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ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES
The graduation of the 755 members of the Class of 1975 brings the total number of Air Force Academy graduates to nearly 9400. (See story on Page 4.)
4 No. 6
Editor
Gares Garber, Jr., ’59
Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Freida Weber
OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES
Charles F. Stebbins "61 President
Richard G. Head '60 Vice President
Gares Garber, Jr., ’59
Executive Secretary
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
The
from the SUPERINTENDENT’S DESK
“Duty Honor, Country, indeed go to the very heart of a stable and healthy social order. Full restoration of a healthy body politic remains a profound need for this country. By your dedication and by your example, I trust, you shall make a major contribution to that end.”
With these words, the Secretary of Defense, the Honorable James R. Schlesinger, addressed the Class of 1975 and provided its members with an inspiring sense of motivation as they left the Academy to begin their military careers.
The initial duty assignments of our graduates reflected the strong combat leadership orientation which has become an important element in initial graduate assignments. Four hundred eighty-one selected UPT, 15 elected helicopter training, 69 chose UNT, and 95 will be assigned to direct combat support fields. Thirty-nine will enter these career areas following graduate study. This year an all-time high was established, as 94% of those cadets who were air crew qualified entered air crew training.
On 30 June the members of the Class of 1979 entcred the Academy. Their credentials display the same academic excellence, athletic participation and leadership potential which have characterized previous classes. This class reflects a higher percentage of appointment acceptances than those of previous years. Their Basic Cadet Training will closely parallel that of the Class of 1978 and its emphasis on pride, motivation and training with dignity. More emphasis will be placed on stamina and muscle tone this year, as six hours of physical conditioning are added to the program. Additionally, each basic cadet will be exposed to parasailing, a valuable experience designed to motivate him for future training programs.
Summer training programs continue to provide members of each class with a realistic exposure to Air Force life and an opportunity to participate in practical aspects of Air Force management and operations. Third Classmen are presently participating in SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) training in the mountains west of the Academy. The skills and the experience offered by this program continue to challenge the individual and provide
him with an important insight into the rigors of combat, portrayed in a realistic atmosphere. Operation Non-Com provides the Third Classman with an understanding and an appreciation of the role of noncommissioned officers through a three-week visit to installations around the nation. Operation Third Lieutenant gives First and Second Class cadets an opportunity to work closely with a host officer at an operational installation. This important program orients the cadet to junior officer responsibilities and develops an insight into leadership in action. This summer training in addition to soaring, parachuting and T-41 instruction, provides us with an important opportunity to expose the cadets to motivational and practical experiences which relate to commissioned duties and the mission of the Air Force.
As the summer approaches, Coach Ben Martin and his staff have completed long hours in spring football practice. At the end of this academic year, our defensive capability looks strong, with Dave Lawson (noseguard linebacker, ’76), Ray Wild (rover back, ’76), T. G. Parker (defense safety and cornerback, ’77), and Randy Spetman (defensive end, "76) honing their talents to a fine edge.
Offensively. Mike Worden (’76) and Rob Shaw (’77) show excellent promise at quarterback. John Covington, Class of '76 (225 lbs. and 6'5") and Frank Cox, Class of ’76 (215 lbs., 6'3") promise to be two exceptional tight ends. Chris Milodragovich, ’76, and Ken Wood, '77, supported by a group of young backs, promise the best depth in these positions in recent years. Spring practice devoted a great deal of time to defensive strategy and the running game; this fall the passing game will receive greater emphasis. The schedule for this year is a difficult one which will severely test the Falcons' mettle; however, our attitude and enthusiasm are good, and with a few more breaks than we had last year, we should have a good season.
As we prepare to receive the Class of '79, we are pleased that we will be increasing the representation of minority cadets within the Wing. This work is accomplished by the Minority Affairs division of the Office of the Registrar. Six officers assigned to the division constantly travel to high schools across the nation to talk to ethnic minorities and identify individuals qualified for appointment. As the result of their efforts, 234 minority candidates were offered appointments for the Class of 1979, and 185 have accepted. These compare favorably to the 180 tendered appointments in the previous year and the 144 who accepted them. The Minority Affairs Office is a viable and important aspect of our overall recruiting effort and one which enables the Academy to continue to stress equal opportunity in admissions.
We look forward to and will appreciate your assistance in identifying qualified minority applicants to the Academy. Your continued interest in all of our programs is important to this institution and its success in the future.
The performance of our graduates in both military and civilian life is the single greatest source of satisfaction shared by the members of the staff and faculty.
We are grateful for your continued support and hope that as you pursue your professional careers, you will always feel you are a part of Academy life.
Captain Peter R. Platt, Class of 1969, was killed in an OV-IO aircraft accident on 28 April 1975 near Riegenroth, Germany. He is survived by his wife, Audrey, C/O Mr. Atwell Andrews, Box 742, Columbus, MS 39701, and by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry C. Platt.
As a cadet, Capt. Platt majored in Engineering Mechanics. He
CAPTAIN PETER R. PLATT was on the Cornmandant’s List for three semesters and the Superintendent's List for two semesters. He was active in the Ski Club.
Following graduation, Capt. Platt was assigned to Columbus AFB, MS for pilot training and later to Pleiku AB. SVN and Wiesbaden AB, Germany.
Funeral services for Capt. Platt were held on 5 May in the Cadet Chapel. He was interred in the Academy Cemetery.
Lt. Frank E. Peffer.
Class of 1973, was killed on 30 May 1975 in a T-33 aircraft accident at Tyndall AFB. FL. He is survived by his wife, Penny, of 2175 Frankfort Ave, Apt. K 2 0 4, Panama City, FL 32401 and by his mother, Mrs. Arlene B. Peffer.
As a cadet, Lt. Peffer majored in Astronautics and Mathematics. He was on the LT. FRANK E. PEFFER Dean’s List for two semesters and was active in the Protestant Choir and the Ski and Water Ski Clubs.
EFollowing graduation, Lt. Peffer was assigned to Moody AFB for pilot training. He was stationed at Tyndall AFB, FL at the time of his death. Lt. 1 a u r e n c
southwest of Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. He is survived by his wife,
Mr. and Mrs. Theodore
Froehlich majored in LT. LAURENCE E. FROEHL1CH Engineering Mgt. He was on the Superintendent's List for three semesters and was active in the Ski Club.
Following graduation. Lt. Froehlich attended UCLA where he received his MBA in Management. He subsequently attended helicopter pilot training and was later assigned to Nakhon Phanom. Thailand.
Lt. James C. Iaco-
received from a fall at Wright-Patterson AFB.
He is survived by his
4th Ave., Coraopolis. PA 15108. and by his Camillo Iacobucci. also
Wk
bucci on the Superintendent’s List for six LT. JAMES C. IACOBUCCI semesters. He majored in Life Sciences (Prc Med). He was active in the Aero and Ski Clubs. As a First Classman he served as Squadron Commander of 9th Squadron.
Following graduation, Lt. Iacobucci was assigned to medical school at Hershey Medical Center. Hershey, Penn. (Continued on next page)
On 2 May 1975, Major Robert C. Davis, Class of 1960, was declared KIA after having been listed as MIA since 23 March 1969. He was reported missing when the A-26 aircraft which he was navigating did not return from an operational mission in SEA.
As a cadet, Major Davis was active in the Photo Club, the Cadet Forum, and the Enter-
MAJOR ROBERT C. DAVIS tainment and Class Committees. As a First Classman, he served as 3rd Group Operations and Training Officer.
Major Davis served in operational status as a navigator at McGuire AFB, NJ, McClellan AFB, CA and Nakhon Phanom, Thailand.
Major Davis is survived by his wife, Irene, and son, Robert of 2 Rambler Ct., Willingboro, NJ 08046.
Captain James G. Kays, Class of 1971, was killed on 13 May 1975 as the result of a CH-53 helicopter accident approximately 36 miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Marion B. Kays, of 4225 Lake Forrest Dr., Atlanta. GA 30342.
As a cadet. Capt. Kays majored in Engineering Management. Following his graduation from pilot training in 1972 he was assigned as a UH-1F helicopter pilot at Ellsworth AFB, SD. At the time of his death, he was assigned the 21st Special Operations Squadron at Nakhon Phanom.
Funeral services for Capt. Kays were held in Atlanta.
On 11 April 1975. Captain Samuel L. James. Class of 1967 was declared KIA after having been listed as MIA since 18 April 1973. He was reported missing while on an F-4E combat mission in SEA.
As a cadet, Capt. James was on the Commandant's List and Superintendent’s List. He majored in Basic Sciences, lettered in wrestling, and was active in the Ski Club.
Following graduation, Capt. James earned a degree in meteorology at the University of Texas. He was then as
signed as a Weather Officer at Gunter AFB, Ala. Later he was assigned to navigation training at Mather AFB and subsequently to the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
Capt. James is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and his daughter, Melissa, of 336 Bowling Green Dr., Montgomery, Ala. 36109.
(U.S. Air Force Photo) SUPERINTENDENT PROMOTED—Air Force Academy superintendent James R. Allen receives the third star of an Air Force lieutenant general from Secretary of the Air Force John L. McLucas and Mrs. Allen during recent ceremonies in Washington, D.C. Allen, who became Academy superintendent in August 1974, is a native of Louisville, Ky., and was graduated from West Point in 1948. Before coming to the Academy, he served as special assistant to the Air Force Chief of Staff for B-l bomber matters.
Grads Total Near
9,400
The ranks of the Air Force Academy alumni increased to nearly 9,400 with the graduation June 4 of 755 memhers of the Class of 1975.
This year’s class is the 17th group of new officers to be commissioned since the initial class of 1959.
The new second lieutenants will be reporting to a variety of assignments inclulding 488 to pilot training, 15 to helicopter training and 74 to navigator school. Another 20 graduates are slated to attend pilot training school after they earn their masters degrees under cooperative education programs with civilian universities. Additionally, one graduate will go to helicopter training and nine others will attend navigator schools after they receive their advanced degrees.
An additional 90 men will go directly to various assignments with in the U.S. Air Force.
A total of 39 men will attend cooperative masters programs. Twenty-two of the Academy grads will attend medical school.
Of the total number of men who graduated from the Academy this June, eight have chosen commissions in other military services. Four went to the Navy and two each to
(Continued on page 24)
CAPTAIN JAMES G. KAYS
CAPTAIN SAMUEL L. JAMES
HONOR CODE-HONOR CONCEPT:
A COMPARISON
though, that both honor systems are exclusive wards of the Cadets and Midshipmen now at the academies. Any comments about these honor systems must necessarily be made from the outside looking in.
The Basic Code and Its Legality
The following article appeared in the May 1975 issue of the TALON. We are grateful to Maj. Leonard E. Clark, OIC of the TALON, and to Lt. Dumas for allowing us to print the article in the AOG Magazine.
After graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1968. Lieutenant Jeffrey M. Dumas, USN, went to post-graduate school in Monterey, California, where he earned his master's degree in elctrical engineering. He then attended flight training, graduating as a naval flight officer and serving in patrol squadrons. He is presently assigned to the USAF Academy as an electrical engineering instructor, and he is a department liaison honor representative. In 1974 he won a Freedom Foundations Award and the George Washington Honor Medal, and he spent the summer working under Senator Barry Goldwater for the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Lieutenant Dumas writes from the unique position of being intimately acquainted with both the U.S. Naval Academy Honor Concept and the U.S. Air Force Academy Honor Code.
Among the numerous colleges and universities in the United States there exist three institutions whose roles are without parallel in our academic community. These three institutions—our country’s major service academies— have been charged by Congress with the unique task of insuring that each graduate is uniformly competent to assume the highest responsibilities of this nuclear age. To meet these responsibilities properly, each graduate must possess an insuperable sense of personal honor and integrity and demonstrate a loyalty to country that is second to none. Such singular traits of character can hardly be learned from text book or lecture, nor are such qualities commonly innate. These characteristics—honor, integrity, and loyalty—can only be acquired through an uncommon learning process, and the catalyst so essential to that process is an academy's honor system. It is these honor systems that render the academies unique among institutions of higher learning.
The primary purpose of this article is to reaffirm the justification of the academy honor systems. An attempt will be made to contrast and compare the Honor Code of the Cadet Wing and the Honor Concept of the Naval Academy Brigade, paying special attention to those areas in which the Code and Concept differ greatly. It must be remembered,
A discussion of any honor system should begin with the basic precepts of that system. At the Air Force Academy, the Cadet Honor Code is embodied in the verbally concise commandment: We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does. At West Point the Code is very similarly stated: A Cadet will not lie, cheat or steal nor tolerate those who do. The Honor Concept of the Midshipman is just as trenchantly stated yet is uniquely different in that it contains no “toleration clause”: Midshipmen will not lie, cheat or steal nor will they mislead or deceive anyone as to known facts. A Midshipman will be truthful, trustworthy, honest and forthright at all times and under all circumstanses.
As clearly stated as the commandments appear to be on the surface, there has still been much controvesry surrounding their purported vagueness. Recent critics have asserted that these precepts are so unconstitutionally vague as to be legally void. Fortunately a very recent court case has refuted the void for vagueness doctrine as it might have applied to the serivce academies. In the case of interest, six Cadets at West Point had sought to be reinstated after having been dismissed for cheating on a physics exam. A part of their defense rested on the supposition that the Honor Code was unconstitutionally vague. U.S. District Court Judge Whitman Knapp dismissed this allegation stating: “The meaning of that word (cheating) and the nature of the conduct described by it are so perfectly plain to anyone and so obviously matters of emphasis at the Academy that I find this allegation to be frivolous.” Here Judge Knapp has judiciously noted what the critics failed to see the relative difference between the vagueness of something like ‘Conduct unbecoming of a Carolina Gentleman” which was voided in court and the concise precepts of the academy honor systems.
Numerous colleges and universities, especially private schools, have effective, although limited, on-campus honor codes. The academy honor systems are unique though in that they apply equally as strongly on and off campus. A Cadet or Midshipman who violates the Honor Code while at home on leave could be subsequently dismissed from the Academy. Such “Draconian penalties” appliel in “contexts unrelated to the Academies” once again raise the question of legality. However, the legality of such procedures has been clearly upheld in the so called General Order (pp. 145) which states: “conduct standards may apply to student behavior on and off campus when such behavior is relevant to any lawful mission, process or function of the institution.” Here is where many critics miss a very important point of the Honor Codes and Concept. If the honor systems can be thought of as training aids in the graduation of officers of honor and integrity, then their application should be no less stringent than the test to be faced by the graduate once in the service. In the service, it is highly improper for any officer to renounce his honor and integrity once away from his
actual station of duty, be that station a ship of the fleet or an air base!
At all three academies the Code represents only a minimum of acceptable conduct. In all cases, the Honor Code and Concept are expressed in a single terse statement. There has been no attempt to “codify” these honor systems because they are meant to act only as guidelines for matters of conscience. Without the rigorous and exacting guidelines inherent in codification, there can exist no loopholes to tempt or confuse. The ultimate test of honor can only conie when the Cadet or Midshipman asks himself “is what I am doing just and honorable?”
