George Edward Menninger

West Point, 1965

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Fred Laughlin on January 14, 2013:

I remember Ed well when we were in I-2 together. In addition to playing intramural football together and enjoying many other events during our Cow and Firstie years, I especially remember when Ed met Joan. It was truly love at first sight. He pulled a surprise proposal on her during our firstie year and, although I don't recall the ruse, I remember them both being over-the-moon excited. We parted ways after graduation, a separation that would last thirty months. Upon my return from Viet Nam in October 1967, I was assigned to the Old Guard in Arlington, VA and Maralee, my son Reed (14 months old), and I moved into a small, two-bedroom home in Falls Church. In January 1968, I received a call from Ed Menninger, my I-2 company mate, from Germany, where he was stationed. Joan had a serious heart condition (myocarditus), which required her to be transferred to Walter Reed in DC. Ed, his infant son Jeff, and their collie Tawny needed a place to stay while Joan was being treated. Ed was assigned to Viet Nam language school in the DC area, primarily to allow him to stay close to Walter Reed. Though our house was tiny, we had a finished basement with a bathroom and Ed, Jeff, and Tawny spent three months with us. Ed made daily trips around the beltway to visit Joan until late March when she succumbed to the heart disease. Ed was confronted with a dilemma. He was a soldier's soldier (to borrow Ric's line) and wanted desperately to join his comrades in Viet Nam, but Jeff was only nine months old and obviously needed a home. They moved into an apartment close to his language school until Ed graduated in October 1968. He had stayed in touch with Joan's brother, Ed Butler, who had a young family and who agreed to have Jeff live with them in Philadelphia. Knowing Jeff would be well cared for, Ed Menninger went to Viet Nam. After serving six months as an ARVN advisor, Ed was transferred to the Ist Cav, where he was given a company command. Tragically he was killed on March 1969, almost exactly a year after Joan died. We stayed in touch with the Butlers, who adopted Jeff and provided him a wonderful home. We exchange Christmas cards with Ed and Nancy who live in New Jersey as well as Jeff, who lives in Florida. I have spoken with Jeff over the years and tried to describe the tremendous conflict Ed felt with his decision to go to Viet Nam. Ed was a man of high integrity and commitment to and great pride in his family and country. He was immensely proud of both. To both he also gave his life.

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