Upon entering the DePaul ROTC Program I found a new and exciting experience. Sergeant Robinson, a friend of Sergeant Dolan, gave me a contact and someone familiar with my background. Military Science was a one credit hour course requiring two actual hours of attendance, one lecture and one drill. Drill classes were conducted on the uptown campus at Sheffield and Webster, across from St. Vincent’s Church. The drill classes were held in the Old Barn. The Barn was the original gym were DePaul played their basketball games and provided memories of George Mikan and the great teams of Coach Ray Meyer. In the 50’s the Barn was replaced, for basketball.by Alumni Hall. Once a week, in uniform, the downtown cadets would take the State Street subway to Sheffield to drill. Sometimes someone would drive, traveling the Outerdrive to the Uptown Campus.
The first year was uneventful except for the time that a cadre asked, “Who wants the First Year Efficiency Medal”. I did not think too much of the approach which had no selection criteria. Gene Sit raised his hand and got the medal. The first two years went by quickly and it was soon time to decide if you wanted to join the Advance Corp. The Advance Corp provided the opportunity to complete two years of training before becoming a U.S. Army Officer. The first requirement was to pass an Army physical, this required going to the Army Induction Center located in downtown Chicago on Congress Street. I had a problem with my blood pressure, it was high, I believe 140 over 80 or 90. I returned for two consecutive days of testing. Since my pressure was consistent I had the option to reject or stay in the program. I selected to stay. In response to my efforts, Colonel John Morgan sent a very nice letter to my mother complimenting me on my desire to enter the Advance Program and become an Army Officer.
The size of the class had dwindled to about 40 or 50 cadets. By this time we had switched from the old wool uniforms to greens. As cadets, we did not wear the officer black stripe trousers or striped sleeves. We purchased regular army hats adorned with the ROTC insignia. For the winter we were issued long grey overcoats. The cadre or instructors were headed by Colonel John Morgan. My mentor was to become Captain Salvatore Fede. Captain Fede was a short man with close cut black hair. He was originally from New York or New Jersey. It was his influence that was to guide me through my Junior and Senior years. Captain Fede replaced Sergeant France as my new friend and mentor.
Shortly after joining the Advanced Corp I became upset with the techniques used to train and motivate cadets. It seemed that the way to motivate, lead and correct mistakes was pushups. “Give Me 10”! I never read that in any Army manual... Leadership is getting people to do things because they want too. You do not punish people for mistakes, you correct them. This philosophy moved me to want to quit. I went to the Uptown Campus to see Colonel Morgan. I was mad. Instead of seeing Colonel Morgan, I was directed to Captain Fede. I voiced my concerns and told him how I felt and that I wanted to quit. Captain Fede, a Psychology Major, sat patiently and listened. When I was finished, he said: “George, I listened to you, now you listen to me”. He was very good, I listened. To solve the problem, Captain Fede advised me that the following week I was to conduct the drill to demonstrate leadership. The following week came and I commanded the drill and demonstrated my approach to leadership and motivatation. My style and command performance eventually earned me the right to command the Junior Cadets. This gave me the responsibility to prepare the juniors for Summer Camp. The class became known as Tarasuk’s Tigers(Give Me A T, Give Me an I etc,What’ve Got –TIGERS, Let me Hear you Growl) and I was also known as “Terrible Tempered Tarasuk” . I was a perfectionist and wanted 110% from my men and gave back 120% for the desired results. I was assisted by Bob Wilhelm. Captain Fede was in charge and with the rest of the DePaul Cadre we molded an outstanding group of future Army Officers. It wasn’t done through push ups, but by creating a high amount of espirit de corp. I was proud that the Junior Class finished 4th or 5th in the Summer Camp of 1960. This meant that a large number of DePaul cadets achieved the award of Distinguished Military Student qualifying them for Regular Army Commissions. This was the best showing in the history of the DePaul Cadet Corp.
During the Junior and Senior year, Military Instruction was taught to prepare the cadets for class presentations... This was to be the most important class to mold my military and teaching skills. I was given two teaching assignments. The first was a presentation on the Transportation Corp. The material was given to you on what and how to teach. It was dry. I had to make it exciting and worthwhile. I spent hours rehearsing and re-rehearsing. All of my mannerisms and actions were rehearsed to perfection. To start, get their attention. Remember Gus Economos? To achieve that, my opening line was:” Today we are going to roll right into our instruction, The Transportation Corp.” My grade was 98. The critique, and rightfully so, was that I was over rehearsed. I was like a machine that lacked flexibility. The good thing was that the mechanics were almost perfect. My second class was on the Middle East and Jordan. In the 50’s it was already predicted that the Middle East would be trouble. Again I rehearsed and rehearsed and bought a map of the Middle East for demonstration. My opening line was “Join me on my magic carpet as we journey to the Middle East”. Again I received a grade in the high 90’s. The biggest compliment was that many compared my skills to that of Colonel Morgan, the model for excellence. This experience provided the skills that would be important in my future teaching endeavors.
