From John Higley. I swear it is Bob Arvin in Central Barracks.

From Mike Lapolla

MISS AMERICA 2024

Air Force Lieutenant Madison Isabella Marsh (Fort Smith, AR) is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. She was crowned Miss America 2024. She had previously been crowned Miss Colorado 2023, and was first member of the United States Armed Forces to win the title of Miss America. Outside of pageantry, Marsh is an officer in the United States Air Force.

MISS USA 2024

Army Lieutenant Alma Cooper (Okemos, MI) was named Miss USA 2024 . Alma serves as a 2nd lieutenant and Military Intelligence Officer in the United States Army. After graduating in the top 5% of her class from West Point, she was awarded the opportunity to earn her Masters in Data Science at Stanford University as a Knight Hennessy Scholar.

Attached photo of Alma with our cheerleaders at the Army-Tulsa game. She made an appearance at our tailgate.

All,

The Franks recently visited the Wolffs at Phyllis and Bob’s new residence, where they were able to compare notes about their respective continuing care facility.

Two slightly different approaches, but basically the same goal. We think we are set for the coming years - NO MOVES!

Bob Frank

Request you send the attached trip report to our classmates. It hits the highlights of a trip just finished by Company E-1 Plebe Year roommates, Ben Whitehouse, Paul Singelyn, and myself through five national parks of Southern Utah. As when '65 classmates gather anywhere, the wisdom was palpable (okay, barely detectable). We recounted and laughed at the same old stories, embellished our contributions to society, solved most of the world's problems and created a few more. As class ambassadors we were ready at all times to regale people about the magnificent USMA Class of 65. No one asked.

Thanks for all you do to keep our Band of Brothers connected.

Jay Vaughn

Touring the USAFA Hall of Heroes with Jim Kunkle - WWII fighter pilot and Distinguished Service Cross recipient - the morning after celebrating his 102nd birthday.

The Lapollas, Neals, Clarkes, and Muriel Halvorson experienced a fine Time in Tulsa centered around the Army – University of Tulsa football game October 5th. Bruce and Sue Clarke drove down to Tulsa from Topeka while Larry, Ruth, and grandson Kyle drove down from Wichita. Muriel Halvorson (Colin’s widow) flew in from Wilmington, NC for the event, and to visit with her sister Carol Lapolla. Mike and Carol were our gracious hosts and arranged for our wonderful dinner together at the Ambassador Hotel’s Chalkboard Restaurant.

We all attended the excellent Tailgate prepared by the West Point Society of Tulsa and attended by more than 300 guests. The Supe was there and gave us a rousing pep talk, along with several AOG reps including AOG President Mark Bieger ’91. 2nd Lt. Alma Cooper ’23, the reigning Miss America, was also present. Notably and clearly off the subject, Alma followed 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, ’23 USAFA grad as Miss America. The game was great also: 49-7.

Rev Ciccione's eulogy talked of the “Long Grampy Line” with the values and traditions Dave gave his family that will live on. His adventurous spirit. Trying new things. Aviation. Being a “Do-er” and not a “Don't-er”. Pushing to do your best. Ice hockey. Skiing. Leadership. Music, especially the acoustic guitar. Boating. Being a good teacher.

The USMA Class of 1965 Flag was prominently displayed up front with a laminated copy of the class letter tucked in the middle of the wreath provided by the class. These items generated many comments from those in attendance.

The family prepared and displayed six large posters filled with photographs of Dave through the years. A quick study of these posters paints a picture of a happy man with a beautiful and loving family that has a lot of fun together. His was a great life exceedingly well lived.

Dave's burial was touching and in the military tradition with a firing squad from the American Legion firing a three-shot salute and Army Honor Guard members playing taps and folding the American flag.

As Dave's son put it, “We think Dad would have been proud.”

