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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Sep '90
Lester Mykel Conger No. 15823 Class
of 1946 Died 12 February 1972 in Atlanta, Georgia,
Aged 48 years. Interment: Arlington National Cemetery Arlington,
Virginia
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Lester Mykel Conger, known
affectionately as Les to his family and friends, was born 18
November, 1923 in Plymouth, Wisconsin. Blessed with a quick mind
and fantastic imagination, Les, at an early age, would create
many of his own games, both for his own amusement and the education
of his sisters. Music was very important to Les throughout his
life; he started on the piano and then went on to the flute and
piccolo. President of his class in high school, Les graduated
with honors and won a two year scholarship to the University
of Wisconsin. He attended the branch in Sheboygan his first
year alter high school, studying history, but with the advent
of World War II, he decided he should major in one of the physical
sciences. He transferred to the main campus in Madison and majored
in physics. While there, he soloed with the piccolo in the university
band. Encouraged by his father, Les took the competitive exam
for West Point, and in the spring of 1943 learned that he had
been accepted to join the Class of 1946 on 1 July.
As a cadet, Les began to develop those characteristics which
became his trade-mark on active duty. The strength with kindness
that he displayed as an upperclassman dealing with plebes proved
to be extremely effective when he commanded troops. He inspired
admiration, respect and loyalty, in everyone who came in contact
with him throughout his career. Another of his strengths recalled
by his roommate was his quiet but strong determination. Any temporary
setback or problem would cause Les to try and try again until
he overcame whatever problem he had. He believed in and
had faith in himself.
Graduation saw Les go into the Infantry
and attend the usual schools at Fort Benning, Georgia. His first
troop assignment was as platoon leader with the 25th Division
in Japan from 1947-49. His next post was Fort Campbell,
Kentucky, where he served as aide-de camp to the Assistant Division
Commander for a year before getting a company in the 511th Airborne
Infantry Regiment. From Kentucky, Les went to Korea where
he served with both the IX and X Corps before becoming
a Company Commander in the 18th RCT in Japan.
Les returned to CONUS to enter the Foreign Area Training
Program with China as his area of expertise. He attended Stanford
to study Mandarin Chinese. While at Stanford, Les lived next
door to a young man doing graduate work in theater. This graduate
student recalls that Les was the creme de la creme, the true
"officer and a gentleman." He remembers Les as an extremely
serious student studying a very difficult language and an even
more serious career officer. He often told Les that, with his
native intelligence, good looks and winning personality, he had
what it took to rise to the highest levels in the Army. This
gentleman wrote that he took comfort in knowing and befriending
this charismatic man, and that he had that short time as his
next-door neighbor and buddy.
To round out his area training, Les spent several years in
Taipei, Taiwan. While there he demonstrated an ease with the
Chinese language and was extremely popular with the Chinese people
with whom he associated. Upon the completion of his area training,
Les was assigned to the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff,
Intelligence, in Washington. From there he was assigned to the
1st Special Forces Group in Okinawa. While with that unit, Les
spent a good part of his time in Thailand. In fact, he broke
his back making a parachute jump while in Thailand. Back to CONUS
in 1965. Les became a battalion commander in the 2d Training
Regiment at Fort Gordon, Georgia. In 1967, he went to Vietnam
where he first served with Headquarters, MACV; then from l968-7O,
he was the province senior advisor in Phong Dinh. Nineteen seventy
saw Les return to Headquarters Third Armv in Atlanta, Georgia
where he was chief, Unit Training Division, Office of the Third
US Army Deputy Chief of Staff, Reserve Forces. It was in this
assignment that Lester Mykel Conger was killed when an aircraft
in which he was a passenger crashed at the Fulton County Airport,
Atlanta, Georgia, on 12 February 1972.
During his career, Les received the Legion of Merit with
2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters,
three Air Medals, The Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster,
the Vietnam Gallantry Cross and the Vietnam Honor Medal, First
Class. At the time of his death, Les was survived by a son George,
his mother, and four sisters; Sarah, Ruth, Katinka and Harriett.
Les's friends, classmates and family all recall a similar
characteristic when they think of him: kindness. Such a
simple term, but so meaningful when used to describe Les.
He displayed a genuine kindness to everyone with whom he came
in contact. As a result, he was universally liked and respected.
Combined with his kindness was a determination to be the best
he could in every endeavor. He could be tough when the situation
demanded, but always fairly evaluated each situation with which
he was confronted. Many of his classmates recall that Les would
go the extra mile to help one of his classmates. Les was taken
from us just as he was entering the most productive years of
his career. His potential for stars was great.
A true soldier, Les devoted his life to the principles of
West Point. "Duty, Honor, Country" were not just words
to him, rather the guideposts of a brilliant career. Les enhanced
the lives of everyone with whom he came in contact. The Army
lost a fine officer, West Point lost a loyal son and his family
and classmates lost a light in the firmament of their lives when
Les was killed. As Lester Mykel Conger joined "The Long
Gray Line," there was a unanimous cry of "Well Done,
Be Thou At Peace." The feelings of all are best
described by one of Les's roommates when he said, "When
I remember Les Conger, my heart does some melting."
1946 Memorial Article Project and his sister Ruth.
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