September 4, 2020
Member Profile: Colonel Alvin Morgan, USA (Ret)
Colonel Alvin “Al” Morgan is a Life Member of the Military Officers Association of America and has been a member of the Black Hills Chapter dating back to the early days when the organization was known as the “The Retired Officers Association” (TROA).
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| 2LT Al Morgan-1947 |
Born 92 years ago in Seymour, Indiana, the family moved to Wisconsin when he was 10 years old. Al graduated from high school in Sheboygan in 1946 and enlisted in the Army. His basic training was at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia.
Private Morgan was selected for OCS and spent the next six months at Ft. Benning, Georgia, where he was commissioned a 2LT in June of 1947. He was 19 years old. After further Corps of Engineers officer training back at Ft. Belvoir, he was assigned in 1948 to an organization dubbed SCARWAF, (Special Category Army With Air Force). In the summer of 1948 his unit worked three months lengthening runways at Goose Bay, Labrador.
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| CPT Al Morgan - 1956 |
After returning to the U.S., in 1949, while on leave in Sheboygan, he married Fay Nack, to whom he has been married for 71 years! But he was soon in Canada again, as SCARWAF engaged in engineering projects along the Defense Early Warning (DEW) Line near the Arctic Circle.
In 1950, 1LT Morgan was on his way to England for a four-year tour of duty, extending runways at RAF bases for larger and heavier aircraft. Fortunately, Fay was able to accompany him on this assignment. Their son, Lawrence, and daughter, Sara, were both born in England.
After England, CPT Morgan was stateside again. The SCARWAF organization was terminated in 1956, then he was off for a one-year unaccompanied tour as an advisor with the South Vietnamese military. Mainly, his unit helped in the recovery of U.S Engineer equipment left behind by the French military after the close of the war in 1954.
“There were bulldozers, air compressors, cranes, and much more, classified and sent to various depots in the Far East for repair/rebuild,” Morgan remembers.
His next duty station was at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, for two years, followed in 1959 by a four-year “accompanied tour” in France. His assignment to the Engineer Supply Control Agency there in Orleans involved handling the inventory of Army Engineer equipment and repair parts for bases throughout the European theater.
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| LTC Al Morgan - 1965 |
Returning from France as a MAJ in 1963, he spent the next two years at Granite City Army Depot in Illinois, just across from St. Louis – then a two-year tour with the U.S. Army Advisory Group in Seoul, Korea, as a LTC, in 1965-66.
A voluntary assignment to South Vietnam in 1967 was next. As a Post Engineer, he oversaw repair, maintenance of utilities and minor construction supplies, carried out by civilian contractors, who were comprised largely of U.S., Korean, and Filipino workers. This is in the north – near the coastal city of Qui Nhon. The support was given to some 65 different U.S. installations and a Korean Army Division.
LTC Morgan returned to the states and spent his remaining years with the U.S. Army Advisory Group in South Dakota until he retired as a COL in 1972.
His Army assignments were many and varied – and he is reluctant to choose any one that stood out beyond the others.
“I enjoyed them all. It’s really what you want to make it.”
Colonel Morgan is the recipient of numerous awards and decorations, including two presentations of the Legion of Merit, the second highest award for achievement not involving valor. The first came following his 1967 tour in South Vietnam. The second was just prior to his 1972 retirement.
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| 70th Wedding Anniveersary Colonel Al Morgan and wife Fay |
A longtime Christian, Colonel Morgan has taught the Bible for over 50 years. He has served in The Gideons International for some 55 years. Other memberships include the American Legion, Association of the U.S. Army, and – of course – the Military Officers of American Association (MOAA). He has served as Chaplain for the Black Hills Chapter longer than most of us remember!
Alvin and Fay live at Primrose Retirement Community in Rapid City, enjoying their long marriage of 71 years.
“We are both quite well for our ages and as active as possible in various forms of service. We are thankful to the Lord for long and fruitful lives!”
And MOAA-Black Hills Chapter members are thankful for having Colonel Al Morgan and Fay as members of our chapter “family”!
