Short Takes

General H.T. Johnson didn’t just follow a path; he defined the standard. Explore the memoir of the first 4-star graduate, a man who served as the vanguard for the Class of '59.

Written by Jeff Rhodes ’87, son of Brig. Gen. Jim Rhodes ’59, this poem honors Colonel Don Brooks with a sweeping tribute to his courage, faith, and the life he lived in service to others. It reflects the spirit of the First Falcons and the legacy they built together.

"Zita knows her way around the Air Force." From handling middle-of-the-night scares to breaking the ice at formal brunches, Colonel Jim Reed shares how Zita Hosmer (wife of Lt. Gen. Brad Hosmer, '59) defined the spirit of the Air Force family.

"Fighter pilot is a state of mind, not a job title." Colonel RL Penn reflects on the earned confidence of the cockpit, the peril of North Vietnam, and the sheer joy of a rainy formation landing in Spain.

"That, my friends, is the Catch-22—you cannot complete everything within ninety days!" Explore two stories of red tape, resilience, and the bureaucratic marathons required to bring family along on the next assignment.

"A Quiet Flight Turned Deadly" On May 23, 1968, a routine ferry flight for Art Elser (’59) quickly escalated into a life-or-death rescue mission over Quang Ngai. Read his raw account of the Vietnam air war—from the cockpit of an O-1 Bird Dog—and the haunting poem born from its aftermath.

A Military Story reflects on the unexpected challenges, quiet heroism, and everyday realities of life on a growing Air Force base. Through a humorous yet heartfelt Christmas‑season anecdote, it reveals how service members and their families adapt, persevere, and find connection even when the system around them is stretched thin. It’s a reminder that behind every mission are people doing their best with what they have.