Notable Cadets

Charles Frederick Berthold Price was born in Germany of American parents. He and his parents returned to America when Price was six months old. His family settled in Wayne, PA. Price entered PMC in 1898. At PMC, he was a talented musician; particularly in his rendition of “Taps”. In his 2nd Class (Junior) Year, he was appointed Chief Musician, which meant he kept the PMC Bugle Corps in shape. As a First Classman (Senior), he commanded “B” Company as a Cadet Captain. The Porcupine Annual (then the PMC Yearbook) described Price as: “an advocate for the Extermination of Room Inspectors.” It was written that to avoid the “exertion” of making his bed every morning, he “nailed his sheets and blanket to the bed.” He slept on the floor with a spare blanket. Yet, his classmates considered him to be a “good fellow…and a kind officer.”

After graduation, Price was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad and served in the Philadelphia City Cavalry of the Pennsylvania National Guard. In 1906, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps and ordered to Annapolis for training. During the Spanish-American War, President Theodore Roosevelt ordered Price and a Marine Expeditionary Force to “protect American lives and property” in Cuba. Price remained there until 1908. He retuned to the U.S., but after a few months, he joined the Central American Expeditionary Force. Later deployments included: Panama during the construction of the Panama Canal; Vera Cruz during the Mexican Intervention in 1914; France, shortly before and after the armistice ending WWI; and Nicaragua. In 1935, he joined the Fourth Marines at the American Legation in Shanghai, China. Price was promoted to Brigadier General in 1940 and assumed command of the Department of the Pacific in 1941. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he was promoted to Major General and placed in command of the Second Marine Division. He assumed command of the Defense Force, Samoan Group, in 1942. His assignment was to secure the approaches to Samoa Islands. His efforts in occupying and developing the U.S. presence on the Ellice Islands made the seizure of the Gilbert Islands possible, thereby opening the Central Pacific. For his ability, perseverance and tact he was awarded the Legion of Merit Medal with the Combat “V” for heroism during direct participation in combat operations by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas (CinCPOA), for U.S. and Allied air, land, and sea forces during World War II.

Price returned to the San Diego area in 1944. The following year he retired. He continued to live in the San Diego area until his death in 1954.

William Stern had failed several attempts at boarding schools. While his parents were traveling Europe, they happened to meet a Cadet from Pennsylvania Military College. Impressed by the young man’s poise and manners, the Sterns decided that PMC was the place for Bill to receive discipline and an education. Bill Stern flourished at PMC; he played basketball, football, and polo, used his extensive skills on the saxophone to help start a jazz group, led the college orchestra, and was appointed Captain Adjutant. Bill’s page in the Sabre and Sash, however, pointed to his future. “Is every body happy? This is Bill Stern speaking from the Bowl of Roses way out here in Lieperville.” Bill is a Graham McNamee, Ted Lewis, and a Frank Carideo all rolled up into one little bundle of vitality.”

“For twenty years, Stern was a fixture in broadcasting, rising to become one of the most famous, successful, and recognizable announcers of his time. He hosted several shows, including Spotlight on Sports, Remember This Date, and the very popular Sports Newsreel, a prime-time radio show featuring sports stories, news, and interviews. Sports Newsreel was heard on NBC from October 1937 to September 1953, when it moved to ABC, ending in June 1956. He was the recipient of over 30 awards from various radio, movie, and television publications for broadcasting. These included: the Billboard poll 1948-1949, the Radio Mirror poll 1949, the Scripps Newspaper Award Contest for five consecutive years, the Hearst newspaper award for four consecutive years, and the Radio Daily poll for ten years. In addition, Motion Picture Daily’s annual radio poll announced Bill Stern as the ‘Best Sports Announcer’ in 1951 for the 13th consecutive year. Stern retired from broadcasting in 1956 after collapsing at a football game.”

