1958 WP Class G2 Memorial Wall of Honor
Leland Gilbert Fay
Class of June, 1958
(USE THIS .HTML VERSION WHICH SUPERSEDED AN .HTM VERSION).
Leland Gilbert Fay
Research done by Claradell Shedd, webmaster
Lee has more admirable characteristics than can be accurately brought forth here. As a cadet, he has been outstanding and as a future officer, he promises to be the best. He is well liked by everyone, never hesitates to help "a classmate in distresws," and radiates his happiness to all about him. Wherever Lee goes, the welcome mat will always greet him
Leland Gilbert Fay
Year x Rank x Status
June, 1958 x Graduated x Company G2
June 4, 1958 x Branch/2nd Lt x US Air Force
1958 x Family x Married Marion A. Shaw at Tenafly, NJ.
1959 x Family x Daughter Jennifer Lee born.
1960 x Family x Daughter Stephanie Jean born
1962 x Family x Son Mark Gilbert born.
date x US Air Force
x 4751st Air Defense Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL. Acquired MSEE degree.
1963-1967 x US Air Force x Electronics Development Engineer, 6555th Aerospace Test Wing, Cape Canaveral, FL.
1969 x US Air Force x Assistant Air Attache, Foreign Technical Intelligence Officer, US Embassy, Paris, France.
1972
x US Air Force x Space and Missile Systems Organization, Los Angeles, CA.
1977 x US Air Force x Program Element Monitor for the E4B National Emergency Airborne Command Post, Headquaters, USAF.
1979-1982 x US Air Force x Director of Electronic Systems for Headquartes Air Force Systems Command, Andrews AFB.
1982-1986 x US Air Force x Deputy Director/PM for Joint Cruise Missile Program
1986-1988 x US Air Force x Director of Strategic and Mobility Systems, HQ Air Force Systems Command, serving as Acquisition Manager
January 31, 1988 x US Air Force x Retired from active duty as Colonel.
Present X Family X Living in Alexandria, VA.
text
text text
text  

text

text
.
Will replace below photos with appropriate Herren material. August 13, 1961 At Checkpoint Charlie
Fred Easley in tank at Checkpoint Charlie Checkpoint Charlie
Fred Easley in lead tank w/crosshairs on Soviets
Checkpoint Charlie
Fred Easley had a front row seat when the border was closed on August 13, 1961. His tank platoon stood face to face with ten T-55 tanks, shown here at Checkpoint Charlie. Most of us in Germany had orders home cancelled. Field exercises were accelerated. It was a tense moment for all.
Update from 1968 10th Reunion Directory
Lee Fay's Family; photo appearing in 1968 10th West Point Yearbook
Marion, Jennifer, Mark, Stephanie, Lee Fay

Operations and Maintenance Officer -- 4751st Air Defense Squadron (Bomarc); Masters: Electrical Engineering--AFIT; Asst Test Conductor -- ATLAS Military Launch crew; Project Officer -- Guidance and Flight Controls -- Gemini Launch Team; Project Officer -- Guidance and Controls -- Titan II C space launch vehicle (6555th Aerospace Test Wing, Cape Kennedy, FL.

Update from 1988 30th Reunion Directory
Get photo from family.

Time for reflection--a career of 30 years in the Air Force and a marriage of 30 years, three children later and two granddaughters, many assignments and travels to other countries and within the U.S. To us, it has been a challenging, exciting, interesting, and worthwhile 30 years!

Lee is presently stationed at Andrews Air Force Base as Director of Strategic and Mobility Systems witg the Air Force Systems Command. He is working the B-1 Bomber, Peacekeeper (MX) Missile, and the C-17 Cargo Aircraft in addition to others which keep him very busy. He will transition to a job in civilian life July 1, 1988, after 30 years of test and acquisition of Air Force weapons systems which included the Bomarc, Atlas, Titan, and Gemini missile/space launch crews and program management of the E-4B airborne command post, the Navy's Tomahawk, and the Air Force Ground Launched Cruise Missile programs.

