George Bernard Shaffer

NO. 17466  •  

Died 5 September 1985 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, aged 57 years.
Interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

 

George Bernard Shaffer - soldier, professional, competitor, athlete, student, leader, friend, husband, father, gentleman, gentle man - in short, a man of "character."

There are few things in the totality of a person's life more significant or revealing than "character" - ­character in the sense of integrity, courage, morality, principle, sense of humor, diligence, perseverance, hunger to learn, and the ability to love and to be loved. George Shaffer epitomized all these traits and set a lofty example for others. We loved him, we liked him, we respected him, we remember him, and we miss him very much.

One of four brothers, George knew firsthand the mills and farms of western Pennsylvania. He entered the Naval Aviation V-5 program at Princeton University, then won a competitive appointment to the Academy. While at West Point, his interests and successes were broad and varied. West Point is where he developed loyal friends, honed professional skills, increased his love of learning, learned how to play golf, and perhaps most important - met Bev Carlson.

His military service as an officer in the Army Corps of Engineers spanned over 20 years. During that time, he commanded engineer troop units from platoon to battalion, served three tours of duty in Korea (the Korean War, advisor to the ROK Army, and commander of the famous 44th Engineers, better known as the "Broken Heart Battalion"). He was most proud of civil service projects such as the construction of the bridge over the Han River in Korea and support for the Boy Scouts of America in Arkansas. He also served in Germany, the Louisville District, Chief of Engineers Office, and the Army school system through Command and General Staff College.

George retired from the Army with many decorations and citations, an outstanding professional reputation, and a lovely family on 6 August 1970, with the rank of colonel. After retirement, he added computer programming and electronic repair to his repertoire. Through a correspondence course, he built his own TV set - and it workedl

His love affair with beautiful, lively, intelligent, devoted Bev - a perfect Army wife -- lasted until 27 February 1980, when Bev died after a courageous and difficult fight with cancer. A devoted couple, they fought Bev's last battle together. Born to the marriage were Sue and Scott. Bev and George are also survived by Sue's husband, Steven Rosenfeld, Scott's wife Karen, and five grandchildren - Sue's Beverly, Jennifer, and Samantha, and Scott's Lindsay and Kelsey.

After retirement, George continued in the construction field which he learned so well during high school, the Academy, and, of course, in the Corps of Engineers. His master's degree in civil engineering from Texas A & M added to this impressive background. His construction accomplishments still stand today as a monument to this skilled professional engineer. These include the Beargrass Creek Pumping Plant in Louisville, Kentucky; a mammoth tank and artillery shop at Fort Knox, Kentucky; the Half-and-Half and Babicz Bridges near the Demilitarized Zone in Korea; family housing in Korea; and civilian housing he built in northern Virginia after his retirement from the Army.

Following the anguish of and difficult struggle with Bev's illness and death, George moved from Virginia to Fort Lauderdale to pick up the pieces and start a new life. Close Army friends (mostly classmates) in the area enjoyed his companionship during the all-too-short time in Fort Lauderdale. During these days of new challenge, rebuilding his life, and recovering from the devastating loss of his beloved Bev, George was fortunate to meet Ruby Wagner. Their dedication to one another never diminished Bev's memory in any way. The manner in which the entire family and close friends welcomed and loved Ruby while remembering Bev is a keen measure of George's character and Ruby's as well.

While in Fort Lauderdale, George was a member of the well-known Inverrary Country Club, home of the Jackie Gleason Golf Tournament. George made his mark there also as an active, admired member of the Inverrary Men's Golf Association and winner of more than his share of local tournaments. After his death, the Association named an annual tournament in his honor. The Jackie Gleason tournament is no longer played at Inverrary, but the George Bernard Shaffer Memorial Tournament is.

George also was stricken with cancer early in 1985, and the illness progressed all too rapidly in spite of his monumental courage and fight. Throughout this agonizing period, he managed to maintain his keen, quiet, droll sense of humor. I remember all too well asking him a few days before he died as he lay in a hospital bed in terrible pain, "How do you feel?" The grimace of pain on his face was momentarily replaced by his characteristic smirk and the twinkle of mischief in his eyes as he replied, "I'd have to feel lots better to feel lousy!" George's valiant struggle ended on 5 September 1985, with Sue, Scott, Ruby, other family, and several devoted classmates on hand.

An ancient philosophy book poses the question, "Who is rich?" and then offers answers such as:

He who has a good name. 
He who helps his fellow man.
He who has a good woman.
He who is content with his lot.

Our dear friend, George Bernard Shaffer, was indeed the richest of men.

- E. C. West, his friend

Vaughn Lee Shahinian

NO. 17525  •   14 January 1928 - 18 September 1997

Died in Los Altos, CA.
Interred in the hills of Sierra Nevada.

 

TO KNOW VAUGHN LEE SHAHINIAN was to love him. This vibrant young man from the sun burnt hills of the San Joaquin Valley, CA, was ready for anything and everything with a beaming smile and ready wit. Like so many of our class, Vaughn joined the Army in 1945 after high school graduation, with hopes of earning an appointment to USMA. For Vaughn, this was prompted by the recommendation of a high school counselor.

With other future members of the Class of '50, Vaughn boarded a troop train at Union Station in Los Angeles and headed for a USMA preparatory assignment to a New England college. Always quick to adapt to his environment, Vaughn found time to enjoy the beauties of New England - scenic and otherwise. Vaughn’s appointment to West Point came through, and he entered the Academy in July 1946.

Academics came easily for Vaughn. He studied but was not a grind, and he always was ready to help others less inclined. Vaughn’s ability and determination showed not only in academics but also in sports and other activities. Vaughn had a habit of making hard things seem fun and easy - even picking up rocks off the "new golf course" during Beast Barracks. Later, as B-2's First Sergeant during our First Class year, he made all of us stand tall. Vaughn was a skilled camera enthusiast and gladly introduced many of us to the joys of photography and the creativity possible in the darkroom. A bright moment during Vaughn’s cadet years was noting his father's great pride when his father saw him in cadet gray, as one of the Corps of Cadets.

Conscientious, but not to a fault, Vaughn found pleasure in life, often livening things up for the rest of us within those gray walls. Quick to gather a boodle session and envied for always 'dragging pro, Vaughn was there with the best of them, yet respected enough by his companymates to be their Duty Committee representative. Vaugn’s patience, though, was sometimes stretched to limits because his unmusical roommates could not seem to grasp the simplicity of playing "My Dog Has Fleas" on a ukulele.

Perhaps Vaugn’s friendly smile and demeanor came from the warmth and sunny hills of his native California. Nevertheless, he accepted the faults of others, and never uttered a word of disapproval to those of us who tried to beat the system with short cuts. His sharp wit always enlivened discussions and seemed to set things right. During branch selection, when a roommate noted for occasional forgetfulness considered the Air Force as a choice, Vaughn questioned how one so absent minded could fly a plane. His roommate selected Infantry, and was the better for it.

Ranking in the upper third of the class, Vaughn easily got his choice of assignment in the recently formed Air Force. Part of his graduation leave was passed in a grand tour of Europe with other classmates. After graduation leave, he reported to flight school at Perrin AFB, TX, but, unfortunately, learned that he and the airplane were not quite compatible.Though disappointed, Vaughn, with his typical optimism and perseverance, continued in the non-flying element of the Air Force.

After Airbome Electronics training at Keesler AFB, he served two years at Clark Field in the Philippines as the squadron electronics officer. His final duty was as armament electronics officer for a fighter-interceptor squadron stationed in England. Vaughn resigned as a captain in 1956.

With his usual positive determination, Vaughn put his grasp of science and math to work. He successfully completed a two-year program for a master's degree in structural engineering at Stanford University in 1958, the same year he married Barbara Baird.

In the years that followed, Vaughn worked as a civil engineer until he founded his own company - Vaughn Shahinian Associates - a firm involved in civil and structural engineering projects throughout California and the western U.S.

Vaughn pursued many interests. He was an accomplished skier and even kept up with Barbara's tennis game. At West Point, Vaughn often talked about the royal sport of kings – falconry - he had practiced as a young lad in California. Now, in the great expanse of the California hills, Vaughn and Barbara practiced the great sport with their trained peregrine and goshawks for a number of years. Interestingly, falconry is a sport pre-historic in origin and dating back to Vaughn's ancestors - the ancient kings of Persia. Indeed, Shahinian is Armenian for "king of kings." Though proud of his ancestry, Vaughn never spoke of royalty, although his life certainly reflected well on his noble heritage.

Vaughn’s sudden illness and passing was a shock to his family. Barbara, his wife of 39 years; his sister, Paula Kuklinski; and his uncle, Lee Shahinian, survive him.

- Roommates Vernon A. Quarstein and Dick Steuart

Robert J. Seitz

NO. 17811  •  17 Oct 1928 - 25 Feb 2005

Died in Topeka, KS. Inurned in St. David's Episcopal Church, Topeka, KS

 

Robert Jordan Seitz was born to Robert and Margaret Seitz in Des Moines, IA. In 1946, at the age of 17, he graduated cum laude from Shattuck School, Fairbault, MN. During his senior year, Jordan took the entrance tests for the Military Academy after obtaining an appointment at the urging of his father and grandfather. One of his favorite stories about taking the tests was arriving to find his friends were taking the short test, and he was scheduled to take the long one. He said he told the officer that he, too, would take the short one because he had a date he did not want to break. Luckily, the officer gave him the short test. Jordan entered the Military Academy that summer, and later he frequently talked about receiving a few demerits and having to walk them off. He was in Company F-1 and a sergeant his First Class year. He served as an acolyte for two years, on the Debate Council, and sang in the Catholic Choir for four years. Jordan also was part of a group that sang at the White House for President Harry Truman.

Jordan later expressed his thoughts on graduation in 1950, saying, "I mark completion and graduation as an accomplishment because it was a rigorous program and not natural for me, both militarily and academically. I did not have a strong desire for a military career, but in that, I do not think I was different from most. One had to adapt to the system to succeed; I felt I would succeed because to do otherwise was to fail."

Three weeks after Jordan's graduation, North Korea invaded South Korea. He was assigned to Ft. Lewis, WA, training reserves recalled to active duty. The training was done in groups of 200 in 21 day cycles. Jordan's next assignment was in Salzburg, Austria, where, he wrote, he "enjoyed life immensely, socially, (single), skiing, and troop duty."

In 1954, while stationed at Ft. Carson, CO, Jordan left the Army. He spent a few months as a ski bum and working for a building contractor. In September, he left to teach Spanish and mathematics at Shattuck School. In December 1955, he married Arlie Gilmore in Colorado Springs, CO.

