The Falcon Footnote - United States Air Force Academy
Transcription
The Falcon Footnote - United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy Department of History Newsletter The Falcon Footnote Volume 20 Volume 20 Fall2014 2014 Fall Inside this issue: Commander’s Corner 2 Hands-on History 3 DFH Hails and Farewells 4 Oral History Update 8 Faculty News 8 Cadet News 8 ______________________ The Falcon Footnote Editorial Staff Department Head Colonel Mark Wells Editor Lt Col John Clune Contributing Writers Lt Col David Bachler LTC Nathan Watanabe Dr. Robert Wettemann C2C Jason Sanchez Doolittle Raiders: The A Year with the US Final Toast Security Coordinator History Majors C1C Sean Collins (CS-26) and in Jerusalem C1C (CS-17) served as escorts for the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders’ “Final Toast” event at Wright Patterson AFB on 8 and 9 November 2013. During this event, attended the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the remaining Raiders toasted their fallen comrades with a bottle of 1896 Hennessey Cognac (symbolic as Gen Doolittle was born in 1896). The toast was accomplished using the Doolittle Raiders’ ceremonial goblets, which were on display at USAFA until 2006. The bottle of Hennessey had been believed lost during its time at USAFA, but in fact remained in the care of the Raiders in secrecy until this event. Of the original 80 Raiders, only four remain; Lt Col Richard Cole, Lt Col Robert Hite, Lt Col Edward Saylor, SSgt David Thatcher. Lt Col Hite was unable to make the journey to Ohio, but joined his fellow Raiders via live video feed from his home. Lt Col David Bachler Along with its exotic collage of personalities, spices, tapestries, and stone architecture, Jerusalem has been a contentious epicenter for competing religions, peoples, and polities for centuries. The United States remains firmly committed to the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) with its attendant political, fiscal, and military commitments, particularly through the efforts of the United States Security Coordinator in Jerusalem (USSCJerusalem or USSC for short). From January 2013 until January 2014, I helped write (at least draft a footnote of) history by serving as the senior program manager (and liaison to the Palestinian Ministry of Interior) for this small, but effective and pivotal organization. (Continued on page 6) (Continued on page 3) C1C Taylor Scott salutes Lt Col Richard Cole after handing him his goblet for the final toast. The 1896 Hennessey bottle sits on the table to the left. V O LU M E 2 0 T HE FA LC O N FO O T NO T E PAGE 2 Commander’s Corner: Colonel Mark Wells The year marks the 60th anniversary of the Academy’s birth. Many will recall that President Eisenhower signed the legislation that established Colonel Wells “the Long Blue Line” on April st 1 , 1954. The Department of History has been an integral part of the academic program ever since. Classically educated, and, in many cases having been tempered by the global combat experiences of the Second World War, the Academy’s founders clearly understood the value of our discipline. Accordingly, from the beginning, the history curriculum was substantial and sought to prepare Air Force officers for the challenges of the future. Time, variations in pedagogy, and the demands of other disciplines have brought scores of changes to the Academy’s curriculum. While it’s fair to say that our graduates have performed in extraordinary ways, the pressures to stay abreast of the latest innovations in education bring demands of their own. For DFH the challenge has been to preserve what’s best in our course of study but be open, flexible, and adaptable for improvement. This accounts for our continued interest in returning American history to the core alongside military history and world history. Currently in the second semester of a longitudinal study directed by the Superintendent and Academy Board, we find the data compelling. Of the nearly 150 cadets identified for the course so far, the overwhelming majority demonstrate a measur- able improvement in their understanding of their country, its people, and the constitution they’re pledged to support and defend. Significantly, their commitment to one of the Academy’s goal regarding diversity and inclusivity is enhanced. It’s little surprise that they show evidence of more respect for human dignity; hearing the narratives of women, minorities, and others inspires a deeper understanding. I’ll be sure to keep you updated on our efforts. As a result of the amazing efforts of our DFH personnel team, the department is more fully staffed now than at any