I barely remember it. Obviously, it was not a big, university-wide event. Kind of like the E-2 guys said, 'Hey, we're having a funeral, can you guys stop by after drill?' If you could find a Battalion from that time, I seem to recall a photo where you could see Mic Comley in the background as the E-2 guys lowered her into the grave. (Weird how small things lodge in your brain)

I wish I could remember details, too. I don't think there was a rifle volley or Taps at the time, but darned if I can say for sure. Seems like there may have been a blanket or flag with an A&M logo over her coffin.

Too many years ago......

Found a few photos in the 1976 Aggieland. Two page spread on pages 158/159. No photos of we BQs nor of a bugler or rifle team.

It was Rev III, though I didn't remember that, either.

rebel06, I recommend that you take up the Commandant's offer and pay a visit. No doubt it would take moral courage on your part.

Then come back and let us know how it went. I am just about 100% certain that you would return a better man.

Rock, I don't live in the B-CS area so unfortunately I can't meet with him but he and I emailed back and forth and it cleared up a few things.

[This message has been edited by Rebel06 (edited 8/29/2013 6:27a).]

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Largest Corps in over 40 years, highest grades ever, most diverse Corps ever, highest number of commissions in several years, ranked the #3 military school in the nation last year (behind only USNA and USMA), 12 of the 50 Who's Who last year in the Corps, Student Body President and Student Regent this year in the Corps, all 5 Yell Leaders in the Corps, shall I go on?

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OK, rebel06. Good on you.

REV II Funeral, Class A Summers, Class B Summers



REV III Funeral, Class A Winters, Singing Cadets.

I appreciate General Ramirez coming on here and commenting. I think he has things on the right track.

FWIW, I think that a Silver Taps ceremony for Reveille is appropriate. Silver Taps is not an official military ceremony or a military funeral; as someone else has said, it is a "military-style" ceremony done with a unique Aggie twist. The cadets who organized the first Reveille's funeral were obviously not conflicted about whether a "military-style" ceremony might in any way detract from the seriousness of honoring those who were even then fighting on battlefields all over the world.

Thanks for the photos, ABATT.

ABATT:

As I said before, we BQs were not at that Rev III ceremony, for whatever reason. We just showed up for the internment. I think we must have been at drill for the other part. The '76 Aggieland said the funeral was in September, so it was a decision of E-2 to wear winters to the ceremony, when the uniform of the day was summers.

Rebel06...I don't need to meet you to know you are a person of little character that would refer to the Commandant in a racially insensitive manner.

You can play it off by saying that "others" refer to him that way, but why don't you just take responsibility for your own words. I noticed you edited your original post to remove the insulting name you called the Commandant. Perhaps you'd also like to apologize to him on this thread as well.....

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Rebel06...I don't need to meet you to know you are a person of little character...

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Sure he said something that was insensitive, but I'd be willing to bet most of us have done the same thing at some point in our life too. Let's let bygones be bygones and move on.

Bigsteve, I guess you glanced over what I wrote last night:

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts, commandant. I apologize for the racial slur and frankly I didn't think it was that derogatory of a term but others think otherwise so that's why I deleted what I said out of respect for everyone.

At any rate, we each have the right to our own opinion which is something I am grateful for. We just happen to disagree on this particular matter.

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You don't know me so you cannot judge my entire character based on one careless remark. We are all prone to make mistakes and I owned up to it so let's move on.

[This message has been edited by rebel06 (edited 8/29/2013 4:20p).]

I have a buddy who is Blonde and blue eyed. His nickname is "kraut". Seriously, that's all anyone calls him. Nobody considered it racist or offensive. But call a Hispanic person taco, and suddenly rebel06 is worse than Hitler. Makes me scratch my head.

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By that line of reasoning we should get rid of silver taps, except for commissioned cadets.

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The difference to me is that she's just another dog, not the original Rev. Just my point of view... So, I think a memorial ceremony for her without MILITARY honors will serve just fine, and I have no problem with Silver Taps for current students either. But now that you mention it, if it wouldn't get everone's panties in a twist, I'd be open to the idea of reserving the firing of 3 volleys at Silver Taps for students who had served or were contracted to serve.

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had served or were contracted to serve.

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So in other words, pretty much do away with silver taps?

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I have a buddy who is Blonde and blue eyed. His nickname is "kraut". Seriously, that's all anyone calls him. Nobody considered it racist or offensive. But call a Hispanic person taco, and suddenly rebel06 is worse than Hitler. Makes me scratch my head.

