[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by RNajarian

NO PROBLEM. No apology needed.



I posted the story below a year ago about General Olds in this thread (post # 2919.) It’s a great story that deserves repeating.


My previous commander Col Daniel “Scro” Skottie entered the Air Force Academy in 1967 just when General Olds had taken the position of Commandant of Cadets at the Air Force Academy. He held that title from 1967 to 1971 prior to his 1973 retirement.

Colonel Skottie had gotten to know General Olds pretty well during his time at the Academy. He had several great stories about General Olds during his time at the USAFA.

This was my favorite,

In fall of 1970 when Colonel Skottie was in his final year of school a group of around 100 cadets were assembled in front of the building where General Olds’ office was. It was a little after 8:00 am and the General was just getting in for the day.

As the General entered the building an anonymous random cadet LOUDLY yelled out “F**k you General!” for all to hear.

The General heard the insult.

He promptly went into his office and put the ENTIRE campus on lock down. Every one of the 4000 cadets were restricted to their quarters until further notice. ALL classes and activities on the entire campus were cancelled and no one was to enter or leave the Academy until the cadet responsible for the insult reported to the General in his office. As you can imagine this caused quite a disruption at the academy and the offending cadet was looking at an expulsion from the school.

The General gave his secretary specific orders on how the cadet who hurled the insult to him was to report.

For those who don’t know the typical reporting procedures are;

1) Knock once on the office door and wait for further instructions.
2) If no answer after 30 seconds knock again.
3) When the officer acknowledges you (typically s/he will say “Enter”) Enter the office and march at attention to the individual’s desk.
4) Take the most direct route in and use the appropriate facing movements
5) Position yourself approximately two paces from and centered on the desk
6) After you halt at the position of attention, you will salute and give a reporting statement, “Sir or Ma’am, Airman/Cadet (person’s last name) reporting as ordered.”

The General told his secretary to tell the cadet NOT to use his name but to say in step 6, “Sir, (Name omitted) reporting as ordered.”

The General went into his office and waited . . .

An hour and a half later there was a knock on the General’s door. The General’s office had a large picture window with a great view of the campus. His desk was placed right in front of the window in the center of the room. The General did not immediately respond to the first knock.

30 seconds later the offending cadet knocked again. This time a bellowing “ENTER” could be heard.

The cadet reported to the General with the modified reporting instructions.

“General, Cadet reporting as ordered.”

The General was seated at his desk with his high back leather office chair facing the picture window. His back was to the door and could not see the cadet as he looked out the window. General Olds was smoking a cigarette and had his phone on a side table.

The cadet stood at attention at the front of General Olds’ desk holding his salute waiting for a response from the General.

With his back still to the cadet General Olds picked up his phone, called his secretary and gave the order “All Clear.” Ending the campus wide lockdown and returning everything to normal.

The General, still seated in his chair and facing the window, raised his right hand over his high back office chair giving “the bird” to the saluting cadet and said “F**k YOU, get to class. Dismissed.”

The cadet left General Olds’ office. The General never knew who the disrespectful cadet was.

Colonel Skottie heard this story directly from General Olds’ secretary who he was friends with. He explained that General Olds felt it was necessary for the cadet to take responsibility for his actions but did not want this event to end his career.

Years after graduating Colonel Skottie ran into General Olds at a USAFA function. He was amazed that after 33 years General Olds still remembered him. The General mentioned he was working on a book (Fighter Pilot) which you showed in your post.

He was the last of the red hot fighter pilots.

That is absolutely fantastic!!! I actually laughed when I read that account in the book. What an absolutly amazing man and one hell of a career. A true legend.
[emoji631]


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