This news would normally appear in the Dec 2002 issue of Checkpoints. However, that article has been dedicated to recapping the 20th reunion held from 4-8 Sep '02. Therefore, this is the only place this news appears.
Click on a link below to scroll to that particular update
 | Gary Packard, e-mail, 28 Aug 02 |
| Keith Zuegel, e-mail, 28 Aug 02 |
| Keith Zuegel, e-mail, 10 Jul 02 |
| Bobby Navarro, e-mail, 9 Jul 02 |
| Mike Sinisi, e-mail, 27 Aug 02 |
| Bruce Sutherland, e-mail, 15 Aug 02 |
| Fred Sandoval, e-mail, 4 Aug 02 |
| Steve Vogt, e-mail, 30 Jul 02 |
| Brian Korb, e-mail, 30 Jul 02 |
| Mike Sinisi, e-mail, 29 Jul 02 |
| Sue Grant, e-mail, 22 Jul 02 |
| Ray Phillips, e-mail, 21 Jul 02 |
| John Cerra, e-mail, 21 Jul 02 |
| Bill Eades, e-mail, 18 Jul 02 |
| Daryl "Bones" Jones, e-mail, 15 Jul 02 |
| News re: Ardie Dahl, e-mail/phone, 16 Jul 02 |
| Greg Kniff, phone call, 30 Jun 02 |
| Retiring Classmates, 29Jun 02 |
| Rick Burgess, e-mail, 29 Jun 02 |
| Eric Bjorn, personal contact, 27 Jun 02 |
| Jeff Stephens, e-mail, 23 Jun 02 |
Gary Packard
28 Aug 02
Thanks [for sending the coins], Jim.
And thanks for all your work with the class web page and scribe duties. I am sure reunion time brings more updates than usual. Since I have not sent an update in a couple of years, I will give you a quick synopsis.
After completing my PhD at UNC Chapel Hill (Developmental Psychology) in 1999, I was assigned to the 32d FTS at Vance flying T-1's. I was originally supposed to return to the USAFA faculty, but the pilot wings were more valuable to the AF than the PhD. Go figure. Anyway, I served as DO from Aug 2000 to Apr 2002. In Apr I took over command of the sqd. Only other 82er here is Nick "Bear" Sandwick, DO of the 25th FTS (T-38s). Tony Lazarski was here briefly as the Deputy OG. He made Col last board and was carted off to Langley to work for the ACC/CC, Gen Hornburg.
Click for large version (Warning: 352 Kb file)
We have four kids ages 15, 13, 6, 3 and Jill and I will celebrate our 20th anniversary in Dec (not quite a June week wedding but in the same year as graduation by a couple of days). I have attached a family photo in front of the sqd plane last Christmas.
See you next week.
Gary
Keith Zuegel
28 Aug 02
Jim,
No problem. Great hearing back from you. Read your column religiously, but I finally took the initiative to write. Great work on the column by the way. We've enjoyed watching along the way as we've all grown, prospered, and aged gracefully. Well, at least grew and prospered.
Wanted to re-introduce myself before next week. Wasn't able to go to our 10 year reunion as I was flying F-111s in Operation PROVIDE COMFORT and couldn't get away. I've lived the last 10 years having everyone tell me how great it was. Told myself we'd go to the next one.
Both my wife, Eva, and I are eager for the reunion. See you there.
Thanks for the words,
Keith "Zuegs" Zuegel
Keith Zuegel
10 Jul 02
Ratman,
First time writing to you, but with the reunion coming up, wanted to give an update, so I could re-introduce myself after 20 short years.
It's been an interesting career taking me through some pretty interesting stops in the fighter world and an opportunity to serve with some other red tags. Was well along in my first fighter assignment to Seymour Johnson AFB, NC when I was asked whether I wanted to continue to fly F-4s in the Philippines or convert to F-111s in England. Within a short time, I was at RAF Lakenheath in the UK flying the pave-tack equipped F-111F. Got to go to the big game in the sand box and flew in DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. Thanks to all those fellow red tags for helping keep us safe and making all go well, by the way. Then, I extended my flying time by going to Cannon AFB, NM where I got to sample some squadron and wing leadership positions. After ACSC at Maxwell (was in a seminar with 82's Mike "Frenchie" France), I went to HQ EUCOM in Stuttgart for a joint job in J-3. It was exciting working Crisis Actions for the busy European and Africa AORs while living only 2 minutes walk from work.