In 1956, Jordan became a student at Georgetown Foreign Service School, and, a year later, he re entered the Army and was sent to the Air Defense School at Ft. Bliss, TX. Afterwards, he served as battery commander of an Air Defense Missile battery on Telegraph Hill, NJ.

In April 1961, Jordan attended the Communication School at Ft. Still, OK, and then went to Germany as a battery commander in the 3rd Armored Division, Hanau. In 1963, he served as a budget analyst and controller at HQ U.S. Army, Europe in Heidelberg. Afterward, he returned to Ft. Bliss, TX before joining the 52nd Brigade, Air Defense, in Sandy Hook, NJ, as assistant operations officer. From September 1966 until October 1967, he was stationed at HQ US. Army, Korea, in Seoul. There he completed his work for a masters degree from Rutgers University He was also deeply involved with the Pearl Buck Foundation, working with fatherless Amerasian children.

From 1967 to 1970, Jordan was a logistics staff officer at HQ 1st Region, U.S. Army Air Defense Command, Newburgh, NY. Subsequently, he was stationed in Panama, where he worked with supplies to Latin American countries Quarry Heights; controller, Ft. Amador.

In 1973, Jordan retired as a lieutenant colonel in Topeka, KS, and completed work for a Master of Business Administration at the University of Kansas. He worked as a program performance analyst and auditor for the State of Kansas and later was the chief of the Bureau of Right Away, Department of Transportation. From December 1979 until October 1993, when he retired, he reviewed operations as a management analyst in the Office of the Inspector General.

In 1998 Jordan married Judy Spiker Whitney They enjoyed seven years together.

Jordan was dedicated to the Episcopal Church and was active at St. David's. He was also very supportive of people in need. He took piano lessons and regularly entertained the residents of a nursing home. He also tutored elementary students and prison inmates. Although he had a number of health problems in the later part of his life, his death was unexpected.

Jordan's children remember their father as one who looked at all experiences as learning opportunities. He encouraged them to swim, sail, snow and water ski, ice skate, play tennis, and surf. He liked to take them to history and art museums, plays, band concerts, and musicals. His children appreciate these experiences and Jordan's financial support, which allowed them to graduate from college without college loans.

Jordan's memorial service was conducted 5 Mar 2005 at St. David's Episcopal Church in Topeka. He was interred at St. David's with military honors provided by the 568th Engineer Company, Ft. Riley, KS.

Jordan is survived by his second wife Judy and his four children: Annette, Susan, Jeannie, and John. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Jenna, Katie, Sarah, Pierce, Mason, Britt, Jackson, and Sam.

Theodore Anderson Seely, Jr.

NO. 17579  •  13 August 1928 - 29 March 1978

Died in San Francisco, CA.
Interred in Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, CA.


Ted Seely, the son of Ted Sr. and Eugenia Bentley, was born at Tripler Army Hospital in the Territory of Hawaii.  Ted's father, a Regular Army officer, received his commission from the University of California. An "Army Brat," Ted Jr. spent his early years living in such exotic places as the Philippines, Japan, China, Georgia, Minn esota, South Carolina, and Louisiana. When Dad went to war, the family moved to California, where they lived with grandparents in Los Altos.

Ted really found a home there. He attended Mountain View Union High School and did well in his studies. He lettered in track, made many friends, and developed a love of music --- especially swing and jazz. Graduating in 1945, he attended Sullivan Prep School in Washington, DC, and earned a Presidential appointment to West Point, joining the Class of '50 in July 1946.

From all reports, Ted survived Beast Barracks in reasonably good style and made his home in Company F-2. Bill Pogue, Ted's roommate for 3 years, had this to say: "Ted, John O'Brien and I became roommates in F-2 our yearling year. Ted brought to us a certain sophistication and worldly knowledge that an 'Army Brat' brings to cadets from New Hampshire and Alabama. Barracks life came easily to Ted. 'Spoon' was natural for him, and he taught John and me a lot about spit and polish. He was the organizer of our room routine. So barracks life flowed easily for us."

"Academics flowed easily for Ted, too. Although he studied and made good grades, the records don’t reflect his real intellect."

"Music was one of his driving interests. He provided our room with a combination radio/phonograph, including all the latest records. He always knew what was popular and had it.

"Late one afternoon in May 1950, Ted and I walked from the lost ‘50s to one of the iron benches along the edge of the Plain near the Supe's quarters. The Superintendent, MG Bryant E. Moore, was walking home and stopped to chat, 'Thinking it over, are you?’ he asked. We explained that we were roommates, and our cadet days were almost over. He said. 'Savor the moment. There will not be another like it.'

Ted was commissioned into the Infantry and went to jump school at Ft. Benning before reporting to the 82d Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg. A rumor circulated that, while on graduation leave, be visited his family in Japan and, when the Korean War broke out in late June, he went over and became one of the first KIA. It was another LT Seely, but when Ted reported to Ft. Benning, several classmates thought they were seeing a ghost!

After serving in the 325th AIR and the 508th AIR at Ft. Bragg and Ft. Benning, Ted went to Korea in 1952 with the 223d Infantry of the 40th Infantry Division as a commo officer and company commander.

Returning to Ft. Bragg, he was a company commander in the 325th AIR and on the division staff as G-3 Air. He attended the Advanced Course in the Infantry School and stayed on as a tactics instructor.

ln 1959, he began an attachment with the Spanish language and all things Latin. After a course in the "mother tongue" at Monterey, he went to Madrid, Spain, to attend the Spanish equivalent of the Command and General Staff College, followed by a tour in Honduras as advisor to the Honduran Military Academy. He returned to his second home, Ft. Bragg -- this time with the Special Warfare Center --- and then back to Latin America, as a member of the U S Military Group in  Costa Rica.

By 1967, Vietnam was beckoning, and he served an extended tour there as G-2 of the Big Red One and with the Support Command in Qui Nhon. Again, be went back to Central America on the staff of the School of the Americas in Panama and as an OAS observer in the hinterlands of El Salvador and Honduras in the aftermath of the 1969 Soccer War between the two countries.  After yet another tour at Ft. Bragg with the Special Warfare Center, he retired in 1971.

Ted went on a tour of the Pacific and the Far East from October 1971 until May 1972, traveling by freighter and other small ships, visiting such ports as Majuro, Ponape, Truk, Saipan, Koror, Guam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Penang, Singapore, Port Kelang, Brisbane, Sydney, Port Kembla, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Freemantle, Perth, Papeete, and Honolulu. He settled in the San Francisco area, remaining there, except for a few trips, until his death.

From 1972 on, Ted led a quiet life with a close circle of friends, including old high school buddies from Mountain View and Los Altos and several USMA classmates. Working for a while as the vice president of a trash compactor distributing company, he was making plans to go to graduate school at San Francisco State. He had a serious heart attack in January 1978 and spent two months recuperating at Letterman Army Hospital. Out of the hospital a week, he appeared to be on the mend, when he had a relapse and died in his sleep at home. Buried at Golden Gate Cemetery, he was joined a few years later by his mom and dad.

Although Ted never married, he was loved by many --- his family and friends. He had a remarkable personality that allowed him to connect with people everywhere. His sense of humor and positive outlook on life were features that everyone always remembered about him.

Ted was dedicated to the Army and to all it stood for, from the day of his birth until he died. He is sorely missed.

- His brother, William B. Seely

John David Scandling

NO. 17887  •  3 December 1925 – 8 January 1982

Died 8 January 1982 in Alexandria, Virginia, aged 56 years.
Interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.


AS CADETS we remember Jack's ever-present big smile and laughing eyes that seemed to mark his view of life. While outwardly he appeared to be quiet and unassuming, he was often part of some practical joke in his company to bedevil the upperclassman as a plebe and some plebe as he became an upperclassman. As a member of the Catholic Squad participating as a Missal Reader and Acolyte he and his fellow mass servers were frequently admonished by Father Moore or Father McCormick for mumbling rather than clearly enunciating the Latin responses. He was also active in the French and Handball Clubs.

Jack was born on 3 December 1925 in Rochester, New York and attended Brighton High School, Fairport High School and Christian Brothers Academy in Albany, New York graduating in 1943. He had aspired to enter West Point at an earlier age and enrolled in the Braden School in Cornwall‑on‑Hudson, for three months before entering the service in September 1943. To further his preparation for West point he was assigned to the ASTRP unit at Princeton University in October 1943; and then to the USMAP unit at Lafayette College in October 1944; and then to the USMAP unit at Amherst College from December 1945 to March 1946 finally to enter the Academy on 1 July 1946.

Upon graduation he was commissioned in the Infantry and assigned to the 356th Infantry Regiment and then to the 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division at Fort Dix, New Jersey. It was during that assignment, on 16 June 1951 that he married Joan McHugh, a Student at Fordham University, where he had dated during his second and first class years. They then went on to Fort Benning where Jack attended the Basic Infantry Officers Course and from there he was assigned to the 45th Infantry Division in Korea where he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, as a combat Infantry platoon leader. Upon his return to the U. S. He was assigned to the 164th Infantry at Camp Rucker; then to Fort Benning; ROTC duty at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania; C&GSC at Fort Leavenworth; then with the 35th Infantry in Hawaii and the 27th Infantry in Thailand; then to Syracuse University where he earned a master’s degree in personnel management, followed by a tour of duty in the Pentagon with the Office of the Comptroller of the Army. In 1967 he was assigned as a Senior Province Advisor in VietNam where he won a second Combat Infantry Badge and an Air Medal and returned to the States for duty with the Strategy and Tactical Analysis Group in Bethesda, Maryland, until his retirement in 1970.

During his career Jack and Joan assembled a beautiful family of six children – John, Joanne, Mark, Laura, Timothy, and Daniel ‑ all of whose lives reflect the personal discipline and family values learned from the examples set by Jack and Joan. Their fondest memories are of the family dinner  when all joined in lively conversations expressing freely their different views on any and all subjects of the day. John, Jr., now a medical doctor in California, recalls his father’s “interest in our  extracurricular activities, scouting in particular, and our family vacations to his hometown, Canandaigua, New York. Canandaigua always was a special spot for my father, and it has become a special spot for all us kids.”

Upon retirement Jack worked as an administrative officer for the Alexandria, Virginia Police Department. Tragically, during that time Jack began to show signs of Alzheimer's disease and a debilitating kidney disease, both of which led to long ­term suffering and, ultimately, to his death.

During those years of suffering, Jack accepted his burden stoically and prayerfully and remained, as he did throughout his life, a true and loyal son of West Point and an outstanding example of our motto, "Duty, Honor, Country."

