Posted by BG R.M. Ong (Ret) on April 11, 2014:

I got married on Graduation Day, 5 June 1963 at the Catholic Chapel. Msgr. Moore and Fr. McCormick were the Catholic Chaplains at that time. I have many fond memories of my time spent with Chapel duties, like singing in the Catholic Choir. The Choir always sang during the later Mass service, which means we singers could sleep late, while the other members of our Regiment had to wake up at dawn (almost) to attend the earlier, non-musical service. The best part of being a Catholic Plebe was attending the Daily Mass and arriving at the Mess Hall for breakfast when the upperclassmen had left or were about to leave. This allowed us to eat a HUGE breakfast away from the presence -- and, uh, supervision -- of the upperclassmen. During our time, the Catholic Chapel Choir always sang the Mass in Latin. Except when we sang in Greek (Kyrie Eleison). Our signature hymn was the "Cantate Domino" by Orlando di Lassus. 50 years later, my son and his Choir (based in California) sang the same song at the Vatican and other Churches when the Choir toured some cities in Italy, France and Germany last year. But all their other songs were in English. Fr. Wood, when you meet Msgr. Moore and Fr. McCormick in Heaven, kindly give them my regards. Please tell them they did a good job in marrying Esther and me. Last year, we celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary and joined the Class at West Point for the 50th Reunion activities. Don't worry about leaving West Point, Fr. Wood. I'm sure the present crop of Catholic Chaplains will continue the outstanding job of administering the religious needs of the "fisheater" Cadets and the rest of the Catholic congregation on post. Ad majorem Dei gloriam! Brigadier General Ramon M. Ong (Retired) Armed Forces of the Philippines USMA 1963

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