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104th Column

Back to normal. This one is late…late rank late, so here goes.

Sad news first. By letter in late January Rich Clements informed me that his wife Catherine died on 25 Sep 97. I will quote a portion of his letter: "In her dying, Catherine simply grew weary. Weary of all the pain, sickness, treatments, hope and lost hope. She simply wanted to leave her body alone and let nature take its curse. She died of heart failure and it complications which were all the result of cancer. She was in a hospice the last month. A wonderful place filled with people doing everything to make time enjoyable and bearable."

Rich continues, "I am OK, if OK is possible without one's mate. My children try to keep track of me. In Aug 97, my brother and I had to repossess our business. That was no fun, but now we have half of it sold again (for cash this time) and the balance hopefully next week. At this writing, I will not be attending the 40th Reunion. Unfortunately, there is something in Mexico which I must attend to at that time. If there is a change, I will certainly be there."

Rich, please know that we all miss Catherine. And we miss you too, therefore, I hope that your plans for Mexico change so that you will make the 40th!

More sad news. Those on the class internet know that Linda Mellin died on 1 Mar 98. Pat let us know via email. The following is extracted from a later email about Linda's funeral: "Linda had a beautiful Funeral Ceremony & Mass over the past two days. The whole family really pulled together as they always do and made it quite a tribute to her life. Christopher, who is quite a singer, pulled together his group from his church and brought them over to our church, St Edwards, to include the Oboe, and other various music instruments. Kathleen worked on a Eulogy that was a real tribute to her life and she read this at the homily time. I don't think there was a dry eye in the Church.

"Jae Stanton, John Nun, and Dave and Val Turner all came here for the funeral as did many of her family from as far at Houston. She touched a lot of lives in her time." At this point I must say AMEN, Linda truly touched many lives during the too-short course of hers.

"John Nun arrived and Kathleen put him to work at the computer to type the Eulogy. So I thought I would send a copy to you, because it describes her so well. Love to all, Pat"

And some excerpts from Kathy's eulogy: in loving memory of Linda Beal Mellin, June 6th 1936- March 1st 1998: "Towards the last few months we took the opportunity to video tape Linda telling us some of her best -- or favorite -- stories. She also took the time to be very serious and tell us her most vital values. First and second, tough to separate the two, are Family and our Roman Catholic Faith. I know that there was not a day in her cognitive life that Mom didn't say her prayers. Her favorite was a prayer her mother, Dorothy Beal, composed.

'Baby Jesus, meek and mild

Care for me, a little child

Angels guard me thru the night

Keep me safe til morning light.'

Or:

'Angels guard me through this day

Keep me safe at work and play.'

Kathy continues, "Linda's entire life was an example of the kind of person I wanted to be. My mother was devoutly religious; she was classy, elegant, tough, tender, smart, funny. She was vigorous in her spirit and her health. She kept the world turning for all of us while we were traveling all around it.

'While attending Duchenne, her Catholic girls high school, she met my dad on a blind date. Her first comment was to squeal 'Mother, he's taller than I am! I can wear heels!' After that it was infatuation and love at first sight, and the beginning of her next phase of history.

"In 1958, shortly after my father, Pat Mellin, graduated from West Point, they were married and Linda became a lieutenant's wife. In 1959, I was born in San Marcos, Texas. Then, in 1960 and 1962, two sets of twins were born in Vicenza, Italy: Mike and Tim and Suzanne and Chris. She said it was either something in the Italian water or just being too close to the Vatican! She left Italy pregnant with her 6th child, my brother Jae, born in 1963.

"We lived a nomadic military life, moving often. Mom always made it sound so exciting! We actually looked forward to moving every one or two years. She survived my Dad going to Vietnam twice, while she was at home raising 6 children alone. On Dad's second tour of duty there, she earned a 2-year Master's Degree in Deaf Education in only one year. I don't think she ever slept! Mom worked as a deaf education teacher while we continued moving. She touched a lot of lives as a teacher and her work made a big difference to both students and their parents. She was always molding her children or someone else's.

"Mom had a lot of fun in life. Linda knew how to find the humor in any given situation. In the last few months we actually had a hard time staying serious during what should have been some serious moments. Couldn't help it. Mom was as likely to see the pun or the irony in a moment as the rest of us. I know we laughed a lot when I was growing up. Sometimes she'd say 'If I don't laugh at this, I'll cry. So I have to laugh!' A great philosophy. Then again, sometimes we laughed so hard we cried.

