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Class of ’73, news clips in this hard copy Checkpoints have been abbreviated, but your complete inputs are here on our web site.   vr/Joe Kahoe, CS-07.

Gone, But Not Forgotten:  On Monday, November 21, 2011 Colonel (Ret) Steven Alan Harman took his final flight; while he lost his 2 year battle with cancer, he fought furiously until the very end.  Steve lived a large life, embracing every moment and a huge hole is left in the hearts of all who knew him.  He was born into a military family on November 5, 1951 in Tacoma, Washington to Wayne and Elizabeth Harman.  He traveled with his family to numerous assignments in both the US and Europe, and despite ultimately settling down in Orting, Washington he had the military bug. After graduating from Orting High School, Steve received an appointment to the US Air Force Academy where he spent all four years in Seventh Squadron. He played football his freshman year and was the vice commander of the cadet wing his senior year.  On graduation he was one of the first officers in navigator training selected for the FB-111 aircraft. That assignment was the beginning of a 30 year love affair with flying, the Air Force e, and the beginning of a distinguished career. His assignments covered a wide range of Air Force programs to include a flying the FB-111 and the B1 Bomber, and program management assignments in a number of classified and unclassified National Security programs to include the B2. While he had many roles during his career in the Air Force he was first and always an aviator. He embraced life in and outside of work; he was an avid hunter, fisherman, scuba diver, boater, gardener, hiker, and tech enthusiast.  Most of all, Steve loved his family. He is survived by his SWAMBO (wife) Mary Cooper, daughter Melinda and husband Anthony Cavazos, son Nathan Harman, grandchildren Ethan, Elliot, & little Steven; as well as his parents Wayne and Elizabeth Harman, brother David and his wife Sue Harman, niece Melissa Gray, her husband Jeff, their children Dallen, Gavin and Keaton, nephews Adam and Justin Harman, step-son Jordan Arrisi and his son Rylen.  A celebration of his life was held November, 25 at their home and final internment will be at the US Air Force Academy sometime after the holidays. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The US Special Operations Command Wounded Warrior Project at donorservices@woundedwarriorproject.org.

Nov 5th, 2011 at Steve Harman’s 60th birthday party, L to R standing: Tom Grayson, Ted Munsch, Stalker Reed, Jay Jabour, Steve Harman, Jimmy Amos, Ed Whitt, Adrian Moroles. (Kneeling l to r): Mike Davenport, Al Nacke, Glen Johnston.  Two weeks later, Steve lost his battle with cancer.

Gone, But Not Forgotten:  John Pretz was a wonderful husband and father, a dear and great friend to all who knew him.  He was dedicated to his faith, family and country and served them all with humility and devotion.  There is so much more to be said about John, but for now I will only say he was loved by many and will be missed by everyone who ever knew him.  Please keep John and his family in your prayers. Paul Freund

Gone, But Not Forgotten: John B Van Coevering passed away tragically on 17 Sept 2011 in Miami FL, while working on a home construction project. Condolences may be sent to his family in care of his wife, Debbie: Mrs. Debbie Van Coevering; 7620 SW 59th Ave; South Miami FL 33143-5426.

USAPA Bereavement Notice Capt. John B. Van Coevering (CLT AB Check Airman). With great sadness we report that Captain John Bradley Van Coevering (CLT AB Check Airman), 60, of Miami, Fla., died tragically on Saturday afternoon while working with his son on a home construction project. John graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1973, and then served as an aircraft commander on KC-135's for the Strategic Air Command until his active duty commitment ended in 1980. He attained the rank of Captain, and flew for Air Florida before he was hired by US Airways in August 1983. He was currently a check airman on the Airbus 320, having been in the training department for the last eight years. John was also a dedicated member of Christ the King Lutheran Church, singing in the choir and helping with the Fellowship Commission, when he was in town. John is survived by his wife of 28 years, Deborah, and their three children, Melonija (27), Jonathan (25) and Alicia (21); his son's fiance, Heather Bryan; his granddaughter, Hope Elizabeth; his mother, Rachael M. Giddings Van Coevering; his brother, James, his wife, Luz, and their three children, Cristi, Angie, Angie's daughter, Zara, and Alexandra; John's sister, Karen, her husband, Timothy Klint, and their three children, David, Amanda and Sandra. Services are planned for Sunday, September 25 at 3 p.m., at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 11295 SW 57th Avenue, Pinecrest, FL 33156. The number is (305) 665-5063. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Christ the King Lutheran Church in John's name. Deborah and the children may be reached at 7620 SW 59th Avenue, Miami, FL 33143. Her phone number is (783)-245-8336, and her email is dmvancoevering@gmail.com. Crewmembers are encouraged to wear their uniforms to John's memorial service. Respectfully, USAPA Bereavement Committee ;

