by Rebecca Ernst LangeRemember the students walking around in a military uniform on Thursdays? They marched on Balch Courtyard regardless of the weather; they sat beside you in calculus, ate lunch with you in the UMC and lived in your freshman dorm. Ever wonder what happened to them? In this edition of “CU Voices,” I am honored to highlight my fellow alums who now wear the Air Force blue. The “voices” of CU’s military alumni can be heard around the world. They’ve traveled to each continent and participated in every military and humanitarian operation you see on television, plus many more that never make the news. Our voices call in air strikes to save troops under enemy fire, request blood transfusions for wounded warriors and teach Iraqis how to fly aircraft, building a foundation for that country’s air force. These same voices comfort families of the fallen, reassure injured Airmen and reminisce with veterans who have gone before us. On Dec. 30, 2007, the voice of Air Force Captain Ben Donberg (Aero, M’03), shown with the “CU Strike Eagle, ” provided reassurance to British troops under fire in southern Afghanistan. His F-15E fighter jet dropped 500-pound laser guided bombs on enemy positions. The voice on the other end requesting that airpower? None other than Prince Harry, Britain’s third in line to the throne. Trained to speak Turkish, Arabic and French, another fellow alum (unnamed due to security reasons) uses his voice to conduct counterintelligence operations and criminal investigations overseas. Often deployed throughout the Middle East and Africa, the Air Force relies heavily on his skills to communicate with foreign dignitaries and foster international relationships. Captain Nadja (Frank) Turek (CivEngr’00) uses her voice to teach graduate level civil engineering courses at the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio. Her graduates become leaders in the Air Force and ensure we remain at the tip of the spear in research and development. Another alum in the engineering field, Captain Kristina Selstrom (CivEngr’99), maintains and executes the infrastructure plan for 50,000-plus coalition forces at Baghdad International Airport and also assesses facilities and creates plans for future development in the area. These CU alums learned their trade in the same classroom as you. On graduation day, hours after receiving their degree, they raised their right hand and took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, which includes every citizen’s right to free speech. Regardless of your political views or opinions on current events, you must know how proud we AFROTC alums are of our Boulder roots. Just like you, we CU-Boulder boasts one of the largest and most successful Air Force ROTC detachments in the country. We’re a family, bonded by early morning physical training sessions, delicately balancing our military commitment with academics, jobs and enjoying Boulder.We were patriotic before patriotism was cool and, at a young age, committed our lives to the freedom of this great nation. Our crew cuts may seem to be at odds with dreadlocks, but believe me, we pride ourselves on having attended a university that demands and thrives on diverse opinions, passions and goals, and we take those lessons with us as we represent our nation around the globe. You will never hear these voices ask for anything in return. You will never hear them fade or run from any challenge, adversity or enemy. With our Marine, Army and Navy brethren around the world, rest assured the sun never sets on a Colorado Buffalo in uniform!
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reminisce when listening to Dave Matthews, we dream about lying in the grass and staring at the Flatirons and we feel the adrenaline rush when we hear the CU Fight Song.
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Well done! Thank you for this coverage of the men and women who can only be commended for their honor, skills, courage, commitment to duty and care.
Nick? From Camp LeJeune, NC/Falls Church, VA?
Amazinging written! So very, very proud of all of you! Mum
Great article! I love the photo of the “Cu Strike Eagle”–fantastic! GO BUFFS, and Aim High!
Well written and a nice tribute. My AFROTC Class of 1964 produced some teriffic officers for the Viet Nam conflict. Great that Det 105 is keeping up the good work.
Well done to the current crop of CU USAF officers! Mike Carter, Det 105 cadet vice commander, class of ’81.
It’s nice to see a positive article concerning Colorado’s ROTC Program and its impact on the implentation of US Foreign Policy. Thanks!
Thank you ALL for your service. Please know the vast majority of your fellow alumni appreciate and support you and your commitment to keep our country safe. You and your fellow soldiers are in our thoughts and prayers every night. Thanks again.
I am a Class of 1957 Aero E. alum, and wore the Air Force uniform as a member of the ROTC. I was commisioned a 2/Lt., USAF at graduation, subsequently went through pilot training in 1958, and served in Viet Nam in 1963 and again in 1968 as a ground attack pilot. I retired from active duty in 1984, and am proud to belong to the group of CU alums that have served their country so well. Really nice article, thanks for the reconition. For the current crop of active duty folks, you are doing a fantastic job in a tough environment. Keep up the service tradition proudly, and FLY SAFE!
Wow! – it’s great to see this feature story coming from a CU source! I’m proud to be associated with you all as a CU alum and military vet! I was schooled in Army service in Vietnam in the 60s, between two academic tours in Boulder. A salute to you all!
Sir, thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. We have large group of alumni that gather every two years for a CU-ROTC reunion and regularly stay in contact via a dedicated website. Please contact me at rollcall@colorado.edu to be added to our distro list! Thanks for your dedicated service to this great nation. Sincerely, Rebecca Lange (author)
What a great article and tribute to our Air Force.
Just for everyone’s information Rebecca does a wonderful job serving her country in the Middle East. She has the daunting challege of interacting with 17+ NATO and future NATO counties on a daily basis. She represents our country with the utmost professionalism, integrity and a maturity well beyond her years. I am proud to be able to watch her make our military and the NATO Alliance a better place for all who serve!
Deborah McFann spouse of Lt Gen Lee McFann, USAF
Deborah – I have a story that I would like to share with you and Lee regarding his guest speaking stint at the FORSCOM Commander’s Conference in 2005. Can you please contact me at this email address… heat.zerosix@yahoo.com ? Thank you, CW4 Rik Cox
Outstanding! Thanks from one of many in the Class of ’86!