on the subject of airlines, ’70 has several more contributions to the friendly skies. Bob WHITE just finished initial training with Delta and will be based in Boston. Also flying out of Boston are Charlie STUMB with American and Kurt SHUMACHER with Braniff. Kurt has moved from first officer on a 727 to second officer on a 747 flying to Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, and Paris. Gerry MC KEE has joined the Continental group at El Paso. There must be enough ’70 grads alone to start a local AOG chapter there. How about it, guys? Flying out of Houston are Jim BARRALL with Texas International and Kirby VANHORN with Continental. Bruce MC RAE is flying with Hughes AirWest out of Phoenix but lists Seattle as home. Finally, Steve SIMPSON is with Eastern out of Miami.
There are two letters to pass on. One, from Tom FISHBURN, was on Hong Kong Holiday Inn stationery and was postmarked U.S.S. Kitty Hawk. It seems Tom is on a Navy exchange flying A-7’s and is having a great time.
The second letter was from GenAnn KELLER. Mike is Base Civil Engineer at Camp New Amsterdam. He was the USAFE winner and AF runner-up for the Civil Engineering Military Meritorious Achievement Award. Good show, Mike! She mentioned that Bob and Barb HILB are in Washington and that John GORRELL has left the AF, but she did not know where is now. GenAnn wanted to know where Steve and Sherry SIMPSON were. Well, as mentioned earlier, Steve is flying for Eastern and their address is: 6510 San Vicente, Coral Gables, FL 33146. GenAnn read in the Stars and Stripes that Bob NIEMAN won the World Cup Pentathlon in Budapest. We should be seeing Bob in the 1980 Olympics.
There are a number of short notes from various sources. Bob and Toni CHAMBERS are at Edwards where Bob entered Test Pilot School in July. John QUINCY has finished dental school with the University of Texas and has set up a private practice in Lafayette, CA. John is taking an around-the-world trip from July to December. Dick RAUSCHKOLB wanted to tell everybody that Rex LEVOY, who got married about a year ago, will soon become a parent.
Of course, summer brought a number of moves. Steve SHARKEY is in C-130’s at McChord. Paul ROSSETTI has gone to Hill as F-16 Project Pilot. Rich BUTLER has returned to USAFA. He is 4th Cadet Group Executive Officer until an AOC slot opens up. Lin SMITH is an EC-135 aircraft commander at RAF Mildenhall. Rich DOWNING is a Recce Staff Officer at RAF Rheindahlen. He received the Meritorious Service Medal in January. Congratulations, Rich. Bill KIRKMAN is an FB-111 IP at Pease. He is on exchange from TAC. Bob MARSHALL is
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David Frostman
J 2007-A Mercury Drive
# I Kirtland AFB, NM 87118
M U AV 964-5807
Dress Rehearsal for ’80
an F-15 Flight Commander at Langley. Randy DILL is a Computer Software Manager with ESD at Hanscom. Mike FAIR is also with ESD as Chief, Business Management, Program 616A. Mike BROWER is Manpower management Officer at Dover. Doug CARLSON is a Flight Test WSO at Eglin. Rick SILVANI is Air Intelligence Officer at Ramstein. Tim MOONEY is in Tallahassee, FL where he is a Training Consultant for the Florida Credit Union League. Bill MOCKOVAK is a Research Psychologist for the Bureau of Census. He reported a new family member
Abby Ann. Rich WILEY is Product Manager for RayChem Corp. in Menlo Park, CA. Tom RANDAZZA is selling real estate in Pittsburgh. Rick TAYLOR is a Sales Representative for American Hospital Supply Corp. in Wilbraham, MA. Collie NORMAN is living in Littleton, CO. He is a law clerk at the State Court of Appeals. Rick FRANCK is a trial attorney in Denison, IA. And finally, Denny THRASHER is a med student at the University of Arizona.
There are a number of “lost souls’’ in the class. If anyone knows the where abouts of any of the following, let me or the AOG office know: Jim BELL, Mike CANNON, Dave DE WITT, Mike GERMER, Doug GWYN, Ted KEEFER, Mike RYAN, Jeff SLETTEN, and Bob WEBB.
This past weekend was Homecoming at USAFA. For the most part, the 1970 contingent consisted of locals. However, Dave and Jan GAW came up from Nellis, and Jeff and Karolyn FIELD came down from Warren. The local people were Jim and Karen ANDREWS, Dave and Donna STERLING, Skip and Peggy BOHN, Ray and Alyce MC KELVY, Tony and Valerie MARIETTA, Bruce and Susan HARMON, and yours truly. Homecoming next year will be the big one for ’70, and I am sure there will be a lot of information coming in the coming months, so be on the lookout.
MOVING?
Please forward your new address, duty assignment, and other news to the AOG Office AOG Records are only as current as your latest submission...
I have lots of news this quarter, but unfortunately not all of it is good. Major Selectee Don BACKLUND was killed on 29 Aug 79 in the crash of his A-10 on the gunnery range out of Davis-Monthan. Capt David POWELL was killed on 24 July 79 in a military aircraft accident in England. Our deepest sympathies to the families of Don and David. Congratulations to Major Selectees Michael DOWNIE, Michael LACKEY, Jerry LUNDQUIST, Michael SMITH, and Randy SMITH, who were promoted, along with Don BACKLUND, three years below the zone.
Paul MAFFEY, who is at USAFA in the MT Department, has volunteered to head up our Class Wall Project. Paul will soon send out a mailing to all classmates requesting a donation for this project. Rather than requesting a specific amount, Paul proposes to solicit our participation at whatever level each individual feels is appropriate. If necessary, the amount donated can be supplemented with funds from our existing class fund, but keeping our present fund as nearly intact as possible will enable us to maintain a working fund for other projects. I fully endorse Paul’s plan and I solicit your participation.
Paul also sent me a news update. Mark SIEVERS and his bride Ann stopped by USAFA enroute to Travis from an ASTRA tour in D.C. Mark is now flying C-5s at Travis. Ron MARUSIAK has moved up to Alaskan Air Command Hq at Elmendorf, and will be flying VIP airlift in the C-12. Vern FRANCIS, who is teaching in the Econ Department, will be heading off to get a PhD next summer. Mike FARAONE is at USAFA in the PE Department. Bill MAGGIO recently left the CE Department for a flying job with Eastern. He hopes to settle in Boston. Rat RAND and Barry BRUNS came out for Don’s funeral. Barry is farming in Nebraska and inspecting his fields in a Cessna 172.
Martin LEBOUITZ wrote from Greenwich, Conn. Martin is at the Banker’s Trust Company in the International (Philippines) Department and doing well.
Many of you have probably seen the article in the Aug 79 AIRMAN magazine about Jim BROWN. Jim got out and was flying for Southern Airlines, but decided to come back into the Air Force.
The AOG has asked for assistance in locating the
42
following “lost souls”: Alan ANDERSON, Joe CHASE, Ormsby FORD, Robert JACKSON, Ernie JENNINGS, David MARSHALL, Richard MC DONALD, John MILBOURN, Ivory MORRIS, and Jimmy SMITH. If anyone is aware of what these guys are doing, please let the AOG office know.