As similar as the Honor Codes and Concepts are in their underlying philosophies, they differ greatly in their adminisstrative mechanics. At all academies a Cadet or Midshipman is assumed to be honorable until he is proved to be otherwise. Further, in order that a Cadet or Midshipman may be found guilty of violating the Code he must be proved guilty both of committing the act and having the intent to do so. However, it is here that the administrative similarities end. The actual process followed in adjucating possible violations vary markedly.
Honor at the Air Force Academy
At the Air Force Academy, a Cadet suspected of having violated the Honor Code is first investigated by a team of three Wing Honor Representatives, all first classmen so elected. If this team feels that the evidence warrants, the Wing Honor Committee Chairman is notified and, should he deem it necessary, a Cadet Honor Board is formed to deliberate the case. The Cadet Board, formed by eight first class Honor Representatives, will then hear the evidence, examine pertinent statements, question the accused and any witness, and deliberate the case. Throughout the investigation and hearing the accused's constitutional rights are guarded and procedural due process is closely observed. The accused Cadet has the right to remain silent, he may seek third-party counsel, he may hear and cross examine all witnesses, and he has been confronted with the charges.
If the suspected Cadet is deemed innocent, he is then returned to the Cadet Wing in good standing. The Cadet Honor Board can only produce a finding of guilty if the vote is unanimous. A Cadet found guilty by the Board is usually asked to resign. If, however, the guilty Cadet is judged worthy of retention in the Wing, he may be granted Discretion, which is unique to the Air Force Academy (although it does have a parallel at Annapolis). Discretion is used as an instrument to temper the Code. It is generally applied only in cases where the accused is an underclassman who has not lived with the Code very long. It may also be applied where the violation is self-reported or there were mitigating pressures. However, the most important criteria for applying Discretion is that the Cadet has learned a personal lesson and that once returned to the Wing he will maintain his integrity.
A Cadet found guilty by the Cadet Honor Board may, if he desires, request a hearing by a Board of Officers. This Board is comprised of five officers selected from the Academy contingent. They will re-hear the case and deliberate. A majority vote is sufficient for a finding of guilty. If a Cadet is found guilty by the Officer Board he is faced with the possibility of receiving a less than honorable discharge, although to date no such discharges have been awarded.
Challenges to the credibility of the Officer Board states, “These boards with rare exceptions, are composed entirely of Military or Air Force Academy graduates.” However,
Major Tom Hill, the Commandant’s Executive for Honor and Ethics, has researched this accusation and found that at no time was the Officer Board composed of more than two Academy graduates.
Honor at the Naval Academy
At the Naval Academy, a suspected honor violation is originally investigated by a single Brigade Honor Representative. If he determines the evidence sufficiently to warrant, the case is then referred to a Class Investigating Committee. All members of this committee are elected Honor Representatives from the same class as the accused Midshipman. If the suspected violator is a fourth classman, a first class Honor Representative will monitor the actions of the committee. Should this committee find sufficient evidence, the case is then referred to the Brigade Honor Committee, via the Chairman, where the case will be deliberated in a manner similar to the Cadet Honor Board. If the committee finds the Midshipman innocent he is returned to the unanimous vote suffices for a finding of guilty. If the Midshipman is found guilty but is worthy of retention, he may be recommended for Probate. However all findings by the Honor Committee must be submitted to the Commandant in recommendation form. As a general rule, the Commandant complies with the wishes of the Honor Committee but the final disposition for all cases rests with the Superintendent. A Midshipman found guilty by the Honor Committee may direct his appeals to the Commandant and the Superintendent. Recent events indicate that there may be yet another level of appeal for both the Midshipman and the Cadet the U.S. Congress.
The “Toleration Clause”
It would be impossible properly to compare the Honor Code of the Air Force Academy with the Honor Concept at Annapolis without devoting particular attention to the Code's toleration clause, which has caused more heated debates among the Cadets than perhaps any other precept of their Honor Code. It appears clear, however, that a large majority of the Wing subscribes to the toleration clause, which one Cadet has called “the backbone of the Honor Code.”
By definition, the toleration clause requires that any Cadet observing a possible violation of the Honor Code either confront the suspected Cadet and assure himself that the situation was a misunderstanding or, if he feels strongly that a violation was in fact committed, he must insure that a Wing Honor Representative is notified of the possible infraction. If the suspected honor violation is ignored, the Cadet having observed the infraction is guilty of “toleration” and has himself violated the Honor Code. At Annapolis, a Midshipman observing a possible honor violation has a broad spectrum of available options. He may confront the suspected Midshipman and caution him, he may, of course, report the incident for investigation, or he may even decide to do nothing.
The reasons the Cadets feel that the reporting of honor violations should be made mandatory, under the stiffest of penalities, are many and varied. Many Cadets echo the thoughts of Brigadier General Seith, a former Commandant of Cadets, who once lived under the clause himself. He contends that any one who tolerates violations of the code will, under presure, eventually violate the Code themselves. “Anyone who lives closely with cheaters will find it hard not be become discouraged and disillusioned—more so, if they are his respected friends. His friends all do it; they don’t work hard, while he studies; they get better grades than he. The probability is that if the honest man cannot bring him-
self to stop the cheater sooner or later he will throw up this hands and start cheating himself. Widespread toleration could then spawn widespread cheating.”
In spite of the reasoning behind the clause, a few Cadets of each entering class find the clause difficult to accept. CIC Christensen, past Chairman of the Wing Honor Committee, says “the clause often conflicts with a Cadet's background training, where 'squealing and informing' are frowned upon.” CIC Estes, former Wing Commander, states, however, that “squealer and informer are the terms, the argot, of the child and criminal—those with an underdeveloped sense of responsibility.” CIC Lux, Class of 1974. one of four Group Honor Representatives puts this problem rather bluntly. He describes the toleration clause, as seen by some cadets, as “antisicety.” But CIC Lux asks which is really more “anti-society.” an honor system that tolerates violation or one that polices itself?
Another difficulty that each Cadet must face in accepting the toleration clause is that it may some day subject him to a very severe test of conscience and loyalties. To quote CIC Lux: “Some Cadets find it difficult to concede that they must turn in a Cadet who will be thrown out for a minor breach of Code." Yet CIC Hayden C74). a Group Honor Representative, over rules that conflict of interest.
“The difficulty of turning in a long time friend is a test of conscience, a test of loyalties. A true and respected friend should never put you in a situation from which the only solution is to turn him in—he also would uphold the Code. I believe that a truly honorable person would not want to live and work with one who is not.”
CIC Hayden's mention of loyalty brings to the surface one of the more salient purposes for including the toleration clause in the Honor Code. Generally, any well defined and well enforced honor system can ensure that an institution's graduates are honorable men, but it is only with a toleration clause that an honor system can also guarantee that each graduate has a proper sense of loyalty. The toleration clause insures that a Cadet's loyalties are to the Wing and not to a friend or small clique. This same loyalty will be transferred to service and country upon graduation, for the Cadet who has lived under this system will instinctively know that there exists a much higher loyalty than personal friendship. A Cadet who has lived under the toleration clause will be very unlikely to risk both men and mission to cover for the shortcomings of a “friend.”
Without the toleration clause. Cadets also feel that there exists a strong possibility that a double standard might be applied in reporting violators of the Honor Code. Without the clause, it is conceivable that a popular Cadet, for example an outstanding athlete, could be observed violating the code; yet the observing Cadet might not report the offense because of the presssures that could be brought to bear against him. On the other hand, an unpopular Cadet would be turned in without hesitation. Mid. 1/C Thornton. Chairman of the Brigade Honor Committee, assures us that such is not the case at Annapolis and cites dramatic examples to support his belief. However, if the Honor Concept of today can be discusssed with such confidence, are there any guarantees that the same tome can be used ten or fifteen years from now? The Cadet feels that only the toleration clause can provide such a guarantee. CIC Lux states that the “toleration clause tends to standardize the Code from year to year. The same critical test is given to each member of each class. Thus the Honor Code is not left to the whims and vagaries of a changing American morality."
It cannot be denied that the Honor Concept at Annapolis, without the toleration clause, demands the exercise of a
greater maturity on the part of any Midshipman observing a possible honor violation. The burden of personal responsibility both to the Brigade and to the suspected Midshipman rests solely on the shoulders of the suspecting Midshipman. At the Air Force Academy, the Cadet is spared this burden because his actions have already been dictated by the Code. However, in a training environment such as that provided by the honor systems at the two Academies, is it necessarily prudent to assume that the student of honor already possesses those qualities necesary to evaluate that honor? Further, it should be realized that at the Air Force Academy a board of eight elected first class honor representatives will debate the aspects of a possible honor violation, where at Annapolis such decision will be a product of his personality—and possibly his admiration and his animosities
The toleration clause is demanding. If the Brigade were to incorporate it into the Honor Concept, initially it would be very difficult to accept. Yet. in the long run, it may be found that it is easier to live with the toleration clause than without it.
Duty and Honor
Many Cadets. Honor Representatives and others alike, feel that the greatest danger to the effectiveness of an honor system exists when Cadets try to differentiate between duty and honor. Such attempts to dichotomize duty and honor can only lead to trouble in the service. “When duty slips, honor slips." and many Cadets have found this saying to hold true even at the Academy. CIC Christensen points out dramatically. "Violations of regulations, as in a persistent attempt to beat the system, often lead to larger and larger offenses until the Cadet finds himself violating the Honor Code. Recent cases heard by the Cadet Honor Board show this to be strikingly true." Most Cadets have a healthy realization that duty and honor are synonymous. CIC Christensen states that, “there will always be rules and regulations which must be complied with in honor—this is especially true in the service." With this sort of attitude, the conflict between duty and honor becomes non-existent.
Duty, Honor and American Morality
Brigadier General Hoyt S. Vandenberg. Jr., the Commandant of Cadets, states emphatically that the public demands the highest sort of personal honor and integrity of every officer. "The American public has demanded and will continue to demand the highest commitment of personal honor and integrity from its military officer that is responsible for the protection of this country and the lives of the sons of the great nation.”
It can never be assumed that the service academies have a patent on the graduation of honorable men. Many of the men in the service today most admired for their personal honor and integrity are non-academy graduates. But it is none the less the inviolable duty of each of the academies to ensure that every graduate embodies the highest ideals of honor, integrity and loyalty.
The Cadet must realize that the Honor Code is not put on at some point in the Academy career like a class ring. Nor is the Code left behind upon graduation like the Cadet shoulder boards. The Cadet must further realize that the honor system is not a part of the definition of an academy. It is much more, in fact it is the very essence of the Academy. And upon graduation that same Honor Code will serve as the keystone to a long and honorable career in service to country.
In concluding, if there is one bit of advice that could be given it would be: Keep the Honor Code strong! Your country demands it!
LETTERS
Dear Sir:
In response to the letters by Capt. Marvel and Lt. Stewart in the Spring 1975 issue, I feel certain issues need to be clarified.
First of all, both letters stem from an interpretation of Captain, now Major, Leroy Stutz's letter in the Winter 1974 magazine. I had a completely different interpretation of Maj. Stutz’s comments, and, in fact, have discussed this interpretation with him. I felt that Maj Stutz was simply saying that all graduates regardless of where we are stationed, must set a good example when it comes to our uniform and personal appearance, and in all tangible, visible areas. His examples seemed to be straightforward and logical. Maj Stutz went on to say that setting this “good example” is particularly important for the graduates assigned to the Academy—in whatever capacity. He made no reference to any one group here-AOC, Faculty Instructor, Athletic Department coach or instructor, staff officer, etc. Evidently the fact that Maj Stutz was an AOC, and signed his letter as such, has triggered these unjust and unwarranted—at least in my opinion— “shots” at the AOC and what he represents. Both Capt Marvel and Lt. Stewart stated that each felt the need for an officer—every officer— to maintain a good uniform and personal appearance. From that point, however, each went off on his own tangent to make whatever points they wished to make. I now wish to make a few written observations of my own about the job of the AOC.
Like all of us, when I was a cadet I thought I knew everything that an AOC did. He seemed to be everywhere, all the time, and at first I thought his total existence was simply to make our lives miserable. The AOC was involved in personal and room inspections, drill, discipline, etc. When I became a Firstie, and had the opportunity to work more closely with the AOC, I saw that he did many other things, too—additional things which were beneficial to the cadet.
At any rate, I returned to the Academy in June 73 as an AOC. Like 1 said, I thought I knew what an AOC did. Well, I didn’t, but I sure do now. The primary task of the AOC is to provide guidance and counseling to the cadets. He not only supervises cadets, but he also evaluates cadet performance. The difficutly naturally comes when the cadet is unable or unwilling to accept the fact that the AOC is responsible for the cadets' conduct and discipline as well as their performance. His is no easy task. Nevertheless, the AOC has not only endured, but has made a impression upon the Academy itself, the graduates in particular, and the Air Force at large.
The AOC does not—should not—try to be “friends" with the cadets. He is looking for positive results of the explicit and implicit training, and through his day-to-day operations, hopes to gain the cadets’ respect. The basic philosophy of the AOC existence is to train the cadet to rise to the officer level, not for the AOC to come down to the cadet level.
Just because we have graduated and gone our own way— military or civilian—our task or responsibility is not over. We owe it to ourselves to enhance the graduate image and to protect ourselves from the graduate who represents us and the Academy in a negative manner. From a tangible viewpoint, we do that through our personal appearance, bearing, dress, spoken and written words, etc. But do not overlook the necessity to maintain the desirable qualities of integrity and loyalty (to those above and below us).
In summary, I think this was what Maj Stutz was trying to get across to us. It only takes one bad deed, one wrong
act, one wrong word to help tear down what we all have helped build. Together we must seek to build a better, more efficient and more effective U.S. Air Force Academy. We must train the cadets so we can build a better Air Force, and all of us must help. The AOC cannot do the job alone.
Thomas W. C. Wilson, Major USAF Chief, Cadet Operations Division
Dear Sir:
Neither Leroy Stutz’ letter in the winter issue nor the two responses in the spring issue of the AOG Magazine addressed the basic problem which is that external measures of merit for that quality called leadership are difficult to find. I hope that future letters will address this issue. This letter will take on the more limited subject of personal appearance and its relevance to the Academy mission.
Lt. Stewart makes an appropriate point. Major Stutz falls into the stereotype trap of equating certain external indicators with “sharpness.” So also, but on the opposite side, does Captain Marvel in his rebuttal. The externally sharp individual is not necessarily a good leader. Again, however, Lt. Stewart’s point is dwell taken—it is difficult or impossible to demonstrate good leadership without both the internal qualities and the willngness to “set the example.”
Put in a nutshell, what we are trying to achieve at US AFA, through the entire program of training and education, is to inculcate internal leadership qualities along with the habits of self-discipline and obedience. The last 1 mentioned quality has fallen into disrepute in some quarters, but, nonetheless, I think two points about obedience are worth discussion.
First, the professional ethic of civilian supremacy rests, in the last analysis, upon the willingness to obey lawful authority even when one disagrees, thinks its a bad decision, etc., etc. Though perhaps not an absolute, we can hardly afford to abandon this as a general rule for our behavior. If we disagree with an order, the honorable, professional course must remain—attempt to change it, then obey or resign. We all ultimately retain the right, ability, and duty to refuse to obey on grounds of legality and/or conscience.
Second, behavioral scientists tell us that habits are hard to make and hard to break. The first part of this observation is testified to in the amount of time and effort that go into a successful training and education program. The most familiar example of such a program is perhaps here at USAFA.