From Germany, I took a job in the Pentagon working for the Secretary of the Air Force in Legislative Affairs. It was a lot of fun, and allowed me an opportunity to work with senior Air Force leadership and with the U.S. Congress. From there, I competed and almost accepted a job as a Group AOC in order to go back to our original haunt of C-Springs, but simultaneously received a terrific opportunity to continue with Legislative Affairs as the Deputy Legislative Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. So, I'm still in the Pentagon after 4 years, with one more to go.
Like everyone else, I went through the big decision process about staying in the Air Force or trying something different, but the Air Force gave me a big pull to stay in by selecting me for Colonel on the recent 0-6 board. I expect to stay here another year and then go to either a DC senior service school or maybe to a fellowship at Harvard.
My Air Force airplanes are now all on sticks, but life is great, and I'm spending a lot of time flying both as a general aviation flight instructor and in the Civil Air Patrol for the DC National Capital Wing. I'm married to my best friend, Eva, a very busy Air Force Reserves nurse/Certified Lactation Consultant/Pampered Chef Consultant, and we live in northern Virginia. We are blessed with three beautiful and active children named Lauren, Matthew, and Allison.
Eva and I are excited about seeing everyone in September. Go Air Force!
Please update my email: keith.zuegel(nospam)@js.pentagon.mil
Keith "Zuegs" Zuegel, Lt Col, USAF
(CS-12/15)
'82 Best in Blue'
Bobby Navarro
9 Jul 02
Hi Jim,
How are you? I am working at Johnson Space Center, as a Space Shuttle Instructor. Steve Lindsey is here also as an astronaut.
I will give you a tour if you are ever in town.
Please add my address to the e-mail list. Thanks. Take care.
Mike Sinisi
27Aug 02
Just a quick note to let folks know the Sinisi's are moving again! Daniel's 4th house in his 4th year of life! I leave work tomorrow, check into DC on the 16th of Sep.
Off to the Pentagon (again!), and we are looking forward to it!
Just wanted to pass on our moving info, so if you are up in that area please give us a call!
michael.sinisi(nospam)@pentagon.af.mil
(work)
(703)588-6161 (work)
DSN if you have access, 425
(home-Mike) Harrier13(nospam)@aol.com
(home-Cyndi) Mackatt(nospam)@aol.com
As of 1 Oct home address:
6830 Wild Rose Ct
Springfield VA 22152
See ya!
Mike
Bruce
Sutherland
15 Aug 02
Jim – This is Bruce Sutherland, and at my wife’s bugging I was browsing for
reunion info and discovered I’m an 82 lost graduate. After updating (for
the first time) the AOG info, I thought I’d drop you a
line with email address and other stuff. First
the basics:
767 Lake Dr
Melbourne, FL 32940
Bsutherland2(nospam)@cfl.rr.com
321-259-2081
After 16 years of having great jobs and great bosses, I finally ran into a
bad job and a not so great boss, so when they offered us engineers an
early retirement option in 1998, I took it and retired
on the day our LTC board met. After a short
stint with Clorox (supervising the Pine Sol production
line), I was hired by Northrop Grumman as a systems engineer working on
Joint STARS projects.
I have to admit I haven’t kept in touch with too many classmates, too busy
or too lazy, so maybe this will be the start of looking up old friends.
Don’t know if I’ll be able to make this reunion. I’ve been traveling on
business for the past month, and didn’t get in on the info until this
week (since I was “lost” to the AOG as well).
Maybe now’s the time to use those US Airways frequent
flyer miles!! Ha ha!
Well, I’ve managed to stay married to the same gal I got hitched with the
day after graduation. I wonder if Kevin Smith, Dan Levin, Stu
Rodgers, Chris Russick , Larry Kimm, and Mike France
remember holding sabers? We have two kids,
Lauren who’s 16 and driving…ahhhggggg, and Dane who’s 13 and
claiming he’s a better driver than his sister.
