Old Grad Podcast

Episode 6 : Our mystery guest is revealed to be "EZ PETE" - Peter Gaudet, Company E-4

We talk to EZ Pete Gaudet, company E-4 "GO NAKED" - He tells the story of first coming to West Point at 10 years old and feeling an immediate connection to the place. As he will learn later in life, his biological roots run deep to West Point. EZ Pete reflects on the close relationship his parents had with all of our E-4 classmates - as was the case being from Westchester County NY, the Gaudet home was a frequent place of respite. They had a toga party where Pete's father dressed up in a toga. Pete remembers company mate Dr. Rusty Davidson who is one of our classmates who suffered from depression and died by suicide. Rusty was a leading spinal surgeon in the Army, he literally saved lives and limbs in his work. The tragic event of Rusty's death was pivotal in Pete's life as he directed much of his energy and financial resources toward combating veteran suicide.
Pete is co-founder of Provetus a peer mentoring program that helps Veterans and Service Members successfully transition from the military to the civilian sector within five critical domains: Employment, Housing, Family/Legal Issues, Social/Community/Physical, Medical. We were joined by USMA '98 grad Dr. Joe Geracci who is also a Provetus co-founder. Together, we face into the challenges of veteran suicide and what it means for our class. We learn there are 3 primary risk factors to compound the danger of suicide: 1) Lack of connection to a purpose/mission 2) Loss of cammraderie 3) Mental Illness.   

Episode 5 - Scott Clemenson (B2)

In this episode we interview our class President Scott Clemenson. We celebrate Army Sprint Football's 21-17 triumph over Navy, and we recount the impressive effort of the "Big Boys" in taking #5 Oklahoma into overtime.  We talk about escaping dysfunctional family dynamics, Army Foreign Language School with Dan Clevenger, being in Alpha Company at the Prep School, being a "Duck Hunter" with Brent Crabtree in Korea. We remember fallen classmate Shannon Beebe who had a knack for getting people to volunteer for challenging tasks like running 500th night and the cadet car show. Scott recallse his last ditch effort to get Fleetwood Mac to come to West Point. We face into a troubling statistic that several of our fallen classmates committed suicide and grapple with how we might be of service to friends in need. 

Episode 4 - Monique Washington (F2)

In this episode, we speak to the motorcycle riding, heat-packing, never to be messed with Monique Washington. Who tells her story going back to the first day of prep school and meeting her lifelong battle buddy Ingrid Powell Dawkins. Monique had a conflict with the F2 Zoo tactical officer who was reassigned after an inexplicable situation; We also learn of her need for speed on her pink and gold Honda CVR-RR Racing Bike - and the rolling roadblock that followed. Ingrid calls in, fellow prepster Scott Clemenson also calls in. Together they all remember Andy Clements. 
Her brief bio: 
Although nursing is not my first career, it is my first love. I served my country as soldier and now my community as a nurse. I was a cardiac progressive care charge nurse at Texas Health Resources in Fort Worth for about 3 years. Now I am VA Acute Med Surg Nurse at Dallas North Texas VA. I have a 2013 BSN from The University of Texas at Arlington and am currently enrolled in their Family Nurse Practitioner Program. I have a board certification in medical surgical nursing. I hail from a family of nurses: Granma was med/surg; mom was pediatrics; dad was OB; brother is psych; cousin is OR; niece will graduate in May from ODU with her BSN. A ‘military brat’ to proud Army nurses, I began my journey as a cadet at the US Military Academy at West Point, NY. After graduating in 1991 with a degree in Mathematical Economics, I served in the Army as a logistics officer. After receiving a Master’s in Human Resources, I transitioned to corporate America and eventually became a senior project manager at TXU. I continued on in the Army Reserves. My military unit was mobilized for about 5 years to support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. I volunteered to cross train as a Medical Operations Officer to care for injured or ill servicemen and women. This inspired me to join the family business of caring after completing my military obligation.
 

Episode 3 - Mark (A4) and Holly West (B2)

On location at Class of '91 headquarters, the garage of Mark and Holly West. We talk about the multi-faceted perspectives of the West Family at USMA: As Army Brat, Cadet, Grad Assistant, Professor, USMA staff, and Parent. Today Mark is the Head coach of the Army Sprint Football Team, Holly is the G-5 for USMA. We trace the evolution of West Point's history and tie it back to the impact of General Officer Leadership. Other stories include Holly getting 1st class board as a plebe for blowing post, the connections between company A4 and B2, Experiences as grad assistants for corps squad teams, Schleck/Roley sleeping in on last day of Ranger school, moral dilemma for Hairball as IG at West Point, the Dirt Pigs, disgusting cadet pranks and much more. We especially remember fallen classmates Dave Reardon (B2) and Andy Clements (A4) and Steve Lammers (A4). 

Episode 2 - Colonel Andy Hall, I-1 Director of the Army Cyber Institute

In this episode, we talk about the  Army Cyber Institute and our class gift to endow the chair of the Institute, Scouting, What its like to be the father of a cadet, managing two Army Careers, Terry Rice ripping his finger off on the clock tower, the evolution of women at West Point, A spirit mission that landed two cadets in the hospital, area tours and so much more.  Fallen Classmates mentioned: Bill Hecker, Kim Whittington, Steve Yost and Bill Love. 

Episode 1 - John Keenan (E3)

John Keenan talks about his epic question to General H. Norman Schwarzkopf at a mandatory Lecture during firstie year. We also talked about fallen classmates Paul Haggerty, Tommy Mctigue, Bill Hecker and Eric DeJong. ADA officer basic course, stolen ambulances, a "dip cup" thrown out a six-floor window that hit the OC and much more.