Jay Vaughn

   

   

   

SAGGG #1
(Southern Arizona Grayhog Geezer Gathering)

Thanks to the prompting and uncanny organizational skills of Jim Holmes, the newest classmate to move to the Tucson area, the Southern Arizona Grayhog Geezers Gathered for lunch on Tuesday, 12 November. This was the first of what might be many (okay at least one more) SAGG Gatherings. Any classmate passing through the area is cordially invited to attend future gatherings. Very few problems were solved, several new problems were created, and everyone had a good time laughing over distant memories and how we are coping with our current stations in life. We had such a good time that we will no doubt grace a another eating establishment with our joyful presence in a month or two. … or not.

Each attendee wore appropriate Grayhog attire. However, Grayhog honors go to Hank Mickells based on his license plate holder. Congratulations, Hank!!

Funeral of Edward Foehl

Edward Albert Foehl was laid to rest on 6 November 2024 on a warm sunny day in the West Point Cemetery. Ed’s executor and other close friends from the West Coast and Philadelphia were in attendance.

Chaplain, Major Bart Eskind, officiated at the funeral ceremony in the Old Cadet Chapel and the graveside committal. Chaplain Eskind had personally researched Ed’s history of a life of successes, from childhood to West Point, the military and civilian life. His eulogy resonated perfectly with the eulogy of his lifetime friends. Ed loved and played sports from childhood, through basketball and baseball at West Point and later. He was decorated for valor in Vietnam and respected for his leadership then and in business. The comments reflected Ed’s deep feelings about West Point and leadership values. His wife, Katie, the daughter of a West Point graduate, was interred at West Point last year.

As always, the Honor Guard did an excellent job - providing a 3-shot salute, playing Taps, and the folding and presentation of the flag.

Ed’s executor, Mark Van Heuvel, and his wife, Trista, provided a lovely brochure of photos, encomiums from his colleagues over the years, and poetry that was special to Ed. A few of the guests had never been to West Point, but they came away knowing why West Point was such a powerful force in his life.

 

Submitted by Tom Barron

It has finally rained in Northern Virginia, something that was (and still is) desperately needed. On 9 November, however, 5 amigos were able to enjoy the backyard deck of Steve and Mary Jo Ammon’s home in Annandale VA. Several hours were spent reminiscing, drinking and sharing merriment. Terry Ryan orchestrated this outing, but, at the last minute, was unable to attend. Below are Mary Jo’s comments back to Terry.

"We missed you, Terry, and completely understand. What a wonderful afternoon it was! This band of brothers is always revealing new things to each other about their USMA/Army experience, and I feel privileged to be a fly on the wall!"

All,

Frank and Susan Arnall raised a wonderful family. Attached is a report from their daughter, Ouida, about a special reunion Susan enjoyed last week at the Army-UNT game with her extended family. Ouida gives a fantastic play-by-play complete with photos. Masterful job Ouida!

We lost Frank a few years back. His celebration of life was held April 9, 2022, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Oviedo, FL. Mike Lapolla, Frank’s A1 roommate Yearling year, and lifelong family friend, served as Frank's POC.

Go Army! Army game at University of North Texas a 4-Generation Celebration

This past Saturday, November 9th there was beautiful weather and an active tailgating scene in the pre-game before Army took on the University of North Texas. Fans were gathered to see the latest in Army’s terrific season, for sure, but the added fun that the two opposing Quarterbacks are from the Texas “Friday Night Lights” culture made everyone excited to celebrate the game – no matter what team.

