My Father was a West Point graduate, 1952. After Korea the Army sent him to MIT for graduate school in Nuke Physics and Civil Engineering.
He remains the smartest, most practical person I have ever met. He was not, however, a gifted story teller...good sense of humor, for sure, but he wasn't going to host The Tonight Show. Really fine man just not a raconteur.
While we were very different people, there was never any particular tension between us. As I have said before, I always knew I had great, supportive parents. My Mothers side of the family were the funny ones.
We became very good friends after my Mother died in 1990 - he loved my wife and thought it best to leave the house he had shared with my mother for so many years. I learned a lot in those years I had not be privy to, both personal issues and career issues. It was fascinating to hear.
He received two Bronze Stars, one in Korea and one for trying to rescue folks after the SL-1 Reactor outside of Idaho Falls had a core meltdown. I won't go into the details but the SL-1 story he told me was spellbinding and I have great admiration for his bravery.
SL-1
Ceremony. He is on the left.
