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Class of '56 Military & Veterans Photos

We, the Class of '56, wish to thank all classmates who have served our country in uniform. 

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

http://www.sdvietnamwarmemorial.com/incountry.htm

  • Frank Tucker, USAF/ANG, LTC Ret, 23 years,  Viet Nam Veteran

  • Bob Mckee, US Army, Mar. 1957 to Mar. 1960

  • Bill Picotte, US Navy

  • Mike Saffel, US Navy

  • Ed Bartels, US Navy

  • Don Sandal, US Navy

  • Richard Stageberg, US Army, Col Ret

  • Richard Koch, US Marines

  • William Miller, US Marines

  • Clint Schimkat, USAF/SDANG

  • Carl Pfeifer, USAF

Frank flew for 23 years in the Air Force & ANG....flew to many countries and islands....Spain, Germany, England, Italy, Scotland, Iceland, Iowa Jima, Eniwetok, Kwajalein, Rora Tonga, Okinawa, Hawaii, Christmas Island, Midway, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Viet Nam, Thailand and many others....all 50 states. That last picture was taken in Alaska...not an Air Force plane, eh?...tis a mudder.

Bob Mckee served three years on active duty with the U.S. Army.  I was stationed at Ft. Chaffee, Ark., Ft. Benning. Georgia: and with the 7th Infantry Regiment of the Third Infantry Division in Germany.  Was overseas for 21 months.  Dates of service were from March 1957 to March 1960

Thank you, Bob (Send us some pictures)

Bill served (TBA) years in the US Navy.

Below are pictures of Don Sandal, Ed Bartels and Mike Saffel sailing the seas....and Don Sandal's story of some scary, fun times:

Thanks for permitting me to share a story of a special time in my life.  I joined the Navy in 1956 with classmates Mike Saffel and Ed Bartels and was discharged in 1960.

The memories of my time in the service are many; however, the ones which remain with me most vividly are the ones that occurred after Boot Camp.  I was going to aviation mechanics school in Norman, OK and Memphis, TN when I was assigned to a heavy attack squadron in North Island, CA.  Soon after our squadron received new A3D twin engine jet bombers and we were moved to Whidby Island Naval Air Station.  I worked on the flight line and eventually became a plane captain and was assigned a plane of my own to service. Interestingly, I received flight pay!!  When flying, my duties included emergency procedures if required.  Much of our time was flying in the flight pattern simulating carrier landings on the runway.  We would make many touch and go landings or until the fuel would run low. 

We were eventually assigned to make our first cruise on the U.S. Ranger stationed in Alameda, CA.  We loaded the 12 bombers on the carrier and carried out pilot qualifications off the coast of CA.  The U.S. Ranger was brand new in 1959 and was on its maiden cruise.

Ultimately I faced my first fly off on the carrier and I was both excited and scared.  It was just the pilot and me sitting next to him in the bombardier seat.  We were situated on the catapult and shot off!  What a tremendous sensation it was.  Staying the flight pattern we came around and I made my first landing!! Yes—I was petrified.  Immediately, we were catapulted again.  I made four landings with him until they changed pilots and I was shot off three more times—a total of 7 catapults and 7 landings—a overwhelming experience and I am not sure that I got through it with dry shorts.  I made two cruises on the U.S. Ranger in 1959 and 1960 and ended up with 52 carrier landings.

Sadly, both of the pilots that I made my first 7 landings died in plane crashes.  One pilot forgot to put his power back on quick enough after missing the cables on landing.  The other pilot apparently misread the altimeter at night and crashed into the ocean. 

 

 

 

 

 
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Last modified: 03/05/10