“Bill Stern never forgot Pennsylvania Military College. He returned in 1944 to deliver a eulogy for the PMC cadets lost during World War II, addressed a PMC sports banquet in 1955 and narrated the film ‘The PMC Story’ in 1957. Bill Stern paid his highest tribute to the college in a letter to the PMC Alumni Bulletin in which he wrote, ‘Whatever I did, you can credit to PMC. I came there a young punk, and left a man. PMC taught me much, mainly that in this life you get what you put into it.’ “

On November 19, 1971, Bill Stern died of a heart attack at the age of 64. He was inducted into the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame in March 1974 and the American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame in 1984.

Reprinted with permission from the Widener University Archives.

When “B” Company Commander Thomas Anderson graduated from PMC in 1942, he was considered to be a no nonsense Cadet and a “True Leader.” He had a commanding voice, a squared-away military appearance and was an expert at handling those Cadets around him. During his four years, he was awarded the Dunlap Memorial Rifle Trophy and the Oliver Revolver Medal for his marksmanship. His amiable manner also kept him busy with several social pursuits, including the 3rd Class (Sophomore) and 2nd Class (Junior) Dance Committees and the Sabre and Sash (Yearbook).

Anderson was assigned to the 26th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed “The Blue Spaders”, 1st Infantry Division. He focused on preparing for the amphibious invasion of North Africa. First Lieutenant Anderson and his unit landed on the beaches west of Oran, in northwest Africa. The inexperienced American troops encountered stubborn enemy resistance. Anderson’s unit came under constant and effective machine-gun and small-arms fire. Anderson was awarded The Silver Star Medal for his leadership and bravery in leading his men to the successful completion of their mission.

Moving inland, the 1st Infantry Division took up defensive positions in the Kasserine Pass, a wide gap in the Atlas Mountains. Elements of Rommel’s Afrika Korps launched a counter-attack against the 1st Infantry in order to regain control of Tunisia. During the German assault, Anderson led a machine gun squad in the destruction of a well-concealed sniper nest. For his outstanding leadership and tactical skill, Anderson was awarded The Oak Leaf Cluster to The Silver Star Medal (Second Award).

On D-Day, the 26th Regiment landed on Omaha Beach. After landing on “Fox Green Beach,” Anderson, now a Captain and the Commanding Officer of A Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, was ordered to take the high ground west and southwest of the Port-en-Bessin, to include Mount Cauvin. Although little is recorded about this engagement, Anderson was awarded The 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to The Silver Star Medal (Third Award).

During the Korean War, in late May 1951, the 7th Infantry Regiment launched a counter-attack to a Chinese advancement. The goal was to capture key hills and passes near Soksa-ri, Korea, and push the enemy back. During the siege, the 3rd Battalion became critically short of water, rations, and ammunition. Anderson responded to the regimental commander’s request for supplies. Despite being under constant small arms fire from the Chinese and avoiding jagged mountaintops, he piloted an unarmed aircraft four times. Each time he accurately dropped the supplies the 3rd Battalion urgently needed. By the end of May, the enemy offensive had been crushed. Anderson was The 3rd Oak Leaf Cluster to The Silver Star Medal (Fourth Award) for his “Unwavering Gallantry.”

Few men are awarded multiples of The Silver Star Medal, the Nation’s Third-Highest Combat Award (Decoration) for Gallantry. Anderson was one of them.

The Tumbelston family had a long association with PMC. Dr. Robert T. Tumbelston, ’07 was a graduate and the President of the Alumni Association. His two sons followed in his footsteps and attended PMC. William “Blackie” Tumbelston started as a rook in the Prep School and rose to be Cadet Captain of B Company in his First Class (Senior) year. His classmates considered him to be one of the most accomplished members of the Class of 1937 and for his “fearless determination” and leadership abilities also admired him. After graduation, he joined a Marine reserve battalion in Philadelphia.

