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<em>Jack Beiser</em> was not the sort of person to be boxed up in assignments, posts, duties, and accomplishments. He was one of the "Great Captains” of our class and his death on 15 February 1976 is a loss not only to Ruby and their two daughters, but to the class as a whole. Hank Adams in a letter to me after being told of Jack’s passing said, "It was a shock to hear about Jack Beiser; he was one I would pick to go on forever.” It was my privilege to room with Jack and Andy Budz for about a year and to play "hearts” with them after taps. We were all five year men content to be in the Class of 1940 and to graduate with it. As the Captain of D Company, Jack had the innate ability to deal with plebe, yearling, Second Classman, and his own classmates in such a manner that he was respected and understood. If Beiser said it, then it must be so and there was no further questioning. Really a Kansas-born oracle!</div>
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He was born in Pittsburg, Kansas, on 11 January 1915 and grew up there. He attended local schools and then spent one year at Wentworth Military Academy. Then it was off to West Point and the start of a distinguished military career. But first he had a losing battle with the Department of Modern Languages (Plebe French). This accounted for his five years.</div>
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He graduated in 1940 and was high enough in his class to select Field Artillery because, as he always said, "I like horses.” He went to branch school at Fort Sill for training and then was sent to the 9th Field Artillery Battalion and the 41st Field Artillery Battalion of the 3d Division. Jack went back to Sill for advanced training and then to Camp White in Oregon to help with the organization of the 91st Division. Then it was back to the books at Fort Leavenworth at the Command and General Staff College in June of 1943 and in April 1944 went to the China, Burma, India Theater where he served as assistant G3 under General Stilwell and had the same job under Ceneral Sultan whom he also served as an aide.</div>
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Before coming back to the States, he was assigned to Headquarters, Chinese Combat Command in Chungking. His first Stateside job was assignment to the Office Chief of Staff, War Department General Staff Training Group. He enjoyed some duty with the Scientific Branch of the Intelligence Division Office Chief of Staff but was soon on his way to the Far East Command in Korea.</div>
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In 1949 he was sent to the 1st Cavalry Division at Camp Drake, Japan, and in 1950 went back to the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill. He was selected to be a member of the English Department at the United States Military Academy and spent a year at the University of Pennsylvania for training. Then followed three years at the United States Military Academy in the Department of English.</div>
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Apparently his two and one-half years of training in French stood him in good stead for he next served three years at Fontainebleau in France with Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. Back to the States and assignment at Fort Meade and then on to Finance School at Fort Benjamin Harrison to become Comptroller United Nations Command/United States Forces Korea. In November 1961, Jack was retired for physical disability.</div>
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He and his high school sweetheart Ruby were married on 13 June 1940 at the Presbyterian Church in Highland Falls. Jack truly loved West Point and the Army. He was reading military history books two weeks before his death.</div>
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A line from Chaucer which he taught at West Point describes him better than any words I can put down. "He was a verray parfit gentil knight.”</div>
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<em>—Hank Brewerton</em></div>