Albert Franklin Oppel

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Stan Harvill on September 11, 2010:

Albert F. Oppel, Cullum # 20450, USMA Class of 1955 Albert Franklin Oppel was born in Dallas, Texas, on 7 MAY 1933, the second son of Curt and Madge Swint Oppel. He was named after both of his grandfathers, Albert Oppel and Franklin Swint. Until the second grade he was known as Franklin, at which point he decided on his own that he wanted to be known as Al. This was not to be his last name change. As a child, Al's older brother, Richard, called him "The Colonel", the first of several nicknames through the years which included Alloysius, Peaches and Grizley, to name a few. Al attended grammar through high school in Dallas. He first began to play football in junior high school and continued at Highland Park High School. Al excelled at several positions in the line, both on offense and defense and received All-State honors in his senior year where he earned a reputation for blocking kicks. He was very popular with the student body as well as with the coaches and teachers. He entered the Military Academy with the Class of 1955. During field training at Camp Buckner, Al and Charlie Berg were assigned to drive a 6x6 truck loaded with equipment. Al parked the truck at the top of the hill while they went into the woods on a mission. When they returned, the truck's brakes had failed and the truck rolled down the hill into the bushes. Charlie nicknamed Al "Barney Oppelfield" after the racecar driver, Barney Olfield, and the name Barney stuck. Teammates who played football with Al at the Academy remember him as the fastest lineman (guard) on the team. He was a great team player who always put out 100% and had a wonderful sense of humor. They also remember how much they enjoyed being around Al during the difficult days of rebuilding after the summer of '51 and how fortunate they were to work under legendary Coaches Red Blaik and Vince Lombardi. Al lettered every year. First class year, Al was invited to join the Pittsburgh Steelers but opted, instead, for a career in the Air Force. At graduation, Al was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force. He went to Moore Air Base in Mission, Texas, and Greenville Air Force Base in Mississippi for flight training. After receiving his wings he transferred to Bryan Air Force Base in Texas to be a single engine jet instructor pilot. While he was at Bryan he married Sally June Snider on 6 April 1957 in Dallas, Texas. From Bryan, Al went to Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas, to continue instructing pilots and later entered graduate school at Texas Tech. While they were in Lubbock, Sandra Diane was born in 1959, Sharon Elizabeth was born in 1961, and Al graduated with a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. From there he joined the Engineering Mechanics faculty at the Air Force Academy. Al was a very popular instructor with both his fellow faculty members and the cadets. Their son, Curt, was born at the Academy in 1963. In 1966 Al left the Air Force Academy, checked out in the F-102A and was assigned to the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Keflavic, Iceland. Their second son, Richard Craig was born there in August 1967. From Iceland, Al was checked out in the F-105 prior to his assignment in 1968 to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base during the Vietnam War. While there he flew 117 missions, earned 8 Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross. From Korat, Al was assigned to 13th Air Force at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippine Islands. He was there until 1972. From Clark, Al was checked out in the B-52 and commanded the 524th Bomb Squadron at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan. He also earned a Master of Business Administration Degree in Management in off duty hours from Central Michigan University in 1975. From 1974 to 1976 he was assigned to Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offut Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska as Assistant for Senior Officer Management and Chief of the Training and Education Division. His next assignment was as Commander of Maintenance for the 410th Bomb Wing at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Michigan. From KI Sawyer Al returned to SAC Headquarters and retired in August of 1979 as a Colonel and was awarded the Legion of Merit. His other citations during his career included the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters. The family moved to Iowa where Al was Director of the Motor Vehicle Division from 1979 to 1981. Subsequently he was an Assistant Professor of Engineering Mechanics at Iowa State University, Office Manager for Gannon Construction Company and co-owner of a Goodyear Center. In 1993 Al and Sally moved to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas where he joined the faculty of the University of Central Arkansas, and was also on the faculties of University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the Arkansas School of Math and Science. In addition he was elected to the Fountain Lake School Board, where he instituted many needed reforms. All of this fulfilled his lifelong love of teaching and education. In October of 2001 Al and Sally hosted a reunion in Hot Springs Village of H-2 company mates and their wives. In February of 2002 Al had triple bypass surgery to correct blockages and seemed to be recovering. Al collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack while on a walk on 28 April 2002. His funeral was held on 2 MAY at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Hot Springs Village. Several classmates attended services with the family there and at West Point on 7 June when Al was inurned with honors at the Columbarium. Al was survived by his wife, Sally, their four children and six grandchildren and his brother, Richard. He was loved and admired by his many friends, classmates and associates who had the great blessing of his friendship and sense of humor. Stan Harvill, classmate Assembly, Jan/FEB 2006

admin