Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

It’s always fun to get feedback when stories go out. Most of the feedback I receive is in the form of just a quick comment. However, this time I have a whole new story to share. It seems that I struck a nerve with my story of Eisenhower’s aide sending me a letter that pretty much turned me around. Several folks have sent me comments but this one was above and beyond. I received this from John Bell and I was sure you would all enjoy it as much as I did. He wrote:

Rick,

Your "Eisenhower" story immediately reminded me of another involving the Class of 1965. It is about an encounter that Patricia Cargould (who, at the time, was Bob Zonne’s girlfriend) had with Eisenhower during our June week. Since rooms for our Class at the Thayer were very limited, a lottery was held and Bob Zonne won a room for his date.

The story is continued by Patricia (Trish) below.

(I e-mailed Trish about plans to relay the story to our Class and for her to fact-check my remembrances. My recall was about 50% correct; so I am e-mailing to you what Trish sent back to me)

And here is what Trish sent to John:

Hi John,

So good to hear from you and hope you and Becky are well. I have told some of your Classmates the story so not sure how interesting it will be.

Here's the real story:

Bob did get a really high number in the lottery so I did get a single room that was pretty darn small, but I was thrilled to have it.

I knew the class of 1915 was celebrating their reunion, but was so excited to be there for June Week that I did not think much about it until that night. My room was down the hall from the elevator and a left turn down a tiny hallway, but at the end of the main hall was what I assumed was a suite. When I returned that night I heard voices from the suite. Eisenhower's voice was unmistakable and when he said "Omar" I realized that it must be Omar Bradley in there too. That was enough to stop me in my tracks.

I never saw either one of them and I have no idea how they knew I was there. So it was pretty embarrassing when Eisenhower said " Young lady, come in " and I think there was an offer of a drink. My first thought was that I had just been caught as an eavesdropper, and Bob was going to be in big trouble. I finally managed to stammer out a no thank you, but ended up calling Eisenhower Mr. President, General, and Sir all in the same breath. Could not get my key in the door of my room fast enough! And pray they would not recognize me if we ever met in the hotel again!

If you want to pass this on it is okay with me. Bob and I were not engaged at the time, just dating. Fun stuff to remember now.

All my best to both of you.

Trish

Wow, what a great story! Thank you John and Trish.

To respond directly use: John Bell jaba8bell@gmail.com

Patricia (Trish) Cargould patcargould@verizon.net

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Here’s a great response to one of my Bunnograms along with a very special message. Bev Farmelo, wife of Gene Farmelo wrote to tell us about the effort to remember those who died after the war as a result of their service. She writes:

Most regrettably, Gene died in December, 2012, after a seven-year battle with Parkinson's disease. The Veterans Administration acknowledged the Parkinson's was attributed to Gene's exposure to Agent Orange during his two tours in Vietnam.

I have recently discovered there is a Memory Plaque, near the Vietnam Memorial. This plaque reads: "In Memory of the men and women who served in the Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service. We honor and remember their sacrifice." The plaque was dedicated in 2004.

I am currently collecting the necessary documents so Gene can be honored in the 2017 ceremony at the Memory Plaque. I am writing in the hope that other families who later lost loved ones due to their service in Vietnam can also be honored and remembered.

The web site is http://www.vvmf.org/InMemoryProgram and if you scroll down there is a picture of the plaque and a further site with explanations and application instructions.

Gene loved his family and Classmates above all else.

Strength and Drive in 65.

Thank you Bev, for this very important message.

To respond directly use: Bev Farmelo Bevfarmelo@aol.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Aloha.

Well, I received sufficient feedback to convince myself that I have not previously shared my Eisenhower story. While I am fully aware that this (I guess we can call it a Blog) is not intended to be about me or my stories, I will make an exception here to share the admiration I have long held for one of our national treasures.

About two weeks into our Beast Barracks, I made my way to the basement telephone line to call home. It was a simple message to my folks. I explained that free education or no, this Army life, and especially this West Point crap was not for me and I would be coming home soon. My father’s response was, to my memory, the best thing he ever did for me. He told me to stick with it until the end of the summer so that I would not feel like a quitter. I quickly discovered that it wasn’t that I couldn’t do it, I just didn’t want to.

My father, knowing how I admired Eisenhower, immediately sent a telegram to the General and within the week, I received a letter from his office in Gettysburg. The letter was actually from one of the General’s aids but I can still remember the important words, “The General is aware of your situation and encourages you to stay the course.” I’m not sure, nor did I care, if the General ever really saw the telegram. All I knew was that the kick in the tail that I needed had come from the office of my hero. I wish I knew what ever happened to that letter. I guess it wasn’t as important to me as its message.

I didn’t make it easily (Century Club Plebe Year) but I graduated with one of the most amazing classes to ever make its way through the 47-month program. Now, and for all the years since then, I have been extremely proud to be one of you.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Aloha! I just returned from a visit to the U.S.S. Arizona memorial with my granddaughter. She’s ready to keep going, I’m ready for a nap.

I just received two very interesting e-mails from Bob Bradley. Recently I have been receiving more and more items that don’t quite fit my self-imposed criteria to keep Bunnograms focused on or about our Class. These two from Bob, also fall outside that criteria. While I was trying to decide if I should go ahead and share them, it occurred to me, who better than me to violate my own rule? Interesting is interesting, so here is what he offered. His first message and photo are as follows:

My Dad was in the Chief of Staff's office in the early 50's. Found this picture in his closet. Note Montgomery always signed "Montgomery of Alamein, Field Marshal," in keeping with his reputation of being a pompous, self-centered jerk.

The second message Bob sent was:

This was taken in Panama, late 40's, when Ike was chief of staff. I doctored a copy of the original for a scrapbook we gave my dad (right in the picture) for his 80th birthday in 1995.

This one was of particular interest to me because Eisenhower has always been a hero to me. I’m afraid my memory is so bad, I can’t be sure if I have shared the story of how he (possibly without his knowledge) saved my career. I’ll be happy to share it down the road if there is any interest. By the way, while still my hero he is no longer my favorite Chief of Staff now that Ric has shown us what he is made of.

Mahalo Bob, for these very interesting peeks into a unique part of our country’s history.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Just before leaving for this brief trip to the Islands, I received this very nice suggestion from my good friend Clair Gill:

I was speaking with Chuck Moseley several days ago, and happened to mention to him that all those Scribe notes contained in the paper copies of Assembly magazines had been captured in our electronic archives due to the great work of Chuck Nichols. I was surprised to find that he had no knowledge of this historical information being so easily accessible on our Class page at: http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1965/ So I am wondering how many others might be unaware of this treasure trove, despite the fact that we have provided this info in the past?

So, my suggestion is that at a time when messages are not flowing so freely, Chuck Nichols and you might collaborate on a note that explains again to the Class the what, where and how of accessing old Class Notes. Just a thought.

Clair

Thank you Clair for a great suggestion. Well, I took this one step farther and asked Chuck to help me put together a list of all the things that he has done for the Class. Now I knew that he was a busy boy but this blew me away. As you look at this list, you will probably be able to find most of what you need by going to the Class Webpage (for which Chuck is the Webmaster). However, if there are things you are looking for and can’t find, go directly to Chuck. Believe it or not, even with all this on his plate, he is never too busy to get back to you and help you out.

So here is just some of what Chuck does for us:
Class Website - The following are the principle items I maintain on the Class Website

• Class Notes going back to January 1966 - can be searched for specific information on the version of Class Notes I maintain on my PC (fully indexed). This is in the first subset of Class Poop.
• Class Bylaws
• Memorial Articles - In addition to the standard information provided in Taps I include Cadet Company, Date of Birth, Grave Location (if available) and awards received as recorded in their Assembly entry
• Spouse Tribute - Memorial Articles for spouses who predecease a classmate
• Complete pictorial presentation of all company pictures from Plebe and First Class years featuring deceased classmates with those without Memorial Articles highlighted
• Funeral SOP - Maintain the latest version of the SOP as reference for POCs
• Class Roster - Maintained in a restricted area of the Website and updated continuously as changes are received
• Reunion Information
• Affiliation Activities
• Links to Army Sports calendar of events

Class Database

• All information needed to feed the Class Roster
• Other information maintained
• Individual history including Assembly entry from 2010 edition
• Birthplace
• Initial Branch
• Class Picture from 1965 Howitzer
• Deceased Spouse information
• Wedding Picture
• Lost Class Ring

Graphics Development

• Support to Website
• Support to Class Leadership (e.g., ads and presentations)

Listserv Maintenance

• Class listserv - 535 subscribers included classmates, former classmates and NOK - (This is the list used to bring this and other Bunnograms to you.)
• Class forum listserv - 66 classmates and former classmates

IT Support to Class Functions

• 50th Reunion AV presentations
• On-call assistance to classmates
• Tribute to our fallen in uniform - to be released in November

To respond directly use: Chuck Nichols cnichols6@verizon.net

Chuck, it goes without saying that we all deeply appreciate all that you do for us.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Good morning from beautiful Ko Olina, Oahu. Joe Sanchez sent me this link with the suggestion that I share it with all of you. While it is not our usual fare, I agree that it explains a class act which should give us all a good feeling. Thank you Joe.

http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/navy-coaches-join-entire-army-team-at-funeral-for-player-killed-in-car-accident/

To respond directly use: Jose Sanchez jlsanchez1@comcast.net

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Wow, what a game! Here is Gordy Larson’s comprehensive recap of the game that has many of us wondering if we can afford to be as optimistic about the remainder of the season as the indicators would seem to justify. Before we get into his actual report, he had a few comments which I found to be very interesting:

Below is my Monday Morning QB analysis of the UTEP game along with a brief Preview of Buffalo. It was carried in a few cities and on Dish but I had to watch on streaming video. Best game I ever watched on a laptop!

Classmates who want more can go to GoBlackKnights.com 

A couple of comments for those who missed the game:
66 points is the most scored by an Army team since the win over Colgate in 1958 - Pete Dawkins senior year
52-point margin is most since 1945

Gordy

Now for his analysis of the game: 

Army 66-UTEP 14

Where do we start in describing the surreal performance of the Army West Point team this weekend? If the staff hands out Ranger jerseys to all the players who earned them, it will look like a reunion of the 75th Rangers at practice next week. We will, of course, make note of a few notable achievements in this article, but we apologize in advance for not being able to recognize every player who deserves our accolades this week hoping that the chosen few represent the entire team, with special attention to those who experienced career firsts in the game.

Kudos

Andy Davidson cracked the hundred-yard mark for the 3d time in his 3 game career as a fullback, but it was Darnell Woolfolk who reached pay dirt most often with 3 rushing touchdowns. The performance of the two sophomores merely confirmed what we’ve been observing all along, that the offensive line and the two sophomores are making their impact on the offense this season. Cole Macek became the 4th fullback and third sophomore to earn time at fullback this year getting 6 carries for 21 yards in his debut.

Scott Waschle had an opportunity to relieve Andrew King at MLB in the second half and made the best of it with his first career interception. Waschle was also listed as one of the ball carriers on offense with a run of 8 yards; so perhaps you thought that Davis was trying to steal another LB from Bateman to pad his already bloated corps of B-backs, but it turns out that the actual runner on that play was freshman Ryan Velez.

Senior Elijah St Hillaire, Freshman Kell Walker, and Yearlings Christian Poe and Quinten Parker all made their first career receptions in the game, while the old hand, senior Joe Walker had the only passing TD reception as 7 different receivers shared the seven pass completions in the game. Freshman Glen Coatessaw his first action at WR, but it appeared that he decided against making a passing attempt and ran for 5 yards on the reverse.

The commentators missed the call on the kickoff fumble recovery; so for the record, we’ll note that it was freshman Jaylon McClinton who forced the fumble and yearling Max Regan who scooped it up for the touchdown run.

Bateman’s Blitzkrieg

On paper, the numbers for the defense don’t seem as impressive in this game, as the Black Knights registered no sacks and only 3 TFLs in the game, but if you actually saw the game, you’d notice that the Black Knight linebackers had the three UTEP quarterbacks scrambling for their lives most of the game, and the Miners were called for grounding the ball on one of those scrambles, which is every bit as good as a sack.

Bateman divided the workload well, with 10 different linebackers contributing 1 or more tackles in a game in which UTEP ran only 42 offensive plays. We did notice that freshman Ryan Parker was among the group who had their debut on defense in the 4th quarter and was credited with a tackle.

Click here for the full analysis.

Thank you Gordy. I never cease to be amazed at how much more you see when watching a game than I do.

To respond directly use:  Gordon Larson  glarson65@aol.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

In two of my recent messages to the Class regarding activities of the Leadership Team, I have discussed the concept of assigning a POC (Point of Contact) from within the Team to deal with particular issues of importance to the Class. Our President, Russ Campbell, recently received a request from the AOG (Association of Graduates) to identify two people who had accepted the responsibility of POC regarding two very important issues. Russ felt that these two positions were worthy of note and for sharing with the Class as a whole.

His comments to me were:

As a Class Leader I received a request from AOG to confirm two of our Points of Contact with them. I have done that, and we should advise the Class:

• POC for Memorial Articles and TAPS will continue to be Chuck McCloskey.
• POC for Death notifications and funeral coordination will continue to be Rick Bunn. Rick will also work on lining up POCs for funeral arrangements.

We thank both of these men for so ably helping us in the past and for volunteering to continue do so in the future.

S & D,

Russ.

Chuck and I recognize how unpleasant is the concept of our Class constantly diminishing in size and the difficulties involved with dealing with the passing of our dear friends. However, with the help of those of us who continue to maintain the bonds of this amazing Band of Brothers, we can make the passing of one of our brothers just a little easier for those they leave behind. Please help us when we come to you for assistance with this very important task.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Barrie Zais has been quite busy trying to identify folks in the picture I shared before. Here is his latest with all the input he has had thus far:

I received quite a bit of help in identification but questions still remain. Below, so far, faces in the photo from left to right, not by rows, but just faces. I also am not positive of which Beast company this is. Hal Jenkins says he thinks it is 3rd Company.  

Marv Jeffcoat, Unknown, Half face over John Knowles’ right shoulder could be Hal Jenkins or Mike Chun, John Knowles, John Alger, Barrie Zais, Steve Bliss, Unknown (the one who looks like he is bracing), Bernie Kistler, Nick Merriam, Bob Molepske, Steve Davis, Steve Bassett, Unknown, Monty Kennedy, Tom Croak, Unknown, Unknown, Tony Livic

Barrie

Thanks Barrie. This has been fun.

