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<em>Brooke Maury</em> was killed at age 34 in the prime of life. The Army and the country lost a great leader who had not nearly reached his potential. Few facts are known about the sinking of the Prisoner of War ship on 15 December 1944, but I know that Brooke upheld the ideals of the Point until the end.</div>
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Brooke was appointed from Brookline, Massachusetts, and came from an esteemed literary family. His father was a newspaperman and served as editor on a prominent newspaper. Brooke was an outstanding student at the University of Virginia, graduating just prior to his coming to the Point. It was there that he developed his athletic prowess in swimming.</div>
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The 1934 <em>HOWITZER</em> had this to say about him: “ ‘Brooke, can you show me how to do this?’ That is a question one hears frequently in Brooke’s room. It may concern a poem, a Math problem, a bit of fortification, or perhaps a rather hard Spic passage to be translated. He is one of the hiviest men in the Corps, and in addition he is one of the best athletes we have. Few men possess the ability to earn an Academy Letter during Plebe Year.</div>
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“As Company Commander, Brooke has piloted ‘D’ Co. through a hectic year. It is rumored that he once thought he would never be a Captain, but he became that ideal army combination—a soldier, an athlete, and a student. Be it never said that Brooke is a file-boner—if he were many classmates would never have graduated, for he has lost many files in aiding others.”</div>
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As a college graduate Brooke was more mature than most of us in the class. This made it difficult for him to accept directions from upper classmen, especially yearlings, whose age and experience were usually less. However Brooke’s natural dignity adapted to the situation, primarily, I think, because of his unique sense of humor, and he was able to "take it" as well as any of us.</div>
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We got to know each other in 1st Company during Beast Barracks and on the swimming team. He was our best swimmer and held several Academy records. He also found time for chess, Hundredth Night Crew and coaching during all four years and luckily for his friends, an occasional bull session.</div>
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He kidded me on my southern accent but his was undeterminable, being of Tennessee, Massachusetts, and Virginia. One pronunciation I was able to jeer at him about was for "been," although I secretly admired the “bean” sound and wanted to emulate it.</div>
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His wife Priscilla, who knew him best, summed up Brooke in a nutshell when she wrote me of his marvelous enthusiasm for life, his intellectual curiosity, and his joyful, unpredictable sense of humor.</div>
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An example of his sense of humor took place at our swimmer’s training table in the mess hall during First Class year. Brooke, no doubt goaded by me, suddenly proreeded to spread butter on my cheek, saying; "George, you need buttering up." In fun or not, I had to reciprocate by pouring a little milk on him. The bad thing was that the Tactical Officer in Charge saw the melee and Brooke and I found ourselves bracing before him pronto. The good thing was that the TAC was “Pete Nubie” Conrad who, after flaying us verbally for what seemed like a long time, did not choose to skin these two "unworthy, totally undignified Cadet Officers."</div>
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Shortly after graduation Brooke married Priscilla Bunker, sister of our classmate Bill, and an Army Brat of the renowned Bunker family. Brooke had chosen Field Artillery and had picked Fort Myer, Virginia, as first station. The Maurys spent a busy but relatively carefree and fun-filled four years (1934-1938) there, I last saw Brooke at a Fort Meyer party in 1935. He attended the Field Artillery School in 1938-1939, and was then transferred to Fort Lewis, Washington.</div>
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In 1941 Brooke was ordered to the Philippines. He said goodbye to his wife and family in June 1941 in the hospital at Fort Lewis, the day his fourth child, Sally, was born.</div>
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Brooke was devoted to his wife and to his family. Although he was with us such a short time, his stimulating influence will be long remembered by those who knew him. He did his duty to the best of his ability and he will always be a distinguished part of the "Long Gray Line."</div>
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<em>—George Lowe Eatman ’34</em></div>