USMA CLASS OF 1956 MEMORIAL ARTICLE PROJECT
Write It
Now (WIN) Information for Classmates
1.
INTRODUCTION
For almost all
of us, the only permanent records describing our lives will be our memorial
articles in Assembly / Taps. Sooner or later we will all be dead. In prudent recognition of this fact, please
decide to write your own article now. At least prepare organized notes for
others, to enable them to do it later if they are still living and feel up to
it.
It is not
blowing your own horn to do this.
Rather, others may view you as inconsiderate to throw the whole burden
upon your grieving family, friends or classmates, all of whom are growing
older, fewer and perhaps less able.
Also, you will have the peace of mind that comes from taking care of
family business and also knowing that Assembly
/ Taps readers will have the story of your life, as you want it told. If you don’t WIN, chances are that you’ll
never do it.
The
questionnaire below is to help you WIN.
You may complete everything that applies or simply pick those items most
appropriate and expand on them. Another
approach is to have someone, like your wife, interview you and record your
responses.
Ladies of ‘56,
please get your husbands to do this now.
Doing so will ease your own potential burden and give your man the
permanent recognition he deserves. It
will also add permanent honors to the collective contributions, both military
and civilian, our class has made to this great nation.
This completed
questionnaire may be used either as an outline to draft your own memorial
article now or to enable others to do so later. If you have a photograph of yourself you’d like to accompany the
article, attach it either to the finished draft article or to the completed
questionnaire. A color photo is fine;
it will simply be reproduced in black and white. Include instructions with the photo to show how you want it
cropped, if applicable. If you don’t
want it cropped, state that too.
File the original draft article or questionnaire with your Will and send a copy to the AOG with instructions to add it to your Cullum File. Include the photograph too, if applicable. Finally, let your Co Rep know that you’ve taken care of business.
If more space is
required to complete a section of this questionnaire, please add one or more
continuation sheets; page number the continuation sheets C1, C2, etc. Each continuation sheet entry should be
numbered consecutively. If a
continuation sheet is needed, enter “See continuation sheet, page__ (e.g., C1),
entry # __ (e.g. 1)” at the appropriate location in this questionnaire
2. GENERAL
Name of 1956 Graduate: _______________________________________________________________
Name & relationship of next of
kin: ______________________________________________________
Next of kin’s address &
telephone number (also e-mail address, if available): _____________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
If you have a biographical sketch or resume please
attach a copy to this questionnaire.
Included? _____(Yes or No).
3. LIFE BEFORE ENTERING WEST POINT
Parents’ Names:
______________________________________________________________________
Special
Information About Parents? ______________________________________________________
Place and date of birth:
________________________________________________________________
Are any relatives service academy
graduates? _______________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Is there any other military tradition in your
family? _____ (Yes or No). If yes,
please explain/describe:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Military service prior to entering West Point? _____
(Yes or No). If yes, please describe
when, service, branch, rank, decorations, etc.:
________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When and where did you graduate from high school?
________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Achievements:
_________________________________________________________________
Sports, hobbies,
activities: ________________________________________________________
Did you attend a college or university before West
Point? _____ (Yes or No). If yes, list
where, degrees and honors:
________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Other (work, sports, etc.)?
______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
4. LIFE AS A CADET
Who were your
roommates?_____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
List other close cadet friends, including any from
other classes: ________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Your activities and
accomplishments at West Point (Academics [problems, successes]; Sports
[varsity, intramural]; Discipline [cadet rank, area bird?] and
Incidents/Anecdotes):
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. LIFE AFTER GRADUATION
A. Active Duty
Review your career summary in the current
Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, United States Military Academy. If it does not include all of your decorations
and cover all your assignments, including service schools, please give AOG the
data to complete it and enter the missing data below. Register data complete? _____ (Yes or No).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Civil Schooling? _____ (Yes or No). If yes, list where degrees and honors: ______________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please list names and addresses of several people,
especially classmates, who served with you and knew you well during active
duty: __________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Please comment on your active duty
assignments as you see fit.
________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
B. After Leaving Active Duty
Year you separated: _____. Year
you retired: _____
Schooling
after active duty? _____ (Yes or No). If yes, list where, degrees and honors.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Career after active
duty? _____ (Yes or No). If yes, please list positions you held, as
well as the dates, locations, accomplishments and recognition, unless these are
included completely in the biographical sketch or resume, paragraph 2, above:
_________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
C. After
Retirement
What did you do in retirement?
List positions, dates accomplishments and recognition.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Where have you lived in retirement?
_____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What
are your hobbies and/or community activities?
_________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please list names and addresses of several people
who know you well professionally or socially.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. FAMILY LIFE
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Number
of grandchildren: ________. Number
of great grandchildren: _________.
7. CHARACTER TRAITS
Please list, in your own words, the
character traits that best describe you.
Ask your wife to contribute
too.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Names, addresses and telephone
numbers of several close personal friends. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Other Information?
If possible, include something
here that will help to bring out your lighthearted, humorous side.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8.
AUTHENTICATION:
Date
Questionnaire Completed: ___________. Signature:
_____________________________________
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Edition 2.doc