Checkpoints December 2011

AT ALTITUDE WITH CADET MOUNTAINEERING

REMEMBERING THE RED TAILS 16

Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr. visits the Academy to celebrate the Tuskegee Airmen in his new film Red Tails.

ROCK SAVVY 26

The Cadet Mountaineering Club takes to the wilderness in search of their next great adventure.

A BREAK IN THE STORM 38

The Academy's Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Outreach Center is making a difference for Colorado's youth.

HORSE MASTERS 44

The animal-loving USAFA Equestrian Team challenges the open range with their trusted furry friends.

ON THE COVER

The Mountaineering Club climbs in the back country ofPikes Peak. Photo by Lewis Carlyle

A Time for Reflection and Appreciation

BY WILLIAM "T" THOMPSON, 73 AOG PRESIDENT AND CEO

he holiday season is upon us and, with it, the hustle and bustle ofdecorating, shopping, traveling and, in my case, eating too much. Winter has arrived in Colorado and has brought its spectacular snow capped mountains and crystal clear blue skies. The Cadet Area sits majestically in view from Doolittle Hall and encourages reflection on the days when we walked the halls of our dorms and spent endless hours in Fairchild.

While we were all proud to receive our appointments to the Academy, many of us failed to truly understand the tremendous opportunity we had been given. It is common though, as the years pass, for grads to reflect on our Academyexperience and express a true appreciation for what the institution has given us and how it has shaped our lives. These are the reasons that many grads choose to reconnect with the Academy, often through the activities ofthe AOG.

Over the past year, your Association has continued to advance its support of the Academy andthe graduate community while making internal improvements as well. As we come to the end of another year, it’s appropriate to reflect on some of the more significant accomplishments ofyour AOG.

We began the year by implementing the AOG’s Operations Strategic Plan 2015. It is a detailed document that identifies our Five Strategic Focus Areas (SFAs) and lays out the specific route we will take to achieve our success. Unlike some plans which gather dust on a shelf, we are using this document as a GPS to take us directly to where we need to be. It is on the AOG web site and I invite you to read it and follow our progress.

Member Engagement is our first SFA and is an outgrowth ofThe Connection Project. You may have seen the Connection video or read the paper, both ofwhich are on the AOG web site. The AOG Chapter Program is the capstone component of Member Engagement and we have been flying along at max throttle in its implementation. Since putting our chapter development program in place, we have grown from 31 to 65 chapters worldwide. While this growth has been dramatic, we are not focused on growth alone. Our primary interest is in establishing vibrant, sustainable chapters as the foundation for graduate connection to the Academy, and with each other.

To promote strong chapter sustainability, we held the first Chapter Presidents Conference under the new program at DoolittleHall this fall. Twenty-five chapters were represented and enjoyed networking opportunities with Parents’ Club Presidents, the Superintendent and his senior staff, and AOG leadership and staff. At the closing luncheon, five chapters were recognized for their superior accomplishments by receiving the Distinguished Chapter Award. Recipients included: New England, Washington, D.C., North Texas, Rampart and Las Vegas. We are very proud oftheir achievements and hope to congratulate many other chapters in the coming years.

We have also made a concerted effort to provide more social and networking opportunities for our grads, both locally and around the country. Our largest concentration ofgraduates is in the Washington, D.C. area with approximately 3,500. The Front Range ofColorado is second with approximately 3,400

graduates. In conjunction with the Navy football game we sponsored a tailgate that was attended by over 1,000 folks. Along with Bethany and Joey Plank, ’03, and Alex Granados, ’04, we also sponsored a golf outing at the ArmyNavy Country Club and worked with the Endowment to do a donor appreciation dinner at the same venue. Back in Colorado, we held both wine tasting and Scotch tasting events at Doolittle Hall and an AF-Notre Dame Game Watch at the Denver Athletic Club. We also sponsored a well attended AOG night with the Colorado Rockies. The AOG also held a tailgate at Boise State and a well attended Fan Fest at New Mexico this past season. We sponsored a golfouting at the SeaCliffCountry Club in Southern California and assisted the Endowment with a golfouting and dinner in Chicago. All ofthese events have given our membersthe opportunity to get together, connect or re-connect, socialize, network, and just enjoy being in the company offellow Air Force Academygraduates.

Communications is also one of our five SFAs and your new AOG web site is one ofthe key components in achieving this area’s success. We also rolled out the latest newsletter, 7258’, to better keep you informed about the happenings at the AOG. You may have also noticed increased visibility and use of social media including Facebook, Twitter, Linkedln and our own ZoomieNation. These communication tools will continue to grow in popularity with our graduates and we are committed to staying ahead of the curve in providing these services to you.

Your AOG has accomplished a great deal more over the past year, much ofwhich has been chronicled in Checkpoints, ZoomiEnews, and 7258 Examples include:

Working with the Academy to establish the new AOG Alumni Base Access Badge which will now give our non-retiree graduate members access to their alma mater.

Establishing the Long Blue Line Endowment to address the AOG’s long term financial sustainability, another SFA. Patterned after the Long Gray Line Endowment at West Point, it has been included as one of the Superintendent’s priority items.

•Electing four outstanding new Board Members and passing the revisions to the By-laws. Combining the 40-year class Graduate Legacy Program andthe 50-year class Graduation Program into one seamless legacy program for the Cadet Wing.

•Establishing the Heritage Trail Policy andthe Heritage Preservation Fund to insure that the grounds at Doolittle are developed and maintained in superior fashion.

Sponsoring the special screening for the Cadet Wing and Academy staff of the upcoming George Lucas film, Red Tails, which chronicles the exploits of the famed Tuskegee Airmen

And the list goes on.

Yet as we reflect on our many accomplishments, we are also mindful of, and thankful for, the many blessings that we enjoy:

•A strong and vibrant Academy that continues to excel: the Academy’s Rhodes and Marshall Scholars have just been announced, as well as our football team’s fifth consecutive bowl game selection.

•A reconnected graduate community and growing membership base; almost 1,200 new members in the past five months.

•A dynamic Association served by a dedicated and professional staff that is committed to serving you and the institution that has given US all so much.

•Our families, friends and circumstances; no matter what they are, we are better offthan most other people in the world

And the list goes on.

In closing, I wish each and every one ofyou a happy and safe holiday season and a healthy and prosperous New Year. IS

Chairman’s

BY TERRY STORM,’61

hat a great football victory against Army! We have the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy again, still in its rightful place. There certainly were two separate games; Coach Troy Calhoun, ’89, and his staff were masterful in preparing our players for the second half. The defensive and offensive adjustments were amazing; the Black Knights had almost 400 yards rushing in the first half and 74 total yards in the second. Army blowing a fake punt was a major factor in our win, but the fortitude displayed by our Falcons was astounding! We know they will do the same in the Military Bowl against Toledo.

I was privileged to attend the National Football Foundations annual awards banquet in New York City in early December, where Coach Fisher DeBerry was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Coach was further recognized by his selection as the only recipient speaker; his comments were outstanding as usual. He greatly honored all of us in the USAFA community, which was well represented byAcademy leadership and several of Coach’s players, including Chad Hennings, ’88, and Dee Dowis, ’90.

By the time this goes to press, the AOG will have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Contract for Services with the USAFA Endowment. A major factor was our intent to make certain that the future financial viability of the AOG is as guaranteed as possible, especially with the economic pressures that our nation, the Air Force, and the Air Force Acad

emy are enduring. The continued collaboration of the AOG and the Endowment in striving for our mutual goals of graduate and USAFA support, friendraising and fundraising, should further encourage our contributors, both graduates and others, to increase the financial support that is necessary to assist the Academy with funding that the federal government cannot provide and enhance The Long Blue Line that we all envision. The members of the Joint Coordinating Committee, as established in our MOU, have professionally performed in an outstanding manner and in the best interests of everyone in the USAFA community; we owe them our heartfelt gratitude.

At our fourth AOG Board of Directors meeting of this year, on December 2nd we elected retired General “Chili” Chilton as an Appointed Director. We are pleased to gain his respected insight into our proceedings. We were also pleased to have Vice Superintendent, Colonel Tamra Rank, ’83, address us in General Gould’s, ’76, stead. General Steve Lorenz, ’73, also gave us an Endowment update. He and our President and CEO, “T” Thompson, ’73, meet daily, as do their co-located staffs, in further enhancing the ongoing relationship of the AOG and the Endowment. The minutes of our meeting, as always, will be on our website, usafa.org. We look forward to incorporating the newly-formed Athletic Association non-profit into our mutual purpose of enhancing the entire USAFA community.

Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, 76

FELLOW GRADUATES1

August, September, and October have been busy months at USAFA, and I am pleased to report that cadets, faculty, staff, and graduates all continue to impress me with their hard work and accomplishments. Simply put, your Academy exudes excellence on a daily basis.

General (retired) Peter Pace, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, came to USAFA on 21 October to accept this year’s Thomas D. White National Defense Award. Our permanent party rolled out the red carpet for his visit, and the Cadet Wing passed in review for a lunchtime parade. After lunch, General Pace spoke to cadets about his forty years as an officer and a leader, and our cadets responded with challenging and thoughtprovoking questions. General Pace joins an august group ofcitizen-leaders who have contributed significantly to the United States’ national defense: General Colin Powell, Presidents Reagan and Bush Sr., and Condoleezza Rice to name a few. We were proud to host General Pace, and I was proud of team USAFA.

Over on the Dean’s side of the Terrazzo, we hosted the 53rd AcademyAssembly from 18-21

October. The conference focused on the emerging centers of power across the globe, and I heard many compliments from delegates, speakers, and cadets. This four-day event was a wild success, culminating with an enlightening keynote address from Ms. Erin Conaton, our current Undersecretary of the Air Force. I couldn’t have been more pleased with yet another success story at USAFA.

You’ve heard me say it before, but it deserves repeating—respect is the foundation ofeverything we do at USAFA. Over the last couple ofmonths, our Chief Diversity Officer, Dr. Adis Vila, has developed a diversity and inclusion training program for Team USAFA that is generating lots of interest and valuable discussion. Dr. Vila and her staffoffer this diversity and inclusion training program across the Academy so we all improve our ability to implement cultural change in a proactive manner. Diversity in thought plus diversity in background plus diversity in experience equals strength.

Finally, you—our graduate community— continue to support USAFA in amazing ways, and we thank you. The Class of’61 just dedicated a class gift of two beautiful statues at the USAFA cemetery. Thank you to the Class of’61, and thank you to the rest ofyou who came home to USAFA for your class reunions thisfall. 1 spoke with many ofyou at the reunions of’61, ’66, ’71, ’76,’81, ’86, ’91, and the ten-year class from 01. It was great to welcome you back! Many ofyou asked about retention at USAFA; specifically, many of you wanted to know how your class fared over the years. Col Mike “Moose” Therianos, ’86, the Director of our Plans and Programs shop, goes into these numbers in more depth on page 84 of this issue of Checkpoints. I encourage you to take a look at his article and draw your own conclusions about retention among USAFA graduates.

USAFA is flying high, and we continue to work towards May 23, 2012 when we will graduate another crop of Lieutenants into your United States Air Force. S

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Cycling Down Memory Lane

The June 2011 Checkpoints article, “The Spin,” resurrected fond memories for me. I’m glad to hear Limited on Season (LOS) status was finally conferred upon the USAFA cycling team after 30-plus years. Cycling is a painful sport, the pain directly proportional to the number of miles you ride per week. In 1979, the USAFA cycling team consisted of Larry Ruggerio, ’81. In 1980, I joined the team with Steve Gronheim, ’84, and Paul Maturka, ’82. Larry Ruggerio became de facto team captain and coach. In 1980, cycling was an unknown quantity. Who had heard of the Giro d ‘Italia or Vuelto a Espana? Larry did his best to put us through

Tony Marietta, 70

Since 1975, selling Colorado homes, homesites, and recreational properties.

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the paces on off-intramural days by leading intervals at 28 mph in front of Falcon Stadium, wringing the most from the paltry 50-75 miles we were able to ride each week. On weekends we raced against guys named Davis Phinney and Andy Hamsten. They had the training time available to ride 200-plus miles per week in addition to the 100-mile races on Saturdays. Our lack of training time made it difficult for the USAFA cycling team to fare well against those soon-tobe titans of US cycling, riders who would go on to compete professionally in the Giro d ‘Italia, Vuelto a Espana and Tour de France against the likes of Greg LeMond. What we needed back then to become competitive was LOS, but I suspect cycling was viewed as too “bohemian” to be considered a “real sport.” I’m glad to hear that the current generation of cadets can finally compete on a level racecourse!

Chris Mannion, Class ofl983

Quality and Content

The September 2011 Checkpoints is the best version I’ve read in all of my years as an AOG member. The quality and content of the articles were superb. I commend everyone responsible.

Eugene S. Richardson Class of1974

Letters Submission Guidelines

Checkpoints welcomes letters from its readers. Please limit your submission to 250 words. For your letter to be considered, you must include your name and graduating year, if you are an Academy graduate. Letters should be e-mailed to editor@aogusafa.org. Checkpoints reserves the right to edit all submissions.

STAFF DIRECTORY

3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475, (719) 472-0300

THE ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES To e-mail a staff member, use the first and last name. Example: Gary Howe gary.howe@aogusafa.org

AOG EXECUTIVE OFFICE

PRESIDENT & CEO Will iam "T" Thompson, 73, Ext. 101 (t.thompson@aogusafa.org)

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Gary Howe, '69, Ext. 107

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FORBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Marty Marcolongo, '88, Ext. 146

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Alton Parrish, Ext 123

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Hadassa M unoz, Ext. 106

FINANCE

ACCOUNTANT Joyce Love, Ext. 110

SENIOR ACCOUNTING CLERK Janice Baca, Ext. 111

COMMUNICATIONS

SR. VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS Bob McAllister, Ext. 142

SENIOR EDITOR David Bergeman, Ext. 143

EDITOR/PHOTOGRAPHER Lewis Carlyle, Ext. 140

SENIOR DESIGNER Sarah Larrabee, Ext. 144

CLASS NEWS & OBITUARY EDITOR Tom Kroboth, Ext. 133

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Beth Wade, Ext.134

ALUMNI AFFAIRS

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ALUMNI AFFAIRS Corrie Grubbs, Ext. 105

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Wayne Taylor, Ext.150

DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT RELATIONS Stella Grayson, '99, 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

THE ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BOARD CHAIR Terry Storm, '61

VICE CHAIR Brian Binn, 72

SECRETARY Bob Munson, 73

TREASURER Jack Fry, '67

Rip Blaisdell, '62

Vic Andrews, '66

Roger Carleton, '67

Bruce Wright, 73

Kathleen Rock, '98

Rosenow, '03

Schmuck, '88 Steve Beasley,

THE USAFA ENDOWMENT To e-mail a staff member, use the first and last name. Example: MarkHille mark.hille@usafaendowment.org

PRESIDENT & CEO Gen. (Ret.) Stephen R. Lorenz, 73 (steve.lorenz@usafaendowment.org)

VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT Mark Hille, '97, Ext. 202

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Ruth Reichert, Ext. 206

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Dennis Scruggs, Ext. 203

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT Greg Knedler, Ext. 224

DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING Patricia O'Connor, Ext. 221

DIRECTOR OF MAJOR GIFTS Jimmy Martello, '00, 719.229.4202

MAJOR GIFT OFFICER Dale Zschoche, 719.238.7510

MAJOR GIFT OFFICER Jason Huber, 719.330.9660

LEADERSHIP ANNUAL GIVING OFFICER Jen Lawrence, 719.332.0060

CLASS

MATCHING

DEVELOPMENT

STAFF

The season of giving is here. Now is the perfect time for graduates, parents and friends to proudly come together and contribute to the Air Force Academy Fund. Gifts to the Air Force Academy Fund are 100% tax-deductible and support annual Academy programs, AOG graduate services and the ongoing mission ofthe USAFA Endowment. Don't miss out on this opportunity to give back to the institution that has given our nation so much. It is vitally important that you make your gift before the end of 2011 because we provide funding to the Academy based on the annual totals calculated

To make a gift, visit our online end-of-year gift guide at www.usafa.org/eoy or call (719) 472-0300 ext. 200.

Academy Award winner visits the Air Force Ac

Story and photos by Lewis Carlyle

he lively crowd roars into the crisp mountain air as the Air Force Falcons get ready to take on the West Point Black Knights for the right to claim the coveted Commanderin-Chief’s Trophy. No empty seat remains in Falcon Stadium as a collection offighter jets thunder overhead, breaking into a verticle climb that sends the earsplitting jitters ofAmerican pride into the hearts ofall who watch. The jumbotron scoreboard comes to life at the south endzone and the giant screen is filled with a familiar, smiling face peering down at the crowd.

“Greetings football fans! My name is Cuba GoodingJr. and I playMajor Emanuelle Stance, a fighter pilot and Tuskegee Airman in the upcoming Lucasfilm production ofRed Tails. On behalfofthe Air Force Academy Association ofGraduates, I would like to thank the men and women who serve our nation with honor. Your commitment ensures the freedom we enjoy. And to all ofthefixture officers among us today, know that you will go on to make us proud. Welcome to thin air! Lets play some football!”

The crowd ignites into a fury of excitement as the message settles across the stadium. The Falcons take the field and prepare to do battle on the gridiron. The matchup for the trophy begins amid a deluge ofAmerican pride andthe Falcons go on to win the game 24 to 14, retain their coveted prize and earn another trip to the White House.

Jump back to the Friday before the Army-Air Force football game to where Cuba GoodingJr. is stepping onto the terrazzo for a personal visit to the Academy. The movie star stands six feet tall, dressed in a custom-tailored suit and overcoat to guard against the chilly mountain air (a strong departure from the warm sunny days ofhis home in Los Angeles). Gooding does not make it ten feet before he is noticed by a crowd ofcadets, all ofwhom begin chanting his

name and bobbing up and down like so many excited puppies. Cameras and iPhones materialize out of pockets and the cadets get theirfirst taste of a celebrity up close. The star shakes hands and pauses for photos before embarking on his tour ofthe campus.

Gooding has shared the screen with some of Hollywood’s living legends, including Dustin Hoffman, Robert DeNiro and Jack Nicholson. Yet he is perhaps best known for playing the trash-talking NFL wide receiver Rod Tidwell along side Tom Cruise in Cameron Crowe’s modern classic,Jerry McGuire. The famous scene in which Cruise and Gooding banter back and forth over the phone produced one of cinemas most indelible catch phrases, “show me the money!” Even though the movie is now over a decade old, these four words seem to follow Gooding around wherever he goes, his adoring fans spouting them off from every possible angle as he makes his way around the terrazzo and eventually Falcon Stadium.

Gooding’s role in Jerry McGuire earned him an Academy Award for best supporting actor and opened doors that would lead his career in a much different direction from the whimsical dramatic comedy which had put him on the map. He took on a string of military roles, including petty officer Doris Miller in Pearl Harbor and Chief Carl Brashear, along side Robert DeNiro in Men of Honor. Gooding’s military roles tend to have the common thread ofAfrican American servicemen who overcome the prejudices set in place by the dark stains of racism and segregation which tarnish American history.

In his latest role, Gooding plays Major Emanuelle Stance, a commander and Tuskegee Airman in the upcoming Lucasfilm production ofRed Tails, the epic story ofhow the experimental all African-American flying unit took to the skies ofEurope to dominate the Luftwaffe’s attempts to combat Allied bombing campaigns during World War II. The movie, due out

in January of2012, was the impetus ofGoodings visit to the Air Force Academy.

Just as the Tuskegee Airmen played a pivotal role in protectingAllied bombers over Germany, Gooding is playing his part in building morale for military service men and women the world over. “I feel so helpless sometimes,” the actor admits during a conversation with Commandant ofCadets, Brigadier General Rich Clark, ‘86. “Anything I can do to help bring our servicemen morale, I’m up for it. Movie role, appearance, even a hand shake, I jump at it.”

Clark is quick to respond. “Men ofHonor, the Tuskegee Airmen, all of the military roles you play really do inspire people.”

In an era where our men and women are laying down their lives on a daily basis against a vicious and cowardly insurgency in Iraq andAfghanistan, morale can sometimes be hard to come by. The notion of triumph, be it one Naval officers quest to become an elite diver, or a majors fight for racial equality in the cockpit, has been portrayed with dignity under Gooding’s careful stewardship ofthe military uniform. His roles have given hope to those who serve.

Back on the terrazzo, Gooding emerges from a tour ofSijan Hall and heads for the honor court to visit the statue ofthe Tuskegee Airman. He chats with a cadet along the way. “I’ll never forget, it was a couple days after 9-11—I was watching a hockey game and “The Star Spangled Banner” started playing. I wept. I’ve heard the song all my life, but now it was something personal.”

As the entourage passes in front ofcadets who are lining up for the search and rescue demonstration set to take place on the terrazzo, the lively students cannot contain themselves. The crowds break into chants of admiration as the actor passes by. Gooding’s energy is palpable. He breaks rank from the entourage and runs directly into the cheering masses ofcadets, slapping hands and shouting along side the now ecstatic fans. It takes a moment for him to dislodge from the swarm ofcadets, and then it’s on to the next destination.

The following day at the football game, Gooding pays a visit to the GORONA tailgate taking

place just outside the stadium. Here he is met by the Chiefof Staffof the Air Force, Gen. Norton Schwartz, ’73, who showed just as much enthusiasm as the bright-eyed cadets from the day before.

Taking the field just before the game, Gooding presented a special Tuskegee Airmen coin that was used during the pregame coin toss. As the Falcons and the Black Knights took their sides, the actor watched intently from the sidelines as the two teams collided on the field. Intent on meeting more service personnel, Gooding spent considerable time personally conversing with wounded warriors from across all service branches. From there, he made a lap around the field, throwing a quick volley of boxing jabs to further ignite an already explosive cadet crowd. He was even careful not to leave out the adoring section ofWest Point cadets who had made the trip from New York.

As the entourage made its way from the field up through the stands towards the skybox, Gooding was

serenaded from all sides by ecstatic on-lookers. Climbing the grandstands was slow progress as glowing fans yelled out their favorite Gooding one-liners from his history ofmovie roles. Recollections ofRadio, Pearl Harbor, Men ofHonor, the indelibleJerry McGuire and even Snow Dogspierced the chilly air. The star was met by civilians, police officers, fire fighters, security guards, mothers, fathers, friends and family and all wore the same ear-to-ear smile as they made contact with the screen legend. Both service members and civilians swelled with pride, seeing the familiar smiling face which brought life and inspiration to so many unforgettable roles. Gooding continued on, stopping for pictures as though he were old friends with every stranger to come along, leaving a wake ofpanting and inspired people in his path. His first visit to the Air Force Academy had touched many lives. During the three tumultuous days ofenduring excited fans, he never turned down a single handshake. Em

ImpWmm

PAGEANTRY, CADET STYLE

THE CADET WING ENJOYS A CINEMATIC SNEAK PEAK

BY DAVID BERGEIVIAN

n November 20th and 21 st the stars were out at 0800, at least on the silver screen, as over 2500 cadets, VIPs and community leaders were privy to an exclusive screening of the upcoming Lucasfilm feature, Red Tails. Falcon Stadium dominated the horizon to the west of the Hollywood Theaters parking lot as a camouflaged, 200-yard queue ofjovial cadets awaited their turn to pass through theater security. Security was thorough, as the Cadet Wing would be treated to one ofthe first public screenings ofRed Tails which is set to be released in January, 2012. Despite a short wait in the brisk fall air, cadet energy was high. “It’s nice to come down here on a Monday morning,” said C2C Daniel McAdams, “because normally we would be sitting on base doing school or training.”

Once inside, the cadets were ushered to one ofthe eighteen screens that would be presenting the film. AOG President and CEO William “T” Thompson, ’73, addressed each group ofcadets before the curtain went up. “I want to publicly thank Lucasfilm for allowing us to show this on your behalf,” said Thompson. “I also want to thank 20th Century Fox, Hollywood Theaters, the National Museum of World War II Aviation, the Commandants staff, and the staff at the AOG, especially Bob McAllister, for diligentlyworking to pull this together for you. Your AOG has a direct impact on the Academy, and more specifically the Cadet Wing. One way or another, we touch every one ofyour lives. And here we are this morning, in conjunction with the Commandant of Cadets, bringing you another special opportunity.”

Red Tails which was inspired by the heroic story ofthe Tuskegee Airmen, pops with visually dazzling dogfights and a touching narrative that impressed several of the real Tuskegee Airmen who

were in attendance. As for the cadets, they were equally delighted with the film. C1C Kevin Brady provided some succinct film criticism that seemed to be representative of the Cadet Wings general appraisal, “Really good film, a lot ofgood history; some great acting.”

For C1C Ryan Henderson, the film allowed him to reflect on some research he has done on the Tuskegee Airmen. Henderson had the opportunity to meet a number ofAirmen at a conference in Washington D.C. earlier this year. “A lot of them are really humble about what it is they did when you would ask them about it,” he said. “Many of them really loved flying. They really didn’t talk about the detractors, as far as the adversity they had to go up against, but they really emphasized what it is they did for their country.” Henderson enjoyed the movie and was especially happy to see that it provided some information on the Airmen’s record, as far as protecting bombers, medals won, and the pilots who sacrificed their lives.

The event was the culmination of lots of hard work and coordination from the AOG staff, which included everything from bringing Cuba Gooding Jr. to the Academy for a visit, to making the film screening a reality for the Cadet Wing. The effort paid off in spades, as the cadets were ecstatic about the entire experience. C2C Joy Johnson was one of the cadets to have lunch and dinner with Cuba Gooding Jr. during his visit. “To get to see him on film, and then actually get to spend time with him in person,” she smiled, “two very different people. It was great to see the actor portray the historical figure.’’

When the final credit had rolled, most everyone went home happy. Before heading back to the Academy, C3C Eunice Park summarized her morning at the movies. “I think the film was awesome. It’s very inspirational,” she said. “I’m so glad that the AOG was willing to do this tor us.” H

AYoung Grad Gives Back

By Ahn Tillery

MICHAEL GISMONDI, ’98, works in the financial services industry and resides in New York City with his wife, Jenienne. He is currently a partner and the Chief Financial Officer of a global alternative investment firm. His responsibilities include oversight of trading, operations, finance and risk management for thefirm’s offices in New York, Hong Kong, Tokyo and London. He holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst and is a certified Financial Risk Manager by the Global Association of Risk Professionals. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the Managed Funds Association.

Michael recently joined the United States Air Force Academy Endowment as its youngest Founding Director, and took a moment to share his thoughts on what inspired his decision and the importance of staying connected to his alma mater.

Could you please tell us a little about your background, and what inspired you to attend the Air Force Academy?

I grew up as one of three kids. My father worked for a national steel company, so our family moved around quite a bit, living in San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, and Charlotte, North Carolina. My sister pursued a career as a doctor of internal medicine, and my brother and I attended the Air Force Academy. He graduated with the Class of 1994, and is currently a lieutenant colonel at Kirtland Air Force Base. I graduated in 1998 and served as a finance officer for two years at Yokota Air Base in Japan, and I have been working

in investment banking and finance in New York City for the past decade.

There was not a significant military background in my family, but there were a few things that influenced my decision to attend the Academy. The biggest was my brother who was always a role model for me and I saw how the Academy transformed him during his four years there. His experience inspired me to want to serve in general, while the Air Force Academy met two of my main criteria for school which were an ability to keep playing soccer and studying engineering. It seemed like a unique opportunity to have the best of both worlds—Division I athletics and one of the top engineering schools in the nation.

How did your experiences at the Academy shape you?

After a couple ofsurgeries, I was medicallydischarged as a second lieutenant. I would have preferred to stay in the Air Force and serve my commitment, but unfortunately that was not an option for me.

So, my four years at the Academy have had an even more meaningful impact on my life. In fact, most of my closest friends to this date are Academy classmates scattered around the world. Some of them are still active duty; many others are serving in the Guard and Reserves.

I really have to give special credit to the leadership training that I received at the Academy. In the financial field where I work, not many individuals have the specific training in motivating and managing large, diverse groups of people. The industry is marked by

very smart people, but having those leadership qualities or the ability to inspire others provides a helpful edge that sets one apart from the rest.

Speaking ofimpact, how do you envision the Academy contributing to our nation today?

I think it is fair to say that we are all currently dealing with an increasingly complex set ofchallenges that affect us on many levels—economically, culturally, and politically. We are going through some very trying times that are likely to get tougher in the coming months, and which may even challenge our cohesiveness as a nation. At the moment, I can see that the need for strong leadership is absolutely critical, and I predict the graduates of our Academy will play a big role in addressing these challenges. We have seen strong military leaders come from the Air Force Academy but, ultimately, its goal is to produce leaders ofall kinds for our nation, in government and in business. Every year, our Academy accesses some ofthe most incredibly talented and committed young people our nation has to offer, a resource that we must carefully nurture.

Additionally, I think we must also pay attention to building strong, ongoing support for our networks for graduates. We are definitely one of the younger higher education institutions, without the long history ofgrads or the infrastructure that other schools have. The AOG has always provided support in bringing grads together and enabling them to stay connected, but we must continue to develop more ways to complement what they do.

And, given the brevity ofmy military career, I wasn’t able to develop an extensive network of connections that grow naturally over time. Still, I sense an importance to maintaining a deep connection to the Academy and to my fellow grads, while helping others find success as they transition from the Air Force.

Did these factors contribute to your decision to join the USAFAEndowment as a Founding Director?

Yes, they did. I first met jimmy Martello, the Director of Major Gifts for the Endowment, at an Air Force—Army football game. I normally host a tailgate at West Point for those games; it’s close enough that Jenienne and I can easily invite other Academy grads to come with us. I wasn’t aware of how the Endowment and the AOG had recently refined their roles and functions in supporting the Academy and, after hearing more about it from Jimmy, I became more interested.

I was especially impressed by the greater level of transparency in giving that is now available. When you make a contribution to the Academy through the Endowment, there is a high level of accountability for how you want the funds directed and the impact they are making. I think this makes it an improved vehicle for donors to contribute to specific things that they personally feel are important.

For example, while I was at the Academy, I enjoyed playing soccer, and a lot ofmy close friends were on the rugby team. Our time as student-athletes was an essential part ofmyAcademy experience. Some of these programs did not always have the resources we could have hoped for, but the Endowment provides a direct way to make sure programs like this continue to flourish at the Academy. We can help make opportunities available to the cadets that will positively shape their own experiences.

I hope others begin to understand how focused the Endowment is on making this happen. When I came back to the Academy recently to participate in my first Endowment board meetings, I was deeply impressed by the group. Each individual hadcollected a long list of accomplishments in the military, in their professions, and in their communities. I was doubly impressed by the group’s

Gismondi (right of Bernanke) at a meeting with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke (center of table).

The USAFA Endowments Our Purpose

Every year, the Air Force Academy rigorously trains and educates cadets for one purpose: to develop outstanding leaders of character for the nation. Increasingly, the resources available to the Academy, like all public institutions, are inadequate to keep pace with the requirements of a modern university, especially one like ours. Federal and state-sponsored institutions can no longer solely rely on their public funding to attract the best minds and to provide the best educational experience. The Academy, like all other great public universities, now needs significant private support to maintain its status as an elite institution.

The United States Air Force Academy Endowment was established to help meet those needs. The Endowment is a unique charitable foundation designed to make the act of giving to the Academy as personally fulfilling and efficient as possible for every donor. Our purpose is simple: to provide private funds in support of the Air Force Academy's mission of developing leaders of character for the Air Force and the nation.

We work closely with graduates, families and friends of the Academy to provide support for a variety of programs like cadets clubs, intramural sports, innovative academic programs, character and leadership development, and summer research and internship programs for cadets. We also support projects that are identified as key priorities by the Academy; for example, the recently completed Holaday Athletic Center, which is the largest 100 percent privately funded capital project in the Academy's history to date.

emotional commitment to serving the Academy, as well as how much of their personal resources they are investing in this effort. I was inspired to join in.

The Endowment has a singular, focused mission that empowers grads to participate. They are greatly expanding the cadet leadership opportunities at the Academy. Whether it’s through our commitments of financial support, time, guidance, or experience, I feel that we have a great opportunity to help future generations of grads throughout their lives and careers. It’s not about waiting until you’re retired in order to contribute. It’s crucial to get involved early and give whatever you can to make an impact sooner than later.

Your wife, Jenienne, is also very involved in supporting the Academy.

Jenienne currently works as a nurse and understands the importance of service. She was never a military spouse because I was out of the service before we met, but her sister is married to one of my best friends and classmates. He is still in the Air Force reserve, and he’s deployed often. Fortunately, our close proximity to them allows Jenienne to be with her sister and her nieces more when he is gone. My brother is still active duty, so we are surrounded by the military culture. It has a direct impact on our lives. Jenienne knows my closest friends are Academy people. She’s deeply supportive and wants to help out in any way possible. We want to give back to the Academy for the education, experience and friendships it provided me, and we are fortunate enough to be able to do so through contributions to the Endowment. We are excited about being part of a growing community ofsupport, where we can all get in at the ground level to create the culture we want to see at the Academy. B

Michael Gismondi, ’98, and his wife, Jenienne, in Times Square.

“We have a lot ofpeople who come to this club not knowing how to climb,” says C1C Logan Lastovica. “This ends up becoming a huge confidence builder for them. If a beginner sees people climbing around on a vertical cliff or traversing a knife edge ridge up on a fourteener, he might be inclined to think: ‘there’s no way I could ever do that.’ But once we challenge these people to get past their fears, the feeling of accomplishment is amazing. Having the confidence to succeed against a challenge you thought you could never overcome is a great trait to have as an Air Force officer.”

Each club member has his or her own reasons for becoming a part of the outdoor culture. For some, it’s the exhilaration ofsolving a difficult route on a climbing wall; for others, it’s the feeling ofsheer freedom one gets from standing atop one of Colorado’s 55 peaks which rise above 14,000 feet, or two and a halfvertical miles above sea level.

“1 enjoy the mental challenges of rock climbing because it’s like a giant puzzle,” Lastovica says. “You’re working your way up this wall that you’ve encountered for the first time and you don’t really know what’s coming. It provides a physical and mental challenge all at once. I also really like the idea of going places that not everyone has been to before, especially when it comes to the mountains. I’m from Texas and we don’t have a whole lot of mountains; it’s such a different environment from what I grew up in.”

Patrick Waters comes from a legacy of outdoorsmen, including his father. “My dad, Robert Waters, ’82, was in the Mountaineering Club at USAFA in the 1970s. Years ago he took me climbing when I was a kid and that’s what sparked my interest in the sport.”

In addition to offering cadets a release from the rigors of military life at the Academy, the

Our whole purpose is to enjoy and to give back to nature

In return, nature gives us experiences, stories and fun.

Mountaineering Club also provides them an opportunity to give back to thelocal community. Patrick explains, “Some of us have the chance to work hand-in-hand with Teller County Search and Rescue operations. Were not only helping the community, but we’re also learning new skills from trained professionals. I think these aspects of the club will help cadets become better officers because it gives us the opportunity to work with our civilian counterparts and to provide a foundation of service to the community.”

C3C Chloe Waham is among the more experienced mountaineers in theclub. “I got into search

and rescue a few years ago,” she recalls. “My favorite part about it is that it’s always about someone else. We’re using the skills we’ve learned to help others. It’s great being a part of a community whose sole focus is giving someone else a second shot at life.”

Chloe indicates a strong interest in continuing her search and rescue efforts as an officer in the Air Force. “People think it’s rough being outside because mother nature is unpredictable or even unfair, but this sport is all about your knowledge and your skill. Ifyou can do it, the mountain will always be there waiting.” D>

Above: C2C Patrick Waters traverses a bouldering route at Garden ofthe Gods Park.

Yet another element that cadets are able to draw from their mountaineering experience is the art of self reliance.There are no locker rooms at 14,000 feet—no baseball dugouts, water coolers or aid stations. When entering an alpine environment, a mountaineer and his team take only what they can carry and must be fully selfsustaining for the duration of their journey. This includes both knowledge and supplies. On any given trip, a climber must know how to belay both herself and a fellow climber, set up safety anchors in the rock, rappel from a cliff face, administer first aid, search for a fallen comrade in pitch dark, prevent frostbite and guard against a myriad ofother nasty physical conditions which can arise when humans are subjected to sub-zero temperatures and extremely hostile environments.

Despite the alarming number offactors which make the great outdoors a dangerous venture, the cadets who dare to set ice axe to snow are seasoned with the survival knowledge that empowers their journeys and fuels their lust for adventure. “Our whole purpose is to enjoy and to give back to nature,” Patrick says. “In return, nature gives us experiences, stories and fun. I love mountaineering because when you’re at altitude, covered in snow in sub zero temperatures, freezing with your buddies as you drink cider from a pot you lugged up 14,000 feet of trail, it reminds you ofhow fragile life really is. It brings us closer to something bigger than ourselves.”

Above: C1C Logan Lastovica negotiates a mountaineering rout on Pikes Peak.

Center: C3C Chloe Waham climbs a chute at 11,800 ft.

Right: C2C Hayden Richards plunges chest-deep in snow during an expedition.

Integrity Service.

A story written byyou and instilled by the Academy

For over 50 years, Jostens has crafted the USAFA story into each piece of jewelry. It’s your chapter of the story—share it proudly.

Introducing the new wedding bands, contoured for a perfect fit with your Academy class ring.

Developing leaders of character has never been more important

Your Sabre Society level gift to the Air Force Academy Fund will provide the best possible resources in support of the Academy, its cadets, and the graduate community. The Academy's mission-developing leaders of character for our nation-is simply too important to leave to federal funding alone. The bridge between sufficiency and excellence is built by private funding. Generous contributions from graduates, parents and friends enable the AOG and USAFA Endowment to fulfill their missions of supporting the Academy.

Make your gift today!

For more information, contact the Endowment at (719) 472-0300 ext 200 or sadresociety@usafaendowment.org.

Job searches designed exclusively for service

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

JSAJE JSAJE for Alumni - Joint Service Academy Jobs Electronically is an exclusive Web site designed to allow you to browse through job listings and contact employers. It contains a resume repository for graduates who are in an active transition mode, and a job retriever for those who prefer to remain in a passive mode.

JSAJE For the Employers - JSAJE is also an exclusive job Web site designed for companies in corporate America to advertise their career opportunities directly to service academy alumni. Companies may also purchase access to a repository of resumes of graduates in an active transition mode.

An online Service Academy Business Resource Directory with over 37,400 active profiles from USAFA, USCGA, USMA, USMMA, and USNA. An excellent resource for advertising, career networking, building business connections.

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

The next SACC will be held at the Hyatt Regency Savannah, Two West Bay Street, Savannah, Ga. Call (912) 238-1234 for reservations and ask for the SACC rate.

SACC Schedule of Events

Thursday, March 1

How to Work the SACC Job Fair.... 5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.

Candidate Career Seminar 6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

Friday, March 2

Registration

SACC

9:15 a.m. - All day

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

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

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

Saturday, March 3

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

The SACC candidate registration fee is $40. Register online and upload your resume at www.sacc-jobfair.com. Resumes must be one page/one sided. Do not fax your resume. Registration deadline is February 20, 2012.

Walk-in registrations will also be accepted on the day of the conference. Walk-in registration fee is $45 and may be paid by check or cash.

Next Scheduled SACC Washington D.C., May 24-25, 2012

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

A Break in the Storm

USAFA’s K-12 STEM outreach center works to engage southern Colorado’s youth by David Bergeman

h2005, the National Academy ofSciences (NAS) issued a sobering call to action titled, “RisingAbove the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future.” This watershed treatise disseminated grave warnings to the country’s literati; ifimmediate measures were not taken to enhance the state ofAmericas math and science education, our country’s ability to compete globally in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields would continue to diminish at an alarming pace.

This was, and remains, discouraging on many levels. Consider: STEM jobs have grown at a rate three times faster than non-STEM jobs over the past decade. Additionally, STEM workers earn 26% more than their non-STEM peers and enjoy greater job stability. STEM has produced a ray of sunshine in an otherwise stormy economic time.

Education is the key to seizing these STEM opportunities; more than two thirds of STEM workers have a degree, as opposed to less than one third ofnon-STEM workers. Yet, due to a decades long cocktail ofsystemic failure ranging from lack ofgovernment support to deficiencies in curriculum and teacher training, the country doesn’t currently have the ability to capitalize on the STEM surge. In fact, the U.S. has fallen to 52nd in the World Economic Forum’s quality ofmath and science education rankings. Another downright disturbing fact: one in five STEM workers is foreign born.

Back at the Academy, the implications of the NAS report landed with a thud. USAFA has a proud history of STEM outreach dating back to the institution’s infancy; the work that has been done serves as a point ofpride and emphasis up on the Terrazzo. Two of the Academy’s STEM crusaders who took great heed to the NAS report were Engineering Division Chair, Col. Neal Barlow, along with Col. Rob Fredell.

The report gnawed at Col. Fredell as he contemplated the next step toward tackling the STEM education enigma. Enter Dr. Billy Crisler, Director of the recently formed USAFA K-12 STEM

Outreach Center. Col. Fredell approached Crisler in the fall of 2008 to help him address the NAS report from an Academy perspective.

“Fie didn’t know that I had taught high school for two years. He didn’t know that I had been an enterprise business development manager at Harris Corporation. He had no idea that I was the guy that he needed,” Crisler laughed.

Since that time, Crisler has worked to breach the paradigm surrounding Academy STEM outreach in pursuit of best practices andnovel approaches. He likens the Academy to a “consumer” and “refiner” of STEM talent, which he conceded is part of the solution, but not an end all. “We need to be on the supply side,” said Crisler.

But how to do that? “My role is finding resources and bringing them to bear on some ofthese problems,” he continued. These resources include money, ofwhich Crisler has helped bring $300,000 annually to the Academy courtesy of a National Defense Education program-virtually all ofthe money goes to programs “outside the gate.” Crisler is also an adept networker, “I’m very happy if I can just make aphone call and introduce a person with a need with a person who wants to help,” he said.

Another invaluable resource is the Cadet Wing. Crisler explained, “IfI go out to school, you know

Members

"Every engineer you meet can tell you that there was a day that they realized that, not only could they do STEM, but that it was fun."

what it looks like to thekids. Its just another old guy coming to talk about something their teacher has been talking about and they’re bored to tears,” he chuckles, “The cadets go out and its like they’re rock stars.”

One of those “rock stars” is C2C Victor Lopez. Lopez is the STEM Club president and one of its founders. He’s a classic go-getter, the type of bright-eyed, energetic cadet that young kids are drawn to. A 2009 Coca-Cola Scholarship winner, Lopez generated the idea for a STEM Clubwhile watching a short-lived television show called “School Pride.” It was a program where kids and teachers assisted in remodeling their hard-up schools. One particular episode featured college volunteers from Harvard and Yale. Lopez wondered, “Why can’t we do that?”

Lopez has major philanthropic designs, but he realized he needed to start small. He decided his first step in helping kids in the community would be by starting a STEM club, which could unify cadet volunteers from across different areas of study. Now with 30 members, the club works to donate time to any STEM related project that may need cadet support.

An example of their work is a recent youth science carnival in which the cadets demonstrated some fun science experiments and helped kids complete their own projects. “We had a smorgasbord ofgreat things for the cadets to do. We had gliders, we had satellites, we had space blankets, we had rockets,” said a beaming Lopez. “It was really getting the kids excited about all of these science, engineering and math majors.”

Crisler lauds these types of events, “Every engineer you meet can tell you that there was a day that they realized that, not only could they do STEM, but that it was fun,” he continued, “It could be the day they took a lawnmower apart and put it back together with their dad. It could be the day they set something on hre and it smelled bad and everybody got excited. Every single one of them had what we call that kindle the hre experience.”

“Kindle the hre” is a turn of phrase born of Plutarch’s “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a hre to be kindled.” C2C Lopez is a perfect illustration of this maxim. His moment of ignition came in high school, “To me, STEM is very important because I almost didn’t pursue STEM.”

After his sophomore year, the Houston native had two divergent job opportunities. The hrst was to create music videos while interning for a rapper named Chamillionaire. The second was a summer job at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Summer came andthe rapper never replied to his emails or calls, as it turns out the production company had run out of money and gone under. Fortunately, another strong STEM mind would be kindled as Lopez took the position with NASA.

of the USAFA STEM Club help children make paper airplanes. (U.S. Air Force photo)

C2C Victor Lopez volunteering at a local science festival.

“Around that time I decided that video production was more of a hobby and STEM, engineering and math is where I wanted to be,” said Lopez, who is majoring in Astronautical engineering, “because that’s what’s going to help our country to continue being number one. For me, not seeing enough kids get excited about this, seeing young girls be demotivated and not having enough role models, seeing underprivileged kids from low socio-economic backgrounds not have leadership androle models they can follow, that to me is heartbreaking.”

One of the people who is helping get cadets like Lopez out into the community is Dr. Ron Furstenau, ’78. Furstenau positively exudes excitement for STEM; it’s not difficult to imagine why kids find him and his work enthralling. Fie has been a chemistry professor at the Academy for 26 years and has been integral to numerous STEM outreach activities such as the Academy’s wildly popular Chemical Magic Show. “We probably do close to 60 or 70 of those a year now. So we do lots of Chemical Magic Shows. I personally do about 30 or 40 of those a year,” said Furstenau. The program brings cool chemistry demonstrations into local classrooms. Think smoke, explosions andfrozen carnations shattering like glass. The kids go crazy.

“What you’re really trying to do is spark their imagination, to let them do things and see things that they’ve never seen before,” Furstenau reiterated. “It’s important to me because that’s our future. We want these kids growing up to be our scientists and engineers. In the United States, technology in particular is getting very competi

tive and there’s no reason that we want to rely on other countries-the Chinese, the Japanese, the Indians-to be our driver for technology. We want our own people to be able to do that.”

STEM outreach is vast and varied at the Academy, taking many forms that include everything from hosting teacher boot camps to providing chemistry and engineering workshops for girl scouts. Last September, the Academy donated a YJ69-T-9 turbojet engine to Denver Public Schools for use in preparing kids for a career in aviation. It’s all work that has led to Crisler winning the Federal Laboratory Consortium’s Mid-Continent Region 2011 STEM Mentorship Award.

These are all great things that are helping stem STEM’s problems locally, so to speak. It is not, however, the Academy’s objective to run STEM outreach in New Mexico, or Nebraska, or even in Denver. Crisler is working to build something bigger, something more sustainable, “I would much rather create a program that we can bring to other areas and say, ‘Here’s how we talked to the mayor. Here’s how we talked to theschool board. Here’s how we got local industry involved. Now you go solve your community’s problems.

In the end, it’s all about helping the kids and finding solutions to a very complex dilemma. In the future, the Academy hopes to lead the charge. 9

C2C Yasmin Sarmiento shows a group of Daisy Scouts how to create a sudsy reaction by placing dry ice into soapy water. (Photo by Dr. Ronald Furstenau)

Dr. Billy Crisler, Director of the USAFA K-12 STEM Outreach Center, recently won the Federal Laboratory Consortium Mid-Continent Region 2011 STEM Mentorship Award. (U.S. Air Force Photo/David Edwards)

Building a Strong Community Together

WITH YOUR ACADEMY

| UfP BLUEE club was specifically designed and organized by the Association of Graduates to give you, or your business, special access and the ability to participate in many of the exciting activities that happen at your Air Force Academy. As a TRUE BLUE member you will have the opportunity to save on merchandise at the AOG and the Visitor Center, and rent Doolittle Hall (the AOG Alumni house) at a discount for special functions like meetings or weddings. You'll also enjoy discounts through our travel programs, attend special events with cadets, parents, and Academy staff, and take advantage of so much more! Every two weeks you will receive our electronic newsletter ZoomiEnews, which highlights timely news, events, and activities around the Academy. Every other week you will receive our new 7258' electronic publication highlighting AOG events. Each quarter you will also receive our award winning magazine Checkpoints, which provides more in depth feature articles. You'll find interesting stories about cadets, graduates, staff and administration. There will also be local restaurant reviews, community interest stories, and information on the many exciting events taking place at this great institution.

ft C Mm VI ? t Y l HJ to become more involved, have an active presence in your Academy and take advantage of the wonderful opportunities this unique establishment provides.

If you are in business or you want the benefits of a more exclusive level, you'll want to join our TRUE BLUE BUSINESS 1000 club. The BUSINESS 1000 club is designed as a select and elite club of Academy friends and sponsors who are interested in receiving unprecedented access to Academy events and activities, while helping to directly support our cadets. TRUE BLUE BUSINESS 1000 club members receive:

» Special invitations to Association of Graduate and Academy events

An invitation to be our guest at our beautiful Football Sky Box at Falcon Stadium

■ A personal behind the scenes guided tour of the Cadet area for you and guests (currently restricted to the public)

■ Access to the stunning and highly ranked Eisenhower Golf Course

■ Elite sponsor recognition (limitations may apply)

■ Opportunity to attend the National Character and Leadership Symposium, Founders Day, and other high profile Academy events

■ Free online advertisement for 6 months with an additional 15% off an advertisement in one of our professional media venues of your choice (limitations may apply)

FAR AWAY, REMOTE, UNTOUCHABLE, ON THE OUTSKIRTS, AT THE TOP OF COLORADO SPRINGS:

All of these phrases have been associated with the Air Force Academy for too long. The truth is that the Air Force Academy is accessible and belongs to you. It has long produced men and women of leadership and character that contribute to both our local community and the nation. The Association of Graduates, the alumni organization for the Air Force Academy, takes pride in representing thousands of graduates, cadets, parents, administration, and community leaders from across the country and around the world. We would like to provide the opportunity for you in the community and in the business world to show your TRUEBLUE spirit and pride for this national treasure byjoining the elite Air Force Academy TRUEBLUE CLUB-Building a Strong Community Together!

