Checkpoints June 2009

Three brothers devote their lives to the art of medicine

'I feel lucky to have had the privilege of attending USAFA and benefiting from the generosity of AOG donations. Now that I am in a position to donate, it was an easy choice to commit a few dollars a day to the place which had such a fundamental impact on my life."

Elizabeth Ferrill, '98

LEAVE A LEGACY

GENERAL HARMON MADE HISTORY

The Association of Graduates appreciates the high level of trust placed in us by those making donations to help the Air Force Academy. We have a long history of earning that trust through our careful stewardship. The AOG has a wide range of recognition programs which salute our donors.

Everything we do at the AOG directly supports the Academy. Thank you for your continuing generosity. Learn more about how we continue to earn the trust of our donors. Visit our online Donor Report at www.usafa.org.

f Association of Graduates

BACK

Web Site: Matt Kleve &

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jim Wheeler, '64, Board Chair

Pat Rosenow, '76, Vice Chair

Bill Stealey, '70, Treasurer

Michael Banks, '92, Secretary

Kevin Carmichael, '77

Steve Dotson, '63

Steve Finch, '65

Mike Flynn, '95

Allison Hickey, '80

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 of Graduates, U.S. Air Force Academy. (Phone: 719-472-0300, DSN: 3332067. FAX: 719-333-4194, E-mail: ediror@aogusafa. org.) A portion ofyour 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 mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Checkpoints Association of Graduates, Doolittle Hall, 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475.

Ihe Editorial Board serves the Checkpoints mission by providing a top quality magazine to the Air Force Academy’s broader community. Together, the editor, Director ofCommunications, Senior VP and the AOG CEO collaborate to ensure that all articles meet the standards of excellence readers have come to expect of Checkpoints. Ihe AOG reserves the right to publish or omit submissions at its discretion.

Opinionsexpressed in this magazine are those ofthe authors. hey do not necessarily reflect the opinions, policy or attitude of the AOG, its officers or the editorial staff. Ihe appearance ofadvertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by the AOG ofthe products or services advertised.

Copyright, Association of Graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy, June 2009.

Unopposed in Kentucky

I really enjoyed the piece in the March issue about the two grads who are in the Kentucky House of Representatives. Dave Floyd is my classmate and I’m pleased that two USAFA grads have taken on that civic responsibility here.

I don’t think there was a byline on the article but whoever pulled that together and got the photo of the two guys did a nice job.

I don’t know the other grad but Dave Floyd apparently does such a good job that he has been unopposed in his reelection efforts in the last two terms. That speaks very highly of him, I’d say. Congratulations on the good work.

Don Rightmyer

White Elections

Thank you for your June 2008 Checkpoints cover. The picture of the 1959 cadets and then 2008 cadets was stunning. As a female 1988 graduate, I was proud to see the transformation over the years and I know that good leaders made vital changes.

I was quite disappointed, however, with the recent Election Update in the March 2009 Checkpoints. There were twenty-two pictures ofcandidates and all were white males. Why are there no women and minority candidates? The AOG Board of Directors should be an inclusive group. I think it’s time to evaluate the process!

Kim (Green) Davis, Class of1988 Law as a Scapegoat?

The law—especially our Constitution—is not an inconvenience. After reading Frederick V. Malmstrom’s March 2009 Checkpoints article, The USAFA CheatingAffair of2004, one is left with the impression that the only obstacle standing in the way of a functioning Honor System is the Department of Law (DFL) and the “legal system.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

Each year attorneys from DFL dedicate over one thousand hours (on top of their regular teaching responsibilities) to help the Honor Division develop and evaluate cases, to serve as officer mentor or legal advisors on honor boards, and to assist cadet squadrons in honor education as Squadron Professional Ethics Advisors. I have witnessed the commitment by DFL faculty to the Honor System first-hand as a cadet, later as a faculty member, and now as a federal litigator who defends the Air Force from any lawsuits attacking the validity of an Honor Code violation.

Put simply, the efforts by these men and women advance the very highest ideals of our Academy and our Honor Code.

Furthermore, contrary to Professor Malmstrom’s assertion, cadets’ due process rights are not “inconveniences upon the Honor System.” Ensuring such rights are provided to every cadet accused of an Honor Code violation not only buttresses the Code itself but upholds another oath that cadets and officers swear—to the United States Constitution.

LinellA. Letendre, Class of1996

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.

Tony Marietta, ’70

^ As cadets and graduates of the 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.

rostens

CEO UPDATE

What I Didn’t Know

And how I learned how to “Fix It”

By William T Thompson, ’73

Agood friend and mentor of mine once told me that knowing what you don’t know can be as, or even more important, than what you know. “Knowing what you don’t know” means appreciating that your knowledge-base is inadequate. It doesn’t mean that you are unintelligent. In fact, it’s quite the contrary. It actually means that you are intelligent enough to realize that you are unaware and may need help, direction, or additional data before developing a strategy or taking action.

When I took this job I didn’t know much about alumni associations or fundraising for a major university. My experience with alumni associations was as a member ofthe AOG and my law school alumni association. My fundraising knowledge came from political campaigns and raising money for cause based charities. I did know that the AOG faced some major challenges and from conversations with my classmate, Gen. Regni, I came to appreciate that the fundraising structure at the Academy was disorganized and amorphous, at best. He clearly understood that the current structure was inadequate for the long term benefit ofthe Academy based on information obtained from his Mountain West Conference, American Council on Education, and service academy counterparts.

I also quickly discovered that there were a plethora ofopinions among grads about how these problems should be addressed. Now I mean no disrespect, but we all know that there are as many opinions as there are grads. I’ve also observed that many of the opinions are based on “feelings or emotion” and seldom based on a rigorous examination of the data or a meticulous assessment of the facts. While I’ll admit to having my own opinions, as well, I’ve also developed a habit of thoroughly investigating issues, particularly when I’m involved in the process of trying to solve them. I think my research tendency comes from both my legal background and having made some uninformed mistakes as an entrepreneur.

MY CORE CURRICULUM

So “knowing what I didn’t know” about these issues, I set about doing the research. I read articles in numerous publications such as, The Chronicle ofHigherEducation, The Chronicle ofPhilanthropy, and the StanfordSocial Innovation Review. I read books, including; Pragmatic

Fund-Raising for College Administrators and Development Officers, Enterprising Nonprofits; A Toolkit for Social Entrepreneurs, and Relationship Shift: Revolutionary Fundraising I found studies on the importance ofalumni engagement and the relationship between that engagement and alumni funding support. I read portions of the MIT Giving/Engagement Study, The Stanford Alumni Association Study, and the Report ofthe Alumni Relations Task Force ofthe University ofVirginia. And then I hit the Mother Lode ofresearch in this area when I found information on the Core Group Study.

Referenced in the University ofVirginia Report, the CORE Group is a private research organization that has been engaged by a consortium of 55 universities, colleges, and independent schools to collect data on development and alumni relations, to analyze relationships between actions and outcomes, and to draw conclusions about recommended approaches. The consortium includes such private universities as Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Stanford, Yale, and Penn, as well as such public universities as the University ofVirginia, Michigan, the University of CaliforniaBerkeley, UCLA, the University ofWashington, Penn State, and University ofTexas.

MY EDUCATION

I believe it’s fair to say, I learned a lot about the subject matter. I discovered that there are different business models for different types of nonprofit groups. I also learned that there is a distinct organizational structure required for both successful alumni engagement and raising funds in the university environment. I even learned that the lexicon in the nonprofit community is not a “business model’’ but a “funding model.”

Then I got down to serious business. I started making phone calls and talking to key leaders in both alumni associations and university development offices to get information straight from the source. I used, as points of focus, three different groups of universifies, each with a nexus to USAFA.

The first group consisted ofmembers of the Mountain West Conference, ofwhich, we are a member. My sample group included:

1. Colorado State

2. San Diego State

3. Texas Christian University (TCU), and

4. The University of Utah

The second group was composed ofselect “academically elite” schools across the country because we hold ourselves out as an “elite institution.” That group included:

1. Harvard

2. MIT

3. Stanford

4. Yale, and

5. Princeton

The final group consisted of our sister service academies. While I also spoke to my counterpart at the Coast Guard Academy, I focused on;

1. The Military Academy at West Point, and

2. The Naval Academy at Annapolis because of our similar size.

What I learned from my collective research was, in some ways, exceedingly simple, but more importantly, universally confirmed.

■ I discovered that, with minor variations, each institution used the same basic organizational structure and applied the same funding model.

West Point and Annapolis had minor variations for reasons I will shortly explain, but they also employed both the same basic structure and the identical funding model as their civilian counterparts.

■ Additionally, and most revealing was that every university using this approach had developed superior alumni engagement results, and were raising hundreds of millions, and even billions of dollars.

* Finally, I discovered from the studies that the institutions which had not previously employed the basic structure had all moved aggressively to do so over the past several years.

For example, the MIT study resulted in MIT’s Alumni Association being reorganized to place the alumni relations functions and the annual fund staffs under the leadership of a managing director. Greater alumni involvement led to greater philanthropic support and the succeeding jumps in both alumni engagement and development success where clearly documented.

The basic structure is illustrated in the following slide and has the key elements of a separate alumni function, a separate fundraising function with both under common senior management.

University Alumni Association Fund Raising Structure

Typical Model

Board of Trustees

Office of the President

Common SeniorManagement

Alumni Association

FrietidRaising

Cost Center

Institutional Development FundRaising

Revenue Generator

As previously noted, the data also revealed that all ofthe universities in the sample were employing the same funding model. According to the StanfordSIReview ofthe Stanford Graduate School ofBusiness, the name ofthe handing model for major universities is called the “Beneficiary Builder” model. Princeton uses it most effectively and boasts the highest alumni giving rate among national universities of 59.2 percent. t>

The following key components were common in the funding model of all of the schools researched

1. Alumni functions and fund-raising efforts, though functionally separate, were in close coordination because of “common senior management.”

2. Alumni organizations kept the graduates connected to the institution through the delivery ofvarious services which was called “friend-raising.” The relationship ofalumni engagement with the institution enabled development offices to be more effective at “fund-raising.”

3. Alumni functions were a cost center for the university. Most alumni organizations generated some level of revenue, through either dues or sales, but all needed additional funding for operations. The additional funding was budgeted by the senior management team and provided from other university revenue streams

4. Fund-raising efforts were a net revenue generator for the institution, with costs varying between approximately 12-30 percent. The excess revenue funded other university needs.

5. With minor exceptions, the development office controlled all fundraising because of the need to speak to the donor community with “one voice” for the institution. This eliminated donor confusion and enabled “targeted” focusing on donors’ interests.

TCU’s organizational structure and funding model was typical of the group and is presented for your reference in the diagram below.

USMAand USNA

As mentioned before, West Point and Annapolis had slightly different versions of the basic structure but retained the fundamental characteristics of separate alumni and fundraising functions, with common senior management. Their variations were due primarily to prohibitions on fundraising by federal institutions. The key differences of the service academies from the civilian universities were:

1. There were no alumni services or fundraising functions operated out of the Superintendent’s office.

2. Both of those functions were operated by 501(c) (3) organizations located at the academies.

3. The organizational structures and funding models were essentially the same as their civilian university counterparts, except one step removed from the Superintendent’s office.

University Alumni Association Fund Raising Structure USMA- West Point Association of Graduates Board of Trustees President & CEO Bob McClure, ’76 Common Senior Management VP for

Alumni Support VP of Development Jim Johnston, ’73 Brian Crockett, Rutgers FriendRaising Fund Raising Cost Center Revenue Generator 1.

Wall between the two” Bob McClure 2. Development run like a separate entity 3. Development

about

Board of Trustees Foundation Trustees

Joint Committees

1. Finance

2. Audit

3. Compensation

The Naval Academy’s approach is slightly more complex and requires a short history. Until the late 90s, their situation was similar to ours with competing fundraising organizations at their academy. Under the leadership of the Superintendent, Admiral Chuck Larson, and the heads of the various nonprofits, they were able to pull all of the organizations into one foundation. The diverse entities made certain accommodations and Annapolis ended up with two different organizations, the Alumni Association and the Foundation. Critically important however, is despite having two different organizations; they retained the key components of the basic structure that has been discussed-separate alumni and fundraising functions, under common senior management. Additionally, they employed the same funding model as the other universities, including West Point.

Joint committees bring the two organizations together, and the Foundation supplements the Alumni Association in the neighborhood of$2 million annually, again following the basic funding model as previously discussed (Diagram ofthe Navy structure above).

Though with variations, both West Point and Annapolis have successfully employed the components of the basic structure and funding model, and over the past ten years have each raised hundreds of millions of dollars. They have been able to fund major infrastructure projects, and increase alumni engagement and services which have benefited their institutions, the cadets and midshipmen, and the graduate community as a whole.

“FIXING” USAFA-MY OPINION

Until now I’ve only presented facts-facts that are researchable, immutable and incontrovertible. Now I’ll offer my opinion, and I hasten to add that it is only my opinion. But it is an objective opinion based on hours of research, countless conversations, and with no preconceived notion about what would work best. Remember, “I knew what I didn’t know.”

Today there are 7 different nonprofits, with no coordinated structure and different funding models, trying to raise money for the Air Force Academy. Compared to our sister service academies, (who are at the lower end of the major university fundraising scale) we are in a distant third place. In fact, with less than $30 million between us, and the lack of appreciation for the sophistication of organizational structure and proper funding model, by any objective measure, we would have to be considered third rate.

In my opinion, we should move decidedly and with all deliberate speed, to put in place both the organizational structure and funding model that I have discussed. They are both proven successes and the major universities have adopted them because, quite simply, they work. Stanford, MIT, the University ofVirginia and the Naval Academy have all changed their organizational structures in recent years to comport with the basic structure presented, with tremendous positive results. We should also use the Naval Academy experience as a guide because of

University Alumni Association Fund Raising Structure

U.S. Navel Academy Alumni Association & Foundation

Association

CEO, Byron Marchant, ’78 CFO, Flank Sanford Common Senior Management

Alumni Association FriendRaising Foundation Fund Raising

COO, Maj. Gen. Terry Murray, ’68

Foundation contributes EVP, Development Athletic & Scholarships $ 1 .7 - $2.3 million to Djck Johnson RADM Tom Lynch, ’64 Alumni Association y y

Cost Center Revenue Generator

our similarities with different competing organizations, and our common connection as sister service academies. The Air Force Academy model I recommend is illustrated below.

I’ve shared my opinions with the AOG Board, the Superintendent of the Air Force Academy (who has reached similar conclusions), and the Air Force Chief of Staff. I’ve made a presentation representing my views to the Class Advisory Senate and I share this vision with grads that I talk to “one on one.” I think it’s also important that I share these views in Checkpoints with you.

I do understand that moving in this direction will be difficult. It requires, for a number ofgrads, a broader vision and a new way of thinking. Some strongly held beliefs and various organizational interests will need to be put aside. It will also require working together for the betterment of the Academy and our collective organizations, and I know that in recent years, that has proven to be an elusive goal. Yet we have the responsibility and the obligation to do so, and now.

My friends at the Naval Academy tell me that their integration process was exceedingly difficult as well. But they recognized their problems, knew that the suggested solution was the right thing to do, and, most importantly, had the will and fortitude to get it done. They did so in less than 18 months and six years later were sitting on assets of approximately $250 million.

If we are to be true to our core values of; Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do, then we must solve this problem and do so in a well defined way.

■ Accept the truth and reality of our current situation-Integrity First

■ Put both organizational and self interest aside-Service Before Self

■ Adopt the structure and model universally recognized as the Standard-Excellence in All We Do

Ladies and Gentlemen, we can do this and we should do this; for the cadets, for the good of the Academy and, as graduates, for both our own benefit and self-respect. B

USAF Academy Association of Graduates & USAFA Foundation

AOG Board of

RESULTS OF 2009 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS ANNOUNCED

The 2009 Election of Directors ended on April 30, 2009 with 3118 members (12.89%) casting ballots. Congratulations to these winning candidates:

Four-year terms (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2013)

Vic Andrews, ’66

Roger Carleton, ’67

Rip Blaisdell, ’62

Brian Binn, ’72

Terry Storm, ’61

Two-year terms (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2011) to fill unexpired terms

Bob Munson, ’73

Mark Rosenow, ’03

Thank you, as well, to the other candidates who volunteered their time and service. We hope that you will consider running again in the future.

By Jim Wheeler, ’64 AOG Chairman of the Board

THE RESULTS OF THE 2009 AOG Board Election were released in early May and are reported elsewhere in this issue of Checkpoints. All ofthe Board candidates are highly qualified and dedicated graduates. As a result, we all had to make some very difficult decisions; but, while that was tough on us, it is a very good thing for the AOG. As we all should appreciate, the strength-and ultimately the success—ofany membership organization directly reflects the participation of its members and the hard work ofits elected leadership. On behalfofthe Board and the membership, I sincerely thank each ofthe Candidates for volunteering to serve and extend sincere congratulations to the new Directors.

Over the last two years, a recurring theme in this quarterly report to the membership has been ‘managing change.’ In fact, the entire tenure of the 2007 Board of Directors has been devoted to this task, and I can report to you that the process will continue for the 2009 Board.

Governance changes reflected in the AOG Bylaws adopted in 2006 are still being assimilated; a new governance model-Dr. John Carver’s Strategic Policy Governance-is being phased in; a new CEO has been hired; and the AOG staffhas been realigned to reflect operational requirements and economic imperatives. But, while these fundamental changes have been taking place, the AOG has continued to provide services to the members, support for the Academy, and active promotion ofthe traditions and heritage of our school.

Despite environmental and organizational headwinds along the way, the AOG staffcontinues to provide world class support for class reunions; the AOG remains the largest private support organization for the Academy; a more current and accurate RegisterofGraduates is now on-line; the AOG Web site is more refined and useful; an electronic election process has been implemented; and Checkpoints continues to be an informative and valuable quarterlypublication. In short, the AOG has been able to move forward and to fulfill all facets ofthe AOG Mission despite the unforeseen outside events that have compounded the challenges of‘managing change.’

During the tenure ofthe 2007 Board, the Academy has also witnessed a great deal ofchange and has regained a lot ofpositive momentum lost during the early years ofthis decade. The Superintendent, John Regni, ’73, has been a strong advocate ofprogressive change for the Academy and leaves behind the seeds for even more changes as he retires this summer. The AOG Board wishes him and Debby well in their retirement and welcomes Mike Gould, ’76, as the 18th Academy Superintendent.

Given the unprecedented circumstances the AOG, the Academy, and our nation face at present, some members have suggested that the AOG Board should prioritize the three parts ofthe AOG Mission and allocate resources accordingly. But, the Board has resisted this path because the Mission elements-providing graduate services, supporting the Academy, and promotingAcademy heritage and traditions-are so closely intertwined that attempting to prioritize one over another could be a frustrating and futile exercise. To illustrate: by providing alumni services and fostering heritage awareness, the AOG helps create an environment that cultivates donors who support projects to enhance the Academy and the Cadet experience. So, iflooked at strategically, the elements ofthe AOG Mission are not mutually exclusive and do not lend themselves to a 1-2-3 ranking. At the same time, there can be no doubt that the Board must make tactical decisions among competing programs, projects, and good ideas that cut across all parts ofthe AOG Mission.

Consider these items extracted from the “to do” list that the 2009 Board will inherit:

—Conduct a comprehensive review ofthe AOG Bylaws and present recommendations for AOG Bylaws changes to the membership

-Design and implement programs to increase AOG membership

-Increase member participation in the AOG-nationally and locally

-Improve, enhance, and expand the AOG chapter program

-Improve AOG communications with the membership, the USAFA community, and the USAF

We could debate where the emphasis should fall and what other topics could be added to the list, but the reality is that the AOG Board will make management decisions based on the best information available, including input received from the membership. The obvious conclusion is that YOU have a role to play in the future of our AOG. Find the time to get informed, take the time to convey your views and opinions to your Class Senator, be active in local chapters do your part to help the AOG realize its potential.

Our membership voted in two referendums and two Board Elections between 2005 and 2007 to return the AOG to a membercentric organization committed to a three part Mission, to operate with transparency, and to be governed by an accountable Board of Directors. Over the last two years we have made progress towards these goals, but the challenge persists. Resolution ofcontinuing differences about fundraising practices and governance styles will be elusive until we can get everyone on the same page once again. Fortunately, we all share a deep commitment to our school and to each other; and, it is time for us to use that as the basis for working together. A final observation: Air Force Academy graduates are a tough and diverse audience, but I would bet real money that we can reach a consensus on a vision for the AOG that calls for an important, relevant, and respected Association that occupies a position ofinfluence within the Air Force Academy Family.

Have a great summer H

Northwestern Preparatory School

“Northwestern

me with

foundation that raised

The Air Force Academy Admissions Diversity Focus In

Response to the

Cadet Wing Diversity Plan

By Col Chevalier “Chevy” Cleaves, 85

n an increasingly competitive global environment, the ultimate suecess ofthe United States Air Force depends largely upon diversity ofthought, background, talent, demographics and organization. In

April 2008, Lt. Gen. John Regni, the Aar Force Academy Superintendent, signed the first-ever Cadet Wing Diversity Plan, identifying the Academy’s recruiting objectives and diversity initiatives.

Over the past year, the Academy Admissions staff has worked tirelessly to execute the Superintendent’s diversity vision. Although other areas of advancement exist, such as force/cadet development, retention and accountability, the primary responsibility ofAcademy Admissions is cadet accessions.

USAFA STRATEGIC GOAL 4

Enhancefaculty, staffand cadet diversity. Ensure we have thefaculty, staffand cadet diversity to broaden the cadet learning environment andprepare USAFA graduates to lead in a global expeditionary Air Force. We will use our totalforce expertise to expose our cadets to new ideas, beliefs and experiences while emphasizing language and culture to enhance their worldview

ADMISSIONS STRATEGIC GOAL 3

Expand the diversity ofthe USAFA cadet wing to better educate and trainfuture officers expected to serve and lead in a diverse and expeditionaryforce.

Since the Cadet Wing Diversity Plan was introduced, the Admissions Directorate’s principal focus has been to build initiatives linked to the cadet portion of the strategic goals highlighted above. On our behalf, we’d like to share with the graduate community the Cadet Wing Diversity Plan.

Cadet Wing Diversity Plan Summary

The diversity plan highlights the importance ofexposing cadets to a broad range ofideas and experiences. The goal is for cadets to live amongst many others with dissimilar backgrounds, which will “compel them to examine their personal assumptions and philosophies in contrast to those ofothers.” Having a richly diverse environment will help enable cadets to see the best qualities, strengths and perspectives ofeach individual, regardless ofhis or her background.

The plan further explains the importance of diversity in terms of our expeditionary military force because we operate in a global environment with many other nations and a wide variety of threats. Academy graduates need to be prepared to lead a diverse military force with people of every culture and view.

Oftentimes, diversity is thought to comprise only race, ethnicity and gender. However, the Cadet Wing Diversity Plan broadly outlines diversity as a composite of individual characteristics that includes personal life experiences, geographic background, socioeconomic background, cultural knowledge, educational background, work background, language abilities, physical abilities, philosophical/spiritual perspectives, age, race, ethnicity and gender.

Identifying Candidates

Admissions Marketing and Media received funding to advertise in prominent minority, urban and rural media outlets. We continue to revamp material annually to ensure it appeals to the current generation ofmiddle and high school students ofvarious backgrounds.

We are also increasing emphasis via the Diversity Affairs Coordinators (86 specialized Admissions Liaison Officers, or ALOs, with specific diversity responsibilities—situated in 67 locations

nationwide) who identify, mentor and evaluate specific local candidates through the Academy application process.

We’ve identified target populations as first generation college students, students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, students from academically disadvantaged backgrounds, enlisted Airmen, USAFA Prep School students, female candidates, Falcon Foundation students and racial/ethnic minorities.

Outreach

Admissions Tours host students and parents every year, August through May. This includes a 45-minute briefing by Admissions. Afterwards, students spend the day with a cadet while parents are given a two-hour guided tour of the cadet area.

Appointee Orientation is hosted three times in April to better acquaint appointees with the Academy. We identify students with economic needs and utilize gift funds to help offset the cost of attending orientation. In the future, we will also host an Appointee Orientation Diversity Mixer, designed to provide a forum for candidates and parents to address their concerns.

Building partnerships with national groups such as the Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucuses and the USAFA Minority Alumni Organizations is another important step towards diversity outreach. Diversity Affairs Coordinator (DAC) conferences and educator orienrations also allow Admissions staff to meet educators face to face and provide insights into the Academy’s selection process.

Strategic Initiatives

The USAFA Congressional Nominations Operations Plan is designed to provide assistance to Members ofCongress who wish to improve their nomination programs. It provides program knowledge, best prac-

rices and subject matter experts to facilitate constituent engagement.

The Academy Congressional Liaison Office is coordinating a congressional engagement plan that includes all service academy education opportunities created for Members ofCongress.

The Service Academy Diversity Conference is coordinated by Academy Admissions to share best practices, while synchronizing efforts in key geographic locations. The Strategic Cities Diversity Initiative identified seven key cities (Chicago, New York, Baltimore, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles) where we will create focused partnerships between all service academies (USAFA is lead), the school districts, community-based organizations, congressional offices and other strategic partners. We expect to use this effort to demystify college access and increase the pipeline ofqualified candidates.

This is a fairly broad overview of our current activity to accomplish the accessions portion of diversity. Cultural intelligence and the respect for human dignity resonate within our service’s core values of integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do. The ultimate reason for success in accomplishing our mission is and will remain partnership.

If you would like to partner with us, or if you would like to support our efforts when we are in your area, please contact Lt. Col Jeffery Lum at jeffery.lum@usafa.edu.

For a complete list ofAcademy Admissions diversity initiatives, visit https://admissions.usafa.edu/USAFA_Admissions_Diversity_Focus.doc.

The Fabric of our Graduation Parchment

Discussing the value of our service academies

By Michael Isherwood, '82

EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS OPINION PIECE WAS WRITTEN IN RESPONCE TO THE APRIL 2009 WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE “WHY WE SHOULD GET RID OF WEST POINT,” BY THOMAS RICKS. TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE, VISIT: WWW.WASHINGTONPOST.COM

n the Colorado summer’s sun, we were doing push-ups while Jack, our classmate, tried to remember the top fighter ace of the Korean War. Our first summer and only a few days into our Academy experience, we were learning about ‘class unity’sticking by someone no matter what.

It’s a part ofthe Academy education that is unmatched. Thomas Ricks recently challenged that closing the service Academies could save money since they cost twice what a 4-year diploma costs for an ROTC graduate. And, he suggests, the faculty is dumber than those at Princeton or Harvard.

Interesting discussion that comes up routinely; but he’s missing the value of the service academies. It’s not just the grade point

and parchment. (The Rhodes Scholars from the Academies should dispel the myth that their grads are less intellectually prepared.) The enduring value of the Academies is that they are a commitment by our nation to the best values of our society—a merit-based institution that instills service to others.

IfAmerica is the ‘land of opportunity,’ the academies are institutions of opportunity. Young men and women gain admission based on their performance in high school-grades, sports, extracurricular activities—all the start of the renaissance person.

You can’t buy your way into an Academy; you compete. My roommates my first two years were sons of a retired officer and a salesman. Neither roommates’ parents could have made donations significant enough to gain a Congressman’s attention. And me? The product of Michigan’s foster care program with a 3.9 GPA and a half dozen varsity letters. Like my classmates, I never heard why my Congressman picked me.

We came from all across America—small towns, inner cities, suburbs and farms. We were a cross section of our society-race, ethnic, sex, and economic group.

Once at the Academy, the expectations were clear: Perform. You had to study, learn and master the subject matter. A friend started Arizona State the same year. He had 3 tutors for freshman English-they wrote his papers so he could get through. For me, if my paper was written on a computer, I was not allowed to use spellcheck; so stringent was the standard that I do my own work.

That was part of the Honor Code. Sure, Harvard and Stanford have honor codes, but not like the one where cadets ran it. Not to lie, cheat or steal become part of our psyche. The occasional discussion and infrequent requirement to sit on an honor board to determine the fate of a fellow cadet made each person wrestle with ethical issues unlike any other institution allows.

Finally, there was leadership. A ‘leadership laboratory’ it’s often called. You spend four years thinking about it and experimenting with styles. By the time we left, we realized that good leaders had character, vision and treated each person with dignity.

The benefit to our service is that for the first 10 years, graduates bring these experiences to the force after having them forged into their lives by living in the incubator that the Academies are— tightly knit, intense and never able to escape the program. After four years of Perform, Integrity and Lead, you have an officer different from any other. Not better, different.

I am glad that every 4-star general is not an Academy grad. It reinforces that the services are merit-based institutions too-no one is ordained to greatness based on what happened when they were 19 or 20 years of age.

Photo by Mike Kaplan

So what about those push-ups I and a dozen of my classmates were doing for Jack, the guy who couldn’t remember anything? In a place where the best of our communities came together, the message was: pool our talents to help others. I could run. Kevin was physically strong. Dave had a brilliant mind.

“Class unity” made us realize the faster we helped Jack learn the basic knowledge or overcome a physical challenge, the sooner we’d stop doing an annoying task. The real message we learned was to use our individual skills to help others. In the process, we set aside our interests for the well-being of someone else.

This is the unspoken ethos of the Academies-service to others. And whether the graduates spend 5 years or 35 years on active duty, our communities have returned to them men and women who place a commitment to others high on their daily to-do list.

Some serve the community while still in uniform, like Arden who helped with a pregnancy crisis center and unwed mothers. But when

they leave uniform, many grads find time (and the need) to continue that service to others. Kay helps new arrivals learn English. Tom travels to South America on a mission to build homes. I help deliver medical aid to war-torn eastern Burma.

My “civilian” friends often hear these stories and say: Wow! That’s neat. How do you do it?

I think: how can I not?

The Academy gave me the opportunity to concentrate on performance, integrity, leadership and most ofall-service. Neither Georgia Tech, Yale nor Columbia produces an entire graduating class that has these elements as a fabric oftheir graduation parchment.

And no other institution produces graduates who live a commitment to others in such a high percentage.

In the land of opportunity, the Academies are America’s investment in itself. S

AOG Corporate Sponsors

Join us in helping current and future graduates of the Academy receive the best service we can possibly give them! Become a corporate sponsor.

It is a cost-effective way for you to communicate to your target audience that you stand behind what we do here at the United States Air Force Academy.

While you support us and what America’s greatest service Academy has to offer, we give you the tools and means to get your company or organization’s name out to the public in the best way possible. A corporate sponsorship is very versatile and gives you many ways and forms to get your company the attention it needs.

Exciting Changes Coming for USAFA Athletics

Dr. HanS Mueh, ’66

IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS GETTING TO BE OLD NEWS, SINCE I’VE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, BUT AS SIT WAITING FOR THE START OF AN AIR FORCE-NORTHERN COLORADO BASEBALL GAME ON A BEAUTIFUL APRIL AFTERNOON, I’M ALSO STARING AT A COPY OF A HOUSE RESOLUTION, AS YET UNNUMBERED. AT THE TOP IT SAYS, “TO AMEND TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE, TO AUTHORIZE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NONPROFIT CORPORATION TO SUPPORT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM OF THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY”

Thanks to the CSAF, Gen Schwartz, the SECAF, Mr. Donley, and in particular, Ms. Loretta Director of Athletics Sanchez (D), California, a member of our Board ofVisitors, this might actually happen. In fact, my hope is that by the time you read this, it will have been passed. When that happens, the Athletic Department will never be the same, and will allow support for our great cadetathletes that we’ve never been able to give until now. More to follow in future additions of Checkpoints. In the meantime, I’ll try to highlight some ofthe great things that transpired since the last edition.

It has been a phenomenal year for Air Force athletics. A very young Air Force football team qualified for its second straight bowl game and set a school record for most MWC wins in backto-back years with 11. The team finished 8-5 overall and finished fourth in the MWC with a 5-3 mark, and we may have seen the next great Air Force quarterback in a young man from Georgia named Tim Jefferson. The team won 17 games in two years and played in its second Armed Forees Bowl. Head Football Coach Troy Calhoun is the second-winningest coach in the 100-plus years ofservice academy football in his first two years, collecting a 17-9 record. Spring ball went well and was highlighted by very spirited defensive play. Coach Calhoun actually sat out his starting

quarterback, the one I mentioned above, to concentrate on his grades. Can you imagine that happening at any other Div I university? That’s probablywhy our football team finished #2 in the nation (one point behind Stanford) in the Academic Progress Rate. Nice going, Coach Calhoun.

Hockey came within a mystery goal in double overtime ofmaking it to the Frozen Four (you can read the special section in Checkpoints dedicated to them). They also won their first ever Atlantic Hockey America regular season title, swept the AFiA Frozen Four in Rochester with two shutouts, and then shut out a very good Michigan team 2-0 in the NCAA round of 16. It was a total team effort but many players also received individual recognition. C3C Jacques Lamoureux was the offensive player ofthe year in the ALLA and a first team All-American, C2C Andrew Volkening was the top goaltender in the AFiA, and C1C Greg Flynn was the top defensive player in the AHA and a third team All-American. Now here’s “the rest ofthe story!” After the Falcons won the AHA Conference Tournament, C2C Matt Fairchild was awarded the MVP Trophy. Without hesitation, Matt skated over to C2C Andrew Volkening, who had recorded two shutouts in the competition, and gave him the trophy. Class, nothing but class. That’s who we are at the Air Force Academy. I’m so proud ofthem, words fail me.

Men’s Swimming had a good year but managed to save the best for last and swam a record number ofpersonal bests to finish second in the Mountain West Conference Championship. Junior diver Kyle Van Valkenburg won his second straight conference title in men’s platform diving. Sophomore Benjamin Gunn set a total ofsix school records at the 2009 MWC swimming championships while leading the team to that second-place finish. Senior Jane Hwang set three school records at the women’s MWC swimming championships.

Indoor Track and Field was in a horse race for second and wound up third in the Mountain West Conference. Outdoor track is still competing at a high level and will make a real run at the championship in Laramie in May. Highlighted by six event titles, the Air Force men’s track and field team successfully defended its title at the second annual Front Range Classic on Saturday, May 2, in Boulder, Colo. Despite cold and wet conditions,

the Falcons easily defeated their five other local opponents. C2C Sara Neubauer won the hammer throw with an impressive toss of 182’8,” won the discus with a toss of 164’7,” and took second in the shot with a throw of47’ 11 14.” The hammer mark, a personal improvement by nearly 20 feet, bested the rest ofthe field by eight feet. In just her first year ofthrowing the hammer, the junior easily broke the Falcons’ nine-year-old record of 177’11 set by Tara Copas. There are so many highlights from this amazing (and young) track and field team that I could fill up this article with individual records. Instead, I encourage you to go to www.goairforcesports.com for your daily fix ofgreat performances in all sports by the greatest young men and women in America.

Men’s Basketball had a tough year but finished strong at the end and won its first ever tournament game since joining the Mountain West Conference. The future looks bright as this young team matures and plays with more and more confidence and instinct like the great NCAA and NIT teams that recently graduated. Our recruiting class in basketball for this year was ranked #61 out of 330 Div I teams, so that bodes well as JeffReynolds and our great coaching staff continue to find the best young men for the Academy.

Both gymnastics teams had phenomenal seasons with many peak performances. Coach Kip Simons has done a great job of improving the competitive level of the men’s team and is recruiting some incredibly talented cadets. Three members of the Air Force men’s gymnastics team were named to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation All-Academic Team. Senior Jake Schonig, junior Brennan Wolford and sophomore Aaron Zaiser were the Falcons’ representatives on the academic all-conference squad. Imagine being the Wing Commander at the Air Force Academy and trying to maintain your skill as a Div I champion on the still rings. That’s what Jake Schonig pulled off last fall, and he did a superb job as Wing Commander. At the team banquet, C4C Jacob Houder was the top award winner, earning the Most Valuable Player award as well as the Freshman ofthe Year honor. The native of Pinehurst, Texas, became the first freshman in the 53-year history ofthe Falcons’ program to earn the program’s highest honor.

The future looks bright as a handful offreshmen and sophomores were honored.

Coach Doug Day has produced an exciting women’s gymnastics team. This season, the only senior on the team lived up to expectations as C1C Abbey Rogers earned her second consecutive team MVP award, only the third Academy woman gymnast to achieve that honor. Rogers capped an amazing collegiate career with her second straight MPSF Gymnast of the Year award and three conference tities. The senior, who earned an invitation to the NCAA Regional Championships, paced the Falcons with four all-conference selections. She posted the squad’s highest total of the year on every event, while collecting three MPSF Gymnast of the Week awards and 16 first-place finishes. The native of Pittsburgh, Pa., who upped her career-best scores in three of the four individual events, as well as the all-around, also received numerous academic awards. Rogers earned academic all-conference honors, a place on the USAG All-Academic Team and a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. After a stellar first season, C4C Jenna Dudley earned the Falcons’ Most Outstanding Freshman Award, as well as the Most Consistent Award. Dudley, who was selected to the NCAA Regional Championships, earned USAG All-America honors in the allaround. This very young team will continue to grow under Doug’s leadership, and the future is bright.

Both soccer teams continue to improve and will benefit from strong recruiting classes. We’re still looking for that magical striker (or two) who will make all the difference for both the men’s and the women’s teams, and maybe this is the year. We’ve always played great defense, so a few key players up front will make all the difference. The women are having some early scoring success based on the few games I watched this spring. We had one of those magical strikers when I was playing. His name is Jim Thames, ’66, and he still holds a few records here. On the honors side, ClC Roni Yadlin earned an NCAA and Oxford postgraduate scholarship and was honored for her academics as the Colorado Sportswoman of the Year. For the team of the future, C4C Bridgett Murphy became the first women’s soccer

player to earn all-MWC honors as a freshman. Things are looking up.

Baseball just won that game I went out to watch (I love my life!) against the University of Northern Colorado, 8-3, and have already won 14 games in this young season, with road wins at UNLV and BYU and a victory against UNLV here. They are still young but improving rapidly. Coach Hutcheon and his assistants are doing a good job of developing this team. Pitching

is always an issue with us, but the pitching staff is improving, and we’re winning a few close games. We will return all of the hitters next year, and we’ve recruited some good young pitchers to compliment the good staff we have already. One of my high priority items is to build a baseball stadium that the players and the Academy can be proud of (ifyou build it, they will come?). We’re making some significant changes after this season in the form of a new FieldTurf for the whole field, not just the infield. That construction will start on 1 June and will also include a new 30’ fence in right field and a 13’ fence in left. We will thread some see-through fencing material through that new fence loaded with Falcon stuff, and we’ll have a batter’s eye in center field. It’ll be beautiful and a start to the stadium of the future.

Now let me talk about our amazing lacrosse team. They had a year that you plan for but rarely realize. It was almost like the perfect storm. We played some tough games early and had a mediocre record going into Great Western Lacrosse League play. Then the senior leadership on the team stepped up and brought us a 4-1

record in the league, the only loss against #4 ranked Notre Dame. We beat a good Ohio State team at USAFA in a snowstorm in April, went to the Final Four in the conference before losing to that same Ohio State team in a tough, close match. My hat’s off to Erik Seremet and his staff for leading the team to a record standing in the league. Our great long-time coach, Fred Acee, the man who brought Air Force lacrosse to a new level of national

mance of one of our fencers. To quote, “... The cadet was suffering from a torn ligament in her knee, yet she fenced every bout to the end. She won some fights and she lost some. When she left the strip there was always a smile on her face; a happy warrior. To me she reflected the finest traditions ofthe United States Air Force Academy and the finest traditions ofall Americans. The cadet’s name was Simone Barrette The Air Force Academy must be a very special place.” How right

prominence, turned over the reins to Erik this season, but Erik will be the first to tell anyone who listens that we wouldn’t have been where we were in the conference this year without Fred. Six Air Force players were honored as members of the Great Western Lacrosse League’s 2009 all-league team. The six all-conference selections are the most in program history, while three first-team honorees match an all-time best. We will be transitioning to the East Coast Athletic Conference Lacrosse League (ECAC) for lacrosse in 2009-10 and will be in a league with Bellarmine, Denver, Ohio State, Quinnipiac, Fairfield, Hobart, and Loyola. It’s a better match for us and will be a solid eight team league.

I mentioned fencer Peter French in the last Checkpoints article, and during halftime of a basketball game on 3 Feb, an NCAA administrator came out to present him with his Division I Sportsmanship Award - the first for an Academy athlete, but certainly not the last. Fencing continues to do well—with three fencers qualifying for nationals—but more importantly, represents all of us well. I received a letter from a dentist from Arlington, Texas, who commented on the perfor-

he is. The man had two daughters fencing in the NCAA Fencing Finals at Penn State against our team. By the way, Cadet Simone Barrette is a four degree.

A very young Air Force wrestling team continues to improve, and team captain C1C Stephen Crozier (Monona, Iowa) has been named to the 2008-09 Western Wrestling Conference all-conference team. Crozier is also a three-time academic all-conference selection. Coach Joel Sharratt has done a great job ofbuilding this team and they will be a force in the conference over the next few years. One other thing about this upcoming team—they were honored as one ofeight teams to lead their conference in Academic Progress Rate (APR), the top NCAA measurement for academic success. Congratulations to the wrestlers.

I will run out of space in this article long before I run out of things to say about our cadets and coaches, so I will again encourage you to go to www.goairforcefalcons.com for a daily dose ofwhat I get to experience every day. On to a couple of extra items.

Construction on our aging facilities is proceeding at a rapid pace. I have attached

a few pictures of the amazing climbing wall complex, new team locker rooms, sauna and steam rooms, PE locker rooms, etc. It will give some idea of the complexity of the project. One of the most interesting construction projects involved the old squash courts at the north end of the water polo pool. The Centerre Company, prime contractor for this construction, took two courts, cut the 18 inches of concrete between them, poured a concrete floor half

way up the 20 foot-high space and recovered all sorts of dead space to give the Human Performance Laboratory a 4000 sq ft state-of-the-art research facility on the level just north of the windows overlooking the water polo pool, twice the space it has now.

On the level below them, the same amount ofspace is allocated to water polo team lockers, team meeting rooms, diving team practice room, the amazing climbing wall room, and loads ofstorage space. The long-term renovation, a seven-year project that were two years into, will give the cadets the quality oflife and fitness space they deserve. The gym was designed to last 40 years and was finished in 1962, so we were a little behind in the renovation. Eventually, we will dig underground about six grids to the west ofthe gym (the same distance as the indoor tennis complex on the east side-I love symmetry!) to give the 3000 or so nonintercollegiate athletes more space to train. Later, when we get another $16M or so, well finish offthe top part to mirror the six grids above ground on the east side ofthe gym. Fitness has changed drastically since I was a cadet. Aerobic fitness was for track and field athletes—now it’s for everybody, and

everybody is doing it on machines. We have the machines scattered throughout the gym in every nook and cranny, including those monster doubles squash courts nobody uses anymore. Eventually, when the dust finally settles in 2014, we will have a state-of-the-art physical fitness complex second to none, and the cadets and staffwill have an unparalleled quality oflife in athletics.

There are a few other projects of note. The Indoor Practice Facility (IPF) is still on track,

coached the only undefeated Air Force football team, ’58; Jim Bowman, 49 years in USAFA athletics as coach and Associate AD for Recruiting, 13,000 athletes under his watch. A public thanks to Derm Coll and his great Marketing and Development staff for putting this event together and to Dave Kellogg, my Director of the Hall of Excellence and Hall of Fame, for one of the most professional and beautiful tributes to our exceptional graduates.

but the economy has probably delayed the construction as the USAFA Endowment folks seek additional funding. We are certainly indebted to the UE for their efforts on our behalfand are confident that we will have the building within a few years. I’ve attached an architects rendition ofthe project. The most recent addition came as a windfall from government dollars in the form of a new center ice scoreboard and a huge video board that will make our hockey games even more exciting. The sound system that came with it will rock the rafters.

For those of you who were fortunate enough to attend the induction ceremony for our latest class of Hall of Fame inductees, you were treated to one of the most memorable events in recent history. What a class! Ernie Jennings, ’71, Consensus AllAmerican wide receiver; Terry Isaacson, ’64, 3-time All-American Wrestler, 8th in Heisman Trophy balloting at quarterback; Dee Dowis, ’90, WAC Offensive Player of the Year, 6th in Heisman Trophy balloting; Callie (Calhoun) Molloy, ’91, 5-time NCAA Div II National Champion in Track & Field, 11-time All-American; Ben Martin, Father ofAir Force Football,

Finally, my selection committee has chosen the Top-6 award winners for the Department ofAthletics for the 20082009 season. Scholar Athlete, ClC Michael Phillipich (Ice Hockey); Athletic Excellence, ClC Sean Houseworth (T&F); Athletic Leadership, ClC Griffin Nevitt (Lacrosse); Athletic Achievement, ClC Greg Flynn (Ice Hockey); Men’s MVP, C3C Jacques Lamoureux (Ice Hockey); and Women’s MVP, ClC Abigail Rodgers (Gymnastics). These will all be presented at the Individual Awards Ceremony on Monday ofJune Week. What a strong group of performers in all aspects ofAcademy life, and the three hockey players are a reflection of the amazing season the hockey team had. There are no better ambassadors for the Air Force Academy.

That’s enough for now. The AOG is going to have to whittle this down to fit Checkpoints magazine, but I thank them for giving me the chance to do this every year. It’s a good way for me to reflect on the past year of competition, and what a year it’s been. I still have the best job in America. H

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PLYR PENALTY PLYR PENALTY SHOTS ON GOAL PLAYER PENALTY PLATER PENALTY

he Air Force Academy welcorned another successful Founder’s Day with the appointment of two new 2008 Distinguished Graduates. Celebrating a lifetime of achievement in both military and civilian leadership, Maj. Gen. Don Shepperd, Class of 1962, and John Martinson, Class of 1970, stood before friends and family to receive this top honor for Academy graduates.

After leaving the Academy in 1962, Don Shepperd built a 36-year career as an Air liaison officer, flight instructor, forward air controller, squadron commander, and finally, Director of the Air National Guard at the Pentagon. After 9-11, Shepperd spent time as a news consultant for CNN.

“I had dreamed about being a pilot and flying ever since I was about four years old,” Shepperd

FOUNDERS DAY2009

recalled. “The Air Force Academy gave me everything I needed to fulfill my dream. It gave me the opportunity to become a pilot, to fly fighters, to go to war and to do things in civilian life. It instilled the values and the knowledge which set the basis for the rest of my life. I look at the Academy experience as having given me the opportunity and the foundation to be a responsible human being.”

A 1970 grad, John Martinson took his commission and flew more than 500 North Vietnam missions out of Korat Royal Thai Air Base, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross as a captain. Upon returning home from the service, he turned his professional efforts towards the world of business. Armed with an MS in Astronautics from Purdue University and an MBA from Southern Illinois University, he founded Edison Venture Fund in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Edison invested over $700 million in 160 software companies, completing 13 IPOs and 90 successful exits.

In addition to his career achievements, Martinson has a long history ofcommunity service and sponsorship in the academic world. He is a primary contributor to the Air Force Academy’sJust-In-Time teaching methodology, which utilizes a combination oftechnology and web-based applications to build curriculums.

With glasses raised to honor those who have given their lives to the creed of Service Before Self, senior Academy officials, friends and family celebrated Founders Day among the role models who exemplify all that USAFA has to offer. S

ALTON PARRISH | CFO

FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE AOG

I really enjoy working in a new part of the accounting industry, with a new company, a new accounting system and a new staff-because new challenges equal growth.

GREATEST CHALLENGE

Adapting quickly to the changing national economic condition and the impact it has on the AOG.

WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF WORK?

I like to read a good novel or watch TV. I’m also planning an annual foreign vacation since I’ve missed traveling to distant shores after retiring from the Air Force Reserve.

MOTTO

As I’ve always told my children, “There isn’t anything in life you can’t accomplish if you really want to as long as you’re willing to put in the time and the money to make it happen.”

ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES STAFF PROFILES '

don McCarthy | member services

FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE AOG

Interacting with my customers (cadets, parents and alumni).

GREATEST CHALLENGE

Convincing my customers of the benefits of membership with declining economy.

► WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF WORK?

Volunteer for Mill Dog Rescue. Spend time with my grandkids. Camping. (Alright RV-ing)

MOTTO

“If you don’t want to stand behind our troops you’re welcome to stand in front of them ...”

JENNIFER GANZLER | ALUMNI RELATIONS EVENT COORDINATOR

FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE AOG

I enjoy working with a creative, collaborative and innovative team. I am pleased to be part of a hard-working and supportive group!

GREATEST CHALLENGE

It can be challenging trying to meet the needs of a variety of people. It’s not easy to please everybody but I will certainly do my best to try!

WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF WORK?

Spending time with my 4-year-old son, cooking, Yoga, going to the movies, gathering with family and friends, and continuing to explore this beautiful state!

MOTTO

“Make it Work!”

THE CLASS OF 1959 RETURNS TO USAFA FOR THEIR 50TH REUNION

Meeting the half-century mark sets the latest milestone in the legacy of the Air Force Academy. The youngest of the nation’s three primary military institutions, the Academy has stood up to the challenges of the last 50 years with pride and honor. In April of this year, graduates from the Class of 1959 returned to USAFA to shake hands with old friends, laugh over distant memories and remember the years of perseverance which have brought them through both war and peace to forge their alma-mater into one of the greatest institutions of this era.

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY

LEWIS CARLYLE

Checkpoints caught up with two members of the Class of 1959— Maj. Gen. Pete Todd, the first Academy grad to become a general officer, and Lt. Gen. Brad Hosmer, the first Academy grad to become Superintendent—to learn how USAFA has evolved from its humble beginnings into the premiere service academy of today. What many people don’t know is that the first generation of cadets actually reported to Lowry Air Force Base. It was not until August of 1958 that the Cadet Wing marched onto the property that is now the Air Force Academy. Both Todd and Hosmer speak fondly of their experiences as cadets, more than 50 years ago

“I can remember back in the late fall of 1954,” recalls Todd, “I was in a high school class when the public address system came on: anyone who wants to get out of history class this afternoon can attend a briefing about this new school.’”

Like many young Americans in 1954, the option of going to college was not a financial reality for Todd. “And here was this guy who had brought the answers to my dreams,” he recites fondly. “There’s a new school. They pay you to attend, they buy your books for you and you have a job when you graduate. I was a young kid, and like many kids of that era, I didn’t have a clue of what I wanted to do with my life. I was aimless. At the time, I had no premonitions of becoming an officer in the Air Force. I sort of stumbled into my life that October day.”

Todd’s appointment to the Academy landed him on a flight to Colorado the following year. “I’d never been on an airplane before

coming out here (by the way I got violently ill on the flight out to Colorado, so I was having second thoughts about this aviation avocation it was not an auspicious beginning, but I showed up and I was going to go through with it).”

Today, new cadets arriving for BCT are trained by the upper classmen, or cadet cadre. Yet for the pioneering Class of 1959, a different set of instructors awaited them. “When I first arrived,” Gen. Hosmer describes, “this was the day before basic training, I met with an Air Training Officer—very spiffy, knife-creased khakis, white gloves—who was very friendly and open. Before leaving, I heard a fellow cadet say to the ATO, ‘Thank you sir. I’ll see you tomorrow.’ And the ATO replied, ‘no, you probably won’t, but I’ll see you. And you’ll know I’m there ...’”

