Class of 1979
Deceased Classmates
Brewner, CDT Todd W. 633553Brewner, CDT Todd W. Died 12/24/76 at Lake Geneva, WI from a snowmobile accident Announcement of LTG Sidney Berry, Superintendent, 12/28/76: It is my solemn duty to announce the death of Cadet Todd W. Brewner, a member of the Class of 1979, which resulted from injuries received in a snowmobile accident at Lake Geneva, WI on 24 Dec 1976. The late Cadet Brewner, the son of Mr. And Mrs. James M. Brewner, was born on 6 July 1957, at Chicago, IL. He attended the James B. Contant High School, Cougar Trail, Hoffman Estates, IL. He was appointed to USMA by Congressman Phillip Crane, US Representative from Illinois. During his tenure at the Military Academy, he was active in extracurricular activities. He was a member of the Ring and Crest Committee and the Fine Arts Forum. In addition to these activities, he was an active participant in the intramural program in which he excelled in track and basketball. Unselfish and considerate of others, he displayed enthusiasm, a sincere desire to assist, and good sportsmanship. I extend to the family of the late Cadet Brewner the sympathy of all the members of this command. His death will be mourned by all who have known him. Back to TopBuhl, MAJ (Ret) Paul T. 36344Buhl, MAJ (Ret) Paul T. died 5/11/96 in Seoul, Korea, of a heart ailment; interred at Arlington Cemetery ASSEMBLY memorial requested from widow in 1996 Obituary from Washington Post: Paul Thomas Buhl, 39, a Bethesda native and retired Army major who recently had joined Computer Sciences Corp. as a systems analyst in Seoul, died of a heart ailment May 11 at a hospital in Seoul. MAJ Buhl ended a 16-year Army career last month when he retired as an operations research systems analyst with the Army Concepts Analysis Agency in Bethesda. His career included three tours as an infantry officer in Korea and service during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm as a liaison officer between tank repair units and the Army Materiel Command. He also was a liaison officer with the Michigan Army Reserve and National Guard and a systems analyst for new designs at the Army Tank Automotive Command in Michigan. MAJ Buhl was a graduate of the Bullis School in Potomac and a 1979 graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point. He also was a graduate of the Army’s Command and Staff College at Ft Leavenworth, KS. He was a recipient of the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal. Survivors include his wife, Yong Nan, and a son, John Matthew Buhl, both of Seoul; his parents, John and Patricia Buhl of Bethesda: and two sisters, Constance Buhl of Seattle and Katherine Buhl of Vienna. Back to TopFedun, George M. 36493Fedun, George, M. died 2/21/92 in Philadelphia, PA in a car accident. ASSEMBLY memorial requested from widow in 1992. Back to TopKelly, Jr. , MAJ James J. 37141Kelly, Jr. , MAJ James J. died 4/30/89 in Panama in a catamaran accident. Interred at the West Point Cemetery ASSEMBLY memorial requested from widow in 1989. Back to TopKrobock, Richard D. 36680Krobock, Richard D. died 3/26/87 in El Salvador in a helicopter crash. Interred in Bourne, MA. ASSEMBLY Memorial Article published in March 1990 ASSEMBLY Memorial Article: Rare is the man who has a full life by the age of 31. Rarer still is the man who, simply through the quiet strength of his personality and the resolve of his character, can dramatically affect the lives of the people who have encountered him. Richard Daniel Krobock was that man. Rick was born in Trenton, NJ, on 5 December 1955, to Anne Ellen and John Krobock. His father, a 1953 graduate of West Point, kept the family of Rick and his older twin brothers, Joseph and John, Jr., on the move. When Rick was 7 years old the family settled in Scituate, MA, a town on the shore south of Boston. While growing up, Rick developed close friendships with his contemporaries; friendships which he maintained throughout his life despite his travels far from the Massachusetts shore. He attended Scituate High School, where he participated in hockey, track, and was twice selected to the all-star football team. Even during these early formative years, there were indications that Rick’s future included being a professional soldier. The books he read, the games he played, and the television shows he watched provided clues of his interests, desires, and future contributions. After graduating from high school in 1974, Rick enrolled in the University of Massachusetts, where he joined many of his hometown friends. During his freshman year he received a Congressional appointment and entered West Point with the Class of 1979. During Beast Barracks he was assigned to 6th New Cadet Company. Since he had a year of college experience, Rick easily handled the rigors of his first summer. Following the summer, Rick was assigned to Company D-4 where he established himself as an earnest