In this edition. . . Sol W. Rawls, Jr. '40 to Receive New Market Medal The Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors has selected Sol Waite Rawls, Jr., VMI Class of 1940, to receive its prestigious New Market Medal. The Award will be presented in Lexington on Hutchings named Commandant ...... 2 May 15, 2000. Established by the Board in 1962, the impetus for the award Tucker's tenth book published ...... 2 came from the VMI Civil War Committee, comprised of formar faculty members Colonel Kenneth S. Purdie, Colonel Stanton F. Author Tim O'Brien Speaks at VM1 ...... 3 Blain, and Major Chester Goolrick. The medal was conceived as a tribute to the cadets who fought at the 1864 Civil War Battle of Oversight of Assimilation May End ...... 3 New Market and honors an American citizen, not necessarily associated with VMI, whose life and career have displayed virtues Alumni and Finals Schedule ...... 4 shown by the 1864 cadets: leadership, duty, honor, devotion. Mr. Rawls will be only the tenth I recipient of the Award. Marshall ROTC Award Seminar ...... 5 Mr. Rawls, a native of Franklin, Va., has served his nation, state, community, and alma mater with distinction since his graduation from VMI with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry, Economics/Business Advisory Board .... 5 has served his nation, state, community and alma mater with distinction. He began his service in 1941 as an officer in the United States Army, attaining the rank of major before his discharge in Tucker on With Good Reason ...... 5 1946. He then returned to his hometown to begin his career starting at S.W. Rawls, Inc., a family owned petroleum distributorship. His life has emulated the VMI concept of the citizen-soldier. VMI sponsors Vietnam trip ...... 6 Among his many honors and recognitions are a honorary Doctor of Humanities from the Medical College of Virginia; the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America; the Unsung Virginian Faculty Visit Jordan/Morocco/Yemen . 6 Award; and the First Citizen of Franklin. He has held numerous offices in professional, civic, and governmental organizations and is Battle of New Market Reenactment ..... 7 past-president of the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, Franklin Rotary Club, Old Dominion Area Boy Scouts of America, and Southampton Memorial Hospital. In addition, he is past chairman, Victor D. Hanson to speak at VM1 ...... 7 Continued on page 6 Band in St. Patricks Day Parade ...... 7 President Carter To Accept Jonathan Daniels '61 Claunch to be Battalion Commander ... 8 . Humanitarian Award at VM/, March 29, 2001 Last Bloodmobile visit productive ...... 9 James Earl Carter, Jr., thirty-ninth president of the United States, will be the first recipient of the Jonathan M. Daniels '61 Humanitarian Award. The announcement was made by VMI Steenburgh promoted ...... 9 Superintendent Major General Josiah Bunting III following a speech by The Very Reverend John I A. Simpson, Dean of England's Canterbury Cathedral at the annual Jonathan Daniels ceremony Art Teacher ...... 10 held in Jackson Memorial Hall on March 16. President Carter will come to VMI to accept the Award on March 29, 2001. The Award was established in 1997 by VMI's Board of Visitors. Potpourri ...... 11 Following the dedication ceremony for the Award in February 1998, a committee authorized by VMI's Board of Visitors undertook a national search. The Award emphasizes the virtue of Calendar of Events ...... 12 humanitarian public service with recognition to individuals who have made significant personal sacrifices to protect or improve the lives of others. The committee reviewed many nominations and presented President Carter's name to the Board at its December 1999 meeting. The Board gave its unanimous approval. Alumni and Finals Following a distinguished career of public service to include our nation's highest elected office in which he championed human rights throughout the world, he founded the Carter Center Activities Schedule in Atlanta, Georgia in 1982. Officially dedicated in October 1986, The Carter Presidential Center See page 4 is a nonpartisan and nonprofit Center that addresses national and international issues of public continued on page 2 Hutchings named Commandant ofCadets VMI Superintendent, Major General Josiah Bunting III, has announced the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Eric Dean Hutchings, United States Army, as the Institute's Commandant of Cadets with duties commencing 1 July 1. Hutchings, 45, is currently the Deputy Commander of the Army's elite Tucker's Tenth 75th Ranger Regiment, and he recently received orders on his selection for promotion to colonel. Book Published Col. Hutchings is a 1977 graduate of VMI with a bachelor of arts degree Andrew Foote, Civil War in history, who subsequently earned two masters degrees in military arts and Admiral on Western Waters, the sciences. As a cadet, Col. Hutchings was a First Class Private, a member of tenth book by Col. Spencer C. the 1974 Southern Conference Champion football team, and co-captain of Tucker '59, has just been published VMI's 1976 football team and. He was also a three-year letter winner in track by Naval Institute Press. and field, and was graduated as a Distinguished Military Student. The book traces the life of a "During my own cadetship, in the late seventies, VMI's Commandant was ... William J. Buchanan 'SOB. career naval officer who rose to be Colonel Buchanan was a very positive and powerful influence on not only myself but also every Cadet in the one of the U.S. Navy's first Corps," said Hutchings. "He was able to draw out a person's potential and was particularly effective [in] admirals. During the Civil War, as unearthing the positive attributes that often times lie latent in every youth. In my capacity as VMI's Commandant flag officer of the Union's western I hope to make a contribution to today's youth similar to the one [the commandant] made to my generation." naval forces, Foote was a key The Commandant of Cadets is responsible for the military training and discipline of VMI's 1,250 cadets figure in the February 1862 Union and reports to the Superintendent. He supervises a military and administrative staff. Hutchings replaces Col. victories at Forts Henry and James N. Joyner, VMI Class of 1967, who earlier this year announced his intention to return to the post of Donelson in Tennessee that opened Director of Cadet Affairs. Col. Joyner was named Commandant in August of 1997, after having served as the confederate heartland to the Director of Cadet Affairs since 1995. Union. Later he shared in the Col. Hutchings' distinguished career of twenty-two years of commissioned service to the nation saw him victory at Island No. 10, an action serving in key positions throughout the world. A Master Parachutist, Ranger, SCUBA and Special Forces that gained the Union access to the qualified Infantry officer who has earned the Expert Infantry Badge, he has served with the 5th Special Forces upper Mississippi River. Group at Ft. Bragg, N.C.; the 1''Ranger Battalion in Ft. Benning, Ga.; the 2"d Infantry Division in Korea; the Col. Tucker is the John Biggs XVIII Airborne Corps at Ft. Bragg; as a Parachute Infantry Company Commander in the 82"d Airborne Division; '30 Cincinnati Professor of and again as a Ranger Company Commander with the 3'd Ranger Battalion. He has also served on the staffs of Military History at VMI. the 101'' Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Ft Campbell, Ky.; and the 3'd Mechanized Infantry Division in Wuerzburg, Germany. After a tour with Headquarters AFSOUTH in Naples, Italy, he returned to Ft. Benning, where he became the Commander of the 4th Ranger Battalion, responsible for the US Army's Ranger School. In May 1999, he was selected to be the Deputy Commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment, the position from which he will come back to VMI. His decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, four Meritorious Service Medals, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, six Army Commendation medals, two Army Achievement Medals and a host of other service ribbons and badges. He is a graduate of the US Army's Command and General Staff College, and he was selected to attend the U.S. Army College. Col. Hutchings is married to the former Janine Teresa Thompson and they have three children: Jennifer (18), an ROTC Scholarship cadet at Furman University, Amanda (15) and Michael (12).
