Posted by Stanley Bacon Jr on April 6, 2007:

Fred, ol' buddy, I'm really going to miss you. Though classmates, we really didn't get to know each other really well till AOB where you showed us how not to dismount an M-48A2 tank. Then when your arms were nearly healed, we roomed together through Jump School at Benning where you excelled, still squeezing that rubber ball to regain strength. Then to the 14th Cav together, you at Bad Hersfeld, me at Fulda--the "Paint on the shield of NATO." I recall, in a gasthaus one evening you got into an argument with some Germans over who was responsible for WWII in Europe. They insisted it was Hitler and then you pulled out a photo of a Nurnburg rally, stuck it in their faces and pointed to the assembled thousands sig heiling their leader. You managed to skip off to Berlin for some cush duty with those really big tanks, living in the BOQ there equipped with hot and cold running maids; field exercises in Gruenerwald Park. Really! Later, we were both head hunters in the oil patch for a while, commiserating together as it dried up in the early 1980's. We had a lot of fun together on the Thailand trip where you bought everything you could lay your hands on to take home to your wife. We worked together through your battle with cancer. You knew you weren't going to win that one in the long run, but you fought hard, stayed in high spirits, were grateful for the good life you had, harbored no bitterness, and wanted no sympathy. You became one of our (PC) Badgers, giving aid and support to newly diagnosed classmates. You set the standard for the rest of us. And through it all you continued to sing your heart out--at Fess Parker's on Thursday evenings and at class reunions. With my limited skills and your unique concept of tempo, it was a challenge to accompany you. But our classmates always gave you standing ovations. We love you, guy, and will always be grateful for your having brightened our lives.

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