To respond directly use: Barrie Zais   zaisb@comcast.net

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Barrie Zais sent me this great picture and asked if we had ever tried to identify those in it. Below the picture I have included his contact information so you can let him know if you recognize anyone in the picture. Please be sure to carefully identify the location of anyone you are trying to identify. Wow, have you ever seen so many incredibly serious looking guys? Barrie writes:

John Knowles sent me this picture in 2008 a short time before he passed away. He is marked by the arrow. I am on his left, Jeffcoat on his right, Alger in front of Jeffcoat, Kistler in front of him, Davis in front of him. There are a lot of familiar faces. I don’t know if we have ever shown this picture to the Class and asked them to identify. Do you remember if we did? All the best.

Barrie

Please let Barrie know if you can help him identify folks.

To respond directly use: Barrie Zais   zaisb@comcast.net

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

I just got off the phone with Gordy Larson who has agreed to provide us with a weekly review of Army’s football game combined with a brief forecast of the upcoming game. This is pretty much the same as he did for us last year. However, should you want to get into even more depth (hard for me to imagine more depth than Gordy gets to in his reports), Gordy suggests going to GoBlackKnights.com where you can read his frequent reports on Army Football. He has offered to help you if you have problems getting connected there.

To start things off this year Gordy has provided a copy of his most recent article with GoBlackKnights and has prefaced it with these comments about the tragic death of cornerback Brandon Jackson:

As the self-appointed class monitor of Army football, I can tell you this is a huge loss, both emotionally and physically for the Army team. Jackson established himself as a lockdown cornerback in his freshman year, and he was a major part of a good Army defense this season. He will be sorely missed, and I know that the players will be dedicating the remainder of this season to his memory.

Monken has built some decent depth at the cornerback position, but we lost two great ones in Josh Jenkins and Brandon Jackson. Their replacements have some big shoes to fill.

I’m attaching a copy of the review of the Rice game I wrote for GoBlackKnights. Unfortunately, I didn’t mention the great play that Jackson made to knock down a key pass in the game. It was a virtual repeat of a key play he made against Temple, and I chose to write about some other key plays instead. In retrospect, I missed an opportunity to pay homage to a young player that I will miss seeing on the field.

Gordy

And here is his article which Gordy refers to from GoBlackKnight.

Monday Morning Quarterback- Rice

After watching Saturday’s game, it occurred to me that the Army players are considerably more confident in their ability to win than are most Army fans at this point. Despite, or perhaps because of the big win over Temple, a lot of us were concerned about a letdown, and most fans predicted that it would be a much closer contest than it turned out to be. Army was expected to win, and the people that do this sort of thing rated Army as 9-10 point favorites, but for the second week in a row, the winning bets were on Army despite having to give points.

Another Shaky Start

The opening series by Rice was enough of a blitzkrieg to shake the confidence of any fan. Rice lined up in a spread formation with three wideouts on the right and one on the left, spanning nearly the entire width of the field and forcing the Army defenders into single coverage with only one safety left over to cover deep. The defense stopped the initial running attempt for a 1-yard loss, but on second down, the running back cut back for an 11-yard gain, and on the third play of the game, Stehling found his TE Cella open between Timpf and England and hit him with a perfect pass for a 64-yard touchdown in the first minute of play. It was a rude wakeup call.

A Quick Recovery

As turned out to be the case all day long, the Black Knights answered the Rice blitz with a well-executed triple option counterattack and followed it up in their next possession with another successful attack. Rice scored two touchdowns on quick long strikes in this game, but in both cases, Army came right back with a long scoring drive to counter the Rice offensives. Unlike the Temple game, the Black Knights established themselves early and then counterattacked every time Rice threatened to close the gap.

Another Stellar Defensive Performance

Despite a couple of lapses that resulted in long touchdowns, the defense had another solid day, highlighted by aninterception, a forced fumble recovery, and 2 sacks. The defense held Rice to 1 third-down conversion in 10 attempts, and held Stehling to -4 yards rushing compared to the 85 he gained against WKU. They allowed Rice only 37 plays in the game, getting them off the field to give the offense an opportunity to do its job of controlling the game.

2016 Stats: Currently Army West Point ranks 21st in Scoring Defense, 25th in Total Defense, 25th in Rushing Defense, 42d in Passing Yards Allowed, 28th in Team Passing Efficiency, 7th in Interceptions, 17th in Turnovers Gained, 28th in Team Sacks, and 12th in 3d Down Conversion Defense.

Defensive Notables:

James Nachtigal saw his first action on defense and forced the fumble that Andrew King recovered to set up Army’s 3d touchdown. He contributed 2.5 tackles, including 1 TFL.

Andrew King led the defense with 6 tackles, including 2 TFLs, a sack, and a fumble recovery.

Jeremy Timpf showed that he is ready to contribute to the pass defense again with his first interception of the season and 4th of his career.

Balanced Offense?

By most definitions, Monken’s offense will never be considered balanced, and the 6 passes attempted against Rice are not going to give anyone the idea that we have a significant passing atttack, but by triple option standards the offense against Rice was balanced with the 348 yards rushing distributed among 9 running backs and completions to two wide receivers contributing another 66 yards. A fullback trio of Davidson, Woolfolk, and Rhoden contributed 133 yards, the two quarterbacks combined for 101 net yards, and 5 slotbacks contributed 114 yards.

Offensive Notables:

Andy Davidson had his second 100-yard rushing performance and scored three touchdowns to lead the rushing attack, while Ahmad Bradshaw contributed another 71 despite being caught behind the line of scrimmage 5 times for a total of 15 lost yards. Bradshaw had a better passing game against Rice than he had against Temple with 3 completions in 5 attempts for 55 yards.

Chris Carter saw limited action but kept his passing record perfect with 1 completion in 1 attempt, and he contributed 30 yards on the ground in 4 carries.

Jeff Ejikam had his first and second career receptions, but was overshadowed by Edgar Poe’s diving catch to keep the second Army drive alive.

Joe Walker answered some fans questions about where he was by making the longest run of the day for Army with a 32 yard burst around end that spurred the first Army drive.

Darnell Woolfolk was determined to score his first career touchdown when he refused to let 3 defenders keep him from reaching the end zone on his 6 yard run to cap the first Army drive.

2016 stats: The rushing offense moved up to 4th in the FBS, and Army West Point remained on top of the FBS in fourth-down conversions with 4 successful conversions in 4 attempts this year. The offense managed to recover their one fumble and avoid interceptions to remain on top of the FBS with a perfect record in Turnovers Lost. Despite a good day for Bradshaw, the passing game leaves room for improvement with a team Efficiency rating of 116 to rank 97th in the FBS.

Special Teams Improved

Mitchell Howard finally converted his first career field goal in the 4th quarter after missing two in the Temple game. In all fairness, the problems in the kicking game were as much or more due to bad snaps and holds as they were too bad kicks, and that problem seemed to be resolved in the Rice game as Howard added 4 PATs to go along with his 23-yard field goal.

The kickoff team limited Rice to two returns of 22 yards’ total, and one of those was on a squib kick.

The punting game still looks uncertain with Nick Schrage having to field one snap on the first bounce and another that almost didn’t make it too him. He did a good job of getting the first one away, but kicked the second one short. Shrage had 6 punts that averaged 33.8 yards with 3 ending up inside the Rice 20. A couple of better snaps would make his job a little easier. Rice had no punt returns in the game.

Calen Holt blocked a punt in the fourth quarter setting up a great scoring opportunity deep in Rice territory.

The Young and the Restless

This year’s plebes are finding it a bit more difficult to get playing time than last year’s group, but a few more made their career debuts in the Rice game. Only two plebes made the stats in the game; Kell Walker with 1 rushing attempt for no gain, and Elijah Riley with a tackle; but a few other plebes got their baptism on the fields of friendly strife. Jack King, Richard Hanson, Hayden, Haupt, Alex Herndon, Mike Johnson, Jaxson Deaton, Jaylon McClinton, Kjetil Cline, Cole Chrisiansen, Glen Coates, and Amadeo West all made cameo appearances.

Significance of the Win

A lot of fans and pundits have already noted that this is the first time that Army West Point has won their first two games of the season since 1996. Neither win was a fluke. Both wins showed a level of resilience we haven’t seen in Army teams of recent vintage. Good teams win the games that they are supposed to win along with a few that they aren’t supposed to win. This was one of those in the first category.

In our review of the game against Temple we mentioned a concept referred to as perspective transformation, and it’s a phenomenon that requires reinforcement over time to take hold. The Temple game created the initial belief that Army might be a force this year, and the decisive win over Rice reinforced that. The Black Knights face another challenge at El Paso next week, but trips to Texas have been fruitful in recent years, and a third straight win would go a long way to completing the transformation among those who still harbor doubts that football is back at Army West Point.

I’m sure you will all agree that Gordy does an amazing job of analyzing the games and helps us focus on what is really happening. Thank you Gordy.

To respond directly use: Gordon Larson glarson65@aol.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

I recently shared that members of your Leadership Team were stepping up to take on POC (Point of Contact) duties on several issues. One of the first to take on a POC responsibility was Bob Frank, our Historian, who accepted the role of POC regarding the continuing issue of access to our Rockbound Highland Home. He just received a very nice report from Jim Tomaswick regarding his experience this weekend. Bob writes:

Jim Tomaswick has provided a useful report on his and Carol's first-hand experience in getting the access pass to WP. As folks can see, there is a bit of improvement over Joe Sanchez experience several months back. However, there still is a long way to go.

Jim sure knows how to put together comprehensive report! He writes:

Here’s my report on our experience getting ID cards for entrance to West Point. (A blank copy of the form is attached)

INITIAL IMPRESSION = CONFUSION, INITIAL SOLUTION= ADD SOME SIGNS

Had I not been familiar with the Welcome Center area, I may not have been able to locate the ID place (don’t recall the official name) without asking someone. The WP Welcome Center is under renovation and won’t be completed until late 2017, therefore the “temporary” Welcome Center is in a portable building in front of the original one and the ID Office shares the same portable building. There was a little sign on the door of the ID side of the building that we, thankfully, noticed when we passed the Welcome Center.

Parking was a little problem because car spaces have been reduced due to the renovation. Luckily, we were able to wait until someone pulled out. When we entered the ID place there were no instructions (or signage) on what to do. Someone who had been seated there for quite some time told us that we needed to go up to the front of the crowd of approximately 40 people and take a number. (They have a little ticket machine similar to the one they use at my grocery store when I get cold cuts.) Both of us needed a ticket since we both wanted ID cards. We were also told to also pick up a form and fill it out. An area of confusion is that West Point Tours shares the same room with the ID people. After we sat down for our long summer’s wait, we noticed people going to the WP Tours desk and the tour people had to give them directions on what to do.

THE FORM

As you can see from the attached form they want a bunch of info. NOTE: The first line DOES NOT have a box for “ALUMNI.” Instead it has a box entitled, “Guest (ODIA/AOG/AU-Pair/GS-Spouse/Other”. Luckily, we left that line blank because later, during our processing, we learned that passes marked “Visitor” may have restrictions. There is a separate form for parents of current Cadets.

THE WAIT PERIOD= 1 ½ HOURS

When we arrived, there were approx. 40 people sitting and waiting to be processed. The room was so crowded that we had to wait for someone to be called up to get a seat. We filled out our forms, began our wait, and joined others in giving instructions to the new people who arrived. As noted, it took us 1 ½ hours before we were called to be processed. It would have been longer had some people not given up and departed.

THE PROCESS= GOOD EXPERIENCE

The young man who processed us was very professional, friendly and answered our questions. His badge indicated that he was in the Department of the Army Law Enforcement division. He was not a member of the military. I informed him that I was a Grad and that my wife was a spouse of a Grad. He made a note of that when he typed in our info. There were just three law enforcement officers on duty. When I inquired why there were so few given the expected the large number of people for the home opener weekend, I was told that they didn’t have any more. He was able to do a background check on us and process us in just a few minutes.

THE CARDS = GOOD FOR 1 YEAR

I’m reluctant to send an image of our cards because they are supposedly official government ID’s, so let me describe it…At the top of mine it says, “AOG” and at the top of my wife’s it says “GUEST”. Then it has my picture, expiration date, name, the West Point logo, a bar code, and a number.

MY THOUGHTS = WHY NOT ALLOW ELECTRONIC FILING?

Given the process we went through; I still do not understand why DOD doesn’t allow Grads to use an electronic filing process.

I’m still not sure why the attached form requests a choice for gender, of: Male, Female, or Other. I would hope that by the time they get to this point, they are pretty sure. Ah well, whatever it takes to get back to Hogwarts on the Hudson.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65, 

While not the sort of thing I usually share, the letter from the Supt is extraordinary in that we lost a young, talented, cadet and future officer yesterday. I know we all feel a personal loss when something like this happens. On behalf of our entire Class, I extend our warmest condolences to his family.

Grip hands my friends as we share in this loss of one of our own.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

I’m going to combine a few brief comments into one Bunnogram because I think they are all roughly connected.

Last evening my wife Donna and I drove out to Silverdale to have dinner with my good friend and ranger buddy, and her favorite pilot, Duncan Brown. As usual we had a chance to solve many of the problem facing world leaders and do a little reminiscing about our own journeys. Here is a picture of us at the Yacht Club Broiler in Silverdale.

Yes, a couple of wine glasses still being worked on while my Margarita is long gone. I like to enjoy it early so the food and time get me back to a good condition to drive home.

Prior to leaving our house, I watched the first quarter of the Army/Temple Game and then enjoyed the, recorded, end of the game when I got home. I must admit that I was so pleased with the game that all night long, when I would occasionally wake up, I found myself damn near giddy as I tried to get back to sleep with visions of Army playing football like I haven’t seen in years. I am so optimistic for a wonderful season!

This morning I received a picture from Joe Barkley which shows that I am not alone in my assessment.

Finally, to tie this all together, I received a nice link from Tommy Thompson. For those, like me, who like having a schedule to work with, Tommy shared this very helpful schedule which even includes the time and TV network covering the game. Thanks Tommy. http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-16/2016-army-black-knights-football-schedule.php

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Wow, what a great idea. An anniversary with the family for half the time and then just the two lovebirds for the remainder. What a beautiful trip and great pictures. Thanks for sharing all this Joe. Joe writes;

Continuing the Barkley family adventure to Germany and France. Part one ended in Heidelberg with the Castle Illumination. The picture file includes three pictures from the Germany portion. Then we switch to Heidelberg and the now abandoned Campbell Barracks - view through the front gate. Then we see the actual Heidelberg Castle Illumination from the river boat. After the kids left, Diane and I went on to the Normandy Coast and Caen. We are seen next in a mockup of the landing craft on Utah Beach. There is a fabulous restaurant right there too - great Mussels and Burgers and Fries.

