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Time to get started. Last year I produced 11 editions of Class
Notes: monthly February through December. If you missed any, send
me an email with news and I will send you the missing notes. There
are different inventory techniques from LIFO to FISH. LIFO is
“last in, first out.” FISH is “first in, still here.” Hope I
am not guilty of FISH.
In Dec 2017 Class Notes, I recorded the deaths of classmates Vince
DeBoesser E1 (17 Nov 17) and Tom Orr I1 (11 Dec
17) and one widow Martha Meals K2 (23 Nov 17). Good
news is that I have no one to mention in this regard in these notes.
Keep it up! As I have written in prior notes, the Roll Call at 60th
Reunion in April will be our final Roll Call with all the names of
departed classmates and wives. Future reunions (Mini Reunions, if
they continue, and the Five-Year variety at West Point) will cover only
those who died since the last reunion. As of Tom Orr our numbers
total 230 graduated classmates, nine more who graduated in 1959 and one
more in 1960. We had 22 former cadets for a total of 262
classmates. As of Martha Meals our deceased wives number 93.
And now from the class forum and other emails and sources. First,
from Betsy Hall H2 via an email addressed to “Dear
Wives and Widows: This is a reminder to submit your memories to
Sue Kernan ('58wivesmemories@gmail.com) no later than March
10th. The stories will be compiled in a booklet to be given to
everyone who attends the reunion in their registration packet. We
will send a copy to those who submitted a special memory but could not
come to the reunion, and we will also post it on the class web site.
While the primary focus of this booklet will be the women writing their
own first-person account of their special memories, we will also be
delighted to accept any article that has been written by a widower who
would like to share his special memories of his wife.” Your Scribe
will pass on this opportunity to write about my Judy – too soon, too
difficult, too sad and painful for me. I do look forward to
reading the booklet as I did with Sue’s prior effort.
A classmate writing about another classmate who “lettered on our
undefeated, untied, Navy-beatin', national championship 150-lb football
team and chairs our class Executive Committee, got annoyed with the
Washington Post a couple of weeks ago for never covering Army football
and wrote a letter to the editor berating the newspaper for this
shortcoming. The WaPo published the letter. This week the Post
sent one of their leading sports writers to West Point to write this
story that covered 2/3 of the front page of today's Sports section.
https://tinyurl.com/yc5l33n4
Bravo, Dick! Go, Army! Beat Duke and Navy!” Good words from
Tony Smith I1 about our EC Chairman Dick Schonberger
B2.
Kyle Rector L2 and I have
exchanged a few emails recently. He provided a list of classmates
buried at Fort Sam Houston Military Cemetery. They are Gary
Durkee L2, Buck Griffin B1, George Klotzbach
A1, Mike Riordan H2, and Gene Scales C2.
Kyle went on to say that his grandson and daughter visited each grave.
Thanks to Kyle and his family. He also went on to say that he will
not attend the 60th – we will miss him.
And from Ken Herberger L1 the following: “Will
send you input before the end of Feb (still waiting, but only Feb 10th).
We just got back from Park City Utah. A beautiful place.
Mungy Moore C1 has a place there and he is a good skier.
Hope all is well. Will see you at the reunion.” Ken’s writing that
he is coming to 60th is better than other news.
Bob Shellenberger L2 recently
wrote me “While
I have you on the line, do you still have a contact at the Cadet Chapel
who could arrange for me to play the chimes after our Memorial Service.
Of course, that depends on my being able to climb the stairs as I did
ten years ago! Might be good to have a current cadet chimer (if there
are still such) to escort me. I think Margaret would go along as she did
last time to take pictures.” I know that Bob played the chimes as
a cadet and at 30th and 50th Reunions. I
look forward to listening again at the 60th. Now must
find out how to make it happen in April. With luck Garry
and WPAOG can help with arrangements.
“I am trying to catch up on old email after an ‘upgrade’ to AOL
Gold that has resulted in opening an email taking 15 plus seconds and
composing an email having many uncommanded things happening. I
opened an email from Norm Gustitis K1 from around the 16th
that said you needed my email address. We have had the same one
since our first computer in 1997. Rube” Rube, of course, is
Roger Waddell A1.
FYI. While we were cadets the class sizes were a bit smaller than
later/after us and a lot smaller than classes now. ’55 graduated
470, ’56 grads 480, ’57 grads 546, we were 573, ’59 grads 499, ’60 grads
550 and ’61 grads 534 (data from 2015 Register of Graduates and Former
Cadets). Ours was the largest class of our days. But now
much larger classes. The class of 2014 graduated 1,114 while 2015
graduated 1,009. Nearly twice our size.