Marion works in Administration as a Program Analyst for two educational organizations in the Northern Virginia area. She keep busy with her career, granddaughters, and volunteer work.

Our big news is the latest addition to our family. Our daughter Jennifer and her husband Mark Woods had a beautiful baby girl, Denise Lynn, on August 13, 1988, and our youngest daughter Stephanie and her husband Jeffrey Smith also had a beautiful baby girl, Sarah Ruth, January 13, 1988. They both live approximately one hour's drive from us, so we do see them quite often. Now we qualify as grandparents. It's keeping us young@ Our son, Mark is still single. After serving in the Marine Corps, he now lives and works in the Washington, DC area.

We had the opportunity to see much of Europe from 1969 to 1972 while Lee was stationed with the American Embassy in Paris, France, which was a highlight. Other travels have been to places such as the Mediterranean, Hawaii, Windjammer Barefoot Cruises in the Bahamas and the West Indies, and the Mayan ruins in the Yucatan. We're still going strong!

Update from 2008 50th Reunion Directory
Get photo from family.

Fifty years later -- 30 year Air Force career, 50 year marriage, three children, seven grandchildren -- many assignments and travels. It has been a challenging, exciting, interesting adventure.

After an initial assignment with the 4751st Air Defense Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL and an MSEE degree, I was assigned as Electronics Development Engineer with the 6555th Aerospace Test Wing, Cape Canaveral, FL (1963-1967). There I was on the Atlas, the Gemini/Titan II and Titan IIIc Space/Missile launch teams. Our units were awarded two NASA Group Achievvement Awards for eleven successful Gemini manned space launches, the first US space walk, first orbital rendezvous and docking, and three Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards to over 22 test flights and contributions to early ballistic missile development and the national space program.

In 1969, I was assigned as Assistant Air Attache, Foreign Technical Intelligence Officer and supported the Paris Peace Talks at the US Embassy, Paris, France. Assigned in 1972 to the Space and Missile Systems Organization, Los Angeles, AFS, California and the Advaned Ballistic Reentry Systems Program Office. In 1977, Program Element Monitor for the E4B National Emergency Airborne Command Post at Headquarters USAF, and in 1979 as Director of Electronic Systems for Headquartes Air Force Systems Command, Andrews AFB. From 1982 to 1986, I was Deputy Director/PM for the Joint Cruise Missile Program responsible for the development, test, and production of the Tomahawk Cruise Missile for the initial operational capability of the USAF's Ground Launched Cruise Missile and the Navy's Ship Launched Cruise Missiles. In 1986, I was assigned as Director of Strategic and Mobility Systems, HQ Air Force Systems Command where I served as Acquisition Manager for the developmennt, test, and production deliveries that achieved the initial operational capability of the Peacekeeper Missile and the B-1 Bomber (1986-1988).

Retiring as Colonel in 1988, I worked as Senior System Engineer and Program Integration Manager with GE and Lockheed Martin Corporations supporting the Strategic Defense Initiative and the Ballistic Missile Defence Organization.


I owe West Point a great debt for the five lifelong foundations -- an education, a profession, a dedication to God and country, my wife, Marion, and lifelong friends. It's been a great 50 years as part of the Air Force family and the aerospace industry team as it met the challenges of the space age. Marion and I are both retired now and reside in Alexandria, VA and are enjoying retirement life with our children and grandchildren, traveling, and volunteerinf for church and mission workl Our hobbies are sailing and boating on the Chespeake Bay and BVI, walking, biking, running, reading, and sharing our summer home on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

text
text
Use these photos as placeholder for site. San Antonio 2004 and San Francisco 2005 Mini Reunions
San Antonio Mini: October 22, 2004
Fred and Pam Grattan
San Francisco Mini: October 19, 2005
Fred and Pam Grattan
Memorial Tribute to be contributed by family.
Leland Gilbert Fay
"Living Memorial" obituary forthcoming from Lee and/or family.
https://www.west-point.org/class/usma1958/special/50th%20Overview.pdf
Lee Fay's Family; photo appearing in 2008 50th West Point Yearbook
Mark Fay, Jeff Smith, Sam Smith, Naomi Smith, Sara Smith, Shayna Rebecca Smith, Stephanie (Fay) Smith, Lee Fay, Marion Fay, Denise Woods, Danielle Woods, Bob Clark, Jennifer (Fay) Clark, Mitch Clark. Front row: Miriam Smith. Not shown: Audrey Clark
Replace with appropriate Herren material
M-48A2 Patton Tank

