Dear Classmate:                                                                  December 2003 
 

The Army Teams -Two Venues, One Victory

On December 6, 2003, the pride and dream of every heart in gray fought hard, but suffered its thirteenth loss of the season at the hands of a resurgent Navy team. A week later almost to the hour, another Army Team, a half a world away gave us a victory on another field, this one of unfriendly strife. How different were the settings --a spanking new, multimillion-dollar stadium in Philadelphia and a 6'x 8' spider hole under a mud hut on an Iraqi farm. The capture of Saddam will not end the struggle in Iraq, but the anticipation of bringing this man to justice is an encouraging way tp start the new year.  We are indebted to those brave soldiers, who have stood in harm's way for so many months while enduring separation from their families and uncertain chances of success. Time Magazine had it right. They were truly the men and women of 2003. 

Class of '65- Moving On 

We in the Class of '65 no longer lead combat troops. That role has been passed along to a new and equally competent generation, including our own sons and daughters. In June, we observed the exit of our class from the top of the chain of command with the retirement of Ric Shinseki. Many of us were there to hear Ric say farewell to his troops with the professionalism and grace that had marked his leadership throughout his career. Never was his character more apparent than during his tenure as Chief of Staff where he was a rock of integrity in the sandy soil of Washington politics. Thank you, Ric, for demonstrating what it means to be your soldiers' soldier . 

Many of us passed the sixth decade milestone this year and we all are entering what has been euphemistically called the third half of life. We may not have the strength and drive of earlier years, but we bring an enthusiasm for the present and an excitement for the future that will give us fuel and fortitude for years to come. There are many reasons for this optimism. Let me remind you of a few. 

Mini-Reunion in Santa Fe

In October, 2003, Maralee and I spent a long weekend in Santa Fe with about 135 other classmates and wives. This was our class's first mini-reunion, which was most ably planned and executed by the indefatigable Denny Coll and his wife Cathy. It was a wonderful time of relaxation, fun, and fellowship. Denny had a few scheduled events, but most of the weekend was open for hiking, shopping, playing golf, taking a tour, or simply relaxing in the beautiful setting. We saw people we had not seen for twenty years or more. The camaraderie was palpable and it was fascinating to hear about the different families and careers of our classmates. The weekend culminated with a dinner on Saturday night where we presented Ric and Patty Shinseki a silver tray with an inscription of gratitude from "the Great Class of '65." Check out the pics on our class website www.aogusma.org/class/1965. The feedback from those at the mini-reunion was overwhelmingly positive and it added to the anticipation for our 40th Reunion. 

Fortieth Reunion -Mark Your Calendars

Your responses to our reunion survey led to our choosing September 8, 9, & 10 for our 40th Reunion and we are well into the planning process. Bob Frank and Steve Ammon are leading the Reunion Committee and the early drafts of the schedule point to a wonderful weekend. We won't know for another year whether there will be a football game that Saturday, but either way, it promises to be a memorable time. Mark your calendars and be alert for notices from the Reunion Committee. 

Nominating Committee

I am pleased to report that Dave Kuhn has agreed to chair the Nominating Committee, which is being formed to select a slate of class officers for the 2005 -2010 time period. The new slate will be presented for a vote at the 40th Reunion. Dave is in the process of choosing his committee members and has asked that any classmates who are interested in serving on the Nominating Committee contact him at Ikp10@sbcqlobal.com or call him at 949-640-5251. 

Arvin Athletic Center

Perhaps the most intense building activity that is presently going on at West Point is the construction of the new Arvin Athletic Center, a most impressive structure befitting the memory of our First Captain. To ensure that visitors to the Arvin Center have a positive first impression of the facility, the Class of '65 has contributed generously to enhancements to the floor surface of the Center as well as to substantial improvements to the entrance. The Arvin Design Committee, chaired by Bob Doughty1 has done a magnificent job of first designing an entrance that we all can be proud of and then navigating the shoals of the USMA bureaucracy to make sure that the design is approved on time and under budget. They are putting the finishing touches on their efforts and unless there is a serious hiccup in the construction of the Center, it should be close to completion when we arrive for our Reunion. It will no doubt be a memorable event when we rededicate our gift as we gather in the new facility. 

The '65 Forum 

Speaking of our contribution to enhancing the appearance of our Alma Mater, some of you may know that USMA will be getting a new library [Jefferson Hall], which is scheduled to be built adjacent to the baseball field [ old tennis court area]. The present library will be converted to classrooms and related academic space. This will put the '65 Forum directly between the old and new libraries, meaning that the Forum will be at the epicenter of the foot traffic through the academic area. While this should help with its profile, we want to make sure that our interests are protected with the design of the new library, especially the construction related to the outside design, e.g., sidewalks and landscaping. To that end, Bob Doughty's committee is in touch with the right people at the Academy to reserve our place at the planning table for the new library. We are grateful to these classmates for stepping up yet again to another class issue. 

1 The Arvin Design Committee comprises Bob Doughty (Chair), John Howell, Nate Kantor, Ed Knauf, Chuck Moseley, Terry Ryan, Joe Sanchez, and Ross Wollen 

Finances and Fund Raising

It will not surprise you that Harry Dermody and Joe Sanchez have done a tremendous job of handling your money. Yes, they may have been tightwads to begin with, but when you look at how frugal they have been with your contributions, you will join me in thanking them for their service. Not only have our two major fund-raising campaigns (Thayer Road and Arvin Center) been successful on the revenue side, both projects have come in under budget. This is an impressive record, especially in light of the overruns that seem to characterize the building programs at West Point. Harry will be sending out his annual funding summary to you soon, which shows that we only have a few pledges outstanding and that we have enough in the Arvin Center account to complete all the plaques and related signage that Doughty's committee has proposed. We are a generous class and we are grateful not only for your response to requests for support, but also for the stewardship exercised by Harry and Joe over the years. 

Caring for Our Own

The most rewarding part of being a class officer is the opportunity to observe how much we mean to one another. I could fill several pages of stories of how so many of you have been there for classmates and spouses who have experienced a setback such as a sickness or the loss of a loved one. As we move through this "third half of life," we will undoubtedly have more situations that will call for classmates to get alongside. Let me encourage those on both sides of the situations -giver and receiver -to keep this as a theme of our class. If you are aware of a classmate or family member in need of some assistance or encouragement, let us know. If past experience is any indication, your classmates will be privileged to assist in whatever way they can. We may not have the most sophisticated process for identifying needs and delivering help, but we have a network of take-charge guys and spouses who can make things happen. To the many who have been part of this testimony to our mutual support to one another, thank you for demonstrating so clearly that we care for our own. 

Still Going Like Sixty-Five

So it is that the contribution of the Class of '65 continues unabated in many forms, tangible and intangible. The physical contributions are obvious in projects like the Forum and the Arvin Center. Just as apparent is the financial generosity of so many classmates as they are recognized periodically on published donor lists. In addition, there is the substantial investment of the manifold talents of numerous individual classmates, who over the years have served as trustees, committee members and advisors to the AOG and the USMA leadership. There is no shortage of evidence of our impact at West Point. Nor does it appear that our impact and influence are waning. 

All modesty aside, guys, we are a terrific group -inside and out -and we have a good bit of contributing left to do -to our Alma Mater and to one another. Let us never grow weary in our well-doing. Please accept my gratitude for being part of the Class of '65 and my warmest wishes for you and your families throughout 2004. 

Strength and Drive 

Fred Laughlin 
President, Class of '65