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 News
 Supreme Court  justice visits
 Page 5
Feature
 Sky’s thelimit 
 Page 16-17 
 Sports
Falcons openwith hear upset 
 Page 18
INSIDE
22 cadetscome upACES
Academy Civilian earns prestigious honor
 
Photo by Danny Meyer
Born to be mild 
Cadet 3rd Class Preston Moon rounds a turn during the Pixie Bike contest on the Academy Outdoor Track aspart of the 3rd Annual Chaney King Bike Ride/Run Saturday.Moon,holding stuffed animal in inset,is joined bywinning teammates,left to right Cadet 3rd Class Trevor Johnson,Cadet 2nd Class Alan Calfee and Cadet 1stClass Phil Becker.The fundraising event honors Cadet 2nd Class Chaney King,a Falcon FoundationScholarship student,who died from injuries resulting from an automobile accident in 2003.By Academy Spirit staff
The Academy’s registrar and Academic Affairs director received theMeritorious Civilian Service award for his key role in commissioning more than12,000 graduates.Dr. Dean Wilson was cited Sept. 6for being a trusted advisor providingcritical leadership of multiple Academyteams transforming the curriculum.Lt. Gen. John Regni, Academysuperintendent, presented the award.The citation noted that Dr. Wilson provided schedule of calls, athletic and military training requirements and useof cadet time to meet institutional Air Force requirements.For 21 years, the professor has func-tioned in his position as the registrar and director of Academic Affairs and for 13 of those years as one of the originalmembers of Academy’s faculty.Dr. Wilson’s numerous triumphshave left an indelible mark on this insti-tution, the citation noted. His creationand the subsequent success of StudentAcademic Services has supported and encouraged innumerable cadets toachieve personal and professional goalsand become leaders of character.“Through his daily interaction and genuine concern for individual cadets — 
By Dean of the Faculty staff
Twenty-two top-performingcadets were named Dean’s Aces and honored for their academic achieve-ment at the fourth semi-annual AcesDinner hosted by Brig. Gen. DanaBorn and Mr. Tim Born at the Deanof the Faculty’s home Sept. 6.Within the 4,194-member CadetWing, only 22 cadets earned a perfect4.0 grade point average for the springsemester 2006.“The academic achievementsand embodiment of the ‘whole person’concept by each of thesecadets is truly remarkable,” GeneralBorn said. “For the 13 membersgraduating this year, the operationalAir Force will truly be getting our  best and brightest. Their talents will be shared across occupationalspecialties to include aviation, engi-neering, chemistry, acquisition, serv-ices and personnel.”The outstanding accomplish-ments of the Aces extend well beyond academic excellence. Nearly half of these cadets distinguished them-selves as members of the Super-intendent’s List, and most of theremaining ACEs earned honors asmembers of either the Commandant’sList or the Athletic List. Three arevarsity intercollegiate athletes and sixcadets recently returned from anexchange semester at the U.S. NavalAcademy.Cadet 1st Class Nicholas Shellyand Cadets 2nd Class KennethGrosselin and Adam Stooke garnered the “Double Aces” distinction byearning a 4.0 GPA for a second timesince the inception of the ACEs program. Cadet Shelly earned hisfirst Ace during the Fall 2005Semester. He was also recognized atthe Ace’s dinner for participating inthe German exchange program the previous semester.
See ACES,Page 4
Courtesy Photo
Lt.Gen.John Regni,AcademySuperintendent presents the Meritori-ous Civilian Service Award to Dr.DeanWilson,Academic Affairs director.
See AWARD,Page 6
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EPTEMBER
15, 2006
 
Academy SpiritSeptember 15, 2006
2C
OMMENTARY
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 Academy Spirit 
is published byColorado Springs Military Newspaper Group, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S.Air Force, under exclusive written contract withthe U.S. Air Force Academy. This civilian enter- prise Air Force newspaper is an authorized pub-lication for members of the U.S. military serv-ices. Contents of the
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Lt.Gen.John Regni — 
 Academy Superintendent 
Maj.Brett Ashworth — 
 Director of Public Affairs
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 NCOIC, Internal Information
Wayne Amann— 
 Editor 
wayne.amann@usafa.af.mil
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Senior Staff Writer 
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Staff Writer 
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Denise Navoy — 
Graphic Designer 
Airmen share personal 9/11 experiences
By Staff Sgt.James Wilkinson
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AFPN) — Monday marked five years since four airliners werehijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists and used as weaponsagainst America, killing and injuring thousands and launching a war on terrorism that is still being foughtat home and abroad.Today, Airmen still have vivid recollections of where they were and what they did while the eventsof 9/11 transpired. Some were on scene while otherswatched from afar, but all of their stories share somecommon themes of patriotism, honor and a sense of duty.