After completing junior year,1959, we attended ROTC Summer Camp at Camp Funston in Fort Riley Kansas. It was a 6 week basic training course to prepare for active duty. This would be the first time that I had traveled from home. I took a train from Union Station to Kansas. It was an over night trip. I found the train seat uncomfortable with little opportunity for sleep. When the train arrived, I learned that the station was split, part Kansas City, Missouri and part Kansas City, Kansas. From the station buses were ready to take the cadets to Camp Funston. Once at Camp Funston we were directed to our assigned unit. My unit was C Company 3rd Platoon. Once at our destination we were welcomed by the Sergeant. His first words were:” Welcome to Community Living.” The 40 or more cadets would now share the barracks for sleeping and showering. We would need to work as a team to pass inspections and participate in all training activities. From early morning reveille to the sound of retreat we were together. We learned to fix our bunks with hospital corners, fold our socks and have GI parties. The cadets had come from all over the Midwest: Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio etc.
The training ranged from weapons, tactics, communications, map reading, and physical training. We had the opportunity to fire all weapons from the 45 pistol to the 8” Howitzer. We marched to our training sites singing, “JODI WAS THERE WHEN YOU LEFT, CADENCE COUNT”. My favorite was;” SOME MOTHERS HAVE SONS IN THE ARMY, SOME MOTHERS HAVE SONS OVER SEAS, BUT DEAR MOTHER HANG DOWN YOUR STAR BANNER, YOUR SON’S IN THE ROTC – ROTC, ROTC IT SOUNDS LIKE BULL SHIT TO ME ETC.” Saturday morning was parade day. We donned our summer khakis and marched to the parade grounds. It was a thrill marching to the band sounds of the Colonel Boogey or Stars and Stripes. After the parade we normally received a weekend pass. Sometimes we traveled to Manhattan, Kansas or maybe a few of the DePaul Cadets gathered and dined at the Angus Steakhouse. We were always busy. The training was excellent. Most lunches were served in the field. I remember the chicken and mash potatoes, especially on rainy days when it got watered down. Then their was Captain Spitzer, the Mess Officer, making sure that everyone smashed their milk cartons before tossing them in the trash. I had a lot too learn. I never went camping or was exposed to outdoor living. It was a struggle to prepare a horseshoe roll or pitch a tent. I could have done without the outdoor living. Looking back it was a fun. I learned a lot, met many interesting people and survived 6 weeks of basic training.
In the fall it was back to class. As a senior I was promoted to Cadet Major, Charlie Stulga became the Lt. Colonel and commander. After summer camp I received the Distinguished Student Medal which qualified me to become a regular army career officer. Those who did not receive this honor would become Reserve Officers. Because of my leadership qualities I commanded the Junior Drill. During the two years in the Advanced Corp all cadets were paid 90 Cents, per day, or $27 a month. Prior to graduation you were asked to select the branch of the army you wanted to enter. Because of my business education I chose the Quartermaster Corp. Unfortunately, I was not to have a voice in the decision. The cadre knowing my leadership skills selected Infantry. I also had the choice of Regular Army or Reserves. I chose the Reserves because I did not feel comfortable traveling the world for 20 or more years. The Reserve Commission was for 6 months active duty and 7 ½ years Reserve duty. I always thought it was for a total of 7 ½ years. A military career can be very lonely. Based on these choices my orders were to report to the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Ga. On January 7, 1961. After the formal graduation, all graduating cadets went to the Barn to receive their Army Commission. My mother pinned on my Gold Bars. I was now a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
PREPARING FOR COLLEGE
High School graduation had ended and it was time to think about starting classes at DePaul University. One of the problems was money. The $500 Youth Foundation Scholarship would help, but it covered a little less than one year’s tuition. I enrolled in the College of Commerce. The 4 year program required 18 semester hours for each freshman and sophomore semester and 15 semester hours for each junior and senior semester... The starting hourly tuition rate was $16 per semester hour and would go up each year. This did not cover books and supplies. To cover the continuing cost, I needed a job. The $500 gave me a jump, but money was needed to cover each coming semester.
In search of summer employment, I scanned the Tribune Want Ads. I was new to the hunt and had no clue on finding a job. Fast food chains were first developing and the opportunities were limited. In the 50’s employment agencies were used to find employment... I was not aware that Employment Agencies were shady. The fee was normally paid by the employer. I picked Monarch and explained my dilemma. They said they could place me, but I could not tell the employer that I would leave in September. I agreed. Monarch sent me on an interview, for a typing position, with a small coffee distributor located near Wrigley Field. My typing skills were minimal, 20wpm, but accurate. They agreed to hire me and pay the fee. My job was to back up a young fellow who did billing and steno work. I can’t remember the salary, but it wasn’t more than $50 a week. I didn’t mention school and they didn’t ask.
