Finally – Bob Mischak into Army Sports Hall of Fame
See photo & story below
Now we have lost Lowell Sisson (see Lowell Remembers on Sisson’s page) West Point has yet to recognize what these Cadets did.
Another Down – Leroy Lunn
Captain of the 1953 Army Football Team
Class of 1962 Room
I would expect many members of the 1953 – 1954 Corps of Cadets recall the last few minutes of the 1953 Army Duke Game as the most exciting. But then the Corps of Cadets contributed a great deal to that victory.
(The Bugles and the Drums – – and the constant GO! GO! GO! by the Corps)
Bob’s 70+ yard rundown of Duke’s All American half back; Dukes 4 running plays; Army taking over inches from the Goal Line; Army’s immediate punt out; Duke’s 4 unsuccessful pass plays.
Bob was to say – – –
“From a player’s stand point, that was the epitome of any game, team, and student body support that I’ve been associated with – bar none.”
https://forwhattheygave.com/2010/01/15/class-nomination-letters-bob-mischaks-letter-2/
2. A 2011 visit to the Naval Academy to attend the Army – Navy Wrestling Match in Alumni Hall resulted in an additional section under Categories. The arm rest of the seat held a brass plaque. It named a Naval Academy Graduate with the following – Cruiser USS Houston 1942. It was sobering as it meant – that graduate had gone down with The Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast – sunk by the Japanese in 1942. The new Category is Killed in Action.
https://forwhattheygave.com/category/killed-in-action/
3. There will be one more section added to Categories.
4. There are several items relating directly to the Navy. Take a minute to at least read the Comment about Fleet Admiral Nimitz and “I was a Sailor Once” It reminds us of our years in which we gave.
https://forwhattheygave.com/2013/03/13/the-navy/
On Dec 4, 2016, at 7:19 PM a member of Class of ’49 passed along this story:
The big game is this Saturday. The 1945 game was memorable and merits disclosure of its pre-game event.
We in company H-2, later M-2, had constructed two vehicles. One was built upon an amphibious vehicle. We built a superstructure on it to resemble a Navy ship. The other looked like an Army tank and was mounted on a flatbed trailer. A platform ahead held a 75mm pack howitzer. The plan was to fire the howitzer at the ship, which was rigged to collapse its superstructure and emit clouds up colored smoke. I was the gunner on the howitzer. So, the tank chased the ship around the football field until they stopped at opposite ends of the 50 yard line.
As was then the custom, the President attended the game. His box was on the 50 yard line on the Navy side and he was to change sides at the half. The secret service was on extra alert, because there had been an assassination rumor. They got very excited when they saw me point a cannon at the President’s box.
They came running across the field waving their arms and screaming “Stop!”. We had put a lot of effort into this skit. So, I fired the howitzer. The superstructure collapsed, colored smoke erupted, and the Army mule appeared behind the tank. The only damage was to the secret service people who got sprayed with flaming cotton from the blank round.
I can’t remember who won the game.
Mike Belter – I finally finished that book on the 1914 Army Football Team, and published it as an e-Book.
Go to Army Teams, Football, then select 1914 Team
General Martin Dempsey, is ordered the standards be dropped so that women can pass the test to become Marine infantry officers. This can prove disastrous. In all 29 women failed to pass the rigorous standards required for combat officers. Only four women were able to pass the first day’s test. April 21, 2015 by Steven Ahle
See Sage Santangeo’s comments on why she failed.
She states Standards must be maintained.
https://forwhattheygave.com/2015/04/23/why-women-failed-the-marine-officer-coarse/
Most of the Army Navy Games up to 1999 have news articles listed. There is a section of Football Cartoons under Army GreatsBob Carroll – Class of 1962 added West Point, a Century Ago 1911-1920: An Amazing Decade Click on the photo
http://cdm16099.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/p15241coll3 The above link is to the Nimitz Collection on the Naval Academy Web Site.Sometimes you have to give the Navy Credit http://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafternoon.com/n-a/i-was-a-sailor-once “The older we get the better we was”Teresa Agnes Soblesk – at her induction into the Army Sports Hall of Fame CAUTION – Graduates should not mention this Web Site to High School Student Athletes. Compliance with both the letter and intent of NCAA Rules is an Academy Expectation. Questions can be resolved by contacting Ron Salvatore or the Compliance Staff at Army Athletics Association, Assistant Athletics Director – Compliance and Academics (845) 938-2576 Ron.Salvatore@usma.eduPlease Note – A by Class listing of Graduates who have had information placed on this Web Site are at http://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafternoon.com/wp-current/site-listingsNote – this is a Class of 1962 Web Site; it is NOT an Official United States Military Academy Web Site2010 Army Sports Hall of Fame InducteesClick on each photo for larger photo. Joe Stilwell , Peter Vann and Al Rushatz have a great deal of material on their pages.
