12 November 2012

On 21 Nov, the intrepid few Colorado Springs met for our usual monthly luncheon at Champps Sports Bar. We did forego any semi-formal program and spent the time discussing any topic the attendees chose to bring up. Gordy Savage has authored his first book (a fiction thriller). "The book is "Peacemaker" with a sub-title of "The Corona Rebellion 2564 AD." I have a link on my website (gordonsavage.com) to the Peacemaker page on Books to Believe in. To find it on Amazon search "books" for "Gordon Savage Peacemaker." We're hoping the hardcopy will be ready on Monday."

The launch including soft drinks and pizza is currently scheduled for December 8th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 - 3:30 pm at Piccolo, 3563 S. Monaco Pkwy., Denver (Just off I-25 at the Hampden exit).

Some of the time was spent updating each other on our personal lives and local events concerned with the Academy and the football team. We were glad to see Dick Schehr back from the hospital after recovering from complications he received from a fall some weeks earlier. Wayne updated us on George Pupich's condition after receiving heart surgery on Thursday, 15 November. He is doing well and expected to be home around Sunday or Monday. The attendees, left to right: Mosier, Kendall, Biancur, Waddle, Schwank, Savage, Schehr, Sexton, & Roe. Need or want more, give me a call,

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19 September 2012

The Colorado group met at CHAMPPS Sports Bar today Wednesday for lunch and conversation. The Commandant of Cadet, BGen Greg Lengyel, joined us for some informal conversation. From all indications, it went well. Greg is an Air Force Brat who graduated from Texas A&M and has served as a helicopter pilot among other duties. He informed us that his core mission is to return more discipline to the wing and was gracious in his response to our questions. If we were to sum up our thoughts; it is O K to bring more A&M to USAFA. Gen Lengyel seems to have the right approach since the early impressions expressed by the cadets is that he is "A Hard Ass"

Two photos document that Ron Yates, Tony Bilello, Jim Glaza, Wayne Kendall (our MC & lunch leader), John McCullough, Bruce Mosier, Fred Porter, Dick Schehr, Dick Sexton, Jim Waddle, Denis Walsh, and Andi Biancur all made it to the trough.

NOTE: We have dropped the "Springs" from our group title since the Boys from Denver are regular attendees.

Right to left: Waddle, Lengyel, Kendall, Yates, Walsh (Hiding behind Yates, Glaza,& McCullough.
Right to left: Waddle, Lengyel, Kendall, Yates, Walsh (Hiding behind Yates, Glaza,& McCullough.

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9 July 2012

Class lunch at Champs Restaurant.

We, here in Colorado Springs had a great 9 July Anniversary lunch. There were 14 classmates who attended (picture of 13 attached), and 5 more who said they were coming but were no-shows. In the picture are: Brush, Yates, Biancur, McCullough, Roe, Savage, Kendall, Bujalski, Bilello, Hodson, Pupich, Waddle & Mosier - not in that order. Porter showed shortly after the photo. Our 5 absentees were Glaza, Schwank, Schehr, Sexton & Walsh (probably because their memory failed them). There were several stories about the first days in 1956 and some other nonsense passed around. The lunch went some 2 1/2 hours which must have meant everyone was enjoying it. We will meet again in August and try to get the new Commandant, BrigGen Lengyel to join us in September. Andi

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21 March 2012

The Colorado Springs "Lunch Bunch" attended our Founder's Day luncheon today. This was the closest date to the 1 April date that we could manage. Wayne Kendall did his usual job of MC-ing. We began by reading a list of all our deceased classmates, and followed that with a toast to those three that left us within the last 12 months. (We hope we have started a tradition that will be an annual occurrence at every Founder's Day lunch.)

Our open topic today was a reminiscence of the first few day here at the Academy in 1958. It was followed by Pete Roe's presentation of the early history of Space Command. His talk was interesting, enlightening, and raised a few questions as to what it was like as a Space Operations Officer in the early years. In all there were 10 that ventured into the bright sunshine of Colorado Springs. They were; Pete Roe, Tony Bilello, Jim Glaza, Bill Hodson, Wayne Kendall, Bruce Mosier, Dick Schehr, Jock Schwank, Fred Porter, And Andi Biancur. (See attached photo.) Our next get-together will be on 18 April when Dick Schehr will explain how to set up a non-profit.

I think that should do it.

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11 January 2012

Class lunch at Champps Restaurant.

Our guest speaker was Major Elaine Bryant and she was great. Eleven members showed up. Wayne Kendall, our leader and social referee had to leave early, so I kept notes.

Glaza led off with the mandatory war story which involved an RF 4C mission he was on wherein their wingman got hosed over in Laos, came back with no hydraulics, stalled out over the runway, ejected (successfully) but the aircraft continued on and wiped out the middle of the base at Udorn, killing 27 people. Jim had a ringside seat since they had landed first and pulled off to watch.

This meeting was our first experiment with inviting a guest. Major Elaine Bryant is the AOC of 24 Squadron, and Fred Porter who had known her from her days in the Aero Department, persuaded her to come and give us a better understanding of how the "system" operates. She did a remarkable job and captivated the audience, who mostly felt the need to tell her how much tougher it was in the old days. One of the more emotional topics was why the hell USAFA felt the need to wear fatigues all the time. You will notice Maj. Bryant was wearing fatigues. Of interest to me: the AOC tour is three years, but includes a year to get a masters in counseling at Maxwell. She is the rare exception, and has not done that. She has had a remarkable, varied career. She is USAFA 2000, and married to a USAFA 1998. Has two sons, 4 and 8. She has had assignments as a maintenance officer (F-16 at Hill), Assignments at the wind tunnel at Wright Patt, then exec to the Commander of AFMC(too bad Yates, its first commander, wasn't there), grad school MS in Aero, instructor at USAFA, AOC. Very impressive. I would hope all the AOC were as sharp as she is but I seriously doubt it. Just to give you a feel for the new vs old, she had to face a RIF board recently!

Everyone who showed up was in fine spirits and had a good holiday.