PERSONAL GROWTH.

Henley-Putnam University is solely focused on Counterterrorism, Intelligence, Strategic Security and Protection Management degrees.

Our unique focus is on proactively preventing terrorist attacks and other threats to our nation, not merely reacting to them

Gusts of cool fall wind race across the wide pastures of the Academy’s southern open space as the mountains ofthe Front Range tower to the west, waiting to cast their long shadows across the land with the descending afternoon sun. The range is quiet except for the distinct patter of hooves in the distance. The sound becomes louder, quickly growing into a terrestrial thunder as seven horses and their cadet riders race past, dodging their way through a thicket ofprickly yucca bushes. The Academy Equestrian Team is enjoying a sunny Sunday afternoon with their furry counterparts, taking advantage of the clear weather to exercise in the vast expanse of Colorado trails and open space.

The fledgling equestrian organization has been making waves of recent with several cadet wins in Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Western Region competitions. Cadets on the team compete in a variety of events against other schools such as Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Texas—all ofwhich have decades of experience, gratuitous budgets and venerable winning records in the equestrian world. Despite its miniscule resources, the Academy program is thriving on the enthusiasm and hard work put in by both cadets and volunteers.

Dr. Mary Kelly is the faculty advisor for the program, which consists of both the Equestrian Team andthe Equestrian Club. Kelly is passionate about horses, and even more so about the sense of responsibility these animals instill in her cadets. Kelly explains, “The life we have for the cadets at the Air Force Academy is very much focused on them being competitive with other people and succeeding on their own. Horses get cadets away from that mentality. You have to get inside the horse’s head, and that’s what’s really

important. All of the cadets on the team understand one simple directive: horse care comes first, and then they get to ride. Chores get done first and that’s the priority.”

Kelly illustrates that most of the horses in the cadet program are rescue cases. “We’rethe last stop en route to the glue factory,” she says. “Several of our horses were abandoned because their previous owners couldn’t afford to pay for them (horses are expensive). Billy Jack Barrett runs the stables and he gave us a barn which had been used for storage. It’s a totally cadet run barn. The only horses allowed in there are the ones used for the cadet team. The cadets doall of the chores, which includes feeding twice a day, shoveling every night, blanketing, watering, grooming—the cadets pay for all of the vet care, all of the shoeing, everything.”

Back on the open range, the cadets lead their mounts to a small erosion gully where several dilapidated stone retaining wallsstand in crumbled heaps. It doesn’t take an expert to know that horses love jumping, which happens to be one of the primary events in any collegiate horse

rlorses are meant to be shared. Horses are meant to transcend all other things.^ -

competition. Team captain C1C Dayna Grant leads her horse Sly to the base of the gully. Once a wild mustang from the Sandwash basin, Sly has been under Grant’s care and guidance for a year. He has a compact, muscular build, a clever temperament and a love for the open range. Grant leads Sly up to the first retaining wall, which they bound over with ease.

“I was born in Canada,” Grant says, “and my father owned a cattle ranch so I spent summers riding with friends. As a cadet, this is a great outlet for me. It’s a complete escape from the cadet life. When we go down to the barn after class, it’s just us and the horses.”

Grant explains the importance of the connection between her and Sly, “You entrust this animal to carry you hundreds of miles on a trail ride into a new area, or to go into a competition against other colleges. That’s a big responsibility for both the horse and the rider.”

Competition is not something the cadets take lightly, and for good reason. What most people don’t know about

horse competition is that riders do not compete on their own horses. Instead, each competitor is matched up with a horse he or she has never ridden before. This element of the competition is designed to test a rider’s skill by removing any connection she may have with a familiar horse.

Dr. Kelly says, “The Equestrian Team is competitive in both English and Western riding styles. English competition tests riders on what is known as a flat class, consisting ofwalk, trot and canter. There’s also a jumping aspect. The kids run a course with jumps that range as high as a dinner table. You might think riding is riding, but Western class involves a completely different skill set.”

Derived from the early cattle ranchers ofAmerica, Western style can be traced back to the Spanish conquistadors who brought the first horses to North America. During the 1800s, cowboys spent long hours in the saddle driving cattle and often needed a hands-free approach to riding, should the need arise to shoot or lasso while mounted. Today, modern Western competitions borrow pieces of that history for riding events such as cutting, in which a horse and rider must select and separate a single cow from its herd.

In addition to competing on the collegiate circuit, the Academy’s equestrian program also holds several community service events each year. “We work closely with the families of deployed soldiers at Fort Carson,” Dr. Kelly says. “We host six family events per year, in which anyone, base-wide, can come up and get free pony rides. We also work with the Wounded Warrior program / t>

Kelly explains that her two goals for the team are to make sure that cadets are competitive both regionally and nationally; and to ensure that community involvement is at least 50 percent of the equation. “Horses are meant to be shared,” Kelly says. “Horses are meant to transcend all other things. Taking care of these animals builds such an amazing sense of responsibility among these cadets. Equine therapy has been proven world-wide to get you out ofyour own head and your own problems and allows you to focus on something else.”

Cadet Grant views the Equestrian Team as an all encompassing sport. “We have to participate on the team,” she says. “How well we do in competition affects the team as a whole. Then there’s the managerial aspects oftaking care of the barn and the horses themselves. We have 13 horses in our barn and that’s a big job.”

C3C Cole Donnelly is another team member who has been putting up some impressive standings in recent competitions. Another life-long animal lover, Donnelly explains, “Every horse has a different personality, and you pick up on that as you become

closer with them. We develop friendships with these animals, we understand one another. I’ve always loved animals and I started riding about 12 years ago; it just really clicked with me.”

Both Grant and Donnelly—like the other cadets on the team—have learned the value of responsibility in taking full-time care ofthese animals. Grant explains, “When we take on a new horse, we have to budget our own money for boarding and feeding and general care. That’s not something that most cadets experience here.”

“You can handle it,” Donnelly chimes in, “but only ifyou budget. It forces us to be more responsible with our money.”

Dr. Kelly reiterates that the entire program is comprised ofvolunteers, including Master Sergeant Travis Clawson, AMT for the 29th Cadet Squadron, and Former University ofWyoming coach, Kari Randle. “Now that Coach Randle is here,” Kelly says emphatically, “the difference in the team is phenomenal— because now we have someone who is dedicated to training the kids on the horses. Everyone is a volunteer, not one person gets paid a dime.’

Cadets exercise their horses across 18,000 acres ofAcademy open space.

Back on the Academy open space, Cadet Grant and Sly make short work of a few more jumps before the group rounds up to head for the barn. The horses walk steadily, their ears perked, their breath frosting in the chilly wind. “You can’t look into a horse’s eyes and know what he’s thinking,” Cadet Grant says as the riders make their way up the hill towards the south pasture gate. “There’s much more of a sensory relationship that takes place between horse and rider. It’s all based on feel and touch. You definitely have to be able to understand the animal in order to work with it. Sly was pulled out ofthe wild a year ago and he has a different personality than most horses because everything is new to him.”

Being away from animals is one ofthe hardest things cadets face during their time at the Academy. Aside from the occasional Security Forces K9 unit, the Terrazzo doesn’t see many animals on a regular basis. For those cadets who grew up with animals before coming to the Academy, losing that form ofcompanionship can be difficult to

cope with. Members ofthe Equestrian Team have managed to fill that void by taking on the role of caretakers at the Academy stables.

As the sun falls to the west, one is reminded of the familiar cinematic conclusion ofriders galloping into the sunset on a dusty western plain, their forms neatly silhouetted against a torrid sky. The scene fades to black to the tune of a tri urnphant orchestral score, leaving movie-goers with a resounding sense ofclosure. Despite this endearing metaphor offinality, this classic Hollywood ending is only true in fiction, for the sun also rises. As morning graces the stables, hungry animals poke their heads out of the stalls, their water basins licked dry, their fur matted, their muscles stiffand in need ofexercise. They wait longingly for their cadet companions to come and give them the care they need. Where one ride ends, another will always be waiting to begin anew. There are friendships to pursue, trails to explore, pastures to gallop and miles to go before they sleep. S

My Daddy is a Pilot by Tracy Lorenz

What does Daddy do when he goes to work as a pilot? Follow Daddy through his day. Learn about the airplane, the funny words pilots use, where they go, and most ofall how Daddy misses his child when he is gone.

Available at www.mascotbooks.com/childrens-books/my-daddy-is-a-pilot.

ISBN Number10: 1-936319-80-2, ISBN-13: 978-1-936319-80-0

ALL INCLUSIVE

AOG EVENTS

TAILGATE PARTIES

GRADUATION PARTIES

REUNION PARTIES

ENTERTAINMENT, LIGHTING & DJ'S

SPECIAL EVENTS

RETIREMENT PARTIES

FLORAL DESIGN & DECOR

THE PINERY AT THE HILL-DOWNTOWN

THE PINERY AT BLACK FOREST

THE PINERY CATERING

NCO reenlisted by former cadet he mentored at the Air Force Academy

By Master Sgt Jason Haag 55th Wing Public Affairs

Master Sgt. David Hall, 55th Security Forces Squadron Information Fusion Cell/Investigations NCO in charge, listens as 1st Lt. David Nugent, ’09, U.S. Strategic Command Elite Guard officer in charge, recites the oath of enlistment at the Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. parade grounds Oct. 6. Nugent was a cadet in Hall’s squadron at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo, before being commissioned in May 2009. (U.S Air Force

The U.S. armed forces oath ofenlistment is repeated by every enlisted member of the Air Force when they commit themselves to serving their country. It’s a binding agreement between the member and the United States, administered by a commissioned officer.

The reason an enlisted member chooses a particular officer to administer their oath varies from person-to-person. Sometimes its the persons commander or pilot of an aircraft they crew. It’s also often somebody who has helped develop or guide the persons career.

When Master Sgt. David Hall, 55th Security Forces Squadron Information Fusion Cell/Investigations NCO in charge, selected an officer for his latest reenlistment, he reversed things and chose one he helped develop.

First Lt. David Nugent, U.S. Strategic Command Elite Guard officer in charge, is a 2009 Air Force Academy graduate-from the squadron Hall served in as an academy military training NCO.

Academymilitary trainers, or AMTs, are assigned to cadet squadrons to help the squadron air officer commanding mentor cadets as they progress through their cadet careers and become commissioned officers. The AMT constantlyprovides feedback to cadets on how they perform their roles, as well as coaching them on getting the best results in different situations.

“I felt it was a unique opportunity to have a cadet I instructed for three years reenlist me in our Air Force. It was an honor to have Lt. Nugent administer the oath to me,” Hall said.

Nugent feels being asked to administer the enlistment oath to any enlisted member is a high honor, and especially humbling coming from somebody who taught him so much about the Air Force.

“I was honored he chose me. As an officer, I can think of no greater honor than being asked to perform a reenlistment,” Nugent said.

While at the academy, Nugent recalls Hall setting high expectations and stressing the need for them to take care of people after getting commissioned.

“He pushed us hard and I am thankful for it. He had high standards for us and I think that has really helped me following graduation,” Nugent said. “Fie said the most important thing you can do is take care ofyour people. Whether it’s airmen, NCOs or officers, ifthey are taken care of, I know I will get 110 percent from them.”

The two parted ways after graduation in May, 2009. Nugent reported to Offutt to begin his career as a security forces officer, while Hall remained at the academy to complete his AMT tour. Later that year, both real-

photo by Josh Plueger)

ized they would be reunited in the same squadron.

“I had been here a few months and got a call saying Master Sgt. Hall was coming to Offutt. I was shocked. I don’t think there are many lieutenants stationed with their AMT at their first duty assignment,” Nugent said. “I definitely didn’t think we would end up in the same squadron at my first assignment.”

Hall, who recentlysurpassed 20 years in service, said he was excited about the opportunity to come to Offutt, and actually heard about his assignment from Nugent before he received official notification.

“Lt. Nugent notified me of the assignment before I even knew about it. I was excited to hear I was coming to Offutt for multiple reasons,’’Hall said. “First, it was the only time in my career I’ve gotten an assignment on my dream sheet. Second, I was going to get to see firsthand the results of my work molding our future officers.”

Since Hall arrived at Offutt in December 2009, the two have established a professional relationship, working together in keeping the base and USSTRATCOM assets safe.

“Master Sgt. Hall is in charge of our investigations and Intelligence section, so we work together a lot attending force protection working groups,

analyzing threat intelligence and working on our anti-terrorism program,” Nugent said.

As both Airmen continue with their careers, they will inevitably go their separate ways again, but will always be linked in several ways, including the security forces badge Nugent wears on his service uniform.

“When I graduated, Master Sgt. Hall gave me one ofhis security forces badges,” Nugent said. “I wear that badge on my blues every Monday.” IS

First Annual Chapter Presidents Conference Held

This year, Labor DayWeekend was not only the setting for Parents’ Weekend, but also the first annual Chapter Presidents Conference. During this time, representatives from 25 ofour 65 chapters returned to the Academy for a chance to improve their chapters andlearn from other presidents. The conference was intentionallyheld during Parents’ Weekend in order to afford our attendees the opportunity to have joint sessions with various Parents Club members who were also in town. Both groups benefitted from a Q&A session with the senior staff, group discussion at Doolittle Hall, and lunch with Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, ’76, on the StaffTower. The conference offered a wide range of topics, which were designed to help chapters ofevery size, and in every | phase of their development. The conference was also the setting for the first Distinguished Chapter Award Ceremony. In order to qualify for this award a chapter had to meet certain criteria, which were designed to help the chapter achieve the ultimate goal of supporting the Academy and its graduates. The Association ofGraduates would like to congratulate the following five chapters for achieving this goal in its inaugural year: the North Texas Association of Ar Force Academy Graduates, the Air Force Academy Society ofWashington D.C., the New England Chapter of the AOG, the Rampart Chapter, and the Las Vegas Chapter ofthe AOG. Ifyou have any questions, or want to get involved in your local chapter, you can find information online at chapters.usafa.org/.

ThenTech. Sgt. David Hall and 2nd Lt. David Nugent together after Nugent's commissioning ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. May 27, 2009. (courtesy photo)

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1111

An Academy Grad Pilots a High Risk Rescue

^ the Mountains ofAfghanistan

BY DAVID BERGE

he date is September 11, 2011; ten years have passed since the atrocities ofthe day that changed the trajectory of our nation and launched the United States to war in Afghanistan. On the home front citizens reflect on their experiences that day. They remember.

Across the country, tributes and television specials are omnipresent. In NFL stadiums, football field sized flags canvas the gridiron. The tenor of the crowd electrifies as “The Star-Spangled Banner” is performed with a crescendo of emotion. Down on the field, service people and armored football “heroes” flutter Old Glory.

Half a world away the “Pedros” of the 83 rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron (ERQS) are pre-positioned at Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan; they are awaiting action. They are soon issued an urgent “REDCON” call; two Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel have been wounded in the dangerous high altitudes of the Kuh-e-Nilu Mountains. The Pedros must take efficient, effective, immediate action to rescue the Afghanis and preserve their own safety.

The mission presents many inauspicious challenges that will require precision planning. First, the rescue location is at extreme mountain elevations; the Pedros will be asked to fly two oftheir FIH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters over a 12,000-foot mountain range. Second, the distance between their FOB location and the rescue zone will necessitate an aerial refueling of the helicopters. Furthermore, the degree ofhostility they will encounter upon arrival is yet unknown.

Immediately the 83 rd and 84th ERQS begin devising a game plan. “Knowing we had to go that high, the big challenge was fuel load and fuel burn,” said StaffSgt. Steven Prather, an 83rd ERQS flight engineer. “I had to run numbers to make sure we could get there. It wasn’t a typical mission, but this is what we train for.”

While an aerial refuelingplan is being established with a HC-130P/N aircraft from KandaharAirfield, the flight engineer and pararescue Airmen begin cut-

Previous page: Maj. Parkin Bryson, ’00, was the lead pilot of a risky Sept. 11,2011 rescue of two injured Afghan National Army Personnel high in the Kuh-e-Nilu Mountains of Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/StaffSgt. John Wright)

tingweight offtheir HH-60 Pave Hawks. When they are done, only essential medical and rescue equipment remains. Soon after the REDCON call was received, the Pedros learned that they would receive air support from two ArmyAH-64 Apachehelicopters and a pair ofA-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft during the operation. In less than twenty minutes the entire mission plan has been finalized.

HH-60 Pave Hawk pilot Maj. Parkin Bryson, ’00, will be the mission’s lead today. With a highly technical refueling procedure on the horizon, his mettle would soon be tested. “It’s [aerial refueling] one of the more skill-intensive portions ofwhat we do,” Bryson acknowledged.

Before flying over the mountain range the Pedros are met by an HC-130. In a ritual akin to an industrial mating dance, the tanker releases a drogue refueling line and a hose, both ofwhich trail behind the aircraft. The helicopter pilot, in this case Maj. Bryson, delicately contacts the line with the Pave Hawk’s refueling probe.

“It’s difficult because we were refueling at the upper edge ofthe refueling envelope,” Bryson recounted, “There is very little power. The HC-130 is basically at a stall margin, and we’re going as fast as we can go. It was very spotty.”

Bryson and the other Pave Hawk pilot successfully refuel and continue on to their destination. The crew prepares for the rescue. They are well aware that they will be landing in a high-threat zone. “It was a low-lying area in a bowl at 8,500 feet and a vWage all around it,” said 83rd ERQS combat rescue officer, Capt. Brian Carey. “There was heavy machine gun fire coming from the mountains to the east.”

Bryson leads several passes over the area to survey the situation. “One of the things that’s difficult about Afghanistan is that you never really know what the dynamic on the ground is,” Bryson says. “When insurgents hear air power overhead, they will go to the ground.”

As the crew scans the area for threats it becomes ominously apparent that the town is empty, but with immense air support on hand it is decided that Pedro 83 will land while Pedro 84 provides security. Even the landing this day would not be easy for Major Bryson and his Pave Hawk. The elevation would compel a “roll-on landing,” which is more difficult then a stan-

dard hover landing. It required that Bryson contact the ground with forward momentum.

Bryson lands the aircraft without any problems as Tech. Sgt. Kristopher Burridge and Capt. Carey keep their eyes on the injured ANA personnel. “They were hunkered down on the northwest corner of a building since fire was coming from the east,” Carey said. “They were packaged, ready to go and heading toward the aircraft.”

Burridge and Carey quickly exit the Pave Hawk upon landing. The ANA personnel approach the aircraft, one injured person on a litter the other being carried piggyback. Carey helps load the patients as Burridge provides security.

Pedro 83 rests upon terra firma less than three minutes before departing.

“Once onboard, we started assessing and treating them,” said Burridge. “We addressed the immediate life threats and from there started supportive care.”

The mission is an artful display of synchronization, wholly illustrative of the teamwork required among our fighting forces. “We train for this type of mission a lot, and to see it come together within a matter of 10 to 13 minutes and to go out and execute it was pretty awesome,” Carey said. “We used assets from all over the theater. It couldn’t have been more perfect.”

On this September 11, Major Bryson and the Pedros complete a mission, largely anonymous to the reflecting masses ofthe home front, and provide us with a microcosmic glimpse ofwhere things stand in that distant war. “Lately, I’ve seen the Afghans really take an active part in the fighting,” said Bryson. “Anything we can do to support them and take them back to the medical care they need its a good thing for us to contribute to their cause.”

Top: Two HH-60G Pave Hawks like the one pictured flew over 12,000-foot mountains and performed an aerial refueling similarto the one shown here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Veronica Pierce)

Bottom: A pararescue Airman from the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron scrambles inside a HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopterat Bagram Airfield,Afghanistan, after receiving an alert call. (U.S. Air Force photo/StaffSgt.John Wright)

In the early 1990s, Manuel Bettencourt, '68, helped form the Polaris Society while serving on the board of the Association of Graduates. The United States Air Force Academy Endowment now has the privilege of working closely with the distinguished members of this society, who have established estate gifts to benefit the Academy and its graduates. "We wanted to have the means to recognize people who are willing to leave a gift to USAFA through their wills," says Manuel, speaking from his South Carolina retirement home. "To me, it is a natural way for someone to leave their legacy to the Academy.”

Manuel Bettencourt'68

Service - Only USAF Chaplain to receive a line commission

Commitment - Named Military Supervisor of the Year at Peterson AFB

Loyalty - On AOG Board in 1990s

Exemplar - Was first to donate his USAFA ring to the Doolittle Flail display

Leader - Since retirement as Lieutenant Colonel in 1989, has served on numerous non-profit boards Leaving a Legacy - Helped to found and name the Polaris Society and arranged a legacy gift to the Air Force Academy in his will

Like Manuel, you can make a difference in the lives of future Air Force Academy cadets. For more information about including a charitable bequest in your will, contact dale.zschoche@usafaendowment.org orlcall him at 719.238.7510 s

todays talent tomorrows success

The AOG Unveils 50th Class Reunion Award

The AOG Board ofDirectors, at the recommendation of the Distinguished Graduate Award Committee, has established the 50th Class Reunion Award. Each class, on the occasion of its 50th reunion, will honor a classmate who has demonstrated a lifetime of commitment to Core Values. Under broad guidelines that havebeen established by the AOG, the recipient will be chosen by any selection process that the class finds appropriate; this will ensure the widespread involvement and support ofthe class.

The creation ofthe 50th Class Reunion Award is the next step toward developing a series of awards that will recognize the achievements ofgraduates spanning various stages in their lives. The Distinguished Graduate award recognizes a lifetime ofservice to the Academy, the Air Force and/ or the nation. The 50th Class Reunion Award recognizes the person in the class who, during the last halfcentury, has set him or herself apart through extraordinary contributions to the class collectively, classmates individually, and to their communities and/or the graduate community at large.

The award winner is honored with a distinctive medal. Our hope is that the recipient will wear this medal at formal Academy events, which will allow others to honor his or her service. In addition, 50th Class Reunion Award winners will have their names placed on a plaque that will be displayed at Doolittle Hall in perpetuity.

The Classes of 1959 and I960, who have already celebrated their 50th reunions, will present this award at a date and place oftheir choosing; this makes the Class of 1961 the inaugural presenter.

Brice Jones, ’61, Awarded Inaugural 50™ Class Reunion Award

On November 4, 2011, Brice Jones was awarded the inaugural 50th Class Reunion Award during a presentation at the Class of 1961s 50th reunion banquet. In July, a selection committee sent out a call for nominations. From the Class’ response, two nominees were selected and Jones was chosen as the award recipient after winning a class vote.

As lives go, its hard to imagine many that have been more varied, nuanced and fulfilling than the one Brice Jones has led over the past 50 years. Combat pilot, businessman, philanthropist, and class leader are just a few ofthe titles that define the person and thelife. Jones was introduced by Class President Tom Eller, ’61, who espoused the virtues of a man who has been“a driving force in the creation and growth ofthe U. S. Air Force Academy traditions ofintegrity, service, excellence, class unity, esprit de corps and the enduring Tong Blue Fine.

As a combat pilot in Vietnam, Jones earned a Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star and 14 Air Medals over the course of two voluntary tours. Throughout his first tour in 1964, Jones flew AlEs with the 1 st Air Commando Squadron. During his second tour he was selected to be 7th Air Force Chief ofA1E Combat Tactics.

BriceJones is congratulated on winning the inaugural 50th Class Reunion Award. From left: Class President Tom Eller, ’61, Brice Jones, ’61, AOG Board Chair Terry Storm, ’61.

After the war, Jones went to Harvard where he graduated with an MBA. In 1973 he would establish Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards. Jones would go on to create some of the most decorated wine in the country. Wine & Spirits magazine’s annual poll of “The Most Asked-For” wines in Americas 3500 Zagatrated restaurants named Sonoma-Cutrer the number one chardonnay in all but two years since 1988. In 1999 Jones would

successfully negotiate the sale of the company. In the years that followed, Brice and key management would continue their success in the vineyards by developing a noble pinot noir that has become one ofAmericas most popular.

Over the past half-centuryJones has also forged a legacy of philanthropy. Since 1985, annual charity events that he helped initiate have raised millions for the Make a Wish Foundation and other charitable organizations. Furthermore, his impact on the Academy will be lasting. Jones’ efforts include providing funds for multiple class projects, leading fundraising efforts for the Class of 1961 50th Anniversary gift to the Academy, establishing and endowing the annual Roger Stringer Award for Excellence in Intercollegiate Debate, and actively participating in AOG activities that promote awareness ofgraduate heritage among alumni and cadets. His latest efforts have helped introduce the participation ofthe 50-year Classes of’59, ’60 and ’61 in the graduation ceremonies ofthe Classes of2009, 2010 and 2011, which includes the presentation ofthe first set of2nd lieutenant gold bars at commissioning ceremonies.

These are just a few ofthe achievements of a man who stands out among the honored and accomplished Class of’61. In short, Jones embodies all that is expected of a truly great Academy grad. There could not be a finer selection to win the inaugural 50th Class Reunion Award. S

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“Northwestern Prep provided me with cm academicfoundation that raised my SAT scores by 200 points, as well as an ability to focus on the essential preparation to succeed at the Academy. As a result ofthe self-confidence I gained there, I became Outstanding Student in CST, Outstanding 2nd Class Cadet in 3rd Group, Team Captain of Women s Fencing, and Outstanding Squadron Commander ofthe #1 ranked squadron ofthe wing! 2002

Posthumous Degree

Conferred to William Michael Gibbons, ’61

Several years ago Jack Taylor, ’61,heard about an individual who had graduated posthumously from the Academy. Decades prior, Taylor had been a close friend and roommate of William “Bill” Gibbons during their time at the Academy. In April of 1961, Bill Gibbons was killed in an auto accident just a few short weeks before graduation. Taylor’s discovery of a posthumous graduation inspired him to make an inquiry to the Academy Registrar’s office to learn about the eligibility criteria for the process. Ultimately, it was determined that Bill Gibbons was eligible to be considered for posthumous graduation.

With the help ofthe Registrar, Dr. Dean Wilson, the Academy Board approved Mr. Gibbons’ graduation. The Registrars office worked with the class and with the manufacturer of the diplomas to create an exact replica ofthe diploma that Gibbons’ classmates received on June 7, 1961-etched metal plate on a walnut shield, bearing the original academy seal with the prop and wings on the shield, and in the traditional shiny blue box. The

diploma came complete with the original signatures: WS. Stone, Superintendent; H.R. Sullivan, Commandant ofCadets; and Robert F. McDermott, Dean ofthe Faculty. The class purchased the new-antique diploma for presentation to a Gibbons family member during the Class of 1961 50th Reunion.

The Gibbons family was asked to attend the 50th Reunion celebration with the knowledge that Bill would be honored, but they were unaware of the true significance of the event. On November 4, 2011, during the reunion banquet held at the Marriott Tfotel in Colorado Springs, Class President Tom Eller presented the diploma to Carole Roman, sister; Ed Gibbons, brother; John Gibbons, brother; Ray Edwards, nephew; Liz Edwards, niece; and Sheri Edwards, niece.

“This was unbelievable,” said Bill’s sister, Carole Roman. “We were so taken back by this and so appreciative. This certainly says a lot about his classmates who have gone to the extent ofcontacting the Air ForceAcademy to do this.” Carole and her brother had attended the 45th Class Reunion in hopes of meeting some of Bill’s classmates. More ofthe family decided to attend the 50th once it was learned that Bill would be remembered with a memorial service.

“I just want to express our sincere thanks. We just think the Class of 1961 is a group of awesome men and at this point they are like family to us,” Roman added. “They brought back Bill’s memory after 50 years. It’s very emotional and like I said, we are so grateful.”

Thus, another link is placed in the Long Blue Line, this one from over fifty years in the past. B

The family ofWilliam “Bill” Gibbons, ’61, accepts a posthumous diploma on his behalf. From Left: Class President Tom Eller, ’61; Ed Gibbons, brother; Carole Roman, sister; John Gibbons, brother.

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

The Board of Directors of the Association of Graduates is pleased to once again offer Graduate Dependent Scholarships. To be eligible, the applicant must be the natural child or legally adopted child of a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. However, the applicant does not have to be financially dependent upon the graduate or his/her surviving spouse.

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

For complete eligibility requirements and the Academic Year 2012-2013 application form, visit www.usafa.org/membership/scholarships. The application deadline is March 7, 2012.

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NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALIST HELPS STUDENTS TAKE HISTORY TO HEART

By David Bergeman

In “The Land of the Midnight Sun” there’s an Academy grad shining like the Northern Lights. MaryLee (Hyndman) Tung, ’88, teaches sixth grade in the Japanese Partial Immersion Program at Sand Lake Elementary School in Anchorage, Alaska. In September, Tung was named one of five finalists for the National History Teacher of the Year Award, which is sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Tung was an Air Force Intelligence Officer for nearlyeight years before leaving to start a family. Teaching was the next step in her career progression. “I wanted something to do after the kids where ready to start school,” said Tung, who was a HistoryMajor at the Academy. “I thought teaching was one way to give back to the community and the country.”

For the past five years Tung has co-taught a classroom ofsixth graders who have been studying Japanese since Kindergarten. Some oftheir subjects are taught in English, some in Japanese, others in both languages; Tung handles the English side ofthe teaching equation. During her time as a teacher she has become a leader within her district. Tung trains fellow teachers on the use ofprimary sources and has been highly effective in her application ofTeaching American History grants and National History Day.

Tung’s true calling card is her unique use of primary sources within her curriculum. She makes history pertinent and personal to children who haven’t lived much of it. “I want them to analyze

and come up with their own ideas, rather than me just giving them the ideas. I think that makes them better critical thinkers.”

Earlier this year Tung’s hard work was recognized when she was nominated for the history teacher award by a co-worker and a parent of one of her former students. She was chosen as Alaska’s History Teacher of the Year, an award that brought a $1,000 prize and an archive ofbooks and resources to Sand Lake. In September she was selected as one of five state-winners to vie for the national prize.

During the application process Tung had to submit three lesson plans. One ofthe examples of Tung’s approach to teaching is a civics lesson that utilizes Martin Luther KingJr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Tung has students work in teams to explicate the text. “It gets them to actually analyze a primary source and look at some of the wonderful imagery King uses,” she went on, “but more importantly, apply it to their own lives. What are the ways that they can change their communities and their country for the better? What is their role in that?”

The students then write their own “Dream” speeches, which are recorded and played during school announcements in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “I try to get kids to understand that the curriculum really revolves around them finding

their place in our society and accepting responsibility for that,” Tung explained. “It’s a great privilege to be a citizen of this country.”

It’s evident to Tung that her time at the Academy has had a major effect on her pedagogy. “I try really hard to instill Core Values,” Tung said. “We have a motto, we consider ourselves to be a team, everything we do is team-oriented. My partner and I are the leaders of the team; were not really teachers. Attention to detail is important, as well as setting a very high standard and understanding that you have to struggle to get there. Those things that you learn at the Academy carry over to everything you do. I think that’s why I’m a pretty solid teacher.”

Although the Academy is imbued in her personal and professional DNA, there are limits to how far she’ll go. “I’m not making them walk strips or anything,” she laughed.

Tung is humbled and honored by her nomination, but much more important to her is the opportunity to help shape the country’s youth. “You are really proud that you are able to help a child realize that they have a voice and they can make an impact on the world,” Tung paused, “that’s pretty powerful stuff.” I

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Alaska’s2011 HistoryTeacher oftheYear, MaryLee (Hyndman) Tung, ’88, leads her 6th grade classthrough a lesson.

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LT. COL DAVID PIFFARERIO, ’94 BECOMES THE FIRST TO REACH 1,000 F-22 FLIGHT HOURS

An Air Force Reserve pilot made history here Nov. 4 when he flew his 1,000th flight hour in an F-22 Raptor.

Lt. Col. David Piffarerio, ’94, the 302nd Fighter Squadron commander, became the first Air Force pilot to reach the historic milestone.

“This is a great milestone for the pilots, maintainers and contractors working on the jet and the F-22 program as a whole,” Piffarerio said. “The aircraft is maturing and getting better the more we fly and perform maintenance on it.”

StaffSgt. Hank Robinson, a 525th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, launched Piffarerio on his sortie but was focused on ensuring it was a safe flight.

“It is neat to know that I was a part of launching a 1,000-hour flight,” Robinson said. “Whether it is a 1,000-hour flight or a routine sortie, I am focused on the job I have to do.”

Upon landing Piffarerio was met by his wife Jennifer along with active duty and Reserve pilots and maintainers, including Col. Dirk Smith, the 3rd Wing commander.

By Capt. Ashley Conner 477th Fighter Group Public Affairs

Piffarerio was a part of the initial cadre who stood up the 477th Fighter Group in 2007, of which the 302nd FS falls under.The pilots and maintainers from the 477th FG are fully integrated with the 3rd Wings active duty F-22 mission.

Prior to being assigned to the only Reserve unit in Alaska, Piffarerio said he served 13 years on active duty in a variety of F-15E Strike Eagle and F-22 assignments. After being selected in 2002 as part of the initial cadre to test the F-22 during follow-on evaluations, he served as program manager and F-22 test director at Nellis AFB, Nevada.

Although the four month stand-down of the F-22 fleet earlier this year did delay the 1,000th hour flight, Piffarerio remained unfazed.

“More important to me than this milestone is that the F-22 fleet is safely in the air and accomplishing the mission,” hesaid. “Air Combat Command’s plan to resume flight operations was done in a deliberate and methodical manner with the safety of the pilots in mind.”

When Piffarerio looks back on his time in the F-22, he said an event that stands out the most was when initial operating capability was declared in December 2005. He credits thedecision to declare IOC to the work ofthe pilots, maintainers, flight test engineers and analysts leading up to the decision.

“There were significant hurdles that we had to overcome but the Edwards (Air Force Base) and Nellis (Air Force Base) team pulled it together to deliver a combat ready jet to the combatant commanders,” Piffarerio said. “I was proud to have been a part of that team.”

The legacy ofstellar pilots is not new to the 477th FG as the unit’s lineage can be traced back to World War II and the famed Tuskegee Airman.

“Reaching the 1,000 hour milestone is a significant accomplishment for both Lt. Col. Piffarerio and the entire F-22 industry team,” said Col. Bryan Radliff, the 477th FG commander. “We are proud to share this time with (him) as we recognize him along with our total force partners and our Tuskegee Airman legacy.” S

Over one million military weapons and equipment are missing from the U.S. military inventories across the country. Where are all the weapons? CIA operative Eric Brent, and his revolutionary light weapon invention, is used by CIA to flush out a secretive, “phantom” group hostile to a wildlyspending, intrusive U.S.Administration that threatens to destroy theAmerican economy and shrink individual freedoms.

Hamlet takes you through the twists and turns of the secretive world of intelligence as the undercover assignment goes astray. Eric exposes a far-reaching and well-planned movement and an event that could alter the United States forever.

“/n addition to be an exciting read, and totallyplausible,Right Guard deftlyexplores the in-depth turmoil that field operatives often experience as they navigate both the political and especially moral undertones that are inescapably part of any major clandestine operation. A must read for any spy aficionado/”

Former Senior Operations Officer, CIA

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MIA

Major Thomas Clark, 63 , Identified, Laid to Rest

By Air Force Academy Public Affairs

A1963 Academy graduate who was declared missing in action during the Vietnam War was laid to rest Oct. 22 in his hometown ofEmporium, Pa., with full military honors. Capt. Thomas E. Clark was 29 when he went missing in action after being shot down Feb. 8, 1969.

Clark was assigned to the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, flying F-100D Super Sabres out of Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam, with the wing’s 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron.

On his final combat sortie, his four-ship of F-lOOs was engaging an anti-aircraft artillery position in Savannakhet Province, Laos, when his aircraft was struck by enemy fire and crashed. The three other American pilots on the mission did not see a parachute or any other signs of Clark. Immediate search and rescue missions could not locate the crash site.

Clark was declared MIA. He was posthumously promoted to major and declared killed in action in 1973. In 1991, and again in 1992, joint U.S.-Laos teams investigated the area of the crash and recovered aircraft wreckage and military equipment. The teams also conducted interviews with locals who reported witnessing the crash.

Local Laotians gave the investigators two dogtags that identified Clark and human remains that had been recovered from the site shortly after the crash. In 2009, an additional excavation of the site recovered dental remains which also helped to identify Clark.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, used dental analysis to help identify Clark.

The 911th Airlift Wing received Clark’s remains Oct. 20. A funeral parade was conducted Oct. 21 in St. Marys, Pa., as Clark’s remains were escorted to his hometown of Emporium for an Oct. 22 burial service.

Today more than 1,600 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. More than 900 servicemen have been accounted for from that war and returned to their families for burial with military honors since 1973. B

Major Thomas Clark pictured as a USAFA cadet.

(U.S. Air Forcephoto)

The Blue Alliance Becomes the AOG's Newest Affinity Group

Story and photo by David Bergeman

A driving sleet storm couldn’t dampen spirits at the Blue Alliance tailgate party, as the AOG’s newest Affinity Group showed their support for theAcademyprior to the November 5th Air Force-Army football game. After the game, with the Falcons firmly in control of the Commanderin-Chief s Trophy, the organization celebrated the repeal of“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) with their annual equality dinner.

The Blue Alliance is a non-profit organization comprised of over 150 Gay, Lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) alumni members, their friends and supporters. The organization’s mission is to support and connect GLBT cadets, alumni and the Academy. With the Pentagon’s repeal of DADT, the four-year-old organization became the Association of Graduates’ newest Affinity Group.

To be considered for Affinity Group status, group members must share a common interest, originate from a widespread geographical area, and have missions, goals, and objectives consistent with those ofthe AOG. “Our relationship is really strongwith the AOG,” said BlueAlliance Executive Director GregMooneyham, ’87. “We want it to continue to get even stronger. We’re supportive ofthe AOG, we’re supportive ofthe Academy.”

With the September repeal of DADT, the 2011 tailgate party and annual dinner took on added significance.

“The big difference with our tailgate this year is the fact that we can have active duty folks here,” said Mooneyham. “We actually had quite a few cadets with us this year; we had some active duty folks attend as well.”

The Alliance held their annual dinner at Doolittle Flail after the game with around 65 members, cadets, and Academy and AOG staff in attendance. “We’re calling it a celebration ofequality,” Mooneyham said. “Things are changing and were going to celebrate for a bit and move on. S

Members of the Blue Alliance and their supporters tailgate before the Army-Air Force football game.

FOR ONE LAST MINUTE he gl

ances over his notes. It all comes down to this. The judge looks up at him and calmly asks ifhe is ready. H< responds with a cool, “yes, your honor,” and mo’s to the center ofthe courtroom. Surrounded bv

not guilty. An accident does not equal murder,” 1 argues emphatically. “Mr. Dawson, our defendant, isn’t someone who killed in cold blood. The prosecution wants you to believe that’s the case. But where is the proof? They have the burden of proof,” he points gesturing to the Prosecution’s counsel table, “and it is the highest standard in American law.” He walks through each portion of the six witness testimonies that the jury has heard throughout the three-hour trial, and explains to them that his client is not deserving of a guilty verdict. He implores the iurv to dutiful!v carrv out their responsibility to justice

the emotional argument of the prosecutors. Cadet First Class Paulo Dutra lowers his voice once more and reminds them that “an accident does not equal murder,” then thanks the judge and resumes his seat before the jury deliberates.

Ifyou were to visit the City of Colorado Springs Criminal Court over this past Veterans Day Weekend, you would see a similar scene play out in many courtrooms. Sixteen teams converged on

tions, closing arguments, burdens ofproof, and many other procedural aspects ofthe law.

Substantively, the students become intimately familiar with the various issues of the law as well. Each attorney team is responsible for developing their theory of the case—figuring out which elements they are trying to emphasize, choosing which witnesses to call, determining how they are going to present a unified argument to the jury—and the witnesses need to complement that case theory. Oftentimes, this requires outside research on case elements in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the evidence needed to prove each side.

The skills gained in Mock Trial surpass simple legal understanding. Team members also learn how to think critically, communicate effectively, and perform under pressure. When I first came to the Academy, I was hoping to get involved in some program that could help me learn public speaking. I was home schooled throughout high school, and it was difficult for me to find opportunities to speak in front ofpeople. My speeches to the entire student body necessarily amounted to nothing more than dinner table conversations with my siblings—but even these impromptu shows of oral advocacy were inadequate to prevent me from stumbling over my words whenever I tried to speak in front of even a handful ofstrangers.

Enter USAFA Mock Trial. During my freshman year, I met several team members and asked them what the program did. They told me that the team traveled the nation and litigated like real lawyers. Although I had no interest in pursuing a legal career at the time, the prospect ofhaving to stand on my feet and react to objections as they were made in court, respond to Judges’ questions, and adjust to various proceedings appealed to me. I signed up and joined the team, and haven’t looked back since. My growth in oral communication and critical thinking has been immeasurable.

Many other team members have similar stories. “I did Mock Trial in high school,” explains C1C Philicia Fahrenbruch, “but what we do here is leaps and bounds above that level of competition. I’ve been in very complex objection battles and games of cat-and-mouse with opponents, all the while

having to maintain clear communication to the practicing professionals who judge our rounds.”

Others cite the teamwork as reasons for joining the team. C1C Christina England was an outstanding performer on the Academy’s Forensics Team (Speech & Debate) before joining USAFA Mock Trial. “There, the emphasis is on the individual. Here, you perform with five other people and rely on them for the team’s success.”

Some ofthe team’s members are hoping to pursue a brand new opportunity that allows one Academygraduate to proceed directly to law school after graduation. After the completion of a three-year law school program, the selectee would enter the USAF JAG Corps. This new option is available to Legal Studies majors as well as Mock Trial members, regardless ofacademic major— eligible for their proven proclivity to excellent litigation and oral advocacy.

Although many members ofthe Mock Trial team have aspirations to eventuallyjoin the JAG Corps, not all do. Traditionally, members have graduated and entered a wide variety ofAFSCs, including Pilot, Intelligence, Contracting, Physicist, Logistics Readiness, Security Forces, Acquisitions, and the Office ofSpecial Investigations.

Whatever the case may be, the Academy’s Mock Trial team provides an outstanding foundation for the future careers ofthe officer candidates it trains.

C2C Max Manley is ready for what comes next:

“The MockTrial team has given me the tools I need to succeed in my next challenge, whatever it may be. I wouldn’t trade this for anything.” 9m

Editor’s note: On November 19, C1C Crippen was named one of32American Rhodes Scholarsfor 2012.

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From top, left: C1C Zac Crippen conducts a cross examination of a witness.

C1C Christina England looks on as she prepares for a witness examination.

Leftto right: CICsPhilicia Fahrenbruch, Christina England, Paulo Dutra,ZacharyCrippen, Clayton Schmitt, and Diana Bennett-the seniorleadership ofthisyear’sMockTrialTeam celebratestheirtopthreefinish atthefirsttournamentofthe season.

Right: Colonel Paul Pirog, Permanent Professor and Head ofthe Department of Law, judges a round between trial teams.

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idden in the labyrinth ofthe cadet gym rests a dank, dark weight room where the powerlifters of the Air Force Academy have assembled. Beyond the used and abused benches and free weights, in the farthest corner ofthis space, C3C Nicholas Hafner tightens his leather weight belt while aggressively eyeing the intimidating mass of weights resting before him. He inhales an expansive breath, steps forward, bends at the knees and adroitly grips hishands upon a load bearing bar. With great precision he methodically raises the bar; 385 pounds ofiron challenge rise with it. Hafner expels a terrific roar; his knees straighten as he returns to a standing position. A sliver of time elapses as every muscle in his 165-pound frame fights to support the oppressive burden precariously resting above his knees. He releases the weight with palpable finality. It falls to the padded floor with an echoing clang. Hafner has completed a deadlift.

A few minutes after his impressive display ofstrength, Hafner spoke a littlebit about the Powerlifting Club. “Were a fitness club where we try to get people qualified for nationals and get people in shape who want to lift. We do bench, squat and deadlift. Those are our three lifts.”

Each year, club members participate in several meets; foremost among them is the International Powerlifting Federation/USA Power Lifting sanctioned state meet in Denver. With a trip to nationals on the line, each cadet competes in a category based on his or her age and weight.

In a typical meet, each participant gets three attempts at each lift, with the highest amount

for each lift tallied to determine who advances. As each lift is endowed with an idiosyncratic form, it’s essential that the cadets practice hard and precisely to help master their craft.

“When you participate in a competition,’ C2C Jeremiah King explained, “you have more than one judge to actually grade your form: whether you get deep enough, whether, with the bench press, you go down to the chest, touching it not bouncing off it. It’s extremely important that, when you come down here, you practice it the right way. That way when you get to competition you do it the right way.”

It goes without saying that humans have been pushing weight around long before the advent of powerlifting clubs, but at what point did people begin lifting objects in displays ol strength and pursuit of muscle? Many scholars believe that the first written evidence of weightlifting dates back to the Zhou dynasty (1046-256 BC) of Chinese antiquity. Texts from the period detail feats of lifting required of potential soldiers before they would be accepted into the military.

The history ofthe USAFA Powerlifting club is shrouded in a similar amount ofintrigue, at least to its current members. “It used to be an intercollegiate sport where we had recruits,” Hafner said quizzically. “We actually have some plaques, where we were national champions in the late ‘80s early, ‘90s.”

Despite the club’s lack of Limited on Season (LOS) status, funding, and a less than desirable

gym situation, the team’s 25 members still find time to lift for an hour or two, three to four times per week.

“The college kids they compete against have none of these worries,” said OIC Technical SergeantJohn Craven. “They have their own gym, money to cover expenses, and class schedules that allow them to work out at a set time with rest. Hands down, I don’t know ofany other team we compete against that has as many obstacles as we do to overcome.”

Despite the challenges, the club has managed to send two, four, and seven members to the national meet in the preceding three years. The improvement is demonstrative of a program that is inching closer to the dominance ofits storied past.

C3C Amy Hoybook is one of the club’s handful offemale members. “I’ve always loved lifting. I started lifting freshman year of high school. I didn’t compete in high school, but weightlifting club was always my favorite part of the year.” Hoybook is excited about continuing the Academy’s powerlifting resurgence. “Recently, the club has been dwindling a little bit, so we really want to bring it back strong. We’ve got a lot of good people on the team and people who are interested.”

Hafner expanded, “We’re trying to legitimize it, get practices more legitimate and get more meets in.”

More importantly, the club’s current members are focused on how the activity enriches their lives and makes them stronger cadets. “It helps with mental toughness, because you have to reallypush yourselfwith this sport,” said Hoybook. “You really see improvement ifyou put the work in and that’s reallyrewarding to me.”

C2C King summed up his experience, “It’s good stress relieffrom the academics and military training. To get to come down here, to do something I enjoy and to get to compete, to train for a goal. It’s always somethinggood to have.” SS

CADET LED RADIO STATION KAFA HAS A GROWING GLOBAL REACH.

By Crystal Ross Photos by Lewis Carlyle

n the late 1960s cadets with dreams of hitting the local airwaves petitioned the Academy for a radio station to call home. It took a few years but, in 1972, KAFA radio was born. Nearly four decades later, what started as a ten-watt station filled with “dead air” has now blossomed into a unique way for the Air Force Academy to promote itself worldwide, but more importantly, disseminate some rad tunes.

For years KAFA’s broadcast reach was limited to within a few miles ofthe Academy, but in 2008 the station was able to go global after the AOG offered to

fund internet streaming service for the station. “KAFA didn’t have a way to pay for it,” said Dave West, the stations civilian advisor. “We wanted a quality stream, which costs more. I wanted the Academy’s radio station to measure up to what the Academy is.”

West and his cadet disc jockeys say the station gives them a chance to tell the public about the good things that happen at USAFA, things that are often overlooked by regular media outlets that only want sensational stories.

“KAFA tells the story about the Academy,” said West. “There’s a ton of stuff that goes on unnoticed

up here-^oo^/stuff. Were a good way to get the word out about the wonderful cadets we have here. It’s a great way to brag on the Academy.”

West said, despite what some may fear, the cadets are very good about what they broadcast, and the station hasn’t had to be reined in by USAFA staff.

“For the most part, they let me run with it. I understand that we want to represent the Academy in a good light,” West said, adding that he works closely with the Academy’s communications and public affairs offices. He also mentioned that USAFA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, ’76, has been

known to listen and that the General sees the station as a community outreach opportunity.

“People don’t hear that message-for instance, the research cadets are doing in our labs. I’m always a sponge looking for stuff to promote,” said West.

But the station, found at 97.7 FM, is much more than just a public relations tool. It’s a release for cadets-for those who listen to it and the 22 who work for it.

“For a long time, KAFA was looked at as a station only for cadets,” West explained recently from the control booth he helped build in Vandenberg

LISTENERS' GUIDE

Hall. Before he became the advisor, West said the station didn’t have much direction and cadet DJs would play just about anything they wanted. That changed in 2007 when West and the cadet general manager of the station decided to set the format to modern rock.

“We were all over the road” before that decision, West said. Ultimately his general manager told him, “Let’s just be a cool radio station, and cadets will start listening.” That’s exactly what has happened, despite the unique life ofUSAFA students. “Cadets don’t have time to listen to the radio,” said West. “They get a lot ofstuffthrown at them-you have to do this, you have to do that.”

Now, everywhere West goes, people tell him they listen to KAFA.

Despite the fact that the FM signal reaches only a few miles beyond the Academy’s gates, the CDquality internet stream is world-wide, and now the station is included on the Academy’s smart phone application as well as in iTunes. Reports West

receives from the station’s online streaming service indicate KAFA gets 1,200 to 1,600 web listeners each week. The station has enjoyed an impressive jump in online listenership the past year. During the first six-month rating period over 17,000 hours were streamed by online listeners. In the past six months that number has ballooned to almost 29,000 hours, or the equivalent of over three years ofstreamed programming.

