Robert J. Grosch

Dr. Clarence Moll's Gambit

In 1966 PMC Colleges was changing, we just added Penn Morton College to our name. We all heard rumors that the cadet corps was going south. If we were honest with ourselves we could feel the difference from the Class of 63.....Geogohen, Telelli, and DeShaw, to name a few. We were seniors and with the exception of Bill Symolon and others, who still "walked the walk", we understood what was happening and in my case, just went through the motions. I had a new Mustang convertible, a girl in NY,which I visited on weekends,and money in my pocket from my ROTC check. I was in "fat city"! I regret that I didn't fight then for that 100 plus year tradition of the PMC corps to go on into the future. The corps could have been saved, you know; but Dr. Moll had a different plan and in fact told that plan to our senior class officers at a meeting. I got this straight from the VP of our class who was a Penn Morton friend.

Dr. Moll wanted a different type of college....Widener University to be exactly like it is. He was right, no question, but the corps could have continued to exist under the Widener University umbrella....Just like Texas A&M, a great college with a functioning cadet corp. I knew of that college but never brought it up. Hind sight is 20/20.

 The Widener ROTC program is great...but not the same.

Col. Bill Usmc (Ret. ) Symolon

Frank,   That's a grim forecast you make and a possible outcome.  But, I would think (and hope) that as long as an ROTC program stays at Widener the PMC Museum will stay.  Now, if ROTC disappears, as it once did on many campuses during the Vietnam era, it's another story.  Furthermore, if ROTC did disappear and no support for our PMC history was left to keep it going, I would say to Hell with it.  It wouldn't matter.  After we're all dead and gone, if no one gives a shit....so be it.

We know what we did and what we were.  We have an expression in the Marine Corps, called "the Last Bottle Club."    We keep celebrating our victories until the last survivor drinks up the last drop from the last bottle and then we commend the memories to dust.

I guess that's also a pretty grim outlook !

John (Jay) Repetto

Repetto, count me in!

George W. Graner

Count me in!  See you all next year or before.

Col. Bill Usmc (Ret. ) Symolon

  The Honor Guard of the Unknown Soldier Tomb is one of the Army's finest moments.

Jeffrey Travers

Count me -in.  I like Henry's idea of the tumblers.  

Suggestion:

The bottle should be proudly displayed in the museum.  As one of us passes on the engraved glass should be placed in the display with the bottle.  When the bottle is consumed, the empty should be returned to the museum with the last tumbler placed upside down on the neck of the bottle.

Col. Bill Usmc (Ret. ) Symolon

Hey Gents,   I've done some leg work on our Last Bottle Club idea.  I have found a 7 0z (More than we need) Pewter Jefferson Cup that could be engraved with PMC Class of 1966 and our individual name for about $53 per cup.  What do you guys think about that?  I'll set it up and collect the funds, or keep looking for other ideas. Henry Faryna suggested 4 oz glass tumblers, but I haven't seen any that look special and that seems to be a hard size to find. 

For Clark,  I'm not sure if all our class will see this message.  Can you verify that or resend it somehow ?  I'll standby for response.   Bill Symolon

Bruce I. Kristol

Even if non military Day Students aren't invited to participate, I will gladly contribute to see that this endeavour moves forward.

Col. Bill Usmc (Ret. ) Symolon

Bruce,  Thanks for your offer !   This idea was meant to salute & celebrate our Cadet Corps, but if any non-cadet day students want to join us, I think it's a fine idea.....especially so if they served in the military either before or after attending PMC.

Clark,  Thanks for helping with the advertisements.

Shelley (65) Horwitz (65)

Bill,

$53 seems a bit high for a souvenir. I suggest that you, and anybody else who might want such a memento, check out Tom's Glass Works (http://www.tomsglassworks.com/index.php). They do have pewter mugs that range as high as $53, but prices decline for bigger orders. And they have excellent hand-etched glass mugs that are in the $10 price range. AND... I've dealt with them before... the work is excellent and the prices are very reasonable!!!

W. David III Eckard

I respectfully submit that the Last Man concept for the Class of 1966 should include all members of the class who wish to participate, not only cadets.   I think of Ed and George Garrison who started with us in September 1962 as fellow Rooks.   For whatever reason they did not move to senior ROTC status in Fall 1964 but they remained cadets.  Then when PMC opened to have boarding civilians effective Fall 1965 both Ed and George opted for that.  They both lived with us through three years of cadet status and are, in my opinion, worthy of participating---if they wish---in the Last Man endeavor...

Frank Platt (Platt)

Frank Platt

I am all in on this. Like the idea of the Jefferson cup.  Glad we are brought back together.  And since you all need some dignity that only the field artillery can bring I will try to get up for our 50th anniversity.  Also glad to see you all still look the same.

Edward F. Jr. Farrell

Gentlemen,

Some of those Civilians were better and more devoted to duty then you think.  Bill Bengle did Four Tours in Viet Nam with the United States Air Force.  Was one of the Last to bomb Hanoi in a B-52.  I know Vernan Davis, served in Country as an Arny Officer.  We are but one Class and we all wore the Uniform of Our Country with Pride and Honor.  In my mind there is no seperation of one in the Class as to another, we are ALL THE CLASS OF 1966.  So Col Bill and Stan anyone who is part of Our Class is welcome to drink with me anytime they wish, and I will raise a Glass To Any and All of our Classmates who Pass before me.  With this being said I'm sure this feeling is share by all of us.  Be Well this Labor Day Weekend and I'm now Raising a Glass of 12 year old Scotch to all of you "SALUTE"!  Ed Farrell

W. David III Eckard

Well said, Ed...   One class---one for all.

