Posted by Peter McIlvaine Hall, H-2, USMA 1963 Quality, Sacramento on September 4, 2013:

At our 25th class of 1963 reunion, Al Whitaker L-1 and I struck up a conversation after the parade ended as we walked across the Plain towards Washington Hall for lunch. I remarked to Al about whether or not there was a marker showing the spot where General Douglas MacArthur stood delivering the 'Duty-Honor-Country' speech since the enlargement of the hall had relocated the entrance & poop deck away from where it was from our era. We walked slowly enough for Al to confess that the night before 'The Speech' he had decided to set an appointment with his Tactical Officer and resign due to academic problems. He performed his cadet duties the next day with a heavy heart, including marching in the parade for General MacArthur. Then he sat down in Washington Hall at noon for one of his last meals as a cadet. General MacArthur faced the Corps of Cadets without notes and delivered the inspiring 'Duty-Honor-Country' speech with unparalleled oratory. Al walked out of Washington Hall determined to remain a cadet and serve as an officer. He graduated next-to-last only to be 'beaten' by Patrick Riley Smith D-1 for Anchorman position at graduation. Al branched the US Marine Corps and earned 13 Air Medals in Vietnam 1966-67--same period I was MACV advisor in Nam. He resigned in '69, went to law school & became an attorney in DC. He died far too young on 29 May 2002 almost exactly 39 years after achieving his re-inspired goal to stay in our class and graduate. Al told me this in 1988. It captured me and helped me formulate the idea five years later to work with Lew Iwlew, owner of Vladimir Arts, to commission a signed print depicting General MacArthur dlivering the 'Duty-Honor-Country' speech which could help finance our class fund. Later when Lyndol Cook and I met Bob Hope, the first signer, I came up with the idea to make Bob Hope [adding his wife Dolores] honorary class members. Using our Howitzer as a prop, I read to Bob the opening tribute that the Class of 1962 had made President John F. Kennedy an honorary member. I ad-libbed "If Class of 1962 could make President Kennedy an honorary member, why couldn't Class of 1963 make Bob Hope an honorary member?" Lyndol, our Class President at the time, instantly responded "I don't see why not." I retell this story to give Al Whitaker proper credit for being a primary inspiration for the 'Duty-Honor-Country' class project. I salute you Al. "Let it be said 'Well Done'"... Warm regards, Pete Hall, H-2, USMA 1963 Quality, Sacramento.

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