Clark H. Allison

NO. 17858  •  24 September 1927 – 8 April 1981

Died in Sacramento, CA
Interred in West Point Cemetery, West Point, NY

 

COMING FROM a military family, Clark Hickmott Allison’s desire to attend West Point was not surprising. A true son of the “golden west”, Clark was born in Oakland, CA. With Clark’s open and sunny disposition, it was not unusual that he made many friends at USMA. He was a member of the Water Polo Club and was on the swim team all four years, earning a Major “A” and Navy Star. As the ’50 Howitzer noted, “At present, he holds the record for hours spent in the varsity tank.” The steadfastness and drive that Clark displayed as a Cadet would be evidenced in his professional and personal life.

Upon graduation, Clark was commissioned in the Air Force and assigned to the Air Training Command, initially as a student pilot at a base in Waco, TX. His dream of becoming an Air Force pilot was not to be realized, though. He began a flying and command and staff operational career as a navigator, bombardier, and radar operator in conventional bombers, multi-engine jet bombers, and jet fighters.

In the autumn of 1950, Clark began training as an aerial navagator at Ellington AFB, Houston, TX. He completed radar and bombardier training at Mather AFB, Sacramento, CA, in March 1952, earning his wings as an aerial observer.  This was a new rating that reflected what had been three separate aeronautical ratings of navigator, bombardier, and radar operator. Clark married Susan Grether, from Berkeley, CA. Their loving partnership grew to include four daughters – Patricia, Susann, Virginia, and Jacqueline.

Clark was assigned as a B-29 radar operator with the 44th Bombardment Wing, Strategic Air Command, based at Lake Charles, LA. In the summer of 1953, Clark’s unit transitioned to a new bomber, the six-jet engine B-47 Stratofortress, the mainstay for the SAC at that time. It had a crew of three: pilot, co-pilot, and aerial observer, the porition Clark occupied. He encompassed bombing and navigational duties, as well as the monitoring and control of the nuclear weapon the B-47 was designed to carry, at intercontinental ranges, with aerial refueling.

Clark’s tour with SAC was curtailed in April 1946, when he was assigned as a navigation instructor at USAFA. Clark, along with other USMA Classmates, contributed immeasurably to the successful initiation of the new Air Force Academy. Clark’s tour at USAFA ended in 1960 with a two-year assignment with his family to the 84th Bombardment Squadron (jet) as a B-66 crew member based at Sculthorpe Royal AF Station, England.

His achievements with the squadron earned him two Air Medals. In 1962, the Allison family’s European tour was extended by another two years with Clark’s assignment as a staff officer with the 7407th Support Squadron based at Rhein Main Air Base in West Germany. That assignment was followed in 1964 by selection to the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, VA, where he graduated in January 1965, along with several other classmates. His new duty station was with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, based at George AFB, Victorville, CA, flying as the backseat observer of the two-man F-4 fighter-bomber crew. Clark’s growing skill and knowledge in the aerial observer field, particularly in all-weather bombing and navigation, were being put to use in more combat jets. Clark’s stay at George AFB lasted only  a month with the wing’s deployment to the Royal Thai Air Base at Ubon, Thailand. Both as a crew member and operations staff officer, he flew 40 aerial combat missions over North Viet Nam, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, four more Air Medals, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Clark’s staff position was as the Director of Intelligence. The 8th TFW was then the largest wing in that sector of operations, and the staff assignment was an extraordinarily demanding one for Clark. The 8th TFW conducted around-the-clock fighter and support aircraft combat operations over North Vietnam and Laos, operating from two main bases. The Intelligence Sections provided critical support for mission planning, post-mission aircrew briefing and debriefing, and timely post-strike reporting to higher headquarters. That endless activity was under Clark’s direct supervision. His outstanding leadership qualities were legendary among the aircrews, whose very lives depended on the intelligence products produced by the people Clark supervised.

In September 1966, Clark rejoined his family stateside at Bergstrom AFB with assignment to an RF-4 wing. That assignment was curtailed in 1967, by a new assignment as a fighter operations officer with the Tactical Air Command Headquarters at Langley AFB, VA – another example where Clark’s unique talents and experience were recognized and put to use. A quotation from the Class of ’50 20-Year Book, in Clark’s own words, is appropriate: “As a navigator among 35 fighter pilots in the section, my position could be equated to Stokely Carmichael as a member of the Savannah (Georgia) Country Club.” He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the Tactical Air Command.

After a highly successful tour with TAC, in 1971 Clark was ordered back to his beloved California to assume duties as the deputy commander of the 3535th Navigation Training Wing at Mather AFB, Sacramento, CA. It was a clear recognition by the Air Force of Clark’s continuously demonstrated professional competence and potential for higher command. In two years, he was promoted to Vice Commander of the organization, then renamed the 323d Flying Training Wing.  Clark was able to ensure that the new aspirants to the aerial observer field would benefit from his extensive experience and background.

