Thing,
I enjoyed reading your piece. I must have been there at the same time, as student pond life, as I fondly remember all the names you mention.
I can't say I enjoyed 228 OCU as a stude, partly because it was very hard work and it took me a little while to get up to speed with the jet, but when I went back a few years later on the QWI staff I had a great time. I certainly don't miss all the cold war exercises from the time - running around in gas masks and the hooter going off at 2am every other week. However, I did enjoy the mighty F4. In it's day it was THE jet.
Stay well.