ATO dedication Academy honors those who helped shape Very Windy Very Windy Very Windy 38 10 53 26 52 30 institution history. Page 4 Vol. 48 No. 47 December 5, 2008 Schreiner Funeral Funeral services for Richard “Rick” Schreiner will be held today at the Cadet Protestant Chapel. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. in the chapel followed by the service at 11 a.m. A former Air Force member, Mr. Schreiner served as a computer specialist for the Academy registrar’s office. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Schreiner, son Jordan Schreiner, and daughters, Melissa Pino and Ashlyn Malecki. Memorials may be made to the Richard Schreiner Ent Memorial Fund. Pearl Harbor Emotional speech sets stage for a time of reflection Sunday. Page 2 Photo by Dave Ahlschwede Incoming! Cadets practice convoy preparedness during this year’s Commandant’s Challenge. The two-day competition pitted squadron against squadron in Field Training Exercises, physical fitness, drill performance and military knowledge. It is the culmination of military readiness training for the fall semester. Cadet Squadron 23, the “Barnstormers” finished as overall outstanding squadron and Cadet Group 1 took top group honors. See story, Pages 12-13. Top Performer Green Energy to save greenbacks Instructor honored in D.C. with Academy Spirit Staff prestigious title. Page 5 Though it is located in the semi-arid desert of Colorado, Academy officials are eyeing “Green Energy Opportunities”. “The ambitious effort involves reducing energy demand trends and evaluating and implementing alternate power technologies,” said 10th Air Base Squadron’s Russell Hume, who is spear- heading the efforts. The Air Force spends $5 billion yearly on energy, 80 percent of which supports aviation operations, and Hockey celebration is the largest energy consumer in the Falcons wax Tigers in first victory U.S. Government. over rivals in more than two Permanent Professor and Head of decades. the Academy Department of Economics Page 16 and Geosciences Col. Rich Fullerton said, “Oil price shocks, like the post- Katrina spike to $147 per barrel, have INSIDE been the leading cause of economic reces- Photo by Mike Kaplan Commentary 2 sions in the U.S. over the last four decades. Cadet 1st Class Robert Barlow tests a biofuel sample in the Department of News 3 In the future, an increase in the frequency Chemistry labs. Features 12 and amplitude of oil price shocks trig- ative for the development of alternative 2015, known as ‘Net Zero,’” said Mr. Sports 16 gered by resource wars and market forces energy technologies.” Hume. Renewable energy is electricity, Community 19 could have an even more ruinous effect “These factors have prompted a goal heat or other power generated from Classifieds 20 on our nation’s economy and the world. for renewable energy to provide 100 natural sources, such as the sun, wind, These factors have created a new imper- percent of Academy electric needs by See GREEN, Page 4 2 December 5, 2008 Pearl Harbor launched “Greatest Generation” Editor’s note: The date: Dec. 7th, 1941. Oahu. Strikes were directed at aircraft and, in turn, received the To responsibly inform and educate the The time: 7:55 a.m. The first assault wave Kaneohe, Bellows, Schofield, Wheeler, Distinguished Service Cross. At Ewa Academy community and the public of Japanese fighter planes attacked the U.S. Ewa, and Hickam, but the enemy’s Marine Corps Air Station, Marines about the Air Force Academy Lt. Gen. John Regni — Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The main objective was the Pacific Fleet, dragged damaged, but unburned, Academy Superintendent attack on that beautiful Sunday morning especially the eight battleships moored planes off the runway and mounted Lt. Col. Brett Ashworth — took America completely by surprise. The here along battleship row. machine guns on them to fire at Director of Public Affairs following day, President Franklin D. Before five minutes had passed, a attacking aircraft. Ken Carter — Editor Roosevelt referred to Dec. 7th as a “day direct hit exploded the Arizona’s Here at Pearl Harbor, several thou- [email protected] Butch Wehry — Senior Staff Writer which will live in infamy.” The events of that forward powder magazine. Hundreds sand sailors from the bombed and [email protected] day spawned the rise of the “Greatest of men were cut down in a single flash. sinking battleships, many covered with Ann Patton — Staff Writer Generation” and spurred America and its On the bridge, Rear Admiral Isaac C. oil and swimming through burning [email protected] allies to victory in WWII. It is important Kidd and Capt. Franklin Van waters, struggled to reach Ford Island. Denise Navoy — Graphic Designer that we all reflect on the anniversary of that Valkenburg were instantly killed. The As the wounded and smoldering The Academy Spirit is published by Colorado tragic day this Sunday. Admiral William Arizona went down with more than Nevada limped past the blazing Springs Military Newspaper Group, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive J. Crowe, Jr., delivered the following speech 1,100 men trapped in her hull. Several Arizona, a sailor saw three survivors written contract with the U.S. Air Force Academy. This at the Arizona Memorial on Dec. 7th, hundred yards to the south, five torpe- swimming nearby and tossed them a civilian enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. 