Checkpoints March 1984

To

ABOUT OUR COVER

The traditional Checkpoints winter cover, until last year when the Falcons won the Commander In Chief’s Trophy for the first time, was a winter view of the Cadet Chapel. We return to this theme this year in a photograph captured by our friend and photographer Mr. Bill Madsen, Academy Public Affairs specialist.

CHECKPOINTS is published quarterly by the Association of Graduates, USAFA Academy, Colorado Springs, CO 80840 and printed by Graphic Services of Colorado Springs. It is provided as part of an annual membership package which costs $20. Second-class postage paid at the USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, CO. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions, policy or attitude of the Association of Graduates, its officers or the editorial staff. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Association of Graduates of the products or services advertised. Copyright © Association of Graduates of the United States Air Force Academy, Winter 1983-84.

ISSN 0274-7391

POSTMASTER: If this magazine is addressed to a member of the Militan Service, no postage is necessars for forwarding (see Postal Manual. Section 158.4). If no forwarding address for this militan member is available, send Form 3579 to Association (.raduales, USAF Academ>, ( olorado Springs, C O 80840.

THE AOG BOARDROOM

James E. Spittler, Jr., ’65, President/Board Chairman

In the past few months, your board of directors has maintained their every-other-week meeting schedule to deal with those issues which they feel are of interest or important to the membership.

We are pleased to inform you that all the wheels are in motion to establish the Gen. John K. Gerhart Scholarship in international relations. Current thinking is that the program will be for a graduating senior with a strong background in French since it was General Gerhart’s wish that the studies be undertaken at the Sorbonne. It has not yet been determined whether the first scholarship will be presented in 1984 or 1985; however, if possible, it will be in 1984. Sorry to say, none of us can apply retroactively. It sounds like good duty.

As I am sure you’re all aware, we are in the middle of our second Annual Fund Drive. I would urge all of you to be as generous as possible in helping to enhance the future cadet experience. We don’t seem to enjoy the same budgetary largesse these days as was prevalent in the “old” days. The additional funds that we are able to supply to the Academy do make a difference. The difference isn’t as great as we’d like, or as great as those of our sister academies with their million dollar annual funds, but it is significant, and with your support it will continue to grow.

As you’ll see elsewhere in this issue, the AOG has undertaken a joint marketing effort with Keith Ferris, the internationallyknown aviation artist. We think this is an opportunity for those of us who appreciate aviation art to acquire some excellent works at very reasonable prices. We feel this is consistent with our previous efforts to bring quality products to our members.

An item of great interest to both cadets and graduates alike is the class ring policy. Occasionally there is a request for a gold ring or a gold miniature. This seems to produce great controversy, so the superintendent decided it was time to set a policy that would

be effective in the years to come. It seems to me to be a reaffirmation of the existing policy, and here it is:

There are two official rings, the full size and the mid size, and they will be white gold in color. Female cadets/graduates may purchase either the official mid-size or a miniature for their personal wear.

Eligible cadets/graduates may purchase white gold colored miniatures for gift purposes.

Yellow gold, as a gift, may only be purchased if there is a doctorcertified allergy. This policy will be placed in a regulation and will apply to all classes, past and future. It should be noted that there was a very strong feeling from the Classes of ’85 and ’86 that all three rings should be official, and that there should be no “unofficial” ring.

Thanks to the good offices of Air Force Academy Athletic Association the AOG was able to send three representatives to the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. There was tremendous graduate support from the entire region and their enthusiasm was not dampened one bit by the rainy weather. I hope John Fer, ’62, has dried out by now.

We are pleased to announce that with the addition of six new graduate directors to the Falcon Foundation Board we now have a total of nine, nonactive duty graduates on the board. The new members are: Dick Klass ’62, A1 McArtor ’64, Dick Schlosberg ’65, Bart Holaday ’65, Terry O’Donnell ’66, and Randy Jayne ’66. They join an impressive list of prominent retired military leaders as well as leaders in the aerospace industry and business.

As usual we seek your input on AOG matters. We will do our best to reply to all of your inputs and bring your views to the board for consideration. Keep the cards and letters coming.

General Smith Honored by Association

On October 29, 1983, the Association of Graduates presented its second Honorary Membership to Maj. Gen. Robert J. Smith, USAFR (Ret.). As you may know our first Honorary Member was Mrs. Gail McComas, the first Cadet Wing hostess.

General Smith was honored for his service to his country, the U.S. Air Force, the Air Force Academy, and the Association of Graduates.

General and Mrs. Smith have endowed the AOG and USAFA with the funds which sponsor the annual Ira C. Eaker Lecture Series, the most prestigious speaker program at the Academy. Past speakers have included Gen. David Jones, Gen. T. Ross Milton, and Dr. Joseph Luns. The speaker for 1984 is General Brent Scowcroft. Through the Smiths’ continued generosity, this program has been continually upgraded.

As a founding director, past chairman, and chairman emeritus of the Falcon Foundation, General Smith has had both a direct and indirect impact on the quality of cadets and graduates at USAFA. The hundreds of private prep school scholarships which have been provided by the Falcon Foundation have enabled many who didn’t quite have the necessary high school background to get the additional training required to become successful cadets and officers. We can count a cadet wing commander and Rhodes Scholar among the Falcon Scholars.

General Smith has maintained an ongoing interest in the Air Force Academy and in the Association of Graduates, and has made available to both his wide range of experience in the military and in both the public and private sectors. We, the AOG and USAFA, have benefitted greatly from his wisdom, his experience, his patriotism, and his generosity. We honor him as best we can for his many contributions over many years and welcome him as an Honorary Member of the Association of Graduates.

General Smith accepts the association’s second Honorary Membership from Mr. James E. Spittler, Jr., president of the Association of Graduates.

ATTENTION IN THE AREA

CLASS MERCHANDISE. The association, since its inception, has served as a repository for a variety of items which remain unsold after class merchandising ventures. Our storeroom is packed to the ceiling with T-shirts, wine decanters/glasses, buttons, etc.; and access to materials necessary for our day-to-day business is severely hampered. Frankly, we can no longer continue to store, inventory, sell and work around the quantities that have accumulated over the years. We can continue to handle remaining class aviation art prints, but everything else must go. We will provide a complete inventory in the next magazine, but class officers who are aware of inventories for their class should please contact our office. We would appreciate it if the class would either mount an all-out cut-rate sales blitz or otherwise provide us with disposition instructions.

FRIENDS OF THE ACADEMY. It has been proposed that a section of Checkpoints be set aside for special “friends of the Academy.” As currently envisioned, the section could be used by AOG associate members, former ATOs, AOCs, faculty and support personnel, etc. for articles, address changes and other communications. Our editor, Tom Kroboth, is perfectly willing to make space available on the condition that sufficient inputs are received to make it worthwhile. It goes without saying that submissions must be complete (minimum editing required) and otherwise suitable for publication.

AIR FORCE RESERVE COLONEL PROMOTIONS. We have found an Academy source to provide us with promotions within the Air Force Reserve and have also contacted the Air National Guard Support Center and requested promotion information from them. We will publish these lists as received. Selected for promotion to 0-6 recently in the Air Force Reserve are Donald B. Livingston and Michael P. Reardon, Class of 1959; Hathorne A. Burnham and William D. Tracy, Class of 1964; and Richard W. Lobritz, Class of 1969. Congratulations!

ACADEMY AND AOG WINE CARAFE SETS.

The association has Academy and AOG wine carafe sets for sale at $22 which ineludes postage. The set consists of a handsome carafe and two wine glasses, all etched with either the Academy or AOG seal. These sets make excellent gifts with either the Academy or AOG motif. Also available are 3/4-inch charms or tietacks of the AOG logo in sterling silver which feature an attractive antique finish. These pieces of jewelry were created exclusively for our membership by Jostens at $26 postpaid.

REPLACEMENT DIPLOMAS, CLASS RINGS, SABRES, AND SABRE MOUNTING PLAQUES. The AOG office has addresses for firms who can handle the replacement of diplomas, class rings, and sabre mounting plaques. We also have cadet sabres for sale at $90 if picked up at the office or for $105 if shipped stateside. Priority mailing for overseas locations is an additional $5.

CLASS OFFICERS. Our roster of class officers is out of date. We would appreciate if any class member who is or knows who their class officers are would contact us so we can update our list.

HOMECOMING '84. The dates for Homecoming ’84 are September 27 to 30. This is the weekend of the USAFA-CSU football game. Mark your calendars now. More information on Homecoming ’84 will be in the next magazine.

Thanks for everything

Thomas J. Eller, ’61, outgoing president of the Association ofGraduates, accepts a book of etiquettefrom Louise Brown, Cadet Wing hostess at an appreciation dinner held in his honor. Tom served as the association’s president from 1979 to 1983 and as its vice president from 1975 to 1978. In addition to the book from Mrs. Brown, Brig. Gen. Ervin Rokke, ’62, applauded Tom’s continuing interest and dedication to the association, and an eagle and fledgling academic award was presented to Tom from the AOG. From left are Mrs. and Lt. Col. Jeffrey Schofield, '67, vice chairman of the board; Mrs. and Dr. Eller; Mrs. Brown; and Mr. and Mrs. James E. Spittier, Jr., ’65, president and chairman of the board.

1983 WAS A GREAT YEAR JK M

Lt. Gen. Winfield W. Scott, Jr., Superintendent

offense to the program, and this has led us to a top ten finish, offensively, in the nation in the past two years. But more importantly, Fisher is a good person with the right values and who has come to know and love the Air Force Academy and everything it stands for. I know Fisher, like Kenny, will represent us extremely well both on and off the football field, and I am delighted that he is taking the position of head coach. I look forward to sharing and being part of the football program with him over the coming years.

I mentioned football. However, 1 would not want to neglect our other successful athletics programs: women’s volleyball, for example, was number two in the country; soccer was number four in the West; women’s cross country won the Continental Divide Championship; and other teams were equally successful.

General Scott

My first six months at the Academy have been most rewarding. I knew they would be. As I’ve often said, this is the best job in the Air Force. 1 expected a lot would happen these first six months, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. A lot has happened; these have been full and productive times at the Academy.

1 mentioned in my article in the fall Checkpoints that I intended to visit every working area of the Academy. Done! 1 also told you that I intended to get out on the road, and I’ve done that too. I’ve talked to parents, graduates, liaison officers all over the country from Boston to Los Angeles, San Diego to New York, Minneapolis to Oklahoma City. What a refreshing and exciting experience that was for me, and I intend to keep visiting as many places as I can. Everywhere I go I find people who are enthusiastic and supportive of the Academy. They also have a deep understanding for our mission: To graduate the best career Air Force officers in the world. I certainly appreciate the support you’ve given that mission.

Nothing has given me more pride than having shared in and been a part of Falcon football this past fall. As an old West Point has-been, and having had two sons play and graduate from the Air Force Academy, I thoroughly enjoyed watching our team win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, get invited to and win the Independence Bowl, finish with the most number of wins in the history of the Academy—ten—and go on to a number 13 national ranking.

At this time, 1 have also come to know, respect and admire coach Hatfield and his staff. He has done an absolutely marvelous job at the Academy and has represented us so very well both on and off the field. I hate to see Ken leave the Academy. I know he has a deep respect and love for the Academy and everything it stands for. I also know that the only job in the country that would have taken him away from us was the Arkansas job. He played there, was captain of a national championship team, both his and his wife’s family are there, and the Arkansas football program right now is somewhat in disarray. After much soul-searching, I know Kenny felt that he had to go back to Arkansas. I know it was an extremely emotional decision for him, and he will always be a part of the Air Force Academy and the Air Force Academy will always be a part of him. I wish him good luck and Godspeed in his new position.

I also applaud and totally support the selection of coach Fisher DeBerry as his replacement. Fisher introduced the present Falcon

In the area of academics, some significant accomplishments occurred during the fall. Cadet Firstclass Ken Davison was selected as the 26th Rhodes Scholar to represent the Academy. That’s 26 Rhodes Scholars in 26 years. Not too shabby for a “trade school!” Major Felix Sanchez (’71), an aeronautics professor, was selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the World by the Jaycees International. And we’ve established a new space operations major which meets all the requirements of the new Space Command located at Peterson Air Force Base. Of course, we have been in the space business for many years, initiating an astronautics major in 1965 which is the only accredited undergraduate astronautics major in the United States. But this latest innovation puts the Academy and the Air Force on course for the 21st Century.

In the military training area, we continue to expand our airmanship programs. We’ve now obtained all of our powered gliders and our soar-for-all program has been implemented for the Class of ’87. All cadets will now solo in gliders, a great motivational step as they learn about flight, the Air Force’s primary mission. We are also encouraging expansion in our freefall parachute program. About 80 percent of the Cadet Wing should receive parachute wings. Many other airmanship programs are being expanded. General Burshnick will talk about that in a future column.

1 can’t emphasize enough the importance of spiritual development in the cadets’ lives as well as in the lives of all Air Force officers. I’ve been pleased to see between 700 and 800 cadets attending daily devotional services at 6:30 a.m. In addition to that, the chaplains have expanded many of their programs like retreats, bible studies, and distinguished guest speakers and preachers. In addition, several other outstanding ministries contribute greatly to cadet spiritual growth.

1983 was a great year full of challenges and growth for the Academy. As we begin the New Year, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your interest and support. Although our record thus far is very impressive, I’ve found that, unless you continue to grow and improve, you will, in fact, regress.

Remember the mission again: Graduate career officers. 1 would ask all of you to join the many folks involved in recruiting candidates. Encourage all young men and women that you may come in contact with to consider an Air Force career by attending the Air Force Academy. We need to increase the pool and quality of the young people interested in attending the Academy.

On behalf of the entire Cadet Wing, the faculty, and staff, I wish each and every one of you a very happy, prosperous, and healthy New Year.

Cadet Enhancement Programs: Hedrick Fund Endows Projects

Approximately $7,500 from the Frank E. and Harriet E. Hedrick Endowment Fund, administered by the Association of Graduates, has been earmarked for Academy projects designed to enhance the educational experience of cadets.

The funds represent earnings from generous gifts totaling approximately $95,000 made in 1981 and 1982 by Mr. and Mrs. Hedrick and the Beech Aircraft Foundation. The annual earnings from the fund are used for cadet or faculty enrichment programs approved by the superintendent and the association’s board of directors.

Funding this year has thus far been approved for a semi-annual Cadet Commanders’ Leadership Enrichment Seminar, the 26th Annual Academy Assembly, and a cadet autopilot design project.

The Cadet Commanders’ Leadership Enrichment Seminar was recommended by the commandant, Brig. Gen. Anthony Burshnick, to provide approximately 50 cadets in command positions (squadron, group and wing commanders with selected deputy commanders) with intensive, two-day leadership workshops.

“With cadet officers being appointed to different military positions within the Cadet Wing at the beginning of each semester, a concerted effort is necessary to polish the cadets’ organizational and leadership skills to allow them to achieve success at each level of command,’’ according to General Burshnick. The program will be conducted away from the daily demands of the Academy environment, involve at least one day of class excusal for the cadets, and will be keynoted by a recognized leadership expert.

The seminar’s content will include emphasis on organizational (versus personal) development and will provide the commanders with practical applications, tools and techniques which they can use to meet the unique needs and problems of command. The specific objectives of the seminars will be:

To provide cadet commanders with an opportunity for doing the practical leadership planning required to execute the responsibilities of top-level cadet command.

To further develop and enhance the sense of interdependence and teamwork within each command group, through common understanding of objectives, priorities, criteria, and specific leadership techniques needed to run a large organization.

To enable cadet command groups to exchange notions, ideas, concepts and techniques applicable to the challenges of service academy senior leadership.

To provide follow-on assistance to cadet commanders, upon request, during their command tenure (discussion, workshops, assessments, etc.).

According to General Burshnick, “Many of us at the Air Force Academy have long recognized the need to enhance the skills of our cadet leaders. They are in the positions to have the greatest influence on all 4,400 cadets in the Cadet Wing. I feel certain that this program will have an immediate positive impact on cadets, with long-term returns for the Air Force as well.’’

The second project endowed by Hedrick Fund earnings was a grant to augment funding for the 26th Annual Academy Assembly. The assembly is a four-day national student conference, hosted by the Academy under the auspices of the American Assembly of Columbia University. The assembly brings together some 20 senior participants from government, the military, academe and business; and about 75 student delegates from colleges and universities around the country. The format ineludes round-table discussions of a contemporary issue, consensus building and publication of a final report.

Hosted by the Academy’s Department of Political Science, the assembly is a unique experience for cadets in several ways. The planning and management of such a large conference provide a beneficial learning experience for the cadet staff. Participation as delegates allows the cadets to become involved in a stimulating academic experience and to add their particular perspective to an issue of national importance. Finally, since the student delegates live and dine with the cadets in cadet facilities, there is a good opportunity for interaction between the delegates and a large segment of the Cadet Wing.

While the assembly also receives contributions from the American Assembly, The Olmstead Foundation, the Association of Graduates and Rockwell International, rising guest speaker costs and increased operating expenses made it necessary to augment funding this year from the Hedrick Fund.

The third program approved from Hedrick Fund earnings this year is a cadet autopilot design project, in which an existing model aircraft with an eight-foot wingspan will be outfitted with an embedded computer and flight equipment. The computer will act as an autopilot which will ultimately launch, fly, and land the aircraft free from any ground control.

Currently, the project will be accomplished by cadets enrolled in EE 464 (Design) and Aero 499 (Independent Study), under the guidance of the Departments of Electrical Engineering, Aeronautics, and Computer Science. Future refinements will likely involve other courses and the Department of Astronautics.

The project is a multidiscipline, educational challenge for the cadets. The Aeronautics Department has built a small windtunnel model (one-foot wingspan) of the actual model aircraft. During the Spring ’84 semester, a cadet majoring in aeronautics will develop the control equations for the aircraft. The Computer Science Department is also involved with the development of the sophisticated software package. Future plans are to use the new Department of Defense embedded computer language ADA, pioneering the use of this language.

All areas of electrical engineering are used in the project computers, digital design, communications, instrumentation, and electromagnetics. The cadets will learn the concepts of system integration and teamwork, as the project models an Air Force systems design effort. The cadets must use engineering management through the entire design.

Considering the theme of the project, it should motivate cadets toward flight; and, because the improved design capabilities will be added as discrete increments, each semester’s efforts can be culminated in a flight test. The aircraft can be flown during Parent’s Weekend and June Week as a demonstration of the cadets’ accomplishment, thus providing a motivational climax to four years at the Academy.

The Hedrick Fund, which will endow these projects, was established through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hedrick, who donated $70,000 to the fund with the Beech Aircraft Foundation donating $25,000. Mr. and Mrs. Hedrick are well known in aviation circles where he was president of the Beech Aircraft Corporation in Wichita, Kan. since 1968. He was appointed as vice chairman of the firm’s board of directors in 1981 and retired from the corporation in July of 1982.

Mr. Hedrick is a very patriotic American who has risen to the top of the aviation business despite the lack of a college education or flying background. He has made similar gifts to other service academies.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Employment Ad Question Draws Responses

James E. Spittler, Jr., Chairman Board of Directors Association of Graduates, USAFA

Dear Jim,

1 am happy to share my views with the AOG Board of Directors on the “Employment Advertising Policy” issue raised in the Fall 1983 edition of Checkpoints. I support the request to place advertisements in Checkpoints highlighting civilian opportunities. I believe the AOG has a responsibility to all of its constituents, and needs to expand its focus beyond the present emphasis on graduates serving in the Air Force on extended active duty.

Although the board should keep control of the editorial content of advertising in its magazine, providing visibility into employment opportunities for the increasing pool of retired graduates certainly is a worthwhile service regardless of what West Point and Annapolis do. It is better to use our magazine for this (revenueproducing) purpose than to unwittingly encourage unauthorized use of the Register for identifying and providing mailings to officers nearing 20 years of active service (or completion of their initial service commitment).

The very idea that the AOG must, above all, cater to active duty graduates is, at best, unhealthy for an association seeking to grow. There are several other membership groups whose size is increasing, for example: retired graduates, graduates in civilian occupations, and graduates who have left extended active duty to become part of the Air Reserve Forces.

Yes, Virginia, there is life after active duty! I have seen it in the eyes and hearts of Academy graduates like Steve Ritchie (’64), John Hewitt, Jr. (’65), and Edward Jayne II (’66) who felt their contribution to this great nation could best continue outside of the active Air Force. Some have separated at fewer than 20 years of active service and joined the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard, some have taken positions in private industry, and some have retired at 20 years to begin second careers. All remain “national assets” and none are any less Academy graduates.

The recent Checkpoints included a summary of 1983 Academy graduate selections for 0-6, a full page devoted to Jabara winners, four pages relating PhDs to active promotion to 0-6, and articles

on graduates doing research at FJSRL and winning Junior Officer of the Year honors. How typical that the single civilian graduate recognized in the magazine appeared at the bottom of the last page; that Bob Dwyer’s appointment as State Adjutant General (major general) in the Nevada Air National Guard received only a mention in the ’59 class news; and that Reserve promotion summaries were not included at all.

1 recognize that space in the magazine is short. In the recent edition, which was jammed with quality articles, my candidates for being deferred are the “Join the AOG” advertisement on page 18 and “The Secret Life of Waldo F. Dumbsquat” on page 21. Telling our membership to join the association strikes me about like the letter 1 received in Vietnam from the Republican National Committee asking for a demonstration of my support for our commander in chief. Perhaps by prioritizing Waldo Dumbsquat ahead of features on civilian, retired, and Reserve component graduates you are slighting some of the association’s constituents?

Let’s do honor requests for advertisements from our graduates when they serve major classes of our members. And let’s broaden our present charter to serve all AOG members, including those no longer on extended active duty.

Very sincerely,

Robert J. Sallee, ’68 (Editor’s note: We heartily agree with Mr. Salee’s constructive criticism concerning the lack of information on civilian, Reserve and National Guard graduates in the magazine. The problem, however, is not space, but lack of information from these constituencies. Working as we do with a one-man stafffor Checkpoints, we rely heavily on having news items provided to us as we do not have staff or time to actively solicit information in all areas of graduate endeavor. When we are provided information on our civilian graduates from institutions of higher learning or from industry, we publish it if it is a genuine accomplishment. Because of Mr. Sallee’s letter, we have also contacted officials in the Reserves and National Guard requesting promotion and other information on our graduates in those organizations. We again urge graduates in any walk of life to contribute articles to the magazine. As for “Waldo, ’’he’s the only bit of humor in Checkpoints and we like him.)

Mr. Jim Spittler President, AOG

Dear Jim,

A recent letter to the editor of Checkpoints asked for opinions regarding employment advertising via the AOG. I do agree that the association would provide a valuable service to its members by serving as a clearinghouse for job information. However, I feel that Checkpoints is an inappropriate vehicle.

The alumni office of Stanford’s Graduate School of Business (SBSAA) offers a service which 1 think might work well for the AOG. The SBSAA puts out a bi-monthly job bulletin which is sent to members upon request only. A six-month subscription is provided free to members. A continuation of the subscription costs $10. Listings are free except for executive recruiting firms which are charged $50.

On another issue, 1 miss the old format of the Register of Graduates. I feel it provided an excellent source of information for career evaluation vis-a-vis peers or role models. Recognizing the cost and effort of producing a more complete version, I’ll offer the SBSAA as a model once again. It has just published its first alumni directory which is available only to alumni and staff of the business school. It will be published every two to three years. The pre-publication price is $25 and postpublication price is $60. With such a system, those who consider a directory worthwhile will subsidize the publication rather than the association itself.

I hope these ideas provide some alternatives for decisions facing the board of directors. Best of luck!

Very truly yours,

Bill Musick, ’76

Dear AOG,

I just received my fall ’83 copy of Checkpoints. After reading it I felt like I should throw in my two cents worth on the issues mentioned in “The AOG Boardroom.”

First, my understanding has always been that the AOG is designed to serve the needs of USAFA graduates and is not chartered as a retention tool for the USAF. If graduates elect to separate from the service or have reached retirement age, the AOG should serve them just as well as it serves those grads still on active duty. Not everyone who is a grad elects to re-

main in the service forever and that choice will not be affected by job ads in Checkpoints. To assume this would take place overestimates the importance of the AOG and Checkpoints while grossly underestimating the intelligence of USAFA grads. The ads currently banned should be accepted if the AOG is to fully serve the entire graduate community.

On the subject of ceremonial uniforms. I have to agree with Lt. Col. Cathey. I recently attended CINCPACAF’s retirement ceremony and 1 thought it had become a Navy billet. Why we are trying to look like another service is beyond me. Let’s wear Air Force blue and advertise who we are.

Sincerely,

Maj. Ron Brown, USAF Class

of ’69

CEREMONIAL UNIFORMS

Dear Editor,

In your most recent issue of Checkpoints, you requested comments on the new ceremonial uniforms. While 1 feel that it is not normally appropriate for the association to interfere with Air Force policy, I think it is necessary for the association to attempt to stop what 1 feel is a major mistake.

This is only the second time that 1 have seen the Air Force introduce a uniform without a good reason. Every time there has been a change in the uniform it has been carefully explained, a valid reason shown, and there has been an open interchange of information for many months before it was made mandatory. The only time that this was not done was when the U/V-neck T-shirt was introduced. In that case, it was only a few dollars worth of underclothes that were involved. In this case we are talking about $400 worth of uniforms.

In trying to figure out why the new uniform was even considered, I was unable to find one instance when either the blue service uniform or mess dress uniform was inappropriate. There is a possibility that in certain diplomatic positions or in certain positions in the Washington, D.C. area, the uniform may meet a need. If this is the case, then these jobs should be identified and the job description should include the uniform requirements.

I have heard many officers discussing new uniforms, and with the threatened retirement changes and other losses of benefits, this is being referred to as the “straw that broke the camel’s back.” I feel that introducing these uniforms and making them mandatory when no clear need has been shown is poor policy and can only hurt the Air Force.

Sincerely,

Samuel P. Finch III, ’64

Lieutenant Colonel, USAF

Dear Executive Committee,

I am writing in response to Lt. Col. Cathey’s article in the last Checkpoints magazine concerning the new ceremonial dress uniforms.

My vote is thumbs down!

I also encourage field graders to send their opinions to the Air Force Uniform Board (AFUB), HQ USAF/MP, Washington D.C. 20330.

Willard N. Stooke, Jr. (’71)

Major, USAF

To the editor:

I concur with Lt. Col. Cathey (and every other USAF officer with whom I have discussed the issue) on the new uniform. The ceremonial uniforms are unnecessary, a waste of money, and definitely hurt the morale of both field and company grade officers.

Guy Gardner (’69)

Lt. Col., USAF

THANKS EXPRESSED

Dear Lt. Col. Coppock

As Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself thinking of those people for whom I am especially grateful. As you and your wonderful organization top that list, 1 wanted to send a note of thanks.

My in-laws were so very pleased with the Graduate-Cadet Memorial Ceremony they attended during Homecoming and I’m sure that they will always treasure that memory that you made possible. I still wish that I had been able to attend and thank you for furnishing copies of the program for the children and myself. That was so thoughtful as is everything you folks continually do. It truly is a glowing feeling that you impart to others and I feel very proud to be associated with such a truly fine and worthwhile organization.

I have enclosed a check for the Air Force Academy Fund and the children and I wish you continued success in your many projects.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Patricia J. Work (Mrs. Terrell W. Work)

LIKED CUBERO ARTICLE

Gentlemen:

Col. Ruben A. Cubero’s article, “PhD’s Effect on 0-6 Promotion Studied,” was extremely interesting. Diagram B, “Final Rank Order of all 19 Discriminating Variables for those Officers Promoted and Passed Over to Colonel,” is an eye opener for me. My thanks to Col. Cubero for writing the article and the AOG for printing it.

Information contained in Diagram B leads me to wonder what Diagram Bs for the ranks of major, lieutenant colonel, brigadier general, major general, lieutenant general and general would look like. If the controlled OERs were the discriminating power, that may show up in the lieutenant colonel and general officer’s statistics. Recent major boards might show what the new discriminator will be. OER indorsements? Personal sponsorship? Job Responsibility? Awards and decorations? A master’s degree? Military education?

I feel a study of this would be of great benefit to graduates.

Sincerely yours,

Kary E. Schricker, ’77

KUDOS FOR MAGAZINE

Dick Coppock

Executive Director, AOG

Dear Dick,

I just read the latest (fall, ’83) Checkpoints and it’s your finest issue ever. Let me make some bullet comments and ask some questions.

I would agree with advertising for civilian employment. It makes no sense to hide our heads in the sand. Checkpoints is a fine and influential magazine but let’s face it, our advertising won’t be the reason someone gets out of the military.

I support the elimination of the ceremonial uniform.

I suggest that the Register of Graduates be printed in its old, expanded form once every three years. Don’t print the abbreviated version at all. This method might save money over your current proposal. I polled five of my classmates attending ACSC and they agreed with this suggestion so you’ve got six votes for one printing every three years.

Maxwell AFB has the only on-base master’s degree program in the Air Force right now. The degree is offered through the University of Alabama and I think it’s great. If other people would like a similar program at their bases, Headquarters Air University has an assistance package to point them in the right direction. It can be obtained by writing to HQ AU/EDO, Maxwell AFB, AL 36112 or calling Lt. Col. Stamps at Autovon 875-5157.

Would you print a list of say, the top 10 projects as prioritized by the superintendent and the AOG Board of Directors?

Once again, the latest Checkpoints was super! 1 especially enjoyed Col. Cubero’s article, the historical piece on General Harmon and the always well-written class column by T. J. Mancuso.

Sincerely,

Capt. Chip Jensen Class of ’72

AFA FUND DRIVE IN HIGH GEAR

By Al Blumberg, ’68 Chairman, Annual Fund

The 1983-84 Air Force Academy Fund (AFA Fund) is enjoying an outstanding start. Officially launched at the 1983 Homecoming on September 24, contributions through December 13 total $22,579, from 669 donors. A statistical breakout by class, as well as individual donor recognition, is shown elsewhere in this article.

MORE ON DONOR RECOGNITION

The recognition items for this year’s drive have been approved by the Association of Graduates’ Executive Committee. (Discussion of the recognition program itself was highlighted in the fall 1983 issue of Checkpoints.) For Donors, a Sheaffer pen set with the Academy and AOG crest has been selected. A set will be mailed to all contributors of $50 or more. To date, 145 individuals have qualified for this handsome remembrance.

The Sponsor category is being recognized with a wall plaque in addition to the pen set. The plaque will have space for multiple years of recognition. Fifty-eight individuals with contributions of $100 to $499 have qualified for this level.

All Patrons ($500 to $4,999) will receive an AOG fine art white gyrfalcon print while supplies last, in addition to a plaque and a desk set. Three contributions have been received in this category at this time. A substitute item for the print will also be sent, if requested.

Recognition for those unique individuals who are named Benefactors ($5000 or more) is still being developed by the AFA Fund Committee. That recognition procedure will be outlined in a future issue of Checkpoints.

IT’S UP TO US!

The Air Force Academy Fund’s target for 1983-84 is $50,000. We are well on our way to achieving it, but there is still a long way to go! We all fulfill a significant role by supporting the Academy through the AFA Fund which endows many worthwhile projects at the Academy for which federal funds are not available. The extra margin of excellence is up to us!

PROGRESS ON 1982-83 FUND

The wheels have been set in motion on the purchase of Academy enhancement projects from monies collected during the 1982-83 Air Force Academy Fund drive. The Cessna 150 aircraft for the Cadet Competition Flying Team has been purchased and delivered to Colorado for $6,122, and a 150-horsepower engine conversion kit for the aircraft has also been bought for $3,977. The actual 150-horsepower engine and its attendant installation costs were being negotiated at the time of this writing, and the aircraft should be ready for use by the flying team this spring.

The aircraft replaces a 100-horsepower aircraft which the Hying team has been renting. Cadets on the team were paying for the rented aircraft out of their own pockets, with the result that many highly qualified cadets could not afford to try out for the competition Hying team because of lack of money.

The new aircraft is compatible with others in the'Academy Air

SUPPORT YOUR ACADEMY AND THE CADET WING. SEND IN YOUR DONATION TO THE AFA FUND TODAY!

field’s traffic pattern and will be painted to associate it with the Academy and the flying team. The team represents the Academy at regional and national intercollegiate competitions and has placed second and fourth nationally in the last two years. The 1984 national competition will be held at the Academy in April of this year.

The Cadet Trophy room, another project chosen for endowment by last year’s fund drive, is in the process of being created. Four large cases, 72 inches high by 70 inches wide by 20 inches deep, have been ordered from a local vendor at a cost of approximately $4,191. The cases have their own internal lighting, locking front doors, and come in an aluminum finish with walnut woodgrain on the base of each case.

The cases, to be displayed in the trophy room which will be located in a stairwell of Fairchild hall on the terrazzo level, will be used to properly display awards won by cadet performing groups such as the Cadet Drum and Bugle Corps, the Drill Team, Wings of Blue, the Honor Guard, the Rugby Club, and the like.

