Posted by Eric Timmerman on February 23, 2026:

2 Timothy 4:7--8: the words of the Apostle Paul in his second letter to Timothy, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." My father.. He was born Frederick Whiting Timmerman Jr, to Frederick and Myra Timmerman in Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania in 1942. Those who knew him, affectionately called him "Tim" and he passionately pursued a full life's journey, .. for his family, his Brothers in Arms, his friends, and his students (Cadets, college students, younger generations in general). Matthew 5:16: "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Dad passed from this earth at 1353 on 28 December. In the end, his heart just could not continue to support his body's needs. You would be hard pressed to convince me otherwise, that his heart gave more than most. All the love and intensity his heart gave each of us defined a true purpose for Dad. He didn't talk explicitly about his faith very often, but he embodied and lived a pure life and let others see and learn from his example. Daniel 12:3: "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever" The night Dad left us, I needed some moments to be close to him. I went into his office, now quiet and dark away from the rest of the family, closed the door and took some time to think. Contemplating the life of my Father (my teacher, my coach, my mentor and of course at times my lead Cheerleader) continues to be an excruciating exercise on many levels. As I sat down that night in his oversized, leather office chair, I immediately thought, .could I ever adequately fill the space he occupied in that oversized chair? , could I ever lead my life as completely, masterfully, and yes even as humbly as he had throughout his life?. I looked above his desktop computer at his West Point Diploma, flanked on either side by a Masters of Education and a Doctorate of Philosophy from Duke University. Above his diploma is mounted, as his gift from the Class of 1975 (our two family favorites Vince and Chuck are here today), his West Point Saber which we modified after my graduation. We took out the scabbard crossed against his WP Saber and inserted my WP Saber in it's place. Those two sabers, and that thoughtful gift from the Cadets he sponsored turned out to be a cherished symbol to my Father. It reminded him of the love he had for those men and the kinship they developed over the course of the trials and challenges West Point presents. The crossed Sabers also provided us a rallying memento that tied us together (he and I) and it symbolized our common love of Duty, Honor, & Country. I continued to look around the room at the framed items and tchotchke's adorning the room & walls (there are accolades from appreciative units for his service, funny pictures of his life's interactions with so many, representations of his many passions in and outside of the Army). I couldn't help but think about the many, many lives he touched. The many Soldiers, students and mentees of his grace. My father had an absolute passion for people. And for a moment I thought about the many people he was to all of them. Tim was a bit of a renaissance man, a man who wore many hats throughout his life, a man known by many names: Some of my Fathers names included: Son Brother Cadet Roommate Classmate Dad Sponsor Professor Tim LT/CPT/MAJ/LTC/COL Timmerman Platoon Leader Company Commander Battalion Commander Thunderbolt 6 Aide Speechwriter Executive Officer The Colonel Airborne/Ranger Sir TV Tim Editor in Chief, Military Review Magazine Jedi-Knight (SAMS Course grad Ft Leavenworth) Doctor Timmerman The Tanker/Tanker665 Mister Timmerman Precinct Judge Poppop Uncle Tim Daddy Warbucks And...of course, Sue's Husband! He was so many things to so many, and all of the humans in his life, [All of YOU], were deeply meaningful to him. Yet there was never any limit to his love, it truly seemed boundless. I continued to look around his office, the bookshelves, the drawers, the cabinets of files- what else could I discover or.. RE-discover about my Father? One group of books caught my eye. These books were older, a bit more tattered, some with frayed edges and generally smaller than the other books on the shelf-there were no less than 6 of them, they were his personal bibles. -a simple, but elegant addition,.. to "the Fourth Classmen at the United States Military Academy" personally inscribed in Gold emboss on the cover- Frederick Whiting Timmerman Jr. -- a lovely white bible, with written inside, 'First Congregational Church and Sunday School, Morrisville, VT (with his date of my Father's baptism in 1946). A small, thick-black bible with my Mother Sue's Father's name inside- Charles Russell, 1929. A well-worn, black leather bound bible, written inside 'Birthday Greetings Frederick', from Mother, Aug 24th, 1924 (this had been his father's bible with written family history of marriages, events and even captured family history through my own birth and the births and weights of my sisters Erin and Tracey)-- and finally a stout brown leather backed bible written inside 'Frederick W. Timmerman Jr, July 29, 1951 -- With Love, Celema Timmerman' (his . . Grandmother's birthday gift to him). He kept these close in a place of respect, immediate to his workplace there in his office. I had to pause and wrap my mind around the historical and personal significance these meant to him, and the foundation they were to him. But what else did I see in all shapes and sizes around his office I'll just throw this question out to all of you? (what would you say?).. . Yes books. Literature, military history, personal memoirs (Grant, Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin- I'll come back to this, Mark Twain, John Adams, Marshal, Pershing, Clausewitz and of course George S. Patton) to name a few. You see my father was a bit of a nerd.. A Scholar really. But what I re-learned may have been part of the magic that made my father really special when he talked, or wrote or spoke to groups- he was Oh'so wise. One of my early memories was one of the many times our sponsored Cadets (my Big Brothers) came over to the house to enjoy a little family time, fun, relaxation and always a bit of learning from CPT Tim Timmerman. I can still see them all gathered around as my Father pulled the Illustrated Benjamin Franklin 'Poor Richards Almanacks' off the coffee table and began to read some of his favorite prose. I must tell you the wisdom drips from this book and the Cadets gathered around took in every salty, clever phrase. Tim loved these moments, he loved when words sparked ideas, drove conversation and even debate. He was in his element in these moments. Poor Richard says: If you wou'd not be forgotten As soon as you are dead and rotten, Either write things worth reading, Or do things worth the writing. --or.. The wiseman says, It is a wiseman's Part To keep his Tounge close Prisoner in his Heart. If he then be a Fool whose Thought denies There is a God, how dep'raely unwise. ...Wink at small faults; remember thou hast great ones. Eat to please thyself, but dress to please others. Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices. Never spare the Parson's wine, nor the Baker's Pudding. --one more for Chuck and Vince... Diligence is the Mother of Good-luck, as Poor Richard says, and God gives all Things to Industry. Then plough deep, while Sluggards sleep, and you shall have Corn to sell and to keep. The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart. The poor have little, beggars none, the rich too much, _enough_ not one I don't think Dad was scholarly for academia's sake, or so that he could sound a certain way or know some random fact. I know.. that he pursued knowledge so he could be closer to the endless pursuit of enlightenment. He loved to learn, he loved to learn about people and what makes them tick. And he loved the thrill of intellectual exchange and understanding. He loved to write. And he loved to speak to groups. One thing Dad was to be sure was a bit of a rebel- he always chose his own path one less chosen perhaps or maybe just chosen for him. Assigned originally to Germany, he quickly found himself a father and shortly thereafter headed off to Vietnam. There he was actually assigned to an Infantry unit I'll discuss in a minute. After Vietnam, although wanting to attend the Armor Officer Career course or not attend at all as many Combat hardened officers at the time thought they probably didn't need the career courses to train them how to be a staff or Commanding Officer after having proven his worth in the crucible of Combat- he was assigned to attend the INFANTRY Officer's Career course at Ft Benning, GA. If he was going to go- he'd want to be with his Armor Brothers at the home of the Armor, Fort Knox. He tried to ask for re-assignment in a letter to the Commander of Fort Knox but instead received a kind/but stern letter from MAJ Gen James Sutherland (Commanding Officer Fort Knox) two weeks later: Congratulations on his combat tour and second opportunity to Command a company etc etc .. then MG Sullivan said... "As for your question, you should adhere to the decision of the Armor Branch and attend the course at the Infantry School. Yours is not the first question I have received along this line from young Armor officers in the past, and I have given all the same answer. It is absolutely correct that the Armor Branch does select the most outstanding Armor officer to attend the Career Course at the Infantry School. This is done intentionally so that the Branch can be assured the Armor will be properly represented at the Infantry School." Haha- I always thought he should've framed that Infantry Career Course certificate as one of his crowning achievements being an Infantryman myself... Further examples of his rebel paths include- Attending and earning advanced degrees from Duke University. Teaching at West Point. Attendance and Graduation from the Marine Command and General Staff College in Quantico VA. Speechwriting for a 4 Star General Blanchard, USAEUR Commander. Getting assigned to Command a Battalion first in Fort Polk, LA -> later changed to a Command in Ft Carson Colorado (to Sue's excitement) but then later having that changed to the Command he would actually take 6-32 AR Fort Carson CO. Later he would attend War College not in Carlisle Barracks, but as a "Fellow" in Fort Leavenworth KS, the SAMs course as one of it's first graduating classes, and finally Editor and Chief of Military Review magazine were he wrote profusely. What an amazing career! After retirement he went on to have two additional careers- working for USAA and CSC a consulting firm. As I was navigating my own Career and life challenges, I'm so thankful of the patience and direction he gave me ...requested or not! haha I could spend another couple hours talking about my Father. I'm sure you would stay entertained as he would listening to me. I feel I haven't really scratched the surface of his depth. But even in that extra time, I could not do him justice. To say Tim Timmerman was loving, that he was exemplary, that he had and demonstrated deep faith and honor, and that he was selfless are things I hope in knowing him, you already knew. One piece of history he never told me about though, one I don't think many others knew, one I had to find deep within the well organized Timmerman Tomes of well kept files organized like the library of congress with his own version of the Dewey Decimal system was a faded, non-descript piece of paper in his Vietnam folder 1968-1969, Central Highlands. As I said previously and you are probably keenly aware, that Dad was an Armor Officer (believe me we ribbed each other quite a bit about the Armor-Infantry intra-branch competition between us), but he was the prototypical Tanker! In Vietnam, his Armor company was assigned to the 173d Airborne Brigade, a storied and decorated paratrooper outfit. His company was solely responsible for the security and clearance of many miles of enemy territory, roads and trails (supply lines) connecting the small/medium infantry and artillery outposts in the central highlands. Well this piece of paper read as follows: General Orders Number 6386, 15 Oct 1969. Award of the Bronze Star Medal for Heroism Awarded: Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device (For Valor) Date action: 13 July 1969 [14 Days before his 27th Birthday] Reason: For heroism in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Captain Timmerman distinguished himself while serving as the Commanding Officer of Company C, 1st Battalion, 69th Armor, 4th Infantry Division. On the evening of 13 July 1969, Captain Timmerman received word that a mine had been located not far from his location. Captain Timmerman immediately called for the EOD Team (sic Explosives Ordnance Disposal Team) to disarm the mine, only to learn it would be the next day before the operation could be undertaken. Realizing the extreme danger which an undetonated mine presented, Captain Timmerman ordered the personnel who had accompanied him to take cover; carefully he dug up the mine and disarmed it. Captain Timmerman's calm actions, adroit handling of the situation and exemplary devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army. By direction of the President, under the provisions of Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962. I Love You Dad You are My Hero! And I leave you with this: As Paul wrote these words to his friends In Philippians 1:3 "I thank my God every time I remember you."

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