If we graduate officers with a habit of “sloppiness’ (personal appearance is not the only nor even the most important outward indication), without the internal qualities which make them willing to “set a good example,” we can expect that it will be difficult indeed for them to play the effective role for which four years of training and approximately $100k of the taxpayers' dollars were invested. How can one expect subordinates to follow orders if one is unwilling to follow his own superiors’ directions? Agreement or disagreement and the relative importance of the issues involved are not parts of the behavioral pattern. Those are only the rational aspects of the specific situation.
If, however, we graduate young second lieutenants with a habit of accurate attention to detail and a concern for mission accomplished (more specific ways of saying selfdiscipline), then we can expect that they will continue to
(Continued on page 24)
MULTIPLE CHOICE RESPONSES
TWENTY YEAR SURVEY ANALYSIS
The Spring Issue of the AOG Magazine contained the response data for all multiple choice questions. Question 1-13 and 84-99 asked factual information about the respondents. Included below are portions of the analysis of the remaining multiple questions which indicated a clear consensus, evident trends, or significant differences in the class by class breakdown of the response data.
Questions 16 through 25 asked the graduate to rate the accuracy of information he received from liaison officers concerning various Academy programs and policies. A majority of those responding, an average of 59% for the ten questions, indicated that they either did not talk to a liaison officer, had no opinion, or were unable to recall. This large percentage is possibly due to the inability of many graduates to recall conversations they had five or more years earlier, and the fact that the liaison officer program was only instituted in 1957 with approximately 300 liaison officers throughout the country and increased steadily to approximately 1100 in 1969 when the Class of 1973 entered the Academy.
By analyzing only those respondents who expressed an opinion about the accuracy of liaison officer information, it is possible to discern distinct differences across questions 16 through 25. The most accurate information given by liaison officers was for "service commitment,” (question 25) with 51.4% indicating "totally accurate;” for “Honor Code,” (question 23) with 30.8% indicating “totally accurate;” and for “athletic/physical education program,” (question 19) with 25.6% indicating “totally accurate.” The most inaccurate information given by liaison officers was for "administrative punishment system,” (question 22) with 55.2% indicating "inaccurate;” for "physical isolation of the Academy,” (question 24) with 46.8% indicating “inaccurate;” and for “fourth class system,” (question 21) with 31.5% indicating “inaccurate.”
Questions 26 through 35 asked the graduate to rate the accuracy of information he received through Academy brochures, correspondence, and films. On the average, across the ten questions, 27% of the graduates indicated no opinion or were unable to recall. Categories showing the highest percentage of the answers “no opinion" or “unable to recall” were “administrative punishment system,” (question 32) 49%, and “physical isolation of the Academy,” (question 34) 40%.
Analysis of those responses addressing the accuracy of information of official publications and movies discloses a pattern similar to that found for liaison officers. The most accurate information provided by official publications was in the area of “service commitment,” with 49.7% indicating “totally accurate;” "Honor Code,” with 34.9% indicating “totally accurate;” “academic program.” with 34.1% indicating “totally accurate;” and “athletic/physical education program,” with 31.8% indicating “totally accurate.” The most inaccurate information provided by official publications was in the area of “administrative punishment system," (question 32) with 53% indicating "inaccurate;” "physical isolation of the Academy,” (question 34) with 45% indicating “inaccurate;” and "fourth class system,” (question 31) with 38.4% indicating “inaccurate.” However, note in the above paragraph questions 32 and 34 were also tabulated as being least remembered.
Comparison of the overall perceived accuracy of liaison officers vs. official publications reveals no major differences between the two information sources. There is a slight tendency for official publications to be perceived as more accurate, though the differences are of little practical significance.
Question 36 asked the graduate to assess the amount of positive influence the all-military faculty of the Academy had in motivating him to a career in the Air Force. A total of 76% selected either “some” or a “great deal,” 16% indicated “none,” while only 7% indicated that the all-military faculty was a negative influence. The influence of the allmilitary faculty was recognized as highly positive by the early classes and has gradually diminished for later classes.
Questions 37, 38, and 39 ask for the graduate's opinion as to what percentage of the Faculty, Commandant's Staff, and Athletics Staff respectively should be USAFA graduates. (See also questions 68 and 69 for rated officer percentages.) The most widely held opinion is that there should be no established ratio of graduates assigned to any mission element. This opinion was held most strongly by all classes with respect to the Athletics staff, with over 50% of respondents from the Class of 1969 or later expressing this opinion. The respondents favored a higher percentage of graduates on the Commandant's staff than for Faculty or Athletics, affected his Air Force career development. The largest single response was “no opinion,” with 48%, which ranged from less than 10% for the Class of 1959 to almost 70% for 1973. The data varies widely among the classes. Note that most of the early graduates had no academic major, while most of the recent graduates are still in their initial flying assignments and have not yet had the opportunity to see an effect of an academic major.
Note: Overload majors began with Class of 1959. while majors-for-all began with the Class of 1966.
Question 41 asked the graduate's opinion of several different approaches to curriculum organization for the Academy. All but 2% of the respondents expressed an opinion. Another 2% favored a required curriculum with no requirement for academic majors. The majority of respondents, 73%, favored the current policy of requiring cadets to earn an academic major without overloading. Only 23% favored a required curriculum with the opportunity to obtain a major by overloading. The change of opinion by class very closely follows the actual changes implemented in the Academy curriculum over the years. Prior to the Class of 1966, over half of each class favored a required curriculum; but coincident with the inception of the majors-for-all curriculum, no less than 70% of any succeeding class has favored the required curriculum. Apparently the graduates endorse what they personally experienced.
Question 42 asked the graduate to recall which type of sports received the most emphasis when he was a cadet. The opinions were equally divided between “contact team sports” and “all received equal emphasis." Since this data division was uniform across all classes, it appears that the difference is simply one of perception. In the related question 43, which asked which type sports should receive the most emphasis, an emphatic 70% of the respondents felt that all should receive about equal emphasis. This data was also uniform across all classes. Furthermore, 85% of all classes
felt that the time devoted to all phases of athletics was “about right.”
Questions 45 through 60 asked the graduate to evaluate on the basis of his own experiences the various military and airmanship training programs at the Academy on a scale of “negative value,” "no value," “some value," and "great value.” “Not applicable” was a possible choice and ranged up to 97% of the respondents for Underwater Demolition Training. In analyzing these questions the “not applicable" and "blank” responses were removed and the remaining responses numerically averaged: “negative value" =1, up to “great value” —A. Using this approximate measure of perceived value, the training programs can be rank ordered. However, the size of the respondent group that expressed an opinion on each question must be considered when reviewing the rank order.
Although Fourth Class Knowledge is at the bottom of all the programs ranked, it is worth noting that 83% of the respondents felt that Fourth Class Knowledge was of some or great value to them personally, whereas only 16% felt that it was of no value or negative value. Apparently a large majority of the respondents heartily endorse all of the military and airmanship programs listed here.
Question 50 concerned the value of cadet officer duties. It is interesting to compare the responses to this question to the responses to question number 2, which asked if the graduate had ever served in the position of either Squadron, Group, or Wing Commander. First, only 684, or 18% of the respondents had served in one of these positions; but among this group, 469, or 69%, felt that Cadet Officer duties had been of “great value" to them personally. By contrast, only 32% of the 3079 graduates who had not held major command positions felt that Cadet Officer duties had been of "great value.” It appears that those who served closer to the top received more from the duties.
Question 61 addressed cadet enforcement of discipline. Responses varied widely with the classes, with 71% of the Class of 1960 but only 4% of 1973 indicating that most cadets enforced strict adherence to all regulations and policies. Few respondents from early classes indicated that only agreeable regulations were enforced, while 64% of the respondents from the Class of 1970 shared this opinion. Finally, 27% of respondents from the Class of 1973 felt that they had no role in enforcing regulations. In essence, it appears that the (recalled) willingness of cadets to enforce regulations has decreased continuously over the years.
Question 62 addressed the class system in the Cadet Wing. Forty-two percent felt that an upperclass vs. fourth class system was sufficient, whereas 36% preferred definite lines of distinction between all four classes. These responses varied widely by class. Those preferring a definite four class system continuously decreased from 68% for the Class of 1959 down to 23% of 1971. The upper class/fourth class was preferred from the Class of 1967 on with a high of 58% for 1971. Thirteen percent of the class of 1968 were opposed to a class system of any kind.
From question 63, the highest degree of loyalty within the Wing was indicated as follows: friends, 31%; Squadron, 26%; Wing, 22%; and Class, 12%. These results are average over all classes, yet are indicative of the opinion only since 1968. The earlier classes had a very different order of loyalties, with the Wing being the highest and friends the lowest. In the early days, when the Wing was small, loyalty was reported to be successively given to groups in decreasing order of size. In recent years with the larger Wing, the
order is essentially reversed, with loyalty given first to small groups.
Question 64, which addressed the second highest degree of loyalty, produced no strong conclusions or degree of consensus.
Question 65 indicated that 64% of the respondents felt that they had insufficient privileges available as a cadet. The peak of dissatisfaction with privileges was the Class of 1968 with 76% answering “insufficient,” whereas both earlier and later classes answered differently with 52% of the Classes of 1959 and 1961 and 43% of 1973 choosing the answer, “about right.”
On question 66, most graduates felt that Academic Order of Merit (AOM) should be weighted more than military Order of Merit (MOM) in determining Graduation Order of Merit (GOM). Thirty-nine percent answered that it should be at least 80% AOM, with an additional 33% indicating 60-70% AOM. Only 7% answered that MOM should count more than AOM. Overall, 72% of the respondents preferred AOM to count more than MOM.
The responses to question 67 indicated that the most positive influences toward choosing a service career were faculty instructors (34%) and AOCs (21%). Upperclassmen were considered by respondents to be a more positive influence toward a service career than were athletic or military training instructors.
As was the case on questions 37-39 relating to percentage of graduates on the faculty, the largest group of respondents (40%) in question 68 preferred “no established ratio” of rated officers at the Academy with 47% of later classes choosing that response.
In question 69, while 24% of respondents indicated that some permanently assigned officers in both the Commandant's organization and the Department of Athletics would contribute to mission accomplishment at USAFA, 46% felt that it would not be helpful to have permanent positions in either organization.
Question 70 addressed service commitment incurred by cadets. The response data vary by class and indicate that earlier classes favor incurring a service commitment early in the cadet career.
Question 71 addressed unnecessary use of Honor Code to enforce regulations. Responses varied widely by classes. Forty-seven percent of early classes down to 6% of recent classes indicated that the Honor Code was not used at all to enforce regulations. Sixteen percent of early classes up to 40% of recent classes answered that the Honor Code was used occasionally to enforce regulations, while 4% of early classes up to 32% of later classes said that it was used frequently. The highest percentage of total responses (31%) indicated that the Honor Code was used rarely to enforce regulations, and this response percentage was essentially uniform throughout all classes.
Questions 72 through 83 employ a Likert-type scale (strongly agree, moderately agree, no opinion, moderately disagree, strongly disagree) to assess the intensity, as well as the direction, of the graduate's opinion concerning various aspects of the Academy program. This discussion will be limited to highlighting what appear to be some of the more significant finds and limitations of the data.
Question 72 asks the graduate to judge the impact that rated officers at the Academy had upon his decision to seek an aero-nautical rating following graduation. The “not applicable” response was chosen by 18% of the respondents.
presumably those who were not qualified or otherwise chose not to pursue a rating. A secondary examination of the “not applicable" responses to this question against the aeronautical ratings held by the respondents tends to substantiate this presumption, as over 83% of those responding “not appiicable" to question 72 were either “military non-rated” or "not applicable" respondents to question 6 which addressed current rated status of the graduates.
Of those who expressed an opinion in question 72, 70% agreed with the statement that rated officers at the Academy had a positive impact on their decision to become rated, while 21% disagreed, and 9% offered no opinion. The 70% agreement appears to be unambiguous, but the 21% disagreement must be interpreted with caution. The statement of the question is not neutral, so it cannot be determined if a graduate who disagrees with question 72 believes that rated officers had a negative impact on his decision, or if he is merely neutral believing that rated officers did not impact his decision. In the latter case, the “no opinion” response would mean that he is unable to assess or recall the impact For both agreement and disagreement responses, the intensity of opinions was evenly distributed between “strong” and “moderate.”
Question 73 was designed to measure the impact of loyalties and attitudes toward the Air Force developed at the Academy. Since the statement of the question is not neutral, the results may be ambiguous. Of those expressing an opinion, 67% agreed that loyalties and attitudes developed at the Academy favorably influenced their decisions to remain in the Air Force, while 27% disagreed, and 6% offered no opinion. The 13% who chose a “not applicable” response are divided evenly between graduates who have resigned their commission and those still on active duty. Some respondents apparently interpreted “not applicable” to mean that they were not free to make a decision concerning remaining in the Air Force. For those expressing disagreement, it is not clear whether they were unfavorably influenced or not influenced at all. The intensity distribution tends to moderate slightly rather than suggest strong agreement or disagreement.
Questions 74 through 83 are assumed to be applicable to all graduates, i.e., a “not applicable” choice is not allowed.
The responses to question 74 show that 70% of the responding graduates felt that information programs at the Academy regarding non-rated Air Force careers were not adequate. If the 15%% expressing no opinion are included in that group, it can also be expressed that only a total of 15% of the respondents perceived that non-rated information programs were adequate to any degree.
Question 75 reveals a strong consensus among responding graduates that a stressful and demanding Basic Cadet Training (BCT) Program helps accomplish the Academy mission —56% agreed strongly, and 32% agreed moderately. The data indicate that while earlier classes tend slightly to agree more strongly, the trend is not significant.
Other significant responses to questions in this set show that the responding graduates tend to disagree that the geographical isolation of the Academy was detrimental to cadet morale, agree that the Academic Order of Merit was a positive influence on a cadet performance, agree to a strong sense of class indentity, agree that Cadet Honor Code values contributed positively to personal development (with 53% agreeing strongly), and agree that faculty instructors developed positive cadet attitudes toward mission accomplishment and an Air Force career. Responses to other questions revealed no significant degree of consensus.
AOG Officers Addresses
Listed below are the addresses of the newly elected officers whose names were reported in the May 1975 AOG Newsletter (cover letter for the Biographical Data Form). In addition. Lt. Gerald F. Micheletti was elected 1975 Class Director and may be reached at the USAFA Department of Athletics. AOG members are urged to take part in the conduct of affairs of the Association by maintaining contact with the elected officers.
President 7821 E. Oakwood Place. Tucson. AZ 85715
Maj. Thomas J. Eller Vice President
Qtrs. 4509F, USAFA, CO 80840
Directors
Maj. Donald R. Baucom. '62 Qtrs. 4509D USAFA, CO 80840
Maj. James P. Tate. '63 Qtrs. 4404A USAFA, CO 80840
Cpt. Kevin W. Krail, '71 5915 Del Ray Colorado Springs. CO 80918
1 Lt. Vincent M. Parisi, II, ’73 4975 El Camino #0 3 Colorado Springs, CO 809 1 8
Cpt.Thomas L. Cunningham, "67 Mr. Jon R. Staples, ’62 5890 Del Rey 3010 Brenner Place Colorado Springs, CO 80918 Colorado Springs. CO 80907
Ctp. Richard P. Ellis, ’68 Qtrs. 4401C USAFA, CO 80840
Cpt. Alfred W. Grieshaber, ’65 3295 Toro Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Mr. Burton C. Andrus, '69 4451 Teeter Totter Circle Colorado Springs, CO 8091 7
Cpt. John J. Warner, ’69 3110 Meander Circle Colorado Springs, CO 80917
Col. David M. Goodrich
Athletes Post Record Year
It was a record-breaking year for athletes at the Air Force Academy.
