Checkpoints June 2008

The Air Force Academy continues to build leaders of character for the nation who develop the skills of perseverance and team work with guidance from upper class cadets and support from their peers. Just as the tradition of excellence in leadership training is essential to achieve this mission of the Academy, the tradition of giving and the positive impact it has made on USAFA over the years is also crucial to preserving and enhancing the exceptional Academy experience.

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Fifty years after the Class of 1959 received their commissions, the nation still “expects great things” of all USAFA grads.

Part one of a grad’s perspective of USAFA’s true value.

The Class of 2011 faced a tough road when they showed up at the Academy last summer, but since then they have proven they have what it takes to excel at USAFA.

The Classes of 1959 and 2008 are different in many ways, but the ties that bind all graduates are as strong as ever.

(Illustration by Lewis Carlyle and Sarah Wright)

Bill Boisture, '67, Treasurer

Michael Banks, '92, Secretary

Kevin Carmichael, 77

Steve Dotson, '63

Steve Finch, '65

Mike Flynn, '95

Fred Gregory, '64

Allison Hickey, '80

John Stealey, 70 Terry Storm, '61

George Van Wagenen, '67

Checkpoints (ISSN 0274-7391) USPS 898-080 is published quarterly in March, June, September and December by the Association ofGraduates, U.S. Air Force Academy. (Phone: 719-472-0300, DSN: 3332067. FAX: 719-333-4194, E-mail: editor@aogusafa. org.) A portion of your dues pays for your magazine subscription. Additional copies may be purchased for $2.50 each, plus $4.60 for shipping. Periodicals postage paid at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., and additional mailingoffices. POSTMASTER: Send changeof address to Checkpoints, Association ofGraduates, Doolittle Hall, 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475.

Opinionsexpressed 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 U.S. Air Force Academy, June 2008.

May the Dialogue Continue

The April 7, 2008 issue ofAir Force Times cited a recent Gallup survey on views ofthe Iraq war. Fifty-four percent responded that the history would eventuallyjudge the U.S. invasion and subsequent involvement in Iraq as mostly or totally a failure. Forty-two percent judged it mostly or totally a success.

Those survey results were in mind as I read the article by Col. Roger Graham, ’63, on the A-26 Nimrods (Checkpoints, March 2008). He concluded that with respect to the War on Terror, Americans need to be united and patient, and that American politicians need to support our national interest and troops.

In light of the Gallup poll, however, it becomes apparent that Americans are not (and have not been) united on our present war effort.

And, how is our national interest determined? In a democracy, military and civilian leadership cannot ignore the will of the people. We are a diverse nation with diverse views. Dissent, then, keeps us from having blinders on. Divergent views can be aired and considered, as they should be.

Col. Graham says that the lessons learned from Vietnam are political, not military. I agree. It was as a cadet that I learned from a classmate’s senior English essay that it was only after our refusal to support the U.N. Geneva Accord vote in 1956 to determine the leadership of a unified Vietnam that Ho Chi Minh resorted to war. Vietnam’s struggle, then, took on a nationalistic tone, much like that of our own nation over 200 years ago, to throw off foreign control. Our justification for invading Vietnam began to appear questionable to me from the beginning. Remember then how Pres. Johnson and his staff misled us—lied to us—in drawing our nation further into the Vietnam War. I’m referring to the Gulf ofTonkin incident.

When we send even a single soldier into battle who then dies in a war ofsuch uncertain “rightness,” then we must not forget that lesson.

So here we are at war in Iraq. I remember how Presisdent Bush held a virtual obsession regarding attacking Iraq, against his own intelligence advice, after 9/11. You may read of this in the book AgainstAll Enemies by Richard A. Clarke, President Bush’s former anti-terrorism czar. Clarke assured him

that Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11. I remember how President Bush then had to change his motive for war, once WMD were not found in Iraq. Even Vice President Cheney previously had expressed strong disagreement with toppling Hussein’s regime, when he served under President George H. Bush, Cheney knew then the difficulty, the profound costs, the profound disruption, and the protracted involvement entailed in such a plan. The war, then, takes on an appearance of, yes, being on shaky grounds in our pursuit of expressed national interests in the Middle East. Ifyou, the reader, are not familiar with this issue, I suggest that you do a Web search for “Project for a New American Century.”

How to reconcile differences ofopinion regarding something as weighty as engaging in war? Dialogue is essential. A pretense of unity, when there is none, would only propagate policies that don’t necessarily reflect the majority will of the people. We can, then, remain united as a nation while welcoming divergent views. Only in that way, I believe, can we come closer to the truth of an issue, and to the wisest course to follow.

May the dialogue continue.

Opposing Perspectives

John “JC”Miller, Class of1969

I noted an interesting contrast in approach between two articles in March’s Checkpoints one that mirrors two different approaches I’ve observed throughout my career. Col. (Ret.) Roger Graham’s synopsis of his excellent book The Nimrods ended with a list of the author’s “lessons learned” that had little to do with the conduct of military operations and a lot to do with domestic politics. A few pages later, Frederick Malmstrom’s review of Wordsfor Warriors: a Professional Soldier’s Notebook, emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and points out that recent scandals like Abu Ghraib resulted in part from a failure of military leadership.

In every unit I’ve ever been in, there have been those who were inclined to blame the military’s problems on external forces, whether they be the media, the public, or politicians. They have generally outnumbered those in the unit who were willing to take a hard look at things when they went wrong. I commend Mr. Malmstrom for having the courage to call attention to the too-frequent lack of accountability and real leadership in our military. The kind of clear-eyed analysis he offers can make a positive difference, both in the effectiveness of our military units and in how our military is perceived by the general populace, in the U.S. and around the world. On the other hand, Col. Graham’s exhortations for Americans, well-intended though they may be, will at best only fall on deaf ears. At worst they could provoke an anti-military backlash. If our country is to remain truly free, we in the military must remember that our obligation is to our mission and our troops—haranging civilians on how they should behave and what they should think is best left to pundits and politicians.

Graham Whitehouse, Class of1993

Toast to 2011

As a USAFA graduate, I stand humbly in awe of the Class of 2011. These future officers aspire to and achieve greatness; a direct consequence of the leadership that set the foundation for their success. For three decades, I have read alumni exchanges questioning the merits of the current institution. Those discussions now seem ethereal as I reflect as a parent and benefactor on the Academy experience this past year.

Most notably, my family was blessed after our home was decimated by a fire on Thanksgiving Day. The Class of 2011 rallied the Cadet Wing to help us through this tragedy. Before Christmas, my son’s AOC, Maj. Kathrine Winans, presented me with a check for $6,000 raised by the cadets. The gift seriously helped us, as it would be months before we received insurance benefits. What makes the feat extraordinary is that the fundraising was accomplished during finals week!

It is rare to see this level ofesprit de corps, professionalism and unity in an organization. Yet I was not surprised. From BCT to Recognition, I have personally witnessed the supreme mentorship by the upper class cadets, the officer and NCO staff, the commandant and the superintendent. The contemporary Academy structure and leadership deserve the credit. My family is now leveraging this gift by funding medical and construction supplies to rebuild an earthquake-damaged hospital in Peru. True to their calling, the Class of 2011 cadets will provide the labor during summer leave along with civilian students they recruited for this mission.

Al Wallace, Class of1980

Kudos forthe Board

I am writing to express my appreciation to you and the AOG Board for its decision to run the Blue Alliance advertisement in Checkpoints. I believe strongly that this is an appropriate decision. I hope that the awareness of a LGBT Graduate group from the USAF Academy will be helpful in keeping the Academy’s perspective in place... that intolerance and discrimination to any segment of our society diminishes the overall mission effectiveness of its product. I also hope, fervently, that this education process may be useful in preventing future bad press which the women integration issues at USAFA generated some years back. The board’s decision is proper and forthright. Thank you!

Tom Brumlik, Class of1972

Screaming Praise

“I Woke Up Screaming by Frederick Malmstrom, ’64, (March ’08 issue) brought back memories of a repetitive dream that I’ve had of being back at USAFA as a cadet. My dream (I’ve had roughly forty of them that I’ve kept track of) usually includes me as an older cadet (my present age), re-experiencing the system there, with one significant difference. I’m on a very casual, first-name basis with senior officers. Thus the dream has a compensatory quality to it and usually generates quite a pleasant mood, in contrast with the mood of most dreamers that Fred wrote about. In

case any readers save old editions of Checkpoints they may enjoy reading an article I wrote, Field ofDreams,” that appeared on pp. 32-33 of the Winter ’94 -’95 edition. It highlighted my real-life experience of my repetitive dream scenario when I attended our 25th year reunion (’69). Finally, at the reunion, I really was on a first-name basis with senior officers at the Academy; some of them were my classmates!

It would be interesting to hear of other grads’ experiences with repetitive USAFA dreams.

John “JC”Miller, Class of1969

In reference to “I Woke Up Screaming,” by Frederick Malmstrom, ’64, I’m exactly average in having had dreams of being a cadet once again: perhaps two to four times a year, though my subjective impression is that they’ve been decreasing in frequency since I left active duty in 1999.

I never woke up screaming, though sometimes I am uneasy. Sometimes, I somehow know I’m dreaming, and know it’s anachronistic, but cannot wake up right away. I am always my current age and in wheezy, 70 percent disabled condition, but someone (never identified, not even to the extent of being a vaguely threatening upperclassman, nor AOC) plainly expects me to keep up with the 19-year-olds physically, and refuses to listen to my excuse-mongering—even implying that I’m unprofessionally (or unethically!) shirking, by telling the bald truth about my inability to run, jump, or do pull-ups. Occasionally, there is a sense that the time pressure is on, that I’m going to miss a deadline, but I haven’t the faintest notion what I ought to be doing to remedy the situation.

I). Spraggins, Class of1975

Letters Submission Guidelines

Checkpoints welcomes letters from its readers. Please limit your submission to 250 words. For your letter to be considered, you must include your name and graduating year, if you are an Academy graduate.

Letters should be e-mailed to editor@aogusafa.org.

Checkpoints reserves the right to edit all submissions.

AS YOU MAKE YOUR WAY THROUGH this informative and colorful issue of Checkpoints I encourage you to take a few minutes to reflect on two significant milestones that will be observed in 2008. Specifically, the Class of 2008 is the 50th graduating class from our school and this year the AOG officially turns 40. Where does the time go?

After the new lieutenants toss their hats, pack their cars, and take their last look at USAFA in the rearview mirror, they - and we must acknowledge that they are entering an Air Force much different from what we found. As they join the Long Blue Line with pride and eager anticipation of the life adventures that await each of them, on behalf of the AOG membership, I welcome them to the graduate community and wish them a safe and productive journey in service to our country.

Our association was officially formed as a Colorado corporation in 1968. From a modest beginning, the AOG has become an important and permanent part of the Academy family. Many people - members, staff, directors, donors, parents, and friends - have played a role in the growth and successes of the AOG. Through governance disputes, Academy crises, fiscal challenges, war and peace, good times and bad, the AOG has pursued a three part mission that persists: Service to graduates; Promotion of the heritage and traditions of the Academy; Support for the Academy.

Few alumni organizations offer the full range of services to their membership that our AOG provides. A quick visit to the AOG Web site (www.usafa.org ) will lend insight and may surprise you. Do you want to get in touch with a classmate? Register for a class reunion? Join an AOG chapter? Get some career assistance or purchase an Academy souvenir? Do you want to visit the Academy or perhaps endow a gift? Whatever you might need, you’ll be impressed by the array of services and the knowledgeable people who keep our AOG running smoothly. Ifyou’ve never visited Doolittle Flail, put it on your list for the next time you’re in Colorado. I promise you’ll be impressed.

The heritage and traditions of our school are the glue that binds all graduates together no matter our graduating class, gender, or career field. We all reflect a common background from our time at the Academy, and it is appropriate that the AOG is active in the promotion ofthe heritage and traditions we share. We need to appreciate, however, that the AOG is not in the policy making business when it comes to matters that impact the heritage and traditions ofthe Academy. The Cadet Wing and the USAFA chain ofcommand determine the rules, while the AOG works to preserve and promote heritage and traditions in meaningful ways: the Heritage Trail, the Graduate War Memorial, the Class Wall, the Memorial Pavilion at the Academy Cemetery, and the new Mall of Heroes are prime examples.

Support for the Academy and the Cadet Wing is addressed in the AOG Bylaws adopted by the membership in 2006. The AOG mission statement calls for the AOG to work “... in partnership with the Academy to produce and foster graduates with an enduring commitment to integrity, excellence, and service to country.”

In Article X ofthe bylaws, this statement is made: “To help accomplish the mission of the AOG, a core purpose of the AOG is to work in support of the Air Force, the Academy, and the graduates to raise private funds to support and develop Academy, cadet and graduate programs that would otherwise not be funded.”

This whole area ofprivate support and fund raising for the Academy has received a great deal of attention in the AOG boardroom in recent months and is deserving of some comments. But, first, one additional statement from the bylaws to set the stage: “Vision: The Association ofGraduates (AOG) aspires to be the primary organization ofUnited States Air Force Academy (USAFA) graduates andfriends dedicated to supporting the Academy mission ofbuilding leaders ofcharacterfor the Air Force and the nation and aspires to provide service andsupportforgraduates and cadets.

It is generally accepted that USAFA needs private support to augment federal funding. Let’s also recognize that most of this support will come from a rather narrow audience which is anchored in the extended graduate community. At the same time, multiple, independent nonprofit corporate players exist to provide private support for the Academy - each with its own support objectives; each operating with a unique governance structure; and all attempting to raise money from the same audience. But, only the AOG has the resources, the history and experience, the communications links, the physical presence, and the broad base ofsupport within the target audience.

Successful fund raising - in any setting - depends on having a strong case statement, having a well defined target audience, being able to communicate with that audience, and having the

administrative infrastructure to conduct a successful campaign. Further, successful fund raising is not a unique event; rather, successful fund raising reflects a process over time that cultivates donors, nurtures their commitment, builds credibility with them, and provides reliable stewardship for all gifts. Growing small donors into large donors is an ongoing challenge that typically falls to the alumni organization of a university. There must be continuity and stability within the fund raising entity to gain and retain donor support.

To say that fund raising at the service academies is a challenge is to understate the obvious. The typical civilian university is funded differently, is structured differently, and enjoys an environment with fewer constraints and more opportunities for raising money from a much broader target audience. Yet we know that at USMA and USNA it has been possible to raise large sums ofprivate money to support unfunded programs.

As previously mentioned, the USAFA nonprofit community has several unique players. Some have existed for many years; some are inactive at present. In fact, the AOG has been, and still is, the biggest and most visible fund raising entity. The emergence of two more nonprofit corporations this year will expand the USAFA nonprofit community but the jury is out on how they will fit in and the impact they will have on the existing nonprofits and donors. The core issue and key question is “Will the new entities be able to attract new money or will they just cause the private support to be directed through different channels?”

Since most of the private support for the Academy will come from the same audience independent of the soliciting organization, it follows that the nonprofits doing fund raising to support the Academy must try to cooperate and collaborate, not compete. Major fund raising programs will be most successful when all of the nonprofits are working together. It is also logical that fund raising costs will be minimized when all of the nonprofits are working together in support ofAcademy endorsed projects and programs. However, each organization has its own needs and interests; therefore, finding ways for the independent nonprofits to work together becomes a major challenge.

As you may know, many civilian universities have found that separating fund raising and alumni functions has been a practical and successful organizational model for institutional fund raising. Interestingly, USMA and USNA have been very successful in raising large sums of money but they do not use the civilian model and they operate from two distinctly different fund raising structures. Navy is closest to the civilian model; while West Point has integrated both functions into their AOG. While we can learn from both, the circumstances that fostered their structures are unique to each ofthem; and, based on information available to me, there is no convincing argument to suggest that either model is directly applicable to USAFA. The other academies have evolved over a very long period, during different economic times, and have had time to absorb governance and environmental changes that are still part of our equation as we seek a fund raising model for our school.

Blending the independent players into a coalition to accomplish fund raising is a promising approach, but questions persist about how the USAFA nonprofit community should be organized: If we could design a structure that the nonprofits would

accept, how would it be administered?

How would a consensus be forged?

How would group decisions be carried out?

What are the legal considerations / requirements?

How are fiduciary roles reconciled among independent corporations if they are brought together in a coalition to serve a common purpose?

And, most importantly, what happens when one or more of the independent entities decides it does not want to play?

Some will consider these questions and conclude that the only rational solution is to consolidate all fund raising activities under the AOG. The simplicity of this approach is appealing on many levels; but, unfortunately, it ignores that other interested parties will be able to evaluate the information available and reach different conclusions.

One approach that has been suggested to separate impressions from facts and to determine what practical alternatives might exist is to have the nonprofits, in conjunction with the Academy Staff, undertake a formal study. Topics to be addressed would logically include the following:

a rigorous review of fund raising at the other federally funded service academies;

an investigation of the classic “university” model to better understand its possible application at USAFA; an examination of fund raising at USAFA today to give everyone a more complete picture ofwhat we have and a

better understanding ofwhat is needed going forward; and a comprehensive review of the Case Statement for private fund raising at the Air Force Academy.

The Academy superintendent has taken a personal interest in trying to find an organizational model for “development” at USAFA. He hosted a meeting last August for representatives of the nonprofits supporting USAFA and met with the AOG Board of Directors in February and again in May to explore the future of private fund raising at our school. He will host another nonprofit summit in August. The AOG board looks forward to interacting with General Regni and the other nonprofits to find a formula for success. This is not an easy riddle to solve.

There will be more on the role of the AOG in private fund raising in future issues of Checkpoints but a summary statement is in order. The AOG Board of Directors is committed to working with the superintendent and all interested parties to create an effective fund raising structure that will serve the long term interests of the Academy and the AOG. It is appropriate that the AOG plays a positive and productive role in this quest. However, the first obligation of the board is to insure the economic viability of the AOG. This requirement will be uppermost in our minds as we continue the discussions. H

Cleaves, '85 returns to lead Admissions Directorate

BY MELINDA VIDAL, ADMISSIONS MARKETING AND MEDIA

PHOTO BY LEWIS CARLYLE

The Air Force Academy is excited to welcome back one ofits own:

on Oct. 1, 2007, Col. Chevalier P. “Chevy” Cleaves, ’85, became USAFA’s 12th Director ofAdmissions.

“I count it a great honor to return to my alma mater and to be able to engage so direedy in helping shape our future Air Force leaders,” said Cleaves. The colonel leads a 60person staff, a world-wide force of over 1,600 Admissions Liaison Officers, and manages an annual budget of over $1.1 million. He develops policy, strategy, and plans required for admissions programming for the Academy, the Academy Preparatory School, and Falcon/Skelly Foundation Scholarships.

Q: What was your initial direction to the Admissions Directorate?

A: “I commended them for the obviously great work they were already doing. Col (Ret.) Trapper Carpenter, ’73, clearly led a professional organization which enabled them to so ably serve USAFA in order to bring in America’s best and brightest every year. I also shared my focus:

1. Work hard—continually push to be the best.

2. Keep the easy things easy—devote time and energy to those areas that

truly require that kind of effort.

3. Prioritize and be proactive—get out in front of the issues.. .1 neither want the Superintendent to have to think for me, nor do I want to have to think for our experts.

4. Frontload information and ideas— our capacity for information intake and application is huge let’s push the envelope.

5. Spare no effort when supporting USAFA’s mission—always look for a way to improve who we are and what we do.”

Q: What were your immediate priorities?

A: “I had to learn as much as I could from all of our Harmon Hall admissions professionals. They developed a fairly in depth series of immersions that proved invaluable. I did have a bit of a running start, because I started building background knowledge and thinking about admissions ideas/initiatives when I began considering the job at the end ofJuly. I also saw the need to do several other things quickly:

1. Restructure the Admissions Directorate to facilitate communication, integrate operations, and improve overall efficiency and effectiveness.

2. Develop an Admissions Strategic Plan to guide our organization internally and to communicate effectively with our stakeholders and potential partners. Although there is more to planning than just goals, this might be a good place to share our Admissions Directorate Strategic goals:

a. Tell the Academy story through innovative use of a comprehensive strategic communication plan.

b. Locate students with potential to become officers of character.

c. Expand the diversity of the USAFA cadet wing to better educate and train future officers expected to serve and lead in a diverse and expeditionary force.

d. Select the best candidates who will serve and lead the Air Force.

e. Integrate state-of-the-art technology into our business and program development processes.

f. Maintain a highly trained, mission oriented and motivated workforce.

g. Sustain the resources required for mission accomplishment and growth.

3. Initiate an Expanded Engagement Strategy. We are already very successful

in many ways, but I think we can really turn the corner by focusing all Admissions resources and using the foil spectrum of team members from our strategic partners to our Parents’ Clubs.”

Q: What are some of the major projects you and your team have created to support those priorities?

A: “We have done many things that I believe are noteworthy, both in their immediate application and what I think will prove to be their long term impact. Three that I’d like to highlight here are:

1. A redesigned Admissions website. USAFA has a great story to tell and we need to visually showcase what makes USAFA and its graduates special. We face a challenge of name recognition. As the youngest of the three largest service academies, we are not as well known as West Point and Annapolis, especially in the east. When our new website is finished, we will have taken a major step towards telling the stories that will draw the best candidates our nation has to offer.

2. A reenergized ALO Advisory Panel. Originally designed to advise the Director ofAdmissions on ALO force issues, the new model provides a board ofdirectors oversight to the ALO force which today numbers 1,644 strong. This group has eagerly accepted the challenge ofstandardizing operations, adopting best practices and increasing communications with the field.

3. A new Diversity Advisory Panel (in order to effectively and comprehensively address many challenges regarding how we command, control, and comprehensively execute our diversity missions). This newly formed group will address numerous issues affecting diversity and will also act as a board of directors, ensuring that we stay focused on this important mission area. Eighty six ALOs also serve as Diversity Affairs Coordinators and are specifically focused on ensuring that young people from diverse backgrounds across the nation understand the opportunities available at the Academy.”

Q: What did you find most surprising about coming back to the Academy from the Pentagon and the Joint Staff?

A: “I was surprised at how busy the environment is here. I enjoy working hard so it was great to find that while it is not the same as J3, it is still a very dynamic assignment. What wasn’t surprising was the number of committed professionals I have the pleasure ofworking with every day. From the superintendent, to the commandant, dean, athletic director, command chief, to the Air Base Wing, Prep School and Flying Training Group commanders, the DRU directorate chiefs, and all of their associated staffs there is a vision and steadfast dedication to recruit, retain, grow, encourage, and graduate officers of character for the nation who will lead this country both in and out of uniform.”

Colonel Cleaves sees his mission as creating a vision for the entire Admissions team. “I will spare no expense (in terms of dedication, effort, and focus) in order to ensure that we help the superintendent execute USAFA’s mission.”

Colonel Cleaves is a command pilot, with operational experience as a KC135 instructor pilot, assistant operations officer, and squadron commander; an Undergraduate Pilot Training T-38 flight commander; and a B-l Companion Trainer Program Chief. He served as a T-38 evaluator for the selection of the B-2 initial cadre and helped organize the B-2/T-38 Companion Trainer Program. He deployed and flew multiple missions as part of Operation Allied Force, the air war over Kosovo. He deployed and commanded a total force squadron as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and supported air operations in that theater as well. Additionally, Cleaves has held a variety of staffpositions at the wing, numbered Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force and Headquarters Joint Staff. These include positions as an Air Staff air and space strategist in Checkmate and as an Information Operations Division Chief on the Joint Staff. He completed IDE at Maxwell AFB’s Air Command and Staff College, and SDE in Norfolk, Va., as part of National Defense University’s first class of the Joint Advanced Warfighting School. B

50 years later Still expecting great things

BY KYLE DAVIDSON

FIFTY YEARS AGO, I HAD TO RAKE OUR ACRE YARD WITH A FORK, EVERY WEEKEND. I HAD TO WALK 10 MILES TO SCHOOL ONE WAY AND 20 THE OTHER, ALL UPHILL; I HAD TO STUDY FOR 8 HOURS AFTER SCHOOL, HELP WITH THE DISHES, WASH THE CAR, WALK THE DOG AND TAKE THE TRASH OUT; AND I HAD TO DO IT ALL WITH A SMILE ON MY FACE.

FORGET THE FACT THAT I WASN’T EVEN BORN YET, THINGS WERE TOUGHER BACK THEN. WE RESPECTED OUR ELDERS, KEPT OURSELVES PRESENTABLE AND DID WHAT WE WERE TOLD. WE KNEW WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF US AND WE DELIVERED!

Perhaps the above is a bit cliche, but there is a sense the older generation feels the world-our country in particular-has gone to hell in a hand-basket and that our youth have no respect or discipline, and are weak. But as a group of’59ers recently learned after spending an evening with members of the current graduating class, perhaps many of these attributions are unjustified.

To capture the significance ofthe 50th graduating class, the AOG hosted a roundtable dialogue between five local ’59 grads and five firstclass cadets due to graduate this May. The objective was to reminisce, compare and contrast experiences, and to pass on career advice.

Much has changed in our world and society in the past 50 years. Governments have changed, fashions have changed, economics have changed and some human values have changed. As such, it’s no surprise the Air Force Academy has changed. There are additional academic majors offered, the cadet population is more diverse and many more non-military extra-curricular opportunities are available. Next year marks the golden anniversary of the Academy’s first graduating class, and while a Saturday afternoon ice cream cone is no longer the pinnacle of a week of daunting physical and mental anguish, the Academy hasn’t altered as much as some might think.

“We were told on our opening day that our country expects a lot of us,” remarked retired major general Pete Todd, ’59, addressing the ’08 cadets. “We were all lucky to have had our Academy experience, which in many ways is quite different from yours, but I expect the fundamentals are pretty much the same.”

The discussion began with the salty veterans telling how it was in their day. Even for the rigid standards of the ’50s, the Academy atmosphere was an abrupt adjustment.

“There was shock value and then tie it to a schedule that gave you 21 hours offbase your first year ...” recalled Dr. Brock Strom, ’59, who was captain of the 1958 undefeated Air Force football team, and a 1985 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame.

“Total,” over-lappingly interjected retired colonels and fellow ’59ers Charles Meier and Don Brooks, laughingly.

“We all think the reason they didn’t let us go home is because they thought we wouldn’t come back,” joked Todd. “And they were probably right.”

Yet through the course ofconversation, the group found that their reasons for coming to the Air Force academy were not that different. Both generations were influenced by a desire to serve, a chance at a quality education and the possibility of a better life.

“I was a kid from the wrong side ofthe tracks in Northeast Washington, D.C., being raised by my mother who was a single parent,” began Todd. “I was really more aimless than most 16, 17 year-old kids were. I had no clue what I wanted to do.” He added that a high school briefing he really had no interest in other than it got him out of a history class set the foundation for changing his life.

“I had no prospects,” Todd continued, “no money, there was no opportunity that I was going to go to college, and here was an opportunity to go to a place where they pay you to go, the education is free It was made to order.”

Much like many of the ’59ers admitted, Todd’s original intention was to get his degree and serve his minimum tour, then get out and fly for the airline industries. But something happened here that changed him.

“I may not have been a career motivationalist but I began to look at the people that I was going to school with, people who were my mentors, who were guiding me and shaping me, and I said, ‘I could do this for life.”

Others were encouraged by family members to attend.

“I have four brothers in the Army, and they all told me to go into the Air Force I had a brother who went to West Point and

he was like, ‘definitely do not go here,’ joked ClC Jake Devlin, a Social Sciences major from Cadet Squadron-38. He added he also experienced a similar change in thinking as the retired general.

“My mindset drastically changed,” recalled Devlin. “I mean, I hated every day ofmy freshman and sophomore year. I wanted to leave. Then my junior year it just kind ofhit me, like, these are awesome people, were like-minded, we get stuffdone, I mean I was so impressed with some ofmy friends All-American athletes doing community service, 3.8 GPAs Then you go back home and your friends are still smoking dope and like, doing nothing with their lives and you’re just like, wow, I want to go back there where people are getting after life, getting out there and being successful.”

Of course, every graduate versed in their Academy history knows that the first graduating class was not trained by upperclassmen but Air Training Officers brought in from the Air Force. The older grads recalled how every little thing used to get them demerits or tours, from misaligned shoes to improper shaves. Yet it was through these rigid experiences that they bonded with one another, began to embody a mentality ofleadership and took ownership of training the underclassmen to the same standards to which they were held; a point which the current cadets countered is still the case even if the focus has shifted from strict rigidity to a more personal responsibility approach.

“I think you see with the advent of social networking sites and just the more free-flow of technology information, you’re seeing cadets not being tucked away; we’re not tucked against the Rockies; we’re not separated from the rest of the world,” said ClC Steve Boogar, a Management major of Cadet Squadron-36, in contrast to the seclusion the ’59 grads felt. “Going forward, you’re going to see people acting more like adults and more like mature individuals because they’re part of the world still and they’re seeing the way other people are acting.”

“When you relate the standards here with the standards in our outside society, the delta factor is probably just about the same,”

added Meier. “Back in our era, the standards in society were pretty rigid So when you came here and it was [more] rigid here, you had that delta factor between us. And so today, I’m sure you guys are in the same boat where it’s tough here compared to our society outside, and I would not be surprised if that delta factor remains probably constant I am impressed with the academics here now. I definitely do not think that I could make it through this place now. At the time I was here I graduated in the 90th percentile the upper 90 percent of the class but I am impressed with the quality of the education of the cadets coming through here now. Militarily, I’m not so sure.”

Another area of concern the coronating class expressed was with how their legacy of the Honor Code has been reinterpreted over the years.

“You know, our class has done a lot of things,” said Todd. “We are noted for having selected the falcon as the mascot but what we really did do was institute the Honor Code and we’re identified probably more than any other class, not just because we were the first ones to sign on and make that our very own [...] but we’ve got a few classmates who are really, let me say, incensed at how the administration of the code has drifted away from the very tough, rigid standards that we had.” The general admitted he was somewhere more in the middle. He pressed the cadets for their perspective on how the code is being handled.

ClC Connor Caples, a Physics and Mathematics major of CS35, and Boogar are honor officers for their squadron and urged that the system is fickle. There are numerous instances were the right decisions are made based on the cadet’s tenure and stature along with severity of the infraction, but then there are instances where grievous mistakes are made but the cadet is still allowed to stay.

“It’s a system that doesn’t involve only cadets anymore,” explained Caples. “I don’t know if it did when you guys were cadets, but now it involves cadets and a permanent party kind of umbrella over it.”

To capture the significance of 2008 being the Academy’s 50th graduating class, the AOG hosted a roundtable discussion between five graduating cadets and five local members of the first graduating class of 1959. Left to right are retired Col. Charles Meier, retired Maj. Gen. Pete Todd, ClC Connor Caples, retired Col. Don Brooks, ClC Jake Devlin, ClC Andrea Bush, Dr. Curtis Cook, ClC Aaron Baney, ClC Steve Boogar and Dr. Brock Strom.

“It’s a far more legalistic system right now,” added Boogar.

“Where a lot ofthings seemed black and white, open and shut in our day, I think some ofthe issues these days don’t lend themselves to such a sharp contrast between what is honest and what is not honest,” added ’59 grad Dr. Curtis Cook in support of a possible reason for the change. Cook also spent part ofhis career in higher education as a professor at Colorado College and added that he is still so impressed with the quality ofpeople the Academy produces.

“I think the cadets are great,” said Cook. “They’re going on and doing great things after they graduate. I think, time after time, they’re validating the whole idea of the Academy.”

But just because the handling ofhonor violations is no longer a black and white, cadet-controlled system, the soon-to-be grads assured the veterans that Honor is just as important to the cadet wing as it ever was.

ClC Aaron Baney, a Civil Engineering major ofCS-38 explained, “I think overall, the Honor Code is on our minds all the time not that we’re questioning whether or not I should steal something, but it’s always there. We know it’s there and it’s definitelyshaped everyone in our class, but I think the difference is, like you guys said, we don’t feel like we own it as much as you guys probably did.”

But the older grads have noticed a different sort of ownership among the graduating class.

You guys have seemed to have taken ownership ofyour leadership responsibilities,” commented Todd. “That’s your reputation by the way; that’s the way John Regni thinks ofyou. So you’ve done well. You’ve earned everybody’s respect,”

But after four vigorous years here, each cadet said they were definitely ready for life in the Air Force.

“We’re counting down days, just like you guys did, I’m sure,” lamented Baney.

“You guys are coming up on your greatest demotion that you’ll face in your whole life,” joked Brooks but with an air of seriousness about the transition from being the top of the Academy rung to a lowly second lieutenant.

The career veterans also advised the young cadets to be ready for facing a different environment and mentality in the Air Force.

“We all faced it at one time, or many times, throughout our careers, this lack of integrity that you will run into in some of the people that you’ll be dealing with and working for in the Air Force,” coached Meier. “And the pressures will be there. You just got to make your mind up, ‘what am I going to do?”

General Todd added he was excited to see what the future held for these fine young individuals.

“There isn’t one of us in this room who wouldn’t trade places with you, no matter what our experiences, our wealth, our prestige, our rank, whatever,” encouraged Todd. “In a heartbeat, we’d trade you, sight unseen, because you guys have got an opportunity to shape history. Unfortunately, you’re going to be at war for all of your lives, that’s my prediction You’ve been challenged. You found out you can do things you never thought you could do ...The system made you reach down inside yourself and find out that you had something left, and that my friends is a bracing experience ...Your country is depending on you. Go forth and make us proud.” S

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BACK TO IRAQ

AFA grad takes 911 calls to new level

Captain handles emergency transmissions from troops or radio checks, all while flying over Iraq in a C-130

Flying in slow circles four miles above Baghdad in the back of a four-engine C-130, the Air Force Academy’s Capt. Linda Thorstenson waits for a call.

It could be from a convoy under attack, or just someone checking a radio. She’s their security blanket, ensuring that when they pick up their radios, someone will hear them on the other end.

“We’re 911 operators at 20,000 feet,” said Thorstenson, who teaches cadets the basics of flying in Colorado Springs and helps coach the academy’s gymnastics team.

“We’re there if they need us.”

By Tom Roeder, The Gazette

Thorstenson’s job at Balad Air Base, north of Baghdad, grew from the physics of FM radio signals, which the Army and other military units use to communicate on the ground in Iraq. The signals usually work well, but distance, terrain and even the buildings of a city can block communications, leaving units isolated and out of touch with the people who can help in an emergency. That’s where the Air Force comes in on one of dozens of new roles for the service created to help in Iraq.

Thorstenson’s C-130s fly well above the city and can listen in on the convoys. If someone can’t reach headquarters, crews in the back of the plane can relay the message.

For Army units, the Air Force assistance can bring extra firepower from fighters or send medical evacuation choppers to soldiers who would otherwise be alone in battle.

It’s more than just theory for Thorstenson, whose husband, Capt. Craig Thorstenson of Peterson Air Force Base, is an electronics expert assigned to help the Army here and at any time could be rolling in one of those convoys.

“I obviously have a very personal interest in making sure we catch all the calls,” she said Wednesday. “Not just for my husband, but for all the people on the ground.”

The Thorstensons are among thousands of airmen in Iraq. Some fill familiar jobs, such as dropping bombs in close air support missions, and running passengers and cargo around the country, while others have relatively new roles such as manning machine guns, escorting convoys and helping the Army counter radiocontrolled bombs.

“It’s behind the scenes, and that is completely OK as long as we are there when we are needed,” the captain, a 2000 Air Force Academy graduate, said ofher work.

Thorstenson, a Dillon, S.C., native, has flown over Iraq at the controls of a KC-135 tanker that fueled fighters and bombers early in the war. At the academy, she flies T-41 Cessna trainers used to give cadets their introduction to powered flight. She said the cadets were surprised that their teacher was going back into combat.

Justin Pyle

“I told them, ‘It’s going to be you someday, and with what you’ll learn in four years at the academy, you’ll be ready when it comes,”’ she said.

At Balad, Thorstenson and other airmen live in trailers converted to barracks rooms like the accommodations given their Army comrades. It’s safer here than it once was, but alarms sounded several times Tuesday to warn of mortar attack.

She volunteered to take the job as assistant operations director ofJoint Air Battle Staff, a unit at Balad that includes Army and Navy service members.

Much of her work centers on keeping the radio crews trained and making sure the unit’s paperwork is straight.

But about twice a week she climbs into the cargo hold of a C-130 for a long day oflistening to radios.

Most days are quiet for the crews as they listen to the chatter from the units on the ground during flights that last hours.

“There are days when you wonder ifyou’re really helping out,” she said.

The radio crews in the sky jump into action when frantic calls for help come in.

If a unit in trouble doesn’t get a response from their Army headquarters, Thorstenson steps in, walking soldiers through the basics of what they need and relaying the 911 -like call to those on the ground who can give aid.

“When things go wrong, we make sure we stay calm,” she said.

She’s sometimes approached by the soldiers who have been helped out through the airborne radio connection. Their gratitude is deep, but Thorstenson tells them she was just doing her job.

She’s scheduled to return next month to the academy, where she plans to pass her war experience on to the next generation ofofficers.

“I’m going to be able to take this experience right back to them,” Thorstenson said. “I’ll be able to give them a fresh look at what it’s like.” H

■ Photo by

BY MARK CLODFELTER, ’77 PHOTOS BY KEN WRIGHT

Matching mountains

and fulfilling missions: One grad’s assessment of USAFA’s true value Part I of II

Mark Clodfelter, ’77, a professor ofmilitary strategy at the National War College, recently spoke to more than 500 members ofthe Class of2010 about a survey he conducted on the value of the Class of1977’sAcademy experience. The results are insightful and entertaining. Thefollowing is a transcript ofhis speech.

Imust begin by saying that there are a multitude ofthoughts swirling around in my head right now—and I’ll elaborate on them in just a minute. Yet I’m guessing that for most ofyou sitting in Arnold Hall, you’ve probably got only one thought on your mind, and it goes something like this: “Is this guy on stage going to say anything worthwhile, because I’ve got a lot ofother stuffthat I could be doing right now?” Yes, I still remember what it was like to sit in this building, some 30 years ago, listening to a guest speaker drone on while knowing that ifI didn’t get my butt back to the dorm to study for a Mech GRI had the next day, I was a dead man.

But those thoughts, indeed, were 30-odd years ago—and the fact that they were, is one ofthe notions now swirling around in my head. This year marks my thirtieth class reunion, and I can assure

you that 30 years ago I never thought that 1 would be giving the Harmon Memorial Lecture at the Air Force Academy. Thirty years ago I rarely thought farther ahead than the next weekend, much less what I’d be doing several years down the road. And rarely—if ever—did I think about what the value ofthe Academy experience might be to my subsequent “career development”—I wasn’t even sure I was going to have a career, especially a career as an Air Force officer. The passage oftime, however, tends to make you reflective. And 30 years is a significant chunk of time in most peoples lives.

It’s also a nice “round” figure. As my father-in-law pointed out, we Americans tend to focus on those anniversaries ending in “zero,” such as a tenth reunion or a fortieth birthday. My father-in-law is David Maclsaac—who was one ofmy instructors here when I was a cadet, and who also presented the Harmon Memorial Lecture, in 1987—20 years ago this year—and that’s another thought that’s swirling around in my head. In his lecture, he noted that in August 1907—now 100 years ago—the Army’s Signal Corps created its Aeronautical Division, and that division ultimately evolved into the United States Air Force in September 1947—which for us today is an even 60 years ago. He also

said that what transpired during those first 40 “formative” years laid the groundwork for the “modern” Air Force, and that the people who played a significant role in the creation ofthe new service—men such as Hap Arnold, Carl Spaatz, and Ira Eaker—were profoundly affected by what they did as junior officers. Thus, in his lecture, he chose to examine the early careers ofArnold, Spaatz, and Eaker, and he offered this quote from historian Russell Weigley as justification for that focus: What we believe and what we do today is governed at least as much by the habits ofmind we formed in the relatively remote past as by what we did and thought [only] yesterday. The relatively remote past is apt to constrain our thought and actions more, because we understand it less well than we do our recent past, or at least recall it less clearly, and it has cut deeper grooves of custom in our minds.

I agree with Weigleys assertion regarding the impact of“the relatively remote past,” and I’d like to use it as a focal point in my remarks to you tonight. Like my father-in-law, I aim to test it by going back in time, but my focus on the past is going to be a bit different than his. First ofall, I’m going to restrict my examination to only a four-year span in the lives of a particular group ofyoung people—the four years spent as an Air Force Academy cadet. Secondly, I’m going to focus on the group ofcadets that I know best—the members ofthe Class of 1977. My goal is to determine ifthe Air Force Academy succeeded in accomplishing its mission for my class—and, by implication, for other classes that the Academy has produced. My tentative answer is “yes”; however, the “yes” requires a bit ofexplanation because, as with many aspects ofthe Academy experience, there are a fair amount of“buts” involved (please pardon the pun).

Determining whether the Academy fulfilled its mission first requires a definition of it. I’ll provide that by citing the greatest source for Academy “knowledge” known to exist: Contrails. Here’s how ’77’s version defined it: “The mission of the Air Force Academy is to provide instruction and experience to each cadet so that he graduates with the knowledge and character essential to leadership and the motivation to become a career officer in the United States Air Force.” It seems straightforward, doesn’t it? And yet, I wonder about its validity as the Academy’s driving goal. How do you determine success or failure? The Air Force has often resorted to quantification to evaluate the effectiveness of many activities— to include the use of air power—and that approach is one way to evaluate USAFA. The stated mission emphasizes the production of superb leaders who become career officers, and those elements provide ready data points. Focusing on the “leadership” aspect of the mission yields a percentage of the Air Force’s general officers who are Academy grads. Focusing on the “career” aspect reveals how long the typical Academy graduate stays on active duty compared to officers produced by ROTC or Officer Training School.

The Air Force does indeed highlight both of those factors. The service’s personnel center notes that 150 of the Air Force’s 290 general officers currently on active duty—52 percent—are Academy graduates. From the year 1977, 2.1 percent of USAFA’s graduates with Air Force commissions became generals, compared to 0.5 percent of ROTC graduates and 0.3 percent from OTS. Over time, though, an Air Force officer’s commissioning source has not proved a significant determinant ofwhether the officer will make general. Data from 1980-2002 show that specific career fields and particular job assignments provide greater indicators of

making general, with pilots having the highest probability, and jobs such as a general’s aide producing a large boost to one’s own chances ofwearing stars. In terms of retention, USAFA’s Class of ’77 compared favorably to its ROTC and OTS counterparts, with 37 percent of its graduates still on active duty at the 20-year point, compared to 32 percent of 1977 ROTC graduates and 20 percent of those from OTS. For the first seven years of the span 19802002, the retention rate of USAFA graduates easily surpassed that of ROTC and OTS grads; but from 1987-2002 the Academy’s retention advantage slipped considerably, and in several years during that period both ROTC and OTS graduates had a higher retention percentage than Academy grads.

Officer retention would not, however, have appeared at the top ofBilly Mitchell’s list for evaluatingAcademy success. For Mitchell and those who followed closely in his footsteps, the vision of an “Air Academy” was an institution that produced aeronautical engineers and pilots. Mitchell saw West Point as “largely a waste oftime” for airmen who had different concerns from their counterparts on the ground. Indeed, I still recall hearing as a cadet that the real mission ofthe Air Force was “to fly and fight,” and the cadets in ’77 received extensive encouragement to become pilots. Undergraduate pilot training—UPT—became the great goal for many, and I well remember the battle cry of“2.0 and Go!” as a warpedjustification ofwhy we should not take academics too seriously. Until 1992, USAFA had unlimited UPT slots for medically qualified candidates who had the requisite 2.0 cumulative GPA at graduation. Since then, the Academy has received a quota ofUPT slots each year—the same number provided to ROTC graduates. Yet to the chagrin ofBilly Mitchell—and perhaps to others sitting in Arnold Hall tonight—West Point was the model chosen for the Air Force Academy, and an emphasis on flying did not appear in the Academy’s mission statement. The desire from Hubert Harmon, Dwight Eisenhower, and others instrumental in creating USAFA in the aftermath ofWorld War II was an Academy that produced the key leadership core ofAir Force officers, much like West Point did for the Army, through a broad-based educational program that stressed not only academics but also military training and athletics.

Still, an officer’s aeronautical rating trumps the commissioning source in determining the officer’s likelihood of becoming a general. If the Academy experience and its current $312,000/copy price tag does not guarantee more generals—as well as more officers who make the service a career—what, then, is the true value of this institution? To answer that question I thought that I’d take the “standard” Air Force approach—and gather more data.

This time, I thought that I’d go right to the source for data collection—to the graduates of USAFA. Furthermore, I thought that I’d rely on the data source that I knew best, given that I am a part of it—the Class of 1977, whose graduates are now 30 years removed from the day that we threw our hats into the air and are officially old. Hopefully, though, we’re not completely out of touch with reality, and the thoughts that we have about USAFA and its value to our lives might be useful to you guys who one day—believe it or not—will be gray-haired jokers like us, coming back for football games and reunions, discussing your medical conditions, and talking about how your children are now flying the latest mach-10 fighters that operate on solar power—or perhaps about how they’re flying the same B-52s that your grandfa-

thers flew Thus, you might think ofwhat we have to say to you, collectively, as a “preview of coming attractions”!

My data come from an Internet survey that I designed—with lots ofhelp —and that many of my classmates completed this past spring. Through the generous assistance of the Academy’s Association ofGraduates, which sent survey links to the 435 of us who are AOG members, I received 121 responses, a return rate ofalmost 28 percent, to 40 questions dealing with the perceived importance of the Academy experience. I requested anonymous responses, though some of my classmates chose to sign their names. Most provided “write-in” responses in addition to answering multiple-choice questions, and many ofthose responses were detailed—and quite revealing. In reading through them, I had to wonder just how “clueful” I had been during my four years here—a trend that my wife would say has continued for 30 years after graduation.

Before sharing the responses, let me give you some briefbackground on my class and those members ofit who completed the survey. We graduated 867 out of 1461 who arrived as basic cadets, with 851 receiving Air Force commissions. Eighteen remain on active duty as Air Force generals—and given that we are now all past the 30-year point, the only ones who can still be on active duty are indeed general officers. Twenty-one died while on active duty, and, though none were killed in combat, a majority ofthem died in aircraft accidents. As all

USAFA classes are distinctive in some ways, so too were we. We were the first class not to have mandatory chapel attendance on Sundays; we were the first to receive only 30 days ofgraduation leave rather than the previouslygranted 60; we were the first to lose the GI Bill benefits given to previous classes; we were the first to enter the Academy after Americas war in Vietnam had ended; and we were “Firsties” when women cadets first arrived at the Academy in the summer of 1976. Of the 121 grads completing the survey, 69 percent were pilots, 9 percent were navigators, 21 percent were non-rated or members ofanother service, and 2 percent were lawyers or doctors. These numbers parallel the overall percentages for the Class of 1977: 63 percent were pilots; 8 percent were navigators; 28 percent were non-rated Air Force officers or members ofanother service; and 1 percent were flight surgeons. Thirty-five ofthe 121 had service in either the Guard or Reserves after leaving active duty.

While the bulk ofresponses reflected favorably on the Academy experience, many also revealed a contradiction in feelings about the value ofthe institution. For instance, in response to the question— “What impact do you think that the Academy had on the collective perspective ofyour classmates at graduation?”—60 percent ofthose completing the survey answered, “Most ofmy classmates were inclined to see issues as ‘shades ofgray rather than in absolute terms by the time they graduated,” while 34 percent said the opposite—“most of my classmates were inclined to see issues as ‘black and white’ absolutes by the time they graduated.” When asked, “Flow do you think that the collective mindset ofyour classmates evolved during the fouryear Academy experience?” 44 percent answered that “as a group, my classmates became more conservative in their thinking,” 11 percent said they became more liberal, and 45 percent said they could not be classified “as either more conservative or more liberal.” The writein response of one classmate perhaps best sums up the conflicting data: “Perhaps you could describe ‘us’ as rigorous liberal thinkers and enthusiastic conservative actors.” Another expressed surprise at such questions for the class that had as its unofficial motto, “Just Passin’ Through” (we tried to get “JPT” engraved on the outside of our class rings and nearly succeeded), noting that the mindset was “liberal inside the framework of an organization that bombed people for a living, [and] so it had its limitations.” Many contended that the military is naturally more conservative, and one who did added this quote from Churchill: “Ifyou’re 21 and not a liberal, you have no heart. Ifyou’re over 21 and still a liberal, you have no brain!”

The disparity ofresponses continued when my classmates were asked why they attended the Academy. The top answer would have made Billy Mitchell smile—44 percent ofmy classmates said, “The desire to pursue a flying career,” almost double the 24 percent who listed the mission-oriented goal ofbecoming “a career Air Force officer” as their top choice. The “desire to receive a superb, ‘cost-free’ college education garnered the third highest number ofvotes, with 20 percent ofmy classmates selecting it. While almost 90 percent of the surveyed grads agreed that the Academy changed the way that they thought and their views ofthe world, with about 58 percent saying that it significantlyexpanded their intellectual horizons and 36 percent saying that it gave them more insights about the world at large, disagreement was widespread about what aspects ofthe Academy experience were responsible for their expanded horizons. Somewhat surprisingly, perhaps, for “Just Passin’ Through,” the top-rated choice

was the academic curriculum, selected by 35 percent ofthe survey group. The “views ofclassmates and other cadets” was second at 20 percent; the “military training program” was third at 18 percent; “the views offaculty and staff” fourth at 14 percent; and “participation in athletics” was filth at 5 percent. The remaining 8 percent ofmy classmates said that the Academy failed to expand their world view.

Disparate responses continued for questions about how organized religious activities and the arrival of women cadets affected the Academy experience. Thirty-three percent ofmy classmates commented that religious activities had a significant impact on their cadet life, while 28 percent said that they had no impact, and 37 percent said that they had some impact. Regarding the admission ofwomen, 59 percent ofmy classmates believed at the time that it was the right thing to do, while 41 percent did not. Those attitudes have changed a bit in 30 years. Only 2 percent ofmy classmates who originally thought that women should have been admitted now think that it was a mistake to do so, while 61 percent ofthose who thought it was wrong for women to be here 30 years ago now think that they should be part ofthe cadet wing. Still, many ’77 grads remain conflicted on whether women should attend USAFA. When asked if they would be pleased ifthey had a daughter or niece who attended the Academy, 77 percent said yes, 15 percent said no, and 8 percent said that they were not sure. At least one graduate revealed that his answer was not gender-specific with this write-in response: “Ifthey could get in I would be proud, but I would not necessarily want them to go there—that goes for sons and nephews, too.”

Despite the disagreement that the survey revealed, it also showed quite a bit of consensus regarding the Academy experience and its subsequent value. When asked how attending USAFA affected career development, 96 percent ofmy classmates thought that their Academy time improved their career prospects, regardless ofwhether they made the Air Force a career. Fifty-five percent ofmy classmates said that USAFA was invaluable to the success that they have had, and 41 percent noted it was, in general, a positive contribution. Almost halfofmy classmates said that the Academy had a significant posifive effect on the development oftheir personal standards; 39 percent acknowledged that USAFA had elevated their standards to some extent. Nine percent said that their standards were set prior to arriving at the Academy. “I came in with high standards,’ one ofmy classmates wrote,” but I left knowing specifically what I believe, and why I believe it. I may have been completely different had I attended a normal” university.” No argument here... Many ofmy classmates pointed to the Honor Code as a key factor in shaping their personal standards. Twenty-three percent remarked that it was “the dominant element that caused cadets to act with integrity,” while 73 percent said that “it reinforced notions ofhonor that most cadets already possessed.” Only 4 percent said that it was “ineffective in establishing a sense ofintegrity that shaped cadet behavior.” My classmates also believed that the Academyplayed a substantial role in molding their leader

ship skills. Ninety-two percent said that it had a positive effect, with 57 percent observing that it had a “significant” positive effect, and 35 percent saying that the effect was positive but less dramatic. Of course, learning to be a good leader often means learning what examples not to follow. See ifany ofthese write-in comments resonate: “At the Academy I did see many examples ofbehavior I vowed never to allow myself to repeat”; “the experience I had with my Air Officer Commanding taught me exactly how not to be;” “I learned just as much about what not to do as a leader.”

Such responses indicate that the Class of ’77 did not always think about USAFA fondly. When asked to relate their dominant memories of the Academy, and given several possible response options, 68 percent answered, “Pride tempered by memories of hard times,” while 16 percent said “excitement and enthusiasm.” One grad remarked: “It was a struggle, but I’m glad I graduated,” which likely sums up the feelings that many of us had. Questions regarding our fondest, and most negative, memories of USAFA amplify this view. These questions did not have multiple-choice responses—all of the answers were “write-ins,” and thus matching answers here have perhaps a greater significance than elsewhere in the survey. For 26 percent of my classmates, their fondest memories of the Academy were shared experiences with other cadets. “Time spent with good friends,” “camaraderie,” and “spirit missions” typified these responses, and many classmates placed an emphasis on bonding with “adversity” lurking in the background. The second-highest response reflected that mindset, but did so more directly: 18 percent listed “graduation” as their fondest memory, which one individual phrased as “surviving to graduate.” Participation in airmanship programs ranked third in terms of fondest memories, written in by 10 percent of the respondents. One classmate typed simply, “I am not being sarcastic here. I don’t have any fond memories”—but all the rest found something positive to say about their four years at USAFA.

Not that they were unable to find anything derogatory to say—comments abounded regarding the most negative Academy memories. Once again, I added together similar write-in responses, and once more found three dominant answers. Basic Cadet Training and the Fourth Class year topped the list, but by only a small margin, with 15 percent of my classmates mentioning some aspect of the “doolie” experience. “Being written up, chewed

out, marching tours, or serving confinements” was a close second, with 14 percent of my classmates providing that response, one ofwhom noted that he had marched more than 200 tours. Next was “loneliness and the Dark Ages,” which garnered votes from 8 percent. Three different categories tied for fourth with 5 percent each, including: a perceived misuse of the Honor Code to enforce regulations, “jerk instructors,” and “jerk AOCs,” with three of the latter zapped for sniffing underwear in laundry bins to guarantee that cadets were not placing clean, unfolded clothes in them.

Two other questions that had “write-in only” responses—no multiple choice questions to select from—provided revealing insights about the perceived value ofthe institution. When asked what part ofthe Academy experience for the Class of 1977 should be retained at all costs, the leading response from my classmates (19 percent) was the high degree ofemphasis placed on teamwork, bonding, and esprit de corps. Despite the negative memories produced by Basic Cadet Training and the Fourth Class system, 12 percent ofmy classmates said those programs should endure at USAFA, and indeed, they received the second highest number of votes for retention. One grad highlighted the confidence that came from completing the Fourth Class year: “I learned to work with others under pressure. Even if the situation seems tough, I know I can work my way through it.”

Third on the list was the Honor Code, mentioned by 11 percent. Two facets tied for fourth: a broad academic curriculum, and airmanship programs, with each receiving 7 percent ofthe vote. Two also tied for sixth with 6 percent: the Survival, Escape, Resistance, and Evasion

(SERE) program administered at the Academy for the Class of’77 and which was then a graduation requirement for all cadets, and USAFA’s athletic programs. Yet one ofmy classmates also said that he would retain everything about the Academy experience, or, as he put it, “The whole enchilada—nothing less. Ifyou shrink parts ofthe Academy,” he insisted, “you slip back to a civilian institution.”

That perspective resonated when my classmates were asked what part of their Academy experience they would change instantly if empowered to do so. The answers given here were more disparate than those provided about what to retain, perhaps indicating that the choice ofwhat to discard was more difficult than the choice ofwhat to keep. Nonetheless, a few dominant responses did emerge, and at the top of the list was the desire by 13 percent to eliminate elements of negative motivation such as tours, doolie hazing at meals, etc. Next, though, 11 percent of my classmates said that they would change nothing. One grad summed up his rationale this way: “I believe that AFA was my life shaping event. Once you change history, you change outcomes and I do not want that. So, I think I learned from the good, the bad and the ugly parts. I would not change a thing; they all have gone into who I am.” H

Editor’s Note: Because it would be expensive to publish the extensive notesfor this article, they were omitted. They can be made available by e-mail upon request to the editor

EXPLORE THE WORLD

Alumni Campus Abroad - Ukraine and Romania

July 14-27, 2008

Steeped in tradition but driven by a modern spirit, the Ukraine is rapidly forging a new identity in today's Europe. Enjoy the M.S. Dnieper Princess as you cruise from Kiev to Bucharest. See all this historic country has to offer-from Kiev with its Caves Monastery; enjoy a Cossack Horse Show in Zaporizhia, discover Crimea and its seaside villages and Yalta, site of the Conference. 14 days/ from $1795 plus air.

Alumni Campus Abroad Dublin

August 11—19, 2008

Stay in a real Irish Castle located just ten minutes from the center of Dublin. Visit Trinity College; embark on a train journey to Belfast, Northern Ireland, and see all the beauty and history of the Emerald Isle. Enjoy a pint in the Gravity bar at the Guinness Storehouse, home of Ireland national brew, and learn about the causes and consequences of Irish Immigration. Visit Newgrange in the Boyne Valley, said to 1000 years older than the pyramids. 9 days/from $2095 plus air.

Please note all dates, schedules and pricing are tentative, please see printed brochure for final details.

More information about these luxurious travel destinations is available online at www.usafa.org. Click on "AOG Services," then "Travel Programs" or contact Wayne Taylor at wayne.taylor@aogusafa.org or (719) 472-0300.

