John Vincent

Great response Rocky!

We should all honor and respect all veterans forever. Their sacrifices make it possible for all the rest of us to live out our dreams in the best country ever! Granted, it is not perfect but still the best!

On a lighter note, I remember a party up at Sandy Pond one summer after high school. I had photos from it. One photo is Rocky, Bill Auyer, Frank DiOrio, Joe Spinella and myself sitting on the edge of the water enjoying a beer or twelve. Is it possible you were home on leave Rock? Maybe we were waiting for Bill to pull the Coast Guard Cutter up to shore! Lol!

Rod Henry

Rocky's 5 points are on the mark.

If you look at the histories of the countries many of our ancestors came from, you can see that changing social institutions is generational in nature and often requires some sort of great disruptive force, be it technological, ecological, etc..

And - thanks to all who have served.

Rocky Capozzi

John, if it was after graduation it had to be right after graduation.  I remember getting the only speeding ticket of my life making my last trip to Sandy Pond right after graduation.  I think it was a Sunday.

Glenn Gartland

Rocky,

I agree with Rod that your points are on the mark, and with Sam that we were living in a confusing time (so unlike the present, right???).  Back in my last couple of years at CiceroI remember meeting some servicemen  who were just a couple of years older than me and home on leave from having served in Viet Nam combat.  What struck me with them was that they were pretty extreme and couldn't wait to go back and fight some more......it was a bit scary to me how much they wanted to go back to a war zone.  In 1971 when I turned 19, since I had no college deferment or other "outs" from being called to service, I enlisted in the Air Force.  No likelihood of seeing combat directly although there were a lot of AF troops serving in Viet Nam.  However, at my assigned stateside bases, I was surprised by how often local residents who treated with disdain.

I will say that it was the best decision I could have made and I developed lifelong friendships with quite a few people as well as meeting my wife (who also served in the Air Force).  I commend your children who are now serving and would recommend military service for anyone who might be trying to figure things out for themselves.  It could be a career or a simple assist with finding their direction.

Mike Slattery(Slats)Cicero 71

Hello from the Class of 71 CNS. 

I've watched and read the banter and had to join in. I have enjoyed all stories. 

First, hello to John, Glenn, Rocky et al.  My hats off to the Vets and a sincere thank you for the sacrifices that you and your families made during your service. I know and understand them well.  If you are not a Vet, I trust you know one or have a family member who served.  After #31 in the 1970 draft lottery, I looked around and decided college, Iowa then onto Lemoyne and SU AF ROTC were my best choices while aspiring to fly.  As time went on, the ROTC scholarship opportunity (junior year) faded with my grades, I ran out of NYS student loan authority, a.k.a. money, and went to work. I recall a Cicero guidance counselor telling me I didn't have the aptitude to fly.  

Like Rocky, Greg White, Steve Martin, John Pennock I wanted to go to one Academy or the other.  They said I needed a 675 to 775 on the SAT's.  I thought they meant combined.   Hence, no appointment.  However, I never gave up on the desire to fly. So when an opportunity to join the Army and attend flight school without a bachelors came around I could not pass up. It all went pretty well in the end.  Flights school in 79', warrant officer 80', OCS 87, and retired as a Major (2013') with 3900 hours in helicopters. (Rocky, I remain a frustrated fighter pilot still today)  I even knocked out the bachelors. 

I am really here because you Vets and "seniors" in this crazy 2020 via this Message board motivated me to speak up.  The first two paragraphs I hope just added some context and maybe credibility to my next paragraphs.

Now 66, I am still flying helos commercially out of Rome NY, with over 7800 hours in 14 different aircraft. Clearly with several close calls I am lucky to be alive, lucky to have a medical, and blessed to be a former American Soldier.  I am thankful to the taxpayers for the opportunity to serve and the outstanding training. My only regret, I buried way to many fellow americans as an escort officer.

