<p>
In reading this attempt by a “goat” in English it might be thought that my own autobiography is also intended. I regret if such appears to be the case. However, because after we became cadets, and especially after graduation, our lives were so intertwined, probably more so than myself and any other classmate, this is written as it is. I know of no better way to do it.</p>
<p>
I know little of <em>Howard E. Breitung</em>’s life prior to his becoming a cadet, except that he was born in Wisconsin and served in the Navy during World War I.</p>
<p>
As cadets we were neither roommates nor even in the same cadet company, but we were on the boxing squad together all four years. He was a plenty game little fighter even then, a forerunner of what he was to be later on.</p>
<p>
We also did not even take the same branch at graduation, he going into the Coast Artillery and I trying for my wings. Having been “washed out” I transferred, by request, also to the Coast Artillery, and was sent to Hawaii. Some time later Howard arrived on Oahu and was assigned to the same Regiment and Post as I was, the 64th AA, Fort Shatter.</p>
<p>
I had done a year’s duty previous to his arrival as Adjutant of the Kilauea Military Camp down on “the big island”, Hawaii. A vacancy coming up there again, Howard asked me how I’d liked it down there. On my highly recommending it he put in for the same detail and was ordered down there for duty.</p>
<p>
Shortly before the end of his tour there, and prior to his return to duty with the Regiment, I received a cable from Howard, “Get a Catholic Army Chaplain and come with him to Hilo to be best man at my wedding.” His future wife had come there from California and was teaching school there when he met her.</p>
<p>
For this wedding we really worked up something. I saw Colonel Howard, A.C., then Air Officer, Hawaiian Department. Not only would he let us fly to Hilo in “The Bird of Paradise”, the first ship ever to fly all the way from the Coast and land on Oahu (Lt. Maitland, pilot, and Lt. Hagenberger, navigator) but he’d go along too. Good old “P.D.” Weikert, then at Wheeler Field, Schofield Barracks, would gladly pilot the plane and did. Father Martin, Schofield Barracks, would gladly be the officiating clergyman. Major Peale, known to all “23ers”, also went along. Way back then flying to “the big island” was quite an event. It was quite a trip. The wedding was performed. The wedding party flew back early the next morning. I met the newlyweds when they came in to Honolulu, on the “Haleakela”, which was then the number one Inter-island boat plying between Hilo and Honolulu. Lethe, the bride, had misplaced her West Point miniature. Quite a hunt in their stateroom. Finally located the missing ring to the joy of all concerned.</p>
<p>
We were both ordered to Fort Monroe to the same class (1929-1930) at the Coast Artillery School. Howard called my home in West Virginia, while crossing Maryland, to see if I was there. I was on leave at home at the time but happened to be out when he called.</p>
<p>
I ran into him and Lethe on the main street of Hampton, Virginia, just off of the reservation near Fort Mon roe as I was driving in to report to School. He had a big spot shaved off on top of his head with a gob of cotton and collodion stuck in the middle of the bare spot. Upon inquiring what had happened to him I was informed that that “wild Indian”, “Bunny” Burnett, had hit him in the head with a polo mallet in a scrimmage and the head of the mallet had gone right through the top of his polo helmet. I had never played any polo, but now thought that it must be quite a game. We played polo together three days a week, Wednesday, Saturday afternoons, and Sunday mornings, weather permitting, all of that year at Monroe.</p>
<p>
At the end of the school year I went on R.O.T.C. duty. Howard and Lethe went to Fort Scott for duty and later returned to Hawaii for duty at Fort Ruger. I learned that they had had a little girl, when I received a cable asking me would I be Godfather to Betty Lei, the daughter. I was delighted to be so honored. Someone stood proxy for me at the christening.</p>
<p>
By the time that I had about completed my R.O.T.C. tour, the President of the Utah State Agricultural College at Logan, Utah asked me to recommend someone to replace me, as I was ordered to Hawaii again for duty. Howard and family were now at Fort MacArthur, San Pedro, California. I wrote him as to his desires in the matter. He would like the detail.</p>
<p>
He shipped his old bull dog “Sarg” up to me, prior to their driving up. “Sarg” was really a problem child. No one excepting myself could lay a hand on him. I finally had to have him locked up at the College Vet’s for fear that he would bite someone and get all of us into trouble.</p>
<p>
When Howard had completed his tour at Logan he was ordered to the Philippines. We invited them to come by to see us on their way to the Coast. We by this time were back in Idaho on another R.O.T.C. detail. However, they could not make it up to see us on their way to the Coast.</p>
<p>
Lethe and Betty Lei were evacuated from The Islands. Howard was captured by the Japs.</p>
<p>
I was on Luzon when the remaining prisoners from the Jap prison camp at Cabanatuan were released by some of our troops. I hastened to where they had these liberated Americans encamped to find out what I could about Howard. I found amongst the liberated officers a Captain who had been in command of a battery in my battalion at Fort Crockett, Texas prior to going to Manila. He informed me that Howard had, without doubt, the most outstanding record of any Coast Artillery officer out there during the fighting both on Bataan and also on Corregidor, when Howard retreated there from Bataan.</p>
<p>
As soon as possible I made a trip to what remained of Cabanatuan. The Americans had set fire to the nipa shacks of which the camp had been built. The whole area was a sea of red mud. I never was able to locate Howard’s grave.</p>
<p>
Since returning to the States from overseas I talked with Carpenter ‘24. He said that Breitung was the bravest man he had ever known. That the morning the Japs came to their hut to march Howard away to what all knew would be sure death, Howard marched out of the hut, with his Jap guards, humming his favorite tune “Over the Rainbow”.</p>
<p>
During three days of inhuman treatment this little officer, who probably never weighed at any time in his life over one hundred and twenty pounds, never gave his Jap tormentors the satisfaction of hearing a single whimper from him. What there was left of him was all pure “guts”. And so he died.</p>
<p>
I was on duty in Salt Lake City when Lethe telephoned that Howard had been posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Bronze Star Medal. She, as I had been best man at their wedding and Godfather to Betty Lei, wanted me to pin the medals on her at a ceremony that was to be held at The Presidio. I went down to San Francisco and did as she had requested.</p>
<p>
Another one of the long grey line has left us. As one who did so little, I cherish and value greatly my friendship and association for this particular classmate of mine, who fought so courageously and died so bravely.</p>
<p>
<em>—J. H. P.</em></p>
<p>
</p>