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176th Column

      

 176th Column  6 Jul for Oct-Dec 2010 Assembly.  Before getting into the present and future for this submission, I am pulled to the past by virtue of the date: 6 July!  In 1954 on this day, 752 of us entered Beast Barracks as New Cadets.  Bob Higgins and I had flown from Raleigh-Durham, NC to NJ a few days earlier.  My aunt then drove us to West Point on the appointed day.  After reporting to the man in the Red Sash, Bob went to 1st NCC and I went to 3d NCC.

            My roommates in South Area were Ray Coffey (my first wife) and Dick Smith (my other wife).  Our Squad Leader was John L Pickitt, an Army Lacrosse player.  He was later my sqd ldr in H-2 for the remainder of Plebe Year.  Our paths did not cross after his graduation in 1955, but I am proud to have served under him for that year.  I, quite happily, attribute all that I am to my Plebe Squad Leader.  John retired in 1987 as an Air Force Lt Gen.

            Remember all the alphabetical formations for uniforms, choir try-outs, etc: virtually everything seemed to be alphabetical.  With a name beginning with S, I was always near the end, one man behind Pete Shunk.  Talk about shock and awe: I was 17 and just out of HS while Pete was 21 and a graduate of VMI who resigned his USAR commission to enter USMA!              The uniform for some formation was “fatigues with combat boots under arms.”  When Will Roosma double-timed into ranks with one boot under each arm, our company commander Bulldog Drummond almost lost his composure on the stoops.  Because Will was an Army Brat, his roommates followed his lead on the uniform with combat boots under their arms as well.

            Thanks for indulging my small diversion down memory lane.  Perhaps this will cause others to remember your Beast roommates, chain-of-command, shower formations, or stories.

            Another honor for Tony Smith reported to Scribe by Hal Lyon.  Here is a quote from a joint Department of Foreign Languages and WPAOG letter: “The Brigadier General Anthony A. Smith Award for Excellence in Foreign Studies will be presented annually to two graduating cadets who have demonstrated outstanding character and exemplary leadership potential in all areas.  One recipient must have participated in the Semester Abroad program and the other in the Cultural Immersion program.  The selection of the recipients will be made by the Department of Foreign Languages.  Your gift will endow the presentation of engraved pewter plates to the awardees in perpetuity.”  The endowment was created by the George and Carol Olmstead Foundation following Tony’s retirement as Chairman of the Board of Directors.  Congratulations to Tony and thanks to Hal for sharing this news.

            Class Ski Trip History. Info provided by CINCSKI Palmer McGrew.  1997 Breckenridge, CO hosts: Tilley, Johnson, Nadal, Pryor; 1998 Alta, UT: LeTowt; 1999  Keystone, CO: Moscatelli, Herberger; 2000 Austria: Gillette; 2001 Keystone, CO: Dugan; 2002 Whistler, BC: Wilson, Morgan, Edwards, et al; 2003 Copper Mtn, CO: Herberger, Dugan; 2004 Park City UT: Moore; 2005 Steamboat, CO: Dugan; 2006 Sun Valley, ID: Wilson; 2007 Breckenridge: Dugan; 2008 Park City: Moore; 2009 Tahoe, CA: Ruud; 2010 Whitefish, MT: Clary.

            This year's trip, organized and hosted by Bill & Ellen Clary, was another great success.  Bill introduced us to a part of the country and a mountain that we would have been unlikely to ever visit otherwise, and everything went well except for the afternoon slush.  Obviously, they are not responsible for the weather.  We are very grateful to them for their service to the class skiers and wish them success with their real estate venture.

            “A trip for 2011 is being organized by Karl Oelke with a target location of Ski Mass, Aspen, CO.  Karl is concerned, having only participated in one of our trips and the only one where skiing was FREE, that Snow Mass may be too expensive for our tastes.  Skiing is expensive no matter where you go, unless, like Dugan, you can roll out of bed and ski away (slight exaggeration)  If you've gone out and bought skis, boots, poles, jackets, pants, sox, long johns, hoods, face masks, gloves etc, you've already made the decision to spend your money skiing, not leave it to your kids.  Drive on, Karl.

            “CINCSKI is getting older.  I feel his pain.  I do, actually.  In fact, our numbers have steadily fallen as our members have had knee replacements and all manner of age-related (mostly knee) ailments.  But we are determined to ski as long as we can.”

            Class Cruises History.  Scribe needs a similar historical run-down of our many cruises: when, where, who organized, etc.  Help is needed for this project.  Some were in connection with class reunions such as 30th and 45th (Betty Puscheck) and Portland Mini (Dick Oberg) and many stand-alone cruises, mostly in Europe.  These are well beyond my recall.  I can take the information piecemeal from the various organizers: month/year and where.  THANKS.

            Tex (Ernie) Lenart report via Tony Bauer I-1 CCQ.  “A few days ago I (Tony) received a note from Bob Moscatelli concerning Ernie.  Bob tried to contact him by phone at Villa Vista where he resides, but with no success.  He then wrote a note to Bob Lusignan, a retired CW4 who has been looking in on Ernie and has been his friend for many years.  Bob L responded with some information.

