Posted by BGen RM Ong (Ret) on May 12, 2010:

What can I say about a man I have admired and respected for many years, yet a man whom I have never met? This is John Twomey -- I knew him only thru our membership in the West-Point Forum. But I like to think that now I know him as well as I know any of my friends and neighbors. This guy was one smart cookie -- one can sense that from reading his emails to us Forumites. His posts are well thought out, his arguments are well presented and his facts are well researched. Discussing with him is easy, winning an argument with him is hard. But whatever he says is an enjoyable learning experience. This guy was kinda like an iceberg at times. Most of his personality was well-hidden and he rarely said anything about himself. Many Forumites like myself never knew that John was sick, let alone terminally ill with cancer. His posts were all so upbeat, with his unique wit and sense of humor and I had the impression that this man was in the best of spirits and in the best of health. This guy was a typical family man -- who showed pride in his loved ones. He enjoyed our extra interest in one particular daughter, from her first day of entry into the US Coast Guard Academy, her progress thru the years as a Coastie Cadet, her graduation and commission as an Ensign and her professional life as a guardian of the nation's maritime borders. We were nosy "godfathers" of sorts and John basked in our biased care, curiosity and concern about her. We know she will do just fine in her career -- simply because she has her Daddy's genes. Most of us Forumites will miss a friend we have never seen, but we will have memories of him that we will never forget. Be thou at peace, amigo. I know that all of us will finally meet -- in that Great Forum up there! Brigadier General Ramon M. Ong (Retired) Armed Forces of the Philippines USMA 1963

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