General. It may seem to some of us we that are either reminiscing about a previous reunion or planning the next one. By the time you read this, our 35th will be well less than a year away. See the info later in this column. I know Bruce Mitchell and his committee can always use some help, so please contact him if you feel the volunteer spirit.
Classmates. From Jim Carlson: I took the 5 July photos while I was in Anchorage. Hoss Erving, Gary Janelli, and Mark Risi and I had a mini-reunion to celebrate our 38-year friendships and to raise a toast to our GBNF. Mark still has his class bathrobe!
Small World Department: From Cos (Willie Cosby): On Thursday, July 8th, I am out buying milk in my neighborhood at a store I seldom go into. As I am paying I look up and in walks Rich Chanick. I shout his name and he tries to ignore me, but finally comes to his senses and realized someone had really called his name. I force him to our house for a quick glass of wine and then out to dinner with me and my wife, Cynthia. Of course he was buying.
Subject: Lt Col Townsend Retirement 25 September 2009. From Ben Bosma: Yesterday, I attended Rick Townsend's retirement ceremony at WPAFB. It was great. Rick was one of only 46 people still in uniform from the 7,600 2nd Lts commissioned in 1975. His retirement was officiated by Mike McClendon, who's words were inspirational and informative. Also there were Lee Monroe, Eric Hoganson, and Fred Whitican. Standing in for Lance Grace was his 2Lt son, Clayton. In a bizarre twist, I've decided to accept a recall to active duty. This whole business with Aerovation has been both fun and rewarding but not financially productive so I'm going to Las Vegas in February to fly Reapers for 48 months. Sometime in February I'm going to gather as many of our classmates together to swear me back in. I don't know if I'll be the "last man standing" in 2013 but I'll bet there won't be many. My rationale is that I'll be better able to run Aerovation with a paying job than I'm doing now where I have to work long hours as a stealth engineer on my own. The market for old engineers like me is poor where the Air Force is in dire need of fighter pilots to fly the armed drones. I'll be flying combat missions from Creech AFB controlling UAVs 7500 miles away. I tried to politick my way back to WPAFB on active duty but even at the 3-star level they were unable to pull that stunt. I had an offer to manage a program here at WPAFB that uses no less than two of my patents in stealth! I reckon my job at Creech will be stressful but rewarding at the same time. Ginny and I are going to get a condo in Las Vegas (they are a bargain right now) and keep our home here in Dayton. She's going to commute and I'll focus on getting Aerovation to work out there. With the internet and cell phones we're not far from each other. She's been known to text me from across the house so this won't be too much of a stretch.
From Lance Grace: I may have talked my son into attending the ceremony as a next generation representative of the Class of ‘75. He's a brand new 2Lt at Wright Patterson. He wanted me to send his picture to a couple classmates who will be there (Sam Ryals and maybe Mike McClendon) so they know who this kid is. But I figured I'd send everyone this picture that most of you can relate with. My son Clayton graduated from Arizona State University as a member of ROTC. Although Pres Obama officially swore them all in, they went through the more traditional ceremony the next day where I swore him into the Air Force. I pulled out my uniform that I probably purchased as a Captain almost 30 years ago and hadn't touched for 14 years. They must have been well-built back then because I didn't pop any seams or buttons. Didn't pass out from constricting my breathing either. I changed outfits very quickly afterwards to help get my blood circulating again. Ed and Jan Kasl were there to help celebrate and laugh at the old man.
From Mark Holmes To Jim Carlson: How've you been, buddy? Man, I see you all over the place doing class business, not sure how you do it all – and work - but a big thanks from all of us. Wanted to catch up, pass on a couple photos and yuk I think the whole class can appreciate. The year's been great but for discovering I had a broken neck in November. I'd had a pain that kept getting worse every day at the gym and took a break when I went to see my folks for their 90th birthdays, but while I was there ended up in the emergency room in Tampa so bad I couldn't think. To make a long story short, I got home, had some MRI's done and had two cracks in my neck. Trying to recall where that might have happened, and came up with two.... I'd gotten hit on the motorcycle from the rear in May, and hit a several-foot deep pothole in Taos in August. My brother was riding in front of me, I watched him disappear from view, then pop up all cock-eyed and immediately envisioned a lot of torn flesh. I didn't go down but definitely hit real hard. Take your pick, either one of them probably made the crack that lifting too much for a 55-year old opened up and I ended up down for four of the worst months of pain I can remember, and you know I've been thru a lot. Here's the good part. I started getting better with a rehab nurse that could've put Nurse Ratched from the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to shame with her attitude, but she got me better over a couple of months.