Well I’ve run long here, so talk to you soon
Bruce Sutherland
Fred Sandoval
4 Aug 02
Jim,
I have recently started my own investment and
real estate development
companies, here is the latest and greatest info for me - thx
New Business Address Info:
The Private Investment Group, Inc
Alfredo A. Sandoval, Managing Partner
901 East Tahquitz Canyon Way
Suite B-201
Palm Springs, CA 92262
(o) 866-346-4002
email -
fsandoval(nospam)@privateinvestmentgroup.com
Home number is 760-346-8980
Jim, please update when you can.
Fred
Steve Vogt
30 Jul 02
Ran into Ted Holmes the other day at work. He's also a DC-9 Capt and has been pushed back to reserve with me. Someone told him he was on the "lost" list, but I guess he's cleared that up now. I thought it was interesting that when I checked the current "lost" list, Ardy Dahl is on the list despite the news article posted on the site! (ed: Ardie's address is fixed)
Another comment on getting reservations for the reunion. I tried to get reservations last Sat, but was told it was all sold out for the night of the 6th (and I did mention the reunion). When I called back on Monday to ask about waiting lists, I was given 2 rooms as requested! I have a feeling that the weekend staff isn't up to snuff about the reunion setup...
I made the reservations but am not sure who will come (if anyone). I've been unable to find anyone to swap vacation dates with me, so I'll have to hope I can bid a schedule with the appropriate time off.
I re-read the last update I gave you and realized it's been awhile. It turned out that once the surgeon got inside my belly, he discovered I had a full fledged hernia. I'm the proud owner of a 3 inch scar and a patch of mesh. I was off the line for 6 weeks, despite the surgeon telling me I'd be back in a couple of weeks (other friends who've had the surgery said they're surprised it was only 6 weeks).
Mom was here last week. Her husband, Bob, also has relatives in the area, so they get up here a couple of times a year. She also just called after getting home to say she saw your picture in the paper. What was that about? (ed: Long story...nothing important!) She said you didn't have numbers under your picture, so I guess it wasn't a mug shot...
See you soon (I hope)!
Steve
Brian Korb
30 Jul 02
Brian Korb
Mike Sinisi
29 Jul 02
Jim,
Thought I would let you know, I will not be able to attend the reunion. I am very disappointed, but I just got told I have to be at the Pentagon (PCS) by 15 Sep, so no time to breathe in packing up and moving out. I am happy about the assignment, but not the timing.
Oh, well, the joys of being an 0-6 select!
Have fun!
Mike
Sue Grant
22 Jul 02
Hi Jim!
Reunion, we're almost there--woo hoo!
I thought I'd share the fact that I made front page news in the Sunday LA Times. Very cool! Front page news! Here's a link to the article: http://www.latimes.com/la-na-romance21jul21.story
The book of mine the reporter mentioned is CONTACT and it hits the shelves in the first week of October. An excerpt is on my website Susan Grant Web Site
Hope all is well with you &
family!
Sue
Susan Grant
http://www.susangrant.com
Back to the Top
Ray Phillips
21 Jul 02
Jim,
I have just recently PCS'd here to Cheyenne Mountain and wanted to pass on my e-mail address. I look forward to seeing you all at the reunion.
Home e-mail: rkgdphillips(nospam)@earthlink.net
Cheers,
Ray
John Cerra
21 Jul 02
Jim,
FYI. I retired from the Air Force 1 Jul. I am now a principal engineer for a company called ARINC. They provide engineering services for Tinker AFB.
My home e-mail is cerra12(nospam)@cox.net. I no longer have an e-mail at Tinker.
John Cerra
Bill Eades
18 Jul 02
Jim,
These pictures were taken at our 6th Annual Safety Day and Chili Cook-off in May 2002.
Click on pictures for large version (77KB and
94 KB, left to right)
I had my B-1 fini flight on the 20th of June. On 4 August we say good bye to the Bone. Not going to do anything with the tanker per se, but will still stay on as Chief of Safety and IG another year.