student and reliable friend. Rick’s most impressive traits were his quick wit and his ability to keep things in perspective—both were invaluable qualities during plebe year. Additionally, when something had to be accomplished, Rick got the task done. While at West Point, Rick was an avid participant in various intramural athletics. During his leaves and vacations, Rick was always eager to return to his hometown of Scituate, often by traveling in the well-known VW bus. After the "shuffle" of the Class of 1979, Rick was assigned to Company I-3. During his cow summer, Rick completed Airborne School and served as a platoon leader on the German border. In his last year he was a squad leader for new cadets. Rick was commissioned in the Armor and, following graduation, completed Ranger School and his basic course. He was then assigned as a support platoon leader in the 2d Battalion, 67th Armor, 2d Armored Division, Ft Hood, TX. Although the job was supposed to be filled by a captain, Rick did not let his gold bars hinder his performance as he worked long hours to complete the job. His work greatly contributed to a successful REFORGER in 1980, during which the entire battalion deployed to Germany. In 1981 Rick was accepted to attend aviation school at Ft Rucker, AL. After he received his aviator wings, he was assigned to Camp Stanley, Korea, with the 4th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, where he served as a section commander and flew missions near the DMZ. In a short period of time he was selected to lead the choice unit, the Aero-Scout section. After Korea, Rick returned to Ft Rucker for attack helicopter transition school in 1983 and was then assigned to Ft Ord, CA. At Ft Ord, Rick served as a Aero-Weapons platoon leader in the 2d Squadron, 10th Air Cavalry, where his zest for excellence and his forthrightness were attributes noted by his superiors. In 1984, following duties as a flight operations officer, Rick took command of C Company, 307th Aviation Battalion, an attack helicopter company, in 1985. Rick excelled as commander and was described as the best battle captain in the battalion. In 1986 Rick was faced with an Army assignment that presented few challenges. Therefore, he decided to resign from the Army and accept a position with the Central Intelligence Agency. His new job offered the opportunity for immediate contributions. During the early morning hours of 26 March 1987, while returning from a mission, Rick was a passenger in a helicopter that crashed in El Salvador. He and several other people perished. The medal awarded posthumously by the CIA was in recognition of Rick’s superior and valorous contributions to its operations. A quotation from the citation reads as follows: "While his tenure with the Agency was brief, his profound contribution, exceptional capability, maturity, and love of challenge and flying, earned the respect and admiration of superiors, colleagues, and subordinates alike. Mr. Krobock served his country with distinction, motivated by the highest professional standards and often at grave personal risks. His sacrifice was in the finest tradition of selfless service to his country and is indeed worthy of commendation and honor." To those of us who knew him, this decoration and citation, together with Rick’s active duty commendations come as no surprise. Richard Krobock’s legacy includes not only the enduring results of his life’s contributions but also his warm sincerity, his sense of humor, and his selflessness. Those who worked for him remember Rick as a quietly efficient but successful leader who was truly concerned for their welfare. There was not artificiality to his personality and he earned every success he achieved through hard work. Too often we measure success in the military by objective indicators, such as medals. Rick eschewed these as a goal, yet he did earn them. Rather, his measure of success was in the people he touched. He imparted on others his positive outlook on life—an outlook that we appreciated when he was alive, and we now cherish with his death. Rick’s life was the embodiment of the West Point motto. His concept of duty, of doing what was "right," and then executing the right thing, are models for us to emulate. His integrity was unquestionable. And for his country, his family and his friends, he gave all he had. He gave his life. Although many of us will live twice as long as Rick, few of us will match his accomplishments. Back to TopLindholm, Dean A. 36702Lindholm, Dean A. died 7/9/97 in Jackson, SC, in an automobile accident. Interred at Arlington Cemetery, VA. ASSEMBLY memorial requested from parents in 1997 Article from Funeral bulletin at Old Chapel, Ft Meyer: Dean was born in Colorado Springs, CO (his first tour at Ft Carson). As an Army brat, he lived with his family in Oklahoma, CA, NY, GA, Germany, NH, WA, and again in Ft Carson, CO. In 1971 they finally settled in