Prep School honors standout graduates

  • Published
  • By Gino Mattorano
  • Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  The Air Force Academy Preparatory School inducted three alumni into the ranks of its Hall of Fame in a ceremony Sept. 3.

The Hall of Fame recognizes Prep School graduates who have made extraordinary contributions to the nation throughout their military or civilian careers.

Hall of Fame members exemplify the Academy's Honor Code and the Air Force core values and serve as a lasting legacy to the heritage of the Preparatory School.

This year's first inductee was Capt. Lance P. Sijan, a 1961 Prep School graduate and 1965 Academy grad. Sijan is also the first Academy graduate to earn the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for heroism.

During the Vietnam War, Sijan was assigned to the 366th Wing at Da Nang Air Base, Vietnam, as an F-4C Phantom II pilot. While on his 52nd mission, the 25-year-old Sijan had to eject from his aircraft over North Vietnam on Nov. 9, 1967. Despite a broken leg, skull fracture and a mangled right hand, he avoided capture for 45 days and escaped shortly after his initial capture. Upon recapture, he was eventually sent to the infamous "Hanoi Hilton," where he was tortured and beaten. Sijan never divulged any information to his captors, but succumbed to his injuries on Jan. 22, 1968.

He was promoted posthumously to captain June 13, 1968. On March 4, 1976, President Gerald Ford presented the Medal of Honor to his parents, Sylvester and Jane Sijan. The Academy named a cadet dormitory Sijan Hall in his honor in 1976.

Sijan's sister, Janine Sijan Rozina, thanked prep school leadership on his behalf, and challenged the current class of prep school students to pursue their dreams.

"What you think, you shall become," she said. "You think about what you want to become and that's what you will be."

Sijan Rozina referenced Malcolm X's words, "A made-up mind is a powerful thing" and challenged the students to find within themselves that made up mind.

"This is your story," she continued. "Your parents have given you lift off, but now you have to become the man and the woman, as individuals, that you feel from within yourself."

The second inductee was retired Maj. Gen. David MacGhee, A 1970 Academy graduate who went on to fly more than 3,600 hours in the F-111 Aardvark, F-15E Eagle and more than 20 other aircraft. MacGhee retired from the Air Force in 2004 and is currently the senior vice president in charge of flight operations for Netjets Aviation.

"It's an honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame," said MacGhee. "But it's even more of an honor to be associated with the other two people who are being inducted with me."
MacGhee also had some advice for the preppies.

"When the business you're in is defending the national security of your country, remember, there's no prize for coming in second," he said. He added that while intentions are important, results are what count, and that not only what you do but how you do it determines success.

This year's third inductee was Cormac J. Carney, a federal judge for the United States District Court of the Central District of California.

After graduation from the Prep School, Carney went on to play football for the University of California, Los Angeles, where he graduated with a degree in psychology in 1983. While at UCLA, he achieved Academic All-American recognition and was the school's all-time leading scorer.

Carney graduated from Harvard Law School in 1987 and served as a California Superior Court judge before being nominated to the federal bench by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate in 2003.

Carney also expressed his gratitude for being honored by the Prep School.

"I am so incredibly humbled to share this honor with an American hero like Captain Sijan and an American patriot like General MacGhee," he said. "I came (to the Prep School) more than 30 years ago, and I was a pretty sad case. I was disorganized, undisciplined, I had terrible English skills, and I had a stuttering problem - I couldn't speak publicly. And worse, I was very narrow-minded and egocentric. All I cared about was playing football.

"But after a year at the prep school, I was a changed man. I became organized and learned how to multitask," Carney continued. "I learned the essential English grammar and writing skills, and I started to overcome my fear of public speaking. Most importantly, the Prep School opened my eyes to how wonderful this country is and how amazing the people are in the armed forces and the fundamental principles for which we stand: liberty and justice for all."