To the summit: 442d reservist draws inspiration from his father who died 30 years ago

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kent Kagarise
  • 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  In November 2008 Master Sgt. Steve Cohick, 442nd Fighter Wing Maintenance Squadron munitions technician, ran the "Maynard Cohick Half Marathon,'' (13.1 miles) as part of the Outdoor Fitness Festival's week of events in Springfield, Mo.

It was the 30th anniversary of the Maynard Cohick Half Marathon and it held a very special meaning for Sergeant Cohick.

Maynard Cohick was an avid outdoorsman and had: sailed around the world, served in the U.S. Army, climbed every major peak in the United States including Mount McKinley, been to the top of Mount Communism in Russia, practiced law as an attorney, had a goal of crossing Antarctica on cross-country skis while pulling a sled and was Steve Cohick's beloved father.

Tragically, Maynard passed away Sept. 19, 1979 while climbing Mount Annapurna in Nepal when the massive air pressure from an avalanche falling into an adjacent crevasse forced Maynard and two other climbers from a 6,000-foot cliff.

Steve was a wide-eyed 15 year old at the time and moving into a phase of life where a father and son often bond through common interests and long talks about the challenges of adulthood.

"It was very tragic for me," Sergeant Cohick said. "It was an impressionable time in my life and just about the time I was going to learn the secrets of this life - he was taken from me."

Although Maynard passed away all too soon, he left a very indelible mark on Steve's life by living his 42 years to the fullest, and keeping his eyes on life's daunting summit.

"I've tried to emulate what he taught by keeping goals in my life. I believe anybody can achieve what they want. You've got to have a goal - achieve that goal and move onto the next one,'' Sergeant Cohick said. "That was my father's touchstone."

Maynard was selective in the mountains he chose to climb and shunned conquering Mount Everest because he felt it had already been done more than enough by others. He wanted to climb mountains that were challenging and technically difficult, Steve explained.

Steve Cohick claims that people who are into mountain climbing are a unique group of individuals who have a special charisma that causes them to be accomplished and driven.

Steve grew up watching his father prepare for climbs and grew an appreciation for the rewards of exercise. This is much of the reason he still puts a major emphasis on pushing his body to new extremes.

"My dad would strap on a 150-pound backpack and wear ankle weights while walking the stairs of a 12-story building - 28 times with all that gear - in one night. It's hard for anybody to understand putting yourself through this to reach the top of a mountain," Sergeant Cohick said.

Aside from mountain climbing, Maynard was also a competitive cyclist and runner who helped found an organization titled "The Ozark Mountain Ridge Runners." Those same folks still run a store called "Ridge Runner Sports" and are responsible for starting the "Maynard Cohick Half Marathon" two months after Maynard's death.

Due to Air Force obligations, Sergeant Cohick had not been able to participate in the half marathon so upon returning from an Afghanistan deployment in July 2008 he dedicated three months to training for the feat.
"It was something I felt like I had to do - it was an obligation," Sergeant Cohick said.

Steve started running three miles at a time adding a mile to his distance once a week until he was up to 12 miles daily. The fruits of his labor resulted in finishing 335th place, out of 680 runners, in just over two hours.

"You gotta push through the pain to attain progress. Once you realize you can keep on going you'll realize it's not that big of a deal - anyone can do it with two good legs. I plan to finish below two hours next time," Steve said.

Sergeant Cohick is calm and focused when he talks about the Air Force fitness test and what Airmen can do when faced with an upcoming evaluation.

"You should always be setting goals for yourself, even small ones, especially when it comes to the Air Force fit-to-fight standards," Sergeant Cohick said. It can be dangerous to wait until the last minute to train.

"My father always spoke of goal setting and achievement,'' he said. ''He would speak at schools, colleges and other organizations about his climbs and setting goals. It would really pump people up to see his climbing equipment and slide shows. It was very motivational and his speaking engagements were how he received donations for his climbs."

Maynard Cohick's body was never recovered due to the altitude and climate of Mount Annapurna. Sergeant Cohick is haunted by a dream where he hears what seems to be his father's voice in the distance, but he can never quite reach him.

Maynard's friends who were not on the ridge at the time of the avalanche, carved a stone memorial at the base camp. While Steve has seen photos of this tribute, he has never been able to visit.

"I plan on going to the memorial in the next ten years," Sergeant Cohick said. "I think it might provide me some closure."

For many this may not sound like such a tremendous goal to meet, but it takes a month just to get to a base camp, let alone three months to climb a major peak.

"It's basically an entire season," said Sergeant Cohick.

His father passed away 30 years ago and neither of them ever had a chance to say good-bye. There's no urn or gravestone to visit. Steve pauses as he describes what it might feel like to arrive at that base camp.

"There's nothing like it - there simply are no words," he said.

In 1983, at the age of 19, Steve Cohick joined the Air Force and has tried his best to live his life and career in a manner that reflects his father's mantra.

"To the summit."