On my last visit, she said 'I've got one more exercise I need you to do, you're coming along fine but this should finish the therapy. She hands me a sheet from the printer and says "Do you think you can do this?" I looked at it and then started laughing my ass off (she didn't get the joke) when I saw the instructions. Yeah, I think I can do that. Here's the page...Good one, huh? And I just thought it was only done to harass doolies...it had a PURPOSE! After a winter like that, I was ready for a change of scenery, both here and on the road, so with the drought, economy and energy prices I decided to do my part here, and over the spring and have made every light on the house exterior solar and/or Led lighting. I did the math, the place is ablaze in light evenings through near dawn, and I'm not using as much current as a single Compact Fluorescent bulb. Amazes me, figure if everyone did that we could probably avoid building a few hundred new power plants. It just needs to get cheaper, and will when they scale up. It's also nice to have fresh vegetables every morning and evening, and pretty relaxing to boot. [Went to] Florida to visit the folks. It was real nice seeing them, I feel so blessed I'm 56, and have two parents, not only alive, but driving, lucid, taking vacations. You're a busy man and get your mailbox full of 700 others of us, plus friends. I don't know how you keep up! I couldn't keep up with having 3 email addresses. My neck's pretty much healed, Jim. Right now I seem to be (knock wood) doing well for a 56 year-old in any case, and working hard to keep it that way. Would love to see you when you're out here in October for your cruise to Mexico. Best to you, my friend.
Harry Mathis moved to Ramstein last summer.
From Jim Carlson: This might be an opportunity to gently prod a few classmates who have been out of touch to do a rejoin with the class. Of course, if those guys prefer their privacy, that's also something we should respect. In any event, I knew that one of those guys, Dan Hanifen, from my BCT GUTS Squadron, and lately of CS-25, lived in the Leesburg area. About three years ago, we tried to meet up at the annual Virginia Beer Festival in Ashburn, but our schedules didn't match up. He dropped off email comms about that time, and I lost touch with Dan. Last summer, I decided to pull another one of my infamous no-notice visit to an unsuspecting classmate and drove to his home in Leesburg (after a Google search). His wife answered and invited me in. A bit later, Dan arrived home from an afternoon of golfing and was a little taken aback seeing me. But after a beer and a few minutes catching up, Dan got comfortable with the visit from the class prez, and we had a nice afternoon of conversation and reminiscing. Dan told me that his time in the Air Force was primarily in programs that took him out of the mainstream, and therefore he had almost no contact with classmates his entire career. He said that he doesn't feel that he can take the time to make friends all over again with guys that he only remembers from 30 years ago. I did my best to explain that there more to it than that; that there's real-time business and professional networking going on. For example, I told him that I got my past jobs with SRS and HyperMedia through classmates (McCorry and Miglin respectively). I also said that we have regular get-togethers and informal lunches. And that whenever a classmate rolls into town, several of us make time to form up and spend a few minutes together catching up and renewing acquaintances and strengthening friendships (OK some just show up to drink beer). (I didn’t realize it at the time, but I could have told him his squadron-mates Bergman, Koelling, and Redmann were in the local area). Dan seemed hesitant about getting involved with classmates again, but he promised to think about it. The attached photo is Dan and me after my visit. He seemed friendly enough. I only do this with the best of intentions in keeping our class connected.
