Dear Proud to Be ’83,
I hope everyone’s Summer is going well and this letter finds you all happy and healthy. Let’s begin this letter with everyone’s favorite topic…Class Gift.
Class Gift (2013)
The Class of 1983, Distinguished Leaders Series ($1.25M endowment) Class Gift Progress Update: Summer Slowdown! As of August 2011, we have raised $758,942.....we are off pace to reach our 30th Reunion gift goal and the commitment to endow the “Class of 1983 Distinguished Leader Series.” Class participation stands at 23%. We need your help to achieve the objective! Please consider a minimum pledge over 3-years of $1983. By the Numbers! Many people have answered the call to duty and taken responsibility to reach out to their cadet companies. Phil Clough will support A1 efforts; Phil is a great example of an extremely busy business leader who has made the class gift a priority. Dale Hruby and Brian Trueblood are on point for C1; Frank Demith and Dan Stoll will team up to contact F1 while Ed Arrington (doctor deployed to Afghanistan) will reach out to H1. First Regiment is at 27% participation with $287,705. Second Regiment, has communicated in the past has had strong company leaders for D2-G2 and most recently John Tibbetts will take the lead for I2. Second Regiment is at 21% participation with $162,429. Third Regiment has also stepped up with A3 leaders, Joseph Rangitsch and Ed Wohlwender; Chris Carlson will take the point for F3. Third Regiment is at 23% participation with $135,283. The biggest serge in leadership is Fourth Regiment where Corey Carr (another busy military leader) will lead B4; Glen DeWillie takes C4 as David Lemelin and Gary Pieringer lead D4; also, Jan and Paul Swicord will lead G4 as Sara Gaba steps up for H4. Don Lash will lead I4 which has sparked a rally with some great company communication. Fourth Regiment is at 23% participation with $147,503. We still need help with B1, D1, G1, I1, A2, B2, C2, H2, B3, C3, D3, E3, G3, I3, A4, E4, and F4. Currently the company leaders are: A1 – 52% Participation and $65,545; B1 – 13% Participation and $53,143; E1 – 22% Participation and $65,956; G2 – 44% Participation and $80,615; H3 – 28% Participation and $43,770; A4 – 40% Participation and $62,215. Bonnie Schweppe’s (Brouse) role to lead the Women of 1983 has resulted in a move from 22% participation to over 40%. Everyone can make a difference!! There are three tax years until we present our class gift and time is slipping away; please consider at least a pledge of $1983 or other donation to the class gift (http://www.westpointaog.org/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=3196). Contact Harry Shablom at
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to volunteer.
Repairing One Soldier at a Time - Proud to Be, ’83 Dr James R. Ficke, MD, Colonel
I wanted to highlight the work some of our Drs are doing for our severely injured soldiers. Dr Jim Ficke is Chairman, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation at Brooke Army Medical Center, and Orthopaedic Consultant to the Army Surgeon General. In this role, Jim manages many of the lower extremity trauma patients, amputees, and complex foot and ankle patients returning from the combat zone. He earned his MD at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences and completed Orthopaedic residency at Tripler, Hawaii. He completed subspecialty training as an AO trauma fellow in Munich, Germany and foot and ankle in Dallas, Texas. He ran the Brooke Amputee Service for 6 years before deploying to Iraq. There in 2005, he served as Deputy Commander for a Combat Support Hospital in Mosul, Iraq. During that year he was the senior orthopaedic surgeon, treating over 600 Iraqi patients and US Soldiers with extremity war injuries. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons (SOMOS) and the Department of Defense Extremity Injury and Amputee Center of Excellence Planning Group. Jim was recognized by the United States Army in 2006 with an ‘A Designator' for clinical proficiency, the military equivalent of full professorship. He also is an assistant professor of surgery at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and a member of the board of directors of the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons.
He stays in close touch with COLs Ed Arrington, Chief of Orthopedic Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA and Joachim Tenuta, Chief, Orthopaedics, at United States Military Academy, West. Point, NY who are also actively engaged in the effort to repair our severely injured soldiers.
Jim’s son Benjamin has accepted an appointment to begin with the class of 2015 on R day June 27th. Thank you all for your continued service and good luck to Benjamin.
