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<font size="2">The 1968 yearbook had it right when it said, "The world is his home and he is at home in the world." </font><i>David Thornton Maddux </i><font size="2">was born on Tinker Air Force base, where his father, Walter Kyle Maddux, was serving in the Air Force. As part of a military family Dave never had the luxury of staying in one place very long. The family moved a number of times, living in Germany, France, Colorado, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Wisconsin to name a few. As such, he developed a personality known for resiliency and perseverance.</font></p>
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<font size="2">In 1964, after attending four high schools in four years, Dave graduated from Washington Park High School in Racine, WI, where he lettered in baseball and wrestling. He entered West Point in the summer of 1964 as a member of C-4 Company. His adaptable nature facilitated a smooth transition to military life. The determination that got Dave to West Point could be seen in how he attacked his studies and interests at college. As a cadet, Dave’s diverse interests included French, Choir, Fencing, and Scuba. He is remembered for enthusiastically practicing his scuba skills by diving under the ice in Lusk Reservoir in the middle of winter or sweating through a Fencing practice by adding additional layers of clothing, just to make it harder. There was no one in our class who got more out of West Point than Dave. <i>"Carpe Diem"</i> was his creed.</font></p>
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<font size="2">Dave graduated from West Point in 1968 and attended officer Basic School at Fort Knox, KY, airborne and Ranger School at Fort Benning, GA. Dave was briefly stationed in Germany and then deployed to Vietnam in March 1970. On Aug 9, 1970, as the commanding officer of a troop, Dave was directing the evacuation of wounded soldiers in Quang Nam Province when he was mortally wounded by a mine.</font></p>
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<font size="2">Dave’s dedicated, life-long friend, James Lancaster (Air Force Academy, Class of 1968), accompanied his casket to West Point for the funeral. He was buried on Aug 20, 1970, alongside other fallen members from the class of 1968. Dave’s heroism in battle awarded him a Silver Star. He was also a recipient of a Bronze Star, a combat infantry badge, an air medal and a Purple Heart. His service is recorded on the Vietnam Wall Memorial (Panel 08W, Line 098). As a friend, classmate, and soldier, Dave is remembered for his integrity, character, and commitment to West Point ideals. </font></p>
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<font size="2">He is survived by his sister, Sheila Lapean, of Oceanside, CA, who moved with him those many times as children and fondly remembers him as the most extraordinary brother in the world. For her, there is no comfort in his death at all, ever, but Dave’s zest for life affected all of us who know him, and for her there is some solace in that. Classmate Bill Merit said it best on Dave’s eulogy page—"the man had class." I couldn’t agree more. The country lost a great leader that day in August 1970 in QuangNam Province, RVN.</font></p>
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<font size="2"><i>—Classmate Dan Gooding</i></font></p>