Lt Col Bill Eades
william.eades(nospam)@ksmcco.ang.af.mil
Daryl "Bones"
Jones
15 Jul 02
Jim,
I'm psyched about the reunion. Martha and I wouldn't miss it for the world. Info for web/reunion
Col Daryl "Bones" Jones
LtCol Martha Y. Stevenson-Jones
Home e-mail:
bonesandsj(nospam)@lightdog.com; work:
daryl.jones(nospam)@langley.af.mil
I'm working requirements on the ACC Staff and SJ is doing the Strategic Plans-thing. Three kids; Phillip(13); Joshua(10); Zoe(4)...no pets. I just graduated from seminary (long story) as well as pinned on (for the time being). Looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks. Bones sends.
Daryl P. "Bones" Jones, Col, USAF
Chief, Global Attack Mission Area Team
DSN: 574-4018 Comm: (757) 764-4018
News re: Ardie
Dahl
16 Jul 02
I got an e-mail from Kay Grosinske passing along the following article from the Fayetteville, NC Observer about an A-10 Squadron at Pope which is commanded by Ardie Dahl. I also spoke with Ardie on the phone last weekend, and learned that Ardie is headed for National War College in just a few days. Ardie and his wife have seven kids (is that a record for our class?) ranging from 1.5 years to 14. Ardie turned over command of his squadron (the 74th Fighter Sq) to Charles "Chan" Floyd, and Rick Turner is commanding the "sister" A-10 squadron at Pope, the 75th. So, they've got a good "'82 thing" going there, I'd say. Ardie said that Mike Isherwood is now a speechwriter on the CJCS staff, and that Jim "DCMJ" ("Don't call me James") Baldwin/Boston is a squadron ADO at Pope (not sure if it's the 74th or 75th).
Anyway, here's the article:
| Fayetteville (NC) Observer July 11, 2002 Pope Pilots Credited With Anaconda Kills Two A-10 ''Warthog" attack pilots from Pope Air Force Base are credited with killing between 200 and 300 al-Qaida and Taliban fighters during Operation Anaconda in eastern Afghanistan. They did it in a single mission, said Lt. Col. Arden Dahl, commander of the 74th Fighter Squadron at Pope. The pilots are Lt. Col. Edward ''K-9" Kostelnik and Capt. Scott ''Soup" Campbell. The mission happened in March, but details of the part played by people from Pope Air Force Base were not disclosed until Wednesday. Dahl, who recently returned from Afghanistan, where he flew 11 combat missions, spoke with reporters during a deployment ceremony for a sister unit, the 75th Fighter Squadron. The 75th Fighter Squadron is going soon to Southwest Asia. The aim of Operation Anaconda, which was carried out in March in the mountains of Afghanistan, was to hunt down and kill al-Qaida and Taliban troops. On One day in March, the enemy was discovered forming for an attack on a small group of soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division. The enemy force was nearly within strike distance -- about a mile and a half away -- when the Pope A-10 pilots attacked with bombs and 30 mm armor-piercing rounds. After the attack, Dahl said, ''there wasn't anybody left.'' Dahl said that mission and another mission around the same time inflicted heavy damage on enemy forces. Initially, Pope A-10 crews were not expecting to fly in Afghanistan. They were told that they would be patrolling the skies over Iraq and keeping Saddam Hussein in check. But when Anaconda began, the 74th Fighter Squadron was called into action. An undisclosed number of Pope personnel were sent to a classified base on March 10. From there, Pope pilots flew missions in support of Anaconda ground forces. The first combat sorties launched just 15 hours after the 74th received mission notice. The pilots flew their first mission and landed at a secret base even before an advance team arrived to park their jets. The pilots did not know where they were landing until they were already in the air. In all, during the 10-day mission, Pope planes flew 275 hours in 36 sorties. They dropped 19,500 pounds of bombs and fired 14 rockets and 740 rounds of 30 mm high-explosive, incendiary ammunition. While the pilots may get a lot of the glory, Dahl said, it was a dedicated group of maintenance people, catching catnaps between launches, that kept the aircraft in the air. The maintenance crews took "cat naps" between launches. Pope A-10 pilots and crew members helped change the course of the war with their actions in Anaconda, Dahl said. ''After that night, all the al-Qaida and Taliban, and their buddies, were on the run,'' Dahl said. ''They just got swacked.'' Air Force officials have submitted requests for Kostelnik and Campbell to receive Silver Stars. The Silver Star is the Air Force's third highest award for valor in combat. After the Anaconda mission, the Pope pilots no longer had clearance to remain at the secret air base. They had to go back to the Persian Gulf to regroup. They spent the next seven days preparing to go to Bagram Air Base in the eastern Afghan mountains. Their original deployment '' started out as a 90-day rotation and turned into something else,'' said Capt. Jeff Baldwin. ''It was basically unheard of what we did: to go to a forward location and then to go forward again. Nothing like that has been done since Vietnam.'' Dahl said his squadron flew into Bagram, a former Soviet air base littered with wrecked MIG fighters and bomb craters and made it operational. They arrived March 20 in Bagram. The base is at the foothills of the Hindu Kush Mountains. Peaks in the area reach as high as 22,000 feet. There was no running water and no toilets. There were unexploded bombs and mines everywhere. Everything had to be shipped in, as during the Berlin Airlift, Dahl said. By the time the 74th Fighter Squadron left, Bagram was up and running. The base was handed off to a reserve unit April 28, but some Pope personnel were still there in May. Master Sgt. Tim Isaacs, an aircraft maintenance section chief, said his experience in Afghanistan was great because the troops got to do what they had trained for. Bagram is dusty and hot, he says, but adds: ''It's a beautiful place. It's too bad there is a war there.''