At Ground Zero
Master Sgt. Everrick Simmons was on leavefrom the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron at AvianoAir Base, Italy, to visit a friend and see the Hopkins-versus-Trinidad fight at Madison Square Garden in New York City. He drove into Manhattan Sept. 10,2001, and checked into a hotel on 71st Street.“As I walked around the city, folks were bumping into me, not saying ‘Excuse me’and somemaking disrespectful comments when I asked, ‘Can’tyou say excuse me?’” he said. “The stores and restaurant workers weren’t too friendly either.”“I wanted to leave, but (my friend) convinced meto be patient and ignore the so-called New York atti-tude,” he said.The next morning, Sergeant Simmons received a phone call from his friend. She told him that a planecrashed into one of the Twin Towers.“I got dressed soaking wet, grabbed the cameraand car keys, and ran to the Central Park side of thehotel,” he said. “There was smoke coming out thetower and most people were saying that the pilot wasdrunk.”As of this point, he said people were carrying onas if everything was normal. Suddenly, SergeantSimmons saw the second plane crash into the second tower.“Chants of being under attack, war and terroristsfilled the air,” he recollected. “People started runningaway from buildings into Central Park.”Sergeant Simmons reacted immediately and  jumped into his car and drove toward the World Trade Center. He said there were checkpoints atevery traffic light but was able to make it to thecordons on 12th Street using his military identifica-tion card.“I found a safe spot next to the Hudson River and lent a hand wherever needed,” he said. “I was awater boy with a motorcycle rider until the firsttower started falling. We jumped in the car as thewall of dust blew past the car. The car shook as if Ihad broken down on the interstate and a semi tractor trailer passed by.“I couldn’t see anything outside as the dustsettled on the car. I could hear people screaming asthey walked by, feeling their way through the dust.About 30 minutes went by before we could exit thecar and see the river.”A New York police officer then told him to leavethe area, so he cleaned his car windows and headed  back to the hotel.In Manhattan, all land lines were down, cell phones didn’t work and all exits out of the city weretemporarily closed.Unlike his first impression of “rude” NewYorkers the night before, Sergeant Simmons noticed the World Trade Center attack had changed the atti-tudes of many New Yorkers, who became muchfriendlier.According to the sergeant, the city was like aghost town with the exception of city workers and law enforcement. He was finally able to leave thecity Sept. 13, 2001, when he drove to his home stateof South Carolina.
Called to the Pentagon
Karen Giles, the director of the Charles C.Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs, was preparingto leave for work in Orlando, Fla., Sept. 11, 2001,and saw a television news report of an airplanecrashing into one of the World Trade Center build-ings in New York.“I thought it was a terrible error,” she said. “(Ithought) ‘How could they have been so off course?’”When she watched as United Airlines Flight 175crashed into the World Trade Center’s South Tower,she said she realized the crashes had to be more than just random chance. The subsequent attack on thePentagon only reaffirmed her theory.“I knew the Dover Port Mortuary was probably preparing to receive some — maybe all — of thefatalities,” she said. “No one knew the exact numbersthat would need care.”As a U.S. Air Force reservist with a background in mortuary affairs, she knew it was only a matter of time before her expertise would be called upon.Though, when the call finally came, it was not todeploy to Dover Air Force Base, Del., but to go tothe Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and assist the U.S.Army in search and recovery operations and estab-lish a Joint Personal Effects Depot, or JPED.A JPED was established to recover, inventory, photograph, clean and service and return the personal effects of all affected Pentagon fatalities, both military and civilian, said Ms. Giles.“One of the things I remember the most wasdonning the personal protective equipment (whichincludes a full body suit, respirator and mask, twosets of gloves, rubber boots and hard hat) and walking into the large hole in the exterior of thePentagon,” she said. “(It was) eerie and dark withemergency lighting providing enough light to see aninterior hole caused by the aircraft’s starboard enginecrashing through.”“We knew we could not bring the lost back, butwe also knew that at times a watch or ring, religiousmedallion, notebook or calendar or even a child’sstuffed animal can bring closure and comfort to agrieving family,” Ms. Giles said.After the attacks, Ms. Giles was activated and deployed to support Operations Enduring Freedomand Iraqi Freedom as a lieutenant colonel. She wasthen hired as the director of the Port Mortuary atDover AFB in July 2003.“9/11 has changed my life forever in terms of  both my personal and professional life. Nothing inmy life has been the same after that day,” she said.“It took me down paths I never would have goneotherwise.”