The Humanitarian Fund, which was established through last year’s fund drive, has thus far helped to defray $160 in expenses related to serious injury or death of a graduate or cadet which resulted in that individual’s family incurring costly expenses surrounding their travel and stay at the Academy.

The AOG Humanitarian Program considers only death and life-threatening situations and is designed to be an “assistance package’’ which could cover lodging, food, transportation and other services as needed by family members. At present the program provides assistance only at the Academy if the family experiences unusually high costs or exhibits a genuine need for the funds.

Another project of the 1982-83 Air Force Academy Fund, the modification of two Cadet T-4 trainers, has been completed; and the $850 in funds have been transferred to the Academy agency in charge of the modification. All fourthclassmen use the trainers in their Aviation 100 Flying Motivation Course and two of the trainers did not have visual displays. The project provided the capability for the cadets to visually reference flight control changes.

Finally, approximately $400 has been used from the Cadet Experience Enrichment Fund for small items in support of cadetrelated activities, programs and projects.

EXTRA MARGIN OF EXCELLENCE

Administered by the Association of Graduates, the Air Force Academy Fund will continue to endow projects prioritized by the superintendent and approved by the association’s board of directors. The fund, created “to provide an extra margin of excellence” for the Academy and cadets, is patterned after alumni gift funds of other colleges and universities to include the service academies.

All donations to the fund are kept separate from the association’s operating fund and none of the contributions to the Air Force Academy Fund are used for association expenses other than direct Air Force Academy Fund-related costs. All donations to the fund are tax deductible.

Contributions will be accepted through June 30 for this year’s fund drive and should be sent to: The Air Force Academy Fund, Association of Graduates, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. 80840. A list of the approved Academy enhancement projects to be endowed with the 1983-84 AFA Fund will be published in the next edition of Checkpoints, if available.

DONORS RECOGNIZED

PATRON $500 to $4,999

Mr & Mrs Howard Aiken

Mr & Mrs Leonard W Lindh

Mr & Mrs Michael W Smith

SPONSOR $100 to $499

Mr & Mrs J Abbatiello

Capt James E Arnold

Mr & Mrs Robert N Blum

Mr & Mrs Gerald C Bulkeley

Mr & Mrs Richard M Coppock

Mr & Mrs Richard D Curry

Col Edward J Dehne

Mr & Mrs Kurt Dieters

Capt & Mrs Robert S Fraser

Mr & Mrs Riley Gilbert

Mr & Mrs Charles Gounaud

Capt Donald J Halley

Maj Daniel E Hancock

Capt Kenneth C Hancock

Mr & Mrs Robert Hastert

Mr & Mrs Otis R Hendrickson

Mr and Mrs Kenneth O Hession

Lt Col Glenn F Howerton Jr

Mr Allen R Hunt

Mr Edward R Jayne II

Dr Henry S Jordan Jr

Col & Mrs Roddie L Kile

Mr Stanley V Koziara

Dr Gregory M Kronberg

Mr and Mrs Robert D Lemon

Mr Alvan M Long

Mr R H Lounsberry

Mr & Mrs Russell Mahony

1 Lt John O Miller

Lt Col Ronald L Morey

Dr Howard W Morgan Jr

Mr David J Nielsen

Dr James L Ough

Dr & Mrs F W Parrish

Mr & Mrs William Perry

Mr & Mrs Frank Postulka

Mr & Mrs Luther L Quist

Mr & Mrs Hans Rauschenbach

Col John F C Rhoades

Col (Ret) & Mrs W T Riley Jr

Mr & Mrs Clifford J Rodgers

Lt Col Enrique M Rodriguez

Maj Jack J Schneider

Lt Col & Mrs Jeffrey E Schofield

2Lt Arthur M Shirai

Lt Col Loren J Shriver

Mr & Mrs James E Spittler Jr

Capt Michael A Stanley

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs Terry L Storm

Mr & Mrs Richard R Stoyle

Mrs W C Sweeney

Maj Gen Harold W Todd

Col (Ret) & Mrs R F Watson

Mr & Mrs Charles J Yoos

Mr & Mrs Joseph E Zeis

DONOR $50 to $99

1 Lt Terry R Adler

USAFA

2Lt Ricardo Aguilar

2Lt Alan K Anderson

Capt Patrick J Ash

Dr & Mrs Martin E Bischoff

Mr & Mrs Elihu R Blackmon

Mr Worth W Boisture Jr

Capt Jeffrey C Brown

Mr & Mrs M C Busselle

Mr & Mrs Robert Carson

Mr & Mrs R N Chamberlin

Capt Louis E Christensen

Capt Brent R Collins

2Lt Landis B Cook

Col & Mrs Ruben A Cubero

Col & Mrs V B Culberson

Capt & Mrs Philip C DeBruin

Capt Ricardo Dicocco

Maj Richard H Downing

Mr James A Erickson

2Lt Kevin D Ewing

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs H A Felman

Capt Antonio Ferraro

Col (Ret) & Mrs C D Fisher

2Lt David P Graves

Mr & Mrs Gerald H Greenwood

Mr & Mrs Jorge Gutierrez

Mr Joseph E Hanus

Mrs Bertha M Heald

Capt William Hoferer

Mr & Mrs John M Horner

Mr & Mrs Ray Ikeda

Maj H Martin Jayne

Col (Ret) & Mrs L L Jella

Mr Arthur H Johnson

Mr & Mrs Sterling Johnson

Mr & Mrs. Reed H Kelso

Mr & Mrs John R Kennedy Sr

Mr Joseph M Killeen

Mr Allen C S Kim

Capt Thomas L Knabel

Mr & Mrs John G Knox

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs Donald Kuhnsman

Mr & Mrs R Lear

Mr William Leatherbee

Mr & Mrs Victor Leikam

Lt Col Tommy L Love

MSgt (Ret) & Mrs R C Lyons

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs R K Markel

Col & Mrs T J McAdam

Col (Ret) & Mrs Floyd McBride

Mr Winded McCrackin

Capt James H D McDermott

Mr & Mrs Leroy Ayer Mehan

Capt Randell S Meyer

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs P A Mihalik

Col Craig V Miller

Mr Michael L Murphy

Mr Eugene Neuharth

Maj Gary D Payton

Capt Bruce W Pennington 1 Lt Clifford C Perrenod

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs Fred H Porter (Donor list continued on next page.)

THE TOP FIVE CLASSES

(Note: The percent of donors is calculated by dividing the number ofgifts by the number of living alumni. Totals include gifts received between July 1, and December 13, 1983. Gifts received after December 13 will be included in the next magazine.)

1983-84 Air Force Academy Fund Donors

DONOR $50 to $99 (Con’t)

Col & Mrs Michael J Quinlan

Col (Ret) & Mrs E T Reichert

Dr Berthold R Reinstein II

Capt John F C Rhoades Jr

Capt Charles F Riordan 111

Mr & Mrs Joseph Rossillon

Mr & Mrs John A Rudolph

Capt Michael S Sackley

Mr Richard Schaller

2Lt Julia M Scheffelin

Capt Douglas Schrag

Mr John W Shiner

Mr Jeffrey L Smiley

lLt Jeffrey E Stambaugh

Mr & Mrs Louis R Stengel

Mr & Mrs John E Story

Mr & Mrs Odell Stukes

Mr & Mrs Richard D Trotter

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs R T Uyehata

Mr John J Warner

Capt James S Welshans

Lt Col James F Wheeler

Mrs Frankie Wiggins

Capt William A Yucuis

CONTRIBUTOR UP TO $49

Mr & Mrs William H Abbott

Dr & Mrs Harvey A Abrams

Col Jerrold P Allen

Lt Col Larry M Almand

Mr Gregory J Anderson

Capt Robert C Anderson

Mrs Martha Andress

Mrs Gail V Anernine

Mr Dana C Arbaugh

Mr & Mrs Raymond Arthur

Mr & Mrs Leslie Arvai

Mr & Mrs Ho Yick Au-Yeung

Mr & Mrs Ronald J. Babski

Mr & Mrs John M Baker

Mr & Mrs Robert T Baker

Mrs Doris J Barlow

2Lt Marion E Barnes

Capt Mark R Barnett

2Lt Jeffrey K Barnson

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs J Barrowclough

Mr & Mrs Ray H Bartlett Jr

Capt Stephen J Base

Mrs Ruby L Bates

Mr & Mrs Edward Beauchemin

Capt Paul Beck

Mr & Mrs Gerbert Becker

Lt Col Michael J Beezley

Mr Brian S Bell

Capt David H Berg

1 Lt Heinz P L Bergann

Mr George K Bernhard

Mr & Mrs Edgar Billiet

Mrs Roberta N Bingaman

Maj Gen Gordon Blake

Mr Peter A Blake

2Lt Darryl W Blan

Mr John G Blecka

Mr & Mrs Werner A Blome

Maj Ronald L Boatright

1

Lt Mark A Bobinger

Capt James G Boehm

(Continuedfrom previous page.)

1 Lt Robert G Bonn

Mrs Elfriede Borish

Capt Stephen J Bose

Mr & Mrs John R Bozek

Col & Mrs Earnie K Breeden

Capt Randy B Breunling

Mr Harry Brittenham

TSgt (Ret) & Mrs C P Brothers

Lt Col Thmas M Browder Jr

Lt Col (Ret) James W Brown III

Mr John P Brown

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs A G Brozena Sr

Mr Carl J Bruckner Jr

Dr & Mrs Arthur L Brundage

Mr & Mrs James G Buechter

Mr & Mrs Robert Bunt

Col (Ret) & Mrs Vane W Burnett

Capt Kevin P Burns

Maj Larry F Bush

Capt Robert B Cabell Jr

SMSgt (Ret) & Mrs James E Cain

Capt Steven E Cameron

MSgt (Ret) & Mrs Gerardo Campbell

Mr & Mrs Jerry C Campbell

Mr & Mrs Carl A Carlson

Mr & Mrs C H Carpenter Sr

Mr Francis L Carroll

Capt William T Carrothers

1 Lt Lee R Carson

Maj (Ret) & Mrs Adam W Carter

Capt James E Carter

Mr & Mrs Louis G Casale Jr

Capt Linwood N Chayer

1 Lt Timothy R Childers

Mrs Genevieve L Clark

Mr James S Clark Jr

Col Robert D Clark

Capt Michael S Cleary

Maj Donald J Clement

Mr & Mrs Samuel H Clovis

Maj (Ret) & Mrs R K Coleman

Mr Benjamin A Collins Jr

Mr Richard C Collins

Mrs Richard F Collins

Mr & Mrs Samuel J Colombo

Mr & Mrs Sam J Compagno

1 Lt Kathleen M Conley

Lt Col Leland W C Conner

Maj & Mrs Neal D Coyle

SFC (Ret) & Mrs W D Crafton

2Lt Mark C Crews

Mr & Mrs B L Crittenden Sr

Mr & Mrs John L Crochet

Capt Lee T Cross

Capt David X Crouser

1 Lt Miles A Crowell

1 Lt Christopher R Cuellar

Capt Gregory W Cummins

Mr Jack L Cunningham

Mr & Mrs S A Czerwinski

Mr & Mrs Malcolm G Dahl

Capt Mark S Daly

Col (Ret) & Mrs C F Damberg

MSgt (Ret) & Mrs R G Darling

Col C H Davidson

Capt Wayne Davidson

2Lt Joseph S Davis

Mr & Mrs Daniel deCamp

Mr Gasto DeCarlo

Mrs Carolyn A DeClerck

Mr James E Defazio

Mr & Mrs Gaetano Degiovanni

Mr & Mrs Kenneth Degler

Col & Mrs D M Dessert

2Lt Duane C Dick

Col & Mrs Paul Dimmick

Col (Ret) & Mrs Roger Dorian

Mr & Mrs Henry Dornak Jr

1 Lt Steven K Doss

Mr & Mrs Charles J Doucett

Mr Thomas H Doyle

Maj Robert E Drabant

Lt Col Jerry D Driscoll

1 Lt Debra J Dubbe

Capt Matthew C Dunbar

Capt Luckey M Dunn

Mr & Mrs Elmitt Eastcott

Col (Ret) & Mrs W H Ebelke

Maj Maurice Ecung

Capt Steven R Eddy

Mr & Mrs W L Eggert

Mr & Mrs Richard L Eilers

Col (Ret) William E Eisenhart

2Lt Charles A Elliott Jr

Mr & Mrs Vernon G Elliott

2Lt Diane L Elwer

Maj Richard W Engel

Mr & Mrs Leroy J Engelking

Mr & Mrs James E Espey

2Lt Roberta M Ewart

Capt John S Farnham

Mr Jerry W Fee

Capt Charles R Fellows

Maj Jeffrey E Field

Mrs Ealaine M Fisher

Mr & Mrs Eugene Fitzgerald

Maj Paul H Flynn

Mr & Mrs Adolf H Foerster

YNC (Ret) & Mrs W Forcade

Mr & Mrs Ralph E Ford

Mrs Virginia M Fox

Capt Alexander G Fracchia

MSgt (Ret) & Mrs Franceschini

Mr & Mrs G J Frassinelli

Mr & Mrs Lawrence Frigault

Capt David L Fundarek

Mr & Mrs Fred M Furches Jr

Capt Ronald P Furstenau

1 Lt Francis R Gabreski

Mrs Albert Gagliardi Sr

Mr Michael J Galbreath

Mr & Mrs John W Gardiner

Maj (Ret) & Mrs M B Garlow

Maj Richard E Gausmann

2Lt Edward C Gelzinis

Lt Col James G George

Capt Marke F Gibson

Mr Walter J Giller

Mr Michael J Gilliom

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs W Glushko

MSgt & Mrs R A Godbout

Capt Bernard F Goldbach

Mr & Mrs Eladio Gonzalez

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs J E Good

Mr William Goodhand

CWO (Ret) & Mrs G D Gortney

Mr Richard J Grasso Jr

Mr Richard C Gray

Capt Thomas K Green

2Lt & Mrs Robert Gregor

1 Lt Brian J Griggs

1 Lt Tad A Grisham

Mr Winthrop Gruening

2Lt Manuel Guerrero Jr

Mr & Mrs Paul R Guthals

Mrs Carole Hack

Col Charles E Hale Jr

Mr & Mrs Norman M Haller

Mr & Mrs William K Hamann

Maj David Hamilton

Maj Terry A Hammond

Mrs Betty Jo Hamper

1 Lt James N Hanley

Mr & Mrs Thomas J Hanlon

Mrs Donna M Hannig

Col (Ret) Melvin L Harmon

Capt Douglas A Harnly

Mr & Mrs Lewis Harper

Mr & Mrs Otto H Hartenstein

Maj Gerald G Hartley

Lt Col William R Harwood Jr

Maj (Ret) & Mrs E L Hatfield

Col (Ret) E A Hawkens

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs H E Headlee

Mr & Mrs Douglas C Hebb

Mrs Shirley J Heckman

CSMgt (Ret) & Mrs C Z Henry

Mr & Mrs Larry D Henson

Capt David W Herlong

Mr & Mrs Claire J Hermes

Col & Mrs R C Hess

Capt John N Higgins

Col Joseph L Higgins

Lt Col Dennis H Hill

1 Lt Ludwig S Hill

Mr & Mrs Stanley P Hill

Capt Dennis F Hilley

Mrs Anna Lee Hindes

Mr Gerry D Hines

Mr Jerry D Hines

1 Lt Russell D Hodgkins Jr

Mr Christopher J Hope

2Lt William T Horn

Lt Col & Mrs Carl E Hornor

Mr Fred Houck

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs W A Howard

Mr & Mrs Stacy W Hoy

Mrs Mary Hudson

Col (Ret) & Mrs J M Huffman Jr

Mr & Mrs Joe Huggler

Mr & Mrs Leros E Hull

Mr & Mrs Edmundo Hummel

Dr & Mrs Jonathan Hummel

Mr Robert E Humpert

Dr & Mrs Charles H Huppert

Lt Col Harold J leke

Mr & Mrs Thomas E Imbus

Mr & Mrs Malcolm J Ingalls

Mr & Mrs Henry O Ingram

1 Lt John C Jackson III

1 Lt Theresa M Jackson

Mr & Mrs Sidney F Jarrow

Mr & Mrs Maurice Jensen

CMSgt (Ret) & Mrs B C Johnson

Capt Robert C Johnson

Maj Robert E Johnson Jr

Maj Thomas G Johnson

Mr & Mrs Allan M Jones

Mr & Mrs Charles R Jones

Mr Dennis D Jones

Mr & Mrs Herbert R Jones

Col & Mrs Wayne H Jones

Mr & Mrs Walter A Jurkowski

Mr & Mrs Horst Kajah

Mr & Mrs Walter Karle

Mr & Mrs Mike Kasumovic

Mr & Mrs Carl A Keil

Mr Duncan C Keirnes

Capt Michael K Kelly

Maj Ronald T Kelly

Maj James V Kelso 111

Mr & Mrs Jay A Kendig

Mr & Mrs Ronald W Kenwiser

Mr & Mrs I Kerenyi

Mr & Mrs John V Kiesler

2Lt Jon A Kimminau

1 Lt Kevin L Kimsey

Lt Col Timothy A Kinnan

Maj Gen & Mrs William L Kirk

Capt David P Kissinger

Mr & Mrs Richard O Klatt

Capt Kurt J Klingenberger

Mr & Mrs Alvin Knauf

Mr & Mrs John T Kobylarz

Mr & Mrs Raymond Kolkmeier

Dr & Mrs James G Kornmesser

Mr Divid A Kotecki

Mr & Mrs Leon Krai

Mr & Mrs Thomas J Kraner

Mr Richard G Krebs

Mr & Mrs Richard Kreeger

MSgt (Ret) & Mrs S E Kresge

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs G F Kroehl

Mr & Mrs Donald Kudym

Mr & Mrs Robert C Laird

Mr & Mrs Joseph Lamagna Jr

1 Lt Lisa A Lambert

Mr Sam M Lambert

Capt Perry L Lamy

Capt Frederick A Lankford

Mr Nicholas M Lanzilotta

Capt Victor M LaSaxon

Mr & Mrs Jack V Lavigne

Capt Geoffrey S Lawrence

Mr & Mrs William Lenches Sr

Mr Bruce Linscott

Mr & Mrs Heinz A Lips

Lt Col Anthony H Long

Lt Col John A Lukasik

Mrs Dorothy C MacArtney

Col John D MacArtney

Col & Mrs Leo P Mackey

Mr & Mrs Harry Magnuson

Col (Ret) John C Mahan

Mr Roger H Mahrer

Capt Clarence T Marsh III

Mr Albert Marshall

1

Lt Anne E Martin

Lt Col Jack A Martines

Capt Andrew Matarese

Mr James Mateos Jr

Mr & Mrs Ralph L Maxey

Mr David N McBroom

Mr & Mrs Donald G McClarin Sr

Mr & Mrs James W McClure

Capt Michael W McCoy

Mr & Mrs Stepehn T McDavid

Mrs Alma McDougall

Col (Ret) & Mrs P H McFarland

Mr Thomas M McKean

Mr David McLaughlin

Capt (Ret) & Mrs J M

McLaughlin

Capt Joseph R McLaughlin

Maj Kevin J McManus

Mrs Agustina Mendez

Capt Richard A Mentemeyer

Capt Dale W Meyerrose

Mr & Mrs Glenn N Meyers

Mr & Mrs Wladimir Migdal

Mr & Mrs Calvin E Miller

Capt Douglas L Miller

Mr & Mrs Edward A Miller

2Lt Dean S Mills

1 Lt Gene T Mitchell Jr

Col (Ret) & Mrs John D Monahan

Capt John T Moore

Mrs Linda C Morse

Maj Robert A Moyer

Capt Wendel J Msall Jr

Mr & Mrs Jerry J Mullett

Lt Col James M Murphy

Mr & Mrs John J Murphy

Mr & Mrs William F Murray Jr

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs A J Naigle

Mr & Mrs A L Neveu

Mr & Mrs Douglas Norton

Mr William J Nugent

2Lt Brian C O’Berry

Capt Gerald O’Connor

Maj Dale B Oderman

Mr Terrence O’Donnell

1 Lt Thomas G O’Neil

Mr & Mrs D C Osterheld

Mr & Mrs Roy J Ott

Mr & Mrs Martin Otting

CWO-3 (Ret) & Mrs C B Parker

Maj Lloyd Patterson

1 Lt Timothy J Payton

Mrs Margaret T Pegg

Mr & Mrs Joseph F Peloquin

MSgt (Ret) & Mrs Juan Perez

Mrs Russell S Perry

Mr & Mrs Robert Peters

Mr & Mrs Helmut Pfab

Mr & Mrs Melvin J Pfau

Rev & Mrs Henry B Pickett

Capt Paul E Pirog

Mr & Mrs Ralph E Pisani

Mr & Mrs Gregory Place

CMSgt & Mrs D O Poehler

Sgt Maj & Mrs Clark Ponder

Mr & Mrs Donald T Post

Mr & Mrs Don R Prather

CMSgt & Mrs Howard F Pratt

Dr & Mrs E T Prendergast

Col Charles S Price

Capt Craig A Puz

Maj Jeffrey A Quirk

1 Lt Vincent J Rafferty Jr

Mr & Mrs Joseph Rampino

CMS (Ret) & Mrs A M Randlett

Mr & Mrs Harold Reddick

Mr & Mrs William F Regan

Capt Robert F Reilman Jr

1 Lt John L Reinheimer

Col (Ret) & Mrs Carl C Reiter

Mr & Mrs Albert E Reville

Dr & Mrs Metodio Reyes

Mr Larry Reynolds

Lt Col James M Rhodes

Mr & Mrs Martin M Rhodes

Mrs Coleen Roberts

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs D L Roberts

Mr Charles S Rodgers

Lt Col & Mrs Frank R Rodriguez

Mr & Mrs Herbert A Rogl

Mr Michael L Rose

Col (Ret) & Mrs John J Rosenow

Mr Paul Rossetti

Mr & Mrs Pat Rossi

Lt Col John G Roush

Mr William C Roxby Jr

Mr & Mrs James D Ruggiero

Mr & Mrs John E Ryan Jr

Lt Col Marc L Sabin

Capt John A Salvador

Mr & Mrs Kenneth G Sanders

Capt Roland M Sasscer

Mr & Mrs J M R Scanlon

Capt Stephen D Schmidt

Capt David E Schmitz

Capt Tom M Schossau

Mr & Mrs E J Schreiber

Maj Norton A Schwartz

Maj (Ret) & Mrs F R Scobee

MSgt & Mrs John E Sells

Mr & Mrs Constantine Semenok

Maj Donald Sexton

Mr Claude W Shearer

Mr & Mrs Toyo Shirai

Mr & Mrs John J Shivnen

Capt (Ret) & Mrs G P Simpson

Mr & Mrs Edwin B Smith

Mr & Mrs James W Smith

1 Lt Michael B Smith

Mr Roger Smith

Mr & Mrs Stanley Smith

Capt Quay C Snyder Jr

Mr & Mrs Earl W E Sollmann

Capt Mark A Sowards

Mr & Mrs George Spears

2Lt David J Specht

Mr Thomas P Sporte

Dr Kenneth A Stark

Capt Kurt B Stevens

Capt Ernest StGelais

Mr & Mrs George Stillman

Mr & Mrs Alan StMarie

Maj James Storey

Capt Steven A Stout

1 Lt Steven C Streiffert

2Lt Eric T Strull

Maj Ronald J Sullivan

Mr & Mrs Robert Survil

SGM & Mrs Edward H Svestka

Col & Mrs Frederic F Swan

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs D H Swanson

Mr & Mrs John J Sweeney

Sgt (Ret) & Mrs David W Swiger

Mr & Mrs John A Szulta

Mr & Mrs Earl L Taylor

Maj John A Taylor Jr

Mr Robert L Taylor

Capt Terrence L Taubert

Mr & Mrs Robert F Terifay

Lt Col & Mrs Melvin P Terry

Mr Michael R Thiessen

1 Lt Barry P Thoma

Capt John D Thomas

Lt Col (Ret) Addison S Thompson

Mr & Mrs Carel Thompson Jr

Col Dale W Thompson

Mr & Mrs Henry W Thompson

Mr & Mrs Kenneth E Thompson

Mr William L Thompson

Dr & Mrs William J Tibbs

Maj (Ret) & Mrs Thomas Tighe

Mr & Mrs C S Tilden

Lt Col James W Tilley II

1 Lt Peter M Tinebra

Mr & Mrs Gordon R Tobin

Maj Jon N Torblaa

Mr & Mrs Harold W Tremain

Mr & Mrs Walter E Turner

Maj Carl M Upson

Mr & Mrs Edward Ustraszewski

Mr & Mrs M J Valovcin

Mr Michael A Vandette Jr

Col & Mrs John E VanDuyn

Capt Marvin J VanEvery

CDR (Ret) & Mrs John K Verser

Mr & Mrs Randall L Vest

Capt Brian R Voorhees

Mr & Mrs Karl F Wade

Capt David A Wagie

1 Lt Eva T Wallace

Lt Col & Mrs John M Walsh

Mr & Mrs Richard A Walsh

Lt Col Thomas H Walsh Jr

Mr Bruce W Waltz

Dr & Mrs Clifford K Wanebo

Mr John B Watson Jr

2Lt Michael R Watson

1 Lt Bryan L Waugh

Lt Col (Ret) & Mrs Jimmie Wax

Capt Larry A Weaver

Mr John J Weidner

Mr & Mrs Heinz Wengler

Mr & Mrs W Westhauser

CMSgt (Ret) & Mrs Luvell White

Mr Michael B White

Mr William C Whiteside

Mr Rex A Williams

Capt James B Winters

Dr & Mrs Donald L Wise

Mr F Keith Withycombe

Mr & Mrs Fred R Wittnebert

Mr Paul J Wolf

Mr Paul Wong

Lt Col Royce G W Wooddell

Mr & Mrs Thomas W Wooley

Mrs Patricia J Work

Col & Mrs Jack E Wormington

Mr & Mrs Karl G Wuttke

Mr Farris F Yates

Mr & Mrs Bill Yuen

Mr & Mrs Paul G Zaehringer

Mr & Mrs Richard J Zept

Mr & Mrs Albin L Zinda

Col Edward A Zompa

Mr & Mrs John W Zwiebel

Donors after Dec. 13, 1983 will be recognized in the next issue of the magazine.

SEND YOUR TAX- DEDUCTIBLE DONATION NOW to

The Air Force Academy Fund Association of Graduates USAF Academy, CO

Inside Perspective on a 20-Year Reunion

By Lt. Col. Larry Thacker, ’63 Director of Admissions and Associate Registrar, USAFA

Skip Lee, the Class News scribe for ’63, asked me to do a summary of our reunion. Since 1 was one of the organizers, I’ll concentrate on the facts instead of adjectives. First, the players. In addition to my wife, Mary T., who hosted the first planning party, your home team was Johnnie and JoAnn Hall, Lloyd and Marti Harmon, Jim and Jo Gaston, “Kip” and Josette Kippenhan, Bob and Janie Rohatsch, Don and Carol Troutman, Ev and Susie Vaughn, and Paul and Carolee Verdier.

Starting in January we met at least once a month to plan the reunion, and those gatherings were fun times. We faced two major problems: A decision had been made that non-cadet banquets could not be held in Mitchell Hall, and Jim Wheeler (’64), the executive director of the AOG at the time, was being reassigned. Jim did brief us at the January meeting, and then we were literally on our own. At this point we were planning both our reunion and the Academy’s Homecoming. Marti Harmon scouted all the large hotels, and our group chose the Four Seasons because it was large enough to hold the Jabara Banquet and the price was fair. We reserved 150 rooms, and then set about to convince the Academy officials they wanted to hold the banquet there. They agreed, and our class had a good deal.

That’s enough background. At the time, all this was very dramatic. The end result was good room rates for our class and no driving to the evening functions. Considering the liquid hospitality room our Delta classmates provided, we were glad no driving was needed.

People started showing on Thursday afternoon, and nothing was planned except a cocktail hour. Individual mini-reunions seemed to be the order of the night.

Friday morning we had chartered buses to take people to the Academy for an open house. After viewing old rooms and new (the dorms are being renovated), we gathered in Fairchild Hall. Jim Gaston briefed on the academic program, Bob Rohatsch on military training, and I covered admissions. The biggest change has clearly been in aviation programs available to cadets. Of course, we now admit 1,500 new basics each year instead of our number of 750. We ended with the showing of “Pilgrimage.” Jim Gaston was instrumental in creating this multi-media presentation covering James Dickey’s visit to the Academy. It juxtaposed Dickey’s experience as a WW II fighter pilot and his poetry on flight with scenes from cadet life. It is very touching—the tradition is building. Because of our mission here, Dickey said his visit felt like a pilgrimage. After this, we had lunch. Walking across the terrazzo, Marti and I heard the doolies spouting off the “Fighting Man’s Code of Conduct.” Somehow, it all fit.

After lunch we toured the field house, Jack’s Valley (the summer encampment), and the airfield. Bob arranged a static display of all the aircraft used in training the cadets and also a parachute jump demonstration—I don’t think any of us volunteered!

Friday night was the Jabara Banquet which you’ve already read about in the last issue of Checkpoints. All of the former chorale members got to sing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” with the chorale.

Saturday started with a moving memorial ceremony. The graduates and staff formed up near the chapel wall and the cadet wing stood assembled around the terrazzo. As the name of each graduate or cadet who died during the year was announced, a cadet from the deceased’s former squadron shouted, “Absent, Sir!” If you’ve never seen this ceremony, I assure you it is a class, classy, classic tribute. My students tell me this is their favorite formation of the year: it makes them feel their bond.

After the ceremony, we had a catered barbecue at the Rohatsch’s, who live just east of the stadium. Then we played BYU. The best part of the afternoon was the presentation of our

class flag to the Class of 1987 (also “golden boys—and girls”). They will carry our flag in parades until they get their own in two years. The doolies who received the flag were Scott Shutack and Joe Clavin. That’s right—sons of ’63ers.

Then we had our party. Saturday night our class (by now we were up to 150 or so returnees) had an informal buffet at the Four Seasons. The highlights of the night were Bob Rohatsch’s sidesplitting “History of the Academy” and the remarks of our honored guest, General Seawell. Bob had culled through the slides sent by many classmates. One in particular showed an illustrious classmate on a European field trip declaring his love or something on a 20-foot-long reclining nude statue. Memorable! General Seawell and his wife looked great, and he handled his less than obsequious treatment with telling wit. The “Best damn commandant ever!”

Which reminds me, the sabre we gave to General Seawell on which that tribute was inscribed was donated to the cause 22 years ago by Wayne Lefors. Wayne’s sabre was never replaced—until now. Merry Christmas, Wayne, from the Class of 1963.

Saturday night was a rich experience. Adjectives now. I sensed all weekend long that many wounds were being healed. How were those who left the service going to be received, etc? I think we all had a love/hate relationship with the Academy. Those of us who work here have resolved that, but for many this was the first opportunity. The Academy was, and is, a good education. It did, and still does, turn out good officers. And the quality of the current cadets is very high. There are problems, of course, but there is a continuity in the pursuit of excellence. I think—I hope—that most of our returning classmates took this perception away with them.

Sunday was a day of goodbyes. Some cleaning up—and some planning. How does a 25th reunion sound? We’ve started talking about it. The current planning committee has already had one post-reunion party. It’s not too early to start some projects. For example, if we all would pledge $50 a year for the next five years, we could donate a major gift to the Academy at our 25th—$100,000 (400 x $250). Your comments on this idea and the next reunion would be appreciated.

Speaking of money, I would like to give special thanks to Ev Vaughn (who advises small business for a living now) for taking the gigantic responsibility of managing our funds. It had to be done right and he did it.

Final thoughts: Thanks to those who worked so hard; thanks to you for being so prompt with your financial support; and thanks for being so generous with your praise. I know I speak for the entire committee when I say it was a labor of love.

Graduates from non-reunion classes who attended Homecoming ’83.

Academy Activates Two New Squadrons

The Academy acquired two new squadrons this past October with the change of the Airmanship Division to the 94th Airmanship Training Squadron and Aviation Science to the 50th Airmanship Training Squadron.

At the time of the squadrons’ activation, Lt. Col. John M. Rinehart took command of the 94th and Lt. Col. Robert G. Lambert, ’65, took command of the 50th. Command of the 94th has since been taken over by Lt. Col. James A. Shaw, Jr., ’67.

The new squadrons were christened with a ceremony to include opening remarks by Col. Ralph R. Rohatsch, Jr., ’63, deputy commandant for operations; the unveiling of a donated painting; remarks from Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott, Jr., superintendent; a reading of the units’ history, and a B-17 flyover.

A Rick Broome painting of an F-16 was donated to the Academy by retired Lt. Col. Richard P. George in honor of his son, Lt. Col. William F. George 11, a 1968 Academy graduate who died January 19, 1983 in an F-16 accident in Utah. The painting hangs within the 94th Squadron.

“The change was made to bring the Academy more in line with operational Air Force flying units,’’ said MSgt. Edward P. Lapham III, special assistant for the 94th ATS.