Tumbelston was the Executive Officer of the 1st Battalion of the 27th Marines when they landed on Iwo Jima. He assumed command when Lieutenant Colonel Justin Duryea was wounded while taking Hill 326A. After making a thorough Leader’s Reconnaissance of the forward positions of the battalion, Tumbelston launched an attack on the heavily defended Japanese position that had halted the battalion’s advance. Leading from the front, as he was taught at PMC, he was wounded. The bullet struck him in the left arm, but after receiving treatment and refusing evacuation, he returned to the front. After the battle, Tumbelston was evacuated. In the five days he commanded the battalion, the forward attacks destroyed Japanese opposition. For his actions he was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

The battle to secure Iwo Jima witnessed the toughest combat of World War II. The courage and heroism of the Marines, however, inspired a war-weary nation and helped to propel it to final victory.

The 1939-1940 polo season was, perhaps, one of the greatest for polo at PMC. Under the guidance of Coach Carl Schaubel, ’30, considered at the time to be the best polo coach in the country, the team of Jim Spurrier ‘40, Emery Hickman ‘40 and “Bud” Maloney ‘41 excelled. Jim Spurrier was the sparkplug of the team. Bud Maloney formed the spearhead on attack, and Emory Hickman constantly retrieved the ball, feeding it to Spurrier and Maloney. Following the completion of a successful regular season, the PMC team once again played in the Intercollegiate Polo Tournament. They beat Harvard and West Point, but were defeated by Princeton in the Championship game. After graduation, these men, along with William Dudley ’42, a sophomore and another member of the polo team, were again teamed together in the 1st Cavalry Division. Three of these polo players distinguished themselves in action and earned Silver Star Medals for their leadership and heroism.

After months of “island hopping” through the Japanese held island chain known as “the Admiralties”, the 1st Cavalry Division invaded the Philippine Island of Leyte in October 1944. On November 30th, B Troop, under the command of CPT James R. Spurrier, was ordered to open the only available supply route by attacking a strongly entrenched force. To accomplish this, Spurrier was forced to cut his own trail through a densely wooded jungle over rugged mountain terrain. As darkness fell, there was the added danger of his troops becoming lost. Spurrier demonstrated initiative and courage leading his men to a point from which an attack could be made at first light. During the night, he gathered reinforcements to his command with men returning from the hospital and others carrying rations. As the sun rose the next day, Spurrier launched a coordinated attack. After 12 hours of hand-to-hand combat led by Spurrier, the supply route was reopened and an estimated 218 Japanese troops had been killed.

In January 1945, Luzon was invaded and General MacArthur issued the order “Go to Manila!” to liberate prisoners held by the Japanese and take the Malacañan Palace, the White House of the Philippines. Detached from the famous “flying column” and ordered to seize and hold the Palace, F Troop, commanded by CPT Emery M. Hickman, began the race towards Manila. To reach the objective, the squadron swept through the maze of unfamiliar streets and quickly overran the Japanese that were preparing to destroy the Palace. Hickey then organized the defense of the compound so well that when the Japanese tried to re-enter the grounds during the night they were stopped while taking many casualties. The next day, the Japanese began a murderous artillery bombardment of the Palace from across the Pasig River. Without regard for his personal safety Hickman courageously directed the fire of F Troop ordnance, observed the effects of the fire, and saw that all casualties received care.

As the 8th Cavalry Regiment began its push southward of Manila, Japanese resistance blocked its progress. Troop E, commanded by CPT William Dudley, was given the assignment to clear the area, starting with Gilmore Street. On Gilmore, a determined and tenacious Japanese force, consisting of machine guns and sniper fire, defended the area. Dudley was continually in the lead and exposed to the withering enemy fire. Throughout the daylong battle, Dudley remained in the forefront of the Troop reassuring his men and exploiting every gain before the enemy could reorganize. His leadership, personal courage, and heroism were directly responsible for the success of his and the regiment’s mission.

