On 21-22 July, a group of us (Kullman, Baratto, Johnson, Brennan, Conway, Darrow, Cytryn, and Evans) were proud to represent the Class of 1964 at ceremonies closing out Yearling Training at Camp Buckner for our 50 Year Affiliation Class of 2014. Affiliation Class.
Read the entire report at:
www.west-point.org/class/usma1964/classflag.pdf
All the best from West Point
Dan Evans
A group of classmates just completed a ethics session at West Point with the Class of 2014 on May 5th. See the group picture of atendees Mike Conway, Mark Brennan, Joe Mastriani, Dan Hornbarger, Bob McCoy, Tom Kullman, Dan Evans, and Max Johnson at:
http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1964/images/ethics/ethicsgroup.jpg
Also see pictures taken by Mark Brennan of the event at:
http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1964/ethicsinmay/
I was privileged to go back to my old company, A-1 to support the company 1st sergeant present the class that could be called "Reflections on Plebe Year". The 1st Sgt, Cadet Romedy Murr, a triathlete, did an outstanding job, stimulating a good discussion about what the plebes had learned about the honor code, leadership, respect for others by asking them how they would be treating the incoming class. Though I had not been with this group before, I could see that their maturity had grown in the past year. They absorbed the old "lead by example" that we learned after dealing with the various levels of maturity of our upperclassmen. I was impressed as these cadets "got it". Though a couple of them stated they thought that Plebe Year would be more difficult, they were not disappointed in the challenges they faced. One of the challenges CDT Murr put before them was "What will it take to get you to raise your hand to commit to being an officer?", referring to the commitment 2nd Classmen make at the beginning of Cow Year. Great question with profound implications. These young cadets are being challenged with personal decisions that I don't remember dealing with as a plebe or yearling. I found the afternoon enlightening and stimulating.
On 5 May, I met with the Plebes of Company F-2 and the topic was
"Reflections of Plebe Year". It was led by a Second Class Platoon Sergeant.
He began with a description of what his upbringing had been to include why
he had selected to go to West Point. I chimed in with it was really a 30
minute TV Show in the 50s called "West Point" that spurred my interest. In
it some cadet was always facing a difficult dilemma and managed to solve the
problem in 30 minutes, and of course they all marched away to the tune of
"The Official West Point March". I also had a Major General Evans from the
Class of 1915 (Class the Stars fell on) who took an interest in me, and
provided me with a Catalogue and managed to get me tickets to the 1958
Army-Navy football game where Dawkins, Anderson, and Carpenter beat the
Navy. Unfortunately when I graduated from High School, I was qualified to
go but no appointment. Then I faced the choice of go to the Naval Academy
or sign on as a Private and go to the Prep School. I chose the latter, and
the Class of 2014 agreed with my choice. When I finally made it into West
Point in July of 1960, it was the fulfillment of a dream come true.
I told them the mechanics of a "Shower Formation" and how I thought the
first night if an Officer saw what was going on here, there would be "Hell
to pay"; it was at that moment that our TAC came through and beat my neck in
and I gave up all hope. So I pointed out how hazing could sometimes lead to
demeaning practices which violated the principle of "Respect", and therefore
classes on this topic were important in the Professional Military Ethics
program. The Plebes then gave a frank discussion of the problems of
leadership within the company-problems of approachability, and diminishing
attention to their development as the year went along. A certain amount of
that would be expected, as First Classmen began to focus on their soon to be
careers as officers in the Army. I told them that no matter who their
leaders may be, they could take notes on both good and bad techniques, and
they should emulate the good and try their best to avoid the bad. In
conclusion, one cadet said that when he was in elementary school one day, he
heard this huge explosion and debris flying around as the World Trade Center
fell to the ground. His dad who was a policeman or fireman (I can't
remember which) got a hold of him and told him that he might not be
returning this day and to look after his Mom and brothers and sisters. His
dad did make it through OK but he lost an Uncle in the 9-11 Tragedy. He
said at that very moment, he knew he wanted to go to West Point and do
something about the problem. It always inspires me to be around the
outstanding men and women in the Class of 2014. Max Johnson
Charleston Reunion
On May 11, a large contingency of Northerners from the West Point Class of ‘64 invaded the southern stronghold of Charleston, South Carolina where Southern classmates, led by General Ann Muir, had prepared an active defense against the invading forces.
