Anthony Hugh Clay

West Point, 1965

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by BG RM Ong (Ret) on July 9, 2016:

I remember Tony Clay only as a Cadet -- but I remember him very well. I was 2 years senior to him at West Point, but he single-handedly forced me to work very hard. In fact, I probably worked harder for him than I did for any Plebe! But I didn't really mind. It was part of my job. We were both members of the Army Swim Team -- he as one of the swimmers, and I as one of the Team Managers. In my Senior Year, I became the Head Manager. One of my jobs was to maintain the Roster of Record Holders, via name placards posted on the wall above the Swimming Pool bleachers. These were the stenciled names of the Record Holders (Plebe Records, Academy Records and Pool Records) and their respective Events, which were established during competitive meets. Cadet Clay began breaking those records for his events -- he was a freestyle sprinter -- soon after he began jumping into the pool. Each time he broke a record, I had to change the placard. Sometimes he set new record times in succeeding weeks, so I had to change those signs almost before the painted digits had dried up! To be sure, USMA '65 had quite a few swimming hotshots recruited by Coach Jack Ryan. Tony's classmates also set record times in their own events. Then they combined their skills with each other, to set more records in the Medley Relays and Freestyle Relays. That meant more work for me on those signboards, week after week, after week. (Today, I think record-keeping is a lot easier and faster with computerized signboards). The swimmers ran us (the managers) ragged every day, and more so during competitions at home -- cleaning the area, preparing the bleachers and providing loads of dry towels for both Teams. But for us Managers, it was a labor of love and loyalty -- we were pleased and proud to belong to one of the winningest Teams among the Army Corps Squads. Tony Clay and his swim mates earned their Varsity Letters very early during their Plebe Year. But Tony was special in the sense that he was not only the fastest in the Team, but perhaps also the quietest. Looking at his tall, slim frame and his calm, unobtrusive demeanor, one would find it hard to believe that this gentle, unassuming character was the same "Clay AH" whose name was displayed so many times on the Swimming Pool wall. One of the happiest memories of my Senior Year was the day that Army finally beat Navy in swimming. I was as proud of that victory as any other member of our Team . Of course, the proudest one of all was my classmate and Team Captain, Mike Kilroy (KIA Vietnam). That year, 1963, I finally got the huge, black letter "A" to wear on my gray jacket. I like to think I deserved it because I earned it the hard way, thanks in part to Tony's propensity to swim very fast. The Army Swim Team and I parted ways after the season -- and a new Head Manager took over my job. But I have always kept in contact with the Team, even up to today. Thanks for the memories, Tony! Be thou at peace! Brigadier General Ramon M. Ong (Retired) Armed Forces of the Philippines USMA 1963

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