HONORING THOSE WHO SERVE

TrinityPawlingJoeCallo48

To celebrate Veterans Day this year, we asked alumni veterans to submit stories of how Trinity-Pawling helped prepare them for a life of service. In this edition of the Quad, we wanted to share with you some of the submissions we received.

A special thank you to all of the alumni who submitted their stories. We appreciate your service to the United States military and your support of Trinity-Pawling School.

Bryan Tolley ’03.

“The many lessons I learned while at Trinity-Pawling, both in and out of the classroom, molded me into the man/soldier I became in the years after graduation. I honestly have no idea how to put into words how the atmosphere there prepared me for my time in uniform. The faculty and staff helped me find a drive deep within myself that I didn’t even know I had. They helped instill in me the importance of camaraderie and the desire to push myself to the limit. These examples are just the tip of the iceberg. I will forever be grateful for everything T-P has done for me.”

We received the following submission from Mary, daughter of Harold Enstice ’42, on her father’s time in the service. She also shared that Mr. Enstice plans to attend his 75th Reunion this fall!

Harold Enstice, a proud army veteran of the Second World War, was a member of the 36th Infantry Division and served from October 1942 – December 1945. He served in Africa, Italy, France, and Germany. While serving in Germany in 1944, he was wounded in battle and received the Purple Heart. He also received the following medals: 2 Bronze Stars, Combat Infantry Badge, a Presidential citation, Good Conduct Medal, NYS Conspicuous star and NYS Conspicuous Cross, World War II Medal, American Campaign Medal, and the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal. He also received the European African Campaign Medal for his invasion of Southern France. He was in seven combat zones as an infantryman. Harold was ranked as a Tech Sergeant. He received this title in a battlefield promotion where only 40 men out of 180 survived. Harold has been married to his wife Rosemary for the last 69 years. He has three children Keith, Kevin, and Mary. He has nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He is the kind of man that always puts other people first. He always thinks of himself last and makes sure other people are taken care of first, no matter what the circumstance is.

Alex Feldman ’07

“Trinity-Pawling instilled both a desire for and deep appreciation of structure and fraternity. Furthermore, my experiences in class, on the cross-country trails and in the dorms cultivated a sense of duty to lead my peers that has served me extraordinarily throughout my time in the Marine Corps.”

Stew McKnelly ’86, LtCol, USMC (Ret):

JJDIDTIEBUCKLE is the acronym for the 14 leadership traits of a United States Marine and they are as follows: Judgment, Justice, Dependability, Integrity, Decisiveness, Tact, Initiative, Endurance, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty, and Enthusiasm. When I came to T-P in the fall of 1982 or even when I graduated in 1986 I had no idea that I would spend 25 years serving my country as a Marine. I think if you ask my classmates they would say the same thing. After joining the Marine Corps I realized that the foundation wasn’t learned during the hot summers in Quantico during OCS or through flight school but on the hallowed ground of Trinity-Pawling. I was surrounded by teachers, coaches and administrators that displayed and engrained in me these very traits each and every day. I realized that I had already been taught to be a person who emulated the traits of a Marine in a place that I consider sacred ground. I recently was back at T-P for my 30th reunion and while some of the buildings and people have changed the commission of making boys into men and more importantly leaders of men has not. The cornerstone of T-P is JJDIDTIEBUCKLE. Semper Fi Warriors and God Bless. Roll Pride!

RADM Joe Callo ’48, USN (Ret)

“Trinity-Pawling was my first experience of living outside my family household, and it widened my horizons. It also instilled a sense of responsibility to my community and my country. As a student leader and as captain of the basketball team and the track team, I was introduced to the special challenges of leadership. I don’t consider my military service to be unusual. It’s what a citizen does. The attached photo of me with my wife Sally–who is a Captain, USN (Ret)–was taken at my retirement ceremony.”

Jim Chapman ’79

“My three years at T-P provided me with the ‘blueprint’ on how to achieve success and prepared me to set realistic goals that could be reached through my hard work, dedication and determination. T-P also taught me the value of teamwork and how to work as a member of a team. The lessons I learned on the soccer and baseball fields as well as the hockey rink help forge my leadership style and sense of teamwork that I successfully used during my 26+ years of military service to this nation. I often tell people that the 3 years at T-P were the hardest, but most rewarding years of my life!”

Drew Ormiston ’83

“Trinity-Pawling was instrumental in developing an analytical mind and enduring the rigors of military life.”

Randy Woods ’66

“My knowledge of the world by meeting other students from different walks of life. That lent itself to 20 years of military service with the United States Air Force-from Vietnam, flying gunships up and down the Ho Chi Minh trail to catching our national spy satellites from an airplane in Hawaii.”