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<em>Vesa Juhani Alakulppi</em> was born in Rovaniemi, Finland, to Olavi and Eevi Alakulppi during the Russo—Finnish War. Vesa’s father was a first lieutenant in the Finnish Army, and Vesa often spoke proudly of his fathers exploits while fighting the Russian Army to a standstill. For his bravery, Olavi Alakulppi was awarded Finland’s highest honor, the Mannerheim-risti. After a heroic fight, however, the overwhelming might of the Soviet Union proved too much for Finland’s small army, and the war ended in 1944. Vesa’s son Kurt recalled, "After the conflict was over, my grandfather was still wanted by the Russian military. In 1945, he escaped on skis to Sweden. His family followed, and after a brief stay, the U.S. Consulate in Sweden arranged for his entrance into the U.S." Olavi Alakulppi was soon commissioned in the U.S. Army, and Vesa, along with his sister Maija, had a typical "Army brat" childhood, living in Virginia, Colorado, Germany, and Kansas.</p>
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Vesa began high school at Germany’s Nuremburg Dependent School before transferring to a school in Mainz, Germany, where he met his future wife, Sharon. He graduated from high school in Junction City, KS. Vesa was an honor student with a 3.68 grade-point average and graduated fourth in his high school class of 113 students. He also excelled in athletics. He lettered twice in football in Germany and played on the Junction City basketball team that won the Central Kansas Conference Championship.</p>
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In March 1958, Vesa earned a presidential appointment to USMA. When a local reporter asked Vesa about his aspirations for the future, he replied, "I have looked forward to an Army career all my life." On 7 Jul 1959, Vesa reported to the "Man in the Red Sash" in Old Central Area, and after learning the rudiments of close order drill, he and his classmates marched to Trophy Point and were sworn in as new cadets in the Class of ’63.</p>
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Vesa loved West Point, thriving in it’s demanding environment. A classmate recalled, "Vesa was a quiet, honorable, ‘top drawer’ person. He really had a good mind, and while he wouldn’t normally admit it in public, he studied pretty hard to make sure that he always was prepared for class."</p>
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Contract bridge was one of Vesa’s passions. A K-2 classmate reminisced about the time Vesa and three others were caught playing bridge in the sinks after "Taps." "They successfully b’ached their DR because playing cards in the sinks was not expressly forbidden in the regs. I think that was changed the next day."</p>
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One of Vesa’s roommates, reflecting upon Vesa’s love for handball, stated,"He was a fierce competitor and was pretty washed out when he returned to our room indicating that, win or lose, he had given 100%. That’s the way he approached everything. If it was worth doing, it was worth a 100% effort."</p>
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Vesa often tutored classmates who were having academic problems. One classmate wrote, "I distinctly remember how he helped me prepare for the mechanics final exam when I was turned out. I owe him big for the chance to complete my degree." Vesa’s academic perseverance was rewarded his First Class year when he made the Dean’s List and became a star man.</p>
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Graduation Day finally arrived, and Vesa and his classmates were commissioned in the field house on 5 Jun 1963. Vesa chose Armor and, after jump school at Ft. Benning, reported to Ft. Knox, KY, for the Basic Course. Then it was off to Bamberg, Germany, where he served as A Company Commander, 3-35th Armor. In April 1966, Vesa and Sharon married. A classmate remembers, "We truly enjoyed being with Vesa and Sharon—having the fun of going out together and taking small trips out in the German towns. " In 1967, Vesa received orders for Viet Nam, with a stop en route at the Jungle Warfare School in Panama.</p>
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Upon arriving in Viet Nam, Vesa—then a captain— was assigned to the 2-3 Infantry of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade. Initially, he was the battalion S-2 but, upon volunteering to be a rifle company commander, was given C Company. On 14 May 1968, Vesa’s company was attacked by a superior force, and after a furious battle, he was killed in action. A fellow company commander remembers, "CPT Alakulppi, upon losing communication with his strong point and receiving the report of enemy penetration from other bunkers, left his command post to tighten the remaining defenses and organize a counterattack. He went to the adjacent positions of the danger point and issued the orders to shift fires in order to contain the penetration, before starting a personal reconnaissance of the situation. As he moved to a vantage point among the trees and irrigation ditches of the orchard, he was ambushed and killed."</p>
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On 28 May 1968, Vesa Juhani Alakulppi was interred in the Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle, WA. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Silver Star. Sharon, reflecting on Vesa’s memory after all these years, captured the essence of a friend we all miss, stating, "He truly was a very special human being to all the people he touched in his life. He was a wonderful, loving, and intelligent man who was very deeply committed to his family and friends, and he took seriously his obligation to his profession, to God, and to his family."</p>
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<em>Family and classmates</em></p>