by Paul B.

Malone III 52
IMAGES OF MORTALITY IMAGES OF MORTALITY
a Supplement to ASSEMBLY Magazine Vol. LXIV No. 3
TAPS is published three times a year,
September, January, and May.
www.aog.usma.edu/Pubs/pubsta.htm
Editor in Chief, ASSEMBLY & the Register
Julian M. Olejniczak 61 845 446-1621
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Managing Editor, ASSEMBLY
Joyce Perkins 845 446-1624
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Managing Editor, Register and TAPS
Sylvia Graham 845 446-1628
ys6553@usma.edu
Memorial Articles Editor Ines Gibson
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Register Updates Leigh Ann Rettie
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Class Notes Editors
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5005 Cathy DeCoster decoster@tks-net.com
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Joyce Perkins 845 446-1622
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On the cover: Photo Sylvia Graham
I
feel saddened and stunned. Within a
brief period, four classmates and close
friends have passed away. Quite naturally, I
think about my own mortality. Since I am
dealing with the unknown, my imagination
becomes quite active.
I visualize our class as a long line of
warriors marching up a hill into the sunlight
and towards our objective, stirred by the
sound of drums. Our bayonets are xed.
I hear the crunch of boots, the rattle of
equipment, the heavy breathing of those
around me, the zip of bullets passing
overhead. Te battle of life has taken its toll.
Tere have been gaps in the ranks before, but
each time the line stiened and straightened.
Initially, losses were infrequent. Now, as we
approach the summit, the gaps are wider and
more di cult to mend, but the march to
the sound of the guns continues unabated.
Eventually, there are just a few survivors and
then the last man falls. But the banner of the
Class of 1952 is planted on top of the Hill of
Destiny; the objective has been secured. Te
drums and guns will have ceased, but the
critical needs of our great nation have been
served. May it be said, well done!
When I was a junior o cer, I made a
number of parachute jumps. I next visualize
our class as paratroopers in something like
an extended C-119 Flying Boxcar making
a night parachute jump. Only one jumper
exits with each pass over the drop zone,
beginning with the left stick. In the dimly lit
interior, I can barely see my classmates. Tey
are shadows in the darkness.
All of a sudden, the red light goes on,
and the crew chief opens the left jump door.
Its black outside. Te inside of the airplane
is noisy, but outside its very silent. Its kind
of spooky. From somewhere near the door I
see the image of our jumpmaster in ashing
strobe lights. Strangely, he appears to have
a owing white beardsomewhat old for
a typical jumpmasterand appears to be
holding a manifest.
I hear his powerful voice shout Gir
Riao\! Fortunately, thanks to a place
called West Point, we have been made ready
to face the challenges of life and to serve
our great nation. When necessary, we have
participated in the management of chaos
a phenomenon known as war. We are ready!
After a pause, we hear Sraxo Ui! Once
again, our alma mater has instilled within
us the values that help us stand up for the
harder right, regardless of consequences.
Dur\, Hoxoi, Couxri\.
Next the commands Hoox Ui!,
Cuicx Equiixixr! and Souxo Oii
Foi Equiixixr Cuicx! From front to
rear, everybody yells OK with enthusiasm.
Now were all facing the rear of the airplane
and that open door with the darkness
beyond. Sraxo Ix Tui Dooi! In the
dim light, I see a classmate respond without
hesitation. He is a close friend whose funeral
I will attend next week. Te red light turns
green, and he disappears into the darkness.
I hear the muted crack of rie re followed
by the sound of a bugle. My eyes sting and
swell with tears. Tere will be no opening
shock from his parachute this time. Instead,
he will fall into the arms of a loving God.
Tose who love him will grieve.
Meanwhile, the light turns red and the
airplane banks for another pass over the drop
zone. I shu e closer to the door with the
other jumpers. Fortunately or unfortunately,
I cant determine where I am in the stick. For
sure, this will be the Jump of a Lifetime! I
hope that I can respond with the dignity of
my classmates.
