Augusta Military Academy - Recall Yearbook (Fort Defiance, VA)

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Waves of hope, despair, and indiffer- ence floated over the Black Top as Col. David Rapp delivered the Veterans’ Day address to the corps. Those cadets with hopes were thinking of their relatives who were involved in Viet Nam. Despair flooded those whose relatives were MIA, unknown as to a prognosis. Indifference, but tinged with respect, was the mood of the majority who had no involvement in the Viet Nam war. Bus rides to Harrisonburg preluded a march through the town and then town leave, dear to each cadet’s heart. “That old red truck is no good. Why can’t we have that and make some mon- ey for the Shriners’ Childrens’ Hospital?’’ Herb Maher’s pleas were answered by approval from Col. John Dekle for a car smash. Hammers almost failed to dent the old monster, but win- dows did crack. Guys let off steam, and $110 flowed into the Shrine treasury for added aid to crippled children. Dancing, leaping, shouting, roaring, the corps gave no indication that the Fishburne men were winning. Over and over outsiders came over to the AMA side of the field to praise the spirit and support which the corps was giving to the Blue Streaks. Passersby were certain the AMA was stomping FMS into the oS Laryngitis was common the next ay. Politics rippled the waves among the corps. (But barely). Government classes sponsored a debate in the Big Room be- tween President Nixon-men Chuck Knapp, Steve Gruhn, and Ron Slagle, and pro-McGovernites Carl Kellogg, Wayne Vincent and Ben Stewart. Over- whelmingly pro-Nixon, gave its support MOMENT OF REFLECTION. Col. David Rapp leads the corps in prayer during ceremonies on the 11th of November. Taps follows for AMA's war dead. LACED WITH FACTS the speech by Carl Kellogg goes unheard by a highly partisan corps. Debate in the Big Room turned into a one-sided rally. to Chuck Knapp on every point. Laugh- ter and catcalls greeted Carl Kellogg’s perplexity about the lack of communica- tions between the President and the peo- ple, the Watergate affair, and stamped- ing inflation. That afternoon the faculty voted 24% for McGovern, 75% for Nix- on, with the corps giving 71.4% of its support to Nixon. Putting partisan support aside, Capt. Wayne Vincent led his band down to Richmond for a Republican rally. “’Dix- ie’ so delighted the Richmonders that they gave the AMA men a standing ovation. Thanksgiving break came at the right moment. Winging it to Chicago for NSPA, Chuck Knapp called the windy city ‘‘the greatest city in the USA for a good time.’’ Christmas was a breath away as the cadets returned from leave. November— 25 O

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Eighth Grade SETTING THE CROWD ON FIRE, Jeff Sawdey and Bob Walker add brass to the Band appear- ance at a Richmond rally. Vice-President Agnew and future Sen. Bill Scott were pleased. STEALING THE SHOW and the ball, Ron Slagle (47) gains control over the situa- tion by faking out EM’s Terry Chibubik. De- spite the dramatics, EM skins AMA 5-0. e PP 6 itor aied 3 Mark Abernathy Chris Adams James Alexander Truey Burgess Barry Cartwright Don Charns Jim Cheesman Pat Collins Gilvie Cook Martin Davis Pat Dent Chris Dillow O 24 — November, Eighth Grade

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NO CHRISTMAS SPREE — just a routine full formal inspection disrupts the surge towards the season. Spencer Griffin inspects Joby White to see if he makes it as Best Private. High school stuff — decorating doors for Christmas! But it was a first for ca- dets. Transforming their doorways into attractive entrances, Steve McAdams and Ron Kaplan vied for top honors with Yogi Hale and Greg Duran. Top winners earned a late breakfast-in-bed. Warm weather may not have added to the Christmas spirit, but the smell of pines and the sight of huge company Christmas trees helped put most of the guys into the scene. Band swept all hon- ors for their tree, lights strung all around their barracks, and for the packages which added to the color of it all. “Don’t forget others!” It was almost a daily cry. Posters urged support of the Lynchburg Orphanage, a yearly project which joined all cadets into the meaning of Christmas. Rehearsals meant less free time for scores of participants in the Christmas program. Each company decided to enter a choral group into a competition. An added feature was the “costume” each group adopted. Greased back hair (a re- turn to the 50s) and white shirts with straight black ties added luster to Uhl’s Fools who gave a rendition of ‘‘Jingle Bells” and then a potpourri of beer com- mercials as an encore. The solmenity of the season came into focus with Herb Maher’s rendition of the Christmas story, with Mrs. Merlyn Wright assisting with a piano back- ground. Word pictures formed as Col. Herbert Lucus described what it was like on the days when he drives into the Home, his car laden with turkeys and Christmas fixings. Pockets opened; $424 allowed a real meal in Lynchburg. Christmas Collage TRAPPED! Ty Harrison captures Taffy under the lower school Christmas tree during the big party. Gary McDaniel sings out joyfully, waiting for the day. O 26— December