Notable Cadets

Like many others before him, when John Grant completed Bordentown Military Institute, he enrolled at PMC. His classmates described him as a “straight up man.” He studied economics, played football and was E Company Commander in his First Class (Senior) year. He graduated in 1965 as a Distinguished Military Student and entered the Marine Corps.

After flight school, he was assigned to the 4th Marine Division. As a Marine, he was involved in a series of battles in Vietnam. One noteworthy campaign was Operation Hastings in 1966. In order to confront the lead forces of a North Vietnamese force advancing across the DMZ, the Marines launched an attack. It was during this time that 2nd Lieutenant Grant responded, organized, and deployed a defense for a forward aid station. This act of gallantry was not isolated. While serving aboard the USS St. Paul, Grant dove into the sea to rescue a drowning sailor that had fallen overboard. Towards the end of his 20-year career, Grant was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro in California. It was while he was at El Toro that he met Dennis Conner, a famed yachtsman and a four-time winner of the America’s Cup. This chance meeting gave Grant an opportunity to follow a new path. Shortly after meeting Conner, Grant was asked to join the Stars & Stripes team. To be a part of the historic America’s Cup Races was an incredible opportunity for Grant. His perspective was that these races were the “holy grail” of yacht racing.

This challenging competition began in England in 1851, when the Royal Yacht Squadron challenged the New York Yacht Club. The New York Yacht Club won the race and was presented with the 100 Guineas Cup, an award commemorating Queen Victoria’s Jubilee year. The New York Yacht Club renamed the trophy “The America’s Cup,” after its winning yacht. For the next 132 years, American yachts successfully defended the America’s Cup. This changed in 1983, when the Australian challenger won. By 1987, Dennis Conner had organized and built a new yacht which went on to defeat an Australian defender. Grant’s role on the team was that of a “winch grinder.” Although he was the senior member of the crew, his emotional and physical leadership quickly caught the attention and respect of his teammates. They affectionately called him “Rambo.” Just prior to the start of the America’s Cup in 1987, Grant was sidelined by a broken foot. The next year he was part of the team that defended the America’s Cup from a New Zealand challenge.

Walter “Fet” Fetterly arrived in 1922 and spent two years at Pennsylvania Military Prep School before starting PMC and graduating in 1929. He was not an outstanding athlete, but was known more as on organizer of military and social events. Fetterly was, however, an outstanding rifleman and Captain of the Rifle Team during his senior year. This team went undefeated and Fetterly led them to PMC’s first Eastern Championship and the Hearst Trophy.

Fetterly joined the Army and was assigned to the 114th Infantry Regiment. In February 1945, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for “meritorious achievement … in the face of determined resistance from strongly fortified enemy positions, in addition to the hazards of extensive minefields along the axis of advance, the Second Battalion, under Lt. Colonel Fetterly’s direction, was able to secure its assigned objective. When heavy casualties were sustained and one company had lost all its officers, Fetterly quickly reorganized his battalion, assigning duties to new leaders and changing the plan of attack to meet the situation on the ground, and led his battalion in the assault which resulted in the capture of Bellevue and Brandelfingerhoff Farms.”

In April 1945, the end of the war was close at hand. The difficult and dangerous mission Lt. Colonel Fetterly received may have surprised him. He was to command a Task Force, consisting of the 2nd Battalion, 114th Regiment, 44th Infantry Division reinforced with light tanks and armored cars from 106th Cavalry Group, and Company C from the 776th Tank Destroyer Battalion equipped with M36 “Slugger” Tank Destroyer. The mission of the Task Force was to break through German lines and drive 60 kilometers (37 miles) through enemy held territory to liberate POWs at Stalag IX-B, in Bad Orb. The Task Force was to proceed with all deliberate speed avoiding contact with the enemy. With elements of the 106th Cavalry in the lead, the attack started well. On occasion, the Task Force experienced occasional resistance, but they were not slowed down and they rejoined the Cavalry in Bad Orb. On April 2, Fetterly and the Task Force liberated 6,000 Allied soldiers, of which 3,364 were American. What they found was shocking.

