John and Phyllis Yeisley welcomed their son  John Clarke Yeisley into the world in Niagara Falls, NY on January 16, 1946. He would be known as “Yeis” to his many friends growing up in Framingham, MA with his sisters: Betty, Cheryl, and Carol; and his brother, Bobby. From a young age he had a deep desire to attend West Point. How prophetic that he attended high school at Thayer Academy, where his senior yearbook quote was, “I’ll speak in a monstrous little voice.” Instead he would speak with the voice of a giant throughout his future military career.
He attended Northeastern University for two years before getting a congressional appointment from the Honorable Philip J. Philbin to begin cadet life. He had traded his high school love for soccer and basketball (and a dislike of homework) for the many academic and military rigors of West Point. There his loves became lacrosse, soccer, and the Century Club (and a dislike of studying), but he must have liked exercise too since he spent so many hours walking the Area or often resting in his room on weekends. Yeis was always willing to help others, from Beast Barracks until graduation. He excelled academically, especially in Juice (i.e., Electrical Engineering) during his years as a B-3 Bandit. He had one of the best spit shines in the company and was also known as a regular listener to the Corps’ radio station, KDET, and to amuse us on occasion with his impersonations of Bill Cosby. When he could, he visited Snuffy’s and would usually be found in the corner booth under the mural of the moose with The Boys. Merk, North, Hugh and Tun were usually by his side.
Air Defense Artillery became his chosen branch, and he had assignments with A Battery, 3/65th ADA (Hercules) in Painesville, OH, in Vietnam with D Battery, 4/60th ADA (Duster), and with company command and staff positions with the 1st AD Training Brigade at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX. He then attended Georgia Tech to get an electrical engineering master’s degree before a subsequent tour of duty back at the Academy as an EE instructor. With this background he then performed R&D work with the Operational Test and Evaluation Agency in Falls Church, VA, was G3 of the 32nd AADCOM, deputy commander of the 69th ADA Brigade, and commander of the 3/56th ADA Battalion, all in Germany. He was then chief of staff, 32nd AADCOM, while also president of the ADA Board at Fort Bliss. His distinguished military career brought accolades that included Vietnam service medals, Army Commendation medals, the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service medals, and the Legion of Merit.
Following retirement as a full colonel in 1995, Yeis worked for three Department of Defense contractors in Germany: Cubic, Technical Services International (TSI) as a military analyst in the lessons learned office and General Dynamics’ Government Systems Overseas Corporation in a training support capacity, both with U.S. Army Europe and L3 Communications, managing their global help desk.
John and Deborah Watcke of Connecticut were married right after graduation. Another classmate, Al Leister, who was dating and later married Debbie’s sister, Sandy, introduced them during cow year. It was love at first sight and they had three children: Michael, Kimberly, and David. But, as is too common with military life, John and Debbie divorced in 1981. He then met Mary Vasquez at Fort Bliss and they married in 1981. She was his soulmate and would be his true love in life, even after she passed away in 1998. While working in Germany after retirement John met and married Cathy Falkenstein. They returned to El Paso together after he left L3, but in 2011 they also divorced.
Yeis truly loved his cars. They were always immaculate and in prime racing condition. From the ’69 Pontiac GTO he purchased before graduation that he kept for 20 years to the ’03 50th Anniversary Edition Corvette that he still had when he passed away. He was also a football fanatic, watching any game he could, usually at his favorite bar in El Paso, Wing Daddy’s, where he became a beloved regular.
Yeis had become an avid and eventually a scratch golfer over the years, after he was introduced to the game by another grad, Scott Church. He loved it for its ethical values and sportsmanship toward others as much as for the fun he had playing. He had become an animal lover as well and even tried to bring his pet dog, Papa San, back from Vietnam. Between golf and caring for his beloved dog, Annie, which passed away just months before he would, Yeis enjoyed the El Paso sunshine until his sudden death. Oh yes and he enjoyed a Bud Light or a Hennessey on special occasion too.
He was a complicated man. Quiet, serious, fun loving, humble, caring of others, and devoted to the military profession. He feared becoming irrelevant in life and loved to teach, mentor, train and lead others to better themselves and to guide them in fulfilling their highest potential. He was a good friend to those who knew him. John and Phyllis would have been proud of their son. His family certainly was—and is. We all are, and we will all miss him.
His approach to life: “Honor–Integrity–Courage–Respect–Duty–Loyalty–Service.”