President Carter Continued from page 1 policy. Carter Center fellows, associates, and staff join President Carter in efforts to resolve conflict, promote democracy, protect human rights, (!Jl}e Jfnstitute Jl\eport and prevent disease and other afflictions. Through the Global 2000 program, the Center advances health and agriculture in the developing Editor: ...... Burton R. Floyd, III world. Supervising Editor: ...... Col. Mike Strickler President Carter has been recognized and honored nationally and Contributing writers/photographers: Doug Chase, Chris Clark, Maj. Chuck Steenburgh internationally for his humanitarian efforts. His wife Rosalynn joins him Printed by: ...... The News-Gazette, Lexington, Va. in these endeavors. Both are regular volunteers in Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization that helps needy people in the United States The Institute Report is published by the VMI Public Relations Office. Eight issues are printed during the academic year. Inquiries, suggestions, news items, or and other countries renovate and build homes for themselves. address changes should be directed to Editor, The Institute Report, VMI Public "We hope that the Jonathan Daniels Humanitarian Award and Relations Office, Lexington, Virginia 24450-0304. Current and past issues and President Carter's acceptance of the inaugural honor will be an inspiration articles are available on VMI' s web page at
Page2 The Institute Report, April 17,2000 Author Tim O'Brien Speaks atVMI Novelist Tim O'Brien spoke in VMI's Jackson Memorial Hall on April13. O'Brien was graduated with a B.A. in political science from Macalester College in 1968. Upon graduation, he was drafted and sent to Vietnam where he was assigned to 3rd Platoon, A Co., 5th Batt. 46th Inf., as an infantry foot soldier. O'Brien's tour of duty was 1969- 1970. After Vietnam, 0' Brien returned to the states with a Purple Heart and several publishing credits. He became a graduate student at Harvard. Having the opportunity to do an internship at Pictured at the Jonathan Daniels' Monument in the town square of Hayneville are (l tor): John Jackson, the Washington Post, he eventually Mayor of Whitehall, Ala., who attended the Jonathan Daniels symposium held at VMI in 1995; Col. Mike left Harvard to become a Strickler '71, VM1 Public Relations Director; The Very Reverend John A. Simpson, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral; newspaper reporter. Mr. E. Cabell Brand '44; and Ms. Ruby Sales, whose life Daniels saved when he was killed. Ms. Sales also His career as a reporter gave attended the 1995 symposium. Col. Strickler accompanied Dean Simpson and Mr. & Mrs. E. Cabell Brand '44 way to his fiction writing after to Alabama March 14-15. The night of the 14'\ the group attended a banquet in Selma honoring the newly publication of his memoir, If I Die created Jonathan Daniels (VMI Class of 1961) Community Development Corporation. The next day was spent in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and touring historical civil rights locations in Selma, Hayneville, and Montgomery to include the Civil Rights Museum, Send Me Home. the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and the housing development where Jonathan Daniels lived with a black family in As If I Die in a Combat Zone Selma; the jail in which Daniels was placed in August 1965, the Cash Store where he was killed, the monument was being published, O'Brien was to him in Hayneville; and the Southern Poverty Law Center and Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery. hired as a national affairs reporter for the Post. He held this position Federal Oversight ofVMI's Assimilation of for l year before deciding to devote his efforts to writing fiction. He Women in the Corps May End in 2001 wrote Northern Lights in 1975, United States v. Virginia (the "VMI" case) initiated in March 1990 may come to closure in 2001 following Going After Cacciato in 1978, The graduation of VMI's first female cadets to spend four years at the Institute. U.S. District Judge Jackson L. Nuclear Age in 1985, and The Kiser signed an eight page order on March 21, 2000, stating that "the expectation of ... [the United States and Things They Carried in 1990, the Commonwealth of Virginia] is that this case be dismissed ... in the summer of 2001 based on the Court's which was a finalist for both the and the United States' satisfaction that, as reflected in the reports [to the Court], the Commonwealth has Pulitzer Prize and the National satisfied its remedial obligations .... " Book Critics Circle Award. His VMI began filing quarterly reports in December 1996 detailing its progress in assimilating women into latest novel, In the Lake of the the Corps. In January 1999, Judge Kiser dismissed the suit on the strength of the reports, but later reversed his Woods, is now available in decision, agreeing with the Justice Department that the Court should continue its oversight at least until paperback. graduation of the first class in which women originally matriculated. He received the 1979 National The Court's March 21, 2000 order approves provisions developed by the Virginia Attorney General's Book Award in Fiction for Going Office and the Justice Department during lengthy negotiations to explore the possibility of reaching a satisfactory After Cacciato. His novel The protocol to manage this case in the "home stretch." The approved protocol specifically recognizes VMI's Things They Carried won France's good faith effort to assimilate women. prestigious Prix de Meilleur Livre The protocol provides a convenient, generally statistical format for future reports to the Court, ending Etranger and the Chicago Tribune past controversy concerning information reporting. The United States is required to note any concern arising Heartland Prize. His two most from a future report prior to the next following report, and seek its amicable resolution with the Commonwealth. recent novels, In the Lake of the The final report is due in May 2001. A short period for review and resolution of any concerns arising Woods and Tomcat in Love were from the final report will follow. As stated in the March 21 order, "the Commonwealth will [then] move the national bestsellers. Court to [unconditionally] dismiss this case 00 ."because "the Commonwealth has met the obligation 00. 'to formulate, adopt, and implement a plan that conforms with the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment 00 .,'as demonstrated by the 00. reports." The United States agrees that it will not object to the Commonwealth's motion except on the basis of any timely noted, but unresolved concern.