- Family and Classmate

John Rutledge, Jr.

NO. 17384 . 21 Feb 1927 - 12 Mar 2004  

Died in Annapolis, MD 
Inurned in West Point Post Cemetery, West Point, NY


"From the hills and mountains of Tennessee, through Maryland and countless places across God's world, came one who brought more than we can begin to know. To these hills and mountains of New York he came, seeking knowledge and wisdom to be the officer and gentleman he felt called to be." Thus began the eulogy given by John Rutledge, Jr.'s pastor and friend as John's cremains were inurned, at John's request, at West Point, a place he loved.

Born to John and Tula Randolph Rutledge in Blanche, TN, John was the fifth child in a family of six and grew up helping with the farm work. He attended Lincoln County schools, graduating as valedictorian of his high school class. His friends remembered him as quiet, friendly, and one who was admired and loved by all. He was proud of his Tennessee heritage and the values of humility and hard work he had learned from his parents.

John's desire for a college education and to join his brothers in the Army led him to seek an appointment to West Point. Having achieved this goal, he enlisted in the Army in July 1945 and attended the USMA Preparatory School at Amherst College. In July 1946, he entered USMA.

While at the Academy, John was known as a "hive", but he was always willing to share his knowledge with his friends. He was a member of the Dialectic Society for four years. He earned the nickname "Black John" because, even in card games with his friends, he studied the tactics. He had the logical mind of an engineer, which led him to his career choice.

In February of his First Class year, John was sent to Walter Reed Army Hospital for lung surgery. He remained there two months before returning to West Point to complete the year. However, he had to return to Walter Reed after graduation for further surgery and rehabilitation. After review by the Medical Board, he was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers. While at Walter Reed, John met Lois Smith, and they were married in February 1951 in her hometown of Annapolis, MD.

John's first assignment was at Headquarters, Engineer Replacement Training Center at Ft. Belvoir, VA. He was aide de camp for the commanding general and then attended the Engineer Basic School. While waiting for orders to Korea, he served briefly as a platoon leader. In November 1951, he joined the 120th Engineer Combat Battalion (ECBn), 45th Division as a platoon leader and later served as company commander. After this tour, John transferred to HQ Army Forces, Far East (AFFE) in Japan, again serving as aide de camp, this time to the chief of engineers, AFFE. An assignment to the 43rd Engineer Combat Battalion in Tachikawa followed. John and Lois were living in Sagamihara when their first child, Deborah, was born.

In 1954, John was selected to attend the University of Illinois, where he earned a master's degree in civil engineering. His next assignment was to the Engineer District in Tulsa, OK. His duty station was Tinker Air Force Base, where their son, John Randolph, was born. John returned to Ft. Belvoir for the Advanced Course and then, in 1957, to the Army Construction Agency Germany.

In 1960, John began a three year assignment in the Office of the Chief of Engineers before attending CGSC in 1963. From Ft. Leavenworth he was transferred to Iran with the Military Advisory Group, serving as an advisor with the Iranian Army in Meshed and Shiraz.

The highlight of John's career came in 1965, when he returned to West Point as an instructor in the Department of Military Art and Engineering. Expecting to teach engineering, he was surprised to find he was on the Military Art side. This allowed him to increase his knowledge of one of his favorite subjects, military history, particularly the Civil War.

John left West Point to become commander of the 808th ECnBn at Ft. Wainwright, AK. After one year, he had to leave the extreme cold weather for health reasons, and transferred to HQ, Commander in Chief, Pacific in Honolulu. In 1970, John decided it was time to retire. When he returned stateside in 1971, he was employed by the Interstate Division of the Baltimore City Department of Public Works as a project engineer for the construction of Interstate 95. Later, he transferred to the Maryland Environmental Service.

In 1978, when John was 51 years old, he suffered a heart attack followed by a debilitating stroke. He was paralyzed on his right side and was left with aphasia, which affected his speech and parts of his memory. John's disability necessitated permanent retirement. Through the next 26 years, he suffered many other serious health problems but he always enjoyed life, even continuing his love for golf, which began as a cadet. Although he did not play often, he taught himself to play with one arm. He never gave up or complained, accepting whatever happened because his faith in God was absolute.

John would want to be remembered for his character rather than his accomplishments. He was patient and kind, a gentleman with a smile. His courage and determination were a witness to his faith that inspired all who knew him. John was a child of God and a committed disciple of Christ. He wanted the light of the Lord to shine through his life. John was happiest sharing life with his family, who knew his love was unconditional. This pride was also dearly evident to his many friends.

John was a soldier and an engineer, proud to be a member of the West Point Class of 1950 and of serving in the Corps of Engineers. He was a man of integrity and loyalty, confident, but humble. John is survived by his wife of 53 years, Lois; daughter Deborah Roesch and her husband Stephen; son Randy and his wife, Nancy , and three grandchildren, James and Sally Roesch and Becky Rutledge.

-- His wife Lou, their children and classmates

Harry Eugene Rushing

NO. 17649  •  17 September 1927 – 3 March 1952

Killed in action 3 March 1952 in Korea, aged 24 years

 

0n 3 March 1952, less than two years after graduation, 2d Lieutenant Harry Eugene Rushing, United States Air Force, took off from his base in South Korea on another mission. As he crossed the Han River, going north, his plane lost its coolant and burst into flames. Athough he was able to return to friendly soil before jumping, the wind blew him back into the Han estuary. Harry's wingman, Tom Casserly, courageously crashlanded nearby to help if possible, but the icy waters had already taken their toll.

Harry was 24 years old when he died, an age when most men are still planning for a life of fulfillment. He had prepared well for a life of love and service and boldly lived it. No man led a more meaningful life or gave more. He wanted to become a cadet, and he did. He wanted to become a husband and father, and he did. He wanted to fly, and he did. He wanted to serve, and he did - to the fullest extent.

Harry was born on 17 September 1927 in Montgomery, Alabama. Born into an Army Air Corps family, he naturally moved from pillar to post, attending schools in Hawaii, Texas, Florida, Alabama, and elsewhere.

"Harry learned quite young to work hard for the valuable things in life," his father said.

Long before he was graduated with honors from Lanier High School in Alabama, in 1945, he had set his mind on a flying career. By this time he had also chosen Jean to share his future. Although he had already won an appointment to West Point, he enrolled in Marion Military Academy for further preparation. There he maintained the standard of excellence he had set for himself, excelling in academics, athletics, and leadership. Throughout these early years, the ordinary challenges of school were not enough to satisfy Harry's energy and curiosity. He found many other outlets in clubs, hobbies, and social life. By the time he reported to West Point in July 1946, Harry already knew what he stood for; what the valuable things in life were.

In 1946 we, his classmates at the Academy. soon fell under the spell of Cadet Rushing's infectious personality and his utter honesty. His parents say that he was a "quiet, serious-minded person." We w­ho wrestled, worked, worried, bantered, and stormed with him through four years in H-1 Company knew him to be an unusually warm and sincere friend who more than held his own in the give-and-take of cadet life. In athletics, win or lose, he made his enthusiasm and determination felt. He tried everything: football, wrestling, crew, lacrosse, handball, water polo, weight-lifting, track, and even skiing. His drive pushed each one of us to extend ourselves a little more. The issues resolved on these athletic fields were insignificant compared with those he would have to resolve later, but Harry knew only one way - always give your best.

With all of the camaraderie and games, Harry never lost sight of his main purpose - to prepare himself for a career in the Air Force. There was no compromising with this goal. He approached school assignments in the same manner as he later approached operational assignments. They were a part of his duty to which he would give nothing less than his maximum effort. The last time many of us saw Harry was at graduation in 1950. That flashing grin seemed to challenge life itself as he hurried down the ramp after receiving his diploma, confident that he had done his best.

Shortly after graduation Jean and Harry were married. The North Korean attack in June 1950 suddenly changed their carefree tempo of living to one of serious preparation. After Basic Flight School at Randolph AFB, Fighter School at Craig AFB, and Gunnery School at Luke AFB, he went to Korea, leaving Jean and Harry Jr., in Montgomery, Alabama. Three months later he took off on what was to be his last mission.

The citation accompanying Harry's posthumous award of the Air Medal reads:

Despite the hazards of marginal weather conditions, aerial interception, and intense antiaircraft artillery fire, his exceptional airmanship in combat operations contributed immeasurably to the successful execution of the United Nations mission. The technical skill, personal courage, and selfless devotion to duty which he displayed reflect the highest credit upon himself, his organization, and the United States Air Force.

That was 13 years ago. But the image of his penetrating dark eyes and flashing smile is just as vivid in our minds today as it was in 1950 when we parted at graduation. Today, we, his classmates, feel a particular pride and gratitude in identifying him as one of us. He gave us the warmth of friendship, the inspiration of example, and the benefit of his sacrifice. When he was finally called away, he left the world a better place.

-His Classmates

Lindsay Craig Rupple

NO. 17862  •  

Died 1 July 1971 at Letterman General Hospital, Presidio of San Francisco, California, aged 44 years.
Interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia


OTHERS IN REFLECTING may tell of Lindsay Craig Rupple, 1927‑1971, as cadet, company commander, or combat leader; and it will be a tale well‑told, for Lindsay's was an Infantry officer's life well, though briefly, lived. I knew Lindsay best, however, as friend, family man, and neighbor, a "terrestrial" in Dubos' term, at ease and at home wherever he might be on the globe. It is of this Lindsay that I speak, one who was true to himself in all the plain and polished and complicated facets of his nature.

Had I ever been isolated in a survival situation, with a choice of working companion for the ordeal, Lindsay Rupple would have been the comrade of my choice for whatever period of necessary pioneering effort and for celebrating with, afterwards. Lindsay could reckon with the dangers and the opportunities alike of crises of varying magnitudes ‑ from those, for example, of the dread disease which felled him to those of a more homely, garden variety such as kittens frozen with fear high in backyard tree tops.

Level‑headed and alert, Lindsay was also quietly erudite. He kept himself informed on a variety of subjects and spoke several languages, German among them. His proficiency in the Korean language often led to escort assignments throughout the United States with dignitaries visiting from the Republic of Korea. Lindsay never failed to earn praise for himself and for the unit he might be serving at the time, such as the 22d Battle Group, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington, where he and I were fellow officers and near neighbors (1960 - 1962). The tall, slightly stooped Kansan was equally knowledgeable about things environmental, erotic, classical, controversial, or comical. He sometimes quoted the cartoon character, “Okeechobee Joe.”

