September 2024          Foster Bitton

Runaway Renegade: Many of you have probably been wondering why Bill Murray hasn’t starred in a Checkpoints issue for seemingly years. The reason is that he hasn’t done anything that merited the coveted attention of the CP readers. Oh sure, he’s written a couple of books containing his inner thoughts and philosophies, but you could get his musings by sending him two Lucky Charms box tops or accidentally making eye contact with him.

But this time Bill really went all out to get some of the precious CP ink. While attending a family reunion, he borrowed his brother’s Honda Shadow and took it for a little spin, although “spin” might not be the right word…”tumble” would probably be more accurate. He missed a turn, jumped a pavement curve, slid on some grass, and for his finale, landed squarely on his right shoulder. The final outcome was a collarbone broken in five places and two fractured ribs. At last report he’s on the mend, but his brother isn’t letting him borrow any more toys unless he puts down a security deposit and signs a waiver of liability.

Len Salvemini is being inducted into the AF Athletics Hall of Fame on October 18th. Len is the soccer program’s career scoring leader and all-time leading goal scorer. He was a two-time All-American and a four-time all-conference and all-Far West region selection. He also played on the Olympic team during the 1976 qualifiers. Well done, Len!

Tom Popp sent in an input about him, Rick McGraw, Dave Commons, and Jim Corrigan playing in the National Retired Military Golf Classic (NRMGC) over the Memorial Day week. Tom used descriptors such as “intrepid” and “bold” in the write-up, so it was immediately chucked into the wastebin because the CP editors require a semblance of believability in every entry. In fact, the only reason the roaming foursome of golfaholics is being mentioned is because the NRMGC sounds like a great venue for Best Alivers who would like to play four days of golf with other military retirees on multiple courses in Myrtle Beach. The website address for the event is: https://www.nrmgc.com/.

The Trolls sent in a consolidated update on everything Trollish going on in the multiverse. Peach and Barb Keen visited Paul Kent while he was monitoring his home sale, which has garnered zero offers so far. If you’re interested in his house, scrub that idea, as Paul has categorically stated it is not a house for seniors. Mike and Jan Goyden just got back from another trip to Ko Olina on Oahu where they performed the normal Hawaiian rituals of evening walks around the lagoon and watching the sunsets. Mike has been able to get back into swimming and is doing well after back surgery this year. Spain denizens Dave and Libby McDaniel recently took a 12-day driving tour of Portugal with their youngest son, and flew to Washington D.C. in August to watch their oldest son take command of a Space Force Delta at Bolling AFB.

The Red-Star Pilots Association recently held a weekend fly-in/formation clinic at the Ft Collins, CO airport. Twelve Nanchang and Yak aircraft – Chinese and Russian trainer aircraft from the '60s and '70s – were in attendance. Dale “Sledge” Hanner says that, “due solely to my stellar background in aviation and not because I own one of those or any other aircraft, I was invited to sandbag three backseat sorties.” Stellar? That may be stretching it a bit. What Sledge possesses is an uncanny cauldron of luck, as evidenced by the fact he was able to transition from the A-7 to the F-16 because he was sitting at the ops desk the day an old commander called to see if anyone was interested in a slot that had just opened up in a Viper unit.

Dan Burkett and Chris Glaeser, squadronmates throughout their four years at USAFA, had a reacquaintance flight in Chris’ experimental RV-7A while Dan and his wife, Liz, were passing through Plymouth, MN. Chris reports they had a great flight but also noted that Dan is a stick hog and his barrel rolls need a little work. The latter became readily apparent when Chris calmly uttered over the intercom, “You can release the stick now, Dan. I’m trying to save our lives.” You’re reading it in Checkpoints, so that quote must be true, although it could have been made up by a scribe trying to spice up the column. You decide. Dan said he thought it was a good maneuver, but he’s a math major, so how would he know?

