From Chris LeBlanc: Class of -72, hit your knees....The Lord just took Lee Roy Barnes, Jr. home just a few minutes ago. The doctors were weaning him off the ventilator and it appears his heart just could not take it. He’s gone… Lee has now just met his father for the first time, back on the reservation. For those that might not be aware, Lee Roy Sr. (for the love of me now, I cannot remember his tribal name) was an American Soldier, too, and was lost during the Korean War. He is buried in Kansas. I will let folks know when I can what decisions are made for burial. Lee's son Chris is not sure yet. Stand by for more news, and stand up for a great American and Soldier. Lee was in A-1.
Lee Barnes - Biography
Lee Barnes joined the Army as an Armor Cavalry Second Lieutenant upon graduation from West Point in 1972; he retired at the rank of Colonel, in 1997.
His service included duty stations in Korea, Germany and United States. He served as a tank Platoon Leader, Headquarters Company Commander, Armored Cavalry Troop Commander, and Tank Battalion Commander (concurrently serving as the Tank Regiment Commander for the Opposing Forces at the National Training Center). His staff time included battalion personnel (S1and Adjutant), logistics (S4) and operations, planning, and training (Army National Guard Advisor, Battalion XO, Brigade S3 and XO, and Division G3). His final posting was as the Chief of the Advanced Concept Office for Army Forces Command.
Lee joined Mystech Associates, which joined Northrop Grumman Corporation through a series of mergers. Lee served as Subject Matter Expert, Business Area Manager, Department Director, National Account Manager, Business Development Manager, and finally, as the Corporate Lead Executive, Orlando, retiring in 2012.
Lee has served as an independent consultant, but chooses to remain RETIRED, except for his volunteer activities, fishing, golfing and grand parenting.
Lee initially volunteered in 2011, to help with the Camaraderie Foundation annual golf tournament, “Pars and Stripes Forever”. He was elected to the board of directors in January, 2013. He was elected as Programs Director in 2015, elected Vice Chair of the Board in 2017, as Chair in Jan 2018, and in Jan 2019, re-elected as Chair for an additional one-year term.
'72 Classmates in Orlando
Here is the picture of all 72 classmates at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetary-A1 plus Chris Le Blanc, Steve Main and Ben Martin.
Lee Roy was well remembered and honored by many friends and associates. Skip did a great job sharing some remembrance for A-1 and Chris did the same. Ann was very appreciative of the company turnout!
Classmates at Lee Barnes Funeral
Going around the table starting on the left are: Chris LeBlanc; Tod Wilson; Murro Martens; Bill Guarino; Ray Idzior; Paul Oskvarek; Lee’s son Christopher; Skip Ash; Tom Waller; Steve Curtis; Tom Pawlowski; Steve Main
On December 1, the West Point Association of Graduates is pleased to be taking part in Giving Tuesday—a global day of celebrating and encouraging philanthropy.
During this season, we are reminded that every generous act is significant, and each gift in support of West Point truly matters for our cadets, alumni, the Academy, and the nation. Please consider joining us in celebrating this day of giving through a gift to West Point.
Donations are essential to support Margin of Excellence programs for our cadets and to keep the Long Gray Line strong. Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and tell us how you support West Point!
Colonel Elizabeth Evans ’00 was activated to full-time duty to coordinate a COVID-19 response earlier this year. Her leadership throughout this unprecedented Pandemic response as the J5 has been phenomenal and serves as the model for all others to emulate. She has made an indelible impact to the State of Florida's response efforts that will be used as the standard for years to come. Her strategic and operational reach spanned through interagency, intergovernmental, and Emergency Support Functions creating a shared understanding that provided the Task Force Commander a common operating picture needed for all operations.
COL Evans has truly been the tip of the spear in strategic planning for major operations including; 32 Community Based Testing Sites, Rotational Design and Force Flow, Cruise Ship debarkation contingencies, transitions between State Active Duty Pay and Federal 502(f) funding, commodity distribution, Law Enforcement support, USACE integration, and PPE analysis with lessons learned.
COL Evans has helped orchestrate and manage over 300,000 COVID tests to date. She has also synchronized over 490 missions, supporting ESF 8, consisting of our Mobile Testing Teams, and has aided in the planning efforts of the Mobile Testing Lab with incredible results. COL Evans is a true Citizen-Soldier in every facet and with the support of nearly 3,000 mobilized Soldiers and Airmen undertaking COVID-19 operations, has answered the call to serve our citizens. She was recently promoted from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel, congratulations and thank you for all that you have done!
On Thursday, November 12, more than 300 donors attended WPAOG's Virtual West Point Donor Thanksgiving event. Taking the place of the usual in-person Superintendent’s Circle and Homecoming receptions and dinners, the festive live-streamed celebration included remarks by the Superintendent, LTG Darryl Williams '83 and Cadet First Captain Reilly McGinnis ’21, and was hosted by WPAOG President Todd Browne '85 and WPAOG VP of Development Kristin Sorenson. Read more.
Captain (Retired) William Reynolds, III ’02 has been named the volunteer Board of Directors at Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). Reynolds is a registered warrior with WWP. Reynolds heads his own private consulting firm after being a manager at a major U.S. consulting firm following medical retirement from the Army in 2008.
Reynolds served two deployments during Operation Iraqi Freedom, surviving an IED blast during combat operations in southwest Baghdad, in 2004. That explosion led to 26 surgeries over more than two years of recovery. While doctors were able to save his left arm, ultimately, they had to amputate his left leg above the knee.
