Richard John Wiedenbeck

West Point, 1968

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Mike Trollinger on September 22, 2009:

Dick was my roommate in Company H-2 (back when there were only two regiments) in the Fall of 1964 and Spring of 1965, during our Plebe Year. He was the most "laid back" roommate you could ever have. Nothing bothered Dick as we were harassed by the upperclassmen. He just took it in stride and maintained his decorum. As we progressed through our four years together (and changed companies to B-4 in 1966), I remember that Dick was well known in the Science Departments as a cadet who could solve complex, equation-related problems without using the equation. While the rest of us mortals "plugged and chugged" using the approved-solution equation, Dick came up with the answer completely independently of the equation and was normally correct. It amazed the professors and was a point of consternation for the rest of us. I think he had this ability because of his knowledge of science-related topics prior to his entry into the Hallowed Halls. I understand that he built a ham radio from scratch during the early days before West Point. It's no wonder, then, that he could master "Juice" so easily while the rest of us struggled. Dick and I parted after graduating from West Point on June 5, 1968. He went to Fort Hood and then Vietnam, while I went to Germany and Vietnam. I never saw Dick again, and I regret that. I would liked to have seen his smile, as infectious as it was, again, but that was not to be. Rest in peace, Dick, and hold the fort down until we get there.

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