Rocky, the 5 points in your message I completely agree with.  Since I spent my Army flying days "in the mud" my view was a little different but, the perspective as a retired Vet is the same.  I've been to the 'shit holes' Trump talked about several years back. They do exist!  Politics aside, my perspective was honed if you will, flying Army Rangers, Navy SEALS and Delta Force "shooters" around the globe at night, under night vision googles during some publicized but mostly not yet declassified Special Operations. "The boys" as we affectionately called them, are not diplomats. Urgent Fury (Grenada) Just Cause (Pananma) Desert Storm, Somalia (Gothic Serpent/Blackhawk Down) often flash through my memory. So many young Americans gone. Peers, friends and unknowns.  They are the tip of the spear!  Highly trained and expected to kill the enemy.  I can assure you...over a beer or cocktail they are great Americans, yet steely eyed killers that we all should revere and respect. I always will.  Just recently our nation has been reminded how good they are during a night raid in Africa. Every single penny we spend on them is well worth it, and it is billions with a B. 

I share all of this because it was an honor to serve amongst them. It remains a priviledge to have served my country and my fellow citizens. 

Personal points reflecting on Veterans Day.

1  History has not been kind to the US in our efforts to spread democracy.  It is very messy and bloody and often not transferable to the masses of other countries.  Spilling blood of our warriors is a big deal and always should be.

2. If you kick in the door...continue until you level the building IF, and thats a big IF you intend to rebuild it. DO NOT count on changing what you thought you could, because you never really know what is behind the door.  You must respect the culture every day, every operation, every decision.

3. We absolutely must be prepared for War 24/7 as a Nation.  People, systems, weapons and training. We don't have time in 2021 like we did in WWII to ramp up, build up, and train up. It's a come as you are ballgame with adversaries that are increasingly formidable who hate us.  The modern battlefields dimensions are numerous and everything is faster.  Aircraft, missiles, internet, ships.  It just happens really fast.  Asymmetrical warfare is dynamic and evolving like a computer.

4. Terrorism is a 24/7 fight.  Our 'silent warriors' fight it day and night. It started in the 80's and will continue into the millenium. Our counter-terrorism teams are deployed in anywhere from 20-50 countries year round.  They are the early warning system.  

Best to my Fellow Vets and Senior Classmen and Women!

Hope to see you at the reunion.  GODSPEED

Mike Slattery

SLATS 

Christine Huzar (Christian)

Fellow Vets,

As I read all your comments It makes me miss the Navy very much.  I believe that more young men & women should serve in some capacity.  There is a certain fellowship and belonging to something bigger that the service provides.  When I go to the VA Hospital in Portland, Oregon it gives me a sense of being home with family.  I am surrounded by people that I know share some of the same experiences and values.

After college I tried to join the military, but there was a draw-down from the War, so I was not accepted.  Six years later I applied to the Navy again and was commissioned in 1981.  During my tour in Washington DC everyone that came to visit always wanted to see the Vietnam Memorial.  I did not have a close friend or family member that died in the war, but on my first visit to "The Wall" I just broke down crying.  So many young men & women died for such an ungrateful nation.  It was heart breaking to see so many names.  Every visit, it was always the same, sometimes I had to stand back because it was such an emotional experience.

I was also in DC for the dedication of the Military Women's Memorial.  Of course we were in uniform and ran into some Vietnam Vets and had some photos taken.  We shared a lot of memories about the fun and meaningful times in service.

My husband is a retired Supply Corps officer and I retired in 2003.  We both miss the military comradery and enjoy running into other Vets.  Thanks for allowing me to share some thoughts on my time in the Navy.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Christine Huzar Christian

Bill LaRonde

I had a long response to Rocky's post, filled with extremely important and insightful comments all typed out for the forum. But then I realized what is being written here by the various posters are(or is, I cant seem to ever get that right) decades of wisdom collected through heaps of varied experiences. And that speaks for itself.

John, Even thou  I sometimes can't remember why I walked into a  room I actually remember that day at Sandy Pond for a couple reasons. One, I have a recurring reminder of it. A scar on the back of my right hand and a cap on a front tooth. Apparently there was some kind of football game played and during it  I fell forward causing the back of my hand strike and chip a lower front tooth and causing a gash on the back of my hand. At least that was what was told to me.Secondly, I remember speaking briefly with Rocky about leaving for the Air Force Academy in a few days and  thinking  that takes some kind of courage.  And John the Coast Guard was smart enough not to let me drive anything larger than a golf cart.