I would take the Damen Avenue bus to Irving Park were I jumped on the Ravenswood El to Sheridan. It was a short walk to a store front office. I learned to prepare invoices and purchase orders. In a week or two the other fellow quit. They relied on me to pick up his work. I learned to prepare letters from the Dictaphone. The Dictaphone was a cylinder onto which someone dictated a letter or memo. You would place earphones on your head and listen and type the letter. The desk I used had a slide out typewriter. I remember one day pulling out the typewriter and several roaches came running out. What an eerie, feeling. I got along well with the people, but the day arrived to tell them I was going back to school. They were upset at the actions of the employment agency and that the time had expired for them to get their money back. This was not my first, nor my last experience with employment agencies and job hunting.
September came and it was time to start class. The first two years of commerce were well defined. You knew what classes to take. The first semester classes were Philosophy, Religion, Accounting, Algebra, Economic History, Economics, English, and ROTC. Every male was required to take ROTC for the first two years... Classes normally ran from 8:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M... Every weekday morning I would walk to the Damen Avenue El Station and take the 15 minute ride to Lake Street. At that time DePaul was located at 64 East Lake in the Pixley Elhers Building. It was an old 16 story office building that accommodated the College of Commerce, Law, Music and Secretarial Schools. A small area was set aside on the 16th floor as a lunch room or lounge. There also was the Pixley cafeteria were the soroties and fraternities congregated. In the cafeteria you would find the pledges, with their funny beanies, catering to upperclassmen. I never joined a fraternity, I had enough problems studying and working, let alone getting someone coffee. In a year DePaul moved to 25 East Jackson.
I quickly found this was not going to be easy. I knew I was in trouble when our Algebra Professor. Barton McLain, on the first day of class, opened the door and threw open the windows. As the days got colder I would sit and shiver. He would write formulas on the board with one hand and erase them with the other. We sat stunned. No one said a word. Many of us paid for our silence by failing the class. The Professor’s philosophy was to weed out the men from the boys. He was successful, 50% of the class flunked, including me. English was another shocker when the assignments came back marked up. I never knew there were so many rules and how many I needed to learn. If it wasn’t for Philosophy, Religion and ROTC I would have been thrown out. The first thought was quit. Fortunately I didn’t quit, I stuck it out. I quickly learned that I was ill prepared. Students from the inner city schools had a disadvantage against the Catholic School students who were much better prepared.
The transition was tough; you had 18 hours of classes and had to keep up with 7 or 8 courses. On top of that I had to ensure there was enough money for tuition. Working through the DePaul Placement Center I quickly found a part-time job at a downtown insurance company. The job was short lived as the company moved to Rogers Park. After that I was hired as a part-time accounting clerk for the North American Accident, Life and Health Insurance Company. North American was located on the 8th floor of the Rookery Building at 209 S. LaSalle Street... I stayed with North American during my four years at DePaul. The schedule was hectic, it included a once a week trip to the uptown campus for ROTC. For lunch I’d walk up 16 flights of stairs to the 16th floor lounge. The elevators were slow and crowded. After class I’d walk to North American and worked 2-3 hours. After work it was off to the el and home. After supper it was study time. No games or TV.
I ended the first year with a 1.8 average. That was almost probation. After the first year I knew more about the professors and the courses. My original choice for a major was accounting, after the first year I reconsidered and changed to marketing... I felt better suited for management and/or marketing. The Professors varied in presentation and effectiveness. The one that impressed me the most was Marketing Professor Gus Economos. Gus brought the class to life with his stories and presence. He walked the room, sat on the desk; legs crossed, and used examples to make a point. He was to be my inspiration on how to teach and gain class attention. The Jesuits were most knowledgeable as they presented the classes in Logic, Religion and Philosophy. Economic Professor James Diamond gave the best advice: “when you graduate, forget everything you learned, the only thing you want to remember is how to think and reason, how to make decisions.” Economic Professor Giganti is remembered for his stories about Umbrella Mike. Umbrella Mike was known as a mob bag man who would go into the Chicago saloons and place his umbrella at the end of the bar where money was dropped. Umbrella Mike then proceeded to other collection spots. Barton McLain was a son of a gun for Alegra, but a completely different person in Business Math. Sometimes reputations are deceiving, both McLain and Economos were known as tough graders, but once you had them you found they were fair and great educators.. The worse professor I can remember was in Accounting 102. The man had a tremendous accounting reputation in foreign countries with all kinds of honors and degrees. When it came to teaching, he sat at the front desk and read from the book. What a waste. When the first year ended I had been transitioned to the world of higher education. It was a grueling experience that would prepare me for the next three years.
Starting DePaul was a new experience in meeting and making new friends. There was no one from Wicker Park or Tuley. The old friends were gone. It was time to make new friends. One of my first contacts was Gene Sit, we met in Accounting. Gene was a great person who dedicated his work to becoming a CPA. We would walk the stairs to the 16th floor for lunch. I doubled with Gene for the first Military Ball. Gene would eventually become a very successful financier with his own investment company in Minneapolis. After the first year I started to make friends with the fellows who would go through the ROTC Program. Charlie Stulga would be the most memorable for his drive and energy. Charlie was very ambitious and always wanted to be number one. In fact when we started ROTC, Charlie told me he would beat me for the top ROTC spot. I wasn’t as determined as Charlie, I just wanted to complete four years of college. One of my best friends was Ed Porlier who I worked with at North American Insurance.
