Opinion

Reunion memories

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

The first hard freeze happened last night. Standing watching bright yellow leaves floating like huge snowflakes to the ground -- enchanting. I love this place!

Our recent "road" trip to San Antonio was interesting. As in any reunion, it is the people that attend that are the big story. We were not disappointed, for in the 40-plus years that have elapsed most of my squadron mates have done well.

For example when the outfit on Cape Cod disbanded, four officers, three navigators and one pilot, were assigned to SAC Headquarters to do computer programming. Remember, that was in the mid-60s era when computers were in their infancy, the era when all input was by punch card, one card for each instruction. Those gents were involved as the computer industry evolved, the World Wide Web was created and the Internet was born. Dave Callis, for one, was not impressed when I told him that Al Gore invented the Internet; Dave knew better, as it was his contemporaries at the Pentagon who birthed the idea and evolved it working with other visionaries in academics. Dave told me that they worked to program computers for use in military exercises (war games) crunching large amounts of data striving to determine how to best apply force in a conflict. What we see now grew from those early efforts, yet who would have dreamed it at the time?

The second pilot that I was assigned to crew with at Otis AFB showed in person. Mel was a Hebrew from New York and I always "knew" that after the squadron disbanded he left the Air Force to fly for the airlines. Not so; he quit flying altogether and made a career first in wholesale flowers and then into brokering grain to companies manufacturing breakfast cereal. Mel now sports the tonsorial image of Col. Sanders and has a new, comely, much younger wife. Somehow, his memory of aerial exploits by our crew included several things that never happened. Must have been my aging memory!

A compatriot who retired as a general called in a couple of favors and arranged a bus tour of Randolph AFB for the group. Randolph, the base, lays claim to being the birthplace of the Air Force. It is presently headquarters for Air Training Command (ATC). Built in a tasteful architectural style to reflect the Mexican heritage of the area, the base is wonderfully well-kept. It has wide boulevards lined with huge live oak trees and plenty of sculpted green grass. On-base housing is white stucco and even new construction conforms to the overall heritage theme. Any building alterations must first have permission of the U.S. Historical Trust. Just being there on base instills in me a sense of pride in our nation. I liken my visits to that historical place with same sense of reverence that a Muslim most likely feels when journeying to Mecca.

Our general also arranged for a formal ATC Command briefing. We received the same classy presentation given to visiting dignitaries, especially visiting members of Congress. Our presenters were a pair of majors, one a recent F-22 pilot and the other a sharp female with a public affairs background.

ATC has the job of recruiting from the manpower pool of youthful America and turning those young men and women into a superb officer and enlisted corps. The finished product is technically savvy, disciplined, and patriotic; truly the best Air Force the world has ever seen. But gee, I was never that young. Minimum qualification is a high school diploma and good moral turpitude. The end product makes America proud.

I spent several months at Randolph back in 1960 learning how to fly the KC-97. The 97s are long gone but Randolph is still a pilot training base. The current trainers are all modern and much different from the models I flew almost 50 years ago. Happily, though, the Air Force has preserved and placed on display examples of all the obsolete trainers, some dating back to World War II. Seeing and touching those fantastic machines once again is a journey back to fantastic remembrances for me. There I was, 21 years old and turned loose, by myself, in a single-engine jet that could climb to 40,000 feet and fly at almost the speed of sound. At the time it was a heady trip for a young Southwest Nebraska kid fresh from the farm! Again, I thank you the taxpayers who paid for my training and sincerely hope that my service to country has paid you back in full!

Unrelated to our trip to San Antonio are the results of a survey the Military Times Corp. conducted of past and present military personnel concerning the presidential race. The survey was conducted by asking (by e-mail) if each person would participate then a cross section of volunteers who responded were sent the anonymous survey forms. Darn I didn't get to volunteer. And please remember, that politics are off limits on any military base, nary a yard sign and never a rally or even a subtle suggestion that an individual vote one way or another.

