143rd Column
Pictures at end of column
143d Column. This effort is dedicated to the Marchback with Plebes of ’08, our first event with the class 50 years our junior. Fifty-two of us hiked with the Plebes.
You
all know that Ed Weckel has promoted
Marchbacks since the first one with old grads in
2000. Ed, Wally Ward and Will Collett
have made all five MBs to date. Here is Ed last Nov encouraging us to
participate on the 50th anniversary of our Plebe Hike: “By now you’ve read of the ‘Wally Ward
Challenge,’ if we have 58 or more participants in the March Back, Wally will
run in the Marine Corps Marathon next year!
There are two options: 15 mile and two mile. Either way, you won’t regret your decision to
participate. Stay Healthy! Ed (Take a Hike) Weckel”
Jumping now to Ed’s post-MB after-action
report, “Short Version:
We made it and set a record. Fifty-two
guys marched 533 miles. We had 33 make the 15 mile trek, while the saner ones
marched two miles. Some had so much fun,
that they promised to do it again at our 100th
Report by Wally Ward: “With perfect weather conditions, this MB was the best.
However, the MB over rugged terrain is
no easy hike. The hike is done in
complete darkness. Also, the #%*&
stones on the trails caused many classmates to fall with injuries to knees,
arms and legs. When we finally reached
the golf course, we thought was the worst was over. However, the designer of the MB had another
idea. After passing the 2nd cemetery,
the entrance to a narrow pathway went suddenly straight up over a loose stony
trail to the summit of the ski slope. At
the top, one was faced with worn out knees and making the final steep descent
to the Ski Lodge.
“Again,
the class owes Ed Weckel thanks for making this a memorable MB for 52
classmates. The three dinners were
great. The most enjoyable was
At the Ski Slope, Don Palladino looked spotless and
fresh, not like the rest of us tired and dirty marchers. Not at all like Ron Hudson covered in mud from slipping when he approached an angry
Water Buffalo at one of the Tactical Assembly Areas (Note: Ron’s son Dale ’85
marched with him). Ed laughingly accused
Don of riding in one of the support vehicles.
Don’s reply via email, “Ed, Great job. Thanks for all you did to make the Marchback
a great success. And, for the record, I
did march the entire distance -- and have some clear explanations of why you
might have seen me in clean clothes at the ski slope. (1) I stopped and used the washer and dryer at
Round Pond. (2) I bribed Ron Hudson to change clothes with me. (3) New Cadet Company G4 carried me on their
backs the whole way just to prove they are tougher than ‘58. (4) I sweated so much that it was like being
in a continuous wash cycle from
From Hal Lyon, “Marchback Classmates: Just a note to say how inspiring
it was to do this Marchback with you. And
not a one of us dropping out! I saw Dick Graves pressing on with his knee
as swollen as an orange, Gerry Schurtz
coming down the ski slope with both knees locked up, Bill Edwards with stiff knees gutting it to the finish, Dave Bourland still in his post-surgery
recovery -- all of us with ‘that determination that will not be denied,
commonly known as guts...’ (Quote from COL John Roosma ‘26, Will & Garry's dad) showing what the
great Class of '58 is made of!
Hal
continues, “I was particularly impressed with the young women plebes. One 18-year-old marching next to me with her rifle
and 40 pound pack took a crashing downhill spill in the dark after tripping on
a rock. I helped her up and asked her
how she was. With blood running down her
face, she answered, ‘Awesome, Sir!’ Thanks
again for the ‘awesome’ privilege of being with all of you again! And special thanks to Ed for organizing it all
so well! Grip hands!” Let your Scribe say AMEN.
’58 MB Bandanas. “The Bandana Thing was a success. Many thanks for the generosity of the men who marched. A Check for the endowment fund in the amount of $400.00 is being sent by mail and represents a contribution by the marchers of 2004. Roland Peck.” (Note: see photo of Dave Bourland for his ’58 MB Bandana.)
Mystery classmate. Judy looked at my photos and said, “I know
many of your classmates, but who is this one?”
This one was Dick Williams ’45! Three
’58 H-2 veterans marched with Dick in 3d Platoon, New Cadet Company F (F3).
Friendly rivalry with ’57. Ed wrote to Bob Stevens, CINC57MARCHBACK during the promotional phase for ’58 MB, “I suspect the reason for this similarity in
numbers is that our ‘base’ is so similar -- numbers, ages, physical condition,
geographical dispersion and health. What
I did find surprising is the number of guys out there with health problems --
cardio, knee, lung, etc. This is a sign
of our aging -- something those of us who are still healthy sometimes overlook. Regardless of which Class fields more marchers,
I believe the winner will have set a high goal for subsequent classes. And in all candor -- regardless of the
outcome, I consider both ‘57 and ‘58 to be winners.”
After MB, Bob wrote
back, “Heartiest congratulations on a most successful 50th anniversary Marchback! However, while you did manage to beat '57
fair and square, I submit that the difference is not quite as great as it
might appear at first blush. Yes, your total was 52 vs our 36; however,
your count for the gut-check 15 miler was by a much slimmer margin: just 33 to
30. And I did not push real hard for folks to do the shorter course. In any event, a great big ‘Well done’ to one
and all in the '58 ranks! Bob Stevens CINC57MARCHBACK.” Scribe concurs with Ed and Bob: both ’57 and
’58 are winners and have set a tough standard for classes coming behind
us. Good luck to Jim Satterwhite and the
rest of ’59 next year!
Credit where credit is due. Please remember that two years ago ’56 produced some 18 marchers for 15 mile MB rather spontaneously. That fact really jump started the idea of marching with Plebes 50 years junior and led to the ’57 and ’58 competition.
Second ’08 event. Palmer McGrew represented ’58 at the Acceptance P-rade for ’08. Email classmates read his enthusiastic report.
First Class Club Turnover. Bob
Pointer has organized these affairs for ten years. Here are excerpts of report from Jimmy Weis: “Those representing the class were: Bob Pointer, Brad Johnson, Bill & Jan Edwards, Tony
& Bonnie Smith, Jim & Susan
Weis, Alex & Lois Pensiero
and Branch & Nancy Worsham.
Jim continues, “Cdt Jason Dupuis '05 read the proclamation and accepted the ‘05 crest from the ‘04 rep. Tony Smith made remarks on behalf of '58. He pointed out that 52 members of the class had just finished participating in the Marchback with '08 and, if such a thing had been in existence in August 1954, it would have been the class of 1908 marching back with us -- a mind-boggling thought for most of us. (1908 graduated 108 cadets.) Tony talked about the bond between classmates and noted that the First Class Club was one of the places lasting friendships could begin.” Emailers received more, but out to time and space. Report from San Antonio Mini next time.
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#1. Dave Bourland’s “doo rag” -- not available at this time
#2. 
Bill Stambaugh’s Plebe Boots still good for
15 miles 50 years later
#3.
Hikers Don Palladino, Hal Lyon, Lee Miller and Jerry Lewis
#4.
Ron Hudson expounding on Water Buffalo and Mud at Parks Restaurant
#5. Mystery Classmate -- not available at this time
#6. 
Class at Ski Slope
#7.
’58 Marching from Washington
Gate to Supe’s Qtrs