I first knew Jim when we both served on 2nd Beast Detail. He was Platoon
Leader and I worked under him as Squad Leader for the New Cadets entering
West Point. Oddly, the Class of 2002 just finished 2nd Best yesterday.
My memories of Jim during that month were very pleasant. He was one of
those guys you would not mind serving under again. Well, I almost did!
In May of 1959 when I reported for duty at Ft Bragg, I was the last
of 6 classmates to join the 82nd Airborne Division Artillery. There was
a classmate in each 105mm Howitzer Batttery, going from A to E: Jim Ramsden,
Ron Olson, Tom Kelly, Rex Mason, and Pat Kirk. Only 3 of us are left. And
Ron and Pat, I have not seen since. Battery D wanted me, but it was discovered
that Rex was my roommate (Firstie Year). Hence, I joined Jim in Btry A.
He was the Fire Direction Officer -- the brains of the outfit -- and I
was the Forward Oberver, Motor Pool Officer, etc. We won the Div Arty annual
Battery Test, and were "Best By Test", as Robert Whitbeck, the Battery
Commander often bragged. He was a hardened Korean War Vet, as was the Exec,
Denny McCluskey who often corrected me in front of the troops. Shades of
Beast Barracks! I don't recall Denny yelling at Jim. Seems Jim was in everybody's
favor and liking.
Promotions were very slow then, and Denny one morning was lecturing
Jim and me about Sr. Lts. and Jr. Lts. We were both 1st Lts at that time.
Jim asked Denny, in a friendly way, "Sir what is the difference between
a Senior and Junior Lieutenant?" Sr. Lt. McCluskey responded, "Is there
any question who is Senior and who is Junior?". "No sir", he said. We laughed.
That is about as mad as he got at Jim.
Later Denny got his promotion, became BC, and Jim was the likely candidate
to do the Fire Direction in the Honest John (or Little John) Rocket Battery.
I learned a lot from Jim during that year, as we worked together and socialized
together. Little did I think that he would go on to distinguish himself
in the academic world at our Alma Mater. He would also have done so if
he had stayed with the troops.
At the 30th, it was a warm hug I received from Rae and a friendly greeting
from Jim. At the 40th, Barbara and I visited the Catholic Chapel where
we were married. When I now think of the chapel, I will think of Jim. Our
prayers are with Jim, and with you Rae.
JEROME (JERRY) C. LEWIS, Mountain View, CA