Maj. Gen. Todd’s first impressions reflect those of his classmate.

“Before I met the Air Training Officers I didn’t have any nervousness,” Todd says smiling. “I was kid from the wrong side of the tracks in Washington DC. The next 36 hours were a bit of a blur. We were given, by design, a shock treatment for In-processing. What I didn’t know was that at 4p.m. that afternoon, we were going to march out as a Cadet Wing for the dedication ceremony. Here we are, three hundred and seven kids who had never marched togetherv those ATOs whipped us into shape and we looked pretty good fear can be a powerful motivator.”

The infamous Jacks Valley was not yet in operation, yet the training was no less rigorous. “I had a very steep learning curve as a

The Class of 1959 eagerly awaits the unveiling of the Harmon Memorial Statue Dedication.

young cadet,” Todd says. “I knew nothing about the military. I didn’t know how to wear a uniform. I wasn’t even shaving yet! I was the third youngest kid in my class, just a little over 17. My Air Training Officers kept yelling at me because I didn’t shave! In the early days of Basic Cadet Training I was hanging on by my fingernails. I wasn’t in particularly good shape, but I wasn’t helpless. The physical side was demanding. I remember having a lot ofdifficulty with the obstacle course. There was something about that ten foot wall that always defeated me. I would come charging up at that thing, hit it and fall back down. I’ll never forget the frustration I felt trying to get over that wall. I seemed to be a halfstep behind the whole way.”

Todd’s years at the Academy, however, slowly began to shape him not only as an officer, but as an individual, a sentiment echoed throughout the generations of graduates who have left these grounds to face both military and civilian careers. For the first generation of cadets, leaving a legacy has set the stones for others to build upon. Gen. Hosmer explains, “Most of the things we had a hand in starting have predominantly survived. The Honor Code, for instance, still remains a central foundation which cadets will bring into their service after the Academy.”

“I came to the Academy as an unfocused young kid,” says Todd. “Afterwards, I came out with the perception that this was something I could do for the rest of my life. There was something about the ethos of the Academy and the values of the military life that resonated with me.” D>

* j!■ '-'i

Kendrick Harmon, son of Gen. Hubert Harmon, speaks to the Class of 1959.

Forging Americas youth into leaders of character has long been a staple of the Academy’s program. Yet beyond the training, technology and academics, another more powerful bond is formed among the young people who come here. “Friends are the essence of the Academy experience for me,” explains Todd. “We were a family. We were the smallest class ever. Every year the wing doubled in size. The kids today don’t know each other to the same depth that we did. We had the opportunity to know each other— the strengths and weaknesses—in a lot greater depth than any cadet knows today. It’s a marvelous relationship.”

Lifelong friendships between Academy grads have always been a major benefit ofattending USAFA, and as the Class of 1959 transitioned into their service and civilian careers, another benefit soon emerged: real world experience. “Most of my peers will tell you,” explains Hosmer, “that the most challenging, most rewarding jobs they’ve ever had are the ones they never would have picked. For the young officers coming out of the Academy today, their most rewarding work will be as commanders I really believe that wars are won, not by individuals, but by strong units. And only commanders run strong units. One of the things cadets here carry with them (that their peers will not have) is a lot of leadership and command experience. In the Air Force, the human art of building a strong team is essential.”

Fifty years after they attended the Academy, the Class of 1959 returned to dedicate the Flarmon Memorial statue. For many, Gen. Harmon-considered to be the father of the Academyembodied the sense of pride they feel when remembering their

time here. For old friends and new acquaintances alike, the first graduating class will always be remembered as the founders of this great institution. Their legacy will pass on for many generations to come, making them the ideal candidates for providing advice to the newest Cadet Wing and the Air Force’s future leaders.

“I’m not sure that a 70-year-old guy has any advice a teenager wants to listen to,” Todd says with a laugh. “The barriers you’re going to face in a future Air Force career are not all that different from what you face at the Academy, and you’re gaining the knowledge to face those challenges. There will be challenges to your integrity, professionalism and sense of self. Soak up every bit that you can from the Academy experience, because you’re not going to shed it when you drive out those gates. That is your armor when you face the realities of the outside world because we are at war as a nation.”

There is no question that the Long Blue Line has produced a rich history ofwarriors, each suited in different ways to serve their country. For those who have died in the line of duty—from Lance Sijan to countless others—their contributions are etched into the very marrow of the Academy. And for those who continue to serve, their efforts set a precedent for tomorrow’s cadets to follow.

“The way that a military academy shapes the individual,” Gen. Hosmer explains, “enables him to contribute to the military and to our culture in a much stronger way. That’s absolutely independent of technology and how fast the bullets fly it’s a fundamental human basic which is independent of time.” Efi

The Secret Life of WaldoF. Dumbsquat

by Don Hall, 76

“Ifyou cant get them to salute when they should salute and wear the clothesyou tell them to wear,; how are you going to get them to diefor their country.

-Pattons Quote: Contrails

1972-1973

111 V* if fou do a lot of Ut1 I IJ I sock rolling in the RealAir Force?”

Waldo’s musing was not lost on his roommate, Warren Heels. The two doolies were pulling an allnighter to prepare for the SAMI.

“Of course, if it wasn’t important, the Commandant wouldn’t make us do it!” responded Warren.

“Now are the socks in the drawer suppose to smile or frown?”

“You know, I never can remember either.”

Waldo held up a tee shirt wrapped tightly around a piece of cardboard.

“I have underwear I’ve never worn...”

“I don’t think you have the drawers ofyour dresser pulled out the correct distance. Better consult the regs.”

The freshman pulled the big blue binder down from the shelf and thumbed through the fascinating prose.

“No wonder I keep getting written up—I’ve been using metric instead of inches.”

“Don’t forget to stamp your name in all your clothing.”

“And no dirty clothes in the dirty clothes bin.”

“Don’t hide any clean clothes in there either.”

“Well, I have to hide my trou with the frayed pockets somewhere!”

“Use the overhead locker.”

“Okay.”

“The towel and wash cloth must be displayed properly.”

“I’ll clean the mirrors.”

“Don’t get any water in the sink!”

“No trash in the wastebasket.”

“When do we get the buffer?”

“As soon as the buffer rodeo is over.”

“I still have to polish my boots and shoes and I’m out of cotton balls and shoe polish!”

“You can borrow my candy bar. You also better hide your parade shoes.”

“I’ll put them inside my overshoes.”

“The collar on my bed is good and tight. Looks like I’ll be sleeping on the desk tonight.”

“No sleep tonight. Our detail still has to clean the SAR.”

“I hate working in pajamas, bathrobe, and slippers.”

“Well, it beats USAFA tee shirt, fatigue pants, tennis shoes, and a baseball cap.”

“Did you dust the window sill?”

“No, that’s usually Regs’ job.”

Waldo glanced at the bunk bed.

“Where is Regs tonight? How did he skate out of this inspection?”

“He’s gone on another choir trip.”

“I didn’t know he could sing.”

“He can’t. He’s the equipment manager.”

“But he’s missing this USAFA experience.”

“Don’t worry, there’s always another good deal for doolies around the corner.” B

Before there was a USAFA Prep School part-one

oftwo parts

by Frederick V. Malmstrom/64 Center for Character Development

rom whence came the Air Force Academy Preparatory School (USAFAPS)? It didn’t spring fully formed in 1961 from the head of well, who cares? It’s an actual Fun Fact that from 1957 through 1961, the young Air Force Academy “borrowed’’ the U.S. Naval Academy’s and the U.S. Military Academy’s Preparatory Schools, aka USNAPS and USMAPS.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NUNN

Herein lurks a short history lesson. In 1992 the combined Senate and House Committees on Armed Services co-sponsored an expensive study titled “Academy Preparatory Schools Need a Clearer Mission and Better Oversight.” This document, otherwise known as the Nunn Report, offered recommendations, including (1) the armed forces consider merging programs into a consolidated Preparatory School, (2) the armed forces consider sending academy candidates instead to private preparatory schools, and (3) Congress determine whether the Army, Navy and Air Force preparatory schools were cost-effective.

In the following pages, I’d like to point out that each of these well-meaning conelusions offered up in the Nunn Report had been already been tried over the previous 66 years with varying successes. If you will keep that thought in the back ofyour

mind, allow me to go through the history of the Preparatory Schools.

IT ALL STARTED WITH WORLD WAR I

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the sweeping National Defense Act. This new law reorganized the Army, recognized the National Guard, and created the Reserve Officers Training Corps. And in the spirit of democratization, the law also increased the size of the MilitaryAcademy’s Corps of Cadets to 1,334 and authorized 180 cadet slots for prior enlisted men. Alas, the enlisted quota was going to be difficult to fill, as the average U.S. citizen then possessed somewhat less than an 8 th grade education. World War I put on hold any plans for direct, sizeable enlisted appointments to West Point and Annapolis.

THE PREP SCHOOLS WERE OFF TO A BUMPY START

The Department of the Navy had already established its Naval Academy Preparatory School as early as 1915, and by 1920 it had set up two formal 10-month schools at Naval Station Newport and Naval Station San Francisco now named the Naval Academy Preparatory Course (NAPC), each with an enrollment ofabout 100 midshipman candidates.

The U.S. Army, which by now included the Army Air Service, took a while longer

to get generated, but by 1925 it started on the path by creating no fewer than 11 (yes, eleven) separate preparatory schools, most of them located within the various Army Corps areas and also within the Overseas Departments. It was also believed that a few Army posts conducted their own informal preparatory schools. National Guardsmen were also permitted to enlist for the purpose of attending these prep schools. Figure 1 shows a roomful of West Point hopefuls preparing for the entrance exam to the Ft. Totten, Queens NY preparatory school, circa 1925.

It was obvious that none of these schools had any coordinated, standardized curricula or goals—other than to prepare enlisted men to pass the USMA entrance exam(s). Military discipline and academic standards varied widely. The prep school at Ft. Winfield Scott in San Francisco was rigorously modeled after West Point, whereas at the Ft. McKinley, Philippines prep school, students had no duties other than to attend academic classes from Monday through Friday. At a few over

seas posts, civilian aspirants were allowed to attend classes. At some schools, cadet candidates pulled KP and latrine duties; at others, these future gentlemen-officers were excused from menial chores. The size of prep school student bodies varied widely, but they probably averaged around 20 cadet candidates each.

Academic standards also varied, but courses offered were vanilla English and mathematics, oftentimes with a sprinkle of geometry and history tossed in. It was all intended to be a rigorous repeat of everything-you-should-have-learned-in-highschool. This was not unexpected, as certainly not all enlisted men had even high school diplomas. The size of the “faculty” varied from three to seven instructors, many of them junior lieutenants fresh from West Point. It’s noteworthy that even most officer-instructors possessed neither bachelor’s degrees nor teaching certificates. This was not an oversight, as West Point and Annapolis did not become academically accredited until 1925, and the academies did not award their graduates formal

bachelor of science degrees until 1935. This might seem odd, for as late as the 1880s, USMA and USNA had national renown as America’s premier engineering schools. (Even the future Nobel Laureate Albert Michelson, USNA 1873, was not awarded an undergraduate baccalaureate.)

THE PREP SCHOOLS AS WANDERING ORPHANS

Most facilities were decidedly marginal. Nearly all prep schools were treated as orphan tenants and were, therefore, located in either temporary or surplus facilities. The Camp Dix preparatory school was located in abandoned temporary nurses’ quarters. The Ft. Sam Houston school was banished to peripheral tarpaper shacks.

Author and retired Navy Captain William J. Lederer, USNA ’36, (and also co-author of the best-seller The UglyAmerican) wrote with cynical delight in his irreverently humorous memoir All the Ship’s at Sea (1951) when he described his 1931 drafty, leaky, and moldy quarters during his 10-month attendance at the NAPC Newport, Rhode Island. USNAPS/NAPC shifted locations at least five times, including relocations to Norfolk, Virginia and San Diego, California, and Bainbridge, Maryland.

Calculating moves for the Army are more difficult, but USMAPS and its WPPS predecessors bounced around at no fewer than seven main geographical locations until it has reputedly found its final, future home at West Point starting in 2011. USMA’s lack of permanent facilities for the various prep schools was likewise a chronic headache for the Air Force until the Air Force Academy Preparatory School was granted a permanent site on the Academy’s Colorado grounds proper in 1961.

WORLD WAR II AND FURTHER CHANGES

In mid-1943 the Army prep schools were turned over to cooperating civilian facilities at Amherst College, Massachusetts; Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania; and Cornell University, Ithaca, NewYork. But in 1945 as the war was winding down, it was clear the civilian universities would need the space for returning veterans, so the three schools were consolidated at Amherst College. One can only suppose that USMA Superintendent Major General Maxwell Taylor had

Aspirants applying for the West Point Preparatory School at Ft. Totten. Location believed to be Governors Island, NY, 1925.

had enough of this relocation business, so in 1946 he directed the establishment of a single Preparatory School at Stewart Army Airfield, Newburgh, New York.

USMAPS GOES TO STEWART

AIR FORCE BASE

From 1946 until 1956, USMAPS settled down into its new residence at Stewart. In the early days, the composition of the 250man Preparatory School cadet candidate battalion had a high percentage ofWorld War II veterans, including many decorated NCOs and commissioned officers. The 1949-1950 USMAPS prep school battalion included four lieutenants and two master sergeants. However, prior rank (but not their pay) was rendered indistinguishable and meaningless, as all cadet candidates removed their identifying stripes and bars and wore just their generic uniforms with lapel brass and a “USMA Prep” shoulder patch.

Recruited athletes were unheard ofin those days. Cadet candidates participated widely in basketball, baseball, tennis, and lacrosse, but sports were largely restricted to competition with other base organizations. The USMAPS footballers were integrated with the base football team and mostly played teams from other Army posts. Unfortunately, equal opportunity was also unheard ofin the early days ofUSMAPS, for typically less than 1percent ofthe cadet candidates came from ethnic minorities.

Sailors and Marines were also welcomed to USMAPS. There was no Air Force Academy, so fully one-third of the cadet candidates were Air Force, and they competed equally for appointments to USMA along with those men from the Regular Army.

Again, the buildings and facilities were recycled pre-1900 drafty, steam-heated brick buildings. Cadet candidates, like any ordinary enlisted men, lived in open bay barracks and pulled their share of KP and CQ duties.

With few exceptions, the 13-man USMAPS faculty was civilian, many of them with impressive Ivy League credentials. The 10-month program of coursework consisted of instruction in English, mathematics, and history. The military staff was equally as impressive, as most of the NCOs and officers were hand-selected, decorated combat veterans.

Established as the prep schools were, they were in for yet more changes. The

creation of the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1954 required that enlisted aspirants for the new academy would need their own route to gain competitive appointments.

In the interim, beginning in 1957, the Army and the Navy would have to share their real estate with the Air Force. S

FredMalmstrom, USMAPS ’59 is Visiting Scholar at USAFA. Fie can befound at fred.malmstrom@usafa.edu.

Selected References

The Challenge (1950). [USMAPS yearbook]. Newburgh, NY: The Commercial Press.

Meador, Marion F. (2009). [USMAPS 1950] Personal communication.

Lederer, William J. (1951). All the ship’s at sea. New York: Pocket Books.

Pappas, George S. (July/August 1998). The Army’s pre-WWII prep schools. Assembly, 48-50.

Report to the Chairman, Senate and House Committees on Armed Services (1992). [The Nunn Report]. DOD Service Academies: Academypreparatory schools need a clearer mission and better oversight (Government document NSIAD-92-57).

Top: Cadet Candidates at Stewart AFB forming up for class, 1949. These were the days before back packs. Bottom: Future USAFA Dean of Faculty, Cadet Candidate Private William A. Orth, USMAPS 1950.

THE

BUILDING A FOUNDATION AT THE ACADEMY PREPARES THREE BROTHERS FOR THEIR WORLD TRAVELS IN MEDICINE HEALERS

THE WORLD OF MEDICINE IS A DAUNTING FIELD. IT TAKES YEARS TO BECOME A DOCTOR AND A LIFETIME TO BUILD A PRACTICE. YET NO MATTER WHAT THE INVESTMENT, THE ONES WHO COMMIT THEMSELVES TO THE ART OF HEALING ALL HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON: THE DESIRE TO HELP PEOPLE.

For the three Kobayashi brothers, Ky, Todd and Dayton, the will to become doctors was founded at the Air Force Academy. In the time since their graduations, they have traveled the world practicing medicine, learning from a host of international peers and discovering what it means to bring hope to those they treat.

In an unusual twist of fate, the three brothers have recently found themselves stationed back at the very place where they once trained as cadets, more than a decade after tossing their caps into the air. As many graduates can attest, old memories of the Academy never seem to fade and, for the Kobayashi brothers, returning home and reflecting on their experiences is bitter sweet.

“I had always been interested in medicine since junior high,” recalls Todd—the middle brother—who now specializes in dermatology. “Part of that is because my father was a biologist. I went to the Air Force Academy and majored in biology with a pre-med track. I had some good advisors at the Academy and went straight to medical school right after I graduated.” Todd later attended the Uniform Services University in Bethesda Maryland.

“It was great having my brothers at the Academy,” Todd says. “When I first got here it was a little worrisome in the beginning. One of the first things I was told by the cadre was ‘I trained your brother and I’m going to train you too now get your chin in!”’

Being the middle brother, Todd was able to build on his Academy experience with a little help from his older sibling, Ky. “I didn’t come to the Academy specifically to become a doctor,” Ky recounts thoughtfully. “It just kind of evolved. My eyesight changed when I got here and that kind of directed me to medicine.”

For Ky, his eyesight changed not only his perspective, but his career path as well. His hopes of becoming a pilot were re-routed due to his less-than-perfect vision. “At that time we didn’t have lasic procedures to correct vision. I would have been a navigator at best,” he says with a laugh. “It’s probably for the best.”

These days, Ky spends his time as an orthopedic surgeon, mending bones, re-attaching ligaments and performing skin grafts. “My sub-specialty is hand surgery,” Ky explains. “I also do a lot ofsoft tissue coverage—nerve work, tendon work. Orthopedies is very diverse in that manner. A lot ofwhat’s done here at the Academy is sports medicine, so my practice has evolved to adapt to that.” Ironically, Ky’s own experiences as a cadet played a part in bringing him full circle. “I was an athlete here at the Academy and I had some injuries. That’s what sparked my interest in orthopedics.” These days, he treats cadets with all types of sports injuries, many ofwhich he can relate to personally. D>

DR. KY KOBAYASHI, CLASS OF 1991

DR. TODD KOBAYASHI, CLASS OF 1992

DR. DAYTON KOBAYASHI, CLASS OF 1993

“I knew nothing about the military. I didn’t know what an enlisted person was, I didn’t know what an officer was. I didn’t know how to march!”

Dayton, the youngest Kobayashi, enjoyed the luxury ofhaving his two older brothers ahead of him during his time as a cadet. “The initial response of coming to the Academy was a bit of a shock,” Dayton recalls energetically, “going from civilian lifestyle into a very regimented environment where you’re chronically sleep deprived. I heard stories from my older brothers and what they went through; but hearing about the experience and going through the experience are two different things. I knew nothing about the military. I didn’t know what an enlisted person was, I didn’t know what an officer was. I didn’t know how to march!”

Today, Dayton is a primary care doctor and the latest brother to return to Colorado from deployment. Having practiced medicine extensively across the globe, the Kobayashis have built upon a myriad ofexperiences which help them meet the challenges they face today. Their deployments have taken them to some of the most dangerous places on earth, including Iraq. With violence slowly declining in Baghdad and other cities, US casualties are beginning to taper off, a welcome reliefwhich gave Ky time to focus on helping the local population.

“In Iraq we had a lot of interesting cases,” Ky recalls. “I rememher a baby who bit into an electrical wire. She had significant burns to her entire face. We didn’t have much to use for other soft

tissue in the area, so we had to use skin from her arm to reconstruct the nose and the oral orbicular area near the mandibula. Those are the kinds of cases you don’t really see here in America.”

“Balad Air Force Base in Iraq was a huge learning curve for me,” Dayton recounts, “as far as air medical evacuation. I’m guessing we moved more than 100 patients a week. Most of the patients we air-evaced out of there were not battle injuries. I got a good idea about patient transport in Cl30s and C17s; and of the difficulties in transporting patients with helicopters. There’s a lot ofvibration and a lot of noise. We could never really see anything because most of our missions were flown at night.”

Like his brothers Ky and Dayton, Todd experienced a great deal ofhands-on work as a flight surgeon before entering into dermatology. “Flight surgery is general medicine for flyers and their families,” he explains. “It’s an area of medicine in the Air Force where you have a special knowledge and skill when it comes to the aerospace environment. Flyers sometimes encounter extreme environments (this also includes parachuting, soaring and groundbased controllers). There are certain medicines you can and cannot use there are certain conditions you can’t fly with.

“I view flight surgery as a bridge between the flight line of the Air Force and medical side of the Air Force. D>

DR. KY KOBAYASHI, CLASS OF 1991

DR. DAYTON KOBAYASHI, CLASS OF 1993

DR. TODD KOBAYASHI, CLASS OF 1992

Dr. Ky Kobayashi drills holes in a patient’s bone before inserting titanium pins.

“One of the highlights is the ability to understand both the physical and mental parts of humans. I enjoy the mental and emotional aspects of health and how they can contribute to the body. It’s very rewarding being able to help people help themselves.”

Dr. Dayton Kobayashi

Sometimes there’s a disconnect, and a flight surgeon is in the unique position to make the two meet. The flight surgeon is a very key component in that bridge, in helping each area understand the other.”

Now that their assignments have brought all three brothers back to USAFA, the Kobayashis have had the opportunity to look back on their careers in retrospect, and to formulate what it means to be a doctor in the 21st Century. Many things have changed since their days as cadets, and being at the Academy has taken on a whole new meaning for each of them.

“It’s kind of like a reunion because we’re all here together,” Todd says thoughtfully. “Being at the Academy as a staff7 member in the hospital is a lot different from being a cadet. It’s a totally different feeling. Being a cadet sometimes wasn’t the most pleasant thing. But this is home for us, being from Colorado. We love it here, this is just a great place to be.”

Seeing them together again after so many years, it becomes obvious to any casual observer that there is one thing these three have in common: a passion for medicine. “I love working with my colleagues and learning different techniques from all around the nation,” Ky exclaims. “There’s no better profession as far as being able to help people. From my perspective, I see immediate results.

When someone breaks something, you fix it and they can move right away. We’re not in it for the monetary reasons and we’re not in it for the glory. It’s just the ability to care for someone and make people better just to see someone be able to walk again or use his arms again it’s very rewarding. Giving that gift is just priceless for me.”

Todd describes his days at the hospital as being anything but boring. “I never know what’s behind the door of the exam room when I walk in,” he says. “It could be a rare condition, it could be a common condition. It may need a biopsy, we may get to use our lasers to treat the condition. In dermatology, it’s almost always something that we can either help or cure. Our patients are very compliant, because they’re usually dealing with a visual problem.”

For Dayton, the power of medicine extends beyond the physical world into the mental realm. While medicine, treatment and surgery are the tangible components ofhealing, the greatest contributor to good health is a positive mental outlook. “For me,” he explains, “one of the highlights is the ability to understand both the physical and mental part of humans. With primary care, things are little different than they are with orthopedics and dermatology. I enjoy the mental and emotional aspects of health and how they can contribute to the body. It’s very rewarding being able to help people help themselves.”

Having the ability to help others is the common thread upon which the Kobayashi brothers have fashioned their careers. For Ky, Todd and Dayton, going to work each day means bringing hope to both friends and strangers. “Helping people is the most satisfying thing about my job,” Todd says with conviction. “Every day that I go home I feel as though I’ve helped someone, and that makes the job worth while.”

From their humble beginnings as nervous cadets in Jacks Valley to their international travels in medicine, the Kobayashi brothers continue to serve the needs of humanity each day. It is our hope that their story will inspire others to follow in their footsteps, and that new generations of cadets will some day find virtue in what it means to become a doctor, a Samaritan, a service man a healer. H

THE LONG BL

Maj. Gen. Patrick Moisio, 'll

Named Deputy Director ANG

A new deputy director of the Air National Guard— Maj. Gen. Patrick J. Moisio, an Arizona Guardsman—was announced by Lt. Gen. Bud Wyatt, the director of the Air National Guard today. “I look forward to working with Maj. Gen. Moisio,” Wyatt said. “He brings extensive field experience that will benefit the Air National Guard, the U.S. Air Force and our nation.”

Moisio will assist Wyatt in formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, plans and programs affecting more than 106,000 Air Guard members serving in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands. (StaffSgt. S. Patrick McCollum, National Guard Bureau)

Grad Makes White House Fellow

Nicole Malachowski, ‘96, is a member of the White House Fellows Class of 2008 and recently earned an M.A., with honors, in National Security Policy from American Military University. She also received a B.S. in Management, with a minor in French, from the United States Air Force Academy. Malachowski is a major in the U.S. Air Force with over 2,100 flying hours and was inducted into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame. She is also a frequent motivational speaker at local, state and national events.

Wilford Hall Commander Wins National Medical Award

Col. (Dr.) William Beninati, ’84, 59th Medical Operations Group commander, is the recipient of the 2008 American Hospital Association Federal Health Care Executive Award for Excellence. The award was created by the American Hospital Association’s Constituency Section for Federal Hospitals. It recognizes a senior federal health care executive who has distinguished him/herself through significant leader

ship or innovative achievements that have contributed substantially to the mission of the federal health care system.

Colonel Beninati runs a 1,850-member organization comprised ofeight squadrons that provide emergency, medical, surgical, orthopedic, rehabilitative, pediatric, obstetric, gynecologic, radiologic, mental health care and the Air Forces only Level I trauma center. Members ofthe group deploy around the world to provide lifesaving critical and surgical care to the battlefield and humanitarian support to developing allied nations.

His career-long involvement in the development ofground-breaking critical care modalities with universal application was key to his receiving this award. Colonel Beninati was recognized for the development and improvement ofexpeditionary aeromedical capabilities that have reduced the average time between battlefield injury and definitive care from 38 to fewer than four days, a 14% reduction in mortality. He is bringing this vision to the development ofthe San Antonio Military Medical Center as a key member ofits Executive Steering Committee. (SeniorAirman Robert Barnett)

W.W. (Bill) Boisture, ’67, New Chairman and CEO Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) announced its new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer W.W. (Bill) Boisture Jr. The former president of industry-leading companies Netjets and Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation brings more than 30 years of aviation experience to HBC.

“Bill is the right person at exactly the right time,” said Sanjeev Mehra, Managing Director of Goldman Sachs and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hawker Beechcraft Inc. “His proven ability to drive customer satisfaction and value has never been more important than in this challenging economic environment. I am delighted to welcome Bill to HBC.”

Boisture is the former President of Netjets, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation and British Aerospace Corporate Jets

(a forerunner to Hawker), and the former Chairman and CEO of Butler Aviation. Most recently, he was the President of Intrepid Aviation, a privately held commercial aircraft lessor, and a senior advisor for aerospace at The Carlyle Group.

Air Force Global Strike Command

In a recent appointment by President Obama, Lt. Gen Frank Klotz, ’73, was placed at the reins of a new international program. The Senate quickly confirmed Lt. Gen. Klotz (nominated April 16) to retain three stars and serve as the head of the new Air Force Global Strike Command, slated to stand up this fall.

President Obama Nominates Academy Grad

William Gunn, ’80, was nominated for General Counsel, Department ofVeterans Affairs. A recipient ofthe American Bar Association’s Outstanding Career Military Lawyer Award, Gunn is an attorney who represents military members and veterans in private practice in Northern Virginia. He retired from the Air Force in 2005, where he served as a Colonel in the Judge Advocate Generals (JAG) Corps. He is also a former White House Fellow. In 2003, Gunn was named the first-ever Chief Defense Counsel in the Department ofDefense Office ofMilitary Commissions. Gunn built a defense team and supervised all defense activities for detainees selected for trial before military commissions. His efforts earned respect and admiration for his principled leadership and commitment to ensuring that detainees received effective representation. Gunn is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and is a Cum Laude graduate ofHarvard Law School. He chairs the American Bar Association’s Commission on Youth at Risk and serves on the board of Christian Service Charities. In 2005 Gunn was named President and CEO ofBoys & Girls Clubs ofGreater Washington. He has been featured in The New Yorker magazine and The Wall StreetJournal. Gunn has also received many awards and honors including the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau’s Outstanding Alumni Award. S

The Moon War Bob Davey, 62

Bob f)avey, ’62, an aerospace-engineering professor and former Air Force pilot, captures readers with this fast-paced and imaginative story ignited when the Russians announce a manned mission to the moon.

Air Force Colonel Brandt Strickland, a member of a Pentagon group studying the Russian plan, is certain that the Americans must be first to the moon and that we have fewer than two years to get there. At stake is control of the world’s energy supply. But he has no spacecraft, no crew, and a President vehemently opposed to his mission.

'The Moon War follows Strickland through the triumphs and tragedies of his incredible odyssey. The story volleys between America and Russia as the countries scramble to launch. Greed, corruption and deception, even at the very highest levels, cause the plot to twist and turn as the tension mounts.

With extraordinary technical accuracy, Davey’s story assembles a cast ofastronauts, cosmonauts, politicians and engineers drawn from real life who react to the unending trials with uncanny realism. Reflecting Daveys experiences as an Air Force officer, an engineer, and an educator, The Moon War tells a tale that may well fill the pages oftomorrow’s newspapers.

Available at: www.amazon.com,www.barnesandnoble.com,www.rockpublishing.com

All fine bookstores in the United States and the United Kingdom.

ISBN 978-1-59663-579-1

Di Zhen by Samuel Grier, ’73

Samuel Grier releases his debut political thriller, Di Zhen. (**Di Zhen is Mandarin Chinese for earthquake.)

Central Intelligence Agency senior analyst Rick Starr is responsible for the CIA’s China portfolio. Dr. Marly Cooper is a seismologist and world renowned expert on the San Andreas Fault.

As China prepares for what appears to be an invasion ofTaiwan and earthquake activity around the San Andreas Fault heightens, the vastly different worlds of Rick Starr and Marly Cooper collide, propelling them into a high octane race against time to defeat forces designed to alter the course of history and the destiny of nations.

Their startling discovery of a relationship between events in the Formosa Strait and the growing frequency and intensity of earthquakes in California reveals a shocking plot that blurs the line between fiction and reality.

Fiction at its best, Di Zhen sets a new standard for paranoia that will appeal to even the most avid conspiracy theorists.

Available for purchase only at www.nitwonline.com not available in stores

The Class of 1973

he motto of the recently graduated Class of 2009 was simple and straightforward: “Our Time.” June 2009 is

indeed their time. Class members have completed their arduous four years ofAcademy training and eagerly begin their careers of service to the nation.

The Class of 2009, however, must share its time with a couple ofother notable classes.

The Class of 1959 recently concluded its fifty-year reunion, the first in Academy

BY STEVEN A. SIMON, 77

history. That class’ trailblazing role will forever be celebrated (See coverage of ’59 on page 24). Class of 1973 graduates can also proudly proclaim that this

is “Our time.” Whether through hard work, timing, and/or events beyond their control, many members of the Class of 1973 find themselves front and center these days.

Later this month, the Class of 1973 will assume its role as the 40-year Legacy Class of the newest crop of future officers, the

Any examination of a class such as this one isfralight with danger.

First, despite all disclaimers, there may be a perception that it is an endorsement, some declaration that the class is “better" than other classes. There are no objective criteriafor determining relative greatness, so that exercise would befutile. Every one ofthe Air Force Academy'sgraduating classes has contributed and continues to contribute to the Academy's sterling legacy ofexcellence. Each class (actually every member therein) contributes in its own way, based on the time in history and the personalities and expertise ofits members. Every class is the Academy's first/last/only/ best class in Academy history—in something. In my opinion, there is a 51-way tieforfirst place in the “Greatest Class" race. Second, a piece such as this must ofnecessity select a few representative individuals to highlight. This creates the problem of determining who to include, and almost without fail leaving offgraduates who are equally worthy ofmention. Again, how to choose? Who to include and who to exclude? Where to make the cut? In this piece, Eve done my best to describe the Class of1973 and some of its most notable members without taking anything away from other classes or individuals.

Class of 2013. As such, ’73 will participate in milestone events in ’13’s officer development, to include Acceptance, Commitment, and Graduation. Like the Legacy Classes before them, the Class of ’73 will have plenty of first-hand tales of “glory” to impart. The Class also has a wide variety of active duty senior officers to represent it. In fact, the Class has unprecedented representation at the top of the Air Force’s uniformed leadership hierarchy. As of this writing, members of the Class of 1973 occupy a host of senior leadership positions. General Norton A. Schwartz, who serves as Chief of Staff, is of course responsible for the entire service. Serving under him are ’73 grads responsible for most of the Air Force’s major war-fighting resources and capabilities. As Commander, Air Combat Command, General John D. W. Corley is in charge ofconventional war assets. Nominated to be commander ofthe newly stood up Air Force Global Strike Command, Lieutenant General Frank G. Klotz (a Rhodes Scholar), will oversee nuclear capable bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Donald C. Wurster, Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, directs all Air Force unconventional assets. Providing the education and training needed to operate these conventional, nuclear, and unconventional assets is General Stephen R. Lorenz, Commander, Air Education and Training Command. Lieutenant General John L. Hudson commands a large portion of the Air Force’s research and development operation as Commander, Aeronautical Systems Center. In addition: Major General Michael Edwards is the Adjutant General of Colorado, overseeing all Air Force and Army Guard resources; and Major General Dan O’Hollaren serves as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Materiel Command.

Another Air Force leader from the Class of 1973, Lieutenant General John F. Regni, has served as the USAFA Superintendent since October 2005. During much of his tenure as the Academy’s 17th Superintendent, General Regni was assisted by two other ’73 grads as senior members of his staff: then-Colonel William “Trapper” Carpenter as Director of Admissions (now retired and serving as

Associate Athletic Director-Recruiting Support); and retired Colonel Johnny Whitaker as the Academy’s first Director of Communications.

Down the hill from the Cadet Area, the story is the same—’73 is leading the way. William “T” Thompson is the AOG’s President and Chief Executive Officer. As the first non Air Force retiree to hold the position, he brings a varied background to the organization. He is an award-winning entrepreneur featured in the Wall Street Journal. “T” is also a retired Delta Air Lines captain, tax attorney, community leader, and public speaker. Additionally, he served for 17 years as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission, serving three governors in both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Speculation runs rampant on why this class has so many of its members in leadership positions, particularly within the Air Force. After extensive research and contemplation, I think the best explanation is that there is no explanation. While taking nothing from the individuals who have assumed these leadership positions, Class President Bob Munson attributes it largely to timing. “It could be that our class is different, or there was some inspiration that gave us an extra push. However, I’m more convinced that our class had a good number of GOs [General Officers] simply because our class had the luck of timing.

If you graph out the number of GOs per grad class you will see there are periodic peaks at about five-year intervals. It seems that clusters of GOs in one class seem to block promotion opportunity for ‘downstream’ year groups. While those in the ’68 year group achieved one star, then two star, and so on billets, they blocked the ’69-’72 promotion opportunity. As the officers from ’69-’72 classes got blocked they had to retire that’s the way our service works. When those senior officers retired they created more opportunity for ’73 grads that didn’t exist for ’69-’72.”

Statistics do seem to bear out Munson’s hypothesis of peaks and valleys. The Class of ’68 had four four-star generals, the largest number thus far among USAFA graduating classes. The four classes that followed had a combined total of two four-stars. After that valley, ’73 and ’74 each have three classmates who have

risen to four-star rank—so far. The Class of 1973 does hold the record for most grads who have attained three-or fourstar rank, with 11. The next closest class is ’64 with eight. And in keeping with Munson’s cycle argument, the Class of’78 stands poised to eclipse all General Officer numerical records. They have by far the most General Officers, with 44, far ahead of second place ’64 with 31. The smaller early classes will quite correctly turn the argument to per capita comparisons, but that is a discussion topic for another day. And, of course, raw numbers only tell a small portion of the story. (All statistics provided by the Academy Plans and Programs office.)

Scott Mills agrees with his classmate Munson’s assessment that it is fruitless to try to explain the numbers, adding, “I wish I could enlighten with possible reasons such as the Vietnam era, our high class attrition rate, the Academy leadership during our tenure, the upper class that trained us, the dynamics ofstaying in one squadron all four years but to be honest, I just don’t believe that any one or combination of these factors can be used as rationale or basis for a particular class’ success. More likely, it is serendipity and luck based upon a particular pool ofgraduates who had the

same Academy training and experience that all grads have been exposed to regardless of what year they graduated.”

As Mills alludes, The Class entered USAFA in tense times. The turmoil of the 60s and the Vietnam War made a military career decidedly unpopular. The specter ofhaving to fly and fight in the deadly skies of Southeast Asia hung over the Class. Don Rightmyer, ’73, recounts how, “... there were often announcements made from the (Mitchell Hall) Staff Tower during meals concerning things that had happened to USAFA graduates during the Vietnam War. ‘The Association of Graduates regrets to inform you that Captain Class of was killed in action while flying a combat mission in Vietnam/Thailand, etc. ...’” Their friends

back home were receiving draft notices. As it turned out, however, the War essentially ended while they were cadets and Vietnam played almost no role in the careers of’73 grads. The wartime class had almost no wartime experience. As Munson says, “’73 served in a generation of relative peace; not many of us got combat time and when we did we were senior: 0-4s, 0-5s, and 0-6s. You’ll have a tough time finding war heroes in ’73 we didn’t have that opportunity. We don’t have Medal of Honor winners, Silver Star winners, etc. heck, very few of us have air medals.”

Which is not to say that the Class of’73 is totally devoid of war heroes. Munson reports that, “One of the first (maybe the first) combat aircraft to cross into Iraq at the start of Desert Storm was piloted

From top, left: Gen. John Corley, Gen. Norton Schwartz, Gen. Stephen Lorenz, Lt. Gen. John Regni, Capt. Chesley Sullenberger, William T Thompson, Lt. Gen. Donald Wurster, Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, Lt. Gen. John Hudson

by Lt. Col. Rich Comer (later two star) who let in the attack helicopters that took out the Iraqi radars.” Arguably the most inspirational story to come out of post-9/11 America is that ofArmy Staff Sergeant Rowe Stayton, Class of’73. Sgt. Stayton graduated number two in his Class’ Military Order of Merit. After flying F-15s, he left the Air Force in 1981 to attend law school, but continued to serve in the Iowa Air National Guard until 1988. In response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, he enlisted in the Army National Guard as an infantry soldier, and has served two tours in Iraq as a squad leader. Stayton’s patriotic military service, along with that of General Schwartz, would seem to give the Class of’73 the distinction of being the class with the widest breadth of rank, ranging from staff sergeant to four-star service chief of staff.

Class of 1973 contributions are by no means limited to military service. Among the notables who have made a mark in the “civilian” world are: retired Major General John Barry, Superintendent ofthe Aurora (Colorado) Public School District; philanthropist John Muse, Chairman ofHM Capital, a private equity firm that specializes in leveraged buyouts; Monsignor Steve Rossetti, a priest, psychologist and author nationally known for his work with troubled priests; and Kirk Samelson, ChiefJudge for the Fourth Judicial District in Colorado.

One “civilian” case particularly comes to mind. To go from total anonymity to the most celebrated person on the planet in six minutes must be disorienting and overwhelming, but that is exactly what happened to Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III on January 15, 2009. As you would imagine from an Air Force Academy graduate, Sully has handled the pressure and subsequent media attention with grace and humility. The story is well-known by now, but here are the basic details: US Airways Flight 1549 had just taken offfrom New York’s LaGuardia Airport, bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, when bird strikes took out both of the Airbus 320’s engines. After considering options ofreturning to LaGuardia or continuing on to an alternate landing site such as nearbyTeterboro Airport in New Jersey, Captain Sullenberger quickly determined that the aircraft lacked the altitude to land

safely in a heavily populated area. Instead, he decided to ditch in the icy Hudson River. Clearing the George Washington Bridge by less than 900 feet, Sullenberger instructed the passengers to “Brace for impact” and landed the stricken craft on the river. The aircraft began to take on water and Sullenberger and the crew oversaw the orderly departure of the 150 passengers. After ensuring everyone had escaped, Sullenberger was the last person to leave his plane. (For additional details, see the cover story in the March 2009 issue of Checkpoints.)

Among the many awards Sullenberger has captured is the James Jabara Award for Airmanship, presented annually by the Academy to a graduate whose actions directly associated with an aerospace vehicle set him/her apart from contemporaries.

Captain Sullenberger is the third ’73 grad to win the JabaraAward—only the Class of ’64 has won more. In 1981, Captain William Gillin received the Jabara “for distinguished airmanship as pilot of an HH-3E helicopter during missions to rescue survivors from the burning Dutch ocean liner Prinsendam in waters offAlaska.” Just after midnight on October 4, 1980, fire broke out in the engine room. Captain Gillin played a key role in what author Josh Eppinger, writing in PopularMechanics magazine, called “the most successful large-scale peacetime sea rescue in history.” After the 18-hour operation, all 324 passengers and 200 crew members were rescued. As with US Airways 1549, there were no fatalities or even serious injuries. The Prinsendam sank in 8,820 feet of water one week later. Five years after Gillin won the Jabara, his classmate, Major Larry Faber joined him in this exclusive club. Faber received the Jabara for “his heroic actions in February 1985 which resulted in saving a valuable aircraft and his own life.” Major Faber was flying the single-seat high-altitude TR-1 on an eight-hour Creek Spectre mission when the engine RPM began to unwind. With his dexterity greatly impaired by his fully-inflated pressure suit brought about by the loss of cabin pressure, he was able to navigate the damaged aircraft toward Ramstein Air Base, Germany. After 30 minutes of unpowered flight at maximum glide airspeed, he found the airfield, manually lowered the gear, and executed a flame-out approach. This task was complicated by poor visibility and the heavy fuel weight of the aircraft, requiring

a steeper than normal pattern. Despite all of these complications, Major Faber safely landed the aircraft.

The Class of’73 also contributed in space, as Sid Gutierrez and Blaine Hammond served as astronauts, each getting two missions aboard the space shuttle. Gutierrez logged over 488 hours on STS-40 in 1991 and STS-59 in 1994. Hammond spent 462 hours in space as he flew on STS-39 in 1991 and STS-64 in 1994.

In addition to the exploits ofvarious individuals, the Class excels as a whole. This is best evidenced by its role as Flagship Sponsor of the Academy’s annual capstone event, the National Character and Leadership Symposium. The NCLS, in which the AOG also plays a major sponsorship role, brings national leaders and students from around the country to discuss character. It provides cadets and Academy staffwith a great opportunity to interact with leaders in the field of character and leadership, hear inspiring stories of those who demonstrate character (such as Sgt. Stayton, who spoke at the 2009 Symposium), and gain a deeper appreciation for the importance ofcharacter in everyday life. Retired Colonel Tom Berry, Class of’71 and Deputy Director, Center for Character Development, says “The financial foundation provided by the Class of 1973 insures the continued success of NCLS. Equally as important as their financial support is their participation in the NCLS steering committee, their identification ofguest speakers, and their efforts as volunteers in the execution ofNCLS.”

Though the reasons may be unclear, the Air Lorce Academy Class of 1973 is undeniably experiencing its time in the spotlight. As the Classes of 1959 and 2009 celebrate significant milestones, members of the Class of’73 have taken their place at the top of the Air Force leadership ranks and demonstrate excellence in many other areas of service.

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steven A. Simon is the Academy’s graduate liaison, working in the Development and Alumni Programs office. In addition to his extensive non-fiction writing, he is the author of two novels, On The Dead Run and Service Before Self.

AREER C.ONFFRF NCF

August 20-21, 2009

San Diego, Calif.

What is SACC?

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 Manchester Grand Hyatt-San Diego, One Market Place, San Diego, Calif. Call (619) 232-1234 for reservations and ask for the SACC rate.

Thursday,

Friday,

Saturday, August 22

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 7, 2009.

Next Scheduled SACC San Antonio, TX. November 19-20, 2009

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

Advertising Opportunities

Advertising with the Association of Graduates is your opportunity to align your business with the name recognition of the Air Force Academy and its graduate community. The Air Force Academy is one of our nations most valued and visited national treasures, attracting countless tourists, parents and locals each year. Capitalize on this affinity and advertise today!

For more information, contact: Paige Buoye, Advertising 719.472.0300 or paige.buoye@aogusafa.org

Vice President to Speak at Air Force Graduation

Vice President Joe Biden was the guest speaker for this year’s graduation ceremony, the White House announced in April. This was Vice President Biden’s first visit to the Air Force Academy in this role. Graduation for the 1,000 members of the Academy’s Class of 2009 was May 27, starting at 10 a.m. in Falcon Stadium. (USAFA Public Affairs)

Going Green

The Air Force Academy is looking into yet another form of alternative energy; power from ocean waves. Forget about wind, solar and nuclear power. Thanks to a grant by the National Science Foundation, one researcher and a small group ofAcademy cadets are getting the chance to master the concept of ocean wave energy in the basement of the aeronautics building on base.

The Academy was given $285,000 and three years to conduct research on what’s called a cycloidal propeller. You could say it’s a wind turbine under water. Instead ofwind moving the blades, it’s the ocean’s wave force.

“When you add the water flow to it, that creates a new direction for the velocity, and that creates a torque around the prop which creates energy,” said Cadet Katie Parsons, a junior at the Academy and researcher on the project. (Eric Lupher, KKTVNews)

Thousands Honor Doolittle Raiders at the 67th Reunion

Thousands of people, young and old, gathered to honor five of the nine surviving Doolittle Raiders at the 67th Reunion in Columbia, S.C., April 16-18.

On April 18, 1942, the Doolittle Raiders, led by then-Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, became the first to bombard Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor.

“Early on, everybody thought leaving the flight deck of the carrier was the biggest challenge of the trip,” retired Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, Doolittle’s co-pilot, said. “As it turned out, it was the easiest thing, and I had a special advantage because I was sitting next to the best pilot in the world. I admire all of the guys; I espedally admire the man I was sitting next to; a fine man and a great pilot.” (Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg, American Forces Press Service)

Airman Missing in Action From the Vietnam War is Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced that the remains of a U.S. airman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. He is Lt. Col. Earl P. Hopper Jr., ’65, U.S. Air Force, of Phoenix, Ariz. He was buried on April 3 at the National Memorial Cemetery ofArizona in Phoenix.

On January 10, 1968, Hopper and Capt. Keith Hall were flying an F-4D Phantom near Hanoi, North Vietnam, as part of a four-ship MiG combat air patrol. Before they reached the target, an enemy surface-to-air missile exploded below their aircraft. Hall radioed that he and Hopper were ejecting. He told Hopper to eject, but when he heard no response, he repeated “Earl get out!” Hopper replied, “I’ve pulled on it and it [the ejection seat] did not go,” followed by “you go!” Hall then pulled on his primary ejection handle but it failed to initiate, forcing him to use the alternate. Hall was captured and held as a prisoner of war until 1973, but Hopper was unable to get out of the aircraft.

Between 1993-1998, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command conducted three joint investigations and five excavations at the crash site in Son La Province, west of Hanoi. The team interviewed four informants who had knowledge of the site. The excavations recovered numerous skeletal fragments and crew-related items which were ultimately used in the forensic identification process. (Department ofDefense POW/Missing Personnel Office)

Library Icon Laid to Rest

Donald J. Barrett passed away April 23, 2009. Mr. Barrett served as the Assistant Director for Public Services of the Air Force Academy Library since 1969, and as a member of the Academy Library staff since July of 1955. In 1995 he was recognized via selection as an Honorary Member of the Association of Graduates. He had more than 41 years of civil service with the Air Force, and more than 43 years federal service. (Air Force Academy)

Senator Glenn Receives White National Defense Award Marine, test pilot, astronaut and four-term U.S. Senator John H. Glenn Jr. was honored April 22 as the recipient of the 2008 Thomas D. White National Defense Award. Named in honor of Gen. Thomas Dresser White, former Air Force chief of staff, it is presented annually to a U.S. citizen who has contributed significandy to the national defense and security.

“It’s a great honor, especially when I see the list of people who have gone before,” Senator Glenn said and added he personally knows several honorees of past years, including the 2007 recipient, former Secretary of Defense Dr. William Perry. “They are some of the finest people I know.”

Past recipients also have included Sen. Barry Goldwater, Bob Hope, presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, Sen. John McCain and Gen. Colin Powell.

Senator Glenn and his wife, Annie, spent time during the visit to explore the Academy as honored guests. In addition to the tapping ceremony for the award, the couple, who now reside in Columbus, Ohio, enjoyed meals with cadets, civic leaders and

Academy leaders; tours of the cadet chapel and airfield; and visits to the astronautical engineering lab and political science department in Fairchild Hall.

Institutional Accreditation

USAFA senior leadership and the USAFA Accreditation Steering Committee met with the Higher Learning Commission accrediting team this April. This team, consisting of 8 distinguished leaders in higher education from diverse and wellrespected institutions nationwide, gave USAFA an intense and thorough evaluation.

I am delighted to announce that the Air Force Academy performed superbly, and the team will recommend that the next comprehensive accreditation visit be in 10 years. This is like an institutional grand slam for us! Thank you all for your daily commitment to excellence which led to this institutional recognition.

The team cited 16 points of commendation and noted that was an unusually high number for an accreditation visit. This is a great milestone for the Air Force Academy. You should feel proud of this superb institutional accreditation—it is a true reflection of your very hard work. Thanks! Lt Gen John F Regni, ’73.

Air Base Wing Commander Makes Brigadier General

Colonel Jimmy McMillian, 10th Air Base Wing Commander, was recently promoted to brigadier general. Colonel McMillian earned his commission after graduating from the Air Force Reserve Office Training Corps program at North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University in 1981. In 2003, he earned a Master of Science Degree in Strategic Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB AL. It is the first time any Academy Air Base Wing Commander has been promoted to brigadier general.

2009 Brigadier Generals Announced

Robert J. Beletic, ’83.

Cary C. Chun, ’85.

