This is one of those occasions when this column should be referred to as having a little bit of a lot of things, or something for everyone.

To start with the future, let me comment about a thought that R.L. PENN ('59) raised in his last column and wrote to me about. Ron LANHAM (also '59) is contemplating action to have the field house named for the first graduate killed in combat. We all know that person to be Val BOURQUE. I agree that such an honor is well deserved; however, for several years now there has been a moratorium on naming academy real estate. There is, I believe, an alternative suggestion which should be considered. The AOG house building plan has recently been approved, and the fund-raising effort is underway. Since that building will forever belong to the grads and represent much of what we stand for, it may be very appropriate that it carry Val's name. Something to consider.

Now, from the past. How many of you would remember the name Paul SONES? If you were like me, a vague image from way back stirs within your mind. Well, in early May, Cres and Mary SHIELDS invited the '60 grads from the area to their home to refresh our memories. Paul entered AFA with us in 1956 and, as some of you so correctly remember, in 1957 was involved in an aircraft accident which left him somewhat deficient in the mobility department. That did not slow Paul down much at all. As you can see from the picture, Paul stands as tall as any of us. It took almost eight hours to catch up on the 30 years of life since Paul left us to our own devices. The group of attendees included: Fred PORTER, Jim GLAZA, Frank MAYBERRY, Paul, Roy JOLLY, Bill HODSON, Cres, and myself. We would have invited the wives to join the picture, but they had been designated duty-drivers and were running around the block to sober up. Paul and his wife Sheila now reside at 48 Pheasant Hill Lane, Carlisle, MA 01741, where he is deep into engineering magic.

That leaves the present. For that, I got some help from Deke JOHNSON who sent me a short note and a picture extolling the virtues of a ski week in Jackson Hole, WY. Since a photo is worth a thousand words I will let it speak.

It shows Deke, Howie BRONSON and Judy, Cherie Thompson, Sally Johnson, Dale THOMPSON, Dianna Costello (friend of) and George PUPICH. Deke is still in the auto parts business in Boise, ID. Howie is CV of the TAC Air Div at March AFB, CA. Dale is CV of the ALC at Hill AFB, UT. And George is dab­bling in the metal plating business to supplement his work as a pilot with Delta/Western. A noteworthy bunch to say the least.

Miles KASPAR paused long enough from his travels as a United Airlines pilot to inform me that he, Bob RAGER, and Don LIV­INGSTON ('59) did in fact transfer from Pan Am to United Airlines when they picked up Pan Am's Pacific routes and now inhabit "the friendly skies" on a regular basis. I wonder if that makes them less friend­ly? Miles and Charlotte are in the throes of house buying in Fullerton, CA; so, out of fairness to them, I guess we should all give them a whole two weeks before a visit. According to Miles, Charlie and Sandy GEORGI live under the same smog cloud in the LA basin in Villa Park--another garden spot often missed by the casual traveller.

The replies to my request for short personal histories have started to flow in; so, as promised, I won't have to lie but only enhance them somewhat.

Howie WHITFIELD, after 25 years, left the Marine Corps as a colonel in July 1985. He followed Navy flight training with helicopter qualifica­tion which landed him two tours in Vietnam. He progressed through tours as a T-28 flight instructor, various operational duties to include command of two different squadrons and a group, totalled over 5,500 flight hours, served at Hq Marine Corps, and finished as G-3 (Ops Off) of 3rd Marine Air Wing. Howie attended Naval P.G. School, Naval Command and Staff College, and Air War College (DG and MA in public admin). Somewhere along the line, he and Linda have somehow found the time to play Mom and Dad to their two daughters Dawn and Lynn. Since July 1985, Howie worked for Rockwell on the small ICBM, then accepted a position with Sikorsky as chief, Navy/Marine Corps Requirements Analysis, in an Advanced Design and Business Group in Connecticut. The Whitfields now reside at 46 Country Club Place, Shelton, CT 06484.

Phil MEINHARDT left the Air Force with 30 years credit (due to some previous Navy time) and is fully enjoying retirement in La Jolla, CA. Phil's Air Force career was built on management skills learned at UCLA in 1975. He exercised those skills as a cost analysis officer in the Space Shuttle program, then for Systems Command in the LONGBOW pro­gram, and the creation of the Space Defense Program Office of USAF Space Division. He initiated, then worked joint efforts in space research with NASA, the California Institute of Technology, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and was coordinator for mission-oriented in­vestigation and experimentation programs. In his few breaks from the space business, Phil has performed duty in various flying assignments, a tour working the reorganization of 7th and 13th Air Forces, liaisoning with the Louisiana CAP, and in command and control in Europe, where he did travel extensively. Now, Phil is leading the relaxed life, maintain­ing a year-round tan and "advising" his two sons: one working for Kodak and the youngest, a recent graduate of USC, a pilot in the aviation insurance business.

Some of you expressed interest in knowing who from the class are pointing toward the reunion cruise. As of 15 June the following class members are among the 106 couples plus who are signed up: ALEX­ANDER (N), BIANCUR, DOUGLASS, GEORGI, GLAZA, GURLEY, HAERTER, JOHNSON (DK), JOLLY, LALIME, MILLER (KD), NOGAR, O'ROURKE, PRINDLE, PUPICH, REKENTHALER, SHIRA, WADDLE, and YATES. It looks like it is shaping up to be a fine trip and one that shouldn't be missed.

Paul VALLERIE writes from Bellevue, WA that Boeing Electronics Company will not comply with his wishes to move him (and his job) to Colorado; so, he must be content to live and raise his family in the wastelands of the Northwest. Paul and Kay are finding, to their delight, what we are all anticipating. As their children mature and strike out on their own, an increasing degree of freedom allows them to go and do. They invite anyone heading their way to get in touch (206) 657-7405

Well, don't feel hurt if your name didn't make this issue, I assure you that it is only a matter of time before it does.