The Michigan Daily --Tuesday, May 24, 1983 - Page 7 OBJECT OF ADMIRATION, OBJECT OF SCORN ROTC's man on campus By LOU FINTOR A military career spanning 27 years may seem a bit ironic for the son of an Episcopal clergyman, but as director of the University's Air Force Officer Education Program, Colonel Robert Shellenberger says he's answered the "calling" of a different kind. Nestled between the Dental School and Natural History Museum, it's easy to overlook aging North Hall - the ROTC Building where Shellenberger has worked for a little more than a year. NUMEROUS military awards and citations line the walls surrounding his neat desk where a small United States flag is prominently positioned. PROFILE At 46, Shellenberger leans back in his chair to peer out the bay window at campus streets which little more than a decade ago were filled with thousands of angry students protesting the philosophy he represents. It is those turbulent days that Shellenberger remembers most vividly. "I remember the first time I came to North Hall in 1966 as an Air Force graduate student," Shellenberger said. "One of the first things they told us was not to wear your uniform on campus. In those days it didn't pay to wear the uniform on campus and provoke anything. People felt that anyone in uniform was just chomping at the bit, ready to go to war." EVEN TODAY the Air Force con- siders Shellenberger to be on "active duty," subject to frontline combat in a national emergency. But in that event, Shellenberger would not be a novice at war. During the Vietnam war, Shellen- berger flew C-130 troop transports to Vietnam and Thailand. His cargo at various times included support sup- plies, amminition, troops, prisoners, and occasionally, the bodies of the wounded and dead. "The old cliche of 'war is hell' was true and it's still true. It wasn't a nice feeling, but the job had to be done," he said. THIRTEEN years later and hun- dreds of miles from Southeast Asia, Shellenberger now draws from a lifetime of experience to prepare 125 University ROTC cadets with skills he hopes they will never have to use. As program director, Shellenberger designs and develops a curriculum of courses that includes Air Force organization, strategic air command, an overview of Soviet military organization, and ethics relative to military duty. "I am very disturbed when someone who should know better says we are on campus teaching maiming and killing," Shellenberger said. "What we are doing is teaching young folks who want to be officers how to be professionals." SHELLENBERGER feels that anti- ROTC sentiment on campus has decreased and is now optimistic for the program's future as cadet applications continue on the rise. There have been only two anti-ROTC demonstrations in front of his office during the past two years - both staged by the Latin American Solidarity Committee. In contrast, during the early 1970's, there were several attempts to burn the building, a bomb was planted in a car which was parked next to the building which then exploded. Despite this violent resentment, Shellenberger defends the protest demonstrations as "one of the privileges of living in a free society." "Time is certainly a factor," Shellenberger said, "Vietnam is behind us by 10 years." THERE WAS a timewhen the military won the respect and ad- miration of an American public who, feeling drained but victorious following a depression, and tremendous personal sacrifices for the war effort, were grateful that freedom had been guaran- teed. Born in New York City, his father served as a Civil Defense chaplain during the war years. His mother, a housewife, helped the clergyman with war effort concerns and both helped in- still a strong sense of patriotism and love of freedom which Shellenberger still maintains. "I can remember the air raid drills in school and the blackouts during evenings at home," Shellenberger said. "I remember clearly the day the war ended. We could hear fire sirens and church bells ringing. More importantly, I remember the things we were fighting against." HIS BOYHOOD experiences and patriotism during the war combined with almost no money to pay for a college education provided the impetus for Shellenberger to devote a lifetime to military service. "I still get chills up and down my spine when I see the flag," he added. Graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1958, Shellenberger immediately en- tered duty training as a student pilot at bases in Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, Nevada, California, and Kansas. "Life at West Point was very regimented. You're in a military at- mosphere 24 hours a day," Shellen- berger said. "West Point has tough standards of discipline. It was a tough physical grind and a tough mental grind. "We got up at 10 minutes to 6 every morning except Sunday and fell out for reveille. It was mandatory at that time to attend chapel and then we would eat in a dining hall where they could feed 2400 of us in 30 minutes," he added with a chuckle. FOLLOWING certification as a B-52 bomber co-pilot at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, Shellenberger made his first to earn a masters degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1968. A short stint as a Vice-Commander of Andrews Air Force base in Maryland from 1980-81, provided Shellenberger the opportunity to welcome visiting foreign dignitaries, the Pentagon's Generals and the American hostages returning from Iran. In addition, he was a member of President Reagan's inaugural comittee. Shellenberger also defends the role of Doily Photo by DEBORAH LEWIS As the University's Air Force ROTC program director, Colonel Robert Shellenberger has weathered a good deal of controversy and criticism over the military's role on campus. on-campus military preparation, as maintaining 'peace through strength' demonstrating his religious background by quoting the biblical scripture, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be the children of God." "The military requires a kind of 'calling,' the same as a clergyman. "Freedom of religion is one of the things we dedicate ourselves to defend," he said. Shellenberger attributes anti-ROTC sentiment to a lack of understanding by most students. The University unit, for example, is involved in several com- munity service organizations and is now assisting with area plans for Memorial Day observance this weekend. "I enjoy teaching, basically because I very much enjoy working with young people," Shellenberger said. "I know I'll never make a big splash in the history books, but maybe - just maybe, a piece of me will go with them."