Posted by Timothy Cretella on October 31, 2011:

Today has brought me more sadness in my Life. I felt a calling to reach out to an old friend whom I never forgot, only to find I am too late. In reality, I don't think so, because a bond is forever and can't be broken. I was a classmate with Sean at Prep School and West Point. How I really got to know Sean was when he invited me to summer vacation with him in Hawaii that first summer after Plebe Year at West Point. I was in Hawaii again that same year at Christmas and found myself in a situation where I was alone. Again I was rescued by Sean and brought into his house and his family. I got to know his family in that short time as if I was one of his siblings. It helped being half Irish, and from a large family myself. What a wonderful time and memories I will have of those two occasions. Sean was a competitor, a healthy competitor, an ace, a friend and had a heart of gold. He had an uncanny ability or natural instinct to know how to make a person feel good about himself no matter the circumstance. He was a born leader. I am not surprised by his success. Success is measured by accomplishment and not in time. Oh, how sweet it would have been that he was allowed more time in this world. He will forever be known to me as a true friend. I wish I kept in touch. I read a book given to me recently called "The Lords of Discipline" by Pat Conroy. I will remember Sean by this book, Don McLean's "Starry, Starry Night and all the wonderful days we still have to live here in this world with thoughts of him. I miss his charming smile. Respectfully, Timothy Joseph Cretella Company G3 Class of 1977, USMC

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