The Class of 1970 is upgrading its website (70SEAPavilion.org) and interactive screens in the SEA Pavilion. Members of the Classes of 1959 through 1974 are invited to send your personal stories and pictures about the war in SEA to Dick Rauschkolb at aog70@comcast.net. Few of us know how we may have inspired others; one story here. Joe Brezovic went to play racquetball at VAFB, and picked up a game with a younger officer. We learned that we both were USAFA grads… he had just graduated in May 2017. He asked me if I knew a Mark Smith. Of course I said Why yes… [Maj] General Smith is the national director for the Civil Air Patrol. The young officer said that was great to hear, because he inspired me to go to the Air Force Academy when he was leader of our CAP unit. Well done, Mark! Perhaps there are other stories out there. At this point, the only other person I know working with the Civil Air Patrol is J.J. Romano, who does glider flights for the unit in Texas. Would you let the scribe know if you, too, are involved? Never too old to work with the next generation! This instant in Members time got me to think of other 54% unsung heroes. Through research through the Academy 2014 records, I offer applauds to the officers working with military leadership programs for our youth. Sabre Society First are the ROTC leaders: Donors Lance Bachran, ROTC (92-94); 40 William Batson (78-80); Joseph Buckwalter (80-84); Christopher Campbell (97-99); David DiMarchi (81-84); Mario DiPrimo (99-01); Gary Elliott (89-92); Mark Gehri (99-00); Paul Hankins (77-78); Jim Judkins (81-84); William MacElhaney (99-00); Mark Rader(SOS75-78 ROTC 78-79); David Reinholz (97-99); and David Wildman (77-80). Our JROTC leaders work with 9th thru 12th grade students. JROTC senior aerospace and science instructors include: Antonio Ferraro (04-14); Frank Forsyth (12 years); David S. Wilson (04-09); and William Pailes (still teaching JROTC in Texas since 2002). David Wilson, for the last 12 years, has extended his work with JROTC students into what he does now in the Military Order of World Wars (MOWW). Each summer, there is a youth leadership conference in his city, Edmond, OK. They bring in about 60 high schoolers for week-long training. MOWW hosts 29 such conferences across the nation. Interested officers are always welcome. As David writes: “Also, we are ‘diversified.’ Instead of only MOWW members as presenters, we bring in speakers from government, military, corporations -- from the governor of Oklahoma, three-star generals, corporate and military leaders of all shapes and sizes, district judges, university professors to privates who served in Vietnam.” Frank Forsyth also taught on an online com-
pany called The Potter’s School, a Christian organization that caters to missionary and home school kids; and even enabled one to enter USAFA. He would have stayed longer, but he was on doctor’s orders to remove himself from many hours using the computer. Frank and Joanie now are retired but spend time with three grandchildren, who are sadly 225 miles away! David (Joanie) Garramone recently moved to Clemson, SC, on Lake Keowee. He felt they were too old to move – but they love the setting. A little rural, but they feel that slow is good at this point! Dave Rusk moved from Virginia to Clayton, NC. Hobart Bates sent a note and picture of flying his Super Cub that he bought in 1989 while in Mountain Home. This portrays exemplary dedication to a project and pride of ownership!
Hobey in the sky. I came across an article, several years old, which reports of Joe Traficanti’s retraining. It covers Joe’s beginning as a lawyer working for a food company. His main concern is that good food comes through the system, and that no one gets ill “On his watch!” Joe sent a portion of his planning calendar… which tells of classmates getting together in different parts of the U.S. and where they may be. Joe and Kathi T had dinner with Gary and Maureen Kirksteatter from Yorktown. Bill and Jill Capp come in from Charlottesville occasionally for hiking, biking or team events. Joe, after a meeting in Scottsdale, AZ, had lunch with Bill Sims, who works as a lawyer there. Thank you very much, Joe.
lites out of Boeing in D.C. offices and occasionally Colorado Springs. Wyatt Stafford writes in for the first time. Wyatt had a “TIA event,” similar to a stroke depriving blood to the brain a few years ago. He is divorced, living in a suburb of Austin and near his daughter and grandsons. Wyatt’s big project is a fiction novel, and to be famous just before he dies… “It worked for Mozart,” Wyatt wrote. He wishes ’74 Zoomsters well.
Wreaths Across Classmates! As for commemorating our service members, there is Wreathes Across America in December (December 15, 2018) over the gravesites across the nation. Look it up if you wish to get involved. It may be near your home. This year at USAFA, Tom Hayden and Charlie Bryant volunteered to support the program, and were able to lay a wreath on the gravestone of Kevin Court, Richard Wohlman and others resting on USAFA grounds. Regarding memories, a sad note from Ed Feeney on his AFA C3C roommate. Tom Pyrch passed on to rest in Raleigh, NC, after a long battle with cancer. Ed sent me the note a few days before the funeral, and a note was sent out immediately, hoping someone may be in the area to attend Tom’s service and support his wife, Becky. One airman from yesteryear wrote that he “saw firsthand Tom’s incredible bravery, leadership and flying skills in Desert Storm – he was an inspiration to us all.” I hope each of you still feel you can inspire someone, but we may never know who. Whatever you chose to do, may you do it well, and may you live long and prosper. –Joe Brezovic, 228 Senior Circle, Lompoc, CA 93436; (832) 285-4179; launchops74@gmail.com
1975
CS-15 mini-reunion members at Dave and Kenna Rusk’s home on Lake Gaston, NC. Stephanie and Scott Hoke; Kenna Rusk, Kathy and Gary Sambuchi, Mike and Gloria Pefley and Dave Rusk. Recent finds of classmates: Fred (wife, Allyson) Bryant is alive and well with family in England, 40 miles north of London. Fred is with a Joint Service Analytic Center. Marc Johansen works with satel-
GBNF: Larry T. “Tom” Bishop, CS-26, passed away on 5 Nov 2017 in Missouri of renal failure. Tom flew the RF-4 while on active duty and worked in the Kansas City after departing the Air Force. More information can be found at 75bestalive.org. Retirements: It appears the Best Alive are retiring at an ever increasing rate. Many of them went to the airlines and, judging from some of the landings we cattle in the back experienced, forgot to teach their underlings the concept of the flare. If you have reached the golden age of 65 and don’t find your name listed below maybe it’s time to sit down in a dank corner and do Checkpoints · March 2018 · 115