	Congrats to Bud Gammon’s daughter Sarah, who was sworn into The Florida Bar by The Honorable Anthony Johnson in Orlando, FL.

Bob Munson wrote:  I ran into Joe Walker (CS-09) repairing barb wire fence, while biking in the countryside north of Colorado Springs.  Joe was looking very much the Marlboro Man without the smokes:  he had the look, the truck, leather gloves, tools, barb wire fence, and the ranch in the background.  Joe and Mary travel up to Colorado from their Texas home 2-3 times every year to help do the never ending repair and maintenance work on Wissler Ranch, that was home to Mary when she was growing up.  They'll be back in April and Joe's starting a list of classmates who volunteer to help with some of the work.

The class officers are already planning for our 40th reunion.  It is, for sure, two years away.  The long lead time task is, as always, considering options for a class gift.  Of the roughly $333,000 pledged by our class in 2008 to support the National Character and Leadership Symposium, our donors have followed their promises and only $59,000 remains to be collected over the next year.  The Academy seeks our advice, input, and support for each year's program.  In turn, we stay closely involved to ensure our donations are spent well.  NCLS has thrived and expanded with our contributions; the cadets consistently rate the program very high, and they know that '73 is the Flagship sponsor for the annual event.  Our class fund can continue support for only 3-4 more years, so we have an 'exploratory committee' in the process of developing a plan to provide support in true perpetuity.  Our first step is to build a Class Gift Committee of approximately forty key classmates to guide this effort; we have a lot of leaders to choose from and many have already volunteered. When you read this in Checkpoints, mark February 22-24 in your calendar:  it's NCLS time and you are invited to attend and participate as a guest.  See what your donations are doing.  PS. The wives love it.  Cheers, Bob Munson, Class President

Lunch at USAFA Falcon Club on 21 Oct: (l to r) Joe Kahoe, John & Lynn Stefonik, Ron & Mary Scott, Steve and Leslie Lorenz, Pam & Bob Munson, "T" Thompson (Photo snapped by Gen Chilli Chilton)

John Eisenhart writes:  Like many in our class, I celebrated my 60th last month (Aug 10) but probably unlike many in our class, I celebrated it with my 4 year and 4-month old.  Like Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, I am trying to get younger with age! My Best, John, Captain, United Airlines flying the international routes out of Washington Dulles; now retired (for pay) LTC, Air Force Reserve, yea!

Class News from Bob Munson:  One possible reason John Muse missed the opening game at USAFA is because he is captain and 'patron' of the Lucchese polo team of Dallas, and they just won the Pacific Coast Open title this weekend.  Lucchese would not be denied a championship trophy during the high-goal polo season in 2011. After runner-up finishes in the Silver Cup and America Cup finals, Lucchese bagged the biggest prize of the season on Sunday, winning the Bombardier Pacific Coast Open with an 11-9 victory over Piaget at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club.  Lucchese won all three major titles and went undefeated last season. Led by playmaker and 10-goal star Adolfo Cambiaso, Lucchese took the lead for good on Sunday in the fourth chukker, 9-8. Lucchese held a one-goal lead (10-9) after the fifth chukker, setting up a dramatic ending. The action was intense but neither team could score until just under two minutes remained. Cambiaso got back on Noriega, winner of multiple Best Polo Pony awards over the years, and won two key lineups — thanks to his mare’s incredible footwork and handle — to keep control of the ball for Lucchese. Piaget had a chance until the ball was cleared out of a scrum on the grandstand side just after the warning horn, and Julio Gracida broke loose and made a very determined run to goal, making the only score of the chukker with a cut shot with just 13 seconds remaining. The Best Playing Pony was Miguel Novillo Astrada’s Chaleco, the handy chestnut that played almost two full chukkers. MVP of the game was Cambiaso, and the Robert Skene MVP for the season was Santa Barbara native son Jason Crowder.

