Skip Massey
1 NOV 1930 - 13 AUG 1998
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Skip Massey - Tony Hansell - Steve Hansell (Tony's son)
OCT 1997
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Klung - Massey - Werner - Kennebeck
Mike Brown - Frost - Trobaugh - Andrews
1986
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Skip Massey
1961
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G - 1
1st Row: Geran - Steakley - Devereaux - Wilson - Hufnagel - McNamee - Schick - Giddings
2nd Row: Wiegand - Blitch - Nourse
3rd Row: Cohan - Thompson - Reed Stone
4th Row: Stanley - Bouchard - Rule
5th Row: Dunaway - Buie - Bill Anderson - Massey
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Roy Thorsen and Skip Massey
1954
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Back row standing: Bill Axup and Mike Gallup
Middle row: Bob Blitch on guitar, Chuck Ewing and Tony Hansell
Foreground backs to camera: Skip Massey and Danny Dienst
CAMID 1953
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When I was a cadet - Skip was just that guy that made me laugh when I'd run
into him on our cadet summer trips. On our trip to Wright Pat he took over
the stage in one of the Dayton clubs and entertained all the hanger-ons til
the sun came up. Paula - my drag then and my wife now - never forgot that
wonderful experience provided by Skip. Then upon retirement we moved to Texas to work for the Port of Brownsville. Moving from Chicago to the Rio Grande Valley was quite the cultural shock, to say the least! The first visitor I had was Skip Massey and he really took the edge off of that move. And all the years we stayed in Brownsville he provided the relief we needed to make it a pleasant experience. Skip made a difference and we will certainly miss him. When we needed him, he was there to grip hands. So from us to him - a toast!!! Be thou at peace. Jack Campbell August 18 - 1998 The Skipper I got to know Skipper well during Flight School (Aug'55-Apr'56). He got my attention the day we reported in by announcing he had 'totaled' two cars since graduation without a scratch either time. From his boxing days at USMA I knew Skipper was tough - but I didn't know how tough he really was. Throughout Flight School Skip was always upbeat and probably the most popular guy in a class of about 50 Lt's and a couple of senior guys. He kept everybody in good spirits and 'loose' as we fought the battle with the 'Pinkies'. After Flight School I never got to serve with Skip but I heard from guys who did. Without exception Skip was highly regarded as a natural leader who got the job done the first time. Skip was a true 'Piece-Of-Work' - God threw the mold away after he made Skip. I was happy to be among the fortunate who got to be with - and know Skip - I will miss him. Bill Welter August 18 - 1998 It is a sad day indeed- -Skip's passing. I know that I - for one - had many fond memories of times shared. At first - I viewed Skip with enormous wonder. If memory does not fail, Skip had ben turned out - at least once - in - what was it - "five" subjects at one time...maybe it was four...*and he survived*. Imagine...he survived. Think of the pressure. Then - after graduation - there was flight school at Gary AFB - San Marcos, Texas [and that GREAT party at the West's motel room--no food - but a refridge FULL of booze!!!]; followed by Ft Rucker; BIOC at Ft. Benning (and the Camellia apartments); and - finally - Korea. Korea- -1957/1958- -I was serving in the 7th Div - up in the Chowon Valley above Uijonbu - among other things - I was EXO Company A - 17th Inf and Platoon Ldr. Flying was viewed like "golf"...you get your flight time in on your time "off". Had a plane flown up - one day - from TC's location at Camp Casey - to get some flight time in. Flew down to Seoul - landing at Kimpo at the same time that a First Cav ship did. And - there was Skip. I told Skip about my difficulties getting airtime. He advised that he had no such problems - although he too was serving a ground tour. The difference you ask? His Regimental (or was it Battle Group?) Commander learned that Skip was a prize fighter. A deal was made...Skip would coach the team...and he would always have a plane at his disposal..... So long Skip...thanks for all the wonderful memories. Wynne Stern August 18 - 1998 He was more man than anyone else I ever met. He was more soldier than any other I ever saw. He was more valiant than any warrior I ever knew. He was the toughest - but tenderest man God ever made. As his son - Kenny - put it: You will never meet a man who can say " I may have met him - but I'm not sure". Anyone who ever met him has a blazing memory of an unforgetable man...The toughest,funiest - most loyal - most talented friend a man could have. He was my comrade and I miss him. Funny thing about the difference between friends and comrades. I say a comrade is a friend for whom you will lay down your life. I knew I was his comrade. I hope he knew he was mine. Well done Skip. See you one of these days if I can earn it. Tony Haywood "Tony" Hansell December 28 - 2000 I knew Skip Massey earlier and better than I would have if I hadn't been Hansell's roommate. I first met Skip when he showed up at our room one day with his guitar. He and Tony had been buddies before we all convened on the rock pile. They had fished - picked guitar - and done things together for what seemed like decades - from the stories they told. Through those lean years - Massey and Hansell and Blitch (and a couple of now-forgotten others) entertained me and everyone within earshot - and taught us all that you can get more than music out of a guitar. I was only one of the many who discovered Skip's virtuosity. As far as I know - he never took a music lesson - but there was nothing ever made with strings on it -- from a mandolin to a gut bucket -- that Skip Massey couldn't play. Even a heart. Good fishing over there - Skip - and good pickin. Save us a place. Chuck Chuck Ewing July 29 - 2001 Skip - didn't know that you'd left us. The computer system we have these days doesn't let us '58s know when you '55 guys leave. Having you around in G-1 as a Firstie when I was a Plebe made the "system" much more bearable. I still remember how proud I was to be invited to your wedding in the summer after your graduation and my recognition. God Bless. Pete Pete Trainor - USMA '58 November 29 - 2001 I met Skip about eight years ago in the Rio Grande Valley when I bought a German Shorthaired Pointer pup and was ready to commence training. Skip was the local GSP man. He trained his bird