Logical and learned, Lindsay possessed a self-sufficiency which allowed him to cope equally well with  exigencies of the Service or with more mundane home emergencies such as power failure in house current or car battery. He managed well at gypsying his family around in required nomadic style. Once, he undertook, to drive cross‑country with Helga, daughters Petra, Renee, and Sylvie, two family cats, and some cherished bibelots for the next residence. He made it smiling and pleasant through such an endurance run.

Courteous, masculine, efficient, Lindsay would indulge his excellent tastes only when he could do so without infringing upon the rights and pleasures of others. In fine foods, he most appreciated wife Helga's gourmet skills, yet he remained almost cadet‑lean and trim. Lindsay enjoyed when he could a good Scotch, a good brandy, a good cigar.

In fact, it was months before I knew that Lindsay always parked any lighted cigar he might be carrying, before he would enter my Arlington home to visit. Only after we found cigar butts lined up on the bannister rail and others fallen into the shrubbery did we think to question Lindsay. Then, he cheerfully admitted that he preferred forsaking the smoke to risking an offense to his host. He continued to park his cigars outside in spite of our demurrers.

Lindsay's brand of forethought and care for others would indeed be an asset to look for in the person with whom one might have to face a critical situation, as it was a plus for those who knew him in everyday life. Other qualities as well made him a pleasure to know. He was a positivist, an optimist; his was a "can‑do" spirit. With all his strengths, he was not a stuffy paragon. Lindsay gave way, albeit infrequently, to his moods. He sometimes moped through a "down" day; once in a while, he let the proverbial redhead's temper flare.

Lindsay's life contained a brimming share of hardships and disappointments. Yet, during the decade in which I knew, him, he handled each one as a learning exercise, or as stretching, strengthening calisthenics to prepare one for the good things to come. In 1960 I saw him bowed and almost broken with grief over the loss of an infant daughter. And I watched him then tap inner reserves of iron will and tempered‑steel endurance to guide his surviving family through the sad days and to rally their flagging spirits for new adventures in the next assignment.

My deceased friend, Lindsay Craig Rupple, was a man who in today's vernacular "had it all together."  Yet, he was a study in contrasts. Quiet, soft‑spoken, often employing understatement, he was nonetheless an adept conversationalist, witty without being frenzied. Equanimity was a hallmark of the man. His courage was subdued and low‑key, but abounding in quantities almost beyond measure. Lindsay was practical at the same time that he was idealistic. He was a homebody; he was a cosmopolite. He was reserved in speech, open‑minded in compassion and acceptances. Well‑read, well‑educated, he was acutely aware of new things to be known, and ever ready to tackle the knowing.

Because this man lived and moved where I could for a while get to know him in some of his roles as husband, father, world citizen, officer, and gentleman, my life is enriched. There must be countless others whose lives he touched who share my fond respect for Lindsay with his unobtrusive integrity. I salute him as a capable colleague, an irreplaceable friend, and a full-duty soldier on this spaceship Earth, which is a better place for Lindsay’s having lived, and the poorer for his passing. All my remaining life, I shall continue to remember him warmly and to miss him.

‑Joe Harper Jr.

Blair A. Ross, Jr.

NO. 17528  •  5 Jul 1927 29 – 29 Sep 2002

Died in Arlington, VA
Inurned in Hollywood Cemetery, Jackson, TN


Blair Artbur Ross, Jr. personified the citizen soldier and leader of character that West Point strives to provide. He was loyal and capable as an Army officer during war and peace, made distinguished contributions as an engineer and manager in the electric power industry for over three decades, and was a good husband and father to his beloved wife Mary and their three children. He stands proudly in the Long Gray Line, adding a special shade that reflects his unique spark and personality.

Blair was born in Jackson, TN, the son of an adventurous father whose various occupations led all around the globe. When he met Blair's mother Alice, she convinced him to settle in the Volunteer State. Growing up between Memphis, Jackson, and the Shiloh Battlefield Park, Blair picked up two defining, lifelong characteristics: a Southern drawl, and a love for trains, born from watching the 2 6 2s of the L&N and the GM&O pounding down the mainlines on the warm summer afternoons of his childhood.

In 1944, following graduation from the Columbia Military Academy, Blair entered Harvard University. Not taking to this bastion of New England academe, he left the following summer and promptly was drafted into the Army. After brief stateside service in an Anti Aircraft Artillery unit, he entered the preparatory program at Amherst.

Entering the Corps in 1946, Blair brought his rail fan roots with him, and his classmates recall the extraordinary depth of his fascination. One said, "I suspect you could have asked him the arrival time of the Trans Siberian Express in some burg on the steppes, and Blair would ask whether you wanted the east or westbound train.' His respect for the vagaries of electric current was reflected in his curious approach to "Juice' labs. Rain or shine, he wore his cadet rubber galoshes, explaining that one could not be too careful with this high voltage stuff. He did not want to be the shortest uninsulated path to the ground.

Upon graduation in 1950, Blair was commissioned into the Coast Artillery Corps in its waning days. On its 
disestablishment, Blair chose to go to the Corps of Engineers, but initially was detailed Field Artillery for service in the Korean War. In 1952, Blair deployed to Korea, spending a year as an observation officer and batteryXO with the 1st Field Artillery Observation Battalion, directing counter battery fire for Eighth Army. Blair reestablished contact with fellow veterans many years later, attended a reunion in Colorado, and always enjoyed their correspondence.

Blair returned to Ft. Belvoir, VA, to begin his service with the Corps of Engineers, commanded an Engineer Officer Candidate School Company and then was assigned as district executive officer in the Mississippi River Engineer District office in Memphis, TN. Back in his home state, he made frequent visits to his hometown, where he met and began courting Mary, who became his wife within a year.

Blair then earned a master's degree in electrical engineering at Purdue University, followed by an assignment with the USMA Electrical Engineering Department. The birth of their three children Blair Jr., Elisabeth, and Susan came over the course of these years.

In 1960, Blair embarked on a second career with the American Electric Power Corporation, based in New York City. Blair, Mary, and the kids established their new home in Ridgewood, NJ, where they would remain for the next two decades.
Blair steadily ascended the corporate ladder, from systems planning engineer through senior vice president for Energy Resources Planning, His professional responsibilities spanned every aspect of the industry, from power generation to distribution to fuel supply, and, to his enduring pleasure, studies of the electrification of the U.S. railway system.Blair contributed finely honed professional standards, a "people" focus, and a rock solid foundation of integrity and straightforward communication, all of which he attributed to his time as a cadet and an officer. Blair also imbued his perspective and core values in his children, lessons that served them well. All three children went to college: Blair Jr. '78 to West Point, Elisabeth to Utah State University, and Susan to Vassar College.

In 1980, Blair and Mary moved, with the relocation of corporate offices, to Columbus, OH, where they remained until Blair's retirement in 1992. During this time, two of their children were married and five grandchildren were born, putting into action much family related travel within the United States and abroad. Blair and Mary moved smoothly into their roles as grandparents, sparing no travel effort or expense to be a part of their grandchildren's lives. They left Ohio in 1997, intending to settle permanently in Franklin, TN.

Tragically, an untimely stroke took Mary's life shortly after their relocation. The devastating loss of his companion of 42 years deeply affected Blair, reinforcing his sensitivity and his appreciation for relationships with family and friends. Unfortunately, Blair's health began to deteriorate following Mary's death. Within two years, Blair relocated to Arlington, VA, to be closer to his son and eldest daughter. Blair then happily rekindled relationships with many DC area classmates, who warmly welcomed him and provided generous support in ensuring that he participated in their routine gatherings and in his Class's 50th reunion, one of his proudest moments.

In September 2002, Blair succumbed to his debilitating illness, but his final years were marked by frequent contact with family and friends. To the end, he had an undying respect for West Point and what it stands for. He rested easy after his final walk across the Plain, shoulder to shoulder with his classmates, on that fine autumn day in 2000. He had come back to an institution that so deeply influenced his life as his life did ours. Be thou at peace.

-- His children, friends, and classmates

Robert Webb Robinson

NO. 17804  •  24 June 1927 – 21 September 1950

Died 21 September 1950 in Japan, aged 23 years
Interment: Battle Creek, Michigan

 

THE TERSE OFFICIAL caption behind the name of First Lieutenant Robert W. Robinson reads, "Died Japan, (wds. Korea) 21 September 1950." Nothing particularly unusual in announcements such as this during the late summer of 1950 as the Korean War intensified. And all too frequently did comparable releases seem to refer to members of the just graduated Class of 1950. That abbreviated heading quoted above tells us only about the conclusion, or the final chapter, of a life's story: it speaks nothing of the beginning nor does it describe anything that went beforehand. And much went on in the earlier pages even though the book of Robby's life is short.

Only slightly more than 100 days previous was it when Robby and the rest of the Class of 1950 flung hats in joy and pride for having graduated from the United States Military Academy. In that 100 plus days before he was to be killed in combat Robby had enjoyed graduation leave - including a fishing excursion in Michigan ‑ been shipped to Korea to join his unit as an infantry officer, engaged in combat, received a promotion to first lieutenant and been mortally wounded.

One of four children in the family of John and Helen Robinson, Robert Webb Robinson was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, on 24 June 1927. Later his family moved to Michigan and in 1945 Robby graduated from Battle Creek High School where he earned varsity letters in basketball and football. An Army brat, his father, USMA '15, became a general ‑ it was inevitable that he would attend West Point. Doing so was the fulfillment of a goal long sought, and he followed the footsteps of his brother as well. It was equally certain that upon graduation he would choose the branch of his distinguished father ‑ the Infantry. Oftentimes during his days as a cadet could Robby be overheard referring to that branch as "the Queen of Battle."

Barely a few months passed following graduation from high school before Robby enlisted in the US Army. In those days he was but a private and he served on active duty until a few days prior to entering the Academy. During much of that time he attended the USMA Prep School where his appetite for West Point was further stimulated. He was sworn in a new cadet at West Point in July of 1946 with an at‑large presidential appointment, and anxiously joined the Class of 1950.

As a cadet, Robby was active in the 100th Night Show each of his years at West Point. He also was vice‑president of the Dialectic Society. He became an accomplished lacrosse player and enjoyed a wide range of sports. Perhaps most notable of his activities as a cadet was that of Company A‑1 representative to the Duty Committee. There never was a doubt in anyone's mind that he was uniquely tailored to fit that role, for no one had a greater sense of responsibility than he.

From this distance, how to portray succinctly a realistic picture of this courageous and honorable friend requires reflection. Surely he was serious, but far from a bore. Robby was composed, yet rarely neutral. He was eager yet not a zealot. He was dependable but hardly demure, and quick witted but certainly not giddy. What says it all is to state he was genuine. It is no exaggeration to exclaim that Robby epitomized the concept of an officer and a gentleman, for he was universally respected.

