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Post by Walt Cross on Jun 2, 2005 11:08:08 GMT -6
How many of you researchers have been ignored by the West Point Library?
I used to have a contact there, but she moved on and now I can't get a thing out of them. I finally wrote to the Public Information Officer at West Point. I told him I was a retired master sergeant and a graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeant's Major Academy and by God I wanted some answers from the Army's Military Academy. The librarians (all civilians of course) got right on it and gave me what I wanted. But since then they have ignored my further queries.
We are all tax payers, they should answer our requests for assistance. Want to get a petition together?
Walt
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Post by Diane Merkel on Jun 2, 2005 23:24:49 GMT -6
A couple of people on the boards have mentioned difficulties with the West Point Library. I understand your frustrations, but I would urge patience and understanding. Although our tax dollars support the library, it is not truly a public library. Their first duty is to serve the faculty and staff of the Academy. I would guess that official government business comes next, followed by active duty military. Inquiries from the public are probably at the bottom of the pile. Please consider that for each of us who asks for something Little Big Horn related, there are just as many enthusiasts of other wars and time periods who are demanding attention as well. It must be overwhelming.
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Post by Walt Cross on Jun 3, 2005 11:04:15 GMT -6
Good points Diane, but surely they can respond eventually?
Walt
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Post by mikelentz1949 on Jun 3, 2005 13:05:33 GMT -6
Walt: I'm a vet & also work for the Dept. of Defense---their No.1 priority right now is supporting our War Fighters around the world with requests relating to tactics, history, etc.--I get frustrated, too, but "patience is a virtue". When your book comes out ,will there be a special edition of ones that you have personally signed? Gary Owen!
Mike Lentz
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Post by John Mackintosh on Jun 3, 2005 17:21:04 GMT -6
Misery loves company. I visited the USMA Archives in 1997, researching George D. Wallace and walked away with a copy of his cadet photo that they sold me. Very unusual to actually purchase such an item from an Archives while you are there. Believe me, I know because I am in the Archives profession.
Anyway, all down hill since then. Over a year spent on the phone and email trying to get Varnum's caadet photo and photos of Merrill and Reno for inclusion in the Wallace bio. I eventually gave up. 2002--Luck changed, got cadet of Henry Lemly, 3rd Cav quite easily.
Last year and this--Back to striking out, couldn't get the Garlington photo in time for the Greasy Grass article.
I have often thought, if only I could call up and say "graduate of the class of ..." they might hop to it. Very frustrating to deal with, getting something out of there depends soley on luck, I do believe.
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Post by Walt Cross on Jun 3, 2005 17:41:53 GMT -6
John; I can commiserate buddy. I know they are busy folks, but if the war effort is putting them in a strain, then they should ask for reinforcements.
Bet they could get volunteers to do a lot of this work. Lot of old soldiers would like to help out, probably even have input they could give researchers.
I'm trying to visualize when I was in Vietnam, maybe we could stop and call the WP library for references on tactics? I'm being silly of course, but hey, with cell phones today maybe they can do that. Of course I was with the artillery, and when Star Trek came on, the war stopped. After the hour program of "Kirk" and "Spock" we went back to delivering the mail to Mr. Charles (that's short for Victor Charlie you know, VC?). Except of course when Bobbie the Weathergirl came on, then ths war stopped for awhile too.
Mike; Tell you what, you buy a copy when and if it comes out and mail it to me I'll sign it and return it to you with my thanks. I'm sure not going to charge more for a signed copy (unless my literary agent twists my arm that is). Oh, and Mike, thanks for your service both military and civilian.
"Duty First"
Walt
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Post by John Mackintosh on Jun 4, 2005 7:40:29 GMT -6
Yes, it really is the luck of the draw. One thing I did discover is that the battlefield has the same photographs of cadets who ended up in the 7th Cav. That's where I eventually got Varnum's cadet photo. The battlefield charges more but each order I have placed has ALWAYS been filed in about a month or so, I have never had to call them back or email them after the passage of three months or so like with the West Point crowd.
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