 

Stalag IX-B was appallingly overcrowded and the available food supply was inadequate for the prisoners. The 160-man barracks were so overcrowded that soldiers had to take turns sleeping. Each barrack had only one water tap and one hole in the ground which was used as a toilet.

For many, the liberation did not come soon enough.

 

George Bjotvedt arrived at PMC in the fall of 1947. The transformation to cadet #224 began when the college tailor fitted him for his uniform. That year freshmen were assigned to Old Main where a cadre of senior cadets enforced the rules and regulations. By his junior year, cadet life was “second nature,” and he realized the structure was preparing him for the future. He was a Distinguished Military Student and upon graduation received a regular army commission. Like many of his classmates he would be asked to perform as a leader of men in combat during the Korean War.

When he arrived in Korea, he was transported to the 65th Puerto Rican Regiment. There he was assigned to A Company of the first battalion. Bjotvedt soon found himself conducting the bulk of ambush patrols for the battalion. At first the men of the 65th Puerto Rican Regiment suffered numerous casualties while patrolling in “No-Man’s Land.” To make these dangerous assignments more manageable, a scout dog and handler were assigned to each patrol.

German Shepherds were used because of their temperament, size, and toughness. Bjotvedt described these dogs as being able to “detect hidden enemy far in advance of the patrol’s ability to see, hear or smell the enemy.” When a scout dog sensed the enemy he would alert the patrol, “much like a bird dog’s rigid stance.” Each night a patrol, following a predetermined route and position, would advance into “No-Man’s Land” escorted by a scout dog. The patrol would advance in single file with the scout dog clearing the way. The patrol relied on the dog’s night vision and keen hearing throughout the patrol.

Many thankful soldiers will remember the outstanding service of the scout dogs.

Born in New Jersey, Edwin Howell enrolled in the Class of 1890 after attending a year at Alfred University in New York. Howell was an exceptional student, earning top academic honors each year and was a Cadet Lieutenant and aide to Charles Hyatt in his senior year. As a Cadet, Howell was the editor of The Reveille, an early PMC newspaper. He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering and joined the Pennsylvania & Northwestern Railroad. He then returned to Chester to “read law.” In 1896, he was admitted to the Delaware County Bar and maintained law offices in Chester for the next 50 years. In 1927, he joined the PMC Board of Trustees and served as the solicitor and became secretary.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, PMC faced serious financial challenges. The business model was flawed and despite being recognized as a non-profit by the federal government in 1936, state and local taxes were an enormous burden. Howell focused his energies on solving these problems. His plan included a reorganization of the business model, significant belt tightening along with fund raising, lowering faculty salaries and increasing enrollment.

In 1952, Frank Hyatt, who had been ill for many years, retired. Edwin Howell was appointed interim President and head of the Search Committee. During his Presidency, Howell maintained his law practice in Chester and Vice-President Stanton von Grabill ‘35 oversaw the daily operation of the College. During this time, Howell began the preparations for the Middle States Evaluation, strengthened the Day Cadet program, made financial aid more evenly distributed, developed a more efficient budgeting process for the College and began a policy of competitive bidding on purchases.

After General Edward E. MacMorland was selected as the new President of PMC, Howell continued on the Board of Trustees until his death in 1954. Expansion of the Corps of Cadets was one of General MacMorland’s priorities. To accomplish this goal, new facilities were required, including a new dormitory. MacMorland recommended that the College name the new dormitory, which was dedicated in 1958, after Edwin A. Howell:

Over the years, he was a tower of strength to the College. He served the College faithfully and well for many, many years as secretary and president of the Board and, for a brief period, as President of the College.

Among the many lasting contributions the Howell family made to PMC was the establishment of the Hyatt Endowed Scholarship and significant support for the Wolfgram Library.

