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Classmates and wives—
We should have all returned from the 60th Reunion,
even those taking a major detour. Sadly, we have lost two
classmates and a wife since the reunion.
Crosbie
E Saint,
better known to us as Butch, died on 7 May 2018. Our
prayers are with his widow, Merrilyn. She is hosting
an open house in honor of Butch at their farm on Sunday 3 June.
The address is Hidden Fox Farm, 36036 Jeb Stuart Road, Philomont VA.
Butch was one of our two Army four stars, the other being
Bill Tuttle. We had one in the Air Force, Mike Dugan,
and as you all recall, two in the Royal Thai Army, Sam Sookmark
and Pete Kullavanijaya. Your Scribe was in tall
cotton for the class photo at 60th, sitting between two four
stars: Bill Tuttle and Sam Sookmark.
Potential SPAM included here because it pertains to Butch.
There is email going around with the return address
blackhorse6@aol.com This
is bogus! Butch’s email we are warned by Tony Smith
was blkhorse6@aol.com
Please note the difference is in spelling of blackhorse (SPAM) versus
abbreviated blkhorse (the real deal).
Next, Sue Oelke was the wife we lost since 60th
Reunion. She died on 22 May. Sue and Karl were married on
graduation day, 4 June 1958. They produced our class godson, Karl
E Oelke III in December 2018. Our prayers are with both Karl “the
elder” and Karl “the younger” in this difficult time. I am
especially sympathetic to class godson Karl because I am the class
godson of USMA 36.
Terry Connell
added about Sue: “Afraid we'll see many more.
Sue was a sweetheart. They were good friends with Vantures.
Sorry the 'sharing time' at the reunion was all too short for most
everyone -- but the reunion was fabulous...” Yes, it was fabulous.
Pop your chest way up Garry Roosma. For the record,
I classmated Garry into doing the 30th and he has done all
the five-year reunions since then.
And our third loss was Don Palladino who died days ago (27
May). Don will be buried at West Point, joining Marty
who died on 25 March 2009)
I am having trouble typing this. It keeps erasing itself.
Wish I knew what I am doing wrong. I need Pete Trainor.
My intent is to finish before we have any more deaths!
Now to try importing some more cheerful information from emails
stored for these Class Notes since the last edition before the 60th
Reunion. PLEASE NOTE THE SOCIAL EVENT IN DC AREA AT THE END OF
THESE NOTES.
The first cheerful note is from Jack Downing: “I
have returned from West Point where I presented the Ramsden Award
in Chemistry. I also spoke with Mr. David Reel, Executive Director
of the USMA Museum about our Time Capsule and the possibility that some
of the items may be offered to the museum in 2058 when it is opened (or
after another 50 years if it is reburied). He has started a file
on it and I hope that the PEB will remind the then-director of it at
that time. As an aside, he showed me the situation map used by Gen
Pershing in WWI. It is quite large and detailed and was rolled up
by Gen Pershing and presented to USMA. (It’s on the second floor
just outside his museum office). From interacting with several
cadets, my evaluation of them is the highest.”
Continuing with cheerful info, the next is from George
Lawton: “Classmates, we have a vacancy on the Perpetual
Endowment Fund (PEF) Board. IAW the Article IV Section 2 of the
PEF By-Laws, I am nominating Frank Harlem to fill that
position and request your vote for him. Frank had a very
successful 26-year career with Caldwell Banker Commercial selling and
leasing land to shopping center developers, leasing to-be-built space to
users, and selling the finished retail product to institutional and
individual investors. He ended his career with them as a senior VP.
Frank is a serious investor in the stock market and a well-versed
contributor on the Stockpickers, our email net for classmates who are
interested in keeping up with the market. I believe he will be a
great asset to the PEFB and highly recommend him. He has read our
By-Laws and has agreed to sign the required statement that he will abide
by them and support the intention of the fund, if voted on the board.
Please send me your vote NLT 30 May 2018.”
Hugh
Trumbull
again presented the Capelle Award on behalf of the class at the USMAPS
ceremony on 18 May. Hugh’s report follows: “Well drilled, with
well shined brass glinting in a hazy sun, the Prep School Candidates for
the West Point Class of 2022 marched in their Final Review. 205 of the
240 who had entered in the Fall showed that they were ready to move on
to become Cadets. This is a very impressive, very diverse group of
young Americans. The Preparatory School continues to fulfill its
mission!
“Selected to receive “The Capelle” this year, was Cadet Candidate
Holden S. Quinn from Anchorage Alaska. CC Quinn is a scholar athlete
who has already decided on Infantry and Special Forces. He is
motivated! We had a chance to chat with Holden and his mother. We
learned that his mother’s father was a Naval officer on the deck when
McArthur signed the Japanese surrender. But, she says she is all Army
now and ready to support her son in four years of beating Navy.
