Checkpoints - December 2013

checkpoints December 2013

USAFA Alumni Magazine

THE VOLLEY OF HIS LIFE

Men’s tennis coach Dan Oosterhous ’93 ON SURVIVING multiple STROKEs

CHECKPOINTS

CADET CHAPEL TURNS 50 COLORADO’S MOST ICONIC STRUCTURE...

The Cadet Chapel celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Dedicated in 1963, the building remains the most popular man-made attraction in the state of Colorado receiving up to one million visitors each year. In 2004, the Chapel made architectural history when it was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark. Today, the AOG celebrates the Chapel’s storied past with a video portrait of the building’s humble beginnings... usafa.org

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checkpoints December 2013 FEATURES 14 The Volley of His Life After suffering two frightening strokes in the span of a month, USAFA men’s tennis coach, Lt. Col. Dan Oosterhous ‘93, returns to duty while taking on his toughest opponent yet.

20 Faster. Farther. Stronger.

The Cadet Triathlon Team has developed into one of the best collegiate programs in the nation. Learn about the heart, mental toughness and physical ability needed to become one of the country’s top extreme athletes.

28 A Vignette in Black and Blue: The “Hooks” Jones Story

On the Cover Lt. Col. Dan Oosterhous ‘93 is rehabilitating from the effects of two strokes while also serving as the USAFA men’s tennis coach.

Image by Lewis Carlyle.

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During a Zone of Interior field trip during the summer of 1962, five of the Air Force Academy’s first African-American cadets learned a valuable lesson from Tuskegee Airman, Colonel Hubert “Hooks” Jones.

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60 DEPARTMENTS

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Columns

The Endowment

Cadet Life

4 CEO Update 6 Chairman’s Journal 8 Staff Directory 10 Letters 12 News

32 Class of 1973 Advancing NCLS 36 Max James ‘64 Endows Journal 64 Giving by the Numbers

41 Back to School 80 Voices of the Holocaust 91 Shutdown at the Academy

Graduate Profile

From the Terrazzo

79 Waldo 86 Honor Oath Clause Made Optional 88 Holding Court 90 The Prop and Wings Officer Program

38 Playoff Pioneer 42 The Flight of My Life 48 16 Names 50 Long Blue Ladle 54 Falcon Fitness Fix 56 Memorable Meals Ready-to-Eat 58 The Falcons of Wall Street

Heritage 60 Ring of Honor 66 The Cadet Chapel Turns 50 84 The Doolittle Raiders’ Final Toast

The Association 70 Readership Survey Results 72 Happenings 74 2013 Distinguished Chapters 76 Lift Up Your Career with SACC

Back of the Book 92 Gone But Not Forgotten 97 Class News 143 GX–Grad Exchange 144 Final Thought

Checkpoints Online Bonus Content

The Last Prop Fighter A Call to Service a World Away Long Blue Ladle: Off the Menu Track Cycling Team Shines Worth 1000 Words Photo Galleries and More!

Checkpoints

December 2013

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Connecting: Grads Helping Grads

By WIlliam “T” Thompson ’73, AOG President and CEO

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recently had lunch with Jerry Bruni, USAFA Class of 1970, to thank him for his very generous support of the graduate community and the Academy. Jerry is the founder and CEO of a very successful boutique investment firm with well over half a billion dollars of assets under management. After graduating from USAFA and picking up a master’s degree in economics from UCLA, he spent nine years in the Big Air Force before returning to the Academy to teach in the Department of Economics.

Subsequently faced with an assignment to the Pentagon, he separated, went into the investment business, eventually started his own firm, and the rest, as they say, is history.

As we chatted, it became quickly apparent that Jerry has tremendous gratitude for having been given the privilege of attending the Academy. He also enjoys a strong appreciation for the value of grads connecting with each other and with our alma mater and the crucial role our AOG plays in that process.

“Having our grads as AOG members is the start to keeping them linked to the Academy and involved with each other,” he says. “As time goes on, this will translate into greater Academy support …West Point and Navy have this down to a science and we’ll get there one day, as well.”

As a very successful money manager, he also understands the importance of investing in tangible ways that will produce superior returns over the long term. This was his motivation for deciding to make a substantial six figure investment in helping to increase membership in the AOG. It began with a program we called “70 for ’70,” with the goal of getting at least 70 % AOG membership in the Class of 1970. Under the program, Jerry financed 25% of the cost of a life membership, the AOG offered a 25% discount, so the class member was able to purchase an AOG life membership at a 50% discount. The program was wildly successful and increased membership in ’70 to over 73%. Buoyed by this success, Jerry has decided to support our efforts

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to target those classes, primarily between the early 70s and 90s who have very low AOG membership, in a similar program. Jerry truly “gets it” and is going “above and beyond” in helping our grads connect with each other and with the Academy.

Our new 10th Air Base Wing Commander, Col. Stacey Hawkins ’91, is another great example of “grads helping grads.” Over lunch not long after he took command, (do we see a pattern here? :) we discussed the possibility of getting our non-military grads greater access to Eisenhower Golf Course here on the Academy. I shared how, with the support of then Superintendent, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Gould ’76, we were able to get our non-military grads easier access to the Academy with the use of the AOG Alumni Badge. With the support of the 10th Air Base Wing and the Security Police Squadron, we successfully developed a program to conduct the necessary background checks which would allow grads greater access to their alma mater. It likewise seem to make sense that if a grad, for example, had been on the golf team as a cadet, he should be able to come back and play his home course.

Stacey, another grad who “gets it,” moved to address this issue right away. Working together to see what our official options were, we developed an approach that made sense and that would pass the required Air Force approvals. But Stacey also went “above and beyond” for the benefit of our graduates in offering greater connection to the Academy. Not only do our grads now have access to Eisenhower Golf Course, but to all MWR Category C facilities which include: the Aero Club, the Bowling Alley, the Falcon Club, Farrish and the FamCamp. We are pleased and thankful that our grads now have these other opportunities to be connected to the Academy.

Two grads; one in the Air Force, and one who separated, but both with a strong commitment to the Academy and the graduate community. Two grads who both understand the importance and value of Connection and Grads Helping Grads. Yes indeed, “We’ll get there one day.” GO FALCONS!!!

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TODAYTOMORROWBEYOND

columns

Chairman’s

Journal

By Brig. Gen. (ret.) Roger Carleton ’67

Fellow Graduates, This month’s article will cover two broad topics. First, I will illustrate how your Association of Graduates is making a difference within the graduate community as well as promoting heritage among all our constituencies.

Second, I will address the path the USAFA Endowment and AOG have been following to arrive at a new Memorandum of Understanding that benefits both organizations and the Air Force Academy.

On behalf of the AOG Board of Directors, I’d like to extend a hearty congratulations to the nine Distinguished Chapters and their Presidents who were honored during the September 2013 Chapter Presidents’ Conference in Colorado Springs. Under our CEO’s leadership, the AOG staff in coordination with graduates across the country has made chapters an important facet in fostering connection back to our institution. New England, North Texas, Las Vegas and the Rampart Chapters have all been recognized as “Distinguished” for three consecutive years while the Alamo and Twin Cities Chapters have been recognized for two consecutive years. Joining this elite group for the first time are the Salt Lake City, Kansas City and Sacramento Chapters. You can read about some of the great work our Kansas City Chapter is doing on page 74.

The September issue of Checkpoints went to press before I could mention the September 6th Memorial Ceremony hosted by the AOG. Parents, friends and relatives of those 107 graduates or cadets who have left us in the previous year are honored at a reception in Arnold Hall and then join the Academy’s leadership and Cadet Wing on the Terrazzo. The highlight of this event is a roll call of those who have departed since the previous ceremony. As each name and cadet squadron is called out, the squadron commander responds “Absent Sir.” The cadet response to the roll call represents the continuing bond between the Cadet Wing and the graduates.

It is a moving and appropriate ceremony.

On November 1st, the Thomas D. White National Defense Award was presented to Mrs. Natalie W. Crawford of the Rand Corporation.

She is the 51st recipient of this prestigious award and only the second woman so recognized. Dr. Condoleezza Rice received the award in 2009. The award is named after General White, who was the Air Force Chief of Staff during the formative years of the Air Force Academy. This prestigious award is presented annually to a U.S. citizen who has contributed significantly to the national defense and security of the United States. Having worked with Mrs. Crawford while on active duty, I can report she is well respected by the Air Force’s senior leadership and most deserving of this honor.

As I mentioned in my first article, the relationship between the Association of Graduates, the “friendraisers,” and the USAFA Endowment, the “fundraisers,” is up for renewal as the current Memorandum of 6

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Understanding (MOU) ends 31 December 2013. Both sides have begun working on language for a new MOU that would be effective January 1, 2014. Because some confusion exists in the graduate community about this relationship, I will attempt to clarify what has transpired and what both sides are trying to achieve. At the outset, it is important to understand that both the AOG and USAFA Endowment are independent 501(c)(3) organizations, each with a separate Board of Directors.

In August 2009, the previous Superintendent, Mike Gould ’76, appeared before both Boards and challenged them to work closer together for the benefit of the graduate community, Cadet Wing and Air Force Academy. Each Board chartered a three person negotiating team to arrive at an acceptable MOU. The first two-year MOU was finalized and approved by both Boards in November 2009. Contained in the MOU were provisions for a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) to resolve differences that the two CEOs could not agree upon, a formula for sharing of unrestricted funds, a sharing of electronic data bases, and a mechanism—or process—for either side to terminate the agreement with 60 days notice. USAFA Endowment personnel colocated in Doolittle hall with the AOG staff Both organizations learned a few lessons during this two-year timeframe. The second MOU—and the one under which we are now operating—was finalized in December 2011 and covers the period January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2013. Changes were made to the sharing of unrestricted funds among the Academy, the AOG and Endowment. The Endowment also agreed to establish a Long Blue Line endowment for the AOG’s long-term benefit. The JCC retained its responsibilities. A Joint Finance Committee was instituted to look at budget requirements and make recommendations to the JCC Has progress been made in these past two MOUs? Absolutely. Can more be accomplished in terms of efficiency and effectiveness? Again, the answer is yes. The proposed four-year MOU now being negotiated is a step in that direction. One item of importance is the inclusion of a joint strategic planning function under the Joint Coordination Committee. This strategic “look” by definition will involve the Superintendent’s staff so that everyone is on the same page to meet Academy priorities. Personally, I am optimistic we’ll arrive at a new MOU that meets the needs and requirements of our two independent organizations while continuing to provide excellent support to the Academy.

In closing, let me say thanks to you, the graduates, who by your everyday performance continue to enhance the prestige of the Long Blue Line. Your service to our Air Force and nation are greatly appreciated by those of us privileged to serve as AOG Directors. GO FALONS!

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ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY

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Staff Directory 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475, (719) 472-0300 THE ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES To email a staff member, use the first and last name. Example: Gary Howe | gary.howe@aogusafa.org AOG Executive office President & CEO William “T” Thompson ’73, ext. 101 (t.thompson@aogusafa.org) Executive Vice President Gary Howe ’69, ext. 107 Sr. VP for Business Operations Marty Marcolongo ’88, ext. 146 Sr. VP for Finance & Chief Financial Officer Alton Parrish, ext. 123 Executive Assistant Hadassa Muñoz, ext. 106 Finance Accountant Joyce Love, ext. 110 Senior Accounting Clerk Janice Baca, ext. 111 Sr. Data Integrity Specialist Kim Wilson, ext. 127 Sr. Data Integrity Specialist John Rice, ext. 132 Data Integrity Specialist Murlea Vance, ext. 130 Communications Sr. VP for Communications Bob McAllister, ext. 142 Senior Editor David Bergeman, ext. 143 Senior Designer Sarah Larrabee, ext. 144 Editor/Photographer Lewis Carlyle, ext. 140 Class News & Obituary Editor Tom Kroboth, ext. 133 Director of Web Communications Troy Surratt, ext. 125 Systems Administrator Jason Finkle, ext. 124 Programmer/Systems Analyst Gayatri Parepalli, ext. 118 Lead Programmer/Web Developer Toby Lortz, ext. 141 Director of Information Systems Jack Mueller ’70, ext. 122 Business Development Director of Business Operations Beth Wade, ext. 134 Marketing Coordinator Barb Goos, ext. 174

Alumni Affairs Vice President for Alumni Affairs Corrie Grubbs, ext. 105 Director of Constituent Relations Megan Mulligan, ext. 108 Membership Services Specialist Don McCarthy, ext. 139 Graduate Support Specialist Beth Szucs, ext .108 Alumni Affairs Event Coordinator Michele Bergeman, ext. 136 Alumni Affairs Event Coordinator Sara Dozier, ext. 138 Parent and Alumni Program Manager Stella Grayson, ext. 121 Doolittle Hall Events/Special Functions Director of Event Planning Ashlee Peterson, ext. 147 Special Functions Coordinator Jean Bickford, ext. 148 Customer Service and Facility Management Customer Service Supervisor Michele Cowan, ext. 151 Customer Service Representative Brandi Lortz, ext. 154 Merchandising Lead Jan Howard, ext. 153 Merchandising Representative DeDe Green, ext. 152 Facilities Superintendent Dave Pfeil, ext. 155 Maintenance Specialist Jake Jacobs, ext. 155

The Association of Graduates Board of Directors Larry Fariss ’75 Board Chair Roger Carleton ’67 Kevin Chilton ’76 Vice Chair Vic Andrews ’66 Drew Miller ’80 Secretary Bebe O’Neil ’83 Steve Beasley ’93 Treasurer Jack Fry ’67 Kathleen Rock ’98 Mike Torreano ’70 Mark Rosenow ’03 Bob Munson ’73 CAS President Richard Sexton ’60 Bruce Wright ’73

The USAFA Endowment To email a staff member, use the first and last name. Example: Troy Danno | troy.danno@usafaendowment.org President & CEO Gen. (Ret.) Stephen R. Lorenz ’73 (steve.lorenz@usafaendowment.org) Vice President, Development Jennifer Bateman, ext. 202 Executive Assistant Ruth Reichert ext. 206 Chief Financial Officer Dennis Scruggs, ext. 203 Associate Vice President for Development Greg Knedler, ext. 224 Director of Annual Giving open position Associate VP of Leadership Giving Jimmy Martello ’00, 719.229.4202

Director, Gift Planning Dale Zschoche, 719.238.7510 Major Gift Officer Troy Danno ‘12, 304.579.7999 Major Gift Officer Obura Tongoi ‘11, 719.375.9082 Class Giving Officer Razelle Doherty, ext. 222 Annual Giving Officer Amanda Brown, ext. 223 Manager of Donor Relations Gina Simler, ext. 200 Director of Development Communications open position Staff Accountant Patricia DeSimone, ext. 204

Volume 42, number 3 Checkpoints (ISSN 0274-7391) USPS 898-080 is published quarterly in March, June, September and December by the Association of Graduates, U.S. Air Force Academy. (Phone: 719-472-0300, DSN: 333-2067. FAX: 719333-4194, E-mail: editor@aogusafa.org.) A portion of your dues pays for your magazine subscription. Additional copies may be purchased for $2.50 each, plus $4.60 for shipping. Periodicals postage paid at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Checkpoints, Association of Graduates, Doolittle Hall, 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475. The Editorial Board serves the Checkpoints mission by providing a top quality magazine to the Air Force Academy’s broader community. Together, the editor, VP of Communications, Executive VP and the AOG CEO collaborate to ensure that all articles meet the standards of excellence readers have come to expect of Checkpoints. The AOG reserves the right to publish or omit submissions at its discretion. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions, policy or attitude of the AOG, its officers or the editorial staff. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by the AOG of the products or services advertised. Copyright, Association of Graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy, December, 2013.

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state of mind Feedback, insight and fun from Falcon Nation.

Issues of Honor I read Lt. Col. Joel Witzel’s article in the June issue on the Honor Code and had the very same reaction that my classmate, John Fer, so ably expressed in his letter to you in the September issue. That issue also contained an article by Roy Miller ’67, expressing a dramatically different view of the current state of the Honor Code. I commend your editorial integrity, in this era of political correctness, to print such a critical viewpoint. While I may not agree with every single thing Miller says, I do believe his account paints a more accurate picture of the current state of the Honor Code than Witzel’s does.

Jack Swonson, Class of 1962 The Honor Code, Then and Now I applaud you for publishing Roy Miller’s views on the state of the Honor Code. He very accurately describes the fact that the Honor Code, as those of us from the earlier classes knew it, does not exist anymore. The Academy has adopted the secular world’s “feel good” philosophy in most of its curriculum and absolutes like “we will not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate among us those who do” are no longer acceptable. Even the basic Judeo-Christian value system is viewed as something that can only be talked about by cadets in secret because someone might be offended. There were two major honor scandals during my four years, and it did

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not bother me at all that these cadets were sent packing. There was less emphasis on retention rates and more on the quality of graduates, which resulted in almost half of my original class not making it to graduation.

There were several times during my Air Force career where I ruffled the feathers of senior officers because I would not fudge numbers—like calling a maintenance cancellation a weather cancellation—to make the stats look better. That would have violated the code that was engrained in me from my Academy days. I think the Academy needs to rethink its mission and go back to producing quality officers that also display a high degree of character.

James V. “Cuff” Kelso, Class of 1968 “Are You Prepared?”

Thanks for all the good information in the “Are You Prepared?” article in the September issue of Checkpoints. I was surprised at the National Enquirer opening about “Civil Collapse,” but it did draw my attention to the article, as I’m sure you intended. Next time could you please include surviving a tornado, which is the real threat where I live?

Robert G. Welbaum, Class of 1970 Long Blue Ladle Revives Memory of Epic Eating Display May term, 1968, just outside the South Gate sat the Zuider Zee seafood restaurant.

They had a Monday night “All the Shrimp You Can Eat” special. Seventh Squadron firsties decided to have a night out together.

Someone suggested we each count how many we ate. Boiled, medium size shrimp, cold and unpeeled, served with drawn butter or cocktail sauce and hushpuppies.

A schooner of beer was 24 ounces. Most guys dropped out at 100, but a few plugged on. As it was an Olympic year and tryouts were a daily occurrence, at noon Tuesday the staff tower announcements included:

“Yesterday at the Olympic Shrimp Eating Tryouts at the Zuider Zee, in men’s singles, Terry Zubrod took a solid first, eating 312 shrimp.” Mitch’s went crazy. “In men’s doubles, Zubrod and Coe ate 562 shrimp.” More clamor at Mitch’s. “And in men’s foursome, Zubrod, Coe, Allhof and Dunkerley ate 987 shrimp.” Absolute bedlam. All week we heard how another squadron was going to crush us. Tuesday they admitted no one had reached the 200 mark held by our anchor.

Alan Dunkerley, Class of 1968

TweetBack “I have a fever… & the only cure is more #Airpower! #GoAirForce #BeatArmy” @GenMarkWelsh, Air Force Chief of Staff, General Mark A. Welsh III ’76 gets Air Force Nation pumped up for the football game versus Army. Air Force did indeed beat Army, 42-28.

Quarterly Query

How often do you wear your class ring?

Every Day 45% On Special Occasions 28% Never 17% Weekly 9% Monthly 1%

Omission In the September article “The Class of 2017 in Numbers” we included the “Race” category but we accidently omitted the “Ethnicity” category. In that category, the Class of 2017 is comprised of 9.2% Hispanic cadets and 89.5% Non-Hispanic cadets.

Letters Guidelines Checkpoints welcomes the feedback of our readers. Letters should reference content published in the magazine and run 150 words in length or less. The editor reserves the right to determine the suitability of letters for publication and to edit them for length and accuracy. Please include your name and graduating year if you are an Academy graduate and email your submission to editor@aogusafa.org.

Check In with Checkpoints

A: John Heimburger ’63 and his daughter, Cheyenne, check in from the top of Mount Fuji! B: On the fourth day of his second federal government furlough this calendar year, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Frank Quintel Williams ’85, checks in during his downtime from the local Starbucks in Herndon, Virginia.

Williams is a civilian DoD worker at the Pentagon.

C: During their 30th wedding anniversary trip, Daryl Jones ’82 and Martha Stevenson-Jones ’82 check in from Australia’s famous Sydney Opera House.

D: Julie (Rosburg) Keck ’82 sends us this picture of Keith Keck ’81 with the June 2013 Checkpoints in front of St Basil’s Cathedral at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. E: Philip Borroni ’08 and Elizabeth Borroni ’11 display the June 2013 edition of Checkpoints, commemorating President John F. Kennedy and the 50th anniversary of USAFA’s first presidential commencement at the JFK Presidential Library in Boston, Massachusetts. F: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kristin (Alford) Barto ’90 sends this photo to us after an awesome four-day hike on the Incan Trail to Machu Picchu. Pictured are her sister-in-law, Diane, son, Michael, daughter, Kaitlyn, and husband, John Barto. G: Bob Batchelor ’77 reads “The Secret Life of Waldo F. Dumbsquat” to their recent rescue, Betsy Learn how to check Rose, while wife Theresa tends to her wounds. Bob in with Checkpoints at and Theresa co-founded the Beauty’s Haven Farm usafa.org/checkpoints/interact. and Equine Rescue charity in 2006.

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Do you enjoy the enriched experience of Checkpoints online and want to save a tree?

Email editor@aogusafa.org and you can defer shipment of the print edition of the magazine.

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The Transmission USAFA news from around the globe … and beyond.

Mandeville ’88, Others, Help Save Two Children Lt. Col. Richard Mandeville ’88 was awarded the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office Lifesaving Award on Oct. 1 after he and two other men helped save two children from drowning in the Cherry Creek Reservoir near Denver. Mandeville was at the swimming beach with his son when he heard two women screaming and pointing toward the water. He ran to the commotion and saw a man carrying two 5-year-old boys from the water. They were both motionless. Mandeville helped administer CPR on both boys and after several minutes they began breathing on their own.

Northrop Grumman Announces the appointment of Douglas Raaberg ’78 Effective Oct. 14 Douglas Raaberg took on responsibility for coordinating the corporation’s relationship with the United Arab Emirates, supporting current programs

Benefits Expanded!

Increased access to USAFA Category “C” activities provides great options for graduates.

Your AOG has successfully worked with the USAFA 10th Air Base Wing on your behalf to grant USAFA graduates direct access to expanded areas and activities at the Air Force Academy.

On September 16th, 2013, the 10th ABW/CC, signed a memorandum entitled: “United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Alumni Category “C” activities.”

In the memorandum, USAFA graduates are designated as leaders in the Community of Alumni and their use of Category C MWR Activities is authorized. The memorandum provides that fees and charges will be at a higher rate than eligible active duty, retiree and DoD members.

Under Category “C,” the following areas and activities, which are administered by USAFA, will be eligible for graduate use: the Falcon Club; Eisenhower Golf Course; Bowling Center; Aero Club; FamCamp; and Farish Recreational Area.

“I strongly believe that if you graduated from the Academy, you should be warmly welcomed back to your alma mater,” says AOG President and CEO William “T” Thompson ’73 who, along with 10th Air Base Wing Commander Col. Stacey Hawkins ’91, was instrumental in facilitating the improved access. “Shouldn’t a grad who played on the golf team be able to come back and play the home course?

I give strong credit to our Academy leadership who understood this basic fact.”

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and developing strategies for growth. Raaberg was previously director, Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) campaign lead, within Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems sector and led a portfolio of business pursuits to develop, sustain and modernize BMC2 products. He was also responsible for leading business development efforts for the sector’s military aircraft systems including B-2, E-2D, F/A-18, F-35 and Joint STARS aircraft.

Gaillard Peck ’62 Inducted into Nevada Aviation Hall of Fame Gaillard Peck ’62 was inducted into the Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame on November 9th. This is a lifetime aviation achievement with major focus on a highly classified (at the time) training program Colonel Peck originated using actual Soviet jet fighters in Nevada as adversaries to train American aircrews for aerial combat.

Chaput ’12 Wins Bodybuilding Award Second Lieutenant Colby Chaput ’12 won the “Ms. Fitness” award at the Ms. Fitness Bodybuilding Competition that was held in San Antonio this past October. To compete at the Ms. Fitness competition, Chaput was required to perform a series of fitness routines. The former gymnast is currently a student pilot with the 47th Student Squadron at Laughlin Air Force Base.

Morrison ’13 Breaks Air Force Ironman Record Second Lieutenant Samantha Morrison ’13 finished first among women ages 18 to 24 at the 2013 Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. Her time of nine hours and 38 minutes destroyed the Air Force’s previous ironman record by almost an hour. Morrison was the third fastest woman in the world among nonprofessionals. She is currently serving as a deputy chief of public affairs at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina.

Randall ’10 Climbing Ladder of Chess World First Lt. Gordon Randall ’10 recently brought home four trophies from the U.S. Armed Forces Open Chess Championship, held at Ft. Eustis, Va., Oct. 12-14. Randall bested 34 top players to achieve a four-way tie for first place in the main event, a two-way tie for first place in the 10-minute blitz tournament, first place in the Bughouse team event, as well as earning the award for the best sacrifice move in the two-day tournament. The scores from this event pushed his ranking in the United States Chess Federation to “expert,” and placed him in the top 5 percent of all chess players in the USCF. Jodi L. Jordan/Air Force Culture and Language Center Outreach Team.

Falcon gear For

every occasion

AOG Members celebrate their 30th Reunion along the AOG’s Heritage Trail at Doolittle Hall. From left to right: Michael Bryant ’83 – Performance Pullover Hoodie, and wife, Heather – Pullover Hoodie-Royal Blue.

Rhonda – Ladies Nina Zipfront Sweatshirt, and 7258’ Collection “Bolt of Blue” handmade necklace from the blessings! Shades of Blue line and husband David Stischer ’83 – Performance Striped Golf Polo Shirt with Brown Bomber Style Jacket.

Chris Wiedenhoeft ‘83 – Men’s Eagle Brand Dress Shirt in Royal Blue

by Vansport and wife, Ruth – Ladies Button Front Sweatshirt with Cable Knit Lined Hood

shop.usafa.org AOG members receive 15% Off!

Not a member yet? visit www.usafa.org/membership to sign up today!

“Finally, I got on the computer and typed in three words: vomiting, vertigo, and headache. The first search result was ‘stroke.’”

The V lley of His Life After two frightening strokes in the span of a month, USAFA Men’s Tennis Coach, Lt. Col. Dan Oosterhous ’93, returns to duty while taking on his toughest opponent yet.

Written by David Bergeman “It was a match night,” remembers USAFA Men’s Tennis Coach, Lt. Col. Dan Oosterhous ’93. “We had a team meal, the locker room talk, warm ups, it was all very routine.”

The match progressed as planned. The Falcons were playing CSU Pueblo and the squad performed well according to Oosterhous, the Academy’s only active duty head coach. He drove home that night feeling fit as a freshly minted second lieutenant.

Rarely able to turn off the coaching switch, when Oosterhous got home he watched some match video before deciding to go to bed. It was the evening of February 28th. His first waking moments on March 1st would change his life forever.

Coach Oosterhous was stirred from his sleep around 2:00 a.m. by a splitting headache in the back right side of his skull and ferocious cramping in his neck.

“I thought to myself, ‘this feels funny.’ I tried to get up to go to the bathroom and I fell down. I got up and fell down, got up, fell down.”

The coach began vomiting and he had severe vertigo, but not once did he think that as a healthy

42-year-old he was having a stroke. However, that was exactly what he was experiencing. Unaware of the dire nature of his situation, Oosterhous tried to sleep it off, but as the night progressed he became more and more alarmed by his condition.

“Finally, I got on the computer and typed in three words: vomiting, vertigo, and headache,” says Oosterhous. “The first search result was ‘stroke.’”

Six hours into the stroke, Oosterhous arrived at the first of three hospitals he would visit during the ordeal. Four days later, after countless scans and tests, he learned that the stroke was triggered by the dissection of the right vertebral artery in the back of his neck. It was exacerbated by the fact that his artery was too small, a genetic flaw that had remained undetected his entire life.

On that fourth day, Oosterhous walked out of the hospital with a cane, a prescription for a bottle of aspirin and the confidence that his body would begin to heal. He was still weak on the right side of his body and he had impaired proprioception—if he held his arm above his head he couldn’t perceive where it was spatially. w

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The unflappable Oosterhous was happy to leave and begin his recovery. He planned to return to coaching after a month.

Dream Job From his seat, a desk in the team meeting room in the Cadet Gym, Coach Oosterhous points to a message that has been painted onto the hallway just outside. It reads: MEN’S TENNIS THE TEAM COMES FIRST ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING TENNIS REVEALS YOUR CHARACTER

“Twenty years ago my tennis coach here, Rich Gugat, had that message painted on the wall, attitude is everything,” says the fifth year head coach.

“At the point where my left side was becoming weaker than my right, I knew that I was in trouble.”

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“When I was a cadet I told Coach Gugat that it would be great if in 15 or 16 years I could be the one to replace him. It worked out that way and I feel like I’m living a dream.”

Oosterhous’ doctors were confounded as to how he had dissected the artery, which triggered a blood clot causing the stroke. They asked if he was in a car accident or had some sort of trauma, to which the answer was no.

Eventually, the tear was traced back to the job Oosterhous loves so much. Four weeks earlier the team was in Utah for a tournament. He remembered being on the court, coaching, and getting very “animated” when he felt like he pulled a muscle in his neck. Oosterhous tried to rehab the perceived injury but it never seemed to fully heal.

March 21 Oosterhous went to physical and occupational therapy three times a week after getting out of the hospital.

Rehab was going well and his goal to return to coaching was in sight. Then on March 21st Oosterhous woke up again at 2:00 a.m., this time with pain in the left side of his neck. He immediately called 9-1-1.

The symptoms weren’t as immediately severe this time but, unlike the first incident, this was an evolving stroke that got progressively worse over the course of 20 hours.

“This one was on my left side and here I’m still trying to recover my right side and now the left is going,” says Oosterhous. “At the point where my left side was becoming weaker than my right, I knew that I was in trouble. I knew then that it was going to be worse than the first one. That was very unsettling. I didn’t know what was going to happen.

I thought I’m probably not going to walk out of here. I’m going to be in a wheelchair. I was thinking about my kids, they are young and very active and I do a lot of things with them. I was thinking about my team and getting back to work.”

During those 20 hours, Oosterhous’ condition deteriorated to where he couldn’t move his entire left side, his speech was severely impaired and he was having trouble breathing. He was in the ICU for four days. On the second day, the hospital staff told Oosterhous he would leave walking. He didn’t believe them, but for the next four weeks he attacked his physical therapy with everything he had. He left the hospital under his own power with the help of a walker, ironically, one with two tennis balls providing him with traction.

Top: Lt. Col. Dan Oosterhous recovers in Memorial Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit March 24 with his children, Emma (left), Andrew and Anna (right), following his second stroke. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo). Bottom: Oosterhous rehabs in a hoist treadmill after his second stroke.

Top: Oosterhous maneuvers around the court in a wheelchair to meet a forehand shot during a 2013 Warrior Games tennis clinic held at the Academy on May 14. (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy). Bottom: Oosterhous at the commissioning of David Tipton ’13.

Goals and Perspective “I set a lot of goals in the hospital—some short term, some long term,” Oosterhous says. “The first goal was to coach in the conference tournament. The second was to keep a promise to commission two cadets, and not just to be there or do it in a walker, but to do it in my uniform, standing on my own.”

Oosterhous met his first goal by coaching the Falcons in the conference tournament against perennial power Boise State. He led the team from a wheelchair just a week after getting out of the hospital. A month later, he commissioned David Tipton ’13 and Lance Wilhelm ’13, walking under his own power.

“It meant a great deal to have him there,” says Tipton, who is currently a volunteer coach with

the team while awaiting pilot training. “He was a great mentor for me while I was at the Academy.

That was huge.”

When asked about his recovery and his challenges Oosterhous raises his left arm just a few inches at the shoulder. He says that he has no movement below his knee and it takes him about ten seconds to extend his fingers. Despite these daunting physical challenges, his will to get better can’t be questioned. He knows that a lot of people have been there for him during his entire journey, and they have been invaluable to his recovery.

Oosterhous gushes about the support of his entire department, the Athletic Director, Dr. Hans Mueh ’66, his assistant coach Jeff Nevolo who took on head coaching responsibilities for six months, and women’s tennis coach Kim Gidley who stepped in to fill holes during the summer. The list of those he thanks is very long.

Oosterhous is still going through physical and occupational therapy once a week and he works out at the Academy every day for two hours. He took part in a Warrior Games camp in Las Vegas recently and hopes to compete in the event next spring at the Academy, especially in swimming.

Oosterhous’ tenacious work ethic and unflappable outlook are having a tangible impact on the performance of his team. His coaching style and positive example have been paramount to the steady improvement the squad has seen since his return.

“I think he has a bigger emphasis on attitude and how that affects tennis and furthermore how it affects

“He’s not putting up with excuses nearly as much because he’s gone through so much himself.”

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Right: Oosterhous instructs C4C Nico Carpenter during a practice in October. Below: Oosterhous gives a presentation to the Brain and Behavior class in the Behavioral Science department at the Academy. One of his goals is to share his story with as many people as possible.

Do you think someone may be having a stroke?

Remember F.A.S.T.

F A S T 18

Face Drooping

Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?

Arm Weakness

Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

Speech Difficulty

Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?

Time to call 9-1-1

If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.

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–American Stroke Association

life,” says C2C Grant Taylor. “He tells us to stay positive in everything you do. Bad days happen, sometimes it is out of your control and sometimes it’s within your control. We’re in the military, so when you’re in a fight, bad stuff starts to happen that you can’t control. You have to adapt. Coach is a perfect example of that. He fought through so much just to be back on the court with us.”

Firstie Alex Grubbs agrees: “He’s not putting up with excuses nearly as much because he’s gone through so much himself. There is nothing we can complain about when you look at what he’s been through and he’s kept a positive attitude through it all. I have a huge amount of respect for him and his attitude toward everything. I’m not very easily inspired, I guess, but since he’s come back he’s been working and doing all of the right things. We can look up to him even more now, and we already loved coach.”

Oosterhous is currently working part time, but he met his objective of returning to be the head coach on August 8th. In September he accomplished one of the last long term goals he had set for himself: taking part in a road trip with the team to Milwaukee.

“I got back and I really don’t have any long-term goals left. I thought, ‘What do I do?’ I was a little afraid to make a new one,” he says. “Then it came out of the blue one day; a sophomore on the team came up to me and said, ‘Coach I want to play tennis with you again. We used to play all of the time.’ I used to be very competitive with my players. At that moment, I said, ‘Well, ok, that’s my goal. I’m going to play you again when you’re a senior.”

Last August, Oosterhous and his family took a trip to Keystone, where he bought an activities pass for go-karts, mini golf and rock climbing. His kids all completed the thirty-foot climb up the wall and after some prodding, they convinced dad he should give it a try.

“I remember looking to the top of the rock and thinking how would I get up there,” Oosterhous says. “There was a picture taken of me when I was about six inches off the ground and I’m looking up for my next move. I only made it up the wall about two feet, but I know where I want to end up—on top. I can’t get there now, but if you look just a step ahead eventually you will make it.”

That picture now hangs in the men’s tennis locker room. If there is any chance for that match to take place with his player in August of 2015, Lt. Col. Dan Oosterhous will make it happen—one step at a time.

From the left: Team Captain C1C Megan Haley, C1C Max Bierman and C1C Brandon Bannon.

Like a shark, she glides gracefully underwater before emerging at the surface, breaking into a breast stroke.

At the side of the pool, a small motorized tracker travels along at her pace, its underwater camera monitoring her progress and sending its video feed to the facility’s control room. Cadet Crow transitions fluidly into a backstroke, reaching the far wall of the pool. With a flip she pushes off and changes to a freestyle stroke, cutting through the water with ease, arriving back at the starting block in mere moments. Hardly phased by the lap, Crow takes off again at a more rigorous pace. Next, C2C Matthew Nicholas and C2C Laura Haggerty take their laps in front of the underwater camera. Afterwards, the cadets gather in the control room to watch their video feeds. To the layman, the underwater footage is nothing short of impressive, the athletes appearing to swim flawlessly. Coach Rodriguez discusses minor adjustments to their techniques, finite nuances for increasing power and reducing drag.

After the diagnosis, the cadets are back in the pool, the glassy sheet of water filled once more with turbulence as the triathletes cut through the lanes. While the majority of the athletes at the Olympic Center lay asleep in their beds, the cadets resume training.

PERSEVERANCE

Imagine jumping into a freezing lake and swimming 2.4 miles through choppy, wind-swept currents. Assuming you don’t drown, you must now pull yourself out of the water and transition onto your time trial bike for a 112 mile ride against ferocious head-winds. After your ride, it’s time for the final test, a full 26.2 mile marathon. Complete the entire 140.6 mile course in under 17 hours and you have the right to call yourself an Ironman finisher. Considering that the vast majority of Americans are completely exhausted after sitting at a desk for eight hours, it’s easy to see why triathletes are among the most elite human performance machines on the planet. For over a decade, the Air Force Academy has been producing these super humans at a record pace, including a staggering 105 Ironman finishers.

USA Triathlon is the governing body which oversees collegiate competition among universities in the United States, with the Academy racing under the Mountain Collegiate Triathlon Conference. With events all across the country, the sport has seen an explosion in popularity in recent years. 

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FASTER STRONGER FARTHER FALCON TRIATHLON

W R I T T E N A N D P H O T O G R A P H E D B Y L E W I S C A R LY L E

C2C

C2C Erin Crow clings to the side of the 50 meter pool inside the Olympic Training Center in downtown Colorado Springs. It is 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning, the water in the pool a perfect sheen of glass. With the exception of the three cadet triathletes and their coach, the facility is deserted. Cadet Crow listens intently as former AFA triathlon head coach and oic Lt. Col. (Ret.) Freddie Rodriguez gives a final set of instructions. She turns and braces for the start signal. Rodriguez gives the command and Crow launches off the pool wall.

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Above: C2C Erin Crow (rear), and C2C Laura Haggerty (front), practice at the Olympic Training Center.

Left: C2C Crow and C2C Jose Baez train on their time trial bikes.

“The ideal meal before a race,” he describes, “would be a large portion of chicken alfredo [1440 calories], a garden salad with dressing [150 calories], four breadsticks [640 calories], three glasses of water and one sports drink [80 calories].” Such a meal sums up to 2,310 calories. A race day breakfast adds another 1,200 calories, meaning that an athlete may have to consume as many as 4,000 calories during the race itself.

Racing competitively means juggling a delicate balance of nutrition, training and mental perseverance.

Luckily, these elements echo the academic, military and athletic training the cadets endure at the Academy.

Time management is everything, and every minute counts, both on and off the race course.

The Falcons cite Army and Navy as their biggest rivals. With Annapolis and West Point consistently finishing in the top five at Collegiate Nationals, the Air Force cadets have their sights set on dismantling the Army-Navy winning streak. Surpassing their sister academies will no doubt prove to be one of Air Force’s greatest challenges to date, especially considering the plethora of unforeseen problems which await contenders on race day.

“Another challenge in triathlon is the amount of things that can go wrong,” Bierman recounts. “The fog of war of triathlon is a nasty, multi-headed beast. You never know when or where the next issue is going to come up. Things like over-training can end a season and, in all honesty, are hard to identify, especially preemptively. Nutrition easily can go wrong on race day and if you don’t have enough electrolytes or take on too many calories too quickly your body can react in just the wrong way to ruin your chance at the performance you want. The mental aspect of triathlon is also just as critical. Overconfidence can cause you to go out too

fast and burn out before the finish line—conversely, a lack of confidence can cause you to hit the finish line knowing you could have given more. Finally, there are the mechanical issues that everyone is so familiar with.

Flat tires happen. I learned this harsh truth at the 2013 Collegiate Nationals in Tempe, Arizona last April.

On mile 23 of the bike leg (of the race of my career thus-far), I heard the gut-wrenching pffffft-tsssssss of my carbon race wheel losing air. I managed to hit the one rock on the course that was big enough to do some damage. I tried my best to fix the flat but I wasn’t able to patch the gash and my race was all but over.”

Despite dealing with their fair share of hardships over the years, the Falcons all share a deep admiration for the sport. The cadets recount their love of team camaraderie, traveling the country to compete in races and being a part of a greater community at large. “The nice thing about this sport is,” Bierman says, “while there are a lot of challenges presented by triathlon, the idea of belonging to and racing for the Academy Tri Team in itself is enough to overcome all of these obstacles. Whether it’s not wanting to wake up for morning practice, not wanting to ride my bike in the cold weather or running my bike for the last three miles of the ride in bare feet; knowing that there are people on the team who depend on me is more than enough to dwarf anything this sport can throw at me.”

As the cadets settle in to their winter training schedule, the thought of the 2014 Collegiate Nationals reside distantly on everyone’s minds. In the end, this sport is not about winning, it’s about teamwork, friendship and working together to overcome virtually impossible odds. Every ride, run and swim takes each cadet closer to achieving his or her own personal best, and every mile makes them stronger than the day before. 

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FALCON TRIATHLON The AFA Triathlon Team achieved Limited on Season status in 2010, and today cadets compete in some of the most challenging races in the nation.

This year, the team took sixth place at the Collegiate National Championships in Tempe, Arizona, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down. Recent graduate 2nd Lt. Samantha Morrison ’13 finished first in the women’s 18-24 age group at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii this year, shattering the previous best Air Force time by almost an hour.

The win secured her as the third-fastest woman in the world of non-professional athletes.

The life of a triathlete is comprised of endless training. As with many endurance sports, the Academy is ideally suited for such a lifestyle. The roads on base provide the perfect mixture of hills and straight stretches for both running and cycling. The swimming facilities are top notch and USAFA’s high elevation helps athletes to physiologically produce a richer than average red blood cell count, which is critical for carrying oxygen to the muscles during endurance races. But perhaps the most critical factor of all is the level of discipline and dedication the Academy instills in all of its cadets.

Triathlon is not a passive sport. It requires a full mental and physical commitment to successfully compete in the world’s most grueling endurance race.

“I would say that the toughest challenge as a triathlete is the constancy of the sport,” says C1C Max Bierman, one of the top cadet contenders in this year’s lineup. “The biggest pitfall is to do more of everything right now to get better. This approach works to an extent, but only for a certain amount of time.

I get burnt out after a certain point. It can eventually become a chore if we simply train harder and not smarter. A triathlete has to know when to step back and take some time off for mental and physical rest.”

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The physical demands of the sport require an inordinate amount of training, even for the casual triathlete seeking to merely finish races rather than place among the top contenders. Bierman lends insights into the Falcon routines during the regular season. “During our collegiate season—essentially September through April—we’ll ride 3,800 miles, run 700 miles and swim 160,000 yards (approximately 90 miles).”

Now for a little math. With the cadets covering just over 4,590 human-powered training miles, that’s enough to go from New York City to San Francisco, then from San Francisco to Colorado Springs and still have 350 miles to spare. Now add the freezing temperatures and wind-swept days of the average Academy winter and it’s easy to see how training for the world’s most challenging sport is a never-ending uphill battle.

“There are some days,” says team captain C1C Megan Haley, “when that alarm goes off at 5 a.m. for swim practice and dragging yourself out of bed to train seems impossible. It’s easy to say that one day will not affect your performance on race day, but what I have learned over the years is that one compromise like that will inevitably lead to another until you are skipping upwards of two practices a week, which will affect performance.

Fortunately, the more we workout, the easier it becomes.

Your body becomes accustomed to all the training and that’s where you start to see significant time drops and vast improvement.”

Burning through that many training miles during an average practice week requires a virtual marathon of eating just to keep up with caloric expenditures. Having an affinity for good food (and lots of it) is pretty much a prerequisite for the sport. Bierman explains that a triathlete will go through as many as 10,000 calories during an Ironman race.

FALCON TRIATHLON

Legacies Many graduates of the Academy who competed on the Falcon Triathlon Team are still involved with the sport today. Their memories as USAFA athletes serve as inspiration to the cadets who now follow in their footsteps, swim wakes and bike tracks. Several former team members took the time to recount their favorite experiences as cadets, and how the sport impacted their lives for the better. The challenges they overcame paved the way for the current team’s Limited on Season status and outstanding success on the national circuit.

The support that these graduates have given back to the team is unparalleled. Many have hosted cadets at their homes during events, traveled across the nation hauling bicycles and supplies, and even raced along side these future officers. From the humble origins of the Academy’s triathlon club to the national powerhouse it has become, the following accounts represent a colorful cross section of trips down memory lane.

Editor’s Note – Checkpoints would like to send out a special thanks to the team’s current OIC, Lt. Col. John Christ, for carrying the torch in a long line of devoted coaches. We would also like to thank Lt. Col. (Ret.) Freddie Rodriguez and Col. (Ret.) Bob Eskridge ’77, who served as coaches and mentors to many of the athletes represented in this article. This story would not have happened without their dedication to the sport of triathlon and to their cadets.

Interested in learning more? Please contact Freddie Rodriguez at: Freddie.L.Rodriguez@gmail.com

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Col. James “Bolter” Thompson ’94, 49th Wing Vice Commander. Holloman AFB, NM

In 1993 and 1994, the entire Tri Team at USAFA, then built from about seven people to 30 people, all stayed in my house in Phoenix, Arizona, while we competed in the Bud Light Triathlon Series Championship in Goodyear. Our CIC at the time, Stephen Goodman ’94 (now an AFSOC graduated SQ/CC) ended up in the top three on the podium. It was a great time with 30 plus people in tents at my house with a USAFA bus parked out front! Later, during my triathlon years as an AOIC, I was most proud at the first ever Lindsay Brown Triathlon in 2008. Then C1C Doug Zschoche (now 1LT) proposed the idea, and we researched, planned, and produced one of the most successful triathlons at USAFA. It was a huge success, and has carried on since. Going to the Ironman AZ and WI were both amazing events as well. After watching me finish IMAZ, my wife decided she was going to do one, and set her sights on IMWI. So, with 13 cadets, she and I swam, biked, and ran together for 14.5 hours and finished IMWI holding hands across the finish line! And every one of the cadets that started that day finished the race as well. What an incredible experience! Hauling the team’s bicycles all over the country for races was a great time for our family.

Susan Keely ’04

I am proud of the tradition that we started back in 2002 when a small number of cadets got together to resurrect the club. I am continually impressed with the growth and success of the team today. My fondest memories include after school workouts in the Colorado snow and watching cadets and faculty of all ages become interested in the sport. Another fond memory was our Saturday morning runs followed by a Michael-Phelps-worthy meal at one of many local breakfast hangouts (cadet triathletes can eat)! I attended training camps during my junior and senior year spring break where I developed some great friendships that last today. Most notably I met my husband, Capt Prichard Keely ‘04 and we were married in 2007. Finally, I will always remember representing the Academy and the Air Force in Ironman Wisconsin 2003. The support we received from the Wisconsin parents association and the bond made between my fellow cadet competitors solidified the triathlon family tradition and is the reason that I still keep in contact with them today.

Lt. Tyler Boyd ’10

Col. Rodriguez and the other officers set up a great atmosphere for us to learn as cadets. They very easily could’ve run the team and organized everything for us, but instead they put many team issues in our hands to work through. They were always there to guide us, but they let us make decisions for the direction of the team. And while we always had an Active Duty military representative in charge of our trips, often times it was one of us cadets working the transportation and lodging issues. We were also the ones responsible for making sure all interested cadets got signed up for the races they wanted to participate in, so a lot of the coordination was on us. Learning to handle the unexpected ourselves and overcome obstacles was a critical educational development for becoming better officers. I am still active in the sport today. I started training and racing again after PCSing to McChord AFB, and was even able to race at IM Coeur d’Alene this last summer. I’m only a casual participator compared to fellow Academy Tri Alum Lt. Samantha Morrison ’13 who finished as the third fastest amateur female at IM World Championships in Hawaii.

Lt. Dave Zitelli ’11

My best memories of being a member of the Tri Team involved the camaraderie with the other athletes. We spent an inordinate amount of time together working out, taking road trips and socializing outside of the Academy.

Many of us keep in touch to this day. The sport improved my concept of self discipline and time management because of the challenge of keeping up with coursework and team workouts and administrative duties (we were in charge of our team’s logistical operations). The most valuable lesson learned was to hang in there when the going got tough. I learned that if I could compete in an Ironman, then I could rise to other challenges as well. During primary flight training, I injured myself, was unable to fly for three months and had difficulty getting back into the training mind set once I recovered. But I drew on my experience with triathlon and told myself that this was just another challenge that could be overcome with a little bit of grit.

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December 2013

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A Vignette in

Black and Blue The “Hooks” Jones Story

By Fletcher H. “Flash” Wiley ’65 During a Zone of Interior field trip in the summer of 1962, five of the Air Force Academy’s first African-American cadets learned a valuable lesson from Tuskegee Airman, Colonel Hubert L. “Hooks” Jones.

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O

ver the years, people around the nation have asked me what was it like to be a black cadet at the Air Force Academy; and they are right to do so since the experience at the time—forged in the midst of racial segregation and the Civil Rights Movement—was foreign to anything within my experience or culture.

The situation certainly spawned a number of “interesting circumstances”; and none was more bizarre and instructive than the “Hooks Jones Story.”

The story begins in June just after the graduation of the Class of 1962. The new first classmen from 1963 (which contained the first three blacks at the Academy) were preparing to train the incoming Class of ’66; the second classmen from 1964 (which contained one black) were preparing to go to Europe, Asia, and AustraliaNew Zealand on their overseas field trip; and my Class of ’65 (which had five blacks remaining from the original six)— freshly free from its year-long shackles as doolies—was preparing for the Zone of Interior (“ZI”) field trip. The purpose of the six-week-long ZI was to give our class exposure to the operational U.S. armed forces with a week with the Navy, a week with the Army, and the rest of the time visiting Air Force units. While the trip was designed to be very interesting and motivational, at the time it began, we had already been away from home (including Christmas) for almost a year; and that understandable longing to get back to loved ones sometimes overshadowed the excitement of the adventure.

Because we were the largest Academy class up to that point, the ZI planners divided us into two 350-man contingencies—each of which were further broken down when necessary into smaller and more manageable groups. Group A (made-up of cadets from Squadrons 1-12) included two blacks, Bentley Plummer and Charlie Thomas; and Group B (which included cadets from Squadrons 13-24)

“The major and his colleagues had blanched at the thought of 700 southern belles attending an integrated dance on-post” had three blacks, including Robert Stroud, Arthur Beamon, and myself. We had become brothers over the year; and, unlike our four predecessors, we sought out each other’s company and “hung out” together on a regular basis. The common culture, challenges, and quest of our people that we shared formed an unbreakable bond; and when we had any time off to relax, we generally spent it with each other—listening to R&B music, dissecting relationships with girlfriends, complaining about upperclassmen, and sharing career dreams. We all had mixed feelings as we embraced the first-rate learning conditions at the Academy while our black collegiate counterparts were being vilified, spat upon, and worse at student-inspired sit-ins around the country.

America was a different place then.

The U.S. Civil War had not yet been over for 100 years; and in many places in the country, the social issues over which the States bitterly battled had not yet been put to rest. Indeed, separate facilities for the races were the norm throughout the South; and discrimination and vituperation against the colored folks (as we were called back then when the “caller” was trying to be civil) were freely and openly displayed—biting exclamations to the hypocritically insidious American apartheid governing the nation. Although we black cadets lived, worked, played, and prayed well outside of Dixie, the putrid malaise of racism permeated well beyond the Mason-Dixon Line. Still, while at or associated with the Academy, our blackness was generally melded into the all-encompassing blue of the Cadet Wing.

Thinking that nothing sinister or dangerous lay before us on our ZI trip—

as long as we stayed on-base (because a number of key military installations were located in the South )—I was somewhat surprised by the visit I received one afternoon before we departed by one of the Air Force officers who would be accompanying and supervising us. A major, he was the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of 21st Squadron; and apparently, as he and his colleagues meticulously planned our routes and routines, they learned that when the two groups of touring 65ers made their customary, week-long concurrent appearance with the Army at Ft. Benning in Georgia, the post would host a semi-formal, July 4th weekend dance for the visiting cadets. As per usual, the young women for these affairs were invited from the local community; and the major and his colleagues had blanched at the thought of 700 southern belles attending an integrated dance on-post—not because they thought it was wrong, but because they did not want to offend the local populace.

Accordingly, the major and his colleagues approached me with the idea—a request really—that so as to not put the Academy, Ft. Benning, and my white classmates in an embarrassing position, my black classmates and I would not attend the dance. Somewhat stunned by the request, I nevertheless kept my composure and told the major that I would talk the matter over with my classmates and get back to him.

I chuckled to myself as I called a “meeting of the Brethren.” I explained the major’s “request” to the group; and we all laughed. The fact was that, just like most cadets, we hated going to those dances anyway! The genre was not of our black culture; and many whites felt the dances were a bit stodgy and archaic too. First of

Previous page: pictured from left: Charlie Thomas ’65, Robert Stroud, Colonel Hubert L. “Hooks” Jones, Bentley Plummer ’65, and Fletcher H. “Flash” Wiley ’65. Not pictured is Arthur Beamon ’65.

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feature

all, the music they played was straight out of the 1930s and ’40s; and the old music was compatible with the “old dances” that they taught us at USAFA like the foxtrot and the waltz. We, on the other hand, were doing the Twist, the ChaCha, the Bop, the Horse, the Watusi, the Swim, and the ever-popular Slow-Drag.

Aside from the dances and the music, the “dates” procured for cadets at these dances were obviously not always selected for their grace or beauty. Indeed—and I am ashamed to say this now—but at each dance, awards would be made to the cadet having the ugliest date. (I have often wondered whether the girls had such a pool too, because even a cadet uniform can’t hide everything!)

One of the more enterprising members of our group suggested that if we’re going to give up going to the dance, then we ought to get something out of it. Again, we laughed, because not going to the dance was reward enough! But we eventually came around to his way of thinking; and then Bentley suggested that we all get the weekend off and go home with him to Tuskegee—a mere 50 miles away. Not anxious to get off the military installation and delve any further into the Deep South,

I was not at all sanguine about the idea.

However, Bentley insisted that we could party hard over the weekend with good soul food and music—and, there would be girls—his girlfriend for one. Since we had not yet been home after 12 hard months at the Air Force Academy—and since we had an opportunity to get at least one of us home—we all agreed to the plan; and I was sent back to the major to cut the deal.

He carefully listened to my request for an “accommodation,” my leverage argu-

“Our people have been struggling for years for equality in the military and elsewhere; and the Academy and the Air Force has to be made to stand-up for the principle that all cadets, no matter their color or creed, are an integral part of the Cadet Wing.”

ment being that not only would we not go to the dance, but we would also not be on-post during the dance—thereby avoiding an embarrassing situation. He liked the idea, and took the matter up with his superiors. Our proposal was approved; and we were asked to be discrete in discussing the arrangement with our classmates. They didn’t want everyone asking for the special deal of skipping the dance and/or going home early.

Off we went on our ZI excursion; and three weeks into the trip, both cohorts of the Class of ’65 arrived at Ft. Benning in Columbus, Georgia. After an exciting week “playing war” with the Army, Friday came, and so did Mrs. Plummer to whisk us away in a station wagon on our weekend to Tuskegee, Alabama. Of course, our supervising Air Force officers knew what the deal was; and necessity required us to share the facts with some of our classmates too who were answerable for our presence.

Indeed, it didn’t take long for the word to get around that “Hey, the black guys are

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getting the weekend off, and they don’t have to come to the dance!” The reaction of most of my white classmates that I talked to was how rotten it was that we were being made to miss a Class Function because of racial segregation—even the guys from the South said so, though they understood more than most the turmoil that would be caused by our presence.

For the most part, we were envied for (1) getting away to someone’s home before the rest of the Class could do it, (2) having the weekend off with music, partying, and home cooking, and (3) most of all, missing a dance. (By that time, we had already been “treated” to two of them.)

Before we left the post, we made sure to go to the bathroom so that we wouldn’t have to stop at an unfriendly, segregated facility while on the road. As we headed down the two-lane highway and passed the no-interior-plumbing wooden hovels, the shantytowns, and cotton fields along the road, my misgivings about travelling in the Deep South resurfaced. I thought about the lynchings, the violence, the backwardness, and the danger enshrouding Dixieland; and I had second and third thoughts about leaving the safety of the post behind. Luckily, I also thought about Tuskegee as the home of Tuskegee Institute, Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, and the renowned Tuskegee Airmen—heroes to blacks across the nation, and exemplars to black cadets at the service academies. Those thoughts made the ride easier; and after an hour, we pulled into town.

It was small, Southern, and rural—particularly the black side of town where we were headed. I could not imagine having a good time in this place. But just then, Mrs. Plummer pulled-up in front of a friend’s home; and there—on the front porch—chit-chatting about the events of the day—were five of the most beautiful young women I have ever seen in one place at one time. I couldn’t believe such pulchritude was available in this hick town! We bounded out of the car, made ourselves known, and conviviated a bit; and then Mrs. Plummer gathered us up to resume the trip to her home where we were staying. The young ladies said that they would see us later at the party. (Oh, Boy!) Bentley said don’t worry about leav-

ing them—there were plenty more where they came from. And man was he right!

The people of Tuskegee could not have been more welcoming and hospitable.

Many of them were around when the Tuskegee Airmen were in-training there; and to them, we represented a new generation of accomplished black air cadets.

Our uniforms and our military bearing evoked fond memories in the old folks and sparked new flames of adoration and respect in the younger ones. I don’t mind telling you that we enjoyed the notoriety immensely as we went from house to house to meet and pay respect to the town’s black leadership. We all stayed with Mrs. Plummer; and we visited with folks, ate, and partied that Friday night, and looked forward to our weekend of fun.

Saturday morning was reserved for sightseeing and visiting; and one of the last stops was the home of Col. Hubert L. “Hooks” Jones, the Professor of Air Science at Tuskegee Institute. “Hooks” a former Tuskegee Airman who had stayed in the Air Force at the end of World War II was a local legend in his own right; and his warm welcome and beaming smile when we met bespoke of the immense pride and respect he felt towards us as we carried forth his legacy. He entertained and mesmerized us with stories of his military career—the planes he flew, the battles he fought, and the men he knew. We were well into the rousing conversation when he asked how we happened to be in Tuskegee. Then, with great satisfaction in our own cleverness, I related the entire story of how the Major had requested that we not come to the dance, and we had leveraged that plea into a weekend in Tuskegee with partying, food, music, and all of the pretty girls! We could not have been more self-satisfied with our wisdom and good fortune.

Suddenly, the smile left Hooks’ face as he stood-up in our midst and calmly said “Gentlemen, you have to go back to Fort Benning and attend that dance!” At first, I thought he was kidding; and I laughed at the joke as I replied, “Sir, I don’t think you understand. We hate going to those dances; and we were extremely fortunate to get out of this one. Besides, the major was right: Our presence at the dance would not be greeted happily by the City Fathers of Columbus, Georgia; and we would put the

base commanders, the Army, and the Air Force in an embarrassing position.” Hooks then replied, “Son, don’t you see? Our people have been struggling for years for equality in the military and elsewhere; and the Academy and the Air Force have to be made to stand-up for the principle that all cadets, no matter their color or creed, are an integral part of the Cadet Wing—an inseparable part of the whole. If some cadets can’t go to the dance, then none of them can go. We all must stick together!”

Feeling my resolve weaken in the face of his infallible logic, I nevertheless countered by saying “Sir, I cut the deal with the major and gave him my word—our word.

I don’t want to be in the position of having now accepted the fruits of our bargain (i.e., the weekend in Tuskegee), and then later reneging on my part. He would be forever angry at us and make our lives back at the Academy miserable.” Hooks, a “bird colonel,” immediately replied, “Don’t you guys worry about a thing. I’ll take care of the major; and I’ll tell him that I ordered you to go to the dance—which I do!”

Hooks not only agreed to drive us to the dance, but to also help us obtain dates from among the damsels in Tuskegee. Being the pillar of the community that he was—and explaining the pointmaking situation as he did—it was not long before he had the cadres of beauties needed with semi-formal gowns in tow to provide each and every one of us with a date. We all piled into Hooks’ big station wagon, taking care not to muss the girls’ dresses; and I must admit that the close proximity with these gorgeously clad, perfumed misses made the trip to Ft. Benning less foreboding.

Hooks was resplendent as well in his beige, be-medaled, officer’s uniform with the pilot’s wings on front and the colonel’s eagles on his shoulders. He was a tall, moderately tan, imposing man with straight black hair, and an aquiline nose from which he derived his famous nickname. Although his demeanor was warm and nurturing when he was with us, there was nevertheless the air of confident authority when he wished to emphasize his point. As we drove past the guard post and to the building where the formal was being held, we could hear the music and see a few of our classmates and their dates

outside. Hooks stopped the car, got out, and asked us to start unloading. While our classmates seemed unfazed by our presence and genuinely glad to see us, their dates did not appear to be quite so enamored.

Someone must have gone to get the major; and he came outside to see what the commotion was all about. As soon as he saw us, he approached me with anger and concern and said, “What are YOU doing here? I thought we had a deal!” Just then, Hooks interposed himself between the major and me and said, “It’s not his fault, major. I ordered them to come!” It was only then that the red-faced Major noticed the tan-faced colonel and apologized to him as he pointed to us: “Sir, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you; and I don’t have any personal objections to their attendance here.

But we’re guests of the Army; and we’re trying to get along with the customs of the local host population here in Columbus.”

Hooks then pulled the major aside and firmly said, ”Major, these men are part of the Air Force Academy Cadet Wing; and we—the Air Force—have taught them that the Wing and their fellow comradesin-arms work, play, and fight together. If some members of USAFA ’65 can’t come to the party, then none of them can come!

Now, let’s go in.”

In we walked—tall, straight, and proud—just like Hooks, who led the way. People gawked at us—especially a few Georgia belles and some of the Army officers in attendance. We were warmly greeted by our classmates; and they graciously introduced us to their dates for the evening. Their ladies were equally gracious; and I don’t remember any type of incident ensuing from our presence.

Later on that weekend, as our classmates congratulated us for coming and suffering through the dance with the rest of the class, they said something that we all knew was true: WE had the classiest and bestlooking girls there! And as far as I know, there was never any mention at the Air Force Academy of segregating cadets on a racial basis ever again.

Thank you, Hooks, for the lesson, the logistical support, the love—and the legacy!

