Dear Proud to Be ’83,

Speaking of Football…   

Army – Navy 2011 in Washington, DC

As we get ready to finally Beat Navy this year in Football (it has been 10 years since our last victory), I wanted to send out a note to announce the final class 50/50 event (conceived by Mike Crumlin in April 2010 for 2011…to celebrate turning 50, spend 50 man/woman days with your classmates).  The monthly meetings of the committee and sub-committees to organize a number of events for the class has produced guidance.  Plan on being in DC from the 8th till the 11th of December to celebrate the class and culminate our Classmate 50 for 50 celebrations.
From Mike Olson: - EX Field
-         1430 hrs - ARMY BEATS Navy!!

 Classmates,

Master Schedule:

Remembrance Dinner

Tailgate

Game Tickets

•        You must purchase your own football game tickets. The Army ticket office is sold out. Stub Hub or other resellers have tickets available.

Class Hotel

Embassy Suites - Olde Town Alexandria, 1900 Diagonal Road, Alexandria, Virginia, United States 22314
Tel: 1-703-684-5900
•        CUTOFF FOR HOTEL - 8 November!!
•        Rate is $139.00 for King Bed.
•        We reserved 40 rooms for each of the nights. The hotel is seeing VERY slow booking and wants to reduce our allocation. People simply cannot wait until 8 November. It is 8 November by the way. Not 9 as it states below. I am going to request a delay in the de-obligation until Saturday 15 October. But we must see an uptick by next Friday or we will lose rooms.
•        If you have reserved a room at a higher rate you can call and get the class rate.  Number is below. Anyone exchanging for a lower rate should do so ASAP
-         Group Name:    "USMA Class of 1983"
-         Group Code:      UMS
-         703-842-7044
-         Check-in:             08-DEC-2011
-         Check-out:          11-DEC-2011
-         Hotel Name:      Embassy Suites Alexandria - Old Town

-          "USMA Class of 1983" reservation site! http://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/groups/personalized/W/WASOTES-UMS-20111208/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

-         Parking is available at a reduced rate of $18.00 per day with multiple entries/exits.
-         The suite rate remains unchanged for up to two adults in any suite (King or Double). It increases by $10.00 for every adult occupying the same suite, after the first two adults. Children under 17 stay free in the same suite with adults. The rate is inclusive of daily full American buffet breakfast with eggs cooked to order, as well as Manager's Reception every evening from 5:30 to 7:30, serving beer, wine, assorted juices, sodas and light snacks.
 

Save the Date

 – 30th Reunion 19-22 September 2013
 
Our 30th Reunion is only 2 years away.  The weekend selected is 19-22 September 2013.  FYI, the 30th Reunion usually draws 36% and we are going to plan for 300 Classmates and a total of 600 with guests.  Put it on the calendar.  Keep email and snail mail addresses updated with me and AOG for future mailings.
 

BG Tim Trainor Named ASEM Engineering Manager of the Year   

       

The American Society for Engineering Management has announced that it will be presenting its top award, The Engineering Manager of the Year, to Brigadier General Timothy Trainor '83.  The award will be presented to BG Trainor at ASEM’s International Annual Conference Awards Banquet on October 21st, in Lubbock, Texas.  Congratulations to the Brazil/Trainor Team.

Brigadier General Neil H. Tolley, Commanding General, Special Operations Command, United States Forces Korea

I recently discovered that we have another GO in the class from the National Guard.  Brigadier General Neil H. Tolley is the Commanding General, Special Operations Command, United States Forces Korea. He also serves as United Nations Command Special Operations Component; and Deputy Commanding General, Combined Unconventional Warfare Task Force, Yongsan Army Garrison, South Korea. He serves as the principal special operations advisor to the Commander, United States Forces Korea, and United States adviser to Commanding General, Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command.
 
 

BGs Miller and Tovo mentioned in NYT Article on Military Culture Shift

U.S.   | August 09, 2011

Special Operations Veterans Rise in Hierarchy

By THOM SHANKER and ERIC SCHMITT
The intermingling of conventional forces and Special Operations personnel reflects a significant shift in American military culture.
 

BG Mark Martins in WSJ

Mark is in just about everything these days as he transitions to the job of Chief Prosecutor, Guantanamo.  The attached article is from the WSJ.  I anticipate a significant number of convictions.