August 22, 2020
Colonel Gus Jacob, MOAA Life Member, dies at age 85
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| Colonel Gus Jacob (1935-2020) |
Gustave “Gus” Jacob, 85, passed away on August 18, 2020. He was born to Gustave F. Jacob and Catherine (Renner) Jacob in the “little town on the prairie” DeSmet, South Dakota, on March 27, 1935, the year Will Rogers died. He obtained a B.S. in political science from SDSU, a JD from USD, and a Master of Laws from New York University.
Gus spent more than 29 years in the Army, the first two years on a Nike Missile Site near Chicago. After law school in Vermillion and two years of private practice in Groton, SD, Gus returned to the Army in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Highlights of his JAG career were teaching law to cadets at West Point, a year in Viet Nam, and the last half of his career as a military judge. Colonel Jacob presided over all levels of courts martial involving all types of criminal offenses, including capital murder. He traveled across much of the United States and Europe hearing some of these cases.
Gus received many awards and decorations during his military career. The two which rank highest with him were the Senior Parachutist badge and the Legion of Merit.
After retiring from military service, Gus spent three years as a staff attorney with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. Later in Rapid City he taught several courses, including Law for Engineers, at SDSM&T.
On June 14, 1996, Gus married Maryann (Schoenfield) Torrey, and together they shared many happy years traveling and making their home in Rapid City.
Gus was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church where he was both a hospitality minister and a lector. He was involved in the local Elks Club where he served as chairman for the Veterans Service Committee. Also, he was an active member and officer of the Downtown Kiwanis Club. Gus played in both the 7th Calvary Drum and Bugle Corps and the New Horizons Band. Later in life Gus volunteered at Storybook Island where he drove the children’s train throughout the park.
Gus loved Big Band music and had an extensive CD and tape collection of the Big Bands of the 1940’s. He was also a member of the 39 Club, and along with serving on its board, attended most dances sponsored by the club with his wife.
Gus will be long-remembered for his kindness and politeness, as well as his acceptance of everyone, his gift of storytelling and marvelous sense of humor.
He is survived by his wife, Maryann; children: Paula Shimazu of Seattle, Washington; Gregory; Cameron (Linda) of Athens, Georgia; Teri Johnson (Marty) of Brookings, SD and Mike Robinson (Heather) of Boise, Idaho. Grandchildren: Cody Shimazu, Ryan Jacob, Abigail Jacob, Taylor Johnson (Nefeli) Alyssa Laufmann (Spencer) Alec Johnson (Alexa) Emily Johnson, Elliot Johnson (Quvondo Brown) Bennett and Naia Robinson and great-grandchildren Logan and Adalyn Laufmann; sister Karmel Gole (Bob) of Texas, and niece Natalie Hooper (Charles) and nephew Robbie Gole (Kristi). He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Elizabeth Jacob.
“A thousand time I’ve done my best—Oh! Grant me now a final rest!”
A private family service was scheduled and live-streamed from Kirk Funeral Home on Friday August 21, 2020, with burial at Black Hills National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be given in memory of Gus Jacob to Kiwanis Children Fund. P.O. Box 6457 Dept. #286, Indianapolis, IN. 46206. Please indicate Gus's name in the memo line of the check. Gifts may also be made online at www.kiwanis.org/give
August 10, 2020
June 13, 2020
May 3, 2020
SD Military History Forum cancels next few meetings
The South Dakota Military History Forum, according to their Facebook site, has cancelled their May, June, July and August 2020 meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report went on further to say:
"The decision to cancel meetings over the summer was not made lightly; we know that those of you who regularly attend enjoy the camaraderie as well as the topics that are addressed.
While the South Dakota Air & Space Museum will probably stay open this summer, there will be social distancing orders in place.
Moreover, given the age group of our audience, its anticipated potential attendees will probably have apprehension about large gatherings, and it would be a waste of time and effort to have presentations for just a limited number of people. As you might well imagine, preparation of a presentation is a significant endeavor, and to brief a mere dozen or so in an audience is just not a good idea, nor is it fair for the presenter.
Meetings of the South Dakota Military History Forum are scheduled to resume on Saturday, September 12, 2020.
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