Gone But Not Forgotten

Honoring fallen comrades is an important part of the AOG mission and we ask to be notified as soon as possible of the death of any graduate, Air Training Officer or cadet so that we can take appropriate actions. The AOG has learned of the following deaths within the past 90 days.

For best results, try searching by Last Name (e.g. Smith), Class Year (e.g. 1959), or Cadet Squadron (e.g. CS-01). More complex searches may not return desired results.

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Lt Col Richard Allain , Jr. - Class of 1970 , CS-02

Deceased on October 19, 1987

Lt Col (Ret) James Bachmann - Class of 1970 , CS-28

Deceased on February 3, 2008 - Informed on June 12, 2010

Please contact the Associtation of Graduates for condolence information. Services were held on 23 Feb 2008 at Arlington Memorial Gardens in Mt Healthy OH. Memorial contributions may be made to Fisher House, 1401 Rockville Pike Ste 600, Rockville MD 20852

Lt Col (Ret) Carl Bang , Jr. - Class of 1970 , CS-10

Deceased on May 25, 2007 - Informed on May 29, 2007

Condolences: Mrs Barbara Bang C/O Association of Graduates Memorial Services: May 31, 2007, 10:00 a.m., Holy Apostles Catholic Church, 4925 N Carefree Cir, Colorado Springs CO. Graveside services will follow at 11:30 a.m. at the USAFA.

Col (Ret) Harold Bennett , Jr. - Class of 1970 , CS-17

Deceased on December 29, 2005

Lt Col (Ret) Keith Bennett - Class of 1970 , CS-10

Deceased on November 15, 2018

2d Lt Kenneth Berg - Class of 1970 , CS-09

Deceased on June 10, 1970

Capt Steven Berta - Class of 1970 , CS-39

Deceased on July 9, 1974

Mr. Paul Bickle - Class of 1970 , CS-03

Deceased on March 15, 1998

1st Lt Michael Blassie - Class of 1970 , CS-27

Deceased on May 11, 1972

Col (Ret) Richard Bonnell , Sr. - Class of 1970 , CS-28

Deceased on April 20, 2007 - Informed on April 27, 2007

Condolences: Mrs Carole Bonnell, C/O Association of Graduates Memorial Services: April 26, 2007, 6:00 p.m., in the Peace Room at the First Baptist Church, 1401 Pat Booker Rd, Universal City TX.

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Next of Kin

For Next of Kin support resources please visit: https://www.usafanextofkin.org/

Frequently Asked Questions

Gone But Not Forgotten Annual Publication

The Air Force Academy Association and Foundation are introducing a new benefit to better memorialize USAFA graduates and support their families. We are launching a new annual memorial publication in 2025.

A: As the Academy graduate population ages, Checkpoints is increasingly insufficient in accommodating the increasing number of obituaries. This has necessitated the creation of a new publication as part of our commitment to remembering all fallen graduates, Air Training Officers and cadets.
A: The purpose of the publication is to honor and perpetuate the legacy of the Long Blue Line through the personal stories of our graduates. The publication is in the spirit of our mission to support the Academy, serve graduates and preserve the heritage of the institution.
A: Gone But Not Forgotten will be part of the final name, which is not yet finalized.
A: No, but the Association will list basic information on deaths in each issue of Checkpoints.
A: No. If/when memorial articles are sent to the AOG, the tribute is posted to this webpage.
A: A complimentary copy will be mailed to a loved one of the deceased. It is not yet determined if the printed publication will be available at a nominal cost or at no cost to AOG members.
A: There will be a one-year transition period. Memorial articles sent in to run in Checkpoints in 2024 will also appear in the inaugural memorial publication. The deadline for Gone But Not Forgotten submissions in the December 2024 issue of Checkpoints is mid-October, but any memorial articles about deaths for the remainder of 2024 received by mid-January 2025 will appear in the inaugural 2025 stand-alone publication. Then going forward, the full years’ worth of tributes would be published in the next year’s volume.
A: The first memorial publication will likely be printed in February or March of 2025.
A: We currently have a 400-word maximum for each memorial tribute and will continue with that limit for the first stand-alone publication. We’re doing this because we have already received submissions at that length and don’t plan to ask for longer versions for the 2025 edition.
A: We will transition to roughly 450- or 900-word options for memorial tributes. Whoever writes and submits the memorial article will have the option to write to either word limit.
A: A recent favorite photo of the deceased, when possible. The photo (head and shoulders, color preferred) should be emailed as a .jpg and sent as a high-resolution image.
A: Please email Next-of-Kin Support Specialist Terri Davis at deceasednotifications@usafa.org.
A: That is coming soon.
A: Please reach out to David Bitton, assistant director of strategic communications and publications, at 719-247-8745 or use our Contact Form.

Gone But Not Forgotten