The reports don’t indicate where those listeners are located, but the station gets email messages from around the world. “We get a lot of deployed troops who listen to us. They say it’s nice to get a taste of home,” said West. “Some are enlisted guys too, so we know they’re not grads.”

DJ and Boston native C3C Joe Bomar said he has friends who listen to his show during their college classes at civilian schools. Firstie DJ Zach Schneider has family from one coast to the other who tune in to hear him in action. He said he’s seen email from listeners in the Middle East and bases all over the world.

In addition to pure entertainment, KAFA helps the cadets who volunteer as on-air talent. “We don’t have broadcasters here,” West explained, adding that cadets come from all academic disciplines. He doesn’t require that cadets have a golden voice or a smooth delivery, only that they have a

C3C Lauren Linscott prepares to recordher show at the KAFA Studio in Vandenberg Hall. 1

commitment to the station. He said broadcasting on the radio helps cadets with their public speaking skills and in learning how to deal with the media, skills they’ll use after graduation. Also, he sees a certain degree ofleadership at KAFA. “I’ve tried to pattern KAFA after the way the Academy works, with the upper classes nurturing the lower classes. They need some structure.”

Cadet Third Class Lauren Linscott grabs one of the microphones that hangs precariously on a metal arm resting by the soundboard of KAFA’s Vandenberg Hall studio. “Hey, this is DJ Lin at KAFA 97.7.” Appropriately, Linscott opens each ofher Saturday afternoon shows with the song “American Girl” by Tom Petty.

She got into the station as a doolie when her C3C coach mentioned he was a DJ. “Freshman year we weren’t allowed to listen to music all year long,” she said. “So it was nice to get in the studio, record stuff, and you get to hang out and just be for a while without upperclassmen breathing down your neck.”

DJ Lin said since joining the station in January, her public speaking skills have increased ten-fold. She also finds volunteering at KAFA to be a release from the work of being a cadet. “It’s just fun for me to come down here and listen to new music, being able to have an influence on what goes on the air, and the people I work with down here are pretty amazing.”

Linscott and the other cadet DJs are very appreciative of the Association of Graduates’ funding of their club and they are aware that KAFA wouldn’t be what it is today without that help. “I’d say thanks to the AOG for letting us do this,” Linscott said.

“You beat me to it,” added Class of 2014 rock jock Andrew Chapman. For Chapman, like many of the other DJs, KAFA is more than a radio station; it’s one of his favorite things about USAFA. “It’s what keeps me sane,” he laughed, fiI

WEAK, SPINDLY RAYS OF SUNSHINE STRUGGLED THROUGH THE GLOOMY WEATHER AS CADETS TRUDGED FROM CLASS TO THE DORMS. THE SLEEK CHAPEL SPIRES PIERCED AND DISAPPEARED INTO THE LOW CLOUDS CLINGING TO THE RAMPART RANGE. THE DARK AGES HUNG OVER THE BLUE ZOO LIKE HEAVY, UNCOMFORTABLE WINTER TROU. FOOTBALL SEASON WAS OVER AND SPRING BREAK SEEMED LIGHT YEARS AWAY WELL, NOT UNTIL SPRING ANYWAY MOST OF THE RECENT SNOW HAD MELTED, BUT COMMAND POST STILL REQUIRED LOW QUARTER OVERSHOES BE PART OF THE UOD. MANY HOURS OF SPIT SHINING WAS SMUDGED AWAY THIS DAY.

4C Warren Heels burst through the dorm room door just as Waldo was about to fall asleep at his desk. Waldo’s nose bounced off his chemistry book, leaving an unknown substance on the Periodic Table.

“Ouch!” exclaimed the doolie as he battled the Z monster for full consciousness.

“Sorry, Waldo, but I’ve got good news and bad news. First, we’ve got a Triple Threat this Saturday.”

“What’s the good news?” asked “Regs” Buch, staring out the window at the gloomy evening.

“Well, that is the good news I guess it’s really bad news, but you can’t say I’ve got bad news and bad news.

“You could just say you have bad news.”

“But who wants to hear just bad news?” whined Warren.

“It’s always bad news for doolies,” interrupted Waldo. “Just give us the bad news. It can’t be worse than a Triple Threat.”

“Table assignments are out ...” Warren paused for dramatic effect.

“So?” chorused his classmates.

“So, we are on Cadet Captain Van der Decken’s table this week!”

“What’s the big deal?” asked Regs. “I hear he’s really lax. He’s on exchange from Annapolis you know.”

Waldo gasped.

“The CAS clerks call his table TheFlyingDutchman because it is always closed no matter what the meal count is. The freshmen on the Dutchman are doomed to float the entire meal—never finding a hole at any other table—not even the Jock Ramps!”

“We’ll starve!” said Warren.

Frustrated with his friends, Regs threw up his hands. “This is ridiculous! The FlyingDutchman is a naval yarn based upon the sinking of a vessel offthe Cape ofGood Hope in 1641. Legend says

the ship was cursed and fated to sail the seas forever. It’s a myth!”

“Wagner wrote an opera about it!” argued Warren.

Regs had no rebuttal to such overwhelming evidence. Waldo quickly realized something had to be done to protect them from the curse ofthe ghost table. Leaping into his laundry bin, the fourthclassman recited the magic words Checkpoints and emerged as Colonel Waldo F. Dumbsquat—a man who always marked his card. Unnoticed by the doolies debating nautical lore, the officer left the room and counted cadence all the way to the CQdesk. Hurriedlybuttoning his Alpha blouse, the sophomore on duty jumped to attention. The colonel scratched a note onto a yellow legal pad with a black grease pencil.

“Give this order to the CAS Clerk and Admin Officer, Mister,” announced Colonel Dumbsquat in a booming voice. “It directs that only firstclassmen are to be assigned to Cadet Van der Decken’s table from now on. Move the freshmen to other tables.”

“Yes, Sir!”

The officer did an about face and strode back down the hallway. Ducking into the fourthclass alcove, he magically degenerated into the puny form of C4C Waldo F. Dumbsquat. Pleased with the success of his mission, he slipped into his room, once again unnoticed.

“Are you saying the movie starring Ava Gardner and James Mason isn’t true?” cried Warren incredulously.

Before Regs could answer, a piece ofpaper was slipped under the door. Warren made a low pass and returned to altitude.

“What is it?” asked Regs.

“This is a change to the table assignments Well, first the good news—looks like we got moved offof The FlyingDutchman

“And the bad news, Warren?”

“We’re now on Cadet Earhart’s table!”

Waldo groaned. S

THE LONG BLUE LINE: ACTIVE DUTY RETENTION

By Col. Mike "Moose" Therianos, '86, Beth Wilson and James Stover

The mission of the United States Air Force Academy is to “educate, train and inspire men and women to become officers motivated to lead the United States Air Force in service to our Nation.” It follows, then, that active militaryduty retention ofUSAFA Graduates is one important aspect we should examine when considering the roles and contributions ofour alma mater as we seek to make it an even better servant-leader institution for our Air Force and Nation.

Long-term Air Force officer retention can be affected by a wide variety of factors ranging from Active Duty Service Commitment, career opportunities, and job satisfaction to retention bonuses and the military retirement system. As we all know, Air Force retention is also influenced by the economy, external job opportunities, national security threats, and personal family considerations. Clearly, retention is more of an art than a science.

So, how well has the USAF retained USAFA Graduates over time? From inception, USAFA grads have averaged the following retention rates in Calendar Years ofService (CYOS):

50%. Additionally, ’75 and ’81 are the only classes that can join ’59 in claiming a double-digit 30-year CYOS retention rate, with 13% and 11% respectively.

How does that compare to the rest of the Air Force? The following table depicts USAF Line Officers and was developed by the Air Force Personnel Center for a recent retention study. Given our desire for long term service to the USAF and our nation, it should be comforting to note that according to this study, USAFA grads are retained longer and at a higher rate than other commissioning sources.

Ourvery first class, the Class of’59, set the USAFAstandard for active duty retention with 61% of the class serving at least 20 years, and over 11% serving at least 30 years. Other USAFA classes that share noteworthy active military duty retention rates alongwith ’59 include ’60, ’61,’62, ’66, ’75, ’86, and ’87-all with 20-year CYOS retention rates above

Additional analysis of USAFA retention rates indicate the following:

1. USAFA 5-and-10-year retention rates have remained stable through the years

2. There has been a slight, but definite, downward trend for 20-year retention rate over time

3. There has been a slight, but definite, upward trend in 30-year retention rate in recent years

To wrap it all up, due to the multitude of reasons to “stay or go,” retention rate discussions will always be a mix of art and science. In the case of USAFA Retention Rates, you can rest assured that we are meeting our goal oflong term service to the USAF and nation. S

The Academy Cemetery serves as a living memorial to those who

Since 1958 the Air Force Academy Cemetery has provided comfort for patriots who find themselves in the valley of despair. The first burial was for General Flubert R. Harmon, the Academy’s first Superintendent. In the 53 years that have followed more than 1200 people have been memorialized on this sacred 70-acre parcel ofground.

The grounds include many cherished monuments and statues, but the most prominent landmarks are the Memorial Pavilion and the Directory Building. Both of these first-class facilities were completed in 2007, nearly 26 years after they were identified as an Air Force Academy priority. The buildings were funded by 4.5 million dollars ofprivate donations that were facilitated by the AOG.

The Memorial Pavilion is used to hold indoor and outdoor graveside services. The Directory Building helps the public electronically locate people in the cemetery. The directory also allows individuals to display photos of their loved ones

have perished

and “Gone But Not Forgotten” articles that have been submitted to the AOG.

All ofthis sounds rather characteristic of a military cemetery; however, there are a myriad reasons why USAFA Cemetery stands unique among its peers. “Our cemetery is the only remaining base cemetery left in the Air Force,” said Mortuary Officer Janet Edwards. “The difference between a national cemetery and our base cemetery is that our criteria are very strict. General Gould is the only approving authority to allow people to be buried here. Our regulation covers who can be buried here and rarely do they deviate from that.”

Another atypical feature of the cemetery is the striking array of memorial side mementos that one can observe when surveying the grounds. Edwards noted that at most cemeteries, especially national ones, you’re only allowed to leave flowers at selected times of the year, at the Academy you can leave them year round and the staff is very

respectful of other items that have been left. “Even though it should be restricted to just flowers that can fit in a vase, our caretaker goes to great lengths to leave everything there,” she said.

Head Cemetery Grounds KeeperWayne Frazier is that caretaker. “We receive so many compliments and he does not like the spotlight,” said Edwards, who has been the Academy’s Mortuary Officer since 1992. “Wayne loves to do his job and he is one ofthe unsung heroes, in my mind, because he’s seen by a lot ofpeople at the cemetery. He’s very helpful to a lot of people at the cemetery and they remember him.”

Frazier tends to every facet ofthe cemetery; some of his many duties include grounds maintenance, grave digging and headstone installation. For Frazier, his job is personal and it’s an honor to get to care for this revered ground. He started the job several years ago after his neighbor approached him about working at the cemetery, “When my dad passed away, I was like, let’s try this. It’s just a way for me to give back to those who have lost, because I’ve lost several family members and I know how hard it is.”

Frazier has seen everything from liquor bottles to haunted houses left at the memorials. One ofthe memorials that really stands out to him is that ofBrigadier General Robin Olds, the former Academy Commandant ofCadets who commanded and flew with the famed 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron known as the “Triple Nickel.” “His entire granite slab and headstone is full ofnickels. There’s probably $25.00$30.00 worth ofnickels there,” Frazier grinned.

Col. Ricky LoCastro, ’88, former Air Base Wing Commander at the Academy, thanks Wayne Frazier for hishard work and dedication. (Photo by Rachel Boettcher) Editor's note: Col. LoCastro has recently been selected for promotion to Brigadier General.

The Academy cemetery is a guardian ofstories. It serves as the final resting place or memorial to approximately 40 generals, eight sets ofrepatriated remains from Vietnam, a Medal ofHonor recipient, and the list goes on. One ofthe more improbable stories is that ofMaster Sergeant Robert Crawford, the cemetery’s lone Medal ofHonor recipient. “He was a janitor here (the Academy) for a reallylong time before the cadets realized who he was, after that he wasn’t allowed to clean any more and it’s my understanding he did motivational speaking type things.”

Mortuary Affairs receives many requests for information about the criteria for internment at the USAFA Cemetery. All ofthe internment criteria and some very helpful pre-planning worksheets can be accessed through the USAFA website-www.usafa.edu.

The Academy Cemetery is an extraordinary place and you can count on its dedicated staff to keep it that way. “Our goal with each family, regardless of their connection, whether they’re grads or not, is to welcome them to the Academy as if they were our own family and personalize each service the best we can,” Edwards concluded. In difficult times, that’s a promise to take comfort in.

Mortuary Officer Janet Edwards (DenMar Service Photo Lab/USAFA)

AIR FORCE RETAINS

THE 2011 AIR FORCE FOOTBALL TEAM WON THE COMMANDERIN-CHIEF'S TROPHY FOR A SECOND CONSECUTIVE SEASON AFTER DEFEATING NAVY AND ARMY IN TWO HARD-FOUGHT BATTLES. THE VICTORIES FURTHERED A TRADITION OF AIR FORCE CIC TROPHY DOMINANCE AS THE ACADEMY WON FOR A RECORD 18™ TIME.

MR FORCE 35 NAVY 34

On October 1st, the Falcons traveled to Annapolis to take on Navy. In one ofthe wildest college football games ofthe year, the Falcons defeated the Midshipmen 35-34 in overtime. After building a 21-3 lead at the half, the Falcons withstood a furious Midshipmen rally that tied the score at 28 and sent the game into OT. On the first possession ofovertime Navy moved the ball down the field and pushed their way into the end zone on a gutsy fourth down call. All ofthat momentum would be for naught, as the Midshipmen would get called for a crushing unsportsmanlike penalty after the touchdown. The penaltypushed the PAT attempt back 15 yards and the Falcons blocked the kick. On the ensuing possession ClC Tim Jefferson led the Falcons down the field and ran the ball in from the one to tie the score. Kicker C2C Parker Herrington converted the PAT attempt to secure an emotional win.

MR FORCE 24 ARMY 14

Air Force would have to win a November 5thhome tilt against a feistyArmy squad to retain the CIC Trophy. At halftime the outlook was bleak; Army had already run for close to 300 yards, but the Black Knights only led 14-0 despite five trips to the red zone. Luckily, football is comprised of two halves and Air Force dominated the second one. The Falcons forced three fumbles and scored 24 unanswered points while barnstorming to a 24-14 win that secured a trip to the White House for the Class of2012. &

Previous page: USAFA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, 76, crowd surfs during the Air Force-Army game at Falcon Stadium. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Raymond Hoy)

Top: Air Force quarterback CIC Tim Jefferson dives in for the winning touchdown as the Falcons beat the Midshipmen of Navy. (U.S. Air Force photo/Russ SeaIf)

Bottom: Falcon defenders gang-tackle Army running back Larry Dixon. (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy)

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF’S

The ’82 Falcons Laid the Foundation

The year was 1982 which is very significant as it was the season that Air Force Academy football began establishing itself as a top-flight program. Indeed, it was a turning point. I traveled to West Point that Saturday with a contingent of cadets. There was a lot at stake; not only was the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy on the line, but the end to a successful eight win season was in sight. We beat the Black Knights that day and rightfully claimed the trophy that had eluded us the three prior seasons. Another stepping-stone that year arrived with an invitation to the Hall of Fame Bowl in Birmingham. Needless to say, Air Force football was back after an exciting win over Vanderbilt. It was that 1982 season that laid the foundation for the program today.

—Eric Strull, Class of1983

Outright CZC TrophyVictory Brings Elation

My favorite memory was in the locker room at West Point after we had won the CIC outright for the first time. IfI remember correctly, Generals Gabriel, Scott, Bursnick and many others had squeezed their way into the tiny locker room to celebrate. It was amazing to see how much top brass had filled the room! But what was more amazing was the joy and reliefexpressed by these senior leaders, Coach Hatfield and the rest of our coaching staff over this “first” event. There’s a huge

difference between sharing the CIC Trophy and winning it outright, and there should be. Winning the CIC outright is a big deal and an accomplishment a Service Academy should celebrate!

—Daniel G. Behne, Class of1984

Pregame Pool Party Gone Awry

Just a few days before the Air Force-Navy game in 1981,1 was picked to be on the Color Guard team that would travel to Annapolis. I was a “3-smoke” in “WOLFPACK 5” and ecstatic about the trip. Returning to the squadron from the library, I heard noise coming from a classmates room. When I entered, I found 10 ofmy peers in their Academy swimsuits soaking wet. I had missed a “pool party” in the shower!

I went to “inspect the pool” and discover a cadet door inside of the shower area still holding back one foot of water. I also discovered water wasn’t draining as paper towels covered the drains. I stepped over the door to “help” the situation, but caught it with my foot, pulling it down. Water rushed like the Colorado River from the showers, past the toilets, across the hall, where an elevator shaft would soon become “Colorado Falls!” The squadron Commander was waiting two floors below! The “hit” would be “30-50 and 50” because an unrecognized doolie had taken part!

My parents were already in Annapolis waiting to see me. The AOC, with very good reason, was reluctant to let me travel; but in respect for my parents and a lot ofgroveling on my part, he finally conceded. I carried the colors, saw my parents, and although we lost to Navy that day, I will never forget that Commander-inChiefs Trophy game just because I was there!

-Edgar M. “KTOWN” Knouse, Class of1984

First Meeting with Army Starts with Laughs, Ends with Tie

The first Army-Air Force football game was played in Yankee Stadium on October 31, 1959. We drove to the stadium in a long bus convoy. The Air Force Cadet Wing marched into the stadium followed by the Army Cadet Corps. One ofthe Air Force cadets managed to sneak into the Army march-on formation wearing an Army uniform. While the Army cadets were standing at attention, our Air Force cadet broke ranks and ran to the Air Force stands while removing his Army overcoat and displaying an Air Force cadet uniform. Naturally, the Air Force fans were delighted and the Army cadets were not pleased. The deserter from the Long Gray Line to the AFCW ranks was George Luck, ‘60. He had been a Plebe at West Point and had saved his uniforms. Also, one ofthe USAFA squadrons on the march-in somehow left a sheet on

the field ofYankee Stadium reading, “Beetle Crushers step here,” or something to that effect!

The final score of the game was 13-13. Around 67,000 fans were in attendance. According to the article about the game written by Allison Danzig in the New York Times “The West Point cadets were a bit lucky to come offwith a draw in this first meeting between the cadets from the MilitaryAcademy on the Hudson and the Air Force installation in the Colorado Rockies.”

—HectorAndres Negroni, Class of1961

Recollecting the Lean Times

As a proud member of the Class of 1979, your request brought back painful memories of long afternoons standing in Falcon Stadium chanting, “What’s the matter with the Team? It’s the coach! It’s the coach!”

I always joke to people now that Air Force goes to bowl games with some regularity and we won about four games in the four years I was there. To make sure that I didn’t understate the true accomplishments of our teams during the late 70s, I went back to the Polaris and tallied the wins. To my pleasant surprise, we actually won a total ofeleven games over the four years I was proud to call USAFA home! That’s almost three games per year-yes, I was a poli sci major.

Unfortunately, you can probably tell I don’t have any favorite Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy stories. I do have some great memories ofwatching in horror my Fourth Class year as Joe Montana brought Notre Dame back from a 30-10 deficit with ten minutes to go in the fourth quarter to beat us 31-30, thus ensuring we didn’t get put “at rest” for the weekend. Or the GeorgiaTech game our First Class year during the “Blizzard of78” when most ofthe Wingjust huddled in the restrooms to try and stay warm, while Wing Staffers keptyelling at everybody to get back in the stands and cheer the team on in defeat.

Unlike the Grads of recent decades who are used to victory and bowl games, I still marvel whenever USAFA defeats anybody, much less plays well or wins a bowl game. I try to explain to whomever will listen how amazing it is that a team filled with folks who have a five-year service commitment after graduation can compete with any of the “football factories” out there. I’m truly happy for all the success the Falcons have had since the mid80s, and hope it continues. Oh, if only we had seen some of that in the late 70s

Go Falcons! H

—Jim Lewis, Class of1979

Growing Together: Donors gather to celebrate Academy

by Ahn Tillery

Over 200 donors and guests recently gathered at two major donor appreciation events to reconnect and celebrate supporting their Academy. Sabre Society, Polaris Society, and Guidon Society donors were invited, in addition to supporters ofthe Air Force Academy in the events’ local communities.

The first event took place on September 30, 2011, at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA, bringing over 100 grads and donors from all over the country together the day before the highly anticipated Navy game. Guests enjoyed cocktails, dinner, and lively conversation with senior Academy staff.

Lto R: Cocktails at Medinah Country Club

Nicholas and Karen Umano (parents ofWeston Umano, Class of2015) and Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, Superintendent, at Medinah.

Navy event hosts Bethany and Joey Plank, ’03, and AlexGranados, ’04, atArmy NavyCountry Club.

Then, over 90 guests gathered the following week at the historic Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois. The October 7 festivities kicked offwith some time outdoors, with attendees playing a round ofgolf at the famed Medinah #3 Course. Guests then attended a cocktail reception in the Country Club lounge.

Both events provided guests a chance to hear remarks and a briefing from Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, ’76, Superintendent, on the exciting new projects underway at the Academy, followed by remarks from Gen. (Ret) Stephen R. Lorenz, ’73, President and CEO of the United States Air Force Academy Endowment, and “T” Thompson, ’73, President and CEO of the Association of Graduates.

“We thoroughlyenjoyed the event at Medinah and were thrilled with the campus improvement projects that Academy staffshared with us,” says Mrs. Karen Umano, who attended the event with her husband, Mr. Nicholas Umano, and contributed a gift to the Air Force Academy Fund that evening. “Why would we not give back bysupporting the Air Force Academy Fund, given all the opportunities that the Academy offers our son, Weston? Even though we can’t give a lot, it may help aspiring cadets byproviding them with as many great opportunities as possible.”

Donors like the Umano family are vital to the Endowment’s mission ofproviding transformative private support for the Academy. In addition to supporting activities and programs like cadet clubs and intramurals, character and leadership development, summer internships with NASA, NATO and Congress, and international immersion opportunities, these gifts help make multimillion-dollar capital projects possible at the Academy. For example, the FloladayAthletic Center, the largest privately funded capital project in Academyhistory, was completed this past summer, allowing student-athletes to safely practice year-round. The Endowment is now actively seeking support for the new Center for Character and Leadership Development, which is slated to begin construction in the summer of2012.

In addition to all of the donors, parents, grads and friends of the Academy in attendance, the

Endowment would like to thank Joey Plank, ’03, and his wife, Bethany, and Alex Granados, ‘04, and his wife, Carla Bustillos, for graciously hosting the Arlington event. The Endowment and the AOG would also like to thank the club sponsors at Medinah, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Faganel and Dr. and Mrs. Hank Crossetti, for their generosity. S

For more information on how you can help support the Academy, please contact the Endowment at (719) 472-0300, Ext. 200.

POLARIS SOCIETY

Individuals who establish estate gifts to benefit the U.S. Air Force Academy and its graduates are members of the Polaris Society. All bequests through a will or trust, and life income gifts, regardless of their size, are important in helping provide for the mission of educating future officers of character to lead our Air Force and the nation. Polaris donors leave a lasting legacy at the Academy, which can make a substantial difference to the future of the institution and the officers it produces.

GUIDON SOCIETY

Benefactors who support the Academy on a continuing basis uphold the tradition of philanthropy that is vital to the Academy's success. We are pleased to feature Guidon Society donors, recognizing those individuals, corporations and foundationswho have cumulatively given $100,000 or more. Their contributions lead the way to building a better Academy for generations to come.

SABRE SOCIETY

The Sabre Society was founded in 1995 to recognize the unique group of Academy supporters who make annual unrestricted gifts of $1,000 or more to the Air Force Academy Fund. The Sabre Society includes graduates, parents and friends who share an ongoing commitment to uphold the Air Force Academy's reputation for academic and leadership excellence. Sabre Society gifts are used to support the vital missions of the Association of Graduates and the USAFA Endowment in support of the United States Air Force Academy. Additionally, these essential funds provide direct support to the Academy for immediate strategic needs identified by the Superintendent and the Academy senior leadership.

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

Not actively lookingfor ajob?

Sign up for Job Retriever and let it alert you when jobs according to your search criteria become available. JSAJE also contains a resume database through which companies can search for promising candidates. www.jsaje.com

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Coming Soon:

The first feature-length documentary to explore cadet life at the Academy

By David Bergeman

Based on the experiences ofcadets at the United States Air Force Academy, Wings ofHonor (working title) is nearing completion, and many are excited to see the film reach its final destination. The soon to be released documentary chronicles the travails and triumphs of some extraordinary cadets, a few being upperclassmen, but the majority ofwhom are doolies hailing from USAFA’s Tiger 10 Squadron.

Filming for the Boeing-sponsored documentary began at the Academy in June of 2010 and continued intermittently through July of 2011. “I’m pretty sure we’ve gotten the best access of anybody who’s ever been in there,” said Producer/Supervising Editor David Emrich of Postmodern Company. All told, 280 hours of footage were shot over 135 days of filming.

Wings ofHonor will be a unique departure from much of the other work that has been produced about the Academy, most ofwhich has focused on the history and architecture of the institution. “When people make films about the Academy,” Emrich explained, “they have a tendency to be about the Academy rather than the cadets. We feel very strongly that the quality of the cadets’ stories show the power and the strength of the Academy.”

Emrich said that the filmmakers interviewed doolies the night before in-processing and followed them as they made the turbulent adjustment to life at the Academy. Everything a cadet experiences: dorm life, academics, athletics, relationship issues-all of it was captured on film. “We get to see how these kids change in that year, in the first six weeks we see them change,” Emrich laughed. “But in reality the quality of the cadets is such that we think this is the best way to tell the story ofwhat the Academy is and what it does.”

One of the many storylines that captured Emrich’s imagination involves the rigor of the cadet Academic experience. “A string that we follow is how as a freshman you are learning to build rockets,” Emrich said. He then described how the documentary brings the story full circle by transporting viewers to Alaska for the rocket launch of a satellite that is being tracked by firsties at the Academy. “For me, as an outsider looking in, I’m thinking, as a senior in college, I wouldn’t be tracking a satellite!”

The 125-day edit of Wings ofHonor is scheduled to be completed in earlyApril. Those involved with the film are expecting that it will be released in theaters as a nation-wide one-night event, although there may be other options for the film’s distribution such as network television. “We want to be sure to do right by Boeing, the Air Force Academy and the Air Force,” Emrich said, in regards to the film’s release. No matter how you see it, be sure to expect some exquisite story telling come spring and a film that will make everyone associated with the Academyproud. B

John J.Wolcott, '61

On the night ofAug. 7,2011, we lost a great friend and classmate, John J. Wolcott, to an incurable illness, diagnosed a couple ofyears ago. Survivors include his wife, Musa, their daughters, Suzy Harrington and her children: Laura, Michelle, and Tommy; and Katie Pruder-Scruggs and her son, Coby.

Known byfamily and friends as Jack or JJ, he loved flying. Jack earned two Silver Stars flying the A-l Skyraider and rescuing downed pilots during his tour in Vietnam, five Distinguished Flying Crosses, and 18 Air Medals. Although he loved airplanes, Jack’s family was his greatest passion. He was a dedicated husband and a wonderful role model for his children and grandchildren.

Jack epitomized integrity as a cadet and throughout hislife. As a cadet, he chaired our Honor Committee, captained the fencing team, leading it to the first undefeated season ofany team at the Academy; graduated in the top five percent ofhis class; and still found time to build and fly radio-controlled model airplanes. A classmate also on the Honor Committee said that he was awed by Jack’s ability to analyze and absorb all the pertinent information for their honor hearings, while still excelling in both his military and academic dutiesand having time for his hobbies. Another classmate told about Jack giving up precious days ofleave to stay behind and tutor him in an attempt to keep him from failing an academic class. Those traits never changed throughout Jack’s life. Ifyou commented on them, he would either accept your compliments without comment or suggest that everyone would do the same, given the circumstances.

He graduated tops in both his UPT and A-l training classes. His distinguished career also included flying B-52s and RC-135s; studying as an Olmsted Scholar at the University of Freiburg, Germany; being an Action Officer on the Air Staff; serving as aide to CINCSAC; commanding a B-52 squadron; serving as a Military Fellow on the Council of Foreign Relations; and being the AF Member of the Chairman’s Staff Group in the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Although Jack was promoted to full colonel with only 14 years of service and marked for positions of greatly increased responsibilities in the Air Force, he elected instead to devote more time to his family and retired from the Air Force in 1981 with 20 years of service. He then flew for two different oil companies in Midland, Texas.

After a back problem ended his flying in 1988, USAA hired Jack to be the SeniorVice President for its Mid-Atlantic Region. When he later felt that medical issues were not allowing him to devote what he considered sufficient time to his duties, he resigned. Half-measures were never acceptable to him.

Despite his many accomplishments and their resulting recognition,

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.

Jack remained grounded in who he was: always there to do what was right, excel in what he did, and serve with humility. Jack’s announcement to our class that the doctors felt he had only a few weeks remaining was typical: factual and accepting, with no self-pity. He devoted his last few years to ensuring that Musa would be comfortable and secure after his passing.

Jack was one of those rare talented and accomplished individuals whom we occasionally meet, concerned for others, and focused on family responsibilities with faith in God. He provided wonderful values for us all to emulate. None of us will ever forget JackWolcott and all that he embodied. (Nelson O’Rear, ’61, using materialfromJack’sfamily)

Lawrence J. Mink, *64

Lawrence “Larry” Mink passed away suddenly on July 8, 2011 from a blood clot related to lung cancer and pneumonia. His wife of 40 years, Barbara, was at his side.

Born in Harrisville, Pa. on August 5, 1944, he was the youngest of three boys. After graduating from Bishop McDevitt High School, Larry went on to the United States Air Force Academy, graduating in 1964. He developed a love of flying and flew many different aircraft as a military and civilian pilot. Returning from Vietnam, where he flew O-Is as a Forward Air Controller, he was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Oscoda, Mich., flying B-52s. Shortly after his arrival he met and married Barbara Driscoll, a nurse also stationed at Wurtsmith AFB. Leaving the Air Force in 1974, Larry worked as a flight instructor and flew charter and corporate aircraft. Moving to Alpena, Mich, in 1976, Larry and Barbara bought a farm and raised sheep, goats and horses for a number ofyears. In 1985, Larry signed on as pilot for feeder airlines flying freight for Federal Express, retiring in 2007.

Larry Mink

Larry had many interests and pastimes. He loved to work in his shop, tinkering: turning bowls on his lathe, making special tools for gunsmithing, or fixing his assorted pieces of farm equipment. He loved his motorcycles and spent many hours just riding, visiting family, going to rallies. A member of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association, he held various positions including treasurer and chapter director for the local Gold Wing chapter. July and August would find Larry and his son Jon setting up and shooting fireworks for Zambelli’s Fireworks Company. November would find him sitting in his deer blind waiting for the big buck. He also liked watching the Military and Discovery channels. Larry belonged to the NRA, the Alpena Sportsmens Club - pistol league, P K Fletcher Gun Club and the VFW.

In addition to his wife, he leaves four children: Jon, Lisa, Tiffany and Alex; and 11 grandchildren.

The family appreciates theletters of condolences and recollections received from Larry’s fellow AFA graduates. (Barb Mink, Larry’s wife, with inputsfrom his loving children)

Thomas T. Rauk, ’64

Thomas (Tom) Tweeten Rauk died April 13, 2011, at his home in Amherst Junction, Wis.

He was born the eldest of four children on Jan. 31, 1942, in Milwaukee to Karl andFlorence (Thomas) Rauk. His father’s career as a United

Jack Wolcott

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

States Air Force pilot and commander carried Tom and his family to many places, including Alaska, Japan, Finland and Germany.

Tom was appointed to the United States Air Force Academy in 1960. Upon graduation in 1964, he went to pilot training in Big Spring, Texas. In 1969, he married Beverley (Browne) Rauk in Hawaii. He served 27 years as a C-130 Pilot, Flight Examiner, Squadron Commander and Director of Operations. He served tours in the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm and as USAF Advisor to the Argentine Air Force. He was the recipient of numerous medals and recognitions, including, but not limited to: the Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and Air Force Commendation Medal.

Colonel Rauk retired from military service in 1991 from the 443 Military Airlift Wing at Altus AFB Okla. He and Bev then moved to Onalaska, Wis. where he was engaged in local government and community service. He served on the Chamber of Commerce, as Alderman for the Onalaska City Council, as a trustee on the Board of the Winding Rivers Library System from 2004 to 2007, as a La Crosse County Board Supervisor from 2006 to 2009, and donated his time and commitment to friends and organizations to improve the lives of others. He volunteered for many causes, including but not limited to: the Red Cross, Planned Parenthood, Fair Wisconsin; and several local, state and national candidates of public office.

After developing a keen interest in sustainable living, Tom began to design and build an energy-efficient retirement home for Bev and himself in Amherst Junction to which they moved in November 2010.

Tom’s interests included his immediate and extended family, sustainable, green living, political analysis, current affairs, religious and spiritual study, classical music, wine, community involvement, and maintaining friendships with his 7th Squadron classmates and friends from around the globe. He was a member of the Association of Graduates of the Air Force Academy andtheOrder of the Daedalians.

Tom was preceded in death by his father, Karl Rauk, and his brother-in-law James Donohue. He is survived by his wife, Bev; daughters Erin and Lauren Rauk; mother, Florence Rauk; sisters Karla Stacey (Lee Goodhart) and Louise Donohue; brother Robert (Reva) Rauk; three grandchildren, Shane, Garrett and Trinity Carlson; and numerous nieces and nephews. An interment ceremony was held at the USAFA Memorial Pavilion, Colorado Springs, Colo., on June 21, 2011. (Tom's Loving Family and Classmate Tim O'Keefe)

Richard L. Umbarger, ’65

Richard (Umbo) L. Umbarger, Class of 1965, died on May 27,2011 of a heart attack while getting ready for another golfouting. He was laid to rest in theClark AFB cemetery, Philippines.

Umbo is remembered as a born leader, fun loving, hard charging throughout his cadet and Air Force life. When he arrived at the Academy from a small town (Chanute) in Kansas, we all wondered, “Who is this guy?” He never stops going full speed. He was relentless in the boxing ring and on the football field, helping the 17th Squadron to many intramural victories.

His leadership skills were evident, beginning early as the doolie F Troop Squadron Commander during Christmas break. He finished his cadet career as the Third Group Commander before leaving the Academy for Navigator school.

After many fun times there, he was assigned to the B-52 aircraft, left the service for awhile, but couldn’t stay away and came back to be assigned the C-130 aircraft in South East Asia.

He liked it there so well that he stayed (playing golf almost every day after his retirement), met his wife, married and raised a family.

He is survived by his wife, Helen, daughter Molly, sons Todd, Kenneth, Alex; and nephew James. His daughter said that as she and her brothers grew up, he never missed one of their events, a true testament to a good man and friend to all. (Errol Reiner, classmate, with inputfrom 17th Squadron)

Lynn E. Daeke, *69

Lynn E. Daeke, 64, of Hudson, Mass, died on June 25th at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Mass, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Teresa Fox-Daeke, and their two children, John Walter Daeke and Kelly Fox Daeke, all of Hudson.

Lynn was born and raised in Southern Pines, N.C., son ofthe lateWalter H. and Georgia E. (Grumpier) Daeke. He attended local schools there and was a 1964 graduate of Southern Pines High School. Lynn was originally selected as an alternate for an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy However, two weeks after high school graduation; Lynn was on a train headed for the Academy. While attending the Academy, Lynn became a member ofthe 31st Street Exit Band. The all-Cadet band was most popular with the classes of ’69 and '70. The 31st Street Exit reunited four times after graduation for the 10th and 20th reunions of the classes of ’69 and '70.

Upon graduating with the Class of 1969, the newly commissioned 2nd Lt. Lynn attended pilot training and served in Vietnam as an aircraft commander in the C-7A aircraft. Lynn was also an instructor pilot and flight examiner in the T-37 aircraft in the Undergraduate Pilot Training program at Craig Air Force Base (AFB), Ala. As Chief of the T-37 Branch of the 29th Flying TrainingWing (FTW) Standardization and Evaluation Division, he was responsible for the quality of the T-37 Undergraduate Pilot Training program at Craig AFB. Afterwards, Lynn was stationed at Headquarters Tactical Air Command (TAC) at LangleyAFB, Va., and, in the role of the Chief of the Communications Processor Branch, led a team of Air Force, MITRE, and contractor personnel in the development of applications software for the Communications Processor Subsystem ofthe Automated Tactical Air Control Center (Project 485L). It was at Langley in 1979, Lynn met Lieutenant Terri (Teresa) Fox and after two years of dating they were married at the Langley Chapel on Oct. 3, 1981.

After his assignment at Langley, Lynn left active duty and became a systems engineer for the MITRE Corporation. In early roles with MITRE, Lynn assisted in the development of the functional requirements for the Computer Assisted Force Management System. After, Lynn and Terri relocated to Massachusetts, Lynnjoined the Air Force Reserves at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Mass. Lynn retired holding the rank of Major.

Lynn and his wife, Teresa, have resided in Hudson the past 24 years, raising their family and developing many friendships he cherished Lynn was still working for the MITRE Corporation at the time of his death at which time he was a Senior Communications Engineer supporting the Ground Division of Department E132 - Network Engineering and Integration. He was the Lead Engineer on the Joint Interface Control Officer (JICO) Support System (JSS) Program.

Lynn was an active volunteer in his community. As a member of Saint Michael Parish in Hudson he served as a Lector, spent time as the Parish RCIA Catechist and was always involved in the Saint Michael Parish Schools’ various fund-raising events. He was also a devoted volunteer with the HudsonYouth Sports Programs, spending his spare time coaching and raising funds to support the programs. Lynn was an avid sports fan; he especially enjoyed the Celtics and was well known by his friends as a competitive golfer. He enjoyed playing tennis also.

Besides his wife and two children, Lynn is survived by his two brothers, Ray Daeke and Jerry Daeke and his wife, Carol, all ofAberdeen, N.C.; his sister in-law Patricia Fox of St. Paul, Minn.; brother in-law John Fox of St. Paul, Minn.; several nieces; one nephew and many close friends. (His LovingFamily) (Continued on page 143.)

Tom Rauk

Umbo Umbarger

Lynn Daeke

Pete Todd

1250 Big Valley Drive

Colorado Springs, CO 80919-1015

H: (719) 531-5874

E-mail: petetodd59@comcast.net

We weren’t able to make it to the AF-Navy game this year. Miss Wendy took a bad fall and dislocated her right elbow on 12 August. I am composing this deathless prose some 11 (!) weeks later on the eve ofher corrective surgery, at last. But that’s another story. She definitely wasn’t travel-ready in October, so I had to rely on the reporting skills of a classmate. Mike Bender stepped up and filed the following evocative report.

“Twenty-six classmates, plus wives, sons, daughters and grandchildren gathered in Annapolis to see our Fearless Falcons whop up on Navy for the second year in a row. Well, it wasn’t exactly a ‘whop up,’ but I’ll get to that later. Joe Morgan outdid himself once again in organizing the whole affair. He did his job so efficiently that we actually all got a nominal refund. When’s the last time you got that from your travel agent?

“Most of the out-of-towners arrived on Thursday. The McLains, the Vosikas, the Schaums and the Houstons brought in the West Coast Offense. The Millers, the Montgomerys and Bruce Thompson and sons came from Colorado. John Miltner and the Benders represented the Midwest. You never know where Wiley Burch is going to come from. This time, Kauai! The rest of the group was from the Eastern Seaboard and Florida. And we charitably put up with Howie Bronson, ’60, accompanied by his wife, Judith!

“We had a special day Friday. Charlie May’s brother-in-law, Gene Hoiloway, a 1964 USNA grad, gave us a personal tour of the Academy. The campus is awesome, especially the history. Although most of us have been there before, having Gene’s insight from his days as a midshipman made the tour even more significant. Several of us remained after the tour to take in the parade. And, yes, despite what we thought 55 years ago back at the zoo, the Midshipmen DO keep in step while marching, and put on a great show. AND - they carry rifles! Those who didn’t attend the parade, especially the West Coasters, did their duty the rest of the afternoon by contributing to the profitability ofthe local pubs and fortifying their blood with anti-freeze for what would turn out to be a very cold game day.

“The day of the game, we had a great tailgate outside the stadium, and witnessed the Middies marching by. Once again, Joe Morgan did a great job of organization, and Kent Montavon and Fredda Sparks greeted us all with Mimosas.

The GAME: one ofthe most exciting ever. The Air Force dominated the first half, and Navy the second. There was a fake punt (Navy - successful), onside kickoff (Navy - successful), a fake field goal, and an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty againstNavy AFTER they scored what might have been the winning touchdown in overtime. The penalty resulted in pushing back the extra point 15 yards, which was then blocked by the Falcons. Air Force then went on to score a TD in their turn with the ball, and converted the PAT for the WIN!

“The postgame festivities were another highlight. We had a great buffet dinner at the historic Officers and Faculty Club inside the USNA campus. The food was great, and we were able tomeet sons and daughters, grandchildren, and most notably, Cadet Christopher Gallagher, USAFA 2014, Joe’s grandson.

“Next year it’s off to Yankee Stadium for the Army game!

[Your faithful scribe can only add that, afterallthe woeful drama that had crept back into the Falcon kicking game over the past fewyears, it was a specialjoy to see them win a game with a kick!]

Striving to top Mike’s reportorial skills, Norris Olson wrote in with an account of a notable occasion: “Here is a picture of myself, Brian Parker, and Gen HT Johnson at the 13th Bomb Sq. reunion inWashington, D.C. HT gave a slide show of the Pentagon attack on 9 /11 and we had a nice visit.

“Also in the picture are some USAFA grads on active duty with the present day 13th Bomb Sq. at Whiteman AFB, Mo. From left are Maj Scott Weyermuller, ’99, Capt Pete Mauro, ’02, Capt Jeremy Simmons, ’02, and Lt Col Mark Pye, ’94, the 13th Bomb Sq. Commander. Mark and seven others flew in to participate in the reunion.

“Brian was in the 13th during the early 1960s, flying B-57s out of Japan. He left the 13th before they were assigned to the Philippines in 1965.1 was assigned as a ‘replacement’ pilot to the 13th in 1965 and flew 165 combat missions during the two years I was in the squadron. I think there was only one other ’59er in the squadron. Bill Davis was a back-seaterand was shot down while on a low level mission. Chutes didn’t open and both he and the pilot were killed.

“The 13th was deactivated in 1973 while overseas. Then in 2000 it was reactivated as a B-l squadron at Ellsworth AFB. In 2005 the B-2 squadron at Whiteman was renamed the 13th and took over the history of the 13th and they remain the 13th today. The majority of reunion attendees are from the Korean War and Vietnam eras, but the Whiteman folks are joining right in.

“About the flooding. We in Grand Forks are lucky. In some respects it was a blessing to lose so much in the flood of ’97. Some of the 500 homes that were destroyed should never have been built in the flood plain in the first place and most were very old homes. Some people call them ‘starter’ homes and most were worth less than $100K. The feds were generous at the time and gave the city $180M. Then we built a new set of dikes for $400M: $200M federal money, $50M from the state and the rest from the homeowners. My share was about $4000. We complained at the time, but everyyear we just ‘ho-hum’ as we watch everyone else fight and scramble.

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Taking a photo break during the campus tour were, from left, Renee Houston, Bobbie May, Charlie May, Gene Holloway (USNA ’64), Bill McLain, John Miltner, Howie Bronson (’60), Patty Taylor, Judith Bronson, Mike Bender, Goodie Taylor, Deac Houston, Gene andJane Vosika.

“No one ever asks what I do in retirement so I will send a picture. I had a nice double opening weekend. The Canada geese have come back in great numbers. Fun to hunt.”

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Christmas is bearing down. I’m barely over Valentines Day. Nonetheless, Wendy and I wish you and yours a happy holiday season and a healthy, happy NewYear.

Thoughtfor the Quarter: My humorist son, at the time a USAF twostriper, claimed he was so far down the food chain that he had plankton bites on his butt.

A.J. (Rosie) Cler, Jr.

5423 Myrtle Wood Sarasota, FL 34235-4624

Phone: (941) 371-4843

E-mail: RCtherose@aol.com

Class Web Site: www.usafa.net/1960

“Colorado Classmates made our monthly pilgrimage to Champs Brew Pub to discuss matters of national import and prostate problems. We had a first Bill Hodson was our featured speaker and he didn’t show,” wrote Wayne Kendall. “He had a root canal during the meeting time. He’s our first speaker to prefer a root canal versus talking to his classmates! The highlight was our ‘volunteer’ war story by Fred Porter. IT WAS ACTUALLY AWAR STORY a real hair-raiser about punching out of an F-4 after being hit shortly after takeoff from Danang. None of us were aware of the exploits of our quiet professor friend. Next meeting is November 9th.” Photo, seated: Jock Schwank, Wayne Kendall, Andi Biancur, Duck Waddle, Denis Walsh; Standing: Jim Bujalski, Ron Yates, Bruce Mosier, Dick Schehr, Fred Porter, and Dick Sexton.

“Next week, the 20th TFW every-other-year reunion is in San Antonio on the RiverWalk. Dale was with that wing at Upper Heyford, UK in various positions for many years and ended up as Wing Commander. John Peebles is president ofthat organization. We’ll stay on the RiverWalk during the reunion.”

“This picture was taken at the Northwest ’60 Falcons luncheon during our sailing outing with Nels Delisanti on September 6th,” wrote George Luck. Top photo: Dennis and Linda O’Keefe, Vic and Suzanne Yoakum, Bev and Jim O’Rourke, Carolyn and George Luck, Nels Delisanti. Bottom photo: Jim, Linda and Nels on the briny sea.

“Rosie, I had a number of relatives this past week (9/15/2011) for my son’s wedding. Bringing out all my blankets, my Academy blanket caught my eye. I wonder how many still have our (original issue) blanket?” Bill Zersen (E-mail Bill at wzersen@comline.com about your ‘Bed Check’). Ralph Miller changed his e-mail to: azremlam@comcast.com.

Ina Thompson, Boerne, TX says that “Dale is doing fine. The ‘wheelchair thing’ (which Dale rode at our 50th) was an almostsevered hamstring from the fall he took before our trip. It took time to heal, but he didn’t need a wheelchair after getting home. We just returned from Nashville and our reunion of the 18th TFW. The 44th Squadron went together to Vietnam in F-105s. A number ended up as POWs and many didn’t come back, so the squadron has stayed very close. Some of the guys were even inWWII.

Ifyou’re luckyenough to live in New Mexico, particularly a city as lovely as Albuquerque (Hey—they’ve got Isotopes Stadium, easily the nicest stadium in AAA baseball!), here’s how you’d “Check-In” with a Blast to your old roommates: “Monsoon is over: A complete lack of rain. Less than 2” at the airport .Less than normal 7+”. State fair is over. Balloon Fiesta is coming up. Check out ‘Koat.com’ for coverage starts at 7:00 MST for coverage of the mass (balloon) ascension. Life goes on.” (Bill Leninger lives in Rio Rancho, north ABQ).

“Daughter Christine is in the Class of 2015 and survived summer training. At our 50th I brought Chrissie and she was able to spend a day with a fourth class female cadet, which greatlyencouraged Chrissie to pursue an appointment,” wrote Jack Schira. “I also talked to our classmates who had grandchildren applying for this class. Chrissie is my youngest, and I think that I may be the OLDEST graduate to have a son or daughter in the new class. When we saw her on Parents Weekend, she showed me her biceps WOW is she solid! She was in darn good shape before she showed up at the Academy, and could do more pushups and sit ups than most boys in her high school class, the result of working to get ready for Academy physical fitness tests.

“My wife Susan and I just moved from Ohio to Hanover, MD, so that Susan could keep her job in SAIC. She is eighteen years younger than me and her job is an important part of our income, and this move brings me closer to my daughter Robin (Yorktown, VA) and son Jay (Ashburn, VA). Robin retired from teaching in the Public School System ofVirginia, and Sam is working on the US Space Defense System as a Software Engineer/Program Manager. Robin has a little girl and Jay has a son and a daughter.”

“What a great weekend,” wrote Tony Burshnick. “The AF Falcons went to Navy-Marine Stadium in Annapolis and trounced the Middies (1 October). This would not have happened were it not for the Class of ’60 and their families being there to cheer them to victory. This was followed by the grand tailgate social at Ralph Lalime’s giant RV! An even better part of the weekend occurred on Sunday when Marty and Les Querry hosted another victory party at Falcon Roost in Bluemont, VA. Counting all ‘partygoers,’ the total was 33. Jim Glaza and Jenny came from C-Springs, Tony and Carol Bilello from Denver were joined by their lovely daughter Susan, who lives in Virginia. BG Kaley and Carol stopped by before heading to Naples, FL for the winter. Bob and Lutzi Fischer drove from Pennsylva- nia, and GJC Fries from southern Virginia. George’s new grandson is doing well in Ohio. The rest of us were DC ’60 locals. Now, you grads in the Springs can help the Falcons beat Army in November. We will send GJC Fries to help with the game victory!”

the Victory Party at Les and Marty Querry’s house on Sunday, October 2nd and in the

are: Standing from

Jim Glaza, Brian Kaley, Norm Haller, Bob Badger, Carol Kaley, Anne Carnegie, Cathe Hockenberry, Bill Carnegie, Ken Alnwick, Susan and Carol Bilello, Ralph Lalime, George Fries, Leon Goodson, Bill Hockenberry, and Al Johnson. Upperphoto seated from left: Jerry de la Cruz, Tom Burke, Betty de la Cruz, Tony Bilello, and Tony Burshnick. Sitting from left are Marty Hiatt (Querry), Jenny Glaza, Liliane Badger, Maryn Goodson, Mary Ellen Burke, Judy Alnwick, Liz Haller, Karen Burshnick, Darlene Lalime, and Bob Fischer; Seated on the floor are Les Querry and Lutzi Fischer.

