REMEMBER
AND HONOR TEXAS TECH'S HEROES
The Lieutenant Alfred L. Kincer Memorial Scholarship
“Strive For
Honor, Evermore”…These words from Texas Tech’s Matador Song epitomize
the short life of Lieutenant Alfred L. Kincer. Born on 12 December, 1946
and a native of San Antonio, Al Kincer graduated from Marshall High
School in 1965 where he excelled both academically and in basketball.
After coming to
Texas Tech, Al continued to excel and dedicated himself to serving his
country. An active member of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps,
he received his BA in History in 1970. Upon graduation he was
commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Armor in the United States Army.
Following commissioning, LT Kincer attended the Armor Officer Basic
Course before reporting for duty in Viet Nam on 11 September 1970.
LT Kincer was
assigned as a Platoon Leader in A Troop, 5th Cavalry, 5th
Infantry Division. Remembered by one fellow Platoon Leader as the
youngest lieutenant in the unit, Al’s platoon was attacked by the North
Vietnamese Army the night of 28 February 1971. The attack was beaten
back during the night but in the battle, Al was seriously wounded by a
Rocket Propelled Grenade. LT Kincer was evacuated early the next morning
but died of his wounds on 1 March 1971.
LT Al Kincer,
died at the age of 24 living his life by the words of The Matador Song.
He “strived for honor” every day of his short life and represents the
best of all that America has to offer. A good friend to all, Al will
always be remembered as a wonderful person, a natural leader, and a
dedicated citizen. Awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, he is
buried at the National Cemetery at Ft Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX.
The LT Alfred L.
Kincer Memorial Scholarship will annually benefit a Texas Tech
University Army ROTC Cadet who is preparing for service as a Lieutenant
in the U.S. Army. Checks made payable to the LT Alfred L. Kincer
Memorial Scholarship may be mailed to:
Texas Tech
Alumni Association
Merket Alumni
Center
17th
and University
PO Box 45001
Lubbock, Texas
79409-5001
Congratulations
to CDT Nathan Moore, honored recipient of this years Kincer Memorial
Scholarship. Cadet Moore was awarded $500.00 which was then matched by
Texas Tech's Vice President for Student Affairs, Mr. Michael Shonrock,
for a total of $1000.00
Following is
the poignant text of a letter written by Mr. John W. (Bill) Hodges, M.D.
- a close friend and fellow student of Al Kincer. He wrote it as a
congratulation to the Kincer Scholarship award winner and to honor the
memory and life of a noble Texas Tech Student and heroic military
officer...
Dear Cadet,
Congratulations on being awarded the Lt. Alfred L. Kincer Memorial
Scholarship.
I wanted to
be here for this ceremony tonight, but to tell you the truth, I don't
think I'd be able to verbalize what I've written. I just don't
think the words would come out.
I attended
Texas Tech from 1967 to 1971. It was in the fall of 1967 that I first
met Al Kincer. He'd spent the first two years of his college life at
San Antonio College having commuted from his home in Shavano Park in the
northwest part of San Antonio. He drove to Lubbock in his forest green
MG with the top down. The first time I saw him he was wearing penny
loafers with no socks, tan jeans with no belt, a short sleeved shirt and
USAF pilot's sunglasses. He had a huge grin that made you wonder what he
knew that you didn't.
Compared to
most of us freshman, he exuded cool confidence. We all lived in Gaston
Hall.
Al was not a
big man, he probably was about 5'8" or 5'9" in height. He maybe weighed
160 lbs. He had dark brown hair, cropped very short, but not crew cut or
burr. He had chocolate brown eyes that didn't blink much when he was
intense. is skin had a dark complexion naturally, like one of the lucky
folks who don't sunbathe that make most of us jealous.
Al was
bowlegged and had thighs that seemed, frankly, too large. I soon learned
that those were the result of an aggressive basketball background. He
had been the point guard on his basketball team in high school and had
received some post-season honors, including some all state votes. Once,
he got some of us to go with him to the gym for a pickup basketball
game. To warm up, he took two steps and jumped up and caught the basket
rim - then did 10 pull ups. He was disappointed in us after the game
started.
