Bernie Tatro
Like many of my classmates, the biggest week of my life to that point occurred in June 1969. Monday of that week was my 22nd birthday, Wednesday I graduated West Point and was commissioned in the Infantry, and Saturday I married Aline. While all these events were significant, I am no longer 22 nor in the Infantry, but 50-plus years later, I’m proud to be an Old Grad, and extremely blessed to be married to Aline. My first assignment took us to Germany, where our daughter was born. Following a tour in Hawaii, I switched careers to the Health Care Industry in 1975. When we left the Army, I thought I was finished with hiking, camping and sleeping in the rain. Then our son got into Scouting, and with Aline’s encouragement, I became an Assistant Scoutmaster. Every month our Boy Scout Troop had a trip, usually involving hiking or backpacking. Not only did we enjoy it, but 25 years later we are both still hiking and backpacking. And I am proud to say that our son became an Eagle Scout.
The Dogs of Camp DeBeau – 1972
During the final months of my Vietnam tour I was assigned to a support battalion at Camp Debeau on the Tan Son Nhut Airbase perimeter outside Saigon. Most officers lived in a Saigon hotel, but I was one of five who lived in two man “hooches”. Since American involvement in the war was winding down, […]