dogs to eat at his command which was as follows: He would bellow "Navy slop" at which point the dog was required to stand at attention. Then he would bellow "Army Chow" and with this command the dog would lunge toward the food bowl and commence eating. Skip and I trained young pointers together for a couple of years before losing contact. During hunting season I was travelling through Zapata - Texas and noticed a young GSP tethered in the back of a truck. I waited for the owner - just to talk - and lo and behold out rumbled Skip. Unfortunately - we lost touch again and until searching for him on the web this evening I was not aware of his passing. Good hunting Skip. Richard A. Galindo February 5 - 2002 I believe "Skip" could make the Royal Guard outside the Queen's palace smile. It didn't seem to matter where he went - he had a way of fitting in and taking charge to everyone's delight. If you got into the back of the same truck with him for a trip to some class - you knew you were in for a treat. He was a G-1 file but I don't think there was anyone in either regiment or any year that didn't know who he was. When he and Tony Hansell teamed up there they were as good a show as Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. I never had much chance to see the serious side of Skip at work but I do know that when it was time to come out fighting he could exchange punches with the best. I think of him as a 55 legend of the twentieth century that helped to make the class stand out as one of most versatile - resourceful - and finest that ever passed in review. Jim Devereaux November 19 - 2002 Skip Massey was Clyde Massey - Jr. - son of Clyde Massey - who was Class of 1924 and retired as a Brigadier General. Skip entered West Point from Brownsville - TX. It was good fortune for us in the Class of 1956 to enter G-1 and to have as a yearling in our company Skip Massey. Skip roomed with Bob Blitch - also from Texas - and a great man also. Skip was on the West Point boxing team and was also a champion AAU boxer. I believe he fought in the 155 lb. category. If he ever lost a bout - it was rare. Skip ended up near the very end of his class because of academics. His bathrobe was adorned with turnout stars (I believe that's what we called them). By the time Skip graduated no one had ever seen so many stars on one bathrobe. Some plebes who were having academic trouble would be brought by upperclassmen to see the stars on Skip's bathrobe and to talk with Skip for encouragement. The good fortune in being in the same company with Skip Massey and Bob Blitch came from the fact that not only did they help make Plebe year tolerable - but they helped make it downright enjoyable - most of the time. Skip and Bob both played the guitar and sang. They knew all sorts of entertaining songs and stories and would share them with us as often as they could until one of the firsties had enough. All of this would lead you to conclude naturally and accurately that Skip was at the bottom of his class only because he had too much else to do. When Skip graduated in 1955 he chose infantry and also became an army aviator. Prior to 1979 I saw Skip only one time and that was in Vietnam in 1966 or 1967. I was Deputy Superintendent at West Point from 1977-1980. On July 1,1979 the day prior to the Class of 1983 entering the academy - when I arrived home that evening - sitting on our front porch with Patsy Bagnal were Skip Massey and his son - Kenneth Joseph Massey - who was to enter with the Class of 1983 the next day. He looked like his Dad except he had red hair. Patsy knew Skip from our days as cadets and she had been entertaining them for a couple of hours when I arrived. We continued talking and getting up to date for a few more hours. The next day another Massey entered West Point and graduated in 1983. He became an Army Aviator following in his Dad's footsteps. That evening of July 1 - 1979 - when Patsy and I went to bed she told me a remarkable story that Skip had shared with her. He told Patsy that as she knew when he was a cadet he didn't care about religion - and he believed that there was a God but it didn't make any difference to him. He said he slept through most of the cadet chapel services. He said his attitude about religion remained the same until he went to Vietnam. On one of his flights he was shot down and wounded. He said that he had to evade for some days and that he was near capture more than once. Early on during this time he was very scared and all of a sudden the Cadet Prayer popped into his mind and he said it over and over again. He said he had not thought about the Cadet Prayer since graduation - but he remembered every word of it. He said he had never prayed but wanted to talk to God at this time and seek his help and the Cadet Prayer just popped out. He said he learned to pray during this time and told God that if He would help him get free that he would be His servant. He told Patsy that since that day he had thanked God every day that he had to learn the Cadet Prayer at West Point. I just thought all of you would like to hear that story at this Thanksgiving season. I hope it is meaningful to you also. Grip hands and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families - Charlie Bagnal '56 November 7 - 2003 Well - I - for one - remember Skip Massey from Sullivan's Prep School in 1951. We used to escape and evade from his room down the fire escape after lights out...high times around Dupont Circle and vicinity (the Circle was different back then!). Also recall Skip playing the guitar and playing the harmonica at the same time on a coat hangar around his neck...I was very impressed by his skill. Finally - there was the day he enticed a squirrel into his room with peanuts and then grabbed him...found out that squirrels have sharp teeth and fleas! The faculty used to over-watch him carefully...Wendel the Grendel particularly. He was a man whom you would never forget and one who would raise the spirits of all who met him. May he rest in peace. Eugene A. Fox November 8 - 2003 Of my many Company G-1 classmates - Skip is the one I remember best. Ken Wilson and I were his roommates Firstie year. Ken and I were in charge of helping Skip with his many academic challenges. Skip was in charge of entertainment. The guitar - harmonica - and stories were his forte. He never let academics interfere with his or our education. We all graduated with smiles permanently etched in our faces. Thanks for the memories - Skip; be thou at peace. Phil Bouchard January 15 - 2004 |
USMA 1955 Roster
USMA 1955 Pictures