William Edward Vandenberg

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Bruce Robertson on November 30, 1998:

November 11, 1998 Mrs. William E. Vandenberg and Family 4191 Willmar Drive Palo Alto, California 94306 Dear Betty and Family: We are sorrowed to learn of Bill's death. He was my companymate for four years at West Point, and my roommate for one of those years. His presence in my life was always a lift toward the higher and better, and he always delivered that presence with a grin and a twinkle in his eye. Ours was a solid friendship. He visited with my family out on Long Island on an occasional weekend, and we did New York City often together. Bill was greatly gifted with intelligence and personality. If my memory is correct, for all four years he wore on his uniform collar the academic stars that signify being on the Dean's List. On top of those honors, however, he was the most regular of guys, very giving of himself. He was a powerful runner -- not just at track, but in the game of life itself. I learned a lot from him. Following our graduation, Bill joined the Pentathlon Team at West Point, and I made a visit there as I was changing assignments just to encourage them onward toward the Olympics. Strangely, our paths never crossed again until Bill learned that I was in the process of putting my battalion's gear into pre-positioned storage near you in Germany prior to taking the unit back to the States. That was when you and he invited me to supper and I joined you for our only meeting. It was an enjoyable respite for me in what was an otherwise exhausting experience. And I was so very glad to see Bill again after all the years had gone by. At our last reunion, Bill and I renewed our friendship as we rehashed old times. During the supper boatride down the Hudson River, Suzanne was seated next to Bill and they chatted together for the entire evening's trip, becoming fast friends. The reunion over, we parted, promising to make the next one. Sadly, that is not to be. We realize what it must mean to all of you to have lost a man of such great stature. Please know that he stood very tall among our classmates, and we will miss him, too. Suzanne joins me in wishing you well. Sincerely yours, /s/ Bruce H. Robertson

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