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the endowment

3 ’7 The Illustrious Class of

Written by Ahn Tillery

Advancing NCLS at the Academy

The “Illustrious” Class of ’73 has made its mark in the world and our nation through the contributions of members like Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III, the heroic pilot of U.S. Airways Flight 1549, and General (Ret.) Norton A. Schwartz, the 19th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. However, it may become known as the “Industrious” Class of ’73 at the U.S. Air Force Academy, with its next achievement: an historic $1.5 million gift in support of the National Character and Leadership Symposium (NCLS). As a result of its ambitious peer-to-peer fundraising efforts, the Class of ’73 has established itself as the “Flagship Sponsor” of NCLS. It all began over a decade ago, in 2003, when the class gift committee sat down to discuss plans for its 30th reunion class gift to the Academy. After reviewing a list of the Academy’s unfunded needs, the committee came to a realization: many of the projects involved infrastructure or building updates, and the Class of ’73 had already donated toward similar endeavors in the past. While debating the merits of various projects Col. (Ret.) William “Trapper” Carpenter first suggested supporting NCLS, the Academy’s annual conference that

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directly promotes its core mission of developing “officers of character,” which the class later approved.

In 2003, NCLS was a fledgling program, only available to a select few cadets. Senior staff at the Academy and the Center for Character and Leadership Development, recognizing the importance and potential of this character-building forum, were intent on expanding the program, but the limitations of federal funding worked against their aspirations.

The suggestion to fund NCLS ignited a passion among the class committee members, perfectly encapsulating their desire to provide a gift that would keep giving and encourage others to do the same. Over the next ten years, the Class of ’73 raised $630,000 which provided financial support to NCLS, enabling it to grow into a two-day, national-level event attended by all cadets, with support from the Center for Character and Leadership Development and all mission elements at the Academy. Today, NCLS is the premier event that brings together distinguished scholars, military leaders, corporate presidents, and world-class athletes from around the nation to meet with USAFA cadets and faculty to explore a character-related theme. Survey feedback collected from cadet attendees indicated an overwhelmingly positive response to the program, ranking at 90 percent and above across every metric.

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This confirmation of NCLS’s enormous potential to inspire cadets fueled the Class of 1973’s determination to continue funding the program.

The turning point came in 2011 when the class committee met with staff from the USAFA Endowment, the fundraising nonprofit at the Academy led by General (Ret.) Stephen Lorenz ’73. With the support of Endowment staff, the class committee decided to create a $1.5 million endowment that would fund NCLS in perpetuity, shifting their financial commitment from smaller 5-year gifts to a gift that would last for the life of the NCLS program. The Endowment and the Association of Graduates (led by a ’73 grad, Mr. William “T” Thompson) helped the class committee develop and implement a comprehensive two-year fundraising campaign. By fall 2013, over $833,000 had been pledged.

The 1973 Class Reunion this past September provided another critical opportunity. With the opportunity to appeal directly to 400 classmates and family members about their gift campaign, the Class of ’73 added over $450,000 in two days, increasing total commitments to $1,316,285 from more than 190 donors.

In light of this achievement, Colonel (Ret.) Robert Munson ’73, a member of the class gift committee, reflects, “What enabled this project to be so successful is our unity as a class and our commitment to peerto-peer fundraising, all in support of a cadet program that inspires passion. NCLS is so exciting, and it has a profound effect on anyone who participates. For example, some spouses of classmates attended and were so fired up, they joined our gift committee meetings and actively, vocally, encouraged others to give. The wives didn’t refer to it as ‘my husband’s class gift’ but rather ‘our class gift.’ We work to support NCLS, and, in turn, NCLS inspires people to offer their support.”

In a recent letter to fellow committee members, Captain Sullenberger eloquently expressed the class’ vision

If you would like to learn more about the Class of 1973 project to fund NCLS in perpetuity you can visit the class gift web site at http://73classgift.org or call the USAFA Endowment at (719)472-0300, ext. 222.

From left: Members of the Class of 1973, AOG Board of Directors Secretary Bob Munson ’73, Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger ’73, John Muse ’73, President and CEO of the USAFA Endowment Gen. (Ret.) Stephen Lorenz ’73, former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. (Ret.) Norton Schwartz ’73, and AOG President and CEO William “T” Thompson ’73 present a check from the class to the USAFA Endowment in support of the NCLS. Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson ’81 was on hand to represent the institution.

for the gift, stating, “Instead of purchasing bronze or stone, we are helping to build living monuments that will graduate and serve our nation, while inspiring those they lead with the steel of their character.”

As the fundraising campaign draws to an end on December 31, 2013, the Class of ’73 is steadily working to reach their $1.5 million goal, for a total legacy exceeding $2.1 million. Due to their efforts, any classmate can contribute in support of NCLS—whether now or years in the future— because the Industrious Class of ’73 has helped establish a permanent home for their favorite program at the Academy.

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In 2011, the AOG and Blanchard Family Wines created the Long Blue Line Wines to pay tribute to the Academy and provide our graduates a product they can be proud to share with their family and friends. The wine’s inaugural release was a great success having been served at the USAFA Founders Day dinner, Air Force Balls, Parent’s Club events, and numerous classmate gatherings. Sold all across the country, including the USAFA Class VI store, the first vintage sold out in 9 months and we are now happy to release our third offering of collector bottles.

These top quality wines make great gifts for your graduation, promotion, retirement, or other celebration and once these custom labels are sold out, they will not be used again.

About Blanchard Family Wines Winery owner James Blanchard is a 1998 graduate of the Air Force Academy. After a career flying both fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, James returned to USAFA to teach in the Department of Management and serve as Air Officer Commanding of Cadet Squadron 15. After starting his winery it was one of his desires to create a series of military tribute wines to give back, if even in a small way. This is the third military creation

by Blanchard Family Wines, following the Red Scarf Blend and the Air Commando Association wines with a portion of sales going to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and the Air Commando Association respectively. 20% of the sales of the Long Blue Line wines will be paid back to the Association of Graduates.

james@blanchardfamilywines.com www.blanchardfamilywines.com/USAFA

Advancing Character and Leadership Development: Distinguished Graduate Endows the Journal of Character and Leadership Integration

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ast year, the U.S. Air Force Academy started construction on one of its most ambitious endeavors to date, the new home for the Center for Character and Leadership Development, and this year, another critical piece of infrastructure for the advancement of character and leadership development at the Academy has been put into place. As an element of a $3.5 million gift to the CCLD, Mr. Max James ’64 has made a generous $1.5 million contribution to underwrite the enhancement and relaunch of CCLD’s Journal of Character and Leadership Integration (JCLI). As part of that effort, the new editor-in-chief for the JCLI, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Christopher Miller ’80 returns to his alma mater as the new principal architect of the CCLD’s flagship publication, ready to guide the next stage of growth in the CCLD’s and the Academy’s core mission.

General Miller’s Air Force career spans almost 33 years of service. After graduating from the Air Force Academy with honors, he earned a master’s degree in international relations as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University and graduated at the top of his class at the College of Naval Command and Staff. Operationally, he was a T-38 instructor, had long flight and command experience with the B-1, and commanded both the B-2 wing at Whiteman and all Air Force

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units in Afghanistan. He also served as a planner at HQ USAF, Director of Assignments at the Air Force Personnel Center, policy advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to NATO, as a Military Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and as USNORTHCOM and NORAD J5—culminating with his most recent assignment as Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Programs, leading Air Force long-range planning and resourcing. “With his depth of knowledge and experience, General Miller embodies intellectual leadership and is widely regarded as a brilliant, strategic thinker who is capable of agilely adapting to the intellectual requirements of the dynamic world in which we live,” says Dr. Ervin Rokke ’62, the CCLD Senior Scholar. “He is the ideal individual for promoting a new level of dialogue for the CCLD and ensuring excellence for the JCLI. The Academy is incredibly fortunate in adding him to our team.”

Ensuring excellence at the journal is no simple undertaking. When the first issue of the JCLI was published in December 2009, it introduced an unprecedented new field of study to the public: the integration of character and leadership development as a single discipline. While there are copious amounts of existing literature focused on either character or leadership development, the JCLI is the only publication dedicated to exploring the fusion of the two. In many ways, it is the natural product of decades of ongoing character and leadership develop-

ment work at the Academy. “While we are striving to raise awareness of the CCLD and its work, we want to make it clear that it is not the ‘place’ where character and leadership happens at the Academy,” says General Miller. “The entire Academy itself exists to do character and leadership development. The CCLD is simply a catalyst to help make that happen, and the JCLI is a tool that the CCLD will use to help facilitate and elevate that development and provide people with valuable intellectual resources.”

If all goes to plan, the JCLI may become the world’s principal forum for comprehensive practical and scholarly discourse on the intersection—and conscious integration—of character and leadership development.

To achieve this, the journal will expand beyond its current audience of the Air Force and the Academy community, to engage other researchers, experts and practitioners. “We envision the JCLI as a real-time, real-world forum, fostering a high-quality discussion among scholars and people on the front lines,” says General Miller. “It will include scholarly research from the CCLD; discussions by our cadets, graduates, and military practitioners in the field; and eventually, input from a broad range of academic, civilian and corporate thought leaders. It is an iterative process, and as we move forward, we are figuring out how to balance rigorous scholarship with an accessible, practitionerbased focus and implementation. We are working with CCLD and Academy staff in an effort to create a thriving dialogue about character and leadership development and to inspire others to participate. Ideally, someday, we will reach tens of thousands of important readers around the world.”

Widespread worldwide readership is a formidable goal—one motivated by a pressing need. As General Miller explains, “The impetus behind the JCLI is the conviction that the complex demands of leadership in today’s profession of arms make it imperative that we examine the relationship between developing character and exercising leadership. Our success as an Air Force will have a direct impact on the security of our nation.

Whether it’s operating space assets, cyber, air dominance, airlift or strike, or assisting with reconstruction, our airmen are deeply involved in an amazing range of activities. In these resource-constrained times, we are going to have to think our way through these issues, and we must continue to produce officers of

character who can not only exercise that character in the traditional sense, but who can sort out the ethical and leadership challenges involved in the dynamic and often unpredictable environment we’re living in.”

The person behind the creation of the Editorin-Chief position (and one of the principals in creating the iconic vision for the CCLD itself ), Mr. Max James, is in complete agreement with General Miller’s assessment. “My passion is to see the CCLD occupied by dedicated researchers and instructors committed to determining the best methods for character and leadership advancement,” he says. “Creating a top-level journal that is recognized for the quality and applicability of its articles, and respected for its authors’ works, will provide a venue for sharing those methods with great minds from the international community, creating positive change in the way modern character and leadership is developed. Accomplishing such a feat of journalism requires one critical factor: an outstanding Editor-in-Chief. Our current and future generations of cadets must be prepared to lead in a changing world, which is why I felt it was critical to fund this gift now.”

Mr. James’ generous gift and the establishment of the Editor-in-Chief role has created momentum for character and leadership development at the Academy—momentum that will continue to be driven by an increasingly engaged community of graduates.

“Max James’ contributions are not only a reflection of a great individual; they reflect the stake that the graduate community has in sharing their successes with current cadets and investing in future leadership for our nation,” says General Miller. “Their contributions--through offering their financial support, their time and over 50 years of expertise in leading both inside and outside the military—are an expression of character and leadership that will propel the next generation. Seeing them give back to our institution inspires me to give back through my efforts at the JCLI. I am excited to work with the CCLD, the Academy and our growing community of supporters—we’re going to accomplish great things to empower our future leaders.”

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To learn more about supporting the JCLI and the CCLD, please contact jcli@usafa.edu.

Creating a top-level journal that is recognized for the quality and applicability of its articles, and respected for its authors’ works, will provide a venue for sharing those methods with great minds from the international community, creating positive change in the way modern character and leadership is developed.

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graduate profile

Playoff Pioneer

A conversation with new College Football Playoff Selection Committee member Mike Gould ’76.

Interview by David Bergeman

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ormer Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Gould ’76 has already found a great way to stay busy after retirement: in October he was named to the 13-member College Football Playoff Selection Committee joining Nebraska coaching legend Tom Osborne, Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez, College Football Hall of Famer (and father of quarterbacks) Archie Manning and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Beginning in 2014, the committee, which includes coaches, players, athletic directors, administrators and a journalist, will be responsible for selecting which four teams will participate in college football’s two-round national championship playoff along with choosing the matchups for four other premier bowl games.

Last spring, each Football Bowl Series conference commissioner was invited to submit the names of up to 15 candidates to the College Football Playoff Management Committee. The initial list of over 100 names was pared down and then Bill Hancock, the executive director of the College Football Playoff, began contacting prospective members to gauge their interest in serving.

Since the FBS postseason format change was announced in June 2012, there has been a lot discussion about the desired makeup of the committee. The inclusion of Gould and Rice came as a surprise to many pundits. The move was both praised and criticized nationally; some talking heads are wary of the duos’ perceived lack of “hands-on” experience in the game while others are encouraged by the integrity they’ll bring to the process.

Gould, who was nominated by Mountain West Conference Commissioner Craig Thompson, played defensive back for the Falcons (1972-76). From 1981-85 he served as the prep school head coach and the assistant coach for quarterbacks and fullbacks under Fisher DeBerry.

“We wanted people of the highest integrity for this committee, and we got them. Every one of them has vast football knowledge, excellent judgment, dedication and love for this game,” said Hancock. “They will no doubt have one of the hardest jobs in sports.

But their skills and wide variety of experiences from coaches and athletes to university leaders and journalists will ensure that they will be successful. And they are committed to investing the time and effort necessary for this endeavor. We are grateful that they will be serving this terrific game of college football.”

Unlike the 15-year-old Bowl Championship Series which uses a formula based on a combination of computer rankings and human polls to choose teams, selection committee members for the new playoff will have flexibility to examine whatever data they believe is relevant to inform their decisions. Win-loss record, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and conference championships won are just a few of the factors the committee will consider in the process.

When Air Force returns to the elite of college football (soon), Gould would recuse himself from conversation about the team, as would other committee members with a direct association to a team that is being discussed. The first College Playoff Football Championship will take place on January 12th, 2015 at AT&T

College Football Playoff selection committee Barry Alvarez, director of athletics, Wisconsin Mike Gould, former superintendent of the Air Force Academy Pat Haden, director of athletics, USC Tom Jernstedt, former NCAA executive vice president Jeff Long, vice chancellor and director of athletics, Arkansas Oliver Luck, director of athletics, West Virginia Archie Manning, former Mississippi quarterback and all-pro NFL quarterback Tom Osborne, former head coach and director of athletics, Nebraska Dan Radakovich, director of athletics, Clemson Condoleezza Rice, Stanford professor, former Stanford provost and former Secretary of State Mike Tranghese, former commissioner of the Big East Conference Steve Wieberg, former college football reporter, USA Today Tyrone Willingham, former head coach

Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The new system will be in place for at least the next 12 years; Gould’s term on the committee will expire in February 2016.

Q&A with Mike Gould CP: When you first found out you were nominated for the Playoff Selection Committee what were your initial thoughts and what was your reaction to being chosen as a member?

MG: Craig Thompson called me about the time that the news had come out that there was going to be a playoff and that there was going to be a committee put together to determine who the playoff teams would be. He said not to get too excited about it because it was a long shot.

They went through a gradual vetting process with several iterations and every once in a while Craig would drop a note or see me and say, “You’re still in the running,” and then I got the call from Bill Hancock a month or two ago that I was selected if I was willing to do it. They had to couch the offers that way because there is a whole lot of work involved in this. It’s all volunteer work on our part. Bill explained the workload that we could expect. He said, “Hey, this will be a very prestigious committee and a very scrutinized one, but if you’re up for it we’d like you to join.’ I was really excited. I said, “You bet, put me in. I’m glad to do it.”

CP: What does your inclusion on the committee mean for the Air Force Academy?

MG: This is not about me as an individual; this is a real tribute to our institution, the Air Force Academy, and the Air Force at large. I was at football practice a couple of weeks ago and a bunch of the players and coaches had noticed my selection and came to say congratulations. One of the players, Broam Hart, our fullback, came over to me and said, “Sir, you being selected for that committee makes me feel great pride in this institution, because you’re representing us.”

This whole committee is based on integrity, character, collaboration and doing the right thing so we get this right for the country.

To be associated with the Air Force Academy, and have us involved in that, is really a significant event. That’s what makes me feel good, and the fact the cadets recognize it as well. It’s a part of what we want to do here, make them proud that they are Air Force Academy graduates.

CP: How will the College Football Playoff affect the health of the sport moving forward?

MG: What this committee will do in the end result, is to provide the human factor. We will be able to factor in the nuances that the computers couldn’t. I think we’ll do as good a job as humanly possible to pick the four teams that get into this playoff. Sure, we’ll be criticized, I would imagine the fifth and the sixth teams and some of the others who were left out might question our decisions.

We’ll do it with total integrity bringing all of the facts to the table and we’ll talk about it.

There will be an injection of common sense, the nuance, factoring it in with all of the data available. The sports writers and commentators are going to have their opinions. Our job will be to take all of this data, watch a lot of film, and make this process even more objective. The College Football Playoff is going to provide us with the technology we need so we can watch these games on mobile devices and in our homes to make sure we know what is going on in the various programs. It’s really quite feasible that we will come up with the best four teams each year.

CP: How are you personally going to inform your decisions about the teams you will be evaluating?

MG: There are a lot of questions right now, but we have all committed to acquiring that knowledge that you can get from film study. That is going to be important when we come to the table as individuals to provide our inputs and our votes on who we think are the best teams. Personally, I’m committed to watch a lot of film.

“This is not about me as an individual; this is a real tribute to our institution, the Air Force Academy, and the Air Force at large.”

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graduate profile

Now, Paula has thoughts about that—we’ve all been there—Saturday night ten o’clock still flicking around watching more games, and I’ll have to say, “Honey, it’s my job!”

CP: Transparency is an important aspect of the committee, besides the rankings that will be released in the weeks prior to the selection, how will that manifest itself in the committee’s dealings with the public?

MG: I don’t envision we’ll have an explanation each week as to why each team is ranked where, but we’ll be considering all of the factors like strength of schedule and conference championships. We will not have incentives in there for teams to run up scores. That’s not good for the game or the athletes. We will be prepared to explain our end result if there is controversy. Our chairman of the committee, Jeff Long, the Athletic Director at Arkansas, and Bill Hancock will be our spokesman for issues like that. Several of the members of this committee have experience on the NCAA basketball selection committee, so we have listened to their inputs and a lot of the things they struggled with, so we’ll use their experience to help us as we work through this, but obviously football is different game. The dynamics of week-to-week football schedule are different than the day-to-day of a basketball season.

CP: Have you heard any criticism of the selection of you and Condoleezza Rice?

MG: You hear some of that. People say, “What do a general in the Air Force and the former Secretary of State know about football?”

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But this isn’t so much about Xs and Os as much as it is about having been in positions to make tough decisions under extreme scrutiny and the ability to bring groups together to collaborate on important issues. Those skills are going to be more valuable than intimate knowledge of the technical aspects of coaching football.

CP: You are a big college football fan, what’s it like to be working with all of these great ambassadors of the game?

MG: Here’s the interesting piece of this, I was sitting in the room with this group of people, and you’ve seen the list, I was honored to be able to visit with them. The other thing that was pretty cool about it, I felt that they were just as honored to be with a retired lieutenant general, former Air Force Academy superintendent, so there is a mutual respect across the board in that room.

Our communications director is Ari Fleischer, President George W. Bush’s press secretary, and Ari’s in the room with us advising us on what’s going to be important to communicate for transparency.

For years, throughout the Bush administration from 9/11 on we saw Ari Fleischer speaking on behalf of the President and I felt like I knew him. I’d never met him before, but you feel like you know the guy. As it turns out he had really good experiences while he was in the White House with military aides to President Bush. He was aware of the fact that I had been a mil aid for President George H.W. Bush, so he wanted to pick my brain about those types of things and our experiences in the military just as much as we all wanted to inquire about others and their experiences.

Back to School

Social Sciences 495: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Masculinity

T

he Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership (DFBL) and their Distinguished Visiting Professor for the 2013-2014 Academic Year, Dr. Chris Kilmartin from The University of Mary Washington, are partnering to educate cadets on a healthy warrior culture that produces strong leaders for our Air Force.

This fall, Dr. Kilmartin is teaching an elective course titled “Social Sciences 495: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Masculinity.” In this class, cadets will learn to understand gender (cultural demands to think and behave in gender specific ways based on one’s sex) with a focus on men and boys from a variety of disciplinary perspectives including psychology, sociology, anthropology, leadership, management, organizational behavior, economics, law, history, geography, and biology. Journals, films, and in-class exercises will be used to personalize course concepts in the context of life at USAFA and one’s role as a future Air Force officer.

The knowledge and skills in this course will not only benefit cadets while they are at the Academy but will also go with them after they graduate and serve as leaders in our Air Force.

Some might think that an examination of masculinity would somehow “soften” the warrior culture, but this course does just the opposite. It helps men and women to critically examine when they should conform to gender demands and when they should resist them, especially when conformity conflicts with an important life goal or value, compromises the military mission, and/or hurts another person or the self. It is very difficult to resist a pressure that one cannot name, and so this course helps cadets to understand gender pressures and make decisions intentionally rather than merely “going along with the program.” In leading a diverse military, this kind of course is entirely consistent with the Academy’s goal of developing leaders of character.

The course begins with a general description of American Masculinity as a cultural pressure and the wide variation among men’s and boys’ responses to this pressure. From there it moves to an application of masculinity to classic theories such as evolution, psychoanalysis, social learning, and humanistic/existential theory.

The second half of the course covers the research on what are considered “men’s issues”: work, relationships, sexuality, physical health, mental health, violence, and contemporary topics such as incarceration, pornography, prostitution/trafficking, and educational issues. Throughout the semester, cadets keep journals applying course concepts to their everyday lives to personalize the course content. Most lessons are discussion-oriented to encourage active learning.

This spring, Dr. Kilmartin will offer a graduate level course to AOC’s in the AOC Master’s program. Like Social Sciences 495, this course will explore theories of gender and masculinity. In addition, the course will give future commanders tools they can use to create a healthy gender relations culture and eradicate the scourge of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the Cadet Wing.

Dr. Kilmartin is an internationally recognized expert on masculinity and gender violence prevention and has consulted with the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Department of Education, and more than 100 universities and colleges. He was an American Psychological Association Divisional Researcher of the Year in 2010 and in 2007 he was named the Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Gender Studies at the University of Klagenfurt, Austria. In addition to teaching in the department, Chris consults with the Vice Commandant for Climate and Culture, the USAFA Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, and the Athletic Department.

—Dr. Chris Kilmartin and Col. Gary Packard ’82

Checkpoints

December 2013

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The Flight of My Life

By Maj. (Ret.) Steven R. Hirst ’81

I

f you follow Falcons basketball, you might recognize me. I’m the guy in the wheelchair chair down on the floor next to the scoring table. When I was a cadet at the Academy, I played for the team. I later taught at the prep school, was a flight instructor and flew the F-15 Eagle.

I am also an author, completely by accident. I never would have thought to write a book about my life if that life had followed its scheduled flight plan. But I traded the controls of a fighter jet for the less precise engineering of a wheelchair. I went from the perfect lay-up of my favorite sport to the humbling floor burn of the bathroom fall, and the occasional dribble with no ball in sight.

On the 13th of January 1996, I had recently arrived at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska to fly the F-15 Eagle for the US Air Force as part of the 54th Fighter Squadron, “The Leopards.” My call sign was Blaster, dubiously earned during my days at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. My wife Susan, a Class of 1983 AFA graduate, and our daughters, Stephanie and Stacey, were in Alabama, where Susan was on assignment for her own duties in the Air Force. The holidays were over and I was back at work.

The second week of January had been a good one, and I had flown several times. After my workout at the base gym, I did my first grocery shopping at the Commissary, and headed home. The roads were icy, but I was a safe driver. Being from Wisconsin, I had plenty of experience driving on snow and ice. It was about 1:45 in the afternoon. Driving at just under 35 miles per hour, the posted speed limit, I suddenly hit a patch of black ice. The police later confirmed my speed. I lost control, the car spun out on the ice and wrapped around a light pole. When it hit the pole, the car came to a dead stop, but things inside my head kept moving. My brain was scrambled as it met my skull. The pole crushed through the driver’s door and violently whipped my head. I have no memory of any of this and today I am still recovering from the Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, that I sustained that day.

I’ve had a lot of memory loss. For example, I didn’t remember my father’s death a few years before the accident. I don’t even remember flying by the stadium during a Florida vs. Florida State football game in 1995. I was going through F-15 re-training at Tyndall AFB in Florida before going to Alaska. The squadron was tasked to support the fly-over, to usher in the National Anthem before the game. I was honored to fly in the formation.

The event went well, I’m told. The noise and spectacle of fly-overs were always a hit with the stadium crowds, and few are louder than a four-ship of F-15s. You could feel the sound. We were recognized at halftime—my wife Susan tells me about all of it. I’m sure it was one of the proudest moments in my life. But, I don’t remember it.

It didn’t take long for the accident to happen, maybe a few seconds from the time I started to spin until I hit the light pole, but the concept of time for me has changed forever. I do remember before the car accident I was a pretty good athlete, and I was a damn good F-15 pilot. All the years I spent in a plane flying dangerous missions were overtaken by an everyday drive coming home from the store. w

“It didn’t take long for the accident to happen, maybe a few seconds from the time I started to spin until I hit the light pole, but the concept of time for me has changed forever.”

Hero shot of Steven Hirst ’81 with an F-15.

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December 2013

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graduate profile

I started to write as a way to recapture my missing memories and deal with the side effects of TBI, including anger and depression. And despite being told by many doctors I would never walk, I battled my way back through exercise, physical therapy and sheer stubbornness. I’ve learned a lot of important lessons along the way.

Being grounded from flying, from basketball, from all the blessings I took for granted, is something I will never totally accept. My family and friends, and especially my Air Force friends, helped me remember some of the amazing times we shared by sending me stories that were included in my book.

I am very proud of the fact that my wife Susan and my daughter Stephanie ’07 are among the first mother/daughter graduates of the Academy! We have season tickets to the Air Force Academy football and basketball games, and we travel to see those games and to watch the San Antonio Spurs play so we can see Coach Gregg Popovich ’70. He has been a quiet hero to me and wrote the foreword to my book Still Standing: Accidental Life Lessons.

We travel to reunions to see our families and childhood friends, and our Air Force family, especially my pilot buddies, and the friends and colleagues we made along the way that have truly become like family. The Air Force Academy is part of who we are and we are still so proud to be a part of it. I am so grateful to the Academy for standing by me when I could not stand.

Like the title of my book, I really am still standing. I can walk for longer and longer distances. Sure, I need a power chair for the

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long hauls around our Colorado Springs neighborhood and to the YMCA, and I am in a manual chair for events and travel. But I try to stand and walk as much as I possibly can. I know I scare some people with my efforts, because they think I’m going to wipe out and hurt myself more. And I know I annoy others, because it just takes me longer to do anything.

As the book evolved, I learned so much about TBI and its enormous economic and human impact. The story of TBI is not just my own—it is a public health crisis. It affects veterans, youth and professional sports athletes, the aging and the everyday accident victim. It devastates lives and families.

You probably know someone with TBI. Maybe you have TBI. If not, you will certainly meet someone with TBI, and if you have not, reach out and find someone. Their story is in their head along with the injury. Take the time to listen. Look past the chair or the muscle spasms or the external signs that scare you or confuse you. There is a person in there just like me. Come by and introduce yourself the next time you see me at a Falcons game. I’ll sell you a book.

I’m a different man now than I was as a young pilot. I’m still a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a colleague, a friend, an AFA grad, a Falcons fan and most recently, a grandfather! But I am also more aware of the truly important lessons in life, some more accidental than others.

In my mind, I’m not just still standing. I am still flying.

Integrity. Service.

ExcEllEncE. A story written by you and instilled by the Academy.

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16 Names

By Nolan Peterson ’04

“A plane flew into the World

Trade Center,” I overheard someone say.

“What an idiot,” was his friend’s response.

Assuming, with the typical bravado of an Air Force Academy cadet, that it was an accident due to some careless civilian pilot.

I didn’t give the comment much thought as I walked to class. It was a clear autumn morning in Colorado, just as it was in New York City. I crossed the Terrazzo, passing fighter jets on permanent display and the polished, black stone memorial to graduates killed in combat. In 2001 the memorial hadn’t been added to in a long time, most of the engraved names were from Vietnam, faded by time.

The faces of the people I passed along the way that morning offered no clue to the drama unfolding across the country. Most were staring blankly ahead, not unusual for cadets at the beginning of a new academic year; our minds 48

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filled with worry over homework, military inspections and fitness tests.

I walked into Fairchild Hall, and a few twists, turns and staircases later I was at the door to my 7:30 a.m. political science class.

I passed the threshold from the hall to the classroom. No more than three feet, just one step. But that step changed everything. By the time I lifted my foot off the ground and placed it on the floor inside the classroom, I had left behind the naïve dreams of youth and met for the first time the reality of the new world I would be living in, and the conflict that would dominate the next decade of my life. I took that step and was in the classroom and on the TV were the burning towers and I knew it meant war.

The day prior, Sept. 10, 2001, I had visited a chaplain. I told him I wanted to quit the Academy.

I hated it, I confessed. I didn’t understand why I was there, getting yelled at every day for not shining my shoes correctly when my friends were back at the University of Florida wearing flip-flops. Why did I have to take 21 credit hours a semester and learn how to march when I could go to regular college and have a class or two a day and spend my free time by a pool or a beach? I was feeling really sorry for myself. The chaplain told me that maybe the military wasn’t for me. Maybe I was there for the wrong reasons. That night I went to my room and filled out an application to transfer to the University of Florida for the spring 2002 semester. That application was on my desk, completely filled out, when I walked to class the morning of Sept. 11.

“Whatever you thought your career in the Air Force would be,” my instructor said as we watched

the towers fall, “let go of it.” The crusty old fighter pilot who had bombed and killed Serbian soldiers in the Kosovo Campaign looked at us. “The world is going to change,” he said. “Every one of you will go to war. Some of you won’t come back.”

Heavy stuff for a 19-year-old. The words didn’t quite stick though. I still felt detached. I was affected, angry, mesmerized by the scale of the disaster. But I still didn’t feel like I was yet a part of the story. That ended when I saw the president at Booker Elementary. I told the person sitting next to me that I was from Sarasota, and that’s where the president was. “Wow,” she said. “Must bring it home for you.”

I thought about the president driving on the streets that I knew from memory. I thought about him loading onto Air Force One at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, the airport I knew so well from flying lessons in high school. I imagined he could see and hear and touch places that I was familiar with.

It felt real now. I thought about my family and that made me think about the families that had someone in the towers, at the Pentagon, and as I would later find out, on United Airlines Flight 93.

I was angry, and I wanted to do something about it. So I did.

When I got back to my room that afternoon, I sent a message to my family that I was okay. And then I picked up the transfer application to UF. It felt toxic in my fingers. I was embarrassed by it; an artifact of some place and time I could never return to. The carefree life I had dreamt of and longed for was now a shattered illusion that could never be put back together. I crumpled the letter and was about to throw it away, when I hesitated.

I spread it back flat on my desk and used a sharpie marker to write the word “remember” across the top. Then I locked it away.

I’m 31 years old now. My deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and my career as an Air Force special operations pilot are a memory. But I still have that transfer application to UF. I had that old, wrinkled paper in my pocket when I went back to the Air Force Academy a few years ago as an Air Force captain, right before I went to Iraq. I had it in my pocket when I visited the polished, black stone monument to the fallen. I felt the weight of that single old sheet of paper as I dragged my fingers across the 16 freshly carved names. _______________________________________ Nolan Peterson is a former special ops pilot. He is currently a freelance journalist and adventurer. You can read more of his work at nolanwpeterson.com.

Checkpoints

December 2013

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Seafood Sensations

Mouth Watering Recipes by Grads, for Grads This edition of the Ladle contains our readers’ favorite seafood recipes, with shrimp dishes dominating the majority of your submissions. These tasty treats from the sea span the globe in terms of origin and flavor and they are sure to satisfy your next oceanic craving.

Southern Shrimp and Grits

Chefs Angela and Brian Witkowsky, Class of 1997 Ingredients for the Grits • 1 cup quick grits (White Lily Quick Grits recommended) • 3 cups water • 1/4 cup salted butter • 1-1/2 cups milk or half and half • 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese • Seasoned salt, to taste (Johnny’s Seasoning Salt recommended) Ingredients for the Shrimp • 1 small red onion, finely diced • 8 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped on horizontal into 1/4 inch pieces • 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced • 3 tablespoons butter • 1/3 cup prepared buffalo wing sauce • Splash of Worcestershire sauce • Black pepper, to taste • 1-1/2 pounds large shrimp, cooked, peeled and deveined • 1 small tomato, chopped (optional) • 1 bunch green onion tops, chopped (optional) Directions for the Grits 1. Bring water and butter to boil in heavy sauce pan.

2. Stir in grits. Return to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. (Turn to low if using a gas stove.)

3. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until grits are creamy, stirring occasionally.

4. Add milk or half and half. Reduce heat to low and cook for 8 minutes, stirring often.

5. Stir in cheese. Cover and remove from heat.

Directions for the Shrimp 1. Sauté onion, bacon and garlic in large sauce pan or skillet over medium heat until bacon is browned.

2. Add butter, buffalo wing sauce, Worcestershire and pepper. Add shrimp. Stir constantly to heat and coat shrimp.

3. Remove from heat immediately after shrimp begin to curl.

4. Spoon shrimp and sauce over individual servings of grits.

5. Garnish with chopped green onion tops or chives and chopped tomato.

PREPARED BY DAVID BERGEMAN PHOTOGRAPHED BY LEWIS CARLYLE Checkpoints

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Seafood Sensations Pasta Fina (Serves 3-4)

Spicy Pumpkin Crab Soup (Serves 2-4)

Ingredients • 1 pound fresh linguine • 1 or 2 ounces olive oil • 12 ounces salted butter • 3 cups clam juice • 3 cups diced tomatoes • 2 cups chopped green onions • 1/4 pound large sea scallops • 1/2 cup white wine • 1 cup black olives

Ingredients • 1 pound Phillips Crab Meat • 2 tablespoons butter • 2 cups onions, chopped • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced • 1 teaspoon salt • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander • 1 tablespoon curry powder • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper • 6 cups canned seafood stock • 30 ounces canned pumpkin • 2 cups fat free half and half

Michael Flores, Class of 1981

Directions 1. Cook linguine according to the directions and set aside.

2. Combine all ingredients in a large sauté pan. Place on high heat stirring occasionally. When butter melts, cook 5 more minutes.

3. Before adding pasta, stir 1 or 2 ounces olive oil into linguine to help prevent it from sticking together.

4. Add linguini to mixture.

FOod LovErs Unite Vegetarian Delights

Hail to the herbivores! It’s time to eat your vegetables—and like it! Send us the most delicious ways and means that you get your greens. Leave the frozen veggie burger in the fridge, it’s time you help the graduate community take vegetarian eats to the culinary next level.

Email editor@aogusafa.org for a chance to get your recipe featured right here in the Long Blue Ladle!

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Chef Travis Winslow (family recipe), Class of 2001

Directions 1. Sauté onions and garlic in the butter until soft.

2. Add all the seasonings and cook for additional minute.

3. Add the broth and cook for 20 minutes.

4. Stir in the pumpkin and half and half and cook for 5 minutes.

5. Remove from stove and pour into blender until creamy.

6. Return to pot and add the crab meat and heat for about 10 minutes.

7. Serving suggestion: if it is too spicy, garnish with sour cream.

Falcon Fitness Fix

feature

Dan Felix ’74, CFT

Surviving a “Holiday Diet” From the first day at the Academy, cadets are taught that a fit career needs a fit body.

Eating is a major element of one’s fitness.

Maintaining diet goals can be challenging, particularly during holiday seasons, which could include foods from any part of the world. Extra pounds and missed workouts are not the best way to start a new year so how can we stay fit and still celebrate holidays at home or abroad? There are some tools that allow us to enjoy the season and still not gain unwanted pounds or inches.

Simplify the Approach With all the parties and celebrations that happen from Halloween to New Year’s Day, it is impossible to not eat foods that are normally off-limits. Everyone does it. You cannot expect yourself to be surrounded by food and friends only to try to separate yourself from the celebration. Our first tool is to simplify our food plan and stop looking at dieting as an all-or- nothing behavior. Few commercial diet plans take into account the constant daily changes that are typical for most military careers. Start looking at your

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food consumption from a monthly view instead of a daily view. You are making progress if you can just eat fewer unwanted foods during this holiday season than you did last holiday season. That’s a win.

Water, Water, Water A second tool we can use is water. Our bodies feel full because of the volume of what we’ve eaten and not the content.

Low or dropping blood sugar turns our hunger on, but the pressure from food in our stomachs turns it off. This is why you can feel full after eating a large meal of only vegetables and yet feel hungry again a couple of hours later. Your body felt full from the initial volume of food. After your body digested the food, it found there was mostly water in the vegetables and it turns on the hunger switch to get more food. When this happens you actually end up eating fewer total calories.

We can use water to our advantage.

Eat what you want during those holiday parties, but first eat from the vegetable dish or a healthy salad before eating the pastas, burritos, schnitzels and other familiar or unfamiliar dishes. You’ll feel full sooner and on fewer calories. You are less likely to eat again since the vegetables or salad won’t be the only food you’ve eaten.

Holidays often include alcohol and alcohol is sugar. Drinking water between alcohol drinks will minimize the weightgain potential of the alcohol.

Enjoy the Season A graduate’s life is one of adventure and that adventure often takes us away from our families and homes. It’s easy to let oneself become separated from the celebrations at hand when we want to be back home. That is a recipe for eating the wrong foods and eating too much. If you find yourself away from family and friends during the holidays then it is important for you to engage in the celebrations and include yourself in the holiday.

See it as an opportunity for new experiences and relationships, including new types of meals. Social relationships, new and familiar, are the best tool for you to achieve any weight maintenance program. If you enjoy your social relationships then you are less likely to look to food for pleasure and you’ll actually eat better.

Surviving a holiday diet is not impossible. If you’re with family and friends then the celebrations are a reaffirmation of your commitments. When you are away from home then the celebrations are adventures and opportunities to share your career with others. If you focus on the holiday and the reasons you celebrate, you’ll actually enjoy the season and that joy will keep you healthy. ________________________________ Dan Felix has been fitness training for more than 25 years and has multiple certifications, including Certified Fitness Trainer from the International Sports Sciences Association. You can email him at dan@danfelixcft.com.

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Accounts of unforgettable field ration feasts.

Memorable Meals Ready-to-Eat 56

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Lima Bean Love Affair

In December 1966 on the way to my combat assignment at Korat RTAFB, Thailand, I had to undergo jungle survival training at Clark AB, Philippines. The jungle portion was conducted on the slopes of Mount Pinatubo, a few miles from Clark. Our instructors were Negritos who were tough little men who fought the Japanese in WWII. They taught us by pointee-talkee how to live off the land, in the jungle. After escape and evasion from these guys, and without a decent meal for two days, we were gathered in a clearing where they dumped off a load of C-rations with just enough of them so that each had a meal in a tin can, and no extras left over. They lined us up according to rank, and guess who wound up with the last remaining meal? It was lima beans with ham. My heart sunk. What a tragedy to be left with such a disgusting meal after what I went through. As I ate it, I found that the lima beans were absolutely delicious and I wanted more. To this day I really go out of my way to make sure the freezer is stocked with baby lima beans, much to the chagrin of my wife. Mount Pinatubo blew its top in 1991 and Clark AB was abandoned shortly thereafter. –Steven J Savonen ’63

Star Log: December 1993 Aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour

After a 17,500 mph rendezvous with the Hubble Space Telescope orbiting 300 NM above Earth, the crew of Endeavour engaged in an unprecedented five days of spacewalks to service and repair the great observatory. Space shuttle meals consisted of limited fresh food, freezedried rehydrated packs, and thermal stabilized foil packed MREs. During the first several days of the flight, I limited and was selective about my food intake (lesson learned from my earlier space flights), but after watching the successful completion of our first spacewalk, I was ready for a hardy meal. My choice—an MRE, “Meatballs in Spicy Sauce” (ok, that is the best I can remember 20 years later). How did I eat this great entree? Clip off one end of the foil pouch and spoon out the contents. Surface tension held the meatballs and sauce to the spoon, making it quite easy to eat in near zero gravity. Oh, and the out-the-window views were, like, “out of this world.” Good stuff! –Dick Covey ’68

MRE Technology

We had C-rations at USAFA in the 1960s I believe. I never saw an MRE until last month. A buddy obtained one from a military friend on active duty. So, six of us shared it while on a horseback riding excursion in Iowa. I was amazed at the technology of it. When we placed a container of lasagna in another plastic pouch and then filled it with water, it began boiling. I felt like I had just entered the 21st century. It tasted delicious—nothing like the stuff we had. I recall a “pemmican” bar back in the 60s that was really wretched. Maybe it wasn’t in a C-ration at all. –JC (John) Miller ’69

Just Add Water

My most vivid memory is probably shared by others … I can’t believe I was the only one in cadet history during SERE stupid enough to: eat my dried-dust MRE without first adding water.

My canteen was dry; I was hungry. I ate the freeze-dried MRE straight from the package with a plastic spoon—kind of tasty, very salty. Sucked the saliva right out of my mouth.

That wasn’t the memorable part. Later, when we came across some water I was, not surprisingly, VERY thirsty. After swallowing several large gulps, I was so amazed at the visible expansion of my stomach that I showed my buds. They seem equally impressed.

Not long after, I was in enough distress that, to this day, the very thought of dried MREs makes my stomach clench.

–Scott Hammond ’75

Riding the Storm Out

Epic Eats at Altitude

May 2013: 24,000 feet, on the steep snow and ice of the Lhotse face, in a two-person tent stuffed with three of us airmen, climbing gear, down suits and oxygen tanks. We needed calories before the push to Everest’s summit, so I counted on a “chili mac” MRE to help me out. Burning over 10,000 calories in a day made the chili mac a great source of fuel! For once, I looked forward to eating an MRE because it was better than the “prison food” we had been served on much of the trip high in the Himalayas.

–Rob Marshall ’01

On a Mountain TopIn Zero GravityDuring a Hurricane While Training in the Jungle

We ate MREs at the kitchen table with our children while weathering a hurricane in Southeastern Virginia. We have pictures with our then 14-year-old son donning a vintage military helmet, and our sliding glass patio door sporting a large X of masking tape across its face, all while we ate our “lunch.” –Mary Cutler, mother of C4C Asher Cutler

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graduate profile

T

Trier-Lynn Bryant ’06 had made the decision to begin a new phase to be invited by Goldman Sachs to join their Global Leadership and of her life and separate from the Air Force—but what was next? As a Diversity team that leads the firms’ Diversity and Inclusion efforts. cyber officer, she was responsible for auditing, compliance, configu- Given my background and experience in diversity, I was a natural ration, and network security for Air Force installations worldwide. fit in this space. Diversity is imperative for Goldman Sachs and is a Bryant’s deep-seated passion for diversity and inclusion prompted firm-wide initiative, which has allowed me to build cross-divisional her pursuit of a new career: working as a strategist in the field for a relationships, thereby learning how each division contributes to the Fortune 500 company. overall success of the firm.”

Josh Jewett ’05 was a National Reconnaissance Officer before sepaBoth Bryant and Jewett have been pleased with how the skills they rating from the Air Force. His career interests were varied, but he had learned in the military have been transferrable to their duties in the always been fascinated by maccorporate arena. roeconomics. Both Falcons, “There are a lot of skills I along with Blaine Joersz ’02, developed during my military applied and were accepted into service that are useful in the The Goldman Sachs Veteran Integration Program gives the Goldman Sachs Veteran corporate world,” says Jewett, three Air Force grads an opportunity to learn the financial Integration Program (VIP), “leadership and influence, services industry. Written by David Bergeman which gave all three a leg up on project management, creattheir post-Air Force careers. ing effective checklists, but With the flood of veterans the most important for me as returning from war and careers a trader is a sense of perspecin military service now looking tive that allows me to stay cool for work in the civilian sector, under pressure.” the VIP program looks to tap After the completion of into the advance skill set and the eight-week program, both proven leadership abilities of Bryant (diversity recruiting) this population. Those veterand Jewett (quantitative volaans who are seeking to advance tility trader) landed full time in a financial services industry positions with the firm workcareer can apply to be a part of ing out of New York. Joersz also the eight-week program where received and accepted an offer veterans have a paid, guided, in the firm’s Equities Division. period of exploration and skills Bryant and Jewett highly cultivation with the company. recommend the program to Program participants are given their fellow alums. Both were the responsibilities of a full time employee and have the opportunity especially impressed with the amount of time and resources the firm to acquaint themselves with careers in financial markets, gain experi- dedicated to them during the experience. As to advice for graduates ence, strengthen their skills and network with other professionals. who may be considering a career transition, both stressed the impor“At Goldman Sachs, and the broader financial services industry, tance of networking. we are focused on recruiting young, talented individuals,” says Gary “Do your research and be assertive,” says Jewett. “If you have an Cohn, President and COO of Goldman Sachs. “We believe that vet- interest in something, pursue it. You’d be surprised at how willing erans have many of the talents we are looking for on Wall Street. people are to talk about what they do, especially with someone who They’re goal oriented, team oriented, many have language skills and has a genuine interest in their field.” have lived abroad—being exposed to these opportunities at a young “Networking and mentorship are important in the military, but age make veterans attractive candidates for many of the jobs we offer make sure you also have connectivity with civilians as well,” adds at Goldman Sachs.”

Bryant. “Remembering that relationships with people are paraThe program gave both Bryant and Jewett a substantial amount of mount to success will definitely ease the transition.” responsibility almost immediately, Jewett in Counterparty Risk Management and Bryant in the Global Leadership and Diversity division.

“My experience during the VIP was life-changing,” says Bryant.

“It was an intense eight-week internship that highlighted skills develThe deadline to apply for the 2014 VIP is December 15th. Visit oped throughout my military experience that I could capitalize on goldmansachs.com/careers/experienced-professionals/veteransand those I need to spend time sharpening. I was fortunate enough integration-program to learn how to apply.

The Falcons of Wall Street

C

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INTEGRITY SERVICE EXCELLENCE THE SABRE SOCIETY Academy core values serve as a moral compass, promote self-discipline, and drive accomplishment and performance. These values make a real difference.

One way core values are reinforced is through cadet “margin of excellence” programs. Sabre Society level gifts ($1,000 or more annually) to the Air Force Academy Fund help support these vital programs.

Your gifts help provide the best possible resources and opportunities for the cadet wing, as well as the graduate community.

Sabre Society level gifts make an impact in the following areas: • • • • •

Character Education programs and seminars Cadet Clubs and Intramurals International Immersion Class Legacy Program Chapter Programs … and many others

Your support is needed and greatly appreciated. It makes a real difference.

Give before December 31st to be listed as a Sabre Society donor in this year’s Honor Roll of Donors!

Give online: giveafaf.org Give by phone: 719.472.0300 Give by mail: Checks payable to: USAFA Endowment 3116 Academy Drive USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475 For additional more visit: www.usafa.org/SabreSociety or email afaf@usafaendowment.org

R From the backseat of an F-4C Phantom, First Lieutenant Patrick Wynne ’63 had the entire world in front of him. He was living out his dream as a 24-year-old guy-in-back assigned to the famous 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Then, tragically, after three months of flying sorties in Southeast Asia, Wynne’s plane was shot down. His Air Force Academy class ring was in his breast pocket.

Wynne came from a family with a great legacy of service. His father, Edward P. Wynne, was a West Point Class of 1940 graduate. His younger brother, Michael, followed their father to West Point and graduated in the Class of 1966 before cross commissioning 60

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into the Air Force. Michael’s future would see him sworn in as the 21st Secretary of the Air Force during a noon meal formation at Mitchell Hall, November 3rd, 2005. Pat, however, wanted to fly.

“He had a great passion for flight,” says Michael, “which is something that my dad, who had bad eyes like I did, couldn’t do. My father was a Legionnaire, but Pat wanted to be a pilot.”

Michael Wynne recounts the intrinsic talents and eclectic interests Pat exhibited while they were growing up. He was a gifted musician who could play piano by ear. He was always considering his circumstances and calculating his next

R

ING

of Honor

Forty-seven years after he gave his life for our country, Patrick Wynne’s ’63 class ring finds its permanent home at the Academy.

Written by David Bergeman

move. Michael talks about how Patrick went out for football his senior year in high school, not because he loved the sport, but because he wanted to be on the debate team. Pat thought it was far more acceptable to be a football player who was a debater than to just be a debater. He was driven and determined to succeed.

At the Academy, Patrick put his powers of perception to good use as the editor for the Dodo and the Talon. After graduation he attended Georgetown University where he got a master’s degree in political science before attending pilot training at Williams Air Force Base. It was at Williams when

Wynne would reunite with his classmate and fellow F-4C backseater-to-be Tom Fryer. Fryer would become Patrick’s roommate and one of the last people to see him alive.

“Pat was usually a serious guy, but he liked a good joke,” Fryer says while reflecting on the three months they spent together in Southeast Asia.

“When we first got to Udorn [RTAB, Thailand] in June, 1966, we were flying primarily escort on reconnaissance planes, C-130s and RB-66s. We moved from Udorn to Ubon in July.”

On August 8th, 1966, Patrick volunteered to fly with Captain Larry Goldberg. It was the day Checkpoints

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heritage

he was shot down. Both Patrick and Tom were on about their 27th mission. It was supposed to be Goldberg’s final sortie before returning home.

Fryer remembers the day well.

“We briefed at zero dark thirty in the morning.

Normal sequence was two hours before take off.

We’d start off with a weather briefing and intelligence people would come in and tell us what our targets were. We would always have three targets: a primary, a secondary and a tertiary,” Fryer says. “Most of the time when we took off from Thailand we went north and hit the KC-135 tankers over Laos and then came in at the Hanoi-Haiphong area from the west; this was the only time in all of my missions that we went east and refueled over the Gulf of Tonkin.”

Fryer was about ten minutes behind the Ozark flight of four that left Ubon that day. Of those planes, one could not refuel and returned to base, the second returned after the mission untouched and the third returned damaged and streaming fuel. Wynne and Goldberg were shot down, disappearing into the jungle just south of the Chinese border.

“We didn’t get hit,” says Fryer, who flew 102 missions before returning home in December of 1966.

“As soon as we dropped off the tankers we went down to literally 50 to 100 feet off the water. I remember flying east of Haiphong Harbor and seeing a Russian

Departing Travis AFB in June 1966 for SEA are from left: Pat Wynne ’63, Bunny Talley, Tom Fryer ’63, Joe Merrick, Bob Clements (USMA ’63), unknown.

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freighter coming in, totally off limits. Once we got north of that, we turned back to the west to go toward our primary target. It was just about that time that we heard the mayday calls. It’s then that we knew Pat and Larry were hit and the confusion started. Once we dropped off the tanker everyone went to strike channel—this was good and bad because there was a lot of chatter on that frequency. The confusion occurred because we thought we had heard that Wynne and Goldberg had their feet wet, meaning that they came back out and got over the ocean and hopefully ejected so that the Navy would pick them up. They started back, came across a ridgeline and all kinds of anti-aircraft came up. That’s what hit them. Unbeknownst to us, they turned north and Wynne ejected fairly close to the Chinese border.”

Stateside Michael Wynne graduated from West Point on June 8th, 1966. August 8th, he reported for his first day of duty at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts. He was told to see a first sergeant; that’s when he learned that his brother had been shot down.

“The first thing I did was call my parents who were totally traumatized,” Wynne says. “The notification officer was not informed very well about the fact that my father had retired from the base he was assigned to, and my mother was totally well known, having been president of the wives club for sometime. They didn’t even know that she had two sons in service. She was absolutely convinced that I had died in a traffic accident. She could not absorb the fact that her first born son had been shot down in war.”

Wynne was listed as missing in action until 1974. Little was known of what had happened to him and Goldberg after they were hit. For years it was presumed that they both had died in the crash, but after Wynne’s remains were discovered in 1976, forensic analysis showed that he had managed to eject before impact. The bodies of both men were repatriated in 1977. Patrick was interned at the Academy Cemetery. As far as Michael Wynne knew then, that is where the story ended.

“The whole experience was one of tremendous sorrow over the loss. My adventure was just beginning and my mom still had four other children, one in college and the rest in high school or younger,” says Wynne. “It saddened all of us, and that sadness would be prolonged because he wasn’t really shot down and dead, he was declared missing in action. The missing in action was sort of limbo. You’re living in a zone where you truly believe in your heart of hearts that he’s alive. We lived in a community where people had been revealed to be in prison years after being captured, so there was hope. I think the discovery of his remains in 1976 put that hope to rest. My parents’ grief, and my

own grief, was still evident in 1977 when we interred Pat at the Air Force Academy.”

The Call Forty-two years after his brother’s shoot-down, Michael Wynne received an unexpected phone call.

“I’m in a meeting at Dulles Airport in the company of Ron Fogelman ’63, Air Force Chief of Staff and Pat’s classmate, and I get a phone call from the people who were so great from the Consortium Companies who were working in China. They asked me if I was Pat’s brother. I said I was. They said, ‘We are in possession of your brother’s Air Force Academy ring, having gained access to it by an anonymous Chinese family who gave it to one of our employees in China.’”

In 2007, American businessman Herbert G. Schaffner moved to Guangzhou in Southern China to work as a director of IT for Consortium Companies. Schaffner met and married a Chinese woman. At a family function, his wife’s uncle, who had been entrusted with the ring by his brother who had recovered Patrick after his ejection, showed the ring to the American.

Schaffner immediately identified what the ring was and returned it to the states and into the possession of the Wynne family.

Michael Wynne received more than a ring from that phone call, he would also get a measure of closure. Soon he would learn that Pat had survived the ejection, but was severely injured, suffering a fractured bone in one of his legs.

The Chinese family who had recovered Patrick had moved to a North Vietnamese village in search of a better life. The man who found him had spotted a nearby fire and went to search the area. They brought the wounded airman back to their village in an attempt to save his life, but before he died he was taken into custody of North Vietnamese officials, who roughed up the villagers for aiding and abetting an enemy.

However, before this encounter the family had found the ring in Patrick’s pocket. Knowing that it was of sentimental value, the Chinese family managed to retain it with the intention of someday returning it to Patrick’s kin. Years passed and fear of retribution prevented them from seeking help in locating the Wynne family—until 2007.

“After I told my wife about the call and the ring she said, ‘It’s like Pat reaching out over all those years, basically saying, good job,’” Wynne says. “It was a very amazing event and it occurred right after my tenure as the Secretary of the Air Force had ended—in the company of Pat’s classmate. Amazing.”

The Wynne family made the decision to return the ring to the Academy and on a brisk evening in October 2013, during their 50th reunion, the Class

“Certainly, the Class of 1963 covered themselves in valor, bravery, and courage. Their stories are phenomenal individually and collectively. I’m very, very proud to have presented the ring, from one of my personal heroes, to that collection of heroes.”

of 1963 held a Remembrance Celebration in Arnold Hall. In a poignant tradition, the cups of classmates who have slipped the surly bonds were turned upside down, the 17 other classmates killed in Southeast Asia were honored and respects were paid to POWs John Borling ’63 and Jerry Driscoll ’63.

The event meant much to many, especially Michael Wynne and Tom Fryer. Wynne explains how many members of the USAFA Class of 1963 and his West Point Class of 1966 entered the Vietnam conflict at the same time. Both classes were heroic and suffered gravely because of it.

On October 24th, with his brother Michael in attendance, Pat’s ring was dedicated at it’s final resting place. It will remain in Arnold Hall as a testament to his sacrifice and the contributions his class has made to our nation.

“Certainly, the Class of 1963 covered themselves in valor, bravery, and courage. Their stories are phenomenal individually and collectively. I’m very, very proud to have presented the ring, from one of my personal heroes, to that collection of heroes. Our losses out of West Point were great, so it is in that spirit that I was proud to do it. He was my own brother and he’s buried at the Air Force Academy; it seems a perfect circle.”

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Giving By The Numbers We are excited to report that 2013 has been a busy year for graduate giving to the Air Force Academy. Together, graduates from all classes have combined to give over $9 million to the Academy in 2013. Of note, the Class of 1964 has established a new standard in giving, having surpassed the $10 million mark in lifetime giving by its members. This marks the first time any class has exceeded $10 million in gifts in Academy history, and we applaud members of the Class of 1964 for leading the way.

We tip our hats and thank the Class of 1968 for their success in increasing the number of classmates who are recognized as Sabre Society donors; these donors contribute at least $1,000 annually to the Air Force Academy Fund. The class increased Sabre Society donors by nearly 40% this year.

The Class of 1963 deserves a round of applause for recruiting many new donors to the Academy from among their classmates.

They achieved success through their class giving project in conjunction with their 50th reunion earlier this year.

No one can rest on their laurels, and the Endowment certainly is not as the page has not turned on 2013. The Academy needs your participation as a donor. You still have time to be counted in your class’ numbers. Please make your contribution by December 31 to be included in our final ranking for 2013. If you need more information to make a gift, please visit the USAFA Endowment end-of-year giving guide at www.usafa.org/eoy.

Top Five classes Current Sabre Society Donors Class Number 1968…………………..73 1970…………………..53 1976…………………..47 1964…………………..42 1972…………………..40 Top Five classes First-time Donors (2013) 1963…………………43 2012…………………42 2003…………………33 1973…………………31 2013…………………28 Top Five classes Overall Cumulative Giving 1964………………$10,993,569 1963………………$9,173,943 1965………………$9,158,400 1970………………$7,671,953 1969………………$6,374,763 *The 2012 participation rates listed here (calculated as total graduate donors in 2012/total living graduates) represent gifts and commitments to the Academy through the USAFA Endowment or the Association of Graduates **As of November 18, 2013

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First-time Current 2012 Class Participation Donors Sabre Society New 2013 Cumulative (2013) Members ** SS Donors** Giving** Year Rate* 1959.......28.38%............ 0.................. 25................... 1............ $1,631,370 1960.......21.84%............ 1.................. 19................... 0............ $1,257,833 1961.......24.12%............ 0.................. 14................... 0............ $1,934,357 1962.......38.66%............ 0.................. 14................... 0............ $1,065,927 1963.......35.20%............ 43................ 23................... 1............ $9,173,943 1964.......21.73%............ 1.................. 42................... 2............ $10,993,569 1965.......20.44%............ 0.................. 27................... 4............ $9,158,400 1966.......32.92%............ 0.................. 34................... 3............ $5,607,213 1967.......33.79%............ 8.................. 26................... 1............ $6,176,590 1968.......23.67%............ 10................ 73................... 28.......... $2,535,659 1969.......21.23%............ 7.................. 34................... 0............ $6,374,763 1970.......19.30%............ 1.................. 53................... 3............ $7,671,953 1971.......19.40%............ 1.................. 38................... 0............ $1,909,161 1972.......15.90%............ 4.................. 40................... 2............ $1,030,403 1973.......21.23%............ 31................ 35................... 1............ $2,938,816 1974.......16.69%............ 2.................. 33................... 2............ $1,209,242 1975.......12.07%............ 1.................. 32................... 5............ $1,964,932 1976.......22.46%............ 1.................. 47................... 4............ $1,720,637 1977.......12.84%............ 0.................. 28................... 4............ $974,454 1978.......18.27%............ 0.................. 31................... 0............ $6,202,855 1979.......17.94%............ 1.................. 22................... 2............ $4,558,262 1980.......12.99%............ 6.................. 35................... 0............ $1,907,566 1981.......13.63%............ 9.................. 25................... 3............ $1,596,325 1982.......10.81%............ 6.................. 26................... 5............ $647,862 1983.......12.09%............ 6.................. 26................... 4............ $1,014,577 1984........7.95%............. 5.................. 18................... 2............ $677,425 1985........8.71%............. 4.................. 18................... 1............ $527,927 1986.......10.71%............ 8.................. 15................... 1............ $482,031 1987.......11.46%............ 6.................. 18................... 0............ $1,420,203 1988........9.80%............. 7.................. 14................... 0............ $530,386 1989........6.74%............. 2.................. 9..................... 1............ $868,292 1990........8.03%............. 8.................. 8..................... 1............ $252,953 1991........9.93%............. 11................ 10................... 0............ $647,565 1992........6.55%............. 16................ 14................... 0............ $377,372 1993........8.72%............. 7.................. 21................... 2............ $336,176 1994........6.28%............. 7.................. 7..................... 2............ $322,984 1995........6.40%............. 6.................. 10................... 0............ $325,094 1996........6.28%............. 13................ 9..................... 1............ $174,346 1997........7.58%............. 9.................. 13................... 0............ $196,443 1998........6.52%............. 11................ 9..................... 2............ $379,577 1999........6.59%............. 13................ 12................... 3............ $198,167 2000........9.09%............. 9.................. 15................... 6............ $219,602 2001........7.37%............. 21................ 7..................... 1............ $136,952 2002........6.19%............. 19................ 4..................... 1............ $85,095 2003........6.15%............. 33................ 9..................... 0............ $86,333 2004........4.84%............. 21................ 5..................... 1............ $59,253 2005........3.61%............. 23................ 5..................... 2............ $56,072 2006........6.80%............. 23................ 12................... 1............ $104,268 2007........4.07%............. 13................ 6..................... 1............ $60,266 2008........3.70%............. 14................ 2..................... 3............ $29,952 2009........3.50%............. 15................ 2..................... 2............ $20,306 2010.......18.45%............ 18................ 0..................... 0............ $145,472 2011........6.43%............. 16................ 0..................... 1............ $29,204 2012.......11.65%............ 42................ 1..................... 1............ $114,324 2013.......... NA............... 28................ 1..................... 1............ $154,480

ShARe In the SeASon oF gIvIng thIS SeASon! As we come to the end of another successful year, we want to thank those who have contributed to the Air Force Academy Fund.

In the spirit of the season, now is the perfect time to give once again, or, if you’ve not yet given, please consider a year-end gift. Your gift supports vital cadet programs and graduate services. Cadet Clubs and Intramurals, Character Development Programs, International Immersion, Undergraduate Research, Chapter Programs and Class Legacy Program, to name a few, benefit from your generosity.

