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<p><em>Arthur Leroy Bloch</em> was a West Point classmate, an H-1 companymate and a beloved, longtime friend. We relinquish further commentary to his daughter, Diana.</p>
<p>Art was born March 22, 1936 in Mount Carmel, PA to Arthur Charles and Viola Leona Bloch. He was one of seven surviving siblings. His sister Shirley, four years older than Art, was his biggest fan and showered him with love and affection throughout his life. Art’s younger siblings were Vernon, Nanette (passed away in infancy), Annette, Nancy, Robert (also born on March 22), and Albert. His was a very close-knit family and all kept in touch, especially while he was at West Point, giving him much encouragement and support. Art’s father was a stern disciplinarian, and the children grew up respecting their elders and adopting the virtues of faith and conviction. This served Art well at the Academy. Also, his father instilled in his children a propensity for hard work and perseverance, which Art carried with him throughout his life. </p>
<p>Art graduated from Mount Carmel High School in 1954. He was said to be a true and loyal friend, and he was never afraid to stand up to a teacher, or even the principal, on behalf of a classmate he felt was wronged. He was president of his school’s Golden Key honor society in his senior year. He studied long and hard to achieve a grade point average much above what was required to graduate and was second in his class. Although he was not the valedictorian, he was selected as speaker for his class at graduation.</p>
<p>His goal was to apply for the Coast Guard Academy, but his high school counselor discouraged that, telling him that he would not succeed. Thus, Art set his sights on West Point. He took mostly vocational classes in high school. Thus, he did not have the required academic qualifications. So, he went to Bullis Prep School in Washington, DC for a year. This caused him to miss the opportunity for a congressional appointment. He enlisted in the regular Army for a year and succeeded in obtaining the appointment. He reported to the West Point Prep School at Stewart Air Force Base, NY in the summer of 1955, graduating with honors. Subsequently, he reported to USMA in July 1956, joining the Class of 1960. Coincidentally, Art’s younger brother, despite being two years younger, succeeded in obtaining an appointment to the Naval Academy immediately after high school with the Class of 1959 and was there at the same time as Art was at West Point. </p>
<p>Art referred to the Amish country where he grew up as “God’s Country” and was proud of having lived there. He missed his home very much, especially during his plebe year when he was not allowed to go home, even for Christmas, but he kept up a lively exchange of letters with his family.</p>
<p>Despite having a reputation during his time at West Point as being “studious, reflective and scholarly,” Art’s sense of humor led him to be involved in many pranks during his years there. Many of these pranks were instigated by older cadets during his plebe year, but Art was always game.</p>
<p>Art once told a story that, upon his graduation from West Point, he went back to his hometown in full uniform and confronted his high school counselor in front of a class of students. “Remember me?” he said. “You told me I couldn’t make it at the Coast Guard Academy. I did you one better: I went to West Point!”</p>
<p>Art graduated high enough in his class at USMA to be able to select any branch. He debated between Engineers and Infantry. He chose Infantry because it allowed him more opportunity for duty with troops. He reported to his first assignment, the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. He was further assigned to the 502nd Airborne Battle Group. He made over 20 parachute jumps, qualifying him for the Senior Parachutist Badge, and later became a jumpmaster. After two years, he was sent to MACV Headquarters in Vietnam as an advisor to an Airborne-Ranger ARVN Battalion. Upon returning to the states, he served in several infantry jobs and was promoted to captain in 1964. In 1968, he attended the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning, GA. His Army time was a source of great pride, and his association with the soldiers he was destined to lead was both satisfying and rewarding. He earned numerous medals during his 14 years in the Army for his exemplary, meritorious service, including a Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters. Art was discharged from his military service in the first RA rift in the early 1970s, after which he worked several different jobs.</p>
<p>Art’s wife of many decades, Rosemarie, was always a source of inspiration and enlightenment. Art was a loving and encouraging father to James, Kenneth, me, and Karl and was always interested in his children’s accomplishments. He was a Boy Scout leader for many years, even beyond the time his three sons left Scouting. He was a fantastic storyteller and was forever playing practical jokes on the scouts he led. One of his proudest moments was when he got to pin second lieutenant bars on me when I received my commission in 1987.</p>
<p>Goodbye, Dad; you were taken from us all too soon. Your passing at age 63 was unfortunate, but you, Mom and our family had many happy years together.</p>
<p><em>— Diana McDonough, with input from Robert and Rosemarie Bloch</em></p>
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