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.
Ms.
Shelly
Allen
- Class of 1986, CS-15
Deceased on July 27, 2019 - Informed on July 5, 2019
Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A Celebration of Life will be held on 27 Jul 2019 at 1700 hours at the Next Level Church; 4317 Stevens Mill Rd; Matthews, NC 28104. Her family has suggested that memorial donations be made to the International Cancer Advocacy Network (ICAN); 27 W Morten Ave; Phoenix, AZ 85021-7246; (602) 861-9642; www.askican.org. Her obituary may be found at www.legacy.com or at www.everhere.com.
Mr.
Jesse
Ashe
III
- Class of 1986, CS-13
Deceased on October 16, 2019 - Informed on October 23, 2019
No further information is available.
Capt
John
Augustine
- Class of 1986, CS-36
Deceased on January 14, 1991
Dr.
Paul
Benson
- Class of 1986, CS-16
Deceased on January 29, 2008 - Informed on February 4, 2008
Condolences: Mrs Kathleen Benson C/O Association of Graduates. Memorial Services: A memorial service was held on 3 Feb 08 at Plummers, Merrill & Teague in Auburn ME. A funeral Mass will be held 4 Feb 08 at the Sacred Heart Church 8 Sacred Heart Pl, Auburn ME at 1100 hours. Memorial Donations: Auburn Youth Hockey, PO Box 1505 Auburn ME 04210-1505 or Lewiston Area Youth Hockey, PO Box 7243 Lewiston ME 04243-7243.
Mr.
Gregory
Brooks
- Class of 1986, CS-04
Deceased on September 1, 2009 - Informed on September 9, 2009
Please contact the AOG for condolence information Memorial Service: 5 Sept 2009 at 1130 hrs at Little Rock First Baptist Church, Little Rock AR. Burial: Pinecrest Memorial Park, AR Memorial contributions to the Grace Church Feeding the Homeless Under the Bridge Program; 12900 Cantrell Rd; Little Rock AR 72223
Mr.
Brian
Bullard
- Class of 1986
Deceased on November 28, 1983 - Informed on November 28, 1983
Maj
John
Buratowski
- Class of 1986, CS-03
Deceased on May 30, 2001
Mr.
Michael
Burklund
- Class of 1986, CS-27
Deceased on October 3, 2010 - Informed on October 8, 2010
Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Memorial Service: 11 Oct 2010 from 1400 hrs to 2100 hrs at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 404 E. Liberty, Milford, MI, 48381. Funeral Services: 12 Oct 2010 at 1100 hrs at the Milford Presbyterian Church, 238 N. Main St., Milford, MI 48381 Memorial Donations: The United States Air Force Academy Alumni Association,The Association of Graduates, 3116 Academy Dr., USAFA, CO 80840 or a charity of your choice.
Mr.
James
Byerly
- Class of 1986, CS-36
Deceased on February 4, 2014 - Informed on February 5, 2014
Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Services were held at New Castle ANG Base on 7 Feb 2014.
Mr.
Warren
Dennis
- Class of 1986, CS-34
Deceased on January 26, 1994
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 with 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.
