Please continue to send pictures and stories about your lives … families, careers, retirements, etc. The full Checkpoints article with many more pictures is published every quarter here at http://usafa73.org. VR, Joe Kahoe, CS-07.
Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz is Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. As this newly activated command assumes control of our nation's Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, B-2 and B-52 bombers, General Klotz will be responsible for organizing, training, equipping and maintaining these capabilities. Air Force Global Strike Command will provide combatant commanders with combat ready forces to conduct the strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations. Change of Command was August 31, 2009.
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Lt Gen Jack Hudson’s (CS 25) Retirement after 36 years: Here are a handful of photos from the retirement and the dinner the night before. One photo (from the retirement dinner) is of me with our classmates Denny Boyce and Tom Kroessig; they were both in 25th Sq with me. Another is with our classmate Jim Boyle, who was at Purdue with me, in grad school. The other photos are from the retirement. One is of our immediate family (Marsha and I, son John and wife Cindy, son Tim and wife Kara, and son Todd); another is extended family with both sisters and some of their family; one photo is Marsha and I; another is her getting the spouse certificate from Gen Don Hoffman, AFMC commander (class of 1974); another is us walking out from the ceremony.
Marsha and I are staying in the Dayton area, and are at: 1488 Huntland Ct N, Xenia OH 45385. We are keeping our hudshoe@aol.com email address. Have not decided exactly what to do next but will take some time to decide. No job yet but still doing lots of catch up things at home. Meanwhile life is great! Marsha and I have taken 2 week-long trips since my change of command from the Aeronautical Systems Center. I have almost 1800 miles on my bicycle this year, and will get to last year's total (almost 2300) by year's end. Life is good! Jack Hudson cell (937) 510-1168
From Denny Boyce – “I attached a photo and scan from LtGen Jack Hudson's retirement Aug 14th. Jim Boyle, Tom Kroessig and I were able to get there for the ceremony. It was very impressive. Jim works for the State of California and lives in Roseville. Tom is medically retired from Delta Airlines and lives in Atlanta. I continue to fly for USAirways and live in NC. On a more personal note: both my sons are back in Iraq. My older son, Ross, was recalled from medical school and is an Army captain serving with the NC National Guard south of Baghdad. He should be home in January. My younger son, Andrew, is working again as a contract helicoptor mechanic this time helping the Iraqi AF maintain their Hueys at Taji AB. His contract runs into next spring. All thoughts and prayers appreciated.
Jim Boyle, Tom Kroessig, Jack Hudson, and Denny Boyce
From Tom Kroessig: Denny Boyce (Debbie) and I were there. Denny and I were in 25th Squadron (REDEYE!) with Jack at USAFA. Jack honored the three of us by seating us with him at the head table during his retirement dinner (with the Deputy Secretary of Defense!) Take care.
From Charlie Quinnell: Two of the hundreds of pictures that were taken during our gathering this month (the girls shot was around the campfire - Jacks Valley Type --- the boys shot was outside of Earls in Calgary - Jack Daniels Type). Thanks, Charlie Quinnell (303) 521-3083 Cell (303) 660-9048 Home CharlieQ73@hotmail.com.
The Boys Best Shot (l to r) - Bill Wilson, Charlie Quinnell, Dave Muckley, Bill Fox, Ken Vargas, & Bob Ticknor
Natalie Muckley, Karen Fox, Denise Quinnell, Hermila Vargas, Patty Wilson, & Jenny Ticknor
John Barry Superintendent Aurora Public Schools. A photo early August 2009 Denver Post showing John Barry MGen(ret) serving food at one of his schools. The photo was printed again the next day in the letters section as one reader praised the paper for publishing a picture reminiscent of Norman Rockwell’s art.
From Stalker Reed (CS 07): I went to the 4950th Test Wing reunion Saturday night, Aug 15, and stayed with Jay Jabour at his home in Beavercreek. We had a blast - Jay knew many of the test pilots there - including the President of the Wright-B Flyer organization who invited us to fly the Wright-B flyer Sunday morning.
Jay Jabour hosted his roommate, Stalker Reed, when Stalker came up to Dayton to attend the 4950th Test Wing reunion at WPAFB Saturday Aug 15. The morning after the festivities Saturday night, Jay arranged for Stalker to fly the Wright-B replica aircraft at the Wright Brothers Airport south of Dayton. Jay invites others who may be interested to look at the website: http://www.wright-b-flyer.org/ and drop him an email [at JayJabour1@earthlink.net.]
Gone, but not forgotten: The AOG has recently learned of the death of Mr Christopher J Nicholas, CS-24 class of 1973. Mr Nicholas passed away on 
26 August 2009 in California as the result of complications from lymphoma. A memorial service was held on 4 Sept 2009 and his ashes were buried in the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, Dixon CA. The family has asked that memorial donations be made in his memory to the San Francisco Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: San Francisco LLS, 1390 Market Ct, San Francisco CA 94102. Please be sure to note that your gift is in memory of Christopher Nicholas. Condolences may be sent to his family in care of his wife, Donna: Mrs Donna Nicholas, 136 Glenwood Ct, Vacaville CA 95688-3520.
Historians Ruben Cubero '61, Don Rightmyer '73, and Fred Malmstrom '64 gave recent presentations to the 22nd Military History Symposium 28-30 Sep at USAFA. Their papers will be published next Spring in the USAFA History Department journal High Flight. Don Rightmyer adds: I think they will produce a published proceedings that will come out sometime next year and will be the "High Flight" I mentioned.
The overall title of the meeting was "High Flight: The History of the United States Air Force Academy" and we were basically presenting papers related to the Academy's first fifty years. My paper was entitled "Those Who Have Gone Before Us: Cadet Heritage Education at the U. S. Air Force Academy," and I spoke for about 25 minutes Wednesday afternoon. It was only the second time I've been able to return officially since our graduation. Loved it -- the weather was delightful until this morning, and we departed on a circuitous road trip (my wife and I) en route to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho (where I flew F-111s), etc., before we headed back to Kentucky. I'm sending you this from the Sagebrush Inn here at Mountain Home tonight. It's changed a lot; and they broke my heart -- they've taken down the static Aardvark they used to have near the front gate. :) Darn. Don and Bonnie Rightmyer followed their brief USAFA symposium stop with a total car trip of 4,900 miles, including Mountain Home, Yellowstone, Little Bighorn, Mt. Rushmore, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, IL (Kentucky being Mr. Lincoln’s birthplace).
Warren and Peggy Smith bid farewell to Colorado and have moved to Alabama, where family and warmer climate calls. Warren continues with HP where he is directing Worldwide new product introductions. All the best, Warren Smith
From Mike Mosier: A classmate of ours who left the Academy our Sophomore year (Bob Pineiro) retired from the Air Force on 29 Oct 2009. A former enlisted troop, Bob ended up back in the enlisted ranks after he left USAFA. He retired at HQ USSOCOM after 30 years of service as a CMSgt and a highly distinguished Air Force career. The CSAF, our own Nort Schwartz (one of Bob's squadron mates), did the honors and officiated at the ceremony. Classmates in attendance included Bob Munson and wife Pam, Skip Sanders and wife Joanne, and Bill Rothwell. Congrats Bob! Once a member of the Class of ’73, always a member of our brotherhood.
Greetings from Bob Fraser, from the East Coast. When I was teaching summer Astro this past July, one of the cadets asked if I was from the class of 1973. I said that I was and expected him to ask something about Sully or Gen Schwartz. But what he associated with our class was Rowe Stayton's memorable presentation at the National Character and Leadership Symposium (and the support our class gives the project). I hear nothing but rave reviews about the NCLS and appreciation for the part that our class giving plays in enabling it. Keep up the great work! Bob Fraser, Laurel, MD
From Mike Arnett: We had a mini-Niner reunion at the AF/Navy Game. Gordy Bendick, Don Pettit, Vic Thuotte, Mark Stuckley and I were all there. Mike Arnett, Annapolis, MD (moved here in April, still working for same L-3 group)
From Rick Karvosky: Nothing much going on - still working here at Al Dhafra Air Base in UAE as the Site Manager/Civil Engineer for RMS/IAP - just got back from a few weeks of vacation. A few days before getting on the plane to come back, I went to see my doc in Nantucket to get something for my indigestion problem. The doc suggested I take a stress test so I said okay. After the test, they gave me a free ticket to Mass General in Boston! I ended up having two stents put in, seems I had one artery 99% blocked, a second 95% blocked and a third, 40% blocked - for the past two years I thought it was only indigestion!!!! Oh well, the new and improved Rick - it was truly a wake-up call and now I finally got serious about losing weight, working out and watching my diet. Had a great time on my vacation - saw my daughters and my 4 grandkids - hard to believe my oldest grandson just turned 14! Denise, her daughter and I spent almost three weeks this past Spring travelling UK, Paris, Provence, Nice/Cannes/Monte Carlo and Milan - had a great time. Thought I'd include a picture of us in Milan! Take care, Rick Karvosky
Mike Smith had a new grandson born on 27 September. Mike says “not earth shaking to the class but pretty exciting for us.” I say every grandchild for the Class of ’73 is earth shaking. Congrats Mike!!!
From Ted Kammire: 18th SQ Class of 1973 had a mini reunion at the Reno Air Show 18-20 Sep. We were hosted by Rick Vandam and his wife Denise. Rick flys in the Jet Class in his L-39. He is also coordinator for the Sport Class and an instructor for those who want to qualify for the Reno Air Races. Attending were: Ted Kammire, Rick Vandam, Kirk Lilly, Eric Vogel, Mike Hay, Jay Beard, and Brian Jones along with his wife Sandy
Mike Edwards, Norty Schwartz, Dan O’Hollaren taken at the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) annual conference held in Nashville, TN (Opryland Hotel). Dan reported that “Mike Edwards & I escorted Nortie to the podium for his remarks to the NGAUS conference.” Dan O'Hollaren, Maj Gen, ORANG, USAFA '73, Asst to AFMC/CC 971-533-3651 (C).
Note from John Rosser with his latest data: John Paul Rosser &Associates, Inc. Mailing address is: 104 Crandon Blvd., Suite 304A; Key Biscayne, Florida 33149 P.O. Box 1 Key Biscayne, Florida 33149. Tel 305-365-3777 DDocument@aol.com; www.jprosser.com
Buddy Gammon’s daughter made the Dean’s List at Florida Coastal School of Law. Congrats Buddy!
From Carl Baillie -- THE RING: In May of 1972, shortly after getting his USAF Academy Class Ring, Carl Baillie lost it in the S. Platte river near Deckers, Colorado. On Memorial Day 2009, Simon Dagger (who lives in Littleton, CO) found the ring about 5 miles north of Deckers. Simon was able to track down Carl, who now lives in Kula on the Island of Maui. The ring, which had been in the S. Platte river for 37 years and traveled approximately 5 miles didn’t have a scratch on it. “We all had our names engraved on the inside of our rings and Simon was able to track me down using the internet.” “It is great to have my ring back, but I think more importantly, it is nice to know there are still honest and honorable people in the world. Simon didn’t have to take the time to find me and then return my ring. He could have just as easily pawned it and spent the dollars. Mahalo and Aloha.” Carl CBatKula@aol.com (808) 878 6744.