After the first year and finishing the basic English and Math courses my grades started to improve. I did better with the business courses. During my 2nd year I enrolled in Dr. Norman Sigband’s Business Letters class. Dr. Sigband transformed my writing ability. He emphasized the need to be concise and clear. My grades started to go from D’s and C’s to B’s. My emphasis was on Military Science where I earned A’s. During the first year I learned to stay focused.. You work through the problems and learn to correct weaknesses. I regained my competiveness and desire to succeed. Part of the desire was to be stoked by my need to lead. In the next section I’ll discuss the role the ROTC played in developing my leadership and academic skills.
In search of summer employment, I scanned the Tribune Want Ads. I was new to the hunt and had no clue on finding a job. Fast food chains were first developing and the opportunities were limited. In the 50’s employment agencies were used to find employment... I was not aware that Employment Agencies were shady. The fee was normally paid by the employer. I picked Monarch and explained my dilemma. They said they could place me, but I could not tell the employer that I would leave in September. I agreed. Monarch sent me on an interview, for a typing position, with a small coffee distributor located near Wrigley Field. My typing skills were minimal, 20wpm, but accurate. They agreed to hire me and pay the fee. My job was to back up a young fellow who did billing and steno work. I can’t remember the salary, but it wasn’t more than $50 a week. I didn’t mention school and they didn’t ask.
I would take the Damen Avenue bus to Irving Park were I jumped on the Ravenswood El to Sheridan. It was a short walk to a store front office. I learned to prepare invoices and purchase orders. In a week or two the other fellow quit. They relied on me to pick up his work. I learned to prepare letters from the Dictaphone. The Dictaphone was a cylinder onto which someone dictated a letter or memo. You would place earphones on your head and listen and type the letter. The desk I used had a slide out typewriter. I remember one day pulling out the typewriter and several roaches came running out. What an eerie, feeling. I got along well with the people, but the day arrived to tell them I was going back to school. They were upset at the actions of the employment agency and that the time had expired for them to get their money back. This was not my first, nor my last experience with employment agencies and job hunting.
September came and it was time to start class. The first two years of commerce were well defined. You knew what classes to take. The first semester classes were Philosophy, Religion, Accounting, Algebra, Economic History, Economics, English, and ROTC. Every male was required to take ROTC for the first two years... Classes normally ran from 8:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M... Every weekday morning I would walk to the Damen Avenue El Station and take the 15 minute ride to Lake Street. At that time DePaul was located at 64 East Lake in the Pixley Elhers Building. It was an old 16 story office building that accommodated the College of Commerce, Law, Music and Secretarial Schools. A small area was set aside on the 16th floor as a lunch room or lounge. There also was the Pixley cafeteria were the soroties and fraternities congregated. In the cafeteria you would find the pledges, with their funny beanies, catering to upperclassmen. I never joined a fraternity, I had enough problems studying and working, let alone getting someone coffee. In a year DePaul moved to 25 East Jackson.
I quickly found this was not going to be easy. I knew I was in trouble when our Algebra Professor. Barton McLain, on the first day of class, opened the door and threw open the windows. As the days got colder I would sit and shiver. He would write formulas on the board with one hand and erase them with the other. We sat stunned. No one said a word. Many of us paid for our silence by failing the class. The Professor’s philosophy was to weed out the men from the boys. He was successful, 50% of the class flunked, including me. English was another shocker when the assignments came back marked up. I never knew there were so many rules and how many I needed to learn. If it wasn’t for Philosophy, Religion and ROTC I would have been thrown out. The first thought was quit. Fortunately I didn’t quit, I stuck it out. I quickly learned that I was ill prepared. Students from the inner city schools had a disadvantage against the Catholic School students who were much better prepared.
The transition was tough; you had 18 hours of classes and had to keep up with 7 or 8 courses. On top of that I had to ensure there was enough money for tuition. Working through the DePaul Placement Center I quickly found a part-time job at a downtown insurance company. The job was short lived as the company moved to Rogers Park. After that I was hired as a part-time accounting clerk for the North American Accident, Life and Health Insurance Company. North American was located on the 8th floor of the Rookery Building at 209 S. LaSalle Street... I stayed with North American during my four years at DePaul. The schedule was hectic, it included a once a week trip to the uptown campus for ROTC. For lunch I’d walk up 16 flights of stairs to the 16th floor lounge. The elevators were slow and crowded. After class I’d walk to North American and worked 2-3 hours. After work it was off to the el and home. After supper it was study time. No games or TV.
