Officer Candidate School Class 57C Sept 2000 Newsletter

President-Jack Fox Vice President-Gil Whiteman Treasurer-Phil Meek Secretary-Dave Harvey

JACK’S CORNER
The past eighteen months have been particularly enjoyable for me as I was given four opportunities to be involved in OCS once again. First was the chance to search for 57-C classmates, continuing an effort with 86 found alive plus the discovery of, now with the passing of Willis L. Hargrove, 25 members being deceased. Following the project I was privileged to attend the San Antonio reunion hosted by 57-D reuniting with sixteen 57-C classmates and wives. The reunion was an exhilarating and memorable experience. That event was followed by the planning involved for the Laughlin reunion which coincided with the search for members of our first class, 57-B. Working with a cooperative and efficient committee, both projects provided the impetus for direct contact with 167 members of 57-B and 57-C, plus two 57-A graduates, either via E-mail or regular correspondence. If it had to be considered work it must be considered as fun work. Something interesting or exciting occurred almost every day with classmates being located or members being registered for the Laughlin reunion. The fourth opportunity came when you asked me to serve our group in a leadership capacity. This will be of necessity an OJT situation as there doesn't’ seem to be a job description available. Obviously, feedback will be important to your executive committee in the coming months. We’ll be feeling our way along but are dedicated to serving you and making our association meaningful as well as lasting.

So what’s the big deal about all this OCS involvement? My family and friends became more intimately aware of OCS during this period and I repeatedly was asked the question, “Why is OCS and the reunion so important to you and your classmates?” In answering these queries I was forced to relate specifics of what we experienced during those six dramatic months. I say dramatic because, whether good or bad, OCS was dramatic for most of us. In the next newsletter I would like to discuss some experiences we shared. Since perspective colored most of what we encountered, perhaps it will elicit as many opinions about events and issues as there are class members. Until the next newsletter… Jack

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY HISTORIAN:
I think that we all have been very busy this summer enjoying vacations, trips, excursions, reunions, and even hospital visits. Despite all of this progress is being made in getting everyone to register their addresses, send in their dues, and add to our researching. I am in the midst of a historical search trying to put together a comprehensive history of OCS in the USAF. If any of you out there have something you can offer in that line please snail-mail or e-mail it on to me so that I can include it. Our updated copy of the class register is still short a lot of the biographical sketches needed for completion. The following classmates have not yet sent us a biography:
Richard C. Aldrich Jack Helms David D. Ogilvie
Homer G. Ashbaugh Jr. Albert C. Houston Jr. Edward L. Ramsey
Charles J. Ballot Jr. Ronald W. Janssen Robert G. Seibert
Kenneth C. Barnes Gloriana G. Johnson Bobby J. Sims
Edward R. Berg Robert I. Keen Robert S. Sinclair
Albert Bettenhausen Gerald E. Killen Roger N. Singer
William K. Blake Leslie S. Langhus Clarence R. Smith
Edward A. Blevins Robert E. Lee Raymond W. Smith
Marjorie J. Bloese Quitman W. Lott Nancy J. Stedman
William C. Byrd Nicholas S. Ludington Paul M. Thompson
Wells G. Carswell Otto B. Martinson Jr. Alfred W. Vincent Jr
Alton F. Clark John B. McKinnon Theodore R. Walters
Charles E. Coleman Alfred J. McNeal Paul A. Zanter
Preston J. Daniels Clarence C. Meyers Jr. Donald K. Zurschmit
Anthony A. Fuentes William H. Moser
Once we have everyone in our register I can publish and send a CD, which will contain the entire register, pictures and all, even in color, to each and every one of you that wants one. I must admit, now that I am attending so very many medical tests, examinations, procedures, operations, treatments, and consultations, that I may not last too much longer. Our class will never ever become larger, the news and memories of each and every one of us is part of the whole that must be passed on. If not to our own sons and daughters, then to our fellow members of a proud and dedicated public service which accounts for over two thousand two hundred years of experience serving these United States. I have been very proud to have been able to know and even brag about a great great great great great great grandfather on my great grandmother’s side, who was in charge of moccasins and boots during the Colonial Indian wars in 1690. How much more is there to say about YOU??? Please send us your biographies, this is your chance to write history…as it really was.

