111th Column
6 May 1999. One day late and at least two beers short of a six-pack. Here we go again. E-mail is great and is the source of most data contained herein because I have had few phone calls and little mail recently. On the E-mail front, unfortunately some have not paid attention to the masthead and my new E-mail address. Please note the address for our Class Web Site.
Short-term memory loss. Mark Sigurski has called a couple of times, but some of his news escaped into the ether. Most recently he told about meeting Munge & Mary Moore in Silva’s Saloon in downtown Bernalillo, NM. In walked Bob and Mark failed to recognize him because of his full beard! Sadly, when Munge showed up at ANCC for annual class meeting and election on new member for our Executive Committee, the beard was gone! Did Mary have a role in its disappearance? Unfortunately, I had to leave early, so I did not get the full story of the full beard.
The real downside of my leaving early was missing some of the remarks by our guest speaker, Arnaud de Borchgrave. Mr de Borchgrave has vast experience as a correspondent, considerably more time in dangerous places than most soldiers, is well known as former Chief International Correspondent for Newsweek and more recently Editor-in-Chief of the Washington Times. He is now CEO of UPI and a senior advisor at CSIS, the organization that keeps Tony Smith off the welfare rolls. Tony arranged for Arnaud to sandwich in lunch (pun intended) before catching a plane en route to Europe to continue by train and bus to Belgrade for an interview with Slobodan Milosevic. The interview was reported in the NY Times and Washington Times. A simple thank you for BG Smith and Mr de Borchgrave seems inadequate, but it is the best your Scribe can do. Thank you!
Most current news is from yesterday. We had two class foursomes in WPSDC Black, Gold & Gray golf tournament at Andrews AFB. The "Duffers" were Pete Trainor, Bob Moore, Jerry Mitchell and Brad Johnson. The "Experts" were Bill Parks, Bill Shepard, Phil Pryor and John Herren. Pete made no mention of either foursome’s winning anything, but a good time was had in spite the rain.
New CCQ for D-1. John Schaefer has been classmated by Ed Weckel who was classmated by Bob Bunker, original D-1 CCQ, who had been classmated by yours truly for purposes of 30th Reunion attendance, Reunion Book participation, class donations, etc. Of course, long-term readers of these columns know that this sordid chain of classmating began when Bob made me the Scribe. I remember the day very well… 16 Jun 76. I was in front of the Mall entrance when Bob drove up in his MG convertible, the top down… LTC Sibert saluted COL Bunker who was delivering the class files. Two Gilbeys gin boxes and, oh by the way, now you’re the Scribe as he peeled rubber away from the Pentagon.
I digress. The point to be made is not classmating, but is thanks for a job well done as CCQ to Bob and Ed and welcome aboard to John as new CCQ. Of course, this move "frees" Ed to continue his work on our behalf with the endowment fund. For the record: Ed served as CCQ for nine years and produced some 30 "missives" to D-1 files (you might call them letters or epistles, but Doug Detlie called them missives).
Endowment fund info. Via E-mail from Ed: "Fellow 58ers. Two items. First--Return on Investment (ROI)--our USMA CLASS OF 1958 PERPETUAL ENDOWMENT has grown from $64.4K to $80.8K in the six month period in which the money has been invested with the Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund. (Second--) you are reminded that quarterly updates are available on our Class Web Site. Class participation is 44 percent."
Class Web Site. This Scribe is not Internet-capable. During a recent trip to Orlando while visiting Bob Higgins, a computer genius, I was transported to the Class Web Site. Remarkable. If you have not been there, do it now. Pete Trainor is our web site meister and continues to improve his labor of love. Those to cheap to subscribe to Assembly (and are reading a borrowed copy) can find earlier editions of the class column there among myriad other items of class hysterical interest. Thanks to Bob for getting me there and very special thanks to Pete for creating and maintaining and updating the class info there! A labor of love. Another labor of love is the work our E-mail Net Moderator, Dick Buckalew. His monthly updates of E-mail addresses alone are true labor!
Further reporting on the April Class Luncheon and Business Meeting. Business portion was quick and dirty. Alan Salisbury was elected by acclamation to serve on the Executive Committee. Chuck Hansult, outgoing member of EC, was applauded wildly for his work on our behalf. I can attest to Chuck’s having been an active member of the EC, always counted on for practical solutions to what seemed to be major problems before he cut them down to size. Chuck, thanks for laboring in the vineyards of ’58! Alan, welcome to the EC.
Professorial Plaque for Jim Ramsden. On 9 Apr the plaque for Jim was unveiled in the Pershing Room (first floor) of Cullum Hall. COL Albee, current Professor of Chemistry, orchestrated the affair. Jim Jr and Rae spoke and actually accomplished the unveiling. The plaque will be in place on the wall soon—certainly by the time we get to West Point for the 14-17 June In-Barracks Mini. Also attending were Jim Jr’s family, daughter Kim & husband, brother Jack ’57 & his wife along with members of the Academic Board and others from West Point. Unfortunately, the word was not passed to ’58.
