April - June 2022

As Compiled by JT Smith
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19 June 2022
Denis Walsh provided the following report on the interment of Tony Burshnick at the Academy Cemetery on 17 June:

"I arrived just as they were starting, and left after the burial. I sat next to Jack Brush and his wife Elaine. I saw Jim Glaza, Dick Schehr, Dick Sexton, John McCullough, Ron Yates, and Wayne Kendall [who reports that Dave Reed was also in attendance]. There were some ’59 guys. Lt Gen Clark ['86], the Sup, was there and presented the flag to the widow ... . There were most likely several other '60s, but I didn't socialize enough to meet hardly anyone. I reminisced with John about our days together on wing staff with Tony, Jerry Caskey, and Bob Fischer. Did not go to the gathering after the burial.

Burshnick Interment

"There were around 50 or sixty guests; so, I have only listed a few. There were 20 Cadets there. One fell out but recovered fairly quickly. The regular complement of honor guard, including pall bearers, firing squad and bugler ... . They furled his 3-star ensign."

Addendum by Jim Glaza:

". . . To his credit, Janet Edwards said that Gen. Clark absolutely insisted on presenting the flag to Karen. Despite the fact that the missing man fly by was missing (typical screw-up), the ceremony was one Tony would have been proud of."

Taken at Tony's reception at the Eisenhower Golf Clubhouse. Photo courtesy Max Miller ('59))
Group ShotStanding L-R: Jeannette Glaza, Jim Glaza, Dick Schehr, Wayne Kendall, Afton Reed, David Reed, John McCullough, Ron and Connie Yates, Jack Brush, Tony Bilello.
Sitting L-R: Sharon Schehr, Barbara Kendall, Karen Burshnick, Deanne McCullough, Elaine Brush.
Missing: Dick and Sally Sexton, Denis Walsh.

Those who could not attend the ceremony, can view the video HERE.

16 June 2022
Jack Schira's interment announced by his family.

"We just set the burial date in Arlington for September 8th at 9 am. Please let me know if anyone is interested in attending and I can give them all the information.

Thanks,

Christine Robinson
440-570-4044
christine.schira@gmail.com."

18 May 2022
Update from the AOG: Colven E. “Earl” Caudell, ATO:
    "A gathering of family and friends will be held on 15 Jun 2022 from 1500-1700 at the Doolittle Hall Library, 3116 Academy Dr, USAF Academy, CO 80840. Doolittle Hall Is the AOG Building. A funeral service will be held on 16 Jun 2022 at 1300 hours at the USAFA Cemetery. If you plan to attend the gathering, please RSVP to Brad Powell who is helping the family by emailing to Brad.Powell@NVBell.net."
21 April 2022

A Toast to the Last Doolittle Raider

The Air Force and surviving family members raised a final Hennessy cognac toast to the Doolittle Raiders to mark the passing of the last Doolittle Raider. The children of the late Lt. Col. Dick Cole, who served as Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle’s co-pilot in the lead B-25 Mitchell bomber, turned over his silver goblet at a ceremony in Fort Walton Beach, April 18, 2022. There were 80 goblets made, one for each U.S. Army Air Forces aviator that conducted the historic secret raid on Tokyo on April 18, 1942. Cole’s goblet is still upright in the case, directly below the first goblet, top left, of Jimmy Doolittle. Defense One / Tara Copp

The above picture and caption appeared on the Defense One website on 18 April. To view the full article describing the ceremony, click HERE.

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