2004 – 2009 Hall of Fame Inductees are athttp://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafternoon.com/wp-ashof/2004-2009
John will take out two — Al will just have to run over the last Middie. The 13 Page Nomination of the 1953 Army Football Team for West Point’s Sports Hall of Fame is athttp://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafternoon.com/wp-53/nom-team The Nomination Letters by the Classes of 1954, 1955, 1957 and 1962 along with separate Nomination Letters by 3 Members of the Class of 1956 who were major contributors to the Team’s Success and Bob Mischak’s Nomination Letter are athttp://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafternoon.com/wp-letters/bob-class People come onto this site searching for material which has not been added as yet. If you have material to add, photos, stories, film or videos that belong — please send an Email to ArmyAthletes@aol.com.1. It was at the Polo Grounds, Army ahead 14-13 late in the 4th when 7th ranked Duke, from inside their own 30 sprung the reverse. Red Smith, Duke’s All American cut through Army’s right side crossing the 50, and breaking clear. All that could be seen in the old game film was a wide open runner headed for the score. Suddenly at the 20 Bob started to close as if appearing from nowhere. He caught Red at the 7. Army held on four straight downs, taking over an inch from the goal line. Army was back. In the locker room after the game, a number of the players who had played nearly the entire game, both sides of the ball, had their Triple A t-shirts cut off with scissors. Col Blaik, his eyes glistening handed Bob the game ball with the words “Don’t ever give up”. It was the team that gave more than any other. It was the season Army would “Return to Glory”. The play – Bob’s rundown and Army’s Goal Line Stand is at – http://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafternoon.com/armylore/50 Click here for The 1953 Football Team 2. The Loss was devastating – to the Players from whom their Coach had drawn so much; to the Corps of Cadets which had risen to such passion and to we Graduates who seek such excellence from West Point’s Teams. Two years later remaining team members wanted to try and put meaning into what they once had – Major Wallen mentioned collecting a stone from each Campus in the League. As the years unfold might those players rise again to that same height of committment whenever our Nation calls on them in time of need. Please go to The Stones 3. Although his accomplishments are lost in memory, as a member of “The Class the Stars Fell On”, he was one of Army’s great baseball players. 4. The 2d floor of Arvin Gym is hot as hell in July and August. It mattered little that the morning had been spent running four miles in formation or rolling around on the grass with the sweat pouring off. Each time, walking out on that old hard wood floor provided an instant rejuvenation; an escape from Beast; a brief return to normalcy. She left everything on the court during the ninety minutes they allowed her to play the game she loved. It is with that passion that she gave over the next four years. As a starter Yearling, Cow and Firstie Year, she made her jump shot known. 5. It was the Fall of 1953. Years later Earl Blaik was to write of that Season – – “For two years these boys had seen the roughest action. They had lived with the coaching lash, dirt, blood, and defeat.” Pete started the season on the B squad. One day at practice they were running the next week’s opponents plays against the Second Team – A Squad Defense — and doing quite well. Col Blaik came over, watched for a few minutes, blew his whistle and had two B Squaders change jerseys with A Squad players. From that day on Pete was on the A Squad. After the jersey exchange Pete was sent over to where the backs were working with Vince Lombardi, who asked Pete if he knew the plays — which of course he didn’t but faked it — and managed to get by with only a little of Coach Lombardi’s sarcasm. It was Col Blaik’s message that day to every player and it got their attention and made practices more competitive. A little over 5 years later Col Blaik retired. Joe Steffy, Class of ’49, Army’s only Outland Trophy Winner asked his Coach what were his best memories of the 18 Army Navy Games. He mentioned two, one of which was Pete running through, around or over every Navy Player on the Field in the Fall of 1955. 6. During practice Coach Brock wanted him to wear a red shirt to prevent further injury to his ankle. He said — “Coach I play for Army not Stanford”. He was an Army Fullback. 7. “Kirschenbauer, Kirschenbauer, I saw George Kirschenbauer hit a home run over the roof of Cullum Hall” Comment by son of Mr. Link (PE Dept.) Spring of 2006, when George’s name was mentioned. The excitement in his voice was as if was May of 1962. What we did made a difference. 