Richard M. Clark, ’86

Steven J. DePalmer, ’85

Ian R. Dickinson, ’85

Scott P. Goodwin, ’83

Jeffrey B. Kendall, ’83

Steven L. Kwast, ’86

Jerry P. Martinez, '86

Andrew M. Mueller, ’85

Eden J. Murrie, ’84

Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy, ’86

David E. Petersen, ’84

Timothy M. Ray, ’85

Marshall B. Webb, ’84 S

A

RD FOR AIRMANSHIP

PRESENTED TO:

CAPTAIN CHESLEY B. SULLENBERGER III

Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger, United States Air Force Academy Class of 1973, distinguished himselfthrough his heroic actions while serving as captain ofUS Airways Flight 1549 on 15 January 2009. The Airbus 320 had just taken offfrom New Yorks LaGuardia Airport, bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, when it lost power in both engines after striking a flock ofbirds. Captain Sullenberger took control ofthe aircraft and the radios while his copilot attempted to restart the engines. After considering options ofreturning to LaGuardia or continuing on to an alternate landing site such as nearbyTeterboro Airport in New Jersey, Captain Sullenberger quickly determined that the aircraft lacked the altitude to land safely in a heavily populated area. Instead, he decided to ditch in the icy Hudson River. Clearing the George Washington Bridge by less than 900 feet, Captain Sullenberger instructed the passengers to “Brace for impact” and expertly guided the damaged aircraft to a smooth landing on the river. The flight lasted approximately six minutes, but the danger was by no means over, as the aircraft began to take on water. Captain Sullenberger, aided by his co-pilot and three experienced flight attendants, oversaw the orderly departure ofthe 150 passengers through the four emergency over-wing exits and the two passenger doors at the front ofthe aircraft. He then walked the length of the aircraft twice to ensure everyone had escaped before becoming the last person to leave his plane. Captain Sullenberger’s calm professionalism, rational decision-making, exceptional flying skill and extraordinary airmanship in hazardous conditions reflect great credit upon himselfand the United States Air Force.

CAPTAIN TRAVIS A. BURTON

Captain Travis A. Burton, United States Air Force Academy Class of2000, distinguished himselfthrough his heroic actions while serving as an A-10 Pilot assigned to the 81 st Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany. Captain Burton is a member ofthe United States Air Forces in Europe command. On the night of24 January 2008, Captain Burton flew as the flight lead in support ofOperation ENDURING FREEDOM. He was tasked to provide close air support for a coalition forces convoy taking heavy and accurate small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire in the vicinity ofSangular Ghar, Afghanistan. Captain Burton coordinated with air assets on scene to gain situational awareness. The task was made more difficult by treacherous terrain and cloud cover. After other aircraft attacked and returned to base, Captain Burton dropped below the weather into the narrow mountain pass to locate the enemy stronghold. He marked the target with a white phosphorus rocket to confirm target identification and minimize the potential for fratricide. Over the next 90 minutes, his and other aircraft made multiple low-altitude passes over the target, firing rockets and high-explosive 30MM rounds, shooting at minimum range as target identification proved difficult. They also made show-of-force passes over the battlefield to deter further enemy aggression. With exacting detail, the pilots surgically struck enemy positions 15 to 20 meters from the coalition force convoy until the battle ended. Battle-damage estimates revealed that 30 to 40 anti-coalition militia had been killed. Captain Burtons exceptional tactical weapons employment and extraordinary airmanship in hazardous conditions reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. 9

dUIDt;

JACK QUINN'S IRISH PUB & RESTAURANT

Ifyou’re looking for a hearty meal and a tasty pint of beer, Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub is the place to be. Owned and operated by Air Force Academy grads, Quinn’s is located in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs. With live Irish music, traditional food and a plethora of imported beers, this is a great place for family and friends alike.

Checkpoints sat down with co-owner Bill Sasz, Class of 1968, to find out what makes this long-standing staple of Colorado Springs such a favorite among locals. “We’ve done our best to create a traditional Irish pub,” Sasz explains. “My wife and I have traveled extensively in Ireland, and at the center of every village is a pub. Jack Quinn’s was actually designed and built by an Irish company and shipped across the Atlantic piece by piece.” Everything in the restaurant is authentic Irish craftsmanship, from the custom, hand-crafted private booths to the hand-painted Celtic designs on the walls. In fact, the only true American component is the ornate vintage tin ceiling which spans overhead.

Sasz explains that there are four primary elements to making a good restaurant.

“The first,” he describes, “is atmosphere. You have to have a warm welcoming place that’s cozy.” The hardwood floors and crackling fireplace certainly fit the description—as do the distressed wooden tables which customers lovingly batter with their

fists as they keep percussive pace and sing along with the live Irish bands.

“The second,” Sasz continues, “is staff. Our entire staff is friendly and welcoming. It’s not like going into a chain restaurant, where you get the pre-fabricated speech. Everyone has their own way ofserving here. The main thing is to be friendly and welcoming. The

Tomato Basil Shrimp

third thing is the food, which is built around the traditional Irish fare. It’s tasty, hearty food with generous portions at a reasonable price.” The fish and chips are an all-time favorite; and for hungry groups with hearty appetites, the Irish nachos deliver a heaping plate of homemade spuds and potato chips smothered in cheese and corn beef.

The fourth element to running a great restaurant is yet another tradition handed down from across the Atlantic. “We have live Irish music four days per week,” Sasz says. “And there are different types and tempos for different customers.”

Bringing these four elements together is no simple task, but “The Quinn” pulls it off like a well-oiled machine; and the catalyst which keeps the gears turning smoothly rests in the steady flow of crisp hearty beer.

Tara Hart is the business manager and banquet coordinator for Jack Quinn’s. Starting as a server almost ten years ago, she’s been a part of the restaurant from the beginning. “We have fifteen drafts; ten are imported from Ireland and England and the other five are Colorado micro brews. We have a very unique gas-mixture—it’s a combination of nitrogen and C02—we put a lot of love and time into it.”

For those who may be curious about the importance of gas mixture for beer on tap, the answer is quite simple. The addition of nitrogen delivers millions of micro bubbles, which give stouts and darks their frothy cream, making for great

body and a smooth finish. Bars which do not use a proper nitrogen content tend to pour beers with less body which can be compared to drinking a fiat soda.

Pouring a great beer takes experience, which is another thing that Jack Quinn’s has no shortage of. Sasz explains, “One thing we’ve been really lucky with is that a lot of our staffhave been here a long time. There’s a certain continuity that people appreciate

when they come in and see the same servers and bartenders. People know they’ll be treated well and they feel comfortable here.”

Hart reflects that sentiment from her own experience. “Eve traveled in Great Britain and Ireland quite a bit,” she explains. “I’ve always felt that the pubs there tend to be an extension ofthe people who run them. It’s part of their home, and when you go there you’re being welcomed into that home. That’s one thing we’ve tried to bring to Jack Quinn’s.”

From the perspective of the Air Force Academy, going to Jack Quinn’s really is just like going home, considering that the founding fathers are all Academy grads. Eric Howell, ’71, Bob Denny, ’68, Bob Johnston, ’68, and Bill Sasz, ’68, came together to build a restaurant which has become a quintessential dining, nightlife and entertainment experience for the greater Colorado Springs area. SI

JACK

Specializing in traditional Irish fare and delicious American cuisine, this beautiful pub is owned by 4 USAFA Grads! The owners invite you to step into the comfortable and welcoming surroundings enhanced by mahogany, stained glass and an antique tin ceiling. The pub was created and installed

by Irish craftsmen using authentic materials from Ireland, including a cozy fireplace opposite the main bar. Join us for live Irish music four days a week and enjoy feasting on the best fish and chips in town, or a tasty Irish Boxty. Sip on a perfectlypoured import draff beer or ale or choose from our fine selection ofIrish whiskeys and Scotches.

Happy hour daily from 3-6 pm. Open at 11 am weekdays and noon on weekends; closing at 2 am. Sunday Brunch served from 12-3 pm. Banquet/party facilities will accommodate 120 dining and 160 for cocktails. Visit us at 21 South Tejon in beautiful downtown Colorado Springs. Call (719) 385-0766 or visit www.jackquinnspub.com.

Jack Quinn's Irish Pub & Restaurant

QUINN’S Irish Pub & Restaurant

r A QTPA&f un A STEAK HOUSE

BEST STEAK 2008 “Gazette”

BEST FINE DINING 2008 “Independent”

Serving PRIME Steaks, Fresh Fish and Classic Cocktails in a Chicago Style atmosphere in Downtown Colorado Springs. The best Midwestern corn-fed PRIME Strip Steaks and Honolulu Fresh Fish flown in daily. Sit in large curved ox-blood booths, or an intimate horseshoe bar. Ice-cold martinis, ereative mixed drinks and an extensive wine list. Live piano music Tuesday through Saturday. Open Monday-Friday at 11:00 for lunch daily for dinner at 4:00. Two Blocks from the Bijou exit east of1-25 Downtown. Reservations Appreciated. 31 N. Tejon. 719-2277333. www.famoussteaks.com

Back East Bar and Grill

Located only 2 miles east of the Air Force Academy, Back East Bar & Grill is the AFA’s Northside favorite in Colorado Springs. When you are in the mood for an East coast atmosphere and homemade NY style food this is the place to come. The dough and sauce for our pizzas are made fresh daily with our 30 year old family recipe. Our wings, Philly Cheese Steaks and Beef on Week sandwiches are the best in town. We have true halfpound mouth-watering burgers, fresh salads and a great kids menu too. Check out the AFA Basketball Coaches live radio show every Thursday night (in season), or play poker on Tuesday nights. We have the Springs best bands booked every Friday & Saturday night, a full bar and a great drink menu! There’s no need to go downtown anymore! This is the place to bring your family, friends or any kind ofparty you are having. We can accommodate large parties and are a local favorite for AFA parties. Independently owned & operated, we take special care in everything we do. Voted best neighborhood bar & grill by The Independent we have the best wait staffin town. We can’t wait to meet you! 9475 Brair Village Pt. Colorado Springs, CO. 80920 (719) 264-6161 backeastbarandgrill. com

American comfort food served in a casual Colorado lodge atmosphere. Famous chicken fried steak, slow roasted prime rib, seafood, plus soups, salads, sandwiches, and homemade cobblers. Full service bar. A Colorado tradition for twenty-five years. Serving lunch and dinner from 1 lam daily. 5905 Corporate Dr. and 1-25, 719260-6555. MasonJarColorado.com.

Flying W Ranch

For 56 years, the Flying W has offered a winning combination of picturesque natural surroundings, tasty cowboy trail fare, and unsurpassed western entertainment featuring the legendary Flying W Wranglers. Located at the foot of Pikes Peak and neatly nestled between the Air Force Academy and the Garden of the Gods, the Flying W provides an unparalleled opportunity to step back in time to experience the romantic spirit of the Old West and the American cowboy.

When the dinner bell rings at 6:45 p.m., it is time to load up a cowboy tin plate and enjoy some great grub including our barbecued beef or chicken, terrific trail beans, foil wrapped potato, buttermilk biscuits and a choice of campfire coffee, iced tea or lemonade. No one ever leaves hungry! After enjoying a truly sumptuous repast, guests are thoroughly entertained under the stars by the world’s second oldest cowboy band, the legendary Flying W Wranglers. Their rich vocals and three and four part harmonies, combined with superior instrumentation and family friendly humor, top off an evening long to be remembered. After dinner and a fast

paced hour of top-notch Wrangler music and entertainment, guests leave the Flying W on a Rocky Mountain High!

Reservations are necessary; please call (719) 598-4000 or 1-800-232-FLYW (3599). Or visit www.flyingw.com.

Nosh

Creative Cocktails, Kinetic Cuisine, Large Wine by the Glass List-Nosh is for sharing. Noshers (kinda like tapas) are great for two or twenty. Dynamic menu featuring fantastically fresh seafood, local beef, bison and yak. 121 South Tejon St., Colorado Springs, Colo., 719-635-6674.

Outback OUTBACK STEAKHOU5E®

“Discover a world of bold flavors at Outback Steakhouse. Our New Menu is bursting with new choices, such as Savory Pepper Mill Steak, Shrimp en Fuego and Crab Stuffed Shrimp, as well as our classic favorites. We now offer 15 meals under $15, starting at $9.95. 7065 Commerce Center Drive, Colorado Springs, Colo., 719-590-6283

The Famous

The Mason Jar

Hampden-Sydney College Names Christopher Howard, ’91, 24th President

Dr. Christopher B. Howard was elected the 24th President of Hampden-Sydney College at a meeting of the Board of Trustees on December 19, 2008. He will assume his duties July 1, 2009. Mr. Thomas N. Allen, the Chairman of the College’s Board ofTrustees, observed that the university president who brought Dr. Howard to the Colleges attention “noted his ‘keen intellect and extraordinary breadth of talents,’ adding that ‘he would be a superb candidate to lead a small, high quality, allmale institution such as Hampden-Sydney.’ I could not agree more.”

Responding to his election, Dr. Howard stated “I am both humbled and delighted to have been selected by the Board ofTrustees to serve as the 24th president ofHampdenSydney College, an institution with a storied

past and an even brighter future. I am committed to building upon the outstanding legacy ofmy predecessor, Dr. Walter Bortz, and working with students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends ofHampden-Sydney College to ensure we are preparing our graduates to engage the world, address its problems and to live purposeful lives.”

Dr. Howard is Vice President of Strategic & Leadership Initiatives at the University ofOklahoma, where he teaches leadership to the University’s top undergraduates using the “Great Books” approach.

He is a 1991 graduate of the US Air Force Academy, where he received a B.S. in Political Science, was Class President and Group Commander, and garnered First-Team Academic All-American honors as a starting running back on the football team. Upon graduating, Dr. Howard was named a Rhodes Scholar. At Oxford University he wrote his doctoral dissertation.

On active duty, Dr. Howard served as a UH-1 “Huey” helicopter pilot and an intelligence officer; he is now a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserve, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Dr. Howard is the chairman and founder of the Impact Young Lives Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that provides scholarship and travel opportunities for South African students of color. An expert in African affairs, he is a Fellow with many policy groups and educational institutions. He also serves on the Board at the Fessenden School and on the National Council ofAdvisors of the Center for the Study of the Presidency.

He is married to the former Barbara Noble ofJohannesburg, South Africa, a Temple University graduate who is Director of Development at the University of Oklahoma’s Honors College. They have two sons, Cohen (15) and Joshua (11). H Courtesy ofHampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia

Walking the Path of Energy Independence

By Col Rob Fredell

In accordance with the myriad of green initiatives intended to promote environmental stewardship in the 21 st Century, USAFA has implemented the design phase of its first solar power plant. The Academy is taking steps to build the foundation of a renewable energy program.

Superintendent Lt Gen John Regni has given us a vision for the future with his NetZero Initiative. NetZero’s objective is to generate 100 percent of USAFA’s electricity by 2015 using exclusively renewable energy sources. By combining the efforts ofconservation, energy-efficient building materials and alternative fuels, NetZero will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other particulate air pollution. By transitioning to clean renewable energy, the Academy will help shrink Colorado Springs’ growing “brown cloud” while setting a visible example of environmental stewardship.

Plans for the solar plant are in the works. The photovoltaic array will be placed on the eastern edge of the property, near Interstate 25. This $18.3 million project is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Covering up to 30 acres, the array will leverage the best photovoltaic technologies available, and will generate its first kilowatt of energy by late 2010. In addition to providing research and education opportunities for cadets, this project, in partnership with Colorado Springs Utilities, will produce an estimated seven percent of the Academy’s total annual energy needs by

2010, and will reduce the Academy’s electrie bill more than $600,000 annually.

USAFA is negotiating Cooperative Research and Development Agreements with some of our nation’s emerging energy companies to bring this research arena into our classrooms and vlaboratories. For example, the Greenvolts technology, called “concentrating photovoltaic” (CPV) uses an assortment of mirrors to concentrate the sun’s energy on highly advanced solar cells which convert light, ultraviolet and infrared energy into electric power. Partnerships with renewable energy companies like Greenvolts bring both the Academy and the Air Force closer to curbing their energy appetites, while helping to change the way the world produces energy.

While technologies such as photovoltaics are long standing staples of the renewable energy genre, other methods such as bio-fuels are starting to play a greater role. Cadets in the Chemistry and Management majors are currently working on a joint “grease-to-gas” project with a small biodiesel conversion plant. This plant is taking fry oil from Mitchell Hall and converting it into bio-diesel, 30 gallons at a time. Cadets are currently looking for a longterm solution to use expended grease from the mess hall to fuel bio-diesel vehicles on base. Other technologies are being explored as well. Cadets in Aeronautics have helped develop and test a new type of cycloidal propeller to create wave energy from the ocean. Other research efforts include

energetic ionic liquids and bio-fuel from algae. Cadets in our Physics Department are developing more efficient solar panels while the Biology Department begins work on Cool Clean algae-to-fuel technology.

Chemistry cadets are researching new battery technologies utilizing hydrogen storage and energetic ionic liquids.

The renewable energy equation is very complex; efforts to curb our lust for consumption cannot come soon enough. The United States consumes 3.8 billion megawatt-hours (MW hrs) of electricity per year. In Colorado alone, the energy use is 50 million MW hrs per year, with the Academy a major player in megawatt consumption. The annual energy cost for USAFA is about $12 million. Approximately half of that figure is for electricity. The current average electric bill per cadet is $1,300 per year, and the cost is expected to climb sharply in the future. The Academy is responding by using laboratory assets, researchers and cadet innovation to turn energy research into energy reality.

Realistically, we won’t achieve NetZero with just one CPV project. It will take an assortment of renewable technologies such as hydroelectric and wind, combined with aggressive conservation measures to significantly reduce our electrical demand. Improving existing energy technologies, analyzing competing energy proposals and implementing a comprehensive conservation strategy is essential for our transition to energy independence. H

FALCON LAUNCH VII

Rocket launch sets speed and altitude records

By Drew Hamilton, White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs

Photos by David J Ahlschwede, USAFA Photography Lab

Air Force Academy cadets helped support Air Force space programs with the launch of a rocket from White Sands Missile Range early April 17.The Falcon LAUNCH VII, a boosted dart rocket designed and tested by the cadets, left the ground at 5:17 a.m. with a pair of test payloads on board. Burning off more than 100 pounds of fuel in less than five seconds, the rocket was designed to then release an unpowered dart that would coast to an altitude of approximately 355,000 feet.

Radar data shows the rocket s boosted dart section reached an altitude of354,724 feet. This set world records for both altitude and speed ofuniversity-built rockets. On board the dart was an avionics package that recorded the rockets performance and will be collected be a recovery team for analysis. Also on the dart was an experimental fin tip supporting Air Force Research Laboratory’s Future Responsive Access to Space program. The mounting ofthe fin tip on Falcon LAUNCH VII will provide data on the fins performance at subsonic, transonic and

supersonic speeds. For their capstone project, Falcon LAUNCH cadets are required to build and launch their own rocket with the goal ofsending a scientific payload into space in support ofDepartment ofDefense research.While there are several different capstone projects, FalconLAUNCH is one of the Academy’s most complex and challenging capstone projects.

As a two-semester course, the program gives cadets majoring in fields like aeronautical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer engineering a chance to ‘learn space by doing space’ as they employ the skills taught at the Academy in a developmental environment. “The big picture with FalconLAUNCH is to learn the system engineering process,” said Cadet 1st Class Brad DeWees, FalconLAUNCH VII program manager.Working directly with WSMR test officials from Army, Air Force and Navy offices, the cadets got a taste ofrocket science first hand. “When we first started I thought ofit as putting a rocket together, but it’s a lot more than that. Learning what it’s like to manage a program like this has been a great experience and it’s

the sort ofthing you can only learn from a program like this,” Cadet DeWees said.

Like many other test programs, FalconLAUNCH required that the cadets not only design and build a new rocket, but also solve all the problems that come up throughout the system engineering and testing process. Early in the project the team had trouble just finding out how to build a rocket, often having to go back to the archives ofearlier space missions for solutions. “That was kind ofcool, going through the old 1970’s NASA documents,” said Cadet 1st Class Ozzie Ortiz, a fin design specialist.

As the program went on the cadets had to solve many more engineering problems. “It’s amazing how many little brushfires we’ve had to put out. I can think of two times in the last month that the shot was cancelled, and we’ve still managed to push through,” Cadet DeWees said.The Falcon LAUNCH program’s end-goal is to provide the Air Force and Department ofDefense with a costefficient, operationally responsive method of delivering small scientific and engineering payloads into lower earth orbit. H

-

Chapter News

Outlook

Arizona Chapter

Ifyou have recently moved to Arizona or have not received our mailings, please contact Jim Sienicki, ’74, jsienicki@swlaw. com. In addition, please e-mail or send your e-mail address to me, since we are compiling e-mail addresses, as well as your current address and telephone number, so we can better serve you and cut down on some of our mailing expenses. All of our notifications are now going out by e-mails or by Evite. If you change your e-mail address, please let us know. Carol and Doug Pelton, ’74, had again invited our chapter to their 5th annual pig roast which was held on Saturday, 2 May. Barb and Ron Marusiak, ’71, again

GOAL 5

Interact with other service academy graduates

Air Force Academy Society of North Carolina

On 26 Feb, 2009, the Air Force Academy Society of North Carolina held its Winter Social, Fighter Pilot Jazz, at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, NC. The guest speaker was Col. TIal Shook. Col. Shook is a WWII veteran P-47 pilot. He shared his experiences as a fighter pilot from D-Day through Korea. The meeting was hosted by J.W. “Wild Bill” Stealey, ’70.

graciously agreed to host a fireworks/dessert/ beverages party at their house right on the Arizona Country Club golf course on the 4th ofJuly. The fireworks and patriotic music are usually awesome. We look forward to a nice turnout ofgrads/spouses/friends. We are looking for input from our members regarding any other events or activities that the Arizona Chapter should sponsor. Ifyou have any winning ideas, please send an e-mail to Jim Sienicki. We need a volunteer to recruit newer graduates to get involved without Arizona Chapter and to be the Chapter’s liaison with Luke AFB and the graduates stationed there. Ifyou are interested, please contact Jim Sienicki.

Bill brought WarBirds flight simulation software from his company iEntertainment and allowed attendees to “fly” their own P-47 “Jug.”

Heartland - LeMay Chapter

On 24 Apr., several chapter members, including Gen Kevin Chilton, ’76, the USSTRATCOM Commander, were on hand at Offutt AFB’s Patriot Club to celebrate the nomination of Brig Gens Sue Helms, ’80, and Zan Vautrinot, ’82, to Maj Gen.

GOAL 6

Give back to the community

Heartland - LeMay Chapter

We have had our monthly lunches in Jan., Feb., and Mar. thus far this year. We presented an AOG Chapter “Leader of Character” award to an outstanding junior at a local high school on 23 Mar., another award to a second high school on 29 Apr. This is the second year of this program that we plan to expand by one school per year. A small group attended the Falcons

AFASNC - Bill Stealey, 79 shows Col. Shook how to fly a “Jug”

baseball double-header against the Creighton Bluejays on 15 Apr.

GOAL 9

Assist Parents’ Clubs/Cadets

Heartland - LeMay Chapter

Gen. Kevin and Mrs. Chilton, ’76, were given the VIP treatment during the Falcons - Bluejays double header on the Apr. 1 5th. They got to go on-field and meet the coaches and players between the first and second games. The Nebraska USAFA Cadets parents club hosted a party for the team at the stadium prior to the game.

Affinity Groups

Silver Falcons

It’s time to start making plans for the 2009 Silver Falcon Convention at USAFA. This year’s dates will be 14-18 Oct., 2009. Air Force has a home football game on 17 Oct. against San Diego State University. Contact has been made with Rampart Lodge to obtain lodging on base for the conference. Ifyou are interested in attending this year’s conference, please contact Kirk Brown by email ltckirkbrown@juno.com.

John Riffle wrote in to inform us that Lt Col. Walter Don Oliver passed away in late 2008 at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King, Wisconsin. Don was among the early AFA LOS in 1959 when the USAFA was located at Lowery Air Base, Colorado, along with Col. John Riffle, Col. Jack Wild, Col. Glenn Dorward, Col. Leo Foley, and Lt. Col. McGarty Murray. Please keep the Silver Falcons informed by dropping Kirk a note to let us know what is going on in your lives, email

Kirk at ltckirkbrown@juno.com. Looking to seeing many ofyou this fall at the convention. Have a great Air Force day.

Space Group

The AOG Space Group was established to assist and encourage space-related activities at the Academy. For many years, the Space Group has been involved with a number of programs that helped both the faculty and cadets understand the importance of space to the nation’s security and the potential of space operations to address emerging national security needs. In recent months, the Space Group has continued to be involved with important cadet activities. Several Space Group members attended the FalconLAUNCH-6/7 and FalconSAT-5 Final Status Review. By providing substantial professional expertise to these reviews, Space Group members help ensure the success of these critical cadet operations. The Space Group has also continued to coordinate activities with the Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies. Ambassador Roger Harrison, Director of the Center, recently met with Space Group leadership to plan future activities to support cadet space acumen, including possible cadet experimental satellite programs. We welcome USAFA graduates, and non-graduates who have been involved with USAFA space activities, to join the Space Group and contribute to the success of future cadet activities and training. All cadets need to be aware of the contributions and future potential of space operations to contribute to national security and well-being. If you have idea or desire to help make this happen, check the web site at usafaspace. tripod.com or contact Stan Rosen, ’69, at srosen6@aol.com. B

Need help finding a job?

Looking to advance your career?

JSAJE is an exclusive site specifically designed for service academy alumni. Whether you are looking for a new job or different career, JSAJE is the place for you to make it happen. Log on to JSAJE to browse job listings and contact employers.

Not actively lookingfor a job? Sign up for Job Retriever and let it alert you when jobs according to your search criteria become available.

JSAJE also contains a resume database through which companies can search for promising candidates. service academies jobs eiectronically

Falcons skate to a record season

When the 2007-08 season concluded with an overtime loss to second-ranked Miami in the NCAA Tournament, the returning players all said they wanted more. It wasn’t good enough. “As much as we accomplished, it’s not enough,” said goaltender Andrew Volkening after the 2007-08 season. “I want to keep going up.”

Many fans raised an eyebrow, or two, at those statements. The Falcons had just won 21 games, the most Division I wins in school history, earned their second consecutive conference championship, another trip to the NCAA Tournament and nearly knocked off the No. 2 team in all of college hockey. More is what the 2008-09 Falcons delivered.

What could they possibly do for an encore?

A 28-11-2 overall record, the most wins in school history, the team’s first ever regular-season championship, the third straight Atlantic fdockey Association tournament title, a third-consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, the program’s first ever win in the NCAAs and a trip to the Elite Eight.

Ecstatic? Not, exactly.

“We are going to remember what it feels like to lose that game in double overtime to Vermont (in the regional final) and we’ll use it as motivation to get back next year and not let it happen again,” said Jacques Lamoureux.

“We have to get back,” said Brett Nylander. “I think I speak for everyone on the team when I say that this offseason will be huge for us. Our main focus is to get to the Frozen Four.”

Air Force started the season with a giant bull’s eye on its back. Not only were the Falcons the two-time AfdA champions, but the coaches picked Air Force first in the preseason poll. The target didn’t seem to bother the Falcons early in the season as Air Force rolled to 13 consecutive wins and a No. 10 ranking in the national polls, both school records.

After a road sweep at Sacred Heart to open the season, the Falcons faced a familiar foe in non-conference action at home, the Bemidji State Beavers. Air Force’s domination by scores of 6-2 and 6-0 didn’t seem like much on the national scene. However, the Beavers went on to win the College Hockey America confer-

ence and NCAA West Regional to advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four.

A home sweep ofSacred Heart, by a combined score of 15-2, set up a showdown with cross-town foe and third-ranked Colorado College in late November. The Tigers had won 25 straight over Ar Force but, on Nov. 28, it was Air Force that took a 4-1 win as four different Falcons scored and Volkening made 28 saves. The next night, Air Force suffered its first loss of the season as Denver defeated the Falcons, 4-1, in a game that was closer than the final score. Ninth-ranked DU broke a 1-1 tie early the third period and then scored an empty-netter late.

The loss put the Falcons in a bit of a tailspin, posting just a 4-7-2 record through December and January. Two of the four wins during the slide came against service academy rival Army at the Cadet Ice Arena. A tie and heart-breaking loss at Mercyhurst dropped the Falcons out of the national polls and out of first place in the league in late January.

As has been the case the past three years, the Falcons flipped the switch in February. After a sweep of UConn at home, Ar Force earned a road split at Bentley thanks to a short-handed goal by team captain Mike Phillipich with one second remaining in the game for a 3-2 victory.

The Falcons, in second place in the league, returned home for the final regular-season home series against Holy Cross. After winning the first game, 4-3, the Falcons needed a win on Saturday to move into a tie with RIT, setting up a showdown with the Tigers on the final weekend ofthe regular season in Rochester, N.Y. Senior Michael Mayras goal, a rebound ofMatt Fairchild’s drive to the net, with 2:25 remaining lifted the Falcons to a 3-2 win and a tie for first place in the league.

The league’s top two teams, Ar Force and RIT, met in Rochester on the final weekend of the regular season. In the first game, RIT took a 4-1 lead in the second period, but the Falcons battled back to tie the game later in the period on two goals byJacques Lamoureux. However, RIT won the game, 6-4, and took a two-point lead in the standings with one game remaining. Ar Force owned the tiebreakers in head-to-head goal differential, so with a win on Saturday, the Falcons would be the top seed in the tournament. Two goals by Brent Olson and a stifling Falcon defense led Ar Force to a 3-1 victory, a share of the regular season title and the top seed in the tournament.

In the league quarterfinal best of three series, the Falcons hosted No. 8 seed Sacred Heart, but the series was much closer than many fans antic-

ipated. In the first game, Sacred Heart scored two goals in the third period to tie the game at 3-3. With 96 seconds left in the third period, the Falcons’ top line came through. Lamoureux scored from Josh Frider and Brent Olson to give the Falcons the first game of the series.

The second night was a different story. Air Force outshot Sacred Heart, 43-13, but Pioneer goalie Stefan Drew made 42 saves and SHU tied the series with a 4-1 victory.

The loss backed the top-seeded Falcons into a corner. A onegame elimination against the No. 8 seed with a hot goaltender. Greg Flynn scored the first two goals ofthe game and the Falcons cruised to an 8-1 victory and a trip to the AFTA Final Four in Rochester, N.Y. Olson netted his first career hat trick in the game.

All four top seeds advanced to the Final Four, pitting Air Force against No. 4 seed Bentley in the first game at the Blue Cross Arena, a building the Falcons have never lost in. Matt Fairchild scored two goals and Volkening stopped all 26 shots he faced in a 3-0 blanking of Bentley. Mercyhurst upset the home-standing RIT Tigers, setting up a rematch of the 2008 championship game. This game was not nearly the epic of the previous season as the Falcons held the No. 2 scoring team in the nation without a goal in a 2-0 victory. Lamoureux scored the first goal and Fairchild added the second as Volkening made 25 saves in the game. Fairchild, who scored three ofAir Force’s five goals in the two games, was named the tournament’s MVP. However, after receiving the award, he gave the plaque to his goaltender who stopped all 51 shots to set a new league record with back-to-back shutouts in the two games.

The third consecutive league championship sent the Falcons back to the NCAA Tournament, a place where this team had some unfinished business. The previous two seasons, Air Force watched third-period leads disappear against Minnesota in 2007 and Miami in 2008.

Who would be the Falcons’ opponent at the Big Dance?

None other than the most storied program in the history ofcollege hockey, the Michigan Wolverines, owners of nine national championships, 23 Frozen Four appearances, 33 NCAA Tournament berths and a national record 19 consecutive NCAA appearances. The top-seeded Wolverines, ranked third in the nation, boasted 13 NHL draft choices. However, it was Ar Force’s first-team all-league choices that led the way. Volkening stopped all 43 shots he faced, Flynn assisted on both goals and Lamoureux scored AFA’s second goal of the game as the Falcons earned a 2-0 win for the program’s first ever NCAA win. Derrick Burnett scored the first goal of the game, the eventual game-winner, in the first period on the power play.

The win sent Ar Force to its first-ever Elite Eight and a matchup vs. 10th-ranked Vermont. The winner would earn a spot in the Frozen Four in Washington D.C. Freshman Paul Weisgarber broke a scoreless tie in the second period and the Falcons had a 1 -0 lead early in the third period. Vermont scored two goals midway through the third period for a 2-1 lead, but Ar Force came back to tie the game. Sean Bertsch’s goal at 11:18 knotted the game and forced overtime. Ar Force had eight shots in overtime while Vermont had six, but neither team scored. In the second overtime, Vermont defenseman Dan Lawson took a slap

shot from the point at the 14:10 mark and play continued for nearly two minutes. Upon the first whistle, the play was under video review and, after a 12-minute delay, the shot was ruled a goal as the puck went through the net ending the Falcons’ season.

The loss was tough to swallow, but the numerous accomplishments were stellar. A school record 28 wins, first-ever AHA regular season championship, third straight AFiA tournament title and NCAA appearance, first ever NCAA win and trip to Elite Eight, two wins over teams ranked third in the nation, 13-game winning streak to open the season and a school record average attendance of2,630 per night. The individual accolades came as well. Lamoureux led the nation with 33 goals and was second with 33 points. He earned first-team InsideCollegeHockey.com (INCH) and second-team American Hockey Coaches Association/Reebok AllAmerican honors. Lamoureux was also one of 10 players to be named a Hobey Baker finalist, was the AFTA Player ofthe Year, a first-team all-league selection and a member ofthe NCAA East Regional all-tournament team. Flynn was a third-team INCH All-American, firstteam all-AFiA selection, AFTA Defenseman ofthe Year, NCAA Regional and AFTA all-tournament teams and was the top-scoring defenseman in the nation. Flynn was also named the MVP ofthe NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge in Washington, D.C. Flynn became the third straight Falcon (Andrew Ramsey in 2007 and Eric Ehn in 2008) selected to compete in the event. He joins Ehn as back-to-back MVPs ofthe Skills Challenge. Volkening was a first-team all-AFTA choice and was named to both all-tournament teams. Fairchild was a third-team all-league selection and was the MVP ofthe AFTA Final Four. Defenseman Scott Mathis was named to the AFTA all-rookie team and was on the AFTA all-tournament team. Phillipich earned the Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award as the nation’s “consummate team player.” Hie award, presented by the Hockey Commissioner’s Association, is given to one college hockey player nationally. Phillipich is the first Falcon to ever win the award, which is named for the former Army hockey player who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2005.

“Our team is not talented enough to win on talent alone,” head coach Frank Serratore said. “We developed a system and style of play which complimented our personnel and gave us the very best chance of winning every night. This system or style of play would not have been successful unless every player bought in. Fortunately for us, every player bought in very early and this enabled our players as a collective group to take this team to great heights.This team benefitted from the confidence and experience gained over the previous two years. After winning two AHA Championships and participating in two NCAA Tournaments in 2007 and 2008, the 2008-09 team believed they were winners and knew they could win

every night. In addition to experience, this team was competitively deep. I believe Academy teams need to have two ingredients in order to be successful, depth and experience. This team had both.”

The senior class of Flynn, Frider, Mayra, Olson and Phillipich earned four conference championships (three AHA tournament and one AHA regular season title) and earned seven banners that are hanging in the Cadet Ice Arena. The class won 79 games to set a new school record. FFie class will certainly be missed, but much returns for the 2009-10 campaign.

“We have a very good nucleus of players returning but we graduate five very strong players,” Serratore said. “FFiere was no dead weight in this senior class, all were high level contributors. This may sound somewhat bleak but do not forget we graduated a very strong class in 2007-08 as well. FFie returning players elevated their game in 2008-09, came together as a group and manufactured a record setting season. Despite the losses to graduation, we will return All-Conference, All-American, and Hobey Baker finalist Jacques Lamoureux along with All-Conference selections Matt Fairchild and Andrew Volkening. I am confident several others will elevate their game and assume impact roles in 2009-10.”

Volkening and Lamoureux will be joined by team captains Jeff Hajner and Brett Nylander. The Falcons return four of the top seven scorers and four of the top six defenseman.

“You can’t predict what is going to happen in the future,” Hajner said. “I can’t guarantee that we’ll win a national championship or that we’ll even get out of the AHA tournament, but I can guarantee that nobody in college hockey will work as hard as we will. For what we have been through, to have that taste, nobody will want it as bad as us. We’ve been so close and we know what it takes. We were one shot away. No one will work as hard as us and I know it will prepare us for another great season and hopefully with that work and preparation we can do something special next year.” S

Season Record: 28-12-2

Team Captain: Mike Phillipich; Assistant

Captains: Jeff Hajner, Brent Olson

MVP: Andrew Volkening

All-Americans: Jacques Lamoureux (first-team INCH; second-team Coaches/Reebok); Greg Flynn (thirdteam INCH)

Academic All-Americans: TBA

All-Conference: Jacques Lamoureux, first-team and AHA Player of the Year; Greg Flynn, first-team and AHA Defenseman of the Year; Andrew Volkening, first-team; Matt Fairchild, third-team; Scott Mathis, all-rookie

Academic All-Conference: TBA

Air Force announces second

mm l class

CALLIE MOLLOY (CALHOUN)

Cross Country/Track Class of 1991

The Academy announced its second class for induction into the Air Force Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. The six inductees—Jim Bowman, Callie Molloy (Calhoun), Dee Dowis, Terry Isaacson, Ernie Jennings and Ben Martin—were honored May 1, at the Air Force Academy Falcon Club.

The six inductees represent a former athletic coach and administrator, a track and cross country multiple All-American, two of the football programs most decorated performers, a multiple-sport stand-out and a former coach who held one of the longest tenures in Air Force history.

Inductee quick facts:

JIM BOWMAN

Football Coach/Associate Athletic Director

1958 to 2007

1958-1961 head junior varsity football coach

1961-1974 head freshman football coach

1975 head junior varsity football coach

In five seasons as JV head coach, compiled a 24-4-1 record

Coached undefeated teams in 1963 and 1975

In his 11 seasons as freshman coach, his teams were 37-28

Member of Falcon staffwho participated in 17 bowl games

Served as a radio color commentator for AFA football and hockey games

In 1995, was awarded an honorary membership to the Association of Graduates

Personally coached over 1,000 football players

Ffelped more than 13,000 cadet-athletes receive Academy appointments

Five-time NCAA Division II track and field national champion (3000-meter run, 5000meter run, 10,000meter run)

1990 NCAA Division II cross country national champion

Eight-time NCAA

Division II track and field All-American

Three-time NCAA

Division II cross country All-American

1990 regional cross country champion

1990 cross country team captain

1991 track and field team captain

Two-time track and field MVP

1990 cross country MVP

Named track and field outstanding competitor (1989)

1991 NCAA Academic All-American

USAFA Athletic Excellence Award Winner (1990)

Set Academy records in the 3K indoor, 3K outdoor, 5K indoor, 5K outdoor, 10K

Ran on three NCAA Division II runner-up cross country teams

Inducted into the NCAA Division II Track and Field Hall of Fame (2001)

DEE DOWIS

Football Class of 1990

Finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1989-highest finish ever for an Air Force player

Won the Downtown Athletic Club’s Exemplary Player of the Year Award in 1989

Honorable mention AllAmerican in 1989 by A.P. WAC Offensive Player of the Year in 1989

Selected to play in the

Hula Bowl

Broke the school record for most rushing yards in a game with 249 in 1989 vs. San Diego State

Became the fifth player in NCAA history to rush and pass for 1,000 yards each in a single season

AFA Male Athlete ofYear, 1990

Led team in rushing twice and passing three times 1989 co-captain

TERRY ISAACSON

Wrestling/Football Class of 1964

Air Forces only threetime wrestling All-American (1962-64)

NCAA runner-up in 1962 (167 pounds)

Great Plains AAU Champion in 1962

Mountain Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Champion in 1963

Posted a career wrestling record of 161 wins, 13 losses

Three-year football letterman

Led team in rushing in 1961 and 1963

Led team in passing in 1962 and 1963

Led the team in total offense in 1962 and 1963

Recorded 1,747 yards of total offense in 1963

Led the team in punting in 1962 and 1963

Finished eighth in Heisman Trophy balloting in 1963

AFA Male Athlete ofYear, 1964 Helms Football Foundation All-American, 1963 1963 football co-captain

ERNIE JENNINGS

Football Class of 1971

Central Press All-American team in 1969

Selected to play in the College All-Star game in 1971

Consensus All-American in 1970

Set a school record with 13 receptions vs. Wyoming in 1969

Set a school record with 235 yards receiving vs. Wyoming in 1970

AFA Male Athlete ofYear, 1971

Led team in receiving yards twice Set school records for season and career receiving yards

BEN MARTIN

Football Coach 1958-1977

Compiled a 20-year record of 96-103-9

Known as the “Father of Air Force Football”

Led Falcons to three bowl games, including the 1959 Cotton Bowl, 1963 Gator Bowl and 1971

Sugar Bowl

Appearance in the Cotton and Sugar bowl games mark the only New Year’s Day bowl games Air Force has participated in Martin’s 1958 team, his first at Air Force, is still considered one ofthe top teams in college football history as the 1958 team finished with 9-0-1 regular season record before battling to a 0-0 tie with TCU in the Cotton Bowl to finish 9-0-2 1958 team featured the school’s first consensus AllAmerican, tackle Brock Strom Coached wide receiver Ernie Jennings, a star on the 1970 team, who went on to earn consensus AllAmerican honors and finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting B

tions

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

Graduates with military ID: Call (719) 333-2606 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.

A Service Academy Career Conference hosted four times annually and designed to match our alumni with employers interested in hiring service academy alumni. JSAJE

JSAJE for Alumni - Joint Service Academy Jobs Electronically is an Web site designed to allow you to browse through job listings and contact employers. It contains a resume repository for graduates who are in an active transition mode, and a job retriever for those who prefer to remain in a passive mode. JSAJE For the Employers - JSAJE is also an exclusive job Web site designed for companies in corporate America to advertise their career opportunities directly to service academy alumni. Companies may also purchase access to a repository of resumes of graduates in an active transition mode.

iSABRD

An online Service Academy Business Resource Directory with over 35,750 active profiles from USAFA, USCGA, USMA, USMMA, and USNA. An excellent resource for advertising, career networking, and building business connections.

GIFT IDEAS

A-AFA Business Card Holder

Two-tone Pocket Business Card Holder with United States Academy engraved. $12.75

B AF/AOG Totebag

Black, blue, and white tote with Air Force insignia and AOG Crest on front. Large main compartment with zippered closure includes convenient storage pockets inside. Measures 17.5 x 14 x 3. 400D polyester. $10.25

C- Air Force Hat

Adjustable cloth strap with metal clasp. $13.00

D- USAFA Stadium Lap Blanket

Choose from Royal Blue or Gray. $24.00 Clearance Choosefrom Pink or Dark Blue $16.00

E-Spirit & Flight

Coffee table book with pictures from around the Academy. $ 8.50

F-License Plate Frame

Choose from Alumni, Falcons or Parents. $8.50

G-2009 Ornament

A representation of the Thunderbird Overlook. Features the F-16 and A-10 $24.65

H- Laser Engraved Pen Set

Personalize this gift. Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. $29.75

I- AOG Tie Tackl $12.00

J- Travel Mug or Water Bottle $8.50

COMING SOON:

2009 Ornament, 2013 Incoming Class T-shits, Totebags and Pins

A- Ladies' Pullover Hoodie **New Item**

This stylish Pullover Hoodie warms you all year round. Cotton/Polyester. Machine wash. Pink. Sizes S-XXL $38.25

B- Chill-Out Zip Up Sweater **New Item**

Fashionable and comfortable cardigan style sweatshirt. Ribbed knit collar, sleeve, waist, & pockets. Cotton/Polyester. Vanilla or Antique Pink. Sizes S-XL $40.75

D- Ladies' Golf Polo **New Item Blue AF embroidered logo on ladies' style polo shirt. This E-Dry Function Wear Series moves moisture away from the body to the outer fabric surface for quick evaporation, allowing you to stay cool, dry, and comfortable. Polyester. Lime Sherbet or White. Sizes XS-XXL $28.00

C- Long Sleeve Collar Shirt **New Item**

Classic designed pinstripe button down shirt. Front and back darts for a feminine silhouette. Cotton/Polyester. Wrinkle resistant. Powder Blue/White or Powder Pink/White. Sizes S-XXL $28.00

E- Ladies' AF Polo **New Item** Superior quality polo style shirt. Two button placket.100% ring spun combed cotton. Official AF logo embroidered on left chest. White or Pink. Sizes S-XXL $21.25

A- Men's AF Polo **New Item** Superior quality. Three button placket.100% ring spun combed cotton. Official AF embroidered logo. White or Royal Blue. Sizes S-XXL $21.25

B- Men's Golf Polo **New Item

AF embroidered logo. E-Dry Function Wear Series. Polyester. Ceramic Blue or Sand. Sizes S-XXL $28.00

C- Long Sleeve Collar Shirt **New Item** Button-down collar. Left chest pocket. Back yoke with Pleats. Cotton/Polyester. Powder Blue/White. Sizes S-XXL $28.00

D- Hooded Nylon Jacket **New Item** 'Weatherproof' performance jacket. Embroidered "Air Force Academy" on the left chest and "Air Force" on middle back. Drawstring hood, 3 zip pockets. Nylon shell. Body lining. Polyester/Cotton.

Sizes S-XL $60.50 XXL 8c XXXL $64.00

E- Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt

Also available as a Flooded Zip Sweatshirt. MV Sport. Cotton/Polyester. Blue or Gray. Sizes S-XXL $38.25

Youth Pullover Floodie

F- Cotton/Polyester. "Air Force" applique across chest & "Academy" embroidered beneath. Choose from pink, dark blue or g Youth Sizes S-XL $29.75

Donald L. Hutchinson, ’62 but not forgotten

Donald Lee Hutchinson

August 9, 1940 - January 25, 2009

Excerptedfrom his daughter Catherine Lukes’ eulogy and read aloud at his Super Bowl-themed Memorial on Sunday, Feb 1, 2009.

...As a tribute to my father, I’d like to tell you what were my favorite of his qualities.

The first is his bravery. It seems that I came into this world with a moderate amount offear. I remember when I was a small girl and I had heard of some random act of violence which caused me to not want to ever go out in public again, Dad said something to me which has stuck with me for many decades. He said “Cathy, you can’t wrap yourself up in bubble wrap, you have to keep going.” I think of my father and his good advice when I am lacking courage and I draw on the strength of a man who moved through his own life undaunted by danger, having gathered strength from distress and grown brave by reflection.

The next is his love of books and of learning. He held multiple degrees and certifications, including his bachelor’s in aerospace engineering and an MBA. I used to tell him that he should get his PhD; to which he would respond: “Why would I want to do that? Then I would only be able to study ONE thing.” Some of the many subjects he loved were Southwest history, paleontology and geology, military history and astronomy. (When you pointed up to the sky and asked “What’s that planet over there, Dad?” he would always be able to tell you.)

He also instilled a love of learning in his children - maybe too much! Combined, we two have a total of 18 years post-secondary education!

Which brings me to my next favorite of his qualities: his enormous generosity. He never stopped writing checks for us to continue our education... degree after degree after degree... He was a dedicated philanthropist. As it turns out, he had written 10 checks to various charities just in the few weeks before his passing. He was most kindhearted.

About halfofthose charities were animal welfare charities; which brings me to his next quality - his deep love of animals. His favorite place on this earth was one where he could be right next to a four-legged creature. There was never a time when our family didn’t have at least one dog - the yellow lab was his favorite (pretty much any dog would do - but the bigger the better). The animals in his life brought him peace and happiness - from the many canines with whom he shared his life, 1 am sure he had a lovingly warm welcome upon his passing over.

The last ofhis qualities which I will mention here is a quality he shares with the yellow lab - the quality of unconditional love. In examining all

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

If you know of a graduate’s death, please notify the AOG as soon as possible. There have been cases in which the association was not informed for quite some time.

of the times when our philosophical opinions differed, all the times when we didn’t see eye-to-eye; I see his love for me never wavered. What an extraordinary man to be able to allow me the safety to come to him with a problem, to help me sort through it, then to find that my own conclusion differed from the one he would make and finally to support me unconditionally as I traveled along the path I had chosen. He did this for me over and over again. He helped me when I had a decision to make, sharing with me his viewpoint and listening to mine and then telling me that whatever decision I made, he would be there beside memy unwavering support...

Melroy “Roy” Borland, ’63

Lt. Col. Melroy (Roy) Borland, (USAF, Ret), left this life on Dec. 3, 2008 for the next, after a courageous and uncomplaining battle with cancer. He exhibited the same quiet courage and resolve in his last months as in his life before.

Born May 2nd, 1938 in Roscoe, Texas, the second child of Howard and Daisy Borland, Roy attended school in Hermleigh, Texas and graduated high school in Plains, Texas, where he was a two-year letterman in track and football. After high school he enlisted in the Air Force, serving a two-year stint as an enlisted man in Okinawa, Japan before receiving an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Roy was a member of the first class to begin and complete its course of study at the new facility in Colorado Springs, Colo.

After the Academy, Roy completed basic jet training at Reese AFB in Lubbock, Texas, before moving on to the love of his career, helicopter training in Reno, Nev. He was deployed to Vietnam, where he flew the Kaman HH-43 Huskie helicopter in his assignment as a member of the Air Rescue Service.

In two tours in Vietnam, he accumulated 16 Air Medals, for a total of 320 missions. He was in Vietnam during the Tet offensive. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for rescuing a downed light aircraft reconnaissance pilot off the side of a mountain under heavy enemy fire.

During the course of his military career, he also earned the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with Three Silver Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, among others.

He had duty stations after Vietnam in Big Spring, Texas; RAF Lakenheath, England; San Antonio, Texas; the Panama Canal Zone, where he greatly enjoyed flying one of the few Huey gunships the USAF operated; and finally at Holloman AFB, Alamogordo, N.M. where, among other duties, he was operations officer for the three Space Shuttle missions that landed there during his tour of duty. He also completed a Master's Degree in Public Administration. He retired from active duty on Dec. 31, 1984.

Roy was an avid hunter and loved fishing. He loved hunting dove and quail with his dad, brother, son-in-law and friends, and going to deer camp, where he was always the source of good humor and fun. He was a man's man, who enjoyed flying, good friends, a good cigar,

Don Hutchinson

Roy Borland

a good poker game and good spirits. He was a tough guy. He held a 2008/2009 Texas hunting license, and hunted dove with it in late September, 2008, treatment notwithstanding.

Roy is survived by his wife, Ann, a registered nurse midwife; his daughter Lisa Pichler, an R.N. and her husband, Andrew, a Quantas 74 pilot; his granddaughter Kayla and his grandsons Rhys and Bryce, all of Australia; his sister Ann and husband, Richard Wall, of Midland, Texas; his brother Mike Borland and wife, Vi Lea, of Midland, Texas; his aunt Mable Glass of Snyder, Texas; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his sister Donna Beth Borland Jones. (Mike Borland, Roy’s brother)

JackH. Pierson, ’63

Jack Hall Pierson, Class of 63, passed away on Oct. 29, 2008 in Seattle, Wash. He was my best friend for 28 years and my husband for almost 10. After retiring from the USAF in 1983, he went to work for Boeing, not his dream job, but he needed a job. He retired from Boeing in 1995 upon reaching the magic age of 55 and never looked back.

From his childhood on, as those who knew Jack well will attest, his real love was cars, especially the great British cars. After doing much research, he purchased a used Rolls Royce. It was a 1982 Silver Spur. He loved it. One of my fondest memories is having him pick me up on one of those rare snow days in the Seattle area in the Rolls Royce with chains on. While still owning the Rolls, he purchased a new Land Rover Range Rover. After all, SUVs were the rage and one couldn’t have just any old SUV; it had to be British. Owning the Rover wasn’t good enough; one should know how to drive this car off road. He decided

to attend the Land Rover Driving Academy in Aspen, Colo. That class was in 1994. He would likely describe the driving as terrifying but he learned how to handle the car and saw some beautiful scenery. Jack was not a back seat rider; he tended to get car sick. So he convinced the teachers to let him drive in a car alone with just an instructor in the Rover. This resulted in him driving more but at least he didn’t get sick. He attended a second Driving Class in 1996 traveling the Great Divide in Colorado.