time in recent history. We look forward to the next 60 years! I’m saddened to report the loss of three DFHers. Brigadier General Al Hurley, USAF (retired), passed away early in the year. His lengthy contributions to the department, the Academy, and our Air Force are almost too numerous to mention. It’s fair to say he built DFH into a nationally regarded history department. He was an effective leader and teacher and mentored scores of DFH faculty members. Many of the cadets and officers went on to have distinguished careers themselves, including General Ronald R. Fogelman, the 16th Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Hurley established and hosted eight Military History Symposia and put the Harmon Memorial Lecture on solid ground. DFH also lost Lieutenant Colonel Harry Borowski, USAF (retired), after a gallant fight against cancer. Serving the department for more than 15 years, Harry inspired hundreds and hundreds of cadets and officers. His leadership, scholarship, and humanity will be treasured by all who were privileged to know him. Lieutenant Colonel Lorenzo Crowell, USAF (retired) also passed away recently. A 1965 Air Force Academy graduate, he flew HH-43 rescue helicopters and C-130s during the Vietnam War. After earning his PhD from Duke, he taught in DFH between 1981 and 1983. Karl W. Richter, USAFA Class of 1964, was the youngest American pilot to shoot down a MiG in Vietnam and completed 198 missions before his death on 20 April 1967. He was awarded the Air Force Cross, the Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross and completed more combat missions over Vietnam than any other airman up to that time. MARK WELLS Permanent Professor and Head Throw a Nickel on the Grass… A statue of Lt Richter stands on the Academy’s Mall of Heroes in front of Fairchild Hall, the base of which is covered with nickels. According to Ray Lennon, USAFA ’64, and Richter’s classmate, when the mockup statue was unveiled and presented for display, a (Continued on page 7) T HE FA LC O N FO O T NO T E PAGE 3 V O LU M E 2 0 (Continued from page 1) For many years, the goblets were carried from USAFA to the site of the Raiders’ annual reunion, cementing the Academy’s bond with this esteemed organization. It was fitting for two of DFH’s top cadets to participate in this final event in which the goblets were used to toast fallen comrades. In the exhibit halls of the National Museum of the US Air Force, Lt Col Cole stood and honored all of the Raiders, saying, “Gentleman, I propose a toast to those we lost on the mission and those who have passed away since. Thank you very much, and may they rest in peace.” With this final toast, the goblets pass into history, remaining on display at the Air Force Museum for all visitors to see. C1C Taylor Scott (top left),C1C Sean Collins (top right) with the Gen. Mark Welsh (CSAF), The Honorable Eric Fanning (Acting SecAF), CMSgt James Cody (CMSgt of the Air Force) with the attending Raiders. Hands-on History, from “Huzzah” to “Hooah!” LTC Nathan K. Watanabe, USA Academy cadets and faculty got to experience history first-hand during the Cadet History Club’s Historical Weapons Shoot held 3 May at Fort Carson’s Range #1. All told, twenty cadets and faculty members from the History Department and the Cadet History Club, fired over 1700 rounds from over 20 different historical weapons as they to learned about, drilled with, and fired muskets, rifles, and carbines from the .69-caliber smoothbore 1766 Charleville Musket to today’s 5.56mm caliber, magazine-fed, gas-operated, aircooled M16A4 Rifle and M4 Carbine. Department of History faculty including LTC Nathan Watanabe (Officer in Charge), LtCol David Bachler, LtCol Doug Kennedy, Maj Mark Buchy, Dr Charles Dusch, and Dr Bob Wettemann and MAJ Alec McMorris (4th Infantry Division) were dressed in period uniforms and equipped with authentic period kit, to increase participants’ understanding of soldiering through the ages and better appreciate the burden of The Soldier’s Load over time. The event also included a display presented by the 10th Mountain Division Living History Display Group, discussing the formation and history of the 10th Mountain Division here in Colorado in 1942. While fun and exciting, such hands-on experiences are also invaluable to increasing Cadets’ understanding of their military heritage and their pro- fession, underscoring the theme of the Academy’s Department of History, “To Teach History for the Profession of Arms.” Cadets and Faculty engage period targets in the final historical “Mad Minute” as part of the History Club’s Historical Weapons Shoot. PAGE 4 T HE FA LC O N FO O T NO T E V O LU