8. At the weigh in everyone could see he had difficulty making weight; that he had been weakened going to 167. Coach Alitz was always willing to juggle his lineup based on who the opposing Coach put on the mat; so it was that another Army Wrestler was sent out for the 167 Pound Class. His time came in the last match – Unlimited. As he stepped on the mat his 215 pound opponent’s lips curled into a smirk. It took him less than a minute to pin his man. Never smirk at an Army Wrestler! The ties that bind Army Athletes9. In 1952, Cadet Joe Austin of the U.S. Military Academy Lacrosse Team used a six foot stick while playing crease attack. Joe made an all-time West Point record of ten goals in one game and had a career total of eighty goals for three years of play which (when the story was told) was still a school record. He was selected 1st team All-American at attack. In 1962, the then Captain Joe Austin of the United States Air Force, was an assistant coach of the Army Lacrosse Team. Bob Fuellhart ’62, the second Lonely End, (following Bill Carpenter) on the Football Team, was playing on the Army Lacrosse Team as a defense man. Bob became very distressed when his favorite stick was broken in scrimmage. Assistant Coach Joe Austin, who had treasured his six foot high scoring attack stick for ten years generously loaned it to Fuellhart. The head of the stick was much narrower than we liked for defensive use in those days but Bob felt that it helped his throwing and catching. (Today almost every defense stick has a head of this size which put Bobby much ahead of his time.) Appropriately, Fuellhart became first team All-American at close defense and won the Schmeisser Award as the outstanding defense man of 1962. Bill Carpenter was recipient of the Schmeisser Award in 1960. This would seem to be quite a rarity for two players Joe and Bob, in two opposite positions, ten years apart, utilizing the same stick to become outstanding players of their times. Both Joe Austin and Bob Fuellhart were killed in the Vietnam War in the mid 1960’s. Joe Austin, awarded 2 Silver Stars, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Purple Heart was first declared missing 19 March 1969, and confirmed Killed In Action 25 May 79. Bill Carpenter was nominated for the Medal of Honor received the Distinguished Service Cross. Bob Fuellhart, awarded a Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars (V), and Purple Heart, was Killed in Action 12 Aug 65, the day his daughter was born. A Half Century of Lacrosse by William H. (Dinty) Moore III, the long-time Lacrosse Coach at Navy. It was told to Moore by Army Coach Jim (Ace) Adams. Edited by Butch Darrell Captain 1962 Lacrosse Team There are 10 additional pages of Army Lore – Click on the MORE button below
For Names: See Army Lore – ReferencesClick on the small pictures on the left column For Army’s Greatest Athletes: Click on the Army A above leftCopyright December 2006 The photographs and articles you will find are the record. However, there are stories associated with those accomplishments that should be told. The Cadets of today need to know what went before. This site is focused on the athletic accomplishments of West Point Graduates. Military careers after graduation is not what this site is about, unless it relates directly to the Academy. The exception to that stipulation is for Classmates Killed in Action or awarded the Medal of Honor. Each Class must decide what it wants for input and is responsible for that input. It is the intent that the Academy either link to or absorb this web site at some point in the future. This is a pilot site. Changes are being made as the site is developed. To understand what this site is about, please read the Disclosure above. The why is the last entry under Credits. The following is a list of where you can find data similar to what we are looking for. 1. The pages of Army Lore – click on Army Lore – References for the Athlete’s names. 2. By clicking on the Army A you will go to the start of a listing of Army’s Greatest Athletes. The page needs a lot of work. 3. By clicking on the small photos on the left particularly the 3d & 4th you will see how that area is being developed. 4. This is the link to very grainy series of Bob Mischak‘s run down of Red Smith, in what some would say is Army’s Greatest Game. http://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafternoon.com/armylore/50 5. The 150s, Lightweight, Sprint Program is into its 52d year. That page is started but needs a lot of work. http://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafternoon.com/wp-teams/150-lightweight-football 6. Draft Data Entry Sheets for Teams & Individuals are at Submissions. Class of 1962 Can Do will give you more ideas for input. 7. Contact can be made at ArmyAthletes@aol.com 8.There are over 1,000 photos and documents covering the period Spring of 1959 to Spring of 1962 (Class of 62’s 3 years of elgibiliby) to be loaded onto the site. The material was scanned at the USMA Library. Each Class can assume there are similiar amounts at the Library. 9. Rugby — Rugby became a Club through the efforts of the Can Do Class. 10.Identification of Athletes is currently at Army Lore – References 11.Report of errors or recomendations for the site can be made at, ArmyAthletes@aol.com USMA Web Sites Army Athletics is at http://www.goarmysports.com/ Alumni is at http://www.usma.edu/alumni.asp West Point is at http://www.usma.edu/ |
For What They Gave on Saturday Afternoon 
One Comment
Phil, If I remember correctly, Ranger 5 also broke ice in the swamps of N. Florida, but I do not remember anyone getting frost bitten – that seems to be firmly lodged in Ranger 6 – Brian McEnany