Watching from a distance
Airman Basic Nathan Ramsey, of the 436thAerial Port Squadron at Dover AFB, Del., was afreshman in high school during the 9/11 attacks. Infact, his school, DeWitt Clinton High School in theBronx, N.Y., was within view of the Twin Towers inlower Manhattan.“I looked out the window of my English class-room and saw the mushroom cloud of what stillremained of the World Trade Center,” he recalled. “Itwas shocking. A building I remembered as a littlekid — it stood strong (throughout) 18 years of mylife — and it was gone.”Within minutes, he said his school was in panic.Many of his classmates had family or friends whoworked there. The school tried to get everybodyhome as soon as possible, but traffic was backed upall the way to upstate New York.“At that point, I knew we were at war,” he said.“We were at war with people who had no mercy onothers’lives. The number of loved ones who werelost can never be replaced by any amount of moneyor condolences.”Airman Ramsey graduated from high school inJune 2005 and joined the Air Force in November, partly because of the 9/11 attacks. He was consid-ering joining the Army, when his brother, who was inthe Army, talked him into joining the Air Force.“I wanted to do my time and serve my country,”Airman Ramsey said. “As an aerial porter, it is anhonor to support the troops overseas with whatever they need. Wherever they are, we can take it there.’Airman Ramsey said he sees 9/11 as a sign thattold him to “get up and go.” And that’s exactly whathe did.“9/11 was a great tragedy, but it planted a seed of great courage in me and many others who joined the armed forces in a time of war,” he said. “It will be a constant reminder of the freedom that wedefend every day. We will never forget.’
Chants ofbeing under attack,war andterrorists filled the air.People started running away from buildings out Central Park.”
— Master Sgt.Everrick Simmons436th CIvil Engineer Squadron
“
 
Academy SpiritSeptember 15, 2006
3N
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COMMUNITY MATTERS
Supreme court justice interacts with Academy
By Capt.Trinh G.Warner
Department of Law assistant professor
Cadets and faculty were given arare opportunity Sept. 7 when theywelcomed Justice Samuel Alito, thenewest associate justice of the U.S.Supreme Court, to the Academy. Nominated by President George W.Bush on Oct. 31, 2005, Justice Alito wasconfirmed and began his duties as the110th Supreme Court Justice Jan. 31.Accompanied by his wife, Martha,Justice Alito toured the Cadet Chapel,Mitchell Hall and Cadet Squadron 14.After the tour, he addressed more than700 Academy cadets in Arnold Hall.Cadet 2nd Class Matthew Tanis, of Cadet Squadron 32, escorted JusticeAlito and his wife during the tour.“It was one of those moments whereyou take a step back and just try toimagine how you ended up showingone of the nine most important peoplein the country around your campus,”Cadet Tanis said. “Quite frankly, it wasan honor.”During his Academy tour, JusticeAlito interacted with many cadets.“I tend to be skeptical when it comesto the effectiveness of the U.S. courtsystem, but Justice Alito gave me moreconfidence there are individuals whotruly understand the law and its purposeand are dedicated to ensuring itis prop-erly executed,” Cadet 3rd Class KatieAnderson of Cadet Squadron 14 said.“It was enlightening to meet and hear Justice Alito speak and I appreciate himcoming.”After individual conversations withcadets and his presentation, Justice Alitosaid he was very impressed with not onlythe professionalism and intelligence of the cadets, but also by the sophistica-tion and insightfulness of their knowl-edge of the law.He complimented the diversecurriculum offered at the Academy;noting the number and types of law and government courses offered here. Hesaid that it was important for futuremilitary officers to study the law.He said although he was a member of Army ROTC in college and served as a Signal Corps Officer in the ArmyReserve, he has a special place in hisheart for the Air Force. Justice Alitoexplained both of his wife’s parents had retired from the Air Force and she had grown up traveling from one Air Force base to another.During his speech, Justice Alitoexplained the workings of the SupremeCourt from an insider’s point of view.Some cadets expressed surprise thatout of 8,000 appeals to the SupremeCourt each year, only about 80 are actu-ally heard by the Court during its termfrom the first Monday in October tothe end of April.While interesting, especially to thelawyers and students in law courses inthe audience, the highlight of theevening was the extended time JusticeAlito spent answering cadet questions.These ranged from how constitutionalissues are decided, to the influence of international law on decisions to thePresident’s constitutional powers ascommander in chief. When a moder-ator noted “This will be the last ques-tion of the evening,” an audible sigh of disappointment was heard from cadets.Justice Alito several times noted thehighly intelligent quality of cadet ques-tions, often comparing them to the probing inquiries he received duringhis recent confirmation hearings.Born April 1, 1950 in Trenton, N.J.,Justice Alito went to Princeton and received his law degree from Yale. After a clerkship with 3rd Circuit JudgeLeonard I. Garth, Justice Alito worked as a front-line federal prosecutor in New Jersey for four years. Under President Ronald Reagan, Justice Alitoworked in the Office of the Solicitor General, where for four years he helped formulate the administration’s positionon various issues for review by theSupreme Court.Following three-years at theDepartment of Justice as a deputy assis-tant attorney general, Justice Alito wasappointed U.S. Attorney for the Districtof New Jersey. He held that positionuntil he was appointed in 1990 by thefirst President Bush to be a judge for the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. Fromthere, he was nominated and confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Photo by Joel Strayer
U.S.Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito,his wife Martha andtheir tour escort Cadet 2nd Class Matthew Tanis admire Aurora,a white GyrFalcon,the official mascot of the Academy perched on the arm of CadetFalconer Cadet 2nd Class Sean Gorden.
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