Contact Information: Change existing to the information provide here
Norman I. (Skip) Lee
Tel: Cell: (520)241-3498
E-Mail: 54wrs@msn.com
Address: 63119 E. Cat Claw Lane
Tucson, AZ 85739-2056
Class News: 1963
May 9, 2005
Why, you ask, is this issue of Checkpoints so late? The answer: the AOG is changing the publication schedule. This issue of the magazine normally published in mid June will now be maild in mid July.
News from Jim Diffendorfer: “there were a few comments about the late fall timing of the 40th, not many, but a few. I have thought about our reunions and I queried some of the Colo Spgs guys. A few things seem clear: (1) the Academy site is the preferred location for reunions, (2) we need to have exposure to the cadet environment, be that agreeable or not, (3) the briefings (Sup, Com, Dean, Ath) are important and should be continued, and (4) the silver cup ceremony MUST always be a part of the reunions. With regard to time of year, the consensus seems to be earlier football weekends are good. So, since 2008 will be a Navy home game and is traditionally in early October, we'll probably stay with that date. However, since our 50th will be an Army year and it is traditionally later in the fall, we will consider a summer reunion for 2013. Your comments/suggestions are welcome; also, I'm always open to ideas about what to do with the cups. Email me at: james.h.diffendorfer@boeing.com or jimdiff@foxinternet.com. Thanks for the help, Diff.”
Because of space limitations last time I was forced to leave out a photograph of Jim Thyng and Ron Fogleman at the dedication for the General Harrison Thyng Memorial. A terrific shot provided by Jim.
A couple of real distinguished gents. >>
Some e-mail changes include: Leo Donahue: lfd@attglobal.net, (the major change for Leo was the .net) and Barry Walrath: b2048@verizon.net. Dan Eckles wrote in the Web Site Guest Book: “Conda and I reside in Albany, Oregon. Both retired, she from Albany School District and I retired a few years ago as a City Administrator of Harrisburg, Oregon. Life is wonderful here in God's country. Let us hear from you if you are out our way. Dan. Agentcane@aol.com.”
The Deacon (Dave JACKSON) has a computer—at last. His kids gave it to him so they could communicate at will. Dave says “his oldest, Phil, lives in SC and he will be going to visit him and family in May. They are all doing very well and I have 3 beautiful granddaughters and a grandson. We have a great relationship. The LORD is very good.” Here are Dave’s two e-mail addresses: davecjackson@yahoo.com & dave@jacksonian.net.
Got a note from John Hockemeier back in February welcoming us to Arizona. Turns out John and Marge moved from New Mexico to Quail Creek, south of Tucson in Green Valley, two years ago. Quail Creek is newer, and says John more isolated. They feel like charter members there. He commented that they looked at SaddleBrooke (where we live) and liked it but it seemed too far out of town and the traffic wasn't too pleasant (concur with his comments on the traffic but it doesn’t compare to Seattle). Their e-mail is jhock@yahoo.com.
Jerry DRISCOLL sent an e-mail during a layover in Pittsburg telling of a chance meeting with Dave Morgan." Dave was at the Embassy Suites for a day of meetings with his company.” Jerry added “We spent the next 45 min talking about old times and what we were both doing.” Something I didn’t know two of Dave’s children graduated from the Academy—Matthew (’90) and Michael (’94). Jerry’s address is vwbug@spacestar.net.
Tom Fryer, Doug Hardgrave and Dick Guild were looking for a PowerPoint presentation that tells the story of their days in Thailand/Vietnam? Tom saw a WWII vet from Normandy make a presentation at Rotary and said one of these days that he would like to do a similar presentation. Can anyone out there help? A PowerPoint presentation of the Air War in SEA would be valuable to have and could be shared by all of us for things like presentations to the Rotary Club, ROTC etc.
A fell better story: after all the news and negative publicity from the treatment of women at the Academy, the following from Ralph Bacue should make you feel better about things. In March, Ralph wrote that he and Virginia had a bit of news; their daughter, Stephanie, has an appointment for the Class of '09. According to Ralph, Stephanie was having second thoughts about accepting the appointment given the recurring, negative publicity. He said Stephanie is a confident and very capable young woman who also had several alternatives with scholarships to Eastern Universities. Her concern is about women receiving (or the perception of) a variety of special treatment that sometimes germinates an underground and unspoken backlash and resentment by others. She was uncomfortable about how she may be treated and perceived as a woman, both at USAFA and in the Air Force and how this would affect a woman's real opportunities. Ralph, in discussions with their son Patrick, a junior at The Citadel, sensed a similar situation existed at that school as well. In April Stephanie attended the USAFA orientation for appointees and Ralph reported the Academy did a terrific job. After the orientation was over Stephanie decided on USAFA. She bought her boots and went to school wearing an USAFA T-shirt on college t-shirt day. Ralph had included some other classmates in on these discussions and apparently Steve Savonen’s suggestion for Stephanie to “go for it” really helped carry the day.
Ralph’s insights on the appointee orientation were very enlightening and I thought you might like to hear some of his comments. First, Lou Matjasko arranged for Stephanie to link up with C1C Regina Reinsvold from CS-11 (Ralph’s old Squadron) as her escort. Ralph commented that Regina is a very motivated, relaxed, and outgoing lady and through discussions really set Stephanie's mind at ease about treatment of women at the Academy. The first day of the orientation, Monday, was a full day of briefings in A-Hall for appointees and parents, on everything you may have wanted to know, and more. AFA Staff and Cadet Wing Staff made the presentations. Appointees spent Monday night in the Dorms and with their escorts until 4:00pm Tuesday. They went every where the escort went—class, meals, athletics, etc. Stephanie met and talked with many Cadets from all classes, during her visit—all very impromptu and all voiced support for being at the Academy. She encountered no one who was unhappy to be at the Academy, though several said it has its ups and downs, but overall found that the experience is very worthwhile. Ralph said that he would be happy to discuss the situation with any parent of a prospective Cadet but, he emphasized that participation in the orientation is essential to the decision process. As a side note, he saw John Heimburger at the orientation. John’s son is also a 2009 appointee.
Correction: The mini-reunion photograph in the last issue of the magazine was not the one I had planned to include. The published photograph obviously did not match the text. It was one of the two photos sent by Bob Hayes but I managed to attach the wrong file to the e-mail containing the article being sent to the AOG. The correct photo is on the Class Web Site. The missing photo is also included here:
The real photo and it still looks very cold!
That’s it for this time. Hope everyone has a fun summer. Your notes, e-mails and calls are very much appreciated by all of us and it makes this job a lot easier. Take care.