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Jack was born 14 September 1943 at Fort Benning, Georgia. Yes—Jack was an Army brat.</div>
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In his youth he lived in many places from Germany to Hawaii, including a few years at West Point, shortly after World War II. The Academy made a lasting impression on the future cadet who (although very young at the time) thrilled to the parades on the Plain.</div>
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While in Germany in 1950, Jack broke his right leg below the knee. The leg healed well but at an angle so that his right foot pointed markedly outward. This interfered with running and engaging in sports. Moreover, because he had already set his sights on West Point, he wondered how he could have his leg straightened. The only answer was to have his leg re-broken and set properly. With much trepidation and his parents' approval, he opted for this course of action. After the operation and months in a cast, the leg was straight and subsequently grew at the same rate as his left leg.</div>
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And he was growing—tall and spindly. West Point was still his goal, especially after his elder brother entered the Academy in 1958. He worried about his eyes since his vision was no where near 20-20. Much to his relief, however, his eyes passed the minimum basic requirements and with glasses were correctable to 20-20. Now, all he had to do was pass all the examinations with high marks and get an appointment. This he did and was “in.”</div>
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Jack entered West Point in July 1961. His dream had come true. He was a cadet. Of course, he was only a Plebe, in fact only a “Beast," but he was where he wanted to be. He was sublimely happy despite the terrors of Beast Barracks. But the dream slowly turned into a nightmare. He could not seem to organize his time to do all he had to do on time each day. He was seventeen—a very youthful seventeen, who always tried to look on the bright side of life. Academically he was having no problems. However, he could not escape the mounting demerits and in late November, 1961, with one demerit to go, he submitted his resignation. He could not bear to be “found."</div>
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The end of a dream! A crestfallen disheartened young man returned home to try to gather up the wreckage of his aspirations and start over again. But for the strong of heart, a dream does not die and, after a few months of aimless activity, when asked what he wanted to do, he said, “I want to graduate from West Point."</div>
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Many cadets enter West Point immature and “wet behind the ears." Some cannot adjust to the tough regime at the Academy. In those days, when a cadet failed in an academic subject and was “found," he was usually given the opportunity later to take an examination for readmission. If he passed, he was then reinstated and started over again in the following class.</div>
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There was no similar procedure for a cadet who was dismissed or who resigned because of disciplinary failings. This did not thwart Jack. He tried to figure out a way to take a disciplinary test for re-admission, and came up with an idea. He applied to the Academic Board with the following plan. He would enlist as a private in the Army and apply for admission to the West Point Preparatory School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. If accepted, he would take the course at the prep school. He further proposed that if, as a soldier and student, he did well enough at the prep school to warrant a special commendation for readmission to West Point, he would hope the Academic Board at West Point would look favorably on his request for readmission. He knew he would have to go through Beast Barracks again; go through Plebe year; go through all the “hazing" and suffer all the problems he had before, but still he said “I want to graduate from West Point. I want to try again." West Point agreed with his proposal.</div>
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So Jack enlisted and happily was accepted by the Preparatory School. At Fort Belvoir he did exceptionally well and was highly recommended to West Point. He took the entrance exams and passed at the top of his class with the result that he received a Presidential Appointment and was approved by the Academic Board for readmission to the Military Academy.</div>
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So in July 1963, Jack started Beast Barracks again. However, the young man who went through “Basic," attended the Prep School and entered the Academy as a Plebe again in 1963 was far different from the immature 17 year old stripling that tried and failed in 1961. At West Point he gained the top of his Class academically and became a cadet captain and deputy regimental commander in his First Class year. He had been given another chance and succeeded far beyond his hopes.</div>
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It was a particularly bright day in 1965 when, looking through a college year book that belonged to a classmate, Jack spotted a picture of a beautiful girl named Eileen McGowan. He kept leafing back to that picture and finally decided, after much baiting by his classmates, to write a letter to Eileen. Other letters followed; dates followed; and after graduation in 1967, Jack married Leenie. What jubiliation! What happiness!</div>
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After jump school and Ranger training at Fort Benning, Jack and Leenie went to Germany and there, Colleen was born in 1968. Then came orders for Vietnam and the young captain, after leaving his small family in Alexandria, Virginia flew out to Southeast Asia, where he joined the 101st Airborne Division. On 16 June 1969 he was given the command of an Infantry company in the jungle near Hue. He was killed at 11:30 a.m., 25 July going to the aid of some of his men who had been ambushed on a jungle trail.</div>
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After his death, Jack’s family received condolences from friends all over the world. They were all welcomed—especially from those who had known Jack in Vietnam shortly before he died. From these we have culled a few extracts to describe further Jack’s qualities of dedication, leadership and compassion.</div>
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His battalion commander: “I know of no other young leader who gained the respect, loyalty and love of his men as did Jack."</div>
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His brigade commander: “I hope there will be some comfort in the knowledge that John was held in the highest regard by everyone with whom he was associated. He was truly the most outstanding young officer in the brigade."</div>
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A chaplain: “He was with us a short time in Vietnam; and I lived with him three days at. Eagle Beach, but I felt like the windows of eternity were opened. We talked a great deal about philosophy, ethics, morals, credit and buying, military discipline and religion. I found it stimulating and refreshing. In fact</div>
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I had the feeling and the thought somewhat like Pilate as he listened to Jesus. Pilate said, I find no fault in you.’ ’’</div>
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Jack would have been deeply embarrassed had he read those words. He did not look on himself as exceptional—but he was. He did not think he was an outstanding leader—but he was. He could not have conceived that his death would affect so many people so emotionally and so deeply—but it did.</div>
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We still miss you Jack, very much.</div>
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<em>—J.E.K.</em></div>