Preparing Officers of Character to Serve in Air, Space, and Cyberspace

BY DEAN OF FACULTY BRIG. GEN. DANA BORN, ’83

Secretary of the Air Force, The Honorable Michael W. Wynne and our Chiefof Staff, Gen T. Michael Moseley, have articulated a new and expanded mission for the United States Air Force. “The Air Force exists to fly, fight and win—to achieve strategic, operational and tactical objectives—unhindered by time, distance or geography. The Air Force’s mission is to ‘deliver sovereign options for the defense of the United States ofAmerica and its global interests—to fly and fight in Air, Space, and Cyberspace.’ As the Nation’s premier global, multi-dimensional maneuver force, the Air Force safeguards America by dominating the ultimate vantage ofair, space and cyberspace.”

Your United States Air Force Academy is proud to contribute to that mission in numerous ways. The education we provide to the leaders of tomorrow’s Air Force supports our USAF mission both directly and indirectly.

Over the last decade, the Academy has worked hard to keep the study ofair, space, and cyberspace power current to help fulfill the evolving Air Force mission. The challenges are apparent. When USAFA was founded in the mid-1950s, the Air Force’s senior leadership insisted that its faculty consist ofsubstantial numbers ofaviators and that its balanced curriculum focus on the needs of the national security environment as then understood. It’s fair to say

that their efforts succeeded and USAFA graduates have served the nation with courage and distinction for almost 50 years. Much has changed since then. Faced by a 21st century world ofdaunting and increasing complexity, marked by the threats of terrorism, economic globalization, competition for scarce resources, climate variation, and rapid technological change, contemporary Air Force officers must become intellectually adept in areas much broader than their predecessors ofjust a few years ago. Reinforcing warrior skills in subjects which range from history, language, culture, and regional expertise to mathematics, science, engineering, artificial intelligence, and air and space operations is trulychallenging.

The ChiefofStaffrecently voiced his concerns regarding the general state of knowledge of our Air Force’s heritage, and pointed out how that knowledge empowers all airmen to articulate what the Air Force uniquely brings to the joint arena. The multiple demands on cadets and the complex requirements ofmodern education too often combine to restrict time available for serious professional study. But the imperatives ofcommissioning leaders ofcharacter for the future compel our continued attention. Simply put, there is an absolute requirement for all USAFA graduates to become “air-minded” and “advocates of air space and cyberspace power” whatever their eventual career fields.

AIR

USAFA’s core curriculum serves as the bedrock for this knowledge and essential outcome. For example, during the past five years, our core military history course, “Modern Warfare and Society,” has featured three major lectures on the development of airpower: FirstAir War, airpower in World War One; the CombinedBomber Offensive airpower during World War Two; and the Vietnam Air War. These offerings have highlighted the evolution ofAmericas air arm and its contributions to fighting three major wars. More than 6,000 cadets have been instructed and inspired over that period.

Recognizing the need for further enhancement, the Department ofFfistory (DFH) has recently broadened the scope ofUSAFA’s only air power history course, “Airpower and Modern Warfare.” This expansion ofthe study ofairpower history will not only allow a more detailed understanding and analysis ofthe subject, but also permits course enhancements like simulation and wargaming, primary research, and oral history interviews, among other things. These new offerings represent a fundamental and major improvement in the teaching ofairpower history at USAFA. Furthermore, DFH is contemplating the introduction of an air and space power history track designed to bring additional understanding and appreciation for air and space power to those cadets interested in majoring in history.

Just as the Department ofHistory provides our cadets a well-needed perspective on where we’ve been as a nation and a service, our Department ofAeronautics (DFAN) also

serves as a great example ofUSAFA’s forward looking technological stance as we continue to meet the challenges ofbeing the world’s greatest air and space force. Key to this keen technological insight into our service’s future and needs is the real-world, funded research and design efforts conducted by each cadet in the Aeronautics major.

The cornerstone to DFAN’s leading-edge, cadet-based research efforts is the Aeronautics Research and Modeling and Simulation Centers located in the aeronautics laboratory. This world-class facility houses seven major wind tunnel and propulsion test facilities which make up the Aeronautics Research Center, as well as an extensive array ofnetworked high performance computing systems in the laboratory and across the nation which comprise the Modeling and Simulation Center. These facilities and a strong concentration on small teams working closely with a seasoned researcher allows DFAN to partner with a number ofgovernment, industry, and academic organizations to support current and future weapon system development. By involving cadets in every project, we provide them with real-world engineering problems that simultaneously support broader Air Force needs. Below are a few current “real-world” examples ofexperimental, computational, and aircraft design efforts by cadets that are making a “real-world” difference.

Few current AF configurations are older than the venerable KC-135, but rising fuel costs and increasing mission requirements demand we consider modifying these legacy aircraft to be more efficient. DFAN has answered the challenge by investigating utility and aerodynamic performance ofwinglets for the KC-135R. This integrated computational and experimental research effort seeks to design winglet options and then determine the net effect ofthe various options on mission duration, range, and handling qualities.

Beyond our efforts with legacy aircraft, support for future concepts involves experimental investigation ofaerodynamic performance ofthe next-generation Space Shuttle for the Air Force Research Lab and NASA. USAFA’s wind tunnel efforts have provided key data for use in modeling and simulation. The resulting analysis showed NASA the best locations for payloads relative to the booster body. Additionally, DFAN is teamed with Arnold Engineering Develop

ment Center on the propulsion front to investigate how inlet design affects turbofan performance. Using an actual jet engine test bed, cadets are determining how operability is affected by new, exotic inlets that greatly distort the flow entering the engine. Looking even further into the future, aeronautics and physics major cadets are investigating various aero-optic concepts in hopes to improve airborne laser performance as the beam encounters ill-behaved airflow near the aircraft surface which may lead to a much more efficient airborne laser.

Providing a perfect counterbalance to hands-on experimental research is the computational research conducted in the Modeling and Simulation Research Center. Working in teams, full-time researchers collaborate with faculty and cadets to leverage state-of-the-art, high-performance computational resources to conduct research. The marriage ofcomputational fluid dynamics studies with experimental results has greatly expanded the array ofcapabilities offered to DoD and other customers while, at the same time, significantly enhancing our cadets’ educational experience. These cross-discipline research teams provide unique solutions and conduct world-class research to meet today’s increasingly complex missions and requirements.

Given the superb education and research experience our cadet’s receive, DFAN’s current number two national ranking is no surprise and further underscores the major impact our cadets have on insuring the USAF remains the world’s greatest Air and Space force.

SPACE

In addition to our support in the “air” arena, more than 50 years ofinnovations in space education and research at the Academy have coalesced into a truly unique set ofspace programs supporting USAFA outcomes, and Air Force and Department ofDefense needs. Our graduating cadets are now more space savvy upon entering their Air Force careers than ever before.

Through a diverse combination of classroom, research, and laboratory facilities, along with a broad spectrum offaculty space expertise across multiple academic departments and disciplines, each cadet today has the opportunity to learn fundamental knowledge about space systems, the space envi-

ronment, and space policy. Cadets directly participate in satellite design, development, and operations. They explore relationships among politics, policy-making processes, law and technology as they relate to the civil, military, commercial, and intelligence space sectors. They also study national space power to include roles, missions, doctrine, military operations, and battlespace effects. Additionally, summer programs for both cadets and faculty at world-class facilities across the United States, and operational and acquisition experiences with Air Force Space Command units, the Air Force Research Laboratory, the National Reconnaissance Office, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and industry partners complement and enhance the Academy’s integrated space capabilities while sharing USAFA expertise in key areas to support these agencies’ objectives.

The Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies, formed three years ago and renamed from the Center for Defense Policy last year in honor offormer President Dwight D. Eisenhower, seeks to better integrate thinking about space into teaching defense policy issues to cadets and other young professionals—expanding cadet education about the importance ofspace to the nation into other Helds ofstudy. The Center’s first initiative was the development of a textbook, SpaceDefensePolicy, designed for the beginninggraduate or senior undergraduate level, and also for use by space professionals throughout the DoD.

The Eisenhower Center also produces its own scholarly journal, Space and Defense, and sponsors one-day workshops on specific topics such as China’s space strategy and space situational awareness. This summer, the center will again bring cadets from the service academies together with students from the Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology and George Washington University in the second Summer Space Seminar, a two-week program held in Colorado Springs and Washington, DC, introducing some of the nation’s best students to the challenges and opportunities presented in space studies.

The Department ofAstronautics administers the FalconSAT and FalconLAUNCH senior capstone design programs (about which you have no doubt read in previous issues of Checkpoints) that provide innovative

space experiences preparing USAFA cadets to become tomorrow’s space leaders. In each program, cadet teams, mentored by a multidisciplinary group offaculty members, apply systems engineering processes to design, build, test, and fly small satellites performing real DoD missions. They provide a “handson” educational experience for cadets, while applying a high level ofpractical engineering to solve real-world problems. Currently, the FalconSAT emphasizes developing a basic capability to fly small Air Force and DoD scientific and engineering payloads on threeyear cycles.

FalconSAT-3, launched in March 2007, was designed to operate on orbit for 12 months. It is still providing valuable data to the USAFA Department of Physics, Air Force Research Labs, and other DoD agencies, and is expected to do so for at least two more years.

Our next satellite, FalconSAT-5, will carry a cadet-briefed, DoD-endorsed and -prioritized suite ofpayloads, and has already been accepted for launch aboard another Space Test Program mission in December 2009 from Kodiak, Alaska. Our cadets are hard at work today completing design, fabrication, and testing ofthis system.

The FalconLAUNCH sounding rocket program—which began in 2002 in large part due to the popularity ofFalconSAT—is a two-semester capstone design course that provides another realistic design experience for senior cadets. Currently, FalconLAUNCH emphasizes developing a basic capability to fly small Air Force and DoD scientific and engineering payloads on a yearly basis. With the experiences ofthe previous five years, this year’s FalconLAUNCH VI program is the most ambitious and challenging rocket design and launch in USAFA’s history. This year’s rocket was designed to carry a real-time video imaging system and a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System Inertial Measurement Unit, developed by the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center, hopefully, to altitudes of over 140,000 feet and speeds in excess ofMach 4.

The Department ofPhysics (DFP) is involved in many diverse space education and research programs from miniature plasma sensors that fly on the FalconSATs to novel, light-weight optics and fast wavefront sensors for adaptive optics. The department is an active member of an Air Force Office of

Scientific Research Multi-University Research Initiative to better understand and characterize the upper atmosphere and its impact on satellite operations. Cadets and faculty are involved in developing new algorithms and software tools for space object characterization that run in a parallel environment on high-performance computers.

DFP’s newest initiative is the acquisition of a two-meter telescope capable oftracking satellites. The Academy’s new Fast-TrackingTelescope will form a cornerstone of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) education and research. It will provide world-class capabilities and facilities to help cadets learn about SSA, enhance the Academy’s existing efforts in SSA education and research, and strengthen or establish partnerships with the SSA operational and research communities. “First light” for the new telescope will be sometime in the next 2 to 3 years.

CYBERSPACE

The Air Force’s mission statement is notable for the inclusion of the term “cyberspace.” The US Department of Defense defines cyberspace as a “domain characterized by the use ofelectronics and the electromagnetic spectrum to store, modify, and exchange data via networked systems and associated physical infrastructures.” This definition and context emphasize that cyberspace is a warfighting domain, on par with air, space, land, and sea. It is not a mission or a mission area, but a domain in which conflicts take place and adversaries vie for dominance. Competition and conflict in cyberspace are ongoing. The Academy is intensely involved in preparing cadets to fly, fight, and win in this domain.

Preparing our graduates to operate in such a domain requires a broad-based core curriculum. The core courses directly supporting cyberwarrior development are from a variety ofacademic departments, such as computer science, law, electrical engineering, philosophy, physics, chemistry, behavioral sciences, engineering, and military strategic studies. Our aim is to produce officers who can not only effectively operate and fight in cyberspace, but do so in a legal and ethical manner with full understanding ofthe complexities ofthe human and military strategy as applied to the domain ofcyberspace.

Another way in which we develop cyberwarriors is through organized military

training events. BCT integrates skills training and efforts are underway to ensure adequate consideration is given to the domain of cyberspace. Several other summer programs are candidates for cyberspace training events that serve to reinforce the academic content provided by cadet education programs. Examples ofsuch programs include Global Engagement, an air expeditionary forcedeployment exercise, the summer space program, and the emerging summer unmanned aerial vehicle program. USAFA has begun examining and expanding all its programs that touch every cadet to ensure that every graduate is provided the foundations required to “fly and fight in cyberspace.”

For the cadets that choose to be Computer Science majors, one area of specialization open to them is cyberwarfare. This includes a focus on information assurance and the concepts associated with both offensive and defensive applications in cyberspace. Students selecting this option take courses in cryptography, information warfare, and network security in addition to traditional computer science courses. Since 2004, USAFA has gradu

ated 37 cyberwarfare computer scientists. The Academy’s emphasis on information assurance, both within the Computer Science major and across the curriculum and institution, has received national recognition as a Center ofAcademic Excellence in Information Assurance Education, a joint program of the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security.

To provide students with a workable knowledge ofthe practical aspects ofcyber warfare, a project-oriented approach is taken in the classroom. This allows students to “get their hands dirty” with the offensive and defensive tools associated with cyber security. Projects such as password cracking, intrusion detection, and vulnerability assessment give students a real-world understanding ofthe concepts they learn from textbooks.

One significant project of note is the annual Cyber Defense Exercise, a network defense competition held between the service academies. Students must design, operate, and defend a network ofservices against an attacking opponent, in this case, a National SecurityAgency red team. Each team is evaluated on how well they design a secure

system, provide required services, and react to attacks. This experience is very realistic and represents a scenario they may well be involved in within a few years ofgraduation and commissioning.

In addition to classroom instruction in cyber warfare, students and faculty at the Academy have the opportunity to participate in state-of-the-art research projects across a wide range ofcyberspace topics. In recent years, Computer Science students have participated in projects at the NSA, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the Air Force Information Operations Center.

As you can see, your Academy is dedicated to providing the Air Force the future officer corps it needs to carry out its critical missions. In addition, we are directly contributing to these missions in our cadet-involved research efforts. The Air Force Academy is committed to do its part in developing officers ofcharacter equipped with the intellectual curiosity to operate in the chaos and uncertainty ofcombat, whether or not it takes place in the atmosphere, in space, or in the cyber-world. B

A PASTEL IIORJZ0N

CATCHING A C.UMPSF. OF THE ACADEMY ART COLLECTION

BY LEWIS CAKLYLE

For those who have never witnessed a Norman Rockwell painting in person, the experience is quite extraordinary. One of the most celebrated illustrators in American history, the artist is best known for his countless magazine covers for the Saturday Evening Post, telling the stories of everyday America through its humble citizens. Though most Americans have grown up with Rockwell’s iconic images by way ofcalendars, posters and books, few have actually seen an original painting in person. Thanks to the Air Force Academy collection of art, one such painting hangs in the Admissions office of our very own Harmon Hall.

Originally created as a recruiting poster for the Air Force in the 1950’s, the Rockwell depicts a jovial pilot backed by a trio of fighters. Renowned for his attention to detail, the artist leaves nothing to be desired, from the glint of the parachute rip cord all the way down to the stitches on the pilot’s flight jacket, booking closely, one can see that the artist is light on the brush, feathering his paint strokes in a delicate blend of colors which leave finite textures on the canvas. A true piece of Air Force history, the painting is one of more than 1,200 pieces which comprise the art collection here at the Academy.

Paul Martin is Historical Properties Custodian of the Academy collection, which is divided into three categories. “First you have Academy art,” explains Martin, “which is produced by local artists, graduates, and cadets. Then there is the Air Force Art

Touched by Lightning

Artist: Robert Bailey

Ironically, the vast size ofthe Academy’s collection is also its biggest challenge.

Program, which includes pieces on loan from the Pentagon Art Program. And finally there is the art which is registered with the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright Patterson.”

The collection covers a wide scope ofartistic and historical artifacts, ranging from an international plethora ofornately forged metals awarded to General HoytVandenberg, to an original Audubon Society print ofIcelandic falcons. The collection even includes a hand made Samurai sword reputed to have been given to General Carl Spaatz during the Japanese surrender ofWWII on board the USS Missouri.

Naturally, a vast majority of the pieces in the collection depict the story of aviation, a time honored subject with which the Air Force is most intimate. Throughout the corridors of Harmon, Arnold, and Fairchild Halls, these artifacts unite to form a history of flight, from the rickety wood and canvas mockup of the Wright Flyer, to the unforgettable dog fights ofWorld War II, to the brink of the stars with the space program.

Ironically, the vast size of the Academy’s collection is also its biggest challenge. Despite the multitude of artifacts on display

all over campus, the archive is filled with pieces never before seen by the public. “Ideally,” describes Martin, “the biggest issue, and what would solve it, is a centralized viewing exhibit. A museum. What we need is a permanent gallery that tells the Academy story, not just of the school, but of the entire base, from its inception.”

Plans for a permanent collection are still a long way off, but as art from all over the world continues to arrive, developing a means to display it will be critical to the success of the program. As it stands, there is no formal strategy for a museum, but the need is increasingly evident with every new canvas which arrives.

“The chapel should always be the main draw,” says Martin, “because it’s so well known. We don’t want to build a facility that detracts from that, but rather one that works in conjunction with the visitor center and the chapel. We’re looking at the existing planetarium as a visitor experience. This helps to centralize the experience ofthe visitor without sacrificing security within the cadet area.”

Martin is also quick to point out that the Air Force Academy is the only service academy without a museum. Both West Point and the Annapolis have permanent collections on display to the public. Though the Air Force is the youngest branch of the armed

Medals awarded to Gen. Idoyt Vandenberg. From left to right: Military Order of Italy, Egyptian Order of the Nile, Grecian Order of the Phoenix

forces, its role has proven critical in virtually every military campaign since its inception, making a strong case for a museum here in Colorado Springs.

“It would be good to distill the collection down,” says Martin. “There is a lot ofstuff that is extraneous to the Academy. The collection should really tell the Academy story. It’s time to start thinking about that.”

The proofis on the walls: in its 50 years, the Academy has definitely written a memorable story. One way or another, we can be certain that people will continue to chronicle the Air Force’s pursuit offlight. Whether they are depicting ancient relics ofthe past, or modern machines ofthe future, the artists who have contributed to the collection would certainly agree that one need only look to the canvas, to see the skies ahead. O

Samurai sword reputed to have been given to Gen. Carl Spaatz during the Japanese surrender ofWWII on board the USS Missouri

BRADLEY

Bradley

A REVIEW BY

Frederick V. Malmstrom, ’64

THERE ARE SURPRISINGLY FEW FULL-LENGTH BIOGRAPHIES OF GENERAL OF THE ARMY OMAR N. BRADLEY. ALAN AXELROD’S SLIM VOLUME BRADLEY FILLS THIS GAP NICELY. MUCH HAS BEEN WRITTEN AND REWRITTEN ABOUT PATTON, HALSEY, MONTGOMERY, AND SCORES OF OTHER MILITARY FIGURES WHO EAGERLY BATHED IN THE SPOTLIGHT OF THEIR OWN SELF-CREATED PUBLIC RELATIONS.

CONTRARILY, HORN-TOOTING WAS NOT THE PERSONALITY OF OMAR BRADLEY. IN FACT, BRADLEY PERSONALLY DISAPPROVED OF PATTON’S GRANDSTANDING, DESCRIBING HIM AS A “STRANGE DUCK.” AXELROD PRESENTS A STRAIGHTFORWARD, CHRONOLOGICAL, AND EASILY READABLE BIOGRAPHY OF THE LAST OF OUR FIVE-STAR OFFICERS. HIS BOOK SENT ME SEARCHING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS QUIET, PERSONABLE, AND DUTY-BOUND MILITARY LEADER ABOUT WHOM SO LITTLE IS WRITTEN.

True, Bradley was a member ofWest Point’s legendary Class of 1915, “The class the stars fell on,” and interestingly he was also the first ofhis class to be promoted to general officer rank. But Bradley’s first 25 or so years ofactive duty were, to say the least, unremarkable. He had spent 13 ofthese years as an instructor, including two tours at West Point, one tour ofROTC duty, and two tours at the Army Infantry School. In 1941 he was also promoted directly from lieutenant colonel to brigadier general. Therefore, this promotion was all the more remarkable because Bradley had never commanded a field unit until he found himself a division commander later in 1941, and he had never been shot at until the North African Campaign in 1943. Nevertheless, from the beginning—in my opinion—Bradley proved himself to be probably the most capable andreliable ofall the major field commanders ofWorld War II.

In a few words, probably no general officer ever displayed such an across-the-board talent as a planner, an administrator, and a field commander. There is an old urban legend among academic scholars that the Comanche American Indian tribe had wartime chiefs and peacetime chiefs, but no chief could handle both tasks. Bradley was the exception to this widely held belief. He excelled in both peace and war.

About half of the book is devoted to Bradley’s notable WWII achievements. It follows carefully Bradley’s role as a combat commander from North Africa to Normandy through to the final VE day. Also included in the narrative is this patient commander’s sometime thorny, sometimes close relationships with the flamboyant likes of Patton, Truscott, and Montgomery. Although personally disapproving of their behaviors, Bradley got along with all of them.

However, one ofBradley’s greatest and unrecognized active duty accomplishments was as the head ofthe Veterans Administration. President Truman had taken note ofBradley’s extraordinary patience along with his unusual ability to get along with politicians, and so by personal presidential invitation, Bradley swallowed his disappointment and took over and revitalized an inefficient and faltering VA into an effective civilian organization. By 1948, Bradley was named Army ChiefofStaff, and by 1950 he was appointed Chairman ofthe Joint Chiefs. It was only in 1950 that Bradley’s accomplishments were fully recognized by Congress, and he was at last promoted to 5-star rank, the last ofAmerican generals to be promoted. Coincidentally, he was also the last ofthe 5-star generals to die at the venerable age of 88 in 1981.

A significant portion ofBradley relies on Bradley’s own autobiography, Omar N. Bradley A Soldier’s Story. However, this book is also well footnoted and referenced from numerous other respectable sources. There seems to be nearly universal agreement that Omar N. Bradley was the most belatedly appreciated and all-around capable officer the U.S. Army has ever seen. Not every general needs a press agent, a brass band, and a super egoistic personality to achieve greatness. B

Axelrod, Alan (2008). Bradley, (with a foreword by General Wesley C. Clark). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. 204 pages. $21.95

Story and photos by Ken Wright

After a visit to the hospital to check out an unusualpain , a marathonrunning cadet discovers the biggest race ofhis life could bejust living longenough to graduate. By looking to hisfaithforstrength, hefound a peacefulpath to guide him along the way.

Just about any day at the Air Force Academy can be challenging. From the weight of academics, to military training and athletics, it all adds up. Cadet 2nd Class Greg Rettier knows this as well as anyone in the Cadet Wing. The humble and quick-to-smile 20-year-old is entering his senior year at the Academy and, like his classmates, he’s more than ready for the final phase of his USAFA experience.

When the Green Bay, Wise., native arrived at the Academy in summer of 2005, he was certain the next four years would be some of the toughest and most rewarding ofhis life. His prediction could not have been more true.

One of the things that helped him handle the stress that all doolies feel that first year was finding a niche on the Academy’s Marathon Club.

“I loved running since middle school because it took lots of hard work and didn’t take as much talent as some other sports,” Rettler recalled. “So I was a little bit better at it. I got more payoff for the work I did. Running is a bit more about pain, than some other sports like golf.”

Though he tried out for the track team his freshman year, his initial trial was a bit of a false start.

“I tried out for track as a decathlete because I wasn’t really talented enough in any of my high school events to get on a collegiate division one team. I did the 800 and 400 [meter] in high school, but couldn’t post good enough times to be competitive,” he recalled.

The team accepted one cadet that day, but it wasn’t Rettler. Fortunately, he soon received a serendipitous e-mail saying the Marathon Club was looking for new members. Though he hadn’t pursued marathon running in the past, Rettler thought the longdistance races might be a good fit. Training for the endurance sport was a tough adjustment, but the biggest hurdle was learning good time management.

“Pretty much all your time is taken up your first year here. For my first marathon I ran only two or three times per week. My biggest run was on Saturdays. I ran as long as fast as I could, and then spent the rest of the week recovering,” he recalled. He worked up to running 20 miles on those Saturdays. Recovery days included one or two runs for as long as time would

allow, but he knew he had found his sport when he finished his first race with a respectable time of 3:07 at Ft. Collins, Colo., in the spring of 2006.

A few months later he felt even prouder when he and his classmates completed their doolie year; a feat all cadets relish. For the next year-and-a-half, Rettler solidified his position in the club by working as hard and long as he could to improve his speed. By the start ofhis junior year, he was in the best shape ofhis life and looking forward to another year of chasing the finish line. But everything dramatically changed one weekend in October 2007.

During a morning shower, he noticed soreness in his groin; something that quickly gets any man’s attention. When the pain persisted through the weekend, Rettler decided to not take any chances and went to the Cadet Clinic to get a doctor’s opinion.

“The doctor said I couldn’t rule out something serious, so I had an ultrasound the next day.” A few hours after the procedure he received an ominous call from a urologist from Ft. Carson Army Hospital. The specialist told him to come in the next day and to not eat anything after midnight in preparation for possible surgery.

“I kind ofknew then that it was cancer, but he didn’t tell me until we were in person. He said he wanted me on the operating

table by 9 a.m.,” Rettler recalled in a matter-of-fact manner.

The cadet’s parents were notified immediately of their son’s condition.

“My mother was more distraught than I was. My family and friends were all worried about me.”

Though he knew his life was threatened, Rettler focused on recovering and comforting his mother and girlfriend, who were understandably shaken.

“It’s scary to know you have no control over your life, but the peace I had from trusting that Christ had control of my life made me less afraid of dying.”

The timing of the ordeal also made him more confident that everything was going to be alright. About a week before he found out he had cancer, Rettler prayed that God would do “great things” in his life, no matter the cost. “And then this happened,” he recalled. “So I thought it was related. And I knew He was going to do some amazing things with it. And I think He is.”

With his mother by his side as he recovered at the home of a friend in Colorado Springs, the aspiring fighter pilot was faced with a tough decision.

“The way cancer works is that they use a CAT scan to look at your lymph nodes and they can tell if there is lots of cancer there, but not if there are only one or two cells; and that’s all you need for it to spread,” he said. “The test and blood work showed no sign of cancer, but statistically there was still about a 30 percent chance of cancer being there.”

The only way to be certain he was clear of the deadly disease was to have an invasive surgery that would include a painful recovery period. The procedure is called Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection, commonly referred to as RPLND, which helps determine the stage and type of testicular cancer. Because the lymph nodes behind the abdominal cavity are the most common place for the cancer to spread, examining them is highly encouraged.

“The cancer can go from your lymph nodes to your lungs and brain and all over the place. So if they found nothing in your lymph nodes, then you are usually good,” he said.

The idea of another surgery was anything but attractive, but Rettler knew he was not alone.

“Thousands of people from all over the world were praying for me. It was an amazing experience,” he said gratefully.

The Academy excused him from all his classes while he and his family flew to the University of Indiana where 20 lymph nodes were removed. To the reliefand many others, the results confirmed that he was again healthy.

Remarkably, the young racer was again testing his endurance by running up Academy mountainsides a month later, but that first jaunt was a little premature.

“They told me I could resume ‘full physical activity’ in four weeks, but I don’t think they understood what full physical activity for me was. Going up the mountain was fine, but coming down was kind of painful.”

Rettler says that getting through the entire experience was understandably tough, but one thing in particular helped him sleep at night when his future was in question.

“My faith in God was definitely crucial to getting me through the ordeal. It helped me be stronger for my family and friends who were afraid I could die. I was able to accept that things were out of my control and I had to learn to trust God and doctors more than I had before.”

As he enters his “firstie” year at the Academy, Rettler is working hard to return to his former fitness level, but his outlook has shifted a little. Instead offocusing as much on grades and race times, he wants to invest more in people; and eventually a family. 9

To learn more about surviving testicular and other types ofcancer, please go to www.cancer.org.

Forever preserve a moment in stone

Honor

In recognition of your $250 tax-deductible gift to the Association of Graduates, a 4" x 6" granite commemorative paver will be permanently placed near the entrance way at Doolittle Hall.

For more information, contact The Office of Annual Giving at (719) 472-0300, or visit the AOG online at www.usafa.org.

Double your gift for free-make the match!

The Association of Graduates Matching Gift Program

Please ask if your employer has a matching gift program today!

Did you know you might be able to double or triple your giftfor FREE? Thousands of companies match their employees’ charitable contributions^/orfree. Matchinggifts play a key role in helping your Association ofGraduates fund graduate, cadet and heritage programs at the Academy, and every dollar truly affects the day-to-day lives of more than 4,000 cadets. Association

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Schwalier, ’69, still in the fight

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, top Pentagon lawyer Daniel Dell’Orto, and unnamed Justice Department personel have forced USAF to halt and reverse its efforts to restore retired Brig. Gen. Terry Schwalier’s second star after a 10-year struggle. The new decision was elaborated in a March 28 letter from Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne to the Air Force Review Boards Agency, ordering it to hah implementation of its recent decision to correct “an injustice” and retroactively promote the Class of’69 graduate to major general. That corrective step has drawn strong praise from the Air Force Association and many other Air Force groups. They believed Schwalier had been made the fall guy by the Clinton Administration and some members of Congress for alleged command failures in the 1996 terrorist bombing of Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia. Nineteen airmen died.

Though the Senate had confirmed Schwalier’s promotion to major general before the attack, and though critics produced no credible evidence of fault on the part of Schwalier, Secretary of Defense William Cohen blocked his second star. In his March 28 letter, Wynne appeared to be acting under duress. He said Gates “has informed me” that Dell’Orto thinks the Air Force acted beyond its authority, that “the Department ofJustice supports [Dell’Orto’s] conclusion of law,” and that “the Secretary of Defense agrees.” The service had already changed the general’s official biography to reflect the new situation, giving his new grade, promotion date, and retirement date. All that is now to be rescinded. Schwalier could not immediately be reached to discuss options, which clearly could include further legal action in federal court. (Courtesy AFA - Daily Report)

Academy announces distinguished graduates

The U.S. Air Force Academy and the Association of Graduates honored retired Lt. Gen. Ervin J. Rokke, ’62, and Mr. Gregg Popovich, ’70, as the winners ofAcademy’s 2007 Distinguished Graduate Award during the cadet noon meal in Mitchell Dining Hall on April 4. The recipients also received special recognition at the Academy’s Founders Day Dinner.

Also recognized were the Academy’s 2006 Distinguished Graduate Award recipients, retired Lt. Gen. Robert D. Beckel, ’59, and retired Maj. Gen. Edward J. Mechenbier, ’64, due to their original ceremony being cancelled last year following a snowstorm.

The Distinguished Graduate Award began in 2001 and is presented by the Academy superintendent and the Chairman of the AOG to a USAFA graduate whose lifetime of achievement is of such significance as to set them apart from their contemporaries.

Air Force launches mentoring program

Officials from the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Kirtland AFB, N.M., and the U.S. Air Force Academy launched a new mentoring program when they signed a memorandum of agreement March 17.

The agreement enables AFOTEC members to mentor Academy cadets enrolled in or considering engineering, scientific and mathematics disciplines.

The AFOTEC mentoring program also supports the secretary of the Air Force’s desire to increase opportunities for officers serving in these disciplines to interact with cadets in order to demonstrate and explain post-graduation opportunities for cadets when they are commissioned.

The mentoring program will leverage AFOTEC officials’ experience in operations, test and evaluation to create a comprehensive approach assisting Academy cadets from all classes, including senior cadets during their capstone course. The AFOTEC Mentoring Program will promote engineering and scientific disciplines through guest speaker engagements, summer research opportunities and mentoring senior cadets in test principles as applied to their capstone design projects during the academic year. (Courtesy AFPN) IS

Female U-2 pilots bringing ISR to commanders below

BY SENIOR AMN. ROSS M. TWETEN

In its 50 years offlight, the U-2 Dragon Lady’s controls have been occupied by only six women pilots.

Three of those six are currently in the Air Force, and two of those three are currently fighting in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom with the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing’s 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron; the only U-2 squadron in the area of responsibility.

Maj. Merryl Tengesdal and Capt. FFeather Fox, ’00, both U-2 pilots with the 99th ERS, home-stationed out of Beale Air Force Base, Calif., continue to add to women’s and the U-2’s history, while fighting the Global War On Terror 70,000 feet in the air.

From these altitudes, Maj. Tengesdal and Capt. Fox, along with their wingmen of the 99th ERS, provide other warfighters with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance of the battle space.

Since its introduction in 1957, the U-2 and the men and women who support it have provided the United States, and all its branches of military, with an unmatched upper hand on the enemy by providing high-altitude intelligence to commanders.

“After we’ve completed a mission, and landed the aircraft, it’s rewarding to know that we’ve helped the forces on the ground, and kept them safe,” said Captain Fox. “Even after 50 years, the U-2 has a significant impact on the mission.”

According to Lt. Col. Thomas Engle, ’90, 99th ERS commander, the U-2 is an unforgiving aircraft which requires exceptional airmanship to fly, and is arguably the most difficult aircraft in the world to land. Pilots are carefully screened before being accepted for training, to include a three sortie interview profile to determine the applicant’s aptitude for flying the “Deuce.” Fewer than half of the candidates invited to interview eventually get qualified to fly combat reconnaissance missions in the aircraft. Missions in excess of nine hours wearing a full pressure suit while

The U-2 Dragon Lady. (Rose Reynolds)

Capt. Heather Fox receives 100 percent oxygen in preparation for a mission while SrA Roric Ongaco, 99th ERS physiological support division technician, monitors Captain Fox’s suit pressure at a base in Southwest Asia, March 25, 2008. (Levi Riendeau)

flying at extreme altitudes are very fatiguing and require a high degree of professional commitment.

“MajorTengesdal and Captain Fox are both experienced U-2 instructor pilots bringing a high level ofmaturity and skill to the 99th ERS,” said Colonel Engle. “I place a high degree of trust in these officers, as they face tough decisions every day to keep our pilots and aircraft safe while executing the mission; and they do it admirably.”

Fewer than 850 airmen have piloted the U-2 since its introduction.

According to Captain Fox, the small number of women whose names are on that list is just another number.

“To be perfectly honest I really don’t think it’s that big of a deal,” she said. “The aircraft flies the same for women as it does for men. I’m just glad I’m a part of an aircraft with such a great mission.”

According to Major Tengesdal, every contribution in the military is important to winning the GWOT.

“As a pilot, all that matters is the mission, no matter ifyou’re male or female,” she said. “We get it done out here, and I’m happy to be a contributing member of this team. It’s an honor to be a part of the U-2 heritage.” H

Left to right: Capt. Heather Fox, 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron U-2 Dragon Lady pilot, stands while Senior Amn. RoricOngaco (right) and Staff Sgt. Lisa Tetrick, 99th ERS physiological support division technicians, help attach the torso harness to her suit. (Levi Riendeau)

cademy volunteers help Navajo Korean War veteran

By John Van Winkle, USAFA PA

AIR FORCE ACADEMY CADETS, CIVIL ENGINEERING PROFESSORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS PERFORMED VOLUNTEER WORK DURING THE ACADEMY’S SPRING BREAK MARCH 24 TO 28 ON A NAVAJO RESERVATION IN NAVAJO, N.M.

Organized by the Academy’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Southwest Indian Foundation, one of this year’s spring break projects took the Academy volunteers to the home of Korean War veteran Hoskie Bitsilly, Sr.

Mr. Bitsilly’s wife, Grace, suffered a stroke recently and is now wheelchair-bound, but their home was not wheelchair-accessible.

“The cadets are trying to renovate the deck, to extend out the deck so mama can move back in here,” said Mr. Bitsilly. “She’s staying at a friend’s house right now.”

Cadets used tools and materials provided by the Southwest Indian Foundation, as well as salvageable lumber from the old deck.

“The first thing we had to do was demolish the first deck. We had to clear that out so we could actually work here,” said Cadet 2nd Class Nicole Ramstein. “Once we got that cleared out enough, we put up the poles for the support and roofof the deck, then we started trying to frame it up.”

While one group ofvolunteers worked on the new porch and wheelchair ramp, another group worked on installing a new door.

“We replaced the existing door with a wider door and frame, so she can actually get into the house with her wheelchair,” said Maj. Dan Derby, one of the volunteers and an Academy civil engineering instructor.

Academy volunteers also installed handrails inside the house, and a railing around the heater so the residents would have something to hold on to when near the heater and can maneuver safely around it.

Two miles up the road, the other half of the Academy volunteers were learning an unscripted lesson on site conditions, putting their engineering experience and coursework to use.

For the past decade, Academy cadets working toward environmental and civil engineering majors have built hogans as part of a summer core engineering course. Cadets have built almost 20 hogans over the past decade, and got a chance to see their work on its final location this week.

“This site actually comes from the Navajo hogans that the cadets built in the summer of2007,” said Maj. John Christ, ’96, the officerin charge ofthe group and an Academy civil engineering instructor.

The home’s foundation is elevated four feet off the ground, requiring cadets to do some excavation work.

“Now what we’re doing is coming around and filling in the sides underneath the building from the foundation to the base of the floor, and we’re just putting in a cinderblock wall,” said Major Christ. “But before we can do that, we had to go down to the foundation, which required us to basically chisel out frozen

Previous page: Air Force Academy Cadet 3rd Class Ted Ornelas and Cadet 2nd Class Holly Bigelow excavate frozen soil from underneath an Academy-built Navajo hogan March 26 in Navajo, N.M. The soil must be excavated before concrete and block can be set to finish the traditional eight-sided Navajo home’s foundation. (Photo by John Van Winkle/USAF)

ground so they could place their block.”

That task resembled stonemasonry more than excavation, but brought home some long-term lessons, said cadets.

“There’s a lot ofgrunt work, and sometimes you’ve got to get dirty and do stuff like that,” explained Cadet 3rd Class Ted Ornelas. “But when you’re leading your airmen, they’re going to be doing stuff like this and now I have a better understanding of what they’re going through. So when I ask them ‘can you go dig up some frozen dirt,’ I’m not sitting in my office in my warm chair. I actually understand what they’re going through. And I can actually get down and help them with it.”

The hogan built at the second job site will be dedicated March 29, after which the family can then move into their new, Air Force Academy-built home.

“Now that I know this is a lot of fun, I’m going to do this again next year,” said Cadet Ornelas. S

Elections and Nomination Procedures

The AOG is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of not more than eleven elected directors and up to four appointed directors. Elections are conducted and appointments made in odd-numbered years. Approximately half of the elected and appointed positions are open at each election cycle. Any AOG member willing to fulfill the requirements of directors may submit a nomination package. There are two nomination tracks. With the support of five members, a candidate may be considered by the Nominating Committee for placement on the ballot. By petition of 25 members, a candidate may be placed on the ballot without review by the Nominating Committee. Complete nomination information can be found on the AOG Web Site at www.usafa.org. Nominations for the 2009 elections will be accepted in 2008.

Northwestern Preparatory School

“Northwestern Prep provided me with an academicfoundation that raised my SAT scores by 200 points, as well as an ability to focus on the essentialpreparation to succeed at the Academy. As a result ofthe

I gained there, I became

Student in CST, Outstanding 2nd Class Cadet in 3rd Group, Team Captain of Women s Fencing, and Outstanding Squadron Commander ofthe #7 ranked squadron ofthe wing! 2002

The U.S. Air Force Academy and the Association ofGraduates honored the winners of2007 and 2008 Distinguished Graduate Award during the cadet noon meal in Mitchell Dining Hall on April 3. They also received special recognition that night at the Academy’s Founders Day Dinner.

Earning this prestigious honor for their distinctive contributions to society and the nation for 2007 were Lt. Gen. Ervin J. Rokke, ’62, and Mr. Gregg Popovich, ’70. Lt. Gen. Robert D. Beckel, ’39, and Maj. Gen. Edward J. Mechenbier, ’64, are recipients for 2006, but had their ceremony cancelled last year due to a snowstorm.

The Distinguished Graduate Award began in 2001 and is presented by the Superintendent of the Academy and the Chairman of the AOG to a USAFA graduate whose lifetime of achievement is of such significance as to set them apart from their contemporaries.

The purpose of the award is to:

-Recognize outstanding performance by graduates who have demonstrated a lifetime of service to the nation

-Favorably promote the Air Force Academy and its graduates

-Promote and increase awareness ofgraduate heritage among alumni and cadets

General Rokke graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1962. His professional career involved multiple assignments in the intelligence community, both in the U.S. and overseas, and included a tour ofduty as the Dean ofthe Faculty at USAFA. His last active duty position was president, National Defense University in Washington, D.C., before retiringJuly 1, 1997. Dr. Rokke currently serves as the Chair for Character and Leadership at the Air Force Academy. A full biography is located at www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=696l.

Mr. Gregg Popovich is a 1970 graduate ofthe U.S. Air Force Academy. He played basketball all four years at the Academy and served nine years on active duty using his degree in Soviet Studies while serv-

Distinguished Graduates, Maj. Gen. Edward J. Mechenbier, ’64, Lt. Gen. Robert D. Beckel, ’59, and Lt. Gen. Ervin J. Rokke, ’62, were honored at an April 3 Founders Day dinner at the Academy. Also honored as a DG was Mr. Gregg Popovich, 70, who was unable to attend the celebration. (Photo by Lewis Carlyle)

ing tours in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. He returned to the Academy to serve as assistant coach ofthe basketball team for six years before moving on to be a successful coach in the NBA. He is currently the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach ofthe NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. A full biography is located at www.nba.com/media/spurs/frontoffice_0708.pdf.

General Beckel was in the first graduating Class of 1959. He was a three-time Cadet Wing Commander, All-American basketball player, and flew the solo slot for the Thunderbirds. He also flew 313 combat missions in the F-100 during the Vietnam War and served with distinction during Deserts Shield and Storm. He was the first Academy graduate to become the Commandant of Cadets. After retirement, General Beckel served for eight years as superintendent of the New Mexico Military institute. A full biography is located at www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=4637.

General Mechenbier graduated from the Academy in 1964. He was shot down in June 1967 while flying an F-4C on his 80th mission over North Vietnam and was held as a prisoner of war for nearly six years. He was a leader in the Ohio National Guard and later transferred to the Air Force Reserve where he served with the Joint Logistics Center and Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He also served on the Reserve Forces Policy Board. In naming General Mechenbier a Distinguished Graduate, the Academy and Association ofGraduates are honoring the concept ofthe “citizen-airman” for the first time. A full biography is located at: http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=10969. H

On Oct. 3, 2008, a major event of the 2008 Forward Air Controller Reunion will be the dedication of a memorial honoring more than 250 FACs, crewmen, and support personnel who died in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Each list of names on the two wings of the memorial will be headed up by the name of a recipient of the Medal of Honor. The names of 29 USAFA graduates will be on the memorial. Other engravings in bronze and granite will tell more of the little-known story of Forward Air Controllers who had a major combat role in the war and who saved the lives of many American soldiers and Marines in battles on the ground. Medal of Honor recipient Col. (Ret.) “Bud” Day has been invited to be the dedication speaker. The Misty “Fast FACs” will dedicate a Misty memorial as part of the overall FAC Memorial. Flybys by vintage FAC aircraft and F-I6s of the Colorado Air National Guard are expected *fl» to be a part of a ceremony worthy of the American heroes honored.

The Forward Air Controller Association invites everyone who wants to pay tribute to these men to join in the dedication ceremony. Information about the 2008 FAC Memorial and the Reunion is available online at www.fac-assoc. org/ColoradoSprings.htm.

Trading

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if you have any doubts.

During the Outstanding Academy Educator dinner

THIS SPRING, C1C HlLA Levy, this year’s Rhodes Scholar, gave a powerful SPEECH ABOUf HER REMARKABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT the Academy and how THE FACULTY MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. HER WORDS ^TERE SO MOVING THAT WE OUGHT THEY WERE WORTH SHARING g with Checkpoints readers.

BY C1C HlLA LEVY PHOTO BY KEN WRIGHT

A FEW YEARS AGO, I never would have thought myselfcapable or worthy ofdelivering this speech. I most certainly still do not. I am honored and humbled to be here today to share in this event in which we commemorate those who have made outstanding contributions to the learning and development of cadets like me.

There is a lot to be said about education, and I think everyone in this room knows that. What I would like to convey to you, however, is the impact of a good education; the impact ofbeing an outstanding educator, a dedicated faculty member, an attentive mentor, or even a caring parent. Education is a collective effort. It comes not from one person, but from a whole community and a life ofexperiences.

Throughout my life, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery has had a special place in my heart. The title character is an innocent traveler from outer space who arrives in the Sahara desert after visiting many other planets. On each planet, the prince meets a different adult and reveals their weaknesses. Sometimes I wonder what the Little Prince would think if he came through each of

THE IMPACT

our micro-planets, the DF departments. He would marvel at the cadets wishing, but unable, to go to the restroom in the Astro department. He would wonder why the Philosophy department is the Pluto of the Dean’s solar system, or should I say Plato, isolated on the first floor from everyone else. He would stare puzzled at the Chemistry department drawing seemingly primitive figures—organic compounds. Or maybe he would try and figure out what Maj. Brothers does in the human performance lab with all of those trampolines and dunk tanks. The little prince might laugh at all the bizarre things humans do on Blue Tube productions in the English department. He might stare curiously, while holding his nose, at Lt. Col. Bishop fiddling with cadavers in the anatomy lab. But most ofall, he would be awed by the sheer amount of time the Academy’s teachers are willing to stay in the nearly windowless Fairchild Hall, teaching people in blue.

The Academy is an interesting place. Luckily, you faculty have an easy population to teach. Your students are extremely well rested. They

arrive to class fashionably dressed. They have no additional responsibilities, so class is always their priority. They even use standardized cups for drinking their beverages in class. Certainly, their attention is easy to get and keep. Yes, certainly...

I think we all know what a unique challenge it is to teach at the Academy. Your dedication to teaching and to being a presence in the classroom is special. It makes our institution stand out among others. This priority makes me proud to be a student at the Air Force Academy, where I know I will never have to fight for a professors attention; where, for the most part, they will know everyone in the classrooms name; and where I am confident I will be given a fair opportunity to succeed. The relationships cadets build with their faculty is like none other. I certainly do not know offull professors at other institutions providing their cell phone numbers to students if they need help, related to the class or not. Or how about the tremendous faculty who fight to acquire money and resources to provide cadets with enriching out-of-the-classroom experiences and opportunities, or even give us a bit ofmorale?

I believe that I am speaking to you today because of these collective experiences that have given me so much more than just the bachelor in science degree I hope I am still receiving next month. I am here because of the statistics teacher who made stats come alive, letting us predict the odds that he would have another girl—which he did. I am talking about the genetics instructor who would come in on Sunday nights to provide us with 2 or 3 hour long study sessions prior to our GRs. About the humanities teachers who let me experience the joys of Mozart, Beethoven, and the romantic poets. My economics teacher who will never let me forget Adam Smith and bonobos—a monkey species closely related to humans. Yes, that was economics I am talking about. I am here because teachers cared enough to be innovative and original. They enriched cadet learning by bridging disciplines together, music with military history, biology with economics, French literature with Islamic culture, law with medicine, and the largest bridge: astro with life. I am also here thanks those who pushed me where I had never been before: the organic chemistry teacher who taught me what it was to fail—or at least end up with a C+ —the research advisor who taught me what research is all about: “stuff happens,” and the behavioral science professor who challenged my class, which now remains very close, to say what we think. To those whom I’ve had the good grace of having as teachers, and for all whom I have not, I thank you.

Towards the end of The Little Prince a fox appears and talks to the prince, who is feeling down. (I suspect he was studying for a physics GR). The fox teaches the prince the story’s moral. “On ne voit bien qu’avec le coeur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux,” the little fox says. “It is only with the heart that you can see fully. What is essential is invisible to the eyes.” The fox’s truth is one that many have forgotten, but it has pushed members of our profession to seek a life ofselfless service, often with little material compensation. The fox calls his lesson “his secret,” because this bit ofknowledge is not available to all. FFaving it is a privilege.

I firmly believe that the Academy educational experience is an enormous, yet invisible, privilege. We have a unified mission and vision, and yet we produce officers who are able to calculate lift coefficients, modulate frequencies, interpret DNA, build an airbase, write an essay, speak another language, interpret the UCMJ, plan a joint or coalition attack on a virtual enemy, solve a differential equation, calculate the speed of an electron, know what an electron even is, set SMART goals, understand American politics, locate any country on a map, use geospatial information systems to make their own map, psychoanalyze you (while designing a satellite), plot a supply and demand curve for cadet time—(that is easy, demand: high, supply: zero), recite Napoleon’s life history, figure out how much force it takes to pull a bolt apart, and try to make sense of some imperative that is apparently categorical, all in the course ofbuilding a program using a dinosaur. [I think I got all ofyou ...]

It is hard to appreciate this breadth ofknowledge in the day-today grind, but no matter how lethargic your students may seem in your class, be assured they are getting something out of it; they just may not see it until much later. Teaching at a military institution with a core curriculum like ours is an enormous challenge, but I encourage you to enjoy every minute ofit, because you do make a difference in our lives. You all may teach in different subject areas, however, what you share is a great responsibility to show dozens ofyoung adults the path into officership, leadership by example, an understanding of morality in practice, and the standards at which our nation expects us to perform. Although you may not give your students anything more material than a GR on their desks, when you make them feel like an integral part of the classroom, when you treat them as an individual worthy of respect, when you get involved, you give them that most essential gift—the one invisible to the eyes.

Thank you for giving me, those before me, and those who will come after me, an incredible array of invisible gifts. B

OF A GOOD EDUCATOR

Shriver, ’67, and Biaha, ’65, inducted into Astronaut Hall of Fame

More than 40 Hall ofFame astronauts gathered at the Kennedy Space Center May 2-3, to induct the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Class of2008. Ofthe four astronauts inducted this year, two are Air Force Academy graduates. Retired colonels John Biaha, ’65, and Loren Shriver, ’67, were each inducted into the elite group ofhonorees.

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, which hosted a gala on May 2 celebrating the 2008 class, oversaw the selection of the voting committee and induction process. The committee chose the 2008 inductees based on their achievements during their spaceflights and on their contributions to the U.S. space program in other activities. The 2008 class is the seventh group of shuttle astronauts to be named to the hall since 2001.

Biaha became an astronaut in 1980, and over the span of 17 years, he flew on five space shuttle missions and one long-duration space station flight.

An Air Force aviator and test pilot, Biaha first piloted Discovery on STS-29, the third flight following the loss ofChallenger. His second flight was as pilot of

STS-33, only the third shuttle mission to launch at night.

Biaha launched on his fifth and final mission on STS-79, which docked to the Russian Mir Space Station. The third American to live on the outpost, he set the then-U.S. men’s record for time in space during his four months in orbit.

Loren Shriver was selected as an astronaut with the first class ofshuttle astronauts in 1978. He first flew as pilot of STS-51C, a classified mission for the Department of Defense. On his second flight, he led the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope as commander of STS-31, beginning the telescope’s nearly 20 years of imaging the universe.

Shriver’s last spaceflight was on STS-46, deploying the European Retrievable Carrier satellite, a European Space Agencysponsored free-flying science platform. Shriver also performed the first test of the Tethered Satellite System, a joint project between the Italian Space Agency and NASA. (Courtesy of NASA)

Case, '69, named CEO of AADC Alaska Aerospace Development Corp. announced recently that it hired retired U. S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas Case as its new president and chief operating officer.

“Case brings over 33 years of military experience to Alaska Aerospace,” AADC said in a press release.

Case graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree in geography. In 1987 he

graduated from the National War College and served on the institution’s faculty for two years. In 1991, he completed Emory University’s advanced management program.

He has served in various commands throughout his career, including commander ofAlaskan Command, 11th Air Force, and the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region.

He is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, including more than 900 combat hours in the F-100, 0-2A, F-4, F-16 and F-15E.

After retiring from the Air Force in 2002, Case went to work for the University of Alaska Anchorage as dean ofbusiness and public policy. (Courtesy of The Mirror)

Johnson, ’84, pilots Shuttle Endeavour

Col. Gregory H. Johnson, ’84, was riding high recently in Space Shuttle Endeavour’s pilot seat. This was Johnson’s first time piloting a space shuttle mission, which was a record-breaking 16-day mission to the International Space Station.

Johnson, 43, goes by the call sign “Box” and remembers watching Apollo astronaut Neil Armstrong walk on the moon from his grandparents’ home in Cairo, Mich. He joined NASA’s astronaut ranks in 1998 and participated in the agency’s investigation into the 2003 Columbia tragedy.

“I don’t think we forget risk anymore, or at least it’s certainly in the forefront of our minds,” said Johnson, adding that

there will always be risks to shuttle flights.

“Everything that has value has some risk, but I think that we’re really confident that we’ve uncovered most of the hazards and have controls for them.”

Johnson is a veteran F-15E Eagle fighter pilot and flew 61 combat missions during two deployments to Saudi Arabia in the early 1990s. He and his wife, Cari, have one daughter, 10, and two sons, ages 13 and 14.

Aretz, ’80, named new president by Mount St. Joe Retired Lt. Col. Tony Aretz, ’80, was recently named president of the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Aretz said building endowment funds and connecting the private Delhi Township college with local businesses would be some of his top priorities.

“We need to really be entrepreneurial in how we pursue students and other revenue opportunities,” said Aretz, whose doctoral degree is in engineering psychology. “We need to be a player in the local economy.”

The Lafayette, Ind., native is currently vice president at Christian Brothers University, which has about 1,800 students. While there, he shepherded development of a strategic plan and added graduate programs including engineering management and undergraduate programs including biomedical sciences.

Aretz earned a bachelor’s degree in 1980 from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a master’s degree from Wright State University and the doctoral degree in engineering psychology from the University ofIllinois in 1990.

Malachowski, ’96, inducted into women’s aviation hali of fame

In the months since her last flight as the Thunderbirds No. 3 right wing pilot, Maj. Nicole Malachowski has had a hard time putting her accomplishment ofbeing the first woman to fly on a U.S. military flight demonstration team into a proper perspective.

At the San Diego Air & Space Museum March 14, she was blindsided by an emotional moment that placed her achievements into focus.

The visit to the museum was part of the 19th Annual International Women in Aviation Conference held here March 12 through 15. The conference was attended by more than 3,200 people.

The conference included an exhibit hall, speeches by numerous aviation legends, professional development classes and ended with the induction ofMajor Malachowski into the Women in Aviation International’s Pioneer Hall of Fame.

Nancy Love, Geraldine Mock, Margaret Ringenberg and the Women’s Section of the Air Transport Auxilary were inducted as well. (Courtesy AFPN)

Hoffman, ’74, to lead AFMC

Department of Defense officials announced April 18 Lt. Gen. Donald J. Hoffman, ’74, currently the military deputy in the Office ofthe Assistant Air Force Secretary for Acquisition at the Pentagon, was selected to become the sixth commander ofAir Force Materiel Command.

President George W. Bush nominated General Hoffman for promotion to the grade of general with assignment as commander ofAFMC, headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

General Hoffman will succeed Gen. Bruce Carlson, the current AFMC commander who has served in the position since August 2005. No dates have been announced for when the change-of-command ceremony will occur, or when General Carlson will retire to end a 37-year Air Force career.

One of nine Air Force major commands, AFMC’s mission is to conduct research, development, test and evaluation, and provide acquisition management services and logistics support necessary to keep Air Force weapon systems ready for war.

In his current position, General Hoffman is responsible for research and development, test, production, and modernization ofAir Force programs worth more than $23 billion annually, (courtesyAFPN) S

A0G E-mail Receipts

Your Association of Graduates is always looking for ways to improve service while saving time and money. The AOG is sending electronic receipts for all credit card donations. Sending these receipts electronically will save the AOG a great deal of time and money!

If you made a donation to the AOG by credit card you should find your receipt in your e-mail account. If your e-mail account is blocking e-mail from the AOG or the AOG does not have an e-mail address you will be sent a receipt by mail. Please take a few moments to ensure the AOG has your most current e-mail address by going to www.usafa.org, logging in and then selecting “Update My Profile” on the left side of the screen. It is also important to ensure “aogusafa. org” is not included in your spam filters. If you need assistance with your donation or electronic receipt please contact Sandy Luckhurst at sandy.lockhurst@aogusafa.org or call 719-472-0300.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A. Bart Holaday '65 Chairman

Terrance M. Drabant ’65 Vice Chairman

William E. Wecker ’63 Treasurer

William W. Maywhort ’68 Secretary

John M. Fox '63

Timothy J. Fyda’79

Max F. James '64

Jack N. Kucera ’78

Paul S. Madera 78

Richard D. McConn ’66

Gilbert D. Mook ’67

PfARRYj. Pearce '64

Terrence L. Petrzelka ’70

Gen (ret.) Michael E. Ryan '65

Richard T. Schlosberg III '65

William H. Simpson '63

F. Keith Withycombe '66

The USAFA Endowment, Inc. is a charitable foundation focused on providing financial support to the Air Force Academy. The organization was formed in July 2007 and was granted tax-exempt status as an IRS-designated 501 (c)(3) public charity in March 2008.

The founders of the USAFA Endowment chose to establish a new type of foundation to enhance the graduate community’s ability to raise, distribute and steward funds in support of the mission of the Air Force Academy In doing so, the founders chose to memorialize several unique “founding principles” into the organizational bylaws to further encourage financial participation for the benefit of the Academy They are:

I. NO FEES: Gifts are directed simply and efficiently All donations will be used exclusively for their intended charitable purpose. No fees or deductions of any kind will be assessed on restricted gifts, and all investment gains will accrue entirely to the benefit ofthe intended charitable purpose.

