Henry Mershon Spengler

West Point, 1968

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Fr. Michael Cerrone on August 29, 2006:

Hank Spengler and I started USMA in Company G-2. I didn't know much about his personal background, but I knew him to be a very friendly and helpful man, "head and shoulders" above me, literally and figuratively. It was during one session of "plebe drowning" that Hank became especially significant to me. As I was trying to make my way with equipment and fake rifle across the 10-foot deep section of the pool, I found myself going straight up and down, rather than thrusting forward and upward at an angle. After the first time above water, I called out in a moderate tone, "A little help please." Then after the second futile attempt at forward progress and about to descend to the depths, I desperately yelled out, "A little help, please!!" Hank immediately raced out to the middle, pulled me up above the water, and brought me in tow to the edge of the pool, even before the long "hook" of the instructor could get to me! Thus, Hank Spengler saved me from drowning at the very start of my Long Gray journey in life. He was a hero to me way back then, even as he became a hero to many others, especially in his "last full measure of devotion." We can count on our Lord's words being applied to Hank, "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into your Master's joy!"

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