In other news, Michael REICH is at AFTEC here at Kirtland, and Bob HEMM left the Weapons Lab for Wright-Patt this summer. Andrew CERONI recently received the AFCM for his work in the OSI while at Lindsey Air Station, Germany and is now at Andrews. Harold STEINKE is flying for Delta, based in Houston. Keith BARRETT sent a note along with a change of address card suggesting that he would like to get an Airline Section of the AOG started. Keith is a flight engineer for American in New York.
Bob BLACK got out and is living in Montgomery, Alabama. Pete BLAKE is an FAA Air Traffic Controller and is living in Longmont, Colo. Rod BOATRIGHT graduated from AFIT and is now a Logistics Analyst at Hq ATC at Randolph. Rod relates that Ed EDMONDSON was in his class at AFIT and that he has recently run into Drs. Pat PAGLEN and Tom QUALEY, Pat at Fort Sam Houston, and Tom at Andrews.
Charles BRASHER is flying for American out of Dallas as are John SHINER and Rick ROSSA. And yet another American employee is Ron CASSANO, based in New York. Tom CHRISTENSEN is a QC Officer at Reese. Jim DEMETRIO was a ROTC Assistant Professor at the University of Portland, Oregon and planned to separate in July. Paul DORDAL was recently married to Laureen and is at Hill as an F-16 weapons officer. William DUDLEY is a student at Lewis and Clark Law School in Vancouver, Washington. Schuyler FOERSTER is attending Oxford University in England to obtain the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Politics, focusing on Comparative Defense Policy. He is slated to return to the USAFA Political Science Department in 1982.
Loren GILES is flying for PSA and living in Redlands, Calif. Mark HEILMANN is the OIC of Quality Control for the tanker wing at McConnell and announces a new son’s arrival. George HOFFMAN is living in Minnetonka, Minn, and also has a new son. George invites any classmates who are interviewing for jobs in the Minneapolis area to give him a call. George HOULE is an Administrative Contracting Officer at AFPRO, McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis. Russ KELSO is flying C-130s at Little Rock. Wally KOWITZ is a KC-135 Instructor Nav and the staff navigator for the Tanker Task Force at Zaragoza, Spain. John KRAMER is flying C-141s at McGuire. John LADD is at F-15 RTU at Luke, enroute to Bitburg. Randal LEAVITT is a missionary for the Navigators at the University of Alabama. Major Tom MC ANALLY is an Infectious Disease Research Fellow at the University of Oregon. Bob MANNING is in FB-111 upgrade at Plattsburgh and will be stationed at Pease. Rich MARTENSON is Chief of the T-38 Academic Section at Vance. Neil MILLER is a DC-9 first officer for Texas International, based in Houston. William MILLER is flying for Continental out of Los Angeles. Charley MORGAN is flying 727s for Eastern and A-37s for the Maryland Guard. William MUNSON is a tax staff accountant at Price, Waterhouse in San Jose, Calif., after graduating with a law degree and an MBA from the
University of Santa Clara in May. Ed NOLTE is in F-15 RTU at Luke, enroute to Holloman. Patrick O’HAGAN is the ALCM Interface Manager for the Joint Cruise Missile Project in Washington, D.C. Ryan PARADIS is assistant chief of the Soaring Branch at USAFA. Anthony PEASE is a management consultant for Booz, Allen, and Hamilton in Bethesda, MD. Louis RECORDS is vicepresident for engineering of Digitran, Inc., and is developing an oil well systems simulator for engineering design and training, as well as teaching well control at a local university. John REHO is assistant controller for Barnard and Burk, Inc, in Pasadena, CA. John SELF is a C-130 pilot at Pope. Clyde SMITH is assistant staff judge advocate at March. William SMITH is an instructor for the 3395 Tech Training Group at Keesler. Wayne and Ann TURK are in Norman, Oklahoma, where Wayne is a student in mass communication at OU. Robert WHITMORE is flying for Continental and the New Mexico Guard out of Albuquerque, and Tom WUERSLIN is a pilot for Delta based in Atlanta.
That’s it for this time. By the way, the AOG sends me your change of address cards after they update their files, so feel free to write notes to me that way.
Bob Bell PSC Box 1711 APO SF 96328
Good afternoon fellow Falcon followers, on this Sunday as I listen to the USAFA-Navy game on Far East Network radio and try to get this column out by the publication deadline. The AOG has been able to send less than usual in the way of information to use in the newsletter, and as I count the letters received since last time, I find only six of them from five of you. So it may be short this time, but will try to put out what I do have in as accurate a format as is possible.
In the address change department, there are quite a few to report. Gary ADRIANCE is at Columbus AFB as an IP and Chief of Academics. Dan BETHARDS (MaryEllen) flies in the Fighter Lead-In Program at Holloman as a T-38 IP. Bill BAKER (Janet) is a Continental Second Officer based in Los Angeles. Howard BALENTINE (Debbie) is an AFIT-Logistics doing the Wright-Patt hitch as a student. Another AFIT resource, but involved in the AF Legal Program is Bill COLWELL (Ginny) studying at the McGeorge School of Law in Penryn, CA. Working as a Tactical Weapons Systems Officer is Neal COYLE, in the Legislative Liaison Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. Rob DEHMER (Janie) is a Flight Officer for American based in Chicago. Robin DAILEY (Donna) has taken a position as Assistant Program Manager for TRW in Colorado Springs. Jim FINNEGAN is at Wright-Patt as F-15 System Project Officer/Configuration Manager. Working on AFIT/ENA Operations Research for a Master’s degree is Craig GHELBER (Ann). Now a Family Practice Physician at Fairchild, Gary GAEDE (Sherry) completed over a year of his three year residency at Carswell as the Chief Resident Physician. Gordy HERRICK is working with the King Coal Mine in Bayfield, CO. From Stuttgart comes word that “Hansen’s
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VOQ” is open for visitors while Warren HANSEN (Janice) works as an Air Liaison Officer at Kelly Barracks. A new face at Sperry Flight Systems in Scottsdale, AZ is Bill HEMPHILL (Sandy). Duane JOHNSON (Lisa) is presently at AFIT in the student status. Jim JOHNSON is now a First Officer with Braniff as of January, based in Minneapolis, and married to Carolyn. Serving as Flight Surgeon at Myrtle Beach, SC is Ken JONES. Dave KERBER has moved from Kirtland where he was the Chief, Civil Law Division, to a new assignment in the DC area. Cal KING (Andrea) is a Flight Officer for United based at O’Hare. Recruiting OTS Personnel in the Bedford, MA area is Harvey LECATO. Roger MILLER (Claudia) is a pilot for Republic based in Minnesota. Mark MEYER (Kim) flies for the Colorado ANG (A7s) and for Continental based in Denver. Dan MERCIER (Diane) has the job of Program Manager Terminal Guidance Systems at Los Angeles AFS (SAMSO/DYMG). Now at Homestead, Galen MC PHERSON (Shelley) is a Ford Motor Company Product Design Engineer in Detroit. Mark Twain Banks of St. Louis, MO has a new assistant to the President in Dan NARZINSKI (Marsha). Tom O’RIORDAN (Kim) is in DC as an ASTRA Action Officer in HQ USAF Strategic Programs. Tom reports that Rick BUSCHMANN (Sue) has DOS’d from NORAD, and Ed QUINN (Marta) is bound for Crete, presumably in the legal end of USAF. Rich PENNINGTON (Bunnie) is now the Ass’t Staff Judge Advocate at Lowry, ATC/LTTC. Phil PACINI (Jill) has a civilian position as test pilot for Sikorsky, now living at Beacon Falls, CT. Ron RICHARDS (DianaJo) has joined the USAFA faculty in the Airmanship Department. Bob RAKITIS has switched from Helo’s to fixed-wing as a C-141 pilot at Charleston.