To all Vets and your families Thank you for your service and sacrifice

Glenn Gartland

Slats......seems as though you could have been a central character in a Robert Ludlum book.  I am sure you have additional interesting stories but can't read us in because you'd have to kill us...Lol.  What you have shared here though, is very interesting and I bet was intense when you were experiencing those events.

@ Bill L.  I suspect we could overrun our data capacity with everyone's stories about Sandy Pond escapades.  Thinking back on those times (at the risk of living in the past) is fun though.  I made many trips with good friends and, met with many other good friends when we got there.  Good times were had for sure.

Steve Martin

Mike Slattery(Slats)Cicero 71

Hi Glenn, 

Funny you should mention Ludlum. Many many times I considered a non fiction effort sharing non classified or unclassified endeavors.  After "we" failed in 'Desert One", a.k.a Operation Eagle Claw, I volunteered for the next Iranian Hostage Rescue raid in late 1991.  The rest is history.  It never happened, however the resurrection of capable joint forces from the lessons learned in the failure with training, funds, dedicated aircraft and focus, took off like a rocket ship  What a ride it was to be an Army helicopter pilot in the initiation of the Global War on Terror. All in spite of being an Air Force brat wanting to fly around at mach.

Mike Durant via 'Blackhawk Down' and 'In the Company of Heroes' had great success writing but, he had lots of help because of his celebrity post Somalia.  I encourage any Vet or American to read those books, for insights into very average American boys for the most part. I served in Durant's unit and was on duty that fateful day of Oct 3, 1993 as the Staff Duty Officer.  Google: Iran Ajar, Operation Just Cause or Operation Mount Hope if you are bored.

To Steve Martin,

What a great reconnect in 1989 huh? As he mentions, Steve played a role test flying a Special Operations MH47E for the Army and directly impacted my career. I just don't tell him that. His goal was to ensure my team "made it" compatible with shipboard Ops.  We missed the mark per se but, Army Spec Ops helos still operate shipboard to this very day.  Some of the most memorable operations started on a ship.  Credit them with Bin Laden Raid, Al Bagdadi Kill and Jessica Lynch rescue.  Experimental Test Pilots out of the Naval Test Pilot School (NTPS) are few and far between.  Hats off to my Jarhead friends, in honor of the Marines 245th Birthday today.  HOOORAH.

To Rocky,

What did you fly?  F15, F16? Time for some Zoomie stories,  Air to Mud, CAS danger close, tank killing maybe in Kuwait?

