Army West Point Legacy Ledger

September 5, 2023

Welcome to the Army West Point Rugby Newsletter.  If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please use the unsubscribe function in the footer of this message.  It is intended for anyone who has an interest in Army West Point Rugby, whether they played as Cadets or not.

Contents of this Issue

1. Kickoff vs Trinity, Friday 8 September
2. Coach's Update
3. Be Thou At Peace, First Team John Taylor
4. Fall Schedule
5. All-Army wins Armed forces Championship
6. New Parent Volunteers: Tailgate and Merchandise
7. Preorder Martin Pengelly's Army Rugby Book

Army Scrimmaged Dartmouth at Anderson

Army Kicks of Fall 2023

Friday 8 September 2023 1800 Hrs

Anderson Rugby Complex

After a tough summer and a quick scrimmage against Dartmouth, this year's Army Rugby squad officially opens the season this Friday night, 1800 Eastern, at Anderson Rugby Complex, with a tough contest against Trinity College from Dublin Ireland.

The match will be streamed on Army's Youtube channel.

There will be the first tailgate of the season at the north end of the Anderson Rugby Complex starting at 1600 hrs and continuing post match, featuring food, drink and Army merch. Donations will be accepted onsite.

Firsties from the Class of '24 Celebrate Ring Weekend

Coach Sherman Update

Friends of Army Rugby,

We are thrilled to be back at West Point and to have begun the 2023-2024 Army Rugby season. There is much to be excited about, as we return a strong and motivated nucleus of returning players, supplemented by a large group of energetic new players, many of who have shown the capability and confidence to contribute early. This team, the 63rd chapter of this tremendous legacy, is intent on climbing to realize our greatest potential, and we are seeing the urgency and hunger required to make that happen in their daily approach to improving. 

Our fall journey is full of challenging opportunities against many of the country’s best. We relish these chances to test ourselves, and to continue growing and climbing toward reaching our vision of producing the best leaders in our nation, by becoming the best team in the country and most respected teammates in the corps. 

We are so grateful and appreciative for your continued support. 

Go Army!

Coach Matt Sherman 

Be Thou at Peace

First Team John Taylor '62

John L. Taylor, USMA 1962, age 84, of Bellevue, WA died in Bellevue, WA on August 15th, 2023. As a member of the Class of 1962, John like many of us held the rank of sergeant entering our senior year. This resulted in allowing him to have extra time to pursue other interests, which he readily took advantage of. He did so in creating and leading a unit of rugby warriors. John's initiative, in perspective, has resulted in one of the most successful and leadership/character developing athletic programs in the Academy’s history.

We all owe John a depth of gratitude for shaping our lives and careers in being part of the initial Brotherhood of Army Ruggers.  

As we remember John, and our departed teammates, consider opportunities available to us to support the men and women of Army Rugby, as they present themselves.



   Ruck-On,

     Bill Kosco’62

     First Team Legacy Coordinator

Remembering John Taylor

John L. Taylor, age 84, of Bellevue, WA died on August 15th while under care at Patriot’s Glen Assisted Living and Kline Galland Hospice. He was born on July 27, 1939, in Charlotte, NC to the late John and Lottie Evans Taylor. John was preceded in death by his loving wife of 52 years, Lyna Grant Taylor, and by his daughter, Susan T. Rouse. ​

John is survived by daughter, Leslie T. Mincey, son-in-law William “Bill” Mincey, son-in-law, Dempsey “Chip” Rouse III, and sister Bobbye T. Smith, and grandchildren Thomas E. Mincey, Kirsten (Paige) Rouse Lowrance, and Taylor B. Rouse. 

​            John grew up in Burgaw, NC, and was the first graduate of Burgaw High School to attend the United States Military Academy. Prior to receiving a congressional appointment to West Point in 1958, he served two years in the Active Army Reserves. John’s crowning achievement as a cadet is well known. He is remembered for having established the Army Men’s Rugby Team in 1960. Today, men’s rugby is a premier sport at the Academy and of all Army sports has the best record. John was honored in 2019 by members of his founding team with an endowed award given annually in his name—the John L. Taylor First Team Brotherhood Award.

