COL William John Connolly (RET), 78, passed away peacefully in the Howard County General Hospital, Columbia, MD on April 4, 2021. He was a decorated veteran who served almost 28 years in the U.S. Army.

Bill was born on October 5th, 1942 in Boston, MA to Daniel Blaney Connolly and Eileen Keefe Connolly. During High School, Bill decided he wanted to attend a Military Academy, but not just any Military Academy. He patiently waited for an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, to him the premiere military academy in the U.S. He graduated from this great institution in June of 1965; was commissioned as a U.S. Army Infantry 2nd Lieutenant; and, completed Airborne, Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School in quick succession prior to departing for Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne “Sky Soldiers”. While in Vietnam LT Connolly was Company Commander of C Company, 4th Battalion 503rd Airborne Infantry. Charlie Company became known for their action on Hill 875.

After serving in Vietnam, now CPT Connolly, became an instructor at the Mountain Phase of the U.S. Army Ranger School in Dahlonega, GA. Bill met and married Janice C. Martin in 1968. After the wedding, their world tour began. Army assignments took the Connolly’s around the globe to locations like Fort Benning, Georgia; University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa; Camp Hovey, South Korea; Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN; Fort Meade, MD; Navy War College, Newport, RI; Vicenza, Italy; Heidelberg, Germany; Goppingen, Germany; Fort Leavenworth, KS; Fort Benning, GA for Battalion Command; USARSO, Panama City, Panama and finally to the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Finance at the Pentagon, Washington, DC. COL Connolly retired in 1993.

After retirement from Active Duty, Bill accepted a position utilizing his secondary Army skillset as a Comptroller by becoming Deputy Financial Manager in the Panama Canal Commission. He loved Panama and all its people and was one of two government civilians who finalized the transition of the operation of the Panama Canal from U.S. to Panamanian control in December 1999. He retired from U.S. Government service after he and a lawyer finalized all U.S. Government legal liabilities for the canal in 2005.

During this long and storied career, “Ranger Bill” became a father of three, William (Fort Benning, GA), Erin (Tuscaloosa, AL) and Sean (Fort Meade, MD). The Connolly family settled in Laurel, MD where Ranger Bill could easily spend time with his grandchildren Katherine, Aidan and Liam, whom he adored. He loved to spend time outdoors fishing and running, which saw him completing the Boston and Marine Corps Marathons, the Infantry Center Half-Marathon and numerous Triathlon’s. He was a loving father, a brave and honorable Army Officer, and a solid Senior Executive Service civilian. He is survived by his wife, Janice, his daughter Erin Kate and his two sons William and Sean. Burial is scheduled in the early fall at Arlington National Cemetery.

My wife KC and I were in Hawaii two weeks, San Francisco one week. It was our “Last Hurrah”, using up leftover timeshare weeks (purchased 1991, sold for a loss -- the only way out of timeshares).

Air travel is so unpleasant now —the pandemic, 9-11, etc. Hawaii required us to set up a website in advance to upload our Covid vaccines. I uploaded some official- looking nonsense but it worked fine. Just another tedious procedure serving no purpose.

One trick we discovered with my wife's broke leg (2021): now we ask for a wheelchair and let them escort us to the flight with priority access. “Wheelchair coming thru!” they shout. Still they confiscated shampoo, next trip soy sauce; they've taken scissors for toddlers, suntan lotion, other weapons.

Chuck Nichols and his friend, Diane Maddra, spent two glorious weeks in Hawaii this past March where he was able to celebrate his 81st in a beautiful estate, in Kauai, with a private chief providing cooking lessons while preparing a beautiful four course meal. The estate overlooked Maalaea and the ocean, presenting an ideal venue for a memorable birthday. The view from Lona Ridge, owned by Leona Wilson, was a sight to remember.

Left: Diane and Chief Dann preparing desert

During the stay in Hawaii [we] visited Oahu, Kauai and Maui. There were so many highlights that it is hard to select the most important. The most arduous, however, was the climb to the top of Diamond Head to view Honolulu from above, especially since [I] had not fully recovered from [my] ankle surgery. We weren’t fast but managed to make it to the top and back without further injury.

Other places visited in Oahu were Pearl Harbor (Arizona Memorial) to include Ford Island (Battle Ship Missouri) and an island tour by car culminating in a sunset cruise on a catamaran from Waikiki to Diamond Head and back. Honolulu from the sea at night is a sight to behold. Kauai presented the ruggedness of Hawaii with a helicopter tour of the Waimea Canyon area.

Kauai presented the ruggedness of Hawaii with a helicopter tour of the Waimea Canyon area. Fortunately, the weather cooperated and we were treated to spectacular views of the canyon which we later got to see up close with a tour by car of the canyon. The following day we got to see it from an entirely different view from the sea, finishing the day with a dip in the ocean from the back of the boat in a quiet cove.