Jack Pierson

He continued owning two British cars for a while but even he finally decided the maintenance costs were just not in the budget. He reluctantly sold the Rolls Royce. However, he remained a member of the Rolls Royce Owners Club and longed for a 1950s XK140 Jaguar roadster like he had while at the Academy.

We moved to the Port Angeles area and started work on our new home; it was completed in 2005. Jack was very involved in every process of the construction including all things mechanical. He had a mechanical room built in the garage to house the heating system, air compressor, water system, all things he could monitor. Our property has a view of the strait and a view of the mountains. He loved it very much and was content to stay in his Mountain Aerie and maintain the Pierson/Rosenberger Weed and Tree Farm. It turned out beautiful; a true reflection of his attention to detail.

Brig. Gen. William T. Seawell (USAF, Ret), Third Academy Commandant, Died at 87

The Association of Graduates recently learned that Brig. Gen. William T. Seawell (USAF, Ret), died on May 20, 2005 at his home in Pine Bluff, Ark. General Seawell was the third Commandant of Cadets at the Academy and served as commandant from June 19, 1961 to Feb. 28,1963. General Seawell was born Jan. 27, 1918 in Pine Bluff, a son of the late George Marion and Harriet Aldridge Seawell.

General Seawell was reared and received his early education in Pine Bluff, graduating from Pine Bluff High School. He was a graduate from both the U.S. Military Academy receiving his Bachelor ofScience degree there in 1941, and Harvard University School of Law, receiving his juris doctor degree in 1949.

After his graduation from West Point he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1941, advancing through grades to Brigadier General of the U.S. Air Force in 1959.

During World War II, he was Commanding Officer of the U.S. Army Air Corps 615th Bombardment Squadron and the 401st Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force in the European Theater of Operations. For his service in World War II, General Seawell received the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Presidential Unit Citation with Cluster, and the Croix de Guerre with Palm from the Republic of France.

After World War II, he was Commander of the U.S. Air Force 11th Bomb Wing, Strategic Air Command, from 1953 to 1954. He was

Deputy Commander of the USAF 7th Air Division from 1954 to 1955. General Seawell served as Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force from 1958 to 1959 and then to the Deputy Secretary of Defense from 1959 to 1961. He was Commandant of Cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy from 1961 to 1963, retiring from military service in 1963.

General Seawell then became Vice President of Operations and Engineering for the Air Transport Association from 1963 to 1965 in Washington, D.C. Moving to New York City, he then became Senior Vice President of Operations of American Airlines from 1965 to 1968. From 1968 to 1971 he served as President of Rolls Royce Aero Engines, the United States subsidiary of Rolls Royce Ltd.

In 1971 General Seawell joined Pan American World Airways. He was President and Chief Operations Officer of PanAm from 1971 to 1972 and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of PanAm from 1972 to 1981.

General Seawell retired from the Board of Directors from Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation, McDermott International, and McGrawHill, Inc. He was an inductee into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame.

Since returning to Pine Bluff, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas and as President of the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas Endowment Board.

He is survived by his wife, Judith Alexander Seawell, whom he married on June 12, 1941; one son, Alexander Brooke Seawell, and his wife, Pat, of Menlo Park, Calif.; one daughter, Anne Seawell Robinson, and her husband, Adam, of Pine Bluff; and four grandsons, Brett Alexander Seawell, Ryan Thomas Seawell, Adam Scott Robinson and William Seawell Robinson.

Funeral services were on May 24, 2005 at Trinity Episcopal Church with the Reverend Dr. Walter Van Zandt Windsor officiating. (From an online postingfrom Ralph Robinson & Son, Funeral Directors.)

He is survived by his sons Graham and Barclay, and three grandchildren. I can’t even begin to name the good friends who miss him; he was a good man. (Karen Rosenberger, Jack’s wife)

William M. Landes, Sr., ’65

William M. Landes, Sr. died on March 04, 2009, at Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, La. He was 69. William was born in Chicago, Ill. on Sept. 21, 1939 and spent his childhood and young adult years in Los Angeles, Calif.

William was a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Class of 1965, where he was a memher of the 15th Squadron and a member of the Falcon’s baseball and football teams. As a split end for the Falcons, he played in several bowl games during his football career. He maintained his love of Falcon football and helped scout and guide talent towards the Academy throughout his lifetime.

He moved to Vicksburg, Miss, in 1974 where he continued his career with the US Army Corp of Engineers (WES), Procurement Division. He also farmed on family property during his career at WES. He retired from WES in January 1998 and then spent his free time chasing golf balls, fishing, hunting deer and grandchildren.

His parents, Marvin Wilton Landes and Mary Elizabeth Landes, preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife, Tina M. Landes, of Diamondhead, Miss.; son William M. Landes, Jr. of Collierville, Tenn.; daughter Jacqueline Landes Purnell (Paul), of Madison, Miss.; grandchildren Will Landes, Avery Purnell and Landes Purnell; brothers Tom Landes of Lookout, Calif, and Hugh Landes of Maui, Hawaii. (William M. Landes, Jr., William’s son)

Ronald C. Orton, ’67

Ronald Charles Orton passed away on Dec. 30,2008 at the age of 63. He was born to Charles and Helen Orton on April 7,1945 in Upper Darby, Pa.

He entered the Air Force Academy in 1963 and graduated with the 9th graduating class, 14th Squadron, in 1967. Allergies almost kept him from his dream of becoming a pilot but with perseverance he completed pilot training in 1972, receiving the Air Training Command Commander’s Trophy.

Ron went on to complete F-4 training and was stationed at Torrejon Air Force Base in Madrid and flew with the 613th TFS. He left the Air Force in 1975 and became a commercial airline pilot, flying for Braniff International Airways, People Express and Continental Airlines during his career. He retired from Continental as a Captain in March 2005. After retiring, he settled in Easton, Pa. with his companion Julieta. In Novemher 2007 he found Alexandria Field, a small airport near him home, and bought a Cessna 140 that he named Nellie and flew as often as possible.

Ron began working at Alexandria Field part-time as an instructor and started a program for IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) proficiency. His passion was flying, even in retirement, and he was a true aviator. On Dec. 30, 2008 he died in a plane crash near Alexandria Field. He is survived by three daughters, Heather, Molly and Katie; and two granddaughters, Ava and Aubrey. We will all miss him more than words can say. (Written by his daughters Heather, Molly and Katie Orton.)

Cary D. Hunter, ’68

One - singular, unique. On the fifth of June, 1968, Cary Hunter graduated first in his class at USAFA. As a characterization of who and what he was, this merely scratches the surface.

During his Air Force career he worked in Southern California at SAMSO, the Space and Missile Systems Office, the predecessor to Space Command. His contributions included helping to develop an astrogator, a sextant for astronauts for the Apollo program. In his off time he modified a panel truck into a camper-van and lived in a parking lot in Manhattan Beach so he could grab his board and hit the waves when the surfing was good.

Following his service he decided on a solo walk across the United States. Unlike Forrest Gump, Cary was a meticulous planner. He prepositioned supplies along his route, marking them with orange flags. Beginning in L.A., he got as far as Winslow, Ariz. where he had to abandon the effort. When his brother Alan came to pick him up, he wasn’t expecting Grizzly Adams and so passed him by once before the spark of recognition fired.

Cary’s intellect and eclecticism were the basis of stories that would astound and delight. He effortlessly and in an unassuming manner commanded the center of attention. One summer he took a job feeding wood into a chipper so he could work on his approach to unification of Einstein’s theories and the development of the Grand Unified Theory of the universe.

The story of his getting a job in Silicon Valley in the early 1980s is just as outrageous but totally indicative of Cary. On a Friday he interviewed for a job as a programmer at a San Jose tech firm. Although he had never worked as a programmer or worked on their computer, a digital minicomputer, (the PDP-11, for computer historians), he asked to borrow the manual over the weekend. He was hired on Monday and began working on a system he was unfamiliar with until three day before.

Cary passed away on the 28th of February 2008 in Vancouver, Wash. He is survived by his sisters Anita Hunter of San Diego, Calif.; Jeanne Wall of St. George, Utah; and Marie Cogley of Washougal, Ore.; brothers Alan Hunter of Tempe Ariz. and Lynn Hunter of Bakersfield, Calif., and numerous nieces and nephews. (J.B. Schroeder, Tom Vail '68 and Alan Hunter 72)

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

www.usafa.org

If you know of a graduate's death, please notify the AOG as soon as possible. There have been cases in which the association was not informed for quite some time.

Ron Orton

John T. Wolter, 75

John (JT) Wolter passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 19th, 2008, from complications of a staph infection. He was 55 years old.

John was born in Houston, Texas, though his father's Air Force career led his family to a number of different states, eventually bringing him to Honolulu where he met Meg Paty, his future bride, at Punahou. After graduating, John chose to attend the Air Force Academy, where he would forge close friendships with his classmates in the Class of 75 and the years surrounding while learning the necessary skills to serve his country. He and Meg were married in the Air Force Chapel shortly after he graduated from pilot training in 1976. Through various assignments they spent time living in Arizona, the Philippines, Alabama, Virginia, Washington (where their two children were born) and North Dakota, where John served the country as a leader and a pilot. He eventually returned to the Academy as a squadron commander in 1985. It was as AOC of the Squadron 16 Chickenhawks that he won the O’Malley Award, given annually to the most outstanding squadron commander.

While serving his country for 14 and a halfyears, John flew the B-52, the C-9, the C-141, and the T-41. When told his flying days were over, John left the service to work for United Airlines, where he flew the 747, 737, and the Airbus 320. He was that rare man who truly loved his job, and his passion for flying was unparalleled. He thrived on travel, being with people, and he relished the breathtaking view of the world afforded by the cockpit (although it was privately suspected that his love for international cuisine was also a major motivating factor in his choice of career).

Perhaps the most defining characteristic of John was his effervescent personality, highlighted by an uncanny ability to become fast friends with complete strangers. He loved good food, funny jokes, and loud music. Among his many passions were books, sushi, exercising, neckties, and the Beatles. His favorite vacation destination was without question the islands of Hawaii, where numerous extended family and copious amounts of local food awaited him every summer.

Perhaps his greatest passion was twofold: The God he served and the family that had been entrusted him. He became a Christian through an Academy chaplain in his college days, and would come to view spending time with God as his most treasured pursuit. This was apparent in all facets of his life: no sacrifice was too great for those he loved, and his time on earth, at its core, was characterized by an attitude of service. One way this was apparent was in his tireless efforts to bring the Family Life Marriage Conference to Colorado Springs. He and Meg spearheaded this ministry for five years.

He is survived by his wife, Meg, of 32 years, an occupational therapist and family counselor in Colorado Springs; son David, currently studying animation in Los Angeles; and daughter Lindsey, who lives with husband, Tom Elliott, in Seattle. Lindsey and Tom welcomed John’s first grandchild, Greyson Thomas Elliott, into the world this past March. In addition, John is survived by his parents, Col. (Ret) John and Doris Wolter of Lincoln, Neb., and brother Tim Wolter and family of North Carolina.

A memorial was held January 2nd at Village Seven Presbyterian Church, the day after John was buried at the USAFA cemetery. Visit his memorial website: jtwolter.lifememorial.com. (David Wolter, John’s son)

David P. Cooley, ’82

David R Cooley died in an F-22 crash during a test mission north of Edwards AFB on March 25, 2009. He was a test pilot with Lockheed Martin. Known as “Cools” in the flying community, Dave was a Distinguished Graduate and a man of extraordinary ability and character.

Dave knew he wanted to go to the Air Force Academy and fly jets since the 8th grade. At the Academy, Dave was diligent in his duties, but not obsessive, and enjoyed cutting up with the lads. He was about results and keeping perspective, accepting awards and recognition in his typical self-effacing way. It was impossible not to like him. It was at the Academy that he met Sheyla Alvarado, an exchange cadet from Costa Rica, who was to become his wife. Dave and Sheyla celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary last June.

His family and flying were the two great passions of his life. Dave was an active, dedicated father to three boys. He took them for bike rides on the tandem, worked as a roadie for a garage band, built a sports court in their backyard, and gave their opinions and music an honest listen. He stayed fully engaged, encouraging each of his sons to find their own paths.

Dave flew an enviable list of Air Force aircraft: F-lll, F-15, F-16, F117, and F-22. Yet to his neighbors, Dave was the guy always doing home projects and riding his bike. Few of them knew that he piloted the premier fighters in the world. That was Dave’s style.

Dave was born at RAF Mildenhall, and had a fondness for England and the English way - PG Tips tea, English Premier League 'football’, and a clever turn of phrase. He had a great ear for language. At the Empire Test Pilot School in the United Kingdom, he added to his signature blend of aviation, British, and Southern California lingo. “All that and a bag of chips”, “ginormous”, and “...an old git” were a few of his favorites.

Over the past six years, Dave and 1 went on many long bike rides. We philosophized about being fathers, and our decline into “poseur” status as cyclists. Dave still rode with amazing power. He had completed Ride the Rockies several times, a 400- mile loop ascending major mountain passes in Colorado including Independence and Monarch. Closer to home, he enjoyed riding the hills and canyons around the Antelope Valley, despite the unrelenting 20+ knot headwinds. Being Dave, he always led into the wind.

Remembering Dave’s affection for England, a final few words from Shakespeare seem fitting:

Your cause of sorrow

Must not be measured by his worth, for then

It hath no end.

On a sublime Antelope Valley morning, surrounded by the hills he loved to cycle, Dave was interred in a quiet corner of the Antelope Valley. He is survived by his wife, Sheyla; sons Paul, Mark, and Aaron; father CMSgt (Ret) William Cooley, brother Bill, and sisters Susan and Cathy. He was preceded in death by his mother, Doreen Cooley. (Patrick Lemmers, ’82)

Tyler W. Eldred, ’88

Tyler Ward Eldred, 43, was born on Jan. 24, 1966 in Milwaukee, Wis. and died in a tragic accident on Feb. 14, 2009 in Louisville, Ky. Tyler grew up in Salem, Ore. and graduated with highest honors from

John Wolter

Dave Cooley

McKay High School in 1984. He received top honors in aeronautical engineering from the Air Force Academy where he also received the Scholar Athlete Award and earned a place in the Athletic Hall of Fame. He received his Master’s Degree from Columbia University on a Guggenheim fellowship and was twice named Oregon Rhodes Scholar.

After completing his academic career, Tyler was stationed at Williams AFB for Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) School. Upon graduating from UPT, Tyler remained at Williams as an instructor pilot where he trained future pilots in the T-37. Tyler eventually returned to the Air Force Academy where he served as an instructor in aeronautical engineering until his honorable discharge from active duty. Tyler shared many of his Academy experiences all over the world during his training and teaching sessions as a speaker and a coach.

Tyler owned Daedalus Development Corporation, a real estate development company, and was founder of LifeChampion International, a speaking and training facility. As Tyler stated, “I am personally committed to helping people and organizations become LifeChampions” through keynote speeches, training and coaching.

He was a founding member of Phos Hilaron Church where he invested his boundless energy in creating experiences that help others know Christ. His two favorite places on earth were his “Cabin” in Natural Bridge, Ky. and his father’s ranch in Eastern Oregon. It was in these two places that Tyler connected with God and his family in a very close way. He drew strength from nature to energize himself and his ability to change the world.

Tyler’s mission was helping people develop a path to success, but his greatest passion and success was the love of his wife, Stacy, his four children and his family. He was an amazing husband, father, son, brother and friend, all of whom would agree that Tyler’s love of life is “indescribable”.

Tyler is survived by his wife, the former Stacy Skorka; daughters Heather (19) and Alexandra Dryjanski (14); son Tristan Eldred “The Bold” (6), and Avery Dawn Eldred “Littlest Angel” (4) of Louisville, Ky.; his father, Clifton Eldred, and Sherry; mother, Idora Lee Roelofs, and her husband, Bruce Roelofs; brother Wynn Eldred; sister DeeAnn Donnelly and her husband Nick Donnelly, all of Salem, Ore.

To find more information on Tyler, please go to www.inmemory oftyler.com(Stacy Eldred, Tyler’s wife, and Chris Tschieder)

Levi C. Torlcelson, VI

Captain Levi Carl Torkelson, USAF, passed away Dec. 27, 2008 at 29 years. He was born May 3, 1979 in San Antonio, Texas to Charles

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

If you know of a graduate's death, please notify the AOG as soon as possible. There have been cases in which the association was not informed for quite some time.

Torkelson and Rebecca Cone Torkelson. Levi, a 1997 graduate from MacArthur High in San Antonio, graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 2001with a degree in Computer Science. At the Academy, he excelled as a four-year gymnastics letterman winning numerous awards, was a nine-time All-American and still holds the Academy record for the parallel bars. Levi served as Assistant Coach for the US Air Force Academy Falcons Gymnastics Team at the time of his death.

During his short life, Levi faithfully served his country from afar for four years at Ramstein Air Base, Germany; Jacobabad, Pakistan; and two tours in Iraq. For his service he was awarded the distinguished high honors of the Bronze Star and the USAFE Arthur S. Flemming Award as well as two Company Grade Officer of the Year Awards. Levi was a volunteer for his deployments and served with distinction and honor.

He is survived by his loving parents, Charles and Becky; brother Cory Torkelson and Cory’s fiancee, Katy Green; Grandparents Richard and Louise Cone; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives; as well as friends and colleagues who will miss him greatly. Levi was a thoughtful, happy and highly accomplished person who deeply touched the lives of many. He will be greatly missed and always remembered.

Fellow officers, co-workers and colleagues remember Levi as a person who exemplified the ideal of servant leadership. As an officer he led by example taking care of those under him while serving loyally to those over him. He was known for his excellent work ethic and would never ask anyone to do a job that he would not do himself.

Levi was also a peacemaker. His family and life long-friends will tell you that he demonstrated this trait throughout his entire life. In his athletics and his Air Force career as a communications officer and a gymnastics coach he continued to serve others and lead in a way that brought people together, resolved conflicts and solved problems to get the mission done.

For his grave marker, his family has chosen a verse from Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the Peacemakers” because they believe this was Levi’s life in a nutshell. (The Family)

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

Mr. Joe Cabuk, Class of 1963, who died on April 14, 2009 in Florida.

Col. (Ret) Robert O. Heavner, Class of 1963, who died on April 12, 2009 in Montecito, Calif.

Lt. Col. James S. Wilson, Class of 1965, who died on Aug. 14, 2008 in Laguna Niguel, Calif.

Lt. Col. (Ret) Dean E. Habrun, Class of 1978, who died on Jan. 23, 2009 in Greenville, S.C.

Col. (Ret) Frank L. Ott II, Class of 1980, who died on April 23, 2009 in Niceville, Fla.

Mr. Scott E. Dracon, Class of 1985, who died on March 4, 2009 in Las Cruces, N.M.

Lt. Col. Sheldon G. White, Class of 1992, who died on April 3, 2009 in Grant, Ala.

1st Lt. Jahna L. (Haldeman) Foland, Class of2006, who died on April 1, 2009 in Enid, Okla.

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

NEWS

1250 Big Valley Drive

Colorado Springs, CO 80919-1015

H: (719) 531-5874

E-mail: petetodd@comcast.net

It was a genuineHappening!The first graduating Class’s 50th Reunion. The AirForceAcademy’s First 50thAnniversaryClass. Besides the obvious historic and heritage significance ofthe event, it was jollygood fun! Even an arcticstrengthblizzardinAprilthatdumpedup to threefeetofsnow on the region couldn’t chill the enthusiasm and warm camaraderie ofsome 124 graduate ’59ers; two widows ofdeparted classmates (RobinAnderson and SheilaBowen) ; many starting classmates who graduated later or left to succeed in different directions; more than 20ATOs, the one-time mentorsbecome-friends and honorary members ofthe Class; and several ofthe originalfacultyand staffwho helped build and shape the direction ofourAcademy.

Instead oftakingup a lotofpage real estate listingall attendees, I invite you to go to the following website—https://www.usafa.org/ Events/Attendees.aspx?id=105—for a fulllist ofall registrants.

We were especiallyhonoredbythe presence ofGenBen Cassiday, our former DeputyCommandant ofCadets and every ’59er’s livingtemplate ofwhat anAir Force officer should be. Gen Cassidaywas as gracious and entertaining as always and, at 86, looked like he could still holdhis own in a manyv. manyfurball!

Perhaps the most pleasantsurprise ofthe weekwasn’t actually a part ofthe Reunion, itself, but preceded it.TheAcademy’s Centerfor Character Development sponsored its springFalcon Heritage Forum (FHF) on 13-15Aprilwith the theme “The Class of’59: FiftyYears ofExcellence.” The Forums are conducted twice a year and are designed to linkcadetswith thewealth ofexperience and heritagefound in our nation'sveterans. Theyprovide a systematic,yetpersonal wayforcadets to engage in discussions with men and women ofcharacter as identifiedthroughtheir involvement in militaryservice to our nation.

Forty-four ’59ers accepted the Superintendent’s invitation to participate in the FHF and arrivedwith varyingexpectations ofthe process. Make no mistake; ifdone wrong, this type offorum could have crashed and burned. Ifwe had been tasked merely to lecture the cadets about leadership or integrity or “lessonslearned,” theywould have tuned us out. (Remember: Sleep is a legitimate form ofcriticism.) Theseyoung men and women getplentyoflectures in their normal curriculum.

Instead, theCenterscheduled a sophisticated mixofpaneldiscussions, relaxed giveandtakewith all classesin a squadronsettingand, in most cases, an informal dinnerwiththe seniors aboutto graduate. Duringperiodswhenthecadets were involvedwiththeir own classroomwork, we participatedininterestingand informative briefingsbythe CadetWingCommander andthe CenterforCharacter Development, as wellandextensiveopen and uninhibited discussion ofthe state oftheHonorSystem.We alsohad an opportunityto observethetrainingenvironment inJack’sValleyandthejump,soaringandpoweredflightoperations at the AcademyAirfield. Mypersonalfavoritewas thevisit to thefalcon mews, which I'd never seen in the 54 years since our Class “chose” the mascot.

I think one ofthe keys to the success ofthis Forum was that the Center took the time to poll the cadets about issues they were interested in with regard to our Class and provided the results to us. That gave us a common framework fordiscussions and allowed us to prepare forthe cadets’ questions (well, most ofthem).

The Forum wrapped up with a CadetWingparade and luncheon atArnold Hall. The consensus amongthe ’59ers was that the marchingwas sharperand crisper than most of us had seen in years. Weweren’t sure whether that was because we were observing or becausetheguestofhonorwas SullySullenberger, who was at theAcademy to receive the JabaraAward for his superb airmanship and cool handling ofthat extreme emergency. Maybe some ofboth.

Participants in theFalconHeritageForum.

Every member of our Classwho participated in the FHF appeared to leave the experiencewith a renewed confidence in the education and development oftheyoung men and women who gain admission to theAcademy. The summaryimpression seemed to bethat, iftheseyoungstersrepresentthe cream of ouryouth, then our Air Force, and our country, mighthaveabrighter future than manythought.

The end ofthe FHF dovetailed nicelyinto the opening ofour reunion, startingwith theWelcome Reception onWednesdayevening, 15 April.With a bestever 78% turnout oflivinggrads, there was much interchange (andlooking at name tags) between the “regulars” and the first-time attendees. The Hospitality Suite was jumpinguntil closing time.

The next daywas mostly an on-your-owndayand some hardysouls actually played golf, despite the ominous weather forecast and unseasonably cool weather and strongwinds. Although not a scheduled event for our reunion, severalclassmates also attendedtheannualFriendsoftheUSAFALibraryLuncheonwhere Dr. (Col, Ret.) Phil Meilinger, USAFA 70, releasedhis biographyof General Harmon, whichthe Class of1959 hadsupportedwith a substantialgift.

Also attendingthe luncheon were Gen Harmon’s two children, Mr. Kendrick Harmon, USMA’57, andhiswife, Helen; andMs. EulaHarmonHoff.Alsopresent were Eula’s two children, Paul HoffIII, and his daughter Sahara (who had traveled all the wayfrom New SouthWales, Australia, for the Harmon Memorial Dedication), and Ms. Hazel Hoff. This group, plus Hazel’s husband, Mr. Scott Conner, and Gen Harmon’slongtime driver andfriend, SMSgt (Ret) FrankWall, were guestsofthe Class at the InternationalBuffet dinnerThursdayeveningin recognition forthe enormous assistance the familyhadprovided in researching,designingand, inMr. Harmon’s case, fundingtheHarmonMemorial.

Also onThursday, theforecast storm arrived on schedule.Theopeningactwas a spectacularthunderstormwithheavyhail and snowshowers. Laterthatnight, the snow increasedinintensityandthere was some questionwhethertheAcademywouldbe open and accessible foranyofthe busydayofreception, dedication, parade, luncheon, and briefings and memorial service on Friday.

Despitecontinuingheavysnowfall, theAcademyremained open and most attendees were able to make theirwayto Doolittle Hall and the shuttle buses that were on hand to move the group toArnold Hall. Lt Gen JohnRegni, USAFA Superintendent, hosted a coffee reception and then addressed the Classwith a summarybriefing on the manyaccomplishment oftheWing, the overdue changesunderwayin the physicalplant and the environmental innovations that have alreadybegun.

Pete Todd

Sabre Society Donors

Sincepartofour planningincluded an inclementweatheroption, afterGen Regni’sbriefingwe simplymoved the Harmon Memorial Dedication ceremony into theArnold HallTheater. Mr. Harmon spoke for the Harmon family; Brad Hosmerserved as spokesman for the Class in presentingthe Memorial to the Academy; Gen Cassidaybrieflyrecalledtheearlydays oftheAcademyat Lowry AFB, especially the development ofthe Cadet Honor Code; and Gen Regni formallyaccepted the gift from the Class of 1959.

Close-up ofthe statue andpanelportion ofthe Harmon Memorial. One really needs to experience theMemorial in its natural3-Dsetting to appreciate thefull artistic effectofthe ‘Circle ofLearning.

After the formal dedication, most ofthose assembled left Arnold Hall and braved the heavy snow and coldwind to walk across the Court ofHonor to the Memorial site, located between the Cadet Chapel and Harmon Hall, to unveil theHarmon statue.

Due to the foulweather, the rest oftheFridayactivities at theAcademywere scrubbed. The Class Photo was taken in Arnold Hall and the Class memorial service was rescheduled forthe followingeveningprior to the dinnerdance at the Embassy Suites. The participants made their way back to the hotel and pursued their separate dinner plans, rejoiningfor the Dessert and Coffee Reception in the hotel at 2100.

However, theweatherhadn’t finished its mischief. Although Colorado Springs experienced a little more snow in the night followed by a warmingtrend, communities to the north such as Monument received two-to-three feet ofsnow and local attendees were temporarilysnowbound, unable to get to the Class BusinessMeeting.

They missed a long and lively session. I won’t attempt to detail the discussions here since all graduate classmates will receive a copyofthe minutes in due course. However, one item ofbusiness bears mention. It was my great honor to present, on behalfofthe Class of 1959, a Lifetime Leadership Award to our first and only Class President, Joe DeSantis.

Afewofthe scores ofattendees who witnessed the unveiling. Some, recalling the violent thunderstorm atLowryat Gen Harmon’schangeofcommandeeremonyandparade, considered thesnowafittingaccompanimentforthestatue unveiling. Most, however,justshivered.

Returning to Arnold Hall, the participantsenjoyed a leisurelyluncheonwith about 40 members ofthe Class of2009. Since the parade had been cancelled (much to the delight ofall the cadets who had just paraded two days previously), this proved to be the Reunion attendees’ only interaction with the seniors except for those who had attended the Falcon Heritage Forum. Everyone made the most ofthe opportunity.

Youwillrecall thatthe Classdecided to give to each graduatingmemberofthe Class of2009 an engraved set of2/Lt bars to represent the half-centurylinkbetween our two classes. So thatthebarsmayactuallybeworn, the engraving is on the underside and says simply “1959-2009.” Since it would be impractical to present 1045 sets ofbars individually at graduation, thebarswillbegiven to each cadet afterhe or she takes the oath ofcommissioning on the eveningof26 May, the dayprior to graduation. To symbolize this gift to the graduatingClass, Joe DeSantis presented the first engraved set ofbars to the 2009 Class President.

The plaque reads as follows:

THE USAFACLASS OF 1959 PRESENTSTHIS LIFETIME LEADERSHIPAWARD TO JOSEPH G. DESANTIS

OUR FIRSTAND ONLYCLASS PRESIDENT FOR SELFLESS SERVICE, INSPIRED LEADERSHIP AND PRICELESS FRIENDSHIP: PAST, PRESENTAND FUTURE AWARDEDWITH GREAT RESPECTANDAFFECTION ON THE OCCASION OF OUR 50TH CLASS REUNION 18APRIL2009

Afterthat, the sun came out and it was Aprilagain. 1'he Class memorial service was held at the hotel, followed bythe dinner dance. Jimmie Jay did his usual masterful and musicaljob as MC and the entertainment was exceptional. It was rumoredthatthe last ’59ersvacatedthehospitalitysuitewell after0100. Looking at a fewblearyeyes at breakfastthe next morning, one couldbelieve the rumor.

And so itwent intohistory.The Class of1959’s50th Reuniondefiedtheweather and was declared by most participants to be the best ever. That sets a high standard for our 55th, which we’ll have in June of2014! Be there.

Thoughtfor the Quarter: “In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.” FriedrichWilhelm Nietzsche

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

Edwin Lewis (Ned) Whitman is a Senior Navigatorand retired Colonel-USAFR living in Suffern, NY, Ivy League educated with a Law Degree from Cornell University(“Big Red”) and M.A. from Princeton University (“Tigers”), worked asattomeyforRocklandCountyinNewYorkState. Ned’swife,Mary, retiredafter 42yearsteachinghighschoolmathematics,andsheandNedcelebrated40years ofmarriage in 2007 at Manhattan’sWaldorf-Astoria.There’s been lots oftravel; perhapsthebesttripwasTurkeyandlstanbul, Bosporus,TopkapiPalace,Ephesus andTemple ofArtemis, HagiaSophia,Troy, Dardanelles to Gallipoli Battlefield and Sea ofMarmara... Brad is SeniorAssociate with the CarlyleGroup in DC, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Harvard University, where he won the Williams Prize as outstandingEconomics student; ourAOG awarded Brad three Graduate DependentScholarshipswhile at Harvard (1994-‘98). Ned andMary’s firstgrandchild,Abigail, was bom May2008, and daughter-in-lawChristieworks at Northrop-Grumman MediaRelations.

Class ofl 959 President-For-LifeJoeDeSantis presents an engraved set of2/ Lt bars to Class of2009PresidentClC GregC. Oswald.

Class Secretary Pete Todd presents a LifetimeLeadershipAward to PresidentJoe DeSantis at the Class Business Meeting.

Ned, Mary, son Bradand wife, Christine, atIstanbul’s HagiaSophia.

“WeleftClarksville, TN Christmas Eve forGeorgiaandChristmaswithdaughter Patricia and family, including our two great-grandsons,” wrote JT Smith. “From there we spent a few days on Lake Martin in Alabama visiting Diane’s sometime traveling buddy (and college roommate), Nell; then Brandon, FL to visit son Andy for NewYears (while towing Diane's Honda CB250 Nighthawk for our traditional motorcycle ride on NewYears’ Day). January 4th began our three-phasejourney to the southern hemisphere,visiting two areas ofArgentina in addition to the ‘Antarctica Expedition.’

"We started in BuenosAireswith a classicArgentine dinner before flying to Trelewon the east coast ofPatagonia (where Butch Cassidyand Sundance met their fate). The principal wildlife includes Rheas, Guanacos, Magellanic Penguins, and the area is one ofthree major fossil regions in theworld, with a nice PaleontologyMuseum.We were surprised to find a significantWelsh communitythere, and visited an oldWelsh Chapel and a WelshTeahouse. Then it was back to Buenos Aires to meet our group going to Antarctica, with a city tour visitingthefamous PinkPalace and amazing La Recoleta cemeterywhere Eva Peron is buried, followed by a classicTango dinnershow. We caught our flight to Ushuaia on the Island of Tierra delFuego at the southern tip ofPatagonia,boardingthe MSAndreafor our voyage to northeastAntarctica.

us—we entertained Garyat Circus Sarasota, then glitzyLido Beach andRingling Museum.. .Driving from Florida’s Panhandle, Aaron Thrushjoined me April 19th for a “baseball-filled-day” at Cincinnati Reds’ SpringTrainingCamp in Sarasota, Twin Lakes Park for the Baltimore Orioles’ Minor LeagueCamp, Port Charlotte for an afternoon Cardinals-Rays game and that evening in Sarasota forthe Red Sox-Redsgame.. .GeorgePupichprognosticates aboutfutureAcademyfootball: "Some incoming linemen look good. Coach Calhoun believes that group, plus some at the prep school and a fewwho are being recruited, could form the nucleus of a great bunch in a year or two".. .Mike A. Clarke’s wife, Nancy, has retired from theWhite House as ChiefFlorist afterworkingfor sixdifferent Presidents over 31 years: “She’sVacating a Seat ofFlower,” read the Washington Post.. .Fuller and JudyAtkinson moved from Bradenton, FL to Griffin, GAin early-April—(941)-932-7282,120SpiderLilyCourt, 30223.. .Kath Gillis and children Cecilia and Sebastian met Kath and Bill’s son Glen in Denver: “Enjoyed skiingwith sunshine every day at Iron Horse Resort inWinter Park, and celebratingwith Mom on her 90th birthday.”

“We enjoyed shooting blue quail in southern New Mexico recently, also went to Ascension Bay, Mexico, where I chasedbonefish, permit (Trachinotus Falcatus), and muchas margaritas,” wrote well-seasoned sportsman John McCullough. “I took some old friends from Nashville, TN, and Deanne was the onlyladywith the seven guys. (She wished she’d gotten those odds earlier, and I reminded herofour blind date in 1959 when JimMills, Jabo McCain and Howie Whitfield came along. Deanne said: ‘Yes, but I didn't know then what I know now!”’) John’s Spanish requires ‘pruning,’ and while attempting to speak native on theYucatan Peninsula, he kept saying how much he liked chicharrones (fried pork skins)—the word is similar to “chicarones,” which are women’s breasts in Spanish; John reminded them howhe “enjoyedeating those every night with mywine.” Three years ofSpanish down the drain.

MiniSki XIX was February 21-28,2009, and included A1 Johnson, Howie Bronson, Earl & PatVanlnwegenwith son Curtand daughterKristenwith friend, Julie; Andi and Carole Biancur, GregBoyington and son-in-lawJeffLippa and grandsonReef, Ralph Lalime and sons Jayand Chris, George & Diana Pupich, Jerry de la Cruz, Bruce Mosier and daughter Debbie, Jim O'Rourke; Charlie Holman andwifeWeesee, son Charles, daughterKyra and grandsonJack; Ron andConnieYates; GeneVosika ('59), Bruce andPat Hinds (’61), PatandMarilyn Buckley (’61), Bob and Jan Brickey (’61), Jim and JudyGallagher (’62), while Roy and Barbara JollyjoinedThursday and Fridaynights for dinner.

Sabre Society Donors

"Crossing the Drake Passage took two days, and the seas stayedinthetwo-three meterrange. Ourfirstscheduledlanding had to be scrubbed due to 60-knot winds (it was a challenge to get in and out ofthoseZodiacs, the 10-personvessels with 40HP engines). Our ten other landings were usually 'wet'; i.e., you swungyour legs over the side and stepped into shallowwater to wade ashore. Once ashore, we had an hour to watch the Penguins (Adelie, Gentoo, and Chinstrap).We also saw several HumpbackWhales, Leopard and Fur Seals and lots ofAlbatross and Petrels

“Our final shore excursion was at the large, volcanic Deception Island, where some took a ‘dip’ in the Antarcticwaters. The volcano still has active geothermal areas, one keeping a volcanic-sand beach quite warm. Thetrip back across the Drake Passage was worse than the trip south; seas got eight meters high, and theyclosed forward decks because water was breaking over the bow (most put Bonine patches behind their ears or took Dramamine).

"Then back to Buenos Aires, from which we flew to the impressive Iguazu Falls, the world’s largest.We spent the first dayviewing from theArgentina side, the second from Brazil, and then it was Iguazu to Buenos Aires, Miami, Tampa and Nashville for another tango show at Vanderbilt University.” (See photo ofJT and Diane at the “bottom ofthe world”.)

Gary Sheets: “On Bill O’Reilly's show2/3/09, he covered award ofthe DSC to LtCol Tom Holmes from Jasper, TX, WWII pilot; Tom is wife, Sylvia's, uncle (for the full ceremony, contact Gary at: garydsheets@verizon.net). Holmes was lead pilot flying a B-24 on a 1943 bombing raid against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Romania. Allied pilots flew at dangerously low levels.”

“In the Cross Hairs:” Leaving the snows of Michigan for sunny Florida, GaryVan Singel visited his sister near Ocala, then spent 18-19 Februarywith

Our 50th Reunion is scheduledWednesday, 29 Sept 2010 throughSunday, 03 Oct 2010. (Go to: www.usafa.net/1960, click “Class News,” then “April 2009 Web Column” for more parables.)

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

DC Mini-Reunion, October 1-4 (AF/Navygame). Lowell Jones advises that their committee, will soon need attendance information. A registration packagewill be sent to all on the GTN in the May/June timeframe. Those not on the GTN (or on the GTN and not receiving an email bythe end ofJune) should call Lowell at (540) 898-9387 or send him a card or letter addressed to 10007 Four Iron Ct„ Fredericksburg, VA 22408, and he'll sendyou the package. They are receivingquite a fewattendance inquiries alreadyand are expecting a good turn-out.

MarkAnderson said that the San Antonio '61 ers had anotherlunch gathering on March26th at a local restaurant. In addition to the"regulars" Lee McCleskey drove down from College Station to join them. Theywill be gatheringagain on the 4th Thursday each month. Ifanyone in "shoutingrange" would like to join, please call or email anyofthem (MarkAnderson, JackBright, Larry Freeman, John Goodley, Richard Smith, Jim Ulm, and Jim Wild) One other note, the localAlamo Chapter oftheAOG had its annual Founders DayDinner on April 4th, attended by five ’61 ers. Guest speaker was Steve Lorenz, former Commandant and now Commander ofAETC.

PatandMarilynBuckleydepartedAlbania on 22 January2009 andvisitedfamily and friends in southern England; Ron Muller inWashington DC; family in Boston, MA, Brice Jones inTelluride for skiing and rejoicing; and Salt Lake City forskiingandpartymakingarrangedbyBob Brickey. (Participantsincluded the Brickeys, Barazzones, Boyds, Hinds, McNultys, Pooles, and Westbrooks, in synch with some from ’59, ’60 and '62; and then to Baker City, OR, to visit Bob Heriza and JudyBrookhart forskiing on greatpowder, plus several days ofvisiting and local sightseeingalthough theweather was a bitwintry. Marilyn was somewhat awed bythe vast, unpopulated high desert in eastern Oregon and western Idaho. Bob is writing an average of2 hours a day on "Man’s Flight Through Life" andwill have it readyby our 50th. On 10 March, Pat and Marilyn arrived in Florida to close on their new home. Theweather and company are good. Charlie and LyndaNeel, and Gene andJudyDavis (who live 5 miles down the road) had lunchwith them on the beach on April 4th. Their new address is 723Ventura Drive, Satellite Beach, Florida 32937. Pat’s telephone is 321 -7450187. Let him knowifyou will be visiting the Cape Canaveral area.

Ian and Randy Cubero and Carleen and Terry Storm attended the annual Founders DayDinner on April 3rd at the USAFA Falcon Club (formerly the Offleers Club) honoringthisyear'sDistinguished Graduates, Don Shepperd (’62) and John Martinson (70). Each speaker was eloquent. Terry thanks all who voted andthe manywho requestedinput on thecandidates. He and Carleen will take a Baltic Cruise in lateJune,visiting theirancestral origins for the first time: Germanyfor Carleen, and Finland and Sweden forTerry. The C Springs 61’ers now anxiously await the fall football season, which affords them a much better opportunity to interact with our classmates and their spouses than does the rest oftheyear. Linda and Bill Griffis, vacationing from Florida, willjoin the Storms forthe first game, and the Storms also lookforward to the '61 mini-reunion at the Navygame in D.C. in October.

hours ofpractice, ofhardwork (doingnothing isn’t easy!). Butyou will enjoy every minute ofit! Try it today.”

Balfour center inTexas recentlyrepairedJohn Payne's ring. Some people in freight receiving do not know about the agreement between HerffJones and Balfour. The first time he sent his ring to Balfour for repair, theyreturned it because Balfour did not make it. First, call Janie Trevino, tell her what you want done to the ring, and let herknowit is on theway. Go to www.balfour.com, customer service forthe address. Telephone 512 444 0571. Send itATTN: Janie Trevino. They did a great job: resizing, replacing his old chipped stone, and completelypolishing his ring. It looked like a new ring. The Paynes and the Pooles met in Pensacola, FL, for a shortvisit and attended a concert by a relatively new group called CelticWoman, which performs traditional and modern Irish tunes. Jimmy and Susan were enjoying theirAlabama GulfCoast condo. John and Mary reside in Daphne, on the eastern shore ofMobile Bay. Jimmystill runs to stayin shape and looked great. Theyagreed to catch Doug and Dee Cairns, alongwith Neal and GwenWestbrook in Montgomery,AL, for their next gathering.

Charlie Thomas flew to Phoenix in April to visit his brother—and to celebrate the 70th birthday ofhis first Zoomie roommate, Smokey Stover.

16 Sabre Society Donors

Dick Davis is recoveringfrom a total knee replacement. In November2008hewas pleasantlyexercising—ridingandswimming—when hesuddenlyhad a bum knee. Dam that frogkick! Three surgeons recommended total knee replacement, and aftertryingpoolphysicaltherapyfortwo and a halfmonths, hedecided to have a Colorado Springs surgeon operate. He later required high-powered beads of medicine implants to cure an ensuinginfection. Probablybecause he started physicaltherapytoo aggressively, he also recentlyacquired a bloodclotbelowthe kneethatis nowbeingtreatedwithCoumadin. Dickthinks it is now undercontrol, but he said thathewould appreciate prayers on his behalf.

Wayne and ErnaHaringkeepbusyministeringin church and other outside activities, includingmeals and bible study. Erna also is a member ofRepublicanWomen, takes flute lessons, and plays in a band. Waynevisitsthe local cigar shop every morning, where he smokes cigars and drinks coffee while they solve the world’s problems. Occasionally, Randy Cubero joins him. The end ofApril, they are traveling to Battle Creek, MI, to attend his granddaughters' communion services.

Tom and Liz Hill wintered at their Florida home. Tom returned in time to continue coachinghigh school baseball. He then will coach theAmerican Legion baseball team, which has beenverysuccessful at the state level in recentyears.

PeggyandHenryHowevisitedIsrael inIanuary as part ofa peace/factfinding tourto connect/engage Israelis andPalestiniansforpeace. Theymetwith Israeli settlers, touredPalestinian refugee camps, talkedwith Israeli activists, and met two men who had shared family losses at the hands ofthe others’ race but are now able to call each other brother and seek to end the cycle ofrevenge and violence. Henrylearnedwhat itfeltlike to be a refugee, livingonlywithwhathe had on his back and in his carry-on bag since Air France managed to lose his luggage forthe entire trip.What remained ofthe bagand contents arrived at his home two days afterhe returned to Texas. Both Peggyand Henry are well and busy.Theydid not get out Christmas nor Eastergreetings thisyear. Henryis in Loveland, CO, caringforPeggy's father as he celebrates his 92nd birthday.

Attendeesforthe March 3rd DC luncheon were: CharleyDixon, Bill Foster, Lowell Jones, John Kohout, Jack McDonough, Ron Muller, Tom Pattie, Jim Rogers, and Bill Sanzenbacher. Three from the Northern Neck, VA (Nunn, Stackhouse, and Williams) wisely decided not to challenge the icy, narrow roads to get toVienna. Tom Pattie made the trek from the westernVirginia mountains. Jim Rogers said theywill probablybe moving to Naples, FL, in June/July. They discussed more aspects ofthe October Mini-reunion. (See above.) They also discussed the April Peachtree get-together near Atlanta, sponsored by Mike Rawlins and Doug Cairns. After eating, Ron Muller presented his perspective on the current economic crisis. He really knows his stuff (to include the global aspect), which is probablywhyhe's still teaching. Everyoneparticipated in a good discussion. While we have manyastute classmates in the financial/economic arena, Lowell said he can't even remember taking economics at USAFA. Thanks again to Ron.

Hector Negroni said that “For the last few months I have beenworking to finish what I started after I completely retired from all jobs seven years ago. What have I been doing? NOTHING! I really feel sorry for all those who must be doingsomething. Heyrelax.. .we are not getting out ofthis life.. .alive. The Art ofDoingNothing cannot be mastered overnight. It will take hours and

Winnie and BobWagnerrecentlyreturnedfrom a trip to Alaskato see theAurora. Theyspent three days at a lodge in Betties, north oftheArctic Circle. The venue fortheAurora display was the snow-covered ramp at the small uncontrolled airportservingthe town oftwenty-six. At 0400 hours and a temperature of-20°F, he andWin sat on chairsintheirlodge-providedarctic parkas andbunny boots andwatched the display. It was a beautiful, quietpeace in a grand cathedral. Duringdaylighttheyalso made a snowmobiletripthroughbeautiful country and went on an awesome dog-sledtrip, which gave them a greatrespectfor the Iditerod competitors. Their two-week trip also included Anchorage, Fairbanks, Homer, and Seward. It was wonderful to see all ofthe beautyin the less-crowded wintertime and talk to a number ofthe "sourdoughs."

Judy andTomWilson recentlyreturned to Minnesota after a terrific month in the Sarasota area, enjoying a nice break from their harsh winter. Both of their oldest grandchildren accepted their appointments to USAFA’s Class of 2013 andwill reportthis summer. You all can imagine theirpride in each one. Theyplan to see you in Colorado this fall!

GayleZompais spending most ofher time in Galveston now since hercondo in Colorado was sold. Their little island community was hit hard byIke and has not benefited from the media and celebritythat Katrina victims enjoyed, but their resilient communityis pullingthingstogether. The best news is that the badlydamagedUniversityofTexas Medical Branch will be returning to its full strength. SonTed’sWest Isle Urgent Care Clinic is doingverywell, as is his family there. Gayle visits Boulder frequently to see Kristin, Craig, and the grandkids. Kristin is still aVice-President ofthe Gartner Group,travelingworldwide. Gayle travels as much as she can. She’s discovered she couldvisit four places much cheaperbytaking a round-the-world-cruise thanbyseeingthem individually. She says Ed be proud ofher for figuring that out!

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! Easterjustpassed.Wehad an openHouse atKSCwith two shuttles on the pads.Wewon’t see thatveryoften. And I’m not sure the program will go past 2010. HopeCongress can throwsome ofthatstimulus moneyatthe Shuttle Program. I got the following email from ButchViccellio in earlyFebruaryand putit on the Redtag Net. Forthose ofyou not on the net, here it is, “Hi, Sumo...sad to report the Sunday passing ofDon Hutchinson, who was my roommate at Luke during gunneryschoolin '63-64. He had numerous health issues, which together caused heart/kidney failure and did him in. A terrifle friendwho will be missed. Joan tells me that in lieu ofa church or memorial service, they are having a super bowl partyforfamilyand friends at home nearAlbuquerque. Anyway, Joan told me that Hutch had requestedyoube notified upon his passing, so I said I would do that. I have notified Michele atAOG as well. Hope all iswellwithyou guys. ButchViccellio’’Thanks forthe phone call, Butch. Don was down the hall from me at theAcademyand I always enjoyed that biggrin and funny retorts from him.

Here is theAOG notice ofDon’s passingthat was sentto AOG member classmates. Gone But Not Forgotten: A memorial service is planned for Lt Col (Ret) Donald L Hutchinson on 1 Feb 2009 at 1500 hrs at his home. Lt Col Hutchinsonpassedawayon 25Ian 2009 inCorralesNM. MrsJoanHutchinson, 10 Camino De Las Brisas, Corrales New Mexico 87048-8571.

I looked throughmyClass Scribe files and found this photo ofDon andJoan that I took at the 40th Reunion. It is good to see and remember him as he was then. God bless Don in his great reward.

Sabre Society Donors

Don andJoan Hutchinson

Got this from Dick Klass. “Jack, do not know if someone else will report in more detail but Don Shepperd was honored as a USAFA Distinguished Graduate at a banquet recently, as was Erv Rokke lastyear. Our Class activity fund donated $500 for the wine. Also, Liz and I just returned from Argentinafor a nephew'swedding and tookRickPerlotto's excellent advice on diningplaces in Buenos Aires. Cheers, Dick. Thanks for the news. Good to hear fromyou.

Got another email today from Bill & Sue Haugen. To wit: “Jack, Knowyou are desperate for input, so here goes. Sue & I went to Italy for two weeks in Januarywith a group ofstudents and some adults from little Keuka College in western NewYork. We had a great time - on a cultural tour of Italy. Visited Rome, Florence, Sienna,Venice, Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, and almost everylittle town inbetween. Greatfun, andwith a Cambridge-educatedguide plus a historyprofessor it was outstanding. Had snow inVenice - which was prettyamazing. We will be doing the Great Rivers ofEurope trip in OctoberfromVienna all thewayup the Danube through the canals and down the Rhine river system to Amsterdam. And you onlyunpack once in two weeks. Go Redtags.” Thanks, Bill. Sounds like you’ve had fun alreadywith more fun to come. I couldn’t print your picture now since I ran into picture limitations. Save for next issue.

Got this fromWillie Gray earlier today, “Hello Jack, I noticed in the email from Dick Klass that he had recentlytraveled to SouthAmerica. Nancy and I returned on March 19th from a great trip to South America with five other couples.We flewinto Santiago, Chile and then sailed onboard the Star Princess fromValparasio Chile to Rio.The attached picture was taken as we approached Ushuaia, Argentina. Ushuaia is the southernmost city in theworld.

“We had greatweather for the entire trip except that highwinds kept us in Montevideo an extra day and as a result we missed BuenosAires. Highly recommend this trip to anyonewho has notvisited that part oftheworld. Cheers, Willie” Thanks for sharingyour adventures. Seeyou in the neighborhood.

Thisjust came in from Bunky Reeves. “I can see that the class is starting to travel so I though I would throw some info yourway. A small segment ofthe RTBs from MoodyAFB PilotTraining Class 64A are going to gatherfor the biannual class reunion in October 09. This time itwill be a five-day cruise on Royal Caribbean out of Ft Lauderdale. Classmates going are Reeves, Bob Keighery, Ralph Conlan, Fred Hendryx, LyleWilson, and George Harrison. The other RTBs have schedule conflicts and can’t attend. We will send some photos in November. Connie and I just returned from a 42 daytrip to the Far East. Included was a 14-daytrip on Royal Caribbean from Singapore, to Thailand, Cambodia,Viet Nam (threestops), and China, endingin Shanghai, seven days in Shanghai, then aViking River Cruise/Tourfrom Shanghai toWuhan up the Yangsee River (three gorges and three gorges dam) to Chongqing (Chungking), fly to Xian (terra cotta warriors), then on the Beijing. Photos attached on the riverand snow at the greatwall. What a trip, China is impressive; we would go backanyday, but too manyother places to see and things to do. Maybe in 2-3 years. “Thanks, Bunky. Best to Connie. (See photo at the top ofthe next column.)