M E 2 0 DFHers: Hail, Farewell, and News Newcomers: After Afghanistan, Maj Garbett attended the United States Naval Postgraduate School, earning an MA in National Security Affairs, focused on Europe/Eurasia. While in Monterey, she learned French at the Defense Language Institute. As a regional affairs strategist (RAS), she served in Europe as an international programs manager/operations officer in Germany responsible to the OSD and to DSCA, where she facilitated strategic dialogue among international, security-focused organizations and working groups, including Emerging Security Challenges, Security Sector Reform and Advanced Distributed Learning. Dr Edward Woodfin, DFH’s Distinguished Visiting Professor, arrived in May 2014 from Converse College in Spartanburg, SC, where he is Associate Professor of History. Dr. Woodfin earned his BA (Phi Beta Kappa) from Baylor University and his MA and PhD from Texas A&M University. He has won an Excellence in Teaching Award from the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities as well as Converse’s Kathryne Amelia Brown Award for Excellence in Teaching. He teaches a variety of courses on the history of modern Europe, including his specialty in modern British history and the Major Michal Kloeffler-Howard arrived British Empire. He also teaches Latin at USAFA in August 2014 from Supreme American history, a subject to which he Allied Headquarters Europe, Mons Belhas a special connection since living in gium, where she served as a Regional AfViña del Mar, Chile, and the history of the fairs Specialist in the Military Partnership American West. Dr. Woodfin’s book Division. She is a graduate of the United Camp and Combat on the Sinai and PalesStates Naval Postgraduate School, where tine Front: the Experience of the British she earned an MA in International RelaEmpire Soldier, 1916-18 explains what tions. She is also a graduate of the Defense Thiswas story 100-150 life likecan forfit World Warwords. I soldiers in ternally, you might comment upon Language Institute and is fluent in Spanish that of thematter Middlethat East.appears As part in of the new procedures or improvements to Thepart subject and She previously the Portuguese. business. Sales figures or served earn- as research, he was a Fulbright FellowYou for a newsletters is virtually endless. ings will your business is an Aide deshow Camphow in United States Europeyear at the stories Australian Defence can include that focus on Force growing. an Command and United States Southern current technologies innovations Academy in Canberra.orCurrently, he is Command. She has also served a number in yourthe field. writing biography of the family of an Some newsletters include a column ofthat tours a Publicevery Affairs officer is as updated issue, for inAustralian pilot want in the to Great You may also noteWar. business stance, an advice column, a book or economic trends, or make predicreview, a letter from the president, Maj Michael Kennedy arrived at USAFA tionsKimberly for your customers or clients. Maj Garbett arrived at USA- or an editorial. You can also profile on 1 July 2014 from Camp Walker, ReFA in July 2014 from Garmisch- new employees or top customers or If the newsletter is distributed inpublic of Korea. He graduated from JackPartenkirchen, Germany. A 1997 graduate sonville State University with a Bachelor of the University of Notre Dame, she douof Arts in History and English in 1996 and ble-majored in History and Anthropoloa Master of Arts in History in 1997. He gy. After OTS, Maj Garbett served in received his commission from Officer various capacities as deputy chief and Training School in 2003. As a Logistics chief public positions supporting Microsoft Publisher includes thouThis of story canaffairs fit 75-125 words. Readiness Officer, he has served as the ACC, AMC and AETC bases state-side. sands of clip art images from which KC-135 Weapon System Management Selecting pictures or graphics is an She has served overseas as Director of you can choose and import into your important part of adding content to Team OIC at HQ Air Mobility Command, Joint Public Affairs in Honduras. Maj Gar- newsletter. There are also several your newsletter. the Yokota Air use Base Deploytools you can to Installation draw shapes bett taught ROTC at Oregon State Univerand symbols. ment Officer, and the Plans and OperaThink about your articleInand ask sity in aerospace studies. Afghanistan, tions Officer for Defense Logistics Agenth yourself if the orCaption describing Once you have chosen an image, she worked withpicture the 25 supports Infantry Division cy Energy Korea. In 2005-2006, he deenhances the message