Monday, October 28, 2024

Index to ALL My Blog Posts

It's about time! Back in November 2012 —almost twelve years ago— I posted an index of my blog posts. This updated index contains all my posts since I started blogging in 2010. For new readers, I suggest you begin reading the oldest entry first (the one shown first on this list.) Click on any of the links below:

Linton Hall Military School Memories
Linton Hall School

LHMS from an adult point of view

LHMS and how it sucked up our parents' money

The school's declining enrollment

Response to comments from alumni

Blind obedience at Linton Hall Military School

Camping and hiking ... and what I learned at Linton Hall might have saved my life

Being an officer at LHMS

The things we got away with!

What other Linton Hall alumni wrote

Did we learn leadership there?



Life before Linton Hall

Linton Hall's unpaid workers: the officers

History of Linton Hall

Getting "bumped" -- the officers' rite of passage

Why would a "military school" even exist?

They started calling it "Linton Hall School" at least ten years before it stopped being a military school!

Rules and procedures for using the toilet

What I learned about sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll at Linton Hall

"A boy is more than just a boy; he is an individual"

What the Linton Hall Military School brochure said ... and what it was really like

How awards were given (or denied to those who really deserved them)

John Phillips (of The Mamas and the Papas)-- famous Linton hall alumni

The 1940s at Linton Hall Military School

Why do some alumni see nothing negative about the school?

Linton Hall School -- today

Special Sunday treat (for very lucky officers only!)

We used to shoot real guns at the rifle range

Fun in the snow!

Finding Linton Hall alumni

Mail from Home!

Camping and the "Over & Under" patch

Goodbye Linton Hall; My last post?

Letters from Linton Hall: The first couple of weeks

New Book About Linton Hall Just Published

Linton Hall Cemetery Photos

The Boy Who Died at Linton Hall: Eduardo Facha GarcĂ­a

My Last Days at Linton Hall: School is Out!

Running Away From Linton Hall

Huge New Book About Linton Hall Military School Just Published!

Why Linton Hall Had to Change

Linton Hall Alumni Included Nicaraguan President’s Sons

Linton Hall's Precursor, St. Joseph Institute, in 1922 Had Flies, Bedbugs, Lice, a Typhoid Fever Outbreak ... Plus a Fake Priest Having "Relations" With a Sixteen-Year-Old Girl

Why Didn’t Linton Hall Help Poor Children Learn a Trade?

Bill Farquhar on Linton Hall History

Linton Hall’s Benedictine Tradition: the Shocking Truth

Linton Hall Military School Uniform Pictures

Maxime "Max" DuCharme, Commandant of Linton Hall Military School, Passes Away

Sister Mary David, OSB Writes Back

Sister Mary David, Former LHMS Principal, Dies

Linton Hall Photos (part 2) Linton Hall Cemetery

The Differences Among Linton Hall’s Officers

Col. Marlin S. Reichley, former Linton Hall Military School Commandant


Linton Hall Alumni Online Video Websites
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Copyright 2024 by "Linton Hall Cadet." Please respect copyright by linking to this post instead of copying and pasting. This blog is not affiliated with Linton Hall Military School and all opinions are those of the author. Comments are always welcome; please do not use your name or names of others.

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Linton Hall Alumni Online Video Websites


The following are videos of Linton Hall Military School found on youtube website.
Most videos were originally filmed with 8 mm or Super 8 film cameras, and transferred to video.
I have included shortened urls, tiny.cc LHMSvid1 through tiny.cc/LHMSvid14 to make it easier for you if you are not clicking links directly from my blog. They're also easy to remember when you're not online. The tiny.cc links are not hyperlinks, so they can't be clicked; you'll have to type those in your browser's search box.


