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<p><em>John Nichols Pruett </em>was born in Pasadena, CA on April 20, 1955. His parents met during World War II while serving as Army officers in North Africa. After the war, John’s family lived in California until his father’s untimely passing. His mother then moved with John to New Jersey to be closer to her family. At Clifton High School, John captained the swimming team, played lacrosse, and started as defensive end on his undefeated high school state championship football team. He was in the National Honor Society and in several clubs and activities, including Boys State. Spiritually, John was quite engaged as a youth at Brookdale Baptist Church in Bloomfield, NJ. While in high school, John was a member of the Civil Air Patrol and became a general aviation pilot.</p>
<p>With two parents that were Army officers, John’s goal was to attend USMA. He received a congressional nomination to West Point, entering in July 1973 as a proud member of the Class of 1977.</p>
<p>At USMA John was assigned to Company F-2, the “Zoo.” His playful manner fit in perfectly with the culture of the Zoo, and during his cow year he was voted by his classmates as the F-2 Zoo “Fatman.” This title had less to do with one’s physical size as it had to do with the size of one’s heart. John’s name was enshrined on the F-2 Zoo Fatman football, passed along each year by the outgoing firstie Fatman to the incoming firstie Fatman. At his 25th reunion, John was pleased to discover that the F-2 Fatman football was still there, with his name still imprinted thereon. In F-2, John became lifelong close friends with Al Andon, Dave Chadwick, and Gerry McCone, with the three companymates gathering every few years at one of their houses throughout John’s life.</p>
<p>While a cadet, John participated in the Aero-Astro Club and with the Dialectic Society stage crew. During the summer prior to cow year, John completed Airborne School at Fort Benning, GA. During his cow year, John’s integrity was highlighted by his classmates choosing him as their F-2 Zoo honor representative for his First Class year. </p>
<p>A playful cadet, John masqueraded as the “Phantom.” Placing white powder on his face and head and wearing a cadet raincoat and hat, he would startle Fourth Classmen in the middle of the night. With another classmate, John once “raided” Washington Hall, borrowing a life-sized colonial soldier dummy. Donning his Phantom outfit, he brought this figure into a plebe room, scaring plebes that thought they were looking at the famous West Point ghost of lore. John’s jocularity included his famous “speed of light” experiments, attempting to ascertain the speed of light using a flashlight, an assistant, and a stopwatch! Sadly, the results of these experiments have been lost to time. During John’s cow year, it was announced that women would be introduced at West Point the following year. As USMA remodeled cadet barrack bathrooms to accommodate women, John led an effort to create a “time capsule” that included testimonials from several cadets (including the authors of this tome), a copy of the New York Times, and other memorable objects. John then placed this time capsule inside the remodeled wall, hopeful that it would be “discovered” years hence. </p>
<p>The love of John’s life was his adoring wife, Donna, a fun-loving, feisty northern New Jersey gal that loved, understood, and appreciated him. Donna met John prior to his time at USMA, and it is fair to say that they were bound at the hip, marrying shortly after graduation and remaining so for the rest of John’s life.</p>
<p>John’s 1977 Howitzer entry accurately described him as: “A true infantryman, ‘Prudog’ will always be known for (his) smiling face and vibrant sense of humor. As the Zoo Fatman, John’s time at West Point was one long costume party and phantom raid, for there was never a stunt too crazy or a joke too funny for him. Who could forget that midnight adventure to Washington Hall or the steam tunnels? It is with his jovial manner, easy-going approach to life, his one and only Donna, and his red Chevy that John will be remembered.” </p>
<p>Commissioned in the Infantry, John was then off to Fort Benning for the Infantry Officer Basic Course. His first assignment was to Fort Riley, KS, where his daughter, Jennifer, was born in 1980. Assignments followed at Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, HI; Fort Leavenworth, KS; Fort Carson, CO; and Heidelberg, Germany, where, in 1990, his son, Matthew, was born. John and his family extended their time in Germany to nearby Mannheim, until his ultimate assignment at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, NE. John retired from the Army in 1998 and settled in Bellevue with his family. </p>
<p>After his 21-year career in the Army, John was employed for over 20 years at Offutt AFB in both the civilian and governmental sectors as a nuclear weapons planner. Upon retirement, John enjoyed spending time with his wife, Donna; son, Matthew; daughter, Jennifer; son-in-law, Luke; and especially with his granddaughter, Summer, whom he adored. During retirement, John served as president of the local West Point Society and remained active in his local church.</p>
<p>We were honored to know John and privileged to call him our friend.</p>
<p>May it be said, “Well Done!”</p>
<p><em>— Written by His Classmates Dave Chadwick, Al Andon, and Gerry McCone</em></p>
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