“Will Reynolds' experience leading troops in combat, overcoming significant obstacles during recovery, and advocating for wounded veterans will be valuable as we continue innovating programs to meet warriors' needs,” WWP CEO Lieutenant General (R) Mike Linnington said. “He is an inspiration to other wounded veterans.”
Reynolds remained in uniformed service during his rehabilitation, working a full schedule at the Pentagon in the office responsible for mitigating and defeating IED threats throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. Reynolds has not let his injuries slow him down. He was a Captain of the U.S. team for Invictus Games, competed in Warrior Games, and is a U.S. Paralympic hopeful. Read more.
It’s been 35 years since Chaplain (Maj.) Charlie Shields earned his Ranger tab as a young private. In the time since, he’s served in some of the Army’s top units.
His achievements include service as a noncommissioned officer in the 75th Ranger Regiment, becoming a long-range surveillance team leader, and returning to the Army as a chaplain in units like the 173rd Airborne Brigade, 7th Special Forces Group, and currently 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
But Charlie Shields' proudest achievement isn’t his own.
“I’ve served in the best units in the Army, I’ve done the best jobs in the Army, and I’ve graduated from great schools,” Charlie Shields told Military Times. “But I told my wife, I think I’m prouder of the fact that my son is a second-generation Ranger than of anything I did.”
Second Lt. Seth Shields graduated Ranger School exactly three-and-a-half decades, to the day, after his father. Read more.
The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1947 | 1948 | 1959 | 1962 | 1973 | 1989 | 1993 | 1996 | 1998 | 2007 | 2020. Class Notes
Shull was recognized for “transforming the Exchange into a thriving benefit supporting military readiness, recruiting, retention and resiliency” and “exceptional service and commitment to the goals and objectives of the NDTA.”
“Your entire staff at [the Exchange] follows your example of kindness, service, honor and integrity,” Van Schuyver (Military Order of the Purple Heart representative and chairman of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission) said to Shull. “We are so blessed to be part of the Exchange. I count you as a mentor, and I thank you.”
“It is truly a privilege to serve with amazing teammates like Larry, who are all in to honor our Nation’s Warfighters past, present and future,” Shull said. “The Exchange is humbled by this tremendous recognition, which would not have been possible without the efforts of Dan and his Tinker Exchange teammates to serve those who serve.”
The Exchange is committed to hiring 50,000 Veterans and military spouses—more than 47,000 have been hired so far. About 10.4% of Exchange employees are Veterans, and the Exchange has hired more than 1,640 Wounded Warriors since 2010.
Colonel (Retired) Raymond Renola, Class of 1940 —West Point’s oldest living graduate— celebrated his 104th birthday this week. He was deeply touched by all of the many cards he received from the West Point Society of Washington, DC.
Last year, his family, along with the West Point Society of Washington, D.C., presented COL Renola with a replacement Class of 1940 West Point class ring for his birthday. Ray had lost his ring years ago while swimming, and his family knew how much the ring meant to him. So, they tracked down the jeweler in Pennsylvania that had the mold for the class ring and had a replacement ring made for him as a surprise. As an added surprise, the West Point Alumni Glee Club attended and sang "Happy Birthday," "On Brave Old Army Team," and the "Alma Mater."
The West Point Association of Graduates wishes COL Renola a happy 104th birthday! Go Army! Beat Navy!
On December 1, the West Point Association of Graduates is pleased to be taking part in Giving Tuesday—a global day of celebrating and encouraging philanthropy.
Sending warm wishes for Thanksgiving from your Rockbound Highland Home.
The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1947 | 1954 | 1996 | 2000 | 2002 | 2020. 
Colonel Elizabeth Evans ’00 was activated to full-time duty to coordinate a COVID-19 response earlier this year. Her leadership throughout this unprecedented Pandemic response as the J5 has been phenomenal and serves as the model for all others to emulate. She has made an indelible impact to the State of Florida's response efforts that will be used as the standard for years to come. Her strategic and operational reach spanned through interagency, intergovernmental, and Emergency Support Functions creating a shared understanding that provided the Task Force Commander a common operating picture needed for all operations.
On Thursday, November 12, more than 300 donors attended WPAOG's Virtual West Point Donor Thanksgiving event. Taking the place of the usual in-person Superintendent’s Circle and Homecoming receptions and dinners, the festive live-streamed celebration included remarks by the Superintendent, LTG Darryl Williams '83 and Cadet First Captain Reilly McGinnis ’21, and was hosted by WPAOG President Todd Browne '85 and WPAOG VP of Development Kristin Sorenson. 
Captain (Retired) William Reynolds, III ’02 has been named the volunteer Board of Directors at Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). Reynolds is a registered warrior with WWP. Reynolds heads his own private consulting firm after being a manager at a major U.S. consulting firm following medical retirement from the Army in 2008.
It’s been 35 years since Chaplain (Maj.) Charlie Shields earned his Ranger tab as a young private. In the time since, he’s served in some of the Army’s top units.
Army & Air Force Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull ’73 has received the Department of Defense 
Colonel (Retired) Raymond Renola, Class of 1940 —West Point’s oldest living graduate— celebrated his 104th birthday this week. He was deeply touched by all of the many cards he received from the West Point Society of Washington, DC.