Long Gray Line c. 1902.
Reported deaths of graduates and former cadets received since publication of the last issue of TAPS.
Last Roll Call
Alfred R. Maxwell 1928 9 Jan 2004
George C. Duehring 1930 28 Mar 2001
Ephraim M. Hampton 1930 19 Jun 1999
Andrew P. O'Meara 1930 30 Sep 2005
William E. Chandler 1931 7 Oct 2005
Arthur H. Hogan 1931 21 Dec 2004
Charles L. Andrews 1934 24 Sep 2005
Autrey J. Maroun 1935 8 Aug 2005
Daniel J. Murphy 1935 5 Aug 2005
Thomas C. Musgrave, Jr. 1935 14 Nov 2005
John F. Rhoades 1935 22 Sep 2005
Raymond L. Cato 1936 16 Aug 2005
Edgar H. Thompson, Jr. 1936 14 Jul 2005
Jasper N. Durham 1937 3 Feb 1993
Harry E. Hammond 1937 3 Jul 1996
Charles S. Kuna 1937 22 Apr 2004
Maurice W. Musgrave 1937 1 Mar 1979
Virgil L. Zoller 1938 28 Aug 2005
William H. Barnett 1939 24 Oct 2005
John W. Jaycox 1939 26 Apr 2001
Andrew J. Kinney 1939 31 Aug 2005
Roger M. Lilly 1939 25 Oct 2005
Stephen J. Mancuso 1939 27 Oct 2005
David M. Matheson 1939 10 Oct 2005
Harry M. Myers 1939 13 Aug 2005
Wilbur E. Showalter 1939 19 Sep 2005
John W. Walker 1939 20 Oct 2005
Donald V. Bennett 1940 28 Nov 2005
Durward H. Galbreath 1940 10 Nov 2005
Walter W. Lavell 1940 31 Oct 2005
Burton E. McKenzie 1940 16 Sep 2005
Thomas K. Spencer 1940 5 Mar 2002
Harry K. Bagshaw 1941 26 Jun 2005
Felix J. Gerace 1941 17 Sep 2005
Burnside E. Human 1941 3 Oct 2005
Ralph E. Kuzell 1941 22 Aug 2005
Charles D. Maynard 1941 22 Oct 2005
Irving R. Perkin 1941 12 Nov 2005
Richard P. Scott 1941 11 Nov 2005
Thurman M. Brandon 1942 26 Jul 2005
Charles M. Grimshaw 1942 17 Aug 2005
Robert H. Hinckley, Jr 1942 24 Oct 2005
Robert H. Ivey 1942 23 Aug 2005
John R. Watson 1942 6 Sep 2005
Elvy B. Roberts Jan 43 11 Oct 2005
George K. Sykes Jan 43 14 Aug 2005
Archelaus L. Hamblen, Jr. Jun 43 27 Oct 2005
Clarence W. Richmond, Jr. Jun 43 15 Jun 1966
Charles D. Warburton Jun 43 25 Nov 2005
Luther E. Armstrong, Jr. 1944 2 Oct 2005
Lloyd Barnett, Jr. 1944 26 Sep 2005
Armond Di Silvio 1944 10 Aug 2005
Keith E. Eiler 1944 16 Nov 2005
John L. Grimmeison 1944 15 Jan 1997
Joseph W. Losch 1944 11 Aug 2005
Robert M. Pearce 1944 27 Sep 2005
Foster L. Smith 1944 7 Oct 2005
Paul K. Bullard 1945 21 Oct 2005
William Collins 1945 29 Aug 2005
William B. Craig 1945 17 Nov 2005
Franklin C. Davies 1945 22 Sep 2005
James M. Garrett III 1945 25 Sep 2005
Charles F. Greer 1945 15 Nov 2005
