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Classmates —
I am late getting started on Class Notes, no
excuse, sir. I will begin with info on our three classmates who
did the grad March Back in August: Ed
Weckel D1, Wally
Ward M1 and Will Collett
L1. They were all mentioned at the end of July (Part 2) class
notes, but I am taking the time to remind you now that they have
completed the "hike." They all reported problems this year.
Will did the shorter version of 2 miles while both Ed and Wally gutted
out the full 12 miles. Their problems all began shortly before the
August event. Congratulations to all three hikers. This was
the 19th March Back for Ed and Wally and the 18th for Will. Talk
about harrassment, Ed and Wally give Will a hard time because he missed
the first grad March Back. The 20th grad March Back next year will
be 11-12 August 2019. Our classmates could use some support in
their effort -- hope some other classmates to join them. Scribe
would love to be there with them, but time will tell.
Deaths of classmates since the
last notes. John
G Evans E1 died 29 July 2018. He resigned from
the Army on 5 June 1961. He had branched Infantry. John came
to many class events in the DC area over the years. His first wife
Rosalyn died on 19 Jan 2016 and he remarried
Patricia Hoy Muth Albert. Sadly she is now his
widow. Our condolences go to Patricia and all John's
company-mates. Margie Downing found this obit for John:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bs-md-ob-john-evans-20180731-story.html
Our second death was
John D George Jr A1 on 21 Aug 2018. John
and
Judy were the fourth couple married by Chaplain
George Bean in the Cadet Chapel at 3:00pm on graduation day, 4 June
1958. John enjoyed three careers, the final one working for Dr
Jerry Falwell at Liberty University. In his 50-year book write up
John used the word "GRATEFUL" often. Scribe can say that we are
grateful that John was our classmate. And our condolences go to
his widow Judy and his company-mates. An obit for John can be
found at
https://tinyurl.com/yscrslwn.
In an earlier column Scribe reported the death of Butch
Saint I1 on 7 May 2018. I can now provide
additional info via an email from our EC Chairman, Andy Andreson
G1: Butch will be honored at West Point! USMA is naming the
Equestrian Center for him -- The General Crosbie Saint Equestrian Center
has a nice ring to it. It is well named to honor Butch!
We had an EXCOM meeting on 21 Aug at Andy Andreson's house.
Someone is going to report on this, therefore, this mention will suffice
to wet your appetites.
From an email from John
Brinson C2: "Jim Brown was indestructible. I watched
him play against Army at West Point in 1955 when I was a cadet.
Unstoppable. By the way, the Syracuse cheerleaders stole the Army flag
and dragged it through the mud on their side of the field. At that
moment, a cadet in uniform crossed the field and knocked them to the
ground, rescued the flag, and returned to the Army stands trying to be
anonymous. But no such luck, he was recognized and charged with
misbehavior, but the charge was dropped. I was that cadet, a 3rd
Classman."
Retirements -- this used to cover classmates, now it is children
of classmates. MG
Patty Jones Frost will retire at the end of
August. Dick Reynard
I1 forwarded an email with this information. Patty is a Rutgers
graduate and will join her brother Peter
'85 who retired recently as a BG. The parents, Linc
(died 16 Jan 13) and Ann
can certainly be proud of their children. While stationed at Ft
Carson many years ago, Linc and Ann were near-neighbors of Judy and me
in Colorado Springs.
A birthday to mention here: Pichitra
Kullavanijaya, better known to us as Pete,
celebrated number 86 on 22 July. Pete, born on 22 July 1932, had
his 22d birthday the day we entered as Plebes in 1954. If you will
remember, 22 was the limit on entry age. He just made it and
proceeded to do very well, retiring as a four-star and serving on the
Privy Council. Our other Thai classmate and four-star,
Sam Sookmark,
was a year younger, born on 10 June 1933. Our Thai classmates are
an amazing pair!
Class
Event 20 Sep -- Picnic organized by
Palmer McGrew I2. "We will soon have our second "class picnic", the
former being decades ago. We have reserved an area at Burke Lake Park, a
wonderful place with lots to do besides eat. Our area is the closest to
the lake and handy to rest room facilities.
"This
will occur on September 20 beginning at about 10 AM and continuing to
about 2 PM. We will have grills going for you to cook anything you would
like. The idea is: you bring your choice of meat to grill, a bag or
chips or whatever you would like, and non-alcoholic beverages. There
will be lots of other food and goodies for you to eat or snack on as the
spirit moves. We will provide plates, cups etc.
"Burke
Lake Park is a great park, in case you don't know it. The lake is large.
You can rent row boats, walk around the lake, fish -- lots to do. Or,
you can sit with classmates and have a good time chatting in a quiet
environment. We have rented an area with overhead cover in case of rain,
so come whatever the weather.
"We
have paid for the use of the site, so we have to ask you to toss in
$10/head to cover the rental cost and and some food we will provide.
It's a deal!
"Please
put this on your calendar now if you haven't already.
"See
you at Burke Lake! Palmer"
Meanwhile, we had a class luncheon
on 9 Aug. 33 attendees included: Jerry and Maria Mitchell
C1, John Nun A2, Nels Conner A2, Dusty
Rhodes F1, Pete Kusek E2, Angela Ganey
H1, Phil Gibbs I2, Joe and Peggy
Luman H2, Lee Miller A1, John
Schaffer C1, Andy and Artie Andreson G1,
Jack Gordan A1, Brad Johnson K1, Alan
and Florence Salisbury L1, Bill Giallourakis B2, Church
Hutton L2, Pete Byrne D2, Jack and
Margie Downing H2, Merrilyn Saint I1, Bill
and Mary Jane Parks H2, Herb and Betty Puscheck
A1, George and Gale Robertson H1, Jim
and Miyuki Wade A1. Hope Scribe did not miss anyone.
A comment after my July classnotes:
"Thanks George-Your mention of Wilbur and Orville Wright triggered a bit
of trivia- my father was an Army doctor from 1915 until WWI ended. He
was the first medical officer at Wright Field (Now Wright Patterson) and
he knew Orville Wright." Will Merrill C1.
We were all saddened by the death
of John McCain USNA 1958 today. Here is info from
an email from Andy Andreson:
"Our Class will be honoring our Navy
’58 classmate Senator John McCain at his funeral at the United States
Naval Academy.
In coordination with Navy ’58 leadership, both
Navy ’58 and Army ’58 will convey sentiments with similar floral wreaths
which will be present at the Naval Academy Main Chapel for the funeral
service, and then at the grave site at the Academy Cemetery for Senator
McCain’s interment.
"The Navy wreath will feature blue
and gold flowers and the ribbon inscription “The Moral Compass of the
Great USNA Class of 1958”. Our wreath will feature West Point’s
black, gray and gold colors and the ribbon inscription “Well Done Fellow
Warrior, West Point ‘58”.
All the best."
Good
place to stop. Well done, Senator John McCain!
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