During the past school year, Falcon athletes won 73.9 per cent of their contests, best mark in school history. That broke the old record of 73.5 per cent set during the 1969-70 school year.
Counting varsity, junior varsity and freshmen teams, the 31-team overall mark consisted of 298 victories, only 104 losses and4 ties. On the varsity level, the record was 216 victories, 81 losses and 4 ties for a 71.8 per cent winning average in the 18 sports.
A total of four varsity teams posted undefeated seasons, paced by pistol, which had a 22-0 mark and won a national team title, and swimming, which was 12-0 and completed a third straight undeafeated season. Pistol has now won 49 matches in a row while swimming has won 37 straight dual meets.
Other teams finishing undefeated were indoor track at 9-0, a record that earned a national ranking, and golf which was 10-0 and won its regional title. Lacrosse also earned a national ranking with its 10-2record.
Besides golf, other Falcon teams earning regional titles were water polo, which won the national collegiate district seven playoff, lacrosse and rifle.
Individually, eight Falcon athletes won All-America honors, headed by pistol's Stanley Siefke, who won a national individual title. Diver Rick McAlister was named AllAmerica for the third straight year while soccer's Len Salvemini was named All-America for the second time. Christ Goetch in pistol also was named All-America for the second time.
Other All-Americas included Dave Lawson in football. Joe Zahrobsky in pistol and Bob Kleinhans in pistol.
In addition, Joe Debes was named to the Academic AllAmerica football team for the second straight year and won a postgraduate scholarship from the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
A world record and a national collegiate record also fell to Academy athletes during the school year. The Falcons’ 240-yard shuttle hurdles relay team of T. G. Parker, Joe Kahiapo, Ahart Powers and Dick McIntosh set a world indoor mark of 27.6 in February while Lawson accounted for the national collegiate record when he kicked 19 field goals last fall.
For the record, Air Force in its 19 years of varsity competition has won 2,580 contests, lost 1,373 and tied 40, a
winning mark of 65.1 per cent, one of the best marks in the nation.
Listed below are the records for the Falcon varsity teams this past school year:
Baseball Team Completes
Season on Winning Note
Air Force baseball completed its 1975 season the same way it began—on a two game winning streak.
The final pair of wins were against Western State 7-5 and 10-1 Sunday, which lifted the team to a 16-18 finish. Although not a winning season, the 1975 year was one filled with numerous records.
Heading the list was Jeff Brown, who set the career runs batted in and home run records with 88 and 28, respectively. Brown had seven RBI's and two homers in the last four games helping to post those marks. Brown also led the team in hitting for the third straight year, ending 1975 with a .419 average and now has a .389 average for three seasons.
Another top performance was turned in by senior Jim Corrigan, who broke three records: season at bats 137; career plate appearances 321; and most home runs in one game 3. Corrigan hit three round trippers in one game twice this season and helped the Falcons swat a total of 53 for the season, five below the school record. Corrigan also was the only Air Force player to appear in all 34 games this year.
First baseman Steve Murdoch, who finished with a .325 average, also posted the top fielding average for a regular with a .982 (278 of 283 chances).
As a team. Air Force smashed a 13-year-old record for most runs in a season, totaling 298 in 34 games. The squad
also set records for most hits (370) and most runs batted in (247). As a team. Air Force ended with a .315 average, the best in 11 years and fifth best in school history.
Coach Joe Robison, who said it was a season of “ups and downs”, ended a five-year job at the Academy with an 82-83 overall record, the most victories by any Falcon baseball coach.
Bob Wagner set two records by breaking the season and career strikeout records with 37 and 61, respectively.
Air Force won four and lost three in meeting Colorado College, Colorado State, Northern Colorado and Western State. Air Force defeated CC 15-7, Northern Colorado 2-1 and Western State twice. Losses came against CSU, 14-10, and and UNC twice 10-9 and 15-6. The 10-9 loss to the defending district 3 champion UNC was a 10-inning game.
In the pitching department, Matt Martorano earning top honors with a 3.04 ERA. Individually, Bobby Thompson hung up the best performance, throwing a one hitter in a six-inning relief performance against California-Berkeley at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas Invitational. The best win-!oss record was posted by Rick Sarver, with a 3-1 mark.
Netmen Post Excellent Season
Tennis isn't always a love game, and at the Air Force Academy the top three singles players know just how much sweat and hard work goes into a winning season.
The players, sophomore Scott Benson, junior Steve Skidmore, and Ric Sharp, a senior and team captain, have helped produce just that in 1975 as the Falcons completed their season last Friday with a 9-0 victory against Colorado College to finish with an 18-7 season record, the most wins ever in Falcon tennis history.
Skidmore, from Amarillo, Tex., led the trio with an impressive 19-4 record, while Sharp, from South Lake Tahoe, Calif., recorded a 12-10 record.
Benson, who played his first Air Force tennis at number four last season and posted a 14-8 record, pulled one of the biggest upsets of the season in winning a three-set match against Oregon earlier this season.
Skidmore, who played number two last season and had a 13-10 record, is classified by Gugat, “as a real hustler, and a performer who always gives 100 per cent on the court.”
A junior this season, Skidmore again played mostly at the number two spot and won his last eight matches to proudce the best record on the 1975 team. In doubles, Skidmore was paired with teammates Craig Naas and Sharp to win 14 of 21 matches, the best percentage on the team.
Sharp is the only three-year letterman on the team and equalled his 15 match wins in 1974 as he closed out his 1975 season by winning his last four matches. In 1974, Sharp teamed with Benson to post an 11-2 doubles record, the best on the team, while this season he played with three teammates, the best being with Skidmore for a 7-2 record.
Another highlight of the 1975 team was that no singles player had a losing record. Number four man Larry Dowell had a 13-10 record, number five man Kevin Hammond won his last match of the season to finish at 12-12 while number six player Kurt Kamrad finished with a fine 16-7 mark.
Falcon Lacrosse Team Completes Record Season
Air Force lacrosse completed its ninth straight winning season last Sunday by defeating the Denver Lacrosse Club 20-1 in a match played at the Academy.
The win raised the Falcons’ final season record to 10-2 and also marked the third straight and seventh time in the last nine years that Air Force has won the Rocky Mountain open and intercollegiate championships.
Air Force set six school records and tied two others during the season. Heading the list was junior Bill Woolford, who set five individual records and tied another. They ineluded: most goals in a game, nine; most points in a game, 15; most season assists, 47; most points season, 98; and most goals career, 120.
Senior goalie Kip Peterson ended a four-year career, adding five saves to a career total of 523, a school record. Peterson also saw action for the first time as a midfielder and had one attempt on goal.
The Facons as a team also tied a record for most goals in one game, 29,and outscored their opponents 208 to 75, the best goal spread in the last four seasons.
Woolford led the team in scoring for the second straight season, netting 51 goals, one shy of his own season record of 52, and added 47 assists for a total of 98 points.
Seniors Dave Anewalt, Henry Esposito and Gary Janelli ended careers with 75, 103 and 211, respectively. Janelli and Anewalt tied for second in total season points with 39 each, while Esposito was fourth with 29 points.
Janelli just missed the school record for most points in a career at 217, while Woolford has 199 points with one season remaining.
Golfers Conclude Long Season
Starting with last September's second-place finish in the 17-team Rocky Mountain Invitational through the 18-team Sun Devil Invitational two weeks ago, the Air Force Academy golf team has turned in some excellent performances.
The Gene Miranda—coached team competed in 10 tournments, winning three, tying for first once and garnering three seconds in the process. The 1975 spring season also saw the Falcon lingsmen complete a 10-0 dual meet record to stretch their two-season dual meet winning streak to 12.
Four of the first places came during the first annual Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Golf Association (RMIGA) tournaments which Air Force won overall. In dual meets, Air Force's closest match was an 11-7 victory over Western State, which finished second behind Air Force in the RMIGA series of tournaments.
Falcon team captain Jeff Sogard compiled the lowest competitive stroke average for the season, a 76.5. Sogard, a junior from Duluth, Minn., also placed second to teammate Chip Diehl, who had the lowest stroke average, a 74.9. in the RMIGA series of tournaments.
Deihl, the Falcon's only senior this season, recorded the lowest round of the season, a 69 in a RMIGA tournament hosted by Northern Colorado. Diehl finished the season with the team's second lowest stroke average, a 78.06.
Major Arthur G. Elser
8702 Nero St.
Annandale, VA 22003
I thought that since the class has just passed a significant phase point, the LtCol selection board, it might be appropriate to use this column to bring you up to speed on our record to date. This satus report is prompted by the sobering effect the result of the LtCol promotion board has had.
Until the release of this latest 0-5 list, promotion board results produced euphoric effects among the class as we saw our classmates being rewarded for their diligence with promotions in the secondary zone. Twelve 59ers have been selected for 0-6 to date, 11 below the zone and one in the primary zone (early selection to 0-4 and 0-5 allowed one classmate to reach the 0-6 primary zone already). Thirtyeight had been selected to 0-5 prior to the release of the latest 0-5 selection list, 34 in the secondary and four in the primary. Of the class on active duty, 43 had been promoted early to 0-6 and 0-5 and were thus ahead of the rest of us when we came into the primary zone for LtCol.
Since there are 129 still on active duty, that means that 86 should have been in the primary zone this time. However, six unfortunate souls have fallen behind and thus were not eligible. Out of an even 80 considered, the board selected 60 for a selection rate of 75%, or a passover rate of 25% if you are a pessimist. This rate is better than the Air Force 62% of first time eligibles, but still not a very comforting statistic. Whereas previous passovers had usually resulted from specific non-performance or low figures, the passover on this list happened to people who were apparently pretty well qualified. I guess that the TOPLINE number game has caught up with us and will plague us from here on out.
To those who made it—Congratulations!!! To those who didn’t—I offer the sincere condolences of the rest of the class and the hope that the next board will be kinder.
Another milestone will pass between the time I write this and the time that it gets into print, the 20th anniversary of the entrance of the Class of 59 into the Academy. Actually this must be the second 20 years because that first day was at least 20 years long.
Apropos of the thoughts of those early days, Wayne JEFFERSON called the other day and mentioned that he had flown the last Academy T-29 nav trainer to the bone yard. Imagine, all those missions through all of those years without ever once finding Ponca City. Wayne was house
hunting here in DC where he will become a faculty member at the National War College.
Joe DESANTIS called to let me know that he is going to become the Godfather in Turkey. His cover will be that of a MAC ops type in a support squadron at Incerlik. Joe is due to leave in September.
Noted: M/G Henry L. WARREN to retire on 1 September. B/G Frank M. DREW to Brazil as the US Air Force Member of the Joint Brazil-US Military Commission. B/G Jerome F. O'MALLEY to Director, Ops Plans, SAC, a two star billet.
Maj. John Macartney 160 Arequa Ridge Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Springtime in the Rockies! Snow on June 10th—four inches at USAFA and two feet or more in the high country. And guess who thought it would be a good time to take permissive TDY from Ent AFB for a 50 mile backpacking trip with the Boy Scouts—Earl VanINWEGEN.
Bill TAYLOR, who departed USAFA in April for an F-4 checkout at Homestead, still expects to be going to Udorn in July, maybe. Before he left, Bill asked me to write the Spring Class News column—so here goes.
Congratulations are in order for nine more of our super achiever classmates who made the latest lieutenant colonel list: Howie BRONSON, Jerry DELACRUZ, John GJFFEN, Karl Mac JONES, Thomas LA LI ME, Ed LEONARD, Wilhard, MacFARLANE, Don STEVENS, and Alex ZIMMERMAN. Good show! (I hope I didn't miss anyone—if I did, send me a nasty.)
The aviation-gate requirements are causing curtailments up here in Fairchild Hall, and Mike McCALL will soon be returning to crew duties at Travis. He's already been out to scout the place and reports that PA COOKE is an assistant ops officer there.
The Academy flying programs are undergoing equipment changes. The tango-two-niners are already history; cadet nav missions will henceforth be flown in T-43 which will be dispatched TDY from Mather. Ponca City, it's the end of an era! The class of 1979 will be the last to get orientation rides in the T-Bird—the Academy’s T-33’s will be replaced with T-37's by the end of the summer. Nineteen-sixty vintage pilots, including your truly, will cease flying when the Lockheed Racer does. Meantime I’m still burning the JP-4, and on a recent trip to Cannon AFB I ran into Dick
MEYER. It seems the F-111D may be unique these days —there is a shortage of OR pilots, and Dick is frozen. He says Jack SCHIRA is also stationed at Cannon-by-the-Sea. Talked to Roy JOLLY last week. He's at Tinker flying Thuds for the Reserve, and loving it. He'd seen Gordy FLYGARE who had wandered in from the University of Oklahoma where Gordy's in an AFIT program. Roy took his F-105 west recently and lifted a few with Jerry GIRARD at Nellis (PCSing to Wright-Patt) and George LUCK and Karl Mac JONES, at Edwards. Roy also mentioned that he’d seen Eileen THURMAN in December. She and the kids are living in Dayton, Ohio and doing well.
Jack BRUSH is spending the summer here preparing an inflation forecast for Hq USAF. Jack's usual cynicism seems to be changing to optimism as his hairline recedes—he assures me that inflation will be 6 percent in FY 76 and 3.3 percent in FY 77. Jack also had a wild rumor—he says that he'd heard Walt SWEENEY left his job with the New Mexico ANG long enough to come up here during June Week and present an award to the graduate who had slipped furthest in order of merit. I've been unable to verify any of that, but it’s a good story and fills space. What about it Walt?
PCS: Charlie HART from Reese to Pentagon; Walt FUTCH from Kirtland to McClellan; Phil MEINHARDT from UCLA to SAMSO; FAT MAC from Edwards to Homestead to ?; Doug REKENTHALER from APO NY to Papillion, Nebraska; and ANTOM, PH from Nice, France to Acapulco. PH passes on the word that Dennis WALSH is still holding a swingwing cockpit job at Plattsburgh (and thus DL’s feet are not itching). Dale THOMPSON is back in the states after five years in Europe—he and Cherie will be going to Montgomery for Air War College after spending some leave in Oklahoma and Nebraska. Dale, by the way, was the only one of you who bothered to send a note for the Class News Secretary. Thanks, Dale. Since I’m not the regular crew chief on this column (and since I'm also guilty of having never written), I feel I should deliver admonishments. Procure one each piece of paper, grasp a pen between thumb and forefinger, etc.—please! This column can't pass on news unless you guys supply it.
Sad tidings for last. Robert C. DAVIS was declared KIA on 2 May 1975. He had been MIA since March, 1969.
I expect Jock SCHWANK will be here to write the next column (where are you, Jock?), and this will probably be my only opportunity to address the entire class, so—best wishes, good luck and Merry Christmas.