Where’s
Everyone ?
Ray RUCKER is a Financial Analyst for the Mobil Oil Corporation based in Los Angeles. Dan SKOTTE (Nancy) has left sunny California for a Chicago area Med school. Jim STEFANIAK (Linda) is a Forward Air Controller at Bergstrom in the 23rd TASS. Pete SUTTON (Diane) is now an ASTRA OFFICER AT HQ USAF, in the office of XOOTR. Ken STONE (Kay) is now praticing medicine at Mt. Home. Dave THARP (Maureen) has started an AFIT tour at Wright-Patt. Mike VERZOLA (Carol) has taken a position with Proctor & Gamble as an Employee Relations Specialist in the St. Louis, MO area. Bob WALLER (Susan) is a new Economics instructor at USAFA. Rick
WINN (Sandra) is assigned to the University of Oregon in the position of Fellow-Infectious Disease.
The hometown news releases report only a few items this time Ed RANSFORD (Laurie) has left Minot for assignment to Ft. Lee AFS, VA as an ADC Safety Officer. Mike MC NABB (Melba) has completed his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi, and currently works as an Airborne Targets Officer at Keesler. Drew RIOLO recently received the USAF Outstanding Unit Award resulting from Meritorious Service with the 552nd Airborne Warning & Control Wing at Tinker. Mike SOTAK is an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at Lehigh University, in Bethlehem, PA. And one of our recently found “Lost Souls” is Bill LOVELL (Arden Mae) who now flies for Delta based in Houston, TX now maybe we’ll be able to keep tabs on Bill.
Speaking of “Lost Souls”, we have another listing that needs to be circulated so that any of you out there may report your whereabouts or those of one of the named few. It begins with Richard E. BARR, Stephan L. BULEY, Andrew N. CHIN, James N. CORGILL III, Gerardo W. QUIROS-GUILLEN, Robert E. JOHNSON, Dale R. KENT, and ends with Joseph E. MANOS. This may be a good time to reiterate the point that a current address is always desirable in an organization this large, and any help available is welcome in locating the guys who are considered out of contact.
A June letter from T. J. MANCUSO (Roberta) reports that he is now a civilian Denver lawyer, while Park HANEY, also civilian now is in his last year at DU Law School. Also, Chuck WINTER (Shelly) has a Continental Flight Officer slot lined up, leaving behind USAFA’s T-41s. Bill MAKOVIC is with the 2nd Comm Squadron, and Carl PUELS (Pamela) is Commander of a Student Squadron, both at Lowry. Van SHIELDS (Carol) owns his rental agency in California, and Bill KASSON trains new Navs at Mather, having finished SOS.
Two letters from Dave PRAHLER (Mary), another old roommate of mine, have both he and Mary pursuing Master’s degrees, she at Wright State U., and he with AFIT in Satrategic and Tactical Sciences. Raising two little ones while both parents are collegiates is fun they say. Mike MUSSON (Mary) will have already started his AFIT assignment at Wright-Patt by now.
Another outpost heard from is Mark EWING (JoAnn) who assures you that contrary to the AOG Register report, he is not and never has been an SOS Instructor, but does however teach one of our favorite Mech courses (110) at good old USAFA. John ALLISON (Tara) is now a Doctoral Candidate in Metallurgy at Carnegie Mellon University. And one last remark, Glynn (not Pat) SISSON is teaching at USAFA.
Speaking of outposts, here’s word from the edge of the American frontier, Anchorage, Alaska, and Doug BROWER (Cheryl). Doug says that George WARGO (Shirley) is now at Fighter Lead-In for F-15 RTU at Luke and eventually will be at Langley. Bill FAUCHER (Kathryn) is still in T-33s at Elmendorf and may be following the Wargo’s shortly. As Doug reports it, the alerts at Galena and King Salmon sometimes pay off in the sense that every so often he can actually scramble his F-4 after aircraft other than your usual stray Boeing 707 or DC-8 airliner. Enough on that.
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Bill BECK (Roz) finally writes again claiming penmanship as the cause of his long time between letters. (That’s OK, Bill, since even one letter is more than the vast majority of us has ever sent to our class reps.) Fred ZICKRICK (Diane) is a new Delta pilot but had to give up the A-7s and A-lOs to go for that airline slot. Dave LUNDBERG is in the Environmental Health Clinic. Bill is pushing around the A-10 down there at Myrtle Beach, SC, and loving it.
Gary PAYTON (and Capt. Dr. Nancy) are finally stationed together and both on active duty, though she seems to have gained on him time-in-grade. Having finished his second MA from Georgetown University, Gary is working as ever and publishing works of his own in Air University Review. The next one to be printed is in the Nov-Dec issue and entitled “Soviet-Ethiopian Liaison: Airlift and Beyond.” Also, notice this copy of CHECKPOINTS has a personal input of his, ‘‘Reflections In My Coffee Cup, or AFIT’s Unspoken Benefits.” Both Gary and Nancy are at Ramstein, where she is a specialist in Internal Medicine, and he is in the USAFE Intelligence shop.
As always, I want to thank all of you, T.J., Dave, Mark, Doug, Bill, and Gary for the additional information you were able to lay on me. If those letters stop coming, the column could just as well be a computer printout of address changes and hometown news release items, but it would seem less by the loss of that personal input. Please dust off those pens and keep me filled in on your part of the happenings, both in-service and civilian.
Since having put out the word on the Class Wall project, I haven’t heard much about it, but trust that somewhere in the halls of USAFA or Lowry or NORAD there is at this very moment a group of, or even just one, 72ers planning the methods in which our Class Crest will soon appear on said wall. Tokyo is so far away, and Homecoming 1980 is just around the corner that time is a-wastin’.
Now that I have been here a few months, the Tokyo area has just begun to expose its beauty to us, (we even saw FUJI once). Steve CLARK (Kris) is here as a UH-1P IP/FE and Eric NEDERGAARD (Jenny) works in Fifth Air Force and flies with our T-39s part-time. We have a ’60 grad as our Wing CC. Some of you might remember Col. BURSHNICK From days gone by when he was a Major, and we were just there. A handful of other grads also frequent the area, so maybe we have enough of a quorum for an AOG Chapter at Yokota. And on that happy note, I will close before I ramble too much more. FPA.
Fred S. Knowles, Jr.
48 FIS (ADTAC)
Langley AFB VA 23665
I702A 9th St. LAFB, VA 23665
Duty Ph: 432-2116
Home Ph: (804) 827-5124
Since the last issue we have lost two more of our classmates, both to cancer. Ed CRUICE and Tim MC ALLISTER are both gone but will not be forgotten; our thoughts and prayers go to their families.