From Max DellaPia: It's . . . a rather arcane, little known distinction. From my standpoint, my brevet [general] promotion was something I was not expecting, an honor that made my retirement a little more special. My boss, Bob Knauff actually asked me why I did not apply for any of the General-Officer positions that opened during my six-year, nine-month tenure as Wing Commander. I told him I had young children and felt I needed to have a full-time job not a part-time general's position. Then, he asked, "So, why did you not apply for my job?" I responded, "With all due respect, General, I would rather be a Wing Commander than do what you do." He gritted his teeth a bit and then smiled and said, "I would have to admit being a wing commander is one of the best jobs in the Air Force but you can't do it forever." Six years and nine months is as close to forever as I got. :-)
From Peter Blatchley: We've been here in Ramstein since January 07. I'm "back in the Air Force" as a Civilian Employee, working in the Operations Directorate at 3 AF. We're renting out the house in Monument, and will return to Colorado in January 2012. Appreciate all your good efforts in keeping us connected! All the best from the Rheinland Pfalz!
From Steve Powers: Last week, as I was about to leave my layover hotel in San Diego, I was surprised to see Captain Bob Farr (from Alaska Airlines) come out of the hotel to get on the van too. Since it was a fairly short ride to the airport we only had a short while to catch up with each other, but it was still good. It is indeed a small world.
From Bill Lyerly: Greetings from Ottawa. I have been TDY overseas for almost three weeks now and I will be TDY down at USSOUTHCOM next week (where I also hope to see Gen. Doug Fraser, USAFA ‘75.) As I am not sure whether I will be able to make the USAFA-USNA game or not this year, I thought that I would forward to you a photo where I proudly wore my USAFA '75 jersey to a recent Redskins game (I am the one wearing the jersey, second from left) – in the event that you become hard-up for photos of us proudly displaying our USAFA ‘75 jerseys at football games.
From Bill Taylor: I accepted an offer for the new COO of Vortala yesterday. It's a better fit than anything I've looked at, and I am very grateful that some of the others didn't work out. A great combination of: 1) marketing and technology business that I sort of understand, 2) start-up culture, with lots of growth opportunity, 3) all employees are "virtual" so I can live in Fort Bragg (or anywhere else), 4) founders who are well outside the "corporate" cliques, 5) travel to exotic places, but not very often, 6) entrepreneurial compensation possibilities. Today's employees are in U.S., Canada, Australia, and India, but it has global market growth opportunities. I start on August 24, and travel that weekend to one of the founder's homes in Palmer Lake, Colorado (just outside the north gate). The other founder lives in Perth, Australia, but is currently living in Bangalore for a homeschooling adventure for his four young children. Founders are Chief Technology and Chief Marketing, so I'm essentially the general manager. The general manager role suits my need for control, while the start-up profile ensures it's only the illusion of control. We'll figure out CEO and CFO when we get big enough. Also, on August 24th, my four kids start school at the same place and location (three in kindergarten, one in the second grade). It's Debbie's birthday, and she considers both events a good present. Debbie is now the General Manager of Lark in the Morning (in addition to her consulting work), and is clearly superior to me. I've been a working "house dad" during the day, but have been working the second shift here in our warehouse to prepare for the next day's job networking.
One of these years, you should come out to WineSong! (www.winesong.org). It's a couple of miles from our home scattered through a stunning botanical garden on the coast, with diverse wine, food, and music, always a good combination. I was looking at a job in Ponce, Puerto Rico, but that may have to wait for a different lifetime. I'm nostalgic for the hurricanes...
From Russ Trinter: I kind of dropped off the face of the earth for awhile but I got matched back up with Chumley Collins here recently so I've been catching up on things. I moved to a new job and location and you know what happens with e-mail addresses when you do that plus I got real busy with a big acquisition (the reason I moved.) I cant believe we are already planning the next reunion, who sped up time?? I see you are still doing a great job of keeping us together so thanks for that. I also see that the East Coast has not been good to your guys living there . . what a bunch of old farts in the pictures!! I'll dust off the old cheerleading sweater and make sure I still fit into it and start practicing pushups for 2010!!
