CLASS NOTES for the January/February '02 Issue of ASSEMBLY Magazine

Mel Rosen
3415 Arnold Lane
Falls Church, VA 22042-3505
703 560-5557 (H)
e-mail: franksul@aol.com
Melvin Rosen
Class e-mail address: classof40@aogusma.org
Class Home Page on the web: http://www.aogusma.org/class/1940

       Pete Kramer e-mails that “although we don’t burn up the web, we are not moribund here. Yesterday (1 Aug 01) our Alamo Chapter had one of its periodic get-togethers. Babs Briggs hosted a very pleasant luncheon at the Towers. Attending were all our happy band: Grace & Ed Verner, Susan & Dennis Barton, Morrie Shoss, Blanche Campbell, Nancy Francisco, Mary Lou Stewart, Les Schockner, and, of course Pete.” Sorry for the delay in getting this out, Pete. Mea culpa. I’m still feeling my way. How about a photo of your happy band next time?

        There was a meeting of the class officers at the Ft. Myer O Club on 23 Aug 01. Class treasurer, Bob Cassibry, presented the status of the Class of ’40 Administrative Fund. After a net expense of $2,657.94 from January to 31 July, the funds balance was $12,101.75 as of 31 Jul 01. Although it is not expected that the expenses will be that high over every six-month period, the fund can use a transfusion. While our class president, Kerm Dyke, does not feel that we need an organized fund drive at this time, all contributions will be welcome. Make checks payable to “Class of ’40 Administrative Fund, AOG” and mail to “Development AOG, West Point, NY 10996-1607.” All are reminded that, in accordance with the vote of the class, the class gift fund was liquidated by giving it to the Academy for unrestricted cadet activities.

        The DC contingent assembled for its “Rebate Discussion Luncheon” at the Belle Haven Country Club on 6 September. Thanks to Eleanor Abbey, the arrangements were excellent. There were 37 in attendance. Class President, Kerm Dyke, reported on the Society Presidents’ and Class Leaders’ Conference sponsored by the AOG at West Point. No conclusions were reached on what to do with our rebates. Two representatives of the Army Historical Foundation discussed plans for the Army Museum and the proposed locations of Ft. Belvoir and Carlisle Barracks. They also promoted a new “coffee table” book entitled,The Army. The book is edited by BG Harold Nelson, USA (Ret.), former Chief of Military History, has over 350 pages of text and stories of the Army experience, and has photography, portraits, posters, and paintings. You can get full information by calling 800 506-2672. I have read in the Fairfax Journal just now that the Secretary of the Army has announced that the Army Museum will be at Ft. Belvoir, VA.

        Some of you who are active on the class internet may see familiar items in this column from time to time. Steve Morrissey, our webmeister, reports that we have 66 classmates in the net. We have some 107 who subscribe to ASSEMBLY. Some of the items are repeated for those who may not have seen them on the net. Steve indicates that he would like to see more activity by more classmates on the net.

        Babe Rogers reports a change of address from his Casa del Oso address to 920 River View Dr. SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124. His new telephone number is 505 892-0236. On 6 Oct 01, the Philippine Scouts with whom I fought on Bataan celebrated their 100th birthday. Olive & I attended impressive ceremonies at the Presidio of San Francisco. The guest of honor and keynote speaker was Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. Although he is a graduate of that other school, he gave an inspiring talk and impressed everyone with his sincerity and candor. I must confess that, as Master of Ceremonies, I did haze him—but just a bit.

        Some of you may have noticed in the September/October 2002 issue of ASSEMBLY on page nine the information concerning the West Point Bicentennial Daybook. It is a beautiful Daybook. ASSEMBLY suggests that you consider them for holiday giving.

        Funeral ceremonies for Dick Free were held on 31 Jul 01 at the Old Chapel at Ft. Myer. Dick was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Interment was followed by a reception at The Fairfax, Ft. Belvoir, VA. Representing the class were Kermit Dyke, George Mayo, Dick Kent, Bob & Pat Cassibry, Betty Parker, Eleanor Abbey, Joe Donohue, Martha Clement, and Stew McKenney.

        George Mayo spoke to Dotty Swank in September 2001. She is in a retirement community to which she and Walt moved about two years ago when Walt began to have serious heart problems. Dotty said that, despite medication and exercise, Walt’s heart continued to deteriorate. In late July 2001, he entered the hospital across the street from their home, and he died there on 29 July. His remains were interred on 6 August at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Pennsylvania. Dotty plans to remain at her present address as in the class roster. Rumor has it, now that we are at war, our class prexy, Kerm, is considering trying to get recalled to active duty. I recently was interviewed by a reporter from the Chicago Tribune, who asked me what obligations I still had to the Army. I told him that one of the things they could do is to recall me to active duty. And, if he ever hears that Mel Rosen has been recalled to active duty, to run for the hills, because the Army would be in a lot worse shape than I thought it was.

        Bill Sullivan, son of Frank & Celeste, reports as of 23 Sep 01 that Frank was in a nursing home following a bout with a fairly severe infection. He has beaten the infection, but still has balance and coordination problems. Let me quote Bill for this next part. “Speaking on behalf of my dad, he would surely thank all of you for giving him the opportunity to serve as Class of ’40 scribe. I know it gave him and all of our family a way to share and preserve just a bit of that rich history made by the Class of ’40. I also know that his decision to stop the work was made with great difficulty, only after it became clear that his coordination and strength made it impossible to continue.” Celeste’s health remains excellent through difficult days. The family hopes to be able to attend some of the future class events. Thanks, Bill.

        Taps. Patricia C. “PAT” McKenney, one of the original volunteers for the Office of Strategic Services (forerunner of the CIA) and beloved wife of Stew, died suddenly of cancer on 10 Sep 01. Pat was recruited by senior associates of GEN “Wild Bill” Donovan. Pat was later selected to head the Office of Clandestine Funding for the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations in Caserta, Italy. She later served in Vienna, Austria. Pat was honored by the governments of France and Italy, as well as receiving a Letter of Achievement and Service from GEN Donovan. She & Stew, also an OSS alumnus, had been married for 56 years.

    Paul Reinecke died on 10 Oct 01. He had been in the hospital in Columbia, SC, for several days in August and September because of what he believed were gallstones and thyroid problems. Paul was a recognized expert in the intelligence field. He spent much of his career in that field, including tours in the CIA and DIA. He retired as Chief of Intelligence of Fifth Army at Ft. Sheridan in January 1968. We all know, of course, that Paul’s dad (Class of ’11) wrote West Point’s Alma Mater. Paul & Ann had been married for 59 years. Paul was interred on 12 October at Greenlawn Cemetery in Columbia.

        Lou Mendez died at his home in Falls Church, VA, on 19 Sep 01 after a stroke. Lou was one of the real heroes of the class with a DSC and three BSMs. Historian Cornelius Ryan profiled Lou and his leadership in the Market Garden operation in his best-selling history, A Bridge Too Far. I can remember Lou telling me that he had trained each man in his battalion to recognize the voice of every other man in the battalion. It saved his own life and, probably, others when his battalion jumped in behind German lines during the Normandy invasion. Lou is survived by Jean and their 12 children, 22 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Lou & Jean had been married for 60 years. Burial was at Arlington National Cemetery on 26 September.

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