Posted by Craig Schwender on June 5, 2024:

I knew Jimmy (Beaver to many) at West Point, both of us in the 3rd Regiment. We were often assigned to the same section, as were weren't too near the top academically. We were both assigned to study Portuguese, and worked hard just to stay positive. Socially, we ran in different circles. Jimmy ran, I was walking. He was always smiling, friendly, and happy to help when needed. One of the really GOOD guys. Speaking of walking, we shared a few hours together on the area too. I remember we were walking one Saturday in cold weather, in a uniform that required gloves. Tom Venard was also walking. They played a game where you put your thumb and first finger together making an "O" and held it below your waist, or over your head. If somebody looked at it, you scored a point. Yeah, I know, dumb. But it was another of the imbecilic things we did to pass the days. Tom had removed one of his gloves and placed it on a lower step of a central area stoop, arranged with the "O" to be seen by another walker when he reached the end of a lap. He got us! After graduation, Jimmy may have lived with us briefly at 108 Infantry Drive when we attended Airborne and Ranger school. Along with Nielson and maybe Piazze. Maybe some others now and then depending who was able to still drive. Our other friends that lived there were Fred and Freda. They were our names for the cockroaches that seemed always around. Somehow Jimmy and I were assigned together as Ranger buddies. A very special relationship, Ranger buddies were expected to always support each other. You made sure that your Ranger buddy was where you were supposed to be, on time, and in the proper uniform. Your job was to make sure you succeeded; together! My first posting was to a mech-infantry Bn in Bamberg, Germany. I left there in '71. When I later heard his helo went down, I knew exactly where it must have been. I cried. Jimmy was the best Ranger buddy anyone ever had.

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