Feeling good about yourself? This will help to snap you back to reality. John “Sax” Saxman and Dave “DJ” Jannetta recently made a 45-mile trek through Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, followed that up with another week of hiking in Argentina’s Los Glaciers National Park, and then threw in a little single-track mountain biking and some kayaking among the glaciers. Thanks guys. Now walking the dog twice a day doesn’t sound so grand. We less-achievers could compensate by switching from double stuff to regular Oreos, but to be honest, that’s a sacrifice some of us aren’t willing to make.

GBNF: Tom Kemp, CS-35 and Tom Darner, CS-23. Details can be found at 75bestalive.org.

 


Bill Murray blissfully unaware...


...of things to come


Hall of Famer Len Salvemini


Rick McGraw, Tom Popp,
Dave Commons, & Jim Corrigan


Sandbagging “Sledge” Hanner


Burkett & Glaeser at the controls


Glaeser & Burkett post flight, proving that, in fact, Dan did not kill them


South American adventurers
Saxman & Jannetta


Dave Jannetta kayaking in Argentina twixt glaciers & mountains


Checkpoints Plus


Kevin Burns: There is nothing like a cancer diagnosis to remind you that it actually might be “later than you think”!

A few of you are aware that I have been having some serious health issues, as of late. Talking with our classmate Perry Lamy, it seems like an appropriate time to get my story out, albeit in an abbreviated manner. During a relatively routine Gall Bladder removal procedure in mid-January 2024, my surgeon saw something she didn’t recognize, aborted the procedure and ordered further testing. Four days later I was preliminarily diagnosed with a Peri Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma, Klatskins Tumor for short. It is a rare and often lethal mass that, in my situation, has encased all the pipes (artery, veins, biliary ducts) running into and out of the liver. Statistically, if I did nothing, longevity is 2-8 months from diagnosis; if I do chemo only (my current remedy), longevity is about a year from diagnosis; if I have a resection surgery (cutting out the tumor alone), I have a 40% chance of making it to 5 years past diagnosis; and if a liver transplant is included, I have about a 60% chance of making it 5 years past diagnosis. I have no family history of anything like this. Keep an eye on yourselves. There are a lot of studies going on about increased aviator susceptibility to cancers, in some cases way above that experienced by the normal population (e.g. prostate and breast cancers).

I am working with MD Anderson (MDA) Cancer Center in Houston (cancer assessment), Emerald Coast Cancer Center in Ft Walton Beach FL (chemo infusions), Houston Methodist (HM) Hospital (liver transplant), in addition to consulting with a biliary (bile duct) resection superstar surgeon in Tampa FL on determining a surgical way-ahead past chemo. I am officially on the national liver transplant list (which required a two-day evaluation in April that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy). Every three months I return to my Houston medical mothership for an MDA CT Scan for tumor status update, stent replacements in my two hepatic ducts (liver main biliary ducts), along with a visit to HM for a liver transplant consult. I just completed six months/15 infusions of chemo/immuno “poisoning” on 1 August. I get labs done almost every week as a “permission slip” for the pleasure of enduring chemo. All my lab numbers, including an important cancer marker, CA-19, and a biliary/liver health indicator called Amino Phosphatase are consistently back in the normal range as of late, a rudimentary diagnostic that the chemo is having the intended effect on the tumor. BL, liver function remains good. Until my August MDA visit, there was no evidence that the cancer had metastasized elsewhere.

Unfortunately, in my August CT imaging, a new lesion was found in my liver about an inch away from the main event. There is a lively disagreement between the radiologist and my docs about how serious this new anomaly is. If the radiologist is right, any surgery, including the liver transplant option, is off the table and I have a whole new cancer problem to contend with. For now, my docs have suspended chemo and prescribed antibiotics to cure what, hopefully, is just an infection. Although MDA’s position has consistently been that resection surgery is not viable, my Tampa resection surgeon sees it differently. Assuming my new lesion is benign, he has already offered to perform resection surgery. This resection surgery – which cuts out the tumor, pipes, and any cancer in the liver where the tumor tucks in – is very complex (for him) and very high risk (for me). A liver transplant surgery by MDA/HM would be equally complex and risky for completely different reasons, to include obtaining a healthy liver before I’m too sick for it to do any good. At some point, I expect to sign up for some surgery, but just not yet sure which kind or where. If you pray, please do. These will be life altering decisions (literally). My wife, Debi, and my two kids, Kathryn and Ryan, are holding up well. The fact that I refuse to treat this as anything but another problem to solve has helped us all, emotionally, I think. Debi has a great church support group. If you want to get in touch with me directly, my email address is burnskp@cox.net.