No gift is too small – every gift of every size matters.

Please give your tax-deductible gift by December 31. For more information, visit our online end-of year gift guide at www.usafa.org/eoy.

Please give now – we’re counting on you! give online at: giveafaf.org give by phone: 719.472.0300 give by mail: Checks payable to USAFA endowment 3116 Academy Dr, Ste 200 USAF Academy, Co 80840-4475

WORTH L to R: 1959 artist rendering.

Early scale model of the Chapel and Cadet Area.

The Cadet Chapel nears completion.

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1000

WORDS

The Air Force community celebrated the Cadet Chapel’s 50th anniversary on September 22nd, 2013, with a beautiful ceremony that was held exactly five decades to the day of its dedication.

The Academy’s most iconic structure receives between 500,000 and one million visitors each year, making it the most popular man-made attraction in all of Colorado. In 2004, the building was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark, solidifying its status as one the country’s greatest pieces of architecture. In the photo above, Air Force Academy Superintendent, Maj. Gen. Robert H. Warren, speaks to an audience of 8,000 attendees at the building’s dedication ceremony. In the top right photo illustration, a historical image from the Clark Special Collections Branch of the McDermott Library was superimposed on the existing site today, melding a vision of past and present. The additional images span a time line from the Chapel’s humble beginnings to the unforgettable structure we know and admire today.

L to R: The Chapel interior at sunrise.

The south nave overlook.

The Cadet Chapel at sunset, present day.

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67

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the association

Checkpoints Readership Survey Readers Weigh in on the Magazine

In October, we asked a random sample of our constituents to complete a Checkpoints readership survey that provided us with valuable feedback pertaining to the subject matter, quality and utility of the magazine. In coming issues, we will use this information to make improvements and strengthen the practices that are already successful.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate. It is a privilege to serve the Long Blue Line!

How do you generally acquire information about your school (Air Force Academy)?

Checkpoints

ALL INFORMATION

3%

MOST INFORMATION

Longevity

41%

SOME INFORMATION

64%

51%

Emails from the

Institution (AOG) ALL INFORMATION

2%

MOST INFORMATION

32%

SOME INFORMATION

Website

ALL INFORMATION

58%

1%

MOST INFORMATION 10%

SOME INFORMATION

60 minutes or more

How long do you read each issue?

43%

30-59 minutes

40%

Less than 30 minutes

17% 70

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of readers keep their Checkpoints for more than one month.

63%

How often do you typically read Checkpoints?

How much of each magazine do you read?

EVERY ISSUE

MOST OF IT

78%

49%

MOST ISSUES

SOME OF IT

14%

34%

OCCASIONAL ISSUES

ALL OF IT

7%

15%

NEVER READ AN ISSUE

NONE OF IT

2%

2%

4%

Is Checkpoints a credible source of information?

2%

No opinion

is not a good source of objective information

11%

Usually only portrays the institution in a positive light

52%

31%

Contains some “spin� but is generally accurate and objective

Consistently portrays the institution accurately and objectively What do you want to read about?

Topics you are interested or very interested in: 86% class notes 84% obituaries 79% institutional history and traditions 77% campus controversies 73% campus facilities and growth 65% athletics 65% student achievement

What actions have you taken as a result of reading the magazine?

51% contacted a friend of classmate 41% saved an article or issue 40% attended an event 39% made a donation to the institution

Topics some of you are not interested in: 35% faculty awards and achievements 35% stories about donors 34% faculty selection, promotion, retirements 33% religion/faith based issues 32% arts and culture 30% health and healthcare 29% faculty selection, promotion, retirements The Quality of Checkpoints

Excellent Good Average Poor Very Poor Content 33% 53% 11% 1% .2% Cover 62% 31% 5% .5% .2% Ease of reading 39% 46% 12% .5% .2% Layout and design 37% 47% 13% .5% .2% Photography 56% 36% 6% .2% .2% Writing 29% 53% 15% 1% .2%

What medium do you prefer to read Checkpoints in?

11%

like both

7%

online

82% print

The margin of error for the entire sample is approximately Âą5 percentage points.

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happenings december

february

14-15

17

Dean’s Weekend

Presidents Day

21

26-28

Winter Break begins

National Character and Leadership Symposium “Character Overcoming Conflict: Individual Stories, Global Impact”

26-31

After holiday sale at the AOG Gift Shop and shop.usafa.org

March

USAFA Master Calendar

The AOG has developed an Air Force Academy master calendar of events! Get up to speed on all the important AOG and Academy happenings with USAFA’s most comprehensive master schedule. The easy to navigate search feature allows you to search event listings by specific categories, including interests and geographic region—all with the click of a mouse. usafa.org/calendar

january

1

Happy New Year

14

2

5th Annual Single Malt Scotch Tasting and Silent Auction at Doolittle Hall sponsored by Jan-Pro of Southern Colorado

Cadet Wing returns

20

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

AOG Ambassador Program Serving the Armed Forces since 1986

RIBBONS & MEDALS “The Original Custom Thin Ribbon Set.”

1-800-758-7265

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info@ultrathin.com

An Ambassador is a graduate who serves as a liaison or point of contact for other graduates coming into your geographic area—whether for business or leisure.

You can help a fellow graduate answer questions that can improve their visit or relocation experience. Be their guide and share your knowledge about where to find housing, what school districts are best or what attractions are worth a visit. If you are interested in serving as an Ambassador in your area, please email us at chapter.support@aogusafa.org. usafa.org/group/ambassadors

the association

AN AOG CHAPTER WANTS

YOU!

Why you should join an AOG Chapter and what one of our Distinguished Chapters does to keep the Long Blue Line connected to the Academy.

Number of AOG Chapters 78 (4 international)

Distinguished Chapter Requirements 1. Have a Founders Day Dinner.

2. Send a representative to the Chapter Presidents Conference.

3. Send a Chapter Presidents Conference Summary to chapter members.

4. Submit a membership roster.

5. Accumulate at least 150 points for networking efforts and reach a sum of 2000 through other activities.

2013 Distinguished Chapters Sacramento Twin Cities Las Vegas Salt Lake City Kansas City Rampart North Texas Alamo New England

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Why should you get involved with an AOG Chapter? Greg Shuey ’68, president of the Distinguished AOG Chapter from Kansas City, could go on at length about all of the benefits. First and foremost, he founded the KC Chapter because, after a career in the military, he missed the values that are imbued into members of the Long Blue Line.

“They are the cream of the crop and more importantly can always be counted on to hold the values of honesty, integrity and ethics that I found were often wanting in the civilian world,” Shuey explains.

The KC Chapter offers members all of the perks of hanging out with fellow graduates and doing fun activities, like golfing and throwing football viewing parties, but it also serves a deeper, more meaningful purpose in its efforts to support the Academy.

Last year, Shuey, a former Air Liaison Officer, and the chapter held their first “Soaring with Eagles” event.

“After ten years as an ALO, I realized that kids don’t get exposed to the Academy until they are juniors or seniors,” explains Shuey. “That is too late for one to plan a high school career and be a competitive candidate. So we decided to make a difference by exposing younger students to the Academy, Air Force Heritage, and an Air Force career.”

Graduates set up displays where 160 kids, ages 8 to 16, could learn about Air Force careers and the Academy. The chapter also brought in a Tuskegee Airman and an Iwo Jima landing survivor to speak about their World War II experiences.

Kids were able to take flight for free with rides arranged through the Experimental Aircraft Association. The event was a huge success and the chapter hopes to hold the event every year.

Don’t let a lack of time deter you from getting involved. No matter what stage of life a graduate is in, odds are they are extremely busy. That’s where the AOG steps in to provide support.

“The AOG has become a valuable partner in helping us with a lot of the administration that is difficult for our Chapter Board to handle because we are all still very active in business and have limited time,” explains Shuey. “The Presidents Conferences have also been very useful in providing a forum to share successes and difficulties. I must add that the AOG staff has been dynamite in helping resolve issues and helping when we needed to get things done.”

Get reconnected with the Long Blue Line. Support the Academy and your local community—and have some fun! Join or start an AOG Chapter today.

To learn how you can join a AOG Chapter or start a new one, visit usafa.org/Group/Chapters or send an email to chapter.support@aogusafa.org.

5th Annual

Single Malt Scotch Tasting & Silent Auction Friday, March 14, 2014 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m., Doolittle Hall, USAFA

Mark your calendars early–you won’t want to miss out on this popular event!

Registration will go live in early 2014!

Sponsored by Jan-Pro Cleaning Systems of Southern Colorado

upcareer

Lift

the association

your

with SACC

How real Air Force grads get real results with the Service Academy Career Conference

By Lisa Aszklar

W

While parents and high school guidance counselors alike tout the many benefits of attending one of America’s five service academies in pursuit of a tuitionfree undergraduate degree and commissioning as an officer, one benefit is often overlooked: the career services available to alumni following service in the military. Academy alumni who are members in good standing of their respective alumni associations have three such powerful resources at their disposal to assist in navigating their post-service options.

Joint Service Academy Jobs Electronically (JSAJE) is an online bulletin board database that hosts job notifications from recruiters and employers across the world, as well as résumés from aspiring job applicants who are service academy alumni association members.

The Internet Service Academy Business Resource Directory (iSABRD) is a networking resource tool aimed at fostering business-related introductions, regardless of the service academy attended.

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But perhaps the most dynamic career services tool available to alumni of military academies is the Service Academy Career Conference (SACC) held in key cities around the country.

Headquartered at the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, SACC is jointly sponsored by the alumni associations, or associations of graduates, of all five service academies and provides opportunities to meet face to face with recruiters from some of America’s best-known corporations, all of whom understand and value service academy alumni.

In order to encourage participation of companies headquartered across the country, the two-day event now rotates among San Diego, CA; San Antonio, TX; Savannah, GA; and Washington, DC. At the May 2013 conference in Washington, DC, 116 different organizations met with more than 700 service academy alumni and provided valuable networking opportunities to assist candidates hoping to take the next

step in their careers. According to SACC Manager Michelle Mazanec, it was one of the most successful and well-attended conferences in recent history.

“SACC is an established program with a great reputation and proven results,” says Wayne Taylor, director of programs for the U.S. Air Force Academy Association of Graduates. “When I talk to grads who have made up their minds to leave the military, I tell them, ‘SACC is a terrific tool to educate yourself about the opportunities out there. You’re not required to take a job or even to speak with anyone at SACC. But SACC can help you learn what options may be available when you do hang up that uniform.’”

SACC organizers always caution recruiters to avoid suggesting that active duty alumni resign their commissions in order to accept a position, since the undergraduate education each candidate received as a cadet or midshipman was designed to prepare the student for a military career.

“Realistically, though, the alumni associations of the various service academies understand that not all graduates will pursue full military careers, and that is where SACC can help,” says Eileen FoyeKelly, director of alumni relations for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association.

Graduate degree information sessions, invitation-only candidate breakfasts and informational seminars on topics such as franchise opportunities for veterans, job-hunting strategies for more senior candidates and how to “work the room” at a career conference all add fuel to SACC’s claim that it provides unparalleled assistance to its attendees. In fact, SACC is the only career and networking event of its kind that is tailored specifically to the needs of all service academy alumni association members.

In attendance at the May 2013 SACC were companies such as Boston Scientific, GE, Amazon, Kellogg, Georgia Pacific and Weyerhaeuser, as well as representatives from 16 well-known MBA and Executive MBA schools, including Dartmouth College, the University of Notre Dame, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University, all eager to connect with the candidates who participated.

For their part, corporate recruiters view SACC as a target-rich environment, full of potential employees who possess qualities not normally emphasized at civilian colleges and universities. They also recognize that service academies rank at the top among all undergraduate schools, making alumni a truly select group of individuals.

“Many candidates have great skill sets and a high level of technological competence,” says Dan Piontkowski ’00 (USNA), veteran staffing program manager at Hewlett-Packard. “We hire candidates for their DNA: leadership, self-discipline, motivation, the ability to remain calm in high-stress situations and still

get the job done. Those are hallmarks of the service academy graduates we see at SACC.” Surprisingly, many recruiters list creativity as an especially attractive qualification among candidates. Perhaps not so surprising are the experiences that give rise to the trait: the day-to-day situations encountered on active duty, whether aboard ship, in the air or in the field.

“Creativity fosters flexibility,” says Steve Wittman ’77, military recruiting leader for Procter & Gamble.

“Academy graduates have demonstrated creativity in solving problems in demanding, stressful situations where there are unknowns and outcomes are unclear.

This helps make them agile and successful in the everchanging business world. Past performance is the best indicator of success in a corporate setting.”

Wittman believes that America’s involvement in the War on Terror over the past decade has had a definite, though subtle, impact on the candidates who attend SACC. “In recent years, we’ve found that overall, candidates’ military experiences have made them a little more serious, a little more mature, perhaps better understanding of what it takes to succeed in tough, tough situations. I’ve had candidates tell me stories about coming under fire in active war zones overseas and holding their bleeding, dying comrades in their arms. That’s a whole different experience than what other candidates [at civilian job fairs] may have had.

With service academy graduates, we know we’re dealing with candidates who have integrity, a sense of service before self and excellence, all going back to the time spent at their respective academies.”

Officials of the five service academy alumni associations agree that when beginning a job search, alumni should recognize that one of the things that makes them “a very special group of people” are the bonds formed at their respective academies.

In reality, those bonds are the key to a world of opportunity beyond an active duty service obligation and are built on the shared experience of having attended a service academy. Perhaps most important is the fact that they naturally serve as a stepping stone for a variety of future opportunities: an MBA prior to embarking upon a career in business, a position right out of the service or even a change of careers a bit down the road. Regardless, the shared experience of having attended a service academy lasts a lifetime.

At the May 2013 SACC in Washington, DC, Bob McClure ’76 (USMA), president of the West Point Association of Graduates, explained the importance of the academy experience for alumni in career transition.

“Academy alumni still have value far beyond their years of service in the military, and we’re trying to reinforce that value through the pride that graduates feel at having attended their academy. That fact alone Checkpoints

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makes service academy graduates special and sets them apart from alumni of civilian colleges and universities,” he explains.

Not to take advantage of that commonality would, according to Pete Rackett ’61 (USMMA), assistant to the president of the Alumni Association at Kings Point, be ignoring a unique career resource, available only to academy alumni.

Candidates who attended SACC in Washington, DC, represented a cross-section of alumni hailing from all five service academies with dates of graduation spanning more than three decades.

Diana Alquero ’08 (USMA) is nearing the end of her five-year service commitment, which included an assignment as a logistics officer in Kuwait. Oliver “Kip” McCaddon ’04 (USNA), flies H-60 helicopters and is pursuing his MBA at Auburn University. Amy Young ’93 has devoted her military career to flying and flight instruction. All attended SACC as a pre-emptive step to ensure that their impending transitions into the civilian job market will be smooth ones.

Greg Norte ’01 (USCGA) took an entrepreneurial route when he opened his own training and seminar company at the conclusion of his service obligation. He eventually sold his interest to a business partner and spent several years delivering private yachts across the South Pacific. Now looking for new opportunities, Norte said SACC goes the extra mile toward helping candidates understand the choices and paths available to them.

“Programs like SACC help you look around and find out what other options are out there,” he says. “Service academy alumni should go to SACC now. I wish I had done so when I had a year left [in my service obligation], and explored what options I had before I got out. Come to SACC, stick your head up, ask questions!”

Oftentimes, recruiters who attend SACC are service academy alumni themselves; many became familiar with the conference when they were embarking on their initial post-military employment searches. Returning as educational and corporate recruiters, they are eager to connect with fellow service academy graduates who are exploring their own career options.

Phil Dana ’98 has attended SACC as a candidate and later as a recruiter for his employer, Life Technologies. He offers some important advice to other service academy alumni who are considering a career transition.

“Recruiters and business leaders who are fellow alumni come to SACC to hire, and specifically to hire from within the service academy community,” he says. “Attend SACC. Update your JSAJE and iSABRD profiles. Polish your résumé and follow up with the recruiters who express an interest in you.

Join your LinkedIn alumni group. Take advantage of your connections to the service academy alumni family—and add another link in the chain that holds us together.”

Graduate dependent

ScholarShipS applY noW! The Board of Directors of the Association of Graduates is pleased to once again offer Graduate Dependent Scholarships.

These scholarships are annual awards and range from $500-$2000 and are intended to directly support postsecondary education for the children of AOG graduate members.

For complete eligibility requirements and an application, visit www.usafa.org/memberships/scholarships. The application deadline is March 6, 2014.

ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY

from the terrazzo

The Secret Life of

Waldo F. Dumbsquat

by Don Hall ’76

With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore

'Twas the night before finals, when all through the dorm

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all kaydets were cramming, as this was the norm.

The textbooks were stacked under each sleeping face, In hopes that osmosis soon would take place.

As jet planes that before the Noon Meal do fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the sixth floor the coursers they flew, With a sleigh full of leave slips, and Waldo Dumbsquat too.

The doolies were nestled all snug in their chairs, While visions of vacation took over their cares.

And Warren in his bathrobe, and Regs in his vest, Had just filled their brains for a long winter’s test.

And then, in a twinkling, Regs heard in the hall The CQ and DI braced on the wall.

As he drew in his head, and was turning around, From the alcove Colonel Dumbsquat came with a bound.

When down in the quad there arose such a clatter, Regs sprang from his desk to see what was the matter.

Away to the window he flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

He was 35-10, from his head to his heel, And his clothes were all ironed, the creases cut steel.

A bundle of forms he had tight in his hand, And he looked like a pilot, just ready to land.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to his PQ eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

He was chiseled and lean, no need for PHYS ED, Warren and Regs snapped to attention instead!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave them to know they had nothing to dread.

With an awesome full colonel, a mission he’d plot, Regs knew in a moment it must be Dumbsquat.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And signed all the forms, then turned with a jerk.

And laying a hand aside of his brow, saluted the doolies as if they knew how.

“Now ECON! now, COM SCI! now, PHYSICS and AERO! On, ENGLISH! On, MIL STU! on DOUBLE E and ASTRO! To the top of the dorm! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

The colonel sprang down the stairwell, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But Regs heard him exclaim, as he departed the scene “Happy Christmas to all, and to all Beat the Dean!”

usafa.org

cadet Life

VOICES of the Holocaust

Last summer four cadets traveled to Europe to learn about the legacy of

the Holocaust and the Consequences of military decision-making.

Written and photographed by David Bergeman

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“It is not something that I was able to

fully comprehend by the conclusion of the trip and it is still something I work to understand today.

”

V

isitors to Auschwitz I are immediately transfixed by the ignominious “arbeit macht frei” gateway. The cruel lie that “work will set you free” initiates a descent into the pitch-black depths of the most abhorrent minds in human history. It also provides visitors with the opportunity to seek answers and reflect on some of the most difficult ethical questions imaginable at a place where an estimated 1.5 million people died.

This past summer, four cadets traveled to Europe to learn more about the Holocaust and the moral and ethical dilemmas of war through the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation’s American Service Academies Program (ASAP). Cadets First Class Blake Abrecht, Jessica Adams, Nathan Orrill and Regan Rogers learned lessons that changed their lives forever—and left them asking “why?”

In 2012, Blake Abrecht traveled to Israel, where he had the opportunity to visit the Yad Veshem and study the Holocaust from the Jewish perspective.

“It disturbed me when I realized that my knowledge of the Holocaust, which I had previously considered to be adequate, was extremely limited,” explains Abrecht.

Political Science major Nathan Orrill applied for a position in the program for similar reasons.

“The questions of war, conflict resolution, and democracy are my primary areas of study,” adds Orrill. “World War II is the ideal case study in which these questions can be analyzed. Despite my enthusiasm for studying these years of conflict, I realized my knowledge of the Holocaust was lacking, a fact which would only be reaffirmed drastically after the conclusion of the trip.”

The cadets and peers from West Point, Navy and Coast Guard began the program in the U.S. with visits to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. and the Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in New York City. They then traveled to Slovakia and Poland to explore the area’s rich Jewish heritage and learn about life under Nazi occupation and, later, communism.

Regan Rogers and the rest of the cadets where amazed at what they found in the travels and meetings with local leaders and historians.

“It was quite sobering to realize the emptiness of the region today,” Rogers says. “For me, this was particularly emphasized in the Jewish synagogues

Checkpoints

The main entrance to Auschwitz II (Birkenau).

This photo, taken from within the camp, shows the “Gate of Death” from the perspective of the prisoner loading dock.

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cadet Life

“I now know the full power and scope my decisions will have on people’s lives. I now understand the disastrous consequences poor

ethical leadership can have on a

unit, a nation, and a people.

”

and cemeteries. Most of the synagogues we visited had only survived the war because they had been converted into warehouses. Many cemeteries we saw were reconstructed after being totally, and purposely, destroyed—many of the headstones in shards after being used as paving stones.”

Orrill echoed Roger’s sentiments: “Of the over three millions Jews in pre-war Poland, roughly 25,000 live there today in scattered communities. The scale of the destruction that took place from 1939-1945 is absolutely staggering. It is not something that I was able to fully comprehend by the conclusion of the trip and it is still something I work to understand today.”

The fellowship concluded at the Auschwitz Jewish Center in Oświęcim where the cadets toured the Auschwitz-Birkenau camps, took part in workshops, and met with survivors. The cadets collectively agree that nothing could have prepared them for what was waiting beyond the gate at the infamous Nazi death camps.

“Moments before stepping under the ‘arbeit macht frei’ sign, I thought I was ready for what I was about to see and feel,” says Orrill. “In all honestly, I was completely unprepared for the onslaught of emotions I experienced. Even today, I still struggle to find the appropriate words to describe my feelings. I was angry, disgusted, saddened and frustrated. I felt lonely and cold, despite the sun and people beside me. I felt sick and

Top: a display of the uniforms and pictures of the concentration camp victims. Middle: artificial limbs which belonged to the people brought to Auschwitz for extermination. Bottom: suitcases displayed at Auschwitz I, most taken from prisoners upon their arrival at the camps.

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confused. It was like a thrashing sea of emotions colliding with one another, numbing my senses.

Despair reeked from every crevice of that wicked place. It radiated hate, ignorance, fear, and intolerance. From seeing the worn leather shoes of the countless victims who would meet their end in the gas chambers, to the actual human hair collected by the Russians after the camp’s liberation, the emotion was almost too much to handle.”

The cadets had the opportunity to meet with survivors of various concentration camps in addition to a Righteous Gentile and a Rwandan genocide survivor. All of their interactions with these amazing people were affecting, but one woman, a Holocaust survivor named Manya, left an extra strong imprint in their minds.

“She was asked whether she hated the people who killed her family, her people, and ruined her life,” says Abrecht. “This woman, with a defined resiliency, quietly said that while she will never forget and will never be able to forgive the perpetrators of the Holocaust, she did not hate these people. She did not hate them because, as she said, hatred breeds pain and does not allow for recovery.

I sat and thought about what she said, and realized that had I been in the same situation, I do not know if I would have been able to respond in such a wise and thoughtful manner.”

All of the cadets believe they will be better future officers because of their fellowship experience.

“It is critical to be open-minded, compassionate, and understanding,” says Rogers. “I think that too often we get used to a set way of thinking and we become distrustful of change. Rather, we should constantly question the ideals that dictate our actions and be receptive of new ideas.”

“The Holocaust could have never happened had some amount of complicity not been present among the military command, personnel, and civilian population,” Abrecht says. “With this in mind, I realize that one person acting in an ethical manner does not guarantee that unethical events will not occur. Many people refused to comply with the events of the Holocaust; however, it was still able to occur on a frightening scale. Because of this, I want to share my experiences with as many of my peers that I can, understanding that creating, fostering, and furthering a culture of ethical leadership will have the largest impact on our Air Force.”

As with all summer research programs in which cadets participate, one of the tenets of this experi-

ence was to foster a more robust worldview. When these future officers recount their journey in the future, their time as participants in ASAP will continue to broaden their perspectives and shape their lives.

“In respect to leadership,” says Orrill, “I now know the full power and scope my decisions will have on people’s lives. I now understand the disastrous consequences poor ethical leadership can have on a unit, a nation, and a people. ASAP taught me the importance of standing up for what is right and moral and having the courage to face your objectors with steadfast resolve. In a few short months, I will enter active duty service as a second lieutenant and will be responsible for my actions and the actions of those below me. But more importantly, as I learned from this program, I must never turn a blind eye to injustice, no matter where it occurs, whether with my airmen, my peers, or my superiors. If only the people of Germany would have stood up to the hate and ignorance of the Nazis, the tragedy of the Holocaust could have been averted.” _______________________________________ Editor’s note: In 2003, Academy graduate Richard Abramson ’68 was approached by Auschwitz Jewish Center Presidents Fred Schwartz and Jim Schreiber with the idea of creating a program which would allow cadets from across all American service academies to visit Auschwitz and study the Holocaust. Abramson brought the concept to then-Commandant of Cadets Maj. Gen. Johnny Weida ’78 who worked with sister academies to help get ASAP off the ground. The privately funded program, which costs approximately $150,000 a year to support, has now provided 120 cadets with the opportunity to study the Holocaust and related contemporary moral and ethical dilemmas.

To learn how you can help support the program visit ajcf.org/education-center/programs/academy.

C1C Jessica Adams, C1C Nathan Orrill, C1C Blake Abrecht, and C1C Regan Rogers in the mountains of Poland during their threeweek study trip as part of the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation’s American Service Academies Program.

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heritage

Doolittle Raiders Honored with “Final Toast”

By Desiree N. Palacios, Air Force News Service

T

he Air Force hosted the famed Doolittle Tokyo Raiders’ final toast to their fallen comrades during an invitationonly ceremony Nov. 9 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

“Tonight is a night of conflicting emotions: pride in our Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, sorrow at the end of a mission and a myriad of other emotions,” retired Maj. Lloyd Bryant, the Master of Ceremonies, said as he opened the ceremony.

On April 18, 1942, 80 men achieved the unimaginable when they took off from an aircraft carrier on a top secret mission to bomb Japan. These men, led

by Lt. Col. James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle, came to be known as the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders.

The ceremony was attended by three of the four living Doolittle Tokyo Raiders: retired Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole, the copilot of Aircraft No. 1; Lt. Col. Edward J. Saylor, the engineer-gunner of Aircraft No. 7; and Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher, the engineer-gunner of Aircraft No. 7. The fourth living Doolittle Raider, retired Lt. Col. Robert L. Hite, the copilot of Aircraft No. 16, could not attend the ceremony due to health issues.

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“The Doolittle Raiders are the epitome of this innovation spirit of Airmanship. We owe these 80 men as well as their army and navy teammates a debt of gratitude,” said Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning. “Gentlemen, once again, thank you for what you did for your country.

“Thank you for representing all those you served with and thank you for inspiring all of us everyday since then. Godspeed.”

Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III ’76 followed Fanning.

“As far as I’m concerned, this is the greatest professional honor I’ve ever had to speak here with this crowd at this event,” Welsh said.

“The very first book I read as a young guy was Thirty Seconds over Tokyo. It was given to me by my father, also a World War II vet, with the words that I should read it closely because this is this what America is all about. I’ve never forgotten those words.

“The Doolittle raiders have been celebrated in book and in journals … in magazines … in various papers.

They’ve had buildings named after them … had streets named after them. People play them in movies.

Retired Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole opens the 1896 bottle of cognac before the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders shared their last and final toast at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Nov. 9, 2013 in Dayton, Ohio. Cole was the copilot of Aircraft No. 1. (U.S. Air Force photo/Desiree N. Palacios)

“They hate to hear this, but Jimmy Doolittle and his Raiders are truly lasting American heroes, but they are also Air Force heroes. They pioneered the concept of global strike … the idea that no target on earth is safe from American air power.

“In the last two weeks gentlemen, I’ve received emails from a number of today’s bomber crew members. They asked me to assure you and your families this evening that your legacy is strong and safe with them.

Welsh ended his speech by thanking the Raiders for their service to the nation.

“Sir (Cole), for you and the brothers beside you … your service was a gift to a nation at war … the family and friends who stood proudly beside you since and to hundreds of thousands of American Airmen who continue to stand on your shoulders and hope to live to your example. Airpower … the raiders showed us the way,” he said.

Fanning and Welsh presented the Doolittle Raiders with an Eagle as a token of their appreciation and gratitude.

Cole was then asked to open the 1896 Cognac and give a toast. The year of the bottle of cognac is Doolittle’s birth year.

“Gentlemen, I propose a toast,” Cole said. “To the gentlemen we lost on the mission and those who have passed away since.

“Thank you very much and may they rest in peace,” he ended.

The 80 silver goblets in the ceremony were presented to the Raiders in 1959 by the city of Tucson, Ariz. The Raiders’ names are engraved twice, the second upsidedown. During the ceremony, white-gloved cadets poured cognac into the participants’ goblets. Those of the deceased were turned upside-down.

The Doolittle Raiders received a standing ovation from the crowd, but before closing the ceremony retired Col. Carroll “C.V” Glines, the historian for the Doolittle Raiders and a distinguished author, said, “This concludes the ceremony and also completes a mission.”

NOW AVAILABLE WITH YOUR CLASS CREST! Did you know that USAA has a credit card that gives back to AOG? Better yet, it’s now available with your class crest!

Go to: www.usaa.com/aog to learn more and apply for the AOG USAA Rewards™ World MasterCard ®.

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from the terrazzo

Final clause in cadet Honor Oath

MADE OPTIONAL

By Maj. Brus E. Vidal Air Force Academy Public Affairs

After reviewing the cadet Honor Oath, and in the spirit of determining a way ahead that enables all to be true to their beliefs, the Air Force’s Academy has decided to make the final clause optional.

“Here at the Academy, we work to build a culture of dignity and respect, and that respect includes the ability of our cadets, Airmen and civilian Airmen to freely practice and exercise their religious preference—or not.” said Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson ’81. “So in the spirit of respect, cadets may or may not choose to finish the Honor Oath with ‘So help me God.’” “At the Air Force Academy, we produce lieutenants for our Air Force and leaders for our nation, so our focus here continues to be on developing leaders of character,” Johnson said. “This all begins by living honorably. The Honor Code and Honor Oath reinforce this fundamental value.”

The Honor Code, “We will not lie, steal or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does,” was formally adopted by the Academy’s first graduating class of 1959. It is the minimum standard of conduct cadets expect of themselves and their fellow cadets.

In 1984, the Cadet Wing voted to add an “Honor Oath” for all cadets to take. It is administered to the entire Cadet Wing when they are formally accepted into the wing at the conclusion of Basic Cadet Training. The oath consists of a statement of the 86

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Honor Code, followed by a resolution for cadets to live honorably. It reads: “We will not lie, steal or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does.

Furthermore, I resolve to do my duty and to live honorably, so help me God.” Dr. Hans Mueh ’66, athletic director at the Academy, was a lieutenant colonel assigned to the Academy’s Chemistry Department in 1984.

“In 1984, we had a situation in a Physics 411 course that resulted in widespread allegations of cheating, the doctor said. “It was so widespread that the superintendent, Lt. Gen. Skip Scott, suspended the code and granted amnesty for a short period of time to allow all cadets to report previous violations of their personal honor.

“This was done to assess the state of the Code in the wing,” Dr. Mueh said. “As a result of that feedback, the superintendent established an Honor Committee, chaired by Col. Jim Woody, professor and head of Management, to change the way we administer the Code.”

Mueh, who sat on that committee, said the committee determined that some additional clout was needed for this oath. The committee determined the phrase “we will not” was necessary to begin the code in order to drive home the collective responsibility of all cadets to not tolerate lying, cheating or stealing and to personally accept the individual mandate to live with honor, character and integrity.

Mueh said that addition led to, “and furthermore, I resolve to do my duty and live honorably.”

“Then, to add more seriousness to the oath, we decided to mirror the commissioning oath and add the words, ‘so help me God,’” Mueh said.

The existence of the Honor Code presents many privileges and responsibilities to each cadet. A cadet’s word is accepted as the truth at all times. Academic scores can truly reflect a cadet’s individual effort and knowledge because each cadet is expected to adhere to the Honor Code. This adherence extends to a responsibility to confront other cadets on suspected violations of the Code. Such confrontations often result in

a simple clarification of a misunderstanding, and each cadet learns the value of clear communications in all situations.

From the moment cadets enter the Academy, they begin an education process designed to help them understand the responsibilities and expectations associated with the Honor Code. To emphasize the magnitude of leading a life of honor, character and integrity, cadets—as potential future officers—receive extensive character and leadership instruction and those same values are inculcated into all military training and extracurricular activities.

The Academy’s Center for Character and Leadership Development provides classroom, seminar, workshop and experiential-based learning programs to all cadets, beginning when they enter Basic Cadet Training and this continues each year through the final semester at the Academy. The center’s programs, when coupled with the Honor Code and Honor System, establish a foundation for the “leaders of character” that the Academy aspires to produce.

“Cadets must meet Academy standards— honor, physical fitness, academics and military aptitude—in order to be a cadet in good standing,” said Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Gregory Lengyel. “Holding each cadet to these high standards promotes good order and discipline throughout the institution.”

The Honor Code is a vital part of cadets’ development as military professionals, Lengyel said. It also represents a broader aspect of ethical maturity which will serve them throughout their lives. As the bearers of the public trust, both as cadets and as officers, it is the Honor Code which helps build a personal integrity able to withstand the rigorous demands placed upon them.

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Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor visits the Academy.

By Amber Baillie, Academy Spirit staff writer

U.S.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor (right) sits next to Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson ’81 (middle) during a forum in Fairchild Hall August 29th. The justice talked about her experiences as one of nine current U.S. Supreme Court justices. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Sarah Chambers) U.S. Supreme Court associate justice Sonia Sotomayor held an open forum for approxi“Our justice is not about mately 50 cadets and 20 faculty members from finding a just answer the Academy’s Law and Political Science DepartAugust 29th to share her experiences because, in the courtroom, ments and field questions about life as a justice on the there is a winner of a nation’s highest court. case and a loser of a case. “The law, especially when you’re practicing and a part of the Supreme Court, is something Because there is always that is justice in a very different way than most a loser, there is a sense of people understand,” she said to her audience in Hall. “Our justice is not about finding humility that I have. First Fairchild a just answer because, in the courtroom, there is being that I don’t have all a winner of a case and a loser of a case. Because the answers and second there is always a loser, there is a sense of humility I have. First being that I don’t have all the that the work I do has that answers and second that the work I do has limits limits in the ways I can in the ways I can help our society. To give me help our society. To give some comfort in what I do, I come to speak to young people like you. You inspire me.” me some comfort in what The U.S. Supreme Court hears 65-80 cases I do, I come to speak to a term and each justice has a different way of for an argument, Sotomayor said. young people like you.” preparing “I read my briefs when my law clerks do,” she Sonia Sotomayor, Associate said. “I interact personally with my law clerks, Justice of the Supreme Court telling them what my reactions are to the briefs,

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Supreme Court associate justice Sonia Sotomayor (right) poses with Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson ’81 during a visit to the Air Force Academy Aug. 29.

Sotomayor held an open forum for approximately 50 cadets and 20 faculty members from the Academy’s Law and Political Science Departments to share her experiences about life as a justice on the nation’s highest court. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Sarah Chambers)

Court

Photo illustration by Sarah Larrabee

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what questions I want them to focus on, and what issues I think parties may have not covered adequately. That way, when they’re writing memos, they already have an idea of what I will need.”

One cadet at the forum wanted to know the challenges Sotomayor faced growing up in poverty and as a minority.

“The greatest obstacle is lack of knowledge,” Sotomayor said.

“It’s about figuring out how to live your life where you’re expanding your knowledge about your opportunities. It was difficult learning English as a second language and having immigrant parents. Growing up, the only Academy I knew about was West Point. But today the world is different, and there is more than West Point. The biggest obstacle is not being limited by your circumstances. It’s about understanding there are things available to you that you didn’t even know existed, and to have that personal confidence to dream big, be bold and try new things.”

Sotomayor said many inner city school children know nothing about opportunities such as the Air Force Academy.

“That’s why when I visit inner city schools, I try and talk to kids about these opportunities,” she said. “It still takes a bit of self-initiative to learn what is out there.”

The associate justice said she hopes people remember her as someone who made the U.S. Supreme Court more accessible.

“I meet with students from grammar schools, middle schools, high schools and colleges because I think that’s the greatest legacy I

can leave behind,” Sotomayor said. “In regards to what I hope my legacy will be as a justice, I don’t know because that’s preordaining an answer that I somehow want to create. I like the legal system and I want to uphold it with honor. I would like my opinions to be remembered for their clarity.”

Sotomayor chose to practice law because it’s where she finds personal fulfillment and intellectual gratification, she said.

“I knew I wanted to be a lawyer when I was 10 years old,” she said. “One of my favorite characters was Nancy Drew (a character in a fictional mystery series). I loved her because I loved puzzles and figuring out how things fit together, helping people puzzle out their lives and relationships. That’s how I see the law. To me the law is service to your clients in society.”

Major Eric Merriam, an assistant professor in the Academy’s Law Department, said numerous cadets and faculty have expressed gratitude for Sotomayor’s visit.

“Many have commented it was an experience they’ll likely never forget,” Merriam said. “The Department of Law’s primary purpose for inviting Justice Sotomayor was for cadets to learn about the law and legal process from the perspective of someone at the pinnacle of the legal profession. Also, Justice Sotomayor’s personal story is so moving and her visit accomplished the additional purpose of inspiring cadets to strive for excellence and to reach for their dreams.”

Help Strengthen the Next Generation of the Academy’s new Prop and Wings Officer Program Long Blue Line The teams Admissions with graduates The United States Air Force Academy is one of the most selective, diverse colleges in the nation, but this reputation does not come easily. It takes effort and dedication from professionals across the Academy, to include the admissions directorate and their aggressive search for young men and women who are likely to succeed in this challenging environment and have a desire to serve something greater than themselves.

Orchestrating this effort is the USAFA Director of Admissions, Colonel Carolyn A. M. Benyshek ’87. She leads a 60-person staff and a corps of 1,500-plus Admissions Liaison Officers (ALO) in the mission to educate communities about the Academy and eventually attract, mentor, and evaluate potential applicants. One of the newest efforts to accomplish this, and potentially most exciting for graduates, is the recently instituted Prop and Wings Officer (PWO) Program.

This collaborative program was created to provide USAFA alumni a sanctioned venue to reach out to prospective cadets, parents, community leaders, and school officials with information about their alma mater. The Admissions directorate would like to team up with alumni and utilizing your passion, experience, and enthusiasm for the institution. Each PWO will receive training, access to the latest USAFA updates and trends, navigation through the www.academyadmissions.com website, and application process. Simply stated, Academy Admissions wants to join forces with the Long Blue Line of USAFA graduates to inspire students to consider USAFA as their college of choice.

You will be expected to actively participate in outreach efforts that support USAFA Admissions programs and the ALO force. Specific responsibilities will be determined by the regional leadership based on the area needs and the PWO’s desire and availability to participate.

We need your passion, experience, enthusiasm, a little bit of your time, and willingness to find effective avenues to motivate community influencers and identify highly motivated applicants.

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For more information, contact: Bob Kay at robert.kay78@gmail.com

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October’s government shutdown disrupts all facets of Academy life. By David Bergeman The Air Force Academy was the butt of a few jokes because of a shortage of toilet paper during October’s 16-day government shutdown, but the effects felt at the Academy were anything but a laughing matter. The shutdown, which began on October 1st, was just the latest byproduct of sequestration to rear its head at USAFA where it became immediately apparent that there would be a wave of challenges impacting everyone on base.

There was initial concern that the October 5th football game at Navy would be cancelled. USAA stepped in to donate $230,000 for the team to travel to Annapolis. While the donation was greatly appreciated, the Academy was left in a difficult position as 1,000 civilian workers on base were left unpaid and flying operations and classes had been cancelled.

In the end, Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson ’81 noted that the decision to play the game was made at very high levels. The game (Navy 28-Air Force 10) lacked the pageantry that it has become known for. There were no Air Force cheerleaders, band, or vocal cadet cheering section. The Superintendent herself did not make the trip. The team, which was left in limbo much of the week leading up to the rivalry game, went without several key trainers.

In academics and flight training, 330 workers were furloughed leading to the cancellation of 60 classes. Introductory flight training was suspended and the cadet library was closed for a period of time. Laundry service was not operational and the base fitness center and commissary were closed as well.

On October 7th, 950 Air Force Academy employees returned to work. In a press release from the Academy, Superintendent Johnson noted the pressure the shutdown was placing on the institution.

“Having more than two-thirds of our employees not here to support the Air Force’s Academy mission to produce lieutenants for our Air Force and our nation has been tremendously

disruptive,” Johnson said. “While the progress to bring back more than 950 people is encouraging, our thoughts go out to our teammates who are still at home without pay.”

The burdens of the shutdown were heavily carried on the backs of cadets. Classes were combined to ensure they could continue while professors were furloughed. Some cadets had to deal with courses being suspended indefinitely. Out of necessity, professors left some of these cadets with just a list of assignments and the hope that the shutdown would soon end.

Sporting events, including soccer and tennis matches, were cancelled until October 9th when the DoD advised the Academy that they could resume their intercollegiate athletic contests. The nonprofit Air Force Academy Athletic Corp. played an important role in making this happen because, with their 501(c)(3) status, they were able to cover funding gaps until the crisis ended.

The shutdown did end on October 16th when President Obama signed into law a bill approved by Congress and the Senate to reopen the federal government and avert an unprecedented debt default. At the Academy, there is optimism that the long-term effects of the debacle will be minimal. There was a possibility that the Academy could have lost its academic accreditation, but fortunately that did not occur. Graduation for the Class of 2014 is expected to take place on time and training, classes, and athletic schedules have returned to normal.

The Academy immediately identified the furloughed employee who was in charge of reordering supplies, such as toilet paper, and got the problem solved posthaste. Hopefully, in a few months the only remaining trace of the shutdown will be an Internet clip of a USAFA inspired “Saturday Night Live” joke. Sequestration, however, will be an issue the Academy will be stressed by for years to come.

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Bonus content

The Last

Prop Fighter

The story of the Air Force’s A-1 Skyraider in Southeast Asia and the USAFA Connection.

Written by Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Randy Jayne ’66, Air National Guard

The War in Southeast Asia

was a very personal thing for a generation of USAFA graduates, from members of the first class in 1959 through classes in the early 1970’s. From the mid-60’s through the early 70’s, noon meal formation staff tower announcements sadly chronicled the loss or MIA or POW status of dozens and dozens of members of our Long Blue Line. A very large percentage of each class from 1959 through 1970 served in the combat theater, “in country” in South Vietnam, or in nearby Thailand, with its large number of USAF bases and combat wings, or covertly in other assignments in the theater. Many others flew combat missions in SAC and MAC operating out of Guam or other USAF Pacific bases. In that war, all of the tactical fighter aircraft and units were jets, from the venerable F-100 to the “newest” F-4 models, the USAF F-4E and the F-111, with one very notable exception. For just over nine years, Air Force pilots operated one propeller-driven fighter, the Douglas A-1 Skyraider, and this is the story of that airplane, its pilots, units, and missions.

The Douglas A-1 Skyraider was originally a Navy attack plane, conceived in the last months of World War II, and flown worldwide by Navy units between wars and in combat in Korea in the 1950’s. Over 3,000 were delivered, including a combination of single seat and two seat attack models and specialized electronic warfare birds.

Initial Navy combat deployments to Southeast Asia in response to the Tonkin Gulf incident in 1964 saw each carrier use one or more Skyraider squadrons on attack missions in North and South Vietnam. As the Navy drew down its A-1 force usafa.org

in the 1964-68 time frame, the USAF Air Commando force—the precursor to today’s Special Operations Command—took the A-1 into our Air Force, given its unique combination of close air support accuracy and persistence and low altitude survivability.

Compared to other USAF combat fighter/attack planes, the A-1’s history with our Air Force was relatively brief. When the US sent the first surplus Navy Skyraiders to the South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) in the early sixties, along with a handful of US advisors, an era began that would span nine

Left: The Proud American was by far our most revered airplane in the 1st SOS fleet, because it was the A-1H that had been flown by Lt Col William A. Jones III in late 1968 on his Medal of Honor mission in Dong Hoi, NVN, on the rescue of a friend of mine, F-4 pilot Captain Jack Wilson. It was indeed an honor to fly that bird, and most of us, particularly those of us who were Sandy Leads, got to fly it often.

Sadly, 738 departed controlled flight in northern Laos in late 1972, and 1Lt (later General and Joint Forces Command CINC) Lance Smith successfully extracted from it and was recovered back to NKP.

years and over 90,000 USAF combat sorties, and a peak intensity of over a thousand Air Force Skyraider combat sorties a month. Throughout this period, a small number of USAF pilots, including at least thirty seven USAFA grads, flew combat in the A-1.1 While approximately one thousand pilots attended the 4407th Combat Crew Training Squadron Skyraider upgrade program at Hurlburt Field over those years, best estimates are that only about seven hundred—less than one hundred during an average combat year-actually ended up flying the Skyraider in Southeast Asia (SEA)— many others went to staff roles at 7th AF, 7th/13th AF, MACV, Task Force Alpha, and wing and base level command posts.

For USAF Skyraider pilots, it was not, by any measure, a “milk run” kind of combat tour. We are all familiar with the fortitude and perseverance of our USAF F-105 Thunderchief pilots, whose predominantly North Vietnam mission assignments led to the Thud having the highest overall combat loss rate in the war, 2.1 per 1000 SEA sorties.2 What is less well known, however, is that A-1 suffered the highest loss rates for missions in North Vietnam compared to F-105, F-100, F-4, and all other USAF and USN aircraft recorded—7.2 for USAF A-1’s, 4.5 for the Hun, 3.3 for the Thud, and 1.7 for the Phantom. The A-1 loss rates in Laos and South Vietnam were also the highest of any combat aircraft, Air Force or Navy/Marine.

The Skyraider overall SEA loss rate was 1.7, second to the Thud at 2.1. This comparison is driven by the much larger number of Thud sorties flown “up North” as a percent of F-105 total combat sorties in the theater, compared to all other aircraft types. The A-1’s 1.7 overall SEA mission loss rate was essentially double the next three combat aircraft—USN A-6 at 0.9; USN F-8 at 0.8; and USAF F-4 and RF-4 at 0.8. The Vietnam Memorial Wall bears the names of 104 USAF Skyraider pilots— approximately one out of every seven who flew an A-1 combat tour-and forty US Navy pilots killed in action in Southeast Asia as well.3 On the other side of these somber statistics is a benefit that all of us A-1 pilots fully appreciated— when USAF measured the number of aircraft lost as a percentage of aircraft hit by groundfire or SAM’s, the A-1 was by far the most survivable when hit, more than double the statistics for the F-105, F-100, F-4, etc. Skyraider combat losses totaled 157 aircraft, 94 in Laos, 19 in North Vietnam (NVN), and 44 in South Vietnam (SVN).

Over eighty A-1 pilots were rescued, including 50 in Laos, nine in NVN, and twenty two in SVN.4 If you’re doing the math, the reason for 104 combat deaths, 157 aircraft lost, and over eighty aviators recovered is that a number of A-1 sorties in the E and G two seat models, particularly in SVN, had two pilots on board. 

1. Apologies if any USAFA grads have been unintentionally omitted from this list—it is based on the best information available from A-1 CCTS training records, USAFA AOG Graduate Register data, and our collective memories.

2. All of the loss rate, battle damage, and shoot down/survival data in this article is taken from the now-declassified “A Comparative Analysis of USAF Fixed Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast Asia Combat” (U), document number AFFDL-TR-77-115, December 1977: http://www. dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/c016682.pdf 3. In addition being etched on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC, these 144 names is memorialized on a plaque at the A-1 Skyraider Memorial at Hurlburt Field, FL. See http://www.skyraider.org/skyassn/menlost.htm 4. A Comparative Analysis of USAF Fixed Wing…. IBID, pp. 39-42, 57-62.

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THE LAST Prop Fighter Above: An aerial shot of the parking ramp at NKP when there were multiple A-1 squadrons there. Note the PSP planking—it was very much like ice on a skating rink during the Monsoon wet season, and turning and stopping the big taildragger could be very embarassing for the Skyraider pilot that was not devoting total attention to the process.

By the time I arrived a year later, heavy reinforced revetments had been built in this spot to protect each individual A-1, but the surface was still PSP.

In his recent book on the A-1, Bryon “Hook” Hukee notes that the 602nd SOS, which pioneered the Sandy search and rescue mission tactics and execution, on the one hand saved dozens and dozens of downed aviators, many in extremely high threat environments in NVN and Laos. On the other, the Fireflies paid a huge price. From June 1965 to December, 1966, the 602nd lost 35 A-1’s, with 20 pilots either KIA or MIA. By the time the 602nd had moved to NKP and later was inactivated in December, 1970, those losses had risen to seventy seven Skyraiders and 38 pilots, loss rate statistics matched only, as best I can tell, in some of the F-105 Thunderchief squadrons or the F-100 Misty FAC’s “going North” during these same months.5 usafa.org

Overall combat search and rescue in SEA —the Air Force and Navy versions of “leave no one behind”— was surprisingly effective, even with the technologies and equipment of the time. In the entire conflict, over 2,700 airmen were shot down.

Just over half of those, 50.5 percent, survived. Of those survivors, four out of every five were rescued, sometimes by the USAF SAR force—Sandies, Jollies, C-130 King, and FAC’s—and others by ad hoc “come as you are” combinations of on-scene aircraft and helicopters. The North Vietnam numbers are perhaps even more significant, and in some degrees more impressive. Of all aircrews downed in NVN, 60.8 percent survived. More than half of those survivors were rescued, even given the much higher threat environment of the enemy’s “home

territory”. For the vast majority of those rescues, A-1’s—both USAF and Navy earlier in the war— were the mission commanders and close support for the pickup helicopters.

One A-1 Skyraider Sandy Lead, then-Captain Ed Leonard, USAFA Class of 1960, led the rescue effort for a Navy A-7 pilot, Kenny Wayne Fields, shot down in May of 1968 near Tchepone, a notorious choke point on the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Central Laos. When Fields was ultimately rescued by the USAF SAR force after four days on the ground, 189 sorties were flown, seven aircraft lost or severely damaged, and Ed Leonard was shot down, captured and imprisoned in Hanoi. Fields’ telling of this harrowing story gives great insight into Ed Leonard’s bravery, and the SAR mission and the respective roles of A-1’s, Jolly Green Giant helicopters, FAC’s, C-130 King birds, and supporting strike aircraft, along with the entire USAF command and control structure.6 A-1 survivability rates-even in situations where planes were disabled on SAR or close air support sorties below one thousand feet above the ground-were bolstered by a remarkable insertion of technology into the 1950’s era Skyraiders. The original Navy and USAF A-1 pilots had no ejection seat, and literally had to “step over the side” and activate their parachute, a la World War II style bailouts. In 1967, after over three years of combat sorties in SEA by both Navy and USAF Skyraiders, the A-1 was retrofitted with a remarkable Stanley Aviation Yankee Extraction System.

The Yankee used a small spin-stabilized rocket to “pull” or “extract” the pilot and parachute upward and out of the cockpit with nylon cables attached to the parachute harness, and then used an explosive charge to rapidly deploy the parachute canopy immediately after the pilot cleared the fuselage.

The low altitude, unusual attitude performance of the Yankee System—1.7 seconds from activation to full chute deployment-- proved to be a huge factor in improving survival rates for the pilots of stricken Skyraiders.7 Rube Goldberg has nothing on the Stanley engineers, and those of us who used the Yankee are forever indebted to this amazing inventiveness. 

Above: The Lack of Oil Leak shot shows very young Capt. Randy Jayne, at 6 feet 4 inches, and gives a perspective on just how big the Skyraider really is. Any A-1 without oil running down the sides of the fuselage behind the engine was suspect-you wanted it to leak freely-the oil sump held 38.5 gallons, or 270 pounds, of oil. Our longest six hour sorties would end up requiring servicing of up to thirty replacement gallons. For long cross countries-fortunately, I never flew one-a third external fuel tank could be added, and at that point, oil, not Av Gas, was the range-limiting factor for the Skyraider!

5. USAF and VNAF A-1 Skyraider Units of the Vietnam War, Byron E. Hukee, Osprey Publishing, 2013, p. 53 6. The Rescue of Streetcar 304, Kenny Wayne Fields, Naval Institute Press, 2007, pp. 306-308.

7. See http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html for a brief description and photos of the Yankee System installation and operation.

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THE LAST Prop Fighter

The A-1 was powered by the Pratt & Whitney RD-3350 with its 13 foot, 6 inch four blade propeller, and its pilots had a particular swagger and esprit of the bygone prop era. However, that same spirit and bravado, in the face of highly dangerous missions, led to issues back in the CONUS. Because of its “love” of jet aircraft and sometimes blatant dislike of the “prop guys,” the leadership of then-Tactical Air Command (now Air Combat Command) looked down upon the Air Commando/Special Operations part of the force.

This led to a good number of early Skyraider pilot assignments to people who had been flying other big recips—C-47, C-54, KC-97, etc., as opposed to front line TAC fighter pilots. Early on, the number of Lt’s straight out of UPT was very small.

Later, in the 1970-72 timeframe, more Lt’s secured A-1 assignments right after receiving their wings.

Another significant source of Skyraider pilots was the old Air Defense Command, where highly experienced F-101, F-102, and F-106 interceptor pilots ended up in the A-1 as well. A fourth source of Skyraider pilots came from experienced ATC FAIP’s (“First Assignment IP’s”) who had served three to five years as instructors, right out of their UPT classes. The USAFA graduate Skyraider alumni are an interesting cross-section of all four of these backgrounds.

Over the course of the war between 1964 and 1972, USAF A-1 combat operations were flown first by advisors to VNAF units in SVN, and later, by four squadrons, early in the war named Air Commando Squadrons, and later changed to Special Operations Squadrons, the title that remains usafa.org

in our service’s Special Operations Force structure today. The 1st SOS Hobos, the 602nd SOS Fireflies, the 6th SOS Spads, and the 22nd SOS Zorros operated throughout the combat theater, flying strike, close air support, special operations, and Search and Rescue (SAR) missions in North Vietnam, Laos, South Vietnam, and Cambodia. The Hobos started out at Bien Hoa, South Vietnam flying T-28’s and A-26’s, and in 1964, transitioned to the A-1. That same year, the brand- new 602nd ACS stood up at Bien Hoa as the second Skyraider unit.

The third Air Commando Squadron flying the Skyraider was the 6th ACS, which formed at Pleiku, SVN in February, 1968. The 6th, with twenty aircraft and twenty five pilots, operated a detachment at Danang, and in late 1969, was disbanded and the planes and pilots transferred to Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base (“NKP”). In its short eighteen month existence, the 6th lost twelve pilots in combat, almost half of its normal manning.

In addition to these four A-1 squadrons, other USAF Skyraider pilots—including ’60 grad Mike Clarke-- flew as advisors to VNAF squadrons, and in other short term alert and Forward Operating Location situations at a variety of airbases in South Vietnam prior to 1969.

Later in the conflict, as the CIA-directed US war effort in support of General Vang Pao’s Hmong tribesmen in Northern Laos heated up, so did the effort to interdict North Vietnamese supply lines in Laos. In Laos, operating very much in secret, the CIA-managed ground war demanded more and more close air support and covert special ops missions. At the behest of the US Ambassador to

Opposite Page: Classic Sandy ordnance load—on the left wing, below the two 20MM cannon on that side, and outboard of the big white center-line fuel tank, you will see, in order, the SUU-11 7.62mm Gatling gun pod, the seven-rocket LAU-59 pod of Willy Pete (white phosphorus) rockets, a 19-rocket LAU-3 pod of a combination of High Explosive and Armor Piercing rockets, and two CBU-25 pods. Because the Skyraider carried six hours of Av gas, and because the rockets and CBU bomblet tubes could be fired individually, one at a time, and because the four 20mm guns could be selected individually as well, an A-1 in a demanding close air support or SAR mission situation could literally make more than fifty “hot” passes, delivering ordnance on each, before being “Winchester” or “Bingo” Above Left: The Bat 21 SAR in April, 1972, was one of the most difficult and storied in the entire conflict, and in the end, the Air Force SAR force was unable to extract the lone EB-66 survivor, Lt Col Hamilton, who was finally rescued by Navy Seal Lt. Tom Norris, by water and land at night. We lost three A-1’s to SA-7 Strella shoulder fired SAM’s during that SAR, and a Jolly Green HH-53 and all souls aboard, and the picture shows my colleague and friend, the late Don Morse’ Skyraider after it took massive hits and a wing fire in the survivor area. The bird held together long enough to get Don back to Danang, and the bent props are the inevitable consequence of the hydraulic failure/gear will not extend landing and approach end cable engagement by the tailhook-equipped A-1. This bird never flew again.

Above Right: Close look at battle damage—I came back from a SAR mission, where I had been “trolling” at low altitude trying to induce enemy fire, so that we could suppress it prior to bringing in the Jolly Green Giant helicopters, and found, on shutdown, that I had a clean 12.7mm (“50 caliber”) machine gun round through one of the prop blades. Thankfully, that blade was in some position OTHER than centered on the cockpit and my head when the round hit it.

Laos and the CIA, the A-1 force grew in size, and relocated across the Mekong River to Thailand. In 1968, the 1st SOS moved from Pleiku, SVN to NKP on the Mekong River less than fifty miles from the heart of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos.8 The 602nd SOS, which had previously shifted from Bien Hoa to Nha Trang, SVN, also moved in late 1966 to Udorn RTAFB, and then in 1968 to NKP. 

8. See http://aircommandoman.tripod.com/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Nakhon_Phanom_Royal_Thai_Navy_Base for history and background on Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base and its units.

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THE LAST Prop Fighter usafa.org

Also in late 1968, USAF stood up its fourth A-1 combat squadron, the 22nd SOS Zorros, also at NKP. The 56th Special Operations Wing, home to a wide variety of special mission aircraft from CH-53’s and CH-3’s to C-119K gunships to C-123 flareships to QU-22B’s, thus became the Air Force’s first, last, and only large scale, three squadron A-1 Skyraider combat unit, with over seventy aircraft at its peak.9 The Raven FAC’s, living and flying covertly in Laos at a series of airfields, were attached to the 56th SOW as well.

NKP was a hub for USAF support for the air war in Laos, SAR missions across the theater, and a series of highly demanding special operations infiltration/exfiltration sorties for the Army’s MACV SOG, a special forces program of behind the lines recce, sabotage, road watch, and other covert functions. Flying with the NKP A-1’s on these SOG missions, code-named Heavy Hook and Prairie Fire, were USAF Forward Air Controllers—in first O-2’s and later OV-10’s-- from the 23rd TASS Nails, and CH-3’s and CH-53’s from the 21st SOS Knives, all in support of the MACV SOG Mobile Launch Team (MLT) 3, Heavy Hook, based a hundred yards from the NKP “Hobo Hootch” quarters of the 1st SOS.10 In November, 1970, the superbly executed but profoundly frustrating POW rescue raid on the North Vietnamese camp at Son Tay was launched from NKP, with the close air support provided by a force of five A-1 Skyraiders, call sign Peach 01-05, from the 1st SOS. The almost perfectly flown mission found a recently emptied camp.11 The A-1 pilots at NKP and Udorn had a special relationship with the in-country “air force” of the CIA in Laos, Air America. Air America flew a wide range of supply, medevac, recce, and other support for the Hmong forces in Northern Laos, and for the Royalist forces in central and southern parts of the country. Air America Huey and H-34 helos, and light STOL aircraft like Porters and Heliocouriers, flew dozens of sorties each day in and out of contested territory, and for protection, they frequently asked for a Skyraider flight, either before or after that A-1 flight had conducted a strike or close air support mission, to cover their ingress, ground time, and egress from a wide variety of Lima Sites and other locations throughout Laos.

Since the enemy was generally reluctant to fire on the unarmed Air America aircraft with two A-1’s, with 20mm cannon, 2.75 inch FFAR rockets, 7.62mm Gatling gun pods, White Phosphorus bombs, and CBU orbiting right overhead, this “cover” was generally highly effective, and understandably much appreciated by the Air America crews. The extent to which the support was

“returned” to the NKP A-1 force is very obvious.

During my one year tour from April to April, 1971-1972, all five of my 1st SOS Hobo colleagues who survived a shoot-down and extraction in the Skyraider were rescued quickly by Air America, long before our USAF SAR force of Sandies and Jollies could scramble from NKP, Ubon, or Danang and pick them up.

The Raven FAC’s in Laos were also special “brothers” to the A-1 force operating there. As is now widely known, the then-secret Raven program brought experienced FAC’s from throughout SEA, willing to extend for six more months, to a covert program operating out of a number of Laotian bases in support of the CIA’s war effort, and directing US and Laotian strike aircraft against a wide range of enemy targets. Interestingly enough, the now-declassified data on SEA combat sorties, loss rates, and other similar data does not seem to include the Raven’s and their remarkable covert work in O-1, L-19, and T-28 missions throughout Laos. It is reasonable to assume that, if such data were available, the battle damage and loss rates per 1000 sorties for these warriors look much like the F-105 and A-1 numbers noted earlier. The Ravens alumni roster includes a number of USAFA grads, as do their combat KIA statistics.12 It has been noted by others in the graduate community that this group was particularly highly decorated for many remarkable A-1 combat missions. A quick tally of the thirty seven AOG bios shows Skyraider pilots receiving one Air Force Cross (Jackson Hudson 64), twenty Silver Stars, eighty two Distinguished Flying Crosses, twelve Purple Hearts, and over four hundred Air Medals.

Prior to my own tour in the 1st SOS, two A-1 pilots from that squadron were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor (MOH) for their bravery under fire on Skyraider sorties. The story of Major Bernie Fisher is the stuff of legend. On March 10, 1966, while leading a flight of six A-1’s in support of US special forces being overrun in their forward base camp in the A Shau Valley in northern South Vietnam, Fisher’s wingman, Major D. W. “Jump” Myers, was hit and forced to crash land on the small airstrip that was itself the object of the attack. Under withering enemy mortar, heavy machine gun, and small arms fire, Major Fisher landed his two seat A-1E on the cratered runway, loaded Myers into his empty right seat, and successfully took off through that barrage of enemy fire, returning to Pleiku, their home base.

