On 6 Jun 1993 my silent, strong warrior passed from this life into peace.
Jerome Rodney Hackett became ill six months after his Viet Nam tour in 1972. By June of that year, while stationed at Ft. Monmouth, doctors found an abnormality behind his ear and we were sent immediately to Walter Reed for his treatment. With the diagnosis of Hodgkin’s disease, we began to prepare for the changes in our life together. We moved our household to the Washington area and began daily trips to Walter Reed for outpatient radiation therapy. Jerome started working on his master’s degree at George Washington University while undergoing treatment.
In January 1975, we received orders to go to West Point. "Jerry" would be assigned to ES&GS. Our daughter, Bryna De Anne, came to us while there. We had such high hopes for the three of us. However, the cancer reared its ugly head again. Further treatment started at West Point, this time with chemotherapy. During that episode of treatment, it was decided that Jerome would medically retire. With heavy hearts, we left West Point in May 1977 and settled in New Jersey, where Jerome worked for Bell Laboratories for 16 years. Treatments for the cancer finally were completed and he was declared "cured." The cure, however, destroyed his kidneys. Around 1984, "JR" started on peritoneal dialysis that continued until his death. Jerome was a beacon of light to the support group that we attended. He continued to travel during dialysis, calling ahead to have the solution and supplies sent to the hotels. He never let the illness get him down or interfere with his joy of living.
During his life with me, I saw a man of strength smile through a great deal of pain and suffering. I saw him mentor others and give guidance to all that asked. I always will remember the jokes that were never finished because he would start laughing long before the punch line; the constant posing for pictures and trying to get the lighting just right; and his trips to the commissary with a cookie jar filled with coupons. Last, but most important of all, I will always remember his constant love for Bryna and me.
I love you always, Peggy.
His classmates share their memories. Andy remembers the teamwork they developed as roommates Plebe year. Tom Piazzi remembers Jerry as a "hell of a boxer" who knocked him on his butt on his way to winning the Brigade Championship. Murf remembers marching next to Jerry during the Armed Forces Day parade hearing bystanders yelling, "They’re all white!" Cool as could be, Jerry just kept marching.
Other memories: Jerry back from Jump School and his AOT tour with the 101st Airborne Division, with those jump wings that he was so proud of on his chest. Memories of him studying organic chemistry Cow year, with his constant wad of gum going smack, smack, smack. Memories of his 8mm movie camera, documenting his classmates and our life in the barracks; memories of the time in spring of Cow year when he fell asleep on the roof of riverside New South barracks and got so sunburned he could hardly walk.
Memories of the night on the firstie trip after the formal at Ft. Belvoir where Jerry first met Peggy on a blind date and came back all aglow, saying, "I think this may be the one;" memories of his little white TR-4 zipping all around the East Coast; memories of Max, the dog, that he and Peggy had in Fayetteville. Memories of the kitten Eurydice to whom they gave a loving home; memories of chopper blasts at St. Mere Iglese drop zone when his 50th Signal Battalion. They always could get parachutes and our 1/17th Cav Squadron [we had the aircraft] would jump ourselves sore all afternoon.
More fond memories: Jerry describing his arrival in Viet Nam as a highly-trained Signal Officer made an Infantry battalion adviser when all the assignments people could see was "West Point Airborne Ranger." Jerry earned the Silver Star and CIB to go with his pretty crossed signal flags.
Recollection of Jerry describing his medical retirement because of the cancer he had brought back from Agent Orange land, and how he had fought to get DA to allow him to enroll at George Washington University while he was stuck in DC because of treatment at Walter Reed. Memories of how ecstatic he was to be declared in remission so he could be brought back to active duty, with the stipulation that he could never be deployed, so that he would be permanently assigned to West Point.
Memories of his disappointment upon learning that "it’s back," and his joking about being the first grad in history to be medically retired, not once, but twice, by the age of 30. Memories of his pride in working as a civilian in New Jersey, where he said he was employed by three different companies (AT&T, Bell Labs, and Western Electric) in a single four-month period, without ever changing his desk.
Memories of his pride as a father, keeping his cool even when Bryna was putting him and Peggy through her "terrible twos." Memories of his describing playing the role of the "Old Grad" on weekends, rising to his feet in the reviewing stands to command, "You man! Down in front."
Memories of him hooking himself up to the IV dialysis rig, declaring "Out with the bad juice, in with the good," while still smacking his wad of chewing gum. Memories of the people who stood at his funeral to demonstrate that his memory lives on forever in all of us that he touched. So long buddy, "All The Way!"
Peggy W. Hackett and classmates