“In the context of the Award, I was able to give a short speech
covering Gerry Capelle’s Prep School background, his death in combat and
the history and future of the Capelle Trophy. Alpha Company
enjoyed their Pizza Party on the Tuesday evening prior to their
graduation, organized by their Company TAC, CPT(P) Chris Mattos.
Interestingly, MAJ Rob Newbill, Deputy Commandant, was a Cadet
Candidate at Ft. Belvoir in 1972 when the Capelle Trophy was
established, so we had a lot of history to discuss. MAJ Newbill will be
the POC for the Trophy going forward in the transition year. These
fine young men and women passing through the Prep School, some of which
have had time in combat, continue to impress us year after year. They
will do well as young leaders and they appear to have the “right stuff”
to give our country what it needs in the future.”
Awards
announced
CC Holden S. Quinn in formation as Awards are announced
Capelle Trophy presented
Andy
Andreson
added via an email to Hugh, repeated here for everyone’s benefit:
“Thanks so much for representing the Class at the Capelle award event.
And congratulations to Cadet Candidate Quinn!”
There has been a great deal of email traffic on the Supe’s
remarks at the 60th. Much of it focused on his slide
which reflected some 15 generals in 1958 – those on the slide were the
fifteen signed up to attend the reunion. Sadly, Butch Saint did
not make it to 60th. This partial list of generals has
caused a great deal of confusion and myriad emails with additional names
of generals as classmates remembered them. To make it easier for
all, as well as a reminder for all, I will list our general officers in
alfa order with their cadet company indicated. I will also include
the date of death for the 13 who have died:
MG
Andy Andreson
G1
BG USAF Dick Beyea
B1
MG Jack Bradshaw
M2
BG Pete Brintnall
M2 (died 16 Sep 2017)
MG Bob Bunker
D1
BG USAF Chuck Cabell
E1
BG Tom Carpenter
M2
BG Pat Donovan
G2
GEN Mike Dugan USAF
I2
MG Bob Durkin
F1 (died 14 Nov 2004)
MG USAF Jud Ellis
A2 (died 12 Jan 2001)
BG Claude Fernandez
F2 (died 24 Mar 2015)
BG Bill Ganey
H1 (died 20 Jan 2016)
LTG Dick Graves
M1
MG Mike Harvey
E1 (died 9 Nov 2013)
BG Pete Hidalgo
K1 (died 15 Dec 2008)
MG Linc Jones
I1 (died 16 Jan 2013)
BG USAF Bob Kirtley
(died 8 May 1994)
GEN Pete Kullavanijaya
B2 Royal Thai Army
BG USAF Bob McCann
D2
MG Tim McLean
F1
BG Don Palladino
F2 (died 27 May 2018)
BG Ben Pellegrini
F2
BG Bob Pointer
G2
BG Jim Ramsden
I2 (died 13 Aug 1998)
BG Dick Reynard
I1
MG George Robertson
H1
MG Will Roosma
H2 (died 29 Apr 2011)
GEN Butch Saint
I1 (died 7 May 2018)
MG Alan Salisbury
L1
MG Tom Sands
K1
MG John Sewall
F2
BG Tony Smith
I1
LTG USAF Leo Smith
G1
GEN Sam Sookmark
M1 Royal Thai Army
BG John Soper
H2
MG Chuck Teeter
L1
GEN Bill Tuttle
E2
MG USAF Mac Williams
E2
Thirty-nine total general officers by my count. There are two from
the Royal Thai Army, 8 from the USAF and 29 from the US Army. Very
sadly, 13 of the 39 have transitioned to the ghostly assemblage as
indicated by date of death.
DC Social Event.
“The social baton has passed from Jack
Gordon to me (email from new social guru, Palmer McGrew)
for our DC area class functions. I have asked several folks to
assist me in this enterprise. I am away for several months in the
summer, for one thing. I could use some more help, so let me know if you
are willing to help. Our next event is 14 June at the ANCC in
Fairfax. It will be a buffet lunch. John Schaffer
is providing an excellent speaker, Steve Moore, who is well-connected to
the administration and promises to be very interesting.
“The cost per person is $25. Drinks can be purchased as
usual. I presume that golfers may add a round with their class
buddies. Golfers please contact Andy Andreson.
Please reply to Palmer McGrew if you will attend. We
will need a good idea of how many are coming. Hope to see you
then, Palmer”
Scribe must launch this one or it will miss the month of May.
I have more, but I will save it for my next installment in June.
Again, I am using the unrestricted senders class list. CCQs may
send this to company-mates who are on the restricted senders list, the
one used by Jack Downing for death notifications. I
have no clue who is on the unrestricted list as opposed to the
restricted senders list. I trust the CCQs know who gets this
directly from me (unrestricted senders) and to whom they need to forward
this message (restricted senders). When in doubt, check with our
death notifier Jack Downing.
George as in your friendly Scribe
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