Harold Clayton Shablom

West Point, 1983

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Nils LaVine on October 14, 2016:

Harry! Harry! Harry! That is how I would address Harry. But sometimes it was just HAROLD! It usually had something to do with some funny or amazing feat he had accomplished. And Harry was fun and he accomplished a lot! I have known Harry since 1980. That was during our Yearling (sophomore) year at USMA at Camp Buckner. He quickly became much more than just a good friend to me, I consider him to be a true brother. I initially thought, who was this big Scandinavian looking guy who was so physically powerful and had so much personality? You just could not help but like him and want to be on his team. You did not want to be on the opposing team for sure. As I have thought about Harry in the last week, I start out sad but I keep finding myself smiling about the amazing memories that I had with my brother -- Harry. I have come up with 2 words to describe Harry -- Big & Adventure. I was trying for one but Harry was just too big and full of adventure for just a one-word description. Harry could make just about everything an adventure. Things like him taking us to Elmira to stay with Mr. Hill when we had no place to go since we were from out of state while at USMA. Trips all over the northeast. Harry could even make a meal at Bob's Big Boy an adventure. When I told my parents and brothers of Harry's passing, they brought up a time in Germany when Harry & Dave came to Weiden for a dinner during Christmas time and we ended up having a big snowball fight. I was probably behaving for my parents, Dave had his girlfriend with him so I am sure Harry was the instigator of that one. Ski trips in Austria and Harry trying to find ski clothes that would make him fit in with the "jet set" skiers in the Alps was a story that was still being laughed at during our 30th year USMA reunion. Harry may be one of the few non-Germans to lead the band in one of the Oktoberfest Festival tents. Of course he pulled it off like a maestro wearing a loden hat and making sure that the band was keeping on time. With Harry, things were quite often going to turn into an adventure. Harry was a big guy but his personality, heart and sense of principle were much bigger. He was really larger than life in just about everything that he did. He was a force of nature that would make sure that he would accomplish something and he would do it the right way! Harry had a rule called the 10-fold rule. He only brought it up when he was being threatened and he wanted someone to know that if they messed with him that they could expect a response that was 10 times greater. I never wanted to be on the end of a 10-fold pay back but what I have realized in the last 5 days is that I have been constantly on Harry's un-stated 10-fold pay it forward rule. Harry always gave you 10 times more than you gave and probably deserved. Those of us who went to USMA were indoctrinated with the concept of Duty, Honor, Country. Harry also had a deep principle of not only doing things the honorable way but just as importantly the right way. There are many times, when I have had to make a decision, that I relied on Duty, Honor, Country AND what would Harry do. Harry also had big ideas. He was always thinking of ideas and things that would be "game changers" such as "co-generation plants" that would turn waste into energy sources. Way beyond me. He helped build the briefing and business case that went all the way up to Ambassador Paul Bremer on oil policies that would help the Iraq government have a chance at financial stability. Harry put forth the effort that ensured the USMA Class of 83 would shatter the gift giving amount by any class for their 30th year reunion. This used to be a record that would continually be broken but in typical Harry fashion, he made sure that the record would be around and it still has not been broken. Maybe in 2046, when Clayton has his 30th year reunion, that record will be set to another amazing amount. These are just a scant few examples of how Harry was big and adventurous. Clayton, Nick & Elizabeth -- many times in the past 10 years, your father and I would talk about things going on in our lives and while we initially were talking about something that was important about him and me, the conversation would always turn to how you all and my kids were doing -- challenges but mostly successes. Your father was extremely proud of you all and he and your mom had big and adventurous ideas for you too. Of all of his accomplishments, you all were his biggest. He saw many of the great things from both your mother and him that make you all very extraordinary. I know your mother and he want big and adventurous things for you all and you have stepped up and fulfilled many of these things. As you go forward, you will continue to become amazing people but you will have difficult decisions and times to overcome. I would hope that you would use the excellent example that you father embodied to help you out. Be the same force of nature that your father was. Harry, thank you for being an amazing friend and brother! You will not be forgotten. People will say "well done, be thou at peace". Love you brother! Grip hands!

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