141st
Column. 25 Mar, an early start for
Jul-Aug Assembly (due end of
April). Topics on class forum recently
included goat meat – not the goat meat we yelled about as cadets before
Army-Navy games, but real goat meat eating sessions. Hugh Fisher and Edgie Waller were face to face with
goat meat in VN in 1962 as advisors. Pete & Janice Brintnall encountered
it on paddle wheeler for a trip down the Rio San
Francisco in Brazil as diplomats.
Pete relished the dinner while Janice passed on this opportunity. May explain our recent losses to Navy!
Scribe’s favorite message from class
forum traffic from Doug Sedgwick
follows: “My father joined the army in late
1920s. After his basic training he was
assigned to West Point as a waiter in the cadet mess hall. While at West
Point he met my mom, the daughter of a Master Sgt stationed at West Point for most of his career. My mom, her brothers and sisters (all ten of them), my brother
and sister and I were all born at West Point.
My great-grandfather was custodian of the cadet chapel for many
years. At one of my first meals in the cadet mess, my waiter was one of my
cousins from Ft Montgomery, since (by then)
the waiters were civilians. After my
grandfather retired from the Army he was the custodian at Round Pond for
fourteen years.” It was
certainly foreordained for Doug to become a cadet!
Unusual activities in
retirement. “I blush to disclose that I too have written
books. I edited and published my Dad's memoirs, ‘A Man of Intelligence: Memoirs
of War, Peace and the CIA’; I wrote a book on theology, ‘Our Father: A Fresh
Look at God’; I co-authored a book, ‘Just for Kicks: Fly-Fishing from a Belly
Boat’; I co-authored a book on music theory, ‘Chordially Yours’; and I helped a
friend put together and publish a book of his poems, ‘Unmasking the Heart.’
Within the year, I hope to write another book, ‘Practicing Away From the
Piano.’ I only did this to outdo
‘One-Book’ Bob Moscatelli. Book
writing is note-worthy, but not unusual.
Now for the unusual activity by this as yet unnamed classmate: “I have
really gotten interested in music. In
2000 I co-founded (and am current president of) ‘Amateur Pianists
International’ a non-profit organization that, among other activities, puts on
an annual ‘Celebration of the Amateur Pianist’ (which contains the Rocky
Mountain Amateur Piano Competition) here in Colorado Springs. We get people here from all over the world
-- Brazil, Japan, France, Germany, Canada -- and have a really great time. In answer to your question: no, I am not
good enough to play in my own competition.
Chuck Cabell”
Gross Plebe
Stories.
This sterling topic was raised by Ron
Turner who related this story: “My favorite is when at the dinner table and
our Plebe necks well screwed in, the waiter brought a serving of food and
presented it to ‘our hero’ to pass to the head of the table. The food was Brussels sprouts. After some hesitation, and loud prompting
from upperclassmen for the delay, the Plebe announced, ‘Sir, the little
cabbages are on the table, little cabbages to the head of the table.’
Needless to say, all hell broke loose.
Who was this Gross Plebe? Do you
know? A hint -- he was the Honor Graduate of the Ranger Course 5 in
December 1958.” Bill Miles replied by email that this gross Plebe must be Don Martin. Any other guesses?
Another
story, submitted by Dan Charlton: “Okay, here's my favorite happening in all
four years at West Point. It was our plebe year. ‘Bulldog Drummond’ was the fearless and
fear-inspiring CO of F1. I think it was during lunch when our erstwhile
and much-liked classmate Francis X Flaherty
approached the table where sat the noble Bulldog, pointed his finger at him and
said in a loud, authoritative, stentorian voice ‘TAKE OFF THAT MASK!’ He did an about face and marched back to
his table. To this day it causes me to smile and wonder who put him up to
it.”