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yMo1koTD598
tiny.cc/LHMSvid1
Pans 360 degrees from the front of the school building, blacktop, convent, trees, back to building. Around 2012. Extraneous background sound of wind, passing cars. By rwvirginia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2l1_jOgpzs
tiny.cc/LHMSvid2
Pans around the back of the building, blacktop, windbreak, canteen. Late 1970s. Some audio comments (turn up the volume.) By Vince Wilding

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTvnDETHO1E
tiny.cc/LHMSvid3
The first minute shows JFK’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery. LHMS 1967-1970 begins at 1:10. Then there is marching at Linton Hall with cadets wearing sweaters and officers wearing helmets. Military Day begins at 3:15 including video of outdoor Mass. Apparently more than one Military Day is shown. Assorted music. By KarnEvil4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkHqC7nxPKE
tiny.cc/LHMSvid4
Military Day, May 31, 1981. Looks a lot like Military Day a decade before. Military music medley at the beginning, background sounds of visitors talking. By Javier Regalado.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXWyiXQ8tE4
tiny.cc/LHMSvid5
Linton Hall School in Britow, Virginia as it looks today (ca. 2021) with some buildings as I remember them, other new features such as the teaching garden. Video taken from a bike, Linton Hall starts at 3:16. Aerial drone views start at 6:43 with neglected/abandoned agricultural buildings, view of suburban sprawl in Bristow near Linton Hall. At 8:43 biker leaves Linton Hall. Most of the video has been speeded up; you’ll have to keep clicking on the pause button. Audio is background music. By Christopher Brown.

The following were uploaded by Marianne Carney, and were taken in 1975-1976. Military Day and graduation had not changed much since the late 1960s when I attended, so these videos will be of interest to many LHMS alumni. A step back in history!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E5wOkcdO_o
tiny.cc/LHMSvid6
Military Day on the blacktop, which happened when the parade field had been soaked by the rain. Dormitory with messy beds and family members; apparently the last day of the school year. Parade outside Lintn Hll Miltary School (unknown location.) No audio. May 1975. By Marianne Carney

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iaz4-yUnKRs
tiny.cc/LHMSvid7
May 25, 1975 Military Day Mass indoors in gym; Military Day marching. No audio. By Marianne Carney.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX0_tYvDKYo
tiny.cc/LHMSvid8
Drum and Bugle Corps at parade in Culpeper, Va. May 1975. No audio. By Marianne Carney

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siWqILoJj08
tiny.cc/LHMSvid9
May 1975 Drum and Bugle Corps parade in Manassas, Va. No audio. By Marianne Carney.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuV61_uVH8U
tiny.cc/LHMSvid10
April 1975 Drum and Bugle Corps Retreat Parade, apparently includes Military Day footage. Home video after 2:34. No audio. By Marianne Carney.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn3BQugSvwg
tiny.cc/LHMSvid11
April 1975. LHMS starts at 0:23 after home video. No audio. By Marianne Carney.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icv6tTEVCN8
tiny.cc/LHMSvid12
May 1975 Military Day Awards. No audio. By Marianne Carney.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoMnt4eM5u4
tiny.cc/LHMSvid13
June 1, 1975 Linton Hall graduation in the gym; good closeups of graduating class posing outside the building starting at 1:55. No audio. By Marianne Carney.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5xe1bAa244
tiny.cc/LHMSvid14
May 30, 1976 Military Day. No audio. By Marianne Carney.

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Copyright 2024 by "Linton Hall Cadet." Please respect copyright by linking to this post instead of copying and pasting. This blog is not affiliated with Linton Hall Military School and all opinions are those of the author. Comments are always welcome; please do not use your name or names of others.

Friday, July 12, 2024

Col. Marlin S. Reichley, former Linton Hall Military School Commandant

Linton Hall’s third Commandant was Marlin Sherwood Reichley, who held the position for almost thirty years.

Born in Ohio on February 2, 1915, he grew up in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, and earned Bachelor, Master and Doctorate degrees from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and later was a member of the university’s Board. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean war, and was employed for approximately thirty years at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, at Ft. McNair, from which he retired in 1975 as Dean of Academics.

From 1938 through the mid 1960s, he was Commandant of Linton Hall Military School.

Col. Reichley died on February 17, 1999 a few days after his 84th birthday at Powhatan Nursing Home in Falls Church, Virginia of pneumonia, after residing in the nursing home for approximately two years. At the time of his death he was a member of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Arlington, Virginia.

He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 66, Site 7399.

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Copyright 2024 by "Linton Hall Cadet." Please respect copyright by linking to this post instead of copying and pasting. This blog is not affiliated with Linton Hall Military School and all opinions are those of the author. Comments are always welcome; please do not use your name or names of others.

Friday, June 14, 2024

The Differences Among Linton Hall's Oficers

"All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." -- Animal Farm by George Orwell, a book we read in English class at Linton Hall.

