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Program
(and selected comments by the MC)
USAF Pilot Training Class 53-A
MEMORIAL DEDICATION
USAF Museum, Wright Patterson AFB
9:30 AM, June 25, 1999
Leslie Greaser (Director of Special Activities): Call to order and introduction of Class 53-A Master of Ceremony (Tom Calkins - MC)
MC: Introduction of special guests:
Major General Charles D. Metcalf (USAF-Ret.), Director of the United States
Air Force Museum.
Brigadier General Pinckney B. Smith (Georgia Air National Guard- Ret.), of
Class 53-A
MC: Introduction of Chaplain (Major) David Leist of Wright Patterson Air Force Base.
Chaplain Leist: Invocation
MC: I would like to briefly mention the activities that led to this dedication today.
In late 1996 there was a chance phone conversation between two 53-A class members who had not seen nor talked to each other in 45 years. In that conversation the possibility of a class reunion was discussed. Those two members were joined by a third class member and they launched the very difficult, but with tenacity, a very successful effort to locate classmates. Time and resource constraints led them to concentrate their search to classmates who trained at Columbus AFB, Mississippi and/or Webb AFB, Texas.
Their tenacity in locating class members was matched by their skills in planning, organizing and conducting a very successful reunion one year ago here in Dayton and at this museum.
During the reunion, visiting this museum led to the consideration of creating a Class 53-A Memorial. The same three guys who organized the reunion, transformed themselves into the USAF Pilot Training Class 53-A Memorial Committee. They launched another people search for the entire class membership who, in addition to Columbus and Webb, trained at BAINBRIDGE, BARTOW, BRYAN, CONNALLY, CRAIG, FOSTER, GOODFELLOW, GREENVILLE, HONDO, LAREDO, LAUGHLIN, MALDEN, MARANA, PERRIN, PINECASTLE, RANDOLPH, REESE, SAN MARCOS, and VANCE.
They conducted that vast search -- (At this point members of the audience called to the MC's attention that Spence, Stallings and Williams were not mentioned. The MC acknowledged the error and attributed it to his faulty copying of the list.)
They conducted that vast search to give as many class members as possible the opportunity to contribute to creating the memorial. They raised the funds, completed the design, contracted for building the memorial and had it delivered to this location. Today we dedicate that memorial to Class 53-A.
Will Don Runyon and George Worthy now come forward for the unveiling of the memorial.
Runyon & Worthy: Unveiling of the memorial (See picture, below)
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Don Runyon, the Memorial Bench, George Worthy
(For close-up of bench and location at Museum, see bottom of page)
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MC: General Metcalf, on behalf of Pilot Training Class 53-A, I present the memorial bench to you as a gift to the United States Air Force Museum, and into their care.
Maj. Gen. Metcalf: Acceptance of the memorial by the Museum and comments.
MC: Thank you General Metcalf.
We, the living members of Class 53-A, dedicate this memorial bench to the members of Class 53-A who are no longer with us. It is to the known and unknown deceased members of the Class that we dedicate this memorial. At this time we have determined that 87 of our classmates are deceased but we have not yet accounted for all members of the class. Many of the deceased paid the ultimate price while performing their flying duties in the service of our country. All of them served with distinction and honor. Honors accorded members of Class 53-A include recognizing nine members as general officers, including an Air Attache' to the French Enbassy in Washinngton, a Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to Maj. Bernard Fisher for valor exhibited during the rescue of a fellow airman at A Shau, Viet Nam, and the Air Force Cross awarded posthumously to Maj. Rudolph Anderson who was shot down by a SAM while flying a U-2 over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
You can be confident that Class 53-A has been represented in every significant military action that has occurred since we got our wings in 1953 -- Korea, Berlin Air Lift, Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, Granada, and Panama, just to mention a few. In addition, our French classmates were involved in Morocco and Algeria. 53-A Class members of the United States and several foreign nations have flown a great many of the aircraft you see so carefully restored and preserved in this Museum.
Time, and the rigors of war and the risks of military flying have taken the lives of many in Class 53-A. Although the memorial is for all of Class 53-A, it is fitting that today, we who remain, dedicate this memorial to the honor of all our departed class members.
Please stand for the benediction by Chaplain Leist, and remain standing for the sounding of Taps by the bugler, by Sgt. Jay Halpin of the Air Force Band of Flight.
Chaplain Leist: Benediction
Bugler Halpin: Taps
MC: I want to thank all of you for your interest in this dedication and for traveling the long distances that many of you have to be here.
This concludes the dedication ceremony.
I have a few announcements of interest to you regarding the remainder of the day, and future 53A events. While I am making these remarks, I will ask Mr. Bill Aldrich to set up his camera for the group photo of all who have attended this ceremony this morning. Bill will be at the Marriott hotel later today to show proofs of the photo, and take orders from anyone that would like one.
I would like to remind you that there will be a 53A hospitality suite at the Marriott this afternoon and evening for anyone that would like to drop by and socialize with your classmates. A "dutch-treat" dinner has been arranged at the Marriott in a private room next to the dining room. Each of you is invited.
My final announcement concerns the 53A reunion next year. A second reunion will be held in San Antonio, Texas April 5th to the 9th, 2000. All members of Class 53-A and their spouses and guests are invited to attend. Most of you probably know what a great place San Antonio is to visit in the spring. The reunion will be held in a downtown hotel near the River Walk with easy access to the major San Antonio attractions. If there are any class members here who have not received the reunion material in the mail, please see me after the photo is taken. I hope to see each of you in San Antonio.
Now, I'd like now to introduce Mr. Bill Aldrich who is going to take a group photo.
Mr. Aldrich, if you would, please.
(Copies of the group photos are available from the photographer. Contact Tom Calkins for details)
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Close-up of 53A Memorial Bench
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Location of 53A Memorial Bench
USAF Museum, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
Photo courtesy USAF Museum
Notation added by Tom Calkins
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