Rock of the Ages: The Names & Faces of Memorial Rock

A part of Storm King Mountain since the beginning of time, Memorial Rock stands vener ably at the eastern end of campus directly across the road from the Spy Rock House. For more than 100 years, Memorial Rock has been a place of solace and remembrance for Storm King School alumni who served in the US Armed Forces. In June 1921, the Rock’s first alumni memorial tablet was dedicated “To Our One Hundred and Sixty-Two Boys Who Served in the World War,” commemorating those SKS graduates who fought in WWI. Over the decades, additional plaques honoring the sacrifices of SKS military members in subsequent US conflicts have been added. Today, services on Memorial and Veteran Days, as well as Reunion Weekends continue to be observed at the foot of Memorial Rock.

WORLD WAR I

PHILLIP OVINGTON MILLS ’93

ARTHUR VAN NOSTRAND MYERS ’01

EDMUND PATTEN GLOVER ’06

Edmund, of New York City, was severely wounded and died of his wounds in WWI [Ref: geneologytrails.com WWI soldiers].

DONALD EDWARD STONE ’08

Born November 8, 1891 in New York City, Donald was the nephew of Dr. Carlos H. Stone who was the School’s Headmas ter from 1887-1918. He gradu ated from Hamilton College in 1913 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He traveled to Europe in 1916 to join the Nor ton-Harjes Ambulance Ser vice during World War I. He served in Section 11 at the Front through 1917 and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Star. On April 8, 1917, Stone enlisted in France’s Service Aero nautique and underwent aviation, acrobatic, and gunnery training at Avord, Pau, Cazeaux, and the G.D.E. He received his brevet on the Caudron on October 22, 1917, and he graduated from the training pipeline on March 16, 1918. He was assigned to Escadrille SPA 12 and flew at the Front with that unit until he was killed in aerial combat in a fight with 13 enemy aircraft on April 21, 1918. He was 26 years old. His remains were never found. Stone was posthumously awarded a second Croix de Guerre with Star. [Ref: “The Lafayette Flying Corps: The Amer ican Volunteers in the French Air Service in World War One” by Dennis Gordon; Schiffer Military History, Atglen, PA: 2000]

DONALD EDWARD STONE ’08

LONSDALE SCANNELL ’11

On September 29, 1918, in the World War I Battle of the Hinden burg Line in Northern France, there were 40 Orange County, New York residents who died. Corporal Henry Lonsdale Scan nell was one of the 40 who lost his life in that battle. After a 56-hour bombardment, Allied forces breached the so-called Hindenburg Line– the last line of German defenses on the Western Front. The war ended one month later. The volume titled The History of the 107th Regiment in Harvard University’s library cited Corporal Henry L. Scannell “for courage and determination in battle…while on patrol sent out to ascer tain the position of enemy machine guns, Corporal Scannell was mortally wounded. This patrol suffered heavy casualties and the number of stretchers available was inadequate. This soldier, realizing that he was mortally wounded, begged that the stretchers be used for men with slighter wounds. He died shortly after.” Corporal Scannell’s remains are interred at the Somme American Cemetery in Bony, France: Plot: C, Row: 5, Grave: 9.

THOMAS MILTON BOYD ’14

Thomas was born on May 18, 1894 in Brooklyn, New York and lived with his parents, two sisters and two brothers. He attended the Stone School, but left as a junior, graduating from Ridgewood Preparatory School before becoming associated with his father in business in Philadelphia. He married Helen Ward in April 1917 and enlisted on June 5 that same year. It was determined that he was unfit for active military service so he joined a Medical Detachment in the Sanitary Corps in Septem ber 1918, about the same time an epidemic of Spanish Influenza ravaged the United States. Thomas died at Camp (Fort) Dix on Wednesday, October 2, 1918 of septic pneumonia, developed from Spanish influenza. He was buried in his family’s plot Lot 1136, Grave 2 at Valleau Cemetery. He was 24 years old.

