George W Sibert

161st Column

161st Column. 31 Aug for Nov-Dec. Due today, but (1) being late is not new and (2) puny b-ache is not wanting to address bad news. Extenuating circumstances include drumming up votes for Hank Larsen ’59 H2 to become President of Red Sox Nation. Unfortunately this activity got me in hot water with Lists Moderator Dick Buckalew. Dick’s email said I should have used the class forum, therefore, with neck well in I have rejoined the forum.

Bad news does not improve with age. Those on email were stunned with the news that Don McCullough A2 was murdered on 9 July. Our hearts ache for Margaret Mary and their family. Here are excerpts of the Lubbock newspaper account: “Donald J. McCullough, 73, was killed Monday inside the garage of his southwest Lubbock home as he unloaded dry cleaning from his SUV. He and his wife were headed to San Antonio Tuesday to attend the Air Force retirement ceremony of their son, said a longtime friend who later arrived at the scene. Police don’t know why a man ran into McCullough’s garage, fought with him and eventually stabbed him to death sometime around 5:30 p.m. It was unclear if the suspect was the man in custody. Lubbock Police spokesman Scott Hudgens said he was arrested at a nearby business. McCullough’s wife told police her husband had returned from running errands and had made one trip inside before going back to the garage to continue unloading the vehicle. Then she heard him calling ‘call 911.’ (A friend) who arrived at the home, said McCullough flew F-4 Phantoms in the Vietnam War. Their son flew F-16s in Desert Storm. The McCullough’s attend St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Lubbock.” A2 files Tom Morgan and Phil Raign joined myriad other friends rallying round the McCullough family for Don’s mass/memorial service in Lubbock with full military honors on 14 Jul.

John Nun provided the following report on Don’s burial at West Point and the photo came via Chuck Hansult (left to right): Stan Toney, Chuck & Pat Densford, Hansult, Bill Cooper, John Holecek, Nun plus Garry Roosma (in A-2 June Week of Plebe Year when H-2 vacated the Lost Fifties for old grads). “Was sad, but very nice. WP did their usual great job. There was a reception at the AOG hall after burial and James McCullough, USAF Ret presided over the retirement of his brother Michael McCullough, USAF officially retired 31 Aug 07. Very touching to say the least. Don had a great family. Margaret Mary is doing better than could be expected but she also agreed that the kids and friends have kept her so busy that she hasn't had a chance for the loneliness to set in yet. She is looking for a break with some relaxation but I am sure the quiet house will get to her worse than the bustle.” And the class can say about Don: “Well done, be thou at Peace.”

Another jolt of bad news via email from Bill Edwards (read by those 21^st Century classmates on the class lists). “Noreen Victorine called to inform me that Cliff died on Tuesday July 31. He had been battling for several months what had originally been thought to be leukemia, but turned out to be Myelodysplastic Syndrome. He had been hospitalized for the last week of his life and died shortly after having been transferred to hospice care at Franciscan Hospice House in University Place, Washington. Noreen and all their children were with Cliff when he died. The funeral mass (took) place at St Francis Cabrini Catholic Church, Lakewood, WA at 10 AM on Monday, August 6, 2007. Noreen says that she is not an Internet person, but that she can be reached by phone at 253-582-3951. Her address is 7835 78th Ave SW, Lakewood, WA 98498-621.”

Another email from Bill: “The class was well represented with seven classmates and five wives in attendance: Tom Davies, Bill & Jan Edwards, Tom & Betty Maliska, Tom Morgan, Dick & Judy Oberg, Harry & Claradell Shedd, and Gene & Ellie Wilson. The eulogy given by a long time family friend emphasized Cliff's fun-loving nature and sense of humor as well as his service to his community and church. At the reception in the near-by fellowship hall there was a slide presentation celebrating Cliff's life. It had been put together by one of Cliff's daughters with assistance from the entire family, showing his childhood, cadet days, his military career, and family life. At the graveside service at Mountain View Memorial Park, full military honors were rendered.” Details from Bill are appreciated greatly. Again the familiar refrain applies to Cliff: “Well done, be thou at peace.”