northern Virginia. In 1975, he graduated as valedictorian of Brentsville District High School in Nokesville, where he earned varsity letters in track and field, setting a high school record in the 120 yard high hurdles. He went on to graduate from the US Military Academy at West Point where he broke records on the despised obstacle course and was captain of the West Point Riding Team, earning honors as Regional Intercollegiate Horseshow Association jumping champion in 1977. He served in the Army for seven years in Korea, Ft Knox, and Ft Carson (this might be called his third tour there), and was awarded four Army commendation Medals. He was a major in the US Army Reserve. After leaving active duty, Dean set out to pursue his true love—environmental protection. He earned a masters degree in Environmental Biology at George Mason University and was actively involved in rehabilitation projects at Dyke Marsh on the Potomac, Kenilworth Gardens on the Anacostia, and Turkey Run Park in McLean. He was vice-president of the Fairfax Audubon Society and active in the Nature Conservancy, Greenpeace and the Environmental Defense Fund. At the time of his death he was pursuing his doctorate at the Institute of Ecology at the University of Georgia in Athens. Although he set lofty goals and accomplished much, Dean focused not on what he had done, but on how much more he could do. He was not afraid to make mistakes and often fell, but he also climbed higher than most—to a point where the view is sublime. In his pursuit of a better world for us all, he never failed to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong. He was quick with a smile, generous with his laughter and never met a stranger. His undimmed sense of awe and keen curiosity let him see so much more than most people—not just the magnificence of the mountains and forests, but the complex interactivity of earth, water, plants, animals, and humans. Spring peepers, crickets, snakes and oak trees held a special place in his heart. More than we realized, Dean was our conscience and our inspiration—blade-runner, marsh-walker, cycle-rider, tree-climber (extraordinaire), challenge-seeker, ski-maniac, master-horseman, global-thinker, local-actor, life-competitor. We who remain carry on without his life-spirit, but are better persons for his touch on our lives. Back to TopLyon III, LT Charles M. 36713Lyon III, LT Charles M. died 8/12/81 at Ft Campbell, KY, in an automobile accident. Interred in Peabody, MA. ASSEMBLY memorial requested from parents in 1981. Back to TopMcBride, CPT Michael P. 36744McBride, CPT Michael P. died 4/15/83 in San Francisco, CA. ASSEMBLY memorial requested from widow in 1983. Back to TopMolinari, Georges 36783Molinari, Georges died 3/29/96 in Houston, TX . ASSEMBLY memorial requested from widow in 1996. Back to TopMotley, Lance E. 36792Motley, Lance E. died 5/30/89 in Chiang Mai, Thailand from wounds received from mortar rounds. Interred at the West Point Cemetery. ASSEMBLY memorial article published September 1992 ASSEMBLY Article: To understand Lance, one must hear how he died. Lance was working as a reporter for Soldier of Fortune magazine. He was with the Karen guerrillas in Burma when he was injured by a stray mortar round. He died the next day from his wounds. To anyone who knew him, this did not come as either a surprising way for him to die or as an inappropriate way. It was totally fitting to Lance’s personality and the way he chose to live his life. Lance came to West Point from California. From the start of his time at the Academy, Lance began acquiring a reputation. Unlike most of his peers, he had only one goal in life—to be a soldier an to live the life of the warrior. This may sound like an antiquated concept, but it was one which Lance truly took to heart. He focused all of his energies towards this pursuit, to the exclusion of almost everything else. This attitude, combined with his uncompromising and sometimes bull-headed personality, made Lance stand out form almost everyone else at the Academy. He was different, but he did not care because he knew that he was right. He believed in America, the flag and the profession of arms. Some may associate such an attitude with various groups of "crazies" and amateurs who play soldier games on weekends and like to think of themselves as something they are not. That was not Lance. He was the genuine thing who was committed to his ideals and believed them with everything within him. He also was good at what he chose to do and dedicated himself to being better. He gave up much of his free time to such things as the Military Affairs Seminar and the Tactics Club, of which he was a founding member. He went to Air Assault School during one spring break and set a new school record there for the 12-mile rucksack march. He also became famous for doing a rucksack march on the West Point reservation during CATEGORY IV conditions, passing