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Class
Notes
USMA 1958
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| July 2018 |
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Classmates and Wives/Widows— I arrived at Judy’s summer cottage (sadly, now mine), Crow’s Nest, in Ludington, Michigan on Saturday, 9 June. Last year was the first time I had been here without Judy. Not really any easier for me this year than last without her. Too many memories. I have found that it really does not get better with the passage of time. Call me lonely… I believe the only classmate and wife who have visited here in Ludington were Terry & Harriett Connell F-1 with their children. Please do not ask me when they visited, but I do recall that all our children (Connell’s four and our three) were far younger then than they are now. The Connells are both from Muskegon, Michigan. In fact, they will be there later this summer, but not until after I have returned to Virginia about 13 July. Sorry to miss them. Over time Judy and I saw Terry and Harriett in Michigan many times during various summers because Muskegon is only about 60 miles south of Ludington. Terry and I have exchanged a few emails about the Engineers or Fort Carson or Michigan or whatever. Most recently the topic was the death of Don Palladino F-2 on 27 May (pretty sure I mentioned this loss in our May Class Notes). Terry provided a link to Don’s obit which I will add here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/wellfleet-ma/donald-palladino-7862918. Truly sad to have lost Don. I saw Don quite often over our time as Soldiers. We began in the Engineers together day before yesterday. As I recall his father was a general officer in the National Guard or USAR from Massachusetts and was the speaker at our graduation from Airborne training way back in December of 1958 at Ft Benning. We attended Airborne with many classmates who were Infantry files. And Collin Powell was in the class. The only time in my service that I did anything with our future JCS Chairman. Truly long ago and far away. Attached are two photos: (1) Don and his grandchildren and (2) and classmates after Don’s memorial service. Hope I can find the photos… cannot find them. Sorry. Now to really get started on this edition of our Class Notes. Sadly, I must begin again with another loss. Betty Donovan died on 1 June 2018. She was the widow of Claude B Donovan G-2, better known to us as Pat. He transitioned to the Ghostly Assemblage too long ago on 4 October 2002. Betty and Pat lived in Ouray, Colorado in retirement. They were the proud parents of Michael Donovan ’81 and proud grandparents of Jake Link ’14. No doubt they had other children and grandchildren as well, but I do not have that information. I do know, however, that Betty was a June Lady. And, I also know that son Michael was an Army colonel. You can find him in the Register at Cullum #38305. You can find their grandson Jake in the Register as well with a little research because I do not have a Register with me and do not know Jake’s Cullum number. I pray that Betty may rest in peace now that she has rejoined Pat. I hate to begin with our losses, but it prevents me from the sin of omission. And another class loss, sadly another wife. Edna Mae Serchak died 22 June. She and Bill had been married 57 years. They had three children, but Bridget is the only one Scribe knew. Bridget is a faithful attendee of class events with her father. As I replied via email to Bill, in my experience, losing a wife does not get any easier the passage of time. There will be a Memorial Service at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Arlington on Saturday 11 August at 2:00 pm (1400). Other losses include names that were read/added during Memorial Service on 27 April at 60th but were not printed in the service bulletin nor mentioned in these Class Notes thus far. These three include: Charlotte Griffin B-1 12 Jan 2015 (sorry for late notification), Arlene Capelle Komathy K-1 14 Apr 2018 and Anita Beth Davall K-2 21 Apr 2018. Just in via email is that our AF classmate Mac Williams E-2 died 25 June. I have no details. And do not know much about Mac since our graduation. I do know that he had an MS in Aerospace from AFIT and that he was an early selectee for Major and retired as a MG in 1986. No doubt those details were mentioned in Class Notes at the time. We will see what his CCQ Chuck Toftoy can add. I believe that Mac is the 235th of our 576 grads to join the Ghostly Assemblage. Our condolences go to his wife Pat. Rest in peace, Mac. The month of June has not been kind to the Class of 1958. And now back to my email files because, sign of the times, I have no snail-mail (USPS mail) from classmates. The following information is without order, let’s call random order. The first item is Happy Birthday to US Army which is 243 years old. The Army was born on 14 June 1775, merely 243 years ago. And, the First World War There have been some interesting posts on the Class Forum – the political ones I do not cover while trying to keep the Class Notes apolitical. But, I do recommend the Class Forum to you all. If the email traffic is overwhelming, the delete function on your computer is easy. One of the subject was Army Uniforms. Apparently, the Army is close to returning to “Pinks and Greens.” This was a WW2 (and beyond) uniform that predated us. Pretty sure we Army files graduated into the Army green uniform. We were spared the expense incurred by 1957 of having to buy older OD uniforms, maybe including Pinks and Greens, and almost immediately having to buy new uniforms, the Army Greens. If you want further information about Army uniform changes, contact Jim Seltzer E-1 via email at <jseltzer@nbn.net>. He can provide internet sources. A great uniform is coming, but I am not sorry to be retired and spared the expense. It is late – will stop for now and continue when a bit more rested. Now another day and here we go again. Already added the loss of Edna Mae Serchak earlier. I had a photo of younger Chaplain George Bean which I sent to Garry Roosma H-2 for confirmation. Here is Garry’s reply: “You have caught me at a busy time as Jill and I have a buyer for our house and will be moving to Kimball farms in Massachusetts early August. As look at the picture you sent, that is a young George W. Bean. His last wedding performed at West Point was ours on July 3, 1959. He left WP to be the rector of St Luke’s in Montclair. My father had been on the search committee and was instrumental in selecting George as the new rector. George served at St Luke’s for 10 years and left for Lynchburg, VA. I remember Jill and I speaking with George at one of our reunions and he told us that he kept a record of all the weddings he performed and said a prayer for each of them on their respective wedding day. Thanks for passing the picture and write up on to us.” If your Scribe can locate the photo I will include it. No -- the photo made message too long. You all remember Chaplain Bean, so no photo is necessary.
