Posted by Paul Schonberger on October 15, 2009:

I first met Morgan in Heidelberg, Germany in 1950. He was a junior and I was a freshman at Heidelberg High School. His older brother, Preston, had been a legendary athlete at HHS, graduating with an appointment to West Point first with the class of '55. Preston's high school classmate, Al Raymond, also won an appointment to the class of '55. I entered the class of '58 as a plebe being assigned to company F-1. My brother, Dick, also entered with the class of '58 being consigned to B-2 in the Second Regiment. At a convocation at the end of the 50-51 academic year at HHS, I was awarded a medal as the top freshman, Chuck Raymond was the top sophomore and Morgan was the top junior. As a plebe, I renewed acquaintance with them both. They were in E-1, both wearing stars, and ready to recognize a plebe who had always looked up to them. Ironically, my eulogy is provoked by receiving notice in AOG's TAPS of the deaths of both Preston Mayson '55 and Bill Raymond, '60, Al's and Chuck's younger brother and my HHS classmate and F-1 company-mate. Preston's self-authored eulogy arrived in the mail today in AOG's Taps. It was brilliant. After serving as a soldier he went on to medical school, served in Viet Nam as a Medical Officer, left service and opened a medical practice, earned a law degree and developed a specialty in medical malpractice. He honors his brother, Morgan, and his family, in his self-authored obituary. What a great family, as are the Raymond's, who have sixth generation graduates serving today. I well remember Morgan Mayson's svelte performance as a basketball player leading Heidelberg to the EUCOM championship in 1951. He was a superb blend of scholar and athlete in high school and a distinguished soldier and exemplar of the West Point ethos. I am proud to post this remembrance of a treasured friend.

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