Curtis Donald Feistner

West Point, 1990

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jacquelyn on March 14, 2002:

The tribute to Major Curtis Feistner by his high school friend and West Point classmate caught the spirit of the "Curt" I knew and will forever remember with the highest regard and fondest memories. The outdoor world was Curt's most natural habitat and challenge was his chosen motivation. Hailing from the snows of Minnesota, he took to the reverse climate of Hawaii like a native born and his hikes and explorations left few trails unconquered. It was his love of Hawaii that inspired his Iron Man personal triumph--and he looked forward some day to participating in it again. Unassuming and modest to the extreme, Curt never threw light on the importance of his calling and merely said that he was "posted in Korea" for awhile. That's why when the terrible news of the loss of the Chinook first broke, it didn't seem possible that it could involve him. I was off island the last time he phoned--not much prior to all that next ensued. But his message expressed regret that his hope of hitting the trails again in Hawaii would be indefinitely postponed, as something had come up "in Korea". His last message was in keeping with the very essence of Curt-- direct, unembellished, optimistic, and the quintessential military man. "Duty, honor, country" was a motto he lived every day of his life. If only there could have been more of those days! --A very caring friend in his beloved Hawaii, Jacquelyn

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