LHS Class of 1952 ROTC "Brass"

Can you name them?

Honors that year. Cadet Col. Robert Last was awarded the Leavenworth Legion of Honor at the annual field night for Leavenworth High School's ROTC unit. The award, sponsored by the American Legion, is given to the senior outstanding in character, military aptitude and scholastic attainment in ROTC work. Cadet Capt. Ralph Knapp won the American Legion Leadership Medal given to the senior considered the outstanding leader. The PMS&T medal given by the Professor of Military Science and Tactics, Capt. I. D. Stauffer, to a senior for scholastic attainment in ROTC went to Cadet Maj. Jorge Elliott. Chicago Tribune awards for character, military aptitude and scholastic attainment were awarded Cadet 1st Lt. Robert Rosenberg, a junior. and Cadet Cpl. Robert James, a sophomore.  These awards are sponsored by Col. Robert McCormick, publisher of the Tribune. The Lions Club Leadership Medal to a junior for leadership, was given Cadet 1st Lt. Robert Cooper. Cadet Cpl. Eugene Wentworth won the Rotary Leadership and Citizenship Medal, given a sophomore. His name will be engraved on a plaque kept by the ROTC. Kiwanis Club awards for the neatest cadet, awarded to cadets who have the greatest number of inspection merits during a year were given first place, junior, Cadet Sfc. William Bohannon, sophomore, Cadet Cpl. Wentworth; second place, junior, Cadet Sfc. Elmore Snyder, sophomore, Cadet Cpl. Robert James. The best drilled cadet, an award sponsored by the Capt. Jesse Chapter, DAR, was awarded, first place, junior, Cadet Sfc. James Powell, sophomore, Cadet Cpl. David Johnson: second place, Cadet Sfc. Alfred Dunlap, sophomore, Cadet Cpl. Robert Cook. The Rifle Club championship medal, sponsored by the Leavenworth National Bank, was awarded the winner of the club championship, Cadet Sfc. Edwin Arnold.  Second place was won by Cadet Cpl. Henry Johnson. The Rifle Club Progress Medal, for progresses made in marksmanship during the year was won by Cadet Sfc. Arnold.  Cadet Cpl. Robert Helgren won second place. Squad leader Cadet Cpl. Wentworth accepted an award for his squad as the best drilled squad.  The best drilled platoon award was accepted by Cadet 1st Lt. Beau Kansteiner. Company Commander Cadet Capt. Douglas Curtis accepted an award for the best drilled company.  Each of these awards was sponsored by the Reserve Officers Assn. of Kansas. The Honor Company Trophy was won by company B and was accepted by the company commander, Cadet Capt. Curtis. This award was presented by the Fort Leavenworth Chapter 154, National Sojourners. It goes to the company with the greatest number of points in the year.  Capt. Stauffer estimated 1,000 persons attended the field night ceremonies at Abeles Field and visited the new ROTC armory. He  said the ROTC received a large bouquet of flowers front F. L. Taylor, cadet major in 1922. The Leavenworth Times 5/16/52
Due to an ill-timed incident of insubordination toward one of the ROTC noncom instructors and a subsequent demotion late in the school year, The Old Man was not eligible for any year-end awards. The field night was nonetheless memorable for T.O.M.  While standing around Abeles Field in his saberless uniform waiting for the command to assemble for the activities, he felt the urge to relieve himself. He chose what seemed to be the most convenient private spot, behind the field house. Unfortunately the rear of the field house was protected from the glare of the bright lights focused on the field and was quite dark. As T.O.M. rushed into the dark void his foot stepped on some uneven ground and he twisted his ankle in an unnatural angle. He emerged worse for wear and could barely hobble back to the field.  It was no longer possible for him to march with his unit without appearing to be the survivor of a brutal clash on the field of battle with the enemy.  He excused himself from marching and guarded the sidelines until the ceremonies had ended. Tough soldier that he was, however, he was able to attend a post field day party being held at Teddy Gordon's home.  He spent the evening applying ice to his injured limb. The next morning when he awoke, he entered the bathroom and promptly fainted.  He was transported to Cushing Hospital, x-rayed, fitted with a cast and furnished with a pair of crutches.  Despite his injuries, PMS&T Capt. I. D. Stauffer, who was really a nice guy and to whom T.O.M. was grateful for his help apart from school, neglected to award T.O.M. with a Purple Heart. It was somewhat inconvenient for T.O.M. to hobble around school on crutches, but he was always cheered by the support of his fellow students, in particular one Bob Gwartney, who whenever they met addressed him as, "FieldHouse."