2. STEWARDSFtIP IN PERPETUITY:The investment, safeguarding and disbursement of restricted gift funds are made by and controlled by the USAFA Endowment consistent with the donor’s directive. The independent Board of Directors will oversee and direct these activities, assuring proper stewardship ofthe gifts in perpetuity.

3. FULLTRANSPARENCY:The above principles will have complete audit and donor visibility annually. Annual reports will be provided to each donor—both for the USAFA Endowment as a whole, and for each donor's individual gift.

4. POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE APPROACFH: Our bylaws state that we want to be a positive and supportive partner of the USAFA and its leadership. We will not make any public pronouncements on the policy decisions of the Academy or the Air Force.

We believe that these principles create an organization in which our donors can feel completely confident that their investments will support the purposes for which they were given. Equally important, our donors are assured that their gifts will be carefully and consistently stewarded, as our bylaws require, without fear of future financial or organizational changes. Ultimately, we believe this is a foundation structure that will offer donors the confidence they require to give generously to their Academy and its needs.

Moving forward, we hope to be able to use the energies of the USAFA Endowment and the AOG to work together in a supportive manner to assist one another with the shared mission of supporting the Air Force Academy. We all look forward to working with all of you.

If you have any questions, please contact our office in Colorado Springs and talk with Mark Hille ’97, Vice President of Major Gifts, at (719) 268-6037 or visit our website at www.usafaendowment.org

Pardo's Push

Uncommon courage, ingenuity, and skill were combined in one of the most fabled

Vietnam air war stories

By Steve Smith, Airman Magazine, December 1996

heir 1967 rescue from Laos was not much different from any other, but the “push” that saved their lives made aviation history.

Captains Bob Pardo and Earl Aman, ’61, and their back-seaters were assigned to the 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. Their elusive target, the only steel production complex in North Vietnam— just north of Hanoi at Thai Nguyen-had been protected by low clouds during the nine days they’d tried to reduce it to rubble. They’d flown mission after mission in their F-4 Phantoms but with no luck. Intelligence sources reported it was protected by a half-dozen surface-to-air

missile sites and more than 1,000 antiaircraft guns.

“This is the day,” they thought as March 10 brought clear skies. A strike force of F-105s and F-4s would again attempt to take out the site targeted by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Joining Pardo was his back-seater, 1st Lt. Steve Wayne. Aman was teamed up with 1st Lt. Robert Houghton. Their job: protect the F-105s and other F-4s in the strike force, using their missiles against any threatening North Vietnamese MiGs. They also carried bombs for the steel mill’s destruction ifthey didn’t see any enemy aircraft.

As the strike force neared the target, the skies remained clear ofclouds and MiGs,

making the missiles unneeded. But their bombs would soon join the tons ofordnance to be dropped on Thai Nguyen.

Aman was in trouble even before he began his bomb run. Heavy fire from antiaircraft batteries found their mark. “He would have been justified to jettison his bombs and head for home,” Pardo said. “Going ahead with the run showed a hell of a lot offortitude and determination.”

More fire poured into the Phantoms, finding Pardo’s aircraft. As both pilots pulled away from the steel mill, Pardo saw several warning lights flashing brightly in his cockpit, but the Phantom was still responding and flying normally. Aman wasn’t as lucky. The barrage of

anti-aircraft fire had found his fuel tanks, draining 5,000 pounds of precious fuel in less than a minute.

“We were hit hard and losing fuel,” Houghton recalled. “As we set a course that would take us straight to the refueling aircraft, we understood we weren’t going to make it to the Laotian border. It was a sure bet we’d have to bail out over hostile territory.”

They were running out of options faster than they were running out of fuel.

In normal air operations, a crippled aircraft would be escorted by its “sister bird,” and the bail-out point radioed to rescue forces. That wasn’t good enough for Pardo. He was about to make history.

“We first tried to put the nose of our aircraft in his drag chute compartment,” he said. “But there was too much jet wash coming offAman’s plane.” Pardo then tried putting the top ofhis fuselage against the belly of the crippled F-4. Again, too much jet wash.

“Aman, drop your tailhook!” Pardo shouted desperately.

“What?” Aman replied.

“Your tailhook. Drop it! I’m going to try to push you along.”

The tailhook-used for carrier landings by the Navy’s version ofthe now-venerable fighter, is used by Air Force crews only for emergency landings. The hook snags a barrier cable stretched across the runway to keep the

aircraft from veering or sliding. What Pardo was suggesting had never been done; the aircraft wasn’t designed for such a maneuver.

Controlled by hydraulics, the tailhook lowered and locked into place, swaying in the slipstream of the F-4’s twin J-75 engines.

Pardo pulled in behind and below Aman’s crippled F-4 and slowly came forward, hoping to lodge the elusive tailhook against the leading edge of his windshield. Flying at 250 knots (about 300 miles an hour) the tailhook kissed the front of the windshield.

“Kissed is the right word,” Houghton said. “If he so much as bumped the windshield, he would have had that tailhook in his face. We’re talking about glass here. It was phenomenal flying, nothing less.”

Pardo, however, believed the windshield glass was strong enough to withstand mild contact. “It was more than an inch thick,” he said. “I had to be careful not to let the hook hit the side panels. They were too weak to take it.”

With Aman’s engines running, it was impossible to make contact because of the jet blast. With barely a minute of fuel remaining, Pardo radioed Aman to shut down his engines.

Pardo inched into position and made contact. They were now flying as one-two aircraft flying on one pair of engines.

Slowly pushing his throttles forward, Pardo was able to keep the tailhook lodged for a few seconds at a time, but that tripled their glide range, decreasing their sink rate to 1,000 feet per minute. Once he saw it could work, Pardo kept fighting the wind, the sink rate and the swaying tailhook. “I can’t remember how many times the tailhook slipped off the windshield, and I had to fight to get it back in place,” Pardo said.

As if things weren’t bad enough, Pardo’s F-4 started to show signs of the damage it sustained during the bombing run. A fire warning light indicated a probable external fire near the left engine, so Pardo shut it down. When he restarted the engine, the warning light was off, but the internal temperature increased to more than 1,000 degrees Celsius.

“It should’ve read only 600,” Pardo said. “That meant the flame holders or burner cans inside the engine have

ruptured, and there’s an uncontrolled fire, which can explode the engine and possibly the airplane.”

Wayne couldn’t see the engine temperature gauge from the back seat, so he didn’t inform Pardo to shut it down. “I just happened to see the needle move out of the corner of my eye,” Pardo said. “I didn’t need any more incentive to shut it down.”

With only one engine to push two aircraft, the sink rate increased to 2,000 feet per minute. Obviously, they weren’t going to make it on one engine.

Pardo hit the left engine start switch. It restarted and he resumed his push, hoping everything would be okay. Less than a minute later, however, the fire warning light returned. Wayne told Pardo the engine was on fire so he shut down the engine again-this time for good.

They flew another 10 minutes on the remaining engine. Wayne called for a couple of tankers, hoping they could link up and get a pull from the large aerial gas stations.

But time was running out. The tankers weren’t going to make it in time.

Luck was still with the two aircrews. They had reached Laos, having crossed the Black River. Pardo and Wayne realized it was time to get Aman and Houghton out of their crippled aircraft. They couldn’t sustain the push much longer. Their F-4 was running low on fuel, and they were only 6,000 feet above ground, giving them about two minutes of flying time, two minutes to bail out. When the last radio call for tanker support was received, rescue helicopters and several A-l Skyraider ground support aircraft were dispatched to where the crew was expected to bail out.

Pardo pulled back and advised Aman and Houghton to eject. As he watched their parachute canopies open beneath him, Pardo hit the throttle on his remaining engine and headed for a U.S. Special Forces camp he knew was ahead.

Two minutes later, as Aman and Houghton drifted toward the ground, Pardo and Wayne realized their fuel was gone, and they’d have to bail out. “Steve ejected, and since I’d never flown a glider before, I stayed with the F-4 a little longer, then bailed out,” Pardo said.

By now, Aman had landed on the back side of a cliff and Houghton, who’d suf

fered a compression fracture of a vertebra during ejection, was floating directly toward a Laotian village. “They were yelling and pointing up at me as I dropped,” he said. “I knew if I landed on my back, I was finished. But I floated right into a tree. My chute snagged on a limb and I stopped, barely inches from the ground.

“As I unsnapped my harness and laid down, I couldn’t remember ever hurting so much,” he said. The sound of gunshots from approaching villagers changed that.

“It’s amazing how fast you can move when someone’s shooting at you,” Houghton said. “I headed out of there as fast as possible. I’ve never been so scared in my life!”

While Houghton was running from the villagers, Aman was having problems of his own.

“I was wearing slick-soled boots, trying to scramble up a hill. Every step forward sent me back two.”

Houghton remembers laying in deep grass holding his radio and .38 pistol when he heard the unmistakable roar of Skyraiders swooping low over the mountains. “Rescue choppers were close behind. When the villagers headed for cover, the choppers found me and lowered a line,” Houghton said.

Meanwhile, Wayne and Pardo were facing the same dangers from villagers, but rescue helicopters reached them first. Within hours, all four had returned to their home base at Ubon, not knowing they wouldn’t see each other again for nearly 30 years.

“When we got back to Ubon, they didn’t know whether to court-martial me or pin a medal on my chest,” Pardo said. “Some people felt I should have let Earl and Bob eject and take their chances, so I could land my aircraft safely.”

Although “Pardo’s Push”—as the feat is now called-became another eye-popping chapter in aviation history, it took former U.S. Senator John Tower ofTexas to get Pardo and Wayne the recognition they deserved. More than two decades after their heroic feat of airmanship, both received the Silver Star.

GRAHAM, '99

NAMED 2008 JABARA AWARD RECIPIENT

MH-53 crew commander proves to be combat-proven leader

Capt. Jonathan W. Graham, ’99, has been selected to receive the 2008 Colonel James Jabara Award for Airmanship. He distinguished himself through sustained superior performance while serving as an MH-53 Crew Commander, Instructor Pilot, and Weapons Officer assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida. Captain Graham, a member ofthe Air Education and Training Command, is currently a CV-22 Student Pilot assigned to the 71 st Special Operations Squadron, 58th Special Operations Wing, at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.

Drawing upon experiences gained during multiple deployments to Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as the lessons learned from other MH-53 crews in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, the captain developed new, detailed and realistic training scenarios and threat briefs for crews to use during training missions. The existing scenarios were outdated and did not reflect current situations and advancements. The threat briefs associated with those scenarios focused on threat systems and counter-tactics that crews were not likely to encounter in the current theater ofoperations.

In March 2006, Capt. Graham deployed for the fifth time to OIF. Due to his high level of experience and superior instructional abilities, he was given four non-combat experienced crewmembers as part ofhis six-man crew. Under his mentorship and leadership, Captain Graham’s crew quickly established themselves as the commander’s first choice to lead high-risk missions.

During his deployment, Captain Graham flew 66 combat sorties encompassing 96 combat hours. He led 23 joint and combined Special Operations Forces air-assault missions, mostly inserting American, British and Iraqi troops into hostile areas and providing air cover. He was also handpicked to lead a mission to transport the Combined Forces Special Operations Component Commander on a daylight tour of SOF outposts in Ramadi and

By STEVE SIMON, 77

Baghdad, a short-notice mission that was carried out successfully and without incident.

On April 26, 2006, Captain Graham commanded a seven-ship assault in Baqubah, tasked with inserting 83 U.S. and Iraqi SOF troops to two separate objectives. En route to the objective area, his helicopter was engaged by insurgents armed with an SA-16 anti-aircraft missile. Capt. Graham immediately began defensive maneuvering and deployed flares, defeating the missile. He continued to lead the formation to the objective area and completed the mission.

Before departing Iraq, Graham developed a briefing for replacement MH-53 crews, focusing on aircraft changes, current threat data and trends, as well as the tactics that MH-53 crews had proven during the most recent deployment. The level of detail in the brief provided the new crews with the information they required to start flying combat missions within 24 hours of their arrival, as compared to the usual 72-hour period required to prepare new arrivals for combat duty.

During the award period, Captain Graham also graduated from Squadron Officer School and was a Distinguished Graduate ofthe USAF Weapons School Weapon System Instructor Course, where he won the Flying Award for exceptional instruction during 22 training sorties. Upon completion ofhis current CV-22 training, Captain Graham will remain with the 71 st at Kirtland AFB as an Instructor Pilot for the CV-22 Mission Pilot Initial Qualification course.

Capt. Graham’s superior airmanship, dynamic leadership, outstanding initiative, and unparalleled achievements reflect great credit upon himselfand the United States Air Force. The Academy, the AOG, and the Jabara family are proud to name Capt. Graham the recipient ofthe 2008 James Jabara Airmanship Award.

Capt. Graham was presented with the award in front of the Cadet Wing on May 9, at Mitchell Hall. 9

“I

The Secret Life of WaldoF. Dumbsquat

by Don Hall, ’76

we last saw our hero, he was investigating a heinous crime at the Blue Zoo

Waldo, senses tingling, hurried from the room without explanation. He skillfully avoided a disgruntled CQ by ducking into the latrine. Once hidden from view, the puny freshman uttered the magic words “subprime mortgage rate.” Like an adjustable rate, the doolie instantly ballooned into the huge figure of Colonel Waldo F. Dumbsquat, a man who always rented. With confident strides, the officer made his way to the Supe’s office. Armed security forces roamed the area, stopping only to salute the colonel as he passed.

Pushing past grim-faced technicians fingerprinting the furniture, Colonel Dumbsquat found the Superintendent standing dejectedly behind his desk. The general looked up as the field officer entered the room.

“Thank goodness you’re here, Dumbsquat. Someone has stolen it! Onlyprofessionals could have pulled this off-this was no spirit stunt!”

“What was stolen, sir?” asked the colonel.

“Good grief, man! They’ve taken a national treasure. The Academy has lost the Big Picture and you’re the only one who can get it back!”

PART 2

It was a dark and stormy night.

Somewhere a dog barked.

C/4C Waldo F. Dumbsquat burst into his dormitory room. His startled roommates, Warren Heels and Regs Buch, jumped up from their desk chairs. Waldo was startled by the freshmen jumping up from their chairs. It took a moment for everyone to calm down.

“Are we going on a quest?” asked Warren.

“A what?”

“A quest?”

“Why do you ask?”

“You’re wearing a fedora and there’s a bull whip hooked to your quasi-official belt.”

Waldo tipped his hat to classmates. They had a genius for the obvious.

“We’re going on an adventure. Get your USAFA tee shirts and berets on and let’s ride!”

“Are we searching for the lost ark or a crystal skull?” Regs queried his friend.

“Will we go to the temple of doom?” Wags chimed in.

“No to all your lame movie references. The Academy has lost the Big Picture and we need to find it. Otherwise, we will descend into chaos and darkness, becoming just another West Point.”

The doolies recoiled in horror. “A fate worse than death by tours!” they chorused fearfully.

Waldo and his friends unmarked their cards and sped out with a sense of mission. Desperate times required desperate measures. Three candy bars and a low calorie soft drink later, the band of brothers double-timed down the Bring Me Men Ramp and toward the Aero Lab. Unlocking the door, Waldo Dumbsquat led the others inside.

“Waldo, why are we here?” asked Regs as he looked around.

“I found a clue in the Sup’s office. Someone-probably the thief-dropped the key to this building.”

Waldo heard some moaning in the wind tunnel. A blast of cold air chilled the cadets. Undaunted, the doolies cautiously peered inside. Deep inside the tunnel appeared an apparition, dressed in tattered and grease smeared coveralls. The features of his face were hidden by shadows.

“Who goes there?” challenged the mysterious man.

“It is I, Dumbsquat Waldo F 762693K.”

“What squadron are you with?

“CS-37.”

“Ah, you smacks are Smilers then,” acknowledged the ghostly figure.

Warren grinned- ah, smiled.

Regs ventured forward. “Who are you, sir?”

“I’m The Regular Crew Chief. And don’t call me ‘sir’—I worked for a living.”

Waldo stood in shock. “No one has ever seen the regular crew chief. We didn’t think you existed, kind of like Nino Baldachi or early Recognition.”

The shadowy sergeant chuckled. “I’m as real as you are, Dumbsquat. Ifyou want to locate the ‘large photograph’, you need to journey to Jack’s Valley. Ask for Jack.”

Service Academy Career Conference

AUGUST 21-22, 2008 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

What

The SACC is the Service Academy Career Conference supported by the Associations of Graduates from the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Military Academy, and Alumni Associations from the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Previous conferences have been attended by hundreds of companies and thousands of alumni. Go to www.sacc-jobfair.com for a list of companies attending, the complete schedule and the online registration form.

Where will the SACC be held?

The next SACC will be held at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel, 1400 Sixth Ave., Seattle Washington. Call (206) 621-9000 for reservations and ask for the SACC rate.

SACC Schedule of Events

Thursday, August 21

Interview Prep Seminar 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Friday, August 22

Registration 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 pm

SACC 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Lunch 12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

SACC 1:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 23

Interviews only if directly scheduled between company recruiters and candidates; Companies will contact you directly regarding any on-site interviews during the SACC.

Registration

The SACC Candidate registration fee is $35. To register, submit a one-page resume (for recruiter's book) and pay online at www.sacc-jobfair.com. This limited resume is designed to give the recruiters an indication of your capabilities. It is NOT the resume you should bring to hand out to the recruiters at the conference. Registration deadline for inclusion in the recruiter's book is August 8, 2008.

Next Scheduled SACC

San Antonio TX, November 20-21, 2008

For more information, contact Wayne Taylor at (719) 472-0300 or go online at www.sacc-jobfair.com.

is SACC?

ItW“ arch 8th marked the 50th anniversary of the world's first I Vy A undergraduate astronautical engineering program. The ■ ^ M Academy's Department ofAstronautics celebrated the event with a full day of activities with past and present faculty and staff, cadets, graduates, and friends ofthe department.

Formed by order ofBrigadier General Robert McDermott, the second Dean ofFaculty ofthe Air Force Academy and USAFA’s first permanent professor, the program was the world’s first undergraduate academic depart-

AstronauticsI Engineering Program turns 50

By Col. Martin France, '81

ment specifically devoted to astronautics instruction. McDermotts order also established a year-long core course taken by all cadets, and ultimately led to the first accredited undergraduate degree in astronautical engineering offered in the United States.

Since 1958, hundreds ofcadets have earned degrees in astronautical engineering, engineering science, space operations, and systems engineering at the Academy. Moreover, every graduate ofUSAFA has completed at least one course in introductory astronautics. Astro majors have gone on to become astronauts, general officers, corporate CEOs, and senior government executives. Hundreds ofofficers, NCOs, and civilians have also served in the Astro Department as faculty and staff, responsible for the instruction, research, and administration ofmany USAFA space-related programs.

The anniversary celebration began with breakfast and a short reception in the dean’s Heritage Room in Fairchild Hall. Visitors were then invited to attend astronautics classes, tour lab facilities and see the FalconOPS satellite control facility, where cadets ‘fly’ FalconSAT-3, launched a year ago from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Almost 50 guests were escorted by cadets to lunch in Mitchell Hall with the Cadet Wing, who gave the group a standing ovation when the department’s anniversary was announced from the staff tower.

After lunch, the group met with the current permanent professor and head of the department, Col. Marty France, ’81, for a presentation and discussions on current department activities and plans for the future. Included in the group were former department heads Brig. Gen. Bob Giffen, '65, and Col. Francis “Joe” Hale.

The day culminated in a gala dinner and celebration at Doolittle Hall, supported by the Association of Graduates and the USAFA Endowment. More than 200 enjoyed a social hour that included displays of cadetbuilt hardware like FalconSAT-2, sounding rockets, guidance systems, avionics, sensors, and antennas.

Dr. Tom Eller, '61, the first USAFA graduate to serve as an instructor and department head in Astro, recounted the Vietnam-era development of a fire control system for AC-130 Spectre gunships. General Bob Giffen and Colonel (Ret.) Jack Anthony discussed the people who made the department a special place to work over the last five decades and the steps that led to the current FalconSAT, FalconLAUNCH, and FalconOPS capstone design courses. General White closed with inspiring words for all in attendance.

By all accounts, the evening was a tremendous success. General Shelton fondly recalled, “It was fun being there for such an important milestone and you guys did a tremendous job putting it together.” Col. Anthony called it a “Grand slam!” and Col Eller said, “I am confident that the next 50 years will be even more spectacular, with a continuing stream ofoutstanding new graduates and enhanced facultyflowing into the Air Force.” 9

FYE

By ANN PATTON Academy Spirit

cademy cadets are no different from other college students. The first year can be a real shocker.

A new course, the First Year Experience begun this academic year on the Academy, is easing the transition from high school for four-degree cadets.

“Whether it’s planned or ad hoc from the moment they arrive on campus ALL college students have a first year experience,” said Dr. C. Taylor Barnes, Distinguished Visiting Professor and this year’s FYE director.

Fie added, “There is a serious gap between academic expectations and academic reality of our entering cadets.”

Academy cadets face, among those issues, transitioning from the relative ease of high school to the rigors of a highly vigorous academic, military and athletic university environment. Doctor Barnes added many are unaware of their academic strengths and weaknesses, resulting in no real plan for personal improvement. First-year cadets may have weak time management and information literacy skills and lack strategies for success know-how. They may be overwhelmed by too much to do in too little time and have poor decision making skills.

The Air Force Academy is the only service academy thus far to have a formal core course addressing issues of incoming freshmen. Eighty faculty members, all volunteers, served as instructors for LYE 101, with 14 lessons, which ran from appointee orientation to Recognition.

Topics include academic fitness, computer literacy, one-on-one planning for academic success and individual needs, a learning styles inventory, time management and leveraging strengths and compensating for weaknesses.

The course also included an academic pep rally and final address from Dean of the Faculty Brig. Gen. Dana Born, ’83.

“Freshman performance was the highest in several years,” Doctor Barnes said in comparing the performance of the Class of 2011 to Classes 2008-10.

He added other factors played into the success as well. A total of 71 percent ofcadets agreed or strongly agreed FYE was relevant and useful. At the same time, 73 percent agreed or strongly agreed the course was a positive learning experience.

Cadets rated lessons for time management, learning styles, information literacy and one onone sessions with instructors.

Cadet 4th Class Ryan Wilkinson, Cadet Squadron 39, had an inkling of the challenges of cadet life before entering, but not their intensity.

“I didn’t know how things will keep coming at you,” he said. “It was constantly going.”

He especially appreciated exploring what learning style fit him best, which is a visual or kinesthetic strategy.

Cadet 4th Class Ben Brown, with CS-9 and a Preparatory School graduate, said his Prep School background prepared him well, but he, too, appreciated the course.

“It was the smaller things they reminded you of,” he said and pointed to time management as one helpful area.

The take-away for faculty from cadets was positive.

“We learned that the more purposeful and intentional we were in meeting freshmen needs, the greater potential for student success,” Doctor Barnes said. “Their enthusiasm for learning was invigorating. We faculty got that little extra spring in our step knowing that we might have had a small part in the Class of 201 Is successful performance.” IS

Hockey team finishes season with 21-12-6 record

AFA WON THE AHA TITLE AND ADVANCED TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON

Final Tallies Air Force finished the 2007-08 season with a 21-12-6 overall record. The Falcons won the Atlantic Hockey Association championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. Air Force finished third in the AHA with a 14-9-5 record. The Falcons were the third seed in the AHA Tournament. AFA swept Bentley in the quarterfinals, then defeated RIT in the semifinals before edging fifthseeded Mercyhurst, 5-4, in double overtime.

BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS

Air Force became the first team in Atlantic Hockey Association history to win back-to-back conference championships. The Falcons defeated RIT, 5-0, in the semifinals to record the first shutout and largest margin ofvictory ever in an AHA semifinal game. The Falcons then defeated Mercyhurst, 5-4 in double overtime, in the second Iongest tournament game in league history. Including the AHA quarterfinal round, AFA outscored its opponents, 22-7, in the four games. Air Force and Boston College (Hockey East) are the only teams in the tournament this season to win consecutive league championships.

THE BIG DANCE

Air Force made its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament and for the second consecutive time, lost a one-goal game to one of the top teams in the nation. In 2007, Air Force led Minnesota, the overall No. 1 seed in the tournament, 3-1, with just over eight minutes left. The Gophers came back for a 4-3 win. This season saw the Falcons take Miami, the overall No. 2 seed in the tournament, into overtime, before falling, 3-2. AFA led 2-1 with seven minutes left in the third period. Miami tied the game on the power play and then won the game just under five minutes into the extra period.

UNBEATEN STREAK WAS LONGEST IN NATION

Prior to the loss in the NCAA Regional, Air Forces nine-game unbeaten streak was the longest in the nation. The Falcons were 8-0-1 and outscored its opponents by a combined score of43-12. AFA won four ofthe games by shutout (7-0 at Mercyhurst, 3-0 at Canisius, 5-0 vs. AIC and 5-0 vs. RIT). The streak was the longest in school history vs. Division I teams and the longest since the school-record 11 -game unbeaten streak in 1974-75. The five-game winning streak was the longest since last seasons six-gamer.

SLAP SHOTS

Air Force’s nine-game unbeaten streak was the longest in the nation (8-0-1)

BY USAFA ATHLETICS

AFA outscored its opponents, 43-12, in during the streak * Since getting swept at Army, AFA was 9-2-2 AFA has won back-to-back AHA titles and earned consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament

AFA is 0-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, losing to Minnesota, 4-3, last season in Denver and Miami, 3-2 in

Photo by Dave Armer

overtime, this season in Worcester, Mass.

Frank Serratore has led Air Force to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 18 years

AFA’s 21 wins are the most Division I victories in school history

* AFA has won a school record 40 games the last two years (20 at home and 20 on the road)

AFA has four players with 10 or more goals and seven players with 25 or more points

Greg Flynn was fifth in the nation in points by a defenseman with 31 points

* Brent Olson led the team with 18 goals and tied with Jeff Hajner for the team lead with 39 points.

* Andrew Volkening played every minute in the nets in the last 22 games. He was 10th in the nation in GAA at 2.08 and had a .911 saves percentage. Both marks set new school records. Volkening was selected as the team’s MVP AFA was eighth in the nation in scoring offense and 12th in the nation in scoring defense

WHO’S BACK

The top six scorers and 11 ofthe top 13 will return for the 2008-09 season. Also, the team’s top four defensemen and starting goaltender all return. Sophomore Andrew Volkening played every minute in the second halfofthe season and set new school records with a 2.09 goals-against average and a .911 saves percentage. Greg Flynn, a second-team all-conference defenseman, returns to lead the defensive corps along with returners Michael Mayra, Brett Nylander and Brad Sellers. Those four defensemen did not miss a game during the season. Junior Brent Olson and sophomoreJeffHajner tied for the team lead with 38 points. Flynn, who ranked fifth in the nation in scoring by a defenseman, had 31 points. Sophomore Matt Fairchild had 29, junior Josh Frider had 27 and freshman Derrick Burnett had 26. Air Force returns 84 percent ofits goal scoring (109 of 130) and 80 percent ofits points (294 of366) from this past season.

BACK-TO-BACK RARE FEAT AT ACADEMY

The Air Force hockey team became the first team in Academy history to win back-to-back conference championships at the Division I level in any sport. In fact, the two conference championships are the second most outright titles in AFA history. The cross country team won the Western Athletic Conference championship in 1992 and 1996 and the Mountain West title in 2004. The football team tied for the WAC title in 1985 and 1995 and won the championship outright in 1998.

AFA SET SCHOOL RECORD WITH 21 DIVISION I WINS

Air Force’s 21 Division I wins this season are the most in school history. The 21 wins are the third-most overall in school history. The 1971-72 team won 25 games while the 1974-75 team won 24. The previous record for Division I wins was 19 set last season. The 21 wins are the most in 11 years under Frank Serratore.

BACK-TO-BACK WINNING SEASONS

Air Force clinched a winning season for the second consecufive season. The Falcons were 21-12-6 overall this season. Head

THE AIR FORCE -NOT THE BUS FORCE

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coach Frank Serratore has led the Falcons to consecutive winning seasons for the first time in his 11 years. It also marks the first time in 18 years (1988-89 and 1989-90) that Air Force has had consecutive winning seasons.

Over the last two years, Air Force has been the best road team in Atlantic Hockey. Air Force’s 10 Division I victories away from home (road and neutral) this season tie the school record set last season. AFA’s 20 Division I road wins are the most in back-to-back years in school history. The 10 road wins are the second most in school history and the most since AFA won 11 road games in 1971-72 (mostly against non-Division I teams).

SEEING DOUBLE

The last two seasons mark the two best years in 40 seasons of Air Force hockey. The Falcons have won back-to-back league championships, played in consecutive NCAA Tournaments and have won a school record 40 games in two season. Of the 40 wins, 20 have come at home and 20 on the road.

MOST DIVISION I WINS BY CLASS

The Class of 2008 has won more Division I games in four years (65) than any other class in school history. The class won 14 in 2005, 11 in 2006, 19 in 2007 and 21 so far this season. The Class of 2007 won 58 games. SS

Air Force stands pat on policy for athletes

Seniors with pro aspirations still have to serve two years

ByJake Schaller, The Gazette

This article wasfirstpublished in The Gazette on May 2, 2008.

Air Force senior football players have to wait two years before pursuing NFL careers, and it doesn’t look like that will change despite the publicity generated by the Detroit Lions’ selection ofArmy defensive back Caleb Campbell in last weekend’s NFL Draft.

Campbell—along with Army fullback Mike Viti and punter/kicker Owen Tolson, who signed free agent contracts with the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants, respectively— has benefited from Army’s “Alternative Service Option” program. It allows officers to spend their first two years of active duty service playing professionally and working parttime as recruiters for the Army. If they still are playing after two years, they can serve six years in the reserves in place of the final three years of their active-duty commitment.

Air Force and Navy are strictly following a Department of Defense policy issued last August and implemented Jan. 1 that states officers must serve two years of active duty before

applying for excess leave or early release to pursue a professional sports career.

“Our guidance is clear based on the policy of the Department of Defense,” Air Force spokesman Capt. Tom Wenz said. “The Army’s interpretation of the DoD policy is something that’s between the Army and the DoD and not for us to comment on.”

According to an e-mail from Lt. Col. Jonathan Withington, a press officer for the Department of Defense, “it is up to the Military Departments to interpret and apply that policy.”

Some have a problem with Army’s interpretation. Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk told the Annapolis Capital that “Army has redefined active

duty to include playing professional sports.”

Air Force academy officials declined comment through sports information director Troy Garnhart, who referred questions to Wenz. Garnhart said only that the academy wished Navy, Army and Air Force would follow the same rules regarding graduates playing pro sports.

Wenz said there were no plans for the Air Force to tweak its policy.

That means Air Force players with NFL dreams—such as senior linebackers John Rabold and Drew Fowler— will have to attempt to stay in shape and on the teams’ radars for two years. Last year, coach Troy Calhoun said players could use accrued leave time to attend preseason camps during their two years ofactive duty service. S

Stine earns Gymnastics’ MVP award By usafa Athletics

The Air Force men’s gymnastics program handed out its 2008 team awards at the annual end-of-season banquet on April 30. Senior All-American Greg Stine was the top awardwinner, being named the Most Valuable Player. In addition, three other Falcons received recognition from head coach Kip Simons.

Stine concluded his career as the most decorated gymnast in Air Force men’s gymnastics history. Backed by top-eight finishes on the still rings and in the allaround at the NCAA Championships, Stine became the program’s first All-American since 1993 and the first-ever recipient ofmultiple NCAA honors. In addition, he set six of seven Academy records under the new scoring system, won two USAG national titles and earned five USAG All-America certificates. The recipient of the USAG Top Senior Award, Stine accounted for 29 first-place finishes and was named Gymnast ofthe Week numerous times by the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and College Gymnastics Association.

Classmate Brian Boardman, last year’s most valuable player, received the team’s Hardest Worker Award. Boardman, a solid four-year competitor for

the men’s team, participated on four events in every team competition this season. He also competed in the NCAA National Qualifier as a vault specialist. He posted the Falcons’ second-highest vault total and tied for the third-best pommel horse score. Boardman also excels academically, as he picked up his third consecutive MPSF academic all-conference distinction.

Freshman Kipp Druecke was named the Falcons’ Most Improved Gymnast. Druecke, a specialist on the pommel horse, didn’t enter the team’s rotation until the Pacific Coast Classic, but quickly made his mark on that event. Druecke’s score of 13.350 at the USAG Team Championships is tied for the squad’s third-highest total ofthe season. He also advanced to the individual event finals at the USAG meet, where he finished eighth.

Despite missing the second halfof the season with injury, Daniel Klimkowski was named the team’s Freshman of the Year. Klimkowski, an all-around competitor, posted the squad’s second-best combined score of the year. He led the team on the pommel horse until his injury. Klimkowski had strong showings on the road, assisting the Falcons in back-to-back victories at Army and Springfield. 19

Cadets excel at Boston Marathon

Courtesy of USAFA Marathon Club

Eight cadets from the Academy’s Marathon Team competed in the Boston Marathon on April 21, and placed 9th place overall as a team. The team outran West Point, who placed 35th and the Naval Academy, 31 st The finish was their best performance to-date.

Despite losing a close race in the intra-Service Academy half marathon last fall, these cadets returned to Boston placing four team members before the first runner from either Service Academy team. Not only did the cadets defeat Army and Navy, but they also recorded four of the five fastest marathon times in Air Force Academy history.

Each of the cadets trained extensively, spending six to ten hours per week running, in addition to an already busy schedule including classes, extracurricular activities, and military training. Other hurdles the cadets overcame included long runs in snowy and windy conditions and finding time to complete up to two 20-mile runs. Cadets competing in the race ranged from 115 th to 2,337th place, out of over 25,000 runners. Seven of the eight cadets finished the marathon with personal bests as Jesse Mortensen, Brad Chronister, Christ Stover, Joe Robinson, Al Vasso, Brandon Hough, Vinny Gillmore, and Jake Hall all turned in a great race.

“It was one of the best opportunities we have had at the Academy to gain publicity, and it was great to be able to redeem ourselves against West Point and Annapolis,” said team captain Cadet 1st Class Jesse Mortensen.

The most improved times were up to 15 minute decreases over the notoriously tough course of the race. Times ranged from 2:36:15 to 3:09, with every time exceeding the qualifying standard to allow the cadets to run the Boston Marathon again next spring. S

Air Force’s DeBerry

among six inducted

ByJake Schaller, The Gazette

Former Air Force football coach Fisher DeBerry and Dow Finsterwald, who served as director of golf at The Broadmoor for almost 30 years, were inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame on April 7.

DeBerry, who was inducted by longtime friend and former Colorado coach Bill McCartney, produced 17 winning records in 23 seasons as the Falcons’ coach. Finsterwald won 12 times on the PGA Tour, including the 1958 PGA Championship.

Also inducted at the 44th annual induction banquet were Colorado Avalanche president Pierre Lacroix, 1972 Olympic marathon gold medalist Frank Shorter, broadcaster Starr Yelland and Western State football coach Bill Noxon. 12

The following procedures have been arranged by the AOG for graduates to play golf at the Academy’s Eisenhower Golf Course.

Graduates with military ID: Call (719) 333-3456 for reservations.

Non-retired, non-active duty graduate

AOG members: The AOG is allocated eight tee times per month. AOG graduate members who do not have a military ID card may reserve tee times by contacting the AOG customer service at (719) 472-0300. Graduates may schedule only one tee time per month.

Reunions and Homecoming: A tournament will be scheduled by the Academy and the AOG to accommodate graduates at a set fee for all players. This fee is independent of military status or golf course membership.

Marathon Club members after the Boston Marathon. Top, L-R:

C2C Brad Chronister, C1C Chris Stover, C1C Jake Hall, C4C Brandon Hough and C3C Vinny Gillmore. Bottom, L-R: C1C Jesse Mortensen, C1C Joe Robinson and C2C Al Vasso.

Cadet T-Shirt

100% Pre-shrunk cotton. White with dark navy ringer collar and sleeve cuff $10.50

Cadet Sweatshirt

92% cotton, 8% polyester. Light gray with reflective lettering $45.00

Hoodies - Zippered or Pullover

MV Sport. 80% cotton, 20% polyester. "Air Force" applique across chest with "Academy" embroidered beneath $38.25

Stadium Blanket

Pre-shrunk 80% cotton, 20% polyester. 54" x 84" Pro-Weave sweatshirt blanket. Air Force Academy and AFA crest printed on blanket $20.50

Crewneck Sweatshirt

MV Sport. 80% cotton, 20% polyester. "Air Force" applique across chest with "Academy" embroidered beneath $34.00

Squadron Pins

Pins match all current squadron patches and many previously used patches (Please specify squadron) $4.25

2008 Ornament

Coming Soon!

AF/ AOG TOTE BAG

Black, blue, and white tote with AF insignia and AOG Crest. Large zippered compartment with storage pockets. Size: 17.5 x 14x3, 400D polyester $10.25

Laser Engraved Pen Set

Order Options: Up to 3 lines and 2 crests maximum on case; USAFA, AOG, or Class crest -if crest is available; name on the pen; and wood choice of Maple or Rosewood. Please allow 4 weeks for delivery $21.25

2007 Ornament

Prop & Wings in front of USAFA and US flags in silver-tone. Background is 24kt gold plated with Air Force Academy across the top and 2007 at the bottom amid holly leaves. Approx. 2.5" in diameter $17.00

Watch the AOG's Web site at www.usafa.org for more information.

Expect Great Things

A historical documentary of the first fifty years of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Available in DVD and VMS $12.75

Return With Honor - DVD Documentary recounting the first-hand stories of American fighter pilots shot down over North Vietnam and their time in captivity $21.25

We want to know Win a USAFA Sweatshirt

License Plate Frames 'Alumni', 'Falcons', or 'Parent' across the top and 'Air Force Academy' across the bottom. Each frame $5.25

The Association of Graduates is considering new items for sale in our online store. This is your opportunity to give us your opinion on what sort of merchandise you would like to see. Please fill out the form below with your suggestions and mail it to AOG Merchandise Feedback, 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy CO 80840-4402

Ail responses will be eligible for a random drawing on July 1 5, 2008. The winner will receive their choice of either a zippered or crewneck sweatshirt.

Name:

E-mail address or phone number: Suggestions:

Class Year Affiliation:

Link to Chapter News

Outlook

AcademyWomen

Plan to attend the 5th Annual AcademyWomen Symposium on Oct. 17-19, at the Women’s Memorial in Arlington, Va. On Friday, Oct. 17, AcademyWomen will also host an all day Professional Development Workshop and Career Expo where you can consult with professional coaches and hear from panels ofexperts and successful leaders from a variety ofindustries. The Symposium will include a variety ofworkshops, panels and speakers on topics ranging from war to networking and leadership. Check www.academywomen.org for more infermation and sign up as a member to receive details on upcoming events.

AFA Society of North Carolina

We meet, informally, on the third Wednesday of each month at Players Retreat, 105 Oberlin Road in Raleigh. No RSVP is required.

Alamo Chapter

Brig. Gen. Suzanne Vautrinot, ’82, will depart San Antonio for a new assignment in June and her replacement will be Maj. Gen. Mark Welsh, ’76, the AETC Vice Commander. The chapter has had success in gaining membership among younger/ more recent grads as a result of a working group setup by the chapter. The next event on the chapter schedule is a Summer

Web sites at www.usafa.org

Picnic at nearby Canyon Lake on June 14. See www.alamoaog.org for more details.

Arizona Chapter

Barb and Ron Marusiak, ’71, again graciously agreed to host a fireworks/dessert/ beverages party at their house right on the Arizona Country Club golf course on July 4. The fireworks and patriotic music are usually awesome. We look forward to a nice turnout ofgrads/spouses/friends. In October, our chapter will once again travel to San Diego for the USAFA-San Diego State football game on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m. PT. Ifyou are interested, please contact Tim Furst at Tim@FamiliesFurst.com.

Gateway Chapter, St. Louis

Our new chapter officers are: President: Kirk McDonald, ’90, took over for Shea Long, ’88, at the end oflast year, Vice President, Tim Souhrad, ’00, and Secretary and Treasurer, Bob Panke, ’65.

Greater Cincinnati Chapter

The chapter president in Cincinnati is looking for creative ways to get the chapter kick-started again. If anyone in the Cincinnati area wants to help out on this effort, please contact the AOG so we can put you in touch with him directly.

Houston Chapter

The chapter continues to meet monthly at the Marriott Westchase Hotel, at 2900 Briar Park, in Houston. Area graduates are encouraged to attend. Ifyou are interested in attending and finding out about local chapter events, please contact Tom Solomon, ’69 at tom@tomsolomon. com.

Los Angeles Chapter

The LA chapter is looking for volunteers to assist in the Graduate Summer Picnic. Volunteers are welcome to take charge of simple backyard food: hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken, chips, salad, and beverages. The picnic will be held at the home of Cynthia and Will Cosby, ’69.

New York Metropolitan Area Chapter

The NYAOG (New York Metropolitan

Area Chapter) Web site is up and running at www.nyaog.com. Visit the site for all of the latest information on chapter events ineluding the 2008 West Point tailgate party, the Inter-Academy Golf Tournament this summer in Connecticut, chapter meetings, and all kinds oflocal social and sporting events. Golfers pay attention! The NYAOG chapter is looking for golfers ofall abilities to participate in the Inter-Academy Golf Tournament this summer in Easton, Conn. Please visit www.nyaog.com for more infermation as it becomes available.

Northern California Chapter

The Northern California AOG is planning a summer speaker event. Watch your e-mail for more details. Also, please contact Susan at oisusan@yahoo.com ifyou have ideas for an event.

Orange County Chapter

The chapter is run by an ad hoc group of grads we call the “Steering Committee.”

Any interested grad is encouraged to join this committee by merely showing up at any scheduled meeting, or by calling anyone currently on the committee and volunteering. The Monthly Gather of Grads typically happens the second Tuesday of each month in the offices of Scott Jackson, ’70. Everyone is welcome.

Silver Falcons

The USAFA Football schedule has been released and a tentative date has been selected for the 2008 Silver Falcon Convention. The dates are Sept. 17-21. On Saturday, Sept. 20, the Falcons host Utah in Falcon Stadium at 2:00 p.m. This will give us plenty of time to tailgate before the game. Like last year, lodging at the Rampart Lodge will be looked into. As usual, I’m asking for inputs to build this year’s agenda. Don’t forget that we will be electing the president and vice president to serve for the next four years. If anybody is interested in these two positions, please let Kirk know. No updates from the field this time. Please take a moment to jot down what is going on in your lives so we can all share. Until next time, have a great Air Force Day!

South Florida Chapter

Volunteers are still needed for the AFA 4th ofJuly picnic held at the Miami Coast Guard Station. Ted Kammire, ’73, Francisco Torres, ’78, and Scotty Scott, ’75, have committed to this patriotic event. We still need more. Please contact Ted Kammire at teddyaa@aol.com.

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9. Assist parents clubs/cadets

Goal 1

CelebrateAcademy Heritage

AFA Society of North Carolina

On April 15, the society held a series of Founders Day events at SeymourJohnson AFB in Goldsboro, N.C. About 40 graduates participated in the events. Classes represented ranged from ’59 to ’07. Graduates were joined by spouses, cadet parents,

members ofthe local Military Affairs Committee and by Coach Fisher DeBerry and his wife LuAnn. The first event was the morning briefing. Lt. Col. Lance “Gipper” Bunch, ’92, Director ofOperations for the 336th Fighter Squadron ofthe 4th Fighter Wing, gave the briefing. Lt. Col. Bunch provided a history ofthe 4th FW dating to WWII through Korea, Vietnam, the Balkans and the Middle East. He then went into a detailed discussion ofthe 336th’s recent deployment to Afghanistan. Later that day, six foursomes took to the links at a sunny but windy Three Eagles GolfCourse for a friendly scramble. Winners were Ron Patchett, ’60, John Graves, ’64, ClayWIsniewski, ’84, and “Chainsaw” McCullough. That evening, the final event was a dinner (complete with USAFA Form 0-96) held at the SJAFB Officers Club. AOG CEO Gary Howe, ’69, addressed the group and Coach Fisher DeBerry followed as the guest speaker. Coach DeBerry spoke ofhis time at Air Force Academy and stressed its importance in the development ofleaders for the nation. The Goldsboro Military Affairs Committee donated four Nike AT Autograph footballs that were raffled off at the event and signed by Coach DeBerry. Just over $ 1,000 was raised for the Fisher DeBerry Foundation to support single parents.

Alamo Chapter

The chapter had a very successful Founders Day dinner on Apr. 5. Maj. Gen. Irv Halter, ’77, 19th AF Commander, was the guest speaker and gave a great rundown on the history and status offlying programs at USAFA, the relationship between AETC and the Academy as it pertains to flying programs, and recent changes regarding flight screening and introductory flying programs. We also had an excellent update from Jim Wheeler, ’64, Chairman of the Board of Directors ofthe Association of Graduates. He covered current AOG activities, the Founders Day dinner at the Academy on Apr. 4, and the news that he and the AOG CEO are encouraging the formation of new chapters and their willingness to make chapter visits.

Goal 2

Keep abreast ofAir Force and USAFA topics

Heartland-Lemay Chapter

On Feb. 26, several grads gathered at the home of Drew Grant, ’81, to share lunch

and Drew’s experiences and insights from a recent business trip to Iraq in support of the multi-national force. Drew provided facts and impressions that yielded a new perspective on the situation and prospects for success there.

Piedmont Chapter

The chapter hosted graduates of the USAFA, USMA, USNA, USCGA, and USMMA at the Very Light Jet Expo presented by the Andrew M. Riolo, ’72, Law Firm at the General Aviation Hangars at the Charlotte Airport on Mar. 7. Presentations were given concerning the future of very light jets in the aviation industry and the affordability of very light jets to corporations and individuals. Many of the jets flown in for display were piloted by graduates of USAFA and the graduates spoke on the performance of their jets.

Goal 5

Interact with other service academy graduates.

Arizona Chapter

Our thanks to Diane Langmade, ’80, for hosting the Super Bowl party. Everyone contributed to make this a fun and memorable event. Also, many thanks to Carol and Doug Pelton, ’74, for inviting our chapter to their 4th annual pig roast held on Saturday, May 3.

Gateway Chapter

The chapter participated in three events this quarter. On Apr. 15, the USNA Alumni chapter hosted RADM Holloway, Commander of Carrier Strike Group 12 (.Enterprise Strike Group) at the Downtown Missouri Athletic Club and invited our membership to attend. On May 24, our chapter co-hosted our annual Memorial Ceremony at Jefferson Barracks Na-

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South Florida Chapter - Chapter Meeting

Heartland-Lemay Chapter enjoying a luncheon on at Drew Grant’s, ’81, home.

tional Cemetery. Among the fallen airmen we honored were Lt. Michael J. Blassie, ’70, who was formerly buried in the Tomb of the Unknown in Washington, DC. Finally, on May 30, the annual St. Louis All Academies Golf Tournament was held at Crescent Farms Golf Club tee off.

Northern California Chapter

On Apr. 26, we all enjoyed a sunny bike ride through Napa Valley, followed by camaraderie, wine tasting, food, and music.

North Texas Association

Jim Wheeler, ’64, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association of Graduates spoke at our April luncheon at Black Finn Restaurant.

Goal 6

Give back to the community

Alamo Chapter

In March, some ofthe recent grads, along with their more senior counterparts, participated in a Flabitat for Humanity Day, which is one ofthe chapters ongoing projects.

Heartland-Lemay Chapter

On Mar. 4 the chapter presented the first

ofwhat is hoped will be many “Leader of Character” awards. The first award was presented to Gina Mancuso of Papillion LaVista High School in Nebraska, a truly outstanding student-athlete-leader. The goals of the program are: (1) to recognize an outstanding student leader near the end oftheir junior year and; (2) to raise the visibility ofthe Academy in that school by displaying the award plaque during the students senior year. Thanks goes to Ed Yong, ’86, who led the way in establishing this chapter activity and who donated a significant amount ofmoney to purchase the plaque. Ed also provided a book on leadership given to Gina with a framed certificate.

in February. The discussions focused on “Space Challenges Facing the Next American Administration” and covered a wide range of topics, including civil and commercial as well as national security space issues. Following the forum, the Space Group prepared and delivered an assessment of the meeting for the conference organizers. By including cadets and faculty members (as well as representatives from other service academies) in the forum, the event made a significant contribution to space education at the Academy.

In conjunction with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the USAFA Astronautics Department in March, Space Group members, including Bob Giffen, ’65, Stan Rosen, ’69, and Roger Neeland, ’64, met at the Academy to review many of USAFA’s space-related activities. In addition to attending classes and presentations on the Astro Department’s excellent programs, including FalconSAT and FalconLAUNCH, we met with leaders from other academic departments and the Eisenhower Center. We also had the opportunity to contact leaders of cadet space activities, and have been working with them to plan special events for the fall.

Affi«ttUps

AcademyWomen

In April, AcademyWomen hosted a fabulous Spring Summit at the New Mexico Military Institute. Speakers included Congresswoman Heather Wilson, ’82, and Thunderbird pilot Nicole Malachowski, ’96. Stay connected through the Academy Women quarterly newsletter Focus, which features inspiring stories, insights for personal and professional development, as well as information on new initiatives. Check www.academywomen.org for more information and sign up as a member to receive details on upcoming events.

Space Group

Several members of the Space Group, including Col Marty France, ’81, Lawrence Cooper, ’86, Pete Hays, ’79, and Stan Rosen, ’69, attended a major national forum conducted by the Academy’s Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies in Washington D.C.

While at the Academy, we also had a chance to review potential fundraising activities for USAFA space activities with the leadership ofthe AOG and the USAFA Endowment. Hopefully, these contacts will lead to more effective allocation ofdonations to Academy space initiatives. Graduates interested in learning more about the Space Group can check out usafaspace.tripod.com or contact Stan Rosen at (310) 642-4653. We are expanding our use ofZoomieNation as a communication forum for the Space Group. Anyone interested in learning more about our activities should check that site or www.usafaspace.tripod.com.

North Texas Chapter - Jane and Bob Pavelko, ’68, ArtJohnson, '63, H. Ownby, ’69.

North Texas Chapter - Lev Prichard, '89 (right), with Friends of AF Basketball representative Rick Pialet, 77.

Heartland-Lemay Chapter - First “Leader of Character” award presented to Gina Mancuso.

Once Vpon a Time

Remember all the great stories your classmates shared with one another at your last reunion? Share some of the most important memories of your life with the readers of Checkpoints magazine. Checkpoints wants to publish your cadet experiences and stories of how your four years at the Academy affected your career and life.

Submit story between 500-2,000 words. Photos must be in “jpg” format, 300 dpi at 7 inches wide. E-mail to editor@aogusafa.org. If mailed, include a digital copy (photos will be scanned and returned) and mail to: 3116 Academy Dr., USAF Academy, CO 80840.

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* As cadets and graduates ofthe Academy, you hold integrity in the highest regard. Your official ring is created with that same integrity byJostens, your partner in expressing pride in the United States Air Force Academy.

iostens

eartfelt thanks

BY CAPT. CHRISTOPHER E. SCHLACHTER SR., 99 PHOTO BY KEN WRIGHT

I want to take graduates back to the article Not Forgotten, written by Richard S. Rauschkolb, ’70, in the June 2007 issue of Checkpoints. In the article, Mr. Rauschkolb states that the $4.7M Memorial Pavilion represents the AOG’s largest single gift to the Academy and the entire project has many messages every graduate, cadet and Academy friend can take pride in. He highlighted the importance of a peaceful resting place for Academy graduates who have gone before us. I wish to share my thoughts and experiences to reaffirm the substantial differences our contributions are making in graduates’ lives.

My story begins on May 12, 2007; one day after the building was dedicated at the Academy. I was deployed to Al Udeid AB, Qatar, and just came off ofthe night shift. After four months ofmy AEF rotation I was only one week away from departing. My first night oftraining my replacement went well. As I walked my replacement through in-processing, I got the word that my commander wanted to speak with me. This wasn’t unusual because of our daily interaction. Because ofthe urgency ofthe message I pondered whether we lost an aircraft or if a report wasn’t transmitted. In the very back ofmy mind I wondered whether something had happened to a family member. As I entered his office he wanted to close the door, but I didn’t let him (not typical for a captain to do this to a colonel, but something didn’t feel right). It was evident to me that this conversation wasn’t operations related and something wasn’t good. I looked at my commander and said, “Just tell me this isn’t big.” In that split second, my mind flashed

to my grandmother, father, mother, brother, in-laws, my wife, but what came out next changed my life forever. My commander then told me how my 22 month old son drowned while visiting his grandparents in Colorado. My disbeliefkicked in and I tried to explain to him how this must be an error. I knew that my son was visiting Colorado while my wife got the house in California, our bills, and her work squared away before I flew in next week. However, this was no mistake and I soon lost control ofmy body and realized that I had lost out on the final four months ofmy son’s life. I soon got up offthe floor and realized that I needed to call my wife and comfort her, my in-laws, and my parents. After I spoke with my wife for a few minutes we were confronted with where we wanted to bury our son. As my mind raced, my wife said she wanted to bury Christopher Jr. in the same place that his father wished to be buried. We both began to cry and I told her that I would begin the process ofburying ChristopherJr. at the Academy. On May 16, 2007, my wife and I, along with hundreds ofothers held a memorial for ChristopherJr. at the Memorial Pavilion and laid him to rest in the cemetery where Holly and I will also be buried alongside when the Lord calls.

The pain that I feel every day doesn’t go away, but the contribution that the AOG has had on my life won’t ever be forgotten. I want every graduate/cadet to know that the impact goes far beyond this lifetime and I thank each and every person for being there for us! I felt compelled to write this article and I hope that it can be published for others to see the impacts ofthis great project.

Hoyt L. Prindle,Jr., ’60

Col. Hoyt L. Prindle Jr., USAFA Class of 1960, died peacefully at his Tallahassee, Florida home July 28, 2007, after a long battle with cancer. Hoyt was the first 1960 graduate from the Ninth Cadet Squadron to leave this world. He was a combat veteran with 138 combat missions flown during the Vietnam War. His military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster.

Hoyt was known as “Oogie” by his friends, a name given to him by his parents while he was still an infant. He was born into an Air Force family and lived most of his entire life on Air Force bases around the world. At the Academy he was remembered as a fun person to be near, always joking around. Steve Bishop knew Hoyt before they were cadets, as their fathers were stationed at the same base at the same time. Steve says that during his cadet days, Oogie turned into a “real guy.”

Hoyt was born Sept. 24, 1937, in Montgomery, Ala., and graduated from Columbia Military Academy in Columbia, Tenn., in 1955. After obtaining his master's degree in business administration from Harvard University inl969, he was assigned to Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, where he flew 119 combat missions as forward air controller navigator in the C-123 aircraft. From 1971 to 1973 he served as the executive officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans at MAC Headquarters. In 1973 he became chief of Officer Career Development for the Military Airlift Command (MAC). He returned to rated duties in 1975, flying the C-5A aircraft at Travis AFB, Calif., where he was chief of the squadron operations center and squadron executive officer. In April 1977, he was assigned to Headquarters 22nd Air Force to manage the 22nd's War Readiness Program. In 1978, Hoyt was assigned to NATO as special assistant to the Chief of Staff at Headquarters Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy. From 1981 to 1983, he served as chief of the Personnel Division of the 438th ABG at McGuire AFB, N.J. In 1983, he became the Professor of Aerospace Studies at FSU. In 1986, he transferred to Eglin AFB as director of personnel for the Armament Division. He retired from the Air Force in 1990 after 30 years of commissioned service.

Hoyt left behind a devoted and loving wife, Deloris; a son, Hoyt L Prindle III of Jacksonville, Fla.; two daughters, Cyndi Welding of Vacaville, Calif., and Tina Brandon of Quincy, Fla. He was preceded in death by his father, Brig. Gen. Hoyt L. Prindle Sr. and his mother, who was lovingly known as "Mama Chris." (Bill Goodyear, ’60)

Francis K. “Kinney”Smith, ’62

Kinney Smith - a Man of God, Officer and Gentleman, and wonderful friend - born in South Carolina Oct. 23, 1938, went to be with His Lord on Feb. 4, 2008, after a 16 year battle with chronic leukemia.

After two years at Clemson in Engineering, Kinney entered the Academy at Lowry Air Force Base with his 464 ‘original Red Tag’ classmates on June 27, 1958. A strong Christian example to his peers, Kinney and several others joined churches in Colorado Springs because of delays in completion of the Cadet Chapel. Doing double duty, he sang

but not forgotten

in the Protestant Cadet Choir and Chorale. He also was part of an exchange tour with the Mexican Air Force Academy.

In 1960 Kinney met his future wife, Nan Augenstein, as the result of a blind date arranged by classmate Bill Haugen and his future wife Sue. In our Polaris, the words by his picture say Kinney hoped for “a life of bliss with a little girl from North of the Mason-Dixon Line”. With Nan he surely got that.

After graduation and marriage to Nan in 1962, he started pilot training at Reese AFB in Lubbock, Texas, then moved to navigator training in Waco, Texas. Following electronic warfare school, he became an electronic warfare officer in the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB, S.D. He completed two B-52 “Arc Light” tours from Guam, Okinawa and Thailand. He went back to Thailand flying the EC-121 “Bat Cat”, tracking and targeting trucks on the Ho Chi Minh trail.

