Palmer Mcgrew – Chairman
Jack Downing - Secretary
John Nun - Treasurer
Jerry Mitchell – Communications
Andy Andreson – Class Gift
John Herren – Social
Bill Serchak – Initiatives
Alan Salisbury – Historian

A $250 per person deposit will hold a reservation with the balance due by June 1, 2003.

We need to improve our communications through the Company CCQS. CCQs have the responsibility to get the word out quickly, particularly to their Company members not on e-mail. CCQs are responsible for encouraging their Company mates to attend reunions, to participate in class projects, to inform of deaths of Company mates and communications with its member’s family members and to take care of flowers and other requirements for the Company. If you are a CCQ and don't want to be, let us know. If you think your CCQ is not doing the job and you would like to help, let us know. We can assign a new CCQ or add an assistant CCQ if that is appropriate.

CLASS RINGS. By now most of us are well of the Class Ring Memorialization project that our own Ron Turner suggested to West Point and the AOG, which is now up and running, and part of West Point’s customs and traditions. Our class is one of largest providers of class rings, which are then melted down and mixed with gold for new rings for future classes.

REPORT ON EVENTS SINCE 7 JULY 2002

WESTPOINT BICENTENNIAL ACTIVITIES IN FRANCE. In July, Dale and Dodie Hruby, Butch and Nancy Ordway, John and Marti Sewall, and Tony Smith and Bonnie Lourie spent two weeks following the 180 or so USMA cadets who were invited to France to help celebrate the Bicentennials of the French military academy (Saint-Cyr) and the Legion of Honor (which was awarded to USMA after WWII). Our four classmates were part of a group of ten who went on an exchange trip with the French military academies in 1957 while the rest of us were on the First-class trip.

From all accounts, it was a spectacular trip. They were in the grandstand to watch the USMA Bicentennial Company lead the Bastille Day parade as the first unit down the Champs-Elysees, a very high honor. Even more impressive was the USMA cadets participation in the Graduation festivities, called Le Triomphe, at Saint-Cyr, which started at 2030 hours with sky-divers in full dress uniform (one carrying the US flag to great applause) and concluded about 0030 with a magnificent fireworks display coordinated with a couple of thousand voices belting out the Marseillaise. In between they had re-enactments in costume of the original 19th-century Triomphe, horses, sound and light, ministers trooping the line, choral renditions of original songs written by each class, lots of passing in review, and you name it, in all of which the USMA cadets were fully integrated.

Thanks in part to Tony 's contacts developed through his role as the AOG person responsible for French participation in West Point's Bicentennial, our gang of four was able to enjoy a number of other "by invitation only" activities, such as a day at the Ecole Polytechnique as guests of the commanding general. The trip culminated in several very interesting days in Normandy, organized by the French side of the Alexandria-Caen Sister City organization, where the group was hosted by French families and guided around the battlefields (where Dodie's and Butch's fathers fought) by a Frenchman who had been there on June 6, 1944.

WILLIAMSBURG OPEN AKA TONY NADAL EXTRAVAGANZA. The third annual Class of '58 Williamsburg Golf Open, aka the Tony Nadal Extravaganza, took place on August 9-10. By all accounts, it was the best ever (and the first two were outstanding), probably because Billie played a major role in organizing and hosting the event. Twenty-two classmates, plus assorted wives, fiancees, and significant others, participated in various aspects of the affair, some to play golf, some to play at golf, some to pretend to play golf, and some (wisely) just to eat, drink, and make merry with their classmates.

After a warm-up round on Friday, the really serious competition took place on Saturday. Everyone played to their handicap, and some played like they were handicapped. Among the awardees of the abundant prizes given out after the tournament (mostly extra small Raytheon shirts -- thank goodness Andy Andreson has finally retired), some of the most significant were Pat and Anne Kirk winning just about all there was to win for real golf and Alex Johnston edging out Tony Smith for the Outstanding Effort award. Phil Pryor didn't win any prizes this year, but Tony let him bring ice for the party.

The Friday and Saturday play, however, was just a preliminary for the most highly anticipated event each year -- the "try to hit the longest drive after you've had copious quantities of Tony's booze" contest, which takes place as night falls on the hole immediately behind Tony's hot tub. According to judges Dale Hruby and Tom Carpenter, themselves masters of probity and sobriety, who said they were somewhere out there on the fairway in front of us, this year's winners were John Schaefer and Sally Herren. Nobody knows for sure, because Dale and Tom confiscated the golf balls.

After Jae Stanton led us all in his highly personalized version of the "Rocket" cheer, we ended up Saturday evening gathered around Joe Luman at the keyboard on Tony and Billie's piano, last tuned, we think, during World War II, trying to wake up the neighborhood with the favorite songs of our lost youth -- I thought we did an especially robust rendition of "Sons of Slum and Gravy".

In summary, everyone had a great time. Classmates came from far and wide (this year, the Kirks all the way from WI, the Stantons from SC). We are grateful to Tony for organizing the event and putting up with us and to Billie for putting up with him. The consensus is that we want back next year and every year, so, Tony and Billie, don't even think about getting out of it.

