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129th Column

 

            129th Column.  30 Apr 02.  Due tomorrow.  My last ended with these words before the very sad PS about losing Jim Frick 8 Mar 02: “Out of space, story of my life.  You cannot believe how much info I have on hand.  Time for an email edition of 128.5th Column that I hope to snail-mail to those not wired.  Next time war stories from skiers at Whistler and Pensacola Mini.”

            You are spared all of that news because gremlins ate my email files.  Therefore, I must wing this one.  Number 128.5 did not happen because all the information disappeared.  This is OK for those classmates wired to class nets, but a loss for those who have refused to join the 21st Century and the class nets (Mark Sigurski among too many others).  I think Mark takes perverse pride in not using a computer.  Mark’s loss.  Jack Tierney says it is our gain because Mark’s phone calls are great.

            Pensacola Mini 22-25 Apr.  Where to begin?  Last week was spectacular from every vantagepoint.  Weather – simply superb.  Location – Pensacola Beach as in “life is a beach” with snow white sand. the Gulf on one side and Santa Rosa Sound on the other.  Organization – Ken & Jeanne Phillips with assistance from Jerry & Faye Cook and Ben & Marie Pellegrini planned and executed an outstanding, call it “truly outstanding,” mini-reunion.  Judy & I showed up on Sunday, a day early, and the Hampton Inn headquarters was jumping.  The Benny Havens room was loaded with classmates, many from A2 who came early to help Ken.  In fact, whenever I visited the BHR, it was filled with classmates, wives, and other guests.  In addition to cadet uniforms decorating the BHR, Ken had an incredible collection of Pointer magazines with a sign asking us “to handle with care.”  The person who cared for these treasures the past 45 years or so was Ken’s mother.  She deserves a medal from ’58 for preservation of class history.

            I made copies of the article on June week wedding plans to help with my list of June Ladies.  One of whom, Billie Nadal, had written a Pyrene article (I made a copy for her).  Little did I realize back then the breadth and depth of our drags.  Billie was fabulous then and still is.

            Drags at Plebe Christmas.  New category for some of our ladies who go back farther in time even than June 58.  Harriett Connell began this one by letting me know, in the BHR of course, that Billie Nadal came up for Plebe Christmas.  And Billie then confessed that she came to see Tony during Beast Barracks.  The truth is strange than fiction part of this story is that Tony’s detail permitted him to meet her for dinner at the Hotel Thayer.

            Other drags during Plebe Christmas emerged during Pensacola.  Norma Lindquist was a blind date during that frolicking time when the only upper classmen at West Point were there for turnout exams.  To give you an idea of just how slow was our classmate Bob, the Lindquists were not married until 6 Feb 61.  The elapsed time from June Week 58 (when they were first eligible to be married) was some 34 months.  That may or may not be eclipse the time between June 58 and the marriage of Lynne & Jack Bradshaw.  Lynne was, in Jack’s words, “a June bug,” but they also were not married until sometime in 61.  But, if one sets the clock at Dec 54 the Linquists must hold a record of some sort with the additional 42 months -- total of 76 months from Plebe Christmas to marriage in Feb 61.  Six plus years!

            Meanwhile, Ethel & Clyde Brown, married Graduation Day, 4 June 58, had been engaged for a year when Clyde entered Beast Barracks.  Five-year engagement must be a record of sorts in spite of starting their married life ahead of the Lindquists and Bradshaws.

            There is more.  Another Plebe Christmas drag discovered at Pensacola, also in the BHR, was Middie Thompson.  She & Tommy were married on 14 June 58 in Frankfurt, KY.  A June Lady, but so record here.   Plebe Christmas is new information.  Now for the record.  These two went to kindergarten together!  Were they precocious or slow?  You decide.

            On the way to Santa Fe last Nov another June Lady, Peggy Looney, was revealed by husband Tom.  There are probably more not recorded in these columns.  Please let your Scribe know about June Ladies and those who dragged during Plebe Christmas.  I cannot believe there are any others who go all the way back to kindergarten.

            The Game.  Those wired read the account of the softball game by star third baseman and reporter Bill Graf.  As the expression goes, “you had to be there.”  Our team included Ron Bellows, Charles Bond, Dave Bourland (voted most outstanding player by our opponents), Bill Graf, Dick Graves, Bob Grete, John Holecek, Dan Johnson, Bob Lindquist, Tom Mason, Will Merrill, Palmer McGrew, Doug Sedgwick, John Schaffer, Joe Schwar, Otto Thamasett, Wally Ward and Captain-Coach-Organizer-Pinch runner for everyone Ken Phillips.  Ken plays in the Pensacola over-65 league and on a travelling team from Atlanta.  He is serious about softball.  The lineup card listed all classmates as 6’5” and 225 lbs.  The weight was a bit more accurate than the height.

            The other team included five from over-65 travelling teams and other regulars from Pensacola.  To give you one data point on their abilities, Jake Woods played second base for Detroit Tigers seven seasons from 61-67!  They were good sports to play the Fabulous 58 Team.  Ken & Jeanne hosted a barbecue lunch for both teams and spectators.  As already written, “you had to be there.”

            Tours of Ranger School (OK Hill was awarded a cluster for his Ranger Tab), Air Armaments Museum at Eglin AFB, Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola NAS were some of the activities.  Eating seafood was another.  The class held its annual Memorial Service for classmates and wives who have joined the ghostly assemblage.  Special this time was holding it at the “VN Wall South” in the Pensacola Veterans Memorial.  Special also was bagpiper Sam Varney for Prelude and Postlude and our own Mel Drisko as bugler for Taps.  Many had moist eyes.  The Roll Call by companies included 88 graduated in ’58, six graduated in ’59, seven who did not graduate and 33 wives.  Too many.  It certainly may be said, “well done, be thou at peace.”

Sadly, the list will continue to lengthen.  Let me repeat my admonition: come to West Point 10-14 Sep next year for our 45th and to the next mini.  Come before your name is included on the Roll Call.  We want to see YOU!

Now for a tough job, selecting only seven photos (none from Pensacola yet).  FISH, first in, still here gets me started with Don & Pat Johnson (near the cake), Karl & Sue Oelke (back right corner) and the Johnson clan at Don’s 66th.  Next are Bob Hattler and Doug Sedgwick in May 2001.  Bob looks pretty good after seven weeks of radiation for cancer.

There was a Bicentennial Symposium in Richmond about the time of Santa Fe Mini.  Attending were Jack Downing, Bob Clewell, Phil Pryor and Mel Drisko.  Next is one of Roger Waddell, proud grandfather.  Another from Santa Fe.  Can you tell which Rooster is which?  Too many great photos from Ski58 in Whistler (see the web page), but two panoramic shots here to give you a flavor of that great event.  Out of time and space.  See you at our 45th if not sooner at some DC function.


 

List of photos:

 

1.      Don Johnson’s 66th birthday

 

2.      Hattler & Sedgwick

 

3.      ’58 at Richmond Bicentennial Symposium

 

4.      Proud grandfather

 

5.      Which Rooster is Tony?

 

6.      Showing off mountains and weather at Whistler

 

7.      Showing off the snow at Whistler