Francis Lally Winner

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose A. "Andy" Chacon on May 6, 2005:

Francis Lally "Willie" Winner was born in Illinois on 28 April 1926. He was appointed to West Point from the Army of the United States. He was one of the Stewart Field Prep School boys. At West Point his classmates made the following observations: "Willie, of prolific pen and Perelman wit, came here from the Second Division in Europe where he reportedly shattered German resistance by driving a laundry truck through the front lines. His lucid thinking, glib tongue, and sooth for every occasion, along with a supply of war stories rivaling those of the Tactical Department will stand him in good stead in the Army as they have at West Point." During WWII, he served in Germany and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. On graduation Willie went in the Armor Corps and was assigned to Germany. Shortly after his return from Germany, in 1955, Willie resigned his commission to attend Law School at Creighton University. He obtained an LLB degree in 1958 and practiced law from 1958 in Omaha, Nebraska until 1972 when he was appointed Adjutant General, Nebraska National Guard with rank of Brigadier General. At the same time Willie taught law at the University of Nebraska. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal on his retirement. Willie and his wife Daphine made their home in Omaha, Nebraska. On May 6, 2005 Chuck Satuloff filed the following report: "Willie Winner's ashes were laid to rest and knowing him, he would have enjoyed each moment of this day. A Mass at the Catholic Chapel with Celebrant Fr. Tom Dowd of Denver, CO started soon after noontime. Willie's grandsons, Sam and "Gus" were Altar Boy and Reader. At 1:30 the graveside service began with full military honors. Daphne Winner and her children, Anne and husband Lang Anderson, Jim and wife Mary Beth, Bob, Mary, Tom and Paul, along with Aunt Mary Kennedy and other family members were in attendance as were Classmates Lee Duke, Pete and Marie Foss, Jim Hackleman and Chuck Satuloff. Fr. Dowd conducted the Committal Ceremony and shared with Jim Winner the Eulogy and Remarks. What follows is Jim's presentation. "We are here. Here in this beautiful place. And we welcome our Aunt Tootsie back to West Point for the first time since Graduation Day in 1951. We welcome our family from Chicago, our friends and we welcome a fellow who made the paper 30 years ago when he considered skirting the rules and taking his wife down Flirtation Walk ... a fellow ho would put on the West Point album early in the morning , stomp around in his boxer shorts to the west Point March, and whistle loudly to roust the kids out of bed. We are here to say goodbye to Willie Winner." "It has been written that this cemetery 'is a place of uncommon tranquility , screened from the Military Academy by hedges and stone walls'. My brother said last week that he couldn't get used to the word 'cemetery'. But then he said, 'I remember it's where Dad wanted to go, and where we will go from now on to pay respects . . . it's so clear how much Dad loved it by his wishes to have us all convene in a proper ceremony, one that fits him'. This ceremony and this place fit him." "This detail, in their dress uniforms, as they escort yet another old soldier to his grave, pass the Old Cadet Chapel, as we did this morning. The Chapel's walls are covered with marble shields honoring the rebel generals of the American Revolution. Dad told me once that one plaque, hidden in the choir loft, simply says 'Major General - Born 1740'. One who attempted to sell West Point's fortification plans to the British - Benedict Arnold - earned that plaque." "Over there, the cadets pass the remains of the man who graduated last in his Class in 1861 and, written on his tombstone is 'killed with his entire command at the Battle of Little Big Horn'. On one of our visits to this place Dad laughed and asked to have something a little less damning on his tomb. 'Killed with all of his command . . . they really know how to hurt a guy' " There is Ed White . . . the first man to walk in space, who died in the Apollo 1 capsule. and nearby . . . lies P.D Ginder. every time we would pass his grave, Pop would stop and say, 'Well, I'll be . . .P.D. Ginder.' Then he would salute with Ginder's words 'Men of the Ninth . . . MY MEN!' " And now our Dad joins the Long Gray Line. Our hero, who: * Began the Nebraska Panhandle Legal Aid in 1959, before it was funded or trendy; * Organized the rural poor of Eastern Wyoming to acquire a voice in government; * Was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Catholic Archdiocese of Denver; * Soldiered for 35 years, taking retirement as a Brigadier General in 1977; Worked the New York Times Sunday crossword for fifty years - solved, or nearly solved more than a few. "Seasons fall heavily on the cemetery. In winter, snow covers all but the largest stones. Thrushes fill the dogwoods in springtime and in summer the air thickens with fireflies. But autumn, with its blazing maples and hint of decay, that gives this place a certain purity. 'It might', as Shelly wrote, 'make one in love with death, to think that one should be buried in so sweet a place.' " "Welcome home, Dad. Welcome home." At a Thayer reception that followed, Daphne sent greetings to all the Class." Charles Satuloff CHANNEL GROUP, inc P.O. Box 365 Harrison, NY 10528 Tel: 914-835-1400 Fax: 914-835-6440 cjs@channelgroup.com >

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