Don Rightmyer is our new (and first) Class Historian.  Don works for the State of KY, is editor of 'Kentucky Ancestors' for the KY Historical Society, and is a contributing author of just-published High Flight:  History of the US Air Force Academy.  Don took Bob and Pam Munson for a tour of the Perryville battlefield a few years back, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary next year.

Doug Hulsey:   As you know, last year we lost our classmate Steve Hessney, CS 37, to cancer.  This occured just days after Steve and his wife Jill visited USAFA and his son (C1C Ben Hessney) for the Navy game.   Steve and Jill had originally planned to join our group for the Army Game at West Point just a short time later.   Despite the timing, Jill and her son Ben met us at the game anyway.   It was an emotional visit, but we think it helped them both to be with a group of Steve's friends.   It was at that game that most of us met Cadet Ben Hessney for the first time.  Every one of us noted his maturity and strength in supporting his mother, his family, and recognizing his responsibilities to the Academy and his future.  We saw his deep desire to follow in his father's footsteps as an Officer and USAF pilot.  This guy was stepping up to the plate!  

Steve and his wife Jill were a part of our group of 37th Squadron Smilers (our unofficial nickname) that got together each year for a football game or just a visit.   Our group  of Smilers, (Ed Heisey, Doug Hulsey, Ron Hoskins, Chris Young, Geoff Michael, Dee Bromberek, John Petro, Dana Ideen, Jim Thompson, Steve Rossetti, Greg Cummins, Eric Hearnsburger, Mike Wetsel, plus several other names I can’t recall right now),  decided to do something for Steve's son Ben.   We purchased a cadet saber and wood case for him and presented it to him at his pinning on ceremony during Graduation week.   Every ex '73 Smiler contacted sent in money to pay for it.  Ed Heisey and I were at his swearing in ceremony and presented the saber to him. The saber case included an inscription with both the 2011 Class Crest and the 1973 Class Crest and read something like this: (If I recall correctly)....To Ben Hessney Class of 2011, From the Smilers of '73, In Honor of your father Steve Hessney Class of 1973.   Lt Ben Hessney is currently at UPT!  Doug Hulsey CS 37.

(l to r): Ed Heisey ('73 CS-37), Ben Hessney ('11 CS-37), Jill Hessney, Doug Hulsey ('73 CS-37).  Ed and Doug Hulsey were the official presenters on behalf of all the '73 Smilers

Robert “RV” Mitchell wrote:  Below is a picture from this summer, taken aboard my girlfriend Linda's and my sailboat at Flathead Lake in northwestern Montana.  Besides sailing a lot this summer, I also spent a couple of weeks at the Melita Island Boy Scout camp, also at Flathead Lake, teaching sailing to the scouts.  It was a very fun summer and I hope to enjoy many more. I talked to Bill Goetz a few months ago.  When he's not working as a CE, he punches holes in the sky with his Cessna.  RV  

Eric Lentz “retired from the FAA as a supervisory Safety Inspector on June 30. Plans are to build a retirement home on 52 acres near the town of Klamath River in Northern CA. It’s nice having the reserve retirement and a civilian one as well. 42 years of Government service.”

Johnny Whitaker “moved from the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics plant in Fort Worth, where we build F-16s and F-35s, to our airplane factory in Marietta, Ga., where we build F-22s, C-130Js and major F-35 structural components, as well as modernize C-5s and P-3s.  I am now Director of Communications for our Marietta operations.  By the way, have a lovely house for sale just west of Fort Worth on I-20!  Thought this moving stuff would end when I retired in '03! Cheers, Johnny johnny.whitaker@lmco.com or julwis@aol.com O: 770-494-5350 C: 817-692-4687.”

