Clarence Q. Jones

NO. 17983  |  12 May 1926 - 30 Nov 1991

Died in Boynton Beach, FL
Interred in Palm Beach Memorial Park, Lantana, FL

 

Clarence Quentin "Zeke" Jones, Jr.was born to the Reverend Clarence Jones and Mrs. Lois Jones in Sullivan, KY. Prior to receiving an appointment to West Point, he attended Mercer University in Georgia and Northeastern College in Oklahoma.

As a cadet, Zeke was a member of several clubs, including the Railroad Club, French Club, and Weight Lifting Club. He also was a member of the Handball Club and the Radio Club. Classmates remember his cooperative spirit and unselfish attitude.

After graduation in 1950, Zeke was im­mediately sent to Korea. Upon his return to the States, he was assigned to the 469th Field Artillery Battalion in Ft. Sill, OK, In 1954, he was sent to the Ordnance Section of Headquarters, Seventh Army, Germany, as an assistant operations officer.

In 1957, Zeke was a student in the Advanced Officers Course in Ordnance in Aberdeen, MD. From 1958 to 1961, he served as the chief of the manufacturing branch at Watervliet Arsenal, NY. During this time, he was able to complete his masters degree in business at Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute.

From 1961 to 1962, Zeke returned to Germany, where he was a materials officer with Headquarters, 71st Ordnance Battalion, Stuttgart, Germany. Next, he was controller and as­sistant operations officer, Ordnance Section, Headquarters Seventh Army, Germany, until 1964, when he was assigned as an executive officer to the 701st Maintenance Battalion, Ft. Riley, KS. In 1966, Zeke went to Viet Nam as an ex­ecutive officer, Support Command, 1st Infantry Division. In April of that year, he received the Commendation Medal. On 29 Oct 1965 and 17 Sep 1966, Zeke was awarded the Bronze Star.

Zeke's last assignment before retiring was with the U.S./Federal Republic of Germany Main Battle Tank Program in Washington, DC, as chief of Plans and International Operations. On 31 May 1970, after 20 years of service, Zeke retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

In retirement, Zeke pursued other ca­reers. From 1970 to 1972, he served as the city manager of Boynton Beach, FL, where he continued to live the rest of his life. A few years later, he became an executive with Coulter Electronics, a company that developed medical equipment. He stayed with Coulter Electronics for ten years.

Zeke retired again, but not for long. He soon found that he loved teaching, so he then taught accounting at several local busi­ness colleges. He got along very well with his students and often invited them for weekends at his home on the lake. Both he and Betsy enjoyed this very much.

Zeke loved the Florida lifestyle. His home was on the water, enabling him to indulge his passion for fishing. He loved observing the stars and even made his own telescope. He was an avid camper and beach lover. Zeke was a member of the Palm Beach Biking club, but he was prob­ably best known as being a devout member of his church. It was the most important part of his life, and when he passed away, seven different pastors spoke at his funeral.

Zeke was a wonderful husband to Betsy and father to Jere, Julie, and Lois. In addition to his wife Betsy, he is survived by ten grand­children and four great-grandchildren.

At the time of his death, Zeke was near completion of his course work for his doc­torate in geology from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL.

He is greatly missed by his family and his community.

-- Jere White

Melvin H. Johnsrud

NO. 17538 •  1 Oct 1924 - 8 Aug 2007

Died in Falls Church, VA
Interred in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN

In his military career, Melvin Henry Johnsrud always seemed to be moving on to bigger things. As an Infantry rifleman during World War II, he fought across France into Germany; as an Artilleryman during the Korean War, he commanded a battery of the Army’s largest caliber howitzers; and as a group commander during the Cold War, he held responsibilities for the Army’s most powerful weapons in a Theater Army Support Group deployed along a long sector of the Iron Curtain. Yet, for all the destructive capacity that was entrusted to him, he always remained gentle, thoughtful, and caring.

Mel was born on 1 Oct 1924, in Minneapolis, MN, to Martin and Johanna Johnsrud, both of whom came to America from Norway in 1915, met here, and married. Mel was the second of three sons. The others were Bernard, Class of ’45, and Sherman.

Born into a railroad family, Mel traveled extensively during his youth. He visited the Chicago, San Francisco, and New York World Fairs, several national parks, and the Canadian Rockies. Mel was ever appreciative of Army travel opportunities, and during retirement he seemed to be always on the road, averaging three trips a month through airline/hotel travel memberships.

Immediately after graduating from North High in Minneapolis, Mel enlisted. Assigned to the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP), he attended the University of Nebraska and St. Louis University. When the planning for the invasion of Europe revealed the need for more manpower, ASTP students quickly transitioned into the Infantry. Just prior to his departure, Mel had taken competitive exams for the service academies, but he was not aware he had won appointments to West Point and Annapolis until he found himself in Germany.

Mel entered the Military Academy with the Class of 1949 but graduated with the Class of 1950. Upon graduation, he chose the Field Artillery and took airborne training. During the Korean War, he was assigned to the 780th FA Battalion in X Corps. His 8-inch battery also included a self-propelled howitzer that roamed from the Korean Punchbowl eastward to the coast, providing direct fire against bunkers and caves from hills along the front. After returning stateside, he was assigned as assistant professor of military science at Harvard, where he met colleagues who became national security advisors during the Kennedy administration.

Adding to Mel’s academic laurels was graduation from Georgia Tech as an MSEE and subsequent assignment to the Defense Atomic Support Agency in the Pentagon. There, Mel established and became secretary for a committee of AEC and DOD scientists assessing the vulnerability of nuclear weapons in all environments. This experience led to later nuclear weapons assignments with NATO forces and Theater Army Support Command in Germany; as Chief of the Nuclear Branch, J-5, JCS; and as a Director in the Defense Nuclear Agency in Washington.

Between these assignments, Mel served with the 11th Airborne Division and later with the 82d Airborne as battalion commander of troops at Ft. Bragg and in the Dominican Republic during the crisis there. He qualified for the Senior Parachutist Badge. His awards also include the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal with “V” for Valor and three oak leaf clusters, and several campaign and service medals.

In 1975, Mel established his residence in Alexandria, VA, and he retired from the Army as a colonel in 1979. After retirement, he was employed by BDM Corporation for six years as special assistant to Dr. Joseph V. Braddock, one of BDM’s founders.

Before his Army retirement, Mel was a victim of an automobile accident near Worms, Germany, while on official business. Two vertebrae were crushed. He recovered from this accident; however, after a heart attack in November 1993, he was in the hospital and convalescent homes until June 1994. These medical difficulties severely reduced Mel’s mobility and travels, but he still managed occasional flights to visit relatives and friends in the United States and Europe.

Mel always had many friends and places to visit, and he reciprocated with legendary hospitality. For example, while at Carlisle, he helped to host a buffet for 250 guests in his BOQ, which had been a mansion before the post was established. Mel prepared much of the fare himself and became known among friends as a formidable chef with an international repertoire of menus. In fact, Mel’s prowess as a cook may have thwarted his relationships with girlfriends (there were many), as they probably did not look forward to competition in the kitchen. Perhaps because of his culinary skills and his penchant for travel and assignments in remote places, he never married, but he was always available to escort visiting unattached femmes.

Mel’s life and career were quite different from those of most USMA graduates. Nonetheless, he gave long and faithful service in living the Academy motto of “Duty, Honor, Country.” The Class of 1950 is proud to join his family and friends in proclaiming, “Well done, Mel. Be thou at peace!”

—His brothers

Richard L. Johnson

NO. 17628  •  30 November 1924 – 17 August 1992

Plane disappeared in Alaska. Body never recovered.


BORN THE YOUNGEST son of Laura and Leslie Johnson in Omaha, NE, Richard Lee Johnson believed that nothing was worthwhile unless it was worth working and sacrificing for. School didn't come easy for Dick but, with his determination and perseverence, he got good grades. In high school, Dick excelled in every activity he entered. When he graduated, he had achieved every goal he had set for himself. He was an Eagle Scout, in the National Honor Society, was JROTC Cadet Captain, was named paper boy of the year for the Omaha World Herald, and had a senatorial appointment to the Naval Academy. He checked into the academy and all went well until the medical exam. The doctor declared he had a mild case of myopia.

He applied to Iowa State University to pursue a degree in engineering. Always hoping for a career in the service, he joined the Naval V‑12 program. He transferred to the University of Minnesota and joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity. He graduated in February 1946 with a bachelor of science in naval technology. While aboard ship, Dick received word that he had been offered an alternate appointment to the Military Academy from Congressman Howard Bufiet. Dick was given only three days to report to West Point. The captain diverted to Bermuda to let Dick make his reporting date. He resigned his Naval commission two days before graduation.

Dick met Phyllis Holst while en route to Omaha on leave in 1948. Their relationship grew into a lifelong partnership. They were married in her hometown, Boone, IA, on 29 Dec 1950.

-Brother Grove


Life as an army wife is never dull and life with Dick was always an adventure. The years flew by with all the moves and assignments from Ft. Benning to Korea, to the Army Engineer School, to Iowa State University, to Michigan, to Germany, to Purdue University, to Vietnam, to Ft. Belvoir again, to Thailand, and, last, to San Francisco, where he retired as a colonel. Along the way, we had three children: Laura Elaine, Craig Steven, and Jennifer Lee.

After retirement in 1974, we moved to West Lafayette, IN. There, Dick enjoyed 20 years of a very active life. His dream was to build his own home which he did ‑  almost single handedIy.

He loved to travel and took many trips ‑ to South Korea and Western Europe where we traveled by motorcycle for three weeks, seeing the Alps of Germany, Austria, France and Italy. We went to Eastern Europe on two other motorcycle trips ‑ to Russia and Poland.  Czechoslovakia, Finland, and Yugoslavia followed. His final dream trip – Alaska ‑ to see the magnificent scenery. It was on this trip, while flying in a Beachcraft Bonanza with his brother- in‑law, Frank Roth USN Ret., that their plane was lost somewhere between Anchorage and White Horse.

Dick was an excellent husband and father, dependable, loving, and caring. When not serving in far off places, he was always available for family activities. We reminisce in the memories of all the good times and the bad, especially the ordinary, everyday things that comprise a successful life with no regrets.

Dick is survived by his wife Phyllis, daughter Laura Riecken, son Craig Johnson, daughter Jennifer Carpenter, five grandchildren, and two brothers, 1LT (Ret.) Lesly H. Johnson and LTC Grove C. Johnson.                                        

-Phyllis Johnson


Why, Brother, Why

Why have I been dreaming for some time. That I must jot down a bit of rhyme. To help cleanse a haunting memory of, to me, a recent catastrophe?

My mind flashes back to when I was five in ’24. When I heard a sharp cry behind the bedroom door. Surprised, I opened the door and what I saw was my baby brother, who could really bawl.

They gave him the name of Richard Lee. But to us all it was just "Dixie. "I bad mixed feelings, you might say, For I lost my status that very day.

I got the job of giving him fresh air. By pushing his buggy (it wasn’t fair). Around the block most every day. I resented it because I wanted to play.

I didn’t like him tbose first few years. At times I had it up to my ears. But when be started to talk and make good sense, My love for him became more intense.

While in the service, he aquired a wonderful wife. They had two girls, a brilliant son, an adventurous life. He was an engineer, a paratrooper, and more. He retired a colonel and hated war.

It was in our retirement years, That we became great pals; We would go skiing and fishing and loved to be with our gab. It was this past August in 92, that they radioed they were in an icy stew. They needed altitude – that was a clue. And that’s the last anyone knew!

Nothing was found on such desolate ground. Mountains, valleys, forests, deep snow all around. One could survive only a short time, I fear even with a soft landing and survival gear.

Dixie, to me, will always be my baby brother you see. Even though he was six‑feet‑four and had me towered by an inch or more.

While I no prophet be, This I know is truth; There will always be life eternity. To me, it's memories here on earth.

It’s love, genes, and cells that linger on. And a God who’s never gone. This stirs my thoughts and visions of

Our future fate. And those awaiting at life’s Golden Gate.

Why did it happen to such a wonderful guy? That’s a question of many, many whys.

He went as be came‑‑a great surprise!  Why? I guess ‑ just because ‑ tbe strife of life.  Cry!  Why?  God bless!

By brother, Les

Allen B. Jennings

NO. 17463  •  5 Aug 1928 – 13 Oct 2001

Died in San Antonio, TX
Interred in Ft Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX


It is in San Antonio, TX, that many of Allen Burke Jennings’ major lifetime achievements occurred. He was born, graduated from high school, married, worked, retired, died, and is buried there.

LT Thomas Jennings '24 and his wife Genevieve welcomed their only child, Allen (Al), at Ft. Sam Houston. Being an active duty pre WWII military family, the Jenningses traveled extensively. On 7 Dec 1941 the Jennings family was on Oahu during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The attack left a lasting impression on the young Al. Later in life, he was occasionally asked to give speeches about his experiences on that fateful day. He enjoyed recalling that attack experience and the Hawaiian lifestyle of the late 1930s and the early 1940s.

By the mid 1940s, the Jennings family was back in San Antonio, where Al graduated from Central High School in 1945. A year of preparation to enter West Point was followed by his admission as a cadet in July 1946.

As a cadet, Al participated in many activities, including riding, fencing, debating and reporting. Nevertheless, he always found time to help a classmate with a problem. It may have been his experiences with the debate council that left him with a strong lifetime desire to win others over to his line of thinking. A quote about him in the Howitzer emphasizes this point: 'Al talked his way through four years at the Academy without the loss of a single battle or skirmish."

Upon graduation, Al followed in his father's footsteps and accepted his commission in the Field Artillery. After a tour in the 519th Field Artillery Battalion in Germany, he attended the battery officer’s course at Ft. Sill. There he remained as a teacher for over two years. It was while stationed there that he met the girl of his dreams, Mary Heacock, on a blind date. He married her in San Antonio on 20 Feb 1956. That was where Mary’s father, William Heacock '25, and mother, along with Al's parents, had retired. In the fall of 1956, Al was selected to join the faculty at West Point. En route to the Academy he earned master's degrees (public administration and history) from Harvard. At the Academy, he taught history, mainly Russian history. This teaching experience re invigorated his zest for history, especially that of tsarist Russia. In retirement he was almost certain to visit any museum in the United States that was displaying tsarist memorabilia or holding lectures on Russian history.

In the 1960s his assignments paralleled those of many of his classmates. He attended the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, had a tour in Viet Nam during the early buildup days, and commanded a battalion of the 83rd Field Artillery in Germany.

The highlight of his military duties in the 1970s was being the defense and Army attache in Brussels, Belgium. This afforded Al, Mary, and daughter Katherine the opportunity to study and travel in the Europe they loved so much. Following that extremely satisfying tour, it was back to San Antonio for a short, final active duty assignment as the deputy commander of VlI Readiness Region.

Retiring in San Antonio was like going back to Jennings’ roots; San Antonio was home. Al retired in 1978 and joined Mary in real estate. He became a licensed broker who spent six years teaching mathematics investments and financing to real estate agents and brokers. The collapse of the Texas real estate market aided his decision to retire from the real estate industry.

Full retirement didn’t mean doing nothing. He and Mary, until her death in December 1990, traveled extensively throughout Texas on numerous short trips. Of course, Al continued to play golf whenever possible, but his real passion became collecting distinctive unit insignia. Before WWII they were known as regimental insignia, regimental crests, or unit crests. Al had an outstanding collection of approximately 8,400 pieces, not counting the many duplicates he traded. He was lucky to have had a large enough house to keep his entire collection on display at one time. Family pictures and paintings were frequently adjusted to permit the expansion of an impressive collection that grew and improved exponentially. He traveled to various shows all over the country to find additional pieces to add to his collection, but really he traveled to visit with all the great friends, both new and old, who had the same passion for insignia.

Unfortunately, Al's collecting efforts came to an abrupt halt when he died unexpectedly on 13 Oct 2001. His terminal illness had lasted just over two weeks. He was buried with his beloved wife Mary, and nearby are the graves of both his and his wife's parents. Since Al and Mary began their lives in San Antonio and spent more time there than in any other place, it is fitting that their lives ended there. Although they both were 'Army brats' and spent a great portion of their lives in various places, they always considered San Antonio home.

He leaves his beloved daughter, Katherine Tix, and her husband Jeff of Sugar Land, TX.

Another graduate has joined the Long Gray Line. Well done, Al. Be thou at peace.

- His loving family and friends.

John F. Irwin

NO. 17973  •  30 December 1926 -  19 July 1983

Died in Minneapolis, MN
Cremated, ashes scattered over the coast of Oregon.


"MOOSE!" THAT'S THE NICKNAME many classmates called John (Jack) Francis Irwin because of his size and love of water. Jack was born on Oahu in what was then the Territory of Hawaii. Not surprisingly, he learned to swim just as soon as he could walk, and learn he did! In 1950, the Moose won first place in the 50‑yard freestyle in the Eastern Intercollegiate Championship held at Annapolis.

His early schooling was in Waipahu, but at about the time of Pearl Harbor he was sent stateside and completed high school in San Luis Obispo, CA. Upon graduation in 1944, he enrolled at Stanford University and studied engineering until enlisting in the Army in 1946. He served until just before entering West Point as a member of the Class of '50. As a cadet, swimming and water polo occupied most of Jack’s time.

So, too, did Margaret, who was to become his wife soon after graduation. Margaret also had been a student at Stanford, and their meeting there in 1944 was a classic example of "love at first sight." Margaret remained at Stanford in 1947 to obtain her degree. Soon thereafter, she moved to Cornwall, NY, to be near Jack.

Commissioned in the Coast Artillery, Jack was ordered to Korea. While en route, his plane experienced engine trouble in Alaska, creating a delay that led ultimately to a changed assignment to Japan. Margaret and their young son joined him there in 1952. Later, Moose switched to Ordnance, and served at Ft. Lawton, Ft. Bliss, and Redstone Arsenal.

As time passed by, the family grew. By 1957, the Irwins counted seven children ‑ five girls and two boys. Deeming it more fitting to raise the family in the civilian sector, Moose left the Army he loved because it did not have "enough hat racks" to accommodate his clan.

For some 20 years, Jack worked for various aerospace companies on the west coast until retiring in 1977. There followed seven carefree years during which Jack and Margaret toured the United States, Mexico, and Canada in their own version of an RV. Jack died suddenly on 19 Jul 1983, in Minneapolis, MN.

Death, unlike so many swimming opponents, conquered Jack at age 56, but not before he gathered up so much in the net of that lifetime ‑ a distinguished military career, an engineering profession in civilian life, a large devoted family, and even some seven years of retirement. His family is gratefuI for the years he devoted to them. We wish he could have lived to be rewarded by the successes of his children, and the joy in knowing his grandchildren.

Richard L. Hunt

NO. 17452  •  11 May 1927 - 23 Apr 2004

Died in Edmond, OK
Inurned in Memorial Park Cemetery, Oklahoma City, OK


RICHARD LEE HUNT was born in Walters, OK, the third son of Adam Love Hunt and Mellie Lyon Hunt. He was predeceased by his brothers Adam Love Hunt, Jr., and James Birch Hunt.

In 1946, Dick graduated from Oklahoma Military Academy and entered West Point. An excellent horseman determined to earn his letter on the Army polo team, he made it onto the team that fall. His was no mean accomplishment, because a polo team consists of only three men, and few plebes were able to join the squad. His achievement permitted Dick to leave the company mess hall tables and bask in the freedom of the Corps Squad polo table. His pleasure didn’t last long, however; Army dropped polo as a varsity sport that same fall and sold all the horses, sending Dick back to the welcoming arms of the company for his meals!

At graduation, Dick chose the Corps of Engineers and, immediately after graduating, married Marilyn Rutter, his sweetheart during all four cadet years, at the Cadet Chapel. As did many of our classmates, Dick then departed for Korea, where he commanded an engineer combat platoon and later served as the assistant S 3 for an engineer combat battalion.
When Dick came back home in 1952, he and Marilyn began married life at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. They lived in an old house trailer there while Dick commanded a company. Later in their tour, Marilyn remembers, the quarters situation improved they moved into a converted World War II barracks with a coal furnace!

In 1953, Dick was assigned to Tinker AFB in Oklahoma before being sent to the University of Illinois to earn a master of science degree in structural dynamics. For the next two years, Dick was assigned to the Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, MS. Later, the family moved to Germany, where Dick commanded an engineer (heavy) construction company and then served as plans officer for the 7th Engineer Brigade at Rhein Main AFB. In 1961, Dick and Marilyn returned to the States while Dick attended Command and General Staff College.

In 1962, Dick was assigned to the Tactical Department at West Point as a company tactical officer and then brigade S-1 before attending the Armed Forces Staff College in 1965. In February 1966, Dick went to Thailand to command the 809th Engineer Construction Battalion.

A tour in the Pentagon followed, but the joys of working in the Pentagon were cut short in 1968 when Dick was selected to attend the Army War College; a year later, however, he was back as chief of public affairs in the office of the Chief of Engineers. Two years later, Dick was appointed district engineer in New Orleans. In 1973, during his tenure, the lower Mississippi was hit by record setting floods. Dick’s sound leadership was instrumental in the successful control of the flooding.

In 1974, Dick was appointed lieutenant governor of the Panama Canal Zone and vice president of the Panama Canal Company. The four year tour was rewarding but frustrating, occurring as the United States was turning over the zone to the Republic of Panama. Dick retired in 1978.

After retiring, Dick and Marilyn returned to Oklahoma City where Dick worked as a vice president for an architectural and engineering company. In 1981, Dick left the corporate world to devote his time and energy to care for elderly relatives. Additionally, he joined the New Covenant Christian Church in Oklahoma City and soon became the church treasurer. Dick’s engineering skills were invaluable as the church underwent a major building program under Dick’s supervision. His dedicated work with the New Covenant Christian Church was only exceeded by his generosity he was truly the rock on which this Oklahoma City church was based.

On 23 Apr 2004, Dick died after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his beloved wife Marilyn; his daughter, Sherry Cox, and her husband Bill; his daughter, Sue Perry, and her husband Bill; his son Steve '77 and his wife Elizabeth; and seven grandchildren.

Dick’s decorations included the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak leaf dusters, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf dusters, and the Coast Guard Commendation Medal. He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Society of American Military Engineers. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Oklahoma.

LTG (Retired) John W. Morris, Jun '43, director of civil works in the Office of the Chief of Engineers during the flooding in the lower Mississippi in 1973 said:

“I knew Dick Hunt quite well and he was a fine engineer and soldier. He was the district engineer at New Orleans during the major flood that tested the control system around the lower Mississippi and New Orleans. LTG Fred Clarke, the chief of Engineers, and I visited him during the emergency. Dick had this major crisis well in hand. The projected water levels required him to make the decision to open the diversion channels upstream for the first time in decades and it was a good thing he did. All who heard this briefing and saw his decisiveness were happy he was the man in control. His fine performance in New Orleans landed him the noteworthy and prized assignment as lieutenant governor of the Panama Canal Company, where his performance lived up to all expectations. I can say without reservation that Dick Hunt was a standout among a great group of Army officers and as an engineer in particular.”

Dick Hunt’s dedication to his country and the Army throughout a lifetime of distinguished service was matched only by his devotion to his family and his church. He lived his life by the West Point motto: "Duty, Honor, Country." Duty was his watchword. We won’t see his like again.

- MJH

James R. Hufnagel

NO. 17406  •  30 April 1927 – 30 June 2000

Died in New York, NY
Interred in Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale, NY


James Raymond Hufnagel was born the third of four sons to Edward K. and Nell Torbert Hufnagel, descendants of early Murphysboro settlers, Catholic Germans who came from North Rhine Westphalia, to Murphysboro, IL. Jim attended St. Andrews Roman Catholic School, taught by nuns, and the Murphysboro Township High School, graduating at the head of the class. He was an altar boy at St. Andrews Church and also worked hard riding his bicycle to distribute newspapers. One day, he built a rocket and managed to launch it through the school window. It landed on the roof of the building across the street, prompting the arrival of the town firemen.

In May 1945, Jim enlisted in the Navy, following the example of his older brothers, William E. and Eugene Hufnagel, already serving on the Navy destroyers USS Cole DD 155, and USS Braine DD630. Jim earned a Congressional appointment to USNA at Annapolis, MD; however, during the admission medical examination he was found to be nearsighted and was rejected. Desperately hoping to correct the condition, he started all sorts of eye exercises and was sent to boot camp at the Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, IL He then served on the USS Reino Mercedes and at USNTC Bainbridge, MD.

In November 1945, the Navy sent him to Union College in Schenectady, NY, but in early 1946 he earned another Congressional appointment, but this time to West Point. As a cadet, Jim wore the gold stars for his academic excellence and was known to be quiet yet always was available to help his classmates with their studies. He was an avid chess player and a member of the Chess Club, the Model Railroad Club, and the Russian Club.

After graduation, Jim joined the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Ft. Meade and, in September 1950, received orders to the Far East Command. He reported in October to Camp Stoneman, CA, and, several weeks later, sailed to Korea. Before Thanksgiving, he arrived at Inchon. On arrival, together with several classmates, he was assigned to the 72d Tank Battalion, 2d Infantry Division. During 1950‑51, Jim served in the Korean War with that group, initially as a platoon leader in Company B. In April 1951, he was wounded in action at Sangjnunjon, when his lead tank exploded under a direct hit. Jim passed out, regained consciousness on an operating table under the starlit sky at a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital unit, and eventually was evacuated to Japan, where he was hospitalized untiI June 1951. He did return to his battalion, received the temporary grade of first lieutenant in July 1951, and was a platoon leader in Company A and a staff officer in battalion headquarters.

At the very end of 1951, he returned to the States with a Purple Heart, a Distinguished Unit Citation, two Overseas Bars, a Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, and the National Defense, United Nations, and Korean Service Medals. In June 1952, Jim completed the Armored School Associate Company Officer Course and then completed the Engineer School Associate Company Officer Course. In June 1953, Jim was promoted to first lieutenant and, in July that same year, became eligible for duty as an instructor in the Department of Mathematics at the Point. Jim chose not to follow that lead, however, for he had set his mind to pursue a civil engineering career.

In February 1952, Jim married Norma Bratti of Bronxville, NY, and ten months later, daughter Nancy was born in New York City.

Although their union ended in divorce 14 years later, Jim never remarried and remained fully devoted to his beloved daughter for the rest of his life.

On 19 Mar 1954, Jim resigned from the Army. He started working for Strobel and Rongved, an engineering firm in New York and enrolled in a correspondence course with the University of Wisconsin, studying reinforced concrete design. Jim became a member of the American Concrete Institute in 1956 and earned a master's in structural engineering from Columbia University in 1957. He became a registered professional engineer in New York State in 1958 and, later, registered in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and DC. In 1960, he became a member of American Society of Civil Engineers. Jim designed a variety of structures during 1955‑60: the 150‑foot control tower at Newark Airport; aircraft hangars for the Navy and the Corps of Engineers; cement plants in Florida and Canada; and the capitol power plant renovation in DC. He was the project manager for the new IBM typewriters manufacturing plant that occupied a 290 acre site in Lexington, KY. The structure was described in one engineering publication as "concrete meets all challenges on complex building project."

During 1960‑66, Jim managed his own consulting engineering firm on Park Avenue in Manhattan. He designed the 13‑story Beekman Plaza and the 17‑story Polyclinic apartments in Manhattan; the garage for Kips Bay houses; and the Institute for Basic Research in Mental Retardation on Staten Island, which the Portland Cement Association described in 1966 as an "outstanding design of concrete." Jim closed the office in 1966 and started working for other consulting firms as well as taking on private contracts. Jim Hufnagel's design work was as prolific as ever until he retired in 1993.

Jim lived by himself for more than 30 years in Manhattan’s London Terrace in Chelsea, among his structural engineering and military history books, maps, and classical music. He loved Manhattan with a blind passion, always discovering the hidden poetry of that island. He loved the old trees of Central Park. He also played chess and was a member of Marshall Chess Club. In retirement, as an intellectual exercise, he studied German and was reading, in German, the Bible and Guderian's "Memories of a Soldier."

Annually since 1997, he traveled to Bavaria with his old friend Mariana von Dobeneck to the land of her late husband and his close friend, Klaus. All three were civil engineers and their personal and professional friendship lasted decades. In July 1999, Jim had a heart attack and underwent emergency surgery that offered a slim chance of survival. He fought bravely and serenely for eleven months but never returned home. Thoughts of his class came back to him in these days, and he would have loved attending the 50th Reunion. He enjoyed the get‑well wishes from his classmate John E. Wagner and, in mid‑June, received a long letter from his classmate Volney E Warner, who described the reunion. Jim was extremely happy. He looked at that letter for a very long time, with tears in his eyes, and then asked Mariana to read it again.

Jim Hufiiagel was a brilliant man of impeccable character and extreme sensitivity. He was quiet, loyal, courteous, diligent and humble, never confused the moral with the legal, and lived by the ancient codes of chivalry. He had crystal clear integrity and never inflicted pain. Jim never talked about "Duty, Honor, Country;" he just lived by it as if that were the only natural thing for him to do. He serenely carried his burden, fought all his battles by himself, and made this world a better place, just by having been here. He was a true son of West Point and he will be missed.

- Mariana von Dobeneck and Classmates

Anderson Owen Hubbard

NO. 17836  •  28 September, 1924 – 23 October 1952

Died October 23, 1952 in an aircraft accident near Pargnan, France. Aged 28 Years.

 

It was three years ago today, Son, that you ushered me into the Cadet Chapel at West Point to hear your class sermon. How happy and thrilled we were. That was a beautiful June day -  ­the flrst Sunday in June 1950 ‑ not a cloud in the sky.

Today is another beautiful June day, and I go back in memory, to three years ago today, and of the past twenty‑eight years. God let you come into our lives twenty eight years ago, September 28th, 1924. It is sweet to remember you when you were a baby. Such a beautiful, attractive and lovable baby. You always drew attention with your winsome ways ‑ friendly, cheerful and always smiling. As you grew into boyhood and manhood you grew in favor with both your family and friends. You acquired and developed those qualities which constitute a fine Christian gentleman ‑ friendliness, thoughtfulness, consideration, unselfishness, patience, sympathy, courtesy and respect. You were a lovable and devoted son and brother, and a true friend. If it was family or friend that needed your help you always gave your best. When your advice or opinion was sought your counsel was a result of consideration and deep thinking.

How proud we were when, at the age of fourteen, you won the contest of the Pittsylvania County F. F. A. Judging Contest. A Sophomore, you made the highest individual score, competing with fifty‑three boys from the Agricultare Departments of Pittsylvania County. You scored 804 points out of 900. You graduated from Renan High at the tender age of sixteen and entered college at V. P. I. in Blacksburg, Virginia, at sixteen years of age. So young to leave home and enter college. You made good during the two years you were there. On March 23, 1944 you were drafted into the Army. The grief that came with your departure! You were nineteen, only a boy, so young to be in the Army. You were sent to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin for training, so far away!

It was while at Camp McCoy that you wrote us one of the lieutenants there told you that you belonged at West Point and to get your parents to get you an appointment to the Military Academy. You asked what we thought, and said if you could get an appointment you would do your best to make good of the opportunity. We did think well of it and took the proper steps to get you appointed to West Point by our Congressman, the Honorable Thomas G. Burch. This was in August 1944. In September 1944 you came home on a furlough. On November 22, 1944 you sailed on a crowded ship to France. There you were in General Patton's Army and learned what real war is, what life for a fighting man on the front line is, and what is meant by "Living Hell". Eating frozen "K" rations, sleeping in snow and mud, buddies falling by your side, and weeks without getting letters from home  ‑ Oh! that horror!

It was on January 10, 1945 that we received a letter from Congressman Burch saying: I  take great pleasure in advising that I have nominated your son Anderson Owen Hubbard as principal candidate for the United States Military Academy. The War Department informs me instructions were issued directing that Pfc. Hubbard be given a physical examination. It he is found to be physically qualified for admission to West Point, his return to the United States to undergo special preparatory training will be authorized and a letter of appointment will be issued to him."

At that time you were overseas ‑ hurried to and fro with hundreds of other privates by General George Patton. You were up in the front line in combat when you received orders to report to headquarters one day in March 1945. You were given the physical examination and returned by plane to the United States. You were sent to Cornell University during the last of March, where you had strenuous training, both mental and physical, for three months. On July 3, 1945 we received another letter from Congressman Burch saying: "I am pleased to advise that the War Department has notified me that your son Anderson Owen Hubbard, my principal candidate for appointment to the United States Military Academy, qualified in the examinations and is being admitted to the Academy today, July 2, 1945."

The same day we received a letter from Brigadier General George Honnen, Commandant of Cadets at West Point, dated July 2, 1945, saying: "Your son has reported for duty as a cadet at the United States Military Academy, West Point, N. Y. You and he are to be congratulated on his having met the basic qualifications for entrance. As you no doubt know, this Institution was established by the United States government to train young men for a career as officers in the Military Services."

It was on July 2, 1945 that you became a cadet of West Point. How happy and how proud we were of you!

In October 1945 you received an injury while playing football and spent months in the hospital. On March 1, 1946 you were sent to Florida for two months, on a sick leave. In May, on Mother's Day, you came home to stay until August 25. How we enjoyed having you home where we could help you regain your health and strength and how I  enjoyed preparing your favorite foods for you! Then, when you returned to West Point in August, you passed the physical examination.

At the United States Military Academy you were known as "Andy".

How happy we were to meet you in Philadelphia at the Army and Navy football games ‑ Army always winning!  What joyous times for three years! Then in October 1949 we visited you at West Point. You were a member of the Regimental Staff. You were the first man on the Plain when there was a parade. You were an usher in the Cadet Chapel. How I longed for, and dreamed of the day when you would usher me into a seat in that Chapel to hear your baccalaureate sermon! That dream came true at 11 A.M. on June 4, 1950 ‑ the first Sunday in June three years ago today. How proud, thrilled and thankful I was! I felt God had answered my prayers, and I gave thanks to Him in that Chapel. On Tuesday morning, June 6, 1950, we saw you receive your diploma. Again I said a prayer of thanks to God and asked Him to protect and guide you in the future. The thrill of those days at the Academy in June Week 1950!

After a tour of Europe in June and a visit home you went to Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas, for Flight Training. You were given a choice of branch of the Service and had chosen the Air Force before leaving West Point. You loved flying. At Reese Air Force Base, Lubbock, Texas, on August 4, 1951 you got your wings. Then you were sent to Langley Field, Virginia, and in November 1951 you were sent to France. In March 1952 you volunteered for a mission to Korea. While there you flew 22 missions. In July 1952  you returned to France via the United States and had a leave to stop a few days with your family and friends. You visited with many. O, my son! ‑ too soon you had to return to France.

At nightfall on October 24, 1952 I was handed a telegram from Washington, D. C. which read: "It is with deep regret that I inform you of the death of your son, 1st Lieutenant Anderson O. Hubbard. He died In France on October 23, 1952 as the result of injuries received in an aircraft accident. A letter containing details will be forwarded to you at the earliest possible date. You will be furnished information concerning the return of his remains to this country. Please accept my sincere sympathy in this hour of grief.”  Signed,  Major John H. McCormick, Director of Military Personnel.

We were shocked and stunned by that message. Why, O why did it have to be! The sorrow and grief have been so hard to bear.

Then came a letter from your Commanding Officer, Col. William L. Kennedy, at the United States Air Force Base in France, which read: "As a member of this wing your son was well liked by all his associates. He was an excellent officer and a very capable pilot, always performing the tasks assigned to him in a cheerful and efficient manner, thereby winning the commendation of his immediate superiors and the respect and affection of his comrades. His death comes as a real shock to all who knew him and his loss will be keenly felt by this organization."

A letter written October 28, 1952 by Donald J. Smith, Major, United States Air Force, Commanding, "In all respects your son lived up to the standards and traditions of the Air Force. His likeable personality was compounded with intelligence, common sense, and outstanding ability as an aviator. The casualty which cost us the life of such a fine gentleman occurred in an instant. Andy had been flying with a formation of five other aircraft. They had completed the first phase of their mission and engaged in single file flying maneuvers with Andy in the lead. His plane was observed completing a turn and descending rapidly into the ground. No fire resulted. All available rescue equipment was immediately dispatched. However, upon arrival it was realized that they were never really needed. The pain of loss can be alleviated somewhat by the knowledge that death came fast and clean and that before death, life had been in keeping with the highest ideals of the Armed Forces and the Nation we serve.

Memorial services were held here on the base by Chaplain Frank M. Arnold. You would have been pleased by the wonderful tribute he paid your son. The entire squadron was present, in addition to many of his friends of the other organizations throughout the wing. A flyover of his fellow pilots concluded the services as both the American and French flags were lowered at retreat."

Then came a letter from the Chaplain, Lt. Col. Frank M. Arnold. He told of the French workers on the base who contributed flowers - ­2 large, lovely wreaths which were used in the service ‑ and sent money contributed by them for flowers for your grave. How touched we were by such an expression of admiration.

Then Capt. Robert C. Young, your flight commander, who had charge of the flight on the day of the accident, and who therefore was a witness, wrote: "There is so much that could be said, but still can be said in the few words ‑ 'He was loved and respected by all those who knew him'."

Lt. Louis Branch, from Texas, wrote: "I got to know Andy quite well while he was in training at Reese Air Force Base, Lubbock, and found him to be one of the finest fellows I've ever known."

A letter from Lt. Charles W. Hammond in Guam‑"I was Andy's roommate at West Point for two years. During that time we became very fast friends and close. During the six years I knew Andy we never had a quarrel or serious argument. You have lost your son and I have lost my friend. None of us will soon forget him."

Another letter, signed by Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, said: "Lieutenant Hubbard's military record was excellent. He was held in esteem by all who knew him for his loyalty and attention to duty. His fine qualities were disclosed by his conscientiousness, willingness to assume responsibility, and his consideration for others. His many friends are saddened by his death."

There were many, many more letters, coming from many countries and nearly every state in the United States. They were a help, and we do appreciate them. We are very grateful for their expressions of sympathy and condolence.

The remains arrived on November 21, 1952. Funeral services were held in your church at Riceville, Virginia, on November 22, 1952, and burial followed in the family lot in the cemetery at Gretna, Virginia, with full military honors.

Then came your medals of achievement, merit and honor. There are fourteen in all ‑ decorations and awards earned by you ‑ the Korean Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, and others.

You carried the "torch" and held it high. It was always my prayer that wherever you went, whatever you did, your influence would be good and that others might see "Jesus in you." Ah memory!, how sweet" and yet how cruel!

Your Mother, Christine McCormick Hubbard

Hugh C. Holt

NO. 17726  •  14 Dec 1926 - 25 Jan 2004

Died in Charlottesville, VA
Inurned in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA


Hugh Carter Holt, Jr, was born in South Boston, VA, to Hugh Carter Holt, Sr., and Mary Bessie Lacy Holt, both of whom died before Hugh was 14 years old. The upside to this tragedy was that Hugh was very popular with his relatives, so he had his choice of families with which to live. He chose to live with Uncle William and Aunt Anne Lacy in Halifax, VA, which became Hugh’s hometown. That Hugh was well thought of in Halifax is evidenced by a friend’s recollection that "Hugh was always more advanced in his thinking whether it be how to play a prank on somebody or a better way to solve an impossible task. In sports, he was a fierce competitor, but he never seemed to work at his studies as hard as some but always got top grades."

In high school during 1940-44, Hugh was active in the Boy Scouts, Honor Council, and varsity athletics, receiving monograms in basketball and baseball. In his senior year he was president of his class and the Honor Council. At commencement he was awarded the Outstanding Athlete medal and the Balfour Key for citizenship, scholarship, and leadership.

Upon passing the Army aviation cadet examinations, Hugh got the opportunity to attend Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, PA, to study basic engineering. He then was assigned to Scott Field, IL, in April 1945 for cryptographers school. After this course, while awaiting orders for overseas, Hugh received an honorable discharge from the Army. He immediately received, and proudly accepted, a principal appointment to the Military Academy with the Class of '50. He then attended the Bullis School in Maryland to prepare for West Point.

As a cadet, Hugh was active in the French club and the hop committee. His leadership potential was recognized by his selection in First Class year as a cadet lieutenant, serving as second-in-command of Company L-1. On graduation in June 1950, Hugh was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Infantry. He then served in various command and staff assignments, including combat duty as a platoon leader in the 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, in Korea.

Hugh met his wife, Ann Reeves, during his cadet days. They married on 3 Nov 1951. Their first child, Elizabeth Ann, was born in 1952, followed by a son, Hugh Carter III, in 1953, both at Ft. Benning, GA. While overseas, another son, John David, was born in 1956. After returning to the United States, daughter Laura Lincoln was born in 1958.

Hugh's other overseas service included rifle company commander with the 39th Infantry Regiment in Germany and instructor at the Seventh Army NCO Academy in Munich. He served on the ROTC staff at Marion Military Institute, AL, in 1958-62. During 1963-64 he was one of two Army officers on the joint staff, Iceland Defense Force, and he spent 1966-69 in the Panama Canal Zone, serving as chief of Budget Division; commander of 3rd Battalion, 5th Infantry, and XO for the 193rd Infantry Brigade. During this assignment, Hugh attended Jumpmaster School and Jungle Operations Training. This training served him well in Viet Nam during 1969-70, when he served as the deputy commander, 3rd Brigade; commander of the 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division; and deputy commander, 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division. He was the comptroller, Combat Development Command, during 1970-73 and in 1973-78 served as deputy chief of staff, Comptroller, USAREUR. From 1978 until his retirement as a colonel in 1980, he served in Germany as chief, Budget Division, ODCS, Resource Management, USAREUR. At retirement, Hugh held several decorations, inducting two Legions of Merit, a Bronze Star for Valor, Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, Viet Nam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Parachutist Badge, and five campaign ribbons.

He was a graduate of the U.S. Army Infantry School’s Advanced and Airborne courses and of Command and General Staff College. In 1966, he earned an MBA degree from the University of Kentucky

Having lived in many homes during his Army career, Hugh and Ann returned to his boyhood home in Halifax, VA, upon his retirement. There they vowed not to budge except for a good game of golf or bridge not far from home. In Halifax, Hugh was the town administrator for eight years, a task he found "challenging and exceptionally rewarding." Because of the many improvements he instituted, he knew he left Halifax in good financial shape when he retired again in 1990.

The Holts' happy life was dealt a terrible blow when Ann died suddenly of a massive heart attack in 1995. She was Hugh’s hero, greatest supporter, faithful and loyal wife, and, above all, his best friend. Life improved when Hugh introduced Elizabeth "Betsy' Moore to the family. Betsy had lost her husband three years before, and she found Hugh to be good company. The connection between them dated back to their childhood, and Hugh and Betsy married in August 1996. With no children to raise or finances to worry about, they spent happy hours together with friends and family. Hugh’s health began to deteriorate, but all were hopeful, as he did not complain and remained cheerful. When he died, he went quickly; it seemed sudden only because he remained quiet about his pain and fatigue.

Hugh is missed by his beloved town, childhood friends, classmates, and by the Holt and Moore families. My dad was a strong and courageous soldier; an honorable, respectful man; and a gentle, understanding, tolerant, loving father. I miss him so.

- His daughter Libby

Robert Andrew Hetz, Jr.

NO. 17556  •  

Died 31 March 1980 in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, aged 52 years
Interment: Gethsemane Cemetery, Laureldale, Pennsylvania


BOB HETZ. A few classmates knew him by the nickname "Zeus" ‑ in mythology ‑ the god of social values. The notoriety which some in the illustrious Class of 1950 were to enjoy passed Bob and, indeed, most of us, by. But, assuredly, he was a distinguished and proud marcher in the long gray line of those who have now gone to peace. To be sure, there were never enough like him. Bob Hetz. A name that quickly revives many fond memories of a cadet who was academically outstanding and personally appealing.

Bob was fiercely loyal to friends and causes, and his days as a cadet revolved as much around his avid support of the New York Yankees and his skill as a bridge player as his official duties. Though not indifferent, he was not thirsty for pure academic knowledge. Bob Hetz. Yes, this is the same cadet who nodded off to sleep in class ‑ even while the P was giving a somewhat long‑winded answer to a question posed by Bob himself!

Who among his friends can forget Bob's frequent forays to the library and the many books he brought back to his room. Interestingly, it seemed as if these trips were more frequent around WGR time. Not, as you might believe, to bone up for exams, but simply to help Bob bide his time while others studied.

Bob's education did not stop upon graduation. In 1966 he was awarded an MS in personnel administration from George Washington University, in Washington, D.C., and he earned an MS in education from Alfred University, Alfred, New York, in 1973. In addition Bob graduated from the Command and General Staff College in 1964.

A keen student of military history, Bob often expressed deep pride in his Germanic heritage and was even combative in extolling the successes of the Prussians. Oh how he took great joy in needling his Southern friends by insisting Robert E. Lee was but a lieutenant colonel, his highest rank in the U.S. Army.

Born 19 November 1927 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Bob acquired an interest in West Point early in his childhood when his family vacationed nearby and annually visited the Plain. Bob's father was an officer in a savings and loan association in Scranton who delighted in taking his wife and four children to Orange Lake from which they often toured West Point.

His quest for a military career yielded him first an appointment to the Naval Academy, which he declined. The following year he obtained his coveted appointment to West Point and eagerly joined the Class of 1950. For Bob Hetz, then, what became his Alma Mater was ever near to his heart.

On 1 September 1951, Bob and his favorite drag at West Point, Rose, were married. Together they had six children, including a son who graduated from USMA in the Class of 1975. Other sons graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He has two daughters, one a school teacher and the other a registered nurse. Bob loved ‑ and thoroughly enjoyed ‑ his large family. Shortly before he died Bob fulfilled a longtime ambition of exploring Alaska. In the summer of 1979 he, his wife and two youngest sons motored from Pennsylvania to Homer, Alaska in a most memorable odyssey.

During his military career Bob saw service overseas in such areas as Japan, Korea, Germany, Iran and Vietnam. A proud paratrooper and infantryman, Bob had a career in the Army that spanned 26 years. In early days he was connected with combat units but later his duties were in the area of personnel administration and training. Notable among his interesting assignments was as action officer in Berlin for President Kennedy's celebrated visit to Europe and the Iron Curtain in the early 1960's.

Among his varied duties on behalf of the United States Army, Bob was operations officer ‑ Berlin Brigade; schools and training advisor to the Imperial Iranian General Forces; staff officer in an infantry brigade in Vietnam; and Professor of Military Science at Alfred University. He also served in the ROTC training unit at Rutgers University. Bob's final military assignment was as post commander, Fulda Military Post, West Germany.

Following his retirement in 1976, Bob was employed as area director, Eastem Area, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. In that role he was responsible for disaster planning and operations in a twenty county area.

It was on 31 March 1980 when Bob succumbed to a sudden heart attack. Easily could this memorial be ended now by merely quoting that nostalgic refrain that his work on earth is done. But not so, however, for Bob Hetz. His family counts as the great legacy; he bequeathed them his strength of character and his integrity. As classmates, that realization by his family comes as absolutely no surprise to us. For we are kindred legatees of those attributes in our memories of Bob Hetz.

Edward J. Reidy, Class of 1950

Frank A. Henning

NO. 17759  •  4 May 1927 - 30 May 2000

Died in Atlanta, GA
Inurned in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA


Frank Andrew Henning III, or "Bud," as his family called him, was born at Jefferson Barracks, MO, where his mother’s parents were stationed. His maternal grandfather was an Army officer, as was his father, who had graduated from West Point in 1920. Bud grew up during the Depression on Army posts at Ft. Sill, OK, Ft. Leavenworth, KS; Ft. Bragg, NC; and Washington, DC. Bud had no doubts about what he wanted to do with his life. At an early age he knew that West Point and the Army were his destiny. The advent of WWII only reinforced that desire and, instead of accompanying his parents around the United States while his father's division prepared for combat overseas, Bud enrolled in the Gunnery School in Washington, CT and then at Sullivan’s Preparatory School in Washington, DC, to prepare for West Point.

As a cadet, Frank, as his classmates knew him, although quiet and serious in outlook, was popular and well liked by his company mates. More importantly, he was seen as a friend who could be counted on when anyone needed help. That was how those who knew him best as a cadet remembered him. Many years after graduation, a company mate recalled how, during Plebe year, Frank had humorously advised him to try out for the Plebe soccer squad. If successful, this would give his friend a chance to eat his meals at a training table, free from the harassment of upperclassmen. Frank specifically suggested soccer because soccer was not a very familiar sport in those days and a plebe stood a fairly decent chance of making the team. The cadet in question admitted that he did not take the advice offered. He also ruefully recalled that he never did get to sit at a training table.

The '50 Howitzer noted that Frank was conscientious in every assigned duty, frequently suggesting additions to or improvements in cadet administrative matters. He was active in the French club and served on the staff of the Howitzer. His selection as a cadet first lieutenant during his First Class year reflected the high esteem in which both his classmates and the Academy staff held him.

After graduation on 6 Jun 1950, Frank, as a new second lieutenant of Infantry, was assigned to the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, stationed at Bamberg, Germany. In later years he would enjoy attending the many reunions of the division, his beloved "Blue Spaders." It was during this initial posting that Frank met his future wife, Ann Crane, in Heidelberg, Germany, in 1951. Ann was there on a European tour with her mother - a graduation gift following Ann's graduation from the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, CA. Frank and Ann met at the Officers Club in Heidelberg, and they married three months later.

Some of Frank' s Army career highlights include service with the Ist Battle Group, 21st Infantry Regiment in Korea (1956); aide toGeneral Charles Palmer (1957-60) at the Presidio in California, and the Army Language School in Monterey, CA, where he became proficient in Portuguese with a follow-on assignment as an instructor in that language at West Point (1961-64). After graduating in 1968 from the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Frank went on to serve as a battalion commander in Viet Nam in the 173rd Airborne Brigade. During his tour he was awarded the Legion of Merit, a Bronze Star for Valor, three Bronze Stars, five Air Medals, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. In the early 1970s Frank's extensive experience with the Infantry was put to good use at the Land Warfare Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. His performance in this command as operations officer and chief, Military Operations Division, resulted in his being awarded the Meritorious Service Medal when he left that assignment. His final service duty was with the Reserve Divisions Group at Ft. Gillem, GA. When he retired from this assignment in 1978 as a lieutenant colonel, he was awarded his second Legion of Merit.

While in retirement in Decatur, GA, Frank worked extensively on family genealogy, authoring Ayers and Heirs, a book that explored his mother's side of his family. His marriage to Ann ended in divorce in 1992. After a long battle with cancer, Frank passed away in hospice care eight years later. He is survived by his two daughters and sons-in-law: Kay Hopkins and James Hopkins, LCDR USN (retired), of Springfield, VA; Carol Snyder and Dr. Robert Snyder of Carrollton, GA, six grandchildren; and his brother, William L. Henning. The pride and deep interest that Frank had in his children and grandchildren were readily apparent in the descriptions he provided about them in his contributions to the class's reunion books.

Frank was a loyal son of West Point who served his country in peace and war with great distinction. He lived a life that reflected the Academy creed of "Duty, Honor, Country. His family, classmates, and friends continue to miss him.

- Daugters Kay Hopkins and Carol Snyder, and brother William Henning

Falkner Heard, Jr.

NO. 17903  •  31 October 1927 – 20 August 1999

Died in San Antonio, TX
Interred in Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX


TO HAVE KNOWN FALKNER HEARD, JR., is to have been acquainted with a legend. Many people have been privileged to share with him the heritage of his forbearers, the contributions of his life, and the legacy of his posterity- Falkner spent a life in, with, and about, the Army.

Falkner was born in San Antonio, TX, to COL and Mrs. Falkner Heard, pillars of Army and San Antonio life. His uncles, MG Jack Heard and BG Townsend Heard, were legendary Army officers. His family contributed much of the Army's history of the past century in the southwest. Falkner would regale listeners with the story of his grandfather reporting for duty and being informed by the adjutant that he was joining a hard drinking, hard playing outfit where most of the officers had been court-martialed. Queried as to whether he had ever been court-martialed, Falkner's grandfather replied, "Yes, and for murder!" Falkner told the story even better over the years.

There was little doubt Falkner would attend USMA. After a try with the Class of '49, he graduated with the Class of '50. Falkner lived on the edge. He was disciplined and smart enough to have graduated with ease, but his challenges of the system were his fun, and he lived them to the hilt. Who could ever forget the ball of yarn unrolled from under his arm by the frantic efforts of an upperclassman to remove this affront to discipline, and ending up with a small ball of yarn at his feet on the pavement.

It would be an exaggeration to call Falkner academically distinguished, but he applied his creative talents to cheerleading. He distinguished himself on the cadet skeet team and, later, on the U.S. Constabulatory skeet team.

It was a source of wonder just how Falkner, who always wore glasses, was such a crack shot. He must have had some form of built-in human radar, because he seldom missed a living, or artificial, bird on the skeet range or the ranch at Boerne.

After graduation, Falkner spent two years with the 70th Armored Field Artillery Battalion in Fussen and Nuremberg, Germany. After serving as an aide-de-camp to MG Raleigh B. Hendrix, he attended the Artillery Battery Course at Ft. Sill. He left the Army in December 1954 for one year and returned in December 1955 as a member of the staff and faculty at Ft. Bliss. During 1959-60, he served as a battery commander in the 19th Field Artillery Battalion in Korea and, during 1960-63, served on the staff of Headquarters, U.S. Forces Japan. Following CGSC in 1964, he served as a staff officer in the 35th Artillery and on the Army Staff in the Pentagon during 1965-67. Service as an operations officer with G-3, Army, in Viet Nam was followed by command of the 2d Battalion, 77th Field Artillery in Viet Nam. During 1968-70, he was an instructor in the Department and Tactics and Combined Arms at the Field Artillery School. During 1970-73, he was on the NATO staff and, during 1973-77, he served at Ft. Sam Houston as an inspector in the office of the Fifth Army Inspector General.

Returning to active duty following his one-year civilian sojourn, he married Jean Wheeler, joining another distinguished Army family with that of the Heards. He claimed his marriage to Jean was the smartest thing he ever did. Their union was blessed with three children - Falkner III, Victoria, and Richard - and all three graduated from Texas A&M. Falkner and Jean were blessed with eight grandchildren. Falkner III, nicknamed "Tres," currently commands the 76th MP Battalion and is the Provost Marshal at Ft. Bliss, TX. Falkner's sister Amy and two nephews also survive him.

Falkner's service was marked by dedicated professional competence, as he always applied himself to the task at hand. He constantly sought any way or means to make life better for those he served and led. Originality and wit always accompanied his accomplishments.

His best friend and neighbor, Charlie Cheever, stated, "to know Falkner was to be acquainted with mischief." Life was never a dull moment in Falkner's company, but there is an important caveat in that, although he was the personification of mischief, he was never mean, cruel nor tawdry. No one ever was embarrassed by his plots and schemes, and all were amused by his deviltry.

Falkner was epicurean in his tastes. He was a connoisseur of food, art, music, antiques, travel, and architecture. There were few museums he had not visited, and the many treasures he and Jean collected were the envy of many.

Following his retirement for physical disability, he never complained, no matter how discomforting his ailments. His therapy was to travel, and the peregrinations of Falkner and Jean Heard were legendary - Europe, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand, Eastern Europe, Belize, and several cruises, to include rounding Cape Horn.

Falkner Heard had one particularly significant and admirable trait - his loyalty to his legion of friends. Years would pass between meetings with him, but when reunions occurred, it was as if the absence had been only a matter of days, or even hours. He never missed a chance to originate a new plot to raise hell about something, or somewhere, involving everyone in sight.

Falkner will remain in the eyes of his family and friends as the personification of the following excerpt from Wordsworth's description of The Happy Warrior, 

"Who is the happy Warrior? Who is he 
That every Man in Arms should wish to be? 
It is the generous Spirit who, when brought 
Among the tasks of real life, hath wrought 
Upon the plan that pleased his boyish thought: 
Whose high endeavors are an inward light 
That makes the path before him always bright: 
Who, with a natural instinct to discern 
What knowledge can perform, is diligent to learn 
Abides by this resolve, and stops not there 
But makes his moral being his prime care 
Who doomed to go in company with Pain, 
And Fear and Bloodshed, miserable train 
Turns his necessity to glorious gain... 
... And while the mortal mist is gathering 
Draws his breath in confidence of Heaven's Applause 
This is the Happy Warrior, this is He 
That every man in arms should wish to be."

Rest in peace, blithe spirit. You live in the love of family and friends, secure in pleasant memories, and are the legacy of accomplishment in all that you attempted and concluded in life.

John S. Harrold

NO. 17999  •  30 Jun 1926 - 9 May 1990

Died in Wayne, MI
Interred: West Point Cemetery, West Point, NY


John Sherman Harrold was born into the Army at Ft. Bliss, TX. He was known affectionately as "Sherman" to his family and "Pop" to his classmates. The latter name he took from his father, the oldest mem­ber of the Class of '23. Typically, Sherman bounced around from sta­tion to station with his parents and younger brothers.

During his formative teenage years, Sherman organized a Boy Scout troop from top to bottom. He enlisted an NCO as a scoutmaster, rallied the kids on the base and, soon, the Boy Scouts of America sanc­tioned the troop. He achieved the coveted rank of eagle, serving as a role model for those following him and, later, organized teenage basketball and baseball teams that competed with surrounding community teams.

Sherman graduated from Polytechnic Preparatory School in Brooklyn, NY, while his father was stationed at Ft. Jay on Governors Island. He went on to attend Sullivan’s Preparatory School in Washington, DC, and then enlisted in the Army. In September 1945, he went to the Academy Preparatory School at Amherst Col­lege, followed by 11 weeks at Ft. Benning for USMA preparatory training.

Sherman’s father was his role model and, like his father, Sherman took the tough and highly competi­tive presidential examination for West Point. He passed it and joined his classmates on the Plain in July 1946. During his four years at the Academy, Sherman kept a low profile. Academics never were a problem. However, he made himself conspicuous on the Army cross­country and track teams because he loved to run the distance events and always gave the full measure of his ability. He was most proud of the gold medals he won at the Army-Navy meets and Penn Relays at Madison Square Garden during his First Class year.

Within weeks after Graduation Day, Sherman was an Artillery forward observer with the 49th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, Korea. Like so many in his class, Sherman went straight into combat without the benefit of branch training. His unit made it to the Yalu River in North Korea but when overwhelmed by Chinese Communist forces, his unit was forced to withdraw through the Hamhung beachhead.

Upon his return to the states, Sherman attended the Army Missile School at Ft. Bliss, where he met and courted the lovely Joan Schock. In June 1954, they married at the Cadet Chapel at West Point, a wel-l­known sacred ground to Sherman, since he had been a choir member for four years.

Sherman then was assigned to the 504th Missile Battalion stationed around the Detroit-Dearborn, MI areas and took over a battery that had just been rated the lowest in the battalion by a recent Inspector Gen­eral investigation. Within three months, he turned the battery around and it was rated the most outstanding in the entire Detroit defense area. His leadership skills and courage to fight for "the harder right instead of the easier wrong" and prevail when the going got tough were bedrock to Sherman’s character. However, hav­ing to work with units spread out over large metropoli­tan areas discouraged and frustrated a young, impres­sionable first lieutenant. That was not the Army he had known and loved. He resigned in 1958.

After receiving a fellowship at the University of Michigan in 1959, Sherman taught physics and math at middle and high school levels. He was very civic-­minded and volunteered time and effort to commu­nity affairs, such as the Penrickton School for the Blind, and the Leader Dog School, and served as president of the local Lions Club and as scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts. He also was active in the Masonic Order and was a 32d degree Mason.

He worked with retarded youths and spent count­less hours seeking to redeem members of youth gangs and other troubled youth through scouting. During his last year of teaching, 1,000 previous students signed a petition to have Sherman transfer from a middle school in Garden City, MI, across town to their high school. The administration would not support it. That incident reflects the chemistry Sherman had with kids of all ages and his intense and unselfish desire for them to achieve their potential.

Sherman’s life on earth was taken all too soon, but those who knew him can be assured that he had a greater calling. We shall remember him for his love for his fellow man, his quiet unobtrusive values, and his adherence to principles of loyalty, unshakable in­tegrity, his steadfast religious faith, and his determina­tion to give his best.

Sherman was a loving husband and father, a faith­ful friend, and an outstanding soldier. He was buried with full military honors at West Point. Another son has joined his father in the Long Gray Line. Well done, Sherman. Be thou at peace.

Sherman is survived by his wife, Joan Feig; two sons John Sherman, Jr., and Thomas Lloyd David; and two brothers, Thomas U. Harrold and Arthur C. Harrold.

- His family and friends

George Ervine Hannan

NO. 17685  •  23 August 1927 – 2 October 1950

Killed in Action October 2, 1950, near Wonju, Korea, aged 23 years.


George Ervine Hannon was born at Mobridge, South Dakota on 23 August 1927, the son of Colonel and Mrs. William Seaton Hannan. His early education was secured in a number of South Dakota schools, and In 1945 he graduated with honors from the high school of Pierre, South Dakota.

Soon after his high school graduation, he met his future wife, Miss Georgia Banks, at a Prisoner of War Camp in Wyoming, where his father was Commanding Officer and Georgia's father was Post Engineer.

On his eighteenth birthday, George reported for Induction in the Army and spent some weeks at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Soon after his Induction he received an appointment to the Military Academy from Senator Harlan Bushfield of South Dakota and was sent to Amherst College as a Student In the USMA Preparatory School there. After a year of training be received a discharge from the Army to enter West Point In July 1946.

His first year was not the easiest plebe year ever spent at the Academy, and he seemed to appreciate his upper class years more than did most cadets. Always a studious person, George managed to survive, and his graduation in the middle of his class was a major victory. During his four years as a cadet, he participated In many extra- curricular activities, Including work with the Howitzer, the Camera Club, the Concert Orchestra, and the Record Lending Library. He was a co-founder of the Record Library, and In his First Class year served as president of the organization. Athletically inclined, his forte was handball, at which sport he easily held his own against all comers.

On 6 June 1950 two of his three goals were reached. He was commissioned in the United States Army and assigned to the Signal Corps, and Graduation Day was made complete by the traditional West Point wedding to his longtime sweetheart, Georgia. Unfortunately, both graduation leave and honeymoon were abruptly cut short in July by movement orders for preparation for overseas shipment. Just three months later he was to give his life In attaining his third goal - that of bringing only honor to his loved ones and to West Point.

He reported to the 205th Signal Repair Company, Fort Lewis, Washington, on 26 July 1960, and on 4 August sailed for the Orient. After a short stay in Japan, George landed at Pusan, Korea, on 16 September.

Although with his unit In Korea only a very short period before his untimely death, George made an Indelible impression upon both the officer and enlisted personnel of his company by his remarkable ability to understand the situation and solve the problem at hand. On one occasion he led a convoy of trucks almost one hundred miles over unchartered roads, with the constant threat of the enemy to his flank, in order to get back to his unit.

On the night of his death, his signal repair unit was attached to the Sixth Republic of Korea Division, a very fluid organization. When word reached George that approximately 2,400 North Korean troops were almost upon them, there was no hope of an organized withdrawal. Being In a walled enclosure, their only hope of escape was in fleeing over the far wall. The proximity of the enemy was disclosed when one man was wounded by small arms fire. George's Distingulshed Service Cross citation reads in part ". . . With total disregard for his own safety Lieutenant Hannan maintained his position, although wounded several times, until all the enlisted men had cleared the area. When the enemy stormed into the compound, by sheer weight of numbers, Lieutenant Hannan was overwhelmed. The gallant sacrifice of life and heroic action of this oflicer saved the remainder of the detachment from certain annihilation. . ."

George Is survived by his widow, Mrs. Georgia Banks Hannan, of 1731 Princeton Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota; his parents, Colonel and Mrs. William S. Hannan, of 902 East Capitol Avenue, Pierre, South Dakota; his brother, William S. Hannan, Jr., of Austinville, Virginia; and his sister, Mrs. William A. Griffith of Palmerton, Penn. His family and friends knew him to be a person of high ideals with a great capacity for leadership. An editorial written after his death said in part, " …George Hannon was a gentleman by nature, a soldier by profession, and an officer by merit and Act of Congress…he died in the performance of duty assigned to him In the service his country . . . we hope his sacrifice will promote the cause of peace in a better world. . ." . George’s remains were returned to United States for burial and on 28 May 1951 he was laid to rest with all military honors at Riverside Cemetery in his home town of Pierre, South Dakota. Quite appropriately, the memorial services were closed with the words, "He gave his life so that others might live ... no higher tribute can be paid to any man ... Well done, good and faithful servant."

- His widow Georgia and his classmate Harold G. Nabham

Charles W. Hammond

NO. 17499  •  9 September 1926 – 31 May 1991

Died in Fairfax, VA
Interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA


CHARLES "CHUCK" WILBUR HAMMONDwas born in Terre Haute, IN. He attended elementary and secondary schools in California, and during 1944 ‑46 he enlisted in the Navy and the Army. It was from the Army’s preparatory school at Amherst College and Ft. Benning that he received his appointment to USMA and enteredwith the Class of '50 in July 1946.

Chuck was my closest friend at West Point. We remained special friends after graduation, although our paths did not cross often. I always will miss him in a special way - his annual birthday cards; and the way that he, Marj, and my wife, Barbara, and I would fall back into an easy closeness at reunions as if we had never been separated. But that was Chuck. He faced even the smallest personal responsibilities with the same sense of dedication that most of us reserve for our most important professional duties.

Chuck and I first became close friends during our Yearling summer at Buckner when we were on the engineering detail together and had the rare privilege of having our very own jeep for our travels. We laughed a lot and took full advantage of our "convertible." More than once, Chuck’s sense of humor was a great comfort to me.

Chuck had an excellent West Point record. He did well in academics, won a varsity letter for four years of soccer, was a lieutenant on the brigade staff, and chaired the Special Events Committee.

We both chose Air Force after graduation. Chuck earned his navigator's wings and was assigned to a strategic   bomb wing at Travis AFB, CA, during 1951‑52. It was there that he met and married Marj.  In 1953, he was transferred to Mountain Home AFB, where he served as Assistant Chief of Operations for a Strategic Air Command Medium Bomb Wing.

Chuck had two outstanding careers ‑ in the Air Force and, after retirement, in executive business management. In 1958, he was assigned to the new Air Force Academy Spanish Department, after earning a master's degree from the University of Texas. In 1962, he became a Squadron Tactical Officer in charge of the officer training of a cadet squadron.

In 1964, Chuck was assigned as Chief of Liaison for the Joint U.S. Military Group in Spain. He received the Joint Services Commendation Ribbon for his accomplishments there.

In 1969, Chuck was assigned to Air Force Headquarters in the Pentagon, where he remained until his retirement as a colonel six years later. His career in Washington was exemplary, and  for his accomplishments he was awarded two Legions of Merit and the Distinguished Service Medal.

Chuck’s first assignment in Washington was as Legislative Liaison for the Office of Secretary of the Air Force. He was responsible for oral and written responses to inquiries from members of congress from ten states. From this position, he was promoted to Branch Chief, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, where he was responsible for substantive responses to inquiries from the White House and Office of the Vice President.

In 1971, Chuck was assigned as Deputy Director of Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of Defense. He worked with congressional committees, and arranged appearances of defense witnesses. He performed similar functions for the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Intelligence, the joint Staff, and the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. He prepared White House staff briefings. Chuck’s last assignment in Washington was as Special Assistant for Legislative Affairs to the Assistant Secretary of Defense. He served as principal liaison between congress and the three military departments.

Chuck Hammond retired from the Air Force in 1975 and immediately joined Sperry Corporation, where he served as a manager in Minneapolis for a year and a half and then in Bonn, Germany for seven years, in charge of Defense Systems. In 1984, he was transferred to Washington as Director of International Operations in the Computer Division. After Unisys acquired Sperry, he became a vice president of that corporation.

Chuck fought off cancer for several years, and when we met at our class reunion in the summer of 1990, he had hopes that he was in remission. But upon returning from an overseas business trip in 1991, he became seriously ill and passed away in May of that year.

Chuck’s wonderful wife, Marjorie H. Hammond, a lovely lady and the mother of their two daughters, Daphne and Janet, passed away on 4 Nov 1997 in Washington, DC. Chuck and Marj are survived by their two daughters.

I, and dozens of friends from Chuck's Air Force and business careers, will miss them terribly. They were two rare class acts.

Kenton Cooley ‘50

John Richard Hall, Jr.

NO. 17585  •  18 July 1927 – 7 September 1955

Died September 7, 1955 in an Aircraft Accident at Stewart Air Force Base, New York, aged 28 Years.

 

JOHN HALL, the elder of two children of John and Lucille (Cary) Hull, was born July 18, 1927, in South Bend, Indiana.

Between 1927 and 1930 he lived in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Davenport, Iowa. In 1934 his parents moved to Muscatine, Iowa where he lived until entering the service in 1945.

Perhaps no better theme for John's life can be found than the phrase of his classmates in the Howitzer: "One did not have to know him very long to realize that he was a truly remarkable individual." The qualities of "efficiency", "quick thinking", sincere purpose" and "sense of humor" which fill our memories of this friend are characteristic of John's whole life.

John determined the fine line between enthuslasin und zealotry. He was actively interested in many fields, both intellectual and athletic. In these pursuits, as in his leadership of men, he gained respect and affection by his example.

He was an insatiable reader, and his room in his Muscatine home was lined with books. He created a local sensation when, as a child, he exhausted the resources of the Muscatine Children's Library.

During his early school years John was an outstanding athlete, excelling particularly in basketball. He continued his athletics at the Academy, winning a major "A" in track. He was not a great runner, and at times it appeared that he might not make the team. But then, as a roommate has written, "his tenacity of purpose and determination won the victory." The continuing influence of athletics was revealed just the day before his death, when John happily told his wife that he had at last beaten George VIisides in a tennis match.

Another trait of long standing was a quiet efficiency. His sister gives an example of one of John's earliest attempts at organization, "He ran his paper route so effectlvely that he didn't have to go collecting. He had his customers put their money in a certain place, and would collect it as he delivered the Sunday papers." As a Captain of Infantry, John still had this knack for simple organization and administration which he had first showed as a paper boy.

John was a Roman Catholic. He received his primary and secondary education at St. Mathias School, in Muscatine, where he graduated with the Class of 1945. The tender respect and love with which his former teachers honored his mortal remains was a fitting testimony to the impression which he had made. One of his teachers later wrote, "His faith was deep, and his character strong, even as a child." His steadfast holding to religion, demonstrated by his service as an acolyte, even to the time of his death, reflected the deep impress of his early training.

The life of a soldier had an early appeal to John. His sister writes that his three young nephews now play with the lead soldiers, "red and blue," which John had cast and painted. He also felt the lure of flying. As an eighth grader he entered a kite contest. His kite was huge, and covered with red cellophane with a tissue paper fringe, It won first prize for performance, and also for beauty. John's last flight was an attempt to further explore the mystery and exhilaration of flying: A first ride in a jet, which he anticipated with the same joy and enthusiasm that had gone into building his prize?winning kite.

In November 1953, John married Betty Jo Gregg at Fort Benning. This happy wedding, attended by a great party of classmates, was a fitting climax to a courtship which had started while John was serving in his first station at Puerto Rico. The excitement of the courtship never died, and John's two years of marriage were busy and happy ones. He never forgot the "little things which mean so much."

What tribute can we pay to this man? In the lives of his wife, his family and his friends, there is a gap which can never be refilled. But he has left part of himself with us. His fine abilities, his faith in others, and his personal example have left their mark on all who knew him. May we remember his example, and fill ouir lives with the joy and purpose which characterized his own.

Carter Burdell Hagler

NO. 17798  •  24 August 1928 – 28 November 1950

Killed in Action November 28, 1950 in Korea, aged 22 years.

 

When this historic shaft shall crumbling lie
In ages hence, in woman’s heart will be,
A folded flag, a thrilling page unrolled. 
A deathless song of Southern chivalry.
Fame’s temple boasts no higher name,
No king is grander on his throne;
No glory shines with brighter gleam,
The name of "Patriot" stands alone.

These words are carved in a granite monument beside the first Capitol of the Confederacy. They commemorate the brave soldiers of the South who lost their lives in the terrible war Of 1861-65. They might verywell have been written to honor another soldier who fell in battle almost a century later.

His uniform was not gray or butternut brown, but the green fatigue twill of the modern army. The battlefield on which he gave his life was not in Virginia or Tennessee, but thousands of miles to the west on the barren hills of a small Asian country. The flag which he followed was not the Stars and Bars of the Confederacy, but that of the United States of America, both North and South. But the cause for which he fought was no less noble, and the sacrifice he made no less great!

Carter Burdell Hagler was born in Augusta, Georgia on August 24, 1928, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Waterman Hagler. From the earliest recollections of those who knew him, he always stood out among his fellows. I can verify this. I first met him at a boys’ camp in 1938, eight years before we entered the Military Academy. He was an outstanding camper, completely without pretense - one of those few people that everybody considers a good and cherished friend. Children are often inclined by their very nature to be mean or bullying to those less able than themselves. During the two years I knew him at camp, I never saw or heard him show anybody, from the most popular to the least liked, anything but kindness and friendship.

Carter attended and was graduated with honors from the Academy of Richmond County, Augusta, Georgia. There he won many coveted honors. He was on the track, tennis and rifle teams, a member of the Beta Club, the Literary Society, the Annual Staff, the R.O.T.C. Sabre Club, and the Hi-Y. He was awarded the Gold R, was a Lieutenant in the R.O.T.C., and a member of the Order Of the Arrow of the Boy Scouts of America.

Front the day he entered West Point, Carter was admired and liked by everyone. The way his classmates felt toward him can be best summed up by this excerpt of a letter from a classmate to his family. "You will want to know that Carter was the only one I know who never had an enemy, for Carter was incapable of being mean and unkind to anyone. In countless 'gab’ sessions, which men always have, Carter alone was discussed as being the best in every respect. There is no other fellow cadet or officer who came through those discussions unscathed. I believe this to be the highest tribute." What this classmate wrote, I know to be the literal, unembellished truth.

Along with others of us, Carter went directly from graduation leave to Korea, and the war in progress there. On the 16th of September, a classmate reports seeing him go over the side of a ship and down a landing net into a waiting L.S.T. which was to take him to his first combat. I am certain he was smiling with the same confidence and encouraging others around him in the same inspiring way that he always did.

Less than two months later on November 28, 1950, Second Lieutenant Carter Burdell Hagler poured out his young life for his country on a Korean hillside. The heroic action in which Carter fell is outlined in his citation for the Silver Star for gallantry in action. As a forward observer of Battery C, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, Seventh Infantry Division, he was attached to Company L, 3d Battalion, 31st Infantry, which was in position near the Chosin Reservoir on the east coast of North Korea. "Vastly numerically superior enemy forces threatened to overrun positions held by this battalion and other units of the division. Lieutenant Hagler moved his forward observer section to the highest accessible ground in the area to better direct artillery fire. With complete disregard for his own safety, though exposing himself to heavy enemy fire and observation, Lieutenant Hagler placed himself in an open position from which he could call for artillery fire on the attacking enemy forces. In his effort to hold the high ground, he left the men of his section in the shelter of their covered positions and personally delivered messages to the Infantry commander regarding his observations. During the course of battle on 28 November 1950, the telephone line between Lieutenant Hagler and the artillery fire direction center was knocked out by enemy fire. With complete disregard for his own safety, Lieutenant Hagler made his way through enemy lines to the artillery fire direction center and after procuring the needed wire for reestablishing communications, started to lay it back to his position when he was struck down by enemy fire and killed."

About Carter, his battery commander said, "Lieutenant Hagler was a fine officer and a gentleman. Men in this organization, while I commanded it, sought assignment in his section. He was well-liked, and it was a pleasure to have been his commanding officer."

In Augusta, Georgia, an American Legion Post is named for Carter. A window has been erected to his memory in the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, of which he was a communicant.

There are three living memorials which bear his name. Perhaps they will to some degree fill the void that has been left in the hearts of those who knew him and contribute some of the goodness to this world which he would inevitably done, had he lived.

The first of these memorials is his cousin’s child, Carter Burdell Boardman; the second is his brother’s little boy, Carter Burdell Hagler; the third, I am proud to say, is my son..

"Blessed are the poor of heart; for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8.

- Will Hill Tankersly

Thomas Patrick Greene

NO. 17724  •  10 January 1929 – 10 February 1951

Killed in Action February 10, 1951 in Korea, aged 22 Years.


Thomas Patrick, "Pat" as he was known to all, was born at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, January 10, 1929, the sixth son of then Major and Mrs. Douglass T. Greene. From there it was a succession of stations, as it is in all Army families, At each new station "Pat" rapidly made new frIends but never forgot the old.

"Pat" started High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where his father was CommandIng General of the 16th Armored Division. When transferred from Fort Smith, his father decided to establish a permanent home for his family in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. This was home to "Pat"; the former places of living took on the aspect of pleasant tours of duty, but Drexel Hill is where he made his dearest friends and firmest ties. It was in Drexel Hill that "Pat" graduated from Upper Darby High School In the class of 1946.

It was only natural that "Pat" should go to West Point. Both of his grandfathers, his father and two of his brothers were graduates, and he directed all of his efforts to joining them in the Long Gray Line. He won the appointment from the 7th Pennsylvanla Congressional District and realized his ambition when he entered the Academy in July 1946. The following four years were happy ones. His easygoing manner made the routine of the Academy pass quickly and his inherent leadership abilities were brought out and nurtured so that he rapidly advanced toward his goal, a good officer. Underneath his easygoing and jovial attitude was a deeply serious man. "Pat" was one who put his service to GOD first and this seemed to be his inner drive and calm. His comradeship and sympathy were there for all. Graduation for "Pat" was a time of great happiness as well as sorrow. Happiness because he was joining the service he loved and sorrow because of the many friends he was leaving.


His graduation assignment was with the 7th Infantry at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, in the company that both of his grandfathers had commanded years before. The regiment left the States for Korea in September 1950, landed first in Japan to receive its compliment of Korean fillers, then proceeded to Wonsan, Korea. in November; thence inland to cover the left flank of the withdrawal of the Marines and the 7th Division from the Chongijn Reservoir, and finally covered the withdrawal through Hungnam, where Pat was the last officer off the beach. He was back into the line again in the drive up the peninsula during the middle of January. On February 10, 1951 while leading his platoon - a part of the leading elements of the regiment - against the Walled City of Korea, Son-Son-Ni, "Pat" went to the assistance of his lead scouts, who were pinned down by fire, and while covering their withdrawal was instantly killed.

He was awarded, posthumously the Silver Star for his part in this action, with a citation which read: "During this bold action, as he fearlessly drew the enemy attention to him, Lieutenant Greene was mortally wounded by a sniper's bullet. The conspicuous gallantry and steadfast bravery exhibited by Lieutenant Greene reflect the highest credit upon himself and are in keeping with the most esteemed traditions of the military service."

"Pat" has joined the ghostly assemblage"; the Army has lost a fine young officer; his family a wonderful boy and his friends a marvelous comrade. "Well Done."

- A Classmate

John H. Green

NO. 17652  •  30 Apr 1926 - 15 Oct 1952

Killed in Action in Korea


John Henry Green crammed about as much living, loving, and leading as humanly possible into his short 26-year lifespan. The quiet sterner's young life was snuffed out in a fierce firefight in the rough and rocky terrain near Kumhwa, Korea.

Born in Orville, CA, in 1926, John was raised in Green River, WY, a town of about 11,000, tucked in the southwest corner of the state. Upon graduation from Lincoln High School in June 1944, John enlisted in the Army Air Corps. A professional military career soon beckoned, however, and, in January 1946, Green sought and won an appointment to the United States Military Academy from Senator Joseph O'Mahoney. The young soldier was enrolled at West Point Prep at Amherst College, MA, to sharpen the academic skills he would need as a plebe.

John Green's massive shoulders stood out as hundreds of new cadets formed up for swearing-in ceremonies on the Plain early in June 1946. Cadet store tailors surely worked overtime refashioning dress coats, jackets, and tunics to fit Green's impressive frame.

Academically, John was a good student with a wide array of extracurricular activities. CDT Sergeant Green of I company, 2d regiment, was a member of the camera, debate, ski, and (of course) weightlifting clubs. His first love, however, was gymnastics, where, as a plebe, he mastered difficult high bar routines and won numerals.

As a first classman, John was awarded his letter as a rope climber, helping Army win the eastern intercollegiate team championship that year.

Graduation ceremonies for Class of '50 were on June 6th. Later that month, the handsome blonde officer was in demand as usher and groomsman at his classmates' weddings. The new 2LT John Green wooed and won the heart of Doris Eleanor Bridges, a petite and attractive chestnut-haired native of Greenville, SC. They were married in Greenville on 27 Dec 1950.

The North Korean Communist attack on South Korea shortly after graduation plunged a shocked United States into another Asian war. Green and hundreds of his cadet classmates (along with thousands of American and U.N. troops) headed for the Korean peninsula from 1950-51. When 1 LT Green took over company B of the 32d Infantry in 1952, the one-time air cadet, Army corporal, and cadet sergeant had completed airborne training, platoon leader school, and other specialized training at Ft. Benning, GA.

In early October 1952, the large-scale Operation Showdown was approved by Far East Commander General Mark Clark for elements of the Eighth Army to seize Hill 598, the famous Triangle Hill located squarely in the middle of the DMZ.

Earlier that summer, Lieutenant Green was seriously wounded but returned to action within two months to lead company B of the 32nd regiment in Operation Showdown. Heavy air strikes and artillery barrages preceded the attack. Thousands of seasoned enemy troops responded with vigorous counterattacks during the next eight days. LT Green played a pivotal role, defined in detail by the citation posthumously awarding him the Distinguished Service Cross. His award citation is as follows: "LT Green, a member of an infantry company, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Kumhwa, Korea. On 15 Oct 1952, Lieutenant Green, a company commander, led his men in an assault on a vital enemy position through a barrage of small­arms, artillery and mortar fire. In the course of the attack, the company was subjected to fire from a camouflaged position, threatening to halt the advance, Lieutenant Green, leaping from cover into a communication trench, without regard for his own safety, hurled hand grenades to neutralize the enemy machine gun. When the company was again subjected to devastating fire from a tunnel under one of the trenches, Lieutenant Green moved forward to destroy the position and, in the process of silencing the guns, received wounds which later became fatal. Resuming the advance despite his painful wounds, Lieutenant Green led his men in an attack against the hostile forces. His courageous and inspirational leadership was greatly responsible for routing the enemy and securing the strategic ground. The extraordinary heroism exhibited by Lieutenant Green on this occasion reflects great credit on himself and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service."

1 LT Green's broad shoulders could not shield a heroic heart against enemy bullets and shrapnel. Operation Showdown ended major U.S. involvement in the Korean War at a total cost of 365 American soldiers killed in action and 1,174 wounded.

John's battle death "saddened the entire town," when it was reported in his hometown paper, the Green River Star (Wyoming). "Johnny was well known there and had many friends who kept track of his military career."

John's roommate, Luther B. Aull, and his wife, Louise, also of Greenville, SC, named their two sons John and Edmund after John Green and Edmund J. Lilly III, both of whom were killed in action during the Korean War "...as a living memorial to the sons John and Ted never had."

John was survived by his mother, Mrs. Kenneth Young; his wife, Doris Green; and his ten-month-old daughter, Janet Eileen; all living in Green River, WY, at the time of his death.

- Written by classmate Donald E Dunbar

Harold A. Gottesman

NO. 17373  •  7 Sept 1926 – 21 Nov 2001

Died in Old Lyme, CT 
Interred in West Point Cemetery, West Point, NY


Harold Aaron Gottesman, born in Newark, NJ, was the oldest of Sadie and Joseph Gottesman’s four children. Known as "Hal," he skipped a grade in elementary school and was an A student. Throughout his academic, military, and business ventures, Harold’s mental agility would leave others admiring his ability to concentrate and to bring all of his knowledge to bear on a challenge. Studying and solving problems and helping others find the answers, too was Harold's passion, and his mind was every bit as wonderful as the machines and concepts he spent a lifetime mastering.

Harold graduated from Hillside High School in 1943 and, already interested in engineering, enrolled at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh. Studying through the summers, passing two classes that met simultaneously, and taking a late night job as an elevator operator so he could study while working, Harold earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in mechanical engineering in just three years.

Harold knew the role the military played in American life and, especially, in his preferred scientific fields of study. He wanted to continue his schooling with the best and brightest, and that meant West Point.

A member of Company E-2, Harold quickly gained a reputation as one of the top academic performers. As much as Harold enjoyed learning, he also enjoyed helping others learn. One of his roommates, Andrew Rutherford, remembered Harold was often his savior when it came to math and science courses. Jerome Waldor, another classmate and a lifelong friend, said Harold was always generous with his academic skills even if it cost him time or effort. He tutored and was always available to help cadets who needed it. Harold earned the Veterans of Foreign Wars prize in physics, finishing at the top of the class in that subject. He also participated in the French Club, Radio Club, Pointer, Jewish Chapel Choir, and Ski Club.

Harold left West Point with a fierce appreciation for American freedoms and the costs of protecting them. Later in life, he would become deeply involved with the West Point Jewish Chapel and the U.S.S. Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum in New York City.

Harold met Barbara Freid of Brooklyn, NY, shortly before his First Class year, when he and classmate Ben Lewis visited Ben’s sister at the summer camp in Maine where she and Barbara were counselors. Harold and Barbara married after graduation.

Harold entered the Air Force and completed primary flight training at Connelly Air Force Base, Waco, TX. He did a stint in Enid, OK, for advanced flight training before being assigned to Mather Field in Sacramento, CA, where he flew training missions. His last post was Kelly Field in San Antonio, TX, where he oversaw a unit ferrying airplane engines around the country.

Harold left the military in early 1954 to begin a business career in New Jersey. After jobs with his father’s handkerchief company and the Cooper Alloy Corporation, a great opportunity arose when his father purchased an old industrial building on Edison Place in Newark. Because the site was near the railroad station, Joseph decided to demolish the structure and construct a parking lot. He suggested that Harold and brother Jerry (USNA '52) operate the lot. The business opened in February 1956.

"We were working like crazy," recalls Jerry. "Dad saw us going from $11 to $40 to $80 to $ 100. What else could he be but happy? He got pleasure out of seeing us working hard together."

Edison Park Fast expanded quickly, and the Gottesman brothers became well known around the New York metropolitan area for their expertise, hard work, and first class operations. By the early 1970s, they owned or managed more than 150 locations and consulted for others who needed help building or running parking facilities.

The Gottesmans expanded into the ministorage business in the 1970s, opening Manhattan Mini Storage for New Yorkers who needed space to store their extra belongings. In 1978, they purchased the Hippodrome, a 650,000 square foot office building in midtown Manhattan.

The real estate business suited Harold's fondness for both math and science. He had a mind for numbers and a specialty for coming up with solutions to the unique challenges that arose with each property. He loved to figure out what made a ticket spitter work or where to put an elevator, how to negotiate leases or when to change prices.

All his life, Harold credited the discipline, excellence, and leadership skills West Point espoused for much of his success in business. Employees and associates alike recall Harold as fair and eager to help others find the answers they needed. He enjoyed grinding out the details of any problem as much as top level meetings, and he took pride in the successes of the people around him.

Harold and Barbara had two daughters while living in Union, NJ: Ellen in 1954 and Robin in 1956. After moving to West Orange, NJ, they had a son, Andrew, in 1970. His children were the beneficiaries of his intelligence and experience, with help always available for everything from homework to home buying. Robin simply called him "The Answer." He and Barbara separated in 1987.

Harold sold much of the business to his brother in 1998 and retired to Old Lyme, CT, with his companion, Madelaine Goldish. There he was able to enjoy all of the tinkering and work a new home requires.

Harold never stopped learning or teaching. He was excited about helping his son succeed in business and treasured a phone call from one of his grandchildren looking for help with a math assignment. All who knew him are poorer for the passing of a mentor but also well prepared to solve the problems they face. That is his legacy.