Nearly 12,000 M48s were built from 1952 to 1959. The early designs, up to the M48A2C's, were powered by a gasoline 12-cylinder engine which was coupled with an auxiliary 8-cylinder engine (called the "Little Joe"). The gasoline engine gave the tank a short operating range and were prone to catching fire when hit. This version was considered unreliable but numerous examples saw combat use in various Arab-Israeli conflicts. They also were prone to fire when the turret was penetrated and the hydraulic lines ruptured spewing hydraulic fluid (nicknamed "cherry juice" because of its red color) at high pressure into the crew compartment resulting in a fireball. The flashpoint was too low, less than 300 F, causing many burns and deaths to crew members. Beginning in 1959, most American M48s were upgraded to the M48A3 model which featured a diesel power plant. M48s with gasoline engines, however, were still in use in the US Army through 1968 and through 1975 by many West German Army units including the 124th Panzer Battalion.

M-48A2 Tank

John Herren, George Lawton, Lee Fay  
John's 90th Birthday
John Herren, George Lawton, Lee Fay
  John's 91st Birthday
text
badge/patch
Fort Bragg, Fort Benning okay for Herren. Replace Fort Riley; bar code for this specific Easley website page
Fort Benning, GAFort Riley, KSBar Code for this website page can be downloaded to IPhone and/or tablet
Leland Gilbert Fay
Colonel
82nd Airborne Division
United States Air Force


US Air Force

Air Force Systems Command

I was TAC at WP


Special Forces


National War College


82nd Airborne Division

Department of Defense Staff
Command Pilot's Wings

Colonel Rank

Francis Milton Wright
Get Lee's photo in uniform.


Parachutist
Georgetown University


82nd Airborne Division


503rd Airborne



I was a TAC officer.


The Boeing Company



Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal w/1st OLC and V (valor) device, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal National Defense Service
(Get correct list of medals from George.) Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal w/1st OLC,
and V (valor) device, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal,
National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal
From 1958 Howitzer
Leland Gilbert Fay
"Lee" G-2
Brentwood, MD Qualified Alternate
Lee has more admirable characteristics than can be accurately brought forth here. As a cadet, he has been outstanding and as a future officer, he promises to be the best. He is well liked by everyone, never hesitates to help "a classmate in distresws," and radiates his happiness to all about him. Wherever Lee goes, the welcome mat will always greet him.
Wrestling 2; Class Committee 3-2-1; Debate Council and Forum 3-2-1; Pistol Coub 3; Weight Lifting Club 3; Ski Club 3; Corporal 2, Captain 1.
References
Leland Gilbert Fay's G2 memorial page: http://www.1958g2.com/pages/memoriam.html
CHANGE: Bob's obituary: http://www.1958g2.com/pages/easleyobit.html
Eulogy by his family and companymates
CHANGE: http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/22225/
pic
March, 2026: Lives in Alexandria, VA.
Music: "You Raise Me Up"

Home | Then | Then & Now/04 | Then & Now/08 | WP03 | SanAnt/04 | SanF/05 | WP/08
Tucs/09 | Den10 | Wash/12 | WP/13 | Roomies | YrBk/Pg1/Pg2 | Memoriam | Close


©2026-csheddgraphics All rights reserved.
All images and content are © copyright of their respective copyright owners.
Lyndon Leroy Sheldon Ford Ruthling Pete Skinner Bill Anders Captain Charlie Collins, Dispersal Operating Base Commander Captain Jack Sikes Captain Lyn Sheldon Ford Ruthling