See article on page 4 of 14 July 2011Pointer View (link below) of the work Jim is doing for recent Medal of Honor winner, SFC Leroy Petry -
http://www.usma.edu/Dcomm/PV/yr2011/11JUL14.pdf Pete Orchard deployed to Afghanistan as CJIATF FBI CO-DIRECTOR
Received a note from Pete who is in Afghanistan for the 4th time in 5 years. Currently, he is the FBI Deputy Legal Attaché to US Embassy Kabul and he is assigned to ISAF as the Co-Director CJIATF-SHAFAFIYAT which is the ISAF anti-corruption task. He obviously has his hands full! He brings the law enforcement perspective to the TF. His Director is BG HR McMaster (84) and our very own COL Scott McConnell (83) is the Operations Chief. Pete’s wife, Donna is also over there and works in the embassy. Pete gave an update on his four children: Alexandra (25) is finishing her doctorate in Biochemistry at the University at Buffalo, Samantha (24) is out in the job market in Buffalo, Ian (22) is graduating this year from Canisius College ROTC with a commission in MI and Jacquelyn (20) is at John Carroll University on a full Army ROTC scholarship. In addition to Scott, he runs into BGs Scott Miller and Mark Martins on occasion.
COL Brian Butcher Returns from South AmericaCharlie Dean and his wife Didi had the pleasure of spending two weeks in the beautiful country of Ecuador during Late April/Early May. While most of their time was spent deep within the Amazonian jungle, they had two chances to visit with COL Brian Butcher 10,000 feet above sea level in the capital city of Quito. As the US military’s Defense Attaché in Ecuador, Brian was the senior military officer within the US Embassy and worked with the senior staff of the Ecuadoran military on a daily basis. Brian completed his two year tour in Ecuador this past July. He is now on the faculty at the US Army War College, Carlisle, PA. Lou Francis on CNN Morning Express
Lou and Yvonne Francis salute their son Nick currently at the Air Force Academy - http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/12/salute-to-usaf-cadet-nick-francis/
COL Tyge Rugenstein ’83 moves Prep School to West Point
Proud to be ’83 Commandant and Dean, COL Tyge Rugenstein, recently conducted the final USMAPS graduation ceremony at Fort Monmouth, N.J. on May 13. USMAPS has made the transition to the grounds of West Point with the Class of 2012 arriving on July 18.
Here is the article - http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110713/NEWS/107130354
And photos - http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/_flash/gallery/gallery.html&Site=TH&Date=20110712&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=712009997&Ref=PH
BG Theodore D. Martin '83 New West Point Commandant of Cadets
5/31/2011
Although I announced this in an email earlier, BG Ted Martin joins BG Tim Trainor and COL Tyge Rugenstein as part of the leader team at USMA. We now have Proud to Be serving our Alma Mater as the Comm and Dean, of USMA and Comm/Dean of USMAPS.  BG Mark Martins named New Military Commissions Chief Prosecutor
The Department of Defense announced 23 June the appointment of Army Brig. Gen. Mark Martins to be the chief prosecutor, Office of Military Commissions.
“Martins will succeed Navy Capt. John Murphy, who has served as chief prosecutor since May 2009, and has been assigned to the Office of Military Commissions since April 2007. Martins is currently deployed to Afghanistan, where he is serving as commander of the Rule of Law Field Force, and he will assume his new duties as chief prosecutor on or about Oct. 1. Murphy is a Navy reservist who will be returning soon to civilian life as an assistant U.S. attorney in Louisiana. In the interim, Air Force Col. Michael O'Sullivan will serve as the acting chief prosecutor.
I am proud and pleased to have Brig. Gen. Martins serve as the chief prosecutor for the Office of Military Commissions. In 2009, Brig. Gen. Martins co-led the interagency Detention Policy Task Force created by President Obama. As part of that review, the task force recommended reforms to the military commissions process, and Brig. Gen. Martins was himself instrumental in working with other agencies and with Congress in the passage of reforms codified in the Military Commissions Act of 2009,” said Johnson.