Not all officers were equal. The difference was not just in rank, but in position, i.e., the role the officer played.

I've mentioned the not unusual case of an officer being demoted to Private, while keeping his position as Platoon leader or Company Commander, in a blog post in 2011 ("Getting Bumped: The Officer's Rite of Passage.") On the other hand, officers of the same rank could hold positions of far differing responsibility, challenge and prestige.

The top dog (to keep the animal analogy) was the Battalion Commander, who would typically reach the rank of Major. Second only to the Commandant in power and authority, he was of unquestioned loyalty, obedience, and compliance with Linton Hall's rules. His position made him feared by everyone, including his fellow officers, and this was a double edged sword, since it also had the effect of isolating him socially from others. Whereas it was not uncommon for a Second Lieutenant to be friends with a Captain, it was difficult for anyone to let his guard down around the Battalion Commander, for fear of accidentally committing some infraction or saying something negative about Linton Hall.

Since he, as well as his adjutant and the Battalion Sergeant Major did not belong to any company, he would end up sleeping in the dormitory of one of the companies. I had the occasion to have him in my dormitory one year, so I got to observe him a lot -- from a safe distance, as he did not cut anyone any slack.

It's a stretch to generalize about Battalion Commanders, since there was only one each year, but I think I can safely say that they were the most loyal and most qualified leaders; I say this as someone who was not even a potential candidate for that position. But another consideration was height -- which was mostly due to the Battalion Commander’s age, as he was about two years older than the typical eighth grader, and had the advantage of intimidating physical size working in his favor.

Second in command to the Battalion Commander was his Adjutant. I can best compare his position as that of the Vice President of the U.S.. Although a prestigious position, the Adjutant had a very limited role. He only took over the Battalion Commander's duties on rare occasions, such as when the Battalion Commander lay sick in bed from the flu. Other than reporting a count of cadets, which involved adding up the numbers reported by each of the Company Commanders, the Adjutant did not do much. Don't get me wrong -- I believe that the Adjutants were fully qualified to take over as Battalion Commanders -- it's just that the occasion rarely arose and, given the extreme loyalty and punctiliousness of Battalion Commanders, the Adjutant had no reasonable chance of taking the Battalion Commander’s spot, although typically he would be reach the rank of Captain.

The Adjutant did sleep in my dorm one year (not the same year as the Battalion Commander) and he was very much a slacker who went with the flow, followed the rules, but did not display much motivation or ambition. That's understandable, since he had little to do and no prospects of promotion. Just as an example, it was customary to rotate the responsibility of leading the dorm in the morning activities of getting dressed, washing and making one's bed between the Company Commander, the two Platoon Leaders, and eventually the Company Sergeant. The Adjutant was also given this opportunity as a courtesy, which he declined.

The battalion also had a Sergeant Major, a seventh grader who it was tacitly understood would be Battalion Commander the following year. I believe that most would agree with me that Adjutant was a position entailing less leadership, and thus being less desirable, than either Company or Platoon Leader.

Some years there was an additional officer in battalion staff, a Supply Officer, whose responsibility was to run the arsenal, where drill rifles and camping and hiking equipment were kept. As this position dealt with equipment and not people, it required little to no leadership skills, and appears to have been given as a reward to someone who tried hard, followed all the rules, may even have been outstanding at drill, but just lacked leadership skills.

When I was at Linton Hall there were five companies: two junior companies, A and B, two senior companies, C and D, and the Drum and Bugle Corps, sometimes also known as Company E, and was considered a senior company. Each company had three officers: a Company Commander and the First and Second Platoon Leaders.

The two junior companies had younger cadets, those in second through fourth or fifth grade, and the other companies had older cadets, generally in fifth through eighth grade. This was a general rule; those in the middle, specially fifth graders, could end up in a junior or senior company based upon their age or rank; for example, a fifth or sixth grader could end up as squad leader in a junior company, or a fourth grader who had repeated the fourth grade could end up in a senior company. The officers, however were always eighth graders, and the sergeants typically seventh graders, in both junior and senior companies. Some of the sergeants were eighth graders.

