UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY
ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY
Vol. 4 No. 5
Editor
Gares Garber, Jr., ’59
Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Freida Weber
OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES
Charles F. Stcbbins '61
President
Richard G. Head '60
Vice President
Gares Garber, Jr., ’59
Executive Secretary
Directors
Robert L. Browning, ’59
John S. Brush, ’60
Anthony J. Burshnick, ’60
James L. Cole, Jr., ’64
Jon M. Davis, '69
Ronald Deep, ’60
Thomas A. Fryer, '63
Terence J. Gruters, ’68
Gregory G. Hildebrandt, '64
Carl A. Janssen, '68
Arthur D. Kerr, ’61
William T. Manning, ’70
Grover E. Musselwhite, ’63
Terrence L. Petrzelka, ’70
David H. Roe, ’62
R. Nels Running, ’64
Brock T. Strom, ’59
Mack Thies, ’64
Paul R. Viotti, ’66
Austin C. Wedemeyer, ’62
ABOUT THE COVER
At the noon meal formation on Friday, 4 April, a flight of four WWI airplanes, including the replica of a Fokker D-8 pictured on the cover, made a pass over the cadet area to a cheer of approval from the astonished cadets. The flight was made by pilots of the Colorado Springs chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association.
from the SUPERINTENDENT’S DESK
Major General
James R. Allen Superintendent U. S. Air Force Academy
a direct application to the nation’s search for alternative energy sources.
On 12-16 March the faculty conducted the 17th Academy Assembly, co-sponsored by Columbia University. This important conference brings 100 undergraduate students from civilian colleges and universities together with cadet delegates to discuss a topic of national or international importance. This year’s topic was “Multi-National Corporations: Agents of Conflict or Cooperation?” A number of major addresses and panel discussions were held to focus the delegates’ attention on the chief issues to be addressed by the Assembly. This year's keynote speaker was Professor Richard N. Gardner of Columbia University. Additionally, a number of prominent professionals in government, business and higher education acted as discussion chairmen. The Assembly continues to be one of the highlights of the academic year, because it provides an important vehicle for interchange between our cadets and their civilian counterparts.
As winter draws to a close, we are able to look back on a successful period of military and academic training, an outstanding sports season, and the continued growth and cohesion of the Cadet Wing.
Airmanship training has concluded one of its most successful years in the history of the Academy. A new parasail program has been designed to provide more cadets with experience in the basic concepts of parachuting. During the past calendar year, the parachute branch supervised more than 7,800 jumps, the largest number ever recorded at the Academy. Two hundred ninety-five cadets were trained in emergency aircrew parachuting, and 20 qualified as instructor-jumpmasters. Most significantly, this training was conducted with the safest record of any similar program in the armed services.
During the same year, the soaring branch flew more than 11,000 sorties, to make our soaring program one of the largest in the nation. Plans are now being made for the Navigation Division to receive the services of two T-43 aircraft. These airscraft are modified 737’s, specially designed as navigation trainers, and will be flown by Air Training Command pilots. Navigation Division instructors will continue to conduct in-flight instruction.
Another important change will involve the conversion of the aircraft used in our jet training program. Effective 1 June the T-33 fleet at Peterson Field will convert to T-37’s. This improvement will offer us the advantage of a trainer with side-by-side seating and increase instructor/student contact. Equally important, the T-37’s will be operated at reduced maintenance and fuel costs.
These programs, in concert with T-41 pilot indoctrination, promise to continue to provide our graduates with an essential orientation and motivation for flying careers.
The faculty continues to make significant contributions to the Air Force mission through its research projects. Only recently, the Academy received approval to begin a Solar Energy Development and Optimization Program to be funded by Air Force Systems Command. This study will involve applying a solar energy system to a set of quarters in the Academy housing area. Colorado offers a unique site for this type of study, due to the quality of sunlight available and the severity of our winters. It is anticipated that this project will run for several years. Cadets will be closely involved through independent study projects and the collection, interpretation and analysis of data. The Academy is pleased to have the opportunity to conduct this project, which can be of future benefit to the Air Force and have
The Academy was fortunate to have completed the most successful winter sports season in our history, with a winning percentage of 80%. The hockey team had one of the best records in the nation, with a 24-5-1 season. The 19 February game with Colorado College was one of the most stirring athletic contests I have ever been privileged to witness. In the last five minutes of the game, the Falcons came from behind to score four goals and to win the contest in sudden-death overtime. This dramatic performance demonstrated the spirit and motivation of the Wing, and the positive benefits which athletic competition lends to leadership training and development of team effort.
One of our basketball players, Dan Kraft, will finish the year as one of the best free-throw shooters in the nation, and the team as a whole is expected to be ranked as one of the nation's top defensive teams for the third year in suecession.
The swimming team finished its third undefeated season. Our All American diver, Rick McAlister, has won 92 successive meets and has been undefeated in four years of dual-meet competition.
The pistol team has scored an undefeated season, with significant wins over Army and Navy.
In track, our 240-yard shuttle hurdles relay set as American indoor record of 27.6, beating by .8 second the old record established by Notre Dame in 1971.
We anticipate entering another excellent Fourth Class on 30 June, which for the first time, will bring the Academy to full capacity. As of 15 March, applications from 7629 candidates have been received, and 1,564 have been identified as fully qualified. The Academy hopes to continue the downward trend in attrition with the Class of ’79, through the continuation of the basic training philosophy used with the Class of ’78. As you may remember, this approach emphasized pride, class spirit, and training with dignity, and resulted in a significant drop in attrition prior to the start of academics.
Every attempt is being made to ensure that each candidate for the Class of '79 is interviewed by a commissioned officer and has the opportunity to visit an Air Force installation. This program, known as “TOP TALK II,” is designed to motivate the candidate and to improve his expectations with regard to both the Air Force Academy and the operational Air Force. More than 200 officers are involved in this effort, nation-wide, including a significant number of Academy graduates.
(Continued on Page 24)
Captain Bryan A. Rye, Class of 1971, was killed in a CH53C aircraft accident on 24 January, 1975, near Ban N a k h a m, Thailand. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William A. Rye of 1341 Macbeth St., McLean, VA 22101
As a cadet, Capt. Rye lettered in swimming. was a member of the Photo, Water
CAPTAIN BRYAN A. RYE Polo, and Saddle Clubs, and was active in the Choir and on the Dance Committee. He majored in History and Western European Affairs. He was on the Dean's List and Commandant’s List.
Capt. Rye’s operational duty stations included Torrejon AB, Spain and Aviano AB, Italy. At the time of his death he was assigned to Nakhon Phanom, Thailand.
Capt. Rye was interred in Arlington Cemetery on 3 February.
On 12 March, 1975, Captain Joseph S. Ross, Class of 1966 was declared KIA after having been listed as MIA since 1 August, 1968. He was reported missing while on a night strike mission in North Vietnam when the F-4D aircraft in which he was co-pilot did not return.
As a cadet, Capt. Ross lettered in footCAPTAIN JOSEPH S. ROSS ball and track. He majored in International Affairs and was active in the Ski and Aquatic Clubs. Following graduation, Capt. Ross was assigned to Laughlin AFB, Texas for pilot training. He was then assigned to Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. for specialized aircrew training in the F-4C.
Ross is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Capt. Billy W. Beller, Class of 1965 died at George AFB, Calif, on 13 March, 1975 of acute coronary thrombosis. Captain Beller is survived by his wife, Cynthia and his children, Dawn and Marc, of 1101 S. Rotherford, Evansville, IN 47714.
As a cadet. Captain Beller was active in the Ski and Bowling Clubs. Following graduation he was assigned CAPT. BILLY W. BELLER to Laredo AFB. Texas for pilot training. He was subsequently assigned as an F-4 pilot at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ; Cam Rahn Bay, RVN; RAF Bentwaters; and Soesterberg, Netherlands.
Captain Beller was stationed at George AFB, California at the time of his death. Memorial services and interment were held at Evansville, Indiana. Donations to the Billy W. Beller Memorial Fund may be sent to the Association of Graduates, USAF Academy, Colorado 80840.
Mr. Richard D. Haines, Class of 1970, died on 2 March, 1975, after an illness of eight months. He was assigned to the 53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bitburg Air Base, Germany at the time he became ill on 1 July, 1974. He was medically retired on 12 December, 1974.
MR. RICHARD D. HAINES
As a cadet, Mr. Haines was on the Dean’s List and majored in General Studies.
(Continued next page)
Capt.
Perry S. Ross of 43 Highland Ave., Ft. Thomas, Kentucky 41075.
(GONE—Continued from preceeding page)
Following graduation, he was assigned to Laughlin AFB, Texas for navigator training. He was subsequently assigned to Mather AFB, Calif.; Luke AFB, Ariz.; Ubon RTAFB, and Bitburg.
Funeral services were held in Concord, California on 4 March, 1975. He was interred in the Academy Cemetery on 6 March.
Mr. Haines is survived by his wife, Jenny and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Marshall R. Haines, all of 1300 Grove Way, Concord, California 94518.
On 27 F e b u r a r y, 1975, Major Thomas B. Mitchell, Class of 1963 was declared KIA after having been listed as MIA since 22 May, 1968. He was reported MIA when the C-l 30 aircraft on which he was co-pilot did not return from an operational mission in SEA, He is survived by his wife, Norma, of PO Box 58263, Houston, Texas 77058.
As a cadet, Major Mitchell was active in
THOMAS B. MITCHELL the Radio, Ski, Fishing, and Audio Clubs, and served on the Contrails Staff and in the Dance Band. He also participated on the Pistol Team for two years.
Following graduation. Major Mitchell was assigned to Laredo AFB, Texas for pilot training. His operational duty bases included Sewart, Lockbourne, and Naha.
A memorial service was held at the Academy cemetery on 31 March, 1975. Donations to the Thomas B. Mitchell Memorial Fund may be sent to the Association of Graduates, USAF Academy, Colorado 80840.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
—The Association of Graduates has been designated as recipient of a portion of the income to be derived from a trust of approximately $80,000 donated to the Academy by Mr. and Mrs. Earle A. Nutter of San Bernardino, California. Mr. Nutter is a retired WWI pilot. The Association of Graduates administers the trust through the First National Bank of Colorado Springs.
—Correction to Gone But Not Forgotten: The notice of the death of Capt. David C. McCarty which appeared in the Fall 1974 issue of the AOG Magazine stated that he had attended Law School at the University of San Diego. We have since been informed by Mrs. McCarty that he graduated just two months prior to his death. We regret we did not have this information prior to the publication of the article.
On 13 February, 1975, Captain James E. Steadman, Class of 1967, was declared KIA after having been listed as MIA since 26 November, 1971. He was reported missing when the F-4D aircraft he was piloting did not return from an operational mission in Southeast Asia. He is survived by his wife, Penelope, and his children, Karen and
CAPTAIN Michael, of 3149 En-
JAMES E. STEADMAN chanted Circle W„ Colorado Springs, CO.
As a cadet, Capt. Steadman was on the Dean’s List for six semesters. He majored in International Affairs and was active in the Mountaineering and Soaring Clubs.
Following graduation, Capt. Steadman was assigned to Selma AB, Alabama. At the time he was reported as MIA, he was assigned as an F-4D aircraft commander in the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
Lt. William C. C. Wyatt, Class of 1973, was killed in a T-33 aircraft accident near Ithaca, New York on 27 February, 1975. He is survived by his parents, Lt. Col. (Ret.) and Mrs. James L. Wyatt of 3 2 7 0 0 Coastline Drive, Apt. 203, Palos Verdes, Calif. 90274. As a cadet, Lt. Wyatt was active in the Ski, Water Polo, and Water Ski Clubs. He was LT. WILLIAM C. C. WYATT on the Commandant's List for one semester.
Following graduation, Lt. Wyatt was assigned to Williams AFB, Arizona for pilot training. He was assigned to Griffiss AFB, New York at the time of his death.
—The Air Training Officers will hold their 20th Anniversity Reunion in conjunction with Homecoming weekend, 17-19 October, 1975.
—Sabre plaques made by the Wellco Manufacturing Company of Black Forest are all designed to fit the 31 inch scabbard. When ordering sabres to be mounted on these plaques, scabbard length of 31 inches should be specified with the order. Cost of the plaque is now $23, delivered.
—The Cadet Mountaineering Club would like to hear from all past members of the United States Air Force Academy Mountaineering Club to form an alumni mountaineering club.
If anyone is interested, please write to: Lester J. Guidry, Civilian Advisor to the U.S.A.F.A. Mountaineering Club, 1432 Tweed St., Colorado Springs, Colo. 80909
MAJOR
LETTERS
Dear Sir:
The winter issue letter from Captain Leroy W. Stutz, Second Squadron's AOC, brought back memories that I had long since forgotten. Foremost among those memories were my recollections of the Academy's erroneous assumptions about image, leadership and cadet motivation—assumptions that I had tacitly hoped would also have been long forgotten. Unfortunately, Captain Stutz's letter indicated that the same major problem that I saw as a cadet ten years ago still lingers within the Academy officer structure today.
The problem, simply defined, is one of officer trivialities (primarily AOC), and their corresponding long-term negative effects on cadets. Captain Stutz's letter brings that problem immediately to mind. While I am in agreement with him on the need for shined shoes, pressed uniforms and neat hair (mine touches my ears a bit most of the time), I fail to understand the extreme emphasis that he places on these items in his dealings with cadets. Furthermore, 1 fail to understand why the Academy so closely associates AOC personal appearance in the cadet area with the terms “leadership” and "image.” The reason for my viewpoint is quite simple—my cadet experience recounts a myriad of situations where AOC’s with crewcuts. spit-shined shoes, flawless uniforms, pilot’s wings and rows of ribbons demonstrated a degree of maturity that I surpassed sometime in high school. While Captain Stutz may honestly recall the “sharp, hardworking type who always demand excellence from you in all areas,” 1 seem to recall the captain who sat all day in the barber shop measuring hair with a ruler, the major who I found under my bed in Class A uniform looking for dust with his white gloves, the major who as OIC sneaked around Vanderberg Hall looking for cadets parked with their girlfriends, and the captain who wrote up a classmate for not calling him “sir” often enough in a conversation.