Photo Left: Me and the three granddaughters; Emmalee (13), Abby (13), and Coreena (11) atop the Olympic tower in Munich

We went on the Omaha beach and Point de Hoc too. Omaha was an interesting paradox as it now seems to be full of up - scale vacation homes. Visited thecemetery at Colleville - sur - Mer and were there for retreat at the end of the day. The second day in Caen we went to Mont Saint Michel with our guide. We did climb all the way to the top, including going through what is said to be the narrowest street in the world. I did have to turn sideways to get up. Final picture is Diane and I on a street at Montmarte; just down the street from a Starbucks.

The touring abruptly ended at 0900 on July 16th as I dislocated my hip getting in to a way too small car. I spent about 26 hours in a Paris Hospital where they manually reset the hip. The food was pretty good; even had rabbit; first time I had rabbit since ranger school. This was the first time had ever bought trip insurance; fortunately. We had an upgraded flight home (business class) so I could keep the leg up; after spending 2 extra days in Paris. I had a very complex hip and femur revision on August 2nd; spent week in Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia. The final picture is yours truly on a walker today on the first day of teaching for the fall semester.

Photo Right: Caen, Mont Saint Michel

So, that is the story of the “Barkley Family Adventure - 50th Anniversary Trip.”
Strength and Drive - Beat Navy - Joe Barkley

I’m truly jealous, a visit to Normandy is pretty high on my bucket list. Thanks again for sharing all this.

To respond directly use: Joe Barkley JoeBrkly@aol.com

During our recent teleconference of the Class Leadership Team, it was decided that different members of the team should step up to take on the responsibility as our Point of Contact (POC) for issues of importance to the Class. Bob Frank was quick to embrace this concept and offered to be our POC for the issue of “Access to the Academy” which has become a problem for many attempting to visit our Rockbound Highland Home. Bob just sent me an update which may be of assistance to those attempting to gain access in the near future. He writes:

Please inform our Classmates of the following information from an authorized member of the Superintendent’s staff (Directorate of Academy Advancement (DAA)). So far as I know, this guidance pertains primarily to major events, such as football games. It is still recommended that Classmates, wives and others go to the Visitors Center to go through the process of getting a personal pass, which is good for one year. Going during “off hours” is encouraged, as the wait at other times may be considerable. Also, to speed the process, one can go to the USMA webpage (“Visiting West Point”) to get a copy of the form used to check information. Having a completed form before arriving at the Visitors Center may also expedite the process.

Please let me [bobfrank@atlanticbb.net] know of your experience(s) so that issues that should be raised to the USMA leadership can be so identified.

Thank you Bob. I’m sure this will be helpful to some.

The following message was sent out by the AOG at the request of Tony Clay’s family. This is just one more reminder of the combined events that will take place at the Point on Thursday and Friday October 20 and 21. On Thursday the 20th the Memorial Service for Tony will be held and then on Friday, he will be inducted into the West Point Sports Hall of Fame. More reminders will be coming out as the dates get closer. For now, assistance in long range planning is being provided. Here is the AOG announcement:

The family has requested that information on the memorial service for 2LT Anthony Clay ’65 be sent out to the class. Anthony’s service will be at West Point, NY on Thursday, October 20 at 1330 hours at the committal shelter near the Memorial Affairs office at the cemetery. For any Classmates without a DOD ID card that plans to attend, can meet at the Thayer Hotel by 9:30 am and the AOG will provide security passes for each car load of guests. The AOG Representative will escort all vehicles through security to the cemetery together in a procession. Please contact Kristan Burpo at the AOG, 845-446-1620, for any questions and if you will need the security pass that day.

Jim Harman has stepped up to be the POC for this memorial service. It would be very helpful to him if you would let him know that you will be attending either or both events.

To respond directly use: Jim Harman harmonj@harfirm.com

I’m told that a second part of this report will be coming soon so I’ll get started with the first part which, as you will learn, includes the family. Joe Barkley writes:

To celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary Diane and I wanted to take the kids to Germany for a nostalgic trip. We had been stationed there twice. Our eldest son, Chris was born there and our son Pat had been stationed there. We wanted their wives and our granddaughters to see the country. For a lot of reasons, we had to delay the trip a year, so it was for our 51st Anniversary; which occurred on July 10, 2016; the day the trip ended for the kids.

We used a travel agent to organize the trip, the hotels and the transportation, as well schedule as many local tours as possible. The entire trip was just fabulous and more than we expected, as described below.

Getting a vehicle large enough for 9 persons with all that luggage was going to be a challenge. We would have needed two vehicles and that was not acceptable. So the travel agent suggested that we could get a larger vehicle with a dedicated driver for the entire period for about what it might cost us for the vehicles, insurance, various parking fees and aggravation of driving and loading.

In Frankfurt we were met by our guide and the vehicle, a 52 passenger Mercedes Bus for the 9 of us, the Barkley Family Tour group and vehicle. They stayed with us the whole two weeks in Germany. We would roll up to the hotel and the staff would come out in a panic as they were not expecting a large tour; and the 9 of us would get off.

Photo Left: The granddaughters loved it as they rode in the back of the bus away from us

We started in Nuremberg on day 1 with a walking tour and lunch and dinner. Our son Pat went up to Erlangen with his brother and found his old barracks, but no other evidence of the U S Army there. Next on to Munich for a city tour.Food is important to our family and we actually had 39 meals together over the 14 days.

Moving along, we visited Berchtesgaden and Salzburg, and Garmisch which are still charming and exciting. We visited Obermmergau and found the house where my parents lived in 1966 to 1968; and ate in the same restaurant, Hotel Alt Post, where they often spent time. We made sure to take the kids to Neuschwanstein so that they would know that Disney did not invent the castle in the Magic kingdom; he copied it from here.

Photo Right: Picture 3 is family dinner in the Hof Brau Haus, which is still as rowdy as it was in 1966 and 1967 when I could do 5 liters

Augsburg was our first duty station; 1st Bn, 34th INF; 24th Div; December 1965 to December 1967. There is a picture of Diane and me in front of the now abandoned Officer’s Club next to Sheridan Barracks in Augsburg. That is the first place we lived in Augsburg; for about 2 weeks.

Then there is a picture here of Diane, Chris and I in front of the building where we lived in the Centerville housing area. Chris was born in Augsburg. The army casernes are all gone, converted to industrial or educational sites. I recall in Augsburg in 1965 to 1967; Dave Jones was in the 1/34th with me. Bob Johnson was in the 1/19th over at Reese. Bernie Ziegler and Steve Harmon were in the 24th Division Signal Company too. Probably some others that I have forgotten.

We journeyed up to Heidelberg for the closing days of the family trip. We were stationed there in 1976 to 1979 at Campbell Barracks and lived in Mark Twain Village. Most of Mark Twain Village is fenced in and abandoned, as is Campbell Barracks. There is a picture of Diane and I and the boys in front of the fence with our quarters way in the background; and a picture of Diane and I in front of the gate to Campbell Barracks.

Given how vibrant that post was and what used to be there it is just a shame about the condition. A highlight was the “Castle Illumination” festival, which people who had been stationed in Heidelberg may well remember.

In that period, I can recall Ed and Lee Simpson and Chuck and Rose Mary McCloskey in DCSENG; Jim and Karen Ferguson in DCSOPS; Tim and Sue Timmerman in the office of the CINC. Again there were probably others in the period, but 37 years dims a few things.

Then the kids went home and Diane and I went on to France; Caen and Paris. So this part of the story stops in Heidelberg and Campbell Barracks. The second chapter about France has a surprise ending.

All the best; Strength and Drive; and Beat Damn Navy!!
Joe Barkley

What a great report and terrific pictures. I was particularly taken by the big, beautiful bus. Had I been in Joe’s shoes, my only regret would have been not being able to drive that magnificent beast. I love those big toys.

Joe, we look forward to the second part of this report.

To respond directly use: Joe Barkley joebrkly@aol.com

Last evening my Sister and her husband took Donna and me to dinner at a Chinese restaurant. They are staying with us for a while as they look for a new home because their previous home sold faster than they expected leaving them almost homeless. Anyway, our waitress, a Filipino (yes, I too thought it was an unusual pairing), saw my newly recast, resized, and with a new stone, Class ring. She studied it and then commented that a friend of hers also had a Marine ring. I was so taken aback that I didn’t know whether to shout or shine shoes! I quickly calmed down and went on to explain the difference. The concept of an Academy, some 3000 miles away, was totally lost on her but she did seem to understand the difference between a Jarhead and an Army, Airborne, Ranger.

My apologies to those who have a softer spot in their heart for our brothers at arms. I’m sure they are a great bunch of guys; I just don’t want to hang out with them long enough to find out.

I am sharing this story because there may be many of you who are unaware, as I was, of how easy it is to get your ring cleaned, resized, and even recast as mine was. I would be happy to share my experience with anyone who may be interested.

To respond directly use: Rick Bunn  rickbunn@bunn-family.com  or 253-446-7366

I received this very nice e-mail from the daughter of one of our Classmates, Tommy Shaw. He and his wife recently enjoyed an Alaskan Cruise to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. This young lady (Leanne) provided a great report and two super pictures to commemorate the event. She wrote:

Your Classmate Tommy Shaw and his wife Gwen recently had a very special 50th Anniversary on June 25, 2016 on an Alaskan Cruise. They were joined on this land/sea vacation by their three children (Leanne, Michael, and Steven) and grandchildren (Ryan, Matthew, Alex and Sienna). The highlight of the trip was their Renewal of Vows aboard the STARR PRINCESS in Glacier Bay with all of their family present- truly a memorable occasion!

Pictured clockwise: Tommy and Gwen, Alex Skinner, Ryan Skinner, Leanne Skinner, Steven Shaw, Michael Shaw, Sienna Shaw, Matthew Skinner, and son-in-law Michael Skinner.

Thank you Leanne, great report.

To respond directly use: Tommy Shaw brave38@windstream.net

I am very pleased to share this message as it focuses on one more Classmate who has stepped up to represent us in a very important way. Read through Mike Shaver’s comments here and familiarize yourself with the material in the attachment so that you can provide him with input as he represents us on the Veterans Advisory Board. Mike writes:

Wisconsin Physicians Service (WPS) Military and Veterans Health (MVH) is a division of WPS Health Solutions with employees in Madison and Wausau, Wisconsin and is responsible for administering benefits for over 6.5 million beneficiaries on behalf of the Department of Defense and Veteran’s Affairs. It is the only Department of Defense contractor to administer TRICARE benefits on a worldwide basis through a partnership with International SOS on the TRICARE Overseas Program and is the prime contractor for the TRICARE FOR LIFE program. I have accepted their invitation to serve as a member of their Veterans Advisory Board whose responsibilities are defined in the attached flyer. We will be meeting several times a year to represent the interests of fellow retirees who rely on TRICARE and/or TRICARE FOR LIFE for their medical insurance needs. I would welcome input from any of our Classmates who might care to share their ideas, concerns or constructive criticism regarding the services provided by WPS in the administration of those programs. I can be contacted by e-mail at MPShaver@aol.com or by telephone at 608-783-5487.

Regards
Mike Shaver

Thank you Mike for taking on this important work.

My friend, Paul Schultz, sent me this great report and photo. Now all I have to do is time one of my road trips to coincide with a meeting of the USMA65 CIA CRU. Paul writes:

We continued the tradition of quarterly lunch meetings to discuss and debate USMA issues while enjoying fine fare and the Hudson River Valley weather.

This lunch was held at the American Bounty Restaurant in the Culinary Institute of America. Summer Weather was up to standard - a major heat wave before the day, cool and clear the morning of the event, and very hot and humid with thunderstorm clouds as we exited the restaurant.

At the start of the excellent lunch we did agree on a name for this event and future editions, USMA65 CIA CRU.

The picture shows the group gathered around a table with the very delicious desserts. (L to R) Gene Manghi, Berni Manghi, Sabine Schultz, Paul Schultz, Darcy Merriam, Nic Merriam. Event MIA's for cooler climes were Mark and Linda Sheridan.

The Fall event will be held at the CIA's Bocuse French Restaurant. Date to be determined. USMA 65 participants welcome.

Paul Schultz
Strength and Drive

Thank you Paul, a great report.

By the way, as I was reading Paul’s e-mail I had difficulty figuring out the full meaning of the name this group chose for their event. Paul was not home so I spoke with Gene Manghi who informed me that while I had the CIA part correctly identifying the “Culinary Institute of America”, the CRU part still eluded me. He pointed out that the group was concerned that they might either be considered, “wine connoisseurs or completely illiterate” and that the CRU was a wine term which is pronounced as if it were spelled “crew”. I’ll be generous and go with wine connoisseurs in that an internet search helped me find the definition of CRU to be:

CRU is "a vineyard or group of vineyards, especially one of recognized quality". It is a French wine term which is traditionally translated as "growth", as it was originally the past participle of the verb "croitre" (to grow).

So there you have it. We now have an official group of wine snobs in our fold. It couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of folks.

I hope you will accept this minor deviation from my standard path and indulge my sharing the incredible pride I am feeling for my daughter right now.

In 2008 my daughter Sheri and her husband Kevin were enjoying, as much as you can with a first pregnancy, the anticipation of adding a little one to the family. Several months into the pregnancy, during one of her checkups, it was determined that the baby was afflicted with a condition called Trisomy 18 and that she had very little possibility of surviving after birth. Sheri made the very difficult decision to carry the baby to term because, as she put it, “I can’t choose the day my baby will die.”

On September 28, 2008 Tessa Joy was born and lived for less than an hour. Even though we all knew it would be that way, it was naturally devastating to the family. An organization, called the Tears Foundation, stepped up and assisted Sheri and Kevin with the expense of the grave marker.

Sheri was so moved by the support provided by Tears that she joined the organization and became heavily involved in their activities to support parents of the many babies who, for whatever reason, leave us too soon. Also inspired by its good work, my wife, Donna, does some volunteering with the organization. Sheri’s work with this organization led her to make the following video to share her story and help others during such a difficult time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mGQxloIOlA

During her work with Tears, Sheri wrote this beautiful poem which now graces the monumentsthat have been erected in several states. In fact, it is her trip to Alaska to dedicate the latest monument that brought me to share her story here. Here is the poem as it is displayed on the monuments:

Photo Right: Sheri and Kevin went on to become foster parents and during that adventure, came to know two little girls (siblings) in need of a stable home and new parents. On February 27, 2015 Sheri and Kevin formally adopted Lily and Chloe

As a matter of fact, it is those two girls (now 2 and 5) who have transformed my normally very quiet home into one of the noisiest places you will ever find while their parents are in Alaska. Here is a clip taken from the local news in Anchorage. In it you can hear Sheri reading the first few words of her poem:

http://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Memorial-for-babies-unveiling-in-Anchorage-Saturday-391461701.html

I can’t end this tribute to my daughter without tying it in to one of us. So here is the very proud dad with his very special daughter.

