In the summer of 1980, Lt Col Don Scooler (moi), his wife, Marjorie and their three children, Christine(14), Jim(13), and Jeffrey(9) had the super fortune to be assigned to attend the US Army War College(USAWC) at Carlisle, PA. Actually, I was the one assigned, but my family was highly encouraged to join me. I was one of 25 Air Force officers among about 300 US Army colleagues.
I was a serious volunteer for Senior Service School. There are several such schools available for lieutenant colonels and colonels who may be destined for senior executive positions within US armed forces (Air War College, Navy War College, Army War College, National War College and Industrial College of the Armed Forces). Earlier that year I was designated an alternate. That means I didn’t make the first cut.
So when I received a call from the Air Force telling me a slot had opened at Army War College and asking if I was interested, I immediately said, “Yes!”
The lessons learned from spending some serious time with colleagues from a different service are many. One lesson I learned quickly was that the Army was in a real war in Nam. As an Air Force captain recon aircrew member, I had a one-year inconvenience.
I flew my 5-7 hour mission; landed at Tan Son Nhut. Went to my air conditioned quarters; and then to the officers club for a steak dinner.
They were Army captain company commanders. They led over 100 men, mostly in the jungles of Nam. Watched some of their men get violently killed or wounded. And ate out of a US Army mess kit.
My respect for their service went up a hundredfold after hearing their stories while at Army War College.
Marjorie and I actively and loudly rooted for them/us when Air War College competed with us on Sports Day. We won.
BTW one of my Air Force colleagues became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2001-2005. Way to go!!

The highlight of the year for me was the one-week field trip to New York City. Remember one teaching goal of the “War Colleges” was to acquaint future military leaders with national problems/issues facing the nation.
Certainly, problems associated with big cities, such as crime, funding, working with the federal agencies, etc. were important for future military leaders to be aware of. (Another prepositional ending. Oh well). The other teaching element was the United Nations operating in NYC and spewing some poison rhetoric for all to hear. Seeing up close how many countries in this world hate the US was indeed educational and scary.
Our War College Class of ‘81, about 325 officers, was further divided into about 10 classes of about 30 each. On our trip to the Big Apple, each class had its own bus for themselves and spouses.
When our class pulled into the Biltmore Hotel our class leader stood up an announced, “Since Don Scooler was raised in this city, the Scoolers have volunteered to guide us through the city tonight.” SURPRISE.
Okay guys, Where do you wanna go? The overwhelming consensus was Times Square then eat. I tried to prevail with no success. No, guys. Times Square is dirty, dangerous, and seedy. You’ll be solicited, asked about drugs (Wanna buy? Got some to sell? Wanna party?) I warned them about pickpockets, and we were on our way to Sh—sville. Yep, they were solicited and asked about drugs, as was I.
It was late Sunday afternoon. Next they wanted to eat. I knew of a few good restaurants in Greenwich Village and the lower West Side, so I schlepped all 30 of my colleagues and spouses onto the subway, and we rode to The Village on West 4th Street.
I carefully and clearly ‘splained to my colleagues that Village restaurants are small. I advised them to split into small groups of 4 people. BUT. They were afraid to leave my side. These warrior heroes were afraid of little old New York.
After some soul searching and a lotta walking, we found ourselves right across the street from Luchow’s, an immense, upscale German restaurant where Diamond Jim Brady brought Lillian Russell back in the 20’s.
Note: Luchow’s closed in 1986 after over 100 years of great food service to many, many satisfied diners. Marjorie and I went there at least three times.

I told my colleagues to wait a moment and ran across the street to the restaurant. I asked, almost out of breath, “Sir, I have about 30 people across the street. We would love to eat here. We have no reservation. Can you handle us?” After some consultation with his staff, he said, ”I can’t sit them at the same table, but we can take care of them.” Thus, we had a successful dining experience in my home town with no planning whatsoever.
After a few beers and a great meal, my colleagues got brave. They released me from escort duties and continued exploring on their own.
I heard the next day that several of them tried the free round trip Staten Island Ferry ride. Enuf