My excuses for short and incomplete columns are as long as your arm. Last time I was on vacation; this time I am TDY. All of my “brains” are back home: the dictionary, the AOG REGISTER, some letters and notes on phone calls. So if I misspell your name, this would be a real good chance to write or call me and let me know. Also,
if you did write or call me and your stuff does not get in this time, it will next time.
I got a call from Charlie QUINNELL who is an account executive along with Rusty ERGONIS at Investment Bankers in Denver. I can’t put your phone number in here, Charlie, sorry. Charlie is also the chief pilot. Here is where things are going to get sticky; Charlie gave me a big list of names and information, but I did not get a chance to look you all up, so I may misspell some or be missing some first names very sorry. John MC DEVITT is in B-52’s as a nav in stan board. Jimmy ALLGOOD is going through UPT at Vance; he got married to Annette and they are expecting an addition to the family shortly. Mick SCHLABS is in England someplace and Patty had twins a while back. B. BEARD is a GS-11 at Eglin, C. STEWART is a dentist at Carwell, J. PRETZ is working with the 82nd at Fort Bragg, R. YAGHER is an EWO at Hurlbert, J. RABINS is a math instructor at USAFA, T. DEROSA is in RF-4s at Bergstrom, M. KOERNER is in F-15s at Alamagordo, G. GILLIG is working in his own company (Bion Corp.,) on an ultrasonic scanner, George KEHIAS is also at USAFA as an instructor, Dave QUACKENBUSH is at SAMSO in LA. Dave ELLIS wrote to say he got out and is now a part-time reservist with the 302nd SOS at Luke AFB. He says Tom SWERTFAGER is at Kirtland AFB.
Stalker REED wrote from Altus to report on the people from CS-07. Stalker also wrote the “Gone But Not Forgotten” column for Tim; thanks Stalker. Alan NACKE is going to Kadena in F-15s, Bill JABOUR is a test pilot at Edwards, Tom GRAYSON is a civilian in Phoenix, Dick ULMER is a TIA crew member in Houston, A1 KINBACK is a crew member with American Airlines in New York. Stalker, himself, is a civilian trying for an airline slot, Jim AMOS is a United flight crew member, Jim ALMEIDA is a PCS instructor at Wright-Patt, Dennis RENSEL is a student at Wright-Patt, Joe KAHOE is headed for the 48th FIS in an F-106, Steve EVANS is working for Martin-Marietta in Denver where he is also a civilian, Ron FARIS is an Astro instructor at USAFA, Bill PATERSON is flying a C-9 out of Scott, and Mike DAVENPORT is in C-5s at Travis. Thank you, Stalker!
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...”
Frank and Nancy Klotz with “friend
We got news letters from Delta with whom Carl DOFELMIER and Dave LUTZ are now flying. Carl is based in Dallas and Dave is in Miami.
Last and least are the change of address cards. I do not include all of them, just the ones that have some interesting remarks. And here is a biggie Lawrence POLKABLA is out of the Air Force and seeking a mayoral candidiacy in Campbell, Ohio. How about that! Our first legitimate politician! Dave HARMAN married Julie McDevitt on 4 August, Jeff KNIGHT is now a new tanker copilot out of UPT, he now has two girls (daughters). Jim SILVER had his first child, Kristin Ann, on 12 January. Dave SCHRUPP was expecting a baby in July. Dan OHOLLAREN resigned on 3 April and is working for Boeing as a Senior Engineer and Maintenance Training Instructor. Dan ROMCEVICH got out on 16 June and is working for United at Denver. And the quote of the quarter goes to Ken HENRY out Omaha way; he says, “Our pay stinks.” That’s it for this time; bear with me. I do get home on occasion and one day I will get all my stuff together and get out a really “class” column.
Dan Felix
1915 E. Broadway #84 Mesa, Arizona 85224 AV 474-6611 (602) 962-1921
This column will be somewhat short. I guess everyone has settled down and that there has been very little to write about. I did receive a letter from John and Paula JACKSON. He is now getting ready for an ASTRA assignment. Actually he had his choice between the ASTRA and an F-16, so there may be an F-16 assignment still out there and up for grabs. Pat and Linda CORRIGAN are at Hill. Pat is training in an F-16. James and Lisa SMITH have a new addition to their family, John “Jack”. They are assigned to Camp New Amsterdam, Netherlands, for the F-15. John and Debbie FAIR are awaiting assignment to Elmendorf, Alaska (F-4). Tom BAUGH is at Randolph AFB as a T-37 PIT and will be going to Vance AFB, OK. Glen and Sandy CHINN are at Andrews and his is a CT-43 pilot.
News Releases: Chuck HAND, Pit F-4, Torrejon, Spain; Mark RADER received the AFCM for his Missile Launch Officer performance at Whiteman, MO; William YUCUIS, Pit F-4, Ramstein, Germany; Don MC MONAGLE, F-15 IP, Luke, AZ; Robert and Susan HOOD, A/C Comm, Dyess. He received the US Cmbt Rdns Mdl; Carrol and Katie CHANDLER, T-38 IP, Randolph, TX; Duncan MC NABB, UPT, Williams, AZ; Alan BARKER, F-4 IP, George, CA; Dewayne TAYLOR, Veterinarian, Charleston, SC; Scott HAMILTON, Spcl Missions Airlift Navigator, C-135, Andrews, MD; Kris BUDINGER, Clinic Administrator, McGuire, NJ; Jim COLOTTA, Inst. Nav, Norton, CA; Russ ROTH, AFIT Civ Institution, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Mike FINDLEY Senior Engineer, Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, Renton, Washington. Steve BOZARTH, T-38 IP Fighter Lead-In, Holloman, NM; Eugene BEDNARZ, OIC Ballistic Missile Unit, Offutt, NE; John VOSS, Pit F-15, Langley, VA; Dave REILY, OV-10 FAC, Sembach, Germany; John VEREB, UPT, Williams, AZ; Charles LATHAM, Emergency Actions
Officer, Osan, Korea; Ron WALKER, Commander DET 12, 2140 CGp, Greece.
I apologize for the names not being in alphabetical order. There is a very good way in which our class might be able to purchase the plaque for the wall. I will be able to elaborate on it in the next column. Take care.
Rick Layman
4108 North First Street
F.E. WARREN AFB, Wyoming 82001
Home: 307 - 778-2845
Duty: AV 481-3891
I received a nice thick parcel from the AOG the other day thinking that I would have all sorts of good news to write about, but found out instead that most of the members of the class were promoted to Captain. I’m sure that’s not news to any of you, so I’ll refrain from naming those so honored.
By the way, in case you don’t know how this column works, the Air Force News Service sends news releases to the AOG and they forward them on to me. Other than that, 1 have no other way of knowing about anything that happens to any of you unless you call or write, so help me out. Besides, the news service isn’t always too accurate. I just found out, for example, that Mike COX and I both graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1975 and that we both got our commissions through the ROTC program while there.