Each of these four gentlemen, and 1 could cite numerous similar examples, presumably had shined shoes, short haircuts and pressed uniforms—the ideal appearance that Captain Stutz feels is so motivating to the Wing. And yet in them 1 saw no “image” 1 wanted to emulate, and no “leadership” 1 wanted to acquire. The intervening years have changed little with regard to my attitude toward AOC’s and their lack of effectiveness. Without exaggeration, I could count on ten fingers the number of positive contributions these gentlemen made during my four years as a cadet. In fact, the sum total of what I saw in the AOC ranks made me 100% positive on graduation day that I would resign from the Air Force at the earliest opportunity; my mind has changed oniy because the AFSC people I have dealt with subsequently are the top-notch, motivated, rational officers I have always wanted to be associated with.
While I direct no malice toward Captain Stutz, I have to state clearly and forcefully that the implications of his remarks portray the narrow-minded, letter-of-the-law, discipline-oriented AOC image that I think has absolutely no purpose in an institution which is dedicated to developing outstanding leaders and career officers. If that image is is fact what today's AOC's convey, then I strongly suspect that the typical cadet still looks upon his AOC as a trivial disciplinarian to be scoffed at rather than as a dynamic leader to be admired.
William M. Marvel Captain, USAF Class of 1969
Dear Sir:
This letter is being written in response to a letter in your Winter 1974 issue. I felt the letter was written well and made an excellent point regarding leadership by example. Though only recently graduated, I find myself more and more able to place in perspective some of the policies and ‘raw deals' of my cadet days. I can now see that we were being given the basis for becoming officers worthy of being called “Grads.” However, the letter you published ended on a bad note in my mind, and I wish to take issue with it.
The letter asks, ”... which type of officer did you respect (as a cadet), i.e., the friendly guy with the sloppy uniform who only wanted to ski, drink, and have a good time, or the sharp, hard-working type who always demanded excellence from you in all areas?”. This question expresses an attitude I found all too prevalent at the Academy, and I have yet to place it in perspective.
As any cadet/grad knows, there is “demanding excellence” and then there is “demanding excellence”. While I was at the Academy I knew friendly officers that wore sloppy uniforms and friendly officers that were always immaculate. I also knew the less friendly type officers, and this type too came in a variety of array, from the immaculate to the not-so-immaculate. The common factor connected to all these men was the word that their doors were always open to the cadets, and anyone who had a problem could feel free to come and discuss the matter.
This is all well and good, but Your winter letter asks who we respected—which “type” of officer. Shades of A. Bunker.
Lt." me suggest that there is something inequitous about an officer with a large, bushy, out-of-limits moustache telling a cadet he needs to shave regardless of how good the crease in his pants is. Let me also suggest that the cadet with a problem finds it much easier to approach an officer who is more a “regular guy” type, regardless of the status of his uniform.
Perhaps the author of your letter was merely dramatizing to make a point, but I for one have heard enough of this “type” attitude to prompt me to write this letter, the first ever to a magzine.
Why can't we start judging an officer equally on his looks and his performance? Of course, a sharp uniform is desirable, sets a good example, makes good first impressions, and is part of being a concientious member of the Officer Corps. In other words, there is no good argument in favor of a bad uniform. But perhaps an attitude needs revising— “This one’s sharp”, or, “This one's a bum” based on appearance seems not quite optimum.
I can tell you who I respected when I was a cadet, and it had nothing to do with a uniform. Rather, it was based on character and principles. Perhaps I have not been in the “Real Air Force” long enough to know about this, but I spent four years at the Academy wondering if it wasn’t about time the aforementioned virtues counted for more.
Bruce F. Stewart Lieutenant, USAF
ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES
TWENTY YEAR SURVEY
In early 1974 the Association of Graduates conducted a comprehensive opinion survey of the Academy’s first 15 graduating classes, 1959 through 1973. This survey was conceived in response to a request by the USAF Academy Twenty Year Study Group for an alumni input to the study of policies, programs, and organizational structure being conducted by the Academy in conjunction with its 20th anniversary. The survey was intended to provide pertinent data from which the Association’s Executive Committee could formulate statements of the alumni’s views on those issues considered by the graduates to be most significant.
The final report of the Association of Graduates 20 Year Survey was submitted to the chairman of the 20 Year Study Group on 27 February, 1975. Results of the survey will be included in the next few issues of the AOG Magazine. Portions of Appendices A and B are included in this issue.
Appendix A is the survey instrument itself with preliminary response data entered directly by each question where space permits. Appendix B gives the preliminary response data for the remaining questions. Analysis of multiple choice and narrative responses will be included in subsequent issues.
We are grateful to the following people who generously donated their free time and effort to the interesting, but tedious tasks of conducting and analyzing the survey.
Major Thomas J. Eller ’61, (Co-Chairman, 20 Year Survey Committee)
Major Frederick L. Metcalf ’63
Major Thomas A. Fryer ’63
Major Austin C. Wedemeyer ’62
Captain Paul R. Viotti ’66
Major Robert S. Schaumberg ’62
Captain Carl A. Janssen ’68
Major Joseph D. Morgan ’59
Captain Arthur L. Moxon ’68
Captain Robert G. Lambert ’65
Captain Jon M. Davis '69
Major Roy W. Stafford '62
Captain Mark A. Torreano ’68
Major Leonard C. Ekman ’63
Captain Richard P. Ellis ’68
We are especially grateful to Lt. Col. John O’Connor, Associate Professor of Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Air Force Academy, for his assistance in developing the questions and to Major Michael J. O'Connell, '63; Captain Charles J. Yoos, ’68; and Major Earl F. Saunders, ’61 for helping write this report.
In addition we appreciate the efforts of graduates and others, who, though not formally on committees, nevertheless made valuable contributions. We would also like to thank all graduates who shared their experience and judgment by responding to the questionnaire.
GARES GARBER, JR., Maj. USAF
Executive
Secretary
Association
of Graduates
APPENDIX A
NOTE: EACH QUESTION WAS LEFT BLANK BY 1% OF THE RESPONDENTS
NUMBERS BESIDE EACH RESPONSE ARE PERCENTAGES OF TOTAL RESPONSE (3,790)
1. What was your approximate graduation order of merit?
32 a. Top quarter
27 b. Second quarter
23 c. Third quarter
18 d. Fourth quarter
2. Did you at any time hold any of the following positions in the Cadet Wing: Squadron Commander, Group Commander, or Wing Commander?
18 a. Yes
81 b. No
3. With which academic subject area did you most closely identify as a cadet?
19 a. Basic Sciences (Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Life Sciences)
37 b. Engineering Sciences (Aero, Astro and Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, EE)
30 c. Social Sciences (Economics, Georgaphy, Law, Behaviorial Sciences, Political Science)
11 d. Humanities (English, Philosophy and Fine Arts, Foreign Languages, History)
3 e. None of the above
4. What prior active military experience did you have before entering the Academy?
0 a. Commissioned officer
9 b. Enlisted
0 c. Warrant officer
4 d. Other
87 e. None
5. Prior to entrance to USAFA did you attend a military preparatory school or were you in a college ROTC unit?
7 a. USAFA Preparatory School
10 b. College ROTC
5 c. A military preparatory school other than USAFA Prep
1 d. Both college ROTC and a military preparatory school
77 e. Not applicable
6. Concerning aeronautical rating, are you:
50 a. A military pilot
8 b. A civilian pilot
8 c. A navigator
17 d. Military non-rated
7 e. In training
1 f. Other rating
8 g. Not applicable
7. Concerning graduate level education, do you currently hold:
4 a. A doctorate
28 b. A master's degree (or equivalent)
5 c. A master’s degree—working toward a doctorate
23 d. Working toward a master’s degree
36 e. No graduate credits
4 f. Other
8. Select the highest level PME school that you have completed (by any method).
8 c. Command and Staff College (Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines)
0 d. War College (Air Force, Army, and Navy)
3 e. Industrial College of the Armed Forces
0 f. National War College
0 g. Inter America Defense College
1 h. Other
9. With regard to my current career status:
84 a. I am on active duty in the armed services
12 b. I have resigned my commission
1 c. I have been medically retired from the armed services
1 d. Other
10. With regard to my career intentions, I: 30 a. Definitely plan to stay on active duty for at least a 20 year career 32 b. Probably will stay on active duty for at least a 20 year career
3 c. Definitely plan to resign my commission
6 d. Probably will resign my commission 14 e. Have resigned my commission 14 f. Undecided
11. Please indicate if you received a below-the-zone promotion.
5 a. To 0-4
0 b. To 0-5
0 c. To 0-6
1 d. To 0-4 and 0-5
0 e. To 0-4, 0-5, and 0-6
93 f. Not applicable
12. If you served an active duty tour at USAFA, please indicate in which functional area, (check one)
91 a. Not applicable
5 b. Faculty instructor
1 c. Air Officer Commanding
0 d. Military Training Instructor
0 e. Commandant’s Staff, other than as an AOC or Military Training instructor
1 f. Athletic instructor or coach
0 g. More than one functional area
1 h. Other
13. Were you a prisoner of war in SEA?
1 a. Yes
99 b. No
14. Why did you decide to enter the Academy? Indicate the most important reason.
25 a. Career as an AF officer
20 b. Quality education
13 c. A tuition-free education with subsistence and pay
15. Why did you decide to enter the Academy? Indicate the second most important reason. 17
Career as an AF officer
25 d. Desire to fly
2 e. Athletic programs
7 f. Prestige
3 g. Influence of parents
1 h. To fulfill a military obligation
0 i. The presence of the draft
0 j. Other
military obligation
i. The presence of the draft
In question 16 to 25 please rate the accuracy of the information you received from Academy Liaison Officers about the programs and policies listed.
1 a. Totally accurate
2 b. Fairly accurate 3 c. Inaccurate
/ d. Did not talk about USAFA with a Liaisan Officer \ j e. No opinion
f. Unable to recall
In questions 26 to 35 please rate the accuracy of the information you received about the Academy’s
and policies through official Academy brochures, correspondence, and films.
1 a. Totally accurate 2 b. Fairly accurate 3 c. Inaccurate (d. No opinion
(e. Unable to recall
36. How much positive influence did the all-military faculty at the Academy have on motivating you to a career in the Air Force?
35 a. Great deal 41 b. Some
c. None
d. Demotivational
(Continued next page)
37. What percentage of the faculty do you feel should be USAFA graduates?
18 a. 0- 25%
27 b. 26- 50%
10 c. 51- 75%
4 d. 76-100%
40 e. No established ratio
1 f. No opinion
38. What percentage oi feel should be USAFA grad
14 a. 0- 25%
27 b. 26- 50%
18 c. 51- 75%
10 d. 76-100%
30 e. No established ratio
1 f. No opinion
Commandant’s staff do you
39. What percentage of the Athletics staff do you feel should be USAFA graduates?
17 a. 0- 25%
19 b. 26- 50%
8 c. 51- 75%
4 d. 76-100%
48 e. No established ratio
4 f. No opinion
40. Has your academic major affected your Air Force career development?
16 a. Did not have a major
30 b. Yes, favorably
4 c. Yes, adversely
48 d. No opinion
41. In addition to taking a basic or core curriculum all cadets are required to earn an academic major in a subject of their choosing. Some have argued that the Academy should return to its earlier policy of a large, prescribed curriculum with majors earned through overloading at the student’s option.
73 a. I favor the current policy of requiring cadets to earn an academic major without overloading.
2 b. I favor a required curriculum with no requirement for academic majors.
23 c. I favor a required curriculum but with the opportunity to obtain an academic major thru an enrichment program.
2 d. No opinion.
42. Which type of sports received the most emphasis in the athletic programs when you were a cadet?
48 a. Contact team sports (football, hockey, lacrosse, etc.)
1 b. Non-contact team sports (flickerball, tennis, basketball, etc.)
2 c. Individual contact sports (boxing, wrestling, etc.)
1 d. Individual non-contact sports (handball, squash, etc.)
47 e. All received about equal emphasis.
1 f. No opinion.
43. Which type of sports should receive the most emphasis in the athletic programs?
15 a. Contact team sports (football, hockey, lacrosse, etc.)
2 b. Non-contact team sports (flickerball, tennis, basketball, etc.)
1 c. Individual contact sports (boxing, wrestling, etc.)
8 d. Individual non-contact sports (handball, squash, etc.)
70 e. All should receive equal emphasis.
3 f. No opinion.
44. With regard to all phases of athletics (PE classes/ intramurals/intercollegiate competition) in which I participated as a cadet. I feel the amount of time 1 spent was:
Military and airmanship training at the Academy have included a number of different programs. According to the list of responses below, indicate in questions 45-59 how valuable each program was to you personally. 2
60. Indicate your opinion of the value of fourth class knowledge.
61. Which of the following statements best describes the way most cadets enforced discipline mhen you were a cadet?
29 a. Most cadets enforced strict adherence to all existing policies and regulations.
47 b. Most cadets enforced compliance only with those policies and regulations with which they agreed.
2 c. Most cadets were unable to enforce existing policies and regulations.
16 d. Most cadets did not feel they had a role in enforcing policies and regulations.
2 e. Most cadets did not feel that they should have a role in enforcing policies.
3 f. No opinion.
