The Days Forward

West Point Class of 1969

By George Coan

What West Point Means To Me – George Coan

Many USMA cadets (and their parents) treasured memorabilia acquired during the cadet’s years at West Point—the “tar bucket” dress hat, cadet saber, etc. Each item brought back memories of a special event, a unique set of circumstances, a personal relationship. My item was a tie tack.
I was fortunate to be on the Army baseball team for my four years at the academy. Officers and Coach Tipton continually taught and mentored us not only on baseball skills but also how to be leaders especially when circumstances didn’t go our way. We bonded as teammates in the crucible of Doubleday Field.
Each spring five major sports—golf, tennis, track, lacrosse, and baseball—competed against top-notch opponents to include Navy. During the spring of our firstie year, not only did the Army teams face tough competition but also extreme weather. As graduation neared, the Army baseball team faced Navy on our home field.
As one team mounted a seemingly insurmountable lead, the other responded and took the lead. In the ninth inning, Army was ahead and only needed one more out to beat Navy. With the bases loaded, the Navy batter hit a pop fly to the Army first baseman. We inwardly let out a victory scream; our first baseman, a very fine fielder, had this in the bag. He camped under the ball and then proceeded to drop it. The runners flew around the bases and Navy took a one-run lead. We were devastated.
Bottom of the ninth, Army gets runners on second and third but there are two outs. Navy needs only one out to defeat Army. The Army batter strides to the plate and proceeds to hit a hard grounder up the middle, past the pitcher, beyond the dives of the two Navy middle infielders, into the outfield for a single. Two runners score and Army wins by one run. And yes, you guessed it, the Army batter was our first baseman—from goat to hero!

Oh, the tie tack. With the baseball team’s win, Army completed a “clean sweep” of Navy in all five spring sports in 1969. The athletic department awarded each spring sports player a tie tack that had a broom sweeping Navy. For me, that tie tack symbolizes what it means to be a leader in the midst of difficult circumstances. And that is what West Point means to me.

The Diary of a Car Pool – 1974

It was in the hot summer of 1974 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma when our story begins. For the first time since graduation five years earlier from the United States Military Academy (USMA), my family and I were all together in the United States. We lived on the installation in a very small but adequate set of quarters. Unfortunately, we had only one automobile and bicycles on military installations were not as prevalent as they are today. That said, what at first appeared as an interesting challenge became a unique opportunity to develop lasting friendships with USMA classmates and graduates.

One of Several Gates at Ft. Sill, OK

During the four years at USMA, you knew most if not all of your classmates in your cadet company and possibly others from the academic classes you shared. However, many of the 800 graduating classmates were known by name only. It was difficult to realistically develop lasting relationships with all. That’s why the afore-mentioned challenge actually presented an opportunity.

The only viable option to the transportation challenge was to car pool. And we did. Four classmates and one graduate from the class of 1970 rode to and from our duties in a car five days a week for nine months.  “Carpooling” became the nucleus of enduring relationships and friendships. What a privilege it was for me to be with:

-Eric Robyn (Second Regiment, A-2)—the “straight arrow”;

The Robyns’ 1973 Volvo

-John Marcello (USMA 1970)—the “hard charger”;

The Marcellos’ 1974 Chevy Camaro

-Steve White (Second Regiment, G-2) —the “subtle sense of humor”-analyst; and last but certainly not least,

The Whites’ Mercedes Benz

-Bill Rice (Third Regiment, G-3)—the “deep thinker”

The Rices’ 1969 Pontiac LeMans

Oops; almost forgot; yours truly—George Coan (Fourth Regiment, B-4)—“the talker”.

The Coans’ 1974 Dodge Crestwood Station Wagon

Each of us had just returned from overseas assignments: Eric, Steve and John (Germany) and Bill and George (Korea). For nine months, we shared: “war” stories; vignettes about our families; challenges we faced; and yes, how the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course could be so much better if only . . . Our wives became good friends through gatherings during the day and on weekends. Abiding relationships were formed. We just didn’t realize the impact it was having at the time.

And, yes, five “big guys” in one car can be taxing. Remember as kids when your folks took the entire family with luggage on summer vacation; or as adults when the Army moved you and your family (with luggage and the dog) across the country! Eric’s station wagon had some room; imagine, however, five guys climbing in and out of John’s 1970 two-door Camaro or Bill’s 1969 two-door Pontiac LeMans. (Truth be told, I regrettably had just sold my 1969 two-door Pontiac LeMans for the 1974 Dodge Crestwood station wagon. How I missed the bucket seats, console and vinyl top of my cool graduation car!)    

I digress. The “Car Pool of 1974-1975” is really not about a car—it is about people. These good folks will forever hold a special place in my heart. That’s really what the military/USMA promotes: relationships and trust. The bonds forged among classmates and graduates will never be broken, only strengthened over time. Your set of circumstances today may hold a special blessing for you in the future. It did for our family and can for you and yours!

Snow Hall – Site of Classes for Field Artillery Officers