AIR FORCE ROTC REUNION
Oct. 14-15 at UW-Superior
Friday Evening Social

Wandering around Rothwell Student Center on the evening of Oct. 14, it was easy to mix the present with the past. Everywhere floated snippets of conversation spiced with words and phrases like "F-105," "AWACS," "logistics" and "force projection." Everybody had a story to tell, like the one that began, "I ran into Bob in Saigon..." That's what it's like when alumni of Air Force ROTC -- men and women who have served their country all over the world -- get together to re-live old times.

The all-class reunion celebrating 55 years of Air Force ROTC at UW-Superior included two days of activities: golf, tours, a social and a formal dinner. About 65 alumni and former instructors attended the Friday evening social -- and the stories of aircraft, missions, tours of duty, and old friends could have filled volumes. We've also added a photo of our ROTC golf foursome as well as some photos taken by the Moraveks.

Below is a selection of photos from the social. Click on each photo to see a larger image.

UW-Superior Assistant Chancellor Jill Schoer chats with Carlin Kielcheski, Class of '56. Carlin brought an extensive collection of drawings and paintings he executed in 1968 while assigned as a combat artist in Vietnam. On the table in the foreground is a display of military payment certificates exhibited by John Bremer, Class of '65.

Jack Allen, a member of the first UW-Superior ROTC class in 1950, chats with his wife Jane, left, and Shirley Kielcheski, right.
 

 

 

 

The Command Post included dozens of scrapbooks, UW-Superior yearbooks, photo displays and other memorabilia.

 


 

 

Old friends examine photos from their days in ROTC.

 

 


 

 

Robert Armour, Class of '82, and Richard Pittroff, instructor from 1968 to 1970, pal around in the Command Post.

 

 

 

 

 

Tuula Leppanen Harris, Class of '70; Joan Hemmila; Herbert Hemmila, Class of '54; and Evert Schmidt, Class of '56, reminisce. Herbert has the distinction of graduating from Superior's ROTC program and also serving as one of its instructors.

 

 

 

Carlin Kielcheski, Class of '56; John Taylor, Class of '61; and Michael Westman, Class of '68; exchange stories about their days in Vietnam.

 

 

Brig. Gen. Sandra Gregory, Class of '77, right, and her husband, retired Col. Thomas Bradley, center, talk with Jim Whittier, Class of '52. Earlier in the day, Brig. Gen. Gregory received the Distinguished Alumna Award from the UW-Superior Alumni Association.

John Bremer, Class of '65, right, talks with Lawrence Brunello, Class of '64, second from right, Doug Moquin, Class of '65, and Sandra Moquin.

 

 

John Rago, left, an ROTC instructor from 1968 TO 1972, chats with Robert Armour, Class of '82. John came to Superior from a tour of duty in Okinawa and said his ROTC stint was "as enjoyable as any tour I had in the Air Force."
 

Jim Wilson, Class of '76, left and Walt Tomczak, Class of '77, take a break from their conversation to pose for a photo.


 

John Bremer, Class of '65, talks flying with Herb Hemmila, Class of '54, as Joan Hemmila and others look on.
 



 

Earlier on Friday some of the guys took advantage of the beautiful fall weather to play golf at Nemadji Golf Course. From left, John Taylor, Class of '61; Mike Westman, Class of '68; Tom Culbert, Clas of '70; and Ken JuVette, Class of '60.

Checking out the ROTC memorabilia in the Command Post were John Taylor, Class of '61; Lawrence Brunello, Class of '64; and Bill Moravek, Class of '69.

 

Mike Diamon, Class of '69; Bob Fus, Class of '68; and Linda Fus.

 

 

 

Tom Kyle, Class of '67; and Jim Wilson, Class of '76.

 

 

 

Admiring their old photos were David Rubenstein, Class of 68; Mike Westman, Class of '68; John Taylor, Class of '61; and Lawrence Brunello, Class of '64.

Vernette Nubson Moravek, Class of '69, and Tom Culbert, Class of '70.