George W Sibert

150th Column

Pictures at end of column

150th Column. Due tomorrow, 28 Oct, for Jan-Feb 06 Assembly. First, a belated Merry Christmas, that is, belated by the time you read this during Epiphany. One of these days your Scribe will have an epiphany and get class notes written earlier each cycle. If you believe that, I also have a bridge for sale along with some ocean front property in Arizona. Some may remember that I suggested theme songs for 30^th Reunion: “Stop the World, I Want to Get Off” by Anthony Newly or “Take This Job and Shove It” by Johnny Paycheck. Neither had any mileage or comment. Undaunted, twenty years later Scribe is trying again for our 50^th Reunion with a Toby Keith song on Country Stations since July: “I’m Not as Good as I Once Was, but I’m as Good Once as I Ever Was.” There will be no All Rights asked in connection with this claim nor will anyone check with your OAO for verification.

Sad News, again (not news to those on class email). “I am sad to report the passing of John Andrusko, ex ‘58, during surgery following a heart attack, this past Monday, Sep 12th, in Phoenix, AZ. John's ex-wife, Joan, and his daughters had the opportunity to visit him at the hospital before he died. Many of you will remember John as a football player, and a good friend who succumbed to academics Cow year. He went on to graduate from Tulsa, got a masters from Yale, and worked for many years in the computer industry. Be thou at peace... Paul Ciasullo” Excerpts from an email to John’s G1 company-mates by Dan Brockwell who had been in touch with John: “We reminisced about his football exploits. I reminded him that he has one of the best if not the best record in Army football for ‘yards per carry.’ If you remember Yearling year Andy carried the ball one time against Furman. He went 55 yards for a touch down. It was the only game John got to play in. After that he was too ‘D’ to stay on Corps squad. He told me a story of how all the players at Tulsa were extremely impressed when Doc Blanchard ‘47 (visiting Dodd, the coach of Tulsa) sought out John on the practice field to say hello. They couldn't get over the fact that he knew the famous Doc Blanchard personally. John, of course, played it to the hilt.”

Roommates – four years. I heard from John Bradley with belated notification that he and John Nun “roomed together for all four years.” Congratulations to John & John.

Hometown Sweethearts married and living in Hometown USA. From Jude Theibert based on San Antonio Mini experience. He spoke separately with two other classmates and discovered the three of them had something in common. He learned that Tom Claffey had married his hometown sweetheart, Sylvia, and they both settled back in the old hometown (Santa Fe, NM). Later, Jude spoke to Gary Graves and learned he had married his hometown sweetheart, Sylvia, and they also returned to their hometown (Salem, IN). Of course Jude & Sylvia, oops, make that JoAnne, married and returned to their hometown (Sandusky, OH). Two questions: Who else married his hometown sweetheart? And then returned to their hometown? My candidates are Tom & Middie Thompson. They have been an item since Kindergarten, but don’t know if they are living in their Hometown USA.

Washington Hall Mural. This is not another ad to buy prints of the mural arranged by ’57 and being marketed by Phil DiMauro. This is a story about historic preservation. According to Pete Penczer, “when John Brinson was aide to the Com, a decision had been made by the top authorities to do away with the mural in connection with the expansion of Washington Hall. John stood up at a meeting and made an impassioned speech in favor of retaining it in spite of then-contrary opinion and decision. As I understand it, there was the usual personal risk involved in objecting to something already decided. If John hadn’t done that, there would be no mural.” Pop your chest way up, John and thanks to Pete for providing this historic story about historic preservation.

Class A Pins. If anyone is in the market, contact Alan Salisbury and/or Gene Wilson. They have broken the code with Balfour.

South American travels. Phil & Lynn Pryor “recently returned from an 18-day venture to Peru (Lima and Machu Picchu), Ecuador (Quito and the Galapagos Islands).” He included pics of straddling the Equator (zero latitude line) and interesting ones from Galapagos.

Other travelers. Last July, I tried a new email address Alex Johnston. He surprised me with this reply: “Thanks from behind the wall in East Berlin.” No news other than East Berlin, which brought to mind the story about John Sewall, Rhodes Scholar at the time, winding up at an East German Army reception during the very hostile days of the Cold War. Sadly, the details are lost in the hinterlands of my brain. Kyle Rector asked for information on the post-card project sponsored by Ray Riggan (post cards for a young neighbor working on GSA merit badge for collecting post cards). Dutifully sent the info to Kyle and got this reply: “Thanks for your response. Doing a little ‘Space-A, R&R’ in Italy. That and hanging out in the old shanty in Texas leaves little to report.”

Of course a majority of ‘58 travelers were in San Francisco for the mini last week. I expect lots of news of that event before the next submission is due in late Dec. Did hear from Mary Kay Olson that six widows went to SF and three were from D2!