President Johnson awarded Fisher the MOH in January, 1967 in the White House. Remarkably, Major Fisher’s aircraft on that mission, A-1E SN 52-132649, survived six more years of war, and is

SKYRAIDER PILOTS currently displayed in the SEA exhibition at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.14 Just eighteen months later, after the major standup of A-1’s at Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, a Sandy force launched from the 602nd SOS for a SAR effort near Dong Hoi, NVN. During the process of locating and protecting the USAF pilot survivor on the ground, Sandy Lead Lt. Col. William A. Jones III (a Class of 1945 West Pointer) suffered major battle damage and a raging fire in his A-1H. Realizing the fire was going to consume the cockpit, Jones pulled the extraction handle. The canopy jettisoned but the fire had damaged the Yankee rocket, and he remained in the cockpit, now seriously burned. Fortunately, the fire went out with the canopy jettison, and Jones continued to precisely locate the survivor, leaving Dong Hoi to return to NKP only after he was sure of the survivor’s exact location.

The downed crewmember rescued later that day, incidentally, was F-4 pilot Captain Jack Wilson, later my colleague in the Missouri Air National Guard’s 131st Fighter Wing in St. Louis.

Returning to the US in 1969, Jones was promoted to Colonel, and recommended for the Medal of Honor. After that recommendation, but before the award could be made, Colonel Jones tragically died in a private aircraft accident. President Nixon presented the medal posthumously to his wife in August of 1970.15 As a final footnote, Jones’ badly damaged Skyraider, A-1H tail number 738, was fully repaired and returned to NKP. During my own tour, I flew that aircraft on eight combat missions, including some challenging SAR’s.

“The Proud American”, as it was labeled during 1971-72, was flown as Sandy 1 on Roger Locher’s famous Oyster 01 Bravo SAR in 1972, when my NKP roommate, Captain Ron Smith, was awarded the Air Force Cross for snatching Locher after a twenty three day E&E near Hanoi in NVN. A-1H tail number 738 was ultimately lost in combat in late 1972. The pilot successfully extracted and was recovered by Air America in Laos.

When I arrived at NKP in April of 1971 to fly in the last Skyraider squadron, the 1st SOS Hobos, the unit possessed 32 A-1’s, 24 single seat H and J models, and 8 two seat E and G models. When I returned home in April of 1972, there were only 13 aircraft left in the Hobos. Even after a few more replacement aircraft were delivered from the states, the Air Force literally ran out of flyable airplanes a few months later in late 1972, and deployed two TDY squadrons of A-7’s, the recently acquired USAF jet attack aircraft most closely suited to perform A-1 missions, to Korat RTAFB, Thailand. Later, some of these aircraft formed the 3rd TFS within Korat’s 388th TFW, and would fly over twelve thousand combat hours before returning to the US in early 1976.

Most of the younger A-1 Sandies served a “parole” tour as ATC instructor pilots when TAC initially refused in 1970-72 to take any of the returning Skyraider pilots into that command, even with their 300-500 hours of combat close air support experience.16 After a change in TAC leadership, many former SEA A-1 pilots ended up as leaders in USAF’s A-7 and soon-to-follow new A-10 force. Today, in USAF Special Operations and SAR missions in Southwest Asia, and in Iraq earlier, many of the A-10 mission plans, tactics, and rescue force coordination principles are direct descendants of the A-1 Sandy operations and lessons learned from four decades ago in Southeast Asia. 

Our Academy’s list of graduates who flew the A-1 in combat is relatively short, yet significant, and spans the SEA generation classes of 1959 through 1969. There were thirty seven USAFA Grads who flew the Skyraider in combat in SEA, a number of whom would fly two tours in that war, and seven of whom were killed in action in the A-1.13 The group includes two ultimate four star Generals, Viccellio and Jamerson, two Major Generals, Westbrook and myself, and a Brigadier General, Head.

The great majority of these grads served a USAF career through retirement (deceased grads in italics).

USAFA Class Year....Name 59 John Hayes 59 C. V. Miller 59 Lyn Oberdier KIA 60 Mike Clarke 60 Richard Head 60 Ed Leonard 61 Bobby Grace 61 Jack Wolcott 62 Butch Viccellio 63 John Dyer 63 Rufus Harris 63 Jim Jamerson 63 Wayne Newberry KIA 63 Joe Pirruccello KIA 63 Jerry Thies 63 Jim Thyng 63 Wayne Warner 63 Sam Westbrook 64 Bob Crowder 64 Charlie Holder 64 Jackson Hudson 64 Bill Sieg 65 Fred Boli 66 Randy Jayne 66 Chuck Kennedy 66 Ramsey Vincent KIA 67 Rick Chorlins KIA 67 Jim George 67 Flick Guerrina 67 Donald “Bob” Moore KIA 67 Ron Rounce 67 Gene Smith 67 Alan Williams 68 Art Miller 68 John Roulston 69 Bob Herklotz 69 George Kamenicky KIA Checkpoints

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One of my 1st SOS colleagues and combat companions, then-Lt. Byron “Hook” Hukee, has created and maintained a remarkable website http://www.skyraider.org/ documenting the A-1 combat experience in SEA, and has included his own combat journal describing the diverse set of missions that we flew. In recent months, “Hook” has added to his outstanding documentation by publishing USAF and VNAF A-1 Skyraider Units of the Vietnam War, a thin but rich documentation of the Spad’s combat role in Southeast Asia, published by Osprey Press.17 The USAF Skyraider community gathers every other year for a fall reunion, and enjoys the occasional visit and participation of some of our amazing crew chiefs, weapons and maintenance colleagues, and other support staff who kept a venerable antique flying decades after it was first deployed. We have also been joined as well by a healthy number of our esteemed VNAF colleagues, many of whom have thousands of combat sorties and thousands of combat hours usafa.org

in the Skyraider, compared to our USAF stats measured in the hundreds. Finally, we are always honored to see the occasional Raven, Jolly Green, Knife, Nail, Covey, King, and other colleagues with whom we flew and fought.

These days, as our numbers and memory dwindle based on the march of time, we can still note, on a point of significance for our Air Force colleagues since Army Air Corps days in World War I, that the Skyraider pilots of USAF in Southeast Asia were privileged to fly in the very last propeller driven fighters in combat in our service. A Nickel in the Grass for all our fallen brothers in that war and others since, but especially for USAFA grad Skyraider pilots Lyn Oberdier, Wayne Newberry, Joe Pirruccello, Rick Chorlins, Donald “Bob” Moore, George Kamenicky, and my ’66 Redtag classmate and friend, Ramsey Vincent.

THE LAST Prop Fighter FOOTNOTES: 9. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/56th_Fighter_Wing and http://aircommandoman.tripod.com/id3.html for historical detail about the 56th ACW/SOW during the Vietnam conflict.

10. For insight into these covert operations, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Assistance_Command,_ Vietnam_%E2%80%93_Studies_and_Observations_Group 11 See Son Tay raid history and specifics at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ivory_Coast 12. The definitive book on the Raven FAC program is Christopher Robbins’ The Ravens, Crown Publishers, 1987. Also see their website at http://www.ravens.org/ A memorial plaque was dedicated by the USAFA grad Ravens at the SEA Memorial Pavilion earlier in 2013.

13. See the A-1 CCTS training records at Hurlburt listed on www.skyraider.org , and USAFA AOG Graduate Register data at www.usafa.org .

14. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_F._Fisher and http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=297 15. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_A._Jones,_III 16. A very special friend of the USAF Skyraider community at the time, particularly given TAC hostility to Special Ops pilots at the time, was then-Air Training Command commander Lt. General William McBride. McBride—via an old-fashioned TWIX message-- made a personal commitment to the returning A-1 pilots after their tours, knowing of TAC’s refusal to take them into that command. General McBride stated that his staff would make every effort to “give you the ATC base and aircraft of your choice”. By my count, every single Spad driver who returned after McBride’s offer, including yours truly who returned to Moody in the T-38, got exactly that —the ATC base and aircraft of their choice. This meant that when TAC leadership changed and General Creech asked “where are all the Skyraider guys with all that close air support combat time”, TAC was able to reclaim a large number of the experienced A-1 pilots, and the proud Sandy tradition was continued, even to this day.

17. USAF and VNAF A-1 Skyraider Units….Ibid.

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A Call to Service During a trip to Nepal one Air Force Academy graduate encounters the horrific realities of human trafficking in Asia.

Written by Captain Jessica M. Schroeder ’07 Before my trip to Nepal in June of 2013, everything I knew about human trafficking came from reading books, watching documentaries, and taking DoD Trafficking in Persons training. Even though trafficking is an absolutely repulsive evil, I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to travel to a part of the world where humans are bought and sold, because now I have seen with my own eyes the people that are pulled into this horror every day. I have been blessed with a passion and a fire to do what I can to stop it, and this trip only solidified that resolve. We must continue to defend our world from evil. This is the only way we can protect innocent lives from being destroyed, because that is unequivocally what happens as soon as human trafficking takes hold.

In the airports on my way to Kathmandu, I saw listed on the Departing Flight screen locations like Siem Reap, Bangkok, Phuket, Mumbai, Bombay, and so on. I had read about the torment young trafficked girls experienced in these cities—sometimes up to 20 times per night—and it was surreal to see these destinations on the flight monitor.

Upon landing in Kathmandu, I soon realized that every day I was walking or driving past brothels without even knowing it. My heart broke for the women trapped in these lifestyles. As I met with other organizations in Kathmandu fighting the human trafficking battle, I found myself in awe of the living-and-breathing heroes that were sitting in the same room with me. Some provided aftercare and counseling to survivors, others provided jobs and a living to prevent women from returning to brothels, and still others carried out brothel raids and physically rescued those whom had been sold into sex slavery against their will. Meeting with these courageous advocates showed me how real this human trafficking fight is. I am forever grateful usafa.org

for what these champions shared with me; I have left Kathmandu truly inspired by them.

Trekking into a remote village in the mountains surrounding Kathmandu changed me and brought me face-to-face with the reality and consequences of human trafficking. I went with an organization called Five14, an adventure travel company that combines tourism with development projects in vulnerable villages to prevent trafficking in Nepal. I boarded a local bus blaring Nepali music for a winding 6 hour ride as far as it would take me. We sat on top of the bus as we made our way to the remote regions of Nepal. The only advice I have if you decide to take this mode of transportation is to make sure you duck for power lines!

I got off the bus and hiked another 6 hours, roughly two of which took place during a torrential downpour. Side note: there are three reasons why the trekking season does not take place during the summer in Nepal: (1) monsoon, (2) heat/ humidity, and (3) leeches! And yes, I experienced all three! As I hiked those six hours, it dawned on me that I was walking on the same road that had transported traffickers and victims for decades.

That road allowed traffickers access to remote,

A World Away vulnerable, and impoverished Nepali villages. That same road saw tens of thousands of young girls taken from their villages into larger cities across borders and forced to provide sex acts against their will. My heart felt the heavy weight of this realization as I took each step. People who have studied the trafficking issue in this region say many of the tin roofs on homes were paid for by selling young girls into slavery. Just about every roof I saw during the trek was a tin roof, and many appeared to be quite new.

One of the many tin roofs I saw during the trek Completely drenched, my fellow trekkers and I finally reached the village where we would stay the night. The people who hosted us were welcoming and kind. The wife of the village leader cooked us dinner and made preparations for our sleeping accommodations. It was difficult to believe that the culture these hospitable Nepali people were a part of devalued women so much that they were willing to sell their own daughters and watch as they were taken away from their village, never to see them again. It was blatantly apparent the extent to which the village I visited had been ravaged by trafficking because I only saw two teenage women during my stay there. There

were many little girls and older women, but an entire generation of women between the ages of 5 and 14 was completely missing.

This glaring evidence made what I had read in books real. I visited more villages in that remote region of Nepal and met many more young girls under the age of 5. These innocent children are the next generation of this absolute horror called sex trafficking.

As I looked into each of their dark brown, pure, and beautiful eyes, my heart melted. I desperately wanted to protect them from this evil and for the cycle of human trafficking to be broken before they grew a couple of years older. I wanted to spare them from being sold and forced to serve johns while being kept under lock and key in a filthy Indian brothel.

The children that I encountered were happy, shy, playful, and adorable. When I would greet them in their native language, they would smile, giggle and look down at the ground. I could tell they had not met many foreigners and they thought it was funny to hear their language come out of my mouth. I visited the village school and regretted disrupting their learning because as soon as the children saw me and my friends, they lost all concentration.

They were mesmerized by us because we looked very different, had traveled to their faraway village, and were interested in what they were doing.

As we were about to board our bus back to Kathmandu, we stopped at a local store for milk tea. As the shopkeeper opened his cash drawer, we saw that it was filled with Indian currency.

This was trafficking money. Traffickers come up to the mountains of Nepal from India and pay families in Indian currency for their young daughters. Dealing in Indian currency has become commonplace and accepted. Aside from human trafficking, there is no reason that a foreign currency should exist so abundantly in such a remote region of a neighboring country.

After I returned from Nepal, I realized that countless Americans don’t understand what the issue of human trafficking entails. They don’t know that human beings, to include young children, are held against their will on American soil, often in a city within a hundred miles away. Some of these modern-day slaves are forced to perform sex acts, while others are held captive and involuntarily work 18 to 20 hour days as household help.

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A view from atop the bus on our way to remote Nepali villages.

One of the many tin roofs I saw during my trek.

Young children watch as we approach their village. usafa.org

Human trafficking is not a problem relegated to other countries—human trafficking is happening in the United States and it will continue to flourish in our country and around the world unless we do something about it.

Even though I spent just two weeks in Nepal, this time transformed me and showed me firsthand the people that are affected by the horrors of sex trafficking. The trip revealed to me how much we have to be thankful for here in the United States. The Department of Defense has taken a strong stand against human trafficking by establishing a zero tolerance policy for trafficking in persons, and I’m thankful that my government stands for combating this evil. We believe our daughters should be protected and not exploited, we strive to view women as equals, people obey the rule of law, we trust our police officers, and we enjoy clean water and shelter. We even have money for shampoo! In fact, we make more money in one or two weeks than a Nepali makes in an entire year.

Our electricity does not turn off for hours at a time every day, spoiling food in our refrigerators and leaving cold water for showers. We send our young children to schools and not to brothels. From these blessings we are called to speak up for those who do not share the same fortune and protection. While some may move around the world to conduct brothel raids or to open a business and employ survivors rescued from these evil confines, it is not realistic to expect this of every American.

What we can and should do is support the people and organizations fighting against trafficking here and overseas. We need to spread awareness of human trafficking, which is occurring even as we speak. We cannot sit back in our comfortable chairs and sheltered existence—we are called to act for those who need our protection. These children need our protection.

Editor’s note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.

Captain Jessica M. Schroeder is a 2007 graduate of the Air Force Academy. Her first assignment was to study public policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She then served as an acquisitions officer at Los Angeles Air Force Base under Air Force Space Command. She is currently an Instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy and serves as the Executive Officer in the Department of Management while teaching courses in organizational behavior, human resource management and project management.

Above: adorable children I met while stopping for lunch during the trek.

Below: some of the young children I met while trekking in remote parts of Nepal.

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December 2013

Mouth Watering Recipes by Grads, for Grads This edition of the Off the Menu contains some fantastic recipes that we just couldn’t fit in print.

These seafood recipes, including a Spanish favorite, are not to be missed. Thank you to all of our loyal readers who have made the Long Blue Ladle a success with their sumptous submissions!

Paella de Marisco (4-6 servings) Chef Hector Negroni, Class of 1961

Ingredients • Ingredients • 6 cups clam or seafood broth • 1 teaspoon thread saffron • 1 1/2 pounds firm-fleshed fish, cut in bite-sized pieces • 1 dozen mussels • 1 dozen small clams • 12 large shrimp in shells • Sea salt • Lemon wedges • Alioli (garlic mayonnaise)

• • • • • • • • • •

2 tablespoons parsley, minced 8 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon fresh thyme 2 teaspoons sweet smoked paprika 8 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 6 scallions, chopped 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped 1 large tomato, chopped 2 cups Bomba paella rice or Calasparra paella rice

Directions 1. Heat the broth in a large pot. Stir in saffron.

2. Pat fish and shrimp dry between paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and let sit 10 minutes.

3. With a mortar and pestle mash parsley, garlic, thyme and 1/8 teaspoon salt into a paste. Stir in paprika; add water if necessary to form a paste.

4. Heat 6 tablespoons of oil in 15-inch paella pan over medium high heat and quickly brown the fish 1-2 minutes. Do not fully cook. Remove to warm platter.

5. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, onion, scallions and bell pepper to paella pan and cook until the vegetables are slightly softened. Raise heat, add tomato and cook until it becomes sauce-like, 2 to 5 minutes.

6. Pour in the hot broth and bring to a boil.

7. Sprinkle the rice evenly across the pan.

8. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring rice and rotating pan occasionally.

9. Add all reserved fish (but not shrimp). Stir in parsley paste. Taste for salt. Do not stir after this point. Lower the heat, continue to simmer until rice is no longer soupy but enough liquid remains to continue cooking the rice (about 10 minutes). Add extra liquid if necessary.

10. Arrange shrimp, clams and mussels over rice, placing edges of mussel and clam shells so they open facing up. Cook, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes until rice is almost done.

11. Remove pan from the heat and cover with foil. Let sit 10 minutes. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve with fresh alioli.

12. Enjoy with a refreshing white wine and a green salad.

Off the Menu usafa.org

Roasted Salmon with Mustard-Herb Crust (Serves 4-6)

Better-than-Lobster Fresh Striped Bass (Serves 1-2) Chef Tuck McAtee, Class of 1962

Chef Christine McKone, Mother of Ryan McKone ’14

Ingredients • 1/4 cup whole-grain Dijon mustard • 1/2 lemon, juiced • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 5 slices of stale white bread, about 1 1/2 cups, roughly ground or panko • 1 side of salmon, about 3 pounds, skin and pin bones removed • Extra-virgin olive oil • 2 cups mayonnaise • 1 bunch arugula, stemmed and coarsely chopped, plus • 1 bunch arugula, stemmed • 1 lemon, juiced • Salt and freshly ground black pepper • 1 cocktail loaf pumpernickel bread, toasted, optional Directions 1. Make the mustard crust: In a bowl, combine the mustard, lemon juice, fresh herbs, salt and pepper, and stir together. Stir in the olive oil, and then the bread crumbs or panko.

2. Preheat the oven to 450 F. 3. Put the salmon, skin side down, on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Drizzle with olive oil. Spoon the bread mixture onto the salmon and smooth with a spatula to cover completely.

4. Put the baking sheet into the oven and roast until the salmon is cooked through but still translucent in the center, about 10 minutes.

5. When the salmon is cooked, take it out of the oven and set aside.

Combine the mayonnaise, the chopped arugula, and the lemon juice in a blender and puree. Season with salt and pepper.

6. To serve, transfer the salmon to a serving platter by holding 2 opposing corners of the parchment paper and lifting the whole thing off the baking sheet and onto the platter, parchment and all. Spoon the mayonnaise into a serving bowl and garnish with remaining arugula.

If serving with cocktail bread set the salmon out with the arugula mayonnaise, and the arugula leaves and let guests make open-faced sandwiches by spreading the toast with the mayonnaise, adding a leaf or 2 of arugula, and finishing with a spoonful of the salmon.

Ingredients • 1 filet fresh striped bass (rock bass) • Salt to preference • 4 tablespoons butter Directions 1. Use fresh fish for best results. If frozen, let the fish fully defrost before preparation.

2. Filet the fish and remove the skin and rib cage (use a sharp filet knife if you have one).

3. Chop the filet into cubes approximately 3/8-1/2 inch on each side.

4. Boil cubes for 7 minutes in boiling water that has been highly salted (I mean a bunch of salt).

5. Let cool and serve with drawn butter.

Halibut Enchiladas (Serves 4-6) Chef John G. Baker, Class of 1974

Ingredients • 1 cup mayonnaise • 1 cup sour cream • 1 cup cream cheese • 2 (4 ounce) cans diced chili • 4 teaspoons cumin • 1 small onion, chopped • 4 cups cooked halibut (in 1-inch cubes, boiled for a few minutes in salted water) • Salt and pepper to taste Directions 1. Mix these ingredients in a large bowl, slightly warming cream cheese if necessary to stir.

2. Spoon mixture into flour tortillas and roll up into enchilada shape.

Place into slightly greased baking dish seam side down.

3. Pour 1 cup whipping cream over top and layer shredded mozzarella on top.

4. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

5. Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY Andreas Schumann

Bonus content

Air Force Takes Second at Track Cycling National Championships Written by Len Cabrera ’95

C

ollegiate Track Cycling National Championships were held on 19-21 Sep in Colorado Springs. Air Force had home field advantage but lost three riders from last year’s fifth-place team and could not enter all the events. The seven cadets (maximum of 16 allowed) knew the odds and trained hard in their personal time all summer.

Their efforts were rewarded with a second-place team finish. Garrett Braun (CS-19) was the team’s MVP, placing top 10 in 5 races and finishing in 7th place in the individual omnium (total points scored). He was ranked third going into the final individual event, but a crash prevented him from finishing and dropped him to seventh. Collegiate track nationals are different from road and mountain biking nationals in that Division I and II riders compete against each other, making Braun’s achievements more spectacular.

(Divisions are determined by school size: D2 is less than 15,000 students.)

Air Force’s dominant return to track cycling is thanks to volunteer coach Glen Winkel. He started working with the team last year and led them to a fifth-place finish at nationals. Before 2012, Air Force’s last trip to track nationals was in 2008, when the team placed 20th of 20 schools. The 2013 team also impressed other schools by their hospitality, especially West Point. Army was invited to join Air Force in the infield, using Air Force’s trainers, rollers, shade tents, and food.

Racing started early on a cool, windy Colorado Springs morning with 200-meter sprints. Each rider takes a lap to get warmed up and then has

usafa.org

a rolling start to cover the final 200 meters of the second lap. There were 63 men and 57 women, representing 35 different colleges and universities.

The top 18 men and top 12 women would advance to the match sprints. Air Force’s Garrett Braun advanced by posting an 11.453-second run, an average of 39.06 mph, which qualified him 10th in the 200m. Other Air Force riders earned team points, but did not advance.

In the match sprints, Braun was paired against the 9th place 200m finisher, Kaleb Koch from Marian University. The match sprint is a 2-lap, standing-start race, with the first racer across the finish line advancing to the next round. Koch got the best of Braun, forcing Braun into the repacharge against two other racers who lost their match sprints, which he won.

After a long break, racing resumed at 6pm with the match sprint finals (6 male, 6 female) and the points race qualifiers. Garrett Braun was paired against the number three seed in the 200m sprint, Conor Klupar from Bellevue College (who averaged 40.32mph for his 200m). Klupar won the match, and Braun went on to take third in the final repacharge to finish 11th place overall. Not bad for a rider who had only raced one match sprint going into the national championships.

The points races required riders to do higher math and keep track of lap counts and opponents’ points. There were two heats of 29 men and two with 19 women each. The men’s races were 42 laps (14km); women’s were 30 laps (10km). Points (5, 3, 2, 1) were awarded to the first four riders across

the finish line on every sixth lap. The finish order is based on points, and the top 14 riders from each men’s heat (12 from the women’s) advanced to the points finals on Friday night.

The first men’s heat had quite a scare around lap 15 when a crash took out 4 riders, including Stefan Zavislan (CS-28). After the race resumed, Garrett Braun finished in 5th place. In the second heat, Andrew Cady (CS-34) finished 18th. MacKenzie Paul (CS-01) jumped off the front of the field for a solo finish in the women’s first heat, good for first in a scratch race, but 5th in a points race because she only scored on the last lap and other riders had more points. In the women’s second heat, Ashley Thrower (CS-04) finished 10th. Braun, Paul, and Thrower all advanced to the points race finals on Friday night. Cady advanced to the minor final

race final, Garrett Braun showed some squadron pride and finished 19th.

Day three started with individual time trials, standing-start sprints of 500m for women and 1km for men. MacKenzie Paul and Ashley Thrower finished mid-pack with 26th- and 27th-place finishes (of 50 women). In the “kilo,” Garrett Braun finished 10th, impressive given the near-Olympic caliber of the opposition. The winner, Matthew Baranoski, from Penn State, finished in 1:01.920 (36.12 mph average).

Immediately after these maximum effort races were the scratch race qualifiers, 12 laps (4km) for women and 18 laps (6km) for men. A scratch race has a rolling start after a neutral lap, and the finishing order is simply the order riders cross the finish line on the last lap. There were 2 women’s Opposite page: Division II Team Podium. 1st place: Colorado Mesa University; 2nd place: U.S. Air Force Academy; 3rd place: U.S .Military Academy; 4th place: MIT; 5th place: Penn State-Lehigh Valley. Left: Coach Glen Winkel gives last minute advice to Andrew Cady (CS-34).

Right: Andrew Cady (CS-34) warms up next toWest Point’s Ken Dailey.

(places 29-46).

Friday morning started with individual pursuit, 12 laps (4km) for men and 9 laps (3km) for women. While placement was based solely on time, riders were paired with starts on opposite sides of the track to keep it interesting (and faster). There were 70 men and 42 women in the event, including Zeb Hanley, USAFA c/o 2013, now racing for MIT. Once again, Garrett Braun had Air Force’s best finish, 4th place with a time of 4:53.736 (30.16 mph average). More impressive was Karl Schroeder (CS-33) with a 7th place finish, racing with a broken foot and with mechanical issues (rubbing wheel). Stefan Zavislan recovered enough from the previous day’s crash to take 16th place. Andrew Cady finished 27th. Ashley Thrower placed 19th and MacKenzie Paul finished 20th in the women’s individual pursuit.

The evening session finished off the match sprints and had the points race finals. The rules for the points races were the same, points every six laps, but the distances increased: 42 laps (14km) for women; 90 laps (30km) for men. In the women’s point race final, MacKenzie Paul took 15th and Ashley Thrower took 18th. Andrew Cady was the only Air Force rider in the men’s minor final (14km) since Zavislan elected to not race. Cady finished third (31st overall). In the men’s points

heats with 20 riders, with 12 riders from each heat advancing to the finals. There were 3 men’s heats with 22 riders, with 9 from each heat advancing to the finals. MacKenzie Paul took 10th in the first women’s heat to advance. In the second women’s heat, a large crash caused a long pause, and the race was restarted with only 3 laps to go, essentially changing the race dynamics into a “kilo.” Ashley Thrower finished 13th and went on to the minor final.

In the first men’s scratch race heat, Andrew Cady timed a break perfectly and took first place. Austen Ebert successfully bridged the gap to an early break and worked with two other riders to nearly lap the field. Unfortunately, he was not able to maintain the pace, and the coach decided to pull him from the race to save his energy for the team sprint.

The third men’s heat was the start of equipment chaos for Air Force. Karl Schroeder switched to a borrowed disc wheel after his mechanical issues the day before. Unfortunately, the wheel had a road cog (thinner than a track cog), and he dropped his chain during the race. After a quick fix in the pits, officials reinserted Schroeder just behind the main field. He was able to finish 12th, which put him in the minor final. Garrett Braun had no mechanical issues (yet) and finished third to advance to the final.

Checkpoints

December 2013

Bonus content

The evening session started with women’s team pursuit. Unfortunately, Air Force’s third female team member was injured in a mountain bike race two weeks ago, so they could not field a team.

Since the other strong D2 schools did have women’s teams, Air Force dropped from 2nd to 4rd in the team rankings after this event (which granted 73 to 94 points to the opposition). This put pressure on Air Force to beat West Point (2nd) and MIT (3rd and defending national champions) in the remaining four events.

In the men’s team pursuit, Air Force did just that, finishing 6th place overall, but 1st among D2 schools. The men’s team pursuit is a 4km (12 lap) race against the clock with the time measured on the third rider across the finish line. It is the most intricate team event, as riders draft off a leader who must pull off and then rejoin

Top: starting positions for the first men’s heat of the points race qualifier. Garrett Braun (CS-19) is the fourth rider back on the rail. Stefan Zavislan (CS-28) is nine riders back on the blue line. Middle: MacKenzie Paul (CS-01) in the first heat of the women’s scratch qualifier. Right: Ashley Thrower (CS-04) in the second heat of the women’s scratch qualifier.

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the “train.” Air Force had lost a disc wheel in Zavislan’s crash, and just before the men’s pursuit discovered a worn tire on Braun’s wheel. Without a spare, the team was forced to scavenge from Army, replacing the wheel immediately after the West Point team finished their team pursuit.

The women’s scratch race minor final started as the sun was setting. The races were twice as long as the qualifiers: 8km for women, 12km for men.

Without a crash forcing a shorter race like the qualifier, Ashley Thrower maintained good position to finish 5th (29th overall). Unfortunately, two West Point riders finished ahead of her. MacKenzie Paul raced in the final and took 12th.

Karl Schroeder took 4th in the minor final (31st overall), and Andrew Cady took 9th in the major final.

A large crash in the major final nearly eliminated half the field. Garrett Braun was shaken but reentered the race slightly behind the main pack. Braun was forced to stop again with mechanical problems. In the pit, the coach could not immediately identify the problem in the allotted time. Braun was re-inserted just behind the main pack, but had several impressive laps with the ride leaders. Unfortunately, since there were no mechanical issues fixed during the stop, the officials later forced Braun out of the race.

It turns out Braun bent his rear axle in the crash. Air Force was now down two (borrowed) disc wheels going into the team sprint, forcing multiple wheel changes and having two riders on alloy (instead of carbon) wheels.

The team sprint is a six-lap event with a standing start.

It is similar to a pursuit in that riders draft off a leader, but rather than rejoining the team, the leader pulls off after each lap. The team is made up two women and four men; two laps must be led by a woman. Air Force’s team (in order): Ashley Thrower, MacKenzie Paul, Austen Ebert, Andrew Cady, Karl Schroeder, and Garrett Braun.

The heavy wheels didn’t matter, as all six Air Force riders raced their fastest laps of the year, beating Army by a full three seconds. When the points were tallied, Air Force recovered enough points to finish second, just 7 points ahead of West Point and 14 points ahead of MIT (854, 847, and 840). Colorado Mesa University (last year’s runner up) won the team championship.

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The catastrophic summer floods which ravaged Colorado made profound changes to the local landscape. In the aftermath of the deluge, this reflecting pool appeared in Garden of the Gods Park. After a few short days, it disappeared completely, not to return again until the next 20 year flood. Image by Lewis Carlyle.

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Cottonwood trees lining Monument Creek show off their shimmering saffron coats as the first winter storm slowly releases its grip upon the towering Pikes Peak.

Drenching summer rains delivered an especially vivid Autumn color palet this year.

Image by Lewis Carlyle. usafa.org

Checkpoints | December 2013

Gone But Not Forgotten Jay Neely Mitchell, ’59 Coach. Seldom has a fighter pilot’s call sign or a nickname captured so much of the nature of a man.

Typically described in terms like quiet, friendly and determined. Jay was as close to being an “all time good guy” as anyone gets, the kind of westerner who would (and did) anything for his friends. One classmate said it this way, “Jay was a friend to all. I would be very proud if my classmates said that of me.”

Jay Neely Mitchell, Col. USAF Ret., “Coach,” went home to the Lord on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, surrounded by his loving family.

Born Jan. 1, 1937, Coach was raised on a cattle ranch just outside Artesia, N.M. He graduated from Artesia High School Class of 1955 and became a member of the Academy Class of 1959. As a cadet, Coach was involved in a variety of activities, including lightweight division boxing, and guard and sometimes center on the undefeated football team that played in the Cotton Bowl in 1959.

Jay was also a talented pianist blessed with a rich baritone singing voice. He used those gifts to help form the first Cadet Chorale and administer it after it was established.

After graduation, Jay went to pilot training at Webb AFB. His first assignment was flying the F-105 at Kadena AB, Okinawa (now Japan) before the F-105 went to war in Vietnam. The Jay Mitchell mission was exceptionally demanding and complex, yet newbie Jay impressed as reflected in the following paraphrased comments from his squadron commander: “The rules were complex and the airplane… challenging, but Jay… achieved a… familiarity… the rest of us were trying to master. [He] made the rest of us learn what he understood.”

Jay eventually served two tours at Kadena, the second ending as squadron commander of the 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron. He also had two tours in the F-105 at Korat AB, Thailand.

In between overseas tours Jay was the Aide to the Superintendent of the Academy and went to test pilot school. He also had stints as a test pilot at Eglin AFB, a staff position at HQ Air Force Systems Command and another test pilot position, this time at the Air Force Test and Evaluation Command at Albuquerque in his home state of New Mexico.

He married Virginia Scott in March of 1961. They had three children together, and upon his AF retirement in June of 1986, settled in Albuquerque, N.M. There Coach was able to focus on his love of woodworking, and opened up MitchCraft Enterprises Custom Cabinets and Furniture, which kept him busy until early 2005.

After Virginia’s death in October 2000, Coach was lucky enough to find love and happiness again with Barbara Smith, whom he married in June of 2004.

Preceding him in death are his parents, JT and Ollidean Mitchell;

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

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brother Jim Mitchell, and sister Sandra Mitchell; and his first wife, Virginia S. Mitchell. Surviving Jay are his second wife, Barbara Mitchell; his children, Michael (Tiina) Mitchell, Sue Judd, and Margo (Travis) Williams, of Wasilla, Alaska, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

As friend and classmate Brad Hosmer put it, “Jay Mitchell was the golden rule man. Jay ‘did for others as he would want to be done to’ as a way of life. His impulse to help, to serve, his habits of thoughtfulness and courtesy were woven into him as deeply as breathing. Our colleagues and friends will always miss and remember Jay for his wonderful example as a professional and great human being.” (Ed Josephson, ’59)

Jonathan S. Shafer, ’59 Jonathan Stickley Shafer died from complications due to intestinal surgery on Dec. 30, 2012. Memorial services were held at BethesdaBy-The-Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach, Fla. on Jan. 11, 2013 with many friends and family in attendance.

For the past eighteen years Jon and Margot – who he married fifty-four years ago – have resided in southern Florida, periodically visiting Connecticut where Jon was the Chief-Operating-Officer of the family advertising agency, now under the direction of their son, Peter Shafer, Sr. Jon was born into a newspaper family and raised in Lake Forest, Illinois – a suburb north of Chicago. His father was an executive with the Chicago Tribune, which inadvertently prompted his eventual pursuit of a military career with the encouragement of the late Colonel McCormick – publisher of the highly-acclaimed newspaper and a graduate of West Point.

It was during the early 1950s that Jon began an insatiable desire to become a part of President John F. Kennedy’s Lunar Landing Space Project.

To this end, he sought an appointment to the newly-constructed United States Air Force Academy located Jon Shafer in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

He had a rough start to his Plebe year with a serious football injury in the fall. By January, he had managed to recover and was newly ensconced with the new gymnastics team, competing nationally on the parallel bars, lettering each year thereafter. Thanks to the leadership of Coach Robert “Sully” Sullivan and Jon’s competitive teammates, Jon would go on to assist the gymnastics team at Wheaton College later on in his career.

Jon went on to graduate from the Academy in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, initially flying the T-37 jet aircraft, in which he became an Instructor Pilot. Just seven months later at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Okla., Jon would introduce the new T-38 supersonic jet trainer to base personnel and students by flying it in from Canada. He was so well versed in flying this new aircraft that he wrote the Engineering Training Program for its flight, used in the classroom and the cockpit as well.

After his promotion to captain in 1965, his future in the Astronaut Program was unfortunately not becoming a reality, resulting in his resignation from the military and a new beginning in the corporate world at Container Corporation of America.

Drawing on his expertise learned at the Academy and from his military service, he developed sales manuals for packaging, engineering

machinery, graphic design, and market research. He ultimately sold over three million dollars of new business, quickly being promoted into management.

In 1983, Jon and his son Peter launched Shafer Enterprises, a familyrun automotive marketing and advertising agency in Southport, Conn.

In just four years, the company’s sales went from near-zero to almost ten million dollars; Jon had finally reached his “outer space” experience, as the company achieved astronomical success.

In his earlier years, he actively sought various community outlets, including Rotary, Gideons, the Order of St. John, Episcopal Church, and Republican activities interspersed with tennis and golf in order to promote the fledgling company. Jon will always be remembered for his consistently conservative ideals and values, his engaging personality, and his unyielding loyalty and love of family, including his sons Jon Jr. and Peter Dell, his daughter Sheridan Lee, and all eight of his grandchildren.

He embraced their differences, treasured their perseverance, and cherished their inherent abilities. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness and love, and is missed by all. (Lovingly, Margot)

Hubert Giles Wideman, ’59 H. Giles Wideman II, affectionately known as “Giles” or “Gike” passed away Friday, Aug. 16, 2013 after a long health battle at home with his family present.

Giles was born in Toledo, Ohio and raised in Perrysburg where he went to high school and started his football career. After graduation he was asked by an Ohio Congressman to enter the AF Academy with the first class. He did and was quickly added to their football squad as a tackle. In his First Class year his team had an undefeated season and played in the 1959 Cotton Bowl. He graduated as a pilot and flew a B-52 and other reconnaissance aircraft. He also coached football at the Air Force Academy. His Air Force career took him all around the world. He retired as a Major after 23 years of service.

Classmates remember him a having a good sense of humor. He was given to tongue-in-cheek observations, sometimes tinged by a bit of sarcasm when it came to minor military stuff. He was not overly serious about anything. For example, the blurb under his yearbook photograph is in German!

Under this facade, however, there was a person of sensitivity and

empathy. A paraphrased idiomatic translation from the yearbook reveals the following thoughts: “Everyone who knows him knows his only interest is in his future career. He had a happy childhood and a loving family. It was not easy to accept the subordination of his personality to the academy with the obligations and rules so necessary to success as a cadet. His comradeship, fresh humor and natural manner made him popular with his classmates and provided all the tools needed for a successful career in the Air Force.”

One of his Air Force comrades provided a most suitable eulogy: “Just learned of the passing of Giles, one of the most loveable men I’ve known.

We served together at Korat AFB, Thailand, more than 40 years ago. He was more than a friend then. Being several years my senior, he was an appreciated mentor about the ways of the Air Force and about living well. He leaves me with memories of laughter and professionalism and I’m saddened by his passing.”

After leaving the military, Giles certified to teach high school mathematics through Bowling Green State University. He began teaching mathematics at Scott High School, later becoming the Mathematics Department Chairman.

Most people know Giles because of his football Hall of Fame Honor at the Air Force Academy. But Giles’ professional Giles Wideman pleasure came when he saw his former students around town gainfully employed being productive members of society. It made him feel he had helped make a difference in their lives.

Of all the roles Giles played such as teacher, pilot, athlete, none was as dear to his heart as dad and grandpa. He was a constant source of love and support to his daughter and grandchildren, always involved and enriching their lives. He continues to live on through them and the memories they shared.

Giles was preceded in death by his mother, Hilda (Kazmier); father, Hubert Giles Wideman; brother Frederick Wideman, and his granddaughter Hope Wideman. (Continued on next page.)

Herman L. Gilster, Original Air Training Officer, dies at 83 On May 22, 2013, Col. (Ret) Herman Gilster slipped the surly bonds of earth… and touched the face of God. While gone… he will not be forgotten by family, friends, and colleagues alike.

Herman was born in Danville, Ill. March 11, 1930 and moved to Selma, Ala. where he grew up. In 1947 the family moved to Frankfurt, Germany, where Herm got his first real taste of the military. During this time, he volunteered loading supplies onto aircraft executing the Berlin Airlift.

He never forgot this experience, which in the future would lead him to join the newly-formed USAF. Herm entered West Point in June 1949. In 1953, as a new Second Lieutenant, Herm cross-commissioned to the USAF and attended pilot training. Upon graduation from pilot training, in his words, he was “assigned to fly the hottest thing around” – B-17 Drones – at Eglin AFB. Truly, flying in the cockpit of the B-17 in the middle of summer in Florida is the hottest thing around. In 1955, USAFA selected him to be an ATO or as the ATOs called it “tail chewers for the new breed of birdman.” During this tour he met and married United Airlines stewardess Helen Jones.

In January 1958, Herm moved to March AFB to fly the B-47 with a follow-on tour to Dyess AFB. In 1964, Herm escaped SAC by receiving a select assignment to the USAFA as an Economics Professor. Herm served eight years as a tenured professor. He “Herm” Gilster had two brief periods away from the campus. The first when he attend Harvard University to pursue a PhD in Economics and then again in 1969 when he deployed to HQ 7AF, Sai-

gon, Vietnam, leading analysis of combined tactical air campaigns. In 1971 Herm departed USAFA for the warm weather and palms of Hickam AFB, where he served at HQ PACAF. Unfortunately, in 1973 he left the white-sand beaches for his final assignment at the Pentagon. His numerous duties culminated as the Director of International Economic Affairs for the SecDef. Herm described his work as highlighted by engagements with brilliant DoD leaders, but complicated by the whims of politicians serving on Capitol Hill. Herm’s most memorable experience during his tour was a year as a Federal Executive Fellow at Brookings Institute. Retiring from the AF in 1979, the family moved to Seattle, Wash., where Herm was the Manager of Economic Forecasts and Analysis for Boeing. In 1986, Herm and Helen returned to the city they loved at the foothills of the Rockies.

One of Herm’s true skills was his ability to articulate often challenging and complex analysis into short concise and clear analysis for senior leaders. Gen. Lucius Clay wrote in the forward to Herm’s case study, “The Air War in Southwest Asia,” it appears the success of Operation Desert Storm was attributed to the lessons learned during Linebacker II bombing of North Vietnam and an appreciation of the axiom outlined in Herm’s study “On War, Time and the Principle of Substitution.” Herm was a frequent contributor to numerous Air Force and other professional journals.

Throughout Herm’s life his love of the military, his colleagues, and serving his country never wavered. During his career he supported the AF community, Boy Scouts, and sports programs. Once back in Colorado, Herm served as a visiting professor to the USAFA and volunteered in the community with Sertoma, the Church at Woodmoor, USAFA and the ATOs Herm is survived by his wife of 55 years, Helen (Jones) Gilster; his daughter Dawn Rittenhouse of Wilmington, Del.; his sons H. Louis Gilster of Monument, Colo., and Col. Thomas Gilster of O’Fallon, Ill.; and seven grandchildren. (Col. Thomas Gilster, Herman’s son) 93

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN (Continued from previous page.) Giles is survived by his wife of four happy years, Jean A. (McIntyre-Grapp) Wideman; his daughter Jennifer A. Wideman-Willey; grandchildren Abby Wideman, Ethan Willey, Isabel Wideman-Willey, and Lily Wideman-Kernz. Giles is also survived by stepchildren Christine A. (David) Diefenthaler, Barbara L. (Steven) Ross, James V. McIntyre and many step, grand and great grandchildren.

He was buried with full military honors at the Fort Meigs Cemetery.

(Ed Josephson, ’59)

Duane C. Tway, ’66 Duane Converse Tway, ’66, a true Warrior Scholar, died of heart failure in Tampa, Fla. on Aug. 9, 2013. He was 68 years old. He was born Sept. 2, 1944, in Houston, Texas. His father was a career Air Force officer and his mother was an educator. Duane, his sister Diane, and brother Scot grew up living the nomadic Air Force life. Duane landed in Colorado Springs as a sophomore at Air Academy High School when his father was chosen as one of the first Military History instructors at the Air Force Academy.

While in high school, Duane participated in National Honor Society, lettered in swimming and was president of Future Teacher’s of America. Duane graduated in 1962 as an Honor Graduate and National Merit Scholar.

Duane continued his family tradition by becoming an Air Force officer.

Entering the Academy in the summer of ’62, he was a four-year member of Friendly First Squadron and survivor of the “Century Club” – marching 109 tours his freshman year. He graduated in the Class of ’66 with a degree in Engineering and a major in Political Science.

On the Second Class Field Trip, Duane Duane Tway met the love of his life and future wife, Conni, at a tea dance in the Officer’s Club in Wiesbaden, Germany. Duane and Conni married on June 8, 1966, in the Air Force Academy Chapel.

Later the family expanded to include a son, Marshall, an Army officer and aviator; and a daughter, Kelley, a public relations manager.

After his Academy graduation, Duane reported to pilot training at Craig AFB, Ala. He began his operational flying career as an F-4 pilot at Eglin AFB, Fla. Subsequent F-4 assignments took him to Korat AB, Thailand, RAF Bentwaters, and RAF Woodbridge, England. He served a tour as a FAC, flying the O-2 at Bergstrom AFB, Texas. Duane was a fully trained maintenance officer, and completed a Master’s Degree in Management from the University of Arkansas. He returned to flying fighters as an A-10 pilot and maintenance officer at Myrtle Beach AFB, S.C. and RAF Bentwaters, England. His final assignment was as a Fighter ALO with the Army’s First Armored Division in Ansbach, Germany.

Immediately upon retirement, Duane entered a PhD program in Human Resource Development at the University of Texas at Austin. After graduation he became an industry consultant, academic researcher, author, and college professor. Duane bloomed as an academic adviser and mentor to a generation of doctoral students. He was a proud member of five different Rotary International Clubs (England, Germany, Austin, Tucson and Tampa). He occupied numerous senior positions in the organization including President of the Kachina Rotary Club, Tucson, Ariz.

He was known to his family, classmates, and friends for his loyalty, integrity, and amazing ability to tell stories that seemed to fit any situation. He would have his audience alternating between being spellbound and laughing outrageously. Duane loved his family and his hobbies: collecting Roman coins, growing orchids and voraciously reading books.

His smile and friendly manner earned him many friends and admirers.

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

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

94

Duane is survived by his wife, Conni, of Tampa, Fla.; his son Marshall of Fort Bragg, N.C.; and his daughter Kelley of Dallas, Texas. He was a great guy who is missed by all who knew and loved him. (Constance Tway with help from Marshall and Kelley)

Kenneth E. McKenna, ’73 Captain Kenneth Edward McKenna, retired, passed away on Feb. 23, 2011 at his home. He resided at 28 East 700 North in Orem, Utah at the time of his death.

He was born July 27, 1950 in Brooklyn, New York to Stansbury and Henrietta Carrai McKenna. Ken was raised in Massapequa, and graduated from Massapequa High School in 1968. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1973.

In his second career, he was a Chiropractor. He was an active member of The LDS Church.

He is survived by his sisters, Patricia (George Okrent) Goodwin of Rochester, N.Y. and Joanne (Ricky) Jansch of Provo; a niece, Gina (Dan) Seymour, and their children Lee, Tara and Emilia Markey; two nephews, Michael (Eryn) Rubino, and their children, Bobby and Nathan Ken McKenna Rubino, and Kaitlyn Jones; and Richard (Kristin) McKenna Jr., and their children, Richard III, Kelsie, and Karianne. He was preceded in death by his parents, and by his twin brother, Richard.

Funeral services were held on Monday, Feb. 28, 2011 in the Sharon Park Ninth Ward Chapel, 85 East 700 North, Orem. Friends called at the Ward Chapel prior to the services. Private family graveside services were held at Utah Veteran’s Memorial Park (Camp Williams). (Gina Rubino-Seymour, Ken’s niece)

Edward R. Gandy, ’76 A soldier in the army of our Lord was called to his heavenly home on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. Affectionately called “Ronnie,” Edward Rhone Gandy, Jr. was a gift to Esma Burgess Gandy and the late Edward R. Gandy, Sr., arriving on Dec. 14, 1954. He was also the eldest grandson of the late Reverend L. B. and Carrie Richburg Burgess, and the late G. P. Gandy and Sarah Gandy.

His educational journey began at Mrs. Reuben Muldrow’s Kindergarten in Darlington, S.C. The first half of his elementary schooling was at Cain Elementary School. Upon promotion to the sixth grade, Edward was asked to volunteer to desegregate St. John Elementary School under the Freedom of Choice Act. He found himself the only black child in a class of thirty-five, but he survived and persevered without any problems and stayed on the honor roll through Junior and Senior High School.

An order through the Federal Court in 1970 required Darlington Area Schools to completely integrate and redraw the attendance lines; therefore, Edward chose Edward Gandy to accept the new attendance regulations and finished his schooling at Mayo High where he was chosen yearbook editor, Battalion Commander of the fledging ROTC Program, and received the superlative as the “senior with the most ambition.” Because he was the third honor student in his graduating class, he had the distinct honor of introducing the Baccalaureate speaker for the class of 1972.

Upon graduation from Mayo High School, it took the prayers of his parents and grandparents to accept Edward’s decision to attend the United States Air Force Academy over Clemson University. His decision was based on the Academy’s superior education and leadership training, not to mention the four-year scholarship he was awarded. Additionally, Edward Rhone Gandy, Jr. was the first Afro-American from this area to attend the USAF Academy.

Edward majored in Management with a minor in Economics. After

leaving the Academy he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He spent four years as a Communications Installation & Maintenance Officer.

After serving his country, he returned home to Darlington to help manage the family business, G. P. Gandy Auto Parts and Service. For a while he worked as a substitute school teacher. He could not find any satisfaction in his personal and spiritual life until he answered the call to the ministry under the leadership of the late Reverends Willie Graves, and Richard Hilliard, and finally the Rev. J. H., now Bishop Julius Harrison McAllister.

He pioneered at Bethel AME Church by teaching Church School, assisting with the Culinary Ministry, lending his voice on the Male Chorus, and standing out as an ardent Son of Allen. He was a member of the Singles Ministry until his marriage to Delores on September 3, making them members of the Couples Ministry. Edward drew strength from the song “God Has Always Stood by My Side” and it became a personal testimony of his life.

Edward is survived by a loving, devoted and caring wife of the home, Mrs. Delores Orange Gandy; and a devoted and dedicated mother, Mrs. Esma Burgess Gandy. He was the proud inheritor of a grown, readymade family of two daughters, Monique and April; one son, Tony; and a grandson, Antwain. Delores in turn, inherited one son, Darius; and two daughters, Ginney and Kelly from Edward’s previous marriage and relationship. He is also survived by two brothers: Theodore (Queenie) Gandy of Connecticut; Kenneth (Lizzie) Gandy of Texas; God parents Mr. Edward Mack Todd (deceased) and Mrs. Bertha Todd. (Delores, Edwards’ loving wife, and Esma B. Gandy, “Ronnie’s” mother.)

Daniel T. Hinkin, ’77 Dr. Daniel T. Hinkin, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret), age 58, died Aug. 5, 2013 in Manhattan, Kansas.

Dr. Hinkin was a 1977 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and retired in 1997 after 20 years of active duty.

Lt. Col. Hinkin was born on July 25, 1955 in Lansing, Mich., the son of Paul E. and Mabel (Wesson) Hinkin. Dan attended Sacred Heart High School in Salina, Kans. during his freshman year and graduated from CM Russell High School in Great Falls, Mont.

Following his graduation from the Academy, Dan attended the University of Kansas School of Medicine and earned his Doctor of Medicine in 1980. He completed his internship at Scott AFS, Ill., then his residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas specializing in Orthopaedic Surgery. He completed his Sports Medicine fellowship at the University of Iowa. Dr. Hinkin was an orthopaedic surgeon for 12 years in the Air Force before his retirement. During his time in the Air Force he was stationed at Scott AFB, Lackland AFB twice, RAF Lakenheath, and the Air Force Academy. Following retirement, Dan Hinkin he joined the Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center in Manhattan, Kans. He also served as a team physician for the Kansas State University varsity sports and for the U.S. Ski Team.

Dan married the love of his life, Eileen McCarthy, on Aug. 9, 1980 in Birmingham, Ala. They were blessed with three wonderful children: Stephen, Michael and Erin.

Dan had many joys in his life including fishing, riding motorcycles, singing in the church choir and supporting all of the Academy and KState sports and activities. Above all, his true love was his family. He cherished the time that he spent with all of them. He always made time for his family and that interaction will be truly missed every day.

He was a member of the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine, Society of Military Orthopedic Surgeons, Mid-America Orthopaedic Association, Kansas Medical Society and the Riley County Medical Society. He was also a member of the St. Isidore Catholic Student Center, Manhattan, Kans.

He was preceded in death by his father, Paul E. Hinkin, LTC, USA (Ret) on July 8, 1992.

Survivors include his wife, Eileen; son Stephen Hinkin, his wife, Natalie, and their sons Henry Michael of Grand Rapids, Mich. and Michael Hinkin of Manhattan, Kans.; and daughter Erin Boidock and her husband, Stephen, of Austin, Texas; and his mother, Mabel Hinkin, of Man-

hattan, Kans. He is also survived by his brothers Douglas Hinkin and his wife, Maureen, of Manhattan, Kans.; Lawrence Hinkin, Col, USAF (Ret) and his, wife Karen, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Matthew Hinkin and his wife, Deborah, of Knoxville, Tenn.; two sisters, Beth Cartner and her husband, Bruce, of Naperville, Ill. and Barbara Setter and her husband, Ralph, of Omaha, Neb. along with many cousins, nieces, nephews and many friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013 at the St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Manhattan, Kans. Burial with full military honors by the USAF Honor Guard from McConnell Air Force Base, followed at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery, Fort Riley, Kans.

Dan literally touched thousands of people throughout his life not only with the healing hands of an outstanding surgeon, but also as the caring and compassionate man that he was. All who had the privilege of knowing Dan know that he has, to paraphrase the poem High Flight “…slipped the surly bonds of earth... reached out his hand and touched the face of God”. (Col. Lawrence [Larry] Hinkin, USAF, Ret)

Leonard G. Hayes, ’82 Leonard G. “Len” Hayes of Navarre, Fla. passed away on Sept. 12, 2012 at the age of 52. Len was born Nov. 1, 1959 in Denver, Colo. to Laverne and John Hayes.

Following his graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 1982, Len attended helicopter training at Ft Rucker, Ala. and then Kirtland AFB, N.M. He married Debra Shell in 1983. In addition to adopting her two daughters, Kimberly and Kristina, they had had a son, Jonathan.

He flew HH-53 helicopters at Sembach AB, Germany in the 603rd Air Control Wing. He was medically retired from the Air Force because of bi-polar disorder.

After he left the Air Force, he worked for the Vernon Company as a salesman, then as a salesman at Sears and then Art’s Appliances in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. He married Nora Cruz in 1996.

Len had a passion for life and he treasured his family and friends. He was a long distance runner and finished several marathons as a cadet and on active duty.

He was an avid bowler and maintained a 200+ average in multiple leagues up until the time of his death. He enjoyed hunting, making many trips to Colorado for Len Hayes elk hunting and to Minnesota for deer hunting with his father, brothers, and nephews. He loved to fish and he made many memories while salt water fishing on the Gulf of Mexico. He was pursuing a license to charter fishing trips prior to his death. He was a true sportsman; as he was a conservationist in order for many generations to enjoy the outdoors as much as he did. He was a talented photographer who always kept his camera close, in case of that perfect picture.

He shared those images annually with his loved ones when he made a custom calendar for Christmas presents. He had a passion for baseball and rooted for the Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins. He spent many nights listening to the local AM feed of Braves games.

Len is survived by his wife, Nora; his daughters Kimberly and Kristina; his son Jonathan; his daughter-in-law Tiffany; three grandchildren Danielle and Isabelle McMillan and Josalynn Hayes; and his brothers Col. (Ret) John Hayes (Class of ’78), TSgt (Ret) Glenn Hayes, and Col. (Ret) Howard Hayes (Class of ’84). He was preceded in death by his parents MSgt (Ret) John and Laverne Hayes.

A memorial service was held in Navarre, Fla. on Sept. 16, 2012. (John Hays, ’78, Len’s brother)

Jeffrey W. Riddlebarger, ’88 Man of God, Husband, Father, Son, Brother, and Friend, Lt Col Jeffery W. “Cheese” Riddlebarger, 47, went home to be with the Lord on Aug. 14, 2013. With his wife, Lynn, and their children Sarah, Jonathan, and Nathan by his side, the Lord called Jeff home after an all-too-brief battle with cancer.

Born in 1966 in San Antonio, Texas, Jeff grew up primarily in Ohio and Florida, played baseball at every opportunity, and graduated from Okeechobee High School in 1984. After high school, Jeff entered the United States Air Force Academy where he excelled on the field as a var95

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN sity baseball player and off the field as well, earning the Fay Award as the outstanding member of the USAFA Protestant Cadet Religious Council.

Jeff graduated from USAFA in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Middle Eastern History and a minor in the Arabic language. Following graduation, Jeff attended pilot training at Columbus AFB, Miss. where he met and married Lynn in 1989. After pilot training, Jeff flew F-15s at Holloman AFB, Langley AFB, and Tyndall AFB. As an Eagle driver, stationed at Holloman, Jeff not only earned his call sign “Cheese” but he and Lynn also became the proud parents of Sarah and Jonathan.

Jeff transitioned from Active Duty to the Reserves in 1998, beginning his civilian airline career with United Airlines and continued to serve in the military as an AT-38 Instructor Pilot at Columbus and Moody Air Force Bases.

After moving to Colorado, the family was blessed with the arrival of Nathan.

In 2004, Jeff was instrumental in the stand-up of the first-ever Reserve unit at USAFA, 302d Airlift Wing Detachment 1, which later became the 70th Flying Training Squadron. While serving as the Soaring Flight Commander, Jeff began teaching Cross Country and Aerobatic Soaring to the cadets, which quickly became his passion in the aviation world.

Cheese was qualified in six different gliders and held certifications as an Jeff Riddlebarger Evaluator Pilot, spin, aerobatic, demonstration, and cross-country Instructor Pilot. He earned his share of International Aerobatics Club (IAC) medals and accolades on his many aerobatic trips with the Cadet Aerobatic Demonstration Team and has thousands of Soaring Society of America On-Line contest miles with the Cadet Sailplane Racing Team. He also holds the distinction of having the longest flight duration in USAFA history (7.2 hours) at the 2012 Super-Regional Soaring Competition in Moriarty, N.M. Jeff was wholly dedicated to helping others in his church and community. In 1998, Jeff earned his Master’s Degree in Missions from Regent University. His visionary leadership made him ideal to be Castle Rock Christian Fellowship Missions Director, leading a mission trip to New York, participating in a mission trip to Lebanon, and serving as the School Board President at Castle Rock Christian School.

Jeff was a wonderful man of God who upheld the same priorities that he encouraged tirelessly to everyone he met: Faith, Family and Hard Work. He spent countless hours and drove hundreds of miles as a soccer referee for high school and college. Jeff’s pride in each of his children knew no bounds as he shared his family with all of us through his stories of Sarah’s world race mission trip, Jonathan’s athletics, and Nathan’s energizing and electrifying smile. Jeff’s endless love for Lynn was evident in every aspect of his life, as he was supercharged by her quiet, unparalleled strength and grace.

Jeff, we know you are dancing in Heaven and that you were greeted upon your arrival with the words “Well done, my good and faithful servant!” Rest now, friend, you’ve reached final glide… (Eric Ujfalusy, ’92, friend of family)

Danta L. Johnson, ’96 Danta Lamar Pinkett Johnson was born on Aug. 14, 1974, to proud parents Paulette J. Jones and Johnny G. Pinkett, in Salisbury, Md. Paulette later married James E. Johnson and Johnson became the family name.

In 1992, Danta graduated from Randolph High School at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. His childhood dream of attending the United States Air Force Academy was realized that June when he entered basic cadet training with the class of 1996. Danta spent all four years as a cadet in Ragin’ Bull Six Squadron. He majored in general engineering. Danta blossomed as a premiere athlete, setting Academy records in track and field, and putting up record-breaking numbers as a running back in the 1995 Copper Bowl versus Texas Tech (145 yards on 5 rushes with two touchdowns of 60 and 71 yards). Following graduation in 1996, Danta headed off to serve as an Air Force ROTC recruiter at the University of Louisville. He then relocated to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. in 1997 to begin his career as a contracting officer.

In April 1999, Danta married his Academy sweetheart, Colleen Lehne, also Class of 1996, and the two headed off to their new assignment at Los Angeles Air Force Base. From that point forward, the South Bay area of Los Angeles County became their home. In 2001, he separated from 96

active duty and transitioned to a civilian career mostly spent in the aerospace industry. Danta performed contracting work at Boeing, Masterplan and, finally, with Moog Inc. Aircraft Division in Torrance, where he spent his last nine years working as a senior buyer and major subcontracts manager.

After the Air Force, Danta’s new passions became serving God, his family, body boarding in the Southern California waves and playing guitar. God called Danta into youth ministry at Baycities Community Church in Redondo Beach, and Church of the Beachcities in Manhattan Beach. Meanwhile, he led his family in personal outreach to at-risk youth, influencing countless youth to seek and follow Danta’s Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Eight years of youth ministry prepared Danta for the big-time—fatherhood, his most cherished role. In 2006, Timothy, the pride of Danta’s life and Danta Johnson his best friend, was born. Two years later, Noelle, his smiling princess ladybug, captured his heart. After two losses through miscarriage, God brought great joy and laughter to the Johnson household in the person of Reed, with his big smile and even bigger personality. God filled Danta’s quiver to the fullest in December 2012 with the birth of Violet, whose bright eyes and trademark Johnson dimples labeled her as the family’s vibrant and not-so-delicate flower.

Danta had an engine that ran at only one speed – full-throttle. As a regular guest pastor and youth leader at five different South Bay churches, a major contributor to his Life Group, and as the neighborhood father and spiritual guardian, he never shied away from the special role God prepared for him.

God called Danta home on Friday, Aug. 16th, 2013. He is deeply missed as husband, father, son, brother, neighbor, youth leader, teammate, coworker, friend and mentor. Most importantly, his legacy will live on through the many lives transformed by the holy God that Danta loved, followed and proclaimed to all. Now he has finished the race, and been welcomed home by God with the words he so longed to hear…“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Written by friends Mr. Tyler Townes and Lt. Col. Mike Taraborelli, ’97).

(Editor’s note: The AOG does not always have all the information concerning the death of a graduate. We only publish the information we have available on each deceased graduate or cadet.)

At press time we learned of the deaths of the following graduates: Mr. Charles A. “Ace” Holman, Class of 1960, who died on Nov. 9, 2013 in Mobile, Ala. Lt. Col. (Ret) Norman C. Alexander, Class of 1960, who died on Nov. 12, 2013 in Saginaw, Texas.

