I'm really grateful this information was shared about John Luke's life and work. We used to talk and joke in the halls, he was such a nice guy. Our lives are but a breath. He used his so well.
John sought me out at one of our class reunions, he knew I was a Captain in the Army National Guard and had been involved with Desert Storm having served as the Battalion Ammo Officer. He asked me if I had a Top Secret security clearance and I said I did. What he said next surprised and amazed me. John was part of the Nuclear Proliferation Compliance Team. What this meant was he went into the heart of Mother Russia and to some of their most secret bases to verify Russia's compliance with the salt treaty. Truely a heroic action. Now the children born after we graduated did not experience life as we did. Let me explain.
During our childhood there were two things that we as kids saw and lived thru every day of our young lives. The first was Viet Nam, this war while none of us had to fight it, was on the news and horrificly displayed every night on the evening news. Pictures of wounded and dead Viet and American soldiers were shown without censorship every night. Older siblings constantly worried about the draft and the loss of friends and family members were a constant worry for everyone in the country. It hardened our generation just as WWII and Korea had done to our parents. But Vietnam ended in 75 and we were thankful but still remember the social unrest it caused.
The other huge topic was Nuclear war, We all saw video's of the destruction it caused and many of us went thru the drills in case of an attack. The arms race was out of controll and any sirens set our hearts to racing, Now back to John, he couldn't do anything about the Vietnam war but he could do something about the "Bomb". When the SALT Treaties came about John was the go to guy for our government. The problem for John was he was proud of his accomplishments and want his classmates to know what he had accomplished but he was under a secrecy blanket and couldn't legally say anything. That is where I came in, There were a great many things he couldn't even discuss with me as they were WAY higher than my Top Secret clearance would go but he could tell me what I just told you.
Now every generation has it's own issues but Our children did not have to grow up as afraid as we did. John's work made the world a lot safer for our kids and their kids than we had it. While the threat is still out there John had a big hand in easing the fear and for his overall lifetime of work I think we should Honor our friend by getting him installed in the LNE hall of fame. He really needs to have been honored by our state and government but one step at a time. This needs to be addressed now so that we can get him installed by our 50th Reunion on Homecoming night 2027.
But I leave it up to you, Johns classmates. This is just my Humble opinion of John.
Thank You for sharing this information about John. I agree he needs to be inducted.I just moved back to Lincoln. I am retired, if I can be of any help reach out. ~Sandie
John was such a fascinating person with a heart and soul of gold. I had him in Math class and how is mind work was so interesting. Mr Rogge was our teacher and john was talking with him about a problem. I was next in line when John had left Mr Rogge commented, how do I teach someone who is smarter than me? I said by keeping it simple and back to the basic. I agree our Class we should honor him. John talked alot about the meetings in Russia and how he was not permited to leave the hotel. His favorite saying was, "I'm just a humble scientist from Nebraska!" He never forgot were he came from and was very proud of this fact! If nothing else we should get this engraved on a plaque to hang on the wall at Northeast. I would be more than happy to donate money to make this.I also think that if we are building new schools his name should be submmited for it. Thanks Tom and Tim for posting about John! He lives on in Us the Class of 1978! Julie
Thank you Julie and Sandy for your comments but real action is needed now by the rest of our class, two years will fly by as we all know. I am asking every class member to ask all the classmates that you still have contact with to have those classmates read these posts and join the movement. We need every living classmate to at least read these post's and commit yay or nay. Money will be needed and I will pledge $100 now and more maybe later to this cause. It is far from what I wish to offer but money is always tight around the Kotschwar house. John's memory is that important to me and should be to everyone else. Please act and act now. This site needs to blow up fast if we will accomplish our goal.
If there is anyone left of our reunion committee we need a leader to step up and take this movement forward, Ron Hatfield, Rob Peters and Bill West are the first names I can think of. Can you please help get something started fellow classamtes?
Patricia Schwaninger (McPheeters)
I'm really grateful this information was shared about John Luke's life and work. We used to talk and joke in the halls, he was such a nice guy. Our lives are but a breath. He used his so well.
Robin Peters
Thanks Tom for sharing.. A really good read!!!!