Sponsored by the Academy English Department to Florida State, Kinney earned a Master ofArts. While on the Academy faculty, Kinney taught several English courses before becoming head of the English Department at the Academy Preparatory School.

During these assignments Kinney and Nan were very active in their church with Kinney being ordained a deacon.

Over their 45 years together Nan’s smiles were quiet testimony to Kinney’s loving and caring qualities as a husband. Along the way Todd and Matt were born; thereafter Kinney had his hands full with junior hockey and T-ball. Today as men well raised, both sons are living testimony to Kinney’s love for them.

Returning to flying with the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB, Omaha, he flew from Alaska, Okinawa, Greece and England as a Raven crew commander in the RC-135V. Kinney and Nan both loved the outdoors; in Alaska Kinney traveled with the Ohmans to Denali Park where they all watched the moose calving season.

Selected as Headquarters Squadron Commander for Strategic Air Command staff, Kinney rode herd on generals and sergeants alike. Returning to the world of electronic warfare and intelligence in 1982, he became Deputy and Acting Director of Programs at Electronic Security Command in San Antonio, overseeing intelligence and cryptanalysis budgets and resources for worldwide operations. Retiring in 1985, he was hired by Locus International. He taught English at San Antonio’s Palo Alto College and continued to play a leadership role in their church until becoming its administrator in 1990.

For the past ten years, Kinney and Nan have poured their lives into the Navajo nation, recruiting and organizing others to build churches, support pastors, run vacation Bible schools and minister to these people they came to love. The Navajo considered Kinney a ‘brother.’ He and Nan decided to leave the Lone Star State in 2006 and moved to the pines of Woodland Park, Colorado. There Kinney continued in their new church, teaching and leading a prayer group.

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www.usafa.org

Kinney Smith

Kinney Smith was surely an “Angel Among Us” one of those people who are always there for us, and who by their words and actions exemplify those qualities of faith, love and charity that we all should strive for. Kinney was always a Southern Gentleman; when teased, Kinney would just tilt his head down a bit, and give a little grin. Kinney was probably the nicest guy we have known he was just fun to be with.

As we write this, it is Easter time. Kinney would want you all to be sure you have received the gift of Christ that guided his life.

Man of God, Officer and Gentleman, wonderful friend - Kinney, we will miss you. (Classmates Bill Haugen and Bo Ohman)

JohnA.Nehring,'63

John Alan Nehring, 65, of Pagosa Springs, Colo., died unexpectedly from a pulmonary embolism on March 19th, 2008. John was born in Columbus, Ohio on April 8, 1942, the first child of Martin John and Gertrude Lydia Nehring. He grew up in Canon City where he excelled throughout school. He was a National Merit Scholar, Eagle Scout, ROTC cadet, football player, wrestler and sang in school choirs. Throughout his life, learning and teaching were recurrent themes.

John graduated in the top 10 of his class at the United States Air Force Academy, receiving his diploma from President Kennedy in 1963. He also obtained master’s degrees in economics from Georgetown University and business administration from UCCS. He served in the Air Force (active and Reserve) for 30 years, retiring with the rank of colonel. During the Vietnam War, he served as an RF-4C Phantom pilot. John maintained a life-long relationship with the Academy, his classmates and with flying. He flew for enjoyment, as an instructor and as a member of the Civil Air Patrol.

At the time of his death, John was employed as an economics instructor at Embry-Riddle campuses in Albuquerque and Colorado Springs. Earlier John had taught business and economics at Montana State University and the Air Force Academy. He also worked as a database programmer and analyst, primarily for companies in Atlanta and Albany, New York.

John made friends easily wherever he lived and relished the company of others over meals, at concerts, and outdoors. He was an avid outdoorsman and traveler who loved fly fishing, hiking, camping, white-water boating and skiing. He passed on his appreciation for mountains, rivers, ski slopes and wilderness adventures to his children and, in the short time he knew them, his grandchildren.

He is survived by son Jonathan, and wife, Dana, of Helena, Montana; son Paul and wife, Sarah, of Wausau, Wisconsin; and daughter Sonja Skovlin and husband, Jay, of Hamilton, Montana; grandchildren Hans, Logan, Isaac, Keira, Annika and Jesse; brother Richard Nehring and sister-in-law Brooke Bower of Colorado Springs; and sister Mary Jane Nehring of Vancouver, British Columbia.

A memorial service for John, with an honor guard from Peterson AFB, was held at Bethany Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs April 14th. Cremation has taken place and a graveside service will be held June 20th at 1 p.m. at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, located at Fort Harrison west of Helena. (Jon Nehring, John’s son)

DavidL. Dye, '65

Dave Dye, Class of 1965 went to be with the Lord on March 10th 2008 after a short but courageous fight against pancreatic cancer.

Born in Liberty, Kentucky, on May 8th 1943, he spent most of his childhood in Salem, Indiana. He graduated from Salem High in 1961 as Valedictorian of his high school class.

His parents had to tell him many times to turn out the lights, quit studying, and go to bed. His dedication to academics and love of his country lead him to the Air Force Academy, where he graduated in 1965.

Upon graduation he went to Selma, Alabama to attend UPT at Craig AFB. After pilot training he was asked to return to Craig as an instructor pilot in the T-38.

After his active duty, Dave served as a pilot in the A-37 at Grissom AFB. For 32 years Dave was an airline pilot for Eastern and United Airlines. He also acted as a liaison for the Air Force Academy for many years.

Dave provided guidance for many people in his life. He was an inspiration for many people in both their spiritual and everyday life. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and brother.

Dave leaves behind his wife, Ellen; children John, Joelle, Emily, and David; grandchildren Michael, Sara, Laura, Katie, Edward, and Jenna; and brother Barry. All that knew and loved him will miss him very much. (Barry Dye, Dave’s brother)

RobertN. Brost, '66

Robert N. (Bob) Brost was suddenly called to join the Lord on March 29, 2008 after spending a wonderful day treating visiting family to some of the attractions of north Texas. As nearly always, Bob was enjoying life to the fullest by sharing his good fortune with others.

Bob’s life was memorialized by a large gathering of social and business friends at Christ Church, Plano, TX on April 3rd. Interment services were held April 5th at the USAF Academy. This service was attended by another large gathering of family, friends and USAFA classmates.

Bob was born March 4th, 1944, in Fort Collins, Colo., the third son of Rev. and Mrs. Carl Brost. As a preacher’s son, he moved several times in his youth but finished high school in Yankton, S.D. He entered USAFA in 1962 with his close friend and neighbor Bill Godfrey. To have two entrants to USAFA in one year was quite an accomplishment for the small town ofYankton. Bob was a proud member of 7th squadron at the Academy for three years, and 10th squadron during first class year. He achieved the dean’s, commandants, and superintendent’s lists, and was head cadet manager of the varsity football team. Bob will be well remembered by his classmates for his animated story telling, unflagging good humor, and enduring friendships.

Bob graduated in 1966 and then completed pilot training at Reese AFB, Texas. During that period, he and his Colorado Springs sweet-

John Nehring

Dave Dye

heart, Jean Totten, were married in September of 1967 in the USAFA chapel. Bob and Jean started their AF career at Little Rock AFB, Ark. where Bob checked out and was assigned C-130 pilot duties. Bob served in Southeast Asia at CCK, Taiwan, with TDY duties in Vietnam. He returned to Little Rock as an instructor pilot. In 1971, Bob left active duty to pursue a career in architecture. Bob continued to serve in the Air National Guard and Reserve forces until 1987, when he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Bob completed a Masters Degree in Architecture from the University of Oklahoma in 1973. Bob and Jean moved to Dallas and from that time forward, Bob served in the architectural and commercial real estate development fields. Bob specialized in total project management of large warehouse and distribution center complexes for overseas clients such as Panasonic and Nestle. Bob did this as both an employee of major development companies and as a self-employed consultant. The comments from professional associates accompanying their expression of condolences attest to Bob’s professional stature. He was highly respected.

Bob and Jean have two children, Kevin and Cynthia. Cynthia is married to Jeff Winters. They have given Bob and Jean two beautiful grandchildren who will miss their “Poppy”. Bob was, above all, about family and friends. He enjoyed a full life, doing the things he wanted to. This almost always included those he loved, from family gatherings at their treasured Colorado mountain cabin to small group European travel. Bob enjoyed some solitude too - he was an avid fly fisherman and a contented tractor driver while mowing their ranch’s acreage. Bob was a happy guy. He was always a positive influence in any group. He was a person that saw the “half full glass” and the one that said “it will all work out” in an unanticipated setback or less than pleasant event. People just liked to be friends with Bob. That is why he had so many. We will all miss him.

(HalBrost, brother, Class of1960; and Bill Godfrey,friend, Class of1966)

Walter D. Curtiss, ’68

It is with deep regret and sadness that we announce the passing of our classmate Wally Curtiss. Wally was born in Findlay, Ohio on Oct. 21, 1945. He was the third of four children and his parents and sister siblings knew him at home as “WD.”

He entered USAFA from Yuba City, Calif, in 1964 while his father was assigned to Beale AFB. Shortly after arriving at the zoo, “WD” became Wally, and for all of us, that is the name that stuck during our time together on campus.

While he was at the Academy, Wally was an Astro major and was in 14th Squadron for two years, 12th Squadron for one year, and graduated DG from 27th Squadron, where he served as the Cadet Squadron Commander.

Upon graduation, he linked up with Dick Covey, Craig Baer, and Dale Oderman as roommates at Purdue for a Master’s in Aero and Astro. Seeking fun and adventure when they weren’t cracking the books, Wally and his roommates chipped in on a small ski boat that they dragged up to mountain lakes on weekends for sport and relaxation.

After completing an accelerated Master’s program, Wally went to Williams AFB for pilot training and then into OV-lOs for a combat tour in Southeast Asia, where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and 12 Air Medals for his heroism. Following his stint in Viet

nam, he served for a couple ofyears at Reese AFB as an instructor pilot and then separated from the Air Force in 1975.

Remaining in Lubbock for the next couple of years, he earned an MBA from Texas Tech in 1977 and then went to work for Bell Labs. After several years with Bell, he established his own consulting business as a career project management professional. In addition to precious time spent with his family and church, Wally continued to fly as a private pilot and he enjoyed skiing, hiking, camping, and hunting.

In mid-2007, he was diagnosed with sarcoma and he underwent surgery in February 2008. With the cancer in an advanced state, he was unable to recover and died in his home on March 4, 2008. He was a devout Christian, drawing on his faith until the end.

His is survived by his sisters Priscilla, Martha, and Jane; wife, Emma; children China, Joshua, Verity, and Ian; and grandchildren Fender, Anna, Caden, and Montgomery. Our prayers go out to family and friends for comfort that Wally is with his Lord and Savior. (Tim Davidson, Dick Covey, Craig Baer, all ’68; and Skip Penny, 70)

William L. “Larry”Pigg, ’68

Dr. Larry Pigg, Class of 1968 passed away on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007 at University Hospital, Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was 61 years old.

Dr. Pigg was born on Feb. 13, 1946 in Florence, Alabama. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1968 and the Medical College of Georgia in 1977. He was an F-100 pilot in the U.S. Air Force.

He served as a resident at Charlotte Memorial Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, and practiced orthopedic surgery in Melbourne, Florida. He then retired in Albuquerque.

Survivors include his daughter, Shannon Pigg, of Orlando, Florida; and his parents, Bill and Lil Pigg, of Warner Robins, Georgia.

Graveside services for Dr. Pigg were held on Dec. 20, 2007 at Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville, Georgia. (From McCullough Funeral Home Website, Warner Robins, Ga.)

ScottA. Huddleson, ’74

On March 25th, 2008, Scott Huddleson went home to his heavenly Father. For over a year Scott had battled pancreatic cancer; enduring surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy with grace and dignity. Although his physical body was destroyed by the disease, Scott is as alive today as he has ever been.

For those of us who knew Scott, we have asked ourselves repeatedly over the past year, “Why Scott, Lord? Why did you choose to take Scott at this time? He is too young to go now!” And the Lord’s answer from Psalm 139 is, “Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they are written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” Although I may still not understand why, it was time for him to go home.

One of the earliest discussions I remember about the fundamen-

For more current information about graduate deaths, please visit the AOG web site. www.usafa.org.

tals of the Christian life was an explanation by Scott on the concept of eternal life from 1 John 5:13; “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God in order that you may know that you have eternal life.” Scott explained that John’s description of eternal life is in the present tense. It doesn’t occur some time in the future, after our physical bodies have died, but rather, eternal life begins the moment someone believes in Christ.

The Christian faith is one of paradoxes, such as love your enemies; do not judge others; and perhaps the greatest paradox in order to live, you must die to self. The apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians, “I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” It wasn’t that Paul had been crucified physically. Paul had surrendered his life to Christ to be used for His purpose.

Scott placed his faith in Christ in high school at a Billy Graham crusade. As a result, his eternal life began, even though his physical life had not ended, and he died to himself, making himself available for Christ to use. For those of us who knew Scott, his sacrificial living showed through in all he did.

After graduation, Scott and I both chose the missile launch operations career field and went to F.E. Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It was during those early years, when Scott and I shared an apartment together that we got to know each other very well! I was not an easy guy to share an apartment with, but Scott was tolerant and we grew to understand each other. Because of that tested friendship, I could be totally candid and honest with Scott what a refreshing change! Scott not only understood me, but he accepted me just as I was. Friends like that are rare!

When we gathered on the morning ofApril 5th in the Academy cemetery, in his last demonstration of humility, which was so typical of Scott, he was buried in a plain, unfinished pine coffin. Always one for conducting extensive research, Scott had gone to the Academy cemetery several weeks prior to pick the spot he wanted to be buried at and he found one close to the trees, which he loved so much.

I would not be truthful if I said I didn’t miss him. I miss him very much. Although the number of days ahead of us is unknown, there is much for us to do and many to serve. I, too, will be called Home by my Father some day and when I go, I look forward to seeing my friend, Scott. Until we meet again. (Ralph Tate, 74)

PaulM. Benson, ’86

Dr. Paul Benson, 43, passed away on Jan. 29, 2008. He was born in Revere, Mass, on Aug. 6, 1964. Paul grew up a North Shore boy in Peabody, Mass, where he graduated from high school in 1982. Through talent and skill he landed at the Air Force Academy with roughly 1,400 others on June 25, 1982 to start his Air Force career.

With the photographic memory of his, and sheer smarts, he easily made his way through four years at the Academy with the Chickenhawks of CS-16, becoming Squadron Commander one semester of his last year there. He had many great memories and made lasting friendships with many of the great people that were part of the ’86 Chickenhawks.

From the Academy, he was stationed at Vance AFB for pilot training. Hitting a roadblock with formation flying in T-38s, he continued on to Navigator training and eventually became an Electronic Warfare Officer for B-52s. On Jan. 2, 1988, he married Kate Schaeflem, a fellow

’86er from CS-36. They were stationed at Barksdale AFB from 1988 through 1992 - having seen the first combat of the first Persian Gulf War from the seat of his B-52.

Returning from his overseas station from the war, Paul was determined to fulfill has other lifelong dream to enter medical school and become a physician. So in 1992 Paul said goodbye to his Air Force career and started his civilian life as a student at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, Mass. He graduated with high honors in 1996 and went to Lewiston, Maine for his family practice residency.

Soon after, his first son, Colin, was born, to be followed two years later by a little brother, Liam. They were the joy in his life, and aside from work, his life was full of T-ball, Little League and soccer coaching. After many years of watching his boys in a cold hockey rink, Paul donned skates and joined a men’s league to compare notes with his sons. He leaves with two goals to his credit in the short season he had.

He is sadly missed by his mother, his brothers John and Charles, his sisters Kaye and Joanne, and the extended Benson family. And mostly by his wife and two beloved boys.

We will always remember “Peabs” as the fun-loving, mischievous character that he was, a brilliant mind and a loving father.

Kate and the boys would like to extend a huge and humble “Thank You” to all from the Chickenhawks and the Pink Panthers and our extended Air Force family that have sent well wishes, prayers and offerings of help in this hard time. Bless you all. (Kate Benson, ’86)

Frank E. Mallette, ’87

Frank Eldred Mallette, the son of the late Frank and Mary Smalls Mallette, was born March 13, 1966 in Charleston, S.C.

On Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008, God called Frank home to his eternal rest. He was 41. Those who shared the joys ofhis life and who will cherish his precious memories include his beloved wife, LaToya Bolling, and one devoted daughter, Jakira; his caring sisters Christine Mallette Legare (Herbert), Geraldine Mallette Johnson, Mary Ella, Hattie Mallette Brown, Wannetta Mallette Pratt (David), and Tonia; his uncles Willie Middleton, Mack Purifoy and Carl Purifoy; his aunts Carrie Lee Mallette, Maggie Mallette White, Florence Smalls, Mildred Singleton-Anderson, Juanita Johnson, Paralee Harris, and Billie Newsom; his brothers-in-law Antonio Bolling, Andre Bolling, and Ahmad Bolling; and a host of nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Frank attended Liberty Hill and North Charleston Elementary Schools and graduated from Bonds Wilson High School in 1983. After graduating high school one year early with honors, he attended the Air Force Academy where he graduated from the 2nd Squadron with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. After graduation, he attended flight school and piloted the T-37, T-38, and C-141. After re-

Scott Huddleson

Paul Benson

tiring as a Captain and because of his love for flying, he pursued a career with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a special agent. Frank held progressively responsible positions within the Drug Enforcement Administration as Special Agent, Pilot, and East Central Area Supervisor - Aviation Division in Dallas, Texas. While employed at DEA, he flew the ATR 42, Cessna 206, Cessna 210, Citation Bravo and Turbo Commander. Ele also co-piloted many other aircraft including helicopters.

Frank was joined in holy matrimony to LaToya Bolling on February 14, 1991 in Columbus, Mississippi. Together they have one daughter, Jakira. Frank was a wonderful, fun-loving, good natured and compassionate husband, brother and friend. His contagious laugh will be recalled by anyone who has met him.

Frank’s memorial service was held on Feb. 16, 2008 at Morse Street Baptist Church, Denton, Texas where Frank served faithfully on the senior usher board. Frank was interred at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery. Air Force Academy classmates Carson Elmore and Jeff McConie joined friends and family members to pay their respects. (LaToya Bolling, his wife)

Carrie G. Pedersen (Loudermilk), '96

Carrie Gayle Pedersen, age 34, and her son Lucas were taken from us on Jan. 6, 2008 in a tragic car crash in Memphis, Tenn. I lost my best friend and beautiful wife the world lost a loving mother, caring daughter, little sister, friend to all who met her, and a patriot.

I first met Carrie at the Prep School when we were classmates. It wasn’t hard to remember her, not because there are so few women; she was well, Carrie. Being six foot tall helped, but if she talked to you for five minutes, she made you feel like your best friend. Her bright smile and warm heart would immediately disarm you. She loved meeting new people and making friends; the Academy was the right place for her to be, as she made friends with everybody she met. Carrie had more drive than anybody I knew. While at the Academy, she loved basketball and was a leader on the court as well as off. People naturally looked up to her because of her caring attitude and relentless pursuit to be the best when she played. After she had back surgery her senioryear she did not sit still. She continued to lead from the sidelines, working hard enough to play in the last games of the season and graduated on time.

Carrie and I started dating the second semester of our junior year. I’m not sure what started it, but my life was forever changed since that moment. There was always a crowd wherever she went because she probably started it. She loved getting people together for anything and everything. I’m sure many of our classmates went to the Loudermilk house on weekends either invited or uninvited; it didn’t matter how many people would show up, there was always room for one more. Her kindness was subtle, but defined her relationship

with all who knew her. She was the one always taking pictures, wanting to remember everyone she met and remember the experiences.

Carrie was a natural leader. As a section commander, MEO chief, MPF section chief and USAFE staff, she had a way with people. She naturally cared about everyone she dealt with, good or bad. She had a special grace in most situations that I most certainly struggled with; she made it look easy when doing her job because she cared. She loved wearing the uniform and transferring to the Reserves as an ALO was the perfect job for her. It allowed her to deal with young kids that were excited about the Air Force and she used her demeanor to counsel them about the Air Force and what it had to offer. She gave generously of her time. While in Germany she was a youth mentor and headed up the DEFY (drug education for youth) summer camp for Ramstein. She also coached basketball and soccer and volunteered in the community. It brought her great joy interacting with so many people whether Airmen, friends or children; it was her special gift.

Carrie’s greatest talent was being a mom. There is no other title she loved in this world; raising our children was her number one priority. Everything in her life revolved around taking care of them. If it was a nice day outside, you could bet she was at the park or out in the yard playing with Ashley and Lucas. The kids always had something going on, for Carrie was never scared to take them along wherever she went in life. Her children looked up to her and she looked up to them. She loved spending time with family and her family kept her centered her entire life. She was the ultimate role model to all mother, daughter, sister and wife.

Carrie’s passion and love of life is present all around us. She loved the Lord and is with Him now, watching over Lucas in heaven and Ashley here on earth. She taught me so much in the way too short time she touched my life. Carrie and Lucas were laid to rest Jan. 16, 2008 at the Academy Cemetery. Over 1,000 people came to the funeral on a cold, snowy day...witness that she touched so many other lives in her short journey here on earth. She will be forever missed by everyone who knew her. (James Pedersen, 96, her husband)

At press time we had learned of the deaths of the following graduates:

Mr. Roscoe R. “Sonny” Roberts, Class of 1959, who died on March 20, 2008 in Virginia.

Lt. Col. (Ret) Peter F. Fazio, Class of 1965, who died on May 11, 2008 in Lafayette, La.

Col (Ret) Douglas S. Hawkins, Class of 1967, who died on April 21, 2008 in West Linn, Ore.

Lt. Col. (Ret) Stanley W. Parks, Jr., Class of 1970, who died on Jan. 15, 2007 in Dayton, Ohio.

Mr. Terrence R. Bench, Class of 1972, who died on March 29, 2008 at Coral Springs, Fla.

Maj. (Ret) John M. Garrard, Class of 1973, who died on April 9, 2008 in Roxboro, N.C.

Lt. Col. (Ret) Richard L. Alcorn, Class of 1974, who died on April 11, 2008 in Marietta, Ga.

Mr. Steven E. Struck, Class of 1986, who died on May 7, 2008 in Foothills Ranch, Calif.

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

For more current information about graduate deaths, please visit the AOG web site. www.usafa.org.

Glass NEWS

Colorado Springs, CO 80919-1015

H: (719) 531-5874

E-mail: petetodd@comcast.net

I’ll begin with a fewlocal (USAFA) items of more than local interest. First, congratulations to the Class of2008, the 50th (!) class to graduate from our Academy. The Class of 1959 wishes you every success inyour careers andvietoryin all ofthe battles thatyouwill face in theyears to come.

Second, the fifteenth annual National Characterand Leadership Symposium (NCLS) was held 20-24 February. The speaker for the Class of 1959 Leadership Lecture was Dr. HarveySchiller, former USAF combat pilot, ex-Permanent Professor at USAFAand a businessmanwithwide experience in manyfacets ofcollegiate,professional and Olympic sports. His well-received presentation focused on athletes whose characterled to making a difference fortheir teams and society. Our sponsorship ofthis lecture everyyear continues to produce qualitylearningexperiencesforthe cadetwing and other attendees. Our Class was appropriatelyrecognizedthroughout the NCLS.

Finally, the annual Founders’ Daydinner at theAcademy on 4Aprilfeatured the installationofour classmate Bob Beckel as a Distinguished Graduate. Itwas actually a “make-up” for lastyear’s award that was postponed due to a phantom snowstorm. In acknowledgingthis honor, Bob spoke bothwell andbriefly, to the great enjoyment ofall attendees, including his classmates and friends featured in the accompanyingphoto.

I was fortunate enough to receive two mini-travelogues from a couple ofour mobile classmates that I’ll sharewithyou foryour own trip planning.

DickCarrwrote abouttheir autumn trip to the Balkans: “Last September, we visited Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Slovakia for three weeks. Mostinteresting. Eachcountryhasbeautiful scenery, but all different. Same for the economies - - Croatia is 85% dependent on tourism (unsustainable).We saw wholevalleys deserted with the farms fallowbecause the farmers go to

The ’59ercontingentafter theFounders’DayDinner. Standingfrom leftare Max Miller, Curt Cook, Bob Beckel, Don Brooks, ATO Herm Gilster, Ed Montgomery, Pete Todd, and Bob Browning. Kneeling: Charlie Meier,Jack Hundemer, andBrockStrom.

Dubrovnikand make more moneyfrom tourists. Theirheavyindustryis still sitting there with the Serb shell holes in the buildings and no sign ofactivity.

“Bosniais standingstillwiththe sides not likingeach otherverymuch. Roads, etc. are in bad shape. Slovenia (only 10 days ofwar) is booming. Reminds me ofIreland with much high techwork. Slovakia: communism dies hard. Each restroom still has two attendants to take your 50 cents to pee.

“All ofthe Balkan countries havebenefited greatlyfromUNESCO. Theyhave rebuiltthe entire old cityofDubrovnik, the Diocletian Palace in Split and the famous ‘old bridge’ in Mostar, for instance.”

Dickwent on to saythathe andJean were shortlythereafter departingfor a trip withwhich he has finally come to grips. Their itinerary includes several stops inVietnam (Hanoi, HalongBay, DaNang, HoiAn, Hue, NhaTrang, Dalat and Ho Chi Minh City) andthree days atAngkorWat in Cambodia. He pledged a trip report upon their return,

FlakWilliams provided an eyewitnessreport on recent dramaboth inAfrica and Italy: “The attached picture was taken ofMJ and me in a Maasai hut in TanzaniathelastweekinDecember.Wewere in a safari andwhat an experience!

‘‘Are we havinganyfunyet?”

“Our itinerary took us into/out ofNairobi (Kenya) andwewere bussed to/ fromArusha (Tanzania), where we started our quest to see nature at its best. We arrivedbackin Nairobithe evening of29 Decemberand were to fly out the next day (Sunday). The elections had been held on Thursday and normally the results are announcedthe next daywiththe swearing-inthefollowingday. Nothing had been made official bySunday, but the results were supposed to be announced thatmorning. Because ofthe potentialfordemonstrations, not many stores were open and the police/military were patrolling the streets.

“We got to the airport andwatched the news conference that was supposed to announce the results, but first they read off some results not previously made public.When the election board chairman read the last districtresults, allhell broke loose over claims offraud,whereupon the news conference was canceled.We took offfor home and shortly thereafter they made the results official.You knowthe rest ofthe story.

“Backhome now. The trashsituationin Napolihas made international news andyou've heard about it. It is at least as bad as they say, butvaries by area. I have not been into Napoli, but in the ‘suburbs’ the trash is piledalong streets and corners several feet high. All sorts ofprotestswith exits blocked to housing areas and off-ramps. The school nurse could not get into the area where she lives for two days, nor could her husband get out. The cause is that the Camorra (a mafia-like criminal organization) control the trashbusiness and havefilledthelocallandfill s with trash fromthe north, ergo no place to putthe local trash except in the streets.

Pete Todd

Sabre Society Donors

“But the situationvariesby area. Welivejustoutsidethebase and the contractor (with suspectties) who owns the land and buildings on the base (theNavy leases) has built a temporaryfacilityfortrash from the base and our village, so we are relativelyclean. The Navy andlocal officials are monitoring the situation from a health standpoint, but nothing definite and again, the problem is not as bad in all areas. The Navyhas offered free lodgingforthosewho can'tget home. Bob Oaks's “6-foot rule’ is now a 10-foot one.

“Last, but by no means least, you can add me the list of ’59ers who have experienced the prostate problem. My saga began last springwhen my PSA reading, though still belowthe accepted upper level, showed a sharp increase and itwas recommended that I take anothertest. This was done in September and again showed a sharp increase, butwith lownumbers. The hospital here does not have a urologist on staff, but there is one at the Navy base at Rota, Spain, who makes ‘house calls’ here every 3-4 months.

“I saw him in October and he recommended a biopsy, but that had to be done at Rota. MJ and I made a quicktrip there in late October for the procedure. The results showed problems were developing. He outlined possible treatments andthe two preferred were radiation and surgery. Radiation could not be done here and would take severalweeks. Surgery could be done here and that is the direction we chose. I had the surgerywhen the doctor came back to town and he said all went well. I’ll have to wait a couple of months for another PSA test to see what happens next.”We’re pulling foryou, Flak!

50th Reunion Reminder: 14-19 April 2009.

Thoughtfor the Quarter: Deja-Moo: The feeling thatyou've heard all this bull before.

A.J. (Rosie) Cler, Jr.

5423 Myrtle Wood Sarasota, FL 34235-4624

Phone: (941) 371-4843

E-mail: RCtherose@aol.com

Class Web Site: www.usafa.net/1960

“The Earl ofVan Inwegen with Lady Pat at The Classic Crew” the photo was “taken at the San Diego (US) CrewClassic on Mission Bay, CA,” wroteVan. “USAFA didn't have a team, Navy and Colorado did, and the University of Washington was the overallwinner. Note myprotest bywearing a golftie!”

“Just finished Fiesta here in San Antonio,” writes Les Hobgood. “It’s a 10dayaffair for real partyanimals, and I startedwith the Corvette Sock Hop on Friday, Corvette Car Show Saturday and Corvette Bluebonnet Run Sunday. Mondayis the River Parade, TuesdaythroughFriday is ‘Night in Old SanAntonio,’ where 10,000 ofmyvery closest friends hold forth in a four-squareblock downtown and consume food and beer. The food is Mexican, French, German and Cowboy; the beer is good andcheap, since Iworknextto thebeer booth. We bribe them with German Fiesta Medals to get free beer. I am cochairman ofthe booth, and although this responsibilityweighs heavily on these shoulders, I dealwith these pressures byconsuminglots ofbeer. I got out ofrehab one week after the Fiesta ended!”

Norm Haller andMike (A) ClarkevisitedTampa for a meetingofthe National Academies’ Standing Committee in support ofthe U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) that Mike directs --1 drove up from Sarasota inApril and met them at their Hyatt. Mike is director oftheAir Force Studies Board of the NationalAcademies and Director oftwo Standing Committees forthe IntelligenceCommunityand US SpecialOperations,while Norm’s a consultant to both ofthose august bodies (R: The betterstorymightbe about Mike’swife, Nancy, who’s worked in theWhite House since ’78 as ChiefFlorist, and plans to write three books after she retires. Staytuned.). During an afternoon over a wide-ranging span oftopics, the discussion ascended to those in our Class who went to MIT fortheirMasters’ Degrees: Mike Buchen, Norm Haller, Frank Mayberry and Jack Schira, who all attended MIT followinggraduation, and Mike Loh, who went 13 years later.

“I’m running for State Representative in the Ohio 69th District. At 70, the

prostate is gone, radiation is completed and I mayhave eightyears ofrobust health left wouldjustlike to make a difference in schools, jobs and Ohio's energy situation,” wrote Jack Schira. “Mywife Susan, 52, has reached a nice level in ScientificApplicationsInternational Corporation as AssistantVP in the oil information systems business. My oldest two kids, Robin and Jay, are well established andhave families oftheir own. Daughter Robin is in her26thyear teaching inYorktown,VA, and son Jay must be one ofthe best software engineers in the US because theypayhim bigbucks in DCworking on software for US Defense. Children from my current marriage, Sam (18), is attendingKetteringInstitute, andChristine is 15 and inthe9th grade at BrunswickHigh School - - she wants to go to USAFA ifshe enters in 2011, I'll be 77 when she graduates!”

Fourteen DC-60 stalwarts met on Founder’s Day,April 1st, 2008. A1Johnson andJerryDelaCruzbrought everyoneup to date on MiniSkiXVIII, andA1 said his new home in Camden, Maine is almost finished. Bill Taylor still helps the AF solve TacticalAir problems. Bill Carnegiecontemplatesleaving NewJerseyandliving just outside Front Royal,VA; Bill now has two 300 games in his favorite pastime ofbowling; and, his daughterwill become the new Director ofSimpson's TV show.Afterfouryears, Bob Badgerhas finishedhis fictionalbook (somecharacters resemble '60 classmates), is looking for a publisher, and he’s started book two. Mike (A) Clarke echoed Bill Taylor's words that the AF is in a “world of hurt. KenAlnwickisworkingwith the Navy on Maritime DomainAwareness, andcoachinglacrosse. Tom Burkeworks onAF issues andproblems ofthe aviation industry; Leon Goodson willvacation in Tennessee and Seattle and still rides his motorcycle. GJC Fries is recoveringquitewellfrom the hip surgery, has 11 grandkids, andhis daughtermarried and went to Hawaii in May; while Bob and Lutzi Fischerwill be heading on a cruise ofthe Caribbeanthis summer.

The Seattle Group metApril 16,2008. George Luck was out oftown, butVic Yoakum, Dennis O'Keefe, Jim O'Rourke, Chuck Diver and Nels Delisanti lunched in Kirkland, WA. Seniorbiker O'Keefe gave O'Rourke tips on staying healthywhile biking.VicYoakumtalkedofhis cruises thisyear, with Hawaiihis next port ofcall in June ’08; Diver was leavingfor Michigan and O'Keefe had just returned from somewhere.

FriendlyFire. Brian and Carol Kaley’s winter condo is in Naples, FL, where Brianworks four days a week at HabitatforHumanitypoundingnails into affordable homes...“I have to attend theAir ForceAssociation state meetingin Orlandowhich coincideswiththeAir&SpaceSymposium at Disney,” wroteTed Stumm. “I wasn'tpayingattention and gotappointed as the stateVPfor membershipguess I need to getmyhearingaidstunedup”...Ron andConnieYates, AndiandCaroleBiancur, GeorgeandDianaPupich,JohnandDeaneMcCullough andJimandJennyGlazawent to Hawaii inearlyFebruary—Macrented ahouse on the “Big Island”.. .CT and Brenda Douglass’ 16-year-old autistic son Daxis now“abusboyatOutbackSteakhouse, aftercompleting a three-dayafter-school trainingprogram. And, he’sjustbegun drivertrainingground school”. Bill and Kath Gillis also have teenage children: “Sebastian (15) was in Georgiamid-April withthe OrderoftheArrow (BoyScouts), andlaterthatmonthinductedintothe Latin Honor Society! Cecelia (12) was in Orlando, FLwith the Middle School Chorus Group, also enjoyed Universal Studio &Adventure Island”...Serious pain and stiffneckcaused Phil Meinhardt to have surgeryat ScrippsHospital in LaJolla to fuse discs4,5 and 6 together...Visiting Barb andBillHales inGreer, SC were Les and MartyQuerryandBill Goodyear in March.

John Paul (“JP”) Browning andwife, Carole, “visited theAcademy in Octoher (’07), when we attended a 356thTactical FighterSquadron reunion and then went to theAFA-Armyfootball game,” wrote JR In the Naval Reserve for 20 years, JP is a retired Captain (USNR). They moved to Westfield, IN from Weatherford,TX, whereJPretiredfromLockheed-Martin/Ft.Worth. “The move to Indiana was based on kids andgrandkids. Ouroldest son, Kirk, lives inTulsa with his two boys, and number two son, Craig, lived in Novi, MI, when we moved here. Our daughter Kerrie and her family moved from Oklahoma to Indianawhere herhusbandtook a position with RileyChildren’s Hospital.We thought we were ‘splitting the difference’ with our move, but our son Craig then moved his family to Austin, TX to get out ofthe extreme coldweather. Each ofour kids has two boys and theyrange from five to 17 years ofage (that makes sixgrandchildren). Carole and I maintainthelake house in Oklahoma.

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Carole andJP with grandsonsDawson, 6, andDarren, 5).

Dave and Camille Sweigartvisited ItalyinApril: “Both sets ofCamille’s grandparents came throughEllis Islandfrom Italy.We had an audiencewiththe Pope inside theVatican, visited Rome, Capri, Florence, Naples,Venice, Pompeii, Pisa, Milan and Switzerland. Even saw a poster of a political candidate with Camille’s maiden name ofScrafone.”

“We landed north ofTucson for our winterhome in San Manuel, giving us access to wife, Peggy's,folks,” wrote Charlie Sands (withhisPorsche356). “We’ve been in Lexington, MO 16 years working on historic preservation, so I have numerous opportunities to use myMAin archaeologyand museum studies.

Final Roll Call. MaryAnn Holt, wife ofSteve Holt, died Jan. 6,2008 oflung cancer, and was interred at the National Cemeteryin Culpepper, VA. (For our extended column, go to www.usafa.net/1960, and click “Class News.”)

Earl N. “Nelson” O’Rear 50582 Stonington Drive Granger, IN 46530-8243

H: (574) 273-2597

E-mail: enoandtjo@gmail.com

Class Web Site: www.usafal961.org

Mark and GingerAnderson added to the list ofthose who have ventured to China. Theyspent 16 days, from the 10th through the 26th ofApril, and thoroughlyenjoyedthe tour. Anddespitethe pollution, Chinais a greatplace tovisit. The Peachtree Class of’61 Graytags hosted a group of23 classmates, spouses and significant others at Lake Lanier, GA,April 17-20. The hosts were Mike and GinnyRawlins, Sam and Gwen Barazzone,Jerryand Dot Gill, and Johnnyand Suzie Caughman. The Barazzone home was the center ofthe activities due to location andfacilities. Thehome was previouslyownedbyMcDonalds Corp as an executive retreat.Attendeeswere thehosts,JackBright,Dougand Dee Cairns, SteveHo andLynnFunkhauser, LowellandSandyJones, FrankandPatsyKiszley, Jimmyand Susan Poole, Jim and Linda Rogers, and Bob andWinnie Wagner. Thursdaynight was an early arrivals dinner followed byFridaygolf on Lake LanierIslands. Fridaynightwas a dinneratUniversityYacht Club on LakeLanier. Saturdaywas another dayofgolfing, tennis, biking, cardplaying,visiting, drinking, andfinished offwith a barbecue dinnerbythelake. BobWagnerorganized a Sundayafternoon trip towatchthe Braves and Dodgersgame atAtlantaFulton

CountyStadium, and JimmyPoole provided some dugoutbox seats. All had a great time. The Dogwoods andAzaleas were in full bloom, the weather was excellent, and the companyunmatched. Theyplan to get some pictures on the classwebsite and said, “Come see us next time. Y’all hear?”

Bob and Cathy Best continue to lookforward to moving into their "Dream Home." Their original move-in date was set for Thanksgiving ’07, and after also missing two other move-in dates, they have their sights set on July4th. Bob says that it is reallyhard to describe thework ethic exhibited bytheirparticular "OzarkArtisans”.

JackBrightspentagreatweekendin FloweryBranch, GA—the "Peachtree" gatheringof’61ers. Hislast daythere he went to Acworth, GA, to visit Col (Ret) Roger Graham, USAFA Class of’63. Jack flewhis first combat mission in the VietnamWarwith Rogerin 1968—and had not seen him since.

DickDavis attended a partyhostedbyDick and SylviaFairlamb Also attendingwere Pete and PattyLane, Tom and BonnieWilliams, Phil Woods andhis girlfriend, Paul Dean and his wife, andAllan and Skeeter Blaisdell, plus two from the class of’60: John Keunzel and Ed Nogar and their wives. It was good to see some ofthese guys forthe firsttime in at least 15-16 years, as well as a verygoodparty. Dickhas now transferred to McKinneyTX, since he has three children and eightgrandchildren inTexas.

Kate and Lou Hablasjust returned from a trip celebrating his 70th birthday, alongwith his only cousin, who was celebratingher80th. Theyflewto Honolulu, wheretheyboarded a cruise ship, on whichtheysailed for seven days andvisited most of the Hawaiian Islands. Although theyenjoyed the cruise, their flight schedule was too tight to allowthem to visit Oahu's major attractions; therefore, theyplan to return, just to visitthose attractions.

DeanandJo, andWayneandMaryJonesspentthemonthofApril"downunder'' touringNewZealand andAustraliabycruise ship, train, river boat, bus, subway, and foot. What beautiful countries and tremendous people! The birds and animals are so different, andtheywere especiallyimpressedwith the flying capabilities ofthe giantAlbatross thatfollowed theirship everywhere. Tasmania has some oftheprettiestcountrysidethey've seen anywhere. DeanandJo stayed a fewextra days to attend the International Convention ofForwardAirControllers in Canberra. It was a specialoccasion, since itincorporatedtheANZAC Day celebrationandlong-delayedpresentationofUSAirMedals toAussieFACsfrom theVietnamWar. It was the trip ofa lifetime, for sure.

Lowell Jones and Hector Negroni saidthat attendees, besides themselves at the March DC luncheon included: Buckley, Dixon, Foster, Kohout, McDonough, Nunn, Rogers, and Stackhouse. Theyspent more time at this luncheon thanmost, coveringmanysubjects, withthe most time on some good discussions aboutwhere andwhen to have a ’61 mini-reunionin the DC area. Theylooked at information on the new NationalHarborResort and Convention Center, opening next month on a Potomac Riversite near theWoodrowWilson Bridge. It is still in the state ofmajor construction for the next several years, though. Another option was the KeyBridge Marriott which has many good pluses as well. Bill Foster saidhewould check on when the 2009 Navygamewill beplayedinthe DC area, andmaybetheycouldmakethatworkwiththereunion time also. JimmyPooleindicatedthatthe next RedneckRivieraReunionwould be 2010, at the earliest, so this event would not conflict. Jim Rogers, theirhost, gets the kudos for introducing them to their newly-found restaurant at the Westwood Country Club: private room, greatfood, and perfect service.

Lowell Jones said that the DC group also held a luncheon the end ofApril, after theyheard thatArt Kerrwould be in town. Theycaught up on Art’s work as the "First Sergeant" (as he putit) for the UniversityofWashington. He was in DC in large meetings on how to run a university. The ’61 DC welcoming committee consisted ofLowell, John Kohout, JackMcDonough, and Hector Negroni. Lowell said that their discussions were far ranging. Hector sent a picture ofthe attendees. (See our web site.) Thanks to Jim Rogers for getting theWestwood CountryClub to letthem dine at theirveryfine restaurant. Their next luncheon maybe the end ofMay.

The Bald Head Island communitywhereJohn and Sheila Maylive, participated in theWoundedWarrior Program, supportingwounded Iraq veterans and their families. The whole communityparticipated—from a real estate company, which put up the families in comfortable quarters, to the people running tours ofthe historic light house, to the pot luck dinner served at the community center. Sheila and John got to take one ofthe veterans fishing becauseJohn’s nowthe "Dean" ofthe Bald Head Island Fishing School. Fishinghad not been good, andtheweatherwas marginal. Inwhat musthave been an act ofdivine intervention, theirveteran caught a nice flounder. Because of advancesinthe treatment ofbattlewounds, a largerfraction ofthosewounded will survive. As these veterans return to our communities, theyandtheirfamilies need help. TheWoundedWarrior Program deserves our support.

Thom and Sharon Schuttflew to China on May 1stwith their daughter and her family, where theycompleted all the paperworkrequired to adopt twoyear-oldAddie Jialin. Theywere in China for two weeks completing the process and doing some sightseeing (and shopping, ofcourse).

Bob Smith said that Pattook a falllastyear, which resulted in a double break to her right arm. Although one break healed, the other did not. She has had

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surgery to install a titanium plate to stabilize the arm, and she is recovering well; however, the arm does notwant to heal. Hopefullyitwillbehealedbythe time oftheir next cruise, scheduled for December.

Charlie Stebbins is now in his thirdyear as Provost and Dean ofthe Faculty at the University ofCharleston, still goingstrong. The big news in theirfamily is that Charlie Jr. is retiring from the Air Force this May. He and his family intend to remain in the Colorado Springs area.

Terry Storm is up to his nostrils inAOG issues, serving on the Finance and CEO Search Committees. He attended theAFAhockey team NCAA tournament game near Boston, and watched a tough overtime loss. Carleen and Terry are taking a 12-dayvacation trip to Italyat the end ofMayandwill see the Cochranes on a northwest trip in July. In February, Susan Conleyand Carleen Storm organized a reception and dinner at the PetersonAFB Officers Club in Colorado Springs for Earl Saunders and his new bride, Sondra, who were married in January. Earl and Sondra grew up together and reconnected at a high school reunion. The classmates who honored the newlyweds included Art Kerr, who flew in fromWashington state for the occasion; Trel and Dick Coppock; Anne andTom Eller; Susan andTom Conley; Jan andRandyCubero; Erna andWayneHaring; PeggyandJimHinkle; Jo and Dean Jones; Lynda and Charlie Neel; Joan andWorth McCue; Susan and Mike Quinlan; and Carleen andTerry Storm. Terry, RandyCubero, and Mike Quinlan will be volunteering at the U.S. Senior GolfOpen at the Broadmoor in August. Terryhopes to speakagain to Arnold Palmer, who worked for and golfed with Terry's Dad while they were both in the Coast Guard in Cleveland.

ByronTheurer, a.k.a. ChickenTeriyaki, reports thatthe legendarykamikaze pilotrecendymade historywhen, underthe sponsorship ofthe LasVegasValleySoaringAssociation, he flewhis new acquisition, a Schweizer 1-35 sailplane named Iron Butterfly. Butterfly, a 1977 model glider, had not flown for several years. He had previously sworn that he would never fly another Ttailed airplane, butwhen presentedwith this slipperyinsect, he knewhe had to make an exception.Teriyaki, known to his manyIfiends as ‘CT’, commenced his first flightbymaking a flawless tailwheel-last takeoff, onlymomentarily dragging a wingtip. He concluded this masterful demonstration ofairmanship byflying his own patented tailwheel-first landing, a little longperhaps, but still comfortablywithin the state ofNevada.

JimWilhelmwants everyone to knowthatdueto "outofsight" diesel prices, the old Blue Bus will not be makingthe trip to theirdaughter in Kentucky. Old Blue will be on station at theAFAfootball games for anotheryear oftailgating!

TomWilson found outMaylstthat their grandson, MickPowell,"officially" declinedhisappointment to the USAFAClass of2012. He decided to spendayear ofadditional studyin Germanyand to reapplyto theAcademyforthe Class of 2013. The extrayear ofgrowth and maturitywill help him overall, and they are allconfidenthewillbe offered anotherappointmentnextyear. Otherwise,Judy and Tom are doingwell adjusting to retirement—and enjoying it thoroughly. That maychange, however, astheybeginamajorkitchenremodel.

John W. “Jack” Jamba

4 Judy Court Satellite Beach, FL 32937

H: (321) 777-5520 0: (321) 861-6279

Cell: (321) 432-1370

E-Mail: jwjamba@aol.com

Hi Redtags,

It’s Mayand anotherSpace Shuttle is beingprepped forlaunch at the end of the month. Plans continue for the new launch system to replace the Space Shuttle. Manypeoplehave alreadystarted on contract workforthe new launch system. Manypeoplewill be lookingfor new and excitingthings to do as their employment at KennedySpace Center comes to an end. For me I will probablybe retired bythen and starting the new phase ofmylife.

First I’m sorryto announce KinneySmith’s death. He hadbeenfighting a long battle with leukemia and lost it on Feb 4th 2008. His wife and two sons were able to be with him and he was visited by Bill and Sue Haugen and Bo and Nancy Ohman. Bo had sent an email a fewdays before alerting us to the seriousness ofKinney’s condition. Here ispartofthe obituarythatappearedin the Gazette in Colorado Springs.

“Francis Kinney (Kin) Smith, Lieutenant Colonel United States Air Force (Retired), went to bewith Christhis Savior on February4,2008. Bom October 23,1938 inAvondale, NC, heisthe son ofthelateWilliam DukeandRuth Cantrell Smith. He is survived byhis belovedwife of45 years, Nan MarieAugenstein Smith; two sons, Todd C. Smith andwife Marcia ofOmaha, NE, and Matthew T. Smith and wife Lisa ofSanta Clarita, CA; two sisters, Suzanne S. Smith of Charleston, SC, and Laura Edwards ofNewberry, SC; five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Colonel Smith graduated from Blackville, SC, High School in 1956 and attended Clemson Universityfor two years before winning an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, where he was graduated in 1962. He married Nan two days after graduating. His Air Force career spanned twenty-three years and included a variety ofassignments. He flewalmost two hundred missions in theViet Nam conflict. After

graduate school at FloridaState University, he was on the Englishfacultyofthe USAirForceAcademyforthreeyears and then was assigned as head oftheAir ForceAcademyPreparatory School EnglishDepartmentfor two years. After retiringfrom theAir Force in 1985 he was a technical analystforLocus, Inc. for several years. He finished his working career as administrator for Churchill Baptist Church in SanAntonio, retiringfrom that position in 2001.” I’m glad that we had a chance to see and chatwith Kinneyat the45thReunion. (Editor’s note: Seealso GoneButNotForgotten.)

Recently, there was a gatheringofski buffs in Utah in March at the invitation ofthe Class of 1960 to join their annual event. Jim Gallagher’splace was to be the Redtagrendezvous place. Dave Holtwrites about it to Gail Peck. “Gail, Jim thanks you foryour well-wishes. (I was at his house when he received your email) It all went fabulouslywell - - except only four RTBs made it. JackSwonson was onlyable to ski two days; then on to anothercommitment. Da Rippa (Blaisdell) was there for, I thinkfour, then had to getback to CSprings to represent us onAOG stuff. So Jim and I did allwe could to make theRedtag presence count. The Class of'60 guys (about 15) were most gracious and made us feel a part ofeverything. The skiing was absolutelyperfect and a good time was had! I was a last minute cancellee on the 45th due to the coinciding ofthe Reunionwith sudden notice ofour "baby" son's Reserve unit deployment to Iraq. ObviouslyI was more eager than others to be there for a reunion. But I want to put in a plugfor nextyear. Frequentgatherings are better as we lose our friends and this is definitely an outstanding reason for getting together. So I hope all the skiers will put this on their calendarfor nextyearmost likely, same time same place. And a public great big thankyou to Jim Gallagher for hosting the RTB side ofthis event and to AndyBiancur, '60, for setting it up. Seey'all next March. Dave” Thanks, Dave. I’ll put in a plug for more frequent reunions or gatherings. I mentioned it at the 40th. But didn’t get much of a response. Think it over. Let me know.

I like this one from GeorgeLyddane: “Hi all. Jumped in pool with cell phone. Not a good idea. Now need everyone's number. Please have mercy. George” I couldn’t wait to publish that. George, I hopeyou gotyourphone numbers. Get a waterproofphone or drainyour pool. Cheers!

This from RandySchamberger “Just to letyou knowthat the 45th Reunion DVD orders generated a net profit of$270 afterexpenseswhich I forwarded to our Class Fund. Many thanks to allwho ordered the DVDs. I got some very verynice compliments which made the effortveryworthwhile. Haven't had any complaints yet. (I assume everyone has had a chance to watch them). Nothingmuch else happeninghere except forthe typical aches and pains of old age. After two months offfor a torn hamstring, I'm finally back on the tennis courts. Someone mentioned on the RedTag net aboutJohn McCain’s age. That' s when the starkrealityhit thatwe' re not too far behind him!

However, we won’t let age interfere with having a good time. Bob and Julie Davey' s party on 20April 2008 had a fewRedtags present.

Crouched:JulieDavey, PatHale, andPenny Gooch. Standing:Mike Quinton, DickJohnson, RogerRhoades, BobDavey, Bob Connolly,MaryHolbrow,Roger Smith, Ella (Roger's ex), DaveBockleman, Larry Gooch, Willmore Holbrow, CharlieHale,Judy Quinton, and Pat Connolly.

It was a veryhappyparty. Wish I couldhave been there.

However, the Redtags in myneighborhood gottogether on March 29 to join with Fred and Helen Hendryxvisiting from Ohio.

JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY!

YOUR MONEYHELPS FUND CADETWING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED.

CALL THE AOG FOR INFO.

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In the picture standingfrom left are CarolineJamba, Willie Gray, Nancy Gray, Ralph Conlan, FredHendryxandBunkyReeves. Seated areJackJamba, PatConlan, Helen Hendryxand ConnieReeves.

As usual we solved the country’sproblems for the nextyear. And it tookless than two hours.

And this in from Gail Peck. “Hal Rhodes and his friend Diane had dinner with Carol and me lastnight and we reallyenjoyed thevisit and catchup.They are on a greatroadtrip aroundthe country.Was reallynice to see him andmeet her a lovelylady. Hal and I calledWarren Robbins on the phone and had a great chatwith Robbie. He continues to struggle with the issue ofstrokes and worryabout strokes. He was 100% lucid on the phone andhe told me he can walk OKwith a cane as long as the distance wasn't too great.

I knowhewouldlove to here from anyofyou so inclined to callhim. He splits time between Phoenixand the Seattle area. He is now in Seattle. Phone numbers I have are: 253 838-3624 and cell 602 516-6279. Not sure which number I calledlast night. Robbie's son Kurt answered the phone. Regards to all RTBs.”

I guess that aboutwraps it up. Have a great summer. GO Redtags!

Norman I. (Skip) Lee

63119 E. Cat Claw Lane

Tucson, AZ 85739-2058

Home: (520) 825-7980

Cell: (520) 241-3498

E-mail: 54wrs@msn.com

WerecentlylearnedfromtheAOGthat our classmate Col (Ret)JohnANehring died unexpectedlyfrom a pulmonaryembolism onWednesday, March 19th, 2008. Services forjohnwereheld inColorado Spring on 14April at the Bethany Lutheran Church. Jim Gaston, Drue Deberry, Jimmie Buder, DennyKing, Jim Hauser and EvVaughnrepresented the Class of 1963 at the service. The familyhas asked thatin lieu offlowers, memorial donations be made to anyAir Force Academyrelated endeavor or the DisabledAmericanVeterans: DAY PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-0301. You can also go to www.DAVorg. Condolences may be sent to his family in care of his son, Mr. JonathanW Nehring, at917 9thAve, Helena, Montana 59601 In the March editionofCheckpoints, theAOG reported our classmate, JamesA Manuel, died on August2nd, 2005. Bill Ball tells me thatthis information came to theAOGbecause oftheirreturned mail. To datetheyhavehad no luck contactingthe family. So, we maybe able to help through the “Class News.” Ifanyof you mayhave knownhimwell enough to help clear the air, confirmhis death, andwrite a Gone but Not Forgotten for a Checkpoints article itwouldbe much appreciated. The reunion committee, according to Bill, is planning to turn Jim’s cup at the reunion usingthe information theAOG has ifit proves correct.

And, speakingofthe reunion, our 45th Reunion progress can befollowed on either the Class Web Site (www.usafa63.org/) or the AOG Web Site (www.usafa.org). Ifyouhaven’tyet made arrangements for Colorado Springs in October do not delay! Nowis the time. Forhotel reservations at the Colorado Springs Marriott, contact the hotel on-line (thru the AOGWeb Site) or telephone Michel Chiroux at (719)268-4215. Don’tforget to letthemknowyou are with the USAFA ’63 Reunion to receive the negotiated$119 room rate (the same rate applies forthree dayspriorand three dayssubsequent to thereunion dates of 1-5 October). Also, and this is important, keepwatch at theAOGWeb Site for reunion event sign-up. Formal sign up for reunion activities will not beginbefore 1 June. Thiswill include orderingmerchandise,purchasingfootball and tailgatetickets, payinggolftournament fees, diningwiththe cadets at MitchellHall and diningwiththe class on Thursday, Fridayand Saturday evenings. Everything will be noted and paid for on line. Not Internet you say? Well, contact Corrie Grubbs at theAOG (719)472-0300, ext 105 and she will mail the necessaryforms.

Drue Deberry continues to lookfor inputs and ideas regarding a class gift. More likelyitwill be something we identifybefore or during our 45th reunion and would have in place by our 50th. Part of a class gift could be an endowment for the Cups. Diff’s message includedwith the reunion mailing sent in

Marchlistedthevarious options the Cup Committee is consideringandwillbe presented/discussed duringthe 45th Reunion Business Meeting.

One final word about the reunion; I have been thinking about those classmates who have not shown up at one ofthese every-five-year affairs. Some, I am sure, have never been back to the Academy since June 1963. Here is a suggestion foryou: ifyou know one ofthese classmates and you are able to contact them, make a call orwrite a note andaskthem to come to Colorado this October. Who knows, maybe they are justwaiting for one of us to let them knowit is important to us to get backtogetheragain.

BillWecker suggested we mightbe interestedin a new charitable foundation supportingtheAcademycalledUSAFAEndowmentInc. Dotake a lookbygoing towww.usafaendowment.org. Youwillbe impressed. Billis on the Foundation Board ofDirectors as theTreasurerand serves on theBoardalongwith our classmates John M. Fox andWilliam H. Simpson. Your comments are welcome.

As reported lasttime DougHardgrave celebratedhis 70th Birthday at what obviously was a three-daybash inAtlantawith some ofhis manyfriends. The whole thing kicked off on Thursdaynight, March 13th, with a dinner for the out-of-towners at a local restaurant. Friday was a golfouting followed by dinner and Saturdaynight was the party! Doug was clearlyverygratifiedwith the turnout—great friends and familyhe says. The precedent is set and now Doug is looking forward to manyclassmates’ 70th birthdaycelebrations.

LuckyEkman sent a note writteninlonghandviathe US PostalService telling us aboutthewonderfultime he andKayehadwhilevacationing at EdReisdorfs Los Cabos GolfResort. Luckysays Edhas created somethingunique, even for Cabo San Lucas. It’s a great place to vacation, even ifyou’veparked your golf clubs, as I did long ago. We’d go backin a heartbeat, for the desert beauty, the resort ambiance, andthewhale-watching. Infact,we’re plottinghowwe might getthewhole familythere duringwhale calving season nextyear. But the best part was spending time with Ed who happened to be there, supervising his domain theweekwe were there, TDYfromhispermanent home in Scottsdale.”

