Contact Information:

Norman I. (Skip) Lee

63119 E Cat Claw Ln

Tucson, AZ 85739-2058

Home:  (520) 825-7980

Cell:     (520) 241-3498

E-Mail:  54wrs@msn.com

Class News:  1963     March 2009


The AOG notified us of the death of Jack Pierson on 29 October 2008.  Condolences may be sent to his wife:  Karen Rosenberger, 6934 Blue Mountain Rd Port Angeles, WA 98632. A Memorial Service for Stu Fenske was held on December 29th.  Stu died on 28 August, and his family returned his ashes for burial at the Academy Cemetery near the Rocky Mountains that he loved.  Classmates Bill Ball, Ev Vaughn, Gordon Bredvik, Bob Hayes, Stinky and Karen Steinbrink, and Jimmie Butler represented the Class.   Stu's family seemed quite surprised but very pleased by the attendance of classmates under our Class of 1963 banner.  One item at the ceremony really caught the attention of our classmates:  a framed picture of Stu in parade dress.  The Academy created the picture as part of a recruiting poster that had been up in every post office in the United States.

Fenske


Diff followed up on his promise at the reunion Class Meeting to provide an update on the issues discussed.  The first was a question concerning the $50K given during our 30th reunion.  Answer:  it was used to furnish the office of the President, CEO of the AOG in Doolittle Hall.  A second question asked about the gift of the Chromolithograph Gyr Falcon, displayed in Arnold Hall.  Answer:  it was given by John Borling.  No class funds were used for this gift. Diff also announced a “Gift Team” has been formed.  Members are John Borling, Pat Caruana, Les Denend, Steve Dotson, John Fox, Art Johnson, Lou Matjasko, Bill Simpson, and Team leader Mick Roth.  Drue DeBerry will serve as an advisor to the Team.  The Team will consider a class gift to the Academy targeted for our 50th reunion.  More to come. During the recent Inaugural Ceremony Tom Fryer asked: how many of you made it to DC for the Kennedy inaugural parade and how many landed somewhere else due to the bad weather?  Tom, responding to his own question, created a third category for that day.  The Falcon basketball team had a game in Laramie at that time and since he was on the traveling team, the answer was “Neither of the above.”  The team was at Mitch's when the first planeloads of those who did not make it to DC were starting to return to USAFA.  Jack Zynger didn’t share his experience but did thank Tom for the memories.  Jim Gaston’s reply went so:  “Yep, we made it to DC. Whooee! was it cold waiting for the parade to start.  But the trip was definitely a highlight of the four years.”  Pat Chapman’s memories were a bit more descriptive:  “Well, I, of course, can't remember all things, but...I was on the last or next to last C-130 (without any floor heat; our feet were in the seats with our butts) to land at Andrews. From there I believe we went to Ft Meade to stay in Revolutionary War barracks (coal heat; cold shower; wool blanket about 68" long); played a lot of ‘hearts’ games.  The best thing we did was bring our horse blanket overcoats.  The next morning we assembled somewhere on roads with at least an inch or more of ice.  On time, we marched in front of JFK with rubber booties either flying or falling off the feet of many cadets because the guy behind was stepping on the heel of the guy ahead.  The regular color guard guys or guy didn't make it so I was recruited to take someone's place.  I think I was on the [right] side of the colors, and, so when we did ‘Eyes Left’ I couldn't see any thing through the flags.  At about 20 yards from JFK, I couldn't see him.  Although we made-up for that in June 1963!”  Bill Keenan was another one of the guys who made it to DC.  “The trip was brutal.  We froze our buns off in a C-130A with no heat.  I remember lying on the web bench covered by my over coat with my feet in someone's arm pits and his in mine.  I also remember the walk from the classy (?) barracks to the chow hall at Ft. Mead.  It was very cold, windy and snowy.  I chipped ice out of my ears when I got there.  I was flag bearer and by the end of the parade, I didn't think I'd ever get my hand off the flag pole.  Carrying that flag in the cold and wind was truly a challenge.  I got a glimpse of JFK as we passed by.  Indeed, quite a memory”.  Ralph Wetterhahn, as anticipated, had a totally unexpected spin on things:  “All I remember is the aftermath.  I somehow got to National Airport and boarded an Eastern Airlines plane for New York.  The thing is, I walked aboard carrying my M-1 Garand and sat with it perched between my legs for the trip.  No one minded a bit.  Times change, no?”  Yours truly was one of those who did not make it to the parade:  My memory is spending a lot of time at Ft Campbell on the way to DC and, after being waived off final approach to Andrews, on the way back to USAFA.  I had a date arranged for after the parade and she didn’t really understand why the Air Force couldn’t land—her father was a Marine which sort of explains her attitude.

Joe Lee Burns sent along some pictures from the 45th Reunion and to tell the truth a picture of the handsome dark haired gentleman and All-American Baseball player Wilson (Willie - The Say Hey Kid) H. Parma deserves to be published.  The guy next to Willie is Joe Lee but we won’t tell anyone—helluva fighter pilot though!




Willie and Joe Lee

About reunion pictures:  it is not news that we are only allowed to show 4 photographs in the post reunion issues of the Class News.  But, since many more pictures were taken, we will include another one whenever we have an opportunity. (Send a copy to Gil Merkle. He is creating a gallery for the web site)


Bush, Hess and Kennedy  

Bob Hayes wrote recently that we should be looking ahead to next fall and planning for the annual mini-reunion:  He is looking for a game in September or October for the event—no USAFA Football Schedule is available at this writing.  We will pass on new info as soon as it is received. Dean Hess wrote asking if I would please thank all our classmates who helped them reach their goal of $8,000 for the Football Plaque.  Over $1,300 was collected by Dean during the 45th which was passed to Jim Lang to complete the project.  Dedication of the 1963 plaque will be done next football season.  No exact date for the dedication has yet to be selected. 

Some of you guys have great stories to tell about our experiences at the Academy and in the Air Force and I love them.  Unfortunately, Class News space is quite limited allowing for only snippets of these great tales.  Send these gems to Gil Merkle (merkleg@texas.net); he has a spot on the Web Page that is reserved for such stories

Hope this finds everyone happy and healthy.  Jimmie Butler reminded many of us recently, and I paraphrase, to take extra care of yourselves out there, keep an eye on your PSAs, and be around for the 50-year reunion and beyond.

Extra:  Our Classmates at Stu Fenske’s Memorial