Page 10 - FF Spring 2022 Final

Page 10 Falcon Footnote

Russell W. Mank, Jr. ilies and how soldiers reflect- Victor D. Sutch University in Minnesota. His
1940-2020 ed the society from which 1921-2019 teaching career was at Colora-
they came.” “His classes in do College, but he was Distin-
guished Visiting Professor of
military history were among History at USAFA (1991-93),
the most popular on campus.” and he also taught at USMA,
He was Distinguished Visit- Marine Corps University, and
ing Professor in DFH from Norwich. Past president of
1982 to 1983, and he also the Society for Military Histo-
taught at West Point, the Ar- ry, he died while writing his
my War College, and the 28 book. (More.)
th
Command and General Staff
During two assignments to College. Past President of
DFH in 1968-73 and 1976-83, the Society for Military His- Charles Frazee
Russ Mank became Tenure tory, he was noted for his 1929-2019
Professor of History. Subse- friendliness and generosi- Growing up in Depression-
quently he served on the Air ty.” (More.) era Indiana, Victor Sutch
Staff and JCS. Soon after his “went to Olivet Nazarene Col-
promotion to Colonel, he was Steve Chiabotti lege with fifty dollars and
made a quadriplegic when he 1950-2020 some faith.” In the USAAF
was struck by a hit-and-run during World War II, he flew
driver while he was jogging transport aircraft in Europe
near his home in 1988. “His and North Africa, where “God
courage and determination was gracious to protect him
enabled him to overcome his and provide him with the won-
injuries and fashion a new life derful experience of flying,
for himself.” He occupied along with the sheer terror of Dr. Charles Frazee died in
senior positions at the Para- landing.” He joined the faculty 2019 in his home in California.
lyzed Veterans of America, while the Academy was locat- As a scholar of Church and
often testifying before Con- ed at Lowry AFB, and he Byzantine History, he taught at
gress. (More.) taught in DFH in 1958-60 and Marian College, California
1961-70. He contributed many State University at Fullerton,
Retired Colonel Steve Chi- chapters to History Depart- and the Episcopal Theological
Edward “Mac” Coffman abotti died unexpectedly in ment coursebooks. His obitu- Seminary. He was Distin-
1931-2020 Montgomery, Alabama, in Oc- ary noted that “His last spoken guished Visiting Professor in
tober, 2020. He was a Distin- words were while his grand- DFH from 1992-93. He wrote
guished Graduate of the Acade- eleven books and many articles
my in 1972 and later earned a daughters were hugging him and cared deeply about ecumen-
doctorate in History from Duke and he said ‘Thank you for ism. Dr. Frazee spent twelve
University. Colonel Chiabotti’s coming, Goodbye, and I’ll see years in the seminary and spent
30 years in the USAF included you in heaven.’” (More.) fifteen years in the priesthood
teaching history in DFH from teaching. Although he opposed
1992 to 1997. He was Com- Dennis Showalter the war in Vietnam and spoke
mandant of the Air Force’s 1942-2019 out against it, he was sought
School of Advanced Air and after for his expertise in East
Space Studies until his retire- Europe and the Balkans. When
A Korean War infantry ment in 2002; afterwards he he died, Dr. Frazee was Profes-
officer who went on to earn spent sixteen more years at the sor Emeritus of History at Cali-
his PhD in military history School in various roles. Colonel fornia State University at
from the University of Ken- Chiabotti’s passion was teach- Fullerton where he served for
tucky, “Mac” Coffman taught ing. He taught a generation of 22 years. (More.)
at the University of Wisconsin Air Force pilots to fly, and at
in Madison for 31 years. “An USAFA he taught thousands of
early practitioner of the ‘New’ cadets to be good officers and
Military history, Coffman's historians. He was generous
lectures moved away from the with his time and will be missed The Minnesota state
old-fashioned ’battle a day’ by his family and a wide orbit spelling champion of 1954
and offered insights into the of friends. (More.) became a military historian,
lives of soldiers and their fam- earning his PhD at St. John’s