News and Publications Box – Page 2

Senator Barry Goldwater speaks at 1973 graduation

from the 7 June 1973 Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

Release of the POWs

Contributed by Steve Stockdale, CS-39.

My mother clipped this out of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal in February 1973. It shows the release of Maj. James R. Berger of Mansfield, Ohio, who is welcomed by Lt. Col. Richard Abel. More on Col. Abel and his family.

Completion of Basic Cadet Training

This is the blurb the Academy sent to local newspapers. Note that it refers to “more than 1,300 freshmen.” We started with 1,505 according to the Superintendent’s Letter to Parents on 25 July. I wonder if this means there were almost 200 who didn’t complete BCT.

Welcome, AFA Cadets!

21 August 1972, Colorado Springs Sun …

And just for grins, here’s Page 2 on the back:

Local News of 4 July 1972

From the Colorado Springs Sun …

Ramada Inn

My last night as a civilian (for about 10 years) was spent here. That evening I met Gary Lorenzen, Dave Leupp, and Jeff Steig. Gary and I were in the same BCT flight, both tallest guys in our respective Elements, and marched together (or maybe Tony Yount was between us? can’t say for sure). Dave Leupp took me under his wing and taught me how to ski – on only his second time on the slopes. All three of them were important to me through their closeness with the Abel family (Maj/Lt. Col Richard Abel) and let me tag along.

Wild Blue U.

Wild Blue U: the story of the U.S. Air Force Academy, by Ed Mack Miller, photographs by Pat Coffey, with an Introduction by Milton Caniff. The Macmillan Company, Collier Books.

This book came out about the time the Spirit of ’76 started, with copyright in 1972. I believe the copy I have was purchased by my parents during Parents Weekend. The timing is fortunate for us because this provides the closest to a book-length contemporaneous account of our Academy experience, at least that I’ve seen.

The book has long been out-of-print and the Macmillan imprint that published this has either ceased operating or merged into its demise. I have submitted a request for use from Macmillan using their online request form and will keep this posted until I get a reply. So if the links below are still working as you read this … just sayin’.

Due to the size of the scans, there is one file for each of the 17 chapters, plus one each for the front matter, the index, and an insert of color photographs.

All of the chapters open with a facing-page spread, which are shown in the slideshow below.