1984. Senator Daniel Inouye entered it does struck the Oklahoma’s port side, line. They climbed aboard and helped Contents of the Academy Spirit are not necessarily the into the Congressional Record. Then-Major she rolled over until her masts hit man Nevada’s guns. Heat from the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Richard S. Rauschkolb was Admiral Crowe’s bottom. Four hundred and fifteen men burning battleship was so intense that Air Force. deputy military assistant and speech writer were entombed below decks. Heavy Nevada’s gunners had to cover their The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute at the time and wrote this moving tribute. bombs and torpedoes ripped the shells with their bodies to keep them endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Colonel, USAF (Ret) Rauschkolb is battleship West Virginia, which settled from exploding. Department of the Air Force, or Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group, of the products or services presently teaching in the Academy’s English to the bottom, her superstructure At Wheeler, six pilots, after advertised. Everything advertised in this publication Department. awash in the oil-shrouded water. harrowing takeoffs under fire, shot shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national ori- When a large fire raged out of control, down twelve enemy aircraft. A young gin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political The speech: she was abandoned as was the lieutenant named Sterling, who was affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. The printer reserves the right to reject I am deeply honored to address you California. told not to fly because of his inexperi- any advertisements. on this historic occasion. It is certainly On the New Orleans, Chaplain ence, jumped into a P-36 when the Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the U.S. Air Force Academy Directorate of Public fitting and proper that we gather here Howell Forgy did his best to encourage scheduled pilot left his aircraft to get a Affairs. The editor reserves the right to edit articles at the Arizona Memorial to recall the men who were laboring below decks parachute. As he revved his engines, he to conform to Air Force policy and Associated Press style. All photos are U.S. Air Force photos unless other- tragic events and the significance of without lights, passing ammunition handed his watch to the crew chief wise indicated. that day, 7 December 1941. from magazines to the guns. In the saying, “Send this to my Mom, I won’t Submissions As I rode the barge across this process, he coined a phrase that was to be back.” Sterling’s plane was last seen Send submissions to: HQ USAFA/PAI, 2304 Cadet morning, I’m sure my thoughts were be memorialized in song and become spiraling into the ocean. Drive, Suite 3100, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO 80840- similar to yours. I tried to imagine famous as a World War II battle cry: We are gathered to honor these 5016 or deliver to Suite 3100 in Harmon Hall. what this harbor was like on that fateful “Praise the Lord and Pass the heroic deeds and thousands more like Deadline for free classified ads on a space-avail- able basis is noon every Tuesday for that week’s pub- Sunday forty-three years ago. Ammunition.” them. Thirteen Navy men earned the lication date. Paid classified advertising is accepted by All accounts indicate it was a beau- The Nevada, shaken by explosions, Congressional Medal of Honor that the publisher at 329-5236. The number to call for dis- play advertising is 634-5905. tiful morning – so typical of this island attempted to clear the harbor. The day. Sixty Navy Crosses, 65 Silver Stars, Deadline for all stories is noon Friday, one week paradise. The sun was warm, the clouds Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Tennessee and four Distinguished Service Crosses prior to the desired publication date. Refer questions to the Academy Spirit editor at 333-8823. were high, and there was a slight were also hit and fought to stave off the were awarded for gallantry.