Short E-mail from Evelyn & Heyward Hutson (of Charleston Mini fame). Seems Tom Morgan saw their son Robert at Fortress Leavenworth recently. Other son Heyward III & wife Julie will produce the fifth grandchild in Dec.
Our class skiers have an E-mail net moderated by Palmer McGrew. Fortunately, skiing is not required for membership. I have been blessed with message traffic on "outerwear" for identification purposes. At first reading I thought Palmer has flipped and was discussing underwear, hardly a topic for this family magazine. Anyway, the skiers need some distinguishing bit of outerwear to recognize classmates on the slopes. Perhaps the skiers will model the outerwear at the Portland Mini to drum up more skiers.
"George, Maybe my first communication with Scribe. Retirement gives one a bunch of
time. Anyway, I need a mailing address as I have a good article on Frank Wright. Mungy" As far as my inaccurate records go, this is a first for Moore. And the article arrived today. Talk about timing. The profile article is dated 21 Apr from the Park Record. It covers Frank’s life story en route to becoming the head of Park City Winter Sports School. Taking over the school founded by Kay was her suggestion to Frank shortly before she died of cancer in the fall of 97. Their son David had been killed in a helicopter accident in 1993 while filming a TV special. Bottom line: our classmate, retired USAF Col, former member of Governor’s cabinet in PA (along with Kay, known in PA as the "nice Dr Wright") returned to Park City to run the school. The location was good for Frank because David’s widow Abigail and daughter Hilary live in Park City. Thanks for the article, Bob! Makes me glad I was a day late submitting this one.
Linc Jones was recently appointed to the Board of AUSA as one of two Vice Chairman with responsibilities for retirement affairs. Linc invites input from the retired classmates—what should AUSA be doing on our behalf? He asked, so let Linc know. This is perfect lead-in for topic of health care for military retirees over 65 when we drop out of CHAMPUS/TRICARE and become eligible for military treatment on "space available" basis. Pete Brintnall is coordinating for our EC to bring this matter of shabby treatment and broken promises with respect to health care to the attention of senior leadership in the Army and Congress. He will be working with TROA, the Retired Officers Association. Pete now has an "in" with AUSA as well! You will all hear more about this subject from Pete and other on the EC.
Ron & Judy Recher, one of our contributions to ’59, will miss the 23 May Memorial Service at the VN Memorial. They have a great b-ache. They will be in Alaska visiting their son and family. Ron did assure me that he has our class activities schedule posted on his calendar and said the Hopewell, VA is not too far from DC. We expect to see him soon!
One of the shorter messages on E-mail net: "I'm back on e-mail. I've retired. Fred Goodenough."
"Status report on Jerry Dunn's obituary: Contacted Helen Dunn this morning and she is enthusiastic about the project. My wife and I are going to drive over to Allentown on 4 May to meet with Helen to establish some of the basic information. I will work with Art Meyer on this one. Jim Rossetto
6 Apr—a plea for help from Bin Barta. The following is a portion of Bin’s E-mail. "Dear '58 WP Classmates: The roads leading from Kosovo were backed up for miles. Hundreds of thousands of terrified women and children fleeing the mass murder and genocide. Now they are looking for help!
"Most had no time to pack warm clothes, and they have little or no food. Without immediate help, hunger and disease will soon threaten the camps in Albania and Macedonia, where most of the refugees have found some safety. Please help International Aid Inc avert this tragedy as we provide hurting families with lifesaving food, blankets, and medicine.
Please send your tax-deductible donation earmarked "Disaster Relief" to International Aid, Western Regional Office, 2601 E. Chapman Ave. #202, Fullerton, CA 92831-3738. For more information on our program and volunteer opportunities both in the camps or stateside, please call me at (714) 992-6491 or email me at IABillB@aol.com." Bin is Director of International Aid’s Western Region.
A voice from the past, Joe Gal, former G-2 file, who recently became an Associate Member of AOG. "I received a letter from the AOG yesterday approving my application of last August. Not that it makes any difference, but if my memory is correct, it took longer to be accepted by the AOG than it did to be accepted to West Point in 1954. In any event, I am delighted to be a bit closer to West Point again.
"I was hoping to get to the mini reunion in June, but I will be in London for 6 weeks beginning May 19th. Perhaps next year, or perhaps one of the trips I read about on the class e-mail list.
"I had a very interesting trip to India in late February for helicopter skiing with a German friend. The skiing itself was only marginal since it had not snowed for 2 weeks, but this was my first visit to India which by itself was worth the trip. We flew to Delhi, and then northeast to Manali where we stayed in a hotel for 6 nights. The helicopter pad was at the
hotel, at an altitude of 2000m. Each day we flew to between 4000 and 5000m for skiing, and generally were able to get in 8 to 10 reasonably long runs (900 to 1200m). There were two days of marginal skiing, 2 days of no skiing because of rain/snow, 1 day of good skiing, and one outstanding day. The terrain offers exceptional possibilities if you are lucky with the snow.
