The ties that bind Army Athletes
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
Cadet Days
Joseph Clair Austin
Nickname ?
Class of 1952
Company B-1
Home: 2003 Center St. Moundsville, W. Va.
Born 30 June 1929
Moundsville High School – Graduated 1947
USAF – 19 June 1947 to 19 June 1948
Prep School @ Stewart Field – 3 months Jan 1948
Appointment: State at Large – Senator Kilgore
Date of Entry to Academy?
Date of Graduation ?
Age at Graduation 23
Cullum Number 18680
Cadet Rank & Military Position
Captain – Cadet Adjutant of the 1st Regiment
Height ?
Entry
Graduation
Weight ?
Entry
Playing weight
Graduation
Teams – Lacrosse
Coaches / Assistant Coaches ?
Officer Representative
Lacrosse Team Captain 1952
Position Played – Crease Attack
Award of Army A
Plebe Year Class Numerals
Army A Yearling, Cow, and Firstie Years
Team Recognition
Co- champions with Princeton 1952
Academy Recognition ?
Individual Recognition
10 goals against Cornell in 1952, 80 goals 3 years
Individual Records
National
Regional
League
Individual Recognition
Plebe
Yearling
Cow Year – Honorable Mention All American
Firstie Year – First Team All American
Post Season Play – 1952 All Star Game North Team
Injuries
Significant events, Information, or Write Up about Athlete ?
Pointer, Pointer View, New York Times, (Note Home Town Paper was Wheeling News-Register, Wheeling W. Va.)
Relationship with
Tactical Department ?
Committees and Staff
In Support of Corps
Recreation
General Committee, French Club, Camera Club, Ski Club
Intramurals
Class Standing 186 out of ?
Turn Out Stars ?
Officer Assignment to the Academy ?
Department
Coach or Officer Representative
Military Career
Officer Rank – Colonel
Advanced Education
1. MS Industrial Administration- Carnegie Tech 1956-1958
2. MS Operations Research – NYU 1962-1962
3. MS Public Administration – George Washington University 1962-1964
Listed as Missing in Action 19 March 1967 changed to Killed in Action 25 May 1979
Awards – 2 Silver Stars, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Purple Heart
Family
Wife – Beverly Joan Marino Austin
Sons Joseph John and Thomas David Austin
Command of the 34thTactical Fighter Squadron
For What They Gave on Saturday Afternoon 