Posted by Michael A. Bressler on February 26, 2004:

Dean M. Bressler, USMA '44 I was 4 months old when I first met my Dad; it was Summer 1945. I peered through the sides of my crib as this tall, uniformed stranger came into my room for the first time. An American paratrooper, home from the war and home to his beloved wife, Monnie. Years later, I was told that I had an expression on my face as if to say "who you, mister? ". Then I heard the gentle and familiar voice of mother saying ... " Michael, this is your Daddy..."! We were buddies instantly ... as if we had shared together the campaigns of Europe... it was the beginning of a long life of friendship and camaraderie few sons are privileged to claim. Growing up, Dean Bressler was my best friend. His wartime exploits were recounted to me in my youth but always in the context of history, his favorite subject at the Academy and one he excelled at all his life. "War is a regrettable legacy of mankind " he would say, "... and I hope to God you never have to go through one" ... I recall quite vividly his recitation on "Operation Varsity" and the specific role taken by seventeen USMA '44 grads "fresh out of airborne school who jumped into enemy territory, overcoming flak, errant smoke screens and their own nerves...!" Dad had a way of making history a "fun" experience, one filled with film clips and music of the era; these recordings and productions of his own design became a life long hobby for him and are now counted among the favored treasures of the family. We lost my mother early in life and it was Dad who carried on and became both a mom and a Dad. Always keeping me with him no matter what. I was "his boy", and he made sure that I had a good youth - experience and the best possible start in life regardless of the profession I chose. Later in life my choice would be Army. My first remembrance of life with Dad was in Stuttgart, Germany as part of the American occupation in the late 1940's. In Germany, and especially at that time, my Father developed a fondness for the European life style which he would relish all his days. As a company commander in the Allied Constabulary Command my Dad took special delight in taking me to the mess hall to eat with the troops; occupied Germany was my first recollection of life and of the Army which throughout my youth would become my extended family. In those days the Army was small and, indeed, a family; it was about this time that a young fellow officer's wife by the name of Millie White looked after me when the men were out on maneuvers. Years later and while I was a First Classman at the Academy it would be Millie who would introduce me to my future wife, Kathleen. In the old Army events and kindness had a nice way of coming full circle. Dad did a lot of hunting in Germany and I can't remember a time when the freezer wasn't well stocked with venison, elk, wild boar or pheasant. Returning to New York City for a short tour Dad was Aide to the First Army Commander stationed at Governor's Island. With family in New York it was a rather pleasant stay but short lived as the Korean war was in full swing. Instead of Korea, Dad drew an assignment with the United Nations Military Observer's Group patrolling the Pakistani - Indian border under cease fire conditions. For my Father the tour was an historical odyssey. It was a story book adventure rivaling the exploits of Indiana Jones but combining significant military duty with an historical sojourn along the ancient path of Alexander's march to the Indus River. According to his Himalayan Journal ..."we found ourselves among a blue-eyed, blond-haired people - in the remotest place on earth - who were the direct descendents of the Armies of Alexander". Peace-time army years followed and Dad enjoyed pleasant duty tours at San Jose State College (teaching military history), Ft. Ord, California, and again at Stuttgart (7th Army HQ). At Stuttgart I remember Father being very happy; he was always at my high school athletic events taking movies and being the best Dad a boy could ever have. It was during our second tour at Stuttgart that Dad introduced me to the European style of hunting game and we went on many a hunt after wild boar, deer and elk. Several times we were the guest of one of Dad's old friends from the post war-occupation days, Fredrick Carl Fugger, the Crown Prince of Bavaria. I was sixteen and for a solid weekend we would hunt with the Prince on his private lands at his hunting retreat near Munich. Growing up my Father was very strict but also a kind, loving parent; he taught me all the things a young man needed to know including discipline when I needed it. During my plebe year we would joke and he would say "Mike, you are the only cadet ever to have entered West Point with 19 years of plebe year already behind him!". In our family of two, Dad was the perpetual upperclassman! My years at the Academy were made less trying by my Father's consistent and dedicated interest in my well being. Each Summer's leave was well planned to give me the best possible time thereby affording great relief from the rigors of Academy life. One such momentous 30-day leave was taken in Bermuda where Dad had leased a villa for the summer. By then, my Dad was retired and living in New York City. During the academic year he would host tailgate parties at Army football games and provide truly unforgettable Christmas leaves in New York City. Shortly after my graduation in 1968 Dad moved to Ft. Collins, Colorado where he enjoyed a pleasant, quieter life not having to put up with the rat race of New York. Upon my return from the Vietnam War the Army sent me for a masters degree at Colorado State University in Ft Collins where my Father was on the university's business staff. It was there that my son, Michael, was born giving my Dad an experience he had missed by being away at war himself the day I was born. My Father lived in Ft. Collins until just before he passed away. My Father's encouragement during my youth coupled with the strong, stable home-life he gave me under difficult conditions provided me with a lasting legacy of values which I gratefully pass on as a contribution to my own family today. Dad is survived by two magnificent grandchildren, Alexandra K. Bressler and Michael A. Bressler II, both attorneys. Alexandra is a Notre Dame Law School graduate with an undergraduate major in psychology and Michael is a Denver Law School graduate with an undergraduate major in economics. I am proud to have been able to look after my Father in the last year of his life; his generation, especially his West Point Class, were a part of an American era that fought - and won - a great war for American survival in which there could be no compromise. Dean Bressler and the Class of 1944 along with other Americans of their generation were God's answer to the evils of their time. The mind can only reel at the thought of where the world would be had we lost. His grandson, Michael and I were at his bedside in the final moments. I reminisced with Dad silently, communicating mentally only through prayer. I sang some of Dad's old Army favorites and ended with the Alma Mater. I gave my Father his final salute at 0745 hours on 21 May 2002 and commended him to the eternal Long Grey Line. It was a farewell between soldiers... - Michael A. Bressler, USMA '68 and Son of USMA '44

admin