Wilfred “Casey” Farrell was a member of the basketball team and a determined student while attending PMPS (1932-35). He graduated from PMC in 1939. Best known for his unselfishness, leadership, and carefree outlook, he was a standout during his seven years as a resident of Old Main. After graduation, Farrell entered the Army and was assigned to the 26th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed the Blue Spaders. The 26th was a part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade of the First Infantry Division.

In 1942, the 26th Infantry led America’s first amphibious assault in North Africa near Oran in Algeria. In January 1943, Harold Boyle, a renowned war correspondent traveling with the Army, wrote that, in a pre-dawn assault, the Americans charged up a slippery slope of 1,000 feet with fixed bayonets and seized the heights. Farrell led his unit, a heavy weapons company, in advance of this attack. In February, in an effort to locate machine gun nests that had kept his unit pinned down on a hillside, he and another officer voluntarily went beyond their own lines. Many Americans, including Farrell, were subsequently cut off and taken prisoner when the Germans launched a counter attack. For his gallantry in action during the battle, Farrell was awarded the Silver Star Medal, which was presented, to his father at Fort DuPont.

According to Farrell, he was first taken to Tunis and then to a camp in Naples, Italy. Two weeks later, Farrell was moved to a camp in Austria. After three months in Austrian camp, he was shipped to Oflag (Offizierslager) 64, a prisoner of war camp for American officers in Poland. The camp was built around a Polish boys’ school in Szubin to detain the 150 officers captured in the North Africa Campaign. As the war continued, the size of the camp rose to 1,471 men. The “Kriegies” (short for Kriegsgefangenen: prisoners of war) made the best of their situation by organizing sports events, musical and theatrical performances and escape plans. Farrell wrote to his parents that he was studying French and German as well as reading some good books. In January 1945, the Russians liberated the camp and Farrell was returned to the United States. It was reported in the PMC News (June, 1945) that Farrell felt the Polish people “treated us wonderfully” and were of great assistance once the prisoners were liberated.

Evans Kayser entered PMC because of the recommendation of Norman Goldberg who, together, would be in the Class of 1965. In Kayser’s view, it “was one of the best decisions” he ever made. As a member of HQ Company (the Band) and a trombone player, he participated in the Boardwalk Bowl in Atlantic City and the PMC 1st Place Award-Winning National Marching Band Competition at the New York World’s Fair. His Army aviation career began when he participated in the ROTC Flight program where he learned to fly at the Wilmington, DE, airport. After graduation, he attended Rotary Wing Flight School (training for helicopter pilots) before deploying to Vietnam. In Vietnam, Kayser served as Pilot with Delta Troop, 3/5 Armored Cavalry. D Troop acted as a separate unit as a Quick Reaction Force, to work in tandem with infantry brigades on major assaults and other missions.

Late in the afternoon of June 19, 1967, two UH-1C helicopter gunships, piloted by 1st Lt. Kayser and Capt. Paul Osterlin, responded to an urgent call to support units of the 2nd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division that had been ambushed by the Viet Cong. As they approached the battle, radio communication with the Brigade was difficult due to the casualties, ground fire, and chaos. The two helicopters immediately engaged the enemy firing all of their weapons systems (two mini-guns and two 7 round 2.75 rocket pods plus two M-60 machine guns). After several firing passes, an emergency UHF radio call from the Brigade declared a tactical emergency and requested additional fire support from any weapons-capable aircraft. The combined response from helicopter gunships and Air Force tactical aircraft was remarkable. Kayser’s helicopter only left the battle to refuel and rearm at the airstrip at Tan An (a few minutes away) and return to the firefight. As the battle continued, Kayser continued to effectively fire on the enemy as well as escorting medical evacuation helicopters in and out of the area. Despite sustaining damage to his aircraft, Kayser continued to support the ground troops until daybreak on June 20.