6 September 2024 Update:

Although I continue to have lots of body aches, pains, and general mild disfunction, Tuesday was a very good day, most likely attributable to all your support and prayers. God has been Faithful to us. The new liver lesion, which appeared on my August 5th imaging turned out to have convincingly benign characteristics on today's re-imaging scan. So we are back to where we were three weeks ago -- trying to make a surgery or transplant decision. I went back on chemo yesterday (Thursday) for the duration. 

If you believe in God's Timing (and I think you should), I concluded yesterday that this recent hiatus was to give me time last week to research some specifics of surgical resection and to push Houston Methodist (transplants) to give me a better defined execution plan. I learned alot. Houston Methodist came through with a reasonable timeline for transplant schedule events, heavily caveated on a donor organ being made available, of course, and I also met with my Tampa surgeon via videotelecon and will meet with him again in-person in Tampa on Sep 16th for one final consult. I am being pulled between a surgery and a transplant decision. It is challenging when highly competent doctors disagree on the optimal solution. No matter what course I choose, it is unlikely that there will be a surgery before mid-November. More on my COA decision in late September. Please continue praying for me and my family. The next step in this journey will truly be life altering, no matter which surgical path is chosen.

Please contact Perry Lamy, Foster Bitton, or Bill Estelle for any additional information.

 


Debi & Kevin Burns

Kirsten Burner (Michael Gudmundson's daughter): Enjoying some Colorado sunshine and facial hair freedom for the first time in 50 years at the Rocky Mountain VA rehab center. Feeling lucky to have him around. (July 2024)

Jeff Chappell: Mike’s family moved him to the Seattle VA facility, so he’s close to children Juli and Erik. The VA got him a power chair which he can operate with his left hand, which has the best strength and range. Pretty amazing progress! Mike has a great attitude, which I’m pretty sure affects his progress. (August 2024)

 

Dick Dye: Scott Hente and I represented 75 Best Alive at the Jack’s Valley March-back. There were about 200 grads who made the trek. The route from Jack’s Valley to the Terrazzo is about 5.2 miles. There was no shade, the sun was bright, temps in the mid-80s, and lots of dust...it was miserable, and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. It was an opportunity to show the basics and the upper class that they are members of something much larger than themselves – the Long Blue Line.


Before...


...and after. We made it!


Checkpoints Extras


Association of Graduates Class Advisory Senate          Bruce Mitchell


Class leaders and communicators,

Here are notes from the July CAS meeting.

Our summer CAS meeting was mostly devoted to internal organization housekeeping. It was a total virtual meeting by Zoom because Doolittle Hall closed for another reason coincident with the scheduled CAS meeting day.

AOG board discussed the nominating committees work on the process for electing new board members, and some process trade-offs being considered to ensure the board has a "best mix" of the skills needed across a range of disciplines. Basic trade (my characterization) is whether to guide nominations for board member candidates towards a full-spectrum skill mix, or to continue basically as in the past to just appoint grads after the election to fill the two or three "needed skill" slots. An attorney would be an example of a "needed skill," as the board always likes to have one. There are other examples from the past. So, this is all preparatory to the upcoming AOG board election.

AOG board (per usual) enlisted the CAS help in drumming up support and participation for the upcoming election of board members. (as I write these notes, I'm uncertain if there will be by-law changes proposed in this election...hopefully the formal meeting minutes will be clearer on that.)

CAS will also have an election of officers this fall and for the CAS executive committee, and current President Randy Helms polled for interested candidates. Randy informed the CAS that he will not be running for reelection.

