March, 2003; Page 2
WEST POINT SOCIETY UPCOMING EVENTS
The West Point Society is the alumni association for West Point graduates. The Florida West Coast Chapter graciously includes us for their upcoming events.
The Florida West Coast Chapter has invited us to this year’s Founder’s Day celebration at Madill AFB on Saturday, March 15.The cash bar begins at 6 PM, with the dinner following at 7:30 PM. The Guest speaker will be the USMA Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Mr. Rick Greenspan. The Price is $40.00 per person. Menu choices are a steak or chicken dish. Please RSVP to Larry and Jan Brown at (813) 891-0518. Checks for the dinner should made out to WPS-FWC and mailed to Liz Mondor, 10105 Lindelaan Dr. Tampa, Fl. 33618, Phone # 813-931-9194.
Tampa Bay Lightning Alumni night is 15 February at the
St Pete Times Forum. Come join The West Point Society at the Alumni night
and enjoy a special deal. $30 game ticket, lower level, (normally $60)
includes a BBQ dinner and 2 for 1 beer at the tailgate party prior to the
game. Tailgate starts at 5:30PM on the Chrysler/Jeep Plaza outside the
arena. Game starts at 7:30PM. Wear West Point colors!!
If you are interested contact Bruce Simpson at 813-828-4906 or simpsob@socom.mil.
We need a minimum of 15 to qualify for the special rate
More info on upcoming events is posted on the West Point Societies Web site at http://wpsfwc.org/
WEB SITE FOR WEST POINT PARENTS CLUB OF GULF COAST OF FLORIDA
The West-Point.org site hosts our Club web site. At www.west-point.org/parent/wppc-gulf-coast/ or at the Parents Club link at the west-point.org site. If you have any suggestions for the web site, or have any digital photos you would like to see posted on the site, please contact Dick Hull via email at wppchull@aol.com or by phone at 727-526-3090
HISTORY NOTES
By David Barrow
ROCKY VERSACE
On July 7, 2002 President Bush presided over a ceremony the Army was reluctant to recommend: a posthumous Medal of Honor award to a P.O.W. The recipient was Humbert Roque “Rocky” Versace, West Point class of 1959.
In the fall of 1963 Capt. Versace was on his second tour of duty in Vietnam. Although ostensibly working as an intelligence liaison to South Vietnamese militia, he spent a lot of his time seeing to the needs of a local orphanage; a habit he started at West Point and continued in Korea and then Vietnam. In just a few weeks he was to join the Maryknoll Order on his way to the priesthood.
On October 29, 1963, he, along with a few other Special Forces officers, were ambushed by the Viet Cong while leading South Vietnamese troops back from a mission. Rocky and a couple of his buddies deliberately stayed behind, laying down a covering fire so the South Vietnamese could escape. Automatic rifle fire tore into Rock’s knee and back, and he and his companions were captured.
Conditions were unimaginably miserable for Versace and the P.O.W.s he commanded, but he never missed an opportunity to turn the tables on his captors. There were numerous escape attempts, and every communist “re-education” class was turned into a seminar on the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution by Capt. Versace, who was eloquent in both Vietnamese and French. He constantly demanded better treatment for his men, and sang patriotic songs at the top of his lungs, despite constant harsh punishment for doing so. Each one of the other prisoners knew the main reason for Rocky’s “in your face” actions. IT KEPT THE HEAT OFF HIS BUDDIES.
Finally, the Viet Cong had enough of Rocky Versace. They executed him on September 26, 1965, almost two years after his capture. The last time he was heard from he was singing GOD BLESS AMERICA from a 3’ x 6’ bamboo tiger cage.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13.