Classmates—

It is 4 Sep and a good time to begin the October Class Notes.  Will add to these until end of September and then launch this edition.  Where to begin?  With corrections, of course.

 Corrections.  First correction is Plebes who are grandchildren of 1958.  I overlooked Dale & Dodie Hruby M2 (correct cadet company for Dale) in my list of grandparents of new Plebes.  They even gave me a ride from March Back to lunch in Ike Hall.  Absolutely no excuse, sir!  Their grandson Justice McKenrick, is in the class of 2021.  As Dale wrote to me “Justice was the reason I was marching next to you in the plebe march back.”  Thanks for the correction, Dale.  Using my trusty 2015 Register of Graduates here is a bit more information.  Justice is the son of Terrence McKenrick #42881-1985.  Father Terrence is a BG in 2015 Register, but I think he has been promoted to MG.  He is the son-in-law of Dale & Dodie and 1985 classmate of many class offspring of 1958 who are in Class of 1985 (Scribe hopes a few of you note the reversal of numbers 58 and 85).

 Second correction is spelling of Kulik as in Frederick W Kulik H1.  In the September Class Notes your spelling-challenged Scribe spelled it “Kulick.”  Do not know where the “C” came from, but I apologize to Fred and son Todd Kulik #40383-1983.

 My next correction will take a bit of research – offspring of our classmates turned-back to 1959.  I completely overlooked this group of 28 who began with us but joined 1959 to graduate.  Our 50^th Reunion Book provides a listing of those turned-back but I need to spend time with the Register to determine who has sons/daughters or grandchildren who are graduates.  Maybe elsewhere in these notes or another time.

 The next correction is easier.  Entrance to West Point for 60^th Reunion next April -- the details will be in the info you will receive about signing up for the reunion.  Again, a DOD Military ID card is one way to get on post.  WPAOG will send information about how to manage this for those without a Military ID Card.  This should not be difficult, but you will need to sign-up with WPAOG (or whomever) to get the temporary ID card for entry.  I guess you can always get into USMA with a driver’s license and explanation that you are attending our Class Reunion.

 Uniform for 60^th Reunion.  The uniform for classmates will include our “White Hats.”  I you need to a White Hat, contact Frank Waskowicz C2 either by email mynorimages@comcast.net or telephone 703-836-8435.

 There was some help on this question from one of you following my last Class Notes. Why and how did Long Grey Line (in our Plebe Bugle Notes dated 1954) become Long Gray Line?  I thought that I would hear from many or at least from Jim Seltzer E1 or John Brinson C2, but no such luck.  According to my “source” grey is the British spelling and gray is the American spelling.  The email and name of sender disappeared into the ether.  Sorry about that.  Now, who can shed light on why it the British spelling was used in our Plebe bible?

 Ghostly Assemblage.  An exchange of emails between John Brinson and Pete Trainor G1 addressed those making the transition to Ghostly Assemblage.  From John: “The ranks are thinning, but there is good news. We are apparently beating the odds handily. We’ll lose about 15 this year it appears.”  And Pete’s reply: “We’ve lost 16 in the last 12 months.  24 since 1/1/2016.  Hope you’re not getting morbid in your doter age.  Here are the annual losses recently.”  The losses in 2017 are for the year thus far (1 Jan 2017 - 3 Sep 2017, the date of Pete Trainor’s email).

 Scribe hastens to point out that many of you are calling our deceased classmates members of the “Long Gray Line.”  ALL OF US ARE MEMBERS OF THE LONG GRAY LINE.  We have been that at least since the end of Beast Barracks in 1954 with our promotion from New Cadets (Beast Barracks) to Plebes (academic year).  Of course, our turn-backs from 1956 or 1957 joined the Long Gray Line earlier.   The deceased are a more select group more properly called members of the “GHOSTLY ASSEMBLAGE.”  These are words from “The Corps” which we learned as Plebes.  The words are repeated here: “They are here in ghostly assemblage, the men of the Corps long dead, and our hearts are standing attention while we wait for their passing tread.”  Those of us who have left this earthly existence have transitioned to the Ghostly Assemblage.  But, we are already members of the Long Gray Line.  Hope this helps with the terminology.