Got this from John Flanagan. "JohnFlanagan has once again entered the

Connieand BunkyReeves bundled up against the cold. politicalfray and is running for Selectman in the town ofFalmouth on Cape Cod. John claims long-time roots there as Otis AFB was his first assignment from pilot training. The "townies" still consider him a "washashore". No problem, John. We still love you even ifyou are a “washashore.”That’s better than me. When I showed up in Satellite Beach, I was a “dragashore.”

Also got this little note from Dick Smull, “Phil Merkel and Dick Smull, members oftheVirginia Gentlemen barbershop quartet, participated in a local St. Patrick's DayIrish song contest. The quartetmanaged to win firstplace with theirrendition of'Harrigan" and "MacNamara'sBand".Howaboutthat.Ihave a picture ofthemwith the other two gentlemen in shinyKellyGreen shirts. I can’t showthe picture until next edition because ofspace limitations. Hey can you picture themjoiningup with Bo Daughteryfor a fewsongs at our 50th Reunion.

That’s it for now. I fell behind and missed my original deadline for this column. I got an extension and asked for some quickinput fromyou all. The quick response was great, with pictures, no less. Thanks a million and stayin touch. Ifyou have somethingyou want to share in the next Checkpoints, send it in by May31 unless I get a sooner deadline. GO REDTAGS!

V*1=G) Norman 1. (Skip) Lee

V -P 63119 E. Cat Claw Lane w 1 Tucson, AZ 85739-2058

ijMi Home: (520) 825-7980

aik Cell: (520) 241-3498

v*»®|gJHiw E-mail: 54wrs@msn.com

Well gang, bythe time you read this we willbe close to the 50th anniversary ofthe beginningof our experiencetogether. Myschedule forthe lastweek of June includes daily pushups and practicing chins in the front of a mirror. Pushups are questionable but the chins will not take much effort.

TheAOG recentlylearned ofthe death ofLt Col (Ret) MelroyBorland, CS19 class of 1963 who passed away on the 3rd ofDecember 2008 in Midland TX as the result of cancer. Services were held in Midland on December6th. He was interred at PyronCemetery in Pyron, TX. Condolencesmaybe sent to his familyin care ofiswife,Ann: Mrs.AnnBorland, 8600 E County Road 120, Midland, TX 79706-5106.

Your will recall last time we discussed the ChromolithographGyrFalcon given to theAcademybyJohn Borling during our 35th reunion. John affirms that ”... recognition and thanks should go to the manyclassmates at the 35th reunion who chipped in to offset the cost ofpurchase and saved his marriage at the same time."

Bob Hayespolled the regular mini-reunion crowd for desired game dates: 13 answered, two with preferences forthe San Diego game; seven prefer theWyominggame; and the rest liked either. Based on the results Bob said hewillgowiththeWyominggame andworkwith theAOG to reserve Doolittle Hall October 17th for our traditional get-together dinner and cup turningceremonyafterthe game. Againwe'll plan a pre-game tailgate. Ifyou are interested put thatweekend on your calendar and let Bob know as soon as you can ifyou are going to be there. Scribe’s note: come early and we can get some golfin.

Bob also asked ifanyofus were interested in celebratingthe 50thyear ofthe start ofour basic training (26June 1959) buthe onlyhadfive replieswithmixed results.

Over the past fewweeks I have been having an e-mail conversation with Mike Curley, 1963 and Class Scribe from theVirginiaMilitaryInstitute (VMI)- his official title is “Class Agent.” Mike was asking for help him from any classmateswho servedwith the 15th or 16thTacticalReconnaissance Squadrons (TRS) and might knowanydetails about the incident that took the life of our classmate, Paul Drucker. Paul’swidow, Claire, to whom he was married forsixmonthsprior to the accident, has been seeking more information on the accident formanyyears now. Ifyouhave anyinformation to sharewith Claire you may contact me and I can getyou in touchwith Mike. The conversation also reminded me that we as a class invite thewidows ofthose classmatesthat

38 Sabre Society Donors

have gone before to our five-yearget-togethers andwhatwith the 50th coming up hopefully the reunion committee, when it is selected, will make an extra effort to include those ladies in the celebration.

DennyKing sent an e-mailwith a letter attached from the Superintendent during our first year at the Academy. Denny wrote “I just discovered a four page letterthat was sent to our parents (DearParents) 19 Nov 1959 byMajor General Stone, USAFA Superintendent, and thought you might like to have it foryour records. The letter is veryinteresting and in manyways adds to our history as a Class. It talks about the new chapel design, the construction of a hospital, a newAstronautics Departmentand our class’ up-comingChristmas at theAcademy. Denny scanned the letter to a pdffile and ifyou want a copy please let me or Denny know and we’ll send it to you. Denny also said Gil Merkle agreed to postit on the ClassWeb page so you should be able to go there as well (www.usafa63.org).

Didyouvote? I used theAOG electronic voting process to make my selections for the AOG Board. Hope you got to make your picks as well. All AOG members need to stay involved in our Association.

Jim and SandyJohnston organized a week’sworth ofactivities in Hawaii for 36 friends from the mainland. Sixofthe participants are shown in the followingphotographperched on the Hickam AFB monument which greets every Navyship entering Pearl Harbor.

From Jim Thyng: Ron Fogleman and Miss Jane came to New Hampshire to be the principal speaker on Veteran's Day, November 11th. He spoke at the NewHampshireVeteran's Cemetery, the site ofthe newly constructed New HampshireAir Force Memorial. Jimreports that Ron did double duty: followingtheVeteran's Dayceremony, he dedicated the memorial. As usual, reports Jim, Ron spokeeloquentlyand everyone was impressed; especiallythe veterans. After the ceremonies, the Foglemans and the Thyngs took a day offand toured a bit ofNew Hampshire and Maine.

reunion. Theywill be atUSAFAinApril (14-19); no football! Rememberwhen we did a reunion about that time oftheyear? Don’t recall exactlybut it must have been the 25th in 1988. We did see the Falcons’ SpringTraining football game.

To close, I feel obligated to report on the bi-annualA1Adams, Forty-Niner, Memorial GolfMatch. A1 made up the rules, Don Neffgave everyone lots of strokes and this time RayFullerwon the match. Reasonwhy? No hole-in-one this year byA1 on the 18th hole.

Jim andRon infront ofNubbleLightoffthe coast ofMaine. There is increasing interest in creating a class historyfor the 50th reunion. Thishistorymightinclude a chronologyofevents, stories, statistics, facts, photos, etc. ofcadet days and beyond. I recall we had a similar effort back around the35th, but I have been unable to find mycopy. Can anyone rememberwho the point man for that effort was? I do have a booklet prepared byJimmie Butler for the 30th Reunion, a copy oftheAd NovosMundos, theFirst Thirty YearsDVD/VHS tape presentedby Ron Fogleman for the same reunion, and the CD TowardMoreNewWorlds done by Jim Gaston for die 35th. Ifanyone is interested in collecting and compilingstories for '63, we could advertise and pushthe ideain this column. I thinkstories should be relativelyshort (maybe less than 500words?). The collector could review, with help ofcourse, and we would build an email file; then, as preparations for 50th shape up, it probably would not be too costlyto print a handout for attendees or online for others. Speaking ofthe 50th Reunion, I looked at the Class of ’59’s plans for their

Thanks for all the inputs. This is your column and it couldn’t be done without your help. You all take care out there and let us hear from you now and then.

Bob Hovde

206 Walker Ave.

Huntsville, AL 35801 (H) (256) 532-3923 (M) (256) 348-9794

bob@hovde.us

9th Reunion (45YEARS!) - November 4-7,2009 - It sounds like the Colorado Crew has the reunion planningwell in hand. I’m sure they’ll let us know when assistance is required. (See section from Matt and Usto, below.) Information will be posted on the AOG Website as it becomes available. Go to: www.usafa.org - click on Reunions -1964. By the time you read this, the next planningmeeting willhave taken place at theAntlers and a class-wide announcement should be pubfished. TheWebsite should be a one-stop-shopping location for everything to do with the reunion. Make sure your contact information is up to date at theAOG site and with Usto (See his email address, below.)

Contact Information: Usto Schultz helped the committee set up a system ofSquadron Representatives to help with the “getting the word out” process. So, ifyou suddenlyget a call or email from someone youhaven’t seen in 45 yearspay attention! There is a majorprojectunderwaythatwill need everyone’s cooperation to pull off. Please read Matt’s description below ofthe '64 Journal.

A Note FromYour Historians (Matt Feiertag/Usto Schultz): Usto and I are finallymoving forwardwith the project and hope to have itwell underwayby the time of our reunion—we hope to seeYOU there. Unfortunately, itwill not be completed for the reunion—NO EXCUSE SIR—butwe’re rolling now!

We are committed to producing a hardback book, with some introductory information and statistics about the class as a whole, some information about significant occurrences during our fouryears at theAcademy, and the majority ofthe bookwill be individual contributions from each of our classmates. We are patterning this approach on the Class of 1961, which produced a remarkable journal. We commend it to you as an interesting read.

We are tentativelyleaving the subject ofthe written contributions up to the individual, within reasonable taste and length, and this maybe further refined as we move alongintheprocess. Somesuggestedtopicsyou can use are: Memorable Events from the Past; Thoughts about the Future; PhilosophyofLife; Hopes for the Future; Family; Career(s); etc. Minimal pictures can also be part ofthe submission.We would like everyone to start composinghis submission, as we will be requestingthem shortly.

A bound volume is an ambitious undertaking, but one that can become a family heirloom as well as a legacy to theAcademy.We need your feedback on commitments to fund such an endeavor, as the scope ofeffortwillbe directly Class

From left areJim Bogaert, Dan Dietz, JimJohnston, Pres Davis, Bob Hall, andJohnnieHall.

Don Neff, AlAdams, Skip Lee and the winner, RayFuller.

Sabre Society Donors

proportional to available resources—talented people and dollars. The class of 1961 historywas financedby one memberofthe class. The cost was slightly over $ 100 pervolume foreach member ofthe class. Because ofinflation, we can expect to pay more. Anyoffer to help underwrite the projectwouldbewelcomed. Wewill be donating several copies to theAcademy (Library, AOG, etc.)

Ifany of our classmates with “publishing experience” {Talon, Dodo, Contrails, Polaris, etc.) would like to volunteer advice, etc., we would be happy to listen to your suggestions or offers ofassistance.

Please talk to other classmates, and discuss this project with them. Ifyou know some '61-folks, take a look at their book. Ifanyone you know has not receivedtheletter, please tellhim to make sure he supplies his email address to theAOG and to Usto.Wewill try to contact everymemberofthe class, but email is the most direct and easiest for the project.

Ifyouhave anyquestions or comments, pleasefeel free to contact eitherofus: Matt: taz2wheels@gmail.com; Usto: uschulz@hughes.net.

Mall ofHeroes: The Mall of Heroes should have the statues ofBorque and Sijan added bygraduation.We also plan to have an added element called the LongBlue Line - a blue line ofgranite, inscribed for each class, installed along the Mall walkway in time for '09 to have a short dedication ceremony before theyleave-beginning a graduation tradition, thanks to'64!

March OldTrolls Lunch: Eight ofthe Colorado Trolls met in late March at the OldNorthern (Keepingthe “Trickle-down economy” alive andwell?) forlunch. In keepingwith theirtradition ofdocumenting each event, theytook two pictures - each with seven people. Sorry, Doug. I flipped a coin and the one you took won, so you're not in it.

John Gross, Hopperbrothers, andMikeLynch 3April2009.

three ofEarl’s brothers: David, Larry, and Mike. God’s blessings and fairskies, Earl.” Thanks Mike.

Bruce Grossetta: “On March 1st Larry (Farrell) and I were standing on Uhuru Peak, the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, just under 19,400 feet. Kilimanjaro is theworld's tallestfree standingmountain, and we started and finished our ascent from 6,800 feet. Ofcourse, itwasn'tjust the uphill climb; it was the cold and lack ofoxygen that were real obstacles. It was a quite an adventure, and much more difficult than I'd imagined, butthen again, so was Basic Summer. For some reason Larry seemed to love both ofthose experiences. There were seven climbers in our group, and we were supported for nine days on the mountain bythree guides, 26 porters, and seven others who had specialized tasks. Not Everest byany means, but it sure feltlike an expedition. And Gail and Vicky? They were roughing it on a nine-day custom safari!”Wow, thanks Bruce, you guys are myheroes-doingretirement right.

Hall ofFame: On the 1st ofMay,Terry Isaacson was inducted into the Class of 2009 USAFAAthletic Hall ofFame. The inductee group also included Ben Martin, Jim Bowman, Dee Dowis, Ernie Jennings and Callie Molloy. (This is being written before the event, but I’ll try to have pictures for the next issue.) Congratulations,Terry. I’m proudjust to have been on the same team!

Rick Zurbrugg

2929 Gavin Place Duluth, GA 30096 (770) 476-4437

E-mail: ezurb@bellsouth.net

Hey '65. Please take a moment to reflect upon the passing ofBill Landes (William M), CS-15 class of 1965 on 4 Mar 2009 in New Orleans, LA. Funeral Services were held on 9 Mar 2009 at the Glenwood Funeral Home in Mississippi. Condolences may be sent to his family in care ofhis wife, Mrs. Tina M Landes, 896 Anahola Place, Diamondhead, MS 39525-3668. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org or mail to your local AHA regional office, or, the Air Force Academy at www.usafa.org or mail to Association of Graduates, 3116 Academy Dr, USAFAcademy CO 80840-4402.

Grossetta andFarrell conquerKilimanjaro: 1 March 2009.

Chuck Coleman: “Mary I had a nice visit lastweekendwith Pat & Colleen Moore and Tom & Diane Plank who came to see us here in Tampa. Pat & Colleen live in Colorado Springs but have taken to the road pullingtheirAirstream around the U.S. for several months. While in Florida, theyspent a week in Dade City, about 30 minutes north ofus, on a Habitat for Humanity "build," working with other volunteers to erect an affordable house for a low-income family. Tom retired from SverdrupCorp. and Diane from teaching high school a few years ago, and they live on Choctawhatchee Bay in Niceville, FL, whereTom has made theirhome into a "fortress" as hewatches for hurricanes each fall. Mary and I are semi-retired here in Tampawhere I workfor HillsboroughCounty as the Marine Safetyguywhere I'm in a boat on TampaBaymostdayskeepingpeople safe greatjob! Duringtheirvisit, Pat, Tom, and I decided to "hitthelinks" at the MacDill AFB golfcourse. Tom can count on the fingers ofboth hands the total number oftimes he's playedgolf. On the 14th hole, a 162 yard par 3, Tom smacked a perfect 6 iron that rolled in

Mike Lynch: “Our Classmate, Earl R Hopper, Jr., was finally laid to rest on 3 April 09 with full militaryhonors, including an F-16 missing man fly-by. Thus ends a 41 -yearsagaofgrief, uncertainty, and finally - closure. In January, '68, Earl was flying F-4s out ofthe 13th FighterSquadron at Udorn, Thailand, when he was hit by a SAM over NorthVietnam. He was listed as MIA until 1982, when his status was changed to KIA. His crash site was discovered in 1993 and his remains were finally recovered and identified in 2002. His family retained his remains until last year, when his father, Earl Senior, a retired Armycolonel, passed away. Earl’s brothers decided to give Earl Jr his own military funeral and Earl was buried at the National Memorial CemeteryofArizona. LukeAFB provided the honors and fly-by. The event was well attended byfriends and family, as Earl was an Arizona product. A contingent ofthe Patriot Guard, a motorcycle group ofmilitary vets also attended. The Class of '65 was represented byJohn Gross and me. The attached picture includedJohn, me, and

Sabre Society Donors

Old Trolls in March: Bob Thomas, Wally Wolniewicz, BobbyBeverly, Usto Schultz,JerryButler, TomJobin and Howie Cohen.

Chuck Coleman, Tom (Hole-in-One) Plank, andPatMoore.

the hole for a "Hole-in-One!" Tom said he's thinking about investing in some golfshoes to replace the sneakers."Thanks Chuck.Wayto go, Tom!

Rod Rodman: “Pat and Colleen Moore were in the Orlando area on March 22nd. We gottogether for an afternoon meal and visit. Pat and Colleen do a lot RVing from their home in C-Springs and have been in the area working on a HabitatforHumanityhouse.JudiandI are spending seven days aweekworking on a bigaddition to our littlehouse in downtown Orlando. We hope to get to our place inVermontthis summer, atleast for a couple ofshortstays.” Thanks Rod.

Thanks to allyou terrific guys, Mike, Bruce, Chuck and Rod who contributed to the column this time. It‘s very gratifying to see so many ofyou out having a great time together and doinginteresting and challengingthings.

Parting Shot: Like Chuck, I imagine there are many ofyou out there who have found and kept a near perfect fit in retirement employment or a way to keep that income stream flowing. Then I imagine that there are a few ofyou, yourhumble scribe included, who will, because ofthe Bret Favre Syndrome and/or economic necessity, return to thejob market. Good hunting to you, oldfriends, in your quests for meaningfulemployment. This downturn may be good for our kids and grandkids, perhapssharpening them up financially earlyin theirlives, at leastfor a while, bydebunking anydelusion thatthere is such a thing as economic security, and helping them develop a healthyskepticism oftrust in government and financial institutions. Be grateful for every day oflife and sound health. Staywell, do good work and keep in touch. As the ROC would say, Cheers! Rick

Ryan Denny

1635 Mary Todd Lane

O’Fallon, IL 62269

H: (618) 624-4255

W: (314) 232-5117

E-mail: ryanden@aol.com

pilottrainingreunion, John was kind enough to give us a narrated slide show of some ofhis adventures. It was kind oflike watching someone’s vacation pictures—except that John’s pictures were ofplaces like the HubbleTelescope and the International Space Station. The talk was scheduled for about halfan hour, but it was so interestingthat the audience keptJohn answeringquestions forthree times that long—and the onlything that finallystopped the questions was an open bar that had been open, but empty, for almost an hour.

In other news, JerryAllen sent an e-mail to tell us that his son is now the class scribe forthe class of94, and is probablyhaving the same trouble I do dragging information out ofclassmates. Actually, Jerrysaid that he appreciates what he called my irreverentstyle’’ and recommendthathis son emulate it. That might not be the best idea for someone still working on a successfulAir Force career. I learned at a young age that active dutygeneral officers don’t have nearly the sense ofhumorthat retired ones do. Jerryis Commandant ofCadets atVirginia Tech, still trying to figure out the secret ofthe Hokie. He saw Mason Botts at an AFAdinnerin RoanokeVArecentlyand claims there was a picturetaken, which we will all be able to see when Mason sends it to me.

Ron Talcott is working for Boeing in Seattle and is planning on retiring in June. He says that he saw JerryCallahan, who also works for Boeing, at a “Dark Ages” partythis winter, and that Jerry is doingwell.

Keep those e-mails coming, and please attach pictures (don’t embed them) as jpg files. Let us knowwhatyou’re doing and what you look like, or I’ll have to start makingup stories again about that squirrelpollinatingbusinessyou run in the suburbs ofWashington DC. Until next time.. .Happy

Larry Wilson

13100 Pinehurst Ave. NE

Albuquerque, NM 87111

H: (505) 291-8949

E-mail: Lwilsn628@aol.com

Ah, springtime, when ayoungman’sfancyturns to thoughts of... non-winter stuff. Like golf, turkeyhunting, spring cleaning, tax preparation and other activities which are generally less available/less pressing/more avoidable in thewinter. But - no more excuses. The days are longer; weather is nicer, or at least less consistendylousy; and - as I compose this (on Easter) mythoughts return to yesteryear, to Operation Easter and the like. Wow. I wonder ifthatis still a USAFAactivity; and - ifnot - when and why it went away.

But enough ofmy rambling. I have some inputs/ info to share - so awaaaaaayyyyy we go.

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Greetings,Redtags! Ijustwentto a reunion frommypilottrainingclassfrom ReeseAFB (68F). Since ReeseAFB hasbeenclosedforseveralyears, the reunion was inSanAntonio,whichis a funplace to have a reunion. There werejust a few ofus '66 grads inthatclass - - because we hadwasted thefirst ninemonths ofour AirForce careers goingto graduate schoolbeforepilottraining.Alotofthe guys in this class hadjoined theAir Force and gone to pilottrainingbecause ofthe VietnamWar—some to help win it and some to avoid being drafted into theArmy. Some stayed in and made a career out oftheAirForce, but a lot ofthemfinishedtheir tours andwent backto whattheyhad been doingbefore the militaryinterrupted theirlives—teachers, a pharmacist, medical school, architect, farmer, etc. (This was in contrast to most of us Zoomies who only occasionally let our lives interrupt the military.) Even though a lot ofus had not seen each otherfor 40 years, thatyear ofsurviving pilottraining had formed a sense ofbelongingthat was onlysecond to the brotherhood we forgedduring our time at theAcademy. OK, maybe it was a distant second, butitwas a prettystrongrelationship thatmade for a greatweekend. Fellow ’66ers in attendance were Lee Smith, JohnCasper, and myself.

Leeislivingin HuntsvilleALandworkingforRaytheonin the missile defense business. HeismanagingtheModelingandSimulationgroup intheWarfighter ProtectionCenterandisthinkingaboutretirement some timenextyear—buthe says there are a couple ofprojects thathewouldlike to see through to completion first. Like most ofus stillworking, that means “until my401kgets better.”

First ofall - congratulations to Tom Boettcher on his selection to the USAFA Prep School Hall ofFame. For those who did not know-that honorwas initiated in 2002, with incenfive/assistance ofBob Muldrow, himself a Prep School grad. According to Bob, Tom “.. .joins several others of our classmates: Fred Milanovich, Dan Gibson, Loren Shriver, Dale Stovall, Gerry Rafferty. Tom has had an impressive career, includingauthor, lawyer, and political candidate. It is interesting that he takes particularpride in an article aboutAmerican POWs during theVietnamWar which he co-authored, and which received critical praise. Impressive that hisjourneystarted, orwas in its earlylegs, with his time at the Prep School & USAFA. No doubt his time sweatingforKarl Kitt on thewrestling team had much to dowithhis successes... Well done, all in the Prep School Hall ofFame, and - again - congratulations to you, Tom, on your recent selection.

Condolences to Roger & Shonnie Carletonwho are both recovering from a malady more common to dog owners in areas that get snow and ice: Roger broke an ankle, followed by Shonnie’s breaking a wrist, while walking their dogs in crappy weather conditions. Good luck to both for 100% recovery. Soon.

RoyMillerrecentlyagainattended theAcademy’s National Character &LeadershipSymposium. During that time, he spokewith a numberofcadets, about a numberofsubjects. Onethathethought we should knowaboutisthe amount of the “car loan” now available to cadets. I believe in our day it was about $3500. FromRoy: “...thecarloanlastyearwas$32,000at0.5% (butveryfew Corvettes purchased). Quite a fewcadetstookthe moneyandputit inthe stock market (like I did with similar investment results)...” Perhaps the economic situation and this year’s loan will enable the cadets to make better car deals and/or buylow on some stocks. Good luck.

John Casper is stillworking for NASA in Huston, where he is theAssociate Program Manager for the Space Shuttle. John has had a reallyinteresting career, and he is still able to keepworking at it. He started his astronaut career in 1985, and got to fly on four shuttle missions between 1990 and 1996 (STS 36, 54,62, and77), logging over 800 hours in space. Afterhislast shuttle mission, 1ohn was the Director ofSafetyfor the Johnson Space Center and co-chaired the Return to FlightPlanningTeam afterthe Columbia accident in 2003. In his current job, he acts as the deputy to Space Shuttle ProgramManager. At this

Not that I am any great techie or social e-communication advocate - certainlynothing like our children/grandchildren. But- because offamilyinfluences, as it seems thatmanyin-laws and otherfamilymembers use the modality to showpics ofkids, etc I didjoin Face Book a while back. What a jolt that is. You can easily - deliberately or inadvertently- communicatewith much of the e-world via that medium. I expect that MySpace and others have similar capabilities. Scary. However - there is an upside: it seems that some ofour '67 guys are on that. I believeyou can search byvarious parameterse.g. AirForce Academy - and maybe find lost souls. So - in addition to frequentlyseeing

LeeSmith, RyanDenny, andJohn Casper—all lookingtheiryoungestat a recentpilottraining reunion.

Sabre Society Donors

fresh familypics and notes - I’ve connected with some oldAFA buds. Go ahead - sign up (no cost), log on and playwith it a bit - who knows who you might bump into. Or - foryou who are more grammatically oriented-who knows into who you mightbump. Orwhom. Aaaarrrrgghhhh. Here is another hot spot:U-tube. It is amazing what one can find there. For example, you might search for Les Jensen and see The Man makingmusic. Anotherworthysearch is Trace Adkins and the USMA Glee Club. Introduced by a wounded warrior, theyperformed at a recent award show and brought down the house. The performance has been well e-circulated. Ifyou have not seen it - look for it.

Some ofyou mayrecallWarren “Buddy” Smith, who started with us but had a change ofdirection in our first-classyear, and departed. He has had a fascinatinglife, following a different path, mosdyfocused on Nepal, Tibet, and that part ofthe world. He currentlylives in the DC area, and works for “... Radio freeAsia... maybealwayswill be. I’m finishing up mythird bookonthe subject, so that’s good too...” We have gone a whole spectrum ofdirections since our Academydays, have we not?

I hope that all of us are members ofthe AOG, and that we will vote in the upcoming elections. Actually, bythe time this is published, that election may be history... Anyway - there are valid issues under consideration, and a solid slate ofcandidates. There also has been some stream ofe-communication from JackFry and others concerning the election, and other communication from Bart Holaday'65, chairman ofthe USAFA Endowment group, with some rebuttalfrom theAOG. I certainlyhope that the newAOG Boardwill get these groups pointed in the same direction. I encourage all ofyou/ us to keep in contact with our current class reps and with those who live in the area ofthe Academy, who tend to keep pretty fair fingers on the pulse ofall there. In case you do not know - - RogerCarleton is runningfor a Board seat, and I hope that allwill carefullyconsider his background, character, experience etc. Forwhat it is worth, he has myvote.

I’ve been thru my inbox, mail piles and email a couple oftimes and find no further recent class inputs. So - with that I will bid a fond adieu, and closewith a farewell photo taken from Em Monda’s future home, underconstruction in Laguna Beach.

Last ’68er in Uniform.

go flying.” (Scribe Note: Vic, nowyou'rejust rubbing it in!)

ERRATA SHEETONTWINS SEPARATED BYCLASS: In mywinter column, I positedthat our classmateJim Camp andhisbrotherGene (USAFA ’69) might have been the first twins separated by USAFAyear groups. Thanks to some editorial truth serum suppliedbyChuckDenham (USAFA ’67), he said, “Sorry, Tim, the Camp twins are trumped by, at least, the Fairhurst twins, Norman Gregory (USAFA ’63) andWilliam Stephen (USAFA ’64). So, to Jim and Gene Camp, unless even earlier claims are touted, you are nowwearing the silver, ratherthan gold medal forthis unique categoryofUSAFAcomparisons.

Lookingwestfrom SchlossMonda -no doubt we willall soon be invited to the open house.

Best wishes to all. God bless the troops. God bless the United States of America.

I iqBfpWw

Cftli jSSuft

Tim Davidson

9712 Hidden Valley Road

Vienna, VA 22181-6094

(703) 255-5313

Fax: (703) 255-5377

E-mail: timd@erols.com

HELLO ’68! I’m not saying the economy is bad, but the Easter Bunnyjust dropped offplastic eggs with IOUs in them! Here’s hoping our countrygets something more substantive than EB’sjellybeans afterall the multi-trillion dollar bailouts!!

“FighterPilots Extraordinaire!” From left are SteveMish andDickEwers.

HEARLED AVIATORS CONVERSE AT ‘68’s 40th: As I networked my way around the ballroom during our 40th reunion banquet, I was able to capture a fairlydecent digitalportrait oftwo ofour Class’ premierfighterpilots, Steve Mish and Dick Ewers. You may remember, in addition to a laudatory career flying fast-moving aircraft, Steve was one of our Class’ two Air Force Thunderbirds. (Scribe Note: The other was Bill Gregory.) Dick Ewers is the last pilot in the Class who is still “slipping the surlybonds ofearth” in fighter aircraft through his current position with NASA. We are deeplyindebted to Dick for his stirring tribute to fallen classmates as he flawlessly executed a series ofhigh speed, F-18fly-bys over the USAFACemeteryfollowing our Class’ memorial service during the 40th reunion. As a side note, Dick can also be remembered for being the only classmate who matriculated from USAFA to the Marine Corps andwhile a cadetrepresented all ofus on the televisionshow

“The Dating Game.

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STILL SERVING: Though many might consider squeezinginto our uniforms in contravention to the laws ofphysics (i.e., attempting to fit a much larger mass into a much smaller space), one of our classmates does it every day and can still keep his “gig line” straight. Who is this masked man? It is none other than our very own ColonelVic Bonfiglio, Commander of the Air Force Junior ROTC Detachment at Moanualua High School in Honolulu. As one ofyour Scribe’s most faithful correspondents,Vic is not onlythe commander ofthe unit, but teaches college and high school military education classes, serves as a flight instructor, and writes articles for the local newspaper about latest trends in military recruitment. Vic writes, “Life in Hawaii continues to be enjoyable.” (Scribe Note: Duh!) “The combination ofteachinghigh school, college, and flying, plus the goodweather and superb athletic facilities, reallymake forthe good life. I don’t have enough time on my hands to get into serious trouble, since I’m busy most ofthe time. Ifyouwander out here, bring moneyandwe’ll

’68’s NAVIGATOR PLOTS COURSEAHEAD IN BORNEO: I just received a shortblurb from GeoffGorsuch, Director ofMen’s Ministries forThe Navigators, about his March 2009 leadership conference on the island ofBorneo. The topic ofthe conference was “The Seven Seasons of a Man’s Life.” After each “season,” conference attendees broke up into smaller groups and discussed howbiblical solutions were relevant to circumstances that unfold in developing nations. Geoff’s next major conference will be held in Singapore in May titled “Great Dad... Good Life.” Geoff, best wishes in helping to make our world a more lovingand peacefulplace to hang our hats and bequeath to our children and grandchildren.

WHERE IN THEWORLD IS HERR PROFESSOR DOCTORYOOS? When I didn’t see Chuck Yoos at our 40th Reunion and wondered where he was and what he was doing, I received a sea ofblank stares and slumped shoulder “I don’tknows” frommycompatriots in 3rd Squadron. Afterviewing a comment made by Chuck inApril that surfaced on a '68 environmental e-blog about USAFA goinggreen, I decided to endthe mystery and sent myqueryto himvia e-mail. Chuck responded: “Since I retired from the AF in 1998 as a Professor Emeritus at USAFA, I have been a Professor at Fort Lewis College, Colorado's publicliberal arts college. I also teach occasionallyfor academic terms abroad as aVisiting Professor at the University ofApplied Sciences Regensburg Germany (2001,2007 and 2009), Ecole Superieure de Commerce La Rochelle France (2004,2006), and the UniversityofApplied Sciences DeggendorfGermany (2008,2009).

In mylastyears at USAFA, I was the Senior OfficerAdvisor to the Dean andthe

Commandant on the Cadet Honor, and realized that the Honor System had become dysfunctional. I expressedthat in several papers, notably "Habitatfor HonorWithin a Community ofCharacter: Last Call for Reformation ofthe CadetHonor System andVitalization ofCharacterDevelopment atthe United StatesAir ForceAcademy." Read that and two other related papers at my Fort Lewis Collegewebsite: http://soba.fordewis.edu/yoos/, with apicture ofme about to be run over by a train!

With Chuck’s rapid response, the mystery is now solved. Chucksends to one and all: “Gutentag und Bon Chance!”

’68’S REUNION HANDBALL CLUB DOES IT AGAIN AT OUR 40th: While some playedgolf, others chose to get acquainted with the bartender, and still others (suffering from the altitude and a touch ofold age) took naps, a core group ofdie-hard “handballers” proved, once again, that time had not passed them by as theytook to USAFA’s courts for our 40th reunion handball tournament. I am not certain ofthe final outcome, butyou are welcome to ask Du and Don Mrosla, Marty Cole, RogerWiles, Jim Lozito, and MikeThrowerwhether theyhad a good time. Myguess would be resoundingly in the affirmative!

REESE AFB 70-01 UPT REUNION 9-13 SEP 09: The Reese AFB UPT Class of70-01 is holdingits 40thpilottraining reunion in the greaterWashington, DC area from 9-13 Sept 2009. Ifyou want furtherinformation, please contact Bob Daley, Bill Drennan, or me.

RANDOLPH AFB 70-02 UPT REUNION IN THE WORKS: Bob Beanblossom is in the formative stages oforganizing a Randolph AFB UPT Class of70-02 Reunion. Ifyou are interested in assisting, pleasedrop him an email at: bnjbeanblossom@hotmail.com.

’68TRIVIAL PURSUIT:Which classmate has seven children and 10 grandchildren? Which classmatehas a winery and concrete business? Which classmate is working for the UN in Kyrgyzstan? Which classmate flies MicroJets? Which classmate looks like he might be related to a waiter at the Colorado SpringsEmbassySuites? The answers to all ofthese questionsmaybe found on our class website.

THAT’SAWRAP: Mindthe flak; keep ’emflying, and keep those cards, letters, e-mails, and photos coming in to Pat Russell and me. Please go to the Class Website to see photos included in this column in colorand 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

We are now in summer’s stretchbefore our 40threunion. Plentyoftime to get your putting and short games into shape, start your packing for the multiple weatherconditions we mayface at November’s onset, and makeyourplans to arrive early to ensure you obtain a good seat forthefestivities.

the same without him. Class congratulations to Rayforhis exemplaryservice. John (JC) Miller, manyofyou mayhave noted in the Checkpointslast, penned a piece ofreminisces about our dayat USAFA. Omitted from thatpiece was this fine picture ofJohn with his Honda, procured - and you can be certain ofthis betweenthe time ofhis commissioningandthe time ofthe photo taken later on that fateful day in June, 1969! John is now employed at theVA, where he encounters vets with motorcyclesfrequently.

John Miller with his Government-Issue Ride, June4,1969.

DougFitzpatrick, also reminiscing in a note, recalled taking a date to dinner at the Broadmoor’s Rose Room in 1966, and noted then the absence ofpricing on the menus. Oops, deep kimchee to come. His date dined on lobster thermidor, he on a dinnersalad. The tip was commensurate with what a cadet could afford at the time. Ahh, speaksoftly, sweet memories. Oflate, Doug has been building a new PC for himselfand copying all his backup CDs to a new hard drive. His old tape drivewill go into a boxwith the spiffy 12x12 calculator he bought in 1972, complete with a two-step algorithm permitting convergence on square roots, a cement block-sized cell-phone, and his25-lb Betamax, with which it shares spacewith mine.

RockyVan Zelfden, lawyer and financial planner in Austin, writes that Ron Hindmarsh was elected Prez ofthe RampartChapter oftheAOG, anotherin a longlist ofhighpayingjobswith lots ofhelpers! Rockyhad dinnerlate lastyear withWild Bill Haney down in San Marcos, Texas. Rockyreports Bill is, as always, in Texas-tough good shape, and will be ready for the ritual arm-wresfling contest with Joe Hasek at the 40th Reunion.

Some ’69ers kicked the newyear offin styleduring the lastweekofJanuary, taking up residence in a small resort on Hawaii’s Kona Island. Golf, tennis, gourmet cooking in and out, snorkeling, and sightseeing were all in store, capped offwith RoyCoppinger s Aloha Roasted PigDinner. Also attendingthis week of revelry were Bruce Anderson, John Buckner, Kit Busching, Craig Collins, Tom Fleming, Bugs Forsythe, Brian Nelson, and brides/significant others. It maybe difficult to believe, but I have only one pictureofthis outing, and alas it was not suitable forpublication in Checkpoints. Ratherthan insult my good friend, our long-time editorTom Kroboth, or try to doctor the picture, let me just say it was reminiscent ofa certain elevator at a certain hotel at a certain class’s reunion ofmanyyears back. One, and only one, ofthe above eight adventurers, kept his shoes on forthe picture—guesswhich, andyou can write the next Checkpoints column!

Steve Stowe, musician extraordinaire and ChiefPilot for Boeing (Wichita), also looking forward to the 40th, was pounding holes in the sky above and around C-Springs last fall, performinghigh altitude auto-land testing of an Italian KC-767, so ifany ofyou out Colorado way saw a gray 767 dragging a boom, well, bingo! Steve says he tried to talk the Command Post into letting himjoin the three-ship oftwo Raptors and an F-15 overflying the ball game— but no dice. Clearly, there were no ’69ers in the Command Post.

To fill out the brace ofSteves, Brother Edelman and his bride, Rochelle, spent a weekghosting about the GalapagosArchipelago underthewatchful eye ofa naturalist, getting close enough to share tea service with sea lions, sea turtles, land iguanas, marine iguanas, gianttortoises and a varietyofotherwildlife. So close they could hear a sea lion’s pup nursing. Trip ofa lifetime, according to Steve. (See photo at the top ofthe next column.)

Several ofyou have mentioned thatJohn Dallager was interviewed bythe CSprings Gazette (March 27,2009) as one ofsixretired officers heading up local non-profits. The article, titled "From Service to Country to Service to Community," addressedthe appeal ofsuch positions to retired militaryofficers and the goodfit ofmilitaryofficers to them. JD, executive directorofthe Pikes Peak UnitedWay, offered superb insights based on his experience andleadership:

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Whetherit is mytemporarydeployment to Columbus (hipperthanyou tliink, butleaving no adverseweatherpattern to one’s imagination), thevagaries ofthe US mail, or a spate of busy,time-drainingaffairs on thepartsofallgood’69ers, there is less new scoop thanusual to pass alongthis time. I figure to see more ofyou in Columbus, given its Net Jets geographic centralityandinfrastructure, anddiddinewithFlip Keck one night; out oftown, I missedChickKaiserandTerryBradywhen theywere through fortraining, butwould love to see anyof you ifyou pass through, Net Jets or not. (Mike Goode paid me for that plug, by theway).

RayHaygood, after over fourdecades ofservice to the United States, stepped down from his position with the Aereospace Data Facility at BuckleyAJFB, Colorado, and into real mufti forthe first time in 43 years. The NSAwill not be

Class of 1969 40th Reunion

Nov. 4 - 8,2009

Falcons vs. Army

’68’s Handballers: From left kneeling are Du and Don Mrosla. Standing: Marty Cole, RogerWiles,Jim Lozito, andMike Thrower.

Team Darwin-Edelman Up Close andPersonal with a Giant Tortoise. http://www.gazette.com/articles/work_50759 article.html/ officers_retired.html.

Although I have not received a recent update on Tom Mikolajcik’s condition - therefore, thiswill bewoefully outdated bythe time you read it - Carmen sent along a newsy update over the Holidaytelling ofTom’s battle before Christmas, which saw him in the hospital and on the brink of a tracheotomy, but recoveringswiftly and sufficiently (to the surprise ofattending medical personnel) both to dodge the procedure forthe time beingand to return home for theholidays. Carmen said that at home his appetite was improving, and (more importantly!) his feistiness returning! She hoped to enjoy a home-Christmas with familyandfriends, and suggestedthatthepowerofprayers fromthe Class of 1969 could not be underestimated. Keep your thoughts forTom coming, please, to supplement his innate resilience and indomitable spirit. Verybest wishes to Tom from us all.

Glenn Schlabs and company have been working awaydiligently on reunion planning, and have all well in hand at this point. Lookfor additional information in your mailbox soon on the reunion and on last-chance contributions for the Class Gift.

Go well. BeWell. Rock On. Cards and letters, please. Lindsey

Dick Rauschkolb

130 Luxury Lane

Colorado Springs, CO 80921

H: (719) 761-5764

Cell: (719) 310-6928

Email: AOG70@comcast.net

Richard Rauschkolb@usafa.edu

On 3 April, John Martinson joined Gregg Popovich as a recipient of the Academy’shighesthonor—the Distinguished Graduate Award (DGA). John joinsquite a select group ofonly 12-14 graduateswho have received the award. He now has a plaque along the Heritage Trail outside Doolittle Hall. Pretty neat that the Class of 1970 has two honorees. The latest class before 1970 to have a selectee is 1965! AWESOME John and Popo—we are proudofyou and saluteyour manyaccomplishments, achievements, and support for our alma mater and its great cadets.

BillRathbun, LarryBush,JackMueller, andRich Downing.

Unfortunately, the parade to honorJohn on Saturdaywas canceled due to a major snowstorm. John and Eilene were graciousenough to host a great lunch and several classmates and I battled the elements andhadthepleasure ofsharing war stories with John and meeting his great family. Rich Downing, Bill Kirkman, Larryand Marleen Bush, Dave Gaw, JohnCusack, andCraigJohnson were in attendance. Thanks John!

As I sithere on 17April, Colorado Springs is gettinghitwith a massive snowstorm. It looks like anotherweekend ofnot beingable to tune up mylousygolf game. There is no spring in the Rockies! As I recall, it snowed on the Sunday prior to our graduation.

Had a good chatwith Mike Lyons who has beenhittingthe slopes thiswinter with GaryFinley, Rick Lesch, Jim Brechwald, and RogerRiggs. ChuckWeir had the honor ofcommissioninghis son, Jim, into theArmy. His other son, Gordon, is alreadyservingin theArmy. I guess Chuck’s many great experiences in JacksValleyrubbed off on his twins!

Rick Lesch indicated we have to get John Martinson out here for a golfmatch. Rick said John “had a fewsheckles to lose. Rickalso indicated he playedgolfwith an eight-yearoldwho shot 80 andhit it over 220yards. Sheweighs all of60 pounds. ElizabethWang

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rememberthe name andbuystock in her future. Tommy Thompson checked in from Texas where he is alreadyworking on his golfgame for the next Reunion. Loren Ainsworth indicated he and Linda are coming from Texarkana to the Ring Dance for 2010 our legacyclass - - the end ofMay.TerrySylvesterwill also be out for graduation. He will be presentingthe OutstandingWrestlerAward— named in honor of our classmate—Dick Christie who was killed inVietnam.

Got a nice note from Don Mills in Oregon. His premature grandson is doing well and Don and Lendella were here in the Springs to visit him and family. Don indicated that his company, HorizonAir, is busy and AlaskaAirgroup actuallymade some moneyin CY2008.Wellthat’s one companywewon’thave to bailout. Seems like grandchildren are poppingup everywhere. Gary Baxter is claimingthe class record at nine! Here is ChuckReedwithhislatest addition.

Mike Whizzer”

sent me some pictures ofcadet days.Will try to work them into a future column.We recognized a few men in theiryounger days— Russ Carparelli, JoeYork, Gus Sorenson, and Jerry Richman. Mike also had a picture from the Stars and Stripes ofhim pre-flighting an F-4 at Danangduring Vietnam days. He looked like a “real warrior’’ with his pistol and survival knife. Seems like a lot ofmen and their significant others are on the cruise circuit. Dana and LindaArbaugh had a greattime on theirPanama-Costa Rica cruise. Dana recommends www.cruisewest.com as a company that will take care of you. Personally, I can fix you up at www.SomaliaOceanTours.com. Pirate attacks are no extra charge. Larry Bush and a group of ’70 men cruised the southern Caribbeanwith theirwives and reportedthey closed the bar down every night (that’s the over-60 barwhich dosed at 1800).

John

Classmates SaluteJohn at DGA Dinner. From left are Cookie Villarreal, Bill Kirkmanjohn CusickJimMulford,MickDavey, RickLesch,JohnMartinson, BrianPrendergast,

StylishBeachBumsHauntCruiseLines:From leftareJohnSoltis,Jim Colgate, LarryBush,JackMueller, SteveMaclssac, andRich Harrington.

Verardo sent me some pictures ofone ofour Prep School Classmates— Bill Arcuri. Bill went toWest Point, but commissioned into theAir Force. He was shot down over Hanoi in a B-52 duringLinebacker II and was a POWwith

MayorReedholdingfuture member ofthe Class of2030.

White

a broken leg for over six months. John and I encourage former Huskies to contact Bill at quiltthree@bellsouth.net.

How about that Falcon hockey team! The boys upset Michigan and lost in double overtime toVermont. Ifwe had won, we would have been in the final four. Great season!Wish I could saythe same about basketball. The boys lost something like 17 straight. The onlysaving grace was we got our first MWC Tournament victory—ever.Things maybe rough on the hardwood the next fewyears, but we have some good young players. Speaking ofbasketball, let’s hope GreggPopovich’s Spurs are still playingwhen you read this. He has an uphillstrugglewith one ofhis star players, Manu Ginobli, out for the playoffs. Went to several springfootball practices. I thinkwe will be good next year 8-4 or 9-3 is myprediction. Road games at Minnesota, Utah, BYU, and Navy will be tough. Let’s hope we can finally beat the dreaded Middies after a six-year losing streak!

I want to thankall ofyou sent emails or called supportingmybid forelection to theAOG Board. Win or lose, it was nice to get support from so many classmates. I deeplyappreciate it!

MyjobteachingEnglish to Doolies ends in May. Back to the unemployment line. This yearhasbeen a blast. I reallyenjoyedthe chance to teach and interact with the cadets in character developmentprograms. The countryis in good hands ifthese greatyoung men and women are going to be the future leaders of our Air Force.

MikeGould takes over as Supt inJune. He is a grad and formerfootball player. His wife, Paula, worked for me when I was in charge ofthe Liaison Officers. Theywillbe a superteam fortheAcademy.We should allthankJohnandDebbie Regni forthe superb workthey did at USAFA as well. TheAcademyis a better place because oftheir outstandingleadership and support.

Finally, yourclass gift committee needs about $300K to build the Southeast Pavilion at Doolittle Hall. This will probably be our last biggift to the Academy, so let’s all try to support finishingthe project for our Reunion in 2010. Thatisn’t that far away—so let’s see those donations start rollinginto the Class of 1970 Gift Fund.Wewill all be proud ofgettingthis monument to our classmates and graduateswho served in SEAcompleted.

Bythe timeyou read this, I hope thefairways are lush andyourgolfgames are rounding into shape.We are only about 16 months awayfrom the big '70 Reunion GolfTournament and Swanson, Disosway, Weir, and Rauschkolb are gearingup to defend theirtitle!

Have a great summer!

Paul D. Knott

5565 Lantana Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80915

H: (719) 570-9162

W: (719) 594-0100

E-mail: pk71knott@gmail.com

Greetings from central Colorado, where the Peak and the winds are about the only constants in our lives.

RichMartenson’s son Matthewis graduatingfrom 29th Squadronthis spring. He has a UPT slot atVance, where Rich met his bride.

The Martensons at the MinnesotaAll-Academy Ball, Winter 2008

Thanks to all ofyour prayers and kind thoughts for Sean. The latest news is thathe is in a rehabilitationhospital in Denver and that he is moving forward from his surgeries and is re-learning to do things that we all take for granted, such as walking, talking, and eating solid food. Prognosis seems good so far. Keeping everyone up to date on his progress led us to the wonderfulworld of blogging. I’d love to saythat Bob “Skiman” Peterman’s on-linejournal ofhis trip up theAppalachianTrail lastyear was the impetus, but the idea actually came from our daughter, Paulette. Anyhow, ifyou can’tfind our blog on Sean, let me knowand I’ll forward the e-dress to you.

Andreahad lunch with Harry & Cindy Davis recently. Harry’sfighting back from his strokes lastyear, and theyespeciallywanted to recommend a book that addresses our challengeswith Sean.

Sam Clovis was kind enough to writewith words ofencouragement and also to let me knowabouthis life in the Heartland - - SiouxCity, Iowa area. “Things are verybusyhere. Charis finishingherfirstyearteachingEnglish at Bishop Heelan Catholic High School. She is an excellent teacher and is doingverywell. I am teaching one course this term, but havebeen doing a lot ofworkforthe Homeland SecurityInstitute on immigrationpolicy. I am offto Miami to give a paper on building emergency preparedness at thelocallevel at theend ofMarch andwill begiving a paper on myimmigration research at theMidwest Political ScienceAssociation annual conference inApril. I have a paper due for Publius: TheJournalofFederalism in mid-April, as well.

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“I have been presentinglectures in Monterey at the Center forDefense and Homeland Securityin support ofthe Department ofHomeland Securitygraduate andexecutive programs. This summer, I will be moving to faculty status for this program, teachingprimarilyin the National CapitolRegion. I am also developing and presentingthefirstDisasterManagement course forIowa Statethis summer in their Master ofPublicAdministration program. The research and teaching keep me verybusy, so I am forcingmyselfto find timeforrelaxingand spending time with Char. I think I am going to forego teaching summer classes here at Momingside so I can hitthefishingandgolfa little more than I have inthepast.

RandyLeavittalso sent a nice note. He andI, amongotherclassmates, started ourAirForce careers atVanceAFB, OK, in pilottraining class 72-09. Ifyou spent anytime in thewilds ofcentral Oklahoma with this particular group ofcrazies and haven't heard about an effort for classmates to get in touch through the Internet, please let me knowwhereyou are, and I’ll forwardyou contact infermation. Ironically, the bigpush for the virtual reunion came through Stetson Cowan’s passinglastyear.

Randycommented on Dan Dougherty' s comments in the Letters section of the Fall issue concerningtheAOG and fend-raising. We mayhave answers in this very magazine (which you may certainly read after you’ve finished the Class news).

DarrylWimberleywill be on his wayback to Austin and Doris after a year’s remote tour here as an AdjunctEnglishprofessor.With anyluck, there maybe a book based on his experiences both in the Hill and in the local area.

Speaking ofbooks, I have Geno Kraay’s book (“The Olympian: ATale ofAndent Hellas”) on order. All the reviews that I read about it are extremelyposifive. GBA

'WmBob Bell 13 Pacific Ave.

Sinking Spring, PA 19608 (610) 678-3182/Fax: 678-4513

E-mail: rabell767@aol.com

(28 Sabre Society Donors)

Hi Guys - rather than have the editor, Tom Kroboth, make up some boilerplate to fill in here, I figured on just tellingyou myselfthat for the first time in a long time (ifever) we haven’t got a column for this edition. So my idea was to letyou knowthat future inputs can be made as ever on a quarterly schedule, like clockwork, directly to me (and due to the editor soon after) about mid-month in July, October, January and April subject to publishing changes but good to go as a guide. I am sorry for this time just not coming together, and hopefullywe will return forthe next one with some good infermation from any ofyou who would like to pass it on. Thankyou all in the meantime foryour past efforts.