Stay Well everyone,

** Sorry about the Army Recruiting Ad

SLATS

Rocky Capozzi

Slats, 

I flew the A-7D out of pilot training 76-79 in Arizona, OV-10 FAC in Korea for a year 79-80, O-2A FAC and Jumping ALO for 18 months in SC, F-16A/B blocks 10, 15, 25  in SC and Germany, F-16 C/D, C/G, C/J (Blocks 40, 42,  50, 52) in SC, Mountain Home, Idaho and Eielson AFB, AK.  I  mention all the different block numbers because they all had different capabilities.  Early models were smart bombers dropping dumb bombs.  Later models were LANTIRN birds (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting IR Night) dropping smart bombs and smart HARM shooters (High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles).  I doubt I'd recognize the avionics in current models.  They were just starting to put data links in the F16 when I last flew them in 1998.  It was a great ride.  My last few years on active duty 2000-2003, I got to fly Beech King Airs (Be200) around Alaska to our remote radar sites (not my primary job but it got me out of the office) doing light sight support with parts and people.  I have to say, I'm glad I had the opportunity for two reasons.  First I got to see parts of Alaska I never would have seen flying fighters.  We mostly landed on gravel strips, several of which were on the lower slopes of mountains with runway slopes of 10 degrees or more and some were right along beaches on the Bering Sea.  Secondly, it was the first time in my career I flew a "crewed" airplane.  Everything else had been single pilot.  As far as what was the most fun to fly--can't say.  I think I look back on the A-7D most fondly.  It was my first fighter and like they say, you can only have one first. The avionics were phenomenal.  The A-7 was an ugly, but teriffic Navy design that was way ahead of its time. On the other hand the F-16 performance was simply exhilarating.  If you took off with a clean bird you could get to 400 knots by the end of the runway.  Even taking off at max gross, you could get off the ground in about 2500 feet.  The blocks 50 and 52 had "improved" performance engines that increased thrust from about 25,000 to 30000 pounds.  All the F-16 models had phenomenal turning performance.  Depending on your configuration you could maintain a 9G turn -- let's say the plane could maintain it longer than the pilot.  Flying through moutainous terrain at 480 knots and 300 feet at night with the LANTIRN pod was kind of surreal.  I never really got comfortable with that mission.  Fortunately, F-16 LANTIRN birds were never employed at low level. The F15Es got the pods first and did a little of that in the first Gulf War.  As far as mission types that I trained for -- CAS, Interdiction, Nuclear Strike (Germany), Point Air Defense, SEAD.  All in all, it was a great ride and I loved my time at the squadron level.  You just don't have the same kind of camraderie at higher echelons.  I was promoted to Colonel and out of my F16 squadron commander job in October 1993 and although I was in positions where I was able to keep flying the F-16 through May of 1998, it's just not the same as being in the combat unit.  Anyhow, I was given a group command in Alaska in 1996 and except for a 15 month tour in Hawaii, I've been here ever since.  It's been a great ride.  If we get a chance at the 50+1 reunion, we can swap stories of close encounters of the worst kind and weird experiences.  Collectively, I bet we've had a lot of them.

Margaret Hewitt (Phinney)

Reading all the posts from all of you that served in our military it has been very interesting to read about all the experices, I personally want to Thank You for your time and dedication. Peggy 

Mike Slattery(Slats)Cicero 71

Thanks Rocky!

As an Air Force brat (Dad was Boys From Syracuse NCO vintage) I have a pretty good handle on your aircraft lineage.  Sounds like you stayed in the cockpit longer than most.  Maybe we need to head to Rome and take you out flying?

I will be there at the reunion and would love to shake hands and catch up.  Didn't know Phillips and the other guys personally but heres to your service and sacrfice, long short, independent of branch.

SLATS

Sam Anderson

Vets - check out this link regarding free acces to National Parks from this day "and every single day hereafter":  https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/80547/veterans-gold-star-families-get-free-entrance-national-parks-refuges-public-lands/

Glenn Gartland

Slats, Rocky, Steve

Sharing your memories about flying is great stuff and it's kind of ironic to me that I was in the Air Force and had nothing to do with aircraft whatsover other than being a passenger.  I was in communications and was always in a Data Center that was either underground or if above ground, windowless.

After leaving the AF and getting a 2-year degree in computer technologies, I got hired by McDonnell Douglas and moved to St. Louis.  The first office I was assigned to was a 12-story building located near the western edge of Lambert Airport where (in 1981-82ish) MD was putting the finishing touches to the Navy's F18s and at about the same time was working to adapt Harrier technology onto the F15.  The hangar where this was taking place was very close and visible from our building.  Needless to say, we had "ringside seats" when these aircraft were being taken out for testing.  The people who worked on the F15s would roll them out on the pad, fire them up and seemed to be playing with them, lifting to about 20 feet or so off the ground and then putting them into spins for a while and then going ahead and launching into a "normal" flight.  The F18s were unbelievable from a layman point of view.  Since they were getting ready to deliver on the Navy order, those tests were pretty straight forward but, it was amazing to watch them go down the runway for what seemed like perhaps 50 feet, lift off the ground and almost immediately turn straight up a 90 degress and be out of sight within seconds.

I can only imagine how great that feeling is for you guys.

Glenn Gartland

Sam, thanks for passing along that link regarding National Parks.

John Vincent

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

As bad as the year has been it is still great to be alive! 
 

My grandmother always said to be sure to count your blessings everyday. 
 

Stay safe and enjoy your blessings!

Fins up!