Dr. John R. Day, Class of 1960, who died on Nov. 18, 2013 in Sorrento, Fla. Lt. Col. (Ret) Howard M. “Mike” Tomme, Class of 1963, who died on Oct. 2, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nev. Lt. Col. (Ret) Robert A. Draper, Class of 1967, who died on Oct. 27, 2013 in Universal City, Texas Mr. James L. Leuthauser, Class of 1969, who died on Aug. 20, 2013 in Florida.

Lt. Col. (Ret) William B. “Blake” Smith, Class of 1970, who died on Oct. 20, 2013 in Sierra Vista, Ariz.

Maj. (Ret) John F. Farrell, Class of 1980, who died on Oct. 29, 2013 in Wetumpka, Ala. Col. (Ret) Philip A. Bossert, Class of 1982, who died on Oct. 3, 2013 in Friendswood, Texas.

Maj. (Ret) Terryl E. Slemp, Class of 1983, who died on Aug. 27, 2013 in Alabama.

Capt. (Ret) James Zampacorta, Class of 1984, who died on Oct. 4, 2013 in Pueblo, Colo.

Mr. Brad W. Bramigk, Class of 1987, who died on Oct. 2, 2013 in Minneapolis, Minn.

1st Lt. David D. Ostrom, Class of 2010, who died on Sept. 27, 2013 of cancer while traveling.

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

Class News Ed Josephson 23 Old Gordon Road Brentwood, NH 03833 H: (603) 778-1495 Cell: (603) 770-6003 Josephson@comcast.net

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Members

With apologies to Charles Dickens, it was the best of times and the worst of times. The best of times? The mini-reunion at the Navy game.

Organized by Joe Morgan, jeopardized by the government shutdown, but saved by a flood of emails confirming everyone was coming, game or no game. The worst of times? The last five minutes of the game. Attendees included Bender, Carr, Connally, Davey, Goetze, Hamer, Judy Jay, Jefferson, H. T. Johnson, Josephson, Lanman, May, Miltner, Montavon, Montgomery, Morgan, Reardon, Schaum, See, Telford and Wynn. (Forgive not including name of spouse and guests because of word count limit.)

May and hernia surgery six weeks later. Good thing Arohanui is a certified National JDRF Cycling Coach and Matt is entering his fourth year of medical school.

We’re not done yet. Team Starrett participated in the Manatee County Florida’s Flagship race. Team Leader Sam came in first (all positions are within age group). Son Bob, a Petty Officer, Maritime Expeditionary Group, was second. Coach/Enforcer Elfi kept them all on track. Son Chris, a FBI Special Agent, took sixth. Daughter-in-law Pat, a USAF, JAG Captain, was first and is the 12th AF representative to the USAF marathon at Wright-Pat. On the travel front we have Ann and H. T. Johnson’s tour of China. H. T. sent out an email so I’ll just mention it here for those without email (yes, there are a few). Contact me if you would like more and I’ll send it by snail mail.

Ann and H. T. spent seventeen days going from Beijing to Hong Kong. Along the way they climbed the Great Wall, went to the Forbidden City, visited TiananSabre Society Donors men Square and saw the Giant Pandas. In Xi’an they saw the famous Terra Cotta Soldiers, the Tang Dynasty Show and the Small Goose Pagoda in a delightful little park. From there they visited five other cities traveling by air, high-speed train and riverboat. Getting to China and back was special too. To Beijing they flew east over the Artic Circle. From Hong Kong they flew east again across the Pacific to Dulles. Flight time 31 hours around the world.

Curt Cook asked me to remind you the Class Advisory Senate meets quarterly (not bi-monthly) and the minutes can be found at www.usafa. org/AOG/ClassAdvisorySenate.

I’ve reached my word limit for this month with more to report. We have an expanded word count limit for now on. Having had to cut more than I’d like right now. Will also work with Roger Counts to see if it makes sense to augment Checkpoints with the class web site.

Thought for the Quarter: Every major mistake is made by experts. Only the expert has the arrogance of certainty and enough credibility to convince others to overcome their doubts and go along.

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A.J. (Rosie) Cler, Jr. Members 5423 Myrtle Wood Sarasota, FL 34235-4624 Phone: (941) 371-4843 E-mail: RCtherose@aol.com Class Web Site: www.usafa.net/1960 Goetze, Bender, Montgomery, Connally, Telford, Schaum The big news this quarter revolves around travel, much of it involving remarkable physical feats.

The distance winner is Jean Carr who joined friends to walk 322 miles along “The Way of St. James”. Jean joined her friends in Burgos, Spain.

From there they completed their religious journey to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain where the apostle St. James is buried. Check Martin Sheen’s 2010 movie “The Way” to get a feeling for Jean’s experience.

Meanwhile Dick Carr and daughter Kelly were making a trek of their own on the Inca Trail to visit Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. By climbing to over 12,000 feet they proved their physical condition is a bit better than the rest of us.

They are not without challengers. Arohanui and Mike Bender and son Matthew participated in a one-day 105-mile bike ride to find a cure for Juvenile Diabetes. By the way, Mike had his second knee replacement in

Team Starrett: Sam, Bob, Elfi, Chris, Pat

Gordy and Ann Flygare spent July in Ireland. Photos: (A) “How bright and sunny Ireland is! Our glasses went full dark and short sleeves were in vogue.” (B) “Couple of guys I met at a pub. Dandy on my right is Oscar Wilde and the other is ‘Natalie Attired’.” (C) “Pint and bowl of chowder, prime pub fare--spoon standing tall! Lotsa seafood in the chowder.” (D) “If elected to office in Northern Ireland you wear this neat robe. Cecil B. DeMille advised on this, I do believe.”

“It is quiet and peaceful in Thomasville, GA,” says Jon McClure. “Working in the Southern Circuit of Georgia Public Defender’s Office defending poor and ‘not guilty,’ haven’t tried a case in a year. Thomas County, GA desires to resolve everything without trial. Linda and I drove to

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Class News Retired Eastern Pilots Association convention in Charleston, SC last month. Spoke with Weesa Holman last Sunday -- Ace was in the hospital all week. In addition to Parkinson’s, his kidneys are not functioning properly. Ace can hear and respond, but not talk.”

“We had a busy year,” wrote Bill Kornitzer. “The exciting news was that Linda’s oldest son, Jared (42), and his wife had their first child -- Julia Mae. That makes ten grandchildren, five months to 23 years. Son Stephen is an AF Colonel in charge of PacAF exercises. Grandson Nick is a 2nd LT going through Intel School at Goodfellow AFB, Texas. My nephew Michael John Loh (Mike Loh’s Grandson) is in his first year at USAFA. We will be with Mike at the Notre Dame game 26 October.”

“We’ve continued to take European river cruises. Perhaps the best was down the Seine to the North Sea,” wrote Walt Futch. “Stopped at Monet’s Garden and a number of other historical places; however, most awe-inspiring was touring the Normandy Beach area and seeing the American cemetery for those who died in the Normandy invasion. In August 2012 I was diagnosed with colon cancer, Stage 2A. I am now a semi-colon, but tests have been negative for any spreading. We took an Alaskan cruise in June, since Elaine and her daughter Diane had never been to Alaska. Stayed a couple of extra days in Anchorage, saw Denali, and spent several Sabre Society Donors days in Vancouver before coming home.”

“Deb & I are doing pretty well, but don’t do a lot of traveling due to her health issues -- just short trips. No great grandkids yet, since none of the grandkids are married. One granddaughter has applied for Marine JAG out of the SMU law school,” writes Jerry Caskey.

“Our activities revolve around three daughters and six grandchildren in/around Austin, TX, plus our son and family in Redwood City, CA, with five more grandchildren,” writes Sid Newcomb. “We are blessed to see our Texas children and grandchildren every week, and the ‘California Newcombs’ twice a year. Son Sid is a tennis teaching pro in Northern Cal. Our other involvement is church, hosting a group of 12-16 each Wednesday evening. Our Martinez Taco Business needs attention several days a week.

As Admissions Liaison Officer, I have responsibilities at local high schools, and contact students, parents, and counselors interested in USAFA or AFROTC. My PSA=0!”

“Alex has been involved with an archeological dig in Jordan for seven years,” wrote Pam Zimmerman. “They are looking for Sodom and have found strong evidence that this is the site! I have gone along on a few digs, and go again February ’14 for two weeks. All are well and prospering in our family. Our newest addition is an English bulldog named Gus. We send Merry Christmas to Leon and Maryn Goodson.”

Interesting travelogue from Charlie and Kathy Liggett about “twelve days in June along the Rhone River in southern France with five couples and two French guides -- all members of Chaine des Rotisseurs, while visiting 18 wineries,” wrote Charlie. Frank and Eve Mayberry’s 2013 travels are on CWS (Liggett and Mayberry stories—See “Travelogues”).

I will be living on the 40’ sailboat I’ve owned for 35 years when I return November 5th. It’s time to ‘pull-the-plug’ on NZ, as it’s been 40 years ‘Down Under.’ I had a ‘not-so-fun-time’ with a large kidney stone. Suddenly gushing 2000CCs of blood from a tube in the kidney -- the urology docs had little idea how to treat massive blood loss. I still soar in Boulder’s FBO, and dined several times with Bujalskis and Bilellos.”

The Northwest Falcons (NWF) gathered in August at Hector’s Restaurant in Kirkland, WA. All eight “West of the Cascade Mountains Members” attended. George Luck flew his Bonanza to Astoria, OR, picked up Ed and Suzanne Leonard, flew them to Paine Field in Everett, WA, and was met by Chuck Diver and Bill Zersen. The next day was Ed and Suzanne Leonard’s 20th wedding anniversary. “NWF then gathered at Ivar’s Mukilteo (WA) Landing August 13th. That rare gem -- Deke Johnson (up from Idaho) - joined us! (Photo, top: Johnson, Yoakum, Diver, O’Keefe, Bristow, Zersen, Diver, Luck). September 5th the group gathered at O’Rourke’s house for a superb barbeque dinner,” wrote George. “Attending was Nels Delisanti, George and Carolyn Luck, Jim and Bev O’Rourke, Vic Yoakum, Chuck and Edie Diver, and Bill Zersen.”

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“My physics and cosmological theories were recently requested by two editors of The General Science Journal (www.gsjournal.net ),” wrote Lew Price. “Four essays of mine, and one of my wife, Sherry’s, cartoons, are currently posted there. Several very helpful people have been promoting my work this year and we are grateful. It looks like the tide is turning toward dynamic ether theories, rather than empty space.”

“Really busy finishing up work involving the Air Force, and tutoring math,” writes Norm Haller. “We have two grandchildren currently at Annapolis (Jeff Haller, 2014 and Lauren Haller, 2016 -- children of Richard and Julie Northgraves Haller, both Class of 1988).”

“We escaped Boulder’s floods with two inches of water in the crawlspace,” wrote Dave Reed. “We sold the house in New Zealand, so Pat and

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Les and Marty Querry’s Falcon Roosting was Saturday, Oct 26, 2013, with 29 attending: Out-of-towners included JT and Diane Smith (Tennessee), Brian and Carol Kaley (Connecticut), George and Becke Fries (Williamsburg, VA), Al and Gale Johnson (Maine); locals included Ken and Judy Alnwick, Bob and Liliane Badger, Tom and Mary Ellen Burke, Tony and Karen Burshnick, Bill Carnegie, Jerry and Betty de la Cruz, Leon and Maryn Goodson, Bill and Cathe Hockenberry, Ralph and Darlene Lalime, Pat Warack, and Norm Haller. After drinks, snacks, and a mountain-trail hike by some, it was “Feeding Time,” followed by the AFA-Notre Dame game on TV. DECEMBER 2013 BIRTHDAYS: Charlie Folkart—4 Dec 1935(78); Tony Long—2 Dec 1937(76); Dick Mrosla—Bob Weinaug—20 Dec 1937(76); Brian Kaley—21 Dec 1937(76); Charlie Hart—27 Dec 1937(76); Charlie Sands— 04 Dec 1938(75); Norm Haller—05 Dec 1938(75); Howie Bronson—08 Dec 1938(75); JP Browning—14 Dec 1938(75); George Lester—15 Dec 1938(75); Lew Price—19 Dec 1938(75); Dick Kingman—31 Dec 1938(75).

FINAL ROLL CALL: Linda King, wife of Harrison Edward King, Jr., died 19 Oct 2013 of cancer. Charles Andrew Holman, Jr. died 8 Nov 13 from Parkinson’s Disease. Norman Cope Alexander died 12 Nov 13. Jon Roby Day died 18 Nov 13 from kidney cancer. (There are currently 59 deceased and 168 living classmates.)

53 classmates are featured in this column submitted by Rosie Cler.

March 2014’s issue will be written by Charlie Hart. Send stories and photographs to cehart60@gmail.com .

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Earl N. “Nelson” O’Rear Members 50582 Stonington Drive Granger, IN 46530-8243 H: (574) 273-2597 E-mail: enoandtjo@gmail.com Class Web Site: www.usafa1961.org

Sandy Lewis (Terry Norris’ widow) invites all of us to Terry’s burial service at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, 16 Dec, at 1:00 in the Old Post Chapel at Fort Myer.

Kay Woelfel and her family thank ’61 class members for their kind words and contributions to the Wounded Warriors Project. Kay and children Scott Woelfel, Sue Patten, and Sandy LeBlanc felt honored to attend the 6 September Homecoming Memorial Ceremony at the Air Force Academy. The ceremony included the entire Cadet Wing and was highlighted by a roll call of those who have departed since the last Homecoming Memorial. A muffled drum roll accompanied the calling of each name and squadron. The 13th Squadron commander responded “Absent” after Terry Woelfel’s name was called. The subsequent rifle salute and Taps ensured no dry eyes among attending family members. It was a very solemn occasion. The three First Class cadets who accompanied them during the afternoon were knowledgeable, respectful, and thoroughly confident about their future. Our Air Force future is in good hands.

On 7 October Tom Eller, Tom Conley, Jim Wilhelm, and Terry Storm installed medallions for our classmates who passed away during the past year. It was an absolutely beautiful day in Colorado. We now have 166 living graduates.

The USAFA Class of 1961 Washington DC Lunch Bunch gathered on 27 August at Spike Nunn’s Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club in Kilmarnock, VA, for several hours of historical analysis (war stories), taste testing of various beverages, and an excellent meal. Al “Spike” Nunn and Bill Stackhouse organized the event. Bill, Spike, and Twy normally drive 2½ to 3 hours to Charlie Dixon’s Country Club south of DC and greatly appreciated the other attendees driving from DC to Kilmarnock in Virginia’s Northern Neck for that month’s luncheon. Attendees included Spike and Becky Nunn, Bill and Rhoda Stackhouse, John Kohout, Jack and Diane McDonough, Hector and Joan Negroni, Bill Sanzenbacher, Twy and Nancy Williams, Pat and Marilyn Buckley, Jerry and Sue Lefton, Tony and Joan Blackstone, USMA ’60, and Wayne and Judie Ploger, USMA ’61.

Dave Carlstrom has finally been moved to a VA hospital near their home.

While he is receiving the same good care formerly provided at the civilian hospital, Elizabeth “Lily” and Dave no longer must pay the expensive daily costs for a skilled nurse. Thanks to all classmates who wrote letters to the VA on Dave’s behalf, those who called Lily and sent cards, and Pat and Marilyn Buckley for their visits. All meant a lot to the Carlstroms. Cards are still quite welcome. Address them to 128 Fairhaven Rd, Concord, MA 01742-3518.

The DC contingent and other classmates gathered Sabre Society to cheer for an Air Force football victory over Navy. A Donors Friday night dinner at a local restaurant was their pregame pep rally. Supporting the Air Force were Pat and Marilyn Buckley, Gene and Judy Davis, Charlie Dixon and Liz, Bill Foster, John and Joan Kohout, Jerry Lefton, John and Dianne McDonough, and Hector and Joan Negroni, plus some family members. Afterwards most, joined by Sue Lefton and Theda Foster, attended a post-game party hosted by the Fosters. The Kohouts hosted the group in their Mt. Vernon home for a Sunday brunch, which concluded with a toast to success in 2015.

Ginger and Mark Anderson attended the ’61 October Redneck Riviera mini-reunion. In November they attended the Army game at USAFA, and then took a Mississippi River Cruise from Memphis to New Orleans.

After Pat and Marilyn Buckley departed their Spanish home in July, they visited relatives in the UK, Massachusetts, New Jersey, DC, and Maine.

They also enjoyed visits with Dave and Lily Carlstrom in Acton, and later at the VA Hospital in West Roxbury, MA. Visits with other classmates included Bill and Rhoda Stackhouse, the DC Lunch Bunch, John and Joan Kohout and classmate families attending the AF/Navy football game and associated activities, Gene and Judy Davis, Doug Wade, BG Willis, and Rees and Pauline Wagner. Charlie and Lynda Neel visited Pat and Marilyn for several days in September. In October, they attended the Grand Old Opry, and the ’61 Redneck Riviera Reunion in Florida.

Tom and Anne Eller enjoyed a protracted and wonderful, yearlong 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration. They spent seven weeks in Kauai, followed by time with family members throughout the year in Atlanta and the UK. On their actual anniversary date, they celebrated with dinner in the Penrose Room at the Broadmoor. October included a few days in Aspen. They spent Thanksgiving with daughter Julie and her two sons, Barrett (’11), and Connor in Taos, NM. Henry and Peggy Howe celebrated his sister’s and her husband’s 50th anniversary in northern Minnesota and subsequently enjoyed two weeks in the Cuchara Valley of Colorado, hiking and playing bridge with friends.

They then visited Peggy’s 96-year-old father in Ft. Collins, extending their stay as his health declined, and were with him when he died. They attended his memorial service in Ft. Collins on October 19th and inurnment in Gunnison on the 21st. Thanksgiving will be with their daughter and husband in Shalimar, FL, and Christmas at home with their son and his family.

Wayne and Mary Jones attended a reunion of the 4th Air Commando Squadron AC-47 “Spooky” crewmembers in Washington, DC, in September and enjoyed touring the Air and Space Museum near Dulles Airport and all of the War Memorials in town. They conducted a special ceremo-

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ny at the Vietnam Memorial for our comrades lost in that conflict. In San Diego, Wayne’s 13th Flight of the Order of Daedalians hosted the National Convention, which ’61ers Dean Jones and George Buchner also attended in October. Prior to the convention, Wayne and Mary and Dean and Jo enjoyed an overnight excursion to Catalina Island.

Bob Kellock went to Shelbyville to get his airplane in July and returned it to its permanent station at Patagonia, AZ, in two flying days and a layover day at Sweetwater, TX. They have spent two month-long visits in Patagonia, refurbishing Samantha’s uncle’s red 1975 Mustang II. The Mustang Club is quite active. Flying is fun, but the little kite likes the air to be calmer than is frequently found in southeast Arizona. They enjoyed the October airborne Treasure hunt, a great three-day event from Tucson International. They spent Thanksgiving in Long Beach for the first time in six years and return to Patagonia about December 17th for the winter holidays. A visit to Nampa, ID, in December will celebrate Samantha’s aunt’s 94th birthday.

At the end of May, John and Sheila May attended the Harvard graduation ceremony of their oldest grandson, Craig, following their return from London. John competed in the North Carolina Croquet Singles Tournament in September; a lot of fun. Sheila and John celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with both daughters and son-in-law Joe. John gave Sheila a very romantic gift: a new fishing reel.

Hector and Joan Negroni also attended the ’61 Red Neck Riviera Reunion in Florida. They will be leaving for their Bonita Springs, FL, winter quarters via the AutoTrain on 13 January and will return to Vienna, VA, when the snow stops and the ice melts around mid-May. Earl Saunders’ great grandson was born on 27 September, and Earl hopes that he will become the first fourth generation USAFA graduate.

Born Sullivan Thomas Karmondy, USAFA 2035 (maybe) at Misawa AB, Japan. Father: Matthew Karmondy, (2006); Grandfather: Thomas Karmondy, (1982); Great Grandfather: Earl Saunders, (1961). Earl’s daughter, Cathryn, is married to Thomas Karmondy.

It has been a busy year for Jack and Linda Taylor. A Caribbean cruise in January; LA/Disney/Palm Springs in March; a week in Scottsdale in April; and eye surgery in May to repair a hole in Jack’s macula; Washington Det. ‘61 gathering at Pacific Beach in June; Santa Fe/Taos in July; an Alaska cruise in September; and in October Laughlin AFB, TX, to attend UPT graduation of 2012 USAFA graduate, 2/Lt Megan Wyngarden. She was first in her class and is going to KC-135s at Fairchild. Art and Holly Kerr, Gene Hopp and friend Mary, and Linda and Jack are going to cruise the Panama Canal in April. Since another Air Force couple is joining them, they’re going to hold an “Air Force Night” on the ship.

Ad Thompson said that Brice Jones was in Santa Barbara on 25 September for a dinner that gave him a chance to tell all about his wines. Bruce Hinds, Ad, and their wives attended to make certain that a sufficient quantity of wine was consumed. It was a good but short ’61 mini-reunion.

Realizing that they were starting late to spend their children’s inheritance, By Theurer and Pat Pilcher enjoyed a historian’s tour of southern England. They visited the British Museum, the Museum of London, and three of the five venues of the Imperial War Museum, including RAF Duxford. Duxford was once home of the USAAF’s 78th Fighter Group, later Fighter Wing, and By flew an F-101 in one of its squadrons, the 84th FIS. Winnie and Bob Wagner enjoyed five days in New York City celebrating Winnie’s birthday. Bob said it is always great to go there to see a play, museums, and a few “edge” folks.

Tom and Judy Wilson recently attended an AOG Chapter Presidents conference at the Academy. Only 8 of the 76 Chapters were recognized as a “Distinguished Chapter,” and the Twin Cities Chapter earned this honor for the second consecutive year. Not bad for being in operation only two years. The real highlight was a ‘61 dinner at the Garden of the Gods Club, spending a delightful evening with local classmates and brides.

Gwen and Neal Westbrook flew to Anchorage with their son and daughter-in-law and rented an RV to visit Seward and Denali. Alaska in September is beautiful although often cloudy; the flora, fauna, and topography overpowered their cameras. They tried for three days to fly around Mt. McKinley, but clouds obscured their view. It was their first try in an RV. Roads were usually rough and reminded Neal of the time he deadheaded across the Atlantic on a C-124, “Old Shaky”. Doors and dishes moved at will, and the noise of rivets was deafening. It was a hoot.

Gayle Zompa is moving off Galveston Island into a new Dell Webb community in League City, TX, 30 minutes north. Her new address is 1525

JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY! YOUR MONEY HELPS FUND CADET WING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED. CALL (719) 472-0300 X200.

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Class News Brunello St., League City, TX 77573. Her cell phone number remains unchanged.

See a greatly expanded version, with pictures, at our Class Web Site.

We rarely hear from some of you, but we are interested and want you to reconsider and share with us at least periodically.

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John W. “Jack” Jamba Members 4 Judy Court Satellite Beach, FL 32937 H: (321) 777-5520 O: (321) 861-6279 Cell: (321) 432-1370 E-Mail: jwjamba@aol.com

Hi Redtags, The football season is finally underway. It looks a bit gloomy so far but we have a very inexperienced team. Better things will come our way as long as we don’t give up and we continue to fight hard for wins.

This past June the CONUS members of the RTB Ripchords, Phil Merkel, Mike Williams, Dick Smull and Jim Gallagher got together for a bit of practice at the home of Dick and Anny Smull. The occasion was a wine and food tasting event. Dick remarked, “It may be my imagination, but the singing seemed to get better as the event progressed.” I didn’t have room in my colSabre Society umn for their picture. But they looked very professional Donors just as they did at the 50th Reunion.

The summer was well underway with an RTB gathering at Hooters in Merritt Island, FL to include Caroline Jamba, Jack Jamba, Hal Rhodes, Chuck Cheeseman, Colin Richardson, George Thompson and Willie Gray. George was winding up his summer visit and getting ready to head back to Russia. With sadness in our hearts at the impending travel of RTB George, we managed to have a few beers and cokes anyway.

In Washington, D.C. at Bob Lightsey’s house from left sitting are Ted Dykes, Gene McHugh Dick Klass and Doug Tice. Standing: Chet Griffin, Tom Moore, Jack Geiger, Minter Alexander Scott Fisher, Bill Haugen, Lanny Lancaster, Bob Lightsey (party host) and Art Farrington. closest thing to a fighter” in a light general aviation aircraft. The aerobatics, Warbirds, Jetman, Chicago Band, Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band, etc., were truly awesome and I only regret that I hadn’t done this ‘Bucket List’ treasure before now. ”

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From left are Caroline Jamba, Jack Jamba, Hal Rhodes, Chuck Cheeseman, Colin Richardson, George Thompson and Willie Gray.

I also received word that there was a delightful evening this summer for many of the Washington area RTBs and Red Tag Babes. In attendance were Minter Alexander and Vicky, Ted Dykes and Marcy, Art Farrington and Sandy, Jack Geiger and Jean, Mary Gerken (widow of Fred Gerken), Chet Griffin and Eva Lee, Scott Fisher, Bill Haugen and Sue, Dick Klass and Liz, Lanny Lancaster and Barbara, Gene McHugh and Carolyn, Tom Moore and Virginia, Doug Tice and Connie and, of course, Bob Lightsey and Susan, who were the congenial host and hostess. Tom Moore noted that “Bob and Susan were wonderful hosts. Virginia and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you.”

Bob Lightsey added: “Chet Griffin took pictures. I will nudge him to send you a good one (if there is a good one). (See Pic 2 at the top of the next column.) Lanny Lancaster donated wine in copious quantities for all.

We had perfect weather -- clear, cool, and dry -- and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. Jack Geiger and Doug Tice had long drives to get here and we were happy to have them present and accounted for. Scott Fisher has finally decided to hang up his State Department boots and retire from constant trips to Africa.”

Received this from Frank Urban: “Hi Jack -- Am sending a pic (See Pic 3) as promised... Had a great time at AirVenture 2013 at Oshkosh, and was able to hook up with Rick Perlotto, Tuck McAtee, and Ming Mangold.

Larry Jensen also planned to attend, but had to abort in Dalhart, TX with brake failure on his RV-4. I got a megadose of daily air shows and great seminars, including one by Dick Rutan! We met daily at Tuck’s beautiful Swearingen SX-300 plane, along with some of his cohorts that flew their SX-300s (in formation, of course, with Tuck) up through the Alaskan Glaciers! Heard some really cool stories! He’s certainly having a ball with “the

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At the Oshkosh Air Venture gala from left are Rick Perlotto, Tuck McAtee, Merciless Ming Mangold and Frank Urban.

And this reply from Rick Perlotto: “You’re on target, Frank -- Tuck’s plane is very SWEET! I hope you and Ming enjoyed the Mexican dinner.

As you know, a group from my pilot training class gets together every year at OSHKOSH (we rent a lake house)… RTBs who have joined us before include Peck, Gallagher, Baxter, Luebbermann, and Gilmartin, Your comment on “Bucket List” is right on... others should consider it. You should let me know if you intend to come and need any info.”

Bill Haugen wrote: “Gail Peck was in DC on 23 September and gave a great presentation about his MiG Squadron to the National Air & Space Museum. There was standing room only in the huge I-MAX theater! I recommend his book America’s Secret MiG Squadron to all. (Gail is the guy with the mustache…) “

Gail Peck and Bill Haugen after Gail’s MiG Squadron presentation at the IMAX theater at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. From Ed Martinelli: “I just got back from a 12-day trip to Utah visiting my son, his family, and some friends. Had an opportunity to break bread

with Jim Gallagher and we spent 3 and 1/2 hours catching up on 51 years.

A great visit that I truly enjoyed.

Got some pictures from Don Shepperd showing him in Washington, DC, with Bob Keighery at Lockheed’s Fighter Demonstration Center in DC. They are standing next to an F-35 Demo cockpit.

Bob Keighery and Don Shepperd tour the F-35 Flight Demonstration mockup in Washington, D.C. Also, Don sent a picture with him, “Merciless Ming” Mangold and Tom Hutchison in golfing gear ready to pursue some agonizing hours on the links. All he said was “their combined score was under 400.” All I can say is that’s quite an improvement.

I also got a picture of a get-together hosted by Bob Staib in Plano, Texas.

Partaking of the hospitality were Vern Wood, Mike Williams, Jerry Smith, Jerry Singleton, and Jim D’Entremont.

Thanks for all your inputs and photos.

Go Redtags!

Norman I. (Skip) Lee 63119 E. Cat Claw Lane Tucson, AZ 85739-2058 Home: (520) 825-7980 Cell: (520) 241-3498 54wrs63@gmail.com Class Web Site: www.usafa63.org

Dick Cole and Norm Wells ling and Les Denend. A Pledge Check for $9.67 million from the Class of 1963 was presented to the Air Force Academy Endowment President and CEO, General Steve Lorenz and Air Force Academy Superintendent, Lt Gen Michelle Johnson. The class has given in excess of $11 million since graduation in 1963—more than any other Class. The class has also established an $844,000 endowment fund whose distributions will complement the Center for Character and Leadership Development and the Department of History’s Center for Oral History project. Over 61% of the Class contributed to the Class Gift Fund.

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Earlier this month, the Association of Graduates informed us of the death of two of our classmates, Lt Col (Ret) Thomas C. Meier, CS-21 and Lt Col (Ret) Howard M. “Mike” Tomme, Sr, CS-01. Both Tom and Mike were remembered during our Class Reunion and their cups were turned over at the Friday evening Memorial Ceremony.

Tom passed away on 3 Aug 2013 in Oregon. Services were held on 10 Aug 2013 in Salem, OR at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The family suggested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Marion Polk Food Share; 1660 Salem Industrial Dr NE; Salem, OR 97301. Condolences may be sent to his family in care of his wife, Mrs. Kathy Meier; 13271 Woodland Ln SE; Turner, OR 97392-9378.

Mike passed away on 2 Oct 2013 in Las Vegas, NV after a brief illness. Funeral services are pending for the Sabre Society springtime at USAFA. Condolences may be sent to his Donors family in care of his son, Mr. Howard M. “Mike” Tomme, Jr.; 13000 N Parkwood Dr, Gulfport, MS 39503.

Class of 1963 50th Class Reunion: What a great Reunion! The 50th Reunion couldn’t have been better.

Great weather, unforgettable events and an incredible turnout. First, Thanks, Kudos, Appreciation et al to our classmates who made this event such an “over the top” success. Bill Ball and Denny King were the committee co-chairs and they did a fabulous job along with a small army of volunteers. There just is not enough room in this article to name those who contributed to the Reunion. Over 260 of our classmates attended the Reunion. What’s more, many of the next of kin of our 18 classmates who gave their all in the Southeast Asia conflict were there. As well, many family members and special guests attended. Of particular note Colonel Dick Cole was a very special guest. Dick is one of the four living Doolittle Raiders. (See photo at the top of the next column.)

There were many wonderful moments at the Reunion, one of which was the presentation of the Class Gift. The Class Gift was presented to the Academy at Falcon Stadium during the first quarter of the football game.

Representing the class at the presentation were Class President Jim Diffendorfer, Class Secretary Pres Davis, Class Historian Lou Matjasko, 50th Reunion Co-chairman Bill Ball, and Gift Committee members John Bor-

From left are Les Dened, Pres Davis, Bill Ball, LGen Johnson, General (Ret) Steve Lorenz, Jim Diffendorfer, Lou Matjasko and John Borling.

If you still want to contribute to the Class Gift go to the Air Force Academy Endowment Web Site: http://www.usafa.org/Endowment. Under “Donors” you will find “Areas of Giving”. Click on that and go to “Class Gifts” and click on the Class of 1963. Easy!

As a part of the Air Force Notre Dame Football game the Class of 1963 members of the USAFA Football Team participated in the opening coin toss. The coin used for the toss was the Class Challenge Coin given to each classmate attending the Reunion. The coin was designed by our classmate Dick Shutack.

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Classmates at the Coin Toss were, from left, Russ Teising, Gerry Ahmann, Skinner Simpson, DeVere Henderson, Willie Parma, John Heimburger, Jim Lang, Dick Brown, Bruce Kohl, Bill Hentges, and Dean Hess.

Squadron Rejoins took place on Wednesday evening and Saturday evening after the game. I have pictures from of two of these events. On Wednesday evening Dave and Carol Nuss hosted a catered dinner at their home for 15th Squadron. Included, was a squadron special guest for the Reunion: Colonel Dave Fitton, one of the “War Eagles” Squadron AOCs. The 11th Squadron’s Rejoin took place on Saturday evening after the football game. Lou Matjasko sent me this story from their gathering: “A 50th reunion story of the 1963 brotherhood -- late Saturday in a 11th Squadron rejoin, Kent Ransom mentioned the loss of his class ring. Lou Jean

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Class News McKnight (widow of Milt, 11th, and Kent’s Doolie roommate) heard about Kent’s loss, which touched her heart. She had Milt’s ring with her and offered it to Kent, who graciously accepted.” How’s that for “Over the Top”?

The 11th Squadron guys above are front row from left, Ken Grizzle, Lou Matjasko, and Ralph Bacue. Second row: Kent Ransom, Larry Thompson, Steve Savonen, George Frederick, Bill Hentges, and Mike Foley. 15th Squadron: In the front row are Ray Fuller, Bud Gilligan, Dave Jackson, Col Dave Fitton, Matt Lee, Dick Guild, and Dave Nuss. Back: Dick Sula, Bill Flynn, Warren Nogaki, Dick Graham, Skip Lee and Ed Pickens.

Please send me pictures and stories from your Squadron Rejoins and they will be posted here and at the Class Web Site.

At the Reunion Hotel Bob and Shirley Hall hosted a Class Memorabilia Room. There were oodles of items creating a nostalgia tsunami: among the displays were photographs, uniforms, copies of the Talon (June 1963 was one), and a basket of DVDs containing 63 copies of the DODO publication from 1959 to 1963 that we could all take home with us. Bob and Shirley’s efforts were truly appreciated—another “over the top” part of the reunion.

Thursday involved a Golf event—I have no results. That evening’s events included the Wives Tribute at the Chapel and the Vietnam Memorial Celebration in Arnold Hall honoring our 18 classmates who gave their all and the two classmates who endured nearly 7 years of captivity as POWs in North Vietnam. At the end of the Vietnam Memorial, Pat Wynne’s Ring was formally presented to the Academy by Pat’s brother, Secretary of the Air Force Mike Wynne. An especially moving event. The entire Thursday evening was exceptionally well done and set the scene for the entire Reunion. There wasn’t a dry eye at the Memorial Celebration.

Friday began with a Lunch with select Cadets at Arnold Hall. The lunch preceded the USAFA Leadership Briefings. All was a great deal of fun.

Talking with the Cadets let us know that much has changed and much has remained the same. The briefings were enlightening as well as thought

provoking. The new Superintendent’s views of the challenges she is facing were likewise daunting. After the briefings we fell out to an area near the Chapel for a Class Photograph.

Friday evening brought the reunion banquet and an evening full of surprises and tall tales (stories) presented by Denny King and Drue DeBerry.

The 9th Squadron afterhours escapades were the evening’s headliners. We were pleasantly surprised by a visit from the Cadet Cheerleaders who led us in a few of the cheers from our day. Three of our Cadet “Yell Leaders” joined in the fun leading the USAFA Pre-Game. They were Joe Lee Burns, Bob Hall and Mike Ferguson. My picture from that event is not printable.

Denny’s and Drue’s presentation was linked to an article written for the reunion by Drue: A Selected Chronology of Our Rendezvous with Destiny, 1937 – 2013, also known as the Chronology.

Drue asked me to let you know if you did not receive your pre-ordered copy of the Chronology at the AOG registration desk, please contact him at 303-470-1667. Classmates who wish to order a copy of the Chronology should send a check for $19 to Drue at 2165 Thistle Ridge Circle, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126. Please add your desired shipping address.

You may recollect that during the Reunion a professional photographer and a professional videographer were recording, with sound, all of our Reunion major events (except the football game). They captured more than we could possibly see on our own, so it will be fun to watch what they recorded. The videos and photos will be posted on the Class Website (www. usafa63.org) but I was told you can purchase your own DVD or CD. To do so contact the videographer, Rick Zahradnik, of Alpha Productions, alphaarick@comcast.net 719-591-7375. $30 for each DVD ordered. The CD can be purchased from photographer Dave Vessey of David Vessey Photography.

Dave can be reached at Dave@VesseyPhotography.com 719-331-1282. Also $30 for each CD. Shipping to the address you specify is included in the price for the DVD and/or the CD. The DVDs and CDs come in jeweled cases with printed Reunion labels. Events are organized by chapter.

That’s it for now. An expanded version of this column with more photos and class information will be posted on the Class Web by the time you read this issue. Thank you all for the kind remarks about this column. It has been a labor of love over these many years (43). Linda and I thoroughly enjoyed the reunion and visiting with all of you. Regretfully, time is short these days and there was not enough time available over the Reunion weekend to visit with quality conversations. Until next time we wish everyone an enjoyable and safe holiday season.

Bob Hovde 206 Walker Ave. Huntsville, AL 35801 (H) (256) 532-3923 (M) (256) 348-9794 bob@hovde.us

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Reunion – Rod Wells relayed that the committee is still looking into the date for our 50th Reunion. There will be, however, a mini-reunion of sorts during Graduation Week 2014, when our class presents Gold Bars to the graduating class. It will entail having about 40 classmates there for three days. More to follow.

Practice Reunions – Fred Gregory, as I noted in the last issue, had his traditional mini-reunion in Annapolis. Since I couldn’t print the picture last time, I will Sabre Society Donors include it here. The next reunion to be hosted by Fred and Annette will be the third Sunday of June 2014. Let’s see – that means you could go to Colorado in May for the mini-reunion/Brown Bar Presentations, fly back to Annapolis for Fred and Annette’s reunion, return to Colorado in time for one of the Old Trolls Luncheons and then attend the “formal” 50th Reunion! So many reunions! So little time!

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Fred and Annette host another fabulous ’64 Mini-Reunion!

Al Rogers hosted a mini-gathering at his Boulder, CO, condo this summer. Rod Wells reported that fun was had by all.

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“For some moments in life there are no words.” -David Seltzer I received the following e-mail from Scott Grunwald ’79: “While my wife, Debbie, and I were celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary earlier this month in Southern Orange County, CA, I had the opportunity to play golf with another USAFA grad.

Attached is the picture of Fletcher ‘Flash’ Wiley (wife Bennie), USAFA Class of 65, and me on the gorgeous 3rd hole at the Monarch Beach Golf Links which, as you can tell, overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Flash, who lives in Brookline, MA, was attending a conference nearby with his wife; he told me he was the roommate of Lance Sijan when they were at Prep School.

Anyhow, I don’t know if either of you can use this for your class pages, but I thought it was quite a small world running into and being paired in the same group with a fellow USAFA grad, so far from home and away from the usual hangouts.” “As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.” -Ben Hogan Al/Linda Rogers, Claude/Sarah Billings, Jay/Sook Kelley, Hugh/Nan Williamson, and Rod/Sabra Wells in Boulder.

Meanwhile, the Old Trolls monthly luncheon continues in Colorado, arranged by Doug Jenkins. [Old Trolls have to eat, too. Oh! That’s all they do!]

Standing from left are Steve Muller, Rod Wells, Jack Wojnaroski, Jim Johnson, and Doug Jenkins. Seated: Usto Schulz, Roger Neeland and Howie Cohen.

Gone But Not Forgotten – Al Freathy died in August in Shalimar, FL, after a battle with cancer. I remember Al from when so many of us were at AFIT together in the early ’70s, but we went different ways after that.

Think News – I’m sorry this is a very short article. I’ve been getting some great pictures with “Everyone had a great time!” for the details. Unfortunately, I can’t fill in with the pictures, because we are only allowed three pictures except at reunion time. The good news is that now that I have new lenses in my eyes, I can actually see the pictures! My deadlines are usually about the third week of January, April, July and October. If you get me some news before then, it will get in the next issue. If not, it’ll be about five months before you see it.

Keep the news coming and think REUNION! Bruce Wood 7610 Sonatta Court Lincoln, NE 68516 Home and Cell: (402) 470-7152 brucewood1965@gmail.com http://usafa1965.org (official) https://usafa-1965.org (auxiliary)

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Hello Silvertags!

Since the last issue, as of my submission date, no Classmate has passed away. Which brings to mind something I have mentioned before: we frequently find out about the passing of a Classmate well after funeral services have taken place. I don’t think I’m the only one who would like a chance to pay last respects. I’ve talked to the AOG “Gone But Not Forgotten” POC, Mr. Tom Kroboth, and he frequently gets notice of the passing of a graduate Sabre Society well after services have taken place. If anyone has any Donors idea(s) about how we can learn sooner about a death, please let me know. Along those same lines, some Classmates learn they have a terminal disease and only a short time to live – I would like one last chance to see them before it’s too late. I know we are a macho group, but if you’re terminally ill please do not rob us of an opportunity to see you one last time.

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I received the following from Vic Grazier: “Hi Bruce, I know that you just published a story about us with Joe and Marlene Koenig and Chuck and Margitta Dahlberg, but I thought you might enjoy this one, too. We attend one of the chapels at Wright-Patterson AFB, and recently there has been a large family that has come in. Since I only saw his first name on a nametag, Steve, I had no idea who he was. That said, however, since he had two older daughters, we asked if they could babysit for our small group Bible study. They said they would like to do that, and I picked them up last Thursday night. At that time I learned that their last name was Bleymaier.

Since the old brain cells aren’t working as well as they once did, it took me a couple of days before realizing that we have a classmate named Bleymaier. So, On Sunday I approached Steve and said that I had a classmate named Bleymaier. Steve then asked what class I was in. I said 65. He said his dad graduated in 65, and his name was Joe Bleymaier. How about that?! We’ve been chuckling and rejoicing on this connection since. Anyway, I thought you would appreciate hearing how this worked. We can try to get a picture if and when Joe is out here again. God Bless! Vic” “How is it that our memory is good enough to retain the least triviality that happens to us, and yet not good enough to recollect how often we have told it to the same person?” -François Duc de La Rochefoucauld Lastly, I received the following from Mike Phillips: “Bruce -- thanks for the birthday wish. I’m so old my daughter says that I know what happened to the Dinosaurs.” “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?” -Satchel PaigeThe above is all the input I received this quarter.

Please send me (or put on my Facebook page) any updates on your status, trips, events, offspring happenings, meetings, issues, gossip, tips, jokes, or anything else. Also you can text me on my Iphone (402-470-7152).

Bruce. ’65 – Best Alive!

Ryan Denny 1635 Mary Todd Lane O’Fallon, IL 62269 H: (618) 624-4255 E-mail: ryanden@aol.com

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Greetings, Redtags! We just got back from a long weekend in Washington DC, and got to see some of the “government shutdown” up close. The purpose for the trip was to attend a pilot training reunion, but we had also planned on seeing some of the normal tourist sites like the Smithsonian, Holocaust Museum, etc. We even had tickets for the White House tour and the Capital tour. We didn’t get to see any of those attractions, but we did get to see some really dumb things going on. Most of the sites that usually require a handful of Park Police to keep them open now required ten times that number of police to keep them closed. They tried to close the National Mall by putting up some barricades and signs that said “This site

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Class News is closed, do not enter” (see picture). Most people just ignored the signs, proving that it is dumb to try to close the outdoors. Even dumber was the attempt to close the WW II Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial—both are outdoor memorials that attract large numbers of veterans (us) who did not let a few signs and some barricades stop them (us) from visiting our memorials. It was a great demonstration of democracy in action overcoming inaction in government. I just never thought that we would have to fight to visit a memorial for a war that we had already fought in.

Your scribe on the wrong side of the fence (as usual).

While in Wash DC, we did find time to have a very enjoyable dinner with Mike and Kathy Gaffney and Bill Howeisner. Both classmates are pretty much retired but manage to stay fully scheduled. Mike runs in triathlons—actually, he runs, swims, and bikes in triathlons (which is probably where the “tri” comes from). Aside from the occasional injuries that accompany this type of activity (old people doing young things), he stays in great shape. Bill is also in great shape and has been taking piano lessons for the last year or two. He doesn’t think it will lead to another career, but it’s fun and keeps his hands and brain talking to each other.

Redtags roughing it in Yellowstone with “cabins, hot tubs, and wifi”. From left are Hugh Gommel (shorts, black socks, and sandals?) Tom Brandon, Tip Galer, Rusty Gideon, Vic Andrews, Dick Borowski, and Marty Daack.

As the Legacy Class for the Class of 2016, our class was invited to return to the Academy, sit with our old squadrons in Mitchell Hall, and watch as the members of the Class of 2016 celebrate this milestone -- the Exemplar Dinner, which was held in November. As part of this new tradition, each cadet class chooses an Exemplar (a past military giant, alive or dead) to honor and identify with. Since the deadline for this article was a few weeks before this event, we’ll have to wait until the next edition of Checkpoints for a report on the festivities and a picture of our classmates who were able to attend. (Of course, I’m counting on one of you guys to send me that report and picture…)

If you noticed that two of our three pictures had your faithful scribe in them, it’s because we were a little short on input for this edition. Since Christmas is coming up, I’m sure that you all will remedy that by including us on you mailing list and letting us all know what adventures you are up to. Until next time… Happy Landings!

Larry Wilson 13100 Pinehurst Ave. NE Albuquerque, NM 87111 H: (505) 291-8949 E-mail: Lwilsn628@aol.com

Mike and Kathy Gaffney, Connie and Ryan Denny, and Bill Howeisner trying to keep the Wash DC economy going in spite of the Government shutdown.

Rusty Gideon says that he knows that we all anxiously await the annual fishing report from Yellowstone each year about this time. Eight intrepid fishermen spent a week drowning flies and pounding the fish in the northern part of Yellowstone Park. This year, Hugh Gommel joined the group, but Art Suro had to cancel at the last minute. John Marshall was also going to be a first-timer, but had to cancel too. Feeling bad that he dropped out, John bought the group two cases of wine to ensure the after-dinner flying stories Sabre Society were as good as ever. With that gesture, he successfully Donors bribed his way onto the 2014 trip.

One of the owners of the Big Moose Lodge spied Vic Andrews ‘66 golf shirt, and after doing the math, remarked at how spry this group of almost-70-somethings looked compared to others of that advanced age. Rusty said that the guys all puffed up their chests (and sucked in their guts) at that, but neglected to tell him about all the knee, back, and ankle complaints that were discussed each evening along with the flying stories.

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Visit the AOG Web Site.

Gone But Not Forgotten, Merchandise and more! www.usafa.org 104

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As I compose this in Albuquerque it is the time of the annual Balloon Fiesta hot air extravaganza. Meanwhile, in DC, the political hot air extravaganza continues. By the time this is printed and distributed in Checkpoints, I trust all the acrimony and pontification and hypocrisy will have been resolved. But I am not optimistic.

With that preamble -- here is news from around the class.

First of all – from a couple of sources – the Prep School reunion was a huge success. From Bob Muldrow: “… We… kicked everything off on August 21 when Loren Shriver gave a presentation to the Rampart Chapter at Jack Quinn’s… On Thursday, Don Hassemer got in…for a golf game… (with) Tom Griesser… and Al Daines… Don told me that everything he knows about golf, Rich McGill taught him… (On) Saturday… we had Roger Carleton and …Buddy Sams join us…That evening… a storm from hell hit… The formal schedule started off on Friday...

Dale Stovall… arranged to have two of his Montana cadets escort us to the Aero Lab and the Cyber Lab… Sabre Society Loren Shriver, and Jempy Neyman gave very nice offDonors the-cuff speeches that I think were right on target. We are a pretty impressive group… Cal Hopper, who mentors a number of Computer Science PhD candidates, was impressed by what the cadets are doing, and he is not easily impressed… for me, it was like a dog watching television… (prep school) candidates… do not do Lackland AFB any more… (At) lunch in the Airman’s dining hall… several of my classmates at our last Academy reunion… said the food at Mitch’s was abominable... The food at the Airman’s dining hall was very good… (A)thletic facilities… are quite impressive. They will be even more impressive when the old NCO Club is turned into a first-class weight facility… Field House, Holladay Training Facility, old gym with its improvements, Hall of Excellence, etc… we

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had our biggest Preppie with us, (Gerry) Twardowski, and he did not look as imposing as he once did with these young men. … good times were had by all.” From Lloyd Duncan: “…The Prep School and AFA are in good hands and the cadets were most impressive. By my count we had 22 guys attend at least some of the functions -- the yearbook says we began on 11 Aug 62 with 164 students. We graduated on 17 May 1963 with (by my count from the year book pictures) -- 136. We were told that 240 entered this current class.”

(Cadet), Lloyd Duncan, Loren Shriver, Robert Hinson, Cal Hopper, me, Pat Finnegan, Don Hassemer, Gerry Twardowski, Gil Mook, Dale Stovall, Jim Hastedt, Fred Milanovich, Jempy Neyman, and (cadet).

From Don Hassemer: “… (I) got disconnected… from AFA but last year got reconnected after the Weapons lab reunion at the Academy set up by Gen Fisher (chair of the Mech Eng dept), and more recently at our Prep School reunion… I left the AF after a stint at the Weapons Lab, went to med school and residency and have been a Family Doc here in Northern New Mexico since 1978, working for the Espanola Hospital owned and run

by Presbyterians. I retired in 2012, and now work …in Santa Fe…” In August, nine members of the class of 1967 attended the Legacy Parade -- Peter Knepell, Jeffrey Schofield, Neal Duggan, Roger Carleton, Gary Koldyke, Paul Henry, Al Lundberg, Skip Pumfrey, and Bob Muldrow -- for the class of 2017. From Bob Muldrow: “…Roger Carleton made a superb speech to the assembly… Neal Duggan happened to be out here from New England doing some fishing when he learned of the parade. Al Lundberg brought his bride down from Aurora to take part as well. The temperature was slightly on the warm side, but it became apparent that the Basics had not been reminded enough to keep flexing their knees and wiggling their toes as they were falling like flies all over the parade grounds.

I bet at least 100 fell out of ranks… No flyovers as you can imagine, but the model plane club put on a demonstration before the parade.”

From left are Pete and Debbie Milne, Ven and Dianne Hammonds, George and Pat Frushour, Bill and Jeannie Gerber, Rick and Carmen Rodriguez, and Stormy and Bruce McDonald From Ray Leopold: “It’s hard to believe that 50 years have passed. On September 22, 1963… the Cadet Chapel at the Air Force Academy was dedicated with all the pomp and ceremony that would have been expected… That afternoon we assembled for the well-planned Chapel Dedication Ceremony and one local TV stations did bring along one of those large, box-like TV cameras to capture the ceremony. It was a sight to see for sure, with the entire Cadet Wing in formation and more dignitaries than usual there for the ceremony...” Ray also recalls that a fire alarm went off in Vandenberg Hall after the dedication, and the entire wing ended up hanging around, in ranks, at ease, until there was found to be no fire.

Sam Savage had a scare, and has some advice for us all: “... the …most important lesson... is to call 911 right away if you get symptoms of heart attack or stroke.”

Mike Giles is the Chapter president of the North Texas Association of Air Force Academy Graduates. His chapter was again designated a Distinguished Chapter -- one of seven (of 75) so honored -- for the three years of its existence A number of our class are dealing with cancer, mostly prostate cancer.

We are all of the age and gender to be paying attention. For those who are so afflicted – hang in there. For those of us who are not (yet) – make certain you are getting appropriate screening and care from your medical team.

My words are expended! God bless the troops, and the USA. Tim Davidson 9712 Hidden Valley Road Vienna, VA 22181-6094 Phone: (703) 255-5313 Mobile: (703) 772-6052 E-mail: timdav1968@verizon.net Class Website: www.usafa68.org

From left are Jeffrey Schofield, Bob Muldrow, Roger Carleton, Gary Koldyke, Al Lundberg, Pete Knepell, Neal Duggan, Paul Henry and Skip Pumfrey.

A little current info: the CS07 gang assembled in Texas in October. “…

Highlight of the trip was a trip to see George Frushour’s hanger house and view their renovated O-1 Birddogs. Ven Hammonds noted that no AF O-1 ever looked as good... Here is a pic of their group, in Luckenbach, TX. (See photo at the top of the next column.)

Here are some brief, thought provoking items: “A few graduation anniversaries ago I noted how 6/7/67 was closer in time to WWII than the current date. Well, try the following on for size. Our entry to the Academy is closer to the beginning of WWI (that’s “I”, not “II”) than it is to now.” (Mike Wirth) Loren and Diane Shriver “…are Ok… We think we got in the neighborhood of 13 inches of rain from… Sept 11, 12, 13… We did leave Estes… on Fri, Sept 13 in order to get my older sister and her husband out of the area while we could since there was fear our road would wash out completely… (we are) now back (in) Estes Park… Access to the area is limited due to washed out highways in the canyons…”

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HELLO ’68! With the government shutdown impacting everything from closing our national parks and war memorials to last-minute decisions on whether our Falcons and the USNA Squids would play each other in football, it was rewarding to be able to write this column with some assurance that the Checkpoints editor and his staff would not be sitting home on furlough. For the “leaders” who brought us to this current state of affairs, we offer a heartfelt reprise that is expressed so eloquently and simply in our unofficial USAFA Postgame cheer!

SCRIBE REQUEST FOR 45TH REUNION ATTENDEES: To all classmates, spouses, progeny, and signifiSabre Society cant others out there in Checkpoints Land who were Donors able to attend and participate in the Class of 1968’s 45th Reunion, please send photos (with names of those in the photos), stories of events, incidents, police blotter activity, good jokes, etc. to your humble scribe and our webmaster (Pat Russell) for use in future class columns and articles on the class website. This will make much better up-to-date reading and viewing than the “news” I have been sending you from 2012 holiday correspondence. And, while I’m in the requesting mode, your 2013 holiday correspondence and photos would be appreciated, too! Thank you for your kind consideration of this public service announcement. ’68ER’S NEW ’VETTE ZOOMS HIM TO NEW “HITES”: With an attitude of better late than never, Dan and Wendy Hites sent this “eat your heart out” photo of them cruising along in their brand new, sleek, grey, over– the-speed-limit-capable Corvette. Dan said it was really the “Firstie” car

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’68er’s ‘Firstie’ Cadet Car Finally Arrives Four-and-Half Decades Late. he thought about having in the day and Wendy clearly sees this as her 44th wedding anniversary gift from Dan. So, if you want to get into an interesting conversation when you see the two of them, be sure to ask Dan and Wendy who the ’Vette really belongs to. BTW: The license plate reads: “ZOOM 68.”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT COURTESY OF FOUR TROLLS: In a short note from Pat Russell, I received word that a brain-child of former 20th Squadron Trolls Mike Parkinson and Mark Wise led to a finding and gathering of information by Steve McPhail and Ken Stewart who, in-turn, were able to convince nearly all of their CS20 classmates to submit a short biography and current photo of themselves that would be available for viewing at our 45th reunion. Participants in this endeavor include Bill Buford, Rock Buraglio, Mike Chapman, Charles Duncan, Mike Evans, Dick Ewers, Jim Farley, David Helgevold, Pat Hurley, Derek Iverson, Vern McGraw, Steve McPhail, Don Mrosla, Mike Parkinson, Wayne Rowell, Dick Ruffing, Karl Smith, Ken Stewart, and Don Windham.

As suggested by Pat, this would seem to be a great way to capture some fleeting personal data about the character and accomplishments of our class over the years and would provide us with a more recent rendition of classmates’ appearances than the photos contained in our graduation yearbook. So, for those with some time on their hands, I extend a challenge on behalf of the Tough 20 Trolls 45 years later to make similar efforts from the other graduating squadrons for purposes of a more complete history of our class. If you would like to view the Trolls’ work, go to the following link on our class website: http://usafa68.org/Reunions/ 45Reunion/re23.htm.

Post 2013 USAFA-USNA Game Tailgate at Mike’s in Riva, Maryland. From left are Tim Davidson, Judi and Steve McPhail, Thuy and Bob Johnston, Cathy and Brooke Bailey, and Dan and Wendy Hites. (Photo by Wendy Hites.)

COLD BEER AND GOOD SEAFOOD ARE WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED: Coming within two days of being cancelled by the government shutdown in October, the USAFA-USNA football game took place on a clear October morning with bright sunshine and temperatures in the mid-80s. As has been our custom for the past six years, Brooke and Cathy Bailey and Bob and Thuy Johnston drove up from their homes in North Carolina and stayed with me at Chez Davidson for the weekend of the game. Brooke did the driving from Northern Virginia to Annapolis, while the rest of us played “Name That Tune” as we listened to Brooke’s IPod playlist on the congested highway of game day. When we arrived, we were greeted by Judi and Steve McPhail, Dan and Wendy Hites, Buck and Linda McCants, and Jim Seevers. There was even a Mike Wagner sighting near one of the refreshment booths, but we did not get to spend much time with him while at the stadium.

Our Falcons played a great 30 minutes to start the game and led in offensive yards gained and the score when they went into the locker room at half-time. Unfortunately, they were required to play a second half and

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their performance for the final 30 minutes was not quite as laudable. Our exit strategy after the game worked to perfection. Brooke secured a great parking spot and had the car positioned to enter traffic rapidly. With skill, cunning, and riding very closely to the bumper of the car in front of us, we successfully trekked to Mike’s Seafood Restaurant and Crab Shack in Riva, MD, as we have been doing as a Class since the 1980s. The seafood was great and the cold beverages were exactly what the doctor ordered. At any rate, it certainly helped to ease our disappointment in the outcome of the game. As we have learned over the last few years, the adage “Wait until next year!” will have to serve as our mantra until the 2014 football season.

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS: We pray that all who attended our 45th Reunion returned home safe and sound and that the blessing of renewed relationships and fond memories will continue to kindle warm feelings and camaraderie within our fellow classmates and friends throughout the New Year.

THAT’S A WRAP: Mind the flak; keep ’em flying, and keep those cards, letters, e-mails, and photos coming in to Pat Russell and me. Send photos and stories from our 45th! Ciao for now. Tim

Lindsey Parris 616 King’s Cloister Circle Alexandria, VA 22302 Home: (703) 836-3604 102177.1033@compuserve.com

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It’s fall and the holiday season is upon us again. Our football Falcons need all the TLC we can muster, and we are on the threshold of the year of – dare we utter it – our 50th reunion! We may no longer be capable of taking off like a just-hooked cutthroat trout, without pulling or straining something, but neither are we ready for slow-motion replays of bowling for dollars. Time to get in shape for the Reunion next year!

Getting ready for that gathering, down in San Antonio, the mostly-Texas contingent of Grey Tags enjoyed the home hospitality of Dick and Adriana Moore in a Sabre Society now-annual gathering that this year served in part as Donors a warm-up Reunion pep rally. Some 48 attended, 30 of whom were ’69ers, and most are in the photo, though Ken Macaluso (among others) had taken off by the time the picture-taking occurred. Tom Solomon is the keeper of the pictures, so if you’d like to explore the set more comprehensively, send him a Facebook “friend” request. From top left to bottom right by row: Top -- Rocky VanZelfden, Jim Hogan, Dave Dupre, Bobby Bennett, Marc Enger, Bob Rue, Ron McCracken, Jerry Ball, Ron Holder, Dick Downes, Bob Troy, Jim Campbell, H. Ownby, Ralph Paglia, and Wade Morrison. Middle -- Tom Solomon, Al McNear, King Robinson, Bill Haney, C.J. Wax, Phil Del Vecchio, and Maury Deaver. Bottom -- Ralph Freeman, Mike Howe, Dick Moore, Jim Ogeron, and Lucky Lindner.

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The annual gathering of the ’69 Texas contingent in San Antonio.

Heard from Jim and Merry Ann Hensen, who live in Oak Ridge, TN, near one of the university feeding grounds for fine Colorado athletes by the last names of Helton and Manning. Jim is working as an engineer on the ITER international fusion reactor project, like a Mech 110 class to pump energy into a solar donut, only not using Algol. Jim is planning on riding in the Bike Tour of Colorado next 21-28 June, and working on his bike training in the Great Smoky Mountains. Jim Downey and Rick Olafson are chatting now with Jim about the ride’s rigors, the clothing, the temperature and altitude gradients, and other do’s and don’ts. Rick is all-in, as always, but Jim may have a conflict this year. Other of the biking mavens in the Class may want to contact Rick, or one of the Jims, about next June’s annual ride.

John Miller and his son (Prana) taught English for five weeks in the East, and had a Great Wall experience, including chowing down on a Subway Sandwich on the wall-walk behind the Great Wall’s parapet and responding to inquiring looks and questions from some locals, who were puzzled about the ’69er shirt John rocked in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.

So, Szechuan Subway, anyone?

Intrepid Mike Chipman and Vinny Santillo took 34 days this summer to hike the 500 miles of the Colorado Trail, Denver to Durango. Daily thunderstorms, sometimes with hail and lightning, and side excursions to proximate towns to sample local microbrews kept the trekkers trekking… kinda like Survival Training, without upperclassman chasing you down if you sheltered inadequately. But, definitely not a training exercise -- the “I give up” bailout doesn’t work in the mountains.

Chip wondered about the permutations of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (how can one “coach” someone to be more “P” when they are J-locked into the ‘idea’ of being a “J”).

Last issue, I transposed Dan Vanderhorst and Steve Stowe. It was not Dan, but Steve, who retired from USAF, Delta, and Boeing, and was working on the Challenger 300 mod program (now the Challenger 350). . Please accept my mea culpa.

As reunion committee chair Glenn (Schlabs) has written, we are in a bit of limbo about the Reunion dates, due to indecision on the part of the NCAA and other key entities to set football dates until 7-8 months in advance. So, based on widespread inputs from the Class (football weekend preferred, earlier rather than later, ’64 not ‘driving’ our schedule), Glenn is suggesting we try to block off the month between Sept 17 and Oct 19, with the exception of 1-5 October for the Reunion, with final decision to be provided as soon as the football dates are locked in.

The Class is in the final stages of raising the funds for our Class Gift, as most of you know, and it appears we will likely break the targeted $2 million threshold, thanks to generous donations from many. Many, however, have yet to contribute, and David (Wagner) and I, along with class officers and the gift committee, have learned that many are as yet unaware that this gift is on the table. We’d hate to close the opportunity down without the participation of anyone who would otherwise have wanted to contribute, even if nominally, to this important project. So, please talk it up amongst the ’69ers you encounter, so all who want to participate can do so before the door closes.

