History

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History

History

Squadron 2, also known as “Gator 2″, is the oldest existing outfit in the Air Force Wing, and the second oldest outfit in the Corps of Cadets. Squadron 2 was formed in the1959-1960 academic year, from members of Squadrons 6 and 3. The first C.O. was Bill Coley ‘60 who was killed in Vietnam. The first X.O. was Charlie Bell, who currently resides in Donna, Texas. The oldest living C.O. is Richard Willams ‘61, a retired Air Force veteran who resides in Mantau, Utah. His X.O. was Bernard Selensky ‘61 who is currently living in Richardson, Texas. Gator 2 has had a long and proud tradition over the last 47 years as it has continued to develop generations of outstanding cadets and leaders. Nicknamed the “Country Club,” Gator 2 continues to place an emphasis on the close camaraderie that is developed through the fish year. The buddies you make in Gator 2 will be there to marry you and bury you. Gators remain close friends for life. In fact, Gator 2 is one of the only outfits in the Corps to have a former student association. Every year, former Gators journey to College Station with their families to rekindle friendships and rehash amazing memories. The outfit mascot, Cecil, was originally named Albert the Alligator. His name was changed to Cecil in 1961. The outfit motto, “Easy Come, Easy Go” came about due to the circumstances in the Corps at that time. The class of ‘61 holds the distinction of having the highest attrition rate of that time period, a dubious record which still stands. Less than half of the incoming freshmen went on to graduate from the university. Colonel “Pelly” Dittman, the Professor of Air Science at the time, delighted in lining up the freshman and telling them, “Look to your left. Look to your right. Neither of those fish will be here next year. If you can’t take it, highway 6 runs both ways”. If a fish managed to survive and earn sophomore status, they had truly overcome the odds.

The Oppenheim Saber

THE AGGIE RING AND THE SABER
The following letter and article describe how the Oppenheim Saber came to Squadron 2. The first portion is a letter from Colonel Duane E. Vandenberg ‘52.

I was a Sophomore at A&M in 1950. That summer (May-September ‘50) I was an office boy at Southern Pacific Railroad in their building on Franklin Street in Houston. One day, delivering the office mail, I noted a small man gazing out a window. He looked somewhat sad. I went over to talk to him and noticed he was wearing a much worn Aggie ring. I “whipped out” and met him, saying something like, “Sir, I see you are an Aggie”. “No son”, he said, but my son was”. We got acquainted and he told me his son, whose ring he was wearing, was killed in the Philippines fighting the Japanese. Over time we talked several times. One day he told me he had his son’s saber that he had carried as a cadet at A&M. Many years later I was stationed at Bergstrom AFB, in Austin. On a trip to A&M I carried the saber with me, sought out some Sophomores in Squadron 2 and gave it to them. THEY found out about the Saber’s history and about the death of Captain Oppenheim.

The following information was researched by Ross Epstein ‘70, Commander of Squadron 2:

The cadet officer’s saber worn by a 1935 graduate became a Corps unit memorial to James Randolph Oppenheim who died in a World War II prison camp. The saber was given to Robert D. Robinson, who was a sophomore in Squadron 2, by Air Force Major Duane E. Vandenberg ‘52 then stationed at Bergstrom AFB. Oppenheim carried the saber as adjutant of the Composite Regimental Staff in 1935. A cadet captain, he was a member of the Ross Volunteers. Ordered to active duty with the Corps of Engineers in 1940, the officer had charge of air field construction and maintenance at Fort Stotsenberg and Clark field near Manila. Oppenheim was with GEN. Douglas MacArthur on Bataan. He died in a Japanese prison camp shortly after the American surrender at Corregidor. “The sophomores and freshman felt the saber was symbolic of Squadron 2 and wanted to place it in proper respect”, explained Robison, a Zoology major from Memphis, Tenn. During the year, the saber will be kept in a glass case given by the Classes of ‘70 & ‘71. The saber is presented to each new Squadron 2 commander, and the new commanders wear the saber during final review. “Little did we know,” said Ross Epstein (CO Squadron 2 in 1970), that this tradition of handing down the saber that started in 1968 would still be happening after 33 years………and it was all because someone recognized “the Aggie Ring”.