Jesse Roberts came to PMC from Upper Darby High and spent a term in the Pennsylvania Military Prep School. He then transitioned to PMC. He was gregarious, played football, and was part of the Cavalry Squad while at PMC. His keen sense of humor and love of a good practical jokes resulted in his intimate acquaintance with the “Delinquent Guard”, later known as “Walking (penalty) Tours”. After graduation, Roberts worked for the Roberts Filter Manufacturing Company, which his family had started in 1896. Jesse later returned to PMC as the Adjutant in 1941 and continued in that role until he was called to active duty in January 1942. After completing Tank Destroyer School, he was assigned to the 702nd Tank Destroyer Battalion (the “Seven O Deuce”).

The “Seven O Duce” landed on Omaha Beach in mid-June and entered the line in early July. The battalion became part of the 2d Armored Division. In November, Roberts joined the “Seven O Duce” as Platoon Leader, second platoon of Company A.

In response to the German counter attack in the Ardennes, the VII Corps, under the command of Field Marshall Montgomery, was tasked with halting the advance. As the battle intensified, the 2d Armored Division was ordered to seize Buissonville, Belgium, where German tanks had been reported. Company A moved toward Buissonville and attacked the 2d Panzer Division and elements of the 116th Panzer Divisions as they were preparing to move north. After encountering and destroying several German tanks, Roberts positioned his troops on an exposed ridge, where they battled the enemy that were hidden in the woods. During this encounter, the Germans lost two Panther tanks, two 88 mm anti-tank guns, one Self-Propelled 75 mm gun, one armored car, one personnel carrier and eight trucks. In early January 1945, Roberts lead an attack against two German Panther tanks near La Wate, Belgium. During the firefight, a German round struck Roberts’ gun crew, killing two men and wounding Roberts. He extinguished the fire in the vehicle and evacuated three wounded men. Despite refusing medical assistance for burns to his hands and face, he returned to his unit. Later in January he was injured twice and eventually evacuated to a field hospital. It was determined that Roberts had suffered fractured ribs and remained hospitalized. For his actions, Field Marshall Montgomery awarded Roberts The British Military Cross Medal.

Like many families, the Roberts family connection to PMC continued. He was the President of the Alumni Association and later the PMC Parents Association. In addition, both sons of Roberts were members of the Corps of Cadets and graduated from PMC.

At the end of his sophomore year, “Joe” LoPrete transferred to PMC from Fordham University. A Brooklynite, his smile and infectious humor made him many friends. Although he was a star on the track team and the rifle range, his passion for lifting weights in his room and cars were well known. Six days after graduation, LoPrete joined the Marine Corps and was assigned to the 24th Marine Regiment.

Three U.S. marine divisions landed on the island of Iwo Jima in February 1945. The island was of strategic importance to the U.S. and the Japanese were determined to defend it. From an elaborate network of caves, dugouts, tunnels and underground installations the Japanese troops fought to the death.

LoPrete led an Assault and Demolition Platoon. After some initial success, a bunker held up the advance of the 2nd Battalion. As the platoon advanced, two men beside him were killed. He was resolute and led the platoon forward, eventually destroying the bunker. As the battalion advanced, it suffered countless casualties. To help fill a void, LoPrete was given command of a rifle platoon. Shortly thereafter, a pocket of Japanese held up the Battalion again. Their position was well fortified and they were inflicting severe casualties among the Marines. LoPrete realized that a quick advance was necessary to avoid further losses. He led his men forward against the Japanese and annihilated them.

LoPrete was awarded The Silver Star Medal by Brigadier General Franklin Hart, former commander of the 24th Marine Regiment, for his “Leadership, Courage and Devotion to Duty.” It was later reported that one Marine said in response to a question about LoPrete’s leadership that he would go “anywhere he leads me.”

After the war, Major LoPrete served as an instructor at the Marine Training School in Quantico, VA. In 1967, he became the commander of the 3rd Marines. In late 1967, the 3rd Marines conducted Operation Lancaster, designed to protect the western flank of the 9th Marines. The area of operations included Camp Carroll, an important artillery position and the base of operations; the Rockpile, a strategic outcropping that gave the Marines a view of five major valleys; and, Ca Lu an outpost, located along Highway 9, that provided an early warning of enemy infiltration. The following year the 3d Marines were assigned to protect the Quang Tri base from enemy attack.