62. How do you feel about a “class system” among the four classes in the Cadet Wing?
36 a. I think there is a need for a strong class system which maintains definite lines between all four classes.
42 b. I feel that a general “upper class”—“Fourth Class” system is sufficient.
10 c. There should be a dual class system—first and second class distinguished from third and fourth class.
3 d. There should be a dual class system—first class distinguished from the lower three classes.
7 e. I am opposed to the idea of a class system.
2 f. No opinion.
63. As a cadet my highest degree of loyalty within the Wing was to: (choose one)
64. As a cadet, my second highest degree of loyalty within the Wing was to: (choose one)
a. The Cadet Wing
65. I feel the number of privileges available when I was a cadet was:
1 a. Excessive
b. About right
c. Insufficient 1 d. No opinion
66. I feel that in determining Graduation Order ofMerit, relative weights of Academic Order of Merit (AOM) versus Military Order of Merit (MOM) should be:
6 a. 100% AOM
33 b. 80 or 90% AOM, 10 or 20% MOM
33 c. 60 or 70% AOM, 30 or 40% MOM
19 d. 50% AOM, 50% MOM
3 e. 30 or 40% AOM, 60 or 70% MOM
1 f. 10 or 20% AOM, 80 or 90% MOM 0 a o* 100% MOM
3 h. No opinion
67. When you were a cadet, who at the Academy influenced you most positively in choosing a service career? (choose one)
21 a. AOC
34 b. Faculty instructor
3 c. Athletic instructor or coach
2 d. Military training instructor
8 e. Upper classman
15 f. Other
16 g. No opinion
68. What percentage of Academy officers do you feel should be rated?
3 a. 0- 25%
19 b. 26- 50%
27 c. 51- 75%
8 d. 76-100%
40 e. No established ratio
1 f. No opinion
69. Do you think a limited number of officers permanently assigned in both the Commandant's organization (CW) and the Department of Athletics (AH) would contribute to mission accomplishment at USAFA?
24 a. Yes, both
6 b. Yes-CW, No-AH
8 Yes-AH, No-CW
46 d. No, neither 15 e. No opinion
70. Cadets now incur a service commitment beginning the fall academic semester of their second class year. In your opinion when should cadets initially incur a service commitment?
18 a. Begining fourth dass academic year
22 b. Beginning third class academic year
41 c. Beginning second class academic year
7 d. Beginning first class academic year
7 e. No commitment incurred prior to graduation
3 f. No opinion
71. In your judgment when you were a cadet, was the Cadet Honor Code unnecessarily used to enforce Cadet Regulations?
22 a. Not at all
31 b. Rarely
30 c. Occasionally
15 d. Frequently
1 e. No opinion
72. Rated officers at the Academy had a positive impact upon my own decision to become rated following graduation.
28 a. I strongly agree
29 b. I moderately agree
7 c. No opinion
8 d. I moderately disagree
8 e. I strongly disagree
18 f. Not applicable
73. The loyalties and attitudes developed at the Academy toward the Air Force favorably influenced my decision to remain in the Air Force.
26 a. I strongly agree
32 b. I moderately agree
6 c. No opinion
13 d. I moderately disagree
10 e. I strongly disagree
13 f. Not applicable
Please use responses “a” thru “e” below to answer questions 74 to 83.
5 a. I strongly agree
4 b. I moderately agree
3 c. No opinion
2 d. I moderately disagree
1 e. I strongly disagree
Average
2.15 74. Information programs at USAFA regarding nonrated Air Force careers were adequate.
4.32 75. A demanding Basic Cadet Training Program (BTC) with significant application of stress helps accomplish the Academy mission.
2.56 76 The geographical isolation of the Academy was detrimental to my morale as a cadet.
2.73 77. The existence of the Military Order of Merit influenced positively my performance as a cadet.
3.52 78. The existence of the Academic Order of Merit influenced positively my performance as a cadet.
3.80 79. As a cadet, I had a strong sense of identity with my entire class.
4.28 80. The values embodied in the Cadet Honor Code have made a positive contribution to my personal development.
2.76 81. When I was a cadet, AOC’s were successful in developing in the cadets positive attitudes toward mission accomplishment and an Air Force career. (Continued next page)
3.70 82. When I was a cadet, faculty instructors were sueessful in developing in the cadets positive attitudes toward mission accomplishment and an Air Force career.
2.96 83. When I was a cadet, athletic instructors were suecessful in developing in the cadets positive attitudes toward mission accomplishment and an Air Force career.
For graduates who have served, or are currently serving, a PCS tour at the Academy, please indicate each year (or partial year) of your tour(s) by marking response “A” in questions 84-99. Do not mark the response if you did not serve in the particular year listed below.
0 84. 1959 8 90. 1965 106 95. 1970
2 85. 1960 18 91. 1966 141 96. 1971
4 86. 1961 30 92. 1967 174 97. 1972
1 87. 1962 55 93. 1968 188 98. 1973
3 88. 1963 65 94. 1969 155 99. 1974
5 89. 1964
Table B2
Question
B3. Questions 45 to 59
Questions 45 to 59 asked the respondent to indicate the value to him personally of various military and airmanship training programs. The available responses were as follows:
a. No value
b. Some value
c. Great value
d. Negative value
e. Not applicable
Question
APPENDIX B
This appendix gives the response data for which there is no room on the questionnaire itself in Appendiv A. The numbers for each response below are percentages of the total response. Questions 79 and 80 were left blank by two percent of the respondents, whereas the other questions were left blank by only one percent.
Bl. Questions 16 to 25
Questions 16 to 25 ask the respondent to rate the accuracy of information received from Academy Liaison Officers about the programs and policies listed. The available responses were as follows:
a. Totally accurate
b. Fairly accurate
c. Inaccurate
d. Did not talk about USAFA with Liaison
e. No opinion
f. Unable to recall
B2.Question 26 to 35
Questions 26 to 35 ask the respondent to rate the accuracy of information received from the Academy's official brochures, correspondence, and films. The available responses were as follows:
a. Totally accurate
b. Fairly
c. Inaccurate
d. No
e. Unable
Table B3
45. Classroom subjects
46. Field Trip abroad
47. Field Trip ZI
48. Operation 3rd Lieutenant
49. Fourth class training
50. Cadet officer duties
51. Basic Cadet training
52. Basic Cadet training detail
53. Navigation training
54. SERE/Survival training
55. Soaring
56. T-41 training
57. Parachute training at USAFA
58. Parachute training. Fort Benning
59. Underwater Demolition training
B4. Questions 74 to 83.
Questions 74 to 83 are miscellaneous, available responses:
a. I strongly agree
b. I moderately agree
c. No opinion
d. I moderately disagree
e. I strongly disagree
Table B4
Question
74. Adequate info on non-rated careers
75. Demanding BCT helps accomplish mission
76. Academy isolation hurt morale
77. MOM was a positive influence
78. AOM was a positive influence
79. Strong identity with entire class
80. Honor Code made positive contribution
81. AOC's were successful in developir in the cadets positive attitude; toward mission accomplishmer and an Air Force career
82. Faculty members were successful ir developing positive cadet
83. Athletic
FALCON WINTER SPORTS POST RECORD
MARK
Best in Air Force Academy history. That was the record posted by the nine Falcon winter sports varsity teams during the past several months of action. The nine teams posted a winning percentage of better than 80 per cent and not one of those teams had a losing record.
To be more specific, the nine teams won 127 contests, lost only 30 and tied two, a winning percentage of 80.5 per cent, well above the old record for Academy winter sports of 74.9 per cent set during 1969-70.
Setting the pace were three teams that posted undefeated seasons. Pistol led the way with a 21-0 mark and has won 48 straight matches. Swimming was 12-0 and has won 37 in a row. Indoor track was 9-0 and has won 12 straight indoor meets.
Not far behind were rifle with an 18-1 record, wrestling at 10-1-1 and fencing at 10-2. Ice hockey came up with the best record in its history at 24-5-1 while basketball won its last three games to come out with a 13-12 mark. One of the youngest teams was fielded by gymnastics but they finished at 10-9.
Individually, there were several notable achievements, headed by All-America diver Rick McAlister, who finished his four-year varsity career with 92 straight victories in dual meets, never suffering a loss. Wrestler Bob Orwig won AllAmerica honors in the 190-pound class and in track a quartet of T. G. Parker, Ahart Powers, Joe Kahiapo and Dick MeIntosh set an American indoor record in the 240-yard shuttle hurdles relay with a time of 27.6. Ice hockey’s Chuck Delich again wound up as one of the nation's top goal producers with 38, second best mark in the nation, while in basketball Dan Kraft was one of the top free throw shooters in the nation.
ORWIG EARNS
ALL-AMERICAN
HONORS
Bob Orwig, the Air Force Academy's senior wrestling team captain from Atlanta. Ga„ has become an All-American.
Orwig took fifth place in the 190-pound class of the national collegiate championships at Princeton. N.J., last week to become the Falcons' first wrestling All-America in four years. He also became the fifth wrestler to earn AllAmerica honors.
By compiling a 5-2 record at the nationals, Orwig becomes the fourth Falcon athlete this school year to earn
All-America recognition. Dave Lawson and Joe Debes earned similar honors in football while Len Salvemini was an All-America in soccer.
During the past season, Orwig compiled a 27-6 record, including an 11-1 mark in dual meets, and was runnerup in both the Air Force Academy Invitational and the Mountain Intercollegiate tournament. He won the 190 class at the national collegiate qualifying tournament.
Orwig, who finished his varsity career with a 45-26-1 record, was 6-8 as a freshman and 7-11 as a sophomore before starting fast in his junior season, compiling a 5-1-1 record and taking second in the Air Force Academy Invitational. However, he broke an ankle after that and missed the rest of the season.
He came back strong this season and wound up as the team's high scorer with WIV2 points.
FALCON ATHLETES CHOSEN OUTSTANDING
A dozen Air Force Academy athletes have been selected for the 1975 edition of the Outstanding College Athletes of America.
The athletes were selected for a number of criteria, ineluding leadership, service, scholarship and outstanding athletic achievement.
Selected were junior Jeff Brown of Escondido, Calif.; senior Bruce Edstrom of White Bear Lake, Minn.; senior Karl Gabrys of Detroit, Mich.; senior Dan Kraft of Canton, Ohio; senior Rick McAlister of Madera, Calif.; senior Dick McIntosh of Coos Bay, Ore.; senior Gerry Micheletti of Hibbing, Minn.;; senior Kip Peterson of Denver; senior Tom Peterson of Minneapolis, Minn.; senior Ben Phillips of Honolulu, Haw.; senior Len Salvemini of Daly City, Calif.; and senior Terry Young of Green Bay, Wis.
All are among the best athletes in Falcon sports history. Brown is one of the top college baseball players in the nation and earned Academic All-America honors last season. Edstrom was the gymnastics captain and will compete this weekend in the national collegiate championships. Gabrys was the fencing team captain and Kraft was a basketball co-captain besides being one of the top free throw shooters in the nation, setting a Falcon career record in that department.
McAlister is one of the top divers in the nation and has earned All-America honors seven times. McIntosh was the indoor track captain and is a school record holder in the
hurdles. Micheletti was the ice hockey team captain and sparked the Falcons to a 24-5-1 season mark. Kip Peterson is the lacrosse team captain while Tom Peterson was a letterman tackle on the football team and is the outdoor track team captain, specializing in the hammer throw.
Phillips was the water polo team captain and is the top scorer in school history. Salvemini was the soccer team captain and has twice earned All-America honors. Young was a football team co-captain and was one of the top tacklers on the team the last two seasons as a starting defensive tackle.
FALCON PISTOL TEAM WINS CHAMPIONSHIP
The Air Force Academy pistol team won everything in sight at the sectional championships and finished an already fine season with a 20-0 record.
Four Falcon teams competed in each of the conventional and international target competitions held at the Cadet Gymnasium range, with the Falcon blue, sliver, red and white squads finishing in the same order in each competition. Air Force added seven additional wins to its record in the two-day event.
In addition, Falcon marksmen Stan Sieske and Joseph Zahrobsky placed first in each of the four individual competitions. Sieske was first in the conventional with an 862 total while Zahrobsky shot the bullseye out of the targets, winning three individual titles including the international slow fire (256 total), the international standard pistol (551 total) and the sectional intercollegiate title with an 807 total.
Air Force won the conventional team title with a 1132 total and the international title with a 3183 total. The Falcons were the defending title holders in each category and were last season's national conventional wilier. The national team championships are determined after scores from other sectional competitions across the country are compared.
Since the middle of the 1972 season, following a 32043178 loss to Navy, the Falcon pistol team has posted a record of 48 straight wins.
DEBES REPEATS ON ACADEMIC
GRID TEAM
Air Force senior defensive tackle Joe Debes has been named to the Academic All-America university division football team for the second straight year.
The 6-5, 238-pounder from Evansville, (Rex Mundi), Ind., was selected to the first team in the balloting conducted by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Debes also was selected to the first team in 1973.
Debes, one of 46 players named to the two-platoon first unit, carries a 3.59 cumulative average (based on a 4.00 scale) in a physics major.
He also becomes the second player to earn All-America mention on the 1974 Falcon team. Last November, linebacker-placekicker Dave Lawson was selected to the Football Writer's All-America squad.
SITE CHANGED
FOR 1975
AIR FORCE-NAVY GAME
Site of the 1975 Air Force-Navy football game has been changed.
The Oct. 4 game between the two interservice rivals was originally slated to be played at Annapolis, Md., but the site has now been changed to Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, D.C. Announcement of the site shift was made by U.S. Naval Academy athletic officials at a press luncheon in Washington.
This will be the eighth meeting between Air Force and Navy but not the first time they have played at Kennedy Stadium in Washington. They also played there in 1970 with Air Force scoring a 26-3 triumph.
Two other games in the rivalry also have been played at neutral sites. The first game of the series in 1959 was played at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium with the Middies prevailing, 35-3. The 1968 contest was played at Soldier Field in Chicago with the Falcons scoring a 26-20 victory.
Three games in the series have been played at Falcon Stadium with Air Force scoring a 15-7 triumph in 1966 and a 19-16 victory last season. Navy's only victory in Falcon Stadium came in 1972 by a 21-17 score.
The other game in the series way played at Annapolis in 1973 with the Middies going on to win, 42-6.
RIFLE
TEAM CAPTURES
SECTIONAL TITLES
Once again the Air Force Academy firing lines at the rifle and pistol ranges have fallen silent and once again the Falcon pistol and rifle teams have posted outstanding seasons.
Last Saturday, it was the rifle team's chance for glory and the Falcons shooters put enough bullets in the right spots to win the individual and team three-posistion sectionals.
For starters, Bruce Lambert knocked last year's winner and teammate Joseph O'Brien out of the top seat with a 282 total in the quarter course competition. Lambert was pressed by Colorado's John Hight, who had a 276, and three other Falcon shooters—Jim Heald, Dave Denton and Roy Battles who had 275, 274 and 274, respectively.
The Falcon first team, which had an 18-1 record this year, had O'Brien, Heald, Paul Sutliff and John Herchak firing expertly for a 1091 total and a 15-point advantage over second-place Wyoming. Two other Air Force teams placed third and fifth with respective 1073 and 1061 totals while Colorado State grabbed fourth with a 1062.
There were some Annie Oakleys in the field which drew 55 sharpshooters. The best was CSC's Barbara Coulson. who had a 273 total, good for sixth individually. Another lady, Wyoming's Linda Allgiur, was 11th overall with a 268.
Air Force scores now go under the National Rifle Association and will be compared against other sectional champion winners to determine national team and individual title winners. The results should be known in about two months.
CAGERS FINISH WINNERS
A winning spurt at the end of the season has given the Air Force basketball team its second winning season in three years.
The Falcons of coach Hank Egan won their last three games to wind up with a 13-12 season record and one of the best defensive marks in the nation.
After dropping to 10-12 for the season with a 76-53 loss to nationally-ranked Creighton, the Falcons came back to down Western State 93-49 and California-Irvine 70-58 at home, then clinched the winning campaign with a 77-57 trumph on the road against Denver on March 3. The last victory was particularly sweet since the Pioneers had defeated the Falcons at home 68-59 earlier in the season.
Air Force wound up with an 8-5 home mark but had its best road record in 11 years when it finished with a 5-7 mark, equal to the road record set by the 1964 team.
Air Force also wound up as one of the top defensive teams in the nation for the third straight year by surrendering only 63.0 points per game, a figure that probably will place the Falcons in the top 10 on team defense when final national collegiate statistics are released.
Also figuring in the national statistics was senior guard Dan Kraft, who set a school season mark by making 83 of 95 free throws for an 87.4 per cent average, a statistic that will place him among the top two or three in the nation in the final statistics. Kraft also set a school career free throwing shooting mark by making 116 of 138 for an 84.1 percentage, easily above the old record of 80.2 set by John Judd in the 1960s.
Kraft also wound up as the leading scorer with 407 for a 16.3 average and his career total of 752 points moved him to 11th on the Falcons' all-time scoring list.
Senior forward Jim Eken moved to ninth on the alltime scoring list with 796 points after winding up as the second-leading scorer this season with 230 points for a 9.2 average. However, Eken led the squad in rebounding for the third straight year with 145 for a 5.8 average. His career total of 518 rebounds moved him into third on the school all-time list in that category. Eken also led the team in blocked shots with 14.
Freshman Bob Djokovich wound up third in scoring with 145 points but close behind was junior Mike Sevier with 142 points. However, Sevier led the team in shooting rom the field with a 49.5 average and was the second-leading rebounder with 125 for a 5.0 average.
Senior guard Jeff Graves, along with Kraft a team cocaptain, led the team in two categories, coming up with 62 assists and making 29 steals.
Although the Falcons usually had the height disadvantage they out rebounded their opponents for the second straight season, coming up with 964 to the foes' 921. Air Force also outshot foes from the field. 42.5 per cent to a 42.0 mark.
ICERS POST BEST RECORD
One of the best records in the nation, and certainly the best in the ice hockey of the Air Force Academy, has been posted by the Air Force ice hockey team.
The Falcons of coach John Matchefts wound up with a record of 24 victories, only 5 losses and one tie after falling
twice to Bowling Green of Ohio, 5-3 and 7-2, on Feb. 28Mar. 1.
From a percentage standpoint, the record was slightly better than the 25-6 mark posted by the Falcon team of 1971-72.
Air Force posted a 17-1 record at home this winter, including a 13-game winning streak that will carry over into next season. At one joint the Falcons won 10 straight games, a school record, before bowing to Bowling Green.
Season highlights included victories over nationallyranked team. Colorado College, 1-0 and 7-6, also in overtime.
Sophomore Chuck Delich of Eveleth, Minn., led the team in scoring for the second straight year with 64 points, including 38 goals, also the team high. As was the case last season, he will wind up among the top goalproducers in the nation. His two-year total of 131 points moves him to seventh on the Falcon all-time scoring list.
Delich. also the holder of several school records, bettered one of those this season when he scored seven hat tricks, two more than the old record he set during the 1973-74 season. Although playing only two seasons, his 12 hat tricks is a Falcon career mark.
Moving to fifth on the career scoring list was senior Mario Mellum of International Falls, Minn., who has a career total of 138 points, including 51 this season when he wound up second in individual scoring with 22 goals and 29 assists.
Senior team captain Gerry Micheletti of Hibbing, Minn., climbed to either on the all-time scoring list with 127 points when he tied for third in scoring this season with 50 points on 14 goals and 36 assists.
Freshman Gary Batinich, of Eveleth, Minn., also had 50 points on 21 goals and 29 assists.
Senior goalie A1 Morrison of White Bear Lake, Minn., once again was the top netminder and had his best season, stopping 88.3 per cent of opponent's shots, one of the best averages in school history. He will wind up with most of the career records for Falcon goalies, ending a Falcon career that saw him appear in 105 games.
HURDLERS SET RECORD
An American shuttle hurdles relay record has returned to the Air Force Academy.
A Falcon quartet of Dick McIntosh, Joe Kahiapo, Ahart Power and T. G. Parker set an American indoor record in the 240-yard shuttle hurdles relay when they clocked 27.6 last Friday in a non-scoring event that was part of the Air Force-Colorado State dual track meet.
The time broke the old American mark of 28.4 set by Notre Dame in 1971.
This is not the first time, however, that the Falcons have held this record. In 1964, a team of Dave Dick, John Puster, Fritz Greenlee and Bill Jones ran 28.9 to set an American mark that was later broken.
Parker, a sophomore from Sacramento, Calif., led off a record-setting effort with a 7.0 followed by Kahiapo, a Kailua, Haw., senior who ran 6.9. Powers, a junior who hails from Bluefield, W. Va., also ran 6.9 while McIntosh, a Coos Bay, Ore., senior anchored in 6.8.
All four hurdlers qualified for the national collegiate indoor championships. Powers has a best regular time of 7.0 while McIntosh and Parker have both run 7.1 and Kahiapo 7.2, all among the best times in the nation this indoor season.
Major Arthur G. Elser
7835 Rectory Lane
Annandale, VA 22003
Greetings once again from the Puzzle Palace on the Potomac. I have, for a change, a few contacts with classmates which I can pass on to the rest of the class. The first item is a news release featuring Brock STROM who has received the Meritorious Service Medal for his “outstanding duty performance with the Frank J. Seiler Research Laboratory at the U. S. Air Force Academy.” The news release included a picture of Brock, which is printed above, below, left, right, or wherever. Nice going Brock! Claire and Brock are now at Los Angeles where Brock is gainfully employed at SAMSO.
Another news release features A1 GAGLIARDI who has just completed T-38 instructor school at Randolph. The release had a picture of the steely-eyed ATC instructor in a flying suit, which I hope gets printed for those of you who don’t remember what a flying suit looks like. How come they didn’t get a profile. Gag? At just completed the Naval War College C&C course, he and Kathy go to Laughlin AFB from Randolph.
Most of the 59ers in the D.C. area (all who went) enjoyed the hospitality of Linda and H. T. JOHNSON when they gave a party in honor of Jimmy JAY, who is off to
C-130s at Clark. It was an excellent party with good food, pretty girls, lively conversation, and a solo by Jimmy of the chorus of the Air Force Song, which brought back memories. Don LIVINGSTON and Joe DESANTIS brought their wives all the way down from New Jersey on the strength of H. T.’s promise that Jimmy would sing for us. Several classmates brought gifts for Jimmy, most intended to repair some of his more obvious infirmities.
Bob DWYER was in the building several weeks ago and called to say hi. Bob is flying RF-lOls with the Nevada Guard at Reno and is also in the insurance business. He indicated that he is enjoying life, as has always been his custom.
Major Brock T. Strom receives the Meritorious Service Medal at Los Angeles Air Force Station, Calif., from Colonel Bradford W. Parkinson, deputy for space navigation systems, Space and Missile Systems Organization.
Ed MONTGOMERY called the other day to let me know that a friend of his had run into Dick MASON recently. Dick is the Professor of Aerospace Science at the Superior Campus of the University of Wisconsin. From what Ed said, Dick is having an enjoyable tour but is also looking forward to getting back into an operational assignment. Aren’t we all???
I talked to Denny SEE the other day and he is on his way to a MAAG assignment at Udorn this summer. Denny
A l Gagliardi completes T-38 instructor school at Randolph AFB.
is presently a student at the National War College where he claims that he and Trude are enjoying the good life. That must be a tough school because Bob BECKEL and Brad HOSMER are always smiling and claim that they too enjoy the good life.
For those of you who like to keep track of the old AOCs I have a good word. Captain GABRIEL, recently seen wearing a couple of stars, is the new DO at TAC Hq. Langley AFB, where the first F-15 squadron is soon to be located. All of you fighter pilots take note.
That is it for this issue. Please let me know what you are doing or what you hear others are doing.
'60
Maj. Bill Taylor Qtrs 4301 C USAFA, CO 80840
Let’s start with good news! By the time you read this, your truly will be back in F-4's. My check-out starts at Homestead in April, and then I head for Udorn in July. That means that this will be my last column as Class News Secretary. Jock SCHWANK had originally agreed to take the job back this summer when he returns to USAFA with his doctorate. Since gate legislation, etc., may affect Jock's return date, John MACARTNEY has volunteered to serve until Jock returns. Send your cards and letters to John at 160 Areque Ridge Drive, Colorado Springs. Co. 80819. He will write the June column for sure and play it by ear thereafter.
John recently talked to Reb GUILLOT, who is Squadron Ops Officer for an A-7 Squadron at D.M. Reb reports that Charley SANDS is working with the Kit Peak Observatory which is associated with the University of Arizona at Tucson. Also Ed HAERTER. who flies for TWA out of Chicago, has just bought a farm which apparently is his pride and joy. Ed is also flying with the Illinois Air Guard unit at O’Hare which recently transitioned from F-100's to KC-97's. Golly, I didn't really think there were any of those still around, Ed.
Reb also reports that Walt SWEENEY looks good following surgery last winter to remove a non-malignant brain tumor. Walt is still working full time for the Arizona Air
Guard and trying to get back on flying status. Good luck to you, Walt, from allof us.
Roy JOLLY now lives in Guthrie, Oklahoma. He is flying Thuds full time for the reserve out of Tinker. He and Barb had their house broken into a while back. I hope things are reasonably well squared away by now.
I saw Jim WADDLE at Pete Base Ops recently. Jim reports no ill effects following his ejection from a 106 last fall. He is now Chief Maintenance for the 106 Squadron at Minot.
Will MacFARLANE is a real live hero. He was one of three pilots involved in the F-15’s assault on existing climb records. He wiped out those previously held by the F-4. Rumor has it that Fat Mac was chosen for the project so that the records could be broken again at will simply by using a pilot with a more normal gross weight. The bird really has some powerful engines, eh Mac?
Bits and Pieces: Doug REKENTHALER is with the 3902nd Air Base Wing at Offutt following his tour in Panama. Bill ZERSEN is at SAMSO in Los Angeles following his AFIT tour at Florida Tech. Hoyt PRINDLE left Travis to join the Personnel Shop at Headquarters MAC. Bill GILLIS finished a remote tour at Udorn and has joined the 48th TFS at Langley.
The Quickie Quiz photo shows Pat SMITH receiving an MSM at Griffiss, awarded for duties performed at WrightPatt, which is where he was before he was at Griffiss, which is where he was before he was at Homestead, which is where he was before he was at Bitburg, which is where he is now. He's been a busy lad lately.
Writing the column has been my privilege and my pleasure. I want to thank everyone who re-established contact while I had it. With John and Jock standing by, it moves into extremely capable hands, but an occasional letter from you all is what really makes it go. So write.
Major Thomas L. Sutton 123 Mississippi Dyess AFB, TX 79607
While wandering to and fro across the earth these last two months I have discovered that there are no 61ers in Goose Bay. Labrador; Macrihanish, Scotland; Incirlik, Turkey; or even in Warsaw, Poland. They all seem to have gone to the Austrian Alps.
Jim WILHELM and family were in Kitzbuhl, Austria sliding down the slopes there, or to quote Jim directly and leave the conclusions to you: "The kids took a week of lcssons and Mom and Dad had a ball.”