Marchback After Action Report. Everyone knows the reporter for this item is Ed Weckel, CINC58MARCHBACK. “Class of ’59 beat our attendance record of 53 with a head count of 65. Congratulations to ’59!” Scribe adds that Ed gave “lessons learned” from our hiking with ’08 in Aug 2004 and the various social functions he organized for us, to ’59 CINC Jim Satterwhite. While Ed’s report is interrupted, Scribe would like to remind all readers that ’56 began the emphasis on marching with 50^th Anniversary classes by having 18 marchers in 2002, a proud banner proclaiming the bond between ’56 and ’06. The ’56 contingent was impromptu with little effort to get classmate marchers. As far as I know, they had 18 guys who showed up with the same bright idea. And Gene Fox H2 ’56 brought the banner he made.

I believe that ’57 had 36 when they marched with ’07 in 2003. Easy to see how this event has grown in popularity: 18 to 36 to 53 to 65. Also easy to see why AOG has put a cap of 40 for 15-mile marchers from the 50^th Anniversary class – to retain space for other marchers within the graduate limit of 200. Think that ’59 filled its 40 quota and then had another 25 for the final 2-miles from Washington Gate to Supe’s Quarters. Bottom line from my vantage point is congratulations to ’56 for jump-starting this event of bonding with Plebes 50 years junior; congratulations to ’57 for moving the bar higher; congratulations to Ed and the ‘58 Marchers for moving the bar up another few notches and CONGRATULATIONS to ’59 for setting the new record to beat! Over to you to keep this ball rolling: “Go Like ’60” and ’61 “Second to None.”

Sorry for the digression, Ed. “This was Wally’s and my 6^th MB, Will Collette’s fifth and Bruce Mignano’s third. Bruce and John Cook promised to return next year. Why? The real reason we keep coming back to the Academy is to be with a group of young men and women whose value system is akin to ours. In this materialist society, young people who still believe in giving something back to their country are getting harder and harder to find.”

Hurricane relief. Dave & Val Turner are back from three weeks in LA as volunteers after Hurricane Katrina. However, they are still working, but closer to home in Denver. Here is his not-so-puny B-ache sent to his L2 CCQ, Robert Higgins: “Val and I are sorry to be missing the festivities in San Francisco and hope you all have a great time. We continue to work in the Red Cross service center in Denver for Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees. To date we have opened 1650 cases in Denver and have provided financial and lodging assistance to the majority of these. Approximately 50% plan to relocate here permanently. Our group of volunteers sees about 20 cases per day, well down from our peak, and we hope to be finished in a couple of weeks.” The American Red Cross is blessed with volunteers such as Dave & Val!

M2 macro. From Ash Haynes: “M2 just had its latest company ‘macro’ in Victoria, BC from 7-11 Sep 2005. There were 10 M2 couples, ably augmented by Tom & Grace Morgan, from the other end of the 2nd Regiment. Tours of the city, Butchart Gardens, whale watching, good food, and great fellowship were the highlights. The group photo is us. (L to R: Tredway, Morgan, Crandall, Haynes, Brintnall, Hruby, Jones, Hayden, Packard, Schroeder, and Bradshaw.)” This photo made the column. Digital photos work better for Scribe: can find them easily in my computer: better than looking for hard copies in my files (files?) and easier to send to my boss in Germany.

I2 micro at the beach. From Palmer McGrew, the organizer and host: “I totally forgot to take pictures until the last evening. Unphotographed were several canoe adventures, the annual Spiedies gluttony including Chef Pierre Millspaugh cooking over a wood fire, sailing on the bay, walks on the beach, and so much more. Mea culpa.” Two photos are included.

Classmate authors. Bob Moscatelli is a repeat performer with his recently published, “The Quote Manual,” a 50-year collection of carefully selected quotes. Other authors I have mentioned over time: Hal Lyon, Larry Sutherland, Chuck Cabell, Mike Mahler, Herb Puscheck and more recently Jack Crandall. There are probably others I have mentioned and cannot recall as well as still others not recognized in these columns – please let me hear from you. And, provide a copy to AOG Publications for its collection of books by USMA authors.

Longer column and extra photo (8 total) as a reward to class subscribers. Need more!

PS -- Mel’s Final P-rade. “A large crowd gathered at the Arlington National Cemetery administration building to greet Jane and her family. Among others attending were Bill Giallourakis who came from NJ and several who knew the Drisko's on Okinawa in the 2/503d Airborne Battle Group. A bus load of American Legionnaires were there from the Richmond region as well as many West Point classmates. It was a beautiful day and we followed the caisson carrying Mel's casket. At the grave we gathered around as the band played the “Alma Mater” and other West Point songs. An honor guard presented arms as the three volleys were fired and the bugler sounded Taps as Mel had done so many times for others. His minister from Richmond gave a heartfelt eulogy enumerating the many ways that Mel helped others. It was a fitting final tribute to a true American Soldier, husband, father, and friend.” Thanks to Jack Downing for the report.

’08 Class Flag with more ’08 class members at Camp Buckner (Simon Bolivar Buckner ’08)
I2 Micro at Beach
M2 Macro Sep 05
Dick Buckalew & Dau Kathleen on Sydney Bridge
Buckalew at Ayers Rock “down under”
Andreson, Tony Smith, Will Roosma, Pointer & Hansult at FCC Turnover Aug 05
Lawyers Pete Millspaugh and Bob Comeau ‘57
Lynn & Phil Pryor in Northern and Southern Hemispheres