 Now to my notes and then must get this in the mail because October arrived “day before yesterday.”  Actually a few days ago.  Time flies.

 16 Sep 2017 – death of Pete Brintnall M2.  Our quartet has been reduced and no longer exists as a quartet.  Scribe hopes you have the CD of their Army-winning songs from 1958.  I have one!   Many classmates gathered with Janice on 29 Sep to honor Pete.  Your Scribe has great sympathy for what Janice is going through.  Not easy.  Janice will put out the word via Jack Downing H2 who keeps us posted on deaths, funerals, etc when information is available on Pete’s funeral at Arlington National Cemetery.  It will be with full military honors, therefore, according to Jack, the long pole in the tent is scheduling the band.  There was a grand gathering of classmates, wives and widows for Pete’s Memorial Service on 29 Sep.

 1 Oct 2017 – death of Tom Taylor D1 ‘60.  You all will recall that Tom was our last ’58 file to graduate from USMA.  An email from Stan Bacon I2 to his PC counterpart in ’60 provided the following info: “Tom was ours initially, I-2, the we gifted him to ’59 who in turn gifted him to you guys.  I last saw him in October in Carmel where we had a class mini reunion.  He looked lean and mean and had recently been in Iraq or Afghanistan as an inserted journalist.”  Again, your Scribe has great sympathy for Tom’s wife Pamela at this difficult time.  Losing one’s spouse is terrible, as Janice and I can attest – I am coming up on the first-year anniversary of Judy’s death on 30 October 2016.  Jack Downing reminds us that you can read about Tom in our 50^th Reunion Book at page 331.

 Good place to remind you that our contributions to the Class of 1959 can be found just before Tom at pages 327-331.  And you can read about our former cadets on pages 332-347.  Of course, if you have not read it all, or read it recently, you can find us all beginning on page 43.  Good project to YOU between now and our 60^th on 25-29 April 2018.  Again, the only classmate I know for sure has read the “whole thing” is Bob Higgins L2.

 Stan Bacon was email corresponding with his ’60 counterpart Dick Healy.  Apparently, Tom Taylor went silent on the ’60 PC net about three months ago.  Meanwhile, Stan’s PC email list stands at 130 subscribers and 45 badgers as of 1 October after the deaths of Ed Linkiewicz and Tom. As John Brinson said to me earlier today (9 Oct), “we miss Tom.”  And I miss Ed, who was an H2 file.  I had called John to confirm his move to Florida (about four years ago) and found that his snail mail address had changed again recently.  Send me an email with news about yourself and I will respond with John’s new snail mail address.

 2 Oct 2017 – “A Memorial Service for Suzie Spurlock I1 was held at 1330 Monday in the Old Cadet Chapel at West Point.  Representing the class were Ann Jones with daughter MG Patricia Jones Frost, Charlene and Alex Johnson, Jill and Garry Roosma, Hal Lyon, Tony Smith (son of Tony Sr), Bibs and me.  Following the service all in attendance moved to Lon’s gravesite close behind the chapel where Suzie joined Lon 48 years after his death in Vietnam.  A reception for family and friends was graciously hosted by Spurlock daughters Julia, Jennifer and Jill at the Thayer Hotel following the ceremony.”  Thanks to Dick Reynard for this report and correcting my spelling of Suzie’s name (rather than Suzy).

 Widows.  My stats are not completely accurate, but in March we had about 146 widows on the unrestricted sender email address list and the Pete Trainor G1 snail mail address list.  And, with Lon & Suzie Spurlock I1 we have along the order of 47 couples (both our classmate and his wife have died) on the Roll Call.  Our Roll Call is getting longer.  Probably the final or last complete reading of the Roll Call will be at the 60^th Reunion next April.

There was a grand gathering of classmates and wives/widows for the Memorial Services for Suzy Spurlock at Knollwood on 10 Sep.  Suzy had been living at Knollwood.  During the service I realized how long Suzie had been a widow since Lon’s death in Vietnam on 28 March 1969.  I already mentioned Pete Brintnall’s death.  His memorial service at the Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home was on 29 Sep.  Another grand gathering of classmates, wives and widows.  Let’s blame my disorganization on aging.  At this juncture in our lives, we blame most things on aging.  I do apologize for jumping around from topic to topic.

