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<em>Reynold “Rey” Morin,</em> was born in Holyoke, MA, the second of three sons of Earl and Lillia Morin. His parents were fi rm believers in sharing and having con­cern for others, and Rey learned from their example. Earl was involved with trucking and would arrange Sunday picnics to the ocean or lakes with family, neighbors, and friends piling into the back of his truck. The events had something for everyone and in­cluded swimming, cards, ball playing, and horseshoes plus lots of good food.</p>
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Academics were important to Rey, and therein he excelled in high school and at West Point. He also believed in hav­ing fun and really enjoyed sports. He was nicknamed “Babe” early on for his ability to crush a baseball. He excelled in baseball and football in high school and was recently inducted into his high school athletic hall of fame for those sports. His high school coaches and teammates had a lasting in­fluence on his life, visiting and communi­cating with him until his death. Rey also developed into a very strong swimmer prior to entering West Point, where he excelled in intramural swimming and water polo. Later, swimming would prove to be his most important physical activity to combat the physical and psychological effects of multiple sclerosis.</p>
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In addition to sports, Rey loved music and was a valuable four-year member of the West Point Glee Club, featuring annual ap­pearances on the Ed Sullivan Show, and an equally valuable three-year member of the Cadet Catholic Choir.</p>
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Rey married Marguerite DesLauriers in 1961 after a five-year courtship. During their almost 44 years of marriage, they were blessed with five children: Roger, Michelle, John, Debra and Matthew. All have mar­ried and enlarged the family with 13 grand­children. Although the family is spread out all over the world, they remain very close.</p>
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Rey was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers and served for 25 years, retiring as a colonel in 1985. He began his career with assignments to Ft. Devens, MA, and Camp Drum, NY to be close to Marguerite and their respective families. In 1961, he deployed to Berlin, Germany, as part of the United States response to the Berlin Wall. Marguerite was able to join him, and three years later the now family of four moved to Lafayette, IN, where Rey earned an MS degree in Engineering at Purdue University. In 1965, his ability to speak French qualifi ed him for a road-building assign­ment with the United States Embassy in Conakry, Guinea. Again Marguerite, now with four children in tow, joined him. This was followed by an unaccompanied tour in Vietnam in 1967.</p>
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The family was reunited in 1968 for as­signments to Ft. Bragg, NC; to Ft. Belvoir, VA; where the family grew to seven; to Ft. Leavenworth, KS, for CGSC; to Ft. Meade, MD; and to West Point in the Dean’s of­fice. The family returned to Germany from 1976-82, and Rey was Director of Engineering and Housing in Mannheim, and, then staff Engineer for the 5th Signal Command in Worms. His last assign­ment was with the Corps of Engineers in Portland, OR, ending a broad, diverse, interesting and challenging career. Rey’s decorations include the Legion of Merit; two Bronze Stars; three Meritorious Service Medals; the Army Commendation Medal; the Army of Occupation Medal (Berlin); the Vietnamese Service and Campaign Medals; the Ranger tab; and the parachut­ist badge.</p>
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Rey’s brilliant career was jeopardized in 1970 due to numbness in his hands and feet, then temporary blindness in one eye. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. He could have retired medically, but after recovering he requested a waiver to remain in the Army.</p>
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After retirement, Rey and Marguerite chose to continue living in Lake Oswego, OR. In 1992, Rey’s MS worsened, and he needed a wheelchair. Consequently, Rey and Marguerite built a handicapped ac­cessible home in Tualatin, OR. During retirement, Rey remained busy tutoring high school math and serving on a Catholic Church planning board. He sang in the church choir for many years and people en­joyed his solos. Due to worsening eyesight, he listened to two or three books a week on a tape recorder and kept an upbeat and friendly demeanor, amusing his family and friends with his wit, jokes and stories and by singing ditties. Memories of him bring up happy moments and are dearly treasured.</p>
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Rey’s high regard for his years at West Point are exemplified by the fact that Rey and Marguerite’s son Roger graduated in the Class of1984, daughter Michelle gradu­ated in the Class of 1985, and granddaugh­ter Jordan (Michelle’s daughter) recently entered with the Class of 2015.</p>
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Because Rey was prone to infections, doctors at the V.A. Hospital prescribed the best medications to make him well. Eventually, he became immune to antibiot­ics, and that was his demise. He died peace­fully at home with his family at his side.</p>
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Rey learned from his parents to live his life with a clear sense of priorities and with sound basic values. He was an intelligent, hard-working, committed soldier, a loving husband, and a devoted father. Rey inspired many people who watched him live his life courageously and under much adversity. Marguerite was touched to hear from so many friends, soldiers, and DA civilians from around the world who remembered Rey with much fondness and respect. They stated how Rey’s positive qualities (honesty, enthusiasm, and attitude) had enriched their lives, and were grateful to have known him and had the good fortune to have worked with him during his career. The entire Morin family benefi ted from their love, support and prayers over the years. It is an honor to say, “Well done Rey, at last you are without pain and discomfort; be thou at peace.”</p>
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<em>—Marguerite Morin, his loving wife</em></p>