|
Greg Kniff
30 Jun 02
I spoke with Greg Kniff this evening. He was looking for info on performing a parachute jump at the reunion, so I gave him Dean Mills' contact info (see the reunion committee listing).
Greg is still in the Navy, working on "experimental toys" for the SEALs in San Diego. He was on active duty for about 10 years with the SEALs, then went to the Reserves. He was reactivated when all the Mid-East stuff kicked off, but still flies for United Express (SkyWest) as well.
Greg's the one who told me that Mike Geczy will be retiring this Fall.
Retiring
Classmates
29 Jun 02
I learned from various sources that the following folks will be retiring at "about" 20 years of service:
Don Kessler (May '03)
Eric Bjorn (Aug '02)
Dan Hargrove (Summer/Fall '02)
Mike Geczy (Fall '02)
E-mail from
Rick Burgess
29 Jun 02
Hi Jim!
I am just finishing my assignment as the 39th Operations Support Squadron Commander, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. We are moving in August 02 to the Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, NM, where I will be working in the Aviation Division doing mishap investigations.
My wife Sandra and I just celebrated our 20th anniversary (got married the day after graduation in the cadet chapel!).
My oldest son Justin just graduated from Incirlik American High School (one of 12 graduates) and flew out of Turkey today, 29 June. He will begin his four year "vacation" on 1 July at the US Military Academy at West Point, New York.
My second son, Joshua, will be a junior in high school next year at Sandia Preparatory High School in Albuquerque.
I look forward to seeing the Best In Blue at the class reunion in September!
Rick
Personal Contact
with Eric Bjorn
27 Jun 02
I ran into Eric Bjorn during a short TDY to Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) in Tullahoma TN. Eric and his wife Valerie are doing just great, and plan to retire in Tullahoma where Eric hopes to get a civil service job at AEDC. They've been down there about four years now, and fell in love with the area. Eric is currently working in the XP shop there, and plans to retire at the end of August.
He and Valerie have two kids, ages 4 yrs and 22 months. Eric is into R/C modeling and flying in a big way, but has set aside his sport parachuting hobby for the time being.
E-mail from
Jeff Stephens
23 Jun 02
Hi Jim!
It's been awhile since I've kept up with the AOG. I've been in the AZ ANG since 1990 and with America West Airlines since then. Can you believe it's been 20 years? Anyway, we've lived in Tucson since 1987 (at DM then the guard) and keep up because Mike Miller (F-16 IP) is a neighbor and good friend. Our E-mail is 3jrs(nospam)@compuserve.com. That stands for Jeff, daughter Jennifer (15), son Jonathan (13), and wife Risa (she won't reveal her age, but admits to 20 years of marriage!). I don't know if I can get off from Airbus flying at AWA for the reunion on Labor Day (lack of vacation time then), but will try to get there as Risa grew up in the area and we have many friends there. Keep up the good work, and hope to see you all soon.
Jeff Stephens
For more information, contact Lt Col Jim Ratti
e-mail: webmaster(nospam)@usafa82.org
Phone: (937) 236-9306