Monday, July 20, 2009

A Break from Basic Cadet Training


During the Summer of Love, while fellow '69 high school grads were romping naked in the mud at Woodstock, I was going through Basic Cadet Training at the United States Air Force Academy. I remember wondering what crime I had committed in my previous life to be sent to this hell. To the Academy's credit, they gave us basic cadets the day off to watch the moon landing. Several officers based at the Academy volunteered to host a handful of doolies to cook burgers out and watch the landing. I can't remember the officer's name who hosted us, but I'll never forget what he said. He said, "Look around guys, one or more of you could be those guys (astronauts) someday." Sure enough, one of my classmates present that day with me, Sid Gutierrez, ended up making and commanding several shuttle missions. He now has a middle school named after him in Albuquerque, NM. Sid majored in Aeronautics and Astronautics. I majored in Political Science and Graduation. Maybe in my next life . . .

4 comments:

twest said...

I think some of your classmates are saying - "Hey, I went to the USAFA with this guy that's still flying and writes a hell of a blog...."

Mike West said...

I remember Uncle Bob's reaction when he found out I worked in the beer business. He was thrilled! He could care less that Rick was a pilot. He now had a relative "in the business."
:)
Yeah Rick - too bad you're not an astronaut and you have to fly for the best airline in the world to exotic locations. Bummer. I bet you look at the moon every night thinking "I could have walked on that sucker."

J Dub said...

Poli Sci and fly, baby. It's worked for two generations of Wests so far.

BCT would have been a neat time to experience the moon landing. Your feeling of patriotism is already high during Beast, so something like that would make it just a little better.

I watched a special on the moon landing last night on the Discovery Channel. I was completely fascinated. Those guys were nuts and heroes at the same time.

Brodad Unkabuddy said...

Yeah, I taped the Discovery Channel special so Clay and I can watch it together. Poor kid. He'll have to suffer his dad's reminiscing of what it was like "back then". ; )