Posted by William H. Ward on August 11, 2015:

Even though we were classmates, I first met and got to know Irish shortly before Ranger School. What an unusual, sometimes funny, make-it-happen guy! When we got to the Mountain Ranger Camp in Dahlonega, my own Ranger Buddy was recycled and Paul ended up being my Ranger Buddy. It was the beginning of one of those COLD, misty, typical winter Mountain Ranger Camp evenings when we embarked on an extended patrol, with Cary Gaylord the initial Patrol Leader. Somehow, we all bumbled through our first attack and objective, and the Lane Graders, uncharacteristically sympathetic to our misery, allowed us to build a fire around which to gather for a critique. Naturally, the critique degenerated into a lolly-around-the-fire-under-the-pretense-of-changing-socks critique. At the end of the critique when we were all saddled up and ready to move out, Cary looked down and saw a boot near what had been the fire. Then came the following colloquy: Gaylord: OK, Rangers, who's missing a boot? No Answer. Gaylord: Repeated the question. No Answer. Gaylord: OK Rangers, if no one claims this boot, we're going to dump all these packs to see who's missing a boot. Assistant Patrol Leader Ireland: (Choice Expletive Deleted!), who's missing this (another expletive deleted) BOOT! No Answer. Packs were dumped. Finally after a Pause: Ireland: Oh (softer expletive deleted), it's me! I was fortunate to be with these guys who all got Ranger Tabs, and thanks to them, I got a Tab! Today, Irish's ashes were Inurned at the West Point Columbarium, with several of our number, and I expect Gaylord in attendance at the end of our classes' 50th Affiliation Class events. As I recall that episode of the boot, it occurs to me that Irish's boots left a lasting imprint none of us will forget.

admin