More sad news with few details. M2 CCQ Ash Haynes and finder-of-lost-classmates George Lawton have been on the trail of an M2 Jun 55 victim of Plebe English. Sadly Lawton reported on 24 Jul: “I was fooling around with the computer this PM and am sure I have ‘located’ Billy Orville Mackey. He died in Brandon, FL on 21 July 2005.” Any help with a newspaper obit for your friendly Scribe would be appreciated. We have located too many of our former cadets after they joined the Ghostly Assemblage: Bob Prater D1, Craig Shaver D1, Joe Hornyak H1, and John Ream L2. Of course, the former cadets are in the same primary zone with those of us ’58 files who graduated in Jun 58, 59 and 60. Please find them sooner so we can add them to our class reunions before adding them to our Roll Call.

Good news - two G2 former cadets located. CCQ Lawton has a secret weapon: Claradell Shedd. She located Carl Smith, a turnback from ’57 who joined us 29 Aug 55. He was found a second time on 30 Jan 57. Carl later graduated from OCS and subsequently retired as LTC. He lives in Columbia, SC (sorry he was not located before our mini there in 1995). Claradell also located Henry Breton. He was a casualty of French at Plebe Christmas. Bob Rhodes spurred the search Henry. They were both in 3d NCC and later double-dated when Bob fixed Henry up with his sister. That was then, this is now: Henry & wife Liz live in Bartow, FL.

Sad news. Ann Reeder Riggs, Dodie Hruby’s sister, died 31 July. Many classmates knew Ann, an Episcopal priest in Virginia and Army widow. Her funeral was officiated by Bishop Peter James Lee of Virginia on 4 Aug at St Andrew’s in Burke. Ann was buried at Arlington on 6 Aug with her husband COL Theodore Scott Riggs (1951 OCS grad) and their son Philip who died in 1970 at age eight. The Riggs share the grave of Ann and Dodie’s grandfather, the senior COL Russell P Reeder.

Follow-up on Bob Huskinson. His memorial service was on 24 Jun in San Diego. Further details misplaced (lost) in my laptop. Bob was interred at West Point on 23 Jul. Six members of his law firm came from San Diego. Fortunately the photo of I2 files is worth a thousand words because space is a premium.

Follow-up on Paul Johnson. On 31 July, many classmates and Paul’s colleagues from Defense Mapping joined Paula, their children and L2 files to celebrate his life at the Ft Myer Post Chapel (standing room only). The Old Guard led the way to his inurnment in the Arlington Columbarium with full military honors. Paula hosted a reception at the Officers Club (photo).

Two grandfathers were at West Point for the March Back of their plebe grandsons. Dick Graves marched with Colin ’11 and either Colin’s father William ’82 or uncle Tom ’86. And, “Operation Bauchspies” organized by F1 CCQ Bob Rhodes found Dick & Barbara with F1 files not marching being invited to take the review on the Supe’s Porch. Passing in review were cadets marching back (Plebes ’11, and their detail of Cows ’09 and Firsties ’08) and the old grad marchers, including our aforementioned Graves, Ed Weckel, Wally Ward, Will Collett, Paul Schonberger, Bob Shellenberger and Garry Roosma.

Far too much info – 162d was begun tonight with info cut from this one. Seven photos and it’s on the way to my Assembly boss.

A2 at West Point for Don McCullough’s burial
I2 at West Point for Bob Huskinson’s burial
Classmates at Ft Myer Reception for Paul Johnson’s burial
’58 Marchers at Ski Lodge
Brandon Bauchspies Lawrence ’11, Harvey Jahn, Barbara & Dick Bauchspies at Buckner evening before March Back
Operation Bauchspies on Supe’s Porch with F1 Guidon
Operation Bauchspies at Eisenhower Hall after March Back

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