In his eloquent memoir of WWII, Flights of Passage, Samuel Hynes says that he chose to muster out of the service at the same base at which he learned to fly. It was out of his way, and the trip delayed his long anticipated homecoming after combat in the Pacific. But it was necessary, because he wanted to touch some part of the young man he had been, and place was important for that. "We go back in space," he writes, "because we cannot go back in time." I thought of that line as I stood a few feet and a generation away from the cadets formed for the wreath-laying ceremony on Reunion Weekend.

Thanks to the Reunion Committee, those unpaid stalwarts who had the courage to step into the fray when duty called, who met monthly and drank Smitty's beer as they sought answers to grand questions, such as "What is the female equivalent of a blazer and tie?" Seriously, it was a grand affair. Bob Smith, Tom Endres, Bob Morris, Donna Newell, George Prohoda, Kathi & Scott Snook, Russ Vernon, and Jeff Weart, we salute you. In fact, we follow dose order behind you . . .

Keith Melvin wrote to say that the opener, "You haven't changed a bit," is the 20-year reunion equivalent of cadetiquette's "I don't believe I've ever tasted liver prepared exactly like that, ma'am." Keith also notes that 15 G-4 Guppies or former Guppies attended, and that three of them--no doubt seeking the true cadet experience--had lunch at Tony's in Highland Falls, where Sal is still running the show. Keith did break with tradition by washing down his calzone with a Rolling Rock instead of a Nehi Fruit Punch.

In e-mail, I remarked on the "thoughtfulness/farsightedness/lack of integrity" of those classmates who greeted me with "You haven't changed a bit." John Stoner steadfastly maintained his integrity by writing to me that I look "old as hell." (Just for the record, John is farsighted. Big time.) John & Karen Kelly Stoner are settled in Hudson, OH, and are happy to have given up globe-trotting. They mentioned that my old roomie, John Gusz, lives in the area, too. John Stoner wrote that "its weekends such as the [reunion] that help remind me of how blessed I've been."

Paul Morris reports that "the F-3 Mount Up contingent was well represented" with Steve Ferguson, now with Merck; Pete Hawkins, from Connecticut; Glen Kouhia, a software genius in Seattle; Paul Capstick, John Norwood, and Mitch Toryanski, all at the War College; Tim Perley, in from Colorado; Russ Vernon, a CEO in Tuxedo, NY; and Ed Weinberg, from the Pentagon. During the review, the F-3ers used a cell phone to call John Lee and to track down Charlie Hillis in Florida. Paul adds, "Best excuses for being AWOL:" Kevin Kenny, on duty in Ethiopia; and Chris Bolan, an advisor to the vice president on the Mideast.

Karen Kinzler Strang had a laugh when she asked Sue Fulton if the Supe's brief on Friday was "mandatory." Karen writes that "After [Sue], and others at the table finished laughing, she enlightened me that we didn't have to do anything we didn't want to anymore."

Tom Fencl and Todd Loudenslager stopped by North Area on Thursday to watch the D-4 lunch formation. When a senior NCO pointed out that they weren't really authorized to be there, Todd was ready to retreat. That's when Tom turned on his sales charm and explained the "old grad" thing. He soon had the NCO weeping nostalgic tears over stories of the Old Corps, and the upshot of it all was that Tom and Todd went to lunch in the Cadet Mess with the D-4 CO and First Sergeant. Okay, the "tears of nostalgia" is the part I remember hearing in the bar later, so it may be . . . embellished. But Todd was able to recite the lunch menu with aplomb. Todd's nomination for funniest moment came during the parade. There was quite a crowd on the reviewing line, and, I'm happy to say, gracious cooperation by the taller members of the class who moved to the rear so the rest of us normal-sized people could see. Someone said something about this maneuver being less complicated during drill, which prompted Mike Conrad to announce, in his best parade ground voice, "If you're balder than the man in front of YOU, MOVE UP!"

Based on my completely unscientific survey, Jane McEntee Coumes gets the award for traveling the farthest. Jane & her husband David (who was smart enough to stay home) live in Shanghai, China. Jane runs a GM manufacturing operation there. Todd ran into Jane at the airport and spent an hour and a half chatting with her, which may have been the longest single conversation anyone had with anyone else all weekend.

Tony Thomas should get some award for moving right out of a field problem with his 1st Ranger Battalion to get on a civilian jet with Barb for the flight north. Tony did not jump out over Newark, as it upsets the flight attendants. Tony happily told me that Joe Votel, now at the War College with Michelle, will take over the Ranger Regiment next year, thus becoming Tony's boss.

Carol Young MacGibbon remembered to thank Congress for passing that law back in 1975 that allowed her "and a bunch of classy chicks to stand shoulder to shoulder with the finest men the country has to offer." She thanked the company commanders who held their "eyes right" to salute all the reunion classes, and she thanked the anonymous classmate who short-sheeted Smitty's bed at his quarters on Sunday.

