Posted by MG (Ret) Richard S. Kem on September 14, 2005:

Jim McNulty was one of the nicest, grandest people I ever had the pleasure of knowing. I came to know him first when we were ranger buddies in the Army's rigorous ranger school. From that first bonding it was my good fortune to have been close to Jim, his wife Carol and their five children for 47 years. I stood with them at their wedding. We, my wife ann and I, were with Jim and Carol at the University of Illinois during graduate school and our families lived close to each other on Bowman Loop when we returned to West Point -- he in the Math department and me as a Tac. Our families played together as youngsters in the center of the loop behind their house and we enjoyed the facilities together at Camp Buckner. Later, when my son John was a cadet he found a welcome second home up the hill near Lusk Reservoir with the McNulties and we had a place to stay when visiting. John's graduation was celebrated in their yard. Those many occassions made me understand what a great person Jim was. He was a dedicated soldier soldier that served his Country well. He liked people and cared greatly for them. His dedication was demonstrated daily when he would arise at 4:30am to ensure he was prepared for his classes in plebe math. Jim had a great sense of humor that was evident on every occassion. He was fun to be with. He and Carol raised five great kids -- Jim, Mike, Mary, Stephen and Ann -- that personified their own high standards and traits of character. Jim lived the mission of USMA -- he was an Army leader of character. He commanded troops and he served in Korea and Vietnam. Jim gave 14 years of service in the Dept. of Mathematics at West Point. Legions of cadets can attribute their subsequent success to Jim's care and contribution to their lives. Jim loved to teach and he was very good at it. After his USMA time as Associate Professor in charge of Plebe mathematics and his retirement from the Army he continued that love teaching at George Mason University. Another strong part of Jim McNulty was his faith and he daily lived his faith in God. All of those who came in contact with Jim were shaped in some way by his faith, dedication, humor, caring interest in them, and by his ability to look forward earnestly to each new day or event. He truly was a professional, one of the finest officers I have known. He left his mark on the lives of many graduates, classmates and friends. Sam Kem

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