Robert H. Ahlers 1946 27 Jul 2005
Ben F. Boyd 1946 10 Aug 2005
Robert S. Douthitt 1946 28 Nov 2005
Roy W. Gillig 1946 9 Oct 2005
Ralph A. Meola, Jr. 1946 18 Oct 2005
Cliord H. Parke, Jr. 1946 9 Sep 2005
Marvin S. Weinstein 1946 16 Sep 2005
Harris H. Woods 1946 9 Aug 2005
Gerald R. Toomer 1947 26 Nov 2005
William L. Cook II 1948 21 Aug 2005
James B. Hall 1948 30 Sep 2005
Joseph S. Herbets 1948 14 Aug 2005
Elmer C. Vreeland, Jr. 1948 26 Aug 2005
Edward R. Hindman 1949 12 Sep 2005
Robert E. Leisy 1949 17 Oct 2005
Lucien E. Messinger III 1949 26 Jul 2005
Robert W. Noce 1949 29 Nov 2005
Jerome N. Waldor 1950 2 Sep 2005
Charles E. Bryant 1951 22 Nov 2005
Roy J. Herte, Jr. 1951 11 Oct 2005
Harlan W. Johnson 1951 12 Aug 2005
Robert Orliko 1951 29 Nov 2005
Melvin C. Snyder, Jr. 1951 17 Oct 2005
John O. Bovard 1952 6 Nov 2005
Paul J. Brown 1952 16 Sep 2005
Robert J. Haras 1952 9 Sep 2005
James H. Ivers 1952 22 Oct 2005
George A. Haas, Jr. 1953 23 Sep 2005
Guy N. Joli ex-1953 5 Sep 2005
Dale B. Peloquin 1953 15 Aug 2005
Robert J. Blaisdell 1954 21 Aug 2005
John G. Eckhardt 1954 1 Nov 2005
Rudolph S. Malooley 1955 14 Oct 2005
Fred B. Phillips 1955 4 Oct 2005
John M. Kamm, Jr. 1956 21 Nov 2005
Dale L. Pinkerton ex-1956 9 Jun 2003
John S. Andrusko ex-1958 12 Sep 2005
J. B. Williams 1958 10 Aug 2005
John H. Alban, Jr. 1960 31 Aug 2005
Charles G. Belan 1960 16 Jun 2005
Robert J. Menzner 1960 12 Aug 2005
James J. Weaver ex-1961 3 Sep 2005
Ronald W. Witzel 1962 12 Sep 2005
Thomas F. Gallagher 1963 27 Sep 2005
Donald C. Parcells 1965 9 Nov 2005
Henry J. Andrzejczak 1970 23 Nov 2005
Anthony W. Sobul, Jr. 1970 30 Oct 2005
August W. Bremer, Jr. 1971 20 Sep 2005
Theophlise L. Twitty 1973 3 Nov 2005
Harold E. Yamashita, Jr. 1973 31 Dec 1994
Randall E. Bruch 1974 25 Nov 2005
Charles J. O'Hara, Jr. 1976 16 Sep 2005
Terrance M. Greene 1986 24 Sep 2005
Jose R. Jarque 1986 19 Aug 2005
Joseph H. Sullivan 1986 6 Aug 2005
Brian E. Wheeler 1990 23 Oct 2005
James R. Garrett 1994 4 Nov 2005
Ryan N. Roberson 1994 8 Nov 2005
Michael J. MacKinnon 1997 27 Oct 2005
James M. Gurbisz 2002 4 Nov 2005
Derek S. Hines 2003 1 Sep 2005
Laura M. Walker 2003 18 Aug 2005
Dennis W. Zilinski II 2004 19 Nov 2005
Anthony E. Severo 2006 23 Nov 2005
Photo Sylvia Graham
NAME CLASS YEAR DATE OF DEATH NAME CLASS YEAR DATE OF DEATH NAME CLASS YEAR DATE OF DEATH