Photo Left: Here we are at one of the fundraisers for the Tears Foundation

As you can imagine, I was unable to write this without several tears of my own. Fortunately, I was able to avoid having them land on my keyboard and causing problems with my computer.

Some might say Sheri is holding on to the past while I would say she is turning a tragedy into a magnificent blessing for so many.

Barrie Zais sent me this very nice report about the fishing trip to, of all places, Crotch Lake. I haven’t got enough courage to address some of the obvious opportunities that go with that name so I’ll leave it completely alone. Barrie writes:

For several years a ’65 group, sometimes referred to as “The Committee,” has traveled to Canada for fishing and comradery. The past week the group consisted of four retired colonels of infantry.

Photo Right: L-R Bill Sherrell, Barrie Zais, Bob Radcliffe, and Jim Wood

It was our second visit to Crotch Lake, Ontario. The fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass, and walleye and northern pike was very successful. An example is the second picture of Bob holding a typical “smallie.”

While there the group toasted Bob Selkis, an attendee of all previous trips. We also fished off of “Selkis Island” and dedicated the catch to his memory. We are already looking forward to next year.

Thank you Barrie, great report.

In order to address the myriad of issues that face our Class, your Leadership Team holds periodic conference call meetings. Recently, and in no small part because of the technical savvy of our Treasurer, Mitch Bonnett, we have switched to video conference meetings. This allows us to see each other while discussing the business of the Class. Given that we are all so good looking; this makes for a much better meeting.

Annually, your President sends out a letter that explains the details of how we are addressing items, such as these, that we are facing on a daily basis throughout the year. In the spirit of transparency, we decided to share some of the details of our most recent meeting which was held on August 17. We spent just short of two hours discussing the following agenda items:

1. Class Financials
2. Report on AOG Annual Leadership Conference
3. West Point Access Credentials Process
4. Cemetery Expansion Reclamation Update
5. Next Distinguished Graduate Award discussion
6. Nomination for AOG Advisor and Nominating Committee
7. Class ’65 Tribute Project
8. COH Update
9. Fall Golf Outing Update
10. Army/Navy Game and POC
11. West Point Sports Hall of Fame Dinner, Friday, October 21
12. POC Concept for the Leadership Team
13. 55th Reunion Planning
14. Possible Change to Class Forum Monument
15. West Point Alumni Glee Club at Carnage Hall

If you have questions regarding any of these items, please feel free to reply directly to me and if I can’t answer the question for you, I will forward it to someone who can. Since we have received several questions regarding item number 3. already, I will give you what I have now:

Access to the Academy remains a problem. Depending on the day, volume of people, and scheduled event, it may be easy or very difficult to gain entry. Russ pointed out that a DOD ID card remains the best way to gain quick and easy access. He also suggested that a phone call to the Provost Marshal (845-938-3333) as well as a visit to the West Point webpage to fill out the application in advance can be helpful in minimizing problems.

It was agreed that the AOG should take a bigger role as an advocate for graduates to make the process easier. Bob Frank stepped up and offered to take on the role of Point of Contact (POC) to monitor changes to the process and keep us informed.

Please note also that the last sentence of the above comments about the access problems, shows that Bob Frank accepted the responsibility of POC to monitor and do what he can to advance our best interest with this problem. This is an excellent example of what we decided to do with regard to monitoring and staying on top of problems as addressed in item number 12.

Another item (13.) which needs to be addressed here is our urgent need for someone to step up and handle the planning of our 55th Reunion. This project will not even come close to the complexity and problems faced by Tom and Marilyn Kovach when planning the 50th Reunion. However, their outstanding work with that, best ever reunion, puts them in an excellent position to provide extensive advice and counsel to whoever is willing to take on this challenge for the Class. Please give some thought to how you can serve our amazing Class in this way.

I guess this is my day for stuff that doesn’t quite fit my normal type of thing to share but makes the cut anyway. Larry Neal sent me this quick note and item from USA TODAY. I guess recognition is recognition no matter how we get it. Larry writes:

I like it! We made a national newspaper in a good way!

Thanks Larry, good catch.

As I believe I have shared before, I try to keep the focus of my Bunnograms on our Class and Classmates. Frequently I receive items, such as this one, which seem to fall outside that parameter but then something within causes me to go ahead and share it anyway. In this case the great picture of Roger with the General was enough to make me want to share it. Actually, Roger provided much more information than appears here, some of which can be accessed by following the link following number 7. below. Please contact Roger if you are interested in still more of what he has to share. Roger wrote:

General John W. Vessey, Jr. passed away this August 18th at the age of 94 following a meaningful retirement after 46 years (longest serving active soldier) of military service. What I write now is my salute to and admiration of the leadership of then LTC Vessey commanding 2/77 Arty, the courage of the Artillery men he commanded and the Infantrymen who fought with them in March 1967.

Just a couple of highlights of his service:
1. Enlisted (age 16) in 1939.
2. Battlefield commission from First Sergeant during Battle of Anzio.
4. Chairman, Joint Chiefs (1982).
5. After retirement, Special Emissary to Viet Nam on question American MIAs.
6. Thayer Award in 1996.
7. Among his awards are a DSC, Presidential Unit Citation and Purple Heart each earned during the Battle of Soui Tre (FSB Gold) in '67. This is where our paths first crossed. Rather than take more space now, I refer those interested to my own (now dated) recollection of our meeting at:

http://dontmeannothinessays.blogspot.com/2007/05/recollections-of-battle-of-soui-tre.html?m=1

This photo is from our second meeting in 2015 in Fort Carson at the first Memorial Event to remember our men lost during the Soui Tre combat.

A member of each unit involved in the Battle spoke to the group. I learned that the actual VC body count located the day of and in later broader sweeps of the area was over 800, B-3/22 Inf., on the perimeter at the point of the main assault, lost over half of its men killed or seriously wounded, Artillery men and Infantrymen in hand to hand fighting and, according to the defenders, five minutes from being completely overrun with the VC having taken several of the 105's and Artillery men and Infantry in hand to hand fighting within the secondary defensive positions as ground relief arrived. Battle rehearsals ordered by Vessey for Arty and Infantry the day before had been critical to extending the defensive fighting and saving American lives.

General Vessey spoke of his pride in the men who fought there. He showed all a 35 mm camera he had purchased a week before the battle with an AK-47 bullet imbedded during the fighting. He included a memory from a 1993 visit to Viet Nam when he had dinner with the Vietnamese vice prime minister of defense. As he recounted, "He said to me, 'I was the commander of the Battle of Soui Tre. You killed a lot of my men.' "I replied, 'You killed a lot of mine.'" The dinner continued cordially between the two professional soldiers.
I regret that he will not be around for the Fifty Year Memorial Event.
Respectfully,
Roger

Thank you Roger. A very interesting story about a very interesting and heroic individual. Another man who makes us all proud of our Army and our Country.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Hank Kelley sent me these beautiful pictures of him and his son visiting the Grand Canyon. He writes:

Howdy,

Here's some pictures of a recent trip I took with my kids. We went hiking for a week or so in the Grand Canyon and around the Four Corners region of Arizona. On the South Kaibab Trail at the Grand Canyon.

Photo Right: l to r: Son Mike; himself

A few miles into the Canyon. l to r: Mike; himself. The Daughter calls this picture "Two Old Guys in a Tree." Whatever the artistic merit of the shot, at least she got the title right.

Photo Left: At Horseshoe Bend near Page, AZ. l to r: Mike, unknown stranger, himself.

The Daughter isn't shown in any of the pictures (someone had to take them). Besides, she only makes us look shabby by comparison, even though she was claiming a "bad hair day."

Cheers,
Hank

Thanks Hank. Your daughter may have had a “bad hair day” but she sure knows how to take a great picture.

Your last shot brought back some wonderful memories for me as I had the pleasure of taking my folks on a week-long river rafting trip through the canyon back in the early 70’s. I recall going through the Horseshoe Bend on our first day.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

OK, it’s a slow news day. Here is a great picture but very hard to see Alec unless you can expand the photo considerably. My frequent source in New York, Ross Wollen writes:

The USNA's YP 707 - in the New York East River - which carries our Classmate Bob Jones' second year ("Youngster") son Alec. You can't quite make it out but he is saluting the flag I have on our top floor terrace. He spent the weekend with us and, with some shipmates, reconnoitered the Big Apple and saw a show.

Our Class Engineers will appreciate that to the Starboard (?) of Alec's training YP is like a billion-dollar expansion to Rockefeller University over the FDR which we watch daily with great interest.

That and a multi-billion new Cornell Tech Campus here on Roosevelt Island have placed us in the eye of a huge NYC construction boom. Take that ... 9/11 plotters!

Ross

Thanks Ross. As always, interesting stuff coming out of New York City.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Jim and Lou Tillman sent me a great set of pictures which include two very cute great grandkids along with a very proud father, grandfather, and great grandfather. We start with a picture of their second great grandchild, Theodore James Tillman – born 3/6/16. Now is that a cute little guy, or what?

Photo Left: Next is the same little guy with his big sister, their first great grandchild, Fiona Jane Tillman – born 5/19/13

Photo Right: Then comes the four Tillman generations; great grandad, Jim, holding Theo, Theo’s dad, Tim, with the “improper shave”, and Jim’s son, Bryan, the happy granddad

Then it becomes clear that they can’t get enough of Theo and Fiona. I’m not sure if I missed a good story about the barefoot camera person in the last picture.

Jim points out that they think there is something in the Pennsylvania water since both parents and grandparents went to Franklin and Marshall College.

Please send comments or questions directly to Jim and Lou at: Marylou Tillmanjimandloutillman@gmail.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

From August 10th to the 13th, the class of 67 sponsored an Alumni Leaders Conference at West Point. Below is the top of the flyer that went out early this summer.

In the photo below are the attendees from our Class with several dignitaries also in attendance. From left to right are: Larry Jordon, Chairman AOG, Dave Hurley, Russ Campbell, Joe DeFrancisco, LTG Caslen, Superintendent, Todd Brown, CEO,AOG, and Bob Frank

I’m not sure, at this time, if I will have a report to share or if what was learned will be reflected in the Leadership Team Teleconference that will be held next week. Should you have any specific questions for these gentlemen please contact them directly.

To respond directly use: Joe DeFranciscojoseph.e.defrancisco@leidos.comArlington | Russell Campbell rcampbell@camdar.com | Bob Frankbobfrank@atlanticbb.net | Dave Hurley dehurley@yahoo.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Here’s a guy who is so focused on his beautiful family that he didn’t notice that we are looking primarily at Great grandkids. However, his pictures are so good, I couldn’t help sharing them anyway. Ralph Locurcio shared these beautiful pictures and comments:

OK, Rick… I couldn’t resist any longer… I had to enter the grand kids contest!

Here are the Locurcio grandkids from left to right… Siena(7), Rachel(17), Ingrid, Ralph, Jack(11), Madison(13), Piper(5) and Brielle(8). I’m told that Brielle was off and not to be found when the big picture was taken so they added her own shot to the end.

Photo was taken at Ingrid’s birthday where we took all the grandkids & their parents to Legoland Florida for a weekend party and play. Also attached is a photo of Ingrid in her birthday suit!

Regards,
Ralph

Thanks Ralph, great stuff (any Italian in your family?)

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

If brevity was an Olympic event, Dick Williams would surely get a medal. He writes:

Here is a photo of our three great grandsons. Julian is holding Michael (on his right) and David (on his left).

Dick Williams

Go Army

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Yesterday, I received this excellent report from Dave deMoulpied but rather than share it, I replied with a request that he provide a few more pictures. Dave came through big time with the second part of this report that really shows what a great trip Jay and his family had. Here is Dave’s submission:

Photo Right: we successfully made the awesome “Fenway Tour”, one and a half hours, guided and behind the scenes. The roll call for the picture is; Jay Vaughn; Grandson Luke; Luke’s Mom, Jenny (Jay’s daughter); Cheryl and Dave deMoulpied

Jay Vaughn and family members recently visited Cheryl and me at our home in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Jay was “on tour” with his grandson, Luke, and Luke’s mom (Jay’s daughter), Jenny. Luke is an avid baseball player, and they had come all the way from Sierra Vista, Arizona to see West Point, the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, and Gettysburg. High on Luke’s list of famous places to visit was Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox were away so we got the expanded deal. An added benefit was we got to see players from the Cape Cod League practice in front of a group of pro scouts. The league is made up of college all-star players from across the country who come to Cape Cod for the summer, live with local families, and play great ball. Many current big league players played one or more summers on Cape Cod. To top it off, a family friend of Jay’s plays for Falmouth in the League and we got to see him “practice” – talk about having everything come together perfectly.

The next day we gave our visitors a taste of Boston history with a visit to the USS Constitution and to Bunker Hill. The Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world, having been launched in 1797. She’s currently in dry dock for a three-year restoration. So we all got to write our signatures on sheets of copper cladding which will be attached to her hull below the water line as part of the restoration. Jay’s grandson, Luke and his Mom, Jenny (Jay’s daughter) in front of the magnificent USS Constitution, in dry dock, Charlestown, Massachusetts, for her 3-year restoration. You can still visit her as well as the very interesting Constitution Museum, during the restoration.

On top of Bunker Hill, we heard a description of several of the British and American combatants, and saw a demonstration of the 10 command steps used to “eventually” fire a typical musket used during that period. Here are some additional pictures regarding Jay Vaughn and family member’s fun-filled visit to the Northeast of our great country.

Jay insisted on a full engineering report from Dave on the extensive improvements planned for the backyard hockey rink for this winter. Here Dave is explaining a mockup of the new boards which will give us 18” of freeboard plus rounded corners compared to only 9 inches with the old wooden boards. The rink will be expanded to 55 feet in width and 77 feet long, big enough to have real games and drills, yet still manageable regarding snow clearing and re-surfacing. Note the folder in Dave’s right hand which contains detailed engineering drawings for our landscape crew and the rink components vendor in Wisconsin who has become Dave’s new “best friend”. Jay was especially impressed when Dave mentioned that he uses Pythagoras, that honorary member of the Class of ’65, to check the squareness of the rink. So the diagonal of this new rink needs to be 94’ 7.5” to be square. Dave offered free skating lessons to Jay as well as to Pythagoras. Jay has yet to get back to Dave!

Photo Left: Jay Vaughn (L) and Dave deMoulpied. Note the complimentary color scheme of the shirts and hats. We worked on that for hours……well, Jay did.

