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 (Ret) Mark Fischer - Class of 1969 , CS-19

Deceased on April 19, 2021 - Informed on April 22, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on 17 Jul 2021 at 11:00 am at the St. Paul Lutheran Church; 125 C. Street; Lewistown, MT 59457 with military honors. Mark's family suggests that memorial donations be sent to St. Paul Lutheran Church in lieu of flowers. Mark's family and friends can share memories at www.creelfuneralhome.com.

2d Lt Cailin Foster - Class of 2021 , CS-13

Deceased on November 8, 2021 - Informed on November 10, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 1 Dec 2021 at 1200 hours at the USAFA Cemetery. In the event of inclement weather, the service will be moved to the Memorial Pavilion.

Mr. Cordis Foster - Class of 1995 , CS-34

Deceased on January 12, 2021 - Informed on January 28, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A memorial service was held on 28 Jan 2021 at 1630 hours at the East Side Church of Christ, Colorado Springs, CO. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Pikes Peak Hospice and Palliative Care; 2550 Tenderfoot Hill St; Colorado Springs, CO 80906. His obituary can be found online at www.allveterans.com.

Mr. Matthew Frank - Class of 2017

Deceased on August 7, 2021 - Informed on August 11, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A viewing will be held on 17 Aug 2021 from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Sylvian Funeral Home; 2750 Highway 42N; McDonough GA. There will be a private funeral mass the next day, which will be live streamed. A memorial celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The EHE Foundation; www.fightehe.org.

Mr. James Gallagher - Class of 1962 , CS-18

Deceased on March 23, 2021 - Informed on March 29, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A celebration of life will be held on 15 Apr 2021 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Starks Funeral Parlor; 3651 South 900 East; Salt Lake City, UT 84106. Photos and memories can be shared of him for his family at the following link: www.starksfuneral.com.

Mr. Craig Gilbert - Class of 1978 , CS-21

Deceased on June 16, 2021 - Informed on August 11, 2021

A funeral service will be held on 2 Sept 2021 at 1200 hours at the USAFA Cemetery.

Mr. Howard Gooden - Class of 1971 , CS-31

Deceased on November 10, 2017 - Informed on November 17, 2017

Mr. Gooden graduated from CS-31. A memorial service will be held on 18 Feb 2021 at 1000 hours at the USAFA Cemetery. In the event of inclement weather the service will be moved to the Memorial Pavilion. At his family's request his cremated remains were buried on 22 Jan 2021.

Mr. Kenneth Goodwin - Class of 1979 , CS-24

Deceased on March 30, 2021 - Informed on April 13, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A memorial service will be held on 17 Apr 2021. Visitation will begin at 1430 hours with the service immediately following at 1500 hours at the RB Golf Club and Resort; 400 Hamilton Way; Runaway Bay, TX 76426. His obituary can be found and condolences left online at https://www.hawkinsfuneralhome.com/obituary/Kenny-Goodwin. His family will welcome flowers but has also suggested that memorial donations be made in Kenny's memory to your favorite charity.

Col (Ret) Thomas Gorges - Class of 1965 , CS-08

Deceased on September 24, 2021 - Informed on September 27, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 5 Oct 2021 at 1000 hours at the USAFA Cemetery Memorial Pavilion. Burial will immediately follow. His obituary can be found at https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/kansas/name/thomas-gorges-obituary?n=thomas-gorges&pid=200229404&fhid=4381&utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ObitMessenger_Results_PowerInbox_Neustar_081320&utm_content=ObituaryURL&sfmc_id=10120574&env=1bb3e59a170d6ee57c05160300b4089f385764d2 His family has suggested that memorial Donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation (AFAAC); 2168 Seal House Dr; USAF Academy, CO 80840. Please note Falcons Football in memory of Col (Ret) Thomas Gorges. Donate online at https://falconathleticfund.com/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=ACFA690B-C6D2-467A-B716-78FB42691F32&menu_id=29FA9BD2-9425-423B-91FB-97B03B2573AD

Mr. Harry Gornto III

Deceased on November 6, 2020 - Informed on November 9, 2020

UPDATE: A funeral service will be held on 14 May 2021 at 1000 hours at the USAFA Cemetery Memorial Pavilion followed by placement in the Columbarium. The original notice is below. Funeral services will be later on a later date still to be determined, His obituary can be found at www.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made to The Air Force Enlisted Village - Hawthorn House; 92 Sunset Ln; Shalimar FL .32579; (800) 258-1413; https://give.afev.us/give/198586/#!/donation/checkout

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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