Brion Victor “Bri” Chabot was born in 1938, at Fort Sam Houston, TX. The oldest of Colonel Joseph Ludger Chabot ’37 and Bonnie V. Chabot’s six children, Bri was exposed at an early age to the concepts of duty, honor, and country. In July 1941, he was evacuated from the Philippines, along with his mother and younger sister, on the Republic, the last U.S. Army Transport ship out for the 2,500 dependents in the Philippines. He would be without his father for four years while his dad fought to defend the Philippines, then survived the Bataan Death March and subsequent brutal Japanese captivity. As the eldest child in a large family, and with his father’s military duties, Bri took on many responsibilities at an early age and was a role model in his family, as evidenced in the fact that both his younger brothers and a nephew choose to follow his footsteps to West Point and careers in military service.
Bri attended school at various military posts in the United States and Germany. He persisted in earning his Eagle Scout Badge and was active on the track team at Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA, from which he graduated. Obtaining a congressional appointment, Bri entered the Academy in the summer of 1956. His cadet years, and life from that point on, can be summed up in one of his classmate’s testimonials: “Brion Chabot was one of the finest persons I have ever met. He was my roommate in Beast Barracks and from that point he never ceased to rise up above every problem and situation. I watched as he continued to succeed in every area for the rest of his wonderful life.”
Upon graduation in June 1960, Bri was commissioned in the Field Artillery. After his basic course and Airborne School, his initial artillery troop assignment was in Germany. There he met and married the love of his life, Margo. Together for 53 years, they raised one daughter, Belinda. Bri was selected for, and privileged to serve as, the junior aide for General Charles H. Bonesteel III, the Commander of VII Corps, prior to returning to the States.
After attending his advanced course at Fort Sill in 1966, Bri shipped out for his first tour in Vietnam, where he served as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Military Academy. Upon his return Stateside, he performed duties as an instructor at the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, OK, before shipping out again to Vietnam in 1969. Initially he served in the G-5 Division, HQ U.S. Army Vietnam, prior to assuming duties as battalion executive officer of the 11th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division. During this period, he assumed command of the battalion for 22 days during sustained combat operations against the North Vietnamese near the city of Hue, in the I Corps region of South Vietnam.
Stateside again in 1970, Bri attended the University of Texas, Austin, where he earned an MA degree in government. While pursuing this degree, he was selected as a graduate assistant for Walt W. Rostow, a former National Security Advisor for two U.S. presidents. Later, Bri would also complete an MS degree in operations research systems analysis from George Washington University. After relocating to the Washington, DC area, Bri served as a personnel program manager at the Army MILPERCEN from 1973 to 1976.
Bri then returned to Germany, serving on the staff in the G-3, HQ Central Army Group, NATO, before becoming the 1st Armored Division Artillery operations officer and then executive officer. In this assignment, he was privileged to serve directly under Colonel (later General) John M. Shalikashivili, later to become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Upon returning to the States, Bri commanded a battalion in the FA School Brigade at Fort Sill. He then spent three years as the Professor of Military Science at Augusta College in Georgia, where, under his leadership, the ROTC program was revived from near dead last among 112 schools to the top third.
Bri’s third posting in Germany followed, where he served as deputy G-3 and director of Joint Air Land Operations at HQ, CENTAG in Heidelberg, working directly for the former Army Chief of Staff, then Brigadier General Gordon Sullivan. Bri’s final posting prior to his retirement from active duty in 1989 was as president of the Physical Evaluation Board at Fort Gordon, GA.
Upon retirement, Bri was a political science professor at Augusta College. Later he held various positions as a civilian defense contractor working on high visibility fire support, missile, and command and control programs at Redstone Arsenal, AL.
While still on active duty, Bri had become active in the Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW) and their work in support of veterans. He held a number of leadership positions in the MOWW organization, including the commander in chief. Bri was adept at, and keen on, the importance of building patriotic values in our country’s youth (as well as, soldiers and cadets under him). He was instrumental in establishing the Youth Leadership Conference in Huntsville, AL in partnership with the Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.
Throughout his life, in everything he did, Brion embodied the USMA motto of “Duty, Honor, Country,” earning numerous awards and honors and his place in the Long Gray Line. His loving spirit endures with all those he left behind and touched in his life. Well done Bri, we salute you, rest in peace.
— His family