Classmates
I'd like to tell you about my farewell visit with Jim. Because of my work with alternative medicine, Jim's wife Martha had contacted me about Jim's
cancer. I had a number of chats with Jim and his wife on the phone. Then I went to his home in Connecticutt to visit with them. This was two weeks before his death.
First of all, I was not aware of Jim's success in business until I got there. Jim's chaffeur picked me up at the airport. Jim and his family live
on a 107 acre estate which was previously owned by Mr. Jones of Dow-Jones fame. Seems that Jim was very successful as an investment banker. Jim's
wife Martha is a wonderful woman, and they have 3 children, ages 11 and under. Jim also has three grown children from a previous marriage.
The visit was so special, that I don't quite know how to describe it. I feel that perhaps God had a hand in planning it. Jim is such an incredible guy. I sat with him for two days. We chatted about everything, but mostly West Point. Despite all his accomplishments (Harvard MBA etc.) Jim's
greatest love and his greatest feeling of accomplishment was his WP experience. It was as if 33 years had melted away, as we swapped all of our old cadet and army stories. It is hard to explain it, but there was a quality of greatness about him which touched me greatly. Somehow West Point spotted those qualities in Jim so long ago when it made him a cadet captain; a wise decision. He is still a great captain. He had proven it to the world.
Jim began to fade while I was there. Had I gotten there a day later, we could not have had our conversations. I truly love this guy. I held his
hand and I kissed him goodbye for all of us.
Jim's 3 young children will never get to know him the way we did. I am going to suggest that any of you who wish to write an open letter to his 6
children do so, and send it to me. I will have the letters bound up in 6 booklets, one for each child. I'm sure that they would love to hear about
all our stories, exploits, etc. with their dad. My address is 4118 Montrose Ct., Orlando FL 32812.
I think that this trip changed me. I realize how much we love each other. I also realize what a wonderful opportunity this Internet connection gives us to be in touch with each other. It would be nice to have a classmate at my bedside when I get called home. It would be nice for each of us to have a chance to deepen those so special bonds we share.
Mike Miller
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