USAF OCS 62-A Website

 
   United States Air Force OCS Class 62-A
 


- - -       USAF OCS CLASS 62-A WELCOMES YOU TO OUR WEB SITE.   *  *  *     UPDATES WILL CONTINUE TO BE MADE AS THEY ARE RECEIVED.   -  -  -   WE ENCOURAGE ALL CLASS MEMBERS TO SUBMIT INFORMATION AND PICTURES FOR THE SITE   -  -  -   CHECK BACK FREQUENTLY FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND NEWS    - - *  * - -   
  

  

There are individual pages that can be accessed by clicking on the names in the roster pages or squadron pages. Both these areas are password protected.  Individuals must provide their biographical information and photos to the webmeister (currently Milt Birmingham) to be posted to the website.   

 

Bulletin Board




 

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Donald Edward Backer, 85, of Bandera, Texas passed away peacefully at home on January 19, 2022 and now resides with God in Heaven. Visitation will be held at Holt & Holt Funeral Home in Boerne on Friday, January 28th from 5 to 7 pm, with a graveside service to follow on Saturday, January 29th at 11 am at Sisterdale Cemetery. A gathering will be held afterward at the Sisterdale Saloon for anyone who would like to come.

Don was born on August 9,1936 to Donald Raymond Backer and Polly Claypool Backer in Waverly, New York. He was affectionately called Papa by his family, as he was one of the most loving, gentle, and generous of men. He loved his family deeply, and greatly missed his wife Diana when she went to heaven in 2017. One of his favorite things to do was to joke with his grandchildren and rumble on the floor with them. Don was naturally smart and talented. He attended Cornell University in the College of Agriculture and later completed his degree in Liberal Arts at The University of Maryland. He completed college while raising his family and during his military career. He had a myriad of experiences in life such as growing up in a small town, living on a farm, owning businesses and traveling extensively which shaped and molded his strong character and intelligence. He quietly helped many people along the way.

Don joined the Air Force in 1956 and rose to the rank of Major, retiring after 20 years of service. He married Diana Nagel in August of 1957. While in the military he was stationed in Texas, New York, Germany, and Vietnam. He was awarded Distinguished Graduate of Officer Candidate School and was selected as Outstanding Junior Officer in Germany. While flying in Europe, he received the Air Medal Six leaf Cluster and while deployed in Vietnam, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal. After military retirement, Don became a banker, taught banking and finance courses at San Antonio College for many years, and worked for the FDIC. When Don and Diane lived in Boerne, he was heavily involved in The Boerne Lions Club and was a past District Governor of the Lions Club managing the South Texas region.

Don is survived by his daughter, Denise Barlow and her husband Stephen Barlow of Bandera; his son, Donald Backer and his wife Carole Backer of The Woodlands, Texas; and his son, Doug Backer and his wife Harla Backer, also of Bandera.

Don is also survived by ten grandchildren; Jonathon Barlow (wife Megan Barlow), Marie Voigt (husband Michael Voigt), Matthew Barlow, Sarah Backer, Kaitlyn Backer, Lauren Backer, Ashleigh Thompson (husband Martin Thompson), Brittany Backer, Courtney Backer (and Isaac Rodriguez) and Dallas Backer.

Don was also blessed with eight great-grandchildren; Teagan Barlow, Evie Barlow, Eliana Voigt, George Thompson, Tilden Thompson, Abigail Gonzales, Magnolia Douglass-Backer, and Baylor Rodriguez.

He has one surviving brother, Peter Backer and his wife Cindy Backer of Pine City, New York and one surviving brother-in-law, Ed Carpenter of Sayre, Pennsylvania.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Diana Backer; his parents, Donald Raymond and Polly Backer; and his sisters, Debbie Backer and Linda Carpenter.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the caregivers who cared for Papa over the past several years; Harla Backer, Rebecca Northcutt of Kerrville, Texas, the staff at the Kerrville VA Medical Center, Debbie, Darlene and Margaret, Rachel from Tri County and Jessica Meyners. Thank you all for your loving care.

In lieu of floral remembrances, the family suggests that donations can be made to the Arthur Nagel Community Clinic, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association or your local Lions Club to honor Don’s memory. Arrangements are under the care and direction of the staff of Holt & Holt Funeral Home of Boerne.

To share words of comfort with the family, please visit www.holtfh.com.

To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Donald Edward Backer, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.

 

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Dear Friends/Classmates - Ed Waterhouse died January 9, 2022 at the home of his daughter while in hospice. That day, his wife and three children were with him and his death was very peaceful. Dad did not communicate much with his friends over the last several months … he did not like talking about his illness… but he treasured his friendships. Our family is grateful for the cheery messages that were sent to him. There will not be a service or formal memorial as this was his wish.

When the information is available, we will add the obituary of our deceased members to this bulletin board. After one month, the obituary will be moved to the personal page where photos and bio's are kept.

If you have an obituary you want to add, you may send it to my snail mail address:

      Milton Birmingham
      5021 Birch Hollow Ln.
      Fort Worth, TX 76132 		OR Click HERE to forward by
attachment to email.


An article from the April 2010
issue of Air Force Magazine
tells about the battlefield
commissioning of our Honorary Classmate, Art Cormier and two
other enlisted POW's while
they were in Vietnam.

 Click HERE

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Check this link out!
 Veterans in Blue
 Click HERE

John Lewis on
"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness"
(under 2 minutes)
 CLICK HERE



A short video in memory
of those who gave
their all for liberty.
Click HERE


On April 2, 1961, a group of young men came together at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas for the purpose of attending Officer Candidate School. This group of approximately 156 men would undergo intense training over the next six months. This training would consist of academic, physical and military disciplines. There would be 825 academic hours and 726 nonacademic hours. It has been estimated that the academic portion of this six-month training is equivalent to two years of Junior College. At the end of the day on Sept. 22, 1961, only 114 would have survived the test and graduate to receive commissions as Second Lieutenants in the United States Air Force. These 114 Second Lieutenants would be forever known as OCS Class 62A.

These Web Pages are dedicated to those 114 graduates of Officer Candidate School, Class 62A. These men would be dispersed throughout the United States Air Force all over the world. They would proudly serve and lead many and varied Air Force Units. The members of 62A were among some of the most dedicated, qualified and highly motivated officers to serve their country.

This six months' training in 1961 not only produced a very high quality Air Force Officer, but also instilled camaraderie among this group of men that would last a lifetime. This is evidenced by the comments of the individuals included in these pages after more than 41 years have passed.

The purpose of this Web Site is to collect and preserve all information, both oral and written that pertains to the members of the United States Air Force, Officer Candidate School, Class 62A. Although the focus is on Class 62A, participation of other OCS Classes is welcomed.

It is hoped that these pages will reflect the dedication and spirit of a very small group of elite men who with distinction, and personal sacrifice, served their country, in peace and war, to the utmost in military standards and traditions. We trust that when future generations read these pages they will be able to relate that because of men and women like those in 62A, we enjoy the most "FREEDOM" on earth.