Posted by Eric M. Sundin on November 11, 2013:

Assembly Article Alvar Bertil Sundin NO. 11110 CLASS OF 1938 Died 2 July 1981 in Charleston, South Carolina, aged 66 years. Interment: West Point Cemetery, West Point, New York ALVAR BERTIL SUNDIN was bom in New Bedford, Massachusetts on 28 February 1915 the third child of Carl and Hannah Sundin. In later years, one of Red (as he was known by his many friends) Sundin's favorite stories was how his mother as a young girl came to America from Sweden on a ship by herself during the 1890's. Because she spoke no English, she had a card with her name pinned to her dress and had braved all the hardships of the long sea voyage with no adult guardian. His father had also emigrated from Sweden at an extremely young age. At the age of 38 (with a wife and three young children) he volunteered (along with his two brothers - one died in France) to enlist in the Army to fight in World War I. He could have easily received an exemption both for his age and family status, but he fought as a sergeant with Battery D, 102nd Field Artillery in the 26th "Yankee" Division. He was gassed and wounded during the fighting in the Toul-Lorraine Sector in April 1918. His wounds would later contribute to his early death in 1928 during a gall bladder operation. Somehow these two circumstances of conviction and strong character to survive displayed by both his parents seemed to capture the essence of the dominant features of Red's own character, and his admiration of strong principle, courage and self-reliance. Red was a hard taskmaster, of himself and others. He told it like it was, good news and bad, let the chips fall where they may. When they fell on him he took his licks. He expected others to have the same integrity and courage, and was disappointed when they did not. After Red's father died, his mother did not remarry - she raised the three children (Elsie, Carleton and Red) by herself. After graduating from New Bedford High School at the age of 16, Red went to The Citadel ('35) for 2 1/2 years. Red's mother and sister Elsie and other relatives made many sacrifices so that he and his brother Corky (William & Mary '32) could pay for and attend college. Red did well - he was a battalion sergeant major in the corps of cadets and won the Star of the West Medal awarded annually to the best drilled cadet in the school. With such a sterling record, it seems strange that Red should spend four years at West Point with a clean sleeve. I guess he changed priorities when he changed schools. Red entered West Point in 1934. He sailed through the school with a minimum of effort, graduating in 1938 in the top 25% of his class. His "one and only" was Eugenia (Jean) Pauline Fischer of Montclair, New Jersey and Skidmore College (Jean's sister Madge married Don Williams '38), who became his wife and lifelong companion shortly after graduation. Red's first troop duty was with the 12th Field Artillery, 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Sam Houston. From there, in 1940, he went to Fort Bragg with the cadre that activated the 9th Infantry Division. He was the aide-de-camp to Brigadier General DeRussy Hoyle and by 1942, when the division landed in North Africa, was S-3 of the division artillery. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel and made the division G-3 during the campaigns in Tunisia and Sicily (for which he received the Legion of Merit) and later in England, where the division was preparing for the Normandy invasion. He then was the commander of the 34th Field Artillery, which position he held for the remainder of the war, from Normandy (where he won the Silver Star) through northern France and the low countries to the north shoulder of the Bulge (Ardennes) and, finally, to the Rhineland and Germany. After the war Red returned to the United States for CGSC at Fort Leavenworth, before reporting to Army Ground Forces, with the G-3 section. From there he went to West Point for duty with the Department of Tactics from 1948-1950. Other than his command of a battalion during the war, Red considered this assignment as a tactical officer as one of his best. He truly enjoyed working with the cadets and also the association with the other officers stationed at West Point at that time. West Point and especially the Tactical Department had a unique concentration of officers who had extensive combat experience - all at such an early period in their careers during World War II. It was an exceptional opportunity to work alongside these magnificent soldiers and share professional ideas and experiences. People like John Corley (his plebe year roommate), Bob York, Johnny Jannarone, Ben Sternberg, Frank Miller, Jeff Irvin, Art Collins, Jack Norris, John Tillson, Birdsey Learman and Mick Amick - all from '38; from other classes, Johnny Waters, Vic Hobson, Tommy Lang, Dwight Beach, John Watt, Paul Turtle, Walt Higgins, Dan Cullinane, Ben Evans, Bill Holm, John Williamson, Jim Pearsall, Dean Short, Bill Mckinley and the many other officers assigned at West Point during that period. He then was assigned to Vienna, Austria with the G-2 section and promoted to colonel in June 1951. After the Armed Forces Staff College in 1953, Red was on the Army Staff, then was the G-3 of the Military District of Washington (MDW); he next earned a master's degree in international relations at Georgetown University in 1956 in preparation for his tour on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He then went to the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks and in 1959 proceeded to Korea on a short tour as the executive officer and group commander of I Corps Artillery. The Sundins then went to Fort Monroe, Virginia in 1960 where Red was chief of a division in the Combat Development Section of Continental Army Command (CONARC), and later Deputy Chief of Staff of CONARC. He also attended the University of Pittsburgh course on Management Problems for Executives. Red retired from the Army in 1966 to accept a position at The Citadel under General Hugh Harris. Red held a succession of jobs at The Citadel, from Assistant Dean for Cadet Affairs to director of Personnel and Administration. Perhaps the job he enjoyed most was faculty advisor to the Cadet Honor Committee, where he strove to impart his own high sense of honor and strength of character to the young men with whom he worked and, through them, to the corps of cadets. There is no doubt that The Citadel is a better institution, and its graduates better men, because Alvar Bertil Sundin passed their way and gave of himself. He retired from The Citadel in 1976 but Charleston remained his home until his death. The last two years of his life he became increasingly ill with heart-related problems and leukemia. He fought these horrible sicknesses with tremendous courage and an intense determination to survive; he never complained even though he was in great pain and progressively became weaker from the continuous hospitalization. At the last family reunion in April 1981, he knew he would never see his children again and said goodbye to his family. On 2 July 1981 with Jean at his side, he died at the Charleston Naval Hospital. As an Army officer, Red was decorated with the Legion of Merit (twice), Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Commendation Ribbon (twice), Belgian Fourragere, DOD Identification Badge and several foreign decorations. As a husband and father he was decorated with a charming, loving wife and four fine children - Eugenia Aubry, Allan Carl, Eric McChesney and John Alvar - good citizens all. He is rightly mourned and sorely missed by his family and host of friends. All of us are better people for having known him. BG Ray Brownfield USMA 1939

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