AMHERST WIGHT MEEKER ’14

Amherst was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 28, 1896 and graduated from the Stone School in 1914 where he played football, and from Williams College in 1918. While a student at Williams, he enlisted with the Williams College Unit of the US Ambulance Service on June 7, 1917 and “had charge of the medical supply for the Headquarters Company in Allentown, Pennsylvania.” All the time, Private Meeker had been anxious to get into active service. He had tried for officers’ training school and, finally, after he had been transferred to Company L, 107th Infantry, at Camp Wadsworth, he was selected for offi cers’ camp, but it was too late. He accompanied his regiment to Newport News, Virginia, where he embarked in May 1918 for “over there.” Amherst died from wounds received in action on the Western Front. In his last letter, Private Meeker said he was in rest camp. On September 27, 1918 he sent a formal postal card stating that he was “well.” He was wounded two days later on September 29, 1918, and died the following day at the 12th Casu alty Station. Amherst was buried at Tincourt in the New British Military Cemetery (American Plot) in Plot 6, Row E, Grave 16. He was 22 years old.

WORLD WAR II

GEORGE L. WILSON ’23

George L. Wilson, Class of 1923, played football at The Storm King School. A technical sergeant in the US Army, he died on May 7, 1945, of wounds received in action in Okinawa, Japan. He was with the 77th Infantry Division and received a Purple Heart and a citation which accompanied the Bronze Star Medal awarded to him posthumously. This citation reads, in part, “His heroic leadership proved a constant inspiration to the men of his unit and aided materially in their success.”

FREDERIC C. LOWINGER ’29

Frederic was born on March 29, 1911 in New York City. He grad uated from Yale University in 1933, “a scholar of the third rank,” and played football and tennis. He resided in England from 1935 and enlisted as a trooper. On February 11, 1942 he was com missioned as a Second Lieutenant at Royal Military College, and in February 1943 was promoted to First Lieutenant. Lieutenant Lowinger was killed in action in Normandy on June 30, 1944. He was 33 years old.

THOMAS SOWDEN ’30

The Storm King Bulletin June 4, 1930 said “Canajoharie, New York sent its favorite son to Storm King in the fall of ’28. Tommy, or Chandler, plans to enter Cornell next year, and in the future, we shall read of his exploits in the chemical labo ratory. Tom is on the Dance Committee and is also a member of the baseball team.” A First Lieutenant in the Army, Service number 0-10133780, 22nd Tank Battalion, 11th Armored Divi sion, Thomas died on January 7, 1945 and is buried in Plot H, Row 11, Grave 14 of the Luxemburg American Cemetery. He was awarded a Purple Heart. Philippines. An American Legion Post in Roxbury, New York is named after him.

RALPH C. GIFFORD, JR. ’31

Ralph died from wounds received in action just north of Rome on June 25, 1944. He was with the 81st Armored Reconnais sance Battalion and had been overseas since March 1943, having served in the African Theater and the Anzio Beach head campaign. He enlisted as a private and attained the rank of first lieutenant.

ROBERT E. HERMSON ’35

Robert was born around 1916 in Massachusetts and lived in Kings, New York with his parents and grandfather [Ref: From the 1940 U.S. Census]. From The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Friday, 9 June 1944, Page 11: “Lt. Robert E. Hermson, a navy fighter pilot, was killed in a plane crash in the Palomar Mountains in Cal ifornia, according to notification received by his parents May 30, 1944. He was 28. Robert received his college degree at the University of North Carolina, where he distinguished himself in sports. He enlisted in the US Naval Reserve Air Corps. and was an honor man of his class of air cadets at Atlanta. After his training, he was commissioned an ensign at Pensacola, Flor ida and assigned to duty there as flight instructor and chief test pilot. Last January [1943], he was transferred to San Diego, Cal ifornia, and assigned to a fighter squadron.”