The Institute Report, April17, 2000 Page3 Alumni and Finals Schedule 2000
Thursday, 27 April Tuesday, 16 May
6- 8 p.m. 00000000000000000 Alumni Early-Arrival Reception, Moody Hall Final exams end
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 0000 Preston Library open
Friday, 28 April 4:30p.m. 00000000000000000 ROTC Awards Rehearsal, jackson Memorial Hall
8 a.m. - 10 p.m. 0000000 Preston Library open
8 a.m. - 7 p.m. 000000000 Keydet Bookstore open, Lejeune Hall Wednesday, 17 May
8:30a.m. - 11 p.m. 00 Keydet Kanteen open, Lejeune Hall 8 a.m. -4:30p.m. 0000 Preston Library open
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 000000000 VMI Museum open, jackson Memorial Hall 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 000000000 Keydet Bookstore open, Lejeune Hall
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 000000000 George C. Marshall Library open 8:30a.m.- 11 p.m. 00 Keydet Kanteen open, Lejeune Hall
3:15 p.m. 00000000000000000 Annual Meeting, Friends of Preston Library, TBA 8:45a.m.- 9:30a.m. 0000 Commissioning Rehearsal, jackson Memorial Hall
4:30p.m. 00000000000000000 Faculty and Staff Retirement Review, Parade 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 000000000 VMI Museum open, jackson Memorial Hall
Ground 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 000000000 George C. Marshall Library open
6:30 p.m. 0000000000000000. 50th Reunion Class Reception, Cameron Hall 10 a.m. 00000000000000000000 Cadet Awards Ceremony Rehearsal, jackson
7:45 p.m. 00000000000000000 50th Reunion Dinner, Cameron Hall Memorial Hall
1 p.m. 0000000000000000000000 Graduation Parade Rehearsal
Saturday, 29 April 5 p.m. 0000000000000000000000 ROTC Awards Ceremony, jackson Memorial Hall
7:45 a.m 000000000000000000 Alumni Continental Breakfast, Moody Hall
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. 000000000 Keydet Bookstore open, Lejeune Hall
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 000000000 Preston Library open Thursday, 18 May
8:30a.m. - 11 p.m. 00 Keydet Kanteen open 8 a.m. -4:30p.m. 0000 Preston Library open
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 000000000 VMI Museum open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 000000000 Keydet Bookstore open, Lejeune Hall
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 000000000 George C. Marshall Museum open 8:30a.m. - 11 p.m. 00 Keydet Kanteen open, Lejeune Hall
10 a.m 000000000000000000000 Alumni Annual Meeting, jackson Memorial Hall 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 000000000 VMI Museum open, jackson Memorial Hall
11 a.m 0000000000000000000000 Alumni Review (20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 55th, 60th, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 000000000 George C. Marshall Library open
65th, 75th Reunion classes in Reviewing Party), 11 a.m. - Noon 000000000 Cadet Awards Ceremony, jackson Memorial Hall
Parade Ground 1 p.m. 0000000000000000000000 Graduation Parade Rehearsal
2 p.m. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooOOOO Lee-jackson Lacrosse Classic, W&L 2:30p.m- 4 p.m. 000000 Thursday Evening Inspection (rooms must be in Ml order, final inventory will be taken)
Sunday, 30 April 4 p.m- 4:45 p.m. 00000 Graduation Rehearsal (graduating 1st Class only),
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 000000000 George C. Marshall Museum open Alumni Field/Cameron Hall
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 000000000 VMI Museum open 7:30- 8:30 P,.m. oooooo. Baccalaureate Service, jackson Memorial Hall
1 0 a.m - 4 p.m. 00000000 Keydet Bookstore open, Lejeune Hall
10:30 a.m. 000000000000000 Army/Air Force Memorial Service, jackson Memorial Hall Friday, 19 May
11 :45 a.m. - 11 p.m. 00000 Keydet Kanteen open 8 a.m.-4:30p.m. 0000 Preston Library open
Noon OOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo. Chaplain's Reunion Brunch, Moody Hall 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. 000000000 Keydet Bookstore open, Lejeune Hall
8:30a.m. - 11 p.m. 00 Keydet Kanteen open, Lejeune Hall
Tuesday, 2 May 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 000000000 VMI Museum open, jackson Memorial Hall
4 p.m. 0000000000000000000000 Institute Awards Convocation, Cameron Hall 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 000000000 George C. Marshall Library open
9 a.m - Noon 00000000000 Commissioning Ceremony and Reception, jackson Friday, 5 May Memorial Hall/Memorial Garden
5 p.m. 0000000000000000000000 Faculty Club Social, Moody Hall 11 :30 a.m.- 1 p.m. 000 Buffet for parents and guests, all classes, Crozet Hall
Monday, 8 May 1 :30 p.m. 00000000000000000 Company Changes of Command
Exams begin 2 p.m. 0000000000000000000000 Graduation Parade
3:30p.m 000000000000000000 Weapons Turn In (All Classes), Armory
Friday, 12 May 3:30 p.m- 5 p.m. 000000 Superintendent's Reception for parents and guests,
8 a.m. - 1 a.m. 000000000 Preston Library open Class of 2000, Superintendent's Garden
8 a.m - 5 p.m. 0000000000 Keydet Bookstore open, Lejeune Hall 7 p.m- 8 p.m. 00000000000 VMI Glee Club/Institute Brass Concert, jackson
8:30a.m. - 11 p.m. 00 Keydet Kanteen open Memorial Hall
11 :30 a.m 00000000000000000 First Class exams end 8 p.m- 11 p.m. 000000000 Final Ball, Lejeune Hall (Music By The Board of Visitors Committee Meetings Commanders)
Saturday, 13 May Saturday, 20 May
8 a.m. - 10 p.m. 0000000 Preston Library open 8 a.m.- 1 p.m. 0000000000 Preston Library open
8:30 a.m. - 11 p.m. 00 Keydet Kanteen open 8:30a.m. - 11 p.m. 00 Keydet Kanteen open, Lejeune Hall
9 a.m - 4 p.m. 0000000000 Keydet Bookstore open, Lejeune Hall 8 a.m.-9:30a.m 0000000 All First Classmen, Barracks room closeout by
8:30a.m. 00000000000000000 Board of Visitors Meeting Divisional Inspectors (OCs)
8 a.m.- 10 a.m 000000000 Barracks Closeout inspections for remainder of the Sunday, 14 May Corps
11 p.m. 00000000000000000000 All cadets return to Barracks 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. 0000000000 Keydet Bookstore open, Lejeune Hall
9:30a.m 000000000000000000 All graduating First Classmen form for Courtyard Monday, 15 May Inspection and graduation assembly
No Exams due to New Market Preparation and Ceremony 11 a.m 0000000000000000000000 Graduation Exercises, Cameron Hall
8 a.m. - 1 a.m. 000000000 Preston Library open
9- 11 a.m. 000000000000000 New Market Rehearsal
2 p.m. 0000000000000000000000 New Market Parade
Page4 The Institute Report, April17, 2000 Economics and Business Advisory Board Established at VMI In a February meeting, the members of the Economics and Business Advisory Board voted to approve its Articles of Association, which provide for structure, terms of office and initial committee assignments. The Board had previously met in October 1999 and November 1998. The purpose of the Advisory Board is to help VMI's Department of Economics and Business ensure that its graduates are prepared to face the challenges of the 21st century workplace. The Board shall provide input into the long-range strategic planning process of the department, to include the formulation, revision, and where appropriate, implementation of long-range strategies and policies for advancing the department's educational mission. The Advisory Board will regularly review the economics and business curriculum to assess its relevance and adequacy and may recommend changes to course offerings and/or topics to be included in existing courses. The Advisory Board will further assist in preparing VMI economics and business graduates for private sector careers by developing ties with local, regional and national firms, with the objective of creating internships for students in the department (coordinated by the Office of Career Services). In addition, the Board will assist the department in presenting Career Forums, allowing the students