Another FYI item for you all. No doubt you have heard the line
“what if they gave a war and no one came” often used by anti-war or
anti-military-service types. A Radio Free Europe researcher looked
it up and the complete poem which puts a very different light on the
subject. It appeared in March 9th, 1984 National
Review and reads, “What if they gave a war and no one came then the
war will come to you. He who stays home when the fight begins and
lets others fight his cause should take care: He who does not take part
in the battle will share in the defeat. Even avoiding battle does
not avoid battle, since not to fight for your cause really means
fighting on behalf of your enemy’s cause.” I ran across this in a
Northeastern University magazine and thought you might find it
interesting. The short quote, taken out of context provides a far
different meaning than the whole thing. You can see why the
“peaceniks” use only the shorter quotation. I sent the complete
quote to John Brinson C2 and got a good reaction from him.
Back to class info.
An email from Edgie Waller G2 had a great photo and great
idea. My reply to Edgie was who can make it happen for 60th?
Will try to copy the photo here:
Edgie Waller’s photo
of the football game while were cadets I could copy directly into the
email (Part 1), but these two from class lunch a few days ago at
LeRefuge Restaurant appear as attachments. Beats me.
Anyway, we did have a class lunch on 15 Feb in Alexandria.
Twenty-one attended and about 17 made the two photos by John
Schaffer C1. Three were at another table and your Scribe
was cutoff on both photos. John is smarter than you think.
Email from me to class about Audie Murphy’s wife prompted a reply
from Terry Connell F1 (added here): “George,
Mighty sweet! Good on ya, mate. You also don't provide a
year, so I'll assume it was '53, or perhaps '54 --- with Korea going
hot, Truman in the WH, and Murphy's war - WWII - still very much in the
American mind. I'm also going to assume that a sizable percentage of
the students were "brats", as you were. I'm sorry along with all
that this occurred -- and wonder if it would have in my HS in Mich.
I'm also going to guess that because Murphy was already a
Hollywood celeb added to the psychology... It's a blessing that
today's HS kids generally have a very positive sensing for all vets...
Happy Valentine’s Day. Terry” Scribe adds that Terry is
correct, it was April or May of 1954 at Fayetteville High School,
shortly before entering West Point.
Terry’s email then prompted a reply from Bill
Shepard F1 of San Diego (added here): “Terry, And a jolly fat Wednesday to
you. The official Mardi Gras party in downtown San Diego was cancelled
as a precaution but will be celebrated anyway. You and George were on
the money with comments on Murphy. A nitpick is that Eisenhower was
elected 1952. Also, thanks for the rain that almost made it today.
Also, I pledge my vote to you on any class matters in April as I am
reluctantly not attending the 60th but will be at the 70th.”
A political ad from George Lawton G2: “A bit of
information for our grads living in Virginia. At a major gun show
at the Dulles Expo Center yesterday, there were several republican
potential candidates seeking signature petitions to be on the Primary
Ballot on June 12th. The most impressive was retired Major General
Bert Mizusawa (born in Hawaii). He graduated first in his West
Point Class of 1979, and after doing research this morning, he is ‘the
real deal.’ He was awarded a Silver Star for valor leading a
counterattack against 30-40 North Korean soldiers who were firing their
AK-47's at a defector and at American soldiers led by then Captain
Mizusawa in the same area where Art Bonifas was killed. General
Mizusawa is very personable, and is very knowledgeable about our class,
the heroism of Art Bonifas, and has read ‘The Long Gray Line.’ His
resume is extremely impressive.” Scribe normally avoids political
emails, however, I am including this one with information about another
grad.
A
March-Back reminder
from Ed Weckel D1: “Just a reminder – the Grad March Back
will be held on 12 – 13 August. If you have a grandson/daughter in the
incoming plebe Class, you might want to consider participating in the MB
with them. Many of our classmates already have taken advantage of this
opportunity. Details are at
www.usma.edu/daa.” Please note
the March Back is a about four months after 60th Reunion.
Plenty of time to recover from the reunion and join Ed, Will
Collett L1 and oldest marcher Wally Ward M1 for
the March Back. Scribe will not make it this year – think I will
be in Ludington, Michigan.
A
Class Endowment reminder, also Ed Weckel: “George Lawton
recently put out a message re our Class Endowment. I’d like to
emphasize what he wrote. Whatever we give now has 40 years to grow
before we make our first gift to the Academy. Why not consider a
gift of $58 (or any amount) to help our endowment grow. Make your
check out to: ‘Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund’ and send it to
Russell Robertson ’82 (son of George and Gale H1),
8606 Cross View, Fairfax Station, VA 22038. Only two more months
until our 60th. 58 is GREAT”
PC
List reminder.