As I've already shared with Jeff and Dick, during the alumni support segment of the meeting there was grassroots talk from the current years' reunion class planners regarding the AOG and professional USAFA staff (on the hill) completing their pledge to meet with recent alumni classes on improvement suggestions for access and information from the pro-staff during the supported reunion weekends. The upcoming reunion schedule for 2024 was previewed; most of the "at USAFA" reunions will be in Sept/Oct with a few classes choosing to have reunions away from the academy. I'm attempting to ensure Jeff and Dick can benefit on behalf of their emerging committee and our class by taking advantage of recent changes in reunion planning processes and also from cross-pollination from other recent class reunion experiences. Jeff and Dick are intent on having direct discussions with recent class reunion chairs.

An easy example of the sort of impediments to planning is the fact that seating patterns in Falcon Stadium this fall will be different on the east side due to the current "sky box/pavilion" renovations there, and this will impact seating. USAFA '74 has already experienced difficulties getting their reunion football tickets arranged in advance of their 50th reunion, in a common area of the stadium. The saga continues...for complications from the football schedule et al) making reunion planning "less than optimal" for reunion classes choosing to affiliate with specific football games. Nighttime scheduled football games remain a complicating issue for reunions, especially for more senior alums. (Fortunately, we are going to have our 2025 reunion coincide with the service academy game, and as the 50-year class, we certainly will have a day game and SHOULD get some preference points!) I'm confident our committee will be able to work thru these sorts of planning hurdles by several possible means.

The AOG staff recently toured the chapel renovation site, and also the new visitor center and hotel at Northgate and reported on progress. As of the CAS meeting, the Polaris hotel has not yet opened its on-line reservations for "first guests" to sign-in (several grads are apparently anxious to be among the first to stay in the hotel)

(As an aside, I was at USAFA this evening watching a grandson's youth soccer tourney and the new round-about traffic circle serving the new hotel Polaris and visitor center, and then feeding into the North gate is in place and seemingly working well, at least with a moderate traffic flow scenario. The north gate environs look very different, and it is apparent from the outside that the visitor center and hotel projects are nearing completion!)

Will update you when the formal CAS minutes from July are published on the AOG website.

Bruce Mitchell
Your CAS rep


USAFA Construction Projects Update


Cadet Chapel

Madera Cyber Innovation Center

The Chapel closed in 2019 due to decades of water damage and unprecedented asbestos mitigation. Work has been underway ever since. Estimated opening: Late 2027.

 

This 49,000-square-foot facility will include high-tech labs, classrooms, research facilities, and a secure classroom, allowing cadets to gain real-world knowledge and experience. Estimated opening: Fall 2025.

 


Falcon Stadium and East Club

Wecker Hall and Yost Plaza

The East Club addition features 1,200 premium seats, a streamlined ticketing and entrance experience, and a stadium-wide quadrupling of restrooms and concessions. The north tunnel has been expanded to accommodate semitrucks, which will help facilitate outside events throughout the year. Dedicated September 2024. (More Below)

Wecker Hall, will serve as the Air Force Academy Foundation and AOG headquarters. Doolittle Hall will continue to serve as the alumni center and an event space. Yost Plaza, the land between Wecker and Doolittle Halls, will serve small gatherings and showcase two sculptures. Estimated opening: Summer 2025.

 


Hotel Polaris

Hosmer Visitor Center

Hotel Polaris, located on North Gate Boulevard just outside the gate, will feature 375 rooms, a conference center, flight simulators, a terrace with a swimming pool, and six eateries, including a 1950s soda shop and an upscale, ninth-floor restaurant and bar. Estimated opening: November 2024

 

This new visitor center, located just across the road from Hotel Polaris, will feature exhibits about the Academy and cadet life. It will also serve as an official Colorado Welcome Center. Estimated opening: December 2025.
– Photos courtesy the Association of Graduates and Bill Estelle

Album


 

Kucera Legacy Center Dedication

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on 6 September 2024 for the Kucera Legacy Center at Falcon Stadium. The stadium's new east entrance highlights the heritage of the Academy and athletics while offering experiences befitting a 21st-century event venue. This includes an array of high-quality concession options, increased restroom capacity, an Air Force team shop and expanded concourse areas. In addition, 850 new premium seats will be available within the East Club presented by L3Harris at the Kucera Legacy Center.

