Posted by Bill Bahr, USMA '69 on November 20, 2012:

I fondly recall Paul Makowski as a BOQ-mate in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, during the fall of 1973. As a fellow member of the Military Equipment Delivery Team Cambodia, I vividly remember his intelligent, generous spirit as the leader of our small BOQ of five officers: he was an LTC, three others were majors, and I was a captain. I recall a number of occasions when we were together: 1. Eating many wonderful dinners cooked by Sui, former head-chef at Hotel la Phnom, allegedly the best hotel restaurant at the time in Cambodia (Sui's husband Sam was our BOQ caretaker); unfortunately Sui could mostly use only the meat, much of it from diseased cattle, found on the local economy, so I came down with a number of bouts of tonsillitis. Gee, I really hope Sam and Sui's family made it out later on Operation Eagle Pull. 2. Drinking well-deserved gin and tonics (we worked at least 7.5 long days per week at the US Embassy) many times in the dark, as public power went out and we waited for Sam to fire up our generator. 3. Huddling on the BOQ roof as we discussed plans of what to do if rifle fire in the night again came over our building. 4. Riding together in our jeep when a small bomb went off (presumably meant to draw us closer) a few yards ahead of us on our way to the Embassy one morning, and us reversing direction to quickly drive away as the large bomb went off killing many bystanders. I also recall Paul keeping me up to date and kindly offering me personal advice once I left Phnom Penh. Finally I recall his devotion to his family, especially his wife, whom I but very dimly hear him calling "one very special person." I was very sorry to hear of Paul's passing. RIP, my friend.

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