The Days Forward

West Point Class of 1969

Suzanne Rice

US Army’s 250th Birthday Memory

It surprises some folks to learn that our Army is actually older than the United States.  Before the Declaration of Independence was signed in July 1776, the Army had already been fighting since Lexington and Concord on 19 April 1775. We officially celebrate our Army’s founding on 14 June 1775. 

     When we entered the US Military Academy as Plebes of the West Point Class of 1969 on 1 July 1965, the Army had just celebrated its 190th birthday.  We were honored then to join the illustrious ranks of those who served so faithfully over those earlier years and have been blessed to have played a small part in this great institution for almost a quarter of its life by now.  The older I get, the more I appreciate my classmates and dear friends, especially the Company A-2 band of brothers, who set their minds and hearts on service above self.  Even through the Viet Nam and the Cold War era, the draft and early VOLAR (Voluntary Army) turbulence, the racial and drug tensions, I was always amazed and deeply grateful for those who stayed in the Army, persevering and working to bring needed change.

     But, for me, the story of America’s Army is never hesitating to go when called, march to the sound of the guns, and to stand, fight, and defend liberty.     While international and domestic events, circumstances, political leaders and crises always boil and bubble, the Army has always returned to its firm foundation: its bedrock virtues of Leadership, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Integrity, and Personal Courage, anchored by its support and defense of the Constitution.  Yes, the Army has its “ups and downs” and continuously changes.  But may the Lord continue to grant the grace needed to stay true to her calling, and to win our wars. 

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”!

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!!!

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”

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