Major Thomas L. Sutton 123 Mississippi Dyess AFB, TX 79607
Terry STORM says of 61ers, “I'm always amazed at the instant rapport that surfaces even after many years of non contact. It is always that way with each one of our classmates—even the ones who weren't even that close at school.” I agree wholeheartedly with that observation. You guys and your gals are simply the greatest. I really appreciate your letters, phone calls, and visits. It's great to be a 61er. Remember—upside down or right side up it's still 1961.
Since I began by quoting Terry STORM, the Ketchikan Kid, I will pass along some information about his latest activities. Terry and family have departed the moist climate of Jacksonville, Arkansas for the even moister climate of Washington, D.C. His new job puts him in a foreboding environment as he will be working for Col. George BUCH-
NER in Manpower, rated requirements which is just around the corner from the haunts Bob DINGLE and Don MeCARTER.
Although far from the puzzle palace, the environment in the MAC Headquarters resembles the confusion and endless coordination that emanates from the East. In the middle of that papermill we find Hanson SCOTT and Don GRANT. Both of these gentlemen work in MAC Current Operations. Scottie is an airlift director for strategic airlift. Since MAC is now the second largest command and probably leads in flying hours, we suspect that building passenger and cargo schedules for strategic airlift is a very demanding job. Scottie confesses though that his biggest management headache comes from his Sunday School Superintendent job especially during Vacation Bible School. It seems that everyone wants their children to attend but no one wants to work in the organization.
Don GRANT is rather new to the current operations field, but he is not new to the MAC Staff. Don was instrumental in developing the new MAC program for handling the Air Force fleet of support and admin aircraft. He is now working in special assignment airlift missions.
Scottie told me that old Bill STACKHOUSE has finally been tagged for a remote tour and is now enjoying the sand and surf on Johnson Island working for the Defense Nuclear Agency.
Clair CARLING says that he is enjoying the schooling at Armed Forces Staff College and the association with so many classmates. By the time this is in print Clair will be well on his way to Thailand with all of those others who are wondering how long they will stay. JC will probably be one of the last to leave as his job is to be the Chief of Plans for the Joint Casualty Resolution Center. Let us hope that he does not wipe out prior to leaving Virginia though as he, Kay, and the six young’uns have taken up ten speed bicycle touring in the Norfolk area.
While we were busy living our active but mundane lives, there was one among us who was embarked on high adventure. Art KERR was seeing some of the British back country with Gayle ZOMPA et.al. when a most unusual incident occurred. It was reported that an English gentleman farmer was taking his prize hog to town, but his trailer door was built without an adequate design to cost relationship. As a result the poor pig tumbled out onto a shady byway and lay stunned and confused while his unknown owner pedalled on down the road. It was upon this scene that our intrepid youth roared. Like the Samaritan of old, Art leaped from his speeding auto sending his chauffeur in hot pursuit of the unobserving Englishman. The pig, 200 pound porker that he was, regained his senses in time to evade our gallant gaucho's best efforts to (pardon the expression) hogtie him. However, by the time the hapless farmer had been returned to the scene, our hero had succeeded in securing the evasive critter even though the feat had required a sludgy trip through an aromatic, freshly fertilized, field of newly plowed mud. I think it only fitting that Art be presented the “Good Guy of the Quarter” award for his selfless efforts in furthering dogoodery.
I don't know whether Art stopped through Loring, Maine on his way back from Europe, but I did, and I learned that B-52 squadron commanders like Jack WOLCOTT are sometimes impossible to locate. Everywhere I called, the party on the other end assured me that Jack had either just been there or would be there soon, but none would fess up to his real whereabouts. .Sort of makes you wonder doesn't it? His writing hand does work though, and I was pleased to hear from him. I might mention that in the continuing tradition of 61 excellence, Jack's squadron came through a
recent ORI with the best bombing scores seen in SAC in four years. Keep at’em Jack.
One of Jack’s future co-workers in the B-52 game at Loring will be Johnny KOHOUT who is checking out in the Buffs now. I think it’s great to see so many of us having the opportunity to work together in so many varied tasks. Seeing that and the last L/C list encourages me that our motto “pro nobis astra” is no idle dream.
Let’s hear from you guys who are having parties. I can’t imagine a group of 61ers without parties and pictures. Let me have some appropriate ones and we will let everyone see what life is really like inthe best class of them all.
Maj Dave Holt 6636 Gordon Ave. Falls Church, VA 22046
Bob HOPKINS, over lunch with George LYDDANE, decided that the RTBs were probably the greatest group of people they had ever met and we should try to tighten up our class organization, both civilian and AF, in some manner. I suggest we start out with an RTB gathering for the AFNavy game to be played in RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., on Oct 4, 1975. Roughly, I would suggest a bus to and from the stadium, a block of seats, and dinner afterward. (At dinner we’ll elect Bob Hopkins President of the RTB Alumni.) If you think this merits further planning, send me your reservation and a deposit. Bring the family and beat the Bicentennial crowds, in a visit to the Capital.
Careers: Having given you a glimpse of the Headquarters in the last letter, I thought we could take a look at some civilian careers. Which is not to imply I was looking for a replacement and now I’m looking for a job. Interestingly, and I suppose not too surprisingly, most RTB seem to have headed into aviation related jobs. John E. SMITH is in the Pentagon as a civilian, in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Installations and Logistics, Directorate of Major Weapon Systems. John staffs and briefs recommended ASD(I&L) positions on AF aircraft programs at the Defense Systems Acquisition Review Council. He came to this job about three years ago from Wright-Patterson where he had worked in major program offices for eight years, as a civilian since 1968. His career started with an MS from MIT on the mobility of an AF officer seemed neither the most appealing or the best use of his education. John, his wife Shara, and one year old Brian like the Washington area a lot and John likes the insight into high level decisions that he has in his job.
Walt HERTER is with Cooper Industries, having been promoted (July 1) from Coordinator-Aviation Plans in Houston to Director of Market Planning, Engine Division, Dallas. Walt directs the integrated planning effort for Cooper’s Aviation Market organization and is responsible for market research, business analysis and synthesis, long-range planning, pricing analysis, contract administration, dealer programs, advertising/promotion, budget establishment and control and overall systems integration for Aviation Marketing. I’d say the position and responsibility are at least the equivalent of a promotion to L/C. Walt resigned in 1969, without regress, after a hard honest effort to develop a satisfying career in the AF. He earned a master's in Business Administration from Wharton School (Univ of Penn.) and joined Exxon as a financial analyst. In 1973 Walt started with Cooper Industries where he, Rita, and their two children, Carolyn, 6, and Larry, 4, have found they are most
appreciative of civilians’ greater control over their destiny and way of life.
Dr. Tom HUTCHISON is a systems analyst and engineer on the technical staff of the Tucson Engineering Lab, Hughes Aircraft Corp., where he develops methods of making Hughes missiles work better. All of you who have recently been stationed or TDY at Davis-Monthan are in trouble with Tom, who says thanks to his “buddies” who don’t take time to look him up when they pass through. Bob HOPKINS is with Global Navigation, Inc., in LA as sales manager for a new concept long range nav system. He is marketing the equipment (Very Low Frequency 28vDC no alignment time 30 lb package) primarily to corporate jet operators. Bob left the AF to fly with TWA but got caught up in the furloughs. This gave him some second thoughts about the decision but he now feels he has an exceptional opportunity to climb the corporate ladder in business aviation. Bob does feel that the type of people you meet and relationships you have in the service are not to be found anywhere else.
Some RTBs have found employment unrelated to aviation. For example, Dave FIELDS is a systems analyst with Eastman Kodak, doing computer programming. Phil HEPBURN is the manager of the Saugus Branch, Essex County Bank and Trust Co., Lynn, Mass., where he handles just about anything in banking. Phil became a civilian in 1970 and joined Essex B&T for an on the job education in economics. In just two years he had moved to a manager’s position. He couldn’t get away from flying, though, and is a Reserve C-141 aircraft commander at McGuire. Phil and Nancy and their three children; Timothy, Christopher, and Amy settled in Hampton, N.H., and are somewhere between finishing the house and starting the garage. In his free time, wherever it comes from I don’t know, Phil is active in Jaycees, a businessmen's association, and a development commission.
Jack ANDERSON is an electrical engineer in Scottsdale, Arizona. Deciding the AF climate was not right for a nonrated guy. Jack is a computer systems logic designer for large scale intergated circuits for Motorola Semi-conductor Products Division. Bob STAIB is Midwest Area Manager for Diebold, Inc., selling capital equipment to the financial industry. He could be considered another below-the-zoner, being nearly 20 years younger than his counterparts in the other geographic areas. Bob gives a lot of credit for his success to a great marriage which incidentally brought him a son after three lovely daughters. Never give up, says Bob. His decision to resign was based on seeking “a higher return in the form of a greater impact on my organization. I have been too highly geared to cause change or find satisfaction in what I found to be a highly structured environment.” For the future, Bob sees plenty of growth opportunities with his present firm but if unchallenged may try a venture of his own. For the present, he is “enjoying the challenge” of managing a growth oriented marketing force in a drastically “slowed-down” market.
Who-What-Where: John FER and wife, Nancy, at Mountain Home; John, F- 111 aircraft commander, received Silver Star, Legion of Merit, three Bronze Starts with Valor, and AFCM. Cliff FALLON returned to Offut, Chuck LARSON is at Hurlburt, Tim GILMARTIN, pilot with Continental, transferred to Texas; Ron TUBBS to Hill for training, Dave PEDERSON is back in tankers, Rickenbacker AFB, Ohio. E. C. NEWMAN is in the Test Wing at Eglin, Joe ZALESKI is deputy commander, SATAF at Minot. Selected to join Lieutenant Colonels BAXTER, DANIEL, HARRISON, ROBINSON (PK), and ViCCELLIO are BLAISDELL, CLANTON, GRIFFIN (CW), LANDERS, O'ROURKE, ROBINSON (P.D.), WHEELER (Edd), and SWONSON.
F. K. WILSON reports that the Academy-assigned Red Tags had a picnic on Memorial Day at Farish. Ten were in attendance. Kent LAMMERS is returning to USAFA after completing his studies at Boulder. Six USAFA-based '62 grads are leaving: Bob CONNOLLY to Ellsworth in tankers; J. D. EATON to Minot in missiles; Don NETZINGER to Kinchloe in B-52’s; Norm RODERICK to Kirtland; Bob SCAUZILLO to UK in F-llls; Randy SCHAUMBERGER to Homestead in F-4s.
Maj Frederick L. Metcalf
5018 Honeyleaf Way Dayton, OH 45424
I can't believe this is happening to me. Here I am this beautiful evening in Dayton, Ohio, writing a class news column. The last thing I yelled to Jerry Garber as I was driving out of the South Gate of the Academy was, “And don’t ever ask me to be Class Secretary!” After reading all of the columns that had ever been written by Class Secretaries, I didn’t relish the idea of authoring one under my own byline.
Actually, 1 can't blame Jerry—Skip’s the culprit. He decided to visit SEA again for a year and asked me to fill in for that time. I’m happy to do it. Getting prepared for this first one has been great fun—received more letters than I did as Executive Secretary. Three letters on any issue is considered a ground-swell of graduates opinion around the AOG office. I’ve already received four!
To the hard core news. Mike ANDERBERG is moving Lorna and children—Janet and Kenric—to Springfield, Virginia, in early June. Their new address will be 7204 Reservoir Road, Springfield, VA 22150. Mike will be working with the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Studies, Analysis and Gaming Agency, Strategic Forces Division, Current Forces Branch, etc. Mike says he's leaving a super job with the AFSC Directorates of Aerospace Studies at Albuquerque. In his three plus years there, he participated in studies on weather modification, air base defense, weapon, delivery, accuracy, avionics reliability, space surveillance, and tactical nuclear weapons. Says “the educational value of this assignment was almost unbelievable. It was like starting a new job every eight months ...” Good luck in your new assignment, Mike! And, thanks for the letter.
Who says ’63 can't respond to any situation? Jim KUHN has got it altogether. He was faced with the event all daddies hope never happen to them—the new baby won’t wait. Yes, sir—Jim delivered his new daughter in his home —and between the second and third periods of the Stanley Cup play-offs! Now that’s efficiency. In the words of Chan, “Jim ‘never panicked or faltered’.” I know one guy who would have died had it happened to him! Congratulations, Jim and Chan. Their new daughter’s name is Pilar Noelle. They have a son, Matthew. (Incidentally, previous references to hockey game is editorial license and no way related to the facts—although, it would be efficient should it happen to any of you—let me know and I’ll make you famous.)
John EDWARDS writes from Parsipanny, New Jersey, where he works for Cooper Laboratories, a company involved in the manufacture and sale of medical and dental products. John was recently elected to the office of Treasurer. He wants all of you to know that the Register of Graduates is inaccurate—he’s married to the former Miss Dawn Gass.
Steve SAVONNEN recently received his M.D. from Tuft’s University School of Medicine. Steve hopes to specialize in orthopedic surgery. He will begin surgical residency at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Boston. Steve and Marilyn’s address after 1 July will be 34 Solon Street, Newton, MA 02161.
Blind dates aren’t always bad. Or, so says Jerry DRISCOLL. Jerry met a National Airlines stew last August and married her on 28 December—Patti’s her name. Following TDY at the Luke AFB Central Instructor School, Jerry has begun an F-4 instructor stint with the 308th TFS. He has his own flight. Jerry and Patti’s address is: 2325 Indiana Avenue, Homstead AFB, FL 33030. Everyone’s invited to stop by to tip a few with the newlyweds.
We have a few changes of address, jobs, etc., within the class. John DYER and Gary WALLACE have left Armed Forces Staff College—John for AFMPC as a personnel staff officer and Gary for T-38 IP duty at Webb AFB. Bill HARLEY has finished Air Command and Staff and moved on to B-52H training at Castle AFB. Barry MEUSE has also departed ACSC but will remain at Maxwell AFB, doing what I'm not sure. Owen LENTZ was reassigned from the RAF Staff College, Berkshire, U.K., in January to an intelligence job with the 4th ATAF at Ramstein AB. Roger KORENBERG and Jim BUTT have said goodby to Dayton—Roger has relocated to San Antonio and Jim to Korea. Mike BRADSHAW is still flying with American Airlines but changed his address to 129-0 Rd. #1, Allentown, NJ 08501. Not sure where Rod HIMELBERGER was but he’s now residing in Highland, CA 92346. Jim DIFFENDORFER has changed jobs at Kirtland AFB. He’s now with the AF Weapons Lab. And, finally, Neil SORENSON has taken up residence in Vacaville, CA 95688. His COA card does not mention his new duty.
As you are well aware, we still have nearly 1000 men listed as MIA in SEA. That number was recently decreased by one when the status of Tom MITCHELL was changed to killed in action. He was a great guy who was a joy to be around. He loved life and made all who knew him feel a little happier. Tom was declared missing in May, 1968, and declared KIA on 27 February 1975. We will miss Tom and I’m sure we all join in extending our prayers and best wishes to Norma.
Well, it’s still a beautiful evening, so I think I’ll close this off. Writing a class news column is actually fun, fun, fun. (One down, three to go). Keep those cards and letters coming. For those of you who can’t write, call—Autovon 785-3118 or commercial (513) 255-31 18. See ya.