Capt Sam Slaughter, commander of the fire team, wrote: … this was one of the most complicated and difficult combat operations I have ever supported while under fire. Although it took 44 years and the help of Congressman Tim Scott of South Carolina, Evans Kayser was awarded the Silver Star Medal in 2011.

Watch Congressman Tim Scott Present Evans Kayser with the Silver Star click here

 

Thomas Merendino ‘41, often called Tommy, was known as an athlete, scholar and gentleman at PMC. He was a versatile athlete and played football, basketball, and baseball. Yet, it was his smile and good humor that his classmates remembered.

The D-Day mission of the 16th Infantry Regiment was to land on Omaha Beach, the most heavily fortified of the five beaches, reduce the beach defenses, and secure the Beach two hours before dark. As the regiment’s landing craft approached the Beach, they came under intense fire. As the assault wave slowly built up a firing line, Company B, led by Captain Merendino, landed ten minutes after the first assault wave. The scene was described as chaotic and disorganized. As landing craft dropped their ramps, men were killed and wounded as they attempted to get out of the boats. Others were hit as they struggled through the surf or tried to run across the sand weighted down with waterlogged equipment.

Merendino disembarked from the landing craft in the initial assault wave and, with complete disregard for his own safety, organized the men who were struggling in the water and led them through the intense enemy fire to the shore. Upon reaching the shore, he refused to take cover and again organized an assault group for further advance. Fully exposed to the sweeping fire from enemy pillboxes and machine gun nests and a constant target for the snipers on the hill, he personally led the charge up the slope and overran a German stronghold.

General Eisenhower visited the First Division on July 2nd and pinned awards for heroism on twenty five First Division heroes, including Merendino, who received The Distinguished Service Cross Medal. This was not his first act of valor. During the Oren offensive in Algeria, the (then) Lieutenant Merendino directed the fire of a105 mm self-propelled howitzer on an enemy stronghold. When this failed, he ordered the howitzer to ram the German stronghold. He then dismounted the vehicle and charged the German stronghold and captured 20 Germans. This act of bravery earned him The Silver Star Medal.

Joseph P. McCaffery ’27 attended PMC along with his brother, Hugh McCaffery ’24. Because of his size and older brother, he was known as “Little Joe.” While at PMC, he was recognized as a marksman and the quarterback on the football team. “Babe” Buono ‘26, one of McCaffery’s roommates, stated that, “When it came to courage and transferring that courage to others, Joe had no equal.” After graduation, McCaffery was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Reserves, but resigned to accept a commission in the Marine Corps Reserves.

After serving at Pearl Harbor, Shanghai, San Diego, and Quantico, McCaffery joined the Marine Raiders. The Raider battalions were a special mission force that were lightly armed and intensely trained to spearhead larger amphibious landings on beaches (thought to be inaccessible); conduct raids requiring surprise and high speed, and operate as guerrilla units for lengthy periods behind enemy lines. When a battalion lost its commander on Guadalcanal, McCaffery assumed command. After leading his troops though a dense jungle to safety, he was immediately promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and assigned to the 1st Marine Raider Regiment. In the Munda-Rendova campaign, he led a 15-mile trek through a swamp and wiped out a Japanese garrison, which had been caught completely by surprise. Next came the landing at Bougainville.

For this operation, McCaffery took over the Second Raider Battalion. The landing encountered a Japanese crossfire, which caused havoc and disorder within the assault waves. McCaffery landed with the first wave of Raiders. As the Marines cleared the beach, they were stopped by machine-gun fire from a well-concealed bunker. While leading the Marines forward, McCaffery was struck four times in the chest. Despite the best efforts of the corpsman and Battalion surgeon, he died.

His fellow soldiers described him as a brilliant officer, kind and loyal friend, and courageous hero. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal for his superior leadership between November 1942 and January 1943. In May 1944, McCaffery was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for “extraordinary heroism while in command of the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion in action against enemy Japanese forces.” In 1945, the USS McCaffery, a navy destroyer, was commissioned in his honor.