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You really don't see the difference?

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had served or were contracted to serve.

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So in other words, pretty much do away with silver taps?

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I'm not wound tight enough to care one way or the other about changing the tradition. I was just pointing out that military honors should be reserved for those who earned them.

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had served or were contracted to serve.

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So in other words, pretty much do away with silver taps?

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I'm not wound tight enough to care one way or the other about changing the tradition. I was just pointing out that military honors should be reserved for those who earned them.

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Agreed.

Does it really count as "military" honors when the Ross Volunteers is not a military organization?

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And I would be interested in looking at physical fitness scores from now and during gva's time, that is where I think the corps has been watered down the most.

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Actually Champ, there has been more emphasis on quality, structured PT the past three years. PT tests are more structured and standardized too. The days of pairing up fish and having them grade each each other are over. A fish, and plenty of pissheads, do not know how to properly grade pushups. So, if PT scores were higher a few years back, it is because the scores were inflated due to non-standard pushups and situps being counted. As far as runs go, the days of doing a right face and running off the Quad as fast as you can, leaving a trail of fallouts, is over too. Commanders are now focused on unity during their runs and also more emphasis placed on ability group runs. Believe me, things are improving drastically each day.
1SG Cassle...3rd BDE CTO.

For all of those who accused me of being racist by calling the commandant "Taco Joe," I confirmed with a former member of B-Co that the back of his Corps PT shirt had "Taco Joe" written on it and that was/is his nickname. As I mentioned before, I was not using the term to be racist even though that it was several of you assumed. It was simply a nickname I heard several CT's call him so that is why I wrote it on here.

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For all of those who accused me of being racist by calling the commandant "Taco Joe," I confirmed with a former member of B-Co that the back of his Corps PT shirt had "Taco Joe" written on it and that was/is his nickname. As I mentioned before, I was not using the term to be racist even though that it was several of you assumed. It was simply a nickname I heard several CT's call him so that is why I wrote it on here.

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This is great!

Oh snap

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For all of those who accused me of being racist by calling the commandant "Taco Joe," I confirmed with a former member of B-Co that the back of his Corps PT shirt had "Taco Joe" written on it and that was/is his nickname. As I mentioned before, I was not using the term to be racist even though that it was several of you assumed. It was simply a nickname I heard several CT's call him so that is why I wrote it on here.

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You made an ass of yourself more than once on this thread already, just quit

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You made an ass of yourself more than once on this thread already, just quit

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Van Alstyne was a *****. He would only shake hands with certain cadets he liked at graduations. He was asked to leave an Opus steering committee meeting for his remarks about others. He campaigned against the hire of Joe Weber because he didn't feel he should have to report to a 2-star (both were long since retired), and he got censured for it. JVA also "watered down" the standards.


Staff, can we delete threads with "Taco Joe" racist jokes?

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Says the guy who posted this little gem...

Tango Mike, please explain how I was being, "an ass"? I disagree with how Ramirez does certain things just like you disagree with how GVA did certain things. Nothing wrong with that at all since it is a free country. My Taco Joe comment was harmless especially now that it has been confirmed that it is his nickname.

Rebel06, you can disagree with anything you like, but you have NO right to call me "Taco Joe" or anything else that could easily be considered racist today. Taco Joe was my nickname in 1978-1979. Nobody has called me that since then. I also got taken to the quad - along with all the other Mexicans in the Corps - on San Jacinto day each year back in the late 70s. NEITHER is acceptable today.

You sent me an apology on e-mail and said you were not a racist. Whether you agree or not, what you called me IS unacceptable today, just as calling someone "Kraut" is unacceptable, whether Texrex recognizes it or not.

Disagree with me all you want - I served our country 31 years to protect your right to do so. But calling anyone a racist slur is crossing the line, and says a LOT about just who you truly are.

Grow up, man up, and disagree in a professional, mature manner. Stop acting like a pouty high school kid who didn't get his way and has no other recourse but to resort to name-calling because he has nothing else of substance to offer.

I'm still here if you ever want to visit me to discuss...

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This.

General Ramirez,

You've spent your entire career training, learning, participating and educating. There are thousands who've benefited from your experiences and leadership.

That said, you can't teach everyone.

Sir, it isn't your fault rebel06 doesn't understand. That lies with his educational experiences and abilities to absorb them. However, I very much appreciate your (and other's) efforts to teach him.