to gain greater awareness of their career options. Finally, members of the Advisory Board will recommend colleagues, classmates or acquaintances as candidates for the on-going economics The Very Reverend John A. Simpson, Dean of England's Canterbury and business speakers series. The Department and the Board believe Cathedral speaks at the annual Jonathan Daniels ceremony held in that students derive significant benefits from the "real world" insights Jackson Memorial Hall on March 16. and experiences these individuals can share. The current members of the Board represent alumni from the mid- 1960s to the late 1990s. They work in a variety of industries, academia, Marshall ROTC Award Seminar and the professions. They are employed in organizations large and small and two are local entrepreneurs. General Henry H. Shelton, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, The creation of this Advisory Board would not have been possible was the keynote speaker at the 23'd George C. Marshall ROTC Award without the advice and assistance of Col. Bob Green '67, Acting VMI Seminar which took place April 12-14, 2000 in Lexington. General Business Executive and Dr. Stewart Husted, Dean of the School of Shelton assumed the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs on October Business and Economics at Lynchburg College. The current officers are 1, 1997. In this capacity, he serves as the principal military advisor to Tom Hancock '67 (chair) and Jay Melvin '80 (vice chair). the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security The Board currently has 15 members, and would like to add several Council. Prior to becoming Chairman, he served as Commander in Chief new members this year. Interested persons may contact Tom Hancock of the United States Special Operations Command. at [email protected] or call (804) 649-9333. General Shelton was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the ROTC program at North Carolina State University. In his role as keynote speaker at the Marshall Seminar General Shelton follows in the Col Spencer Tucker featured on footsteps of several of his distinguished predecessors, Generals Vessey, Powell and Shalikashvili. "With Good Reason" Radio Show More than 250 Marshall Award Winners participated in the Seminar Col. Spencer C. Tucker, professor of history and the John Biggs '30 along with a small contingent of cadets from the United States Military Cincinnati Professor of Military History at VMI, represented the Institute Academy. In addition to General Shelton they heard from Secretary of the week of April 8-12 on the public radio program, With Good Reason. the Army Louis Caldera; General John Abrams, Commanding General Col. Tucker participated in a show entitled "The Rise of the Aircraft of Training and Doctrine Command; Major General Robert Clark, Carrier." The show examined how the emergence of the aircraft carrier commander of the 101 st Airborne Division (air assault), and General in World War II changed the way war at sea was waged. For the first Edward C. Meyer, USA (Ret.). Serving as co-chairmen for the 2000 time in history, two fleets could do battle without coming within sight of Marshall Seminar were General Andrew J. Goodpaster, USA (Ret.) and one another. Carrier launched planes wreaked havoc from the air and Senator Nancy Kassebaum Baker. boosted Allied success in the Pacific. The Marshall Foundation is proud to partner with the U.S. Army With Good Reason is a product of the Virginia Higher Education Cadet Command to sponsor the Seminar, which for more than two Broadcasting Consortium, a joint venture of Virginia's state-supported decades has made a significant contribution to the ROTC training colleges and universities and the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. program. It is a half-hour program which airs weekly on twelve public radio stations To learn more about the Award Seminar visit the Foundation's web throughout Virginia and adjoining states with a potential listening site at www.gcmarshallfdn.org.- Marshall Foundation audience of 1.4 million.
The Institute Report, April17, 2000 Pages New Market Medal Continued from page 1 Virginia State Council of Higher Education; chairman, the Governor's Parents Council, the Keydet Club Board of Governors, and the George Committee on Nursing; vice-chairman, Virginia Higher Education Study C. Marshall Foundation Board. From 1978 to 1990, he was co-chairman Commission; vice-chairman, Governor's Regional Advisory Group for ofthe VMI Campaign that completed two fund-raising phases increasing Heart Disease, Cancer, and Stroke; vice-chairman, Virginia the assets and expectancies of the VMI Foundation to in excess of Comprehensive Health Planning Council; and vice-president, the Eastern $170,000,000. He is a recipient of the VMI Foundation's Distinguished Virginia Medical School Foundation. Mr. Rawls' past directorships Service Award, the highest honor given by that organization. include Continental Telephone Company of Virginia, Franklin Concrete The Medal will be presented to Mr. Rawls on May 15, 2000 at 1 Products Co. and Sentara Health Systems. Current directorships include VMI preceding the annual New Market Ceremony. May 15 h marks the Camp Foundation, South East Virginia 4-H Educational Center, The VMI's annual celebration honoring the cadets who fought at the Battle Village at Woods End, Franklin Southampton Charities, and most recently of New Market in which 10 cadets were killed and 4 7 wounded. The Franklin Area Flood Fund. VMI Corps is the only student body ever to fight as a unit in combat. For the past eight years, he has served as president, Virginia Horse Center Foundation and was chairman of the board of S. W. Rawls, Inc. Past Recipients of the New Market Medal until the company was sold to its employees in 1998. As a member of 1962 ...... Lt. Gen. Charles E. Kilbourne (VMI 1886) the Franklin Baptist Church, he has been a deacon, assistant Sunday 1964 ...... General of the Army George C. Marshall (VMI 1901) School Superintendent, and past president of the Bruner Bible Class. 1965 ...... United States Senator Harry F. Byrd 1971 ...... General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. (VMI 1917) Mr. Rawls' record of service and duty to his alma mater is of equal 1974 ...... Virginia Governor Colgate Darden, Jr. stature. He has been on every major Board at VMI beginning in 1951 as 1978 ...... Virginia Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr. one of the youngest Presidents of the VMI Alumni Association. He served 1980 ...... State Senator ElmonT. Gray (VMI 1946) eight years on the Board of Visitors and was its President from 1970 to 1984 ...... The Honorable John D. deButts (VMI 1936) 1976, has been a trustee of the VMI Foundation, Inc., a member of the 1994 ...... Robert H. Patterson, Jr. (VMI 1949C) VMI Sponsors Vietnam Trip
