James George Gantsoudes

West Point, 1964

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by George "Hork" Jacunski on November 9, 1999:

Jimmy and I were company-mates during our last two years at West Point, however, our friendship began during Plebe Year and was renewed periodically throughout the years at reunions and especially during the time we served together on the class gift committee. One of my fondest memories was my service as unofficial "pimp" for "the Greek!" As a member of the Catholic Chapel Choir I was one to the few plebes to escape our rockbound highland home during our first year of cadetship. This was solely due to the fact that their were not enough upper classmen in the choir to make it work without the plebes. More often than not, our trips would include a joint concert and social event at an area Catholic girls college. Inasmuch as there are very few, if any, Greek Orthodox girls colleges in New England it was not unusual to find a few ladies of this persuasion seconded out to the Catholics. Consequently, at some point during these Choir induced social events, without fail, I would be approached by some fair young thing and asked, "Are there any Greek boys at West Point?" I would dutifully note their vital statistics and reply, "I have just the guy for you!" After my initial effort, I was encouraged to continue in this enterprise by Jimmy who explained that in conservative Greek families...especially those who sent their daughters to Catholic girls boarding colleges...the girls dated only "Greek boys." Later during Cow Year, when Gantsoudes was working on the Academy Exchange Program, rather than my one exchange trip, I had one to the Air Force Academy, one to the Coast Guard Academy, and at least three to the Naval Academy (not to mention a weekend trip to the Royal Canadian Military Academy). We took good care of each other!

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