 Perpetual Endowment Fund.  From George Lawton G2 to the class via email and repeated here for good luck.  George is soliciting for a volunteer to serve on the PEF Board: “Jerry Mitchell’s C1 period of service on the Perpetual Endowment Board ends this year and we are seeking a classmate to replace him in one of the four ‘58 positions on the board.  If you’d be willing to serve, we would love to hear from you.  The term would begin in November.  It is not time consuming.  If you’re in the Washington area we meet locally.  If you live outside the area, we conduct business by a group conference call.  Please provide me your name or someone you want to nominate before 15 October.  Thanks for your consideration.”  You can talk to Lawton, Mitchell or Ed Weckel D1 about the PEF.  All will remember that the PEF was Ed’s idea to have ’58 keep donating to the West Point Association of Graduates in perpetuity.  Of course, we will not remain around in perpetuity, therefore, our time on the PEF board is limited.  We have offspring grads on the board who will maintain class involvement after we have joined the “Ghostly Assemblage.”

 Miscellaneous info from emails:  First from Brad Eliot G2 who wrote today 7 Oct: “I’m jealous of you guys who played the one fifty football.  I made the plebe squad regular team but had my head handed to me but couldn’t make the weight for 150.  Anyway, Army had a very close win against Navy 40–6!!”  True confession: your Scribe could have made the weight, but could not play football well enough.  Too bad that Brad and I could not trade pounds for skill.

 From Jim Davis A1: “Lee Miller arranged for a group of A-1 types to go to WV and visit with Bill (Fagg) Brower who is in the Nursing facility part of the VA Center located in Martinsburg, WV. Herb Puscheck, Lee and I drove over last Saturday, and had a very good visit with Bill and a Navy-reservist friend who lives close to Bill’s cabin in WV.  A great day, with much catching up and tales.  I sent copy of picture taken by Bill’s friend to Dick Reynard who thought you would like to have a copy of the picture.”

 Here is the photo copied from Jim’s email (left to right: Lee Miller, Jim Davis, Bill Brower and Herb Puscheck):

 Chuck Toftoy E2 sent a recent “Tof’s Tips” reminding us all to get our Flu Shot.  “It's that time again.  Need to get your flu shot this month.  The flu season is October to May.  The shot is tailored for this season.  It has the right ingredients (Flu strain A-Ca., A-Hong Kong, B- Brisbane, B- Phuket, and other ingredients).  The shot causes antibodies to develop in the body about 2 weeks after the shot. Provides protection against infection for you.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that you should get the flu shot before the end of October. This is supposed to be a bad flu season.  Check with your Doc if necessary.  Rare side effects are: soreness, headache, fever, nausea, muscle aches.  These only last 1-2 days. Most people have no side effects. Patty & I got our flu shots yesterday.  This season, 163M doses will be available by manufacturers; 73M have already been delivered.”

 Seemed worthwhile to repeat “Doctor” Toftoy’s admonition here in Class Notes.  Your Scribe has gotten my flu shot this year.  The nurse here at Goodwin House was amazed when I told her that I have not missed a year since January 1954 as an Army brat well before entering USMA in July.  There were a few years when I had more than one as the formulation was changed during flu season.  One of the benefits of Army medicine!

Continuing the Class Notes so that I do not overwhelm my limit on Dick Buckalew’s email.  Another way to get your attention and readership, with some luck.

 Another repeat from another recent email to class, this one from Pete Trainor G1 sending us to the class web page: “Classmates—Several updates at: http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1958/”

 More class business, this one from Frank Waskowicz C2: “The EXCOM asks that you take some time to read (and if desired, comment on) the attached document.  Many people have been involved in its writing over the past year.  It discusses class governance and the multitude of our many and diverse activities.  It is intended to be a statement of where we are today and how things might transpire in the next decade.  It is also a repository of information on a number of specific topics, such as the last toast, CCQ responsibilities, suggested actions when a death occurs, the charter for our Women’s Outreach Team, and thoughts governing the opening of our time capsule in 2058.  Based on comments we receive, the EXCOM will meet again before year’s end to finalize the paper, which will be presented to the class in April as a finalized document reflecting class consensus.  Please send me your comments or recommendations BY NOVEMBER 1.  Best wishes to each of you.  ’58 is Great!!  Beat Navy!”