VMI Faculty Visit jordan, Morocco and Yemen Col. Patrick M. Mayerchak, head of the Department of International Studies; Lt. Col. Dale Davis, director of International Programs and lecturer in Arabic; and Maj. James J. Hentz, assistant professor of political science, traveled to the Middle East and North Africa during the VMI spring break, March 2-12, to further the Institute's broad ranging international exchange programs. In Jordan, the trio consulted with the president and military officials of Mu'tah University, the Jordanian Military Academy, regarding the establishment of a Center for Security and Defense Studies. The VMI team also discussed opportunities for faculty and cadet exchanges. Cadet John Koubaroulis in the entrance to the tunnel complex at Cu Chi. From Jordan, Col. Mayerchak traveled to Morocco where he held VMI recently sponsored a trip to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. discussions with the international studies faculty and dean of Al The trip was sponsored by the Office of International Programs and was Akhawayn University (AUI) in Ifrane, Morocco concerning the the first effort to bring together VMI cadets and veterans of the Vietnam establishment of a new international studies curriculum. He also visited War in a unique learning experience. Cadets Sean Hoover and Withers W. Moncure, both international studies The group stayed in Saigon, Hue, and Hanoi and visited military majors currently studying atAUI. Mayerchak also visited with the staff sites, museums, and cultural attractions. Among the military sites visited of the Arabic Language Institute in Fez. VMI sponsors a summer study were the Cu Chi Tunnels; the Marine base at Khe Sanh near the border program at AUF in for Arabic and French. with Laos, the site of savage fighting during 1967 and 1968; the Lang Lt. Col. Davis traveled from Jordan to Yemen. Hosted by the Yemeni Vei Special Forces Camp; and Camp Carroll, an artillery firebase. The Military Academy, and the Yemen Armed Forces Language Center in group also had the opportunity to see the new Ho Chi Minh Trail Museum the capitol, Sana'a, Lt. Col. Davis held discussions with a number of in Hanoi. high ranking officers, including the deputy chief of staff for training. The group of travelers included Cadet John Koubaroulis '01; Col. These discussions focused on a variety of collaborative efforts, including Spencer C. Tucker '59, John Biggs '30 Cincinnati Professor of History short and long-term cadet exchange, faculty exchange, and cooperative at VMI; Col. Leslie Savage '58, USA (Ret.); Col. Howard Spivey '48, research efforts. USA (Ret.); Don Spivey '60; Col. George M. Brooke III '67, USMC VMI currently has exchange and study abroad arrangements with (Ret.); Charles A. Pritchard '67; tour director Butch Sincock, military and civilian universities and institutions in 10 countries photographer and writer for the Boston Globe; Marguerite Lipman, including; Taiwan, Morocco, Great Britain, Jordan, France, Spain Robert Buford, Jr., and Leslie Savage. Germany, Hungary, Mongolia, and Thailand
Page6 The Institute Report, April17, 2000 Victor D. Hanson to Speak at VMI Band in St. Patricks Day Parade Victor Davis Hanson, professor of classics at California State University's Fresno campus, will speak to the Corps of Cadets and give lectures in the English Department, April 20-23. Hanson is a frequent contributor to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Military History Quarterly and has written or edited six books, including The Other Greeks and The Western Way of War. Hanson was educated at the University of California, Santa Cruz (B.A. 1975), the American School of Classical Studies (1978-1979), and received his Ph.D. in classics from Stanford University in classics (1980). He farmed full time for five years before returning to academia part-time in 1984 to initiate a classics program at California State University, Fresno. Currently he is professor of classics there and coordinator of the Classical Studies Program. In 1991 he was awarded an American Philological Association Excellence in Teaching Award, which is given yearly to the country's top undergraduate teachers of Greek and Latin. He was a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, Cal., and a visiting professor of classics at Stanford University The VMI Regimental Band and Pipes under the direction of British during 1991-1993. Warrant Officer Peter Kane (exchange band director) marched in the He has written editorials and reviewed for the New York Times, Wall 239'h annual St Patrick's Day Parade in New York City on March 17. Street Journal, International Herald Tribune, Weekly Standard, and The four-day trip was planned by the band company staff with overall Washington Times, and has been interviewed on five occasions on coordination done by Cadet Chuck Minski '00. The Band and Pipes National Public Radio, and appeared on the Jim Lehrer PBS Newshour. formed as part of the New York National Guards' 69th Regiment toward He is the author of some sixty articles, book reviews, and newspaper the front of the parade. editorials on Greek, agrarian, and military history, and contemporary The band endured strong winds, snow, sleet and hail during the 2.5 culture and he has written or edited numerous books. miles of the parade route. The band played a variety of traditional Hanson currently resides and works with his wife and three children marches, some Irish tunes, and the VMI Spirit as they passed the review on their farm in Selma, Cal. stand. The band received a hail of applause from the thousands of spectators who had also braved the inclement weather. The band and pipes also played a concert for visitors, alumni and parents of cadets at the pier where the USS Edson, USS Intrepid, and USS Growler are on permanent exhibit in New York harbor. Kane Battle ofNew Market Reenactment conducted the cadets in a variety of VMI and military tunes to an audience of over 150 visitors. To conclude, the band played the VMI Spirit under The reenactment of the Battle of New Market will take place May the direction of guest director Capt. Chris Whittaker '90 (band TAC). 20-21. Over 1000 re-enactors are expected to take the field for the 136th Capt. Whittaker dedicated the Spirit to the Class of 1990 who celebrated anniversary event, held on the original battlefield. its 13th anniversary of breakout (March 18, 1987) on that day. The Great American Civil War Society, a Gettysburg, Penn., based Most of the band stayed aboard the USS Edson where they were nonprofit corporation, has handled many reenactments in its 6 year hosted by former sailors who serve as volunteers. history. GACWS president Ron Paul is working closely with New Market Battlefield State Historical Park in planning this event. Advance tickets are available for $8 per day or $12 for both days and can be purchased at the Battlefield Park. Tickets purchased at the gate will be $ 10 per day or $ 15 for both days. Admission to the Hall of Valor Museum is included in the ticket price. The May 15, 1864, Battle of New Market was one of the most important small battles of the Civil War. A Union Army, numbering almost 9,000 men, under the command of Major General Franz Sigel was stopped short in its invasion of the southern or "upper" Shenandoah Valley by a small Confederate force at New Market. Among the 4,500 troops in Major General John C. Breckinridge's (a former vice-president of the United States before the war) Confederate Army were 257 cadets from Virginia Military Institute. The day-long battle, fought in a driving rainstorm, Six members of the Virginia History Society attended a three-day ended in a Confederate victory and saw the VMI cadets in the thick of conference on the South at The Citadel, April 6-8. The group, which was the fighting, capturing an abandoned cannon at the climax of the battle. accompanied by David Coffey, instructor ofhistory and club sponsor, heard Eight cadets died in the fighting. Two more would die of wounds received presentations on southern history by historians from throughout the in the battle. country, including: Col. Cash Koeniger, VMI professor ofhistory; former Anyone wishing further information or tickets may contact New VMI faculty members Greg Mixon and Keith Dickson '76; and VMI Market Battlefield State Historical Park at 540-740-3101 or 740-3102. alumnus Oscar Williams '88. The group also toured several historic sites Information is also available on the park's website www.vmi.edu/ in and around Charleston. Pictured from left to right are: Cadets Tom museum/nm or Shenandoah Valley Travel Association's website Sebrell, Chad Lloyd, John Lentivech, Justin Harber, Brian Wescott, and www.svta.org/new-market. Joshua Berk.
