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Post by John Mackintosh on Jun 16, 2005 16:20:24 GMT -6
Wanted to convey the sad news to all who have not heard it that Brian Pohanka passed away yesterday morning in Virginia. He lost his long battle with cancer and will be sorely missed. Please keep his widow in your prayers. He was an incredible scholar and a nice, sincere, helpful person who will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
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Post by Mike Nunnally on Jun 16, 2005 18:39:01 GMT -6
I never met Brian...but I pestered him a number of times with questions on the Little Big Horn and he always answered me ...sometimes up to 2 pages long and real in depth answers...his answers were not ''brush off'' answers either. He always ended his answers by adding..''does this answer your questions?" He didn't know me from Adam....but always took the time to give this amateur historian his professional opinion. I am thankful I had this much to short contact with him.
God Bless Him.
Scout
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Post by John Mackintosh on Jun 16, 2005 19:31:58 GMT -6
That sounds like him. Got to know him at LBHA conferences, he gave me alot of help and direction in researching Wallace, for which I will be ever grateful.
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Post by Lawtonka on Jun 17, 2005 6:27:42 GMT -6
John,
I am shocked to say the least. When I was developing my book on Battery Wagner, Brian was gracious enough to wrtie a review for me that I have printed on the back of the dust jacket. Needless to say, his review and kind words meant a lot to me!
Shortly after the book was published, on a trip to LBH, I was fortunate enough to meet him on a CBHMA meeting/tour. Man, I am sorry to hear of this, and you know that my own father is presently battling cancer also, so I can truly say that I can understand what he has had to walk trough and the grief of his widow.
One thing for sure, Brian has left a legacy and in my opinion is one of the foremost contributors to Civil War and Indian Wars historical research. His works will serve as a monument to him and his family. He is missed. I was just looking on a site yesterday about Tom Custer and it was a time line provided by Brian. Man, It was a great thing that Sandy did in Greasy Grass to recognize Brian and I agree, he was a "Pard" indeed. For those who are not familiar, "Pard" is a commonly used reference to fellow reenact ors to the Civil War community. I will never forget the time I met with him at the monument on Last Stand Hill and talked with him for a shor while.
I would like to say "Thanks a Million Brian for all that you have done" and my prayers are with your wife.
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Post by Walt Cross on Jun 17, 2005 12:51:58 GMT -6
Brian always seemed to be ready to write a review or forward. That's the kind of sharing the literary world needs. I enjoyed his remarks on many historical programs and none more than PBS' "The Civil War". I am sure he will be missed by his family and personal friends and from history buffs everywhere. I regret his passing.
Walt Cross
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bhist
Full Member
Posts: 221
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Post by bhist on Jun 17, 2005 18:43:54 GMT -6
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Post by John Mackintosh on Jun 19, 2005 12:16:27 GMT -6
Tim Walt, and bhist,
I have just returned from Richmond, where three of us met to plan next summer's LBHA conference that will be held there. One of the guys from near D.C. gave me a copy of Friday's Washington Post that has a long obituary and photograph of him. One of the guys said you can find this obit at the Post's website.
From what I can understand from those closer to him than myself, he died of melanoma. He lost an eye about four or five years ago to this horrible disease and joked with me on email about it making him like Lt. John Crittenden of the 20th Infantry who was attached to Custer's regiment. I think his ability to joke over something like that says alot about the type of person he was.
Although I didn't know him near as well as I might wish, he was a really helpful individual as I discovered in the late 1990s when I sort of got to know him at one of the LBHA meetings. He provided me with a copy of an out of print article he had authored on future 7th Cav cadets at West Point and helped with some key advice on how to research Wallace.
We often hear someone spoken of as a scientific or musical genius. Well, to me, in hindsight, I think we can say that he was a historical genius--that is, someone who is able to detach themselves, intelluctually, from the time they live in and view the past unfiltered by the preconceptions and distortions of the early 21st century. The genius therefore lies in both perceiving the past in a way that is far closer to the truth than others are able to achieve and, subsequently, share that vision with others. As a result, he had an open mind (as he demonstated so ably in his comments about Custer on the A & E two biography of Custer) and was able to see the positive and negative aspects of individuals, movements, and events that shaped history.
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Post by John Mackintosh on Jun 19, 2005 12:22:31 GMT -6
Bob,
That was a very moving, personal tribute to Brian. Thank you for sharing those memories with that link.
John
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bhist
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Post by bhist on Jun 19, 2005 21:26:30 GMT -6
Bob, That was a very moving, personal tribute to Brian. Thank you for sharing those memories with that link. John You're welcome. It was not easy to write. It's the third such tribute I've had to write in 1 1/2 years for friends of mine. I hope Brian's is the last. I last saw him on June 25, 2004 at the end of Deep Ravine Trail. He was with Cricket, of course. He gave me the last copy of his new book that he had on him. He inscribed a very nice note -- one I will cherish as long as I live. I'll really miss him. |
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Post by Lawtonka on Jun 20, 2005 9:46:45 GMT -6
Well Said John. I was glad I had a chance to meet him, myself, although briefly, it was a pleasure. Man I was unaware of his battle with cancer until this announcement. I looked up the Obit in Washington Post, it was a nice tribute as well as Friends of the Little Bighorn.
Well, I am sure you are looking forward to the trip to the Black Hills. Have a great time and take lots of pictures!
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Post by John Mackintosh on Jun 20, 2005 16:17:23 GMT -6
Tim,
Thanks for your good wishes. I know your father is undergoing his own personal battle with cancer and you have my hopes and prayers with you.
John
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Post by Walt Cross on Jun 29, 2005 14:39:40 GMT -6
Add to the news of Brian's passing, the passing of Shelby Foote, an excellent historian known for his Civil War writings. Like Pohanka, he was a talking contributor to Ken Burns documentary "The Civil War".
Walt
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Post by Lawtonka on Jun 29, 2005 19:02:07 GMT -6
Yes Sir, that was another one for sure! They will be greatly missed and we can all be thankful for their great contributions........I am glad that there are some film makers out there that desire to produce real history and these guys were among the best available.
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