you’re trying picture or graphic. and Provincial Reconstruction Teams as place it close to the article. Be sure to convey. Avoid selecting images ployed and performed convoy operations well other toUSG interagency partners. to place the caption of the image that as appear be out of context. Inside Story Headline in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 5/6. In 2010, he was 1 of 25 Air Force officers selected to participate in the Logistics Career Broadening Program. Capt Jeff Copeland came to USAFA from the University of Nevada, Reno, where he studied U.S. social history and the American West and graduated Phi Kappa Phi. His MA thesis explored California’s church-run hostels for JapaneseAmericans during the World War II Eviction and Resettlement. He commissioned through OTS in 2008 and graduated Commodore’s List with Distinction from pilot training at NAS Corpus Christi in 2009. He flew the C-130H at Yokota AB, Japan, where he was a central scheduler and aircraft commander. Currently he is in T-53A instructor upgrade training. Capt Steven Czak arrived at USAFA in July 2014 from the University of Calgary, Canada. A 2009 graduate of USAFA, he majored in Foreign Area Studies, with a concentration on Eastern Europe and a vendors. minor in Russian. Upon commissioning, Capt Czak attended the Air Force Intelligence Officer Course at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. His first assignment was to Los Angeles Air Force Base, California as the Space Systems Branch Chief, Intelligence Operations, where he provided intelligence analysis to the Space and Missile System Center’s $11 billion annual acquisition efforts. Capt Czak has a Master of Arts in East European Studies from Freie Universitat Berlin (2013) and a Master of Arts in History from the University of Calgary (2014). “To catch the reader's attention, place an interesting sentence or quote from the story here.” Inside Story Headline near the image. Returning Faculty: Lt Col John Clune returned to DFH for his second teaching tour. Lt Col Clune is a Command Pilot with 4,000 flying hours in C-9A, C-5, and E-3 aircraft. He previously served in the department from 2008(Continued on page 5) PAGE 5 T HE FA LC O N FO O T NO T E V O LU M E 2 0 DFHers: Hail, Farewell, and News (Continued from page 4) 2011, teaching World, Military, and African History as well as instructing cadets in powered flight with the 552nd Flying Training Squadron. In 2014 Lt Col Clune completed a PhD in International History at the University of Kansas, with secondary fields in African History and World History. His dissertation, titled “The Abongo Abroad: Military Internationalism, Travel, Training, and Peace in Ghana and the United States, 1960-1992” explored Ghanaian military officers in international education and training courses and UN peacekeeping missions abroad. Lt Col Clune specifically thanks longtime friend of DFH Edward Brynn for his guidance and encouragement during dissertation research. John and his wife, Jessica, have four children: John Paul (10), Joseph (8), Simon (6), and Gabriel (4). Maj Tim Romans returned to USAFA in June 2014 from Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington D.C. A 2001 graduate of Marshall University with a B.A. in History and a 2005 graduate from the Florida State University with an M.A. in History, Tim specializes in Early Modern Asia and Early Modern Europe. His wife Amber has joined him here with their two children, Tecumseh age 9 and Juliet age 13. He has taught both core military and world history courses as well as upper division courses during his last tour here from 2005 to 2009. Tim is currently the department personnel officer. Cadets and Faculty fired over 1700 rounds from over 20 weapons at the History Club’s Historical Weapons Shoot. In Memorial: Lt Col Harry R. Borowski (1942-2014) Harry R. Borowski passed away on April 22, 2014. He was born on January 24, 1942 in Grant, Nebraska, and was the youngest of eight children. After graduating from Perkins County High School and Kearney State Teachers College, Harry taught for a year and a half at Loveland High School in Colorado. He then went on to earn a master’s degree in Economic History from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he would meet his future wife, Bobbie. sions from Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, in support of air operations in Vietnam. In 1972, he became a faculty member in the United State Air Force Academy Department of History. He would eventually become a full professor and served as the acting department head until his retirement in 1988. While assigned to the Academy, Harry