To speculate that but for his early passing Robby would have contributed significantly to the US Armed Forces he so loved would be easy to do. On the other hand, it also would be unnecessary and unappreciative to so conjecture. Robby rendered much to the military history ‑ to be sure he gave his all ‑ in the few months he was commissioned. He merely fulfilled his duty and completed his work on earth by early manhood. What he did was to establish sooner than most his niche in the Long Gray Line.

Robby was serving in combat with Company B, 9th Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea when inflicted with wounds in the neck and face which less than two days later were to claim his life, after he was evacuated to a hospital in Japan. Interestingly enough, some three years earlier his mother also lost her life in Korea while General Robinson was on occupation duty there.

Curiously, the concluding words of the 1950 Howitzer narrative about him read, "We wish you luck, Robby boy." Some would insist that his luck was to run out all too soon on that battlefield in the remote nation of Korea. But others may well pause to consider that ‑ with his high sense of values and loyalty to cause ‑ there truly was no misadventure at all; it was in war that this most noble soldier was destined to enter, at such a young age, eternal peace.

For solace, his classmates know full well that, to Robby, ever near was his Alma Mater dear.

Lilbern Beryl Roberts

NO. 17743  •  9 September 1924 – 13 February 1991

Died 13 February 1991 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, aged 66 years
Interment: The Washington Crossing Methodist Church Cemetery, Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania


LILBERN WAS BORN 9 September 1924 in Rochester, Missouri to Garnet and Norman Roberts. He was a serious young boy who excelled in school, especially in mathematics and science. He was very active in the Boy Scouts and inevitably became an Eagle Scout.

He graduated from Central High School in St Joseph, Missouri and attended St Joseph Junior College for a semester until he joined the Army Air Corps in March 1943. Lilbern became "Bob" upon enter­ing the service, but he remained Lilbern to his family and friends in Missouri.

He completed a six‑month airplane (B‑24) mechanics course at Keesler Field, Mississippi and an aerial gunnery school at Laredo, Texas. He remained at Laredo and served as a gunnery instructor for the re­mainder of World War II.  Bob was appointed to West Point through the Army. He attended Amherst College from 1945-­46 in preparation for his studies at West Point, and in July of 1946 he began his four years at the Academy, along with many other World War II  veterans. As a cadet, he was a member of the Radio Club, the photographic editor for The Pointer magazine and var­sity manager of the cross country team.

I met Bob on a blind date in November 1949 at the Penn‑Army game in Philadel­phia. For me, it was love at first sight. I never doubted that he would become my husband. After graduation Bob was as­signed to Fort Bliss, Texas, and was soon transferred to Fort Dix, New Jersey. We were married in Teaneck, New Jersey on 3 February 1951.

Bob served in Korea from 1952‑1953 with the 105mm Field Artillery Battery and was reassigned to Japan for an additional year. He resigned from the Army in No­vember 1954 and started his civilian career with Alcoa in Edgewater, New Jersey. Bob completed his Master's Degree in Indus­trial Engineering at New York University night school. Bob also became active in the National Guard and, later, the Army Re­serves, attaining the rank of colonel.

He worked for ITT for about 10 years. Some of that time was with Federal Elec­tric Corporation, a subsidiary of ITT, which was involved with maintaining the DEWLINE‑ Distant Early Warning System.

In 1976, Bob joined Mobil Oil Corporation's engineering department in Princeton, New Jersey, and we settled in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. Bob worked in Indonesia a short time and trav­eled to Saudi Arabia and Australia.

In 1979, Bob was diagnosed with non-­Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which curtailed most job‑related traveling. Bob main­tained a positive attitude all his life. He lived with cancer for 11 years, and I can't remember him ever complaining. He was concerned only for others, and he could always reverse the conversation to center on friends and family rather than on himself.

Bob was well liked and respected by everyone who knew him. He had a special rapport with children of all ages. I know he touched many of their lives. To me, he epitomized the word "gentleman," for he was always such a kind and gentle man.

Bob remained loyal and faithful to "The Corps" and to his country. He had a strong Christian faith which was a comfort and strength for him.

He is survived and deeply missed by four children: Dwight, David, Linda and Cornelia; his wife, Nancy; and nine grand­daughters.

"That which we lose, we mourn, but must rejoice that we have ever had."

- C.J. Wells

Nelson Fred Ritter

NO. 17959  •  11 Novernber 1926 – 16 December, 1987

Died 16 December, 1987 in Arlington, Virginia, aged 61 years
Interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia


AS WE WOUND through Arlington National Cemetery following the caisson carrying Nels "Tex" Ritter, we thought, "Wish we could have spent more time with him." Husband, father, classmate, and friend, he made everyone feel that way.

Nelson Fred Ritter was born 11 Novernber 1926 in Baltimore, Maryland, to Minna and Fred Ritter. As a young child, he was certain that the flags and parades that attended Armistice Day were in his honor. And, when he established a home of his own, the flag flew in front on every national holiday.

Influenced by his father in the Army Reserves, Nels dreamed of serving in the Army as long as he could  remember. Until he graduated from Baltimore City College High School in 1944, he was a member of the Victory Corps, becoming Commandant in his senior year. In 1945 he enlisted in the Army, serving a year as an enlisted man at Fort McClelIan, Alabama. Failing in his first bid for an appointment to West Point, he persisted to win a principal appointment from the late Senator Tydings of Maryland. He was assigned to the USMA Preparatory

School at Amherst, Massachusetts, where he became "Tex" to many of us (after the cowboy star of the time - Tex Ritter).

Of Nels, as a cadet, one classmate, said, Tex was always the solid citizen, cool under fire, very practical, and one whom we could always count on both at the Academy and during our military careers." From that proud day we shared on 6 June 1950, he took with him the first of his life's goals,a commission in the United States Army, and the affection and respect of us who graduated with him.

Shortly, he achieved the second major goal, a beloved partner. He had met Marjorie Jean Corke in 1944. After a six-year courtship, during which Marge completed nurses training, they were married in Baltimore on 10 June 1950.

The newlyweds reported to Fort Knox for their first station, the first of 14 moves, After Iess than a year as a training officer, however, Nels was sent to the Basic Officers Course at Fort Benning en route to Korea.

In Korea, Nels  commanded an agent line-crossing unit in the 8240 Army Unit, where he handled Korean scouts and patrols, briefing and debriefing them and coordinating their movements through United Nations units. A classmate describes how he performed his duties: "I went with Tex once as he took a patrol out to the release point  far beyond our forward units. As they disappeared into the gloom, I said, 'Okay, let's get out of here while we still can. Tex just knelt there waiting for nearly 30 minutes to make sure that the job was done right, then slowly led us back to our lines. That was typical of  him."  Similar­ly, Nels extended to support a special operation, during which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

After 16 months in Korea he reported to Fort Benning with Marge and his two young daughters: Carol Jean, who was born in June 1951,and Elise Dawn, born in August 1952, while Nels was in Korea. At Fort Benning, after attending the Associate Infantry Officer Course , in 1953 he was selected to be aide-de-camp to General Aubrey Newman, commanding general of the Infantry School, and subsequently, to General Ernest A. Barlow, his successor.

ln 1956 Nels reported to Loyola ColIege, Baltimore, Maryland, as assistant professor ­of military science. Also, in 1956, Nels started his long fight as an insulin-dependent diabetic. The Army's immediate reaction was to retire him medically. Nels, however, waged a determined battle of letters, interviews, and medical reviews to convince the medical board that there were many jobs he could fill. He won.

In 1959, he directed his career toward fiscal management, starting with the master of business administration program at the United States Army Comptroller School at Syracuse University. When he graduated in 1960, he and his family moved to Fort Monroe, Virginia, where Nels was named post comptroller.

Here, as in all new homes, Nels nourished his family with excitement, tolerance, curiosity, and devotion. Expeditions to local sights and scenes erased the strangeness and strengthened family bonds. Doting on his daughters, he included all their friends and enjoyed extended discussions with them around the dinner table. Later, be openly basked in the special position as grandparent to Evan Ritter Thorn, Christopher Ritter Gibson, and Julia Marjorie Thorn.

In 1963, Nels was selected for CGSC at Fort Leavenworth. His common sense and    practical approach made him a valuable member of study groups, and his warm loyalty cemented strong bonds with his associates.

At the end of the year, the Ritters flew to Europe, where Nels became budget officer, Headquarters Seventh Army, and, after two years as action officer in the comptroller's office, USAREUR. After three years in Germany, he returned to Fort Leavenworth, where he became administrative officer and instructor at the CGSC. In 1969, despite his diabetes, he volunteered for Vietnam and served with distinction as deputy comptroller, USMACV at the height of United States operations.

Returning to CONUS, he spent the year 1974-71 as deputy comptroller, Headquarters Fifth Army at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Then he and his family returned to the East and Fort Belvoir,  Virginia where he became comptroller, then chief of staff of the United States Army Computer Systems Command.

By this time, the diabetes which he had held off by will and courage began to sap Nels' stamina, but not his drive. In 1974 he retired from the Army he loved. The Ritters bought their first home in 1974 in Arlington. For the next 12 years, Nels worked for Northrop, Computer Sciences, and National Systems Management Corporations. In addition to a heavy full-time workload, he served for more than 11 years as a director of the Fort Belvoir Credit Union.

Finally, in 1986 his failing health forced him to retire completely. The Ritters had settled in 1981 into their final home in Arlington, Virginia, where Nels died 16 December 1987, ending his struggle with the many complications of diabetes. Throughout his career and during his struggle with diabetes, Nels drew support, encouragement, and strength from his beloved one and only, Marge.

After a funeral service in Fort Myer Chapel on 22 December 1987, he was interred in Arlington National Cemetery overlooking his beloved Washington and the revolving tower in Crystal City, where Nels and Marge had made their final decision in 1971 to retire nearby.

His West Point ring remained on his finger every day of his life. Classmates knew that they could count on him to stand firm with high standards and strong convictions and lend assistance whenever he saw need. He will always remain in the hearts of his family as a devoted and loving husband and father.

We regret he could not stay a while longer, but we understand and are grateful for the richness he added  to our lives.

