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15749 COL Edwin Wallace Basham USA (Retired)
August 09, 1921 - September 03, 2001
usma1946-H1
 MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly May 2002

EDWIN W BASHAM '46
No. 15749 * 9 Aug 1921 - 3 Sep 2001
Died in Houston, TX * Interred in Sunrise Cemetery, Manhattan, KS

Edwin Wallace Basham was born in Mesa, CO. His father was a forest ranger and ended up in Warrenburg, MO where Ed grew up. Ed was active in many activities at Warrenburg High School. His sport was gymnastics and he played in the band and orchestra. After graduating in 1939, Ed enrolled in Central MO State Teacher's College and in 1941 briefly attended Rolla MO School of Mines. Ed enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and returned to college to wait for the aviation cadet program. He entered active duty in February 1943. While in training at Kelly Field, TX, he received his appointment to West Point and joined the Class of 1946 on 1 July 1943.

H1 Company roommate, Phil Farris, recalled: "We shared a lot of good times while living the strict life at West Point. Ed was a calm influence amid the hectic day-to-day activities. He was quiet with a warm smile and a soothing temperament. His personality exuded a degree of sincerity that made him highly respected by all who knew him." He graduated a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery.

Following artillery schooling at Fort Sill, OK and Fort Bliss, TX, his first assignment was to Japan. He returned to the States in 1950 as an instructor at the Artillery School at Fort Sill. While there he married Mary Lou Schovee in Topeka, KS on 6 October 1950. Ed remained at Sill to attend the Advanced Course. This was followed by two years in Korea with IX Corps Hqs and IX Corps Artillery S-3. Upon returning to the States, the Basham's spent a year at Fort Benning, GA before Ed attended Georgia Tech where he received his masters in Electrical Engineering.

It was back to Fort Sill where Ed was an Instructor, Meteorology Division. During that assignment Ed took a course in computers at the Signal School that was to influence the rest of his life. In 1962, Ed was assigned as Chief, Targets Division, G-2, Air in USAREUR. He then commanded the 74th Artillery Bn in Ansbach, Germany. His knowledge and skill with computers earned him an assignment in the Office Chief of Staff, US Army in the Pentagon working for the Director, Army Information and Data Systems. In 1968, Ed went to Vietnam where he was Commander, Data Service Center, HQ USARV. Back to the States, Ed became Director of Technical Facilities, Army Computer Systems Command at Fort Belvoir, VA. In 1973, Ed became Professor of Military Science, Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS. He retired from active duty in 1975 as a Colonel.

Ed joined the faculty in the Department of Computer Science, Kansas State University. In 1978, Ed and two other members of the KSU faculty formed a corporation named Computer and Information Sciences. In 1984, Ed quit the University to devote full time to the corporation. He sold his share of the business in 1986 and retired.

Ed and Mary Lou remained in Manhattan, KS after retirement. They traveled extensively and spent much of their time in hobby computing. Ed's interests ranged from digital photography to genealogy, church architecture, bird watching, military history and landscaping.

Ed developed pancreatic cancer and died 3 September 2001. Survivors include his wife, Mary Lou; sons, Edwin, Jr., Robert and Charles; daughter Susan, sister, Betty and brother, Jim.

The mark of a man is best determined by the memories left behind with those who knew and loved him. Their reflections on Ed Basham, husband, father, classmate and soldier:

Phil Farris recalled: "Ed advocated tolerance and understanding. He devoted himself tenaciously to being loyal to West Point and the Army."

Son, Robert remembered his father: "Our father was a man of devotion - to our mother, to his children, to his country and to his church. He was brave and seemed at peace in the face of a grave medical diagnosis. I believe he felt a strong sense of life accomplishment and closure at the end."

Son, Edwin, Jr. recalled: "Ed had three compelling traits: his capacity to view the world as fascinating, his humble social manner and his moral conviction in honesty, faithfulness and decency in human affairs. He gave much to others and expected little in return. He believed that the ideals of hard work, humility, decency and faithful honesty are the enduring values to provide a satisfying life."

His loving wife, Mary Lou wrote: "Ed was a quiet person with strong ties to those things he believed in. He was fiercely loyal to West Point, the Army, his family, church and friends. He lived a good life and we are very fortunate to have had him as long as we did."

Some time ago, when asked to describe his character traits, Ed replied: "An independent person, reserved and quiet. A compassionate person who's opinions are formed slowly and held firmly. I would like to be remembered as a man who had a great love for his family and prided himself in his service to God and country."

The Class of 1946 is proud to add these important words for our classmate: 'Well Done, Ed; Be Thou At Peace!"
 

'46 Memorial Article Project and his family
 
 
Personal Eulogy

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