COMPANY B-2 OFFICERS AND HISTORY


Company Commander

Joe Smith (nd)

Lieutenants

John Buckstead, Dick MacLean

 

Ernie Peixoto, Charley Pursley

First Sergeant

Lew Robinson

Supply Sergeant

John Gardiner



Plebe Year

The Men of B-2 Plebe Year

1st Row: Brown*, Herrington*, De Bonis*, Samotis (nd) , Gardiner (nd) , Staple** and Smith. 2nd Row: Pruitt*, Coleman*, Haberkorn*, and Robinson. 3rd Row: Norton (nd) , Jones* and McClean. 4th Row: Milliman (nd) and Shuman*. 5th Row: Buckstead (nd) , Guild and Peixotto.
(* ex '51, ** drowned while a cadet)


CIRCA 1951 - Since we joined B-2 in '47 change and differences have provided new interests for us all. Each year we moved. We averaged a new Tac a year. We sadly said goodbye to some classmates and welcomed a couple of new ones. And now there are nineteen who have "stuck our four years through: Just as the changes in Tacs and the shuffling around in Old North gave new interest to each year, our own diversity has kept life interesting. We boasted eleven Northerners and two Texans; seven of us were regular Corps Squad files, four could not make up their minds; we have our goats and a star man; we have our eager files and a few of us sacked for all four years. We were different. In everything it was these differences and these changes that made life interesting, whether as plebes when we laughed at ourselves or as firsties when we became most interested in cars, weekends, June, and the way old B-Co. ticked. We have had four good years together.


THE REST OF THE STORY - Eighteen graduated; 7 went Air Force, 3 Armor, 1 Artillery, 2 Corps of Engineers, 3 Infantry, and 2 Signal Corps. In the end there arose out of B2‑Co a three star general, Ernie Peixotto. The average rank was Major + and served an average of 16.6 years, however, considering only those who stayed in for twenty the average rank is Colonel (plus) and the average number of years served is 25.6.

Decorations – B-Co went out and earned a Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility, Ernie Peixotto did that, and Pursley earned a Silver Star for distinguished gallantry in action. Joe Smith was decorated with the Purple Heart for wounds received in action against an enemy. There were seven Legions of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services. There were also 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses for distinguished heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight; 3 Bronze Star Medals for distinguished heroism against an enemy, 11 Meritorious Service Medals for conspicuously meritorious performance of duty in a non-combat situation; 28 Air Medals for meritorious achievement beyond that normally expected, while participating in aerial flight, with Led Long getting 16; two Joint Service Commendation Medals; 10 Commendation Medals for distinguished service and 2 Combat Infantryman Badges among B-Co files.

Advanced Degrees - The lads next door, earned seven advance degrees as follows; one PhD in Engineering, one Masters in Education, one MBA, five Master of Science in Engineering and one Master of Arts in English.

National Defense University – One, Ernie Peixotto, attended the National War College at Ft. McNair.


Ur Friend Andy

BE THOU AT PEACE

Grip hands with us now, though we see thee not, Grip hands with us, ... Lynn ... Dain ... Charley ... George ... Joe ... Buck ... Jim ...Don ...Led ...John ... Sam ... Tom ... Joe Smith ..... Strengthen our hearts!

1.   Lynn Galloway died on August 26, 1953 in Korea.
2.   Dain Milliman was killed over Thailand on November 10, 1966.
3.   Charley Pursley died in Texas on January 11, 1983.
4.   George Shibata died in California on May 20, 1987.
5.   Joe Rawlings died in Tennesse on July 15, 1987.
6.   Buck Buckstead died in Kansas on July 18, 1987.
7.   Jim Kintz died in
Hawaii on August 8, 2000.
8.   Don Norton died in Ohio on September 2, 2001.
9.   Led Long died at Home on August 25,2002.
10. John Gardiner died in Pennsylvania on May 1, 2003.
11. Sam Samotis died in South Carolina on August 7, 2006.
12. Tom Woodley died in Illinois on March 15, 2009. His wife, Pat, died in August of the same year.
13. Joe Smith died in Virginia on June 29, 2013.
14. John Ritchie died in Alabama on September 15, 2013.

For complete list of deceased classmates go to: Casualties


Still Kicking are;... Jack, ... Murt ... Dick ... Ernie ... and Lew.

You'll recognize those attending the 65th, they look thusly now.