 Now I am trying to copy a photo received from Jack May B2.  The photo appears at the beginning of the email as an attachment.  I do not understand much about working with my laptop.  Anyway, the photo you can open shows Jack and Jody Le Towt C2 sharing something liquid with a class label!  Apparently, the photo is at the beginning of the second part of the Class Notes – miracles never cease.

 Bill Serchak K1 sent a note about the celebration of General Thaddeus Kosciuszko’s contributions to American independence and the 200^th anniversary of his death.  The celebration will be on 15 October at Lafayette Square near the White House.  Seems to me that his monument at West Point overlooks Flirtation Walk and the Hudson River.

 More on Pete Brintnall from Bill’s daughter Bridget Serchak: “What a storied career! Just so sad that I did not go out to see him before he passed. A truly great guy. One of the best in '58”.  Go to this link for Pete’s interview -- http://www.adst.org/OH%20TOCs/Brintnall,%20Clarke%20McCurdy.toc.pdf

 Bob Shellenberger L2 sent an email: “Just a quick note to let you know that Margaret and I arrived safely back in the USA late last Friday night after a wonderful but exhausting four weeks in Italy and Germany. In the interest of brevity, I'll spare you the details of the trip until a later post except to say we did miss Irma. There was no damage to our house, just loads of yard debris which we will be in the process of cleaning up for the next few days. I have pared my 2700 unread emails down to 700 so far and will finish that up tonight!

 Bob continued, “Of some urgency - for those of you who may be thinking about going to the reunion but are still not sure.  Make a reservation! Call the Thayer and get on their wait list, then make a confirmed reservation at one of the backup motels in the area (most of us are at the Holiday Inn in Ft Montgomery). You can always cancel if you decide not to go but you may find yourself without a place to stay if you wait until the last minute! Here's the reunion web site with all the hotel/motel info - https://www.westpointaog.org/1958reunion     Just do it!!!”  To which your Scribe says AMEN!

 A reminder from Jack Downing about the funeral service for Joe Keyes D2 -- at West Point cemetery on Wednesday 27 October Funeral at 1100.

 Another tip for locating memorial articles at WPAOG: Here is a simple way to find the list of classmates with memorial articles using this link  www.westpointaog.org/memorials.  Everyone who has an article will come up with a red asterisk.   To make it easier, put “1958” in the year and nothing else then “search.”

18 November 2017.  Here is info on an upcoming concert that many of you in the greater Washington, DC area may be interested in attending.  The West Point Alumni Glee Club and special guest star Sam Moore will present a concert called "JOHNNY VET: FREEDOM ISN'T FREE" at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall is conveniently located at 4916 East Campus Drive, Alexandria, VA  22302.  This is a veteran's musical journey through history. Ticket information at: johnnyvet.tix.com.

"Johnny Vet: Freedom Isn’t Free" is a dynamic and inspirational musical journey of the men and women who have fought the nation’s wars and how those same men and women, as veterans, have helped to shape the nation and its destiny.

Powerful narration and compelling images set to musical compositions performed by Grammy Award Winner and The Legendary Soul Man™ Sam Moore, the renowned West Point Alumni Glee Club, along with other special guests including Kenneth Rice will take the audience from the start of Johnny Vet’s journey with “the shot heard round the world” in 1775 to the present-day era of the Global War on Terror.

Through original scores and popular songs of each era, "Johnny Vet" explores the true nature of these heroes in our midst: who they are, where they come from, the burdens they carry on and off the battlefield, the unique burdens their families shoulder, particularly while they are deployed, and the issues they face when it’s time to come home and take off the uniform. The journey will also demonstrate the vast contributions these veterans and their families have made and continue to make to the nation in their civilian communities.

"Johnny Vet: Freedom Isn’t Free" will entertain and inform Americans, who benefit from the selfless service and sacrifice of the less than 1% who serve in uniform. Not only do we, as a nation, owe it to these veterans and their families to provide the support some need to become fully functional again, but we owe it to ourselves and to our nation to cherish them as the national treasure that they are.