I ended the first year with a 1.8 average. That was almost probation. After the first year I knew more about the professors and the courses. My original choice for a major was accounting, after the first year I reconsidered and changed to marketing... I felt better suited for management and/or marketing. The Professors varied in presentation and effectiveness. The one that impressed me the most was Marketing Professor Gus Economos. Gus brought the class to life with his stories and presence. He walked the room, sat on the desk; legs crossed, and used examples to make a point. He was to be my inspiration on how to teach and gain class attention. The Jesuits were most knowledgeable as they presented the classes in Logic, Religion and Philosophy. Economic Professor James Diamond gave the best advice: “when you graduate, forget everything you learned, the only thing you want to remember is how to think and reason, how to make decisions.” Economic Professor Giganti is remembered for his stories about Umbrella Mike. Umbrella Mike was known as a mob bag man who would go into the Chicago saloons and place his umbrella at the end of the bar where money was dropped. Umbrella Mike then proceeded to other collection spots. Barton McLain was a son of a gun for Alegra, but a completely different person in Business Math. Sometimes reputations are deceiving, both McLain and Economos were known as tough graders, but once you had them you found they were fair and great educators.. The worse professor I can remember was in Accounting 102. The man had a tremendous accounting reputation in foreign countries with all kinds of honors and degrees. When it came to teaching, he sat at the front desk and read from the book. What a waste. When the first year ended I had been transitioned to the world of higher education. It was a grueling experience that would prepare me for the next three years.
Starting DePaul was a new experience in meeting and making new friends. There was no one from Wicker Park or Tuley. The old friends were gone. It was time to make new friends. One of my first contacts was Gene Sit, we met in Accounting. Gene was a great person who dedicated his work to becoming a CPA. We would walk the stairs to the 16th floor for lunch. I doubled with Gene for the first Military Ball. Gene would eventually become a very successful financier with his own investment company in Minneapolis. After the first year I started to make friends with the fellows who would go through the ROTC Program. Charlie Stulga would be the most memorable for his drive and energy. Charlie was very ambitious and always wanted to be number one. In fact when we started ROTC, Charlie told me he would beat me for the top ROTC spot. I wasn’t as determined as Charlie, I just wanted to complete four years of college. One of my best friends was Ed Porlier who I worked with at North American Insurance.
After the first year and finishing the basic English and Math courses my grades started to improve. I did better with the business courses. During my 2nd year I enrolled in Dr. Norman Sigband’s Business Letters class. Dr. Sigband transformed my writing ability. He emphasized the need to be concise and clear. My grades started to go from D’s and C’s to B’s. My emphasis was on Military Science where I earned A’s. During the first year I learned to stay focused.. You work through the problems and learn to correct weaknesses. I regained my competiveness and desire to succeed. Part of the desire was to be stoked by my need to lead. In the next section I’ll discuss the role the ROTC played in developing my leadership and academic skills.
Monday, April 27, 2009
THE EARLY YEARS
Like most people, grammar school had a dramatic influence on my life. It’s your first exposure to new ideas and different types of people. Your teachers set an example for behavior. They provide the guidance and motivation to learn. Your classmates become your friends and some not your friends. As in life you tend to be drawn to certain people and others you keep at a distance. Grammar school becomes your first experience at joining a social community.
In those formative years you learn to get along, to work and play as a team, you follow schedules, learn diversity, competition, follow instructions and gain the academic tools that will prepare you for the experience of life. Quickly you learn new routines and ways to do things. You look to upper classmen for examples and the modeling of your own behavior. Some become role models and you follow their lead in seeking your own niche in school. Pat Coffey and Tom Nievens were excellent students. They were role models who rose to be outstanding students and Mayor of their respective classes. They not only set the example in grammar school but went on to become leaders in high school and college. Pat went on to Schurz and later played Guard on the Michigan State basketball team. Tom played quarterback for Tuley and became a professor of theatre at a small college in Wisconsin.
It was this example that led me to study and seek excellence. It was the basis to excel and compete. I not only wanted all A’s but wanted to be a leader. I worked to be on the Honor Roll, School Judge, Lawyer and a member of the School Council. I became Patrol Captain and Mayor of the 8th grade class. At graduation I starred in the class play. My personality was forming as well as my temperament. I wanted to succeed and to be a leader. I do not believe it was out of arrogance or that I was better than anyone else, but a need to fulfill goals, and ambitions.
Looking back at the quality of public education in the 1940’s I would say it was poor. I liked and respected my teachers, but the curriculum didn’t push excellence and diversity. There was practically no science, and math was limited to the basics. We needed more word problems and a better understanding of what was to come in algebra and geometry. We needed a better explanation as to” why”. English needed to focus more on assigned readings and understanding story lines. We should have had more written assignments to learn to write and express ourselves. The ability to reason and think would have been helpful. These were weaknesses that I had to overcome as I pursued my education.
There were memorable moments to remember such as the many celebrations and performances held in the assembly hall, which doubled as the gym... I remember the cold wintry days on school patrol and the rewards of hot cocoa. The washing of the white patrol belts for Monday inspection. The 8th grade Friday socials which provided the opportunity to learn ballroom and square dancing. In gym we played dodge ball, kick baseball, or played softball or touch football in the spring and Fall When the teacher left the classroom, spitballs and paper planes went flying. After 8 years, it was June 1952 and graduation day arrived. The time had come to leave Wicker Park and move on to Sabin, the freshman Branch for Tuley High School.