Ed andLucky in Cabo.

Bob Mazet hostedArtJohnson for an eveningin lateApril. Art was in Phoenix, visiting a relative duringhis annual spring tour ofthe USAfromhis home outside Dallas. He stayedwith Bob one nightandtheywent out to dinnerwith Ed ReisdorfandTom Derieg. In March, Bob and RalphWetterhahn were both guest speakers at the annual C.J.A.A. (ClassicJetAssociation ofAmerica) Convention for owners ofjetwarbirds theweekend ofMarch 13-15, at Rutland AFB, NM. Bob spoke to the group Fridayevening and showed 50 minutes of film (now on DVD) thathebroughtbackfromhis second combattour at Ubon, in the 8thTactical FighterWing. Bob says the “WolfPack” was underthe command ofRobin Oldswhenhefirst arrived. RalphspokeSaturdayeveningabout Robin Olds for about 10 minutes and then abouthis adventures as an aircraft

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Zoomiespartyingwith Doug: From leftin thefront row areFredFrosticand Bud Gilligan. Row2:EdPickens, Doug, and GarySaban. Row3: DaveSkilling, Jim Hannam, andDick Guild. Row 4: HankHoffman, andJeffHeal.

archeologist and accident investigator.

Robin Olds is andwill always be a favorite subject ofmanyofour classmates but especially, since his deathlastJune. Even I, an old multi-engine guy, loved Robin’s announcement,when commandingthe 8th, he proclaimedthat“Peace is not our profession. He once tried to explain to me that the peace symbol worn byhippies was derived from the Nuclear SafetySymbol. I believe it. In mid-April emails were flying around talking about a projectproposal involving Robin and possiblyfunded bythe Class of 1963. The proposal calls for the construction and displayof a replica of an alleged Robin Olds "Break In Case ofWar" glass case purportedlyfound in thehallsofthe Pentagon. Theideawas introduced and is beinginvestigatedbyGaryWest andJoe Lee Burns. According to Joe Lee, the idea is Gary’s; Joe Lee isjust the messenger. He wrote that “the project has to be top drawer. He wants to do a life-sized wax figure of Robin, probablysitting in a plain chair like an alert facility, dressed in flight suit, boots, G-suit, survivalvest, harness, gloves, overseas hat and mustache, completelyencased in glass, with "Break...." sign and small mallet or ax. It would be placed in theAlumni Hall (or anothersuitable location) at the Zoo.

To close, Chuck Bush’s talented daughter, Bettina, will be performingforthe CadetWing on the 21st ofMay. Bettina expressed an interest in doing a Benefit Concert at USALA, with proceeds going to minority Cadet Recruitment. She will perform at Cadet Lestival scheduled in the late afternoon and evening of the 21st, in the Spirit Hill area.

Ok, that is itfor this time. Please take care ofyour reunion arrangements as quickly as you can. We are looking forward to seeingyou in October.

Bob Hovde

206 Walker Ave.

Huntsville, AL 35801

(H) (256) 532-3923

(M) (256) 348-9794

bob@hovde.us

Founders’ Day-DougJenkinsreportedthat ’64had a greateveningtogether at Founders DayinApril. The Class of'64 had more attendees than anyother class - due, in large part to the fact that a bigpart ofthe evening was to honor EdMechenbier as a Distinguished Graduate.After a gracious introduction by WallyWolniewicz, Ed acceptedthe awardwith equalgraciousness, sayingthat as Air Force Academygraduates we aren’t “better,” but we are “different.”

During the evening, the group gathered for the picture below. In the back row fromleft are JayKelley, Hap Burnham, BJ Cooney, Ed Mechenbier, Fred Gregory, Pete LoPresti and RodWells. Front Row: TerryIsaacson,ThadWolfe, JimWheeler andWallyWolniewicz. Notpictured is DougJenkins, who was in the slightly out-of-focus picture that he sent in. ‘Sorry, Doug.

TrollTime - DougJenkins (alwayshelping out his poor Scribe who lives in the news-starved hills ofnorthernAlabama) sent a report ofthe Old Trolls Januaryget-together in Castle Rock. Theymet at the RockyardBreweryand, “as usual, we didn’t solve many ofthe world’s problems, but we had a great time offellowshiptogether.” I guess the “rockyard” is an appropriate place for a gathering ofTrolls.

Founders Day: Think ofall thepenguins that had to die...!

The Tony Chronicles - Just after the last Checkpoints article went in, Tony Covaishad to getsurgeryfor a tumor. This was a tense time, becauseTonyhad a previousboutwithleukemia. Luckily, the tumorwas a benignfatnoduleandthe doctorsthinktheygotallofit.Accordingto Don Graham, the doctors “wereable to use the band-aid surgicalprocedure in lieu ofa major cut. This means that therewillbe minimal scarring. Looks likeTony can once again wear his thong!

Once again, Don (nowthat he has a computer, he communicates!) emailed withthe Subjectline: Who’re Going to be Great Grandparents?” Andhis answer -

“NOTME, BOB! -1justgot an e-mailfromTonyandBarb Covais.Yes, they are going to be Great Grandparents in June! How is that possible? Didn't we just throw our hats into the air lastweek?Where has the time gone?Anyway, Barb writes thattheiroldestGranddaughter, Ryane (and husbandJosh), are expectingtheirbaby, Molly, in June. So I was wondering, has anyone else in our class reached this pointthatyouknowof? Or doesTonyhave the record so far?”

This is a verygood question and due to a rapid onset ofold-guymemory, I can’t remember ifanyone has claimed to be a greatgrandparent; yet. I’m not sure it’s relevant to those ofus who are butyoungsters in the class, but a good question nevertheless. Are there any other Great Grandparents out there in '64-Land-andwhen didyou reach this memorable milestone?

AOG News - For those ofyou who don’t checkyour email except forwhen you’revisitingyour grandkids, Pete LoPresti is the ’64 representative to the ClassAdvisory Senate that was founded to help the AOG Board ofDirectors find the rightpath forward (after the last election). Pete has sent out emails askingforinput.Ifyou didn’tgetthe email, let him know. Ifyou don’t have a computer, trygoing to the library and logging on to www.usafa.org and reading about the ClassAdvisorySenate.

46

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In the meantime, a non-governance issue has grown over fund raising. The issue isn’t reallywhether theAOG should raise funds (both for itselfand for the Academy), but how theyshould workwith otherfoundations that raise funds for theAcademy. Whileyou’re at the librarytrying to get onto a computer, you might want to log on to www.usafaendowment.organd read aboutthe newUSAFAEndowment, Inc., that was established last December. The Endowment is funded by an annuity established byits founders. (You’ll recognize manyofthe Directors’ names.) The ideais that all ofa donor’s funds will go directly to whateverAcademyactivitythe donor directs. The Endowment doesn’t have to take a small cut to fund operations. At this point the Endowment is focused on large donations and has raised several million dollars for theAcademy. Needless to say, theAOG Board ofDirectors hasn’t figured out how to approach this tar baby. This one could get interesting - It involves $$$. Ifyou have an opinion, you might want to talk to Pete or one of the ’64 AOG Directors (Jim Wheeler or Fred Gregory).

Mall ofHeroes - The Mall ofHeroes and the statue ofKarl Richterwill be dedicated on May27th. Sandyand I will be there andhope to see manyofyou for this important dedication. Since I haven’t gone to a graduation for (...) years, and I have a friendwhose daughteris graduating thisyear, we decided to go to the graduation, also.

SadNews - Fred Gregory’swife, Barbara, passed awayin earlyMayafter an extended illness. Barbara opened herhouse everyyearto the class forthe D.C. mini-reunions. Everyone will miss her

Thisissue mayget outbefore Graduation. Ifso, I hope I see some ofyouthere. Ifnot, I hope I saw some ofyou there!

Rick Zurbrugg

2929 Gavin Place Duluth, GA 30096

(770)476-4437

E-mail: ezurb@bellsouth.net

Please takejust a moment to remember our classmate andfriend, Dave Dye, who transitioned to eternity on March 1Oth ofthisyear after a briefillness. An obituary, written byhis brother, Barry, and his frequent roommate and pal, Art Beamon, who visited Dave shortlybefore he passed, should appear in this issue. (Editor’s note: The obituary written by Barryappears in the GoneButNotForgotten section ofthis magazine.) Who could ever forget that photo ofDave in the Life magazine coverage ofour doolie summer (I’ll send it to you ifyou want. Thanks to Bill Cole for keeping it all these years) and Dave’sfamous fenderbender one blockfrompicking up his new wheels our First Classyear—he took it all in stride. All of us from 21st Squadron and those who knew Dave well will miss him a lot.

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CraigWaterstraat: “...I retired from Lockheed Martin on 31 Januaryand my wife (Sally) and I are now residing in a condominium complexoverlooking

Trolls:DougJenkins, BobBeverly, FredMalmstrom,RodWells, Bruce Fister, Howie Cohen,Jim Hermanson,JerryButler, and Tomjobin trying to lookserious in a brewery.

Hillsborough Bay in Tampa, FL. You could saywe're relaxing, enjoying life, taking care ofelderlyparents, planning to see more ofour grandchildren, and traveling to parts ofthe world we haven'tyetvisited.” Right On, Craig.

Michael J. Lynch: Check Six Consultants, LLC, Scottsdale, Arizona. Scribe’s comment: Clearly the best name ever conceived for a consultant.

Jim Soulek: “...I'm partiallyretired in Park City, UT. We have two daughters and threegrandkids andmywife and I met because ofskiing, so we like it a lot here. Town is full ofLinda andJims and we have made some great new friends. Soulek &Associates, Park City, Utah.”

John Gritsavage: “Nice to hearyou ran into an old friend ofmine. How did you run into him? Back in our senioryear in high school we went to a Marine recruiterandjoined the Marines together. But I got released from that commitment by an appointment to theAFAcademy. Hewent hisway, I went mine, and we haven't seen each other since. I'm happy mine didn't end up (like most Marines in those days) in a bunker orVietnamese rice paddywith an M-14 but in a ‘comfy’ F-4 with a 20mm cannon and a bunk in the BOQ instead. Sometimes, one hits it lucky, I guess! It's interesting Bill Cole can still do 16 pull-ups from a ‘deadhang’. I thinkI can still manage the ‘dead hang’ part. *sigh*”Thanks John, great to hearyourwell developed sense ofhumor is still intact.

Marc Sabin: “I retired from Boeing after 16 years (RR Davies retired not too longago as wellfrom Boeing, andJohnJustice stillworks there). We bought a home in Colorado Springs (6.5 miles from the south gate) in an area called Mountain Shadows. It is on the northwest side of town backs up to Pike National Forest. We thinkitis a greatpartyand guest house so welcome mat is out for company.” Sounds like nirvana, Marc, Thanks!

Earle Monroe: “Marcia and I are offto Alaskathisweek (driving). Buy Chevron stock...we'11 give you plenty ofbusiness!”

Jini Short: “Mike is in Germanyfor two weeks doingAustere Challenge exercise.”

Jim Turinetti: (web site for mybook pleasevisit) www.kaiserhelmets.com. Way to go Jimbo! Scribe’s question: Who else out there in the Class of 1965 has written a book or has one yet to write? Consideringthe diversity and depth of our experiences, I‘llbet quite a few. Rememberthat500-word theme due every Sundaynight in your instructor’s mail box at the library? Mike Tedesco would reluctandyreadmine and, although he could not make specific comments or corrections, suggestedthatitwas unlikelythatIwould everlearn to use a comma correctly, and he was right.

AWord ofThanks: Just a word ofgratitude to all ofyou who put up with my solicitation of support for Venture Capital meets American Idol (the YouBetheVC.com competition). It was a wild, exciting and massively educational (manyhoops to negotiate) ride to the top 20 finalists, but, alas, no sabbatical in Cambridge this summer. As a result ofthe competition, myapproach to the endless upward spiral ofhealth care costs got substantial public exposure and many new possibilities to promulgate the business model have emerged for me to pursue. I promise thatyou have not heard the last ofMedical-Literacy.com. It’s hardly an original concept: “Man’s FlightThrough Life is Sustained bythe Power ofHis Knowledge.” Coupledwith Bart’s teaching that “People respond to incentives—the rest (of economics) is just commentary.”(Steven Landsburg)—we can’t miss.

A delightful serendipity ofthiswhole effort was re-establishing contactwith manyofyou—always ajoy, privilege and pleasure. Be well, do goodwork, and keep in touch. As the Roc would say: Cheers! Rick

Visit the AOGWeb Site.

Merchandise, Gone But Not Forgotten and more!

Ryan Denny

1635 Mary Todd Lane

O’Fallon, IL 62269

H: (618) 624-4255

W: (314) 232-5117

E-mail: ryanden@aol.com

Greetings, Redtags! We’ll start with the sad news—Bob Brost passed away suddenly at his home in the Dallas area in earlyApril. Those ofus who knew him remember Bob as one ofthe all-time good guys. We were at Reese AFB togetherandthen flewC-130s at the same time, butalways at differentbases. It doesn’t seem like 40 years ago. There was a memorial service for Bob in Dallas and another at theAcademy—both were well attended by our classmates. After the service at the Academy, RandyJayne wrote “Bob was in Seagram’s Seven our first three years and in 1Oth when we were firsties with Bill Godfrey, his high school classmate fromYankton, SD. Other classmates and 7th Sqcolleagues—BillEubank, LarryLundholm, Bill Hamm, and Larry Sidwell were in Dallas the day before forthe funeral service. Jean Brost, her daughterCynthia and son Kevin were very appreciative. What a tragic, sudden, and completelyunexpectedloss ofone ofour most engaging,funny, and outstanding classmates! Bob was an aviator, architect, golfer, flyfisherman, granddad.. .hewill be missed.”

www.usafa.org

We’ve been reportingthat GaryPalmer retired from the Dept ofEnergy to spend the rest ofhis life playinggolf; but I keptgetting emails from him that ended in “doe.gov”. Gary says that he played golffor about three months, until it got too cold and then he went back to workparttime—just a couple of days a weekand a little travel. Garywas organizing a group ofRedtags to play in a Daedalian golftournament, and promised to take a picture or two ofthe group to share with us.

Another of our DC area classmates, Dan Larson, is attempting to save an historic airport in Laytonsville, MD. The airporthadbeen owned and managedby the same family since about 1950, but the owner died and the airport is being sold to settle her estate. Dan and friends are concerned that the airport will turn into another DC housing area, so they are forming a corporation to manage the airport and a non-profit group to preserve the historical and educational aspects ofit. Theyhave energyand enthusiasm, and are lookingfor other aviation enthusiasts to help provide financial support.

Connie Teetz has retired from Northrup Grumman in the DC area and has moved to North Carolina (betterweather, housingprices, and golf). VicAndrews also retired recently from his job as VP/General Managerfor USAA, and is stayingin Colorado Springs. Another retired classmate, Dennie Watson, has been spendinghis spare time as a volunteer at the Airline History Museum at the downtown KC airport. Ifyou knowDennie, youknowhe loves to talk; so he reallyenjoysgiving tours at the museum and making up stories about the old airliners. Dennie and wife, Shirley, are planning a trip to SouthAmerica, wherethey are going to see the Amazon (the river, not the .com), the rain forests, and even the Galapagos Islands. The natives are going to love the airplane stories!

LarryBagley sent us a picture of some “Evil Eight” classmates at the New Year’s Eve Bowl Game in Dallas (see next page).

Our Class President, Jim Murphy, sent an e-mail out to those ofyou who have email, but for those ofyou who haven’t caught up withyour grandchildrenyet, I’ll summarize ithere. TheAssociation ofGraduates now has a “Senate”, with a representative from each class. This group has been helpingthe AOG address some ofthe serious issues it has faced over the last couple of years and it will continue to grow in importance in the future. You can read allaboutitatwww.usafa.org(Oh, Iforgot—you don’thave email). Jimhelped get this organization started and has been serving as our temporarySenator

21stguys, 40th reunion, Nov. 2005. Front rowseated:DaveDye,ArtBeamon, JoeKolek, Bill Cole;Back row standing:EarleMonroe,John White,Jim Wilson, BartHoladay, Mike Tedesco.

Classmates atthe USAFAMemorialPavilion afterBobBrost’s memorialservice. From left are Bob Gravelle, RandyJayne, Jim Boney, Dick Oliver, Bill Dunne,JeanBrost, Bill Godfrey,LarryBagley, VicAndrews, and Tom Brandon.

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EvilEightatAcademyBowl Game. BudKelleyis the one infront; to his right isJohn Steele. In the row behindBud, in blue with hatisRich Cree; to his right is Dan Larson, then Tom Guenther, after thatIam notsure.

until we could figure out how to elect one. We now have a process for this election. Anyone interested in runningfor this position should send Jim an email atjimpatt@charter.net (or a letter to him at 4 BrandenwoodDr, O’Fallon IL 62269), with a short statement sayingwhyyou want to run forthis position. We will hold an election on 18Nov2008—mostlybyemail. Ifyou don’t have email, you can sendJim or me yourvote prior to that date. Thiswill be a fairly informal process, but Jim has alreadygotten“buyin” from some of our classmates. The daythathis email came out, John Fal replied “I’m in favor” and Mason Botts shot back “Second. All in favor sayAye”’. Since there were no “Nays”, that’s howwe’re going to do it. Actually,Jim’s letter was much more eloquent than myCliffs Notes version, so please give him your support or volunteer for the job.

Until nexttime... .HappyLandings!

Larry Wilson

13100 Pinehurst Ave. NE Albuquerque, NM 87111

H: (505) 291-8949

E-mail: Lwilsn628@aol.com

Greetings, one and all. It is springtime in NewMexico, and probably country-wideby now. After a winter ofgood snow, the Rio Grande is runninghigh. When I saddle up and ride along the river, I see that it is nearlyoverflowing its banks. I hope to canoe soon inthe swollenriverwith a fewadventurousfriends. Last time we did that, I ended up going over a waterfall into ClassV rapids in a near-death adventure. But that is a tale best told over a brew. Or two.

RoyMiller passedthroughAlbuquerque in March on hiswayto participate in his fourth annual USAFANational Character and Leadership Symposium. He describedthatspeakerTennessee CongressmanZackWamp “...gave a great speechand... used a quotethatmaybefamiliarbyJohnStuart Mill: ‘War is an uglything, but not the ugliest ofthings. The decayed and degraded state ofmoral and patrioticfeeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The personwho has nothingforwhichheiswillingto fight, nothingwhich is more important thanhis own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance ofbeingfree unless made and kept so bythe exertions ofbetter men than him. BeforeCongressmanWampgot to the second sentence, 2,000 cadets completed the entire quote out loud. Congressman Wamp said I guessyou knowthat one.’ This event almostbrought tears to my eyes.” Roy says that the forum is open to all grads. Registration is usually in earlyJanuary. Cost is about $200 ($300 includinglodging). I have not seen it advertised but I assume that there is info on the USAFAwebsite for anywho might be interested.

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Jim Shaw resurfaced - as CEO andVice President for Development ofthe MSU Foundation ofMorehead State Universityin Kentucky. He describes his new adventure as “... an excitingopportunityto completelybreak awayfrom the militaryenvironment and see howuniversities work.” Whilehe has a new home on the local golfcourse, he describes that the Shawanchor remains in Colorado, where theyplan on a return in a fewyears.

From Roger Carleton early in the year: “Dick Miller and John Barhaugh spenttheweekendwith us to viewthefinal USAFAhome football game. Recall Dick's #2 daughtergot married theweekend ofour 40th reunion so this was a chance to see the Falcons in action. As it has been ever since they roomed together, the teasing never letup." Rogeralso passed on some tough news, that Doug Hawkins was diagnosed late in 2007 with lung cancer. Sadly, that communication was followedwith a message from hiswife, Nancy, that Doug:"...

passed away at home... April 21 (children) Scott, Keith, and Emily.. .were watching over their Dad... While we are filled with great sadness, we are also very relieved that he did not linger any longer, as this lung cancer is a cruel disease....” A memorial service was held on 28 Apr. Nancy and all Doug’s family, CS-11, and friends-we share your sad burden.

Ah, springtime, when a young man’s fancy turns to love. John Hollstein is livingproofofthat, exceptthat “young” probablyshould be revised to “young at heart.John tied the knot recently, and here is picture ofJohn and his bride, Parke. She passed musterwiththe CS- 07 crew and more importantly she did not run screaming to escape that gaggle. John and Parke - thevery best wishes for a long and happyfuture.

Cadet and Mrs John Hollstein

A voice from the past, with contemporarysignificance: Some ofyou may rememberWarren “Buddy” Smith, formerly ofCS-15, who did not graduate with us, instead taking a rather circuitous route and eventuallybecoming an authorityand an advocate forTibetan independence, which has reached the national radar screen againwith the 2008 Olympics. Here is a briefupdate”... I’m still at Radio FreeAsia, Tibetan Service, so I’m deeplyinvolved in following the recent events in Tibet. It’s gratifying to have my obscure issue get some attention for once but tragic in what the Chinese are doing to repress Tibetan resistance. Tibet is in a militarylockdownwhile the Chinese investigate every Tibetan for their involvement in the demonstrations and riots. And China is publishing a flood ofpropaganda, denying any responsibility on their part, blamingthe Dalai Lama andthe CIA, and denyingthat anyTibetans were killed inthe repression (Tibetans claim over 200). So, it’s been excitingforawhile but I fear for the Tibetans who have to suffer Chinese repression and coercion to denounce the Dalai Lama. I’ve alreadystarted on a bookaboutit, so that’ll keep me busy. I have anotherbookcoming outthis month (China’sTibet, published byRowman and Littlefield) but it doesn’thave anythingaboutthe recent events.”

Sort ofmakes our politicalpartysquabbles - stillhotlycontested as I write this -pale bycomparison.

Here are a few more photos from myrepositoryofreunion pics:

CS-16guys: Standingat party attentionfrom the right are Stu Wood, Owen Ashbrook, Stump Sowada, andDickScott, brother-in-law ofDougFerguson (deceased).

Fiyjack (JackFry) trying on some paraphernalia.

Tom GriesserandBobMuldrow in afriendlybellypunching contest.

On a different note - -1 and some others had contact with thewidowofone of our class, who inquired ifthere is anyAcademy-sponsored means ofcontacting others in that situation... “to fill the empty space... There is no program within the association for graduates or spouses without partners to find a friend/ companion. Other institutions ofhigherlearningprovide such. I do not understandwhy theAcademy does not have a program...” Establishing some link on theAOGwebsitewould seem a solution. No doubt there is some downside to theAcademy or AOG in some manner addressing this issue. If there are others ofyou in this individual’s situation, or who have feelings about the issue - please communicatewithyour class reps and/ortheAOG directly.

There continue to be issues related to theAOG and the separate foundation created bygraduatesspecifically to receive and distribute hinds. Info on this is best communicated directlyby our class reps. Additionally, some ofyou have been contacted by the fund raising group supporting the class gift we selected at thelastreunion - - the Carillon project,funding Carillonbells “...that will help to honor our fallen classmates, alongwith all graduates, as they are interred at theAcademyCemetery. It will also leave a lastingremembrance of the Class of’67, fulfilling our obligation to honor our fellowgraduates fortheir service to our nationin a dignihedsetting.” When you receive the contact from the class, or theAOG, or the fundraising group which has been contracted to support the Carillon project - please lookpast anyannoyance you might experience related to thefundraisinggroup’smethods, and rememberthehigher purpose. And write a check, ofwhatever size you feel is appropriate.

With that-1 bidyou all fond adieu, and sayonara, and aufwiedersehen, etc.

Tim Davidson

9712 Hidden Valley Road Vienna, VA 22181-6094

(703) 255-5313

Fax: (703) 255-5377

E-mail: timd@erols.com

HELLO ’68! Reunion NOTAM #4: Our 40th Reunion is from 1 -4 October at the Embassy Suites in Colorado Springs. Ifyou plan to attend, it would be a capital idea to makeyour travel reservations before fuel costs and associated travel fares become even more expensive. Here’s what’s in store forthose who attend: Blair Stewart and Pat McBride have agreed to provide music forThursdayand Fridaynights. Pat is also creating a video usingphotos sent from all of us from “back-inthe-day.” (Note: Ifyou have not sent your old photo(s) and a current photo to Pat Russell, care ofthe ClassWebsite at www.usafa68.org, there is still time to do so.) Vince Rusinak and Bill Eckert are finalizingthe ’68 merchandise selection and Bill Sasz and his gourmet team have finalized the food selection with pricesbeing$32, $40, and $45 per person for Wednesday, Thursday, and Fridaynights. There will be a Forward Air Controller (FAC) Memorial Dedication on Fridaywho, among many others, will honor our classmate FACslackDuffy, Ted Hallenbeck, Paul Jackson, John Ryder, and Grant Uhls. The Class will provide buses for those who wish to attend the dedication ceremony. The game againstNavywill be on Saturday. For late-breaking reunion news, checkthe ClassWebsite. For those in the greaterWashington, D.C. area, we have tentativelyplanned our next '68 EastCoast Reunion at Ed and Karen Eberhart’shome on July 12th. Locals and out-of-towners are welcome, but ifplanning to attendplease send an RSVP that I can pass along to Ed. Ifyou will be arrivingfrom out-of-town and will need a place to stay, please contact me and I will assist in lodging accommodationswith a classmate in the local area.

SCRIBE’S MAILBOX SPIDER GOES ON WEIGHT WATCHERS! Many thanks to classmates and spouses for the bounty ofcards and newsletters received during the 2007 end-of-yearholidays! Mymailboxspideris now overweight, but grateful forthe sumptuous feast!! In an attempt to pass along as much news as the CheckpointsEditorwill allowbefore our 40th reunion, please

strap-in and buckle-up for classmate updatesnippets from near and far.

TonyandJanetEden Do Utah.

TonyEden checked in from Peoria, AZwith a new left hip; news of son Chris (’94), now flyingAir Force 2; and this greatphoto taken in September 2007 of wife, Janet, and him at the Canyonlands National Parkin Utah.

GeoffGorsuch is still with The Navigators and is building Christian ministries in Kazakhstan, Indonesia, and Singapore.

Brooke Baileyis still inWilmington, NC, flying on a part-time basis for two different groups, and is loggingflight time on a Cessna 421 and KingAirturbo prop. When he’s not flying in the wild blue, Cathy and he enjoy lower-level jauntsthrough hill and dale in his new Corvette.

Bob andThuyJohnston will be leavingthe friendly environs ofVienna, VAto a new abode in North Carolina. Theirbig news for 2007 was the addition ofa grandson to the family, born to their son Michael in Tallahassee.

Jim Seevers lefthisjob with SAIC andjoined a small companycalled Dare MightyThings, which focuses on capacitybuildingfor faith-based and communityorganizations dedicated to servingyouth and families in need. Pat’s and his new e-mail address is pseevers@verizon.net.

Bob Durham is now in charge ofhis own financial investmentcompanyand is reallyenjoyingbeing his own boss. Wife, Cathy, is doingwell and shows no recurrence ofher bladder cancer. Bob and Cathy’s family circle grewby one with a fourth grandchild born to his youngest son, Ryan, in January.

Ken Bowers attempted retirement did not work out and he now plies his trade with RSI workingwith software forvisuals in B-2 simulators. Ken and Khaki linked upwith Doug and LucyBatchelor and Frankand Brenda Moore for dinner after theArmed Forces Bowl in December.

Jim Madsen and kids: From left areJosh (26), Jim (Old), andSky (16).

JimMadsen isenjoyinglife aftertheAirlines and went on tripswith his family to Israel, Spain,Argentina, Denver, and NewYork City in 2007.

Mike Boots is nowworking international business for Raytheon. Hisjob has takenhim to Romania, Pakistan, andTurkeyduring the pastyear. Cheryl and he are justifiablyproud oftheir daughterJennifer, who graduatedwith a PhD in Chemistryfrom the UniversityofColorado.

Du Mrosla is flying Ultras with a company called Netjets and upgraded to Captain in May 2007. Margie and he caught the travel bug and ventured to Maui, the UK, and Poland.

DJ Mrosla is enjoying retired life andplaysracquetball atTravisAFB three to four times a week. Highlights for 2007 were a Polish wedding in Minnesota and his 45th high school reunion.

Maurice Ecung is in his 20thyear ofofficial retirement from theAir Force, but stays amplybusywith hiswriting, speaking, andworkingwith USAFA recruiting and Rotary International. Wife (a.k.a., Doctor) Antonia is now in her sixthyear as Dean ofPorterville College.

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TonyMarshall is adjusting to life aftertheAirlines andis contemplatingreapplying since the age limit was raised from 60 to 65. He keepsbusydoingsubstitute teaching andvolunteerwork.

RobLinsmayer’s son, Rob, with man’s bestfriend at Christmas.

Special thanks to our departed classmate Rob Linsmayer s formerwife, Liz Johnson, forsendingthiswonderful Christmas photo oftheirhandsome son, Rob.

Joe Michelwrites that he is nowwith Coldwell Banker real estate in California andwaitingfor the housingmarket to recover. His wife, Karen, received a well-deservedpromotion to Director, Financial Services, Sweetwater Union High School District.

MartyCole bought a single-engineMooney231 and uses his great iron bird to see familyandfriends from San Diego to Little Rock. In addition to his travel by air, Claudia and he hit the waterways in 2007 for a 14-night cruise from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale.

Benny and JeanneVeteto had a tough 2007 with the loss ofboth ofJeanne’s parents. Their solace in life is found in time on the golfcourse and RVtrips to reunions.

Our “Christmas Letter Poet Laureate,” Jim DeFazio wrote: “Now Sherry and I have had a greatyear. After 35 together, thought a trip would be dear. So Italy we chose, the bicycle our mode. Thru thatbeautiful country, for sixdays we rode. The trip, it was great. Though I’m still not sure, ifwe spent more time biking or at the ‘table du jour.”

THAT’S AWRAP: Please clearyou calendars so you can join us for our 40th reunion. Make your reservations, today! Mind the flak; keep’emflying, and keep those cards, letters, e-mails, andphotoscoming in to PatRussell and me. Please go to the ClassWebsite to see photos included in this column in color and in full size. Ciao for now. Tim

Lindsey Parris

616 King’s Cloister Circle

Alexandria, VA 22302

Home: (703) 836-3604

E-mail:

102177.1033@compuserve.com

Greetings, GreyTags. It’s springagain isn’t it great (!)-and summer will be upon us whenyou receive this latest installment.

Jim Brau writes from Eugene, OR that he and Bob Hart downed a couple beers and reminisced about the Zoo, their stint as SERE instructors together, and theirblue-suit days. Bob is now the Executive Director ofthe Lane County Historical Society. Jim is the Director ofthe University ofOregon Center for HighEnergyPhysics, and is the University’sKnight Professor ofNatural Science. Jim and colleagues are monitoring the first collisions at the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, Switzerland, hoping to unlock more secrets on the structure and origin ofthe Universe. He is also helping prepare forthe next particlecollider, hopefullyto be built on US soil through a global collaboration. FromTacoma to USAFAto the BigBang—what ajourney!

Jim and Bemie Petekhave decamped fromthe Northern Virginiatreadmill, relocatingto Huntsville, AL. Bemie is in Grandmother Heaven, with son and daughter and their spouses and two grandkids closeby. Also enjoyingHuntsville’srhythms are JeffandAnne Posner, who own two homes in the area, one a lovely41 -ft sailboat. BothJim andJeff are working on missile defense, Jimworkingwith management, andJeffwith policy and strategy.

Further down in the state, the '69 & friends RTJTrail golftrip unfolded in the Mobile area inlateMarch. SteveCherry,RoyCoppinger Les Dyer, BrianNelson, Craig Collins and I found the courses lush, well-groomed, and uncrowded, and the oysters succulent (three dozenwith fourpints for$20, easily$80-$100

inmanycitiesyouknow). Nels brought an iPodloadedwithtunes, andserved as DJ (playing 18 with Brian and his songs is a pleasureyou should allhope to experience;teeingoffto the Stones, puttingto SmokeyRobinson, etc.), Steve as Royal &Newly-AncientRulesChairman,Royas BretMaverick,Craig as theringer, and Les and I (or, at least I) as comic relief. At least one Irish Pub in the area (neighborhood-situated Callaghan’s, mentioned byJim Gonzalez in his book Gunny) becamewealthierfrom our visit, andthe clientelericheryetforhearing and participating in the rousingversions oftheAF songwhich the paid entertainmenthappilyfacilitated,with some encouragementfrom ’63’sMikeChristy.

On a different field ofstrife, some overdue photos from lastyear’sAFAcademy Baseball Reunion (’64 - ’07) showDave Spencer and Flip Keck in fine fettle. Accordingto Debbie andJan, the ladshaven’tlost much—especiallythe smooth batting mechanics (i.e., going all-out for the 4-baggers). Since you mentioned wanting to chronicle a bit in Checkpoints, I've attached a photo of Flip Keck and Dave ifit helps.

Finally, switching to yet another sport and a time long ago, see ifyou can identify the two bailers in this photo who would become members of our Class. Hints: Shottaken at LakenheathHighin 1963; one is tallerthantheother; both attended Mansionparties.

RecognitionQuiz!

DougDeGrootstepped out ofAmerican airlines after 17years, in 2007, flying primarily B-777s from Chicago to London. His travels intersected with the schedules ofRickMetts and DaveAstle, alsoAmericanjocks. Doug and Mary live in LagoVista,TX, near Austin, center ofgravityfortheir3 daughters, 2 sons and 4 grandchildren, with another en route. Also in Austin are Rocky and Alexandra Van Zelfden. Rocky, a CPA and attorney, runs his own company, dispensing financial advice.

RayHaygood, retirement-eligible (41 years, 11 months in CSRS), has taken on one more project, a defense contract evaluation and award that involves chasing bad guyswith better intel. He’s now set to retire on April 1,2009. No tricks left in the hat after that.

Mike Mobley is in full celebration mode, having come through a quintuple bypass in fine fettle. Mike suggeststhat, through dietand exercise, we all avoid this ifwe can, as the entire process is inconvenient and not great fun. He is thankful for the second chance and intends to take full advantage ofit. John Brummitt, Bugs Forsythe, CraigUpton, DennyJones, Chris Paulson, Jim Petek and others joined Mike via e-mail in recalling the good times at UPT. Bugs says it was nothingbutwork, 24/7. Theparties,HappyHours, trekking to ASU in “cadet” -mobiles, cashingchecksfor$25 to ensure plentyofcushionfor the entire weekend, and so on must have been figments. Bugs, bytheway, is stillcollecting cars, and now owns seven vintage autos from our ’60s era. Mike, great news on the successful surgery, and we all lookforward to seeingyou at the 40th reunion.

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Speaking ofwhich, Glenn Schlabs has rounded up the usual suspects, who plan our reunion activities so superbly. I participated in the first meetingvia phone, and can report that with Glenn in the lead, Ber Reiter, Mike Guyote, Steve Edelman, Gary Howe, Ron Hindmarsh, Art Schwall, Flip Keck, John Dallager, andTom Baumgardner, are as irreverent and on-top oftheirgames as ever. Golfers can rest in peace, or in a nervous sweat, atwhatFlip organizes forthe golfingportions ofthefestivities. The Reunionis scheduledforWednesday PM throughSundayAM, November 4 through 8,2009, and the game opponent isArmy.You can expect an initial mailing/emailingbymid-summer. Registration will be on-line, including tickets for the game, so markyour calendars and make your reservations (including game tickets) as early as you can, afterthe instructions arrive. Among otherinfo, the Reunion Committee will be soliciting volunteers to be SquadronReps, whose main aim will be to encourage attendance and arrange a Squadronget-together ifthe guys want one. We hope to have some kind offunction in the newAdmissions Center as well. Itwill be a GREAT time - so mark offthe dates on yourlong-rangeplanning calendar.

After a fewhiccups, theAdmissions Center is on track. The Class has pledges and gifts in the range of$ 1.6 million at this point, so we have some work to do to raise the additional fundingnecessaryto ensure the project’scompletion. If you haven’t contributed, please consider doing so; for those who have, the project could find use for your additional contributions. Call me, David Wagner, theAOG (AlanBurrell), or anyofthe Class Officers for additional information. We need to add the “Esse” exclamation point to the “Videri” core to make this legacygift to our Academy a reality.

Cards and letters alwaysappreciated. Hand salute, all. Lindsey

Dick Rauschkolb

130 Luxury Lane

Colorado Springs, CO 80921

H: (719) 761-5764

Cell: (719) 310-6928

Email: A0G70@comcast.net

It’s official men! Ourclassmate GreggPopovichreceivedtheAcademy’shighesthonor, the DistinguishedGraduateAward, in a ceremonyduringthe noon meal on 4 April. Pop managed a quicktouch and go at theAcademybefore getting the award. He had breakfast with members ofthe basketball team, spoke to a fewclasses, did an interviewand press conference, met with the Supt, got the award, and headed to Utah afterlunchto coachthe Spurs thatnight. That evening there was a dinnerforPopo and otherDGAhonorees IrvRokke, EdMechenbier, andBob Beckle.Thelattertwo men earned the award lastyear, but the dinner was snowed out. I have had the privilege ofknowing all these men over my career andtheyall are superbrepresentatives oftheAcademyand serve as outstanding role models to today’s cadets. Greggisjoining a smalllist ofDistinguished Graduates andheis theyoungest graduate to earn this honor.Way to go Popo!

SeveralSeventymen andtheir spouses attendedthe DGAdinner—Rich and NanciDowning—GregandJanice Gilles—lack andMargiMueller—John and MarylynDeFilippo.Marilyn andI hadthepleasureofsitting nextto DuffSmiley who looked real sharp in his uniform.

Received an update fromWildWoodWoodhead, Ron Kelley, and Dave Sterlingregarding our classmates attending the Spurs-Wizard game in DC last month. Approximately 15 Seventy men met for dinner at a sports bar and marched two blocks to the game, allwearing red 70 hats. Randy"Yogi" Royce tookthe lead on the project and secured a block oftickets.

Thanks to Mike Kelley, after the game the boys went down to the visitors' locker room and waited for Popo. As they saw him approaching, Greg Woodhead led the group in the USAFApre-game cheer.When Pop heardthat, he came right over to his classmates and spent about 10 to 15 minutes talking

about old times, the Parker-Longoriaweddingin Paris, recruitingin Europe, and tall tales from the past.WildWood and GeorgeKeys were interviewedby Comcast Sports Net on Popo’sUSAFAdays. Great showmen!

AroundPopo fromleft are: GregWoodhead, RayMcKelvy,AngusMacDonald and his two sons, Mick Rosenblatt in front and Larry Carr in back, George Keys in front ofPopo, DarrylLundgren in front ofDougCarlson,AlWurglitz in the back, RexReilly,YogiRoyce down front, Dave Sterling, JohnPomeroy, and Ron Kelly.

Congratulations are also in orderfor Scott Barkerwho was selected one of the Top Ten lawyers in Colorado in the Colorado SuperLawyersmagazine. There are over 10,000 lawyers in Colorado! Myold roomie, Russ Carparelli, also received an award forJudicial Excellence.

Dave Sterling went to a high school reunion in Sacramento. He and Steve Hoagland were classmates in high school. Dave and Steve were both new to McClatchyHigh School and met each otheroutside home room the first day. Small world! Littie known but interestingfact—Marilyn went to high school with our classmates Bill Porter (and Donna) and JohnPenney in Elk Grove, CA. Dave is trying to fix the mortgage crisis by himself. He and Donna are moving into a new house across the street. Plus, they are closing on a new condo in NYC fortheir daughter Dana nextweek.Yikes!

Classmates and spouses seem to be travelingaround the globe. Heard Larry and Marleen Bush went to Rome, and Rich and Nanci Downing were seen drinking adult beverages in Mexico. Mike Kelley, Mick andJan Daveyvisited Gregg and Erin Popovich in SanAntonio, Mike andAnne Torreano havejust returned from a trip to Italy. Mike Huber had a business trip to Switzerland (yeahright)! Dickand Marilyn Rauschkolb tried to take a daytrip to beautiful Laramie, Wyoming, but were turned back byhigh winds at the ColoradoWyoming border. Skip and Jane Pennyhad dinnerwith Chuck and Barbara WeirwhichpromptedSkip to checkin after a longabsence offtheradar screen. Skip andJane hadjust returned from a trip to Paris. Theyhave been married since the dayafter graduation—congratulations! Both are retired—Jane subs in JuniorHigh and Skip does some consulting. Skip shared some news about classmates.Walt Seeds is still flyingbusinessjets forComAir. Jim andMarilyn Ferguson are doingwell. Jim is still teaching F-16 pilots in simulator at Luke. Jake Holmes was in the group that was forced to retire from flyingin the front seat (Delta) at age 60 so is trying to fill his days now.

Skip andJane enjoyingParis.

RexJones settled in theArkansas hinterland a fewyears ago. He saidthathe hastornadoshalftheyear and mosquitoestherest, butheis “too lazy” to move he figures ifyou've got ESPN on cable and beer in the fridge, whybother?

SawMarkandDebbie Robbinsbriefly a fewweeks agowhentheywere in town for a visit. According to ChuckWeir, Bill Benedict is doingwell in Phoenix.

I thinkJake Dustin getsthe award forthe most unusualjob. He converts cow dung into dollars. It costs about $1,000 per cowto build a plant. He has about 10,000 brown-eyedgirlsworking 24/7 to keep him supplied. He said, “One of these days we mightactuallymake a buckinstead ofspending.Actually, we start deliveringproduct (pipelinequalitynatural gas) to the customer in a few weeks.” Jake’s profession fits right in with all the presidential candidates’ energyplans. I thinktheAcademypreparedhimwell for dealingwith manure— there certainly was a lot ofmanure in ’67 that we would have all liked to convert to natural gas in the summer of 1966.

Rumor has it that Mike Lyons, HenryMitchell,TooeyEmery, GaryFinley, and RickLesch spent a lotoftime skiingthispastwinter. Fortunately, no major injuries although Mitch had some heart problems and needed a fewstints to open some clogged arteries. He iswell on the road to recovery. Mitch did send the followingpiece oftriviawhich is pretty neat.

One ofthe earlypapermoney notes issuedbythe then colonyofMassachusetts in 1775 and 1776was a political cartoon showing a Minutemanwithsword drawn and a document in his lefthand... eitherthe Magna Carta or one titled "Independence" depending on the year ofissue. Above the soldier are the words "Issued in Defence ofAmerican Liberty," and belowthe soldier, "Ense

SeventyMen Celebrate Classmate’s Success!

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petitplacidam sub libertatequietem. This meaning 'bythe sword we seek peacewith tranquilliberty.' Interestingthat a shortenedversion ofthis motto is also on our class rings!

Your class giftcommittee—GaryDahlen, MikeTorreano, TooeyEmery and me—isworkingwiththeAOGto getplansgoingfortheVietnam Pavilionthat we hope is ready at our next Reunion in 2010. Please keep those pledges and donations coming—we still need about $500K to get this $1M project done.

GaryDahlen learned he had prostate cancer several months ago andunderwent a remarkabletype oftreatment thathas lefthim on a full road to recovery without anyofthe side affects ofothertypes oftreatment. PlusTricare pays for the treatment. He asked me to pass on thatifanyone has to make choices regarding treatment ofprostate cancer to contact him through me.

WildBill Stealey, JimMulford, Bob Mack, and I kicked offthe golfseason on 8 May at theAcademy’s Blue Course. Your class scribe used home course advantage to win all the sheckles.Wild Bill made the longestputt and chipped in on a skulled iron shot. Bob Mack lost the sportsmanship award early in the round, buthad the longest drives. Jim Mulfordwalked offwith the sportsmanship award afterWild Bill and I got into a majordispute on howto keep score. I was right. Jim Mulford played the steadiest, but had poor partners when he was with Bob andWild Bill.

Here’s hopingeveryone has a great summer on thelinks andwithyourfamily!

Paul D. Knott

5565 Lantana Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80920

H: (719) 570-9162

W: (719) 594-0100

E-mail: pknott@acninc.net

Is it as hard foryou as it is for me to realize that the 50th class graduates this spring?

Ifyou haven’t heard, Harry Davis had a pretty severe stroke in February. He spent some time in the rehab ward here in the Springs, but moved backhome recently.When I went up to see him, hementionedtheclassmateswhohad come up tovisit. Everthementor, Harryasksthat we allget our carotid arterieschecked. (He explained that his was about99% plugged.) One test available is a carotid Doppler ultrasound. Evidently Charlie Lucywas multitasking; he stoppedby the EReitherbefore or afterhe saw Harry. Something about bad blood sugar, I think. Anyhow, I knowthat Harry and Cindywill appreciate cards and e-mails, and I knowthatyouguyswill come through.

Mythreat to fillthe columnwith Delaney’s antics evidently stirred a couple ofyou to action. RandyLeavitt and his bride spent some time in Chinalastyear: “I haven'tcommunicated in a longtime, but I thought I'd dropyou a line about a recent trip mywife and I tookto Changchun, China. Changchun is in the Jilin Province in the far Northeast part ofChina. We justgot back on February21. We were there duringthe Chinese NewYear. Wewent thereprimarilyto see our son, Mark. Markhasbeenthere ayearteachingEnglish at a universityin Changchun. He organized our two weeks there. Afterwe arrived we got on an overnight train to Beijing. While there we sawTienanman Square,The Forbidden City,Temple ofHeaven, GreatWall (what a climb!) and the MingTombs. We also passedbythe OlympicVillagewhere the 2008 Olympics will be held. After returning on a 12-hour train trip back to Changchun (the three ofus sat knee to kneewiththree Chinese seated across fromus), we tookoffon a drive to the east ofChangchun. We went all the way to the edge ofthe Sea ofJapan where we could peer into North Korea (it gave me the chills), Russia, as well as China. It was bitterlycold. We returned to Changchun to spend the rest of the time in this city of 7 million. Our son speaks pretty good Chinese. As a

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result, we were able to mingle among the peoplequite a bit. One ofour son's studentsis a bigNBAfan. After Houston andYao Ming, he loves our Spurs and San Antonio. (I noticed that GregPopovich is winner of one ofthe Distinguished GraduateAwards.) It's interesting to me that mydad, now86, was a P51 pilot inAsia inWWII, I flew OV- 10's in S.E. Asia in the early ’70s in myearly 20s, and now my son, at 23/24 is in China after graduating from college.

TheLeavitts and the GreatWall.

George Schultz sent along a photo ofhis champagneflight withAmerican Airlines: “I am one ofthe approximately 145 guyswho retired fromAmerican Airlines in February. Itwas about ayearand a halfearlyfor me, but I thinkitwas the rightthing to do at the time.” Congratulations, George.We’re lookingforward to hearingwhatyou’ll be doing afterthe “honey-do” lists are completed.

The lastfiftyfeet are the hardest!

Bob Manning sent along a couple articles mentioning Dave Nagy on the E8. First, Dave was quoted that the JSTARS needs new engines. The present motors aren’t as reliable as we need, anddon’thavethethrust to allowthe birds to take offwith full fuel loads. The other article discusses the lessons learned fromthe defunct E-10 program, such as improved console designs, command & control, and the E- 10’s radar, which maybe fitted to the E-8. Good to know that our class is still contributing.

One last mention; ifyou haven’t had a chance to read DarrylWimberley’s movingtribute to LeonWhite in Zoomie news under“MyProudestMoment” let me know. I have a copy ofDarryl’s article, which space prevents me from printing in detail. Just a taste. “The moment came on the dayofthe graduation ofthe Class of 71. It snowed the June weekofour graduation and snow was still on the ground as we took our ordered seats on those folding chairs inside theAcademyStadium. Sitting there in Parade Dress starched stiff as boards, the cuffs of our trousers stained green from the Kentuckyblue blade grass. Waitingfor the last time to have our names called in that ordered formation.

"We Gotta Get Out ofThis Place" was our class song and we could not wait to getthe hell out. But firstyouhad to graduate. So every man marched in to take his designated seat and every man had a seat assigned - - except one man. Leon White had a chronic pain inhis gutthatbyhisfirst-classyearhadgotten worse. Avery short time before Leon was to receive his commission and diploma, physicians at theAcademydiscovered a large cancer in his stomach or intestine -1 can'trecall. The condition was terminal.Word was thatLeon had only weeks to survive. There was no formal announcement to his classmates regarding Leon's bitter news. There were no guidance counselors to anticipate the several reactions that might be expected to that tragedy, no emails to disperse details ofLeon's illness. One day we just all knew.

“Leon was too weakbyJune 9 to stand in formation and too weak to march, so he sat in the back, behindthe rest ofhis classmates to take his diplomainthe order that his name would suggest. I'll never forget the day. A sky so blue it hurt. So clear. You could see the clouds in the polished bills of our wheelcaps. The names called one by one, to reach, finally—LEON GREGORYWHITE... A rustle stirred fromtherearofthe seatedWing as Leon made his wayforward, lean and wan and picture perfect, not a cable or smudge anywhere on the youngman's uniform, not a hint ofweakness or fear or despair. Just a ramrod

SeventyMen TeeIt Up in FierceBattle. From left are WildBill Stealey,Jim Mulford, ThePhantom, andBobMack.

straightAfrican-Americanwalkingthe blue-blade grassbetweenthe starched parade trousers ofhis seated classmates in an aisle toward the waitingdignitaries. But almost from the first steps down that last disciplined march there was another sound, something like a breeze stirred up and then, my God, without a single command or instructionthe entireWingstood to attentionfor LeonWhite. It was completelyspontaneous, this unforced displayofrespect. We stood to attention, all ofus, the entire Class, as Leon traveled that green, green valley on thewayto take his diploma. We stood and we remained standinguntil Second Lieutenant LeonWhite he left the stage. He died, I believe, within a couple ofweeks. I was so proud ofLeon. So proud ofmyclassmates. I still am.”

So am I, Darryl.

Bob Bell

13 Pacific Ave.

Sinking Spring, PA 19608

(610) 678-3182/Fax: 678-4513

E-mail: rabell767@aol.com

Class of’72 - here is your Spring 08 news as fresh as it comes, (late but still included) thanks to the Herculean efforts of our AOG newsletter editor, Mr. Tom Kroboth whoyet again exhibits his patience withyourhumble reporter. (Editor’s note: YoBob --flattery willgetyou everywhere!)

Dave Newill starts the queuewith averyshort note reporting that Jim “Smoke” Smolka is the pilot member of the Gulfstream NASA team recently nominated for the Quiet Spikeflight program.

From left are BobRakitis,firstMateHuangYungGou, and ChuckLiggett,’60, on the bridgeofM/VVictona Prince on theYangtzeRiver, China.

DaveTumino participated onApril 12thand 13th in the BP MS 150 bike ride from Houston to Austin in an effort to raise moneyforthe National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He raced for the 7th time and rejoinedTeam Anadarko in this year’s ride. He also was said to be considerablybettertrained than last year as well, upping his chances ofsuccessfullycompleting his part in a veryworthycause! Ifanyonewould stillwish to make a pledge, even atthislate date, Dave would no doubt accept any and all amounts, which also can inelude matching funds from corporate sponsors. Contact him at his home address ifyou are able to support his efforts in this worthwhile cause.

31 Sabre Society Donors

Dave TuminogettingreadyfortheBPMS 150BikeRide.

MikeVerzolanotedthat our reunion photowebsite was not thateasyto reach untilyougot to the correct one, not on theAFA site as previouslyreported. Just in case anyone else has not seen ityet, the actual location ofour photo collection is <usafa72.org > followingthe “http:// and the “www” instead oflinking from the USAFA site directly. Sorry for any more confusion on that subject. (Cannot print in this column the exact format ofthe site or it messes up the editors, hence the above “explanation”...)

I am tryingagain forthe pictures from Bob Rakitis’ shipboard cruise that did not make it in for the last issue, so hopefullyyou will read that column to refresh your memoryofhis story to accompany these photos.

JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY!

YOUR MONEYHELPS FUND

CADETWING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED.

CALL THE AOG FOR INFO.

TimWhitlocktookadvantage ofthe earlyretirementoption atAmericanAirlines ratherthan stay to the bitter end or beyond (age 60) and reports already enjoyingthe goodlife! Tim says he can hardlywaitfortheAF retirementto kick inthis October as well as thatTri-Careentitlement. He andAnn travel quite a bit, alreadyplanningfor a second trip to RussiaduringAugustwith plans to build a church. Ironically, he says it seems strange that afterfouryears ofreconnaissance around that place, herehe is goingback to build rather than destroy.

ScottySturmanwrites regarding our class participation in keepingwith the tradition to sponsorthe USAFA class graduatingfortyyears after one's class. The Class of 1972 recentlycommitted to support the Class of2012. The program, organizedbytheAOG, includes the followingstipulations: Our class will purchase Contrails for the incoming class of2012. The cost ranges from $22,000 - $25,000 and will be paid from the 1972 Class Project Fund. There are sufficient funds available to provide forthis obligation.

The Class of 1972 is designated the LegacyClass forthe Class of2012 andwill authorthe dedicationpage in the Contrails distributed to 2012. Arecord ofour classmates' achievements will appear on the facingpage.

Members of1972 are encouraged to attendthe 2012AcceptanceParadewhere one of our classmates will present formal remarks on behalfof 1972, while others in our classwill distribute Contrails to the men and women constituting the new fourth class.

Throughout2012's matriculation members ofour class are welcome to serve as mentors and participate in important 2012 class events.

The source and disposition of our Class Project Fund was a mystery until HarryCalcutt, 1972 Class Treasurer,recendycontacted theAOG.. Howmuch moneyis available? How are funds generated? How are funds spent andwho authorizes their release? Harrywill be in contact with you to answer these questions.

Harryfurther enlarges on Scott’s remarkswith his report as delivered here: I became class treasure our Doolieyear and administered our class fund at around $4,000. The fund was created by a small donation from each class member and was used to lend cadets moneyfor emergencyleave situations. During our years at the Academy, I made a couple ofloans eachyear and all were paid back.

In 19801 was approachedbytheAOG to turn our class fund over to them for management. This was the precedence set byother classes so in Mayof 1980 I transferred $4,828.12 to theAOG.

I haven’thad anyinvolvementwith our class fund until a couple ofweeks ago when I was approachedby the AOG to approve funding Contrails for 2012. After contactingScott, we agreed that funding Contrails for 2012 was a good use ofour class funds. At Scott’s request, I checkedwith theAOG to obtaininfo on our Class fund. Here's what I found out:

As of31 Jan 08, our total class fund was $50,065.36. This is partitioned into two accounts: AgencyFunds and Class GiftAccount Funds.

AgencyFunds balance: $18,144.75

These are the funds generatedbyreunion activities. They are used to provide

Boband Chuck with Captain Shougu aboard theM/WictonaPrince.

“seed money” for future reunions, floral obligations, and other misc. obligations.

Class Gift Funds balance: $31,920.61

These funds are generatedbyspecialfund-raisingactivities, such as Project Paver. Their use is restricted to the specific intent ofthe fund raiser or as designatedbythe Class Officers.

So there is a synopsis ofthe role our class is playingin the Legacyprogram as mentionedbyScott and Harry- otherclasses have decided to use the popular unitcoin and otherchoices fortheirparticipation, butthis seems like a suitable andverypractical means for us to make an impact on our “legacyclass, 2012.”

Aside from collecting and writing up your news each quarter, I am lately enjoyingthe thrills ofreserve flying on my new 777 international schedule for American inNewYork. As things around the industrykeep on escalating, itjust seems thatthe airlines are becoming more and more fun everyday (saidwith tongue in cheek...). One other good thing however, did come of the new assignment. While I was in training in Dallas,TX, I was able to manage a visit with fellow ’72er Mike Leddy, who with his lovelywife, Molly, treated me to some fine hospitalitywhile we also got to tune in to the first episodes ofthe TV series “JohnAdams.” One way or the other, I try to find ways to getyou guys into this column from time to time, right?

Just now as I was prepared to send in this edition forpublication, I received word that our classmate, Terrence “Terry” Bench lost his longbattle with the illness that claimed him on29Mar08. His services were held on 19 and 20Apr 08. Condolences maybe sent to his familyin care ofhiswife, Denise, in Coral Springs, FL. Manyofyou mayrecall our effort to have as manyclassmates as possiblesignget-well cards forTerryat our last ReunionWeekend. Hopefully those cards were able to deliver to him the thoughts we all shared in hopes of the easing ofhis pain in those last days and weeks. GodspeedTerry, and may you finallybe resting in peace.

There you are, folks with all the news I have to make a column. Thanks as always foryour input andkeep those letters and emails coming!

Joe Kahoe

4140 Saddle Rock Road

Colorado Springs, CO 80918

Cell: (719) 210-5568

joekahoe@gmail.com

http://73.texascomputerhelp.com

Class of73, the foflowingis averyshortexecutive summary. Please go to our website at http://73.texascomputerhelp.comfor the “rest ofthe story” and lots ofpictures. Respectfully, Joe Kahoe, CS-07.

Gone, but not forgotten: JohnManningGarrard, age 56, of252WindingTrail Dr., diedWednesday,April09,2008 athishome. A1973 graduate oftheAir ForceAcademy, John was retired from theAir Force with 20 years service. Our heartfelt sympathies and prayers are with all the family. Tom and BettyKennedy and Bud Gammon represented his cadet squadron at John’s funeral and burial. “The service was a real tribute to the man we all knew, especiallytwo poems written byhis children, Elizabeth andyoungJohn.

On Friday, May2nd, BuddyGammon qualifiedfor the US Congress at the State CapitalBuilding in Atlanta, GA., and willbe running in the 11th District ofGeorgia, the same districthe received his Congressional nomination to USAFA.Visit hiswebsite at Budgammon.com.

