Kenneth Russell Grice

West Point, 1966

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Rob Otto on October 29, 2019:

I knew him as "COL G." He and "Mrs. G" were one of my adopted families during my cadet days. He was also my dad�s bunk mate at Buckner. He was a kind, gentle, and humble man. For many years he was the OIC for the junior high youth group on post. His passionate love for Jesus Christ drive him to invest in the lives of others, to pray for them, and to introduce them to his Savior. He was always willing to talk about our need for a Savior. I know his relationship with Jesus was the most important thing in the world to him. Hidden under his quiet manner was a great ability to make people laugh. I think I still have pictures of him in a clown wig with an orange cone tied on his head. Yes, he and many other peers that you would know were lip-sinking a cone heads done for the kids! Then there was the annual President�s Day weekend ski retreat each year that he organized for 60 or so junior high kids and cadets. Always thinking of safety, especially during the night inner tube sledding... "The first tweet of the whistle means one person slides off to the left. The second whistle means the other person slides off to the right. This will keep you from crashing into each other." All we heard was TWEET TWEET TWEET TWEET TWEET TWEET... As a cadet, I also watched very carefully how he loved his bride. He was deliberately put her needs first. He spoke kindly to her and respectfully about her. She knew she was loved. Many of us in grey watched and learned. One more example of his quiet heart of service... My roommate, Johnson Ododa Opiyo has developed a special friendship with COL G. Opiyo came to USMA knowing very little English. Just before term end exams in Dec, he received word that his father, a goat herder in Kenya, had died. COL and Mrs. G wrapped their arms around him in more ways than can be expressed. I remember when he found out that their Bible study had purchased tickets to fly his mom and aunt to the states for graduation. I saw a very strong man weep because he knew that he was loved. I am one of many who can say that I am a better man because of the time he invested in me. Rob Otto ('91)

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