With the air controllers sick-out, the teamsters walk-out, the post­al workers strike-out, the possible railroad slowdown, the Army handling the mail, and the Colorado weather, I’m not sure anyone off base is going to receive this newsletter. However, I certainly hope everyone does; however, a great deal has taken place since Jolly old St. Nick mailed out his bills in mid-January. Oh! Wouldn’t it be nice if Christmas were only tax deductible?

Perhaps because of the weather, recent visitors to USAFA just bare­ly exceed in number our two new arrivals. Bill and Nancie SIEBECKER were here in February when the weather was still relatively nice.

Bill's the VP for Sales of a small-but-successful manufacturing company in hometown Wausau, Wisconsin. Tony BILELLO was another February visitor. Tony was here with his family enroute to his assignment at McGuire. When I saw him, Tony wasn't yet back on flying status but expected to be soon. At any rate, he sure looked good for someone who had fallen 230 feet just six months ago. Our third visitor was Charlie LIGGETT, currently an assistant PAS at University of New Mexico. Chuck was up from Albuquerque with his detachment of cadets to visit Cheyenne Mountain, NORAD and Colorado’s number one tourist attraction. As for new arrivals, Ron DEEP, fittingly enough, is now assigned to the department corresponding to his shoe width--double E. You know, I used to wonder where Ron got the time as a cadet to shine so much shoe and still do everything else. After seeing Ron the other day wearing what I'm sure was a pair of cadet shoes, I don't wonder anymore. The other new arrival is Cres SHIELDS. Cres is with the Math Department but, before com­ing, did his thing in SEA as a FAC in OV-10s. With Cres, the num­ber of '60 grads at USAFA stands at 18.

In early March, I went TDY to D.C. for three days and got to talk to several classmates. During a fuel stop at Wright-Patterson, I called Ken BIEHLE, but, unfortunately, Ken was busy helping SAC de­ter WW III, and I didn't get to see him. Nonetheless, Ken told me that all was well both in the tanker business and the Biehle house­hold. At the Pentagon, I literally ran into Paul VALLERIE as I was leaving the information desk. Paul has been there in SAC Plans for ­about five months and finds the work to be one whale of a challenge. Later, I had lunch with Mike LOH who was assigned there in TAC fighter requirements upon his return from SEA late last year. Mike has all sorts of superlatives for the job, but hopes he can pass on the opportunity to another deserving young officer in the not too distant future. Seems that both Mike and Paul feel that the Penta­gon is a nice place to have just left, and from what I’ve seen, I’d have to agree. Mike also told me that Norm and Liz HALLER are now living in the Washington area. Norm is working in the office of one of the Assistant Secretaries of Defense.

From Syracuse University, my second alma mater, Elaine HEAD writes that the Maxwell school of Public Administration (known to Orange­men as Marxwell) recently awarded Dick his masters. Dick has also completed everything required for his PhD except his dissertation dealing with the A-7. Dick is currently barnstorming around the country doing research and hopes to finish the dissertation before reporting to USAFA (Poli Sci) in August. Elaine adds that she and Dick recently contributed to the population explosion, and that the latest boosts their mark to two boys and two girls. Also, from Syracuse, George HINES has completed all of his work for a doctorate in psychology with the exception of the doctoral thesis. George is presently on leave but will report at the end of the month to Lockbourne for upgrading in the C-119 gunship and then on to SEA. Again from Syracuse, Bill KORNITZER now has his MBA and has re­ported for duty at Eglin as an air ops officer at the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Training Center. Elsewhere in the academic community, Norm ALEXANDER got his MS from AFIT Wright-Patt here a­while back. Norm, who majored in systems management, will stay on at Wright-Patt with an assignment to the Aerospace Systems Division. On the West Coast, Jerry CASKEY has finished his masters at South­ern Cal and has moved on to Bergstrom, where he's now Commander of the 4500th Support Squadron. Not yet a student„ but soon to be one, is Mr. Magna Cum Laude himself, Herb ECKWEILER. Herb called Hal BROST last month for his professional advice as to which uni­versity could best challenge his extraordinary intellectual and scientific capacities. Herb is currently a MAC advisor with a Re­serve unit in Pittsburg but has won a full scholarship from AFIT for advanced studies in management engineering commencing this fall. Hal recommended the University of Heidelberg, but concerned with the gold flow, Herb said he would probably have to settle for Harvard or Cal Tech. Speaking of Harvard, Oogie PRINDLE wrote me a nice note saying that he'd gotten his MBA from there not too long ago and, while in the Bean City, got a chance to see several people including Bill DELONY flying HC-130s at Pease; Frank MAYBERRY, the PACAF Liaison Officer at Hanscom Field; and Ed NOGAR chauffeuring for American out of Long Island. Oog said he was on his way to Thailand where he'd be flying in C-123 "Candlesticks."