AWARDS: Jim DEARIEN was awarded the Air Medal for extraordinary aerial achievement while flying in Zaire. Jeff THOMAS is a member of the outstanding Civil Engineering Squadron in the Air Force and Jim HERIOT’s crew was the Outstanding Crew of the Quarter at Carswell.
FLAGS: Marv COX and Jeff KRUMEICH both flew RED FLAG recently. According to the news service, Jeff is a pilot with the 321st Strategic Missile Wing at Grand Forks. (I didn’t know you could make a training flight in a Minuteman bet those landings are rough!) Mike WITHERSPOON flew in MAPLE FLAG. (That’s RED FLAG with a Canadian twist.)
Steve and Sarah Pitotti represented ’75
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MOVES: Tom ABSHIRE is now a Pediatric Resident at Travis; Terry YOUNG and Jack SHINE are Air Weapons
Controllers Terry at Murphy Dome Alaska, and Jack at Luke; Ralph PAUL is flying 0-2s at Elmenbase Air Force Dorf; Dave BECK is Surgical Intern at Wilford Hall; Mike MATTE, still a maintenance officer just arrived on Guam; Dick DYE is a Comp Sci Instructor at USAFA, and Dan KRAFT is a basketball coach, also at USAFA. Bill LYERLY is in Nairobi doing medical research and Dave HICKMAN is in Education with Industry in Orlando. Tom SMURA works in satellite systems at Buckley, and Joe STEIN is at Castle. He must be doing great things, he got his name in COMBAT CREW for the SAC Safety Screen. Dale WATERS’ wife OTS. She’ll join Dale at Mountain Home. Dale flies the F-111A.
EXPECTATIONS AND ARRIVALS: John and Meg WOLTER are expecting their first in February. Eric and Alice LEWALLEN and Don and Gina BYERS are expecting but I don’t know when. Dick WEBBER and his wife had a baby boy, Daniel. Jed and Cam VANDENDRIES are also due soon. Diane and I have our second daughter, Amber.
GREETINGS: Butch BYRD wrote in to say that Ed MALLO, Randy MASON, John OLEKSEY, Buzz BANNISTER, Rod GUNTHER, and he are all Hying F-4Es at Ramstein. John WISSMAN is at Seymour Johnson and Carl VAN PELT is at Osan.
Word is that Rich BOWERS is first in his class in Law at Florida.
MISSING SOULS: Someone has misplaced Larry CRENSHAW and Mike SIMPSON. If you have any idea where they are, how about telling them that they are lost and letting me or the AOG know where to get ahold of them.
And now, for the part you have all been waiting for THE CLASS CREST. The price is going out of sight. The latest one I’ve been given is $2400 and that was three months ago. How about each of you sitting down right now while it’s on your mind and writing out a check for whatever you can, $10 or so, and send it off to the AOG. Or you can talk to Bentley RAYBURN, Jed VANDENDRIES, Scott SMITH, Chumley COLLINS, Stan SIEFKE, or me and we’ll gladly take your money. If we don’t get this thing out of the way fairly quickly, we’re never going to be able to afford it. so help out with whatever you can.
Best wishes to all of you for a great holiday season.
RICK AOG MEMBERSHIPS
• Annual memberships are available for $15.00.
• Life memberships may be purchased for $350.00.
• Contact the AOG office.
Don Hall
Qtrs 4402D
USAFA, Colorado 80840
AV:259-3655
Home: (303) 472-6263
C4C Warren HEELS greeted Waldo as he entered the dormitory room.
“Greetings.”
“Hi, Warren,” said the doolie with a long face.
“Hey, Waldo, why the long face?”
“I just finished another chemistry experiment in the lab. You know how I hate chem class. .”
“Yeah, I basically know.”
“Well, I had to identify two unknown items. After running all the tests and weighing the results, I still couldn’t figure them out.”
“What did you do?”
“I finally asked Captain Litmus about the solution.”
“Isn’t he the instructor who blushes a lot?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, what were you analyzmg?”
Waldo F. DUMBSQUAT blushed.
“A Susan B. Anthony dollar and a piece of Shepherd’s Pie.”
* * * * * *
Steve STOUT wrote to correct my uninformed sources. He actually is a Cl30 NAV stationed at Clark AB. Sorry, Steve. He invites any ’76er to give him a call at the 21st TAS. Serving time with Steve at Clark are Pete BAILEY (Cl30 NAV) and Jim DOLAN (Cl30 pilot). Jim was in DC-130s at DM until the wing closed down. Jim swears it wasn’t his fault.
Paper Chase: Steve STOCKDALE has been selected for an AFIT slot to TCU starting in Sep ’82 with a follow-on to USAFA’s English Dept., but first Steve must pay the piper he’s spending two years at Minot. Steve HEINZ is definitely digging and filling an AFIT slot for Architectural Engineering at Penn State. Dave MITCHELL (C141 Travis) is working on his Masters Degree in International Affairs at Sacramento State University.
Three’s Company: Melissa was born to Johnny and Melanie WAITES (Tyndall AFB). Dave and Rosemary CROUSER have a new son, Eric. Lance and Maryanne PERDUE are the proud parents of Katy. Zachary is the new addition to the Darrell and Diane MASTIN family (Ellsworth).
Real People: Kurt KLINGENBERGER married Lt Karen Robinette at Reese. She is a recent UPT grad. They will be assigned to Plattsburgh, NY. She will be Hying a KC 135 and Kurt is cross training from the F-111 to the FB-111. Bill CLIFFORD is Hying the Eagle in Germany’s limited airspace and unlimited IMC. He says he won’t
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trade it for anything. Also at Bitburg is Mike BUTLER in aircraft maintenance.
Roger TURCOTTE (Clark) dropped me a line. He and Steve HAMED heard that Rory CHILDRESS and Monty LEE (both at Moody) got 0-2s to Panama?! Bob CHASE, Charlie DEANO, and Rich GUSTAFSON, all left Korea for Moody. Ed PERME is on his way to Osan.
Roger WIDHOLM (F-4 Spangdahlem) also wrote. Mike WORDEN and Tim CANTWELL are coaching the base football team and are shooting for the championship in Europe. Steve HALL is intercepting all of the frauleins. Scott ANDERSON and Jack TWIDDY are flying with the 480th TAC squadron. Kevin LEINBACH is going to F-4G school with Jay BARNES, Mike SEMENUK, and Steve MC NAMARA. Marty BISCHOFF and Brad SIMPSON are in F-4s at Torrejon.
Working Stiffs: Randy KEHL is still defending Minot as a stanboard evaluator. Charles PINNEY is in the Aircraft Compatibility Branch of the Air Force Armament lab at Eglin AFB. Jeff (Leon) LAWRENCE is flying Cobras at Fort Ord, CA. He recently married Deniese. That makes him the first of five confirmed bachelors from CS-30 to tie the knot. Greg BOOMGAARD says he’s one of the four remaining die-hards.
