Posted by BG RM Ong (Ret) on January 22, 2016:

From Day One, I was always in awe of Cadet Lee Allen. I met him on my 1st day at West Point. He was the Company Commander of 4th New Cadet Company and I was one of those disoriented teen-agers who found ourselves in Beast Barracks, making the transition from civilian life to military life. I saw Cadet Allen every day, but only from afar. He never spoke to me -- supervising our development was delegated to the Platoon Leaders and further down to the Squad Leaders. Cadet Allen's presence was there only to monitor our day-to-day activities according to schedule. I think he entered my room only once -- to look around and see for himself that we 3 Plebes kept our room clean and orderly. I never saw Cadet Allen during the rest of my Plebe Year, because we were in different lettered Companies. I did see 2LT Allen a year later. I was a Yearling and he visited West Point to say hello to his old friends. That was the last time I saw him -- and the first time I saw him smile at anyone. Sir, here is my final salute! Brigadier General Ramon M. Ong (Retired) Armed Forces of the Philippines USMA 1963

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