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<p><em>George James Heckman</em> passed on April 6, 2020 at age 73. George was last residing with fellow veterans at the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook, NY, where he arrived in 2019. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Julie, and his two daughters, Gretchen and Julie. George had two grandchildren, Scott Patrick and William James Rickert, as well as a sister, Carolyn, and two brothers, Bruce and Bobby.</p>
<p>George was born on September 12, 1946 to the late George and Rose Heckman in Whitestone, NY. He graduated from Holy Cross High School in Flushing, NY in 1964, receiving an appointment to West Point from Congressman Benjamin Rosenthal of the 8th Congressional District. That summer he joined the “No Task Too Great” Class of 1968 and took his oath of office on Trophy Point. </p>
<p>George thrived at West Point. He was a tough, strong leader and a friend to all, particularly to his fellow Company M-1 and F-3 classmates who knew him best. Always the competitor, he was an athlete who led his intramural soccer and lacrosse teams to championships while staying unbeaten in the intramural boxing ring. George also served as trainer and corner man to lead a fellow classmate to the Brigade Open Boxing Championship. He was selected as F-3’s company commander during his final semester at the Academy, a true indication of his military bearing and leadership ability.</p>
<p>George always seemed to have his act together, even as an underclassman. While the rest of us were trying to figure out how to get through the next day, he set goals for himself, like dating and marrying the love of his life, Julie; keeping himself at the top echelon of military aptitude; and simultaneously “beating the system” by keeping a car off post for weekend travel.</p>
<p>During Beast Barracks, George met and befriended John Darling, a similarly mischievous and athletic cadet who loved sharing a good joke or prank. John died a hero in Vietnam in 1970, and George was tasked with verifying John’s remains after the casket was returned to the United States. The effect of that loss on George demonstrated his loyalty and love towards his close friends. Years later, at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall during our 45th reunion, where we gathered to honor the 20 classmates who lost their lives in that conflict, George expressed how difficult it was for him to face anew the loss of a beloved friend. </p>
<p>George was tough yet passionate. The type of guy you’d want to share a foxhole with. One classmate recalled an incident with George after their last patrol during Ranger School. It had undoubtedly been a difficult day, and a shower was a luxury they both had been waiting for. A specialist (4th class) walked in, saying he had been ordered to turn off the hot water. In a way that only George could convince others that he was in complete control of the situation (not them), he warned, “If you touch that handle, I will kill you right here and now!” We all believed him. The solider ran, and George was held in high regards for holding ground.</p>
<p>Those close to George know he was a deep thinker. We had so many in-depth discussions about many abstract things, sometimes too abstract. He would often lose others in these conversations after several minutes, but the entire subject matter was crystal clear to him. When one friend would recap these conversations to family, he could never capture George’s clarity, so they gave him a nickname: the “Riddler!” </p>
<p>During his five-year stint in the service, George completed Ranger and Airborne school and served as an Armor tank unit commander in Vietnam. He later served as a general’s aide-de-camp in Japan. It was between those tours of duty, on May 27, 1972, that he married Julie. As he described it, the best decision he ever made! They were an adorable couple: happy, radiant and carefree. Upon leaving the service in June 1973, George turned his focus to business. He earned a Columbia University MBA in 1974 and a Pace University CPA and M.S. in taxation in 1977. He joined the accounting firm Haskins and Sells and, later, EF Hutton’s investment banking division. By the early eighties, he parlayed his accounting and business expertise into his own money management and residential real estate portfolio. During that time, George and Julie had two wonderful daughters.</p>
<p>Over the years, George’s heart health deteriorated. Even still, in the fall of 2019 he considered joining companymates at the Army-Air Force football game in Colorado but ultimately could not make it. </p>
<p>Poet Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” We, the friends of George Heckman, attest that he made us feel important, protected, and honored to know him. He was a man who always had our backs and who helped us through West Point. We will all miss his friendship, loyalty, and camaraderie. Now George, John and our other fallen classmates are “gripping hands” in a different place, a much better place. Rest in peace George Heckman. Well Done.</p>
<p><em>— Julie Heckman, wife; Julie Rickert and Gretchen Heckman, daughters; and Paddy O’Keefe, Paul Joseph, John Cruden, Les Krohnfeldt, Tay Yoshitani and Bill Easton,’68 classmates </em></p>
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