Mike & Carol Lapolla and Larry Neal met up with Susan Arnall and her family. Daughter Ouida brought her husband, Brett, and their daughter, Ripley, from Boston. From Dallas, was daughter Bess’s family that included her son, Doug, with his wife, Ashley, and their newborn, Carver. Bess’s daughter, Allie, came with her husband, Lukas, and their son, Mateo, who sported his A&M 12th Man jersey in solidarity with the Cadets--even though his mom is the UNT grad. For the TX family, the great-grandsons’ first college game was always going to be an event and everyone smiled as the boys cheered for their Papa’s Black Knights. As soon as Army’s move to the AAC was announced, the family knew they had to celebrate this game as its own intra-family rivalry. That the game would come during a record-making season with an Army quarterback that grew up only 20 minutes from the grandchildren’s high school just made it even more exciting

TOUCHDOWN! 1 min 21 sec later and Black Knights get that Touchdown! (Susan had loaned Frank’s 50th Reunion hat and a ’65 shirt to Brett.) Strength and Drive indeed.

All,

I lost track of this. It was in my drafts folder. My apologies. My skills are starting to dwindle.

Classmates Joe DeFrancisco, Dan Christman and Rollie Stichweh joined Ross Wollen, Saturday Oct. 19, at the under-construction Michie Stadium for the East Carolina Game, the latest win in Army's 7 - 0 Season. Susan Christman and Eric, Joe's son, joined the '65 foursome.

Ross Wollen

All,

Clair and Sherry Gill, George and Carol Bell, and Faye Hayes (Bob Radcliffe’s widow) had lunch in Calabash, NC. Faye is in good spirits, despite recently having lost, Bob, the love of her life.

Clair

Dear Classmates:

I was notified by the selection committee for the 1LT Howie Pontuck Wall of Distinction that I have been selected to be included on the Wall (see left) at a ceremony at 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. on January 11, 2025 in the Lou Gross Sports Center. I would be pleased if any of you could attend. It is a great honor for me to join Tad Ono and John Longhouser on the wall and brings back many memories of our gymnastics team and Howie, who was killed in Vietnam. Tad introduced me to gymnastics (as a walk on) and I met my wife Phyllis at an Army-Navy gymnastics meet at USNA on February 29, 1964. So gymnastics is very special to me and Phyllis.

Bob Wolff
Strength and Drive ’65

All,

Keyes Hudson has two photos to remember touring the USAFA Hall of Heroes with Jim Kunkle - WWII fighter pilot and Distinguished Service Cross recipient - the morning after celebrating his 102nd birthday. The photos were taken at the Legion of Valor Convention in Colorado Springs 16 - 20 October 2024. Jim Kunkle’s 102nd birthday was 16 October. We toured USAFA on 17 October and Fort Carson on 18 October. 1LT Westmoreland was one of our escorts at Fort Carson.

1LT Westmoreland is Gen. Westmoreland’s grandson.

All,

Ralph Thomas “Tommy” Shaw’s funeral took place in Milledgeville, GA on November 25th. There were about 160 people in attendance including Sonny Ray, Lee and Suzanne Atchley, and Pat Kenny.

It was very evident that Tommy and Gwen were very respected pillars of the Milledgeville community. Their three children spoke at the service and provided an emotional and deep description of their relationship with their father. The local National Guard unit provided superb support at the cemetery.

Mert Munson provided the following report on Thom Powers' funeral. Sorry, no pictures.

The funeral for Thomas P. Powers (D-1 and E-1, USMA) was held at Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg, FL, at eleven o'clock on November 27, 2024. The weather and location were beautiful. Many family members and friends were in attendance. In addition to Thom's wife, Dorothy, were their two daughters, two sons-in-law, and several grand children. After Thom retired from the Army he was active as a referee for basketball and football games for thirty years and was awarded Referee of the Year. Five of the referees with whom Thom worked attended the funeral. Two representatives of the United States Army in dress blue uniforms ceremonially folded a United States flag and presented it to Dorothy. Thom's son-in law, Pastor Tim May, spoke to the gathering. A local VFW post provided a narrator and a five-member firing squad which fired three volleys.

All,

Classmates at the A-N watch party in Asheville.

Folks,

During our annual end of year trip to Salt Lake City to visit relatives and friends, Preston Motes and I/USMA’65 and Chip O’Donnell/USMA/92 enjoyed watching the Army football victory.

Skip OD