Sabin was for freshman and was located on Leavitt Street, a short distance from Hirsch Street and a short walk from 2143 W. Evergreen. It was a place to adjust to high school and gain confidence. For the fellows the major classes were shop and mechanical drawing. Mr., Hitney taught shop where I had the opportunity to make a hammer, soldering iron and sheet metal scooper. In mechanical drawing Mr. Guarino taught us how to read blue prints and the finer points of drawing different things to scale. We were introduced to algebra and geometry. Mrs. King introduced us to English literature and Mr. Jane Polish. At Tuley we had the option to take Gym or ROTC. I chose ROTC. This was to become my guiding force throughout high school.
After the first year at Sabin we went on to the main campus at 1313 N. Claremont. At that time Tuley had many outstanding programs and students. The seniors presented class night, theatrical productions, and were active in a variety of social activities. The Friday night dances were big and the seniors seemed so grown up in presenting a good example to underclassmen. The Tuley football team was outmatched by its opponents and badly beaten throughout the year. They were no match for Austin, a formidable powerhouse in the 40’s and 50’s. By my 2nd or 3rd year the sports programs were reorganized into more equal standings. Tuley went to the Blue Division and by senior year were division champs. Basketball and baseball were also big. Tuley always seemed to do well in baseball. The turnaround in the sports program was a tribute to coaches Tortorelli and Dobrath. In my sophomore year I tried out for basketball. After a few practices, I didn’t feel it was for me, and decided to concentrate on ROTC. In retrospect I feel that I should have been more patient and tried harder. The lesson learned was, don’t give up, give things a chance and work at whatever you undertake, don’t quit...
ROTC was to become my prime interest and challenge. I also focused and worked hard on my academics. I didn’t take the hardest classes; I avoided the sciences and math and focused on business related classes. Maybe I was scared of the material or never found an interest in math or science. Maybe it related back to grammar school and its failure to promote the needed interest in math and the sciences. In many ways I wasn’t properly preparing myself for college and the tools needed to succeed in a more advanced and challenging environment.
I took to ROTC and quickly moved up within the ranks. As in the military you were promoted:, private, corporal, sergeant etc. Sergeant Levi Kangas took a liking to my performance and started to mentor and promote me to become a leader. He believed I had what it would take to go to West Point. When Sergeant Kangas left, Sergeant Lewis France became my mentor. Sergeant France became a friend and encouraged a military career. By the time I completed my sophomore year I had become an officer and by the time I was a Junior I was to become Battalion Commander. This was a big achievement. I commanded 180 to 200 cadets. During my command Tuley was successful in winning District Rifle and Drill Competitions. I can recall winning District Drill Competition at the Madison Street Armory and losing to Lane Tech for the City Championship at the Kedzie Avenue Armory. I worked hard to build a good unit and was disappointed that we did not fare better during the annual spring inspection. Each spring all City ROTC Units were inspected and rated. We would go to Humboldt Park, for several days, and practice drill and ceremonies. It would culminate in the naming of the top ranked ROTC Units, in the city, prior to the Cadet Day Parade. The Cadet Day Parade celebrated the end of the ROTC year with all ROTC Units marching down Michigan Avenue... Prior to the annual inspection Sergeant France was transferred to Lake View High School and Sergeant Dolan took over. The lose of Sergeant France was the worse thing that could have happened. In my mind it cost us the city championship. We just didn’t have the experience and knowledge to win. We did well but failed in the close order squad drill exercise. This was a disappointment and something you have to learn to accept. Again we lost to Lane Tech. During my senior year I tried out for City Staff, competing to become the top Colonel in the City ROTC program. My own evaluation was, that I was socially weak to compete and win this public relations type of position. I was a strong determined leader with a temper for perfection. I did not like to lose. I wanted to win. My High School ROTC experiences would eventually lay the ground work for my future career path into the military.
Senior year was the culmination of four years of hard work and study. I finished number 3 in a class of approximately 180 students. I was constantly on the honor roll receiving scholastic pins throughout my four years. I was awarded a number of ROTC Medals for efficiency as well as from the Tribune and Veterans of Foreign Wars. I ran for class president and lost. This was to prove that I was not destined to become a politician. I did receive a school letter for student activities, being a tour guide, and a member of the Tuley Review Newspaper. During the senior year I received an appointment to the Air Force Academy from 32nd Ward Alderman Joseph Rostenkowski. I wanted to go to West Point but there were no available appointments. I did not feel comfortable competing for the Air Force Academy and skipped the opportunity to take the entrance exam at Chanute Air force Base. Instead I received a $500 Mayor Daley Youth Foundation Scholarship to attend DePaul University. At that time $500 was enough to pay for one year’s tuition.
