Phil & Molly Burns 
Cut 30 to Wrestle 123, 2 Army As, 1 with Star, L1 Honor Rep; 2d Bn 48th Inf, 3d A Div, MACV, Charlie 5/7 1st Cav, 82d A B Div, SHAPE Hq, createdForWhatTheyGaveOnSaturdayAfternoon.com Web Site, Founding Member for Hotel Thayer Room, 405 Honoring the 1953 – 1954 Corps of Cadets and their Football Team.
Wrestling
George Schein Chairman of the Cadet Honor Committee.
During June Week 1962, at the corner of Grant Hall, John Selby and Jim Kays bumped into George Schein as George was headed out to meet his soon to be wife Diana. George asked how I was doing – studying for an Ordnance Department Turnout. John said something like – He is in the rack and has not been studying. George immediately turned around running back into South Area, asking which Room? I was in the rack wrapped in my “Brown Boy”when the door crashed open and I heard the leather soles hit the concrete floor as I pretended to be asleep – maybe he would go away. Suddenly my bed was lifted and I was thrown against the wall. I got up saw who it was laughed and said “George!”. He said get over at that desk and study. He returned once and I was at the desk. The Turnout was easy. To this day whenever a woman with spikes hits a concrete floor, I flinch. Note it was my 5th Turnout and I could not believe they would do that to me June Week.
Because I was the lowest ranking member (Private finally Sergeant) of the Honor Committee, I stayed after the meetings sweeping up the floor. Note – there was no dust pan so I swept the dust under Col Blazey’s Rug. George never asked me where I put it.
Note to Current Wrestlers
The first point I want to make is you must stay proficient. You are no good to the Team if you can not Wrestle or you are required to exit the Academy. My Best Friend, Jim Kays who we recently loss to Football concussions, literally dragged me through academics. He would have stood much higher in the Class if he did not have to spend so much time with me.Get immediate help if you need it. Oh, if you take Systems Engineering, Jim Kays created that department. He also spent 26 years as a Player, Coach, and OR of what were once the 150s.
Next, behave. I was always on my best behavior from September to early Spring. After wrestling season, I reverted to my more normal self, ending with demerits, hours on the area, and confinement. I will say, of my 24 Classmates, the majority voted for me to be L1’s Honor Rep.
Our Gift to the Academy is the Fitness Center. There is a picture of my teammate, Frank Reasoner on the wall. (More about Frank later) During our 3 years of eligibility we beat Navy 3 times. It was 45 years before another Team beat Navy. Our Team consisted of Mike Natvig ’63, two time National Champion, Al Rushatz, (Our Fullback) an All American in Football and Wrestling, and Dale Kuntz, a 3 year starting Tackle and Wrestler who never lost a dual meet Firstie year. You will find their names on lockers. The rest filled out nicely – all except me. And another note, I pounded on my Classmates to secure the funds for Al & Dale’s plaques. I also initiated Coach Alitz’s Plaque. I did because I wanted Army Wrestlers to know what went before .
I cut 30 pounds to Wrestle 123. Why – because I knew I would always make weight, and I was the best we had to offer at 123. In the 5 hours between weigh in and the match I would pick up 5 to 7 pounds, most of which was water. I was ahead taller than my opponents. On Mondays, I would start back down. I would stop eating on Wednesday. I stopped drinking on Thursday. By Friday, I had no spit, just cotton mouth.You might find it hard to believe, but I was allowed to suck on a lemon in class. However, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and into Wednesday, They put me through my paces.
I ran a mile before practice, and a mile after practice every day. Why, because I needed to lose weight and I want the 3d period to be mine. Except for the best, the 3d was always mine. I once went 9 minutes bridging against an All American out of Pittsburg. It wasn’t really 9, as he would let me escape so he could practice his moves and counter my relentless attacks. I have been so disappointed with so many wrestlers today who dance around the First Period. I hope to never see an Army Wrestler waste minutes. During the Fall, I would run the 3 flights of the back stairs, which no longer exist. My Teammates knew I would never give up more than 3.
Let me tell you about Frank. Frank was a Marine. He spent several years in the Corps prior to entering the Academy.
I developed a vicious cross face. I was never a dirty wrestler, but when you cut 30, you want someone to pay. I hit Frank with it once and he bite me. Believe me Frank was one tough Marine. He was a Golden Gloves Champion and a 4 time Cadet Brigade Champion. Frank told me, he wanted 3 things. To Retire after 30 years, Own a Bar outside the Main Gate of a Marine Base and earn the Medal of Honor. Frank was the type of team mate I needed. No Quarter. When General MacArthur spoke to us, he told us what to expect and what he expected of us. There were many Officers and NCOs who were veterans of World War II in attendance. Many had tears in their eyes. Several times Frank had tears in his eyes.
Coach Alitz yelled at me once. He would put us in for 12 or 15 minutes, giving us a fresh man every 3. After 12, my head was down, and I was forced to suck in the foul air coming from under my rubber jacket. He yelled “Hold your Head up!” My head immediately shot up and I began with my last 3 minutes against another fresh man. None beat me.
In those days wrestling started at 123 and went up in order to Heavy Weight.
The real reason for the above. The lead up to the point I want to make. The night before the Lehigh match, Coach Alitz found me in the pool. I had all the water I wanted, I just could not drink it. Coach Alitz told me I could beat my opponent. He never asked anything of me, but I knew the Team absolutely needed my win. He was to become an All American. It went 9 minutes. While I wrestled I always heard Al’s direction toward what my next move should be – nearly always followed by an “OH NO!” This time I heard Coach Alitz say “Pin him right there!” I felt it but I was too slow. When I walked off the mat, I knew we had lost. We lost because of my failure. I was so ashamed that I could not sit with the Team. I grabbed a towel and climbed to the top of the bleachers, buried my face in the towel and just sobbed. I failed and my team lost because of me. Lehigh 19 Army 14
To wrap up, in the Navy Match at Navy that year, the Navy Coach went on their Academy radio and was specific about how they would win the next day. He was wrong about one match. When I walked off the mat, I looked to the right then back to the left where I found the Army Navy Brass. I raised my right thumb in salute. Coach Alitz hugged me and said “Thanks Phil”. Army 15 Navy 14
Years later we had a Mimi Class reunion and invited General Westmoreland. In the middle of the meal our eyes met. He raised his right thumb.
One last thing before I wrap this up. On the bus ride back from the Easterns, Coach Alitz called me to the front of the bus to question me about holding weight for 2 days. In my consolation match which was against a Penn State opponent who I had lost my first ever Varsity Match to the previous fall, I won. I replied “It is good that it only went 6 minutes.” He asked “Were you hurting?” I said “I would have killed him”. Coach Alitz smiled.
When you practice remember Frank, Mike, Al and Dale. When you wrestle for Army you will be wrestling for All that have Gone Before.
Upon Graduation you will be responsible for a group of men. You can – – – – NEVER EVER FAIL THEM.