Editors Note: Skip LEE's assignment to SEA was cancelled just before press time. He will continue to serve as 1963 Class Secretary. Skip's address is: Maj Skip Lee, 3254 Nottingham Road, Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Capt Rod Wells
105 Fox Hill Lane Colorado Springs, CO 80919
When I moved to USAFA in December, I thought that Glen COLEMAN gave me a more-than-friendly welcome— now I know why. As the new secretary, I hope I can do as good a job as those before me; but to a large degree it depends on your input, so let me echo my predecessors by asking for your help—please? Anyway let’s see what’s in the mailbag-rumor mill
John and Sue LORBER recently reported to USAFA for his duties with the Athletic Dept. John has traded in his
F-lll job in England for football coaching/recruiting (for $64,000 who scored the first touchdown in Falcon Stadium?). Elsewhere around here Don ALBERT is departing for F-4s at Eglin, and Mr. Jim WIDGER tells me he plans to stay in C-Springs in the engineering field.
Would you believe Rip THOMAS, currently a T-38 IP at Webb, is entering Med School this summer at Texas Tech as a civilian? But would you believe he plans to come back in when he’s an MD? Roger DUNN has completed his master’s in Enginering Admin at SMU and is now in the A-10 SPO at Wright-Pat. He reports that Ron DULLEN is there too and that the Wright-Patt Alumni Chapter must be one of the strongest. Fred WAGNER is now wearing the “pocket rocket” as a missile crew commander in the Titan Wing at D-M; he recently received the Bronze Star for duties at Utapao. Tom SEHORN has swapped F-4s at Homestead for a job as a realty salesmanager at Angel Fire, New Mexico. Tom promises to remain active as an Academy Liaison Officer and Reservist, and he invites all old friends to stop by for a visit.
Several of our members continue to gather “smarts”: Dick KROBUSEK recently received his master’s from AFIT in Aeronautical Engineering and is remaining at Wright-Pat in AFSC; Fred TEDESCO has earned his MS in Nuclear Engineering and is also remaining at Wright-Pat in ASD; and Maj Carl ROBERTS is finishing his PhD in Astro at Purdue.
Among those attending intermediate PME at the Armed Forces Staff College are Bill DOUGLASS, Ed HARVEY, and A1 ROGERS (I would have included your picture, Scoop; but it wasn’t a profile).
I regret topass on the news of the death of Max MANNING. Max was a pilot in the Israel Defense Force and lost his life during the Yom Kippur War—five days after his only child, Deena, was born.
Jack SULLIVAN has completed a tour in HC-130s at Korat and is now in personnel at Randolph—he told me he had something to do with selections for IFC for those of you who are interested. Ernie MILLER has completed a C-130 assignment at Ramstein and is now driving ’em at Little Rock. Others returning from foreign shores include Lee DOWNER coming from Korea and enjoying his first stateside tour in five years at AF Command and Staff, Ray RODGERS coming from USAFE to SAMSO as a Civil Engineering Staff Officer, and Chuck NOYES from APO NY to Rescue duties in Florida.
Other moves include Thad WOLFE from Vance to a BUF job in Fairchild, Wayne CORDER from Denver to Holloman as vice-commander of a missile maintenance squadron, Tom MANSFIELD from South Carolina to Bad-Kreuznach, Germany, in the Air Liaison Office of the 8th Infantry Division, and John WILES from a blue suit to President of Wiles’ Enterprises in Tucson.
Our class continues to get its share of the fruit salad with ex-POW Tom McNISH leading the list with two Silver Stars (bringing his total to three), the Legion of Merit, three Bronze Stars with “V”, and the AFCM. Tom is currently attending Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta under AF sponsorship. Welcome home, Tom, and well done! Tom EGGERS was recently awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for hiswork at the Pentagon; he received the award at the Naval War College where he is a student. Wayne SPELIUS was awarded the AFCM for duties at Takhli and Korat, and this author received the JSCM for work as aide-de-camp to an Army two-star in Duluth.
If you smell something burning, it’s our eleven classmates who have scorched up to silver leaves. The FY-76
LC list includes: Rich BEDARF, “Stevie B” CROKER, Bob DEMPSEY, John GRAVES, Dick HAWLEY, Paul KAMINSKI, Jeff LEVY, Jerry McGEHEE, Mike PAVICH, A1 ROGERS, and Dick SLYE. Congratulations and keep on burning’!
That’s about it. Don’t forget Homecoming 17-19 Oct; with approximately 25 classmates here, you should be able to hit SOMEBODY up for SOMETHING. I'll print anything about anybody—truth is preferred, but hearsay, innuendo, and utter speculation will be accepted—just write me.
Capt. Joseph A. Koenig 7801 Harshmanville Rd. Dayton, Ohio 45424
For you who read this column September (or late August) I am writing this in June. Therefore, when 1 say we had a funtastic time last night on the 10th anniversary of our graduation and I hope to see many more of you next month at the reunion/homecoming I am talking about June the 9th as last night and October 18th as the date next month.
It is really hard to believe that it has been ten years. Last night I saw a few guys (and gals) I hadn’t seen in all of those ten years. Mike (an ole Niner buddy) and Bobbies DOUGLAS just moved in last week and showed up unexpectedly at the door. He and Roger VROOMAN just (that same day) started their AFIT refresher series out here and Roger told him about the get-together. Jack VRETTOS is also just starting AFIT but I do not know if he is in the Ops Research Program with Roger and Mike or not. Most of the other AFIT students, Sam GRAVES, Charley THOMAS, and Jeff ROBBINS had a final today and spent their time studying. Tommy THOMPSON did take a few minutes to drop by. He is about finished with his Systems Management degree and is hoping to get Eglin for his next assignment. I received a news release announcing that Tommy was awarded his second AFCM, this one for his service as a flight commander and stan/eval officer (F-111) at Korat.
Last night I heard that (a stretched) Jerry KEYSER is a test pilot on the stretch C-141 program at Edwards—the first stretch is confirmed, the second one is not. I also heard that Larry SANBORN has left the Academy. His change of address card says that he is a PhD candidate at Ga. Tech. Jim and Mary McGORRY were there last night and by now they should have their fourth child. Jim, having just graduated AFIT, was enjoying not worrying about finals.
Not everybody here at WPAFB is primarily concerned with studies and reports. About an hour before our gettogether Vic GENEZ called to tell me he had just finished a test ride and that he and Beverly would be late. Harold and Pat RUST came about the same time and it really turned out to be a great evening. Jim and Sharon SWALLOW couldn’t make it since Jim was out of town on an interview. Jim and Brenda HUSEMANN were busy getting ready for their move to Wiesbaden. He is in FTD now and going to their Det over there. John BLACKMAR was on leave but passed the word to me that he heard from Mark JOHNSON who is trying to get the Dirty 30 (6th Sq?) together at the reunion.
That’s not everyone that’s here but we hope to have more 65 get togethers—try it, you’ll like it! See you at Homecoming.
Last month I got a pleasant surprise—Ed SOISTMAN called from across base to say hi. He is out, working for
Martin-Marietta/Orlando with computer software. He was up here for his two weeks of reserve duty—working intelligent-ly in FTD. He told me he is taking his annual vacation in October to take the family with him to the reunion. He passed on the Bill POWERS is out lawyering it in Denver and really enjoying himself. About that same week Jim MEIGGS gave me a couple of business calls from C-Springs. He’s working in the corporate development offices of Kaman Sciences—also really enjoying Colorado and his job.
Changes of addresses: John ANGEL to Ellsworth; Bill CATHEY, San Antonio; Brad GREMS, Tyndall; Chuck HAAS, Eglin; Jerry ELDER, SAMSO; M. J. KEEFE, Las Vegas; Dan FETZER, Hanscom; Mike SHORT, Thailand; Leon RAUSCH,Shaw ; Larry RANK, Ramstein; Terry DRABANT to D.C. area working for IBM; PSA pilot Fred COX in San Diego; Eastern pilots Jim SOULEK to Miami and Mark JOHNSON to Chicago; lawyer Ray BRILL in Gainesville, Fla.; Paul (don’t squeeze the Charmin) DICKEY to Belleville, Ontario to help Procter & Gamble start up a new plant there; and Jim ROBISON is inCutrus Heights, Ca. not APO, NY as the VP of Protech Invest, and Realty.
Tom PILSCH writes that he is headed for 141s at McGuire this summer. Also, Jack FERGUSON's brother graduated in June so the AF his consented to let him loose in the classroom. He is going to the Astro Department from the Spacetrack Center in Cheyenne Mt. Tom, Jack, and a few others toasted the passing ten years at the USAFA O’Club. In the gathering was Joe BRITAN, Steve FINCH, A1 GRIESHABER, Ron KILGORE, Joe KOLEK, Garey MATSUYAMA, Mike PHILLIPS, Bob PRICE, Marc SABIN, John TAIT, Gary TITMAS, Mike WHITE and Bill WEIDA. Tom and others have tossed around the idea of giving a gift to theAssociation as part of the reunion celebration. He suggests a Class of 1965 Scholarship for use by the child of a deceased alumnus. What do you think? A goal of $20 per classmate would start a nice fund.
Capt. J. O. McFalls
110 Chandler Road Goldsboro, NC 27530
Ray M1LBERG warned me there'd be times like this. Yep, the Class of 1966 Alumni Newsletter has hit an all time low. In the past three months, I've received a grand total of one letter, 3 hometown news releases, an 12 changes of address! Now I ask you, “It that any way to run a gossip column?” All I can say is, thank you Ron TALCOTT for the letter. (More about that later.)
It's been as bleak the past 90 days. I even made a TDY to Iran to deliver one of the Shah F-4's and still the only classmate I saw was Sid WISE. Sid was here at Seymour, getting in his last good flying prior to school at the Naval Staff College, and then on to the “Puzzle Palace.” As most of you know, he plays bad guys in his T-38 as part of Nellis’ Aggressor Squadron. They all do a fine job, but it’s tough to imagine Sid as an evil person.
Some assignment changes of note: Thailand bases must really be closing down. NKP let Larry ALMAND go to Electronic System Division of Systems Command at Hanscomb Field, Mass., and Bill RILEY will now be instructing zoomies in math. Jim SIMPSON gave up the C-5 for a tour as an SOS instructor. And I see where Terry WORK has taken over Led LEDBETTER’S old job at 2nd Comm Sq at Buckley ANG, Denver. Steve MONAGAN will stay in the test business with the Eglin Test Wing. And I got two new changes to Edwards: John KUNZ to Test Pilot
School; Jim TILLEY should also be there, although his card didn’t mention the exact assignment.
Ron TALCOTT wrote from his Personnel Shop at Scott with a couple of good ideas. He’s right when he suggests that it’s not too early to be planning for the social event of the century—the Class of 1966 ten year reunion. He primarily had in mind a special get-togther for the old Sixth Squadron bunch, but I’d like to throw it open to suggestions for what the class as a whole would like, if anything special. My general impression of the reunions I attended was that they seemed a bit “stilted”, even for the “10-year” class. Since we're fortunate enough to have ours in the Bicentennial year, I think we should plan on a biggie! Now's the time to work out the “whens” and “hows”. I’ll need a volunteer from one of the Acadamy assignees to get with Jerry Garber (or his replacement) and find out the ROE. Then we can take it from there. Let me know what you think. Anonymous suggestions will be gladly accepted, however, photographs cannot be returned. Cheers! —J.O.
Mr. Larry Wilson
Stanford Manor Apt. 206 1110 Stanford Rd. Grand Forks, ND 58201
Greetings again, this time from Denver where at the time of this writing I am vacationing for a month. I could not believe it—I returned to Colorado to enjoy the high country summer climate, fishing and playing tennis and such, and promptly watched four inches of snow fall on 10 June. Whoever controls such things must have missed His calender—for such weather was obviously meant to occur a bit earlier, during June Week.
My mailbag really overflowed this quarter: one whole letter, from Paula, Mrs. Joe CANDLE. It was impressive official letterhead stationery from the West Virginia House of Delegates of which Joe is one. He is also a second year law student at Georgetown, and, according to his wife, “in his spare time” he is a partner in a real estate and renovation operation in Martinsburg.
Most of my info this time concerns lawyers, as I spent an evening with Roger CARLSON and his wife, Pat, in Denver. Stubby attended the U. of Minnesota law school from ’71 thru '74 and is now with the JAG office at Lowry AFB. Other attarney-types include Al ENNIS, who left the AF in January and is now an assistant U S attorney in Macon, Ga.; Pat TRIGGS, who also left the AF; Gary HOLMAN who still lives in Denver and is in the OSI reserves; Brian DONAVAN who is clerking for a judge in California; and Scott JACKSON who is in Newport Beach, California. Non lawyers of whom I heard some news include Abe ESTAUILLO who with his wife and three kids lives in the Philippines; Roy P. MILLER, Tom DELAFIORA and Greg HARRIS who are in Phoenix; Abner HAYNES, in graduate school in Tempe, Ariz.; Pat NESBITT, in LA; and Steve McCULLOUGH, stationed in Colorado Springs.
About Stubby himself—he has really had the hardship tours: San Francisco and SanDiego with the OSI, and now Denver with the SJA. He is on his third 1967 Corvette, the first two of which were stolen. He neither looks nor acts very different now from the way he did at the AFA, except that his hair is shorter and he has taken up tennis, rather than exclusively hockey. He claims to have cruised through law school, enjoys being a prosecuting attorney, and expects to be a lifer.
In the last issue I attempted to drum up some interest among graduates in the POW/MIA situation. 1 was dis-
appointed that I received no response whatever. I really believe that the Association should concern itself more with the issue than it apparently is. Again—I invite comments, to me and/or the Association.
This is short—but, after all, I am on vacation. Happy summer to all—keep me posted on what you and your friends are doing.
Capt
Mark A. Torreano Qtrs 4409G USAFA, CO 80840
Father's Day 1975: Am sitting at my in-laws, savoring the joys of fatherhood as my wife and her mother are off shopping while I’m watching (and listening to) my one year old, Marcy, Mimi swears that Father’s Day means Daddy watches the kids. Why me?
A good question in two ways. The second being, “where is that handsome devil Dick FAST?' Poor Richard is serving his country in Santa Barbara these days, pursuing a PhD. (piled higher and deeper) in Poly Z (as the kaydets call it).
Dick, of course, is chagrined at the thought of facing two years on a coed California campus, but has nevertheless followed orders. He and Sherrie (preganant and due with #2 in August) are now risking the heartbreak of psoriasis (from overexposure to sun) in Southern California. Anyway, the last time I saw Dick was the day he dropped the class news files on my desk and mumbled something about “you'll love it, Wop” as he split for parts West. I think the gratitude and admiration we all have for Dick's work as class reporter the past two years were amply conveyed in my reply, “Thanks, Turkey.”
Enough sentimentality. Unaccustomed as I am to public writing (Glen GILLETE, where are you?) I will carry out Dick’s request, since he is my senior in GOM. However, if at any time you feel 1 am not doing a “sierra hotel” job, just let me know (and send a column along with your letter).
COS area news this quarter includes Larry EVANOFF of the local T-41 squadron. In addition to being recently elected VP of the USAFA JOC (he has always looked young), “Lar” and Sue are now the parents of a young lass named Lori, who joins her brother, Mark, in the household.