According to Sergeant Lapham, “The mission of the 94th ATS is to conduct a safe air-oriented leadership laboratory which provides maximum cadet participation in aviation-related activities and motivates cadets toward Air Force careers.

“This mission will continue with the same three elements the 94th Troop Carrier Squadron used so effectively during World War II—aviation, soaring and parachuting.

“To vitalize this history and continue the tradition of the 94th, we requested the designation of the Airmanship Division as the 94th Airmanship Training Squadron.”

The mission of the 50th Airmanship Training squadron is to provide cadets with an aviation background through actual flight experience and studies in avionics, navigation and pilotage.

According to Maj. Tom Berry, ’71, commander, training flight of the 50th Airmanship Training Squadron, “The redesignation was approved by the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force to

provide cadets exposure to the operational Air Force and by doing this enhancing training and also continuing the history of the 50th Aero Squadron from World War I.

The 50th Aero Squadron was first organized at Kelly Field, Texas, August 6, 1917.

The squadron flew several aircraft that required precise navigation for bombing and photo reconnaissance.

According to Capt. Hector M. Martinez, course director for AV-280, “The main reason we chose to go with the 50th for the squadron was because of 2nd Lt. Erwin R. Bleckley, an observer of the 50th Aero Squadron, Air Service.” (The Falcon Flyer)

New

Brig.

Col.

M.

Training Squadron, and Lt. Col. (colonel selectee) Robert G. Lambert, ’65, commander of the 50th Airmanship Training Squadron, at the dedication ceremony for the two new squadrons. Lt. Col. James A. Shaw, Jr., ’67, has since taken command of the 94th. (U.S. Air Force photo)

26th Academy Rhodes Scholarship Awarded

Cadet Firstclass Kenneth Davison, Jr., Cadet Squadron 6, was named as one of 32 American students to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, England.

Cadet Davison is majoring in history with emphasis on Russia and the Far East. The scholarship will allow him to continue his studies in history and Russia for two years at Oxford. He is the 26th cadet from the Academy to receive a Rhodes Scholarship.

The application process for the scholarship began in 1982 for Cadet Davison, who went through screening and interviews con-

Dwyer, ’59, Named Adjutant General

Robert J. Dwyer, ’59, was named adjutant general for the State of Nevada in August of last year, at which time he pinned on major general stars. Maj. Gen. Dwyer has been an Air Force Academy liaison officer in northern Nevada for the past two years. He joined the Nevada Air Guard in 1970 and served with the Guard as an RF-4 pilot and chief of plans.

Maj. Gen. Dwyer is the first air officer to serve as Nevada’s adjutant general in more than 15 years and the first Academy graduate to ever hold the office. Governor Richard Bryan cited Dwyer’s background and his outstanding combat record in Southeast Asia when he appointed the new adjutant general.

ducted by the Academy’s graduate Scholarship Committee. He wrote a 1,000 word essay and submitted transcripts of his academic performance, as well as references from his professors and others, to the Rhodes Scholarship Committee. The committee selected two candidates from his home state of North Dakota to compete in the seven-state district finals in Seattle, Wash. At the district finals held this past December, each candidate was interviewed by an eight-member panel which included seven former Rhodes scholars.

13 Graduates Approved for 0-7 Nomination

The following is a list of Air Force were recently approved for nomination ment to brigadier general.

Robert H. Baxter, ’62

Stuart R. Boyd, 61

George L. Butler, ’61

Harold N. Campbell, ’61

Richard E. Carr, ’59

Larry D. Fortner, ’59

Richard B. Goetze, Jr., ’59

Academy graduates who to the Senate for appoint-

Richard D. Smith, ’61

Dale C. Tabor, 61

Earl S. Van Inwegen, ’60

Henry Viccellio, Jr., ’62

Frank E. Willis, ’61

Charles P. Winters, ’59

squadron commanders

Gen. Anthony J. Burshnick, commandant of cadets, stands with Lt.

John

Rinehart, former commander of the 94th Airmanship

Brig. Gen. Hourin Commands Louisiana ANG

A command pilot, General Hourin has flown 5,000 hours in military aircraft including the T-37, T-33, F-84, F-100 and F-4 jet fighters. He served in Vietnam as a forward air controller where he flew more than 600 combat hours in the 0-1 aircraft. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in combat, the Air Medal with clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

After discharge from the Regular Air Force, Hourin joined Delta Airlines in 1969 as a commercial pilot. With Delta he has flown the Convair 880, DC-8, Lockheed 1011, and is presently a captain on the DC-9.

He is a member of the Executive Council of the National Guard Association of the United States, the Louisiana Bar Association, member and past president of the National Guard Association of Louisiana, and the Airline Pilots Association.

General Hourin

James J. Hourin, ’61, of New Orleans, La., has been promoted to brigadier general and commander of the Louisiana Air National Guard. General Hourin is a graduate of Newburgh Free Academy, Newburgh, N.Y., the United States Air Force Academy, and Tulane Law School. He served on active duty with the U.S. Air Force following his graduation from the Academy until his affiliation with the National Guard in 1969.

General Moorman’s son, Col. Thomas S. Moorman, Jr., gave a briefing at the meeting about the mission of the Space Command where he is assigned on the command staff.

The Silver Falcons are retired Admissions Liaison Officers (ALOs) who continue their association with the Academy through their origanization chartered in 1978 with the approval of retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Kenneth L. Tollman, former superintendent. The association has grown to 265 members located throughout the nation.

The Silver Falcons recently dedicated a memorial plaque placed in the hallway of the Registrar’s section in Harmon Hall. Inscribed on the plaque are these words: “In memory of those who served the Academy faithfully as admissions counselors and after retirement continued their service as members of this association.

The association serves as a means for perpetuating friendships developed while serving in the ALO program; maintains the history of the ALO program; sponsors an award to recognize outstanding contributions by retired ALOs at their annual conference; and sponsors activities to benefit the Cadet Wing and the Academy as voted on by the membership.

He is the son of Alton B. Hourin (deceased) former vice president and general manager of Schrade Cutlery Company in Ellenville, N.Y., and Elizabeth Hourin of Madison, N.J. He is married to the former Patricia Snowden Cairns, daughter of Maj. Gen. (deceased) Bogardus S. Cairns and Mrs. Neil M. Wallace of Arlington, Va. General and Mrs. Hourin have three sons. Michael and William are students at Louisiana State University and members of the Louisiana National Guard. Scott is a sixth-grade student at Christ Episcopal School, Bay St. Louis, Miss.

GRADUATES SELECTED FOR LIEUTENANT COLONEL

1983 0-5 Promotions (USAFA Graduates)

Secondar> Zone Selectees

1969

Charles L. Aldrich

Maxwell C. Bailey

Walter R. Berg

John H. Buckner Jr.

Thomas J. Doherty

James A. Hoskins

Lee S. Johnson

Ronald H. Love

Raymond A. Malinovsky

Victor M. Martin

James E. Miller Jr.

Merl A. Morehouse

Timothy A. Mueller

Roy L. Reed Jr.

Thomas J. Stephenson

William T. Tuttle

Jeffrey L. Wise

1970

Francis Buchan

Til ford W. Harp

Rex W. Jones

Ronald T. Kelly

Richard M. Mandas

Joseph M. Renaud

Roger D. Riggs

1971

Darrell W. Singleton

1972

Jerry M. Drennan

James A. Jaeger

Edward L. LaFountaine

Donald L. Sexton

1973

Anthony T. Cira

Frank G. Klotz

Stephen R. Lorenz

John F. Regni

Norton A. Schwartz

Joseph B. Sovey

Former superintendent honored Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Moorman (at right), former Academy superintendent (1965-1970), was voted an honorable member of the Silver Falcon Association and presented with a plaque at a recent meeting of the association.

Keith Ferris strives for realism: Aviation History Captured on Canvas

The whine of hand-cranked inertia starters, followed by the staccato of Pratt & Whitney engines coming to life on P-12s filled the first waking moments of my days at Kelly Field, Texas. As a young boy in the early 1930s, living directly across from the Pursuit Section hangers, my world was one of excitement permeated with the aroma of airplane dope and gasoline.

My dad, Carlisle I. (Lisle) Ferris, whose Air Force career spanned the 30 years from 1925 to 1956, was then a lieutenant. He was Kelly Field’s commandant of cadets and an instructor teaching basic fighter maneuvers in the Pursuit Section. He needed only to walk 100 feet from our front door to collect parachute, students and P-12sfor his days in the air. My days were spent on the ground, but it proved impossible to keep me off theflight line, which I happily shared with all of those airplanes, fuel trucks, crew chiefs and pilots.

So begins the introduction of the book The Aviation Art of Keith Ferris, in which this noted aviation artist outlines a career from his first childhood interests in drawing airplanes, through his early commercial aviation art career and into his present affiliation with the U.S. Air Force Art Program.

In his quest to accurately depict aircraft in flight, he has flown in almost every jet aircraft type in the Air Force inventory, ineluding the McDonnell Douglas F-15 and the General Dynamics F-16. He is a 1967 graduate of Tactical Air Command’s Sea Survival School at Homestead AFB, Fla. and deployed across the Pacific in the back seat of an F-4E Phantom to Thailand, where he documented the missions of F-4Es, F-105s and B-52s in Southeast Asia.

His exit from Southeast Asia was by B-52 on a bombing mission which recovered at Guam. He is an honorary member of the USAF Thunderbird Flight Demonstration Team and has traveled with the team and flown with them both cross country and in a practice demonstration in the F-100 Super Sabre days. Ferris also deployed with the Thunderbirds on their tour to Europe in 1965.

This past September, Ferris shared his works of aviation art with Academy cadets, faculty and staff by presenting an art show in Fairchild Hall. The show was the inauguration of the new fine arts gallery, named the Permanent Professors Art Gallery, which

is located on the third floor near the Cadet Book Store. The gallery was designed by Capts. Neil Fravel, ’72, and Steve Evans, Department of Civil Engineering, and Capt. Rod Korba of the Fine Arts Department.

During the period of time that Ferris was at the Academy for his show in Fairchild Hall, Association of Graduates officials approached him and his wife, Peggy, concerning the possibility of working with the association to make his prints more readily available to the membership and sharing a percentage of the proceeds with the association. The Ferrises responded enthusiastically to the request which culminated with the display of some of his art works on the back cover of this magazine. The first of Ferris’ prints highlighted in this issue include “MiG Sweep,” “McChord Country,” and “Sunrise Encounter.”

“MiG Sweep” was commissioned by Airman magazine for use in a double-page spread illustrating the January 2, 1967 Operation Bolo. North Vietnam had a total of 15 MiG-21s at the time. Seventh Air Force launched a force of Phantoms, masquerading as F-105s, drawing the MiGs up to intercept the F-4s shot down seven. Ferris chose to document the destruction of a MiG-21 downed by the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing commander, Col. Robin Olds, leader of the operation. This was the first of four MiGs destroyed by Col. Olds during his combat tour in Southeast Asia.

Details of the engagement were described by Olds, now a retired brigadier general, in a series of conversations and written correspondence. Hours of air combat tactics briefings and Hying with the Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nev., made it clear to the artist that he could find few moments in air-to-air combat when both attacker and defender legitimately appear in the same painting.

According to Ferris, “To find those few moments in January of 1967 and choose the precise second and position from which to view the two fighters, 1 constructed a mobile from hardware cloth in which their paths look like railroad track, the cross ties representing the bank angle. Stopping at various points on the mobile, 1 found the only spot where the viewer could see the F-4, all control inputs, remaining ordance as well as Olds and Charles Clifton, his back seater—with the MiG positioned in his turn below, just off the top of Robin Olds’ hat.” The maneuver used

(Continued on next page.)

“Thunderbird Take-off was one of many Keith Ferris paintings displayed recently in the new Permanent Professors Art Gallery in Fairchild Hall. Viewing the painting, from left, are Cadets Secondclass Steve DePalmer and James Hird, along with Cadet Firstclass Kevin Long. (Photo by TSgt Mike Carter)

Highlights of a 36-year Art Career

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Keith Ferris grew up with military aviation at bases throughout the United States and England as the son of a career Air Force officer. He attended Texas A & M University, George Washington University, and the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C.

His art career began in 1947 with the Air Force Training Publications unit at Randolph AFB, Texas. He spent five years with a St. Louis art studio which was under contract to the U.S. Air Force for training publications.

In 1956, Ferris moved to the New York City area where he has worked since as a free-lance artist serving the advertising, editorial, public relations and historical documentation needs of airframe, engine, and avionics manufacturers and their advertising agencies, aviation trade publications and aviation museums.

Ferris maintains a reference library of thousand of aeronautical books, technical publications, periodicals, data files, photographs and slides in support of his work as an artist, model builder, inventor and historian. Among his many accomplishments is his design of the 21-cent U.S. International Air Mail Postal Card for the U.S. Postal Service.

A member of the Society of Illustrators since 1960, Ferris has served on its Air Force Art Committee for many years. He has been very active in the Air Force Art Program with 25 paintings in the collection. His participation in Air Force activities has taken him to bases in the United States, Europe, the Atlantic and Pacific, and Southeast Asia for the purpose of documenting the Air Force mission for posterity. The time for travel, paintings and necessary

Keith Ferris

(Portrait by Bob Rubin USAF Fighter Weapons Review)

reproduction rights for this program are donated to the U.S. Air Force by the participating artists.

Ferris has also flown with the U.S. Navy’s Fighter Weapons School at Miramar Naval Air Station, Calif., and is a member of the “Tail Hook Association” having participated in an

arrested landing aboard the aircraft carrier Lexington and a catapult launch from the ship in a Rockwell T-2C trainer.

He is a life member of the Air Force Association, serves on the board of trustees for his local chapter, and was the recipient of the association’s Citation of Honor in 1978 for his art documentation of Air Force history.

Heavily involved in the history and technology of aerial camouflage schemes, Ferris is also an inventor holding patents covering deceptive air combat paint schemes issued in the United States and foreign countries. As a lecturer on the subjects of art, the artist, aviation, copyright law and art contracts, his audiences have included management clubs in air transportation and industry, graphic arts and civic organizations, schools and college groups, military units and associations. He is also a craftsman and works with wood and metal when time permits.

His painting commissions include the 25-foot-high by 75-foot-wide mural in oil, “Fortress Under Fire,” which covers the entire back wall of the World War 11 Gallery of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., and a 20-foot-high by 75-foot-wide mural depicting the evolution of jet aviation in the museum’s Jet Aviation Gallery which opened in July, 1981.

“One man shows” of Ferris’ work have been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., The Society of Illustrators in New York City, the George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Graduate Named to Federal Budget Post

Prof. Eric A. Hanushek, ’65,chairman of the University of Rochester’s Department of Econonics, has been appointed deputy director of the Congressional Budget Office.

The office, which is directed by former Rochester faculty member Rudolph Penner, provides economic and budget analyses for the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

A specialist in the economics of education and in urban and labor economics, Hanushek has served as director of the University’s Public Policy Analysis Program since 1978 and holds joint appointments as professor of economics and of political science.

Aviation History Captured: (Continued from previous page.)

by Olds during the encounter is shown on the previous page. The original painting was donated to the U.S. Air Force Art Collection. “Sunrise Encounter,” an F-16 over the Nevada desert, has been published by Greenwich Workshop and donated by Ferris to the Air Force Art Collection. “McChord Country” depicts the area surrounding McChord AFB, Wash., showing Mt. Ranier, Puget Sound and the Olympic Range. Aircraft in the print include the C-141, C-130, F-106, F-15 and T-33. The six by fifteen-foot original is the centerpiece of the main dining room in the MeChord AFB Officers Club.

Before coming to Rochester, Hanushek served on the economics faculties of the Air Force Academy and of Yale University. He is a former senior economist for the Cost of Living Council and a former senior staff economist for the Council of Economic Advisers.

His research has covered a variety of topics, including education policy, the determinaiton of individual earnings, and statistical methods. His most recent research concerns the effectiveness of money spent on improving education in public schools. His findings show that more money spent on schools does not necessarily lead to improved student performance in schools or later in the job market. He also finds that students’ scholastic achievement does not improve consistently because of smaller classes, more experienced teachers, or teachers with advanced training.

Hanushek is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and holds a Ph.D. degree in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He serves on the editorial boards of several professional journals and is currently a member of the Policy Council of the Association for Public Policy and Management.

Penner was a member of the University’s economics department from 1961 to 1975. From 1973-75 he was on leave to serve as deputy assistant secretary for economic affairs in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

New Head Football Coach Named

By Col. John Clune Athletic Director

In late December of last year, while attending conference meetings in San Diego, I received a phone call 1 was hoping would never come. A somewhat emotional and tearful Ken Hatfield informed me that he was going to take the head coaching job at the University of Arkansas. I know many of you are probably asking the question, “Why?” I will try to explain as best I can, and also discuss the anatomy of selecting and hiring a football coach at the Air Force Academy.

At the time, 1 couldn’t help but think back to when coach Ben Martin retired and we formed a search committee to find his replacement. We talked to many, mano athletic directors and administrators around the country. The search committee traveled far and wide and interviewed dozens of applicants and brought several of the top collegiate coaches to the Air Force Academy for interviews. The choice of that committee was unanimous and overwhelming Bill Parcells.

Parcells had coached at West Point as an assistant during some of its more successful seasons, and as a number one assistant for Steve Sloan at Vanderbilt and Texas Tech. Sloan and Parcells had, in four years at both universities, taken both schools to winning records and bowl games. There was no doubt in any of our minds after the extensive searches and interviews that Parcells was the man to replace Ben Martin and carry on the Air Force football tradition. One year later, Parcells resigned and took a job with the New York Giants where he is now the head coach.

Parcells left in the middle of a recruiting cycle and five weeks before the start of spring practice. There were very few options in the hiring of his replacement. In order to sustain the existing program and maintain some semblance of continuity, we had to go

internal. We chose Ken Hatfield, the offensive coordinator, a former All-American at Arkansas who had captained a national championship team, who had coached the freshman team at West Point as a young officer in the Army, and who had had extensive coaching experience at the Universitgy of Florida before coming to the Air Force Academy with Parcells. We knew Ken was a good football coach, but more importantly, we knew Ken was a good person who was starting to understand what the Air Force Academy was all about, why it existed, and where football fit into the scheme of things.

Over the next five years, with increased emphasis on recruiting, with a more reasonable schedule and a development program which included extensive weight training and off-season efforts, the football program evolved to where it is today two winning seasons in a row, two bowl appearances with victories at both bowls, and this past season, a ten-and-two record the most vietories in the history of the Academy, as well as number 13 ranking nationally.

Ken Hatfield’s decision to leave the Air Force Academy and accept the head coaching position at Arkansas was not an easy one. A year ago, in renegotiating Ken’s contract for the second time, he said that the only position he would think of leaving the Academy for was the Arkansas job. His family was there, it was his home, he had played there and he had a very strong attachment to Arkansas the school and the state. Ironically, at the end of this past season in late November, we had sat down with Ken and discussed a new five-year contract. Ken was delighted with the five-year extension the raise that the Athletic Association was offering him was not that important.

Background on Coach Fisher DeBerry

assistant coach until 1968. In 1969, he moved into the college ranks, serving as the secondary coach at Wofford College for two years. He went to Appalachian State in 1971, serving as defensive coordinator for six years when the Mountaineers ranked sixth one year in pass defense and had numerous selections on the All-Southern Conference team. Coach DeBerry then became offensive coordinator for three years when the Mountaineers wishbone offense was ranked as one of the most productive offenses (top 15 in two of the three years).

He was an outstanding football player at Wofford College, lettering two years as flanker and defensive back. He received three letters in baseball, and was selected to the NAIA AllDistrict 26 team.

Fisher DeBerry

Fisher DeBerry was recently named as the new head football coach here. The offensive coordinator the past three years, Coach DeBerry becomes the fifth head coach in Air Force history, replacing Ken Hatfield, who resigned to become head coach at the University of Arkansas.

A 1960 graduate of Wofford College, Coach DeBerry came to the Academy in March 1980 as quarterbacks coach and served the next three years as offensive coordinator under Coach Hatfield following an impressive coaching career at Appalachian State where he served as defensive coordinator for six years and offensive coordinator for three years.

His coaching career started in 1960 as an assistant at Bennettsville High School in South Carolina. He moved to MeClenaghan High School in Florence, S.C., in 1963 serving as

Coach DeBerry is also active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was sponsor of the Appalachian State University’s Fellowship. He is also a member of the American Football Coaches’ Association.

Fisher DeBerry is married to the former Lu Ann Coppedge of Cheraw, S.C., and they have two children, a daughter, Michelle, and a son, Joe.

The first head varsity coach in Air Force football history was the late Lawrence (Buck) Shaw, who guided the Falcons during the 1956 and 1957 season. In 1958, he was succeeded by Ben Martin, who coached the Falcons for 20 years before retiring at the end of the 1977 season. He was followed by Bill Parcells, who led the Falcons to a 3-8-0 season in 1978. Hatfield took over the reigns in March 1979 and last season led the Falcons to a 10-2 record, the best in Air Force history, and a 9-3 victory over Mississippi in the Independence Bowl. (The Falcon Flyer)

Ken had never asked for anything for himself from the Academy except a commitment to him, his coaches and the program. Dollars were never a factor in Ken Hatfield’s being at the Air Force Academy, nor his leaving the Academy for the University of Arkansas. You don’t buy people like Ken Hatfield or Ben Martin. That type of selection process is reserved for the football factories.

During his time at the Academy, Ken, like Ben Martin, had grown to love the Academy, what it stood for, and the young peopie with whom he worked. He did a great deal of soul searching and praying to come up with his decision and felt that, under the circumstances, it was the right thing. The Academy has indeed been fortunate to have two coaches with the character of a Ben Martin and a Ken Hatfield. Both love the Academy and what it stands for and have had a profound affect upon the young people they have coached. They will always be a part of the Academy and the Academy will always be a part of them.

As I flew back from San Diego that night, 1 knew the task at hand was to find a new football coach. On Friday morning, telephone calls and telegrams poured in from assistant coaches around the nation, as well as head coaches of lesser, Division II and Division 111 programs. Col. Mike Quinlan, ’61, the associate athletic director, and myself spent all day Friday interviewing, separately and together, members of the football coaching staff, as well as people involved with the program like Jim Bowman, our recruiting coordinator, Jack Braley, our weight coach, and our head trainer, Jim Conboy. We closed shop Friday night and decided to meet Saturday morning with the chairman of the Athletic Advisory Committee, Col. Harv Schiller, to discuss further the selection process.

We met Saturday morning and the decision was unanimous. Continuity in the program was required. We had one of the top assistant coaches in the country, an offensive coordinator who had brought the Air Force Academy to a number four and number two ranking in rushing the previous two years, as well as a top ten finish both years in the country offensively. Fisher DeBerry was the man.

We called Lt. Gen. Scott, the superintendent, and informed him of our recommendation. Col. Schiller also discussed it with the other members of the advisory committee who were unanimous in their support. The only reaction from General Scott, when told of our recommendation, was, “What took you so long? I knew who it should be last Thursday!”

The choice of Fisher DeBerry was really quite easy. In the final analysis, we have a staff remaining that Fisher is quite comfortable with. He knows and respects Jim Bowman’s ability to help in the recruiting efforts. He has the utmost confidence in Jack Braley, our strength coach, who has done so much over the past three years in making the program what it is today. He knows that Maj. Dick Ellis, ’68, the head J.V. football coach, has done a magnificent job in retaining our young football players at the Academy.

Fisher is also comfortable with the military members of our staff, Capt. Rick Brown, ’79; Capt. Mike Gould, ’76, our prep school coach; as well as Lt. Carl Russ who played at the University of Michigan, was on Bo Schembechler’s all-Michigan team, went on to play three years of professional football before seeking a commission in the Air Force; and Maj. Dick Enga, who has been with the program for several years. Fisher is also comfortable with several young lieutenants we will keep next fall before going on to pilot training to help with the program. He will maintain the offensive continuity that has brought us to national prominence.

In his four years at the Academy, Fisher has come to understand what the Academy is all about, to understand the demands made upon a cadet athlete and to also accept and totally support the mission of the Academy. I know Fisher will bring in top civilian assistants who will be the right kind of people with the “right stuff’ for the Academy, as well as excellent coaches. (All of our civilian coaches are payed by the Air Force Athletic Association. The total combined salaries, with Athletic Association onbase housing provided, is in excess of $350,000.)

Our recruiting will not suffer this year, nor will the continuity of our program. When Fisher spoke to the entire team after they came back from Christmas leave, he was greeted with a standing ovation. He is respected and loved by the players, but most importantly, like Ben Martin and Ken Hatfield, Fisher has come to love the Academy and everything it stands for.

Fisher DeBerry is not Ben Martin nor is he Ken Hatfield. He is Fisher DeBerry. But like them, he believes in the Academy; he knows that football is only a means to an end and that the function of the Academy goes well beyond football. 1 ask that you give Fisher your support and your prayers. I know he will give us everything he has to insure that our football program stays competitive and representative, and I also know that he will always represent the Academy in an outstanding way.

NCAA Selects Maj. Gen. Beckelfor A ward

Twenty-five years after completing an outstanding intercollegiate athletic career at the Air Force Academy, Maj. Gen. Robert C. Beckel, ’59, has received the NCAA’s Silver Anniversary award. This award is presented annually to honor former student-athletes who have led distinguished lives after completing their collegiate athletic career 25 years ago.

General Beckel is among five people honored, including 1958 Heisman Trophy winner, Pete Dawkins, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. Others named were Stephen Friedman, wrestler, Cornell Univ.; A1 Geiberger, golfer, (Univ. of Southern California; and Peter Ueberroth, swimmer, San Jose State Univ.

An all-American basketball player in 1958 and 1959, General Beckel ranks second on the Academy’s all-time scoring list with 1,526 points, trailing current Falcon assistant coach, 1st Lt. Tim Harris (1978-81), who scored 1,550.

He holds Academy records for career scoring average (22.8), points in a season (555) and single-season scoring average (26.4). Nine times in his career he scored 33 or more points

in a single game, with 50 against Arizona (1959), which is the Academy’s individual single-game record.

General Beckel also holds season records for most field goals attempted (435, 1957); and most free throws attempted (230, 1957) and made (177, 1957).

Other single game records include most field goals attempted (34, 1957) and made (18, 1957); most free throws made (16, vs. St. Michaels, Vt., 1957, and Arizona, 1959); and best free throw percentage (1,000, 13 of 13 vs. Creighton, 1958).

His career total of 1,226 field goals attempted and 594 free throws attempted and 450 free throws made are also Academy records.

The general was named to the East-West Shrine All-Star team. He was also captain of the basketball team for three years and baseball team captain for two years.

He is currently director of operations at U.S. Air Force Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

General Beckel entered the first class of the Academy in 1955 at Lowry AFB and was the First Cadet Wing Commander, graduating in 1959. He later received a master’s degree in in

ternational affairs from George Washington University and attended Naval Command and Staff College and the National War College.

He received his pilot’s wings in June 1960 at Vance AFB, Okla., where he was the outstanding graduate of his class.

A command pilot with more than 3,800 flying hours, the general flew the solo position with the Thunderbirds from December 1965 to December 1967.

He returned to the Academy in February 1981 as commandant of cadets. He assumed his current duties in June 1982.

General Beckel has been decorated with the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star and several other medals. The Walla Walla, Wash., native was named one of the Three Outstanding Young Men from that state for 1968 and was listed in the 1970 slate of Outstanding Young Men of America.

He has devoted time to numerous civic efforts, including the Special Olympics and United Fund. (The Falcon Flyer)

FALCON SPORTS Academy Gridders Smash Records

The Air Force Falcons’ 9-3 victory over Mississippi at the eighth annual Independence Bowl at Shreveport, La., on Dec. 10 set a single season record with 10 victories and it was also the team’s eighth-straight triumph, equalling the winning-streak record first set in 1958 and tied by the 1970 team.

Box scores for the 1983 Falcon football season were: at CSU, 34-13; Texas Tech, 28-13; at Wyoming, 7-14; BYU, 28-46; at Navy, 44-17; Texas-El Paso, 37-25; Utah, 33-31; Army, 41-20; Hawaii, 45-10; at Notre Dame, 23-22; and at San Diego State, 38-7.

In addition to 10 season victories and eight straight wins, the Falcons set or tied 33 other school records including:

—The first Falcon team to appear in two straight bowl games. They were also the first Falcon team to win two bowl games.

—The first Falcon team to win the Commander in Chief’s Trophy, the emblem of service academy football supremacy, for two straight years.

—The first Falcon team to ever win at Annapolis, Md., and Notre Dame, Ind.

—The first Falcon team to defeat Notre Dame two straight times.

Virtually the same team also accomplished many firsts during the 1982 season and rarely has a team had such a profound impact on Falcon football history. Records set during the 1983 season are as follows:

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SEASON

TEAM RUSHING AVERAGE 5.9 (ties record)

INDIVIDUAL TOUCHDOWNS 16, Marty Louthan (ties record)

INDIVIDUAL POINTS 96, Marty Louthan (ties record)

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING AVERAGE 8.5, Mike Brown

AIR FORCE SCHOOL RECORDS

TEAM SEASON

MOST VICTORIES 10

MOST CONSECUTIVE VICTORIES 8 (ties record) HIGHEST

AVERAGE PER GAME 458 HIGHEST

PER PLAY 6.6 yards

HIGHEST RUSHING YARDS 3,811

BEST RUSHING AVERAGE PER GAME 346

BEST AVERAGE PER RUSH 5.9

MOST RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS 43

BEST PASS INTERCEPTION AVOIDANCE .024 per cent

BEST AVERAGE GAIN PER COMPLETION 18.9 yards

MOST OPPONENT PASSES INTERCEPTED 25

MOST PASS INTERCEPTION YARDAGE 456

MOST EXTRA POINTS MADE 41

TEAM SINGLE GAME

MOST RUSHING FIRST DOWNS 28 vs. Army

MOST RUSHING YARDS 513 vs. San Diego State

INDIVIDUAL CAREER

MOST RUSHING YARDS 2,726, John Kershner

BEST RUSHING AVERAGE 7.9, Mike Brown

BEST AVERAGE GAIN PER COMPLETION 17.6 yards, Marty Louthan

MOST PUNT RETURNS 63, Mike Kirby

MOST PUNT RETURN YARDAGE 627, Mike Kirby

MOST EXTRA POINT ATTEMPTS 117, Sean Pavlich

MOST EXTRA POINTS MADE 111, Sean Pavlich

BEST EXTRA POINT PERCENTAGE .949, Sean Pavlich

BEST FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE .724, Sean Pavlich

MOST POINTS 237, Sean Pavlich

INDIVIDUAL SEASON

BEST RUSHING AVERAGE 8.5 yards, Mike Brown

HIGHEST AVERAGE GAIN PER COMPLETION 18.8 yards, Marty Louthan

PASSING EFFICIENCY 141.24 points, Marty Louthan

BEST AVERAGE GAIN PER COMPLETION 22.7 yards, Mike Kirby

MOST PUNT RETURNS 23, Neal Starkey, 1967 and Mike Kirby, 1983

MOST EXTRA POINT ATTEMPTS 44, Sean Pavlich

MOST EXTRA POINTS MADE 41, Sean Pavlich

INDIVIDUAL GAME

BEST RUSHING AVERAGE 13.6 yards, Mike Brown vs. Navy

MOST TOUCHDOWNS 5, Marty Louthan vs. Navy (ties record)

MOST POINTS 30, Marty Louthan vs. Navy (ties record)

FALCON 1984 SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT SITE

Sept. 1 SAN DIEGO STATE* USAFA

Sept. 8 NORTHERN COLORADO USAFA Sept. 15 Wyoming* Laramie, Wyo.

Sept. 22 Utah* Salt Lake City

Sept. 29 COLORADO STATE* (H) USAFA

Oct. 6 NAVY USAFA

Oct. 13 Notre Dame Notre Dame, Ind

Oct. 20 BRIGHAM YOUNG* USAFA

Nov. 3 Army West Point, N.Y.

Nov. 10 New Mexico* Albuquerque

Nov. 24 Texas-El Paso* El Paso, Texas *-Western Athletic Conference games.

H-Homecoming

Fall Sports Teams Mark Winning Record

With the third-place finish of the women’s volleyball team in the NCAA Division II national championship and with eight out of nine teams with a winning record, the fall sport teams won 67 percent of their varsity contests.

The 11 varsity and junior varsity teams won 97 contests, lost 41 and tied 3 for a 70 percent win ratio.

During the fall season, five athletes were named All-Americas senior wide receiver Mike Kirby (football), senior fullback John Kershner (football), senior punter Jeff Kubiak, Academic All-American (football); senior Linda Samuelson (volleyball) and Cheryl DeVita, coaches and Academic All-American (volleyball).

Although finishing with an 11-13-3 record, the water polo team was ranked 14th in the national coaches poll.