In May 1974, Clark retired from the Air Force as a colonel and was awarded the Legion of Merit for his superior service as deputy commander and vice commander. He settled in Sacramento and became  a respected and valued member of the civilian community, both in a personal and professional sense. In civilian life, he served as Director of Marketing and Finance for the Pacific Legal Foundation, as well as General Manager of the Optical Laboratory of the California Visions Service. He also was active in many civic organizations, including the Sacramento United Way, Rotary International, and the Sacramento Comstock Club.

Unfortunately, Clark’s peaceful and productive retirement life was interrupted by illness. In December 1980, he underwent surgery for colon cancer and, sadly, death followed only four months later. Those of us who knew Clark can only guess what his attitude was during his battle with cancer – he was positively determined not to let the dreadful disease defeat him, and he never gave up.

Clark’s widow, Susann, passed away in July 1991. Those who survive Clark – his family, relatives, friends, classmates, and those with whom he served in the Air Force – will not forget him.

Robert Abelman

NO. 17918  •   2 December 1926 - 15 October 1985

Died in West Point, NY
Interred in West Point Post Cemetery, West Point, NY

 

Robert Milton Abelman was born the younger of two sons to Adolph and Irma June Schroeder, nee Petite, in Los Angeles, CA. A few years later, Bob's parents divorced and, in 1938, his mother married Reno businessman Nathan Abelman, who adopted Bob and his brother Bill. Upon adoption, the boys' names were changed to Abelman.

Until the eighth grade, Bob attended public schools in Reno; he then attended the San Rafael Military Academy in California, graduating in 1945. While at San Rafael, he excelled in sports, especially football and boxing.

In 1945, Bob received an alternate appointment to the Naval Academy from Senator Pat McCarran and, in the fall of 1945, attended the Bullis Preparatory School in Maryland, where he again excelled in football. Failing to achieve a principal appointment to the Naval Academy, he then entered Stanford University for the ensuing winter and spring semesters while seeking an appointment to the United States Military Academy. Bob was successful in receiving an appointment to West Point from Senator McCarran and, in July 1946, became a member of the Class of '50.

Football and boxing were Bob's primary athletic interests, and he had hoped to pursue those sports at the Point. As an outstanding boxer, he would have had no trouble in making the West Point boxing team, but before entering the Academy he lost severe nose cartilage. As a boxer, Bob was a little like Jack Dempsey; he knew only one way to box: try to dispatch the opponent as soon as possible. Classmates who boxed Bob in intramurals would no doubt share that assessment.

As a football player, Bob distinguished himself on the Army "A" squad. Despite initial doubts from the coaching staff about his potential as a football player, Bob eventually succeeded in obtaining a place on the first string plebe football squad. The following year, his coaches' confidence in him was further justified when Bob gained a first string halfback position on the Army varsity football team. An encounter with the Tactical Department, however, kept Bob off the team during his third year. Nevertheless, during his First Class year, he again provided sterling help to the team, which had an unbeaten season, including a 38‑0 victory over Navy.

On Graduation Day, Bob got his wish and was commissioned in the United States Air Force. On his elimination from pilot training, he entered navigator‑bombardier training and received his wings in 1951. After Combat Crew Training in 1952, he served a combat tour in Korea with the 95th Bomb Squadron, 17th Bombardment Wing, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals, the Commendation Ribbon, and an early promotion to captain.

When he returned to the States in 1953, Bob was assigned to Mather Air Force Base, CA, where his combat experience was put to good use in training new navigator‑bombardiers. During 1960‑62, Bob served with the 4039th Strategic Wing of the Strategic Air Command (SAC), earning the Commendation Medal. He then served for three years at the Headquarters of a SAC missile Wing, receiving another Commendation Medal. In 1964, Bob represented SAC at the World's Fair in New York.

During 1966‑69, Bill was assigned to SAC Headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NE. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for this service. During 1969‑75, he served with NATO as the chief of SHAPE Command and received the Legion of Merit for his performance.

His next assignment, during 1973‑75, was as commander of the Civil Engineering Squadron at F. E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, WY. There, he was responsible for the maintenance of 200 Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles and earned his second Legion of Merit. His final assignment was as the Fifteenth Air Force public information officer at March Air Force Base in Riverside, CA. A third Legion of Merit was award during that tour. In 1979, Bob retired from the Air Force as a colonel.

As Bob noted in the Class 35th Reunion Book, "In 1976, 1 made the best decision of my life and married a redhead, LT Joan Linder, in a lovely Cheyenne wedding." He and Joan settled in Austin, TX, where Bob formed his own company, RAMTEX Enterprises, Inc. In Austin, he also was active as a member of the Elks Lodge and the Austin Eagles Society.

Sadly, while Joan and Bob were attending his 35th Reunion at West Point, he died of cancer at the Army hospita. Bob was buried at the West Point Post Cemetery with family and classmates in attendance. He will be missed by all who knew him.

- His Classmate Thomas C Sharp, Jr. and nephew William Abelman Brinkerhoff