I am one of many former Belknap College students who honorably served in the Armed Forces of the United States. After graduating from Belknap in the spring of 1970, I enlisted in the Air Force. I attained the rank of sergeant before separating in 1974.     During the dedication of the bench last October, […]

I served in the Air Force from 1968-1972. I was stationed at Westover Air Force Base, MA and RAF Lakenheath, UK as a Medical Service Specialist, Medic, and was discharged as an E-5, Staff Sergeant. I worked in the Air Force Clinic and ER’s at both Westover and Lakenheath.     Gene McCaffery

In regards to the email you sent to Biddy Irwin I would like to say that I am a graduate of Belknap College ‘Class of 1968’, a successful businessman, and I proudly served our country in the US Army (Pleiku, Vietnam) from 1968 to 1970. I also know that my good friend Rusty Newberry (who […]

I attended Belknap College during the scholastic years September 1964 through May 1966. I attended the Southeast Asian War Games in the Republic of South Viet Nam during the period of October 1968 through the middle of February 1969 when I was brought home on emergency leave due to illness in my family. That’s only […]

You may or not be familiar with me, joined into the website back in Sep.; Mel Borrin had assured me I was welcomed to join even though I had not attended as I arrived (have not previously being informed by Professor McNamara) after the college closed. I arrived April 1974 – though I’d been in communication […]

I did 6 years in the Army Nat’l Guard trained in chemical, biological and radiation warfare and was ready to serve if called Also, John Brian Coffey, my roommate for 3 years and best man at my wedding was a Vietnam veteran. He has since died from lung cancer. Live, free or die!!! Brendan Florio […]

Dear Biddy/Richard,     Along with Gene, Jay and Dave I spent four years of my life, voluntarily, not drafted, in the US military. In my case the Air Force from Nov ’66 to Nov ’70.     Anyone who cries about Belknap being a place for draft dodgers has no clue as to the […]

Hi Jim, it is hard to believe that anyone would offer such threats. For information, I attended Belknap during the school years of 65-67. After leaving Belknap I enlisted in the Naval Reserve and served two years of active duty during 68-70, mostly aboard the USS Charleston, LKA 113 where I drove various types of […]

I am a former Belknap student. I am also the daughter of a WWll veteran who was shot down, captured, escaped from the Nazis and then worked with the French Resistance and was there when they liberated Paris. He was awarded the highest honors possible from the Bristish and French governments. My uncle also served […]

I was shocked to learn of the deplorable behavior of the individual from Tuftonborough, NH claiming to know so much about Belknap College when in fact he knows little if anything about the college. Belknap College gave me and many others a great undergraduate education. I graduated from Belknap College in 1969 with a Bachelor […]

December 29, 2010 To Whom It May Concern: I am a 1968 graduate of Belknap College after having served four years in the Untied States Navy. With the help of the GI Bill, I was able to attend Industrial Management Institute in Reading, Pennsylvania. Upon graduating from IMI, Belknap College allowed me to transfer all […]

12/29/10 Gentlemen: As a Belknap alumnus and former member of the 368th Engineers Battalion (US Army Reserves) in Laconia, I can assure you there is no validity whatsoever to the charge that Belknap College was established as a draft dodge. Drs. Frye and Brigham had worked hard for years to found a college, beginning with […]

Dear Mr. Drenkhahn, When I first read the mail from Jim I too was upset. I blew off the destructive steam to my former roommate at Belknap, Mr. Lou McCloskey, and another long time friend Ralph Spayd, both veterans, from whom you have already received a response. Once I settled down, I gave this some […]

Hi Jim, Just for the record, Richard Dixon, John Burkes, Ed Holmes, John Stansfield all did 4 year stints in the Air Force following graduation. Sherry Dixon

12/29/2010-Rosemary Spicuzza I attended Belknap College from 1968-1972. Since I am a woman, he cannot accuse me of going to Belknap to dodge the draft. However, I do have something to say to this man. All eight of my uncles served in the military during WWII and the Korean War. One fought in the Normandy […]

I served in the U.S. Army reserve for six years, and have an honorable discharge. There were many from the class of ’68 that served in the military. Drew Cochrane

I served in the Army between November 1965 and August 1968. I attended Belknap College between September 1968 and June 1972 when I graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Meteorology. During my Freshman Year, I was awarded the Charles Ahonen Full Tuition Scholarship which remained with me until I graduated. Based on my […]

Stanley Czapka I graduated from Belknap in spring of 1972 and joined the New Jersey National Gard and served till 1978.

Jim: Thanks for the note. The job you did to rally us “troops” has been awesome. I’m VERY impressed by the terrific responses from all our alumni veterans, yet I’d bet there are many, many more alumni who haven’t read anything about this issue or couldn’t be bothered to honor the redneck with a response. […]

I served in the Army twice. The first time from Jan 1966 to Dec 1968. After graduating I joined the Army Reserve and then in Jul 1975 I rejoined the Army and served until 1983 getting out as a Sergeant First Class (E7). Also while I was at Belknap two of my roommates had also […]

Thanks for the “heads-up”. I am a Vietnam Vet and served two years (1967 – 1968during the “conflict”. I will not tell you what I think of this person from Tuftonboro, but he obviously has nothing to do but bitch and moan. Does that mean any plaques put up by any colleges or universities in […]

Richard Drenkhahn, Chair Board of Selectman Town of Center Harbor Center Harbor, NH 03226 Dear Mr. Drenkhahn: This is in response to your electronic mail to Biddy (Virginia) O’Brien regarding the new sign and bench for Belknap College. I am a graduate of Belknap and am puzzled by the comments made regarding the students at […]

Dear Mr. Drenkhahn: My name is Charlie Roberts I am orginally from Meredith and graduated from Inter Lakes High School. I entered the the US Navy having been drafted in 1962. I was on a destroyer Uss DD936 Decatur and served in the Cuban Missle crisis and the Lebanon crisis and served additional time over […]

Dear Mr. Drenkhahn, Please permit me to weigh in on the question of whether or not it is appropriate for Center Harbor to commemorate Belknap College. Perhaps the most accurate statement that can be made about Belknap College is, in fact, that the college was not very different from others of the time. I would […]

I was in the USAF Reserves when I started at Belknapcollege in 1964. I completed my obligation June 23 , 1969 at Westover, MA Russ Medbery

01-06-11 I served as the Associate Dean of Students at Belknap from 1969 to 1972, and would like to respond to the issue raised by the gentleman from Tuftonborough, re: that Belknap College was a haven for “draft dodgers”.  First, however, I would like to thank him for serving and tell him that I respect […]

During the period of the Viet Nam War, whether you went to Harvard, Yale, Boston College or Belknap College, you were allowed a deferment as long as you were a full time student. Once you Graduated or dropped out you either had to enlist in the Military or receive a Draft Notice. Some un-patriotic individual’s […]

12/29/10 – After I graduated from Belknap in 1968, I received my “Greetings” and instead of waiting to be inducted into the Army, I enlisted into the Air Force. I went to Basic at Lackland AFB, TX and then to Sheppard AFB, TX for Tech School. I graduated with honors as a Medical Service Specialist, […]

12/28/2010 – I attended Belknap College during the scholastic years September 1964 through May 1966. I attended the Southeast Asian War Games in the Republic of South Viet Nam during the period of October 1968 through the middle of February 1969 when I was brought home on emergency leave due to illness in my family. […]