"In addition to laughter, music was central to our lives. Our family used to gather around the piano for sing-alongs. Honest! We really did! And we'd go to Shakey's pizza parlors for the sing-alongs too! And we didn't have to follow the bouncing ball. Mom had already taught us all the words! According to Suzie, Mom was the bouncing ball. We just followed her. We sang while we traveled in the car. We sang at church. We sang in school. We sang around the campfire. We sang while we did the dishes. We cranked up the radio or the record albums when we cleaned the house. She sang us to sleep. Linda sang in the Bloomington women's choir, the 'Notables,' at their concerts this winter. She was busy at music all of her life.

"Who will tell the stories, shop for all our clothes, host family parties, run the summer cabin, be the Wife, the Daughter-in-law, the Sister, the Mother, the Aunt, the Grandmother? The one who makes the world go around? To so very many, Linda Beal Mellin always will be. Now she has passed the torch to us and she has a new career: Grammy has gone to heaven to be an angel."

I cut much, but am sending the whole thing to Pete Trainor for the class web page. My email response to Pat said, "Please tell Kathy that her remarks about Linda are wonderful... tearful, yet a smile too." And a take off on #103, I am glad Linda came to Charleston Mini with very little hair but a great big smile and zest for life.

And more news from the class email net was finding Stan Snipes. The following is quoted from Jack Bradshaw's letter to AOG endorsing Stan's application for Associate membership: "I heartily endorse Stan's application, having known him very well during the two years he spent in the Corps of Cadets and being very familiar with his life since he left West Point following Yearling Year in 1956. In this, I lend my support to that already expressed by my Classmate, Bo Craddock. Stan studied engineering at Oklahoma State University, where he was also quite active in the ROTC organization, becoming the Cadet leader of the ROTC contingent. He was commissioned in the US Army, and I visited with him when he was on active duty at Fort Sill, OK.

"Snipes spent a career subsequently with NASA, reaching a level of importance and high responsibility with NASA. In other words, he spent a lifetime essentially in the public service, as did those of us in his West Point Class who pursued a military career. Finally, Stan Snipes in his personal and professional life has adhered to the ethical standards we profess in the Long Gray Line. I am pleased to count him among my Cadet friends and among my friends and acquaintances in public service. I would be pleased in the future to count him among my associates in the Association of Graduates. Stan has made plans to join his old Classmates as we celebrate this May our 40th Reunion. Please expedite his application through approval, so that he can join the reunion festivities as an Associate Member of the AOG."

The foregoing was the good news. And now the sad part from Bo Craddock by more recent email: "Judy (Craddock) just called to tell me that Carol Snipes, wife of Stan Snipes, passed away last night after a long fight with cancer. The funeral is scheduled at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Houston at 1030 on Friday. Stan, our hearts reach out to you. Bo Craddock" In my attempts to copy and paste, the date of Bo's email was lost, but the news is recent as in late Feb or early Mar. For my part, losing Carol before getting to meet her at the 40th is especially sad. I do hope that Stan will still come. I can assure him that Pat Mellin, another L2 file is definitely coming!

The next is from Dale Hruby via email, "George -- The last Assembly Column prompts me to set the record straight that, although Dodie and I weren't married until February 1959, she in fact was there with me in June 1958, when the first clean sleeve in the class went up to get his diploma. Dodie and my mother pinned on my yellow bars." Mea culpa. Your Scribe knew that Dodie is one of our June Ladies, another case of sin by omission.

Those on email know that Dodie's mother, Dort Reeder, died. There was a memorial service at the Fairfax Retirement Community, Ft. Belvoir, 31 Jan. COL Reeder asked that donations be given to the Salvation Army in Dort's Memory

This notice was followed a short month later by news that COL Red Reeder caught up with Dort when he joined the Ghostly Assemblage. Dodie & Dale's daughter Taya wrote: "Grandpa's funeral will be held at West Point on Friday, March 6,1998 at 2pm. We have requested that the service be held in the Cadet Chapel. A reception will be held after the burial service at Herbert Hall, the new Alumni Hall built where Smith Rink used to be." A number of classmates and former baseball players joined the Reeder family at West Point for the service and joint interment of both Dodie's parents.

Bob Pointer forwarded the following remarks by our Supe: "Dear Friends and Graduates of West Point: I would like to take a moment and pass on some sad yet important information. COL. Red Reeder passed away on Sunday, 22 Feb. Some of you may remember that Red's wife, Dort, passed away recently as well. All of us here at the Academy and the members of the "Long Gray Line", past, present, and future, will miss them both. The remains of both COL and Mrs. Reeder will be interred at the West Point Cemetery on Friday 6 March.

