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West Point Class of 1969

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Suzanne Rice

Dec 21 2023

A Close Call for Bob Hope – 1971

Eradicating rat infestation on FSB Maude may have been Charlie Battery’s primary focus in December 1971, but the artillery battery’s parent organization, the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, narrowly avoided everlasting infamy during the Christmas Tour 1971 visit to Da Nang by legendary comedian Bob Hope and his USO troupe.

On Tuesday, December 21, 1971, Bob Hope led his entertainment entourage to “Freedom Hill” in Da Nang in another of the famed entertainer’s morale-boosting visits to entertain “the troops” that first began in May 1941, even before the beginning of U.S. involvement in World War II and ended a half-century later at the end of the 1991 Persian Gulf War. G.I.s loved Bob Hope and he clearly loved them.

         During the Christmas period of 1971, Hope once again brought his troupe to Vietnam to bring joy and cheer – and, thankfully, some much-needed laughs and humor – to U.S. Armed Forces troops serving throughout the Vietnam Theater of operations. On December 21, a typically cloudy, rain-soaked day during the seasonal monsoon weather that encompassed northern South Vietnam’s I Corps area, Hope arrived at Da Nang’s “Freedom Hill” outdoor amphitheater via Huey helicopter, to be greeted by thousands of cheering 196th Light Infantry Brigade soldiers as well as many more hundreds of USAF personnel from the major U.S. air base at Da Nang.

Admit one bob hope
Ticket to the Show

The Huey helicopter bearing Hope hovered over the landing pad at Freedom Hill, spewing the drenched, rain-soaked air over those gathered to meet the legendary performer, then settled gently to the ground. Bob Hope, cloaked in a G.I. rubber poncho, leaped out of the aircraft, and began to stride toward his beloved troops, his signature golf club driver clutched in his right hand. As the applause and roar of the crowd rose, Hope automatically responded, and began to raise his golf club to acknowledge the acclamation of the audience. But he was still directly underneath the rapidly-spinning rotor blades of the Huey helicopter!

Instinctively, the 196th Light Infantry Brigade commander, Brig. Gen. Joseph P. McDonough, who was there on the landing pad to meet and greet the famous entertainer, leaped forward, grabbed Hope’s right arm holding the golf club driver, and pulled it safely down to Hope’s side before the club could be raised high enough to reach the dangerously spinning helicopter rotor blades! Hope was momentarily taken aback, but almost immediately recovered, realizing that McDonough’s prompt action had clearly saved his life. 

bob hope helicopter accident
Bob Hope with His Ever-present Golf Club on USO Tour 

Unfazed, Bob Hope – a genuine “trouper” in show business parlance — proceeded to give “the troops” gathered on Freedom Hill in Da Nang one of his typically superb performances, shrugging off a “near death” incident that came perilously close to costing him his life – and in the process preventing the 196th Light Infantry Brigade from going down in U.S. history as “the unit that killed Bob Hope”!

Written by Suzanne Rice · Categorized: By Jerry Morelock

Jul 01 2023

Made it through Beast

I grew up in a blue-collar family in CT so there were not a lot of college options for me.  I was my Congressman’s 1st Alternate and his Primary Nominee had accepted his appointment, so I was totally unsure what my college future was going to be — or if it would exist at all!  One week prior to 1 July 1965 I received a letter in the mail informing me that I could enter West Point with the Class of 1969 as a Qualified Alternate. (Thanks to JFK for asking the question that led to the increase in the size of the Corps of Cadets so that it equaled the Brigade of Midshipmen at Annapolis.) Despite having grown up in CT, I had never visited WP until my Mom & Dad drove me there on 1 July.  With visions of “The West Point Story” dancing through my head I eagerly said goodbye to my parents and unwittingly launched myself into Hell!  What a shocker — I was totally unprepared.  As William Bendix used to say on the Life of Riley, “What a revolting development this is!”  I had some serious misgivings during Beast, BUT staying the course was the best decision that I ever made, and I have had a far better life than I could ever have dreamed of!  Perhaps most importantly of all, I am immensely proud and grateful to be a part of the brotherhood that we all share!!  Thanks for sharing your stories of “Day # 1 of our joint journey”; I have enjoyed & appreciated every single one of them!  We are all incredibly lucky and blessed in so many ways!!!

Written by Suzanne Rice · Categorized: By Ted Poucher, R-Day Memory

Jul 01 2023

Headed to R-Day with no experience

I took United Airlines from SFO to NYC; found Port Authority, & a bus to the Thayer.  When I arrived, I did run around with a group of guys who were sooo impressive, patriotic, excited to be at USMA, & ready to serve in Vietnam. I, myself & several others, weren’t exactly prepared for the shock of being screamed & yelled at, starting with the Man in the Red Sash.  For naive suburban-ites & my other country-boy friends, that day was a truly life-changing experience. 

I was so terrified (from ZERO & I mean absolutely NO prior Military experience), that, here goes:  One time, I did well at “tables” & perfectly “saying the days” at a lunch in Washington Hall.  Thus, I was “rewarded” with an extra apple & orange.  While walking back across the yard toward my quarters, I knew I had to “Salute” an upperclassman.  What to do, with an apple in one hand & An orange in the other?  Of course, Salute, no matter the fruit!  Uh-Huh?!  Instant yelling plus 2 more demerits.

New Cadets Have to Eat or Do They? “At Tables”

Written by Suzanne Rice · Categorized: By Barry Blay, R-Day Memory

Jul 01 2023

Haircut before R-Day

My parents dropped me off at the entrance to central area after a couple days drive from my home near Chicago.  We stopped one day in PA to visit my Dad’s relatives and drop off my siblings. We arrived in the morning of R-Day and I didn’t see my family again until Christmas. It seems kind of harsh especially since I was only 17, not turning 18 until December, but I didn’t know any better! It might have been harder on my parents; I was the oldest of 5, so this was new for everyone. 

My dad had given me a haircut the day before.  I remember going to the barber shop and being asked why I was there since “it’s obvious” I had already been there for a haircut!!!

I knew nothing about the military, so the rest of the day (and all of beast summer) is a blur.  I do remember marching out to Trophy point for the swearing-in ceremony.

I also remember a guy standing next to me before reporting to the “man in the red sash”, quit on the spot and left!!

Getting a Cadet Haircut on R-Day

Written by Suzanne Rice · Categorized: By Tom Kerestes, R-Day Memory

Jul 01 2023

R-Day Memory

On June 30th, my 18th birthday, I went to Woo Poo and spent my night before Beast in the barracks at West Point, due to the “wisdom” of Coach Knight and the Basketball program. The theory was I would get a head start and be one of the first ones, (if not THE first one, I am not sure), to report in and go through the fitting for a uniform, (shoes were too small for me and I limped around for a week waiting for bigger ones to arrive, until an officer asked me what was wrong; good news, bad news again, as I caught s….. for walking instead of double-timing everywhere, even though I was authorized to do so), haircut, learn to march and salute, etc., etc., first day drill. However, my assessment is it just gave them more time to give you s….., and stress/hazing, (as so few new cadets there yet—I wanted to hide), and I would never recommend this as SOP thereafter, I told the coaches.  Looking back, it was the worst, and best experience of my life. It DOES BUILD CHARACTER!! BOTL ’69-

Getting the Correct Shoes

Written by Suzanne Rice · Categorized: By Gary Eiber, R-Day Memory

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