Al also had a
discolored upper front tooth. The dentists at Reese AFB (Al was an Army
brat) pulled that tooth and gave him a false tooth that was at least the
right color.
He had a
razor wit and sometimes a wicked sense of humor. He was fair about
things, though, and he had a boisterous laugh whether on the sending or
receiving end of a practical joke.
He was very
close to his family. His father was a retired Lt. Colonel from the Army
and he was, I think, Al's role model. Al wanted an Army career like his
dad and came to Texas Tech expressly for that purpose. This was at a
time, remember, that a military career was very unpopular and in many
circles, loudly criticized. Al didn't care - he was focused on his
mission - graduation and commission and off to the war.
He had
several siblings, but I don't remember exactly the number. He once won a
dance contest with one of his sisters. Al Kincer could do the
Charleston. Once, he got wound up with that music, he'd be doing the
Charleston and we'd be watching...then he'd crack us up when he dropped
that false tooth down and smiled.
I think it is
a mistake at times like these to eulogize folks a little too much and
give the wrong impression that they are somehow perfect.
Let me state,
and I'm sure he would agree, that Al Kincer was not perfect. He did not
make straight "A's" and I don't know if he ever made the Dean's List or
not. I'm not certain that he attended church every single Sunday. I
know, or at least I think I remember, that I heard at least one cuss
word cross his lips. He did contribute to the delinquency of a minor
(that would be me) on at least one occasion - and it seems that the
culprit was beer.
On another
occasion, I was riding with him in the MG and he became dissatisfied
with the progress of the traffic. So, he turned the steering wheel,
hopped the curb, and drove down the sidewalk. I was pretty sure I was
going to get to see the inside of the jail on that one.
No, Al Kincer
wasn't perfect.
What he was,
though, is more important than what he wasn't.
He was a
"regular guy". We did what all guys do - talked about our futures (1% of
the time), current events (1% of the time) and women - and how we wanted
to get our hands on some (98% of the time).
He was a
leader, naturally. Just one of those people who would do first what he
wanted the rest of us to do and we'd fall right in. He was also a
mentor of sorts to those of us younger guys. You'd wonder why you were
not as "cool" as some folks and he'd remind you that "everybody drags a
sack". Al once volunteered to do a weekend field exercise against the
Seniors in the ROTC program. He volunteered some of the rest of us as
well, me included. He assigned one other guy and me to go and create a
diversion as the Seniors approached. We popped smoke and made a lot of
racket with our M1's. When the column turned toward us, Al opened up
with the blank adapted M60. The umpires handed out casualty tags like
coupon flyers from a Wal-Mart greeter. Then I heard Al's laugh.
In March of
1971, the Vietnam War came home to me in its shocking reality. I cried
when I learned that Al Kincer had been killed and I confess that it was
not the last time. I have been to see his family a couple of times in
the last 30+ years and I saw that green MG rusting in their back
yard. I've called them other times on Memorial Day. I have a picture in
my office of his name on the "Wall". I have visited his grave site at
Fort Sam Houston.
I regret that
he never knew what it was like to marry and build a relationship with
the same woman for 31 years as have I. I regret that he never had
children and learned, as I did, that maybe the really smart animals are
the ones who eat their young. I do NOT regret that he never saw me as
the balding, portly, middle aged doctor that I've become, but I'd have
loved to hear his laugh, even at my expense, just one more time. I miss
my friend.
It is so
important that we remember.
Now, with the
Lt. Alfred L. Kincer Memorial Scholarship, he will always be remembered
for what he truly was - the best of Shavano Park, the best of San
Antonio, the best of Texas Tech and the State of Texas. In joining those
who will remain forever young, he was also the best the United States of
America ever sent to fight her wars.
No, Al Kincer
was not perfect...but he was close enough to perfect for me. And he was
close enough to perfect to do what he did.
Again,
congratulations on winning this scholarship. Thank you for displaying
the drive and the discipline and the character that represents his
memory so well. You will be what he was in his time - the most highly
trained, technologically advanced and best equipped combat solder the
USA ever put into the field.
I know you'll
do us all proud.
Thank you for
your time.
John W.
(Bill) Hodges, M.D. |
