Posted by John Brinson on October 3, 2007:

Neil was a big strong M-2 file, about 6'2" and 200 lbs. with a wry smile that I remember well. I was a C-2 file, 5'9" and 160 lbs. Our 2 companies were right across old North area from each other. We C-2 runts didn't miss an opportunity to beat up on flankers, in good humor, and vice versa. We gave M-2 a good drubbing on the way to our Brigade lacrosse championship in the Fall of '56. In May of 1958, I decided to play intermural soccer, for who knows what stupid reason. I had already had two major knee repairs by Col. "Carvin" Parvin, and didn't need a knee injury, or any other kind of injury - with graduation ony a month off. Soon, I found myself in a rough and tumble soccer game with some huge people, and finesse wasn't the game. It was smash mouth, and Neil zeroed in on poor little me, and crushed me like a freight train. As I picked myself up off the ground, he gave me one of his wry smiles, and ran off down the field. I hobbled through the rest of the game, and for the next couple of weeks, but recovered in time for graduation. Neil went on to a ditinguished career in the Army. Years later, at a reunion, I reminded Neil of the game, and he smiled wryly as if to say "I smeared you good you little runt, and it was fun." We laughed about it. I didn't know him well, but our collision made for a good war story.

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