MILITARY FACES COLLEGE FOOTBALL Retired general CGI James Dean LSU, Alabama bring charged in child cast in new movie offensive revolution pornography case about Vietnam War into SEC showdown Page 3 Page 19 Back page Top military appeals court to review Bergdahl case for fairness » Page 3 Volume 78, No. 147 ©SS 2019 CONTINGENCY EDITION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2019 stripes.com Free to Deployed Areas End of PAT GRAHAM/AP Jermaine Birdow is pictured in the stands at Falcon Stadium on Nov. 2 as his son, Air Force history? fullback Taven Birdow, and his teammates host Army at Air Force Academy, Colo. 30 years after fall of the Berlin Wall, Air Force senior the world is more splintered and relishes having perhaps more dangerous than ever BY TAMER FAKAHANY father in stands Associated Press after prison term onths before the Berlin Wall fell on Nov. 9, 1989, BY PAT GRAHAM with the Soviet strangle- Associated Press Mhold over the Eastern AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. Bloc crumbling, a young political sci- — Like many fathers and sons, entist named Francis Fukuyama made the Birdows tossed the football a declaration that quickly became fa- around the yard. They imagined the setting mous. It was, he declared, “the end of being the backyard on freshly cut history.” grass — not the cracked asphalt But the heralded defeat of Commu- inside a prison yard where they nism didn’t usher in a lasting golden were. They tuned out the barbed- wire fences and the watchful eyes age for Western, capitalist-driven lib- of the guards. eralism. Far from it. It was on these days that young In the decades since, seismic events, Taven Birdow might daydream of playing in college just like his movements and global patterns have father, who, in those precious mo- shaped the 21st century into a splin- ments, was reliving his time as tered, perhaps more dangerous era a linebacker for Oklahoma State than the Cold War. University in the 1990s. Jermaine Birdow was no longer The 9/11 attacks happened; the Iraq No. 33 in your program but No. and Syria wars helped produce the 463462 in Oklahoma’s state pris- bloody emergence of Islamic State on system — serving a long sen- and, later, a refugee crisis. The econ- tence for a 2001 home invasion. It was also on these days he omy tanked in 2008. China became a might daydream of seeing his son superpower. Russia resurged. A new — now a senior fullback at Air populism took root. Force — play in person for the All have had a transcendent impact. first time. That happened on Aug. 31 against Colgate, when Jer- History, it seemed, didn’t “end.” maine was in the stands as Taven SEE HISTORY ON PAGE 7 took the field in the number he used to wear. Berliners celebrate as East Germans pour The moment was even better through the dismantled Berlin Wall into West than he imagined. Berlin at Potsdamer Platz on Nov. 12, 1989. SEE SENIOR ON PAGE 2 AP PAGE 2 •STARS AND STRIPES• Friday, November 8, 2019 MILITARY Senior: Father relishes watching son play fullback for Air Force Academy FROM FRONT PAGE for Taven, work for her, and then “To see his last name on the long drives for weekend visits. back of his jersey, playing for the “There were times when I United States Air Force for the crawled into bed and cried,” said first time?” said Jermaine, who’s Rodrigues, who lives in Altus, attended every game this season, Okla., and is married to Taven’s including at Hawaii, following his stepfather. “But how can I ever release last November after more complain, when I have a child than 17 years in prison. “I was who did as much as he did, ac- awestruck.” complished as much as he did and Taven was 3 when his father never once complained?” was jailed for his role in a home On the visits, the father and son invasion in Oklahoma City. Jer- would sometimes throw the foot- maine ended up pleading guilty ball around (if there was one). Or to charges that included robbery play hoops (if they were permit- DAVID ZALUBOWSKI/AP with firearms, pointing a firearm ted). Or make up obstacle courses Air Force fullback Taven Birdow, center, is stopped during the second half of an NCAA college football at another, kidnapping for the (trash cans for hurdles). Or just game against Utah State at Air Force Academy, Colo., on Oct. 26. Birdow’s father, Jermaine, saw his son purposes of extortion and first- talk across a table. play football for the first time when Air Force hosted Army on Saturday. degree burglary. They always envisioned they His sentence: 37 years (later were beyond those walls. with him takes a toll. You get to go before suiting up for Oklahoma because he’s the most humble commuted to 20 with the help of “I was pretty good as far as cre- home and he has to go back to his