"The memorial service for COL Reeder will be held at the Cadet Chapel beginning at 1400 followed by a brief graveside service. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the AOG c/o the Red Reeder Memorial Fund. Following the services a reception will be held in Herbert Hall"

And now an excerpt from Chairman Lawton's letter to Joyce Del, widow of Larry Malone: "Thank you for your very generous contribution to Larry's Endowment Fund. I am sure you will be pleased to know that we have received over $2800 to date with pledges still coming in. This amount will generate more than a sufficient amount of dividends/interest each year to pay for the necessary expenses of the award. You may also be interested to know that BG Roy Reynolds also made a contribution to the fund. The sentiments that you expressed in your letter touched me very much, Joyce. I was glad that the announcement in the class newsletter arrived on the day it did and it was able to boost your morale a bit

"John Herren, a classmate who served in the Georgetown ROTC program after Larry, is coordinating with the University to determine the exact date and particulars of the award and will be in contact with you when he has firm information. We would be pleased if you and your husband (I don't know his name, Joyce. Please let me know what it is) would join us and make the presentation of the award. We hope that General Reynolds will be able to join us also for the ceremony.

"While I am writing you, I need your advice and counsel on another, but related matter. I have been concerned that most of the widows of the class are not participating in class events (reunions, minis, social gatherings, etc). In fact, if I send out a letter to everyone (classmates, widows and other NOK) and ask for some kind of response, I will hear from a lot of classmates, but only rarely from a widow. We want everyone to feel as if they are part of the class, which they are. You ladies have gone through hell and back with us and are a part of us. I can understand the situation if the widow has remarried. We are certainly not trying to preserve the memory of the deceased husband at the expense of the current marriage; we are just trying to maintain the friendship we had (some for many years) with the widow and inviting her husband (in the case of the remarried widow) to join us also. How about giving me some feedback on this situation. How do you/your husband feel about this situation? What can we do to get widows (remarried or not) to feel comfortable enough to participate with the class. We need all the advice and help you can give us, Joyce. Please drop me a note and give me your views. Again thank you for sharing your thoughts and for your contribution. Best regards, George Lawton"

And from Jack Price '64, via email to Lawton: "Just talked with George Bean today, he's eighty-five, but still enjoys his memories of your class. He can be reached at 804-384-8757. George was cadet chaplain while your class was there." This Scribe expects F2 to ensure that George comes to the 40th!

Email info for Jack Downing, CINC Obits, which may serve to spur on others of us with IOUs outstanding for obits: "Will Merrill of C-1 will write Tom Kelly's obit. He is on e-mail so you can send him the info by either e-mail or regular mail. Jerry Mitchell" (great stuff: three names in three lines-little things make Scribes happy).

And for Tom's obit, I contribute this wonderful snippet from his son Kevin '82: "I tremendously appreciated our conversation yesterday, it cheered me up. I am also grateful that his friends and classmates have supported him throughout this ordeal, I know it meant a great deal to Dad. Sincerely, Kevin & Faye Kelly

"PS I know Dad would want me to say this, and pass it on to everyone. BEAT NAVY!! Was speaking with my Mom yesterday and reminisced about how he wanted that on his marker somewhere and I will be sure to get that done." Your Scribe subscribes to the sentiment and looks forward to beating Navy next Dec. The part I really like is having those words engraved in stone on Tom's marker!

I recently read a piece about using chicken s… as fuel for electrical power generation and jokingly put it on the class email net with some comment about our having experienced lots of chicken s… in our service and being happy a use has been found for it. By return email from Jim Peck came this, "My company operates a cogeneration plant on the lower eastern shore of MD that burns wood chips to generate electricity and steam for heating. We recently announced that we are going to convert to burning chicken manure/litter. We expect to be burning chicken litter by this time next year and will burn about 40,000 tons per year. This will help solve an

environmental problem and should lower operating costs since chicken litter has a greater BTU value than the same weight of wood chips and will cost less per ton."

40th Reunion interim report as of 16 Feb: "Hi George. 34 so far (w/o this morning's mail, and I'm averaging about 3-4 a day). I have a note to send Clark Bailey figures on 6 and 13 March for the hat order. No widows so far. Math skills good, with only about a fourth or third with errors. Karl"(as in Oelke).

Out of time, space, airspeed, altitude, runway, ideas. Back to 103d. I hope each of you has been calling roommates and others to check on them, to be in touch, to encourage them to attend the 40th. I have been called by two roommates: Bill Parks who was blessed with Will Roosma and me cow year and by my very first wife, Ray Coffey of 3d New Cadet Company and father of my first wife's daughter, Valerie '85 (who has my red hair). I was called by Bob Higgins (another redhead) who complained of being classmated by 103d: seems it gave him a guilt trip which was assuaged only by calling myriad roommates and L2 company-mates. Get on the phones, email, snail mail, whatever-get in touch and get them to the 40th!