Henry Faryna

I also agree that our Class of 1966 PMC Last Bottle Club should be open to both cadet and civilian folks who graduated with us in 1966.  As was noted previously - alumni graduating in other years can start up their last bottle clubs.  With regard to the glass or pewter mug issue ...  to me, the pewter mug is more for beer -  and we will be doing toasts with whiskey or perhaps wine mixed with whiskey (which was used in the Dining In Ceremonies that I attended in the 42d Infantry Division (Mech).  It seems that a 4 oz glass whiskey on-the- rocks glass would be more appropriate.     

Michael J. Hernandez

Well said Ed, I totally agree, we are all part of the "Class of 66"!!

Hope you are doing well  Ed, I'm raising a "Manhatten"!1

Best wishes,

Mike "Chico" Hernandez

Robert J. Grosch

Eddie,

Please include Chic Goebel,66 as a patriot. Was OCS infantry, served in Vietnam and has been a life long friend and footall  teammate. He was VP of our class and a Theta Chi ( well we will forgive him for that ) Ha. He definitely deserves to be include in the "Last Bottle". I think you'll agree Billy!

Frank L. Pellegrini Cpa Mba

I agree that our entire class should be included in everything we do.

Col. Bill Usmc (Ret. ) Symolon

 Your guys are phenomenal...as we obviously are as a Class. 

I fully agree with all comments provided.  Frank,  Were you guys King of Battle or Queen...I can't remember? (Seems to me you were the "Queens" )  ED, better said than anything I could write..we were all in the Class of '66 and The Best Class!  Henry, I will look for a better shot glass.  We have plenty of time to prepare.   Bob Grosch and Frank Pelligringi   No Doubt at all that Chick Goebel and guys like him belong with us.

Theodore R. Zak

Although I did graduate a "civilian" my heart always was with the Corp of Cadets. I never for once thought I might not be included as all of you are a part of my life!  By the way you who were commisioned upon graduation took the best road.  Just picture me heavy out of shape Ted going through Basis and Advanced infantry training for sixteen weeks and then going to Benning School for Boys for 26 weeks to earn my commision.  YIPES!

Frank Platt (Platt)

Bill we are the king of battle because we put the balls where the queen (infantry) wants them. :)

John J. Lynch

To All Members of the Best Class PMC '66

You have probably all wondered why I have not chimed in before now on the Forum, but I have been waiting for all of you to let loose with your passion, your memories and suggestions. That is what makes us the Best Class. We remain close, still support each other and won't let PMC die.

We have our 50th Anniversary Committee Meeting this afternoon and we are going to be discussing all of the great suggestions voiced in this Forum (Last Bottle Club, Shot Glasses, Tumblers, perserving the PMC legacy through the Museum and (possibly elsewhere.) We need to do something as a Class. (Cadet, Civilian & Evening students). As a committee we will vote and advise you how we will proceed or what "leg work" we need to do before our next Committee meeting in the Spring of 2016.

Our thanks to Clark for setting up this website and getting the "chatter" going early on. Our thanks also to Bill, Henry, Gerry, Ed, Frank, Jeff, Ted, George, Bob G., Dave (I hope I didn't leave anyone out) excellent suggestions.

The sad part of Pennsylvania Military College's demise is that in 1962 when we started we were one of only 7 non-service academies in existence. By 1972 there were only 6...and those 6 still exist today as Military Colleges (Norwich University, The Citadel, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Tech (formally VPI), North Georgia and Texas A & M). Somehow some way we have to keep PMC ALIVE!!!

Thanks for your support and the support of the Committee. In the next few months we will be putting the "full court press" on to increase attendance for the 50th. We will be calling on you to make some one on one contacts in the near future. We are counting on you to help make this the best reunion ever.

John J. Lynch

Henry Faryna

John Lynch,  Thanks for your update, glad to know that the ABS (alumni brigade staff) is working on an OPLAN for bringing the Last Bottle Club into reality.  Also, I wanted to clear up a point for everyone.  Yes, I did graduate as a cadet and was commissioned as a Transportation Corps officer at that time.  But, following a little known but long standing PMC tradition of the few but proud "permanent private" cadets ... I had my yearbook picture taken in civilian clothes - there were several of us that did it.     

Gerald F. Jr. Johnson

Henry;

Many of us became a bit "rogue" by 1966, brought on in great part I believe by the headwinds that we knew we were going to be facing in Vietnam. I think Jack Geoghan's very untimely death left an indelible mark on the entire Corps (particularly our Class of '66) since he was Brigade Commander our Freshman year, as well as a great guy.

Reflecting back, I don't think I even owned any civilian clothes in 1966 !! Full Dress Alpha for my wedding, then went to the clothing store to kit up.

Henry Faryna

Gerry,  Great u-tube video, it took me a day or so to figure out what it was before I clicked on it.  Also, you are right about the effect of the times on us.  All of us did not know if we would be dead or alive a year or so after graduation.  John Finn urged me to be a bum in Europe for a few months before I reported for officer basic training at Ft. Eustis, VA - just so I could see it and the October Fest before I went in.  I took his advice, spent July and August with a girl who was Finnish Exchange student and had good times going to the Philadelphia Fold Festival and Gordon Lightfoot at the Mariposa Folk Festival in Canada. Went to London in September and bought a used 250 cc Triumph motorcycle and rode it across the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, up Sweden to Stockholm, took a ferry across the Gulf of Bothnia to Finland and stayed with the Finnish girl again at the University of Helsinki for a few weeks before returning to the US and reporting for duty in November.