As a junior/senior there were many social activities that I was able to participate in. One memorable event was the 1955 Howard Miller Youth Rally at the Amphitheatre. Howard Miller was a top disc jokey at WIND Radio and packed the house, ROTC Cadets from a number of city schools acted as ushers. The event featured Pat Boone, Connie Francis, Kingston Trio and most of the top pop artist of the day. In January 1956 I was selected to represent Tuley at a Friday Executive Club Luncheon, it was held at the Merchandise Mart. The guest speaker was Duffy Daugherty, coach of the Michigan State Spartans, who had just participated in the Rose Ball. This was uncomfortable because I went in my ROTC Uniform and was out of place. One of my memorable moments was working with Ms. Paul, the Speech Teacher. I have always had problems with “th’s”,she would have me biting my tongue , teaching me to properly say “with” and ”the” .We had a Veterans Day Performance in which I had a role and her persistence made me good enough to earn a commendation from a school district representative. Leading the ROTC Unit to the beat of the Tuley Drum and Bugle Corp was always a thrill. Prom time was another big event. This was a difficult time because I wasn’t a ladies man and had to find the courage to ask a girl to go to the prom .Prior to the prom I had never gone on a date. This problem of finding a date would plague me throughout college and until I would marry. I guess I was socially shy and my excuse was that I didn’t have the time or interest in girls. School and ambitions were my priority. Finally I asked a girl, a junior, in one of my classes and she said yes. The Prom was held at the Illinois Athletic Club and I doubled with an ROTC friend Donald Ahrstrom. Graduation was on a Thursday Evening in June. .My mother and father attended to see me receive my diploma.
In those formative years you learn to get along, to work and play as a team, you follow schedules, learn diversity, competition, follow instructions and gain the academic tools that will prepare you for the experience of life. Quickly you learn new routines and ways to do things. You look to upper classmen for examples and the modeling of your own behavior. Some become role models and you follow their lead in seeking your own niche in school. Pat Coffey and Tom Nievens were excellent students. They were role models who rose to be outstanding students and Mayor of their respective classes. They not only set the example in grammar school but went on to become leaders in high school and college. Pat went on to Schurz and later played Guard on the Michigan State basketball team. Tom played quarterback for Tuley and became a professor of theatre at a small college in Wisconsin.
It was this example that led me to study and seek excellence. It was the basis to excel and compete. I not only wanted all A’s but wanted to be a leader. I worked to be on the Honor Roll, School Judge, Lawyer and a member of the School Council. I became Patrol Captain and Mayor of the 8th grade class. At graduation I starred in the class play. My personality was forming as well as my temperament. I wanted to succeed and to be a leader. I do not believe it was out of arrogance or that I was better than anyone else, but a need to fulfill goals, and ambitions.
Looking back at the quality of public education in the 1940’s I would say it was poor. I liked and respected my teachers, but the curriculum didn’t push excellence and diversity. There was practically no science, and math was limited to the basics. We needed more word problems and a better understanding of what was to come in algebra and geometry. We needed a better explanation as to” why”. English needed to focus more on assigned readings and understanding story lines. We should have had more written assignments to learn to write and express ourselves. The ability to reason and think would have been helpful. These were weaknesses that I had to overcome as I pursued my education.
There were memorable moments to remember such as the many celebrations and performances held in the assembly hall, which doubled as the gym... I remember the cold wintry days on school patrol and the rewards of hot cocoa. The washing of the white patrol belts for Monday inspection. The 8th grade Friday socials which provided the opportunity to learn ballroom and square dancing. In gym we played dodge ball, kick baseball, or played softball or touch football in the spring and Fall When the teacher left the classroom, spitballs and paper planes went flying. After 8 years, it was June 1952 and graduation day arrived. The time had come to leave Wicker Park and move on to Sabin, the freshman Branch for Tuley High School.
Sabin was for freshman and was located on Leavitt Street, a short distance from Hirsch Street and a short walk from 2143 W. Evergreen. It was a place to adjust to high school and gain confidence. For the fellows the major classes were shop and mechanical drawing. Mr., Hitney taught shop where I had the opportunity to make a hammer, soldering iron and sheet metal scooper. In mechanical drawing Mr. Guarino taught us how to read blue prints and the finer points of drawing different things to scale. We were introduced to algebra and geometry. Mrs. King introduced us to English literature and Mr. Jane Polish. At Tuley we had the option to take Gym or ROTC. I chose ROTC. This was to become my guiding force throughout high school.
After the first year at Sabin we went on to the main campus at 1313 N. Claremont. At that time Tuley had many outstanding programs and students. The seniors presented class night, theatrical productions, and were active in a variety of social activities. The Friday night dances were big and the seniors seemed so grown up in presenting a good example to underclassmen. The Tuley football team was outmatched by its opponents and badly beaten throughout the year. They were no match for Austin, a formidable powerhouse in the 40’s and 50’s. By my 2nd or 3rd year the sports programs were reorganized into more equal standings. Tuley went to the Blue Division and by senior year were division champs. Basketball and baseball were also big. Tuley always seemed to do well in baseball. The turnaround in the sports program was a tribute to coaches Tortorelli and Dobrath. In my sophomore year I tried out for basketball. After a few practices, I didn’t feel it was for me, and decided to concentrate on ROTC. In retrospect I feel that I should have been more patient and tried harder. The lesson learned was, don’t give up, give things a chance and work at whatever you undertake, don’t quit...
