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MO ALFRED H. KERTH, Jr ’48 NO. 16535 6 Dec 1926 – 11 Jan 1995 Died in St. Louis, MO Interred in Bellerive Memorial Park, Creve Coeur, The news of Al’s passing came as a considerable shock. After 44 years of almost no contact, we met again at our 45th Reunion in 1993, renewing the warm friendship we had enjoyed while in pilot training at Randolph AFB. I shall always regret that we had not maintained closer contact through the years and that the opportunity was lost forever, just as we were drawing close again. Alfred Henry Kerth, Jr. was born in St. Louis, MO, the son of Alfred H., Sr. and Noel Baird Kerth, and was reared in Clayton, MO. He graduated from Clayton High School in three and one-half years, and then attended Millard’s West Point Preparatory School in Washington, DC. At West Point, he applied himself diligently and without fanfare. Relying on his innate intelligence and strength of personality, he experienced less trouble than most with upperclassmen and the Tactical Department during “Beast Barracks.” These same qualities enabled him to cope with aplomb to the demands of academics and the regimen imposed by the Academy. He attained the cadet rank of lieutenant, battalion adjutant, served on the Honor Committee, and was a chapel usher. He also was a member of the Ski Club and Skeet Club and graduated 63rd in a class of 301. Al was a wonderful companion and an unselfish friend. At graduation, Al elected the newly established U.S. Air Force and opted for pilot training. He and his classmates destined to enter pilot training reported to Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX, on 7 Aug 1948 to await the start of pilot training at nearby Randolph AFB. While at Lackland, he served as an assistant training officer in one of the basic training squadrons until receiving orders to report for training at Randolph AFB on 6 Oct 1948. At Randolph, he quickly adapted to the demands of pilot training, and was making excellent progress, when he unexpectedly quit pilot training in April of 1949. This came as a complete surprise to those closest to him in training, and also to his instructor, who considered Al to be one of his best students. Al later revealed that he had resigned because “flying and I disagreed.” From Randolph, he transferred to Scott AFB, IL, followed closely by Keesler AFB, MS and Eilson AFB, AK, where his oldest son, Alfred Henry III, was born. While at Eilson, he resigned from the Army in 1952 and returned to the St. Louis area to launch his second career in banking. He began as a cashier in Chesterfield Bank and rose to become its president in 1960. During this period, his other three children, Lisa Noel, Peter D., and Henry Phillip were born. Chesterfield Bank, founded by his grandfather in the 1920s, was acquired by the Centerre Bancorporation in the early 1970s, and Al remained as President and Chairman of the Board until his retirement in 1985. In addition to his professional activities, Al was active in community affairs in the St. Louis area. At various times, he served as a board member of the St. Louis County Library and as president of the Clayton Rotary Club. He also was a member of the commission that revised the St. Louis County Charter in the 1960s, and a volunteer at Babler State Park. Throughout these endeavors, Al applied himself with the same enthusiasm, dedication and high ethical standards that he had all his life. At Al’s memorial service on 14 Jan 1995, Al III paid a moving tribute to his father. “Some people have favorite movies, books, or songs. My dad had a favorite speech. It was the one GEN Douglas MacArthur gave to the Corps of Cadets on the day he was awarded the Thayer Medal at West Point. More than anything else, I think, the four years he spent at West Point shaped the things in which my dad believed, and the standards to which he held himself. GEN MacArthur’s remarks define those beliefs and standards as they are captured by the Academy’s code of ‘Duty, Honor, Country.’ MacArthur said this code ‘embraces the highest moral laws and will stand the test of any ethics or philosophies ever promulgated for the spirit of mankind. Its requirements are for the things that are right, and its restraints are from the things that are wrong.’ That’s how MacArthur said it, and that’s how my dad lived the West Point code. And that’s how he taught it to my brothers, my sister, and me. I know when I fall short, and that’s the gift Dad left, and the challenge he set. And now, Dad, we bid you farewell. We salute you, sir. We love you, we miss you, and tough as they sometimes were, we thank you for the standards you set for us. We will always remember. Amen and amen.” Well, Al, it’s obvious that you were loved, admired and respected by your family, but let me add that your classmates felt the same. On behalf of all of us in the Class of ’48 close by, I say, “Well done Al! Be thou at peace.” A classmate and family

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