Maui was a slower pace that the other islands. We started off with a 2 AM wakeup to be driven to the top of the mountain in Haleakala National Park (10,023 feet) where the temperature was a brisk 28 degrees F. The view was the spectacular sunrise it was advertised to be. I plan to get one of the shots of the sunrise printed on canvas to hang in my media room. We were driven to the top but road bikes down the 23 miles to the bottom having only to peddle through two short sections of the road that wasn’t downhill.

Our Classmate Bob Radcliffe has been intimately involved in the establishment of an Endowment for the Army Men’s Lacrosse Team. Specifically, he is leading the effort to secure funding from the Classes of the 60’s. This endowment will provide much needed additional funding in perpetuity for the Lacrosse program in areas such as travel support, admin support, additional coaches and the equipment needed to maintain a large varsity roster for a sport without a junior varsity program. At this time the effort has exceeded $2.5 Million in contributions. The appeal for the endowment continues and if you are interested in contributing contact Bob and he will provide needed guidance. (bobradcliffe@mindspring.com)

As part of this initiative, the Leadership Team saw an opportunity to fund a Class Legacy Project. Bob secured financial support from numerous Classmates, and we were able to purchase naming rights to a locker in the Men’s Lacrosse Locker Room. This locker will bear a dedication from the Class of ’65 To Army Men’s Lacrosse from players and supporters in the Class of ‘65. The locker will be dedicated during a Fall Football Weekend. If you attend the Fall games at West Point and would like to attend this dedication, please let Bob know.

He will keep you apprised of all planning for the dedication.

As an aside Bob also coordinated with all of the Classes of the 60’s to secure funding for a locker honoring Coach Jim (Ace) Adams, who coached Army Lacrosse throughout the decade of the 60’s. This locker will also be dedicated in the Fall.

The Central Virginia group met for lunch on Apr 7 near Richmond. Another great time together with talk of plebe year, Corps squad sports, Eisenhower and Bradley’s 50th reunion our Firstie year, places to live in retirement, current aches and pains, dietary restrictions, travel, politics, Ukraine, and growing families.

The biggest family news was that Emery and Eleanora Chase just celebrated the arrival of their fourth great grandchild. We agreed that we certainly are the old grads that we used to talk about as cadets.

Group photo. L to R: Front row, Trisha Griffin, Darlene Hopkins, Eleanora and Emery Chase, & Bob Clover. Back row: Roger Griffin, Dave Hopkins, Lynne & Jim Helberg, Chuck Nichols. &Tricia Clover.

Don’t know if everyone in the class got this, but might be of interest. I remember that I fell asleep during McArthur’s speech in the mess hall.
The Academy has produced two videos to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of General Douglas MacArthur’s speech to the Corps (12 May 1962).This speech is regularly listed among the greatest speeches of all time. Duty, Honor, Country LONG-https://youtu.be/lafPwwmRvf0. Duty, Honor, Country SHORT: https://youtu.be/LsFTCRextoo

Rosemarie and I just returned from a very pleasant visit to Hawaii where we met up with Bobby and Freya Jones. We had a wonderful dinner at their lovely home on the Kohala Coast one night, then played golf the next day followed by a great dinner at the Mauna Kea Resort. We attempted to get Tommy Thompson to fly over from Kauai, but he was unable to join us

Photo: Left to right are Dave Kuhn, Rosemarie Kuhn, Freya Jones and Bob Jones.

I filed an extension for doing my taxes, so I suddenly have time on my hands to do things like clean up my desk-wife's very strong suggestion. Buried in a pile of old photos is this one taken in Cu Chi of the officers or our unit the 125 Signal Bn. We were the organic Sig Bn for the 25 ID, and sailed with them from Hawaii to Vietnam on WW2 troop ships in Feb 1966.
That voyage is a long story in itself, but not for now. The unit was about 70-80 percent West Point grads as Hawaii was such great duty. My tour there was 86 days, but I digress.
An interesting sidelight. We lost a platoon from out battalion as they supported the third brigade which was sent to Pleiku never to return to us. That brigade was replaced by two infantry battalion who came from Alaska, joined us in Hawaii, and made the move to RVN. Don't think they had time to turn in their long undies as it all happened in a matter of weeks. The Army can be swift when they want to be.

Class mates in the attached photo are: Front row standing on far left; Jerry Dernar, standing at far right same row is Bob Rood Back row are fourth from the left; Carl Gentine, and next to him Mike Leibowitz. Both of them are partially hidden.