Both women’s volleyball and women’s cross country teams won Continental Conference titles with women’s cross country finishing eighth in NCAA Division II nationals. Soccer finished with its 17th league title with a 6-0 record in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Scocer League.

Women’s volleyball coach Bill Peer was selected Continental Divide Conference coach of the year.

A rundown of each sport follows:

MEN‘S CROSS COUNTRY: With no dual meets during the season, the Air Force men’s cross country team placed in four invitationals. The Falcons took fourth place both in the Falcon and Southern Colorado Invitationals. They placed seventh in the New Mexico Invitational but finished 19th in the Lehigh Invitational in Pennsylvania. Top runner for the Falcons was senior Rob Langstaff.

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY: With a 2-0 dual meet record, the women’s cross country team took eighth place in the NCAA Division II nationals in Kenosha, Wis. On the way to the nationals, the women took first place in the Colorado College Invitational, placed second in the Northern Colorado Invitational and had a third-place showing in the Cowboy Open in Wyoming. The Falcons won the NCAA Division Ii Central Division Regional in Brookings, S.C. They placed first with 54 points out of 11 teams. Senior Gail Conway paced the team with a thirdplace finish in 17:44 over the 5,000-meter course. Laureli Mazik placed fourth with a time of 18:04.

MEN’S COLE: In a split season, the men’s golf team took fourth place in the Falcon Invitational during the fall. They also participated in the Tucker Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M.,

finishing 10th out of 11 top collegiate teams. The Falcons also won their first four outings in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Golf Association, which will continue in the spring.

WOMEN’S GOLF: The women’s team competed in only one dual match during the fall, winning over Colorado State 340-370. In tournament play, the ladies finished seventh in the Weber State Invitational.

SOCCER: Sporting its best record since 1980, the men’s soccer team ended its season with a 13-4-2 mark. The Falcons defeated Colorado College in the final game of the season to win their 17th Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Soccer Association league title with a 6-0 record. Senior Mike Lynch was selected to the AllMidwest Soccer first team while senior Larry Friend was selected to the second team.

WOMEN’S TENNIS: With an 8-6 fall record, the women’s tennis team ended its fall season with two wins in Florida, giving it a winning mark. In other action, the women’s team finished third in the Colorado State Invitational. Senior Ruth Deniston combined with junior Tamaron Sharp for the best doubles record with an 8-5 record. Freshmmn Hannah Metcalf sported the team’s best singles at No. 4 with an 11-2 mark while Deniston was 8-4 at the No. 2 position.

WATER POLO: Finishing the season with an 11-13-1 record, the water polo team ended its season ranked 14th in the national coaches’ poll. The Falcons took second place in the Indiana Invitational and also finished second in their own invitational, falling to fifth-ranked Pepperdine 12-7 in the championship game.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL: Finishing third in the national NCAA Division II championship, the women’s volleyball team finished its best season ever with a 45-11 record. Ranked second in the nation in Division II, the Falcons won the Continental Divide Conference and won the NCAA Division II South/Atlantic Regionals in Jacksonville, Fla. In the nationals, the Falcons lost to Cal. State-Northridge, the eventual winners, 15-10 15-8 and 15-10, but defeated Nebraska-Omaha 15-7, 15-7 and 16-14 for third place. During the year, the Falcons also took firsts in the Regis Tournament, the Colorado College Tournament, the USAFA Premier Tourney and the California-San Diego Tournament. Seniors Cheryl DeVita and Linda Samuelson were selected to the coaches’ All-America team. DeVita was also selected to the Academic All-America second team.

Ranked second in the nation

The Academy women’s volleyball team closed out its best season ever this year with a 45-11 record. In the

Goals go Falcon Stadium grounds crews got some helpfrom cadets in dismantling the goal posts after the last home game of the season for the Falcons. Air Force totally dominated Western Athletic Conference rival Hawaii, turning what was expected to be a close game into a rout. (U.S. Air Force photo by SSgt. Guido Locati)

front row, from left, are Lisa Garraway, Marcella Houston, Barb Martin, Pam Haug, Jenny Jenner, Lauren Drake and Tricia Heller. Back row, from left, Terry Curtwright, Cheryl DeVita, Janet Simonitsch, Linda Samuelson, Ann Weaver, Linda Ollig, Stacy Schlange and Gait Casner. (U.S. Air Force Photo)

1958 SQUAD RECALLS UNBEATEN SEASON

Thirty members of the unbeaten 1958 Air Force Falcon football team held their 25th reunion at the Academy on the weekend of October 22, 1983. The team, which posted a 9-0-1 record before playing to a scoreless tie with heavily-favored Texas Christian University in the Cotton Bowl, is the only unbeaten team in Academy football history. At season’s end it was ranked sixth nationally.

Among those former players who attended the reunion were such noted names as All-American tackle Brock Strom, quarterback Rich Mayo, tackle Dave Phillips, halfbacks Mike Quinlan, George Pupich and Phil Lane, and fullback Steve Galios.

Where are the players today and what are they doing? Brock Strom (’59) is a colonel and director of Engineering and Navigator Equipment and Avionics for Navstar Global Positioning Systems in Los Angeles. He earned four varsity letters and was a 1958 Consensus and Academic AllAmerican. He was the team captain in 1958 and was named as the “Most Valuable Athlete” that year.

Dave Phillips (’59) now owns his own car dealership in California. He was named the 1958 “Most Valuable Lineman” and was selected as the outstanding lineman in the Cotton Bowl.

Rich Mayo (’61) is a psychiatrist and has his own clinic in Houston. He played in the East-West Shrine Game in 1960, was Academic AllAmerican in 1959 and 1960, and was named “Most Valuable Athlete” in 1961. Steve Galios (’59) and George Pupich (’60) are commercial airline pilots, and Phil Lane (’61) has a law practice in San Angelo, Texas. Charlie May (’59) is the team’s first general and is currently director of command control at Strategic Air Command headquarters.

This team was the Academy’s first to play a full Division 1 schedule. The Falcons were a full-fledged varsity team, completing an undefeated season and earning a berth in the Cotton Bowl.

The Falcons opened that season with a 37-6 win over Detroit. In their next game the Falcons traveled to Iowa City, Iowa, to face powerful Iowa of the Big Ten. When Iowa tied Air Force in that game it was considered one of the greatest upsets of that season. Iowa finished 8-1-1 and went on to defeat California in the Rose Bowl.

The Falcons were small then, with the biggest player being Strom, who weighed in at 217 pounds, a weight that is normal for most of today’s running backs.

Three players from that team have since given the supreme sacrifice for their country. Fullback Monte Moorberg, end Charles McCain and tackle Tom Walker all lost their lives in aircraft accidents in Vietnam.

In addition to the 30 players there were three people at the reunion who have been a part of Falcon athletics for more than 25 years. Jim Conboy is the only head trainer the Academy ever had and has seen every Academy football game. Jim Bowman came to the Academy as a lieutenant in 1959 and is now the assistant athletic director for candidate counseling. He retired in 1975 to devote his full attention to the recruiting

program. Ben Martin, of course, was the head coach for 20 years and now lives in Colorado Springs. He now does the color for the Falcon Radio Network which broadcasts all Falcon football games.

Scores for the 1958 Falcons were: at Detroit, 37-6; at Iowa, 13-13; Colorado State, 36-6; at Stanford, 16-0; Utah, 16-14; at Oklahoma State, 33-29; Denver, 10-7; Wyoming, 21-6; at New Mexico, 45-7; and at Colorado, 20-14.

The reunion was a smashing success highlighted by an exciting win over Utah (33-31) reminiscent of the last game against Utah in 1958. The reunion was covered extensively by the local press and brought a sense of tradition to the ’83 team. Just maybe the reunion helped motivate this year’s Falcon team to a new record for wins as they closed out the season with a 10-2 record, the best in Academy history.

(Editor’s note: Col. Quinlan, ’61, the Academy’s associate director of athletics, rewrote this article from a Falcon Flyer story by SSgt. Ken Guillory. Col. Quinlan earnedfour varsity letters in football and baseball and one in basketball. In 1959 he was “Most Valuable Back” and in I960 he played in both the All-American and Copper Bowls. He continues to hold many records in the individual record section of the Academyfootball record book and was voted the ",Most Valuable Player” on the 1959 football team.)

Hatfield Named Coach of the Year

Former Air Force Academy Head Football Coach Ken Hatfield was named “Kodak Coach of the Year” for University Division 1-A coaches. He is now head coach of the University of Arkansas. He was selected for this prestigious honor by the American Football Coaches Association for his outstanding efforts at the Academy in 1983.

The coach of the year award, sponsored by the Eastman Kodak Company since 1960, and announced as part of the AFCA’s annual convention in Dallas, goes to Hatfield for the first time. It was won by Penn State’s Joe Paterno last year.

This award is particularly cherished by the nation’s head football coaches because the winner is picked as a result of balloting among their peers.

Hatfield was among five coaches who had earlier been named Kodak regional coach of the year. The other four are: Tom Osborne, Nebraska; Pat Dye, Auburn; Mike White, Illinois; and Jack Bricknell, Boston College. (The Falcon Flyer)

Five Named to All-American Status

Senior Jeff Kubiak has become the ninth Air Force football player to win a National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholarship. The 1983 scholarship has been increased from $1,500 to $3,000.

Kubiak, from Green Bay, Wis., was also selected to the 1983 Academic AllAmerican team voted on by the Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Kubiak, a 6-1, 209-pounder, has recorded a 3.78 (4.0 is perfect) grade average while majoring in international affairs. He was one of 11 outstanding scholars from around the nation to receive this prestigious award and was honored at the Foundation’s Hall of Fame Dinner in New York City on Dec. 6.

In addition to Kubiak, two other football Falcons received All-American honors. Senior wide receiver Mike Kirby was selected by Sporting News to its second team while fullback John Kershner was named to the Football News third team.

Kirby, a four-year veteran from Miami, led the Falcons in all-purpose running with 1,122 yards. Mike was the team’s top pass receiver with 38 catches for 862 yards and ranked among the top punt returners in the nation with 23 returns for 234 yards.

Kershner, a 5-10, 190-pounder, was also selected to the All-WAC first team for the second-straight year. He is the Falcons’ all-time leading rusher with 2,726 yards in

his four years of varsity play. He again was top rusher this season with 934 yards on 166 carries for a 5.6-yard average.

Women’s volleyball is the only other fall team honored with All-America status. Seniors Cheryl DeVita and Linda Samuelson were named on the coaches’ poll. DeVita and Samuelson led the Falcons to a 45-11 record and a thirdplace finish in the Division II nationals.

DeVita, a 5-9 middle blocker from Kings Park, N.Y., was also selected to the 1983 Academic All-American second team. She carried a cumulative 3.50 while majoring in computer science.

Samuelson, from Bancroft, Neb., a first-team All-American last season, received honorable mention.

CHAPTER NEWS

SAN DIEGO COUNTY CHAPTER

The San Diego County Chapter of the Association of Graduates held its organizational meeting on September 29, 1983 at the Admiral Kidd Navy Officers Club, San Diego, Calif.

The first order of business was selection of officers and directors for the chapter. Mike Quinton, ’62, was selected president of the chapter; Charles Black, ’70, vice president; and Mike Kelly, ’66, secretarytreasurer.

Directors are Mike Murphy, ’72; Dave Love, ’70; Don Rushing, ’70; Roger Meyers, ’62; Bill Reavey, ’66; and Barry LaForgia, ’68.

Our first order of business was to plan our first gathering for November 11, which was a planning session for our next event, the tailgate party before the AFASan Diego State football game. We have also planned a volleyball game and a golf tournament.

On December 3, the chapter was treated to the first AFA football game ever played in San Diego. The outcome was never in doubt after the first five minutes of play, but that did not diminish the enthusiasm of the local grads who had waited many years for the Falcons to come to town.

The game was preceded by the tailgate party in the parking lot of San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium with liquid refreshments and liquid California sunshine. Those (fool) hardy souls who stuck it out proved that it takes more than a littie rain to dampen the enthusiasm of a group of grads when they get together.

AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ALL GRADS IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA/ARIZONA AREA:

Every time the Air Force Falcons play in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, the game will be preceded by a tailgate party starting two hours before kickoff time in Area H-3 of the parking lot (southwest of the stadium). YOU CAN COUNT

ON IT! BE THERE!

The San Diego County Chapter is looking for prospective members who may not have heard of us. Anyone in the San Diego area, or anyone who may be coming to the San Diego area sometime and wants to join the chapter, write to: Michael E. Quinton, 2615 San Clemente Terrace, San Diego, Calif., 92122 or call (619) 453-2729 (home) or (619) 293-5662 (office).

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS CHAPTER

The first annual organizational meeting of the Northeast Arkansas Chapter was held on December 3 at Blytheville AFB. The chapter made plans for the coming year that could include a volleyball game against the Memphis-area Annapolis grads if the “squids” can get it together. In addition, the chapter plans to assist local high schools with their “Grass Roots” programs.

Officers for the present term are Barb Chapman, ’81, president; Gary Myers, ’80, vice president; D. K. Freeman, ’76, secretary; and Gerry O’Conner, ’73, treasurer.

The chapter’s present membership is near 30. All graduates in the Blytheville area are invited to join. The chapter’s address is Northeast Arkansas Chapter, USAFA-AOG, P.O. Box 6025, Blytheville AFB, AR 72315.

RED RIVER CHAPTER

On October 31, several grads met at the Altus AFB Officers Club to unanimously ratify a constitution forming the “Red River” Chapter of the Association of Graduates. Chapter members plan to actively recruit other graduates in the West Oklahoma and North Central Texas areas, and associate membership is available to virtually all others that are interested in supporting AOG goals and programs.

Aside from the usual chapter functions such as candidate liaison and cadet programs, chapter members plan to conduct a wide variety of interesting and fun activities from parties and dinners to sporting events and field trips. According to

Lt.Col. Bobby Floyd, ’68, commander of the 57th MAS, “The guiding concept is for us to pull together in a team effort to accomplish all the Academy-related programs in this region, while benefiting from each other’s professional experience.”

If you are interested in information about the chapter, write to Lt.Col. Floyd or Capt. Bill Davis at the 57 MAS/CC, Altus AFB, OK 73523, or phone (405) 481-7735 or AV 866-7735.

OMAHA CHAPTER

The Omaha Chapter had a kick-off dinner in November of this past year. The guest speaker was Brig. Gen. Rokke, ’63, the current dean of faculty. He presented a state-of-the-wing report to some of the local grads who had dinner in the atmosphere of “Mitchell Hall East.” The accommodations were complete with a staff tower, Forms 0-96, and of course the proverbial standby of a jar of peanut butter on every table. The dinner was a suecess and General Rokke’s tour of the SAC headquarters facilities made the trip well worth his while.

The fledgling program (sans eagle) is off to a start with a provisional board of directors consisting of president, Lt. Col. Charlie Coolidge, ’68; vice president, Capt. Tom Butler, ’73; treasurer, Capt. Rick Wallace, ’73; and secretary, 1st Lt. Clyde Jenkins, ’81. The chapter is going through the growing pains of establishing an administrative capability and will then step out with a recruiting drive, first of prospective chapter members and then of prospective cadets.

For more information on the Omaha Chapter contact USAFA AOG, P.O. Box 13243, Omaha, NE 68113.

Maj. Mike Howe, ’69, looks on as Dave Neilson, ’69, signs upfor Omaha Chapter membership. In the background, Maj. Randy Lauterbach, ’71, and wife Mardee, talk with Lt. Col. Charlie Coolidge, ’68.

North Texas Chapter Busy in 1983

As 1983 concludes, 1 would like to thank our board of directors and members as well as the AFA AOG and Athletic Department for their cooperation and assistance in making 1983 our most active year to date.

We completed the year with 135 members and our activities consisted of the following:

Carswell-area membership social

Annual membership meeting

Founder’s Day dinner/dance

Family picnic at Carswell AFB with the Thunderbirds

Tri-Service Academy Softball Tournament

Directors breakfast with General Kelley

Southwest premier of “The Right Stuff”

Italian Night informal dinner

Tri-Service Academy Golf Tournament

Football watching parties

Independence Bowl trip

In addition, we were providing Dallas housing for the Drum and Bugle Corps until their bowl game appearance. Several of our members sit on candidate selection committees, others are liaison officers, and several assist with athletic recruiting.

Please contact us if you are in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. We are excited about our future! I am looking forward to working with the 1984 board of directors in continuing to build our chapter into the most active and beneficial possible. (Bill Reemtsma, ’63, 3226 Leahy Dr., Dallas, TX 75229. Home: (214) 357-5502. Office: (214) 991-3877.)

INDEPENDENCE BOWL TRIP

The crowd began to gather in North Dallas at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, December

10. Seventy excited North Texas graduates, families, and friends boarded two buses for the three-hour trip to Shreveport, La. Of course, the great Air Force victory over Ole Miss has been well documented, and the fans from the North Texas Chapter were proud to be a part of the festivities.

Box lunches (you remember those) were provided for the trip down, along with adequate liquid refreshment. A potential problem was alleviated when bus #2, low on beer, pulled bus #1 over and hi-jacked several cases from the luggage compartment.

Upon arrival, the AFA Athletic Association and Association of Graduates hosted a pre-game reception adjacent to the stadium in the same facility as the AFA pep rally. The cheerleaders, Drum and Bugle Corps, and yelling cadets provided a memorable atmosphere, and certainly played a significant part in the vietory. The Falcon team, which is followed very closely by our members, performed magnificently.

After the game and a quick stop to replenish supplies for the trip home, we arrived back in Dallas at 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Cheese, sausage, crackers, chocolatecovered pretzels, etc., were furnished; however, sleeping seemed to be the order of the day and the trip home was much quieter.

By the way, someone mentioned there was a trace of rain at the game, but none of the members of the NTAAFAG Independence Bowl 14-Hour Rolling Extravaganza seemed to notice!

TRI-SERVICE GOLF TOURNEY

The date: October 15, 1983 a.m. The place: Bear Creek Golf Course, Dallas-Ft.

Worth Airport, Texas. The event: The First Annual (soon to be semi-annual, whether you want to or not) Army-NavyAir Force Academy Alumni Golf Tournament of North Texas. Yes, once again we find the grads from USAFA, “those lusty, looney, likable lads of the links,” daring the “other” guys in a scramble-format golf tournament (best shot style, for you non-golfers). Representing the NTAAFAG in the premier event were Paul Dean (’61), Prez Bill Reemtsma (’63), Bob Holder (’65), Rich Cree (’66), Dave Brigman (’71), Ron Hale (’71), and Dan Shine (’74). (See how structured this article is—all in class order, but not necessarily in order of class, if you know what we mean!)

We played 18 holes against Army and Navy foursomes and then averaged team scores. Final tally, Air Force 68.5, Army 69.0, and Navy 71.5. (See, in golf, it’s the lowest score that wins—we learned that in PE 102!)

Paul Dean and Dave Brigman showed that it is possible to play with selfproclaimed duffers like Ron Hale and still come up with the best team score of the day. And Rich Cree, Dan Shine and Bob Holder’s threesome showed us how' to shoot an “eagle” (two under par).

As in our annual softball tournament, we have a nice trophy engraved with AIR FORCE as this year’s winner—and, voila, USAFA is triumphant again. Disappointed and defeated AGAIN, both USMA and USNA graciously congratulated us and then said, “. .uhhh, how about making this a semi-annual event so maybe we can get our name on something, sometime?

Next, soon to be semi-annual, Alumni Golf Tournament will be in the spring of ’84. Good show, guys! (Ron Hale, ’71)

Some Dallas contingent Independence Bowl rooters include, at left, Chuck Richardson, ’68, and his wife Janice. At center, Jerry Ahrnann, ’63, and Ellen Briggs enjoy the party (word has it that Jerry held the same grinfor 14 hours). At right, Tim Reemtsma (Bill, ’63) and Matt Kuhn (Jim, ’63) show offAir Force Falcon blue.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Brandon P. Blonshine, ’69

Mr. Brandon Powers Blonshine, Class of 1969, died on Sept. 2, 1983, in Fairfax County, Va, after a long illness that included five open-heart surgery operations. At the time of his death he was employed as a Department of the Army civil engineer in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Brandon came to the Academy from St. Petersburg, Fla. He was a member of Cadet Squadrons 24 and 28 and was actively involved in the Cadet Car and Ski Clubs. After graduation he earned his navigator wings and, prior to medical grounding and his subsequent separation from the Air Force, flew F-4s in Southeast Asia, the United Kingdom, and at Homestead AFB, Fla. He remained close to the Air Force, working as a civil engineer at MacDill AFB until his relocation to West Germany.

Brandon was a man who made an impact on those around him. He always searched for the positive side, for the humor in any situation. His occasionally unconventional antics caused some to blush it made most of us envy his free spirit. Life was not always kind to Brandon, but he faced these hardships without complaint. In his last struggle he showed us what it means to be a fighter. We shall miss him.

Brandon is survived by his wife, Nancy, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Blonshine of St. Petersburg, Fla. Other survivors include his sister, Mrs. Sherry McBee of St. Petersburg, and two brothers, Mr. Richard Blonshine of St. Petersburg and Capt. William Blonshine, currently stationed at Ft. Campbell, Ky. (Maj. Bob Paine, Class of 1969)

Thomas W. Fishburn, Jr., ’70

Captain Thomas W. Fishburn, Jr. (ANG) was reported missing in a T-33 aircraft off the California coast Sept. 13, 1983, while returning from a target mission to Fresno ANG Base. Search efforts were discontinued after one week.

Tom’s loss is great to all who knew him, yet, he leaves us a legacy rich in example. Tom’s love of flying was second only to his love of family. They were foremost in his thoughts throughout his daily life. He was friend, husband, confidant and father of their children to Kathy. He was a shining star to his children. To his family and all of us, Tom was and is a person for us to emulate.

From the Academy to EB-57s to A-7s on Navy exchange, to investments broker and Guardsman, Tom excelled. He had high ideals and continually lived up to them. Tom set and maintained

high standards for himself, and he always had a smile and helping hand for others. He enjoyed every minute of being with his family, sharing the company of friends, flying T-Birds and working with his clients. He was caring, easygoing, affable and humble. Tom lived life to the fullest, and he took time to add something extra to the lives of many others.

Tom was a peaceful person, but his personal beliefs included the need for a strong national defense to insure peace. He expressed that conviction through his service in the Air Guard. Tom was lost to us in the performance of duty to his country, doing something that he enjoyed and that he believed in.

He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; son, Christopher; daughter, Emily; and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Fishburn.

A memorial fund in Tom’s memory has been established at the Air Force Academy. Donations may be sent to the Thomas W. Fishburn, Jr., Memorial Fund, Association of Graduates, USAF Academy, Colo. 80840.

Tom was proud of his association with the Air Force Academy. We can take pride that he is one of our own.

We miss you Tom Fishburn. (Charles M. Brown, Class of 1970)

David F. Martin, ’77

Mr. David F. Martin, Class of 1977, lost his life in early May, 1983, in an automobile accident near his home in Volga, West Virginia.

While at the Academy, Dave was a member of the 28th Squadron. He majored in life sciences and was active in both the class council and the debate team, earning a letter in the latter. He loved intramural sports, especially lacrosse, which he continued to play despite serious back problems which would later cause him to be medically discharged upon graduation.

After graduation, Dave returned to his beloved West Virginia and earned a law degree in 1981 from West Virginia University. At the time of his death, he was a partner in a thriving law practice in Philippi, W.Va., and was a legal consultant to a committee of the West Virginia House of Delegates.

Dave will always be remembered for his quick wit, dry humor and easy-going manner. Although some may not have agreed with his often unconventional ideas, few will deny that he was one of the most intelligent, urbane and well-spoken people one could ever hope to meet. These qualities obviously continued into Dave’s civilian life. After his untimely passing, his colleagues of the bar payed many tributes to him, the ultimate tribute coming at

Brandon P. Blonshine, ’69

Thomas W. Fishburn, Jr., ’70

David F. Martin, ’77

Thomas J. Beauclair, 77

a memorial service in his honor during a special session of the State Legislature.

Dave is survived by his parents, SMSgt. (Ret.) and Mrs. Fred Martin of Philippi, and two brothers. We, who knew Dave well, share their grief and will cherish the memory of the time we were privileged to spend with him. (Capt. Irv Halter, Class of 1977)

Thomas J. Beauclair, 77

Lieutenant Thomas J. Beauclair (U.S. Navy), Class of 1977, died in a mid-air collision of two Navy F-14 Tomcat aircraft on Aug. 30, 1983, about 75 miles offshore of Virginia Beach, Va. He was serving with Fighter Squadron 101 at Oceana Naval Air Station near Virginia Beach at the time of the accident. Memorial services for Lt. Beauclair were held at Oceana Naval Air Station and in Duluth, Minn.

Lt. Beauclair was born in Duluth and commissioned an ensign in the Navy after graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1977. At the Academy, he earned a degree in aviation science. He flew with Navy Fighter Squadron 41, the Black Aces, on the USS Nimitz and participated in the Iranian rescue attempt and Libyan crises in the Gulf of Sidra. He served with Fighter Squadron 101 since December, 1982, where he was also the assistant standardization officer.

His decorations include the Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Expeditionary medal, National Defense Service medal, Battle Efficiency “E” award, two Sea Service awards and the Air Force small-arms expert marksmanship medal.

He is survived by his wife, Wills, and infant daughter, Lucy Wills, both of Virginia Beach; his parents, Benjamin and Marguerite Beauclair of Duluth; two brothers, David of Duluth and Gregory of Kenai, Alaska; and two sisters, Valerie Kulas of Duluth and Joan Marie Beauclair of Virginia Beach.

Obituaries of four other graduates who have died were not received by presstime and will appear in the next issue of the magazine. They are:

Mr. Peter M. DeFilippo, Class of 1972, who died on Nov. 23, 1983, in Dover Township, N.J., after fighting a battle with cancer for six years.

2nd Lt. William W. May, Class of 1983, who died of injuries received in a T-37 military aircraft accident on Dec. 8, 1983, near Florence/Coolidge, Ariz.

Col. Robert S. Schaumberg, Class of 1962, who died at the U.S. Air Force Regional Hospital at MacDill AFB, Fla., on Dec. 12, 1983.

Capt. Dyke H. Whitbeck, Class of 1978, who died on Jan. 9, 1984, near Nassau International Airport, Bahamas, while flying a UH-1N helicopter which crashed.

Our sincere condolences to the families and friends of these graduates.

Paul M. Kelly, ’79

A Lucy Wills Beauclair education trust fund has been established in memory of Lt. Beauclair and contributions can be mailed to P.O. Box 2179, Virginia Beach, Va. 23450.

Paul M. Kelly, ’79

Captain Paul Michael Kelly, Class of 1979, was one of four mountain climbers who died in Switzerland while climbing the Matterhorn on Sept. 15, 1983.

Capt. Kelly was a 1975 honor graduate of Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach, Va., where he was named the most outstanding male student. He was also a member of the National Honor Society, the debate team, student government, Who’s Who Among American High School Students, and an Eagle Scout.

He graduated from the Air Force Academy with a degree in biology. At the time of his death, he was assigned to the 38th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Zweibrucken AB, West Germany, where he flew the RF-4 Phantom.

Services were held at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Virginia Beach on Sept. 30. The Mass was performed by the Rev. James Guttendorf and Lt. Col. Andrew O. Hadalski, a chaplain at Langley AFB. Burial with military honors was at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Norfolk, Va.

Capt. Kelly is survived by his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Kelly, and his brother, John F. Kelly, of Virginia Beach. (Mrs. Elizabeth Kelly)

Sympathy

Extended to Cadet Parents, Friends

Five cadets have died in the past five months in four separate incidents.

The first, Cadet Firstclass Prince Albert Hill, III, died on Oct. 26, 1983, while an inpatient at the Air Force Academy Hospital.

Three more cadets died during the Thanksgiving holiday. Cadets Thirdclass Dianne L. Williams and Brian M. Bullard, died of carbon monoxide poisoning early on the morning of Nov. 28, 1983. The two were returning in the same vehicle to the Academy from Cameron, Mo., when they became stranded on Highway 1-70, four miles east of Goodland, Kan., due to adverse weather conditions.

On Nov. 23, 1983, Cadet Thirdclass Thomas C. Schmidt was killed in a single-car accident on Highway 1-25 near Santa Fe. N.M.

The fifth cadet to lose his life was Cadet Fourthclass Gary K. Challiss who was killed in an automobile accident on Jan. 22, 1984, just south of Castle Rock, Colo.

We extend our deepest sympathy to the parents and friends of these individuals.

CLASS NEWS

R. L. Penn

7968 Hiddenbridge Dr. Springfield, VA 22153 (703) 455-5620

V.”-’

Congratulations to Brad HOSMER and H.T. JOHNSON on their selection to major general! The nation is well served. Congratulations also to the new brigadiers more about them next time.

REUNION: 1’ ve already made my room reservation at the Raintree for 21-24 June. I’ll be bringing my original yellow bathrobe (current condition is something between unserviceable and disreputable, but there is no suitable substitute). This time we need minute-callers and sectionmarchers to help laggards get to functions on time. Also a couple of shower formations to polish up some of the weaker minds on their freshman poop. And intramural boxing matches after happy hour, followed by bayonet practice. Wally SCHMIDT, now a fully-certified legal beagle in New York, will be there scrounging for business getting rowdies out of jail. Looks like we’ll soon have as many lawyers as generals in the class. Jim FLETCHER has left Continental for some alternative employment. He writes that he’ll certainly be at the reunion. We have also learned that Mike REARDON from Denver has been promoted to 0-6 in the Reserves. Congratulations Mike.

FOUNDERS’ RECOGNITION: About one-third of the class have contributed or pledged an average of $194 each. The committee hopes all others will pledge immediately so that this will be truly a contribution from the entire class.

Got a long letter from Tom STACK, but 1 couldn’t read his handwriting. Maybe his hands suffer from frostbite; he’s doing so much skiing in Europe. Intermittently menacing the European slopes are T.l. and Carol ANDERSON. Wayne and Karen PITTMAN are also frantically traveling around the Continent he impersonates an 1G and harasses the working troops. Tom and Chris HOUSE have finally escaped Europe after nine and a half years. Tom had to get a Green Card from Immigration Service to hold a job as vice commander of the Support Group at Nellis. A1 WATERS is the new commander of the 39th Air Rescue Wing. Al, if your troops need any testimonials, tell ’em there are a bunch of us who’re extremely appreciative. Jim RHODES departed as 10TRW/CC to be chief of support at 4ATAF. Also, Old China Hand, Jim REED, is some sort of planner at PACOM.

Football games are as good an excuse as any: a Washington area ’59er tradition supported by Jim and Brenda WELCH and Fred and Brenda WYNN is the tailgate party at the Navy game when it’s played here. It’s been a long dry spell back East, but this year it was great! If we can get enough out-of-town folks in for the ’85 game, we’ll do a march-on and a "Howdy, Pioneers!”

Larry FORTNER hosted a gathering for the Rain Bowl game against Ole Miss. PHILLIPS, McLAIN, BLAKE, C.V. MILLER, ROSANE, DeSANTIS, and H.T. JOHNSON made the trek. D.C. area folks who needed an excuse gathered at WYNN’s to watch it on the tube. As none of our original five gymnast/cheerleaders from the ’55 season showed up, Bobby BECKEL led us in ‘U S A F A” at a crucial juncture. He wanted to do "Confusion Yell” next, but too many of the older grads couldn’t remember it. "Three dits, four dits, two dits, dah; Air Force Academy, Rah, Rah, Rah!” was completely out of the question. Next time, before the game, we’ll sing the fight song which COUNTS and VANCE contributed to the ages.

Far better than reading this rag, make plans to get to the reunion and examine each exciting witness, in person.

(Editor’s note: The following letter which accompanied R.L. ’s column is self-explanatory. Drop him a line or call him and share your current information with your class. They really would like to keep up with classmates.)

Dear Tom,

I notice that I’m not the only scribe who complains about a dearth of poop. Perhaps for all of us, you might exhort the guys (or their wives) to write a note on their change-of-address cards. Do they think the postal inspectors are gonna put ’em in jail for writing additional information outside the prescribed blocks? Also, you might inform them, again, that cards to the AOG are sent to scribes.

1 suspect that many are reluctant to write a long egocentric note out of some sort of feeling of modesty (especially true of us high-achieving and modest ’59ers), but that’s not the case at all. The class wants to know what the others are doing, and the most reliable information is a written note from the horse’s own hand. A good exampie is the change-of-address card I got some months ago from Tom Bowen listing an APO post office box. 1 later found out that he’s the wing commander of the cruise missile wing. That’s the stuff the class wants to know. R.L.

C.T. Douglass

1846 Baywood Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84117 (801) 277-1239

Brunching Saturday prior to the Independence Bowl game are Eddie Rosanne, front center. Counterclockwise from him are Rose Brown, C. V. Milter, Bob Blake, Jean Blake, Sandie Miller, Jo Butler (friend of photographer Joe DeSantis), Jim Brown, and Brett Rosanne, an ’82 graduate of USAFA now attending medical school.