Martins has had a distinguished career in the military, as a soldier and judge advocate. His career has also included assignments as deputy legal counsel to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and as staff judge advocate for Multi-National Force-Iraq under Gen. David Petraeus. Martins finished first in his class at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He was also a Rhodes Scholar and graduate of Harvard Law School, where he served on the Harvard Law Review. In 2011, Martins received Harvard Law School’s Medal of Freedom - http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/spotlight/terrorism-and-national-security/brigadier-general-mark-martins.html”
GO Assignments
Back in May, BG John McGuiness took command of the Natick Soldier Systems Center in Natick, MA. Charlie Dean was there to see our classmate assume command of the only US Army installation in New England. John’s new command develops clothing, protective gear, parachutes, shelter, combat rations, and more not only for the Army but also all the joint services. John is the only US Army general commanding and residing east of the mighty Hudson River.
Brigadier General Billy Don Farris II, Deputy Chief, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC to Director of Future Plans, CJ-5, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan.
Promotions As previously announced, Congratulations to our newest Two Star Generals and families:
Army Brig. Gen. Austin S. Miller has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general. Miller most recently served as commander, Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command - Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.
Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey J. Snow has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general. Snow is currently serving as director, J-5, U.S. Forces-Iraq, Operation New Dawn, Iraq.
Army Brig. Gen. Kenneth E. Tovo has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general. Tovo most recently served as deputy commanding general (support), 1st Armored Division, Germany.
Las Vegas Mini-Reunion I heard it was a blast…but in keeping with the rules of Vegas. No news to report. It may become a yearly sojourn and I will post details. Class Offspring Update
On 27 June 2011, the Class of 2015, including a nice contingent of offspring – Ames Evans (Jim), Benjamin Ficke (Jim), Amanda Harrison (Stu), Sean Jollota (Jane (O’Connor)), Thomas Loper (Kathy (Schmidt) and Tom), Joseph Kyle Samuels ((Keith)(Christy Bishop '84)), Daniel Trainor (Donna Brazil and Tim), entered the Academy on R-Day.
Congratulations to one and all. Let me know if I have missed someone.
Save the Date April 2012 Golfing Grads of USMA
We had twelve 83ers out of the 130 alumni attend this year in Opelika, AL. Our very own astronaut Doug Wheelock was the guest speaker at the Thursday night Welcome Dinner. Doug recalled how his boxing Joe Aperfine almost ruined his Astronaut career before it began by deviating his septum. The “really” old grads could relate to the Joe Palone “finish him off, finish him off” quote. The dates selected for next year are April 19-22, 2012. If you are interested in attending, let me know at
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.
May - Proud to Be ’83 Cadet Spirit Award
The Proud to Be ’83 Cadet Spirit Award this year went to 2LT Joterrica (Terri) Williams. Her staff supervisor, Alton Lee writes, “Cadet Williams revamped the entire band room, as well as organized travel rosters for all trip section and away sporting events. He also said, “when receiving this award, tears filled her face with joy. I know receiving this award made her day and year as well. Thanks for your help in giving cadets another reason to be proud of the Academy - by recognizing our Spirit Group's hard work. Underclass members are biting at the bit to try to win this award next year. Again thanks (Class of '83) for your outstanding support to the Corp of Cadets Spirit Group.”
As an aside, Here 2LT Williams receives $1,031. from our very own BG Trainor as the goat of the Class of 2011.
2LT Williams joins 2LT Lewis and 2LT Farley as past recipients.
Proud to Be ’83!
 Army – Navy 2011 in Washington, DC
Mike Olsen, Stu Harrison, Chris Bauer, Lori Sussman, Jill Maurer, Tim Dean, Dave Sacha, Tom Fish, Bonnie Schweppe, and others are already having monthly meetings to organize a number of events for the class. Major events will include the usual tailgate and a Remembrance Dinner to celebrate those of us who passed away the previous year. Plan on being in DC from the 8th till the 11th of December.
Reunion
Our 30th Reunion is only 2 years away in September of 2013. Keep email and snail mail addresses updated for future plans.
Money – to get you in the class gift giving mode...
Money, get away
Get a good job with more pay and you're okay
Money, it's a gas
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash
New car, caviar, four star daydream,
Think I'll buy me a football team
Money get back
I'm alright Jack keep your hands off my stack.
Money it's a hit
Don't give me that do goody good bullshit
I'm in the hi-fidelity first class travelling set
And I think I need a Lear jet
Money it's a crime
Share it fairly but don't take a slice of my pie
Money so they say
Is the root of all evil today
But if you ask for a raise it's no surprise that they're
giving none away
Crack that Wallet…and Beat Navy! Pete aka Fizzer |