Some of our classmates are encountering health problems and as we all know, these things can get one down thus I would like to bring to all of our attention those who need our support even if it is only in spirit. We need to remember the family of Will Hargrove as he will be sorely missed. Jim McGuire, who also started with 57-C and went on to 57-D has had a rather serious time after having an aorta-iliac arterial fusion which led to an unexpected intestinal blood shortage and some gangrene formation requiring serious surgery from which he is now on the mend. This is exactly the arterial procedure that is contemplated for me in the near future and the procedure that Gil Whiteman has already had, so we can empathize with Jim. By the way, he was the minute caller that stated my uniform of the day was wheel hats, white gloves, and low quarter shoes. I did forgive him for that in San Antonio in ’99. Leo Reilly, our distinguished Wing Commander in ’57 is encountering serious repercussions of his bouts with cancer. He reports that it turned out to be not a recurrence of his previous type but is in fact a new and different cancer, which requires more and different treatment. All of us join to wish him well. Our President, Jack Fox (not that pretender in DC,) is on the mend now and wishes us all well as we do him.

As a matter of “news” I am reminded by our illustrious Veep (Gil Whiteman, not that other pretender/contender in DC) that many of our classmates have been vacationing this summer by visiting other classmembers. Now that is a worthy thing to do. Any stories that come from our brothers and sisters are items that should be shared. The empathy of similar medical problems and operations allows great comfort, the oft used left-hander Leo remarks of has a remarkable smile producing effect, and other shared memories can brighten one’s day immeasurably. What say we do that here in our newsletter?
Dave

A MEMORY, FROM OUR WING COMMANDER:
One Mid-Day Meal Formation
I am not sure what follows is entirely accurate. Time blurs the detail. But, its how I remember it anyway – or at least, as I want to.

We were well into Second Class days then and although still spring, on this particular day it was hot. Swelteringly hot in the noonday sun. Like most, I’d had some low points since arriving those several weeks before but with help I’d managed to work out of them. However, that particular day was different. It had all finally gotten to me. I still didn’t want to quit but I was convinced I was not going to make it - and had the depressing feeling I couldn’t no matter how hard I tried. The morning had been bad enough. More marginal academic grades with a clear warning that I was at risk of elimination because of them. The departing handshake with yet another fellow candidate going back to NCO ranks who, had he remained, I knew would have made a far better officer than I was ever likely to be (A view still held). The prospect of yet another Saturday afternoon on the “Ramp” while others enjoyed a brief respite. The paranoia of knowing with certainty and with plenty of supporting evidence, that the prime mission of Tiger Two upper-class was to ensure that me above all others, would never pin on gold bars. Then it got worse. Yet again, I’d had practically no lunch. Every attempted bite thwarted by maliciously timed first-class harassment. Breakfast had been no different nor it seemed had any meal since I arrived. Lautersteins was making a fortune out of altering my uniforms. I was starving, weak from hunger and experiencing an inner, almost primeval feeling of aggression in being prevented from eating.

Out, “driving” to join the formation at the rear of the dining hall for return to academics – dreading what was to come. Who will forget those 15-20 minute periods each day when first-class unleashed their contemptuous wrath on us. A melee of scurrying troops, commands being barked, voices screaming abuse into the faces of quivering, sweat-drenched second-class in the broiling hot sun.

Then, there he was! Just to the left of me as I “drove” by. God himself (Smith, O/C Wing Cmdr), clustered with his apostles (the O/C Wing Staff). All immaculate with epaulettes that signified they ruled the world. Everyone, it seemed, 9 feet tall. Shoes like patent leather. It wasn’t planned and it wasn’t very smart. But, as only you will know, it was the single, one and only way you could get back at them – if you wanted to risk it. All of the frustration, depression and anger surfaced. I gave Smith a left-handed salute and for a fraction of a second I thought he’d taken it. His right hand fingers stretched and his arm began to move up. But, only momentarily and only slightly. Then I entered Hell.

Well, I’ll tell you pard’ner they were good at it! Better even than Arthur Burer who later became a master! I was surrounded. One after another they took turns at tearing strips off flesh off me until there wasn’t anything left but raw nerve endings. Firstly, they convinced me that offering a left handed salute was an act of deliberate insubordination and as such was grounds for instant dismissal which would come immediately after they were finished with me. Possibly even a court martial.

