Engineer Memoirs
Mr. Blumenfeld was there from the secretary's office. General Vessey made brief remarks and
then with help from the command sergeant major passed the colors from me to General
Bratton. Then I made a few brief remarks and General
followed. A reception at the
other end of the Pension Building concluded the ceremony. Everybody seemed pleased. The
organizers did a great job.
We had visitors from the other services, and later the Navy patterned a ceremony after ours.
While the subsequent changes of command have varied somewhat, I think it's still formalized,
because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a major command.
You may recall my earlier comments that as I was leaving for the Pension Building, Mr. Jim
McIntyre, the director of the Office of Management and Budget for President Carter, called
and said, "Jack, go buy your new airplane."
That same afternoon my retirement parade was held at Fort Myer. This impressive ceremony
included full colors, the old guard, the Pershing's Own, all the state flags, and, of course, the
U.S. colors. A beautiful day. This was a Friday, as I recall. The preceding Tuesday I stepped
into a hole and damaged my ankle. I stayed off of my feet until that morning and was able to
do the parade. We made it all right, but it wasn't very pleasant. As I trooped the line of flags
I stopped and talked to the young man who was carrying the Maryland flag. I needed a break
about that time so that was a good way to do it.
Then there were a couple of unique aspects about the ceremony. The retiree is allowed to
select the music while he troops the line. I had them play "Please Release Me, Let Me Go."
A little bizarre, a little fresh maybe, but it was a song that everybody recognized, and you
could hear the people laughing as the band started. I wasn't that anxious to leave, but my time
had come.
Then Secretary Alexander presented the retirement certificate and made a very nice speech.
I may have been the only general he retired during the time he was secretary, certainly one of
a few. In any case, his presence was quite an honor to me and a sign of his respect for the
Corps. Also, there were people present from the Congress. Anyone who's gone through the
retirement ceremony finds it quite intimate and very personal.
Gerry was recognized. She received the wife's retirement certificate and a bouquet of roses.
After the ceremony we had a small reception. That was the end of it. I was almost through. I
went home and the next morning when I got up wasn't in the Army anymore.
Of course, getting out of the Army involves a lot of administrative details, but the Army staff
and the good people at the Corps made it all very easy.
So my leaving the Corps was pleasant. It fills your ego for a short while. Many people asked
me if I was sorry to leave. I rationalized that I'd had over 37 years in the Army and I'd done
all the things that I could have ever expected to do and more. I'd had my crack at being Chief
of Engineers, and there was no other place to go for me in the Army unless something unusual
would happen, which it didn't. My time was up. I'd been in the Army longer than most people
are allowed to stay based on age or total service.
My only regret was leaving unfinished a few things I had begun. The reorganization of the
headquarters was principal in that regard. Also, I could have used another month on the Israeli
airfield thing, but it wasn't necessary. The real regret was a feeling that I'd reached the peak
of productivity and could accomplish more and make decisions easier than at any time in my
career.
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