Tony played halfback on the plebe soccer squad, but it was in military matters that he excelled. Our Howitzer called him a romanticist who readily adapted to the ideals of West Point and mentioned his military bearing, his high sense of duty, and his reverent regard for regulations. We inadvertently identified the future Tac. But there was a fun side as well, demonstrated in super rat racing and good fellowship. No wonder he was a corporal and then company commander of H-1!

Commissioned in the infantry, he joined the 76th Infantry Division in Maryland and went with them to Europe. Serving first as liaison officer for the division commander, he then took an infantry company through the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns, winning a CIB, two Bronze Stars, and a Commendation Medal. Following the war, he was aide to the commanding general of the Big Red One, and then instructor in the Weapons Department of the Infantry School, staying for the Advanced Course.

Following Benning came the Korean War, where Tony served as operations officer for the 23rd Infantry Regiment and senior advisor to the ROK Capitol Infantry Division. This latter post won him the Order of the Chung-Mu with Gold Star from the Koreans. 1956 saw completion of CGSC and orders to West Point for the Tactical Department, a natural assignment for a man of his background, skills, and interest in infantry combat. Several classes benefited from his leadership.

In 1960, Tony returned to Korea, and was once again cited for his duties with the Korean Army Headquarters. On return to the U.S. in 1961, he joined the Operations Directorate of the JCS until 1964. Then at Fort Jackson, where he was promoted to colonel, he was a battalion commander and chief of personnel. A tour in Europe with V Corps followed, then professor of Military Science at Fordham University. In his final assignment to First Army, he was retired for physical disability in 1972.

In July of 1949, when Tony was an instructor at Benning, mutual friends introduced him to Verlie, a lovely lass from Alabama then working in Infantry School Headquarters. After a whirlwind romance, they were married in the Catholic Student Center at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Verlie’s hometown on Valentine’s Day of 1950. Three children were born of this union: Valerie at Fort Benning; Virginia in Tuscaloosa while Tony was in Korea; and Vincent at Fort Leavenworth.

After retirement, Tony and Verlie led the sort of life that traditionally exemplified military retirement: gardening, fishing, writing (mostly about his Korean experiences) and children and grandson. It was a quiet fourteen years in Alabama before he left us for good. He was buried with an honor guard from Fort McClellan, a farewell gun salute and the traditional “Taps.”

In this era of specialization, Tony remained a soldier whose primary interests were leadership, tactics, and strategy — not grand strategy, but rather the winning of battles in a framework beyond one battle. In his Cullum file was the draft outline of an article or talk on strategy, tactics, and the eight vital words of combat. We have few classmates with such a continuing and undiluted interest in the elements of successful ground combat. Happily, most of his assignments exploited that concentration in the national interest. In all of its ramifications, Tony truly exemplified the word “soldier.” The Army has constant need for such talents. He will be missed in the challenges that face our country and his.

Tony is survived by Verlie; their three children; and grandson David, the son of Valerie and Joe Otero. Joe is a high school math teacher, and Valerie is director of corporate accounting for US West in Colorado. Virginia is married to Daniel B. Hemphill II, also in Colorado. She is a computer systems analyst for US West, and Daniel is an accounting manager for Vexcel Corp. Vincent, unmarried, lives in Ithaca, New York, where he just finished an MBA and is assistant controller for Emerson Power & Transmission.

The success of his family was a great source of pride to Tony, who was a very private and reserved person with a strong love of God, his family, life, and his country. During his service he tried his best to be the finest Infantry officer he could be. He was so proud to be a graduate of West Point. In turn, his life was a source of great pride and admiration to his family and friends in his hometown. Such a man demonstrates the finest in American tradition.

— Classmates and family