Jim and Nancy arc still at Ramstein where Jim is earning the title of “flesh peddler” as he deals directly in the sometimes unhappy futures of USAFE officers. I heard about him from some of them. They said #%$&*.
John and Casey GOODLEY followed Wilhelm's to the ski slopes when they heard about the good times the Wilhelm's were having and decided to keep up with them. (They elected not to keep up the the Jonses as Dean and Jo JONES, who also live at Ramstein have not gone to Austria yet).
The Goodley's have taken up the economic challenge of the EEC and are living on the German economy. The fluctuating exchange rate would make budgeting a challenge for even the honorable Mister Simons. However, John says that they are enjoying their experiences and are becoming fluent in the language as well.
Another classmate who showed up on Austria’s slippery roads was Ed ZOMPA all the way from Mildenhall, UK in
Quickie Quiz: Who is the guy on the right and where has he been lately?
his sturdy Renault. Ed, Gayle, and family spent ten days in Austria before returning to the home of Prince Valiant.
In a manner similar to the Goodley's, the Zompa's are living out among some delightful British countryfolk. Gayle makes frequent shopping trips to Cambridge, works at the base dispensary, donates a great deal of time to the chapel youth education program, attends night school with Ed where they are working for a masters in counseling and guidance, and on top of all that she finds time to care for a lovely home and two very impressive children. Ed took me to his favorite pub and I learned that everyone there knew him. It's a nice place.
Ed is currently involved with the AWADS European test program to be conducted this spring. He is the Third Air Force project officer and has been writing OPLANS and coordinating activities for months. Of course it is an additional duty. One of the most notable Boeing visitors he is preparing for is a gentleman named Art KERR.
Lowell JONES says that he and Ole KOMARN1TSKY are commuting from DC to Norfolk for AFSC. The wives are remaining in their suburban homes caring for the progeny and the money. Lowell anticipates a summer assignment to Little Rock and C-130’s.
Mark ANDERSON wrote from Seymour Johnson, NC that he and Howie BODENHAMER are alive and well. Mark is thrilled with his new job as CO of the 334th TAC Ftr Sq. Howie is the Deputy Wing Commander for Resources and is undoubtedly finding resources scarce. 1 must let you in on some secret files from the Spanish Flyer concerning Howie. After a recent tennis engagement with Howie he made the following observations: “I did not mind playing tennis with him but I did mind saying ‘by your leave sir’ every time we changed courts—He really looks resplendent in his tennis togs with eagles on his shoulder!!”
After having completed his English refresher course. Hector NEGRONI with Joan and family in tow settled down near Pope AFB/Ft. Bragg among the massage parlors and pawn shops of Fayetteville. He is a flight commander in a C-130 Sqdn and is also the Wing Life Support Officer. Congratulations Hector on having received the Meritorious Service Medal for your outstanding performance of duty in La Paz without life support equipment.
Dick HOWELL writes that after much study he is about to become a MURP and is very proud of it. (MURP is the acronym for a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning.) Dick is carrying on the 61 image in the methoplex level of government by tying horns with the Richmond Chamber of Commerce on urban renewal project requirement, and winning.
Sam HARDAGE writes from his home in Wichita that he has a new son born at Christmas time. Jack TAYLOR is enroute to Plattsburgh in KC’s via Castle and CCTS. Jack’s wife, Linda, and sons are going straight to Plattsburgh to get settled and ready for school and the next winter season which will come all too soon in New York.
I enjoy your letters and appreciate your friendship. Thanks for your continuing help and support. You are the greatest!!!
And to Maj F. K. SMITH, a hearty RTB thank you for the fine job done on the newsletter.
Career: Just now seems to be headquarters time in an RTB career. For the benefit of the great un-washed out there. 1 made a very quick survey of the troops here. Each guy I talked to recommended his job for another RTB, so give a call for further info. I'm in AF/INAKB, Autovon (22) 57817. The office symbol means that I’m on the Air Staff, working for the Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence. My office studies foreign and military policies of Asian states, evaiuting current and estimating future military capabilities. Bob" BAXTER, HQ USAF/CC. 79225. Aide to CSAF. says he does everything but fly fighters. “After an extraordinary year in the White House as the executive assistant to Peter Flanigan, I began my penance on the Air Staff in Sep 73 in a then cozy office called Plans and Policy: Middle East. As the war, studies of the war, and studies of the studies of the war were settling down in Jun 74, Gen Jones selected me as his aide. Since that time I have been exposed to aspects of the AF which I had not seen or considered. The more I see, the more I am impressd with the ability and dedication of blue suiters in all fields. Things are on the way up.” John BROTHERS, AF/SASF, 55586, Air Staff Studies and Analysis, Division of Strategic Force Analysis, looks at “the often esoteric intricacies of strategic force interactions,” gave me some unquotable chuckles in answer to my query, then reported, “I’m a very happy family man and some of the RTBs who remember our younger days might find that hard to believe.” Paul CLANTON, AF/LGYE. 71569, works for the DCS/Systems and Logistics, Support and Engineering Division, planning and implementing logistic support for new weapons systerns. “It's been an enjoyable career, doing things that interested me. Flying until 68, I became interested in management and have worked in production, procurement and logistics planning of new systems. Finally married in Feb 74, have a son born Jan 75.” Brian CONNERAT, DIA/DP-2B, 59079, Operations Branch, Intelligence Management Division, Director for Management and Plans, Defense Intelligence Agency, where he is the point of contact between the defense intelligence community and some US commands. How did he get where he is? “You can’t fly with a compressed disc, the flight surgeons tell me.” Too modest to admit he reflected great credit, etc., while on a rough duty tour as Assistant Air Liaison Officer in Hong Kong.
Maj Dave Holt
6636 Gordon Ave. Falls Church. VA 22046
The way I have this figured, each RTB could take a one year spell at writing this newsletter and my turn won't come up again for about 250 years. This thought so encouraged me that I wrote to Smitty straightaway. The rest of you RTBs pick your favorite year and I'll start a roster.
Jerry DANIEL, AF/XOOSL, 77501, DCS for Forces, Directorate of Operations, Tactical Division, is tactical fighter force monitor and works ORI criteria for tactical aircraft, monitors stan/eval of tac fighters, and works budget on tac fighter associated problems. Reb has done well flying F-4s all the way except for a tour at PACAF and ACSC. Bob HOLCOMB, AF/PREPA, 78958, Directorate of Civil Engineering, Programs Division, Operations Branch, is project officer for the Pacific area and munitions security worldwide for civil engineering matters. Credits the right jobs along the way and good fortune for his very responsible position now. Paul LANDERS, AF/XODR, 73717, Air Force Doctrine, Concepts and Objectives, Coordinated Actions Plans Division, does long range, conceptual studies or think pieces. Couldn't decide how he rose to his lofty post. After scratching clean living and superstition, he settled on bad luck. Rog RHOADES, AF/SASB, 50752, in Studies and Analysis Strategic Bomber Division, does analysis in war-gaming, force effectiveness, and force applications. Says his SAC experience in bombers and tankers prepared him for his job. P. K. ROBINSON, SAF/LLV, 76711, Air Force Legislative Liaison Congressional Investigations Division, handles TAC air programs in interface
between the AF and Congress. P. K. replied reference his career: “I love the AF and the people but what happened to flying?” Family: "What's that? I never see them—but it's great to have one anyway!” Community activities: “I drive slowly thru built-up areas and school zones. All I have time for—not to mention dollars.”
Pete ROBINSON SAF/MR. 55380. military assistant to Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Pete has 3!/2 years here so his career outlook is forward—to flying, hopefully in TAC. Jack SWONSON, AF/NB, 78845, orchestrates the activities of three panels of the AF Scientific Advisory Board (Aerospace Vehicles, Geophysics and Mission Resources). Jack is also looking forward to retuning to operations. He, Polly Ann and the two children are hoping for a MAC tour in the western U.S. Butch V1CCELLIO, SAF/LL, 37438, Senate Liaison in the Old Senate Office Building, providing AF liaison with the Senate for meetings, inquiries, etc. Butch, being extra helpful, repsonded to my questionnaire with a lengthy philosophical discussion, then suggested that the newsletter might not be the forum for it. So, any of you who want to have the Vic's guidance, give me a call. I have numerous other off-the-record Constructive Career Counseling Comments.
Who-What-Where: Don HUTCHINSON, F-111A Flight Commander, Korat; Don BAUCOM. Dept of History Instructor (PhD), USAFA; I have a report from Dick HODGK.INSON, Pease AFB, that he is ACSC bound this year, and presently in FB-Ills with the following: Bob FELTS to Louisiana Tech; Jack HAUSER to Wright-Patterson, AFIT laser physics; Tom HIGH to AFIT, Civil Engineering; and Len WRIGHT to stay. Logan BABIN joined the ranks of us who are (temporarily or otherwise) grounded being furloughed from Pan Am and resigned from the La ANG. He reports this leaves him only three full time jobs—real estate broker, industrial park developer, and appraiser. Logan clipped an article from the New Orleans Picayune or Houma Times, he didn't say which. This newspaper reports Jerry SINGLETON is a student at Dallas Theological Seminary, in three years of study to be an AF chaplain.
Maj. Skip Lee, III
3254 Nottingham Rd. Ocean Springs, Miss. 39564
For those who are interested, the Association of Graduates Magazine is being received by the graduates approximately 2-3 weeks before the suspense for the next Class News Column. If anyone has any comments, corrections or whatever, to make in the next column, it is important that they be sent in immediately. Besides, most of us will let little projects, like letters to the Class News Secretary, slip through if you don't get on it right away.
Cards and Letters: As an epilogue to the last column. John N EH RING asked for another pitch for Liaison Officers particularly in Western Missouri, Kansas City, St. Joseph, etc. John has been working as an L.O. in the center city schools of Kansas City and has very little time for the outlying areas. If interested, contact John at 4120 Holly St., K.C., Mo. 64111 or (816) 756-3033 or 247-5670. John continues to work primarily for Hallmark Cards as a Financial Planner although he is also branching out in his own assisting other companies, especially small businesses, with their financial problems.
Jack and Alice MARTINES write from sunny San Javier, Spain, where Jack is head of the Department of
111 ami
Jerry Driscoll Receives Several Decorations
English at the Spanish Air Force Academy. They are enjoying the assignment in Spain as much as any they have ever had. Jack reports their quarters are extremely large and invite anyone traveling through Spain to hang their hat for awhile. Their mailing address is; Maj. Jack Martines, U.S. Naval Magazine Cartagena, FPO NY 09541.
Barry BIELINSKI reports he is no longer with Merril Lynch et. al. but, since completing SOS at Maxwell in September, he has become a full time student at the University of Santa Clara. He also flies with the California Air National Guard at Hayward ANG Base. Barry remains one of the few ROCKS in the class. New address: 10220 Parkwood Dr., Apt. 1, Cupertino, Ca. 95014.
Awards and DECs: 63 has been rakin' em in! Jerry DRISCOLL recently received eleven combat decorations for aerial achievements in SEA. Jerry, assigned to the 307 TFW at Homestead flying the F-4E, was presented with two awards of the DFC, seven Air Medals and two Purple Hearts. Gerald WESTERBECK was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal last December for outstanding duty performance as a Civil Engineer. The Westerbecks are currently assigned to the Aeronautical Systems Division (AFLC) at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. Last November, Rod HIMELBERGER was presented the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious servics as chief of the C-5 Galaxy instructional systems development team of the 443 MAW
Gerald XVesterbeck Receives MSM
at Altus AFB, Oklahoma. As reported last time. Rod is attending AFSC at Norfolk, Va. Congratulations to all!
All the Rest can be summed up in the few words remaining. Bob MAHONEY (Capt. Ret.) has moved to the west coast from New York to a new job as a Vice President for Bank of America in San Francisco. Ken KOPKE has completed his PhD program at UCLA and returned to USAFA Department of Astronautics and Computer Science. Gene DOWNING completed Test Pilot School at Edwards and moved to the 4950 Test Wing at Wright Patterson. Joe Lee BURNS is at Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk. Virginia and, finally, Charlie GEBHARDT has been reassigned from the 4900 Test Group at Kirtland to Chief, Flight Operations Division, Det. 9 AFCMD, Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington.
That's about it! Tom FRYER called enroute to New Orleans and Mardi Gras. I enjoyed our short chat very much—Tom is figuring on ATC at Reese when he finishes Command and Golf at Maxwell. Not much else on moves this time; everyone seems to have settled down for a while. A few more drastic changes AF wide seem to be in the wind for next fiscal year so keep us informed as to your whereabouts. Please!
Fred Metcalf will be taking over the Class of 1963 News Column and may be reached at the following address:
Major Frederick L. Metcalf, 5018 Honey Leaf Way, Dayton, Ohio 45424.
Capt. Glen Coleman Qtrs. 6401E USAF Academy, CO 80840
As we dig out from another Colorado winter, our thoughts drift back two years to when our prayers and hopes were answered as our POWs were beginning to return home to us. Our class had special interests in Hanoi and we are all mighty happy and proud to have you back. But you guys have vanished into the ranks since your return. How about some of the more verbal members of the class writing me as to their whereabouts and we’ll feature them in the next issue. Please ? I did mention last issue the parade the Wing had for Leroy STUTZ. Well, Ed MECHENBIER has been presented for the Silver Star with the 1st OLC at ASD, Wright-Patt., and special congrats to Tom BROWNING, recent recipient of the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, three Bronze Stars with “V” device, and the Commendation Medal. Other decorations include the Commendation Medal for Fred MALMSTROM as he leaves USAFA for 52's at Kinchloe and the second award of the Meritorius Service Medal to Denny STILES, leaving HC-130's at Woodridge for Armed Forces Staff College, joining Jim LEMON there.
