Peter T. Heuchling

West Point, 2006

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Joseph R. Davis on September 12, 2003:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Heuchling, I write to you now because I want you to know that you have my deepest sympathies for Todd?s accident. I would like for you to have all that you can to cherish as memories of Todd. May these words help to ease your suffering at this difficult time. The first time I met Todd was in my boxing class as a plebe last year. It was almost one year ago and all I can remember is that I just wanted to avoid him at all costs in the ring. He was a very good boxer and I was very bad. Our teacher, Major Hart, greatly admired Todd?s enthusiasm and aggressiveness when competing and I recall the last day of class when he asked Todd to try out for the team. When plebe year ended in June, I knew Todd only well enough to say that he was an acquaintance of mine in a few classes. But Camp Buckner brought us together once again via Seventh Company, Second Platoon. Here I got to know Todd much better and we both frequently found ourselves standing around talking or coming up with ways to amuse ourselves. I was on the run with Todd that inspired the company commander to ask Todd to try out for the Marathon Team. When I heard that he had collapsed at the end of a race the first thing I remembered was that he led the way in every physical event we participated in during Buckner. He passed me, already heading in the other direction, during the 10K, the biathlon, both APFTs, and he was the first to complete the rucksack run and the fastest at the Anzio Obstacle Course. How could Todd, of all people, fall? If anyone was going to fall during a run, Todd would have been my last guess?but if anyone was going to finish the race no matter what, it was definitely Todd. At Buckner, his smile almost never left his face?unless we were all playing ?make Todd angry in 20 words or less,? or when I would ask him brain teasers that stumped him. But along with the smile came seriousness about his job that I greatly admired. I know that he would have made an excellent infantry officer and much more because I have yet to meet a person more enthusiastic about being an infantryman and a leader. It is a tragedy that Todd?s accident will deprive our soldiers and our nation of such great leadership. It is as great a tragedy that it deprived you of a loving son. I want you to know that his accident has brought our platoon closer together than anything else ever could and I know that somehow, in ways that we will never understand, his passing has served a special purpose. Here alone, he has touched the lives of hundreds. As you grieve, it is my wish, and I believe it is Todd?s as well, that you find comfort in these words and in these memories and learn to go on with your lives. I will never forget my friend and my fellow soldier. If myself or my platoon mates may be of some service, please feel free to contact me at the academy. Sincerely, Joe Davis

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