Joe Kahoe

Colorado Springs, CO 80918

Cell: (719) 210-5568

joekahoe@gmail.com

http://73.texascomputerhelp.com Class

left are

Our national hero classmate, SullySullenberger, was the guest ofhonor at USAFA on 15/16 ofApril where Lt Gen John Regni presented him with the ColonelJamesJabaraAward forairmanship contributions ofgreatsignificance that set him apart from his contemporaries. Sullyspoke to a packed Arnold Hall. He began his very motivational and inspirational talkwith “Fast, neat, average, friendly, good, good... I’m one of you.” Sully claimed to be an “average cadet,” although he did graduate as the number one aviation cadet in our class, with over 1000 hours offlying time at the zoo. Sullyurged cadets to “value education, never stop learning, find your passion and invest yourself,” which will “serve you and society.” Sully talked aboutthe events of 15 Jan 2009 as a life-changingexperience. He talked up the “team effort” and talked down his “individual” accomplishments. Much more on our web site.

KenVargasreports thathe andhiswife are planning a CS-27 reunion celebrating the 40th milestone ofJack'sValley. This will take place in Calgary during Stampede (Rodeo) week (starting 2 July 2009) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Dave Lesser (CS-1) reports Dick Fickes celebrated his third anniversary of providing Missile Defense Agency test event support at the Missile Defense AgencyIntegration and Operations Center (MDIOC), SchrieverAFB, CO. Shari is a home health care nurse manager/supervisormaking sure home health patients are receivingthe right care.

Tom Kennedyreports from the Grim Reapers ofCS-31: Don Sloan participated in the annual "Polar Bear Plunge" in support ofSpecial Olympics Delaware, where theyraised $490,000. In Don’swords, “...a note to thankall ofyou for your support to Special Olympics DE and this year’s Polar Bear Plunge.

Some last-minute donations have helped me raise over $2500, the most I’ve ever collected. That’s entirely due to your generosity, and it’s especially meaningful with today’s economy.” Tom Kennedy also passed on a “small world story” from 8Apr 2009 atVirginiaMilitaryInstitute (VMI) in LexingtonVA. “My son Andrew and I, were in room with another father and son awaiting an Air Force ROTC officer to discuss ROTC options at VMI. The other father and I shared a fewtidbits with each other, and to our surprise, almost 40 years after entering theAcademy, here we were, two classmateswith their sons, myself from CS-31 and John Pretz from CS 6. Turns out the AF ROTC officer was also a CS-06 grad from 2003.”

John Stefonik offered a few notes on our ongoing class gift: “National Character andLeadershipSymposium2009 was held Feb 19 - 21 at USAFA.Although we are notyet able to "endow" the seminar as we resolved at our last reunion, we are thebindingforce behind the program.We donated a total of$183K, a bit over half of our goal. Thanks to many generous classmates (John Muse in particular) we remain at about the $60k/year level. Participants thisyear ineluded: Bob and Pam Munson, Ron and MaryScott, John and Lynne Stefonik, TrapperCarpenter, Mike Mosier, Robert Decker, Dale Birch, Mike andAmy Smith, A1 and SandyMaurer I'm sure I missed someone. Oh yes, and the guy in charge ofit all, John Regni (who bythewayis retiring on 9 June 09).Attendeeswere treated to CoachTom Osborn, CIAcounterintelligenceoperativeJames Olsen, POWBarryBridger, Journalist and CBS reporter Kim Dosier, NASA s Gene Krantz (rememberApollo 13?), plus our own SSgt Rowe Stayton, to name but a few. Our class crest and acknowledgement of our support was part of each presentation. We make a hugeimpact and in the words ofthe Director Col. John Norton "We couldn't do itwithoutyou." Read about the great feedback on the web site.

From Rich and Karen Leeman: We recently returned from a visitwith our daughterSandyand herhusband, CaptJohn "Stu" Sisler (USAFA, class of2003) at theirhome inBury SaintEdmunds, UK. MildenhallAFB. We had a greatvisit, but much too short, especiallywith Stu. He left us to go back to Albuquerque to finishAC upgrade in MC 130s.

Rick Karvoskypasses on congrats to all our very accomplishedclassmates, includingNortie Schwartz as theCSAF; Steve Lorenz as the CommanderAETC;

John Regni as USAFA Superintendent; Sully Sullenberger landing in the Hudson; and many others. Rickvery much enjoyed our 35th Reunion and is proud to be a member ofthe Class of73.

SteveMcCauley, web guru Mike Nishimuta and a number ofour classmates have put together the 73Storieswebsite that isworth a visit over a mug ofcoffee. Mylatest favorite is RowRogacki’s exhortation to not let one’s dreams die, and the pleasure that comes from the pursuit. Ifyou like it, Stevewould love to have all ofyou submit. Go to http://www.73stories.org.

From left are Grace and Don McMillan (CS40), andJulie and SteveDiehl (CS40) inJupiter, FLJan 2008. The Diehls escaped a blizzard in Maiyland to catch record lows in south Florida.

From left are Mary, Queen ofScottsand master practicaljoker;Kim (pregnant with Addison);Aaron, Chad, Boni, Kian, Ron (aka Chico), latentphilosopherand enthusiasticgranddad; Katie; andKodi.

From Ron Scott: Ourfamily met in San Diego for a mini-reunion. Daughter Katie and her husband, Boni, and sons Kian and Kodi, came all the wayfrom a western province. Mary and I, and our daughter Kim and her husband, Chad, came all thewayfrom Colorado. Kim (pregnantwith our granddaughter Addi) and Chad are both executive-level accountants for international companies operating out ofDenver.

Mike Mosier and Ron Scott were recently in the DC area supporting aeonsuiting client. While there theyjoined Bruce "Orville" Wright forbreakfast at an Irish Pub in Arlington. Updates: Grant Gillig is an entrepreneur with a successful medical technology business operating out of Colorado. Bob Decker is keeping our financial world grounded as an honest analyst in the Chicago area. A1 Mauer is quite the politicalphilosopher in addition to his IT consulting efforts. Rowe Stayton is preserving hisyouthful athletic prowess byfightingbad guys in Iraq - - Rowe should be the next protagonist in aW.E.B. Griffin novel. Dr. Bob Munson finds time to volunteer his medical expertise in support ofa local hospice in addition to providingleadership for our class and theAOG. Dr. John Rabins, besides being the absolute best optometrist in theworld, volunteers time forthe homeless and is an annual participant in the global doctors without borders program.

The Class of73, in keepingwith a decade oftradition, will sponsor the Class of2013. Don Rightmyer (historian, author, and head ofthe Cadet Heritage Committee 37 years ago) is writing the lead page ofthisyear’s Contrails. Read about it at our web site. Read a great “letter” from our classmate, JudgeJames L. Shumate on the web site.

Joe Brezovic

1209 Bayou Oaks Drive

Friendswood, TX 77546

H: (281) 482-6860

E-mail: jbrezovic@comcast.net

Hello Classmates! Welcome to another round ofcatch-ups. I have a few more mails and pics to show next issue, too.

RickBates (Nanci) is in RapidCity, SD. He retiredAF in 1993. Spent 6years

From

JoeKahoe, T Thompson, SullySullenberger,John Regni, and Ron Scott at Gen Regni’s quarters on 15April.

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with Gateway computers (Director ofTechnology), and 3 years with Intuit (Engineering Manager). Currently CIO oflocal school district. Raised two daughters along the way.

RickBates in his OfficeSuit.

Michael O’Connell (Loretta) wrote in an update. Michael got out ofUSAF in 79, went to FAA as air traffic controller. Tower, Tracon, Enroute Center, Central flowcontrol, traininginstructor, FAA HdQtrs staff, supervisor. Retired 2004 and moved to GrandJunction. Blessedwith two sons and one grandson. He’s hopingtheydon’t make us do pull-ups before we eat at our reunion. As far as I know, there won’t be anyupperclassmen at our meals. Yeah for that!

Donald R. McMonagle, former astronaut and manager ofNASA’s Launch IntegrationSpace Shuttle Program made a comment the otherweek: “Orbital debris. There were times when we had to bring astronauts back inside the space station because of fears of collisions from space debris...an impact.. .would cause catastrophic damage. So we now know better how crowded it is up there! Nick Puzak is gettingready to do control center ops from JSC for the Hubble Mission. Bythe timeyou read this, we’ll be celebrating it was a success [hopefully!].

Dave Hoglund is still marathoning. 10,000 runners and he was 280th! Half marathon in 1:34,7:07 a mile or 8.5 mph for treadmill people. Hope to compete more before the So Cal summer gets too hot.. .1 see JimPayne who manages Global Hawk test for Northup-Grumman (NG), and JayJollywho consuits on N-UCAVforNG, and I’m still having fun with NG, too!”

Dave Wilson updated his files as alive and doingwell just outside ofOKC. Dave encouragesVic LaSaxon there in Edmond on a regularbasis. Vic is recovering from multiple back surgeries, and though this is a struggle, his spirits remain high. Dave also keeps in touchwith Paul Hankins (Donna) on a regular basis. Paul turned down his second star a few years back to remain in Montgomery, and is now president ofa small college association inAlabama. Dave had taughtJROTC, but “.. .as I've added a newwife to mylife.. .in Dec of '08, (I) finallyaccomplished a lifelong dream and now own a Piper Cherokee Arrow. It makes for a relatively short trip to Murfreesboro, TN to visit grandson, class of2029!”

I caught a note from EdWhalen, our class president. Ed isworking Initiatives as a Lockheed MartinVP forMissiles and Fire Control inAbu Dhabi, for United Arab Emirates.

Dan Griffin (Lynda) is in Front Royal, VA. There, Dan is owner ofTimber Frame. He got there after finishingNav School in 1974 to C- 130s, then UPT in 1980. Flew F-15 and F-5E. 94th FighterSquadron Commander 1990-92. Retired as Colonel 1996.Worked at MCI,Verizon, and General Dynamics; then on to timbering. He and Lynda have two children: Michelle, VT Grad 2005, and Daniel, USAFAGrad2007.

TheDan GriffithFamily at theDocks.

Bruce Davis (Sandra) sent a summary note from Florida. Theyhave had a nice career plus time to raise Kathryn, Matthew,Austin, Jonathan, andAimee. He ran into Hap Hairston at the Pentagon in 1997. Ran into JohnVoss at a San Antonio movie theaterin 1991. C.D Smith at the Pentagon in 1997 at his Colonel pin on ceremony. Charles Fitzpatrick in 1988 at KellyAFB (he was on inspection team fromMAC). Lance Bachranin2003 at a conference in DC. As the commander ofthe 445th, we were tasked with the medical evacuation ofall wounded in Iraq. Of20,142patients flownback to the states, we had no deaths while anyone was in-flight.

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Dave Daleyis doingwell in DC yet. Dave feeds me inputs from that arena. The latest is about Gen Duncan McNabb and the US effort in Afghanistan. Insurgent attacks on majorsupply roads into Afghanistan have disrupted U.S. deliveryschedules, said Gen McNabb, who directs the U.S. Transport Command; however, told lawmakers that he has personally assured the head ofCentral Command, GenPetraeus, "Wewill be there.We'll figure out and make sure you never have to worry about this.. .You probablycouldn't ask for or find a tougherplace from a logistics challenge, ofgetting the stuffin," Duncan told the SenateArmed Services Committee. Go Duncan!

Tony Brozenais still inAlbuquerque. Make a stop for some coffee onyourwaythru. SpikeMurphree is close by (East Mountains) and Lou Crooks even showed up to one ofthe monthlyAOG breakfasts

Dorseywrote a touching note. I’ve placed some ofit belowfor classmates to be proud ofclassmate’s efforts to support each other. “The past seven years 1 have been committed to getting myfather's book, 'The ChopperCaper' published. My dream was to get a picture ofmy Dad holding the first copy, the galleyproof. I came within 12 hours. Myfather died February23rd, knowing that it was done. The night before, I received an email confirming the arrival ofthe first copy and myDad and I got to high-five each other, we hugged and I told him I loved him. He was gone earlythe next morning. I have a feelinghe knewhis time here was done and this project was a wrap. It's about a heavylift CH-54 Skycranebeing commandeered by a couple ofrenegadepilotswho use it to lift an armored car offthe freeway. It will be discounted through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders and online in lateApril or earlyMay. Or, I'llhave some at the 35th Reunion. Much thanks forsupport toTim Coy 74 myold roommate who used to work at Eriksson SkyCrane in Oregon. Thanks to myother former roomo Rob Scott for his testimonial and input and to my old handball coach and former Dean, General Cubero for his testimonial to the book as well. Thankyou to Gen Philip Erdle and Gen Dick Casey 74 for their support and encouragement.

Class of 1974 35th Reunion Oct. 7-11,2009

Falcons vs. TCU

Bruce and Sandra’s last time in the C-5.

Tom Hayden (Vicky) is in Colorado Springs. Last AF job was USAFA Civil Engineer. Since Tom’s company has downsized, his main job is finding a job. In between phone calls and resume building, etc. Tom Is in charge ofthe 35th Reunion this fall. Of course he has some help! Ted Roth is providingguidance, and a fewothers. Perhaps you are willing to help in some way? Let me know and I’ll pass the offer along! We each hope to see some ofyou classmates and friendsfromyesteryearthere 7-10 Oct 09. Planwhatyou can, and I do hopethat you live long and prosper.

Paul Kent

18166 S.E. 41st Place

Issaquah, WA 98027-9717

Mobile: (425) 785-3586

E-mail: zooscribe@mac.com

DarkAges Parties. Feb 21. Around theWorld. True, the only known DAP outside the CONUS was the Perth, Australia Chapterwith a membership of 1, but JohnVenable called DC to say“Things are goodhere, nice summer day.. thinking about our GBNF.” So nextyearwill be the 2ndAnnual International USAFA 75 DarkAges Parties. Jim Carlson's DC Report:We had a fantastic turn-

outatthe9thAnnual75DAP! Theme was Mardi Gras (with beads andmasks on the tables). Apologies ifI missed anybody in the list below - - 52 attendees (31 classmates, 2 no-shows): Akers,Anderson,Awtrey,Braun,Bready,Burns, Carlson,Charlton,Colley,Cox,Davis,Ellis,Gray,Gunther,Hargrove,Henney, Manthei, Marino,May,McCorry,Miglin, Piotter, Rhoads, Saenger, Schmitt, Smith, Soto, Sullivan,Waters,Webber,Young.

DC DAP Contingent

Puget Sound: (5 classmates and 3 spouses: Paul Kent, Mike Garrett, Paul and Michelle Lotakis, Chris and Karen Glaeser, Dennyand Heidi Mellon) called in (to DC) to co-celebrate, but all theyheard were loud, boisterous cheering (75 BestAlive) and some unintelligible shouts (just like lastyear!). The scribe notes: our eventwas organizedbyChris Glaeser, and Paul Lotakis lead us to toast our GBNF. BTW, Lotakis' new Alaska Airlines seniority number: 75. Cool, lim Burling: The Colorado Springs DAP had a good turnoutwith greatfood, drinks and camaraderie!

Terry

Rick Douglas sent a photo postcard in a misbegotten attempt to be recognized as an official class DAP in Hawaii. JeffChappell from SLC:Wayne and AmyWillis, JeffandTheresa Chappell, andJohn and Nance Kearns. “We may not competewith the bigboys in DC forsize, but we had a good time anyway.”

Retirements. Two more USAFA1975 FlagOfficers hangup the blue suit. Bill Schuessler and Bob Knauff. Our '75 Generals page is complete. Mike Crider sent in his photo and all iswell. Charlie Beadling has outlived the career ofthe Minuteman III missile at theAcademy! He hung up the uniform after a very distinguished career in military.

Classmates.Verysad news from RandyPowell: My son was killed in a single car auto accident. He was buriedwith full militaryhonors atArlington Cemetery. Bill Murray: I was in Phoenix and hooked up with my old roommate, JerryCooke. He's a CaptforUnitedAirways and has 5 Grandchildrenwith one on theway. I'm envious. John Sims: should be moving to livewith his daughter inVegas. Peter Blatchley: We've been here in Ramstein since Jan 07. I'm "back in theAir Force" as a Civilian Employee, and will return to Colorado in Jan 2012. Scott Smith: Our Class Flag made it to Jerusalem. What an experience. I fulfilled a lifelong dream. Happy to have the Class of'75 alongwith me.

(See photo at the top ofthe next column.)

Jim Eken: This week I received the '75 Guidon here at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar.Willwork a photo op with a camel or two! BestAlive. MikeAnderson: I signed on with ChugachAlaska Corporation. Mylast day on Capitol Hill was March 31. CarsThat Flyand Classmates that Fly (Drive) Them.You can check it out at: www.terrafugia.com. Phil Meteer is the test pilot.

PhotoRequestsandResponsesfrom our ClassmatesWhoDon'tThinkThey EverWent to the Zoo. To grantyou relieffrom the "Carlson-Classmate-Harassment Program" with regard to photos, here is a note fromJimBurlingwith his own fervent appeal: I was talking to MikeAnderson the other day, and he said something to the effect that since he was in none ofthe pictures, it's hard for him to prove he was even there at the zoo at all! Myresponse was, "Mike, these photos are a result ofclassmates sending them in to Bill Estellewhen he called forthemafewyears ago (beforethe last reunion). So - ifyou didn'tsend

ScottSmith with ClassFlaginJerusalem.

in any photos ofyour smackwad self, of course no one is going to see any indication in this picture collection thatyou were ever at theAcademy!"Well, now is another chance for those who sluffed offthe last call. Pack up those negatives, slides, and pictures and send them to Bill. Especially GBNF. He is puttingtogether the FINAL DVD of our class commemorating our time there atthezoo. It'snow ornever. Then Gemot Pomrenke chimes in: Ihavethesame comments as MikeAnderson. I do not knowwhyI'm on your email list since there is no photoproofthat I was ever at USAFA... at least accordingto the class DVD. Carlson responds: Gemot, but since myvisit to your office a fewyears back, at least I knowyou exist!You must've been one ofthose "terrain-following-low-profile cadets" LPTFC (like me). Backfrom Gernot: Actually I was a HIGH-profile cadet -1 lived and slept on the TOP floor ofthe library (6th floor, I believe) when I was not in the gymfencing. Then Gil Braun: Some ofus are not avoidingsending in pictures... we simplydon't have them. I doubt there are more than a handful ofpictures ever taken of me while I was there at the zoo (otherthan my officer photo, for which GenVandenberggaveme "12and8" because mytie was crooked).

Admin andThe35thReunionComingUp in Fall 2010. All fromJim Carlson: Our reunion is about one year away.Wewon’t actually even be able to fixthe date until the Football schedule comes out (March2010?). But we can start preparingall the otherthings that go into making a great reunion. Anyone with the desire, energy, and wherewithal should roger up. Submit your nominations to Dave Herlong, who has graciouslyaccepted myrequest to tally your votes. Admin: We now have 402 classmates registered on ZoomieNation. The nearest class in membership is '87with 112 members. My goal as your class prez is to get 75% classmate profiles up and 75% ofyou old farts to show up at the 35th reunion. Ifthat happens, the Class of 75 will be remembered for more than its historic and staggering 48% attrition! Dave Clough, CS-36 PinkPanthers POC: PinkPanthers have all 15 graduated classmates on ZoomieNation. Challenge from the scribe: The fifth person to read this column and respondcorrectlyto the scribe: "Who is our oldest graduate?" will receive absolutelynothing material exceptverification and a confirmation that somebodyactually reads this column. Let me know. I'll get back to you. Want all ofthis printed column in more detail? The scribe will post to ZoomieNation shortly after this column appears in the printedCheckpoints.

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,

Asyou read this the Class of2009 is ready to graduate. Bythe end ofJulythe Class 2013 will be arriving. 13 will be the Firsties for our legacy class of2016. Time marches on!

Sad news: Steve Stout’s mother-in-lawpassed awayin late March. Steve’s wife, Beth, was one ofthe original femaleATOs our classworkedwithjustprior to young ladies entering USAFA in ’76. Please keep the Stout family in your thoughts and prayers.

Movingup/moving on. Mike Gould confirmed for3rd starAND will be the new USAFA Supt with change ofcommand in June. I believe Mike is the 1st USAFAPrep grad to become Supt. Jim ‘Beak’ Hunt from HQ USAF to Deputy Commanding General, Multi-National Corps, Baghdad. (Keep your head downBeak!) Dave Claryout ofIraq after 14 months andbacksafelyto Langley.

In thefront rowfrom left are Tim Murphy,Jim Burling,JeffNeumann, and BentleyRayburn. Back row: ScottHente,ATStoddard, Mark Volcheff,Randy Davis,JDBarrowclough, PhilPearce,John Gaughan, MarkWells, SteveMorris,

Kemp, and Chumley Collins.

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He caught a ride backwith Gen Schwartz and received a Bronze Starfrom him before takeoff.

Dave ClaryreceivingBronze Starfrom Gen Schwartz andLTGNorth.

Larry New retired recently.TerryNew officiated with Dave Robinson, Jack Catton, Bill Roege, and Howie Thompson attending but no one sent photos! Larry is now working for Boeing. Congrats to Mike, Beak, Dave, and Larry!

General Class Stuff: I am still expanding/updatingmy Scribe database and appreciate contact info you have for ’76er’s including email/snail mail addresses & phone numbers. I will not share info withoutyour permission to protectyourprivacy. Please send anyand all contact datayouhave. I will sort out any duplicates. The USAFA InCircle 76 group seems to be workingwell also. It’s free! Find it and join on the AOG website https://zoomienation. usafa.org/usafa/auth/login. I appreciate the updates some ofyou have sent me so far. Apologies to RogerYauchzy for misspelling his name in my last article. Will play an ‘over 55 card’ on that one Roger. Heard from three old ‘DirtyThirty’ mates. Del Cornali sent a pic ofhim and Michele in the restaurant owned byhis 2nd cousins in Italy, in the housewhere his grandfather was born. Theyjust returned from threeweeks in Dominican Republic.

JerryMcFarlane has a Myrtle Beachvacationplanned forlate May, Lance and Julie Cliristianwilljointhem for a fewdays. KimWeber sent a shortupdate and a picofKatie. She’s a cutie Kim! Waittillshereachesdatingage! RandySchavrien says son Scott completedT-6s and is headed to NAS Corpus Christi to complete UPT. Randywas selected tobeoneofl2 soccer referees to worktheTexas final four for4A/5A high schools. He also does college and recently filled in on two pro matches. Go Ref! Lee Cuevas says son Alexfinished C-130 initial, is headed forSERE, then to Davis-Monthan inEC-130s. Lee beganhis 21styearwithUPS. He andAngie are enjoyingempty nest. DougFry ran into old trackbuddyGreg Holmes at DIA. Greglives in C-Springs, flies international Delta fromAtlanta. Dougalso hadbeer& chipswithJoeWysockirecently. Joe &Juliejustbackfrom two weeks inAustraliaand some GreatBarrier reefdiving. Doughas addedthat to his ‘bucket list’. Dougwill see Kevin ‘Chili’ Chilton at the STRAT-Cyber conference soon, thenhe and Cendy are headed to Germanyto see '00 graddaughter, then to NYC forson’s mid-Maygraduation.

Mike Walsh & Jackyleft Hawaii forVirginia Beach and should have new address soon. Rob Sheridan inquired about mypastexperience inAfghanistan. His business got hit bythe credit cmnch and he maybe headed to the theater in the construction world. Mike Lee says #3 son will re-enter USAFA as 3degree after a two-year church mission. Mike is attempting return to the CSprings area. ChrisHoffman, Bob Oleksy, MikeReames,Terry Newton, MarkWelsh, Mike Hauser, and Brian Carlton updated email/contact info with me. Brian works on USN/ USMC counter IED programs. Dave Bergbrags son Jacob is a Mayhonors grad from Shenandoah U, with a BFA in composition with piano, and ifanyone needs a rockband, drum lessons, pianolessons, or wants to commission a song, Dave has an in. Tim Lewis saw Rob Parker, flyingfor Southwest, in Ft Lauderdale recently. Says Rob was easy to spot, hasn’t changed much. TS Kelso updated new C-Springs address. Says he is way too busyconsulting to Iridium since the satellite collision a few months ago. Ron Kirchoffis busykeeping the International Space Station in orbit. His business develops inflight software that flys on the station.

Pete MapesandEnrique Saaboth sent shortnotes; apparentlyallis stillwell in Maryland andTexas, respectively. John Dunstan appealed to myformer NationalAOG employee sidewith a verygood review of a recent Checkpoints artide. GreatinputJohn, andI haveforwardedyourinput(anonymouslyofcourse) to theappropriate POC. Andyourinput was greaterthanMike Fricano’sthisgo! Dave Nakayama is a civil servant atWarnerRobins. Says there are lots ofchallengeswith older, smaller fleets, multipleconfigurations, and constrained resources. Finally, I received a ‘cherry’ input from Rich Brozovic. Alwaysgood to get the first ever input to Checkpoints from a classmate. Richis a compsci instructorat McMurryUniversityinAbilene, TXand recentlytookfourcomputer students to theAITP NationalCollegiateConference. Hisoldest son is inTacoma andyoungest son is a ’05TexasA&M grad andrecentlychanged careerfields after threeyears inhebeefindustry. He has a 10-yr-oldgranddaughter and a two-yrold grandsonwho will visit (with parents ofcourse) in Jun-Julforthreeweeks. Good to hearfromyou Rich. Please write more often.

DelandMichele in Italy.

GregBoomgaard talked to GeoffLeon Lawrence who said he ran into Dave Hatfield in the Dallas area recently. Boom also says Bernie Goldbach was on vacation in Pennsylvania at the same time Boom was on vacation in Japan. Mike Duclos moved to Boerne, TX. He’s training for the MS 150 from SanAntonio to New Braunfels and back in May. Good luck Duker! Martha and I enjoyed an eveningwith Dave and Lori Robinson recently at the wedding of a ’05 grad we bothhave connectionswith. I satwithJohn & SandiAndrewand Tom &Vicki Mallary at Founders Daydinner recently. John is nowVice-Dean at USAFA. Tom is Director, CorporateWork StudyProgram/TeacherArrupe Jesuit High School near Denver.

Well classmates, again time to stick a fork in it. Send me yournotes, inputs, address updates, suggestion,junkmail, etc and I will do mybest to keep all of 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 of76 is STILL alive and well! Until next time... Beatty

John “Lou” Michels, Jr.

4107 Harvey Ave.

Western Springs, IL 60558

Office: (312) 861-7975

John.J.Michels@Bakernet.com

Well, no one can saythat I don’t have at least some readers out there - aftermy last pitiful request for input, accompaniedby a substantial amount ofverbal groveling, I received enough information and photographs to make this column a little less anemic than it was for the last two quarters. My thanks to everyone who wrote-but you should know that I'll begin to use up material now at a fairlygood clip. For those ofyou who haven’t dropped me a line in a while, I'm alwayslooking for more information.

Tom & Vicki Mallary, Dan Beatty, John & SandiAndrew at Founders Day Dinner.

FIRST RESPONDERS: A voice from out ofmy past - specifically my BCT squad roommate - Vince Sharp (Suzanne) makes its first appearance in the countdown with news ofhis retirement at Little Rock several years ago and immediate employmentwith theArmy. Vince’s email title lists him as an “Exercise Specialist,” andwe’re not talking Richard Simmons here, folks. All right, we’re not talking PX-90, either, for those ofyou with a more modern bent. Vince is heading up chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear exercise training for local responders and National Guard units out ofSanAntonio. He’s handlingprettymuch the entire middle part ofthe United States, including the Zoo, and is on the road most ofthe time. He’s also in the process of

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completing a Master’s degree inHomeland Security at Monterrey. Vince closed his note with a comment to the effect ofit was “scary” howmuch he’s learned about CBRNE over the last fewyears. I can onlyimagine.

Roger Gallet (Theresa) wrote with his “first correspondence forCheckpoints - ever!” For some reason I’m detecting a note ofexuberance in that comment; maybeit’sbecause Roger was pleased not to have communicatedwith a lawyer in all that time. In anyevent, welcome to the neighborhood. Rogeris a Reserve 0-6 and the ops group commanderforthe airliftwing out ofWright-Pat, operatingthe oldest C-5s inthe fleet. Rogersayshe’sliving the good life and onlyhas to wearhisblue suit on Mondaybecausehe’s in a bagthe rest ofthetime. Because Rogeris a Cubs fan, he knows thathe has now permanentlyjinxed this season withhisoptimism aboutthe remainderoftheyear. And at the risk offurtherinsultingRoger’sairplanes, I recall a former C5 pilottelling me thatwhenyou see three C-5s linedup on the tarmac, and two ofthem are up onjacks, it means thatthebase onlyhas two sets ofjacks. Thanks againforthe update,Roger, let’s try not to make it 32 years until the next one.

LINKAGES: Mike Crane (Sue) sent me a quick message (viaZoomieNation) from D.C. where he is working for Booz Allen after retiring in 2005. Fortwo years, Mike's client has been anotherclassmate, RayJohns (Diana), the DCS forStrategic Plans and Programs. Mike occasionally runs into Eric Reffett (Lori) who works at BoozAllen -1 refuse to shorten it to Booz” - in McLean as a senior associate with the company, and BobbyWilkes, who is working in OSD followinghis retirement from the Pentagon.

Joe Niemeyer (Louise) also posted on Zoomie Nation with a quickupdate. Joe is ourAOG Senate rep and is now living in Colorado afterworking in the U.K. for severalyears. He and Louise are in Denver, at leastwhen they are not out skiing, and Joe assures me that he’s been getting in plentyofthat. Joewill be postinghis notes from theAOG Senate meetings on ZN, and anyofyouwith questions or concerns, please feel free to contact him there. We have a class affinitygroup that has been fairlyactive recently.

Which is a nice segue into a recent post that I sawjust before deadline concemingDave Ebelke (Patti) - Davejustcompleted his third Boston Marathon thisyearwith a personal record time of321:30. Dave is runninghis own spinal surgery business out ofKC, Mo., and my hat is offto anybodycompleting a marathon these days. Itwon’t happen foryourhumble narrator; I sufferfrom Football PlayersSyndrome, which means thatanything over 40 yardsis a walk.

Ron Ladnier (Pam) sent this picture at a recent 77 rejoin over at his place at Ramstein. Ron is the commander of 17th Air Force, the air component to Africa Command. Ron notes his two biggestchallenges are roughlythe same in scope: managingAfrica and managing his two teenagers. He did saythat Pam and the kids were traveling all over Europe and lovingit, so at least one of the challenges gets out ofthe house every now and then. Ron set up this gettogether on the occasion ofMarkMatthews’ (Christy) visit fromACC at Langley. Mark is the requirements guythere and was getting out to see the rest of the world when he stoppedby.

ing about our classes at the Zoo. The difference between ChuckusingRussian and myusingRussianisthat Chuckwas practicinghis inVail; thelasttime I used mine was in Moscow. I’ll letyou guesswho had the most comfortable place to sleep.

John Visser (Ann) was laid over at Dulles from his piloting duties and got togetherwith Greg Hanson (Linda) for dinner.

Markis thefirstguy on theleft, next to him is DoyleGage (Debi), who isworking as a contractor on the USAFEA3 staff. Ron notes thatDoyle is retired, somethingIwouldhaveguessed fromthe beard. General Ladnieroccupies the center position, and next to him is Rex Williams, who is probably our most junior memberstill on active duty-youmayrememberRex’s sagafrom previous columns; he is now a chaplain afterhavingseparated from theAir Force early on and gone to seminary. Rexis assigneddirectlyto 17thAir Force. On the far right is JohnMol (Deb), also a regularcontributor to this column andwho is teaching physicswhileDebteaches German at Ramstein High. Finally, Ron notes thatthe quantityofgrayhairin the picture is not the resultofPhotoshop. Gentlemen, at this point, I don’t care what color it is, as long as it’s there.

Chuck Curran (Claudia) fired offa note to me via Linkedln. They’vegot one kid on the waitinglist for Duke Medical, and another finishing up his ROTC commitment with theArmy and heading to med school in Scotland, and the third, their daughter, at UPT at Pensacola. The pilot child is changing her preference from the C-17 to the 730, according to Chuck, because the 730 goes into more excitingplaces. Soundslike she shouldbeflyingfighters. Chuck also notedthathe was chattingup a Russianspeaker or two, recently, reminisc

Greg left his post as the information officer for the Senate and is now an ExecutiveVP for Criterion Systems, while also teachinggraduate computer science courses at Maryland. Good pics ofboth you guys.

Close out: That’s it from the snowyshores ofLake Michigan (Yes, I’mwriting this in mid-April). Thanks to all who wrote. I’ll get to the rest ofthe material next time; but keep corresponding. Be seeingyou.

0B° b Kav jet!

40411 Tesoro Lane Palmdale, CA 93551

Home:(661) 274-2201

Work: (661) 824-6426

Email: Robert.kay@baesystems.com

Greetings’78ers...

ItiswithgreatsadnessthatI announce Dean Habrun’spassing on 23Januaryfor anyonewhohas notbeeninformedyet. AsyouwillrecallfromtheWinterarticle, BradDuntonmentionedthatDeanwas terriblysickandwas spendinghislastdays at home with his family. His funeral was on the 26th at the Mauldin United MethodistChurchinMauldin SC. Kathyhad asked thatdonationsbemade to eithertheChristCommunity ChurchMissions Fund (700 HarrisonBridgeRd, Simpsonville SC 29680-7031) or theAll isWellChristianLifeCoachingMinistry(201WButlerRd#1113, MauldinSC29662). Kathy’saddress is 6 Old Log Shoals Rd, Greenville SC 29607-5140 and I’m sure shewould appreciate anycondolences even at this point.

By now, everyone should have received a letter from our class Prez, Steve Dalbey. Steve’s letter identified an important matterwhere 78 can literallyleadthe entire Graduate community. USAFA Football Coach Troy Calhoun '89 and the Athletic Department have articulated a desperate needfor an indoortrainingfacilityto augmenttheFieldHouse whichis now both too small and obsolete. Both USNA’s and USMA’s were built entirelywith graduate funds-that’sright, no DOD participation. Our class has formed a committee to investigate the need and devise the most effective,yet least obtrusive method for raising the funds. The committee is made up of Steve Dalbey (Chairman and Class President), JackKucera (CEO ofClimatec Corporation and class POC for several past fund- raisingevents), David Blisk (ManagingDirector ofSpire Investment Partners with extensive financial and fundraisingexperience),Wayne Kellenbence (AssistantAthletic Directorwith acute awareness ofthe need), Kip Warton (78 rep on USAFAClass Senate) and myself(well, five out ofsix is prettygood!).

Code name: 78 Challenge,” we believe that our class has the resources and desire to not onlylead theway on this effort but potentiallyprovide a significant amount ofthe fundingrequired (the exact amount is TBD, but itwill likely exceed $10 million in total to build the facility). To that end, upon careful reflection, and with total disclosure to the AOG, we have elected to partner with the USAFAEndowment in our effort. Jackis on the Endowmentboard of directors (alongwith classmate Paul Madera) and provided excellent, relevant info on their charter, strategies and objectiveswithfund-raising. Within a shorttime ofreadingthis, everyone (with a current AOG address) willreceive a letter from Steve followed by an extensive info packet on a flash drive from the Endowment. We hope that all ofyou will carefully review the info and decide to meet the 78 Challege either in a current pledge or contribution.

As Steve mentioned in his letterand it also came up afterJack’s presentation during our reunion: what’s an effective manner in which we can contribute? Well, here’s your answer - 78 Challenge. Our class is blessed with amazing expertise in this area alongwith significant resources; we need to parlaythese

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in orderto helptheinstitution thathasgiven us so verymuch. Pleasebethinking ofwhatyou can do to assist in this most worthyurgent effort. Ifyou have NOT received anythingandyou are interested, please e-mail me. I’ll ensure you get a copyand that we haveyour current address so you getyourflash drive.

Speaking ofDave Blisk, I happened on the advertisement belowfrom Fidelity Investments featuring none other than Dave himselflookingpretty darn dapper! He is currendyliving in the DC area and is makingquite a markin the financial world (which is always in need of strong leadership just like any other business; but I digress).

Just a couple ofupdates on the GO front. AFA Daily ran a story in March about an interviewwith the USAF Civil Engineer, our own Del Eulberg. Del was discussing the latest changes in CE manningfrom Iraq to Afghanistan as part ofthe overall shift in SWAforce structure. Del also plans on retiring this Julystarting terminal leave in June.

I mentioned last month that Dave Scott was pinning on his second star and living in Greece. Unfortunately, it’s time to paythePiper so nowhe’s going to the AirStaffas the Director, OperationalCapabilityRequirements intheA3/5 shop.

A prettyshort article this time, please consider sending an updatewhenyou have a fewminutes. Hope everyone has s good summer.

God Bless. 78 is Great!

JR Dallas

1612 Rannoch Trace Ft. Smith, AR 72908

H: 479-648-0433

C: 479-420-7817

jrdallasfl6@yahoo.com

Greetings, ’79ers! For the news we have all been waiting for --the 30th Reunion! The date is set- - - 7-11October, versus TCU. The Reunion Committee is working to finalize plans, and they need us to pass the word! Update your profile information; get in touch with ‘Lost Souls’; we want max participation! Everything you’ll need to know and do will be via the reunion website www.usafa.org. Click on‘Class Reunions’link and select 1979 (duh). Onestop shopping!

Website - - register, reserve a hotel room, selectmerchandise (mailed to your home), orderand printfootball tickets, payforthe golftournament, and more! KorkyvonKessel (Kaye) is the man in charge. Anyquestion/suggestionyou might wish to ask/ offer use ‘forum’ link or email him directly at: kvonkessel@comcast.net.

Over the weekend expect: a reception, golftourney (Fri), memorial service (Fri), banquet (Fri), AFA tours/briefings, and squadron get-togethers. Tailgate start time—approx 1430. Game time 1730 (Sat) as ofnow. Saturdaybrunch may be the way to go for individual squadrons. Send Korky a name ofa squadronrep—betteryet—volunteer to be your squadron’srep!

Open GolfTournament Friday, 9 Oct; shotgun start at 0830; Blue Course. Greg Sveska (Brenda, DFW777 F/O) and I have the plan. Email me ASAP so that I can getyou on the list. The course allows a limited number ofplayers, but positions are available. Unless ‘pairings’ are sent to me, I will pair guys with other squadron-mates. Emailmenow--jrdallasfl6@yahoo.com.

On to the News! Thanks to allwho sent photosforthis article. So manyin fact that I can’t include them all. The computer camera phase oflife has hit the over-50 folks! I’m sorryifyourphoto did not make it -1 will send to the scribes down-line. But I appreciate you trying!

Steve Rakel (AFJROTC, Houston) wrote making a pitch for the JROTC pro

Class of 1979 30th Reunion

Oct. 7-11,2009

Falcons vs. TCU

gram. Says it’s a greatwayto transition from AF as you mold and mentor high school students. He loves it and he’s good at it! Thanks, Steve.

Dennis Hilley (Chris) wrote that he has his own company (RocketKatStrategy) inVirginia and that the docs atWalter Reed are working great forhim. Dennis is the longestsurvivingmultiplemyelomapatientthere. Ourprayers are withyou, Dennis! AF Magazine had these moves: MajGen Rick Davis is now Commander,AirArmamentCenterofWeapons at Eglin; MajGen Steve Hoog is now DepCFAC in Qatar; MajGen Steve Mueller is runningACC’s part ofthe war in Kabul,Afghanistan; MajGen Burt Field is at the Pentagon as a military assistant specializinginAfghanistan/Pakistanregion. Burt says that he saw Russ learned (Vaune) backin Septemberandhe’s doingwell. Also relays thathisyoungestjustgraduated fromAFAin ’08 (UPTFeb’09) and Burt did the commissioning of course. The next day, Burt’s other military son was promotedto 1L (MXOfficer) atHillAFB. Proud dad!

CS-3 updates from Jeff Liederbach (Pam) (DAL/NWA, 747F/0, DET). They’renowempty-nesterswithkids in college. SonTim—UnivVAandAFROTC Vice Cmdr ofdetachment. DaughterStephanie-UnivTexas majoring in kinesiology. BrigGen Doug Robb(Gloria and son Luke) is the AMC Surgeon at ScottAFB and doing well. Gary Bush (DAL,JFK,767CA) commutes to work from Puerto Plata, Spain! Gary tied the knot and now has twin boys! And I thoughtmy commute was tough! ahhhh. SteveWatkins (Misty) sent this photo from Doug Robb's 0-7 promotion party in June 2007.

DougRobb, RonMachado,PaulBimmerman, Steve WatkinsJeffLiederbach, andRob Dunphy.

From Brad Jones (DAL,767CA,JFK): says it’s a mini-reunion each time he shows forwork. He relays that Burt Coons (DAL,767CA), works as aline check airman; that Steve Dickson is DAL’sVice Presidentfor FlightOperations; that Mike Donatelli is high in the Al.PA foodchain. With the NWA/DAL merger, Bradsays he looks forward to seeingthe NWA ’79ers around the campus, espedallyJohn Kuehn and ClydeSpencer. Thanks forwriting Brad. BudVasquez relays that Ken Mattern (Pam) (Duxbury, MA) is now a senior attorney for Raytheon. The Matterns are empty-nesters now.

Cananyone beatthis? Steve Mathews (Caroline,AAL,A300CA,MIA) became the proud father ofdaughterTaylorJacqueline Mathews on, getthis, 1 -7-9. Is that cool or what? Their 61b, 5oz bundle is healthy and growing everyday. As I told Steve - - thankgoodness shelooks like Caroline! All ofyoubetterbe atthe reunion!

Joe Falzone (Theresa) wrote that after retiringfrom theAF in '04, he landed aTest Pilotjob with M1 SupportServicesflyingthe HH-60G fortheAF. Has now over 5000 hours; familylives in Tijeras, NM with their horses andwide-open spaces lifestyle. He andwifevolunteerfortheir County’s Mounted Search and Rescue Patrol.

Joe Falzone and both ofhis ‘rides’.

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From theWaltWright (Ingrid) clan inArizona-30 years ofmarriage this June - to a beautiful woman Congrats! Son Derek is sophomore at NorthernArizonaUnivin Flagstaff. Smart as his mom; thankgoodness 4.0, Eagle Scout, and RiverRaft Guide. Son Brent is a seniorin highschool, #1 in his class, NHS, and a bunch ofgirlschasinghim (Likefatherlike son? Don’tthinkso!) Youngest Dustin is a sophomore in high school, soccer, 4.0 and fullyinvolved withYMCATeenAction Council. Thanks, Walt you and Ingrid have done a fantasticjob! Phil Davis (Nora) wrote fromChandler,AZ and says that two oldest are at Arizona State with the youngest next in line. Phil has small consulting business foraerospace companiesupgradingtheir productionplanning. Interested in an aircraft purchase? Check out www.longwillaircraft.com and see if Brian Longwill haswhatyou need (want). He has retired from the NewMexico ANGunit (the Tacos) andDelta (767CA) and lives in Albuquerque. Seeyain October. That CTLS on yourweb page is sweet!

Paul Schubert sent an update banker byday and Reservist bynight, but retiring from latter on 1 June. Congrats, Paul you did good! Four kids aged 6 to 16. Three boys and one girl. Tom McGovern (Pat) is a lawpartner in big firm in D.C. practicingprocurement law. Bill Boydwrites that he reluctantly whipped BGen (ret) (Jan’09) Mark Stearnes at golflast fall; right after Mark retired. Sterno andwife (Darcy) have moved to SanAntonio to practice forthe re-match. Mark’sjob search has begun buthe’ll be swinging at the Open lookingfor revenge. See ya there!

MikeWatson, JT Calvin, Mark Stearnes, and Jon Fago.

Brian Kelly (Cindy) sent an email recently that relayed that he and Gordy Ross (DAL, JFK) hiked some ofthe Appalachian Trail this past fall together. Those two alongwith RaySands (Marlene) keep in lacrosse shape so that they can compete (ifyou can do that at our age!) in the annualVail Lacrosse Tournament - Grand Masters division. I thinkthe plan is for anotheryear inVail in 2009 ifyou’re anywhere close by, go see the old guys ‘run the field.’ Brian is a Fraud Investigatorfor GiulianiAdvanced Security, ‘specializing’ in forensic services. Soundsveryinteresting, Brian. Don’tletthe bad guyswin! Thanks forwriting. Last but certainly not least - -1 heard from Tom McCarthy as he wrote to saythatheretires officiallyin May’09. He returned fromBaladAB, Iraq last September after a 6-month tourwhere heworked for Burt Field. He, Mike Brill and Roger Schuld crossed paths there as well. After his return stateside, Tom was hired at CSU as ROTC Commanderandpresentlyhas OmarBradley’s son in his detachment. Verysmallworld. Thanks,Tom, and congrats on your fantastic career.

Guys, that’s all from me. Daren and I always have the guest room available ifyou andyours are ever in the Fort Smith area. Please call. Don’t forget the Open on 9 Oct followed bythe football game on 10 Oct. Email me with your intention to play. Pass theword to all and let’s make the 30th Reunion one for the ages! J.R. Dallas

Don Myers

401 Chambray Hill Peachtree City, GA 30269-4247 (770) 631-1429

E-mail: DMyers80@hotmail.com

ZN ZoomieNation. usafa.org

Correction. How embarrassing: Seems it’s not our Scott Kirbywho is the president ofUSAirways, as reported here over ayear ago. Come to find out, that guyis an’89er.

Admin. As promised, I will occasionally remind you to forward any classmate email addresses (and changes) to our very own Debbie (Dubbe) Gray at ddgray@embarqmail.com. This list can be invaluable for urgent/important comms.

AnotherChance. In case you didn’tgo to theZoomieNation ’80 class section recently, there was a post concerningWilliam “Mike” (Jonesy) Jones and an update on his massive stroke. It was written by his lovingwife, Shirley. With God’s and your help, they are making the transition: William “Mike” Jones

home ModificationFund, The Old Point National Bank, RO. Box3392, Hampton,VA 23663, Account # 1314550901. Ifyou are not from our class andwould like to contact the family, I have that info and can provide it to you. Thankyou. Non-Pentagoner. Most ofyou that still work for our Uncle in the DC area tend to spend a lot oftime in that five-sided building near the AF Memorial (which is quite well done, ifyou haven’t seen it). George Ryan doesn’t fit the mold: “I’m still inWashington, DC as a special agent with the Secret Service. Comingup on 15 years with the agency, andwe’ve been in the DC area for over 10. I’m in our Special Operations Division, running our chemical/biological/medical team. We travelwith the President everywhere, and our mission is to serve as a rescue team, especially in a chemical or biological attack or incident, among otherbad situations. We are all EmergencyMedical Technicians, Hazardous MaterialTechnicians, RescueTechnicians, andhave been trained as well in the area ofweapons ofmass destruction. Part ofthe training involvesworkingin a facilitywith live nerve agents (VX and Sarin), while in our chemical suits. These suits are verysimilar to the MOPP gear or JSLST suits we all used in theAir Force, and we use the same gas masks (not the big, fullycontained suits and SCBA). Been to some great places and some not-so-greatplaces, but had a great time at all ofthem. We’ve doubled the size ofthe unit in the last year, and we may be doing the same in the next year. Building a little empire in mywarehouse in DC.

"Family side, our oldest son is in theAnnapolis area trying to findjust the rightjob that suits him. Until then he is remaininggainfullyemployed in the market. Our daughtergraduated from Indiana University in 2007, and has been working with a Toyota dealership running their customer service section. Our youngest (22) is on the delayed enlistment program with the US Navy. He starts training in June, going into the SpecialWarfare community as aNavyDiver. He’sveryexcited about the opportunity, as are mywifeandl. I get to swear in another son to the military, as I administered the oath to my oldest when he enlisted in the US Marine Corps.

“On the blue suit side, I’m still in the Reserves as an Admissions Liaison Officer. Lost about fiveyears while trying to convince the Secret Service that I could do bothjobs, so I’m manyyeargroups behind our class.” George did get to pin on chickens lastyear, so it seems to have worked out OK.

General OfficerAnnouncements:Air Force Reserve Col. JamesA. Firth has been nominated to the grade ofBrigadier Generalwhile serving as MobilizationAssistant to the Director, Logistics, HeadquartersAir Combat Command, LangleyAir Force Base, Va. BG John D. Posner, Director, Air Force Smart Operations 21, Office ofthe SecretaryoftheAir Force, Pentagon,Washington, DC, to Deputy Commander, Combined Air Operations Center 7, Component Command-Air Izmir, Allied Command Operations (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), Larissa, Greece. Congrats!

In case you missed it, ZoomieNewstells usWill Gunn has been nominated forGeneral Counsel, DepartmentofVeteransAffairs. “Arecipient oftheAmerican BarAssociation’s OutstandingCareerMilitaryLawyerAward,WillA. Gunn is an attorneywho representsmilitarymembers and veterans in private practice in NorthernVirginia. He retired from the Air Force in 2005, where he served as a Colonel in the JudgeAdvocate Generals (JAG) Corps. He is also a formerWhite House Fellow. In 2003, Gunn was named the first-ever Chief Defense Counsel in the Department ofDefense Office ofMilitary Commissions. Gunn built a defense team and supervised all defense activities for detainees selected for trial before military commissions. His efforts earned respect and admiration forhis principledleadership and commitment to ensuring that detainees received effective representation. A native ofFort Lauderdale, FL, Gunn is a graduate ofthe United States Air Force Academy and is a Cum Laude graduate ofHarvard Law School. While at Harvard, he was elected President ofthe Harvard LegalAid Bureau, the nation’s oldest student-run legal services organization. He also has a Master’s ofLaws degree in Environmental Lawfrom the GeorgeWashingtonUniversitySchool ofLawand a Master ofScience degree in National Resource Strategyfrom the Industrial College oftheArmed Forces.” You may also rememberWill was President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs ofGreaterWashington. Reconnection. Scott (Jan+2) Carrothers, since moving back to the mainland, tookthe opportunity to look-up a favorite AOC (CS-02), Phil Litts.

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From left are Scott’s son Kasey, Phil, and Scott.

Powder! Anne (Martin) (Chuck) Fletcher is “teachingskiing inWinter Park, CO (yep, the snowy highplace, not the wet Florida place). I am thinking that I am too old forthis, even ifit is fun. Chuck discusses politics two days a week as the coffee barguy (barrista) at the mountain top restaurant and Michael is in the 3rd grade in a school nearby.” She was on her way to Chicago for a conference forwriters, small publishers, and universitywriting programs. It ties-in as, “I am on the (unpaid) board for a non-profitwhich tries to increase publishingopportunities for women and minority writers. Our website is janesstories.org (thinkJaneEyre, JaneAusten, etc.) I will bringthe manuscript for mymemoir ofour firstyear at the Academy. So far I have three chapters, which takes me through the coke call at the end ofFirstBCT. Rememberthat?”