“We recently moved to Palm Desert, CA. Please update my Class records: 44251 Indian Canyon Lane, Palm Desert, CA 92260-3032, home phone (760) 565-7497, cell phone (619) 871-6250,” wrote Phil Meinhardt. “I do miss the lunches with Goose, and the get-togethers with Boyingtons and Gulbransens. However, I do NOT miss the year-around cold and incessant drizzle-rain of the winters in the Bay Area. Mark Twain once said that 'San Francisco one summer was the coldest winter I ever spent!’ In Tiburon (CA), we never turned the heat off except two or three days. Palm Desert is a more central and closer location to kids and grandchildren. Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert and Indian Wells are each about 50,000 in population, clean and have no homeless. During the winter, the population grows with Canadians and the Snowbirds.”

Make YourselfHappy—Go To www.usafa.net/1960 and enjoy an hour!

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

H: (574) 273-2597

E-mail: enoandtjo@gmail.com

Class Web Site: www.usafal961.org

Jack Wolcott left our midst on August 7th Dave Hmiel, Art and Holly Kerr, and Charlie Thomas attended Jack’s memorial services on August 13th at St. Cyril’s Catholic Church in Wilsonville, OR. Both ofJack’s daughters spoke fondly of their father at his services. See the GBNF section of this issue of Checkpoints for information on his life.

Our class now has a distinction that no other is ever likely to match: 100% of our living graduates contributed to our 50th reunion class gift to USAFA. Many other classmates and family members of deceased graduates also contributed. Thanks to all in helping us achieve this noteworthy goal, and a special thanks to Brice Jones for his perseverance in leading this unprecedented effort to success.

A special thanks to our Colorado Springs contingent for their monumental efforts to make not only this, but also our past reunions, such a success. Additionally, we are grateful to our past class scribes these 50 years for keeping us in touch: Randy Cubero, Tom Eller, Hanson Scott, Tom Sutton, and Ed Zompa.

This quarter has been eventful for Mary Jane and Jim Ahmann’s family. Their son, Patrick, retired from the Air Force and went right back to work at Offutt AFB as a civilian. Their daughter's husband, Dave Fresella (’90), also retired from the Air Force at TinkerAFB. Mary Jane and Jim spent two weeks in Kyrgyzstan to encourage the Kyrgyz Military Christian Fellowship (MCF) and visited as many oftheir old students and families as possible.

Bill AyIsworth’s three brothers and a sister, plus their spouses, spent two weeks together in England: the first in London and the second in Gloucestershire County in the Cotswolds hill country, west of London. Their last week they stayed at the Aylworth Manor, former center of the Ay1worth estate, and walked to the site of the correspondingAylworth village: no longer inhabited. Note the difference in the spelling of the family name, which enjoyed several variations even before their direct ancestor left England in the 1600s.

Bob Brickey believes that the true measure of fellowship, friendship, and fraternal respect shines brightly through the past 50 years when he reflects on the love, concern, and support given for his and Jan’s granddaughter MiaBella and the Brickey family. Mia is doing well, home and attending her 7th grade class via Slcype until probably January. She receives physical therapy, is growing stronger, and is a happy 12-year-old. Thanks to all the classmates for your gifts, prayers, and kindness given to their family, and may God bless all the Class of 1961. Those who have supported Mia’s heart issues may want to read the letter that their son Tom placed on her website. Tom’s family expresses their great thankfulness for Mia’s heart donor and to others who have supported them: miabellabrickey.com/journal.

Pat and Marilyn Buckley have stayed busy visiting with Jerry and Dot Gill in Atlanta, joined for dinner by Mike Rawlins; dining with Dick Duke in Wexford, PA; visiting in Massachusetts with Pat’s brother Mike and his wife, June, Pat’s father’s grave, and Pat’s daughter Deirdre and family. In Virginia they stayed with John and Joan Kohout, along with Bill and Rhoda Stackhouse. (See Bill Foster’s account, below, of the Victory Party.) Next, they enjoyed two days with the Stackhouses, helped Pat’s Aunt Elizabeth celebrate her 92 nd birthday and visited his mother’s grave in North Carolina. On October 15th they sailed on Carnival Dream for a one-week Caribbean cruise. After our reunion, they headed to Shorehamby-Sea, UK to visit Marilyn’s family, returning home by mid-December.

Doug and Dee Cairns have been battling Dee’s unusual immune system deficiency problem that makes her very vulnerable to severe reactions from mosquito bites. That has restricted their travel and lifestyle to avoiding mosquitoes.

Tom and Anne Eller plan to spend Christmas in England with their son and his family and then to winter in Tucson from January to early April: their first experience as snowbirds.

Bill Foster said thatthe DC contingenthad a lot to celebrate afterAirForce’s noteworthy victory over Navy in Annapolis on 1 October. The 34 seats (the first three rows on the 30 yard line) provided to the group by the Naval Academy Athletic Department—to help promote harmony and reciprocation in the future during these inter-service contests—provided an up-close view of the Air Force cheerleaders and the blocked extra point in overtime for the win. Bill and Theda hosted the victory party. Ken and Dean Ballien, Pat and Marilyn Buckley, Gene Davis, Charlie Dixon and guest Liz, Sandy and Lowell Jones, John and Joan Kohout, Jerry and Sue Lefton, Jack and Diane McDonough, Hector and Joan Negroni, Ross Shulmister and his daughter Meryl, and Bill and Rhoda Stackhouse attended. Tom Conley attended the game only, missing the good food and adrenaline flow.

Haven and Roberta Hill returned at the end of September from a Rhine riverboat cruise and some personal touring: five days in Lucerne and the Alps, two days in Basel where they boarded the 128-passenger boat into France, Germany, Luxemburg, with multiple stops en route to Antwerp; then to Ghent and Bruges, Belgium. They returned to San Diego after 25 days, broke and groggy with jet lag.

Tom Hill helped coach a high school baseball team dominated by sophomores. It finished the season 23-6, and continued with a sectional championship and runner-up in the regional. They subsequently finished the American Legion season against teams with many seniors and college freshmen. Their final record was 30-8. Next year they will be a target, as never before. This is fun for an old man.

Terry Jorris is still sending regular CARE packages to his son Tim (LtCol USAF), deployed to an unnamed Middle-East country.

Lowell Jones provided Hector’s summary of the DC August luncheon, at the Springfield Country Club. Charley Dixon, Bill Foster, Lowell Jones, John Kohout, Jack McDonough, Hector Negroni, and Bill Stackhouse attended, while Pat Buckley joined via telephone. Lowell briefed them on the Falcons Landing Retirement Community, where he and Sandy moved this summer. They discussed the August issue of Forbes that listed USAFA as the 10th best “First Class College’’ in the Nation. West Point was 3rd and Annapolis, 17th. Forbes states that the cost of a USAFA education is

The top photo shows the group assembled in front of Ralph Lalime’s motor home: From left are Ken Alnwick, Bob Fischer, Tom Burke, Bill Hockenberry, Jim Glaza, Jerry de la Cruz, Ralph Lalime, George Fries, and Tony Bilello.

The bottom photo shows

photo

left:

Sabre Society Donors

$415,000. Bill Foster also briefed the group on Operation Air Force-Navy Football game and theVictory Party to follow at the Fosters’ home.

Bob Kellock’s retirement picture has brightened significantly in the past few months since replacements are now being trained for his jobs. After tying up minor details, Bob may throw off the Boeing traces early next year. He was recently honored by an invitation to offer brief remarks at the AF Flight Test Center’s 20th anniversary celebration of C-17 test aircraft T-l’s first flight on September 15th. It will fly to the USAF Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB in April.

Since January, Art Kerr has experienced numerous medical challenges, requiring a lot of hospital time. An emergency craniotomy solved part of his complex problems. It’s been truly wonderful to receive good wishes, thoughts, and prayers from his classmates. Thanks very much. Art also received “best wishes” phone calls from his German Air Force UPT classmates. He was still in a wheelchair in mid-October but working on getting to assisted walking.

When Pete and Patty Lane heard that the Jones twins were visiting their area to attend theDaedalian Convention, they gathered local classmates and friends on September 23rd for a great meal and renewed special friendships. The Lanes, Blaisdells, Dick Fairlamb, Howes, Joneses, Taylors (’60), Tom Williamses, and Phil Woods attended.

Jerry and Jo (Sucherman) Mason completed a 4,900-mile road trip visiting friends and relatives in the Great Lakes area, including a great dinner withWayne Whalen at his favorite Chicago restaurant.

Joan and Hector Negroni bought a winter home in Naples, FL.

MikeRawlins said Ginny had a root canal, and he needed two root canals and two crowns before our reunion. They plan to return to Cabo San Lucas in February and Hilton Head in May.

Pat and Bob Smith returned to cruising after her recovery from her November 2010 heart attack. They cruised along the West Coast to San Francisco, San Diego, and Santa Barbara and planned a gambling trip to a casino in San Diego County in late October.

Terry Storm, along with Tom Conley, Tom Eller, Charlie Neel, and Jim Wilhelm, installed Polaris medallions on the cement pavers of our deceased classmates in front of Doolittle Hall. The AOG Board of Directors elected Terry to a second and final two-year term as Chairman in August. He greatly appreciates the support ofthe USAFA community, including our classmates.

Charlie and Gina Thomas made a second trip to Italy this year, this time visiting the Venice and Trieste areas.

Rosie and Ad Thompson spent three weeks in Spain and Portugal in September and October. They saw no indication of economic problems. People still go out every night to eat, drink, and be merry. Businesses were still open and apparentlydoing okay.

Bob and Winnie Wagner enjoyed their 16-day, small-group tour to South America, learning the history and culture of the Peruvian people in that part ofthe Andes. The highlight was hiking among the ruins at Machu Picchu. The Andes offer an excellent respite to theheat and humidity of August in Florida. After a day in Quito, Ecuador, they spent four days on a small ship touring the Galapagos.

Twy and Nancy Williams are both active in their local (30 miles away) church. This fall they have been repairing relatively minor damage from Hurricane Irene, leaving little time for sailing.

Judy and Tom Wilson celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary this year. In late May, they were surprised at a “birthday” dinnerfor their son Todd’s wife, Jaimi, by the appearance of their oldest son, Tom, from Dallas and their daughter from Milwaukee. Judy and Tom spent a wonderful week in San Diego on Coronado Island celebrating. In late July at a family gathering, their granddaughter Lauren sang a song she had written for them; they watched a 50-year video of their married life, set to music by another granddaughter, Erica, and her boyfriend; and they received a large family photo of all of their children and grandchildren, arranged from the oldest to the youngest—no small feat since everyone is scattered over four different states.

Gayle Zompa looked forward to seeing old friends at the reunion. Her daughter Kristin planned to be with her part of the time.

Thanks to all who contributed. You can view a greatly expanded version, with pictures at http://www.usafal961.org/.

Don Shepperd, George Larson’s son (Bret) and PK, himself at the AFA Air and Space Exposition.

John W. “Jack" Jamba

4 Judy Court Satellite Beach, FL 32937

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

Cell: (321) 432-1370

E-Mail: jwjamba@aol.com

Hi Redtags. Christmas is drawing closer as well as the 50th Reunion. I can hardly wait. Got an email from PK (Paul) Robinson with a picture of

“George’s son is a Colonel (could it really be are we that old?) and vice commander of the KC-135 tanker wing at Niagara Falls. Also at the Exposition the MISTY FASTFACs received a lifetime achievement award. Shep was the OIC. We also participated in a ‘Panel’, with Shep as the narrator where each of the participants shared some of his MISTY experiences.” Thanks, PK. You all look magnificent at the gala.

Saw an email that Ed Martinelli sent on the Redtag Net, to wit: “I’d suggest after being given a couple of rides in an F-4 most of us could still put it back on the ground safely. In fact, I’d even suggest that we could get a shack on a level nuke run at 507525KIAS on the range in two or three attempts. I am not sure I’d like to attempt any strafing or low-angle bomb runs, though. And the last F-4 flight I had was in March 1985, while assigned to the 4TFW. Theypulled me offofflight status when I turned in my retirement papers.” Thanks Ed.

Also got an email from Charlie Price, my old roommate from Fightin’ Fourth. “Jack, during a Tri-flight Daedalian meeting at the Robins Air Museum on August 27th, Don Netzinger, Geoff Engels and I had the chance to relive some of our Academy memories.

“The museum is great by the way, but just meeting with fellow Redtags was the highlight. BothGeoffand Don are living in the Robins area, while I am still happy in Valdosta. Geoff said 1st Squadron won the wing lacrosse championship, but I remember that we in Fighting 4th won it. Maybe we both won, but in different years. Memories do fade.” Thanks, Charlie. I also thought we won it butI’m not sure there was a formal playoff. I think it was a competition between the two unbeaten teams that we won. I don’t care what anyone says, we were the best that year.

That brings me to an email I just sent on the Redtag net about Darwin Edwards who put in two years with our class at USAFA. He went on to get a degree and put in a career in Air Force Special Ops and retired to Robins where he became the curator of their Air Museum for 15 years. I visited him several years ago and got an after-hours tour of the museum by him. He did a great job improving and increasing the size of the museum. What a wonderful person he was.

Sabre Society Donors 20

The next item concerns the fatal air crash at the Reno Air Show. As many ofyou know Mike Major is a major executive in the group that plans the air show. He and his wife were not injured in the crash. Don Shepperd wrote that he and his wife andothers were in thebox seats last year where the crash occurred. The fickle finger of fate!

But I got this email from Jim Whitted recently. “Jack, I was in C Springs for a reunion of my old AF squadron and stopped by the Academy for a visit with First Classman David Furlow. Davey is the grandson of a woman whom I grew up with in Georgia. Had a good visit with a tour of the Academy, including Jack’s Valley. Didn’t get to see my old room as the Class of 2015 had just arrived and the building was in use. When Davey graduates next year, we (’62) will be the legacy class. I hope to be there and participate in the ceremonies. I have attached a picture of Davey and me two good old boys from Georgia who came west for an education. Jim. 1341K.”

After Tom Hutchison emailed his Long Lost Parade Hat story on the Redtag Net, I got this from Gary Baughman: “Great story, Tom. Thanks for sharing it and the photos with us. I have a parade hat too; not mine, that I found in a trunk that my Mom kept. I don’t know how she came in possession of it. In the plastic sleeve in the crown where identification could be inserted I found, neatly folded, a blank Form 10! Lucky me! Gary, 935K.”

Thanks Gary. Keep 'em coming.

From Jim Gallagher answering a guidance email from Bob Felts: “Thanks for your input Bob. I too have been plagued by spam, viruses and malware... not to mention arthritis, heart trouble and prostate issues. Jim” I hope you didn’t get the last three things from the internet also. If so, I’m going to shut my computer down and donate it to the Jihadis. Thanks for the input.

Just got this from Bob Felts. “Hi Jack: Yesterday, Oct 23,1 went sailing on San Francisco Bay with three of my four ‘kids.’ They’re better sailors than I am! We chartered a 30’ Catalina named Moor’ea. The temperature in Sausalito was 75 degrees before the day was over. Anyhow, the winds were out of the north, very variable and totally unpredictable. At some places we’d have a good heel, other places we had to crank up the engine.

“At the end, motoring in against the wind and outgoing tide was a bit slow. It was a terrific sail and a day to remember, finished off by an outrageous sunset, plus dark beer, authentic thin-crust Italian pizza, and a chunk of apple baklava in Sausalito. Now that’s living! It was a special day for this old goat, and they don’t get any better than that. Bob” Thanks, Bob.

And this just in from Tom Young: “What could be more fitting for a Redtag weekend than Cheezie (Chuck Cheeseman) and T Y on a hunting trip to Georgia? The bag consisted of a family ofhogs, a deer and a bobcat! Guns, game and great fellowship. Tom y.” Thanks, Tom. Sounds like fun.

And this just in from Hesh Altman. “Jack, I’m TDY to MARB working with the ANG Predator FTU. Had lunch with Charlie and Pat Hale yesterday and talked them into coming to Vegas to watch the Army game with the local AOG chapter.” Good work, Hesh. I wish I could be there, too.

Now don’t forget the 50th Reunion at the Colorado Springs Marriott during the first weekend in October in 2012. Why not plan to arrive a day or two early and stay a day or two late. It’s a good time to reminisce with the Redtags, visit old haunts and see what’s new there. We don’t know how much time we have left here, so take this chance to see classmates that

you did so much with at USAFA. Looking forward to seeing all of you. Cheers. Jack. 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

Please note the new e-mail address. The resemblance to the old address is more to help my memory. The msn e-mail was 16 years old and I was suffering from burdensome junk mail plus a recent intrusion by some scammers. Lately, I have noticed some e-mail providers are adding increased levels of security which is complicated but good.

Tom Clark has come home. On Feb. 8, 1969 Tom was flying an F-100D Super Sabre, ofthe 416th Tactical FighterSquadron, 37th Tactical FightWing when he was shot down. After several attempts, the first in 1991, a joint search team recovered human remains from the crash site in October of 2009. Extensive examination was required to identify the remains as Tom’s. He returned to Emporium, PA after 42 years, escorted by Patriot Guard Riders and Police, on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, Oct. 22nd at the St. Marks Catholic Church in Emporium.

Sabre Society Donors 38

Do you remember the various dust-ups over graduate access to the Academy, especially those grads who did not have a Government ID Card? The Academy recently inaugurated a USAFA Graduate Base Access Badge to be used by those grads who do not have the Government ID. If you want to get more information on the card and an application go to the AOG Web Site (www.usafa.org). It’s easy; Denny King did it and he now has a badge in his possession. His badge number is 009

Ok, mark your Calendars! Our Class Officers agreed that the Class of 1963 50th Reunion will be held at Colorado Springs 23-27 October 2013. The Falcon’s football game scheduled for Oct. 26th 2013 will be against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. The Reunion Organizing Committee Co-chairs are Bill Ball and Denny King and reunion headquarters is expected to be The Colorado Springs Marriott. The proposed list of activities is similar to our previous five-year gatherings. One exception may be a Reception/Dinner at Arnold Hall on that Thursday to formally show off the Class Display and to dedicate the JFK cup and the display of Pat Wynne’s ring.

Pres Davis and Gil Merkle are working to firm up the list ofClass Squadron Reps and Squadron Contact Lists. Your help is needed. Either contact your Squadron Rep to update your status or if he should write or call you, he will be in need of as much contact information that you have. Who knows, you might have the missing pieces needed to make sure no one misses the 50th Reunion. The Squadron Rep list is now on the Class Web Page atwww.usafa63.org.

As part of the 50th anniversary celebration an event for our Class to present gold bars to the new 2nd Lts of the Class of 2013 when they are commissioned GraduationWeek, is beingplanned. More specifics should be available soon and I’ll keep you posted.

This year’s mini-reunion was a great success and the Falcons beat Tennessee State. The annual Tail Gate photo is impressive enough. (See photo at the top of the next column.)

Those at the dinner and CupTurning but not in the tailgate picture were Jim and Kathleen Hauser, Jim and Eileen Fain, Phil and Jeannie Tate, Ken Grizzle, Mary Wilson(widow of Harry) along with daughter Sarah, John and Gay Helinski, Larry McLaughlin, and Leslie Bowers (Widow ofJerry). The Cup Turning was, as usual, very emotional. Speaking for our passed

The Class of '62 is currently raising money to support the new Center for Character and Leadership Development. For more information to participate in this Class Giving Project please contact Razelle Doherty at Razelle.doherty@usafaendowment.org, 719-472-0300 ext. 222.

classmates were Pres Davis (Jerry Bowers), Gordon Bredvik (Harry Wilson), Jack Martines (Howie Kraye), and Dave Nuss and Dick Shutack (John Gavin). Dave and Dick brought out a very special award earned by John for his football kicking prowess: theGolden Shoe.

shoe that broke the NCAA Field Goal record!

Once again we thank Bob and Charlie Ann Hayes for their magnificent efforts in organizing the event. Also many thanks go to Gordy Bredvik, Bill Ball and the Class Gift Committee for all their efforts, inputs and demonstrations.

Bob is already planning next year's (2012) mini-reunion and proposes the first weekend in October during the Falcons vs. Navy football game on October 6th We have already marked our calendar for that date.

Here is a photograph of classmates getting together at Jim and Sandra Johnston's farm in Ohio, near Xenia. Sandra wrote: “This summer we invited numerous friends to the Dayton, Ohio area for six days of activities: canoeing; touring a Frank LloydWright home, the Wright Brothers home, the Air Force Museum, lots of dinners, a white elephant bingo party, AAA baseball, and a car rally that culminated at the Johnston Farm.”

due to a diagnosis of PLS which is a benign form ofALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease. He also related a story about the Reno Air Races crash. Jerry and his son-in-law (Mike) were 40 or 50 feet from the impact. Jerry says he was literally blown over by the blast. “Mike and I consider ourselves very lucky because until the second before it hit, the Ghost was pointed right at us.”

Heard from Dave (Deacon) Jackson (former 15"' CS mate) who related some stories about how being a graduate of the Air Force Academy helped and once hindered his job hunts. On one occasion, during a conversation with a High School principal on a totally different subject, he was offered a job after five minutes. The Principal had just asked Dave where he went to college. The offer led to 20 years of teaching. Later, when applying to substitute teach in a public school, he was turned down because the interviewer was convinced the Air Force Academy was not accredited. Go figure.

Did you know Jay Miller is the Mayor of Rifle, Colorado?

Butch Verdier reported their grandson, Ben Brown-Class of 2012, was selected for pilot training. Butch’s reaction: “Hallelujah, Amen!” Congrats to Ben

DennyKing (again) forwarded an extraordinary e-mail from Bob (The Venk) Venkus which 1 wanted to repeat word-for-word but space just does not permit. As you may know Bob is living with Parkinson’s disease but that has not slowed him down much. Denny said Bob passed to him the wisdom of not wasting time with trivial matters and his intention of attacking life full on. In The Venk’s words “PD is making me live my life faster.... If I am just going to waste time I will do it on the handball court or the golf course. That way I can at least keep score!” My kind of guy!

That’s it this time. Great inputs. By the time you read this the holidays will have come and maybe gone. So please enjoy the celebrations, be safe out there and have a happy and prosperous New Year.

Bob Hovde

rhj i'W lii '.y n AJ

Jerry Driscoll announced his retirement from Net Jets. That’s a long time flying. Jerry says these days he is having a little trouble getting around

206 Walker Ave. Huntsville, AL 35801

(H) (256) 532-3923

(M) (256) 348-9794

bob@hovde.us

Tribute to a Fighter Pilot - Tom Morris sent the following: “I had the good fortune and pleasure to attend the Tribute to a Fighter Pilothonoring our classmate Steve Ritchie at the Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. It was great to see Steve honored by the Hying community for his accomplishments. He is only the second pilot so honored. Last year at a similar event, the late Robin Olds was the first. Numerous notable people attended, including civic leader Peter Goors, graduates from various classes at the Air Force Academy, the commander of the Colorado National Guard, “River Rats”, and pilots of every persuasion - including a former flight instructor. Steve is an excellent public speaker and spoke to the audience from the heart with great sincerity. With much affection, he introduced his wife and told us a little bit about her remarkable story and how she came to this country from Romania. It was a great evening and all of us in the Class of 1964 can take pride in one of our own.”

Hit!

fymmmsti

Kneelingfrom left are Gaston, Martinez, Henderson, Hall, Lorenz Boding, Hayes, Bredvilc & Nuss. Standing: Fox, Mazet, DeBerry, Reynolds, Winzell, Diffendorfer, Hoffman, Roth, Coates, Ball, Kennedy, Matjasko, Lee, Davis, King, Shutack, Ebert, Butler, Merkle, Steinbrink and Ott.

The

From left are Jack Zimmerman, Bob Hall (on the tractor), Jim Johnston, Pres Davis (recoveringfrom shoulder surgery),Jim Bogaert, and Steve Dotson.

Aging Aviators - Terry Isaacson reported that a group of classmates gathered at his cabin in Pinetop, AZ, to play golf and to recall their best stories. Whenever classmates get together at Ike’s place in the mountains, he makes sure to get a picture with the address sign. He said, “We bought the cabin because the address was a good omen - 6464 Bucksprings Road!” He also reports that, “We had a great time and the stories never change - at least not the ones we remember!”

GolfTips - Speaking of Ike, he also just announced the publication of his fourth book - Tipsfor Thomas. It’s a small book on putting for kids, specifically his grandson. It contains basic tips and drills on putting - and sounds like just the kind ofbook for me - ifI ever find time to playgolfagain! This retired stuff is hard work!

Around theWorld - Answering my request for input last issue, RayRodgers emailed, “You asked in the latest class news if any of us have been traveling. As a matter of fact we have. May and most of June, Barb and I took an eight-week around-the-world trip. We’d been thinking about one for a 50th wedding anniversary celebration, but since she has Alzheimer’s we aren’t putting off anything these days. Stops included Berlin, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Agra/Jaipur/Delhi, Bali, Singapore, Xi’an/Bejing and Tokyo/ Kyoto/Miyajima Island. It was a great trip.”

Ray, it sounds like a great trip, but eight weeks without a good hamburger? Best of luck to you and Barb. We’ll be thinking ofyou.

The Motley Crewfrom 7th Sq: In frontfrom left are JeffWildonger, Jerry Budinoff, Dan Trial, Tim O’Keefe, Scott Sudmalis, and Tom Eggers. Rear: John Shriner, Pat Durick, Harry Pearce, Claude Billings, Jock Rosenberger, Lou Comadena, andJJWilliams.

Driving is Not Quite Flying - Sandy and I just got back from a weekend along the Tennessee/North Carolina border, where we participated in a Miata Club drive. We drove many windy roads, but the best is Deals Gap - “The Tail of the Dragon.” It has 318 turns in 11 miles. All of the Miatas stayed on the pavement, but motorcycles seem to be a different story. The “Motorcycle Resort” at the base of the mountain has a large oak tree, “The Tree of Shame,” that is decorated like a Christmas tree with motorcycle parts from crashes over the years. Dave Neal would love this place! (Sandy says that she doesn’t necessarily agree that the Dragon is a good road!)

50th Already? - Yes. It’s starting to be that time. Doug Jenkins reported on the latestOld Trolls luncheon that the Colorado contingent started early planning on the 50th reunion. I’m not sure, but I’d bet “early planning” means, “How do we get some of our other classmates to do some of the work?” Good question. I’m sure there’s something useful we can do from a distance.

Keep those emails/pictures flowing - and don’t be afraid to write detailed reports on all of the great things you are doing to keep the world safe for democracy. (Oh! Wait a minute! We already did that last century, didn’t we?)

Bruce Wood 7610 Sonatta Court Lincoln, NE 68516

Home and Cell: (402) 470-7152

brucewoodl965@gmail.com

Yo Silver Tags! Since the last issue, no one in our class has passed away! “Beingseventy is not a sin.” -Golda Meir

I’ve had some input from you since last issue, but need more! “Be a yardstick ofquality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.” -Steve Jobs

I still spit-shine my leather shoes. It gives me relaxation and brings back some nostalgia.

Barb and RayRodgers at the Taj Mahal on their round-the-world trip.

Not Around theWorld - Don Graham reports that he’s travelling some, also. His email said, “Marilyn and I took an Alaskan cruise out of Seattle. But, next week [late October] we are having a mini reunion with Tony and Barb Covais. We are sailingtogether out ofAthens on Azamara Club Cruises for the Greek Islands and the Holy Lands. We are reallylooking forward to visiting Jerusalem. I’ll send you pictures when we get back.” [Note to Don: We’ll hold you to that promise!]

Not Even Out ofthe Country-John Shriner reports that, “7th Squadron tries to get together somewhere in the country every year. In September Tim and Linda O’Keefe hosted our annual reunion at the Sandestin Resort in Destin, FL. We enjoyed a weekend of activities and eating, and eating did I mention eating? Barry Flanary, who lives in the area, also joined us for a sunset cruise on a ‘Pirate’ sailing ship.”

A short enlisted stint and attendance atWest Point Prep School, gave me the background for a fairly easy Doolie Summer. The Upper Classes had plenty on their hands and rarely harassed me. I knew how to march; how to make sharp hospital corners, smooth the collar, and bounce a quarter on my bed; I was also adept at spitshining shoes. I knew tricks such as setting the black Kiwi wax on fire, blowing it out and working multiple thin layers of hot wax into the leather; using Mennen After Shave to evaporate the liquid faster while shining; and using the waist of my undershirts (wrapped tightly over the index finger with the rest knotted around my wrist) dabbed in water to produce the shine. I rememher spit-shining away while Steve Sheehan listened raptly to the latest Beatles album or Dick Husemann asked me to hand him my red CRC Tables book (it was brown, but then Dick thought my green sports coat was red and was later denied entrance into pilot training for his inability to distinguish colors).

Ed Farrell was my first Doolie Summer roommate and quickly picked up the knack of producing an outstanding shine. We were rewarded with pints of ice cream from our Element Leader. Unfortunately, Bob Wilburn and his roommate (who didn’t make it through the summer) were having a very difficult time. Ed and I were split up. Ed inherited the slacker and Bob became my roommate for the rest of the summer. Bob learned well

Aging Aviators: rear - Fred Olmsted, Darryl Bloodworth, Al McArtor; front - John Hoffman, TerryIsaacson, JerryKing.

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and made it through that summer. Ed has never forgiven the upper class members who split us up! There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want.” - Bill Watterson

The following is from Steven Wallach: “Shortly after our 45th Reunion, our 24th Squadron mate Gary Robison passed away, as reported in Checkpoints. Gary had attended the reunion driving all the way from Alaska. His wife, Gail, requested that in lieu offlowers, donations be made to AmVets - a charity which had been helpful to Gary. That started us thinking: since we will all eventually be passing on, why not have a squadron fund whichwould pay homage to each of our deceased mates bymaking a donation to their favorite charity. Ergo, the 24th Squadron Honor Fund was born in September of 2011 by contributions from our squadron mates. Since that time we have made memorial donations to AmVets on behalfof Gary, as well as to Boy Scouts ofAmerica on behalf ofJoe Henderson, and the Air Force Academy Fund on behalf of Joe Ross and Peter Dalton - all of whom passed away since we joined 24th Squadron in 1961. Hopefully, we won’t have to make another memoriam for a long time, but the fund is there to honor our fallen squadron members whenever that may be.” “He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupery

From Mike Krause: "Barbara and I went on a Holland America 7-day Alaska cruise in July. It was enjoyable. I lost out on my idea oftaking the ferry/floatplanes over a two- to three-week period. We will be taking a quick Colorado trip over Vet’s Day. One item is to check out the USAFA cemetery, and of course to visit our son in Tongmont.Weather permitting, I should try out his long board or wind surfing board.Rememberthe Astronaughts from Boulder they played surf music.” “You got to be careful ifyou don’t know where you’regoing, becauseyou might not get there.” -Yogi Berra

Dick Husemann sent the following: “I wish I had something spectacular or at least interesting to relate about Brenda’s and my life but there is not much more than that I sent in my e-mail of a couple weeks ago. I have come full circle in my basketball adventures and am now coaching the lower level of girls’ middle school basketball for the school, St Marks, associated with our church. Perhaps not the same as you and I experienced wearing the Falcon blue and silver on the field of friendly strife but, hey, that was 50 years ago.

“For what it’s worth, I am in full accord with your response to the disappointing tribute the AOG has arranged for those USAFA grads who have made the final PCS. Also, I don’t know how appropriate or applicable, time-wise, my input is but I think the possibility of Air Force joining the Big East forfootball is absurd. I would appreciate the opportunity to perchance see more AFA games this side of the Mississippi but think this change would negate the geographical affinity of Air Force’s ‘natural’ opponents like CSU, Wyoming and New Mexico. Hopefully Gen Gould and Hans Mueh will see the folly of this possibility or are using this ploy to get some leverage with the Mountain West Conference USA. The Falcons are in a comfort zone with their current conference and an occasional high visibility tussle with Notre Dame, Oklahoma, etc to get some national coverage. Our games with Navy and Army provide the national exposure that attracts the kindof young people that Air Force wants to join its ranks.” “Don’t worry about avoiding temptation. 4s you grow older, it will avoid you.” -Winston Churchill

I hope this issue finds you and yours well. Again, thanks for your input and support. Ifyou want to keep down my ruminations about “life at the blue zoo”, keep the e-mail, pictures, calls, Facebook, InCircle and other communication coming! “A pun is the lowestform ofhumor, unless you thoughtofityourself" -Doug Farson

Bruce. ’65 - Best Alive

Ryan Denny 1635 Mary Todd Lane O’Fallon, IL 62269

H: (618) 624-4255

W: (314) 232-5117

E-mail: ryanden@aol.com

Greetings Redtags! Our 45th Reunion was a tremendous success! Everything—from the great weather, to the parties, to the victory at the football game, to the parties—was perfect. Thanks to Mike Heenan and his team for making this one of our best reunions ever. (OK—except for that one joke...)

The group was a little older, but overall pretty well preserved. However, there were a few subtle hints that we were getting older. For example, Dorsey Price drove up from Arizona instead of riding his cycle, and Bill Shepard left his ’66 Corvette at home, but promised to bring it to the 50th Reunion. On the other hand, Jack Sanfordflew his own plane across the country from his home in Maine a long flight between rest stops in a Cessna 180.

The Memorial Service at Doolittle Hall, led by Hans Mueh and Vic Andrews, was one of the most memorable events of the weekend. When the names of our departed classmates were read, a mental image of each of them flashed through my brain—some of them were recent images from active duty days or reunions, and some were images of a 20-year-old cadet. Every name had a face. Then Jim Murphy led us in singing Lord Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly. It’s a good thing that the sunny day allowed most of us to wear our sunglasses, because there were not many dry eyes in the crowd. The service also included a short sermon by a young chaplain who talked about all of the great things that our generation had seen and done. Personally, I don’t think we’re old enough to be part of a “generation”—maybe just part of a movement from the sixties?

Jim Murphy leads the class in a hymn at the Memorial Service.

Funch with the cadets was a little different from our days; it seemed so much kinder and gentler, but the Form 0-96 was still in use and “fast, neat, average, friendly, good, good” was still an appropriate response.

The dinner that night at the hotel reminded me of parties at the Cadet Club—except that we were wearing coats and ties (and our hair is longer). Bill “Bubba” Berry joined the band and knocked out a tremendous version of Johnny B Goode. Then the rowdier members of the group piled on stage to help the band sing our class theme song We Gotta Get Out ofthis Place. sga&gssgj ilfWfP

Bubba Berry doing his Chuck Berry imitation -complete with the “duck walk”.

Normally reserved Redtags entertaining the crowd.

As I talked to lots of people that night, I tried to remember or jot down something about what each one was doing. It must have been pretty foggy that night, because my memory is not too clear and my handwriting is illegible. But here are a few bits and pieces:

Jerry Allen retired to San Antonio and was looking for season tickets to the Academy football games. Kathy Boone had an extra set of really good seats and was able to transfer them to Jerry, so now you know where

to find him on home football weekends. Kathy couldn’t make it to the reunion, but I had talked to her a few weeks prior. She was very complimentary of the support she has gotten from our classmates and said that our motto “66 Blood that Sticks” really means what it says. Bill Hudspeth moved from a small town in Illinois to GalesburgVA—another small town. Ron Talcott drove 4500 miles to get to the reunion. He drove from Seattle to Connecticut and back to Colorado—tracking down ancestors in old courthouses and cemeteries along the way. Harry Icke traveled to North Vietnam in February. He had revisited the south a few years ago, taking part in a documentary about the “Bat 21” rescue, but wanted to see Hanoi from the ground.

Mike Gaffney competed in a triathlon—one of those events where you swim a long way in open water, ride a bike too far, and then run another long way through the woods. He was doing really well until he tripped over a tree root during the run and dislocated his shoulder. (Ifthe run had been first, he could have saved himself a lotof work.)

Jerry Becker is working part time supporting war gaming near Langley. He gets to go TDY to places like Bangkok, Yokota, and Ft Riley and takes his wife, Chris, on some of these jaunts (guess which ones). Ed DiBello is also still working part time at the Los Alamos Labs in Albuquerque. Ed Petersen retired in the flatlands of Oklahoma in Lawton, and Joe Narsavage retired to the mountains of North Carolina in Brevard.

The football game was another great event. The AOG tailgate party was really well done. We had plenty of room, food, andbeer to get ready for the game. Speaking of beer, while walking around the area just outside of the stadium, I had the chance to sample some free Coors—why didn’t they do that when we were cadets? Then the cheerleaders came through the tailgate area and provided a preview of their game show. As you might imagine, there were many comments about how much the cheerleading had also changed (improved) from our days. The game itself was outstanding. It’s so much more fun to go to a game when the sun is out, the weather is warm, and the team is winning. The temperature was 80+, the sky was clear, and the Falcons scored 63 points to crush the opposing team. After watching the cadetsdo pushups in end zone after the first touchdown, Bernie Amels decided that he could match those pushups from up in the stands. (Did I mention that the Falcons scored 63 points?) Bernie kept up with the ever-increasing score, but all of the doctors in the class were on alert during the last quarter. A group sitting around me was reminiscing about the 69-0 score of the CSU game when we were cadets and tried to find out what the highest number of points the Falcons had ever scored.

Out came the smart phones, which were quickly followed by squinting, head scratching, and frustration as none of us could figure out how to squeeze that simple bit of information out of those tiny, little, addictive computers from Hell.

Another great idea was to give us time in the schedule for squadron parties. This gave us a lot of time for some quality one-on-one visits with our squadron mates. At the 13 th Sq party (hosted by John and Liz Fal) Arne Weinman brought out a cadet-issue trunk full of cadet uniforms, itineraries from the 1963 ZI field trip, Form 10s, mugs from the 100th Night Dining In, and other memorabilia that he had dragged around for 40+ years. The real treat was a package full ofthe red nametags from our rooms. Arne had gone back to the cadet area after our graduation ceremony and collected them for us. We didn’t want them then, but now they are real treasures!

The guysfrom 13th Sq, dressed up in the only suits they now own. Back row: Gary Hoffman, Dale Elliott, John Fal, Rusty Gideon, Wayne Rardon, Mike Gaffney, andJack Sanford. Front row: Terry Higgins, Bob Cloar, Ryan

As we left our friends on Saturday night and Sunday morning, we made promises to get together sometime before the50th Reunion - worried that the intervening five years might further reduce our ranks. I had thought about this during the Memorial Service, as our departed classmates’ names were read—followed by an “Absent, Sir”. The words from that James Taylor song kept echoing around in my head: “I always thought I’d see you, one more time again...” Let’s not miss that chance. Until next time... Happy Landings!

Larry Wilson

13100 Pinehurst Ave. NE

Albuquerque, NM 87111

H: (505) 291-8949

E-mail: Lwilsn628@aol.com

Greetings from Minnesota, where fall colors are in full array, the weather is autumnal, the Gophers and the Vikings are losing and where we are celebrating the arrival of grandkid #2. No doubt many of you are like me in thinking this grandfather gig is A-OK. On the ’67 front good input and pics from a number of folks - so away we go!

Tom Menza and I had a great phone conversation, plus I got some free legal advice. From Tom: “Ron Boston, part owner and chief pilot of a California-based business that operates civil registered C-130s called me up with a need for a quick fill-in copilot for a contract job... At the time I was doing yard workfor the wife and the idea of flying with a ’67 classmate seemed a viable diversion. With a current FAA medical and circuitous airline routing I arrived at Fresno where Ron met me in a company pickup truck. (We) drove to an abandoned WWII flight training field for a systems lesson (then) to Visalia where former AF C-130A 58-0466, now civilian N466TM, sat ready to fly. Two really amazing retired AF NCOs had this old bird in excellent shape. Not a drop of oil, hydraulics, or gas leaking

The Class of '66 is currently raising money to support the new Center for Character and Leadership Development. For more information to participate in this Class Giving Project please contact Razelie Doherty at Razelle.doherty@usafaendowment.org, 719-472-0300 ext. 222.

Sabre Society Donors

BernieAmels in blue stripes, looking like an extrafrom the movie, ‘Avatar’!

Denny, Arne Weinman, Ron Davis, and Bill Hohwiesner.

Class News

anywhere a 57-year-old machine, about to be flown by two 67-year-old ’67 grads a great piece ofreal technology and history. Some ofthe round dials were replaced by a contemporary Honeywell FMS-GPS system but the rest of the cockpit was pure 1950s, big and roomy, a concern for old guys getting in and out of small cockpits without muscle, joint, and groin injuries. Ron completed my copilot training with his always smiling, calm voice... ‘Tom, this thing flies like a giant Cessna 172...’ He’s the best flight instructor I ever had. We spent three days for a film shoot using the airplane for both ground based static filming and then airborne shots of jumpers going out the back. Overall, a marvelous experience. So, when asked what I did for summer vacation; yes, I visited thekids and grandkids and pushed a stroller at Disneyland with a screaming one-year-old... But crewing an old C-130 with Ron was a thrill unmatched since going on Medicare. Thanks Ron.”

Ron and Tom in the cockpitagain 134 years ofexperience!

From Robin DeTurk: “Mywife, Lesley, and I just completed a 4865 mile road trip to visit five National Parks in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Utah. We visited with Jim and CandyHastedt, who are doing fine in Evergreen, CO, as well as Dale and Carol Stovall, also doing fine, in Missoula, MT. Jim keeps busy fishing, with home projects and visiting friends. He hasn’t lost a bit ofhis dry sense ofhumor and isJohn McCrillis, "still standing”after the "Bike Trek to Shakertown”!

still more comfortable in the outdoors than inside. His scheming to get others to do the heavy lifting on any given project has not abated a bit. Dale looks the same as he did the day we graduated. He is active in MOAA activities and is a local chapter President. He spends most of his free time fishing, hunting or skiing - and continues a regimented training program to ensure he hasn’t lost a step as the years pile on. Dale has taken a keen interest in Montana history and gives outstanding tours including the local bars! We spent a delightful two-plus days with each ofthem and enjoyed reliving a few humorous tales of cadet life and situations into which we can’t believe we ever got ourselves.”

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From Bill Gerber:“Attached are two pictures from the 7th Squadron reunion in Maryland after the hard-fought win at Annapolis! A group of us visited the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum—sort of one set of antiques (only talking about the guys) looking at another set, although some of the displays did predate us! That evening five couples went out together at a place that was quiet enough for us to actually converse. On Saturday eight of us from 7th Squadron and a majority of the wives went to the game. I also ran into Barry Crane and his wife. The weather had turned cold and overcast early Saturday morning. Near the end of the game (it) became downright miserable. We were certainly unhappy when the game went into overtime. Bill and Renie Hall were the perfect host and hostess for the celebratory reunion and crab feast that followed for all of us. Attending were George and Pat Frushour, Bill and Jeanni Gerber, Ven and Dianne Hammonds, Joe Holbrook, Bruce and StormyMcDonald, Pete and Debbie Milne, andRick and Carmen Rodriguez. Additionally, multiple generations ofthe Hallsand George and Pat Frushour’s daughter Marine Lieutenant Colonel Kelly Frushour helped us celebrate. A good time was definitely had by all!” (See photo at the top of the next column.)

From John McCrillis: “I just completed my ninth consecutive annual participation in a fund-raiser bicycle ride for the American Lung Association. ‘Bike Trek to Shakertown’ uses two small cities and a restored Shaker Village as start/stop points with the routes out through beautiful rolling countryside. I had ridden this event a couple of times in the ’90 s but then let it lapse. After our 2002 reunion when Frat Five had all graduating members plus one in attendance, within 6-7 months one (Rick Hedden, the “plus one”, having left USAFA during our final year) was dead of a very

7th Squadron reunion in Maryland after the hard-fought USAFA vs. USNA win at Annapolis!From left in the front row are Rick Rodriguez, George Frushour, Joe Holbrook, and Bruce McDonald. In the back row are Bill Gerber, Ven Hammonds, 7th Sqd. lamp and bottle ofSeagram’s 7, Bill Hall (host), and Pete Milne.

aggressive lung cancer. Been riding ever since. The reasons continue to pile up: father in law (with) lung cancer, two brothers with COPD, and so on. I’m happy to say that Frat Five members have been among the strong supporters ofmyfund raising. Bill Savage does a similar event for MS every year. Scott Jackson is strong with Habitat for Humanity. Hal Hudson donates his professional skills to indigent care. It’s a good group! I’m retired twice but still working full time with a dental practice now limited to Oral Appliances for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Most of our folks are diagnosed with OSA but unable to tolerate their CPAP machine. Any classmates in that situation (fought their CPAP and lost) I can put them in touch with someone in their area who does what I do.”

John McCrillis, "still standing”after the "Bike Trek to Shakertown”!

A bit ofsuper news - Mike Francisco made it home and the “Cisco CAP” is officially disbanded. Individual sorties are still encouraged to help Cisco get, in his words... fully mission capable.

That’s all folks. Thanks for keeping me, and all of us, in the loop with your pics and tales.

God bless the troops and the United States ofAmerica.

Tim Davidson

9712 Hidden Valley Road

Vienna, VA 22181-6094

Phone: (703) 255-5313

Mobile: (703) 772-6052

E-mail: timd@erols.com

Class Website: www.usafa68.org

HELLO ’68! Our Falcons’ “overwhelming” victory over the Squids in overtime means we are half-way to completing another run at the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. Hopefully, the team will provide a little more

JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY! YOUR MONEY HELPS FUND CADET WING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED. CALL (719) 472-0300X200.

ripping with a beak and slashing with a claw in November to give us a more robust point spread over Hudson High. BEAT ARMY!

WHICHWAYTO THE GONDOLAS? In September 2011,1 received word from Bob Pohlman about his 2010 cruise to Venice with wife, Anne, and his Ninth Squadron compadres Tim and Sharon Ayres and Pat and Rusty McBride. The trip provided long-time friends with a chance to catch up on each others’ busy lives. Bob and Anne currently reside in Phoenix, AZ where Bob works for Snell & Wilmer LLP.

In a brief note from Pat McBride, he contacted Bob to let him know about his Fall 2011 trip to see the Grand Canyon (South Rim at the El Tovar) via the Grand Mesa, Canyonlands, and Lake Powell. On the way home, Pat and Rustystayed with another fellow NINER Bill and Becky Mazurek, who are now living in Westcliffe, CO.

Clark Gerhardt’s BackYard.

LEGACY CLIMBER REACHES IDAHO SUMMIT: You may remember my summer column featured Jeff Parrish channeling his “inner doolie” during a mud race with his family. This fall column continues in a similar theme ofclassmates pitting their senior citizen muscles against the great outdoors as told by Clark “Ranger” Gerhardt in August 2011. Clark writes, “Here’s a photo taken on top of one ofthe peaks in my backyard a few days ago my own private Idaho. I got started climbing with the USAFA Mountaineering Club (anything to get an off-base privilege) and have stuckwith it for almost 50 years. Just got elected to the American Alpine Club Board of Directors and am off to Italy next week to climb for two weeks. Maria is going too, so good food and hiking are on the program too. Hope all is well, Ranger.”

For those who have accepted a more sedentary existence, I am hoping Ranger’s and Jeff Parrish’s examples serve to inspire and motivate us to get off the couch and into our all-purpose running/walking/climbing/ hiking/biking/sky-diving shoes.

IT’S ALL IN THE GENES: Fresh from the annals of “All My Classmates” comes a tale about a pair of prolific grandparents. If you were wondering which member of our class holds the record for most grandchildren, Kathy Barker’s letter to me in March 2011 may provide you with a good place to start. Kathy writes, “As you now know, the Barker updates often revolve around announcements concerning the arrival of grandchildren and true to form. #s 18,19 & 20 are due anytime, July and September. We accept with deep gratitude our Creator’s gifts and cherish them with all our heart.

“Oldest son, Ryan, was recently promoted to lieutenant colonel and is still flying with the Alabama ANG, while Claire keeps the home fires burning. Daughter, Shannon resides in Somerset, England, and works as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in the Emergency Department. Son Kelly is an Assistant Manager at Sugarloaf TPC course in Atlanta and his wife, Farrar, is a lawyer with Alston and Bird in Atlanta. Megan is a stay-at-home/homeschooling Mom and wed to Chris Rice from the Class of ’97. Pat is with Eagle SWS and is working the Gulfoil spill to this day, while his wife, Tiffany, is a stay-at-home Mom. The “grands” are dispersed amongst the five.

“Dan works for IAP Worldwide Services and has so much going on I can’t keep up with him. Yours truly can’t say no to some of my Mommies who want me to assist them through labor and birth; who am I to refuse.”

To Dan and Kathy, we wish you some well-deserved peace and quiet before the holidays begin and send a request to provide your Scribe with a copy ofyour family photo with all 20 grandchildren for a future column.

- 34: Unlike the pictureperfect, blue-sky day two years ago, the weather at Annapolis for the 2011 Air Force and Navy battle featured temperatures in the mid-fifties and low sixties, wind gusts in excess of 20 mph, and a 60 percent chance of rain. A portion of North Carolina’s ’68 contingent, Brookeand Cathy Bailey and Bob and ThuyJohnston, drove up to my home inVirginia a couple of days before the game to check into Hotel Davidson for the weekend.

