WP-ORG Main Image
View a eulogy for Donald Richard Judd, USMA '66, who passed away on June 22, 1967.

Donald Richard Judd

West Point, 1966

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Frank G. Pratt Jr. MD. on December 4, 2014:

Twelve months later. It's been over 48 years, and I think about Don Judd frequently . His extraordinary patience as a Ranger-Buddy was well beyond the heroic. I'd ridden in my 4th jump 3d wk in ABN on top of Larry Hanson's chute with my chute collapsed, from 500' after Larry slipped under me (my story), and re-acquired the coccyx injury from a '65 Buckner 40' fall while demonstrating what happens when a climbing rope is taped rather than tied. Don was heroic helping cover up my physical limitations for the first couple of weeks to keep me out of the recycle bin. As Ranger class 4 students we starved and froze together, got the tab together, and both learned a lot about shared suffering and the bonds that make '66 unique. I've talked at length with BG (Ret) and USMA '61 Joe Stringham about our duty as Ranger Tactical Officers, and I'm grateful Don and I avoided Joe's Ranger 1 class. The enormous number of memorable experiences with Don Judd in '66 and '67 will continue to sustain me, and he left so many of us better off for the privilege of knowing this extraordinary Infantryman and classmate.

Frank G. Pratt Jr. MD.

Previous Eulogy   Next Eulogy
admin

West-Point.Org (WP-ORG), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, provides an online communications infrastructure that enable graduates, parents, and friends of the military academy to maintain and strengthen the associations that bind us together. We will provide this community any requested support, consistent with this purpose, as quickly and efficiently as possible. WP-ORG is funded by the generosity of member contributions. Our communication services are provided in cooperation with the AOG (independent of USMA) and are operated by volunteers serving the Long Gray Line. For questions or comments, please email us at feedback@west-point.org.