<p><em>Alfred John “Al” D’Arezzo</em> died on April 29, 2003 in Austin, TX at the age of 89. Al was born to Luigi and Erminia D’Arezzo on December 2, 1913 in Providence, RI. Al’s father had been an officer of the Carabinieri, the state police of Italy. In Rhode Island, Al’s parents owned a grocery store and steamboat agency. When Al was nine years old, his family moved to sunnier prospects in Los Angeles, CA. An outstanding student, he graduated from George Washington High School in 1931 and faced the economic hardships of the Depression. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, laboring 18 months in the Klamath River forests. When Al decided he wanted to attend the United States Military Academy, he studied intensely for the exam and, leaving nothing to chance, walked to Long Beach, knocked on the door of Congressman Charles Colden’s home, and asked for a congressional appointment. Al graduated from West Point in 1938.<br />In May 1939, Al was assigned to Fort Mills on the island of Corregidor in the Philippine Islands. On the day he arrived, he saw Kay McBride, the tall, dark-haired, and optimistic daughter of a senior officer also stationed at Fort Mills. Their wedding on June 15, 1940 was the last formal military wedding at Fort Mills before it was destroyed during World War II. In February 1941, Kay was among the Army dependents ordered to leave the Philippines. <br />Al commanded batteries of the 91st and 92nd Coast Artilleries (harbor defenses of Manila and Subic Bays), a hastily organized 301st Field Artillery (II Corps, PA), and eventually a special artillery battalion (I Corps, PA). With American Army, Philippine Scout, and Philippine Army officers and troops, Al fought the Japanese on Bataan until ordered to surrender on April 9, 1942. Al made the Bataan Death March and was interned as a prisoner of war at O’Donnell and Cabanatuan in the Philippines, and at Umeda Bansho, Zentsuji, and Rokuroshi in Japan. He was liberated in September 1945 by 1st U.S. Cavalry troops.<br />While Al was held prisoner, Kay trained as a pilot with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). After his liberation, Al learned of Kay’s flying. He was proud of her service and later was delighted when ASSEMBLY magazine published an article about Kay in July 1993. <br />After the war, Al and Kay added two children to their Army family. Al devoted himself determinedly to all his assignments, which Kay supported wholeheartedly. He found it rewarding to teach in the Department of Military Topography & Graphics at West Point. He derived much satisfaction in his work for the American Battle Monuments Commission in Rome, Italy as chief of engineering and construction of cemeteries honoring the Allied war dead in Europe and North Africa. He was a whirlwind of activity and accomplishment as district engineer for the Corps of Engineers at the St. Louis District on the Mississippi River, where he was “Big Al,” with a reputation for being tough and demanding. And he was pleased to assume responsibilities as director of installations and services of the Army Materiel Command. He retired as a colonel in January 1968.<br />For his service, Al was awarded the Legion of Merit (one oak leaf cluster), the Bronze Star (four oak leaf clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (one oak leaf cluster), the Purple Heart, the Ulchi Distinguished Military Service Medal (silver star), the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (two stars), the World War II Victory Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Philippine Defense Ribbon (one star), the Philippine Independence Ribbon, the Prisoner of War Medal, the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation Badge (three oak leaf clusters), the Army General Staff Identification Badge, the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Badge, and seven Overseas Service bars.<br />After the Army, Al earned a doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1970. For 15 years thereafter, he served in various capacities with the water agencies of the State of Texas—primarily the Water Rights Commission (as assistant to the executive director) and the Department of Water Resources (as environmental sciences analyst and intergovernmental reviews coordinator).<br />Al was vigorous in pursuing his many interests. He attended the university’s lifetime learning program, LAMP. He was an enthusiastic participant in his Great Books discussion group, a congenial “Squire of the Square Table,” and an interested member of the West Point Society of Central Texas—in an Oldest Grad speech at a Founders Day dinner, he wove a theme connecting surveying, poetry, horsemanship, archery, and Persian warriors. He enjoyed theater, lectures, and films. Al displayed both a quick temper and charm, conversed intensely about politics and history, and joked with gentle humor. With minimal encouragement, he would model one by one his foot-locker collection of hats, caps, berets, and helmets. His grandchildren enjoyed his harmonica renditions of “Streets of Laredo” and “She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain When She Comes,” his magic penny tricks, and his strength demonstrations crushing tin cans. Al’s pleasure in reading, touching, collecting, and being around books was enormous. He was a lifelong athlete, lettering in track at West Point, and later competed fiercely in handball and golf. He willingly gave living-room lessons on the best positions to toss the discus and put the shot. Al believed with his whole being in the values, “Duty, Honor, Country.” He was guided through life with the word imparted by his parents: “Coraggio.” He was one of a kind, and he is remembered and missed.</p>