Other moves include Park H IN MAN as a 37 IP to colorful Big Springs, Jan VAN BENNEKUM to the Weapons Lab at Kirtland, Dave PIERCE to Whiteman as a civil engineer. Chuck SMYTH to Apple Valley, Bob INGLIS to Alexandria, VA with Touche-Ross, Bill HELMICH to Albuquerque, and Dave LaCROIX to Gainesville, FL.
And we have a few members with passport in hand. Cliff KRIEGER is leaving England for Italy? Lee SUDMALIS is a F-5 advisor in Iran. Marty BUSHNELL has left the Korat Wild Weasels for a test pilot slot at Edwards. Laird SCHAEFER is now banking in Toronto and Curt BAYER is returning from his third remote as a chopper driver at NKP; soon to be replaced by Roger NEELAND.
Speaking of Roger, there are many of us getting pushed around by the flying pay GATE SYSTEM. But one of the worst I have heard is Kris MINEAU who has fought for
the last six years to get back on flight status after his accident. At the same time they told him he was flying again, they gave him an F-4 to Korea to meet the Gate, cutting short his USAFA tour to eight months, perhaps the shortest on record. But he's still smiling.
A bit of local news: Joe RODWELL is now an insurance agent in C Springs. Dave MUEH is recovering from an eye operation and comments that landing a T-29 with a patch on one eye isn’t easy. Tom HII.L is now in charge of Honor and Ethics for the Cadet Wing—a big job, but he's doing well. Rich PORTER and Tim KLINE will be going to PME, some of the few of us on the list?
There are numerous changes going on here at USAFA. The T-29’s and T-33's are leaving, soon to be replaced by T-37's and T-43's (from Mather). The Gate System has altered career goals here, too, because flying time at USAFA does not count toward the Gate.
One note on the promotion list which came out since the last issue: In our 10 year career, for a Captain to get passed over marked him as a 2nd rate officer. Our class was weaned in the Viet Nam era when promotions were good and is now maturing in the most austere period since Valley Forge. Not only do 2nd rate officers get passed over now, but also many good officers who have filled all the squares in their career and are wondering what happened. Remember when we looked at the secondary zone promotions and asked “How the heck did he get promoted?" Now we look at the pass-over list and should be asking “How the devil did he ever get passed over?" Many of those on that list are fine officers and should not be discounted. Apparently, there were just not enough slots. For those of us who were passed over, let's help shore up the hopes and keep our fingers crossed for next year. Good Luck!!
Let's get some info in the mail to let us know what you guys are doing out there—especially if you know something about our returnees. Future correspondence for Class News should be addressed to: Capt. Rodney A. Wells, 105 Fox Hill Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80919.
Capt. Joseph A. Koenig 7801 Harshmanville Rd. Dayton, Ohio 45424
I don't know if you realize it but there will only be one more newsletter that will get to you before the reunion (1719 October, 1975). Therefore, I urge you to get in your ideas and suggestions now. At the end of next month the planning starts hot and heavy. Jim SP1TLER. Tom PILSCH, Marc SABIN, and Bill SWICK have all indicated to me that they are willing to help—and they are in the Academy area (their addresses are current in the Register). The Assoc, of Graduates (AOG) takes care of the decisions and planning of the reunion but there are certain things (name tags, theme, etc.) that the 10th year class may set up on their own.
Lynn REID wrote me from Houston that he hopes to be there. Lynn has worked himself up to be the Executive Compensation Specialist in Exxon. His job is to be responsible for salary policy development and implementation, and executive prerequisites which apply to the top 400 employee in Exxon. I hope you have some insight for us on this gasoline availability uproar, Lynn.
Vic GENEZ left the Test Pilot School in December and was at Hill for a couple of months earlier this year learning to fly the H-53. He is here at Wright-Patterson in the 4950th Test Wing testing a combat, night rescue system. I talked with Kent WATERMAN a few minutes in January—that's all the longer we could stand still in Class A’s and 18 de-
grees. He’s working stores management at the Armament Laboratory (Eglin) and was up here talking with the F-15 people. Then a couple of weeks later 1 ran into Dick UMBARGER at the gym. He is now flying drones at D-M and was up here working the simulator. Dick was telling me that the AF wants to give him credit toward his gate for the two years he was out working for Mountain Bell. He says the eating is much better in the AF. I ran into another classmate who'd gotten out and was back in now. Roger VROOMAN was out only one year and was at McGuire when 1 saw him but by now should be my neighbor—two houses down. Roger claims that the military seems to have some drawbacks but the civilian company’s personnel system isn’t any better. 1 saw Chuck ALLEN racing across base a couple of months ago with a suitcase in his hand. Last I heard he was buried deep in the Pentagon.
Maj. General Allen (the Sup) was here and talked to local liaison officers and grads. John BLACKMAR says it was basically the same as his letter in the last AOG magazine. He did add that the Clements Committee has recommended that the other service academies use some of the USAFA operating procedures—I hear we got a very good rating. Charley THOMAS tells me that Gary T1TMAS has departed AFIT for USAFA and that Ed JORDAN and Gene PUHL have gone to FDL. He also thought he saw Gene KOROTKY at Happy Hour but wasn't sure. The Register has no current address for Gene. 1 talked with Ed Jordan and he tells me that Carl LYDAY is now at the Test Pilot School and Curt NELSON just recently finished out there. About a month ago after talking with Jim SWALLOW about his EWI experience I asked him to pass on his comments to everyone (my effort to make this column helpful as well as newsy(?). Here they are:
“Have you ever heard of the AFIT program that some have referred to as a boondoggle? That’s right, its the Education With Industry (EWI) program. If you are interested in the business side of the Air Force and already have a master's degree (though it's not required), its the only way to fly. The objective, ‘to establish a productive customer-contractor relationship by providing students with a perspective, from every level of management, of the problems of a major aerospace company' is viable and has been obtained, at least at the company where I was, Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. The program offered there was excellent. Note that I said ‘offered.’ EWI happens to be ungraded and a program where you only get out what you're willing to put in. From the career standpoint, EWI has several things to offer. It only lasts ten months, so doesn't segregate you from the fate of ER's for too long a time. It serves as cross training into a new career field. I chose the procurement option because of my interest in systems procurement/management, but there are several others available. It's a terrific opportunity both to observe and participate in the operation of a ‘civilian’ organization (particularly for those who wish to see if the grass is really greener on the other side of the street). And if you don't give a rat about the above, you can really improve your golf game.”
If you move this summer add a remark to your change of address card. Latest moves: Bob PENRY, Elmendorf; Marv LOPER. Wurtsmith; Larry STONE, Ent; Joe HENDERSON. Nellis; Bob LARSEN, George; Fred BOLL Monterey; Jerry LINN. Alconbury; Larry RANK, Ramstein: Bruce HUNEKE and Dave BENNETT, Holloman: Guy ENGLER, Hanscom; Doug WEIDNER. Warrenville, Ill.; John GRITSAVAGE. Northville. N.Y.; Joe BLACKSTEN. Richmond, Va.; Merrill HISCOCK, Willowdale, Ontario.
Capt. J. O. McFalls 1 10 Chandler Road Goldsboro, NC 27530
'66 scores again! Nine more of our gang will be pinning on major's leaves within the next year. Again, a super congratulations to Fred ALBERTSON, Jerry ALLEN, Bill DUNNE, Rusty GIDEON, Jamie GOUGH, Clay OLSCHNER, Bob RHAME, Bill RYAN and Butch ZENT. Wouldn't you know the promotion list was published two days after our last “Newsletter” deadline? One of these days I'll get into the right cycle.
It does seem like only last week I was sitting down to scribble out the Winter blithers, but I guess time flies when you’re having fun. And when you’re caught up in the whirl of the Social and Cultural Hub of Eastern North Carolina (Goldsboro) there's plenty of excuses for procrastinating. Hope this column makes it in time.
I received some great correspondence from Denny FINK, Ron TALCOTT, and Dan RADTKE. Basically, they confirmed what we all had suspected—the whole class is getting smarter and smarter. Denny is enrolled in CSU for his masters prior to teaching in the Academy Chemistry Department. He, in essence, took the place of Lou EDDY, who after graduation is in the Physiology Department. Ron TALCOTT has finished at Penn State and is implanted in the MAC personnel system at Scott. (Just a reminder for all you prospective “brother-in-laws” in MAC.) Dan RADKTE is selling real estate in the D.C.-Northern Virginia area, still on furlough from Eastern Airlines. He reports that Marty DAACK is the chief of one of the Systems Command labs at Wright-Patterson, after he received his masters at C.U. Other academicians of note: Ron BOATWRIGHT to California Institute of Technology in applied physics; Eric LINDBERG is staying on at AFIT for his PhD in Aerospace Engineering; finally Jim TILLEY and Rusty GIDEON will be applying some of their acquired knowledge from AFIT as they tackle the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards. They'll see John CASPER out there, as his follow-on duty title was an Edwards Systems Command Test Pilot. I saw John here on his way to ferry an F4E to Germany. Murray LOEFFLER also stopped by doing the same thing.
I got a "natty” picture of Joe DASKEVICH in his full aide-de-camp regalia from the Home Town News Center. He's holding down that position for the commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill AFB.
Rick PARSONS has joined what is becoming a ”66 reunion at Holloman in TAC's T-38 lead-in program.
Finally, the “most envious assignment” this time has to be Carl BAKER's F-15 to Luke. And the “welcome back to reality" award is a tie between Terry SCHMIDT who returned from Sydney, Australia to Little Rock, Arkansas; and Jack GRAHAM, from Wiesbaden, Germany, to the Pentagon as an Intelligence Officer.
All for now. Keep in touch. —J.O.
Mr. Larry Wilson
Stanford Manor Apt. 206 1110 Stanford Rd. Grand Forks, ND 58201
Greetings again from the Great Frozen Wasteland. I don't know how many of you all have ever seen a real live blizzard, like the one in "Dr. Zhivago"—but I saw a month of them just recently. Now, however, spring seems to be in the air and the old mercury is inexorably moving up towards
freezing. Just like old times I am planning to ski in Colorado over our spring break. Just like old times 1 have exams immediately following. Just like old times I will probably not ace too many.
Received a late Christmas letter from Pete BETT1NGER. who left Germany to attend grad school at USC. Those orders were changed, and he was assigned as an F-4 IP at Shaw AFB. Those orders were also changed and he ended up at—get this—Fort Riley, Kansas, as an Air Liaison Officer for the 1st Infantry Division. I am certain that Pete will love spending the next couple of years with the grunts.
Teri, wife of Larry HOWERTON, wrote that Howerton family will be heading for Kadena AB. Okinawa, after Larry gets checked out in the F-4 at George AFB. He has been occupying his free time for the past ten months by getting a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling. That will up the statistic published in the winter Newsletter.
Stu WOOD is also in the F-4, as an IP at Homestead AFB. He described the assignment as his eighth “permanent” one since graduation. Somehow that does not fit my concepts of permanence. He stated that he is still single and “chasing around”, though he is slowing down some in his old age, and that he spent some time in Europe last year where he, I, and others did some chasing right after graduation. One of my favorite memories is of Stu, scraped and bloody, charging into a bar on Majorca and loudly announcing “You CAN do a wheelie on a Vespa!!!”
Quick notes on who is where: Doc HALLIDAY wrote that he is presently on a 6 month TDY to the 320th Bomb Wing at Mather AFB. and Al PICHON has assumed his position as the ’67 class rep at Wright-Patterson AFB until Doc's return. George SOVITSKY is an air ops officer at Bergstrom AFB after returning from England. Ralph LESLIE is back in Colorado Springs, fresh from WrightPatt. Lots of other people have moved to lots of other place.
Those of you who—like I—are not associated with the flying game might be interested in an article in the latest Playboy which concerns the Pentagon politics involved in procuring aircraft. Specifically, the F-14 vs. the F-15. I in no way claim that magazine is the last word in such matters, nor do I know anything about the author's expertise. But I found the story, entitled "Tally Ho”, quite enlightening, and do not doubt that there is at least a measure of truth. For those who did read it—quite a way to run an Air Force, no? And for those who did not—force yourself past the exceedingly luscious center-fold, and persue it. I invite comments (on the aircraft article) from anyone with first hand knowledge of the subject matter.
On a serious plan: The Association notified me that Jim STEADMAN has been declared KIA as of February 1975, after being MIA without any information as to his actual status since November 1971. And the parents of Don SHAY, MIA since 1970, wrote concerning their plight and that of other families who have loved ones still listed as prisoners or missing in SEA. She asked for support for the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia—the organization which is actively working to have the government do something meaningful to end their uncertainty. The Shay’s address is 205 Hilltop Road, Linthicum, MD 21090. I am certain that they and all others who have loved ones that are not accounted for would appreciate all the support—moral or otherwise—that they can get. I do not intend to go into a dissertation on my personal opinion of SEA and the war. But one of my most profound impressions of that mess was/is that of the tragic, pathetic, disgraceful loss and waste of human resources. I do not believe that 1 will ever lose that feeling. But re
solving the questions of those who remain officially POW or MIA does not seem too much to ask of the government which they served, and it would certainly make life easier for the Shays and others like them. Again. I invite comments.
And with that heavy thought I will close this out.
Happy springtime to all—and let me know what's going on in the various corners of the world.
Capt. Dick Fast Quarters 4511 D USAF Academy, Colo. 80840
The end of another dark age is approaching here and a beautiful Colorado spring is starting to assert itself. But we’re still waiting for that late season blizzard which always manages to sneak in!
Spring sports are moving into full force these days and several ‘68ers are in the middle of them here at USAF. Bill MARKHAM and Phil PIGNATARO are coaching the Varsity LaCrosse team—they open their season against Maryland in two weeks—a rough one! Dick ELLIS is working hard on the golf course every afternoon as assistant coach for the Varsity. Duty, above and beyond!