Two weeks ago I traveled 100 miles to Fort Irwin, CA for the USO grand opening there. In 1967, I, Gill Curl and Jim Talbot arrived at Fort Irwin to join the 5/22 FA (175mm long range artillery) for preparation for deployment to the central highlands in South Vietnam. At that time Fort Irwin had the only artillery firing ranges that could accommodate the 175 mm 20 mile maximum range. We could stand behind our guns, fire maximum range and see the rounds land. During our training we would experience 125 degree temps in August.

In 1994, I returned to Fort Irwin to watch the 1/7 CAV Squadron, 1CAV go against the Fort Irwin aggressor force, which they beat thanks to the quick reaction of the organic Apache helicopter company to the aggressor main attack. My son Chip was the B Troop XO and successfully ambushed an aggressor tank company.

Although I was asked to attend the Fort Irwin after action briefing on main base, I decided to stay with Chip and B troop. Little did I know that my classmate BG Ric Shinseki, 1CAV ADC- maneuver was at the Fort Irwin after action briefing. Chip was presented with the ARCOM by Ric later at Fort Hood.

Anyhow, Fort Irwin is still an isolated post designated as the National Training Center now training major troop units in Russian tactics. The Fort Irwin installation is a vast improvement over what we had in 1967 with major improvements for troop and family considerations.

Leadership Team . . . I spoke with Mrk Sheridan last evening. Sounded strong and optimistic.
Getting good care at Stoney Point Veterans. 3 rounds of chemo with one to go then radiation. He is still in the fight!

Last night George & Jill Seaworth joined us here for dinner with my good friend Ryan Yantis (22 year Army vet, LTC retired, not a WP grad) and his wife Sharon for dinner and a lively discussion of his distant relative, none other than St. Elmo Parlette Tyner, II, aka "Step" to all of his S & D classmates.

I have known Ryan for many years; he served as the Midwest PAO for the Army (a job that I think Joe & Lynne De Francisco's daughter Laura has/had afterward) while I was the IL CASA. We did a lot of good things together for the Army. Great guy.

He is a distant relative of Step's (Ryan's grand mother, a Yantis married a Tyner) and had met Step many years ago. He was quite interested in our old stories of Step. Lots of laughs.

We shared with him the '65 Howitzer entry as well as Step's Bio for the 20th Reunion book ("65 in '85", attached). George dug up some of Step's old "Dispatches" as our Scribe.
Although Step had indicated otherwise just prior to his passing (as you reported), there will be (according to Ryan) a small, family-only Memorial to Step later in the year.
The purpose of this missive is to reach out to any and all Classmates who knew Step to pass along any stories, docs, etc. to the family via Ryan they would care to share.

Tommy Thompson reports from Hawaii

This from our local fish wrapper, The Garden Isle News.

LIHU'E - The Department of Education, Kaua'i Complex Area offices announced the 2022 Kaua'i Shinseki Scholarship award recipients, Wednesday afternoon.

"With the COVID-19 pandemic, we've had to change the way the winners are celebrated," the DOE announcement said. "Hopefully, next year, we can return to celebrating the award recipients in person with a luncheon and photo opportunities."

Angeline Chan, a student at Kaua'i High School, Eve Ohai, a student from Kapa'a High School, and Kiernan Canavan, a student from Waimea High School will each receive scholarships of $2,000.

The selection committee responsible for awarded $2,000, one scholarship for each of the Kaua'i public high schools, look for students that have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0, community and extracurricular involvement, academic, and athletic achievement and other evidence of personal motivation.

The Gen. Erick K., and Patricia Shinseki Scholarship fund with the Public Schools of Hawai'i Foundation offers scholarships to graduates of public high schools on Kaua'i to encourage island youth to continue their studies at an accredited 2-year or 4-year institution.

A graduate of Kaua'i High School, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Gen. (ret.) Shinseki had a distinguished career in the United States Army, reaching the top post of Chief of Staff, U.S. Army. More recently, in 2008, President Barak Obama appointed him to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs. In retirement, Gen. Shinseki continues to remain active in the community by serving on various boards and commissions, both in Hawai'i and the mainland.

Patricia Shinseki is a graduate of Waimea High School, and taught biology at Kaua'i High School. She continued her teaching career at schools on the mainland as well as the Department of Defense schools overseas with a deep interest in civic causes. She has also served on many boards, including Director of the Military Child Education Coalition, and as an advisory board member for Sesame Street's "Talk, Listen, Connect" program.

Our condolences go out to the families of those who have joined the ghostly assemblage of the Long Grey Line this past year:
220116 Steve Harmon
220130 Wayne Marsh
22027 Art Hester

- End of Despatch -

January 23rd
As previously reported, here in Southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, we have a group of classmates who meet on an irregular basis for lunch and discussions. There are about 16 classmates on the list.

Recently we were able to get six classmates together at the Porter House in Lahaska, PA. Rick Kuzman was the host.