Don Ramm wrote: “Tracy and I met in about 1996 at the North Island Navy Flying Club. (San Diego is "home" to me. I moved back here in 1989.) She got her private pilot license, got checked out in the club's T-34B, and has been flying the T-34A that we are part owners in since we got involved with good, old N12281 in 2003.  (Built in 1955, it is four years younger than me and four years older than Tracy. Yes, I am nearly a cradle robber.) She has seen lots of formation flying and has worked on it on and off over the years. About a year ago she put on the big push and it reminded me of the "old days," when I would ask her questions out of the PPL question bank, but this time it was out of formation question banks from various formation flying groups (T-34 Association, North American Trainer Association, Red Star Pilots Association, etc.) She also went flying nearly every weekend and, of course, one doesn't fly formation alone. She hooked up with a group of "gentlemen T-34 pilots" as she calls them from the March Aero Club (Riverside CA). We live in San Diego, CA, so every time she went flying with them, she flew up to the Riverside area for a flight or two and then back. I taught her as much as I could (I was fortunate to fly A-7s and A-10s in the AF), but for the past six months, she has been doing it on her own. Two weeks ago, she went up for her check ride with a F.A.S.T. check pilot (www.flyfast.org) and passed with flying colors. I figured it would be no big deal, since she has been flying formation for several years now, but that was not so. She has been beaming ever since and her "sister pilots" from the local 99s chapter are happy as clams along with her. Regarding the title of "Wingman," she made it clear there would be no "wingwoman" or "wingperson" she is a "Wingman" and proud of it. Attached is an article she wrote for her 99s chapter's newsletter. Don Ramm donramm@gmail.com 

Bob (BG) Gilbert CS 20 BG Gilbert looking very distinguished. Living in Orlando. Am an officer for an aviation planning firm, Landrum and Brown. Still working. Current assignment in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  Never married. Have a son who lives in London and is an actor. That's it. Cheers, BG

Mike and Catherine Nishimuta hosted their first house guests in Italy. Don and Grace McMillan (celebrating Don’s 60th) got the royal tour of Spilimbargo and Venice before departing on a 7-day cruise on the “Azamara Quest” to Croatia and Italy.  Mike says book your visit with them early to make sure they are in town.  Mike and Catherine haven’t stood still since they moved to Aviano in May. Mike is now the USAFA/AFROTC Liaison Officer and is getting the Air Force Association reactivated, starting with the High School “CyberPatriot” competition. Catherine is the base librarian. In November, Mike was hired as the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University director of Academic Support for Aviano.

Catherine and Mike Nishimuta, Don and Grace McMillan	Don and Grace at Gorgazzo Springs near Aviano
	Mike delivering Don and Grace to the port in Venice
	Amazing how faithfully the Germans have copied the Disneyland Castle.

Duncan Keirnes retired from Delta as 747 Capt in Nov, and has started a follow-on job with Boeing as an instructor on the new B787, part time only.  Got to leave a little time to fish here in SD. Duncan Keirnes keirnes@sio.midco.net 

Duncan Keirnes with Northern Pike on lake in front of his South Dakota cabin. He released him right after this photo.

John Wigington: I completed my Appalachian Trail journey on Aug 31, almost on schedule after a two-day delay for Hurricane Irene.  The bottoms of my feet were still numb in early October.  The good news is that my trek raised over $15,000 for the House of Hope for endangered children in our Tennessee county. Suzy joined me for the last 18 miles and we are picture here at the top of Katahdin, the end of the trail. Regards, John

John and Suzy Wigington at end of Appalachian Trail journey.

Mark Stuckley:  My oldest son Mark Jr. was married on 10-01-11 to Kristen Andrews and the happy couple are in Hawaii enjoying their honeymoon. Great time was had by all especially my 91 year old dad, who we could not get off dance floor.  Hope to see you and rest of class mates at our 40th.

Rick Karvosky:  I'm going to Paris for a week the day after Thanksgiving with my oldest daughter, Jenni, and Denise, my significant other. Denise and I have been there several times. I took my youngest daughter, Kristen, to Paris for her 18th birthday and graduation from high school back in 1997. Finally getting the time to take Jenni - been promising her for years!  I love Paris - been there over a dozen times myself - my favorite city to visit! I'll send pics for the next class news.

Ed Whitt:  I'm still in Bryan, TX, still married to Debbie (she's a real trooper for that!) and am a Captain with Southwest Airlines. My kids are grown and gone. Two grandkids and one in the hangar - should rollout first week in June. Phone is (979) 324-6575.