While on an airline layover in New York City, in which my wife and four-year-old accompanied me, we had breakfast with Dick, known now as "Rick,” KINGMAN and his two super-nice teenagers, Brian and Justine, who attend private school in Manhattan. He enjoys the unique adventure of "loft” living on the sixth (top) floor of one of the buildings he owns in Soto ("South of Houston Street—pronounced HOWston—near Greenwich Village”) accessible by stairs or, more conveniently, by a private freight elevator. Well on his way to his first million, Rick is continually upgrading the buildings his companies own and manage, and has many tales to tell about his experiences with rent control, rent strikers, and the bureaucracy of Manhattan. We had some great laughs remembering experiences as roommates during our First Class year which we just didn’t have time to get around to during the 20th reunion. His class ring was lost in the mud between the confluence of the Little Colorado and Colorado Rivers, but he has faithfully worn Jim LOVELL’s class ring since then—Jim hates jewelry. Rick has no car—takes cabs or borrows his workman’s station wagon—still has lots of black hair, and is truly a self-made man in an environment that is completely foreign but extremely appealing to me. You’ve got to see it to believe it! He’s going to come take a raft trip down the Salmon River with me next summer. Anyone else want to come along? He saw Tony BURSHNICK, George LUCK and Ralph LALIME at the 1982 ArmyNavy game, and is relieved and elated that members of our class have been assigned positions of great responsibility in the Military establishment.

1 stopped flying Kansas City overrides just as 1 was going to get with Bruce MOS1ER to be a guest scribe. Maybe next time. If any of you would like to volunteer as guest scribe sometime, drop me a line. It’s really not hard unless classmates don’t write. And a fresh perspective is always welcome.

Who would believe Garth COOKE is working on a doctoral thesis entitled “Investigations of cell wall destruction of monokeatic parasitic growths in petroleum storage, and its military implications?” Whew. Glad someone watches out for that!

No one got the answer to the picture in our last column—it’s Norm HALLER during doolie camp when we reenacted some of our bayonet training. Dave Bradshaw was my roommate then, Jimmie JAY (’59) was our element leader next door, and Gorto and Englehart were our ATOs. Dave washed out on fourth class academics, but I saw him on Christmas Eve 1964 in Pleiku as he was passing through enroute to Special Forces (Captain, US Army) duty in Kontum. Soon thereafter I was told he was KIA.

Last summer Deke JOHNSON took wife Sally to visit Dale and Sherri THOMPSON at RAF Upper Heyford, where he is wing commander.

ROSAL PRODUCTIONS can set up another toga/mattress party or something—any ideas? Who of you would try to come?

Paul SULLIVAN and wife Dee now live in East Pepperill, MA, where they bought a house to fix up. Paul’s an LC on active duty—but no mention about his job. They’re enjoying New England. A1 JOHNSON just moved to Lowry AFB, “Quarters 1 -B,” so he must be a commander or something. It sure would help me if you guys would send me a letter when you move, and tell me your new job, or retirement plans and activities, etc. Pictures really help. Charlie HART has moved to Springfield, OH. Aaron THRUSH is a stockbroker in Fort Walton Beach, where many of us trained enroute to RVN. And Hardy LEBELL has settled in Rhode Island after being medically retired from injuries received in an automobile accident years ago. If you are a personnel officer somewhere, please let me know about promotions and moves of our classmates.

Sherri and Dale

and

On their return trip, they visited Ralph LALIME (with JCS) and George ELSEA (Air Staff) in D.C. Deke also attended a Cotton Bowl (remember that one, folks?) football team reunion at the Academy in late October. He is still working hard in the auto parts business in Boise.

Scribe helper Jim O’ROURKE and I were taken out to dinner at the Fort Douglas USAR Officer’s Club in SLC recently by Bob BRICKEY (’61), where we began plotting a mini-reunion of our two classes next summer at AFA while the ’59ers have their 25th with the ATOs. Maybe

Bob Brickey (’61), C. T., and Jim O 'Rourke ham it up during a visit to the Douglass home.

Greg BOYINGTON and a partner manage a 60-unit apartment building in Oakland which they purchased last year after his retirement. His dad lives in Fresno and he has two daughters attending college in Sacramento while his 18-year-old son lives with him in Alameda. Roy JOLLY has moved to Houston. Dick HILLMAN has transferred from Los Angeles to Houston to become the director of flying operations for the new Continental Airlines, in charge of pilots, flight attendants, etc. Dick was a DC-10 check captain for Continental in Los Angeles before transferring to Houston.

That’s it for now. Keep those cards, letters and photos coming.

Randy Cubero

7163 Wintery Loop

Colorado Springs, CO 80919

Home: (303) 598-7155

AV: 259-3820

Well good people. This past quarter has really flown by at the Academy. What with a winning and exciting football team to watch, and the beautiful fall weather in Colorado, the days have melted into weeks, and the weeks into months. In this letter I’d like to devote a section to our local ’61 group (they felt somewhat neglected after my first newsletter), finish my editorial list from the last issue and end with some personal notes I received from our classmates.

On the local scene, the football season provided an excellent opportunity for us to get together and recount old war stories. During this last ’83 Homecoming, Jim GLAZA, ’60, was nice enough to open up his lovely home to all the “out” year grads for a Saturday night bash. It was great! As the picture attests, ’61 had strong representation, probably the largest single block there.

In case your memory fails you, starting in the top left and going clockwise are Erna and Wayne HARING. Wayne is the one sporting the Yul Brynner hairdo. We told him to wear a hat, but he wouldn’t listen. Wayne writes war plans for NORAD as an action officer in J3XA. Next are Dick and Trel COPPOCK. Dick is our new executive director of the AOG, and 1 might add, doing a terrific job. I sit on the Executive Committee of the AOG, and Dick has performed his newly acquired duties like a “pro.” Tom CONLEY is dead center and currently is the chief of

C. T. Douglass, Rick Kingman, and Rees Wagner (’61), strike a pose in Manhattan.

Thompson visit with Sally

Deke Johnson in England.

AFOTEC at the Space Center. His secretary told me that his duties inelude overseeing the ASAT and NAVSTAR programs. Dean and Jo JONES are next. Dean is one of the honchos in the Paragon Solar Engery Corporation located in the Springs. 1 could never tell Dean and Wayne apart as cadets, but now it’s easy. Dean lives in Colorado Springs, and Wayne is in California. Yours truly is next. I’m back in the Department of Foreign Languages, suffering through another USAFA assignment. You think its easy being a USAFA instructor? Now I know what it’s like being a human dynamo discharging into a group of non-conductors. In the bottom row are my better half, Jan, and Lillie SAUNDERS. When this picture was taken, Earl was in the process of retiring. Since then we have already had a retirement party for Earl. In a touching moment, Lillian presented Earl with a cadet sabre, a symbolic gift, for all the years, time and effort that Earl has given to USAFA. Hector Andres NEGRONI is next. Interesting how everyone is kneeling in the bottom row except for Hector. Susan CONLEY is in the one-armed clutch of Hector, followed by Terry and Carleen STORM. Terry is the director of Administrative Services and administrative assistant to the Board of County Commissioners in Colorado Springs. Those not present, but who reside in Colorado Springs are Mike and Susan QUINLAN (Mike unfortunately was tied up with another athletic social function that night), Sheila and John MAY (the Mays came but not in time for the photo session), Mert and Maxine HULL, and Carl and Shirley RENOUD. Rumor has it that Mert and Carl work for the CIA and occasionally go off to Tibet and Outer Mongolia. Next issue I promise I’ll get to the bottom of this.

On the editorial update in the last newsletter I left off with George BUCHNER, who was retired in Phoenix, AZ. Bob WHITE is the Director of Something, HQ TAC/AOC at Langley; Earl O’REAR is the chief, Advanced Concepts Div.—far out! (I couldn’t resist)—HQ SAC at Offutt; George BUTLER, CO 96 BMWing at Dyess (1st B-l Wg); Gene DAVIS, Asst DO 60 MAW (MAC) Travis; Charlie NEEL, VC 52 TFW (F4E/G) Spangdahlem AB, Germany; Bob KELLOCK, vice base CO, 18 CSG, Kadena; Bill MOULTON, retired, graduate student, Arizona State University; Twy WILLIAMS, military asst to SECAF, Bolling AFB, D.C.; and Bob WAGNER, 33 TFW/CC (F-15) at Eglin. I saw Bob at our 25th-year reunion of our ’58 cotton bowl team. He’s the only guy who looks better now than when he was a cadet. Ben Martin at the dinner was commenting on how small our team was back then, when somebody from the rear fired, “yea, but look at us now, coach!’’

Dick GODDARD is chief, Red Force Center, SM-ALC/MMC, MeClellan; Dick DAVIS retired in New York; Ben WILLIS, I believe, is also retired in Teaticket, MA; Hanson SCOTT is vice cmdr 314 TAW (MMC) at Little Rock; and finally, Howard BODENHAMER is retired and currently the project manager at Trammel Crow Co in Houston, TX. Well, that was all the editorial update until Dick COPPOCK called on the phone to tell me that Jim HOURIN was just selected brigadier general and now heads the entire Louisiana Air National Guard. At our 20-year reunion there were rumors that Jim was going to make 0-7. Captain with Delta Airlines, a bonafide lawyer and a BG with the Guard; those are tremendous achievements and our congratulations to Jim & family.

On some personal notes, John MOORE called from MAC, Scott AFB, where he’s the director of OPS/MX. He talked about a mini ’61 reunion there at Snoopy THOMAS’ house with Jim TUL1S, Charlie STEBBINS, Gene DAVIS, John SULLIVAN, and naturally MOORE and THOMAS. Lots of good war stories and John said that Charlie THOMAS even brought out the Chivas. Somewhere along the line Lowell JONES, Frank WILLIS, and Jerry LEFTON joined the party along with a group from ’60. John wasn’t sure whether it was the same day, the day after, or the day before. Sounded to me like one heck-of-a-party. I also recently had the occasion to talk to John KOHOUT. He’s the XPX, director for Plans, SAC HQ. He sounded great and was asking about another grad

who worked in the Department of Foreign Languages and was being considered for a position in XPX. I also received a letter from Lowell JONES concerning the ’61 tailgate at Annapolis. What a game, and what a team. I was there but since I arrived with the USAFA team, and we barely made it before kickoff time, I was late getting to the ’61 tailgate area. I did get to see Carl CRANBERRY, Rees WAGNER, Jim RODGERS, Jimmy POOLE, and Pete LANE.

The second picture shows the tailgate at the beginning of the game. Present and accounted for were Jimmy and Sandi POOLE, Lowell and Sandy JONES, Carl and Charlene GRANBERRY, Norm and Barbara CAMPBELL, Jerry and Sue LEFTON, Mike and Linda RAWLINS, Bill and Rhoda STACKHOUSE, Mike (face hidden behind Linda RAWLINS) and Susan QUINLAN, Dick, sans wife, COPPOCK, and finally Hector and Joann NEGRONI. Hector is the guy singing the Navy hight song with his left hand over his liver. Aside from those two hints, I’ll let you match the faces to the names.

Finally, I heard from Phil LANE, our San Angelo lawyer, about some other classmates. Phil came out for the ’58 Cotton bowl reunion and stayed a day with us. Before I go into Phil’s news, let me put in a plug for Mike QUINLAN. He arranged that whole Cotton bowl reunion, and it was positively first rate. ’61ers made up a good portion of that championship team and it was a real “high’’ getting together again after so many years. Phil mentioned that Larry FREEMAN is living in San Antonio, but occasionally gets to visit San Angelo on business. (That bad, eh Larry?)

Phil also ran into Jim WILHELM at the San Angelo Country Club which, by the way, is the only 14-hole golf course in the U.S. Jim was investigating an airline crash, and Phil wondered where the plane crashed at the country club. (Weak, Wilhelm, Weak!) According to Phil, Howy BODENHAMER has also been in San Angelo several times to attend steer roping, livestock auctions and the like. Now that’s more like the San Angelo 1 know. Finally, Phil was going to send a picture of Brian (3!/2) and David (11 months) but passed them all out to strangers on the way to the office. My God, here I am with a two-year-old grandson, and Phil has an 11-month-old son.

Speaking of grandparents, I know Jan and I might be the first in ’61, but I’m not convinced we are the only ones. I want the “closet” grandparents to expose themselves (figuratively speaking, that is). Christopher Cubero’s birthday is 30 April 1981, and if anyone has an earlir birth date of a grandchild, I will reluctantly relinquish the crown. I always wanted to be first in the class in something, and this might just be my moment of glory, but I have to be sure.

One last item before I sign off. The Athletic Department was gracious enough to invite Jan and me to the Independence Bowl. 1 couldn’t finish this newsletter without telling you all what a thrill it was to see our cadets win tht game and cap off a tremendous year. The seniors especially are to be commended for the gracious way they conducted themselves throughout the season. Any team that is famous for kneeling down together during a time out to say a prayer—not to win but for endurance and strength to play to the best of their abilities—is headed in the right direction.

During that wonderful weekend I met Bob BEST, president of Best Oil, and his wife, Betsy. Bob came in with an Ole Miss alumnus who kept telling me how the Academy was playing a SEC team and not a weak WAC team and how the weather would certainly favor the heavier, stronger Old Miss club. Don’t ask me why I didn’t take out a loan and bet that guy every penny I could beg, borrow or steal. Young Stuart Best came in from college to meet his parents for the game. It would have been a perfect reunion except that young Stuart totaled the car as he pulled off the highway and proceeded to run up the tailpipe of two other cars in his 12

o’clock position. Thank goodness no one was seriously hurt.

Rich MAYO also made the game. Rich is a psychiatrist in Houston and after accepting a ride from him back to our hotel about midnight, 1 know how he maintains his clients. The man was dead sober but he still took a wrong turn, missed the entrance to the highway, cut off a semi, did a U-turn in the middle of oncoming traffic, and ran in front of a cabbie doing about 65 MPH. Even in VN I wasn’t as sure as that night that 1 was going to “buy the farm.” According to Rich, he merely exposed an “obsessive fear of speed, large cars, and a tendency for vertigo in periods of anxiety and tension.” What a guy!!

Take care again good people and 1 hope the Good Lord kept you all happy and safe throughout the Christmas and New Year holiday season.

John W. (Jack) Jamba

Chief, Missile Systems Safety Div. (ESMC/SEM)

Patrick AFB, FL 32925

Home: (305) 784-6073

AV: 854-4340/7077

Hi Redtags! Just after 1 sent in the write-up for the last grad’s column, I talked to Steve NIELSON. As I reported in the last column, Steve is the vice commander of the 379th Bomb Wing at Wurtsmith. He had a busy summer with CINCSAC’s visit, a base open house, Minter ALEXANDER’s change of command, and a successful ORI. The 379th has B-52s and KC-135s plus the ALCM and the latest offensive avionics. Steve said his PCS schedule in the past two years has been hectic. He left the Pentagon for National War College in 1981. Then he went to Carswell as the ADO for 10 months, to Barksdale as the DO for 14 months, and then to Wurtsmith in July of this year. Steve’s wife, Carol, is busy with the many engagements that demand her time. But she and Steve find plenty of time for their four-year-old son, Stephen. Steve commented about the local area, saying it was a “banana belt” compared to K1 Sawyer. Wurtsmith has plenty of outdoor activities, including hunting and fishing; even salmon fishing in the fall.

I called Stan PATRIE in San Diego but he was away. 1 told Mary Ann that I wouldn’t be able to help them publicize their mini-reunion in San Diego because of the publishing schedule for Checkpoints. During our conversation she mentioned that Roger MEYER had visited Tuck McATEE recently and that Tuck had turned down his promotion to colonel to accept a great job opportunity with General Dynamics in Ft. Worth, TX. (Tuck don’t forget that Lew SV1TENKO is vice wg cmdr at Carswell.) Mary Ann added that Stan has recently taken up windsurfing and loves it.

I talked to Jim EATON recently. He was transferred recently from Space Command Headquarters to Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs where he is the commander of the support group there. He says he loves it; he is constantly on the go. At the Army football game he ran into Andy BANFORD who flew in from Nevada just for the game. He also saw Jack SWONSON at the game. Jack is building a retirement home in Glen Eagles, a subdivision just outside the Academy’s north gate. And as luck would have it, Jack called me just a few days ago with an update on his plans. He had transferred to Altus as the vice wing commander. Shortly thereafter, he was diagnosed as having a blood disorder which will result in his medical retirement in January. He said that he was at the Army football game to present his wing’s colors to the 39th Cadet Sq, the unit his wing is sponsoring. Jack’s daughter is going to transfer from Sacramento State College to Greeley, CO, and his son will graduate from St. Louis University this year and move to Colorado. So the family will be together. Jack said that there’s a rumor in Colorado Springs that Andy BANFORD will host the 22Vi year reunion at Lake Tahoe. Sounds like a good rumor to me.

Here are some other news items I have seen recently in the Air Force Times. John T. RAUSCH retired in August. Jack C. HAUSER and David C. BOCKELMAN were promoted to 0-6. “Rip” BLAISDELL has been assigned as director of inspections at Hq PACAF. I heard recently that Bob KEIGHERY has left Nellis for an assignment to the office of the assistant chief of staff for studies and analysis at Hq USAF.

A few days ago 1 arranged to escort Ralph CONLAN and several of his cadets and ROTC staff to a space shuttle launch at Cape Canaveral. We toured some of the support areas in the Range Control Center and then went out to the visitors’ viewing area to see a magnificent launch of STS-9. I enjoyed spending the morning with Ralph and his troops. He informed me that Chuck CHEESEMAN has transferred to a new job in the GE corporate structure at Sunnyvale.

Last month, Ken FLEMING came into Orlando to attend a conference and present a professional paper. He journeyed over to the Space Coast

(Patrick AF'B) to visit Willie GRAY. So Willie invited me over to join them and reminisce. As head of the Economics Department at the Academy, Ken keeps pretty busy. He jokingly said that whenever Erv ROKKE gets a request for assistance from the Grads Association, Erv just happens to have a Redtag colonel who can handle it.

Before I forget it, for any of you who made the trip to the Independence Bowl, please drop me a line telling me who you saw and what news items you picked up.

I got a great letter from Mike QUINTON as I was about to go to press. Here it is unabridged.

“Dear Jack: 1 hope this gets to you before the deadline for the winter edition of Checkpoints. This is my first contribution to the Class News. Like the silent majority of the class, I read everything in the Class News, but tend to think that what happens to me isn’t news.

“I have been an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the San Diego Office (Southern District of California) since January of 1971 when I moved out here from Denver. It is a great job, and 1 have enjoyed almost every minute of it. 1 spent the first three years in the Criminal Division of the office, prosecuting drug dealers, bank robbers and other (alleged) crooks and have spent the last 10 years in the Civil Division of the same office primarily defending civil suits against the government including cases arising out of aircraft crashes, medical malpractice and civil rights cases. I also teach a block of instruction at the University of Southern California Safety Center at Norton on the legal aspects of systems safety in the Systems Safety Officer Course.

“The announcement of the tailgate party before the AFA-San Diego State football game in San Diego did get out before the game was played, but only by two days and only because the game was postponed one week (from November 26 to December 3).

“As those of you who watched the game on television know, San Diego received its December ration of California liquid sunshine between 3 and 8 p.m. on December 3, 1983. Fortunately, it did not bother the football team. We won 38 to 7.

“As announced in the Checkpoints Chapter News (this edition, I hope), the local graduates are planning a tailgate party for every AFA game in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. It will be held in Area H-3 of the parking lot starting two hours before kickoff. Redtags gather around the back of Mike QUINTON’S “Z” (Japanese Jag), which will be parked 75 feet south of the H-3 post. I do not know when the AFA will play in San Diego next, but I do know we will have a tailgate party. If you are in the area, be there.

“Even though circumstances held the crowd for the tailgate and game down, General and Mrs. ROKKE (Erv and Pam) were here for the game and Judy and 1 had a good talk with them. Erv said he saw Dave PEDERSON, Wing DO at March, but 1 did not get to see Dave. There may have been other redtags around, but I didn’t see any. It was truly as advertised a mini-reunion. (Can we claim a record for the smallest class reunion? 1 suppose if we did, the Class of ’58 would top it.)

“For those of you who haven’t seen Erv since he pinned on the stars, he is the same humble, brilliant, down-to-earth, dynamic, unassuming, Godlike guy we all knew. His main problem is that his shoulders are above eye-level, and you can’t see his stars until he sits down. Anyway, Erv and Pam both look great and Judy and 1 enjoyed seeing them again.

“Any redtags who may be in the San Diego area, call me at (home) 619-453-2729 or (office) 619-293-5662.” Very truly yours, /%/ Michael E. Quinton.

Now for the change-of-address cards. “Joe Bill” DRYDEN left Edwards AFB for Dallas. There was no note on the card but it looks like a retirement. 1 sent a short letter to Joe Bill asking him for more info. Ken SMITH has changed jobs. I got a change card on “Duke” GREEN so I called him. He is the director of offensive operations for Elec Security Cmd at Kelly AFB. He and his wife, Wendy, are glad to be back in the States again after a seven-year European stint. His last assignment on the USAFE IG gave him a lot of travel time. So he’s looking for more opportunities to stay at home. They are both still experiencing culture shock. To help ease Wendy into the Texas lifestyle, Duke got a house with a pool. The strategy is working.

It just so happened that within 10 minutes oh my initial call to Duke’s office, he was visited by Gail PECK, who is the DO of the 18th Tac Ftr Wg at Kadena. Duke had also gotten a call from “Deacon” DINSMORE who is stationed at Kelly with the Air Logistics Center. They discussed the local chapter of the grad’s association and made some plans for a gettogether.

Change of address from Murle WILSON shows him as the base commander at Chanute. Ralph SPORY is at Robins AFB. Got a call from Bill BARTLEY a couple of months ago asking for an address on Glen WILSON who had just moved to Arlington, MA. Bill’s daughter was going to college in the Arlington area and he wanted to see Glen while he was there. But 1 only had a P.O. Box for Glen’s address. Bill said he got a

surprise phone call from the Colorado Springs/Denver area Redtags after one of the USAFA home football games. You other Redtags beware: that Colorado bunch always calls “collect.” Saw two pictures in The Air Force Times. One shows Peter D. ROBINSON as the vice commander of the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing at Bitburg. The other shows George LARSON as the commander, 380th Bomb Wing at Plattsburg.

That’s it for now. My next column deadline is 15 March 1984. Please call or write after you read this issue.

Skip Lee

1024 Rota Drive

APO San Francisco 96334

Home: Country Code (671) 362-1111 fe'S'V.Y

AV: Pacific Code (317) 366-7251

Congratulations to all the new colonel selects! It was really enjoyable to review the list and see so many of your names there. Now our careers are completely out of our hands—probably out of control too. I am also sure a lot of PCSs will be forthcoming—some are already taking place. Don’t forget to include your Class News secretary in the change-of-address drill. I am getting excited about the prospects of new and challenging duties, although command of the 54th WRS is hard to give up. One change caused by selection—here at Andersen—more meetings!

I also noticed Golden folks on the retired roll—something that will become more routine as the years progress. Two retirees include Fred METCALF and Bob HEAVNER. Request you guys send me a short note letting us know what your plans are. Another retiree, a fellow known by many of us, but not a classmate, is Dick Lord.

I received a couple of letters extolling the grand time had by all at the 20th Reunion. Rats! Josette KIPPENHAN gave me a blow-by-blow description and Lynn FERENCY in addition to reunion news added a vivid description of her operation. Please get well soon, Lynn. Hank HOFFMAN relayed tidbits about the track team dinner with coach Arne Arneson. Ran into Hank at the Yokota MAC Command Post. I expect more reunion poop to be in this issue—have not received same—and possibly Larry THACKER will write a post script to this column. All in all, sounds like everyone certainly enjoyed themsleves. Kudos to the ’63 Reunion Committee!

Assignment and address changes follow: George (colonel selectee) PASQUET has moved up to assistant deputy commander for operations, 371TAW at Pope; Garet NENNINGER from Hawaii to DOC for the 7th Bombardment Wing at Carswell; Ron KAUTZ to Bergstrom as FIDO/OIC Comm Ops and Warren NOGAKI to the Pentagon. “NOGO” says he works at the SAF/FM office as assistant for economic analysis. Home is Burke, VA. Address changes included Bruce KOHL moving from Torrance to Rancho Palos Verdes, CA; Tad DURHAM to Bellingham, WA, and Andy CUBATY to Pittsburgh, PA.

If you read the Air Force Times, I’m sure you have seen the smiling faces of some of our classmates staring out at you from the assignment page. For example, Rufus HARRIS is deputy commander of operations for the 14tti Training Wing at Columbus AFB, MS; Sam WESTBROOK is vice commander and IG for the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath; Bryant CULBERSON is commander of the 2nd Aerial Delivery Group at Langley; and Bill HENTGES is vice commander of the 39th Tactical Group, Incirlik AB, Turkey.

When the 1984 Frontier Nepal Everest Expedition leaves for Kathmandu next October, its leader will be a ’63 graduate. A Colorado Air Guard Lt Colonel, John HEIMBURGER, will coordinate the adventure. His group is composed of four men, three women and three teenagers. They will travel halfway around the world, climb to the neck of Everest in the Khumbu Region of Nepal and return to the U.S. in less than 30 days.

HEIMBURGER expects to film the trip as the subject for a PBS documentary on “ordinary people trying the extraordinary.” Additionally, daily radio reports will be broadcast from the expedition’s camp on the mountain, via satellite, to U.S. radio stations.

Participating schools and classes will be able to follow the expedition’s progress on maps in classrooms, becoming actual participants. Any graduate wanting to learn more can contact HEIMBURGER in Denver at (303) 759-2219.

Well, that’s it for this time. By the time you read this column the holidays will have been over and more new assignments for the new colonels will be announced. So—hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday. Linda and I wish all of you a prosperous New Year. Keep the cards, letters and address changes coming.

(Editor’s note: Larry Thacker’s article on Homecoming ’83 appears elsewhere in thefront portion of the magazine along with photographs of Homecoming participants. Larry will also be the guest scribe for the ’63 Class News next issue.)

Tom Browning

1117 Moorefield Hill Court \ V

Vienna, VA 22180

Home: (703) 938-2190 W/

AV: 227-9390

wATTENTION IN THE AREA! ’64 REUNION!

Reminder send ideas, photos, WAGS, etc. to Tom KULLGREN 909 Burns Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80918. The grapevine has it that ’63 had a super reunion stand by for the Blue Tags!

We in the D.C. area had a super get-together the night prior to USAFA hammering Navy. Hal and B.J. WATSON made it up from Langley where he is chief of safety. Jim and Bonnie HINKEL also made it. Jim is now XOOIP. Nels RUNNING was able to break away from the Hill where he heads the House LL office. Bob HOVDE is in the building at RDPN. Jack COLE is another one of the high rollers at JCS/J-5. Rich BEDARF now runs AF/RDQT and was there with his wife, Regina. Jim VERSTREATE now holds forth in XOORE. Paul BELMONT heads RDXP and the R& D panel for the Air Staff.

Mike PAVICH is one of the “figuring” guys in Studies and Analysis (SAG). Paul KAMINSKI was there. For those who missed the previous article, Paul still runs RDQ-LO. Mike and Leslie ROBBINS broke away from unpacking and the OSD/ISA office where Mike has recently settled. Roger and Jane HEAD made the long trek from the other side of D.C. where Rog runs SDT at AFSC. Dick and Becky HACKFORD are here now and Dick hangs his hat in RDQA. Bob HALEY cruised through from JCS/J-3 (NWSB). J.J. DAVIS showed from RDQT. Joe REDDIN put a lot of effort into setting things up but was unfortunately unable to make it. It was a super get-together, sorry more in the area couldn’t make it.

MAIL BAG: Not too bad this month. Got a newsy letter from Bob CLARK at National War College who reported that Gaylord GREEN, Bill ClOFFl and Jim LEMON are on sabbatical at 1CAF. Dick HAWLEY is 313 AD/CV at Kadena. Lee CONNER sent a super letter with this photo of Lee and Bob WOODS at the South Pole. (Too cold for this fighter pilot.)

Lee is currently ADO for the 834th Air Division and Woody is the CV of the 60th MAW at Travis. He reports that Dave B1TTENB1NDER is now a civilian with Lockheed and Tony COVAIS is stationed at Hickam. Thanks Lee this scribe needs all the help he can get.

This rendition finds Henry STEVENS still in Valdosta but at a new address 801 Northside Drive. Bill AHERN has moved from San Francisco to 37 Lake Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611. Jerry BUTLER is returning to Edwards after spending some time in Izmir, Turkey. Welcome back, Jerry. Jim PIERCE is also back in the states in Poquoson, VA.

DoDo Fall ’83: I was about to dust off another classic but ran across this group mugshot which was better than the old stuff. For those who peruse the pic you’ll notice Fred WALKER who didn’t sign in and Ken ANDERSON who tried to but still hasn’t learned to write. (1 hear Ken has joined Nels on the Hill but on the Senate side.) Not shown but also there was more the the basketball team Rich PORTER. Rick was the only one of several contending with high school games who made it!

That’s about it for this issue guys. Thanks for the change-of-address cards and letters. Keep ’em coming. I trust you and your families have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Keep in touch. Cheers!

Scott Duncan

5620 Herberts Crossing Burke, VA 22015

Home: (703) 978-6545

AV: 225-4602

NEWS FROM THE EAR EAST: Our good friend and classmate, Pete FAZIO, is back at work pushing electronic combat for the AF/RD community. Pete underwent surgery for cancer this fall. He’s looking good and thanks all the friends and associates who wished him well during his illness. Bruce GROSSETTA sent the latest update on the Clark AB crowd. It seems Joe LeMIRE left for Korea while Steve D1NGMAN has to undergo the extreme hardship of a tour in Hawaii. (It’s a dark and dirty job, but someone .) The better half of the GROSSETTA clan, Gail, reports holding a social gathering attended by Bill and Cathy KENNEDY. Bill’s the new 3TFW/DCO. Also partying were Tony and Mary MRAS, Mike and Anne TEDESCO, Charlie and Gloria THOMAS and Bob and Barb KEMMERER. Two absent ’65ers were Dick UMBARGER and Darrell GIFFEN. (How odd to miss a party!) This may be the last communication from Clark, as Bruce and Gail are headed off to Vincenza, Italy. After many years overseas, they’ll have a hard time finding a house big enough for all their “goodies.” Thanks for the letter!

Another find in the mail was a note from Harv SHELTON bringing news from Little Rock AFB. Seems a group photo was taken and proves once again what an outstanding looking bunch we “Best Alive!” crowd really are. From left we have Joy and Joe Hardage. Joe was with us until June of 1963 when the dean gave him an opportunity to expand his horizons elsewhere. He’s now an FBI agent in Little Rock, so when in

trouble in Arkansas, give him a call. Next in line are Ginny and Ken McALEAR, Sandy and Ross ROBERTS, Millie and Harv SHELTON, Corinne and Paul WILKE, Mary and Tony MRAS, and Ann and Larry STONE. Larry nearly missed the photo as he was the photog!

As reported in the Clark saga above, Tony MRAS has left Little Rock and is now defending “Freedom’s Frontier.” He’s the 314TAW/DCM bending backs and wrenches to keep the C-130s flying. Larry and Ann STONE have moved to the Army War College. Ken McALEAR and Paul WILKE, both on the new 0-6 list, should find themselves promoted out of their jobs and on the road again. Harv SHELTON commands the Security Police Squadron at Little Rock and says that after five years, he’s ready to move but doesn’t know where or when just now. Thanks, Harv, for all the news.

Speaking of moving things, Frank McCANN and 1 were discussing his plans involving the movement of a B-52 from Peterson AFB to the north gate of the Academy. Seems it’s going to be on permanent display there. Moving something that large, with all the associated crew coordination required, is taxing the old F-4 driver to the max! But Frank will find a way to make it happen so cadets can have a close look at the “BUFF.” Wonder if that’s a good idea?

Larry McCRACKEN is on the move again. He just got here and discovered how to open the vault door at the Air Force Issues Team, when his number was called and he had to report to the second floor, “E” ring, in his new job as military assistant to the assistant secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. Larry and Karen got to see each other recently at the SAF/PA Holiday Ball at Bolling AFB. We had someone on hand, reportedly Brig Gen Dick Abel, introduce the McCRACKENs to each other. Larry’s new job is a great challenge and a wonderful opportunity. Now if only he can get home sometime.

I was out on a trip to Wright-Patterson AFB and who should sit at my table for lunch, but Jeff SILLIMAN, now the professor of aerospace studies at the University of Cincinnati. Jeff says it’s a great job, but one which at times, reminds him a little of being Art Linkletter of “Kids Say the Darndest Things!” fame. Jeff gets them all. Those with new inventions they think the Air Force should sponsor, those who want to know everything about space travel; you name it. But, as one of my commanders has said, “It keeps you from getting bored!”

