Page 8 - FF Spring 2022 Final

Falcon Footnote
Page 8 Gone But Not Forgotten

Gone But Not Forgotten

As noted previously, nearly one hundred officers and historians who taught in the Department of History since 1955 have now
passed away. Mindful that these individuals influenced so many Air Force officers, the alumni association is gathering obituar-
ies. Here are some reports of recent deaths. A more complete list, with links to obituaries, is on the new alumni association
website, https://usafadfhalumniassociation.com/ Even so, there are many missing notices. If you know of any former mem-
bers of the Department now among the ”missing from the mess tables,” pass any details to Dr. Larry Weaver at laweaver-
phd@gmail.com.

vented the recovery of the to any of your cadets interested in. Why? What's going
Jon A. Reynolds remains of an American P- in a systematic approach to on? They never come into my
1937-2022
51 pilot downed in the military biography.” cell. So I asked him, and he
war’s last months. Forty responds, “Well, on ejection I
years later, Jon joined offi- “A big loss of a special broke both my arms and I
cials of the Chinese Minis- man. The country lost another can't much move. So they
try of Foreign Affairs in a hero -- brave in what he went have to come in to feed me.”
visit to a remote village through and wise in the lessons For three days he talked to
near the crash site. Jon’s he took from it and then lived me and yet never once did he
story of hope and disap- for us all to see,” wrote Chuck ever mention that he was so
pointment – “An Attempt to Specht. injured and could barely
Bring Home Flt Off Bruce move. As a result of that, I've
F. Jepson” – was published “Here’s a story unlikely to always thought Jon Reynolds
in Air Power History in be known by many of you,” is one of the bravest men I've
2019. MiG Sweep recently wrote Bruce Grossetta: “I ever known.’"
Retired Brigadier General published a short article spent my last year at USAFA
Jon A. Reynolds, who taught recalling when USAF Chief as an AOC (while still teach- Jack Cole
in DFH from 1975 to 1979, of Staff Charles Gabriel met ing). My cadets bought a small
passed away in Maryland on the Commander of the Peo- pig as a squadron mascot, and 1942-2022
April 16. He brought to the ple’s Liberation Army Air Jon volunteered to keep it out
Academy his experiences Force, General Wang Hai, at their Monument ranch. The
flying the F-100 Super Sabre, in 1985. They had met once pig made appearances at all
the L-19 Bird Dog, and the F- before, in the skies over home football games, but over
105 Thunderchief, followed “MiG Alley.” the winter and spring it grew to
by seven years as a POW in an enormous size. The cadets
North Vietnam. After his The news of his death bought the food for it, but the
release in 1973, he studied prompted many recollec- Reynolds cared for it. Just
military history and earned a tions by former DFH col- prior to the end of the school

PhD at Duke University. Af- leagues. Among them: “Jon year, the cadets had a big party
ter his tour on the USAFA epitomized the professional out at the Reynolds’ place. Retired Brigadier General
faculty, he was assigned to in every way,” “a superb And the main course was James L. “Jack” Cole, who
the Air Staff and the National teacher, officer, and gentle- roasted pig on a spit. Took all taught in the Department of
War College faculty. In DIA man,” “a personal hero to night to roast it.” History from 1970 to 1974,
he became Air Attaché and me,” “remember him fondly was laid to rest in the USAFA
then Defense Attaché at the as a mentor,” “as fine a man Phil Meilinger recalled a cemetery on March 4. He
American Embassy in Bei- as I’ve known. His integri- visit by Vice Admiral James passed away in Virginia on
jing. In retirement he joined ty can’t be topped, and he Stockdale to the Academy. In a January 24. Colonel Marga-
Raytheon Corporation, first was direct in a tactful way.” lectinar, Jon introduced the ret Martin, Permanent Pro-
overseeing the destruction of Medal of Honor winner to the fessor and Head of DFH, pre-
chemical weapons on John- Jim Titus wrote “Jon cadets. “Stockdale then tells a sented the flag to Jack’s wid-
ston Atoll, and then returning was an extraordinary human story. ‘I'm in a prison cell and ow Carie. Among the mourn-
to Beijing as head of the cor- being: highly courageous hear the door open next to me ers were many members of the
poration’s sales and opera- and high achieving, but and a new prisoner is thrown in Class of 1964, as well as for-
tions in China. More details always unpretentious and the next cell. We begin whis- mer DFHers Rich Porter,
are provided in his obituaries approachable. A copy of pering. This goes on for a cou- Tom Menza, Elliott Con-
in The Philadelphia Inquirer Jon's Duke PhD dissertation ple of days as we exchange verse, and Donald Bishop.
and the Super Saber Society. on the early career of Gen- information, and he gives me Jack flew the EC-121, the AC-
eral Vandenburg is availa- the latest news on the war and 47, and C-141; twice received
Jon recently shared some ble in the Special Collec- Stateside. And then I notice the Distinguished Flying
of his memories. Political tions branch of the cadet that several times a day his Cross in Vietnam; command-
and military disorder in China library. I would commend it door is opened and guards go ed the 89th Military Airlift
after World War II had pre-