General Muir’s defensive plan was to lure the invaders into a local watering hole on the evening of the invasion where they were greeted by southern belles and classmates who plied them with alcoholic spirits and stories of "the Corps has." The plan worked. Desires to conquer disappeared and feelings of camaraderie that always unite the Class of ’64 rose to take their place.
On the following morning, a number of classmates and their wives from both the North and the South paraded through the streets of Charleston in horse-drawn carriages. The sun was shining, the colors were waving: it was a grand affair.
That evening, we gathered at a grand feast where spies from both sides worked their counterpart diplomats to evoke stories and secrets. The more the liquor flowed, the more the stories were revealed. A major coup in intelligence was scored when locals discovered that several out-of-town visitors were slaves to their GPSs. In spite of visual cues, while attempting to enter the parking lot of their hotel, erstwhile drivers slavishly executed "make a legal U-turn" commands only to be diverted back across the largest bridge in Charleston that they had just crossed. One enterprising Northerner was a creative problem-solver. After executing the requested U-turn, his copilot told him of the error. He corrected his mistake by backing up against traffic amidst cries of "damn Yankee."
On Friday morning classmates were invited on an exclusive tour of the Nathaniel Russell house. With two floors build to original specs, the third floor seemed to be a constant victim whenever a hurricane passes through, so it is not restored. Mr. Russeil was a merchant who started out being a social outcast, but got even by becoming one of the richest men in town, sort of a Charlestown version of Donald Trump.
Friday night we gathered on a boat to cruise the Charleston harbor past Fort Sumter. While feasting and drinking, classmates argued over who started the Civil War.
During the entire event, skirmishes were held on the field of friendly strife where Field Marshall George Cromartie organized golf matches. Results from the field remain unreported.
In sum, the event was well executed. General Muir and her staff are to be commended.
Class of 1964 Committee on Ethics
Mike Conway has arranged the Committee on Ethics to participate in Honor Code instruction with the West Point Class of 2014. Principals include Dan Evans, Bob McCoy, Joe Mastriani, Tom Kullman, Max Johnson and Mike Conway. The Committee is pledged to attend 4 classes each year with the Class of 2014 until they become Firsties. The first meeting of Plebe Year covered the basic rights of cadets if implicated in an honor violation, the 2nd meeting was on the importance of respect, the 3rd meeting was on the issue of "Conflicting Loyalties." and the 4th meeting which will take place on 5 May will focus on "Reflections on Plebe Year".
On 28 February the Committee sent representatives to the 3rd meeting for Plebe Year. The Class of '64 group that went to West Point to participate in the Honor Code instruction consisted of Mike Conway, Max Johnson, Joe Mastriani, Dan Hornbarger, Tom Kullman and Mark Brennan.
rd meeting for Plebe Year. The Class of '64 group that went to West Point to participate in the Honor Code instruction consisted of Mike Conway, Max Johnson, Joe Mastriani, Dan Hornbarger, Tom Kullman and Mark Brennan.
rd meeting for Plebe Year. The Class of '64 group that went to West Point to participate in the Honor Code instruction consisted of Mike Conway, Max Johnson, Joe Mastriani, Dan Hornbarger, Tom Kullman and Mark Brennan.
View the full report at www.west-point.org/class/usma1964/ethics/ethics.docx
Class of 1964 Committee on Ethics
Mike Conway has arranged the Committee on Ethics to participate in Honor Code instruction with the West Point Class of 2014. Principals include Dan Evans, Bob McCoy, Joe Mastriani, Tom Kullman, Max Johnson and Mike Conway. The Committee is pledged to attend 4 classes each year with the Class of 2014 until they become Firsties. The first meeting of Plebe Year covered the basic rights of cadets if implicated in an honor violation, the 2nd meeting was on the importance of respect, the 3rd meeting was on the issue of "Conflicting Loyalties." and the 4th meeting which will take place on 5 May will focus on "Reflections on Plebe Year".
On 28 February the Committee sent representatives to the 3rd meeting for Plebe Year. The Class of '64 group that went to West Point to participate in the Honor Code instruction consisted of Mike Conway, Max Johnson, Joe Mastriani, Dan Hornbarger, Tom Kullman and Mark Brennan.
rd meeting for Plebe Year. The Class of '64 group that went to West Point to participate in the Honor Code instruction consisted of Mike Conway, Max Johnson, Joe Mastriani, Dan Hornbarger, Tom Kullman and Mark Brennan.