The Institute Report, April17, 2000 Page7 Claunch Named Battalion Commander
What do you do for an encore when you have already been the answer in a Time Magazine crossword puzzle (April) and you are not even 21? The last several weeks have often seemed a blur to Cadet second classmen Erin Claunch. She was selected as the Institute's first female cadet captain and will assume her responsibilities as Second Battalion Commander next year. Characteristically, she deflects any suggestions of self-importance. " It is a nice honor for me and even more so for all those who have touched my life in any positive way. "It's a great responsibility for each of the cadet officers on our staff to do our best to make sure all runs well," the understated second classman said of her appointment as the third highest ranking cadet in next year's Corps of Cadets. As battalion commander, she will command half of VMI's 1300 cadets. A physics major and graduate of Virginia's Loudoun Valley High School, Claunch will lead the second battalion during formal dress parades and meal formations. Throughout the upcoming school Second classmen Erin Claunch and Derek Bogden will serve as VMI Corps year, the academic, military and physical training of Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, of Cadets' two batallion commanders in 2000-2001. Claunch's selection and Hotel companies will be her responsibility. as the first female cadet to a senior VMI leadership position attracted The announcement of Claunch's appointment brought a flurry of national media attention. publicity as she is the first female cadet to be chosen for such a high full-time, I believe they were exposed to a disciplined work ethic and Corps leadership position. She was featured in an extensive article in the need to establish goals and pursue them to fruition." The Washington Post and was interviewed on CBS's The Early Show Erin acknowledges her deep, long-term commitment to the sport and NBC's Today Show. What did the articulate cadet think of those she loves. "I loved being around the bam, learning what had to be done experiences? "The newspaper stuff was pretty cool because they asked and doing it." Her first direct exposure to VMI came while joining her questions and my answers came out pretty much the way I said them," mother on many trips to the Virginia Horse Center for Arabian shows. she offered. "The television stuff was different. I didn't really care for Claunch cited her participation in competitive riding, but it was up to that too much." other sources to point out the many honors she had earned, including Pressed further, she added, "They seemed determined to find out that of reserve hunter pleasure Arabian champion at a major show. from me if I had been treated badly in some way at VMI. I haven't, and Her high school extracurricular activities were not limited to equine I told them so despite their persistence. The biggest problem for me was pursuits. She began to run regularly while a sixth grader because "(she) that those interviews totally threw me off my scheduling of all aspects enjoyed it and it was a good time for me to think." She also was involved of my Institute life." in karate "from fourth grade until some time in high school." Again, one Her father, Gary, is not surprised to hear this complaint. "Erin has must find another source to discover that Erin had earned a Black Belt always been an extremely focused person. She has always tried to plan in karate and had won gold and bronze medals in Junior Olympics karate ahead and to keep a tight handle on the usage of her time. She's a planner, competition. and I believe that this had allowed her to participate in so many different "I knew I wanted to go to a military school. It seemed a natural activities in her life." extension of the type of disciplined and orderly life pattern I had Gary and his wife, Carol, both grew up on farms and espoused the established. I didn't want to go to an academy because they take up 12 values of hard work, self-reliance and curiosity necessary to thrive and months a year, and I wanted to have summer choices," she related. After survive in the farming life. Gary pursued a career as an Air Force officer. her rat year, she participated in Air Force ROTC summer survival training. The young Claunch family grew to include daughters Erin and Courtney. She did so well that she was asked back as an instructor. Instead, she "Gary was away from home for long periods of time, but we were chose to go to Oxford as a participant in the Virginia Program at Oxford lucky to have had a farm then near Gloucester," recalled Mrs. Claunch summer school. As is her wont, the physics major took a course in recently. Matter of factly she recalls the beginnings of her career as a English Literature. "There's not much Erin is not curious about," noted breeder, trainer and shower of fine Arabian horses. "I knew nothing about her father. Arabian horses until I got one. I devoured every article, book or other Assistant Dean of the Faculty Col. Susan Barr was a member of the form of information on Arabian horses I could. Today we have a working officer selection board that helped to whittle down the 60 applicants Arabian horse farm. who appear before the Board to the 21 who are recommended to the "That's something that we both have tried to pass on to our daughters Commandant and Superintendent for further consideration. "My first -a love for exploration and a curiosity about anything new and different," exposure to Erin came when she was selected for membership in Phi Eta Mrs. Claunch continued. "We also always taught our girls to do things Sigma, an honorary fraternity that honors extraordinary freshman to their best of their ability . . . to set specific goals and then compete academic achievement. Her peers elected her vice-president of the within themselves to accomplish those goals." organization," Barr recalled. "Early on, one could sense something Erin learned those lessons well and has applied them consistently different about Erin. Not only because of her ongoing desire to be an throughout her current cadet tenure. "How well I remember those days astronaut, but she was so focused on physics and her desire to be a good on the farm working with my mother's horses. We all had to work hard. cadet. She sets her own agenda, and I mean that as a major compliment," Each of us had specific chores, and it was our responsibility to get them continued Barr. "She's self-contained and doesn't get knocked off task done," said the soft-spoken Claunch. easily." Erin's father, Gary, used lessons from his career to guide his She scored considerably higher on the VFT than the average male daughters. "When they were younger and I was still in the Air Force or female cadet. She did 15 pullups, which illicited a chuckle. "I could
PageS The Institute Report, April 17, 2000 only do four pullups when I got here and I got to the point to where I could do 15 for the VFT." Ironically, Claunch never took a physics class before attending VMI. "I had taken some advanced placement Steenburgh chemistry courses at Valley, but I never really delved into physics until the last semester of my last chemistry course, and I fell in love, particularly with astrophysics," she said. promoted Erin Claunch is a magnificent physics student," said Col. Philip Peters '57, professor and head of physics Charles J. "Chuck" Steenburgh and astronomy. "She does very well and wears academic stars," he said shortly before administering a mid '86, Associate Public Relations Di week nighttime test to a class that includes Claunch. "And she has never, never, never, never, ever fallen rector, was promoted to lieutenant asleep in class," he added with a wry chuckle. "And that's not an insignificant thing around here," he concluded. colonel during a ceremony in the Erin's focus has carried over to the cross-country team. "When Erin arrived, it was easy to see how superintendent's office on April 11. focused she was, but her talent level needed to go some for her to break into the top five," observed Head Lt. Col. Steenburghjoined the Track and Cross Country Coach Brig. Gen. Michael Bozeman. "Quickly we all realized that Erin does what public relations staff in June 1997 she has to do to get better. As a rat, she ran sixth or seventh on the squad. This past year, she ran third. And after spending seven years on the that's all due to her hard work and determination. She's one of the rare people her age who absolutely wants faculty in the Department of to maximize her opportunities. International Studies. He continues "She re-invented the Equestrian Club here; she has become a very good fencer," added Bozeman. "VMI to teach and also serves the is so very fortunate to have her as a member of the Corps." Commandant's office as an officer Wait a minute. Erin fences, too? "She's amazing," observed Capt. James Birdseye, instructor of history in-charge. and Fencing Club advisor. Speaking of the fencing team's recent trip to Paris to compete with schools from Among his public relations around the world, he related, "Erin was competing in the saber event -a weapon she had never used before duties are coordinator for the news this meet- and hung tough with the seventh-ranked saber performer in the world before succumbing. section and photo editor and chief "Most of the rest of the team just wanted to hang out in Paris. Erin knew exactly where she wanted to go technician for the sports section on and what she wanted to. She and I and a couple others followed through on her wish to eat a full-course meal VMI's internet homepage and the in a French restaurant. Not only did she behave as though she had been there before, she exposed us to her Institute's liason for state affection for escargot," continued Birdseye. governmental relations. "In a society that tends to focus more on process, Erin concentrates on goals," summarized an admiring Birdseye. "In a society that seems to say it's okay if you just try, Erin succeeds." And are there any new thoughts percolating in Erin's head? "Yes. I really want to form a mounted color guard unit before I leave here. I board my horse in Fairfield, and there are a couple of other cadets who have their horses here. I just think a mounted color guard would be so cool, don't you?"
Last Bloodmobile Visit Most Productive of Year
Total goal: 305 units Total productive units: 400 Total first time donors: 44
Congratulations to all participated in making the last visit the most productive bloodmobile for the school year of 1999-2000. and the first time of having the most productive visit the last one of the school year. Usually the first visit of the school year is the most productive.