On game day, with my cousin Billie from New York, Bob, Thuy, Brooke, Cathy, and I jumped into the Bailey Family van with tailgate-sandwiches, beverages, chips, and cookies in the cooler and headed | for Maryland’s capital city. After slogging through the traffic in Annapolis outsidethe Navy-Marine Stadium, we were fortunate to find the perfect parking spot in a local resident’s front yard (for a mere $20) that was situated directly across the street from the USAFA tailgate tent and very near the gate where our seats were located.

When we arrived at the tent we ran into Tom and Kathy Zyroll, Bob and Cathy Durham, Steve and Judi McPhail, Dan andWendy Hites, Pat and Nancy Hurley, and Bruce Gerrity. After the obligatory photos* were snapped we exchanged family updates, consumed our tailgate feast, and proceeded to the stadium. (*Scribe Manual, Rule #1: Ifphotos are not taken of a classmate event, the event is not considered to have occurred.)

Seated a little shy of the 50-yard line (i.e., the West End Zone) and somewhat higher than where birds fly, we began to check for other familiar faces. Sitting a few rows below us with the Durhams and Zyrolls, we saw Jim DeFazio. A few minutes later we were nearly overrun by Jim and Pat Seevers as they brought their party of nine up the stadium steps just a few rows away.

During our half-time break, we ran into Dave and Alex Prevost at the refreshment stand and after the one-point, overtime victory we rendezvoused at Mike’s Crab House in Riva, MD with everyone mentioned above, except the Seevers. When we got to Mike’s, Bob and Sue Pauli and Charlie and Polly Seifert were already seated. Then in staggered fashion others arrived including Jim DeFazio’s wife Sherry and Sherry’s sister. All told, we had dinner for 30 and a great tim e. Photos of the day will be posted on our class website.

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. Please go to our Class Website to see photos included in this column in full size by clicking on Scribe’s Page. Ciao for now. Tim

Visit the AOGWeb Site.

Merchandise, Gone But Not Forgotten and more!

www.usafa.org

NINER’s Do Venice: From left are Ann and Bob Pohlman, Tim and Sharon Ayres, and Rusty and Pat McBride infrontofSt. Mark’s Cathedral.

’68er Reunion at USAFA-USNA Game in Annapolis. From left are the Scribe, Brooke Bailey, Tom Zyroll, Steve McPhail, Bob Durham, Pat Flurley, BobJohnston, and Dan Hites. Photo courtesy ofWendy Hites.

MIGHTY FALCONS - 35 - GNARLY GOATS

Lindsey Parris

616 King’s Cloister Circle

Alexandria, VA 22302

Home: (703) 836-3604

102177.1033@compuserve.com

Holiday Greetings, all

Less juicy news this time than usual, but that which I have to convey is sublime!

Sabre OASS 0*1969 1 mgmm

’69erfootballers, beneath Class plaque, send greetings to Dave Mumme.

Two weeks beforethe plaque dedication, JeffT. and Swanie did a warm up with Gene Foster and Roy Coppinger (now a third-time granddad) at Portland’s Witch Hollow (three free guest passes provided by John Buckner for a previous Member-Guest prize). Jefftoted the radio and apprised the foursome of the progress of the Navy game (where I spent the afternoon in mostly glee, but punctuated by much nail-biting). The stalwarts’ expressions tell you all you need to know about the Navy game. (See photo at the top of the next column.)

JeffPosner is fixing to pull the plug on his long and distinguished career as an engineer and analyst, and use it on his sailboat. He and Anne will dedicate their boat on November 5th sail it down to Mobile, and then on to Titusville, FL, where it will have some work done to prepare it for their long-planned bucket-list trip around theCaribbean. Practice your blindtasting rum identifications, sharpen up your dart game and learn to say “Guinness and Bass” with a British accent to blend in with the British expats, and memorize your Buffett. Then, synch schedules with Jeff ifyou’d like to join him, Anne, and Johnny Depp down in the Islands next year.

Received a note from Gary Hoe reporting that, last February, after 41 years as a profession engineer in careers panning the uniformed and civilian public sectors and the private sector, he has retired. Kinda’! He has piggy-backed on his last 16 years as area and program manager at Sandia National Labs into a “giving back” position as a docent at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History in Albuquerque. So, in addition

Swanie, Gene, Roy, andJeffreflect on AF’s win, and perhaps golf to sharing the history with others (he is available for personal tours—and he’s the only G. Hoe in the Albuquerque phone book!), he gets to relive highlights of his own career. He fills the remainder of his free time flying, hiking, some local AOG work, and church deacon, among other things. Congratulations to Gary on his stellar career of four-decades in service to the nation. [Picture next time.]

In the bucket list department, it is tough to top Bugs Forsythe, who realized a lifelong dream many of us have shared—flying a P-51 Mustang! Owner ofthe “LiVWitch” Lee Lauderback launched out of Idaho Falls, and he and Bugs took off on a perfect day to enjoy the Snake River gorge, using the Grand Tetons on the near horizon as a reference point for his wingovers. Bugs says pulling Gs and doing loops in this legendary aircraft was simply indescribable, at least with words to use in Checkpoints. We’re all envious, Brother Forsythe.

On Top ofthe World - Bugs Forsythe and Lil’ Witch.

Also sitting on top of the world, nearly, was John Brummitt, who summited Mount Kilimanjaro in mid-October. John and six other stalwart hikers, including his brother-in-law, all from various disciplines and only a couple dedicated climber/hikers, reached Africa’s “roof,” Kilimanjaro’s 19,341 summit, after an 8+ hour climb up, with four more necessary to return to base camp at 15,000 feet. John has written a detailed and heartfelt account ofhis trip, available atwww.KilimanjaroJB2011.blogspot.com. He commented that he, like the others with him, was struck when reaching the peak, that his thoughts turned primarily to the important people in

Kilimanjaro looms sentinelforJohn’s morning ascent.

his life, some ofwhom are deceased. A mystical, challenging experience, this. Now he’s back to tennis at home in Hilton Head—and training to bag the six highest points on each of the other continents. Huge congrats to John on this climb of a lifetime.

Sadly, that’s it for this month. More cards and letters and e-mails needed. As you read this, I hope we are celebrating another Commander-inChief’s Trophy and a big bowl game matchup for our Falcons. Best ’til next time. Salute, all. Lindsey

Dick Rauschkolb

130 Luxur y Lane

Colorado Springs, CO 80921

H: (719) 761-5764

Cell: (719) 310-6928

Email: AOG70@comcast.net

Richard Rauschkolb@usafa.edu

Greetings classmates! Hope everyone had a great summer and fall. It is 24 October and I am recuperating from three straight Falcon losses on the gridiron and an overtime cliffhanger against the Middies. This past weekend we gave #5 Boise State a run for its money, but fell short. Our defense has been decimated by injuries. Other than the loss to San Diego State, we have lost to some very good teams. Hopefully by the time you read this, the Falcons have won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy and are headed to a bowl game with an 8-4 record (which I predicted).

The Navy game provided a great chance for many classmates to get together. I hope somebody had a pair of defibrillators in the stands as the Falcons blew 18-point leads not once but twice!

Many adult beverages were consumed at after game parties celebrating the victory.

with 33 years combined active and reserve time. He spent 20 years at the Mayo Clinic as an orthopedic surgeon. So all of you who are in need of a “parts” replacement, Jim will give you a cut rate deal! He is now on the orthopedic staff at Duke University doing lots of foot and ankle surgery and seeing some great basketball. He said he does more ankle replacements than anyone in the world!

Football season has provided a great opportunity to see many classmates at games and tailgates. George and Tom Rayl were at the SDSU game at a tailgate with Larry Bush and Curt Emery plus their significant others. It was great to see Spider Baxter and Scott Barker at Falcon Stadium for the Tennessee State game. Roger Radcliff also was at one of the games. Regulars at games include Russ Carparelli, Cook Villareal, Dave Gaw, Bob McKinney, Jim Mulford, Roger Hill, and Ashby Taylor. Apologies to those I may have missed due to onset of minor dementia.

Got a nice email from Jim DeOrio. Jim and Rita hooked up with Gary and Suzie Baxter at Gary’s home in Melbourne, FL. Gary has retired from Northwest/Delta and is now “PaPa Gary”. Jim retired from the Air Force

Henry Mitchell had some more work done on his ticker and he is back on the slopes teaching. Had a nice breakfast with Mitch and Chris Dunbar. John Disosway called from Oklahoma where he was visiting family. He is back in the US and done with his flying gig in Brunei. Hope we see him before the end of football season.

Jerry Bruni sent an email telling me Chuck Reed received prominent mention in Michal Lewis’ book Boomerang about the financial crises in Europe and California. John Verardo is an author! He has written an inspirational book—TheAlumni Game—which draws on his days as a lacrosse player for the Falcons. Order a copy at www.TheAlumniGame.com.

I am sure all ofyou saw the disaster at the Reno Air Races. Marilyn and I immediatelythought ofJohn Penneywho has won the air races on many occasions. While John was there, he fortunately was not involved in the crash. Later we learned from Wood Woodhead that Doug Norton was there and just missed getting hit by the crash. Doug sent me a picture of the scene right after the crash; it was pretty scary. Kudos to the first responders and those who helped the many injured.

Heard through the grapevine that John Penney was inducted to the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame in Denver. Well deserved John! The USAF Academy Prep School recently inducted Dave MacGhee into its Hall of Fame. He is the first member of our Prep School class to be honored. Hopefully, he is the first of many! Kudos Dave! We all hope Cathy Bjorkland is doing better after getting a serious infection.

Some little known but interesting facts (sit at ease):

Sabre Society Donors SCI

Charlie Huber, ’97, son of our Mike and Melissa Huber, led F-16 flyover at game three ofthe World Series. Mark and Kristi Ewig send out their Christmas newsletter in June or July! Both Mark and Kristi are still teaching. Chuck Weir may be permanently retiring and finally gearing up for the Senior Tour. Greg Gilles and I stunk it up in the year end golf tournament at USAFA links. My game sucks!

Larry Carr is working on a nice golfjacket with our class crest—more to follow. Marilyn and I just celebrated our 40th Anniversary!

I have been workingpart-time as a consultant on a documentary about the Academy for the past year. Check out www.wingsofhonormovie.com to take a look at the trailerfor the film. Boeing is financing the project with a $1.25M grant. It has been a real pleasure to work with our cadets for the past year. I can assure you the Academy still produces great young men and women to serve our nation. Yes—things are different from our day, but the cadet experience is still very challenging and demanding. I am most impressed with the leadership and character development programs that the Academy has implemented over the years. They are far more sophisticated than when we were there. We are certainly blessed with great leadership! Mike Gould, Rich Clark, Dana Bom, and Hans Mueh are the right people to be leading our Academy.

If many ofyou are like me, you are not into all the new technology and social networking that permeates today’s global environment. Having said that, there are blogs on the AOG web site and Face Book that I encourage you to sign up for. There are blogs for our class on both. It is a great way to link up with classmates and let everyone know the latest in your life.

By the time you read this, basketball and hockey seasons should be well underway. Both the women and men should be better on the hardwood

’70 Men Celebrate Close Win Over Middies! From left are Jim Reel, George Keys, Bob Hilb, Wild Bill, Ken Greene, Wild Wood, Kevin Duffy, and Jim Bechtel.

Seventh Squadron Men Celebrate Swamping the Swabbies! From left are John Hatelid, Dale Smith, Larry Carr, Dana Arbaugh, Aubrey Howard, andAngus MacDonald.

Former Falcon Gridiron Greats Reunite:Jim DeOrio, at left, and Spider Baxter.

than in previous years, but I don’t think the boys are back to being NCAA quality. Michael Lyons is a name you might remember. He is really a great player. Saw one of the first hockey games a week ago and I was very impressed with our team speed. That plus an outstanding goalie may get us back to the NCAA’s again.

Okay men, it is the end of the year and I am sure many ofyou are looking for a charitable donation. We are still close to a $150K short for putting kiosks and other memorabilia into our SEA Memorial Pavilion. Please help us out! The Academyleadership is begging us to get something inside because it has become a big attraction for visitors and cadets. Send your donations to the AOG—Seventy Class Gift Fund.

Looks like the Holidays are on the horizon. Marilyn and I want to wish all of you a great Holiday Season and a Healthy New Year. Please rememher all our troops around the globe who are in harm’s way and serving far fromtheir loved ones.

Paul D. Knott 5565 Lantana Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80915

H: (719) 570-9162

E-mail: pk71knott@gmail.com

For those of you who made the trek to Colorado for Reunion, have you recovered yet?

Jeri Barton, bride and best friend of Rick, passed away recently. Her brother, Jim Struble, is a ’74 grad. As I heard it, she had a pretty virulent type of cancer. Jeri has been laid to rest here in Colorado, with family and some of our class paying their respects. Andrea and I had the pleasure of meeting her when we lived in the Arlington area. Our prayers are with you and your family, Rick.

On a much lighter note, the Falcons are on the way to keeping the Commander-In-Chief’s trophy in Colorado for a second year. The rest of the schedule? Not so much. Mark Zablotny boasts that he livescloser to NavyMarine Corps Stadium than any of us locals do to Falcon Stadium, and he has already extended an open invitation to the class for 2013 to meet on his acreage for an after-game celebration.

Curt Kekoa reported from the West coast about how he - and other grads watched the big game: “John Fenwick (1999), son of Lindsay (1971) and VP and co-founder of Skybox Imaging (I think the kindof business that if I told you the details “I would have to kill you.”©), invited SF Bay area Navy and AF graduates to a football gathering at his company offices (multiscreen conference area) in MountainView, CA on October 1.

A group of about 30 showed up. The earliest AFA class represented was 1965, and the earliest Navy class represented was 1960.

“Showing up in force was the Adams family, four ofwhom are AFA graduates [all in yellow shirts announcing themselves]: Al Adams [1995], Liz (Adams) Giglio [1999], Cat (Adams) Germain [2001], and Joe Adams [2005]. Moreover, all of those siblings who are married - that is, three (3) - are married to AFA graduates: Liz is married to Rich Giglio (1999), Cat is married to Shaun Germain (2002), and Joe is married to Elaine (Tetarek) Adams (2005). With thatkind of concentrated force/support, is it a wonder AF won the football game?”

A big “Thank you!” to the AOG for their nearly flawless management of our 40th anniversary get-together. I heard that the final count for Reunion was about 225, with a few of the class making theirfirst trek back since graduation. What did the rest of you miss? Most importantly, there was a lotofface-to-face contact from folks who hadn’tconnected in years—perhaps decades. We even arranged that the Peak would have a nice new coat of snow as a welcome. Speaking of peaks, the rumor is that “71” was seen on the Flatiron. Supposedly there are even photos of this event. (Maybe next column.) Some classmates from the Springs who “weren’t available” to at least stop by the Marriott and mingle should know this; Harry Davis was in an Ohio hospital the night before he and Cindy flew out for the festivities. Lindsay and Sharon Fenwick came in from overseas to attend.

Now that I’ve had my rant for the column, let’s share a few stories. Dale Autry is a high school physics teacher and cross-country coach in a school near Atlanta who is justly proud of “his” kids, both on the course and the classroom. Jon and Gail Stevens drove in from the Omaha area where he coaches Special Olympics sports including golf. Ron Hale spends his time as a retiree doing what so many of us want to be doing—smoking cigars on the back porch and fishing. As a counterpoint, John Koch told me that he wasn’t bored enough to retire from teaching, so he thinks he’ll work for “five more years.” (Puts me in mindof a waitress I knew in Korea whose

standard reply to whatever outrageous request that the Yankee Air Pirates in the O-club made was “Maybe later.”) Most of the conversations that I overheard were about grandkids and their antics, followed closely by retirement plans and medical regimens.

Officially, what did we do? There was a mixer on Wednesday evening and the San Diego State game on Thursday night. During the golf tourney, Steve Mott made a hole in one. As he explained that evening, “l won a twenty-dollar trophy and bought a hundred dollar’s worth of beer!” Of course there was a memorial service where we honored our fallen classmates. (One more rant: please, please PLEASE remind your family and friends that you graduated from this institution, so that when you finally die—and statistically, you will—that your class will have the chance to grieve and perhaps make some fuss over you. As may be reported elsewhere in Checkpoints, Jim Kiel (Kieltyka) passed on over a year ago, and the AOG just recently found out.) Thanks to classmates Gary Huckabay and Larry O’Reilly who delivered the invocation and benediction, Scotty Bowen and Dave McCloy for the readings, Roger McFarland and Bill Maggio for the roll call, and the Cadet Chorale under Dr. Joseph Galema’s direction for a stirring renditionof “High Flight.” Although some of us did a credible job with “Lord Guard and Guide,” that particular torch has been passed. After the formal ceremony, I saw several groups of guys swing by the Academy cemetery to honor those who rest there, with more than a few freshly-decorated headstones.

Friday was another opportunity to mix and mingle. The Marriott provided Oriental, Italian and Mexican buffet tables to sample, comfortable tables for friends to enjoy each others’ company, and few distractions. An interesting coincidence for me was that I sat two people away from Don Ruth, who sat one person away from me at graduation. Jack and Marty Evans, Sammy Todd, Tom and Judy Curry, andBrenda and Lance Miller completed this particular ensemble.

Saturday morning was the “official” Class meeting to discuss options for our class gift. Tom Berry and Jim Nance made presentations on the two most popular options, a donation to the Center for Character and Leadership Development and/ or the dedication of a statue. Both speakers madeeffective presentations, which I expect that you who didn’t attend will hear about in the short term. Frank Morgan, who hadback surgery the week of Reunion, wasn’t able to get to Colorado, but Jon Torblaa did an excellent job of back-up. The first step that we agreed on was the formation of a steering committee, which will get in touch with you somehow. Ifyou weren’t at Reunion for the meeting but would like to help out, please contact Jon. If you don’t have either his or Frank’s contact info, let me know and I will do the honors. Class input will determine our course; from overheard conversations, we might be able to combine the two options and present the Academy with a legacy that we will be truly proud to be a part of.

One last mention: you might have been able to hear our own Sam Clovis being interviewed on national news about his take on the political situation from the Iowa point of view and how the Iowa caucuses are shaping up. He was also a guest on a Washington Times program called “America’s Morning News” in early October. GBA

Bob Bell

13 Pacific Ave.

Sinking Spring, PA 19608 (610) 678-3182/Fax: 678-4513

E-mail: rabell767@aol.com

Greetings to all and Happy Holidays! In your time of busy preparation for seasonal enjoyment, here is just a brief interlude for you. In this edition we have just a short list of contact messages, photos and other hopefully pertinent information. So here we go.

As thelast issue went into your mailbox, the first email coming from Larry Sharrar (20th Squadron) arrived in my inbox. His enclosed photo, as he puts it, is not so much a “gathering of eagles” as a “murder of crows,” (old crows, at that). Some may recognize that it is three retired JAGs getting together to remember the good times at Larry’s home in Colorado Springs on the occasion of a visit by Frank and Sue Pulis (32 nd Squadron) from their Texas Hill Country home to attend a Horseman’s Convention. Thomas M. Sullivan, Jr. (a.k.a. “Timo”) (20 th Squadron) came down from Denver to help in the celebration. Larry, as the judge “presiding” at the event, thinks that there can be little doubt based upon the photo, that Frank won the funny hat contest.

Sabre Society Donors

Sabre Society Donors 41

Checking in from another visit to Parent’s Weekend 2011, the most recent of several, was Gary

His

he

by his daughter Samantha (Class of 2013)

Clarita, his wife of 28 years, displays Samantha’s “2 degree” rank, as her dad says she continues to surpass his cadet accomplishments in every way. She is on 2nd Group Staff for the fall semester and is majoring in Foreign Area Studies, focusing on the Far East.

From left are Ely, Rakitis, Ghelber, Myers, McCarthy, Culbertson, Emmer, and Verzola.

Doug “Mush” Brower was requested to pass on the following email from Class President Scott Sturman in reference to some 40th reunion related items. Paraphrasing Mush’s comments it is important stuff and we are in hopes of having a good showing, whenever it is scheduled. His two cents worth is in support ofthe class gift as well. We haven’t contributed to a class gift for the past couple ofreunions and our time is due. Please try to find the extra coin to contribute to this institution that gave us our start in life. With budget cuts in Washington, there are more and more unfunded items necessary for the cadet experience that we took for granted during our tenure at the Academy and that won’t be there without our help.

Scott’s email - We requested the Navy game, however this date will be prioritized on class seniority. 1962 and 1967 put us third in line. Unless the rules change 1972 will not be able to pick a date until after the final football schedule is set in April 2012. If we are unable to have the reunion during Navy weekend, then as in the past a late September or October weekend would be best to take advantage of Colorado’s weather.

The 40th Reunion is typically the time when classes present their “class gift” to the Academy. The AOG has a number of projects of varying costs which wecan select. I have been in contact with this office and have been assured that we are on time to accomplish this. They are old hands at fund raising and will be contacting us in the near future.

It is not too soon, however, to let Harvey (LeCato) or me know ifany ofyou have an interest in being a member ofthe reunion committee or are in a position to make an unusually large financial contribution to the class gift. Historically, large benefactors are able to influence the selection ofthe gift since they may have a strong desire to present a particulargift to theAcademy.

Last reunion the consensus was we should welcome members of 1972 to the 40th reunion who did not graduate. I am personally in favor of this. Many of us stay in contact with these friends, and it would be good to see everyone together once again.

Gary continued with his season tickets for football, and added the same for hockey so they will be up in C-Springs a lot this next year. Gary is still totally retired, intending to stay that way. The day after the Tennessee State football game, Gary and Clarita got a chance to meet up with Bill Kasson and his wife, Debbie, who are continuing to tour the USA in their RV. They stayed awhile at the USAFA FamCamp, where Bill and Gary were able to catch up and reminisce about their days flying C-130s at Clark AB.

Shortly after I received Gary’s message, the next one came in from Mike Verzola reporting on the September 17th marriage of our classmate Charlie Myers. Several of the guys from 36th Squadron made the trip to Washington, D.C. where a photo verified the event. Classmates in addition to Mike included Curt Ely, Bob Rakitis, Craig Ghelber, Mark McCarthy, Bill Emmer and Charlie’s high school classmate, USNA Class of 1971, Frank Culbertson. (A side note of interest...some may recognize Frank Culbertson as the astronaut and Commander of the International Space Station specifically on the fateful day of 09/11/01 when he was onboard ISS and thus the only American NOT on Earth during that catastrophic event. Frank was responsible for some dramatic photos of NYC taken from his unique position in orbit that day.)

JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY! *

YOUR MONEY HELPS FUND CADET WING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED.

CALL (719) 472-0300X200.

Thank you, Mush and Scott. I agree with your comments and hope that we will be able to set this all in motion. Everyone stay tuned and let us hear what you think as well.

Additionally, I would solicit your input on an idea I had to extend reunion invitations to our class’s squadron/group AOCs and/or other military/civilian staff members present during our time at USAFA. Such names as CMSGT Charles Malouff and Mr. Ed Ladouceur come to mind, among others that the rest ofyou may recall. Just a thought...

I also want to report the recent retirements of fellow classmates from AmericanAirlines, as I myselfcontinue to sit/stand reserve on the 777 in New York, not having made that last corporate decision yet. Two more AA ’72ers have retired effective in October. Mypersonal congratulations go out to Chicago-based 767 Captain John McDonald and San Francisco-based Super80 Captain Jim Hummel. There will be others to follow soon, for sure.

That wraps it up for this time, folks. Take care and let me hear from you whenever you have news that you would like passed on. FPA.

Joe Kahoe

4140 Saddle Rock Road

Colorado Springs, CO 80918

Cell: (719) 210-5568

joekahoe@gmail.com

http://73.texascomputerhelp.com

( I Members tint#

Class of ’73, news clips have been sharply abbreviated, but your complete inputs are on our web site http://usafa73.org. vr/Joe Kahoe, CS-07

Bob Munson wrote: I ran into Joe Walker (CS-09) repairing barb wire

From left are Sullivan, Pulis and Sharrar.

Grant.

attached photo where

is joined

and

From left are Gary Grant, Samantha, and Clarita.

Class News

fence, while biking north of Colorado Springs, looking very much the Marlboro Man without the smokes. He had the look, the truck, leather gloves, tools, barb wire fence, and the ranch in the background. (Story/ photo on web site).

Read more from Bob Munson on our 40th reunion and glass gift on our web site. We need 40 key classmates on our gift committee, so if interested, contact Bob.

Doug Hulsey: (Full story is “must read” on our web site with pictures.) Last year we lost our classmate Steve Hessney, CS 37, to cancer, just days after Steve andhis wife, Jill, visited USAFA andhis son (C1C Ben Hessney) for the Navy game. Our group of Smilers, (Ed Heisey, Doug Hulsey, Ron Hoskins, Chris Young, Geoff Michael, Dee Bromberek, John Petro, Dana Ideen, Jim Thompson, Steve Rossetti, Greg Cummins, Eric Hearnsburger, and Mike Wetsel presented a cadet saber and wood case to Ben at his pinning-on ceremony. The saber case was inscribed with both 2011 Class Crest and 1973 Class Crest and read: To Ben Hessney Class of 2011, From the Smilers of ’73, In Honor ofyour father Steve Hessney, Class of 1973. Ben is at UPT! Doug Hulsey CS 37

Sabre Society Donors 41

From left are Ed Heisey (’73 CS-37), Ben Hessney (’11 CS-37),JillHessney, and DougHulsey (’73 CS-37). Ed and Doug were the official presenters on behalfofall the ’73 Smilers.

John Eisenhart: Like many in our class, I celebrated my 60th (Aug 10), but unlike many, I celebrated it with my 4 year and 4-month old. I am flying international routes out of Dulles; now retired (for pay) LTC AF Reserve, yea! (Great picture on web.)

Bob Munson: John Muse is captain and ‘patron’ of the Lucchese polo team of Dallas, and they just won the Pacific Coast Open title this weekend. (Full story and photo on web.)

Don Rightmyer is our new (and first) Class Historian. Don works for the State of Kentucky, is editor of ‘Kentucky Ancestors’ for the Kentucky Historical Society, and is a contributing author of just-published High Flight: History ofthe USAir ForceAcademy.

Go to web site for picture of Mike Farrell with ex-roommate Norty Schwartz. Mike had a break in service for about 16 years and returned to the line and is now doing Command Post duty. His DOS is Oct 2012, so he’ll retire for a second time two months after Norty steps down.

Robert “RV” Mitchell: Picture (on web site) from this summer, aboard sailboat at Flathead Lake in Montana. Besides sailing a lot this summer, spent a couple ofweeks at the Melita Island Boy Scout camp, also at Flathead Lake, teaching sailing to scouts. I talked to Bill Goetz. When he’s not working as a CE, he punches holes in the sky with his Cessna.

Eric Lentz “retired from the FAA as a supervisory Safety Inspector on June 30. Plans are to build a retirement home on 52 acres near the town ofKlamath River in Northern California. It’s nice having the reserve retirement and a civilian one as well. Forty-two years of Government service.”

Johnny Whitaker, Director of Communications for Marietta operations, “moved from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics plant in Fort Worth to our airplane factory in Marietta, GA. Have a lovely house for sale just west of Fort Worth on 1-20!

DonRamm wrote: “Two weeks ago, my wife, Tracy, went up for her check ride with a EA.S.T. check pilot (www.flyfast.org) and passed with flying colors. She has been beaming ever since.” (Web site for great story)

Great picture of Bob (BG) Gilbert CS 20 looking very distinguished, on our web site.

Mike and Catherine Nishimuta hosted their first house guests in Italy. Don and Grace McMillan got the royal tour of Spilimbargo andVenice before departing on a seven-day cruise on the “Azamara Quest” to Croatia and Italy. Book your visit with them early to make sure they are in town.

Mike and Catherine haven’t stood still since they moved to Aviano in May. (Several pictures/full story on web)

Duncan Keirnes “retired from Delta as 747 Captain in Nov, and started a follow-on job with Boeing as an instructor on the new B787, part time only, since I must leave a little time to fish here in South Dakota. (Huge Northern Pike photo on web)

John Wigington: “I completed my Appalachian Trail journey on Aug 31, almost on schedule after a two-daydelayfor Hurricane Irene. Bottoms ofmy feet were still numb in early October. Suzyjoined me for the last 18 miles.

Congrats to Bud Gammon’s daughter Sarah who was sworn into The Florida Bar by The HonorableAnthonyJohnson in Orlando, FL.

Mark Stuckley: “My oldest son, Mark Jr., married Kristen Andrews and the happy couple honeymooned in Hawaii. Great time was had by all especially my 91-year-old dad, who we could not get off dance floor.”

Rick Karvosky: “I’m going to Paris for a week with my oldest daughter, Jenni, and Denise, my significant other. I took my youngest daughter, Kristen, to Paris for her 18th birthday and graduation from high schoolback in 1997. Finallygetting the time to take Jenni been promising her for years!

Ed Whitt: “I’m still in Bryan, TX, still married to Debbie (she’s a real trooper for that!) and am a Captain with Southwest Airlines. My kids are grown and gone. Two grandkids and one in the hangar should rollout first week in June. Phone is (979) 324-6575.

Gone, But Not Forgotten - John Pretz: Paul Freund wrote: “It is with great sadness I write that our classmate John Pretz passed away unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm on Oct 15 with his family at his bedside and many friends nearby. His funeral mass was 21 Oct, and he will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on 25 Jan. Spence Way, Gene Cuomo, George Tota, Sam Torrey, Bob Frasier, and I attended the wake. Norty and Suzy Schwartz came to the hospital on Saturday before John passed. John was a wonderful husband and father, a dear and great friend to all who knew him. He was dedicated to his faith, family and country and served them all with humility and devotion. He was loved by many and will be missed by everyone, who ever knew him. Please keep John and his family in your prayers."

Gone, But Not Forgotten - John B Van Coevering passed away tragically on 17 Sep in Miami FL, while working on a home construction project with his son. Please keep John and his family in your prayers, and condolences may be sent in care of his wife: Mrs. Debbie Van Coevering; 7620 SW 59th Ave; South Miami FL 33143-5426. (USAFA bereavement notice on web).

Gone, But Not Forgotten - Steven A Harman: At press time we learned that Steve died on Nov. 21 in Tampa, FL, losing a courageous two-year battle with cancer. More info in the next issue.

John and Suzy Wigington at the top ofKatahdin, the end of the Appalachian Trailjourney which raised over $15,000for the House ofHopefor endangered children in their Tennessee county.

Joe Brezovic

1209 Bayou Oaks Drive

Friendswood, TX 77546

H: (281) 482-6860

E-mail: jbrezovic@comcast.net

Hello Classmates. The Air Force Association is pleased to announce award recipients for its National Aerospace Awards program. Awards were presented at ceremonies during the 2011 Air & Space Conference, Septemher 19-21, at the Gaylord Resort Convention Center at National Harbor, MD, on the Potomac and near Washington, DC. Among this year’s recipients: The H. H. Arnold Award to General Duncan J. McNabb, Commander, U.S. Transportation Command, for the most significant contribution by a military member for national defense. The Secretary of Defense, Honorable Panetta, gave Duncan tribute with saying: “Under General McNabb, this command has faced one of the most demanding periods in history,” said Panetta “And it has excelled.”

Official photo ofLifer Extraordinaire!

This is the biggest news I have for this issue and that after 37 years, [plus four @ USAFA 41years) ofwearing Air Force blue full-time, General Duncan McNabb retirement date is 30 Nov 2011. Congratulations to Duncan for a long and highly contributive life of active duty! I know I’ll miss some of Duncan’s remarksand pictures with the troops. My favorite one is his wearing a cowboy hat at a transportation rodeo! One ofDuncan’s remarks to help the Air Force and Congress funding was: “Gen. Duncan McNabb, head of US Transportation Command, asserted that the cut [316 strategic airlift to 301] would pose no operational risk and would spare DOD from having to spend roughly $1.2 billion between Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2016 to maintain the extra aircraft. T hate to have folks working on stuff that I don’t need. Manpower is absolutely critical,’ McNabb told the legislators.” Dave Daley’s office [DoD Office of Security Review ] cleared this statement before it went to Congress. This shows we are all tied together somehow/someway.

Steve Wallingford sent an update of his whereabouts. Steve settled in Andover, a community north of Boston after he retired in 2002. There he supported the AWACS Program Office at Hanscom AFB. It was a big move after spending 14 years in Europe. His wife and boys had not lived in the US. The big news around Steve’s family these days is that his oldest son, Yannis, entered West Point with the Class of 2015 on June 27th Steve feels that he may not be thelast classmate to go through having family at an academy, “but we probably don’t have too many classmates whose children (not grandchildren) are still young enough to be entering a service academy 41 years after we started! My son and I will be able to agree on one thing: Sink Navy.”

Dennis Heinle was found in Pennsylvania. Life in the Marines was exciting. Family life with the youngest at pre-teen years old has its own type of excitement! Charlie Murphy was refound in Houston, TX. I thought we lost Charlie, but he is right where we left him! One change is that he no longer works for the of electronics firm—and he’s glad of it. Seems like retirement life is keeping him happily busy. Harry Durgin is said to be now located in the Denver area. I have no one to visually verify that, yet. Latest of Ed Norton and his pride in their daughters: one daughter has graduated from USAFA this May and is now in UPT. Another daughter

graduated from our USAFA Prep School and has elected to go to Riverside. I learned recently that John Brockman is retired and in Chicago as a business owner. He is also a proud parent of two Air Force officers: one daughter graduated from USAFA and is a C-17 pilot; another daughter is an OTS grad and is a missile launch officer.

John P. Jones sent an update as well as an interim report. The update is that he retired as a B-747 Captain, from commercial jets after flying 28 years for Northwest and two for Delta. He is now a ski instructor, part time, at Copper Mountain. He wrote he has been going to Copper as his favorite ski place since it opened in 1972! He has two daughters, one in college and one who is an Air Force pilot. He also has two step daughters, one in college and the other is in the Navy Band in DC. He andhis wife, Anne, plan the retirement years to travel, scuba, and ski when they are away from the Woodmoor area there in COS. Jonesy also gave an interim report on the Exemplar meeting. This will be a teaser until Rich Bowman does his magic connections to get the rest ofthe information and pictures on the class website. As you may remember, Rich is honchoing this portion of our class heritage involvement with the cadets.

We had 16 grads from 1974 there at Mitchell Hall. Actually had to pay money to eat there! We all had a fun time and even ate Mitchell Mountain Supreme. The 2014 guys had never seen it before. After the dinner about six of us ’74ers went to artist Rick Broome’shouse. He showed us the artist studio in his house. The studio has a painting of about 1/2 of a B-727, complete with cockpit and instruments. He did his first class painting for our class and will rededicate it at the Academy on Dec. 21 think. It’s a T-41 on Dawn Patrol. He has since painted many paintings that hang at the Academy.

These are all the written notes and mostly verified verbals I have received for this issue. Would y’all send recent a recent picture.jpg ofyourself and family and a what’s- up note.. .perhaps as a Christmas letter? The class of ’74 still likes to know and share. Thankyou for contributing! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and may each ofyou live long and prosper.

Jeff Chappell 14729 Birken St. Herriman, UT 84096 (801) 878-HOWDY jtmjbda@sbcglobal.net

A handful of’75ers recently participated in the Class of 2015’s acceptance parade. As their Legacy Class, we were invited to present the top ten basics with awards during their acceptance parade. Larry Fariss did a great job representing our class with his speech to the new Fourth Classmen. Known attendees are: Raymond Barbera, Randy Davis, Larry Lariss, Phil Gronseth, Ralph Paul, Lawrence Richter, and KC Schwarz.

The class of1975 at the Class of2015 Acceptance Parade.

On to bigger and better things: A1 Peck retired as Air University Commander 1 Oct. Welcome to the ORB world and best wishes in your second career, Al!

Mark “Scotty” Scott: On a 14-day trip with Rick Odegard...we went to Omaha Beach, Normandy, The Burj Towers in Dubai, Anchorage, etc... In Paris right now getting ready for an ocean crossing to Newark, then back to Paris, then Memphis...long trip, but it makes it easy when you are with a 40-year buddy...’75 Best Alive...oh, LedEx by the way...28 of our’75 brothers are here.

(Who has the most classmates at their company? Delta and AA have quite a few, as do some defense contractors...any other nominees?)

Sabre Society Donors

Class News

Foster Bitton: I didn’t retire, get married, run for office or join the Foreign Legion. I did go scuba diving with my oldest son, Luke, on the north shore of Oahu. During the dive we ran across a critter that was initially afraid ofbecoming part of a seafood salad, so he inked all ofthe surrounding area about four times. Once he determined we weren’t going to eat him he decided to pose for some pictures with me. “Inky” is the one with the extra appendages and suction cups. I’m the other life form.

Dave Clough: No exploits to brag about, just toiling in the trenches of orthopedic/hand surgery waiting for everything to go to hell with ObamaCare.. .ifyou like health care in the UK or in Canada, you will love ObamaCare. Everyone will experience government-run/regulated health care with the compassion of the IRS and the efficiency of the Postal Service. Rapidly approaching the big 60; remaining hair rapidlyfading to grey.. .of three sons, one (27, Mech. Eng.) has been married for 5 years. Oldest (31, mechanic) and youngest (22, Management Info. Systems/Bus. Admin, student graduating 2012 from U. of Nebraska) are both getting married next year, one in May, the other in August. Any suggesdons for father of the grooms? Obvious answer: Keep working or buy lottery tickets, as prospects for retirement are fading faster than remaining hair.

Heavy stuff from Dr Gernot Pomrenke who serves as Program Manager for Optoelectronics, THz and Nanotechnology in the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (OSR): We are advocating and establishing a multi-project wafer service for silicon photonics. OpSIS (Optoelectronic Systems Integration in Silicon) is a multi-project wafer service for silicon photonics. The goal at OpSIS is to make the processes for making optoelectronic integrated circuits available to the community at large, at modest cost, by sharing the cost of processing across many users of a single mask set. This model, called a “shuttle,” can reduce costs of building new silicon photonics devices by more than lOOx. The OpSIS program will help advance the field by bringing prototyping capability within reach of startups and academic research groups.

Glad there are smart people doing amazing things to make life better!

TJ Young: Football teammates reunited 8 Oct at Notre Dame stadium 37 years after our last game together. Irish team was very talented and well coached, just as when we played them. We can play even with them at home next year. I was proud of their competitive spirit when we won the fourth quarter. This team has courage and determination.

More football: Dave and Jan Wallace and Ted and Nancy Thompson connected at the Boise State game. We beatthe point spread, so should do even better next year at home! Ted runs the Embry-Riddle program at Mountain Home AFB while Dave followed Jan to Boise, making his commute to Baltimore even longer.

Spies among us: John Kambourian retired from the CIA after 30 years; I even had my cover lifted so I don’t have to pretend I worked for some other agency. I had 10 field assignments, the last six as a Chief of Station. It was a terrific ride and I can’t believe they paid me for doing work that I loved. I’m now working for a government contractor; I do miss my troops and the mission but I cry all the way to the bank! Feels strange being a civilian again: last civilian job I held was as a lifeguard during the summer in high school.

GBNF, USAFA Junior College: Chip Kerby related the news of Tony DeRegnaucourt’s passing on 18 Oct. He was hanging out with a friend at some gamblingjoint, said he felt tired, and laid down to take a nap. Never woke up. He was having a blast, so at least he went out doingsomething he enjoyed. He was one ofthe best friends I ever had, or will have. I spoke to him two weeks ago after the Navy game and we caught up a bit, so at least I don’t feel like I missed him entirely. And I’m glad he got to make the reunion trip last year. Things Tony invented but never got credit for: Talk like a pirate day, Shock and Awe (his approach to dating), and the phrase “I’m twice the man I used to be” (and he was). We lost a good man, who had the enormous capacity to make me laugh every time he opened his mouth. I’m going to miss him.

More JuCo: Bill Murray recently visited his best friend from the Academy, Paul “Ollie” Hansen Jr, of 1st Squadron, in La Pine, OR. He left after our sophomore year and completed at the University of Oregon, had a very successful football coaching career, raised cattle, and is now a businessman.

A lump of coal in your stocking: Lockheed Martin laid off 370 people, including Bill Murray...out-the-door date is 25 Dec. “I have an interview with American Airlines to teach aircraft systems. I have surgery scheduled on my hammer toe for 21 Oct. After having my prostate removed four years ago, my PSA has been increasing very slowly. Radiation directed at the fossa, the cavity wherethe prostate gland used to be, has an 80% chance of driving the PSA back down to zero. If it doesn’t work, you move on to hormone therapy, since you can be radiated only once. The great thing about prostate cancer is that you have many ways of combating the disease. I just need to exercise that faith I’m always talking about.”

Thanks, Dr Bill it’s nice to know there’s somethinggood aboutThe Big C! Closingthought from Dave Beeman: Just got back from my 40-year high school reunion. So many passed away you’d think they were ALL cadets... Merry Christmas and Happy NewYear to allthe Best Alive!

Dan Beatty

12196 Stanley Canyon Road

Colorado Springs, CO 80921

H: (719) 488-1962

E-Mail: whrlybrd76@aol.com

Dan.Beatty@usafa.af.mil

http://www.AFAcademy.com/76

Fellow ’76ers,

As you receive this, the holidays are fast approaching. My best wishes to all of you and yours for a blessed, happy, and safe Christmas and New Year season.

35th Reunion / Class Gift update: Our 35th went very well. Had about 250 classmates attending the varied functions all weekend, including Roger Renard, one of the French exchange cadets who spent fall semester ’75 with us. Thanks to all the local and not-so-local classmates who had a part in the planning and execution. Several of you have expressed thanks to me but in all honesty, I was but a small part ofthe whole event. Space does not permit listing allthe names of the ’76er s who spent so much of their time and effort, but suffice it to say they were numerous and they ALL contributed significantly to the final outcome. KUDOS to them all! A special thanks to Mike and Paula Gould for all their support and for a superb gathering at their home on Thursday evening. Also thanks to the AOG and USAFA staffs for all their hard work to accommodate three classes that weekend. They do this every year and make it seem effortless. All the events went well but of note was the dedication of the 9-11 Memorial on Friday afternoon. The Memorial is part of our class gift project and is displayed in the grassy area north of the Cadet Chapel for now until the Center for Character and Leadership Development is completed, when the Memorial is planned to occupy a prominent location in that structure. Our class gift project supports the CCLD and we are on the

Foster Bitton and “Inky”

Sabre Society Donors

John Ward (74), Wayne Willis, Peggy Young, Larry Fariss, and Terry Young.

way to our goal. Class gift chairs Joe Wysocki and Kevin Chilton lead a great team and pass on the following report:

“Classmates: Our class gift campaign has made great progress since the reunion. Our committee is now focusing on a goal to ensure every classmate has been contacted and offered an opportunity to contribute to the CCLD andWTC/9-11 Monument. The campaign has been remarkable in that we’ve raised a fairly substantial amount towards our goal of $550,000 with only a 10% participation rate from our entire class. The group participation rates from early October are: 1st Group -15%, 2nd Group - 7%, 3rd group - 7%, and 4th Group - 12%. Ifyou’d like to join your classmates in contributing to this very worthwhile cause, you may do so easily by visiting https://giving.usafa.org/give/1976CCLD. Let’s see if we can raise those participation numbers by a few percentage points or more! To those of you who’ve already made a pledge, your gift committee sends a hearty thanks.”

Ifyou haven’t been contacted about our ’76 Class Project, please let me know and we’ll get the word out to you. The Friday class meeting covered several topics including class communication. No firm resolution other than to continue with current methods and look into other options. The classmates attending also elected a new Class Senator - me. I am honored and will serve to best of my ability. Friday nite’s dinner was outstanding, great food, great MC’ing from Enrique Saa, great comments from all, and super cheerleading from Jack Catton (can you say Whomp ’em up side the head?). Saturday’s tailgate was awesome; a good time was had by all. So, other than the football score, the weekend was a resounding success. Hope to see ALL ofyou at the 40th!

Sad News: Mike Berrian succumbed to a heart attack on 25 Aug. His cremated remains were placed at sea and a memorial service was held 28 Oct at USAFA. Please keep Mike’s family in your thoughts and prayers.

Moving up/moving on: Hank Kelly promoted to Provost (chief academic officer) at Ohio Christian University. OCU has great tuition discounts to military, prior military, and dependents, and recently hosted Herman Cain in a Faith and Freedom rally. Dave Berg says he will retire 31 Dec. No info on future plans. Congrats to Hank and Dave!

General Class Stuff: Lots of input with reunion comments and photos, but I can only post five photos. I tried to choose those pics that showed the majority of classmates. In no particular order...Bill Hanson wrote early. Says his first book, Predicting War, Predicting Peace: Modeling RealWorld Decisions was just published. Randy Schavrien married off daughter Nicole, says Jeff and Connie Becker attended. Mike Fricano, A1 Patriquin, T.J. Hedding, and John Hildebrandt sent post reunion notes. John included a photo from the tailgate.

well now. Joe Drew hosted a Seagram’s 7 gathering during reunion week. Included a pic:

7ers and spouses at the Drews.

Roger Widholm also sent a nice group photo from CS-26 post game party:

The Hildebrands, Wordens, Carters, and McFarlanes tailgating.

Ahart Powers says he and Lillian hit Denver in mid-Oct, were able to attend San Diego State game. They couldn’t make this reunion but will be at the 40th. John included a photo from the tailgate. Greg Boomgaard was in Vancouver, BC late July. Saw Mike and Brigitte Ellen. Boom was in Japan and couldn’t make the reunion. Harry Debruhl says he, Bob Thompson, Pat Hanley, and Bob Gold had a mini-reunion in Anchorage recently.

front are McGinty,

Doug Fry was visiting daughter (USAFA 2000) and first granddaughter at Robins and missed the reunion. Says they will visit son Matt (USAFA 2005) at Vance for Thanksgiving. Bill Dunn regrets missing the 35th. He was in Italy taking the Maserati Racing School. He was recently awarded the Citation Diamond Honor Pin for logging more than 1000+ Pic hours in his Citation I-SP (has over 4000+ total hours). Brad & Beth Moffett visited USAFA in May for daughter’s graduation. They and neighbors Rich and Cindy Luhrs and co-worker Kurt Klingenberger all managed to make the 35th. Fred Kneib, Mike Underwood, Pat Hanley, Marty Clement, Rob Sheridan, Jim Porter, Mark Slown, and Dave Ternes all sent nice post-reunion notes. Thanks for the kind words gents. Phil Houser sent reunion regrets but is looking forward to this article. John Rivera rang in. Says he will bug roomie Greg Schneider for photos from his sister’s recent wedding. Chuck Pinney sent some follow-up communication info discussed at the class meeting and a few reunion pics. Charlie Vono sent a nice dinner pic of 15th Sq dinner table. (See photo at the top of the next column.)

Ernie Wollard reports from Hurbie that DoD budgets cuts have the Florida Panhandle on “pins & needles”. Charlie Deano tells me his contact info must still be good since he has been in the same house since ’98. Phil ‘Val’ Vollelunga is still pushing throttles for Delta and living just

The Class of '76 is currently raising money to support the new Center for Character and Leadership Development & the World Trade Center Memorial. For more information to participate in this Class Giving Project, please contact:

Razelle.doherty @usafaendowment.org 719-472-0300 ext. 222.

Gary Butdorf missed the reunion. Was in the hospital with pneumonia then MRSA but is recovering

Seagrams

In

Dilla, Owens, Wigand, Philpot, and Morris. Back: Skidmore, Bischoff, Widholm, Farmer, and Renner.

Nita & Charlie Vono, Roger & Sally Turcotte, Ali Meenan, Bert & Melissa Fisher Carleen & Rich Hanley.

outside of San Antonio. Dave Terifay didn’t make the reunion butdid ask me a question about one of our football team rituals. Still researching that one Dave. Jack Catton sent a lengthy dissertation about pre and post Navy game events including an encore of leading “Whomp 'em up side the head” for the young, uneducated grads in attendance at the game. Comments I’ve seen from Dave Robinson, Jon Tree, and Mike ‘Yama Dog’ Hoyes, had very positive tones. Good on ya Jack! Greg Whaley writes he and roomie Steve Heinz both own companies that were selected by INC magazine as among the 5000 fastest growing private US companies for 2011. Thinks this may be a first in USAFA history. Don Nerge sent an extremely nice note about reunion activities. Don I appreciate the kind words. Richey Felder sent a nice reminiscing note about his and Mike Gould’s coaching days at USAFA Prep. Jerry McFarlane sent several nice pics of reunion events. Here’s one from Jack’sValley (I think):

Finally, I mentioned in my last article about Legacy Class Events. Our Legacy Class, USAFA 2016 will enternext summer. The Legacy Class program ties a current USAFA class with the Class that graduated 40 years prior. It stresses the shared responsibility of both classes in making USAFA what we all expect it to be: “the premier developer of aerospace leaders, leaders with impeccable character and essential knowledge prepared and motivated to lead our Air Force and nation”. As 1976 grads we will be invited to return to USAFA, sit with our old Squadrons in Mitchell Hall and watch as the Class of 2016 celebrates their USAF milestones. The first event will be the Acceptance Parade in August 2012. Anticipate we will be invited when 2016 selects their Class Exemplar, When 2016 celebrates their “Commitment” to USAFA, when 2016 receives their Class Rings, and when 2016 celebrates 100’s Night. Check the website www.usafa.org and Checkpoints for updates and opportunities. I will do my best to let you all know when events are coming up. It would be great to see as many of the ‘Spirit of 76’ attend as possible. We can again enhance our legacy with a future class and make it an enduring part of USAFA.

