Benjamin Douglas Roberts

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Mike Brown on January 16, 2014:

Buddy strongly believed in doing what is right. The following has been shared directly with family members. I write this with moistened eyes and a heavy heart. Buddy will be sorely missed. Buddy was truly a friend.. To me as with so many others he was always there when someone needed him. So family and friends hold tight to memories for strength. There is much to be attached to memories of Buddy whom I first met at West Point Fall of 1951. I only had close contact with him infrequently thereafter. During an October (1951) academic class a professor said to me I did not belong at West Point and that I should leave. After class Buddy said to me "I was not raised that way." indicative of his family values despite the culture of the time. Buddy had an enduring and endearing dogged determination. He always maintained a positive attitude. Buddy expressed great pride in his family and was loyal to family and friends. While expressing farewell to Buddy I must acknowledge the impact Buddy's family especially his mother, had on my well being. On June 30, 1962, I had gone shopping in Clanton, Alabama after being dropped off by a friend. I was standing in front of a department store when confronted by a hostile sheriff who did not like the idea of me being there wearing captain's rank and obviously not from Clanton. Buddy's mother instructed me to get into her car. She took me to her home about 20 minutes away. She kept me safely overnight. Took me to Montgomery the following day and put me on a bus to Vicksburg Mississippi. She arranged, with my Clanton friend, expeditious delivery of my car to Vicksburg in time for me to make port call at Travis AFB two days later. Now what moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more day; one more word. We may not understand why Buddy left us before we were ready to say goodbye But we should remember that his life gave us memories too beautiful to forget. In sadness John M(Mike) Brown

admin