General James L. Jones, Commandant ofthe Marine Corps, addressed some 2,000 spectators, including dozens of Marine Corps veterans and the entire VMI Corps of Cadets, at the public dedication ceremony honoring Marine Lieutenant General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller '21 on Friday, 7 April2000. The event was the culmination of an effort spearheaded by the First Marine Division Association to honor "Chesty" Puller, a Marine legend and one of the nation's most highly decorated military men. The day's events included the dedication of an expanded Hall of Valor in the VMI Museum, with a permanent "Chesty" Puller display, and the presentation of two cadet awards: the "Chesty" Puller Award to 1st Classman Timothy Joyce of Quantico, Va., and the Lt. Gen. Lewis B. Puller, USMC and Class of 1921 Memorial Scholarship to 2nd Classman William Boulware of Birmingham, Alabama.
The Institute Report, April17, 2000 Page9 Art Instructor Enjoys Irony ofMaking Art Out ofThings That Challenge Conventional Expectations Strange it was to approach a man from behind as he gently tapped a "Every student of art at one point assumes that he or she is hanging nail into the wood-paneled walls on Lejeune Hall's third floor. the only person who has ever felt their particular level of frustration. I Seemingly satisfied, he leaned over, picked up a nicely framed drawing often remind students that how the artist deals with frustration speaks and hung it from the nail. volumes of that individual. Just because one is frustrated doesn't mean Stepping back, he tilted his head left, then right, then stepped back one has no talent. I've been frustrated a lot in my own work," said Hobbs. and bobbed his head up and down. He reached forward, touched the And a prodigious amount of work Hobbs has produced metal frame and adjusted it to the left ever so slightly and stepped back during his decades of painting. "I've always been attracted to examining again for perusal. geometric, man-made form as exposed to natural form." He laughed, Frank Hobbs, an instructor of fine arts at the Institute, is excited "Find me an old bridge somewhere, and I'm happy." about the upcoming Cadet Art Show, which he was in the process of In fact Hobbs has found an old bridge somewhere. "This hanging. "I really hope a lot of folks will come by to look at these works. construction they're doing on the East Lexington Bridge fascinates me. A tremendous amount of effort went into these works, and as you can I've been following that since the project started. I take a lot of photos see, some of them are really quite good." for future reference, but I also like to go down and watch and start to Like a proud father, he rattled off the cadets' names whose work is sketch what it is I see. Sometimes I think mankind is so enthusiastic on exhibit on Lejeune's third floor. "Some of these cadets come to me about getting rid of old things and replacing them with new things that with a great eye and some developing talents, while others are finding we fail to appreciate the beauty and form inherent in so many of our out about drawing for the first time. In this year' show are works by older buildings and structures. It's safe to say they don't make 'em like cadets Karen M. Wheeler '03, Manuel Correa, Jr. '00, David J. Narcum they used to." '03, Melissa S. Williams '01, Trevor J. Chesler '99, Ryan C. Cates '01, Hobbs has long been fascinated with all landscapes, but Richard D. Hodge '01, Frank T. Lucero, Jr. '00, Lisa M. Kasper '02, has developed a particular affinity for "urban" landscapes. Recently, a Samuel D. Carney '02, Deffy Z. Mubangu '01 and Doug B. Warner '03. collection of his urban landscapes was on display at the Reynolds Gallery "It would be very validating for these cadet artists for people to in Richmond. He uses the hard lines and angles of man-made structures view their works. One of my favorite artists, Degas, said, 'Art is really a as hard backdrop for the colors he mixes to capture the rest of the scene. battle.' Some of the cadets have come to appreciate that sentiment," "I rather enjoy the irony of making art out of things that Hobbs continued. challenge conventional expectations of landscapes as dealing with pretty Hobbs teaches one course a semester at VMI, another at neighboring pastoral countrysides," he told a reviewer of his Richmond show. He Washington and Lee, and also teaches weekly classes at the Beverly continues to proffer that viewpoint every time he goes down to the battle Street Studio in Staunton, an exciting non-profit school and gallery which zone that is the East Lexington Bridge construction site to find new Hobbs and several of his artist friends created several years ago. "I love inspiration for his brush and his classrooms. to teach. It's exciting to see what is created by my students." He also mentioned the international classes in Italy and France, which are conducted by teachers from the Beverly Street Studio. In addition to his current classes at VMI and W &L, the 42-year-old has also taught at Mary Baldwin, James Madison University, Blue Ridge Community College, and Randolph-Macon Women's College, located in his boyhood hometown of Lynchburg. Asked how it was he came to focus on painting and art as his life's work, he smiled whimsically and said, "I really don't know where the fascination came from or how it started. I just know it's always been there. When I was 9 years old, I knew I wanted to draw and paint for the rest of my life. Trying to work from observation always fascinated me. I've always been attracted to the man-made elements in our world." He pointed out the window at Preston Library across the parade ground. "Those clouds drifting around in the sky are in natural form. They change every second. The building on the other hand is in geometric form; it's not likely to change its appearance much. But then notice details like the satellite dishes on top and those wind vanes. I could paint that and 100 years from now, people will wonder what those dishes and such were," he continued. Third Classman Gordon E. Powers, an environmental leadership student, But isn't it tough to interest students at a military school in drawing listens to one of the many exhibitors at Environment Virginia 2000, held at VMI on 5-6 April 2000. Hosted by the Virginia Departments of lessons? He laughed and then spoke, "Some of my friends' eyebrows Environmental Quality, Health, and Conservation & Recreation as well shot up when I told them I was going to be teaching at VMI. It's actually as the VMI Research Laboratories, Inc., the conference serves as an annual a wonderful place to teach art. For most cadets, it is second nature that gathering for government, industry, and education representatives from training to be good at anything involves self-discipline, perseverance, the environmental sector. Keynote speakers at this year's conference and the ability to deal with frustration. Painting involves discipline, included Secretary of Natural Resources John Paul Woodley, Secretary perseverance, and the willingness to endure frustration. VMI and teaching of Health & Human Resources Claude Allen, and John Shephard, Vice art are actually a great match. President, Newport News Shipbuilding.