-His Family and Classmates

Howard F. Reinsch

NO. 17535  •  24 March 1927 - 2 June 1967

Died 24 March 1927 in San Antonio, TX 
Interred in Ashton, IA


HOWARD FRANK REINSCH was born in Ashton, IA, in 1927 to Dr. and Mrs. Frank Reinsch. "Home schooling" was an unknown entity during Howard's early life in Ashton, but his public school education was augmented by study with his father. Their basement served as a laboratory, where they pursued chemistry and biology, and their kitchen table is where he learned higher math. By age 16, Howard had enough schooling to be admitted to Morningside College in Sioux City, where he played semi­pro basketball in his spare time. He also developed from his father a lifelong love of fishing and golf. He returned to Ashton in 1944 and graduated from Ashton High School as valedictorian of his class.

After high school graduation, Howard joined the Merchant Marines, serving until 1945. He returned home and enrolled at the University of Minnesota to study chemical engineering.

I met my future husband on a blind date arranged by his Sigma Alpha Epsilon brother and my Alpha Gamma Delta sister. We dated until his acceptance to the Academy and entrance in July 1946 with the Class of '50.

One of Howard's roommates, John Ahearn, told me he was always impressed with Howard's great relationship with his dad. One time during Plebe year, Howard, not unlike many new cadets, became fed up with the system and considered resigning. His father's response to this news was essentially, "Son, if you have given your best and West Point decides you’re not good enough, you come home with your head high ... but you don’t quit!" As a true son of the "Corn Belt," Howard went on to enjoy cadet life and to inspire his G‑2 classmates with his basketball ability and his academic prowess. Another roommate, Jack Hendry, recalls that Howie was a good friend, well liked, easy to get along with, and an excellent student with a special liking for social sciences, tactics, law, and physical education.

Howard graduated on 6 Jun 1950, and we married on 17 June in Minneapolis, MN. Howard entered the Air Force with his first assignment at Randolph AFB, TX, for basic flight training. He then went to Vance AFB, Enid, OK, for advanced training, graduating on 4 Aug 1951, the very day our twin daughters, Janet and Joyce, were born. Training in B‑29s at Randolph AFB was next, followed by seven months at Kadena AFB, Okinawa, flying missions over Korea. He was then assigned to B‑47 training at Barksdale, Ellington, and Connally bases. During 1954‑58, he was at Schilling AFB, KS, and Castle AFB, CA, flying B‑52s. The years 1958‑62 found us at Altus AFB, OK, where daughter Suzanne was born in 1960.

A transfer to the Minuteman Missile program offered Howard the opportunity to study for his master's degree from the Armed Forces Institute of Technology. After training at Vandenberg AFB, CA, we were stationed at Malmstrom AFB, MT, during 1962‑66. Following promotion to lieutenant colonel, Howard trained as a Missile Safety Officer and was transferred to Little Rock AFB, AR.

Sadly, Howard became ill with cancer and died in San Antonio, TX, in June 1967, just 17 years after graduating from West Point. He is buried in Ashton, IA, and we feel his spirit still flies in the stars above us.

Myself, our three daughters - Janet, Joyce, and Suzanne; and our four grandchildren survive Howard.

-His Wife, Barbara

Louis Arthur Reinken, Jr.

NO. 17912  •  

Died 14 January 1993 in Little Silver, New Jersey, aged 65 years
Interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia


MERE WORDS cannot describe or explain the deep loss felt by the family and friends of Colonel Louis A. Reinken, Jr.  As Major General J. K. Stoner, who eulogized Lou stated:

"Lou is remembered as a man whose gift to life was a combination of caring, concern, happiness, and enjoyment along with an ever‑present smile. He was a dedicated soldier, friend, loving father and husband, respected community leader and successful businessman."

Lou participated in the landing at Inchon, Korea in September 1950 and was awarded the Silver Star for bravery in action in Hung Nam, Korea. Following an assignment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he was then posted to Stuttgart, Germany, where he served as aide‑de‑camp to the Chief of Staff, VII Corps Artillery. He later commanded a 280mm battery of the 868th Field Artillery Battalion in Baumholder, Germany.

Lou also served with the 3d AAA Group of Norfolk Air Defense followed by the Advanced Course at Fort Sill in 1956. He remained there as an instructor in the Gunnery Department until 1959. His next assignment was advisor to the Commandant of Cadets at the Vietnamese Military Academy in Dalat, Vietnam.

Nineteen hundred and sixty‑one brought him to Clemson University as Assistant Professor, Military Science (ROTC). Returning to Korea in 1965, he commanded the 6th Battalion, 37th Artillery. Upon his graduation from the Command and General Staff College in 1967, he served as Chief, Unit Training Branch, DCS, OPNS, Third Army, Fort McPherson, Georgia.

Lou loved Europe, and in 1969 he returned as Chief, Special Weapons Branch, in the Land Operations Division of Allied Forces, Central Europe in Brunsom, Netherlands. Upon his promotion to Colonel in 1970, he was stationed in Stuttgart again as Depuly G3, VII Corps, and then as executive officer, Vll Corps Artillery.

While stationed in Germany at Kelly Barracks, Lou met and fell in love with Renate Haas, a fashion designer. Lou and Renate were married on 28 October 1972.

Notwithstanding these wonderful career and personal accomplishments, Lou was a private and behind‑the‑scenes person. He rarely ever appeared in the front row. That just was not the central focus of his life. This was reserved for Renate and his two sons of a previous marriage, Louis Ill and Dirk Christian. In conversations with Lou's many friends, it was agreed that the love and devotion that passed between Lou and Renate was as no other. This is the inner Lou we all will remember. He was a man whose greatest goals seemed riveted to the standard of service to his family, his friends, his community, his Army and his Country. His motivation always related to making somebody else happy or at ease in their life.

In July 1974, the Reinkens returned to the US and Lou became Director of Plans and Analysis in the US Army Electronics Command, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. They made their new home in Little Silver, New Jersey. In January 1979, Lou was assigned as Chief of Staff of the US Army Communications and Electronics Material Readiness Command and retired on 31 July 1980 from active duty with great honors after 30 years of dedicated service.

After retirement, Lou became more involved in community affairs, real estate, traveling and remodelling their home in Little Silver. Fort Monmouth stayed close and to quote General Stoner again: "Louis' influence on the human side of the Fort Monmouth Community expanded beyond the limits of his assigned tasks into areas like the interaction of Fort Monmouth and the governances of the surrounding communities, and ultimately into every niche in which people interaction was key."

The feeling of warmth and friendship always surrounded Lou and Renate through the years. They were content, happy and fulfilled with their lives and love for each other. Lou's 65th birthday was celebrated on 28 August 1992. Louis III of San Francisco and Dirk Christian of Rhode Island were surprise arrivals.

The celebration continued, and, on 28 October, the Reinken's celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. Lou's words to friends were always, "Well, we like the first 20 years, so let’s renew the contact for the next 20."

On 4 November, Lou was hospitalized with phlebitis and diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer. He was given less than two months to live. Lou came home from the hospital and spent his remaining time with his family and friends without a single word of complaint despite tremendous pain. Lou passed away quietly at home on 14 January 1993, demonstrating his strength, dignity, love and faith. His last words to Renate were, "I love you, sweetheart."

No words can describe the void, pain and loss to family and friends. The gift of his life, love and memory is eternal and  will serve as a bridge to the future for all who knew Lou and miss him so much.

Lou typified the true spirit of a caring and loving father and husband; an outstanding officer and gentleman; and a true son of this country and a man of West Point.

Colonel Louis Arthur Reinken, Jr.'s decorations include the Silver Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Legion of Merit.

Emil A. Pohli

NO. 17549  •  8 June 1928 – 6 Apr 2001

Died in Dallas, TX
Interred in Oakwood Cemetery, Waco, TX

 

“Stand up straight,” the sergeant angrily commanded. “I am standing as tall as I can,” protested a resolute 2LT Emil Pohli. Since the sergeant trying to measure Emil was not at all convinced that a hunched over graduate from West Point could stand no taller, the clash between them grew louder and more intense. Hearing enough, an officer standing some distance away bellowed, “That man is six feet tall.” And that is how a determined Emil Pohli, who stood a full 6’2”, became an Air Force fighter pilot. This story is emblematic of the determination that Emil displayed at West Point, during his military career and all through his life.

Emil Austin Pohli was born in Vallejo, CA. At the time, his father was a career Navy man commanding a seagoing tug, USS Undaunted – a name both depictive and prescient of his newborn son. A year later, Emil’s brother Richard “Dick” was born. In 1930, his father was given shore duty in San Francisco, causing the family to move to Mill Valley.

His boyhood was sprinkled with camping trips, BB gun fights, swimming in a cold San Francisco Bay, and all the other things an energetic young boy  would do. He was a popular leader among peers, athletically gifted, and a Boy Scout. He breezed through academics, skipping a semester in grade school and graduating from Tamalpias High School in three and one-half years. Although not yet 17 years old, he was the best high hurdler in the league. After high school, he enrolled in Rutherford’s Preparatory School in Long Beach, CA, to prepare for the competitive examination.

After scoring well on the examination, he found that his congressman did not have an available appointment to Annapolis but did have one to West Point. Emil took it, crushing his old navy-man father’s heart.  Dick retrieved the family’s “honor” by going to the Naval Academy two years later.

At West Point Emil took the rigors of cadet life in stride, without letting stress affect his innate fun loving and easygoing attitude. Yet as one of his classmates observed, “Beneath an easygoing exterior he was more serious than the average cadet.” He was intent in excelling in all endeavors he deemed important. Leadership and maturity beyond his years were recognized by  achieving the rank of cadet lieutenant his First Class year. He was an outstanding high hurdler on the track team and a member of the relay team that won the high hurdles in the Penn Relays.

After graduation, Emil attended pilot training at James Connally AFB in Waco, TX, where he met his future wife Marynada Hill. Advanced training in the F-80 at Williams AFB, AZ, followed. With a third of his class washing out, those were tense times. Yet one classmate observed that Emil “didn’t seem the least bit worried about the possibility, which says something about his confidence.”

After gunnery school at Luke AFB, he joined the 159th Fighter Bomber Squadron  in Japan in November 1951. During June-December 1952, the unit was sent to Korea, becoming the 429th FBS. In Japan and Korea, Emil flew 75 missions in the F-84 and was awarded three air medals.

Back in the States, he served as an instructor in the 3645th Fighter Training Wing. Except for a few months at the Squadron Officers School, he remained in the 3645th until stricken with polio in the fall of 1955. He lost the use of his legs.

Emil retired (disabled) as a captain and was sent to a VA hospital in Oakland, CA, but that he didn’t take to invalid life is an understatement. After nearly a year in the hospital, he learned to drive with hand controls and left the facility. For the next two years he was employed in the purchasing department of Beckman Instruments in Richmond, CA.