1. Premium seating in the East Club. These seats are top-of-the-line, priced at $8750 each. (Sorry, sold-out).

2. Dining & lounge area within the East Club.

3. Outside seating under the East Club, including some premium seating.

4. A tribute to Mike Mark.

 


 

1. Rick Kim: Although we didn’t play, Pauline & I attended the Golf for Wishes dinner this past Friday in the Barn at Langdon Farms Golf Club, the initial tourney here. Approximately 144 duffers came in from the course & joined the non-players to participate in a live & silent auction while enjoying a dinner of salmon & steak. Our table was fortunate to win the dessert dash, landing Wish kiddo John’s fave dessert from La Provence Boulangerie & Bakery. Happy & grateful to be there to support the chapter & the kids waiting for their Wishes. (July 2024)

2. John Kambourian. (July 2024)

3. Dave & Patti Ruddock with some of their California family. (July 2024)

4. Bob Hickcox playing the odds: I got that big stack of coins! (Jodee Nichols, July 2024)

 


 

 

5. Eric Rosborg: Current situation. (July 2024)

6. Oliver Lorenz: Ollie graduated from phase 2 of medical education training campus. Next he goes to Travis AFB for on the job training. He led and sang the National Anthem at the graduation. (July 2024)

7. Jim Marshall with grandchild #7. (Kelly Vannoy, July 2024)

8. Ben Bosma at the EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh: One of the more obscure ratings I have. (July 2024)

 


 

 

9. Three generations of Rayburns: Bentley & Debbi, Crissa (Ash), & grandchild #14. (Crissa Ash, July 2024)

10. Jim Hartney: Last year wasn’t great for boating due to back issues. So, this year with our Billie Jean still learning to swim, we’ll be spending more time on our beautiful lake! (July 2024)

11. Wes Routh with two of his grandsons. (Marti Routh, July 2024)

12. Greg Black, Scott Hente, Dick Dye, & Jim Marshall after dining with cadets in Mitchell Hall, post Jack's Valley march-back. (Jim Marshall, July 2024)

 


 

 

13. Steve & Carolyn Schiemann celebrating their 30th anniversary on Ruth Glacier in Denali National Park, Alaska (August 2024)

14. Stan Jones: My highest gravel bike ride. 10.6 miles up and 1700 feet of climbing. Mostly gradual slopes, but one short section hit 13%. The descent was easier but still a lot of loose gravel. And yeah, not fast. (August 2024)

15. Tom Calhoun & son Dillon (August 2024)

16. Chappie Hargrove recovering from a recent knee replacement. (August 2024)

 


 

 

17. Bob Walden: Loved having some of the grandkids visiting this week! (August 2024)

18. Paul & Sheri Kent, and family. (Sheri Kent, August 2024)

19. John Kambourian: What can I say. My Granddaughter Lorelei on her third birthdate!! (August 2024)

20. Jim Hartney: Celebrated 48 short years of marriage to my best friend with trip to Boston and our favorite restaurant, No. 9 Park…flight was a bit bumpy, but the rest of the day went smoothly! (August 2024)

 


 

 

 

21. Steve & Jacqueline Morris at Pearl Harbor National Memorial. (August 2024)

22. Stan Jones & company at the Air Force/Merrimack football game. (August 2024)

23. Some '75ers and friends enjoying a tailgate get-together prior to the Air Force/Merrimack game. Mark Volcheff, Brian Duffy, Brian's brother-in-law Andy Morgan, USAFA '81, Dale Meyerrose, Kent Traylor, & friend Bob Manderfield. (Mary Dwyer Volcheff, August 2024)

 


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