On a sad note, the Class recently learned of the death of Jim Leuthauser, who passed away on August 20th in Florida. Services will be held in early 2014 on a date to be determined by his wife, Ursula, and the family.

Sincere condolences from the Class to Ursula on her loss. Godspeed to Jim and all those in his immediate and extended family.

Esse non Videri. Lindsey

Dick Rauschkolb 130 Luxury Lane Colorado Springs, CO 80921 H: (719) 761-5764 Cell: (719) 310-6928 Email: AOG70@comcast.net

Mountain Men Mike and Vinny, out on the trails again.

This summer, Clark and Marilyn Bunton, also intrepid, trekked within Tanzania and Uganda, They were fortunate that, on their appointed day to see the Silverback Gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, their guides were able to locate their assigned group (the Rushugura), and observed the daily lives of 10 of the 17 gorillas eating, drinking from a stream, climbing trees, and ambling along for the better part of an hour. Clark survived bared-teeth, snarl-accompanied surprise charge at him from one of the male Silverbacks. They also spent a day in anthropological repose amongst the remnants of the Batwa Pygmy tribe. With a flight out of Entebbe and over 3600 pictures, they were thrilled with the trip, and happy to share the chronicled details and photos with those interested.

In September, Tom Keck, Don Rakestraw, Chip Wood and I, along with Karen and Jean, grabbed dinner at McLoons in National Harbor, across the Potomac River from Alexandria. All four of us are still working away, but talking big about throttling back and down. Between Air Force Association riffs, Tom reminisced about the Chad Mitchell Trio in Arnold Hall (Arnold Hall? Chad Mitchell?), ‘Straw about the latest artistic excursions of Michael Goddard (he of the tipsy martini prints) and other artists, and

A short evening on the banks of the Potomac.

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OUCH! The Falcons have had long and tough season as I write this on 21 October. I guess my 6-6 prediction was way off the mark. It appears our youth and resulting inexperience combined for a dismal season. Our starting QB went down the first game, the second stringer who was pretty good was declared ineligible, the third stringer got a concussion and a Doolie may be running the show the rest of the season. Good news -- he may be a good Sabre Society QB down the road. A slew of dropped passes and a poDonors rous defense turned three potential wins into defeats.

Let’s hope by the time you read this we pulled out at least two more wins. Losing to the dreaded Middies after leading at the half really hurt. At least some of our classmates had a chance to enjoy a few adult beverages at Jim Bechtel’s home after the game.

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’70 Men bemoaning another defeat to the Mids. From left are Daryl Lungren, Yogi Royce, Jim Reel, WB Stealey, Joe Burke, Bob Hilb, Al Wurglitz, Dave Hallman, Cookie Villareal, and Jim Bechtel.

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Wood Woodhead, George Keys, Ken Green and spouses watched the game at Oker O’Connor’s house. I gather Oker is the Count of Monte Pisco. He made “mucho pisco sours” to help the gang endure the Falcon demise in the second half.

Have seen several Seventy men during the past few months. Bill Bader and his son Matt were in town for a visit and a game. Spider Baxter and his brothers were here for a golf vacation and sat behind me at one of the football games. I thought maybe we should suit Gary up for the second half.

A hearty congratulations to Mike Kelley who is now CEO of Centech Group.

Marilyn and I celebrated the good news with Mike at a great dinner.

Football game attendees include John Gallagher, George Rayl, Roger Hill, Mike Torreano, Gary Dahlen, Greg Gilles, Bob McKinney, Jim Mulford, Mike Paddock, Geno Quist, Russ Carperelli, Dave Gaw, and Mick Davey. John Vanderpoel and Mike Lambert were here for the ND game.

On the other sports front, the basketball team has some good young players who may be a year or two away from making us competitive in the tough MWC. Look for hockey to make the AHA League playoffs and hopefully reach the NCAAs. I have heard from several classmates who have been approached by the USAFA Endowment about estate planning and leaving a gift to the Academy. This is a personal decision, but I would encourage you to leave your gift to the Endowment’s Class of 1970 Gift Fund to fund additions and maintenance of the SEA Pavilion. We also want the SEA web site (70SEAPavilion.com) to be a robust site that captures graduate memories of that era. All are ongoing projects that will require additional funding.

Mike Torreano, Gary Dahlen, Tooey Emery, and I met with the Academy architect last week and he is putting together plans to add restrooms, a storage area, and a courtyard to the Pavilion area. We are also looking at resurfacing the War Memorial on the Heritage Trail. Hopefully, all this will be done by our next Reunion -- which is less than two years away! Keep those donations coming!

The big news in the Rauschkolb household is that we have finally become grandparents! Colt Herde was born on 9 Sept in Dusseldorf, Germany. We are looking forward to seeing him over the Holidays. Jack and Margie Mueller are also new grandparents as well as Pam and Jerry Bruni.

Had a great lunch with Jerry a few weeks ago. We sat with Tony and Val Marietta at Mike Gould’s retirement dinner, which was a great evening.

Mike did a superb job as Superintendent and Paula was an outstanding Academy first lady. You know you are getting old when one of your former students is the new Supt! Michele Johnson was an outstanding cadet and I expect her to be a great Supt as well.

A proud Tommy Thompson checked in and mega-kudos go to Cookie!

She competed in the Texas Ironman last May and won her age group and was the oldest female finisher! Tommy supported her all the way by drinking at least 10 beers which is where he lost count!

Visiting the Houston Ship Channel. From left are John and Marilyn DeFilippo, Tommy and Cookie Thompson, and Jan Dantone ’81.

John Ballard has written Decode the Workplace: 50 Keys to Understand People in Organizations. I wish I had it in my last job. Maybe I can add a chapter. Phill Kolbe went to Nicaragua on a medical mission where the organization treated over 600 patients. Way to go Phill! Phill’s son, a major in the Army, is on his fifth combat tour -- third in Afghanistan. BJ and Cathy Bjorklund spent some time in Colorado this summer. Henry Mitchell is gearing up for another winter of ski instructing. Kudos to Wild Bill Stealey for winning his course championship yet again! They should name the trophy for him! My team took a second in the 50th Anniversary Tournament at Ike and my partner and I won the Eisenhower Challenge.

You have to know how to pick partners who will carry your sorry game!

JB Gannon, Craig Johnson, Greg Gilles, and Gary Dahlen did some serious trout fishing in Montana. Saw a picture of a young Ed Cole pitching for the Berlin Little league All-Stars on Facebook. Evidently the team went to the Little League World Series. I know why the Obamacare web site isn’t working! They hired Chuck Weir as their computer guru! He is also work108

ing on a similar project in Mexico where his fluency in Spanish will come in handy.

Gregg Popovich brought the San Antonio Spurs to the Academy for their pre-season camp. It was pretty neat to see the Spurs interacting with the cadets. The Spurs really enjoyed eating in Mitchell Hall and touring Popo’s Alma mater. One of the highlights was watching the team run the Assault Course in Jacks Valley. I think Popo must have said a few Hail Mary’s hoping that one of his million dollar players would not get injured. Kudos to Gregg who ran the course as well! At the last water obstacle with the entire team cheering him on, he just dived into the water. Pretty neat leadership moment. It was easy to see why the Spurs are such a class organization. Hope they can win another NBA title before Popo and Duncan hang it up.

Two Hall of Famers and The Phantom On a sad note, Tony Marietta, Mike Torreano, Gerry Shaw, Gary Dahlen, Tooey Emery, and I just returned from a short graveside service for our classmate, Blake Smith. Blake lost a battle with brain cancer. While I did not know him, he sounds like a man after my own heart. His sister said he wanted to be buried in his Class A uniform and his golf shoes!

Here’s a toast!

In closing, Marilyn and I want to wish you and your families a Happy Holiday Season and Healthy New Year. Keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers!

Paul D. Knott 5565 Lantana Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80915 H: (719) 570-9162 E-mail: pk71knott@gmail.com

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This is the time of year when football is normally on everybody’s minds, and this has certainly been a year of change and growth for the Falcons.

This was supposed to be a rebuilding year, but unfortunately injuries and academics weren’t expected to be the places the team would be rebuilding from. In a year or two, the program should be stronger, and the challenges the members of the team face should make them better products of the Academy.

And now for some good news; the Academy finally approved the second half of our class project! The Air Warrior Memorial project is going to be at the entrance of Falcon Stadium. Dedication is scheduled for Sabre Society Homecoming 2016, during our 45th Reunion. If either Donors the Class committee or the USAFA Endowment folks haven’t contacted you about the particulars yet, they will soon.

John Grueser has been busy this quarter. He and the lovely Katharine married in September, and then honeymooned in France. Before the wedding, he and Ron Hale spent some time in Alaska, at the Kenai Peninsula College Fishing Academy. Their final day was spent up in Cook Inlet just for the halibut. Not only did John catch a 40-45 pound monster, but he also took in 31 trout in one day during the course.

Ron also mentioned that he will be getting married as well before the end of the year. Best wishes to you and your bride-to be! (See photo at the top of the next column.)

Andy Ceroni also spent about two weeks in Alaska in the late summer.

Highlights of the trip included Denali National Park, a helicopter landing (intentionally!) on a glacier near Seward, a dog “sled” ride at an Iditarod training facility, and all sorts of wildlife. He, Trudi, my daughter Paulette and I suffered together through the first home football game. Earlier this year, one of his poems was featured in in Colorado Life, a bi-monthly magazine. The photo accompanying the poem was an aerial view of the

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2014 will soon be here. Here’s hoping that you all have a wonderful Halloween, Hanukkah/Christmas, and a happy New Years, and that we’re all here for the flip side. GBA

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Bob Bell 13 Pacific Ave. Sinking Spring, PA 19608 (610) 678-3182/Fax: 678-4513 E-mail: rabell767@aol.com

Ron and John getting ready for a day of fishing in Alaska.

Royal Gorge – a bittersweet, unintended homage to the area before last summer’s fires. Several of our classmates had to evacuate the Black Forest area, but nobody had any losses this time around.

I heard through the grapevine that Darryl Wimberley is working on a new book and that agents are asking for copies of his work. As to whether this is genuine interest or merely an effort to cadge free reading material is the big question, I guess.

Rick and Dito enjoying that new plane smell.

Is this the end of an era for our class? Dito Ladd and Rick Barton had the pleasure of picking up a fresh American 737 at Boeing Field in Washington for delivery to the Dallas hub. They thought that “it would be fun, if not dangerous” for them to fly together one last time (“with supervision,” as Dito put it), as both of them intend to join the retiree ranks in February. Dito planned to be in the Springs for the Notre Dame game, for a Seagram’s Seven reunion, and for Greg Rocco’s surprise birthday. More, I hope, next issue.

Speaking of reunions, Cass Casada is planning to combine a housewarming at his new digs near Larkspur with a 43d anniversary class minireunion. Events at this time include golf at a nearby course and mass quantities of food and drink at the house. Depending on interest, Cass is thinking of making this a fund-raiser for the class gift as well. He’ll be retiring from Delta in March, and he and Laura intend to make the move from Black Forest at about that time.

Andrea and I had a delightful evening with Russ and Melody Logan at a local café recently observing our brides’ October birthdays. We also celebrated the recent birth of their latest grandchild. As have so many of you, Russ is involved in writing his first fiction story. Perhaps because we’re getting more time for ourselves?

Logans and Knotts enjoying an October feast.

Members

The latest ’72 class news includes several emails along with the final segment of the ski accident report written over the last few issues. First in line is a photo from Harvey LeCato featuring some intrepid ’72ers witnessing the early season (first game) victory by the Falcons football team.

From left are Harvey LeCato, Curt Chamberlain, and Sandy Lewis.

Dave Newill sends in a press release praising our own Greg Anderson receiving kudos as one of the Living Legends of Aviation. Greg was awarded Harrison Ford’s Living Legends Award in January 2013 for his achievements and commitment to “making the world a better place through aviation.” More on this will be featured in the next edition of Checkpoints.

Marking the surprise 40th wedding anniversary party for Jim and Kris Wessler in Yorktown, VA reported in the last issue of Checkpoints, attendee Jeff Hill sent some follow-up details on the event. Jeff and wife, Tina, joined Sabre Society Tom Gilkey, (Col, USAF, Ret, University of Maryland) and Donors classmates Pat (and Jane) Garvey, Ed Waitte, and Marty

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(with fiancée Nancy) Jayne. Marty teaches at Truman University and was Jim’s USAFA roommate. He had sent in the photo used last issue wherein all the gentlemen pictured had worked with Jim on various assignments during their AF careers. Jim is retired O-6 but still working with ACC/IG. Ed is in the insurance business in Connecticut. Jeff and Tina work for Vanderbilt’s hospitals.

The Wessler kids really threw a true surprise party for their folks and a great time was had by all. (Jim’s liquor locker was cleaned out, too.)

Even with the disappointing loss to Navy and of this year’s shot at the CICs trophy, Pete Sutton manages to find a silver lining to an otherwise dark cloud as he makes the trek from Fairfax Station, VA meeting up with

From left are Scott Marks, Trevor Sutton, and Pete Sutton.

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his son Trevor, USNA Class of 2004 and Carrie, Trevor’s girlfriend who drove up from Cherry Point MCAS, NC where Trevor is a USMC AV-8B instructor pilot. Pete’s CS-37 “Smiler” squadron roommate, Scott Marks, and wife, Patti, had flown up from Florida for a family visit in Maryland anyway and were able to join the Sutton clan for the game and spend time together during the pre-game and half-time activities.

And now, the final section of Larry Sharrar’s first person account of his ski accident: “So now, it was about a quarter to 10 at night, and they wanted to know if I wanted to call Vicki back and tell her about the change in plans. I decided to skip doing that – 1) because I was hoping she was getting some needed sleep and I didn’t want to scare the crap out of her that late at night, and 2) if things were that bad, maybe I wasn’t going to make it to Denver, and she didn’t need to worry about that all night when she couldn’t do a thing about it.

“Helicopter got there about 10 p.m. or so, and they loaded me on a gurney next to the pilot. The Flight nurse hopped in, and away we went – really slow and really low. Now at the time I thought this was all sort of weird – I thought we would pop up a couple thousand feet above the mountains and that the helicopter pilot would put the pedal to the metal and off we would go. Later found out that because of my lung injury, they could not go high, and they could not go fast. Oh, well, it was still quite a sight from the front of the helicopter.

“So 55 minutes later we pull onto the helipad at Denver Health Hospital, regional Class 1 Trauma Hospital with a national reputation. They rush me from the helicopter to the Trauma Center where a staff of 15 or more doctors, nurses and techs are waiting to rip off my remaining clothing, shove catheters into every opening that does not already have one, and get me into an ICU. “The rest of the time in the hospital goes by very fast – yeah right.

Seemed like I was there forever. And I was uncomfortable and miserable the entire time – with the misery going down incrementally as they managed to pull stuff back out of me (of course sometimes that didn’t work, and they would have to shove it back into me – (e.g. please use Wikipedia to look up Foley Catheter). In any event, I was finally released from the hospital after eight days and am now home getting “better”.

“I still have a “Pneumo-thorax” problem – an air pocket near my lung – but they are watching it closely, and if it doesn’t resolve itself, they will shove a needle in my chest and remove the air (personally, I am hoping that it resolves itself ). I have been doing very good about being good these past few days and this has made Vicki happy, which is always good. I did make the mistake of trying to hold in a sneeze this evening, and as a result believe that I have now experienced exactly what it feels like to have a low grade thermonuclear weapon go off in your chest – the pain was so bad could not move my body for nearly three minutes. Won’t do THAT again.

“So for everyone out there who worries about me – that is the story of what happened on the back bowls of Vail two weeks ago. There is no moral to this story – s**t happens, and this time it happened to me. I don’t know if anyone has said this before, but it is true in any event -- “Don’t play the Game, if you can’t take the Pain.” Wish I could remember why or how I fell in the first place, but this is unlikely.

“I never wanted to end my life and return a body in perfect shape to the good Lord – I want Him to see some bumps and bruises and know that I enjoyed it and tried to experience as much of Life as had been offered.

And in that regard, I think that I have done a pretty good job. Having said that, I am definitely beginning to see the attractions of golf and fishing, and think that it might be time to reign in some of the activities I enjoyed as a younger man. I don’t think that 63 is old, but I have certainly come to realize that it is none too young either.”

ing to take him a while to heal, but he’s a trooper. Thank God! He got out of this mostly intact. And, to finish the story – Larry was at the April 20th ’72 Beer Call, actually doing very well, but still recovering – he’s mobile; he’s driving; he’s smiling; and he enjoyed his beer. – Timo”. FPA.

Mike Arnett 5285 Copper Drive Colorado springs, CO 80918 (719) 310-8100 jmikearnett@gmail.com

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Members

Greetings, Illustrious Class of 1973. New scribe Mike Arnett here, taking over from Joe Kahoe. Many thanks to Joe for seven years of outstanding work.

Well, we’re coming off our 40th reunion, and what a success it was! It was the largest 40th class reunion in Academy history, and to date our class has raised approximately $1.35M in pledges toward our Class of 1973 National Character and Leadership Symposium (NCLS) Endowment Fund. Our goal is $1.5M by the end of the year, so if you haven’t given/pledged yet, it’s not too late. There’s a matching grant offer in place, so every dollar you donate will get doubled. Contact your squadron rep or go to gift.usafa73. org and click on Take Action. Adding to the list of things that make us “The Illustrious Class of 1973” is that we were named AOG Class of the Month for October 2013. Check it out at www.usafa.org/heritage/classmonth.

Presentation of pledge check to USAFA Superintendent Lt Gen Michelle Johnson. From left are Bob Munson, Sully Sullenberger, John Muse, Steve Lorenz, Norty Schwartz, “T” Thompson, and Lt Gen Johnson.

The reunion by the numbers: We had 385 members of the class and 306 guests attend, including at least three widows of classmates. The Wednesday social has turned into a major event, with 351 people there this year. Note that for your future reunion plans. 50 people participated in the bicycle ride down the Pikes Peak Highway (which, by the way, is run by classmate Jack Glavan). Two were crazy enough to try to ride up. Jack Hudson made it, Bob Munson almost did. 92 participated in the golf tournament. 203 ate lunch with cadets at Mitch’s, 200 of whom complained about the doolies being at rest, serving themselves before the upperclassmen, and not having to answer knowledge.

We later heard that the reason the upperclass aren’t served first is to instill the ethos leaders take care of their troops before they take care of themselves. (Well, so it wasn’t 200 who complained, but I heard from a lot of our classmates who didn’t like the changes.) 494 were at Sabre Society the Thursday social. At the class business meeting held Donors in conjunction with the Thursday social, we heard the status of our class gift and elected the new slate of class officers. In his comments, Norty Schwartz noted that a couple of the key benefits of outside funding of the NCLS were that it protected the symposium from governmental budgetary battles/cuts and it obliged the Academy staff to put their best foot forward in pulling it off. Norty also pointed out that Mike Edwards, serving as the Adjutant General of the State of Colorado, is our last classmate still on active duty. 686 were at the Friday dinner. Trapper Carpenter did an outstanding job as MC, the Cadet Show Choir proved they should be called the Show and Dance Troupe, and the meal was outstanding. Without a doubt, the most emotional event was the Memorial Service in the Protestant Chapel.

Rev. Bud Blase officiated, with special honorees Beverly (Doug) Dick and Janie (Mike) Mayer. Class picture in the chapel is available at skylinepress. com/usafa.htm. You can see hundreds of photos of the reunion via the class website, USAF73.org.

Moving on from the reunion, here’s a note from Ron Scott, our new

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Former skier Larry Sharrar and Vicki.

Adding the final touch to Larry’s story was Timo Sullivan’s response – “second party observation: Mostly accurate – but the recollection was somewhat influenced by a boatload of pain-killers – not particularly fun watching your best friend being put on a Flight-for-Life chopper. Saw him today and he’s actually got the same Larry Sharrar sense of humor. It’s go-

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class president: Mary and I are honored to serve our class for the next five years. We are deeply grateful to the commitment and leadership of Bob and Pam Munson and their extraordinary team of class officers and wives who were active members of our team (John and Lynne Stefonik, Trapper and Iris Carpenter, Joe and Debbie Kahoe, Mike and Sandra Mosier, and BJ and Donna Stanton). Our newly elected class officers represent great continuity with Trapper Carpenter as Vice President, Joe Kahoe as Treasurer, John Stefonik as Secretary, Mike Mosier as Class Senator, and Mike Arnett as our Class Scribe. We also thank Trapper and his class reunion team (especially Charlie and Donna Felton and Jack and Terri Glavan) and the AOG staff for planning and executing the largest and most successful 40th reunion in Academy history. At the reunion, members of the “Illustrious Class of 1973” generously moved us much closer to our $1.5 million class gift goal. Finally, mark your calendars for the next National Character and Leadership Symposium, 27-28 February 2014. More details to follow.

Lt Gen (Ret) Frank Klotz continues his service to our country, having been nominated as the Department of Energy Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Agency.

He testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on 19 Sept and received a favorable report out of the committee. By the time this column is published, Frank should have assumed his new role. During his testimony, he called out classmate Monsignor Steve Rossetti, who was at the hearing, noting that Steve was the first graduate of any service academy to become a Roman Catholic priest. Steve is currently the president of St. Luke Institute in Silver Spring, MD. You can read Frank’s prepared statements at usafa73.org.

Paul Manley is recovering, thankfully, from septic shock. It was a close call. He went in the hospital on Sunday, 29 Sep, and spent about 10 days on dialysis and a ventilator. The drama is recorded at caringbridge.org. Enter his name in the “Visit Someone” box on the homepage, then select Journal.

From Tom Kennedy: The highlight of this edition of Checkpoints for the 31st Squadron Grim Reapers was the reunion. We had excellent participation with Bob and Lin Smith, Bob and Sandy Errickson, Charlie and Pam Meyer, Mike and Callie Hub, Howard and Tami Mitchell, Richard and Connie Hayes, Fil and Kim Thorn, Bud Gammon and Barbara, Don and Kyong Gross, Tom and Betty Kennedy and Phil and Chris Yavorsky all making the trip to Colorado Springs. On Thursday, the Grim Reapers split up with some still travelling or visiting other friends, many playing golf, and a few going up Pikes Peak for the bike challenge. We stayed together for most of the other activities and had a great squadron party courtesy of Howard and Tami and their 1-year old, Howie. We missed the remainder of our squadron mates, but were so happy to hear that Dan and Robin Connelly heard the words “cancer free” during their follow-up at the Mayo Clinic earlier in reunion week. Dan will continue with Leukine treatments indefinitely with follow-up visits at the Mayo.

Grim Reapers and not so grim wives.

From Ted Kammire: 18th Squadron had the second largest turn out at our reunion with 16 members of our squadron present for the reunion, plus two widows of fallen classmates for a total of 18. (Note the serendipity.) Before dinner on Saturday evening, Kirk Lilly, had a presentation. As squadron commander during the fall trimester of our firstie year, he was struggling with academics. Our AOC, Maj Jimmy Cash, bet him that he could not bring up his grades, and that he would never graduate. Well, upon successfully raising his grades and after graduation, newly minted 2LT Lilly discovered a bag in his cadet dorm room containing a bottle of Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky. Kirk’s family was rather against consumption of spirits, so he gave it to his mother, told her to save/hide it, and forgot about it. His parents passed away within the past couple of years, and while going through their belongings, Kirk found a bag containing the original bottle, contents intact. He subsequently transported the bottle from Texas to Missouri, back to Texas, and finally out to Colorado in attempt to properly consume the 40-year-old whisky (plus 12 years prior to bottling). At our squadron reunion dinner we managed to disperse the Scotch among 17 attendees and toasted our ‘Fallen Comrades,’ the Air

Force Academy, each other, and a host of others. Just another great story to reflect on how closely we’ve been bound by our four years at the Air Force Academy.

CS-18 toasts with 52-year-old Scotch.

From John Kuconis: CS-19 had 26 people... probably the most of any squadron... at the reunion thanks to Bryan “Smoke” Clark who personally took the lead in getting everyone there. The picture was taken at Dave and Karen Brown’s house. Dave and Karen hosted a Saturday party at their beautiful home just before the evening football game.

19th Squadron gathered at Dave Brown’s home.

From Craig MacPherson: On Sep 18 10 members of 39th Sq gathered for the first Steve Hessney Invitational Golf Tournament, in honor of our squadron mate, Steve Hessney, Gone but Not Forgotten, who loved to play golf, especially on Eisenhower. We would have called it the Steve Hessney Invitational Tournament, but someone would have started using the acronym and the censors would have shut us down. Tournament Organizer: Terry Lakin. Players: Ric Anderson (not in picture), Dale Birch, Bob Decker, Skip Evans, Craig MacPherson, Bill McKinnis, Paul Motley, and Ratt Rattley. Also in picture: Honorary Captain Mark Romain.

CS-39 players at first Steve Hessney Invitational Golf Tournament.

Kent Buchanan reports that he retired after eight years as Corporate Chief Technology Officer of Harris Corporation at the end of June. During the summer Al and Karen Rotach visited them at their home in Indian Harbour Beach, FL. Then Kent and wife, Diane, attended the 40th reunion as part of a 3-week, 4424-mile road trip. After a couple of weeks at home, they’re off again to the DC areas to see another daughter, as well as seeing the Rotach gang again. Kent says sooner or later he will be looking for something to do that will keep him engaged and contributing. He’s considered Executives without Borders, or maybe some corporate board

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work. In any case, he’s very much enjoying Florida and the time to exercise more, and working on developing his skills as a photographer.

That’s all the space I have. Keep those updates coming in!

Here’s a toast…to the host…of the men we boast…the U.S. Air Force!

Mike Joe Brezovic 288 Senior Circle Lompoc, CA 93437 (832) 285-4179 launchops74@gmail.com

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Greetings classmates. I hope all is going well. Plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas visits are probably on your task list. They are on mine.

With family spread from here in California to Yuma, AZ, to Columbus, OH, to Johnstown, PA, and Washington, D.C. brings one to pause and calculate cost. Perhaps you who have family close by are delighted that your children and grandchildren are relatively close by. May the prices for automobile gasoline, airplane petrol, and commercial flight tickets be within acceptable parameters for you! I know gas prices probably aren’t at the happy end. When you send out the family cards/pictures at Sabre Society Donors the holiday season, would you send one to the above address to share them and other news bits you’d like classmates to know?

From the Middle East, Ed Whalen sent in a short blip. Ed works out of Bethesda as the Director, Corporate Business Development Operations Lockheed Martin Corporation. He and Marianne and live in Virginia… then he travels from there. Here he is with the US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, his Tiger Ten Roommate: Jim Smith. Ed was attending a Lockheed Martin Board meeting celebrating the opening of a new corporate office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The roommates were there in Riyadh.

Although there is plenty of sand there, the beach is still about four hours drive away. Jim’s wife, Dr Janet Breslin-Smith, plans the activities as necessary for the protocol with the Royal family.

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Jim, Basil, Wayne, and Lance (’69) in Singapore.

Darlene and Joe Brezovic has been travelling US 40, 10, and 8 between California and Texas and staying at various base billeting. Ahhhh, the sound of freedom from the Air Force jets is grand! Reveille(!) at 7 a.m. at Davis Monthan AFB... reminds me of USAFA. East Coast notes: Here is a primer on the status of force development from Stephen Anderson. Steve is the Business Development Senior Manager for the Sidewinder/Air Warfare Systems in Ratheon Missile Systems. He passed on insight by Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute as published in Forbes. The heartbeat to the article is: The best Defense is a good OFFENSE. First, there is the stealthy F-35A joint strike fighter that will replace thousands of Cold War F-16s. The second and third priority programs would be a new tanker and a new bomber… (Fourth) Service leaders today say that getting a better network for processing information ... (Fifth) The primary trainer that the Air Force uses to prepare young pilots for flying combat aircraft is outdated and beginning to exhibit age-related safety issues…

Another East Coast note: Mike Pefley sent in a pic of two CS-15-mates: LTG Doug Fraser (‘75) and Mike... The occasion was a business meeting in Baltimore.

Doug (’75) and Mike

Ed, Janet, and Jim in Riyadh.

From a place a bit further East… the Far East, comes a short note from Jim Tietjin. Just before our last reunion in 2009, Basil Rathbun, Wayne Higgins, and Jim rendezvoused for the first time in Singapore. Basil and Wayne have been flying Singapore Airlines Cargo for the past 6 1/2 years and Jim had just started his 14th year there. Sad to say, (they say) this past spring was the first time since our 2009 reunion at USAFA that they were able to rejoin! But, they did have a blast and promised to not let four more years go by! Lance Roberts from ‘69 (far right), a Vietnam vet and Phantom Phlyer (Wayne and I flew F4s together in Korea in ‘79; Basil was a tanker guy) joined us for brunch. Lance had some great war stories! Wayne, Basil, and Jim look forward to seeing USAFA ’74 classmates at our 40th next year! Jim closed with: “If any classmates come to Singapore drop us a line!

Free beer, while stocks last!” (See photo at the top of the next column.)

Coming back to the United State to the West Coast: Tris Sevdy sent a note about a 90-year-old pilot in Canada making a last flight. Such an inspiring story! Tris still flies for Delta out of Salt Lake City on the Boeing 757/767 while living in San Diego where there is more water for his sailboat. Mid-USA Notes: Bill Casement sends out anecdotes and thoughts occasionally. One of his latest includes “Do not deny or regret growing older, it is a privilege denied to many.” As time goes I’ll add more. Katie and Vic LaSaxon are doing well. Katie is healing well from her surgery.

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Mike writes that he has been working for Northrop Grumman Corp for 30 years. Formerly program director for RF & IR countermeasures, now Business Development Director for a division in the Chicago suburbs.

Mike and Gloria have 2 married daughters and a total of 3 granddaughters 8, 6 and 6 months (the fighter pilot only has girls saga continues). Mike hopes for good weather at the 40th reunion and a chance to play tennis with classmates, as well as golf. Thinking of the reunion, here is what I have so far. Navy weekend is already taken. We follow one other class choosing that weekend for the homecoming after the football schedule is posted in the spring. Stay tuned for that. But you can still plan to come.

Some are already thinking about it. Craig Anderson wrote in wondering about the date so he could plan with his wife, Rite, on what to do. I reckon he has to plan waaaayy ahead since Craig’s signature block looks like this: Craig Anderson, Esq. / The Law Office of Craig Anderson / Attorney and Counselor at Law. Congrats to them for continuing good times and family life.

One of the items for the 40th that the team is thinking ahead for is a 1974 Class Book. Bill Van Horn volunteered to head up that effort. “We would like each of you to write of an experience from the Zoo, and to also write of an experience since then. Title each of your articles and send up to three pictures. We will then consolidate all those stories and some of the pictures into a book, and pass out the published books at our reunion.”

Please send your written articles in Microsoft Word format by January 1, 2014 to Bill@BillVanHorn.com.

In order to keep the book to a manageable size, you agree that Bill will own the rights to what you write so that he will be able to edit what you send. The team’s preference is to publish your exact words, so keep your articles succinct. Give us a memorable story that will make our lives bet-

ter. This is not the place to relive your entire life or relate every Base X you have been to. It’s not all about you; it’s about us. The Class of ‘62 created a similar class book for their 50th reunion, and their class book is very interesting (and huge). The 40th reunion is the most attended for each class...

There are classmates we haven’t seen since graduation. THIS is the time for us all to get together. Please consider it. May you live long and prosper.

Jeff Chappell 14729 Birken St. Herriman, UT 84096 (210) 488-6137 jtmjbda@sbcglobal.net

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Another one rides the bus: Dave Commons completed his tour in Saudi Arabia as the US Defense Representative and Chief of the US Military Training Mission, and retired 1 Sep 2013. “It has been a great run, where has the time gone? Met Dale Meyerrose in Washington DC and was able to play 18 holes. Just completed my domestic OE on the 767/757 will depart on 22 Sept for Paris to complete international OE. Will be based in Detroit, still living in Austin.”

Congratulations, Dave!

Put it on your calendar: Harry Mathis plans retirement on Friday, 4 April 2014, 1500, at the Hope Hotel outside Gate 12A of Wright-Patterson. The hotel is reserving a block of rooms for $99/night which includes breakfast, available 3-5 April. Reservation number is Sabre Society Donors 937.879.2696; ask for “Mathis Retirement” group. Reservation deadline is 23 Feb, but they expect lodging to go quickly due to another event happening in town that weekend.

I know we have a contingent in the Dayton area, so please spread the word and let’s see how many guys we can get to give Harry a big sendoff!

Chris Glaeser: As for me and Karen, after 4.5 years in Montreal, Quebec, I retired from IATA (International Air Transport Association) where I was the Global Director of Safety. We just moved back to Minneapolis where we’ll spend the warm months of the year with our kids while enjoying boating and a little light aircraft flying. I flew around the world at least 3 times/year while at IATA with offices in 62 countries, and I am really glad to be retired for good! We are starting to open boxes that have been packed since UPT, and reconnecting with classmates and friends in the US. Paul Kent: I turned 60 in July and received my first USAF retirement check. I celebrated in August by hiking to the 14,508 Mt Whitney summit with a friend who had acquired the hard-to-get permit. Then just finished backpacking the 100-mile, 22,000 feet gain-and-descent Wonderland Trail around Mt Rainer. Took us 12 days and we enjoyed it immensely; feeling quite privileged to still have the health and well-being to do such things!

The ’75 FedEx crew celebrated Spence Roberts’ 60th birthday in Memphis style: Rick Odegard, Buck Rogers, Spence, Chris Budinsky, Hoss Erving, and Jack Barton. We’re all jealous of guys who’s A-jackets still fit!

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Roberts 60th Dave Clough is enjoying his growing family: In July, our first granddaughter, Adelaide, was born in Kansas City, followed in September by our second granddaughter, Elizabeth, also in Kansas City, (different daughters-in-law, of course!). Try to keep a grandmother away from her first or any grandchildren, so we have plowed a groove in the Interstate between Omaha and Kansas City since then. We’re preparing for a split household with me working in Omaha and Nancy spending lots of time in KC. Golf semi-pro and part-time Delta pilot Wayne Willis: We did quite well in an annual Falcon Pride Club event, taking second place with a 59. We would love to get several ’75 teams in every year. Can you get us a plug in Checkpoints? Here it is! (See photo at the top of the next column.)

Dave White: Had dinner with Roger Keith during a layover in Tokyo.

Did you know that the Japanese word for waitress is “Senorita”? Neither did the waitress, apparently.

War Stories and Lies Department. Chris Glaeser has a great one: “I retired with 3 Air Medals for saving flight test aircraft, and had a success-

Golfers Bo Montgomery, cheerleader, Larry Fariss, The Bird, Russ Trinter, Wayne Willis, cheerleader, and Brian Duffy. ful flameout landing in a U-6. With 23 years of service (active, guard, reserve) the oddest thing that happened to me was when towing a glider at an airport south of Lubbock, TX, during UPT. I spent weekends at local airports as a flight/glider instructor and towing gliders. The glider pilot had asked for a 3,000-foot tow, with a release point about 6-8 miles east of the airport. We were climbing out of the airport at about 800 feet and had just turned downwind, when the Super Cub’s windshield suddenly became covered with oil; I rocked my wings to tell the glider pilot to release.

I was now at idle, and with the drag of two aircraft, we were descending and decelerating quite rapidly. I rocked my wings a second time; shortly thereafter I rocked my wings a third time and released the rope from the tow plane. He got the message and released his end of the rope also. I found a .22 caliber bullet in the oil cooler during postflight, so you could say I was shot down. I had noticed a beat up pickup truck on the road just off the end of the runway on takeoff, but by the time the sheriff got there, the truck was nowhere to be seen. I’m just glad the guy with the rifle pulled enough lead, as the Super Cub only had a 1/4” plywood floor and I could have been shot instead! I am personally quite interested in electric powered light aircraft; 1-5 years away from commercial potential. We’ll eventually be doing our hobby flying on sunlight power and this will solve the cost issues ($50-80/hour for gas) and environmental considerations -- plus it’s just cool to think you can fly for free!”

I agree: Free is in my price range!

Charlie Wintermeyer submitted this interesting tidbit: The photo itself is from almost four years ago (and my photo of the photo is not real great); SOUTHCOM Commander Gen Doug Fraser with the USAID Administrator and a State Department official briefing after the Haiti earthquake.

However, what’s neat is that this photo is currently on the wall with other photos of fairly recent significant State Department events in one of the principal hallways in of the State Department in Washington, DC.

Doug Fraser, State Department In the previous Checkpoints, I mused about classmates who are accident survivors, which sparked a discussion between Spence Roberts and Chris Glaeser. Here is a partial list they assembled, probably missing some (*successful ejection): Spence Roberts *F-5F, Rick Odegard *F-5, Steve Pitotti *F-4E, Buck Rogers *F-4, Chris Glaeser *F-104G, Rod Kallman *F-16, Tom Fraley C-130, Mike McClendon, John Sims UH60, Randy Barrett, Dean Spraggins B-1, Chris Soto F-105G. The last two were added to the discussion by Tim O’Connell, and at least two of the above were mentioned in previous articles during my tenure. If anyone wants to add to the list or give us some details on your event, I know least one person who is interested in reading and sharing your stories. I can hardly close without a salute to the GBNF classmates who went into the Wild Blue Yonder doing what they loved: Thanks for your sacrifices and friendships -- see you on the Other Side!

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Class News Dan Beatty 12196 Stanley Canyon Road Colorado Springs, CO 80921 H: (719) 488-1962 C: (719) 338-0276 E-Mail: whrlybrd76@aol.com

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Fellow ’76ers, As you read this, the Cadet Wing should be close to going home on Christmas break. Martha and I send best wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year to you all.

Sad News: Ed Gandy died on 28 August. His obit is at http://www. legacy.com/obituaries/florencenews/obituary.aspx?pid=166763194#fbLo ggedOut. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

General Class Stuff: First, Tom Greene sent a GREAT story about George Studor and two terrazzo marble slabs George hauled around for years, then finally built a table with them! Ahhh, the history!

Tom Greene and George Studor Found a few dated email inputs and have included them in this article in no specific order. Apologies to my classmates with inputs for earlier articles. Jeff and Cyndy Larson moved to Rome where Jeff took a SES diplomatic position as Director of the Research Division, NATO Defense College. Says he looks forward to classmates traveling through the “eternal city”. Congrats Jeff! Rob Sheridan’s son Terry is contemplating a USAF career and will try for a rated slot. Patrick O’Brien sent a Wikipedia link that highlighted Don Hall’s “Waldo F. Dumbsquat” efforts. Don followed up with a bit of “Waldo” history.

Contact me if you want the details. Patrick also sent a Sabre Society contact update and plans to be out here for the Army Donors game. Ernie and Pam Woolard saw Terry Newton in Pensacola in late July, then headed to New Orleans to celebrate their 34th, says Bill Carolan was in the area visiting son Ryan and new grandson and Bill is working on the KC-46 program in Seattle. Ernie suggests our class might try a cruise sometime. More to follow. Jed Alexander is working with CACI. Bob and Fredi Adams left Stuttgart a few months back for DC. Bob now DIA Director of Training, Education, and Professional Development. Ed Morley spent a few extra days in Kabul recently, courtesy of a broke air machine. Says it has been a while since he has had to do an extended ramp dance. ‘Papa’ Joe Marchino had a visit from Mark and Betty Welsh at AFPC recently. Mark had a CSAF call at Randolph and he and Betty visited with their new grandson.

John Hope sent a loonngggg recap from DC after the Navy game. John spent some time with Jim Fagan and daughter Jill (Jim will become a grandpa in Feb), met Nat Millican’s daughter Sarah, saw Rich King and resurrected the tale of a ‘combat wound’ to the posterior (from a town visit with alcohol involved!), related status of 36th Pink Panthers for the game – Ron Baran, Mike Byron, Dave Conners, Jim Fisher, Steve Jorgensen, Paul Prange, Kyle Webb, Tom Young were all absent with no comms, Lee Cuevas – absent due to Angie’s recovery from hip replacement, Jimmy Deaux – absent due to work-related issues, Steve Frye – absent due to a wedding, Steve Hall – absent due to multiple family issues, Roger Kontak – absent due to new flying job schedule, Pete Mapes – absent due to scouting conflict, Pat Murray – absent due to a move, Steve Odiorne – absent due to work schedule, Vince Ortiz – absent NES!, Wayne Perron – absent due to

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family and job issues, Lauren Trottier – absent due to family schedule, Mike Woodman – absent due to schedule issues, Tom Wyman – absent due to wedding, Greg Lewis, Nat Millican, Steve Pruss, and Tony Przybslawski were all present. Great update John! Mike McGinnis celebrated 28 years with American Airlines. Greg Lewis had an unknown FO on a recent flight; turned out to be Bo Miller. Greg also flew with Mike Scott recently. Tim Lewis and Richy Felder forwarded an interesting article on Randy Spetman -- http://www.denverpost.com/classics/ci_24178104/ colorado-classics-randy-spetman-former-air-force-athletic.

Jim Marg donated some of his cadet uniforms for a museum display in Winona, MN and I was able to help him get a few missing items. Steve & Beth Stout and John & Ruth Hazen checked up on us locals during the recent Colorado flooding; thanks classmates. Tom Appoloni reports Candy now retired from teaching and they both visit the grandsons in Tampa frequently. Randy Schavrien’s son Scott moved from Keesler to Little Rock in C-130Js and Randy survived the furlough. Scott Gough reports the Master Executive Council of the newly integrated group of United and Continental pilots elected Jay Heppner the first Master Executive Chairman of the combined pilot group. Jay will lead a group of about 12,000 pilots.

I saw Scott, John & Ruth Hazen, John & Sandy Andrew, Jeff & Cookie Ford, and Jill Puz at the Notre Dame game. John says son Zach Hazen is part of a team gunning for the record glide of a human-powered flying craft launched off a 30ft tall ramp. Greg went to a local sports bar for one of our recent football games and met a USNA grads who knew our old 30Sq AOC. Small world. Rick Mantei says Bob Hinger is not doing well with cancer. If anyone has additional info please let me know. Russ Casella moving to Ft Walton Beach as Chief of anesthesia service at FWB medical center. Dave Berg’s son-in-law headed to PJ school soon. Ben Dilla is now Asst Director of Organizational Development at UT Southwestern Medical Center near Dallas; now has two grandkids. Monty Lee and other Bull 6 bubbas gathered at the Wyoming game to celebrate Tom Greene’s 60th birthday.

Marti and Andy Fallon, Jeanne and Tom Greene, and Monty and Terry Lee. Bruce Swezey is now Vice-Chairman of Employer support For Guard and Reserve. I helped Wade McRoberts get some contact info for Dave Robinson. Gary Burdorf says he is doing fine after some serious issues in 2011. Jack Catton, Larry New, and Rich King hosted a pregame party the night before the Navy game. Mike ‘YamaDog’ Hoyes begged off, studying for his Doctorate, but many ’76er’s did manage to attend. Reports from many including Larry New and Roger Yauchzy indicate a good time was had by all. Jerry McFarland sent this pic.

McFarlanes, Hildebrandts, Carters, Christians, Sinclairs, and Dave Yauch Short notes/comments/address updates from Doug Fry, Rich Hanley, Terry Newton, Jim Boma, Charlie Vono, Tom Muckenthaler, Gary Kyle, Kim Weber, Jay Heppner, Don Frasier, Gary Turnipseed, and Clyde Ayer.

Thanks for all your kind words and inputs classmates!

Well classmates, again time to stick a fork in it. Lots of requests for contact info recently. If you haven’t updated your contact info with me or the AOG, please do so! If you have not received an email from me in the past 3-6 months, I do not have a current email address for you. Please send home and work email addresses to me at whrlybrd76@aol.com. Send me your notes, inputs, address updates, suggestion, junk mail, etc and I will do my best to keep all of you in the loop. As always, if you are headed to the Springs, let me and the other locals know. Keep flying your flags and let our deployed troops know you have them in your thoughts and prayers. The Spirit of 76 is STILL alive and well! Until next time... THE SPIRIT LIVES! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, a blessed Christmas, and a Happy and Prosperous New Year! Beatty

John “Lou” Michels, Jr. 4107 Harvey Ave. Western Springs, IL 60558 (312) 463-3412 jmichels@lbbslaw.com loumichels55@gmail.com

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I am writing this as the fond memories of our 36th reunion slowly fade – what a terrific gathering. It was so great to see everyone again, and the weather for the football game finally cooperated… ha ha, just kidding. But I am guessing more than a few of you were wondering how you managed to miss yet another class reunion. We’re at that age, after all.

Lots of news and reports this time around, so here… we… go.

Gatherings: Steve and Betsy Wittman stopped by Sabre Society for a visit when they were in Colorado to see the San Donors Diego state game in mid-October. Heavy, being the guy he is, got to sit in the press box, while your humble narrator froze with the rest of the dedicated Falcons in the cheap seats. After sending them on to Cripple Creek for the famous 49-cent breakfast at Bronco Billy’s the next morning, and then hiking up to see Horsethief Falls (which started out as a nice fall walk, and ended up as a blizzard trek through several inches of snow), we reported back up in the Springs for dinner with a few folks pictured here:

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’77 Collection Let me start by saying that this group was not as motley as it appears here; it’s just that the lighting was bad. No, really. When this picture went up on Facebook, Steve Baumgartner (Lisa) asked, “So where are all our classmates? Are they standing behind these old guys?” Unfortunately, Steve, no; in fact, they were us. From the left: Steve Wittman (Betsy), Doug Liebbrand (Launa), Duff Muir (Mary), your humble narrator (Sonia), Jay Fawcett (Susan), Jim Isle, Milt Johnson (Jackie); Front Row: Mark Castellani (Susan) and Irv Halter (Judy). Steve is still working as the head of product placement for Proctor & Gamble, Doug is with Honeywell in the Springs, Duff pushes metal for United out of Denver, Jim is at Worldcom in the Springs, Milt just retired out of his civil service position at Peterson, Mark flies for United, and Irv, recently retired from his two-star job in DC, is running for Congress. This was a marvelous get together with some people I had not touched base with for some time. Curt Taylor (Terri) was also supposed to be part of this group, but when the shutdown funding issue resolved itself, he found himself on a previously scheduled trip. I plan to catch up with them on my next Springs visit. My thanks to everyone for taking the time to sit down, and to Dan Jarka (Pam) for helping pull this together. I hope we can do it again in the spring, when the lighting is better.

As regular readers will know, Mark Castellani gets around. He reported having dinner with Don Dobias (Hope), Wally Zane (Renee), and Tony Villalobos (Audrey) on one of his flights to Houston. Mark and Earl Enix see

each other occasionally on UAL business, and he regularly tries to con a warbird flight out of Chip Lamb (Patricia).

As part of the Springs get together, I corresponded with Rob Shaw (Kathy), who lives and works in Denver for L3. We discussed meeting at the SDSU game, and then ended up discovering that our football tickets were in the same row, separated by maybe 30 seats. We had been going to the same games for the last 4 years and had no idea we were sitting that close to each other. So we met at the game and swapped football stories for a while. Again, I note for the record, that Heavy Wittman was safe and warm in the press box, while Rob, Kathy and I shivered in the stands.

Or rather, I shivered -- Rob and Kathy were adequately and intelligently dressed. Rob then sent on this great shot of Scott Schofield’s (Beverly) retirement from his one-star slot at Buckley, where he was the mobilization assistant to NORAD. Scott’s service included stints on active duty and in the Guard, while pushing metal for United. He served as a T-38 IP and followed on flying everything from F-16s to C-21s. A bunch of his buddies from Second Squadron showed up for the retirement, pictured below:

Palace Adios for Scott.

From the left, back row: Rick Thompson (Konnie) flying for Northwest/ Delta; Rich Hart(Julie) with his own accounting business in the Springs; Rick Moisio (Mary), retired as a two-star from the Arizona Guard; Rob Shaw (Cathy), John Burke (Kathy) flying for Delta out of Atlanta; front row from the left: Earl Enix (Candy), with United in Denver; Donnie Moore (Cindy), with United out of LAX; General Schofield, Mitch Dodd (Jacqueline) working at Randolph in San Antonio; Joe Bulmer (Mary) living in upstate New York; John Buckley (Melinda) with his law practice in the Springs; and Steve Dee (Gloria) flying with FedEx out of Memphis. John Reed (Vonice) was also present, although not in the picture; John is out in Reno.

A couple of points: I have not written about a number of the folks in these pictures in ages, if at all. These kinds of get-togethers give me an opportunity, along with the rest of the readership, to touch base with you guys whose correspondence skills are, shall we say, atrophied. My thanks to all of you for making the effort to come together, take the picture, and get it to your humble scribe. We’re all the better for seeing your handsome visages and hearing about you.

Stan Hill (Cynthia) dropped me a nice line on some of his activities, as well as a terrific Pink Panther reunion that took place after the largescale reunion last year. Stan and Don Bohac (Deborah) have daughters that graduated in 2013 and they all touched base at the reunion. Stan has flown with Wes Weslowski (Connie), pushing an Airbus from Atlanta to Amsterdam, as well as touching base with Bob Rudolph (Janis) on occasion. He also sent this Panther reunion shot with John and Mindy Herd (on the far right and who acted as Stan’s daughter’s sponsor at USAFA), Bob and Sheila Eskridge (in the middle and in Monument), and Bill and Judy Welde (Bill is flying for Northwest/Delta). Nicky Pfeiffer is over on the far right (Greg was flying that day, unfortunately). Stan also reported that Tom Toole’s significant other, Carol, passed away last summer. Please accept our thoughts and condolences, Tom.

Pink Panther Reunion

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Class News Other Stuff: Great heading, huh? Kurt Chichowski (Laura) sent me a message noting that he will retire from his three-star billet at CIA on January 1, 2014. Happy New Year to you both. Kurt has had a fascinating career (at least, I think it’s fascinating, given my intel collection activities as a junior officer), having started off in fighters, and moved to heavies, then back to fighters, then to Special Operations, and finally, fully into the black world. Well done, and congratulations, Ski. Stay out of my email.

Closeout: That’s it from the Loop. The holidays will be upon you as you read this, a great time to drop the old scribe some news. Thanks again to all who wrote, keep that material pouring in, and sign up on our Facebook page. Be seeing you.

Bob Kay 40411 Tesoro Lane Palmdale, CA 93551 Home:(661) 274-2201 Cell: (661) 974-1417 Email: Robert.kay78@gmail.com

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Greg Hollister’s bride, Sherry, sent in a group shot of the guys from CS25 also before the game. The Duece and a Half actually belongs to Greg and Sherry… talk about a tailgating machine! From left are Joe Bunecke, Greg, Mike Wright, Terry Kelly, Ken Prusak and Mike Coulliard.

Greetings ’78ers…

For those who missed the 35th Reunion, it was truly a grand time... these seem to get better as we get older (yeah, that’s it)! Nearly 300 of us showed up for the festivities and the stories got better as the week progressed. From the initial mixer Wednesday night to the last event at the football game Saturday night (well… at least we showed up even though the game wasn’t pretty… we sure were cheering loudly) it was a reunion to remember. At both socials, my wife got tired of me saying I’d be “right back” with something to drink and then taking 30-60 minutes to finally get back after talkSabre Society ing to so many people!

Donors Huge thanks to the reunion committee ably led by Wayne Kellenbence and joined by Dave Scott, Punch Moulton, and Jay Lindell. Further, Dave, Kip Warton and Steve Dalbey did an exceptional job with the Memorial Service. It was the first time I remember the service being in the Protestant Cadet Chapel versus outside and I personally thought it was a great touch. John Hicks worked the golf tournament as he did for the 30th. I’m the world’s second worse golfer (haven’t met the worse yet but know he’s out there) so didn’t partake but heard it was also a class act. The AOG, with our rep Sara Dozier, truly had everything under control and provided not only superb service but they were extremely responsive to any requests that were made. The red hats with the ’78 crest on them were a nice touch as was the ’78 flask (am guessing those will find much use class-wide in the future). The committee made the right choice with the Embassy Suites. The hotel staff was most attentive and all the food was excellent. If you weren’t able to make it, hopefully you’ll be able to make the 40th (yikes… we’ll be 62 years old at that?).

I have received some class photos that were taken during the week but other info and space will prevent me from posting them all this time.

I’ll make sure to post the rest of them in succeeding articles until all are shown. If any of you guys have a shot of the squadron event that you haven’t sent in yet please consider doing so. Also, if anyone has a good shot of the final Jump Team member jumping into the stadium with the “’78 is Great” flag before the football game, please send it to me at my email address above so I can run it next quarter. It was most special seeing that cadet glide in with our flag!

The first group shot is from Tom Keohane’s bride, Amy, who is most faithful to send info and pictures. It’s the boys from Barnstormin’ CS-23 tailgating at the beautiful Black Forest home of Mike and Sharon Catlin.

It looks like they might be enjoying many adult fermented beverages as they catch up. They probably had an above-average squadron showing… good on ‘em. Front row from left is Tom Keohane, Mike Catlin, Gary Hughes, Chuck Brininstool and Doug Hagedorn. Back row: Ken Baier, Mike Skolaut, Ben Troemel, Roger LaFrance, Lon Lowe, Pete Del Rosso (did not graduate but stays in touch) Doug Paton and Chuck Greenwood.

(See photo at the top of the next column.)

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JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY! YOUR MONEY HELPS FUND CADET WING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED. CALL (719) 472-0300 X200.

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The final group shot this quarter (hint!) is from us Bulldawgers who met for lunch Saturday afternoon at a very cool restaurant downtown before the game. All of our wives were on hand as well… it was a tremendous time for those who were able to make it. From left are are Lori and J.B. Betz, Scribe and Ellie Kay, Terri and Ted Roush. Behind them are Tom and Terri Lash, Mike and Paula Ausserer, Rick and Eva Aulicino and Anita and Brent Bristow. What was special was how quickly all of us got caught up—seemed like it hadn’t been five years since we all had been together.

I talked to a few other guys in different squadrons and they basically said the same thing. It might be endemic to the institution but our class is certainly close.

Switching gears a bit, some of our final active duty classmates are going through transition as they retire from the AF and move into civilian life.

First one is Larry James who retired as the A-2 (Deputy Chief of Staff for Intel, Surveillance and Recon) on the Air Staff. Celebrating with Larry on his big day back on 28 June at the Pentagon are Greg Hollister on the left and Rob Worley on the right. Thanks for so many years of faithful service Larry and all the best on the next phase. (See photo at the top of the next column.)

Finally, Ed Rice hung it up a couple of weeks ago as I write this (10 Oct) as the outgoing commander of Air Education and Training Command.

Below is a great shot of Chief of Staff General Mark Welch handing Teresa flowers as Ed looks on. As he and Teresa move into their “civilian” house Ed says he’s going to just take it easy and relax a bit until starting post retirement work. You certainly have earned some time off Ed; thanks for your many years of faithful service as well. You and Larry most certainly did our class proud.

We’ll call that a wrap for this quarter’s edition. My thanks for people sending in pictures and I hope there will be more next quarter. May everyone have a blessed Fall!

God Bless. ’78 is Great!

Bud Vazquez 781-862-6800 budvazquez@msn.com

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’Thank you, John Pardo for a fine article last edition – great string of pics! I had a nice note and single picture from Scott Grunwald (Debbie) and I am thinking – let’s go with some pics of people we have not seen lately... but, then the picture floodgate opens! Apologies in advance to the people who sent pics to me that cannot make it in! Scott is still in California and was randomly paired with “Flash” Wiley, USAFA ’65. Weird. Here they are on the 3rd hole of Monarch Beach Golf Links, overlooking the Pacific this past summer. What Scott was doing playing golf when he was on a 30th anniversary trip with bride, Debbie, is undoubtedly classified!

“Flash” Wiley, ’65, at left, and Scott Grunwald.

The highlight of my year to date was getting a warm note from fellow “Wild Weasel” Robin Rand (Kim) inviting me to his promotion to General in early October. After gratitude and reminiscing of being in their wedding three days after graduation, my impression was only about how thoughtful a gesture it was. Then it struck me – I ain’t gonna’ get another invite like this, I am going! Not only was it an honor to be part of RR’s promotion and Change of Command, but it was a mini-reunion as 16 other ’79ers attended.

Mark “Horse” Neice (Leslie) was first to make contact with me, and he is healing up after a 2nd knee replacement – cane and all. He heads up the Directed Energy Association in Albuquerque, NM area and is doing well. Mark relayed that Mike Booen, who recently left Raytheon (Tucson, AZ) for independent consulting, is doing well. Eddie Schumacher is flying for Southwest out of that area, and he told me Raytheoners Randy Gricius (Vicki), Don Palandech, and Chris King, are still doing great. Locally, I keep tabs on Ken Mattern Sabre Society (Pam), who is high up the Contracting food chain at RayDonors theon Corporate HQs here in Massachusetts.

Speaking of doing great – Lt Gen Burt Field (Lisa), the AF A3/5 was at Randolph AFB and was his low-key, self-effacing self, and doing great. Maj Gen John “Nips” Nichols attended in his official capacity as the Texas Adjutant General.

He, too, was enjoying the mini-reunion but had to leave the party early to go meet with some guy named Rick Perry. Maj Gen (ret) Erv Lessel (Cindy) was looking well, and has settled in the San Antonio area working career #2 for Deloitte.

Some other 4th group reps made it to Texas – “Forty Thieves” rep Mike “Omar” Bradley was in attendance. Omar has a company in C-Springs and Jeff Gordon has joined him in the ranks of SecuriFense, Inc, and CS-38 alum and Delta pilot Fred Jacobsen (Nancy) made it. Delta is always well represented at AFA events by the half-sock (long story), living large, Chip Taylor, and his vivacious better half, Kim. Denny Hugo, Gerry Smith, Tom “T-Mac” McCarthy (Jody), Mike Roller, Tom Quasney and Tim Hoy also were there to celebrate Robin and Kim’s big day. Other than either gray or “gone away” hair follicles – all looked as good as they did when they walked under the “Bring Me Men” ramp in 1975. I regret not remembering what everyone is now doing – but I do recall that Denny is still with the airlines (making whitewater rafts on the side), Gerry is working for a Credit Union in San Antonio, “T-Mac” is teaching basic flight training in Pueblo, and “Quaz” is working for the Intel world in the DC area. Robin and Kim were great hosts; it was stupendous to be a part of it, and it was an honor to meet the Chief and Robin’s good buddy Gary Sinise – just an all-around great memory. Godspeed to you and Kim and “Baba”! Not everyone was in place for this photo, but this gets you a feel for the ’79 attendance.

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From left are “Horse” Neice, “Omar” Bradley, Denny Hugo, Mike Roller, “T-Mac” McCarthy, Robin, Burt Field, Charlie Waddell, Yours Truly, “Nips” Nichols, and Chip Taylor.

I heard from former ACSC, SAAS and racquetball “paht-nah” Tom Griffith who is doing work for the State Department in a hardship assignment in Dublin, but he “sounds” good. Additionally, I contacted other “Wild Weasels” -- Bill Murphy, Carl Byers (Connie) and Jim Sims (Emily).

Since Sims is mayor, fire chief, and postmaster general in Oneonta, AL, one would think getting electricity to the town would be a priority. Ok, so I am kidding, but if he would email BACK once-in-a-while! Thus, I can only report that “Murph” is still doing the haul up the Peninsula, living in Yorktown to be near the kids, and driving to DC area every week (and we thought he was tough as a Wing Open champ!) Carl is still in Cedar Rapids, IA – doing that Architect and Engineering stuff CE majors love to do – and swearing he will make his first reunion next year.

Paul Schubert also sent me a nice note. He is a retired Reservist and also a retired banker, which allowed him to move to Illinois with his youngest for hockey. Paul has two boys in Boston area -- a musician living in Brighton; and a freshman at University of Rhode Island. Finally, Butch Rayfield sent a quick note with this picture of him and Steve Graf -- judging by the smiles and the background – wine, women and song had to be involved!

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News May. I’m still teaching AFJROTC at Bethel High School in Spanaway, WA. I can’t believe it’s been seven years in the same job after a career of moving and new bosses every other year or so. A year ago I got the privilege of commissioning my first officer: Lt Monica Clements, USAFA 2012, is my first AFJROTC program graduate to attend an academy. It was a great honor for me to share the oath of office with her.”

Butch Rayfield, at left, and Steve Graf.

I also reached out to the “King of Connectors” – our very own Brian Koechel. Brian makes me look like an introvert– he does a “mah-velous” job keeping track of the DC contingent via his version of Saturday Morning runs. Brian sent one of the all-time great pics from the recent AFANavy game (the results of which shall not be spoken).

Navy Game Party at Dan Repasky’s. From left in the first row are Brian Koechel, Dan Repasky, Gordy Ross, Fred Vanwicklin, and Doug Lengenfelter. Second row: Omar Bradley, Tom McGovern, Reed Schotanus, Burt Field, Geoff Mulligan, Bob Swain, Guy Walsh, Ed Zanowicz, and Pat Tisdale.

Third row: Greg Nemeth, Tom Quasney, Trevor Albro, Steve Lepper, Pete Hayes, Steve Mueller, Chip Taylor, Ted Needham, Jon Box, Mike Hayes (hat), Bill Berry and Jeff Gordon.

Niners who were at the game but missed the photo: Tim Fyda, Greg Brundidge, “Buddha” Watkins , “Bubba” Edmonds, Mike Roller, Doug Robb, Pete Melim, Gary Harris, Lenue Gilchrist, Rick Pfautz, Kurt Schular, Steve Dickson, Jeff Liederbock, and last but certainly not least, Brian Kelly.

One final thought – please start your planning and your canvassing for the 35th reunion – it is time to flush out those who have been MIA for some time –to have as many folks there as possible. Forget the bad memories, forget the football scores and records, and come see your old buddies again. Laugh and tell stories with us, please! I know I have the disease that we worried about long ago, that we would become like THEM – only having FOND memories of our classmates and the place. Godspeed, Go Falcons! Brother Watkins is up next…

Don Myers 401 Chambray Hill Peachtree City, GA 30269-4247 (770) 631-1429 E-mail: DMyers80@hotmail.com ZoomieNation.usafa.org FB group: “USAFA Class of 1980”

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Fresh Meat. I paged through Polaris and then matched names to email addresses at the AOG website—for possible squadron comms reps that were still needed. Along with requesting folks to step forward, I also asked for updates. Hence, you may see some new names here. How refreshing!