John

John Vincent

Merry day after Christmas to all! Hope everyone had a nice day and enjoyed whatever celebration you were able to have. One for the record book! Hoping for a better new year!

My granddaughter turned 18 today. She is a senior at Cicero North Syracuse. She has also recently survived the corona virus. She was not super ill but obviously we were all very concerned. 
 

I was thinking about how hard it must be for high school seniors to have their special year ruined by this terrible medical crisis. I try to always put myself in others shoes when making judgements on their behaviors. Not sure how I would have handled this crisis when I was 18 and looking forward to the last year of school. Not to mention the fact that I felt indestructible back then!
 

Take special care folks now that maybe an end is in sight. Christmas may have been different this year but it is more important to be back for Christmas 2021!

Fins up!

John

Rocky Capozzi

That was a very nice Christmas message, John.  We had a great Christmas day with two of our kids their spouses and three of the grandchildren in attendance.  Our oldest grandaughter turned 16 on Christmas day.  We always celebrate both events at our house -- first gathered around the large dining room table with all Christmas place settings, decorations etc. then in the evening we decorate the kitchen and kitchen table strictly for her birthday celebration.

Margaret Hewitt (Phinney)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to you too John and all classmates, its been a heck of a year but looking ahead to a better future for all these kids and the jobs they had to do with virtual schooling, we are with our grandkids who are virtual and watching how they interact and just know what they need to do, also thumbs up to the teaching staff making sure things all work! Still stay safe everyone......

Sandra "Sandee" Cassano (Brown)

Hi John & 1970 CHS Classmates.  I'm a member of the FB group "Cicero High School Friends" administered by Jim Coffey".  Je posted the following earlier today:  'Hello all Cicero High School Golden Eagles once again. I am starting early for next July. The annual Golden Eagles get together will be Friday, July 9th, 2021 at Borio's. I know I said I wasn't going to put it out there for this coming year because of all of the bitching about no masks outside last year. I have been talked into it again and hopefully we won't have to worry about the mask wearing and can actually post pictures with out people complaining.' I posted the following comment: 'Jim the CHS charter class of 70 is planning our 50th (delayed in 2020) now for 9/26/21. Can we not coordinate somehow for those of us who live out of state & would really like to attend ‘both’?? Contact John Vincent for North Syracuse And Cicero High School Class Of 1970 (classcreator.com). Thx much!'

He then replied:  'I would try, but the get together for all classes has always been the first Friday after July 4th. Would your class consider changing your reunion to that weekend or have plans already been made. I know the class of 72 with Chris Nye planned their 45th for the same weekend a few years ago.'  Side note:  I attended one of these get togethers several years ago and there were quite a few of us charters there.  It will be nearly impossible for me to attend both due to how close the dates are and the expense of round-trip travel; hubby and I also spend a week in IN every summer with our son and his family so a third 'trip' just isn't feasible for us.  Of course I was 100% planning to attend our 2020 50th and still plan to attend our 51st on 9/18/21.  

So my question to you, John, and our fellow CHS class of 70 grads is:  would you be willing to combine these 2 events to the Friday after the 4th to allow those of us out-of-staters to attend 'both' events?    Please post your feelings about this here and thanks to all and Happy New Year 2021 to you and yours!

Rocky Capozzi

Based on what's happening with COVID19 and looking at a realistic laydown for vaccinations, I would rather stick with the fall date.  Pushing it a little farther into the future should improve out chances of pulling it off.  Best wishes from Alaska.   Rocky

Gary & Rautenberg (Rautenberg)

I would opt to stick with September 19.  Coming from Thousand Oaks, CA, I would not be able to make a July date and had been planning an east coast trip in September.  Happy New Year, and I hope everyone is healthy!

John Vincent

I am inclined to think that the September date is more realistic for a more "normal" event. I would not discourage people from attending the July event, but given the current timeline a July mass gathering may not be allowed. 
For now I will keep the September date locked in to Borio's but we can talk about combining the events. Maybe the whole weekend can lead up to our Sunday "Fifty plus one" reunion?

Happy New Year to all!

Fins up!

John

Sam Anderson