The Warrior Class
They left West Point in 1939, soldier-scholars who made a difference
Tet was bad. But things would get worse. Gen. Andrew Goodpaster was promoted to three-star rank in January 1964 and became assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. In early 1965, he was asked to conduct a study on U.S. involvement in South Vietnam. "President Johnson asked the question: Can we win in Vietnam and what do we have to do?" Goodpaster remembers. "That question came to me." Goodpaster concluded that victory was possible, but only if the nation's leaders would allow the military to achieve it. That never happened.
It was a bitter loss for those of the storied class still in service. They had helped forge a military like none the world had ever seen. From the Plain to the fighting fields of Europe and the Pacific, then to Korea, the class of '39 had made its mark. Vietnam left the taste of ash and the humiliation of defeat. But there was something still. America had raised a wondrous fighting force. And the young men who had been at its core for so many of its finest moments still had much to take pride in.
[Photo caption]:
1. James S. Billups Jr.
Commander, Army field artillery battalions, 1944-45. Awarded two Bronze Stars. Retired 1969 2. Charles Brombach
Served at Pearl harbor, radar specialist. Retired 1968.
3. James L. Cantrell
Battalion commander, Africa and Europe, 1942-45. Awarded legion of Merit. Died 1965.
4. T.J. Jackson Christian Jr.
Awarded Silver Star. Killed over France, 1944.
5. Michael Davison
Battalion commander, France, 1944. Awarded Silver Star and Purple heart. Retired 1977.
6. Joseph Dickman
Flew dozens of missions over Nazi German. Awarded Purple Heart. Retired 1973.
7. Stanley Dziuban
Served in Sicily and North Africa. Awarded two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. Retired 1964.
8. Julian Ewell
Awarded Distinguished Service Cross. Served in Korea, Vietnam. Retired 1973.
9. Andrew Goodpaster
Awarded Distinguished Service Cross, two Purple Hearts, supreme allied commander, NATO. Retired 1974.
10. James H. Keller
Regimental commander, Europe, 1944-45. Retired 1969.
11. Walter Kerwin Jr.
Served in North Africa, Sicily, Vietnam. Awarded Purple Heart. Retired 1978.
12. Harry W.O. Kinnard Jr.
Awarded Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart. Retired 1969.
13. Stanley R. Larsen
Regimental commander, World War II. Awarded Distinguished Service Cross. Retired 1972.
14. William J. McCaffrey
Awarded Silver Star and Bronze Star. Deputy commanding general, U.s. Army, Vietnam, 1970. Retired 1973.
15. James Muir Jr.
Member, Merrill's Marauders. Military adviser, Vietnam, 1959-61. Retired 1968.
16. John Olson
POW, Bataan. Awarded Silver Star and Bronze Star. Retired 1967.
17. John Ray
A two-time POW. Awarded two Bronze Stars and Purple Heart. Retired 1968.
18. John s. Samuel
Commanded bomber group in Europe, World War II. Awarded Distinguished flying Cross. Retired 1972.
With Lindsay Faber
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