A number saw Zoe, trained therapy dog of
Chuck
& Patti Toftoy E-2, perform at our 60th.
Here is a link to see her again or for the first time for those who
missed Zoe at during the 60th: From Palmer McGrew I-2, our new DC area social guru: “On September 20 we will have our second DC-area picnic. It will be at Burke Lake, a wonderful facility. Of course, you always need to have a weather plan and we do, we have a shelter. Not as much fun as great weather, sunshine and warm weather, but there is no way on earth to predict that. So please come no matter what.” Scribe attended the first picnic, years ago, and even put a photo in the notes at the time. Cannot remember when and I do not have the photo with me in Michigan. And, we are having a class luncheon at ANCC Fairfax on 9 August. Locals, here is your chance to mingle with classmates and wives. Out-of-towners, here is your excuse to make a visit or two to DC area. From an email Scribe sent to John Brinson C-2 on the subject of ground pounders, tread heads and flyboys: “a friend of my grandfather’s from Destin Florida came to my graduation from Flight School at Ft Rucker along with my grandfather back in Sep 1959 or so. Mr Frazier was the inventor of first Coca Cola vending machine. At the time, he was wearing a white panama suit and was speaking to MG Easterbrook, CG of Ft Rucker. Easterbrook looked bored as Mr Frazier said that he long was interested in aviation. Frazier’s father had taken him to Kitty Hawk for Wilber and Orville’s first flight! That story got the CG’s attention big time. As I recall, MG Easterbrook was a son-in-law of GEN Stillwell and my grandfather worked for Stillwell twice, neither time very happily but that is a long story. Our class even has a wine pickers email list with moderator Paul Vanture B-2. Here are his latest recommendations, posted to the class forum (wider audience than class wine pickers, but my source is AWOL: might be either list because, desperate for news, I am on both the forum and wine-pickers lists): “I have a puny belly-ache for not corresponding earlier, but I will dispense with that. Having some problems with our original site, I thought I would provide you with some wines I have tasted to pass along for you wine sippers:
Paul concludes with “I have never had a less than excellent wine from Washington. Italian is becoming my favorite choice.” Your Scribe is a confirmed beer drinker, but I am always happy to pass along wine information. Andy Andreson G-1, our EC Chairman and longtime company CCQ, will be attending the annual West Point Leaders Conference at our “rock bound Highland home” 15-17 August. If you have anything for him to mention or simply any concerns, please let Andy know. His email is <randreson@cox.net>. Scribe has attended prior meetings, but not this time. I did attend the local DC meeting organized by Palmer McGrew, held at Ft Myer or somewhere local, before coming to Michigan. Pretty sure I mentioned the local DC meeting in last class notes. In fact, I am not sure of that, but now you know. And, there will be a class luncheon at ANCC Fairfax at 1130 on Thursday 9 August before Andy goes to West Point. Come to lunch and give him something to talk about at the Leaders Conference the next week. From the moderator of 1977, Allen Light, I learned that we have a new Supe. Here is some info: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/06/24/west-point-superintendent-calls-it-career-after-43-years-army.html President Donald Trump has nominated Gen. Darryl Williams to succeed him. Williams was a 1983 West Point graduate. Welcome General Williams, sir!!! Godspeed U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen, the 59th superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy!!! Aj, Moderator '77, Carlisle, PA” March Back will be 13 August. Of course, this event will be at West Point. Ed Weckel D-2, Wally Ward M-1 and Will Collett L-1 will be marching. If you need further info, please contact any of them! I have had problems with my email, but they seem to have been resolved. I intended to launch these notes a week of more ago, but will do it now at the beginning of July. Let’s call this one July and forget June. Sorry about that! The prior edition was sent in May. The only photo this time is Chaplain George Bean. I will attack the issue of Don Palladino photos next time. Till then, take care and please be in touch. George
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