earned a doctorate in Economic History from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He also authored and edited two books. A Hollow Threat: Strategic Air Power and Containment Before Korea (1982) was the first scholarly assessment of Air Force strategic capabilities between World War II and the Korean War. The Harmon Memorial Lectures in Military History, 1959-1987 (1988) is a compilation of the lectures in the internationally-renowned series, is sponsored by the Academy’s History Department and features the world’s most exemplary military historians and scholars. Following his Air Force career, Harry was a realtor for more than 20 years in the Colorado Springs area. He also served on the board of directors of the Black Forest Fire Rescue Protection District for 14 years. In 1966, Harry began a 22-year career as an officer in the United States Air Force. After completing training at Mather Air Force Base, California, he served as a navigator on Strategic Air Command KC-135 tankers, flying mis- (excepts from “The Gazette”) PAGE 6 (Continued from page 1) When I first reported to Vice Admiral Paul J. Bushong, the US Security Coordinator in Jerusalem, he offered me some valuable advice: “David, don’t think of this mission as a sprint to the finish for MidEast peace…but rather as a marathon…it is not a well-orchestrated symphony…think of it more as an improv jazz jam session…” Other bits of advice from highly experienced individuals soon followed. Neil Page, an avuncular and sage retired British chief of police who ultimately became a trusted colleague and treasured friend over numerous pints of Guinness with fish and chips at a local pub, said, “You know David, after six months you will end up hating the Israelis, and after another six months you will also hate the Palestinians. . . if you stay longer, you will eventually hate everyone else.” Deborah Kurtz, a retired New York City manager who once worked for Mayor Giuliani, was an indefatigable US Department of State contractor for INL (short for US Department of State International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau). Debbie provided me with an extensive reading list of key international documents (as well as gouge on the best restaurants in Israel and the West Bank.) These works, incidentally, complemented the Mid-East ‘crash course’ reading list that veteran DFH Trencher, Tom Menza, Major, USAF, Ret., offered Lt Col Bachler with Neil Page at EUPOLCOPPS HQ in Ramallah T HE FA LC O N FO O T NO T E me for some light reading en-route. The key to being a successful program manager with the Palestinians, Debbie told me, was to “underpromise and overdeliver.” Beneath their pointed wit, the Admiral, Neil, and Debbie all offered key insights to a Gordian knot of perplexing politics and personalities that pulled USSC into their respective orbits. To better support and implement the Oslo Peace Accords (1993 and 1995) and the Wye River Memorandum (1998), the US Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency signed a memorandum of agreement on 3 May 2005 to establish USSC-Jerusalem. Its mission is to assist the Palestinian Authority (PA) to train and equip its security services as a foundational step toward the ‘two-state’ solution for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. V O LU M E 2 0 for the Palestinian people, provide for the national security of a future Palestinian State, and ultimately enable Palestine to become a stable and peaceful neighbor to the State of Israel. Because the relationship between Israel and Palestine is so pivotal to the elusive goal of ‘world peace,’ this particular region is awash with agencies and acronyms drawn from the United States Government, the Government of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, international organizations, and allied national organizations. A small sam- The expanded mission of United States Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority is to assist the Palestinian Authority to transform and Lt Col Bachler greets Secretary of State John F. professionalize the PA Kerry during a reception for senior USSC and security sector, engage INL officials with the Israelis and Palestinians on security initiatives that build trust and confidence in order to meet ple of the ‘alphabet soup’ USSC newbies Roadmap for Peace obligations, ensure have to quickly ingest includes: US DoS, accountability to the elected PA civilian US DoJ FBI, US DoS DSS, US DoHS, US leadership, act effectively to counter terror- State Department, USAID, INL, the US ism, disarm terrorist infrastructure, enforce Army’s multiple permutations of “Hooah,” the rule