Tom Butler’s, son, Brian, graduated from SUPT at Del Rio and is nowstationed at CharlestonAFB, SC. FlyingC-17s. Tomhas beenworking atAtlasAir for 15 years, and is a CheckAirman on the 747-400. Atlas is currentlyhiring pilots: anyone interested contactTom at 240-731-3859.

Bill Heely, CS-38, is a "Threat Planner" in the Forces Branch at the Joint

Their older son, Dan, is anAFCapt (VATech- ’01), B-l WSO, and currently on anALO tour with 3rd Brigade, 25thID at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.Theiryounger daughter, Kate, and her husband, Will Collins (both Virginia Tech '06 grads) live in Christiansburg nearVirginiaTechwhereWill is gettinghis MS in engineering. Ann’s teaching7th and 8th gradeEnglish, Intro to Latin, and Bible at Hampton Christian Schools. Charlie Childress (CS 32) also works at the JWFC as an OPFORAir Planner".

Dave Harman, CS-25, was electedPresident-Elect ofthe Medical Societyof the State ofNewYork. Dave and Pam are lookingforward to attending our class re-union andvisitingtheir son, Matt, USAFA ’09.

In the photo are Kent and Sara Magnusson, son Mike and wifeVanessa, at Mike’s OCS graduation into the Coast Guard. Mike is now in pilottraining in Pensacola. Kent and Saralive in SanAntonio, TX. Theyalso havethree daughters, who are married, and three grandchildren.

Don Rightmyer (drightmyer@yahoo.com) took a newjob as Reference Librarian and staffgenealogyresearcher for the Kentucky Historical Society Research Libraryin Frankfort, KY. Recently, he was promoted to officialfulltime editor ofKentuckyAncestors. (Web site for much more.)

Tim Long’s daughter, Nicole, graduated from NYU in May after onlythree years with a degree in psychology. She's graduating summa cum laude, and has been invited tojoin Phi Beta Kappa. She startedwork at Brown University in Providence as a research assistant for a start-up psychologylab there.

On Mar 13th, LightHawkvolunteer pilotAlan Kinbackhelped several south Florida groups, led bythe SouthAtlantic Regional Office ofThe Ocean Conservancy, launch a pilot program to protectlives ofcountless marine animals from an offshore menace. Way to go, Al.

Congrats to Steve Lorenz! NewAETC CommanderApproved: The Senate has confirmed Steve Lorenz for promotion to the grade ofGeneral to commandAETC at RandolphAFB, TX.

General NortySchwartztestified to Congress: “Afleet of205 C-17s and 111 modernized C-5s appears to be the rightmixofstrategic airlift, Commander of USTRANSCOM...”

Randy Fotinakes pointed out that CS 34 had 16 oftheir 22 graduates at the 30th. (Pic on web site.) I think Randyjustchallenged us all for attendance at our 35th in September.

Bob Hootenwill not make the reunion because he isworkingwith the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in Egypt. Bob isthe Chief; Information, Communication, andTechnologyforthe MFO. He is in charge ofall communications includingPCs, radios,TV communications towers, flightfollowing repeaters, the radio station, cellular phones, servers, and all future requirements for communications for the soldiers in the MFO (11 different countries). Bob retired as an 0-6 in ’98 and spent most ofhis retirementyears working forAT&T as a Senior ProjectManagerprior to accepting his current position. (Contact info and great picture on our web site.)

Dan O'Hollaren, Brig Gen, Commander ORANG, passed along a photo of John Corley, Mike Edwards and himself at a recent ACC / ANG Adjutant's

Ann, Jim, Bill, daughter Sarah, and her husband, Matt Payne, afterJim’s Marineswearing-in ceremony.

Sabre Society Donors

Warfighting Center in Suffolk, VA. Bill enlisted his son, Jim, into the U.S. Marines at Ft Lee, VA. Bill andAnn live inYorktown,VA.

General Conference at LangleyAFB. Nonehave changed a bitfrom theircadet days! John is COMACC and Mike is theAdjutant General for Colorado.

Rick Karvosky is serving in Iraq as the EngineeringManager at CampTaji, NW ofBaghdad. Rick rented out the house inVegas and put all, including his 50thAnniversaryCorvette, into storage.

Dennyand Debi Boyce are sleeping better now that their two sons are back home from Iraq. Their older son was awarded two Bronze Stars (one forValor) as an infantryplatoon leader and is now in med school at Chapel Hill. Their younger son was in Iraq as a BlackhawkCrewChiefwith the North Carolina Guard and then spentalllastyearin Iraqagain as a contract mechanic. Denny sends: I had dinnerwith Steve Fenton last fall in LasVegas. He's a retired 0-6 and flies 737s for a defense contractor. He andTerryhave two sons, both in the AF. JackHudson is a Lt Gen commandingWright-Patterson. He and Marsha love it there since all three oftheir sons live in Ohio. He had hipreplacement surgery late last year (too much running) and is doing well. Saw Dave Stonehouse at theAF bowl game in Ft.Worth. He's a check airman forAmericanAirlines. GaryWigle is an engineerwith Boeingin Seattle. I'm still flyingA320s for USAirways in Charlotte, NC and see Don McMillan, Dave Mullens, Steve Seville and John Harr in the crew room now and then.

Rowe Staytondeployed again to Iraq on April 5th, 2008 for another tour as an ArmyNational Guard combat infantryNCO. Youwill want to readthis 2004 article: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/ll/07/international/middleeast/ 07sarge.html?_r=l&oref=slogin. Check out ourweb siteforwords from Rowe regardingtheir mission.

Dave Ellis retired fromtheARTprogramafter34years ofmilitaryflying. Dave and Sheryl moved from Florida to Colorado. Their son Scott (USAFA 2011) and son Brent are flyingVipers at KunsanAB Korea.

Members ofCS-07gathered nearPinehurst, NCin March 2008forwedding ofBillandLoretta

V-' '.ff?Jj‘i

Joe Brezovic

1209 Bayou Oaks Drive Friendswood, TX 77546

H: (281) 482-6860

E-mail: jbrezovic@comcast.net

Hello Classmates! First in the report comes a carryover from the previous issue. See the cold in the air? Maybe thiswillmake the summer coolerforyou for a moment or two. From Dave Daley: Happy NewYear, guys! Here's a photo ofTai-Lee and me at RockefellerCenter on Christmas Eve. We spentfour

days in NewYorkCity over the holidays and danced in the NewYear at a dance studio near our home. Best wishes to all ofyou for 2008!

For those inAFMC, our classmate Don Hoffman has been promoted to 4star and isthe generalin charge ofAFMC. Donhas his career spreadintheU.S. European Command, U.S. Central Command, Air Education andTraining, HQ Air Force, and some Middle East assignments. Congrats to Don!

From Hawaii you’ve learned thatAlohaAirlines has folded, but we’ve had two classmates caught: Milton S. Davis andJoe Kahiapo. Joe wrote that his biggest news happenedduringthe midst oftheAloha demise: his first grandson was bom, theirfourthgrandchildnamedMaximilianKahiapo. Steve Lenzi is still in Hawaii and the classmates have been keepingthe lineswell-used in trying to linkup withjobs. Steve and Suki are doingwell, completing 20- years ofwedded-bliss, hewrote. Suki is finishingher 10thyearat SalvationArmyand can staythere. TheirboySam is in the 11th andhe’s startingto look at colleges. Andrewis graduating from 8th. As forwork,well, war and recapitalizingaircraft fleets are tough on AF, so there is a DOD backlash against contractors, rethinking on howmany GS to have vs. contractors. However, ifyou’re sending CACI something, copySteve, maybe there can be something done.

Bill Casement started flying the 737-800 but thru theyear DC- 10s opened a slot so Bill doesn’t have to commute to LAX. FtWorth is now a base for L/ DClOs. Bill andTerrywrote about cycling 100kand 25kbike rides. Billissaid to run/swim when in Hawaii trying to regain some ofhis earlier fitness! Maybe he’ll challenge a triathlon or marathon soon. Terry is now teaching group and private lessons in violin/viola and cello. Bill seems unsure ofhis company’s continuation. Sounds like cutbacks there, too.

Paul Guzowskihas come home. AfterPaul retired in 2001, he took on work as a militaryadvisor and change management consultant in Europe: threeyearsin Budapest, ayearin Vilnius and two in Bratislava. He startedhis searchfor a new home from Bratislavavia the Internetandfound some great possibilities in the area around EglinAFB. After about four days oftrekking to see ‘bout 30 properties, he and his wife, Chris, chose a 1910 Florida cottage in a little town of5,000 with aVictorian historic district called DeFuniak Springs, about 45 minutes from Eglin. I was sitting in business class enjoying a glass ofchampagne and meeting my seat mate before we started engineswhenthe captain comes through the cabinmeeting andgreetingthepassengers. He noticedtheprop andwings I had on myblazer lapel and asks, "Are you a zoomie?" I nodded and he asks, "What year?" to which I replied, "74" andhesays, "Noway!" At thathe sticks out his hand and introduces himselfas Dave Garramone. Having not seen each other since at bestthe 20th reunion and more probablysince graduation, we shared a bit of our careers with each other. Knowing that Dave had been with Delta since about 1980,1 knew our flight was in goodhands. We saidfarewell afterlanding and I thought to myself, "What a small world this truly is when one can encounter a college classmate in circumstances like that half-way around the world."

Arrivinghome, Chris and Paul were settlinginto the new house. One dayshe mused thatitwouldbe nice to getthe grandfatherclock runningagain since it hadn'tworked for the 10 years we were in Carlisle. Paul called the owner of a place called "The Clock Corner" in Destin, FL, and the gentlemantold me he did make house calls but since he didn't getup our wayveryoftenhe'dgive us a callwhen it was possible. Well, to shorten the story a bit [at the house: "Really?" or "Noway" andtells us he, too, is a 74 grad. So the clockrepairspecialist is ChuckLondon who is soon moving the shop to FtWalton. Paul is working on an ideafor a mini-reunionbecause Chuckreportedthatthere are a number ofgrads in the area. Give Paul a call ifyou’re in that part ofthe USA!

Bill VanHorn and Penni are stillliving in Iittleton, CO. Penni’s Dadhas lived with them now forthreeyears andlife is goingalongwellenough! TheirChristmas letter had eight names to it! The letter mentionedvisitingHanging Lake near Glenwood Springs, and daughter inTyler,Texas, annual road trip,Angel Fire, and thejoyofspending life together!

Dennyand Iin Hughes gotcaughtstoppingtogetherfor a moment! Here are they at their son’s Brian and Sarah wedding in the summer. Lin continues as

Patterson’s son. Topofstairs to bottomfrom leftareDr. Mark andBonnie Coffman,JoeandDebbieKahoe, BillandLorettaPatterson, Stalker and GerryReed, andAl and Chris Nacke.

Back: GinnyandDaleBurchby. Front:Melanie, Kevin, and Valerie.

Sabre Society Donors

DirectorofUndergraduateNursing at the NMC. Denny, stillwith 1st National Bank, increases bank branches. One son, Neal, is in StratCom as targeting chief. DaughterTamara one oftop 10 stylists in Kansas City.

From theharborbySan Diego, Dale Burchbywrote in. AnotherHappyNew Yearwish makes it to thepress! Dale is stilllookingforsailingcrew! Melanie still workingtheatre. GinnyandKevin backto schoolfromtravelingthe Pacific.(See photo at bottom ofpriorpage.)

Joe andJoyKelleywere settling in Bethesda, temporarily. Nothing new from their seven7 realtors in five different states. I don’t have a permanentplaceyet from them. It seems Bethesda is the center at this time. They did have this picturewith granddaughter Harper. She’s about two years old now.

Joe andJoy with GranddaughterHarper.

Asilent moment here for classmate RichardAlcorn, CS-09, Lt Colonel retired. All I have now is Richard passed away on April 11. The familyheld a memorialservice at theAcademyChapel, and Richard’s ashes are scattered at theAcademy. Ifyouwish to send a note ofcondolence to the family, drop me a note, I’ll sendwhat we have.

Mayyour summer be safe andjoyful.We lookforward to hearingaboutyour good news and happenings! Mayyoulive long and prosper.

Paul Kent

18166 S.E. 41st Place Issaquah, WA 98027-9717

Mobile: (425) 785-3586

E-mail: zooscribe@mac.com

Coast-to-Coast DarkAges Parties: Coast-to-Coast 1975 DarkAges Parties simultaneouslytookplace Sat., Feb. 16th at three locations:WashingtonDC, Colorado Springs, and Seattle. Jim Carlson sent the “volunteered DC organizersA1 Bready and Chris Soto a list of 117 ’75ers in "Greater DC MetroArea" or"Count-me-as-in-DCtoo." The DC Group has set the bar. Last year, Don Byers flewout fromCaliforniato attend, and so did SamRyals from Dayton. That's class dedication! Gil Braun has been to all seven ofthese events. A1changedthe original date at thelast minute and was given sixtours byJim C butJim exercised his option to grantamnesty. Thescribe noticed 22 classmates on the preliminarylist.

Sabre Society Donors

The C-Springs DAB organizedbyBruce Mitchell, commencedwith Brunch at Eisenhower Golf Course and followed with the B-Ball game against the Wyoming Cowboys. The preliminarylist included GregBlack, Jim Burling, Lee Colburn, RandyDavis, Jim Dill, Brian Duffy, Dick Dye (Denise), Bruce Fritzsche, John Gaughan (Becky), Scott Hente (Lynn), Bruce Mitchell (Janice), Phil Pearce (Chris), Bentley Rayburn (Debi), Gary Shugart, Kent Traylor,

(Carole), and MarkVolcheff (Mary). Since so many of us were wearing our jerseys, Bruce wondered "Ifthe group gets arrested forwearing counterfeit NCAA-logo sports apparel (first local group function at USAFAin the new 75 jerseys), can we use the class fund for bail money?" Jim Burling sent photos and added it was a beautiful dayand they were even playinggolfat USAFAthat day! The Falcons came awaywinners after a slowstart. Afterviewing the photos, John Charlton enquired, “Hey Burr... how come all you guys out west look so much older and grayer than the ’75ers here in the east?”

The Front Range DarkAgesContingent.

With an entire 30 hours ofnotice, Paul Lotakis, our new Northwest POC, found Mike Buckley, Chris Glaeserandyours truly Paul Kent for a rendezvous at the Spitfire Grill. Mike Garrett and BlairThisted “almost” made it.The Puget Sound best-alivers even convincedtheirwives to attend. Paul L noted "A conference call was made to the DCArea ’75ers, but due to the three-hour time zone change (read "head start" on the beverages), they were unintelligible."

Afterthe success ofthe DC DAR Duane Jones rented a pavilion on the Bolling AFB waterfront for a 7 Jun 2008 75 gettogether. 33 shortyears afterpinning on our 2nd Lt bars.

Classmate Updates and Stories: From Bill Lyerly: Like my ol' buddyJim Carlson who has gone there before me -1 am now officially "in Law School". From Jim Dearien: The 75 jersey was the hit of our family Christmas! From Roy Rice toTerryYoung:... I tried to order a 75 Jerseywith the text "T.Young Wanna-Be" embroidered on the back. Terryresponds: Interesting... mine cost $50 more because ofmy extralettering - "when I growup I wantto bejust like RoyRice - smart, a goodleader, etc"... but ran out ofroom. Dave Clough, afterreading "the Daily Orders" at USAFA: I guess this qualifies me as "Brown Shoe". I still get a little startled response when I see things like"Sexual Risk Management II" or "Women's Basketball" on the Daily Orders. Not a bad change,just so different from our experience back "in the day". Also changed

The Left Coast Puget Sound DAP Crew: Paul Kent, Chris Glaeser, Mike Buckley, andPaulLotakis.

The DC DarkAgesPartyContingent!

from our experience: “Days Since Last CadetAlcohol Incident: 10” (for’75, this would be in hours, not days).

From Stan Schoener: Went thru cancer surgery (bladder) a week ago. The bad news isthat itwas the "C" word butthe good news isthathethinks he got everything out. Mike Narkiewicz, I know, understand how scary this is. Our very own Alan G. Peck (Disco) makes his third star! From Harry Mathis: Miracles still happen.Against manyodds, theAir Force has decided to promote me to 0-6. With so manyyoung thoroughbreds in the race I was pretty sure this old plow-horse was headed forthe barn (thoughtI could even smell the hay), but God and the AF had otherplans. I'm number two on the list, but also have an assignmentpending, so not sure when or where pin-onwill be.

Duane Jones made MG! From Chuck Schmitz: I’m offto Iraq,VictoryBase, in May. Still in uniform, OhioANG. From JeffChappell: Just saw a well-done documentary called "FightingforLife," about militarymedical operations in Iraq and our very own Charlie Beadling. Amodern-dayMASH. #3 son Ben is about to enter theArmy as a medical tech and he was inspiredbythe show.

From Jim Carlson: TheAir ForceAcademyAssociation ofWashington DC (AFASW) conducted their annual USAFA Founders Dayreception (to commemorate USAFA's establishment) on April 6. It was a great dinnerwith great company (with seven members ofthe class of’75 present: Charlie Bergman, JimCarlson, Mark Beesley, Bill Lyerly, Charlie Beadling, Scott Smith, and Phil Benjamin).Hookforward to this event almost as much as to our annual Dark Ages Party! Every once in awhile, I have the distinct pleasure ofmeeting a classmate fortheFIRSTTIME even afteralmost37years... Lastnight was the firsttimethat Charlie Bergman and I ever met (asfar as either one ofus knows). Andwouldn'tyou knowit, anyone listeningto us talkmighthavethoughtwe'd been friends forever. Charlie is the Executive Director ofNGATS (Next GenerationAirTransportationSystem) in DC which is transformingAmerica'sAir Traffic Control System. You guyswho weren't there missed a great time we were the loudest, happiest two tables in that room! Scott Hente is successfully recovering from prostate cancer surgery.

From Wes Routh: I wanted to share with you some info about my recent lifestyle change and the success it brought. Fifteen months ago, my doctor gave me my prescription and said, "You are a diabetic." That was due to a lifetime ofovereating, especiallycarbohydrates. Before that, I weighed over 260 pounds for over a decade. [After implementing my game plan] I lost 40 pounds in less than six months, kept my blood sugar low, and bought a new wardrobe. Two months ago, mydoctor I had forthe past nine months said to me, "Tell me againwhytheprevious doctorsaidyou are a diabetic?" She looked throughmymedical records at ayearofgood test numbers andtook me offthe medicine. I am still a diabetic, butwith my new lower carb lifestyle, myblood sugar is never high;pluslosingweight andkeepingit offwas hasbeen amazing.

From James Hartney: We moved to Williamsburg, VA. I'm working in Norfolk. Not sure howlongwe'llbe here, butArdis is hoping it'sforever! Daughter Maureen graduates in Mayfrom U ofFloridaand is lookingforward to learningwhere she'll be going to UPT. From SteveWatson to Jim C: Doinggreat. Just had thejoint in myleft big toe replaced. No bigdeal; should be back to 100% very soon. It is interesting to note thatyou are workingwith DEA [as a contractor].When I was in theAF, I started a hot air balloon program. As part ofthat program, I flewtheballoon andtookup DEAguysup in theballoonfor counter drugwork. It was a great time andflew some veryinterestingmissions. Had a blast. I can’t believe an old fart LtCol in theAir Force could spend about five years flying a hot airballoon. Life is good sometimes!

From MarkBeesley: There I was, mindingmy own business the other dayat The Capital Grille in DC for a meetingwith a guynamedBmceLyman. I walked into meethimandhiswifeandbeganthebusinessdiscussions. Bmce asked me to tellhim alittlebitaboutmyself. I answered inmystandardway - andthenthis littlevoice popsup andsays, "Really, you mightknowmyDad.”"Ohsure”, I said, “I might.What is his name?” Uponwhich she replied,"Doug Fraser. "No kidding.Well "Yes," I replied. "I knowhim as he andI went to theAirForceAcademy together in the same class, 75 BestAlive!, and we havebeen stationed together several times from Luke to the Pentagon to Colorado after ourAcademydays." Nobody, includingmyself, could believe what hadjusthappened. So this was little Heatherwhom I remember as a young one a long, longtime ago.

SandyTerryis at it again with his "Riding to Save Lives" for the Leukemia & LymphomaSociety's endurance training program. Many ofyouwill rememberthathe was participating in this event/effortlastyearuntilhe got a callfrom hisphysician and toldthat a routine exam had discovered a tumorthatneeded to come out immediately. He went underthe knife the nextweek. Everything was successful and he is now training. Donating is simple: http:// www.active.com/donate/tntsoh/STerry08.

JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY!

YOUR MONEYHELPS FUND CADETWING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED.

CALL THE AOG FOR INFO.

Admin:With Larry Fariss serving as our Class Rep to theAOG Senate, here's a weblink to contact or send a message to the AOG Board ofDirectors (all board members at once): http:/ /www.usafa.org/Contact.aspx?group=board& name=All%20Board%20Members. From Duane Jones: I just found a roll of 35mm negatives from pictures I tookduring a dining-inwhen we were firsties. After 34 years, it's pretty fascinating to look at. Check it out: http:// web.mac.com/flyingboat/USAFA_75_Dining-In/Photos.html. From Jim: Like Duane, get out those oldphotosthe rest ofyouguys and start scanning.We need to collect them for Bill Estelle before the next reunion!

KeithWorkman has graciouslystepped up to the plate to serve as the class Point ofContact (POC) for ’75ers who did not graduate (butwho are ’75ers and classmates nonetheless). Many ofyou are aware that Chip Kerby has masterfully served in this capacityfor over fiveyears, and keptyou informed ofclass activities. As always, the scribe will post a much-expanded checkpoints and numerous photos to zoomienation shortlyafterthisprintedCheckpoints arrives in the mail.

Dan Beatty

12196 Stanley Canyon Road Colorado Springs, CO 80921

H: (719) 488-1962

E-Mail: whrlybrd76@aol.com

Dan.Beatty@usafa.af.mil

http://www.AFAcademy.com/76

Fellow’76ers,

As you read this the Class of2008 should now be 2Lts and the newest additions to the Long Blue Line.

Movingup/moving on. Brian Meenan and Ben “Boats” Bartlett both selected forMajorGeneral, USAFR. Ben moves to Tampa as CENTCOM/CCAir Reserve ComponentMA; Mike Gouldfrom2ndAF/CC to Director, Ops & Plans, USTRANSCOM; Randy Spetman is the new Florida State UniversityDirector ofAthletics; Bryon Hepburn from Command Surgeon, HQ AMC to CommanderAF Medical SupportAgency, BollingAFB; DennyShupe appointed toUSS New Jersey Board ofTrustees; Bill Jones announced candidacy forGeorgia’s 6th CongressionalDistrict; Dave Robinson retires effective 01 Jul. Congrats classmates!

Correction: Apologies to Mike Worden for listing him as Royin mylast letter.

35 Sabre Society Donors

General Class Stuff: First, I am expanding/updating my Scribe database andwould appreciate anycontact infoyouhave forany’76ers includingemail/snail mail addresses and phone numbers. I will not share the info withoutyourpermission to protectyourprivacy. Please send anyand all contact datayou have. I will sort out any duplicates.

Jack Catton says he spent aboutfourmonthsvisitingfamilyandfriendsthen became aVP with Boeing in DC, about 20 minutes from daughterJennifer. Mike Fricano updated his new workphone number and passed on some senior move data. Ben Thomsonpassed on some commo fromBob Oleksyand MikeWorden. Bob and Ben work in the same buildinghere in C-Springs supportingtheMDAGround-based Midcourse DefenseProgram, BobwithBoeing and Ben as a SETA. Mike reports the latesthousehold move was #25 andLori and kids are all doingwell.

DaveTerifaypinged me for contact info on Kevin Chilton and sent a partial list ofFEDEX ’76ers includingJim Deaux, Brad Forrest, Phil Julien, Monty Lee,Willie Palms, Dave Root, Brad Sharpe, Bill Strell, Scott Thurnerandhimself. Chili says he and Cathy miss the mountains and C-Springs, but he is enjoying Offutt and the newjob. He recentlyvisited Iraq andAfghanistan and saw Dave Clary in Baghdad. Dave sent me a separate note and pics from the AOR. One ofthe pics was Dave pinning a Purple Heart on USAF TSgt Baker, wounded in a rocket attack in the Green Zone. The pic was in the hallway because as the ceremony started inTSgt Baker’s room, anotherrocket attack

Dave Clary(left) pinningPurpleHeart on TSgtBaker.

commenced and all moved to saferarea’s awayfrom the windows. I hopeyou enjoyedyour helo ride Dave!

PatAshenfelter sent photo ofherself, daughterCaptVirginia, and Dave and Lori Robinson at MarchTeamTinkerbase awards. Ginnywas a CGO nominee and is currendydeployed to Baghdad. Thanks Pat. Tom Sawner was one of nine business owners invited to a private meetingwith President Bush on 07 Apr to chat about howthe economic stimulus package bill was working. Tom says the group was invited into the Oval office for an additional 20 minutes.

RayBrunelle is still flying Continental B767s, is veryattached to his native New England with a penchant for skiing, sucking on lobster and the other perks with a four-season seacoast lifestyle. Kim Weber says life in Gilroy CA maynotinteresteveryonebutthatall iswellthere. DennyDamiens saysdaughter DaniellegraduatedVirginiaTech 10 Mayand begins doctoratework at U of MarylandMedical Center-Baltimore forPhD in PhysicalTherapy. Dave Merrill sent addressupdatefromO’FallonILandalso a note congratulatingMike Gould on his Scott assignment. Bernie Goldbach wrote from home in Ireland and says he has a wonderful view oftwo separate ruins dating back to the 12th centuryand doesn't mind sharingtheviewwith classmates or theirkids ifthey happen to visit Ireland. He’sbeen teachingpodcastingand creative multimedia in Ireland since 2001.

BobMansfield confirmedcontactdataandis nowhappythatC-Springswinter appears to have ended. John Hope andwife, Nino, getoffthe tuitiontrainwith son Alex’s Maygraduation from Duke. John’s newjob will have him covering all ofCanada,WA, OR, CO, ID, and UT as a microwave component supplier.

DougFryis still in Denver and is amazedthatCendyhas putupwithhimfor 31 years DaughterCaptCaseyiswith NATOAWACS in Germany, oldest son is halfwaythruFinance MBA at Columbia, andyoungestLt Mattjustfinished C17 training. BeckySpetman sent a newTallahasse addressforthe family. Roger Widholm, Denny Shupe and Jim Boma confirmed contact data. Greg Schneider sent email data forMike Sevier, DougJames, JohnThomasYoung, andJohn Rivera. Mike YamaDog” Hoyes sent email data on Rich King, Stan Correia, CalvinAllen, GaryKyle, Mike Miller, andWes Stowers. Pete Mapes sent a new Maryland address update forhim and Nona. Dave Dingleyis still on Space Coast in Brevard CountyFL as senior staffassistant forcounty commissioner. SaysVirginia is great, daughterTamatha graduates from U ofFI in May, daughterCoraleafinishes Masters at U ofWashington inJune, and son Ed married last Sept. T S Kelso attended theApril National Space Symposium; saw Tom Muckenthaler andWillie Shelton. He also talked with BuzzAldrin and had a photo withJolene Blalockwho playedT’Pol on StarTrekEnterprise. Hard to get StarTrek

of a ’76er!

PatO’Brien sent a note to let us knowhe iswellbutstillrecoveringfromhis Feb 07 plane crash and to thank everyone for the notes and prayers sent hisway. Joe Evans watched son Joe graduate from helo training and also got a ride in Vietnam-eraHuey. I knowthat was fun! BillHanson is stillworking on his PhD in Oklahoma and hopes to finish this fall. Duke Evans is working process improvements forAT&Tin Ohio, kidsAdam and Krystal are working on MBA and teachingSpanish, respectively. Dave Bergdropped a line from Langley and Dave Robinson sent an invite to his retirement.

Well classmates, again time to stick a forkin it. Send me your notes, inputs, address updates, suggestions,junkmail, etc and I will do mybest to keep allof you in the loop. As always, ifyou are headed to the Springs, let me and the other locals know. Keep flyingyour flags and let our deployed troops know you have them in yourthoughts and prayers.

The Spirit of’76 is STILL alive and well! Until next time, Beatty.

John J “Lou” Michels, Jr.

4107 Harvey

Western Springs, IL 60558

Voice: (312) 849-8150

Fax: (312) 849-8151

E-Mail:

jmichels@mcguirewoods.com

Greetings from the now slowly-warming banks/beaches/trash dumps of Lake Michigan, where the women are all strong, the men are all goodlooking, and thetemperatures are belowaverage. I have an extremelyslim mailbagthis time around (that’s two columns in a row, folks) andwill again renew myplea for more information about all the interestinglives people are leading. But at this point, I’ll take even uninteresting lives. Drop me a line whenyou can.

Hoop Dreams: Rick Pialet (Renell), in between his flying stints forUnited, is one ofthefounders andprincipal movers behind an organization called “Friends ofAir Force Basketball. Rickhas beenworkinghard to promotewhat is now a verysuccessfulAirForce program. He’s lookingforfinancial support, much as the football program does, and I encourage anyand all ofyou to contact him ifyou are interested in assisting. JohnVisser (Ann) paid Rick a quickvisitduringlast season - RickandJohn are 737 Captains forUnited andAmerican respectively, and were probablycomparing notes on short runwaylandingprocedures at Midway. They saw the Falconswin againstTCU (rememberwhen we might see one or two wins in a season?) and to do some AOG Chapterpoliticking. As proof, I offer the followingphoto:

At the Hoopsfest!

Sabre Society Donors

Thanks, John and Rick. Keep up the goodsupport ofthe Princeton offense.

Grads Supporting Grads: Paul Pirog (Mary) sent me a picture ofhis recent LegionofMeritpin-on conducted by none other than Irv Halter (Judy). You mayremember that Paul is the head ofthe law department at theAcademy; Academy tenured professors are now required to go back into operational dutyfor a yearfor reblueing” and to take advantage oftheir academic expertise. Paul was assigned to work for Major General Halter as the 19thAFSJA. (Seephoto at the top ofthe next column.)

I was able to have lunch with Paul here in Chicago over Christmas. Paul appears none the worse for operational wear, and is onlytinged blue around the edges. Thanks forthe photo and update, gentlemen.

MysterySolved, Continued: You mayrecall that I referred to an interloperin the CS-33 rejoinphoto from the reunion. In fact, theA-Jacketpatchbelonged to CS-39, and adorned one Don Brubaker (Charlene). Don was a loyal memherofthe Cellar Ratz fortwo years but was moved firstieyear to Campus Radicals as part ofthebinge-and-purgeactivitygoing on in our first-class summer. Nonetheless, old ties are the best ties, thus Don’s appearance. Scott Harrod (Nita) assures me that Don is still a Ratin goodstanding, which means I don’t have to erase his image from the photo. Thanks, guys.

Tom Sawner (left) with PresidentBush.

out

TSKelso (right) w/Jolene Blalockand some otherguy.

Jimmy Carter sent his list ofemail contacts. TonyPrzybyslawski and Mark Welsh are having a greattime atAETC (TonyisA2/3 and Markis CV).Tony sent a couple ofpics showingthem delivering two2 factory-newT-6s to Randolph. A1Patriquin mentioned the annual USAFASoccerAlumni match vs the cadets was on 3 May. A1 thinks he was the oldest alum playingforthe last threeyears.

ClassmateSupport-Paul and Irv and theLOM.

SomeoneDoingSomethingReallyImportant: Dave Gragan (Mary) hasbeen thesubjectofseveralentriesinthiscolumn. First, becausehejoinedtheMarines aftergraduation and opened a never-endingdoorofspeculation as to his common sense; andsecondbecausehehasmovedthrough apost-militaryseries of positions that are nothingshort offascinating. In hislatestjob, Dave isthe District ofColumbia’s ChiefProcurement Officer. Anyofyou familiarwith DC city government, or even anylargecitygovernment, knowthat the procurement function is a tremendouslydemanding one, frequentlymarkedbyextreme delays andinefficienciesinprocuring even the mostbasicservices, as well as being a legal morass ofprocurementschedules, affirmative action issues, and other mangledrequirementsdesignedto promotevarious social initiatives bythecity government. DC is no exception; infact, itis one ofthe worst in the country. DC MayorAdrian Fentyhandpicked Dave to sort allthis out. Dave was the subject of an extremelycomplimentaryarticle in GovernmentProcurementlastyear describinghis efforts, andsomebodysent me a copyformyperusal. Afterreadingthe article, I sort ofenvision Dave as kindofprocurementHercules cleaning out theAugean Stables thatistheDCpurchasingsystem.

So, a day or two afterreadingthis article, I am sitting at ReaganAirport in DC when some guywith a Marine-typebearingwalksup to me andgoes, “Aren’tyou LouMichels? It was thevery same Mr. Gragan on hiswayoutto dealwith some other crisis relating to DC’s financing. We had a great chat in the airport, surroundedbyseveral ofmypartners (we were returningfrom a firmpartnership meeting), allofwhomwere fascinated at meetingsomebodyinthe nerve center ofDCadministration. Afterwe partedcompany, one ofmypartnerscommented that even though we were in school together, Dave somehow looked much younger and stillhadallhishair. Solo lawpracticelooks betterandbetterevery day. Dave, great to see you, butwe’ll do our nextmeetingbyvideoconference.

Video Highlights: Don “Coon Dog” McCune (Bernadette) made FoxNews recendy, commenting on the FAA’s grounding ofairplanes at Southwest and American. After listening, it’s hard for me to believe that Don is actually a practicingattorney - his comments were clear, concise, and illuminating, to such an extent that the interviewer couldn’t figure out anyfollow-up questions. Nicework, Don, in explaining a verycomplicated situation so thatpeople like me could understand.

Miscellany: Cleaningup from the reunion, Lee Monson (Julie) will be retiringfromBoeingthis springafter a longand distinguished career. Well done, sir, but I look forward to hearing about the newest venture soon. Jeffand Leslie Perkins, not satisfiedwith runningmarathons in terrible heat, are now doing ballroom dance competition. Jeffpromised to send me pictures, in which he looks like “the monster inYoungFrankenstein,” but so far, no joy. Ifthat prospect doesn’tkeepyou readingthis column forthe next year or so, I don’t know whatwill. Goodluck, guys, and I hope Leslie iswearingthe steel-tipped dancingpumps.

Manyofyouwill rememberJoe McBrearty, the ChiefMasterSergeant at the Zoo when we were there. Joestays in touch with those ofus that didn’t irritate

him too much as cadets andhe sent me a picture ofSteve andTheresaMiller at one ofthe football games last fall.

Again, I continue to be impressedbyhow none ofthese people appear to have aged much since I saw them last. Mustbe the altitude.

Andfinally, a bit ofpersonal news. I managed to finishbuilding a house up near Divide and put furniture into it at the beginning ofMay. So, I will be commutingfor vacation and other purposes between here andjust north of Cripple Creek on a regularbasis. I hope to see those ofyou in the Springs area more often.

Close Out: That’s it from here. Pretty slim pickinsifyou ask me. Shoot me some emails for next time or the columnwill be reallyshort. Be seeingyou.

Bob Kay

40411 Tesoro Lane

Palmdale, CA 93551

Home:(661) 274-2201

Work: (661) 824-6426

Email: Robert.kay@baesystems.com

Greetings’78ers...

The good news is that we now have 30th reunion dates and thosewould be the 17th (Wed night) to the 21st (Sundaymorning) ofSeptember. The game Saturdaywill be against UNLVand is also homecomingweekend. Please refer to theAOG website (www.usafa.org), select“Class Reunions” on the top then “1978 Information” on the upper left ofthe reunion page. There is currently a tentative schedule, hotelinfo (we’llbe at the EmbassySuites offof1-25 onWoodmen Road) and other items to look at. Make your plans now—should be a great time. Wayne KeUenbence and hisgang are workingdiligently to make it one worth remembering.

First out ofthe chute, I saw an article on the AF web site showing Steve Sargeanttalking to cadets at the Zoo backin March. He was there to sign a memorandum ofagreement with the Dean (see photo) establishing a formal USAFA/ AFOTEC (AF OperationalTest and Evaluation Center) mentoringprogram thatwill enableAFOTEC members to mentorAcademycadets enrolled in or consideringengineering, scientific andmathematics disciplines. I remember as cadetshowwe wouldlament not havingmuch contactwithmembers ofthe “RealAir Force” so this seems like an excellentwayto bridge that gap. Steve is currendytheAFOTEC commander at Kirtland.

Justafter I turned in theWinter article,AmyKeohane sent a nice note to bring us up to date. Unfortunately, Tom (NorthwestCaptain) was groundedfrom last Nov-Mar due to rightbicep surgeryneeded fix the injury he sustained playingin a non-checkingover-45-year-oldhockeyleague. He couldn’t even drive for 10 weeks—am bettingAmy was very happywhen he was back in action! She also said that sadly, Tom Czachor was medically retired from Northwest afterhipreplacementsurgeryalmost two years ago that didn’tquite heal properly. On the familyfront, daughterJennifer graduates from Northwestern in June and has been accepted to fourgrad schools. Middle daughter Andreagraduates from Miami ofOhio in and goes to medical school after she takes the MCATs. Theiryoungest Michelle is still a junior in high school and hasn’t determinedwhere she wants to go to collegeyet.

Also heard from UPT brother Buck Lansford’s bride, Teresa. Daughter Meghangraduates (orwill have graduatedby the time you’re readingthis) fromUSAFAwith ’08. Sheleft USAFAforayear to studyMandarin in mainland China (wow!), was a perpetual Dean's lister andwill be attendinggrad school aftergraduation. Buckis a Southwest captain as well as the chairman oftheir militarycommittee coordinatingSWAfolks beingdeployed in the Guard and Reserves. Theyalsojustfinishedtheirretirementhome in SouthParkCOwhich is 25 minutes from Breckenridge. Teresa still plays tennis as well as enjoying skiingwith her doolie roommate Allene Saleck.

Mike Spain wrote thathe still flies forDelta as a SaltLake Citydomiciled 757 Captainalongwith doing contract administrationworkforthe localAir Line

AirForce/ArmyTailgate with ourformerWingKingand ChiefMcBreartyand hisfamily.

Sabre Society Donors

Pilot'sAssociation council. Oldest son Robbyis at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo withhisArmyNationalGuardUnit as a Blackhawkhelicopter crew chief. Other son Markjustgraduated from Southern Miss in Dec andwillbe teachingalong with hopefullycoachinghigh school football. Other Delta classmates Mike has run into latelyincludeTom Kanawho is an MD-90 first officer commuting from Denver (Tomhelped Mike out quite a bitwith retirement planning and financial advice) and MarkApfel is an MD-90 Captain also in Salt Lake and living in Dallas.

Francisco Torres sent this picture belowof, fromleft, AlexTrujillo, himself, and Glenn Spears. Francisco andAlex are in the Miami-based AOG South Florida Chapterwhere Glenn was the guest speaker backin February. Glenn is stillthe U.S. SouthernCommand deputy as was mentioned inthelastarticle.

GordyCurphy is keepingextremelybusyin the leadership consultingbusiness. He earned his PhD in Industrial/OrganizationalPsychology at the UniversityofMinnesota several years ago between twin teaching tours at the Zoo backin the early’90s. While there, he co-authoredwhathasbeen the#1 selling college textbook on leadership forthe past 15 years: “Leadership: Enhancing the Lessons ofExperience.” After separating from theAF, he spent the next severalyears doingleadershipconsulting in the private sector. The main focus ofhis company involves getting the right people into leadership positions, developing their leadership skills, getting groups ofleaders workingbetter together, andhelping leaders develop organizationalstrategies and drive organizational change. His latest effort will be titled “The Moronization of Management” andwill describewhythere is currentlya shortfall ofleadership talent andwhat people can do to make up for it.

Gordyhas also run into some classmates as he travels: the aforementioned

Tom Keohane, Brad Creed, (also a Northwest captainliving in Michiganwith two small children), Dave Roetzel (Deltacaptain), and over the holidays last yearhe had dinnerwith Steve Asbell (captain forAlaskaAirlines and also still playshockey). Keep up the good workGordy!

FellowBulldawgersTed Roush is the Science and Math Dean at Pima CommunityCollege inTucson, whileJohn Parrottis the DeputyDirectoroftheTed StevensAnchorage InternationalAirport. John has about 300 state employees workingforhim and flies his TriPacer on theweekends alongwith a recentlypurchased Cessna-180 that he’ll put on floats this summer.

ChuckChuva (Northwestcaptain.. .is there a trend here?) is one proud dad! SonDean is inthe USAFAclassof2009 and on theacademyboxingteam. Those facts in and ofthemselves would make any dad proud but Dean went a bit fartherthisyear. He won his title bout at the Nationals in Reno to become the National CollegiateBoxingChampion for 2008 in the 112 lb weight class! An additionaljoyfor Chuck as he cheered Dean on was connectingwith former 3rd Squadron roommate KeithWilkinson at thisyear’sWingOpenBoxing Finals. Keith and his bride, Julie, are living in the Springs after Keith recently retired from the AF as an 0-6. It is indeed a smallworld.

Deputy 12thAF commander at DM andwillhangitup in October. Dave Morte is the DirectorofAnalysis and Lessons Learned at 9thAF at Shawand retires in June; and finallyBlake Lindnerworked somewhere in the Pentagon and retired in May.

SpeakingofJayLindell, he’ll be returningfromAfghanistan to the Pentagon in the Asst SAF forAcquisition office. Rick Devereauxwill give up the 82nd TrainingWing at Sheppard and move to Scott as the DeputyA3 for Mobility Command.

My sincere thanks to everyone for the great info this quarter. Please make your reservations NOWfor September.. .see you then!

’78 is Great!

Dean and Dad

The slate of’78ers on the current two-star list released in March included: Don Alston (Nuke ops on theAir Staff), Paul Capasso (Command, Control, Communications forAfrica Command), JayLindell (DeputyAir Powerboss inAfghanistan), Punch Moulton (Dep 7thAF CC inKorea), and Mike Snodgrass (also atAfrica Command as the ChiefofStaff). Congrats to everyone!

Finally, some retirements and a couple moves: Joe Mudd is currently the

J. R. Dallas

1612 Rannoch Trace

Ft. Smith, AR 72908 (H) (479) 648-0433 (C) (479) 420-7817

jrdallasF16@yahoo.com

Greetings, ’79ers! Daren (travel agencyowner), Megan (20, UnivofArizona), and Drennan (14,9th grade) and I (AAL,767F/0,DFW,retiredANG’07) hope that 2008 istreatingyou allwell, and that continual success and fantastichealth are in your lives. Life in Arkansas is beautiful. I retired on 30May’07 - goodsounding date, and am flying 767s withAAL as I commute from Ft Smith, AR. Callwhen close by! On to news!

First-ever ’79er to be in GolfDigest magazine! Check out March ’08 edition, page 153. That’s our Jim O’Neil in the ad!

IS

Sabre Society Donors

Dave Hardey (JoAnn) (AAL 777F/0,ORD) writes that oldest Emilyis atU ofSouthCarolinaandyoungestSaraishighschool seniorwho’s being recruited to run college track and crosscountry. It’s in theblood, Sunshine! Photo shows a mini-CS32 reunion as some old Roadrunners did some salmonfishingin Alaska. John Duhamel (Genia) hosted. Looks like fun was hadbyall! Knowingthesefive as I do - not sure who ‘won’ thewhopperstorytime competition! RaySands (Marlene) wrote thatlifeis outstandinginFloridawith son Mason (5 yrs) in tow. Ray’sVP ofFunding andAcquisitions forExclusive CostaRica—amarketingand developmentcompanyspecializingin real estate deals in CostaRica. Heplays lacrosse inVaileachyearfor“TeamTexas” each4th ofJuly. Heplans on retiringinthreeyears andsettinguphis own real estate resort projects—I’m interested! C.R. is beautiful. Thanks for the update! I sawTom Kovatch at the HonoluluAirport - me on a trip; he was on a golfweekend! He looked tan and fit! Musthave won the rounds.

sa* MReelFun

JanJouas, MikeEnglebrecht, JohnDuhamel, Ken Kraak, and DaveHartley

Joe Barron (Beth) writes that he retired 1Sep07, finished as the IGforAETC at RandolphAFB. Enjoyinghis time offbefore hittingthejob search aggressively— I read ‘house projects’ in his tone. Two oldest kids grown and married (two grandsons from their oldest), and youngest child still a sophomore in high school. Good luck with the job search, Joe. Thanks! Ed Dubicki (AAL A300CA, MIA) writes thatflyingthe Caribbeanforlasteightyears is stillgreat. He gave up his LiaisonOfficer Director position in NY state in June2007. Flysafe, Ed. Tell Steve Mathews (Caroline,AALA-300CA, MIA) that Daren and I all say ‘hello’. GaryCurry has been in Bahrain working for theArmy as a deployed Reservist for the last year—providing commercial satellite imagery to the warfighter. Living in an off-base apartmentdrawingper diem—sweet! Glad you are back; thinkyou are backhome in Colorado bynow. Hope so—callme!

JeffShields (Becky, 23yrs ofmarriage) (NWA,A-320, MSP) writes that he’s back from second furlough—got back in Oct 06. Welcome back, Jeff1.1 know that flyingagain must feel great! Waiting out the DAL/NWAmerger stuffnow. One college son; one son in high school. Jeff’s involved in the Twin Cities MilitaryAcademy Graduate networking group—says ifinterested—call him. Thanks for the update, Jeff! A voice from the past—Lance Beam (Jamie) (SWA,737, PF1X) writes thattheyhave a 20-year-old andthathe runs into Larry Butler and DennyHugo from time to time at SWA. Lance, I will callyou! Take

care. ScottAdams (Pam,29yrsofmarriage) retiredin2005—lastyearwiththeNat’l GeospatialAgencyin STL. Says“washappy to leaveit”. Livingwest ofC.Springs fromwhichhe commutesto skipatrol near Leadville, CO—NICE! Fourgrandkids are great,hesubstituteteaches, mountainbikes, andhasled some groupsto North Africa to teach English. Fantastic! Thanks forthe email, Scott.

Tom Tiegeler (Gail, 26yrs ofmarriage) wrote with a lot ofnews—Gail is a CPA working corporate accounts; middle son (Todd) is a junior atVirginia Common Wealth and will attend their med school afterwards; youngest (Scott) is senior in high school, going to James Madison Univ (VA) to studyIntegrated Science and Technology; Tom swore in son Andrew (AFA ’07, CS-32 legacy, now in PilotTmg) lastyear he graduated 80th in his class. Tom, great family—they did get Momma’s genes, didn’t they?You have done somethingvery right, myfriend! As forTom, heworks as the Lead IntegrationEngineerforthe AOC (Air&SpaceOperationsCenter). WithTom are Mike Leggett(Wendy) and Jake Jacobsen, who also owns a restaurant near LangleyAFB. Tom’s still a Liaison Officer for USAFA and ROTC—placed five candidates in 2007. Tom says Paul Schubert is in Columbus OH doingtheALO gig also. Thanks, Tiegs!

TomTiegelerand family

My old CS-32 roommate, Chuck Franceschi (Laura)—(living near Denver) writes thatthey are at the five grandkidstage now (three girls, two boys)—no more ‘production’,just‘mergers and acquisitions’. Their family Christmas photo was fantastic—averyhappyand bigclan! Does Chucklead the class in grandkids? Anyone else close? Thanks, Chuck.

Jon Box (Lynn) relays thathe’s stillworkingthe PredatorandReapersystems on the UAS (UnmannedAircraft Systems) Task Force at the Pentagon. Oldest son (Taylor) attends HardingUnivin Searcy, AR! Jon knows where Ft Smith, AR is I am sure. Daughter (Elizabeth) is AFA Class of2011. Kids (Geoffryand Daniel) are their highschoolers. My other old roommate—Steve Wheeless (Tanya) writesthathe’s into laborlaw -companyside—ahhhhh!—with a firm in Phoenix. Audreywill soon be 14, and son Rossis 11 starting middle school. SonJake (two years old) rounds out the familyand keeps them hopping as he’s into all sports. Tanya is President and CEO oftheArizona BankersAssociation. Steve—I will visit - promise!

JeffMoore (Pattie) (UPS,A-300CA) had a challenging 2007. In Dec 06, Jammerwas diagnosedwithNon-Hodgkin'sLymphomaandstartedchemotherapy treatments everyotherweek. He respondedwell to the aggressive treatment cycle and was declared cancer free (!) on 28 Feb 07. Some ofthe chemo meds caused his heartefficiency to drop, butJammer is currently in the process of applyingfor an FAAmedicalwaiver. We are keepingall fingers crossed foryou, Jammer. Our thoughts andprayers are withyou!

JohnWagner (FedEx, 727F/O) sent a name-fiJJed update forthe FedExboys: based inAnchorage: Mike Fox (MD-11CA), GaryRoeder (MD-11CA), and Ron Horton (MD-11F/0). At the Memphis crew-base: Hermes Peterson (MD11CA), Brad Harden (MD-11CA),WalterPate, PeteLenz (A-300CA),JimMumby (MD-11CA), LarryHoffman (MD-11CA), Mitch Davitte (A-300CA), ScottJensen (A-300CA), Alan Davis, Bob Brown (727F/0), Leo Lundy (A-300CA), Steve Looney(727CA),John Lund (A-300CA), JerryMasonis (DC- 10F/O), Mike Frey (727CA), Steve Deaux (A-300F/O), Harry Whiting (A-300F/O), Grant Bruckmeier (DC-10F/O), Bruce Gebhard (A-300F/O) (Iwondered whathappened to you, Bruce!), Delane Clark (A-300F/O), John Bingaman (727F/O), andKurtWeiger (MD-llF/O). OutatlAX,MikeWeiland (MD-11CA). Outside offlying, Steve Deaux’s son’s three-man band was on David Letterman recently—rockstars! Harry’s son is AFA Class of2010. Last update fromWags: LeGrande Blount (Melanie) (DAL,767CAATL), NickCraig (Marie) (CAL), Mike Baudhuin (Susan) (DAL), and JeffGowen’s a proudgranddad. Thanks a ton, Wags—greatupdate on alJthese guys!

Tom Fernandez (USArmy, Col) wrote from Baghdad where as a ‘combat advisor’, he’s the senior advisor to an Iraqi Nat’l Police Division commanding general. Theyfight as infantry—nothingto dowithlawenforcement. Tom had a close callwith an IED - one Humvee away - lost his best officerbut missed Tom. Oursympathies,Tom, to his familyandfriends. Gladyou are okay! Keep your cranium down! Seeyou at the 30th! Thanks for the email.

That does it forthis edition. Thanks forreading and “TITANKS” to allthose thatanswered mycallforhelp. Fly’emsafely;keephealthy; make greatbusi

ness andfamilydecisions. Next up: John Pardo at pardo_john@hotmail.com. See ya at the 30th! ’79 till the day we die! J.R. Dallas

Don Myers

401 Chambray Hill

Peachtree City, GA 30269-4247 (770) 631-1429

E-mail: DMyers80@hotmail.com

Class Home Page: http://usafa80.tripod.com

ZN ZoomieNa tion.usafa.org

Hello class, this isA1Wallace sitting in for Don Myers forthis issue. Celebrating our half-centurybirthdaysmaybe a good time to reflect: Are successes or failures due to luck,judgment or nepotism? As our first Guest Scribe, I suspect nepotismmayhaveplayed a role inthis assignment: Mydaughter’sbestfriend is Don (Kathleen) Myers’ niece. When I recently discovered this fact and told Don, he immediatelysaid “introduceyourself;you have theaircraft.”

26

Sabre Society Donors

“Ihave theaircraft. As a cadet, I was fortunate to serve on the '80 ParachuteTeamWings ofBlue (PTWOB)—the only team where everymembergraduated as Fighter,Attack, and Recce qualified from pilottraining. The experience bode well for me—ejecting solo from a T-37 after an engine exploded. I went on to flyF-15s, returning toWilliamsAFB as an F-5 ForeignMilitary Sales Instructor. Tragically, in three years we losttwo instructors, two students andfourjets. I gave an F-5 back to the taxpayers after a dual engine failure on takeoff: ejection #2 for me. Along the way, Jesus found me and I saidyes. Late 1987,1worked for small dotcom companieswhichgotbigfast. I made38jumps on my38thbirthday, competed in the U.S. Paraski Nationals, tore myACL, and decided I was too old for the midlife crisis stuff.

Ten years later, our house near Denver was incinerated in a fire (see Letters to the Editor). After two days in burn ICU, I am thankful to be herewritingthis. I have my own company, yet I periodicallyworkin Peru to develop sustainable infrastructure in order to createjobs for destitute families, therebykeeping 1416 year old girls out ofthe prostitution trade.

AlWallace in Peru with admirers.

This diatribe addresses nepotism, ’80s ladies, family news and promotions. Needingintelligence, I thoughtofcalling B/Gen Chuck (Susie) Shugg as CommanderoftheJointUnmannedAircraftSystemsCenter ofExcellence at Creech AFB, NV While thebean counters want to talkplatforms, hekeepsreminding them “it’s the information we need.” Instead, I called CS-22 cohortAndrea (Bopp) (Lee ’82) Andersenwho is serving as Assistant General Counsel Environment, The PresidioTrust in San Francisco.

Andreawas happy to be “nannyfree” as she telecommutes and coordinates with Lee’s Southwestschedule. Forher50th, they are goingtoYankee Stadium forthe finalAngels game. Andrea saw Steve (Karen) Henneberry, the Southwest captain on a recent trip. She heard Julie (Richards) KarlApfel’s son has received a Class ofT2 appointment. Julie, a hint: nepotism is useless and class relationships don’t help. At lastyear’s ’82 reunion, I overheardAndrea’s daughter referring to the Commandant, Sue (Peter Lennon) Desjardines, as “Aunt Susie.” My son Eric, (’ll) and fellow '80 PTWOB Derek (Barb) Hess’ sonAlex (’ll) remainedincaptivitydespite mypleafortheirearlyrelease to “AuntSusie.”

AlexandEric are scheduled forAM490 this summer. Ifeithermakes theparachute team, it would be a first forWOB kids. Derek is traveling around the world promotingthe Hawker/BeechcraftAT-6 to foreigngovernments. Derek connectedwith Mike (Connie) McLoughlingetting some LeerJet mods. Barb and Derekhosted PTWOB Scott German, his wife Linda, and theirfive children. Scott runs the farm in Imperial Nebraska.

I was not surprised that Scott and Linda had adopted two oftheir children from China. From day one, Scott was a mentor. I then received from Debra (Dubbe) (David) Gray, this announcement: OnApril 7th, JayanthiAlexandra Graytold the Colorado judge who completed her adoption, "Thankyou for our family." Congratulations Debra and David!

Jayanthi, David and Debra Gray

Debbie is passionate aboutthe ProfessionalEthics inEducation Representative (PEER) Program (see Ed’s note below). USAFAis the largest PEER program in the BACCHUS Network ofschools—having assisted 800 cadets since implementation. The types ofissues PEERs typically assist otherswith mn the gamut ofissues ranging from stress management, academic, nutrition and relationship issues, to sexual assault, suicidal ideations, and alcohol abuse.

Speakingofstress: Dan (Laura) BloemernowfliesforUSAirways,on-again, off-again since ’89, andwrites, “I can finallyhold ajunior 737 firstofficerblock. Hard to believe thatI now have as little seniority as I did in early'91, andmake less than I did in’01!”

I ran into Sandi (Waples) and Rick (’79) Wallace atthe chapel. Theyspent 10+ years with Mission Aviation Fellowship. Sandi is at home and Rick flies for Alaska as theyplan their next bigadventure—possible nepotism with their daughterconsideringUSAFA?

Kathy(Bishop) (Donald) Campbell sent an update on EightiesLadies: Kathy retired to be a stay-at-home mom. Her oldest is at the College ofCharleston andtheyoungestis a highschoolfreshmanwhereKathyworksinthe advancement office. Lorrie (Roemish) (Georges) Bijjani and Deanne (Barnett) (Stephen) Mahoney are stay-at-home moms, and Deanne homeschools her children. Holly (Emrick) (David) Svetz is a partner at Womble CarlyleSandridge & Rice. Sue Kohut is Owner and Director ofSK Initiatives. KarenWilhelm is back to graduate school at Georgetown. KathyConleyis the Director, Land Forces Division, OSD ProgramAnalysis & Evaluation. Chris (Reasner) (Stephen) Mattinglyworks for Scitor Corporation, NTIA. Margie (Clark) (BJ) Varuska is a Southwest Pilot, living in Cape Canaveral. Allison (Hilsman) (Robert) Hickey recently retired as a B/Gen, now works for Accenture National Security Services and is an AOG Director. Maureen Tritle is serving as DeputyDirector, Innovative ReadinessTrainingProgram Management (ReserveAffairs).

“/am BINGOfuel”turning this over to Ed to close. Thanks in advance for your grace. A1Wallace, alwallace@covad.net.

“Your gift fund team has gained USAFA approval for one, and likelyboth, ATO memorial installations. Our display will be installed between the CQ deskand the ballroom stairs inArnie’s and, probably, on the main room windows adjacent to the ’59ATO memorial in Doolittle Hall. Those installations will cost about $24,000. I've put the designs in our class section of ZoomieNation—oryou can simplywrite to me. We also voted to endowthe Professional Ethics in Education Representative (PEER) program now, without waitingfor all the decisions we hope to get from theAOG. We'reworking out the details but I expect PEERwill receive inflation protected supportfor at least 20 years—costingupwards of$240,000. We NEED you to make good on all the pledged donations, so please live up to your promises. Cheers, Ed Herlik, Herlik@aol.com.”

