151st Column for Mar-Apr 2006.  4 Nov – actually beginning early with an item cut from 150^th.  Retirees from E2.  CCQ Chuck Toftoy recently asked his company-mates to let him know whether they were working or retired (and when).  Here are the results of Tof’s survey: “Tom Maliska fully retired in 2000, now real estate (doesn’t sound fully retired to Scribe); Pete Kusek 85% retired, consulting for company he worked for (for 20 years); John Isaacson retired at age 60; Ed Matthews fully retired; Nat Crow fully retired in 1995; Toby Kevin retired at age 67; Dave Umbaugh retired at age 66, was teaching at UTA; Jimmy Weis retired in 1999, last taught Fall Semester 1991; Mac Williams and Toftoy not retired yet.”  Perhaps this is representative of ’58 – mostly retired, but some working part-time and some still giving 100% (or more) to some employer.

            San Francisco Mini.  Scribe has heard snippets praising the work of Paul Ruud and his crew of classmate organizers for their efforts on our behalf 17-20 Oct.  Some photos will appear throughout this effort, mostly of Pony Tracks Ranch and its collection of armored vehicles being inspected by classmates attracted to such memorabilia  Heartfelt thanks to Paul and his left coast gang for hosting a grand gathering of classmates, wives, friends, offspring, und so weider.  Scribe feels certain that everyone knows the 2006 class mini reunion will be in Savannah 14-17 May.  Received the mailing on 29 Dec.  Have you made your reservations?

            J Barrie Williams - final Parade.  The rain gods must have owed Barrie based on cadet prayers from 50 some odd years ago.  Perhaps Barrie left a Blitz cloth lying around with a T-pin in it.  Or, perhaps, he was leading the Ghostly Assemblage in singing “every time I pray for rain, the damned old sun comes out again.”  Whatever the reason, it worked: it rained!  Company A-1 had a great turn-out and were joined by many other classmates from DC area.  Fred Mayer, a roommate of Barrie’s from days gone by, had wonderful remarks at the grave.  With the rain and wind, Scribe did not hear what he said.  Perhaps another time I can get a copy from Fred and share the words with you.  Of course, the Old Guard did an excellent job complete with caisson.

            Classmate authors.  Last column I mentioned Bob Moscatelli’s book, “The Quote Manual,” and courageously listed other classmate authors.  Courageously, you ask?  You bet, because of risking the grievous sin of omission.  No reports of omissions yet.  Back to One-Book Bob’s second book (does this make him Two-Book Bob?) which your Scribe now has read.  A Plebe English book report you are spared.  The book uses his 50-year collection of “inspirational and thought provoking quotes” collected in the course of his life in and after the Army.  Here are a few of his quotes: “You can never do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late” (Ralph Waldo Emerson).  “Never tell people how to do things.  Tell them what to do, and they will surprise you with their ingenuity” (George S Patton, General USA).  “Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier or not having been to sea” (Samuel Johnson).  On marriage, “It’s got to be more of us and less you and me” (Bonnie Moscatelli).  “The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for” (unknown).  Scribe adds “Amen” to these quotes and many others in Bob’s book (note: these were selected by Scribe, not Bob).

            Herb Puscheck also has a second book, “Why Be Normal?  From Soup to Nuts, Mostly Nuts.”  This is another one that Scribe could not put down until finished.  It is both as funny and serious as Herb’s first book, “Virgin Voyage: Lessons Learned Circling the Globe at 15 Knots.”  The book is a compilation of essays: funny stories and/or serious thoughts.  Great combination for a worthwhile book.  A couple of the funny stories were entitled: “Dog” (name of pet raccoon) and “A Blue Dinner.”  Terrific stories that caused serious laughter that ended with tears running down my cheeks.  The illustrations were provided by classmate Bill Brower, a commercial artist (and company-mate of Herb’s) living in DC and WV.  Scribe recommends these classmate authors without reservation!

            A combined SF Mini and Hurricane Wilma story.  Jim & Sally Tilley missed SF to attend a family wedding in Cancun.  They did not miss Hurricane Wilma.  Here is Jim’s account: “Sorry we left you with the remnants of Wilma.  Tried to take the wind out of her sails but to no avail.  The storm slowed down and moved at about 5-7 mph.  Given the sheer size and the fact that it was a category 5 being in it for three days + was a little disconcerting.  For example, we were in the eye for over 12 hours.  The good part is that the resort we were in was relatively new and was built to very high standards.  Buildings just a couple of hundred yards down the beach were totally destroyed while our buildings survived quite well.  We were in one of the newer buildings and, although we lost part of the roof, we were quite safe.  As we are prone to do, we focused on the humor of the whole thing. 