From Jim Carlson: Just a quick note to say we had a great 75 mini-reunion at the Air Force-Navy game Saturday (Oct 3rd). The weather was perfect, and it was an edge-of-your-seat tie-breaker in OT. Not the ending we wanted, but what a game! ‘75ers got together at Duane Lodrige’s Check 6 tailgate (right next to the AOG tailgate tent) and we were prominent as a class with our turnout. Dean Cox (our Reunion Merchandise chief) brought out the 75 Best Alive banner which he custom made for the class, and we gathered in front of it for the traditional event class photo. A few classmates missed First Call on the photo formation, but I managed to take their pictures and added them as disembodied heads at the foot of the group shot. This is not a complete listing of all ‘75ers there (because some classmates did not make it to the tailgate and photo shoot), but here are the ‘75ers present-and-accounted-for in the 75 Best Alive group photo: back row: Al Colley, Terry Young, Don Byers, Duane Lodrige, Willy Drow, Al Bready, Rick Rosborg, Al Piotter, Bob Akers, Mark Wells, Bill Lyerly. kneeling: John Charlton, Rudy Roth, Dean Cox, Mark Beesley, Jim Carlson. floating heads: Bill Dalson, Bruce Hopkin, Mike Heil, Hondo Hartney, Chip Kerby. As always, the most-electronically-and-personally-connected class in Academy history made their presence known. (Gallery Below)
The USAFA Endowment, a charitable foundation supporting the United States Air Force Academy, is pleased to announce the latest appointment to its Board of Directors – Brigadier General (Ret) Mark G. Beesley, Class of 1975. In June of 2006, Brigadier General Beesley retired from the United States Air Force and joined Galen Capital Corp. as a Senior Managing Director, Homeland Security Group before becoming President of Business Development for Durango Government Holdings. General Beesley served a myriad of roles in the military, most recently in the position of Deputy Director for Operations at the National Military Command Center in Washington, DC. While in this position, he was responsible for defending certified flight restricted areas surrounding Washington, DC, Camp David and Crawford, TX. For two years, he was the Vice Commander for the Seventh Air Force headquarters and Director of the Korean Air Operations Center in South Korea. He also was a member of the Commander-in-Chiefs crisis action team following the September 11th terrorist attacks. General Beesley’s military career has given him broad exposure to and contacts with military personnel, government civil servants and companies serving the Department of Defense. He has led teams in strategically monitoring worldwide events. General Beesley has also programmed future budgeting of a major acquisition from research and development through system testing and low rate initial production. He has been directly responsible for executing a $6 million annual joint exercise budget. General Beesley received a Masters Degree in National Security Strategy at the National Defense University in Washington, DC, a Masters Degree in Public Administration and Business Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, CA. and a Bachelor of Science Degree from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO.
Just in from Jim Carlson as the scribe asked him for some guidance: “Currently enroute to the port of San Diego for a short cruise with my fiancé Sarah.” Congrats to you, Jim. We hope she is understanding of your true first love (and obligation for life): your dependent classmates. The scribe will print it for the class, even as you know how we already feel: “You deserve the best.”
Classmates and Their Zoomie Offspring. The scribe condensed this string of email conversation: Bran McAllister: My son, Dan, is a 2004 grad from CS-18. Jon Turner's son, Rik, is a 2003 grad from CS-17. From Phil Gronseth: The Prep School has three squadrons: Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie. John DellaPia [Max's son] is in Alpha Squadron. I'm his academic advisor. From Max DellaPia: I graduated from CS-18. My son John is at the Prep School. He was recruited to play soccer. He's in the prep school now, got the requisite nominations (presidential & Congressional) & is on track to enter the Academy next summer. From Chris Glaeser: Pretty amazing list [of classmate kids at the zoo]. One grad has three sons, another with two that graduated. I also found it interesting that a number of GBNF classmates children successfully graduated – that's quite a legacy. From: Doug Miller: My son's name is Ryan, CS-03. He's currently flying F-16s at Hill. From Tim Murphy: Add one more to the list! Our son Timothy Barrett Murphy (Barry) is a 2001 grad. Our son-in-law is also a 2001 one grad and Barry's wife graduated from USAFA in 2002! We also have three nephews that graduated after Barry, so it's been fun!