Well classmates, again time to stick a fork in it. It was great to see so many of your smilin’ faces at the 35th. Again, please know there were many, many classmates who had a significant part of making the 35th such a memorable event. If you have any inputs for future reference (I have received a few already) about how to make it better or how to avoid issues, please let me know. I will get them to the right folks. Send me your notes, inputs, address updates, suggestions, junk mail, etc and I will do my best to keep all ofyou in the loop. As always, ifyou 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 - Beatty.

Visit the AOGWeb Site.

Merchandise, Gone But Not Forgotten and more! www.usafa.org

John “Lou” Michels, Jr.

4107 Harvey Ave.

Western Springs, IL 60558 (312) 463-3412

jmichels@lbbslaw.com

loumichels55@gmail.com

By the time you read this, you’ll know the final outcome ofAF’s football season, but so far it’s been a disappointing series of games for the Falcons (other than the Navy win, of course). At this point, I’m convinced I’m bad luck for the Birds I’vebeen at a couple of games and they’ve all been disasters.

Outside of the pigskin antics, I hope everyone enjoyed a pleasant autumn. Up here in Chicagoland, fall means battening down the hatches in preparation for the winter that will be in full swing when you read this.

On watch: I am trying to get better at touching base personally with classmates as I get out and around some of our football venues. Part of the problem is simply timing, and part the result of you guys having some discernment about the nature of the people you want to be seen with. I can’t control the timing, but am working on the other issue as best I can. There’s only so much modification I can make my personality, however.

I got out to the TCU game in September andmade face to face contact with Duff Muir (Bonnie) and Lee Gustin (Kathryn). The football game was lousy, the company was great. At Notre Dame, Pat and Cyndee McVay made a point of connecting, despite the fact that they had to wait for one of their two grad sons to make it in to Chicago on the morning of the game, and forgetting that South Bend exists in a different time zone than the rest of the Midwest. Again, a lousy football game, which made it a lot easier to spend time visiting with Pat and Cyndee. Pat continues to do extremely well in his STRATCOM executive position; Cyndee spends most of her time keeping Pat out of trouble and chasing their kids around the country. As I have noted before with respect to some of our classmates, none of these folks seem to have aged very much in the 34+ years since our permanent departure from Colorado.

I continue to wander into the USAFA Law Department when I am back in Colorado, and through the good graces of Paul Pirog (Mary), I keep getting stuck in frontof classes to do some ad hoc teaching/entertaining. One of thebenefits of this association is getting to attend the DFL football tailgate when I’m in town. At said tailgate beforethe San Diego game, I made contact with Paul and Mary (who have recently celebrated two weddings and appeared none the worse for wear), Scott and Susan Hutt, and Fred Swartz (Carmel). Notwithstanding the discernment issue above, the three gentlemen actually consented to appear in a photo with your humble narrator, thus:

Lou, Scott, Fred, and Paul pre-game.

Scott and Susan are living in the Springs, while Fred continues his medical practice in Oklahoma. Thanks again, gentlemen, for a terrific Thursday afternoon.

Initial contact: Fred told me that his picture has never appeared in Checkpoints, and I think that’s correct. He also claimed that his name has never been mentioned, but I am certain that somebody bad- mouthed him in my presence sometime in the past 35 years. In any event, I have several other validated, first-time entrants into the class scribe sweepstakes Rick “Mallard” Turner (Judy) and Bill Hep (Gwen). Mallard brought me up to speed on where he’s been and been doing since he departed the North Gate, and it’s been an interesting ride. He and Judy live

Numerous ’76ers visitingJack’s Valley.

Sabre Society Donors 22

in Columbus, Ohio, where he is working with Chemical Abstracts. He has remained close friends with Tom Kingsley, who started in rotorcraft and, after retiring from active duty, went back to seminary to become a Catholie priest. This is not as surprising as it seems—ifhelicopter pilots did not believe in miracles they’d never get into their aircraft. Tom is now assigned to the diocese of Charleston and Mallard and Judy visited him there last summer.

Mallard’s association with clergy becomes even more relevant when you consider that he’s survived two major heart attacks (one of which resuited in his being clinically dead for ten minutes) and a heart transplant. He and Judy have also raised two kids and become Ohio State fans. That last part is troubling, but I’m sure Father Kingsley is working on the situation as we speak.

On a swing from Columbus down to Charleston, Mallard touched base with Dutch Remkes (Susie), who lives on the North Carolina shore, and just missed contact with Doug Vick (Linda), who has now relocated from their place in Texas to just outside Charlotte with EDS.

As for Bill and Gwen Hejl, they are working a farm in North Dakota, along with their son, Bill’s brother and another partner. To keep his hand in the blue world, Bill moved to the North Dakota Air Guard, where he retired in ’07 as a lieutenant colonel. I spent many ofmy formative years not too far north of Bill, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and my hat is off to anyone who can not only weather the weather, but make it produce as a going business concern. Anytime either of you gentlemen are returning to Chicago, please give me a yell.

Somewhere back in the dark recesses of the Checkpoints archive I believe I mentioned Dave “Chef” Boyarski (Jane), but it’s been a while, and he graciously fired off a message to let me know that he has retired from Lockheed and is back in God’s country up in the foothills near Monument. Dave’s son and daughter-in-law are both Air Force captains at Robbins; Dave strongly encourages people to get some retirement time blocked since it is working so well for him.

Surly slipping: Stan Hill (Cindy) dropped me a line from Fayetteville to give me an update of his activities. I initially thought he was referring to Fayetteville, North Carolina, but Stan quickly disabused me of the idea that he would reside fetched up against an Army installation. It’s Fayetteville, Georgia and he’s pushing metal for Delta. He and Chuck Spitler (Theresa) flew together down to Bogota and swapped sailplane stories on the way down, although they resisted the urge to actually try gliding the airliner, much to the relief of the passengers. Stan and Cindy have one son at Georgia Tech, and a daughter in 2013 at USAFA. John and Mindy Herd are sponsoring Casey Hill in the Pink Panthers, along with the rest of the former 38th Sq Big Pink Crew in the Springs: Bob Eskridge (Sheila)

who works at Lockheed; Greg Pfeiffer (Nikki), Delta captain, Bob Ryan (Tauni) flying corporate out of Denver, and Bill Welde (Judy), at Delta. Stan dropped me a photo of Chuck and himself in Bogota (good thing the sign is there):

I’ll try and connect to the Pink Panther tailgate at the UNLV game when I am there in November; thanks again, Stan.

OffWatch: That’s it from the home of the most pummeled quarterback in NFL history. I hope everyone’s holidays are going/have gone well. Shoot me some information and check out the Facebook page for a reunion updates and information. Be seeing you.

Bob Kay

40411 Tesoro Lane

Palmdale, CA 93551

Home:(661) 274-2201

Work: (661) 824-6426

Email: Robert.kay78@gmail.com

Greetings ’78ers...

I hope everyone had a great summer—the temps certainly are cooling off even in the high desert of California!

Leading off this quarter is a tribute from Jack Kucera to our class and those who contributed to the Holaday Athletic Center (HAC). There were several noteworthy individual gifts as well as the many who pledged $78 for five years as part of the overall “78 Challenge.” On July 22nd the Academy and the USAFA Endowment dedicated the HAC. Jack (holding the sign), along with 12 classmates are shown below with the Supt, LtGen Gould andhis wife, Paula, underneath the huge plaque listing all who contributed. Jack did an absolute Herculean job of coordinating and organizing the ’78 participation in this project...well done sir!

Lynn “Bach” Hollerbach shot out an announcement letting folks know that Rob “Hick” Hickey’s bride, Allison (’80 and retired one-star), was confirmed by the Senate back in May as the Under Secretary for Benefits at the Veterans Administration. The proud hubby is a GSer working at DNI (Director of National Intelligence) and keeping most busy. Rob added a side note that during her confirmation hearing, Allison was told by Senator Patty Murray to submit her plan of attack 45 days into her term. Allison did and was later informed by the senator that it was the best thing she had ever seen come out of the VA.. .wow!

Bach and Mike Wright had some adult fermented beverages while Mike was in the Beltway for an Energy Conference as part of his duties with SCITOR business development. He’s still living in The Springs with his wonderful wife of 33 years (married right after “hats in the air” in ’78). They have three married children and...uh...seven grandchildren...impressive! Mike’s son is in the AF doing “dad’s” stuff in Space Ops at Vandenberg. Mike responded to Bach’s message congratulating Hick and also mentioned that a general he briefed back in July informed him that ’78 fills 31% of all G.O. slots in the entire AF! That number might be a tad lower due to some recent retirements but is incredibly impressive none the less.

Tom Kingsley and Mallard Turner

Stan Hill and Chuck Spitler

Bach further noted that he and bride, Grace (29th anniversary this past August...congrats!), recently stayed with Tom “T.K” Kana and his bride, Sue, in the Springs. Grace was there in June for a Univ of Northern Colorado sorority reunion and Bach got to tag along. Turns out that Grace and Sue were best friends in high school with Grace eventually introducing Sue to T.K. when he and Bach were in the BUFF in lovely Minot. T.K. currently flies with Delta and gives Financial Planning advice on the side. Both Kana girls are out of college and doing superbly.

As for the FJollerbachs, 1st LT son Nick graduated from Clemson in 2008 (accountingmajor) had a UPT slot but sadly lost it due to sight issues. He’s at Wright-Pat “doing great in the F-15 SPO as an Acquisition Officer/Program Manager and is currentlyworking F-15 Saudi FMS” while getting his MBA at the U of Dayton. Nick recently was one of the“escort officer LTs” for CORONA a last Spring and escorted Bach’s UPT T-37 desk-mate, our own Dick Newton (USAF Assistant Vice Chief). Bach’s daughter Lyndsay graduated from Auburn in 2010 with a Hotel/Restaurant Management degree and works ALION (defense contractor) as one of their Event/Conference Coordinators. She works Crystal City conference facilities so gets to see mom and dad often. Thanks for all the info Bach!

Greg Postulka sent a great shot from the 37th Air Armament Symposium this month (October). The nearly 700 attendees heard from three speakers “wearing the ’78 is Great patch”: Hawk Carlisle (USAF Deputy Chief of Staff for Requirements at the Pentagon), Tom Owen (Aeronautical Systems Center CINC, Wright-Pat), and Jay Lindell (Director of Global Power Programs, SAF/AQP also at the Pentagon). Also there was the aforementioned Bach, Keith “Monty” Monteith (Boeing Biz Development Senior Manager for their Virtual Warfare Center) and Greg (NDIA Gulf Coast Chapter Symposium Chairman and works for Jacobs Technology supporting weapons programs at Eglin).

Ontario airport the other day. Young Tim is flying Chieftons for Ameriflight (as a captain) out of Burbank but will soon be upgrading to the Beach 99 and transferring to Ontario. Tim Sr is a 757/767 FO for UPS based out of Ontario (commutes from the Springs) as well and is looking forward to seeing his son quite a bit more. Proud dadmade

is Great!

Visit the AOG Web Site.

Merchandise, Gone ButNot Forgotten and more! www.usafa.org

Donald “Bud” Vazquez

25 Hayden Lane

Bedford, MA 01730

budvazquez@msn.com

Work: 781-862-6800

Cell: 571-236-1304

So I have been doing this since 1980-something, and in rookie scribe Mike Watson’s very first article last year he says “...Bud was more overexposed than Lady Gaga!” Oh, the pain and humiliation! To set the record straight, I categorically deny EVER wearing a meat dress or meat outfit of any kind, honest! (BTW, is there anyone that represents the demise of Western civilization more than her?) To boot, as if Mike even had to say it my wife had already looked askance at me as she flipped through my last submission, “Did you know you were in all three photos?”

- which was embarrassment enough! I would call Mike a whipper-snapper or something, but... it is hard to argue. So, I declare I will NOT be in any pictures... at least this article! By the way, for those ofyou still looking for me at oldemail addresses, look above, and yes, I made the jump in July 2010 from Big Blue to Big Red. OK, so I got a lotof inputs, will try to squeeze them all in; let’s get to work!

Big news for me is to have CR Davis andhis lovely wife, Susan, up here as the new Commander Team at ESC. CR has quite the challenge in front of him, and I will do my best to help him find new non-business adventures to maintain his mental health (No more cave diving; can you say snowboarding?). Here is a nice picture of the newest USAF “first couple” at the Change of Command and promotion back in September.

CR Davis and his wife, Susan.

CR joins well established ’79ers in the local area - Greg Doran (formerly Colvin, wife Michele) and Ken Mattern (Pam). I was at a local ESC organizational golf outing this year when word went around the course that someone had “won thecar” by getting a hole-in-one on a par 3.... Sure enough, that was our Greg Doran! Of course, the good old days of winning a car now means you get a “three year lease,” but pretty nice nonetheless! Mr Mattern is the #2 Contracts guy at Raytheon HQ here in Waltham, MA, and is working to pay off the spectacular wedding of his daughter this summer. Ken reports he saw Jimmy Bohac in Rhode Island, regrettably for a sad occasion, but good to see his old roommate from the infamous “stupid house” from days ofyore.

As you all know, our Class Challenge in support of the USAFA Endowment and the opening of the Holaday Center was a big success. We have a tremendous commemorative inscription on the wall immediately as you enter. Several of you sent photos, the first getting to me from Tru Eyre, who sent along this one from the grand opening. To all who contributed, ‘well done ’79!’ and thanks especially to the leadership of Mike Donatelli and Tim Fyda! (See photo at the top of the next column.)

Also Tru was proud to relate that his wife, Debi, was recognized as the National Family Support Volunteer of the Year for both the Air and Army National Guard! Attagirl! Tru is still flyingVipers as the Wing Commander of the Colorado ANG at Buckley and rightly endedhis note with “Life is good.” So it is - and we are jealous!

Randy Fullhart sent a good update. After he and Kathy retired, Randy found work as the Commandant of Cadets at Virginia Tech! He has the largest Corps in 40 years, over 940 cadets, and loves the energy and dedication of the cadets he leads. We can know that not only those who enter the military, but for those who will enter the private sector, Randy’s gonna’ make sure they will be young people with exceptional leadership skills and a strong foundation of honor and ethics.

From left are Jay, Monty, Greg, Bach, and Hawk.

Finally, Tim Taylor had the rare treat to visit with his son, Tim Jr, on the ramp at

special note of the four strips on his son’s shoulders vs only three on his! Tim Jr is still a reservist in Airfield Ops here at Edwards air patch.

Well gents, that’s a wrap for this quarter. As always, my sincerest appredation for the great info you guys send. May you all have a blessed Fall. ’78

Bill Gregory has been ever faithful as a contributor, and once again chimed in. If he has as many dinners out as it sounds, we better get “Borneo” some Weight Watchers gift certs for Christmas! He took a nostalgic trip to see the last shuttle launch with wife, Jamie, and daughters Christina and Casey, even included a tearful walk under Endeavour [“his” orbiter from STS-67] as they prepare it to be put on a Popsicle stick. Then he had a trip to DC wherein he wrangled dinnerwith Bob and Ann Edmonds. Bubba joined ITT in the DC area last year. In COS, Borneo also had a chance to stop in and see USAFA and the new 79 Holaday athletic facility - adding his kudos to the ’79 - and imploring us to “catch/surpass ’78!” In September, it was a dinner with Mark Fish and wife, Kathy. Finally it was waterskiingwith Clyde Spencer, his wife, Fisa, and mywife, Jamie (see picture). Borneo says he will host the AFA bowl party each year in Phoenix, so ifyou’re in the area, look him up. In fact, sounds like ifyou have questions about any of our classmates, look him up!

From left are Jamie and Bill Gregory and Lisa and Clyde Spencer.

Speaking of staying in touch, I tracked down one Kip Spurio, one ofmy BCT brothers from CS-09. He is an executive at the FAA, and while not yet the Administrator, he is the Manager for NextGen Operational Integration probably important to our many airline brothers. With his oldest in his freshman year at UVa and a daughter right on his tail, Kip will be working for another 50 years or so (like most of us)! I was also able to get in contact Dale Swanson (Randy), who just left Massachusetts for Maryland still working with MITRE, supporting DISA. He is the Chief Engineer for Enterprise Application Services in Annapolis Junction, MD.

From my CS-35 roots, we start with the great news of the promotion of the Wildest Weasel of them all - now Ft Gen (select) Robin Rand (Kim), who moves from DC to be the Commander, Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern), Air Combat Command, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. Proud ofya’ Rob! Carl Byers (Connie) remains in Iowa working construction and architecture stuff, and Bill still supports “three letter angencies” at the Pentagon. But the biggest news from CS-35 was a Jim Sims sighting! Somehow, wife and caretaker Emilie was able to talk Jim out of Sweet Home Alabama for a Boston visit! Once I told Jim the War of Northern Aggres- sion was indeed over, he relaxed a bit and agreed to come this far North! Molly and I were able to rendezvous for a dinner on the waterfront, a few weeks back. No pictures of me this year, but here is Jim, Emilie and my wife, Molly, taken by a ’79 paparazzi photographer.

From left are Emilie, Jim, and Molly.

Finally, I touched base with Doctor Tom Griffith (Fiz), who remains a Professor of International Affairs, teaching National/International Security to GOs and SESs at George Washington U. His wife, Liz, is busily studying French for the State Department before she deploys to Haiti next summer. Griffwas at the Navy game and mentioned he saw Tim Fyda - he of Fyda Freightliner and Mike Roller - he of Goodrich Aerospace. Griff is a regular at the Brian Koechel Sat AM running group in DC, where even JeffGordon has been known to make an appearance. Jeffhas teamed with our very own “Omar” Bradley - to do some support contract work for the A5 (and perhaps more).

I see this article is now due, and after torturing Tom Kroboth with requests for extensions for 25 years, I am going to try submitting one on time! Trash is up next - and last I knew, you can reach him at 79trash@ gmail.com. Godspeed brothers, BEAT ARMY and I hope I see you soon!

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”

Welcome to another Dark Ages! It’s hard to think of winter, since I’m writing this just after a beautiful autumn weekend. Yep, I got home Saturday from a trip, changed clothes, then drove north for three hours. I was heading into rural Tennessee to meet Kathy at a youth retreat. It was a crisp, sunny day—perfect for having the top down on my car and listening to ’70s music.

Beginnings. I had couple hours in Gulfport, MS recently and called Allen (Janet) Baker to see ifhe was in town. He was. Since I had to babysit a jet, he joined me at the executive terminal for a short visit. Allen recently returned from the 30-year reunion ofhis Columbus UPT class and was relating how close the class was both then and now. (You can view the Hogs UPT Reunion video on YouTube.) He also noted how responsive folks at the base seemed to be—could it have something to do with the AETC vice commander Doug Owens being in the group? They were able to mingle with students and were on stage as Doug spoke at the graduation ceremony for the current class, which definitely provided a benefit for these young men and women. In the photo, with the T-38 painted in Heritage White for the special occasion, are, from left: Eric Bussian, Jim Williams,

From left areJim Shumate, Dave Rhodes, Tru Eyre, Korky Von Kessel, and Bob Edmonds.

Class News

Scott Peatross, Allen Baker, Dan Saville, Frank Saxon, Rick Thiele, Kathy (Utley) Kornahrens, Justin Chretrien, Mike Jefferson, Fred Kornahrens, Doug Owens, and David Duncan.

Not that UPT is going to be the theme of this article (is there ever a theme?), but at a recent Parachute Team Wings of Blue reunion, A1 Wallace was asked to recount his ejection from a T-37 while on a solo in the training area near Williams AFB. There was a considerable amount of confusion between A1 and a supervisor of flying, who didn’t understand there was one engine shutdown and the other showing a fire light. Add to that an ATC controller at Albuquerque Center who had only been on the job for a week and you can imagine how poorly this could have gone. So, A1 had to make some command flying decisions at an early point in his career. In his words: “I ejected about 2,000 feet AGL, a few hundred yards from a cliff that dropped into the lake. The aircraft impacted directly below me on opening shock, with the fireball causing the parachute to collapse and re-inflate. While I landed on the edge with a great view of the lake right next to the burning wreckage, I contemplated my short life as an Air Force pilot, wondering what I did that caused this chain of events.” There was another fiasco finding him, followed by the wing commander askingwhy he ejected from a plane that still had a good engine—immediately after Al’s arrival at the base on a rescue chopper! A1 was not only exonerated by the accident investigation, when it showed one engine’s shrapnel destroyed the other engine, but he even got one of those Well Done awards.

Action and Adventure. Because of the timing of this article, it will be well beyond the 9/11 date of the Nation’s Triathlon, where Beverly (Cameron) Plosa-Bowser competed to raise funds for blood cancers. It was supposed to be swimming 1.5 kilometers in the Potomac, biking 40K, then a 10K run. If you remember the weather at that time, you’ll understand what happened: “The swim portion has been cancelled due to excess rain runoff and debris, but the bike and run are a go! I found out that I will start in the first wave, Group 1, at 0700. I also learned that this group is for Age Group Elites and that means I’m in that category by error. These folks have a competition history and have earned this top seed starting position... I have not! This is my first race ever! So I anticipate being passed by many folks along the route and I hope to not lose heart, but will focus on the goal.” Ifthe goal was to finish and raise just under $5,000, then she certainly met her goal! All this considering, “I’ve been faithfully following a training routine with only Internet-based support. My husband’s gone on several bike rides and my dog goes on most runs, but other than that I’ve been on my own.”

Beverly “pounding

Tim Olwell “retired after 20 years, stayed in Texas. I worked for a small company for nine years in a beach front condo in Port Aransas, Texas on the barrier island that creates Corpus Christi bay. My wife of 30 years, Evelyn, and I own and operate four businesses, work every day during the summer, and then vacation liberally (over 60 days) the rest of the year. I take four trips a year to get in my 30 days of snow skiing. I didn’t make the 30th reunion because my daughter was getting married on a cruise ship at the same time.” He wanted to pass along his email address, but I suggest each of us simply keep our profile page updated with the AOG and at ZoomieNation—that way we’ll all have access to these email addresses.

It wasn’t my intention to feature a Grandpa/Grandma Corner, but Daryll

Visit the AOG Web Site.

Merchandise, Gone But Not Forgotten and more!

www.usafa.org

Keeling sent along a shot with his grandson, Julian Taylor (JT), with an update. “In the photo, I am teaching him the important skill ofwhether to call, raise, or fold a hand ofTexas Hold’em.”

Daryll teachingJT life skills?

Daryll lives in Evergreen, CO; his son and family live an hour north. He retired early from Northwest Airlines. Why? He listed several financial and quality of life reasons, but the biggest seemed to boil down to, “I just didn’t like it all that much anymore. I never wanted to be one of those miserable guys who came to workfor the money and complained allthe time. I got out before I became that guy.” Daryll coaches high school lacrosse and football, but chose to be a substitute, rather than a regular teacher. “I like going in [the classrooms as a sub] because I can keep track of my players, occasionallygive a different point ofview about politics or government or national defense than the typical liberal teacher, and also occasionally I actually teach them something.” Regarding the coaching, “Four years ago, when I was asked to coach the lacrosse team, I had never SEEN a lacrosse game, much less played in one. (I’m from Texas!) But I took the team, and now we are doing very well. I started as an unpaid volunteer, and after a few years I was getting a little money and more responsibility. As the years went by I moved up and up, and now I’m the number two guy for bothfootball and lacrosse. I am happy coaching my teams and making a difference (I think) in the kids’ lives. BUT, the kid who’s life I MOST want to be a part ofis my grandson, JT. I really want to be the World’s Greatest Grandfather."

Stay in touch. Don

Rich Trentman

11102 Asbee St.

Falcon, CO 80831-8170

Home: (719) 494-8438

Work: (719) 234-0754

Cell: (719) 640-9586

rtrentman@falconbroadband.net

Class Website: www.usafa81.com

The party’s over. The anticipation and buildup to our 30th was great, but the reunion flew by and it seemed there were so many I wanted to either talk with or talk to again. The committee did a fantastic job! The Embassy Suites did their best job ever. The food lines were minimal and the food was fantastic. It was a big turnout (-300 classmates) and our Falcons won for us! The weather was great for Colorado in September although we did get 4-6” of snow two weeks later. (Good call, Bob) This is actually a fairly difficult article to write, because I have so few post-reunion emails.Facebook has become the king!

A special thanks to Bob Bledsoe and Scott Schafer for spearheading the reunion planning and coordination. Also, thanks to Marty France for being our photographer. Many other people played parts like Terry Szanto arranging the marriage vows. Andy Morgan worked the always important golf tournament and the wonderful hotel. Jan Nichols worked the merchandise and of course, thanks to our vice president, Randy Worrail for his leadership during a great class meeting. Bob Shafer also made a poignant and entertaining presentation on establishment of a class endowment. Expect more information to follow on that to all of us. Everyone enjoyed the freedom ofwalking our school’s grounds. It was the best reun ion to date! Either that or we are all mellowing. We have written and sent a postreunion report to the AOG for the next reunion committee to use or as Terry Szanto said “who are we kidding; it will be the same group next time.”

Sabre Society Donors

the pavement"!

Sabre Society Donors 24

Class News: Jim Villers sent an oldie, but goodie picture from a 1989 Checkpoints of him and his son Skyler. Jim sent a picture from this year’s class of 2011 graduation with Skyler. I’ll post it on Zoomienation and Facebook class sites. Jim flies for Delta and Skyler is in UPT at Columbus AFB. Please keep Bill Kass in your thoughts and prayers. He was involved in a serious auto accident after our reunion. Hopefully, he is well on the road to recovery when you read this! It was nice to see classmates that I hadn’t seen since our time at USAFA. Maura (Burke) Wingard came and it was wonderful to see herafter 30 years. Scott Land also madehis first reunion. I had crossed paths with Scott in our Air Force careers, but it was great to see the Colorado boy return home. Please say some prayers for Glenn Schumacherwho died shortly before our reunion.

As I said, I talked to many classmates, like all of you did and only regretted how quickly the reunion passed. Marty has loaded pictures on: http://martyfrance.zenfolio.com. There are also pictures on our facebook group: USAFA Class of 1981 and on our class site on zommienation.usafa.org. Use these wonderful sites to communicate, pass news and post pictures. Please, please send me updates and pictures for my post-Christmas deadline.This is my 40th article after 10 years as our scribe. I was hoping for a coup or at least some complaints at our reunion, but that failed to materialize. Instead, I was overwhelmed by your kind words and gratitude. Thank you! It was a great reunion - best to date! It was great to see all of you and I look forward to 2016. Go Air Force! 81 Second to None!

Preppies

Falcon Football

Stalag 17 Party

30th Reunion - Class of’81

Jim Ratti

2860 Arbor Pointe Drive Middletown, OH 45042

(937) 760-2333

rattijm@mindspring.com

Greetings Redtags!

Many of you have been very active this summer, and there are lots of updates to pass along. So, here we go!

To lead off, TL Johnson ran the Kauai marathon earlier this year, cheered on by his son Adam. Adam is a 2Lt stationed at Buckley. TL’s other son Seanis also a 2Lt and was at Initial Flight Screening (the new T-41 program) at Pueblo at the time of the marathon. Here’s a picture of TL and Adam. Hard to tell them apart!

of them might be up to. Tony Mahoney sent a newsy update catching us up on his past. He’s been flying since graduation OA-37s at Davis Monthan; F-16s at Hill AFB; F-16s, B-lBs, and KC-135Rs at the Kansas Air National Guard. He says that at one time there were seven ’82 classmates instructing full time in the KSANG. Tony spent several years as a Cessna Citation demo pilot in Wichita before returning to the Guard on military leave from UPS flying. He retired from KSANG in 2007. He’s got three sons one looking for an opportunity in Tampa to get into med school, one attempting to get a job with wind generators in Kansas, and one trying to get through school at Kansas State University. Tony and his wife took a hop to England this past summer and enjoyed a great time in London.

Dave Fadok is now officially a 3-star and has been installed as the Commander and President ofAir University at Maxwell. As most senior leaders would agree, he figures his biggest challenges will come as a result offiscal constraints. Another GO, BG Lyn Sherlock, retired effective 1 Nov. Her husband, Rick, also retired, and they plan to stay in the D.C. area so that their daughter Heather can finish high school. Lyn’s looking forward to winding down a bit before starting a new job (as yet TBD) in early 2012.

This next picture is motivation to give Steve Smith a shout. Steve left active duty in ’91 and now works now for a media market research firm in the Baltimore-Washington area. He says he still gets to flyplenty in a T-34 Mentor...even did a warbirds opening formation fly over at Oshkosh a few years back. So If anyone would like a fun flight just give a shout!

Which one is TL?

I heard from Mike Sinisi that Dan Rooney was out in Long Beach helping one ofhis brothers open up a new restaurant calledthe “Crooked Duck’’. It’s somewhere along the Pacific Coast Highway near Long Beach. If you get out that way, tell ’em you know Dan from the Academy. Maybe it’ll get you a free appetizer - or an escort to the door... Dan is a B-727 Second Offreer with FedEx and hopes to be a B-757 First Officer early in 2012.

Sabre Society Donors

Gail Tarlton wrote abouther Bahamas dive vacation with her daughter. They stayed on a sailboat for seven days and made around 20 dives each. There were five night dives, three wreck dives, two wall dives, a drift dive and a blue hole dive with numerous close encounters with sharks, barracuda, rays, lion fish, eels and lots of other pretty fish and coral.Gail has a new jobworking on the Neurology Consult Service at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at NIH. She makes the crazy commute from Southern Maryland daily, and hopes to relocate when the housing market improves.

Ron Williams retired as the USAFA Staff Judge Advocate in March. He plans to stay in the C-Springs area and is hoping to work for the El Paso County’s DA office as a prosecutor.

Paul and Dianna Ackerley will be staying in San Antonio now that Paul’s retired. He got a job working in the personnel center at Randolph. Another retiree is our token grunt, Col Dave Abramowitz. Dave is the FORSCOMIG in Atlanta, and will go on terminal leave just about the time you read this.

My Doolie squadron-mate Maj Gen Tod Wolters is now in place as the Commander, 9th Air & Space Expeditionary Task Force in Afghanistan. He’s dual-hatted as the Deputy Commander-Air, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan. And speaking of assuming new positions (ahem...) BG Bob Ranck is now the Deputy Director of Programs, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Programs, at the Pentagon.

Marc Duncan wrote a note with numerous updates, to wit: Dr. Bob Sallis is a family practice/sports medicine physician in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Kenny Robinson works for Northrop Grumman somewhere in southern California, and his son graduated with the class of 2011. Greg Lewis retired and went back home to Tucson AZ, where he works as a college fitness program coordinator and fitness & sports science adjunct faculty. Finally, Marc retired in 2007 and lives inVictorville, CA.

Steve Vogt chimed in with a brief note to say that Ted Holmes is an A320 Captain (Delta) based in Minneapolis. No word on what else either

On a personal note, I’m having fun at work. Our company (a small consuiting firm in Dayton) recently won a contract to provide training to the South Korean acquisition establishment on the process for certifying the airworthiness of military aircraft. We taught about 14 weeks of classes in Dayton, and will present three more weeks of class in Seoul in November. I just got back from a brief airworthiness-related speaking engagement in Seoul, and will be headed back there for thethree-week teaching stint in just a few days. Ellen will be going along, and we intend to do a bit of sightseeing while we’re there. Last time Ellen was there was when she was an intel officer, as a Captain nearly 30 years ago. It was the dead of winter, and she was in a tent with a non-functional kerosene heater at Osan. This time it’ll be business-class travel and the Renaissance hotel in Seoul. We’re thinking this should be a markedly better experience!

Until next time, be safe. Ratman

W. Wade Wheeler

257 Fawn Ridge Cibolo, TX 78108

wwade83@me.com

(541) 632-0868

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Today I sit enjoying retired Army life. I miss the long hours and high stress ofworking on HQ Army Staff... NOT. Cherri is still at HQ AETC until next summer when we hope to go to PACAF or USAFE (AFSOC or ACC are possibilities). I’m a volunteer marshal at Olympia Hills Golf Course and down to a single digit handicap. I’ve taken some trips this year and met or heard from some classmates in surprising places.

MARKYOUR CALENDARS... REUNION 2013!

S^'scif

Sabre Society Donors 21

Anyone heard from Brian Losey much over the last 28 year? Yeah he was the one wearing NAVY whites at CS-01 commissioning. Today he has stars on his shoulders and responds well to Admiral. I received an email he sent while travelling from Dar Es Salaam to Madagascar, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. He has left Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa for Command of SOCAFRICA in

Steve Smith having way too muchfun in a T-34!

Stuttgart Germany. He gets a few weeks to help his wife, Ivy, pack up the house in Virginia for the move. His daughter Nicole is a senior at USCGA and son Brett is headed to USCGA Prep School.

Admiral Brian Losey with Ivy, Nicole and Brett on top of Mt Kilimanjaw.

I ran into GeoffWells at the Randolph O’Club. Seems like many of us he retired. Then decided he hadn’t had enough and returned to active duty at HQ AETC.

Mark Melville invited me for dinner at a Mexican restaurant near Ramstein AFB, Germany. I hadn’t seen him since pilot training at Del Rio so the decor fit. He has since retired out of USAFE to life in Colorado Springs. He had cell phone, address, wife and kids all in Colorado Springs. He was still working on a job last I heard.

Mark Murphy is in Syracuse flying out of JFK. He drills with the ANG and we just missed paths in Germany during one of his visits. He visited Cliff Latta in Annapolis who was selling everything and moving onto a new ’47 sailing catamaran.

Dave Remendowski says hello to all from Spokane and the Air Force Survival School at Fairchild. He’s working curriculum, but did get to play in the field during his orientation.

John and Gwynn Crow and the kids are settled in Cedarburg, WI and he flies for Air Tran (or is that Southwest).

David Goldfein congratulated me on my job as Marshall at Olympia Hills Golf Course near Randolph. So I better congratulate him on the new third star and his posting as CFACC at A1 Udeid in Qatar.

Tim Strawthers and Darla live a little north of me in New Braunfels. He helps me pick on the gentleman rancher in our class... Rob Englehart. I ask for photos for Checkpoints; he sends me three ofhis herd. Rob is taking donations; hayprices are through the roofthis year. Pat Pence and Jodee also live close to Tim in New Braunfels. I see a get togetherhappening soon.

Dave Uzzell hails from a Boeing email address and made sure all our classmates in DC received invitation for the Commander in Chief’s Trophy SeniorWatch dinner last April.

I have been asking for a photo from the Sine’s Tavern get together for a while. Tracy (Smith) Urman came through with one and I would like to thank Doc Kimminau for taking the photo.

pher... Rory Ninneman. We had a great couple of days and I met his wife, Erika, and daughter Hannah.

Brig Gen Darryl Roberson sent me the following via email “I am a little out ofthe way as I am currently serving a one-year remote tour in Afghanistan as the Wing Commander at Bagram Air Base. Combat ops, leading Airmen, and fighting the Taliban is a great gig and probably my last true hoo-rah! The opportunities the Air Force continue to give me has kept me loving it.”

Col Mark Polhmeier retired summer 2010 and was hired as the chief of Strategic basing in AF/A8. FtCol Beth (Arvin) Iliff retired spring 2011 from the AF Reserves. She still lives in Indianapolis and works for Rolls Royce. Sheila Zuehlke was promoted to Brig Gen in the AF Reserves.

Mike Shanahan and Gisela are enjoying the life of empty nesters. Mike is currently in an SES program with the EPA and spending a lot of time in D.C. Gisela is still the CFO at the COS Airport and recently honored as a Woman of Influence in the Colorado Springs business community. One of her fellow honorees was Tammy Rank for her work as the Vice Superintendent at USAFA.

John Stizza and Carole are living large just outside DC in Ashburn, VA (home ofthe Redskins). Carole took John on a cycling trip to Tuscany this summer to celebrate his turning the big 5-0. But the BIG event this summer was the graduation of his wife AND daughter from college.

Phil Dismukes, Jim Ogden, Pete Bartos, Christine (Orzada) Hill, Susan (Roth) Hirst and Kathy (Strand) Johnson all saw the 35-34 victory of Air Force over Navy. Christine did send a few photo’s and is working with the Wounded Warrior Project in DC.

Lisa (Linden) Osterheld was Cheryl (Newhouse) Phillips AA Pilot on a recent return flight to DC. Lisa and Kurt live in Vienna, VA and have one child in college and one in HS.

Got an update from Wayne Schatz. He is now assigned as the HQ AMC A5/8 Director of Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements at Scott AFB, IL. Wayne pinned on Major General in August. Chris Bogdan is the program manager for the new Boeing KC-46A Tanker and is assigned to Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Pat. He made 2 stars on the last board too! Jeff Barnson is a Colonel in the AF Reserves and is currently assigned as Wayne’s Mobilization Assistant at AMC A5/8. He lives in California and commutes to Scott every month for Reserve duty. Scott Goodwin is now the Commander of the 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force at McGuire AFB, NJ. He is now deployed at the CENTCOM Deployment Distribution Center at Camp Arifjan Kuwait and working the drawdown in Iraq.

Cindy (Fujimoto) and Jim Norman are busy with Jeremiah in HS and Olivia in Middle school. Jim is working at NASA HQ in DC.

You never know when you will see a photo of Ron Graves. I saw one at the retirement ofCh, Col JerryHouge this spring. Ron is living inYorktown and 767 F/O out of Dulles. He fondly remembers the padre who baptized both his kids at Upper Heyford. He shares this photo from the Preakness this year.

I took my mother in law to Albuquerque for a balloon ride during Balloon Fiesta this year. And who was a ground crew member and photogra

I wish you all a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I thank everyone for the updates and photos. Please send Ray Blust his fair share atrjmablust@comcast.net, (304) 242-7182.

And since AF beat Navy, I’m sure Admiral Losey would support me in... Go Army beat Air Force! [Ed note: Sorry Wade. Goodfirsthalfthough. TK]

Visit the AOG Web Site.

Merchandise, Gone But Not Forgotten and more!

www.usafa.org

John Hestermann, Cheryl (Newhouse) Phillips, Kathy (Strand)Johnson and Trish (Riley) Kimminau, Right side back to front, Tracy (Smith) Urman, Mark Price and Mark’s wife, Pat.

Mark Price, Ron Graves,JJRudnick (spent two years with our class) Norris Carter andAlvaro Gracia.

Mike Jensen

12035 Milam Road

Colorado Springs, CO 80908

1-(800)-G0-AFA-G0

michaeljensen@remax.net

www.usafa84.com

www.tw tter.com/usafa84

What a wonderful time to be a Falcon! by the time you read this, the football team will have retained the CINC Trophy for the second year in a row and for the 18th time overall. The fall tends to bring out the tailgaters and gives us some reasons to get together and enjoy the camaraderie.

At Navy, I was able to meet up with JerseyJohn Hanlon and his wonderful family. John had the parking and tailgate secured. Of course, I left the game with Air Force leading 28-10, trusting the Hanlon clan would maintain the lead. The Hanlon’s did what they could, but Navy gave us a scare. Fortunately, the Falcons pulled it out 35-34. The followingweek at the Notre Dame game, Karl Alvarezjoined in along with Matt Johnson on our bus ride to/from South Bend. We were hosted by the Notre Dame ROTC Detachment, and had John Weigand stop in. Kara (Hayes) and Duff McElligott, Victor Haynes and his family were there too. The weather was perfect, and so was Notre Dame’s offense, scoring touchdowns on all six first-half possessions. The trip got a little dicey when the bus headlights went out after the game, but nothing that some wine and a couple of cases of beer couldn’t cure.

Updates: “Ike” Eichenberger has daughter Annette in 2nd Sq as a 3degree where she has declared biology as her major and runs on a nice, new track for the track and cross country teams go Annette! Ike is still in living in Chicago on weekends, working in DC for Accenture during week! Ike, we’ll be looking for you next time we go to take on the Fighting Irish.

John Curran is flying for Southwest and uploaded some pictures on our classes Facebook page. Ray and Heidi Simpson have a son Daniel who is in the class of ’14 that Suzanne and JC sponsor. When you see the picture you can’t tell they summated Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln and Bross on that day that picture was taken. John was also able to fly a very short leg from Oklahoma City to Dallas with Southwest: Airlines new hire Garrett “Turbo” Thumpson, who did an awesome job and they are happy to have him at SWA.. Finally, as JC is the only one of us getting close to the big Five O, he decided that he needed a Harley. Nice!

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Moves in rank. More Generals in the mix from the Class of 1984. Terry Feehanchecked in and reports that Sam Cox, John Thompson, and he are all officially the old guys in the front office. They were on the Spring 0-8 list. Congratulations all! Terry crossed paths with John at the Pentagon and says he is looking good. Terry is still with the Missile Defense Agency living with the Army on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville AL, where he handles much of the agencies acquisition, global deployment and construction, and logistics.

Myron “Free” Freeman retired effective 1 May 2011, after 26+ years of active duty service as theVice Commander, HQ AF Security Forces Center, Lackland AFB, TX. His retirement ceremony was held on 8 Jun 2011 in the Hall of Heroes at The Pentagon with Brigadier General Jimmy McMillian, AF Director of Security Forces officiating. Sharon, and Free (pictured) rented their house in San Antonio and movedback closer to home (MD) to AlexandriaVA. Free is now working as a Principal Analyst for Analytic Services Inc. (ANSER) in their Security Policy Division.

The Pitch; With all of the social media avenues open to us, there has been a lessening of using those antiquated communication systems such as email, or even snail mail. Any and all methods of communication are acceptable to me. In fact, I ENCOURAGE you to visit and sign up on our Facebook page, and @USAFA84 Twitter account. I will have this article posted on our web page as well. As an added bonus, we will also have pictures and updates from classmates that don’t have the resolution for the magazine, but are of great importance for all to see. So in closing, get those updates, tweets, and some of your best photos. Follow @USAFA84 and Matt Johnson on match.com.

J4 4§f>

Frank “Q.” Williams

13209 Topsfield Court Fierndon, VA 20171 (703) 657-3227

USAFA1985@aol.com

Hi everybody!

It’s hard to believe that it’s time for another Checkpoints article already. We’ll let’s get right to it.

Scott Remington sent an update, along with a picture, via e-mail in July right after the last Checkpoints deadline had passed and I had already submitted thearticle. So he’s first. Scott said he’s only submitted an entry for our class news section of Checkpoints once before, but when he received the latest issue, his wife, Martina, suggested that he submit another. Martina recommended Scott include a picture that they had taken back at the Academy on 25 May in front ofthe Class Wall. Their youngest son, William, is now a memher ofthe long blue line (which is ever growinglonger) of USAFA graduates. And after William changed uniforms and out-processed from his squadron, they wanted to get some familyphotos in front ofthe Class of 2011 crest mounted on the chapel wall. When they walked over to the wall, they noticed the fortuitous proximity ofWilliam’s class crest with those of the Class of 2008 and our Class of 1985. So, the photo shows 2LT William Remington, CS-13, standing under his crest (left); their oldest son, 1LT Marcus Remington, CS-13, next to his 2008 crest (center); and Colonel Scott Remington, also CS-13, next to our ‘85 crest (right).

From left are 2LT William Remington, 1LT Marcus Remington, and Col Scott Remington.

Scott said William is currently at the Academy in casual status while awaiting his school date to become an intelligence officer. And Marcus is currently a maintenance officer for RPVs at Creech AFB, NV, and he (Scott) is currently serving as the IndividualMobilization Augmentee to the Commander of AFOSI Region 4 at Randolph AFB, TX. Scott said his and Martina’s third son is also serving our country, but not in the Air Force. Corporal Michael Remington, USMC, is currently serving as a crew chieffor the MV-22 Osprey aircraft, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263. VMM-263 is home stationed at Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, NC. Scott said unfortunately, Michael was not able to attend his younger brother’s graduation because he and his unit are currently deployed. It goes without saying that Martina and Scott are extremelyproud of all three of their sons! And so are we.

Wanda Wright also sent an update with a picture shortly after the Checkpoints deadline had passed last July. So she’s next in the hopper. Wanda wrote that she just wanted to drop a note to tell us that she retired effective 1 July. She said she’s still in the Phoenix, Arizona and plans to stay there until their kids graduate from high school which should be in about six years. And Wanda quickly found a position with an elementary

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school, effective 1 July as well. She is the Vice Principal of the Montessori Academy in Paradise Valley, AZ. She said she is really enjoying the work and it is a great next step after retiring from the military after 26, and ifyou count the Academy, 30 years. Wanda said it was a great ride. In her picture, Wanda is at the 162nd FighterWingjust a few days before her actual retirement ceremony. Congratulations Wanda!

Next, Rob “Dools” Dooley sent an update via e-mail along with a picture. Rob said he became “Mister” Dooley last year. And now he is in Fort Worth, TX working for Lockheed Martin. Fie said it has been interesting running across classmates since he has made the transition.

For example, while he was attending an airshow up in Abbotsford, British Columbia, who did he see standing on the wing of an AD-4 Skyraider but GregAnders! Rob said Greg flies the Skyraider and several other warbirds as Executive Director of the Heritage Flight Museum in Bellingham, WA. Then Rob really dropped a bomb (so to speak). Rob said what’s really interesting, though, is Greg’s run for Congress. Rob said Greg is aiming for the seat ofWashington State’s 2nd District in the 2012 elections. This is no small task to just “throw your hat in the ring.” Rob said Greg’s got all the issues down; he has messages that are clear and he’s successfully stood up his campaign. Rob said you can learn more about it on Greg’s campaign web site: www.andersforcongress.com.

Command (USSTRATCOM) since July 2010 and he’s doing extremelywell; doesn’t look a day older than the day we graduated.

“Dools” had some scoop on Kevin Cavanagh (Col, USAFR) too. He said Kevin just took command ofthe 940th Wing at Beale AFB, CA. And that was after running the 310th Ops Group at Peterson AFB, CO. Rob said Kevin not only had a PCS and a change of command going on this summer, he also managed to pull off his daughter’s wedding. Well done Cav!

‘Ole Dools wasn’t done yet. He said Kevin Horton lives in the Springs, too. Kevin is flying for American, spending a lot of time on South American routes. Kevin is also a Karate Instructor (and Dools said he has the bruises, as one of his students, to prove it). And reporting on the area north of the Springs, Rob said Phil Beaudoin is in Monument. Rob said Phil is working for Teledyne just north of Colorado Springs. And he said Phil travels the world providing training on Missile Defense structure and operations.

Rob finally closed out his report by stating that Jim Doty is flying for Southwest Airlines and lives outside of Baltimore. He said Jim’s become a Hobie Cat racer (has 2+ hulls in the driveway to prove it).. .and just sent his son off to the Peace Corps in Africa. Rob said he also just learned that Biff Mott just hung up his flight suit and retired as Commander of the 37th TrainingWing at Lackland AFB, TX. Before that, Rob said Biff was flying F22s AND F- 15Cs at Tyndall as the 325th Ops Group Commander.

I received an invite via e-mail just before, but I couldn’t make it, the retirement ceremony for Col Michael B. “Omega Mike” Black in August. Mike was the commander of the White House Communications Agency. Congrats Mike!

Tish Norman asked me to put in a plug in the next Checkpoints for a grad-owned business (Ben Bosma): www.aerovation.comi that, among other things, produces awesome Falcon football jerseys. You can order a high-quality jersey, with your class year as the number, for a reasonable price ($49). Check out pictures on the companyweb site or on Tish’s page on www.facebook.com. Thanks Tish, they’re beautiful!

Well, I’m out of space for now. Next time I’ll start off with info from Patty MacGregor MacCarthy Broderick from Parent’s Weekend. She has dibs on going first since I already have her input but ran out of space this time. See ya’ next time, Q.

Coopernet

Cooper@astroguy.net

Another quarter has passed and its post-25th Reunion. This was an event that I hadn’t really gotten my arms around until I actually showed up, saw how so much had changed (and so much had remained the same). It was amazing: you all got old. Just look at this reunion photo at the bottom of the next page taken just after the memorial ceremony.

If you look at the photo carefully, over on the far right, you might be able to see me stuck on 1-25 near Austin Bluffs. I took my family over to Manitou Springs, Cave of the Winds, Garden of the Gods, and the Cliff Dwellings (see photo). My kids fell in love with Colorado and are now demanding we move back. My six year old was also amazed at how many people knew me.

Rob Dooley (left) and GregAnders

Rob said he was also luckyenough to have crossed paths with Matt Byrd a few times. He said Matt is now the CEO of the GulfAlliance Company in Abu Dhabi. According to Rob, Matt played no small part in the development of the Air Force Memorial, and he still manages to get back to Sheppard AFB to flyT-38 sorties with students as a Reservist. Way to go Matt!

Additionally, Rob said Marilyn Garcia Kott just retired as the Deputy A-3 for USAFE. Rob said that was after she had been the Ops Group Commander forACC’s largest expeditionaryWing, the 379th AEW. She’s back in D.C. now, but will be moving to accompany her husband, Jim, when he takes over attache duties in the Balkans later this year.

And Rob said he was pleasantly surprised to bump into a couple of classmates in the DFW area. Mike “Digger” Wells lives just north ofDallas and is flying for American Airlines. Digger is also pulling Reserve time on the staffofthe Air Force Safety Center, consults, and has even done corporate motivational speeches.

Rob stated that he had lunch with Chris Davis, who also lives in the area. He’s currently the VP of T&B Structural Systems. He’s been working the commercial construction industry down here and is doing well in Keller, where he lives with his wife, Robbie Dotson Davis.

Rob reported that he saw Ian Dickinson (Brig Gen) while he (Ian) was in the Springs after he (Rob) retired. Rob said Ian has been the J-6 for Space

Cooper, wife, Mary, and kidsAlex and Zarina.

We unfortunately had a somewhat disappointing showing and not just the football game - for instance just three showed up from my squadron CS-24 and only one from CS-12, while CS-31 had nearly perfect attendance. I hope we can make up for it at the 30-year reunion. But we had

Col Wanda Wright at the 162nd Fighter Wingsign prior to retirement.