ROBERT S. MERRILL ’37

Robert was born in Illinois. He was an honor student who played trumpet who attended Rye High School and then The Storm King School. He received his AB from Princeton Uni versity in 1941 where he was a member of the university band. He married his wife, Sarah, in 1942 and they had a daughter born in 1943. Robert was a lieu tenant in the Army, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 37th Infantry, 95th Division, Veteran Code KIA-15. His older brother, Rever end John Fremont Merrill, who also attended SKS, Class of 1937, wrote in 1998 that “Robert was awarded the Silver Star in rec ognition of how he led his men in battle in WWII.” Robert died on November 20, 1944 at age 25.

ROBERT S. MERRILL ’37

LEWIS HENRY UTLEY ’38

Lewis was from New Windsor, New York, and was known as “Bud” or “Buddy” at The Storm King School. He was active in dramatics and sports. After SKS, he planned to attend The Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania. Lewis served in the US Air Force from 1942-1943, AAF MOS 1034, 423rd Bombardment Squadron, Heavy. After training with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, the squadron moved over seas and participated in combat in the European theater, earn ing two Distinguished Unit Citations for its efforts. Lewis’ last AFSC Group was Air Crew (Officer) as a navigator and his last rank was First Lieutenant. He died on a mission over occu pied France on February 16, 1943. The cause was identified as “Hostile, Died While Missing.” His internment is located at the American Cemetery in Brittany, France.

H. FRANKLYN WEEKS ’38

Henry was from Springfield, Massachusetts and attended SKS for three years. He was on The Quarry editorial board, trea surer of the Players Club, chairman of the Dance Committee, a member of the Glee Club, and was voted captain of the foot ball team. After graduation he was headed to the University of Virginia. In 1940, he wrote to the school reporting that he was working for the Pratt and Whitney Division of United Aircraft. Henry Weeks served with honor in the US Army, attaining the rank of First Lieutenant, identification number O-734403. He was killed in action and posthumously awarded a Purple Heart.

JOSEPH JAY McCONVILLE ’39

Joseph hailed from New York City, attending SKS for two years and playing quarterback on the football team, defense on the hockey team, and an infielder in baseball. He was also on The Quarry Board. After SKS, he attended Harvard Univer sity. According to The War Memo rial Issue of The Quarry (1941-1945), Joseph was a pilot in Naval Aviation when he was killed in a plane crash in Italy in 1939. Joseph is buried in the Naples Military (US) Cemetery. He was awarded the American Defense, the American Theater, the Asiatic-Pacific, and the Europe-Africa-Middle East Medals and the Bronze Star. A portrait of Lieutenant Jay McConville hangs in the Admissions/Development Building at SKS.

JOSEPH JAY McCONVILLE ’39

EDWARD F. BESSOM ’42

Edward was awarded the Storm King Cup, athletic cup, football cup (Capt.), basketball cup (Capt.) while a student at SKS. After SKS, he attended Colgate University. Bessom Square, on the South Common of Mansfield, Massachusetts, honors Bessom who died on January 25, 1945 as a result of wounds received at Lingayen Gulf, The Philippines in WWII. He was 21 years old.

DAVID W. GIBSON ’42

David attended SKS as a junior, transferring from Cornwall Central High School. “Faithfully and energetically, ‘Gibby’ has contributed to athletics by his prowess in the outfield and power on the grid [The Quarry, June 6, 1942].” He played football, soccer, basketball, hockey, and baseball while participating in the Players Club. David was awarded the Headmaster’s Cup at graduation and planned to attend Princeton.

D. DOUGLAS HUNTER EX ’42

Private David Douglas Hunter was a member of the 311th Infan try, 78th Division when killed in action at Schmidt, Germany in WWII. Known as the “Lightning Division”, the battles of the 78th Division were likened by the French to a bolt of lightning, leaving the field blood red. Thus, the insignia became a single streak of lightning across a red field. Private Hunter was born on September 12, 1923, and died on February 7, 1945 at age 21. He is buried at Caroline Churchyard in Setauket in Suffolk County, New York.

