James E. Sandstrom

You are still in our thoughts and memories. Fly with the angels, you are surrounded with friends and family.

Dear Mrs. Sandstrom,

I doubt you remember me, but my wife and I met you at Sandy's going-away event at Hill - I crewed his jet.

I ran into him while deployed to Dhahran. I was in line at the flightline chow hall, and he tugged my sleeve from behind and said, "I need a good crew chief. Know anyone?" He then spent a good 30 minutes with me, standing in the middle of the chow hall and catching up.

I ran into him again on the Randolph flightline during an airshow. He was, of...

Dear Jeannie,
You are always in our thoughts and prayers. Love you ,Cindy and Mike

Jeannie,

Diane and I did not know you were in Texas until we read that Sandy had left us.

We have been here in College Station since our CINCPAC tour in 1991. My work takes me to Kelly (former AFB) in San Antonio on a regular basis.

I am sorry that we never reconnected. Sandy was one of the folks I enjoyed working with the most. He knew which things were important and those are the tasks we did first.

Fairwinds,

Thom Holt

Dear Jeannie, Kelly and Brett,

I was shocked today when I finally read Checkpoints today and saw that Sandy went to a better place. Jacquie and I have you all in our hearts and prayers. He was too young to go. I will always remember the things he taught me during that year and a half in San Antonio. He would laugh at the thought that I refuse to wear my blues on "Blues Mondays". Sandy was the best boss that I ever had and I talk about him often and can only hope that I pass...

Dear Jeannie,

I was very sorry to hear that your husband passed away. I am sure you have encountered so many in the military that it is hard to remember all of us.

Your husband was my very first boss in the military when he commanded the 430th at Nellis. He was an exceptionally patient man with this very young and naive 2d Lt. He was a wonderful boss to have; and I was fortunate to have had him as my first. I did many foolish things. He would call me into his...

Mrs. Sandstrom and family,
I'm so sorry for your loss. I loved working for and with you both. I'm still passing on all the lessons Sandy taught me. God bless you.

Rat Rand, Jim Craig, Rod Jones, Steve Hall and I knew him as Dirt Bag. And we loved him dearly. I last saw him 1973 in San Bernardino, along with Rat. You must contact me for the hilarious details since they are not appropriate here. When I learned that he was a general officer I fell out of my chair!! He was a tremendous person and a wonderful friend.

Dear Jeannie,

I just found out Jim has gone west. "Bags" and I were in the same pilot training class at Sheppard AFB. Over the years our paths crossed many times and I always considered Jim a real hero. It was a pleasure to fly on his wing.

Jim was an exellent leader and a one of the good guys.

I am sorry for your loss--our loss.