Arthur F. Conlon

West Point, 1963

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by BG R.M. Ong (Ret) on June 1, 2021:

Greetings from Manila, Philippines! Memorial Day 2021 here is bright and sunny -- and a good time to remember my West Point classmate, Art Conlon. Art and I belonged to different Regiments, so I never really got to know him well. I do recall him as a friendly, outgoing fellow. And that he was a hotshot football player -- one of the mainstays of Army's 150-lb Football Team. Recently, I have learned that Inflation and other factors have evolved the sport -- into 178-lb Football with a new name -- Sprint Football. Art and I parted ways on Graduation Day, and our paths never crossed again. He joined the US Army while I served with the Philippine Army. We were both assigned in Vietnam at the same time, but somehow, we never got to meet each other. He did put in a full military career with the Regular Army and Army Reserve before he finally retired. He then continued to work -- in the oil business -- when he wasn't busy playing golf. A few years ago, I was surprised to meet Art's grandson, Cody Conlon, in the Philippines. He was on loan from the US Army -- and on a hush-hush mission in Mindanao -- to train Philippine Army soldiers. I am glad Cody did get a few days off to visit me in Manila. Well done, Art. Be thou at peace! And now my final salute to my friend and classmate! Brigadier General Ramon M. Ong (Retired) Armed Forces of the Philippines

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