Later, he moved to Dallas, TX, where he worked in the heavy construction equipment industry and held positions in sales and sales management for several companies. He was very successful. During his years in Texas, he was active in the West Point Society of North Texas and served terms as president and treasurer. He had a great reverence for West Point.

His feats as a paraplegic are legendary. A crowning achievement was designing, installing, and actually driving a jeep with hand controls that manually shifted gears. One hand operated the clutch, the other the gearshift, while somehow the car was steered. This vehicle allowed him to take his family and mother-in-law on fishing trips to the high mountains. For a while, he had a boat and lifted himself into it. From a camouflaged wheelchair, he hunted doves and ducks. He swam and worked out with weights. He had a full workshop in the garage where he built a desk and other furniture. If he could reach it, he could fix anything in the house. He cooked indoors and outdoors; his specialty was barbecued chicken in his own contrived sauce.

No one, not a family member, not a classmate, not an associate ever, ever, heard him complain or hint of self-pity. Instead, he joked about his condition. When his son was in Indian Guides, they called themselves “Little Running Feet” and “Big Rolling Seat.” He accepted what he couldn’t do and zestfully pursued all he could. One classmate said, in words that expressed the sentiments of all, “He had an irrepressible spirit and a cheerful, outgoing manner. Nothing seemed to intimidate him. His attitude was an inspiration to me.” His brother said that if only allowed two words to describe Emil, they are “character and guts.” His daughter said he was “fearless.”

Emil was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration and a strong Christian with complete confidence in the Lord. He is survived by his brother Dick, daughter Anne, son Scott, and wife of 50 years, Marynada, who steadfastly stood by him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. And so it is, as the Long Gray Line stretches farther, the footsteps grow faint.

- A roommate with contributions from family and graduates.

Douglas West Poage, Jr.

NO. 17602  •  18 July 1927 – 7 September 1955

Died 8 May 1985 in El Paso, Texas, aged 59 years
Interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia


DOUG POAGE WAS born in Alcoa, Tennessee on 10 February 1926. His parents were Douglas W. Poage, Sr., and Agnes Rosensteel Poage. Doug's father, who was personnel manager for the Aluminum Company of America in Alcoa, had the active avocation of helping General Bob Neyland run the University of Tennessee football team. With his two sisters, Doug grew up in the shadows of the Great Smokies with a warm, closeknit family coupled with a lot of athletic and outdoor interests. This combination of traditional southern upbringing and environment left an everlasting mark. Doug was a gentle individual with a great sense of purpose, integrity and honor from the outset.

Doug completed grammar and high schools in Maryville and then attended Columbia Military Academy in Columbia, Tennessee, before entering the Navy where he served as a chaplain's assistant. After discharge, he completed a freshman year at the University of Tennessee before entering the Military Academy in July of 1946. West Point was the place where he said he "just always wanted to be."

Doug was a friendly and easygoing cadet. Academic subjects posed no problem for him, but he never let them dominate his life. He found a major escape from Academy routine by acting as manager of the basketball team. Upon graduation, Doug chose to be commissioned in the Infantry.

He selected his first assignment without hesitation ‑ Infantry duty in the Free Territory of Trieste. At the time this was one of the hot spots in the world, for the Korean war had not yet broken out. He began as platoon leader with the 351st Infantry. He asked to be transferred to Korea, but his request was denied. Fortunately, the experience he gained with this elite regiment under the guidance of commanders such as Paul Caraway and Earle Wheeler gave him a solid foundation for his future success.

The next event that had a major impact on Doug was his marriage to Mary D. Allen, the daughter of General Frank A. Allen, Jr. Mary and Doug met in Trieste and married there in November 1951. This provided an instant West Point family connection as one new brother‑in‑law was an Academy graduate (1945) and another soon would be (1952). Mary and Doug had three children: Douglas III, born in Trieste in 1952; Ellen, born in Washington, DC in 1953; and Peter, born in Rome, Italy, in 1955. The children now live in Alaska, Burma, and Virginia, respectively. During the remaining years of their marriage Doug and Mary shared their love for life, intellectual curiosity, and instant readiness to start a new adventure wherever in the world it was to be offered.

Upon his return from Trieste, Doug attended the Infantry School at Fort Benning and then completed the Airborne and Ranger schools. A classmate related an episode during the Ranger course that typified Doug's spirit and determination. One of the critical tests for completion of the course was to swim a river, fully clothed, with him and his buddy pushing a raft in front of them. His buddy, a poor swimmer, was having great difficulty. So Doug told him just to hang on and managed to successfully pull both his buddy and the raft across the remaining portion of the river. Doug, who risked his own graduation to help a friend, was like that. Easygoing and low key most of the time, he was always able to do what was needed in a pinch.

Fort Campbell and the 11th Airborne Division came next. Then fortune shined with a tour from 1954 to 1956 in his beloved Italy. He served as aide‑de-camp to the chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Rome. During that tour, Doug gave another glimpse of his strength and will. Not previously a skier at all, he successfully completed an arduous month‑long ski course designed to qualify Italian officers to join elite Alpini units.

After a year as a student in the Infantry Officer's Advanced Course back at Fort Benning, and another year on the staff and faculty at the Infantry School (for which he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal), Doug was chosen to attend graduate school at Georgia Tech. There he earned a master's degree in electrical engineering and electronics in 1961. From there, Doug went to the Air Defense School at Fort Bliss for three years where he headed the Missile Science Course for which he was awarded a second Commendation Medal. This tour established a continuing relationship with El Paso, for it was there that the Poages later retired.

 In 1963, Doug went to the Republic of Vietnam where he served for a year as province advisor in Tuy Hoa. There he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge. On return to the States, Doug completed the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and was then assigned as commander of a basic training battalion at Fort Polk, Louisiana. For those who know Fort Polk, and to quote Doug, that was "a place where you had to make your own fun."

Doug volunteered to return to Vietnam in 1967 where, after six months in Saigon, he got a prized battalion command with the 199th Infantry Brigade. In this position, he earned the Bronze Star Medal and six Air Medals. To Doug, this combat assignment culminated a lot of years of training and hard work.

On Doug's return to the United States, the Poages began what was to be nearly five years in the Washington, DC area. Doug was first assigned to the Combat Developments Command where he was promoted to colonel in 1970 and earned the Legion of Merit, and then to the office of the Chief of Research and Development. After Washington, there was a four ­year tour in the Canal Zone where Doug was first the commander of the Atlantic Area Command and later the inspector general of the US Army Southern Command.

Starting in 1976, Doug's final military assignment was as senior advisor to the 76th Infantry Division, US Army Reserve, with headquarters in Hartford, Connecticut. Upon retirement in 1978, Doug was awarded a second Legion of Merit and returned with Mary to El Paso.

There were some peaceful and happy years there. Unfortunately, medical factors thwarted his intent to take up a teaching career. Later, after a long final illness which failed to stem his courage and optimism, Doug died on 8 May 1985. Mary later moved to Virginia.

Doug gave a lot of himself to the Army and to those who knew him well. As he reflected on his life near the end, he certainly had every reason to be content with the full, varied and rewarding life he had lived. After all, he achieved what he set out to do when he was a boy back in Tennessee. He is greatly missed by his family and by his classmates and friends.

-WFB, LER, Class of 1950

John Herbert Pigman

NO. 17381  •  21 December 1926 – 21 February 1978

Died 21 February 1978 in Baltimore, Maryland, aged 51 years
Interment:  West Point Cemetery, West Point, New York

 

THE UNTIMELY DEATH of John H. Pigman, Class of 1950, deeply shocked his many friends in both the military and civilian communities. Jack was such a vibrant, active person. At age 51, in the prime of his life, he was struck with leukemia. He battled valiantly, as was his custom, but passed away quickly.

Born on 21 December 1926 and raised in Cloquet, Minnesota, one of his teachers there said of Jack, "He was the most outstanding of the more than 10,000 students I have taught." People often felt that way about Jack, he was indeed outstanding.

In February 1944 Jack enlisted in the Army Specialized Reserve Training Program and trained at Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His leadership ability was quickly recognized with an appointment as cadet segreant. His training program completed, he was sent to Fort Leavenworth as a private, Air Corps Enlisted Reservist. While there, he applied for and won a Congressional appointment to the Military Academy. He reported to West Point in June 1946.

In 1950 he graduated 34th in his class of 669. On active duty, his first assignment was as a platoon leader, Company C, 62d Engineers, Far East Command, Korea. In June 1951 he was made company commander. In 1952 he became tactical officer, The Engieer Officer Candidate School, a position he held for 21 months. In Korea he earned a Bronze Star and a Meritorious Service Medal.

After his return from Korea in 1953, he married Nancy Magee of Berlin, Maryland. They had three children: John H. Pigman Jr., Melissa and Kristen.

In January 1954 Jack resigned his Regular Army commission to take over the management of a family business in Berlin, Maryland. Under his direction, this grew to be one of the major enterprises on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. In Berlin, he supported many worthwhile civic ventures. His exceptional talent as a speaker made him much in demand as a master of ceremonies. He was a member of Berlin's Town Council, the Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion and was at one time time the president of Berlin's Lions Club. He was a director of The Peninsula Bank. In addition, during his years in the petroleum business he was very active in area dealer affairs. His experience and judgment were valued by customers and competitors alike. Many people called on him for advice and he obliged them all. He knew how things should work‑ and how to fix them when they didn't perform properly.

Jack's love of the Army led him to join the Army Reserve in January 1954. A dedicated Reservist, he attended the Artillery and Missile School's Artillery Career Course; the Chemical Center and Schools' Chemical Officer Career Course (Reserve Component); and in 1973 he completed the Command and General Staff Officer Course, Non­Resident. In 1976 he graduated from the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks.

His ability to lead and inspire his men was evident in the assignments given to him by his superiors. From March 1955 to December 1970, he served in a succession of command and staff positions with the 319th Infantry, the 650th Field Attillery Battilion, 7/6th Field Artillery, 2010th Logistic Command, 489th Chemical Battalion, and finally, as commander of the 275th Supply and Service Battalion. In December 1970 he was made Assistant Chief of Staff of the 97th United States Army Reserve Command (ARCOM), headquartered at Fort Meade, Maryland. In December 1972 Jack became the ARCOM's G4; in May 1976, its Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Training. In September 1976 he was selected to be Special Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Reserve Affairs). In that position, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and became the first Reserve Officer to serve at North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Brussels, as liaison. In Septeniber 1977 Jack returned to the 97th ARCOM as its new commanding general.

In 1972 Jack married Patricia Ann Boyce of New York City. Pat shared much of his Reserve travel schedule, including his stint in Brussels.

