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16062 Ingham, Henry L.
November 09, 1924 - June 29, 1994

usma1946-F1

 

 MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jan '95

Henry Laurance Ingham, Jr. No.16062 Class of 1946
Died 29 June 1994 in San Anselmo, California, aged 69 years. Interment: Chapel of the Pines Cemetery, Placerville, California.

Larry was an authentic Army brat, one of two sons raised during those two decades of bucolic existence between the two world wars. One of the Ingham family's assignments was a tour at West Point in 1934-35 and the boys decided then and there to someday return as cadets. After graduating from Pacific Grove High School in June 1941, Larry attended Marion Military Institute and Millard's Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. He entered the familiar grounds of West Point on 1 July 1943 with that subtle advantage all service kids have, an awareness of what to expect.

Larry battled diligently against the natural sciences, beating two turnout exams in his yearling year (physics and chemistry), but progressing fairly well through the rest of the curriculum. Academic tedium was relieved by equestrianship, Howitzer staff work, 100th Night Shows, Cadet Chapel Choir trips and, of course, occasional dragging. At graduation, Larry chose the Coast Artillery Corps.

After basic branch schools, Larry went to occupied Japan to duty with various battalions of the 138th AAA Group. Just one month before the tour was up, Larry's only brother, Howard, June '43, was killed in England when his bomber crashed.

The year 1950 was an eventful one. When the Korean War erupted in June, Larry's unit was transferred to Fort Winfield Scott. When MG Frederick A. Irving, April '17 arrived at the Presidio for duty as the new Deputy Commanding General of Sixth Army, Larry was selected as his aide-de-camp. When General Irving became West Point's 42d superintendent, he took Larry with him. This period encompassed USMA's sesquicentennial, with all the accompanying pomp and circumstance. Despite his share of good fortune, Larry remained bitter at having been passed over initially for promotion to captain. With resignation applications being denied because of the Korean War, he accepted a Quartermaster detail, believing this would provide at least some insight into civilian business operations. But when he arrived at Fort Lee in July 1952, Larry immediately was assigned as a basic training company commander.

His initial resentment faded with the early recognition that the QMC valued his lengthy troop experience more than his supply/logistics potential, and he became the first commanding officer in the QM RTC's history to lead a mostly drafted basic training company through its six week cycle without a single incident of AWOL. At last, Larry was promoted to captain. With another tender of resignation denied, Larry was ordered to Germany in August 1953. Five months later, his third resignation was accepted.

Larry quickly discovered that an entire lifetime spent on Army posts was inadequate preparation for the business world. He wrote a letter, dated 26 September 1954, to the president of the AOG, stating: "I have, as you know, been one of those who unfortunately felt that civil life could provide more personally advantageous substitutes for those rare, basic principles of Duty, Honor, Country...the profit and loss motive which so characterizes business life is a very poor substitute indeed for admirable service to one's country." The letter was used (with permission) in an attempt to dissuade other young grads from making what Larry later admitted was his worst mistake.

He joined the Army Reserve upon resigning, and when a brief opportunity arose in early 1955 for an active duty tour, Larry was recalled voluntarily. He was sent to Fort Sill for the Field Artillery advanced course, and orders to Japan followed. He replaced classmate Carcie Clifford as commander of the UNCIFEC Honor Guard in Tokyo. Unable to secure a prompt reintegration into the Regular Army, Larry, now at age 33, reluctantly opted to enroll at San Francisco College, working on a master's in American history while earning secondary teaching credentials in mathematics, one of his worst subjects while a cadet! Larry was selected to teach math at San Francisco's Lowell High School. In 1967, he was appointed to the faculty at City College of San Francisco. He remained there for 13 years, retiring in 1980 at the age of 55. He authored an extensive, two volume, college level text in American history, published in 1978. Larry never married but was somewhat of a foster father to his deceased brother's two sons. He was the Northern California regional coordinator for the USMA Admissions Program from 1974-80, a task begun less than two years after a protracted battle with cancer in 1970. After a remarkable 23 year remission, Larry again was stricken in 1993 and he underwent extensive chemotherapy. Unwilling to undergo further treatment, he died at home on 29 June 1994.

Larry's course on earth as run, encompassed over 30 years of public service in two professions; and if the concepts of Duty, Honor, Country are as applicable to public education as they are to military service, then this West Pointer contributed his share. As a final homage to his beloved alma mater, he bequeathed the bulk of his estate to the Association of Graduates. Paid in full, Larry.

A canvas of friends and roommates produced the following comments:

"I remember Larry Ingham as a warm, cheerful person who always had a sunny outlook on what the future would bring He was a generous individual, ever ready to help others."

"Larry was fun loving and considerate His final bequest to the Association of Graduates may surprise some, but to me, his devotion to West Point was perfectly in character."

"Larry was kind and gentle and extremely loyal to those he cared about. I shall miss Larry a lot. I saw him just a few days before his passing. He was in good humor and was ready for the final reckoning."

For his gift, Larry was offered a naming opportunity in the Mezzanine of the new Alumni Center. In his usual modest fashion, Larry told the AOG "to consecrate the mezzanine to the memory of those classmates who died in combat or as a direct result of combat related wounds." He added, "The fact that the Mezzanine overlooks the Great Hall and its ongoing functions might very well be an appropriate vantage point for our fallen comrades to preside indefinitely over the Long Gray Line below."

The Class of 1946 is indebted to Larry Ingham for his selfless generosity and is proud to say, "Well Done, Larry; Be Thou At Peace!"

 

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