We've received several letters over the last few months. Larry and Jan MAAHS are at Vance where Larry is a T-38 IP. He's also working towards his Master's Degree at the Univ of Oklahoma. Larry and Jan expanded their family rapidly last November with the birth of identical twin girls (Joanne and Julie). They also have a 4 year old boy (Jim).
Mike and Theo MOFFITT write from Seymour-Johnson where Mike is in a rated supplement job as a maintenance supervisor for an F-4 avionics squadron. He’s anxiously awaiting his return to the cockpit. In the meantime, Mike is also well on the way to finishing his Master’s—expects to be finished this summer. Theo also passed on the good news of the birth of their first child—a girl, named Jennifer Anne (a popular name this year!). Jennifer was born in August.
Continuing with our birth announcements, one of my old roomies. Bob PULVER writes (actually Anne wrote) that they added their third son to the family last year—a 9 pounder named Travis. Not another PULVER! .Seriously, congratulations to all!
Bob and Anne are at Dyess where Bob was Aircraft commander for Dyess’ B-52 SAC Bomb Competition Crew. They are due to leave Dyess soon for an FB- 111 slot at Plattsburgh, NY.
That's it for letters—appreciate hearing from all of you.
Looking at the hometown news releases, I see where several of our class have recently earned their Master’s Degrees. Chuck JACKSON finished his in CE at WrightPatterson and is now at Randolph with HQ ATC. Phil ABOLD received his in aero also at Wright-Patterson, where he is now working for the AF Flight Dynamics Lab. Denny CHRISMER completed his in International Management at the American Graduate School of Int’l Management, Glendale, Arizona. Denny is now a market analyst with Rolm Corporation in Cupertino, California. Congratulations to all of you.
Vincent RUSINAK (a civil engineer at Vandenberg with SAMSO) and Ray BROWN, a weapons systems officer at Clark, both were recently awarded the AF Commendation Medal. Vince for meritorious service while assigned to U-Tapao AF, Thailand and Ray for meritorious service with the 8th TFW at Ubon.
John GRAHAM has been assigned to Korat RTAFB where he'll be flying F-4’s. John was previously at England AFB, La.
John RITTENHOUSE, wife Diane and daughter Heather Diane are now at Wright-Patterson where John is working on the Advanced Tanker Development program for SAC.
Bob JOHNSTON recently finished SOS and is now back at Mather as a flying safety officer.
Quite a few shorties here from address change cards: John CARSON is an aero engineer at McClellan AFB. Calif. Ray COLE is at the Defense Language Institute (East) in Washington, D.C. Tom EAVES, apparently a civilian (?) is living in Vacaville, Calif. Dan HITES is an air operations staff officer at Offutt, AFB. Gary HOFFMAN is an aircraft commander at McConnell. Gary was Distinguished Graduate at SOS, Class 74C. Vincent LOZITO is an A/C on a DC-130 at Davis-Monthan and Bill THURSTON is with the 33rd FTS at Reese.
I’m sure all of you read in the last magazine of the death of Steve ROSEMAN. We all offer our condolences to his family.
That’s all for this letter. Best of luck to all in all your endeavors.
Capt. Gerald D. Luallin
10745 Beclan Drive
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 Ph. 916-635-7719
No matter where you go, Or how you get there, There you are.
Bill MILLER and I used that statement throughout our senior year at school. We would write it at the top of tests in Aero and Astro. Used it as sort of a formula. Anyway the only time I ever saw any body get worried about that statement was on my way to Guam. My aircraft commander was the nervous type. About halfway through the flight the co-pilot asked me if I knew where I was. I told him, “No matter where you go or how you get there, there you are.” Man! My AC almost came unglued.
Well there you are Bill MILLER, in Thailand. Bill and his wife Marylyn went to Williams after UPT. Bill was an instructor there about 3 years. He received an F-4 assignment to Korat. He went to Korat for RTU. While Bill was happily pushing his F-4 through the air, Marylyn decided to push into life a boy, Michael William. Anyway Bill is cooling his heels in Korat, with John BURNS. Bill and John are also carrying the banner against all the harassment from the underclass grads at Korat.
There is one sure way to get response from my fellow classmates, that’s to make a mistake. I mean who would figure that Roy REED's fans would be reading the newsletter. Well I received a letter from one of his two fans. He wanted to let me know that he lived next door to Roy in Pittsburg and not Youngstown, Ohio. Roy went to the University of Pittsburg not Youngstown University.
The Mysterious fan was Kenny STEVENSON. After pilot training Kenny went to SAC in B-52's. He managed to get accepted at Pitt in the English grad department. Not only is Kenny getting his master's in English, but he is teaching Black Literature at Pitt. Kenny’s going back to the Academy as an English Instructor. Since graduation Kenny married Mary and they have three children. I'll have to apologize to Kenny, I recognize the names Sean and Kenneth but I cannot figure out the other name, even my wife cannot figure it out. It look like Jejchelle to me.
Imagine Dave (Stik) TURNER balancing a wife and two children on his nose. Anyway Stik's wife. Joan, now is busy with a boy and a girl, Beth and Collin. Since gradua
tion Stik has navigated C-130's and AC-130’s. He is now going to pilot training. I suppose they’ll notam out Williams AFB, for flying twigs.
There are some memorable people in my life. One of them is Dick “Swanee” SWANSON. I met Swanee my first day at the Academy and his warmth and friendliness then continued all the time that I had contact with him. After graduation Swanee, who had an outstanding football career at USAFA, stayed on as a football coach. Today, I have one of the players he coached, “Whale” Gessert, in my Nav class. Listening to "Whale”, Dick hasn’t changed much.
Swanee is now at McChord, working in C.E. He’ll soon be getting out, and looking for work in the Northwest. Swanee married a fantastic lady, Sue, in April of ’73.
Swanee and Mike KLINDT have stayed in close contact. Mike is now flying C-130's out of Kadena and enjoying his overseas tour. Swanee also wrote me about some other classmates he has talked to.
Jeff TABOLSKI is living in Seattle attending the University of Washington and is in the fisheries graduate program. He is married to Conie. Jim TELYZEN is living with his parents in Portland. Just having a good time. Jerry BALL and his wife, Cala, are off to Texas. Jerry got out to get a PhD at Texas A&M. Can you imagine a “Zoomie-Aggie”. Really. Tom BITTERMAN is working for the Jolly Green Giant Vegetable Co., I bet he closes the cans with his teeth. He lives in White Plains, New York with his wife, Elaine. Well everybody, Smile and Write. I’ll answer your letters in the newsletter. Oh, yes, if you have pictures that are significant to the class send them. Happiness until next time.
Lt. Robert B. Manning
1305 Books
Enid, OK 73701
I am sorry to have to begin this issue of the class news on a sad note. By now I imagine that many of you have heard of the recent death of Bryan RYE.
Bryan was killed in a crash of his CH-53C helicopter approximately 6KM northeast of Ban Nakham, Thailand. The flight was a functional check and further information concerning the crash is unavailable.
Those of us who knew Bryan personally will always remember his energetic spirit and his joy in living. I don’t feel this will ever be lost. I know Bryan will always be an integral part of our class and for this reason will not be forgotten. On behalf of the class, I would also like to extend our deepest sympathies to Bryan’s family and close friends.
This quarter I am going to make the news come out a little fast and furious as I am again running behind my schedule. I have decided to give you men the news in lieu of doing my SOS by correspondence, so here it comes.
Joe QUIGLEY is the first man in the slot. Joe has recently been reassigned to Bergstrom AFB, Tx., where he is flying the 0-2 as a FAC. He is joined there by Mark WITMAN (Sue). Mark was recently awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal during ceremonies at Bergstrom for his work as an F-4 pilot in Korea. Congrats, Mark.
Ron JOY (Pat) must not feel Air Force education is enough. He is presently enrolled in the Naval Postgraduate in Monterey, Calif. Maybe it’s just the location. Tom MAHR (Lou) is bringing home the bacon for the IO team. He is working as chief of community relations division with the 13AF, a part of PACAF, and was recently given the Commendation Medal for his work as an information staff
officer at Carswell AFB, Tx. Jim KOTORA (Katherine) has recently shifted his C-130 home station from Korat RTAFB to Dyess AFB.
Europe is home for Don FIORTON, who is flying the F-4 out of Lakenheath, England. Sharing flying time from that base is Dan NIMS, also in the F-4 front seat. On the other side of the world, Jeff DOTUR (Lisa) is working hard. Jeff recently received the Air Medal for his work as a C-9 pilot in Southeast Asia. Walt DAVIS (Sandra) is picking up the ATC awards to keep us in the running. Fie was recently awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for his work as a C-130 pilot. Paul McKAY (Deborah) has recently upgraded to aircraft commander in the KC-135. Paul works out of Fairchild AFB, Wa. It seems as though everyone is going East or West, so Bill BLUM BERG decided to be different and work his way south for the winter. Bill is flying his C-130 out of Howard AFB, C.Z. where he deployed out of Little Rock AFB, Ark.
Lindsey FENWICK has come back into the country and is presently showing an address in Denver. Ed BRADSHAW is doing the IP job at Sheppard AFB, Tx., while Fred STRAUSS is instructing the hummer at Craig AFB, Al. Fred also dropped a note that he was turning in his “Rock” club membership. For the class, we all welcome Melody Strauss to the class of ’71 wives’ club. Marty PERINA dropped a line to say he was moving to Upper Heyford RAFB, U.K., where he is upgrading to A/C in the F-111F.
It seems as though many of our class are returning from overseas and Tom COURY is among them. Coming back from Udorn RATAFB, Tom is now doing backseat F-4 work at Seymour-Johnson AFB. Also in the F-4 backseat returning from Udorn is Larry SCHLESTER. Larry didn’t want to stop in the U.S. too long, though. He is now working at Spangdahlem AB, Germ. Norm PONDER has returned from Takhli RTAFB to Blytheville AFB, Ark., where he is the chief of Air Traffic Control operations. Finishing out the class for this issue is Nate BARD, back from Ubon RTAFB. Nate was in the F-4, but is presently working from an 0-2 as a FAC at Shaw AFB, S.C.
Somehow, it continues to amaze me how much news it looks like there is before I start, but when I’m done I wonder why there is not more to say. I ask that you all will drop me a line soon and let me know the news for ’71 from the near and far corners of the world. Oh yes, since next issue won’t be out before July, congratulations on the railroad tracks, one and all. And now, I pray the LORD will watch over all of us and give us HIS guidance for the coming years. God bless you, MARANATHA!
1 Lt. Bill Beck
3271 47th Street Kirtland AFB, NM 87116
Germany; Larry is assigned at Hahn AB and Ron at Zweibruken AB.
Kevin BRENNAN. Larry HUFF, and Doug HILL are new C-14I drivers. Kevin is assigned to McChord, Larry to McGuire, and Doug to Norton.
Lee GARDNER is now at Seymour-Johnson and Bob BERG at Fairchild flying tankers.
We have several new IP’s in our class harassing young student pilots for fun. Ralph BROWN is a T-38 instructor at Reese, Tom SCHENK is in the 38 at Vance, and Dan MULDER is in the Talon at Moody. John TAYLOR is a T-37 driver at Reese.
We also have a couple new buff crewmembers. Dave TUMINO is an EW at Kincheloe and Bill CRUMM a copilot at Anderson on Guam.
Vic SORLIE has a new job as a pilot in an F-111F at Mountain-Home; he is fulfilling the duties of a weapons system officer.
Karl Zickrick is an OV-10 FAC currently TDY at Hoiloman and Davis-Monthan. He’ll be heading for England AFB in mid-June.
Bill MARTIN is now back from NKP and assigned to the H-53 at Bergstrom.
We also have some guys busy with the books still. Chester MORGAN just finished SOS in residence at Maxwell while Rick WILLIAMS is in residence at AFIT to obtain a graduate degree in logistics.
Our class is beginning to have several members receive honors and awards. Bruce RASMUSSEN and Les ROSS, both C-130 navigators, were commended for taking part in operation “King Grain.” This was a humanitarian airlift mission which delivered more than 9,400 tons of grain from June to October to draught-stricken villages in the Sahel region of West Africa. John McDONALD participated as a C-141 pilot in the airlift of emergency supplies and evacuation of refugees from cyclone-ravaged Darwin, Australia. John is assigned to Norton and recently from flying T-39’s at NKP. Mike VERZOLA has been elected president of the Junior Officers’ Council at Elmendorf, Alaska, where he is assigned as an aircraft maintenance officer. Bob WALLER, a management analysis officer at Hanscom Field, has been named Outstanding Junior Officer of the quarter at his base. Tom STARKOVICH, chief of quality control for the 4787th Air Base Group at Duluth International Airport, has been named Outstanding Aerospace Defense Command Junior Personnel Manager of the Year at Duluth.
Two of our cohorts have recently received decorations for their efforts. Gary GRANT received an Air Medal for his work as a C-130 navigator in Southeast Asia. Steve CLARK received a Commendation Medal for his skill and humanitarian efforts in helping rescue a critically injured sheepherder from a remote area. Gary is assigned at Clark and Steve at Mountain Home.
Hello 72ers:
It’s almost hard to believe that we’ve been gone from the Zoo for nearly three years. Most of us are done with school and specialized training, actively pursuing our “chosen” fields of endeavor.
Wayne PATTERSON is now working at Loring as a clinical laboratory officer. John WATKINS is now occupied with international marketing for U.S. Electric Motors, a division of Emerson Electric.