PLEBE MARCHBACK 2002 . The Class was represented by seven marchers (LeTowt, H Morgan and Sibert (First Time Marchers) and Bauer, Collett, Ward and Weckel (Repeat Marchers). For Hugh Morgan, this was his first plebe hike - - ever. If interested in the details, you'll have to contact Hugh directly. For details on the 2003 March Back contact Ed Weckel or wait for the emails and other information that will be forthcoming.

This was the 50th Anniversary of ‘56's plebe hike. They had 18 marchers present! At the 13 mile point (Base of ski slope) the grads leave the cadet companies and march in a grad mass formation. The Class of 56 preceded us, carrying a banner indicating their Class. The Class of ‘68 had 12 marchers, as did the Class of ‘71. We no longer hold the record for the most marchers, but we will hopefully reclaim it in 04, the 50^th anniversary of our Plebe Hike.

Ed Weckel has provided several alerts about plans for the 50th Anniversary Marchback in 2004. Our goal is to have at least one marcher from each cadet company. Many events and ceremonies are being planned for 2004. Thus far 20 classmates have indicated a desire to participate in the 2004 Marchback. In the meantime, don’t forget the 2003 Marchback.

ANTIETAM BATTLEFIELD TOUR. On August 7, 2002, eighteen classmates, spouses and friends visited this site of the bloodiest single day in American military history. Jack Downing gave an informative, fascinating presentation on the battle, helping put it in perspective. After Jack's presentation the group viewed a 30 minute film, toured the battlefield following the three phases of the battle and concluded with lunch at the well known Bavarian Inn in Shepardstown. Herb Puscheck arranged the affair.

FIRST CLASS TURNOVER. This year ten of our Classmates, three wives and one daughter, participated in the turnover on 22 August of the First Class Club to the Class of '03. Bob Pointer was coordinator of the event as always

The group met at the Thayer about 1700 with LTC Tom Endres, the Director of Cadet Activities, and the Brigade Activities Officer. The Club looks great.

At 1830 the Brigade Activities Officer, took the group to Washington Hall for dinner with the Cadets. There was time to spare before the formation, so the group went to the Brigade Staff rooms and talked with the escorts. There was much discussion about the then and now of cadet rooms.

Our delegation watched dinner formation from the front steps of Washington Hall, and was then escorted by a Cadet to the Poop Deck and given a rounding cheer by the cadets, and then went to dinner with the cadets.

After the meal the group proceeded to the First Class Club. After the traditional ceremony where a member of the class of ’02 provided ’03 their crest to hang on the wall, Bob Pointer introduced our classmates and Andy Andreson who gave a brief and very interesting talk to the cadets about the history of the club and some words about the great class of ’58. The Excom recently voted to install central air conditioning at the First Class Club. When this was announced, the Cadets cheered wildly. As an aside, work installing the central air conditioning was delayed because when preparing for installation it was discovered the roof was about to cave in. West Point recently repaired the roof (their cost/not ours) and installation of air conditioning is going forward.

This event raises our spirits every year. If you can, please join us in future years. And of course you will have a chance to spend time in your club during the 45^th next year. We will see you there.

COMPANY MICRO-REUNIONS. There were a number of Micro-Reunions held since the last Newsletter. If your Company is not active in getting together for reunions and other events, talk to your CCQ or get active yourself and organize one. Some of the best Micro-Reunions are those that are hardly organized at all. Just have fun together.

C-1 had a Micro-Reunion 22-25 October at South Padre Island, TX, the site of the 1991 Class Mini-Reunion. Part of the fun was watching the antics of Hurricane Kennah, which caused all golf activities to be cancelled, but which didn’t hamper drinking, eating great seafood, shopping and marathon sessions of story telling and socializing. This was C-1s 5^th Micro-Reunion, and plans are underway for an all classes C-1 Micro-Reunion at South Padre Island during October-November 2003.

M-2 had a Macro-Reunion (We know the proper word is Micro-Reunion, but after all, they are tall/big) in Durango, CO. This was their first Macro-Reunion, and they did it well. They had 25 attendees. Activities included a ride on the Durango-Silverton Railroad, and the usual drinking, eating, socializing, sightseeing and shopping.

D-1 had its first Micro-Reunion in September in the Durango CO area. The Micro-Reunion was organized by Ben Franklin assisted by Curt Stender and by D-1 CCQ, John Schaefer. They also rode the Durango-Silverton narrow gage railroad.

B-2 had its first Micro Reunion in Lynchburg VA. The event was planned by Don Johnson. Along with the usual drinking, eating, socializing and shopping, B-2 had a dinner Saturday evening to which they invited Chaplain and Mrs. George Bean.

I-1 had its second Micro-Reunion in Las Vegas NV.

Details on these and other events along with pictures are in the Nov-Dec, Jan-Feb and Mar-Apr “Assembly” Class Column. If your event was not covered here or in “Assembly” bring it to the attention of your CCQ or Jerry Mitchell or George Sibert. Subscribe to “Assembly”.

Gerald C. Mitchell

Chairman, Communications Committee

Excom

CLASS OF ’58 NEWSLETTER - January 2003

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION.