1940
3415 Arnold Lane
Falls Church, VA 22042-3505
703 560-5557 (H)
703 560-0327 (Fax)
classof40@aogusma.org (Class e-mail)
classof40@aog.usma.edu/class/1940
Subscribers:
As promised, here are some more photos taken by host Jack
Dibble at the Florida mini-reunion.
Walt Winton sends interesting news of the status of his military descendents.
Walt’s son, LTC Harold Winton ’64, USA (Ret.), is a civilian professor at the
Air University at Maxwell AFB. His oldest son, MAJ Eric Winton, USAF, Class of
1990 USAFA, escaped injury in the 11 Sep 01 hit on the Pentagon. Another son,
MAJ Douglas Winton ’91, USA, is teaching economics at USMA and settled into
quarters on post with wife, Gabriella, and three children. A third son, CPT
Mark Winton, USAR, already airborne and ranger qualified, is in seminary with
an eye on return to active duty as an Army chaplain. Walt reports that Alice
and he are not very mobile but are of good spirit.
Sam Patten forwards notes from Harriet Davis in which she
thanks Sam for photos of her taken at our 60th Reunion. Harriet really enjoyed
being with the class. She was staying close to home because of the hot weather
(written in July in Palm Beach, FL).
Jack Dibble has forwarded a copy of The INTERCOM, published
by the Cape Canaveral Chapter of The Retired Officers Association. In it is an
article by Jack: “The Cavalry Cruise.” Jack’s article includes a photo of
Page Smith “cleaning the south end of a north-bound horse.” Brings back
lots of memories, Jack!
Dean Vanderhoef e-mails Kermit Dyke, “Lord willing and the creek
don’t rise,” we’ll see you at the Fall Brunch of the DC contingent. Thankfully,
the Lord was willing and the creek did not rise, and Van & Jeannie joined
us and were the ones who had traveled the furthest. Van updates their address
in the directory as follows: 1285 Swan Lake Drive #203, Charlottesville, VA
22902.
Attending a board of directors meeting in San Antonio in
February, I had a long conversation with Linda Gepte, daughter of Vicente
Gepte. She is a lovely young lady. We had been in touch for several years,
but this was our first meeting. She was in San Antonio to attend a Manila
Liberation Reunion of the liberators with the liberated. Linda was liberated as
a small child from a prison camp in Santo Tomas University. She is very
interested in the various lawsuits against the Japanese with which I am
involved. When I was at Ft. Stotsenburg in the Philippines before the war,
Vicente was just a couple of miles down the road at the Philippine Army Camp
Del Pilar. He used to visit Johnny Murphy (my roommate) and me
regularly. As some of you may know, Vicente survived the Death March out of
Bataan, was released by the Japanese, became a guerrilla and was later beheaded
by the Japanese.
Jean Mendez reports that the town of Pretot in Normandy, France,
will name a square in honor of Lou whose battalion liberated the town in
WWII. The ceremony will take place this June during the annual D Day
observance.
With the exception of a hardship tour in Korea in
1965–66, my family and I have lived in the DC area some 40 years. During that
time, in my opinion, the class contingent in this area has an outstanding
record for attending the funerals of classmates and spouses being interred in
this area. I believe that many of us feel a sense of obligation to do this for
our classmates when we are able to do so. However, we cannot do this if we are
not informed early enough of the funeral arrangements. We ask spouses and next
of kin to please notify Stew McKenney or me early on if the funeral is
to take place in this area. Those in the class internet can use that to notify
all of us. Otherwise, please call Stew at 703 524-5968 or me at 703 560-5557
(also in my header above).
Taps. Harry Lee Wilson, Jr., died on 17 Sep 01 at Grace
Ridge Health Care in Morganton, NC, after a brief illness. He was interred in
Morganton.
Daisy Wall Warren died suddenly and peacefully on 25 Jan 02 at home in
Charleston, WV. She had a lifelong history of volunteer work, including for the
Red Cross during WWII, for Meals-on-Wheels, for hospitals, and for numerous Air
Force organizations throughout Bob’s career. She was awarded the Air
Force Award of Appreciation by Secretary of the Air Force Melvin Laird in 1971.
She & Bob had been married 60 years. She was interred on 31 January in the
Air Force Academy Cemetery. You will recall that Bob served as the Academy’s
fourth Superintendent.
Frank Sullivan died on 3 Feb 02 after an extended illness that
required him to relinquish his position as class scribe. Frank’s Funeral Mass
was held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Port St. Lucie, FL, on 8 February.
Burial was at West Point on 22 February.
Frank Meszar died on 23 Jan 02 at his home in Savannah, GA. A
memorial service was held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Savannah on 26
January. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on 8 February.
Bill Clark died on 17 Feb 02 at his home in Colorado Springs, CO.
Bill had cardiac and other serious problems for some time. He is to be
cremated and inurned at West Point at a time to be determined later, probably
in April.
—Mel
1.
1940—Ray
Clock, Jean Nosek, Bev Dibble, and Luther Arnold at the Cases’ home.
2.
1940—Lys
Scott, Jean Williams, Fred Yeager at the Cases’ home.
3.
1940—Kermit
& Bobbe Dyke.
4.
1940—Bill
& Marie Lewis.
5.
1940—Sam
& Kim Webster.
6.
1940—Dale
Epley and Peppy Millican.
7.
1940—June
Marsh and Sarah Hoover.