NAMES IN THE NEWS: The good old mailman brought several change-of-address cards. Vic GENEZ is now at Wright-Patterson having moved from San Antonio. Bill GROSVENOR left Goldsboro, NC, for an assignment taking him to Lubbock, TX. (But cross-country skiing is a littie tough in West Texas, Bill!) Curt NELSON is still in California, but has moved south from San Jose to the high desert at Edwards AFB. Dr. Jesse OVERALL (LtCol, USAFR), a Los Angeles area resident, is now found in Dyersburg, TN. (Now if only we can find Dyersburg?) Howie ROSE moved from Omaha to Albuquerque, NM. Dennis SMITH left Wichita Falls, TX, for an assignment at scenic downtown Montgomery, AL. Jim VICK arrived in northern Virginia, making his new residence in Alexandria. Mike WHITEHORN is also among those living and working in Montgomery, AL.

That’s all for now. My thanks to the GROSSETTAs and to the SHELTONs for sending their notes in for use in the column. Every bit of news is really appreciated. See you soon!

WRITE OR CALL YOUR CLASS NEWS WRITER NOW! THEY NEED YOUR INPUT.

Today is my wife’s birthday. Mine was last week; I think that’s why I’ve reminisced. I don’t know how you do that sort of thing, but for me, the process includes thinking, looking at pictures, and listening to music. (I’ve always wished I had a copy of “Greenback Dollar” for days like this.) Thinking back, there have been good times and bad, decisions I’ve been proud of and reasons for remorse. Two of the four best things that have happened to me were total disasters at the time. There’s been one or two drastic changes in my life and some slow ones too. We each have rich experiences and I hope to weave some of those into this newsletter. Do you get pensive when you reminisce? 1 do, and though I have bright and fun things to share, 1 hope the deep peacefullness of my mood shows through too.

It was exciting to read the colonel’s selection list in the AF Times! We had classmates on both primary and below-the-zone lists. Vic ANDREWS was a squadron commander at Holloman. Stan BOYD has been the program element monitor for the F-15 in the Pentagon. Rusty GIDEON is chief of the shop working on advanced fighter concepts at HQ AFSC, Andrews AFB. Clay OLSCHNER was last reported to be squadron commander at the Interceptor Weapons School at Tyndall AFB. John VAN DUYN is in the Analysis Division of Personnel Plans in the Pentagon. I’m not sure where Butch ZENT is these days, but he’ll be wearing new rank soon. Jim HIGHAM is chief of ATC Stan/Eval. John MCFALLS should have left Cranwell by now for his job in AFCENT. AI NADAR was a C-130 maintenance squadron commander before going to school. Pat O’BRIEN has a similar recent history having left his F-15 squadron at Kadena. Both Al and Pat were in the 23rd Squadron at the Zoo and I had the pleasure of participating in their weddings (post-zoo, of course).

I hold an ancient official document 2Lt Pat O’BRIEN penned in the Torrejon Officer’s Club. He, Terry SCHMIDT and I entered into a “covenant of health” in which we agreed on 14 July ’66 that we would break off “the foul vice of cigarette smoking.” All three broke the covenant at least for a time, but 1 think we’ve experienced the “proper feeling of kinship to carry on the tradition of the Air Force and the camaraderie of the undersigned group.” Back to the colonel’s list: Paul STEIN has been legislative liaison at HQ USAF while Gary VAN VALIN has been commander of an F-4 squadron. Gary and I once jointly owned a sailboat. The first time out, we broke the rudder in a strong wind and nearly tipped the boat over. I cannot remember our wives ever joining us again. Finally, Bob WALKER made 0-6 from the office of the Secretary of Defense. Way to go guys; that is quite a step.

Dale ELLIOTT wrote from Ramstein where he has been working in USAFE/DO Fighter Requirements. His boss is Dave OAKS. Dave and Joey went from Bitburg to Ramstein back in August. He mentioned that Harry ICKE is the DO at Camp New Amsterdam. Harry recently received the Meritorious Service Medal. Good show Harry! Dale announced a gathering of ’66 grads at Ramstein on March 31, 1984. Be there or be square!

POTPOURRI: We’ve said Jeff EGGE moved to Hellenikon AB, Greece. Well, Dale says he’s the chief of Electronic Security Command there. I saw Frank KASPARIAN at the Mildenhall Officer’s Club. He is in the Reserves flying a KC-135 out of Mather, but claims he may return to active duty at Beale. It was nice to chat with Frank after all these years. I also saw Ryan DENNY jogging along a Beck Row street. He must have been TDY to England from Pope but can you believe we didn’t get together while he was here? His wife, Connie, played an important role in motivating John BUSH’s widow, Kathe, to write a letter more about that later. Paul CAPICIK is flying helicopters somewhere in USAFE. Jim TILLEY is at Edwards. Nick KEHOE is the DO of the F-15 wing at Eglin. Chuck KENNEDY has moved from England AFB to Langley.

Marty ANDRADE received a Meritorious Service Medal while stationed at Kadena AB. Congrats Marty! I saw Duane TWAY’s name on a message; he was volunteering for an ALO position with the Amry in Germany. John GROZIER saw Hugh GOMMEL at Incirlik. Hugh is special assistant to the commander of the 496th at Hahn. John also rescued his unescorted sister, Joan, from the streets of London. I hear her hubby, Jerry ALLEN, stayed behind in Nebraska while she joined the Pan Am “Clipped Wings” for a holiday.

The four Lakenheath ’66 grads got together at the “Panther Pub” for a quick picture. You’re looking at Dan CECIL, John GROZIER, J.D. THOMPSON and George FINAN. You can see two of us have admitted we need glasses. Do you know which two were in the same squadron at USAFA? The other two were at operation 3rd Lt together! Three of the fellows served at Mountain Home. One is pictured in our yearbook enjoying a pastime he still practices—pipe smoking. Can you guess who’s who?

A call to the AOG office revealed that George (Col selectee) and Sandy CANNON have welcomed, after 17 years of marriage, a 7-pound 2-ounce boy, born on December 12, and named George Edward III.

We received a letter from Kathe (BUSH). I’m including most of it here because it’s about you. “. I am presently living in Alabama going to law school at the U. of Alabama and will complete a law degree in international corporate law in two years along with my doctorate (hopefully) which I am pursuing in international politics/national security—never lose my interest with the military. Enough of all of that—now the important part.

“I wanted to share my experiences as a grad’s wife/widow because it is a story of many ‘unsung heroes.’ 1 sometimes say I feel like I have 50 Big Brothers, but I wouldn’t trade any of them. I have never heard the word “no” from any of them and have received nothing but encouragement and sincere offers of help in any and all that 1 have endeavored to do. It’s an extraordinary resource that is always there—and to your class, and those individuals—I want to say thank you, and let those words carry the actual full meaning that they should. You have provided me with an invaluable treasure

“Back to what finally provided the final nudge. On my way to D.C. this summer I met Connie Denny at an exercise class, no less. We began talking—found out we had a mutual link of being married to ’66 grads. I had attended the January MIA League of Families Conference, held in D.C., and was relating some of the things I had found out, etc., plus additional information about John. Anyway, she originally asked me to write an article. I was then asked to come and speak to the OWC at Pope AFB. They spent their year’s program budget to bring me there and it was on being an MIA wife and a widow. It was a fabulous experience—for all—a sharing of a personal story. Maybe a small way that I can repay for all that has been afforded me.

“I suppose I have rambled a bit. But I did want to share with you some thoughts, feelings, and experiences that I have had since John’s MIA status. The class of ’66 will forever have a special place in my thoughts and life and I wanted them to know that. If I can ever do anything for them—ask! God bless you all.”

My hat is off to you individuals who have helped Kathe over the years.

Well, there is more to share but I think I’ll wait for next time. I wanted to write about Bluebards and the Great Firewood Caper among other things, but time is slipping away. 1 hope your holidays were great. Don’t forget to write.

Gene and Diane LUPIA have my appreciation for their warm encouragement as well as for their newsy letter this quarter. They and their boys, Peter and Christopher, left D.C. in July for Ramstein where Gene is director of programs, HQUSAFE/DCS, ENG & SVS. Upon arrival, they were certain they saw Fred WILLIAMS go by in a VW Rabbit, but haven’t been able to locate him. Fred, please call! In fact, they request any classmate passing through to visit them.

The LUPIAs report Rich and Evonne McGILL in Maryland near D.C., where he has a successful law practice. A1 and Mary SCHMIDT are still enjoying civilian life in Austin, TX. Jim and MaryAnn BANNWART will be leaving a happy tour in Las Vegas for ICAF this summer. They also heard that their former First Squadron AOC, now General Stanton R. Musser, is a “Big Cheese” in Egypt. No doubt due to beneficial early contact with our class—right?

Speaking of Egypt, I encountered Col. Dennis STILES (’64 Cadet Wing commander, 3rd Sq. commander, Rhodes Scholar, Jolly Green & C-130 pilot, great guy, etc.) on 23 Dec. That was his last day in D.C., departing a year of training (Arabic, etc., etc.) to be air attache in Cairo. He was just as warm and down-to-earth as ever; one of the most naturally encouraging people I’ve ever met. He also invited contact from any of us; call me for the embassy address.

Other thanks go to all of you who sent Christmas cards and especially those with letters or messages in them. Arnie, Lona, Amy, Katie, and Jeremy TAN headed west last summer to Luke. Arnie is flying F-15s and is chief of stan eval. I know you’re glad to be back in the cockpit, Arnie.

Bob, Sharon, Shaula, Dawn, and Holly GROW are enjoying their second year in Germany and are traveling to England and various parts of Europe before they come back to the States in another year. Bob is enjoying his work on the Tornado with the English, Italians, and Germans.

AOG UPDATES: Barry CRANE is in CE Studies at the Pentagon. He and Cheryl have two sons, Barrett (13) and Bradford (10). Deane BURBANK has arrived at Dover, DE. Dr. Nelson DESTAFFANY has a new address in Sugarland (!), TX. Alex ARCHIBALD is the ops officer for the 90th FTS (Allied pilot training) at Sheppard AFB (residence in Burkburnett). Tom EVANS moved to APO NY 09238 from PACAF. Steve BURMAN is in Redwood City, CA. Ron WILBANKS has moved to Minot. Jim DAVIES is with AFPRO, General Dynamics, Ft. Worth. (1 wonder if he has Bill POWLEY’s old job, approving F-16s?) John OLIVE’s Olive Company (property developers) has relocated to the penthouse of the Colorado Springs Technological Center.

Hopefully, I’ll begin writing to folks again this quarter. In addition to my undelivered dissertation, we’ve been expectant parents for our house. Labor on the long-overdue unfinished half should be completed by the time you read this. Being only partially unpacked for two years has gotten pretty old. Please come visit, call, write—and please, do send photos (I’ll be glad to return them, if desired!)

Mark Torreano

Box 245

APO San Francisco 96328

Home: AV 225-5371 fi

Office: AV 225-4283

Seasons greetings, classmates and mates and young ’uns. 1 am right in the midst of trying to get my Xmas cards out, so will make this as brief as possible. I have already received some cards (Denny FLYNN, Frank MARTIN, Bob LUSHBAUGH, and Bob PETERSON). Frank says that I missed his name and Paul TAlBL’s on the last Lt Col BTZ list, so belated congrats to oth! Bob PETERSON writes that he is an attorney with Newport News Shipbuilding, where he is in charge of all legal matters for the Navy’s next three nuclear carriers ($7 billion total price tag). That’s a lot of cash and responsibility, Bob. Keep a sharp eye on the books.

Speaking of BTZ promotions, well deserved kudos to Ed EBERHART who is the first ’68er selected for full bull. Better slow down, Ed, you’ll go broke buying shoulder boards for the new mess dress! And for us normal people who were considered for Lt Col in Nov, 1 hope the results brought good news to us all in the new year.

Events of note locally include the recent MSM ceremony for Bill THURSTON for his work at KI Sawyer. While there, Bill led his B-52 crew on a 43-hour, nonstop, around-the-world flight and won the 1980 Mackay trophy for the most meritorious flight of the year. Bill told me that he saw Gary HALL suffering in Hawaii recently, where he is ops officer for the SAC tanker outfit, and that Phil P1GNATARO is ops officer for the tanker unit at KI sawyer. Phil took a three-year break in service, but is now back in blue. 1 just learned that John GONDA will be coming to the 5AF staff as chief of Current Ops in Feb ’84.

I have seen a lot of classmates passing thru Yokota recently. Charlie HOLLAND was in from Clark, where he commands the C-130 sqdn, and Dale ODERMAN who is director of Ops Support at 13AF at Clark came by my office for a short visit. Another visitor was Brooke BAILEY, who flew in on his C-141 from Travis, where he commands the 86 MAS. He says D.J. MROSLA, Jack ROBERTS, and Chuck JONES are at Travis. 1 ran into Bobby FLOYD at the O’Club one night; he is cdr of the C-141 training sqdn at Altus. Another night at the club I found Dave MULKEY playing pool, in from Norton in his C-141. Then about 10 minutes later a guy walks up to me and asks, “Aren’t you .!” and I said “Yeh, Mike (KRAFFA).” Mike and 1 were dools together in Tuff Two and Dave was in Friendly First, so we had a good time reliving BCT and the ZI field trip. Mike had left the AF for a while, but reupped and now flys C-5s out of Travis.

Tim Gosnell, Class of ’92?

LETTERS: Paul and Val GOSNELL’s offspring Tim is pictured here in Paul’s parade uniform. At 13 years old and 5' 10", Tim makes pretty decent looking cadet material. The GOSNELLs are at Randolph AFB where Paul makes UPT assignments, enjoying the work and the “great hours.” Also at MCP is Jerry WYNGAARD, who is in “Analysis.” (?) Jerry, hope the treatment is successful. Let us know, OK? Thanks for the news, Val.

P.C. Burnett with his family at Edwards AFB, CA. From left are P.C., Pauli, Daniel, Kristine and Shari.

Received a note from Dick EWERS and an invite to a change-ofcommand ceremony on 19 Dec when Dick took command of the Marine fighter attack sqdn (VMFA) 122, which flys F-4Ss at MCAS Beaufort, SC. Lt Col Dick says the USMC has “been very good’’ to him and he looks forward to seeing a few classmates when he leads his NATO augmentation sqdn on a deployment to Bodo, Norway, in March ’84, to participate in “Teamwork 84.” Dick, we are all really proud of our Jarhead and wish you the best, but how about a (nonregulation) smile next time? Great Marine glare, though.

department of a company that produces acetylene gas generators and purification hardware. His company apparently controls about 75 percent of the market in this country and is also involved in international sales. According to Cliff, Ron CALLEN is in Tallahassee, FL, working for Datamaxx, a software company. As I believe 1 reported in this column, Ron graduated from law school several years ago. We have not confirmed whether or not Ron is running the legal staff at Datamaxx or is involved in some other aspect of the business. Maybe Ron will drop me a note to let me know what he is up to as well as any of our other classmates.

Cliff also mentioned that Greg WALTS is the general manager of Riverport Industries, Inc. He and Wanda have two children.

From the change-of-address cards, I note that Nick WALSH is now an assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center. Ron BROWN reports that he is working in the Directorate of Security Assistance at HQ PACAF in Hawaii. John RICHARDS is in Glendale, AZ. Craig GOLART is in Lompoc, CA. Carl KEIL is in Los Angeles at LA AFS. Rick SCHWARZE is at San Francisco International Airport with United Airlines. T.J. DOHERTY is in Dumfries, VA. Charlie WE1NERT is in Fort Worth, TX. Robin HANSON is in Englewood, CO, and my roommate of many semesters, Jim MCBRIDE, is at Andrews Air Force Base.

Dick “The Great Santini” Ewers!

Got a notice that A1 KOLBE is now a VP with Charles River Associates in Boston. A1 does work in regulatory, financial, energy and transportation economics, as well as applied microeconomics and investment evaluation. He is the principal author of an MIT Press book on cost of capital estimation. And I’m struggling to balance my checkbook! Al, how about a paragraph for next column on how we can buy surplus motorcycles for fun and profit, for those of us who remember? Glad to see you’ve gone on to bigger things.

Mike FREEBORN writes that his Freeborn & Peters Chicago law firm is expanding and he and Nancie live in Arlington Heights with the four boys, ages six to eleven. Mike says he has recently talked to Carl JANSSEN on the phone and that Gene ROSE and wife stopped recently to visit.

Happy New Year to everyone from the Torreanos!

Michael R. Thiessen

Brown & Thiessen, P.C.

Suite 2121, City Center Square

Kansas City, MO 64105

Home: (913) 642-7692

Office: (816) 474-4114

From Kunsan AFB, Scott SONNENBERG reports that both he and Paul GALLI are alive and cold. Paul is chief of the Weather Detachment at Kunsan as well as being the Senior MAC Representative. Paul left MeChord for Kunsan but hopes to return to C-141s at McChord. The GALLls have added a new baby boy, David, to their family.

Scott is flying the F-16 “Fighting Falcon” and looking forward to leaving Kunsan in February for Misawa AB where he will be the operations man on the F-16 bed-down team. Scott reports that once Jane has consumed enough anti-freeze to make it through three Japanese winters, she and Scott (12) and Sheryl (10) will join him. Scott also sent a message to the rest of ’69: “. .tell the rest of the slugs in our class that people do care about where they are and what they’re doing.” The slugs have just been told, Scott.

On that point I have taken steps to attempt to goad our classmates into action. Some of you will be receiving at random a letter from me with a card to fill out and return to me with current information. Please take a few moments and jot down any current news you might have about any one in our class and return the card to me. In this way, perhaps the ’69 column will contain more topical information about our classmates.

Back to all the news that is fit to print. Cliff PARSONS has moved recently but is still in the Dayton, OH, area. He is now living in the suburb of Trotwood. Cliff has extended a sincere invitation to all members of our class to give him a call when they’re in Dayton so that he can get together with you. Cliff has become manager of the engineering

To add a little text to this column, 1 will bring you up to date on the Thiessen family. Being originally from Nebraska, my two boys have gone Rozier crazy. Although they were excited about the AFA football team this year, the Cornhuskers’ performance attracted most of their attention. As a liaison officer involved in the Area Athletic Coordinator job, it was very satisfying for me to see the Falcons do so well this year with such a good group of young men. We all can be proud of the team not just for the record that it achieved, but for the manner in which they achieved it. Back to my family: Nancy is the director of admissions and financial aid at The Barstow school in Kansas City. I spend most of my free time bird hunting in the fall and winter and coaching various boys and girls soccer and basketball teams year round. Nancy has continued her singing in various choirs and local groups. Let me hear from some of you so that you won’t have to listen to repeat stories about my family in the future.

Michael L. Rose

1011 Venus Drive

Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Home: (303) 634-3050

Office: (303) 576-6314

Viw

Belated Christmas and New Year greetings! 1 am sure that everyone made it through the holiday season in one piece. As for myself, between the holidays and a hernia operation, I didn’t manage to accomplish much during December except for putting this class news column together.

Pete and Debi FOX sent a card with a super picture of daughter Leigh Alyson. Pete finished his three-year staff tour at TAC HQ and is now chief of plans, flying F-16s at Kunan. In July 1984, they will be heading for MacDill AFB, FL. Thanks for the timely info, Debi!

Congratulations to Drew BECKLEY for being named manager of inventory control for the Grocery Products Division of McCormick & Company, Inc. McCormick is the Baltimore-based international producer of seasonings, flavorings, and specialty foods. Drew has been with the company since 1979 and the BECKLEYs currently reside in the Roland Park section of Baltimore City.

Due to lack of correspondence this time around, the remainder of the column will be devoted to relocation news: Denny ADAMS from Casper, WY, to Citrus Heights, CA; Charles BONNER from Luke AFB to APO SF 96264; George HAMILL to assistant director of Information Management Systems at Tyndall AFB, FL; Mike KELLER from APO NY 09012 to Lubbock, TX; Tom DISTELHORST and Bob MARSHALL to Norfolk, VA; Jack NORMAN from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, to Middletown, NJ; Wade PATON to chief of flight safety, 401 TFW, Torrejon AB, Spain; David John REDMAN from Colo. Spgs., CO to Fort Collins; Randy ROYCE from APO NY 09021 to Fairfax VA; and Harold STECK from Edwards AFB, CA to Montgomery, AL.

BEST OF LUCK TO ALL IN 1984!

DON’T MISS A MAGAZINE.

KEEP YOUR ADDRESS UP TO DATE.

Ralph Getchell

Quarters 4506 C, USAF Academy

Colorado Springs, CO 80840

Home: (303) 472-6958

AV: 259-4548

I love this time of year (Christmas): snow on the flat iron, wind whipping through the quads, cadets pulling all-nighters in preparation for finals, fighting the elements at every turn. I like to think all that improved our collective characters, but I’m not too sure.

Speaking of characters, I’d like to thank Steve DEHAVEN for writing the last column. For the record, we’d like to apologize to the OB-GYN clinic at the hospital for using their phone number in place of Steve’s. Seems their phone really rang off the hook for a few days. Remember the CQ days when we used to leave messages from Major Berr or Captain Lyon at a number which turned out to be the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo?

THANKS TO MA BELL. I’ve received a few phone calls from classmates far and wide. Lance MILLER (Trish) called from Phoenix. A computer whiz from way back, he’s still doing magic things with electrons for Honeywell. Paul MACKAY, who occasionally leaves his airline cockpit to keep current in a Reserve KC-135 called me for some details about the Independence Bowl. He passed on that Rick BARTON is flying for American, Rick MILLER is working for Merrill, Lynch, etc. in Chicago, Dick REYNOLDS is at Edwards in the B-l Program, and Larry AUTREY is currently attending Armed Forces Staff College. Dan DEDONA, whose been a stranger to Checkpoints all these years, is at the Pentagon in Manpower.

BUSINESS CARD OF THE MONTH: For the month of September, actually, goes to Neil MILLER who is running a chain of “Corn Popper” franchises in Texas and now in C-Springs. Neil has teamed up with Chuck BROCKWAY in this entrepenurial adventure featuring “32 flavors of the best popcorn you have ever tasted.” Guess those airline guys had more time on their hands than I thought!

IN SEARCH OF: In a rare TDY, I had the chance to take a few French exchange cadets to Hill AFB last month for F-16 orientation rides. Recalling my survival training as well as the foraging habits of my intended prey, 1 staked out a bar stool in the O’Club and waited. The first day’s hunt was unsuccessful. However, on the second day, my patience was rewarded with the appearance of that rarest of species, Gradus Bachelori, in the person of Scott MACKENZIE. Stalking skills were not required, since Scott, effectively distracted by an outstanding specimen of the species, Thing, Sweet Young, was oblivious to my approach and easy game for an unobserved shot. An F-16 pilot, he paused long enough to share lies over a drink before pressing on with his own hunt. And so life goes on. in the Wild Kingdom.

SWIFT RETORT: Lou SIMKIN’s comment about Turkey in the last column was quickly answered by Mark SUCHER who recently moved to Ankara to be the assistant SJA. Mark says that all the bad press about Turkey is unwarranted but claims that Ataturk Blvd at rush hour makes Academy Blvd seem like a country road.

A BAND OF GYPSIES: This batch of address cards includes Steve GREENWELL who is apparently pursuing a career in Army medicine at Ft. Devens, MA; Rich WIRTH at ACSC; Ron HILL to Ft. Collins, CO; Randy LEAVITT to a new house in Puerto Rico; Bob DORWART to Rockville, MD; Hank LAUGHLIN to Torrance, CA; and Lynn KERN to Tacoma, WA. The “Who’d have believed it” award this time goes to Doll Baby vet Gary KALEN, who now resides in Temperence, MI.

I’M OUT SILVER BULLETS, KEMOSABE, so that’s all for now. Call, if you get the chance, and don’t forget to add a note to your next change-of-address card.

T.J. Mancuso

480 South Kingston Circle Aurora, CO 80012

Home: (303) 343-4231

Work: (303) 861-7000

Here’s a clipping from the Denver newspaper I thought you might find interesting: “Five Air Force Academy cadets face penalty after soliciting a policewoman they thought was a prostitute.” C’mon fellas. The uniform and the badge should have been a hint. Or maybe the car with all the lights on it. When asked about probable punishment, an Academy

spokesman said, “They will probably receive demerits.” And to think it used to be “6 and 120” for wearing civilian clothes.

Pat ROONEY called a while back while stopping through. Pat flies for a Texas real-estate tycoon who has a little place up in Aspen for when the mood strikes him. Pat ran into Fred HARBURG in Aspen. Fred has a management consulting office in the Springs. Pat says Kevin PATTY is furloughed from American but is still a Citation instructor. Dave STUBBS and Steve BARRY are both flying for utility companies—Dave out of Denver and Steve out of the Pacific Northwest. A little-known fact about Craig MARTIN is that he was a Texas A & M ROTC-type until becoming a “real cadet,” and he’s back in Aggie-level flying for the school part time.

From the mail bag, Gary PAYTON punctuated my Thanksgiving blizzard-blues with a letter from some place called Mililani, Hawaii. Gary is now home at the Intelligence Center Pacific at Camp Smith, and Mrs.-Dr. Clayton-Payton is a part-time hyphenated physician at a Honolulu emergency room. He’s in Hawaii after ACSC at Maxwell. Others in lovely Alabama included Jim and Diane JAEGER, who have moved to Sembach AB, Germany. Mark SCHMIDT is close to the heat as an F-15 IP for Saudi Arabian F-15 pilot upgrade. Ed LA FONTAINE will be found in legislative liaison at Air Staff. Mike DUNN is at Air Staff as an 0-5 (which means he’s probably the first guy in our class to buy a new wheel-cap since graduation).

In addition to our ACSC students, Gary notes that Chip JENSEN is a staff officer at AU HQ; Jeff CAMERON is at Gunter in computers; Jim PUTNAM is an SOS faculty; and Mike MC DONALD is an instructor at JAG school. Lew HENDERSON has been going to football games at the University of Texas, and picked up an MS in EE before heading to the National Security Agency at Ft. Meade.

Gary noted that the only place where he never took photos during his Air Force career was his first “Pacific island” assignment—Shemya AFB, AK. Well’ I’ve got a bunch of photos, because sometimes I forget a place like that really exists.

Of course, I have no way of knowing how to compare Shemya with Lubumbashi, Zaire, where Pat MOON served as a foreign officer with the State Department. He’s now stateside as a political-military officer in the NATO office of the European Bureau in Foggy Bottom.

Jim FINNEGAN dropped a note indicating he’s now with the space shuttle program at Vandenberg. A news release from Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. in Allentown, PA, puts Tom CARRIGAN in the position of “college relations representative.” That’s impressive for a guy who didn’t even go to “college.”

The other big news comes from change-of-address cards. The AOG sent me a change-of-address card from me, so I’ve noted that at the top of this column. I told the AOG I’d like very much to improve this column, and the AOG keeps telling me they, also, would like me to do the same. Others moving or moved are George NIELD, to Houston; Jim DONLEY to APO NY 09283 (you guys should really give those changes in “real world” terms); Paul NIELSON to Torrance, CA; Mark SANDERS to Alamogordo, NM; Tom CRAWFORD to Beaver Creek, OH; Ed RANSFORD to Ft. Richardson, AK; Bill COTTINGHAM to Kunsan AB, Korea; Charles MC CORMACK to Huntington Beach, CA; and Jeff HILL to Nine Mile Falls, WA.

Chuck and Shelly WINTER dropped us a Christmas card from their new home in Barrington, IL, where Chuck is successfully big-dealing it with Auto-Trol computers.

On the home front, Mark OINESS and I traded phone calls, but neither one of us was in the office, and I called Jay CAMALICK this evening, but 1 only got to talk to his tape recorder (which isn’t significantly less intelligible than talking to Jay sometimes).

Doug and Robin HILL are still living in Aurora while Doug flies celebrities to New York out of LAX. Whenever he goes to California, he knows that a restful evening the night before flying is critical, so he makes a point of staying with Denny GREEN and Dave BULL in Los Angeles, since their special brand of restful life-style is particularly appropriate.

We also had a chance to get up to Steve O’NEILL’s beautiful mountain home in Conifer, CO. We hope to see Steve again after the snow melts.

Bill KASSON called a few nights ago looking for Chuck WINTER’S new address. He’s in the space black-magic business in Los Angeles. Bee and Leslie CANNISTRACI dropped a Christmas card from Dyess AFB, TX. Leslie resigned her Navy commission for an Air Force shade of blue, and Biagio is a C-130 MX officer. (He claims that’s two consecutive career-broadening assignments.)

1 particularly appreciated a letter from Vickie JONES. Vickie has moved to Tucson, AZ, since Pete’s death in an F-16 crash a year ago, and is back in college.

Wade Kearns

Quarters 6408D

USAF Academy, CO 80840

Home: (303) 472-0640

AV: 259-3389

All you ’73 guys are probably thinking, here comes another one of Kearns’ cute letters about “Colorful Colorado” and the gleaming “Blue U.” He makes it all sound like one of those dreamy National Geographic articles that make you want to hop the next plane to Oman or the South Pole. The truth is it’s not all a bed of roses here. Remember all that snow and the winds you had to lean into? Well, at least as a cadet one could wear the watch cap and parka. Now my ears just have to risk frostbite. (Will the USAFA parka take its place in history like brown shoes? 1 hear the female cadets don’t like what a watchcap and parka does to hair and would prefer earmuffs.) And remember, we just had to wade through the snow to class. Now I have to shovel out the waist-high drift in my driveway to get to work. On top of that the “diggers and fillers” are now mechanized and promptly scrape all the snow off the terrazzo, leaving of course only the sheet of ice to negotiate. 1 can’t even predict Falcon Football anymore: no more run, run, pass, punt.

As you might expect, my envy grew as I heard all the stores at Homecoming ’83 from classmates out in the Real Air Force (and Real Civilian Force). It’s hard to describe the real joy and excitement apparent at the festivities. All 10 years collapsed together. I received some good newsletter inputs from the reunion. I’ll begin with a fine entry from B. J. STANTON.

ALLSTARS. The ’73 members of 38th Squadron came back in full force for Homecoming ’83. With 12 Allstars plus spouses showing up, we were able to update the whereabouts of almost everyone! Paul BRENNER is working as an engineer in Grand Junction, CO, when he isn’t in the mountains hunting! Luke and Pattie COKER are now in the northern suburbs of Denver; he works for Avco Finance. Bill HEELY (Ann) couldn’t make the reunion, but he called from Victorville, CA, and let us know that he had just been reassigned from Europe to George AFB.

John HEGNER is having a great time building Chase Manhatten’s computer systems from the ground up. He along with wife Cyndi and son Jason now live in West New York, NJ. Ken and Karen HENRY are still at Offutt AFB and making significant contributions there. A1 and Lauri HOOVER along with their four sons are now in southern France. He is attending the French Test Pilot School and enjoying every minute! He started flying the Alpha Jet in October. Bruce JOHNSTON (Clancy) is doing ROTC duty in Lafayette, IN. Mike and Debbie KOERNER were able to break away from their busy schedule in D.C. to join in on Homecoming. He is now working weapons and tactics stuff at the Pentagon. Keep your head on straight, Mike!

John and Alison McMURRAY are in Fort Walton Beach, FL, with their two boys, Ed and Connor. He is flying the F-15. He couldn’t make the reunion because he was tied up in a flying exercise in Canada. It’s a dirty, greasy job, but someone has to do it. Larry and Sally MORRISON now live in Huntington Beach, CA, along with their three girls. He works as a financial analyst for an oil company. Randy and Jill ODELL are in Merced, CA. He is working as a civil engineer. They have two children, Tiffany and Michael. 2Lt Steve and Diane POPPER are in Des Moines, IA. He is grinding it out in medical school. Hang in there, Steve!

Rick RALPH is currently in Wichita, KS. He was with the airlines, but things are a little lean in that area right now. Bruce and Suzanne SLAWTER are currently in Moscow, USSR! He is working in the embassy, but as you can imagine, we haven’t heard much beyond that. B.J. and Donna STANTON are currently assigned to the Academy. He is teaching EE, flying T-41s, and participating with 33rd Cadet Squadron. They had an exceptional time during Homecoming hosting everyone else that came in.

Grover and Claire STEIN are in Doylestown, PA. By the time this is published, they should have a new addition to their family. He is still flying for Eastern. Mike and Sue TREMONTE recently relocated from the Pacific West Coast to Connecticut. He is still with Mobil Oil, and they doubled their “kid count” a few months ago with the arrival of their twins, Jonathan and Matthew. Jim and Kathy VITELLI are doing very well, He recently went PCS to the Pentagon where his is now working Fraud, Waste, and Abuse. Go for it! Scott WILSON (Debbie) should be finished with his F-15 upgrade at Luke. His unit in Washington is in the process of converting from F-106s. It was a long road to the Eagle Jet, but Scottie was a perfect example of not giving up!

Somehow, with all the bustle, I failed to mention Jim SCULLY in my last letter. Jim arrived this summer, worked BCT with me and became

CS-28 AOC this fall when I moved to my staff job in the “Skunk Works.” Here’s a note from Jim:

Cari and 1 moved to USAFA in June and have taken over the reins of CS-28. W'e love the area and the job. Our kids, Angel and Shana, love it here, too. Cari just had surgery but is recovering well. At the reunion, we saw some familiar faces from REBELEVEN. Jim YANIGLOS is working as a civilian in Wisconsin, but hopes to find a job soon in Denver or the Springs. Dan O’HOLLERAN is flying for the Oregon Guard (RF-4C) and working for Boeing in Portland. Ernie MARAVILLA is in Albuquerque enjoying civilian life and working on a lot of AF contracts. Mike ROBERTS and Grant GILLIG live in Denver and have started their own company making and using ultrasound equipment for animals. Bruce BENNETT was a navigator and is now a C-141 pilot at Norton AFB, CA.

HOMECOMING ROUND-UP. Sherry and I hosted the small but fun reunion of STALAG (Civi) 17. Bill RITTER, Boyd LEASE, and Rich (Birdman) WAGAMAN showed up. Bill is still at Shaw and proud of his cute daughter. Rich is now a C-141 AC and Command Post weenie at Norton. His wife, Chris, keeps the women’s rights movement aflame and they both care for the “Birdman clone,” son Michael. Boyd is at MAC HQ, proving one can do well despite belonging to the Century Club as a cadet (now referred to as the Commandant’s Drill Team).

Others 1 bumped into include Steve LORENZ now at the Pentagon; Jack MCCALMONT, who is getting out, marrying a charming career woman (Eleanor), and going to a ritzy business school in Philadelphia; Mic TRAMONTANA, working as a captain already for PEOPLEXPRESS; Don GAYLOR, an FE with EASTERN out of D.C.; Noel JOHNSON, previous helo driver now CT-39 pilot at Offutt AFB, NE; and Bart BARTON who just wanted his name mentioned because he wanted to see it once in Checkpoints, that’s all.

A “name withheld by request’’ ’73 grad chops his way through the Homecoming ’83 golf tournament.

LOVE BOAT SEAGRAM SEVEN STYLE. Dennis RENSEL sent a nice thank you to all classmates who worked on Homecoming ’83. He also sent pictures! (Thanks, Dennis, I almost had to use my RECONDO class graduation shot.) One shows an unidentified, stalwart classmate trying to hit his golfball out of a clump of brush during the Homecoming Golf Tournament. The following excerpt from his letters explains the CS-07 group picture:

We in Seven got together last spring for a Carribean cruise. Joe and Debbie KAHOE started working on it the Summer of ’82. Joe contacted everyone from Seven, and he made all the arrangements through a travel agent. We set sail from Miami to St. Thomas, then to Nassau and back to Miami on the Norwegian Carribean Lines’ cruiser SS Norway. Those who went on this cruise were: Steve and Jan EVANS, Ed and Debbie WHITT, Mark and Bonnie COFFMAN, Dick and Connie ULMER, Tom and Debbie GRAYSON, Ted MUNSCH, Ron and Judy FARIS, Jimmie and Denis AMOS, Jim and Jeanne ALMEIDA, Mike (Kid) DAVENPORT, George and Susan DORIS, Greg and Shirley CHAPMAN, and Dennis RENSEL. We in Seven extend our thanks to Joe and Debbie for bringing us together.

CHRISTMAS CARDS. A few efficient people already have cards out. Chelin and Dale GADE write from Panama. Dale is in the CP at Howard AB, CZ, and Chelin is happy to have sons Lewis and Dale near her family. Jan and Craig CLEVELAND write from Odessa, TX. Craig is still happy with DELTA and they both are proud of 20-month-old daughter, Paige (a Cleveland for sure!). We got a surprise card from Mari and Steve GULASEY. Steve’s been working for Martin Marietta at Vandenberg AFB, CA, on the MX missile no less. The company will move them back to Denver soon. Take note! The smooth, man-about-town is now the

proud father of two children, Cory Ann and Stephen. The last card before the deadline was from Father (Col) Roman Kaiser. For those of you who remember him or perhaps were married by him in a June wedding, he is now at Norton on the Chaplains’ 1G Team.

MAILBOX. Here’s the latest changes of address to roll into the AOG office: Tom SWERTFAGER, Las Vegas, NV; Bernie SULLENGERGER, San Mateo, CA; Nortie SCHWARTZ, Norfolk, VA; Kevin NEHR1NG, Goldsboro, NC: Scott SIMPSON, Tulsa, OK; Andy PERONA, Luke AFB, AZ; Tom KENNEDY, Ramstein AB, FRG, as a CT-39 jock and general’s aide; Tom GRAYSON, Downers Grove, IL; John PERBERTON, Little Rock AFB, AR; Dave ROODHOUSE (Carol), Tucson, AZ; Dale WR1STLEY, San Diego, CA; Mike BLOHM, Las Vegas, NV; Kirk LILLY, Hurst, TX; Major Joe SOVEY, Bedford, MA; Monnie GORE, Stone Mountain, GA; Phil YAVORSKY, Henderson, NV as commander, Det 9, HQ AWS; and Bob HOOTEN, Beirut, Lebanon with a peacekeeping unit.

John PILCHER called for help locating an old friend. John is a “Mr.” in Wichita, KS, working for Boeing as an engineer. He says he’s off the beaten path, but he enjoys life with wife Pat and two daughters. We located his CS-09 pal, James CROPPER, in Washington, D.C., in the Air Force computer works. He’s moving to the 1 MAW at Andrews AFB, MD, soon.

HOMECOMING SOUVENIRS.

T-SHIRTS: Because of the popularity of the Class of ’73 T-Shirts at Homecoming, we were not able to provide T-shirts to all of those who ordered them. To make up the difference we are going to order a new batch and will take additional orders for those that want more or didn’t get a chance to order originally. If you would like to order a T-shirt, send $6 for each adult size and $5 for each child size, plus $1 for handling to the address below. Please specify sizes! All orders must be received by 30 Mar ’84.

WINE GLASSES: We have plenty of the etched Class of 73 Wine Glasses left. These make great gift items (for parents especially). They are only $5 separately or $32 for a set of eight. Enclose $1 for handling with each order and send to the address below.

WINDOW DECALS: The “USAFA ’73” decals with the class crest were the hottest selling item at Homecoming. Send $.75 for each decal and a stamped, self-addressed business envelope to the following address: Class of 1973 Homecoming Souvenirs Association of Graduates USAF Academy Colorado Springs, CO 80840

OK, CLASSMATES, keep the news coming in! By the time you read this, I’ll be gathering material for the next issue. If thdre is an interesting enclave of ’73 Grads out there somewhere that wants a little publicity, send a story and picture. Until next time, you can depend on me to keep the Paper Arm of our defense formidable here in the Rockies.

Pat Lynch

4049 Forest Ridge Blvd.

Dayton, OH 45424

Home: (513) 233-5426

AV: 785-6289

fM

(Editor’s note: Pat called in to the AOG office and told us he was in the midst of moving, TDYs, and other problems which did not allow him to get his column in on time. He asked that you drop him a line and even though he is moving, his mail will be forwarded to a current address.)

Joe Stein

820 War Eagle Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80919

Home: (303) 594-6201

AV: 259-4552

As of this writing, Christmas has just passed by here in the arctic midwest. And I thought I left the sub-zero temperatures behind me in northern Maine—wrongo, moosebreath! Well, in spite of the cold, it’s been a very busy and happy time of year. And best of all, Santa brought me a very timely present—a pack of letters to share with you.

GRENADA GRUNTS: Probably the most intersting news of all came from Dave and Sandy BEATTY. ’75 must have won the top Air Force award for combat action in Grenada. Steve GROATHOUSE jumped (combat, parachute type) into action with the Rangers on the initial assault. He was soon followed by Bob AWTREY who landed on the first C-141 as an ALO for the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne, and Billy “Wad” STEPHAN, an ALO for the 3rd Brigade. Unfortunately, two days after his arrival, Bob had to head home with Purple Heart in hand; however, he was replaced by Dave BEATTY. Dave says AK-47 rounds make a peculiar sound, somewhat (but not quite) reminiscent of the notes in Jingle Bells. Thankfully, it appears that our combat veterans were suecessful and we didn’t lose anyone.

Jeff and Debby HACKETT also took time to write and fill us in on the happenings in sunny Tempe. Jeff spends most of his time working as a program engineer for Garrett. His main project is the ADATS missile program, a surface-to-air type, which raised a few questions in my mind about his loyalty to those of us still slipping the surly bonds. However, my fears were allayed when 1 learned he still keeps his Air Force ties as a USAFA/ROTC liaison officer (Reserves). The two women in Jeff’s life also appear to be doing quite well. His wife, Debby, is climbing up the corporate ladder at Bullock’s, an exclusive department store in Scottsdale; and their 4 Zi -year-old daughter, Tiffany, sounds so adorable she must have mom and dad wrapped around her little finger by now. To close things out, Jeff passed on some late-breaking news about a few other folks spread around the globe. Chuck HOLLAND is now married (Kimberly) and stationed in Germany as an exec to a SAC general (7th Air Division CC, 1 think). Brian and Sandy GOMES are still at Mather (T-43s) and they are expecting a visit from the stork very soon. Wayne WILLIS also has a bambino on the way this spring (his fourth). He’s passing away the time until then flying ADTAC F-15s at Langley. Rich and Mary CHAN1CK continue to astound the business world with their successful Phoenix corporation. And finally, Kent and Carol TRAYLOR will be coming back to the States this spring after three years in Okinawa (F-15s).

Our long distance news comes from Jim and Naomi MARSHALL. They’re still living the good life in an old-world, thatched cottage in England. Jim’s flying commitments occasionally force him to go TDY to many unpleasant locations such as Italy, Germany, and Oslo, Norway (where he tried his best to avoid the nude beaches riiiiight!). However, Jim and Naomi still found time to increase the size of their family. Their most recent arrival, Colin Patrick, is now four months old and is vying with their daughter, Sarah (I'A), for the most lovable child award in the Marshall household. The photo I’ve included below will probably embarrass them, but why not. HOMECOMING

The Seagram Seven crowd enjoying their Carribean cruise. From left, Steve Evans, Dennis Rensel, Ed Whitt, Jimmie Amos, Jim Almeida, Mark Coffman, Mike Davenport, Dick Ulmer, George Doris, Glenn Johnson, Tom Grayson, Joe Kahoe, Greg Chapman, Ted Munsch, and Ron Earis.

Jim and Naomi also sent words on a few more of our number. Ron and Susie DOEPPNER are living in Mesa, AZ, and have two daughters, Kelly and Sarah. Tom and Linda SMURA are masquerading as civilians in Webster, NJ, and apparently enjoying it they now have five little ones running about. Lamar and Donna LEWIS and their three sons, Scott, Kyle, and Daniel, are calling Altus home now. And Chris and Barb FILLAR, together with their kids, Jeffrey and Amy, are enjoying New Jersey life at McGuire.

LIVE APPEARANCES: Every now and then it’s nice to actually see some of the old USAFA crowd. Well, 1 suppose I finally got my fair share of in-person visits during the past few months. 1 bribed Jed VANDENDRIES into coming up and amazing the cadets in my squadron with tales of the world’s greatest F-15 pilot. Since that also happened to be the last home football weekend at USAFA, we decided to take a break from our hard work and watch the Falcons demolish Hawaii. Little did we realize that halftime was to bring us not only another stellar performance by the Cadet Drum and Bugle Corps, but also a visit from that arch-fiend found in all football stadiums the clutz who trips and falls flat across you while trying to get back to his seat. Just as I was making a solemn oath to never, ever watch another Chevy Chase movie, I looked up and got the surprise of the day. The stadium tumbler was none other than always well coordinated (?) Mike “Fig” MCCLENDON. Mike had come back on a sponsor trip to another one of the squadrons in the wing. To bring you up to date on him, he and Adrienne are stationed at Eglin, and Mike is an RF-4/A-10 test pilot. My visitor list was filled out when Bentley and Debbie RAYBURN were able to stop by for an evening. They are still stationed at Hill and claimed to be visiting their mountain hideway here in Colorado. But you and I know better they were embarrassed into coming by that earth-shaking news 1 released in the last edition. Seriously, they really looked great, and I’m convinced they haven’t aged a single day since graduation.

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO We struck gold in this department over the past few months, zot only did we learn the whereabouts of several lost (not any more) sheep, but some of them even wrote personally. Mike and Ann GILL fall into that category. They’re at Nellis now with the 4450th TFG. While there (about a year now) they’ve run into several people. Carol and Billy THOMPSON have joined them at Nellis. They have two children, Lance and Lindsey, and Billy is flying the F-16. The GILLs’ other contacts include John WISSMAN at Mather, and Bruce FR1TZSCHE who’s due for a Red Flag visit soon. Bruce is now Hying the F-106 at Minot.

Bob MIGLIN also ended his exile and brought us up to date. He spent 4/2 years in F-l 1 lEs at RAF Upper Heyford with the NATO Tigers of the 79th TFS before returning a little over a year ago to join the AFIT crowd. Just aftei that he had someone join him when he was married to Susie, a gal whom I’m sure is too good for him. Bob came up with a unique way of making sure he remembers his anniversary they got married on New Year’s Day, ’83. They should be leaving Wright-Pat this March and the current betting line says they’ll wind up at Eglin. Bob also located another “What Ever Happened To” star. Steve TIBBITTS graduated from Tulane and is now Dr. TIBBITTS. He married Mrs. Dr. Capt. TIBBITTS a few years back and the happy couple is now stationed somewhere in Texas. Well, partially located is better than completely lost. Maybe we’ll get more clues in the next few months.

The final letter is this area came from Terri MEYER JACKSON, an ’80 grad at Seymour Johnson. She located Marinus BOSMA (or ABDUL

BEN BOSMA, as he’s now called) and I’m extremely grateful to her. It seems Bos’ just left the 336TFS at Shady J for a go at civilian life. He’s alive, well, married with two kids, and is now Hying A-7s for the Ohio ANG.

Since we’ve located a few folks, I’ll add a couple new names to the list. I’ve had a request from the field to locate Dale HANNER, Chris SOTO, Joe SINISCALCHI, and Duke DUHACHEK. Send out the bloodhounds!

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: The winter season brought a whole stack of change-of-address cards, confirming that our class is being spread more and more to the four corners of the globe. Since I’ve taken up so much space already, I’ll hold it down in this area. Those listing locations only are: A1 GREEN to Holloman, John and Rebecca OWENS to Olympia, WA; Dave DEFOLIART to Champaign, IL; Mark JEFFERSON to Yorktown, VA; Tom SUMMERS to Wayne, PA; Martin STYTZ and Mike REESE here to the Springs; Bill DAVIS to Phoenix, and Walter BURNS to Alconbury. Those sending a little extra information: Jim MARBURGER is now a student at the University of Texas Law School in Austin; Steve PITOTTI is an A-10/F-4E test pilot at Niceville Air Patch; Joe BENNER is an aircraft maintenance officer at Fairchild; John FOUTS just arrived at Shaw and is Hying the 0-2; and Jeff GRAVES is working for FAA as an air traffic controller in Columbus, OH. Finally, our “Welcome Back to Civilization” award goes to Tom KNABEL who returned from one year as the chief, OB-GYN Services at the USAF Hospital in Incirlik, Turkey. He now calls Luke home.

That’s all for now. Keep your spirits up until the summer fun begins again. Writing a few cards or letters will help the Dark Ages speed by. Aloha!

Hey! How ’bout them Falcons? OK, now you’re supposed to say, “How ’bout them Falcons?” What? Wrong team? Anyway, Air Force had a great season. Lots of thrills!

Pat BURBANK called from San Antonio—he and Debbie are there as Pat is a Hight commander at OTS. He will stay in ATC for the duration as a career trainer. Pat says that Randy SCHAVRIEN is also at Randolph. Brad JONES Hies KC-lOs at March.

Jim MARG also called. He and Sandy are at Plattsburg, where he is a maintenance officer. Also at Plattsburg are Kurt and Karen KLINGENBERGER—she is expecting an ASTRA slot; he is looking for an assignment.

I received a letter from Craig MANSON. I mistakenly reported last time that he PCSed from D-M to Kadena—WRONG! He’s at RAF Mildenhall as the deputy staff judge advocate. Craig’s office is in the former base morgue. Another legal whiz at Mildenhall is Mike CUNNINGHAM. Craig’s neighbors in the village of Mundford include Mike (F-l 11 WSO at Lakenheath) and Yardley (former ATO and now chief of social actions at Mildenhall) HOYES. Rich MINTZ is at Mildenhall, too—he Hies EC-135s. A visitor there was Mel PRIVETT, Hying KC-135s from McConnell.

Craig says that Bernie GOLDBACH is at ASTRA from T-38s at Vance. Bryan ECHOLS is a lawyer at Sembach. Bob GARDNER is the defense attorney at Columbus and has been selected for an AF-sponsored advanced law degree. Craig participated in Team Spirit ’83 last March and saw Jack McGEE and Bruce GUINDON, F-4s at Osan; Phil JULIEN, F-4s at Kadena; and Steve WEAVER, A-10A Thunderbolt II pilot at Suwon. On the way home, Craig’s 141 was piloted by one Ron KIRCHOFF from McGuire. Ron told Craig that Fred PHILPOT Hies for USAir. Craig says that anyone going through the “Gateway to the UK” is welcome at Fir Cottage, which is a 400-year-old cottage (and former pub) that is Craig’s home. Sorry about screwing up your duty station, Craig—talk about the irresponsible press!

Mike KELLY also wrote—he works at the SIOP Simulation and Analysis Directorate of DCS Ops Plans, HQ SAC. His wife, Georgiana Beverly, teaches 7th and 8th grade reading. Mike sent a laundry list of classmates: Paul AUCLAIR is at Vandenberg as an ICBM accuracy analyst; he’ll go to D.C. in HQ USAF Studies and Analysis/Mission Division in June. Dave BERG will graduate AFIT, strategic and tactical sciences in March, and will replace Paul at Vandenberg. Mike and Joann

BERRIAN and their three daughters are at LA AFS, SAF/Special Projects. Murray DANIEFS and wife Karen are in Massachusetts. Murray is an engineer for MITRE Corp; she is a computer analyst. Brian and Lisa D1EFFENBACH are at Sunnyvale AFS. Mike and Sheryl HAUSER are at Luke—F-16 IP. Steve HEINZ is exec to BMO Civil Engineer for the Peacekeeper Missile at Norton. Randy JOHNSON will graduate from strategic and tactical sciences, AFIT, in March ’84.

Dan JORDAN and Logan Kuhr are at Hill in F-16s—they have a daughter, Laura. Tom KELSO is at Sunnyvale. Dave KUNKEL was to graduate from the Space Operations Course at AFIT in December. Russ LANEY was at Maxwell, LMDC—possible assignment to Randolph? Mike MANTZ was an MX missile guidance engineer at Norton—now a manned spaceflight engineer at LA AFS. Mike KELLY says he may be our first classmate in space! Steve McNAMARA was to graduate from AFIT, MS in astro engineering, in December, going to Kirtland as a LASER engineer. Greg MILLER is at LA AFS following his MS in astro at AFIT. Mark ROGERS and wife Jan are at AFIT—he is a candidate for a PhD in LASER physics.

Randy and Shiela ROTH both got out of the AF—he is a corporate pilot in New Orleans. Steve STOUT is a T-43 ops planner at Mather. Ray TYC got his BS in EE at AFIT, now in the master’s program—his wife, Lenice, is a nurse at Wright-Pat. Terry WILLIAMS is a computer programmer at HQ SAC—he and Patti have two children. Joe and Nancy WYSOCKI (little boy, their second child, Michael) are at Space Command, live in sight of the drop zone at USAFA. Whew! Mike even alphabetized it.!

I got a message from Marc FRITH. He and Wanda are in Vegas where Marc is in the A-10 OT&E squadron. Marc recently participated in the A-10/AIM-9 testing—give the Hog some more teeth! Also at Nellis are Terry NEW, F-16s; and Larry NEW, F-15 FW1C IP.

Not much going on here. Maze ERICKSON is here getting recurrent in the Hog. Tony DONISI is here to be a Hog IP. At the 355 TTW Christmas reception I met Ernie and Pam WOOLLARD—Ernie Hies EC-130s here at D-M.

Well, take care. Write! See you next time.

Jim “Mouse’’ Neumeister

281 Royal Oaks Drive

Fairborn, OH 45324

Home: (513) 878-1585

AV: 787-6832

x*m

A very happy hello from Wright-Pat. I won’t tell you how great it is to be back in civilization again. Suffice it to say that if 1 ever dare to say anything bad about this place I should bite my tongue in the process.

Welcoming Committee: Upon arrival, I discovered that Vince GUIDA (Louise) and Bob MONG1LLO (Teresa) were also here in 135s. John KATONA (Carol) works in resource management in the test wing and flies T-39s. While engaged in a little intramural soccer I saw Doug PALMER on the fields of friendly strife. He works in the flight dynamics lab here.

After completing my checkout in the wing mission, I got to go TDY to my first garden spot—Ascension Island! (No, I’m not complaining.) While spending four glorious days on this moonscape paradise, I missed chatting with Norm THOMPSON. He brought a C-141 in from McGuire in the morning, jumped into crew rest, and got up to depart while 1 was zzzed-out in crew rest myself. Sorry Norm, but what do you say we try Tahiti next time?

My second TDY was just as glamorous—Edwards. But this time I was more successful in running into people. Bill RHODEN is a test pilot school scheduler, but will be going to AFIT for a double-E master’s in the summer. Jim FOISTER stopped in for a visit from Nellis where he flies Aggressor F-5s along with Ed MILLER. Steve HERLT is in Class 83B in the test pilot school. He left F-15s at Langley where Gil OPP still flies them. Steve also said that Jim DUGAN left PIT at Randolph and the Air Force for a job with People Express Airlines out of New Jersey.

Please Forward: The Post Office seems to have done an excellent job during my PCS. In fact, one letter I received made it through all four addresses I’ve used during the last few months.

Steve SIMON wrote from the Ballistic Missile Office at Norton where he is doing R& D on the Peacekeeper. His wife, Paula, is a captain laboratory officer at the Norton clinic. They recently finagled a Join Spouse trip to SOS. Talk about “having it your way!’’ Steve says that Mike and Lisa RUGGIERO and Steve OSBORNE are also at Norton in C-141s. John and Sue MAKUTA and son are in Dallas where he works for Texas Instruments. Larry and Cassie SHAFER and son are at

Vandenberg where he works in Missile Test Launch coordination. After six exciting years at F. E. Warren (four shared by Steve), Bob BARTOLONE recently moved to Elgin to work on cruise missile FOT&E. Phil SMITH left Griffiss for Fairchild in B-52s. Bob SIMMONS (Helen) works in the D.C. area in computers. He recently graduated from MIT earning a master’s degree in computers. Joe SMUTKO (Carolyn) Hies F-4s in Germany. Steve recently saw Dennis BELLAMY who spent two months at Norton attending the safety school. Dennis flies F-15s at Kadena and his wife, Lorraine, was expecting around Thanksgiving. Ed and Chris CONNOLLY and two daughters are at Scott where he works in communications. Don TUROS (Deana) is in computers at Kelly.

Rhonda SW1GER wrote to say that she, Dave, and sons Brett and Craig have left 141s at McChord for T-38s at Randolph where he will instruct in PIT. They left good friends behind at McChord, including Curt and Pam YELKEN, A1 and Robin CARNEY, and Neil YOUTSLER, all in C-141s there.

Gary HAMOR filled me in on the latest volume in his life, postUSAFA to the present. Not a man to rush into things, he married Ellen, his high school sweetheart, two hours and 50 minutes after graduation. They spent their five years of Air Force life at Tinker where Gary was a wing software systems analyst for AWACS. During this time, son David and daughter Ashley were born. Departing the service, Gary went to work for a small oil and gas software company, becoming their system manager. He had also started his own business, Executive Computer Systems, and between the two jobs was computing 18 hours a day. Last April he sent a resume to Digital Equipment Corporation and in June he started working for Digital in Colorado Springs (you can take the boy out of C-Springs, .). The Hamor’s have settled in the Briargate subdivision in northeast Colorado Springs. Gary’s had several bands since leaving USAFA and has been to a recording studio a couple times. Gary has no regrets about leaving the service, but he enjoyed the time he spent on active duty, too.

Gary saw Buck BUCHANAN just before getting out in the spring of 1982 as Buck was joining AWACS as a copilot. He also heard from Mike DEVLIN about the same time. Mike and Paul LEVY started a company called Rational Machines, Inc. in Sunnyvale, CA. Gary also heard that Grady BOOCH had written a book on the Ada programming language, and that Ken LANDREE is at Little Rock in 130s. Gary saw Rich and Julie HART in the Springs around July visiting her folks. They were on leave from Beale where Rich flies KC-135s

Jim MOSCHGAT wrote from Laughlin where he’s been assistant chief of the T-38 Check Section. He says Dave ZELENOK left the Air Force after instructing at USAFA and is now an engineer with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and a member of the ANG at Greater Pittsburgh. Mark RUTAN left KCs at Grissom for EC-135s at Langley. Mike STANLEY just finished UPT at Laughlin and is going to fly rescue 130s, possibly at Kadena. Bob ZAEHR1NGER left A-lOs at DM for RTU at Mountain Home and then EF-11 Is at Upper Heyford. John REED left his lead-in instructor job at Holloman for the Defense Language Institute in Monterey to work on his French; then, he’s off to Quebec for a twoyear exchange tour Hying CF-18s (don’t tell me, I know—somebody has to do it).

Mark NIXON recently married Brenda and is adjusting to married life at Hulburt Field where he Hies AC-130s. Mark SIZEMORE also recently tied the knot and Hies Aggressor F-5s at Nellis. Bob HAMILTON is a class commander at Laughlin. Brian WHITING is also there, Hying T-38s and working as the wing mobility officer. As for Jim, he’s left Laughlin for F-16 RTU at MacDill and then on to Torrejon AB, Spain.

Pam BAYER wrote to say that she, Gary, and son Jeff have left Pope for Yokota where Gary’s a C-130 instructor nav in the 345TAS. Gary enjoys exploring the Far East, but seems to spend most of his time camping in Korea.

Finally: Just before I left Altus, I talked to Ben GOODMAN Hying E-3As at Tinker. He, Mary, and Ben Jr. are all fine, and he said that Scott MOORE had gone to Randolph at a PIT instructor.

I’ll be at SOS in January and February and hope to see some of you there. I know there’s more of us at Wright-Pat, especially you guys coming for AFIT, so let me know where you are and what you’re doing. And for those of you not in the Dayton area, help me ops-check my new address WRITE! Take care, and keep in touch.

Jim Arnold

10708 Hollaway Drive

Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

Home: (301) 868-4204

Hello again. 1 received two compliments on how I do this column. Extrapolating this data out, 1 have decided that that means unanimous approval by the class. Thank you all!

First up, Paul MORELL dropped me a line from South Carolina and included the picture that you see in here somewhere. The picture was taken “somewhere in the Middle East” (or maybe the back lot at Paramount?). The guys dressed like touri and braced like cadets are from left, Mark KAIN, Paul BECK, Jeff BRAKE and Paul. The natives are, according to Paul, Bentley Rayburn and Flaming Layman! In addition to flying C-141s out of Charleston, Paul says he’s on his way to SOS in Jan. ’84, and hopes to see some ’78ers there. Send a report along to Paul.

Jim BAUMANN wrote to tell me that he had graduated from the Test Pilot School at Edwards (oh poor soul, a free trip to Hell courtesy of the AF) and is now commander of a detachment of four at Point Mugu NAS, working on a joint AF/NAVY project. He and his wife, Christa, had their first baby (Monica) while they were at Edwards. Which reminds me that babies seem to be less prevalent this issue. Come on, get with it! Jim also says that Dennis MILLER is now out of the AF working for the Harris Corp. in Florida. Dennis was married to Marianne Mangels on 8 Oct. 83. (Congrats Dan, and it’s nice to know that marriages haven’t slacked off!)

Dyanne SMITH, Dorian’s wife, wrote to pass on some news. Seems Dorian is out of SAC (K-135s) and back at the Zoo flying F-41 s! He says it beats SAC even if the cadets get airsick. Dorian is also working on his MS at UCCS. (1 couldn’t resist the abbreviations!) The SMITH’S next door neighbors are Bill and Tammy FREY who are proud parents of a baby girl (Cary Danielle) and the FREY’s get babysitting service from Dyanne so she can practice for her baby due in January ’84. Dyanne and Dorian say they just love company, so drop by!

Bill SENN wrote to tell me he’s really at Myrtle Beach flying A-lOs rather than wherever his change-of-address card put him (his permanent address). He also says that Vince WISNIEWSKI is also at Myrtle Beach in A-lOs and that Bob GIBBONS took his A-10 and went to Suwon, Korea.

Now the most exciting part of the column: AOG MAILBAG (AKA change-of-address cards!). Jim PUHEK to Stanford University for an MS in ops research; Scott BAKER to APO NY 09238; Ken GRONEWALD from Mesa, AZ, to Federal Way, Washington; Pete ZINK from Shaw to Dover; Ed BILLMAN from Enid to San Antonio; Dave SNYDER from Mt. Holly to Arlington VA; Kevin KREGEL from APO NY 09179 to Nesconcet, NY; Wayne HERMANDORFER from APO NY 09860 to Easton, CT; Blake BOURLAND from Homestead to Goldsboro, NC; Wayne DAVIDSON from Abilene, TX, to Rhein-Main (thanks for the note on the card, Wayne).

Also, Bob BARTON from Tacoma, WA, to APO Seattle, 98723 (Galena Airport; mush, mush, you huskies!); Ted ANRKENBAUER from Glendale, AZ, to APO NY 09132; Bill HADAWAY from APO NY 09194 to Mt. Home; and Dave GALLAGHER from Victorville to Hespera (both in California).

Also, John SCHAFER from Fayetteville to Sherwood, AR; Joe BONIN from Anchorage to APO SF 96366; Gary MARTIN from Bossier, LA, to Alexandria, VA; Steve FIKAR from Clovis, NM, to Las Vegas; John SYKES from APO SF 96366 to Biloxi, MS; Bruce CURRY from Lubbock, TX, to Burke, VA; Sam KENDRICK from Enid to Minden, LA; and Mike DUC from Chesterfield, IN, to APO NY 09755 (A-lOs).

Thanks for all the support. Please write notes on your change-ofaddress cards. Send letters, pictures, or call anytime. Tally-HO.

Mike Donatelli

P.O. Box 4343

APO New York 09755

GREETINGS!

All is well on the European front this year. My tour like most is rapidly coming to an end. Julie and 1 have thoroughly enjoyed our travels. We’ve been back to the States, seen Italy, Ireland, Germany, and I’ve even been to Turkey living like the Army (in tents). During these major excursions we’ve seen many classmates.

Paul BISHOP is setting the Wild Weasels ablaze at Spangdahlem AB, GE. His Copenhagen cud settles well in the back seat of his F-4G. Along with Bish is Omar (Mike) BRADLEY (Patti and Carra), Mike ROLLER, and Les (Lynn) LONG. Rollo and Lester both have been reassigned to the USAFE Agressors at RAF Alconbury. Congrats. Check Six!

The boys at Sembach have for the most part been reassigned also. Doc (Jeff) KOLHOFFER, along with Steve NEWMAN and George (Joyce and family) PASTERACK are all on their way to MacDill for F-16 RTU. Dave (Monica) THOMASSON and Jim (Pam and kid) FLICKINGER will be off to Luke for F-15 training. These poor guys will be trained by the newest of F-15 RTU IP jocks, John PICKETT and Archie RIPPETO.

Flick and family will be coming back to USAFE to fly 15s at Soesterberg AB in the Netherlands. Kudos go out to Jim POOLE, Lance BEAM, and Scotty (Debra) REYNOLDS. These are the first ’79ers into Fighter Weapons School in the A-10. I hope to follow soon. Other A-10 jocks in the make for assignments are Bob (Liz) SWAIN, Jim (Kit, Katie, and one to be determined in Feb) BARRON, and Jim O’NEIL.

George DUDA along with Frank (Colleen) SNYDER are on their way to be IPs at Holloman. This assignment process amazes me. Seems like yesterday we just setled down to learn the business at hand after pilot training.

Fearless Fred (Laura) LANKFORD and Scott ADAMS should now be enjoying the endless summers in Iceland. Oops, summer’s not here yet. I’m talking about the dark ages now. Fred and Scott were asked to exploit their expertise in T-Birds for USAFE. Fred and I have cross-countrys set up for the first annual ’79 golf outing at St. Andrews this spring. You’re all invited.

A letter arrived at the AOG office from U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. R.S. RYAN, who informed us that he is the first combat vet from ’79. He and Hal MOORE have both been to Beriut as Cobra gunship pilots. He said that he was a part of the amphibious assault of Grenada and that through superior skill and blind luck he successfully destroyed a bunch of Cuban and Russion anti-aircraft vehicles and machine gun nests while avoiding being hit himself. From there he relieved Hal MOORE so he could spend Christmas with Patty and the boys. Rick says that his wife, Peggy, is doing fine and has finished her degree in English and intends to pursue professional writing. He finished his letter with a plug for the Marine Corps and said that being a gunship pilot is fantastic.

Christopher Gray stands by the fine-art aviation print purchased in memory of hisfather, Capt. Ronald L. Gray, ’79, who died last year in an F-16 aircraft crash. During the photography session, Yvonne Gray asked that we say hello to all theirfriends and thank them for all their help. She said that both Christopher and Erin are doing very wed. The print of an F-16 by Keith Ferris is entitled “Sunrise Encounter and was purchased from funds donated by family and friends to the Ronald L. Gray Memorial Fund which is administered by the Association of Graduates.

Walt DAVIS is killing ’em with film these days at Bergstrom. Walt tried to pay me a visit while my squadron was in Italy. Instead I was on leave in the States. Some hog drivers payed Bentwaters a visit this summer. Steve (Becky) DEAUX enjoyed the English lifestyle. Scott (Debbie) JENSEN also paid Bentwaters a visit. I should say he paid the Bentwaters Crystal and China shop! Scott and Debbie are now giving their new fighter-pilot son, Eric, swimming lessons in the backyard of their Tucson home. Scott is in the A-10 RTU business.

Frank WALKER (Cindy) had surgery at Wilford Hall to amputate his left leg above the knee just before Thanksgiving. Earlier, Frank had surgery to remove a cancerous bone tumor in his lower left leg. The biopsy revealed a malignant tumor which upon further confirmation necessitated the amputation to save Frank’s life. Cindy and Frank’s parents and relatives are with Frank in Texas. When Mike Van Hoomissen talked to Frank the night before his amputation, Frank seemed in good spirits and optimistic. The surgery went well. Survival from this rare cancer is about 50 percent. Thus far the cancer has not been detected elsewhere. Frank will receive chemotherapy, be fitted for a prosthesis and receive physical therapy at Wilford Hall at least through January. He will have a short Christmas vacation at home. I am sure it will mean a lot to Frank to receive your letters and phone calls. You can write Frank at Ward 7A, Room 117, Wilford Hall, USAF Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX 78236. The telephone number is (512) 674-9239. Frank and Cindy live at 6228 Pheasant Hill, Dayton OH 45424. Their telephone number there is (513) 237-9669. Please pray for Frank’s speedy recovery and good health.

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a letter from the AOG. Dear Matt (you hoser), you are again delinquent. Please check which excuse you want to use this time.

Wife lost letter Child lost letter

Child gummed letter to death

Wife gummed letter to death

Letter eaten by large bear (good stuff Maynard)

No excuse Sir Sir may I make a statement?

Get off my back

So much for my credibility. My time as of late has been consumed making hamburger and sausage out of the two deer 1 shot this season. My wife has tired of watching the back of my pickup as 1 drive off into the wilds of Oklahoma, and I am running woefully low on kitchen passes. Marcia won’t eat any of the deer meat because it din’t come from the store and therefore it has not been USDA inspected. My son wanted to know how Santa could come with only six reindeer, but Marcia had an answer for that. Did you know that there two kinds of deer in the world? There’s Santa’s kind, and then there’s the kind that is mean and that you have to shoot in self defense. I’m glad that I had a deer tag for both because 1 think it would be difficult to explain that one to the game warden.

What is the weather like in Enid? I’m very glad you asked that question. Presently it is colder than the north end of a south bound polar bear. Other than that I will not elaborate.

I do have some news this issue. I took a buddy wing trip to Eglin AFB and saw several Falcon Buddies down there. Tom and Dirk JORDAN and Bob CHAPMAN are down there flying F-15s and loving it. I got a backseat ride with Dirk and he really G’d my lips off. Tom JORDAN had a close call up at Maple Flag and punched out during a mid-air. We thank God that he got out with only a few minor bruises. While at Eglin I also saw Bart JACKSON, Jeff WILSON, Mark PERUSSE, Mike SMITH and Paul FRAPPIER. They were Hying 0-2s down there on an exercise. While at the local mullet festival 1 saw Tom BROE and wife. Tom is working in systems at Eglin.

1 got a Christmas card from Steve and Tari MOORE and they are up at AFIT with their new daughter, Melissa. Jim BALAZ and wife Jolene are back at Vance after a tour in 141s. They have two lovely daughters and Jim will be a T-37 IP when he gets back from PIT. Scott THOMPSON, wife Tami, and two (maybe three) kids are now over in England where Scott is working on the new GLCMs. Karen NOVAK got married to an intel officer at Plattsburg in September. Karen Hies 135s up there. Debbie DUBBE will soon be going back to USAFA to teach something? Ed HERLIK and wife Cindy graduated from UPT at Columbus after Ed spent some time at SAMSO. Ed is going to OV-lOs as Sembach. Gene T.

MITCHELL just got married to that Georgia belle that he has been dating for so long and he is in the T-38 check section at Reese. With Mitch are Clark BURTCH, Steve DILLARD, and Steve TROYER. I saw Dan BOONE and Deb LAFROMBOIS at USAFA during a recent UPT day visit. Dan is a PIT instructor at Randolph, and Deb is an IP at Reese.

Locally, J.D. MALEARE, Peggy DENNIS, Rick BORNMAN and myself are in check section (T-37). Frank BUNTING, Bob EVERDING, and Greg HARSTAD are teaching academics. Jim FIRTH and Brian GRIGGS are in T-38 check section. Chrys LEMON is the DO’s exec. Bob HOLMES is the T-38 squadron exec. Mike GLEICHMAN and Tom HEEMSTRA are going or coming from SOS. And Bruce THOMAS, Russ HODGKINS, Chris GOLAB, Andrew KING, Mark IRSIK, Tom SPICER (stan eval), Mike JONES (going to PIT), Jerry SIEGEL, Mark AUDISS and Loretta (expecting soon) and the rest of us are getting excited about departing the fix within the next year.

1 got a letter from Travis BEESON and his wife, Sheila. Travis got out of the AF because of a medical problem and they are back in the ConUS with their new daughter, Donovan. Good luck, Travis. 1 also got letter from Kevin REILLY and Jeff STURMTHAL. Jeff is Hying F-4s at Ramstein in what he calls the last air-to-air F-4 squadron in the world. With him at Ramstein are Mark LINDSTOM and Steve RAINEY. They all love Europe, and Jeff has taken a special liking to a former Miss Sardenia. Jeff has seen Andy LEHR who is Hying F-4Gs at George AFB, and he saw Janet THERIANOS in Spain Hying 135s. If you ever make it to Ramstein give Jeff a yell.

Kevin REILLY’s letter had some good info. He is Hying a Buff at Griffiss and has seen several guys recently. Tim OLWELL and Bill HOPMIER are Hying F-Ills at RAF Lakenheath. Tim and wife Evelyn had a baby boy four or five months ago. Bill is still chasing English ladies around the Moors of the Baskervilles. Bill W1LLNER is now attending law school at the Univ. of Pa. and Bill WILLNER and Kevin want to know what is the matter with Bill HOPMIER. You naughty boy, you haven’t written.

Well, 1 have more news but no more space. Next time I’ll cut some of the intro. Until summer take care and God bless.

My apologies for not having a class news article in the last Checkpoints. 1 sent the article, but it obviously never made its intended destination. It’s not the first time the APO system has made letters disappear, and probably won’t be the last.

Congratulations are in order for the Falcon Football Team again this year. They had another spectacular season which we all relish with pride. Great job!

Speaking of great jobs, I have to make an important announcement about Mike “Jake” JAKOB1. He finally made it into UPT at Vance after winning his medical battle. Good luck, Jake.

Since my last article didn’t get published, 1 have a good deal of information to work with this time. So sit back, relax, and enjoy as 1 give you the straight scoop on ’81ers around the world.

In the baby department, we have a few new arrivals to report. Robin and Sherri GAETA have a new boy named Nick. Marty and Becky FRANCE also gave birth to a boy named Sean Alexander. Steve and Kim HENSON are proud parents of little Jessica; Greg and Patti PAVLIK have a son named Joshua; and Bill and Barb SCHOENEMAN have a son, Tad.

After two years of freedom, Bud RAFFERTY decided to forego his bachelor status to marry Becky. The newlyweds are now at Temple University where Bud is going to law school. Also giving up his bachelorhood is Doug GREGORY who is engaged to Renee. Doug is in UPT at Willie.

I have a lengthy list of assignments to announce, so here goes. Tracey MAJOROS is at Wright-Pat working on the Maverick missile. Tracey, it was certainly a nice surprise hearing from you. Good luck in the Opera Guild. Also at Wright-Pat are Todd and Patsy TASSEFF, Dan and Jennifer BELL, Bill and Barb SCHOENEMAN, and Dennis WARD. Dan, Bill, and Dennis, who are acquisition officers, were emphatic that not everyone at Wright-Pat is doing research (an impression I must have given in an earlier article). Dan and Bill are involved in development projects for F-15 and F-20 aircraft, and Dennis has a prestigous position as the executive officer for ASD’s deputy for Tactical Systems.

Among those who are pursuing academic advancement are Marty FRANCE, John ERIC, Scott DERING, and Greg PAVLIK. Marty is at Stanford, John and Scott are at AFIT, and Greg is at the University of Texas. Greg told me that Brian EGAN and Dave SAUNDERS are also in Austin, but he didn’t say what they were doing. Rich TRENTMAN got tired of his desk job so he’s now in nav school at Mather. Tim HARRIS is an assistant basketball coach at USAFA. Gee, life’s rough. Ralph BENDER, Dee HORNBOSTEL, Rick DUCHENE, and Tom HARWOOD are in the same UPT flight at Willie. They’re getting ready to move into T-38s now.

Mark KONIGSMARK is flying KC-135s at Blytheville as are Joe LEPANTO and Barb CHAPMAN. Steve HENSON is a T-39 pilot at Kirtland, and Dave HUFF is still hauling trash in C-130s at Dyess. John MOONEY, flying F-16s at Hill, just bought a house, but hasn’t seen it very much except from overhead. Linda MCCULLERS and Bob HAMILTON are at Robins Hying KC-135s. Ann Marie MATONAK is stationed at McClellan.

Now for the news from those of us keeping the vigilance overseas. Greg MONTIJO, Hying A-lOs at RAF Bentwaters, gave me a healthy list of information to pass on. Also at RAF Bentwaters are Bob BRITT, Mike BEHLING, Steve RUEHL, Pete COSTELLO, Greg TOVREA, Merrie CRAIG, and Robin GAETA. Robin asked me to convey to all interested parties that PDLF now has a new motto—“Freedom Through Firepower.” Joe WOOD will be arriving at Bentwaters soon. How convenient considering he’s now engaged to Merrie CRAIG at Bentwaters. Frank CHEESEMAN, Scott PETRY, John DIEHL, and Craig RASMUSSEN are Hying A-lOs for the 91TFS at RAF Woodbridge. Craig is apparently getting serious with a local English gal. Mark ROLING, also at Woodbridge, is setting TDY records for trips to Germany. After living in Germany for two years, I can see why he’s not complaining. Randy BENTLEY is excelling as an intelligence officer for the 77TFS at RAF Upper Heyford. Ralph NARDO is an F-lll jock at Lakenheath.

Steve RUEHL and Greg MONTIJO ran into Greg VERSER and Tom WAGNER, both Hying OV-lOs at Sembach AB Germany, at the FAC control tower at the Grafenwohr Range. Jeff GROUX, Dave SMITH, and Mike POTKULSKI are Hying RF-4s at Zweibrucken. Chuck SCHEIDER is taking to the skies in an F-15 at Bitburg. With me here at Lindsey AS is Dan TOBAT who works for the 1836EIG. Chris LAMPE, who is Hying 0-2s from Panama, is hopping all over South American.

Before signing off, I want to recognize a significant accomplishment of one of our fellow classmates. Special recognition goes to Dan LEY who Hew one of the C-130 rescue missions from RAF Woodbridge that saved the life of an injured sailor at sea. Super job, Dan!

Keep those letters and photos coming. Take care. ’81 SECOND TO NONE!

Time once again to sit down and pen the latest version of the ’82 gossip column. Lots of folks have checked in via address change cards, so I’ll start with those first. Jim ROMAN says “hi” from Hanscom AFB, or so I assume from his address at Waltham, MA. Jim BYROM is doing something in Denver, and Dave SILVIA sends notice that he is at George AFB.

Brian McLEAN says his address is Poway, CA. I don’t know either! Antoine GARTON is in the 43ARS at Fairchild, and Gary HOGG wants his address to read Versailles, KY, instead of Lubbock, TX. That’s not a home address, is it Gary? Ed McALLISTER now resides in N. Little Rock, AR, and John COTTAM is a C-130 driver in the 39TAS at Pope AFB. Bob SMITH seems to be settled in as a med student at the U. of Michigan Med School, and Rich TURNER is content to stay in Lubbock.

Manny GUERRERO has moved from Little Rock to an APO out of San Francisco. Maybe the zip (96328) will be familiar to someone. Manny, where are you? Bob SALLIS now lives in Bryan, TX, which RandMcNally says isn’t close to anything. Your guess is as good as mine. Martha STEVENSON-JONES is now at Minot, and Chris REETER sent a card from RANDOLPH (PIT, maybe?). Bill MANNING is at Luke, and for “present job” on his card, he lists “Fighter Pilot, F-16.”

Dennis DELANEY also seems to be in PIT at Randolph, and Steve WERNER now calls Mt. Home home. Kash JOHNSON has decided to stay in Wichita Falls, but Dave HAGGINBOTHOM moved suspiciously close to Maxwell AFB. Phil BOSSERT wants us all to know he lives in Newport News, VA, and Anchorage, AK, can now claim Steve KELLY as a resident. Ken COON is a UH-1F pilot out of Malmstrom, and Mike HARRIS checked in from Rancho Cordova, CA.

Deb BARTZ (who I ran into a few times at Castle) sent a card (with some sort of horrible GREEN stuff all over it) to say she’s now a Q-model tanker copilot at Beale. John NORTON is presently Hying C-130s from Little Rock, and Steve WILLS is an Eagle driver at Holloman. Jim WILLSIE has the hardship tour in Honolulu, and John MORRISON is not much worse off at MacDill.

Joe OVERBECK’s Redlands, CA, address makes it sound like he’s either at Norton or March, and A1 ZELENAK and his wife are equally cryptic with League City, TX. Finally (whew!), Brendan CLARE is stationed at Patrick AFB, and Ed and Jennifer (LAVERTY) KHOURI list their address as Shalimar, FL.

During my stay at Castle, I met up with all sorts of people, and I’m sure I’ll probably omit a few, but here goes. Glen DOWNEY is here Hying B-52s, and 1 believe he’s on his way to Guam. Ditto for Andy ANDERSON. Andy went on a Bahamas cruise with his wife, Lori, last July and the crew was so impressed by his mess dress that Andy and Lori were invited to dine at the captain’s table. And you guys thought the penguin suit was good for nothing. Shame on you! In September, Andy, along with Gordon GARLOCK, traveled to Missouri to help Ted HOLMES get married. Good times were had by all.

Another Buff student I saw was Jeff BEENE. Jeff recently had a conversation with Rob REICHART, who is a Ranger at Ft. Bragg. Rob’s big news is that he led a platoon in the Granada invastion. That’s the first ’82 combat time I know of.

Some other familiar faces here have been Tony MAUER, Ray CRAFT, John HALPIN, Mark EPPLER and Tony CUTLER. I’m not sure, but I think I saw Chris ALLENBY walking down the street a couple days ago.

I met Peg SHERMAN in the BX. She’s now a nav student and was visiting down here at Castle. She’s looking for a Q-model tanker and

Greg Pavlik and wife Patiie show off their 10-month-old son, Joshua Scott.

Touring the Sacramento, Calif., zoo are Linda McCullers, left; Ann Marie Matonak, right; and a friend, Lisa Regen Wright.

sends word that Dave SHAPIRO got an RF-4 to Bergstrom out of Mather. She also told me Julia BUCHANAN married a “rich captain.” Julia is here at Castle too, learning to navigate tankers.

Now for the mailbag. The oldest letter is from Cathy and Brian CLOTHIER. They both graduated in Class 83-07 at Vance. Kathy passed through Castle on her way to a KC-135 job at McConnell and Brian will be staying at Vance as a Tweet IP. Other assignments include: Roger ANDERSON, B-52, Ellsworth; Chris BOTTESCH, C-130, Dyess; Dale CARLSON, T-38, Vance; Kim CORCORAN, T-38, Vance; Greg DAVIS, T-38, Vance; Todd DeHAAN, T-38, Vance; Dennis DELANEY, T-37, Vance; Tracy DICKINSON, C-130, Little Rock; Dave DOBY, KC-135, Pease; and Dan ERICKSON, T-39, Wright-Pat.

Also, Dave FROHMAN, F-16, MacDill; Steve HOWARD, C-130, Pope; Tom JOHNSON, T-37, Vance; Tim KRAMER, C-141, McGuire; Carl LINDENLAUB, C-141, Travis; Ed McALLISTER, C-130, Little Rock; Bob NISSEN, C-141, McGuire; Randy O’CONNER, T-37, Vance; Gary PACKARD, T-37, Vance; Perry PAYNE, C-130, Pope; Chris REETER, T-38, Vance; Tim RORICK, C-130, Elmendorf; Steve SMITH, RF-4, Bergstrom; Steve TALLEY, F-16, MacDill; Keith TROXLER, T-37, Vance; Chris WILSON, F-16, MacDill; and Greg WOMACK, T-38, Vance.

Dana RICHARD’S wife, Bethany, wrote to inform me that Joe CAVAZZINI is not the only Redtag at Hill AFB. Dana has an intel slot there. Bethany (ex-’84) married Dana last June and if the wedding was as formal as the invitation they sent, the Cadet Chapel has seen new vistas in formal attire!

Steve OSBURN wrote from Great Falls, MT, where he sits frequent alert with SAC’s ICBMs (and earthworms, so he says). The level of cynicism apparent in his letter indicates that it was written well into one of his “six to eight 24-hour alerts per month.” He commands retargetable missiles, so send your coordinates (or those of a friend) and he’ll rid your doorsteps of snow (and steps).

Other ’82 grads at Malmstrom include Rives DUNCAN, Barnard GHIM and Dan CIECHANOWSKI. Barny has already upgraded to instructor, and Dan is now married and his wife is expecting a child soon. Steve, for his part, is married also, and has bought a house which he and his wife, Kathy, are renovating. Steve’s master’s degree is in the works.

Another list of assignments arrived via Mark MILLER. These are for class 84-01 at Sheppard. Mark MILLER, F-16, MacDill; Brent DURRETT and Neal GAIGE, F-15, Bitburg; Rob MAIDEN, John UNGATE, Dan DECAMP and Mark SHERRIER, A-10, Bentwaters; Ted SCHNEIDER, F-111, Lakenheath; Dale WALTERS, T-38, Sheppard; Joe REHM, T-37, Sheppard; and Chris ALLENBY, B-52, Ellsworth.

Tom (sabee yabou saboon) SYLVESTER dropped a line from Norton to give me some poop on my soon-to-be home at Blytheville (pronounced “BLY-VILL”). He says the Kream Kastle has great fries and that the gorgeous 14-year-olds ride the “circuit” by the high school looking for dates for the Starview Drive-in. Sounds like great fun. Tom has seen a bunch of grads from a bunch of classes, and they all road-tripped to San Diego to watch AF stomp San Diego. How ’bout them Falcons? Wasn’t the Independence Bowl more like mud wrestling! Tom’s letter was postmarked 30 Nov and he wants me to let the folks at Minot know he went water skiing the previous weekend. On a quick trip through C-Springs, Tom saw J.R. BOYD, who Tom feels has successfully recovered from the “Back Row Boys” in the chorale. Also, he learned that Bob GUESSFORD will be “ringing it” soon in Boston.

Word from Godfred DEMANDANTE is that he graduated from nav shcool and is now training for a C-130 EWO slot somewhere in Germany.

Steve VOGT called from Holloman where he’s at fighter lead-in for his F-4 slot. We had a long conversation, but he paid the bill so I kept talking. Steve attended Russ COLLINS’ wedding sometime back (Oct, I think) and ended up catching the garter after a valiant attempt to miss it. Steve has run into a few Redtags down there, among them Bill BOYD, Brad DODD, Ken HOGGATT, Steve JAMES, Rob MAIDEN, Mark MILLER, John UNGATE, Steve TOLDY, Tony MAHONEY, Brock STROM (soon to be married to a girl from Phoenix), Jim BROWN, Mike BARR1TT and Craig OLSEN. Steve and I are both.planning to attend Steve TOLDY’s wedding this May in Michigan.

That’s about all the news I’ve got. By the time all this is in print, I’ll be established as a tanker copilot at Blytheville, so next time you pull up behind the boom, be sure to find out if RATMAN is driving. I might even wipe your windshield!

If you can find any, please send pictures. It really does brighten up the column. The editor prefers black and white Polaroids, but good crisp color shots are okay too. Thanks very much for all your cards and letters! Press on!

Sappinin’ dudes?! Lots of good poop in this letter—good and bad. Due to a mixup in addresses you all must bear another letter from me. Hopefully Andy SIZEMORE will write the spring issue and give our class a different point of view. Believe me, I’ve been trying to get as much info from you all as I can, but if you don’t write, don’t complain. Please send your inputs for the spring issue to Andy SIZEMORE at 5520 56th St. #1011, Lubbock, TX 79414. His phone number is (806) 796-0303. Send it NOW.

BUSINESS. We have 29 of our class prints, “To Conquer the Air,” left for sale. I’d like to save 10 of them for future gifts during our careers; however, these last few prints are for sale at $45 each; first-come, firstserve. Please send money to AOG, c/o ’83 Class Prints, USAFA, CO 80840.

Also, the AOG office has informed me that there are 38 wine carafes and 3 wine glasses left over (unclaimed) from the 100th Night dining-in. If you did not receive your ordered carafe/wine glasses, please send your name and address to AOG, ’83 Wine Glasses/Carafes, USAFA, CO 80840. If you’d like to buy one of these, please send $5 for each carafe or $3 for each glass. Again, they will be sold first-come, first-serve.

GOSSIP. Where to start? There’s a lot of good poop out now. I’ll start here at home in beautiful Laughlin AFB, Texas. The weather here is fantastic. It’s Dec. 15th, and we’re still in shorts. Our class, 8406, is presently finishing up T-37s and looking forward to strapping on a T-38. 8407 is doing fine too. They’re struggling (like everyone) through final contact and instrument checkrides.

Here’s a picture of some ’83 grads here at Laughlin during our Halloween party. They are from left: Jeff “The Viking” HINKLE, Barry “Holmes” SMITH, Mike “Jake” HOBBS, Sue “Lookin’ Better Than Ever” (HALL) MARINCEL, Joe “Death” MARINCEL, Edith “Belly Dancin’” ENGLEHART, Bob “The Shiek” ENGLEHART, Ray “Hare-Krishna” BLUST, Lisa “The Witch” LINDEN, Gay “The Babe” (LANKSTON) SOLOMON, and Tommy “The Punker” SOLOMON. Behind them is Tim “The Mechanic” McCORMICK and Rich DEPAOLO is the “A” masked man.

I got a call from Leslee FORSBERG at Wright-Patterson in Dayton, Ohio. She says W-P is great. There’s tons of grads—especially one in particular. Yes, Les will be Mrs. Chris FISHER (’82 grad) this summer. Good luck Les. Les also gave me some names of some ’83 grads there. Paul JOYCE and Reed McCONNELL are tearing up the bars, while Jim NORMAN and Cindy (FUJIMOTO) NORMAN were married during the summer. Nicki ANDERSON loves those TDYs to Randolph and the San Antonio area to see Gene PETERSON. Some other old faces there are John STIZZA, Bob LEMM, Thorston RHOADS (who’s probably tearing up the mech lab there, too), Earl LEWIS, and wildman Steve DICKMAN. Good luck, guys, and hope to see you around the RAF.

I also heard from Bob “R.E.” SMITH who is diligently working his fingers to the bones at Randolph, so he says. Bob is currently spending his spare time running between San Antonio and Dallas. Good luck Bob!

Frank MARRERO, George CESPEDES, and I made a round trip to C-Springs over a three-day weekend. Boy is that place nice! It’s a little different looking from the outside in. I saw Dave ASSELIN roaming the

halls of Vandenberg. His arm was in a cast and his face was skinned up. It seems as though he couldn’t get enough flying at Willie, had to borrow a friend’s ultra-light, and tried to bury a wing into the ground. Dave, stick with jets!

Well, I guess the biggest reunion of grads had to be at the Independence Bowl. Before 1 get into everyone who was there I’d like to congratulate Coach Hatfield and the Falcons. The folks out here were, needless to say, “impressed,” but we (’83ers) knew it could be done. While I’m still talking about coaches, I’d like to congratulate the four ’83 football coaches who helped out. They were Rikard “R.K.” SMITH, Mike VAUGHN, Dave SHRECK and, of course, Denny MOORE, who, by the way, coached at the Prep School which had an impressive 8-4 record. Good job guys! Looking forward to seeing you in the RAF. As for the game—what a party! I bet there were at least 100 ’83ers there. From the photo, you can see some of us here at Laughlin rented a Winnebago and made a road trip out of it. This picture was taken after our 24-hour trip prior to showers at the Barksdale AFB gym.

The Laughlin ’83ers who made the Winnebago trip were me, Kevin McMILLIN, Rod RICHELIEU, George CESPEDES, Frank MARRERO, Rich NAZARIO, Barry SMITH, Lisa LINDEN, Craig E1DMAN, and Jeff HINKLE.

Some of the other ’83 Falcon buddies who made it to the game were, from Columbus: Jeff “JDQ #2” FIEBIG, Billy “Buttscum” VOLKER, Brian “Sleeping Man” HARRIET, Bert SYMKOWICZ, Chris HAERTER (who is kicking butt in UPT—keep it up, Bud!), Chris AUSTIN (who is currently recovering from a serious car accident—get well soon), Jack POLO (who was in the car accident also, but had minor injuries), Mark RIENECKE (leave it up to Mark to be dating a T-39 pilot—you’re too much guy), Roger JOHNSON, and Cliff “Wolfy” THOMPSON. Some fellows from Sheppard were Mark MURPHY and Clint BENNETT (who brought down a couple German and English fellows, and of course, some German beer—a job well done). Also, Dave STINE, Mike FINLEY, John “Poo Bear” HESTERMAN, and finally, Ricky GRAHAM. I was really impressed—here it was Saturday night in Shreveport; Ricky’s soused, and he tells me he has his instrument checkride on Monday—now that’s a guy with his priorities in order. Hope you passed, Ricky.

The lone Reese patron was Carl NORDIN. Speaking of Reese, Jon (JDQ #1) DURESKY is now married to Brenda and they have a new baby boy named Jeffrey, a very well-kept secret. Sorry, Jon, little Jeff wasn’t the first ’83 baby, right Steve?? Stopping by from Keesler in Mississippi were Marta HEAN (who is soon to be Mrs. Michael GIRONE). Congrats, Marta. Also, Lori SOUTH and T. J. PAGUELET (who is now Mrs. Wayne Brown). Again, congrats, T. J. Chris WIEDENHOEFT stumbled up from Eglin in Florida where he says the beaches are nice, but it’s a little hot there. Sorry, Chris, you’re not going to get any sympathy from us. Some other ’83 faces at the game were Bob BROWN, Marc OLSON, Doug WALTERS, Ken TINGMAN, and John WOOD.

Susan LUEKEN and Cecil GRANT sent letters to the AOG concerning our classmates in the communications-electronics course at Keesler. Susan said the class graduated on 14 December and that they will be remembered! Thirty grads were put into one class and the course was cut from 32 to 22 weeks because of the “electronics” background they had from the Academy. On a recent TDY to Eglin AFB, FL, they convoyed there in eight rental cars and managed to “lose the integrity” of the convoy three separate times making them late for briefings two days in a row. All the grads thought it was funny but the major who chaperoned them there didn’t!

According to Susan a few grads are married in the class: Blanche (GODWIN) Fridley, Marta (HEAN) Girone, Karen (LAMPI) Henneberry, and Teresa J. (PAQUELET)-BROWN. Susan reported she was getting married on 30 December of last year.

Cecil Grant was the class leader and did a good job keeping the class out of trouble. Unfortunately he couldn’t get them out of physical training which they had to participate in three times a week. P.T. consisted of 25 sit-ups, 15 jumping jacks, 15 push-ups, stretch exercises and a 1.5 mile run (in formation). They also got to participate in other good deals such as the monthly Keesler parade which they marched as squadron commanders and flight commanders, retreat ceremonies, and their favorite, open-ranks inspections.

Susan saw Harry CONLEY at Eglin. He is doing research there and says he spends most of his time being a beach bum. Christine (ORZADA) HILL is at UNT at Mather and spends most of her time studying. She was hoping to get a tanker so she can be stationed with her husband, Greg HILL (’81) at Blytheville, AR.

Assignments from Susan’s class were provided by Cecil GRANT. They are: Cecil, Patrick; Tami BERBERICK, Plattsburg; Dawn BIZUB, Hellenikon AB, Greece; Nancy BURDICK, Eglin; Marina CARSWELL, Hessisch-Oldendorf, Germany; Larry COCCIA, Hanscom; Peter CONRAD, Scott; Michael CROY, Lajes Field, Azores; Tonia FLORES, Nellis; Blanche FRIDLEY, Keesler; David GEUTING, Neu Ulm, Germany; Patrick GIDDENS, McClellan; Marta GIRONE, RAF Croughton, England; Karen HENNEBERRY, Little Rock; and Michael KIEROD, Fort Meade, MD.

Also, Douglas KLIMEK, Yokota AB, Japan; Bruce LEPLEY, Shaw; Susan LUEKEN, Luke; Patricia MARTINEZ, March; Andrea MCINTOSH, Brooks; Steve MORITZ, Sembach AB, Germany; Leif NELSON, Eielson; Beate OECHSLE, Zweibrucken AB, Germany; Teresa PAQUELET-BROWN, McGuire; John PERICAS, March; Lori PLOSA, Bergstrom; Lani SMITH, Sunnyvale SCF, CA; Lori SOUTH, Tinker; Carol Ann TARR, McGuire; and Amy WIMER, Lindsey AS, Germany.

Cecil said that most everyone was happy with their assignments since they all got their first choice except for Mike KIEROD, who wanted McGuire AFB, but was kind enough to allow two of the ladies in the class to take that base. All were happy to leave Keesler except for Blanche who decided to stay. Tami BERBERICK was so happy to leave she apparently left before graduation!

A letter from Robert HEAD gave assignments for 1983 grads in UNT Class 84-06 at Mather. They are: Chuck COOPER, RC-135 nav, Offutt; John COPELAND, B-52G nav, Barksdale; Carlo DEMANDANTE, EC-130 nav, Davis-Monthan; Joseph DEWITT, F-4 nav, Homestead; Thomas FILBEY, RC-135 EWO, Offutt; Graham HAMILTON, B-52G nav, Blytheville; Robert HEAD, C-141, Norton; and Micah KILLION, F-lll, RAF Lakenheath, England.

Also, Robert MAIZE (’82), RF-4, Bergstrom; Mike MONZINGO, F-4 nav, Homestead; Mike PARKS, B-52H nav, K.I. Sawyer; Roger PERROT, KC-135, McConnell; J.D. RUDMAN, B-52G EWO, Mather; Thomas WHITE, C-130, Yokota AB, Japan; and Moses WINSTON, B-52G EWO, Andersen AB, Guam.

Before I go on to another subject, I need to mention a couple of guys who would just like to see their names in the magazine: Davey JONES, Boog POWELL, and Billy HORN.

When I accepted this position of class president, I knew there would be good times and bad times as well. My job now becomes very difficult as I must write to inform you that one of our classmates has passed away. On December 8, 1983, Bill MAY was killed in a T-37 aircraft accident at Williams AFB, AZ. Bill spent his final two years at the Academy in 24th Squadron, where we became good friends. On behalf of the class of 1983, our condolences are sent to Bill’s parents and finance, Kathy, in Las Vegas, NV. Bill’s picture was in the summer Checkpoints on page 48. I think now is a good time for all of us to stop and think of what we said when we took the oath. Bill died for that cause and should be rembered as doing so.

I’m sorry I had to end this article on this note. Good luck everyone, and remember: 83—BEST TO BE!

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KEITH FERRIS AVIATION PRINTS

"MiG Sweep" (18Vi" x 24")

UNLIMITED EDITION

Signed: $50 Unsigned: $35

"McChord Country" (16 3/4" x 36")

LIMITED

Keith Ferris is a noted aviation artist who has 25 paintings in the U S. Air Force Art Collection. The thorough research into each aircraft and event he portrays makes his work totally authentic and lifelike. He recently provided many of his paintings for a one-man show at the Air Force Academy.

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"Sunrise Encounter" (22" x 24")

LIMITED EDITION OF 1,000 $145

The 9" x12" paperback book, The Aviation Art of Keith Ferris, featuring 40 full-color reproductions, is also available for $9.95 plus $3 for shipping.