The West Point Parents' Club of Oregon & SW Washington-newsletter

List of Newsletter Articles:

All Services Academy Ball - Dec. 29th, Bangor, WA
Minutes of Tour & 10/14 Meeting--Ft. Lewis, WA
Treasurer's Report
Plebe Parent Weekend Impressions
MILITARY NEWS/OTHER PERSPECTIVES
SGT COLE 10/19/00
THE KURSK 9/11/00
TAPS
(The reason for this Newsletter's music, if you open in Explorer)
BLACK BERETS? 10/17/00
COMPANY COMMAND WEBSITE (BY WEST-POINTERS)
ARMY BASE GUEST HOUSES (5 STAR INN@WEST POINT)
Plans for Jan. 27th Meeting, West Linn ??, OR
(Boodle Making & Reading Booklist & Sharing-see related article)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All Academy Ball (picture above and below is 1998's, at Ft. Lewis)
http://www.west-point.org/parent/wppc-oregon/2000asab.html
Location: Silverdale, WA--north of Bremerton
Bring photo I.D. and proof of car insurance; high security area.

WPPC-OR & SW WA member David Graham ('01,'04)
addresses 1998 ball attendees at Ft. Lewis Officer's Club.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         Minutes of WPPC Meeting held at Fort Lewis, WA. 10/14/00
                                         12:00-2:30pm    Attendance: 16
1) New Officers--motion passed/accepted to accept slate of nominees minus Selkos; ballots distributed/mailed
2) Treasury Report -- absent
3) All Academy Ball--Bangor Navy Base--Dec. 29th; maps distributed; bring photo I.D. and proof of car insurance; high security area. Location:
Silverdale, WA--north of Bremerton
4) Next Meeting--Jan 27th. Location: West Linn Fire Dept.
5) West Point Org.---a volunteer organization supporting several web pages including Parent Forum. Membership fund-raiser underway. 19,000+ members use these services. The Grahams are moderators for the class of '01.
6) Memory Book--bring/send your cadet photos to Patty Klascius. '04 pages completed by Nancy Selko were shown.
7) West Point Tulips--pay Carole Fox $.38/tulip bulb.
8) Brochures advertising West Point---distributed for us to place in our highschools, junior highschools.   Qualifying cadets (grade point criteria) encouraged to visit schools 2 out of 3 days during CPRC. One advantage: cadets get to come home early Thanksgiving, Spring break?
9) Army/Navy Game -- viewing site in Aurora,OR, & Ft. Lewis, WA. Brunch available at each site approx. $15.00. All parents encouraged to attend.
10) Cadet News - very brief due to scheduled tour at Ft. Lewis Museum.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Hatton (Sarah '00) for Secretary Carol Cox (absent)

Fellow WPPC members,
Sorry that we could not be at the October meeting. Here is a summary of the Treasurer's report:

The most current US Bank statement, dated 9/30/2000, shows $1,389.55 in the checking account and $551.88 in the savings account. These amounts total $1,941.43
At the time of the October 14th WPPC meeting there were 2 outstanding checks:
1.#345 made out to the WPPC of NY for the 13 Plebe Parent Resource Books, in the amount of $224.19, and
2.#346 made out to George Mears for reimbursement of the additional snacks and treats added to the boodle bags, in the amount of $71.81. Together, these total $296.00. $1,941.43 less $296.00 = $1,645.43 available as of October 14, 2000.

Respectfully Submitted: George & Evelyn Mears

Evening of banquet, met Francesca front doors of Washington Hall, band playing, crowd milling expectantly, weather cold and crisp, all happy. Entered inner doors, elegant music, Francesca on my right, spontaneously raised right hand to just below shoulder height, she spontaneously placed left hand on top of my right, processed to the Poop Deck, with the music. Tres gentile!
--David Graham ('01 Douglas, '04 Franchesca)

Plebe parent weekend was everything I expected and more. Each function was carefully planned and there was no shortage of people willing and able to answer questions or lend a helping hand. Of course, the scenery was incredible. Looking at the faces in the crowds you would have thought they were staging an unofficial, proudest parents contest. If they had held one, my guess is that about 2,000 parents would have tied for second. All in all, the weekend was wonderful.

