Engineer Memoirs _____________________________________________________________________
Q:
You did point out, and I thought that was interesting--and I've heard this from people over
at West Point during World War II--that there is a sort of urgency, perhaps, being there in a
wartime situation. The cadets know that soon thereafter they'll probably go to the theater,
and that's given an emphasis.
A:
Sure. When we interacted with them, they wanted to know about what was it like, and what's
happening, and I'm able to provide their answers as the recent battalion commander of the
577th Engineer Battalion. A cadet who wanted to go engineers could talk to me, and I could
talk about the kinds of things we did in the engineers.
Q:
Anything else about West Point, before we turn to your next assignment?
A:
No. I worked with some fine folks there. Colonel Bob Haldane, I've already mentioned, was
the 2d Regiment commander. Colonel Bill Webb commanded the next regiment over, the 4th
Regiment, and my classmate Lieutenant Colonel Tom Griffin was their executive officer.
Later I was to work with Major General Bill Webb when he took command of the 1st
Armored Division and I was the 7th Engineer Brigade commander in Germany. Then, as I
mentioned earlier, Colonel Haldane came back to be the Chief of Staff, USAREUR, when I
was in the Office of the DCSENGR.
Then Colonel Dick Tallman, who was selected for brigadier general, went to Vietnam and
unfortunately caught an artillery shell and was one of the few general officers killed there. He
was a fine gentleman and a terrific leader.
I also enjoyed working with the commandant, Brigadier General Sam Walker, who, I
thought, was a superb commander and individual. General Bill Knowlton came in as
superintendent, and I enjoyed his time there.
I should say early on there was one other thing that did cause a lot of conversation and
thoughts throughout the faculty and cadets. When I first arrived, General [Samuel W.] Koster
was the superintendent. He, of course, was involved as the Americal Division commander
with the My Lai affair, and so I was there when he was removed as superintendent and
watched him leave and General Knowlton come aboard. I guess that happened just a couple
to three months after I arrived.
Naval War College
Q:
Shall we turn to your next assignment, then? I guess the obvious question is, why did you go
to the Naval War College?
A:
I went to the Naval War College in 1971. I was due to stay at West Point for another year. I
had a call from Engineer Branch and was told I was on the alternate list for the War College.
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