Anton W. Ringl

West Point, 1965

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Step tyner on September 27, 2013:

At the 20th reunion of the Class of 1965, I was surprised to see an individual whom I recognized but could not place immediately. In later conversations with him, I learned that he was Tony Ringl, and we established that we knew each other from Beast Barracks, July-August, 1965. Though it had been 20 years, and Tony had not remained to graduate with the Class, I nonetheless felt a bond that mere geographical proximity could neither explain nor take credit for. I have since learned that Tony's life subsequent to West Point had more than its share of physical and emotional suffering, and I am sorry for that, but what remains firmly embedded in my memory is how little a victim Tony seemed. Despite his physical impairments, he conducted himself as one fully and firmly ensconced in the DNA of the Class of 1965, and seemed to harbor only positive memories of his experience and his classmates. The news of his passing affects me as fully as if we had been four-year company mates; there is no need to send to know for whom the bell tolls -- it tolls for one of us. I look forward to some pleasant times with Tony when I check in at Fiddler's Green. Our Class has embraced the attitude that, save for unusual circumstances, a Classmate once is a Classmate forever, and I know that to be the case with Tony Ringl: he may not have remained to share in our triumphs, but he paid full measure in sharing in our adversities.

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