The Bunker Hill Monument is just across the street. Dave likes to tell stories of one of the heroes of the Battle of Bunker Hill, John Stark, from Dave’s home state of New Hampshire who also was a hero of the Battle of Bennington. Later on Stark uttered the line, “Live Free or Die” now inscribed on all New Hampshire license plates. Some like to joke that John Stark must have been an early motorcyclist, given New Hampshire’s law which now allows bike riders to go without helmets. The joke probably was first uttered by someone from Massachusetts.

Here we see them at Trophy Point. Jay is giving his grandson, Luke, a proper indoctrination of all things Army. I believe the young man on Jay’s left (our right) is a family friend who joined in on the fun of a tour conducted by an old man who actually went to school at this Hogwarts on the Hudson.

Here we see a shot of Jay’s grandson, Luke, a future Hall of Famer, at Cooperstown. Luke at the Air and Space Museum. Jay has given his grandson an excellent gift, a great trip, and lots of special memories.

All the best,
Dave and Cheryl

What a great report. Thank you Dave.

To respond directly use: Dave deMoulpied dsdemoulpied@comcast.net | Jay Vaughnvaughnj43@gmail.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

I recently received this story from Walt Oehrlein. While I found it to be very interesting and, of course, it addresses that extremely small group of heroes who wear the Medal of Honor, I chose not to share it. My thinking was that I have pretty much focused everything I do on our Class and this story was clearly about others. However, my good friend Mitch Bonnett felt very strongly that I should share it. He made some very good points and quickly convinced me of the error of my ways. I feel very strongly about what I try to do for the Class, but the content of my Bunnograms is obviously subject to influence. I guess what I’m saying is that I’m pretty much milk toast when it comes to maintaining a standard. I am much happier giving in to the passionate position of one of my Classmates than fighting for an unimportant principle regarding my messages. If this seems like an invitation to try to talk me into sharing something you feel strongly about – you’re right. Bring it on, I’ll probably bend pretty easily.

Here then is the story Walt brought to me:

I was privileged to attend the Lt Col Charles Kettles Congressional Medal of Honor ceremony @ the White House on July 18, with President Barack Obama presiding.

Our ARVIN Foundation Chairman Tino Lambros recently mentioned Chuck Kettles assisting the distinguished S&D '65 Class in the scholarship program in Ypsilanti, Michigan. That is where we met this American Hero and it was always terrific to have Chuck spend time with the respective speakers during our Arvin Scholarship Dinners. The Washington, DC visit also included a beautiful program @ the Pentagon with Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and his most impressive Team. Two days of WOW! Only the Best.

That’s President Obama presenting the Medal to Chuck and then Walt Oehrlein with Chuck.

S&D,

Walter O.

I decided to look into the citation for Chuck and this is what I found on the official Medal of Honor website:

On 15 May 1967, Major Kettles, upon learning that an airborne infantry unit had suffered casualties during an intense firefight with the enemy, immediately volunteered to lead a flight of six UH-1D helicopters to carry reinforcements to the embattled force and to evacuate wounded personnel. Enemy small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire raked the landing zone, inflicting heavy damage to the helicopters; however, Major Kettles refused to depart until all helicopters were loaded to capacity. He then returned to the battlefield, with full knowledge of the intense enemy fire awaiting his arrival, to bring more reinforcements, landing in the midst of enemy mortar and automatic weapons fire that seriously wounded his gunner and severely damaged his aircraft. Upon departing, Major Kettles was advised by another helicopter crew that he had fuel streaming out of his aircraft. Despite the risk posed by the leaking fuel, he nursed the damaged aircraft back to base. Later that day, the Infantry Battalion Commander requested immediate, emergency extraction of the remaining 40 troops, including four members of Major Kettles' unit who were stranded when their helicopter was destroyed by enemy fire. With only one flyable UH-1 helicopter remaining, Major Kettles volunteered to return to the deadly landing zone for a third time, leading a flight of six evacuation helicopters, five of which were from the 161st Aviation Company. During the extraction, Major Kettles was informed by the last helicopter that all personnel were onboard, and departed the landing zone accordingly. Army gunships supporting the evacuation also departed the area. Once airborne, Major Kettles was advised that eight troops had been unable to reach the evacuation helicopters due to the intense enemy fire. With complete disregard for his own safety, Major Kettles passed the lead to another helicopter and returned to the landing zone to rescue the remaining troops. Without gunship, artillery, or tactical aircraft support, the enemy concentrated all firepower on his lone aircraft, which was immediately damaged by a mortar round that shattered both front windshields and the chin bubble and was further raked by small arms and machine gun fire. Despite the intense enemy fire, Major Kettles maintained control of the aircraft and situation, allowing time for the remaining eight soldiers to board the aircraft. In spite of the severe damage to his helicopter, Major Kettles once more skillfully guided his heavily damaged aircraft to safety. Without his courageous actions and superior flying skills, the last group of soldiers and his crew would never have made it off the battlefield. Major Kettles' selfless acts of repeated valor and determination are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Thanks Walt, a good story.

To respond directly use: Walt Oehrlein mfoehrlein@aol.com or Mitchell BonnettMitchell.Bonnett@lpl.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

John Howell has completed the initial hotel and bus coordination for the 2016 Army/Navy Football Game in Baltimore with some of the same people he dealt with for the 2014 game. Fortunately, he was able to get them to keep the same room and reasonable dinner rates! With John moving out to Laguna Beach, California in the near future, Tom Fergusson, who lives in Great Falls, Virginia, has stepped up to be our POC for this year’s Class of ’65 Army/Navy get-together. He will build on John’s outstanding work in coordinating all of the activities. All the information you will need to make your plans and join in this great time in Baltimore is included below but should you have any questions, Tom’s contact information is provided. For your convenience, the Reservation Form is attached so you can print it, fill it out, and mail it to Tom along with a check when your plans are firm. Note that if you choose not to stay at the hotel, the bus and the hospitality suite and Saturday dinner are still available to you and your guests. Let’s make this another outstanding Class of ’65 gathering!

ARMY/NAVY FOOTBALL –10 DECEMBER 2016 @ 3:00 PM

Click here for the form

It’s time to think Baltimore, the 2016 Army – Navy Game, and the Class of ‘65’s 28th A-N Game Get-together. I believe Army is competitive and a fine season is possible, a season which will include wins over Air Force and Navy. In fact, I think most of us would agree that a win over Navy at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on December 10th will ensure that 2016 is long remembered as a great season for Army football, the Corps of Cadets, and Army fans everywhere.

Need we remind ourselves that the last time we beat the Squids was at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia on 1 December 2001, nearly 15 years ago? The final score was Army 26, Navy 17. Let’s do our part to help turn this incredibly long period of misery into pure joy and send the Middies back to Crab town with tears in their eyes and a whipping they’ll never forget!

I hope to see you at this year’s game and our Class of ’65 activities as we turn out in force with family and friends to cheer the Army Team on to a great victory, one that will hopefully reverse the fortunes of Army football and launch the Black Knights on a new, exciting path of gridiron success. Beat Navy!!!

Click here for all of the Details!

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am more optimistic this year than I have been for many years. It’s time we get back on track by beating Navy and taking back the CIC Trophy.

BEAT NAVY!!!

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Ok, it’s my turn to share a story. In an effort to do something special for my wife on her birthday (no way I’ll reveal which one), I contacted my good friend Duncan Brown who lives out on the peninsula fairly close to me. Donna loves flying in a small plane and Duncan owns one and flies quite frequently. We arranged to meet at the Puyallup Airport, which is just about a mile from my house. I had told Donna that her birthday surprise entailed a short road trip (no surprise to her) but I didn’t tell her that the road trip was just for me. At the airport we passed Donna off to Duncan while I took Mustang Sally (with the top down) on a quick trip to the Tacoma Narrows Airport about 50 miles west of my home. Duncan and Donna flew out to the Hood Canal Bridge and then back to the Tacoma Narrows Airport where we enjoyed a nice lunch together. Here are a couple of pictures ofDuncan and Donna in the plane

Photo Right: the three of us with Duncan’s plane in the background

(I’m guessing that this shot makes it pretty obvious why I didn’t fly with them).

After a nice lunch, they took off and flew up the Puget Sound, past Seattle, and over the Ship Canal and then back south over Lake Washington. Here are two nice shots to show what a great day it was and the super route that Duncan chose for Donna.

Thank you Duncan for a great day. Donna had a ball and Sally and I had a great drive.

All in all, a very successful surprise and adventure. It sure is nice having good friends.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

I recently received a very nice card in the mail from our own Bruce Marshall. I was very impressed with the gesture he is extending to all Purple Heart recipients in our Class (I’m not one of them). He is sending out the following card so it will be received on or before the designated “Purple Heart Remembrance Day” which is August 6th.

The first shot is the cover of the card followed by the list which is on the rivers side.

Next is the right hand inside with a personal note to the individual and then on the back page is our Class Crest.

All in all, a beautiful tribute to those who have given so much in the service of our country.

Thank you Bruce for doing this.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

One more chance to share some great looking great grandkids. Bob White shares:

I have an unusual circumstance too. My second wife, Ceil, and I have been married over 37 years and we have collectively 20 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren aged 6 to 2 plus 2 step great grandchildren aged 16 and 12.

Here is the youngest Great Granddaughter (Payton 2years old) and her brother, TJ, 6 years old who visit us at least once a week.

Bob White

Now that’s one happy camper!

Thanks Bob.

To respond directly use: Robert White quailrr@metrocast.net

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Tino Lambros, who is the Chairman of the Captain C. Robert Arvin Foundation Ypsilanti High School and an Academy graduate in ’62, sent me a message regarding a change to the Foundation. While it is never my intent to use Bunnograms to solicit donations, I thought the information might be of interest. The appeal for support is just a part of the article explaining the transition they are going through. Tino writes:

The following article will bring you up to date on the transitioning from a Foundation to and Endowment to continue the memory and legacy of Ypsilanti’s own C. Robert Arvin. The Foundation enjoyed 12 successful years raising scholarships for Ypsilanti area high school graduates.

Thanks you for all your support. Every contribution helps us reach our goals.

C. Tino Lambros
Chairman - Captain C. Robert Arvin Foundation Ypsilanti High school - class of 1962

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Wow, I think we have a winner! Here’s a great report from Dick Williams that will be hard to beat:

My entry will take the earliest date for being a Great Grandfather. Of course there are circumstances that give me an advantage over my esteemed Classmates. My first marriage to Judi gave me one daughter and two granddaughters (twins), now in college and not married yet.

Photo Right: Julian Joseph Felix, DOB 10-20-2004

My second marriage to Joan brought me three wonderful step daughters who have given me 6 granddaughters (1 set of twins) and three great grandsons. Pictures are provided below, with names and birthdates. All are in California, so we do not get out there as much as we wish.

Strength and Drive
Dick Williams

Photo Left: David Richard Mann III, DOB 9-9-2014 | Michael Patrick Bruno Jr., 6-11-2016

Great looking kids, thanks Dick.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Marilyn and Jack Jannerone sent these great pictures and comments about their Great Granddaughter born way back in 2011.

Here are some pictures of our Great Granddaughter Sophie born August 23, 2011 with a friend and with her Grandmother, Cheri Weiland, our #1 daughter.

Sophie’s claim to fame is that she appeared as an angel in a Christmas pageant last December, and she brought down the house when she thought that the Magi were bringing gifts to her. The headcount is 13 grandchildren and one precious great granddaughter.

Marilyn and Jack Jannarone

Thanks Marilyn and Jack. I love the story of the pageant.

To respond directly use: Jack Jannarone jjannarone@hvc.rr.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Our boy, Bruce Marshall, sure gets around. Unlike me on a road trip when I just look at a mountain and keep driving, he stops and climbs. Here we have his latest in his series of Highpointing Trips:

Just returned from latest Highpointing Trip.

Kings Peak, Utah - seemed on a par with Borah Peak, Idaho. It was a 20-hour Epic (tough) - lost my GoPro. This was my 39th HighPoint - looks like I'll stop @ 45. Doing North Dakota on the way to Montana Convention next month & Oklahoma on the way back; then Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama & Florida next year (hopefully with a bunch of Classmates and their families).

Bruce R. Marshall, CFP

Thanks Bruce. Have you looked on top of your head for that pesky GoPro?

To respond directly use: Bruce Marshall brucesiphone@yahoo.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

I never know what I’m going to receive in the form of stories to share. Here is one of the more unusual ones that just came to me. I’m not quite sure if Joe Barkley was just digging through some old photos or had a more directed agenda. Regardless, he has a great story and a photo to back it up. He writes:

Here is a piece of obscure “Cold War History” from the annals of the 24th Division in Augsburg, Germany. In the accompanying picture I am in front of a Mig 17 F that landed near Dillingen, Federal Republic of Germany, on May 25, 1967. Below is a translation from a local paper.

Members of the 1/34th Inf and the 1/19th were called out to secure the aircraft.

Regards, Joe Barkley

Mig 17 F - Lt Vassily Epatko landed wheels up in meadow near Dillingen and received political asylum. The plane was returned to Russians. The 25th of May 1967, a MIG 17-e crashed 180 km into Germany. The airplane fell around area Dillingen/Donau. The next day the pilot went to American military court (or given to the American military). The airplane was given back to the German Democratic Republic through border position of Herleshausen, three days later.

Interesting story, thanks Joe.

To respond directly use: Joe Barkley JoeBrkly@aol.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

In response to the message I recently sent out regarding steps being taken to help of Beat Navy, Gordy Larson provided this analysis of his own which also reflect optimism. Let’s make this the year we get back on track!

Gordy writes:

For whatever it’s worth, I’m optimistic about the team’s prospects this year as well. The defense should be the best they’ve had since 2010, with the potential of being even better than that vintage group of defenders. The main strength of the defense will be the linebackers led by co-captains Timpf and King, both of whom were selected to a couple of defensive watch lists in 2014 or 2015. They are flanked by a quartet of outstanding young outside linebackers in Wolf, Aukerman, Brinson and Gibson, providing a solid 2-deep at OLB. Brinson, in particular, is a guy to watch for the next 3 years. As Monken remarked, when they were passing out talent, Brinson just kept getting in line. Voit and Smith are solid defensive ends with 2 years of experience each, and if McLean returns to 100% and lives up to expectations, the defensive line should be the best we’ve seen since 2010.

