I was seven years old when my oldest brother, Kurt, left home to start college at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, better known as Texas A&M. It was founded in 1872 as a military school, but due to the significant engineering and research facilities developed over the years, and the large number of World War II veterans, by the 1950’s it had a large civilian population of graduate and under-graduate students, many of whom were from foreign nations. However, the military Cadet Corps still comprised the majority of under-graduates, so there were uniformed cadets everywhere on the campus. As a young boy, I was fascinated by this presence.

On our first family trip to visit Kurt, in 1951, I remember traveling up Highway 6 from Navasota toward College Station, cresting a small hill and, across open prairie, having the first glimpse of the cluster of buildings in the distance. It was a sight that I would eagerly anticipate many times throughout my childhood. The main entrance to the campus was a long Live Oak lined boulevard with a mowed field

to the right and a golf course to the left. At the end was the iconic two-story colonnaded System Administration Building; a majestic sight. To the left were located twelve four-story dormitories, six on either side of “the Quad”, and the huge “Duncan Dining Hall” at the far end. We would occasionally buy meal tickets and eat with Kurt there, and I would be mesmerized watching the endless parade of cadet companies marching up the Quad to the hall; the sounds of various called out cadences reverberating off the buildings. I don’t think that I ever witnessed that without chills running up my spine.

We would make those trips several times each year until 1960, when my second brother, George, graduated from A&M. From that very first trip, I had set my mind firmly upon joining the tradition of becoming one of those cadets on that hallowed ground.

I was really immature when I graduated high school; probably more so than most of my peers. Years earlier I had blindly decided that I would become a Chemical Engineer like my brothers, and to excel to an even higher degree than they in the Cadet Corps. Throughout my school years, I never liked reading and studying, and only did what was necessary to achieve good grades. Fortunately, I had the innate intelligence to do very well. It wasn’t until around the eighth grade that I began to appreciate friends and activities that were a part of school. There were a few subjects that I enjoyed, but I never established good study habits and continued my disdain for reading. I also never considered what were my natural talents, or what I would be best suited to pursue educationally. All of my concentration was focused upon getting to Texas A&M and beginning my adventures as a cadet.

In September of 1963 I finally reached my goal of being enrolled as a “Fish” in the Cadet Corps. Freshmen were so called because fish live in the sea and thereby have the “lowest position on earth”. So began the process of indoctrination into the Corps. All Fish received a “buzz” hair cut, such as US Army inductees and recruits when entering basic training. This was the first part of the process of removing one’s identity and individualism. We were to become “one” with our peers. The mental and physical hazing that would follow throughout our Freshman year would create a level of cohesion and brotherhood that lasts a lifetime. The only people we could call by their first name were other Fish or an upperclassman with whom we had a special relationship, and invited us to do so. All others were called “Mister” so-and-so, and we were required to meet and remember upperclassmen. The entire process was intimidating and difficult, and quite a few could not handle the rigors of Fish life and chose to leave school, and continue their education elsewhere. Traditions at A&M were many and strong, and I fed on all of it, as hard as it was at times.

I devoted myself to fitting into the cadet life and what was expected of me. I soon found that I greatly enjoyed military drills and marching, intramural athletics, and classes of military science and engineering graphics; however, I had little interest in most classes and soon realized that I had no desire to study history and chemistry and physics and calculus. So, after semester break, I changed my major from Chemical Engineering to Undeclared. I had to have a major field of study in order to continue in school, and decided that Business Administration seemed the best of what was offered. I changed my major to Accounting the first semester of my Sophomore year and switched to Finance the next semester. Outside of the military, I really had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, so education was simply a means to an end, and I looked toward to pursuing a military career. It would turn out that my lack of attention to my studies would lead to scholastic grades that would prevent me from attaining some of the goals that I had set for my Cadet life.

At the end of my Freshman year I was awarded Best Drilled Freshman for my company and was selected to be Guidon Bearer for the company for my Sophomore year. The Guidon was the company flag that was carried on a staff in front of the company formation, beside the Commanding Officer. These were the crowning events of my Fish year as a cadet!

All of my life I had wanted to play sports, but I just didn’t seem to have those abilities, so I was always nothing more than a spectator. As Fish, we were all to be involved for our company in Freshman Intramural athletics. It turned out that one of my best friends in our company and I were very good at horseshoes and we went undefeated throughout the season. I also found that I greatly enjoyed singles handball and I excelled at it, going undefeated for the season. I played as much as I could, and there was a special feeling about winning when I happened to play an upperclassman!

My Freshman year was a scholastic disaster, but, between the military and sports, it couldn’t have been much better. I didn’t receive any awards for my athletic endeavors, but I had found a new level of confidence and self-esteem. I had also achieved something as a Cadet that my brothers had not done.

At the end of my Sophomore year I was awarded the Best Drilled Sophomore award and was selected to serve on Battalion Staff as Sergeant Major for my Junior year. Sergeant Major was the highest rank a Junior cadet could hold and was the logical step for Battalion Commander, a Lieutenant Colonel rank, as a Senior.

As my Junior year began, with all of the promise that it held, my grade point average once again reared it’s ugly head! I was short of qualifying for invitation to join the Ross Volunteer unit; a prestigious drill unit for Junior and Senior cadets. And, at the end of the year, I was by-passed for Battalion Commander because of my grades. I was, instead, offered a position as a Major on Brigade Staff. Although it was a good position, two more of my goals to rise in the Cadet Corps were crushed.

At least I had sufficient credits to receive Senior status and was able to order my Senior Ring and Boots. I served on Brigade Staff in the fall semester, but at semester break one of the members of the Corps Staff got married and had to live off campus. I was asked to take his place for the spring semester. I was over-joyed to be able to serve on the highest staff and promote to a Lieutenant Colonel position.

Regardless of my set-backs, I had a fabulous Cadet Corps experience and finished on a high note, and I had learned some valuable lessons along the way. Having dreams and goals and pursuing them is wonderful, but one must always be willing to put forth all of the effort required to achieve them. Otherwise, one will usually fall short.

Although I had accomplished so much during my college experience, there was one more instance in which I fell short. As I completed my Senior year I found that out of one hundred and thirty-five credit hours taken, I was six required hours short for graduation. I would have to return for one more semester to receive my diploma. My sights at the time were to be career military and I wasn’t really concerned with a “sheep-skin”, so in June of 1967 I applied for my US Army commission as a Second Lieutenant without degree and planned for the next phase of my life.

I had chosen Field Artillery as my Army combat specialty and received orders to report to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for my Officer’s Basic class to begin in January of 1968. With eight months between finishing school and reporting for active duty, I had to have interim plans. During the many visits to my sister’s home in Irving, Texas, I had always been impressed with the King’s Square Regal apartment complex. I decided to take up residence there and find work around the area. I was able to land a short term position as a billing clerk at American Petrofina offices in downtown Dallas. So, throughout the summer I spent my week days in an office and every evening and all weekend around the swimming pool. I made some great friends there, and that is where I met a young lady by the name of Linda Alece Bumpus from the Childress, Texas area, and the rest of that story is history!