STEPHENSON W. DEMAREST EX ’44

Steve left SKS in June of 1943 during WWII. Steve’s death was written about in a 1944 issue of The Quarry by the alumni editor: “It is with the deepest regret that we report the death of Steve Demarest who succumbed to wounds received in France. Steve, a junior when he was drafted, was one of Storm King’s most popular students; affable, sincere, and conscientious. He was planning to return to the school after the war and finish his education, but the fates ruled otherwise. We know, however, that Steve’s great spirit will always be with Storm King in the classroom and on the playing field.”

RICHARD BENCE ’53

Richard, a naval aviator, died on January 16, 1963 as a result of injuries suffered in a crash 45 miles off the coast of Vir ginia. Richard attended Storm King as a post-graduate during the 1952-53 academic year. He received numerous athletic awards, the Headmaster’s Cup, as well as varsity letters for football, basketball, hockey, and baseball, He was also a member of Student Council and the Cum Laude Society. After SKS, Richard attended Brown University and was a wide receiver on their All-1950s football team.

VIETNAM WAR

JOSEPH JAY McCONVILLE ’39

Jack, who was from Jackson Heights, New York, played Varsity Soccer, Hockey and Baseball at SKS. He was a Petty Officer Second Class PCF4, PCFDIV 101, TF 115, MACV in the United States Navy. On February 14, 1966 his swift boat, PCF-4, was on patrol in Rach Gia Bay in the west ern part of the Mekong Delta when it approached a raft flying a Viet Cong flag. After several attempts to flush out the enemy with grenades, the PCF’s hull was ruptured by a command-detonated mine and she sank at once. The hulk was raised by the repair ship USS KRISHNA (ARL-38) and the bodies of several crewmen were recovered. PCF-4 was the first swift boat lost in Vietnam. Les sons learned from examining her hull led to improvements in swift boat construction to reduce their vulnerability to underwater mines. Of 50 swift boat veterans lost in Viet nam, only three, including Jack, have not had their remains located to be put to rest. Jack Rodriguez is on the Vietnam Wall at Panel 5E, Line 36.

JOSEPH JAY McCONVILLE ’39

FREDERICK N. CURTIS ’67

Frederick, from of Osterville, Massachusetts, was killed in action in the Pleiku Province of South Vietnam in 1969. “Spider” Curtis was on the JV soccer, varsity hockey and var sity lacrosse teams at SKS. He was drafted into the Army, beginning his tour on November 9, 1968. He held the rank of Specialist Four and his military occupation was Armor (Tank) Crewman attached to 4th Infantry Division, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry, Troop C. Frederick was awarded a Purple Heart and also earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, Marksmanship Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and the Army Good Conduct Medal. He was 21.

A monument in Passaic, New Jersey honoring the 15 Passaic Army recruits who died in the 11/8/61 plane crash en route to Basic Training

Bernard Burrill Olster, Class of 1957

Bernard was born in Passaic, New Jersey. Army Private Olster attended Pas saic High School for one year before attending SKS for three years where he lettered in football, baseball, bas ketball and tennis. Bernard was a victim of an airplane crash that took 77 lives en route to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for basic training with the Army. A graduate of the Philadelphia College of Technology and Science, he was a chemical engineer at his father’s Flexicote, Inc. firm He was 22 years old.

Patrick Roy, Class of 1999

Patrick Roy, Class of 1999

Patrick was a varsity lacrosse team captain and said to be a natural leader at SKS. Fire man Apprentice Roy was killed in the line of duty as a Navy recruit on the US Cole in a terrorist bombing on October 12, 2000 while refueling in Aden Harbor, Yemen. The USS Cole was attacked on port mid-ship by a small boat of suicide bombers with explosives onboard, the result of which was a 40 by 60 foot hole in the Cole and the loss of 17 sailors. He was 19 years old.