Personal Memories

Personal Memories

Jerry Ohlson

Ed Fredkin, my roommate, was studying an article in the Scientific Journal by Dr. Werner Von Braun, Chief of the United States Rocket Program.  Ed jumped up from his bunk and exclaimed, "No!  This can't be right!"  He was referring to Von Braun's formula that specified the amount of thrust required for a manned capsule to escape earth's gravitational pull. 

After reading the formula several times, Ed wrote a letter to Dr. Von Braun and offered a corrected formula.  At the time, I was in disbelief that Ed would presume to correct the Rocket Chief of the United States. 

Imagine my surprise a couple of weeks later when Ed received a letter from  Dr. Von Braun thanking him for the correction!
 

Arthur Ballard

http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/b/b077.htm

Art recounts the chilling years he spent as a POW during the Vietnam War.  He was interned by the North Vietnamese from September 26, 1966 to March 4, 1973.
 

John Jones

We were that last class of cadets!  We didn't have anyone below us to rag on!!  But the class ahead of us had a cocky, stiff-necked head man that resided in the barracks next to the cadet club on the second floor and a couple of rooms from Fred Golish and me.  Their last night at Columbus consisted of a cadet dance!

Fred Golish (my roommate) abetted me in a prank - I had several cherry bombs left from the 4th of July.  I crawled along the shade roof along the second floor to his room.  Used an ice pick to go through the screen and unlatch the screen to get into his room.  Opened the door to let Fred in. 

We then unpacked the cadet commander's duffle bag and hung all the clothing around the room.  Took all the butt cans we could find and made a big pile on a table under which I placed several cherry bombs hooked together!  Lit off same and closed and locked the door behind us.  There was one hell of an explosion!!

Sacked out and was awakened by one pissed-off cadet commander who along with other seniors was busting into rooms and raising all havoc trying to find the culprit.  They came into our room and grabbed Golish.  I heard my name mentioned but someone said "Jones wouldn't do such a thing!"  and they didn't touch me.  After giving Fred a shower, they left. 

Needless to say, all of the cadet commander's clothing was peppered with ashes - kind of like volcanic fallout.  They left the next day and to my relief, I didn't get based at his location through basic.  I've never related this event to anyone.  Thinking back on it, I have never regretted doing it and chuckle every time I recall it.  About time I related this event getting back at that sorry cadet commander!
 

Fred St. Jean

One evening, coming back from Lake JB Thomas and an afternoon swim, out in front of us and coming at us at a great rate, a car pulled out into our lane to pass.  Mike McKenny was confronted with two cars coming at us head on.  There was nowhere to go, so Mike calmly headed right between them.  They each veered outward to avoid us and we made a "V" out of his Studebaker.  We caught both cars squarely behind their back doors and they spun around as we went through.  No one was seriously hurt in any of the three cars.  Lennie Thornton was in the right front seat, I was in the back seat.  Lennie got a small cut on his right knee - didn't miss a day of flying!

Mike just laughed it off.  His confidence was amazing - he was indestructible - at least until the 102 bit him.
 

In Memory of
Charles Michaud

http://community-2.webtv.net/@HH!93!42!D0AB2268A640/Det1Shemya/RivetAmberCrew/

http://community-2.webtv.net/@HH!07!A3!9709C6A4049F/RC135/MichaelMichaud/
 

Photograph Submitted
by Tom Wilson


55-0 Graduation at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
November 1955

Back Row - Starting Second From Left:
Tom Wilson, Dick Davis, Jim Alder, Joe Haines,
Paul Martin and Neal Funston

Bottom Row - Left
Bob Apple

 

Photograph Submitted
by Tom Wilson


Carefree, Arizona
April 19, 2002

Left to Right:
Bob Apple, Tom Wilson, Neal Funston, Jim Alder

 

Photograph Submitted
by Tom Malone

George Cowgill on the bottom - Ed Fredkin on the top!

Lackland Air Force Base

Photograph Submitted
by Tom Malone

From Left to Right:
Bob Houska and George Cowgill

Lackland Air Force Base

Photograph Submitted
by Tom Malone

From Left to Right:
Tom Malone and George Cowgill

Lackland Air Force Base

Photograph Submitted
by Tom Malone

Tom Malone assigned to 15th TRS
Tom had just delivered replacment RF-101 from Kadeno to 45th TRS at Ton Son Nhut

April or May 1966
Saigon

Photograph Submitted
by Tom Malone

George Cowgill assigned to 45th TRS

George about to depart for a reconnaissance mission to
Ho Chi Ming Trail from Ton Son Nhut

Photograph Submitted
by Tom Malone

George Cowgill next to Tom Malone's '53 Chevy Ragtop

Greenville, Mississippi
1955

Photograph Submitted
by Tom Malone

Tom Malone and his '53 Chevy Ragtop

Chapel, Water Tower and Control Tower on the left.
Over shoulder is SQ OPS.

 

1955 Oscar Reunion Highlights
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