"Johnny Vet: Freedom Isn’t Free" is a production of Opus One Studios and has been funded in part by The Billy Rose Foundation. It benefits the work of Code of Support Foundation (COSF), which, through its programs, provides critical one-on-one assistance to service members, veterans and their families who are struggling with their transition into our civilian communities.

Craft Beer. From a Garry Roosma H2 email: “Thanks for the article about craft beer in Burlington.  The craft beer phenomenon is big in upstate New York and New England. there are several in Manchester and Bennington.  There is a festival in Troy, NY this weekend featuring craft beers. 

 West Point funerals.  Continuing from Garry – “On another note there are four funerals at WP in the next six weeks. I will attend the October 28 one for Bob Tallgren and the October 2 for Suzie Spurlock. Jill spoke with Ann Jones recently and she will be at Suzie's funeral.  I plan to be at WP in late October and will attend the service for Joe Keyes.  Just received notice about Mark Lowrey's funeral (an H2 file from ’60) but do not know if I will make that one.  Mark and I were Army Brat friends before WP and of course H-2 and then the years after graduation.  Are you attending any of the funerals?”  Sadly, I cannot make any of these funerals at West Point.

More on Pete Brintnall from Norm Monson’s email I relocated (Norm was a quartet member with Pete, Bob Dey and Wayne Wyatt): “Bob and I have talked and I think we're both taking it about the same...pretty hard.  The four of us bonded a lot more than 59 years could diminish.  Austin Mini was the first time the four of us had even seen each other together in all that time. For it to end now would be a pretty bitter last farewell. Thank you for all of your help in this terrible time.”

Army Football and Washington Post.  An email from Palmer McGrew I2: “Congrats Dick Schonberger on actually getting the Post to publish his letter. I often chastise the Post via email mail for ignoring Army. I tell them that there are approximately the same number of Army grads in the DC area as Navy grads.  They never reply.  Well done Dick!”

 And from George Lawton G2: “Dick Schonberger had a nice piece in this morning’s Washington Post chastising it for providing little or no coverage of Army football. Thanks, Dick for writing this piece which expresses the sentiments of a lot of us.  As you point out, although Annapolis is nearby, the Washington Metro area contains a lot of people who are interested in Army and Air Force results also.”

 I have probably covered this, but repetition beats omission.  “Thanks for the sad information.  I received both emails (Dey and Downing).  Agree with Bob about former classmate Ed Linkiewicz H2 – Bob wrote: “another good man for whom I had great respect.”  FYI.  We had two couples depart on 2 Aug 2017: Suzie Spurlock (Lon KIA 28 March 69) and Ed Linkiewicz (Marilyn died March 2012).  Sad day.  I will mention both couples in Class Notes at the end of September/beginning of October.

 Life Expectancy – data from John Brinson with a connection to George Lawton G2.  See Word attachment at the top.  My reply to John—"very interesting.  My stats as of 16 Aug 2017 when Joe Keyes died, we were down by 225 of the original 573 who graduated in June 1958.  Net is 348 – same number Pete Trainor has.  We are in synch.  And, for your information, George as in Lawton intends to be the final one alive.  Of course, he is brain dead already.”

 Diane 2.  Hurricanes have been in the news lately.  Here are some email remembrances from our time at Camp Buckner in the summer of 1955 about “our hurricane” Diane 2.  Here is how Phil Gibbs remembers it.  “Hurricane Connie (actually Diane) caught the 2nd Company occupying a ridge line on which we dug foxholes and prepared our positions for the night against the 75RCT.  It started to rain as we were going to pick up the supper meal.  It rained steadily until the AM with the wind, et.  A great future in the Infantry.  By the time I got from the supper mess line back to our foxhole my mess kit and food were swimming in rain water.  I was part of 57RR team with Hank Bielinski.  We were always getting put out of action, because the only thing that you could supposedly do with the 57RR was yell: Bang1.  But, we improvised that night during an attack.  We took the M-1 rifle the ammo bearer carried, shoved it into the barrel of the 57RR and fired blank ammunition.  You have no idea at the blast that made.  A hell of a noise, a great flash with a back blast of flame that burnt the stock of the M-1 rifle.  We were innovators!”

