For distribution to Class of ’70. Please read before the Class Business Meeting if possible. Betsey and I share our home email dbblakeslee@me.com. My work email is don.b.blakeslee.mil@mail.mil. Dear Classmates, At the Class of ’70 business meeting I will be talking about how our class can make a significant contribution to saving General Washington’s Revolutionary fortification system at West Point, designed and constructed primarily under the leadership of Chief Engineer Tadeusz Kosciuszko. The Class officers have reviewed this proposal and have expressed their support for your review and discussion at the business meeting on Friday. This project would be considered in addition to the funds proposed for the NCEA initiative and is for $150,000 of class money. My wife, Betsey Blakeslee, Ph.D., has been leading the efforts at West Point over the past 5 years to save the Revolutionary sites at West Point. She is the president of the 501c3 Friends of the American Revolution at West Point, Inc., (FAR), that is leading this restoration effort along with Dr. Jim Johnson ’69, Vice President, who was the former Chief of Military History at West Point, and is the currently endowed chair of military history at Marist College and Executive Director of the Hudson River Valley Institute. FAR is approved by the State of New York, the federal government for tax exempt purposes, the Department of the Army and West Point officials. They meet regularly with Garrison Commander Dunham and members of his team, and they also meet quarterly with Superintendent Caslen who has publicly expressed his support for this initiative in many public forums at West Point. General Dave Palmer, former Superintendent at West Point and the author of the seminal book on West Point in the American Revolution, The River and the Rock, serves as senior advisor on the FAR board. In addition, Distinguished Graduate Ed Rowny, ’41, has just expanded the scope of the Rowny Fund at West Point to include: Kosciuszko’s Garden; Kosciuszko’s Monument; and the Revolutionary fortifications at West Point. AOG is in support of this expanded role for the Rowny Fund to support funding for the fortifications. AOG Rowny FUND Document Our class has the opportunity to significantly influence the ability to preserve the fortification system that General Washington called “the key of America.” We will ask for your consideration to reopen the historic connection between Kosciuszko’s Garden and the Revolutionary Supply Trail, known to you as Flirtation Walk but originally called Chain Battery Walk after the founding of West Point. The link between the two Revolutionary sites was only closed off 20 years ago because of some erosion on the trail. Making this connection will allow the one-third of Flirtation walk to be reopened and improve exposure to the many Revolutionary fortifications on the trail. I am very proud of the work Betsey has accomplished. She was awarded the highest civilian award from the Republic of Poland, (given to her by the president of Poland), for her work in restoring Kosciuszko’s Garden and Kosciuszko’s fortifications at West Point. Two weeks ago she received the President’s Gold Points of Light Volunteer Award which was presented to her at West Point by Dean (BG) Tim Trainor and Commandant (BG) Thomson and the Garrison Commander. Although the awards are well deserved, they are not why you should consider this project. The Revolutionary fortifications at West Point represent the most comprehensive series of fortifications in existence in America today from the Revolutionary period. It was West Point that Benedict Arnold commanded and that he attempted to sell the fortification plans for to the British for the equivalent of one million dollars. Over 70% of the 30 batteries, redoubts and forts are in need of significant preservation. I look forward to discussing this with you at the business meeting. Best regards, Don If you care for more information, you can read this report submitted to the class officers. Also - some pictures - Kosciuszko’s Garden at West Point in 1779 Redoubt 7 on Constitution Island Caved In Betsey Receives Gold Cross of Merit in NYC Problems with the links to Monaco; questions about the proposal to Blakeslee

45th Reunion Final Draft Agenda

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Westminster College - Barney and Jane Forsythe

COLONEL JAMES S. MCHONE, MD, RIP 1 April 2015

Dr. (Colonel, US Army, Retired) James S. ”Jim” McHone of Columbia, SC died April 1, 2015 after a long history of treatment for colorectal cancer. Dr. McHone was born in Denver, CO on November 23, 1947. He was predeceased by his mother Marion Samson McHone, his father Clarence D. McHone, his stepmother Annie Westmoreland McHone and his older sister Mary McHone Wilkie.