And, no surprise, ’80 is doing good things.

It’s now easier to list squadrons for which we have no contacts: 3, 5, 19, 32, and 39. I’ve struggled to get just one or two names/emails from these squadrons—which is why this is so important. So, please, if you know someone in your circle from these final squadrons, ask them to contact me for this important-but-easy role.

“Things are going well in Olympia.” So says Jud Kelley. “Kathy and I are still holding the fort down after 30 years! Married my daughter Heather off last May and my son PJ graduated from Washington State, also in

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Jud with the NextGen. . .

Steve Dawidowicz has been the Chief, ISR Operations Division at HQ Air Mobility Command for about a decade, managing the intel duty officers in the Tanker Airlift Control Center. “I started in the AF as an intelligence officer, went to Nav and EWO school in ’84, then flew on AC-130H gunships as an EWO for 5 years. Eventually, I ended up at HQ MAC, which became HQ AMC, in a rated EWO slot in Intel. I’ll make the claim to having been the first member of our class to retire—1 Jun 1995 (15 years, 3 days).” He took the early retirement when the AF was parking B-52s and the promotions for navs started to plummet—it made sense to leave before it got ugly. “So, currently married, living in the country on 10 acres, about half of it heavily wooded, can’t see my neighbors, no children, six dogs (four border collies, a black lab mix, and a rat terrier), farm pond stocked with bass and sunfish, and occasional visits by deer, raccoon, owls and other critters.

Sabre Society My wife, Lili, is retired from the Air Force, and is doDonors ing dog agility full time, at which she’s been competing now for about 10 years.”

Mark Garlow graduated out of CS-30. “My son Ryan also graduated out of CS-30 in the Class of 2001. And now, Maj Ryan Garlow is the AOC of CS-30. Seems like he’s doing a whole lot better than Dad did! My wife and I went to visit him and my brand new grandson (possibly the Class of 2035?). It was great roaming the terrazzo again (this time as a dinosaur).”

Ted Lauer noted, “Back in early July, Brad Duty and his wife, Michaela, and Peggy (Walker) Bertaina and her husband, Jerry, organized and hosted a Tiger Ten Turns 55 Birthday Bash at Brad’s house in the DC area. Brad displayed his dazzling grilling skills, cooking chicken to perfection . . . not a dried-up breast in the bunch. Peggy made a grilled watermelon salad that sounds like something you would have prepared in SERE, although she claims the recipe came from Publix. Needless to say, we had a good turnout and all shared some stories—old and new. It was a great time to just relax and catch-up with each others’ lives and wonder where the time has gone. The Tiger Ten Class of ’80 is very blessed to have such close and caring friendships. Huzzah!”

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Tiger Ten gang at the Duty’s: Dane White, Kathy Conley, Chris Cuellar, Ted, Ed Schmidt, Peggy, Brad, Mitch Hailstone, and Mat Mulhern.

Rob Tremaine hung-up his AF spurs (and eagles) in 2005 and he’s now in San Diego as the Associate Dean for Outreach and Mission Assistance

for the Defense Acquisition University (West Region). You may remember from a recent report that he spent most of his career in Acquisition, but it had sidesteps, such as his stint as AOC of Eagle Eight from ’88-’91. “I’ve also enjoyed publishing numerous articles on a wide variety of acquisition-related topics. As far as additional schooling post USAFA, I’ve been very fortunate. The Air Force figured out I had a lot to learn.” Besides an MS at AFIT, Rob did everything from Army War College to a Research Fellow at Harvard to the Canadian Forces Command & Staff College. “I keep in touch frequently with my former USAFA roommate, Rick Vandiver (Vandy), who flies for Delta and now lives in Atlanta. Another squadron mate, Mike Cardenas, is also out here in San Diego working for General Atomics as a Program Manager for the Reaper UAV. Last month, I hookedup with another former Pink Panther, Charlie Kapaku. He lives in Dayton, Ohio, and came to San Diego for a two-week DAU class he had to take for his acquisition certification training. We shared quite a few laughs walking down memory lane.”

I asked Mike Valley about life in Albuquerque and what he’s been doing. “Had three assignments supporting launch vehicles and space programs. Decided I wanted a career change, but since MPC thought I was in a critical career field, they declined my request. I had a fellowship offer to get a PhD but AF did not want to send me, so I left the Air Force for grad school in 1986. Did consulting to NASA, Air Force (space sensors), and Army (Atmospheric Sciences—laser propagation and imaging through turbulence and aerosols) to help pay the bills during grad school. Was University professor (Mechanical Engineering) for four years and Technical Director for Joint US-Former Soviet Union Program in Atmospheric Turbulence for three or four years—visited many interesting places in Russia. Came to Sandia National Labs in 1994 to do research and have been there ever since. Currently a research program manager. Married (Kim—from Denver, met her on blind date one month before graduation) since 1985. Two sons (Kyle and Nik). Kyle just graduated from Rice University with honors and is working at a Schlumberger research center near Houston. It was tough to watch the USAFA-Rice bowl game, but he was a gracious winner. Nik is going to be a junior at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. He is an education major and is a soccer player (Academic All Conference). He had a chance to play D-1 at a top ranked school, but wisely chose a D-3 school where he can have a more balanced college life (academics, competitive soccer, and social life).”

Our thanks. Frank Kisner kept to his low, Spec Ops profile and retired without telling us on 1 Sep. He’s likely putting his experience to use while he calls Austin home.

Sales pitch (I get no kickbacks): USAFA Endowment—just go to the AOG website and you’ll see all the good things done with the money (which, of course, includes our past class gift). Lots of us in this phase of life have a few extra bucks each month. And many companies will match your gifts.

Rarely do I need to whittle and/or save inputs for next time, but I did today. So, please understand if you don’t yet see your info here. A great 2014 to all! Don Rich Trentman 11102 Asbee St. Falcon, CO 80831-8170 Work: (719) 452--7708 Cell: (719) 640-9586 USAFA Class of 1981 (Facebook) rptrentman@usafa-grads.com Class Website: www.usafa81.com

dent and to reply, “Well, yes, she is my classmate!” It is also interesting to hear the perspective from my firstie son… oh, the words are good! It was a challenging time for Michelle and the cadet wing with the government shutdown. Some classes were cancelled, others doubled up, and cadets have been asked to do more than we ever did… and they responded!

Class News: As you would expect, this is the Michelle Johnson edition.

Several classmates came in to attend Michelle’s big day in August where she took over as Superintendent. Also, Parent’s weekend had many ’81ers in attendance for their children and to see Michelle. I clearly was oblivious to all even though I was there. This may raise doubts about my competence as scribe, but as scribe for life, I depend on your understanding and forgiveness. Ken Hasegawa sent me the picture with him and a few of our classmates with Michelle. I counted on my powers as scribe to get “official” photos, but, alas, those powers are weakening.

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Our Falcon football team is very young and having a tough season as I draft this pre-Christmas article. Have faith, we are now starting our 4thstring quarterback! To put it in perspective, the coach has pulled in a quarterback from the cadet wing to be the 3rd string, since at season’s start, we didn’t have below 5th string. Michelle Johnson is the buzz around campus and in town. It is fun at work to have people ask if I knew the superinten-

Ken, Paul ’17, and Sharon Hasegawa – Parents’ Weekend.

Parents’ Weekend is a much bigger deal now than when we were there. I chatted with Charley Rapp Parent’s Weekend during the squadron-hosted lunches. His daughter Kellie is the squadron commander for Rebeleven.

She and my son Patrick are Rebeleven legacies in their final year. Our son Patrick took us down the Biology lab to see a corpse… interesting. I did say a brief “hi” to Michelle in the Blue Silver press box before the opener.

She said there were a lot of emotions going through her head during the Parents Weekend parade. Gregg Montijo called me as I was walking into the opening game Sabre Society and I did slip down to chat with Frank Cheeseman and Donors him before half. It was great to see both!

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’81ers at Michelle’s big day!

Heard from JD and Martha Rodriguez living in Rapid City, SD. JD and Martha are empty nesters like many of you high achievers (fats burners). JD’s oldest daughters Katie (ATC supervisor at Nellis AFB) and Marie, married (mother – 2 daughters); Jose, married (daughter, son); and Jessica, married (living in Austin, TX). JD is a 767 captain with United Airlines and he and Martha

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are enjoying life as empty nesters. JD said he would get in touch with me when he was in Denver next… I will let you know. I also heard from doolie fightin’ fourth classmate, David Hunter, living in beautiful Puget Sound, WA on a couple acres. David is working with Boeing and very happy! His two daughters are married and David and Pam live a quiet life with occasional escapes to Hawaii, when required. He ran into Tom Schulter, a safety pilot for Boeing, before Tom moved to Montana. David reminded me of many fellow fightin’ fourth squadron mates that left the academy and we wondered what became of them. Like many of you, attrition was high for our doolie classmates and only 14 of our 33 classmates graduated.

It was a different time with very high attrition.

Another doolie classmate, Craig Jenkins, has been emailing me. Craig has moved from Texas to Atlanta to ease his commute as a 767 captain for Delta flying international flights. Craig said he would make a game this year and get in touch. (I have heard that promise before). My good buddy, Alex Baggett, was in Brazil with his wife, Sonia. His #2 son graduated from college and is in grad school; his #3 son, Dakota, is on the Arkansas football team. Alex says he is not starting, but may get in on some special teams play. Alex’s youngest, Kalen, is at Arizona St. High school classmate Jim Kilty is also doing well. Jim has 3 sons. His oldest is sophomore at Illinois St; #2 is a freshman at Iowa St, and #3 is an eighth grader, so Jim still has a ways to go before empty nest time. I can relate with a sophomore in high school. Jim is a great guy and a great father. I get the privilege of seeing him at both our academy and high school reunions. In fact, both were approximately the same graduating class size.

My predecessor, role model, and mentor as scribe, Dennis Walsh, sent me a nice update. Dennis retired early in 1997 and noted that he has now been retired longer than on active duty. Dennis – you are not old! At least, that is all of our stories. Dennis is happy as a stay-at-home Dad and proud of his son, Paul, 12, a Boy Scout, and his daughter, Claire, a great athlete and student. Dennis’s wife, Colette, is still working hard at Boeing in engineering management. Dennis often demands to take the scribe duties back, but I fight hard to stay on despite his objections. Dennis claims, although I have my doubts, that he tried to find me at our 30th reunion.

Mike (cowboy) Kadlubowski sent me a picture of his award-winning wild cow milking team. Mike’s military team donated their winnings of $3,000 to military charities. Mike is local here in Colorado, although I have not had the privilege of seeing him lately. I also heard from Ray and Karen (Boniewicz) Torres living in beautiful New Hampshire. Karen is teaching photography at 2 local colleges and Ray works for an aviation company. Their oldest daughter is teaching in South Korea and their youngest daughter is a freshman at Skidmore. Another ’81er empty nest couple!

in an automobile accident. I don’t know the reason for the delay in getting notification to the AOG, but we only learned of his death in late October of this year. Lenny was a retired O-6 and was living in Navarre, FL at the time of his death. And in late September, I heard from Doug Sander who told me that Phil Bossert’s brain tumor had returned. You’ll recall that when Phil was an O-6 on active duty and was deployed to Afghanistan in January 2012, where he was diagnosed with the tumor and returned stateside for treatment. He had what we considered to be a miraculous recovery at the time. He remained healthy for about a year and a half, but then the tumor returned in September 2013 and grew very aggressively. He went into hospice care at that time and subsequently passed away on 3 October 2013. Col Gary Packard (head of the Behavioral Sciences and Leadership Dept at USAFA) wrote to let me know that Phil’s military legacy lives on through Sabre Society his oldest son (an ROTC cadet at the University of DalDonors las) and his daughter (a 3-degree at USAFA). I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with Phil’s and Lenny’s families.

On a happier note, I heard from Chris Broyhill who told me about a great new job he’s got. He was hired by the Chicago-based energy company Exelon to build their corporate flight department from the ground up. A year ago they were using nothing but contracted charter services, but now they’ve got a Falcon 2000LX, and are about to purchase a Falcon 7X. So they went from zero to an $80M flight department in a year’s time and Chris led the way. Chris has also been busy authoring books, and has two currently in print. Go to Amazon.com and check out “The Viper Contract” and “The Cabo Contract”. Both are selling well and receiving 4-star-plus reviews.

You may recall that Julie Ryan is a prof at George Washington University in D.C. She dropped us a note to announce a full scholarship opportunity for those in the cyber security field. If you’re interested and meet the following qualifications, drop her a line and she’ll give you all the details: - You’re a Cyber Security expert - You already have a master’s degree - You’re a U.S. citizen - You have at least five years work experience - You’re willing to take a government job upon graduation There are no age restrictions, so if you want more info email Julie at jjchryan@gwu.edu.

Since other news is kind of slow this time, I’ll fill some space with a couple of the things I’ve been up to. I’ve had a great time this past summer showing the 1973 Honda CB350F that I restored a couple years ago. It’s one of Honda’s early four-cylinder motorcycles and is the smallest four to be produced commercially by any manufacturer. I worked on these bikes when I was a Honda mechanic in high school and have always wanted one. I found one in semirough condition back in 2011 and went to work on a total restoration. To date the bike has taken six trophies and plaques at various Concours d’Elegance and vintage Japanese bike shows, including one Best of Show. But the one that I’m proudest of is winning the Motorcycle Class at the Keeneland Concours d’Elegance in Lexington, KY back in July. This is one of the country’s premier Concours, and just being invited to display the bike there was honor enough. Here’s a picture of me accepting my trophy.

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Team Mike – Mike, Frank Mindrup ’99, Chad Clementz ’97, and Larry Commerford.

Thanks for the great responses and emails for this article. Send me holiday emails and pictures! Please continue to support our school. They need it more than ever. Beat Army!

Jim Ratti 2860 Arbor Pointe Drive Middletown, OH 45042 (937) 760-2333 rattijm@mindspring.com

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Greetings Redtags!

I don’t have a ton of inputs this quarter, but I’m afraid I have to lead off with two pieces of sad news. First, we learned of the death of Lenny Hayes. Lenny died back in September of 2012 due to injuries he received

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Two Vintage Relics – One Honda and One USAFA Grad!

And in October Ellen and I went on a safari to Tanzania. I can say without reservation that it was the best, most incredible vacation we’ve ever had. The national parks are beautiful and the quantity and variety of wildlife is simply beyond description. We saw everything you’d imagine you’d see on a safari and lots more. If you have any desire at all to take a trip like this, I’d strongly encourage you to do it – you won’t be disappointed. It’s a bit strenuous, as the roads are bad, there’s lots of dust, and there are no accommodations for physical handicaps whatsoever. But the experience is mind boggling. So do it while you can – it’s the trip of a lifetime. Here’s a picture of Ellen and me at the entrance to the Serengeti National Park.

five gold rings. Now, by the power vested in me by yall, I hereby declare that if two or more ’83 classmates meet and one said classmate does not have in his/her immediate procession the aforementioned coin, this said person will buy the coin bearer or bearers the adult beverage of his/her choice. How’s that Kevin Carreno? Does that pass legal mustard?? Let the games begin!

The most important and moving part of our reunion was our Memorial Ceremony. Alan and Cecil Grant again did a great job making sure we reverently remembered the 26 classmates who are “Gone But Not Forgotten”.

Cecil’s Euology was straight from the heart.

Our first photo has to go to Joe Bana who gets the “Spirit Award”. His full-color class crest tattoo on his left shin looked awesome but had to hurt—ouch!

Jim and Ellen (’80) where the wild things are.

And last but certainly not least, just as I was wrapping up this issue I got an e-mail from TL Johnson who sent this picture of his son Sean. It was taken at Sean’s graduation from UPT at Vance, and TL had the honor of pinning the very same wings on Sean that TL received some 30 years prior upon his graduation in class 83-08 at Sheppard. Sean will be heading to Tinker to fly the E-3 AWACS.

Proud Papa TL Johnson and Son Sean So that’s about it this time. Keep in touch! Your humble scribe, Ratman.

Ray Blust 7 Highland Park Wheeling, WV 26003 Home: (304) 242-7182 Cell: (304) 281-1621 rjmablust@comcast.net

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Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

I am writing this as I recover from an absolutely awesome reunion. The over 300 classmates who made the trip were treated to a first-class run and organized event. Many kudos go to our dual chairmen Laurie Healy and Alan Arata. These two, for the past six months, worked tirelessly with the AOG and many other agencies. It was unanimously voted upon to keep this team together for the next reunion. We had a very good class meeting where we discussed options for our future reunions to include cruises, reunions somewhere other than the Academy and reunions during the spring. All reunions will remain at the Academy but the time of year was left open. Laurie and Al did work hard to have our reunion on a non-football Sabre Society weekend as they tentatively scheduled our reunion for Donors Sept. 7th where the AF soccer team, coached by our own Doug Hill, was to play Army. But the football schedule came out and had scheduled the Homecoming game then. So, maybe next time.

Laurie designed a class coin as a reunion gift. The front is a cut out of our crest, circled in blue with “83 Best To Be” and “30 Years” while the back ring has “Funny Once…Funny Never”, “BOHICA” and of course our

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Joe Bana and his ’83 Crest Tattoo.

This looks like Joe just set the bar, who can beat it?? Let’s see at our 35 year reunion.

I am going to just mention a lot of the folks I ran into at the reunion. I apologize for not getting much info and not mentioning everyone. Our doolie, Starship-19, get together was held in Julie and my room; sadly I kicked them out at 11pm. I just can’t hang. Those attending were Steve Benz, Stu and Noelle Pope, Mike Rampino, Andy VonCanon, Dave and Tina Wright-SA CA flying for SW and Jeff Fiebig, now living back home in Warner Robbins. Chris Brantley crashed the party but who cares.

I have to apologize to my graduate squadron (24) mates as I spent the afternoon and evening dealing with some bad barbecue. But Phantom attendees were Chris Mannion-Division Review Officer, VA in San Diego, Kevin McMillin-Fed Ex in Wash. St., Mike Padilla-Fed Ex in TN, Bill RujevcanBoeing Sea Launch in LA, Leslee (Forsberg) Washer-Math Tutor in MT, Ben Wilson-Delta in KY, Robert Gregor-UPS in KY, Dave Stine and John Wood.

Where are we, who are we?

Got a great photo from Frank Marrero of a group of partying reunioners.

Pictured are Cindy (Dering) Fossom, TJ (Paquelet-Brown), Frank, Dave Corbett, ??, Jim Carlen, and a very happy George “Jorge” Cespedes.

We had a Preppie Mini Reunion where we were briefed on the good, bad and ugly of the budget cuts. Not missing a beat, Kevin Carreno-Lawyer in Tampa, and Lou Caporicci-Eng. Mgt. in Tampa (non-preppie, Kevin’s date), came late, and Kevin replied just like 35 years ago, “My room mate didn’t get me up on time!” Also in attendance were Leslee (Forsberg) Washer, Chris Austin-Delta, Jeff Barnson-see generals, Greg BechardDelta, Bob Brown-AA in DFW, George Cespedes-AA CA in MIA, Bill Regan, Mike Bartley, Dave Ennis, Doug Hill-Head Soccer Coach at USAFA, Chris Cicere-Ath. Dept. USAFA, Frank Curry-AA ORD, Joe Fentress, Jim

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Fini (special guest), Dave Geuting, Cecil Grant-Paralegal, Bill Harris, Tony Hudson, Jeff Kendall, Grant Lane-Delta, Bruce Lepley, Chris MannionVA in SD, Frank Marrero-UAL CA in SFO, Denny Moore-Delta in ATL, JJ Pericas, Bryan BP Pratt-FedEx CA, Dave Ross, Dan Schnepf-CE in C-Springs, USAFA Endowment Board, Paco Singleton, Kathy (Strand) Johnson, Wynne (Botts) Waldron, Rick Walker, and all three of the R. Smiths made it, Russ RB Smith-10 kids and getting ready to adopt 3, Bob RE Smith-living in Mingo Junction, Ohio, working in Wheeling WV as Engineer and Ricard RK Smith-Flight Simulator designer in Tampa. Not all above were at the Preppie reunion but attended our 30 year.

bring John Moose-84 along, Bebe (Cronin) O’Neil-UAL and AOG Board member, Patty Martinez, and finally, last but definitely not least is Gayle Yamazaki who for the last few years tirelessly represented our class on the Class Advisory Senate. She asked during our class meeting if anyone or four people would like to help out. Before we left she had three volunteers, thanks guys. Well that about does it for me. I know I failed to mention a bunch of folks, I’m sorry.

Here’s one more photo. Pictured are Edith, Mike Jr-Class of 2017 and Mike Padilla at the AF-Notre Dame game. Good luck Mike Jr.

Class Generals Time for another photo. Our class is well represented in the General ranks. Pictured are front row: LGen Dave Goldfein, Director Joint Staff (Dave noted that he just had a change of command where he handed the Air War over to our very own LGen John Hesterman -- we missed ya John); LGen Chris Bogden, F-35 PED; and BGen. Vince Saroni, P.E., MA to CE AF/ A7C, Pentagon. Second row: BGen Jeff Barnson, 4AF V. CC, March AFB; MGen Darryl Roberson, Joint Staff, Vice J-3; MGen Jim Post, ACC Director of Ops, Langley; and MGen Wayne Schatz, USTRANSCOM J-3, Scott AFB. Other generals present but not pictured were MGen Sheila Zuehlke, Intel; BGen KJ (Strand) Johnson, AF/A4/7, Pentagon; and MGen Brian Bishop.

Others present who I knew were Rich Arnold, Dave Asselin, Alonzo Babers-UAL, Bob Barnett-Delta, Mary Beth and Wally Bleyl, Jack Boepple, Cal Bond, Mike Bryant, Luis Bustamante-Amaris-just hired by UAL-Congrats, Kevin Cannon-UAL, Courtney Collier-AA in ORD, Mavis (Thorp) and Vince Compagno, Bill Cool, Dave Corbett, Mike Edwards, Greg Egan, Craig Eidman, Robert Englehart-USAirways West in SA, Susan (Ferkau) Neumann-Eng. In Tucson, Holly Franz, Rich Fullerton-Academics at USAFA, Ron Gaulton, Jeff Hinkle-Delta CA, won best dressed award at Memorial Ceremony in his Camo jacket and tie, Susan Hirst, Drew Howes-Delta in ATL, and Linda Huggler-USAFA Ath. Dept. NCAA compliance Officer, only one to get mentioned by the Superintendent.

Sorry about not having all the maiden names of the girls but I am going by the reunion sheet.

This next photo is of our classmates who have never been in Checkpoints. Enjoy guys, I’ll get you in again for the 50 year reunion.

The Padillas go to the Academy.

I hope this finds everyone doing well. Please keep in touch. Hey Reunion attendees, you all got the scribe info so keep the photos and news coming. Our next article will be scribed by our very own Army Wade Wheeler. Please send info to me or Wade at Wwade83@me.com.

Thanks again and may God Bless us all. Ray Mike Jensen 12035 Milam Road Colorado Springs, CO 80908 (719) 338-3570 www.usafa84.com usafahomes@gmail.com Twitter: @USAFA84

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So many ways to communicate: and it seems like it is harder and harder to find the information and get it out efficiently. The clock keeps running, and sometimes I feel like I am just standing still.

The Stars are out! Maj. Gen. Samuel D. Cox has been selected for promotion to lieutenant general, and reassignment as Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Maj. Gen. Arnold W. Bunch, Jr., is the Commander, Air Force Test Center, headquartered at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. He directs a $31 billion enterprise of more than 18,000 military, civilian and contractor personnel across Edwards AFB, Eglin AFB and Arnold AFB. Brig. Gen. Linda R. Urrutia-Varhall is the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Selected for promotion to major general: Brig. Gen. Sabre Society Donors Steven M. Shepro is the Director of Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. Maj. Gen. John F. Thompson is the Air Force Program Executive Officer for Tankers, Tanker Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

I know we may have more than these listed, and I will do my due diligence to make sure all of them are recognized for a great career.

Countdown to 30: We hope to get Navy weekend next year but the AOG uses a seniority system to assign reunion weekends so we won’t know for sure until the football schedule comes out. Many thanks to Bob Perry for working to make sure the golf course is ready for us whatever weekend we get.. (I hear those that ran the beverage carts are fighting over our class.)

It has been a long season! The football team has had its injury problems this season, but the Falcons are still coming out swinging. Hopefully, we will have salvaged a win against Army, and made a late-season run. Chuck Cavanaugh flew his seaplane into Navy and is shown with his co-pilot Heather Robertson. (See photo at the top of the next column.)

Sad News: James A. Zampacorta passed away. He is survived by his loving wife of 11 years, Lilly Zampacorta; children, Derek, Jessica and Krista Zampacorta; stepsons, James and Steve Yslas; four grandchildren; parents, James P. and Elizabeth Zampacorta; sister, Karen (Tom) O’Neill; and numerous extended family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

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Checkpoints Virgins No More!

Here’s some more attendees. Dave Klaudt, Phil Lanman, Tommy Lawhead, Rick Lawrence, Dano Larsen-Delta living in Kenai Alaska, Chris and Nancy Liggett, Steve and Tonia (Flores)Mann, Pete and Gerry McCaffrey-they are comfortably retired in “The Villages” in Florida, their door is always open, Mark Melville-saw fellow UPT-mate in Mitches, Mark teaches at USAFA, Mike and Suzi (Smith) Monzingo, Paul Nadeau, Rick Nazario-AA CA in MIA, Carl Nordin, Marc Olson-AA in ORD, Lisa (Linden) Osterheld-AA, John Pavlock-AA in JFK, just inducted into the Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame, read his article in the ZoomiEnews-October 25, Tracy (Morgan) Phillips, Scott Plumb, Dr. Eli Powell-Orthopedic Surgeon in Alaska, Tamra Rank, recently retired as Vice-Supt., Dave Remendowski, Tom Rzepecki, Margaret (Mazkiewitz) Sampson, Rowayne Schatz, Dave Schreck, Tim Strawther-Flying Training Advisor, HQ AETC, Dave Timm, Drew Wacker, Delta, Doug Walters, Karol Welling-Delta, Geoff Wells, John Zazworsky, Ted Zwijacz-IT guy turned welder, you rock Ted, Beate (Oechsle) Cox, Gayle (Johnson) Denny-thanks for the beer, but next time

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Heather Robertson and Chuck Cavanaugh before the Navy game.

Kevan Wong checked in and included a photo of his brothers Col (ret) Marshall Wong (‘78), LtC (ret) Howard Wong (‘83), and mother at his wedding June 30, 2012 to his partner of 17 years, Paul Rook. His sister, Capt (Sep) Lenora Wong Berning (’80) could not attend. They were married last year in downtown Manhattan, and live in Dallas. It is Kevan’s 13th year in Dallas, where he has been working in a private anesthesia group knocking people out and waking them back up! (Thanks for that!) His brother Marshall also works in the same group.

various leadership seminars and dinings out -- their status was not even fathomable. What’s crazy is the realization that during our Academy tenure, those “old” ‘59ers were only their 40s! It seemed almost unimaginable back then when they referred to our class as “the future of the Air Force”.

Fast-forward to 28 years post-graduation. Today, I find myself smiling each week as I thumb through The Air Force Times reading about the accomplishments of our classmates and fellow alumni. Collectively, we have become that future. With the help of Jack Mueller, ‘70, in the AOG Information Management Office, I thought I’d share some class statistics illustrating just how far we’ve come. As you reflect on the many individuals we’ve lived, studied, trained, and served with, I’m sure you will nod with pride, as I do, as you say to yourself, “He/She was a classmate of mine.”

To put things in perspective, when we first started Sabre Society Donors our journey together, only two grads had attained general officer status (bonus points if you can still name them). Of the 945 who graduated, 918 are still living, and 203 are still on active duty. We have produced 14 General Officers, 471 Military Pilots, 65 Military Navigators, 4 Military Flight Surgeons, 32 CEOs/VPs, 4 Lawyers, 7 Doctors, 2 Pastors, 94 Airline Professionals, and 4 Thunderbird Pilots. There are 366 AOG members, 18 Sabre Society members, and Lifetime Giving to-date is $490,202. Please note this data was current as of September and based on information voluntarily reported to the AOG. Let’s keep our graduate bios updated!

Please join me in congratulating our newest Major General on his recent promotion. On October 4th, BGen David “DT” Thompson pinned on his second star. Way to go DT! MGen Thompson is the Deputy Director, Global Operations (DJ3), Global Operations Directorate, United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, NE. As deputy director he is responsible to the Commander on matters of situational awareness, command and control and integrated plans and operations across space, nuclear, and cyber operations.

On a less formal note, I was happy to hear from Gary Rafferty. Gary is pleased to report that his golf handicap is way down thanks in part to living on the only golf course in Alamogordo, NM. He is still happily married to his first wife and supporting GPS-Navigation Warfare testing on Holloman AFB and the White Sands Missile Range. Gary got to travel to Stockholm and Vidsel, Sweden to meet with our Allies to discuss coalition GPS testing possibilities.

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In the photo are Paul Rook, Kevan, Marshall and Howard Wong, and mom, Esther.

Kevan mentioned that he had a great visit with Scott Dickmeyer when he attended a flight safety training course in Dallas. Scott is Premier Program Manager at FlightSafety International. He is doing well, and lives in Wichita with his wife, 4 kids, and I think 2 grandkids!

By the time you read this, we will need more inputs from you. If I missed something you sent in, please let me know. If you are in the area, I’ll buy the first coffee/beer. If you have some “must-do’s” for the reunion, let’s know them now!

Enjoy your holidays, and I look forward to seeing you soon. Jens

W. Scott Carney P.O. Box 210 Princeton, ME 04668 USAFA.Class.of.1985@gmail.com

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Greetings ’85ers!

Hello from Princeton, ME, the near easternmost point in United States.

For those of you who missed the last edition, Quintel Williams handed off his pencil to me; having served as our Class Scribe for more than 20 years. Thank you, Q! Please direct your future inputs to me at USAFA. Class.of.1985@Gmail.Com or (207) 796-2228. If you prefer snail mail, PO Box 210, Princeton, ME. 04668.

Wendy (Cook) Post made a rather poignant observation back in October on the USAFA Class of 1985 Facebook page when she restated the obvious -- with very few exceptions our class has all hit the half-century mark. I don’t know where all the years went. It is hard to believe it has been 32 years since we first stood in formation on the Terrazzo as a class for the very first time. Can you remember the days when even a 20-yearold Firstie was like a God? When the sight of a mere captain made us quake in our boots? Never mind the senior officers we encountered at the

Here is Gary Rafferty at the Arctic Circle on Sweden’s northern test range.

I don’t see a golf club, Gary!

August Hein sends greetings of Habari from Kenya. After retiring 2 years ago, August relocated his family to a little mission station in Kijabe, Kenya in support of a Christian hospital (WWW.Kijabehispital.Org for those wishing further information). They had been at the Westgate Mall only days before it was attacked by Al Shabaab back in September. August reports Kenya is still a little shaken and now has a tighter security posture.

We are glad you and your family are safe, August, and are proud of the work you are doing in Africa.

August is proud to inform us we have another Legacy cadet. His son, AJ, reported to USAFA in June as a member of the Class of 2017. Congratulations! AJ’s sponsor is August’s former CS-07 roommate, Del Christman.

Del is currently an instructor in the CompSci Department For those of you who have not yet discovered it, I encourage you to become a member of the USAFA - Class of 1985 Facebook Group. It is a great real-time way to stay connected, and reminisce on the four years that will forever bind us as a class.

Stay in touch, and keep those e-mails and letters coming. ‘85 Best Alive!

Scott

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Class News

Lawrence Cooper 2806 Erics Court Crofton, MD 21114 410-451-6505 Cooper@astroguy.net

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It’s Fall, it’s time for Checkpoints again and I’ve finally realized what Bob Colella and me really are: he’s the good cop and I’m the bad cop. He gets all the good stories and pictures and I get to harangue and make you feel guilty for not keeping up with updates. Then you feel guilty and Bob gets all the good inputs. Well things are going to change – I’m going to be good cop and then bad cop; make you feel good and then guilt trip you. The kid gloves are on – then I’m taking them off.

John Taylor is first up and gives us a report from paradise (which just happens to be co-located with PACOM). He’s now working as a contractor in USPACOM/J81 after retiring last year, and dropped his son off last June to join the Class of 2017. On top of that, he’s seen our classmate Major General Terry O’Shaughnessy – he is the J3 there. Chris Veazie is also a contractor at Hickam. Chris retired there and works PACAF exercises. Chris reports that John Williams retired there too...and runs marathons now.

Roger Thrasher retired this summer and has now grown what his daughter calls a “terrorist beard,” then joined the dark side to work at MITRE right down the hall from classmate Chris Jella – they both work closely Sabre Society Donors supporting classmate Col Merrill “Jazz” Armstrong.

I’ve also been sighting Jazz a lot in the Pentagon.

Roger as you may remember is the chairman of the Class of 1986 Gift Committee, honchoing our fund raising for one of the atriums in the Center for Character and Leadership Development. You can see the construction status at http://ccld.usafa.org/ Updates.aspx. Unfortunately, our fundraising efforts have gotten $144K pledged out of our $250K goal. The gift committee will be restarting our personal calls and engagements soon, but if any classmates are interested in supporting the effort, please email 1986usafa@gmail.com.

Here’s where I take off the kid gloves: We’ve met over half our goal with

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just 10% of our class donating. This isn’t money for the AOG or for activities – this gift from the Class of 1986 is paying for a major portion of a building that every cadet going forward will use. Whatever you think happened to you at the Academy or during your career, whether good or bad, you owe that to the Academy. You walked the halls, met lifelong friends, and laid the foundation and framework for the last 30 years of your life and now you can do something to contribute to every cadet for the next 30 years plus. We’ll be calling you so please chip in whatever you can afford; don’t make me go bad cop again, okay?

Okay, I’ve put the kid gloves back on – lately on our FaceBook page (http:// www.facebook.com/groups/USAFA1986/ and 216 members strong), we’ve had this interesting trend… actually trends. First I grew a nice beard -- it’s great (see the pic below of me, my beard, and my family). Now people get up on the Metro to offer their seat and little kids stare -- but I tell you as soon as one of them starts telling me what they want for Christmas, I’m shaving it off (it’s easier than losing the padding on my gut).

Lawrence Cooper and his beard at Hershey Park with wife, Mary, son Alex, and daughter Zarina.

So now I have a beard, then Andy Hart sees mine and grows one of his own (I can’t prove it, but that’s my story). Then we hear Roger Thrasher has one and I’m hearing a lot of us are going that route. Maybe it’s the year of the beard or maybe we’re getting older – evidence of that is on our FaceBook page. We have people posting picture of vintage cadet uniforms that they still have (and fit into) and then Andy Hart posts this picture of his vintage Basic Cadet tag. Makes you remember back when we first saw the BOR. Wow. He has such small feet.

Andy Hart’s Basic Cadet tag.

Then we had a bit of friendly competition resulting in escalation and more pictures of classmates in cadet uniforms and other cadet items, but Frank Kozak knocked it out of the park with this pic of himself in his AJacket. I don’t think that many of us still fit in their A-Jackets or look that good in them.

Frank Kozak in his A-jacket.

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I’ll sign off with this funny anecdote from Bob Colella. It’s one of his Top Ten funny moments as a freshman (I can’t wait to hear the other nine): He saw this while in his room across the hall from ’84 Juniors during a SAMI. The inspector goes into one of the closets and finds a pair of pants with the zipper down and asks: “Don’t you know you are supposed to store your clothing in the same manner in which you would wear it?”

Before the inspector could turn around to look at him, the Junior reached down and unzipped his pants. Thanks for that one, Bob… I don’t have anything like that in my repertoire. My SAMI memories are more in the line of tragedy.

Thanks for all the memories and Go Falcons!

John & Carolyn Sammartino 3107 Woods Cove Lane Woodbridge, VA 22192 H: (703) 492-5492 W: (703) 808-6234 jsammar@verizon.net

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Hello again ’87—had several inputs this cycle which is always welcome, must be because the football team is not doing so well so folks have more time to get on the email and send us some updates! Dutch Murray checked in after his PCS to Shaw AFB, SC: “Wanted to check in after a wild summer and send you what I’m sure isn’t the only Parent’s Weekend photo you received.

Jolande and I completed our first empty nester move from DC to Shaw AFB, SC, where I am now the AFCENT Director of Intelligence (A2). Great job, brand new base house on the golf course but no kids.

Our youngest, Peter, completed BCT as an Aggressor and is now in CS02 Deuce. Love this pic! One can’t describe what it’s like to see your child in uniform for the first time. So humbling! Our oldest, Christiane, is a senior at the Univ of Chicago. How time flies!

Col. Dutch Murray and son C4C Peter Murray.

Best to all and while Shaw is not on the beaten path, there’s always cold beer and good Scotch available at the Murrays!” Sounds good Dutch, I agree wholeheartedly. We attended our son Matt’s promotion to 1st Lt out at LA AFB back in September; seems like only yesterday when we were First Lieutenants!

Bert Morales, a fellow prep-schooler with us, also found the urge to send in an update: “I received my latest Checkpoints in the mail and thought after 25+ years of reading our class postings I’d actually send a note. It’s been a great and interesting ride since our days at the prep school and USAFA. I’ve spent my entire AF career in OSI. It’s been an interesting and fascinating job and now find myself as the Vice Commander of the agency headquartered at Quantico, VA. Rosie (my wife of 25 years) and I are pretty certain we will be retiring next fall. In fact, we depart tomorrow to begin the process of Sabre Society building our retirement home in New Braunfels, Texas Donors and look forward to planting permanent roots. We’ve been blessed with two great kids. Our oldest, Dante, graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in May 13, commissioned AF and is a 2d Lt assigned to Biggs Army Airfield in El Paso, TX as an Air Liaison Officer. Our youngest, Adrianna, is a junior at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) majoring in information systems (thank goodness for the Post 911 GI bill). My wonderful and patient wife, Rosie, is a software engineer with MITRE Corp and has kept her career in a lower gear because of our moves and it will be great to

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let her throw it into full gear. I tell her the house will be clean and dinner ready when she gets home! Although I suspect she’ll expect me to earn some type of paycheck -- polishing the resume now. You all take care.”

Sounds good Bert, thanks for writing! Also heard from John Klimek from Minnesota; he had a fun input, and also some sad news regarding our classmate Brad Bramigk, who recently passed away: “I hope you are both doing well. I touch base with Jack Sundstrom now and again via email, although I haven’t met up with him for about a year. He says ‘hey’ and promised to write soon! Not sure if you’re aware of this, but here’s a link to our classmate Brad Bramigk’s caring bridge site. Unfortunately, the news is not good: http://caringbridge.org/visit/bradbramigk. On the lighter side of things, attached is a picture of my daughter Mackenzie and me with the Stanley Cup when it visited her college. It was a fun day! The President and CEO of St. Mary’s University is an SMU grad. Feel free to use it or not. No expectations from me. Be well and thanks for writing the article for our class in Checkpoints.”

John Klimek and daughter Mackenzie with Lord Stanley’s Cup! Ken Rizer also sent an input shortly after the previous edition of Checkpoints closed out: “It’s been a year since I gave up command of Joint Base Andrews to put down some more permanent roots back home in Iowa.

Would have loved to attend the reunion, but I was still on probation in my job at Goodwill of the Heartland. It’s a cool job, as I’m responsible for employing homeless vets and people with disabilities in our various business lines. Our big news is that I’m running for the Iowa House in 2014!

Campaign is going well. Anyone interested in checking it out can go to www.kenrizer.com, www.facebook.com/RizerForHouse, or Twitter @RizerForHouse. Wings From Heaven, Ken ‘Easy’ Rizer.”

Had several inputs via Facebook; first one from Ranger Due: Hey Carolyn! Just wanted to say hello to you and your husband. Kathy and I just moved to Atlanta, so we are more central than we were in Alabama. Not sure if there is an active alumni association here, but hope to get more involved. Raegan is turning four on October 1st. She is an amazing child, but I felt pretty old with this one! I have two children going into college -- Candace is going to Montevallo in Alabama and the other to Ohio University. I was hoping to get one in the Academy while Carolyn Moore Benyshek was still there; but I don’t know that she will be willing to hang on until Raegan is old enough. Well, love you guys and hope you’re well...”

Chris Simpson is trying to rebuild USAFA, and via Facebook he noted that he is “Doing my thing: upgrading the Academy facilities and briefing the leadership. Today I was supposed to brief the Commandant of Cadets, but his Vice sat in instead. I thought he looked familiar. Turns out Dale Holland received my briefing. Hell, he was in a neighboring squad house while we were cadets. That made the whole day more exciting!”

Kenny Wessels posted on Facebook an Inside Lacrosse article that highlighted his daughter Corinne who is slated to attend Northwestern (a top collegiate lacrosse program) and is rated as a Top 10 “Young Gun Rising Senior” in Inside Lacrosse magazine. Pretty impressive Ken; way to keep pushing Lacrosse as the fastest growing sport in America—someday everyone will appreciate Lax the way we do!

That’s it for now, keep the good updates coming; nothing is too trivial, great to hear from everyone! Fly safe ’87.

JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY! YOUR MONEY HELPS FUND CADET WING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED. CALL (719) 472-0300 X200.

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Class News Craig McCurdy 46992 Smithwood Court Potomac Falls, VA 20165 Cell: (202) 570-3058 ccicdjmccurdy@yahoo.com

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Members

(14 Sabre Society Donors) The following email is from John Quintas, CS-10, ’88, Best to Date.

Bill “Saint” Lewis and I hosting Gen Westbrook at RAF Lakenheath. He gave a fantastic presentation to the Wing on commanding the 48th FW during the original Libya raid. Saint and I got to be there for Lakenheath Libya Raid Take II.

Paul W. Tibbets, IV 102 Ira Eaker Drive Barksdale AFB, LA 71110 (318) 742-1505 E-mail: p2a2tibbets@gmail.com or p2a2me.com Class web site: http://www. usafaclasses.org/1989/

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Members

Class Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid= 43101356987 Greetings 89ers! Letter follows from our class president, Don Simpson, on our upcoming reunion.

“USAFA ’89 Classmates, “Our 25th reunion is less than a year away. This version will be less complex than our 20th but promises to be just as much fun. The heavy lifting in terms of reunion planning will begin in January, 2014 with an expected reunion in mid September – don’t make reservations just yet as the actual dates will be based on the football schedule that is yet to be published.

“A few lessons learned from the 20th include broad communication with as many classmates as early as possible and over communications on activities through committee reps. We will use the USAFA89 Sabre Society Facebook site as the primary communications vehicle Donors (link at the top of this article). To access this site, you will need a Facebook account and you will need access to the Group. You are also welcome to have your spouse join the group if they have a Facebook account.

“The most immediate need is to identify a squadron representative who will track down all members of their squadron and facilitate communications within the group. In addition, I encourage all our classmates to update their profile at the Association of Graduates (http://www.usafa.org/).

“On the USAFA89 Facebook site under the Files tab, there is an Excel spreadsheet (25th USAFA89.xlsx) that contains two tabs. The first tab is for the squadron representatives and the second tab is for the committee representatives. The list of committees has not yet been established, but feel free to suggest. If you are interested in representing a squadron or a committee, please go to this file and update with your information. First come, first serve!

“Will have a few conference calls with all the reps on a monthly basis starting in Feb. Until then, Squadron and Committee Representatives are welcome to use our Facebook site to begin the festivities planning.

“A final note, during the 20th reunion the planning committee attempted to keep a master contact list. This proved difficult and time consuming so for the 25th, we will use the AOG as the master contact list and the Facebook site as the master communications vehicle. I look forward to seeing you all there. Don” Thanks Don! Back in August “The Gazette” published an article – Air Force hockey team adds Joe Doyle as coaching assistant – announcing the return of Joe to coaching at USAFA. Excerpt follows. “Former Air Force player and assistant coach Joe Doyle is returning to the academy as its newest assistant, Falcons coach Frank Serratore announced Monday.

The 1989 graduate served as an assistant from 1994-98 and from 200206 while on active duty. The Air Force retiree returns to his alma mater after serving as regional director of the American Development Model the past four years for Colorado Springs-based USA Hockey. Doyle will lead recruiting and work with the Falcons defensemen. He replaces Mike Corbett, who left to take over the Alabama-Huntsville program in July. ‘I am extremely excited to return to the Air Force Academy, work with the amazing student-athletes and support the mission of producing tremendous Air Force officers,’ Doyle said. ‘I need to thank the leadership and hockey department at USA Hockey for their support and confidence over the last four years. The experiences and opportunities they have afforded me have made this college hockey opportunity a reality.’”

“Doyle is a member of AFA’s Hockey Wall of Fame. The two-time team most valuable player was in the first class to post four consecutive winning seasons. He recorded 126 points (57 goals) in 110 games, good for No. 23 all-time in points and 15th in goals. ‘We are excited to have Joe back in the fold,’ Serratore said. ‘He is one of our program’s all-time greats and did a terrific job for us early in his coaching career. The experience he gained with USA Hockey will enable him to bring even more to the table this time around.’

“Doyle served as an assistant under his former coach, program great Chuck Delich, and was on Serratore’s staff from 1997-98. The 2003 Boston College High School Hall of Fame inductee and his wife, Holly, have four children: Brendan, Andrew, Luke and Emma.”

That’s a wrap for this quarter. Keep those cards and letters coming.

Take care and God bless!

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From left are John Quintas, Gen Westbrook and Bill Lewis.

Second pic is from Sonny “Blink” Blinkinsop’s retirement ceremony.

We worked a few doors down from each other in Embassy London for the last year. I’ve been very fortunate to work along the likes of Saint and Blink, no doubt some of the best USAFA has produced.

John Quintas, at left, and Sonny Blinkinsop.

Hope all is well. My wife, Susan, and I are enjoying our last year in London with our 2 girls, Ava (6) and Elisabeth (4) and we have 1 more on the way. The last photo was taken at the Queen’s birthday parade this year (known as “Trooping the Colour”).

Susan and John Quintas

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Mike Shepherd 3801 Derby Circle Quartz Hill, CA 93536 (661) 266-2133 michael.j.shepherd@hotmail.com

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Yes, despite a government shutdown, your scribe was busy compiling excerpts for this edition. Luckily some business in the country could continue without government funding! Without editorializing it is good to see the government return to work so those whom we depend on for our nation’s safety can do their jobs.

C-Springs. My oldest son, Josh, received an appointment to USAFA Class of 2017 so the family moved to Dayton right after dropping him off for 1st BCT. Kinda weird being there for Parent’s Weekend... as the parent!”

Daniel Cinnamon (proud parents John and Tamara Reardon Cinnamon) is another Mighty ’90 offspring who is enjoying freshman college life in the scenic foothills of the Rampart Range. Tamara let me know the family is enjoying the suburbs of DC where John works at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and that the family is busy with scouting and swimming and next up for college is daughter Emily who is finishing her HS senior year. I received another update from the DC area from James Jinnette. “Meredith, Hannah and I are living in Alexandria, VA. I am currently the CAF Division Chief on the Air Staff working fighter/bomber/ISR ops issues. Retiring next spring and we’ll stay in northern Virginia.” Dave Brien is also nearby. “I am enjoying the retired life with the family here in Northern Virginia, where I am a Professional Services Contractor / Defense Analyst, supporting a Joint Test with the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency (think SAR/CSAR). Enjoying church, family, and the local area.”

Mark and Josh Leonard Go Generation 2 Mighty ’90, beat the Dean! Mark Leonard sent us a note to let us know our class has produced another 2nd Generation Zoomie. “Just read the latest Checkpoints and thought I would check in from Wright-Pat. Still assigned as a Program Director here where I have bumped into Carl Brenner and Aaron Prupas. Had been a geo-bachelor up until last July when my wife, Kim, and sons Luke and James joined me from

Carla Renee on the movie set.

Carla Renee (formerly Jones) is in DC, and I was a little star struck with this report. “Glad to be back in the NCR, that’s DMV for non-military types (live/work about 5 min from the Pentagon). Great fun—always running into someone at the Puzzle Palace! Anyway, just co-starred in my first full-length feature film, SIGNALS 2. It premiered back in June at the AMC Theater. Star billing my first time on the big screen—I’m elated. Part 3 of the Sci-Fi trilogy will release really soon and we’re already filming “Second Time Around”. I play the lead actress’ best friend-Woohoo!” Carla is organizing a Crystal City get-together for all grads from our years at the Zoo—find her on Facebook for more information. Catch her at the party and get her autograph while you can!

You could make an inspirational movie about Mike Wahler! Mike found out he had a brain tumor last August when he came home one day and collapsed—he had a few headaches before but this was a real surprise. Mike was life flighted to the hospital in St Louis and the tumor was removed within the week. Turns out the tumor was benign and Mike is tumor free for over a year with no brain damage. He did say that the titanium plate in his skull gave new meaning to “brain freeze” last winter. When he’s not telling his inspirational story he works as a civilian in AFMC Flight Safety at Scott AFB, IL.

Mike Wahler Speaking of St Louis, I’m typing this up during game 4 of the World Series. How is this for 3 quick strikes from our Mighty ’90 team. (Thanks Kevin Roots.) Joe Richardson is now Dr. Joe Richardson! Rob Waldo Waldman was elected into the CPAE (Council of Peers Award for Excellence)

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Class News Speaker Hall of Fame! Laura Radley was selected for a coveted Air Reserve Technician (ART) job at Westover ARB in the Mission Support Group!

Now it is back to the mail bag. Marc Robinson is busy back at school (didn’t we all get enough of that the first time?!). “I decided back in January that it was time for me to chase a dream of going into medicine. I’m taking all of the prereqs right now, and hope to be admitted to a program in the next couple of months. I’ve taken 14 courses since April…

I’m also teaching at Trident University in their master’s program. Our kids are growing fast - Ben graduated from high school last summer, and Brendan is a sophomore.”

Finally a few change-of-address cards that really got my attention. Ben Davis checked in from Misawa, Japan where he took command of the maintenance Sabre Society group. “It’s great to be back at wing level after 6 years Donors of DC life. Michelle and I are left with one 10th grader in the house, since the older girls are in South Carolina colleges now. Northern Japan has lots to offer, so we are eating and seeing as much as we can before the snow hits. Last winter produced over 200 inches! Snowshoes are on order.” Traveling in the opposite direction, my freshman year roommate Joel Orban just returned from 5 years living in Japan and Korea. “All is well here in Corning, NY. After approx 5 years living abroad (Tokyo and Seoul), Corning decided it was time for us to move back to the US and get off the expat gravy train. All is well, back hawking optical fiber and cable, changing the world one kilometer at a time. Kids, wife all fantastic. Just bought a retirement home on Martha’s Vineyard; scary to already be planning that.”

That’s about all I have room for this quarter! Thanks for the updates.

Mighty ’90!—Flash.

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Carson Tavenner 7216 W. Country Club Drive Arlington, WA 98223 (301) 367-8969 Tavenner@hotmail.com

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Bold Gold, Let’s open this column with a little fanfare, shall we?! <drum rolls, trumpet calls> Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the highest ranking member of the USAFA Class of 1991, LieutenantGeneral Chee Meng Ng, Chief of Defence Force, Singaporean Armed Forces! And to think we “knew him when.” There are a host of photos I had to pick through surrounding his promotion, the national parade with his President; and then there are the cool “action shots” of him at work. But due to the nature of our time together with him at the Blue Zoo, thinking of SAMIs and Sabre Society Donors uniform inspections, I felt this photo the most appropriate. I think it’s a fine thing indeed to see our friend so completely decked-out in something even beyond “Class A”s, right? Chee Meng received his appointment 27 March, but it wasn’t until recently that I saw photos and heard the news… thus the entry in this column. Congratulations, Chee Meng!

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Lt. Gen. Ng presenting himself for the finest uniform inspection of his life!

[Plenty of other great achievements have come to my attention as well.

Angie (Wallace) Suplisson successfully defended her PhD Prospectus at the end of August. She writes “Yahoo! It’s not the final dissertation, but all

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my research thus far and a plan ahead for the final year here at AFIT. So, 2 years down, 1 more to go! Now I am officially a PhD Candidate and I can hang out with my loving husband and boys a little bit more.” Congratulations, Angie!

Pat Rhatigan assumed command of the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock, AR in July. Wing Commander! Wow, Pat, way to go. What’s next? You probably have no time to think about that, but don’t worry, I’m sure the Pentagon will tell you what’s up in no time.

Only a few weeks later, Blake Brewer and Chris Sullivan showed up at Little Rock as the “visiting team” of Air Mobility Command’s first new Unit Effectiveness Inspection. So how did Pat and his merry band fare, fellas?

James Hodges was noted in the ZoomiEnews for being the new base commander of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst… all 42,000 acres of it!

Reportedly South Jersey’s largest employer, now overseen by one of ’91’s best!

Did you know our country is going back to the moon?! Yep! And the spacecraft (LADEE) is communicating with Earth through antenna built and designed by Derek Linden. That is cool!

At one of the Group Commanders Courses at Maxwell, several classmates assembled. Thank you, John Schafer, for sharing the picture with Frank Alberga, Eric Bowman, Mark McDonald, Max Marosko, and Todd Hamilton. Unfortunately, the photo was not sharp enough to include here… despite it contained very sharp content!

I’ve seen plenty of fun and motivational pictures on Facebook from Max Torrens who is living a fairly interesting deployment at Manas AB, Kyrgystan. Max has style, a great smile, and a real penchant for shopping!

I did not know so many neat looking things were for sale in Kyrgystan.

Robb Erickson was pictured in flight on the cover of Air Forces magazine (October edition)… but you could hardly tell, since he was all suited up! Great to see some of us are still experiencing that glorious passion of flying fighters which captured so many of our hearts so long ago.

I visited DC recently and had a nice chance to visit with Pete Garretson.

We had a good catch-up chat and discussed our short-term goals for both office and family. Unfortunately, busy schedules made it too difficult to also catch up with Bill Casebeer and Mike Veneri, who live nearby but were travelling out and about.

Bill Price took part in a “Remembrance Walk” October 19th at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort to honor fallen Special Ops Warriors and surviving spouses. In a direct connection for our class, Greg Fritz, CS-07, was killed when his MC-130H Combat Talon II crashed in the mountains just south of San Juan, Puerto Rico while flying a training mission on Aug 7, 2002.

Greg’s Wife, Veronica, was reportedly there to participate in the walk as well. Bill, you make me proud to know you!

baby next April! Wes and Shannon took a summer trip with Dave and Stephanie Young to the Central California wine region and sent a photo of them at a beautiful winery in Paso Robles. Pete Vehlow lives near Wes, but Wes says “I only hear from him when I’m beating him in Fantasy Football.” Pete is flying for Southwest Airlines. Wes also mentioned that Dave Albrecht is living in Tampa, FL and “catching a lot of fish.”

Pulling together in the Pacific Northwest!

This past weekend, Tim Greminger, Joe Nauman, Julie (Rickert) and Chad Marien assembled in Seattle to cheer on the Falcons’ soccer team playing Seattle University. It was a rousing game of defense, resulting in a 1-1 tie! Thanks for the good flag shot, Tim! I’m not sure who attended the Air Force-Navy game at Annapolis (I happened to be landing at BWI at the time), but it is no big surprise that I didn’t see a whole lot of revelry and fun postings after the beating. Oh well, maybe next year?

News of new positions from LinkedIn: Jay Kerr is a managing partner at Archensys Consulting, Tim Meserve is now the Executive Director at the Veterans Multi-Service Center in Philadelphia, and William Glascoe is an Air Force Energy Office Program Manager at the Energy Analysis Task Force.

Lastly, we could still use your help with the Class Gift Campaign! If you are feeling the itch to give some of your precious time to bring the class together, we could use some help. Please get in touch with me, Bill Liess or Leslie Beavers. Thank you.

The Schaeffers and the Youngs enjoying the wine in Paso Robles.

Thanks for the info and photo, Wes! Becoming a regular? Chris Hays must have enjoyed the print in the last column. He surly didn’t wait another 21 years to write again—thank goodness. Chris sent another picture from Al Udeid that included a number of ’92ers running the show over there. He, Joe Brewer, and Mike Connolly were flying missions around the region and got to spend some time with Brad Frazier, John Nichols, John Lamontagne, and Chuck Corcoran who are all at Al Udeid.

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James S. Mehta 3802 Elbert Ave. Alexandria, VA 22305 james.mehta@us.af.mil jamesmehta@earthlink.net

Members

I hope this column finds you ready to celebrate the holidays. If you are lucky enough to be with family and friends, take a moment to think about those who are away from home this time of the year. As always, thanks to all who contributed to the column. Keep the updates coming…

Catching up. One letter I received a few months ago, I forgot to include in the last column. Janet (Hagadorn) Bohlmann sent me a note announcing the arrival of Riley Belle Bohlmann who was born on May 29. Janet retired from the USAFR at Andrews AFB in June 2012. She spent the last 8 years there as the 69 APS Operations Officer, 459 LRF/CC, and the 759 LRF/ CC. Janet’s husband, Thomas, is a 1988 VMI grad. Now Janet and Thomas are both Navy civilians working at NSWC Dahlgren. Their son, Isaac, is 3 and he’s quite enthusiastic to have a little sister. Thanks sharing your Sabre Society exciting news with us and I’m sorry for the delay in inDonors cluding it in the column. Write again soon!

Wes Schaeffer reporting in! I got an e-mail from Wes Schaeffer who runs his own business, The Sales Whisperer, that provides sales training, marketing consulting, web design, and other services for businesses of all sizes. Wes is living in Murrieta, CA which is about 30 miles south of March ARB. Probably most significantly, Wes and his wife, Shannon, are expecting their seventh

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JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY! YOUR MONEY HELPS FUND CADET WING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED. CALL (719) 472-0300 X200.

From left are Joe Brewer, Chris Hays, Chuck Corcoran, John Nichols, Brad Frazier, and Mike Connolly.

Clearly this is not a football season to remember. However, when Air Force visited Navy, many of us in the DC area made the trek out to Annapolis for the game. My family and I joined Marty DeStazio (’93) and his family for a breakfast tailgate and the game. Dave “Kumo” Kumashiro (Wing Commander at Lewis-McChord) was supposed to come to the game as he was scheduled for a TDY that same week in DC, but the government shut down and lack of a budget put an end to that. It was an unusually hot day in Annapolis and we all roasted in the sun which was just salt in the wound of defeat. I didn’t run into too many classmates even though I know there were many there. I did see Chuck Henderson who is on Joint Staff with me. But I run into him frequently in the Pentagon hallways and even once along the Potomac while we were both escaping the Pentagon for a bit to get some exercise.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Nicole (Davis) Bontrager didn’t want to feel left out after reading the last column. She mentioned that there were so many first-time contributors that she was inspired to write.

Nicole retired on September 1 ending her family’s 65 years of continuous active duty service by her grandfather, father, and Nicole. Her retirement was at the Naval Academy’s Memorial Hall where Lt Gen Ronnie Hawkins, Jr. officiated. Gen Hawkins (then Maj Hawkins and the Supt’s exec) commissioned Nicole in 1992, so it was a fitting ending. Suzy Streeter and Maren (Hagedorn) Calvert (’93), Nicole’s USAFA roommate, made it out for the ceremony. Nicole’s next challenge is homeschooling three of her four school-age children (Olivia, 12; Malachi, 9; and Isaiah, 8) with 2-yearold Christian and 6-month-old Leviticus along for the ride. Virginia, 10, decided she just couldn’t leave her school friends. Woah! I think I would have stayed in the easy job as an AF officer! Nicole’s most recent assignments were on the Joint Staff from 2007-2010 before instructing political science and military ethics and leadership at USNA.

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Class News On Friday, there was golf, Academy tours, lunch at the AOG or Mitchell Hall. We were praying for Mitch’s Mountains but we got roast beef, mashed potatoes and vegetable medley. Woops—almost forgot the Rugby alumni game where our classmates made a strong showing… alas, Wispy came away with one broken finger, but he had a great time showing the younger chaps how to play the man’s game! Many who were with me watching the cadets march in to Mitch’s had a tear as we couldn’t believe it was 20 years since we marched the same… We had a very poignant ceremony honoring our fallen classmates later on that afternoon. The O-6s who were in Service Dress looked sharp and representing our class most excellently.

Suzy Streeter, Nicole (Davis) Bontrager, and Maren Calvert.

Last, I’d like to squeeze in a little update from Jeff Stamp and his clan.

I get at least quarterly updates from them chronicling their challenging, yet rewarding, missionary life. Their next missionary adventure will take them to Kyrgyzstan sometime next year. After their amazing challenges and efforts in Africa, I’m sure they’re in for another memorable experience.

That wraps up another column. I look forward to hearing about the great things you are all doing out there -- especially, those making transitions to the “real” world. Every now and then, take a moment to send me a note. True Blue! James.

Michael D. Sundsted 1805 Macadams Place Alexandria, VA 22308 202-757-0080 Michael.Sundsted@whmo.mil Class Website: www.zoomienation .org–”Class of 1993”

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Members

I hope this finds all doing extremely well! I just wanted to say that our 20-Year reunion was absolutely amazing! The attendance was the best from any class at the 20-year point for the AOG in quite some time. I want to thank the reunion committee and especially Mike and Damara Rice, Rob Dam and the rest of the reunion committee for leaving no stone unturned during reunion prep and great support during the reunion. I am already taking volunteers for the 25th reunion—planning for that begins in three years. The Antler’s Doubletree is still cleaning up—just kidding.

Sabre Society At any rate, our schedule was very robust providing Donors many opportunities for those that attended to reconnect. Many brought their kids—some older and some younger—some very young! We had approximately 300 1993 classmates register for the event plus many brought family—I think we were looking at well over 500 people attending various parts of the reunion. Most arrived on Thursday and enjoyed a nice stroll through Colorado Springs capped off by a great social at the hotel where over 300 people attended.

Colonels Elizabeth and Ty Chamberlain point to our class crest!