A much-debated question, which has good arguments on both sides, is whether it was more difficult, and thus more prestigious, to be an officer in a junior or senior company. On the one hand, it may seem easier to be an officer in a junior company, since the major advantage in age and size made an officer more intimidating to younger cadets, even though officers were not allowed to use corporal punishment. As an aside, I agree that it would have been wrong for a 13-year old officer to hit a younger child. Yet why was it allowed for a 40-plus year old man or woman to repeatedly strike a child with a wooden paddle or leather strap?

On the other hand, although older cadets were often not intimidated by an officer's size, they were better able to understand the consequences of demerits and court martials.

As to drill, it was more challenging to deal with younger cadets, who had not yet developed the motor skills, or ability to understand the details of the various commands. This became very clear to me one time when supervising third grade study hour (officers were rotated among the different grades, so each of us had the opportunity to supervise cadets of the various grades.) There was a third grader who, although trying his best, would get right and left confused. I realized that he was well-intentioned and tried to explain the difference between right and left without yelling at him, but I was unsuccessful.

I had no personal experience with the Drum and Bugle Corps, but I believe that it was the most challenging company to lead, or, for that matter, to be in, as those in that company had to spend time practicing their instruments, in addition to drilling. Someone who had been in the Drum and Bugle Corps contends that holding a certain rank in the D & B Corps was the equivalent of holding a rank one level higher in another company; for example, a PFC in the D & B Cwould be the equivalent of being a corporal in another company, but I disagree.

Company Commanders would generally rise to the rank of Captain, although some graduated as First Lieutenant, sometimes not having been promoted to Captain, but more often having previously reached the rank of Captain but been demoted by one level for disciplinary reasons.

Each company consisted of two platoons. Neither the Company Commander nor the Company Sergeant belonged to either platoon.

The platoons were called First and Second Platoon, but despite the name implying that First was better or more prestigious, I think most will agree with me that the Second Platoon leader had a more challenging job at drill. As the First Platoon marched in front of the second, the Second Platoon leader found it more difficult to hear and repeat the Company Commander's commands, and had to get the timing just right when saying the second part of the command, as in "Reverse ... March!" Also, in the specific case of "Reverse ... March!" as soon as the command was given, the Company Commander ended up at the back of the marching platoon, with the leader of the Second Platoon leading the company until the Company Commander could make his way to what was now the front of the company. Outside of drill, the responsibility and challenge of leading the first or second platoon was the same. The Commandant had once mentioned that he did his best to balance the distribution of cadets who were either disciplinary problems, or especially good or bad at drill, both between the two platoons within a company and between competing the two junior and the two senior platoons. In his office he had a wall rack with a card for each cadet, arranged to show who was in which platoon and company, and what rank and position he held. The Commandant mentioned that many times he had taken an instant picture with a Polaroid camera, to study the composition of the Cadet Corps in the evening. (That was the state of available technology at the time.) He deserves credit for that.

Some Platoon Leaders had risen to First Lieutenant at the end of the year; others either had not been promoted to that rank, or had been promoted and then demoted, and graduated as Second Lieutenants. A few who had been bumped to private and had not had their rank restored but still retained their position, often because it would not have been fair to those under their command to be assigned a new officer shortly before the Military Day drill competitions, ended up being listed in the Military Day program as "Platoon Leader ... John Doe ... First Platoon Leader" instead of the typical "First Lieutenant ... John Doe ... First Platoon Leader." What may have looked as a mistake in the program to many parents and guests was painfully clear to those in the know.

I won’t repeat my dscription of officer insignia, as I’ve previously covered the topic. The Commandant was once asked why the insignia was different than in the U.S. Military. His explanation (I’m paraphrasing) was that it was “Because if you’re sitting in some shopping mall and some serviceman who’s just come back from Vietnam sees you wearing officer insignia, he has to salute you.” When someone said that he could obviously see that we were kids and not real officers, he said that it didn’t matter; if he sees the insignia, he has to salute you.

This post reflects my thoughts on the matter. Others will disagree with some of my views about the responsibility, and desirability of the various positions. As always, I welcome differing point of view, as they can point out things I haven't thought of. I only ask that you explain your reasoning, and that it be based on more than just “I was a ----- and I think my position was far more important and challenging than you describe.”

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Read more in my book, "Linton Hall Military School Memories,"

over 200 pages, 7x10 inches, only $5.69 (or less) at amazon.com

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Copyright 2024 by Linton Hall Cadet. Please respect copyright by linking to this post instead of copying and pasting. This blog is not affiliated with Linton Hall Military School and all opinions are those of the author. Comments are always welcome; please do not use your name or names of others.

