Posted by Marina Arsenijevic on July 29, 2010:

When I think of my Dearest Colonel Jack, I have to think about his love for his family. I've never seen a more devoted husband, father and grandfather. Jack was always there for his family. He always had a kind and encouraging word for everybody in his family. He was never too busy to help and support each and every member of his family. When I think of my Dearest Colonel Jack, I think about his love for his country-- so many, many contributions that Jack made in his distinguished military career at 28 posts as an Officer in the United States Army and as a world recognized military expert on Hybrid War. When I think of my Dearest Colonel Jack, I think about his generous heart, which was ready to help those who are in need. And that even applies to the lost dogs....We all know about Jack's penchant for rescuing any lost dog that would come his way. When I think of my Dearest Colonel Jack, I think about his remarkable mind. He was a true scholar. He wrote a book on counter revolutionary war and insurgency over 40 years ago and today it is a still required reading for the young officers heading off to war. His book has been quoted in over 140,000 books and journal articles, according to the Google scholar search engine. Age did not dull his mind. He was as sharp as a college debater until the last day of his life. In this past year, in the 84th year of his life, Jack maintained a rigorous lecture schedule giving a series of lectures at Fort Leavenworth every month for 5 months to the Army Officers about to be deployed to Afghanistan. Each month, Jack and Gloria would drive all the way from Detroit to Kansas and once I asked him: "Jack how can you drive for 2 days and then give a bunch of lectures? Why don't you just fly?" He replied: "You know Marina, Gloria and I really enjoy our long drives; we just like being together." And this was said after 61 years of marriage. When I think of my Dearest Colonel Jack, I think about a perpetually happy person, who enjoyed every day of his remarkable life to the fullest. His positive attitude was infectious. You just could not help but feel better after talking to Jack. He was always quick to collect and exchange anecdotes and he was always ready for a good and hardy laugh. It was impossible to be sad around Jack. When I think of my Dearest Colonel Jack, I think about an amazingly principled person of the highest integrity, that I proudly called my surrogate American father. You can always count on Jack to be a moral compass pointing exactly in the right direction. On the West Point website there is a quote from one of his 1948 classmates, Sam Holliday: "......Jack McCuen was always ready to do the harder right rather then the easier wrong". That was definitely the Jack McCuen we all knew. Colonel Jack was and is a force of nature just like a big booming echo, in a huge mountainous cavern. Although his voice has been stilled, his sound, however, continues as that echo, remaining ever stronger, in all of our fond memories. Although your heart has stopped Dear Colonel, you will always continue to exist in the beatings of the many, many hearts that you have touched with your kindness and generosity. Well done Dearest Jack. You have lived a great life. Be Thou at peace. Marina Arsenijevic West Point, New York July 26, 2010.

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