Mike SHARP is now a computer programmer assigned to NORAD after an AFIT tour at Purdue. He and Marsha arrived here in January with. Mathew, 4,and Mark, 1. Guess they are called the 4 M's? Steve MISH of the “T-Birds” was in for the June Week festivities. Looks just like Steve Canyon when he was young. Steve flies right wing after a year as announcer. Secretary Schlesinger spoke at graduation and said the sabre presented to him by the Class of 1975 would come in handy for bureaucratic infighting. And we thought they were only good for parades.
In his last column Dick said we were awaiting the usual “late spring” blizzard. Well, it hit on 10-11 June, along with rain, sleet, hail, winds, etc. Remember 10 years ago when another storm hit while we were on survival and 1-25 was washed out at Castle Rock? It was a good time, but not a great time. That was the year Mitch’s served us grilled cheese sandwiches after three days without food in the Rampart Range.
On to '68 at large. Bill ECKERT appears to be turning into a professional executive officer. He has returned recently from a Wing Exec job at Goose Bay to be XO for the DCS/Materiel Mgt, AFLC, at Wright Patterson. Bill, married a “senior" Captain, Sue, a flight nurse he met at Scott, said finds his desire to reutrn to USAFA to teach Econ surprising since he left his macro course in '68 feeling
he hadn’t learned anything. Don’t worry, Bill, that hasn’t stopped any of us ’68ers who have returned. Bill included an open invite to stop and see him when you pass thru WP.
Greg PAQUIN pens that he, wife, Carol, and his baby (a ’74 Vette) are at Dyess, where Greg has been Instructor Nav, Stan/Eval, and now is a “wing weenie” as Asst Chief of the Wing Weapons and Tactics Division (C-130 E’s). Greg recounts the time all four (that’s all there is) engines on the big bird crunched about 4 hours east of Hawaii (thank God for water survival?). Apparently an all zoomie crew of pilot Steven HARRINGTON (’69) and co-pilot Mike FUKEY (’72?) and Greg saved the day, but I was reliably informed tha the C-130 has the aerodynamics of a 120,000 lb shotput w/o engines. Carol is now working as a respiratory therapy technician at the Dyess City hospital.
Gay BRINKERHOFF has sent a letter with numerous goodies. She asked to not be identified (read on to find out why), but obviously such is not my policy. No hard feelings, I hope? Gay opens by castigating “Bubbles” Brinkerhoff for not even writing his mother and tells us that Brink is now a financial planner for Finanacial Service Corp of America, investing Dallas (their home) businessmen's money. Drop him a line at 3970 Sherwood Forest Drive, No. 241E, Dallas, Texas, 75220, if any of you are liquid (I’m hoping my drought ends soon). Gay adds that they have a boy, Lee, born last August, who looks just like his daddy. Well, Brink, maybe the next one will be better looking. Gay also passes along the word that Dewey MROSLA is finally married, to his old flame, Margie. D. J. MROSLA and Pearle have a son born last summer that D. J. says is already out on the handball courts. “Fatty” George and Heidi ROBERTS (Gay said it, not me!) are in Lubbock with their two boys. No further news as to their activities, but with two children we have some clue in that regard. Bill DRENNAN has returned from a tour in Taiwan with a wife, Tammy, and they have a son, Steven, born last August.
& IH 6 ^ fr
Anyone who can provide a relatively good translation, drop a line and I'll get your name in print. Gay says the D. J. MROSLAs and the DRENNANs are in the Philippines now. Finally, I talked with Bob POHLMAN the other day. He is now an Area Defense Council (JAG) at MacDill after narrowly escaping harm frornt 6.5 earthquake and impending war in Izmar, Turkey (no purple heart, however). While Bob wears his tongue to the bone, defending Article 15 cases, Karen enjoys leisurely days at home with their two young bundles of joy (Chris, 2; Sasha, 3mos.). Karen, Mimi says “hi” and may get a note off to you some day. Bob has recently ran into Steve PEDERSON and Hal SMITH, both going thru RTU, possibly under the aegis (look it up, Henry JOHNSON) of Karl WITTENBERG, who is due to leave MacDill soon for an as yet undetermined place. Wherever it is, Karl, I know the AF will “stick” you in an approriate location.
Enough. I will close with a little known, but revolting fact. Did you know that a 4 degree cadet now rakes in $55 a month; 3 degree, $85; 2 degree, $100; and get this, 1 degree gets full pay (minus charges), averaging $220-$250 a month. That’s more on-hand cash than I have each month.
Flash! Walked into the Alumni office to turn this in and was handed a note from Jay FERRON. He is more than
half finished with law school at GW University, Wash. D.C. and his son Brady will be joined by a brother/sister in November. Jay and Lyn saw Mirty and Claudia COLE on their way to a South American Assignment. Sounds exotic. What are you doing, Marty?
Capt. Gerald D. Luallin 10745 Beclan Drive Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 Ph. 916-635-7719
It seems that disappointment is either here, behind or in front. Around the next bend in the river. It skimpers along, just out of touch. Sometimes out of sight as if it were the sun reflecting off a delta river. Then without warning it flashes at you, straight into your eyes. And for a moment you lose sight, sight of humanness. Your eyes burn and tears fight their way out and suddenly they are your only defense, your only answer.
Deepest sympathy from the class of ’69 goes out to Gene JUSTIN. Gene's wife, Terri Lynne died of a massive brain hemorrhage while giving birth to Joseph Patrick Justin, on 14 Apr 75. A memorial fund for children has been established at St. Adelaide, 27457 Base, Highland, Ca. 92346. Gene’s address is 3655 E. 28th St. Highland, Ca. 82346.
Our hearts also go uot to the friends and family of Peter R. PLATT. Pete died in the crash of his OV-10 in Germany, on 28 Apr 75.
Craig GOLAR8 is now stationed at Plattsburgh AFB, N.Y. He recently left sunny Arizona and is adjusting well. His wife Janet gave birth to Aimee Renee on 2 April 75. Craig and Janet also have a two-year-old son, Aaron.
Gary BONE has chosen civilian life. He is now working for Charmin Paper Products as aproduction manager. Gary moved his wife Pam and daughter Lauren from Yuba City, Ca. to Cape Guardeau, Mo. (307 Francis Dr., Jackson, Mo. 63755). Gary is going to Iowa and Arkansas games this fall so anyone wanting to celebrate afterwards contact Gary.
Glen BERRY is now the Hq Sq. Section Commander for 6993rd Security Squadron at Kelly AFB, Tx. Glen’s prior assignment was in the Phillipines. Glen’s wife Linda recently gave birth to Brian Scott. Glen and Linda now have two boys, Jeremy and Brian.
Tom PILLARI is stationed on Guam. He is the Assistant Staff Judge Advocate at Andersen AFB. Tom's wife recently gave birth to a boy, Anthony Edward, their first child.
Some people are constantly involved in intrigue. Cary MARSH has somehow managed to get a release from the Governor of North Dakota to leave the state Normally, one would assume that Cary was locked in a state of confusion. Cary somehow broke loose from that state long enough to spirit his family off to Purdue U (AFIT).
I’m not trying to say I have not been in a similar state as Cary. I have. While in a similar state I was rescued by Ron HINDMARSH and his kind wife. I know Ron is still here in SAC, but that is on the other side of the house. Ron is flying KC-135’s. If I could get in that same state perhaps I could find him again.
About the beginning of April I was ushering back to the Academy sixty visitors. While at base ops making sure they had no problems I noticed that one of the Thunderbirds looked familiar. The Thunderbirds had put on an Air Show for our Open House that weekend. Most of you that kenw Jim SIMMONS at the Academy will not be sur
prised to know that he is now a member of the Thunderbirds. He was a test pilot before that. The “Torch” is at it again.
A tear drop fought its way out and soared straight to the depths of earth.
For a moment the glittering mystery of the lake was shattered.
Rippled.
Calm.
Bye.
Lt. Robert B. Manning 1305 Books
Enid, OK 73701
Here we go again! Another three months have shot past and a few people have done some moving. I was hoping to begin this issue by hearlding the birth of my son, but the Lord’s time is not yet and my wife, Jan, and I are still in the holding pattern. EAC is any time now. If the news breaks soon I will try to send in a late entry to the column.
Speaking of the column, this quarter I have decided to reward those who were nice enough to write by mentioning the letters received and the news to be passed along. This is to let you know that it pays to drop me a line and that I really do read them. Now, here comes da news.
The first letter this quarter came by way of Bob CULBERTSON. Bob recently received a Master's from Ohio State and is stationed at Maxwell AFB where he is working with computers writing programs for SOS, ACSC, and AWC. He and his wife are living in Montgomery andask for anyone hitting SOS to give them a call when they get to town. Bob mentioned a few other classmates he has run into in the last four years. Mark ROMAN is working for the OSI in California. Joe CHASE (Angie) is recently married and is now working a missile silo in North Dakota. Bob BILLINGS is stationed at Eglin while George FARSCHMAN is at Wright-Patterson AFB. I am unsure of the jobs they are holding.
The next letter I received was from some of my favorite people. Marty PERING and his wife, Linda, have never failed to drop me a note with their newest news, instead of just filling out a change of address card. The recent word from them is a new son named Christopher and an address in Las Vegas. Marty is presently an A/C in the F-l 11 stationed at Nellis AFB.
I received a letter from Mike MCCARTHY. His notes are fairly frequent also. I guesss doctors don’t do enought work to keep them busy. Mike is finishing Georgetown School of Medicine and will be an intern at Malcolm Grow USAF Medical Center near Washington, D.C. Dave SCHUTT will be joining him there from George Washington Med School and Dave RANGE and Tom QUALEY are coming in also. Our class senior captain, Terry HOLMES, is presently doctoring at Andrews AFB as a flight surgeon.
Ike SWEESY brings in the news from the great American Southwest where he is flying the F-4 front seat from Holloman AFB, NM. His typing was really bad, so I think I’ll tell TAC that their pilots need more paper pushing practice. Ike sends word that John WOLF is an intelligence officer at NKP. Tom COURY is working the back seat of the foxfour multi-engine bomber from Homestead AFB. Also at Holloman are Steve DEHAVEN, Rod WOOD, and Bob SELTZER. Steve and Rod are in the F-4 squadrons while Bob is working in the Test Squadron. Rod GWYN is in
research at Kirtland AFB. Rich ZEIMET is also in the F-4 as a backseater with an office at Seymour-Johnson.
I received a very nice letter from Hank THODE whom I remembered from school. He is presently at the Univ. of Colorado Med School. Doctors seem to be popular, it must be the money. Hank wanted all to know that he isn’t just slow even though he is only a 2Lt. Apparently, due to a change in congressional financing of medical programs, he had to resign his regular commission and reenter as a reserve 2Lt. He says not to worry, though, he will catch up as a captain in 1978. That’s dedication, keep up the good work, Hank.
The last news comes by way of A1 IRWIN. A1 is presently working as a club officer at Lackland AFB after returning from Korea, where he was awarded the AF Commendation Medal for his work there. Also at Lackland is Keith BETSCH who is training for a rated supplement as a policeman. Pete NELSON is in the San Antonio area working out of Kelly AFB in the T-39, however, he is moving to Offut with that aircraft soon. Mark BECKER is presently supplying everyone at Frances E. Warren AFB with supplies and Bob BANKS is taking life easy in Phoenix, Ariz., where he is passing along MT 320 skills to ROTC students.
Well, the news is in. I am happy to report the LORD has blessed two families from the class of ’71 at Vance. John SWANSON and his wife, Peggy, brought a boy into the world on 25 June. My wife, Jan, and I are using this means of sending blue announcements to proclaim the birth of our son, also. Timothy Luke was born in 26 June. That’s the news, P.T.L.
lLt Bob Bell 9307A Coolidge Ellsworth AFB, SD 605-923-2231
Greetings from Rushmore Country, ’72!
While I get into this and learn the ropes of journalistic endeavor, please bear with any mistakes you might see in info, name-spelling and so on. Also, anything I receive in correspondence will be mentioned where possible in this column, unless you desire otherwise. So here we go.
Starting with the hometown news releases, Jim TOMPKINS, (Peggy) flies the C-141 at Norton. Jack SMITH (Patricia) is a deputy crew commander at Malmstrom and recently took part in SAC’s “Olympic Arena” exercise, as did Marv VANDERWEG (Susan) on a crew from Whiteman. Marc SANDERS is in the F4 at MacDill. Dan SKOTTEE is a cost analysis officer at HQ, SAMSO in L.A. Craig GHELBER (Ann) has been awarded an Air Medal after duty at NKP—he's a T-33 IP now at Peterson Field. Mike POLISHAK (Bette) is another of SAC’s finest in either BUFF or Tanks at K.I. Sawyer. We have Vaughn CLAUSON at Shaw as an Intelligence Officer, Dave GRACEY (Diane) at McClellan doing Aero Engineering things, and George WAGASKY (Joan) as a Nav at MacDill.
Greg ISERT was the recipient of an Air Medal for SEA action, now he’s at Little Rock. Still in the Indo-China area at last word is Mike McNABB, an Intell Officer at Korat, also Vern TAYLOR at U-Tapao, and one of our recent newlyweds, Van SHIELDS (CiCi), doing his thing as an Info Officer. Chuck WINTER'S Shelley wrote a very helpful letter andsaid they've just had a baby son—Chuck is in RF-4’s at Shaw. Across the world, we have Jim GAUDINO (Margaret) at Karamursel in Info, and Jim STEFANIAK navigating for USAFE at Camp New Amsterdam, Neth
erlands—Tough, really. Joe GELLINGER may be leaving S-J for Clark, and so also may Pat BURKE for Kunsan. Pete VOORHEES (Kay) now in F4E’s at Seymour-Johnson is a possible for OV-10's, but maybe not at NKP. He says Jim BRYAN is in Avionics Maintenance at S-J, and also that Jim REED has added the golf course to his OPR. And of course, SAC has Pete MCCARTHY co-piloting the B-52 there. Frank CANTWELL was a member of a recent Outstanding Crew of the Month for SAC in 52’s at Carswell.
In New York at Plattsburgh, Greg ANDERSON keeps up his currency in KC-135’s, while at Griffiss, Bill KEELER (Terri) does the same in the C-118. J. C. HALL (Mary) now has a son over in New Hampshire with Pease's FB-lll’s. He navigates, (J. C. does!). Bob JOHNSON (Kathy) in Info, Korea, and John WILKER at Kadena in C-130’s just about wraps up that side of the globe. Up a bit to the north but still stateside we find T. J. MANCUSO at Shemya, John NESTICO recently married but living on King Solomon Island, Alaska, and Ed LaFOUNTAINE in Helicopters.
Back at Shaw, Rick PARMENTIER (Sharon) added a son to their unit. Phil DAMBERG is at McClennan in EC121 ’s, while at Norton, Rod McDONALD and Jim JOHNSON are in the C-141. Roland SCHANK is at DavisMonthan, Dale UPSHAW at Wright-Pat, Bee CANNISTRACI IP-ing at Webb in Tweets, and Dave KLEIN doing the same at Craig. Dave MORRISON is at Travis navigating the C5 as back East, Bill SPINDLE is a recent PCS to Hanscom in procurement. Warren HANSEN IP’s at Laughlin (T-38) and Doug HENDERSON at Columbus in the same job. Then again Ray BARTON is another daredevil in T-37's at Moody.
