Things Were Very Different Back Then

In 1977, I was an 8th grade student at Patrick Henry Junior High School in Sioux Falls, SD. Occasionally, I would bring my camera to school with me, and if I got lucky, I would get a classic shot of my friends, kind of like this one:

Don, Bryan, Bob and Bruce

Oddly enough, we were part of the popular in-crowd. Today, we'd probably be shunned by our peers, and committed by the authorities.

Bob getting choked by David

San Antonio: Misc. Photos

One of the stops we made on our trip was to the Alamo. It was smaller than I expected, but it was very cool:

 

The Alamo

Who needs Daniel Boone when you got Don and Dave?

Uh oh, that pink pistol looks very formidable

While shopping at the base PX, we met Sergeant Rambo, a very well trained three legged dog:

Sergeant Rambo

Some of my best photos were of Kyle and Sara. They make a great couple, don't you think?

Sara and Kyle

San Antonio: Graduation

I didn't think it got very cold in Southern Texas, but I learned differently on the day Kyle graduated. Temps were in the low 30's, and with the wind, we experienced wind chills in the mid 20's. It was cold!

Team Gibson on their way to the graduation ceremony

 

A selfie of Team Gibson freezing, but still smiling

320 TRS Flight 111

Flight 111 passes by the grandstands

Karen, Kyle and Don

San Antonio: Touring the Parade Grounds

The day before Kyles' graduation, we took a walk around the parade grounds, which had many planes lining its border:

San Antonio: Coin Ceremony

Following the Airmen's Run, we watched as Kyle and the rest of his flight received the Airman's Coin:

Kyle's flight marches into position

Attention!

Distributing the coins

Lots of graduates

Salute!

Following the coin ceremony, the spectators were allowed to approach their airman:

Kyle and Sara reunited

Sara is holding on tight

Karen, Kyle and Don

David, Kyle and Michele

Kyle's Airman Coin

Sara and Kyle

It was great to finally talk to Kyle after 2 months.

Next up, we tour the graduation grounds with Kyle, and as one would expect, I took lots of pictures. Stay tuned...