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Dear Proud to Be ’83, Just a quick note to update the class on some past special events, achievements, and class gift information. COL Doug Wheelock, Astronaut 
Sully shared a voicemail with me the other day. It went something like this: Wheels: Sully, This is Doug calling from outer space… Doug’s Change of Command was 22 Sept around 4:05 PM EST and he will now serve as the Commander of Expedition 25 on the International Space Station.
Another article - http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20100615/NEWS01/6150351/Windsor-native-Wheelock-blasts-off-into-space-as-part-of-U-S-Russian-crew You can watch him on the NASA channel and track the Space Station’s whereabouts at - http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/tracking/index.html New Dean Promotion and Investiture Ceremony On Tuesday, 17 August 2010 a Promotion and Investiture Ceremony took place at USMA for our classmate BG Tim Trainor as he became the 13th Dean of the Academic Board (See Attached). Some fun facts about then and now…  
BG Timothy Trainor – age 49, Class of 1983. Youngest Dean ever at 49 (BG Jannarone was 51 in 1965). Served in Bosnia and Iraq. First Dean to be married to another graduate of USMA.
Our Dean – BG Frederick A. Smith, Jr., age 62 in 1983, Class of 1944. Served in WWII and Korea. Last Dean to serve without term limit (1974–85). I remember an exchange I had with BG Smith at the Supe’s House grad week 1983 – in my best History of the World Part I, parody “It’s good to be the King,” I asked him “Is it good to be the Dean?” He replied, “It’s good to be the Dean.” Congratulations to the Brazil/Trainor Family.  Somehow I don’t recall BG Smith doing the Recondo with us.
Brigadier General Announcements Army Col. Matthew L. Brand has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Brand is currently serving as deputy director of strategy, plans and policy, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U. S. Army, Washington, D.C. Army Col. Theodore D. Martin has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Martin is currently serving as commandant, U. S. Army Armor Center, Fort Knox, Ky. Army Col. Darryl A. Williams has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Williams is currently serving as assistant surgeon general for warrior care and transition/commanding general, Warrior Transition Command, Falls Church, Va. Class Offspring Update On 28 June, we had the following New Cadets enter the Academy with the Class of 2014: Justin Bland (Bill); Kevin Connors (Mark and Cheryl (Zywicki)); Joshua Cooksey (Bryan); Alessandra Coote (Pete); Jasmine Morgan (Tommy); Emily Monk (John); Damon Paulo (Dan); and, Lauren Wood (Bob). If I have missed someone, please let me know. I have the following Cadet to be honored during December Graduation for 2010: Steven Nelson (Ray Nelson). Finally, I have the following 10 Cadets to be honored for Graduation 2011: Michael J. Ecklund(Jim); Timothy James Dean (Tim); Brian Louis Johnson (Dave); Nolan Martin (Chris); Jason Pak (Yeong-Tae); Augustine Paulo (Dan); Anthony George Ruizcalderon (Tony); Eric Schweppe (Bonnie (Brouse)); Benjamin David Snider (Dave); Michael K. Tovo (Ken). Again, if I have missed someone please let me know.  “Wings of West Point” COC
Col. Charles A. Stafford, G-3 Deputy Chief of Staff, presents the 2nd Aviation Detachment guidon to CW5 John F. Nailor during a Change of Command Ceremony at the 2nd Aviation Hangar June 25. Nailor, a former Aviator of the Year, replaces CW5 Daniel R. Jollota, who has been the "Wings of West Point" since 2006. Dan is married to Jane (O’Connor) Jollota, Proud to Be ’83 who served as the Cadet Hostess for the past four years. Good Luck Dan and Jane on your new journey. What you may not know - Jollota has been in the United States Army for 33 years and, in 1993, he was a Black Hawk pilot in one of the biggest battles for U.S. troops since the Vietnam War. He flew a Black Hawk into Somalia for search and rescue missions, including one adapted into the film "Black Hawk Down." Dan’s service has achieved him awards such as The Bronze Star Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 2010, Jollota received the Hines Award from the U.S. Military Academy's ice hockey team, where he often joined the team on the bench.
A Time magazine piece details Jollota's incredible efforts in the "Black Hawk Down" mission in Somalia:
"Not far from the wreckage of Wolcott's chopper, pilot Dan Jollota was struggling to hold his aircraft steady while 15 Rangers "fast-roped" to the ground by sliding down a 40-ft. line at a rate only slightly more controlled than a free fall. In the cockpit, Jollota could hear the thunk-thunk-thunk of his rotors punctuated by the deadly whoosh of rocket-propelled grenades. With two Rangers still on the ropes, the chopper took a direct hit that chewed holes in a main rotor blade. The steel-nerved pilot bit off the impulse to flee. "It was remarkable," said a crewman aboard a nearby helicopter. "They just sat there as the RPGS whistled around them." Only when his men had slid to safety did Jollota begin limping back to base." Class BGs selected to go to Afghanistan Brigadier General John Uberti to Chief, CJ-5, Headquarters, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan. He most recently served as Commanding General, Installation Management Command, Korea Region, Korea. Brig. Gen. John J. McGuiness to deputy commander for programs, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. He most recently served as assistant deputy for acquisition and systems management, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology), Washington, D.C. Lara York Update I am forwarding an email update from Bonnie (Brouse) Schweppe and Jim York on Lara’s Garden initiative: Hi all,
First off, let me say a very warm 'thank you' to everyone who contributed to Lara's Garden. You have no idea what it meant to me, personally, as well as (obviously perhaps) Lara's family. I have never felt closer to our classmates as I do now. Each time I received a check, there was a note or card that touched me deeply. You are all so amazing, so thank you for reconnecting all of us.