out, and being found by the Commandant. Such was the person who graduated and went to the "real Army" in June 1979. Lance, in turn, went to the 82nd Airborne Division, Second Ranger Battalion and the 9th Infantry Division. The peace-time Army could not hold him, though, and after five years he resigned and sought to find his own wars. His first move was to go to Afghanistan for six months. He was at this time on his own, without employment or sponsorship. Upon his return he wrote several articles for Soldier of Fortune magazine and was hired on a permanent basis. Lance occasionally wrote under his own name but usually went by the name of Gene Scroft. He then went to all of the wars of the world. He visited Lebanon, Honduras, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Guatemala and any place else where there was action and a story to be told. From his writing, one could tell that reporting was merely a means to an end. Lance was learning about the profession in the only way he could. He always went with the "good Guys" and spent a lot of his time training, teaching and sometimes leading the soldiers he was with. He got as close as he could, and in the course of his travels was wounded three times. He accepted the danger, and such a lifestyle is what eventually caught up with him. What then to think of Lance Motley? He was an extremist, a fanatic even. He also was completely honest and a friend who would break his back for you because friendship and honor, too, were a part of his make-up. Although he made most people uncomfortable, he made no apologies for his attitude or actions. He believed and knew he was right. He was a patriot, soldier and dedicated professional. Probably nobody else could, or would want to, be like Lance. He was one-of-a-kind. Let us hope, though, that there is a part of Lance in anyone who wants to indeed be in the profession of arms and serve his country. For all of his extremism, one has to admire his patriotism, dedication, honesty and motivations. He lived Duty, Honor, Country. Back to TopMyers, Walter R. 36797Myers, Walter R. died 6/24/94 in El Paso, TX from intra-cranial causes. Back to TopPettus, Carlous 36853Pettus, Carlous died 11/1/96. Back to TopWatson, LT Gregory L. 37073Watson, LT Gregory L. died 4/1/82 at Ft Irwin, CA due to injuries received in the Gallant Eagle jump. ASSEMBLY memorial requested from parents in 1983. Back to TopWomack, Jr., Raymond E. 37114Womack, Jr., Raymond E. died 11/23/87 in Quincy, MA of cancer. Interred in Uncasville, CT. ASSEMBLY Memorial article published January 1990 ASSEMBLY Article: Raymond Earl Womack, Jr. Was born in Norwich, CT on 14 May 1957, the son of Raymond and Esther (Mitchell) Womack, Sr. He attended schools in Puerto Rico, Florida, Virginia, and graduated from Nashua High School, Nashua, NH. While in high school, he was on the wrestling team, a member of the ecology and chess clubs, and he enjoyed baseball, fishing, reading, and coin and stamp collecting. Appointed to the Military Academy from Nashua, Raymond, known to his friends as Ray, graduated in 1979. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. Soon after graduation, Raymond attended the Basic Engineer Course at Ft Belvoir, VA and Ranger School at Ft Benning, GA. From there he was assigned to duty in Germany as a property book officer, a platoon leader, and as a major military community activity project officer. After completing his tour, he completed the Officers Advanced Course at Ft Belvoir, VA and went to Ft Bragg, NC, where he worked as a brigade construction officer for HHC, 20th Engineer Brigade. In 1985 he became the company commander of C Company, 548th Engineer Battalion, a combat heavy construction unit. He supervised the construction of a softball field, a fitness trail, and various projects such as the 82nd Airborne Division jump tower. Upon completion of his command, he was assigned to HHC, 329th Engineer Group, Brockton, MA as the group operations officer. During this tour of duty, he was selected to attend CAS3, Class 87-10, at Ft Leavenworth, KS. Following his maximum performance on the physical training test in September, his illness became visible. Although he performed well, his classmates will remember his inability to remain seated during classes. After graduation, it was discovered that he had terminal cancer of the stomach. Friends and relatives came to the hospital and Raymond helped them because of his positive and cheerful attitude. His wife was at his side as he peacefully went to his maker. He will be remembered as a good man who was loved by his family and friends. Raymond is survived by his wife, Faith; stepdaughters Christina and Mya Wilkins; sister Susan Arata; brothers Frank and Mitchell Womack; his maternal grandmother Mrs. Frank T. Mitchell; two nephews: and his father and stepmother, Captain and Mrs. Raymond Womack, Sr., US Coast Guard, Retired. Back to Top |