At his funeral service held in Ocean City, Maryland on 24 February 1978, the officiating chaplain summed up Jack’s philosophy quite nicely: “In 1954, I met a young lieutenant. He strode across the room briskly, put out his hand and said, 'Hello, I'm Jack Pigman.' A few months ago I met that same young man but this time he was my commanding general. Again he said, 'Hello, I'm Jack Pigman,' just as he had 24 years ago. There was no pretense, no special favors for him, just plain Jack Pigman."

Three days after his interment at West Point his friends and colleagues in the 97th ARCOM established a memorial fund at West Point to endow an annual award to the outstanding company in Jack's old regiment in the Corps of Cadets. The first John H. Pigman Award was presented at the June 1978 Awards Convocation.

Jack Pigman was a most impressive man. His vitality, wit and grasp of any situation and an almost immediate solution to any problem, marked him for a greatness cut short only by the tragedy of his death.

Many lives were enriched by knowing him. He was a man dedicated to his family and friends, his Alma Mater and his country. I will always cherish the wonderful years with him.

‑his wife

James Robinson Pierce Jr.

NO. 17937  •  30 December 1925 – 16 June1 1952

Killed in action, June 16, 1952, in Korea, aged 26 years

 

FIRST LIEUTENANT JAMES ROBINSON PIERCE, JR. was born December 30, 1925 in Tientsin, China. He graduated from the Officers' Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia, on September 27, 1945, after enlisted service from September 20, 1944. He entered the United States Military Academy on July 1, 1946, graduating on June 6, 1950 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. He qualified as a paratrooper at Fort Benning during the fall of 1950, subsequently joining the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, where he was stationed for a little over a year. After completion of the associate combat course at Fort Benning in December 1951, he received his promotion to First Lieutenant on December 2, and departed for overseas on January 29, 1952. There he was assigned to the 179th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Division in Korea about February 12.  After duty as a platoon leader, he became Company Commander of Compauy "L" in May 1952. He was recommended for promotion by his division commander shortly before he met his death while leading a counter‑attack against the enemy.

He married Margaret Ann Rosser, of Clarksville, Tennessee, in December 1950. To this completely happy union was born a son, James Robinson Pierce, III, on February 29, 1952.

His family and friends are intensely proud of the way he lived and the way he died. His character, faith in his fellow men, and deep religious convictions were markedly outstanding throughout his life. He died on June 16, 1952 in the finest tradition of the Army, paying the supreme sacrifice, fearlessly leading his men in the defense of their country.

-His Father

Lewis Andrew Pick, Jr.

NO. 17767  •  

Died 28 October 1993 in Opelika, Alabama, aged 65 years
Interment: Pine Hills Cemetery, Auburn, Alabama

 

LEWIS ANDREW PICK, JR., was born in New Orleans, where his father was serving with the Corps of Engineers. During his boyhood he lived at various Army posts and civil works locations. His father was to become one of the outstanding Army engineers of World War II, the builder of "Pick's Pike," a 425 mile section of the Ledo Road. Andy attended Culver Military Academy, graduating in 1945.

Andy's red hair and dynamic personality brought him early attention from both the upperclassmen and his congenial classmates in K‑2. The Howitzer highlighted his self-confidence, friendly manner, and ability to add zest to any gathering.

Andy's first assignment after graduation in June of 1950 was with the Field Artillery, 3rd Infantry Division. He deployed with the Division from Fort Benning to Korea, where he served as a forward observer. He took part in the division's 1950 and 51 campaigns and was awarded the Silver Star.

Upon returning to the United States. he transferred from the Field Artillery to the Corps of Engineers and was assigned to the

Engineer School as an instructor in tactics. He next was detailed to military construction projects in the Savannah District. After a year he returned to Fort Belvoir to attend the Advanced Course. In December of 1954, he and Frances Boddie of Valdosta, Georgia were married and made their first home at Fort Belvoir. It is hard to imagine a better suited pair than Fran and Andy.

About this time Andy began to show an interest in finance. He could stay abreast of his classes and still display a thorough familiarity with the contents of the Wall Street Journal. He wanted to know how businesses worked and knew that finance was the language of business. This interest was to be helpful in his later business career. After receiving a masters in engineering at Princeton, Andy and Fran sailed for Germany in 1956 where he was assigned to the 540th Engineer Combat Group. He commanded a separate Engineer company and later served as an operations officer for the group. Andy was a man of ideas; ideas he supported enthusiastically but with a fervor tempered by realism and humor. He ran a good unit and was willing to share his ideas. He also shared the credit for successes, resulting in more successes.

Troop duty in Europe was followed by ROTC duty, C&GSC, and service in Vietnam as Engineer advisor to the Vietnamese I Corps at Danang. He then was assigned as assistant director of Civil Works in the Office of the Chief of Engineers. His expertise in policy issues on the Army's civil functions resulted in his assignment as executive officer to the assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works.

In 1972 Andy had a difficult decision to make: to remain on active duty or retire to Auburn, Alabama to direct his family's real estate and construction business. Regretfully, he gave up the certainty of positions of great responsibility in the Army to shoulder his  family obligations. He returned to the small southern town that had been home to his family since 1892.

On the morning of the first day on the new job in Auburn, Andy had a small framing crew, one truck and an office in his mother's house. "Let's go to work" was the brief assumption of command speech. From these humble beginnings Andy became the man labeled "The Forefather of Development in Auburn." Fran joined in the fray, going to work for the first time since her marriage. Raw land was cleared, subdivisions were developed, houses and commercial buildings were constructed and sold, and the business prospered. Andy believed in making the American dream of home ownership available to the residents of Auburn.

While helping to fulfill the needs of Auburn's new home market, Andy looked at the student body of Auburn University and saw a potential market for students wanting to escape the substandard housing that existed. In 1977 he built Eagles West Apartments, a 240‑unit complex located across the street from the campus.

At an age when most people were retiring and relaxing, Andy gained ownership control and became chairman of MESA Industries, Inc., which was transformed from a struggling company to a successful corporation with operations in seven states.

An idealist as well as a practical person, Andy entered into local politics and supported worthwhile organizations. He was a Sunday school teacher until the end of his life. Although he shared his time and laughter with old and new friends, he was, at heart, a family man who adored his daughter Betsy and sons Andrew and Charles and well as grandchildren Cary Frances and Edward.

Although he had undergone open heart surgery eight years before his death, it did not seem to affect his enthusiasm or energy. The news of the final attack was a shock to everyone, including his classmates who had seen him at a mini‑reunion in Florida two weeks earlier. His last words before  leaving to join the Long Gray Line were  "When do we start?"

John Victor Parish, Jr.

NO. 17427  •  4 August 1926 - 9 August 1993

Died in Huntington Beach, CA
Interred, in Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, CA


John Victor Parish, Jr. was born to John V. and Helen Hahn Parish in Youngstown, OH. He attended Bullis Preparatory School for several months following graduation from South High School in Youngstown, OH, in 1944. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving from July to December 1945 and was appointed to West Point by Representative M.J. Kirwan of the 19th Congressional District of Ohio. He entered the Academy as a member of the Class of '50.

Jack arrived at the Academy well‑prepared to cope with its challenges and with a disposition, extensive experience, and the abilities to help his classmates cope with them too. A generous and gifted person with an abundance of energy, his never‑failing optimism and good humor were inspirations that touched us all. And for Jack, humor began with his ability to laugh (invariably at himself). Those who knew Jack would agree with the 1950 Howitzer, that says of him, "Jack had a habitual good nature and a friendliness toward all that is very rare. If ever a man needed some timely assistance, Jack was always ready and quick to help. He was dependable in every way, and worked hard in studies and athletics. Jack faced life as a sportsman should. His presence in any outfit or command in the Army will be most welcome."

As a cadet, Jack seemed to find time for everything, including a class standing in the top 12% of his class. Corps squad boxing, lacrosse, and track along with belonging to the Cadet handball, Camera, and Art Clubs were all part of his interests and activities. Quick intellectually, articulate,. and widely read, it was common to witness Jack devoting study periods to reading a novel, composing poetry, or listening to classical music while his roommates labored to keep up with daily assignments. Following Jack's discovering Peg Darragh in his third class year, letter writing, dragging, and occasional trips to New York City impinged even further upon time that most of us reserved for academics. Long before branch choices were made, it was well known that Jack would be an Engineer. And, an outstanding Engineer he became.

Jack’s contributions over his entire Army career reflect his most significant attribute: leadership. Ranging from his first assignment in 1950 as a second lieutenant platoon leader in the 18th Engineer Combat Battalion in Germany followed by command of a company as a first lieutenant, to Division Engineer, Huntsville, AL, he sought leadership positions throughout his career. Although Jack’s tour as an Army attache at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo from 1958‑60 was a departure from the normal career pattern for an Engineer, he once said that he must have been an effective, hard‑working, and impartial attache because he was appreciated by both the Egyptians and the Israelis. In 1967, while a battalion commander in the OCS command at Ft. Belvoir, he requested assignment to Vietnam, serving for one year with great distinction as commander of the 35th Engineer Combat Battalion.

In addition to branch courses, Jack's education included a master of science in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; study of Arabic at the Defense Language School, Monterey, CA; and the Army War College.

After retirement from the Army in 1977, Jack joined the Federal Railway Administration, where he worked on engineering projects for the Northeast Corridor. After a year and a half, however, separated by the breadth of a continent from their children and lured by memories of the Pacific Coast, Jack and Peg decided they were ready for another major change in their lives. Jack sought employment with Fluor Corporation in California and, when an opportunity occurred, the Parish family made their last move ‑ to Huntington Beach. Here, for the next fourteen years, Peg and Jack spent the most satisfying period of their lives. In 1990, Jack was unexpectedly diagnosed as being in an advanced stage of cancer. Following a period of treatment and a promising remission, the cancer recurred. Offered participation in a pilot immunotherapy program conducted by the National Institutes of Health, Jack accepted. He dealt with this difficult period in a way true to his character – he joked, for example, that Max, his German Shepherd, didn’t recognize him any longer. Mcdications in the experimental treatment had changed his scent and the dog was puzzled, causing Jack to ask on one occasion, "How will I ever again convince Max that this strange‑smelling man is his master?" The experimental treatment was not successful. Jack died and was buried in Riverside National Cemetery. He is survived by his wife Peg of Huntington Beach, CA; and children: Richard of Irving, CA; Christie Gillis of Hayward, CA, Carolyn Curtis of San Diego, CA; and David of Seattle, WA. Jack is also survived and will always be remembered by his many friends. We all carry a part of Jack with us.