<p>West Point was possible for <em>Harry Noel White</em> due to several key people. Elizabeth Hardin, a teacher in a small, southern town, urged his parents, Harry and Lucile, to send Harry to Columbia Military Academy (CMA), a nearby military and college preparatory school. By chance, Harry’s student advisor at CMA was Ralph Scott, USMA Class of 1943 June. He steered Harry towards West Point. With letters in wrestling and golf and the honor of being class salutatorian at CMA, Harry was appointed to West Point by Tennessee Senator Albert Gore. <br />Seven years after graduation, Harry married Patricia Anne Curran. Patti gave birth to Michelle, Noel and Chris, in close succession. Tragedy struck when Patti died in 1971 from an auto accident at Fort Leavenworth, KS. Meanwhile, Harry’s future bride, Mary Grace, was single-parenting three children—Julie, Mike and John—since the combat death of Richard Nash McInerney, USMA Class of 1960, in Vietnam in 1967. Merging these families in 1972 produced lots of love and a six-pack of responsible citizens. Harry went from bachelorhood to father of six in five years.<br />The military portion of Harry’s career covered 20 years of education and Ordnance career courses, Airborne, and Ranger schools. Commands included tank company and platoon units with the 4th Infantry Division and the maintenance company supporting the 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. Ordnance assignments included fluid physicist at Harry Diamond Labs, R&D coordinator at the Army Material Command, instructor within the Ordnance Department at USMA, assistant project manager for Selected Ammunitions at Picatinny Arsenal, maintenance advisor to the Saudi Arabian Army, and chief of the Materiel Development Evaluation Division, also at Picatinny Arsenal. In 1980 he retired as a lieutenant colonel.<br />The civilian portion of his career also worked well. His resume reads, “results-orientated executive with extensive experience and a sustained record of accomplishments in progressively challenging positions including both commercial and defense orientated programs.” This resume, together with networking produced jobs in several small technology companies. No surprise that the military and civilian jobs differed little except in the size of the companies, the details of the product lines, and of course the pay.<br />For the next 17 Harry was totally retired and living in Wilmington, NC. The children had all graduated from college and several were married themselves with children. Harry and Mary Grace had nine grandchildren. Harry and Mary Grace kept themselves busy playing lots of golf and tennis, all the while raising two spring spaniels and staying involved with family and friends. Harry spent numerous hours not only perfecting his golf game but out in the intercostal water ways teaching his grandsons and granddaughter to cast for mullet, trap crabs, and catch and release numerous baby sharks. Without a doubt Harry is still playing lots of golf, except this time in is in heaven as opposed to Porters Neck Country Club.</p>