One particular note is that each squadron had a mural in their respective hallways cataloging all of the former members of their unit—yes—all your names were there—it was a nice touch to honor us all! Much has changed, but alas much has stayed the same. Our full first day together was capped off by a great “formal/informal” social at the Antlers. Thanks to the rice tandem and Wispy for guiding us through a rough patch when the kitchen “ran out of food.” Seems as though we had many more guests that had originally registered (or paid for)… fortunately there was a regional beer association gathering on the other side of the hotel… so we were able to goad the hotel staff into letting us enjoy more food—at a price of course. They were even able to get more tasty beverages. We also enjoyed a great video collage from all of the pictures that were forwarded from back in the day—www.alishaplacefrost.com/4sale.html. From there, we moved to Judge Baldwin’s where we closed the establishment down… twice. The AOG and the hotel assure me that all was okay though.

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Wispy Speros, Mike Sundsted, Jo Sucich, and Rob Dam before an AOG reunion meeting.

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Members of CS-36: Jason Cousine, Brent Mesquit, Greg Bendinger, Mike Sundsted, Eric Chapital, Phil Tucker and Dave DeLisle.

Saturday brought our mighty Falcon’s taking on the Utah State. The AOG hosted a fabulous tailgate prior to the game and many of our fellow classmates enjoyed the festivities. There were also numerous tailgates hosted by the cadets. The cadets now have an area to tailgate all their own—they too had a great time. Our mighty Falcons, though, did not have a great time that day as we ended up losing 52-20—yikes! We couldn’t have asked for a better weather day though. Nice, sunny and warm! Our great host at the Colorado Mountain Brewery, fellow classmate Scott Koons, provided an Oktoberfest style meeting place for our classmates ready to take on the likes of great brew, elk sausage, awesome Class of 1993 glass beer steins and great atmosphere and service post-game. What a fantastic weekend.

For those that happened to miss it—the 25 year reunion is a must attend.

My goal would be for us to shatter that attendance record too! Thanks again to all of those who helped put on a great reunion!

One of the takeaways from every class’ 20th reunion is the AOG/USAFA Endowment. The Endowment uses the 20th to allow a committee to be formed where ideas from a “gift needs” list from USAFA leadership can be circulated amongst class representatives. To date we have had a few

teleconferences and one meeting. Wispy Speros, Rob Dam, Jeff Kubik, and Dave Carroll have been the leads for our class—we still have room for several more on the committee. Your ideas and expertise are needed to make this a successful venture for both our class and the cadets!

Our goal is to establish a gift that we can give back to the Academy and our cadets. You may remember some of the great gifts that we saw from respective classes like some of the bronze busts of our famous graduates or those instrumental in the development of the Air Force. Our goal as a class is to provide a practical gift to the Academy that will be most positively impact our cadets. We will be communicating as best we can and fortunately we have an updated email list from our reunion. Don’t be surprised if you are getting a call from some of your classmates or the USAFA Endowment discussing donations. To date we have not selected a project off of the list, merely started the process. This project will be one of our legacies to the Academy as a class.

Many of you that I ran into were apologetic that you hadn’t sent in an update in a while or even at all since the 10 year reunion. For all those who attended the reunion who promised updates and pictures—please do so. Even if you didn’t make the reunion please send me a quick update and some pictures so we can place them in this article. Thanks again for a great reunion! Until next time – Mike.

Craig Allen 85 Quail Creek Drive Del Rio, TX 78840 H: 830-313-7089 C: 660-864-5374 kegsdoolittle@yahoo.com

Speaking of lovely Alamogordo, Brent “Raygun” Brockinton sent me a picture of a bunch of USAFA grads that are basically running the show at Holloman AFB. Pictured below from left are “Gizmo” Hansen (‘95), 29th ATKS/CC; “Skid” Tidgewell (‘97), 49 OSS/CC; Jeffery “Tank” Patton, 9 ATKS/CC; “Raygun” Brockinton, Deputy OG; “Genghis” Price (‘97), 6 RS/CC; “Rage” Anger (‘96), 7 FS/CC; “PT” Powell (‘98), 16 TRS/CC. Raygun also reported that “Bolter” Thompson is at Holloman as the new Vice Wing Commander. A solid crew there in the White Sands area.

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Yukon Cornelious Edition. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. By the time you’re reading this, I hope you’ve gotten through all the Christmas claymation classics. My kids still can’t appreciate the claymation medium... they think the characters in Rudolph look “weird”, especially the Abominable Snow Monster that Yukon Cornelious battles. I hope they develop a refined sense of appreciation for the classics this year, as their current, favorite viral video is “What does the fox say?” which they are constantly singing with their friends. If you haven’t already looked up this strange Norwegian video on Youtube, I encourage you NOT to. You may never get over it. I just don’t get it. And the kids say claymation is weird? Well, I write this on a beautiful October day. The weather has turned nice and cool, plus the Red Sox just dispatched the Detroit Tigers and are headed to the World Series.

Sabre Society It’s setting up to be a great end to 2013. Drop me a line Donors and let me know what you’re up to.

My first update this quarter is from Robb “Francis” Brimmer, who checked in from Litchfield Park, AZ. Francis flies the F-16 in the Reserves and is an Instructor in the 69th Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB. He said his real job is flying for Southwest, which he’s been doing for seven years now. Francis said that Saxon “Wasp” Yandell and Korey “Axe” Amundson also fly in the 69th with him. Wasp is the Operations Officer and Axe is a TR, also flying for Delta.

Francis said there is a bit of uncertainty in the Reserve community at Luke as there is a proposal to move two squadrons out of Luke to Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, NM. Say it isn’t so. Francis sent a picture of himself and his four girls, Paige, Sullivan, Anna and Tate, from a recent trip to Flagstaff, AZ. Thanks for the update Francis and glad to hear you’re doing well!

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The Holloman AFB USAFA Grad contingent.

Frank Kincaid sent me an email update from Colorado Springs, where he works as a full-time AF Reservist in Strategic Plans at AF Space Command. He said he left active duty in 2002 and that the last 11 years have been “crazy, including a divorce, many moves, Weapons School and some deployments.” He says he is loving the Reserve life and refers to it as “active duty light, since it’s all of the benefits with none of the moving.” Frank is loving the C-Springs life. He said he is actually sponsoring a cadet from the class of 2016 and that by the time of our reunion next year he should officially be an empty-nester, as the youngest of his three kids is in her senior year of high school right now. On that last tidbit, I’ll leave you with one final Frank quote, regarding the ages of his kids, “don’t bother with the math.”

Finally, I got a quick update from James “Sass” Bieryla. Living up to his nickname, Sass submitted that all five movie quotes from my last article were from “Fried Green Tomatoes.” I’m completely unfamiliar with that movie Sass, but you are obviously way off. Sass said he has a retirement date of 1 Aug 2014 already scheduled, along with Dave Meggett and Don Sheesley. A lot of retirements coming up next year.

I only received two pictures this time, so I went to the archives. During the holidays each year, I often think back on the demise of my first cadet car, an awesome Dodge Daytona turbo. Some 21 years ago now, I loaned out my Daytona to several members of the USAFA women’s soccer team.

They needed a vehicle to go to town and finish their Christmas shopping.

As they were traveling around town shopping and wrapping presents in the car as they went, it began to snow in Colorado Springs on that fateful December evening. Shortly after sunset, in the vicinity of Nevada and Platte Ave, the Daytona went out of control on the slightly snow-covered road and was plowed into by a city bus. The result is pictured.

Dodge Daytona Tribute Luckily, the occupants of the vehicle walked away unharmed. It was a tough loss, but the ‘93 Toyota 4Runner that replaced it was a nice consolation. Drive safe this holiday season...watch those winter road conditions, especially if you’re on your way to the Island of Misfit Toys doing some last minute shopping -- Kegger.

Visit the AOG Web Site.

Gone But Not Forgotten, Merchandise and more! www.usafa.org Robb Brimmer and his four young ladies.

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Class News R. Travis Koch 2406 Pretty Bayou Island Dr. Panama City Beach, FL 32405 W:(850) 282-43-1 DSN 742Cell: (840) 499-8242 richard.koch@us.af.mil traviskoch@yahoo.com

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Greeting ’95! This is Jon Tinsley. Once again, Travis asked me to pick up the Checkpoints, and I said hell yeah! I was able to reach out and get the following updates. I’m still here living at the beach at Tyndall in the FLANG. Travis Koch is commanding the 43rd FS. In no particular order, I will jump into my updates.

Travis Koch as the 43FS/CC. As I write this, most of us have 587 days until retirement eligible. Not so long for Johnny Northon who has an approved retirement date of 1 Aug 14 and might be the first ’95er to officially retire. He’ll finish up at Langley AFB where he’s been since ‘09. He told me about Jason Anderson’s book, Active Duty Entrepreneur, which is helping him figure out what is next. In the meantime, he is still playing guitar at a local tavern. Too bad that doesn’t pay better.

Scott Arbogast is commanding the 121FS at Andrews in the DCANG. John Nemecek and his wife, Diane, are up in DC as well. Tristan T. Lai is at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center and just pinned on Lt Col. As the Chief of Pain Medicine, so aka “Dr. Feel Good.” He says Sabre Society Donors he sees a bunch of our classmates and other grads at the Air Force’s medical Mecca.

Travis Lippert is the director of digital strategy at a drug company in San Antonio, where he has been for 10 years. He has been married to Amanda for 17 years; they have a 7-year-old boy named Pierce. He recently made a YouTube movie as a proof of concept for work, and it was selected for screening at the San Antonio Film Festival. Check it out at: http://youtube.com/ghocial. A producer contacted him about making a feature based on the short film, and he spent a good chunk of the past two years writing a screenplay for it. He submitted the screenplay to a big contest, and survived the first cut and is now a quarterfinalist. The next round of cuts should be this month. It could all fall apart by the next Checkpoints update, so he is enjoying this little distraction while it lasts. He was in LA last week to talk with the producer, and his flight was delayed, so he ended up having to spend something like 8 hours in LAX and passing the time by drinking with Ron Jeremy.

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Jason Smith is the Chief of Safety for the 301st FW, still flying F16s in Fort Worth. His wife, Jen, will be finishing her PhD in education in the spring. Jamie Dahlgren Glover has been working as a doc in the civilian sector in Colorado Springs with a private practice named “North Springs Family Medicine and Urgent Care” since April. She says they are open seven days a week so come see her if you or your family are ill or hurt while you are in town for business or pleasure. They do take Tricare! Her husband, Matt Glover ‘94, is finishing up his last year in the Air Force in the Athletic Department at USAFA where he is coaching, teaching PE classes, and assisting the director of athletic programs, among other things. He is loving his extra duty there as assistant boxing coach with Coach Eddie Weichers who is still the head boxing coach.

Lisa Nemeth is down at MacDill commanding the 91st ARS wondering where she will be moving to next summer! Amanda Steffey is back on active duty as an AGR officer working in the AF Senate Liaison office. Her and her kids are doing great and looking forward to our next reunion. Jeremy Hilton is trying to stay out of trouble. His wife, Renae Hilton, is a Vice CC for OSI over at Andrews. He is primarily dealing with one child trying to get the other sick and vice versa every other day it seems. Check out the great work he has been doing as the former AF Spouse of the Year. http:// msnnblog.com/2013/10/02/taking-tricare-to-task-making-progress/ Craig Cornichuck is living and working in Anchorage, AK as a medical device sales rep for Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson company. He has been doing that for 6+ years now. His nighttime job is as a logistician for his wife’s company Our 5 Kids, mostly involving transportation to and from soccer fields and hockey rinks.

From Joseph DiFidi: Here’s my quick update: I’m in Nashville, commuting to Fort Campbell in what is very likely my “fini” tour in the AF. I’m an ALO (think TACP, not USAFA) there with ‘95 PTWOB Dane Crawford, who is about to regain skydiving currency after a 17-year layoff. (He showed up last weekend, but weather and maintenance were not on his side.) Speaking of skydiving, I’ve been lucky to take to the skies (and hiking trails out West, for that matter) with Dane’s former teammate and my good friend Margaret Coffey over the past few months, who’s now in her last year of naturopathic med school in Seattle. I think that covers it for now.

Melissa May says that they just got to Luke and it is awesome! Mike May and she are both Squadron SACs (meaning we fly a lot and we have little responsibility). It’s a good thing to do for our fini-assignment. After Aviano, where we had a live-in nanny and rarely saw our kids, this is a great break. She says that there are tons of ’95ers at Luke: Tooma Liljenstolpe, Vandal Mann, Soco McHenry, Metal Henkleman, and Tic Hetsko, to name a few.

Brian Murphy is at Columbus running the OSS, quite a challenge given the current fiscal constraints. He saw Will Maher in Feb but it was for a UCI. Alex Sansone is still in Hawaii, and has the most extensive travel log of photos anywhere. Tom Seymour and family graduated command and are also in Hawaii.

Jon Tinsley at Tyndall. Life is good on the Gulf Coast.

In about a year, I will be looking for folks to help plan the 20th reunion.

So drop me a line if you might be interested in that. Also the admission department is always in need of Admissions Liaison Officers, and a new program called Prop and Wings Officer has also been started. Check it out at academyadmissions.com

Visit the AOG Web Site.

Gone But Not Forgotten, Merchandise and more! www.usafa.org Travis Lippert with Ron Jeremy at LAX.

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Melissa S. Cunningham 9712 Hidden Valley Road Vienna, VA 22181 (C) 719-332-4912 (W) 703-697-9121 Melissas.s.cunningham.mil@ mail.mil fmcunningham@me.com

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Hey everyone, it’s Andi again… I am so glad Melissa offered me an opportunity to write Checkpoints for her again. It seems like fall is the time to wait for lists… command, school, promotion, etc. Look forward to hearing all the big news in the next issue. I’ve heard from so many folks in the past few months… feel free to send me a note at andivinyard@yahoo. com or find me on Facebook.

The AF/Navy game has come and gone… and as always it was quite the reunion and merging of friends which is always entertaining. This year it was an 1130 East Coast kick-off which made for a great breakfast tailgate. Ours included burritos and Bloody Mary’s, and about 50 folks and grads from ’88 to ’14 (tentative -- yep, we even had a cadet) at some point in the morning. While the first half of the game was OK, the reunion atmosphere quickly became my favorite part of the day... Erik and Tracy (Dupree) Coyne, Melissa (Bauman) Phillips and family, Dale Reidel is a lawyer with OSD (unfortunately his wife, Jen Kornacker, small animal vet, wasn’t able to join us), Johnny and Krystal Vargas (both rocking a Vargas jersey), the newest members of the DC Air National Guard, and we ran across lots of other tailgaters before and after the game which made for long trips to and from the stadium.

On one of the few TDYs since arriving in my new job, Sabre Society I ran into Christian Lyons; he is the Medical Operations Donors Squadron Commander at Seymour Johnson. Last issue I reported that he had just gotten married and after a short delay, he and his bride enjoyed a whirlwind honeymooned to Interlaken, Venice, and Paris. He sent in a great picture, it looks like Seymour Johnson’s leadership has been taken over by USAFA grads with a lot of ’96ers leading the way. Rick Dwyer is running the Civil Engineering Squadron, Paul Birch (4 OSS) and Nicole (Ellingsworth) Malacowski (333 FS/CC) were both squadron commanders before heading off to SDE. Paul is in a DC fellowship and Nicole is at Naval War College with several other classmates, including Mike Conley.

Paul is also married to Mandy (Myers) Birch; she is a Reservist and also the Mission Support Group Deputy CC. Bryce Silver recently took over as the 336 Fighter Squadron Commander. A couple of other grads in key positions on the base: Lindsay Droz (’98 EMS/CC) and Deb Luker (’94, SJA).

are all squadron commanders in the 375th Operations Group. Although Tony’s squadron is actually at Andrews, the Scott folks have decided to claim him.

Scott AFB ’96 commanders Mike Haines and I mostly keep in touch through Facebook so I was able to trade info about the Washington Capitols for a Checkpoints update. Mike was a little late submitting since he was taking full advantage of DC’s great fall weather and a father/son scout camping adventure.

Wendell McGinnis, Rob Orth and Mike all work in the DTRA building on Fort Belvoir although they rarely see each other since the real “W” travels with JSIVA teams all over the world, Rob globe trots for the ASD(NCB) and Mike is tucked away in SCC-WMD’s J55 shop. However, the stars aligned and they managed to catch up over a few “beverages of choice” at the golf course clubhouse and a picture.

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Seymour Johnson USAFA grads Last June I shared some Korean tacos with Bill Loux at one of the monthly Truckeroos (large gathering of food trucks near National Parks).

Bill and his family live in Phoenix where he is quite crafty—he has successfully built a playground for the kids and is now working on building a small wooden sailboat. His wife just published cookbook in her native Japanese; if interested you can find her on Twitter at @akiloux—lots of pictures for the foodies out there. His family is planning a big trip back to Japan/Okinawa next year so looking forward to enjoying their old stomping grounds. He caught me up on Jim Harris who recently moved from Annapolis to Charleston where he is loving being back in the land of sweet tea and moon pies.

Jesse “Ammo” Friedel took command of the 451 EOSS Scorpions (Afghanistan) in April from fellow ’96er Tad “TC” Clark. They were able to fly one mission together before TC headed back to Langley to pick up his family prior to starting National War College. Scott AFB leadership is also full of ’96ers and a great group shot came in from Linell Letendre, 375 AMW/SJA. Andy Loving is the 375th Air Mobility Wing Contracting Squadron commander and Tony Caparella (906 Air Refueling), Gonzo Reyna (475 Airlift Squadron) and Allison Trinklein (458 Airlift Squadron)

DTRA – Wendell McGinnis, Mike Haines, and Rob Orth The Medical Squadron Command Match list was released as this went to print… speaking of Mike Haines, he was just selected to command an Aerospace Medicine Squadron at Mountain Home AFB, Chris Bishop was selected to command an Aerospace Medicine Squadron at Kirtland AFB, Gigi Simko is transitioning from a Medical Support Squadron command at RAF Lakenheath to command at Travis AFB, and Jennifer Vecchione was selected for an Medical Operations Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam.

That’s it for this quarter. I’ll be filling in for Mel again next month, so keep the updates rolling in. Who knows, maybe we’ll eke out a win against Army…

Melvin E. Maxwell, Jr. PSC 2, Box 10931 APO AE 09012 mel_maxwell97@hotmail.com melvin.maxwell@us.af.mil

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Greetings ‘97!

As always, hope this update finds you well. Jiffy Seto is the 436th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Commander at Dover passed me a photo and update where he and some classmates participated in the 2013 Mud Run in Delaware. Erin Meinders is the Director of Operations at the 3rd Airlift Squadron at Dover. Matt Orlowsky is the 436th Force Support Squadron Commander and lives two doors down from Jiffy on base (only slightly further apart than their dorm rooms were when they were both in CS-11

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their first two years at the zoo). Steve Torres (‘03) is the Office of Special Investigations Detachment commander, and has his hands full keeping the other three out of trouble.

energy. She was gracious enough to spring our daughter Mikayla from a long day of watching volleyball in the Pentagon Athletic Center to go play with her kids. Heather (Wyatt) Blackwell took a break from work (Executive Officer to CSAF, Gen Welsh) to escort them out of the Pentagon and got a kick in the knee from daughter as a thank you -- sorry Heather. Also ran into Jay Hutzell and Tracy Waller at the Naval Academy during the week. Despite Tracy now being a Navy JAG at the Washington Naval Yard, she still wore Air Force blue to the match.

That’s all I have for this round. Until next time…Mel.

Pat Fox 1260 Bragg St. Sonoma, CA 95476 (707) 837-6356 pfox@hannonarmstrong.com

Dover Mud Run Crew: Erin, Jiffy, Matt, and Steve (‘03).

Pat Suermann also shot me a photo from this past summer when he was goofing off with classmates Carlton Hendrix and Sierra (Gould) Suhajda.

Carlton and Sierra do reservist IMA duty and were supporting the USAFA CE department’s Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory with Pat.

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Hello again, fellow ’98ers! I am again shadow writing for Pat Fox who has extended his sabbatical for at least another quarter. It’s great reading all the updates and is easily the first portion of Checkpoints that most of us turn to when we get a new issue in the mail. Keep the updates coming, DOMINATORS! I am happy to report that Mark Falsani sent in an update… about his watchcap. Yes, for those who know him, Mark’s cadet-issue watchcap has been an integral part of his daily wardrobe since our Recognition in the Spring of ’95. Much like an only child, Watchcap (yes, Mark insists on a proper name) enjoys much of Mark’s attention; it has its own room and travels in a TSA-approved carry-on satchel during Holiday visits. From Mark, “Watchcap is doing well.

Currently at his summer home in Svalbard in the BalSabre Society tic Sea soon to return the 190FS/Stroke’s helmet locker Donors for the winter training cycle in Boise, ID. Watchcap finished the SEFE upgrade and works full-time for the Boise City PD SWAT team and as a traditional [reservist] a few times a month occupying Stroke’s nugget during step-time or occasionally showing PBR drinking hipster bangs exposing knit caps how to be worn properly downtown.” Well done, Mark… can you please send a picture of Watchcap next time?

It was great to hear from Todd Strawser! He sent in a quick note and a great family snapshot, “Life is good living back ‘home’ in Colorado Springs where I work as a manager at a regional DoD IT Center. Blessed to be married 15 years to my beautiful wife, Jessica, and of course enjoying life with our 6 children. If any ‘98ers are ever in town, please have them stop by to for a visit.” Tip of the cap, Todd!

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’97ers at USAFA FERL. Talked to my zoomie roommate, Brad Holtmeier, who had some pretty cool news. He and his wife, Jordan, are expecting their second child any day now. Additionally, Brad and his business partner Matt Young (‘95) are running an investment and merger & acquisition advisory firm called CriticalPoint which they opened in January 2013. They recently closed their first of hopefully many acquisitions, purchasing a clothing manufacturing company, Organized SportsWear, that supplies school gym uniforms in the Sabre Society western United States. Fellow zoomie Rick Bolander Donors (‘95) is the company’s new president. Congrats guys!

Holt also passed on that Rusty Hoss and his brother own their own business, New Sheridan Advisors, where they manage portfolios for a few mutual funds.

Quick hits on the way out. Got to see a few classmates at the Pentagon when I went to catch the USAFA women’s volleyball team play in a tournament. Amanda (Jennings) ZumBrunnen continues to be a huge ball of

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The Strawser Family – Todd, Jessica, and six wonderful kids.

’97 Navy Contingent

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Jenna (Tukey) Flynt sent us a great e-mail from Japan! “Our family of four moved here this summer. In June, Jack (Flynt) took command of the 909th Air Refueling Squadron here at Kadena. It has been a humbling, amazing, and super rewarding experience so far for Jack! The 909th has 15 KC-135s and 110 airmen. They are a great group. We love the beauty of the island and are enjoying experiencing the Japanese culture along with our 3-year-old son Trevor and 8-year-old daughter Natalie. Another fellow ’98er, Van Thai, is Jack’s DO! Van is married and has 3 children. Sarah Emory, my BCT roommate and fellow Proud Pink Panther in our first two years at USAFA, literally lives across the street from me! Sarah is the 353 Special Operations Maintenance Squadron Commander. Steve Li, another Proud Pink Panther, is here also. Steve is a C-130 pilot and is married with two kiddos. Scott “Skid” Rowe took command this summer of the

44th Fighter Squadron here. Scott is married, no kiddos. Scott and Jack were in CS-40 together.” Thanks for the great update, Jenna!

Leavenworth. He teaches at the Army’s Command and General Staff College, awing grunts with his tales of flying the B-2 at Whiteman AFB for the past eight years. Todd and his wife, Cherie, welcomed their first child, Alexander, last year and had updates on several ’99ers: Tim Rezac is flying the B-2 in the Missouri Guard. Adam and Stella Grayson are living at approximately 7,258 feet, near our United States Air Force Academy. Adam does financial planning with Edward Jones and Stella works with the AOG. Chris Roberdeau is living with his family in Seattle. He’s been out of the AF for some time now and works for Boeing as an engineer. Todd recently saw Jason Zarb-Cousin in CSprings where they helped honor Eric Mack (’96) when he was Sabre Society inducted into the AFA Athletics Hall of Fame. Jason is Donors married to Melissa and they are expecting their first child. I also talked to Meg Stohlmann recently. She is in her 5th year teaching high school choir and guitar in Lexington, KY, after getting her master’s degree in choral conducting and vocal performance at the University of Kentucky in 2009. She also directs a children’s choir in Danville, KY that has been selected to perform at a state music conference in February and adopted an adorable black lab mix named Lucy who is her partner in crime.

I also received an update on Ian Toogood. He and his wife, Kim, welcomed their second son this past January, joining older brother Tanner.

Mike Morales, currently undergoing a hardship tour in Miami with several other lucky Shiners at SOUTHCOM, checked in as well. Several ’99ers recently celebrated their O-5 promotion party, including Marty Weeks, Sean Baerman, Dan Diehl, Ehren Carl, and Sergio Anaya. Jorge Carrera also stopped by; he’s living in Miami and is a UPS pilot. WARNORD: All future shots of ’99ers should include Goldschlagers... I’ll let it go this once.

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Jenna (Tukey) and Jack Flynt with kids.

As for me and Felicia (Thompson) Recker, we’re just now settled in back at RAF Lakenheath. We’re thankful to be back flying the mighty Strike Eagle again after a 2-year hiatus in Alabama. We have no excuse now not to meet up with Matt and Kerrie (Gribuski) Dunker who live in London. And to prove the Air Force is getting smaller and smaller, we moved in directly across the street from fellow Dominator Bernie Smith!

He is the DO of the 56RQS, flying HH-60s. He met his wife, Sunny, during pilot training and, like us, has two sweet daughters.

Mari (Schroering) Garcia was able to take a break from SAASS to send a great picture with an update. She writes, “The attached picture is all USAFA grads (some a little older than others!) on the day of my promotion to Lt Col here at SAASS at Maxwell AFB. We have a bunch of grads as both teachers and students at SAASS -- 14 of the 45 students are grads.

Because I’m a Reservist, I’m the only ‘98er left here at SAASS... don’t worry, I’ll try not to embarrass us. As if SAASS (aka, the “book-a-night-club”) wasn’t challenging enough, I’m also planning a wedding... I’m marrying a fellow Air Force Reservist on 5 Oct 13 in Fort Walton Beach, FL. He is a SAASS grad as well, so at least he knows what he’s marrying into for the next 8 months! Perhaps I’ll send a wedding picture later this fall...”

Instructors: Dr. Chiabotti (’72), Col Deaile (’88), Lt Col Bailey (’92), Lt Col Groh (’93) Students: Lt Col Garcia (’98), Maj Tim Curry (’99), Maj Mrazik (’99), Maj Neitzke (’99), Maj Brady-Lee (’00), Maj Edmonston (’00), Maj Darling (’01), Maj Dawson (’01), Maj Green (’01), Maj Jennie Hall (’01), Maj Zach Hall (’01), Maj Mintz (’01), Maj Power (’01), and Maj Jacobsen (’02).

Thanks for the great updates! I will attempt to cluge together something from Kevin Divers, who has a unique talent for incorporating things such as “FORM O-96” into his Facebook status updates. In the meantime, never pass up an opportunity for a HUAH!

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Mary Stewart Arlington, VA marybeth1999@hotmail.com mary.stewart@pentagon.af.mil

Members

The updates are pouring in, and I gratefully thank you classmates; I can finally get out of the front leaning rest. Promotions, babies, puppies, new careers—lots to share, so without further ado…

Terrazzo Talk: Todd Moenster is living in Kansas City, stationed at Ft.

From left are Marty Weeks, Sean Baerman, Dan Diehl, Mike Morales, Ehren Carl, and Sergio Anaya.

Finally, the M-5 Guest Lecturer Series has returned for this edition, courtesy of the former speechwriter for the USAFA Superintendent, Dave Buchanan. Enjoy…

Whilst running lap five of my most recent physical fitness test, a calm settled over Buckley AFB, and I thought to myself, “Self, if only you were in such fine shape 15 years ago, you may have been able to overcome that Cin tennis class and have been able to wear the always elusive Athletic Pin.” Speaking of Athletic Pins, Travis Keenan should be wearing one about now. He dominated the Toughmudder “race” in Beaver Creek this summer. For the uninitiated, that’s one of those ridiculous “races” for “athletes” who are afraid of marathons. So instead, they slog through mud and crawl over walls and get electrocuted on purpose; then they get tattoos commemorating it all. Travis did not get a tattoo, but he did tell me about his job at Randolph AFB. He has three kids and two kegerators.

Speaking of Randolph, Travis tells me Dave Hale lives just down the street from the Keenans. He found someone who knowingly married him.

That’s weird to me, since the last time I saw him, he had just driven from Enid, OK to Austin, TX on his Harley. He had on big motorcycle boots, but he wasn’t wearing socks. It was gross.

Speaking of gross, Seth Barun is somewhere in Afghanistan right now.

He’s a contractor working on computers and lasers for Army. He has a giant beard, and he can run two or three consecutive 8-minute miles in a single workout. I’m meeting Seth and Matt Watson in Phoenix for a marathon in March. We’re having a pool party at Jason Swiergol’s house, though Swiergol isn’t running, because he is a wimp.

Tobin McKearin isn’t a wimp. He bags groceries at the new Trader Joe’s store in Austin, TX. Not really, he’s in his second year of a PhD in Economics at UT. Tobin has been frugal (to put it mildly) his whole life. I wonder what this will do to his budget. He has a baby now, and he ran the Leadville 100 a couple years ago. Life just seems to work out for that guy.

It also seems to work out for Thomas Walter Staley. He married a really neat lady, had a baby, pinned on LtCol two years below the zone, and then separated from the Air Force. He consults for a company that employs

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those kinds of people. We used to fly KC-10s together at McGuire AFB, and people used to ask me, “What’s Tom’s secret?” My response: “Weight room CIC.” He is currently 1-2 in our fantasy football league.

Dan Mollis went undefeated in that same league last year, and he’s looking to repeat the feat again this year. Yes, he’s still a bully. If the rumors are true, he has joined the ranks of over-achieving sycophant toadies somewhere in the Pentagon. Just kidding, he’s a rising star among Pentagonian executive officers. I picture him commanding a squadron soon and trading me Calvin Johnson for Nate Burleson.

I ate some chicken wings with Bob Bryant and his kids at O’Malley’s in Palmer Lake a couple months ago. After his AOC gig, he built a house in Missouri and is back to flying B-2s.

Ty Miller blew through Denver in August. We shared a plate of pig ears and talked about Josh Parvin. We decided that we really like that guy. Ty’s house is on the market in San Diego if anyone’s looking to buy.

Finally, I saw a bunch of guys at the AF/Wyoming game that looked really familiar. I think they were Shiners. But then Wyoming scored again and I got sad and forgot to go say hi. Did you all know that only about 50 cadets do pushups in the north end zone after a Falcon score? Spirit cheese seems to be alive and well though; so there’s that.

Jason Simmons 107 Hands Cove Lane Shalimar, FL 32579 Jason.Simmons@Outlook.com

Christopher Israel and family are settled back in Wichita, KS for now.

Baby number seven was born on 2 May ’13. Lillian Joy is their third little girl and is the joy of her parents and siblings! Chris still cries along with Lillian when the KC-135s fly overhead, he shares, but also assures all of us in uniform still, that there is life after the Air Force. He’s missing classmates, so if you’re around McConnell AFB, let him know, watch some kids, bring some along, or just holler at him to share a beverage.

Tracy (Tinianow) Bozung reports that now that Tom Bozung has been separated for just about a year; he’s playing Mr Mom like a champ, to 5year-old Nathan and making his way through the house remodeling most of it (awesome updates to kitchen featured on FB). Tracy is at the Pentagon Flight Med Clinic as a Flight Surgeon currently and she just saw Casey (Tinianow) Parini (her doppelganger) and family recently. Casey’s kiddos as of now are 1 year old (Mia) and 4 year old (Charlie). Casey PCSed to Wright-Patterson, this summer to be a staff OB/GYN at the residency program. I hear their summer family vacation was lots of fun, and I’m glad so many classmates had such great summers.

My summer was great, but I look forward to next summer even more when I hopefully can rejoin my family on Joint Assignment to Nellis or Peterson. Best wishes. Jason “Cueball” Simmons

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Class of 2000, Hey gang! Being back in AETC and around so many classmates at ACSC is giving me flashbacks! Houston “Buck” Hodgkinson is leading us as our ACSC AY’14 President; I think having most of the First Fifty as Balls classmates might have helped him gain our approval, (especially since most of us wanted to relax for a bit). Before the next typing of class news, I’ll gather all of us for a “Two Grand, United We Stand” photo opportunity.

Please send me your news update after you read this, no time better than present – thanks and on with the news.

Pat Parsons and his nightmare have finally came true – he is back at USAFA and is the only Major that can legally cause pain to Cadets and Faculty alike, as the go-to Dentist up there. He finished up his residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center this summer and is earning the big bonus now. Pat and his wife, Charisse, recently celebrated Lincoln’s first birthday too, so all are having a good time in C. Springs.

Bryan Trinkle along with wife, April, and daughter Brooklyn are fully settled in at Travis. They celebrated Brooklyn’s 6-month milestone recently and are already looking forward to an assignment as an Air Advisor to the SOUTHCOM AOR pretty soon. If he moves to three bases within a three-year timeframe, I think he’ll get a prize (or at least a sign).

Matthew Schmitz and his family are doing well in San Antonio. He assumed the position as the Assistant Program Director of the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at SAMMC where he is the Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedics. Matt is also travelling to Tsbili, Georgia and London, England as the team physician for the US Rugby Men’s National Team in November for the fall international test matches. Sounds like he’s getting paid to go have fun to me, but I know he’ll represent us and all of the USA in a positive light.

Speaking of positive light – I heard that Blair Watkinson had to make a guest appearance and address the USAFA Class of 2017. We want a picture of you on stage or something as proof, Blair. I’m sure he motivated them to persevere and do so with honor. Chris England is in South Carolina, but was in DC with his family recently, and snapped this picture with son, Thomas, in front of the White House.

Faith (Hitchcock) Dunn 6423 NW 94th Court Johnson, IA 50131 Faithd03@hotmail.com

Members

Hi all! Here are the updates I have received for the article this quarter.

It is a little slim this time. I am friends with many of you on Facebook, but have made it a habit to not include personal updates and/or pictures unless you send them to me directly. So please keep sending them my way!!

David Schichtle sent an update that this past July, he finished up at USAFA as the Chief of Military Justice and is now working on a post-doctoral LL.M. at the US Army Judge Advocate General School. He is with Capt Matt Karas (’03), who is doing the same thing.

David Schichtle Bart Robinson married Brooke Arnold Sat 14 Sep in Alexandria, VA. His best man was Colin Ferguson (who with his wife, Courtney, welcomed their second child, first daughter, Emery Jane about 6 months ago). Other ‘01ers in the wedding party: Jason McAfee, Kelii Chock, Adam Grace, Brent Hooper, Mike Reilly, Brandon Tellez, Shane Terry, and Doug Villard. Colin and Bart are both in sales with Corning cable systems and are drilling with the Maryland and Delaware ANGs, respectively. Bart is now flying the C-5. Mike Reilly is in the New Jersey ANG flying the F-16C and is moving to New Jersey with his wife, Jennifer.

As for Mike and I, we keep busy with work and the kid’s activities. Grant is now in 1st grade and active in soccer. Abigail is 3 ½ and just started dance but wants Sabre Society to give gymnastics a try this winter. (I know some of Donors my former roommates would be happy to hear that!) I did go to Nashville for a work conference recently and got to visit with Holly’s family again; had not seen them in almost 5 years and got to see them twice in one year!

Mike and I are getting ready to leave in a few weeks for our 10-year anniversary trip. We are going to Tahiti and Bora Bora for a week so I am sure the next update will have a picture from our trip.

That is all I have this time, please keep the updates coming! Faith

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Eric Ballew World Cell: +1.850.543.9936 ericballew86@yahoo.com eric.ballew@us.af.mil Class Facebook: USAFA Class of 2002 Class Website: www.usafa02.org

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Members

Class of 2002, This is a quick update for late summer and early fall. Please keep posting pics on our Facebook page and email me with any classmate sightings.

Pirate Dave Henze nitely reached my drinking limits when I was out to meet up with David Orleans and Paul Calhoun. Be warned that those guys take their “Sunday Funday” seriously and will drink like it’s a Friday night at Haps before a silver weekend full of SAMIs and parades. It took me a couple of days to recover from all those car bombs, but it was a lot of fun!

KEEP ME UPDATED: Again, if you run into any classmates send me a message and a pic so I can keep everyone in the loop with the RTB sightings around the world. Stay classy 2002.

No Limits Tailgate before the Falcon football game.

NO LIMIT UPDATE: John Eccles just got picked up for the U-2 program and will be moving to Northern California soon. Bede Bolin is currently in Monterey, CA getting ready to head back to Colorado Springs to join the foreign language department at USAFA to teach Spanish. Mark Fogel is transitioning to the Massachusetts ANG to fly the F-15 again. Matt King is living in Buckeye, AZ and has two kids, Jaden (4) and Gabrielle (2). He is working as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at Arizona State’s ROTC detachment. Mike Granberrry is in training to fly the BD-700. Bo Balzer and Tony Straw are living in San Antonio working as PIT instructors at Randolph.

Britt Stephens’ big catch in Ft Pierce, David Henze is flying KC-10s in New Jersey at McGuire AFB. He and his wife, Cynthia, have been working their way through the USNA Off-shore Sailing Training Squadron’s skipper qualification course. They started with the N26 STC (Sail Training Craft) and have progressed to the NA44 STC Mk II. They still have several months of systems courses, spring sail training that includes full circumnavigation of the Delmarva Peninsula, and then they Sabre Society will be certified to lead a boat full of Midshipmen next Donors summer as part of the USNA experiential leadership program. (See photo at the top of the next column.)

BABY NEWS: Brooks Walters and his wife, Amy, are expecting a girl!

NO LIMITS? I was recently TDY in the Washington DC area and I defi-

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Members Susan (Doyle) Maly Linked In: USAFA 03 USAFA2003@gmail.com Class Facebook Page: Usafa Zerothree

Hey Bongers, For those of you who made it to the reunion, I hope you had a great time. It was fun to see our old stomping grounds, reconnect with friends, and catch up. Thanks for the reunion pics! Jonathan Guerrero sent one taken during the tailgate party during the AF vs Utah St game.

From left are Lt Col Luciano Amutan (‘93), Maj Jonathan Guerrero (‘03), Maj Anthony Tydingco (‘03), Capt Robert Olipane, Maj Mark Esguerra (‘03), Capt Jonathan Diaz (‘03), and Lt Col Joe Delcampo (‘93).

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JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY! YOUR MONEY HELPS FUND CADET WING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED. CALL (719) 472-0300 X200.

Alex Wolfard, Krystal Wolfard, Jon O’Rear, Mark Esguerra, Mark Gongol, and Matt O’Donnell after a delicious meal at Mitch’s.

Krystal Wolfard shared a pic of Dirty Dozeners from CS-12. Alex Wolfard is currently an F-16 Developmental Test Pilot at Eglin AFB, FL. He graduated Test Pilot School in June 2012. Krystal (Shamblin) Wolfard

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Class News separated from Intel and now stays at home with their 3 children, Jacob4, Grace-2, and Samuel-6 months. Jon O’Rear is currently an F-15 pilot at Kadena AB, Japan, Mark Esguerra is currently an ABM at Kadena AB, Japan, Mark Gongol is an ALO at Fort Carson, and Matt O’Donnell separated and lives in Germany working at a University.

The Fighters (CS-04) reunited at Lt Col UJ, our old AOC’s house for dinner after the game on Saturday.

Tommy Tauer is getting his Master’s at Wright-Pat and Sabre Society about to PCS to Edwards. Janet (Modell) Tauer stays Donors home with their two beautiful children. Dave Breuer is in the AMU at Luke and working on his PhD. Greg Maly and I are in DC. Domonique Torbert lives in Chicago and is studying for her PhD. Charity Winters (CS-03) earned her PhD in physical therapy last year and lives outside of Nashville.

Kelly (Chellman) Sandusky and Lee Sandusky are expecting their first child and are both C-17 instructors at Altus AFB. Scott Stengel is a lawyer in Florida, Mike Donaldson is a Marine in California, and Mike Solowiow is a race car driver in Scotland.

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during Homecoming Weekend, usually early September. NOW is the time we need to get a committee together! We need a Facebook site/group, an agenda (tours, child care, activities, main event), venue, food/drinks providers, memorial ceremony protocol, football game tailgate, transportation plans, and MUCH more! Please contact me and Jeff Gould via email or Facebook if you’re interested. Also, those of you stationed at USAFA or living in Colorado could be a tremendous help, if you’re up for it.

Now for our regular scheduled programming: Greg Zencey was married Oct 29, 2011, to Kelsey Burgy in Denver, CO. On Sept 11, 2013, they������� welcomed their �������������������������������������������������������������������������� first child into the world, Rose Elizabeth Zencey, and they are all doing well. Greg is currently stationed at NAS Pensacola as a Combat Systems Officer Instructor flying the modified T-1A and really enjoying teaching students the basics of navigation and flight training. He confesses the beach time is great too! Anyone for a road trip to Florida…?

The Zencey Family Hope to hear from some of you for the Reunion soon. Until then, take care, and Happy Holidays!

Back row: Lt Col UJ, Janet (Modell) Tauer, Tommy Tauer, Dave Breuer, Domonique Torbert, and Mike Donaldson. Middle Row: Scott Stengel, Charity Winters, Mike Solowiow, and Kelly (Chellman) Sandusky. Front Row: Kristen Stengel, Greg Maly, Susan (Doyle) Maly, and Lee Sandusky.

Charity Winters, PT, DPT started the online LinkedIn group, “Air Force Academy Alumni Health Professionals.” The group’s purpose is to encourage professional development and networking among Air Force Academy alumni who have become healthcare professionals, educators, or students.

Maj David Ornelas recently finished a 3-year assignment at the USAFA Airfield that included a 9.5 month TDY flying the MC-12. He is moving his wife, Michel, and daughter Kyleigh in November to Spokane, WA and returning to the KC-135. Shaun Cheema wrote: “Majors Scott ‘Cash’ Meyer, Chris ‘Rifle’ Jensen, and Shaun ‘Kash’ Cheema are all currently flying F16s (when the gov’t is open), in the 4th Fighter Squadron at Hill AFB, UT. ROCK!” A message from our class president Giles Whiting, “It was great seeing so many of you last month at our ten-year reunion. In total we had almost 400 classmates back at the Zoo -- explaining to our husbands and wives what we did here, revisiting our dorm rooms and Old C’s, and catching up with friends that many of us had not seen since graduation.

“Thanks to everyone who helped make the reunion a success and to the many of you who have donated to our class gift project. There’s still time to give! And I encourage you to do so by visiting https://giving.usafa.org/ give/2003DVP. Also, please join our class’ LinkedIn and Facebook pages.

We don’t need to wait another ten years to connect.”

Take care! Susan

John Tamasitis 801 King St., Apt. K Columbia, SC 29205 Tamasiti@email.sc.edu Cell: 610-850-3352

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Members

(Five Sabre Society Donors) Fellow ’05ers, We have a couple of updates for this issue and a short announcement about a future project we are looking to put together to raise some money for a potential class gift.

First, we received a nuptial notification from our classmate, Heather Greatting-Dufaud. Heather and her new husband, fellow grad Kyle Dufaud (‘08), were married at the Garden of the Gods on August 17, 2013.

Other USAFA grads (and their representatives) present for the celebration: Brad Dufaud (‘84), Doug Romig (‘84), Steve Dufaud (‘87) and Kristen Carver (wife of Matt Carver, ’09)). Congrats Heather and we wish you and Kyle the best as you being our life together.

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Breezy Long 120 Sunfest Drive Deatsville, AL 36022 windyshort82@gmail.com

Members

(Five Sabre Society Donors) Welcome to Winter! We have entered the ONE YEAR countdown to our 10-Year REUNION! I know a bunch of you are eager to know the exact date, but I’m afraid we won’t know that until around March, when the football schedules are released. What we do know is the Reunion will fall

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Heather Greatting-Dufaud and her husband, Kyle Dufaud.

In addition, we also received a heartwarming update, which was also shared on our Class Facebok page, from Thomas Lohmeyer. Here is Thomas’s update: “Jessica and I want to thank all “STRIVERS” that have been a tremendous help with us and baby Heather! The AF has been great in getting us an EFMP assignment back at USAFA (as a T-53 IP) so Heather can get the care she needs from Denver Children’s Hospital. October 1st was Heather’s 9-month birthday and despite her prognosis of complete Trisomy 22, she defies the odds, and is growing and thriving everyday.”

Thomas also sent us a photo of the happy family watching their first Packers game together. I would also like to applaud and thank everyone for reaching out and providing support as Baby Heather continues her battle.

Casey (Bayne) Whitson 32741 Pointe Stirling, Apt. F Dana Point, CA 92629 (310) 343-5969 email@caseywhitson.com

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Members

Hi Class of 2007, I hope everyone had an awesome summer; it’s hard to believe that fall is already here and 2014 will soon be upon us. I received a couple great updates this quarter and next quarter I will continue contacting people via Facebook to see if you’d like your update to be in the next edition. Whenever I get an update from someone, without fail they usually tell me how much they enjoy reading about what our classmates are doing. Can’t wait to hear from you!

Births: Travis Doyle returned from Ramstein Air Base in May of 2012 where he was flying C-21s. He has since transitioned to flying the C-5M at Dover AFB. He said AR school was intense but very fulfilling. He Sabre Society wanted to make sure everyone knew that “the M is aweDonors some and has tons of power!” He and his wife, Ericka,

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Thomas Lohmeyer, his wife, Jessica, and Baby Heather.

Finally, be on the lookout for future announcements regarding a fundraiser for a future class gift to be presented to USAFA for our 10-year reunion coming up a 2015 (I know, that makes me feel old too). I have had a few conversations with one of our classmates, Casey Wallace, who has started his own crowd-funding platform to help raise money for those seeking to obtain higher education. We are in the initial stages of putting together a plan to raise the money and will be rolling out announcements on our Facebook page as we get more concrete details.

With that being said, please sign up for our Facebook page -- USAFA Class of 2005. The page has already been used to arrange grad get-togethers overseas and helps to keep everyone in the loop with important news affecting all of us. As stated before, we will be making announcements about the reunion coming up and the fundraising effort for our class gift.

As always, stay safe and take care. John

Dayle (Morell) Hartung 12918 50th Ave. Court NW Gig Harbor, WA 98332 daylehartung@gmail.com Facebook page: USAFA Class of 2006

gave birth on Sept 8, 2013 to their first child, Keira Anne Doyle. According to Travis, she has more energy than they know what to do with. Travis enjoyed his paternity leave partly because he was able to grow an awesome beard as you can see in the picture below. Travis will deploy early next year to some place awesome and will attend SOS in the fall of 2014. He’s still finishing up his MBA at Embry-Riddle. He’s hoping to head back to the Academy for his next assignment as an instructor or AOC. Maybe someone from AFPC is reading this update and can put in a good word for him! Travis, congrats to you and Ericka on baby Keira. We look forward to more updates from the C-5M world and hopefully the zoo in the near future.

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Members

(12 Sabre Society Donors) (Editor’s note: We did not receive an input from Dayle this issue. Please send her your news and photos for the next edition of the magazine.)

The Doyle Family Jonah Reeger took the time to send in a great update. He wrote, “It has been quite the summer for my wife and me (Laura Reeger). I finished my PhD in Applied Mathematics at the University of Colorado Boulder in early May. We PCSed to the Air Force Institute of Technology soon after.

I am currently an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at AFIT, and I have already encountered one of our classmates in one of my classes. Maybe I will see some more in the future. On an even happier note, we welcomed our first child, Charles Robert, to the world on 26 August. We are enjoying every minute of getting to know him.” Professor Reeger hopefully you aren’t overloading your students with too much homework! Thank you for the great update; we wish you and your growing family all the best. Keep us posted on where your career takes you.

Other News: I was envious of the photo that Eric Goldman sent in for this update. Standing on Kjeragbolten is on my bucket list and Eric has already done it! Kjeragbolten is located in the Kjerag Mountain in Rogaland, Norway near Stavanger. The rock itself is a glacial deposit wedged in the mountain’s crevasse and is suspended above a 984-meter deep abyss.

Visit the AOG Web Site.

Gone But Not Forgotten, Merchandise and more! www.usafa.org 139

Class News Eric says when I do get the chance to go not to look down! Currently, Eric is stationed at JB Andrews, MD flying C-21s.

parently we’ve both been here for a couple of years, but haven’t seen each other until just before we PCS. Some of you work together on a regular basis, but sometimes it’s just a quick catch up conversation then off again.

Maria (Brooks) Quinn ran into Calvin Glass and had the chance to talk, take a picture then send him out the door and towards home after a tough 365. Next time you run into a fellow ’08er, please take a picture like these two and send it my way. Thanks for the photo y’all!

Eric Goldman standing on Kjeragbolten.

Just a quick reminder, make sure you are included in the USAFA Class of 2007 Facebook group so you know when updates are due and you can stay in the loop about reunion plans etc.

Calvin and Maria pose for a quick photo before Calvin heads home from the desert.

If you have anything you would like to share with our class, please contact me! Send a Facebook message, an email (cbrodie2@icloud.com ) or even find me on the Global. I look forward to hearing from you and sharing your news.

Until our paths cross again, Brodie.

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Christin Brodie christin.brodie@ramstein.af.mil cbrodie2@icloud.com

Members

Hi Richter Class!

I recently received some good news from Daniel Holder. He and Catherine Engibous were married on June 15, 2013 in Anchorage, AK where Dan is currently stationed flying the C-17 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER). The two met when Dan was first assigned to Alaska in 2010 and Catherine had returned to her home state after finishing grad school. The two have enjoyed exploring Alaska- from hiking, fishing, and camping to flying Sabre Society the float plane. It looks like the Last Frontier has been Donors good to them! They would like to say “thank you” to the many great friends and family that traveled to Alaska to celebrate with them, especially the academy graduates: Daniel Dobbels ‘98, Josh Ehmen ‘02, John Highley ‘03, Katie (Rutchka) and John McGregor ‘04, Patrick Mclaughlin ‘04, Matt Joseph ‘04, John Smyrski ‘08, Tim Gaydosh ‘08 (groomsman), Kevin Brady ‘09 and Ian Crawford ‘09.

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Catherine and Dan looking sharp on the flight line at JBER. I know there are tons of classmates running into each other in the desert as well as at new assignments. I ran into Andrew Johnson here on Ramstein AB by complete happenstance when running to a meeting. Ap-

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Forrest Underwood PSC 2, Box 9538 APO AE 0012 forrestunderwood@gmail.com Facebook: Forrest J. Underwood

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Members

(Two Sabre Society Donors) Happy Holidays everyone! I hope this reaches you in high spirits!

Thank you again to all of our classmates and family members who have sent in updates to our Class of 2009, Air Force Academy Facebook Page!

We’re up to 263 Likes now! We still have a ways to go, so when you’ve finished this article, get online and go to our page.

If anyone reading this knows any social media gurus, please give me their information. We need help taking our Class to the next level!

BABIES: Kevin Brady is a proud dad! Jon Yates and Meggin are expecting next summer!

MARRIED: Evie Johnston got married last September at Guemes Island Resort in Washington

The Johnston Wedding Dave and Caitlin Butler got married in the classiest place on earth…

New Jersey. (See photo at the top of the next column.)

Clayton Strickland and Jared Tuinstra also got wifed up this summer.

Nice work fellas!

ENGAGED: Brian Dunn and Robbie Nitzberg decided to keep it in the

The Butler Wedding ’09 family and got engaged! Brady Augustin Adelaide Priester got engaged as well!

OTHER SPOOGE:

Best Friend Crew Team member Andrew Hendel took his wife, Chelsea (2010), skydiving! They celebrated with a milkshake afterward.

Laughlin FAIPs got their drop! Kyle Brutin and Zach Thompson are going to fly F-16s! Vance FAIP Reid Gaiser is headed to the BONE! Columbus FAIP Cody Sweat is headed to AC-130Ws! Mike McVay is done flying the A-10 and is headed to Luke for the F-16 transition course! Mike Knapp just had a birthday solidifying his title as Oldest Living Co-Pilot in the United States Air Force.

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Members Todd Gamiles 2010checkpoints@gmail.com

(No Sabre Society Donors Yet) Greetings classmates!

Allow me to apologize for last’s month’s article void. I was in the midst of relocating from Idaho to my new base in Japan and didn’t have ready access to the internet or my computers. But, the good news is I’m all settled in and knocking out two quarters of information at once! Overall, times have continued to be very busy for our class.

Chris Horn got engaged to Sarah Foley in May, and John Robelledo got engaged with a wedding scheduled for December.

Sarah Hoh got married in May as well, and Ted Hart married Jenna Richardt in July. Ted is on track to graduate from the University of Chicago med school program in the very near future, and is waiting to hear about a general surgery residency later this year. Way to go Ted! Ted Ornelas married Kirsten Buslinger (’12) on May 18th in North Carolina. After their short honeymoon in South Carolina, Kirsten PSCed to Ramstein AB, Germany where Ted will join her after his assignment at Kunsan AB is up in January. Check out this photo of the happy couple at the top of the next column!

Tamiko Gheen (Toyama) and Christopher Gheen (’11) celebrated the birth of a baby boy! Congratulations are in order for everyone!

On the flying side of things, a recent ENJJPT graduation resulted in the

Ted and Kirsten following aircraft assignments: Ryan Forystek - F16, Ryan Kerns - B-1, Michael Koslow - T38A to Langley (flying as aggressor against the F22), Tony Mitchell - T6 FAIP at Sheppard, Woody Sukut - F-15E, and TJ West - F-15E. Dave Rodriguez and Dan Walker (photo) just finished the F-22 B-Course.

Dan has been stationed at Langley.

Dan Walker Finally, it is with the deepest regret I inform the class of the passing of beloved classmate David D. Ostrom. After a valiant battle with cancer, David passed away on 27 Sept 2013 while traveling. Please keep David’s family and wife in your thoughts and prayers. ’Til next time, blue skies and tailwinds!

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Elizabeth Borroni 8149 A Johnson St. Del Rio, TX 78840 (979) 571-1180 elizabeth.borroni@gmail.com

Members

(No Sabre Society Donors Yet) (Editor’s Note: We did not receive an input from Elizabeth for this issue.

Please send her your news and photos for the next edition.)

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LeRoi Edwards leroi.edwards@gmail.com

Members

(One Sabre Society Donor) Season’s greetings 2012! I hope this latest story finds you cozied up next to a fire that reminds you of a flaming mattress falling from the fifth floor not so long ago. It is with that ever-resilient and positive attitude that I would like to use this issue to highlight a couple of our classmates who have taken the deployment dive. A few names that were brought to my attention included Ashley Hand, Stormi Brewer, Colt Floyd, and Alec Wil-

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Class News liams (No Escape!). For most of our class, our adventures are just beginning with drop-nights a thing of the past and the “real” Air Force in your sights. With that, congratulations to all those green-suited sun gods out there who are fulfilling their dreams; happy trails.

Alec (wrestler #157) and I used to enjoy post-Taps scuffles from time to time during our tenure in CS-17, so it was no shock when I saw him rearranging someone’s face on YouTube the other day. Similarly, I was not surprised to hear that he had been deployed to Afghanistan for a few months.

After running into a grad out there, he decided to reconnect with his alma mater. I’m sure he is spending his down time wrestling any wildlife he can find, and challenging the locals to ridiculous crossfit-style workouts. Alec is operating as the OIC of the 772 EAS Intel shop and will be there for a few more months, please keep him in your thoughts.

Colt Floyd and his flight winning Team of the Quarter.

Colt, as a cop, was also quick to hop on a flight to the desert. Shortly after arriving at Andrews AFB in July ’12, tech school, pre-deployment training, and out the door in May ’13. Luckily for most of us, Colt describes Ali Al Salem as “none of that GE nonsense we suffered through in our glory days.” As you might expect the sun is hot and the wind is sandy, but overall the threat levels are low. “Wake up, workout, work, sleep, repeat,” entails his day-to-day. Sounds like it’s not too bad of an opportunity to get school done or other preparations for the future. If you don’t mind living, “basically, in the middle of nowhere.”

Stormi and Ashley are both maintenance officers and experienced both ends of the deployment “opportunity.” While Stormi toughs-it-out in Italy, Ashley was running around at Bagram working with AFSOC.

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Members No volunteers yet.

(One Sabre Society Donor) (Editor’s note: We still do not have a volunteer for the Class of 2013 scribe.

Please contact the Class News editor, Tom Kroboth, at Tom.Kroboth@ aogusafa.org, to provide a Class News column for your class.

We did, however, receive a note and photograph from C2C Lillian Warner of CS-11 concerning her brother’s wedding.)

“My brother, a 2013 graduate of the Air Force Academy, was married last June. My uncle, another Academy graduate, suggested that I send in a photo. In the photo, my older brother Kris Warner is standing in the center with his groomsmen on either side. All but the little one (our younger brother and Academy hopeful, Robert) were squadron mates from Tiger Ten. Kris was the squadron commander in the spring semester. We always look forward to the latest Checkpoints. Thanks.”

Checkpoints Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation

Ashley Hand dominating the Bagram Marathon.

No matter how you flip the coin, being away from friends and family can and will be tough. Fortunately, we all know what we signed up for and have a huge support source in the USAFA long blue line.

All in all, another successful quarter for HAP (I know Henry would be proud of us). Please keep it going by getting in the spirit of giving this holiday season. With budget cuts ever-looming, Cadet programs are looking for outside funding to stay afloat. Get involved in your local AOG chapter, or log on to usafa.org and get connected with the Class of 2012 Five Star Commitment. I wish you all well; please get/keep in touch so that I can brag about how awesome we are.

Cheers and happy holidays, LeRoi. https://giving.usafa.org/

JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY! YOUR MONEY HELPS FUND CADET WING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED. CALL (719) 472-0300 X200.

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1. Publication title: Checkpoints 2. Publication number: 898-080 3. Filing date: Sept. 13, 2013 4. Issue frequency: Quarterly 5. Number of issues published annually: 4 6. Annual subscription price: Included in AOG USAFA membership fee (which varies).

7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: Association of Graduates, United States Air Force Academy, 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475 8. Complete mailing address of headquarters of general business office of publisher: same as no. 7.

9. Names and addresses of publisher, editor, and managing editor—Publisher: Association of Graduates, United States Air Force Academy, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475; Editor: David Bergeman, 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475; Managing Editor: Bob McAllister, 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475 10. Owner (if the publication is published by a nonprofit organization, give its name and address): Association of Graduates, United States Air Force Academy, 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475 11. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: none.

12. The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes have not changed during the preceding 12 months.

13. Publication name: Checkpoints.

14. Issue date for circulation data below: September 2013 15. Extent and nature of circulation:

Average no. copies Actual no. single

each issue during single issue nearest

preceding 12 months filing date A. Total no. copies printed 30,066 30,986 (1) Mailed outside-county paid subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541 29,060 29,645 (2) Mailed in-county paid subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541 0 0 (3) Paid distribution outside the mails including sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales, and other paid distribution outside USPS 75 70 C. Total paid distribution: 30,238 31,154 D. Free or nominal rate distribution: (1) Free or nominal rate outside-county copies included on PS Form 3541 0 0 (2) Free or nominal rate in-county copies included on PS Form 3541 0 0 0 (3) Free or nominal rate copies mailed through the USPS 0 0 (4) Free or nominal rate distribution outside the mail 468 421 E. Total free or nominal rate distribution: 468 421 F. Total distribution: 30,706 31,575 G. Copies not distributed: 81 76 H. Total: 30,787 31,651 I. Percent paid: 98.47 98.66 I certify that all the information furnished on this form is true and complete.

David Bergeman, Senior Editor.

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Joanne Harris, Class of 1999 720-469-6600

FINAL THOUGHT

Popovich ’70 and the Spurs Visit the Academy

Written by 1st Lt. Brandon Baccam, Air Force Academy Public Affairs

Gregg Popovich, head coach for the San Antonio Spurs, brought his team to the Air Force’s Academy for a four-day training camp on October 1st.

A 1970 Academy graduate, Popovich returned to his alma mater with the hope that a fresh setting would strengthen the team bonding.

“I thought that it would be a great change for us to go to a completely different venue,” Popovich said. “I thought the altitude would be great for training.”

The four-time NBA champion head coach said that his players relished at the beautiful sights upon arriving here and were eager to see what the Academy was all about.

“More than anything, our guys are having fun observing the cadets and seeing what they go through,” Popovich said.

The cadets were treated to a Wednesday night practice session open exclusively for them to attend and watch.

“It’s awesome that they’re here,” said Cadet 4th Class Alex Lee. Popovich is a former Falcon basketball player and assistant coach for the Falcon men’s basketball team. His return to the Academy brought back many memories from his days as a cadet.

Popovich said that he remembered receiving his prop and wings as being one of his best memories.

“To this day, I have my prop and wings in my study at home,” he said. “That was very

special to me. I still remember Cadet 3rd Class Jesse Beaver giving me (those) wings.”

Bringing the Spurs to Colorado Springs to start their training camp was a “win-win” decision for everyone on the team, Popovich said.

“For me at this point, I’m getting the largest kick out of watching my players react to everything they see,” he said.

In addition to their training, the Spurs took a tour of Jacks Valley and ran the Basic Cadet Training obstacle course.

“It was the most unexpected experience that they’ve had to date in their lives

according to many of them,” Popovich said.

“They’ve talked about it incessantly since we’ve done it.”

The Spurs opened camp fresh off of their NBA Finals loss to the Miami Heat last season. Popovich said that cadets can learn from the Spurs’ experiences to help them with the challenges they face here.

“If a loss in a certain situation or a tough break in life occurs, a real measure of that individual is how he or she moves on from it,” he said.

Academy cadets reach out to shake hands with Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich ’70 before the start of the team’s practice at Clune Arena. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Kenneth Bellard) The Falcon women’s basketball team gathers for pictures with Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili after the Spurs practice session in Clune Arena.

(U.S. Air Force Photo/1st Lt. Brandon Baccam)

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

www.RusinakRealEstate.com Vince Rusinak, ’68 Vince@Rusinak.com

Nancy Rusinak Brother, R. Berthiaume, ’73

Nancy@Rusinak.com

Rusinak Real Estate, Inc. 7150 North Academy Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80920 719.590.6110 Toll Free: 1.800.789.6650