Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2007 19:04:31 +0000

It began as it ended; the hospitality suite at the Silverwood Hotel. Most arrived in town Friday and stopped by to have a drink or two; or three. And pizza. And renew old acquaintances. And start the war stories. But it was a relatively early evening because the next day started early. A lot of people heading to the Air Force Academy!

When one approached the Cadet Chapel on Saturday morning, the first thing encountered was an honor guard of some 50 Patriot Guards lined up across the piazza leading to the Chapel steps. These are the men and women that voluntarily provide an honor guard at the funerals of all veterans. And they are the ones who showed up at the funerals of those killed in Iraq and placed themselves between the fallen comrades families and the liberal protesters who came to disrupt those solemn services.

After passing through those fine Americans, one then walked up the Chapel steps under the swords of the Cadet Honor Guard.

At the appointed hour, the family of Robin Olds and a party of close compatriots formed up under the honor guards. Then six NCOs of the Air Force Academy Honor Guard marched to the vehicle, which was at the ready, and, with slow military precision, removed the urn that contained Robin’s ashes. The urn; a large, beautiful object hand-built by one of Robins daughters, with an eagle atop, wings spread!

The Honor Guard, with the urn in hand, led the procession into the Chapel and up to the alter, where the urn was placed alongside a folded American flag and a large picture of Robin. All this while the choir sang: Lord guard and guide the men who fly.

The remainder of the alter was adorned with flowers, one with the River Rats plaque embedded in it. And more pictures of Robin! Great pictures!

The Memorial began with the presentation of the colors! Then the National Anthem! The posting of the colors! Opening words by the Chaplain!

And then the words of remembrance!

First, Robin's daughter, Susan led off the remembrances with stories of being a teenager, living at the Academy while Robin was Commandant of Cadets for 3 years. And then she read a poem she has written last March while visiting her Papa, believing he was on his deathbed.

And the tears began to flow.

If they hadn't already started!

Then General Ralph Ed Eberhart approached the alter, saluted Robin's urn and then began to tell of his experiences with Robin. Ed was the Cadet Wing Commander the year when Robin became Commandant. He told of the famous incident of Robin's first meeting with the Cadet Corps. Robin had previously removed his handlebar mustache, his trademark as leader of the "Wolf Pack", at the direction of the Air Force Chief of Staff. At the end of Robin's speech, 4000 cadets, with Ed Eberhart out in front, whipped out and donned handlebar mustaches and began stomping and shouting, Olds, Olds, OLDS !!! Robin rose to his full height, jaws clenched eyes blazing - then extended his long middle finger and flipped them all a big sweeping bird - with a huge grin on his face.

Then it was JB Stone's turn; The approach to the alter, the salute to Robin's urn; then more remembrances!

JB told of the first time he met Col. Olds, who as the new Wing Commander of the 8th TFW, called a meeting of all the pilots. At the time JB had about 60 or 70 missions North, had an engine shot out from under him and several bullet holes here and there on some pretty hairy missions. Robin told the pilots, "I'm your new boss. I'll be flying your wing for a couple of weeks and at the end of that time, I'll be better than any of you." JB muttered under his breath, "We'll see." Unfortunately, it came out a little louder than JB intended. Robin heard it, immediately fixed on JB with those steely eyes, and repeated his statement forcefully again. And, as JB noted, Robin did exactly as he had said he would.

Next, BGen Bob "Earthquake" Titus! Another salute to our hero's urn and then more words that captured the life of Robin Olds. Earthquake spoke of how Robin transformed the 8th Wing into the Wolf Pack. He told of a Wolf Pack pilot who, while gleefully celebrating a successful mission, proceeded to rearrange or destroy some of the O'Club furnishings. He was ordered to report to Col. Olds office at 0800 hours. He was there promptly. Robin, however, was dreading the chewing out he was going to have to administer for an act that he himself had been guilty of many times. He stalled for som e 15 minutes, then braced himself, put on his sternest visage and entered his office, where he found the pilot standing at attention. The pilot saluted smartly and, before Robin could speak, said to Robin: "Sir, you're late." That cracked Robin up. The damage to the Club got paid somehow. And another tale was added to the lore of Robin Olds.

And Earthquake told of other of the many experiences the two had in their long and illustrious careers together. And in the end, with a choking voice, Earthquake said goodbye to the best friend he's ever had.

Capt Jack McEncroe, USMC Fighter Pilot, was next to salute and proceed to the lectern. He told of his close friendship with Robin living in Steamboat Springs. 30 years of watching Robin's God-awful back swing on the golf course, 30 years of skiing through the trees in fresh powder up to their knees, 30 years of listening to Robin telling the Cross-Eyed Bull story! And more words that captured the spirit of Robin Olds!

Next, Verne Lundquist, Hall of Fame Sportscaster tried to demonstrate Robin's back-swing, which featured a couple of contorted pauses on the way up, then a mighty downswing. Vern recalled one occasion playing golf with Robin when they came to a par 3. Robin's tee shot carried the green, bounced a couple of times and went into the cup. Vern, all excited, shouted "You just got a hole in one! It went into the cup. To which Robin calmly replied: "Well, that's the point, isn't it?"

