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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Mar '99
EUGENE VINCENT PFAUTH * '46
No. 15659 *4 Sep 1923 - 13 May 1996
Died in Anchorage, AK * Interred in Palmer Pioneer Cemetery,
Palmer, AK. |
Born in Fairmont, MN, Gene spent his childhood
living in several small farming communities in southern Minnesota.
The moves were dictated by his father's work with the railroad.
It was during this period that he developed his life long interest
in horticulture. He graduated from Fairmont High School in 1941
and enlisted in the Army Air Corps. It was while on active duty
in Australia that he received his appointment to West Point and
joined the class of 1946 on 1 July 1943.
Life as a cadet was relatively easy for Gene after
his stint on active duty. Roommate, Bob Cramer, recalled: "Gene
was a superb roommate. He was older and more mature than Bob
Isbell and I, and had the experience of almost two years in Australia
in the Army Air Corps. He was serious about meeting all the necessary
criteria as a cadet. He took everything in stride." B-2
companymate, John Molchan, wrote: "Gene was one of those
dependable kind of guys that you knew would come through in the
clutch. His Air Corps experience enabled him to know about rolling
a pack, shining shoes, marching and a host of other things that
left the rest of us bewildered. He would take his precious time
plebe year to help those of us who needed help, and I don't ever
remember seeing him walk the Area because he was 'really on the
ball.' A true friend and outstanding classmate." Gene graduated
a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps.
After basic schooling at Fort Sill, OK and Fort
Bliss, TX, Gene was assigned to the 76AA Battalion(A/W) in Japan.
In 1949, he returned to the States for assignment with the 8AA
Bn, Fort Custer, MI. It was during this assignment that he met
and married Rita Redder in Adrian, MN on 8 November 1950. The
Pfauths moved to Fort Bliss in 1952 where Gene was a student
at the AA Artillery Advanced Officer's Course. He stayed at Fort
Bliss with the AA Artillery Board. In 1956, Gene was assigned
to the Combat Arms Detachment at West Point and in 1959 was selected
for the Command & General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth,
KS. Gene served an unaccompanied tour in Korea in 1960 and returned
to Hqs. North American Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs,
CO. In 1964, Gene commanded the 2/61 Artillery Battalion in Okinawa.
He returned to the Pentagon in 1966 to serve with the Defense
Intelligence Agency. In 1969, Gene was assigned to Hqs. Alaskan
NORAD Region in Anchorage, AK. The Pfauths liked Alaska so much
that they purchased some acreage in Chickaloon, AK with a sound
but neglected cabin on it. Gene retired from the Army in 1972
as a Colonel.
Chickaloon was a thriving coal mining town from
1914 to 1923 but in 1972 could not even be called a ghost town.
All structures had been removed and the Pfauths had only two
neighbors, each over a mile away. Gene and Rita worked hard to
transform the cabin, which had been the original schoolhouse
for Chickaloon, into a picture postcard log home. Gene's horticultural
talents came into full bloom. His beautifully tended garden was
close to an acre in size and contained several varieties of vegetables
developed by Gene. He also had a sizeable greenhouse and beehives.
In the winter months, Gene would spend the long hours drawing
up plans for his gardens for the next year. In 1983, Rita developed
Addison's Disease. It caused her death on 2 January 1987. Gene
remained in Chickaloon, tending his garden and greenhouse for
two years after Rita's death, but started having health problems.
He moved to Anchorage where he could be closer to his family
and medical facilities. Gene died 13 May 1996 from lung cancer.
Survivors include sons, Michael and Thomas and daughters, Mary
and Anne.
Gene Pfauth was the epitome of what a West Pointer
should be. He was steadfast, earnest, straightforward, hard working,
and dedicated to do his best in everything he undertook. He had
uncommon judgement and a great deal of common sense. His quiet
demeanor kept him from standing out in a crowd, but his classmates
knew that he was the kind of person you would want as your friend
for life. Gene was a devoted and loving husband and father. In
short, Gene Pfauth was a great man in the things that count in
life.
His daughter, Anne, described her father best as
she remembered: "There is nothing I can say that will come
close to giving a complete picture of who Dad was. However, I
would say that my father was a loving, faithful and dutiful husband
and father. He was a good provider and devoted to his family.
He valued self control and discipline but also knew how to have
fun. He was a man of intellect and intense curiosity. He always
wanted to know how things worked and he vigorously sought the
answers. Curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge and understanding
were also qualities he sought to instill in his children. He
loved his country and served it honorably. He also loved his
home in Alaska and recognized the beauty and freedom in the land."
To those words of love and devotion, the Class
of 1946 is proud to add the words that would mean so much to
our friend and classmate: "Well Done, Gene; Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his daughter, Anne
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