State. He pushed Oklahoma or person I’ve ever known.” his legal team). ating an atmosphere of, ‘You’re cell. That’s a lot on a child.” Oklahoma State. In August, dad got to see him As a kid, Taven and his mom, not here in this prison. You’re Their bond was enhanced Taven blazed his own path at play in person. Taven even had Jamie Rodrigues, would visit his just here with your dad,’ ” said through sports. Taven played Air Force. a season-long 41-yard run in that father as often as they could and Jermaine, who resides in Enid, baseball, wrestled and ran track. There was a tough conversation, game against Colgate. at whatever prison he happened operates a lawn service and gives Of course, there was football as though, over Christmas break “First time I cried in a while,” to be housed. motivational speeches at church- he helped Altus High School win following his sophomore season. said Jermaine, 43. Rodrigues always made sure es and schools. “It was always the a 2015 state title. Taven was thinking of stepping More feel-good moments Taven’s father played a big part presence of just us that made the No bitterness toward dad. away from football. When he told — traveling to Hawaii to watch of his life. The routine, though, time greater.” Taven attributes that to his mom, his mom, they drove to Tulsa, Taven. Seeing him rush for a ca- was taxing: School and practice Sometimes, Taven and his mom who always included his father in where his father was incarcer- reer-high 124 yards against San would travel three or more hours decisions. She grew up without a ated, so the three could have a Jose State. Being there when he for a visit only to be turned away father and wasn’t going to let that heart-to-heart chat. eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for because of ever-changing rules happen to Taven. “His dad was saying, ‘I’m get- his career at Navy. On the hori- Correction or surprise facility lockdowns. One strict rule: Grades came ting out, and I’ve never seen you zon, a bowl game for Air Force Those times stung. first. No exceptions. And if Taven play football. I’ve always wanted (7-2). A Nov. 7 article about the So did goodbyes. got into trouble, his mom made to be there for a game,’ ” his mom He’s proud of the relationship Dragoon Ready exercise “I remember once when I was 7 him call his father. recalled. “Taven broke down. he’s forged through prison walls. should have identified Maj. or 8 and we had to leave, and I had “He did the normal dad role It’s the first time I’ve ever seen “Now, we’re here,” Jermaine Andrew Webb as the opera- an anxiety attack,” said Taven, a — when he could,” Taven said. him break down. He said, ‘You said last weekend before the Army tions officer for the Army’s management major who just ap- Jermaine weighed in through- should’ve been there in high game, glancing in the direction of 2nd Cavalry Regiment’s plied to be a pilot. “He was a lov- out Taven’s college recruiting school.’ We both lost it. We real- the mountains. “You look around 3rd squadron. ing father and couldn’t be there process. He was a standout foot- ized how much he internalized on and you’re like, ‘Wow. This is awe- and all those short stints of being ball player himself in high school, a constant basis. We had no idea some. This is just beautiful.’ ” T O D A Y IN STRIPES American Roundup ............ 14 Business .......................... 20 Comics ............................. 21 Crossword ........................ 21 Faces ............................... 19 Opinion ....................... 22-23 Sports .........................25-32 Weather ........................... 20 Friday, November 8, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 3 MILITARY Retired general charged in child porn case BY ROSE L. THAYER van’s desktop and laptop comput- by people looking for child who harms Pennsylvanians, no ment, he served for a time as the Stars and Stripes ers were filled with searches of pornography. matter what positions of power executive director of the Penn- preteen children, which resulted Agents with the attorney gen- they may hold.” sylvania Military Community A retired Air National Guard in 15 second-degree felony counts eral’s office also discovered Sul- Sullivan, 67, spent 30 years as Enhancement Commission, a general was arrested and charged of sexual livan’s penchant for viewing the an engineer officer in the Penn- program of the state’s Depart- Wednesday with more than a abuse of illegal images during an investi- sylvania Air National Guard and ment of Community & Economic dozen felony counts related to pos- children and gation of a file-sharing network, retired in March 2012, accord- Development that funds projects session of child pornography after one count according to the release.