From Charles Willis: My son, Michael is a USAFA ‘98 grad. Mark Wells was a history professor there and my son had some interactions with Mark with respect to Napoleonic miniature war-gaming. Michael not only outdid me by graduating, and doing the free-fall school at USAFA, he also did 4 years in SOF, and earned 2 no-BS Bronze Stars, as opposed to my Bronze Star downgraded to an ARCOM. He's a Major on his way to a school tour in Monterey. I did indeed get basic airborne wings at Fort Benning with the class without freefall. I never did get Master Parachutist wings or Jumpmaster wings, although I did have about 15 jumps with the Texas Army National Guard (mostly Huey jumps) and one with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg one summer. I missed the opportunity to do HALO school with the JFK Center for Military Assistance, because I left my physiological training card in Houston, even though I had my current Class III flight physical card with me. While I was in the TXARNG, they were running their own Jumpmaster school, but I gave up my slot to an NCO who was more likely to serve as a Jumpmaster.
From Rod Kallman: My son Derrick is class of 2001 & my son Lance is class of 2004. Both graduated from CS-16 like their dad. Go Chicken Hawks! From Wayne Willis: Add My Son Brian, USAFA 2005, to your list. He received a Fulbright Scholarship after graduation and is now a C-17 pilot at McChord AFB. He was in 21st Sq, just like his old man. From: Hugh Gray: Please add my oldest Son, Ryan M. Gray USNA 2003 16th Company "The Dirty Beaver Sharks" (its published in their yearbook) – sounds exciting but it somehow relates to them having been shuffled more than any other Company. Good story guys (and perhaps an amazing one) about this, especially since those who know me well recognized early on that I wasn't headed for Wing Staff (to put it mildly). Ryan took to Annapolis well despite being a chip off the old block, albeit a lot smarter. He cruised through w/a Chomp Sci major and was a Felix Grieder type – spoke French fluently and spent summers going TDY to Paris/Marseille/Normandy/Lyons to "improve his Midshipman language skills" at taxpayer expense. Graduated in the '03 Color Company (Honor Squadron equivalent) – too bad it wasn't 15 (16 will do). Went nuclear submarine on graduation, and got through the nuclear power program before getting to the fleet and deciding subs weren't his cup of tea. Volunteered for Iraq as a Navy IA, did six months in Baghdad in 2006 (making Dad proud he won the Green Zone Poker Tournament against some crafty competition from the Iraqi parliament and allies), went back to Hawaii as an Admiral's Aide (yes, Hugo's son – I was amazed more than anyone) then off to computer school and working IW or something like that now. As it stands, prepping for a year in Afghanistan as an IA again, this time on an Army PRT (Charlie Wintermeyer, send tips!).
From Don Snelgrove: Our son, Michael, was in CS-01. Since I was in CS-39, you might wonder why he didn't take advantage of the legacy policy where sons/daughters can join the squadron of their grad-parent. Reason: there was no CS-39 at the end of his doolie year; you might recall they had temporarily disbanded CS37-40 for a few years. From Jack Huffman: Any way to figure out how many ROTC Air Force kids besides mine are out there? From Larry Bryant: If you want more, there are my three sons to add to the list: Capt Philip A. Bryant, Class of 2001, CS-22, now in Okinawa flying Blackhawks. Capt Corban H. Bryant, Class of 2004, CS-22, now in Qatar; moving to USAFA this summer as instructor. C4C Garret L. Bryant, Class of 2012, CS-32 right now, just starting the 40-day count-down to recognition. From John Sullivan: My daughter Megan. She's been assigned to a 270 foot Coast Guard cutter in Portsmouth VA since she graduated in May 2007.She's in the final months of her first two-year assignment, and is doing well. From Rick Douglas: It's my understanding Daniel W. "DC" Chapman '75 of CS-03 has three Zoomie progeny (TW, Ben & Patrick?) – a new record?! From Daniel Chapman: True, but far from a record. Many 3-somes have gotten thru. I believe even a 4-some! From Marc Hallada: Our son Joshua graduated in 2002, from CS-24. Our son Francis graduated in 2007, also from CS-24. Both are involved with Combat Search And Rescue. Josh is a Pave Hawk pilot. Frank is a Combat Rescue Officer. Actually, I'm a lot more worried than proud. We're taking care of one of Frank's CRO classmates, who broke his back during training and is now recuperating from surgery to fuse four vertebrae. He's still hoping to stay in the CRO career field with his buddies. From Mark Howes: Yes, my son (Adam) graduated from the zoo in 2003....was in CS-13. Was a procurement officer in Boston for a few years. He is currently a second year medical school student at the military's medical school in Bethesda, MD....Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS)
Note from scribe: last time I checked Don Henney had 2 sons at the zoo and one hopeful in the pipeline. And I know this list is incomplete. The scribe is humbled by the outstanding parenting accomplishments of his classmates, and is hoping his freshman daughter at San Diego State doesn’t have so much fun he has to take the keys to the T-Bird away. But then again, if the scribe had gone to San Diego State in 1971, it probably would have been so much fun that I would have never graduated, and Jeff Hackett would still be writing this column, 25 years later.