ROTC was to become my prime interest and challenge. I also focused and worked hard on my academics. I didn’t take the hardest classes; I avoided the sciences and math and focused on business related classes. Maybe I was scared of the material or never found an interest in math or science. Maybe it related back to grammar school and its failure to promote the needed interest in math and the sciences. In many ways I wasn’t properly preparing myself for college and the tools needed to succeed in a more advanced and challenging environment.
I took to ROTC and quickly moved up within the ranks. As in the military you were promoted:, private, corporal, sergeant etc. Sergeant Levi Kangas took a liking to my performance and started to mentor and promote me to become a leader. He believed I had what it would take to go to West Point. When Sergeant Kangas left, Sergeant Lewis France became my mentor. Sergeant France became a friend and encouraged a military career. By the time I completed my sophomore year I had become an officer and by the time I was a Junior I was to become Battalion Commander. This was a big achievement. I commanded 180 to 200 cadets. During my command Tuley was successful in winning District Rifle and Drill Competitions. I can recall winning District Drill Competition at the Madison Street Armory and losing to Lane Tech for the City Championship at the Kedzie Avenue Armory. I worked hard to build a good unit and was disappointed that we did not fare better during the annual spring inspection. Each spring all City ROTC Units were inspected and rated. We would go to Humboldt Park, for several days, and practice drill and ceremonies. It would culminate in the naming of the top ranked ROTC Units, in the city, prior to the Cadet Day Parade. The Cadet Day Parade celebrated the end of the ROTC year with all ROTC Units marching down Michigan Avenue... Prior to the annual inspection Sergeant France was transferred to Lake View High School and Sergeant Dolan took over. The lose of Sergeant France was the worse thing that could have happened. In my mind it cost us the city championship. We just didn’t have the experience and knowledge to win. We did well but failed in the close order squad drill exercise. This was a disappointment and something you have to learn to accept. Again we lost to Lane Tech. During my senior year I tried out for City Staff, competing to become the top Colonel in the City ROTC program. My own evaluation was, that I was socially weak to compete and win this public relations type of position. I was a strong determined leader with a temper for perfection. I did not like to lose. I wanted to win. My High School ROTC experiences would eventually lay the ground work for my future career path into the military.
Senior year was the culmination of four years of hard work and study. I finished number 3 in a class of approximately 180 students. I was constantly on the honor roll receiving scholastic pins throughout my four years. I was awarded a number of ROTC Medals for efficiency as well as from the Tribune and Veterans of Foreign Wars. I ran for class president and lost. This was to prove that I was not destined to become a politician. I did receive a school letter for student activities, being a tour guide, and a member of the Tuley Review Newspaper. During the senior year I received an appointment to the Air Force Academy from 32nd Ward Alderman Joseph Rostenkowski. I wanted to go to West Point but there were no available appointments. I did not feel comfortable competing for the Air Force Academy and skipped the opportunity to take the entrance exam at Chanute Air force Base. Instead I received a $500 Mayor Daley Youth Foundation Scholarship to attend DePaul University. At that time $500 was enough to pay for one year’s tuition.
As a junior/senior there were many social activities that I was able to participate in. One memorable event was the 1955 Howard Miller Youth Rally at the Amphitheatre. Howard Miller was a top disc jokey at WIND Radio and packed the house, ROTC Cadets from a number of city schools acted as ushers. The event featured Pat Boone, Connie Francis, Kingston Trio and most of the top pop artist of the day. In January 1956 I was selected to represent Tuley at a Friday Executive Club Luncheon, it was held at the Merchandise Mart. The guest speaker was Duffy Daugherty, coach of the Michigan State Spartans, who had just participated in the Rose Ball. This was uncomfortable because I went in my ROTC Uniform and was out of place. One of my memorable moments was working with Ms. Paul, the Speech Teacher. I have always had problems with “th’s”,she would have me biting my tongue , teaching me to properly say “with” and ”the” .We had a Veterans Day Performance in which I had a role and her persistence made me good enough to earn a commendation from a school district representative. Leading the ROTC Unit to the beat of the Tuley Drum and Bugle Corp was always a thrill. Prom time was another big event. This was a difficult time because I wasn’t a ladies man and had to find the courage to ask a girl to go to the prom .Prior to the prom I had never gone on a date. This problem of finding a date would plague me throughout college and until I would marry. I guess I was socially shy and my excuse was that I didn’t have the time or interest in girls. School and ambitions were my priority. Finally I asked a girl, a junior, in one of my classes and she said yes. The Prom was held at the Illinois Athletic Club and I doubled with an ROTC friend Donald Ahrstrom. Graduation was on a Thursday Evening in June. .My mother and father attended to see me receive my diploma.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
PART II - REFLECTIONS
Previously I wrote about the environment and neighborhood that I grew up in. It gave you a slight indication of my background and values. In Part II, Reflections, I hope to give you a better understanding into the life and times of George as he grew up in Chicago. We’ll try to uncover what drives a person to do what they do or don’t do. We’ll look at the people who influenced and guided the life and career path that marked the character and values that creates ones persona.
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