Harold Newton Dreibelbis Jr. was born on October 17, 1938. He entered the U.S. Military Academy in July 1956 directly from high school with a qualified alternate appointment from the state of California. As a cadet he was known as Hal or Newt. Hal had strong interpersonal skills and everybody liked him. His smile was infectious and a mirror to his great sense of humor and California- relaxed attitude, but he was rock steady behind the scenes. He was quiet, well respected, very smart, and if you needed help he was there for you. Several of his companymates would not have graduated had it not been for Hal’s late night lessons in the 14th Division sinks. He took life with grace and always a laugh, a smile and a wink, skills many of us did not have at that age. He was in control of all situations (except for the slide-for-life incident thus acquiring his third nickname— ‘Knees’). In some of his spare time he participated in the Debate Council and Forum, Spanish Club, Camera Club, Outdoor Sports Club, Pistol Club and Rifle Club. At other times he could be found in the rack logging in the hours. There was unanimous company agreement that Hal was hands-down the F-1 rack hour champ.
True to his California persona, Hal aspired to get a white Corvette when our class was authorized to order cars. Hal never did buy a Corvette, but he did buy a white convertible Triumph after arriving in Hawaii for his first tour of duty. At graduation Hal ranked 40 of 550 and branched Signal Corps.
From 1960 to 1963 Hal was stationed in Hawaii serving in the 125th Signal Battalion, 25th Infantry Division as a platoon leader, and from 1963 to 1965 he served in the 459th Signal Battalion at Fort Huachuca, AZ as a maintenance officer, platoon leader, company commander, battalion supply officer and battalion operations officer. While in Hawaii, Hal met, courted and married Janice (Hedin). They were married in Honolulu, HI in 1962 and were the love of each other’s life for 41 years before Jan passed away in 2003.
From 1965 to 1967 Hal had an academic break to get a Master of Science in industrial engineering and data processing at Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA. This was a field in which, for the first time, he felt intellectually challenged. He thrived on it. Hal could visualize that information technology was at the beginning of a tremendous expansion and he wanted to be part of it. It became his second love and gave him an area to focus his considerable energy and talent.
I’m certain that several books could be written about Hal’s “student life” at Stanford at this particular time in American history. He was a “Duty, Honor, Country” short-haired soldier in the center of the anti-Vietnam and hippie movements, the California Beach Boys lifestyle and the sexual revolution. Fortunately, Jan was there to keep him pointed in the right direction and, to our knowledge, out of jail.
Hal’s next duty assignment was from 1967 to 1968 with the 53rd Signal Battalion, Headquarters II Field Force, Republic of Vietnam where he earned a Bronze Star for exceptional service. From 1968 to 1971 Hal was Deputy Director, ADP Standards and Operations Directorate, U.S. Army Computer Systems Support and Evaluation Command, Fort Myer, VA.
It was his intense interest in computer applications that prompted him in 1971 to inter-service transfer to the U.S. Air Force. There he served from 1971 to 1976 as Chief, ADP Plans and Programs Branch, USAF Military Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, TX. Hal’s innovation and creativity were rewarded in 1976 when he was selected to attend the Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL as a student. After graduation he became the USAF Program Manager & Division Chief, Data Systems Development Division, Western Space and Missile Center, Vandenberg AFB, CA, serving until his retirement in 1980. At the retirement ceremony Hal was awarded the Legion of Merit for distinguishing himself by over 20 years of exceptionally meritorious service in a succession of positions of great importance and responsibility to the Army, Air Force and the Nation.
After retiring, Hal started H.D. Consultants, Carlsbad and Cathedral City, CA where he was the principal consultant and where he established an excellent reputation for results-oriented problem solving. Hal’s ability to stay up with the rapidly changing technology and anticipate customer needs allowed him to maintain an advantage in this very competitive field. In 1998 he was hired as the Director of Information Technology at Patton State Hospital Patton, CA where he worked until his passing in August 2009.
Hal’s all too early departure left three devoted children: Heather (Pete) Bonestell, Brent (Laura) Dreibelbis and Tracey (Trini) Chavoya; and nine grandchildren: Madisyn, Ryley and Creyton Bonestell; Brent Jr., Chad and Adam Dreibelbis; and Chelsea, Shelby and Cheyne Chavoya.
Hal will be missed by all those whose life he touched. His smile, his friendship and his love will long be remembered because it was real. It came from his California heart, warmed by the sunshine and watered by the Pacific Ocean breeze. When it happened to you, you never forgot it. The world is truly a better place because of the time Hal spent with us. Well Done ‘Knees;’ Be Thou at Peace.
— Michael Plummer, classmate