Going civilian for a brief one, Mark FINLAYSON is at Texas Tech Law School, Eric WIN BORN in Iowa, also in law, and John HUMPHRIES is at U of Texas Law School. At the U of Colorado Medical Center Ken STONE is pursuing his while a future veterinarian is in Ft. Collins, Chris BUKALA (Lissa).
Got lots of address changes, and I’ll keep the cards, so if anyone needs an address, just let me know. Bob MARSTON—Little Rock, Gerry VENTEICHER—Minot, Clarence PENNINGTON—Beale, Don PEPPERS—Wright-Patterson, Ed BISHOP—Edwards, Russ BOLT—Somewhere APO SF 96366, Bill BAKER—RAF Bentwaters, Phil SHARP—in T-39’s at Ramstein, Ollie HARDMAN—RAF Alconbury, Jerry MARTIN—HQ USAFE, Ramstein, and according to his mother, Ray STETZLER is at RAF Lakenheath. Pete SUTTON is piloting RF4-s at a German base. One more award I read of—John FUSS got his DFC on 25 Sep 74 as a result of actions in the HC-130 at Korat. He’s now at McClellan.
Now for a quick word on Ellsworth 72ers: with me in the BUFF are John WICKHAM and Steve O’NEILL. Over in tankers are Rick JACKSON and Gary BAIRD. Navigating our B-52's are Ed ZEUTY and in the Radar Nav’s position, Jerry HELMEN, who by the way, will be married by the time you read this (Toni). And in UH-l’s are Steve DEMEL and Bruce NIEMANN. Jim DONLEY is also at RAF Alconbury even if I did miss it last paragraph.
If any of the 59ers or 60ers read this column, you might be interested in this bit of info. Major Doss L. SMITH is alive and well at Ellsworth and hasn’t forgotten you. Drop him a line c/o 77th Bomb Squadron before he retires, if you so desire. For the rest of us, he’s a former Air Training Officer from way back when.
And on a sad note, our classmate Larry FROEHLICH was copilot on that CH-53 that crashed near NKP on 13
May 75 while in support of the Mayaguez effort. His AC was Jim KAYS, Class of 71. May they and all who were lost rest in peace.
This is all I have for the first attempt. Hope it will continue to keep you all updated on each other. Please do keep me posted on your activities so that it can be as complete as possible. Take care and see you next time.
Lt. Vincent M. Parisi, II
4975 El Camino Dr., #C-13 Colorado Springs, CO 80918 303-599-8710
Congratulations to all! Our first promotion is now behind us, with more pay, prestige and tenure we can start looking forward to the next one. Let’s hope that they all come as easy.
With this issue comes sadness to our class. Two of our classmates were killed in aircraft accidents and the loss is heavily felt by all of us. William C. C. “Burr" WYATT was killed in February in a T-22 in New York, while Frank PEFFER was killed in late May in Florida. He too was in a T-33. They will both live on in our memories. Let us take a moment of silence in their honor.
What has the class been doing? Chris DERRY is working with the Meteorological Satelite SPO in the LA area. Others in the LA area are: Dee BROMBEREK, who is working with a satelite SPO, Cary CLOVICKO just married his “lady in waiting", Bill DRURY is still trying to get into Med Sch., Ron FARIS is with SAMSO, John MUSE is with the B-l program, John and Anne PACE are in Anaheim, and Geoff MICHAEL is with the YF-17 program.
Rich ELY is in 1st yr. law sch at San Diego, Mike MeGRATH is in his 2nd yr. law sch. at Vanderbilt. Bucky BOYD is at Gunter with computers, while Mike HAY got married June 21 (he's still trying to sell his vette). Art DUNN is at Travis as an Info Off with Jim RUSSELL who is in Maint.
Stu DUERSON is flying the C-9 at Scott, Steve FENTON has a T-33 to McChord, Dave GREER a CH-53 to NKP while Bill HARRIS is naving the FB-111 at Plattsburg. Frank BRIENZO is a Nav on a C-5 at Travis, and Dave ELLIS is piloting the CH-53 at Weisdaben. Howard and Stacey MITCHELL are at Grand Forks, and Bob and Drexa OLLIS are at Whitman, all in missiles. Bob PASTIAK is at Wright-Pat as a Maint. Off. News has it that Steve YESTNESS won the Skimaster Trophy at the Air Force World Wide Ski Meet at Snow Basin. Steve and his wife Brenda are at F. E. Warren where he is a copter pilot. Congrat’s Steve. Harry and Marilee WALKER are in the A-7 at Myrtle Beach.
Those in the C-141 are: McChord: Bill and Cheri BECK, John and Pat PILCHER (Nav), and Al and Betty SMALLMAN (Nav) who were just transfered from Hawaii. George KEHIAS (Nav) is at Travis with Lester and Edie WILLIAMS and Rich ANSELM. Norton: has Al BRIDING, Joe FORRESTER and Paul MAZUROWSKI. Bill DIFFLEY is at Charleston with Tom SCHMITT while Ray and Jo WALLACE are at McGuire as is Craig MacPHERSON.
The KC-135 has a large portion of our classmates. Paul MOTLEY is at Altus While Steve and Mari GULASEY and Gordon and Debra BENDICK are at Barksdale. Sam and Joan TORREY, Clyde and Kathy AWTREY are at Beale, while Jim BROOKS and Paul and Gail GUTTMAN are all at Fairchild. Kadena: Bruce and Cat GOLSEN, Mike LANEY, Al KINBACK and Wayne NEARING. Barry
SCHEINOST is at K.I. Sawyer. Gerald LEWIS is at Mather while Jim SCULLEY is at McConnell. Plattsburg has Jim WELTEROTH, Mark and Kathy McCLENNAN, George RAMPULLA, and Brad YOUNG. Joe WALKER is at Travis, Roger SMITH is at Dyessand Ray SWIDER is at Rickenbacker. George DORRIS is at Wurtsmith (recovering from a skiing accident) along with Gary DUTELLE. Tony SALMONSEN is at Pease, Bob and Janet SCHIMELLER are at Rickenbacker, while Chris JACO and One SOLIS are somewhere. Rich LEEMAN is at Kincheloe.
In the B-52: Carswell has Mike HENEHAN and Charlie FELTON and Mike and Dianna SMITH, while Bill and Barbara FRANK are at March. Geno and Linda CUOMO are at Kincheloe as an EWO. Kirk LILLY is at Robbins and Herb and Beth HUBER is a radar nav at K.I. Sawyer. Al and Patty GARLINGTON are at Barksdale as an EWO.
The F-4 has: George: Stan HAYES, Bernard and Martha BULLOCK, John McMURRAY, Mark BALLARD, and David RICKER. Luke: Ches SULLENBERGER, Dana and Kathy IDEEN, Ed ZWIRKO and Bill and Sandy VINNEDGE (GIB). MacDill: Lloyd and Cindy HAMMOND, Mike and Sheila ANDERSON, Howard EDWARDS, Jerry OLIN, Mike and Debbie KOERNER and Gary SORTLAND. Greg KRAFFT (GIB) and Jerry DROPPO are both at Udorn. Rick VANDAN is in the RF-4 at Zwiesbatten, Germany.
In the C-130 we have: Steve SAVELL and Charlie and Patty QUINNEL at Clark. Jim SOLIGAN now at Little Rock with Wade and Sherri KEARNS who are on their way to Kadena with their little girl, Marcy. Al and Kathy GRAYSON are also at Kadena and they have a son Daniel. At Dyess is Eric VOGEL.
Chuck PUHAM is in the EC-130 at McClellan.
Those giving pearls of wisdom in the T-37 are: Laughlin: Rick SHAMRELL and Terry and Martha GRAYBEAL. Reese: Mike WILKEN and Fred KAMMIRE. Roy and Monica PENCE, and Ronand Karla BRECKENRIDGE are at Vance while Kevin and Joanne McHUGH and Kevin POWERS are at Webb.
In the T-38 we have: Columbus: Bob STRATTON, Leslie and Debra VanHEESWYK and Randy and Sharon FOTINAKES. Laughlin: Quentin PETERSON, Sid GUTIERREZ, Denny MERIDETH, Jim and Sharon SILVER and John ZWIEBEL. Byron and Marge BEAL and Phil FAYE are at Moody. Reese: Andy and Kerry RANFT, Mike TRUAX, John CORLEY, and Mark HARMAN. At Vance: Bill NAIGLE, Jeff and Anita BLANCHETTE and Pat and Rebecca SHEPPARD. Vance and Sharia LINEBERGER are at Webb while Williams has: Gerry and Winni O’CONNOR, Brad and Sherry HIRSCHI, and Tom LARNED.
This is it for another issue. I hope I’ve lent some insight into where your friends are and what they are doing. I realize that there is not a lot of info about non-pilots, but info on you is scarce. Most of what I have is from cards and letters, so please drop a line and let me know what you are doing. Thank's for the correspondence this last quarter. It was great hearing from you. Until next time, take care.
Lt. Ronald W. Watson
QTRS 6405G
USAFA, CO 80840
The worst place to be stationed as a second balloon is our dear old alma mater after graduation. Aside from tourist harrassment, former instructors and AOC’s greet you with: “I didn't know you were a turn back!” Anyway, our hats
are off to the graduating class of 75. Good luck you guys and welcome to the elusive RAF. I will be filling in this block during my stay with the 1876 Communications Squadron here at USAFA with the help of the wife (Janice) and kids (Jene and Wayne). The former inker, Lester KATAHARA, and Janet were last seen streaking for Williams.
Looks like Rich STRAUB. Jack TARLETON, Ken GILFORD and LARRY ALLEN will all be adding M.D. to their surname.
Check out the navigators: Robert MOOREFIELD (MeConnell), Bradley HEGGINBOTHAM (Plattsburg), Robert RENFRO (Minot: KC-135), Keith QUINN (Beale).
To George: Orville (Judy) LIND (F-4), Steve (Delores) REZNICK. To Dover: Andrew GALIK; James (Chirl) SIENICKI (C-5). To McGuire: Ricky (Theresa) STEARMAN; John VEREB. McChord: John SWEDA (C-141); Charles ANDERSON (C-141).
Charleston: James McBRIDE (C-141), David HAMILTON (C-141). Dyess: Richard WRIGHT (C-141); Donald BERRYMAN (C-141); Lance LANE (C-130). Kadena: William MACELHANEY; James WILLIAMS; John GRIFFIN; John SMITH. Norton: Frank ROHL; James COLOTTA (C-141); Duncan McNABB (C-141); James KELLEY. Pope: Harold (Pamela) REED (C-130); Robert BROWNING (C-130); Peter BECHTEL; Keith TRUMBELL (C-130); Gary (Karen) HOROWITZ; advanced training at Mather: John (Julie) TOMICH; Roger (Rosemary) COX; Thomas HEFFERNAN; John (Debbie) REINSCHMIDT; Jack BARAH; Floyd GLICK; Thomas (Susann) MARY.
MacDill: Terence LEYSATH; Patrick H. PONDOM; David BUNKER; James (Marianne) HAGEN; Robert (Patricia) BURNSIDE. Little Rock: Jeffrey (Lisa) NORTHGRAVES (C-130); Paul SPENDLEY (C-130); Michael RESTERY (C-130); Phil WHAL; Richard NELSON; Charles TUCKER (C-130). Travis: James LEONARD (C-141); Richmond (Karen) CALDWELL (C-141); Edward NORTON; Brian McLEAN; James TIETJEN; Lance BACHRAN; Andrew MILROY; Frank MURRY; Paul LANE (C-141); Robert PAPPAS; Todd BEJSOVEC. Now if they only knew how to wear those silver wings.
Joseph KAREN (Tinker AFB), Martin HARPER (Patrick AFB) and Doug WALKER (Bergstrom AFB) have all completed the USAF orientation course for medical service corps officers at Sheppard AFB, Texas.
And three more caught runner’s cramp in Del Rio: Bruce (Kary) DAVIS; Rich (Val) SANDWICK, and Bill (Marlyn) HALSEY.
Late News: Dewayne (Ann) TAYLOR will be attending Vet School in Sept, if all goes well. J. J. (Jackies) ROMARO are finally on their way to Mather after an extended visit to Moody AFB. A certain medical student, whose initials are Rob SAYERS, will soon be joined in New Orleans by the daughter of one command chaplain.
Hang in there, Mark JOHNSON!!
Yours truly would like to hear from the radicals of the class (namely the future physicians) and the rest of you out there hiding!
I dislike imparting bad news of any nature but, some things must be said. A few of you already know of the recent death of our classmate James IACOBUCCI. To the rest of us it comes as quite a shock. Many of us, especially Life Sci Majors, will never forget his drive and constant desire to learn. On behalf of the class of ’74, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to James’ wife, Linda, family, and close friends.
Nuff said. Keep on pressing.
CLASS OF ’75—(continued from p. 4)
the Army and Marine Corps. There are three graduates from allied countries. One each from El Salvador, Chile and Uruguay. Two men who have completed four years of education at the Academy will be graduated but not commissioned for medical reasons.
Of the 8,596 gradutes of the previous 16 classes, 6,648 continue to hold active duty commissions in the Air Force.
According to records, 274 are listed as deceased. Of that number 94 were killed in combat, 30 others are listed as missing in action in Southeast Asia. There were 25 other grads who died in Southeast Asia; however, their deaths did not come in actual combat.
Other losses between graduation and present active duty rolls are attributed to voluntary resignations of commissions; medical separations and retirements; graduates selecting commissions in other service branches; and foreign grads returning to their home countries.
To date, 17 graduates have been promoted to the rank of colonel, the highest rank attained by a graduate on active duty. There have been six grads selected as White House Fellows.
Among Academy graduates who have earned military decorations, there are 12 who hold the Air Force Cross, the second highest medal for bravery that can be awarded an airman.
Presently there are 230 former cadets assigned to the Air Force Academy.
LETTERS—(continued from p. 8) play their part in the development of the Air Force and the the accomplishment of its mission. The decision to disobey should come hard and only after some soul-searching. This precludes neither disagreement nor willingness to attempt change for the sake of improvement. The self-disciplined and obedient professional we seek to produce should also have high ideals and moral standards and the courage to stand and fight, up to a point.
“Up to what point?” then becomes the relevant question. The only answer is that each individual will have to make that lonely decision based on the total circumstances facing him at the time. Which habit pattern is it that the institution can be comfortable within its graduates? I feel that it is the one with the predisposition to obey and the willingness to live and fight within the system, working for its eventual improvement.
A final note—I would disagree with Lt. Stwart’s closing paragraph. It does make a difference and it does have something to do with uniform and appearance as outward reflections of inner character and principles.
Maj. G. M. Thompson, Jr. Class of 1962
ANNOUNCEMENTS
—The Association of Graduates does not sell football tickets for games other than Homecoming (Notre Dame, 18 October). Tickets for other games may be purchased directly from the Athletic Association Ticket Office. Tickets for the Homecoming game may be purchased from the AOG office by graduates who plan to attend other Homecoming activities as well.
—Graduates planning to attend the Tulane game in New Orleans on 8 November may contact Mr. Ed Frashier, 1500 Canal, New Orleans, La. 70140 for information on hotel accommodations.
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