The Cossack (and Others) - Continued

Image by New York Public Library via Flickr

I was really close to the members of my "flight." We had 18 people in one group that ate, slept, worked, went to class, ran and generally did everything together for three months. I can remember a few of them if I try. Mr. Utley was the upper flight Captain. We had little to do with each other, but when we did it was mostly bad. His assistant was Mr. Tabor from Oklahoma. He was the "nice cop" of the two.

The most flamboyant was the Cossack. His name was Sulik and his claim to fame was that every man in his family had fought in a war. His grandfather was a fighter pilot for the Germans in WWI, his father was an American fighter pilot in WWII and he was going to be a fighter pilot for the Americans in Viet Nam. Paul could do the kazatskis dance and shout "HEY" when doing the squat-kicks. We all liked him. I've searched for him on-line and also on the Wall, but I've never found him...

Another upperclassman was named George McIlhenny and was from Avery Island Louisiana. He claimed no connection to the Tabasco McIlhennys, but I've always wondered if he was the heir to the Tabasco fortune.

One of the upperclassmen from the room across the hall (I can't remember his name) was very painstaking in the appearance of his uniform. He not only spit-shined shoes and boots, he spit-shined his high top Converse All-Stars too! He would use a Q-tip to polish the red stripe on the welt. He became famous during his final WEDGE inspection for not wearing his name-tag. He was inebriated that morning and all of us had to help get him dressed and standing at attention for the big day. When he was asked where his name-tag was, he came to attention and said, "SIR, I memorized it and threw it away!! SIR! We all got gigs because of our laughter.

A member of our flight was known as "Soapy" because we waited until he had completely soaped up in the shower and then cut the water off. He raged around yelling in his fully sudsed skin until we later provided water for his shower. I saw his name on the Wall...