Econ. That’s the “supplyand demand” stuffwe learnedwayback. Well, the supply was off this quarter—not much trimming and no overflow into ZoomieNation. I'mhopingthe demandwillbesuch thatyouwill come through next time. How about reconnectingwith someone you haven’t heard from in years, getting an update, and forwarding it to me/us. Make it someone you haven’t read aboutin these pages for quite some time. Lookunderrocks (or in address books?). Let’s get the readership up byincluding more folks. Many thanks. Don

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

It is a snowyEaster Sunday as I write this article. There is nothing like eight inches ofsnow for Easter. Doyou remember thosewet, SpringColorado snowstorms—sometimes in May? I'm your typical over volunteering parent like many ofyou. I have scout leader tubs to organize all over my basement as I prepare to teach aWood Badge course theweekend after next andI’m prepping to run scout skills stations for 100 plus scouts this weekend in Bethune, CO. Luckily, my sons willhelp me! I attendedtheAOG senate meetinglastweekand I’ll update news on that later in this article. I have scout meetings everynight, but one this weekbefore leaving to camp. That is what coffee is for!

Trentman boys Easter morning in Colorado.

Class News: Academy and high school classmate Jim Kilty is doingwell in the suburbs outside ofChicago. Jim went to BeefHaddad’s BG pin-on party and had a great time with manyclassmates. Jim talks with Sean Bishop, Hank Lane, and Potsyfrequently. Jim’s young sons Sean, Kyle, and Cole are doing well. The four ofthem went skiing at Crested Butte thisWinter and had a great time. Janice (Gunnoe) Hughes seems to love life in beautiful Breckenridge. Ofcourse, she and Don ski! AmyMarkertvisited thisWinter and the two ofthem had a good time relaxing and catching up. Janice was going to Limerick, Ireland forher step - daughter’swedding. I'm anxious to hear about that trip! Janice also has occasional trips to D.C. for Reserve duty. I’m trying to convince her to come for a Falcon football game this year.

JakeJakobipassedupdates on some ofthe Bulldog 13 ’81ers. Apparently, Bill Schoeneman is recovering from a nastyhuntingaccident. No, he did not get shot, but fell approximately40 feet when his deer (tree) stand collapsed. Bill fractured his femur and pelvis. Bill said his PLF skills are not what they once were at age 20. He is back atwork now. Jake gottogetherwith JeffNuccio for dinnerwhile Jeffwas in Ohio. Jake hears from Chet Nowak. Chet is still doingwell with Raytheon in Tucson. Jake said Ron Hussey is an international 767 pilotwith Delta and living in Orlando. Ron saw Steve Moes and they were planning to do some warm Florida golf! Also, Jake and Larry Davis plan to compete on the AF Graybirds lacrosse team inVail 27-30 June.

Chet and Kathleen Nowakwill be there to root for the old guys.

Shirley (Hilsgen) and RoyKringenjoyedhaving their sons home for Easter from college (Tufts and Bowdoin) and theywill have completed their sophomore years bythe timeyou read this article. Shirley and Royplan to do some overseas traveling this year since one son, Ryan, will be in London and the other, Randy, will be in Cairns, Australia. Shirleysaid theyhad a chillyBoston Easter, but no snow. MartyWaugh came through with a much needed email update. He and his wife, Melissa, went to a “college” night party and thankfully, she talked Marty out ofwearing his USAFA bathrobe. He went with a more traditional, a-jacket look instead.

Melissa and MartyWaugh

Theyare both in Lynchburg,VA. MartyfliesforTavistockAviation. Martysays Ted Boward lives in Dover, DE and flies for United.

Well, like manyofyou, I turned 50 recently. It makes you reflect on howfast time has flown by. Our 30-year reunion will be upon us in 2011. Heck, there weren’tanyAFA classes close to having a 30-year reunionwhen we were there. The class of’59 celebrated their20thwhile we were 2 degrees. I was fortunate to have some good friends to celebrate with - Marty and BeckyFrance, and Lauri (Cross) and ScottTrimboli (’80).

Becky and Marty France, Lauri (Cross) and Scott Trimboli, Deb and Rich Trentman.

I received congratulationsfrom myBasic and Doolie squadron mate, Randy Worrall, and my Lt (EglinAFB) golfingbuddy, Kelvin Manning. Kelvin’s birthdaywas theweekbefore mine. Randyisyounger, so he is still savoring 49 a bit longer.

At the AOG Senate meeting, we were tasked to ask our classes whatAOG services are most important. Remember, we’ll have a new Board ofDirectors following the current elections. This was the first time using the electronic ballots and so far, turnout has been poor. Let me knowyour thoughts and suggestions. “T” Thompson, AOG CEO, gave a veryinterestingpresentation on fundraising and the organizational model of our AOGwhen compared to other universities and academies. As you know there are seven fundraising entities supporting theAcademy. He presented a verygood“wayahead” idea to better support our school and service to the alumni. More to follow.

Thanks forall the emails! Keep them coming. I appreciate and enjoyhearing from all. Time to go finish my taxes, do some more Boy Scout packing and planning, and get a couple hours ofsleep.

Jim Ratti

2860 Arbor Pointe Drive

Middletown, OH 45042 (937) 760-2333

rattijm@mindspring.com http://usafa82.org

GreetingsRedtags!

I' m sorry to saythat this is one ofthose columns I have to start out on a sad note. As I'm sure you've heard by now, our classmate Dave Cooley was killed in the crash of an F-22 on March 25th. Dave was a test pilot for Lockheed Martin and was on test flightfromEdwardsAFB whenthe accidenthappened. He retired from active duty in 2003 and went to workfor Lockheed Martin as an F-117 test pilot at Palmdale, CA. He joined the F-22 test team a fewyears

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later. There should be a full obituaryin the "Gone but Not Forgotten" section ofthis issue ofCheckpoints, but suffice to say Cools had a magnificentAir Force career, touching and changing many lives along the way. We'll all miss him. I' m sure I speakfor all of us when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with Sheyla and the rest ofDave's family.

Anotherofour classmates suffered serious injurieswhile serving as a missionaryinVenezuela, butthisstoryhad a somewhathappier outcome. Tom LaValley took a nastyfall, sustainingcompound fractures on his leftwrist and his leftleg. Hisotherwrist was broken inhalf, and everybone was broken in both ofhis feet. He now hasfourpins inhis rightwrist, has an external stabilizerscrewedinto his leftwrist, fourpins in rightfoot, and three in left. There are two pins in lowerleg and in his femur, connected with two rods that meet at the knee givingit lateral and angularstability. Tom was evacuated from Caracas on a Learjet, and flown to Colorado Springs where Steve Topper (a renowned hand surgeon andTom's Doolie roommate) met him. Steve immediatelyoperatedagain to relieve some nerve pressure and rework some ofthe pins. Tom had several othersurgeries in the subsequentweeks, andhas a longrecoveryahead ofhim. But theprognosis is good. Please keepTom and his familyinyour prayers as he recovers.

On a happier note, we have a minor celebrity among us! If you happen to be a fan of "Friday Night Lights" on TV you mayhave noticed a particularlystract-lookingbailiffescortingBuddyGarrity out of a courtroom in Season 3, Episode 10. That part was playedby none other than Phil Parker, who got the role to win a bet with his wife. Phil bet her that he could get a part on TV or in a movie, so he started answering casting calls for extras. The casting folks chose Phil because he "had the look..." Phil chalks his success up to two factors. One, never underestimate a Zoomie's zeal to win a bet. Two, a Zoomie will look better than anyone else in a uniform! Oh, and I have no ideawhat Phil won from hiswife... Brian Korb sent a note updating me on what's been going on in his life. He andhiswife, Nancy, recentlymoved back to the States after spending some six years in Canada. He's now teaching in a very well-regardedpersonal finance planning program at Texas Tech, and says he loves it. Brian ran into Danny Rein at DFW a while back. Dannylives in SanAntonio and is a pilot forAmerican. He was headed to Mauiwhen Brian bumped into him. Try as he might though, Brain wasn 1 able to talkDanny into letting him have thejump seat for the flight! Brian also met upwith Kevin Krisinger. Kevin lives inAlbuquerque, but commutes to Atlanta to flyforAirTran.

I learned that Scott Lucarelli lives in the DFW area and is a Captain in the Super-80 forAmerican. He says he's keepingbusyflyinglots ofthree-daytrips, and also tries to keep up withhis eight-year-olddaughter. Scott accompanied her to a sweetheart dance in February and said it was a lot offun. I also got a note from Jim Demarest who's back in a uniform for the first time in 6,082 days! In JanuaryJim was sworn into the FloridaAir National Guard as a Major, and is a JAG officerforthe 125th FighterWing atJacksonville. Nice to haveyou back, Jim! And mylastbit ofnews this quarter is thatTammy Senz retired from theAF Reserve on 1 April. ZanVautrinot sent out an e-mail in March soliciting notes, cards, pictures etc. from a wide circle offriends and acquaintances so thatTammycouldhave a nice surprise on herretirement day. I never heard the outcome, but I trust Tammyhad a wonderful day.

And that's about it for this quarter. Spring has finally sprung in Ohio, taxes are done, and it'll soon be time to start cutting the grass again. Well, two out of three ain't bad I guess! Mybest to all ofyou. Keep the news flowing, and until next time, be safe! Ratman

Jon Duresky

207 Knob Hill Drive \. trxty

Warner Robins, GA 31088

\mW Home: 478-953-3141

Cell: 478-396-7787

ulltigll/ DureskyJB@aol.com

Greetings, Classmates!

and entertain you, once again, with the continuingadventuresofour esteemed classmates.

Vince Compagno responded to my plea with a funny“why didn’t I win the geneticslottery?” story. Vince, a Delta 737 captain, ran into his 3-degreeyear roomie, Mike Shanahan, as Mike was deplaning at the COS airport andVince was doing the “thanks for flying and paying my salary” thing. Vince sadly reportedthatMikehas not gained an ounce sincehis days as a gymnast at the Zoo and has not a single gray hair.

Vince, yourhair makesyou lookexperienced and calms the passengers! Mike also has a lovelywife, Gisela, and two sons on full gymnasticscholarships, so life is treating the Shanahan familywell.

Chris Moulton, in a heinous breach ofdecorum, was a ReUnion no-show. Lest one think he is tired oftheAF gig, think again. He retired lastyear, sort of. He merelyswapped active dutyfor the chance to shape the minds and bodies ofthe future ofthe AF as a JROTC instructor in O’Fallon, IL. He reports challengesa-plentywith hisyouthful students. Ahh, forthe old days, when “Chins!” were allowed, and a morning run was not child abuse!

On to the main event and re-hashingthe ReUnion! One ofmyfavorite events was the Photo on the Steps ofthe Chapel. Great chance to make plans for the evening,jockeyfor position, make sure your good side is towards the photographer, see who has the least grayhair, and the like. Photo includes, from left to right...

What a football game! No more “run, run, pass, punt” but an actual gamewinning game plan, which equals “Falcons Win!” A bleacher highlight was Ray“RDQ” Blust demonstrating that he learned his SERE lessons well. He came equipped with spares blankets, handwarmers, and hot chocolate for about 15 of us seated around him. Ray is still flying international routes, so must be saving his big bucks per diem to be able to afford all ofthat.

The sound offreedom in the pre-game flybywas beyonddescription, butI’ll try:South/Northmnin. TOT--2secondsaftertheNationalAnthem. Speed/ altitude try to keep it legal! Two-ship ofthe world’s greatestjet, the F-22. Flight leader- - General Darryl Roberson! ‘Nufsaid! Darryl is theTyndallAFB 325th FighterWing/CC,flyingfast, lovinglife. Afewofus followedhim around, and whined and pleaded until he gave us a private tour ofhis Steel Horse on Sundaymorning, before he headed back to Tyndall. Thanks, myfriend.

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I want you to share mypain. The pain ofMichelangelo, forced to complete paint-by-number, instead oflaboring for fouryears painting the ceiling ofthe Sistine Chapel. The pain ofthe great architectWalter Netsch Jr., the designer ofthe USAFA chapel, compelled to make blueprints for a backyardswingset. The painofa class scribe, against a deadline, with little in the way of“news” to report upon, as he attempts to produce one more memorable and entertainingClass News column. Yes, it was easier in the “old days,” running into classmates in base ops, anxious to give me the scoop on their lives and the lives oftheir 50 closest friends. Butwaxingnostalgicallyfor an idyllic past does not a deadline meet. So I turned to technologyforhelp. I put out an urgent email plea for help to some buds, begging for news, and they came through! So combining those replies, snippets from a few holidayletters, and re-hashing the PartythatWas the 25th ReUnion, I justmight be able to inform

Jon Duresky,JeffFiebig, Darryl Roberson Dave Wright and the F-22 “Steel Horse".

Throughout theweekend as we ate, drank, talked, and listened to everyone’s tales about their lives, adventures, and excitingjobs, I’m sure many ofyou were in as much awe as I was that we as a group managed to rise above the “maggot” level that our BCT training sergeants assured us was an impossibility. Military or civilian, a lot ofus do neat things on a daily basis. In myquest to find the winner ofthe “IHave the Coolest/ofr’Trophy, I clandestinely interviewed many ofyou and collected business cards, using the free EmbSuites beverages to get tongues wagging, To my dismay, I discovered that everyone has a coolerjob than I, a mere AirTran 717 FO. Good thing I had a diet coke to drown my sorrows. So who wins the coveted trophy? Is it:

John Davis, whose card proclaims that he is a “staffscientist” for ITT?

JeffFiebig, owner and CEO ofhis own construction firm (as well as a Reserve -6), so he can come in to work late and not have to fire himself?

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Eli Powell, retired from Elmendorf, but lovesAlaska so much that he stayed in Anchorage and set up practice with JeffMoore? They are both orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine specialists, avid outdoorsmen, and not yetgrizzlybearbreakfast as theyfish forsalmon and avoid Ursa Majorteeth and claws.

Eric Huppert, who lives the pilot’s dream, and flies P-5 Is, giving rides to deep-pocketed wannabees, and lives on the beach in Florida?

Billy “Forever the Kid” Walker, USAFA’s permanent professor ofathletics, because he can wear gym shoes to the office is he feels the need?

Quinn “The Pizza King” Newhall, because he owns a bunch ofCC’s pizza restaurants, and can eat at a different one each day ofthe week?

Colonel John Zazworsky, Commander, HeavyAirliftWing, PapaAB, Hungary, where he is settingup the first-everinternational C-17wing, blending 12 nations, a fewthousand troops and families? (But no airplanesyet! “This July, count on it!” he says.)

Perhaps one of our 0-7 classmates has the coolest job. No doubt Darryl Roberson is on the short list for theTrophy. Flying the F-22 every day? Pretty hard to top that.

John Hesterman makes the cut, too. Not because he appears to be a future VIG (veryimportant General), but byvirtue ofhis business card, which is so jam-packed with titles and contact numbers about his world-alteringjob at the Pentagon that myjawdropped in awe. Poorguy. Guess he’lljust have to accept the fact that only 4 stars, not 5, are in his future.

Maybe, I thought as I continued myinterviews, the coolestjob belongs to the many ofyou raising a family, instilling solid values to the next generation (yes, we are that old), and continuing to be greatAmericans.

I agonizeddeep into the night, and made a difficult decision. The drum roll and envelope, please.

The winner is: FROM THE CHECKPOINTSEDITOR:Jon, you are overyour 1200 word limit. Anyfurther text willbe included in nextyear’scolumn. Sorry, but those are the rules.

Well, Classmates, now you have something to lookforward to!

Until then, health, happiness, wisdom, and patience to you all. Jon Duresky

Mike Jensen

12035 Milam Road

Colorado Springs, CO 80908

1-(800)-G0-AFA-G0

michaeljensen@remax.net

http://www.usafa84.com

Our reunion it set for Homecoming 2009. Info and sign ups can be found on our class website www.usafa84.com. It will give you all the links for hotel, events and merchandise. Dates are 23-27 Sept 2009. AFA plays San Diego State at noon on the 26th. The hotel has given us a sweet deal; much in part to the great turnout in 2004. We hope to make this one even better. For you golfers, the Commandant’s Classic is going to be held on Thursday afternoon, so get those reservations in earlywithyour pairings. Bob Perrywill be helpingorganize that event. Please let us know any special requests, and we will do our best to accommodate them.

Mark Silvanic is also in 3AF in the A9 analysis shop as a NSPS employee. Dr. AJ Domenichini (’84 stop out to ’85) was in checking on a bike order (he's the AFSq/CC at Fandstuhl Medical Center) andTriciaGroenheim (Steve's wife, Steve works at HQ USAFE) was in buying merchandise before heading to Amsterdam for spring break. It seems all ofthese grads and their families love doing activities outdoors! But Denny is leaving in June, probably right after theyopen the two-story indoor climbingwall at Ramstein.

More updates and pictures can be seen on the web at www.usafa84.com. Make your plans earlyfor the reunion as the Marriott is also the team hotel for the football team so a lot will be going on at party central!

Frank “Q.” Williams

13209 Topsfield Court Herndon, VA 20171 (703)657-3227

USAFA1985@aol.com

Hi everyone.

Since the last article I’ve been in contact with Rick Britt, Mike Challman, Danielle (Hatchett) Hargrove, and DannyTopp.

Rick Britt e-mailed me from his Blackberry one day in March and we exchanged a few messages for the first time in years. Rick says he’s doing fine, although itwill have been fouryears thisJulysince hiswife passed away. Rick said hehas not remarried and he is alone raisinghis daughter who is now 11 years old. Ricksaidhe andhis daughtermoved into a condo that is high up on a cliffoverlooking the Mississippi Riverand theylove theirbreathtakingview. He told me that he had lost hisjob in September and was out ofworkfor four4 months. He said “the economyseemed to collapse out ofthe blue in a matter ofdays!” He said he was glad to see Obama win, and while things are still shaky, he has a lot of hope for the future. In fact, after brushing up his resume he got ajobworking as a contractor fortheArmy. Ricksaid that this is his first DoD job in over 10 years. He said he is still a software developer andhe creates Javaweb applications. Ricksaid thepace seems veryslow compared to private sector software development, but the workis surprisinglyhightech and rather advanced.

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I also heard from Mike Challman but I can’t find my notes or the original email. Fortunately, I was able to find a picture that accompanied the original message that 1 had saved on mycomputer. Please see Mike and his son in the picture with the ladies of our Air Force Falcons Cheerleader squad. Forgive me but I forgot ifMike had taken his son to the zoo for a game or iftheywent to the bowl game. I’ll have to make it up to Mike formylack ofcertainty on details, but at least I got his picture in Checkpoints.

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Updates: “FTC Intensity” Chris Erickson is scheduled to hold his retirement on May 15th with Col “Pickle” McGillicuddy conducting the retirement ceremonies. Congrats to Suzie and those three wonderful little ladies for getting the old man through the years. Brett Johnson has been selected as the next AFROTC Commander at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Gary Annis is flying for Delta out ofNYC, living in New Hampshire and working part time as a personal trainer at a local gym. He and hiswife have a son who is a collegejunior and a daughter who is a college freshman, both local schools. They will be celebrating their 25 weddinganniversary thisyear, as are so many others.

Stuart Brown returned to the 767 F/O at DFW (AA) after a fewyears ofgoing backward. Their oldest (Andrew) graduates from college this May (OUNorman) and youngest (Allison) graduates high school in June. They have two in college but we are looking forward to the empty nest this fall!

Denny Benson tells us the EuropeanHQ forthe Class of’84 is Ramstein Outdoor Recreation. Denny is the current store manager and he sees everyone all the time. He saw Ft Col JerryCummin, soon to be retiring from 3AF/A3. Mark Silvanic was in the store; he had his kid in the daycamp program from Outdoor Rec. DorothySilvanic (Mark'swife) is to be the48thMNXGrp at Lakenheath and Denny'swife, Fista, is going to SheppardAFB forthe 882ndTngGroup.

Class of 1984 25th Reunion HOMECOMING

Sept 23-27,2009

Falcons vs. San Diego State

Havinggotten herphone numberfrom one ofmyusual contacts, I called and playedphone tagwith Danielle (Hatchett) Hargrove a couple oftimes. It was the first time in a longtime that 1 got to talk to her. Danielle said she andherkids are doing fine.

DannyTopp e-mailed me from his Gmail account since he couldn’t find me on Facebook. (I’m not on Facebookbut I hear that a lot ofyou other ’85ers are.) .Anyway, Dannylet me knowthathe has moved on from General Dynamics at SchrieverAFB, CO which is where he was working the last time we saw each otheryearsago. Dannysaidhehadgotten ajobwith alittle companyin Chantilly afterhe tried to get some more work in C-Springs but thejob market was contracting too much. Danny said he likes the company a lot so he and Grace decided to give the DC area a try. Danny said he is now supporting NGA in Reston,VA. Danny and Grace are in the process ofmoving.

Well, Itibetterwrap it up for now. It’s getting late and I have to get up earlyfor a test at work. Just keep those cards, letters, and e-mails coming and I’ll get your info in the next Checkpoints.

Best regards, Q.

Mike Challman and his son along withAirForceFalcon Cheerleaders.

Lawrence Cooper 2806 Erics Court Crofton, MD 21114 Cooper@astroguy.net

Hi everyone! You wouldn’t believe howBob Colella convinced me to take on thejob as scribe - he asked me and I saidyes! He’s a toughnegotiator-ifhe starts to askyou, beware, you might get into somethingyou can’t handle.

Firstoff, I want thank our Facebookcontingent. We have43 members and are growing. All you ’86ers, checkout Facebook and look up our Group, “USAFA Class of1986”;join, stayintouch, load up some pics, and sharewith us. Wewant to hear from you. Let us knowwho is still serving, who has retired, who has become “stinkin’ government contractors" (it’s a term ofart and adoration -trust me I was one for tenyears), andwho has become ski instructors (it reallyhappens). Which of us has madegeneral rank-I’veheardthere are a fewfrom ’87 and ’88.

For instance, I have it on good word that Alison (Smith) Overbaywill be retiring soon. Unfortunately this update is a little light. Let’s make it a bit longer for next time.

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Here’s an update from GeoffHills: He says, “I left theAF last summer after22years (3 months and4days...butwho's counting), and took all the leave that I'd been unable to take over theyears. Between the leave and PTDYI had almost 110 days. Mywife Shelley (Harsh) Hills (a fellow ’86T-Bird) and I bought a travel trailer, and wandered the countryfor over two months, goingwherever our three kids wanted to go. Ended up doing Dallas to Boston, and KeyWest to Duluth, and everything in between. 26 states total. Along the way we went to the retirement ofJerry Heikkinen (also an ’86 T-Bird) at Tyndall. His son Tom is going to be part of USAFA class of2013. Also went to a picnic forclass of2012 Academynominees down in Arkansas where I let them know howtoughthings were wayback in the day! Shelley continued to workwhile we were driving down the highway in herjob consultingwith Patch Plus Consulting. She telecommutes anyway, so it didn't matter whether she was working at her desk at home, or on Hwy 1 in the Florida Keys.

“When our vacation finally ended aftervisits to 26 states, I returned to Colorado Springs. Stillwasn't out ofleave, so I got to do a little rock climbing and mountaineeringwhile Shelleydesperately tried to find a job to get me out of her hair. She did well, and I now work for Booz Allen Hamilton as a test program managerfor an OSD rapid reaction technology office effort. Almost like being in the militaryagain except I get to decide when I take vacation instead ofmy boss doing it for me.

“In addition to work, I'm in trainingfor a one-daybike ride this summer from Seattle to Portland (205miles) that I'll be doingwith myolder brotherJamie (’84 grad) and younger brother Kerry. Kerry wrote a letter to Hills Brothers Coffee, and they are actuallygoing to sponsor us withjerseys and such for the ride.

SteveKwastandRussell Reiling in the reception hangarafter the ceremony. name had been updated (it hadn't: what's up with that?), we got stuck going the wrongway on a one way, and a cop appears and hits us with the siren. So I figure ifhe stops us, I'll askhim ifthe ticket goes to theWingCommander and ifnot, what else do I have to do to elevate it?”

That’s all for now - drop me a line any which way, snail-mail, e-mail, or message me on Facebook. Sincerely, Lawrence Cooper.

Ezra Vance 7320 Brixham Circle Castle Rock, CO 80108

Home: (303) 6885431

Work: (303) 304-1287 ezravance@hotmall.com

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(Editor's note: Ezradid not haveanyinputsfrom hisclassmatesforthis issue. Pleasesend himyour information andphotographsfor the next magazine.)

Mark Peters 2437 Bedford Circle Bedford, TX 76021-1823 (817) 937-9696 pylt@yahoo.com

Greetings '88!

Alas, we’re suffering from the post-reunion blues as there’s been a dearth of letters or emails since mylast column. Speaking ofthe reunion, here are the two links to some of photographs again: www.printroom.com/pro/aog/ default.asp; select the “Main Photo Galleries 2008” link. Also, Chris "Mookie" Walker’s gallery has almost 400 shots: www.tinyurl.com/USAFA88REUNION.

TheAOG has learned ofthe death ofTylerWEldred, CS-14 class of 1988. Tylerpassed away on 14 Feb 2009 in Louisville KY as the result of an accident. Condolences may be sent to his family in care ofhiswife, Mrs. Stacy Eldred, 4207Winding Creek Rd, Crestwood, KY 40014-8867. His obituary appears in the Gone But Not Forgotten section ofthis magazine.

Our last update this cycle comes from Russell Reiling, who posted “I'm putting in a stint as the Deputy Information Operations Director to US ForcesAfghanistan, which gave me the chance to drive up to Bagram for Steve Kwast assumingcommand ofthe455thAEW(ceremony start time 0455Z: aren'tthey the wittyones?). Takingseriously my duties as unpaid freelance Afghan beat photographer for Checkpoints, attached are some (probablyillegal) photos from the ceremony. [Check out the photos ofSteve Kwasttaking command and the one ofhim and Russell Reiling in the receptionhangar afterthe ceremony] So on our way out three hours later, I drove bytheWing marquee to see ifthe

Visit the AOGWeb Site Merchandise, Gone But Not Forgotten and More! www.usafa.org

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Lastly, I’ve not written about my sibling David Peters (CS32) oflate. David has recentlycompleted several enterprise-level SAP implementations withAccenture’s consultingpractice. He maybe spending more time in airplanes than I do with travel to China, Mexico and Canada from his home base in NewYork City. Even in the civilian world he has ended up with “use or lose” vacation time so he spent a week in Hawaii in mid-April rather than let vacation disappear.

Your trusty scribe is in dire need ofCheckpointsinputs; please write soon!

Paul W. Tibbets, IV

PSC 80, Box 76

APO AE, 09702

Home: 011-32-2-251-2772

E-mail: p2a2@skynet.be

Class web site: http://www. usafaclasses.org/1989/

Hello friends! We are in the final stretch for our 20th reunion. Hard to believe, but in a few short months we will once again gather in beautiful Colo-

Steve Kwast takingcommand.

rado Springs to celebrate, catch up, give back to our alma mater and honor our fallen classmates. As I knowyou are all aware by now, the dates and hotel have been confirmed-September23-27,2009 at the EmbassySuites-which ishomecomingweekend andtheFalconswillbeplayingSanDiego State! Ifyouhaven’t yetbeen to our classweb site, or it hasbeen a while, pleasego to the linklisted at thetop ofthisupdateandcheckout thedetails. ScottShinberghasbeendoing a fantasticjob with our class site and I encourageyou to check it often as the reunion time approaches. Here we will have the latest info on the schedule, hotel, merchandise, fundraising, class gift, etc. IMPORTANT NOTE: this will be the last class news before the reunion. To save class funds, we will primarily use the classweb site to disseminate all pertinent details. Similar to the 10-yearreunion, all merchandise will be preordered and then distributed during reunion registration. There will be one more mailing with registration information, but we encourage everyone to use the web site to the maximum extent possible, where all the needed forms will be available once details are confirmed.

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Here is a briefsynopsis ofwhere we stand on the reunion planning as ofApr ’09: Schedule: Wed, Sep23rd, arrival and social. Thursday, Sep 24th, GolfTournament or Pike’s Peak Bike Ride and evening buffet. Friday, Sep 25th, Class Memorial Dedication, USAFA Open House, and HomecomingMemorial. Saturday, Sep26th, Homecoming Game. Sunday, Sep 27th, depart.

Fundraising: the economy has hit many ofus hard, and has unfortunately affected our class efforts to raise fundsfortheclass gift. Ourcurrent pledges have fallen from almost 80% of our goal to 70%, which includes overdue or noncollected pledges offour months or more. Our actual, collected pledges/cash available is right at 50% ofour goal. What does this mean? The class officers are currentlydiscussingoptions andpriorities, so please checktheweb site forthe latest updates. Ifthe current trend continues, we will focus primarily on the HeritageTrail Memorial and then determine, depending on available funds, what specific additional projects can be included as part ofthe overallclass gift. It is not too late to contribute! Ifyou are able, we ask all classmates, families, parents, etc to pleaseconsiderbecoming a part ofthisworthyeffortandjoin us in giving back to our school that has given so much to us.

Reunion Committees and SquadronRepresentative: thanks to you, we have filled all the keyreunion committees! However, we are still a fewvolunteers short for the squadronrepresentatives, so ifyou are interested and available, please check out theweb site forthe latest list and plugin. Asyou may remember, this was a very successful program for our 10-yearreunion, assisting in gettingtheword out so “no one is left behind!” Additionally, manysquadrons had their own get-togethers in the margins ofthe reunion.

Since this is thelastissue ofCheckpointsbeforethereunion, we thoughtitappropriate to include some details on theHeritageTrail Memorialproject. Development on theAOG’sHeritageTrail is in itsinfancybutquicklybeingembraced bya numberofUSAFAclasses. TheClassof1959designedandbuilttheChallenge Bridge overwhicheachyear’sincomingclass must cross. TheClassof1960 paved theTrailandwallbecontinuingtheconstruction as partofa laterphase. TheClass of1970willbebuilding apavilionto honorthosethatwere killedinSoutheastAsia including aVietnamWarMemorial replica. And finally, our classwill be the first to actually construct a memorial on HeritageTrail.

The theme for our contribution is “Valor.” The memorialwill consist of a three-piece granite wall engraved with the class crest and names ofall deceased members ofthe class. Thewall, which overlooks the Eisenhower Golf Course in one direction and the Cadet Area in another, will eventuallyinclude all classmates. Mike Chapa, who is currently teaching in the Aeronautics Department, photographed theTrail to assist with site selection.

in providingleadership and guidance throughout the project. “A1 Burrell from theAOG has done a superjob in keeping us on track in making this project a reality. He has dedicated a lot oftime and effort to

ensure the memorial is complete in time for our reunion this comingfall, says reunion committee giftcampaign chairmanAlexander “Gonzo” GonzalezRojas.

The Class of 1989 Memorialwill list all 13 Gone But Not Forgottenclassmates who have passed since graduation; 12 on active duty and one to war in Iraq. Each will be honored with a special symbol on the class wall representing active duty as well as combat-related deaths. Lt Col Kevin Shea made the ultimate sacrifice bygiving his life during combat in Iraq. He cross-commissioned to the US Marine Corps aftergraduation and was killed byenemyfire in 2004. He will be honored with a bronze bust adjacent to the classwall signifying our first and hopefullyonlycombat death. This honorhas been a goal since 2006 startingwith a nomination to theAcademy’s Mall ofHeroes that eventually lead to his rightful place on the Heritage Trail.

Sketch byMarkandJenelleByrdofKevin Shea which will be used to create the bustfor theHeritage TrailMemorial.

Kevin was also recentlyinducted into the USAFAPrep SchoolHall ofFame in April 2009, a testament to his tremendous character and accomplishments. “We hope to have the new AcademySuperintendant, Lt Gen Michael Gould, preside over the memorial dedication this fall. Gen Gould was a captain at the USAFA Prep School and the head football coachwhen many ofus were there from 1984 to 1985. Kevin Shea played underhis leadership then and laterwent on to playdefensive end on the USAFAvarsityfootball team earning a role in the 1987 Freedom Bowl. Kevin also was a member ofthe National Champion USAEARugbyTeamduring the 1989 season. Itwill be a somber event, but itwill be a wayfor us to express our gratitude and privilege to have known these great andwonderful classmates. We miss them all dearly, as do theirfamilies, and we enjoyed their special character and lives with the great memories and friendshiptheygave us. Wewillhonorthem, alongwiththeir families, spouses, and children this fall. Godknows andhas a hand on everything, and Hewill use this ceremony and memorial to bring us closer together as a class and remember and reminisce on all those memories ofour classmates since theywill not be here with us at the 20th. What is incredible is that the rings we wear and the quote we decided to carry on these rings is ‘Domine Dirigenos’ which means ‘Lord Guide Us,’” says Gonzo.

During our 20th reunion, there will be a ceremony dedicating the Heritage Trail Class Memorial to honorthose classmateswho have passed, with invitations being extended to theirfamilyand friends as well. Wewill also honorLarry Karl McNeel, who died in a glideraccidentduring the fall semester ofour senior year. Larrywas recentlyapprovedbythe USAFABoard andRegistrarforformal inclusion in the graduating Class of 1989. Because ofrules in place at that time, Larry was not awarded a posthumous degree nor included in the Register of Graduates. Gonzo hasworkedwithAcademyofficials to changethese previous decisions and to ensure that a posthumous degreewill be presented to Larry’s mother, MaryAnna McNeel, duringthe reunion. Larrywill now be included in our class graduation count and also the RegisterofGraduates.

“Despite the difficult economic times, class members have generously donated funds to make the Class Memorial a reality. While we still have some work to do, the support from the class has been inspiring,” said Treasurer Stephen Whiting.

As a final update, the Tibbets familyjust received orders to Rome, Italywhere I will attend the NATO Defense College fromAug ’09 to Feb TO. We are continu-

Class of 1989 20th Reunion HOMECOMING

Sept 23-27,2009

Falcons vs. San Diego State

Class of1989Heritage Trailplotpre-construction.

The Class of 1989 HeritageTrail Memorial Projecthas been ongoingfor two years as the centerpiece ofour 20th reunion fundraising effort. TheAOG has been very supportive

ing our travels around Europe in anticipation ofour move to Italy, and enjoyed a week over spring break in Santa Susanna, Spain.

The Tibbetsfamily in Tossa De Mar, Spain visiting the walled enceinte of ‘‘Vila Vella. Theoriginalconstruction dates back to theendofthe 12th century.

That’s a wrap for this quarter. We look forward to seeing everyone at the reunion this fall. Best wishes to you and your families. 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

It iswith sadness that I pass on the news that Joe Richardson lost his son in a car accident this February. Ryan was 19 years old; please pass your condolences to Joe and Felicia.

OnApril 12 Fausta and Kurt Shulerwelcomed Mateo Sebastian Shuler to the world.

My dear friends,

Carson Tavenner

6828 Raccoon Court

Waldorf, MD 20603 (202) 231-2484

DSN: (312) 428-2484

Home: (301) 374-2752

Carson_wendy@comcast.net

You can see this is a short piece. You will understand that it is directlyrelated to the amount oftime I have available to dedicate to the task. With this in mind, may I ask for a volunteer to write the column thatwill be due the beginning of July? Forthoseofyouwho’vevolunteered before, manythanks and myapologieswhen/ifI did not getback to you to takeyou up on your offer. That was not intentional! We will make it work out better this next time. I know I will need help in July.

Thisweekend I ran into DerekWest inthefoodcourtofthe BollingBX, as he was backvisiting from Zambia. Derek is our airattache to Zambia, andifI’m not mistaken also the defense attache. He hadseveral interestingobservations alreadyabout the environment he’s presentedwith out there. Ofcourse, he would love to host any ofus on a visit to that country!

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Chris Howard will also be traveling out to Africa on his reserve air attache business this summer, but at the moment mymind cannot recallwhich country. After that, he will begin his new job as the President ofHampton-Sydney College.

Our classmates at NationalWar College are probably on their summer trips/ tours bythe time you read this, as well. Stories and updates from those, please! I knowMatt Isler, at least, has to have some interestingobservationsofMongolia. I have been learning a newjob as the team chieffor two teams ofDIA analysts. One examines the national security issues ofthe PRC, the other examines the defense leadership ofthe same. It is in a waymydreamjob, gettingthe chance to shape and influencethe direction ofthese intelligence efforts for our country. Butworking in the bureaucracyand underthe continuous deluge ofemail, underwhich ITn sure most ofyou are also working, I wonder how much impact I’m reallyhaving. Time will tell.

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Julie Kruse Little passed on this bit ofinfo: Blake Matray, 41, was born and raised in Illinois. "I started mushingdogs in North Dakota in 1995.1 bought two Siberian huskypuppiesfromIditarod musherBrad Pozamskyand it snowballed fromthere. In 2000,1 moved toTwo Rivers to accept a pilotpositionwith theAlaskaAir National Guard. Awayfrom the Guard, I'm the Executive Director ofthe Sled Dog Fund, Inc, a non-profit organization I founded in 2007with the help ofmywife, Erin, and myneighborsWalter and Deb Lanigan. The Sled Dog Fund, Inc. uses racing sled dogs to raise funding for the support ofchildren with disabilities and theirfamilies." Blake is a member ofthe Two Rivers Dog Mushers and Ducks Unlimited. He and his wife maintain a kennel of29 AKC Siberian Huskies and five Alaskan Huskies and he entered the 2009 Iditarod with the hope offinallymaking it to Nome.When he isn't training or working, Blake enjoyshunting, fishing and kayaking.

Carl Brenner andToni (Desonia) Brenner ('89) are doing fine atWright-Pat with four4 kids, from 1 to 11. Carl stood up an Intel Sq at the NationalAir and Space Intelligence Center andwill give up command this summer to become DeputyGp/CC. Toni is a Reservist and a USAFALiaison Officer. Also at NASIC is another CS- 18 Nightrider, Brian Niswander, as both a civilian and a Reservist. Brian runs plans and warfighter relations for the NASIC/CC as a civilian and frequently serves as Director ofStaff as a Reservist.

James Sanchez: Mywife and I are opening a frozenyogurt store. Bythe time you read this we’ll be sellingyogurt bythe truckload! (We hope...) Right now we’re about two weeks from the soft open and a month from the grand opening, whichwill be a huge event. Mybrother-in-lawwill be the celebrity guest, which will help tremendouslysince he’s a popular former athlete in our area (Dat Nguyen, TexasAggie and Dallas Cowboy). Google “TheYogurt Patch” for more information and stop by ifyou’re in town.

The class news seems to beflowingslowlylately;maybe it’sbecause (as I write this) taxes are due tomorrow. To help fixthis, I made a Facebook group for our class. You can get to it byvisitingtheUSAFA90.com web site. It seems to be workingprettywell, but I still needyou guys to send me the updates forCheckpoints so I knowwhatyou want posted. Plus, nobodywants to read a million “Brian Kensingerhadalongdayandisreadyto go to bednow!! LOL” posts inthis column. So pleasejointhe group but don’t stop sending me updates!

Visit the AOGWeb Site

www.usafa.org

I am a relative newcomer to Facebook, and can tell it is the sort ofthingthat, ifI gave it much time at all, it would end up consuming far more ofmy time than I choose to give it. Therefore, I’m choosing to stayawayfrom the Class of '91 Bold Gold group that has been formed (I thinkAngie made it?) but have joined all the same, as I hope all/most ofyou will, too!

Bold Gold events on the long-term horizon: Reunion in two-i- years (Oct 2011), and a mini-reunion gathering at Cape Canaveral inJanuary2010 forJim Dutton’s launch.

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

Welcome to anotherTrue Blue ’92 column! I hope this finds everyone happy and healthy. Take a few moments to read the column, then run to your computers and send me an e-mail. I promise to get on Facebooksoon—but in the meantime, Nicole (Foster) Greenwood set up a page for ’92. I’m sure manyof you have already found it. Nicole told me that 72 people joined it the first day! So, go look at your Facebook account and get on the Class of'92 page. The Facebookgroup is called “USAFA Class of 1992.”

The Greenwoods. Nicole and her familyhave been in CSprings for a fewyears. Her husband, Jeff, is finishing up as the CS-35 AOC and is hoping for a job with AF Space Command so they can stayaroundthe Springs a bitlonger. Nicole is workingpart time for a friend’s PR firm and has surpassed the 10-year markforbeing the newsletter editorforthe local chapter ofthe Public Relations Society ofAmerica. She is also keepingbusy auditioning for parts in her church’s drama group. (Well, that and being mom to Garret (7) and Griffin (4)!

Nicole also shared a funnystory ofattending the “Ring Dance” again, this time as an AOC’s wife. She said it was “so, so weird!” In one way, our Ring Dance was like “a blink of an eye ago,” but on the other hand, she realized we started USAFAbefore the current 4 degrees were even born. Thanks forthe age reminder... Facebook has kept her in touch with a lot ofclassmates: Chuck Howard has four kids and lives in New Jersey, not far from John Cosgrove. Scott Hines separated and currently is an owner ofBurke, Rix, Hines &Associates, a government affairs and politicaladvocacy firm. Mike Aerstin is in GeorgiaflyingforAirTran and flying C-5s in the Reserves and has a 16-month-

old named Luke. Brad Swezeyis the Chief, PA at the 45th SpaceWing, Patrick AFB. Nicole was able to have lunch with him while he was doing his Reserve time at Space Command public affairs. Thanks for the great update, Nicole.

The Greenwoods - Garret (7), Jeff, Nicole, and Griffin (4).

Rick Baileye-mailed me fromhis assignment intheNetherlands—well actuallyhe e-mailed me fromAfghanistan where he has been deployed since Novemberand is finishingup the deployment. He saw a fewAcademygradsthere: Steve Anderson and Skip Skipworth from '92. Plus Lisa Kary (’94), Gil Petrina (’89), and a few others. Rick’s got assigned to NATO Joint Forces Command Brunssum in the Netherlands last Fall, buthe’s been inAfghanistan for most of thattime. On a side note, Rickis theAOG Class Senator for 1992 representing all of us. He told me doesn’t mind continuing to do it, but it is more difficult from the other side ofthe world. He will continue to serve in that capacity unless someone closer to the Springs is interested. Ricksays, “It is definitely an interesting time in theAOG now, and we are working a lot ofissues (mostly dealingwith governance andfinancing).” Contact me ifyou are interested and I’ll get you in touch with Rick. Finally, Rick was asked by a friend to send a picture ofhim with Flat Stanleyfor their 3rd grade niece who is in a contest to see who could get a picture ofFlat Stanleyfrom the farthest place. Rickthinks his picture will be the winner.

the DEA. He’s having a great time and loves what he’s doing. In fact, over the past sixmonths his team has had a film crew followingthem around for season two ofSpike TV’s show“DEA.” The season has recently concluded, but you can catch Sean on reruns. According to Spike TV, DEA has been their bestrated show ever! Sean said the transition from the AF to DEA was pretty easy and that ifanyone is interested in a second career, the DEA is hiringand always seeks formermilitaryofficers. On the personal side, Sean and hiswife and two sons made it up toWest Point lastyearfortheAF-Armygame. They are looking forward to making it to Annapolis this season and hope to see a lot offamiliar faces at the tailgate.

OldTarantulas. I’m still intouchwithTarantula squadron mates Don Unwin, Dave Kumashiro, Steve Wolf (alongwith Bob Seifert and Rob Tobler) All are doingwell. Don is still flyingwith FedEx and the Reserves at ScottAFB. Dave is finishing up his firstyear as squadron commander ofthe OSS at DoverAFB. And, Steve is finishingup hisjoint tour in Germanyand isheadedback to Camp Lejeune this summer with Kaye and the kids. Steve will be headed to 2nd Marines as the OpsO, and he hopes to deploy in the Fall. We really do need to have a CS-22 reunion soon.

Thanks fortuning in again and thanks to allwho e-mailed me. Have a great summer as we pass 17 years since graduation. See you around, True Blue ’92, James.

Michael D. Sundsted

1805 Macadams Place

Alexandria, VA 22308 (240) 338-9839

Michael.sundsted@afncr.af.mil

Class Website: www.highflight.com

Greetings to the classthat none shall surpass! Wewelcome yet anotherclass into the growing Blue Line ofthe AirForce—congrats to all the new 2nd Lieutenants! I hope this finds thebeginningofyour summer goinggreat! Things in Alexandria,VA are motoringalong. We’ve got an action-packed summer alreadyand it hasn’t even started. Lookingforward to the fall (too) whenAFwill playNavy. Andrews alreadyhas a bigblockoftickets on reserve and I knowthe Pentagon and BollingAFB grads will follow suit shortlyto secure a large Blue contingent inAnnapolis! Myapologies in advance forsuch a short column... i.e. let me hear from more ofyou.

Kari and Jo Ward gave us a great update last article, but I asked for pictures. Theygave us a couple ofgood ones! You guys look great!

FlatStanleyandRickBailey in Kabul.

Pentagon lunch bunch. What has become a regularpart ofthe column has been reporting on the '92 lunches we have everyfew months at the Pentagon. JeanTwomeyis the organizer. Unfortunately, we must all be getting too busy since onlyfive ofus made it this time. I showed up 30 minutes late since I had a short-notice suspense to meet, and I wasn’t even thelast to show! Jean is now spending some Reserve timewith mysister directorate underThe Inspector General. She’sstillflyingC-5satStewartANGBinNewYorkeverymonth. Jean and Ritchie Edge were the only ones to show up on time. As I’ve mentioned before, Ritchie is a DoD IT contractor here in DC.

Todd McDowell made it and despitemovingjobs once again is still working in the Pentagon. KevinWestburgjoined us and is headed to Space Command this summer. Finally, Mike Bruzzini decided to stop byfor a fewminutes. He’s headed to stand up and command a new squadron out at CannonAFB. He tells me he’ll be workingwith Chad Pitog out there.

DC Locals. I had lunch with Rob Tobler and Bob Seifert a couple ofmonths ago. They are both atAndrewsAFB in theVIP transport squadrons. We met in OldTownAlexandria since it’s a goodhalf-wayspot betweenAndrews andthe Pentagon. Bob and I realizedthat our kids are close in age andhave setup some “playdates” for them. The kids seem to getalongwell togetherand it gives us dads a chance to hang out. Also, Bob and hiswife,Amy,just had their second boy on April3,2009—JoshuaWalker Seifert. Congratulations!

SpikeTVCelebrity. Sean Lawler sent me an update on his adventures with the DEA. Since separatingfrom theAF, Sean has become a SpecialAgentwith

The Ward’s enjoyinga sunny Colorado day!

Jo and the kids takingadvantageofmountain snow!

Phil and AmyTucker sent a note from RamsteinAB Germanywhere Phil is flyingthe C-40 (B-737) Special MissionsAircraft afterhis tour as anAOCatour beloved USAFA. Nothing like a EuropeanVacation afterwrestling with the future Lieutenants! Amyis teachingpart time at a DoDDs school andJackand Caroline are doing great and keep Phil and Amy on their toes.

George Clark also checks in from Germany, but as an action officer in the Europe regional pol/mil division—he recently became the Branch Chieffor theWestern Balkan Countries! Lots ofresponsibility! He, his wife, and two daughterswill return to the U.S. to Litde Rock AFB initiallywhere George will requalify in the C-130 and then on to Dyess AFB where he will become a Director of Operations for one ofthe C-130 squadrons! Congrats to you and your family!

George also says that he has run into several graduates, most notablyJimmy“Finch” Sparrow who is currently the Executive OfficerfortheJ5/8 directorand also Chris Bennett who works in the J5 plans shop. Thanks for the update!

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Unfortunatelythat’s it forthis time! To make this a successful articleupdating all onyour myriad ofactivities I need some more information! Ifyou haven’t given an update or it’s just been a while then you can email me at work (Michael.sundsted@afncr.af.mil), home (bravecwboy@cox.net), or just call (see number above). Mike

Craig Allen 440 Willow Court

Warrensburg, MO 64093

H: (660) 747-8088

C: (660) 864-5374

keggerallen@embarqmail.com

Summer '09! An up-front disclaimer—ifyou sent me any input (or a complaint) to the email address posted in the last edition, I didn’t get it. There was a typo, so please reattempt this time to keggerallen@embarqmail.com. Beyondthat, it’s been an eventful quarter—taxes are goingup, GM might go bankrupt and there actual pirates out there. But hey, it’s summer, so staypositive and think “ShiningCity on a Hill” (Reagan); “AThousand Points ofLight” (Bush); or “Myadvice to you is to start drinkingheavily” (Belushi).

The Chastain family.

JeffDalrymple sent a greatupdatefrom Randolph in SanAntonio. He and his familyjust arrived there afterseveralyears in Englandflyingtankers andworking on the staff. Jeffis aT-1 instructor at Randolph and says the flying is terrific he already knows all the best lunch spots within 1000 miles ofthe base. He also said there are several other ’94 grads there as instructors. Jeffsaid he just missed Eric Bulger in theT-1 squadron. Eric left to flythe G5 in Savannah, but not before he told all the pilots in the squadron to make sure to call Jeff “Nipplehead” when he showed up. Jeffwas extremely appreciative ofthat nice gesture from Eric. Mike Cranston is also a T-1 IP there and he works at AETC Safety. Brian “Nuts" Hazel is a T-38 IP there—he and Jeffhave a regular “card” game theyattend. Finally, Jeffsaid he had lunch with Joe Pastorello on a recent trip to USAFA, whereJoe is currentlyserving as a Reservist instructor. Canyou guesswhat course he teaches? That’s right, Unarmed Combat! In fact, Joe and his brotherjustdeveloped new UC courses for theAF and potentially the otherservices. Imagineyourselfas a freshman,walkingthroughthe “neighborhood” on your UC test, when all of a sudden this instructor named Pastorello jumps out and attacks you...

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Despite the contact info snafu, I did manage to hear from a lot ofpeople after the first article. Tara (Dubilo) Trawgave us a ring from nearby Kansas. She and husband, Mike “Thick” Traw, have been, in Thick’s words, “blissfully married for 13 wonderful years”. They’ve got an impressive setup there, where Tara home schools five kiddos—two girls and three boys. Beyond the Kansas ranch, theTraw’s maintain a Missouri lake house, at which Tara recently hosted what she called the ’94 “Swim Chicks” Reunion. Attendees included Keri (Schreiber) Singleton, Erika (Schenevar) Foster, and Brenda (Boeckman) Clark. Keri is a mother offour and homeschooler of two girls and two boys. She and husband, Britt (’95), are relocating to Atlanta—Britt will be working for Pfizer there. Erika and husband Michael (’99) live in Virginia, where Mike is a legislative liaison. Brenda and Jay (’93) have two kids, one boy and one girl. Jay flies for Southwest out of Phoenix, while Brenda is enrolled in nursing school. Tara reported that they all had a great time.

Dan “Slim” Veal called me from London recentlywhile on a trip for Delta. In addition to the airline flying, he’s living in DC and flying F-16s in the DCANG. He’s still single and gives no indication that that will change any time soon. Basically, he says he’s livin’ the dream.

Leo Gage wrote me an email from Germanywhere he is currentlystationed. He said he went for a ride on his Harleyaboutthreeyears ago toVegas, met a girl named Heather, and now he’s married. Leo and Heather are enjoyingliving in Europe—Heather plays professional tennis over there. Heather is also the daughter ofNewYork Myke of San Diego Harley Davidson, whom you may have heard of- Leo said check out his commercials on the internet.

Keri, Erika, Tara and Brenda at the “Swim Chicks"Reunion.

Mike “Leif” Erickson and wife, Lisa, are in Hawaii on a hardship assignment. They have two little girls. It’s tough duty, but Mike says he’s able to stay sane byriding his bike to work everyday (in shorts), and surfing at lunch time. It sounds eerilysimilar to a “Point Break” scenario, but Mike assured me that he hasn’t changed his name to The Bodizaffa’.

