Old Grad Podcast

Clay Lowe lives in the UK and has only been back to the US once in the past 20 years. In this episode, we hear about his life as an ExPat, a crazy camping trip that included experimentation with magic mushrooms, and his "Gap Year" at West Point after a self-reported honor transgression.  Clay is a deeply thoughtful person with a deep intellect and a keen sense of self. His walk-up song was appropriate "Like a Stone" by Audioslave. Perhaps it was because after prep school. 3 stap summers, and a gap year - you just can't get Clay to back down - you can't smoke a stone.... Or then again, maybe its appropriate because he swam like a stone in rock swimming. 

As we end 2022, these are some of my favorite clips from OGP. I am committing to do at least 12 episodes in 2023. Thank you to all who have continued to push me to keep doing this. Happy New Year All. 

Ovi lives in the Philadelphia area and is currently COO for the American Bible Society. An interesting fact is that the very first graduate of West Point Joseph Swift also worked for the Bible Society. He took on this assignment following a successful career in the oil and gas industry. Ovi is the Class Bereavement officer and reflects on experiences in dealing with the survivor families of our class. Ovi was born in Cuba and emigrated with his family in the early 1970s. He remembers with great reverence the patriotism of his family - from a MacDonald's restaurant to Coca Cola to the plain at West Point. 

Interview with Kenny Mintz and Co-host Bernard Seeger. We interview Kenny as he gets ready to depart on April 1st, 2022 to walk across America. We discuss his motivation for taking on such a big audacious goal. Kenny will be walking to support three charities. LINK to charity links - 

In addition to contributing to the various charities, the best way to support Kenny his to link up with him when he's in your area. Connect him to local events and celebrate his service by amplifying his message. 

Link to route and schedule

Warning - this is a LONG episode. We just had a great time talking through West Point, the Army and Life - Bret lives in Texas with his wife and 4 children. His eldest son Lou is an incoming plebe with the class of 2026. Bret reflects on the ups and down of his journey and makes critical observations about his good fortune. 

Heather Burruss was a chemistry major at West Point and was commissioned as a Military Police officer. She and the 5 other classmates who branched MP (all female) had to report to OBC in June of 1991 after only a few short weeks of graduation leave.  She served on active duty for 5+ years and worked in an 04 slot as a First Lieutenant. Upon leaving active duty she worked a few years in business running a candlestick factory. She later received her PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Wake Forest University and returned to public service for the FBI. She is recently retired and moving on to her next stage in life which includes making her own wine and brandy. She and her husband reside in Huntsville Alabama. 

BG (ret.) Mike Eastman reflects on his transition to civilian life over the past two months after service to our nation culminating with service in Afghanistan charged with shutting down Bagram Airfield.  His operational assignments included a range of artillery and fire support positions with the 25th Infantry Division, battery command in the 4th Infantry Division, battalion command in the 1st Armored Division, and command of the 75th Field Artillery Brigade, III Corps. He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Spartan Shield, and Operation Inherent Resolve. Over the course of the podcast we reflect on many of these challenging assignments, including the challenge of losing his mother to brain cancer while service in Iraq as a Battalion Commander. Mike now continues his service as executive director of the ETS Sponsorship Program - a non-profit serving to assist military members in the their transition to civilian lift. 

General Bramlett talks about his 38-year career, his own personal cadet experience, and his memorable time being the Commandant of Cadets. 

Alex Rodgers commissioned a Field Artillery Officer and served 5 years at Ft. Still and Ft. Bragg. We talk about the role of West Point in his life. We talk in detail about his experiences as a black man at West Point, in the Army and in the business world. 

Reunion Update and Scott Halstead Post AT Hike.