            “Villa Vista is an Alzheimer/Dementia care facility.  Bob Lusignan says that Ernie would probably not remember any of us.  Physically he is in good shape, no surprise, but mentally is deteriorating at a steady rate.  Bob L also wrote that Ernie will be transitioning to a new facility soon which is better suited to Ernie's illness.  Bob L encourages Ernie’s classmates to write to him and he will pass on your regards.  His address: Robert G. Lusignan, 4953 S. Calle Encina, Sierra Vista, AZ 85650.”

            Scribe’s footnote.  Many will remember that Gary Kosmider was assisting Tex with such tasks as shopping and bill paying for a number of years.  Sadly, this help came to an end with Gary’s death on 26 Apr 05.  It is great that Bob Lusigan stays in touch with Ernie.

            Oct 2009.  From 6 July CINC Obits email with info from Otto Thamasett M1 CCQ: “Sadly this notice is long after the death of our classmate, Jack Lynne.   It does not diminish our regard for this commander of company M-1. Jack Downing.”  And, now from Otto:  “I had been trying to reach Jack Lynne for several months and had no success. The phone number we had listed was not working. I wrote a note to Jack recently and asked for an update on his phone number and any other information he might have.  Today I received a note from Mrs. Lillian Robinson who lives at Jack’s home in Tampa, FL.  She is Jack’s mother-in-law from his marriage to JoAnne (died 28 Jan 2001).  Mrs. Robinson wrote that Jack passed away in Oct and that she was in the hospital at the time. When she returned home from the hospital, Jack’s second wife had moved and left no information. Mrs. Robinson did not provide any further information.”

            18 May.  “A ton of people met at the Arlington Admin Bldg (for John Deely’s burial).  Fred Goodenough, Harry Kramp (flew from San Francisco) and I (Joe Guenther) were there from K-2.  There were about a dozen classmates present.  Dale Hruby had the class flag mounted on a very large staff.  It was a full military ceremony and very impressive.  After the ceremony there was a reception at the Army Navy Country Club.  We had the company guidon and class flag proudly displayed at the entry to the meeting room.

            “John had been sick for 8 or 10 years.  Lois cared for him most of the time until she reluctantly admitted him to a nursing home.  Harry and I visited him there last year; he seemed cogent and in good spirits.  He recognized Harry (who was his roommate for 2 years) but I am fairly certain he didn't know who I was.  John sent many hours pouring over our 50th Reunion yearbook, looking for old friends.  Ron Bellows has been very close to John over the years and will write his obit for TAPS.

            21 May.  Virginia Day, widow of Wayne, died.  “A Memorial Visitation (was) held in the Costello Funeral Home on May 28th.  There (was) a Memorial Mass in St. Mary’s Church, Winchester, MA at 10am.  Interment (will be at) West Point Cemetery.  Thanks to faithful G-2 CCQ George Lawton for sad information.

            7 June.  Jack Tierney’s “inurnment went extremely well at West Point. We started in the Old Cadet Chapel with a brief service, followed by military honors outside the Chapel (and) inurnment inside the Columbarium. The Class Flag and the C-1 Guidon were present at all events.  (Attending were) Mitchell, Peck, Chase, Tancredi, D'Amore, Moore, Sigurski, Merrill, Melott, Graves, Gell and Schaffer of C-1 and fellow classmates Jim Morgan, John Nun, and Branch Worsham, with wives and friends. Jack Tierney's family was represented by son Mike & wife Andrea Tierney and daughter and son, and Jack's wife, Marie Tierney.  Jack's three sisters and husbands and other relatives were also in attendance.  Jack had a great send off.  Be Thou at Peace Jack.  Jerry Mitchell, C-1 CCQ.”

            16 June.  “It's my sad duty to announce that Barry M. Zwick died this afternoon.  The cancer that had plagued him for almost 18 years took him away.  He died holding his son Jon's hand.  He was cremated (by the Neptune Society) and his ashes will be spread over the ocean. 

His ex-wife Betsy would like to have a Memorial for Barry at West Point.  She, Jon and Katie, felt that this would the best place.  We lost a good one.”  Dick Reidy, L-1 CCQ

            18 June.  “Betsy Hall’s son Gregory died of ALS.  He was age 43 and had been sick for 3 years.  Please remember Jim & Betsy as they pass through this time of sadness.”  From an email on the H-2 company net from Jack Downing.

            5 July.  From Paul Ruud D-2 CCQ (via CINCOBITS email):  “I regret to inform the class that Clark Bailey died this morning of a massive stroke.  Phyllis (Phyl) & Clark were in Potsdam, NY visiting friends. They lived there prior to moving to their present home in FL.

            “The general plan is to have a brief service in Potsdam for friends there before Phyl returns to FL (driving).  Clark will be cremated and Phyl will have his ashes buried at West Point.  She expects to organize a FL service when she returns.  I have spoken with Phyl twice today and (assured her) that the company and the class stand by to assist in any way we can.”

            Another grandson in ’14.  Chance to end on a good note from Betty Donovan: “Should have let you know that James Earl Link III (Jake) is a member of the Class of 2014 at Beast Barracks now.  Jake is the son of our daughter and son-in law, Katie & Jim Link.  Pat inspired Jake when he was about seven.  He has prepared himself and dreamed of attending USMA for eleven years!  Incidentally, he is the third Donovan-inspired cadet from Ouray High School (enrollment about 90) since we retired here in 1987!”

            Well out of space.  Not sure about photos.  Perhaps next time or in the internet version.