Lonnie Bothwell Adams

West Point, 1969

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Kenneth A Thomas on January 22, 2020:

It's been a year since Lonnie passed. I think about him quite frequently, but just haven't been able to reconcile his death and put words to paper. I'm still grieving. Recently, my pastor gave a sermon on one of the beatitudes, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). He explained while this seems contradictory, mourning among those who knew the person is a way to reconnect and ultimately accept the loss. Lonnie was my closest friend from West Point days and thereafter for 50 years. We were in the same beast barracks squad from R day and at graduation time we were roommates. As cadets, Lonnie amazed me. He was an Army brat that had a sweeping worldwide view. His mother was French and his family had lived in many places. I guess that's why Lonnie could write a social science paper in one night while I needed weeks of research to put my paper together. We played intramurals together and had a good water polo team. Lonnie taught some of his company mates how to play bridge and we frequently occupied the weekends in the barracks playing. Although we went separate ways after graduation-him artillery and me signal-we kept in contact as we normally spoke to one another by telephone every few months. During our active duty years our families took in an Army Navy game together as well as a West Point football game, attended the 15th Reunion, and socialized when we were both stationed in Washington. In retirement years, we saw one another occasionally and kept up the phone calls. We were making plans in November 2018 to attend the 50th Reunion but Lonnie learned of his serious illness and was gone in a month. My minister's sermon made me realize that our class 50th reunion comforted me as I reconnected with friends and told tales about Lonnie. I will continue to miss him; but know that his friendship made all of us who knew him a better person.

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