Dr. McHone is survived by his wife of many years and medical business partner Linda Jordan McHone of his home in Columbia, SC.  He is also survived by his stepchildren Angie West Guy and Lindsay Guy of Boykin, SC; James R. West IV and Valerie Peak West of Lugoff, SC; grandchildren Margaret Guy, Emily Guy, James Guy, Edwin Guy, Camryn West and Zachary West; his brother, Michael L. McHone and Elizabeth McHone of Mt Airy, NC; his sister Patricia McHone Newsome and Earl Newsome of Sanford, NC, as well as many nieces and nephews. His mother-in-law Myrtle P. Jordan, of Camden, SC, also survives him.

Dr. McHone grew up in Mt. Airy, NC and graduated from Mt. Airy High School in 1966. He participated in many athletics and clubs and was the president of several high school organizations, also elected the school’s “most school spirited senior”.   He then attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and graduated in 1970, where he participated as the stage manager for the Cadet Glee Club and helped operate the auditorium in the old North Gymnasium.  He subsequently spent twenty-six years in the Army reserves and active duty as a Signal officer and an Orthopedic Surgeon. He retired as an Army Colonel in 1996. He received many Army awards and decorations to include the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal. He served a tour in Korea in 1972 in the Second Infantry Division. He graduated from the Medical College of Georgia in 1978 and from the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center Orthopedic Residency in 1982. Dr. McHone then moved to Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC and practiced orthopedic surgery there for twenty-five years until his retirement in 2007.  Throughout this time, he was always very active in his community and with local high school athletics, Mt. Airy High School, the West Point Class of 1970, the West Point Association of Graduates and the Army Athletic Association.  He was on the Board of Trustees and a member of many other boards and committees of the West Point Association of Graduates.  He also made a major donation of West Point Art to the Association of Graduates, which is on prominent display in their building, Herbert Hall, at West Point. Dr. McHone loved his dogs Gretchen, Jorge, Maddie and TJ and they followed his every step in the last years of his life!

Dr. McHone has been a very active member of his community for the past 25 years in Columbia, SC. He has served on his homeowner boards for many years in different communities in Columbia. He is a charter member and organizer of his Presbyterian Church and has been on the building committee of two major churches. He has been very active with the local school boards and he participated in school rezoning planning and helped several multimillion dollar bond referendums to pass. He has also worked for many successful road and transportation projects in the community. He has won many awards for his volunteer work with the local high schools to include being selected as the State High School Volunteer of the year. He has twenty years experience working with the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, the Army Athletic Department and the West Point Association of Graduates as a board member and as a Major Donor to the Academy, and as a fundraiser. He ran an active orthopedic practice in Columbia specializing in sports medicine and joint replacement. Dr. McHone was the Founder and Former Chief of the Orthopedics Department at Providence Hospital, Columbia, SC and performed the first total joint replacement at Providence in 1985. He is still serving on Senior Orthopedic Staff at Providence.  Doctor McHone retired from active surgical practice in 2007 due to colorectal cancer.

Visitation will be held at the Northeast Presbyterian Church (601 Polo Rd, Columbia, SC 29223, #803-788-5298) at 11:30 AM on Wednesday, April 8, 2015. Visitation will be followed by a Funeral Service (also at the Northeast Presbyterian Church) at 12:30 PM and a grave side memorial service with full military honors for Dr. McHone at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery at 2:00 PM under the direction of Dr. George Crow, United States Air Force Academy Class of 1970 and Chaplain Harry Phillips, US Navy, Retired.  A reception at the Fort Jackson Officers’ Club will follow at 3:00 PM. Memorials may be made to the Northeast Presbyterian Church and to the Newkirk Presbyterian Church, Blythewood, SC.

Dr. McHone wishes to extend a special thanks to Dr. Leland “Joe” McElveen, Dr. Steven Minter, Kim Dewitt, PA and their staff at SC Oncology Associates as well as his oncology doctors at Duke University Medical Center for all their care and concern over the years.  In addition, Dr. McHone would like to extend thanks to Dr. Sidney Morrison, Dr. Mark Mayson and Dr. Rick Dryer.   Powers Funeral Home of Lugoff, SC is in charge of his arrangements.