A Classmate with Golf Talent Progeny. Bill Murray, #1 Steve Marino Fan, started the dialog with this clip from the news:
Jul. 12, 2009. TURNBERRY, Scotland (AP) – Shingo Katayama of Japan has withdrawn from the British Open because of an injury that forces him to skip his second straight major championship. He was replaced in the field Sunday by Steve Marino of the United States, who will be playing his first major. Katayama finished fourth in the Masters, two shots out of the playoff won by Angel Cabrera. He has been bothered by an upper back injury this summer, however, which earlier forced his withdraw from the U.S. Open. Katayama is the sixth player to withdraw from the British Open, which starts Thursday at Turnberry.
Bill adds: What an honor, just to be there! His first major!!
The scribe noted, after the second round: Steve Marino's son was tied for the lead of the British Open after the second round, with Tom Watson. Even Tiger didn't make the cut at this Major. Since most of us now live vicariously through our children, I consider young Steve "our boy." Here's a story from the internet:
With props to his father for sending along his passport, Marino looked right at home in his first Open appearance. "I didn't have a passport," said Marino, who got in as an alternate. "I had to fly my dad down to Florida so he could get my passport and FedEx it to me. ... I wasn't even expecting to play in this tournament." His father dashed down to the sunshine state from his home in Virginia, sent along the passport to his son playing in the John Deere Classic and flew back all in the same day. When Shingo Katayama withdrew from the Open last weekend because of an injury, Marino received the spot. Though he had never played on a true links course, Marino felt his game was suited to a style of golf that requires imagination and low ball flight. "I would consider myself a feel player," he said. "I kind of see shots before I hit them. I don't really hit the same shot every time. Over here, you kind of have to be that way a little bit and hit some low shots and some high shots and bounce them in there and use the slopes. I've really been enjoying the golf over here, for sure." For most, this was a day for surviving.
Reunion, Admin, Trivia. From Tiffani Lusson (Alumni Relations Event Coordinator, '75 Class Reunion) concerning an enquiry into the date of our 35th Reunion: We will find out your dates when the schedule is released around March, 2010. Who gets what is based on Class Seniority. The ‘60s classes usually want the service game. After those classes pick, it will be your turn, because you're next in the seniority line.
From Bruce Mitchell: 1. Our 35th class reunion is a year away! Our planning committee is functioning and preparations are being made for a "record-setting" reunion event (break our reunion attendance record at the 30th). 2. Middle two weekends in October 2010 are the target dates, as a function of other reunions and the established protocols of scheduling; we won't know the reunion dates for certain until the 2010 Falcon football schedule is released (April 2010). 3. Class web site, AOG web site (next year) and squadron reps chain will be used to disseminate reunion details over the coming months. Reunion registration and pre-event class merchandise orders will be handled via AOG website, ‘75 reunion page (should be active in early CY2010).
As of earlier this year: The Class of 1975 currently has 419 members logged into ZoomieNation (Now Defunct). The nearest class in terms of numbers has 139 members (76). We are definitely ahead of the pack, and raising the bar, in terms of class solidarity and presence online. Want 5000 plus words and color pictures of this condensed Checkpoints column? The Unexpurgated Edition of this column (Link Above) is where you will find it.
Trivia: Oldest = John Robert Cass; 2nd oldest = Jerry Lunn Manthei. Youngest = Timothy Gilbert Murphy; 2nd youngest = Daniel Leo Falvey.
