Class of '59 CheckPoints Article
Winter 2009
by
 Pete Todd

This quarter’s column opens with a welcome reminder from a classmate that you’re never too old to be of service to your community. Jack Hundemer writes, “One of my most satisfying volunteer activities is my work with the Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CABVI). I've served in a number of capacities for ten years. One is a reading program via computer that records articles requested and provided by volunteers over the phone. This is especially nice since I can continue that function during our six months in Florida (about to commence).

“I read from the Friends Journal, published quarterly by the Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc. I've also conducted ‘touch tours’ for three years to Wright-Pat for CABVI customers.

“One edition carries an article by Col Arthur G. Witters (USAF, Ret), entitled Encounters with General LeMay. It provides a very insightful view of him, but also offers some wonderful stories and anecdotes relating to the earliest days of USAFA. Col Witters was an architect and designer of our field house, thereby fulfilling a promise he made to Gen Harmon. Gen Briggs and Gen Cassiday are also mentioned.”

Attaboy, Jack! I’d be happy to publish tales of any volunteer activities received from other 59ers. They’d make interesting reading and might give some ideas to the couch potatoes among us who really would rather wear out than rust out.

Always-reliable correspondent Bill Telford writes about August visitors to his neighborhood. “Not much has been happening since the 50th, but this past weekend, we had the pleasure of hosting the Hamers, Jeffersons, and Kingslands. As is the case these days (unfortunately) we spent an inordinate amount of time discussing ailments, operations, and other health issues. Certainly not like the old days!

“At any rate, on Saturday the "girls" did their usual thing to revive the economy by shopping the day away, lunching and having fun doing it. We guys took a trip in the boat and went to lunch at a marina restaurant on the lake. We had great fun joking with the waitress and telling war stories. (The nice thing about getting old is that no one would dare accuse us of sexual harassment.) That night, we all went out to a local restaurant and were surprised when the girls walked in wearing the same style blouses and matching necklaces in different colors.

 

“The Wild Bunch: (l-r) Steve and Patty Hamer, Ann and Lou Kingsland, Wayne and Bonnie Jefferson, Bill and Anna Telford.”

 

“We macho guys had driven over in one car and the ladies followed about five minutes later. I guess they had all this planned. When they walked in, we thought they were the entertainment. Thought they were the Andrew's Sisters! ( Boy, does that date me.)

“Once again, we had a lot of fun with the waitress (who was from New Jersey—as are Lou and Steve, so they were able to act as our interpreters). The rest of our time together was not really exciting since we ate and talked a lot. It is always fun, though, when some of the old gang get together. The Jeffersons and Kingslands leave later this week for Italy to join up with the Montavons, Morgans, and, I believe, the Sees and Schaums, to tour the wine country and imbibe.”

A couple of years ago on a quickie stag visit, I had occasion to savor the Telfords’ gracious hospitality at their self-designed lakeside palace. They carelessly invited me to return sometime with Wendy and we took them up on their kind offer just before the AF-Navy game (about which game nothing more will be said here. Ever!). We spent three fabulous days resting, visiting, eating, and even talking a bit about flying. As always, they were the Host and Hostess Supreme.

Joe Morgan had done his usual superb job of organizing the Annapolis tailgate and we had a great turnout. Unfortunately, Wendy (aka the Kodak Queen) was a bit under the weather and I have no photographic evidence for the following attendees. If I’ve added or left out anyone, charge it off to my incipient dementia. Seen and recognized, most accompanied by spouse and/or other family members and friends, were Jim Blackwell, Wiley Burch, Dick Carr, Jim Connally, Chuck Ferrari, Dick Goetze, Leigh Hunt, Jimmie Jay, Wayne Jefferson, HT Johnson, Ed Josephson, Lou Kingsland, Charlie May, Bill McLain, Max Miller, Kent Montavon, Joe Morgan, Mike Reardon, Dennie See, Bill Telford, Pete Todd and Fred Wynn.

Mel Pollard sent me a copy of a letter he received from his escort at the Falcon Heritage Forum in April. I’m including the key parts here and will try to get the entire letter on the website. The letter speaks for itself. You think these kids don’t care?  (Webmaster's comment - click HERE to view the entire letter in PDF format)

“Dear Lt Col Pollard,

“…Looking back at your visit in the spring, I would like to thank you and your class for coming out to the Academy. It is monumentally inspiring to be in the presence of the first graduating class. Between your stories and the accounts of your classmates, I feel that escorting you has given me a unique and fleeting understanding of both the Academy’s and Air Force’s history.

“As a Fourth Classman, I remember many of my peers talking about how they wished that our Academy had the same level of tradition and history as those other two schools. I understood their sentiment at first, but over time I came to realize that they were idolizing the early graduates of those institutions. Their heroes, like Grant, Lee, Farragut, Pershing, etc., were likewise near the beginning of their particular schools’ history.

“It occurred to me that from your class to mine, we are the equivalent. Though few Air Force Academy graduates have gained the popular renown of McArthur, Eisenhower, and others, I would argue that it has more to do with the circumstances of the times than the specific qualities of their educations. Furthermore, the other academies picked up their trade late in the game, after mankind had millennia of practice. I bring this up because my time escorting you proved the concept in action. Your class not only provides the beginning of an Academy legacy, but was integral to the maturation of a whole new form of warfare. Although the Second World War had to be fought by graduates of West Point and Annapolis, the increasing significance of Air Warfare in modern war meant that a dedicated school was needed. The Air Force Academy and your class were the answer to the question.

“I do not know if you are aware, but to many of us, your class is composed of heroes and giants. You set the bar high for us and I hope that we can make the grade. I would consider myself fortunate to someday have even a small fraction of your renown, clout, and reputation. Two hundred years from now, Fourth Classmen at the Air Force Academy won't fret about their school's monumental heroes in history because they will have you to look to. And maybe if we make the cut, they'll throw the Class of 2009 in there with the Class of 1959.”

THOUGHT FOR THE QUARTER:

Time is the best teacher. Unfortunately, it kills all its students.