Alexander Ronald MacDonald

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by John Macdonald, 79 on November 28, 2003:

I'd like to take this opportunity on behalf of my mother, brothers and sisters, family and friends to share with you the values and character of Skip Macdonald, my Dad. He was the son of a Scot who was a cavalry man who earned his way through high school as a bare knuckle boxer, was simultaneously the commandant and student at Norwich University and was a stern yet loving soldier who had a lot to do with giving Dad his staunch backbone. The mischievous side of Dad was always peeking through; a sense of humor with great timing and tempo. The senior Macdonalds were one of the first families to occupy Berlin in 1946. Dad was also one of the first to decide to sail into the Soviet sector in a small sailboat 'to see what it was like' (much to the concern of the Soviet Army). At Fort Knox, along with a number of wonderful basketball, football stories and building of the Teenage Hang Out (TAHO) he was also known for having a lively cops and robbers routine where he and his brother Sandy would drive cross country with the authorities in hot pursuit. In his later life, he was always ready with a funny remark or an astute observation. My Mother says that the most outstanding element besides their shared faith in Jesus, was their laughter and fun. As a cadet he was on the honor board of the Cadet Honor System and shared some very tough decisions about classmates who could not stand up to the high standards of Honor set and followed at West Point. This sense of honor and duty was a most strong value in his personal code of conduct. I will always remember one of our first grown up discussion about 'THE TRUTH'. I was running with a marginal crew and had found that 'little white lies' were most convenient. Dad had other thoughts' So, at the ripe age of 10 we had a long and teary discussion about honesty and integrity. A great lesson for me, but more importantly it taught me what my Dad was really all about. He was fine athlete, and used this gift as an avenue to lead and mentor throughout his life. The team captain of the West Point Lacrosse Team, his athleticism carried through in coaching and refereeing the cadets at the Air Force Academy'.but more importantly he took time to coach, watch and help James, Clay and me through a wonderful world of sports. He taught us all to ski, hit, throw, jump, shoot, slide, jink, fake, be the ball, think and most importantly he taught us all that sportsmanship and fair play was really what the game was all about. He and Mom met over graham crackers and milk in early 1956 and after only 14 days of made-in-heaven courting, dancing, some long distance letters, they were engaged and married. He was a great dancer and I'll not ever forget Mom and Dad taking the floor at a cadet and parent event. I cringed'. until the floor cleared for a dashing couple doing the Charleston and Swing to ooohs and aahs' it was the first time that Mark Twain's remark that 'my parents got so much smarter, more fascinating and talented between my age of 18 and 22' really started to come true. An amazing couple, married 47 years. Dad loved the Army, it's values, its institutions, discipline, community, camaraderie and service. His favorite assignments were always with troops and especially his commands. He corralled me into the Army at the tender age of 5 by taking me for a ride on a World War II DUKW, amphibious transport on the beaches of Monterey and again later gunning a tank at 15. But that is the way he'd been brought up'getting pie from the troop mess hall, riding his Dad's horse at the Cavalry school and shooting an M1 carbine on the range in grade school. Dad's sense of service and loyalty was predominant. Whether in the Army as we've talked about, serving his country, preserving freedom, serving soldiers, serving students at the Academy or here in San Antonio College or serving the community in Bible Study Fellowship and Christ church'he was all about loyal service to others. Dad said that 3 years as an attache in the American Embassy in Argentina was the time he and Mom were 'rich and famous'. Besides the glamorous diplomatic life full of formal parties and travel, they were prepared by the State Department to observe, photograph and exchange information in Spanish, especially about the Argentine Nuclear Program. In one dramatic event, Chile and Argentina were on the eve of war' but for the information from Dad's office telephoned to the State Department then to the Pope who intervened with just a few critical hours to spare. I mentioned pie a moment ago and can't let that go. Dad had a wonderful sweet tooth that not only, could we all count on, but we also all inherited. Ice cream always elicited a twinkley eye and a midnight trip to the freezer. Even over the last two years Dad would sneak a dab between the cheek and gum just to savor the homemade vanilla and chocolate. Dad was a great teacher. He loved science and experiments. He knew his subject and was blessed with an ability to explain complex concepts with ease'..except to my Mother. Whenever she couldn't sleep, she would ask him to teach her a physics problem, which he would do in a slow, scientific way with much detail'it worked like a Tylenol PM! And last I have to talk about his inner strength. His sense of personal discipline, sacrifice, toughness and faith have been inspirational to all of us to his last day. He never complained of the pain associated with his illness'but then all through life he never did. He made sure that his burden was his own but gladly would share yours at any moment. So to close these few remembrances, I'd like to use a final verse of the hymn 'Hail Alma Mater' from West Point. Duty be well performed, honor be e'r untarned, country be ever armed,. and when our work is done, our course on earth is run, may it be said well done, be thou at peace.' As all soldiers want to hear as they finish a mission and task'..I close with 'Well done, Dad, Well done'.

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