Timothy Kotschwar
To the rest of the class of 1978,
John sought me out at one of our class reunions, he knew I was a Captain in the Army National Guard and had been involved with Desert Storm having served as the Battalion Ammo Officer. He asked me if I had a Top Secret security clearance and I said I did. What he said next surprised and amazed me. John was part of the Nuclear Proliferation Compliance Team. What this meant was he went into the heart of Mother Russia and to some of their most secret bases to verify Russia's compliance with the salt treaty. Truely a heroic action. Now the children born after we graduated did not experience life as we did. Let me explain.
During our childhood there were two things that we as kids saw and lived thru every day of our young lives. The first was Viet Nam, this war while none of us had to fight it, was on the news and horrificly displayed every night on the evening news. Pictures of wounded and dead Viet and American soldiers were shown without censorship every night. Older siblings constantly worried about the draft and the loss of friends and family members were a constant worry for everyone in the country. It hardened our generation just as WWII and Korea had done to our parents. But Vietnam ended in 75 and we were thankful but still remember the social unrest it caused.
The other huge topic was Nuclear war, We all saw video's of the destruction it caused and many of us went thru the drills in case of an attack. The arms race was out of controll and any sirens set our hearts to racing, Now back to John, he couldn't do anything about the Vietnam war but he could do something about the "Bomb". When the SALT Treaties came about John was the go to guy for our government. The problem for John was he was proud of his accomplishments and want his classmates to know what he had accomplished but he was under a secrecy blanket and couldn't legally say anything. That is where I came in, There were a great many things he couldn't even discuss with me as they were WAY higher than my Top Secret clearance would go but he could tell me what I just told you.
Now every generation has it's own issues but Our children did not have to grow up as afraid as we did. John's work made the world a lot safer for our kids and their kids than we had it. While the threat is still out there John had a big hand in easing the fear and for his overall lifetime of work I think we should Honor our friend by getting him installed in the LNE hall of fame. He really needs to have been honored by our state and government but one step at a time. This needs to be addressed now so that we can get him installed by our 50th Reunion on Homecoming night 2027.
But I leave it up to you, Johns classmates. This is just my Humble opinion of John.
Yours truely, Kotch
And thank you again Tom Bowmaster for your help.
Sandra Sandie Smith
Thank You for sharing this information about John. I agree he needs to be inducted.I just moved back to Lincoln. I am retired, if I can be of any help reach out. ~SandieJulie Alber (Southwick)
John was such a fascinating person with a heart and soul of gold. I had him in Math class and how is mind work was so interesting. Mr Rogge was our teacher and john was talking with him about a problem. I was next in line when John had left Mr Rogge commented, how do I teach someone who is smarter than me? I said by keeping it simple and back to the basic. I agree our Class we should honor him. John talked alot about the meetings in Russia and how he was not permited to leave the hotel. His favorite saying was, "I'm just a humble scientist from Nebraska!" He never forgot were he came from and was very proud of this fact! If nothing else we should get this engraved on a plaque to hang on the wall at Northeast. I would be more than happy to donate money to make this.I also think that if we are building new schools his name should be submmited for it. Thanks Tom and Tim for posting about John! He lives on in Us the Class of 1978! Julie
Timothy Kotschwar
Thank you Julie and Sandy for your comments but real action is needed now by the rest of our class, two years will fly by as we all know. I am asking every class member to ask all the classmates that you still have contact with to have those classmates read these posts and join the movement. We need every living classmate to at least read these post's and commit yay or nay. Money will be needed and I will pledge $100 now and more maybe later to this cause. It is far from what I wish to offer but money is always tight around the Kotschwar house. John's memory is that important to me and should be to everyone else. Please act and act now. This site needs to blow up fast if we will accomplish our goal.
If there is anyone left of our reunion committee we need a leader to step up and take this movement forward, Ron Hatfield, Rob Peters and Bill West are the first names I can think of. Can you please help get something started fellow classamtes?
Your's truly, Kotch.
Patricia Heussmann (Heyen)
John was an amazing man, I agree with you Tim! I will also pledge $100 towards this.
Karen Karr (Linder)
John is so deserving of recognition. The first step is simply submitting the nomination form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10BoNQR-oGSg5xc8YtOUNcwu9iJ8lG4ke/view No money needed.
Julie Alber (Southwick)
I will pledge $100.00 to the fund!
Julie Alber Southwick
Timothy Kotschwar
Great info Karen, thanks for the input.