 Phil continues.  “There was also the case of a classmate, who was posted as an outpost when we first moved into the positions and never relieved.  No one went out to relief him, and finally about 2100 hours (+/-) he decided to return to the friendly lines.  Unfortunately, he did not know the password so when he was challenged by an alert classmate and he could not respond properly.  The alert classmate challenged him with Plebe Poop!  ‘HOW’S THE COW?’  Our returning outpost replied: ‘F**K the Cow!’  The alert classmate yelled ‘aggressor’ and all of 2nd Company opened up on our P***ED off company-mate.  He ran for cover and became disoriented in the forest never to be seen again that night!  At dawn's early light, he reentered friendly lines.  ‘I said to him P*** where have you been all night?’  He used all of the Italian language that he knew.  It was obvious he was not a HAPPY Camper.”

 Phil continues further.  “2nd Company then got Capt Patton and the company CP wiped out during a raid at breakfast time the following day.  This did not make Capt Patton very HAPPY!  For the final action we made our attack down a dirt road.  It was done with no enthusiasm

and got critiqued badly by a Capt White??  He offered us the opportunity to redo the final attack with a bit more enthusiasm than on the first effort.  The company voted to decline his offer but we were outvoted by the TAC’s.  We made some great yells and effort and marched in bravely.to attack.  Yes, Hurricane Connie (name of my recently ex-girlfriend in 1955 was a big hit with 2nd Company, Yearling summer 1955, Camp Buckner.”

 John Brinson’s memory is shorter: “It was a bitch. We were in the field at Buckner.”  John checked wikipedia and found that “1955 was a big-time hurricane year, and global warming hadn’t even been invented yet.”  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1955_Atlantic_hurricane_season 

Class offspring at USMA.  Tony Smith wrote to Joe Shea, one of our gifts to ‘59: “Somehow I inherited the role of the "keeper of the class grandchildren" for the class of '58.  It's my understanding that you have a grandchild who is now a proud member of the USMA Class of 2020.  Am I correct?  Grandson or granddaughter?  Name?  Thanks for your help, and best regards, Tony”

 Joe’s reply: “Tony, Yes, my granddaughter Autumn Ashley Shea. Here she is charming The Supe!

Autumn is a hive unlike her grandfather and her father (my son Thom) who was class of '90 until cow year.  Thom's book "Unbreakable, A Navy Seal's Way of Life" was a best seller published a few years back by Brown Little.  While we're at it, here is a poem I wrote last year after struggling thru the plebe hike with Willie Collett:

 Plebe March back 2016 

 I joined the plebe’s march-back 

in a pitch black forest full of pine 

full of their voices chanting  

uphill over a rocky trail - no moon 

knew immediately I was in over my head  

knew I might not make it.  

 Autumn had introduced several 

of her classmates the night before 

as I fell back they passed burdened 

in the darkness I heard, "hi, Grampa Joe" 

or "how ya doin Grampa Joe" or "you OK Sir"

- heard - "we're proud of you Sir." 

 Then, they bounced ahead into the night  

red chem-lights on their helmets bobbing 

in the darkness like a train of fireflies 

ghosting its way uphill toward morning  

toward a brightness not yet certain 

in footfalls of the long grey line. 

 Scribe’s email to the class re offspring drew a second response from Jim Bishop H1: “George:  I am confused so will respond to both e-mails.  My grandson, James Logan Comer, is in the Class of 2018 and I plan to attend graduation along with my daughter, son-in-law and other relatives.  Thanks, Jim.”  I have forwarded Jim’s email to Tony Smith, the keeper of this information.

 An email from C1 CCQ Jerry Mitchell received this morning informs us that Bud Moentmann C1 transitioned to the Ghostly Assemblage today after a long illness.  Received this just as I was about to send my current October Class Notes.  My reply to Jerry is repeated here: “Bud has a ‘USMA Family’ with son James E Moentmann #38665-1981, grandson Thomas W Moentmann #66691-2010 and grandson Grant H Peterson #71044-2014.  Sad day for Moentmann family, especially for Holly, our class and your company C1.”

 10 October 2017 – past time to launch this effort.  I have more info, but it should appear next time.  Sorry this is late.  And terribly sorry for the final item about Bud.