Linton Hall Photos (part 2) Linton Hall Cemetery


Here are more photos provided by an alumnus. These are of the Linton hall Cemetery, located on the Linton Hall property, north of the pool.













Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Sister Mary David, former LHMS Principal, Dies

Sister Mary David, who for many years was the principal of Linton Hall Military School, has died on May 21, 2023. She was 93 years old.
Born Doris Carolyn Nolte on October 27, 1929 in Henrico, Virginia, outside Richmond, she was one of seven children: four boys and three girls. Both her paternal grandparents were born in Germany; her maternal grandparents and her parents were all born in Virginia, according to U.S. Census records. Her oldest brother, William J. Nolte, Jr., became a Catholic priest; he died in 2002.
Doris Nolte entered the Benedictine sisters convent upon graduating from St. Getrude High School in Richmond, and professed her vows in 1949, taking the religious name of Sister Mary David, presumably chosen from the names of two of her siblings. She graduated from St. Joseph's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland and St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota.
She was principal of Linton Hall Military School in Bristow, Virginia for several years, where she also taught Mathematics and Science, and has also taught at other schools in Virginia. She subsequently received a nursing degree and specialized in care of the elderly and hospice care. In recent years she also participated in the BEACON adult literacy program. She also resumed use of her birth name, being known in recent years as Sister Doris Nolte, OSB.

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Copyright 2024 by Linton Hall Cadet. Please respect copyright by linking to this post instead of copying and pasting. This blog is not affiliated with Linton Hall Military School and all opinions are those of the author. Comments are always welcome; please do not use your name or names of others.

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Sister Mary David, OSB Writes Back


For the past eight years, I've been writing about Linton Hall Military School, which I attended while Sister Mary David was principal. A few years ago, she resumed use of her birth name, and is now known as Sister Doris Nolte, OSB. She is still at the convent in Bristow, where she is involved in projects including adult literacy and training caretakers.

I believe that, as Principal, she was ultimately responsible for both the good and bad aspects of LHMS. Therefore, I wrote her a few days ago, asking for an apology. I wrote:

"Sister Doris Nolte,
I attended Linton Hall while you were principal.
Linton Hall was good academically, as were the field hikes and camping.
However, punishments were cruel and excessive, including ..."


(A long summary of the negative aspects of Linton Hall which I've written about on my blog follows.)

"Now the truth is out, shared and corroborated by many LHMS alumni, thanks to the Internet.
I don't wish for what you did to us to be done to you, since to wish that would take me down to your level.
But I do believe that a sincere, public apology from you to the hundreds of cadets who attended Linton Hall while you were principal is the least you can do, and is long overdue.
If you decide to reply, I will publish your response on the internet for all to see. If there's no reply within fifteen days, I will report that fact, and your silence will speak louder than words.
Sincerely,
A Linton Hall Alumnus
(It doesn't matter who I am. I am one of hundreds who suffered at Linton Hall.)"


Here is her reply:

"I'm very sorry these things happened while you were at Linton Hall. I'm not aware of all the things you spoke of, but I'm sure they were traumatic to some of the cadets. Forgive us all for the unpleasant things you experienced while a student with us. We meant no harm, but we tried, to the best of our ability, to make Linton Hall a safe and caring environment. If you wish to discuss this further feel free to visit me at the monastery here in Bristow.

Peace and blessings,
Sister Doris (formerly Sister Mary David)"


After much reflection, I replied:

"Sister Doris,
Thank you for your prompt reply.
Although I would not characterize LHMS as "caring," I accept your apology and forgive you. I wish you well.
I can speak only for myself, and will share your reply with other alumni."


I have not asked for permission to share her email address, but if you'd like to write to Sister Doris Nolte, OSB, the address of the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia is the same as for Linton Hall School, and can be found on the web.
Alumni comments are welcome. My Facebook page is visible only to LHMS alumni who've friended me, whereas the blog can be seen by all. You may wish to comment in both places.

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Copyright 2018 by "Linton Hall Cadet."
Please respect copyright by linking to this post instead of copying and pasting.
This blog is not affiliated with Linton Hall Military School and all opinions are those of the author.
Comments are always welcome; please do not use your name or names of others.