October 8, 2019

18 August 2019

Note by Bill Zersen

As many of our members have been aging, I thought that it would be a good idea, for historical purposes, to write up a little bit about this group in hopes that what we did as a Class group may be perhaps followed by other classes and to provide a template for other groups in our class to do the same.

Will people following us be interested at all in reading about the times we got together that were away from the Academy? People following us may like to know as to how we got organized and then got together for war stories (initially), family stories (later on), the crushing defeats (like sicknesses) in our lives and also the fun times that we provided for ourselves.

My personal desire would be to read about some of the other 1960 groups like the Florida group or the Washington Group or even the Academy Group as to what was going on between our major reunions. I don't even know as to where various groups of grads may have met and if they had any kind of organization.

During the early years after graduation, we all generally went back to the Academy for our reunions, but as time went on, we were scattered all over the world. And it wasn't until we all began to retire: 1st) from the military and then 2nd) from positions that we held out in industry, that we had time to talk about and reminisce about our lives, our pasts, what we enjoyed and what sometimes were bitter pills to take.

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THE USAFA CLASS OF 1960

"THE NORTHWEST FALCONS”

A Very Shortened History of this Organization

by Bill Zersen

The Northwest Falcons (NWF) met for lunch in West Seattle on August 7, 2019. The NWF group has been meeting for a long time, perhaps 20+ years at least annually. This was their most recent get together, complete with picture. (See below)

THE 1990's

Prior to the 1990's, except for one or two or three grads getting together probably because they were stationed at the same base, not much was heard of our classmates except through the Class Website (when it was established) or even through the Association of Graduates (AOG).

However, when people began retiring they obviously had to make decisions as to where they wanted to retire? Was it in the area of their last Base, or were they influenced by where their children were going? Mind you, by the 1990's, some of us probably already had grandchildren!
A word we never really thought about as we were plying the world.

As we settled in to retirement, and we found out as to who may be living relatively close to us, we began to contact one another to especially get together for lunch.

2000 AND BEYOND

For our get togethers over the years we traveled to the Bahama Breeze South of SEATAC to Hectors in Redmond, to Arnie's in Mulkiteo, to Anthony's in Edmond, to Chandlers in Seattle, to Salty's in West Seattle and to the Tulalip Casino in Everett close to the Navy Commissary. These get togethers were in addition to an annual get together at the Diver's house.

We also were on Nels boat at least two times. On one occasion we docked in Gig Harbor for lunch and another time at Johnny's Dock in Tacoma. My two grandsons were with us for the Johnny's Dock outing and they had a great time especially when Nels allowed them to take a turn at the helm.

Then in 2002 we got serious about getting together! That year was the first year for Charlie and Edie to invite the whole group to their house which overlooked the Skagit River just East of Mount Vernon, Washington.

I don't know if it was that first time, but one of these gatherings everyone showed up - 13 Graduates with their wives which was our total NWF group. At that gathering, Charlie told us as we arrived that there was going to be an air show at 2 PM. We all basically said, "Charlie, what have you been smoking this morning?"

As the witching hour approached all of a sudden we could hear an aircraft engine out there someplace in the wild. As it got closer and closer Charlie said here he comes! We were standing on the porch with our adult beverages in our hands and watched a 20-30 minute of aerial acrobatics which took place just North of the house and over the Skagit River valley. What a fantastic sight!

As Charlie explained afterward, the pilot, a good friend of his owned the plane and agreed to put on the demo when Charlie asked him about the possibility. By the way, the pilot was 80 years old and his plane was a 1923 Starduster, Call Sign 23Skidoo.

LOSSES

Then again, age began to creep up on us. In 2003, the Lord selected Buck to be with Him in Heaven. Following was Jerry in 2006. For Jerry's internment the Air Force sent a color guard from McChord to Bellingham for the service.

Not to belabor our losses, you can see on one of the pictures when 6 of our classmates left this earth.

At the current time we still have 7 North West Falcons, of which three and one half are active in the Seattle area. but who knows when that might change. Edie put together two pictures and on each one is a banner. The first one has the names of those departed and the year of departure. The other has the names of the 7 who are still living. Needless to say, it becomes more and more difficult for us to get together as we age and as we have especially family problems that we have to take care of.

EXTENDED ACTIVITIES

One of the things that the North West Falcons started was a get together for as many of the class of 1960 that lived on the West Coast who wanted to come. We've had two such get togethers so far. We were in Reno in 2017 (Hosted by Bill Zersen) and in San Diego in 2018 (Hosted by RG Head). Turn out was very good with about 25-30 classmates with wives in attendance. Even Jim Kerr and his wife came to Reno from Australia.

Well, that about does it! I pray that everyone is enjoying retirement and is still getting out there exercising and doing things to keep their minds occupied! May the Lord Bless each and every one of you and your families.

SEE YOU IN HEAVEN ONE DAY!

Bill Zersen

Banner

Chuck-men at Salty's

Corky to Denny

Jerry Mason

Corky to Charlie

NWF Departed

NWF Currently Living

Roger to Charlie

Bill wearing Vic's Hat at Saltys