1940
Mel
Rosen
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:
In 1987, Fred White, our veep and historian,
wondered why such a great club as the Army-Navy Country Club had no written
history. The club had so many illustrious members, e.g. Presidents Eisenhower
and Kennedy, GEN Omar Bradley, ADM Chester Nimitz, that Fred convinced the
club’s Executive Committee that they should have such a history. He became the
Managing Editor, organized a Historical Review Group, and published Volume I
(1924–89) in 4,000 copies in 1989. Fred then organized another group to update
the history to 1995 with publication in 2000. Eleanor’s illness and his many
activities at the Virginian Retirement Home prevented any further involvement
in the history update. When nobody else would take over the project, Fred made
a motion at the annual meeting, 7 Oct 02, that a new Historical Review Group be
organized to update the history as Volume II covering 1989–2004. This was
approved unanimously by the 400 members present. Those of you who are members
can expect to see Volume II circa 2004.
Jack Dibble reports, “On 4 Sep 02, Bev & I flew to
Houston for a few days on the River Ridge golf course that Bev’s son, Jeff
Rawson, built on the banks of the Brazos River. Staying in a spacious ranch
house on the course, we were feted at a couple of receptions in the ranch house
and at the elegant Houston apartment of Jeff’s friend. On 11 September, Jeff
drove us to San Antonio to visit the upscale Valencia Hotel he is building on
the San Antonio River (completion is planned for January 2003) and to attend the 61st reunion of the 705th Tank
Destroyer Battalion that I commanded in 1945. They
supported the 101st Airborne Division in the siege of Bastogne during the
“Bulge” and the 11th Armored Division across Germany into Austria. We had a
great time visiting the Mission, San Jose, the Alamo, Tower of the Americas,
Nimitz Museum, River Walk, and swapping war stories with the 57 troopers,
families, and friends who were able to make it. As a highlight, Bev and I had
dinner and a warm visit with Ed & Grace Verner and Pete Kramer at
the Towers. Ed is 88, and both he and Pete get around better than I. Oh yes,
one of the benefits of command is that the troops laugh at your funny stories.
Now we’re home and Bev’s busy lining up a new pastor for our Cocoa Beach
Community Church. BEAT NAVY! “Jack also reports that he and Bev attended a
“Picnic in the Park” featuring the Melbourne Municipal Band. The band played
“The Official West Point March” recognizing Jack and his friend, Ernie Muro who
played in the West Point Band for his entire career and now leads a popular
combo that plays 1940s and 1950s music.
Ross Milton, in response to my plea for news,
reports, “I am in good health and my wife, reasonably so. Some of our survivors
may remember her as Betty Bailey, a popular girl. My golf remains
surprisingly good, still at 13 handicap. Bob Strong lives about 20
minutes away, but I rarely see him. He looks well and is his same dapper self.
Arizona is an agreeable place for the sunset years.”
Assembly of the Bulls or BSII or the second “bull session” of the
Washington contingent took place at the Army–Navy Country Club on 26 Sep 02.
Although nine of the brightest participated, none of the world’s problems got
solved. Many of the more pressing problems did get identified for possible
solution in a future session. At any rate, the sessions are fun, enlightening,
and a chance to get together.
As of this writing (26 Oct 02), George
Mayo informs me that 128 of us remain alive. The AOG says that some 85 of
us subscribe to ASSEMBLY. Steve Morrissey tells me that some 68 of us
are on the class net. How come I have to “sweat blood” every two months to come
up with a column that has some input—prose and/or photos—that tells the rest of
the class something about you and yours? This is your column. No input—no
column.
Taps. Skip Fowler died on 9 Oct 02 as a result of
heart problems. There was a funeral service 15 October at St. Luke’s Episcopal
Church in Prescott, AZ, with interment in the cemetery of the Church of the
Advent in Sun City West, AZ. The area code for Mary Lou now is 928.
Betty Maxwell died on 1 Sep 02. Dudlley states that “after
battling her illness for so long, she went peacefully.” Address in the class
roster (1 May 00) is correct.
Dale Epley reported that Ruth died on 4 Oct 02. She fought
esophageal cancer for six months, but the cancer finally won. She was interred
at West Point on 15 October.
—Mel