August, 2003; Page 7
(2007
Cont.)
It was wonderful to see her during A day she looked strong and as determined as ever, looking forward to the academic year. But with some apprehension about her fate after the doctors studied her case. She has definitely absorbed the spirit of West Point!
The day after we left she saw the doctor and was told that she would not be able to engage in any physical activity for two months. She was relieved but at the same time, I think this was hard for her to accept. However after a week of physical therapy she was allowed to go back to swimming and that made her very happy. The academic year seems to have had a smooth start and she mentioned she feels that her high school prepared her well. Of course it was wonderful for her to find out that she validated English and History. She was excited about the Plebe retreat this weekend and teaching Sunday school.
We look forward to seeing her when she comes home Labor Day weekend.
ALUMNI NEWS
Rob Decker, '02.
2LT Rob Decker has been at Ft. Lewis, WA, since May, after graduating
from Ranger School in April. He is with 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry
Division, serving as a Platoon Leader. As a Platoon Leader he is
responsible for four Squads of approximately nine men each. Since 1st
Brigade is a stryker brigade, each one of the squads has a stryker
vehicle. The strykers are a new vehicle; so intense training has begun
for deployment next spring.
There is wonderful news to share. Rob recently became engaged to 2LT Jennifer Archambault, also stationed at Ft. Lewis and a 2002 West Point graduate. Their wedding is being planned for December 20, 2003, at Ft. Lewis. The Decker family is very pleased and excited to welcome Jenn into our family. Rob and Jenn have both been participating in triathlons this summer, and Jenn is a member of the Ft. Lewis ten-mile team. The ten-mile teams, consisting of five men and five women from each Army post, will compete against one another in Washington D.C. in October.
Misty (Cantwell) LaPlante: ’02 What a difference a year makes! Last March we were preparing for graduation and a wedding. This March we were seeing Misty off to war. She is a platoon leader with the 549th MP Co. out of Fort Stewart, GA. The 549th arrived in Kuwait March 9 and stayed there until the end of April, while awaiting the arrival of their equipment. Misty is currently in Baghdad living in an old cigarette factory, which they have named Camp Marlborough. It appears that she will be in Iraq until March of ’04. The 549th was working with the Iraqi police but reservists have now taken over that job. Their primary duty is now security patrols and camp guard duty.
In the first year of marriage, Misty and Jeff have spent approximately three months together (not consecutively). Jeff finished up his advanced officer training in May and was sent to Ft. Stewart
and the 3rd ID. Jeff managed to get over to Baghdad in July, though only for about a week. He and Misty were able to spend some time together (about 3 hours a day for 3 days). He was then sent to Kuwait where he is helping to coordinate the return of the 3rd ID. He is still there and will probably be returning the end of this month. Since moving to Kuwait, he has been able to keep in touch with Misty by phone almost every night.
Even though we know our kids are not just “attending college” when they are at West Point, we tend to forget that they are being trained for a very serious job and may be called upon at any time to use that training. How many other jobs allow a 23 year old to be in charge of 31 people?
Please keep all our soldiers in your prayers
Ned Hull, 02, is still at Ft Rucker. He has completed the Rotary Wing Aviation Course and is now waiting to complete the second half of his Officers Basic Course, after which he will graduate and receive his wings. Mom, Dad and some friends will attend the mid-Oct graduation ceremonies that include a graduation ball. After graduation, he will once again hold-over until the beginning of his graduate flight training for whichever aircraft he will be assigned. He is putting in his preference for either Chinooks (CH-47) or Blackhawks (UH-60). Graduate training will take him into the new year and beyond 18 months since graduation, meaning he will be promoted to First Lieutenant prior to completion and without yet having served with troops. He is getting impatient with all the training, especially as he gets news of all his classmates who have long since arrived at their new units with many having deployed -- he's feeling he is not doing his part.
But, he is soothing his guilt by maintaining a pretty active social schedule, which includes parties and splitting his time between Ft Rucker and Kansas City, the hometown of a graduate student he met at Spring Break in Panama City (the townhouse paid off). It must be true about what they say about war being hell!
Josh Southworth, 03 has completed his 2 months of fun and frivolity in Florida and Pennsylvania after graduation. Duties included parties, concerts, NASCAR races and huge quantities of beer and chicken wings.
Josh reported to Ft. Knox on July 31st and is scheduled to start his Armor OBC by mid September. Temporary duties at Knox include assisting in recruit basic training (where he was a private in 98). Permanent duty will be Ft Hood after OBC. He won't know if it will be 4th ID or 1st Cav until later in the year.
Best wishes to all cadets and families, especially the class of 07!
BOOK CORNER
ABSOLUTELY AMERICAN
Drawing on complete, unprecedented access to West Point and its cadets, author David Lipsky explores the academy's rich history, describes the demanding regimen that swallows students' days, and examines West Point as a reflection of our society.