“Gentlemen, No changes (for Feb 2018). The list stands at 131
subscribers and 45 Badgers. Let's be really careful out there.”
Everyone knows this reminder about class PC list and comes from
Stan Bacon I2.
Now a theater reminder
from Betty and Herb Puscheck A1: “LTA
THEATER NIGHT (A FUNDRAISER FOR MT. VERNON KIWANIS): It's time
again for a lovely evening with friends at The Little Theater of
Alexandria: THE PLAY: DATE: Tuesday, 27 February 2018 TIME: Doors open
at 7 P.M. and Play starts at 8 P.M. PRICE: $30.00 includes Food,
Refreshments, Raffles and Door Prizes Written by Playwright Peter Morgan
who takes you behind the scenes of Buckingham Palace. For the past 60
years, Queen Elizabeth l has met with each of her 12 prime ministers in
private, weekly meetings. Both parties agree to never repeat what
is said in these private audiences. From Winston Churchill to
Margaret Thatcher to David Cameron, Morgan imagines what these meetings
would be like as they span decades of the Queen's reign. Join us
as we peer into the woman behind the crown and the moments that have
formed this modern monarchy. Call: Herb or Betty Puscheck at
703-768 2380
or email
hbpuscheck@g.mail.com for
tickets and information. Should be a fun and interesting evening.”
Memorial Articles.
Paul Vanture B2 is the tracker of these important contributions
to WPAOG and Class history. Paul was seeking information and got
this email: “Paul,
I remember Doug MacCleod G1 from our cadet days. He
was in G-1. He's in the Howitzer and the 50-Year book. Maybe Andy
Andreson G1 can help you. Tom Claffey K2.
And a thank you email from Chairman Dick: “Thanks PD, you've brought
real drive and progress to this process!” 50-Year Book question
repeated because responses have not been overwhelming: who has read it
all other than Bob Higgins L2? Scribe must confess
that I have not read it all, but I am working on it. Will have the
50th read before the 60th Reunion. We have
three class books all done for reunions: 10th in 1968, 30th
in 1988 and 50th in 2008. Has anyone read all three?
I have read the 10th, 30th (put it out) and part
of the 50th. As I said, working on the 50th.
This is a good 60th Reunion project for all attendees.
Class
web page and class notes reminder. Go to
http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1958/special/Scribe/2017/2017-December.html
and you can read all the last Class Notes and then find all prior class
notes. Our class web page is maintained by Pete Trainor G1.
Pete also maintains our WPAOG website, but I misplaced the name of this
one. Think you just go WPAOG and do a bit of searching. Good
luck. If you have any problems, contact Pete via telephone
757-345-3564 (from John Nun’s A2 snail mail roster) or
email PBTainor@cox.net (from
Dick Buckalew’s monthly email roster). Great fun
advertising classmates who do so much work on our behalf to help keep us
in touch with one another: Dick Buckalew, Pete Trainor, Ed Weckel, Jack
Downing (next item), Herb & Betty Puscheck, George Lawton, Russ
Robertson ’82 (Class Endowment), Garry Roosma and many others.
Sorry I did not mention them all, but similar to Winnie the Pooh, I am a
bear of little brain.
Founder’s
Day reminder for DC area. It is coming up on Saturday 10
March. WPADC website is
http://wpsdc.hivebrite.com or contact Felisa (Sally) Lewis ’90, LTC
(Retired), Executive Director West Point Society of DC and National
Capital Region at email
execdirector@wpsda.org. Our ’58 attendance has not been great,
but I hope to see YOU there.
I am going to stop and send these Class Notes via Dick Buckalew’s
unrestricted senders email address
usma1958@west-point.org.
The unrestricted list if for any of us to write about the class.
There is also a restricted senders list/address mostly used for
Death Notifications by Jack Downing H2. It has few
more classmate email addresses, but you cannot use it. It is
restricted to certain senders (Dick Buckalew, Jack Downing and Jack
Bradshaw and perhaps a few more). You can always contact Jack
Downing (or Margie) via email address
ejdowning@cox.net.
We have many other class email lists/addresses which I provided
in an earlier version of these Class Notes. Contact your Scribe
via phone 703-671-1415 or email
gsibert@comcast.net with some news or questions and I will be happy
to provide the addresses again.
Until next time…
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