Leadership, Management & Life in the Workplace
  • Blog
  • About John
  • Decoding the Workplace
  • Dr. Juran AIG Archival Project
  • Contact
  • Disclaimers

Remembering Scotty Albright

5/27/2019

9 Comments

 
Picture
On this Memorial Day I depart from the typical nature of my blogs.
 
The summer of ’66 was a time of great challenge. Basic training as a “doolie” at the U.S. Air Force Academy was physically and mentally challenging. You try to survive, hang in there, one hour at a time. In August basic training ends and for those who made it, they are accepted into the Cadet Wing. Life is better but still difficult beyond belief that first year. Only the brothers with whom I shared those months truly understand (and it was brothers, no women would be admitted until years later.)
 
That fall I was a member of Fightin’ Fourth Squadron. The commander of 4th was a first classman (senior) Scotty Albright II. He represented the best of the best and became a role model for myself and others. Knowing the hellish times we would face that first year, he called a meeting for the “doolies” in 4th.  We assembled in a room where there were chairs. Scotty asked us to sit and he did also, at our level, facing us. He talked to us sincerely and realistically about our coming months, sharing his wisdom and perspective. 
 
He told us about the challenges ahead, how to face them, how to rise above the obstacles, how to be successful as a cadet. Then he took off his class ring and held it high. “Persevere and toward the end of your 2nd class year, you will receive one of these. It will represent all that you have achieved.” He gave the ring to the nearest doolie and we proceeded to pass it around, looking at it, holding it, and internalizing that drive to succeed. It was a powerful moment. Scotty was a great leader. 
 
Three years later, a cold December, I was a 1st classman in another squadron. We assembled and marched to lunch in Mitchell Hall with 39 other squadrons totaling over 4000 cadets. Before lunch the Wing staff made announcements from their tower overlooking the Wing. It was the years of Vietnam. Among the announcement were Academy grads lost to that war. 
 
"Lieutenant John Scott Albright II, Class of 1967, missing-in-action." 
 
I was stunned. Missing-in-action. But MIA. There was hope. But as the years passed, hope took a trip and never returned. 
 
Lt Albright was navigator on a C123K. The mission was to find truck convoys on the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos and light them up (infrared) so B57s overhead could do their jobs. But a B57 clipped the C123 which went into a spiral. No one is sure how many of the crew jumped from the plane but the pilot survived and was rescued the next morning. He reported that he had seen at least one other parachute. 
 
Whether Scott Albright died that night or later in captivity in Laos, we do not know. Decades later I stood before his name at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C. and slowly shed tears. I so admired the man. He was the first in a line of friends and classmates who made the ultimate sacrifice. This is Memorial Day. Let us never forget its meaning.

Image of John Scott Albright II, photographed from the 1967 Polaris, Vol. 9.

© John Ballard, PhD,  2019. All rights reserved.

9 Comments
Hugh Peteet
5/27/2019 03:27:01 pm

I was John's classmate in Fightin Fourth and it WAS hell but John is right, Scotty Albright was a great leader and had my total respect. I also remember hearing that he was MIA and later KIA.
Slow salute!

Reply
John Hale
5/29/2019 11:36:24 am

Spot on. I'm sure all of us in USAFA'70 render Scotty and others a ...

Slow hand salute. We will always remember.

Reply
Randy Albright, Maj, (Ret.) USAF
2/9/2020 12:05:22 am

John Ballard, Thank you for your kind words about Scotty. He was a terrific big brother. He was only 23 when the midair occurred. I was 17 and a senior in high school. We both followed our father, John Scott Albright, I into the Air Force. Scotty wanted to become a pilot like our Dad, but never had a chance. I became an Air Force officer and pilot to continue the family tradition and to honor his dream. Aim high!

Reply
Kathleen McWilliams
3/27/2021 08:58:34 pm

Out of the blue just thought about Scotty Albright, I have no idea why but did a search and ran across this site. I really didn't know him but his family were neighbors of ours on Clark Air Base in the late 60's and then in DC as well, my dad worked at the Pentagon and Col. Albright probably did too. I was friends with his little sister, Debbie. It was such a hard time on his family - my sincere appreciation for the sacrifice he gave for our country and for the continuing service of his little brother.

Reply
Larry Edwards link
5/31/2021 05:43:33 pm

I am very sorry for your loss of Scott and proud that John Ballard and I were ‘66 Troutman HS classmates. Peace🇺🇸

Reply
Debra Bowen
7/27/2021 06:30:53 pm

I was in Jr High and we were all sending away for the POW/MIA bracelets. I happen to have this one. Said many prayers for him back then. My daughter visited the Vietnam Memorial when she was in high school and was able to get me the pencil etching of his name and I still have it. My sister came across this recently and remembered his name. He will always be remembered by my family

Reply
Kathy Fuhs
3/30/2023 03:12:20 pm

I also have a bracelet with his name on it from high school days ('69 to '71). Says 12-13-68 abd a blue star sticker to left. Always prayed from him and family. Came across the bracelet today

Reply
Marcia Culbertson-Howard
5/27/2024 12:39:31 pm

Thank you VERY MUCH for this wonderful tribute to
(*I)ILT. Scott Albright. (*II Posthumously, I understand.)
I, too, am a proud wearer of a bracelet bearing his rank, name, date, and blue star sticker I acquired while in high school in the 70’s. Today is Memorial Day 2024 and, as is custom-like many other days-, I am humbly honored to be remembering him and his family. He, along with all of our military, is forever in my heart. My gratitude is without measure. 🙌🙏 ❤️🤍💙🇺🇸

Reply
mitchell stuve
8/26/2024 07:15:50 pm

i still have my pow bracelet bearing his name

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012

    RSS Feed