We have a new bunch of “fast-movers” flying F-4’s. Mike NICHOLSON is a navigator at McDill and Larry COOPER is a navigator at Kunsan AB, Korea. Larry REYNOLDS and Ron RICHARDS are front-seaters in
Things are slowing down here at Kirtland. The present host unit on the base, the Air Force Special Weapons Center, is closing down. The Test Group to which I am assigned will be disbanded. Kevin PROBST, who flies NKC-135’s in special test missions, will remain in a special status to fly and I’m hoping to transfer to MAC in the T-39 outfit which is supposed to be implemented here.
One more note. Bob BELL, a B-52 co-pilot at Ellsworth, will be taking over as our class correspondent with the next issue. His address is 9307A Coolidge Drive, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota 57706. Maureen and I have enjoyed hearing from and about those who were able to write. Keep Bob well-informed!
Lt. Vincent M. Parisi, II
4975 El Camino Dr., #C-13
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
303—599-8710"
Greetings all! I've just taken over this spot from Dave GESSERT. who went off to Nav tng. I’m here with the T-41 squadron with five of our classmates as you will see later. Hopefully, I will be able to keep you all informed on everybody else, but I will need your help.
Well here goes Masaaki YAMATO is in Air Intel at Kadena, Mike GRIFFITH is a Sec Pol Off at Minot, Bob PASTIAK is an Acft Main Off at Wright-Pat., Tom BLASE went off to grad sch at Missouri. Mike KOSER is in Procurement at Eglin, Ron IVERSON is at Tyndall, Tom MAYBERRY is a Radar Off in the Carolinas, Lynn RANDOLPH is with CE at Eielson, Rich EILERS is in R&D with Don SUTULA at Eglin, and Mark PRILL is at U of Ariz. Those still in Med sch: Robin COOPER at U. of Colo., Skip VOGLER at Bowman-Grey, Mark FRITZ, Mike MAYER, O'MITCHELL, A1 MURPHY are all at Tulane. Greg REINECKE is with Civ Contract in L.A. along with Joe SOVEY, Ken WASSENER is in Computers at Gunter and Jim LEMONS is at Wright-Pat. with the F-16 SPO.
Those in C-141's are—Norton: Bob MIZE, Tom REAM, Dave and Lesiie BRYANT, Bob BOLTON and Tom SISSON. Travis: Mark and Cynthia FERRIS (after a Masters at Pitt) and Lee and Nancy ZIMMERMAN. Charleston: Jimmie DEAN, Steve HANSEL and Bob HAYLOCK. McChord: Charlie MEYER, and Rick SCHANBERGER. Ed HAEGELE is at McGuire, and last heard Emmet and Betsy ANDERSON were still at Altus.
Those in the F-4 are—MacDill: Don GROSS, Jeff BROWN, Bill and Donna STANTON, John PRETZ, and Ken VOLKMAN. Luke: Carl DOFELMIER, Duncan KEIRNES, Wayne and Carol (with a new daughter) HOLUM, Pete and Sue GIMBORYS, John NOSS, Nick PALLAS, and Doug RICHARDSON. George: Randy SAGE, Kim and Diane KOEHN, and Greg and Lucille GONYEA. Kadena: Charles and Sandra MITCHELL(GIB), and Kees RIETSEMA. Stuart and Joyce STANDBERG (GIB) are at Eglin, (he grad w/honors from weapons sch, Congrats). Anthony DeROSA is at Udorn, Ron TAYLOR (GIB) is at Homestead and Dave ROODHOUSE is at DavisMonthan.
Those in the C-130 are—Pope: Ernie BUTLER (Nav), Tom and Janis McMILLAN (Nav), and Joel Carlson. Dyess: Ernest MARAV1LLA (Nav), Craig CLEVELAND, and Gerry GRAF. Clark: Norty SCHWARTZ, Bob DECKER, Mike FARRELL, and Bob GLITZ. Langley: Chuck ALBERT, Howard ELLIOTT, Dale GADE, and Tony CIRA. Little Rock: Ron MORAN, Vance WATT, John and Mary BARRON.
Those in the KC-135 are—K. I. Sawyer: Ralph BRODERICK and Tom SPORTE. Jim MATEOS at Barksdale, Larry STONE at Loring, Larry and Carol FABER at Mather, Gary VanDRIE at Rickenbacker, Fran and Eileen VELDMAN at Grand Forks, Karl GESCH at Travis, and Gary NICHOLS at Seymour Johnson. Bill and Brenda PRICE at Fairchild, Bob and Marti ALTMAN at Wurtsmith, Phill CHERRY at Altus, Bryan CLARK at Dyess, Steve LORENZ at Ellsworth and Scott PARKER at Kincheloe.
The A-7’s have four of our classmates, they are: England has Steve and Marilee KNIFFEN, and John KUCONIS. Bill WALKER is at Myrtle Beach, and Dave BURNETT is at Davis Monthan.
In WC-130's are Bob and Martha BURGER at Keesler and Mark MAYHEW at McClellan.
The EC-135 has Bob KNARR and Jay BOTTENUS both at Patrick.
Those in the B-52 are: Ed and Sue (Just married, Congrats) FRAZIER at Barksdale, Carl and Gena FOERSTER (Nav) last heard of at Castle along with Randy MATTHEWS. Mike and Sharon WALKER are at Blytheville, Mike MOSIER is at Beale, Mike and Dianna SMITH are at Carswell and DeWitt SEARLES is at Fairchild.
Helicopters: Tom SWERTFAGER is at Elmendorf, Neil MORSE is at Fairchild, Phil OLSON is at Homestead, George and Jackie TOTA are in Iceland, and Noel JOHNSON is at Clark. Sorry I don't have the type you fly but you didn't put it on your cards.
There are six in the T-41, all at USAFA. They are: Bruce and Janet MEYER, Sam BLANCHARD, Chris and Claire FLYNN, Dean KINDER, A1 STREIB, and Vince PARISI.
The C-5 has Greg and O'Dessa SENSIBA (Nav) at Travis.
The T-37 has the following—Williams: John and Mary HINKLE, Paul TAYLOR, and Rowe and Deb STAYTON. Reese: Mike DENDINGER, John JACZINSKI, and Pat ROONEY. Vance: Stan OSBORNE. Bill GILLIN, and Tim HANSEN. Craig: Bart and Gail BARTON, and Dick HALFAST. Moody: John CAUTEN and Mike and Carolyn YOUNG. Doug RICHTER is at Laughlin.
Those in the T-38 are—Craig: Rod and Amy THIEL, Rich and Mary JONES, and Phil THORN. Williams: Ron and Bev JOHNSON, Bob FROHLICH, Bob SMITH, Ron PRICE, Otto LEGG, and Walt and Terry HARVESON. Columbus: Dick and Marie ULMER, and Don and Janice PETTIT. Terry GEERS is at Reese, and Roy and Krista BRUNDAGE are at Vance.
So far we have five in the OV-10. They are: Tom KROESSIG, Eddy Drake. Bob and Pam MUNSON, and Wayne and Barbara MARICLE. They are all at NKP. I know the wives aren't with them, but they deserve to be mentioned.
Those in the F-l 11 are as follows—Nellis: Mike N1SHIMUTA, and Gene OGILVIE. Canon: Charlie and Debbie STALLWORTH, Rich FAZIO, and Willie and Billie CULBERTSON. Bill and Michell SWAN are also at Nellis.
The RF-4 has a following also. They are: Martin HILL at Kadena, Roy and Kathie VEATCH at Bergstrom, Steve PALADINI (GIB) at England, Dan POQUETTE at Lakenheath and Rob and Mary MARPLE somewhere.
In the T-33 are Paul BRENNER at Minot, Skip and Naomi SANDERS at Minot, and Dennis GEESAMAN at McChord.
In the AC-130 is Pete PENTA (Nav) in SEA.
That's about it for this quarter. I get information for this column from the change of address cards you send to the association, from the AF news releases, and from friends of friends. If some of the information is incorrect, it’s because your cards didn't have enough on them, I didn't know you were married, your wife's name wasn’t in the register, or I simply goofed.
I’ll put in just about anything for just about anyone. So, if you want to see your name in print, send us a card or whatever and let us know what you are doing. If you ever pass through the Springs feel free to give us a call. Take care
Lt. Dennis Collins 3631 A Rebecca Lane Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Hello 1974's edition of America’s Finest. If you are wondering why I am writing the class article this month the answer is simple. Lester Katahara thought it would be more fun to propose than write prose, so he is geting married this month. Congratulations Les!
The headlines this month are guys like Bruce ANDERSON—research physicist at Brooks AFB, Michael BRAYDICH—electro chemical analyst at Wright-Patterson AFB, Richard DENNIS—design officer at Griffiss AFB, Robert JENSEN—space systems analyst, Jame NELSON—research scientist at Kirtland, Michael O'CONNELL—air traffic controller at Keesler, Arthur “Ratso” RATKEWICZ—item accouting officer at Castle, Neil STILWELL—F-4 navigator at Mac Dill and Darry C. “D.C.” SCOTT—computer operations officer at Bolling.
I have cabled our new missile men as the strivers of the month. Bill “soon to be married” BATSON, Gene BEDNARZ, Bill GRIFFITH, Marty KLENA, and Mark RADER are operationally ready in Whiteman, Missouri. Mark BELL, Kelvin COPPOCK, Joseph DORRIS, and Cole LOVETT are operationally ready on missile combat crews at Malmstrom. Ralph TATE is a lonely crew member at Francis Warren in Wyoming.
Finally, ’74’s representation at the Academy is about to end. Bill BERRY, Rich HAYNIE, Steve HANSEN, Steve HEIL, Les KATAHARA, Clarence SMITH, and myself are all heading for Williams in Arizona. Jim MORRIS and Frank MURPHY are going down to Keesler for computer school, and listen to this “boondoggle”. Rich NICHOLSON is headed for UCLA to attend graduate school!
Writing this article has been a lot of fun. Our bond extends around the world now. To me, that’s a beautiful thing. I will probably never get another chance to address my entire class again so—God speed, good luck, and right on!
SUPERINTENDENT—Continued from page 2)
The Department of Defense Committee on Excellence in Education visited the Academy on 16 and 17 January. The Committee, whose membership includes the Assistant Secretary of Defense and the three service secretaries, has studied academic and military training programs at each of the service academies. In the memorandum prepared following their visit to the Air Force Academy, the Committee expressed satisfaction with the Cadet Honor Code, the concept of a predominantly military faculty, and the criteria established for faculty selection. The impact of the flying "gate” on obtaining rated faculty members was discussed, and it was recommended that further study be given to establishing “gate credit” for pilots and navigators assigned to the Academy. Committee members indorsed our approach to increasing the representation of officers from other services at each of the Academies through an exchange between tenured faculty members. The Committee recognized the strides we have made in insuring that our graduates receive initial assignments clearly related to the combat and operational mission of the Air Force.
Emphasis is placed on assignments such as pilot, navigator, missile launch, and direct combat support areas—e.g., aircraft and missile maintenance. These assignments will meet immediate Air Force needs and provide graduates with a foundation that will assure the individual of the best possible basis for professional progression. This policy pertains only to initial duty assignments and does not in any way inhibit an individual from cross-training at a later date to another career area.
June Week 1975 will begin on Friday, 30 May, and will culminate with graduation exercises on Wednesday, 4 June. I know that the Class of 1975 would be honored if you could attend, assuming your schedule permits.
I am sure that at this important time in the lives of members of the Class of 1975, they will feel the same sense of significance which you experienced at graduation. I also am confident that their record in future years will show that they have distinguished themselves as have their predecessors, in the service of their country.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN REAL ESTATE-BE IT A HOME IN THE PIKES PEAK AREA; A FIVE-ACRE BLACK FOREST HOMESITE; RECREATIONAL MOUNTAIN PROPERTY; OR PRIME INVESTMENT ACREAGE-OUR COMPANY AND I PERSONALLY WILL PROVIDE YOU TWO THINGS FEW OTHERS CAN.
INVENTORY.
In the Fall '74 issue of this magazine, told you about Rawhide’s vast inventory of homesites and mountain property. Now, with summer approaching and a PCS to Colorado Springs possibly in your future, would like to ask you to seriously consider the purchase of a home in this area. There are many sound reasons. Legislative changes have made it possible for you to obtain increased VA entitlements. And the recently enacted tax cut bill may give those who purchase a new home by December 31, 1975, a tax credit of five per cent of the purchase price Cup to $2,000) on their 1975 income taxes. The Colorado Springs real estate situation is still a "buyer’s market” just three of the many good reasons to buy a home if you’re being assigned here. Let me tell you about the others. You already know our inventory of homesites and mountain properties is among the most extensive, diversified and rapidly growing in the Rocky Mountain region. Add our residential offerings to that, and you can easily, see can serve you no matter what your real estate interest is. If we don’t have the home or land in our inventory that suits you, or if can't find it it’s my v-... fault, not yours.
The Rawhide Co.
INTEGRITY
In 1973, I separated from the Air Force. did not, however, separate from my loyalties to the Air Force, its people, and particularly my fellow Graduates. Nor did abandon the basic principles my Academy days and subsequent Air Force career instilled in me. While I no longer professionally serve with you, I can and hope to serve you professionally. am today a Colorado realtor. My unhesitating personal and professional conviction is that certain property in Colorado today remains an excellent value. am aware —I make myself aware —of much of this property. would like to introduce you to it. Should you respond, the sole commitment is mine a commitment to serve your interests capably, completely, and with total integrity.
THIS OFFERING IS THUS TWICE SEPARATED FROM MOST REAL ESTATE COMMERCIALS THAT’S TWO FOR THE GOOD GUYS
JON STAPLES USAFA CLASS OF 1962
Please contact me-either in person, by letter, or by a collect call 3010 Brenner Place Colorado Springs 80907 C303) 596-4687