MPS WBBBBSBKm

Ssl Wjmsat

Lawrence

a raucous time at the football game. During the first quarter The-Powers-That-Be clamped down on the cadets throwing sprit cheese, but the Power of Cheese could not be denied. ’86ers had apparently smuggled a huge supply of cheese into the stadium despite the best efforts of security. Throughout much the first half and intermittently in the second half, cheese raineddown from the very tops of section M-19 to the chagrin of security. At one point we had a squadron NCO begging for it to be stopped lest the cadets get blamed and the NCOs reprimanded for not keeping the cadets in line (that helped only a little). Meanwhile one security guardgathered up all the cheese he could find (he literally hadhis arms full) while another spent most of the game staring (without blinking) at allthe ’86er’s in the stands. At least twice he charged into the bleachers to confiscate cheese before it could become airborne and also threatened large fines and expulsion from the stadium. 25 years and we still can’t obey authority - aren’t we just great!

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I have received a few photos from you only one submission, so I will have to just use some ofthe intel I was able to collect. At the tailgate I ran into Scott CILLEY (who I haven’t talked to since SERE --1 think we set a record for getting caughtby the aggressors), who told me he was living in Stuttgart. He started out with a “happy, living in retirement” story, but when I let him know I was still a DoD civilian supporting CYBERCOM, he fessed up that he was working at AFRICOM. At the game, after years of near misses, I got to talk at length with Chris TUASON. He’s sporting a beardand mustache these days (quite the shaggy man) and recently moved with his two daughters from Houston where he was supporting the Space Shuttle to set up a home in Austin, TX so he can teach at University of Texas (I hope I got that correct). Reni (GROOM) Renner is now the Vice Commandant for Culture and Climate while Kim HAWTHORNE is still serving - he andhis family are living in Colorado Springs and he’s Chief ofJ58 at NORAD/NORTHCOM. I also ran into Jim BONN (CS-27), who was there with his wife, Shari, and their son Steve. Jim's living in New Jersey and working at Joint Base McGuire.

We had a good showing from CS-27 as shown in this photo from a little squadron get-together. I didn’t get to talk to most ofthem, but Jim WERTZ is enjoying the retired life in Albuquerque NM.

Not all of us had the opportunity to come to the reunion (or to not come), but Jim Herron got together with other ’86ers at the Belgium Club in Ramstein Germany to celebrate (see photo).

Fred “Bits” BACON sent in this update: “I’m local in COS and my wife, Lori, and I hosted a dinner at my house for the CS22 folks. Attendees ineluded Steve KUENNEN (teacher in Colorado), Andy HART (Contractor in DC), Roger THRASHER (Colonel at the Pentagon) andhis wife, Val; Kevin BROOKS (another teacher in Colorado Springs area), and Barb (SPENCER) Pohl (a pharmacist in Indiana). Everyone’s doing well and a good time was had by all. Most of us were also at the game, Andy Hart wore his A-jacket; he can still zip it closed...the striven The memorial service was a class act all “25th and over” reunions are held in the chapel. Cadet Choral sang beautifully (one of the cadets we sponsor was singing, C1C Brianna Adams UPT after graduation). I received notes back from Ivan THOMPSON (breaking into Broadway acting not kidding), Pam (REDDICK) Bergeson (working in the British Ministry of Defense and married to the DATT there), Tom BERGESON, '85; and “...mypersonal Hellmaster”, Dave INGERSON (flying for American, I think); Todd WESTHAUSER (the Director of AF Wargaming Institute at Maxwell); and Laurel (WITTENBURG) Hunt all couldn’t make the reunion but all are doing well. BTW - an “86” made it up on the Flatiron in spite of the ban on spirit missions that don’t have an approved SSS (not kidding).

From top left and down the stairs: Kyle KINGSFORD, Matt SANNING, Mark CANTRELL, Wade TWEETER, Shawn FLEMING, Jerry HEIKKINEN, GeoffHILLS, JR REILING, Jim ANDERSEN, Jim WERTZ and Shelley (HARSH) Hills.

Eric LEIDHEISER (CS-05), Jim HERRON (CS-21), Pete DAVEY, Todd BROOKS (CS-05), and Kevin PALKO (CS-11).

CS-22ers: Andy HART, Roger THRASHER, Steve KUENNEN, Barb (SPENCER) Pohl, Kevin BROOKS, and Fred BACON.

Funnystory: one ofthe cadets I sponsor is in CS-22 (C1C Donald Adkins - Behavioral Scientist after grad). I asked him if we could get some CS-22 squadron T-shirts. Donald says sure, just send him the sizes. I dutifully collected desired sizes from the ’86ers and passed them to Donald. Donaid checks on availability and reports back that the squadron didn’t buy any XL or XXL shirts apparently there’s no demand forthat size among the cadet population. Ouch.

On a parting note, the Class of 1986 is raising a 25th Reunion class gift for USAFA with Roger THRASHER chairing the class gift committee. We plan to raise $250,000 to support the construction, maintenance and programmatic materials for the new Center for Character and Leadership Development facility. If you have had a chance to see the new Holaday Athletic Center, you can see how the donation of a building can make a dramatic and positive impact to the Academy’s mission and the cadet’s learning experience. And if you go to the project website at http://ccld. usafa.org you can see for yourselves the dramatic design and huge potential for this project.

In acknowledgement ofthis gift, theAcademywill dedicate an Atrium in honor of our class. The Atrium is located in the main forum area between the Center’s seminar rooms and the Center’s breakout rooms. The atrium will be a central gathering place for cadets and visitors to the CCLD.

The new Center for Character and Leadership Development will be the first of its kind in the nation and will serve as a unique focal point for the total integration ofcharacter and leadership development into all aspects of the Academy experience. Marshalling the institution’s considerable resources from allthree mission elements under a single comprehensive structure, this facility will serve the core of character and leadership development at the Academy. Our class gift will contribute to galvanizing the entire institution, spurring it to new levels of excellence, and make a lasting impact on every cadet that comes through the Academy.

The Class of 1986 Gift Committee chose this gift for its wide appeal and significant mission impact. As a bonus, your individual contributions to this project are 100% tax deductible. Committee members will be personally contacting ’86ers with project and donation information; however if you have any immediate questions youmay contact the Class of 1986 class gift committee at 1986usafa@gmail.com.

John & Carolyn Sammartino

3107 Woods Cove Lane Wood bridge, VA 22192

H: (703) 492-5492

W: (703) 808-6234

jsammar@verizon.net

Hello again ’87, welcome to another fine edition of your favorite publication! Thanks for all of the great inputs this quarter and great to hear from everyone as we get closer to our big 25th reunion coming up in a few months. Hopefully we don’t end up with a Thursday night football game like the class of ’86 had this year, but we shall see what the scheduling gurus come up with.

Dutch Murray found the urge to write and checked in before he goes on yet another deployment. He wrote that he “can’t wait for the 25th reunion next year! I’ve had terrible luck with the 10th & 20th being in Korea and Qatar respectively and unable to attend. I’m so outof-touch in so many ways having been deployed a total of 37 of the past 60 months when all is said and done. It’s always great to run into classmates...” He must be reading Checkpoints religiously because he has seen our previous articlesandknows that Marc Munafo is an accomplished author! He also would like to hear from Mickey Moore and Billy Norton, so ifyou read this, update Dutch! He continued that “I still do what I do because I love it to my core. Ifthere’s someone out there who lives and breathes the [Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance] ISR fight like I do, I have yet to meet them. That leads me to spending more time with the Army than the USAF but no worries. Thought the attached photo captures

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it well... in Afghanistan, it will all come down to the abilities and professionalism of the young enlisted soldiers I’m standing with.

“I’m out the door right after Thanksgiving to resume my ISAF Joint Command Chief of ISR duties as an AFPAK Hands mentor and should be back NLT 31 July 2012. Will check-in from AFG, too. Thanks for all you do in keeping us in touch and up-to-date. Be well and Zenda Bosyehn (Be Alive in Dari).”

Phil Arvin checked in via email... “We have lived in Memphis the past nine years. Gayla and I just celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary (won $10,000 on America’s Funniest Home Videos on our 1st wedding anniversary)”. They have two kids Zach (15) a baseball player, and Lindsay (13) a volleyball player. “I officiate sports and coached competitive baseball for the past 6 years happy to turn the young men over to their high school coach. Gayla is a volleyball coach. We visited USAFA this past summer with my daughter who was attending a High Performance US Volleyball Association event. She met with the athletic department and may be a recruit for USAFA ’20.1 own my own company. I see Margaret (Duffy) Smith on occasion. She and her kids live in Nashville and they often compete in the Memphis area.”

Vicki (Rojas) Rispoli posted via Facebook: “Hey Carolyn! Update on what we’ve been up to for the last few decades: After USAFA, I worked at the AF Research Lab atWilliams AFB and also went to ASU for grad school. Damian headed to med school at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. After he graduated, I got out of the AF and have been chasing/shuttling around five kids while traversing most of the CONUS and England (RAF Lakenheath). Damian is currently an orthopedic surgeon - -Vice Chairman and Chiefof Shoulder and Elbow Surgery at Brooke Army Med Center in San Antonio. He’s retiring from the AF this spring! Hard to believe. Not sure where we’ll be relocating--looking forward to the civilian adventure!

“I don’t have a good current photo ofall seven of us. My oldest is a sophomore at Texas A&M (comp sci major) and when we are all together, we rarely have enough of an attention span to get together for a group photo. Here are a couple of some of us missing college boy though. Thanks again for being our scribe!”

Vicki (Rojas) Rispoli and family

Tom Rempfer also wrote via Facebook; what a great invention that Facebook! Tom said that “I appreciate yours and John’s service as scribes for our class. I’ve been on a long-term military leave from American Airlines flying MQ-1 Predators. More importantly, my three boys have all enlisted: one was an MQ-1 Sensor Operator, one is a Fire Fighter, and our

Dutch Murray at Bala Hissar overlooking Kabul.

Class News

youngest is in Combat Control School currently. I’m excited to transition with my unit, the2nd SOS at Nellis AFB, over to Hurlburt AFB in about a year. I can’t say enough about the RPA (remotely piloted aircraft) mission and its invaluable contribution to the fight. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to protect our troops in what will probably be my last Air Force adventure. For any of our classmates with kids interested in serving, I cannot recommend a more rewarding career track.” That is very true Tom, especially as the Air Force moves to more unmanned aircraft, in this horrendous budget environment.

Skylar, Mary Louise, Ryan, and Kyle at BMTgraduation.

One final Facebook input for this month, Glenn Strebe is running for office in Colorado Springs. He would like everyone to “please tell your past sponsors, friends, relatives, etc. in Colorado Springs I am running for Academy School District 20 Board of Education. For more information about me please go to www.electglennstrebel.org You can also make a contribution on the site. No more than $20 please! Thank you for your consideration.”

That’s about all for this quarter, hopefully when you read this the Falcons will rebound and we’ll all be on our way to a bowl game! Take care, God Bless, and Fly Safe!!

CraigMcCurdy

46992 Smithwood Court

Potomac Falls, VA 20165

Cell: (202) 570-3058

ccicdjmccurdy@yahoo.com

(16 Sabre Society Donors)

(Editor’s note: We did not recive an inputfrom Craigfor this issue as he had not heardfrom any ofhis classmates since the last magazine. Please send him your inputs and photosfor the next issue.)

Paul W. Tibbets, IV 1200 Blazing Star Court SE Albuquerque, NM 87116 (505) 717-2012

E-mail: p2a2tibbets@gmail.com or p2a2me.com

Class website: http://www. usafaclasses.org/1989/

Hello classmates! Hope this issue finds everyone doing well and enjoying the holidays. Received a couple updates this quarter, so we will get right to the news!

Our first letter comes from Dan Baldessari, who earlier this year took command of the 15th Operations Group at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Not bad duty! His wife, Tonya, son Chris (14) and daughter Alex (7) have never been to Hawaii, so they are all excited to be spending the next two years together in paradise. The ops group is very diverse, including five squadrons: C-17, KC-135, VIPSAM (C-40 and C-37), F-22, and an OSS. Thanks Dan!

Visit the AOGWeb Site. Merchandise, Gone But Not Forgotten and more! www.usafa.org

The Baldessari family after the 15th OG change ofcommand ceremony, readyfor new adventures in the Pacific!

Next I received an update from Christy Kayser-Cook, who by the time thisarticle is published will be on the verge of, if not complete, with her deployment to Kabul. She is doing well and staying busy as the Chief of Airlift at the Air Operations Control Center, ISAF Joint Command HQ. Christy’s boss recently transitioned, and both were also ’89ers - James “Fish” Sturgeon left in July and Bruce Beyerly took over! She also ran across Doug Kennedy, who is doing a full year working with the Afghan Air Force, and JeffKlosky.

Fish, Christy and Bruce enjoy a mini ’89 reunion at Fish’s going away.

Christy was just a few miles from the August Kabul attacks, and fortunately not injured. She passed on a story from another USAFA instructor who is deployed to ISAF HQ on his account of the attack. Worth sharing.

“We had an attack on the ISAF HQ compound today. A team ofTaliban stormed an under-construction high rise building about 700m away and began shooting RPGs at our compound as well as Camp Eggers. I was in my room when I heard the gunfire and explosions. I thought there might be an attack at the back gate, just around the corner from my dorm. I grabbed my M4, pistol and some ammunition. Then, I went outside and took up a firing position covering a street that leads from the back gate area into the camp. I had the M4 ready to go but, because most of my stuff was at the office, I only had one magazine and no body armor or helmet. I did have the pistol and three magazines for it. I wasn’t going to let any attackers past my position. But, at the same time I thought it was wise not go running toward the back gate. I’d let the security guys do that and back them up in case any enemy got by. The Macedonian security force moved forward and secured the back gate. I could hear a great deal of machine gun fire coming from our emplacements. It was aimed at the building, but I was imagining it at the back gate. I brought the rifle up a few times during heavy fire, but the perimeter was never breached and I did not have a target to shoot at. So, I still have all my bullets. There were several RPGs. You could hear the bang and whoosh, sometimes followed by an explosion. When there wasn’t one, that meant the stupid thing is still out there somewhere. None ofthe RPGs hit nearby. A house or building about a block outside the gate caught fire and burned. I talked to soldiers as they came and went to find out the score. Ground forces quickly secured the street outside the back gate and US Army Blackhawks laid on suppressive fire. The Afghan National Army (ANA) closed on the build-

Sabre Society Donors 16

mg and prepared to clear it. Then the insurgents fired more rockets. The ANA sent in two Hind helicopters. They had the ANA triangle-in-circle emblem on their blue-painted underside visible as they maneuvered for the attack. They opened up with heavy guns and suppressed the enemy fire. Then, the friendly forces were able to take the building. A few yards down from my position, there were a dozen men with rifles on top of a Hesco barrier and they’d fire at the building whenever the enemy showed himself. Pretty soon, the Marines were instructing them to hold fire while the ANA cleared the building. It took hours, but once I heard the building was taken, I made my way back to the office. Then, it was back to work. That’s where I am now, waiting for the ‘all clear.’”

Christy mentioned that she was glad this attack was not on a Wednesday, as that is the day she travels to the Green Zone and attends a meeting with the Afghan Air Planning Cell at their Ministry of Defense. The roads and traffic circles wherethe attacks took place are the ones they use routinely to travel between locations. For these meetings, once they get to the Green Zone they drop their flak jacket/helmets at Camp Eggers and walk about a mile to the MoD, the building where the meeting is held in the Afghan NMCC (National Military Command Center), which is just over a stone wall from the Presidential Palace. They actually walk though the gardens that were once part of the palace grounds before they were separated by the tall stone wall. Christy says it is a very nice walk since the garden has sections with beautiful roses, large expanses of grass and even a section of fruit trees.

In September Christy and several others she works with made a trip up to Mazar-e-Sharif to see their operations. It is located in Regional Command North (RC-N), not too far from the border with Uzbekistan, and is very desolate. They flew on a German C-160 Transal, which Christy says looks like a C-130 that shrunk in the drier, and only has two props instead offour. The Germans run the operations in RC-N and the German liaison officer that works for Christy coordinated the trip. They had a tour of the C-160 Medevac aircraft and the NATO AWACS, which she said was a nice change of pace for two days. Thanks Christy!

That’s a wrap for this quarter. Still looking for more retirement and/or deployment stories, so please drop me a note so I can pass them along. Keep those cards and letters coming. Best wishes to you and your families; Merry Christmas and Happy NewYear. Take care and God bless!

Mike Shepherd

3801 Derby Circle Quartz Hill, CA 93536

(661) 266-2133

michael.j.shepherd@hotmail.com

Class Web Site: www.usafa90.com

Today I am writing to our most glorious class as a former Air Force officer—my retirement ceremony and fini-flight have made it official; I’m now a retiree! For me and my entire family it was truly a bittersweet and very memorable day thanks to the first class event jointly hosted by Test Pilot School and my squadron mates at the 412th Flight Test Squadron Project Speckled Trout. I received best wishes from many of my friends across the Air Force, including notes from Kelly Greene, my “X-treme” TPS classmate, and from former Tiger Ten pen pals Joe Shahid, Beth Eidal, and Joel Milton. Joel and I had the opportunity to fly together on a test program about 10 years ago in San Antonio, and he reflected it was the only time he had a chance to fly in the same airplane with one of his ’90 classmates. He was kind enough not to mention that I probably got him lost! (See the photo at the top of the next column.)

So, what is the first thing an unemployedAcademy graduate does upon leaving the Air Force? I dutifully signed up for the first Service Academy Career Conference on the West Coast, travelling up to Seattle within days of the ink drying on my retirement order. I was met by my college roommate Geoff Grizzard Geness, who some of you might remember as one

The fini-flight!

of your parachuting instructors. So there I am at SeaTac in a coat and tie, and Grizz announces it’s time to go skydiving in a brand new vertical wind tunnel across the street from the airport. In less than an hour I’ve doffed the tie and am getting blasted by a 120 mile an hour jet of air—what a way to usher in the golden years! While the job fair itself was probably best suited for younger prospects if immediate work was the goal, overall I found it to be a well run and helpful venture. At the meeting 1 had the good fortune to bump into classmate Joe Riley, now at Hewlett Packard in California, and snapped a quick photo ofJoe and Grizz in the hotel lobby. rnietm mam

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I didn’t get to all of your updates last issue, but promised to make amends this time around. Otto Habedank was recently selected for promotion to Colonel and is busy at AETC/A3 Headquarters: “Holly our son Stefan (7) and I are enjoying life in San Antonio. Currentlyworking Undergrad Flying Training issues for AETC... something I hadn’t thought much about since Willy. The new RPA and CSO training programs are definitely keeping me busy... as are the USAFA flying training programs which now fall under AETC. I livethree doors down from the club at Randolph so if ever in the area... look me up!” Another 0-6 select checked in, Dave “Thermo” Thomas, AFRL Ordnance Division Chief with the promise: “I’ll get my Checkpoints updated. It’s probably been a while since I updated that.” As for my home plate of Edwards he had this to add, “Enjoy the dry heat. Been assigned there twice now. Had a fun time there, but... glad we’re not there. Enjoy the oasis!” Another busy future Colonel is Mike McNerney, now running the war for AFSOC who offered up, “otherthan the daily grind, I don’t have much to contribute this round.” Judging from the string of military successes overseas, I think we can give you a pass this month!

Eric Woolie” Wohlrab together with bride, Janine, and two high school

The Class of '90 is currently raising money to support the new Center for Character and Leadership Development. For more information to participate in this Class Giving Project, please contact Bryan Ossolinski at Bryan.Ossormski@northcom.mil

Mffim

boys checked in from DC, where Woolie works at the Open Skies, Defense ThreatReduction Agency alongside Ben Davis (DLA) and Krystal (Guenther) Murphy (DTRA). “There are several Mighty Ninety grads running around the DC area. Teri (Schwartz) Hamlin hosted a party in June attended by Tony & Helena Cook (Air Staff), Dave & Courtney Dornburg (Joint Staff), Russ & Becky Massey (recently retired). Several of us went “stag”: Assai Ghandi (National Guard Bureau), Matt Morgan (NGB),Pete Rabinowitch (Jt-NGB & new 0-6 as of 1 Jul!), Mike Saunders (ICAF grad going to AOR as Group commander), and me. There have also been sightings of DanDaetz (Colonel in OSD), Ray Dudley, Ray James (my sparring partner in freshman boxing), Tim & Lee MacGregor (NDU Staff), Chris & Amy (Godesky) Ogren (Air Staff), Kevin Roots (businessman), and Gary Wiley (Pentagon), among others. We are trying to rally for the AF-Navy game in Annapolis (Go Air Force!).”

Meanwhile, on the other coast my bride’s family is from Northern California, not far from Beale AFB where Mike Shea is the 9th maintenance group commander and ANOTHER future bird colonel who is currently keeping the Global Hawk in fighting trim. Mike let me in on thelatest at Beale, “I can try to give you a partial rundown on some of our classmates here, though I’m likely to miss a few. As you know I’m the deputy here will probably stay until next summer. Quinn Gummeljust left the OG/CD position and is back at the Pentagon. Karl Hall is here with the MC-12 Squadron, Mark Thonnings retired last year and is a contractor here for the 53 TEG. Pat Flood just took command of the 548ISR Group.”

Checking in from St. Louis was Evan Breedlove, former T35 nav and now staff guy extraordinaire: “I spent four years on the AMC/IG team (2004-2008). I just wrapped up a three-year tour at US Transportation Command, and just moved over to the 618 AOC (TACC) which is my third assignment in a row at Scott AFB. Our two daughters keep my wife, Terrie, and me busy. The oldest is taking classes at Southwestern Illinois College and our youngest is in 1 st grade and is a competitive dancer who also plays basketball and soccer which we coach.” Other snippets include emails from Jordan Kriss who let us know touring Europe is a great perk of his NATO job in Germany, and from recently-retired Bob Watwood who has accepted a position at CENTCOM staff at MacDill AFB, FL. Other dream assignments include another recent Colonel(s) Pete “Pistol” Milohnic at Hickam, “Working Plans in 13 AF... wife and two kids (7 and 3)...digging life in paradise”, and Mark “Beams” Thompson, former F-15E WSO and current contractor F-15E pilot flying daily as an instructor pilot and living the Big Sky lifestyle in Montana.

Scott “DeTom” DeThomas has been getting our class Facebook account transitioned from our old format to the new format—practically speaking this means ifyou are one ofthe 300 members on the old account you need to join the 100 or so of us on the new account—just search Class of 1990 USAFA on Facebook and you will find us!

Scott also sent an update from downrange: “Mighty 90 is well represented in key leadership billets throughout the desert... serving as Wing, Group, and Deputy CCs plus a host of key staff billets fighting the war are Jake Jacobson, Kevin Kennedy, Marty Rothrock, Shawna Keasley, Bill Eldridge, Wes Hallman, Brian Hastings, Chris Marchiori, Troy Molendyke and Beach Curtis... all are doing well and send their regards. Charles Lee posted some excited news on the wall, “My wife, Susan, and I are expecting our first child, a boy, in Feb 2012.” Congratulations, great to hearthe class is still growing the next generation!

Ifyou haven’t sent me a line in a while (or ever!), no time like the present; I especially enjoy sharing your Christmas cards! Best wishes and safe travels for the holiday season. Mighty 90—Flash.

Carson Tavenner

6828 Raccoon Court Waldorf, MD 20603 (202) 231-2484

DSN: (312) 428-2484

Home: (301) 374-2752

Carson_wendy@comcast.net

Bold Gold, Congratulations on your 20th reunion, and many condolences to all those who were not able to make the party. I learned a lot of really wonderful things about the great things you all are doing out there, and I flew backafterwards with a great sense of encouragement in my heart about my own future, too. The time was precious; the friendships eternal. The meals and the conversations were virtually problem-free, and we owe a huge debt of thanks and gratitude to the reunion planning committee for the work and time put into the affair. Five years from now, we’ll do it again!

The expedition to Stanley Reservoir - the first official outing of the reunion - confirmed that it is stillfull ofwater.

Also, we successfully carried out a class vote incorporating not only those present at the reunion, but also many hundreds of classmates who participated online. If word has not reached you about the result, the class has voted to give a gift to the Academy of supporting a portion of the new Center for Character and Leadership Development to the tune of $250,000! Now we’ve come to the next stage: collecting the funds. You will hear more aboutthis in other communications, but I won’t take time here to specify how and when the campaign will occur.

I had many interesting and engaging conversations with you and your spouses. Overall, I learned an interesting thing aboutthis column you’re reading: that many (perhaps most?) ofthe readers are spouses! I guess I’m not too surprised to hear that over the years, in many cases, the spouses are the ones who have kept the contacts and connections going, and enjoy hearing about how everyone is doing. So this led me to thinking that from time to time I should do a “spouses report” to further link this class together in that fashion, since many of you apparently know one another as well or better than the graduate. If you’re a spouse of a grad and would like to contribute some news or a story to this idea, don’t hesitate to write.

In other circles, I heard a debate during the reunion over whether the Greater Puget Sound area, or the Front Range, is the 2nd most ’91-populated region in the world, coming after the Beltway. Some seem to think that Puget Sound is, but I’m not sure. There are a lotoffolks living in the Front Range region! Anyway, everyone agreed about the greatness of getting together, so we are going to have a mini-reunion next spring orsummer for the Northwest; ifyou didn’t make the 20th then maybe you can come out to our area here next year.

Of course this talk brings me to reflect a bit further on my own move west (accomplished successfully this summer and we’re now moved into a new rental. Our five months of living out of suitcases is over! Yay!). There are days when I wonderwhether I should have tried to stick with the career as it was developing in the beltway, but then there are days like today when I’m driving through the farmland, past the mountains, the worst traffic to contend with is logging trucks, and I’m so glad to be home! I’m working on a new non-profit, The Tai Initiative, to educate Americans and Chinese on the opportunities we have to build a strong and stable relationship together. I’m convinced that at the national level, neither government will be able to implement the solutions necessary to solve the problems preventing real trust from forming. But at the sub-national level there exist multiple opportunities to generate real trust on which to build a stable national relationship. So that’s where I’m putting my efforts.

I have had the liberty of spending a bit more time in Linkedln (unfortunately Facebook is still a distant 2nd...) and have discovered a lot of new news about what folks are doing recently. I won’t directly quote or use material from that website for this column (I think that could be a bit more than you all are expecting), but I do think it is appropriate to note that I’vebeen seeing and sharing in quite a number of good exchanges with Scott Bums, Chris Gourdine, and Jorge Munoz. There are dozens of other ’91ers doing professional work with the site, so come on in, the water’s fine.

Susan (Rank) Foy, Margo (Willoughby) Bjorkman and Margo’s son Joe got togetherrecently and sent me a nice photo ofthe two grads up front in the C-32 (Air Force Two). Susan had hot-wired the thing and decided to jet over to Wright-Patterson for the day. Margo wanted to escape to Canada on it, but her son Joe apparently had to go to school the next day, so everyone just went home instead. I’ve enjoyed following Susan’s unique flying adventures over the years, thinking back to when she was regularly flying in and out ofAntarctica. She’s gone from cold air to “hot air”, I guess!

Sabre Society Donors

Margo, whaddya say we take this puppyfor a joy ride!

Farris Elnasser is getting down to business with his new venture, LionArcher. He aims to provide expert teams capable of bringing needed skill sets to the challenge of nation building in ways he saw the government doing inefficiently. I’m sure many of us would agree that something can be done to make better work in this sector.

Art Romero has been hard at work with a new business, too! Ifyou are downtown Colorado Springs, please check out his new “pad”, PB & Jellies! Witnessing how much energy and excitement he has been putting into it, I’d have to say Art’s business is “smooth” and not “chunky”!

Timepiece Entertainment, Leslie Beavers’ film company, screened their first film, All Alone, at the Hollywood Film Festival! Yay, Leslie! I can’t wait to see it. She hopes a buyer will be interested in further sponsoring it for distribution. You can check out the trailer at www.allalonethemovie.com.

From left, Aaron, Kevin, John, andJames are doing their duty in a troubledland.

Finally, Aaron Troxell wrote me from “the front”: Kandahar. He, Kevin Blanchard, John Hackethorn, and James Clark had recently also had in their midst Andy Kerkman, but he redeployed before they could get a picture of all. Aaron says they are all doing well and sad they missed the reunion. We wish you guys, and all our deployed brothers and sisters around the world, our very best. I’ll keep you in my prayers.

Out ofhere, ’91! See you in three months. Tav

James S. Mehta

PSC 3, Box 1515

APO AE 09021

DSN: 314-489-6077

james.mehta@us.af.mil

jamesmehta@earthlink.net

Happy Holidays True Blue 92! As another year comes to a close, 2012 brings our 20th reunion...amazing! Was that cold and rainy May day in Colorado really over 19 years ago?! How time flies. I hope all of you are planning to attend the reunion; I’m sure you will start getting info on it soon. As always, you can check into this column and go on the AOG website to get info on the reunion as it gets closer

My mailbag is light once again this quarter. I got a very short e-mail from Regan (Ritchie) Keener who is teachingbiology at the Zoo. She flew helos for 5 years and Hercs for 6 years and had her share of staff work in between before returning to USAFA. I’m sure she also had some AFIT time in there to refresh her memory on biology before returning to teach.

Regan plans to be in Colorado Springs for at least another year and will undoubtedly be pitching in for our reunion.

In another blast from the past, I got an e-mail that I figured wasan obscene SPAM message touting incredible sexual prowess in a pill. The sender was “skinpro.” I opened the e-mail against my better judgment and, low and behold, it was from Tommy Bender! Now that I’ve got your curiosity aroused (sorry for the pun), here’s the rest of the story: Tommy started his own dermatology practice in Mobile when he separated from the AF in 2008. His practice just added a second dermatologist and is doing well. He and his family three kids: Thomas IV, Will, and Braxton are living in Spanish Fort, AL where he also serves as the USAFA liaison officer in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Earlier this year, Tommy was appointed to the Alabama State Health Care Coordinating Council by the governor as one of twelve providers on the board who is responsible for crafting the state health care plan. That’s the smooth talking Tommy I remember...always a politician. Speaking of remembering, the last time I think I saw Tommy is when I was living in the DC area the first time (around 1997) and he and I ended up getting into a Washington Capitals playoff game by a stroke of luck. Something to do with a pharmaceutical rep who promised Tommy tickets he didn’t really have...anyway I guess being a dermatologist explains the “skinpro” name.

Bob Seifert has officially joined the ranks of “old retired guys.” Since he was a preppie, he reached 20 years this year and decided to retire. However, he has not strayed far from the AF as his wife, Amy, is an active duty doctor. Amy got an assignment to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center as one oftheir allergists and they PCSed out here a few months ago with their boys Robbie (5), Joshua (3), and Zachary (born in May). We are having fun getting our kids together and both families recently spent a long weekend in Salzburg, Austria together. Bob and Amy expect to be here in Germany for 3-4 years. Once again, the dearth of photos and inputs compels me to continue to document my Germany assignment here in Checkpoints. So here is a photo of the Seiferts andMehtas in frontof the house and lake used in the movie, The Sound ofMusic.

The Seifert and Mehtafamilies in Salzburg, Austria.

1992 Inspirations. I continue to get regular updates from Jeff and Alisha Stamp where Jeff is teaching in an English school in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The last update had the Stamp familyfinally getting settled into a house and finding a car. Everything there seems like an adventure, even the little daily things. I think that kind of experience would really make you appreciate all that we have in the US.

Class of 1992 Project. Therehasn’t been too much response to a proposed class project to try to increase our class membership to 92%. We anticipate getting assistance from the AOG for this and I encourage you to think about pitching in. Please contact me or Rick Bailey on his Facebook page and we’ll all work together on this. For more details, re-read the last 1992 Checkpoints column.

Drop me a note or look me up ifyou come through Germany. Actually, drop me a note anytime.Enjoy the holidays with your friends and family and I wish you all a great start to the new year. Until next time, True Blue ’92! Aufweidersehen, James.

Sabre Society Donors 13 Visit the AOGWeb Site.

Merchandise, Gone But Not Forgotten and more!

www.usafa.org

Michael D. Sundsted

1805 Macadams Place

Alexandria, VA 22308

Cell: (240) 338-9839

Michael.sundsted@whmo.mil

Class Website: www.zoomienation .org-"Class of 1993”

Hello to the best class from USAFA! What a great football year it has been—hopefully by the time you read this we will have already defeated Army and claimed anotherCommander in Chief’s trophy! I was able to make the Air Force/Navy game in Annapolis with many of our classmates and former graduates. Kirt Fiesbeck, Lance Orr, Maren (Hagedorn) Calvert, Bruce Ybarra, Jeff Kubik, Rob Balzano, and many more were there to cheer on the AF Falcons. They made it a close one, but put it away in the last few minutes. Lots of poor spots by the referees made for an interesting game, but alas we beat Navy. I guess it was a foregone conclusion when the SecDefshowed up in an Air Force Sweatshirt! On to the news...

We had a great flurry of email activity this time and I would like to continue the trend by encouraging those who haven’t written ever (or in a while) to give us an update. Let us knowwhat’s going on in your world—we have less than two years to go for our 20 year reunion!

Sabre Society Donors 9

First up is Steve (a.k.a Chi Chi) Rodriguez who has been at Beale AFB off and on since 2001, holding a variety ofjobs and flying the U-2 and T-38. On the family front, he has been happily married for the past 16 Vz years to his wife, Donna. They have two sons: Daniel, 11 and Christopher, 8.

He updates us on Andrew “AJ” Werner, known to us as “Cracker”, and Patrick “Rock” Hudson are the other classmates in the U-2 program. Harlie “Leash” Bodine is also here as the Commander of Det 5, 9 OG, soon to become the 489 RS, standing up MC-12 training here...he’ll have to get you an update on our other classmates who are involved in the MC-12 program. AJ met his wife, Galena, when he was in Bulgaria as an Olmstead Scholar and they have a little daughter, Anelia, who just turned 2. Anelia is waiting on baby brother, who was due 20 Sep. Pat is also happily married to his wife, Tracy; he has a 4-year-old daughter, Jai (Skye) and a 24-year-old stepson, Reginald. Thanks for the update!

the T-38 and going to air shows (latest one was Joint Base San Antonio Airshow in late October).

Brent Mesquit (commander extraordinaire) is the 2d AS Commander at McGuire AFB flying the mighty KC-10. He updates us on Lee Wingfield who is currently a squadron commander (819 GSS) in the CRW there at McGuire. Brent and Lee’s kids play soccer together there in the on-base league. His wife, Calley, and Brent are often in the early-morning kettlebells class at the gym. John Krystiniak is also a SQ CC (817 GMRS) in the CRW at McGuire. A monster in the gym—Brent says he once saw him bench press a car in there. John andhis wife, Cami, keep Brent straight— especially in the gym. John, thanks for keeping me out of trouble too! Lynn (Vix) Berry is the AMDS commander at McGuire. Being the motivator that she is, she recently threw an ice-cream social for her medical folks and did a great job at getting her people fired up for an upcoming inspection. She’s the chief flight surgeon around here and keeps us healthy.

For those Brent knows away from McGuire, James “Finch” Sparrowjust took over the37th FlyingTraining Squadron at Columbus. Not quite back to his native South Carolina but at least he’s in the South. Ed Hospodar is in charge of some enormous-budget GPS satellite squadron at LA. Ifyour GPS is on the fritz, call and hassle Ed. He and his lovely wife, Kathy, have two little boys. I’m guessing Ed doesn’t get as much surfing (other than on the internet) time these days. Thanks Brent for the great updates!

Alex (Grynch) Grynkewich writes from Germany ahhhhh, Oktoberfest, love the Paulaner tent! Alex got to EUCOM about a year ago after going to SDE (Air War College) at JAWS in Norfolk. He learned to be a planner and then got assigned to his current position in J3 at Ramstein. He is married (wife, Shannon) with a 5 year old (Justin) who’s in German Kindergarten and sprechts Deutsch sehr gut now (in fact better than dad). They are having a blast over traveling around Europe. They get up to see Dallas (52 OSS CC) and Heather Horton regularly at Spangdahlem. Alex and several other classmates pinned on Full Bird (not the middle one, but Eagle) on 1 Sept 11. He thinks the AF is making a big mistake. I just can’t figure out who to put my money on to make 0-7! Alex reports that OJ Sanchez (Vice Wing Commander at Tyndall flying F-22s or desks depending on the day) was frocked but now gets the $$ and Weed Dertein were also promoted. We are sure there are others, but they need to write me and let me know—they’ll be in the next featured article

Kevin Sutton checks in from Columbus AFB, MS. He has been the Chief of Safety for the last 15 months and has recently moved to another job on Wing Staff (probably snacko). He’s a T-38 IP attached to the 50 FTS (SUPT, not IFF). His wife, Heidi, is an AF reservist here in the 43 FTS (reserve squadron), and she just got selected for promotion to Lt Col, so they are absolutely stoked about that. Heidi (unfortunately) is a Georgia Tech/ ROTC grad (Go DAWGS) Kevin’s 11-year-old twin girls and my almost 3year-old boy are doing awesome (and they will all more than likely go to Athens for college editor’s note).

Kevin reports that Mike Meyer is a T-38 IP in the 50 FTS and currently deployed downrange. Steve Odum lives just down the street from Kevin in Columbus and he’s flying T- Is in the 48 FTS. Steve’s doing Chief of Stan/ Eval stuff ensuring the newest members ofthe pilot corp are aiming high.

Unfortunately I am at my 1200 word limit—-for those that wrote and I didn’t publish—you’ll be in the next one (thanks Pete, Lee, Stephan and Steve)! Thanks for all the great updates to everyone and let’s continue the progress on the Commander in Chief’s trophy. Here’s looking to a bowl game! Take care until next time - Mike.

Craig Allen

85 Quail Creek Drive

Del Rio, TX 78840

H: 830-313-7089

C: 660-864-5374

AJand ChiChi at an undisclosed island vacation spot!

Dale Hoover writes from Fort Worth, TX where he is in the Navy Reserves at Carswell AFB, now Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB). In March (2011)several members of his unit (7th Fleet-based inYokosuka, Japan) including myself activated for Operation Tomodachi and we embarked the USS BLUE RIDGE and provided command and control for the Navy’s piece of the Joint Task Force stood up to assist Japan from the effects of the earth quake/tidal wave/nuclear situation. Dale and family have been in the Dallas/FtWorth area since 2008 and thoroughly enjoying it. Up until recently Dale worked for Raytheon in the Defense Industry along with several other vintages of AFA grads. Now he’s in the aerospace industry making commercial airline seats working for Recaro. After 14 years Dale is happily married with 2 beautiful daughters (11 & 8).

Barry Coggins writes from Randolph AFB, TX. He finished with B-52s in 1998 for A-10s and finished as an IP in that aircraft in 2006. He went back to Columbus AFB (his hometown) for 3 years, then to Randolph to finish out to 20. He and his wife, Brenda, married the weekend of our 10year reunion... they eloped while they were there (still to this day the best day of his life). They have two sons and a daughter. He enjoys teaching

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kegsdoolittle@yahoo.com

Winter Edition. Actually, I don’t expect too much winter weather down here in southwest Texas. It’s late Oct as I write this and we’re still swimming in the pool today with the kiddos. Except for the Fightin Falcons’ season, with tough losses to SDSU and Boise St recently, it’s been a great fall so far. I just had a great birthday 39. I’ve still got a full-year before the big one. So, I don’t feel too old yet, except every day in the squadron I fly with UPT students that are 2010 and 2011 grads! Although they were born about the time we showed up for Basic Training, they’re basically the same as we were as Lts, but they have iPhones. My primary challenge teaching them how to fly the T-38 is that my movie quotes just don’t work on this generation. One of my most effective instructional techniques used to be well-timed quotes from classics like Vacation, Weird Science, Planes Trains and Automobiles or Fletch...”l always use a little gum on these rides...filters out the pollutants”. Ten years ago the students would be vaguely familiar with an ’80s movie, but now w

theyjust look at me like a pig staring at a wristwatch. Anyway, speaking of getting old, we’ve had the first ‘94 retirement that I’ve heard of.

Jesse Hernandez cashed-in on his prior-enlisted time and retired in September. Jeff “Daly” Dalrymple was in attendance for the event in Washington D.C. and he reported that it was an extravagant affair. Jesse rented out the roof of a downtown theater that had views of the Lincoln Memorial, AF Memorial and the Washington Monument (see photo). The retirement was well attended by other ‘94 friends including Chris Eden, Eric Bulger, Domingo Vazquez, Mike Cranston, Rich Amisano, Tracy Hubbard, John Gifft, and Wes Headrick. Jesse went all-out as the host and dropped a couple Gs on the bar tab alone. Daly said the crew at this mini-reunion took the opportunity to assess who had aged the most. Apparently, John, a lawyer in D.C., still looked like he was about 24 years old. Daly said he was at the other end ofthe spectrum, as well as Wes, who Jesse was quoted as saying, “looks like he is about 60”. Tough crowd, but it sounds like it was an awesome event. Congrats Jesse.

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Well deserved...Jesse calls it a career.

I got a Far-East update from Rocky Favorito, who is at Yokota AB in Japan. Rocky is commander ofthe 374th Communications Squadron there, which he led through Japan’s recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster recovery operations. Rocky said he’s also there with Wade Rawlins (374th Civil Engineer Squadron CC) and Mike Black (5th AF/A7S). They all did some great work in those recovery efforts and once things stabilized enough for a much needed break, Rocky led his squadron to vietory in Yokota’s base-wide Karaoke Championship. I’m pretty sure Rocky got the age 25 auto insurance discount when we were still cadets. This explains why he was so well versed in the late’70s KISS act (see photo). He’s an absolute ringer of a Gene Simmons! I’m sure it was an easy vietory for him. In addition to his off-duty success, Rocky’s squadron was recently awarded the Best Large Communications Squadron in the Pacific Air Forces. Awesome work!

married this winter. She said they’re both a little sleep deprived with the new baby, but that all are doing well. Carla said that baby Cole is a lot of fun and that she’s extremely glad that she didn’t miss out on motherhood. We’re very happy for you, congrats.

Justafter the Gene Simmons tongue impression. It was great to hear that Carla Hunstad had her first baby, a boy named Cole Robert on 6 Sept. He is already a stout 10 pounder at the six week point. Carla and father, Rob, reside in Minneapolis and they are getting

Proud mom, Carla and baby Cole.

As reported last time, the ‘94 Laughlin contingent is healthy. In addition to John “Vapor” Foncannon and Jessica “Rack” (Nickodem) Rhyne, Gregory “Spike” Keeton is here as the commander of the 434th IFF squadron. Spike’s wife, Lori, and my wife, Colleen, recently went on a girls-only weekend road trip across Texas, with several other ladies. It reminded me of Fandango, only instead of a bunch of college guys on a quest to find a buried bottle of Dom Perignon, these ladies were going “antiquing”. Spike’s and my bank accounts were way lighter when they got home. Also, sighted in my short time here was Tony “Fargo” Retka. I went to Sheppard AFB for a one-week course about aircraft maintenance. It was great to walk in on day one and discover that my old Civil Engineering major bud was going through the class with me. Fargo had just spent several weeks flyingVipers at RED FLAG Alaska and was knocking out the class at Sheppard before returning to Misawa in Japan. We took full advantage of the week in Wichita Falls, frequenting BW’s for some wings and football watching.

That sums up this quarter. Keep sending me input! Email, text message, or Facebook are all good methods. I’ll also entertain good old-fashioned phone calls. Also, several ’94 people I’ve talked to recently have said they hadn’t been receiving their Checkpoints for a while. Make sure you hit up the AOG website and update all your personal info. I hope your Christmas season and New Years are nice. Once you and the kids have watched all the Christmas claymation classics like Rudolph, break out ’80s Christmas greats like Trading Places. As said by Billy RayValentine and Clarence Beeks, “Merry NewYear!”...’’That’s happy. In this country we say Floppy NewYear.” Kegger.

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R. Travis Koch

100 Trieste Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407

W:(850) 283-4231 DSN 742-

Home: 850.249.8820

Cell: (850) 499-8242

richard.koch@tyndall.af.mil

traviskoch@yahoo.com

TV P Mm PS

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nA/\ Uavp Members

Much Thanks: I wanted to thank Andrea (Rolfe) Themely for stepping up and writing this issue’s column. Still would love to get a volunteer for the Spring one. Zap me 1,200 words and three pics and we should be set. Thanks, and here are some words from Andrea:

Greetings from Sheppard AFB—I am writing this article for Travis from sunny North Texas. We have been here since late 2009 when I arrived from the Pentagon with my husband, Damon Themely (’89)—first time in three assignments we have been stationed at the same base so we are pretty happy to be together! Our son Jake is turning 3 in January and we are expecting our second child in March. I know we are starting the parent thing late—but I have to catch up with the rest ofyou at some point! Damon and I are both flying T-38s teaching ENJJPT, and going through our instructor training together was actually pretty fun. They paired us up in formation all the time just to see if they could instigate some marital discord. One of our instructors even went home and asked his wife if she thought they could flytogether and she told him, “Are you kidding me? i don’t even like driving with you!”

We have lots of other ’95 grads here at Sheppard teaching ENJJPT— Chad “Brew” Meyering and his wife, Kelly, are our neighbors—their girls Kacey (10) and Ashley (2) are just adorable. Brew is currently the US

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Senior National Representative who gets to be the one to crush dreams when pilot training studentsdon’t get the assignments they want—I don’t envy his job—but he is doing outstanding at it. Brad “Lips” Seger is a fulltime Reservist here flying T-38s and instructing Pilot Instructor Training, Tony “Split” Mulhare is the DO of the 469th Flying Training Squadron (T38s), Marcus “Here” Gregory is an IFF instructor in the reserves, and Mark “Bruiser” Lewis and his wife, Amy “Sable” (Ringwald, ‘01) Lewis, just left here for Randolph this past summer. Bruiser was the DO ofthe 88th Fighter Training Squadron teaching IFF. Steve “Poker” Lygrenjust transitioned to the Reserves and is going through T-38 instructor training now. There have been so many ’95 grads here that we actually did a toast of Goldschlager last summer on May 31 st to commemorate the gold class and our graduation anniversary.

I ran into Joe Dingman here at Sheppard when he recently attended the Maintenance Course for Operational Commanders. Joe just took command of the 21 Airlift Squadron flying C-17s at Travis AFB—congrats Joe! I know a lotof our classmates are squadron commanders and operations officers now—so we have officially transitioned to becoming “them.” I guess we all knewthis day was coming, but wow this has happened fast!

I heard from Jamie (Dahlgren) Glover—she is out ofthe Air Force to better support her husband, Matt Glover (’94), who became is the8th SOS CV-22 squadron commander at Hurlburt Field. Right now Jamie is working part-time as a family practice doctor in Fort Walton Beach, FL at the local health department. She says it’s been interesting work including a lot of work with HIV/AIDS patients and low-income, uninsured primary care patients. Matt and Jamie’s son Andrew is now 7 and their daughter Elbe is 4.Julie Price wrote from the DC area where she updates that things are pretty good! She writes: “Matt Kozina is doing well. He is with Scitor still, supporting the National Geo-Spatial Intelligence Agency. Matt’s daughter just celebrated her first birthday, and what a cutie pie she is! I ran into Adam Harris a while back. After doing his stint on Capitol Hill, he is now working as a contractor for SpaceX. Our paths cross every once in a while, as I am still with the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation. I don’t work so much in the regulatory areas, but more in the infrastructure grants and interagency coordination so I still get to have some ties with the DoD space folks. Through some of this, I was able to work with my old USAFA roommate Guin (Summers) Leeder (’94), which was awesome. She was out at USSTRATCOM, but is now in Germany. And I am going TDY this week to COS, so hope to see Karen (Hanchett) Meacham while I am there! Chris finally came home from Kuwait after 3 years, so we are getting settled into our new routine. He loves the house we builtwhile he was overseas, and has a whole list of “honey-do’s” now. We even adopted another lab, so now we have Maggie and Sudley.” Speaking ofKaren, she pinned on Lt Col in the Air Force Reserves on October 1—congrats Karen!

Bonnie (Cox) Paquin wrote as well—she is with Southwest. Bonnie says “I just finished my fifth year. Love it... just miss my kiddos when I have to be away. My husband, Chuck, is still in the Navy. We are at Fort Leavenworth, KS for another year before we head to Kingsville, TX for his XO/CO tour back in the T-45. We have two boys, Wade, 8, and Sawyer, 3. They are SOOOO fun...but they keep me busy!”

I also heard from Kimberly (Devereux) Burke who was a PublicAffairs Officer until she separated in December 2002 (stationed at Wright-Pat, Kunsan AB, AFIT/CI at Boise State University, McChord AFB). She and her husband, Baron, are still living near McChord. Kimberly has been a real estate broker since 2004. So if there any classmates PCSing in or out of McChord, look her up! (realtorburke@earthlink.net). Baron and Kim got

married in 1998 and have two kids, Ashley (10) and Cade (8). Baron is still in the USAFR as the IMA to the CE/CC at Fairchild. The picture is of them at Glacier National Park, Montana in July 2011.

Scott and Julie (Pilkington) Grundahl are doing well—they are both squadron commanders in the same operations group at Andrews and have a one-year-old named Grace. Not sure how they manage both being squadron commanders with an infant child but that’s pretty impressive!

Pamela (Ruse) Backeberg wrote from Colorado Springs—she has been teaching at the prep school but will be moving on this summer. Her husband, Matt, is a firefighter at NORAD, and they have 3 children: Tiffany (7) and twin boys Matthew and Anthony (6).

