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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Nov '98
Charles Robert Hatch Supplee * '46
No. 15319 * 9 July 1925 - 13 May 1997
Died in Leavenworth, KS * Interred in St. Joseph of the Valley
Cemetery, Easton, KS
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Bob was born in Columbia, PA where his father was
the captain of the National Guard Infantry Company. From early
childhood he accompanied his father to weekly drills and summer
encampments, instilling at an early age a love for the Army.
Longtime friend, MG Frank Smoker, USAF, Rtd. wrote: "At
Columbia High, Bob was a leader and a sharp student who excelled
in all activities. He was well liked and respected by his peers
and teachers." Graduating as class Valedictorian, Bob went
straight into West Point.
Classmate, Jack Shultz wrote: "Bob was one
of the personalities that gave F-2 its identity and distinctive
profile within the Class. He exhibited a knack for seeing, savoring
and exploiting the humor in everyday happenings." Bob graduated
as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers.
Following basic schooling, Bob was one of eight
Engineer classmates who opted for Airborne training. Classmate,
Bud Sterling remembered: "That event linked our lives forever.
We began our active duty enroute to Japan, all thinking we would
join the 11th Airborne Division. Instead we were assigned to
the Post Hostilities Mapping Program. Six of us in 1949 ended
up on Leyte in the Philippines on the same mission. Supe had
already become a fixture in the 29th Engineers by adding humor
to our tropical situation. I remember his creation of 'Cebu City
Sue' (to the tune of Sioux City Sue) which we all had to learn."
Jack Shultz on Bob's career: "His career was
distinguished and diversified. He was justly proud of serving
in combat operations in both Korea, Company Commander, 77th Eng.
Combat Bn, and Vietnam, III Corps Engineer Advisor his first
tour and Director of Construction, his second tour. A substantial
amount of his troop duty was within Infantry organizations: 11th
Airborne Division, 1st, 9th and 25th Infantry Divisions and the
Berlin Brigade. He was the quintessential combat engineer."
The Army selected him to earn his MS in Mathematics from Harvard
and his MS in Civil Engineering from MIT. He was a graduate of
CGSC, Fort Leavenworth, KS, where he married Mary Jane Birmingham
on 11 June 1960 and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
His final assignment before retirement as a Colonel in 1976 was
Deputy Installation Commander, Fort Leavenworth, KS. He earned
a Masters in Business Administration from NW Missouri State University
during this assignment.
Retirement found Bob working as a Branch Manager
for brokerage firms, first with Merrill Lynch, Fidelity Services,
Inc. and then Commerce Brokerage Services, Kansas City, KS. Bob
finally retired in 1993. He died 13 May 1997 from pulmonary fibrosis.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane; four sons,
Vinton, Timothy, Matthew and Douglas; two daughters, Karen and
Penny, a sister, Dr. Suzanne Becker, and eleven grandchildren.
Throughout his life, Bob made friends and lasting
impressions on all whom knew and loved him. What made him so
special is described in the remembrances of his friends and family.
Frank Smoker: "Bob Supplee was always my friend
and one whom I admired for his abilities and friendship. He is
sadly missed by all who knew him."
Jack Shultz: "The quality of his long and
faithful service presents a prime example of a career that demonstrably
fulfilled the mission of the United States Military Academy.
And, in broad, beautiful perspective, his life reflects the ideals
of West Point. Bob, we salute you!"
Bud Sterling: "Bob remained a close friend,
a dedicated airborne officer and a leader of excellence. His
rare good humor and wit are still with me today. Life will go
on without Supe, but we will cherish his memory always."
Classmate Dave Hutchison: "Bob epitomized
the honor and integrity that is the hallmark of West Point. In
his last days, he showed amazing cheer and continued interest
in those family and friends around him, while knowing he was
terminally ill. What a true inspiration he was and is to us all."
Classmate, Joe Jansen: "Bob was a great credit
to the Corps-the Corps of Cadets and the Corps of Engineers.
He was special in many ways. He was a real friend."
Roommate, Bill McCollam: "I remember Bob as
a highly intelligent, dedicated and warm person with a real sense
of humor."
His sister, Suzanne Becker: "Bob was absolutely
honest, with an innate integrity. He was selfless, always ready
to sacrifice his self-interest for the good of others. He had
that very rare trait of being able to love people for whatever
good they had in them. He was easily the most intelligent person
I have ever come in contact with. But his high level of intelligence
never set him apart from people. His sense of humor and wordplay
were a delight to everyone who knew him. Over the four years
that he knew he was dying, he never voiced a complaint or regret.
I have seen many people die (I am a physician) but I have never
seen anyone face death with the courage and spirit he did. Always
a gentleman, always a soldier. His youngest daughter said it
best, as he died, 'My hero.' "
These words come from the hearts of family and
friends of Bob Supplee. The Class of 1946 would like to add those
simple words that would mean so much to Bob: "Well Done,
Bob; Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his wife, Mary Jane
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