After serving in the Marine Corps for 31 years, Colonel LoPrete retired in 1973.

Walter Reasor attended the Perkiomen School and became interested in all things military. This brought him to PMC. As a talented drummer, he became an integral part of HQ Company (the PMC Marching and Concert Band), which was his first passion. Walt was the Tenor Drum Section Head of the PMC Band’s Drum Line. In one traditional PMC Halloween (anything goes) Parade, Section Head Reasor had the Tenor Drummers wear tartan bathrobes (as makeshift kilts), Full Dress Alfa multi-brass-buttoned Cadet jackets, and Cadet overseas caps modified with Cadet neckties (as cap tails) as quasi-Pipe and Drum Band uniforms. He received high marks for his creativity that evening. Cadet Reasor met Elizabeth Carol Fry at a church social at the end of his 4th Class (Freshman year). From that meeting he became a member of the “Elizabeth Carol Fry Fraternity” and spent most of his time at PMC with her and, subsequently, twenty-five years of marriage. As a Cadet, the members of HQ Company considered him to be a man who took “Duty, Honor and Country” seriously.

After his graduation in 1964, LT Reasor joined the 197th Infantry Brigade and was then assigned to an experimental program where he did not go to basic training and was immediately assigned to the 3rd Armor Division in Germany. In 1967, he assumed command of F Company, an independent tank company. He converted this unit to H Troop, 17th Cavalry, which then was assigned to the 198th Infantry Brigade. The 198th Brigade was subsequently deployed to Vietnam and assigned to the Chu Lai area of operations. The AO was located 56 miles south of Da Nang. Its assignment was to conduct “Search and Destroy” missions. This was a region of dried open rice paddies and considered to be controlled by the Viet Cong. Specialist Michael George wrote that H Troop would rarely see the enemy, but knew they could be anywhere to ambush them.

On the evening of 26 May 1968, five armored assault vehicles of H Troop, 17th Cavalry, were bivouacked and arrayed in their night defensive perimeter. That evening, the Viet Cong began a rocket attack against the brigade and commenced a ground assault of H Troop. Captain Reasor’s unit engaged the Viet Cong with automatic weapons fire. The Viet Cong then responded by attacking H Troop’s night perimeter with small arms and anti-tank weapons. Almost immediately, one Troop vehicle exploded from a direct hit. Captain Reasor immediately left his Command vehicle and rushed to aid the wounded. He then climbed atop of crippled track, repaired a damaged 50-caliber machine gun and used it to return suppressing fire. Once the attack has been repelled and the wounded air lifted to safety, Captain Reasor organized H Troop into a blocking position. For his “Extraordinary Heroism in Close Combat against two Hostile Forces,” Captain Reasor was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

Captain Reasor’s final assignment was as an ROTC instructor at PMC in 1969. Although involved in student life, as the end of the Corps approached, he became disillusioned with changes in the school and resigned. In the early 1990’s, he succumbed to a terrible disease that may have been caused by exposure to Agent Orange.

Burt Mustin, the son of Sadie and William Mustin of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, matriculated at Pennsylvania Military College in 1899 and, by his senior year, he was the Cadet Lieutenant of “D” Company, the catcher as well as the first baseman of the P.M.C. baseball team, the goalie of the PMC hockey team, and a talented vocalist with the PMC chorale-group. When the Merit List (Honor Roll) was announced in 1903, his 88.7 academic average placed him sixth in his class. He later recalled that he was a quick learner, especially with a staff-officer on-duty in each corridor who could “…pop in….” to his room at any moment to ensure that his nose was buried in his books.

His classmate, Charles Spinney, kept dozens of photographs of young ladies that he knew in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, on the wall of his room and one day, while viewing ‘Spinney’s Gallery,’ Mustin remarked, “There’s the prettiest girl in the room.” Mustin later traveled to Memphis where he met and married Robina Woods, to whom he referred as his darling ‘Bine,’ in 1915.