If they stay healthy, our defense should win some games for us this year. They finished a respectable 58th in Rushing Defense and 48th in Passing Defense last year, and should be better this season. They gave up only 13 passing TDs last season, which was among the top 20 in that particular statistic, but they were weak on interceptions, so I was happy to read that ShaDon Brown (new CB coach) has been emphasizing playing the ball in the air this spring. Jackson is already a good ball hawk and should get better, and I would expect Xavier Moss to be significantly improved in his second year at safety. Bateman has been using 3-star high school safety Gibby Gibson at nickel back (as well as OLB), which should strengthen the pass defense against passing teams as well. England leaves something to be desired as a pass defender, but he’s solid tackler with great instincts, and very good defending against the run. Johnson is still a question mark at the other CB. He has been in 21 games with 9 starts and has a lot of natural talent, but came to West Point with the least experience of any DB. Reports from spring training were that he has improved significantly under the coaching of ShaDon Brown. He’s bigger than most CBs and supposedly has the speed and agility for the job but needed to improve on the techniques of the position. The defense could use some improvement in their Red Zone defense, which will improve their Scoring Defense numbers.

Navy lost 2 defensive linemen but have a couple of very good replacements moving up in the depth chart, including Jarvis Polu, a 3-star DE who flipped from us to Navy after Ellerson left. AFA lost their best pass rusher,Hanson, but has the other two DLs returning. Navy has all four LBs coming back, but I would not rate them as good as ours. AFA lost a couple of starting linebackers but have decent experience at all four LB spots. Navy’s best defensive back was recently dismissed from the team, and they lost two of their starters to graduation; so they have some rebuilding to do in the defensive backfield. AFA will be strong in that area with Steelhammer and Ladipo returning along with two other DBs who started last year.

The success of the team is likely to hinge on getting significantly better production from the offense, in particular the B-back position, where Monken and Davis have not had great success in finding a replacement for Dixon. They had to convert two linebackers to fullback, and they looked good in spring practice, but I’m waiting to see how they do in a game before I pass judgement. The production at B-back dropped from 120 yards per game in 2014 to 84 yards per game in 2015, and the Rushing Offense dropped to 12th in the FBS, the lowest for an Army team since 2009. Monken’s version of the triple option relies heavily on the B-back; so he either has to improve performance from that position or tweak the offense to compensate.

Monken has to keep the offensive line intact this year. Injuries have crippled the OL the past 3 years. He lost Gilbert for all of 2014 and Holland for all of 2015, both from pre-season injuries, and just about every lineman has been sidelined two or more games at some time in the past two years. The 2014 team had a different starting lineup in 10 of their 12 games, and Davis had to rely on two plebes in the OL last year, which is never a good sign. Contrast that with Navy where the 5 seniors started together all but one game last season. Villegas quit the team and it looks like Nieves will be ineligible this year which will have an effect on depth. Nonetheless, our OL has considerably more experience coming back than either Navy or AFA and should improve offensive performance if they stay intact. The right side of the line should be particularly strong with Houghton at guard and Gilbert at tackle. They’ll have a brand new center and a sophomore Kurz starting at Left Tackle, but he started 8 games last year; so he’s experienced. Enegren, a senior, is listed as the starter at Left Guard and he has appeared in 9 games with 3 starts, but Monken says that he needs to polish his understanding of the offense. The other senior lineman, Tamasese will probably play a backup role this season, but he provides some depth at guard or center, while Toth will probably rotate in at either tackle.

Navy lost all 5 starters from their OL and the replacements this season have a combined total of 5 starts, with most of their experience on special teams. Most fans think only of losing Reynolds, but the loss of all their experience on the OL could have a bigger effect on Navy’s offense than the loss of Reynolds. AFA lost 3 starters from their offensive line, including two who were All-MWC last season. Their best OL is their Right Guard who has 25 games with 20 starts, but only other linemen with more than 2 starts are their first and second team centers.

Having two experienced and competent quarterbacks should be a definite advantage. Carter can throw on the run and could be the best passer we’ve seen in some time; certainly an improvement over Steelman and Santiago and Bradshaw showed he can get some yards running the ball. Navy and AFA have no experience at QBs behind their starters. Romine is returning from a season ending injury as the AFA QB, while the freshman QB who was the backup last season has quit the team. Watch for AFA to rely less on the triple option running from Romine this season. Tago Smith will be a good replacement for Reynolds at Navy, but he won’t have the good OL blocking for him and they lost their two good fullbacks from last year; so Smith has his work cut out for him, and the backups have yet to play in a varsity game.

Army has a lot of depth and talent at the slotbacks, but Davis may need to tweak the offense a bit to get them more involved as well. AFA has a wealth of talent returning at Fullback and Tailback but they lost Garret Brown who was their top receiver from the slotback position and also a very good kick return specialist.

Edgar Poe is generally considered the best wide receiver Army has had since Jeremy Trimble in the days before the return of the triple option, and Chris Carter was able to get the ball to him against Rutgers and Navy last year, when Poe broke the all-time record for receptions in an Army Navy game. Monken recruited a 3-star WR, Kjetl Cline, who is listed as an RB on the roster, meaning he’ll probably work from the T-back position, but the opposing defense will have to watch him as well, and both Walker and Trainor have been highly successful as receivers coming out of the backfield. Don’t expect to see anything resembling a balanced offense, but the passing game should be good enough to keep the defenders from stacking the box this year. Poe proved he can match up with just about any CB last year, and teams will be taking a big risk defending him one on one without a safety playing him deep. Navy and AFA both have top notch wide receivers returning as well, and we should expect to see Romine try to throw the ball to Robinette a lot more this year, while Smith has a good target in Tillman.

If we can figure out how to score against AFA this year, this could be Monken’s best chance to capture the CiC and go bowling. Navy is in a major rebuilding year, particularly on offense, and we have home field advantage against AFA.

Beat Navy and Air Force to win the CiC and earn a bowl bid.

Gordy

Thanks Gordy. As usual, good stuff.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

As I prioritize the messages that I send to the Class, the highest priority naturally goes to the notification regarding the passing of one of our dear brothers. Of those, the message I call the “Farewell” is, for me the most important. I want to help all those who could not attend to get a feel for what it was like to be there, to comfort the widow and/or family, and share in the grief we all experience. I think it is important to say goodbye as a group, celebrating a life well lived, honoring the person we all knew, or knew of, and remembering how important they were as a part of the wonderful brotherhood we all share.

Today, we say Farewell to John De Vitto who passed away on June 19th, 2016. Tim Timmerman quickly stepped up to take on the responsibilities of POC (Point of Contact) but he was unable to attend the funeral at West Point so Ben Whitehouse stepped in to assist. Both gentlemen worked with Amy English, John’s daughter and the Next of Kin, since John’s wife Maureen predeceased him. There was a viewing and service conducted at the Leavitt Funeral Home in Wadesboro, North Carolina on Sunday, June 26. Here is part of the report that Tim provided following the viewing:

As the Class Representative to the De Vitto family, I attended John’s viewing in Wadesboro, North Carolina. I was joined by five other Classmates and their wives. See the picture below. Most recently John had lived just outside Charlotte, North Carolina, in Monroe, near Wadesboro.

In repose, John was at peace dressed in his blues and wearing all his medals. Truly one could not be more proud of a member of the Strength and Drive, Class of 65. Near the end of the viewing John’s sister Sr. Regina De Vitto sang a psalm and their local priest led a short prayer service. Finally, John’s oldest son thanked everyone for their concern and support, especially from those in attendance from the Class of 1965.

Most impressive, however, was his family of six children, seven grandchildren and spouses who gathered to mourn his passing. As I looked at his family and shared their sorrow I was reminded that the future they represent is the real Class legacy and testimony to a life well lived. Well done John and Maureen De Vitto.

In the picture, from left to right: Chuck & Rosemary McCloskey, Ben & Gladys Whitehouse, John & Eleanor Vann, Tim Timmerman, Dan Benton, & John & DeDe Malpass

Last Tuesday our dear friend John was interred at the West Point Cemetery with full Military Honors. Ben Whitehouse prepared this excellent report to share with us what it was like to be there:

Our friend and Classmate John De Vitto was buried on Tuesday July 19th at West Point with full Military honors. On a beautiful afternoon, John was laid to rest beside his spouse of nearly 50 years, Maureen. In attendance were his sister Regina; children Jean, Debbie, John, Katie, Amy and Michael; extended family and close friends; and 12 of our '65 Classmates.

On Monday evening, Gladys and I joined the family and close friends at Bear Mountain Inn to celebrate John's life. During dinner, we were able to express our remembrances of John and spend time with the family. We enjoyed being at Bear Mountain again with all the related memories.

Tuesday morning, we gathered at Hogan's funeral home in Highland Falls. Again, we were given the opportunity to remember John. Dan Benton and I offered greetings and condolences from our Class as well as memories of John as a cadet and lifelong friend.

Services were held at the Catholic Chapel followed by John's burial at the West Point Cemetery. John's daughter (and our Godchild) Amy in her eulogy emphasized John's love for West Point and how he instilled the values of Duty, Honor and Country in each of them. Our Class did a creditable version of the 3rd verse of the Alma Mater to end the mass. A very nice reception followed at Ike Hall.

Our Classmates at the Catholic Chapel left to right: Roger Frydrychowski, Ric Shinseki, Gene Manghi, Joe DeFrancisco, Dan Benton, Russ Campbell, Joe Sanchez, Bob Wolff, Reg Drygza, Gladys Whitehouse, Bob Frank, Ross Wollen and Ben Whitehouse.

Our Classmates at the cemetery left to right: Reg Drygza, Ben Whitehouse, Roger Frydrychowski, Joe DeFrancisco, Dan Benton, Russ Campbell, Bob Wolff, Gene Manghi, Ric Shinseki, Joe Sanchez, and Bob Frank.

The Academy, AOG and WP garrison were exceptional. The family was very appreciative of all West Point did for John and Maureen and especially the attendance and concern of our Class. Thank you all that took the time to attend.

Our appreciation also to John's sister and children who warmly welcomed us as part of the family.

It was an honor for Gladys and me to represent our Class with the De Vitto family. John and Maureen will be missed.

Respectfully,
Ben and Gladys Whitehouse

Thank you Ben for an excellent report.

As I close out this “Farewell” let me share a fairly recent picture of John along with the standard reminder of how we knew him back in the day.

Should you choose to make a donation in John’s name, his favorite charity was, Heaven on Earth for Veterans (www.heavenonearth4veterans.org/donate).

To respond directly use: Tim Timmerman - tanker665@aol.com
Ben Whitehouse - whitehouseben5@gmail.com
The De Vitto Family, c/o Amy English – amenglish08@gmail.com or 2093 Hunters Crest Way, Vienna, Virginia, 22181

Grip hands my friends as, on behalf of the entire Class, I offer Amy and her family our sincere condolences and to John, Be Thou at Peace – Well Done!

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Last Wednesday I shared one more in the series of interviews for the Center for Oral History (COH). This time it was an interview with Rollie Stichweh. Later that day I received a nice note from Rollie explaining that coincidentally, while I was sending out that e-mail, he was busy as the MC of the Annual Football Luncheon of the West Point Society of New York. When I read the notes he shared about the luncheon, I smelled a story (I like to pretend that I’m like a reporter in some ways). Anyway, I called Rollie and asked if he would be kind enough to give me a little report on the goings on at the luncheon. Rollie then proceeded to explain that he was just about to take a trip, so he “Classmated” Tom Barron and asked me to get him to provide the report.

Tom was also on his way to do some traveling but was able to hand write a report for me and then take a picture of it so he could send it to me. The note below is the best I could get from that interesting source.

Every year, as the Black Knights enter the football season, I am filled with optimism, as I’m sure you are. However, anything that can do to bolster that optimism makes me feel just that much better as we approach the big game in December. Tom’s report adds just a little more optimism to my frame of mind and I hope it does for you as well. Here then is Tom’s report on the West Point Society of New York’s Annual Football Luncheon:

Last Wednesday was the Annual Football Luncheon of the West Point Society with Coach Jeff Monken. Several members of ’65 were in the audience for this 40+ year tradition: Reg Drysga, Jim Talbot, Ross Wollen and Tom Barron.

Rollie Stichweh was the skillful and eloquent MC for the event bringing a message of endorsement for our coach from Navy’s Roger Staubach. He introduced senior executives from the New York Giants organization as special guests and then General Caslen and Coach Monken.

The Superintendent was decidedly upbeat about the football team’s prospects and reported on several important changes he has implemented to help prepare the team this year. First, Summer training began for them immediately after graduation so that all will be at West Point earlier than ever before. And, academically, all the players will take one course this summer to reduce the course load during the season.

Coach Monken was confidently positive of a much more successful campaign and year ahead. While still a young team – having used more Plebes in the Navy game than in memory – there will be 16 returning starters. For the future, the staff had the most successful recruiting results vs. Navy and Air Force than in years. He said ‘not good enough’ but even better next year.

All in all, an event that should give ‘65ers some optimism for the Fall.

Beat Navy.

Thanks Tom, great report.

To respond directly use: Tom Barron tcbarron@gmail.com | Rollie Stichweh stichcr@aol.com

With continuing optimism for our BLACK KNIGHTS, let’s hear a big BEAT NAVY!!!!!!!

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Following my recent message with the article about Buddy Bucha speaking to the new Plebes, I received a confusing comment from Jack Tidwell followed by a really old picture. I smelled a story so pushed and this is what Jack shared:

My dad was stationed in Yokohama, Buddy and Chuck's (Chuck Moseley) dads were at Camp Zama. We were in 8th grade together and on the ball team. Buddy was a swimmer then. I was there to witness him going to Tokyo in the middle of winter and do competitive laps with the Japanese pre-Olympians. It impressed me greatly to see his determination.

Chuck was probably the looker of the class. He dated for a time, Buddy's sister. I was already in Japan when Buddy came. I was President of my classroom, and Chuck was of his. Everybody was something or other. But I was really shy about girls. Buddy changed all that. He taught me to do the jitterbug. I no longer had to go to the boy’s room and smoke until the party was over. My first date had been a nightmare. The girl's parents took her home in disgust. Thanks to Buddy that was history.

Unknown to each other, we all showed up again along with Rick Chapman, also in our Class, on July 5, 1961 at Woo Poo. From my Groveton High School class in Alexandria, Virginia (brat country) there were six of us in the Class if 65. Jim McEliece, David Mastran, Tom Johnson, Rick McCauley, Ray Connor and me. Another went to the Air Force Academy.

Although I resigned after two years, I continued in the Army Reserves and during and after medical school I worked in Army Medical Centers taking care of our burned up, blown up, shot up brothers and ultimately became an Oncologist seeing my share of Agent Orange cancers, retiring after 23 years and now getting some retirement pay and social security. Helluva ride. God bless you all, my brothers, you have plenty to be proud of.

Jack Tidwell, Kappa Dos.

Thanks Jack, for a great report, and so much more than I expected.