Jeff LARSEN wrote an interesting letter. Since I’m basically lazy, I guess I’ll quote from it: “And I, after 6 years of fighting her off, married Cyndy Shuttleworth on August 23 at the Cadet Chapel. Many guys might remember her dad, Colonel Jack Shuttleworth of the English Dept. Our wedding reception was held in Arnold Hall Ballroom, due to the O’club’s closure for renovation. Anyway, the wedding was great; Gary MONTGOMERY was my best man and Howie PORTER was a groomsman; I was chained to a 16 lb bowling ball at the reception by my ‘friends’ (ever try to polka in a ball and chain?); and the reception was crashed (truth) by a gorilla who flew in from Loring via T-37! Quite a party. .’’
Missiles of October: Craig PUZ wrote from “Frankie Warren’s Rocket Ranch.’’ He gave me so much info I decided to just list it. Lazy!
USAFA Contingent
Back row: Left to right: Terifay, Whalen, Burbank, Mountcastle (ROTC), Hass, and Muehl. Front row: Left to right: Jubinski (ROTC) Col Wilhelm (Squadron Commander), Hall, Kneib, and Schlank (ROTC)
Tom WYMAN Head of training scheduling; Brian DIEFFENBACH (Lisa) Commander; Bob OLESKY Commander; Steve SACONE Senior DOV deputy; Rich BARFIELD assistant chief of individual training; Dave KUNKEL commander; Drew BOYD missile combat crew commander; Rich FONOROW commander; Steve PRUSS (Kathy) commander; Riche FELDER commander; Bill DARNALL has also upgraded; Mike GAUGHAN (MaryAnn) DOV, and Bob WAGNER (Lisa) comm squadron.
Diff’rent Strokes: Those of us FAIPs, who have bounced around the friendly turbulence of Colorado, are happy with the assignment block we got. Big Tim HASS got a F-15 to Langley; Fred “airlift’’ KNEIB will be flying a C-141 out of Norton; Mark WHALEN will be an F-4 jock. ATC is getting some returning lettermen: Pat BURBANK T-38 (Del Rio); Dave TERIFAY T-38 (Willy); Mark MUEHL T-37 (Vance); and Dan HALL T-37 (Vance airpatch).
The Associates: By now you have probably heard about the Class Wall. Well, you’re going to hear a lot more in the next year. Just to curb your curiosity here’s what’s happening. Each class is purchasing a 30” x 36” aluminum cast plaque. The plaque bears the class crest and weighs about one hundred pounds. It’ll be mounted on the Chapel wall.
Due to the rigors of PCS, I’m turning this column over to Wade MC ROBERTS. Hopefully, I can continue to write Waldo episodes. But in the meantime here’s Wade’s address:
Wade McRoberts
3632 A Royce Drive Alexandria, LA 71301
I’d like to thank each and everyone of you who made an effort to write about the class: Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
John “Lou” Michels, Jr.
3508 Montrovia Blvd., #117 Omaha, NE 68123
AV 271-4369/3034
Many of you are probably aware of this, but it is my duty to make it official the Air Force has confirmed the death of one of our classmates, Harley STONE, from multiple gunshot wounds. Harley had been missing from his job at Kirtland for about three months when his body was found in the desert near Albuquerque. The latest word that I have is that the OSI has no leads concerning this case. A memorial fund has been established through the Baptist Student Union in his name. I extend the sympathy of the Class to Harley’s parents and many friends.
On Watch: My life has been pretty busy since the last issue of CHECKPOINTS, the highlight being an 11 day stay in Havana, Cuba, and a return to Moscow with the crew of Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko’s aircraft. I had a heck of a time with the Soviet crew, but my language skills were pretty rusty and it took a day or so of just listening to them to get back into shape. I did get to see two MiG-21’s
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Jon and his IL-62 scramble off one of Cuba’s military airfields; but, sorry guys, not even a glimmer of a combat division. On the whole, however, the trip beat the hell out of where I am writing this from, ie. Eielson AFB. But I’m not complaining.
Up The Wall: The target date for the completion of the Class Wall is about a year from now, so it’s time to get moving on it. Steve MILLER has taken unofficial control of this affair and provides me the following list of contacts for payment of contributions. (The going price on these plaques is in the vicinity of $2500, so figure on a donation of $10 to $15. Any extra will go to the 1987 Class Reunion):
Mike STREVELL, Minot; John HARRIS, Barksdale; Tony GRADY, Carswell; Bob RUDOLPH, Davis-Monthan; Steve WURST, McDill; Dave CHAFFEE, Wright-Patterson; Grady BOOCH, Vandenberg, Edwards, SAMSO; Mike MAHAR, Laughlin, Dyess, Altus; Steve WITTMAN, Luke, Williams; Ty ROBBINS, Fairchild; Lou MICHELS, Offutt, and Tony DRONKERS, KI Sawyer.
This may take a little effort on the part of some of you to contact these guys, but I think the effort will be worth it. And if your base is not represented, and you want to lend some time, drop me a line or a phone call, or call Steve at Holloman, AV 867-3094. Any and all help will be appreciated.
Where Are They Now: I thank all of you for diligently filling out those change of address cards, they provided a lot of information for the column.
F-4: Ed MILLER (Ramstein), Daryl MORGAN, Russ Mark Lishko and his Bronc’
RHEW (Clark), Ed “Easy” RYDER (Dee), Tom SPRATT (Leslie) (Hahn), Dave SLACK (Osan), Mark SCHACKELFORD (Seymour-Johnson), Karl SCHRICKER (Moody).
T-37: Rick SOWERS (Mather, from Willy, sounds rough Rick)
B-52: Dan VAN ALSTINE (Ellsworth)
F-15: Jack CASEY (Kadena)
T-38: A1 CAVE (Reese)
We have a couple of guys in AFIT already, Jim SINGLETERY is at Wright-Patt as the latest addition. Here at Offutt, Paul DETTMER is working as a General’s Aide, but which one I can’t remember. Rod STAPONSKI is in the CE game at McClellan, while John BUCKLEY is out in the North Atlantic at Keflavik. John BETTS reports in from FE Warren, where he is a missileman; at the other end of the country, Joe BAUMGARTNER is at Kelley with the Electronic Security Command (the old Security Service). Also working in security (sounds like he’s got a guaranteed job) is Mark GRAY, a Comsec Officer at Hancock Field. Jim MC REYNOLDS (Dorothy) has started on his Masters, he’s at Gunter AFS in computers. Harman WALES is in A-10 maintenance at DM, while Steve SCHWALBE, who was medically grounded (sorry, Steve), is a programmer at Beale. Doug LEIBBRAND is a comm officer at England AFB, that’s quite a shift from the Iron Range. Denzil WILSON (Susan) is working for MAC at Kirtland as chief of Readiness and Logistics. Finally, Jim MONAHAN is a production control manager at the Packaging Corporation of America in Ashland, Ohio.
