The PJ Legs have been tossed!

A little history lesson on Legs…a 38 year ComCam PJ tradition that someone ended by tossing them into a dumpster

Note: We’re not revealing who or why they were tossed out.

…Legs, reviled by Commanders—worshiped by Air Force PJs

From a conversation between Richard Diaz (S.U. 1979) and Lance Cheung (RIT 1994) as recorded by Mike Featherston, 30 June 2001

The adopted father of Legs is Bob Leach. On or about 1977 this AAVS combat photographer thought it would be great to having a full mannequin with a phonebook shelf on one side and a phone on the other, would be the ideal office addition. What he found was a damaged orphan of a mannequin that he modified by sawing off her upper half. Her first outfit was a black petticoat that she wore for a couple years as she happily performed her duties holding a phone at her waistline. She occasionally went out on the town and one time to a Dining-Out with unnamed PJs. Perhaps this was the cause of her wardrobe changes, which included panties, stocking and high heels, and later unabashed fishnet stockings from girlfriends of PJs during the first 8 years. She was also as adorned with the AAVS patch and the first Vietnam inspired “Whatever it Takes” patch. Those were happy years, spent with the likes of Herman Kokojan (S.U.1974) and Rob Marshall.

But some, particularly commanders frowned her presence and at times she led a hidden life in drop ceilings, or simply suspended when a certain commander said he did not want her to stand anywhere in the building. During ORI inspections or when distinguished visitors were near she could be seen being escorted from room to room to keep her presence a secret. One extreme solution to an ORI was to put her in a tube and ship her to a TDY location, this was the first of two TDYs where she has traveled the nation. Magically after the inspectors left, she reappeared. One time she appeared a bit too early when an inspector unexpectedly returned and found her in a film processing room—write-up!

A BRIEF (Ha!) BACKGROUND ON LEGS:

Yes, “Legs”, or as we referred to them (her) and say, “to be a good PJ , your pictures have to have legs”. A reference to longevity, archival value and repeat publishing. A good, interesting and valuable picture is new year after year and thus has “legs”.

In the old days, Legs was used as a phone stand and so when you answered the phone you were invariably staring her….well, nice legs of course(what did you think I was going to say?).

About every two years or so, we would get her a new set of underwear (which in the case of Legs were her outer-wear.). Her new panties by tradition has to have been used once by a friend of a PJ (FOAPJ)…. Not soiled mind you, just worn once for good luck… this was a well-kept secret so as not to embarrass the volunteer. All the women who participated (Men, especially PJ’s, weren’t allowed to wear them.) knew the scant-panties would be worn by Legs and even stopped by to visit them on occasion. Often proud of their contribution to the PJ doctrine and way of life (to our delight).

The big trick was putting the new set of panties on Legs without showing a tacky seam… often we brought in experts (a seamstress on one occasion). Among some of the PJ’s and others in the area, there would sometimes be a fight (short burst of testosterone) over who would keep the old panties. One guy wanted them for good luck when he flew, so he had a set for his flight suit. Another wanted his girlfriend/wife to wear them. Each scuffle over the latest(removed) panties would eventually result in a “who deserved them the most” based on who had shot the best, recent and or most dangerous job. Ken (unknowingly) would often be used as a tie-breaker. PJ’s would go in, ask his opinion on two selected pictures, the one he chose was the winner and also won whatever the hidden argument was as well (including who got to keep the old panties).

Her boots were polished with Pledge most of the time…although, I believe Henry Dutcher once used real polish and spit shinned them (possible foot fetish here).

Whenever we were warned that sensitive VIP’s or guest were coming by, we would either hide her in the broom closet or often just drape a large dark cloth over her (which looked cool with her boots showing).

Long, long ago, in a place far, far away , there was a sort of Squire-PJ (proud of not being a prima donna and forced to have a SEI) named Bob Leach (or Lurchto other PJ’s). Bob was the first to possess Legs (to the best of my knowledge). I don’t know where he acquired her (maybe we don’t want to know). He set the original ground rules and developed the inherited pecking order of Legs. He was always very protective and often sensitive over what would happen to her (I found this out over a few beers with him…. No tears mind you, but intense about it).

