Old Grad Podcast

We talk to EZ Pete Gaudet, company E-4 "GO NAKED" - He tells the story of first coming to West Point at 10 years old and feeling an immediate connection to the place. As he will learn later in life, his biological roots run deep to West Point. EZ Pete reflects on the close relationship his parents had with all of our E-4 classmates - as was the case being from Westchester County NY, the Gaudet home was a frequent place of respite. They had a toga party where Pete's father dressed up in a toga. Pete remembers company mate Dr. Rusty Davidson who is one of our classmates who suffered from depression and died by suicide. Rusty was a leading spinal surgeon in the Army, he literally saved lives and limbs in his work. The tragic event of Rusty's death was pivotal in Pete's life as he directed much of his energy and financial resources toward combating veteran suicide.

Pete is co-founder of Provetus a peer mentoring program that helps Veterans and Service Members successfully transition from the military to the civilian sector within five critical domains: Employment, Housing, Family/Legal Issues, Social/Community/Physical, Medical. We were joined by USMA '98 grad Dr. Joe Geracci who is also a Provetus co-founder. Together, we face into the challenges of veteran suicide and what it means for our class. We learn there are 3 primary risk factors to compound the danger of suicide: 1) Lack of connection to a purpose/mission 2) Loss of cammraderie 3) Mental Illness.   

In this episode we interview our class President Scott Clemenson. We celebrate Army Sprint Football's 21-17 triumph over Navy, and we recount the impressive effort of the "Big Boys" in taking #5 Oklahoma into overtime.  We talk about escaping dysfunctional family dynamics, Army Foreign Language School with Dan Clevenger, being in Alpha Company at the Prep School, being a "Duck Hunter" with Brent Crabtree in Korea. We remember fallen classmate Shannon Beebe who had a knack for getting people to volunteer for challenging tasks like running 500th night and the cadet car show. Scott recallse his last ditch effort to get Fleetwood Mac to come to West Point. We face into a troubling statistic that several of our fallen classmates committed suicide and grapple with how we might be of service to friends in need. 

In this episode, we speak to the motorcycle riding, heat-packing, never to be messed with Monique Washington. Who tells her story going back to the first day of prep school and meeting her lifelong battle buddy Ingrid Powell Dawkins. Monique had a conflict with the F2 Zoo tactical officer who was reassigned after an inexplicable situation; We also learn of her need for speed on her pink and gold Honda CVR-RR Racing Bike - and the rolling roadblock that followed. Ingrid calls in, fellow prepster Scott Clemenson also calls in. Together they all remember Andy Clements. 

Her brief bio: 

On location at Class of '91 headquarters, the garage of Mark and Holly West. We talk about the multi-faceted perspectives of the West Family at USMA: As Army Brat, Cadet, Grad Assistant, Professor, USMA staff, and Parent. Today Mark is the Head coach of the Army Sprint Football Team, Holly is the G-5 for USMA. We trace the evolution of West Point's history and tie it back to the impact of General Officer Leadership. Other stories include Holly getting 1st class board as a plebe for blowing post, the connections between company A4 and B2, Experiences as grad assistants for corps squad teams, Schleck/Roley sleeping in on last day of Ranger school, moral dilemma for Hairball as IG at West Point, the Dirt Pigs, disgusting cadet pranks and much more. We especially remember fallen classmates Dave Reardon (B2) and Andy Clements (A4) and Steve Lammers (A4). 

In this episode, we talk about the  Army Cyber Institute and our class gift to endow the chair of the Institute, Scouting, What its like to be the father of a cadet, managing two Army Careers, Terry Rice ripping his finger off on the clock tower, the evolution of women at West Point, A spirit mission that landed two cadets in the hospital, area tours and so much more.  Fallen Classmates mentioned: Bill Hecker, Kim Whittington, Steve Yost and Bill Love. 

John Keenan talks about his epic question to General H. Norman Schwarzkopf at a mandatory Lecture during firstie year. We also talked about fallen classmates Paul Haggerty, Tommy Mctigue, Bill Hecker and Eric DeJong. ADA officer basic course, stolen ambulances, a "dip cup" thrown out a six-floor window that hit the OC and much more.