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	Photo Gallery History History Squadron 2, also known as “Gator 2″, is the oldest existing outfit in the Air Force Wing, and the second oldest outfit in the Corps of Cadets. Squadron 2 was formed in the1959-1960 academic year, from members of Squadrons 6 and 3. The first C.O. was Bill Coley ‘60 who was killed in Vietnam. The first X.O. was Charlie Bell, who currently resides in Donna, Texas. The oldest living C.O. is Richard Willams ‘61, a retired Air Force veteran who resides in Mantau, Utah. His X.O. was Bernard Selensky ‘61 who is currently living in Richardson, Texas. Gator 2 has had a long and proud tradition over the last 47 years as it has continued to develop generations of outstanding cadets and leaders. Nicknamed the “Country Club,” Gator 2 continues to place an emphasis on the close camaraderie that is developed through the fish year. The buddies you make in Gator 2 will be there to marry you and bury you. Gators remain close friends for life. In fact, Gator 2 is one of the only outfits in the Corps to have a former student association. Every year, former Gators journey to College Station with their families to rekindle friendships and rehash amazing memories. The outfit mascot, Cecil, was originally named Albert the Alligator. His name was changed to Cecil in 1961. The outfit motto, “Easy Come, Easy Go” came about due to the circumstances in the Corps at that time. The class of ‘61 holds the distinction of having the highest attrition rate of that time period, a dubious record which still stands. Less than half of the incoming freshmen went on to graduate from the university. Colonel “Pelly” Dittman, the Professor of Air Science at the time, delighted in lining up the freshman and telling them, “Look to your left. Look to your right. Neither of those fish will be here next year. If you can’t take it, highway 6 runs both ways”. If a fish managed to survive and earn sophomore status, they had truly overcome the odds. The Oppenheim Saber THE AGGIE RING AND THE SABER The following letter and article describe how the Oppenheim Saber came to Squadron 2. The first portion is a letter from Colonel Duane E. Vandenberg ‘52. I was a Sophomore at A&M in 1950. That summer (May-September ‘50) I was an office boy at Southern Pacific Railroad in their building on Franklin Street in Houston. One day, delivering the office mail, I noted a small man gazing out a window. He looked somewhat sad. I went over to talk to him and noticed he was wearing a much worn Aggie ring. I “whipped out” and met him, saying something like, “Sir, I see you are an Aggie”. “No son”, he said, but my son was”. We got acquainted and he told me his son, whose ring he was wearing, was killed in the Philippines fighting the Japanese. Over time we talked several times. One day he told me he had his son’s saber that he had carried as a cadet at A&M. Many years later I was stationed at Bergstrom AFB, in Austin. On a trip to A&M I carried the saber with me, sought out some Sophomores in Squadron 2 and gave it to them. THEY found out about the Saber’s history and about the death of Captain Oppenheim. The following information was researched by Ross Epstein ‘70, Commander of Squadron 2: The cadet officer’s saber worn by a 1935 graduate became a Corps unit memorial to James Randolph Oppenheim who died in a World War II prison camp. The saber was given to Robert D. Robinson, who was a sophomore in Squadron 2, by Air Force Major Duane E. Vandenberg ‘52 then stationed at Bergstrom AFB. Oppenheim carried the saber as adjutant of the Composite Regimental Staff in 1935. A cadet captain, he was a member of the Ross Volunteers. Ordered to active duty with the Corps of Engineers in 1940, the officer had charge of air field construction and maintenance at Fort Stotsenberg and Clark field near Manila. Oppenheim was with GEN. Douglas MacArthur on Bataan. He died in a Japanese prison camp shortly after the American surrender at Corregidor. “The sophomores and freshman felt the saber was symbolic of Squadron 2 and wanted to place it in proper respect”, explained Robison, a Zoology major from Memphis, Tenn. During the year, the saber will be kept in a glass case given by the Classes of ‘70 & ‘71. The saber is presented to each new Squadron 2 commander, and the new commanders wear the saber during final review. “Little did we know,” said Ross Epstein (CO Squadron 2 in 1970), that this tradition of handing down the saber that started in 1968 would still be happening after 33 years………and it was all because someone recognized “the Aggie Ring”.