Posted by Brig. Gen. RM Ong (Ret) on May 30, 2016:

May 30, 2016 -- Memorial Day in Scottsdale, Arizona where Mrs. Ong and I are visiting our son and daughter, who are residents here. The morning sky is blue, the Sonoran Desert air is crisp, and the sun's early rays are mildly warm on my weathered and wrinkled skin -- it is a great day to be alive! Today is also a good day to remember my old friend Marcial Samaniego, who served his country well. Marcial and I were Foreign Cadets at West Point -- he from Paraguay and I from the Philippines. My mother descended from a long line of Spanish ancestors, so I learned to speak Spanish from childhood. Marcial was one year ahead of me, but as soon as he heard that this Filipino Plebe's native tongue (OK, one of my native tongues) was Spanish, he sought me out and befriended me. We became fast friends for the next 3 years at the Academy. As a Plebe (Freshman), I found it most advantageous to have a genuine friend among the upperclassmen. The "Spanish Community" in the Cadet Corps was small, but we "members" were especially close to each other. When I became an upperclassman, I made sure I continued the tradition of meeting and befriending the Hispanic Cadets, foreign and Yanqui alike. After graduation, Marcial returned to his country as I did to mine. Our paths never crossed again. I had often wondered what had happened to my Paraguayan friend, and then I found out only about his death. However, I was delighted to learn later that Marcial had a most successful military career. Be thou at peace, amigo. And now, my final salute! Brigadier General Ramon M. Ong (Retired) Armed Forces of the Philippines USMA 1963

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