of law, and support whole-of- the Government of Israel (GOI), Coordinagovernment efforts that set the conditions tion of Government Activities in the Terrifor a negotiated two-state solution. Build- tories (COGAT), the Palestinian Authority ing a capable PA Security Sector is abso- (PA), the United Nations (UN), EUPOLCOPPS, UN RWA, UN OCHA, lutely foundational to an enduring peace. UN OHCHR, DFID, JICA, Canadian InterOverall, USSC seeks to make the Pales- national Development Agency, etc. Amidst tinian Authority Security Forces (PASF) this sea of alphabet soup, the US Security accountable to legitimate civilian authority, Coordinator – Jerusalem navigates with able to effectively combat terrorism and purposed finesse. criminal threats to law and order, perpetu(Continued on page 7) ate an environment of security and stability T HE FA LC O N FO O T NO T E PAGE 7 (Continued from page 2) The Hump — number of their fellow classmates placed nickels at the base of the statue, Now available in Chinese in memory of 1Lt Richter. This was in keeping with a Vietnam-era tradition based the Korean War ballad by Oscar Brand, “Throw a Nickel on the Grass – Save a Fighter Pilot’s Ass.” Mark Austin Byrd, the sculptor, was so impressed by this tradition that he worked the nickels into the final bronze. The nickels – and a few others – are still there today. That’s Heritage. In a likely first for a DFH historian, Colonel (Ret.) John Plating’s The Hump: America's Strategy for Keeping China in World War II groundbreaking work—the first concentrated historical study of the world’s first sustained combat airlift operation—is now available in a Chinese edition. V O LU M E 2 0 (Continued from page 6) The USSC position is designed so that the three-star flag officer can work with all interested parties without being tied to any single interest. Thus, while USSC works in close coordination with the US Consul General in Jerusalem and the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, it does not work for either entity. Instead, the USSC reports directly to the US Secretary of State. Indeed, this was the shortest chain of command in my twenty-seven years of active duty. Along with ten other lieutenant colonels, we reported to three Army O-6 deputies, who reported to one Army O-6 chief of staff, who reported to the three-star US Security Coordinator, who reported directly to Secretary of State John Kerry. It was a privilege to serve with such an elite cohort. Continued in the next Footnote... U.S. Air Force Academy Center for Oral History Update In its fourth year of operations the USAFA Center for Oral History continues to be successful in carrying out its primary mission of preserving the history of the U.S. Air Force Academy through the voices of the people who experienced it. During the course of the 2013-14 year, Center Director Dr. Bob Wettemann, conducted over thirty oral history interviews, including incoming Dean of Faculty Brig Gen Andrew Armacost, and outgoing Commandant Maj Gen Gregory Lengyel. The Center is also expanding its relationship with the Center for Character and Leadership Development. This partnership has resulted in interviews designed to preserve the history of Honor education at USAFA, tracing its growth and evolution throughout the seminal events in USAFA and commitment that the cadets discussed history, including the establishment of the with U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Honor Code by the Class of 1959, its tem- Mark Welsh while visiting the Pentagon. porary suspension in the 1980s in the Through efforts such as these, the Center wake of a cheating scandal, its subsequent reinstate- 2013-14 Wing Honor Chair Will Burnette and Wing ment, and the current pro- Honor NCO (and History major) Jay P Fullam incess by which cadets con- terview Chief of Staff Mark Welsh in the Pentagon. tinue to apply the Honor Code today. The Center for Oral History is also working with the CCLD to conduct oral history interviews with distinguished graduates and current Air Force leaders. In April 2014, CCLD Director supervised two cadets in the development of a series of questions on heritage, honor V O LU M E 2 0 T HE FA LC O N FO O T NO T E PAGE 8 Distinguished Professor In Residence: General (Ret.) Stephen Lorenz General (retired) Stephen R. Lorenz became the 64th Distinguished Professional in Residence (DPIR) this past March after speaking to over 450 cadets and faculty. Utilizing 13 class periods over two days, he motivated and inspired the cadets enrolled in History 100 (Introduction to Military History) to fully comprehend that “you have more ass than they can chew,” a timely message