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MEMORIAL ARTICVLE
Published Assembly Nov '97
Corwin Boake, Jr.
No. 15893 Class of 1946
Died 10 January 1997 at Houston, Texas, aged 72 years. Interment:
Gotebo Cemetery, Gotebo, Oklahoma. |
Known to family and friends as Corky, he was born
in the small Oklahoma town, Gotebo, on 12 July 1924. An excellent
horseman, he wrestled and played baseball for Gotebo High School.
He attended the University of Oklahoma for a year before joining
the Class of 1946 at West Point.
Cadet life held no unusual problems for Corky.
Roommate Carsh Carlisle wrote: "Corky was the consummate
roommate, cheerful, helpful, cooperative and eternally optimistic.
He was easy going, laid back in today's vernacular, but always
managed to do what had to be done. He had a wry sense of humor
and his comments were usually accompanied by twinkling eyes and
a slight smile."
Commissioned a second lieutenant, Infantry, Corky's
first assignment after basic schooling was to Japan where he
commanded a company in the 27th Infantry. He returned to Fort
Campbell, Kentucky with the 11th Airborne Division. He fought
in the Korean War with the 187th Airborne Infantry. He was awarded
the Silver Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal for valor in
combat near Wonju on 14 February 1951. He returned to the States
in 1951 assigned to G3 Section, First Army, Governor's Island,
New York. It was there he met and married Evelyn Valldejuly in
New York City on 14 September 1952. From New York, the Boakes
moved to Fort Knox, Kentucky when Corky was selected to attend
the Armor Advanced Course and then on to Atlanta where Corky
was Assistant PMS&T at Georgia Tech. In 1957, Corky served
in the 82nd Airborne Division and joined the Special Forces at
Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After C&GSC at Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas in 1958-59, he became aide-de-camp to LTG T.S.H. Trapnell,
Deputy CINC FECOM in Fort Shafter, Hawaii. He returned to Fort
Bragg with Gen. Trapnell when he became the CG 18th Airborne
Corps. Corky continued as Gen. Trapnell's aide when the general
moved to Fort McPherson, Georgia. In 1964, Corky went to Vietnam
as an intelligence staff officer in Saigon. He returned to the
States in 1965 assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency. In
1969, the Boakes traveled to Hong Kong where Corky served as
the Army Attache' until 1973. Back to Washington, Corky became
Director, Attache' Department, Defense Intelligence School. He
retired as a Colonel in 1975.
Corky and Evelyn retired to Anadarko, Oklahoma,
an area with a great deal of history for Corky. His uncle had
a trading store with the Indians before the area was opened for
settlement. The Boakes moved into the original house built by
his uncle and spend many memorable hours restoring that family
home. They actively participated in community activities and
were instrumental in getting a new library built in Anadarko.
Corky died 10 January 1997 at M.D. Anderson Hospital,
Houston, Texas from complications due to leukemia. He is survived
by his wife, Evelyn; sons, Corwin III and Robert; sisters, Catherine
and Lucy and grandchildren, Caitlin and Sam.
As Carsh Carlisle wrote: "Everyone liked Corky
- he was a friend to all." The truth to that statement is
born out by the remembrances of Corky's family and friends about
a truly good man.
G-1 company mate, Jack Bodie, recalled: "I
never met a man who didn't like him."
Brigadier, Rtd., UK Army, John Hart wrote: "We
shall all miss him - a fine soldier and a good man with a great
family. He was a tremendous friend."
LTC, Rtd., Homer Jones, a long time Army friend,
recalled: "Corky exhibited some characteristics that we
ascribed to the frontier: self-sufficiency, straightforwardness,
directness, dependability and economy of speech. He was proud
of the Military Academy and its image, and felt this image was
enhanced by performance of duty and leadership. He viewed the
human race with dry amusement, not in a superior way but with
an appreciation of its foibles. Corky loved Evelyn and their
two children deeply and they enriched his life."
Joe and Carolyn McBride, Publishers, Anadarko Daily
News and long time friends, remembered: "We enjoyed our
association with Corwin Boake. He was a man who participated
and listened to conversations and could have input on a multitude
of subjects. He was a man attentive to details, nothing skipped
his eye. He had a wonderful way with people and children. He
didn't suffer braggarts and fools lightly, but chose not to condemn,
but rather not be around them. We will miss the quiet, dignified
man who had a marvelous laugh and smile."
Son, Corwin III wrote of the memories of his father:
"He was very concerned about fairness and honesty. I remember
he would disapprove of people who gained something by unfair
means. He was polite to everyone. I cannot remember him being
rude to anyone, even when they were rude to him. He was wary
of the appearances of people or things, and would try to resist
reacting based on first impressions. He always seemed to be calm.
He put his family first and I think the thing he enjoyed most
was to be with his family. He was always modest. I don't remember
that he ever bragged, even to the degree of telling a story because
it reflected well on him."
Corky's beloved wife, Evelyn, reflected: "He
was a kind, gentle man with no pretensions. He loved animals
and enjoyed the simple pleasures. A devoted father, he doted
on his grandchildren. He accepted the differences in all of us,
never tried to change us or fit us into a mold. He brought a
lot of joy into my life, brought qualities out in me I never
knew I had."
There is little that can be added to the words
of love and remembrance about a truly fine man who loved his
family and was proud of his West Point and Army heritage. The
Class of 1946 is honored to salute Corky Boake with these well
deserved words: "Well Done, Corky; Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his wife, Evelyn
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