Class 70-08 Raindance/Gombey Reunion

Recently I flew to Dallas, TX for my Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) class reunion.  It was a blast!  A few people had changed very little while most of us had changed a lot.  Of the 36 who graduated, 31 are still living and 30 attended the event plus lots of the original wives.  Only 1 of us, Frank Egan, was lost in combat in Viet Nam.  We drank a toast to him and our other deceased comrades during the dinner program.  It was the first time I had said the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag in more years than I can remember, and it felt very good. 

Don Smith, Connie Caulfield, Mike Caulfield

There are more pictures from the event than I can ever post here, with my camera and 2 professional photographers capturing  them.  My roommate at the event, Don Smith, and Connie and Mike Caulfield are seen here.  Mike, Joel Walton and Del Williams were my carpool buddies during UPT and we got to know each other quite well.  Plus we all flew missions together at one time or another. 

Gary Hind, Byron Lichtenberg

Gary Hind was our ranking student pilot as a captain and remains "our fearless leader" along with his wife, Dottie.  Byron Lichtenberg finished first in our class and went on to become a payload specialist on 2 space shuttle missions.  His presentation on his experiences in space was more than fascinating, especially some of the pictures.  My favorite was not in space but one of he and Stephen Hawking, the famed physicist, having a zero g experience while flying parabolas.  Hawkins flew 6 of them that day and wanted to do more, but pulling the 1.8 g's to set them up was hard on his frail body.

Byron, Stephen Hawking

This experience reminded me of what a fine group of men this was and still is: smart, well educated, compassionate, accomplished.  And there wasn't a jerk in the bunch - not one!  Of course we all graduated as pilots, but some went on to be test pilots, airline pilots, and an astronaut.  In addition, there was an engineer, a lawyer, an assistant secretary to the army, a major general, a brigadier general, politicians, entrepreneurs and business owners.  What a group! 

Joe Hawes

There is no way this post would be complete without acknowledging the men who made it happen:  Mike Caulfield and Joe Hawes.  These guys got the ball rolling and kept it going until everything was so well done.  Kudos!  Then there was Byron Lichtenberg with his outstanding photos and presentation about space travel, and Pete Blair with his making of a great CD.  Each participant provided bios and pictures which made the entire experience last over months and not just a day or two.  My deepest thanks to all of you!  I'm honored to be a part of this group.  

I left there feeling a lot of things.  Some regret because I didn't go to Viet Nam, while all but me and another classmate,  did.  Feeling good because I discovered 2 new blog readers.  Feeling tired and a little overwhelmed because of all the stimulus.  Most of all I felt inspired.  Wanting to be a better person, to do a better whatever, and very proud to be a part of this special group of people.  Each of you helped make me who I am, which is better than I would have been without you in my life.  Thank you. 

Pilot training was one of the best years of my life and I will never forget it.  In 1969 I became the first in my family to get a college degree, the first to become a regular officer in the military, a father for the first time, and west of the Mississippi for the first time.  I learned to fly jets and "cheat death" every day.  Learning to fly became the foundation for all I did in my life after that.  It taught me good judgement, gave me self confidence and showed me my limitations.  Oh yeah!  Life is good!!!