Posted by Brad Johnson on June 12, 2007:

In July of 1954 I reported to West Point and was assigned to 5th company in Beast Barracks. I, a westerner from the plains of South Dakota found myself rooming with a southerner from the bayous of Louisiana and a Yankee from upstate New York. Three divergent personalities trying to survive two incredibly harsh (and that is being kind) squad leaders. We managed to survive and Al's good sense of humor contributed greatly to that. I have a favorite story that has made me laugh for all these years as I recall it. We were at lunch in the first several days of beast. Al and I were sitting across from each other at the head of the table. For those who read these and are not grads, we were required to sit erect on the front half of our chair, chin in, with eyes only on our plate. We were required to cut our food into small bites. It was spaghetti day. I watched as Alex stuck his fork in and with a spoon started winding a hugh roll of spaghetti around his fork. I noticed out of the corner of my eye the two upperclassmen at our table staring with amazement at this. Al just got his fork full spaghetti to his lips when all hell broke loose. Needless to say Al sat up for the rest of the meal, as did I, because I broke out laughing. Al and I did a lot of laughing through beast which was the only way to survive that experience. He was a good man. Al starting showing up at the First Class Club changeovers in recent years, so I got a chance to reconnect and meet his lovely wife. You will be missed AL.

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