FOLEY, Alabama — It is said that the vast majority of people cannot name 10 U.S. presidents, Olympic gold medalists, Nobel Prize winners or great composers. So, what roles, abilities and capacities actually matter in life — or, more specifically, who makes a difference? Who will be remembered and whose lives will fade into oblivion? Who will conquer anonymity through works of good will rather than infamy?

Perhaps when we dig back into the furthest reaches of our minds, we remember our first day of school, a mentor who made life reel with possibility, a coach who diminished the presence “can’t.” If you have ever felt the exhilaration of epiphany as a critical thought drove ignorance from a formerly closed mind, you know the answer to the question of who, and that answer is teachers.

Master Sgt. Jack Swindle taught Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) at St. Charles High School, St. Charles, Mo., for 10 years beginning in the fall of 1969; he served in the U.S. Air Force from April 15, 1942, to July 1, 1968 in WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He worked as aircraft technician, flight engineer, mobile training instructor, quality control inspector, senior controller, and completed his service as flight chief in Vietnam with responsibility for 12 F4 Phantom fighter air-crafts and 52 support personnel.

Though this individual carried the country’s burden time and time again and carried out important missions in some of the nation’s most infamous wars, he is first remembered as a teacher, and is cherished as such.

“It is hard to tell you what Sgt. Swindle meant to me 40 years ago,” Rick Johnston, a former student, divulged. “I knew nothing about him as far as his experience in a combat crew in World War II, Korea or Vietnam until a year ago because Sarge is humble. I knew nothing of his family in those days, or the fact that he was looking out for me personally.

“Most students kind of gloss over their instructors and concentrate on getting their classroom work done — but at some point just before I graduated, I realized how much he cared and how much he did for all of us.”

While Sarge acted the role of teacher, he filled many more shoes, Johnston said.

“I had him for three years, and the third year I finally figured out he really cared about us as individuals, as students and extended part of his family,” he explained. “We belonged to him, and he would do anything for us that was moral and legal.

“He cared whether we passed or failed, succeeded or didn’t make it. He was the perfect example of tough love.”

Another student testified to Sarge’s presence as mentor first and instructor second.

“I don’t remember much about the aeronautics I learned in his classroom, but I can tell you a great deal about the values he instilled in me and many others,” Maureen Watson, a student of Swindle’s from 1975-79, began. “One of my favorite life moments was the day I received a traffic ticket on my way to school for drill team practice (at 6 a.m., five days a week).

“My car had an issue and required that I keep one foot on the brake and one foot on the gas at stop signs and lights or it would die. I came to a flashing red light and apparently did not make a complete stop. When I got to school, I was upset — more upset about telling my parents than the fact I had received a ticket. Sarge took me aside and asked what was wrong. I explained what had happened and told him that I wanted to take care of if without telling my parents. In his own special way, Sarge helped me to change my mind. As a result of his guidance, I took care of the ticket after school that day and then went home and told my parents what had happened. The funny part was that they were not mad but proud that I not only had I told them but that I had already paid the fine ... and that weekend my father and I gave the car a tune-up.”

Watson and other students under Master Sgt. Jack Swindle offer proof that the most effective lessons are the ones we don't realize we’re learning.

“Sarge instilled many values in his students,” she said. “When I look at the company’s vision and mission statements or core competencies, I see words like collaboration, innovation, integrity and diversity — looking back, Sarge taught us all of these things, he just didn’t name them.

“He is a man that leads by example, walks the walk and opened his heart up to all of us. I am so blessed to have called him ‘teacher’ and continue to be blessed with his love and friendship.”

While Swindle taught morals and uprightness to pupils, he did so at a time when patriotism and honor were hard lessons to swallow, as one student pointed out.

“Sgt. Swindle was an amazing teacher. I think that everyone has a favorite teacher at some time in life, according to Janel Sauer-Uelk. “This man was more than my teacher to me and many students; he taught us to be proud of our country and to stand up for what we believe.

“We were probably considered the geeks in school ... the people making fun of us did not understand what we got out of ROTC. We waved flags back then during the Vietnam War, and that was very uncool. Our teacher taught us to be good to each other, show our parents and all adults respect. He also taught us how to be good citizens and to make the right choices.”

It follows that this man taught students how to find their honor, even when they fell onto the wrong path.

Dennis Lane, a former student, recalled that “he would take us aside and talk to us, tell us to admit to your mistake, pay the price for it, then let it be the past and let it stay in the past and don’t do it again.”

As young men and women observed Swindle’s example, they continue to apply principals they learned many years ago.

“It was Sarge’s personal interest in helping me develop the necessary command voice and military bearing to effectively lead cadets in close-order drill, however, for me the most important lesson learned from Sarge came from his consistent teaching in the importance of ‘esprit de corps,’ according to Sam Snyder. “I believe that lesson has impacted my character so strongly that the hallmark of my work life is described by many of my superiors as outstanding team player, always in pursuit of excellence and focused on serving customers.

“I truly believe that my three years as an AFJROTC student under the instruction and care of Sarge served a vital role in how I pursue life and work today.”

Even as Swindle showed his classes how to make life decisions, Tim Cronin, class of 1975, recalls lessons on how to treat others — lessons that he said have helped him succeed in his own family life.

“For all of all his highly regarded professional accomplishments, I best remember Sgt. Swindle as a devoted husband and father,” he said. “Many times in the classroom he referred to his wife as his ‘bride,’ a term of endearment probably lost on his teenage students at the time, but which speaks volumes to us now that we are middle-aged.

“Likewise, he was completely dedicated to his children. For example, I recall his dedicated focus on helping his son establish a business, even recruiting his students as both customers and employees. These are just two examples of numerous family related memories created for me as I was invited into Sgt. Swindle’s personal life. What I witnessed was a man who lived the values that were the bedrock of his teaching: loyalty, devotion and commitment. I could not have asked for a better education.”