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"The good die young.” Daniel Defoe must have had <em>Bill Sipos </em>in mind.</p>
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Bill was not just good: he was one of the best of the Class of ’63.</p>
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Bill grew up in Garfield, New Jersey, the middle of three sons of Joseph and Violet Sipos. He attended Pope Pius XII High School in Passaic, New Jersey, where he was an excellent scholar and athlete. Scholastically, he ranked 16th in his graduating class of 168. As an athlete, Bill was a nine-letterman in football, basketball and baseball; and he had the distinction of being named captain in all three sports during his senior year. Subsequent to his death, in 1968, the school established the William Sipos Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award, which is presented to a deserving senior each year.</p>
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Bill entered West Point in July 1959 with the Class of 1963. His family, being close by in northern New Jersey, spent many weekends at West Point. They were definite morale boosters, throwing picnics and bringing “boodle” frequently. We were impressed with how close his family was and how much they enjoyed each other. His parents loved having him and his friends around, and they opened their home to us. Bill was especially close to his brothers and followed their athletic careers with keen interest.</p>
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Bill was instantly likable, as well as an acknowledged natural leader. People wanted to be around him because they knew he would do the right thing. He was serious about his cadet career, diligent in his studies and dedicated to athletics, with a tremendous natural ability. He started as a defensive back for three years on the football team and was a member of the varsity baseball squad and the plebe basketball team. Also, he was secretary of our class and served as G-2 company commander in his firstie year.</p>
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When we reflect on Bill, the first word that comes to mind is our class motto, “Quality.” Bill Sipos was quality. He was a man of many talents: a superb athlete; intelligent though not overly committed to the books; and a natural leader. Also, he had a quiet, clever wit and an itch for mischief and adventure. We admired his boldness for the occasional escapes out of the back of the “Lost Fifties” for a trip “over the wall.” Bill was serious when it was needed but never took himself or “the system” too seriously. His integrity was unquestioned, as was his loyalty to his country and his friends.</p>
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An integral part of Bill’s leadership was determination and perseverance; he had great mental toughness and resiliency. During our Cow year, Bill received a severe slug for a questionable academic infraction. He was confined to quarters for six months and forced to walk the area for a substantial number of hours.</p>
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Many with lesser commitments would have thrown up their hands and quit, but Bill fought back. He accepted his punishment with equanimity, walked off his hours with a smile, and redoubled his efforts to make it through. The fact that Bill was named our company commander Firstie year was a testament to the admiration that his classmates, and even the Tactical Department, had for him.</p>
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Bill was a quiet and private person, not much for words, but he had a profound gentleness about him and always was ready with a quick smile. He appeared to enjoy a quiet solitude that radiated inner peace. The Catholic Church was a very important part of his cadet life, and he attended mass frequently. He had a quiet but strong devotion to God and a deep and abiding faith.</p>
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After graduation, Bill went into the Air Force and went through pilot training. After all these years, we still remember it—going through the Stars and Stripes and seeing the name “William Sipos, USAF” on the KIA list. We hoped that it was someone else with the same name, but deep down we knew that was unlikely. We felt as if we had lost a member of our own family.</p>
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Surviving, in addition to his parents and his two brothers, were his wife Nannette and daughter Michelle, less than a year old.</p>
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Our lasting thoughts are these: although we knew him for only a short time, he made a deep impression on our lives. We are thankful to have known him as a classmate and a friend. He personified for us what West Point was all about. And we are better for having known Bill Sipos.</p>
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<em>Several classmates</em></p>