West Point is, in many ways, a very special place but it wasn't until half way through the weekend that I realized what makes it so special. Sometime during the banquet on Saturday evening I finally recognized what a genuine sense of caring extends through the cadet ranks, the chain of command, the faculty and staff and even the surrounding community. Sure it is formal and structured but if you look past that it is obvious each member of the West point Family is deeply concerned for the well being of those around them. It was difficult to say goodbye on Sunday evening but it was a bit easier knowing the kind of place we were leaving our son. I have an admission to make. I was born in a Navy hospital, raised in a Navy family and for my entire life each November I rooted for the midshipmen of Annapolis. I am proud to say that in a couple of weeks, for the first time, I will say loudly and proudly, GO ARMY, BEAT NAVY.
--Al Hoffman (Jordon '04)

This is the young hero that our damaged Destroyer USS Cole was named after. In case Paul Harvey doesn't cover this subject, here's the story of Sergeant Darrell Samuel Cole, United States Marine Corps Reserve (Deceased), a young trumpet player prior to W.W.II. I can't help but be reminded of the striking contrast between this man's sacrifice and Vice President Gore's "service" in the United States Army he so detested during the Vietnam conflict.

On 25 August 1941, Cole enlisted in the Marine Corps for the duration of the National Emergency, and following boot training at Parris Island,SC, he was appointed to the Field Music School for training as a Marine Corps Field Music, the equivalent of a bugler. Completing instruction, he was transferred to the First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division, and on 07 August 1942, reached the shores of Guadalcanal for the first American offensive of World War II.

Not too happy in his role of field music when he had joined a fighting outfit to fight and after acquitting himself meritoriously as a machine gunner in the absence of the regular gunner, he applied for a change in rating, but was refused due to the shortage of buglers. Cole completed his first overseas tour of duty and returned to the United States in February 1943, where he joined First Battalion, Twenty-third Marines, then forming as a part of the Fourth Marine Division at Camp Lejune, North Carolina. When the unit moved to California he again asked for relief as a Field Music and for permission to perform line duties, but was again refused due to the shortage of buglers in the Marine Corps.

During the first engagement of the Fourth Division at Roi-Namur in the Kwajalein Atoll, Cole, again forsaking his bugle, went into action as a machine-gunner. Four months later, when the Division stormed ashore at Saipan, he had been assigned to a machine-gun unit. Because of his proven ability in combat, he was designated a machine gun section leader. During the battle when his squad leader was killed, Cole, although wounded,assumed command of the entire squad and acquitted himself in such a manner to be awarded the Bronze Star Medal for "...his resolute leadership, indomitable fighting spirit and tenacious determination in the face of terrific opposition..."

He was also awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in action. A few days after the battle of Saipan, Cole, again led his squad ashore in the invasion of the neighboring islands of Tinian, where he continued to live up to his growing reputation as "The Fighting Field Music."

After the Marianas campaigns he again requested a change of rating and this time his request was approved, and he was redesignated Corporal "line" and was subsequently promoted to Sergeant in November 1944. On 19 February 1945, Sergeant Cole led his machine gun section ashore in the D-day assault of Iwo Jima. Moving forward with the initial assault wave, their advance was halted by a hail of fire from two Japanese emplacements which Sergeant Cole personally destroyed with hand grenades. His unit continued to advance until pinned down for a second time by enemy fire from three Japanese gun emplacements. One of these emplacements was silenced by Cole's machine guns, but then jammed. Armed only with a pistol and one hand grenade, Sgt. Cole made a one-man attack against the two remaining positions. Twice he returned to his own lines for additional grenades and continued the attack under fierce enemy fire until he had succeeded in destroying the Japanese strong point. Returning to his own squad, he was instantly killed by an enemy grenade. By his one-man attack and heroic self-sacrifice, Sergeant Cole enabled his company to move forward against fortifications and attain their ultimate objective.
*** USMA1956 post by: FOLDEN Norman C 1956 20799 K2 <sfolden@ix.netcom.com>

In response to questions, yes, to the Medal of Honor for Cole. Here's his citation:

