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<p><em>Theodore Dotzler “Ted” Felber</em> was born in 1932 in Tientsin, China, the son of an Army officer, Joseph G. Felber (USMA 1927), and his wife, Evelyn (Dotzler). Ted grew up immersed in the Army. His father was a very proud career soldier. They were a military family through and through. Ted’s older sister married a Navy pilot, and his younger brother, Joe, also graduated from West Point (USMA 1960). </p>
<p>Ted’s dad was away quite a bit during World War II, serving as a tank battalion commander in Europe and Northern Africa. In his youth, to prepare him for West Point, Ted was sent to Stanton Preparatory Academy. He later received an appointment to West Point, graduated in 1957, and went into the Ordnance Corps.</p>
<p>Upon graduating, Ted married Barbara Jane Fenton, the daughter of an Army officer physician. Interestingly, while both of their fathers were stationed at Scofield Barracks on Oahu, they had attended the same elementary school and at the same time (although they didn’t know each other and were not in the same class). After their marriage, they moved to Augsburg, Germany, where Ted was stationed. While there, they began their family, having a son, Bryan, and a daughter, Laura. They also acquired the first family pet, a silver and black long-haired German Shepherd they named Schnitzel, which amused the local Germans, since the name means “a cut of meat.”</p>
<p>From Germany, the family moved to Tuscaloosa, AL, where Ted attended the University of Alabama to earn his master’s degree in engineering. While there, their last child, Lisa, was born. </p>
<p>From Tuscaloosa, the family moved to Huntsville, AL, where Ted focused his engineering skills on missiles and rockets. During a vacation to Cocoa Beach, FL, the family watched the launch of a rocket upon which Ted had worked. </p>
<p>Following assignments included a short stay in Aberdeen, MD and then to Vietnam, for which the family moved to Chula Vista, CA, where Ted’s parents had moved a few years earlier to assist their daughter (and five children) whose Navy pilot husband had been lost at sea in an aircraft crash. While in Vietnam, Ted was wounded, earning the Purple Heart. </p>
<p>After Ted returned from Vietnam, the family moved to Ohio, where Ted was stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, followed by Fort Belvoir, VA. While at Fort Belvoir the family had the pleasure of hosting Ted’s brother, Joe, and family, who were living in the area while Joe was stationed at the Pentagon. </p>
<p>Ted was then assigned to Cambodia for about 18 months, and the family moved back to Chula Vista. Upon his return, Ted was able to get an assignment at the naval amphibious base in Coronado, CA to finish out the last several months of his Army career, avoiding a family move. During his service he was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal, two Joint Service Commendation Medals and the Legion of Merit.</p>
<p>He followed his Army career by working a couple of years at McDonnell Douglas and then several years at General Dynamics–Convair Division. These were followed by some other business pursuits to accomplish his dream of having his own business. </p>
<p>Ted’s children always knew him to be a fairly quiet man and found it challenging to draw out his thoughts or to carry on a conversation with him. Shortly before his passing, one of his daughters was able to draw out of him the apparent source of his reservedness. It was learned that he had to make a choice early in his Army career to go a combat route or a non-combat route. It is uncertain what all the factors were that led to his decision. Having a wife and children was likely a factor, as was where his engineering knowledge would best be applied and how he would best advance in the Army. These seem pretty obvious, but there were likely other factors. The decision was a completely reasonable and rational decision. Unfortunately, a very close buddy chose the combat route and was killed in action, after which Ted blamed himself for not being there for him. He carried unnecessary and unreasonable guilt for the rest of his life. </p>
<p>His children deeply regret that they had not known this much earlier in their lives so they could have tried to encourage Ted and continually remind him how successful his life was. He raised three responsible and productive children who raised nine responsible and productive grandchildren. </p>
<p>It is the very sincere and deep wish of his children that anyone reading this who has had similar circumstances realize that there should be no guilt for making a perfectly reasonable and rational decision and to realize that, even if the other route had been chosen, it is highly unlikely you would have been with your buddy. The military sends people where and when they want based on need. Even if Ted had chosen the combat route, it is very likely he would have been on the other side of the world at the time that he felt his buddy needed him. If you are dealing with similar feelings, please share this with your families and even seek professional help. It is so important to get past this and remove unnecessary and unreasonable guilt and to avoid letting something like this keep you from being fully engaged with your loved ones. </p>
<p><em>— Bryan Felber, son</em></p>
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