It is NOT your failure, sir. You tried your best.

Sincerely,

SC
US Army 1990-1998

Few of our nicknames for each other were "politically correct" "back in the day". Many of them would be considered racist or otherwise unacceptable these days.

I don't know that I consider that progress. There's a camaraderie and honesty that comes from giving each other crap and getting right in their face about who they are. It strips away pretentiousness and bluster and makes you accountable.

Don't like being called "Kraut" or "Redneck"? Maybe you should buck it up and change who you are, or decide that your genetic makeup and your origin is not who you are, or just own it and be proud of who you are.

Joe will recall that one of my BQ roommates was Hispanic, so take that for what it's worth. (Assuming we can still say BQ)

Don't really want to start a big argument or insist we go back to the old ways. Just a comment from an old fart who wonders if all change is really progress.

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I don't really see why anyone would have disliked General Van Alstyne. He was commandant for the 4 years I was there and I never once had a bad experience with him. I remember I was in the Trigon, and he randomly walked up to me and shook my hand and talked to me about how everything was going.

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Well, you did spend all 4 years under the same commandant, so you didn't have anything to compare against. Cadets who experienced the transition between commandants at least have the perspective of seeing how certain things were emphasized or played down. GVA talking to cadets wasn't unique to him as a commandant, though it was certainly a nice thing to do. Of the complaints I had, and have heard from other cadets, being a personable guy was never one of them.

Well rebel06, just when I think I've heard or read it all this week - you chime in with your bull*** comments, racists chatter, and totally uninformed opinions. No need to listen to Rachel Maddow tonight - thank you rebel06.

I was in the Corps of Cadets from '79-'83. Outfit was Titan 10, so you don't need to ask.

You are correct about the Corps being different today than back in "your day". The General has officially pulled the Corps of Cadets out of the Vietnam era and into the 21st Century - thank God!!

rebel06 - if you are having such a hard time dealing with this change, then re-educate yourself on the purpose and mission of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. You will find that there are a number of things that both you and I associate with the Corps that have nothing to do with this 4 year leadership development program.

I also invite you and anyone else who disagrees with the Corps' current direction to try a couple of things:
1. Subscribe to the Guidon - a magazine devoted to the activities and accomplishments of the Corps of Cadets, the Cadets, Outfits, and other Corps organizations. See what is really happening in the Corps of Cadets.
2. Maintain (or join) your membership in the CCA and find a way to volunteer your time to benefit the Corps of Cadets.

You might find it interesting that there are many things that are in fact more rigid than when you were in the Corps so many many many years ago - 7 1/2 to be precise.

So the Corps is watered down? rebel06, you are as funny as you are racially insensitive. First of all EVERYONE who is at least 1 year removed from their zip year has uttered those words. However, none of us were stupid enough to use it as the reason that Corps membership is the highest in 40 years.

One could say that I too experienced a watered down Corps of Cadets if you were to ask someone from years earlier --- like the class of '79. We got crapped out - not smoked. We had steam showers (not the good kind). We quaded people (friends and enemies). We went on outfit runs without military letters. We wore ascots!! We got put on **** lists. We kept axe handles in our rooms. We had fish matches with microscopic words written on them. Doing several class sets in our B's before breakfast was the norm. You learned to stay off the quad. FOW was a scary time. CT fish were to NEVER go into the BQ dorms. fish ate REAL fish bites at EVERY meal....a bunch of other stuff much too terrible to mention....and we had no internet!!

This was the Corps I knew and I would not trade it for anything, but it is not the Corps that would or should exist today. No way!!

I strongly encourage all former Corps members (especially you rebel06) to become part of the solution and help ensure that the Corps of Cadets continues to grow, and is still around for future generations of Texas Aggies.

BTHO racial insensitivity!!!
BTHO Rice!!!

Rebel06, many from my day would say "your Corps" was a watered down version of how it was when we attended, just like the guys from the 60's said we had it easy. Each generation of the Corps is different with it's own challenges. The one never changing fact is that the Corps continues to turn out outstanding leaders, both civilian and military. It stopped being "your Corps" when you marched Final Review and will never be the same as it was those four years.

It's hilarious to me that someone who is class of '06 would complain that the corps today is watered down compared to his day.

That's one tradition I learned early in my time at A&M. Every class after you supposedly has it infinitely easier than you did, therefore, their experience isn't as valid as yours.

That's one tradition I wouldn't mind doing away with.