Bataan Death March. “Here's old #1234 in the Bataan Memorial
Death March at White Sands Missile Range on March 21, 2004 (Scribe: hope the
digital photo works). Guess they gave
me that number to make sure I would remember it. It's 26.2 miles long and took me 8 hrs and 50 minutes or about
3mph. About half way, Bonnie Schurtz passed me. She set the pace and I tagged along. She finished with a time of about 8hrs and
40 min. Gerry was laid up that day and was also making things happen for
the march. Next year I'd sure like to
see a sizable number of 58ers do it with us; we need to get off our @##$%&*
and get walking and get ready. Lord
willing and the creek don't rise. See
www.bataanmarch.com. Let's do it guys!!! Neil
Mathis”
Sad news from Alan Salisbury 12 Apr. “I
'm deeply saddened to inform you that Antonia
Giallourakis, wife of our classmate Bill,
died early this morning after losing a courageous battle with a recurrence of
brain cancer. “Bill's youngest daughter, Christina, is an attorney here in DC with
the new Department of Homeland
Security. Their son Cosmos is an MD and
PhD researcher
at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and is married to
Jenny Lee. Stammie, their oldest, is
married to Aris Despo and lives near Bill in NJ.” Scribe knows that Alan & Florence
Salisbury and Branch & Nancy Worsham
attended Antonia’s funeral. Our
sympathies are with Bill and family.
“Well done, rest in peace.”
Further
information from Alan, “in lieu of flowers, Bill has asked that anyone wishing
to honor Antonia's memory can do so through donations to the foundation Antonia
recently established, the Children's Art for Children's Cancer Foundation, Inc.
“As many of you
know, Antonia was herself an accomplished artist as well as an iconographer in
the original tradition. (Florence and I
are blessed to have hanging on our walls two original icons created by
Antonia.) She had a wonderful career as
an art teacher in the Shrewsbury, New Jersey school system. Building on her years of working with
children in school art programs, as well as in response to her own journey
through the cancer care medical system, Antonia took a strong interest in how
art can help children who are coping with their own cancer diseases. She visited and worked with the children and
counselors in the arts and crafts programs that were available to them in the
hospitals where Antonia was receiving her own care. Eventually she developed a curriculum of art projects that
children could work on in their schools as a way of supporting other children
who are suffering from cancer. “Bill
helped her bring it all together through the establishment of the Children's
Art for Children's Cancer Foundation, Inc.
Florence & I saw first hand how hard Antonia was working on
developing these materials, handing them off to teachers, and learning how to
administer a growing foundation. The
joy that this work brought to Antonia was contagious. We are delighted to know that Bill wants this to be her living
memorial and that the foundation, with the support of other teachers who had
worked with Antonia, will continue her good work.
“Those wishing to
contribute should make their checks out to the foundation, and mail them to Bill at 46 Winding Brook
Way, Shrewsbury, NJ 07702.” Alan,
thanks for the information about the foundation, a wonderful legacy for
Antonia.
March Back with ‘08. As of 27 Apr there are 43 marchers. It may not be too late to join the
party. Contact Ed Weckel (OIC) for information.
Report after the March Back should appear in 143d Column (Aug
submission) for Nov-Dec Assembly.
Class
Endowment Fund. Interesting message
from Ed Weckel 27 April. “Those of you on the forum received a Message from Stan Bacon dated Fri, 16 Apr 2004,
subject: ‘Self-Proclaimed Philanthropist Strikes Again.’ (A copy of this email
will be provided to non-forumites upon request to Ed Weckel)
“Stan recounts
how a member of our Class donated $58,000 to the Endowment (50th Anniversary
Gift Fund) with a check dated 4 June 2058.
Unfortunately Fidelity would not accept the check as a deposit. This check is in the possession of the
Endowment Board and is the property of the Class. “It is the duty of the Endowment Board, acting as the fiduciary
for the Class, to determine how best to monetize the aforementioned check. Accordingly a Class Auction will be
held. The check will be sold to the
highest bidder.” Bidding began at $100
and, as of 27 Apr, was up to $300. More
info next time, if Scribe remembers…
Patty Jones,
daughter of Ann & Linc
celebrated birth of Alexis Ann and promotion to LTC. Photo includes proud grandparents and husband Malcolm Frost
’87. Patty and Malcolm are selected for
and in the queue for battalion commands (both) in Afghanistan. Jim
Jones came east to Quantico to visit daughter Jennifer (married to a
Marine). She arranged a surprise 70th
for her father with M2 files Tom
Carpenter, Pete Brintnall, Van Van Fleet and Bob Tredway.
Out of time and
space. Must mention that Herb Johnson has organized a cruise
following San Antonio Mini. See you in Texas 21-24 Oct. Remember the Alamo!
Photos for 141st Column -- July-August Assembly