The Retan Rifles - Fork Union Military Academy

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The Hatcher Rifles, seen here in 1957, were formed in the mid-1950s and were the forerunners of the Retan Rifles. It is fair to say that the Retan Rifle units of the mid-1980s were legendary for their precision and skill. The unit is seen here in about 1982, marching in a community parade. The Retan Rifles have regularly appeared at the Dogwood Festival and Apple Blossom Parades, often taking home awards. The drill team was renamed the Retan Rifles in 1961, and can be seen here performing on the Academy’s parade grounds in that year. Led by Constantine Wilson in 1982, the Retan Rifles traveled to Massanutten for a competition against rival teams on the east coast and won every single trophy to be awarded that day. Wilson continues to be involved in drill teams as founder of the New Guard America, performing exhibitions, competing, and training drill teams. Check him out at newguardusa.com The Retan Rifles would travel to Orlando in 1984 to compete in Nationals, where they placed third in the nation. Through the years the Retan Rifles became known for putting on elaborate and deathdefying performances spinning and throwing heavy military rifles with sharp bayonets affixed, as in this photo from 2005. Even the Silent Drill Team of the U. S. Marine Corps showed the Retan Rifles a high level of respect, seen here stopping by their quarters to ask Cadet R. C. Schrom to teach them some of his tricks. 46 Call to Quarters www.forkunion.com 47
Remembering Retan “A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it remembers, the men it honors.” The 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment jumped into Holland on September 17, 1944 as part of the largest airborne invasion ever made to that time. by Dan Thompson John F. Kennedy He stood erect and strong, his posture and sure step belying his age of almost eighty-nine years. “Can we stop here a moment” he’d asked. “I’d like to see that up close.” He remained for a long quiet minute or two, just reading the words of the plaque, taking it all in. IN HONORED MEMORY OF LT. GEORGE OWEN RETAN GRADUATED FORK UNION MILITARY ACADEMY JUNE 2, 1941 KILLED IN ACTION HOLLAND SEPTEMBER 17, 1944 Colonel Ed Shames walked slowly back to the golf cart and sat down heavily. Not a word was spoken as we rolled away to our next stop. For the first time during his visit on May 20, 2011, the open and engaging Colonel Shames seemed at a loss for words. “That really makes you think, “ Shames said finally. “Why him Why not me Why did I make it through and not George” It’s a Boy On February 1, 1923, a son was born to Dr. George Matthew Retan and his wife Emilie. After fathering two daughters, Geraldine and Lucille, there’s no doubt that Dr. Retan was proud to have a son, but he was not to be named George Matthew Retan, Jr. It seems that Dr. Retan, an avid outdoorsman but very poor swimmer, had been on a fishing trip in the Adirondacks when he somehow managed to fall out of his canoe and found himself in deep trouble. His friend and fishing companion, a man named Owen, saved Dr. Retan’s life that day. And so it was decided that Dr. Retan’s son would carry the name George Owen Retan. Dr. Retan served as a professor of pediatrics at Syracuse University, and he maintained a private practice out of the family’s home on James Street in Syracuse, New York. Dr. Retan was something of a pioneer and researcher in medicine and his name remains a footnote in today’s medical journals. He owned one of the first x-ray 48 Call to Quarters www.forkunion.com 49
Page 1: Happy 50th Anniversary to The Retan
Page 5 and 6: D-Day: The Normandy Invasion As the
Page 7: FUMA Remembers George Retan was not

The Retan Rifles - Fork Union Military Academy

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