Page 10 The Institute Report, April17, 2000 Potpourri •:• An article by Col. Bruce C. Vandervort, professor of history and editor, Journal of Military History, will be published this summer in New Interpretations of Naval History: Selected Papers from the Fourteenth Naval History Symposium by the Naval Institute Press in Annapolis, Md. The article, entitled "Marines and Martial Races: The Recruitment of the Tirailleurs Senegalais in French West Africa, 1857- Air Force Staff Members Run 1914," originally appeared in the form of a paper given by Col. 28th Annual Shamrock Marathon Vandervort at the Fourteenth Naval History Symposium at the U.S. Naval On March 18, two members from Detachment 880 ran the Shamrock Academy in Annapolis on September 23-25 1999. Marathon in Virginia Beach, Va. Maj. Alice Hunger ran the marathon in •:• Col. Edwin L. Dooley, Jr., executive assistant to the superintendent, 3 hours and 28 minutes placing 280'h overall (8th place in her age group traveled to Sacramento, Ca., during Spring Furlough to lead a two-day strategic planning session of the Progressive Community Development and 21'' place among all women) and Capt. Sean Harrington ran it in 4 Corporation, an African-American, church-related non-profit community hours and 47 minutes placing 1218th overall. The marathon was a Boston development organization. Col. Dooley provided his services without Marathon and Olympic qualifier, fielding over 1600 runners from across charge as part of VMI's public service mission. Previously, he has the country. provided similar planning assistance to Saint HOPE Academy of For both runners, it was their first experience at running a 26.2- Sacramento, California, an African-American, church-related after school program for inner city children; Saint HOPE Academy of Phoenix, mile marathon. Each had trained for 5 months leading up to the race Arizona; the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, Virginia; and the and dedicated numerous hours in running preparation for the event. Their Stonewall Jackson House Board of Trustees of Lexington. Dooley was aim was to show cadets that one of the facets of officership is building VMI's planning officer before being appointed executive assistant to physical strength and setting a goal/task and completing it. The Air Force the Superintendent. detachment instills in its cadets the necessity for officers to build mental, •:• The Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society gave a tour of the VMI post to a group of student from Central Elementary School on March 17. The physical and moral strength, as well as taking accountability for their students represented Central's Science Club which is composed of 4th actions, and maintaining their priorities. Setting the example with events and 5th graders. The students were given a tour of the post and specially like this marathon, and the day-in and day-out mentorship/guidance from guided tours of the VMI and Marshall Museums. The Society also the staff, is Detachment 880's way of building superior officers for participated in the Rockbridge Area Community Cleanup on March 25. tomorrow's Air Force. Approximately 10 members were involved with the project. The cleanup sites were located in various locations of the county. Phi Eta Sigma's Both runners are scheduled to run another marathon this year. Maj. goal is to be an active service organization that greatly represents the Hunger will be running the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. spirit of the Institute. as part ofthe VMI' s women's team, and Capt. Harrington will be running •:• Dr. Stanley L. Sandler, the 1999-2000 Edwin P. Conquest Visiting the Air Force Marathon in Ohio along with any Air Force cadets that are Professor, presented a lecture entitled "Psychological Warfare in the up to the challenge. Korean War" on April 8 in Lejeune Hall. •:• Col. Mike Strickler, VMI public relations director, attended the 56th annual Radio and Television Correspondents' Dinner held April 6th at the Washington Hilton Hotel. President Clinton was the featured speaker, AFROTC Upcoming Events in April and Darrell Hammond of Saturday Night Live fame also gave after dinner On 2-4 April, cadets will be participated in the annual Spring FTX. remarks. Among others in attendance were Secretary of State Madeleine This year's FTX was comprised of individual base visits to Langley Air Albright, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, Senators John McCain and Chuck Robb, and CBS anchor Dan Rather. Col. Strickler Force Base in Virginia, Shaw Air Force Base and Charleston Air Force was the guest of Mike Whately, photo journalist for WRC-TV in Base in South Carolina, Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, and Washington. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. •:• Col. Paul Pierpaoli, assistant to the superintendent and adjunct The detachment dining-out will be held onApril21 in Moody Hall. professor of history, will present a paper at the annual meeting of the The guest speaker for the evening is Col. Glenn A. Trimmer, a member Society for Military History in Quantico, Va entitled: "Guns or Butter or Guns and Butter?: The Politics of Rearmament, 1949-1953." Col. of the VMI class of 1977. Pierpaoli has also been invited to Seoul, Korea in June to represent the On 30 April, the Army/Air Force memorial service will be held in United States as a featured speaker at the International Symposium in J.M. Hall at 10:30 am. The ceremony is to honor those service members Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War. The event that have made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. is being sponsored by the Korean Political Science Association, The Dong-A Daily News, The Korean War Studies Association, and the United States Information Service. The subject of the talk will be: "The Meaning of the 50th Anniversary of The Korean War." •:• Col. Thomas W. Davis, professor of history, was the featured speaker Army Cadets Participate in FTX at Ft. Pickett in March for the Phi Alpha Theta initiation ceremony at Mary Baldwin In early April, over 300 Army ROTC cadets and cadre went to Ft. College. Phi Alpha Theta is an international history honors society. The Pickett, Virginia for the Spring Field Training Exercise (FTX). The cadet title of his address was, "Teaching and Writing History: Observations After Thirty Years." led organization planned and participated in events over a four -day period. •:• Members of the VMI Society of Physics Students and students in The cadets conducted land navigation, participated in a Leadership PY 453, a class on nuclear reactor engineering, recently took a field trip Reaction Course, conducted platoon-level patrolling, fired the M16, to the Surry Nuclear Power Station, located on the south shore of the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, and the M60 Machine Gun. In addition, James River across from Jamestown and Williamburg. The visit included the juniors went through the Squad Situation Lanes in preparation for a tour of the nuclear plant and a meeting of the Virginia Section of the American Nuclear Society. An officer of Dominion Energy (formerly Advanced Camp this summer. Virginia Power) spoke at the meeting on the future of a deregulated Advanced Camp is a six-week training and evaluation period for electric power industry in the United States. The students were cadets prior to commissioning. The training simulated experiences the accompanied on the trip by Lt. Col. Ross Thomas, associate professor cadets face at Advance Camp. Returning to VMI the cadets were tired of physics and astronomy, and Cmdr. John E. "Ned" Riester, associate but well experienced with Army tactics and knowledge. professor of civil and environmental engineering.
The Institute Report, April17, 2000 Page11 VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE FIRST CLASS PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE U.S. POSTAGE LEXINGTON, VA 24450-0304 PAID LEXINGTON, VA PERMIT NO. 12
CALENDAR OF EVENTS For a complete Listing of Finals Activities, see page 4
Monday, 17 April: Friday, 28 April: Promaji Club Awards Dinner. Spring Reunion Weekend. Thesday, 18 April: Outdoor Track@ Penn Relays (through April29). 4 p.m. Publications Board meeting. Tennis @ SC Champ., Chattanooga, Tn. (through Wednesday, 19 April: April30). 2 p.m. Baseball @ Marshall. 4:30p.m. Parade, parade ground. Friday, 21 April: 7 p.m. Baseball vs. William & Mary. ASCE Student Competition (through April 22). Saturday, 29 April: Outdoor Track @ SC Champ., Boone, N.C. 11 a.m. Parade, parade ground. Golf@ SC Toum. (through April23). 2 p.m. Lacrosse @ Washington & Lee. 4:30p.m. Parade, parade ground. 3 p.m. Baseball vs. William & Mary. Saturday, 22 April: Sunday, 30 April: Outdoor Track @ SC Champ., Boone, N.C. 10:30 a.m. Army/Air Force Memorial Service, J.M. Hall. Noon Baseball vs. College of Charleston (double header) Noon Chaplain's Brunch. Sunday, 23 April: 2p.m. Baseball vs. Richmond. 1 p.m. Baseball vs College of Charleston. Thesday, 2 May: Monday, 24 April: 3 p.m. Baseball vs. Liberty. 3:30p.m. Lacrosse vs. Lees-McRae. 4p.m. Institute Awards Convocation, Cameron Hall. (See Publications Board Award Dinner. page 4). Wednesday, 26 April: 2 p.m. Academic Board meeting.
Page12 The Institute Report, April17, 2000