John Charles Mousseau Des Islets

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose Andres "Andy" Chacon on April 21, 2005:

John Charles Mousseau des Islets Born February 13, 1928 - Died July 18, 1975 John Charles Mousseau "desI" des Islets was born in New York on 13 February 1928 and was appointed to West Point from the 5th Congressional District of the State of Washington. His West Point classmates recall: "It has been said of 'desI' that if he had not come to West Point his family tree would have collapsed. At the end of four years, he is happy to report that the family tree has been saved. Definitely not a hive, his forte was, naturally enough French. With his help, the Long Grey Line is two or three files longer in Frog students. His fixed opinion: 'Now that it has, it certainly was!'" During his cadet days desI was with the Ski Club all four years; went out for Cross Country plebe year; was Public Information Officer plebe, yearling, and cow years; was with the French Club yearling, cow, and first class years and served as Club President; was with the Rifle Club and the Howitzer staff cow and first class years, serving as Manager of the former; and was a Cadet Lieutenant his first class year. Upon graduation desI went in the Air Force and after flying training reported to Donaldson AFB where he served from 1952 to 1953. In 1960 desI earned a Master of Science degree from Purdue University and on completion was appointed to the Staff & Faculty at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado where he served until 1967. Then in 1968 desI was selected to attend Defense Language Institute, Monterey, California and on completion of the designated course was assigned to the Chief of Staff Group in Europe where he served until 1972 and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for conspicuously meritorious performance of duty in a non-combat situation. desI's last military assignment was as Commander of the Chief of Staff Group in Thailand where he served until he retired from the United States Air Force in 1973 with the rank of Colonel. Upon retirement desI became a School Teacher in the Booker Middle School in Sarasota, Florida where he died on 18 July 1975. On 4/21/2005 Midge Sommes added the following to DesI's eulogy: "Andy....Sorry to take so long to reply....it's a busy time for me just now. About John's obit....you might add that his dad was John L.M. des Islets, Class of '24, and my dad was Ivan C. Lawrence, Class of '19. The way John and I met was that he was a blind date arranged for me bythe Cadet Hostess, Mrs. Gates, for one of the hops during June Week in 1949, during my dad's 30th reunion. One of my father's roommates when he was a cadet was Al Wedemeyer. He was CO at Ft Meyer in Va. at the time of the reunion, and my parents and I spent a few days with him and his wife in their quarters there, after June Week. John and I knew we had something very special starting, and we continued to write each other, and see one another on the few times I was able to come to the Point and also when he was on summer leave. We both graduated the same year, and my graduation was one week after his. So he came to St. Paul, my home, in his new 2nd Lt. uniform and brought John Cunningham and Bob Johnson to be his groomsmen at our wedding which took place on 16 June, 1951, in St. Paul, MN. John entered the Point by way of Stewart Field Prep School, where he competed for a Presidential appointment. His dad was career Air Force, so there was no Congressman to apply to for an appointment. We had 24 good years, and raised 4 children, John, Steven, Michelle and Christine. His death in 1975 was very sudden...a ruptured aneurism causing a massive hemhorrage in his brain. He had retired from the AF two years before, in 1973, after one year in Thailand as Base Commander at Korat Air Base. (My father was in the Army Corps of Engineers, and resigned his commission after serving for 8 years; so I grew up in the civilian world, but somehow I knew that the life in the Service was just right for me, after I fell in love with John.) I don't expect you to use all of that info, but just let my thoughts run on. John was a gifted teacher and also enjoyed theatrical endeavors.....we both took part in several amateur productions at the AF Academy, and also while stationed in France at Toul-Rosiere AB. He was a natural leader whose men respected him a great deal. I had many indications of that over the years, from those who worked for and with him. So use what you want from all that, and thank you for your interest. Sincerely, Midge des Islets Somes." Click to find out what makes Fly Boys tick Air Force Values ufa

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