"The guides were good (Australian for the most part); the pilot and mechanic were Swiss (from Air Zermatt Rescue Service) and outstanding; the hotel only ok. Since there were 5 groups of 3 or 4 people each, there were often long waits for the helicopter after a run. In summary, it was an interesting trip to do once, but to me it is not worth the time, trouble and cost to repeat. This is a highly subjective judgment, obviously, as my German friend has been skiing in Manali and Kashmir for 10 years.
"By the way, while I was in India my wife was skiing in Austria, snowed in and unable to leave for 6 days during the exceptionally heavy storm which killed 30 or so people in a nearby valley. I hope it is not too much longer before I see all of you personally again. Happy Easter, Joe" Palmer--another couple for the ’58 Skiers! Moderator, go get Joe on the ski net.
Another grandfather checks in "I have been very remiss in sending, I am proud to
announce the birth of another potential USMA candidate. On March 7, 1999, Elise (Ellie) Schumacher was born in San Diego, CA to Cara (Dodd) and John Schumacher. Now my big problem is how to get from Richland, WA to San Diego every couple of weeks. Ed Dodd"
Corvette Owners (past or present) identify yourselves. I can identify three corvette owners dating back to first class year automobile time: John Manos, Bob Miller and John Shimerda. Others? Please let your Scribe know.
"George, thanks. Gerry O'Barr was one of my greatest challenges. In the room reshuffling in I-1 just before Xmas, I was put with two guys who had both been turned out and given the clear and unmistakable mission from my company commander that neither was to flunk out: Gerry O'Barr (French) and Butch Saint (English). The rest is history. Tony Smith"
Somehow my E-mail to the class forwarding a "Gray-Matter" piece on Tony’s brother prompted the foregoing. I wrote, "Rodney Smith '53, Tony's brother, was killed in Vietnam in June 1967 just before assuming command of the 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. am proud that Tony Smith is our classmate. I knew his brother in Vietnam and he, too, was an outstanding soldier. In fact, this family of Smiths, father and two sons ('26, '53 and '58) are great sons of West Point who have rendered terrific service to the Army and our county."
Next is a portion of Ann Bray’s "Gray Matter": "The ski slope at West Point, dedicated in 1946 to the memory of CPT S. V. Constant, provides a recreational and competitive sport for the community. The slope's main run has recently been named the "Rod Smith Run," in memory of the man who contributed greatly to the slope's development. During his tour as an instructor and assistant professor in the Department of Military Art from 1962-66, LTC Rodney Howe Smith ('53) was also a ski instructor, and instrumental in the design and building of two new ski lifts and the installation of an extensive snowmaking system. He
implemented a pommel lift on the slope beside the bunny hill; a slope that was known as the "Rod Smith Glade." His brother, BGEN (R) Anthony Smith, said the task was a ‘labor of love for Rodney. He marked each and every tree.
"The dedication service on February 12th included a plaque unveiling, speeches, and a ceremonial ski run on the glade by the Superintendent, ski club cadets and members of the Smith family. " Well done, Rod, rest in peace.
And from my first wife, Ray Coffey’s current wife, Gerry, "COFFEY BREAK: Health-in-the-Public-Interest makes its debut on WTKI-TALK-RADIO 1450-AM, right after the News at Noon. COFFEY BREAK host, Gerry Coffey, will introduce you to health care luminaries in the fields of fitness, nutrition, the environment and emotional and spiritual health. Often they'll be paired with policy makers in a position to affect change. And it's your calls that can help make changes happen. That's COFFEYBREAK: HEALTH-IN-THE-PUBLIC-INTEREST, beginning Monday April 5th at 12:05, after the Noon News: WTKI-1450-AM, Huntsville, Alabama."
First Class Club. Ken Herberger stays young at heart by communicating with a 2LT ’98 (forty years later!). The following is testimony over which ’58 can pop its collective chest up, or, as Winston Churchill might have written to avoid the awkward preposition at the end, up with which we may pop our chests: "Sir, I just wanted to thank you and your class again all of the work on the First Class Club. It rivals any other sports bar--or really most any bar with all that you have put into it. I assure you that the Class of 98 thoroughly enjoyed our time there. v/r 2LT Dave Djuric, '98"
Suggested reading in the May/Jun 99 Assembly: Classnotes for ’25 should not be missed (pg 59). The notes are the 23d oldest grad speech by Col Frank Steer. ’67 classnotes (pg110) because Freed Lowrey is so funny you do not have to know the victims of his humor to enjoy the column. Freed also writes "Goat Poop" (pg 50). The articles are excellent—I recommend Ron Turner’s "A Memorial Class Ring Program" (pg34), "COL David ‘Mickey’ Marcus ’24 (pg36) and "Ralph Puckett American Ranger" (pg39).
Running out of altitude, airspeed and runway, not to mention energy and time… That’s it for 111th. Looking forward to seeing some at the "In-Barracks" Mini.
PS. My boss, the Classnotes Editor called to say she could accept some photos if they arrive by Tuesday. Here are a few oldies and two current Founder’s Day shots. We’ll see how many make it under the space limit. Thanks, Cathy DeCoster!