Robert Raymond Gora

West Point, 1968

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Lou Coatney, usma x1968 on December 26, 2016:

I have some funny stories which include Bob in the first, print edition of the Class of 1968 book of reminiscences Both Sides of the Wall. Bob was my roommate and the only kid taller than me in our 3rd New Cadet Company. He was very athletic and part of our football team's Corps Squad. One story: we were all being ... kept on a very lean diet ... and someone slipped Bob some beef bouillon cubes. In the dead of night, Bob, Norm Kulpa, and I got out of our bunks and soundlessly ran the tap water until it got reasonably warm and then carefully apportioned - with our bayonets - the cube, mixed it in the water, and drank the concoction. That protein must have helped. And there are other stories, about Bob leading us all up The Redoubt under full pack with rifle, and about our bayonet practice out on the Plain. I resigned from the Academy in early 1965, and Bob went on to play in the Army-Navy game and graduate. A year or two before his death, I made contact with him, and he enjoyed being reminded of our stories. I learned he was a health administrator and stress had taken a toll. And later I was saddened to hear Bob died. Bob was a GOOD guy, and he has earned his rest in peace.

admin