135th Column for Jul-Aug 03. 5 May sounds OK, but it was due on 1 May. Sorry ‘bout that. What else is new? B-aches follow: taxes, new computer with myriad problems for digitally-challenged Scribe with info stuck in laptop which I cannot transfer. Puny at best. Here goes.
Email net responses to Scribe’s seeking info about ’58 offspring in harm’s way produced the following list. MAJ Patty Jones and husband MAJ Malcolm Frost ’85 in Afghanistan with 82d Abn (Ann & Link); MAJ Meg Roosma ’85 USAR activated as Commo Officer of 224th Avn in Kuwait (Jill & Garry); COL Jim Moentmann ’81 commanding an Avn Grp in Korea (Holly & Bud); Richard Wade US Diplomatic Security Service, Asst Regional Security Officer in Tel Aviv (Miyuki & Jim); CPT Brian Grete B-52 Navigator with flights over the target area (Trinky & Bob); LTC John Sutherland III in Hqs CENTCOM, Qatar (was company commander in 24th ID in DS/DS) (Bea & John); LTC Darren B Zimmer, Transportation Port Cdr in Qatar and Special Agent Sharon E Zimmer, Navy Investigative Service, Rota, Spain (Wick and the late Barbara); LTC Will Merrill III ’83 (Will three, 83… I still like the ring of that) in CENTCOM Hqs (Barbara & Will).
Lt Cmdr Glenn Brown Jr USN flying E-2 Navy AWACS aboard carrier Harry S Truman (Kit & Glenn); LTC Chris Devens in J-1 Pentagon (Carol & John, “max circle running in response to SecDef” according to John); LTC Tom Graves ’86 Joint Forces Command/TDY to CENTCOM Forward and CPT Rob Wright (Texas A&M ’93), Arty Bn in 1st Cav alerted to deploy, husband of Myra Ellen (Bev & Dick); Sgt Paul Churchill Hutton IV combat engineer mobilized out of college to Iraqi border in Nov 02 (Evelyn & Church); WO1 Rob Shellenberger, Army Special Forces from Bragg to Balkans to Gulf (Margaret & Bob); Lt Col Andrew Lager USAF in Korea (Val & Ken); MAJ Heyward Hutson III ’90 S-3 of 6/37 FA in Korea and brother MAJ Rob Hutson ’90, XO 5th Avn Bn (Blackhawks) in 101st (Evelyn & Heyward).
1st Addendum to list. LTC Greg Lyon USMC in Special Ops Command, Tampa in & out of Afghanistan, Jordan and Egypt (Edith & Hal); CW2(P) Steve Williams, Dust off Blackhawk pilot in 57th Aeromedical Co Kuwait (Mickie & Barrie); MAJ Karl Lindquist was at Ft Leavenworth on orders to Kuwait (Norma & Bob); MSG Randy Recher USAF air weapons controller in AWACS flying out of Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia (Ron & Judy).
2d Addendum to list. MAJ John Schurtz in Embassy, Beijing (Bonnie & Gerry); Cmdr Chris Kiwus husband of Jennifer Moentmann is Sea Bee in Bahrain (Holly & Bud); MAJ John G Soper USAF, B-2 aircraft commander (Suzie & John, “been to Baghdad and back in 38 hours and left his calling card,” according to John). The problems in presenting such a list are two-fold: sins of commission (screwing up information) and sins of omission (missing someone who should be listed). Corrections and additions are solicited.
First responders. I now ask if we have offspring are first responders -- serving in police or fire departments. This was brought to mind because a retired colonel with whom I served in 1st Inf Div in VN had a son in San Diego PD killed in line of duty about two weeks ago. The front lines moved to CONUS on 9/11 which makes even more hazardous the lives of first responders. Do we have any?
Ramsden Award. Rae Ramsden wrote “I am deeply moved by the outpouring of interest and donations to the West Point Fund in Jim’s memory. May I use the Assembly as a vehicle to express my appreciation?” Yes! Rae wrote in early Jan, therefore, the delay in seeing her thanks to all contributors in print is mine.
Rae continued, “Please know that my heart is filled with gratitude for the many, many donors who have made this Chemistry Award a reality, and for Jack Downing who orchestrated this project. In his words it was ‘a labor of love.’ I never cease to be moved by the caring, the loyalty, the unique bond among the classmates and friends of ’58. Thank you for creating this academic achievement award for our cadets.” Let me add, AMEN.
In the timing is everything category, letter received today from Neil Mathis. “Gerry Schurtz and I live near Las Cruces, NM, within mortar range of each other. We both had our last military assignments at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) and elected to settle down here. Gerry grew up in Deming, NM about 60 miles west of Las Cruces.
“Gerry’s father was an officer in the NM National Guard that was called to duty in 1940 and sent to the Philippines before the war started. Gerry’s dad and many other guys from NM were part of the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery. You are familiar with what happened to our troops in the Philippines when the Japanese started WWII. Thousands of our soldiers were surrendered there and participated in the horrific Bataan Death March. Gerry’s dad was among them and survived until near the end of the war. He was being shipped along with other US POWs to somewhere else. Japan or Manchuria? His dad was killed when US planes bombed the Japanese ship he was on. Our air crews had no idea those ships had US prisoners on them.
“When Gerry came back to NM, he became very involved in helping the survivors of that ordeal. He helped them get military awards and recognition for their heroic behavior. Much of what has been done on their behalf and keeping the memory of their sacrifices alive is due to Gerry’s lobbying and his personal involvement and dedication to them.
“Gerry has been instrumental in assisting and promoting the annual Bataan Memorial Death March. This march was started by the New Mexico State University ROTC cadets to commemorate the sacrifice of the brave men. This memorial march is normally held around April 1st at WSMR. It is a 26.2 mile hike through desert terrain. Most of the participants are military from US. It is open to all. Last year there were over 4,000 hikers. This year the event was cancelled due to events in Iraq.
“When the march was cancelled, Gerry organized a memorial service at the Las Cruces Veterans Memorial Park. The service was well planned by Gerry and it was well attended. The current commander of WSMR spoke. Gerry spoke and gave “shadow box” memorabilia to each of the living Bataan survivors or their family representatives who attended.
“In the Veterans Park there is a metal statue of three men representing the men on the Bataan march. Gerry was instrumental in getting US government and other funding for this monument. They have added a concrete walkway up to the monument that has foot prints of surviving Soldiers who were on the march. To me this is a very meaningful memorial and all our classmates should be very proud of Gerry’s efforts on behalf of the ‘Battling Bastards of Bataan” as they call themselves.” Pop your chest up, Gerry! Thanks to Neil for providing this information! Photos of Gerry at the memorial service will appear next time.
This will probably be the last column you receive (July) before the 45th. Not too late to sign up. Be there! We are in the primary zone for the final selection. There are no guarantees you or your roommates will make the 50th. Therefore, don’t miss this one!