We are still gathering monies, in case you want to contribute. We are paying for a cleaning woman and fresh flowers on an on-going basis. Just something that Lara and Jim won't have to worry about.
As far as monies go...we are doing well. We have spent about $5,000 on Lara's Garden to date. We have committed to covering the next 5 months of flowers and cleaning, and there are some odds and ends still needed for the garden. We are in good shape here, and with the few checks that may come in over the next few weeks, we should be able to meet our mission.
Watch the short You Tube video that Jim sends below. It isn't the easiest to see, but I think you can get a feel for the garden. Lara lives in Arizona, as you know, so pots full of plants and flowers were the way to go. We wanted to create a small garden behind the house, as a sort of sanctuary, but given Lara's mobility status, we couldn't do that. We opted to revitalize her courtyard, which she can see from the house (both from her bedroom and from her family room and kitchen.) We also put down an area rug so that she can maneuver the wheelchair more easily.
Lara is so ecstatic about how it all turned out. She will be hosting a small party this weekend and the seating areas will really come in handy.
Again, a huge thank you to all who contributed. And a hug and shout out to Laura Egan, who was my 'gardening and designing angel' on the ground in Scottsdale. Without Laura, this could never have happened.
I wish we could have done something like this for all of our classmates and families who have met with such personal and devastating tragedies. I am open to any and all ideas on how to further this concept through a fund of this sort, to help any one of us in need. Given my organizational skills (or lack thereof), I would NOT like to be the keeper of funds, but I would be open to spearheading these kinds of efforts in the future. What I would envision would be a fund that each of us could contribute to on an ongoing basis, or as needed when a crisis arises. Of course, the obvious question arises of who would manage it once we all get old and decrepit (OMG...we really are old grads now.) Perhaps the last man (or woman) standing would get the whole pot!!! (my attempt at humor...sorry)
Keep in touch. You all have meant the world to me in the last month.
GRIP HANDS!
Bonnie
Dear Bonnie,
I uploaded a short video of the courtyard to YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aati_fD-Mok). Let me know if I need to try again with higher resolution. Many, Many Thanks!
Jim Save the dates April – 2011 and 12 Golfing Grads of USMA We had 14 Alumni from 1983 attend this year in Prattville, Alabama. Save the date – The next two years the tournament is in Opelika, AL. The dates selected are April 14-17, 2011 and April 19-22, 2012 and there will not be conflicts with either the Masters Golf Tournament or the Easter holidays. If you are interested, let me know at
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. May - Proud to Be ’83 Cadet Spirit Award We had our second installment of the Proud to Be ’83 Cadet Spirit Award this May and I still have no idea what happened. The first presentation was to now 2LT Bob Lewis, on 7 May 2009. The award is a mounted Bayonet. I will have to update you later. Class Gift (2013) Show us the money! The Class of 1983, Distinguished Leaders Series ($1.25M endowment) Our Gift: The Leadership Center’s Distinguished Leaders Series (DLS) is a faculty-run lecture series that supports cadet development. The DLS brings influential leaders from all sectors to West Point to address cadets. The Series hosts eight speakers a year (September through May) with all cadets majoring in Leadership Development participating or approximately 300-400 cadets. While at West Point, visiting speakers meet with the Superintendent, discuss leadership with smaller select groups of cadets, and receive a tour of the Academy. The rest of their visit is customized to meet a speaker’s business and personal interests. The Center will ensure that donors to the DLS are invited to attend the Series as guests and that they receive an annual report on the individuals who have participated as lecturers. Class Gift Progress Update: This month marks two years into our fund raising efforts for our 30th Reunion gift. With three years remaining until the presentation, the pledges and the current account balance add up to less than half our 30th Reunion gift of $1.25 Million. As of September 15, we have received pledges and donations to the value of $426,693. This when coupled with the class account balance gives us a total of $617,665. It is interesting to note that our class participation rate is 14% for the class gift while giving to the academy (all donations) by the class is at 24%. While we are not advocating changing your focus and dedication, please consider a pledge and donation to the class gift ( http://www.westpointaog.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1503 ). Your time to assist with contacting the class is equally important and will be recognized (value in kind); Please contact Harry Shablom at
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to volunteer. Finally, I offer a couple new verses to Benny Havens, Oh: To Astronaut Wheelock, who floats high above our row, He is living his dream, to go where only few go, Although he misses the fellows, his star on earth glows, Let’s sing to his safe return and Benny Havens, oh! To the Dean of the Academic Board, our classmate you know, Whose better Half is a Colonel, and wears combat boots also, Our hearts are filled with pride in them, their service to our Hudson home; Now we’ll forever cry “Beat the Dean,” on our way to Benny Havens, oh! Pete aka Fizzer |