Rich Trentman

11102 Asbee St.

Falcon, CO 80831-8170

Home: (719) 494-8438

Work: (719) 234-0754

E-mail: trentman@usafa81.com

Class Website: www.usafa81.com

Springtime in Colorado! ItsnowedMaylst-rememberthosedays? Summer isjust aroundthe corner and itwillbewell underwaywhenyou are readingthis article. The Presidentis comingfor graduationwhich always creates excitement in town. 500 tickets to graduation were offered to the public and gonewithin minutes. We never had a President come during our fouryears at USAFA.

Class News: From the front, Bryan Funke sent me a picture ofsome aging warriors. John Eunice, Bryan Funke, Brooks Bash, GaryCrowder, and Keith Anderson were attending a commanders’ conference in A1 Udeid and took time for an ’81 moment. Thanks, guys!

Ryan Orian,ViceWingCommander, 144th FWin Fresno sent me an email. Ryan thinks I spend mylife partyingwith our classmates. I don’t knowwhere he gets crazyideaslike that! Michael “Mo” Beale andRyanled flights ofF-16s on a sortie together. Mo shouldbe retiredwhenyou read this article and Ryan is hangingtoughin sunnycentral California. Oh, Ryanalways reminds me of our younger days - RECONDO!

I flewto FtWaltonBeach formyparents’ 50th anniversaryand ran into Beef Haddadwaiting on a flight. Beeflooked greatand still flies forthe Reserve and the airlines. Curt McIntyre haunted me with a picture in the AOG entry to remind me ofmydaysslavingawaythere. Curt, Tim Bougan, and DaveScholl attended the USAFA Liaison OfficerDirector Conference. Dave is the director forpart ofFlorida, Curt runs Montana, andTimlives up theroadfrom me near Castle Rock. Dave and Curt are captainswith Delta. Dave is out ofAtlantaand Curtis out ofSaltLake Cityalongwith ’81 ers Dave Chapman, MarkEmerson, Mike Odemheimer, JohnGriffen, and Charlie Rapp. Curt said he andhiswife

Eighties Ladies - Alive andWell!

Here is the latest on promotions and moves. Paul (Ricki Smith) Selva has beennominatedforhisthird star and assignment as assistant to the Chairman oftheJCS. B/Gen Frank (Helen) Kisner has been nominated to the grade ofM/ Gen. B/Gen Chris (Rhonda) Miller has been nominated to the grade ofM/ Gen. B/Gen Sue Mashiko is movingtoVice Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, LAAFB. B/Gen Mike (Carol) Moeller has been appointed commanderofthe379thAEWofACCatAlUdeidAB, Qatar. Bruce (Nancy) Townsend was elected FlightCaptain ofthe 34th (Samuel P Langley) Flight, LangleyAFB, VA.

Curt McIntyre, Tim Bougan, Dave Scholl

recently sold a drycleaningenterprise and plans to poolprofits with Brian Dominguez for some Hawaiian real estate.

Missy (Mraz) Robbins andTomhave beenenjoyingtheslopesin Utah. Their daughtergraduatedfromSwarthmorethisyearandtheiroldest son has recoveredfrom a skiingsetback. Their lOth-grade son playshockeyandboth sons willwork as counselors at a ranchinWyoming this summer. Tom is still flying for Delta and Missy is busywith her business (www.purebohemian.com). Missyalso plans to attend theAcademyWomen’s Rugbyreunionin Snowmass this summer.. .busylady!

Shirley(Hilsgen) Kring and hubbyRoyenjoyvisiting theirtwin sons. Both are freshmen in college. Randyis attendingBowdoin College on the coast of Maine and Ryan attends Tufts University north ofBoston. Both sons are involved in vocal music groups and Shirleyand Roylove to hearthem perform. Shirley and Royparticipate as Bedford Minutemen in local parades. RoyplaysthedrumandShirleythefife. Shirleysent me some more reunionpictures, butI’llbe at myarticlelimit, so I’llpostthemin our ’81 Class Group area onZoomienation. Scott Land’s son ended up attending the University ofNebraska on scholarship, which Scott says is hard for a Coloradoboytotake. (Go BigRed) I’mwaitingfor Scott to send me a picture with him wearing a corn head.

DannyCrews wrote from the cornfield desert called Indiana andreports that all is normal in Normal. Class prezTony Lorusso andClassvp RandyWotrail sent me short emails to keep in touch and thank me forscribing(translation-keep itup, sucker to quoteformerscribe Dennis Ward aka “D-day”, whereabouts unknown). Actually, Tony was just backfrombusiness in Paris andRandywas talkingcollege basketball smffwith me. Ken Smithreports he was allegedlyin the Springswithhiswife and son to take him to see theAcademy. Hmmm, apparently Ken’s phone was broken. His son got a tour ofUSAFAfrom theVice-Superintendent, a close friend of Ken’s. Obviously, a much closer friend than his squadron mate. Ken’s oldest son, Grant, finished phase 1 offlight school atVance and is now at Corpus Christi flyingTC- 12s.

Mygoodbuddy, Dan Bell, saidhisyoungest has (rightly) decided to attend USAFA. Dan’s oldestson, Dan ’07, also made the“right” choicewhilehismiddle son, Mike ’09,well, strayed and attended USNA. Dan isleavingthe great state ofMichigan forthe Commonwealth ofVirginal. Dan, do theyplayRedwings hockeythere? Dan got a promotionwithRockwell Collins andhe andJennifer plan to move after Bobbychecks in at USAFA.

lanice Gunnoe-Hughespromised to callifshe andDonmakeitto theSprings thisyear. AmyMarkertwas inLA on businessandsaid that shewouldsend me an update. She also said I was funny. Well, at least we knowI’m funny (funny looking). Vicki Sumnerwrote thatshewouldbe at theAFAgraduation andthat she had several firstiesworking on herJointTest fortheir CAPSTONE project. Mybuddy,Vance Gilstrap, is finishingup school in D.C. and shouldbe backin goodoldColorado bythetimeyoureadthis. Speakingofparties, SamAngelella sent a nice picture from their ’81 Hawaiian Super Bowl party.

Sam andMarci, Gene andBarb O’Nale, Chuckand Barb Coghlin, Jim and JeanneLong, DanWyman, SteveandMaryReuhl, Marc and SuzanneLuiken I missed thelastSenate meetingdue to a scoutingconflict, butwilltryto make the next one. Pleasejoin the Class of 1981 group on Zoomienation. We are slowlyjoining as a class andpictures, etc. are addedthere. I continue to thank you forthe manyemails, pictures, and kindwords. I am proud ofall thatyou do! ’81!

Jim Ratti 2860 Arbor Pointe Drive Middletown, OH 45042 (937) 760-2333

rattijm@mindspring.com http://usafa82.org

ence is thatI’ve now discovered the seductive pleasure ofpaying someone to cutmygrass! Don’tknowwhyittook me so long. I guess I’mjust a slowlearner... At anyrate, I’ve got an e-mail bag full ofnews this quarter, so let’s get started. Chuck Schweiss filled me in on the latestfrom the Blue Zoowhere he’s the AssistantChiefofIntramurals. Chucktraveled an interestingpath to land that job. Chuck’s a pilot for United who retired from the Reserves in 2000, and continued to flyforUnited. One dayin 2004 while commuting from Dulles to Denver, he sat next toTed Brewer, also a Unitedpilot andthe IMA to the Dean. Ted told Chuckabout an openingin the athletic department, recentlyvacated by Pete McCaffrey (’82/’83). Chuck came out ofretirement to jump on the opportunityandhasbeenthere foraboutfouryears. Hisboss is GeorgeNelson, a fellow Bulldawg, and Chuck says he’s a very tough boss (NOT)! Chuck gets to teach racquetball, unarmed combat, SCUBA andboxing, and also served as an assistant gymnastics coach. He runs intramurals as well as the BCT Fielddays.

9

GreetingsRedtags!

Springhas sprungin Ohio andthe grass is growing once again. The differ

Chuckpassed on names ofseveral otherRedtagswho are currently at USAFA. JeffBeene is the vice commandant and PaulAckerman is thevice superintendent. Gary Packard is a permanentprofessor, runningthe behavioral science department. Dr. Kurt Heppard is a managementprofessor, and JimmyDahlmann works in XR But more than that, Chuck has me convincedthathis familyand in-laws are about to take over thewhole game. See ifyou can followthis quote from Chuck’s letter: “Mywife, Susan (Lueken ’83), retired after20years. Her lastAir Forcejob was here at USAFA as ChiefofCadet Honor Division. She now works at home caring for our two children, Erik 16 and Sarah 14. Erik is dating General Bob Beckel’s granddaughter, Alex! Alex’s mom is Col (sel) Tish Norman (Dierlam, ’85). Tishwas mywife’s sister’s (RuthAnnThompson (Lueken, ’85) roommate in CS-37. Tish is married to Dan Norman (’89). RuthAnn’s husband, BG(S) JohnThompson, 84 (AFMC ChiefofStaff) is doing great things for theAir Force atWright Pat AFB. Lots ofincest here.” Sounds like a soap opera plot to me!

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Brian Canino wrote fromSanDiego to fill me in on thelatestfrom hisvantage point. AfterflyingCRJs forNorthwestAirlink for severalyears, Brian landed a great gigwith the DefenseAcquisitionUniversity out in Dan Diego, teaching Test & Evaluation classes to acquisition folks. Brian’s wife, Ellen, pinned on NavyCaptain about a year ago and is stationed there running the Navy regional Plant Equipment Office. Brian teaches classes for two weeks a month (sometimes TDY), and does “research” the other two. Ofcourse, that means he gets to read a lotabout ships, tanks, munitions and aircraft, as well as watch a lot ofthe MilitaryChannel and the HistoryChannel!

The Canino Clan: Ellen, Devin, Aidan, andBrian.

Brian sentthesepictures ofhisfamilyduring a skivacation theytookinMarch. Devin is A-Vi and is quite the little imp (just like her mom at her age, ifyou believe the sources). Aidan is sixand is nearly as fast as Dad on the skis. Brian says there’s something to be said for lack offear and a lowCG.

It sounds to me like Chris Broyhill also landed a primojob. As oflastNovemherhe’s the National ChiefPilotforSentientAir Group. Sentient boughtup 10 separatebusinessjetcharterand managementcompanies andis intheprocess ofconsolidating all the various operations into one single national certificate. Chris is right in themiddle ofthings, overseeingabout360jets and 1,000pilots.

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Brian andAidan Canino Skiing near Tahoe.

He’s checking out in the GulfstreamV/550 andwill soon be globetrottingagain. Chris and hiswife are living in Delawarewith theirfourchildren (14,8, and 7year-old twins). Chris says life is “happybut decidedlybusy".

As manyofyouhave probablyheard, anotherBGlist came out in March, and we had another couple winners. Bob Ranck and Craig Olson will soon be pinning on stars and moving on to new responsibilities. Newlywed Bob is currentlythe Chiefofthe ProgramIntegrationDivision, DeputyChiefofStaff for Strategic Plans & Programs at the Pentagon. Craigis theVice Commander ofAeronautical Systems Center atWright-Pat. Of course there’s no wordyet what their next postings will be.

But I was able to glean several tidbits ofinfo from e-mails passed back and forth on Mike Sinisi’s ever-growing mailing list (write to Mike at Mike_Sinisi@sra.com ifyou’d like to join). For example: Paul and Dianna Ackerly are movingback to SanAntoniowhere Paulwillbethe Director ofOps for theAir ExpeditionaryForce Center as it moves down there from Langley.

Rick“Moses” Burgess will be the Defense andAirAttache inTelAviv after enduring 16 months ofattache and Hebrew language training. So ifyou go to IsraelbetweenAug2009 and June 2012, be sure to lookhim up for a personal tour ofthe Holy Land. Who better than a guy named “Moses” to showyou around! Rick Mraz is a researcher at the Institute forDefenseAnalyses. BG(S) Sharon Dunbar is headedback to the Pentagon as theAF/AIM (Air Force Directorate ofManpower and Organization). BG Dave FadokFlorida bound to be the Director ofStrategy, Policy& Plans for Southern Command at MacDill. ColMarkBaker is thecommanderofthe 730thAirMobilitySquadron atYokota. Col RockyReiners is currentlythe Chief, ProgramBudget and Congressional Division in SAF/AQQX, but will be retiring on 26 June 08,30 years to the day fromwhen we alJreported forBCT. Peggy (Sherman) Ball is a civilian working in the USAFEJ-2 Staffat Ramstein. Carla Gammon moved there in May to be the USAFEA-1. Kim Corcoran is theVice Commanderofthe 21 st ExpeditionaryMobilityTask Force at McGuire.

Finally, I got a note from Brian Collins. He’s a newly-minted PhD on the staff ofthe NationalWar College, and he managed to turn part ofhis dissertation into a book. The title is Behind the CyberspaceVeil: The Hidden Evolution of the Air Force Officer Corps. It's full ofgraphs and data from the USAF from 1947-2003, showingchanges in the USAF and in the officer corps that explain the adoption ofthe cyberspace mission. It is designed to stimulate thought in theAF - Brian says some people mayfind parts to be provocative. Ifyou’dlike to check it out, you might consider asking your library to buy it or get it on inter-libraryloan. You can contact Brian at Collinsb@ndu.edu for more info.

Here I am again, out ofspace! Keep the news flowing, and until next quarter, besafe.Ratman

Jon Duresky

207 Knob Hill Drive

Warner Robins, GA 31088

(H) (478) 953-3141

(C) (478) 396-7787

DureskyJB@aol.com

RayBlust proudlyproclaimed in his article in last quarter’s Checkpointsthat he is still drivinghis cadet car, a one eachissue Camaro, with a challenge to find out ifanyone else is still driving said ’83-era car. You win, Ray, mymightycadet Dusteronlylasted 15 years. I do have a muchbetter ’83 era “souvenir,” (couldn’t thinkofanotherword) my“Academygirlfriend,” nowwife of25 years, Brenda. I’m sure there are a bunch of us who celebrated on 2 Jun 2008,25 years of weddedbliss. And forthosewho forgot...hey, we’re gettingold, and memory loss is bound to happen. Apologize, buythe 25 roses and some Bailey’s, turn offthe cell phone, turn on the BarryWhite CD, and thenyou finish the rest of the sentence. Anyway, congrats to all ofyou out there, celebratingyour Silver.

Okay, the sentimental mush is done, now on to the manyadventures ofour

friends. ThisyearKarolWellinggets top billing, because she sent a picture havingthe most ’83ersinit. Karol is a newly-minted Delta757/767 Captain, and to celebrate the event, she “treated almost200 family and friends to a fabulous eveningofcocktails, dinnerand dancing” in Peachtree City, GA. AndI’mthinking, why not 202? Where was my invitation? And for all ofyou out there in CheckpoiiiA-Land, didyou get an invite? Are we not allFalcons? ThewayI see it, Karol is in the red; one serious party to be thrown at the Reunion this fall. All who agree, chargeyour room service, Red Bull andvodka, andthose newdancing shoes to Karol’s credit card, which shouldhave an appropriate airline Captain no-limit! Kiddingaside, Karol, congrats, from a mere low-cost carrierFO! Rayis alwaysgood for a picture, this time documenting that scarfing down free food is not limited to Georgia, or even NorthAmerica. On a chance encounter at the breakfast buffet (freefood, I might add) on a layover in Buenos Aires, he had to fight with GeorgeCespedes, RodneySpahn, and DaveYelken forfirst in line at thewaffle iron and omelet station.. JudgingbyDave’s biceps and George and Rod’s pecs, Raylost miserably, was forced to eat cold bagels, and had to fill out the Form 0-96. Ray is already in heavy training for the rematch at the Reunion, havingput himselfthrough a self-administered PFT, andveryproud ofboth pull-ups he did! SorryRay, mymoney is on “Does the UFC/MMA circuit have an over-45 Division” Dave.

Karoland theKarol-ettes, atherDelta promotion party to 757/767Captain; freedrinksandfood + dancing-muchfun.

MitchellHallSouthAmerica: Ray, George,Rod, andDavefightingforfoodat the breakfastbuffet in BuenosAires.

FindingfreeFoodis the theme, I guess, andI’m no slouchinthatdepartment. This airline gig, 2 Vzyears now since retirement, gives me ample opportunity to scarffree meals offofclassmates. Chris Moulton was the beneficiaryofone such scarfism. Brenda, daughterKendal, and I invaded his domain at Scott AFB last Memorial Day, dragging him to a Cardinals game with us, and basicallylayingwaste to hishouse. Chris hadjust returned fromhis two-year class B tour to DyessAFB, and is currentlywarming a chair someplace atAMCHQ. His college age children are nothing like Chris. They are intelligent, goodlooking, and cultured, thanks to Bi Moulton, his wonderful wife ofonly 23 years, andbyfarthe constant in thatupbringing. Anyway, thanks, Chris, forthe AF hospitality.

John and MonicaZazworskyalso had the opportunity to get out the good china and cutlerywhen I invited myselfto their house on a layover. John was the viceWing CC at McConnell, and was dying to show offthe lap ofluxury base house theAF provides for an 0-6. Full tornado-proof basement and a hugeyard to cut, plus a govt-issued computer so he can continue to work at home afterhe leaves the office. What a deal! We drankwine and ate food, his middle school age daughter made nametags directing us where to sit, then afterdinner his kids cleared the dishes andwithout being told, went to the den to do homework! Zazworsky family for President. John’s next greatadventure—standing up the first-ever international C-17Wingin Papa, Hungary. Andyoujustthought I was kidding in about mylast 15 columns abouthim somedayrulingtheworld! So now John is re-quallingin the C-17 (piece ofcake for him, a former IP), and learningHungarian (not so easy, he claims); then the overseas PCS logistical hurdlewith a familyand two large dogs. And he mightstilltryto make it to the Reunion, so we can hear abouthis adventures firsthand, and KarolWelling can buy us all drinks as we listen in spellboundrapture.

16 Sabre Society Donors

Brad Gutierrez respondedfavorably to myemailed demand forupdates on classmates. Bradretired in2006, lastassignmentin Budapest,Hungary (yes, he was fluent in Hungarian, and Zaz isjealous!); he is currently the Sr. InternationalAdvisorforthe Ops Directorate ofthe Dept ofHomeland Security. Very impressive. Brad passes along: GeneralGaryHarencak (first star ofmanyhe will wear, count on it) is theWingCC ofthe B-2Wing atWhitemanAFB; Steve Coxis a full-time JetBlue pilot and part-time farmer in North Carolina, and Bubba Mcllwain retired in Little Rock, and is working C-130 contract issues. I had a nice chat with Eli Powell the other day. He is the hospital CC at ElmendorfAFB, and is facing the crisis of an AF doctor nearing the end ofa glorious career and living inAlaska—should he get out, practice inAnchorage and make millions, go to the lower 48 and make millions, stayin theAF and become the Surgeon General, or move to Nome and train full-time for the

Itidarod? Myresponse—we’ll discuss it further at the Reunion while Karol Welling continues to buy us all drinks.

Bob Ulich andVince Compagno (Deltapilots, both living in the ATL area) knowhowto scarffreefood, courtesyofme! They came to mydaughterKendal’s wedding in March and we all had a great time. The star ofthe reception, other than Kendal the beautiful Bride, was Vince’s daughter Rachel. That girl can dance! AndVince is prettylight on his toes, too, so they were quite a pair! And gregarious Bob was friends with everyone by the end ofthe night. Just curious—has anyone else had a son or daughter getmarried, or am I the first one? Email me ifyou have a son- or daughter-inlaw, and I’ll make sure a picturegets in the next article. Foryou facingthewedding event in the “before you know it” category, be readywith the tissues, and don’t sniffle too loudlywhen the bride and groom exchangevows! Also,weddingcake calories do not count on the beach bodydiet, so dig in!

Kendal’s WeddingReception: Three OldMen; One SmilingBigBrotherJeff; andBrenda, Kendal, andRachel Compagno thinking, “Don’thate us because we’reBeautifid!

Get those calendars out, and circle 5-8 November! Those are the days for our 25-Year Reunion andyou don’twant to be left out ofthe fun and gossip, as we attempt to turn backthe hands oftime, act like the childish cadet stillinside us, and say to ourselves the next morning—I sure hope “What happens in Colorado Springs, stays in Colorado Springs,” which is just too bad ifyou happen to live in CoS. MaybeifyouSprings-Dwellershelp out Karolwithher barbill, the rest ofus won’tpost any“compromisingpictures ofSenior Officers and Distinguished Retireeswho make Colorado Springs theirhome” onYouTube. Anyway, the schedule ofevents is on theAOG website, at USAFA.org. Point and click on the appropriate boxes for the latest info.

Time and space are up. Get out that old cadet gear, ifit still fits, to proudly wear at a party or two in November. Ifit is waaaayyytoo tight, well, still plenty oftime to trim and tone! See y’all soon!

Jon Duresky

Mike Jensen 12035 Milam Road Colorado Springs, CO 80908 (800) GO-AFA-GO

michaeljensen@remax.net www.usafa84.com

(10 Sabre Society Donors)

(Editor’s note: We did not receive an inputfrom Mikefor this issue. Please send himyour information andphotosfor the next magazine.)

Frank “Q.” Williams 13209 Topsfield Court Herndon, VA 20171 (703) 657-3227

USAFA1985@aol.com

Hi fellow ’85ers, familymembers and friends

It’s great to get back in touch with you all. I hope you are enjoying an awesome spring and looking forward to an outstanding summer.

Keith Lambert sent a beautiful Christmas card, but it arrived afterthe holidays so I didn’t get to mention anythingfrom it last time. So I’ll start with this. After being “out ofprint” for a couple ofyears, “The Lambert Ledger” came backchockedfull ofLambertfamilystories. Keith is stationed atYongsanArmy Garrison in downtown Seoul, South Korea. It’s an accompanied tour so Keith’s wife, Faye, and their son Marcus are withhim, but theirdaughterKeithastayed in the states to complete her senioryear. Keith is the Deputy Commander there, working for an ArmyBrigadier General. Keith completed a two-year

squadron commander tour in July 2006 which included two successful deployments to Iraq and a fewotherplaces. He was promoted to 0-61 May2007. After command, Keith was originally sent to Davis MonthanAFB inTucson,AZ but after 10 months was sent to South Korea. Keith saidbythe time you read this bit ofnews, he could have another assignment for summer 2008.

Mike Taylor, US Navy0-6, sent a couple more e-mails (late-Januaryandearly April) fromhis one-year assignmentin Iraq. Mike saidhelearned thatit’s really tough to be apartfromyourfamily...beyondthestandardNavysix-month tour. No doubt, those ofus withfamilies can agreethatfamilyis everything. Mikealso said that he learned howtough it is to deploy as an individual instead ofas a whole unit. Fortunatelyhe had some goodfamilyfriends to help lookafterhis familywhile he was away so theydidn’tfeelcompletelyabandoned. Mikesaidheworkedwith some awesome peoplefrom differentcountries and services duringhisyearin Iraq, buthe’s gladthathe’ll be backhome bythe timeyou read this article.

AtleastMike gotto takeleavebackin the states for awhile and got see his family during the year. Mike found out that he screened for Major Command in November while he was home on leave, and thengotword thathewillbe going to the Littoral Combat Ship Class Squadron as the deputyandthen the Commander about ayearlater. Mike said all in all, it is an excitingjob thathe is reallylookingforward to. Mike saidthefirst two LCS ships are lookinglike theywill deliver to the Navythis summer so therewill be a lotto do in terms ofgettingthem readyto operatewith the rest ofthe fleet. Mike said it’s an excitingtimeand a chance to stayinSan Diegoandhelphisboysgetsettled, especiallysinceJameswill graduate from High Schoolthis summer. Mike said he isreallylookingforward to theopportunityto spend some timewithMorgan andJames over the comingyears.

Kevin andWendyRouthier sent theirannual Easter familynewsletter. Kevin said overall, they’ve stayedbusysince last Easterwith some ofthe usual and some new events: a couple oftrips to the New River in westernVirginia (to relax and work on the caboose bunkhouse); a church campingtrip (fun fellowship with faith-filled friends and family); a fun trip to New England in Julyto visit family; a few quicktrips to college to move Caleb in; manylocal trips to finish off a house to flip (now theyjust need a buyer...the market is slow); a father-son trip to Alabama forTeenPact Challenge with Josiah (basically a Christian “boot camp” and leadership trainingtime); a familytrip in January to D.C. withWendy’s mom, dad and aunt Janice (ahomeschool field trip on steroids); and endingwith a familytrip to Florida for time at the beach withWendy’s parents and brother. They also got to visit Kevin’s sister Susan, brother Glenn, sister-in-lawAudrey, niece Elizabeth, and their cousins Bob and Kathy Linkwhile down in gator territory. On a sad note, Kevin said his father died at 80 years old. We’re sorry about that. Kevin also said their 89year-old grandmother-like neighbor died. We’re also sorry to hear about that. But on a happier note, Kevin said theyhave also enjoyed timewith the various folks thathave stoppedbyto visit them (eitherplanned,happened to be in the area, or justpassing through). The Routhiers gave an open invitation to visit them (“Ifyou are going to be near Richmond,VA, just call to see ifwe’ll be home, and we’d love to see you, too.”).

I had the privilege to attend the wedding ofJackie Charsagua and Danny Garcia on Sunday 6April 2008 in Purcellville,VA. Congratulations Jackie and Danny! It was a unique wedding and everyone had a great time. Danny works with the GlobalWalk Foundation (http://www.globalwalk.cc/).

From time to time I check in with JackAnthony’78, and one ofthe last times I called himhe’dbeen at a track meet where Del Christman had a son competing. Jacklater sent Del an e-mailwith a “cc” to me and ChedJones so we could catch up with one another.

GeorgeWeathersby sent me an e-mail with a biography attached that he found for Colonel Chevalier “Chevy” Cleaves who is now the Director of Admissions at the academy. In case you missed it, there was an article on a conference hosted bytheAdmissions office forAcademyLiaison Officers on pages 50-51 ofthe March 2008 Checkpoints. Theymention Chevyin the artide. Later, George came back from overseas for almost two weeks and we went to aWashington Nationals baseball game on 3 April 2008. It was a beautiful springday and George and I were able to enjoy the fact that, in spite of themselves, the Nat’s beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-8.

Well, that’s it for now. Until next time.. .take care. Quintel

Gary Burg

3511 Hollyberry Circle Anchorage, AK 99507 (907) 677-6050

lce492FS@yahoo.com

This is one lastwarfront correspondence fromyour part-time class scribe. Bythe time it is myturn to write the next column, I’ll be backin the good olde USA. No more trips to Kandahar, Bagram or Baghdad. Beenthere, done that, got the t-shirt.

I’ll start offwith news from thefront. I’ve twisted some arms to getfeedback butyou have to do whatyou have to do. I see Col Bill Thomas on a dailybasis. He is the A3 Director for the CAOC here at A1 Udeid. He wrote me an email (BTW, his firstfor Checkpoints), “I ran into Richard Clark as he passedthrough the CAOC in April while on his way to Multi-National Forces-Iraq. He just finished as theWG/CC at Randolph AFB. Rich Scobee, theWG/CC ofthe Reserve wing at Luke, also passedthrough the CAOC inApril andwill be TDY to OIF to beAEG/CC atKRAB. BackinJanuary,JohnHomer, DWG/CC at Kirkland, came through the Deid and stoppedbyto see me. As formyself, I finished up as theA3 Directorin the CAOC atA1Udeid this spring. I’m on thewayto be the MSG/CC at SeymourJohnson. I have two daughters in college (Radford U and ECU) and two daughtersstartinghigh school.”

The next arm I twisted was from Lt Col RickBell. Rickrecently arrived at the CAOC andworks as a Night MAAPer in the Combat Plan Division. An ironic thingis that in my currentjobposition, MAAP Chief, Rickworksfor me. I’m sure thatwon’tlastlong as Rickis a fastburnerand I’m an oldflame. I typed as Rick dictated (so who’s reallyin-charge), “In myfirst correspondence in22years, I managed to keep the same wife and have three wonderful kids, Rachel is 17, Ricky14, andWilliamis9. We’relivingthelife atLangleyAFBwhile Iwork atACC HQ afterspendingtheprevious 18yearsinthe B-52community. I’menjoyingthe mini-class reunion at the Deid. It’s amazinghowmanypeoplepass though this place. Ice isn’t that bad to workfor, considering howold he is.”

The last update from theAORbut not here atA1 Udeid is myold roommate Dave Tuck. Dave writes, “OK, OK... I am ChiefofPlans and Programs for the 380thAEW atA1 Dhafra, UAE. I have been here since January, and upon my return, will resume flyingthe friendlyskies ofUnited. Attached is a picture of me makingfriends withthe natives.” I wouldhave expected a little more from an EnglishMajorbut I’ll takewhat I can get. At least he sent a nice photo.

USNORTHCOM/J6, Peterson Air Force Base. July 2003 - June 2005, Commander, 15th Communications Squadron, HickamAir Force Base, Hawaii.

July2005 - June 2006, Student, AirWar College, MaxwellAir Force Base. July

2006 - Present, SpecialAssistant forSenior OfficerMatters, SecretaryoftheAir Force, Office ofWarfightingIntegration and ChiefInformation Officer, the Pentagon,Washington, D.C.

Myupdate fromVon Gardiner reads more like a job resume but does cut down on extra words so works for me: July 1986 - Oct 1986, student, Basic Communications-ElectronicsCourse, KeeslerAir Force Base. Oct 1986 - Sept 1990, projectleader/program manager, HeadquartersStrategicAirCommand, Strategic Communications Division, OffuttAir Force Base. Sept 1990 - March 1993, flight commander, 96th Communications Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base. March 1993 - March 1994,wingexecutive officer, 7thWing, Dyess. March 1994 - July 1997, flightcommander, 31st Combat Communications Squadron, 3d Combat Communications Group, TinkerAir Force Base. July 1997 - July 1999, action officer, Directorate ofCommunications and Information, HeadquartersAirCombat Command, LangleyAir Force Base. July 1999 - July2001, Commander, 35th Communications Squadron, MisawaAir Base, Japan.July 2001 - July2003, Chief, Future Concepts andDirector'sAction Group, NORAD-

From left are Col. (USAF,Ret) Michael Gardiner (USAFA, ’80, brother), LTC (USA, Ret) Sandy Caughlin (sister-in-law), Susan Gardiner (wife), Taylor Gardiner (daughter), Ryan Gardiner (son), and me, Col. Von Gardiner.

Heading to 8AF to be the Director ofOperations forAFNetOps this summer. Like you, being here at the Pentagon, I run into lots offolks every day--too many to recall.

Bob passed me an email he received from Bruce Way. Bruce writes, “Hope everythingis goingwellforyou andyourfamily. We had anotherbabyafterwe arrived at Minot (Nigel, 18 months) andwanted to give him a playmate - we hadn't counted on gettingthree! Melissaand thebabies are all doinggreat. In caseyou're counting, thatmakes seven7 kids- more thanthe BradyBunch. We are most definitely done. In other class news, Darren Wilson will soon be heading to USAFAto teach. Ifyou didn'tknow (andifithadn'tbeenpreviously reported) he got out oftheAir Force for a while then gotbackin afterwhat he refers to as "The Great PovertyExperiment". Shawn Flemingrecentiyretired and got ajob offerto workforFlightSafetyinTucson - - not 100% sure ifheplans to take it, but he did put an offer in on a house.

BackinDecember I received an emailwithphoto fromEdYong. Iwasn'table to addthe photo (alreadyhit mylimit ofthree) but I did want to announce his good news. Ed has a new addition to his wonderful family. Baby(Kyle) was born on 12 Dec 07 at 2005 hrs. Ed, aren’tyou getting a little too old for sleeplessnights? Hopefullyyou are back to a normal sleep patternbutthe timeyou read this.

The last update forthis edition came from Lawrence Cooper. He wrote, “I thought it's about time I gave up an update. It's been almost 10 years since I became a contractor and have been working for several DoD orgs in theWashington DC area such as the Joint StaffJ8. After a close-call at the Pentagon during 9-11,1 hiked up the BWI Expressway and spent four years at Ft Meade. Then I got a golden opportunity to work in the Defense IntelligenceAnalysis Center at Bolling -1 became part ofthe original cadre standing up the Defense Joint Intelligence Operations Center (DJIOC), the lead DoD organization for intel ops, and as a senior policyanalysthelped create their Strategyand Policyshop. But things didn't get reallyinteresting until a fewmonths ago - - DJIOC and JFCC-ISR merged into the new Defense Intelligence Operations Coordination Center. That's when USAFA gradsbeganpoppingup everywhere. I had alreadybeen running into Rich Chancellor quite a bit, but now one ofmy fellow CS-24ers, Kim Sievers (Baumann) took over the JFCC-ISR Strategy & Programs office, where we've been workingtogether on a daily basis (she's been an O6 for some time and is one ofthe senior officers at DIOCC/JFCC-ISR). My new Office Chiefis Rob Bussian, ’85 and I've been doing some workwithA1 Williams, the STRATCOM LNO for ISR. I do most ofthe space systems/ space policy here and as part ofthat function I keep running across Mary Matusiewicz who is working space requirements on Air Staff. And then it gets more interesting backwhen I was atAFSPACE, I did a lot ofworkwith Q Williams, ’85. He recentlyretired, but took a job out here with Boeing before I got the chance to recruit him. However, he hooked me up with Jackie Charsagua '85 (also a former CS-24er) and now she is workingfor my company at DISA (go to www.KeplerResearch .com). On the personal front, my wife Mary and I now have added a daughter to our family you can check us all out athttp://CoopersAtoZ.blogspot .com/. She's just turned three and my son just turned 12. Also I am the secretary for theAOG Space Group. We have a presence at http://usafaspace.tripod.com/, butyou can also find us onZoomienation.”

Bob’s got the next column so PLEASE drop him a line andlethimknowwhat youareuptoo. His email is RKASColella@cox.net or Colella, RobertAColJCS J63 [Robert.Colella@js.pentagon.mil]. Next time!

The CAOC Combat Plans Team from left are Jonathan French, ’05; Gary Burg, ’86; George German, ’93;andRickBell, ’86.

Dave Tuck in the UAE.

Ezra Vance

7320 Brixham Circle

Castle Rock, CO 80108

Home: (303) 6885431

Work: (303) 304-1287

ezravance@hotmail.com

Wings From Heaven,

I hopethis class update findsyouwell and in goodhealth and spirit. Myinput forthis edition ofCheckpoints is briefand short and I am facingthe issue that Sharonwarned me about, verylittle inputfrommyclassmates. Afterthis short article, I will not have any new update material to include in the next issue. So ifyou are readingthis andyou don’t see yourname, the names ofpeopleyouknow, or names ofanyoneyou recognize, then maybe it is time foryou to sit down and spend a fewminutes to send me an update. I recall an important lesson I learned from myfreshmenyear: I can help you but I can’t carryyou. I can getyour prettyfaces published in nationallydistributed magazine, but in order to make you famous, I need something to workwith.

Myfirstupdate comes from Kurt andMalia (Bell) Spranger. Kurt and I recentlyattended the presentation ofthe Bronze Star medal to Lt ColTraceyM. Meek. She is presentlystationed at CENTCOM in the Joint Security Directorate. Tracey was awarded the Bronze Star medal for exceptionally meritorious service as Commander, Provincial ReconstructionTeam (PRT) Gardez, CombinedJointTaskForce-82, International SecurityAssistance Force, ForwardOperatingBase Gardez,Afghanistan, in support ofOEF. Congratulations toTraceyforthis outstandingachievementandrecognition. The citationthat accompanies the award speaksveryhighlyofherleadership andresolute decision makingunder tremendous pressure. I am certain thatTracey’sfamilyis extremelyproud ofherand as we are all as one ofour own is recognizedformakingsuch an outstandingcontribution to our country. The photo is ofTraceywith herfamilyshortly after receiving the Bronze Star.

Nicole (Berry)

who should be recognized for starting the trend ofshowing us howyou are using your class coozy that we received at the reunion. I thinkthis will generate a lot ofinterest and some great stories too. Thanks for the photo Chris; next time why not include a little update about yourselfandyour wife.

On a closingnote, I want send out a greatbigcongratulations to myformer roommate and friend. Earlier this year, Eric Boe learned that he would be takinghis first ride into space pilotingthe Space Shuttle Endeavour. Eric was selected as a pilotbyNASA in July 2000. Eric reported to the Johnson Space Center inAugust2000. Following the completion oftwo years oftraining and evaluation, he was assigned technical dutiesintheAstronaut OfficeAdvanced VehiclesBranch and Station Operations Branch. He next served as Director of Operations, Russia. Eric is assigned as pilot on STS-126 targeted forlaunch in October, 2008. Endeavourwill carry a reusable logistics module thatwill hold supplies and equipment,includingadditional crew quarters, a second treadmill, equipmentforthe regenerativelife supportsystem and sparehardware. A group ofus are planning a trip to watch Ericslip the surlybonds ofearth and flingin his eagercraftthroughfootless halls ofair. Eric, mayGodblessyouand protectyoumyfriend. You have never ceased to amaze me. I am in awe ofwho you are andwhoyou have become. I hope to hearfrom more ofyou and until next time, CheckYour Six.

Mark Peters

2437 Bedford Circle Bedford, TX 76021-1823 (817) 937-9696 pylt@yahoo.com

Greetings ’88!

I’m ever so slighdy over the word limit, so let’s dive in. Joe Mazur sent an email with a list ofhis recent travels. “Ijust returned from a 2+ week trip to complete an assessmentoftheECONSintheCENTAFAORlooking atwhether there were anyindications ofcontracting fraud similar to whattheArmyhas experienced in Kuwait and Iraq. The good news is that it looks like we're doing a goodjob with our contracting—the bad news is that I didn't mn into too manygrads!” Joe also sent along a picture from his wedding and recent retirement. “I'm on terminal leave prior to retirement inJune. I'll be leaving theAir Staffandjoining Orbital Sciences Corp in DullesVA as a Director of Business Development for theirAdvanced Space Group. I actually start on April 28th. Kevin Missarwill be retiringin Septemberfrom the National Reconnaissance Office'sAdvanced System's andTechnologyDirectorate and will be staying in the NorthernVirginia area. I received an email from Steve Nessmiller, andhe indicatedthathe is also lookingfor a post-retirementjob in the area, he's currentlyworking at the Space & Missile Systems Center.”

BradBurchett sentinthis photo ofseven ’87erswho were inattendance at the Department ofAstronautics 50thanniversarydinnerheld in March at Doolittle Hall. This has to be the best showing ofany alumni class. From left are Kirk Emig, who is currently at Nellis, Chito Parongwho iswithAnalyticalGraphics Incoporated, Elsa Bruno who is a consultant/contractor with theAstro Department SSRC in SpaceSystemsEngineering, L.C. Coffeywho is the USAFA 2nd GroupAOC, Mike Bettnerwho is an instructorin theAstro Dept, andwill be soon heading to McGuire to flythe C- 17, Brad Burchett who is theVisiting professorthis semester inAstro, andAlexGiczywho is the CommanderofDet 7, Edwards Research Site, AFRL.

Chris Simpson sent me this shortlittle note andphoto ofNicole (Berry) Miller. “Like so manypeopleexperienced, mywife (Roxy) and I had an absoluteblast atthereunion. Itmade me rememberjustwhat a qualityclass we have - - a class made ofsuper people. On that note, I'm forwarding a photo ofmysquadron

mate,

Miller,

Dave Hollenbach also sent in the photo taken at the reunion. Bottom Row: RoeJones,JoshAuzenne, LarryGraham, David Hollenbach, andBalanAyyar.

Top Row: Eric Kreul, Joe Holmes, Eddie Kostelnik, and Scott Reynolds.

“The photo is from mywedding in LasVegas in September, 2006. From left are JeffBanks (89),TracyLorenz (Healy) (96), Bill Dains (00), mywife Ives and me, JeffCyr (88), Todd Tofaute (88), Don Raines (86), Kevin Missar (88), Chris Dawson (92), Troy Giese (93), and Jo Anne Pinney (88).”

Gary Olson also dropped me a short note. “Along, long time since we last spoke; cannotbelieve we are comingup on 20years! As a lifetime member now withAOG I’m finallygettingCheckpoints and updates. Thanks for sharing where folks are. I just attended 25-year retirement ceremonylastweekfor a verygoodfriendwithwhom I served on manyglobaldeployments, and I also connected with some ’89 friends who ran in the same circle at Ft. Belvoir. I definitelyplan on attending our 20th reunion; planning on bringingfamily, wife (Susan), andthree daughters. I have not been back to the Springs since a cross country in ’89 from Reese AFB.” Gary can be reached at: gary.olson @sun.com.

Here’s a photo and blurb sent courtesy ofJo Anne Pinney.

“HowproudAnne (Parker) Krause and I were to be therewhenVan Ovost tookcommand ofthe 12th FTW at Randolph! Here we are withJackie and her husband, Alan, after the ceremony. Canyou believe that her ‘hot line’ was ringing while she was in the receiving line? What a far cry from CCQ duty! Thoughtyou'd be as proud as we are of our fellow Bulldawg. I received a retirement invitation from Phil Cole out at Nellis who retired in February. I was sorry I had to miss the Caribbean-themed shindig that he and his wife, Donna, put together. I also received a retirement invitation from John Macdonald at Moffett Field. He retired inApril and he and his familyplan on moving back to Colorado after he retires.”

Kip Turain checked in recently. “Hope all is well with you. Last night we attended Cori (Mosier) Culver's Retirement Cocktail Party in DC. She is heading to Arizona to be with her hubby, Curt, and plans to enter nursing school. Mary (Noehl) Boucher emceed the event (as any good former roommate would!) and shared some entertaining stories about cadet dayswith Cori. Also able to attend was Kevin Berkompaswho returned that afternoon from a trip to Hungary. Kevinworks in SAF/IA and enjoys thejob, buthis eyes lit up when he startedtalking about the fact thathiswife is expecting in May! I've run into Tim Budd around the Pentagon too as he works at Joint Staff. I always enjoy catchingup with myroommate, Dave (andwife, Desiree) Argyle. Theylive in NewJerseyandwhen not attendingtheirtwo kids’ events Dave fliesforSouthwest, as well as the KC-10 Reserve unit at McGuire. Prettycool to followFrank Schmuck as helaunches into local politics in the Phoenix area. I alwayswished I hadhis energy—bestofluckFrank! I've been at theAir Staffsince last summer, in Personnel, working rated force issues. Wejust found out we are heading to TravisAFB sometime soon. Based on myperformance, I imagine the Personnelworldwillwithhold anyversion ofa Personnelist’ badge I maybe eligible for! We've been atTravis twice before and lookingforward to getting backinto the flyingworld. JeffHunt e-mailed from halfwayaround the world to solicit help in working our class 20-year reunion gift. A thanks to Buster Stamper in advance forallhe is doingforthe reunion, beingstationed in Colorado Springs,

too. Should be fun and I hope many ofus are able to attend.” In a follow-up email Kip advised, “Have also had the pleasureoftalkingto/seeingMike Plehn onVTCs. He is at Cannon dealing with the transfer ofthe base from ACC to AFSOC. I imagine he is one busyhombre, but always a pleasantdisposition!” Kip can be found at: ruftrain@aol.com.

Brendan Mikus sent an update; his contact info is at the end. “Well, there have been many changes in the Mikus Familysince we last communicated over two years ago. I am still handicapped from the accident almost fiveyears ago now, but I also have custodyofmy son, Uriah! Yipeee! We moved here to Colorado last year, and settled near my family, with parents up the road in Canon City, and lots ofaunts, cousins, etc. here in the Pueblo area. He and I are temporarily‘batching’ here in our own rented placewaiting on Medicaid and other services. Man, being dual handicapped is TOUGH! There reallyisn't much help out there for us, at least nothing faster than other families have to go through. I would love a job, ifanyone in a boss position has an opening! About $42k a yearwould be an OKstart, but I'veworked for$50kand that is better! I tried teaching at a school for troubled ‘youts’ in Canon City, but that didn't work out. So ifanyone needs a brilliant historian with teachingexperience, combat service, with a brownie point forhiring a gimp, CALL ME! I ran into fewer and fewerpeople at Dyess before I left. One ofthe last was Buster, and I saw in the March Checkpointsheisthe reunionboss, so I gave him a call from theblue. One benefit ofmypresentsituation is that I can spend lots oftime getting my son Uriah included into his third-grade class room. I now have lots ofspecial education experience and I am going to be ruthless in pursuit ofhis education. He's a verybrightkid,justpenned up in an uncooperative body. Being a dualhandicappedfamilyhas its benefits,though I can't thinkofanyright now. Myyoungerbrothers are still doingwell. Brian is boss ofthe 7th MUNS down inTexas at Dyess. He's reallydoingwell, though baldness looks better on me! Shannon is offteaching Saudis about C-130 Maintenance for a while. It's actually a goodposting, as he works with the big rank over there. I am reallyproud ofboth ofthem.

“Here's a picture ofUriah and me at myparent'shouse last Christmas. Well, we're getting older, can'twait to see all ofus!” Brendan “Bull” Mikus can be reached at: brendanmikus@hotmail.com.

Be sure to put the reunion on your calendar (12-15 November)! Buster Stamper is lookingforReunion Reps forthe followingsquadrons: 4,8,11,17, and 38, and additionalvolunteers to workschedule/activities, child care, golf and a ski/ride trip (ifthere’s enough interest). Lastly, Rich Frampton has a great ideafor a reunion magazine andwould appreciateyourhelp (and adverrisingdollars); contact him through Buster at: stampers6@msn.com.

Paul W. Tibbets, IV

PSC 80, Box 76

AP0 AE, 09702

Home: 011-32-2-251-2772

E-mail: p2a2@skynet.be

Class web site: http://www usafaclasses.org/1989/

6

Sabre Society Donors

Greetings classmates! As mentionedthe last coupleissues, we continue forwardwiththe fundraisingfor our 20th reunion class giftproject. And manyof you have alreadybeenvery generous! Calling is now complete and we have raised approximately $100,000 of our $150,000 goal, or nearly70%. On behalfofall the class officers we deeplyappreciate all those who have made the decision to support and pledgegifts, showingin a smallwaywhat a class can do for the USAFAthat did so much for us. Money will go towards our Heritage Trail plot where we will honor Kevin Shea, pavers for all our fallen classmates and several cadet programs. Please send inyourpledges as soon as possible as thework on the bust for Kevin cannot begin until the funds are received. Also, thiswould be a good time to call otherclassmatesyou knowand encourage them to give. For those still consideringwhether or not to give, we needyourhelp! Please consider contributing to this veryworthy

cause. Additionally, manyofour parents have donated to cadet programs in the past and would give to our class gift fund ifthey were aware of it. Let’s spread the word!! More information can be found at our class web site listed at the beginning ofthis article, or you can contact our class gift POC, MajAlex “Gonzo” Gonzalez-Rojasatgonzo5insp@hotmail.com. We lookforward to a great reunion! On to the news.

Gil Petrina dropped us a line fromVirginia where he still enjoys living in Williamsburg with his wife, Carolyn, and daughterKelley. Gil bumped into Mark Swentkofskewhile in SanAntonio and sees Frank Souza every once in awhile in the halls ofACC. He recently spoke to his roommate, Jim Breck, who is having fun as the DO ofaV-22 squadron at Kirkland. Thanks Gil!

GilandKelleyenjoyingthefall in Williamsburg.

I am workingwith a couple ’89 grads here at NATO. Ryan Smith is in charge ofNuclear Policy for the US MilitaryDelegation and having fun in Belgium withhiswife, Kelli (Owen), and daughterLauren. John Shapland is across the hall in the US Mission as the executive assistance to the defense advisor and also enjoying his time overseas withwife, Laura. TheTibbets family is having a greattime in Europe andtryingto take advantage ofthis opportunityto travel!

Avery, Paul, Angelle and Paul enjoy a walk between cities on the Cinque Terre trail on the western coast ofItaly.

Hold on to your seats.. .two ofour classmates are retired! DougMalone, finishing up his time in Germany, and Gonzo, our class gift POC, both received theircommissarypinsrecentlyand are readyingforcivilian life! I will pass along more info and a photofrom MugsyMalone’s retirementinttie nextissue. Gonzo hasbeenhired toworkat FlightSafetyInternational inSanAntoniowhere hewill teach militarypilots to flythe C-26 Metroliner. Congrats to youboth!

That’s a wrap for this quarter. On a side note, we are trying to expand our classweb site, so please send some photos and short comments on your activities to our web master, Scott Shinberg, at scott.shinberg@gmail.com. We will post these on the Class History section. Bestwishes to you andyourfamilies. Take care and God bless.

James Sanchez

8301 Emerald Circle

North Richland Hills, TX 76180

Cell: (817) 881-6357

Web: WWW.USAFA90.COM alohatiger@gmail.com

Bugadojust moved to Doverwhere he’s the DeputyMission Support

This time we don’thave manyupdates - - NormallyI askfor Checkpointsupdates about a week before they’re due, but I forgot this time sorry about that. I’m almost 40 years old and mymemory is failing.

The other issue on my plate concerns the Paul Comeau memorial. So farwe’re looking at the idea ofdonatingmoney and doingsomething for the USAFAGymnasticsTeam. My idea is to create a travel endowment for the team. The way endowments typicallyworkis that as a class we first raiseX dollars. We then asktheAOG to manage the endowment and theygrant 5% of the endowment amount everyyearforever. I maybewrong on the details, but this is generally correct, and I think the “Paul Comeau Memorial Travel Endowment” has a nice ring to it. Please let me knowwhat you think.

In other news, the eDodo just celebrated its 10th anniversary. Ten years of immature, occasionallyhumorousweb comics (and we justgot blocked at the Academyagain). That’s the same as 70 in web-site years...

Carson Tavenner

6828 Raccoon Court Waldorf, MD 20603

(202) 231-2484

DSN: (312) 428-2484

Home: (301) 374-2752 tavenner@hotmail.com

DearBoldGold, myhowtimeflies. Iwouldlove to sitandpontificate andtake time to go over allthe mailyouhave sent me. But I’mgoingto havewrite thislike an e-mail fromworkandkeep it short. This pastMonday, I had the pleasure of lunch with some ofour classmates in Roselyn. Karen Stoffrecentlyreturned formAfghanistan. She was workingwith Armylogisticians trying to explain to them that, “No, you can’tjusthave all the air-to - ground missiles you want. Funnything, Karen was workingwith some limitedsupplyissues. We’regladshe’sback; nextitem on heragendais to takeup commandwiththelogistics readiness Squadron at RamsteinAFB, Germany. Also at the lunch were Steph Brinley, Kevin Kennelly, and Diane Higginbothem. Diane helped set up the lunchwhich was a greathelpespeciallygiventhatsheonly now comes in on Mondayswithher reservejob. SheandGaryliveup near Manassas, I believe, where they are enjoying life with their three children. Most ofthe lunch conversation seem to center aroundthe idea (andthefact) that we haveall become or started to looklike those officersthatwe once as cadetsthoughtwere so old. Well, I sure don’tfeel old!

I have also recently been in touch with Lynn Gawell: she is enjoying life at Wright-Pattwithhervarious programsand responsibilities. Here inthe DIAHQ buildingwith me is FarrisElnasserwhoworks on projects... I can’ttellyouabout, buthe and I have enjoyed each others’ companyrecently over a fewlunches. I hopethatmanyofyou are doingthe same. Seems likewheneverwe visitwe find that we are all encouraged or frustrated bythe same things. Manyapologies to those I have neglected to mentionhere. No time left! See you next time Carson

LtCol TexHennigan, Gonzo and Lt Col PatBurke atari Inter-AmericanAir ForcesAcademyceremony.

Doug

Group commander.

Steve Platt: Mini-Mighty ’90 reunion while at Kunsan. I am deployedwith the 79 FSTigers from Shaw. From left in the photo are me "Curse", Tom "Cy" Klopotek, Shane"Spam" Riza and Beach"Slap" Curtis. We are wearing the traditional Korean Fighterpilotgarb the party suit.

James S. Mehta

3802 Elbert Ave.

Alexandria, VA 22305

(703) 697-4511; DSN: 227-4511

james.mehta@ogn.af.mil

jamesmehta@pentagon.af.mil

jamesmehta@earthlink.net

True Blue '92! Great news, I have heard from a lot ofyou this time, so you don't have to readmycreative attempts to fill space. I guessmypleas have not fallen on deafears so I will getright to it or I will run out ofspace. Alongwith the e-mails, I have run into a lot ofyou here and there. Pentagonsightings. I continue to run into classmates in and around the Pentagon. I regularly seeTodd McDowell in AFCYBERplanningmeetings. Todd started out inAFOSI and then gothis lawdegree and is currendy inAF/JA. Also, I recendygotthat“Hey, I knowthatguy!”feelingwalkingbackto myofficeafter a meeting. JohnBostwickwas heredoing some ReservetimeinSAF/AQ. Unfortunately, it was hislastdayand hewas headinghome to hisreallife so we didn'thave a chance to have lunchtogether. In his reallife, he is a program managerfor Rockwell Collins in Iowaworkinggovernment contracts. He and his family are doinggreatin Iowaand he gets to come out to DCperiodicallyforhis Reserve duty—so he's gotthe best ofbothworlds.

The Inbox. Sean Lawler sent me an emailfromNewJerseywhere heisworkinghard as a SpecialAgentforthe DEAin the NewJerseyDivision. Sean separated from active dutythree years ago and went through the DEAAcademy at Quantico. He has been enjoyinginvestigatinghigh-leveldrugtrafficking organizations and is hoping to be flyingfull-timewith the DEA’sAviation Division in a fewyears. Sean sees Cris FerrisprettyregularlywhenCris isflyingKC1Os in the Reserves at McGuireAFB. Sean also passedalongthat MattTerpstra is currendystationed at a NATO base in GermanyflyingJSTARS andTomRice is living in Delaware and working for a large financial firm.

Anotherlongtimewriter. Mike Rokawis still livingthe good life out in LA. It seems like he's on his fourth or fifth tour out there... Actually, Mike was just selected for command and took command ofthe Offensive Counterspace Squadron in March. He’s enjoying command and it goes without saying, that he enjoys LA. Angelaand the kids (Sophiaand Sammy) are enjoyingthe warm weatherandthebeach. Mike always sends alongupdates on others, too. Dave Rademacher, Tom Holler, and Jay Shueler have formed a “rogue AF unit in Memphis, TN” flying for FedEx. They all live within a block ofeach other, which should scare the rest ofthe neighborhood.

Followup from previous columns. In a pastarticle, I mentioned Steve and StephWhyte and theworkthey are doing in the ministrytheystarted—APlace Called Home (www.apchm.org)—to help support and mentor exceptional foster and adoptive parents. Theyhave clearlylived their ministry and have welcomed many children into their family. Their family size fluctuates, but most recendytheyhad nine children!

Weddingbells. InApril, MarkSlocumtiedthe knotwithXavi in the National Cathedral inWashington DC. It was an amazing ceremony in such a grand church and was verywell attendedbymanyfamilyandfriends. Everyone had a greattime at thereception at theveryclassy701 Restaurantin the Penn Quarter ofDC. There were manyfamiliar ’92 facesthere to celebratewiththe happy couple. Jim "Meegs" Megerdroveup fromLangleyAFB where heis the 1st OSS commander. Craig“Kegger” Wenz and his wife, Rose, came down from New Jerseywhere Kegger flies forJet Blue and is a Reservist at McGuire AFB. Jim Mueller is here in the Pentagon at SAF/IA. KenNotariisontheJCS. Paul Knapp, Kristin Struekins, Glen Brunner, and MikeWaggle also attended.

More '92 in command. There are number ofclassmates now in command of squadrons across the AF. Rob “Blend’r” Novotny sent me news on some new fightersquadron commanders. Rob recentlytookcommandofthe 67th FighterSquadron at KadenaAB. The67thisanF-15Csquadron. Chuck“Corky" Corcoranis theCommanderofthe525thFighterSquadron (F-22) at Elmendorf AFB. Lance Gipper” Bunchtookcommand ofthe335th FighterSquadron (F15E) atSeymour-JohnsonAFB, and Derek“Trapper” France took command ofthe43rd FighterSquadron (F-22) atTyndallAFB.

'92 DesertDwellers. Dean Boerrigter sent me an update from the CAOC at A1 UdeidAB where he is working in Strat Ops closelywith Rich “Knuckles” Flake. Dean is on anAEF1-2 rotation and Richis finishing up a one-year tour and readyto return to RandolphAFB. Phil Limbacher is also there on a oneyear. Lisa (Horton) Stephenson also finished a tour at the CAOC recently.

Orlando Acosta is at MacDill and was at A1 Udeid for a short exercise. Lyle Shidlafinished some time atthe CAOC as a Minnesotaguardsman. Fred Bravo and Mark Hersant are at A1 Udeid on AEF 1-2 with Fred flying C-21s from AndrewsAFB and Markflying C-130s at Little RockAFB.

Indiaadventure. I don'tthinkI've mentioned Dave Sutton in a while. Dave, Shannon, and theirkids, Donovan and Lydia, are finishingtheir tour in New Delhi, Indiawheretheyhavebeen stationed. Theyhave an awesome blogthat has detailed theironce-in-a-lifetime adventures and travels all over Indiaand

Asia. Unfortunately, their adventure is coming to an end and the Suttons are headed back to DC this summer where Dave will be on the JCS.