Need foto
Jack Bohan


Murt Guild


Dick McLean
W/ Dabney

Ernie Peixoto
W/ Libby

John Ritchie (nd)
W/Terry

Update on Jack Upon graduation Jack went in the Signal Corps and after attending the Signal Corps Training Center at Fort Gordon, Georgia reported to his first duty station. Jack resigned his commission as a First Lieutenant in 1954. He makes him home in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Update on Murt Upon graduation Murt went in the Air Force and after flying training reported to his first duty station. In 1965 Murt earned a Master of Science degree from Florida State University and then was appointed to the Air Force Advisory Group for the Republic of Vietnam. In 1969 Murt was appointed Commanding Officer of the Grand Turk Airfield and served as such until 1970 when he was selected to attend Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia. In 1976 Murt was assigned to Armament Development Test Center, Eglin AFB, and he retired from the United States Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel. Murt makes his home in Pensacola, Florida.

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Update on Dick Mac's last military assignment was to Weapons System Evaluation Group, Office Secretary of Defense where he served from 1970 until 1973 when he retired from the United States Army as a Colonel. After retirement Mac became associated with Honeywell Aero Space Division and in 1978 was appointed Project Manager. Mac and his wife Dabney make their home in St. Petersburg, Florida.

On Fri, 11/5/10, COL RICHARD MCLEAN wrote: Another birthday rolls around and the McLean family is doing well. Dabney and I are in good health. Our two children, Ellen and Rich, are doing well; Ellen with Mitre Corp. and Rich in software consulting. Our three grandchilden have all graduated from college and are gainfully employed. We still are enjoying our condo on the beach in Treasure Island FL even though one of our eight units is in foreclosure. This requires the other unit owners to make up the delinquent maintenance fees, which, after a year and a half and counting amounts to more than chump change. I'm looking forward to the 60th Reunion. Dick McLean

On November 7, 2011 Dick writes, "The 60th reunion was great and I enjoyed seeing so many who came. Shortly after the reunion my wife, Dabney, fell down stairs and was seriously injured. Fortunately the injuries were not life-threat- ening but took a long time to heal. As a result I had chair lifts installed on the two flights of stairs in our townhouse. They allow Dabney to get up and down without danger. I can highly recommend the Acorn stairlifts. They are easy to operate and are battery powered so that they will operate in a power outage ($3750 each). We will spend Christmas with Ellen and Rich in Northern Virginia. We hope that next year will be better." Dick McLean

On 11-5-12 Dick reports, "Dabney and I continue to live the good life in paradise. We just celebrated our 60th anniversary in October. I am now 83 and am in good health but have to be careful about Afib, which is under control. Dabney has recovered from her fall of last year. Our son, Rich, and daughter, Ellen are doing well in the computer software world. Our three grands are all graduated from college and have good jobs in the DC area. I enjoy reading the My Days and am amazed by the useful work that many of the Class are still doing and am saddened by the inexorable losses of our good friends. Can't remember when Army beat Air Force. Now BEAT NAVY." Dick McLean

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Update on Ernie In August 1981 Erny accepted his last military assignment; he was named Comptroller of the Army, Washington, D. C. and served until his retirement from the United States Army in August 1984 with rank of Lieutenant General, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. On retirement, Erny was affiliated with the Systems Research and Applications Corporation from 1984 to 1989 when he retired again and moved to Florida where he and his wife Libby make their home in Palm City, Florida.

Ernie produced class videos for both the 50th and the 60th reunions.

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Update on John In 1970 he was appointed to the Military Group in Venezuela and served there for four years. Then from 1974 he served as Director of Production & Procurement at Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command until 1976 when he retired as a full Colonel. In 1979 Ritch earned a Masters degree in Education and became a School Teacher where he served until 1991. In 1995 Ritch was elected to the Town Council of Chelsea, Alabama where he and his wife Terry make their home.

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Need foto
Lew Robinson


Betty Smith
W/ Joe (nd)

Update on Lew Upon graduation Lew went in the Infantry and after completing the Basic Infantry Course at Fort Benning, Georgia reported to Camp Roberts in 1952 and from there was ordered to the 223rd Infantry Regiment, 40th Division in Korea where he served until 1953. In 1954 Lew resigned his First Lieutenant's commission and returned to civilian life. In 1969 Lew became a Stock Broker. Lew makes his home in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Update on Joe Joe's last military assignment was as Director of Facilities Engineering, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC where he served from 1978 to 1981 when he retired from the United States Army as a Colonel after a distinguished career. Joe and his wife Betty make their home in Fairfax, Virginia.

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