for the Doolies as Recognition started just days away. The story of his own journey through USAFA as a cadet who spent six of his eight semesters on the “Dean’s OTHER list” resonated with many students, especially those with Major Jason McClure as an instructor. The cadets and faculty appreciated his message of overcoming adversity through hard work and determination, and the faculty appreciated his candor during the brown bag luncheon held in the DFH Conference Room. General Lorenz is a 1973 USAFA graduate with a Bachelor of Science in international affairs. He earned his master’s degree in 1977 in public administration, and is a Senior Command Pilot with over 3,600 hours in 10 aircraft to include the KC-135, EC-135, C-141, KC-10 and various trainers. His notable assignments include the Commandant of Cadets at USAFA from 1996-1999, the Commander of Air University from 2005-2008, and the Commander of Air Education and Training Command from 2008 Pursuing a degree in International History with a focus in Africa and the Middle East, Mitchell aspires to represent the United States as a Defense Attaché. Mitchell is a hurdler on the track team and one of the Cadets-in-Charge of International Programs. There, he acts as a liaison for fellow cadets and incoming students looking to study abroad and explore international issues. ing events.” Mitchell’s favorite memory of the summer was an extensive conversation he had with Rumsfeld on a variety of topics. While sharing stories in Rumsfeld’s office, the two realized they even had some experiences in common: they both attended the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico as boy scouts. “He went in 1949, and I went in 2008,” Bryce said. “We even shared our experiences with all of the bears and rattlesnakes we encountered while there.” In addition to academic classes, Mitchell interned at the Rumsfeld Foundation, where he assisted with all daily operations in the office. “One day I might be taking notes during one of our meetings with microfinance partners, the next day I could be accompanying Mr. Rumsfeld to one of his speak- After graduation, Mitchell plans to continue studying international issues related to Africa and the Middle East in graduate school. “After getting my masters, I intend to enter flight school and hopefully fly a fighter jet like the A-10 Warthog or the F35 Lightning if they ever finish it,” he said. Cadet News: C1C Bryce Mitchell C1C Bryce Mitchell has returned from his Cadet Summer Research Program, w here he studied at Georgetown University in the Fund for American Studies’ Institute on Economics and International Affairs. until his retirement from Active Duty in 2011. He now serves as the President and CEO of the AOG Endowment and continues to articulate his “Lorenz on Leadership” series to large audiences. PAGE 9 T HE FA LC O N FO O T NO T E V O LU M E 2 0 Cadet News: Cold War Staff Ride C2C Jason Sanchez The History Department held interviews in January 2014 to identify a cadet to sponsor in traveling to Eastern Europe on West Point’s annual Cold War Staff Ride (CWSR). Following up on last year’s success, the selected individual would visit historic sites throughout Europe with a USMA contingent, including seven Army cadets, an Army Retired LTC, and an Army CPT. I was selected to represent USAFA in order to enhance my professional military education by understanding the tactics, leadership, and decision making that took place during the Cold War on both sides of the Iron Curtain. To prepare for the trip, all participants were assigned readings totaling roughly 300 pages per month by CPT Erik Davis, the CWSR OIC. At the end of each month, CPT Davis and I spoke via phone to discuss the readings and their implications for the upcoming trip. My trip began on 1 June as I travelled to West Point to collaborate with the staff ride’s participants in discussions of the assigned readings and their applications to the Cold War and modern times. Each cadet was required to present two 45 minute presentations covering assigned stops gary, and the Czech Republic. During prep week at West Point, we met approximately 30 minutes prior to start time to develop group rapport and rehearse material prepared for that day. after the Soviet era. Departing the Czech Republic en route to Budapest, we stopped in Vienna, Austria, to enjoy a visit to the Schonbrunn Palace, site of the Though the duty day typically ended around 1700, the group meshed well as we continued developing a group identity by dining and exercising together each night. After seven days of preparations, the group travelled to Berlin, Germany, to commence the journey. Our