SOLDIERS REACT TO ‘ROAD TO RECOVERY’
I read “A Long Road to Recovery” (Summer 2007) about U.S. Marine Lt. Brent Filson ’03 with great interest. I served as an F-16 pilot in southern Turkey for Operation Northern Watch in 2001. During that deployment, I was forced to eject from my F-16 after my engine failed approximately 60 kilometers from the Iraqi border north of Syria. My ejection seat had a parachute so I “gently” fell to earth. I was picked up by U.S. helicopters after an hour of anxiousness in a portion of Turkey known to be unfriendly to Americans.
In fall 2002, I served at Al Jabar Air Force Base in Kuwait and performed multiple attacks on Iraq in response to Iraqi attacks on coalition aircraft. In February 2006, I served as a presidential advanced agent for Air Force Two at Bagram Air Force Base in Kabul, Afghanistan. I worked in support of Vice President Dick Cheney’s visit, during which a suicide bomber attacked with intent to harm the vice president and killed a service member.
Regardless of one’s thoughts on current U.S. foreign policy, it is imperative that stories of military sacrifices be told. There is a hidden force of individuals serving in places like Korea, the Balkans and the Far East; and I know some are Union alumni. They too make big sacrifices.
Mike Nelson ’97
Mike is a major in the U.S. Air Force and an F-16 instructor pilot.
I received Union College magazine in a care package from home. Thank you for the article about Lt. Filson. I am serving in Kabul with the International Security Assistance Force as the physician in charge of a medical team. We treat soldiers, aid workers and delegates from the 37 nations. We also treat local needs help.
Dr. Eric Kujawski ’97
Eric is a U.S. Navy lieutenant and medical officer. In August he earned a Commander’s Commendation for treating and transporting a wounded soldier.
Improvised Explosive Devices were difficult to detect. Insurgents hid the devices anywhere, from the carcasses of dead animals to near-perfect casts of roadside curbs. If you saw an IED, your convoy was on top of it by the time you realized what it was. In my two tours, I passed three recognizable IEDs and, fortunately, none was initiated.
In the story, Lt. Filson said, “I have much more respect for Vietnam veterans now. They had nowhere near the same medical care and had a diff erent welcome home.” I agree. Without the support from the people of our great country, the job of the American soldier would be nearly impossible.
Ronald Rushneck ’01
Ronald is a U.S. Army engineering battalion captain on ready reserve status. He served near Baghdad from April 2003 to April 2004 and in 2005.
ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
I congratulate the 1971-72 men’s basketball team and Coach Gary Walters for being inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame (“Seven to be Inducted into Hall of Fame,” Summer 2007). However, I think you need to note that the team was recruited by Coach Chris Schmid.
Chris retired from coaching in 1970, but he never retired from Union. Chris lives near Schenectady and is a tireless College supporter. I was fortunate to play football for coach Schmid and still visit with him and his wife during their winter visits to Florida.
Waldo K. “Skip” Lynch ’70
Skip lives in Palm Harbor, Fla.
The Hall of Fame article failed to mention how much Bob Ridings cared for female athletes struggling for equality in the mid-1970s under the relatively new Title IX. Bob was quick to repair my glove when I needed it for a softball game. When the softball team was playing in cold weather one spring, Bob supplied us with old wool baseball uniforms since our uniforms were nothing more than really short shorts, short sleeve shirts and socks.
But what I remember about Bob was his smile and charm. I also remember that little bead of spit that was always hanging from his pipe.
Gwen Young Sachnoff ’78
Gwen lives in Oceanside, N.Y.