Jim Stone one-upped those classmates getting their old knee scars checked by adding a new scar. Jim had an emergency appendectomy at Keller Army Hospital on Thursday afternoon. Released at 1030 on Friday, he was at the class lunch by 11:30. "Thanks to the miracles of modern medicine and some good pain pills," Jim made most of the reunion events. Jim thanks John Luce who pitched in to help Julia Stone navigate the process.

Speaking of pain pills, Jeff Weart sustained a serious arm injury in that famously rough and tumble sport of . . . golf, at the class outing. I'm happy to report that Jeff is on the mend, and was taking the unbelievable amount of ribbing in good nature. And there's no truth to the rumor that he's up for a Purple Heart.

Bill Crawford writes that he finally figured out why he broke his foot just before the reunion. "There was no area formation and God wanted me to remember that . . . my worst memories of West Point had to do with walking around the campus on weekends in a miserable manner." After the wreath-laying ceremony, Bill noticed a few cadets in ranks staring at him as he hobbled along. He called out, "I'd still rather be on crutches than wearing a tarbucket!" Bill heard a few rifles rattle and more than a few chuckles in the ranks.

Tom Hagan asserts that B-1 had the best turnout of any company-22 of 31 folks. They had their own embroidered shirts and even managed to lure their cow-year exchange Zoomie, Dave Conway, away from his USAFA reunion to attend ours. Pretty impressive.

Al Duff remarks that "We often speak of our West Point experience as that four year journey that ends when we toss our hats in the air." For him, he says, the experience continues and gets rekindled at reunions and other get-togethers.

Bill Wray writes that "It was a wonderful feeling to be with so many sensible, good-natured people. I remember the great sense of loss I felt on Graduation Day. On that day, the joyful frenzy of four years, spent with the best friends I could ever ask for, came to a crashing halt in the time it took simply to walk out of the barracks and drive away through Thayer Gate into the rest of my life. Reunions are a chance to bring that time back, overlaid with the wisdom and perspective of all the years we've lived in between."

In other mail, Dave Shelley writes from Virginia, where he is a special agent with the Postal Service Inspector General. Dave, Kathy, and son Nelson live in Leesburg. The big news is the expected arrival of another child next year. I quote: "Yippee!" Dave writes of his job: "An agency with $66BB annual revenue spends a lot of money, and it seems lots of vendors want to help themselves to more of it than they deserve."

Vern & Ellen Greene are in New Orleans. Vern writes that he and Mike Ford are in the same Theater Support Command that supports the Mideast, which means trips to garden spots like Kuwait. Ellen is a reservist and a Terminal Transportation Brigade commander.

In a short note, Bob Faille says that he & Laura did wind up in Kingston, Ontario, doing a War College Fellowship at Queens University. They have "plenty of room if anyone is coming through," and Bob says they "found a local pub to go dancing each weekend (Laura loves to dance, I just try not to look too bad)."

Kent Crossley sent his annual update (take note: a great idea) from northern California, where he is a Forest Engineer in Plumas National Forest. They were on the news quite a bit this past summer with all the fires. The job is "kind of like being an Engineer company commander. Bulldozers, backhoes, and lunch in the field." Kent does a good job keeping up with classmates: he'll see Frank & Nam Miller in Viet Nam when he travels there early in 2001. He often sees Bruce & Lori Schardt (Lori is Kent's sister), who are now in Colorado Springs. Their 16-year-old daughter (no name supplied) is the number three volleyball setter in the country. Kent writes that she plays like Bruce, looks like Lori. "Worked out well." Kent saw Jim Cummings, "fresh out of Army green," in DC, where he also spent some time with his former Ranger School pal John Shimkus. "It's great to be able to mention in meetings with the public that you personally know a Congressman who is honest and hard-working." Kent also spent time with Steve & Maureen Mains in Williamsburg, where Steve is halfway through a doctorate in ORSA. While in El Paso (Kent gets around, doesn't he?), Kent saw Chuck Anderson, 31st ADA brigade commander, and the recently retired Mark Boyle. Kent says anyone passing through northern California is welcome to drop in, have a beer and sample the trout fishing.

The last two columns have been without photos. ASSEMBLY has rejected all digital submissions so far, claiming low resolution. Now that we've overcome the fear of seeing a difference 20 years can make, how out sending some photos my way?

In closing, I want to add my own personal note of thanks to those at the reunion and those who couldn't make it. Every time I write one of these columns, I get to experience, in microcosm, some of the good will that was so apparent at the reunion. Thank you for letting me be part of this group, and thanks for giving me a turn as scribe.

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