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View a eulogy for Dexter Harrison Shaler, USMA '56, who passed away on February 20, 2015.

Dexter Harrison Shaler

West Point, 1956

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Art Evans on February 26, 2015:

Dex was in D-1 and I, in E-1. Since we were next door, as it were, we knew each other. My first full-time job was at Aerojet General. Dex's dad, General Shaler, had retired from the Army and was in some sort of a position there. When Dex got out of the Army, we would get together at West Point Society of L.A. meetings. Dex had a small company that designed business forms and got them printed. His secretary was also the secretary of the LA Society and Dex got involved with helping run it. I remember when John Kennedy got elected; our families got together and watched the TV at Dex's home way into the night. From then on, Dex and I got together frequently. In later years, we would have lunch, first at the Proud Bird near LAX and then at our favorite restaurant in Seal Beach, not far from Dex's home. Sometimes were joined by Les McChristian, another classmate. Dex introduced me to his friend, Don Old, who as two years ahead of us at WP. Don was the RA advisor to the 40th Div., Calif, Natl. Guard. I had been a member of the 40th when I was an enlisted man. During the late 1970s, Don told us about the severe personnel problems: recruiting and retention. The Division had fallen to 60% of strength. To make a long story short, Don got me to join up with the 40th again to work on the problem. Then I got Dex to help too. The last time I saw Dex was at a lunch in Seal Beach last year. I was just going to call him to do it again when I got the mail from his daughter that he had passed. I miss him mightily.

 
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