            “Worst was the total lack of communications.  Nothing, nada.  Rumors were the principle method of communicating.  Five days after the hurricane passed we still had no way of communicating -- phone, radio, TV -- nothing, other than some lines in a town some 30 minutes south by taxi that hundreds of other lost souls were trying to use.  We finally were able to communicate with one of the guest’s father in Baltimore and he became our link with the airlines trying to get us out of country.  The airport was in pretty bad shape and, unfortunately, none of the info ever materialized.  We finally found a charter flight on Friday that we were able to get on that took us to Newark and then we all arranged travel home from there.

            “Cancun suffered a great deal of damage as you might expect.  I think I may not go back there for a while.  You have no idea how many times I said to Sally, ‘You know, we could be in SF now with our friends.’  But, all is well, and we are safe and sound with many interesting memories.”

            We’ve had too many classmates involved in myriad recent hurricanes: four last year in Florida and then New Orleans and Gulf coast in 2005, but Jim & Sally actually traveled to meet theirs in Cancun.  The best part of his report is “safe and sound.”  Makes me glad that Pensacola Mini was in April and Savannah Mini will be in May to avoid hurricane season.

            Note from John Schaffer, “Here is a picture of Laura & me meeting Cadet Mike Hill, a Yearling, in Central Area on 11 Nov.  It was a chance meeting.  We found that our classmate, my C-1 company-mate, Paul Bons, is his grandfather!  Out of 4,000 or so cadets, to run into Mike was a surprise.”  Thanks for the news, John.  Pop your chest up, Paul.  Our first classmate to have a grandchild at USMA.  And, neck in Paul for not passing along this news to your Scribe last year while Mike was a Plebe!  We were dependent on a chance encounter and prompt report to find out that your grandson is a cadet.  Hope the photo works after scanned.

            Terry Connell sent an article from Williamette View Retirement Community monthly newsletter about Bud Davenport’s father, who turned 100 in spring 2005!  The article was an interview in connection with Veterans Day.  Colonel Harold A Davenport was a USAR captain when WW2 began.  He reminisced about the Berlin Brigade during the Berlin Airlift when he was Provost Marshall and commanded the MP battalion.  Most unusual was the addition of a horse platoon to his battalion.  The horses were Lippizaners.  His platoon was the last designated horse unit in the US Army.  Scribe remembers then-LTC Davenport at Ft Leavenworth in 1947 when Bud was an early hero of mine.  Thanks, Terry.

            Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.  Our own Tony Smith was presented this honor at French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte’s residence on 28 Nov.  You should have read about it in the Bulletin Board in Jan-Feb Assembly.  Excerpts of the Ambassador’s remarks follow:

“My dear Tony, one might think the Legion of Honor was created for you specifically. Not that Napoleon had ever thought of decorating a General Smith. But because in your life and in your career, both military and civilian, you embody the values of honor and courage that the founder of the Legion of Honor wanted to bring together in one unique and prestigious body.  (Remarks about Tony’s military career, academic achievements and first two civilian positions deleted due to space constraints).

            “In 2001 you took on the position of President of the French-American Foundation, focusing exclusively on relations with France, a country for which you have shown a profound knowledge and interest. Since its founding in 1976, the French-American Foundation has been committed to strengthening French-American relations and encouraging an active dialogue between the two countries at leadership levels in order to promote a deeper mutual understanding. This mission, with so many parallels in the preceding years of your professional life, thus became your single-minded undertaking.

            “My dear Tony, beyond all the evidence of your friendship to my country, beyond all you are conspiring to further strengthen relations between France and the United States, you personify, through your career, the values of freedom, courage and faithfulness. Those are values that Napoleon and all of his successors, both civilian and military, have honored by the Legion of Honor. If there is one country with which we have consistently shared these values, it is of course the United States, our eternal ally. For all of these reasons, the Grand Master of the Order, President Chirac, has named you Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.

            “You will be in good company, among the distinguished Americans who received this award are the late Presidentt Ronald Reagan, David Rockfeller, Gen Norman Schwartzkopf and Gen Colin Powell.”  Out of airspeed, altitude, runway, power, fuel, ideas.  Cheers.

1.   Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur: French Ambassador and Tony Smith

2.   Pony Tracks Ranch – Tankers Museum Group

3.   Garry Roosma, Dick Graves and Stan Bacon ready to test drive “Black Magic”

4.   Gonzos sporting Black, Gold & Gray serapes

5.   D2 at SF Mini (Ruud is AWOL from photo)

6. Laura & John Schaffer with Cadet Mike Hill

7.   Vimol & Pete Kullavanijaya, Betty & Herb Puscheck, Sam & Jintana Sookmark

8.   Jim & Dottie Castle on glacier in NZ