Then came torrents of the most personal abuse. I “smelled” and hadn’t washed. My near record ramp time reflected my failure to meet military training standards and this insubordinate act was yet further proof of that. My mediocre academic standing indicated I lacked the intelligence required of an AF officer and this folly proved that it was worse than that. I was stupid. The dismissals and SIE’s of classmates was to a large extent my fault as I had selfishly not helped them enough. Clearly, this insubordinate act of daring to offer a left-handed salute was purposely intended to cause personal embarrassment and insult to the O/C Wing Commander in a conspicuous place. My uniform was a disgrace. My shoes were a disgrace. I was a disgrace. My continued presence in OCS was a disgrace to the rest of my class. I would be a disgrace to the Air Force if ever commissioned and that was never going to happen.

Words cannot convey the extent of the humiliation they inflicted or the depths of self-doubt they instilled in those minutes of uninterrupted, vicious, penetrating hyperbole. I was by that time soaked with sweat, beginning to quiver and feeling faint on my jelly–like legs. Time was getting short but seeing and hearing the commotion, a few of the O/C Group Staff came over to observe and join in the fun. Vigorously so once they learned what had precipitated it all.

Conscious that the formation might be late leaving, Smith dismissed all but two of his gun bearers. One, Jones (Wing O&T), switched to the “good cop” role and quietly in a kind, gentlemanly and sympathetic tone explained how disappointed he was as he had been “watching me” and now regrettably found I lacked what it took to be an Air Force officer. With Smith’s nodding concurrence he suggested I return to the barracks and complete my SIE form.

Smith then asked, “Isn’t that what you want to do now Mister?” to which I replied, “ No Sir.” Then, looking at his watch he said, “I will send for you tonight Mister! Dismissed!” On leaving, with Smith, Jones and Redman (O/C 2nd Group Cmdr.) wheeling away so as not to be late for their class I gave them a left handed salute which Smith, out of the corner of his eye, took!! He stopped dead, turned, looked me straight in the eye and then, wholly out of role, showed just the trace of a smile. I saluted him correctly and he returned it. Not another word was said.

The next time I spoke to Hedrik Smith was weeks later when he called me to his room to tell me I had been selected as 57C O/C Wing Commander. Leo B Reilly

SPECIAL REQUEST FROM GIL WHITEMAN (THE VEEP)
Attached with all this are two survey forms that I would like to have you all read, fill out, and return to me as soon as possible. They should help us all get back closer to each other, bring our newsletters and correspondence to a better more suitable level, and allow our unique and very special history to be written. Please get back to me soon guys….
Gil Whiteman

REPORT FROM THE PRES ABOUT REUNION EXPENSES:
CREDITS

REGISTRATIONS $8600.00
DONATIONS 410.00
GOLF GREEN FEES 660.00
COMMEMORATIVE PIN SALE 10.00
TOTAL $9680.00

DEBITS

BANQUET DINNERS (131) $3930.00
FLOOR SHOW (128) 1273.60
COMMEMORATIVE PINS 1350.00
GOLF GREEN FEES 640.00
MEETING ROOM 100.00
BARTENDER 100.00
RECEPTION ROOM 49.00
REFRESHMENTS 83.50
DOOR PRIZES 80.00
GOLF PRIZES 23.00
FLAG STAFFS & STANDS 16.75
BULLETIN BOARDS 16.00
NAME BADGES 75.00
57-C REGISTER PRINTING 250.00
REUNION GUIDE PRINTING 127.50
POSTAGE 90.50
DOOR PRIZE TICKETS 5.50
BOYATT AWARD 36.15
MISC. MAILING & POSTAGE 13.50
TELEPHONE CHARGES 99.00
REGISTRATION REFUNDS 680.00
TOTAL $9039.00
BALANCE $641.00

Thanks to all for one great job. Jack

MORE FROM YOUR SECRETARY, HISTORIAN, AND GENERAL INFORMATION SOURCE:
It would seem that this newsletter is a bit long, as has been the time it took to compose, but I do have to include at least one more thing,,,some of you have asked for me to include the address for the Class 57-C webpage on the Internet…….okay then(as Jim Carrey says, Allrighty then)
It is………
http://www.webspawner.com/users/ocsclass57c/index.html

long but once entered and made a “favorite” on your internet browser it is a cinch to use….

Thanks again guys, Dave Harvey
Jeananddave@juno.com
816 Lincoln Street, Winters CA 95694-1506
530-795-2704