Darrell Samuel Cole
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
Born: 20 July 1920, Flat River, Mo. Entered service at. Esther, Mo.
Other Navy award: Bronze Star Medal.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as leader of a Machinegun Section of Company B, 1st Battalion, 23d Marines, 4th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. Assailed by a tremendous volume of small-arms, mortar and artillery fire as he advanced with 1 squad of his section in the initial assault wave, Sgt. Cole boldly led his men up the sloping beach toward Airfield No. 1 despite the blanketing curtain of flying shrapnel and, personally destroying with hand grenades 2 hostile emplacements which menaced the progress of his unit, continued to move forward until a merciless barrage of fire emanating from 3 Japanese pillboxes halted the advance. Instantly placing his 1 remaining machinegun in action, he delivered a shattering fusillade and succeeded in silencing the nearest and most threatening emplacement before his weapon jammed and the enemy, reopening fire with knee mortars and grenades, pinned down his unit for the second time. Shrewdly gauging the tactical situation and evolving a daring plan of counterattack, Sgt. Cole, armed solely with a pistol and 1 grenade, coolly advanced alone to the hostile pillboxes. Hurling his 1 grenade at the enemy in sudden, swift attack, he quickly withdrew, returned to his own lines for additional grenades and again advanced, attacked, and withdrew. With enemy guns still active, he ran the gauntlet of slashing fire a third time to complete the total destruction of the Japanese strong point and the annihilation of the defending garrison in this final assault. Although instantly killed by an enemy grenade as he returned to his squad, Sgt. Cole had eliminated a formidable Japanese position, thereby enabling his company to storm the remaining fortifications, continue the advance, and seize the objective. By his dauntless initiative, unfaltering courage, and indomitable determination during a critical period of action, Sgt. Cole served as an inspiration to his comrades, and his stouthearted leadership in the face of almost certain death sustained and enhanced the highest tradition of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Congressional Medal of Honor Citations, U.S. Army Center of Military History

Ed. note--As I mentioned on a previous post to club members, I have met (through a co-worker) the chief petty officer, currently stationed in Bahrain, whose duty it was to receive the 17 deceased off the USS Cole, and to "cool" and prepare the remains to be shipped back home. He said it was the hardest, and yet felt it was the most honorable, duty he has performed in service to his country to be able to play such an important role in reuniting these "mates" with their family and loved ones at their final port of call. Nothing in his entire (Naval) career has had such an impact on him as this.

OK, this is a U.S. submarine, not the Kursk--no pictures of the Kursk available.

THE OTHER STORY - THE KURSK

Commissioned in 1995, the Kursk was the Northern Fleet's most powerful weapon. It made a high-profile voyage to the Mediterranean in September 1999 and was due to return later this year as part of a planned Russian nuclear task group deployment to the Middle East.

The August Russian naval exercise in the Barents Sea was designed to provide the West with good reason to remember the Kursk. Reports now show the exercise was intended to showcase the Kursk as she performed her two primary roles, killing American carriers and submarines. The Russian navy exercise also drew a small crowd of interested observers in the form of two U.S. Los Angeles attack submarines, loitering in the shallow polar sea over 50 miles from the Kursk.

That fateful morning the Kursk reportedly completed a successful firing of her main killer, the Chelomey Granit missile, NATO code-named SS-N-19 Shipwreck. The Kursk and her sister boats carry 24 Shipwreck missiles. The missiles are stored on each side of the huge submarine in banks of 12, hidden between the layers of the boat's thick twin hull skin. The Shipwreck missiles are stored in launching tubes external to the inner pressure hull where the 118 crewmembers worked and lived.

The Shipwreck missile fired by the Kursk that Saturday morning contained a 1,600-pound conventional warhead. It reportedly scored a direct hit against a Russian hulk target over 200 miles away. The Shipwreck is intended to strike U.S. carriers but can also be targeted against U.S. cities. Russian naval sources indicate that the Shipwreck missile can be armed with an H-bomb warhead equal to one half million tons of TNT, more than enough to flatten Los Angeles or New York City.

That fateful August Saturday, in the dim afternoon light of the arctic summer sun, the Kursk began her last performance, the simulated destruction of a U.S. submarine using the 100-RU Veder missile. The Veder, NATO code-named SS-N-16A Stallion, is a rocket-boosted torpedo. The Stallion is launched from the huge 26-inch diameter torpedo tubes installed on each Oscar II class submarine.