Thanks Andrea. No Hambone update this month but here is a parting pic of Jeff Pulley (’96) with President Bush. Pulley is living in Austin with his wife and son, Judah, and is buying trees from the President for some golf course construction. Check his company out at www.pulleydevelopment.com, especially ifyou need 9 or 18 holes put up in your back yard.

Till then, Keep the Faith. T. Koch

Melissa S. Cunningham 9712 Hidden Valley Road Vienna, VA 22181 (C) 719-332-4912 (W) 703-693-2132

Melissa.cunningham@ js.pentagon.mil fchdrider@msn.com

(Editor’s note: Michael Gismondi, Class of 1998, is featured in an interview beginning on page 22 ofthis magazine. We inviteyou to read the article.)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our Nation’s Capitol! I am settling in to life on the Joint Staff. It is definitely interesting work but it has been a little more difficult catching up with classmates without access to the AF GAL. You can see me in the GAL, but I can’t see you. If you are in the National Capitol Region (NCR), give me a shout out or drop me an email. I’m trying to get a mini-reunion together soon, even if it is just catching some lunch at the Pentagon or meeting up for Happy Hour at one of the nearby establishments.

How about that win over Navy! My Dad actually took this photo of Christian Lyons cheering on the Falcons with their impressive victory

Baron, Kim, Ashley and Cade Burke

Pulley and the President at the Crawford Ranch.

BEAT NAVY!

over Navy last Oct. Dad said Christian represented ’96 well with some push-ups in the crowd. I wish had room in this article submission to fit that picture in too because it’s pretty funny. Christian is in the ANG and is currentlyworking in a on the Hill with a fellowship in Legislative Liaison.

Dave Henshaw is in the Pentagon working in AF/A9 (Studies and Analysis). After 6 years flying “the Bone” at Dyess he landed a desk job. The DC area has been great for his family. With 1 st and 4th graders in the house, they are at perfect ages to experience all DC has to offer. They’ve also made the most of opportunities to do some sightseeing on the East Coast over the last year including Boston, NYC, Philly, Orlando, and a New England “Leaf Peeping” Tour through Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. In Aug, they embarked on a scuba diving trip to the Dominican Republic where they got the extra bonus of experiencing Hurricane Irene not once, but twice, because her track stormed through DC after their safe return home. So with all of these great vacations, it became apparent Dave needed to find some “efficiencies” to support the family vacation budget. He saved some coin by deciding to ride his bike to work. His commute soon turned into training rides and he’s actuallycompleted 4 triathlons this year. His goal next year is a half Ironman. Good luck!

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Here are some Pink Panther Updates from Dave: Chris Hutchins also marked time in A9 and left this summer to fly Vipers on a two-year accompanied tour to Korea. Keith Derbenwick has been in the NCR for a few years. He was in SAF/LL on the Hill for 2 years and is now in J3. Trey Treadwell separated from the AF a few years ago and stayed in the DC area as a contractor for a while. Last bit ofintel was that he is now a GS-15 at DIA. Parker Wright completed SAAS and is now in his second year of command of the Intel Sq at Wright Pat.

Dave also passed along that Jeff Hogan wrapped up an LL job with a Congressman from Georgia, worked at SAF/FM and is now at A-10 re-qual to gear up for an assignment to Germany.

Dave Winans sent some photos of an Epic Bull 6 Reunion. Over the Jun 25 weekend, Doug Brock, Brandon Stadel, Scott Dyer, Dave Winans and Eagle 8 Alum and former Blue Angel Anthony Walley met up in New York City. Unfortunately, Riechen Lemkuhl and Mike Rahm were unable free up their schedules to make the trip. The guys hit a Yankees game, had a BBQ at Dave’s house, and then went on a Pub Crawl through Manhattan that left at least one of them a little over-served. It was a very memorable mini-reunion and sounded like they had a blast. Here’s a quick update on the guys: Scott Dyer lives in Wichita, KS and is a special agent for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Brandon Stadel lives in Hartford, CT andflies for Delta and the Connecticut Air National Guard. Doug Brock is assigned to Pentagon working as an International Affairs Specialist. AnthonyWalley is living in Virginia Beach as is assigned as at JTAC/Fire Support Officer. Dave Winans has been out of the AF for about 8 years doing theWall Street gig. He specializes in Corporate Bonds and is currently a Vice President with Prudential Financial.

I caught up with Johan Deutscher through a recent email thread. He left active duty in 2007and joined the Oregon ANG in Klamath Falls to continue instructing in the F-15 as an active Guard/reserve. Johan and Alexas are enjoying life in Crater Lake, OR. When I last saw them 10 years ago in DC, they had one child (Caden - 10 years old), and now they have Kobe (8 years), Anya (1 year) and they are expecting their 4th in February. I know I’m maxed out juggling twins so I’m sure there is never a dull moment in the Deutsher home.

Please keep me on your Christmas Card list for updates! Hope you all enjoy the Holidays! All the best for 2012! Take care & God Bless, Mel.

Melvin E. Maxwell, Jr.

14109 Kelly Drive Bellevue, NE 68123 618-402-4611

mel_maxwell97@hotmail.com

melvin.maxwell@offutt.af.mil

(Editor’s note: Michael Gismondi, Class of 1998, isfeatured in an interview beginning on page 22 ofthis magazine. We inviteyou to read the article.)

Greetings ‘97!

As always, hope this update finds you well. Pretty quiet on the class news front for this go around. I’m avoiding the urge to troll classmate’s Facebook pages but may be forced to for future updates. Despite the somewhat disappointing first half of the Air Force football season, it did give many classmates the opportunity to get together.

I got a great update from Travis Kochabout none other than Jeff Pulley. Jeff has been with a commercial landscape construction company for the past 3 years and actually had an opportunity to meet with W” at his ranch in Crawford. There is a tree farm on the Crawford ranch. When Jeffmet with the President’s “tree guy” Jeffthought the guy was joking when he told him that they would also be meeting with the President. Since that time, Jeff’s corresponded several times with the President.The President even called Jeff at the hospital to congratulate him on the birth ofhis son, Judah.

During the TCU game weekend, I met up with Brad Holtmeier and his wife, Jordan, for the game. We had a good time catching up and ran into Pat Suermann at Colorado Mountain Brewery afterthe game. Pat was in town from Greenland for a Commander’s Conference before heading out to Texas to see his family. The next day, we had a Bulldawg reunion and got together withWendy Palatinus and ran around theAcademy and old squadron area. We also went to the Cadet Gym so Brad could find his name on the PFT 500 Club board.

Bull Six Reunion: Doug Anthony, Dave, Brandon and Scott at Yankee Stadium

Mel, Wendy and Brad at the Bulldawg Reunion!

Kevin Templin reports running into several ’97ers while attending the Air Force football game at Navy in October: Kevin’s senior year roommate Mike Cancellare, his first Beast roommateVic Pereira, and numerous others to include Ryan Keeney, Andy Lawrence, Chris Wachter, Tracy Waller

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Class News

Hasse, JeffQueen, Shira Ravitz Worley, Michael Parks, and Karl Gregor. Kevin andhis family moved to theWashington DC area this summer and he’s staying busyworking on theAirStaffinA8 where heworks inthe same office as JasonYeatts. KellySkalko Saltzman is a hard core follower ofFalcons sports teams. Kelly and I traded comments aboutthe Falcons duringfootball games throughoutthe season and even found ourselves at the same Nebraska football game in Iincoln one Saturday. Kelly’s husband isArmyIntel and a bigtime Nebraska fan and was on leave from deploymentdownrange. I also ran into Christine Callahan Mau at a tailgate after the Air Force-Boise State game in Boise. Christine is at Mountain Home with the 389th FighterSquadronflying F-15Es.

Megan K uzmich and her bride Tara.

Switchinggears, congratulations are in orderfor a couple classmates who recentlygot married. Megan Kuzmich marriedTara Harrington on May29,2011 with 125 of their family and friends in attendance. Megan and Tara met at a basketball camp injuniorhigh, kept in touch for a fewyears on the high school basketball circuit, and lost track ofeach otherfor manyyears until they were set up at a wedding in Boston in 2007. BackinAugust, Megan and Tara were in the process ofmoving to Redwood City, CA, where Megan got a new gig working at Stanford Hospital as an inpatient medical oncology nurse practitioner.

Congrats are also in order for James Finlayson who is now officially offthe market after getting married this fall. James attended the Olympia Fitness Expo in LasVegas with his wife, Kristen, and passed on this photo ofhim and classmate and fitness pro Tanji Johnson.

In the last update, I attempted to provide the names of our classmates who were promoted to LtCol a year below-the-zone. My list of promoted classmates came from Wade Henning’s Checkpoints, turns out it was an incomplete list - Wade you’re going to be an 0-5 soon, let’s get it together; I recommend you see Conan Kennedy for help in this area. Here are the remainder of our classmates who were early promotes: Jeremy Coonrad, Ron Gilbert, Brandon Johnson, Nathan Mead, Chris Nieman, Mike Peeler, Chris Peters, Tom Preston, Jason Schmidt, Will Wade and Zach Warakomski. Congrats to all - a great achievement for all your hard work and leadership.

Back in August I got together with Marc Segal, LeRon Hudgins (’96), and Scott Collins (P-School Grad). Segal lives just outside of San Francisco, flies for FedEx and the Travis Reserves, and he andhis wife have two great little kids - his oldest daughter screams every time I come within 20’ of her - I haven’t had that kind of reaction from a girl since I was in high school. LeRon lives in San Francisco and flies for Southwest. Collins, who flew C-5s with LeRon at Travis, is now training Saudi Arabian pilots over in the Kingdom - I could go a lot of places with that, but I’ll just leave it alone. I also recently met up with John Lee and Mike Boos (’00) for drinks. J-Lee and his wife, Dustine, have two kids, live in Sacramento and he is still flying KC-lOs with the Travis Reserves. Booser recently joined the Southwest ranks. It’s kindof funny that LeRon and Boos both live within a mile of me and are great guys, but I rarely see them...I guess the social activities of single airline pilots don’t often include 7:30AM Saturday morning trips to the playground.

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Rob Makros and Beth (Crimmel) Makros gave updates from a couple ofAcademyweddings they attended. Back in September, Brett “Burrito” Schumer married HollyVerschay Schumer at the Academy Chapel; quite a few ’98 grads were in attendance (see photo). Erin (Munson) and Frank Staine-Pyne came in from Washington, DC where Erin is doing a school tour. Rob passed on that the SPs will be staying another year in DC where Erin will be the military liaison working at a ‘high-powered’ think tank. When Maz uses the term ‘highpowered’ with think tank it can be a relative statement, but I trust this is quite a prestigious assignment. Burrito’s old Academy roommate Sean Finnan and wife, Adrien, attended. Sean is at school at Leavenworth and his lab partner in school is none other than Shane Vesely - Finnan you’ve come a long way since remedial swim class! Say hi to your folks for me. Burrito’s brother, Ross Schumer (’00), was his best man., Ross and wife,

Tanji andJames - somebody been working out?

Some quickhits...Jason Buck is married with 3 greatlooking kiddos living in upstate NewYork. Noah Oviedo reports randomly moving threedoors down fromTylanMuncy in SanAntonio, TX and has startedhis own company doing medical distribution. Jay Martin ran into Phil Dorsch at a Total Force Integration Conference in New Hampshire. Jay is a commander in the Reserves at PopeAFB, NC. That’s all I have for this round. Until next time.. .Mel.

Pat Fox

1520 Pershing Dr., Apt. E San Francisco, CA 94129 pmf6@pge.com

(Editor's note: Michael Gismondi, Class of1998, isfeatured in an interview beginning on page 22 ofthis magazine. We inviteyou to read the article.)

Rob Makros, Beth (Crimmel) Makros, Ross Schumer (’00),Burrito Schumer, Holly Schumer, Frank Staine-Pyne, Erin (Munson) Staine-Pyne, Sean Finnan, and Hal Glenn.

Evelyn (’00), liveand work at the Academy where Ross is an orthopedic surgeon and Evelyn teaches physics.

Burrito’s wedding also provided me with my Jeff Mohr update. After a few drinks at the reception, J Mo began bragging how he is now qualified to jump as “The Bird’’ with the Wings of Blue. He claims the qualification training was more stressful than his F-15 four-ship upgrade back in the day. No word on when J Mo is due to get his WOB tattoo, but he’s no stranger to group tattoos - the first one was a set ofhorns he got along with Steve Fernandez, Finnan, and Chris Gizzi. J Moyou make me proud.

Also getting married this past summer was Doug Vetrano (’99). The big event took place in NYC, but had a Long Island feel to it - Strong Islanders in attendance included, DougyV Maz, Spider Michalowski (’99), and Eric Carano (’00). One of the benefits ofwriting this column is that you get updates on some really good people that for one reason or another have fallen out of contact - Eric Carano is one of those guys. Spoony Glenn is working for the NSA; he and Abby (Newcomb) Glenn live in Spoony’s childhood hometown ofAnnapolis, MD with their two little lacrosse players. In addition to raising their two kids, Abby works for Baltimore’s CSI unit. Also at

the wedding and also residing in Annapolis, was Ryan Principi (’99) - Ryan and wife, Whitney, have a little boy and a girl on the way. Brad Turner and wifeWhitney were there along with Chrisand Jannell (Zicarelli) MacAulay. Brad is in ACSC and has been picked up to go fly the F-35 following school and the MacAulay’s are staying for a second year of school at Maxwell. Beth also passed on that she ran into Shalanda Baker in the Cincinnati airport. Shalanda is a law professor at the University ofWisconson, very impressive - congrats Shalanda. Dave Lewis had a tailgate for the Navy game; in attendance were Jamie and Jamie (Peterson) Caplinger who are living in DC. He’s on the Air Staffand she’s continuing her art work and recently had a show at a gallery in DC. (She’s really good if you haven’t seen her art!) Jason Brugman was there too he’s in the Guard at Dover AFB.

Finally, I wanted to mention that Mike Gismondi was recently invited to join the Academy’s Endowment Board ofDirectors - Giz is the youngest member ofBoard by quite a fewyears. The Endowment website mentions some of Giz’s very impressive achievements - but his two most impressive achievements are missing: Wing Knowledge Bowl Champion and the only cadet to be named to Group Staff immediately following a semester in which he marched 100 tours and spent the whole semester confined. With the AOG and Endowment now working together in a collaborative manner and having a classmate on the Board, our class has a great opportunity to influence and improve the resources that are there to serve Academygrads (also see related article in this issue of Checkpoints). Ifyou have ideas on how grads could be better served, I encourage you to email Giz’s Chief of Staff, Brian Quinn, at quinnbm98@hotmail.com.

James W. Busch

8618 Rockbridge Circle Montgomery, AL 36116

Cell: (830) 734-2411

Buschfl6@yahoo.com

(Editor’s note: Michael Gismondi, Class of1998, is featured in an interview beginning on page 22 ofthis magazine. We inviteyou to read the article.)

Class - greetings from the Deep South and the cultural and learning center ofthe Air Force, ACSC. I’d like to send a quick shout out to the rest of the comrades here, in no particular order: Roger Buckner, Jason Trew, Eric Schmidt, Nick Evans, Mike Harmon, Sang Kim, Caleb Nimmo, Mike Haack, Jason Golaboski, Aaron Cooper, Nate Leap, Chris Zeppos, and probably some others that I’ve missed. At SAASS: Jeremy Lushnat, Jon Graham, James McFarland, Scott Mills, Tharon Sperry, Scott Weyermuller, and Steve Wieland. Congrats to everyone—a big bash is planned for the AF-Army game next weekend, so maybe some pictures and news to follow. I know, I’m stringing you along, but hey, school’s actually been busy between homework, kids’ soccer games, a full social schedule, and leading the Gathering of Eagles team. Incidentally, if you’re looking for a great Christmas gift this year, consider a Gathering of Eagles lithograph. We commission original artwork picturing the Eagles and their planes as well as each Eagle’s autograph. If names like Robin Olds, Bud Day, Robbie Risner, and Curtis Lemay mean anything to you it’s worth checking out. Visit www.goefoundation.com for details.

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Dan is remastering mathfor his PME at Wright-Pat. Sean Baerman checked in from his remote outpost in Buenos Aires, now in his second year of his Olmsted program. Sean not only ran the Buenos Aires marathon, he did it in a gold class of ’99 T-shirt and finished first in his division. Nice work my friend.

In baby news, Dan Diehl and his wife had their first—Addie.

Sean Baerman celebrates class pride while running the Buenos Aires marathon.

Well, that’s it for this rendition. Keep the notes coming and/or send a Christmas card to the address above so I can share your exploits with the rest of the group. In the meantime, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. -James Simmons@USAFA2000.com

Jason Simmons

(Editor’s note: Michael Gismondi, Class of 1998, isfeatured in an interview beginning on page 22 ofthis magazine. We inviteyou to read the article.)

Classmates,

Lindsay (Brocklesby) Shukosky is enjoying life as a stay-at-home mommy in Los Angeles with husband, Tony, and little Ryan (3). She is enjoying the civilian lifestyle and spending time at the beach and parks. If you’re ever in LA, look her up on Facebook. Here is a photo of Lindsay and Ryan on vacation at Hood River, Oregon.

Ryan and Lindsay

Since telling folks last round that my wife and I are having a baby in January, I’ve heard from several other classmates noting that they too have a little one on the way, so I suspect our spring 2012 issue will have lots of baby pictures.

Kristina (Welde) Pina notes that she, Isabel, Alexis, Maire, Victoria and, of course, Tom Pina had PCSed to Ft Belvoir, VA in June. Tom is working assigned there to the Air Force ISR Agency and in on August 1st, Kristina and Tom welcomed their fourth daughter, Victoria. Here is a picture ofthe Pina family at Victoria’s baptism.

The Diehl clan grows by a factor of 1. Start savingfor that wedding buddy!

The Pina Family

In their short time there, Kristina and Tom have already been lucky enough to hang out with classmates Jen (Engh) and Kevin Griswold, Bessie (Fontenot) Granier, Jadee (Bell) Purdy, Micaela (Bentson) Brancato, Bridget (Blanco) Graham, and Robyn (Duncan) Ross. They noted that they can’t wait to see who else we will run into around the DC area. Well, Lauren (Maher) Courchaine, Kevin Griswold, and Jeffery LaFleur among a few other classmates are there enjoying the AF Fellowship Program, so be on the lookout for them.

Sam Deaton notes that it’s only a year late, but he got married to his beautiful wife, Jennifer, in late November 2010. Some ofyou will rememher her from the class reunion or other events over the past few years, since Sam and Jennifer are quite the travelers. After smartlywaiting until after the holidays, they went on a phenomenal honeymoon vacation to Argentina in January. This spring Sam sold his house in Chattanooga, TN and moved (locally) to suburban Signal Mountain. Sam notes that they now have ample room for guests who may be passing through (on 1-75) or traveling to the Chattanooga area and that he and Jennifer regularly visit my folks in Birmingham, especially during football season for Bama games, so he hopes to catch up with any friends spending the year at Maxwell.

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I heard from Russ Magaziner; he and his family are moving to Hickory, NC where Russ will be working as an “in-house” patent attorney for Corning. I’m sure he’ll get to see some ofthe next great inventions that will make our futures better. Jennifer (Stehwien) Lewis and Mike are expecting a new baby and are currently at Scott AFB. Speaking of Scott AFB, recently while I was TDY to the area for putting Electronic Flight Bags in AMC and AFSOC cockpits, I spent theweek sitting next to Tyler Tollman catching up.

Bessie (Fontenot) Granier is enjoying her time in Richmond. She recently got to visit Jennifer (Engh) and Kevin Griswold to attend a business adventure with Roden and Fields Dermatologists that Jenn, Jadee (Bell) Purdy and Marta (Blizniak) Bonds are all involved. Bessie says the gals all seem to be doing great in their new adventures and would love more company. (Yes, some repeat DCers have been keeping up with multiple classmates; good on them.) On another trip Bessie caught up with Tom Pina and Kristina (Welde) Pina at their daughterVictoria’s baptism. Jadee and her husband also attended the event. She just missed Edie Pope on that trip but DC seems like a great place to visit for catching up with classmates. (Yes, I’m noticing that trend, perhaps I should shoot for a CYBERCOM job next, so I can join them!) The last bit of news from Bessie is that congrats to Erin (’01) and William “BJ” Shnowske as well as Tracy (Wilkerson) Foster and James Foster who both recently welcomed little boys into their families!

Well that’s it for now. Please shoot me an update for your family when you read this, by the time you do, it will be time to start collecting inputs again anyway. Can’t wait for some holiday pictures of classmates and families.

Best wishes and good luck as we wait for school, commander,... and RIF lists to drop. - Jason “Cueball” Simmons

JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY!

YOUR MONEY HELPS FUND CADETWING PROGRAMS THAT J WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED.

| CALL (719) 472-0300 X200.

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Faith (Hitchcock) Dunn 6423 NW 94th Court

4*:-^ he- •>•/ IfoiJAjf f Johnson, IA 50131

V. si.: h 4; cCyy Faithd03@hotmail.com

C.i Af- foyTAw,

Hi again! I wanted to start this article off bysending a big THANK YOU to Jason Harris, Mike Berruti and Dennis Nita for all their work to make our 10th Reunion such a wonderful and memorable event. We had a great time catching up with old friends and it was apparent that everyone had a fun weekend! Thanks guys!!! Can’t wait for the next one!

Well, I guess everyone is caught up with everyone else since I haven’t received a ton of updates since the reunion, but here are the updates and pictures I have received:

MaryEdith Malin shared a picture ofher, Lisa (Jorgensen) Christensen, and Colleen (French) Crabtree at the reunion. Her husband, Andy Malm, is an orthopedic surgeon deployed to Afghanistan and they are expecting their third child in early Feb 2012.

Lisa (Jorgensen) Christensen, MaryEdith Malin and Colleen (French) Crabtree at the 01 Reunion,

Stacy Boggs sent a note that she is still working at Stryker, but is now a Unit Manager. She got to take a trip with Eva Sanchez and Tara Copas to New York City over 4th of July weekend. They also got to hang out quite a bit at the reunion.

Getting out those A-Jackets! Eva Sanchez, Jamie Flood, Lisa (Vice) Dapitch, Meredith Becker; StacyBoggs, and Tara Copas.

I received an update from Brian Livie (Class of ’78) on his son Vince from our class...Vince pinned on Major on 1 April 2011 in a ceremony in which his dad was able to read him the oath and pass down his Major leaves which were worn by his grandfather and dad. Vince and his wife, Colleen, have 3 kids (Parker, Skyler and Hunter) and he was the Exec for the 375th Wing/CC thereand now serves on the AMC/CC CAG... but not for long, since he got picked up for the C17 Cross-Flow program and will PCS to McChord AFB, WA. They have also been able to play host to several of our classmates during their travels; Lauren and DJ Palagi (both ’01) stopped by last month on their way up to the mountains for some R&R. They are both instructors at the C-17 school house in Altus, OK. Kellen (‘01) and Kimberly Williams and their cute little daughter Lucy also stopped and stayed this summer. They are stationed at Camion AFB, NM

where Kellen is an instructor in the Special Ops version ofthe C-130. They got to see Ben Hoeg (‘01) while he was stationed at Creech AFB, but he is now stationed at HollomanAFB, NM. And finally, Steve Wick (‘01) and his family when they were at Scott AFB for Vince’s pin-on. They stopped by the pin-on party with all the kids in tow Steve was just recently assigned to the staff at HQ AMC.

Roberta,

and

Givey Kochanowski and his wife welcomed their third child in August, a baby girl named Elsa. Jeff Feuring returned from a year in Afghanistan in late September. He and his family drove through Iowa on their way to their new assignment and stayed with us for 2 days. It was fun to see our 4 kids play together like they had known each other their whole lives! Carmen (Andrews) Yocum is currently living in Montgomery, AL with her husband, 2 sons and 2 step-daughters. She is working as a nurse and hoping to re-enter the Air Force in the future. Melanie Ecung separated from the AF in 2007 and completed medical school at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. She graduated in May and has returned to NewYork where she is completing her residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the Albany Medical Center.

'-new

Finally, Mike and I are still here in Iowa with our 2 kids, Grant and Abigail. We were fortunate to be able to attend the reunion sans children and had a great time with all our friends that we hadn’t seen in many years! Here is a picture ofthe whole gang on our last night...we even skyp’ed with Kochanowski (who Angela is holding up in the Thanks and keep the updates coming! Faith

Amy Schultz Kauvar

343 Wild rose Ave.

San Antonio, TX 78209 (215) 280-1760

amykauvar@gmail.com

Class Facebook: USAFA Class of 2002

Class Website: www.usafa02.org

(5 Sabre Society Donors)

(Editor’s note: We did not receive an inputfrom Amyfor this issue due to lack ofinformationfrom her classmates. Shealso has askedfor a volunteer to take over as the ’02 class scribe. Volunteers or the class president should contact Tom Kroboth, Class News Editor, at Tom.Kroboth@aogusafa.org.) l"YJ?

Susan Lynn (Doyle) Maly (703) 909-3830

USAFA2003@gmail.com

susanlynnl981@yahoo.com

Class Facebook Page: Usafa Zerothree

111

HeyBongers, hope this finds you all doingwell! Here’s the latest news: Jesse Stubbs finished a busyyear as OG exec at Kadena AB. Now he’s back to the squadron and was upgraded to evaluator pilot. Jesse was selected for Phoenix Reach crossflow to C- 17s at McChord AFB and will be there next July.

Matt O’Donnell sent a great update: “The Dirty Dozen got part of the band back together for back-to-back weekend wedding celebrations last month. On 18 June, John Stock, Dave Frank, Kelly MeGann and I attended Josh Jessup’s wedding in Mayodan, NC. Our classmate and former Vandenberg Hall neighbor Brian Metcalf also arrived for a nice ceremony and fun outdoor reception at a nearby vineyard. I can report that all visitors got out of town before also developing Josh’s defining Carolina accent.

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The following weekend, 25 June, we again reunited (minus newly married Josh) in College Park, MD for Kelly McGann’s wedding. Also in attendance was ’03er Kelly’s Biloxi running-mate and D.C. resident Joey Plank. It was a happy ceremony and the good times were carried on to the reception. All had a great time cracking jokes and celebrating over both weekends and we agreed that another reunion date was needed on the calendar.

In summary, a quick update...John Stock and his wife, Kellie, are in stationed atVance in Enid, OKwhere Johnjust graduated his first class of new pilots in June. The Stocks also welcomed a baby girl Avery in the spring. Dr. Frank and his wife Dr. Nina Frank are based in Fort Worth where they are working as a dentist and orthodontist, respectively. Kelly McGann and his wife, Stephanie, are based in College Park, MD and Kelly is entering his second year of law school in nearby Baltimore, while Stephanie is a teacher in nearby Bethesda. Brian Metcalf is working as an attorney and he and his wife, Julia, are based in Peoria, IL. Both working professionals, they are also kept busy by their 1-year-old baby girl Ellesyn.

Joshua Jessup and his wife, Francis, live on the gulf coast where Josh is molding the next generation ofABMers as an instructor. Joey Plank and his wife, Beth, an attorney, are based in D.C. and Joey is making a power-commute up to NYC from Mon-Fri where he is learning the ropes in finance.

Finally, I couldn’t get enough of Germany and moved back as a civilian. I am working at a startup company near my home base in Karslruhe. Wishing safe returns to all our deployed classmates and cheers to the entire 2003 family. Look me up anytime. Cheers, Matt O’Donnell.’’

Thanks for all of the updates! Take care, Susan

PSC 78, Box 4252

AP0 AP 96326

Home: (214) 261-2065

windyshort82@gmail.com

Brian,

Colleen

Vince Livie at his Major Pin-On Ceremony.

Maurice Ecung (Class of 1968), Melanie Ecung (’01), Mom, and Allison Ecung (Class of2003).

The WolfpackGangfrom left are Raul andAngela (Feldman) Ochoa, Brent Bak, Ian Swayze, Brent Greer, MikeDunn, Brian Nealon,AllisonNealon, Faith Dunn,Amy Greer, StacySwayze, Tricia Bak, Carolyn and TonyMariapain.

life-altering events over the past few months, and each one has been met with an outpouring of unwavering support from the Academy family that would make George Baileyproud. (That’s a movie reference to “It’s a Wonderful Life” for those who don’t recognize the name.) So to all those ofyou out there—you know who you are—thank you for making the grad family what it should be: something we can count on, no matter how much time has passed; no matter what difficulties we face. Moments like thatremind me ofthe single greatest reason those four (or five) years ofAcademy trials were worth it.

On a lighter note, Tim Gerne helped close down the last of the squadrons at Grand Forks AFB in December 2010. Fie also graduated from Weapons School with Jeff Gould and Dana Stockton in June, after which Tim PCSed to RAF Mildenhall with his wife, Lynlee. He’s looking forward to traveling around Europe andI’d say he and his entire WIC class deserves a vacation somewhere like that! Congrats, my friend, and enjoy!

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Kari (Thompson) Puccia alsohas good news to report. She earned her RN license in September, and she’s still in school to complete a master’s degree in nursing. I remember running into Kari at Lou Graffeo’s wedding (to lovely wife, Jess!) a couple years ago, and this second career of hers had barely begun. Now, Kari is on the fast track to refining seriouslyimpressive skills, and she is starting a nurse practitioner program next year! Best of luck with the rest ofyour schooland training, and please keep us posted.

That’s all for this quarter, folks. Thanks for letting me wax sentimental there at the beginning. As a teaser for next quarter, I will add that as of 10:26 am on 24 October, I am a proud godmother-to-be for a certain classmate’s beautiful babygirl.. .ifthe Mom gives me permission, we’ll add the full scoop (and hopefully photos) in next quarter’s class news! In the meantime, keep doin’ what you do to make this the kind offamily I always hope will stay in touch.

John Tamasitis

801 King St., Apt. K Columbia, SC 29205

Tamasiti@email.sc.edu

Cell: 610-850-3352

(2 Sabre Society Donors)

Class of 2005,

Hope this note finds everyone doing well and everyone is enjoying life. I am finally through the first halfof my first semester here at law school at the University of South Carolina in Columbia and am wondering what I got myself in to. I got a note from fellow ’05ers Brittany Wright (now Walter) and her husband, Colton Walter, who have been trying to raise a brand new babygirl while trying to juggle law school at the William S. Richardson School ofLaw in Hawaii. Awesome life.. .1 have no idea how she is making it happen and keeping her sanity, but it seems that they are doingjust line.

We also got a note fromWill Guthrie. The attached picture is fromWill’s wedding in Philadelphia this past March. Next up is Robert Barkers who tied the knot his fiancee, Tamika, in September at the Academy chapel. I saw the Facebook posts of this wedding and it looked incredible. Congrats to both ofyou.

and Cameron Radon were to be groomsmen with Nathan’s brother, Tyler Terrazone (Class of 2004) as the best man.

Just a quick reminder, we have a class Facebook page now and ifyou are not on the group list, please shoot me a quick message and I will get you added. As always, please email, Facebook, or write me allthe news about yourself and what is going on in everyone’s crazy lives!

Stay safe and have fun.

Dayle (Morell) Hartung

12918 50th Ave. Court NW

Gig Harbor, WA 98332 daylehartung@gmail.com

Facebook group:”Feel the Fire”

HappyHoliday season class of 2006! As another year comes to an end, I hope we can reach out to our fellow classmates; especially those deployed overseas, and let them know how much their work means to us. So many have spent the majority of their career fighting these wars that there are few and far between who hear thank you enough.

As for updates, we have some amazing news from Erin (Fraizer) Boone. She and her husband welcomed their firstchild into the world on Sept. 7th, 2011!

Her name is Aoife Roslyn Katherine Boone and she was named, with the blessing of the Schulte family, after our classmate and dear friend, Roslyn Schulte. It was an honor for her family to allow Erin to use the name in memory of Roz and she couldn’t think of a better role model for her little girl to growup with. Erin was also able to see a fellow Shadow, Edward Montgomery, in Biloxi only a week or two before she delivered and it was awesome to catch up with him. He had amazing TDYs with his Ramstein C-130 squadron this summer, including a trip to Paris to see another Shadow, Rhoshanda McGruder who scored herself a sweet embassy gig there these days! Erin’s whole, beautiful family is headed to Colorado Springs in November to go house hunting for her upcoming PCS to USAFA just after Christmas. She will be teaching in the English department and she is ecstatic to be returning to teach on the hill and to meet up with oldfriends such as Ashley (Hubbard) Anderson who is teaching in the Philosophy department and my old roommate Rachael (DenHoed) Grant and her husband, Yuba Grant, who is currently teaching there as well.Hard to believe that by the time they start teaching it will be a decade since we all inprocessed for BCT... starting to feel old already!

In non-C Springs news, Chris Franks and Elijah Supper just returned from handling Muammar Gaddafiand helping the rebels get rid of a 42year rule of dictatorship. (READ: they were supporting operation Unified Protector for 6 months; once on a 96-hour notice deployment helped the rebels by providing SEAD support for the NATO forces and blowing up a lot of stuff.) Upon retiring home they enjoyed AF handing it to Navy and catching up with a lotof ’06ers like Jason Brown and Dan Gilbertson, to name a few. James Steel was also a part of their road trip up there.

In the Guthrie wedding were, from left, Chancellor Larracuente, Aaron Jones, Will Guthrie, Sean Mitchell and Robert Barkers.

More wedding news: Classmate Nathan Terrazone was to marry his fiancee Isa Poso inMiami this fall. Fellow ’05ers Darren Smith, Blake Baldi,

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Finally, attached is a picture of Clayton Couch and his beautiful wife. They were married on August 6th. He’s on his way to Bagram, Afghanistan for his second 6-month tour of duty in the F-15E Strike Eagle in the past year. Currently at 100+ combat missions and counting with the 336th Rocketeers and now the 335th Chiefs out of Seymour Johnson AFB, NC.

Speaking ofRoz Schulte, I am currently down in beautiful Montgomery, AL with Taren (Clement) Wellman at JASOC. Taren is scheduled to run a half marathon on Veteran’s Day in honor of our fallen classmate. It still amazes me how many lives Roz continues to touch.

Thank you all for what you do, whether you are still in the service or pursuing other dreams. I look forward to seeing you all soon, and also bringing home the Commander and Chief’s trophy again!

Casey (Bayne) Whitson

P.0. Box 3005

El Segundo, CA 90245 (310) 343-5969

checkpoints@caseybayne.com

Hi Class of2007,

I hope you all are doing well. I didn’t receive many updates this edition. I know the holidays are upon us but ifyou get a chance shoot me a photo and a quick blurb about where you are and what you are doing.

I did receive one great update from Chrystina Short. She and Matt Jones, a ’05 Citadel Grad, are engaged! They were set to wed on November 19, 2011 in Little Rock, AR. They both fly C- 130s and are moving to Yokota AB in Japan after their wedding. Congrats Chrystina and thanks for sharing their awesome engagement photo.

Have a great Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas and don’t forget your updates can be short and sweet or novels; just send me an email or facebook message and a photo and I’ll submit it for the upcoming edition.

beloch (front left) and Kyle Sanders (front right).

Speaking of 2008 grads in the Predator community... Tony Paladino is currently deployed in support of MQ-1 operations in OND. Tony’s wife, Ashley, gave birth to a son, Logan, this past spring. As Tony puts it, “Logan is approaching 7 months old and he is tons of fun!” Like the Johnsons, the Paladino family is also stationed at Creech AFB, NV. Tony tells me he and Ashley’s ultimate goal, however, is to get back to Colorado, eventually. Tony has another 2-3 years in the MQ-1 before his next flying assignment, at which time he will likely be selected to fly a cargo or tanker aircraft.

Tony, Ashley, and Logan Paladino.

Josh Ellis and his wife, Katie, were also blessed with the arrival of a child this spring. Hannah Jane Ellis was born on May 5th Josh says, “We (along with our 2 dogs, Annabelle and Bishop) love Hannah and have so much fun watching her learning and laughing every day.” Josh and Katie live in Clovis, NM, where Josh is assigned to Cannon AFB as a pilot.

Trenton Sandberg

2400 4th Ave., Apt. 459 Seattle, WA 98121 (719) 646-9090

trenton.sandberg@gmail.com

(No Sabre Society DonorsYet)

Richter Class, Bryce Johnson was married on July 23rd to Kimberly Dahl, who hails from the GREAT state of Nebraska. The couple met through a mutual friend, Bekah Knobeloch (wife of Roger Knobeloch). Kimberly graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in accounting in 2009 and received her MBA from the same school last fall. Fellow ’08 grads Kyle Sanders and Roger Knobeloch served as groomsmen. Bryce and Kimberly are currently living in Las Vegas, NM, where Bryce is assigned to Creech AFB as a Predator pilot and Kimberly is a sales coordinator for a subcontractor. This spring, Bryce returned from Iraq as the first 2008 grad in the Predator community to deploy.

Josh, Katie, and Hannah Ellis.

At the risk of making this article “baby severe,” Joel Martin and his wife, Danielle, gave birth to a baby boy, Landon, this past August. Landon was born only a couple days prior to Joel’s birthday. The Martin’s are currently living in Florida, where Joel is assigned to Eglin AFB as an operational test analyst/engineer at AFOTEC. If you’re like me and have absolutely no

Chrystina Short and Matt Jones

Bryce Johnson and his wife, Kimberly, with groomsmen Roger Kno-

idea what that means, Joel’s unit performs the final round of OT testing on armament and electronic warfare systems acquisitions.

A few other pseudo-recentdeployments in addition to the ones mentioned above include Ian Augustine (MC-12), Andrew Derwae (KC-10), Matt Eggert (C-17), Devin Hart (OSI), Chris Mahan (C-17), Ben Matalino (KC-135), Ben Mendel (KC-135), Amy Moore (C-17), Jesse Mortensen (C21), Jethro Sadorra (CE Officer), Andrew Saleh (C-17), Reilly Smith (MC12), Gene Strand (C-17), Jesse Strickler (KC-135), and Matt Weinberg (C17x2). In addition to his deployment in support of OEF, Devin Hart also recently began a new job as an ROTC Instructor at UCLA.

As a final note, if anyone is interested in assuming the duties of class scribe (i.e. taking my job as the individual whosubmits these updates), please let me know. Ifyou want to take the job permanently or temporarily, I’m fine with either. That’s it for this issue send me good news!

ForrestUnderwood

9220B Carlson St. Del Rio, TX 78840

forrestunderwood@gmail.com

Facebook: Forrest J. Underwood

Classmates! We sunk Navy again and hopefully, by the time you are reading this, we have beaten Army and the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy remains where it belongs in Colorado. Our classmates are returning from deployments, PCSing, getting new assignments, and making some incredible contributions! We have proud parents, happy spouses, and our family continues to grow every day. Continue doing all of the incredible work you’ve been doing; it’s amazing to watch as our class matures into the future leaders of our Air Force, industries, and various other capacities. Keep sending updates on where you are, what you’re doing, and I’ll continue to post!

If you happen to be a family member, friend, etc. and would like to submit infofor the next Checkpoints update for the Class of 2009 (HUB!), please feel free to send it my way: forrestunderwood@gmail.com.

It’s our time, Forrest.

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CONGRATS: Kevin Mauer got married to his longtime girlfriend Lauren at the USAFA chapel! Joe Atherton got married at the USAFA chapel! Tom Nicholson and Tory Galli got engaged. Keidrick Roy got engaged! DerekAndeweg survived another year oflife with a birthday party in Little Rock!

ASSIGNMENTS: Tom Nicholson isWSOing F-18 Super Hornets in Lemoore, CA. Tory Galli dropped a KC-10 to Travis AFB. Dave Nan dropped a C-130H to Little Rock AFB. Ryan Whitehead will be a WSO on the AC130U at Hurlbert Field, FL. Josh Bird dropped a KC-10 to McGuire AFB. Mike Giannone dropped a KC-10 to McGuire AFB.

DEPLOYMENTS: James Elliot has returned from a 9-month deployment to Jalalabad, Afghanistan as the deputy engineer on Provincial Reconstruction Team Nangarhar, attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AirAssault). PSCed from 36 Civil Engineer Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam to 820th RED HORSE Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV on 9 September. He is currently tasked as the Engineering OIC for Operation NEW HORIZONS Peru with a 3-month deployment scheduled for the Summer of 2012.

OTHER SPOOGE: Sean Perry flew his first C-17 mission from McGuire AFB to Afghanistan. No big deal.

After graduating UPT in Dec 2010, Julie Luce has racked up almost 300 hrs at the 21 AS at Charleston AFB. Here she is on one of her routine trips to Afghanistan:

Todd Gamiles

201 Ocheckpoints@gmail.com (503) 367-0717

Another quiet quarter for 2010. Starting off in relationship news (why does this piece always read like a tabloid?), TynerApt got engaged to Myles Morales, and Whitney Martin married Jordan Hayes (’08). Ifyou know any of them, please pass along your congratulations and maybe a small gift. The section Tyner supervises also got an “Outstanding” rating during their UCI this past quarter, so clearly she’s doing great things! Largest highlight of the quarter for me was being back east at McGuire AFB for training during both Hurricane Irene and the earthquake. Being from the west coast, I definitely don’t envy those classmates of mine who have lived through hurricanes on a regular basis. It was an eerie feeling to see a normally busy ramp of KC-10 and C-17 aircraft completely devoid of airframes.

Sabre Society Donors

NoneYet

In sports, since we’re stationed in Idaho, myself, Kyle Meakins (’08), Kyle’s dad (also a grad, though I don’t remember what year), Andrew Herzog, Randall Kindle, Tyler Beal, and a few of Kyle’s class buddies all tailgated together beforethe Boise State/Air Force football game this past month. We also had the privilege of sitting in the visitor’s section with a myriad of Academy graduates from all sorts of class years (way too many to list). I intended to grab some photos of the tailgate, but was having such a good time I totallyforgot. At the game, I sat next to an old friend, Rachel Egley (’07) who I actually met while deployed as part of Ops AF my Firstie year (see picture).

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Maverick Lewis is about to put warheads on foreheads!

Rachel ended up getting stationed at Mt Home with me, so it goes to prove that the Air Force is definitely small. The game itself was entertaining to watch as the Vegas line had BSU favored by 30 but Air Force kept it close. I don’t think I’ve seen that many Boise State fans that nervous in the 4th quarter, especially at a home game. It will be a very interesting game next year when BSU makes the journey to Falcon Stadium assuming both schools remain in the Mountain West. I hope all is going well with the class, and as always, if you have an update you would like to share (or know of something noteworthy that needs to be shared) please pass it along to the contact info above. I can’t promise a quick response since I don’t check that box that often, but I promise I will see it eventually. You can always hit me up on Facebook ifyou need a faster turn time.

’Til next time, blue skies and tailwinds.

emy and can finally show off those shiny butter bars we worked so hard for. Second, I hope everyone thoroughly enjoyed their 60 days and lived life to the fullest. I hope it was an awesome time with friends and family and y’all got to experience the world and do things you have never done before. With that being said, I hope these last few months of“life on the other side” and life in the Air Force has treated everyone well. It wasan exciting 4-year adventure at the Academy and now it is time to start the rest of our lives!

Sabre Society Donors

NoneYet

Elizabeth Borroni

8149 A Johnson St. Del Rio, TX 78840 (979) 571-1180

elizabeth.borroni@gmail.com

Olds Class, First, congratulations to everyone! We finally made it through the Acad-

GoneButNotForgotten: (Continuedfrom page96.)

JohnW. Mangen III, ’79

John (Jack) W. Mangan III passed away on Sept. 17, 2011, when the T28 demonstration plane he was piloting crashed during a performance in Martinsburg, W.V. All who knew Jack are suffering his loss but we take solace in the fact that he left us doing what he loved.

Jack was born in Boston, Mass, on July 8, 1957. A Boy Scout and avid baseball player, he graduated from Dedham High in 1975 andthe U.S. Air Force Academy in 1979. He attended pilot training at Reese AFB, Texas then married his high school sweetheart, the former Kathy McKinney. Jack attended RF-4 RTU at Shaw AFB, S.C. prior to their first assignment to Bergstrom AFB in Texas. Jack excelled becoming a First Assignment Instructor Pilot and was selected as the 1984 Tactical Air Command’s RF-4 Instructor Pilot of the Year. While in Austin, Jack and Kathy were blessed with the birth of Pamela, and their son, Sean, two years later. In 1984, Jack was assigned to the F-15C at Soesterberg Air Base, theNetherlands. A proud member of the 32nd TFS “Wolfhounds”, the assignment would be one ofthe highlights oftheir lives. Next was Tyndall AFB in Florida and the 95th TFS “Boneheads”, to serve as an F-15 Instructor Pilot. Jack added to his hobby list by taking up golf, biking, and sailing. In 1990, their third child, Elizabeth, was born. To no surprise, Jack was named “Outstanding Instructor Pilot of the Year” at Tyndall.

After much deliberation and soul-searching, Jack left his Air Force career behind and transitioned to the civilian world in the fall of 1992. He joined up with a New Jersey company, Manhattan Bagel, and became their largest franchiser in the country. Jack and Kathy eventually moved to their present home on Lake Norman, in Cornelius, N.C. and in 2000, Jack became a partner in a new venture, Restaurant Management Group (RMG). Jack and his partners went on to own numerous Hardees and Little Caesars restaurants in several states. When asked how he managed so many facilities, he stated “no restaurant is more than one and a half hours away by plane;” he called it “a labor of love.”

In 2003, Jack suffered a major heart attack which made him more aware of life’s fragility. Determined to live life to the fullest, he returned to the cockpit and started a “bucket list” which took him sightseeing in Hawaii and Europe, fishing in Alaska, and golfing in Scotland. Jack went

As we embark on our new journeys and face new adventuresand challenges, there will be a lot of exciting events and changes that will happen in our lives. As a class, we bonded at the Academy. Let us keep that bond strong by actively letting our classmates know what is happening. This “Class News” section in Checkpoints is a great way to keep everyone informed about life events, assignments, deployments, and whatever important news that you want our class to know! So Class of Olds, please send me pictures, news, and updates via email, phone, or Facebook and if I’m close to you, just come up and chat! I look forward to hearing from y’all soon so the next edition can be better and update everyone on what’s going on!

-Elizabeth Borroni

to see the Red Sox play at as many ballparks as he could. He celebrated his 50th birthday with a hot air balloon ride and went sky diving the next year. On Oct. 29, 2007, Jack and Kathy became grandparents with the arrival of their grandson, Gavin. It also was the day the Red Sox won anotherWorld Series, so Jack was ecstatic.

Four years ago, Jack was asked to join the Trojan Horsemen Air Team, the only T-28 performance team in America. He loved his country and felt this was an opportunity to give back to the citizens who paid for his Academy education. He loved performing and educating people on military aviation.

Jack was a man who lived his faith. He believed in treating others as he would like to be treated. He was honest, kind, compassionate and respectful to all he worked with. Jack enjoyed a good laugh and ifhe was your friend, you knew it was for life.

So long “Flash”; you will be missed. However we all know that now you only have blue skies ahead. Until we meet again my friend. (Friend ofthefamily, CharlyShugg, 80)

(Editor’s note: TheAOG does not always have all the information, such as place ofdeath, concerning the death ofa graduate. We onlypublish the information we have available on each deceased graduate.)

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

Col. (Ret) Jimmie L. Jay, Class of 1959, who died on Nov. 4, 2011 in Port Haywood, Va.

Col. (Ret) Charles G. Thomas, Class of 1961, who died on Nov. 2, 2011 in Albuquerque, N.M.

Col. (Ret) Thomas L. Leib, Class of 1966, who died on Nov. 4, 2011 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Mr. Larry A. Lundholm, Class of 1966, who died on Sept. 9, 2011 in Stillwater, Okla.

Col. (Ret) Michael C. Francisco, Class of 1967, who died on Nov. 11, 2011 in Niceville, Fla.

Mr. Felipe Villafranca (Foreign Cadet), Class of 1970, who died on April 28, 2011 in the Philippines.

Mr. James P. Kiel, Class of 1971, who died on May 14, 2010.

Mr. John B. Van Coevering, Class of 1973, who died on Sept.

17, 2011 in Miami, Fla.

Col. (Ret) Steven A. Harman, Class of 1973, who died on Nov. 21, 2011 in Tampa, Fla.

Lt. Col. (Ret) John M. Pretz, Class of 1973, who died on Oct.

15, 2011 in Manassas, Va.

Lt. Col, (Ret) Michael L. Berrian, Class of 1976, who died on Aug. 25, 2011 in Arkansas.

Col. Glenn R. Schumacher, Class of 1981, who died on Sept. 10, 2011 in Bonaire, Ga.

Mr. Tuan H. Nguyen, Class of 1993, who died on Oct. 12, 2011 in California.

2nd Lt. David J. Salazar, Class of 2009, who died on Nov. 11, 2011 in Minot, N.D.

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

JackMangen

Graduates in action. USAF ops at Joint Base Balad, Iraq

Major Colleen McBratney-1996

Civ David Gibbs-1979

Capt Heather Smith-2007

Lt Brian Dunn-2009

Col Paul Beineke-1989

Brig Gen Kurt Neubauer-1981

Lt Col Paul Murray-1994

Lt Col Beachel Curtis-1990

Col Martin Rothrock-1990

Lt Matthew Stillman-2008

Middle Row

Major Craig Goolsby-1998

Lt Col Gerald Szybist-1991

CaptWilliam Bell-2007

Major Preston Schlachter-1994

Top Row

Capt Alexandria Palmer-2007

Capt John Mann-2007

Capt John Anderson-2003

Capt Neils Barner-2002

Lt Col Lee Spechler-1993

Capt Stephen Slaughter-2004

Lt Daylan Phillips-2009

Lt Col Stephen Grotjohn-1994

Lt Col August Marquardt-1994

Front Row - Left to Right