View the full report at www.west-point.org/class/usma1964/ethics/ethics.pdf
The youtube listings at http://www.youtube.com/user/rachelsgramps#g/u has emerged as the West Point Class of 1964 site for various videos.
Although Youtube videos are limited to 15 minutes or less and cannot contain any copyrighted material, they do provide an efficient way of broadcasting info on our class.
Several of the videos have already been posted on WP.ORG but are of such a large size that the either require long download times or exceed bandwidth for some of our classmates systems. The Youtube approach overcomes these problems. Unfortunately, a few of the videos contain possibly copyrighted music and on these videos the audio has been disabled by Youtube and all you get is the visual presentation.
Posted videos include:
– Angame, submitted by Mark Brennan. Includes images of participants at the Adams home who came to cheer the Army Team during the AN game this year.
– Senic Images of West Point. Photos taken by Roy Jones during the 45th Class Reunion at West Point.
– Aspen 2007. Prepared by Dick Puckett. Bob Michela presents awards to hapless class skiers during the class ski trip to Aspen Colorado.
– Ski10. The Bob Michela Story. Covers 15 years of skiing with the class ski group (now known as the Robert Michela Ski Group.) Excellent video, but Youtube has muted the sound due to alleged copyright issues.
– Prepschool.avi. Historical video of USMAPS 1959-1960. Prepared by Dick Puckett and narrated by Max Johnson. This was the prep school class that gave us a first captain and a professional football player who as recently inducted in the Football of Fame.
– Skipfinal. Video of the celebration of Skip Robert's life. Presented by Judy Roberts.
– Four years. 4 videos that tell the story of our classmates life at West Point Produced by Dick Puckett and narrated by Max Johnson.
– Graveside. Produced by Bill Jackman. A video of the grave side visies of our classmates across the country. Taken during the 45th Reunion.
– Jack and the Playboy Bunny. Submitted by Jack Price. Video of the famous visit by Jo Collins to Jack Price's unit in Vietnam.
– Fallen Warriors. A tribute to our classmates who are on the Wall. I suggest that you visit this site every Memorial Day. Produced by Dick Puckett.
– Continental Drill Caper. Narrated by Art Kelly. Video of the last performance of Contential Drill performed by members of our class.
——————–
Send me videos of 15 minutes or less with non-copywritted content and I will add them to the Youtube site. Also give me feedback on the Youtube aproach.
Your Webkinz,
Dick Puckett
46 classmates and family gathered in Aspen Colorado for a week of socializing, skiing, snowshoeing and, of course, shopping from February 5 to 11. Snow impacted on several of the flights to Aspen forcing many of the groups to resort to taking buses, vans, and cars for the Denver to Aspen leg. Compliments to Bob Magruder who seized control of the DC-group problem and found the last available bus in Denver to get the group to Aspen. The bus driver drove the large vehicle like a Porsche in a grand prix.
During the Welcome Party Bob led a tribute to Bob Michela. After making a few remarks by Magruder and Bob Michela's former roommates, Magruder opened the floor to any one else who wanted to make comments. Heart-felt memories flowed from the group. Bob Michela was fondly and well remembered.
Skiing was great on Monday. A snow storm dropped a couple of feet of snow over night, to the delight (and horror) of skiers.
So far, except in case of a few cases of altitude sickness, all are well. Hopefully we will all survive the Margarita Party scheduled for tonight.
Ajax, the Highlands, Buttermilk, Snowmass – no, these are not battlefields of WWIII, but are the ski slopes that challenged the Robert Michela Ski Group last week. All of the group skiers survived, although a few required some field-level medical assistance, On Snowmass Audrey Puckett served as a bowling pin when one of her condo-mates delivered a perfect strike and sent her flying through the air. Audrey quickly recovered and was skiing the next day. Several members suffered from altitude sickness but all seem ok now.