Bob decided to place Legs in Bob Wickley’s room (just to bug him) but Wickley (or “the nose”, “beggar”, “whiner”, or alias “kneepads”) wouldn’t have her. So Bob, now thoroughly disgusted with Wickley’s (sllp-in-the-face) shunning of Legs decided to put her in Dutcher’s room (who accepted Legs with an almost sinister and some would even agree, perverted undertone). When Henry left (Legs was cleaned up, upgraded, given new panties (her last had disappeared under Dutcher) she went to Belcher (I’m told Boyd actually had a relationship with her for a time. Bob found Boyd’s interaction with Legs disturbing. She remained with Boyd for a time, until Bob had a room of his own once again (another story altogether).

After Boyd and Wickley left he shuffled legs into Marshall’s tender care. Rob found a willing female volunteer, replaced Legs panties with bright red ones (they had always been black lace) and treated her like a lady. When Marshall was reassigned, Bob came to me (with tears in his eyes, not from sentiment, he had just been drinking at the Cozy Korner) and presented me with Legs. He said “Rick , you know what this means? Take good care of her, she’ll give your work Legs.” I promised Bob I would be faithful and protective. To the best of my knowledge, Legs was all that and served me well… I sometimes miss her and wondered where she was and if she had ever been upgraded to a thong.

When I left I presented Legs to the new “Kids on the block”. Now, it’s comforting to see Legs has had Legs.

By the way , the legend about kissing her before a job for good luck…. Always worked for me…

Adrian Cadiz picks up the story…

Lance Cheung brought the legs from the 2nd CTCS at Norton. I was the first baby PJ at Charleston to receive them. They then went to Patti Mancini (Zimmerman), and then to Ricardo.

The rules of the tradition as they were told to me are as follows: The legs must be passed on to the last arriving baby PJ. They must be passed from the previous holder to the new baby with all PJs who are not TDY present to witness the event. (Beer should also be present for consumption.)

The new owner of the legs must christen them immediately upon receiving them. Legs may be dressed in any manners as long as it is deemed appropriate by the politically correct sensitive powers that be. This last rule usually goes unenforced but the baby PJ who has the legs must bring them to all PJ type functions, if any exist in that candy-ass listen to the simpering malcontents and abide by their wishes squadron.

Those are the rules as I know them. Now that you’ve actually completed the training and will undoubtedly get the SEI, maybe you’ll understand why PJs have been proud of their accomplishments and demand respect for their expertise. We are special because we have taken our work and our professional standards to a new level.

From Steve Faulisi (SU 1998)

I received Legs in 98 from Patti Mancini Zimmerman (RIT 97) I then pass them on to Cecilo “Ricky” Ricardo in 99, he pass them on to Michelle Leonard Cheeks in 2000, then they went on to Mike Buytas in 01, Suzanne Jenkins (Morrison) in 02, Ricky Bloom in 03, No SU class in 04, Jacob “Ninja” Bailey in 05, JoAnn Makinano in 06, Clay Lancaster in 07, Jacob Bailey in 08 and Adrian Cadiz in 09, Jason Robertson in 2011 and Chris Griffin in 2012. After that I do not know.  I’m pretty sure I have the right names I hope some one else can verify but I’m sure these are right.

Just a side note Michelle Leonard refurbished the table top and included the names that had the legs from Lance up to when she left the 1st. After that I added names up Jake Bailey.  ( I think I added Jake)

So sad to see this tradition tossed!  Can’t wait till Oct. I’ll be in Charleston for reunion 2016!

Editors Note: Over there years since 1977 there have be a lot of holders of the legs. If anyone has a list of everyone please email it to webmaster@usafcombatcamera.org. There currently is now a movement on to obtain a new set of legs that will be used to carry on the tradition. Details will be forth coming and there’s some talk about “Blessing the new ones by the Godfather” at the 2016 reunion in Charleston.
Edited by Jim Pearson and Ken Hackman