To respond directly use: Jack Tidwell jacktidwellmd@gmail.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Denny Brewer sent me this very brief but cute picture andcomment about his great granddaughter. He writes:

My entry for great grandchild:Isabelle Dush, born 6 Nov 2012.Photo is 1st haircut.Jane andI are understandably proud!

Great photo. I hope it’s not oneof those, first day of “Beast”, buss jobs.

S&D,

Dennis
ThanksDenny, great picture.

To respond directlyuse:Dennis Brewer denniswaynebrewer@yahoo.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Wow, our Class must have been much more prolific than I thought. Here we have a terrific report from David Hindsley. The Joe that you see with his signature comes from the fact that I called him and since we didn’t really know each other I just went by the first name in the roster. That’s one of the best things about this job, getting to know so many of my Classmates.

David writes:

You know you started a "nutroll" here when you called to see if we had Great Grandchildren. Nana or the Great Grandmother will never pass the chance to show off the "wee" ones. In the picture are Kay & me, Lilly and Walker Johnson. Vitals are: Lilly Price Johnson born 01-25-2015, Tarboro, North Carolina, 18 months old. Matthew Walker Johnson 04-25-2016, Tarboro, North Carolina, 3 months old. Parents are my youngest Granddaughter, Rebecca JoAnne Johnson & her husband Matt Johnson. The picture was taken by my oldest granddaughter, Chelsie Riggs.

Now is that a great picture, or what? Everyone is so happy with the possible exception of little Walker. He has an expression that reminds me of the first upperclassman with a red sash who I ever saw. Now that I think of it, he may be doing to David’s leg the same thing the upperclassman was doing to me but that’s another story.

The birth of each was not what I would call normal. Lilly was premature and was evacuated by air from Tarboro to Greenville shortly after birth for several days. Walker's birth was routine until almost delivery - then required a C-section. All are growing well & are a lot of fun.

I bet there are more Great Grands out there.

Joe "David" Hindsley.

Thanks David, great report.

To respond directly use: David Hindsley jhindsley@embarqmail.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Here’s a nice report from Skip O’Donnell. Skip shares that part of his 50th wedding anniversary Alaskan cruise was an overland family trip during the first two weeks of this month. Here he shares a picture of the three Charles O’Donnells (Skip {who is Charles III}, his grandson Chase {who is Charles V}, and his son Chip {who is Charles the IV and is also a ’92 Grad}). Did you get all of that? I sure had trouble with it. Can you imagine if they were all Richards? We would have no idea who was large Richard.

Anyway, they were fishing in Ketchikan, Alaska last week and caught over 20 fish, including halibut, salmon, rockfish and Pacific cod. They even had to release some because of the daily limits for halibut and salmon. Most of the fish were shipped home for some good fish eating for the next few months.

Thanks Skip, great report.

To respond directly use: Skip and Marilyn O'Donnell mailto:Skipod3@cox.net

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Ross Wollen was kind enough to share the following article and I knew that you would all like to read it as well. Enjoy.

MEDAL OF HONOR RECEIPIENT SPEAKS TO PLEBES ON LEADERSHIP

Story and photos by Kathy Eastwood Staff Writer

Medal of Honor recipient retired Capt. Paul Bucha (left) speaks to roughly 1,300 plebes July 6 on leadership along with some stories of his experience in Vietnam and West Point. At one point, he took his Medal of Honor off telling the cadets that it really didn't belong to him, it belonged to those who didn't make back.

Retired Capt. Paul Bucha, U.S. Military Academy Class of 1965 and Medal of Honor recipient, spoke to roughly 1,300 new cadets July 6 at Robinson Auditorium. When Bucha walked to the podium, he immediately began to pace the stage to talk to the cadets, keeping them at ease with humor, but humor with a purpose. “Tonight is a special night for you to understand what we, and people like me expect from you. It’s the result I want you to think about and you can’t do that all in class,” Bucha said. “The worst thing that can happen to you when you are attending a speech is when that one on stage starts looking for someone.”

Bucha said if someone is looking for someone named Chuck, Chuck wouldn’t answer. “Is there a Mr. Mosley here,” Bucha asked. New Cadet Mosley stood up. “Oh God,” Bucha said. “Your dad said hi,” Bucha explained that Chuck went to high school with him in Japan. “Chuck was the quarterback on the team,” Bucha said. “There were about 30 people in the high school.” Bucha then asked all the swimmers to stand up. Bucha was captain of the swim team when he was a cadet. “OK, now why did I do that,” Bucha asked, “I was told you are the best swimmers to come

here in decades. You can’t go back as far as I did and the older you get, the better you get.

“20/20 eye vision is perfect,” Bucha added. “If you haven’t figured out why you are the Class of 2020, it’s because you are perfect.” Bucha went on to ask how many of the cadets came to West Point to be athletes, and then told them that probably wasn’t a good decision because he could have gotten them into a college where you didn’t have to get up until the afternoon and when you came back to your room, you went to sleep. “But that’s not why you are here,” Bucha said. “This is the most exclusive leadership institution in the world, bar none. Those of you who come from other lands, that’s not why you are here, you are here to become leaders for the rest of your life. You’re not here to be the best quarterback or mathematician. That stuff is easy.”

Bucha said there were five elements of leadership, which should be continued to improve throughout one’s life. “The first is honor,” Bucha said. “Upon which the other four rest and without honor there is no leadership. Honor is the willingness to trust and with willingness to trust is the willingness to fight. Honor is something that you work at. You are required to become a leader based on honor. That is where character comes from. When you go to war there is no person in the world who can see through BS more than an 18-year-old snuffy sitting on a rock smoking a cigarette.”

Bucha went on to explain the other elements of leadership and interjecting them with his stories, which explained each component of leadership. Confidence. You have to have confidence. “No one wants a leader who isn’t confident. Confidence is your willingness to be held accountable. For the rest of your life you have to be confident,” Bucha said. Competence, you have to know what you are doing. “Compassion. Why is that?” Bucha asked, “Wherever you go, your job will be to lead. “Here you have a platoon or company with the same fears you have,” Bucha said. “Every one of them is important to some person in the world. You are going to start learning that you are in this together. You can work together.

“You have to have humility,” Bucha added. “God forbid that you don’t have to do what I had to do. To write 10 letters home to mothers and fathers that their sons died under my command. But this is something you may have to do on your first command.” Bucha today still suppressed tears remembering the fallen in his unit. At this time, Bucha took his Medal of Honor off to show that the award belonged to those who did not come back from Vietnam. “This medal is mine, but I wear it for them,” Bucha said. “That’s the cost of not having done things perfectly as a leader. No one here is the Lone Ranger. Each and every one of you will need someone at some time.”

Bucha said you have to learn that you can do things that you doubt that you have the ability to do. For example, boxing. “Why does everybody have to box at West Point?” Bucha asked. “After you do it, you have the confidence you can do it. You have to have competence. You have to know what you are doing.” Bucha received his Medal of Honor because of his leadership of a company he inherited of so-called misfits and forming them into a cohesive fighting unit, the Clerks and Jerks. Bucha was given command of the 4th Company of the 3rd Battalion when the 187th Infantry Regiment decided to add a fourth unit.

That unit consisted of insubordinates or problem Soldiers and Bucha was in command. Because of Bucha’s training at West Point, he believed that if the unit trained together, they would come together. At one time, Bucha’s unit became involved in an all-out fight for survival in Vietnam when the unit inadvertently came across the North Vietnamese Army. The Clerks and Jerks was a small company of about 89 men and they were up against a battalion of the enemy. The unit formed a wide dispersed pattern to throw grenades and set off Claymore mines to confuse the enemy and make their perimeter seem larger than it actually was. Still, many of Bucha’s men were killed and wounded.

Despite heavy sniper fire, Bucha stood up and used flashlights in the middle of the night to coordinate the landing of the medevac chopper. At dawn, the enemy had withdrawn. Bucha’s ruse worked and it allowed him to help evacuate the wounded and the dead. Because of the unit’s actions in Vietnam, the “Clerks and Jerks” would become one of the more decorated units by the end of the war.

Thank you Ross and, as always, thank you Buddy for being such an inspiration to us all.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

While our dear Classmate, Phil, did not live to see his beautiful family grow with another generation, his charming wife, Darlene, still remains in contact with us and submitted this great report:

Here is a fairly current picture of my great-granddaughter.

Photo Left: Rylee Ann Smith is four years old and the great granddaughter of Philip Cooper

Our eldest daughter, Michele, is the mother of Kristen, who is the mother of Rylee. And Rylee will have a sister, Reagen, in October. Both families live in Indiana.

How nice that Darlene remains in contact with us. And what a charming family. Early congratulations on the birth of Reagen in October. And, to Phil, rest in peace my brother.

Photo Right: This is my last picture of Phil and me before he passed in early January, 2008

Thank you Darlene.

To respond directly use: Darlene Cooper drcooper@tampabay.rr.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

As you may have noticed, I recently sent out a request for information regarding Classmates who have become great grandparents. I’m starting to get a little feedback. So far I can answer one question which came up, “Were Emery and Eleanora Chase the first to have great grandkids?”. The answer is no. Here is a very nice report to support that conclusion. Bill Heller sent this along with a few great pictures:

In reply to your challenge regarding great-grand kids, attached are two pictures.

Photo Left: Shows our great-grandson, Jeremiah, born June 7, 2013, with my daughter, Grandma Liz

(Wow, now this takes the concept of a “bouncing baby boy” to the extreme! Not to mention, that is one very young and hot looking grandma!)

Photo Right: Shows Johann and me with our three “kids”, David, Liz and Paul

Note: in addition to the one great-grandson, Johann and I have 11 grand kids—oldest being 25

Bill Heller

Now these folks have obviously been very busy. What a beautiful family.

Thanks Bill, for a very nice report.
To respond directly use: William Heller jhandbh65@gmail.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Here’s a nice message from Pat Kenny regarding a recent gathering at Steve Darrah’s golf club, The Foundry Golf Club:

Last weekend Steve Darrah once again organized and sponsored a golfing get together at his club The Foundry. A good time was had by all in attendance. The first two pictures look like a group of somewhat elderly folks trying out the rocking chairs on the porch of an old peoples’ home, perhaps as an advertisement; as an aside they enjoyed rocking and discussing world issues.

Photo Left: L-R are John Thomasson, Bob Radcliffe, Bob Harter, Steve Ammon, and Chris Needles.

In the second picture are John Thomasson, Bob Radcliffe, Bob Harter, Steve Ammon, Chris Needles, Steve Darrah, Walt Kulbacki (partially hidden), Tom Carll, and Barrie Zais.

Photo Right: the Dinner photo with Pat Kenny, John Thomasson, Steve Darrah, Bob Radcliffe, Walt Kulbacki, Tom Carll, Steve Ammon, Barrie Zais, Chris Needles, and Bob Harter

It appears that a good time was had by all.

Thanks Pat for a very nice report (although the last picture could use a little work on the focus).

To respond directly use: Pat Kenny pdjkenny41@gmail.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

I recently received a notice from Terry Tutchings regarding the passing of his cousin Mike Jump. Terry describes him as an excellent friend and a really good guy. Mike was a member of our Class for approximately one and a third years, leaving the academy early in Yearling year. Here is the notice that Terry shared:

​Michael M. Jump

July 15, 2016 - Leave a Condolence

Michael Maxwell Jump, 73, of Chattanooga Tennessee died Thursday July 14th at Memorial University Medical Center in Savanah, Georgia.

Born in Detroit, Michigan on March 1st, 1943, he was the son of Harry Vernon Jump and Leora Victoria Jump. Raised in Willard, Ohio, Mr. Jump graduated from The Ohio State University in 1967 with a B.A. in engineering. He worked for R.R. Donnelley and Sons in Willard for 22 years before moving to Myrtle Beach to start an employment agency with his wife Shari Jump. In 2000, they sold that business and moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee where they renovated several homes and were active in their neighborhood association.

Mr. Jump was a beloved father and grandfather whose greatest joy was to spend time with his grandchildren. His vocal cheering from the stands at sporting events was legendary.

Mr. Jump was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Shari Lee Jump, his three sons Jeffrey Scott Jump, Jason Allenby Jump, Jeremy Michael Jump, and ten grandchildren Zachary, Spencer, Carter, Rhodes, Hudson, Alexandria, Maxwell, Ian, Porter and Ella.

A memorial service will be held at the home of Jason Jump, 1700 W. First Avenue in Grandview, Ohio on July 23 at 2:00 PM. All friends and family welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the American Cancer Society.

Grip hands, my friends, our ranks continue to grow smaller. While Mike was not able to graduate with us he was a part of our Brotherhood for a long time.

My condolences to the family, and to Mike, rest in peace.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

I just received a very nice piece of news from Emery Chase.

Photo Left: Beautiful picture of his great grandson, William E. Chase

William was born at Fort Benning Georgia to Gavin and Beth Ann Chase. Gavin is a member or our Affiliation Class of 2015. Emery points out that Gavin’s father, Ken, was also born at Martin’s Hospital back in 1968.

Photo Right: we see young the proud parents and great grandparents. That’s Beth Ann, Gavin, Eleanora, and Emery

Thank you Emery and congratulations to all of you. What a beautiful family!

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

I have always attempted to keep this (I guess we can call it a blog) positive. There are enough negative things going on in the daily news to keep us busy. However, I have just been informed of a situation which I think deserves our attention and which appears quite negative in the way we as graduates are being treated.

For years the Academy, in its ongoing effort to insure the security of the post, the cadets, active military, and civilians who live and work there, has made numerous changes to the entrance requirements. Unfortunately, many of these changes have made it more and more difficult for any of us to visit our Alma Mater. I have always felt that certain accommodations should be made to permit easier access to graduates and their family and friends. Since I live on the left coast and don’t have to deal with the problem very often, I have never taken the time address, what I consider to be a disservice to all graduates.

My friend, Joe Sanchez, has recently found himself the victim of the system which, I’m sure was never intended but nonetheless, has become part of the process of just getting “on post”. Joe wrote the following comments regarding his recent experience:

Although thanks to Chuck Nichols, I had read about the new rules, I did not fully appreciate what was in store. I even went to the website and printed the form. I had some very negative feelings about the form which I decided to overlook at the time. My reason was that prior to the new procedures becoming known, I had registered my two young grandsons for the Day Soccer Camp which ran from 27 June to 30 June. In my innocence, I thought that I would get my credentials early morning on the 27th. While checking into our hotel on Sunday the 26th, I found out that R Day. was the 27th. Although I was concerned that parents dropping off the soon to be New Cadets would make for very long lines, there was nothing I could do as credentials are only available Monday through Friday. On Monday morning, as I approached Thayer Gate I saw a sign reading, "All Visitors Proceed Directly to Thayer Gate." I did just that and was cleared onto the post. After dropping off my grandsons, I returned to the Visitors Center. The line was very, very long with parents trying to get credentials. I returned to the hotel. I returned early to pick up my grandsons and again tried to get my credentials. Once again I encountered very long lines. I decided to wait until Tuesday as by then most parents would be gone. However, although it was early Tuesday morning, the line was very long. I tried to get onto the post by telling the security at the gate that I had to drop off the boys at the soccer camp. I was not allowed onto the post along with a couple of other soccer “parents” who like me had no DoD issued ID. I called the Assistant Soccer Coach who was running the camps. He came to the gate and got us on post.

