Earl Robert Kelton

West Point, 1964

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Kay Henning Hopkins on May 29, 2020:

My dad was USMA Class of 1950. My granddad was Class of 1920. In 1961-1964, my dad was stationed at West Point as a Portuguese instructor, and we lived on the Post. Those were the best years of my childhood (ages 8-11). My mom resumed her love of acting and the theater, and I think she may have participated in one of the 100th night shows with Buddy. As a "brat" living at West Point, I attended parades, and graduations. Many know that at the end of the graduation ceremony, the cadets throw their hats in the air. For some reason, as a kid, I was allowed to be at the ceremony, and I couldn't wait to go home with a cadet's hat. I somehow came upon Buddy who was holding his hat, and 2 young boys were pulling at his hat, and so I joined them. At this point, Buddy had 3 kids pulling on his hat, all hoping to "win" it. I remember him saying. "Hey, boys. Let the young lady have it!". So I came home with Buddy's hat, and I kept it for years. I no longer have it (I'm 67!). I wish I did, so I could give it to his family. Over the years, when I would visit my dad, I would look at his "Assembly" magazines and see if the Class of 64 would have a post about Buddy, and where he was. I'm so sorry to hear of his passing. Blessings to his family.

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