Friday, October 11, 2013
My long correspondence with Lottie Bruenn began in December 1970, after a chance meeting on a flight from Salt Lake City to JFK between her and her daughter Michele, and three young men on their way to the US Military Academy at West Point. It lasted for nearly forty years.
Beginning with a Christmas card, sent to an eighteen year old West Point cadet, we exchanged occasional letters as I completed four years at the US Military Academy, began my military career, attended graduate school at Stanford, returned to teach at West Point, deployed to Saudi Arabia from Germany for Desert Storm, taught at the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, and ultimately retired from the US Army after twenty years, three children, and twelve grandchildren on my part.
In all that time, we only met face to face again twice when she was kind enough to let me drop in, once with wife #2 and her children and, later, with wife #3 along with her daughter and one of mine. I remember both visits fondly.
Our correspondence survived all those years and lasted longer than two of my three marriages. As a friendship, it was one of my most enduring.
In her letters, Lottie shared her thoughts on world affairs and on life in general. She often mentioned her daughter, Michele. She was a good listener and I often used her for a sounding board as I dealt with life's fortunes and misfortunes.
Some time ago, my last letter to her Park Avenue apartment was returned marked "Addressee Unknown." I attempted to contact her through her family's business in New Jersey with no response.
I regret not trying harder to regain contact. It is with great sadness I realize now there will not be another letter from her. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.
Alan T. Carver
US Army (Retired)
1604 Sophie Drive
Smithville, Missouri 64089