When Robin was selected for induction into the College football Hall of Fame as an All American on offense and defense at West Point, he asked Verne, "Is this a big deal? Do I have to go?" Verne told him Yes, and he went and made a gracious acceptance speech.

On another occasion Vern and Robin found themselves in the Tugboat late one night and started getting harassed by a rather drunk, obnoxious guy who wanted to pick a fight with Robin. Robin stood up, squared his shoulders and said, "I've killed more people than you will ever know, for less reason than you are giving me right now! So sit down and SHUT UP!"

Verne told of another experience with Robin. They were touring Germany and stopped at a tavern where there were some pictures of Luftwaffe aircraft on the wall. When they asked the proprietor about them he said he had been a pilot, but had been shot down. He and Robin started comparing notes on location, time of day, cloud formation, tactics, etc., and after several drinks they were convinced that, indeed, it was Robin who had shot him down. A few months later, Verne and Robin were watching some of Robin's gun camera film being shown on TV and Robin suddenly jumped up and exclaimed, "That's the GUY!" And Verne noted, "If it's not true, it should be."

Then, interspersed between tears and laughter, all joined in and sang "God Bless America".

And the tears continued to flow.

Then Christina, Robin's daughter, came to the lectern. She spoke of her father and their interactions and special times together, especially in those last months that she spent with him in Steamboat Springs.

And finally, Robin's granddaughter Jennifer told of her grandfather helping her, as a young child, set out a bowl of salad to feed Santa's reindeer. Sure enough, the next morning the salad was gone and reindeer tracks were in the snow all over the porch. A long time later, she came across some wooden reindeer feet that Robin had carved to make those tracks.

And then Jen talked of her vision of how her Grandfather must be now, soaring up in the sky among the clouds. And in unison with her last words, the choir, joined by all present burst into "Off we go, into the wild blue yonder".

And it was over! All exited, down the Chapel steps under the swords again. And on to the cemetery!

More words by the Chaplain! Colors posted! Robin's 1 star flag retired! The 21-gun salute! An American flag unfurled over the urn and then refolded and presented by the Superintendent of the Air Force Academy to Susan. And a 2nd flag presented to Jennifer. And then the last flag presented to Christina? No! It went to JB. It had to be one emotional moment for him.

And then the flybys!

First a T-33, representing the F-80 Robin flew as part of the first all-jet acro team. Piloted by an infamous Barstooler, Big Dog Cary, with Waldo King, Aspenosium 1st year guest, in his back seat. As they passed over the gravesite, climbed out and executed a beautiful aileron roll, a 2nd T-33 passed over. And then a P-51, with those pistons putting out that sound that made you feel like you're back in Europe, 1944. And then a Mig-17, an aircraft which accounted for two of Robin's kills in Viet Nam. And then a 4-ship of F-16s from the Colorado Air National Guard!

And then the finale! A 4-ship of F-4s, with ET Murphy in the lead, appears on the horizon, heading straight for the crowd. Perfectly executed at precisely the right moment, ET, as lead, pulls up and executes the missing man formation just in front of the gathering. And as the remaining three pass over the throngs, ET climbs straight up into the sun directly over the gravesite. The best missing man formation this old fighter pilot has ever witnessed! And yes, LEAD did the pull. It was discussed and decided on based on the leadership role Robin always played and, it was asked: "What would Robin do?" Maybe something rebellious? Not the norm? It couldn't have been better!

Then it was time to pass by the urn to say goodbye to him. And toss a nickel on the grass by his ashes. (For those that did so, the nickels were later deposited in the vault with Robin's ashes to remain with him into eternity.)

And the formal proceedings came to an end.

Now it was time to do what Robin did best- PARTY!

Back to the hotel for a LARGE reception! Pictures, banners, including Aspenosium, the Rats and the Barstoolers! flowers! Lots of food and many, many bars! T-Bone MCd, as Dick Jonas sang "Throw a nickel on the grass.. and all the other fighter pilot songs we've grown to know and love. And interspersed with that, Suzan showed many old photos of Robin and his family and described to the crowd each piece of Robin's history that Kodak had captured. And the party went on and on.

And when it wound down, it was time to return to the place where it all started-the hospitality suite.

The keg was drained. All the other beer was drunk, as was all the wine. And the whiskey.

Flowed from telegraph poles!

And bottles were emptied! Every bottle! Multiple restocking runs were made to keep it all flowing. And it did. Long into the night!

And fighter pilots serenaded Jennifer out by the pool with "The Balls of O'Leary".

And those dreaded words were heard to shout (paraphrased) "Deceased Insect". And bodies hit the floor. Glasses flying, bar stools flying! And we were all young again.

In the end, long after this old fighter pilot hung it up, none other than Fred Olds, Robin's brother closed the bar for the night.

It was quite a party. Fitting for the likes of Robin Olds. And you know he was up there looking down, laughing and saying: "Now that's the way to go out!"

And so it was. If you were there and wish to expound on this, please do so. If you were not there, you missed one hell of a party. I hope this gives you an idea of how it all went.

The Academy videotaped much of the Memorial and cemetery proceedings, which will be available eventually. I'll pass that on when known. But, in the meantime, I hope this goes a little way in letting you know how the party went.

Cheers,

Sluggo