His career at his father’s brokerage firm ended before it began due to an economic collapse and, for the next 25 years, Mustin was a car salesman. With the advent of World War II, automobile-production was halted in the United States. For a time he was a salesman for hearing aids. At age 60, Mustin and his wife moved to the warmer-climate of Tucson, Arizona, because of her failing-health. There he resumed his passion for acting by performing in an assortment of roles at local theaters.

In 1951, Mustin was performing in a cameo role as “Willie,” the janitor, in Detective Story starring Kirk Douglas at the Sombrero Theater in Phoenix, Arizona. One night, William Wyler, a noted director, attended the play and was very impressed with Mustin’s performance as “Willie.” Wyler cast Mustin as “Willie” in Detective Story, together with fellow actor Kirk Douglas in the lead-role. Throughout his theatrical career, which spanned more than four decades, Mustin became a well known character actor who was noted for his dependability and versatility. Mustin appeared in more than 150 films and more than 400 television-productions, including roles as “Jud Crowley,” the barber shop patron, on The Andy Griffith Show, as “Gus,” the fireman, on Leave It To Beaver and as “The World’s Oldest Cat-Burglar” on Dragnet. He was a semi-frequent guest-star on the Dragnet television-series, both in the 1950’s and 1960’s, because he was a personal-friend of Jack Webb, the creator, director and producer of Dragnet. Mustin honored his alma mater by reprising his original (1951) film role as “Willie,” the janitor, in the theatre pmc student production of Detective Story in February 1970. Mustin’s campus visit was arranged by Cadet John E. N. Blair ’70, theatre pmc General Manager, who presented Mustin with a theatre pmc plaque and gray cadet-sweater following thunderous applause at the conclusion of the Opening Night performance of Detective Story, which was attended by numerous local dignitaries, including President and Mrs. Clarence R. Moll.

Throughout his entire life, Burt Mustin ’03 never swerved from his love of and loyalty to the PMC Corps of Cadets. Possibly, that ‘view’ was best expressed by General of the Army Douglas MacArthur who, during his final visit to his alma mater, the United States Military Academy, told the West Point Corps of Cadets, “As I cross the ‘River,’ my final-thoughts will be of The Corps, The Corps and The Corps. I bid you farewell!” It could be surmised that Burt Mustin had similar thoughts when he died on 28 January 1977.

 

Emanuel (Manie, pronounced “Manny”) Sacks was a life long supporter and friend of PMC. His association with the school began in the 1918, when he enrolled in the Pennsylvania Military Preparatory School (PMPS). In 1920, he became a Cadet at PMC, Class of 1924. While at PMC he played football and became friendly with Hugh McCaffery ’24. He left PMC and began working at WCAU in Philadelphia. An avid supporter of PMC football, he arranged for WCAU to broadcast some PMC football games and military exercises. In June of 1955, this giant of the entertainment industry became a member of the PMC Board of Trustees. He had always taken an active interest in the school and its activities and this continued.

During his career at Columbia Records, RCA Victor and NBC Sacks gave encouragement and confidence to many artists. Although he kept out of the public eye, he worked closely with Jack Benny, George Burns, Edgar Bergen, Harry James, Dinah Shore and many others. In 1942, Sacks helped Frank Sinatra start his solo career. An appreciative Sinatra said during a 1959 CBS television tribute to Sacks that “There’s a little bit of Manie in everything good that has ever happened to me … Whenever I was in trouble and needed help, I yelled for Manie.” Despite Sacks’ reputation for his warm and charming personality, he was a tough bargainer according to RCA President David Sarnoff.

Sacks learned that he had leukemia when he was 52 years old, but only told his family and Sinatra. Upon learning of Sacks death, then Vice-President Moll, stated, “The College was deeply shocked to learn about his death, expressed the sentiments of the entire faculty, administration and student body of PMC. Manie Sacks, had made his mark in life as a top figure in the entertainment world, and we are going to miss a very influential friend.”

Watch Part 1 of Some of Manie’s Friends, a TV special which was broadcast in 1959. Perry Como, Dinah Shore, Eddie Fisher, Jane Wyman, Frank Sinatra and others are featured in the show.