When asked how they intended to vote, roughly 80 percent choose McCain and around 17 percent Obama. Results were then separated by gender, officers, enlisted, Army, Navy, Air Force, Hispanic and white with all those results running almost exactly identical to the overall average. Only one category was different and that of the blacks who indicated an 80 percent approval for Obama and less than 20 for McCain. Hmmm.

That is the way I see it.

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  • Dick -- I need to keep you honest.

    Fellow readers, below are the actual results of the survey and I also included a link so you can educate yourself on the facts.

    Of all respondents, 68% chose McCain and 23% chose Obama -- not the 80% or the 17% noted above by Dick.

    Of the white respondents 76% chose McCain while 17% chose Obama -- seems whites chose McCain more than all respondents -- again discounting Dick's assertion.

    Of the black respondents 79% chose Obama while 12% chose McCain -- completely agree with Dick, however, I would say that this is in line with how Whites responded.

    Of the Hispanic respondents 63% chose McCain while 27% chose Obama -- note, of the whites and blacks, the Hispanics actually came in closer to the all respondents 68%.

    Also Dick, to be fair to your readers, you shouldn't post information without ensuring you are providing enough information to help the reader determine if the data that is posted represents the whole of the military or just a section that my be more likely to vote for one candidate versus another.

    Fellow readers: Below is additional information that was provided with the survey that will help you decide if the data represented above (and exaggerated by Dick), is representative of the whole (meaning all military personnel).

    "Characteristics of Military Times readers may also affect the results. The group surveyed is significantly older than the military as a whole, and the survey group contains a higher percentage of officers than is present in the military."

    "Conversely, junior enlisted troops, women and racial and ethnic minorities made up a smaller share of the sample than of the military at large. While it is difficult to predict how those factors affect the results, those groups are generally regarded as more supportive of Democratic candidates."

    Link:

    http://www.militarytimes.com/static/projects/pages/081003_ep_2pp.pdf

    -- Posted by commonsense2 on Tue, Oct 28, 2008, at 2:03 PM
  • Commonsense2, your bias is showing.

    For what it is worth, I participated in that pole. The invitation was in the regular posting news, and we had to voluntarily click into the pole.

    Anyone interested in seeing how the people who defend us feel, go to the web site, and see for yourself. Of course, I'm sure, it cannot mean very much, as noted by 'commonsense2,' due to the irregularities in the ratio of participants. Oh-Well.

    There are a few 'Old war-horse' types living in the McCook area. So far, of those voicing opinions, I have yet to hear anyone recommend voting Democratic. Food for thought folks.

    The primary thing to remember, no matter your mind-set, Please vote, legally of course (based on the cheating, already in the news).

    Fasten your seat belts, folks. Our nation is in for a bumpy ride, for a while, no matter who wins the Presidency.

    In the Grace of Messiah, Shalom one and all. Arley Steinhour

    -- Posted by Navyblue on Tue, Oct 28, 2008, at 7:00 PM
  • Dick Trail--- I just piggybacked on your October column to respond a printed copy of one previously about Paradise Ks,...then I went back and read the October one. I did basic training at Lackland AFB. Summer of 1956. Also visted the Alamo and other places the 11th weekend I was there--that was our first and only base liberty that summer. In Colorado I go to church with a Texan that insists Texas would not be part of the USA if the Alamo would have had a backdoor. Also related to your air travel etc...I worked 3 summers on the Mankato Ks Airport with a previous WWII laison airplane pilot who was spraying crops. By the time Viatnam was front page I worked in Wichita Ks for a company sub-contracting military parts for the Bell Huey 205 military helicopters. (204 was the commercial ver). Just thought I'd better get on subject!!!!!

    Your writing is interesting!!! Also on above subject----I grew up with two friends that were born @ Paradise and were later adopted by a family at Kalvesta after their mom died. I was a pretty large family of kids. Ken

    -- Posted by Ken38 on Fri, Dec 5, 2008, at 2:00 AM
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