The young men of what was to become the “Pride of the Corps, ’74” gathered at West Point, NY from all points on the globe on July 1, 1970 to submit to the firm guidance of the upperclassmen of the classes of 1971 and 1972. Little did we know on that day that, among us, one Daniel Dwight Duesler would go on to demonstrate, by his example, the true meaning of dedication, leadership, loyalty, and friendship throughout our four years at the Academy and beyond. 

We called him Dan, although a few nicknamed him “Doozy,” which always brought a smile to Dan’s face. He was born in Utah on April 10, 1952 but called Harbor City, CA (from where he was appointed to the Academy) his home.

Dan, the California dreamer, earned a reputation during cow and firstie year as the invisible man, being in PMI almost the whole time. “Wet” was one of the few who knew he wanted to be airborne, Ranger, Special Forces from the start.

Classmates remember Dan as an enthusiastic soccer player. With a gentle and humble spirit, he always cheerfully played his heart out. He was a faithful regular in the Glee Club and choir, where he consistently sang with a smile and good humor. 

Classmate Duncan Turner reported that he and Dan sang side-by-side in the Glee Club for three years (both concerts and Thursday rehearsals) and roomed together on Glee Club trips. Duncan never saw Dan without a smile on his face and never heard an unkind or unpleasant word leave his lips. In 1972 or 73, the spring break Glee Club trip was to California, where Dan had grown up and where his parents then lived, out in the California desert. Dan’s parents came to see the concert and then loaned their car to the two cadets. Duncan remembers driving the car through the desert at night listening to Roberta Flack singing “Killing Me Softly” on the radio while Dan snoozed in the passenger seat. Duncan also reported that their last concert on the trip was in Pleasanton, CA. In recognition of the Glee Club’s visit, the local folks gave each Glee Club member a bottle of wine and a huge wheel of Monterey Jack cheese. Naturally, the cadets thought that the wine was a great idea! However, on the return airplane ride to our Rockbound Highland Home, the officers in charge of the club wisely confiscated every bottle. There must have been a huge party in the officer housing area the next weekend.

Dan branched Infantry and, upon graduation, went to Fort Benning, GA for the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School. Luckily, several classmates were in the same Ranger class, Mark Joiner among them. The day after a night jump, Mark relayed that he saw a tired but cheerful Dan sporting an ugly gash of dried blood on his neck. Dan’s parachute had malfunctioned and, as a result, the static line had dragged him behind the aircraft for a few seconds. Dan had obviously survived the parachute malfunction and had set the example for others by reacting with courage and tenacity, thus completing the jump and Ranger School.

In 1975 the 1-16th Infantry (“Iron Rangers”) welcomed Dan and classmates Mark Joiner and John Sladky to West Germany at Panzer Kaserne in Böblingen. Mark relayed that Dan was known for being serious about his career but easygoing when not at Grafenwoehr, Hohenfels or on exercise REFORGER. Naturally the three classmates enjoyed off-duty time together at the officers’ club, local gasthauses, and the occasional German Fest. Mark remembers an excursion to a casino in Baden-Baden. Dan drove his “Z car” at normal (very fast) Autobahn speeds. It’s too bad that the casino didn’t allow full dress grey uniform for entry. We can all picture our classmates in proper tuxedo attire, just like James Bond, entering the place—“shaken, not stirred.” Mark didn’t report how much money was won or lost on the occasion but, from that point on, John Sladky always referred to his classmate as “Dapper Dan” Duesler. John and Dan played an important role in introducing to Mark his future wife. It was a happy occasion some years later when the Joiners, now married, were able to reunite with Dan near Fort Ord, CA to relive old times. Dan was still the same happy warrior, upbeat about his career and enjoying Army life.

Dan excelled in other assignments with the 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Germany, as an aide-de-camp at the Army War College, and at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, CA.

The Army lost a fine officer and individual when Dan resigned in 1988 to become a technical trainer at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, CA. “The Pride of the Corps, ’74” lost a wonderful, kind, and dedicated classmate on September 14, 1993 when Dan passed. We remember him as a friend, classmate, and patriot who served his country with honor and distinction.

— Dana Bondy, with the assistance of several classmates