I was one of the 240 young men who reported to the 52nd Company of the U.S. Army Infantry Officers Candidate School (OCS) in September 1966. Candidates were assigned to platoons mostly alphabetically, and I had the good fortune to be assigned to the Third Platoon. I say good fortune, because the platoon had an incredible assortment of talented candidates led by the most demanding Tactical (TAC) Officer, Lt. Paul R. Longgrear. The platoon dominated the weekly honor platoon competition, and scored the highest in other training competitions. About half of the candidates made it through the intensive six months of training and were commissioned as Second Lieutenants in a graduation ceremony held March 7, 1967.
Most of the new Army officers were assigned to the Infantry, but some of us were given commissions in branches such as the Chemical Corp, Army Intelligence Service, Military Police, and Finance. Most would serve at least one tour in Vietnam. A few of my fellow OCS graduates began working a few years back to locate everyone and gathering as many as possible for reunions. They especially wanted us to remember and honor the eleven young men, including one TAC officer, who died in combat.
Some of my fellow candidates from the Third Platoon recently arranged a reunion at a wonderful location in the area of Colorado that was the setting for a Zane Grey book “Riders of the Purple Sage.” Ray and Kathy Heaton have a wonderful bed and breakfast about 6 miles from Dove Creek in Southwestern Colorado called Winterhawk Lodge B&B. The attendees were, alphabetically, Carl Jones, Kathy and Ray Heaton, Sheryl and I, Bob and Margarette (Butch) Holt, Dave Huebner, and Allen Hyman. Carl and Dave won the distance driving award with their 2300 mile round trip. The Heatons provided us wonderful meals beginning with chili-frito pie the first evening (chili on top of fritos and topped with an assortment of condiments), cooked to order breakfasts including farm fresh eggs, sandwiches for lunch, and a delicious brisket the second evening. There was always plenty of coffee, tea, and lemonade. The hummingbirds were busy at the feeders all day, and a small herd of deer arrived one evening. You could safely say we had escaped the hustle and bustle of the city.
Winterhawk is in the center of much Southwest Colorado history. Ancient Puebloans had numerous settlements in the area, and Ray gave a tour to Hovenweep (a Ute/Paiute word that means deserted valley) National Park. There are remains of cut stone buldings estimated to have been constructed in the 1200’s. (Someone commented that the ancient ruins brought TAC officer Longgrear to mind.) The Anasasi (a Navajo word meaning Ancient ones or Ancient enemy, and a name not preferred by modern Puebloans) continue to have an influence on modern day Colorado. Beans cultivated from a several hundred year old stash left by the former residents are still grown in the area. The grain elevator in Dove Creek has a large painted sign that says, “Adobe Milling, Home of the Anasazi Beans.” Locals of the Dove Creek area say that the beans are good cooked with “collards and critters.”
Ray led another tour to Dolores Canyon Overlook, which is called the “Grand Canyon of Colorado.” We happened on Ray’s cousin Al Heaton with some ‘wannabe’ cowboys on a trail ride. Al operates the “East Pines Ranch,” which is over 100,000 acres. His crown jewel offering to guests is to let them do the hard work of helping him and his real cowboys move his cattle to winter range on a five day trip down the Dolores River (which brings to mind the two “City Slickers” movies).
Sheryl commented it was interesting to hear conversations about different memories of specific experiences during our six months together. There were also fasinating stories of what the different attendees did in service of the country and afterward. It was an honor to be with a few of my comrades for a short time again. Winterhawk is an ideal destination, and we will have fond memories of the reunion. I will close by quoting some words from the front of the pamphlet from the 40th anniversary reunion that was held at Fort Benning, “All gave some…some gave all.”
Excellent report, Lieutenant Hobbs. It was one of the most enjoyable weekends I’ve spent. It was great to be among like-minded individuals, and we are all certainly individual.
This is a particularly factual report with all the comments about those not in attendance left out of the report for appropriate reasons, although we did toast all not present with lemonade and other libations. the 2,500 mile trip was well worth it.
Hobbs,
I read your after action report. According to you: we arrived, we ate, (you only mention the first night and breakfast), we saw a canyon, and left. It reads like a chemistry report. Boring!
You left out most everything. We had a shooting contest with Holt’s BB guns, and most of the hot shots, (big game hunter) Heaton, and Huebner could not even hit the target half of the time. Hyman (the Jew) took first and Holt (The Texan) took second.
You left out that Saturday night, the HEATONS made a roast that they cooked for 11 hours. You left out that HOLT (Mr. Country Western, learned three chords on the guitar and banjo) and just could not stop wondering around drinking beer and singing (like he meant it) “Cigareeets and Wisky, and Wild Women will be your misfortune, will be your downfall.”
You left out that JONES, HYMAN and HUBNER shared one and one half rooms, and that JONES (just like at OSC) snores like a dying horse. You left out that we made HEATON stand at attention and eat a large candy bar, and that the HEATONS required us to spit shine the floors, and that like at OSC, I had latrine duty for three days. And most importantly you left out that HEATON had his state policy buddy Trooper Smith, waiting for HOLT and HYMAN when we left, attempting to keep us in Colorado working on the chain gang busting rocks. Great hospitality, great food, and great friends.
AH
For those who want more detail, here it is.
Mostly accurate, although I recall mentioning the “delicious brisket” (which people in Los Angeles might call a roast). I figure that readers will be less bored after reading your comments.
HYMAN also left out pertinent details, like Holt’s BB guns were made in China. No wonder two red-necked boys (HUEBNER and HEATON) used to firing only US made “shootin’ irons” were bullseye challenged. Also the fact he, HYMAN, attempted to go jogging shortly after arising (about 11:30 hours) and had to be rescued and resuscitated after the first hundred yards. Furthermore the reason he and HOLT were stopped by Trooper Smith was due to their unusual headgear, hats with attached beercans fitted with siphon tubes to a mouthpiece that allowed them drink without the distraction of holding a sippy-cup.
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Ferrel & 3rd Herd – Great posts some funney, some ??. As always, “The Lawyer to the Stars” runs his mouth overtime but what do you expect from a lawyer. If he had come to San Antone and spoken at the reunion, we’d still be there. I had such a great time, I wouldn’t mind putting up with Hyman just to saty longer.
Usher – DragonAss 6th (the real Honor Platoon)