Posted by Lionel Valentin Ortiz-Santini '83 on August 28, 2011:

I greatly miss my older brother Oscar, who inspired me to apply and attend West Point. He was a military brat who grew up on bases in Panama, Puerto Rico and across the US while our father served his 25 years in the Army. Doing anything other than being an Army officer was never an option. USMA was not easy at first; he only received his call to attend a few days before R Day and was all set to go to Texas A&M. But he weathered the storm and grew to love the Academy. I was a mere 13 year old when I first traveled to USMA for his graduation and that experience was life-changing for me. Before he became gravely ill from Amyloidosis, we travelled to West Point on our motorcycles, my kids in tow and Oscar revelled in sharing all the plebe poop he learned about chains, guns, gallons on the spillway and other trivia. Those moments are treasured memories now. Rest in Peace my Dear brother. LVOS 83

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