Memorabilia/Links

Mrs Thomas Smith (Barbara)

Greetings Gentlemen, Just wanted to share something with you. After we received the obituary for CPT Smith from one of you, my wife,Wanda, was determined to track down Mrs. Smith (Barbara) and set out to do just that. Wanda was able to forward a communique to Barbara and one afternoon, not too long ago, Wanda received a phone call from Barbara Smith. Mrs. Smith's opening line was, " Wanda, I can't believe you found me!" Well, they had a delightful one-half hour conversation. As some of you may know, all of the wives of candidates who accompanied their OC husbands to Fort Benning, yet lived off-post, had ample opportunity to get to know Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Smith was recruited by CPT Smith to train the distaff ( all of the young wives form equally varied backgrounds and of equally varied temperaments as their husbands) to be U.S. Army officers wives and to complement their officer husbands accordingly. Numerous social functions (training sessions) followed and each of the wives was "expected" to attend. Wanda has great memories of those get togethers and she soon became profoundly thankful for Barbara Smith, who she was, and what she accomplished. A thumb-nail sketch of MAJ (Retired) and Mrs. Smith's life follows. Hope we got it right. Tom was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer not long after he retired from the Army. A lump under his chin and a cough were the first symptoms. Tom battled this adversary on and off for the rest of his very productive life. At one time or another, a large mass appeared in his chest, he received received a stem cell transplant, and he experienced two remissions. Through all this Tom taught 8th grade science at a Catholic school, taught 14 years in high school and finally started a special school for "at risk" children, where he taught for an additional seven years. He was also an athletics coach and he worked with special olympics. Barbara worked as a nurse assistant at a VA hospital for twenty years. Tom and Barbara raised three sons who reside in Minneapolis, MN, Alabama and New York State. I got on the phone with Barbara for a short time and told her of my regrets that we would not be able to meet Tom once again at our upcoming reunion in October. She said, " He would have LOVED that!" I thought I could "hear" some tears on the other end of the line. At that point, I took the liberty of inviting Barbara to attend our reunion in October and informed her that she would certainly hold a place honor if she could attend. I think she was somewhat overwhelmed with that and I received neither a positive, nor a negative response. Wanda and I even offered to have her come travel to Georgia from Iowa with us. Wanda finished the conversation with Barbara. I saw Wanda's smile as she shared with Babara that the three of us are all the same age, seventy-two. We agreed to stay in touch. So, there you have it. Two lives lived serving, teaching, coaching and helping or gracing others. Could I raise a glass in a formal setting, I would sincerely and simply say, Bravo! Thank you! Well Done. Terry and Wanda Hummel

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Memories of Richard Geib

I recently received a Facebook message from Rosie Geib, sister-in-law of classmate Richard Geib, informing me that Richard had died of a heart attack some time ago. I was able to find his obituary, which is included below. In November 2015, Rich and I exchange some emails in which he clarified some memories that I had. These seem typical of Rich as I remembered him. My email: I have this memory that when we arrived at Ft Benning and the bus dropped us off at the OCS area, a group of Senior Candidates put us through PT. I believe you were singled out and put in charge, and you had to make a number of guys low crawl back and forth. Any truth to this memory? I also recall that whenever a TAC called on you, you would respond "Sir, Candidate Geiiiiib!" Rich's response: Brian, What a memory you have! Yes, that OC was probably me. I had arrived a couple of days early, reported to Captain Smith, was ordered to low crawl around his desk for a while, and dismissed with an ominous warning that he was going to keep his eye on me. Lucky me. He knew a leader when he saw one, and, thus, I found myself in charge of alienating my fellow classmates by low crawling them through mud, and several other tasks considered critical to our training. I think that I was one of the first student company commanders, and I too, remember having to drill the class by marching us into walls, etc. Before everyone else arrived, I found myself in charge of a detail to repaint our metal bunk beds, and making new blocks for the bedposts. That was a lot of beds, and a whole lot of blocks. And, yes, I did holler back at the TAC’s because I know that what little attention I got for this was far better than being singled out as a pussy. Richard’s Obituary from https://www.mullinsmemorial.com/obituaries/richardmccallum-geib/617 Richard McCallum Geib, 71, a resident of Cape Coral, FL for the past nine years, formerly of Grapevine, TX passed away Thursday, March 31, 2016 in Cape Coral. formerly of Grapevine, TX passed away Thursday, March 31, 2016 in Cape Coral. He was born February 13, 1945 in Washington, D.C. to Robert and Louise Geib, Jr., now deceased. A proud Vietnam Veteran, Richard served in the Army with the 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry and was awarded the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge for his service. He was a member of the 22nd Infantry Regiment Society. Richard was an avid boater and an officer with the Southwest Florida Yacht Club as well as a past Flotilla Commander in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He also enjoyed studying genealogy and was a member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants and Sons of the American Revolution. Richard was a graduate of Bridgewater College and the former owner and CEO of Tripmaster Corporation in Arlington, TX before retiring to Cape Coral. He was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Ft. Myers, FL. He is survived by two brothers, Robert C. Geib of Denver, CO and John B. Geib (Rose) of Reston, VA; as well as four nieces and nephews, Courtney, Jillian, Philip and Brian. Private family services will be held. Memorial Contributions in memory of Richard McCallum Geib ar

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Memorabilia/Links

1 August 1969

50th Company Authors

Mrs Thomas Smith (Barbara)

Memories of Richard Geib

Graduation Ceremony

Intermediate Status Party

Senior Status Review