The Stallion is so secret that no picture of the weapon has ever been published. The Stallion is fired from the submarine's torpedo tube but flies like a missile. The Stallion rocket booster ignites underwater once the weapon is clear of the submarine, sending the missile to the surface. The missile then flies to the target under rocket power where it finally ejects a lightweight torpedo at supersonic speed.

The mini-torpedo then uses its own little parachute, slowing to drop gently into the water directly above the target. The mini-torpedo then homes in on the target submarine for the final kill. The conventional Stallion fired by the Kursk was armed with a mini-220 pound explosive warhead. Jane's Defense reports that the missile can also be armed with a mini-nuclear warhead equal to 200,000 tons of TNT.

According to Jane's, the last moments of the Kursk were recorded as she prepared to fire the Stallion. Seismologists in Norway told Jane's that a monitoring station registered two explosions at the time the Kursk sank. The first registered 1.5 on the Richter scale. A second, stronger explosion measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale equivalent to one to two tons of TNT was recorded just over two minutes later.

The Stallion rocket motor may have ignited inside the sealed torpedo tube just before firing. The Stallion may have jammed itself inside the torpedo tube as it was fired.

In any event, the underwater rocket appears to have ignited inside the inner manned pressure hull. The force of the Stallion rocket motor would have twisted the huge torpedo tube, melting through the metal walls within seconds. Just enough time for alarms to sound and men to die. Then the small 220-pound warhead exploded, blowing a gaping hole in the twisted skin of the attack submarine. The submarine immediately fell forward as the icy water rushed to fill the forward weapon bay.

The last moments of the Kursk and most of her crew were filled with fire and ice as the vessel plunged into the cold arctic depths. The rush of cold water did not extinguish the fire since the Stallion rocket booster was designed to burn without air. The exploding warhead would have sent huge flaming chunks of the rocket booster into the forward weapon control room.

The force of the 14,000-ton submarine striking the bottom on the damaged torpedo bay was the final blow, detonating one of the many weapons inside upon impact. The force of the explosion inside the twin hull submarine ripped the starboard side open back to the sail. The manned areas forward of the reactor compartment, including the control room and living quarters, rapidly flooded, leaving no time for personnel in those compartments to escape.

This may not be the end of the story. There are now suggestions that the West should help Russia raise the Kursk. Yet, despite being broke, Russia continues to build and deploy the Oscar II submarine force.

There are seven active Oscar II class boats. The latest, K-530 the Belgorod, is still under construction at the Severodvinsk Shipyard. Budget cutbacks have slowed progress on the boat to a standstill but construction continues. There are rumors that China is interested in buying K-530.

The Kursk sailed the Mediterranean in late 1999 as a show of flag to Russian allies such as Syria, Libya and Serbia. At the same time the Kursk was touring the Mediterranean in 1999, a Pacific Fleet Oscar II submarine was quietly cruising the western seaboard of the United States, within missile range of California, Oregon and Washington.

While we all mourn the passing of K-141 and her crew, we should also reflect on exactly what her mission was.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Charles Smith is a national security and defense reporter for WorldNetDaily.
************************************************************************

Gen. Eric Shinseki said the new headgear, to be introduced in June next year, would be a symbol of the Army's transformation into a new, lighter, more nimble force for the 21st century. "It will be a symbol of unity, a symbol of Army excellence, a symbol of our values," he told the annual convention of the Association of the United States Army, a professional support group.

Shinseki said special operations and airborne units would retain their own distinctive berets, green for special forces and maroon for paratroopers. U.S. Army rangers, trained to operate behind enemy lines, adopted the black beret in the 1980s.

Currently the standard government issue is an Army-green cap which folds flat and is dubbed an "envelope" cap by troops. *** PARENT-FORUM post by: VEA RON 1973 2001 <theveas@flash.net>

I sent you one cadet's (a yearling) impressions of his first taps (on Veteran's Day), that honored all of the "Long Gray Line" who have fallen, then this came out...

We have all heard the haunting melody of "Taps..." It's the song that gives us that lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes. But do you know the story behind the song?

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing, Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.

During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who was severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention.

Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward the encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son.

The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army. The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted. The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was denied since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him one musician. The Captain chose a bugler.