Most challenging was the evening Margarita Party. It took place in a pool hall where high-octane Margaritas were served (and were free, increasing the danger.) What started out as a sedate group showing their lack of skill as pool players, quickly descended downward into dancing between the tables and other boisterous activities. As the pool-hall party wound down, a number of our classmates, spouses and friends moved to a local bar where they encountered a bunch of 20-something year olds. At first the kids smirked at their elders but then were awed by our group's dance moves and joined in. Bob Magruder was seen with two babes dancing with him at the same time and neither was Angie!
Cliff Beasley's Wine Party was a huge success, although he did not include my favorite box of wine on his list. After 5 or so glasses of wine, several of our class and friends began to show their Yoga skills with moves like the Bridge and the Wheel. Several of the moves looked like the warm-up moves we used to do for wrestling. (Note to Bob M. we need to include a GUMBY award for the most flexible classmate with Marge being a top contender. Maybe Sue Morton will finally jump into the competition. She is obviously a sleeper candidate.)
So, all good things must come to an end. At the Farewell Ceremony on Friday, Awards were given and stories were swapped. Bob Hillyer brought in his bass guitar and led the group through a medley of songs from the 50s and 60s. A couple of videos of previous gatherings were shown and are posted here on the Class Web Site.
In sum, skiing was great, the group that range from my 11-year-old granddaughter Rachel to a bunch of old guys strengthened their ties, the Gant Hotel in Aspen provided excellent service, hot-tubbing, swimming, and hiking was awesome. It was a five-star trip.
Thank you Trip Captain Bob Magruder and all who supported him.
Dick Puckett
Attached by link are 3 videos featuring the Bob Michela Ski Group. The videos were prepared by John Traylor, Dick Puckett and Andy Dykes. Both skiers and non skiers will find the videos fascinating, they show your classmates in action.
Videos, by their nature, uses fairly large files, so take your time downloading them. They are found at:
www.west-point.org/class/usma1964/ski10.wmv
www.west-point.org/class/usma1964/ski20.wmv
www.west-point.org/class/usma1964/ski30.wmv
Subject: Charleston Mini-Reunion
Classmates, The Charleston team has begun to focus on our next Charleston mini-reunion, May 11 – May 15, 2011. A number of you are already planning to come and may have reserved a beach house or a room at the Mt. Pleasant Holiday Inn. This email is the first formal information for the mini.
We are planning our major social events for Thursday and Friday nights so that those of you who are renting beach houses and must vacate on Saturday morning, will not miss a party! However, I did extend the block of rooms at the Holiday Inn until Sunday so those of you who might want to sample one of our famous Charleston restaurants and see more of our historic city, can do so.
George Cromartie is planning golf for Thursday and Friday and if there is enough interest, can plan for other days also.
The Thursday and Friday night social events are in the planning stages. I am requesting that if you are coming to the mini, you send me $100 deposit for each member in your party, so that we can have some resources to reserve venues and make deposits for catering these events. Your deposit will be deducted from your final cost for the events. Please make your check out to Ann Muir or James I. Muir III and mail it to Ann Muir, 506 Pitt Street, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. Please send your deposit by Feb. 15.
There will be daytime activities also, but we have agreed there is much to see in Charleston and we want you to have an opportunity to visit a plantation, go to an art museum, take a carriage ride, go on a walking tour, so we are going to leave you some time to do activities of your own choice. You might want to visit the Charleston Convention and Visitors’ Bureau website, http://www.charlestoncvb.com to see what the city has to offer during your visit. And if you choose not to stay at the Mt. Pleasant Holiday Inn, there are numerous hotels or B&Bs on the CVB website. If you wish to make a reservation at the Mt. Pleasant Holiday Inn, Click here
I am attaching a form for you to complete so we will have some basic contact information. Please return that form by email to me: annmuir@comcast.net or to Jimmy: fax: 843-414-4001 or snail mail: Ann Muir, 506 Pitt Street, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464.
Also, finally, if you know of anyone that you should forward thisinformation to, please do. Thanks.
Ann Muir
Escape the winter blahs. Read the write up by Ian Carter on the "Ryder Cup" event held in Colo. in July at:
Subject: Grad March Back Booklet
AOG published a booklet for all of the participants in the 2010 grad march back. Bob Ballagh copied it for the Class Web Site. Although the document is large and requires some time to download, it is well worth viewing.
View it as a high-quality PDF file – it takes a little time to download
www.west-point.org/class/usma1964/marchbook.pdf
Or as a lower-quality HTML file that takes less time to download