Over in SEA, Garth COOKE recently received the bronze Star at Da Nang for meritorious service as an air ops officer, while Marty RICHERT was decorated at the same place with the DFC for heroism as a co-pilot of a Jolly Green, responsible for rescuing a Marine pilot. Tom BURKE has become the Wing Exec for the 14th Special Ops wing at Phan Rang; and, finally, Jim WADDLE and Gordy SAVAGE have both checked in at Udorn, where they'll be flying the RF-4 'til next year. This makes tour number two for Gordy, following an earl­ier one as a FAC in 0-1s.

The only news this month about our comrades in commercials comes from Jerry FARQUHAR who’s with Delta in Atlanta. Jerry has flown just about everything that Delta has but lately has been occupying the left seat of a CV-440 or DC-9. Jerry says that Tony JONES spent a few days there some time back and extends as invitation to all to do likewise when in the area. Just call Delta Operations in Atlanta, yo heah?

I’d like to bring your attention back to the article in February’s newsletter. Some of you may have missed it, and, anyway, I think more needs to be said. Three of our classmates--Tony BURSHNICK, Mike LOH, and Dale THOMPSON--were selected as Outstanding Young Men of America. In my mind, the selection committee couldn’t have made a better choice. All three have been piling laurels, not only on themselves but on the Academy and the class as well, and I'm sure I speak for all in adding my congratulations to the many they've received.

As most of you know, Aaron THRUSH is heading the planning committee for our tenth-year reunion this fall. By now, nearly everyone should have gotten his questionnaire, and I would ask that you be conscientious about returning them on time. Aaron's a volunteer doing us a great service but can only continue to do so if he has your support and, more specifically for the moment, your question­naire. I think the reunion is shaping up into the biggest and best that we'll ever have; so, those of you that have said you won't be coming may want to give it some more thought. While on the subject, I might mention that I just received a delightful note from Marilyn ROE. She says Pete is presently on an isolated tour in Turkey but that things look super for the reunion, since Pete's next assignment is to NORAD Headquarters in C-Springs beginning in May. We hope to get lots more letters just like that.

Beginning with the July Quarterly, the author of this script will be Sid NEWCOMB. By collective agreement and for a number of good reasons, we will change class reps yearly. In this way, we hope to keep the article interesting and provide the best news coverage this side of Huntley-Brinkley.

A few short items before closing, Pat SMITH is back in the ZI at Wight-Patt after a tour in A-36s in Thailand. Gerry GAMMILL is no longer at Eglin but at Little Rock in C-130s. Bob WEINAUG is back at Vandenberg after a record sixty days outside of a silo to attend the AU academic Instructor course at Maxwell. "Fat Mac" MACFARLANE has returned from a USAF/RAF exchange assignment and is in F-100s at Luke. Gerry DE LA CRUZ recently left for the UK to do what Mac was doing. Rich CARTER is still with Continental in Denver and has a bid in for 747s to begin this fall. That's it. Thanks for your help and keep the info coming. Incidentally, Sid NEWCOMB’s address is Qtrs. 6451B, USAFA Co. 80841