It was really good to get together after all the “Covid restrictions” and see each other. Discussions were lively and wide ranging, covering everything from the price of oil to; the environment; old Tacs; football; our kids and grandkids too. Again, a great time.

We will meet again on April 20, 2022 in New Hope, PA. Rick Kuzman will again be the host at that gathering. Anyone who is within “range” is invited and welcome to join the group of “irregulars.”

Picture here is this recent gathering – from left to right - Howie Reed from Egg Harbor NJ; Fred Smith from Downingtown, PA; Roy Garms of Stirling, NJ; Rick Kuzman of New Hope PA; Joe Barkley of Holland, PA. and Russ Campbell from Glenn Rock, NJ.
While it was good to see everyone, it was especially good to have Russ there after his bout with COVID. Looking forward to seeing everyone and more in April 2022.

Tim Timmerman

This is just in from Tim Timmerman who bumped into Dave Bangert. According to Tim, he and Dave had not seen one another in forever. Dave and Sandy live in Hawaii and Sue and I in Charlotte. They had no idea both were on the same cruise which went from Montreal to NYC. Great cruise. Had it not been for Dave's eagle eye catching the class crest on my sport jacket we might have remained ships in the night.

L to R: Tim, Sue, Dave and Sandy

January 19th
DEDICATION OF HOWIE POINTUCK WALL OF DISTINCTION LOU GROSS GYMNASTICS CENTER, WEST POINT

It was a great day for the Class of 1965 Gymnasts. A dedication was held on Saturday, January 15, at the Lou Gross Gymnastics Center to remember Howie Pontuck and to recognize the contributions of gymnasts to West Point and the Army. Not only was the ceremony a tribute to 1LT Howie Pontuck, Class of 1966, but the presentation of Lifetime Achievement Awards to seven West Point Gymnasts, including two members of the Class of 1965, Tad Ono and John Longhouser. Tad, John and the other awardees spoke eloquently about Howie, as we all loved Howie and were sad to learn of his becoming a KIA in Vietnam in 1968.

Bob and Phyllis Wolff were there as well as members of the Cheryl Longhouser and eight members of the Longhouser family and Mari Ono, one of Tad’s daughters, and two of her Vasser classmates. Howie’s brother Joel was on a webcast to participate in the ceremony. Two of Howie’s classmate gymnasts were also present, Tory Wilson and Paul Roggenkampf. Ken Slutsky had planned to participate but had to cancel due to some family health issues and we remembered Oleh Koropey, who was very much missed.

The primary display, name after Howie Pontuck, includes the list of USMA gymnasts who achieved the rank of General Officer, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the nation’s wars, and those gymnasts who were Prisoners of War. The ceremony included the reading of the names of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and showed a cadet photo of each. The awards were presented by Gymnastics Coach Doug Van Everen, who has been the USMA Gymnastics coach for 32 years.

Congratulations to John and Tad.
Bob Wolff

January 18th
A trio of 65 classmates gathered Columbus GA last Saturday, the January 15th. Bill and Nancy recently relocated from Colorado to Auburn, AL to be close to their son and family. Our luncheon was in the recently opened beautiful Hotel Indigo overlooking the Chattahoochee River. A trio of 65 classmates gathered Columbus GA last Saturday, the January 15th. Bill and Nancy recently relocated from Colorado to Auburn, AL to be close to their son and family. Our luncheon was in the recently opened beautiful Hotel Indigo overlooking the Chattahoochee River.

Attached isa picture of a small 65 gathering in Columbus GA last Saturday, the 15th. Pictured from left to right are: Pat & Alice Kenny, Nancy and Bill Hecker, and Wes Taylor. Bill and Nancy recently relocated from Colorado to Auburn, AL to be close to their son and family. Our luncheon was in the recently opened beautiful Hotel Indigo overlooking the Chattahoochee River.

January 18th
Last Sunday we took a side trip SE from Salt Lake City to Bryce Canyon. It was a beautiful sunny day there with clear roads. In the picture is my younger grandson Caden, me, Marilyn and my son Chip/USMA’92 currently teaching electrical engineer/robotics at West Point.

- End of Despatch -

June 2022 Golf Gathering,  Myrtle Beach, SC

June 13-15 some of the class golf stalwarts gathered for another Bob Radcliffe golf extravaganza.  Fred Laughlin came the farthest with Mitch Bonnett and Dave Jones close seconds. Fred won the longest drive contest with Bob Frank being a “close” second.  Bob did win a closest to the pin.

The group is shown above before teeing off on the third day of golf.  The event was organized for three days of golf with the middle day being for the hearty while others took a day off between rounds.

The golf was fun but more important was being able to get together and swap old and new “war” stories.

These aging warriors can still hit the ball well and putt and chip even better, for the most part.