He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted. The haunting melody, which we now know as "Taps" used at military funerals, was born. "Day is done - Gone the sun - From the lakes - From the hills - From the sky.

All is well, safely rest. God is nigh.
Fading light - Dims the sight - And a star - Gems the sky, Gleaning bright,
From afar, - Drawing nigh, - falls the night.
Thanks and praise, - For our days, - Neigh the sun,- Neigh the stars, Neigh the sky,
- As we go, - This we know, - God is nigh."

=========================================================
Company Command.com
Check out this new website, the "brainchild" of three West Point Grads
http://www.usma.edu/PublicAffairs/PV/WebSite.htm
=========================================================

Eisenhower Hall Theater Season Events
HOLIDAY CONCERT - 12/17                PHILADANCO - 1/6/01
CARMEN - 2/4                                                      CELLO - 2/11
CHICAGO - 2/23-24                                   The CHEIFTAINS - 3/11
BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - 3/17
MAUREEN McGOVERN & JOHN PIZZARELLI - 4/8
    JEKYLL & HYDE - 4/28      The COLORADO QUARTET - 4/22
MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! - 5/8
     For further information: http://www.eisenhowerhall.com

            ARMY BASE GUEST HOUSES
         The direct number for the 5-Star Inn (several buildings located on West Point grounds, used to be at Stewart Airport) is (845) 938-6816 or (845) 446-1028/1034.
It's website is:   http://www.usma.edu/dcfa/ACTIVITY/5STAR/5STAR.HTM
I believe your cadet must make reservations, but call and find out. Often rooms are more like simple suites, with kitchen facilities, and quite inexpensive. Can't beat it for convenience and cost!   An 800 number avilable for all Army installation guest houses (say, Fort Knox, Benning, etc) is: 1-800-GOARMY1 (save this number!) This includes a very nice hotel for military personnel on the Disneyland, Orlando grounds for about $60.00/night!
    All phones at USMA can be found in the on-line phone book at:
http://www.usma.edu/guide_page/agencies_phone.htm#
Just remember the area 914 code changes to 845 by December.

Plans & Directions for Jan. 27th Meeting
**Be prepared to bring or send Boodle for 20 cadets.** If you know cannot make the meeting, or get you boodle to someone who is coming, please send any $ donations well in advance of the meeting (2-3 weeks), or preferrably, as soon as you know you have an irresolvable conflict with the Jan. 27th meeting date. This will allow Evelyn time to go out and purchase boodle for you, once enough $ has been received to cover the shipping. Thank you.
READING LIST-at the behest of Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki, the Army Center of Military History has compiled a voluntary professional reading list for soldiers. Reproduced below is the reading list for cadets, soldiers and Junior NCOs, the first of four categories. One might make a good present under the tree this year. Those who read might want to "share notes" on some of these books at our next meeting. If you have any of these, or others you would like to bring, please do so for a bit of "show and tell" at the meeting. Thanking you in advance for your participation.
(If anyone got a copy of Return to Glory for Christmas, please bring it!--you know there's on on-line parent book discussion group of it called "Scribbles", right?)
1. Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne
from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest by Stephen Ambrose
2. The Long Gray Line by Rick Atkinson
3. The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw
4. This Kind of War: The Classic Korean War History by T.R. Fehrenbach
5. America's First Battles, 1776-1965 by Charles E. Heller & William A. Stofft
6. A Concise History of the U. S. Army: 225 Years of Service by David W. Hogan
7. The Face of Battle by John Keegan
8. We Were Soldiers Once and...Young by Harold Moore & Joe Galloway
9. Once an Eagle by Anton Myrer
10. The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

President: Al & Patty Klascius (Chad ‘01, Craig '02) klascius@teleport.com
V-President: Richard and Susan Adams (Matt '02) swadams@home.com
Secretary: Carole Cox (Morgan '04) TerryBCox@yahoo.com
TerryBCox@yahoo.com Treasurer: George & Evelyn Mears (Dwight ‘01) egmears@casco.net
Newsletter: Al & Patty Klascius (Chad ‘01, Craig '02) as above

**Please feel free to contact any of the above with questions, suggestions, corrections, or for "free" advice. Your newsletter editor regrets any errors, and appreciates notification of such. Thank you.