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<em>Radcliffe ”Rad” S. Simpson</em> was among the first of the Class of 1942 who gave up their lives in World War II, earning both the pride and grief of his classmates. Although 45 years have passed since his loss, he is still enshrined in their memories and respect.</p>
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Rad was born in San Antonio, Texas, on 3 February 1918, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Willard E. Simpson, Sr. He developed an early interest in things military which led him to enter Texas Military Institute in 1932 from which he graduated in 1936 with the rank of cadet captain. This experience only served to wet his appetite for a military life so he entered Texas A&M in the fall of 1936 where he studied for one year. Wanting to get even closer to a military career he sought an appointment to West Point.</p>
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In the fall of 1937 he was successful in gaining an appointment to the Academy from Representative Maverick of the 20th Texas Congressional District and entered West Point in July 1938 with the Class of 1942. He was assigned to “H” Company after Beast Barracks where he performed the duties of a fourth class-man with conspicuous zeal.</p>
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In the general reapportionment of fourth classmen among the companies of the Corps after plebe year, he, like a number of his classmates, was assigned to a different company, in his case company “G,” where he spent his remaining three years at the Academy. Although he had several roommates during his cadet years, the one he lived with the longest was August Dorsey Parker, Jr., a fellow Texan from Houston, who had also been transfered to “G” company from “H” company. During his cadet years he was always eager to play tennis, golf or handball, interests which he shared with his roommate. First class year he went out for varsity fencing.</p>
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Classmates considered that Rad “knew his mind, was quick to render a decision and firm in its execution.” He did not have any major difficulties with academics, ranking 276 in his graduating class of 374, high enough to gain him an assignment to the Artillery. Like others in the Class of 1942 he had an all too brief graduation leave, which he spent for the most part in San Antonio. He reported to Fort Sill in June of 1942 for the Basic Artillery Officers Course where he learned the duties of a battery officer. As with his Army classmates he was assigned to a newly organized division, the 82nd which was being organized and trained as an airborne division.</p>
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On reporting to the division, he was assigned to Battery “C” of the 319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion. With this unit he participated in the basic, unit and advanced training required of divisions before deployment. After undergoing division scale maneuvers and exercises, he was shipped with his unit to Tunisia, North Africa. There he found the division was being readied for an air assault on Sicily.</p>
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His battalion was scheduled to take part in the landing and was given an assigned landing zone. Although the battalion was loaded and fully ready to go, in the end it was not committed. He thought that this was fortunate as they later found out that the designated landing site was ringed with pill boxes. They remained in Tunisia, continuing training exercises until ordered into the Salerno beachhead in Italy. There his battery set up at night in a vineyard, receiving substantial fire in the process. During this operation he acted as battalion liaison officer at the ranger battalion headquarters, using a requisitioned Italian Fiat for transportation.</p>
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He continued to serve in Italy with his unit until it was withdrawn and shipped to Northern Ireland to get ready for the cross channel attack. He found Northern Ireland an interesting change from Italy and was soon immersed in the problem of correcting observed battle deficiencies and in readying his unit for the air assault on Normandy.</p>
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On D Day Rad flew off in a glider with the rest of his battalion to establish a beachhead on the coast of Normandy. He was wounded shortly after landing near St. Mere Eglise and died in Normandy on 8 June. Coincidentally, his ex-roommate, Dorsey Parker, serving with the 90th Infantry Division was killed the very next day.</p>
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Rad exemplified the decisiveness and force of a true leader, and had dedicated his life to a career of service. Although his life was cut short before he had an opportunity to demonstrate his full capabilities, he gave fully of himself in exemplifying “Duty, Honor, Country”</p>