Harry Warner Lombard

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by BG RM Ong (Ret) on October 19, 2016:

CPT Harry Lombard taught Math at West Point to us Plebes. And we loved him for 2 reasons: 1st, because he explained -- very clearly -- the intricacies of Mathematics and 2nd, because he gave us such GOOD GRADES. Plebe Math is the biggest reason for academic failures at West Point. Many Plebes arrive, fresh from high school, with a rudimentary (read: sadly deficient) Math background, and are unprepared for the staggering demands of Plebe Math. CPT Lombard was not the typical Math Professor who wielded impersonally but mercilessly, a pen full of red ink. He came to us, more like a guardian angel or fairy godfather, to show us the way to understanding and mastering the mysteries of Algebra, Analytic Geometry, Spherical Trigonometry and Differential Calculus. And getting passing grades in the process. And did I mention that he gave good grades? Yep, he sure did! Other Math P's graded us fairly, no more, no less. But we Plebes felt that CPT Lombard gave us "a little bit more" than we, uh, rightfully deserved. I'm sure he was responsible for allowing more than a few of my classmates to pass Plebe Math by the skin of their teeth, rather than failing the Course and repeating Plebe Year. To reciprocate his "generosity" we gave him the nickname of "Sugar Daddy Harry" and we cheered with open joy when we found ourselves in his Section. It was many years later when I met Lt. Col. Lombard in Vietnam sometime 1967 or '68. He must have been surprised at being accosted by a soldier in a Philippine Army uniform. I quickly introduced myself as one of his students at West Point. I had barely recognized him, because he looked so different from the upbeat, smiling "Sugar Daddy Harry" of yesterday. He had metamorphosed into a lean, mean, no-nonsense Battalion Commander, who seemed always in a hurry to get a job done. We shook hands, parted ways and I never saw him again. I am sorry to learn of his passing. The CPT Lombard experience is one of the very few fond memories of Plebe life at West Point. I think he would be pleased to know that at least one of his students did okay in his military career. And that I did become an Associate Professor at the Philippine Military Academy -- right after my Vietnam stint -- teaching Engineering subjects to the PMA Cadets. And now, my final salute to COL (R) Harry W. Lombard... Well done, sir! Be thou at peace! Brigadier General Ramon M. Ong (Retired) Armed Forces of the Philippines USMA 1963

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