Trey Chastain andwife, Marcie, are in Ohio atWright Patterson, whereTrey is serving his stafftime as an Exec in AFMC/A4. They have two boys and I’m sure Treyalready has them takingbattingpractice andworking on a breaking ball. The Chastains are about to get back below the Mason-Dixon Line at Seymour-Johnson in North Carolina, where Trey will be an F-15E Maintenance Squadron Commander. Congrats!

Cary Culbertson and his daughtergear upfor a ride.

SpeakingofHarleyriders, Cary“Pistol" Culbertson sent a pictureofhisdaughter and him on their rides—one ofthe bikes looks like an OrangeCountyChopper “theme bike”...the Princess Chopper. It was great to hear from a lot of people after the last article. Keep sending me material, especially ifany impromptu 15-year reunions take place. Have a nice summer - Kegger.

R. Travis Koch

6207E Shallowford Ct. Suffolk, VA 23435

Home: (757) 686-2607

Cell: (850) 499-8242

richard.koch@langley.af.mil

traviskoch@yahoo.com

This is Cleveland...isn’t it? Alright, well, I’m back. Thought someone else was going to write this one but, here we go. This thing was due about two weeks ago, I can’t believe the AOG puts up with me. By theway, ifyou’d like to

write one ofthese (I’d like you to...) please drop me a note with about 1200 words and three pictures. Thanks.

Canyou name these “Four-Smokes?”

ZoomieThoughts: First off, I would like to congratulate theAF Men’s Hockey team on a fantastic season. Well done, fellas. I’m sure your grades are not as good as Decker’s, Benson’s, and Bilek’s, and that’s probablywhyyou did so well. I got to watch the first round match with Mags and it was classic. Andy Veneri made it to the elite eight game to see the boys in blue fightthe goodfight. Congrats again on a great season. Secondly, I saw the USNA Seamen receive the Commander’s in ChiefTrophytoday for the sixth year in a row. Crushing. Ifyou can, please encourage your nephews, neighbors, and local H.S. football standouts to go to USAFA and help Coach Calhoun bring our program back to the pinnacle ofthe Service Academies. One day soon enough there will be a group ofWalker, Tone, Harrison, and Russ boysgoing there, but until then, help those Falcons recruit!

Now for the Jon Hamby section ofthe update. Bone is in last place in our FantasyBaseball league. I thinkthe addition ofMathis to the familyis takingits toll. Wait till there are three. We are ushering at Baader’s weddingwith Eric Davis and Chris Tengwall. Can’t imagine it will be any fun. Hopefully someone will have the next update so I'll see you next fall. Till then,

Keep the Faith, T. Koch.

Melissa S. Cunningham

5785 Ft. Wright Oval

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FamilyMatters: TyLittle is getting married at theAcademy this luly. That’s right, at the Cadet Chapel. Sabre Drill, the Falconeers andYOURWings ofBlue will be performing during the ceremony. That should be awesome. Matt Baade is tyingtheknot inDC in May. Baader has moved to Atlanta andwill be living there with his sweet wife, Kate. This publication will print after the wedding so we will be unable to subtly warn her. Godspeed, young woman. Chad Bondurantjust had a son, Bo, and is moving over to Stuttgart, Germanythis summer. Paul and Amanda Moga had a little girl (Madeline) in April. She is sweet as pie. Andrea (Rolfe) Themely was promoted one year BTZ (sorry I didn’t recognize her name). She and Damon (’89) just had a son Jacob in January. They are moving to Sheppard this summer to flyT-38s. Mike and Sheri Mills had their first son, Michael James (who is “justperfect” including his “really, reallylongtoes”). Sheri was happy that BigDaddy Mills had some boy swimmers in there. Congratulations to all.

Fairchild AFB, WA 99011

W: (509) 247-2525/DSN: 657-2525

H: (509) 244-9775

Melissa.cunningham@fairchild.af.mil fchdrider@msn.com

‘Greetings ‘96ers! Well, the DarkAges in Spokane are finally over and we are basking in some much needed sun! I hope everyone is enjoying the summer! For some ofyou this means packing up the familyforyet another PCS. Everyone seems to be DC-bound for the compulsoryPentagonassignment. In fact, justtoday I heard that Bob and Melissa Bryant (Wainwright) andJoyce Storm (Gange) will headed that direction soon. Good luck to allwith summer moves and please remember to update your mailing address with theAOG.

Millsy is one proudPapa.

RandomUpdates: Jason Cockrum is living it up in DC and enjoying his time in the Pentagon, where every day is a holiday. Daniel McAlister is still out in L.A. with two great looking kidos. Craig Prichard is married and living in San Antonio. Michael Flynn used a gallon ofbattery acid and some old motor oil and found a ChesapeakeBay storm drain to help celebrate "Earth Day." Matt Callow is married and living in Omaha, NE where he is a “Strike Planner”. Bridget and Nick Guttman are finishing up school in Newport, RI. Ifyou ever get a chance, have that guy play Dire Straits’ Sultan ofSwing. Phenomenal. Phil Kiracofe is selling real estate in NY, NY and is rolling“single” for all you eligible bachelorettes out there. Olin Lau is living in OK City, OK with his beautiful family.

The Mattes Family

I received an update from Scott Mattes. After 10 years in theAF, he decided to accept a ProjectEngineerpositionwith a small Midwestconsultingfirm, the Howard R. Green Company, based in Des Moines, Iowa. Todayhe is a group leaderforthe company’snewlydevelopedgeospatial business unit. Theyprovide geographical information systems (GIS) in support and spatial analysis solutions to clients located in the Midwest, Sunbelt area, and the Persian Gulf. His group also provides GIS services forfarmers. He enjoys the position’s leadership opportunities and the challenges ofgrowing a business. He continues to operate his own little family farm in his “free time” and enjoys some deer huntingwith some ofour classmates. Scott and his beautiful wife, Kimberly, recently celebrated their 12th anniversaryand enjoytheir three beautiful girls: Holly (5), Paige (3) and Karley (5 months). Ifyou are ever traveling along 1-80 in the Des Moines area, please give him a shout out.

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I also received a note from Mike Patterson. After graduation, he was hooked up with a sweet casualjob in the athletic ticket office. Those good deals never last too long and soon enough he was headed to ColumbusAFB forpilottraining. He got a KC-135 to McConnell AFB in his drop and headed offto Altus for training. He wrapped up his training in Sep '98, and married his sweetheart, Michelle, before packing up the U - Haul and making the move toWichita, KS. Theywere stationed at McConnell for three years. Michelle had an opportunity to teach in Newton, KSwhile Mike flew and deployed, flewand deployed.. .sound familiar to many ofyou? They made some incredible life-long friends during their time in Kansas, butwhenthe threeyears were up, theAF decided to sendthemback to ColumbusAFB, MS.

Theyhad four months at the Pilot InstructorTraining in Mike’s home state of

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Texas before making the drive deeper in the South to Mississippi. Shortly after theirarrival to ColumbusAFB, theirdaughter Lauren was born. Theyspent the next fiveyears in Columbus enjoyingtrainingyoungpilotswhere Mikebecame an evaluatorpilotand an ADO. Theymade a familydecision as theywrappedup this assignment to finish Mike’scommitment andleaveactiveduty. He did a brief stintwith the Reserves in Columbus and finallyleft flying in June 2006.

The Patterson’s headed to Wisconsin to be closer to family, and Mike was hired byTrane (the air conditioner folks... ”It’s hard to stop aTrane”) as a MarketingEngineer. His department develops and supports software which analyzes the energyconsumption ofbuildings. Although not as glamorous as flying, he finds it extremelyinterestingwork. He has gained a lot ofvisibilitywith energypricesgoingthrough the roofand the growing“green” movement picking up steam. He spends much ofhis time training customers how to use their software, developing new training programs, and help customers develop solutions for reducing energy consumption.

Theymoved to La Crosse,WI in 2006 and couldn’tbe happier. Their daughter enjoys school and will be finishing first grade this year. Michelle works with one ofthe regionalhospitals in their compliancedepartmenthelping ensure thatthey meet the multitude offederal and state requirements. Aside from his job at Trane, Mike remains in the Reserves as an Academy Liaison Officer. In fact, his first candidate was just accepted and will be joining the class of2013!

Jimand'AshleyPedersen at thepresentation oftheLoudermilk-ChavezLeadershipAward.

Jim Pedersen, his daughter, Ashley, and Kerry Loudermilk’s family were present for the unveiling ofthe Loudermilk-Chavez Leadership Award this spring. Awonderful way to memorialize Kerry, the Loudermilk/Chavez Leadership Excellence Award is earned by a member oftheWomen’s Basketball Team whose level ofcommitment and dedication demonstrated a never wavering“Team First” attitude. No matter which pillarofAcademylife, the award winnerselected forthis award has demonstrated an unselfish nature through their daily actions. Whether it was scrapping for a loose ball on the court, helping someone with theirhomework or assuming extra duties in the squadron these selfless acts forge the lifelongconnection between teammates. The plagueinscription reads:

“Even among leaders, there are leaders. Sometimes they walk softly and sometimes theyare the mostprominentamong us. Whetherobservingfrom the back orchargingfrom thefront they are the ones upon whom we all relyand look to in those meaningful moments, both on andoffthecourt. Theynaturally embodythe traits thatthe restofus strive to perfect. Theyconsistently create the paths upon which to lead others down. They are our peer mentors, our best friendsand our beloved teammates. Through theirdedication, commitment, andpure loveforall, theyforged a team ofathletesfor a season and afamily ofgraduatesfor a lifetime. For their selfless service to all ofus, we proudly salute them.”

Finally, I caught up with AndiVinyard. The photo is from herpromotion to Lt Col at the beginning ofApril. Jennifer Hammerstedt and Jenny Caballero (Spindle) made it out forthe ceremony at the base oftheWashington Monument. They had a fun girl’s weekend taking in the DC sights and a night out with Kurt Kremser, Jason Bailey, Rex Ballinger, and Mike Conley. Andi and herhusband, ChuckPodalak, are leaving DC this summer as Andi takes command of a squadron at Elmendorf, AK at the beginning ofJuly.

Well, that is all for now. Please keep die emails and picturescoming myway! Have a wonderful summer!

Take care, Mel.

Melvin E. Maxwell, Jr.

756 Granite Drive Ofallon, IL 62269

mel_maxwell97@hotmail.com

melvin.maxwell@ustranscom.mil

Hope all is well for everyone. 1’m down to 45 days left in this deployment and am looking forward to getting back stateside. Mywife sold my car, shipped it to California, bought me a new one, and refinanced our house, allwhile enteringher 7th month ofpregnancy. About the onlything she hasn’t done iswrite this Checkpoints update. Thanks to the folks who wrote inwith updates; I'm still useful for something. Here’s the news...

Klaus Franze read about Scott Waters waiting to go into trainingwith the FBI in the last update and reached out to connect with Scott. Klaus is an FBI SpecialAgentworking violent crime matters out ofthe Los Angeles Division. How cool is that?

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Tracy (Waller) Hasse and her husband are PCSing to VirginiaBeach in May where he’ll be stationed as a Navy intel officer andTracywill be starting law school at RegentUniversity. Tracy’s thinking about becoming a NavyJAG.

Bonar Luzeywrote in with some great news. He and Michelle Pryor are in the 10-month DoD Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) whichis one oftheDoD'spremierleadership programs givingaggressivehandson training and immersion from a joint and interagencyperspective. Bo sent in a picture from a dayhe and Michelle spentthe daywith theNavySEALs from SEAL DeliveryVehicle Team 1 on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

MichelleandBo lookingmean!

Bo writes, “We had the opportunity to become immersed in howthey conduct special warfare mission from the sea, air, and land. This is only one of hundreds ofopportunities we have hadwith thewarfighter. Tomorrowwe are offto Korea to spend time with US Forces Korea and get a forward deployed forces perspective. InApril we will spend time in DC getting the Elements of Power before heading offto Brussels, Belgium for some time trainingwith NATO/SHAPE and then to Berlin and Germany to get an appreciation of EUCOM.” Congrats to Bo and Michelle for the selection and participation in such a greatprogram. Way to represent ’97!

Maurice Dunn checked in after participating in aWayofLifeAlumni Group activitysupporting the African American Pioneers inAviation Historyprogram at the NationalAir and Space Museum. Moe got to visitwith graduates ranging from the class of ’68 to ’01, as well as one ofthe originalTuskegee Airman, Curtis Christopher Robinson. Moe’s favorite experience was meeting MarionAnthonyMarshall, a ’68 gradwho goes byTony. Tonywas a navigator who was shot down alongwith his pilot overVietnam. According to the LibraryofCongress, he flew over 260 missions out ofa base in Thailand before

promotion toLtCol.

Jenny Caballero, Audi VinyardandJenniferHammerstedt celebrateAudi’s

becoming a “guest” at the Hanoi Hilton in July 1972, and subsequentlybeing released alongwith his fellowcaptives the followingspring.

TonyMarshall ’68 and Moe Dunn

Jason Ausdemore wrote in this past March with a good deal of news after returningfrom a skivacationwith a number ofclassmates. Jason is a full-time ReservistflyingC-17satMarchAir Reserve Base. Hewrote, “Sara (marriedfor seven years) and I have two wonderfulgirls (Savanna (5), and Siena (2). We are reallyenjoying the area and the friends we've gotten to know. Brother in-law Dave Page is married to AudreyPage (Sandrock ’96) and lives about three hours awayinVentura. They are expecting a babygirl one weekfrom today. This brings their total to three with sons/best nephews on the planetRobby (4), and Tyler (2). Dave is a project manager for Raytheon in Santa Barbara. Josh Snowis in Marketingfor Covidien in New Haven, CT and has two boys. Matt Orlowskyis at the NavalWar College in Newport, RI preparing to deploy in the summer. Family (2 boys, 1 girl) is heading back to DC in the middle of the summer. Adam Lefringhouse is going back to school in Monterey on the government's dime where he is easilymastering the finer points ofArabic. Sean Bradleyis in lawenforcement in Southern California. Dave, Josh, Matt, and I were all roommates at LangleyAFB in the late ’90s. Bradley and Lefty would routinelydrive up from Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point for parties and a return to civilization. As everyone PCSed, we have done our best to have annual reunions. Thus, this pastweekfound Josh and Matt on flights from the East Coast to LA and then drivingsixhours to Mammoth Mountain in the Sierras. Not to be outdone, Leftyfound driving to be almost as challenging and wound up logging over a thousand miles round trip for the weekend. The conditions at Mammoth were great and we had a blasttellingstories, playing guitar, and drinkingFatTireburied in the snow. Bradley's ShaunWhite impersonation landed him in the ER, but in fiveweeks the doctorpromised that the ligaments in his shoulderwill heal. Dave and I also learned a powerful lesson thatis worth repeating...purchase and apply snow chains to yourvehicle BEFORE there is 18 inches of snow on the ground Sundaymorning. The night before everyone left, we tookthis picture at the Mammoth Brewery,watching the tournament after a longdayskiing.

Greetings from the metropolis of Sumter, SC! This is Jen (Petykowski) Mulder, pinch-hittingfor Karin on the next couple ofCheckpoints articles. I received a number ofgreat updates from around theworld and hope to hear from even more ofyou for the next article. You can send a note via email or facebook, ifthat’s easier.

It’s been ayearfull ofchange for me—transitioningfromAD to the Reserves, moving, having a baby, and startingwork again as a contractor. Besides the birth of our son, Travis, oneofthebest moments was Chris’ (’01) andmylongawaitedweddingceremonythis past November. We were able to spend some time with our family and friends, including some other grads. Gretchen (Rhoads) Clohessy, Angela (Tauriainen) Kornahrens, Sara (Freeman) Zakrzewski (’99),and Matt Hall (’01) all made the trip to Virginia Beach.

Lastly, a couple updates on new arrivals. Julie (Thode) and Brian Mulloy recendywelcomed their 10 lb 7 oz new addition, Keegan, to the family. Julie passed on that Steph (Jardine) Brown had a babygirl, Meegan. No word as to whetherthe rhyming names was intentional. Alrightall, that’s all I have forthis round. Until next time...Mel.

Visit the AOGWeb Site

www.usafa.org

Mulder Wedding:Jen, Angela, Sara, and Gretchen. Gretchen and Tom and their two kids are busy preparing for a PCS to San Antonio, TXthis summer. Tom will beworking atAFPCwhile Gretchen continues herwork as a governmentcivilianwith DTRA. Unfortunately, Jenn (Pollard) Steliga couldn’t make it to thewedding—she was a little preoccupiedhaving a baby on the other side oftheworld. Jenn, herNavyhusband, Mark, and baby Caitlin are thoroughlyenjoyingliving in a small German village and traveling around Europe. We also missed seeing Felicia (Bell) and JeffMohr. Felicia is finishing up her second ofthree years ofphysical therapyschool, while Jeffis busyflyingboth at theAcademyand forSouthwestAirlines.

Jenn, Caitlin, and Mark (farright) withJenn’s cousins.

JeffFindley wrote in from A1 Udeid. He’s working for the CFACC, in charge offlightsafetyin theAOR, managing6AEWs and4AEGs in 6 countries. He saw a number ofour classmatesduringhistravelsthroughouttheAOR. He ran into JeffQueen and Don Siegmund in Balad, Iraq andCaseyVile in Kabul,Afghanistan. Of course, A1 Udeid is like a reunion byitself. ReggieWesley and Jason Brugmanwork in the CAOCwithJeff. On the familyside,Jeffhas been happily married to his wife, Kelly, for the last ten years. She’s been a great military spousetaking care oftheir two daughters, Presliwho turns 7 in May, andLorelai who had her 2nd birthdaywhile Jeffwas deployed.

Brandon Maroon is headed to Iraq for a 365-day tour that will end up being about 15 months, includingtheArmycombat and counterinsurgencytraining he is currentlyreceiving at Ft. Riley, Kansas. Hehas beentrained in a varietyof courses to include Combat Lifesaver, IED detection, and night convoy and firingoperations. Brandon will be on a transition team responsible for advising his Iraqi counterparts on Logistics and Materiel Distribution. He recently

From left are Josh Snow, Adam Lefringhouse, Dave Page, Jason’s brother Jeff,Jason Ausdemore, Matt Orlowsky, and Sean Bradley.

ran in to Nathan Harris who is doing well as the acting commander ofthe Logistics Readiness OfficerTechnicalTraining School at LacklandAFB, TX.

Brandon Maroon in combat trainingatFt. Riley, Kansas.

Johnny Beurer is stationed at Randolph AFB in the 19 AF. He’s a Stan-Eval nazi forAETC helos and the occasional briefer for our old commandant G-Lo (now a 4-star). He is married with 2 kids (Hannah is 5 and Johnny is 3). Last year, JohnnydeployedtoAfghanistan as anAirAdvisor. His assessment: “Itwas a cool job but an even better experience when I showed up and found one of myold SUPT roommates, DerekMentzer, was alreadythere.We got to drive all over Kabul together and traveled most ofthe country. Between the 2 ofus, I think our programs were close to $1.5B. Air Power is not cheap!” Johnnywill be heading to Fairchild in June to become the new commander at the 36th RQF. Some other updates Johnny sent in: Brian Bellamy is also at Randolph on the fighter side. He ran into Mona Alexander, who is stationed at Laughlin, right before the Super Bowl; Brent Beaulieu is at KirtlandAFB, StuAlley is nowwith Southwest Airlines, and Rich Meziere is getting out oftheAF soon with plans to wed on Oct 11th.

Another update from Texas—Austin this time...Jeremy Jones is at the UniversityofTexas gettinghis MBA (full-time) andwill be interningwith Goldman Sachs this summer. Ron Lobato is still in the Marines and is teaching ROTC at UT. He is also getting his MBA in the executive program.

MarkWall is a Radiologist at KeeslerAFB. He seesTom Paynter (Ortho), Anne Gray (OB/GYN), and JustinCummings (InternalMedicine) aroundthehospital almost daily. Mark is currentlydeployed to BagramAFB,Afghanistan, until the end ofAugust. Mark is married to a civilian physician, whom he fullyacknowledges is the smarter one (takes a good man to admit that one—hope it getsyou some brownie points, Mark!) and is building a home in Ocean Springs, MS.

Nowup to Newjersey- GageAndersonjust moved to McGuireAFB after3.5 years at Dover. He will be working in theAMCTest/Eval Squadron. JDKiker also works there. Gage and his wife, Serena, are lookingforward to welcoming their first boy into the world at the end ofMay. That will make number 3 for Gage and Serena. Which brings me to the next topic.. .1 thinkwe have estabfished a new record. Nate Flint and hiswife brought home theirlatest addition in September—babynumber seven! Ifanyother ’98ers have managed to have more than seven kids, we’d love to hear about it.

Moving on to South America.. .Ben Menges is living the hard life in Lima, Peru while finishingup his Olmsted Scholarship. He’s got one more semester to go and then will likelybe sent to MacDill to fly C-37s.

Last, but certainly not least, Knute Adcock has been stationed in Germany forjust over a yearflyingthe C-40. He’s enjoyingfife and German beer. CarlRay Conwayand he went skiing this past November in Obergurgl, Austria. Knute says to look him up ifyou findyourselfgoingthrough Ramstein.

James W. Busch

(830) 734-2411

DSN: 732-5142

buschfl6@yahoo.com

james.busch@laughlin.af.mil

Shiners! Ifyou five in a cave somewhere and haven’t heardyet, our reunion is on the books for the week of26 Sept. The bulk ofthis issue will be dedicated

Class of 1999 10th Reunion HOMECOMING

Sept 23-27,2009

Falcons vs. San Diego State

to getting out the info pertaining to the event (I haven’t gotten any news about any marriages, babies, or other life-changingevents).

For planningpurposes, events will beginWednesdaynight with check-in at the hotel and an informal social. It looks like theAntler’s Hilton in downtown will be our base ofoperations, contract pending at this time, with rooms being around$100 pernight. Thursdaywillbethe golftournament and other activities for non-golfers, a prep school mini-reunion, and more food and drinks at the hotel. Fridaywill be a CadetArea Open House, lunch at Mitch’s/Amies, USAFAsenior staffbriefings, a Class photo and Memorial Service, and a class dinner. Saturdaywill be the tailgate, football game, and afterparty. Currently there is nothingplannedSundaysince that iswhen most peopledepart.

This is a rough draftbased on howthingshavetraditionallybeen done. Iwant to emphasize that this is our reunion, and we can reworkthings based on our needs and desires, but we have to start now. The longer we wait the more thingswill belocked in so please, send me your comments, concerns, and suggestions as soon as possible.

Normally, the class does mailings for advertising, registration, and reminders. In an effort to keepyour costs down, my plan is to maximize the use oftechnologyand do most ofthis via electronic means. First off, theAOGwebsitewillhostthe formal registration and generalinfo. The secondaryand most up to date source ofinfo will be our “USAFA Class of’99 Reunion" event page on Facebook. There is a blog to follow there ifyou want to publiclyvoice any comments or suggestions, or correct my spelling and grammar (Bobby). Thatwill also bewhere I solicityour opinions on specifics that we control, like times and entertainment forevents, menu selections, etc. As alwaysyou can contact me directlyvia anyoftheabovee-mails/ phone#s, andI willsend afewshotgun e-mails outhighlightingimportantdeadlines. Realizewith this plan the onus is on you to periodicallycheck in and get the latest info. I’d also encourage everyone to log onto the AOG website and update your personal info. Ifyou’d reallyratherhave snail mail, let me know.

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While we are on the issue ofmoney, you can plan on a couple hundred bucks above and beyond hotel, plane tickets, and football tickets to cover the costs ofthe various events. Yes, the events will be a la carte so you can pick and choosewhatyou want to spend your money on, butthere will be a non-negotiable “reunion fee” chargedbytheAOG to cover their costs. Like I said before, I will do everything in my power to keep our costs down, but unless the millionaires among us subsidize the event it ain’t gonna be free.

In the meantime, I’d love to hearfrom you. Keep the info and pictures flowing, andwhenyou have a minute shoot me an e-mail to let me knowifyou’re planning on attending or not and what events you’re interested in. That will help me focus my limited energy and resources towards making this a truly memorable event. Until then....James

Jason “JW” Simmons Simmons@USAFA2000.com jw_simmons@yahoo.com

Classmates,

Well, the Majors’ fist dropped since our last class news and after which there was lots ofcongrats email flyingaround. It was good to see such a high rate for promotion and congratulations go out to all those that were selected. In addition, congrats go out to all those no longerwearingthe uniform that continue to amaze me and otherclassmateswith outstanding accomplishments. Keep striving for excellence in all you do! Now on with the news.

None Yet

HansAnker got married back in Februaryand picked up a cushyfederaljob with the FAAin Denver. He's also enjoying his “weekends” in the 240th Civil Engineering Flight at Buckleywhere he pinned on Major back in September thanks to the Guard.

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Beckham andAnker

(Probablythe first in our class to pin on Major.) During Han’s annual training lastwinter, he ran into his BCT roommate JeffBeckham who is flyingF-16s out ofOsan. He sent me a picture ofhim and Jeff, but Hans, I think I we’d like to see a shot ofyou and your wife.

Elaine (Melendez) Bryant is now stationed at USAFAteachingAero and she, alongwith herhusband, Chet, has two boys and is enjoying life. She is neighbors with Tom Pina and his wife, Kristina, who is pregnant with their third baby;Tom isworkingunderthe Defense Contract ManagementAgency not on USAFAproper, but therelocally. Anotherfella found at USAFA, is DanVisosky; he has one ofthe bestjobs in the Air Force Falcon golfcoach. Jen (Trevino) Bailey and GreggBailey are at McChord and are getting to spend some time togetheragain, since Greggrecently returned from a deployment.

Carolyn Walkottejust finished heryear tour in Iraq. She spent the lastyear workingwith the Iraqis on rebuildingtheirAir Force. It was a unique experience, but she is glad to be out ofIraq. The next challenge is a PCS to MainzKastel, Germanywiththe485th IntelligenceSquadron.Also, in Germany,Bryan Trinkle got an extension on hisAir Liaison Officerjob with the 5th Corps, so he and April will be in Heidelberg until early fall.

Ben Matthews,wife, Julie, gave birth to their second child (Samuel) on April 1st. Ben now lives in Dallas and is a program managerwith Jacobs Engineering and taking care ofthe toll roads around the metroplex.

The Matthews Family

Dan Shinoharahas leftRobinsAFB andisworking forJFCOM. When I caught up with him on email, he was, finishing C4I Joint Forces StaffCollege Course at Norfolk,VA. And on a whirlwind tour ofJTF-GNO, DISA, NSA, NRO,White House CommAgency, and J-Staffat Pentagon. Inothernew, Dan and his wife had a babygirl last summer and promise a photo for an upcoming Checkpoints. Ryan O’Hara is going to go get his PhD inAeronautical Engineering at AFIT afterhis latest rough tour at UMass ROTC.

Please send class news anytime you have updates to me or post something on my Facebook, MySpace, or even our Yahoo Group... you can’t sayI’m not trying. Thanks.

Jason “Cueball” Simmons

Faith (Hitchcock) Dunn 6423 NW 94th Court Johnson, IA 50131

Faithd03@hotmail.com

Hi there ’Olers,

I thinktheword is getting out aboutthe FacebookUSAFAClass of2001 page I created because I’ve seen a lot ofpeoplejoin since the last article came out. I encourage everyoneto checkitout;jointhepage andkeep theupdatescoming! Shane Owen sends his first update - he has been married for6 years andthey justwelcomed theirfirst child, Bankston, on 14 November. They are currently stationed at RAF Mildenhall, but he is deployed to Iraqflying MC- 130s. Dave Schichtle is finishing up lawschool in Lansing, MI and will graduate on May 16. He’ll be taking the Colorado Bar Exam this summer andthenisoffto hisfirstJAGassignmentatYokota AB, Japan.

expecting a babyboy in May. Mark Skalko and his wife are stationed in Grand Forks ND and have been there for almost 3 years where he is instructor pilot in the KC-135. They have two little girls, Madison (3) and Audrey who was born on Halloween. BarryWeaver and hiswifejustwelcomed theirfirst baby, a girlnamed London Marie on March 19. They are in Littie Rock,ARwhere he isACintheC-130J. Dustin Lybeck and his wife had a babygirl in Feb 08. He and his wifejust left Langleyand theyjust PCSed to Lackland AFB. He started residencyin Orthopedic Surgeryand they are settling into SanAntonio. He is also taking a breakfor a bit in Iowawhere hewill donate a kidney to his brother - good luck Dustin!

Josh Lyleseparated from theAF in 2006 after a stint at IncirlikAFB,Turkey. He is now living in Charlotte doing construction management and is married with three kids (Emma - 5, Jack - 3, and George - 9 months). Jenn DiCarlojust PCSed from Ellsworth to Eglin in February. She is working at the 28 Test and Evaluation Squadrondoingoperational testing ofair to ground munitions.

Last November she completed her first IRONMAN Triathlon and is doing a TDYtoVegasshortly. Laura Rennerjust launched her first business! They are sellingbilingual storybooks, right now Chinese/English but will be expanding to Spanish/English soon with the hopes oftargeting children attending dual language schools or those interested in learning anew languagego to www.bububooks.comforthe details!

Garrett and Carlin Fisherjustwelcomed their second girl, Caitlin, in March. Andyand MaryEdith Malinwelcomed theirsecond child and first boy, Pierce Andrew Malin, on March 12th. Andyisjustfinishing his fourthyearoffive of his orthopaedic surgery residencyand MaryEdith is workingpart time for an education policy company.

Andyand PierceMalin in thefootballpose!

Mike and I are staying busywith work and chasing Grant around. We are going toVegas in April to celebrate our 30th birthdays and Mike will be going to Florida in June for Brent Bak’s wedding.

Mike and I will be running the Dam-to-Dam 20K (12.4 miles) at the end of May. We will be running in honor ofHollyAdams’ 30th birthday andwill be takingpledges (donations or per-mile pledges) to raise money for her scholarship foundation. Eachyear it gives a scholarship to a senior from her high school that embodies the qualitiesexemplifiedbyHolly-leadership, integrityand service. Ifyouwould like to donate, you can send a check to myhome address listed above and I will be sure to make the donation in your name to her family. That is all I have for now. Thanks again for all the updates!

Amy Kauvar

806 Magnolia Bend San Antonio, TX 78251 215-280-1760

amykauvar@gmail.com

Class Website; www.usafa02.org

4 Sabre Society Donors

DannyHeilwrites afterspending 5 years in the EC-130H at DavisMonthan; heis nowatVanceAFB as an IP in theT-1 with GregMccann, JeffUlmer, and Fred Gallegos. He also works with ChrisJacksonwho is aT-38 IP and Kurt Duffwho isflying AT-38s. He andhiswife, Dianna, have a three-year-olddaughter with another one on the way this summer. Drew Blasd sends an update fromWhitemanwhere he andAdam Goodpasturehave been stationedfor about3 years. They are both deployedflyingthe B-2 andAdam is marriedwith a little one. Dan Knerland hiswife have also been atWhitemanfor about 2 years. RichIinton, hiswife and 2 kids are at Lacklandwhereheis flying the C-5. Dan Diaz, FrankandAudra Lyons are also in SanAntonio.

RyanAnderson is teachingAFROTC at Colorado State. He and his wife are

In honor ofthe 50th anniversary ofthe graduation ofthe firstUSAFA class, Jonathan Shafer (‘59) from the beginningofthe “LongBlue Line” has authored a bookcalled OffWe Go He has written this retrospective ofhis four years at The Air Force Academy. It is sprinkled with humor, seriousness, and interestingthoughts aboutthe then and now that only could be written from an actual experience. The work includes photos oftheAcademy, arriving “new” cadets, special events, and other historical photos. There are no hard copies available, but it can be purchased online for immediate download. For a synopsis and to see the cover photograph, go to www.wanttoget pubfished, com.

1 Sabre Society Donors

Haven’theard much from fellowclassmates over the pastcouple ofmonths; however, I have some news ofmy own. IwenttomyfirstUSAFAAOGmeeting with theAlamo chapterthis month. I went was because our formerCommandant ofCadets, General Lorenz was the guest ofhonor! What a small world! It

was a fabulous night with lots ofmeeting and greeting with alumni. I encourage all ofyou to tryto get involved in yourlocal USAFAAOG chapters. My one piece ofadvicewould be thatyou need to knowwho is still active dutysporting their mufti forthe evening; it maybeyourcommandingGeneral! In the photo from left are: Audra Lyons (’01), Master ofCeremonies; Major General Anthony Przybyslawski (76), President ofAlamo Chapter AOG; Amy Kauvar (Schultz); General Stephen Lorenz (73), Guest Speaker and currently CommanderofAETC; and Kay Grosinske (’82), Social Events Chair ofAlamo AOG.

Hope you all have fabulous summer vacations planned. For all those who are still active duty, I hopeyou are takingadvantage ofyour Disneydiscounts and free passes. Dave and 1 have a trip planned over Memorial Dayweekend and we can’t wait to get our picture with Mickey!

Speaking oftraveling around, we are heading offto Salt Lake City. I will be graduating from myperiodontal residencyinJune and be PCSing to HillAFB. My husbandwill be matriculating at the Univ. ofUtah for a fellowship in vascularsurgery. We’re excited forthe snow andthe slopes and I can’twait to be out of“school again... I want my sleep!

I hope to hear from more ofyou this time around. Please let me knowhow life is treating you, where you’re stationed, new family additions, vacations, strategic missions, deployments, marathons run, books written or anything interesting to share!

Godspeed and happy summer! Amy Kauvar

Susan Lynn Doyle (937) 760-1076

Susan.doyle@wpafb.af.mil

Susan_Doyle@post.harvard.edu

Jeniffer (Nigro) Larry, and their son Michael Van der Oord are stationed at Langley. Larry is still Active Duty and Jenifferworks full time in the Reserves. They are stayingbusy as theycomplete theirMBAs and keep up with theirlittle boyMichaelwho just turned 1 this month!

Jeniffer (Nigro), Larryand Michael Van der Oord. CharityWinters returned from her third Iraqdeployment. She will be moving from Guam and on to full time graduate studies inTennessee.

JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY!

YOUR MONEY HELPS FUND

CADETWING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED.

CALL THE AOG FOR INFO.

Charity Winters in an Iraqi vineyard.

Mike, Chelsea and Liam Strasser are doingwell at Lakenheath and expect to welcome a babysister on 17April. All ofthe other Bolars from 2003 are still in Afghanistan (Dave VanYperen, JeremyMullen, Staci Cotner, Todd Hudson, Brian Novchich, Chris Wee, and Anthony Kelley). James Rodgers returned and is at SOS before his remote to Korea.

Russ Fette is back fromAfghanistan and he and his wife, Carrie, are expecting their second little girl, Adeline Jean Fette, inApril. Daniel Stoker is going to Misawa in Julywith his wife, Erica, and son Caleb to flyblock 50s and mightjust high five Tommy and JanetTauer on theirway out ofJapan.

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Bryan Spence (Thunderbirds) finished his tour at Misawa AFB, Japan with the 14th FS (Samurai), after two combat tours in Iraq. Riddler is now stationed at KunsanAFB, Korea with the 35th FS (Pantons), flying the F-16 in support ofour mission in South Korea. He has particularlyenjoyed the interaction with other NATO troops fromAustralia and NewZealand as well as SouthAfrica.

Please keep the updatescomingandhelpspread theword to our classmates. I transition in June so I’m not on the global anymore butyou can always reach me at Susan_Doyle@post.harvard.edu. Take care and keep havingfun! Susan

Breezy (Long) Heddinger

Cell: (719) 213-3205 breezy.heddinger@usafa-grads.com windy04@gimail.af.mil breezy.heddinger@usafagrads.com

We’ve had a quietspring in terms ofclass news, but not for a lack ofactivity, I’m sure. I think we all might be feeling a little worn out these days, but mostly with goodthings—marriage, kids, deployments, leading the younger folk. For the non-rated still in uniform who are approachingthe end ofcommitment, congrats on fiveyears ofhardwork, andbestwishes forwhicheverpathyou choose from there!

1 Sabre Society Donors

We do have one piece ofgood news to share this quarter. Christine Mott is offto school at the University ofColorado through AFIT, sponsored by USAFA's BiologyDepartment faculty search. She’ll be in school for the next 18 months in the Department ofEcology and EvolutionaryBiology. For those who are wonderingwhere she went when she dropped offthe GAL, her new “work" email will be scout24@gimail.af.mil. Though she’ll miss theWest Coast, she says she can’t wait to get back to Colorado. We wishyou luck, and thanks for staying in touch!

Paula Delapasse

196 Cambria Drive Beavercreek, OH 45440 (225) 603-4450

paulamaffey@juno.com

paula.delapasse@wpafb.af.mil

Wewill pickup with the updateswhere I left offlast edition! Itjust dawned on me that about the time you will be reading this, those ofus still wearing the uniform will be theAir Force’s newest Captains! Congratulations, we made it! Now, on to a new adventure where we can’t use the “I’m just a Lieutenant” excuse and new Lt’s look at us like we are old and wise.

Erin Jackson and Phil Jacksonjust got to HillAFB in Utah and are enjoying their firstwinter there since theylove to ski. Erin is a BioenvironmentalEngineer and doing readiness work. Phil is flying F-16s and deploys in January.

Their daughter Hadassah is 15 months old! Erin passedalong that she works with Stephanie King as well.

Ian Bertram wrote that you'll all be happy to knowthat after a three-year sabbatical called pilottraining, he finally found work on the fringe ofthe AF flyingHueys at Minot. He loves the cold andthefactthatfewpeople even know thattheAF has helicopters. He is also 3+ years marriedbut no kids and no plans for them in the near fiiture.

Since graduation, Brady Grebenc startedwith casual at TyndallAFB. After casual, he went to Moody for UPT, got the T-1 in the drop. He finished the TIs at Columbus since Moody was T-6s only. Brady now belongs in the old man groupwho went to pilottraining at a base that is no longer a trainingbase! Out ofUPT, Bradygot the mightyKC-135, not his first choice, but he loves it now. He is at FairchildAFB. Bradysaid he was deployed 5 months lastyear and left again the first ofDecember for another2 months. He has a ton ofhours, and wouldn't trade them for anything but maybe a couple more months at home. While at Fairchild, unfortunately, Bradysaid theyhardlyfly much and he is the chiefoftraining.

Josh McCrarywas in Souda Bay, GreeceTDYwhen hewrote in. He said it has been a challengingassignmentstaying at theRoyal SunHotel in theMed, hiking the Samaria Gorge and eatingGreek cuisine and flying every other day. Josh has been married 3+ years and has a little 18month-old girl. He is flying the RC-135 out ofOffuttAFB.

Dennis Muller is with theAir Force Reserves flyingtheViper out ofNAS JRB FortWorthwith the457th FighterSquadron. He isstill active duty,juststationedwith a Reserve squadron and loving it. Active dutypaywith Reserve hours can’t get much better than that. He deployed this past February.

None Yet Sabre Society Donors

Taylor Sciulli is currentlyflying C- 130s at Ramstein, Germany and enjoyingtraveling around Europe. She actually just completed the Athens Marathon last fall! Taylor is engaged to Mattieu Rigollet, who she met at the C-130 school house in Little Rock, and they are planning a wonderfulweddingthis September. Theydeployed this past summer to Kuwaitwhich was a great experience.

Kevin Rekedal started out down the UPTtrackbut after a chain ofevents and some changes in priorities, hewalked awayfrom that. He was re-classified as an AcquisitionProgram Manager and has PCSed to Hill AFB. He has worked on the Propulsion Modernization Program in theT-38 SystemProgram Office. He was a lead on the investigation on high compressor stall rates on PMP modified T-38s and also a flight test effort attempting to find a fix for engine overheating (also causedbythe PMP mod). Hehasspent a lotoftime at Edwards monitoringthe flighttesting. Kevin is currentlyworking in theA-10 SPO trying to get some new contracts completed for our overseas depotrepairfacilities in Europe and Korea. He is hoping to pick up a grad school slot for his next assignment; hewould love to go to NPS but mayend up doing theAFITthing.

Corey ‘Rufus’ Florendo returned from Nellis lastfallwhere he was flying as Su-30MKI for a month. He is currently aViperpilot at ShawAFB, flyingthe CJs, and living the good life. Corey is married with one little one.

Josh Bassjustmoved to Little Rockafter livingin northern California the last few years (TravisAFB). Josh is still doing CE and did his time in Iraq and is prettyproud ofwhat theyaccomplished over there. He is engaged to a 6’ 2" girl who plays basketball, so his hoop dreams now depend on getting a kid in the NBA. Josh said seriouslythough, myfiance is real cool and I'm excited about getting married this June in Chicago. Josh is also studyingintenselyfor the PE exam with fellow CE classmate Lorraine Burke who is also at Little Rock.

LibbyBadtke Music spent a year casual inAlbuquerque where she met and married her husband, Stephen. Theywent throughpilottraining at Laughlin andafterthat, sheand Stephenboth trackedT-44s to Corpus. She is at LittleRock flyingthe new J model Herk and herhusband is down the street flyingthe Es.

Tim Brown tracked B-52s out ofUPT and is now up in Minot. He was deployed to Guam last fall and loved hitting the beach and scuba diving. He is working on his master’s in International Relations through AMU and keeping up his Russian proficiency.

Bonita Allen and Nate Allen said they can’t complain about living in Hawaii at HickamAFB. Theyhave a two-year-old little girl and anotherlittle one due anyday. Bonitahas beenworkingaround the Comm Squadron forthe last 3 Vz years. She is currently a project manager and learning a lot. The Allen family plans to be in Hawaii until next July.

BobbyHurstis at RamsteinAB, Germanyflyingthe E-model Herks. Hesaid theytransition to J models starting next year and plan to be there until mid2011. Bobbymarried a girl fromValdosta, GAafter pilottraining and they are enjoyingtraveling as much as possible.

Chris Distaso is Security Forces flight/CC at Minot. He just PCSed from Schriever and misses Colorado. He plans to finish his UCCS MBA this May thanks to online classes. He has deployed to Bagramdoingflighdine/fly-away/ convoysecurity and is glad to be back.

I had one last storythat is definitelyworth mentioning. Though not a classmate for long, some ofyou might remember Midshipman Andrew Kinard, Naval Academy Class of2005. Andrew was on exchange to USAFA for one semester. Ifyou happened to watch theAcademyofCountry MusicAwards in earlyApril, you mayhave seen a sharp dressed Marine who introduced singer

TraceAdkins andtheWestPointGlee Club. ThatMarinewas lLtAndrewKinard, who was wounded during a patrol in Iraq in October 2006. 1 Lt Kinard lost both legs in his struggle to survive a direct blast from an IED. Lookhim up to be inspired by his story! Take care and send along your news, Paula

Felisa (Hervey) Dyrud

5434 S. Monrovia Ave. Tucson, AZ 85706

felisa.dyrud@gmail.com (719)352-5991

Facebook group:’’Feel the Fire”

’06,

First, we want to remember our classmateJahna (Haldeman) Foland, who died on April 1 st, after a battlewith lung cancer. To herhusband, David, and all ofJahna’s family and friends, please know we hurtwith you and stand withyou. We honorJahna’s beautiful life and service.

Jake and leva (Kuzminaite) Ashmore wrote from North Carolina; they are justfinishing up the Strike Eagle B-course there at SeymourJohnson andwillbe moving to Lakenheath, UK at the end ofMay. They have really enjoyed their time there, includingconnectingwith a good church family and Officer’s Christian Fellowship.

None Yet

Sabre Society Donors

John Haney is also at SeymourJohnson, and is engaged to Ashley Guthrie. John is permanently stationed there flying Strike Eagles and will deploy in September.Ashley is returning soon from a 4 month C-17 deployment alongwithWill MacVittie, both stationed at Charleston AFB, SC. Brett Black and his wife, Lauren, just showed up from SheppardAFB, for the B-course and are doing great.

Tripp and Carly (Siefken) Johnson had a baby!HadleyRebecca Johnson was born on April 9th, 2009. They say: “We love her like crazy. She's beautiful.” Obviously no debate there—congratulationsTripp and Carly!!

TheJohnsonFamily

Ryan Baker is home now from hisAfghanistandeployment and says it feels good to be back in the US again. He saw Mike Bien before he left for Japan (PCS), and also spent some time with Dave Foland, who is headed back to Oklahoma now to resume training for his instructorjob.

RobCampbelldropped us a lineto let us knowthatheandJennyCokerhadtheir "actual" wedding(completewiththewhite dress!) on Dec. 28th, 2008, and are now bothstationed atMcChordAFB,WAflyingC-17s togetherinthe8thSquadron. They are lovingtheNorthwest andafterthelackofdecentbeerinAltus, OK, find the microbreweries ofWashington to belike a stroll through heaven.

Andre Dieu is also stationed at McChordAFB,WA, but currentlydeployed at IncirlikAFB, Turkey, with the 7th Airlift Squadron. He is a copilot for C- 17s there and he’s airlifted over 1.8 million pounds ofcargo over to Iraq and Afghanistan. He hopes the rest ofthe class is doingwell and hopes to run into you

AndreSieu about to get wet!

all some day... look him up ifyou are in Turkey or Washington! The picture is ofAndre in RamsteinAFB, getting the dollar ride shower.

AliciaTompkins married Zach Carey on April 4th in Houston, TX!

Shawn Ingkiriwangjust gotback (to Singapore) after a year in France. He got his wings and is currently at the Ministry ofDefense doing staffwork. He will be comingtoTucson in earlyJuneforF16conversion, to stayfor7 to 9 months... welcome back Shawn!

Paul Silver is going to Afghanistan with Hugh Miller '07 and his wife, Liz Silver nee Arrington '08, at the beginning ofMay. IN BN and 4th BCT 4ID, respectively.

Carl Chen reports that ’06 is representing strong in the B-1FTU. Class 09-02 includes MattTuchscher, Scott Pontzer, Mike Fech,Will Louie, as well as Carl. Matt Tuchscher is also the first B-1 pilot in history to have attained a 100% academic average. Theyjust finished up with the academic phase and will have headed to the flight-line by the time you read this.

Casey Bayne

6925 Clovercliff Drive Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 (310) 343-5969

checkpoints@caseybayne.com

Hi Class of2007!

By the time this issue reaches you, we will be pinning on First Lieutenant. I knoweveryone is looking forward to that big payraise! Can you believe it has been two years since we graduated? Time has flown by. Please do not hesitate to send me an update on whereyou are at andwhat you are doing. I still have plenty ofroom to add more updates. I did not hear from manypeople this time but here are a fewupdates:

IThe picture shows Kim and Brian reunited in SanAntonio, Texas. It’s great to see classmateswhenyouleast expect it!

TerryFregly-F-15C (TyndallAFB)

TerryFregly

Also, RyanFreaney-C-17 (TravisAFB), Brandon Gould-C-17 (TravisAFB), GeoffCargill-KC-10 (TravisAFB), Chase Scully-T-l (FAIP-LaughlinAFB), Ryan Gavina - C17 (McChordAFB), Ben Hall - MC12 (TBD), Jordan Ornealas - UAV (Creech AFB), Arriane Morrison - UAV (CreechAFB), Blake Nixon - T6 (FAIPLaughlinAFB), Bret Vangroven-F15C, and Matt Barnard -T6 (FAIP LaughlinAFB).

Please shoot me an email at checkpoints@caseybayne.com so I can addyour update to the next edition!

Trenton Sandberg

Sabre Society Donors

Weddings andEngagements: Elizabeth Brendewrites, “On January31st ofthisyear, I got engaged. I met Brian Kiefat here in Grand Forks, ND (a place I dreaded beingstationed) and we're planning a July25thwedding. Those people who said "everythinghappens for a reason" were right! So with just a few months left, there’ s a lot to do. While 1 m keepingbusywith the Communications and wedding-planningworlds, he's currentlyattending Seminary to become a Chaplain for the Army National Guard. We're hoping that an active dutyAir Force slotwill open up for him in the near future. Emily Short will be coming up from Florida to be one of my bridesmaids and I'm sure Brandon Rodts will be attending since he's stationed here with us in the great white tundra.”

450 Illinois Ave., Unit 2 Del Rio, TX 78840 (308) 641-1430

trenton.sandberg@gmail.com

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Richter Class, I heard from Megan (White) McDonald recently. Apparently life is going verywellforboth she andherhusband, Matt (‘07). Theywere marriedlastJuly and are currentlyliving in Crofton, MD (with Mickey, their dog). Matt isworking at Ft. George G. Meade in Maryland while Megan attends Georgetown UniversitySchool ofMedicine.

Elizabeth and Brian

RecentUPTAssignments: Kim Brady - C-17 (McGuireAFB) and BrianWalsh -C-17 (Travis AFB).

Cary Balser and Meaghan Corliss were engaged to be married this coming December 29th in San Diego, CA. Cary popped the question while on the beach in Charleston, SC this past December. Both Meaghan and Cary are currentlyworking as scientific analystsassigned to the Pentagon. Meaghan says they’re both really excited to have moved to a bigcity!

Speakingofthe east coast.. .Jethro Sadorra is also kicking it old school on that end ofthe country. Jet is currentlyworking as a Civil Engineering Officer at LangleyAFB, VA. He’ll be heading to the CE tech school in Ohio pretty soon. Meanwhile, thelast31/2 monthsofhislifehavebeenprettymuch dominatedby the annual LangleyAirShow...soundslike he’sprettybusybut also enjoyinglife.

Rick Loesch and Erin Beeler became engaged on the 30th ofJanuary (the weekend afterErin’s birthday) inAustin,TX. Theweddingdate has been set for September 5th in Austin. Erin is currentlyworking as a Logistics Officer at E)yessAFB,TXwhileRickis in pilottraining(currentlyinT-6training) at Laughlin AFB, TX. (See photo at the top ofthe next column.)

AndrewGalbraith and Leah Pound are engaged to be married on 1 May2010 inKansas City. Andrewis currentlyfinishingup Intel School at GoodfellowAFB, TXwhile Leahis studyingSocial Psychology at the UniversityofKansas. Afterhe graduates in May, Andrew will be heading off to Wright-PattersonAFB, OH. Leahwill befollowingAndrewtoWright-Patterson aftershe graduatesfrom KU. (See photo in next column.)

Galbraith

That’s prettymuch itforthis issue. You get bonus points ifyou can guess how many ‘08ers I mentioned in this article without counting... yeah, I knowI’m a tool. Send me your good news!

Meaghan Corliss and CaryBalser

Rick Loesch and Erin Beeler

Andrew

and Leah Pound

Dr

2009 Air Force Football Schedule

Sept. 5 Nicholls State (Home)

Sept. 12 Minnesota (Away)

Sept. 19 New Mexico (Away)

Sept. 26 San Diego State (Home)

Oct. 3 Navy (Away)

Oct. 10 TCU Home

Oct. 17 Wyoming (Home)

Oct. 24 Utah (Away)

Oct. 31 Colorado State (Away)

Nov. 7 Army (Home)

Nov. 14 UNLV (Home)

Nov. 21 BYU (Away)

Bowl Game TBD

Rusinak Real Estate

Property

and

Vince Rusinak USAFA '68

Nancy Rusinak Brother, R. Berthiaume, USAFA 73