I hope this column finds you all healthy and prosperous. I know ’92 will continue to do greatthings out therewhether itbe in theAF or in otherendeavors. Don't forget to take a moment to stop and appreciate what you have and the impactyou are making. Oh, and take a minute to write andtell me aboutit, too. And, just in case you are feeling too good aboutyourself, realize that our graduation was a distant 16 years away! Thatwill makeyou feel a little older. Take care and I'll conclude the way I started: True Blue ’92. James.

Michael D. Sundsted

1805 Macadams Place

Alexandria, VA 22308 (240) 338-9839

iHtMichael.sundsted@afncr.af.mil

Class Website: www.highflight.com

Greetings’93! Hopeyour summer isbeginningnicely. I am continuingto thoroughlyenjoymyassignmentatAndrews. Alexandria, DC andthePotomacRiver are greatplaces to be! Lori andCollin are doinggreatand we justgotbackfrom a nicevacation atMartha’sVineyard. What aplace—Ihighly recommend it! Thanks forgivingthegreatupdates thatfollow as well as givingmeyouremailandaddresses. I stillneedthosethat haven’tupdatedtheiremailaddresswith me inawhile to do so. I am preparing a database forthe20-year reunion... on to the news...

ChrisWilson checks in fromtheTidewater area ofVirginia. Chrishaskeptbusyoutsidethe cockpitworkingtwo2 years in TACCandthenayear atASAM. HeattendedwithRandyHuiss, Brandon Hileman, Pat Schlichenmeyer, andAaron Gittner. Chris nowworks in theJ33 atJFCOM at NorfolkNS,VA (Force ProviderforthePacific/WestemHemisphere andalsotheleadforAirpowerGFM issues). He and his family (wife, Ora, andAinsley, Hunter, Kyle and Collin) are thoroughlyenjoyingthe area. Chris also sees BrentMesquitatthegymjustabout everyday. Brentis working over at NATOACT.

Gil BarrerawritesfromsunnySanAntonio, TX. He separatedfromactive duty in2001 completedManagementTrainingProgramforRylandHomes inSanAntonio, TX. He is currently a PurchasingAgentinSanAntonio forRylandHomes.

Don Cloudandfamilysend a 15-yearupdate. DonhasbeenstationedatKeesler, Scott, OfFutt (STRATCOM), Langley, OsanAB Korea, Hickarn, Naval Postgraduate School (Monterey, CA), and nowUSJFCOM (whew!). Alongtheway, he was married to his wife, Tina, and theyhave two kids, Bailee and Caleb. At Naval Postgraduate School, Don ran into a bunch of 93 grads: Matt Benivegna, Clint Mixon, JasonBock, Paul Geehreng, Paul Flibbard, andAliTrevino (Ward) Don says that gettingpaid to get a Master's was a great deal

made even betterby going to class four out offive days a week in civvies. Before that, we were at Hickarn, where I got toworkwithseveralUSAFAgrads on thePACAFstaff- Doug Gilpin, Ed Riggleman,TammyTrychon. Donandfamilyare currentlyenjoying their new house in Hampton Roads and he’s settlingin to his new position as JointTrainingDevelopment Officer. Thanksforthe update Don!

Will Thomas reports from Dallas, TXwhere heworks as an investment brokerworkingwith a team offive people. His family offive is doingwell. Thanks forthe update! Another quick update comes from Paul Trujillo, wife, Christie and kids Zachary, Katie and Jacob. They are doing well and enjoying life in Hawaii. Paul is stationed at Hickarnwhere heworks at the 613 AOC/AMD. (Seephoto at top ofnext page.)

Chris Korgerchecksin fromPeoria, ILwhereheis currently anALO forUSAFA and also flieswith SouthwestAirlines! Just afterheleftactive dutyhe did a fouryear tour with the PeoriaANGflyingC- 130s. Hiswife,Tracy, is also a pilot in the Guard andtheyhave a one-year-olddaughternamed Faith. Ifyou are “moving

Don Cloudandfamilylookingsharp!

PaulTrujillo, Christie,Zach, Katie andJacob about the cabin” and hear that Korger isyourpilot on the LUVairlines make sure you sayhello!

Dan Ganoza updates us from Colorado where he works as an Air Mobility Liason Officerwith theArmy at Fort Carson. He misses theAF, but this gives himthe opportunityto live in Colorado. Be safe on the deployments andmake sure youhit some USAFASportsvenues! Last time I saw Dan he was in Keflavik, Iceland!! Stayingin cold places is a must for Dan!

Ali [Ward) Trevino justgraduated from Naval Postgraduate School in December alongwith Jason Bock and Don Cloud. While in Monterey, she was blessed to hang outwith one ofour number one doctors, AnneTruitt. She said that school seemed to getinthewayofsocializing, but I’m quite confident that theyhad TOO much frin! They did get to explore San Francisco and Puerta Vallartabefore theyleft the area. Anne is in Irvine CA andjusttookthe Dermatologyboards, so she's enjoyingthe California sun for us and reapingthe benefits from all the sun-damaged beach goers.

Ali and HubbyRay drove with their 13-year-old cat, Levi, across country to ScottAFB. Instead ofsigningin there, she drove to NorfolkVAandstartedJPME Phase II.After 10 weeks ofCOADevelopment andwinning thevolleyball tournament (no softball in thewinter), she drove back to Scott and signed into my new unit at USTRANSCOM she'll be working in the J5/4 workinglogistics and distribution initiatives.

He has already run into Dave Cutter (he's the ChiefofStaff s Exec, so barely gets to eatlunch, let alone breakfree fromthethird deck) and Dawn Lancaster (Harrington) - she'stheServicesCC and moves to Ramsteinthis summerto take CC again ofthelargest Services Sqin theAE Thanks forthefantasticupdate!

RodOwens updates us from hisposition atNorthrop Grumman/TASCinthe launch office puttingclassifiedpayloads into space... what a blast! (okay, nice pun...) He has two beautifullittle girls (Madison (3) and Megan (1). Hewillbe marriedfor seven yearsinAug08! Enoughabouthimhesays... Hehungoutwith Glen Guyton who is now ayouthpastorforhis church in Hampton Roads,VA. Rod also spokewithAlexArmourwho is also in the DC, NorthernVA, MD area and owns his own business. Rodbumpedinto MarkCozadin the DullesAirport and he'sworkingfor DIA. He also spokewithJayWilliams who is still downin AtlantaworkingwithLUCAS Recruiting, andMikeMarcouxjustmovedbackto Denverworkingwith Northrop Grumman. Brian Poole is living in Oakland workingforChevron as one oftheirhead attorneys, andAdrienne Byrdsongis in North Carolina working for KB Homes as an attorney, and finally Roscoe Moore isworkingforhis own companybuildingsatellites.

Rich Parrotte sends a quickupdate fromTravis and says all iswell. He had to opportunity to heatTravis to beverages ofchoice athis promotionselectparty. AlsotherewereAndySellberg,MannyCanino, ScottNishwitzandJeffSeminaro.

WAlexMezynski checks in from sunnyLisbon, Portugalwhile on a NATO staff tour. Ifyou'vegottapush paper, it's a greatlocationthat’s a greatplace to do it! Hiswife and two year old daughter are enjoyingthe assignment as well. Even though it's a greatassignment, he’s lookingforward to going back to flying B2s after this tour.

I have a lot more updates, but due to space I’mlimited. I’ll save them for next time, butI’ll probablyhave lots more updatesbythen...right? Everyone have a safe summer. Mike!

C.C. M. Masotti

PSC 116, Box 215

APO AE 09777

W: +33-1-43-12-26-69 or 202-536-2780, 1 (for English) X2669

Cell: +33-1 6-25-74-69-13

cc.masotti@yahoo.com

Bonjour, ’94! Lots to report, so I’ll get right to it...

JustafterI sent offthelatest columnforpublishing, I got a great, newsye-mail from RoelZamora (ROTC Instructor, Sacramento State). He hadjustfinished the MBAprogram at NavalPostgraduate School (NPS—Monterey) in Decernherwithinitialplans to be an MXsquadronCC at Beale, butthings were changed at the last minute so he could getproper medical support for his son Jacob’s diagnosed autism. With Sacramento hosting one ofthe best treatment centers in the nation, and the universityin great need ofa fantastic instructor, it became a great fit for everyone and a blessing for the Zamora family, which includes Roel, Gloria and twins Jacob andAnna. Speaking oftwins, they apparently run in the Zamora family, as Roel’s twin Randy, USN, Notre Dame ROTC, '94, recentlyfinished last year’sACSC class (after originallybeing scheduled for NPS while RoelthoughtHEwouldgo to Maxwell!). Anyway,Randy was able to giveregularupdates on Roel’s friends andformer Tiger 10 alums like DaymenTiffany, Dave Chace and Dave Mineau (also a former Bullpup from CS-13!), among other grads from ’91-94. Though he wouldhave enjoyedbeing stationedwith his brother and classmates, Roel is pretty sure Montereywas the better end ofthe deallocation-wise. It was espedailygood for them their last three months there when his pal Greg Nowak (also Tiger 10, outgoing Security Forces SQ/CC from Sheppard) moved to town with his rideAmyand daughterKaidyn. The Nowaks andZamoras spent several Sundaystogetherwatchingfootball, going to the beach, orjusthanging out. Andjust afterChristmas, the Nowakswelcomedtheirsecond daughter, Haley. Bigbaseballfans, Gregand Roel are planning a "pilgrimage" to New YorkCityinJune to see a couple ofgames inYankee Stadium before theyopen up their new ballpark nextyear.

TheNowaks andZamoras

Roel also keeps in touchwith fellowTiger 10-er, Lee Mitchell, who has been mnninghis own financialplanningbusinessin Mississippi for a fewyears and is enjoying life as a family man with his brideTerri and their sons, Will and John, approximately 9 and 8, respectively. Lee keeps up with "the Daves" of Tiger 10, Dave "Yams"Williams (anotherBullpup!) and Dave Mineau. Yams is

LtCol (sel)AndySellberg, RichParrotte, ScottNishwitz, MannyCanino, and JeffSeminaro (’91).

Deb (Reuther) McCay, Sean and baby Christian.

flying for SouthwestAirlines out ofFlorida and also flies with the Reserves in Columbus, MS. At last report, Dave Mineau was attending SAAS at Maxwell and, as usual, generallyexcelling at everythinghe does.

Speaking ofexcelling, Nick Kozdras wrote to share he had, after a varietyof classes in Germanyfocusing on the German language, history and culture, finished an Associates Degree in German Studies with plans to continue on with a follow-on degree in International Relations.

Anotherstudent in our midst, albeitfull-time, at this point, is Deb (Reuther) McCay, (seefamilyphoto on previous page) who is at ArmyCGSC with Sean and baby Christian and reallyenjoying life. Christian recendyturned one, is walking,signing,sproutingteeth, andsaying“Mama” like a champ! Aftergraduation 13 June, the McCayswill head to theJointStaff/J2—Iimagine DCwillbe quite a bit of a culture change from Kansas!

Also with Deb at Leavenworth are our classmates Lance Whitfill, Melanie (McKillip) Lewis, TonyRetka, and JeffJohnson, alongwith '95-ers NickMartin, Shawn Cochran, Gerry Donahue, Joe Morgan, Tim Gillaspie, Joshua Hetsko, Jon Rhone, and Seth Frank. They’repictured in the photo along with two non-grads, Mark Murray and Bill Lynch, who slipped into the picture. Congrats to all ofyou and best ofluckwithyour next assignments!

On the subject of congratulations, a certain Naval officer seems to have snagged the heart of our very own Amy DiGiovanni (also now in the Navy, in case you’veforgotten); the two will marryinAugust. Bestwishes to you both!

ChuckMcGregor: I’vereallyenjoyeditfrom an OIF standpoint, butI'mlooking forward to getting home and back to the family. My son is tearing up his elementaryschool, so a little extra help when I get home in Julywill be good... I'm the Team Leader in an embedded MilitaryTransitionTeam with the Iraqi Army (IA).Wejustcompleted combat ops in the Diyala Provincewhere our IA battalionworked to clearA1 Qaeda in Iraq andJaesh al Mahdi insurgents.We thenworked to diffuse tribal tensions and establishlocal securityand control. It was challenging to train the IAup andthen operatealongside ofthem. These guys can stand on their own andseeingthem growto thispoint was rewarding. Attached is a pic ofmy IA battalion commander LtCol Mohammed and I - he is a great leader and valued the Marines and Coalition support we receivedwhich included fixed wing CAS - Thanks guys!

I have nowrackedup more than22 differentovernightguests (some repeats) in thefourmonths I’ve been in the apartment—and that doesn’t count parties and receptions and such either! But I love it andyou’re more thanwelcome to come visit ifyourtravels allowand dates aren’t alreadybooked! And, as far as workinglonghours goes, it’s still Paris so, despitewalking out super late last night, I got to see the EiffelTower sparkle (it does so for 10 minutes everyhour on thehour), which kind ofmade it all okay! So, no complaints from myend...

I hopeyou’re all doing well and that 2008 is a year ofmany blessings and happinessforyou andyours. Take care and God Bless!! C.C.

R. Travis Koch

5304 Sports Club Lane

Suffolk, VA 23435

Home: (757) 686-2607

Cell: (850) 499-8242

richard.koch@langley.af.mil

traviskoch@yahoo.com

Muchas Gracias: Thanks Buck and Jamie forwriting the past two issues. I appreciate the help and lookforward to hearing more fromyou guys nextyear. SexyRexyBallinger (proud papa ofZane “Trey” Ballinger) will be doctoring up the next issue and among the four ofus, we should have a decent rotation. Ifanyone wants to jot down about 1200 words and sendthree pictures, feel free to zap me an update andwe’ll throw ’em in. I should be getting some help here at Langley soon as Sam Mann will be showing up in June to workwith me at ACC. He and Suzanne have three kidswho will forget what Dad looks like once he arrives. I KID! You might not remember Sam but he marchedwith mybuddy, Oz Medley (who sent me a letter.. .not an e-mail, no joke a legit letter, with a stamp, and everything. Keepin’ it oldschool, I love it). Ozis living inVegas and seems to be doingfantastic. John and Libbie Boelim (’96) are also on theirwayto Langley (w/Christina and Landon). Can’t wait.

Falconwrestlers: I’ve run into a number ofFalcon wrestlers lately, but not JohnnyHarrison.Where is that guy? JasonTone isworkingfor BAH and ifyou want a job in the greaterHampton Roads area, give him a call (I’ll getyou his number). He’s giving me a kickback on all his hiringbonuses. TroyHenderson (’94) is flyingEagles in Idaho and I never answer his e-mails. It’s great. I was chowing some PeiWei Chinese food inTucson and bumped intoVictorPereria (’97). That cat has been to the sandbox a few times lately(flyinghelos in the desert) but was glad to be home at DM getting his Moo-goo-gai-pan on. Finally, Dan Bunts (’94) is in the Commonwealth not Colorado. He is doingwell but is not livingin Denver. He also did not go to Silverton Mountainwith me, Jake Maloy, Pete Sheridan, and Brett Schumer. Maybe nextyear, you too, Ty.

SilvertonMountain withJocko, Froggy, andSchumer.

Future Generals: Congrats to all thegold-tagging, two-below-the-zone Lt Col selects: Brannen Chord Cohee, Scott Cain, Travis Rex, Seth Frank, JaySabia, JulieGrundahl, ThomasGeiser, JustinHoffman,JosephLocke,JeremeyTurner, Adam Meyers, Scott Campbell, Rob Teschner, Benjamin Maitre, Aaron Lade, MichaelThompson, Paul Moga,TimothyGillaspie,ChristopherMaddox, David Haworth, Jason Plourde, Dave “No I’m not the Swedish rockband” Abba,Thomas Sherman, ThomasAngelo, and Cavan Craddock. Well done (top 2.5% of our class). Not too manyfolks on that list that went to the “Mutha. Coincidence? CecilLaragotrobbed. Seriouslythough, whenyouguysgetfourstars on your shoulders, do our kids a favor and get rid ofhats. Thanks.

Random Updates: Rob Rossi is at Scott AFB. IL. He sent me a little update: “Mike Brock, fellow 18 smack, is here too. I thinkheworks inTACC. I’ve never actually seen himbutwe’ve acknowledgedeachotherspresencethroughemail. Joe Difidi rolled through a couple ofweeks ago on his way to the B-course (whatever thatmeans) at SJ. He’s headedback to Mountain Home afterthat. He’s probably one ofthe fewbros I talk to on a regular basis. Like most ofthe 95 SF crowd, I’m on my second command, not much different than the first, just a few more moving parts. Life is good. Keeping the cornfields safe inbetween deployments. Chris Juarez (’93) Blackbird is myneighbor. He lives across the street. All is good.” Thanks Rob.

Doug Bartels left the AF and the F-15E in December after graduating from Dukewith an MBA, is movingto Charlotte, NC to be an investmentbankerand is doingM&Aadvisorywith EdgeviewPartners. Lookhim up, he’llbe rich and will take you to lunch forfree...he told me so. TimThurston, his wife, Hurley, and their two kids, Cole and Mya, are movingafterfinishingNaval Postgradu-

ate School in December. Next stop the Pentagon. Tim’s heading to the Legislative Liaison office. Theyfound a great house in Lorton and are looking forward to being back on the East coast. J.D. Holt (’93) is tying the knot this summer. Congrats brother.

Golden Girls: Andrea (Kerkman) Miller sent a great update on some ofthe Golden Girls, “Where have we been...here there and just about everywhere! The girlsfinallyhad a mini-reunion in DallasAug 07 to catch up. Here goes the briefupdate: Dr. Ruth German (Rumfeldt) is at Sheppard AFB running the Student Health division. Just named the ACC CGO Physician oftheYear, she and her husband, MajorGeorge German (’92), have two children (yes they have produced a couple offine NBA/WNBA candidates) and are runningtheir own Juice Bar business. Dr. Nicole Ballinger (Gumina) is completing a dual residency in Family Medicine and Psychiatry at Andrews AFB. She and Rex Ballinger have two adorable little guys, Jude and new babyZane, and Rex bought a conversion van which is the new love ofhis life. AudreyMathieu (Allcom) separatedfromtheAir Force threeyears ago, but no restfortheweary, she is chasingherandMiles’ three-year-old twins and one-year-olddaughter Kitty, who is a doll. She and Miles are having sun and fun in Californiawhere Miles isatNPS. As for Nicole Pritchard (Roberson), she went to law school, did some JAG time, then separated from AD, July 06. Nicole, Craig and their four gorgeous children are at Randolph. Nicole sports some Reserve duty as a JAG when she can, but is mainlybusyrearingtheir brood.

“Craig is finishing up a stafftour this summer and then they are offto who knows where...Mike (’94) and I are in DC, I am finishing up as a Legislative Liaison and am currentlydeployed to Tampa, forward to Qatar before heading to Marine Command & Staffthis summer (showthose Marines a thing or two). That is about it...KTP.” Thanks Dre. The girls all look great (just like my 10-yearhigh school reunion.. .girls lookbetterandthe guys are fat, grey, and bald...kinda like Joel Stephens).

Now

Jon Hamby

ofthe update. Bone is well. Stephanie and hejusthad a son (MathesMacGregorHamby). Baaderand I pickedup his first lacrosse sticks. Kid is going to be a stud. Till then, Keep the Faith, T. Koch. y'“g|

Melissa S. Cunningham

15660 Candle Creek Drive Monument, CO 80132 (719) 487-3071/DSN: 333-0472

Melissa.cunningham@usafa.af.mil or melcunningham@msn.com

It’s PCS time. This is the last article that 1 am going to write from our great alma mater. Wewon’tbe peeling out ofthe North Gate like we did 12 years ago, but we are excited to get back to the operational AF. It has been a great experience to come back and be on the “other side ofthe fence.” Ifyou ever get the opportunity to return and workwith the cadets, definitelytake it. We are packing up the cars and goingfrom Fairchild Hall to FairchildAFB. We are thrilled that theAF is keeping us togetherfor another assignment. Those opportunities seem slimmer and slimmer these days so we are very thankful to make this move together. We are also excited to be staying outWest and getting more use out ofthe snowboards. Our season got cut short this yearwhen I had a bad tangle with black ice and broke my ankle. I’m doing much better now andhope to be able to hit the slopesagain next winter.

I got a nice note from Kirsten (’97) and ChristianWohlwendfrom Utah State where Christian is wrapping up a PhD. TheWohlwends were married a few days after Kirsten’s graduation and then it was offto AFIT andWright State to complete Master’s degrees. Their follow on assignment was right down the street toWright-Pattersonwheretheycould findjoin spousejobs for aweather officerand a chemist. Nexttheymovedbackto Colorado Springs. Kirstenwas

Christian, Logan, and Carson hired to be a ChemistryInstructorand Christian went to Space Commandfor a headquarters gig for two years. Then by a twist offate, the Physicsdepartment at USAFA needed a weather officer for one year. Since Christian was alreadyin the local area and had the required degree, he was hired. He was kept on for an additional year to run the meteorologytrackofthe degreewhen his superior was picked up forACSC in residence. The Physics Dept sponsored Christianfor a PhDwhich he hopes to complete soon. Kirsten switched to the Reserves in ’05 andjustrecentlyseparatedfromthe militaryall together. She is stayingplentybusyteaching on-line chemistry courses with Colorado CommunityColleges Online and keeping up with their two beautiful boys, Logan (4) and Carson (18 months).

I got a greatpicture from Mike Starr out at the 411th FlightTest Squadron at Edwards AFB. In this small squadron ofnine pilots and flight test engineers, four are from our class. Ian Moreno flies as a flight test engineer in the F-16. Matt Giese and Mike are dual qualified in the F-16 and F-22.

AndiVinyardhas been extremelybusywith multipleTDYs lately. In hertravels shebumped into abunch ofbricksand sent me an email updateto includeinthis column. While in SanAntonio she saw ChrisBishopwho is a Bioenvironmental Engineer (BEE) stationed at Kadena. Chris is married andhas two little kids. Mike Haines is also a BEE and is stationed at Maxwell. Lisa (Cherry) Atherton sent Andi an e-mail last week. She and her familyrecendy moved from the Langley area to Boston to start a newjob. Andialso ran into ErikHoffmanwho was recentlyengagedandwillbe gettingmarried on 23August. MarkGehringer is also in DC. Andi saw him at Harpoon Larry'swhile they were both TDY to Langley. Chris Sheppardlives in DC he flies forthe D.C. Guard.

BlairKaiserand Iat theAirlift TankerAssociation Convention. Blair Kaiser and his son Evan stoppedbyAudi’s place to visit on thewayto an exhibition gamerecently. Blairand Kurt Kremser are working on thewingstaff atAndrewsAFB. I also crossedpathswith Blair at theAirliftTankerAssociation Convention last October. He has not changed a bit. He was full ofhilarious stories that had me laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe. Ifyou ever run into him, askhim abouthis interviewfor the 89thAirliftWing. Youwillhave tears in youreyes.

The Golden Girlsfrom left are Nikki,Andrea, Ruth,Audrey, andNicole.

for, the

section

’96ers in the F-22 Test Squadron. From left are Ian Moreno, Jack Fischer, Matt Giese, andMikeStarr.

Youtube: ScottandJen (Trost) Vecchione are stationed atMisawa. Scottis now outoftheAFandJenisaphysicaltherapist. Recendytheymade a shortmovie aboutliving in Misawa for an online contest sponsoredbyNatureValleyand Youtube. Theyreceived enough votes for a second place finishand a greatprize.

SpeakingofYoutube, recendyJasin Cooley came across some ofour old Blue Tubes andput themup on thewebsite. They are too funny. Ifyou ever have any freetime do a search on “Tough as Bricks” and checkthem out. Jasinispacking up this summer too to get a PhD at the University ofFlorida. Recendy I saw a fewphotos ofhis office when the cadets pulled a 100th Night” stunt on him andwrapped his office and everything inhis office in plasticwrap. It’s funny howthey showtheir appreciation to theirAOCs.

Also, I saw that Chris Cullenbine was awarded the OutstandingAcademy Educator for the Math Department thisyear. This is one ofthe greatest recognitions instructors at USAFA can receive for superiorteachingaccomplishments and demonstrated ability to instill high standards ofintegrity, service andleadership into our cadets.

That’s a wrap forthe Bricks update forthis issue. I didn’t get manyinputs this time around so our news is a little slim. Whenyoudo gettime, pleaseremember to shoot me a quickemail update and photo and I will getthem in our column.

Have a wonderful summer! Mel

Melvin E. Maxwell, Jr.

756 Granite Drive

Ofallon, IL 62269

mel_maxwell97@hotmail.com

melvin.maxwell@ustranscom.mil

Hey all,

Karin McWhorter

8243 Oasis Bloom St.

North Las Vegas, NV 89085 (702) 476-4304

mcwhorters@hotmail.com

Hi Everyone,

Well, our reunion is approachingfast and we have set a date and are working on the rest ofthe details. Here is what I know so far. Our reunion will be 1721 Sept (HomecomingWeekend) with the classes of 1973 and 1978. Asyou can tell, we are definitelythejunior class and our schedule ofevents reflects that. You may have to wait until the 15-year reunion to revisit Mitchell Hall forlunch with the cadets, but other than that, this reunionwill have all the standard features.

3 Sabre Society Donors

“Quiet hours” remain in effect for the Class of’97.1 noticed in the last issue ofCheckpointsmyworkemail address was incorrectlylisted.. .hopethathasn’t blocked some updatesfrommakingitin. I was luckyenough to get a couple shout- outs from John Newbill and Jeremy Raley. John dropped me a line from Kunsan where he is serving as the Ops Officer ofthe 8th SecurityForces Squadron. John was featured in an Armed Forces Networkvideo storyand interviewabout running in the 79thAnnual Seoul International Marathon this past March. The race featured over 25,000 runners. John finished the last halfmile ofhis first marathon on the track in Seoul Olympic stadium. He crossed the finish line in 4 hours and 48 minutes—not bad for a guywho never ran more than 6 miles before training for the marathon. John and family are headed to Ramstein AB, Germanywhere he’ll work at NATOAirNorththis summer. JohnreportsmultipleStephan Pinchaksightings while at Kunsan.

Check out theAOGwebsite (www.usafa.org) foratentafive schedule ofevents as well as all the latest information. We have a blockofrooms reserved at the Marriott and online registration forthe reunionwill be available June 1st. From theAOG website youwill be able to register for all events as well as purchase class merchandise.

2 Sabre Society Donors

There is a small committee oflocal gradsworking on the local details: James Blanchard, Daryl Klenda, Julia Phillips (East), DerekTheraldson, andAllison Galford (DelGrande). All but Daryl, who is with the 94FTS, are instructors at theAcademy. Tim Schumacher (now a civilian) is heading up the golftournament andJaimeAnderson (Melton) is collectingphotos for a slide show.

Ifyou are trying to find old friends, check out www.zoomienation.com and www.facebook.com I thought facebook was for “kids”, but there are a lot of ’98ers on the site and ithas been reallyfuncatchingupwithpeople. Ifyouhave photos to submitforthe slide showyou can upload them directly to Jaime on facebook. She has created a ’98ers group and I think it would be great to get more people in the group.

I am prettylow on updates this time, so please send some updates for next time—especiallyifyou aren’t going to make the reunion.

John Newbill, SeoulMarathonfinisher.

JeremyRaleywrote in to report Jus exile to Wright PattersonAFB has ended. Jeremyhad been atWright-Pat for nearlyeightyears. ThreeAir Force Research Labjobs, two graduatedegrees, and fourkids later, Jeremy and familywill be headed to Colorado Springs for an assignment at Peterson AFB.

Lastly, I want to report that the former Louella Lovely and I got hitched this pastApril in St Louis. We had a funweekend with friends and family. Some highlights included rehearsal dinner” at Busch Stadium where we also celebrated Chris and Kimberly Kay’s 10th wedding anniversary; Amanda Zumbrunnen’s (Jennings) daughter, Hannah Grace’s perfect distribution of flower petals on weddingday; knocking over the unity candle (it stayed lit!); and doing the robot with Brad Holtmeier.

I got an updatefromTim Schumacherwho isworking as a ProgramManager for Qwest Communications in Denverworking on the government Networx project. They’re one ofthree telecommunications providersthat are allowed to bid forgovernmentworkwith a maxvalue of$40 billion over the next 10 years and one offive companiesthat can compete for an additional$20+billion over lOyears. He andhiswife, Sara, (who he met at Karl Falk'swedding) have a 3 Viyear-old son Kyle and a one-year-old daughter Paige. Since they live in the southpartoftown andtheirHMO partneredwith a hospital in the northpartof town, theydidn'tmake it to thehospitalbefore Paige was bom. Paige was bom in theparkinglotofa HolidayInn, and inTim’swords “the"stress" theAcademy tries to putyou under is nothingcompared to hearing a 911 dispatchertellyou to pullthe car over so they can instructyou on howto deliveryourchild”! Luckily, an ambulance was in the area andhe didn't have to followthroughwith the dispatcher's directions. Theylive inHighlandsRanch, anditisonlya 45-minute drivefromtheirhouse to the EisenhowerGolfCourseparkinglot (he’stimedit). Tim is trying to getthe '98 football playerstogether, so ifthat isyou, please sent him a note a tskschumacher@qwest.net He also had a fewupdates on some ’99ers and their class iswell represented on the coachingstaffofthe resurgent football team. Charlton Warren, Jemal Singleton, and Blaine Morgan are all coaches, as is '02 gradBen Miller.

I also got a note fromTom Jostwho will be done with his tour in Hawaii at theAF Maui OpticalSupercomputing Site (AMOS - part ofthe Research Lab) in June. He is headed backto theAcademy to be a part ofthe PhysicsFaculty.

Maxwell Rehearsal Dinner at the Cards Game: From left are Chris and Kimberly, Amanda, Louella and Mel, Kate (Meyer) and Mike Bailey. Until next time.. .Mel.

Tom Jost, wife, Trisha, and son Cade on the beach in Makena in Maui.

Lastly, I heard from Cory Brown. He and wife, Holly,just celebrated their four-yearanniversary. He’s still active dutyworking inAcquisitions.They recently arrived at ScottAFB, IL after he finished up at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. In his words “one ofthe sweetest deals ever”. He is nowworking at HeadquartersAMC.While he was in Monterey, Dan Ebert was there going to Defense Language Institute to learn French. He's flying C- 130s andheheaded out to France lastMayfor a flyingexchange program forthe next threeyears. He also ran into ErinStaine-Pyne (Munson) who's also working in AMC. Shejust moved here from Little Rockwhere she was flying C- 130s.

I guess that is itfor now. I am well belowmyallowedword and photo count, so send me an e-mail! You knowyou want to.... Karin

James W. Busch

1697A Borneo St. Clovis, NM 88101 (505) 693-2266

DSN: 681-6521

Buschfl6@yahoo.com

james.busch@cannon.af.mil

Shiners, nowthatthewriters’ strike is over, and I finallyconvinced our soonto-be-impeachedClass President, James, to let me write one ofthese, we have an article! This is Sean Baerman and I’ll be providingyouallwiththis edition’s update.

The Majors’promotionpartythrown at the DM O’Club inJanuaryfeatured our top 94% oftheAF, and was coordinated by me due to mylate graduation date. ’99ers in attendance were JoaquinGlomski, who is currendydeployed to Kuwait; Will Reynolds, JasonJensen, Paul Brown, PanicCoggin, andAndyKamataris, are allIPs intheA1OC schoolhouse; Scott Morgan, CoryNaddy, and Ryan Hill are all IPs in the “legacy” A-10. Christopher Rust leftearlyfor A-10WIC,just so he could get out ofpayingforthe party.

Dan Diehl, James Busch, Scott Nichols, andtheirfamilies all stoppedbymyhouse as Dan was passingthroughArizona. Jameshadjustmovedto LukeAFBwherehe andAnela added a seconddaughter,Amelia, to theBuschfamily. Danis aWeapons Officer at Dyess and was on a mini-road tripwithhiswife,Jenn. Scott and Peglive hereTucson, in between his manydeployments asWeapons Officer for one ofthe rescue squadrons at DM.

James and hisfour bestfriends: Scott, Dan, Sean, and beer.

Afterthreeyears in Korea, Mike Bullard also passedthrough in January, with hiswife, Elsa (USMA ’00), when they were both on terminal leave. Mike now works forNorthwest as an instmctorand Elsawillbe starting I aw School at the University ofMinnesota in the fall.

After a fewemail solicitations, I heard from some Shiners around theworld. Tobin McKearin dropped me an email and filled me in on some of our classmates. Tobin, aftersurviving a bypass surgery, is doingwell andwill be milking

Uncle Sam at the UniversityofHawaii, enroute to USAFAinJanuary2010. Jake Raseris also atAltusAFB andjust ran his second BostonMarathon in thewayfaster-than-me time of3:05:08. Jim Olden, an IP inAltus, bought a bread and breakfastwhich opened in February. Check it out atwww.fowlerhousealtus .com. PaulAdamsjustgot to Altus and is reportedlylovinglife in Oklahoma. Mike Morales recently returned from a six-month deployment teaching Afghanis howto fly. In an effort to improve the state, he almost burned his house and his neighbor’s house down, including 40 acres ofland as he was trying to burn some scrap wood on a breezyOklahoma day. Tobin also wrote that Kari Ellis is a mom now and flies for Delta, hubbing out ofNYC. Ben Lasherfliesforthe DoverReserves and gothired bySouthwest; threekids now and three more to go. Miguel Lutman is also in the Dover Reserves and mns a companythat flips houses

Matt French is on hiswayto Nellis inJune to instruct at the F-15CWeapon’s School. He and hiswife, Mandy, have three kids—two-year-old Levi and a set oftwins (boy and girl), Micah and Elise, who are eight months.

The Fab-5 Frenches.

Chris McFarland is there alongwithJeremyWeihrich, whowillbe one ofthe initial cadre in the F-22Weapon’s School. Jason Davis and his family are leaving Korea and will be instructing in the Hawgtrough.

Jon Graham wrote from Kirtlandwherehe is an IP at the CV-22 schoolhouse. Congratulate Jon, when you see him, for winning the 2008 JabaraAward, which was presented to him at USAFA on 9 May.

Hope all iswell and keep the emails going to James, maybe itwillkick start him into writing. I hearhe hasn’t been flying a lotlately...

Jason “JW" Simmons 3524 Lakeside Drive Shreveport, LA 71119 Simmons@USAFA2000.com

Two Grand, UnitedWe Stand... Two Grand, UnitedWe Stand!

Recently, I heardfromMike “Checkpoint” Deavers, and we had some good email traffic on the good ole days. Well, your class would reallylike to hear whatyou’re up to these days. I often hear howgreat it is to read about an old buddy, and hear, “ahhhaa, neat, that’s what he/she is doing these days! I getlots ofcomments from classmatesjustlike 1 you. Is there anything in here aboutyou though? Ifnot, as our trainers back at the zoo would say, “you’re slack’n then!” Throw me an email and let your class knowwhat’s new in your life. Thanks in advance and on to the class news updates:

Tom BozungandTracy (Tinianow) Bozung are at DavisMonthanAFB and are expecting a babyboyin May2008. As ifthatwouldn't keep them busyenough, Tom isworking on his master’s and flying the HH-60 andTracy is busyworking at the clinic on base as a familypractice doctor. Casey (Tinianow) Parini is going to finish up herresidency in OB/GYN fromWilford Hall, LacklandAFB, in June and then is headed toAvianoAB, Italywith husband, Sean.

I heard fromJacksonWhiting and hiswife, Courtney; they were married on

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YOUR MONEYHELPS FUND

CADETWING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED. CALL THE AOG FOR INFO.

Oct 13,2007 andrecentlyPCSedtoTyndallAFB for an assignment as an instructor pilot on the mightyF-15.

Speaking ofweddings, Melissa and I had a nice wedding on April 26th. Two Granders in attendance were Matt Medley, Eric Bixby, and as a groomsman, Bryan Trinkle. Here’s a picture ofMaj Melissa Simmons and me. (Herpromotion ceremony was the daybefore

Bessie Fontenot ran into Aaron Edwards out in Greenville NC. Both are out oftheAF enjoying civilian life and coincidently are living in the same town. Bessie is stillworking on herPhD in Physiology at EastCarolinaUniversityand Aaron is now a contractor at SeymourJohnsonAFB.

I also heard from BrandonAcheson. Brandon separated fromtheAF lastyear to take ajob as "pastor ofstudent ministries" in his home town ofBillings, MT and is also working on a seminary Master’s degree. In Feb '07, he and wife, Tanja, had a second child, Sage. Brandon also noted that he recently ran into other Montana native from our class, Sam Todd and Bruce Clark. Bruce Clark willbe graduatingfrom CovenantSeminarythis spring and wasjustaccepted into a PhD program at the University ofCambridge, England.

And from some ofthe best news forthis edition, PatrickParsons was named the USAFE and subsequently theAF’s OutstandingJunior Clinical Dentist of theYear for 2007 yes, the good Doc is representing us well.

Well, that’s it for this time. Gradually we get one or two more classmates added to our email list each month. Please email me ifyou’re not on it yet. Also, is there anyone out there at Hurlburt Field? I'11 be there for UNWT in July throughSeptember.

Bestwishestoall. Jason

Faith Dunn (Hitchcock)

6423 NW 94th Court Johnson, IA 50131 faithd03@hotmail.com

(Five Sabre Society Donors)

(Editor’s note: We did notreceive an inputfromFaithforthis issue. Send her yourinformation andphotographsfor the next magazine.)

Amy Schultz 806 Magnolia Bend San Antonio, TX 78251 215-280-1760

aschultzdmd@gmail.com

Class Website: www.usafa02.org

(One Sabre Society Donor)

(Editor’s note: We did not receive an inputfromAmyfor this issue. Send her your information andphotographsfor the next magazine.)

Susan Lynn Doyle susan_doyle@post.harvard.edu

Matt is at MoodyAFB flying the mighty HC-130 (search and rescue). Ericis in theAFNetOps along with me, but headed out to the sandbox. Bryan is in Germanystill hangingoutwiththeArmy as anALO and hoping to staytherefor an extended tour. I hearthat Eric Carrano had a weddingtheweekend followingmine, so congrats to him and his bride as well.

I heard from Seth Cunningham recently; he left active dutyand is in his secondyear oflaw school at University ofMontana. This summer he’ll be workingfor a cityprosecutor’s office. Kristina (Welde) Pina andTom Pina now have orders back to C. Springs this summer, so for those already around our old stompinggrounds, bewatchingforthem. Joshua Milleris doinggreat atTelos Corp in the Business Developmentbranch and has moved to DC. Josh met up withAugustPfluger at the Masters GolfTournament. August is out atTyndall AFB as an F-15 instructor pilot, but is headed to NewMexico this summer to help stand up a new flying unit.

(Susan is in the process of moving.)

(Two Sabre Society Donors)

Greetings fromWright-PattersonAFB, Ohio! Thanks to everyone who responded with inputs. Kim (Feikens) Stephens and her husband, James, welcorned Paul to the family on September 7,2007. Kim described it as “an easy birthwith no complications. He has brought us a great deal ofjoy.” James and Kim are at ScottAir Force Base and live in O'Fallon, IL. Jamesworks atAFCA, and sheworks in the 375th Comm SupportSquadron

Jackson and CourtneyWhiting

ourwedding!)

Jason andMelissa Simmons

AugustPfluger,AdamKing (non-USAFAgrad), and Josh Miller

Kim (Feikens), husbandJames, and babyPaul Stephens.

Robert Rouse, CS-06, married KatieWatson on March 15th, 2008, at Ohio UniversityinAthens. They are both missionaries with Campus Crusade for Christ andwillbe moving to Indianapolis this summer.

Robertand Katie Rouse - missionariesforCampus Crusadefor Christ.

Adam Rectorwrote fromGuam to let us knowthat Ben Hopkins was recently in theAFTimes (24 March 08) for providing fire supportfor Prince Harry. Ben is aWeaponsSystems Officerin the 336th FighterSquadron based at Seymour JohnsonAPB, N.C. When Prince Harry called in for support, Ben’s F- 15E issued three rounds oflaser guided bomb strikes against theTaliban forces attacking FOB Delhi. You can check out the article at: http:/ /www.airforce times.com/news/2008/03/airforce_prince_harry_031508w/.

Knorring and Sarah (Thilo) Brehm were bridesmaids. Afterserving on active duty as a comm, officer at TinkerAFB, Kari separated from theAFin July07, and she has since gone back to school for a nursingdegree. Her new hubby, Chris, is currently a T-1FAIP atVanceAFB. Bestwishes to both!

PilotCoptBen DonbergandWSOBenHopkinsstandbeside theirF-15E used to supportPrinceHarry inAfghanistan.

Joe Miranda and Dave Bennett are back from Iraq and living La DolceVita inItalyflyingthe F - 16 alongwithclassmatesCaseyMottingerandTylerRobarge. Dan Morales separated from theAir Force and will begin a four-year PhD program in Management Science and Engineering at Stanford this fall. Please contact me with submissions forfuture Checkpoints on the global or at susan_doyle@post.harvard.edu.

Keep up the hardwork, have fun, and let me knowifyou’repassingthrough Ohio! Take care, Susan.

Breezy (Long) Heddinger

Cell: (719) 213-3205

Dyess AFB,TX windy04@gimail.af.mil

Helllloooooo, CAPTAINS! Yesterday, we were low-crawling through the snowjust to earn a little “recognition,” and todaywe’re joining senior CGO ranks as Captains in the US Air Force...time flies when you’re having fun— and/or at leastwhenyou’re deploying. During mysecond trip to the desert, it’s been like another mini-reunion every time another plane lands. Cheers to all the grads flying C130s and C- 17s who’ve brightened many a dayfor me in the desert this time around. Our classmates are continuing to makehistoryeverywhere we go—which is all over theworld these days—andthe shiny new rank on our shoulders means we’ll slowlybut surelybe allowed to lead more and more of those endeavors. Who would have guessed fouryears ago, duringthose40 days ofsleep-deprivedtraining sessions and spirit missions, how true our cheesy motto would ultimately prove to be— 2004, ReadyforWar!

In addition to all our job and service commitments, both in and out ofuniform, ’04 still makes time for home and family. Kari Thompson and Chris Puccia tied the knot on 11 Aug 07, in Kari’s hometown ofAnaheim Hills, CA (seephoto). SamMcCurryandJohm Schwartz were groomsmen, andBenVan Hoof, Dustin Lee, and Justin Westmoreland were saber-bearers. Christine

Well, that’s all the news we have for this quarter—everyone is busy, busy, busy. Until next time, enjoy all the wild promo parties and anniversary celebrations, andwhenyou have a free second, don’t forget to share yournews! In the words of our lamest high school yearbooksignatories, “Have a cool summer!”

Paula Delapasse

103 Raymond Circle Warner Robins, GA 31088 (225) 603-4450

paulamaffey@juno.com

Paula.Delapasse@robins.af.mil

Hoorayfor summer and I hope this update finds everyone doingwell! I am sure classmates deployed are cursingthe tripledigit heatand sand everywhere, butknowthat those ofus backhome are thinkingaboutyou often! Keepworking hard and stay safe out there! We had some goodupdates this time- keep them coming! Scrib Jelliffe wrote and sent this picture ofhim and a couple buddies at theAF vs Cal game in theArmed Forces Bowl over NewYear’s Eve.

Tailgating at the Armed Forces Bowl. From left are Jordan Filer, Chris Daniels, Scrib, andMattMulica.

As you can see, they all had a good time catching up and tailgating for the game. Lookinggood in the A-jackets fellas. A little tidbit from each: Jordan andChris are flyingthe B-52 out ofBarksdaleAFB. Scribjust finished up training forthe F- 15Hs andhas started flying out ofSeymourJohnson AFB. Lastly, Matt is living the city life flying C-5s out at Travis AFB, CA.

EmilyGross sent updates from her new civilianlife as she has been separated from the AF for almost a year. Emily worked inAircraft Maintenance before getting out. She is working for a Fortune 500 company called Stryker Medical out ofKalamazoo, MI. She has taken a role as Project Manager and really likes it so far. Emily said after two years in Charleston, SC it was a bitofweathershock, butshe has taken a liking to Michigan and even bought herself a snowmobile. She and several classmates were all down in Destin, FL in January for the weddingofChris Perr andJackie Plumb. It lookedlike a beautifulwedding as you can see from the picture! see photo on next page).

I can’t think ofa prettierplace to be inJanuarythan Destin! Jackie and Chris are stationed together at MinotAFB where Jackie isworking as an exec forthe Maintenance Group and Chris is now doingSpace and Missile. AshleighThomas is a Services Officer at ElmendorfAFB inAlaska.

Emily also had the chance to be in anotherwedding, the one ofPrecious (Bondurant) Alexander and her husband, Alan. Precious separated lastAugust and was married last September. Mariko Esannason was the Maid of

Sabre Society Donors

ChrisPerrandJackiePlumbgotmarried in Destin, Florida. 2005 Grads in attendancefrom left were: Cameron Czarniecki, Veronica (Gao)Brownheim, NickBrownheim,Jackie (Plumb) Perr, EmilyGross, ChrisPerr, CindyDawson, Alex Courtney, andAshleigh Thomas.

Honor. AshleyMaybin and Emily Gross were bridesmaids. Precious andAlan live in NewJerseywhere sheworks as a personal trainer andhas bought a dog namedTucker!

While shoppingin the commissary a fewweeks ago I ran into GregFillmore. He is stationedhere at Robins flyingtheJSTARS. We caught up on some ofthe things he has done since graduation. Greg married JenniferVaita Fillmore, who works as a personnelist, after graduation. He graduated UPT in Mayof 2007 and has since moved toWarnerRobins andbought a home. Gregisleavingforhis first deployment to A1 Udeid at the end ofApril and is planning on being at RobinsAFB forthe next five or sixyears. He andJennifer are expecting theirfirstbabythisAugust. Good luckwith everythingGreg!

Last month I was in San Antonio and stayed with Phil and Erin (Heintz) Jackson. Theywere awesome hosts and it was fun seeingthem andtheirfourmonth-old Hadassah Grace. We had a good weekend and all are doingwell.

Phil and Erin PCS thisJune to HillAFB so they are gettingreadyto packup the house and move! I also saw Nate Renes and hiswife,Amber, the same weekend. Nate is stationed at Randolph AFB and theybothloveliving in SanAntonio. They are expecting a babythis October and lookingforward to meeting the newest edition oftheir family!

Robert Willoughbyand his wife, Laura (Bader)Willoughby, sent in an update on their adventures since graduation. After getting married in July2005, Robert stayed on at USAFA on casual status while Laura finished up her MS at CSU. The next year they were offto UPT at Columbus AFB and had their first son, Tyler David. Theywelcomed son #2 to the family, Alexander Isaac, in December 2007 while Robert was finishing up at the C-5 schoolhouse at LacklandAFB.

Robert, Laura, Tyler, and new baby

AlexanderWilloughby.

Robertandfamilyhave nowPCSed toTravisAFB wherehe shouldbe up and flyingmissions this spring.

Lasdy, myhusband and I are PCSing this summer toWright PattersonAFB. Jacobwillbe attendingAFIT for an MS inAerospaceEngineering over the next coupleyears and I have been assigned to theAF ResearchLab. We are looking forward to the move andbeingintheDayton area; everythingexceptforthecold winters! Ifyou are ever out thatway, give us a call - we would love to meet up!

Visit the AOGWeb Site Merchandise, Gone But Not Forgotten and More! www.usafa.org

Felisa (Hervey) Dyrud

20 Myrtle Ave.

Cambridge, MA 02138 (719)352-5991

Felisa.dyrud@gmail.com

Facebook group: “Feel the Fire”

Hello ’06, Happysummer! Peter and I will be moving inAugust, to KirtlandAFB, NM and Davis-MonthanAFB, AZ, respectively. All contact info will be the same except formailing address. Peterwill be traininghardthis fall and startingthe Combat Rescue Officerpipeline in January.We are thankful to be in the same region, and close to the Herveyfamily in Phoenix. Manyadventures to come!

It was fun to run (almost literally) into Carl Chen, Josh Lewis, and Bill and Jacque (Janzik) Torson at McGuire’s 5K Prediction run (for St. Patrick’s Day) in Pensacola, FL. Bill was easilyrecognizable by his fluffy green wig. ’06 representedwell at the race; Carl reported that other classmates presentincludedWill Louie, Rob Schomaker, and4th place overall finisher Matt Hellier! I also saw Andrew Fink in Pensacola (he is in helicopters at Ft. Rucker), made it through PersonnelManpowerschoolwith Colleen (Galloway) Smalley, andwhile at Keesler also ran into Rafael Montoya-Ortega andhis bride, Sarah. They are headed soon to Turkey. At the next mini-reunion at ColumbusAFB, MS, I got to see Alicia Tompkins and the newlywedsTina and Ryan Moore. They are all doingwell and full oflife. Hope the same is true ofyou!

ThisphotoofJacque (Janzik) Torson atMcGuire’s5Kmade it into the local paper.

Here are some letters we received this quarter.. .From Ryan Baker: Still in Afghanistan, up at Firebase Herrera, about 15km's from the Pakistan Border. 1LT Baker, RyanHeadquartersXO, 1st Squadron, 61st CavalryRegiment.

From Daniel Moss: What’s up? Just thought you should know that Jason Kassel, Sean Corrigan and I got ourselves FAIPed andwe're staying atVance AFB in Oklahomafor a few more years. Sean will be flyingtheT-38, Jasonwill be flyingtheT-6 and I will be intheT-1. Keep on rockin’ in thefreeworld...Dan.

FromWilliam MacVittie: Updates! I am goingto flyC-17s at Charleston! Nate Masdon is also going to fly C-17s. Jacob Fingerson got a C-5 to Travis (he was 0805 at Laughlin....). Jessica Bendrick got U-28s (Columbus). Tyler Duchene got C-5s to Travis. Michael Lebovitz is finishing up T-34 training in Pensacola. Mac.

FromJenniferQuintero: I am engaged! His name is Collin Caldwell, a 1st Lt stationed at Ft Campbell, and a SWOT (specialoperations weather officer). It happened over Easterweekend. Also, Ijustgot backfrom a one-weekTDYat A1 Udeid where I worked with Lt Boeing and saw Lt Bergeron. I am career broadeningin protocol; for one yearI am working as the USAFCENT (United States AirForces Central) DeputyChiefofProtocol, so I work for the CFACC, and I love this job. JQ (See photo at top ofnext column.)

From Carl Chen: As promised, I'mwriting about myengagementAND my winging! On March 15 (notplanned, but conveniendythe 5th anniversary of 2006's Recognition) I proposed to Sarah Hutt on Johnson's Beach at Perdido Key, FL. Two and a halfweeks later, I finishedWeaponsSystems Officertraining withVT-86, selected B- IBs out ofDyessAFB, and got mywings! I will be offto Randolph forElectronicWarfare school andthen to Dyess forfollow-on trainingwithWill Louiewho is about two months ahead ofme. Sarah and I are also planning on aweddingat Randolph, butthe datehasyetto be determined. She also got accepted to UT Austin for her Master's in PublicAdministration, so

Collin andJQ

even though we'll be doing the distance thing, we'll at least be in the same state. I will definitelysendweddingpictures. Carl

FromApril (Linzey) Brown: Eric Brown (’07) and I got married on Decernher30,2007 in San Diego, CA on the beach. Friends present included Barbara Leo and Tina Matejik.

From Jonathan Ferro: OnFeb 18th at 0813 in the morningRileyElizabeth Ferro, mybabygirl, was born. She is a real cutie! (Picture coming next time.) Jonathan.

FromAlexJohns: Maricel (mywife) and I are having a babyboy due June 7 2008.1 finallyfinishedprimaryat NASWhitingField (onlytook 11 months) and I’ll be heading to NAS Corpus Christiw/Beau Tresemer forT-44s.

FromAmber Collins: Just wanted to saythat I got engaged.XiangYu Chen (USAFA ’08, Taiwanese cadet) proposed on March 24,2008 on Jeju Island,

South Korea. There is no set dateyet since we have to waitforhim to finish UPT inTaiwan.We'll keep you posted.The photo is the night a fewminutes afterhe proposed. Missyou and hope all is well! Amber

From Rob Grothe: Quickupdate on my life here. I justgraduated from the UniversityofWashingtonwith a Master’s ofScience inAeronautics andAstronautics and will be heading to Eglin AFB for my next assignment with the Munitions Directorate as an engineer. Thanks, Rob.

FromJacob Fingerson: I have updates for Laughlin UPT class 08-05. Jason Boman got B-2s to Whiteman and is at PIT right now in San Antonio, Greg Balzhiser and Caleb Cienski both got F- 16s and are awaiting IFF at Laughlin, Chris Gregorygot B-52s to Barksdale but I'm not sure where he is right now, ChrisJohnson and LisaCannon andAnthonyPerone (USMA'05) allgotC-17s to McChord;Rorey Faraon got C-17s to Charleston, Josh Daleiden got HC130s and gotmarried, and I got C-5s toTravis. Spaatz! Jake "Fingar" Fingerson.

From Erin Frazier: Fellow RTBs, it's hard to believe it has been two years already and we are finally all out ofour training (or nearlydone) and starting our realAir Force careers! I have been working as a section commanderfor 1st Civil Engineer Squadron at LangleyAFB for a year now and I just received orders to EglinAFB for this June to be the 33rd Operationswing Exec down there. Myfiance, Lt Nathan Boone, is currentlyfinishingtraining to be anAC130U pilot at Flurlburt Field. Our weddingwill be held at the Cathedral ofthe Sacred Heart in Richmond,VA, on May24th with Rachael (McIntosh) Taylor (’05) as my matron ofhonor and Nikki Jansen as a bridesmaid! Nathan and I met up with my fellow Shadows Casey Montgomery, Eric Broyles, Chris Schendel, Shane Beckley, Adam Pahls, NateArneson, and a few other grads, Chuck Francis and Christine Knief, in Keystone for a NewYear's ski trip this past year that was absolutely breathtaking! We'll be seeing Arnie again at Hurlburt as heflies U-28s forSpecOps and Nathan is currentlyspending some quality time with Monty (CaseyMontgomery) and Jake Montoya at Corpus Christi enjoying the C-130 highlife!With everyone finishingtraining, getting married, and even starting families. (Bryce Fiacco and his wife, Sarah, are expecting a babygirlthis summer!) It'sreallybeen a greattwo years sincegraduation! Hope you all are well and I lookforward to readingabout howeveryone else is doing as well! Sincerely, Erin Frazier.

Erin andNathan

Casey Bayne 6925 Clovercliff Drive

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 (310) 343-5969

checkpoints@caseybayne.com

HeyClass of2007!

Canyou believe it’s been a year since we threw our hats in the air? Time has definitely flown by and we’ve all been busylearning the ropes in the real Air Force! Here are some updates on our classmates.

Weddings/Engagements: Eric Brown andAprilLinzey(’06) were married on December30,2007 in a beautiful ceremony on the beach in San Diego, CA. (See their photograph at the top ofthe next column.)

Barbara Myers married ScottVandewater (’06) in a small butbeautifulwedding atTravisAFB, CAin January 2008.

ShaunLee proposed to Katie Barlow on thebeach in Santa Monica, CA in January 2008 and weddingplans are set for September2008.

Sabre Society Donors

MeganMapes and Mitch Belger were engaged on July8,2007 andwedding plans are set for May24,2008 in Omaha, Nebraska.

AndyWaterworth andAngela Sheffield were engagedin Januaryandweddingplans are set forJuly5,2008. Unfortunately, the honeymoon will be cut short sinceAndyreports for pilottrainingjust a fewdays after the wedding.

said one ofherfavorite parts ofthe trip was traveling to secluded beaches with crystal clearwater. She is reallyhaving a rough time on casual status right now! Good thing she is startingpilottraining injust a fewmonths.

MindyMokos and Brit Perkowski are tryingout fortheAir Force soccer team at Pope AFB. Wish them luck ifyou see or talk to them!

Recently some 2007 grads reunited at the 2008 CompanyGrade OfficerCouncil conference in San Antonio, Texas. Casey Bayne, Carl Corvin, Angela Sheffield,AndyWaterworth, MeganMapes, andKamilleKemp spentfive amazingdays on the Riverwalklearning how to become betterCGOs! A majorityof the speakers at the conference were also Academygrads and we were able to take a great picture (below) with grads ranging from 1975 to 2007! Updates: Our class presidentTy Rubej ust graduated from OSI training in February. Uponreturning to LosAngelesAFB after completinghis training, he packed up again

Eric Brown andAprilLinzey

Lanie Scottjust returned from a seven-dayexcursion to exotic Panama and encourages everyone to considergoingto Panama foryour next vacation! She

Lanie Scott

EXCELLENCE

Annual gifts to the Air Force Academy Fund at the Sabre Society level provide support to programs that instill excellence in Building Leaders of Character in the Nation like the Cadet Commanders' Leadership Enrichment Seminar. This program is designed to motivate and enhance the leadership experience of cadet commanders by developing leadership skills that they can model for the entire Cadet Wing.

POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Checkpoints, Association of Graduates, Doolittle Hall, 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475.

iiiffiiii. iillllllli

Dr Jeffrey A, Larsen

40 Rangely Dr

Colorado Springs, CO 80921-2677

P74

Aug. 30 Southern Utah

Sept. 6 at Wyoming*

Sept. 13 at Houston

Sept. 20 Utah*

Oct. 4 Navy

Oct. 11 at San Diego State*

Oct. 18, at UNLV*

Oct. 23 New Mexico*

Nov. 1 at Army

Nov. 8 csu* Bold indicates

Nov. 15 BYU*

Nov. 22 at TCU* home games

2008 AIR FORCE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE