Posted by Ward LeHardy on March 2, 2010:

Ernie became our close friend as a result of our time on the troop ship going to the Far East where we four (Whit, Jack, Ernie and I) all lived in the same stateroom. I'll never forget Ernie hanging on the rail as the three of us disembarked at Inchon and Ernie headed on to Japan...tears in his eyes as we parted. Soon, Ernie joined us as the US troop presence in Japan drew down and he and I lived in the same Quonset hut on a grimy hillside in Korea for a year. As Jack said, we would often gather at the little O'Club on this dismal post to cheer each other up. There, on December 8th, 1957, I idly asked Ernie what the date was...and in his inimitable style, imitating FDR, he said: "Yesterday, December 7th,......is a day that will live in infamy." And thus we began calling each other every year on Dec 8th, always trying to be the first to say those words...a silly, but Oh! such an enduring contact. I even called him from Australia one year and got him at Ren's home to beat him to the punch. More importantly, Ernie was a man of rich character and humor...never lacking a smile and a witty comment in any circumstance. I was honored to be his Best Man when he married Pat and we shared untold number of get togethers, both in Korea (1957-1958) at Fort Campbell (1960) where we were briefly in the same unit (Troop B, 17th Cav), and at West Point (1966-1967). He bowled me over when he showed up at my retirement ceremony at Ft. McPherson, GA coming from California, in 1988. I count Ernie as one of my dearest friends...and knew that he could always be counted on. He is sorely missed...and yet, I can almost feel his presence as I write these words...chuckling that great laugh of his as he leans over my shoulder. Ah! Ernie...Judy and I both thank God for making you a part of our lives.

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