travel in BerC2C Sanchez (3rd from left), CWSR cadets in Prague. lin included over thirty Cold War 1961 Vienna Summit between Kennedy related sites such as the Brandenburg and Khrushchev. Leaving Vienna, the Gate, the Stasi Museum, Checkpoint group arrived in Budapest on 15 June; Charlie, the Templehof Airport, and the staying mere feet from the entrance of longest stretch of the Berlin Wall that reBuda Castle. The group addressed the mains standing. Addichoke hold communist power had on the tionally, the group made satellite country of Hungary, visiting over time to visit other attracfifteen Cold War related sites and a partictions and events that ipating in a sit down dinner with an offiwere not originally on cial who worked at Radio Magyar during the schedule, including a the era of communist control, who spoke bike ride through vacant of limited free communication via the segments of East Berlin station’s towers. After three nights in and ad hoc conversations Budapest, the group began our return trip with natives who resided to Berlin, stopping in Munich for a day in Berlin during the Cold and half, most notably visiting the site of War. On 12 June the the massacre at the 1972 Summer Olymgroup traveled to Prague pics. Our final stop before departing from to focus on events which Berlin was vital approach avenue of the led to the 1968 Prague Fulda Gap. C2C Sanchez (3rd from left) with CWSR cadets Spring. In Prague, an at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate entire day was dedicated Each day two Cadets were assigned to be to an exclusive tour with a guide who on site guides, with a third Cadet assigned on the upcoming staff ride, including loca- lived in Prague his entire life and provided (Continued on page 10) tions throughout Germany, Austria, Hun- an astute perspective to life before and UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY NEWSLETTER HQ USAFA/DFH/Falcon Footnote Editor 2354 Fairchild Drive, Suite 6F-101 USAF Academy CO 80840-6246 Phone: 719.333.3230 Fax: 719.333.2970 E-mail: [email protected] THE FOOTNOTE IS GOING DIGITAL! TO ENSURE FUTURE DELIVERIES, PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WITH US AT: [email protected] WE’RE ON THE WEB AND FACEBOOK! HTTP://WWW.USAFA.EDU/DF/DFH/ (Continued from page 9) current global issues. Each cadet can confidently state that the CWSR instilled in him/her a deeper comprehension through continuous discussions and on-theground recognition. Additionally, the opportunity to drive from country to country revealed the terrain of the region and highlighted the vulnerability of various nations to invasion by would-be hegemons such as Germany in WWII and the Soviet Union in the Cold War. as course navigator. The guides led discussions, encouraged participation during the day’s various activities, and provided descriptions of the events tied to each monument. They were the day’s experts, fielding questions from the group at large and ensuring that all participants gained a full appreciation of the historical significance of each site. The navigator’s job was to prepare the routes of travel the night For me, the Cold War Staff prior to the day’s activities. Ride served as both an ArThe Staff Ride provided my-Air Force cultural exmuch more than any text- change and a US- European book possible could. Inte- cultural exchange. I believe grating the insights and it is imperative to note that understanding the people’s my West Point counterparts perspectives on the Cold became quite envious as I War allowed the group to embellished the luxuries of apply historical events to USAFA compared to US- MA. Never once did I apologize or shy away from ownership of the great opportunities the Air Force Academy offers. My response to collegial criticism regarding the “softness” of the Air Force was invariably, “That’s the reason I chose the Air Force”. Missing Us? Many of our subscribers have moved on without leaving forwarding addresses. If you or someone you know are no longer receiving our newsletter, or would like to start receiving it, please email us at u s a [email protected]. We will be happy to add you to our electronic mailing list. Abadi on Sabbatical Prof. Jacob Abadi spent most of his Spring 2014 sabbatical at Princeton University continuing research for a new book on the history of Jordan. Princeton’s Firestone Library has the United States’ best collection on Middle Eastern subjects, mostly in Arabic, Hebrew, and French. This research contributed to his article, “The Impact of the Syrian Civil War on Syrian-Jordanian Relations,” published in the March 2014 Turkish Review. From The Turkish Review, 1 March 2014.