Men of Letters: I got a ton of mail this time around, my thanks to all you budding young authors out there. Bob SOUCY reports that Tom LANE and Zach BAILEY put on quite a show for the low-level controllers in Korea on their last C-130 deployment. Sounds like Bob has seen half the Class while he’s been at Clark. Jim MOSCHGAT says hello from Taigu, Korea, he’s engaged and plans to tie the knot next summer. Jim is in F-4’s, by the way, not Buffs as indicated in the Spring issue. Jim MCANULTY (Anna) is now in Berlin with ESC, and Rick and Kaoru TURNER had their first child, a girl, in September. Rick NEWTON (Kathy) says hi to all, he’s flying Jolly Greens at Osan. Bob SIMMONS is planning to open a microcomputer business along with Ron STRICH, I guess we’ll be able to count on him, now. Mike WEINSTEIN is going to McGeorge Law School under the AF Excess Leave program, he reports that the work is tough. Good luck, Mike. Tony DRONKERS is hanging in there up at KI, hope this winter isn’t as bad as the last one, Tony. Steve WITTMAN (Betsy), who likes to rub it in, writes to say that his pool will be put in soon, just what I need to hear in October. Steve and Betsy are now the parents of a baby boy, congrats Heavy. Bob ZAEHRINGER says that his A-10 unit isn’t doing much flying out of RAF Woodbridge, but that he is getting to see a lot of Germany. And J.V. SIMONS is in maintenance at Camp New Amsterdam, in Holland, he’d like Louis LEBLANC and Frank PINEIRO to get a hold of him. KUDOS: Ron STRITCH was named Air Force “Data Processing Officer of the Year”, our congratulations, Ron, keep up the good work.
The class has its first Jabara Award nominee in the form of Bob DEHNERT, for his work in maintenance on the E-4 program at Offutt. I’m crossing my fingers, Bob.
Off Watch: Guess that’s it from Kodiak land. I
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encourage everyone to contact one of the Class Wall projo’s and let’s get this thing underway and out of the way. Cross your fingers, toes and other appendages for the Falcons this fall, they will need a little luck. Talk at you next time.
Don Avery
2100 W. Beach Dr. Apt 0-202 Panama City, FL 32401 (904) 769-3013 AV 970-5244
Let me begin this issue by thanking all of you for the letters and phone calls. Inputs from you guys are essential and the response has been super. If you haven’t given me any input and would like to, you are more than welcome (and strongly encouraged) to get in touch with me as I continue to suffer here in Florida. It’s true! For nearly two weeks now we’ve had to put up with temperatures in the 70s, low humidity, and no clouds. But, never fear, I’ve been able to keep my chin up through it all. Also, concerning the column, if anybody has any comments, they are welcome too. I can take criticism just as well as the next guy.
Well, by this time, our class is scattered throughout the globe, most of the rates guys have, or are about to, graduate from UNT and UPT (and from UHT too, I suppose, even though I haven’t heard from any rotoweenies!). And, we don’t want to forget the non-rated guys either. Rick REASER really broke my heart with the news of all the guys suffering at SAMSO’s Hollywood AF Station in Southern California. Besides Rick, there’s: Steve MEYER, Dave THOMPSON, A1 THOMPSON, Larry JAMES, Jim SCHLICHTING, Larry ORTEGA, Scott MILLER, and Miked NEVIN. Also, just down the street from them at the Hughes Aircraft Company, is Bob DJOKOVICH.
Jim DURLAK, the ’78 representative to the WrightPatterson AFB chapter of the AOG, tells me who is at Wright-Patt, but unfortunately, due to the secret nature of most everyone’s jobs, he can’t tell me what people are doing. Glen FORSYTH is there now but will be leaving for UPT in January at Willy. Also, there are Greg POSTULKA, T. J. STACK, Jeff MELARAGNO, Arnie DOUVILLE, Ken RACHOCKI, Scott YEAKEL, Dave EVANS, Pete KOLOZIEJCZYK, Mike CLARK, Dave BLISK, Charley GRATCH, Steve SNYDER, Ed HUNT, Mike SKOLAUT, Don HASKELL (who sends his best to Gary HACKBARTH, a defector who now dons a squid suit, and flys C-130s out of Pt. Magu, CA), and Paul SAVAGE. Jim also passes on a warm hello from Ma and Pa Manley in Denver to all those wonderful ’78 grads from 30th Squadron (and we are all wonderful!). But, we are still wondering what happened to Randy BRUENL1NG.
To all you die hard bachelors, like myself, congratulations and keep it up! We are fast becoming a minority. Several of our classmates have recently tied the knot and wedding bells are ringing in the immediate future of several others. Bill FREY married Tammy; Ed RICE and Therese finally ended their long wait; Cathy can now help Jay ELLIS through med-school full time; Lyn TORCHIA (staunch bachelor who turned to dust) married Diane; Nick LYNN married Pat MARCKESANO’s sister, Angella, Glen FORSYTH said vows with Yi Chen, Wayne
HERMANDORFER married Carol, Bob ANDERLITCH had enough loneliness in UPT and married Sally; Gary FRITH got his wings one day and two weeks later got his ring and Kelly; and finally, two guys who married last winter, but never owned up, were Scott HINES to Lauri, and Jerry LUDKE to Deloy.
There are also many kids on the way. Hey, guys, you’re making me feel old! Joe REHEISER and Dan PARSONS both had sons. That is, their wives had sons. By the time this is published, there should be some more happy parents. We pray that all babies are healthy.
And now the inevitable assignments. For the most part, we have done quite well as a class. In fact, a first for any UPT class, and that was an F-16. Congratulations to a well deserving Geroge WELLER from Willy. Following are UNT assignments:
F-4: Steve PULS, Bill CHAMBLEE, Don LAUMANN, Jere MC CLELLEN, Bill HOLWAY, Greg SLIGAR, and G. T. TOVREA. F-lll: Jeff GRECHANIK (Upper Heyford) and Ken LIGHT (Mt. Home). C-130: Wayne CRENWELGE (Pope) and Drew FISHER (Clark). WC-130: Randy MOULTON (Anderson). KC-135: Jim MC GINLEY (Kadena), John HINDS (Castle), Steve HAMMOND (Beale), and Herb HENDERSON (March).
B-52: Jim STAHL and Carlos DELGADILLO (Carswell), Joe GRIMME (March), Neal SLOAN (Barksdale), Doug RODGERS (Mather), Tom SORRELL (Loring), and Chris DAHLSTROM (Ellsworth).
Following are UPT assignments:
T-38: Steve BABCOCK, Jose BRAVO, Bruce CONARD, Dave DERAS, Joe MUDD, Jeff SNOY (Reese); Digger PHELPS, Bob ANDERLITCH, Paul MC VINNEY (Laughlin); Wayne FORD, Ken PRUSAK, Bob SLIZESKI, Keith WILKINSON (Vance); and Dean PROFFITT to Sheppard. T-37: T. J. BRONDER, Barry REUSCHE (Reese); Morgan LANKFORD, Mike MC DONALD (Mather); John ISLIN, Lanny MC NEELY, Doug TREADWAY (Laughlin); Tim BRAY, Bill CLINTON, Matt LACOURSE, John SWARSBROOK, Pete WHEBLE (Vance). F-4: Art HARRISON, Dan PHILLIPS, Mike SNODGRASS, Gary MEISER (Luke); Art MOYE, Chris FLOOD, Greg CARSON, Wayne KELLENBENCE (George); Kent BOUDREAU, John ALBERT (MacDill). RF-4: Mike FOSTER (Kadena). F-15: Mack MC COLLUM, Greg CLASEN (Eglin); Randy READ (Japan). F-lll: Jim STEWART (Upper Heyford). A-10: Mark POZYCKI (Bentwaters). C-130: Tom PRODANOVICH (Dyess), Stu TAKAHARA (Clark), Mike JABLONOVSKY (Germany), Todd CIENSKI (Pope). 0-2: Pete ZINK (Canal Zone). C-141: Dennis KELLY, Jeff BRAKE, Kolin LESTER (Norton), Mark KELLY (Charleston). KCS-135: Doug BORTER, Dan PARSONS (Travis); Chip BRUMGARD, Bob IRELAND (Carlswell); Delos CARRIER (Grand Forks); Larry LARGENT (Plattsburg); Eddie PETRELLA (K.I. Sawyer); Jimmy RUBALCABA (Grissom); Dave MEEHAN (Fairchild); Bill WOMACK (Robbins). B-52: Russ KLINE (Wurtsmith); Craig BENDORF (Fairchild).
That’s all the assignments I’ve received to date, although there must be more. Anytime F- 15s outnumber B-52s, somebody isn’t telling! Please help me out and have someone from each class write me and let me know your assignments. Thanks!
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A few quick notes. Congratulations to Tim MINOR who was awarded the USAF Commendation Medal for meritorious service at USAFA. He is now at UPT at Vance. Also, ADCOM is no longer a command. We officially became TAC on Oct. 1. The only real change so far here at Tyndall though has been a patch change, but there should now be some new avenues open to us.
Mike Donatelli
39-3 Briarwood Lane Marlboro, MA 01752
My literary career begins! I’ve spent weeks paging through the Air Force Manual, Tongue and Quill, trying to pick up some exquisite techniques! Too bad I haven’t succeeded!
Luckily, the class officers share this responsibility. We’ve decided to write the column on a rotation schedule. Lucky for me, lucky for you. Class Officers? Remember those are the morons you elected before graduation. We realize that at that time during the day of Brevit Lt you really cared. Anyway, if any 79er has some info contact:
Mike VANHOOMISSEN (President)
3475 Granada Avenue #329
Santa Clara, CA 95051
AV: 359-3012
Hootch is stationed at Sunnyvale Air Force Station in California and is busy as ever. He manages to work in the day, go to law school at night and in his spare time (What spare time?) he’s getting his instrument rating at Moffett Field. Mark PIMENTEL, Tom CLAY and Neil SCHOON are also out in Sunnyvale. Another point of contact is:
Jim REGAN (Vice President)
3806 Half Turn Road #176
Colorado Springs, CO 80917
Jim is working in OI at USAF giving tours. No, not to Cadets on the pad, but to the distinguished visitors of USAFA. Jim will be starting UPT at Reese on 28 November. Also, at the zoo is Juan RAMIREZ. Juan is in the AOG Office he had a great article in the summer edition of the AOG Magazine on June Week 79 I wish I could write like that. There are numerous 79ers coaching at AFA including Rick BROWN, Steve DICKMAN, Mike GEE, Mike HAYES, Larry HOFFMAN, Tim HOY, and Pete WITHERS (all in football). I knew there was a reason AFA is 0-4 now.
Other coaches are Randy GRICIUS in b-ball, John BINGAMAN in hockey, Buddy VAZQUEZ in lacross and Chris BROWN in wrestling. Keep up the good work group. Some others at the Academy are Ed CHILDERS, Ted NEEDHAM, Joe MACKLIN, Pete BUNCE, Paul DIAMOND, BJ BUCCHOLZ, Bill TRAVN1CK, Tom ENGLISH, Kurt SHULAR, Brian KOECHEL, Sal COLLURA, Walt DAVIS, Dan and Peggy KRIER, Henry HAISCH, Ed LEMELIN, Regis HANCOCK, Bill RISTINE, Mike WATSON, PJ WEAVER and a cast of thousands. No, they’re not in R flight, but awaiting UPT, UHT or something.
If you don’t like VANHOOMISSEN or REGAN, you can contact me. I’m the secretary; my info is in the box up there. Anyway, I’m at Hanscom AFB with my wife Julie
awating my UPT date like so many other suckers Paul BISHOP, Dan BOYLEN, Pete BERGAMINI, Pete HAYES, Larry and Cheryl BUTLER, and Steve and Pam HALVORSEN. Mike and Janae BEIL, Dana DELOUIS, Jeff MC DAVID, and Bill WELCH also were here, but have luckily departed for UPT. 79ers here at Hanscom PCS are Parke HESS, Dave and Laura DENTON, Bruce WILLARD, Karl REICHL, Ted KEARY, Jim BOHAC, Ken MATTERN, Bob DESMOND, J. J. BROWNFIELD, Tom MC GOVERN, Paul SHUBERT, Wes JONES, and the soon to be married Bill MURPHY.
Now, if you don’t like VANHOOMISSEN, REGAN or myself and still need a contact, then you’ve got John COURTNEY, the treasurer. The only problem is he is in England somewhere and no one can find him. Great, he has our class money. Don’t worry, its only about $5,000 made from selling the B-l class painting. You might keep Gary HARRIS in mind too. Gary is working with the Aero Dept while waiting for his 27 Nov UPT date. He is our class representative on the Association of Graduates Board of Directors. If you have any suggestions for the board, please contact him.
Gary Harris
DFAN
USAFA CO 80840
AV 259-2429
In Memoriam: It is with deepest regret that I must inform all of you that ’79 has lost a classmate. Robie Hill died on September 24th while in UHT at Ft Rucker, AL. Our sympathy goes out to Robie’s friends and family. Your prayers, I’m sure, will be appreciated.
Gossip, Rumors, Scandals: Is it true that Pete BUNCE is engaged? no, not BUNCE the rock. Congratulations, Pete! Did John BUTCHER really do what I heard he did in a closet? Oh, Butch, how could you? BJ BJORNSON is not in the hospital at Chanute AFB, IL after totalling his 280Z, or is he? He did get hit in a parking lot. Is it true that the only thing Parke HESS is engaged to is his illegal microwave oven in his BOQ room at Hanscom? We know that Rich AHLQUIST’s Air Force career is in jeopardy after wearing his “gold” T-shirt to the AF/Wisconsin F-B game in Madison, Wisconsin! Good luck, Rich. We’re behind you. Speaking of behinds, Bob MC GREAL gained 40 pounds after graduation at his TDY station, Nellis. He told me that a 12-pack a day keeps the doctor away. Don’t worry, Bob is still slim, even at 220 lbs!
New Additions: Congratulations to Lt and Mrs. Bruce PECOR; they are the proud parents of Heath, their son the first for ’79. Not far behind is Lt and Mrs. Tom COOPER. They’re excited she’s due in March. The PECORs and COOPERs are at Wright-Patterson along with Frank WALKER, John BUTCH, and Kevin MORGAN, Ted MUNDELEIN and others.
Since there is a definite dearth of information from this slouching class of ours, I solicit all those who read this trash to give me a hand. Mike VANHOOMISSEN will be doing the next column, so send all notes, calls and police reports to him.
Good luck to all in your new found careers. Thanks for sticking with me till the Third Verse of the AF song.
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ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE
Gary Payton
