John F Kurth

West Point, 1995

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by CPT Mike Jason, D4 on March 16, 2004:

Hans, you were my best friend. More than that, you were my brother. You got me through my first jump at Airborne School. I jumped right behind you. I still remember checking your harness right before you "stood in the door" and led our class out "into the breeze." We had some crazy times that summer, as the cadre was hell bent on making life miserable for us cadets. You kept us laughing. When we got back to West Point, we went to the Cadet Store together to buy our first pair of Jump Boots. We stayed up all night shining them to mirror perfection! In D4, we were brought together by our mutual love for the profession and the genuine belief in the values of Duty, Honor and Country. There were many cynics among us, but not Hans. As roommates we would stay up to all hours of the morning debating and analyzing our profession. You were a believer, and we drew strength from you. In a sea of gray, you stood out. You were unanimously respected and admired. Even back then, you were the quintessential soldier and leader. I remember the night I met my Julie, at the Firstie Club. You were the first to know. I picked up your cot while you were sleeping and dropped it, waking you up; when you awoke with some colorful expressions, I said, "Hans, I found her, the girl I am going to marry!" Years later, you would get out of the field, after not having slept in days, put on your blues at a gas station, and drive nine hours to be in our wedding. You stood next to me when we put on our rings. Together we celebrated on Branch Night as we got our first choices; breaking the rules, I pounded your rifles into your chest, and you in turn pounded the sabers into mine. There would be a picture of the latter, but you pounded me out of the shot, so all you see is your extended hand! We wrote each other's final yearbook comments. You stood next to me at Graduation, and you stood next to me when we had our Lieutenant bars pinned on. You stood next to me at my wedding. Throughout the years we stayed in touch. We stayed as close as two Army officers could be, often going years without seeing each other. But we kept tabs on each other, and in our toughest moments, we reached out and helped each other. I have yet to meet John Aleksander, but I will. And it is my promise to you that I will ensure that one day he will know what kind of a professional and hero his father was. John Aleksander has a host of uncles now that will be there for him forever. I can draw two big consolations throughout all of this. I know in my heart that you were doing exactly what you always wanted to do: leading soldiers in a fight you really believed in. I remember my last phone call, when I said, "Damn, look at you, doing exactly what you have always dreamed of doing!" We always ended our conversations by telling each other, "For God's sakes be careful!" I never had to worry about you. Lastly, I know the Almighty must have needed you more than we did. I know He can find no better soul than you and has you at his right side, at the seat of honor. You were the best of us, you were my brother. Mike (RB...) And when he gets to heaven St. Peter is going say, "How did you earn your living, boy? How'd you earn your pay?" And Hans will reply with a little bit of anger, "I earned my living as an Airborne Ranger!"

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