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16158 Sadler, John Ambler
April 08, 1925 - October 08, 1991

usma1946-A1

 

 MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Nov '93

John Ambler Sadler No.16158 Class of 1946
Died 8 October 1991 at San Francisco, California, aged 66 years. Interment: San Francisco National Cemetery, Presidio of San Francisco, California.

John (Jack) Sadler started life in the Army. His father was a career officer (retired as a brigadier general) and Jack was born at the Post Hospital at Fort Sheridan, Illinois on 8 April 1925. His father was assigned to the ROTC Program at Western Maryland University from 1938 to 1942, so Jack was fortunate enough to attend St. John's High School in Westminister, Maryland for four years. He then attended Sullivan's Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. for six months. He was anxious to follow in his father's footsteps, so it was with a great deal of pride and pleasure that he received a Presidential Appointment to West Point and joined the Class of 1946 on 1 July 1943.

Cadet life was relatively easy for Jack. One of his roommates, William B. Yancey, Jr., recaIled: "Jack, Dick Pohl and I agreed to be roommates because of our Sullivan Prep School and military brat backgrounds. The three of us had a lot of laughs in Beast Barracks and decided it would he fun to stick together when academics started. Jack had an infectious laugh that kept Dick and me in good spirits, even when things were grim. We nevertheless loved to kid Jack and once convinced him to apply for a Cadet corporalcy to our 3d class squad leader. He was given the treatment but could not hold a grudge. He always wanted to help in any way he could. The reason Dick and I liked him so much was that he could always be relied on. Nobody was any more sincere or dedicated than Jack." Jack became a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps at graduation.

Jack went first to Fort Sill, Oklahoma and then to Fort Bliss, Texas for basic schooling in artillery. In 1947, he served with the Military Assistance Advisory Group training the South Korean Army. From Korea, Jack moved to Fort Meade, Maryland with the 39th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion. He returned to Fort Bliss in 1950. A classmate and good friend, Robert E. Lenzner, recalled those days at Bliss: "As young bachelors, we were roommates in the early fifties. We had both dated the same girl and I remember Jack came in one night after a date with her and told me that she was the one and I was not even to think of having another date with her. That, of course, was Annette." Jack and Annette Phillips were married 12 October 1951 in Austin, Texas.

In 1960, the Sadlers traveled to Taipei, Taiwan, where Jack served as an advisor to a Chinese Missile Battalion. Jack and family returned to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Jack was assigned to the Army Air Defense Command. In 1964, Jack received orders to Vietnam to become Quang Ngai Province Advisor. One of Jack's best friends and classmates, Raymond B. Thayer, wrote to Annette: "He was the Quang Ngai province advisor when I was in Saigon. He had one of the toughest and most dangerous jobs of any American in Vietnam. He was the military 'viceroy' of the province, advising and supporting the South Vietnamese provincial government officials. Quang Ngai was recognized as one of the most unpacified provinces in the entire country; a hot bed of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese bases and influence. There were, therefore, many military operations conducted, and Jack was invariably involved in them, directly and personally. As a result of Jack's involvement, he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. That recognition was a high and unusual tribute to him, since he was not Infantry. Additionally, I was present just before he left Vietnam when he was awarded the Legion of Merit by General Westmoreland. Westy's comments about Jack's service were personal and special, emphasizing Jack's extraordinary performance."

Upon his return to the States, Jack was assigned to the Special Ammunition Support Command. From there he moved to Headquarters, Sixth Army Air Defense Command. In 1972, the Sadlers went to Germany, where Jack was initially Commander of a Support Activity. After a short time, he was requested by name to move to Heidelberg to become Community Commander. Jack retired as a colonel in 1975 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

After retirement, Jack took a position with the Texas Youth Council in Austin. He returned to school and received his Master of Business Administration degree from St. Edwards University, Austin. Jack and Annette moved to San Francisco, California in 1987. It was during this period that Jack was able to concentrate on his other interests. As Annette recalled, Jack had the soul of an artist. He had a keen appreciation of poetry, art and, his passion, architecture. His library centered around Frank Lloyd Wright, his hero, and he had visited most of Wright's works throughout the country. In September 1989, he began the rigorous two year docent training for the Africa, Oceania and Americas section of the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco.

Jack Sadler died from a heart attack on 1 October 1991. He is survived by his wife, Annette, and seven children: Mannette, John Jr., Robert, Martha, Octavia, Phillip and Carroll; a daughter in law, Rosemary Sadler and a grandson, Jon Wesley Diederich.

Jack Sadler was truly a Renaissance Man. To a person, all who knew him were shocked and saddened that he was gone; his bright, shining light dimmed before he could accomplish all he desired. Robert E. Lenzner recalled: "He was a very sophisticated person. He really had savoir faire. That made him pretty unflappable and cool in tight situations. I don't think I ever saw him flustered. He was a true gentleman. I don't mean he just opened doors for ladies and that kind of thing. He was truly a nice guy who did not knowingly offend anyone, men or women. It was a pleasure to be around him because he was so witty and sunny."

Robert V. Kane remembered: "Great family man and friend; devout Catholic, but not dogmatic about it. Jack was funny but had a serious vein that surfaced whenever necessary. Jack had a deep appreciation for art, especially that of the East. He had served in the Far East, so his house was full of very tasteful artifacts that all of us enjoyed seeing. Jack was a social type, good company in any gathering. My children adored him. I like to think that he was one of the good adult influences in their younger lives. He was blessed with Annette, one of the true ladies of our class. They were an excellent team and complemented each other well."

Raymond E. Thayer recalled: "Jack was my true friend, in a special way. Whether we were together or apart for long periods made no difference in this friendship. I always felt he and I were in resonance. He always listened and seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say, whether merited or not. When he entered the scene, the whole atmosphere brightened. I always looked forward to seeing him."

A central facet of Jack's life was his love for and devotion to his children. They were the joy of his life at each stage of their development. He was their playmate as well as their father when they were young and their mentor and friend as they became adults.

West Point is proud to call John Ambler Sadler one of its own. Duty, Honor, Country, were prominent in all that Jack Sadler did and stood for. His family, his friends, his classmates miss him terribly, but there is an inward joy for having known him. The Class of 1946 is proud to say, "Well Done, Jack; Be Thou At Peace!"


'46 Memorial Article Project and his Wife Annette

Personal Eulogy

deceased

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