Wes Riddle ’83 Running for Congress in District 25 of Texas (Includes Ft. Hood)

Wes Riddle is running for Congress in the newly redistricted TX-District 25 of Texas which includes Ft. Hood.  Wes will be a reliable advocate on the Hill for a strong, well-funded military, as well as to the long-term care of wounded veterans and support for the spouses and children of the fallen.  His first challenge is the primary election to be held on March 6th, 2012.   
If you desire, let him know of your support by dropping him a line at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and if you can afford a donation, please do so at http://www.wesriddle.com or by mailing a check to: Wes Riddle for U.S. Congress, 410 North Main Street, Belton, TX 76513. 
 

Doug Wheelock Update

Now that Doug has returned from the Space Station, and the Shuttle is not flying anymore, he has been looking for a job in the meantime.  Space travel is few and far between for our Astronaut.  Seems like he has found some action in Afghanistan flying the NASA WB-57 aircraft, supporting the warfighter and OSD with some “reconnaissance” he returned on the 4th of September.  The WB-57 is a unique aircraft similar to a U2.  He flew 5-6 hour missions every other night over the AOR.  Doug is currently assigned to the Army Space and Missile Defense Command, and Commander of the SMDC NASA Detachment. 
 

Class Notes 

With the demise of Assembly, Class Notes will now be posted on the WPAOG website and will go live on October 11th.  Mark and Cheryl Connors continue to do a superb job keeping up with everyone and authoring the class notes.  There will be a link right on the homepage so the Notes will be easy to find.  Please note:  a login is required to access the Class Notes and they will be available only to graduates, widows, Associate Members, and Friends of West Point.
AOG is encouraging people to make sure they are able to login now, so once Class Notes goes live, they can access them right away.  They have asked for my assistance in encouraging you to do this early.
 

Class Gift (2013)

The Class of 1983, Distinguished Leaders Series ($1.25M endowment) 
Class Gift Progress Update: As of October 2011, we have raised $820,173.74..... with the improvements in Company Level Leadership we hope to increase the  pace to reach our 30th Reunion gift goal and the commitment to endow the “Class of 1983 Distinguished Leader Series”  by September 2013.  Class participation stands at 26%. Remember the cadre saying “Look to the left and look to the right, one of you won’t be there come graduation.”  Well now it’s “Look to the left and look to the right, and look forward, all three of you aren’t giving a dime to the class gift.” We need your help to achieve the objective! Please consider a minimum pledge over the remaining two years till reunion of $1983 ($83 dollars a month).
Call to Duty!  The following have answered the call to duty since the last newsletter and will lead their cadet companies in the class gift fundraising efforts (Many Thanks!!):
B-1: Bob Traurig and Joe Goetz
D-1: Karl Schmidt and Tony Castile
G-1: Kelley Dolan
I-1: Peter Scheffer and Ben Gilbert
A-2: Brian Jones
B-2: Brad Reid
C-2: Jim Timmer and Charles Dedekind
B-3: Mike Bryson and Mark Johnstone
C-3: Jon Bell
D-3: Lori Sussman and Dave Nash
E-3: Alan Avery and David Baker
G-3: Chris Kerski and Mark Sullivan
I-3: John O’Brien
A-4: Brian Duemling
E-4: Tyge Rugenstein
F-4: Bill Merrill and Bob Finkenaur
We still need leadership for Company H-2.
The Current Company Standings:
 
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 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to volunteer. 
 

Class Offspring Update

August graduations – Tony Ruizcalderon and Steven Nelson. 

 
Following Graduation, Steven Nelson and Kelsey Larson were married at Edgefield Catholic Church in downtown Edgefield and Janet and Creighton hosed a reception at their house in Augusta, Georgia.  Congratulations to the Larson and Nelson families.
 
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

 
The dates for next year’s event is April 19-22, 2012 in Opelika, Alabama.  If you are interested in attending this year, let me know at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
 

Discounts From USAA and Lowes/Home Depot

Bert Hensley sent me a note highlighting some veterans discounts.
 
“USAA has a buying service that negotiates discounts on new or used cars.  It is only for USAA members and it saved Bert more than $5,000 on his new Toyota Highlander. (It would have saved him $13k on his Porsche!)
 
I also just learned that if you show an active duty card or Veteran's card at Home Depot or Lowe's, they will give you a 10% discount on every single purchase.
 
I don't think most of our classmate know about these incredible benefits. I thought it would be good if you could share these savings with our class.”
 
 

Finally, to get you in the giving mood:

Now, don't hang on
nothing last forever
but the earth and sky
it slips away

And all your money
won't another minute buy
 
All we are is dust in the wind, so give to the class gift…and Beat Navy!

Pete aka Fizzer