After dropping the boys off, I stopped by the AOG and spoke with them. I then went to the Visitors Center. The room was very crowded. I took a number. There were 32 persons ahead of me. I was competing with contractors, FedEx, UPS and other?? visitors. Numbers were called and one went up and sat with a security officer who then input your information. In my case, I spent almost an hour and a half before my turn came. I was fortunate that 17 of those ahead of me had left. Three persons cut in line and were given their credentials, who or why????? I turned in my form and sat in front of the agent. After about five minutes, my picture was taken and I was given a one-year GUEST credential. I am now a guest-not a graduate. There are now two categories of graduates those who made a career of the military and those who did not. If I had known what was in store, I would not have signed up the boys. I am attaching a scanned copy of the Mickey Mouse form with its bad grammar and spelling errors and my one-year ID. I did not and do not feel comfortable providing my license number and SSN on the same form.

I appreciate the security concerns but I really do not see the value of this intrusive so called program. When the year is up, I am not standing in line to get it renewed. I just will not come up again. My wife is not standing in line to get her credentials. I have the greatest respect for my fellow graduates and my Classmates in particular those who have had military careers. I can only hope that they have the same regard for us civilians who although not in uniform also served. This program sucks. I feel there will be unintended consequences with the grads, oops I mean guests, from this program. There are other potential issues and problems which I have not covered.

For the record the soccer camp was excellent and fun. The boys loved it as did my daughter-in-law who travelled with me and the boys.

Regards,
Joe

Below are the scans Joe referred to in his comments:

I also found interesting a comment from Roger Frydrychowski, about Joe’s experience. He wrote:

Joe

I am in complete agreement with you about our "guest status" and urge you to forward this to Rick for distribution to the Class. I will gladly join you and any other grads in our Class or other classes to get this changed.

This is insulting and denigrating for all of us. Ironically the Ft Hood shooter would have easily passed through the gate.

Roger
Since the listserv used to send this to the entire Class is not intended to accommodate discussion, I recommend that any comments you would like to share go either directly to Joe or Roger, or to the group who frequently use the “Forum”.

To respond directly use: Joe Sanchez - jlsanchez1@comcast.net

Roger Frydrychowski - GrayPros@aol.com

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

On Monday, July 11th, several Classmates gathered in Long Island to remember and celebrate the life of our dear fallen brother, Tony Clay. Each time we lose a Classmate, I go through a process of finding and assigning someone to represent us as the POC (Point of Contact). Sometimes it is a difficult process due to geography or other circumstances that make it difficult for someone to step up to the challenge. In this case, not only was I, very quickly, able to obtain the services of Buddy Bucha as the POC but we were also fortunate to have Jim Harmon step up to assist. Additionally, Russ Campbell, our Class President, stepped in and assisted as well. However, I have reason to believe that Russ was Classmated in the process but the bottom line is that we had three very talented gentlemen collaborating on the report that follows.

You may recall that I recently shared the announcement of Tony’s induction into the West Point Sports Hall of Fame. While it is sad that he didn’t live to be a part of that great honor (he did know about it) it will give us one more opportunity to celebrate his life and contribution to our Class and our Alma Mater.

Let me start with a copy of the program that was used during the service: Page 1 | Page 2

The entire program was beautifully put together and reflected, very well, what a very special guy Tony was and how strongly he felt about the ties to our Class and Alma Mater.

Jim Harmon did a great job of combining the thoughts of all in attendance so that those of us who could not be there got a very good feel for what it was like. Jim wrote:

On Monday, July 11th, a beautiful Southampton Long Island, New York day, a "celebration of Anthony (Tony) H. Clay's life” was held at St. John's Episcopal Church where Tony and his wife, Calla, had been married. In attendance along with Calla, their daughter Page and her husband, were Calla's two brothers, eight '65 Classmates and many friends. The service of "Celebration" was followed by a reception at the Southampton Men's Club.

The service included three eulogies:

First, was rendered by Calla's brother Chip, who focused on the family and growing up years with Tony, He was followed by Jim Harmon who focused on the Cadet years, and Buddy Bucha covered the record breaking swimming achievements and significant professional elements of Tony's life. Calla wanted their friends and family to know about Tony's time at West Point.

After Calla's brother completed his eulogy he introduced Jim Harmon, Tony's Classmate and roommate firstie year. Jim proceeded to deliver an eloquent and often humorous eulogy laced with all kinds of anecdotes from the West Point years. He had great material to work with as Ray Schaltenbrand ("I loved Tony") and Steve Bliss provided some wonderful stories of Tony at West Point, never wasting a second to get to reveille formation, nor a .1 in academics, since Tony considered anything more than 2.0 as wasted time or effort. Jim then introduced Buddy Bucha, Classmate, swim team member and team captain, Medal of Honor recipient and very close friend of Tony's over 50 years.

With obvious admiration, Buddy recounted Tony’s numerous national and Army swimming records. When Buddy attended Stanford for his MBA, he served as Stanford’s assistant swimming coach, telling the team to swim “on top of the water” as Tony had done. Buddy gave Tony full credit for Stanford’s resultant first time national swimming championship. Tony most relished seeing his name posted in the Navy pool as the holder of four Navy pool records.

There was spontaneous applause from the congregation as Jim and Buddy each finished.

The Celebration of Tony's life concluded with the congregation reciting the Cadet prayer, led by 65ers at the suggestion of the presiding minister.

Soon after Tony passed, I had a very nice conversation with his widow, Calla. I asked her if she could share some fairly recent pictures of Tony and she sent me these two great shots of him on a recent trip to Paris.

Photo Left: we see him outside the North entrance to Les Invalides which is the resting place of Napoleon Bonaparte. The second shot is shared with one of the guards there

Two pictures were taken at the Celebration of Tony’s Life. Here we have just the Classmates with the Class Flag. From left to right, they are Bob Scully, Steve Bliss, Paul (Buddy) Bucha, Chris Dorney, Bob Frank, Jim Harmon, Ray Hawkins, and Russ Campbell.

Photo Right: we have the Classmates with the wives who were able to attend. From left to right, back row, they are Paul (Buddy) Bucha, Bob Scully, Steve Bliss, Chris Dorney, Ray Hawkins, Jim Harmon, Bob Frank, and Mary Frank. In the front row are Jeanette Scully, Nancy Dorney, Linda Hawkins, Jeanne Harmon, and Russ Campbell

In closing, I found some of Buddy’s comments to be especially poignant. He wrote:

The one thing that all of us in attendance remarked upon is the comradery and brotherhood that is felt, and it matters not that we may not have seen one another for years. When together we are one. Likewise, we are all less because one brother has passed.

Tony's wife Calla was extremely grateful to the Classmates who, on short notice, made it to the service and our loyalty to one another was remarkable in her view.

Bud

It is anticipated that the interment at West Point will take place sometime in September. Details will be shared as soon as they become available.

Thank you Buddy, Jim, and Russ as well as all who attended the service. My condolences to Calla and the entire Clay family.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

They do keep busy down in the Villages. Here is a quick note and a great picture from Jerry Merges. He points out that they had a gathering at Francesco’s for lunch with, from left to right, Jerry Merges, Peggy Merges, Pat Kenny, Marcella Gnau, and Dave Gnau. Jerry pointed out that he is learning how to crop photos but I went ahead and cropped this a little more so we could focus on their happy faces.

Thanks Jerry, it’s always nice to hear from you folks in the Villages. Strength and Drive!

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Jim Helberg just sent me a terrific report on the most recent gathering of a small group of Classmates and their wives that has been getting together for several years now. This year they got together in Williamsburg and had a good turnout and seemed to have had a great time. I was tickled to see that my old plebe year roomie, Bob Clover, and his lovely wife, have recently joined the group.

Photo Right: we have Jim Harvey, Jim Berry, and Emory Chase (who looks suspiciously pleased with the whole affair)

I could not be happier to see this happening as I feel very strongly that the friendships we developed those many years ago continue to serve us as we make our way down this road we all share. Jim writes:

Several years ago Dave and Darlene Hopkins (Mechanicsville, Virginia), Jim and Margie Berry (Fredericksburg, Virginia), and Lynne and I (Midlothian, Virginia) met at a Richmond area Founders' Day dinner and, in the course of the evening, decided we should get together occasionally. Jim and June Harvey (Chesapeake, Virginia) joined us shortly thereafter and we began meeting roughly quarterly for lunch or dinner rotating who plans and coordinates the event. Last fall Bob and Tricia Clover (Burke, Virginia) were able to begin coming and last week Emory and Eleanora Chase (Dale City, Virginia) also joined us.

Last Wednesday over a good lunch at the Blue Talon Bistro in Williamsburg we were able to put a pretty good dent in the world's problems.

This photo includes June Harvey, Tricia Clover, and Lynne Helberg. Here we see Eleanora Chase, Darlene Hopkins, and Margie Berry. And next we have Jim Helberg, Dave Hopkins, and Bob Clover.

Photo Left: the whole group - from left to right: Dave, Darlene, Tricia, Bob, Jim B., Margie, me, Eleanora, Lynne, Emory, Jim H., and June.

As always it was a fun time and we will do it again soon. Dave, the gatekeeper, has already sent out a reminder for who is on the hook to plan the next one.

Jim Helberg
Beat Navy (hope springs eternal here in Virginia)

Thank you Jim. A terrific report and great photo’s.

To respond directly use: James Helberg helbergja@verizon.net

Forgive me if a share a cute joke I heard some time ago. It seems there is a terrorist who blows himself away with a strapped on bomb and wakes up in what he believes is heaven. The first thing he sees is George Washington who proceeds to beat him mercilessly. He barely gets to his feet when up comes Thomas Jefferson who gives him another sound beating. He is mystified and begs for an explanation only to find Andrew Jackson, about to beat him again but explains, “didn’t you hear about the 72 Virginians you would encounter when you die?”

Sorry but this great group of Virginians brought to mind one of my favorite jokes.

Again I wish you all a wonderful Fourth of July!

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

It is, once again, my sad duty to inform you of the passing of one our dear Classmates. Tony Clay passed away on June 30, 2016 in Southampton, New York, due to a respiratory failure. He will be interred in the West Point Cemetery at a date to be determined. The Next of Kin is his dear wife Calla. Should you wish to send a card or note her address is:

11 Mill Farm Lane,
Southampton, New York 11968-2912

Or you can send her an e-mail to:

Anthonyclay7@msn.com

Grip hands, my friends, we just lost a great one. Tony was just about to be inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame for his amazing performance on the swim team back in the day.

Classmates, Wives, and Friends of '65,

Recently I heard about the high school graduation of my friend, Chuck Moseley’s grandson, and his eventual arrival at West Point to join the class of 2020. I asked him to share with us, the story of his high school’s send off and how it all came together for the family. Below are Chuck’s comments followed by a formal report of all these goings on:

Photo Right: “You have 60 seconds to say goodbye…”

Several weeks ago, you asked me to try to describe the wonderful high school tribute to our grandson and the nation. Attached is my feeble attempt to capture the sense of pride that we all felt.

Here we have a few pictures of the family just prior to seeing Chuck’s grandson, Chase, enter the Academy. First is his farewell hug from his grandmother, Cathy. Then with his dad, and just about to leave the family.

I waited until today to send it so I could include several pictures from R Day on Monday. A day that recalled many of our own memories.

The SUPT was determined to have the Parade even though it rained on us for 2.5 hours before the parade and during the 20-minute actual parade!

Photo Left: Now, I ask you, is this a great picture of our friend Chuck, or what? All wrapped up in his very stylish grocery bag!

Then he sent the new female commandant out as the Head Reviewing Officer. She is impressive. Apparently, some of the faculty have nicknamed her the Momandant!

Also included a picture of the current obstacle course just to invoke some sleepless nights for Classmates.

A wonderful day for all despite the rain!

Hope to see a lot of the guys in Pinehurst this fall!

Chuck
S&D

Chuck then went on to provide this very detailed account:

A Wonderful Memory for Nanna and Pop Pop Moseley

On Monday May 16th I made the very difficult decision to not attend my dear friend Jerry Ledzinski’s Memorial Service in West Virginia on Friday, based on complicated travel logistics and potential conflicts with two of our grandchildren who are seniors in high school. As it turned out, both conflicts played out – one a granddaughter playing in the State semifinals in soccer and the second, Baccalaureate/Senior Recognition which was rescheduled to ten o’clock Friday – the exact time of Jerry’s service.

After recognizing the Valedictorians and other special awardees, the emcee introduced several special representatives who were present to award significant scholarships. The first of the three scholarships was awarded to a student going to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the second to three other students headed to Meredith, a private woman’s college in Raleigh, and the third to our grandson, Chase Moseley, who is bound for West Point and will be sworn in on Trophy Point with the class of 2020 on June 27th. Chase was notified of his appointment in January the day before his eighteenth birthday!

The local West Point Liaison Representative then came forward to formally present Chase with his appointment to West Point. Before asking Chase to join him, he briefly described the Mission of USMA and mentioned several famous West Point graduates. He also highlighted our alma mater’s national ranking in academics and numbers of Rhodes Scholarships earned and as being the premier leadership development institution in the world. He also described the role of West Point graduates in serving the Army and nation during current and future military conflicts and other international crises around the world. (He stated that Chase’s scholarship was worth well over two hundred thousand dollars – which seems very understated from what I remember being bantered about around fifty years ago.)

He then called Chase forward to “present” him with the leather bound Appointment Certificate that he had (already) received from West Point in January. After the congratulatory handshake, several seniors rose, then the entire class, then the entire school, all the teachers and all the attending parents and guests. Even the Band and the Chorus rose. A standing ovation went on for about thirty seconds!

I looked first at my wife Cathy who was crying, then at my “daughter-in-love” who was sobbing. I was trying to hold it together through blurry eyes and my son was capturing it all on his digital movie camera. I have subsequently seen the movie and it is VERY jumpy near the end!

Cathy really expressed it best when she said, that “although the audience was honoring Chase, it was clearing honoring the Academy and our Nation as well”.

Proud Pop Pop (Chuck Moseley)

Well done Chuck, a terrific report! We all wish Chase the very best during his next 47 months.