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<p><em>Stand tall, fellow classmates, and regain the pride and respect that is rightfully ours. The battles waged while we were cadets involved our class because we were strong enough, wise enough, and honorable enough to endure. Over the years we bowed our heads because we did not quite understand the who, the what, or the why of what happened during our watch. Now we know, and now we will reclaim the stature of the highest honor and respect that any class might achieve</em>. — Jody’s remarks to classmates after the 2004 mini-reunion.</p>
<p><em>Jody Allan Fink</em> entered the Class of 1977 from Florida, by way of the Prep School at Fort Belvoir, VA, and for the next four years, as his <em>Howitzer </em>entry noted, “where you find action, you’ll find Jody.” A year of plebe football, including efforts to help receivers catch the bullet passes thrown by his older brother and Army quarterback Kingsley, and four years as a stand-out on the Army Baseball Team were just a few of the highlights. </p>
<p>Jody’s roommates fondly remember his energy, enthusiasm, and leadership. John Bechtold described Jody as “the ultimate teammate—ready to help, assist and cheer one on. He led by example and never asked someone to do something he would not do himself.” Kevin C.M. Benson recalls another side of Jody that emerged during firstie year: “We’d all been cross levelled to different companies after returning from summer leave to a class shattered by the honor scandal. Jody convinced me that the Army was bigger than USMA, and we could go on to make a difference as officers. Jody was right.”</p>
<p>Jody selected Signal Corps as his branch. After graduation, he excelled in a variety of assignments, including signal platoon leader in A Company, 5th Signal Battalion and Corps of Engineers officer for 3rd Battalion, 19th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Polk, LA. While there, Jody had an impact and made an impression on all who came to know him. Judith Overby O’Hollaren was the battalion commander’s secretary and had fond memories of Jody: “Jody was quite a prankster, and every time he was assigned as the staff duty officer, I could count on finding something amiss with my desk—often my paper clips were connected in a string or the ball from my typewriter was hidden and there were ‘clues’ left for me to locate the thing. He was like a brother to those he cared for and took the time to make us all feel as if we were a part of his special circle.” A fellow platoon leader, Grady Haddox, recalled that Jody had “a tremendous attitude, competitive nature, and was a good comrade in arms and a fine person.”</p>
<p>After the advanced course, Jody was assigned to a variety of assignments in Germany, including Headquarters, 2nd Signal Brigade; commander, 532nd Signal Company; and S-3, 39th Signal Battalion. Classmate Steve Heinecke was a company commander alongside Jody and relates that Jody maintained his mischievous nature “at a get-together for the battalion commander, the four company commanders, and the two detachment commanders. We kicked it off with a social hour at the local hotel and pub. As soon as the battalion commander went to bed, Jody suggested we find a rope, tie it to his doorknob, and string it across the hall so he wouldn’t be able to get out of his room and get everyone else up as well to go run the next morning. We found the rope, and Jody had one knot tied when we heard this deep rumble in the room followed by a ‘Jody, what the heck are you doing out there?’” The leadership and caring nature described by classmates was also evident when a lieutenant bound for his company called from Frankfurt to say that there was a problem with the orders, and she was being reassigned elsewhere. Jody grabbed one of his platoon leaders and raced down the autobahn from Giessen to Frankfurt to rescue his wayward officer from the clutches of the personnel office.</p>
<p>In 1984, Jody transitioned to the private sector as a systems analyst with the NSM Corporation in Crystal City, VA while continuing to serve in the Army Reserve, rising to the rank of major. Classmate Don Hinton recalls renewing his friendship with Jody at that time: “We worked on the same project on national missile defense…we began socializing and often would go out and have dinner and drinks in the city. I also recall that we went through 9/11 together. Our office was in Crystal City, and we had to evacuate our office building because it was near the Pentagon. We spent that terrible day not knowing what to do.”</p>
<p>Steve Heinecke resumed his friendship with Jody, relating his fondness for playing National Trivia Network. “His knowledge and intellect, particularly regarding music or older television shows, were awesome. I don’t ever remember a question coming up for which Jody didn’t say, ‘I know this one.’ He often did.”</p>
<p>During this time, Jody continued to have an impact on those around him by his positive attitude, inspirational spirit, and well-founded perspective, guiding family, friends, and acquaintances through challenges they were facing despite the toll that his own illness was taking on him. Jody passed on August 6, 2004, far too soon, secure in the knowledge that he made the world a better place through his presence. </p>
<p>Be Thou at Peace, my friend.</p>
<p><em>— Classmate</em></p>
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