            On June 6, 1962, John graduated from West Point and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army Infantry. He had a storied career and was recognized for his service, innovation, and valor in a variety of command, staff, and advisory positions. These included tours in Korea and Vietnam, graduate school attendance, an ROTC assignment, commands of a logistics and a training battalion, and a military assistance assignment in Portugal. He also had a posting to the Pentagon and an assignment as senior advisor to the commanding general of the Army’s Transportation School. John retired in 1988 at the rank of Colonel after 26 years of commissioned service. He was awarded the Legion of Merit in recognition of a distinguished career. 

In retirement, John was active in a variety of areas. He pursued his interest in horticulture, earning a degree from Gwinnett Technical College. He was recognized for his work in Japanese gardening and assisting seniors in a wide range of gardening ventures. John held a key security position during the 1996 Summer Olympics and subsequently participated in Georgia Self Defense Force operations. He promoted veteran initiatives, especially those pertaining to the treatment of women. John also contributed to the creation of the Army Museum, but not least, John never lost his interest in supporting the men and women of Army Rugby. 

            He was passionate about keeping the blood supply stocked. He donated as often as he could and volunteered at Red Cross donation events assisting donors at the canteen. He served as the self-appointed historian at his retirement community, writing and distributing various “papers” on the significance of holidays and election issues.

​            A celebration of John’s life will be scheduled for a future date. Both his inurnment and that of his wife, Lyna, will be at the West Point Post Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to West Point Rugby Program; Dementia Society of America; Alzheimer’s Association of America or to the organization of your choice.

            John and his family have expressed their sincere gratitude and appreciation to his attentive and supporting personal caregiver, Elizabeth Haley, as well as the staff and caregivers at Patriot’s Glen Assisted Living and Kline Galland Hospice.

Support the Army Team

2023 Fall Schedule

• Friday September 8 1800 EST: Trinity College, Dublin Ireland (link to YouTube Stream) West Point NY
• Saturday September 16 1200 EST: Penn State University, West Point NY (link to YouTube stream)
• Saturday September 23: @ St Bonaventure, Olean NY
• Saturday September 30: Notre Dame College, West Point NY
• Saturday October 14: @ Queen's University, Charlotte NC
• Saturday October 21: @ Kutztown University, Kutztown PA
• Saturday October 28: Life University,West Point, NY
• Friday November 3: @ Air Force, Denver (Glendale) CO
• Friday November 10: Navy, West Point NY

BOLD: "Home" Game: Tailgate will be hosted 2 hrs before kickoff, look for large Army Rugby Popup in the parking lot.

All-Army Rugby Wins 2023 Armed Forces Championship

The All-Army Rugby side captured its ninth title by not allowing a single point during tournament play at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado. Army defeated Air Force 38-0 in the championship match. Nate Conkey (’00) provided an eyewitness account:

Numerous Brothers remain active currently playing the game we love. The Men's All Army Rugby Team recently hit the pitch in Glendale, Colorado for the Armed Forces Championship and Rugbytown 7’s tournament,  This year's squad had seven USMA graduates as players and two on the coaching staff. Coaches Will Holder (’13) and Aaron Retter (’13) (kneeling in photo), and left to right players were Ryan Grady ('21), Ben Kelly ('22), Mike Amberg ('23), Anderson Sullivan ('17), Luke Heun ('17), Jake Lachina ('18), and Nate Conkey ('00). 

The squad leveraged the World Class Athlete Program and international match play experience of Holder and Lachina as they churned through the pool play and Armed Forces Championship outscoring the other services 168-0 over 5 games. The defense did not allow a single point in 70 minutes of play! While the team ran up against stiffer international competition (Tel Aviv Rugby) and two-time domestic club champions (NAV7s) in the Cup rounds, the squad continued to be one of the highlights of the whole tournament and will be back for more next year. 

Welcome to the 2023-2024 Parent Representatives

For anyone that has attended an Army Rugby Match over the last few years, you know that matches are no longer "just a game", but an "event".  Everything from the atmosphere to the food, drink and "kit" is well planned and executed. This is a direct result of the close coordination and support of the PARENTS. 

With the graduation of their son, Aidan Smith ’23, Adam and Aileen Smith turned over the reins as Men’s Rugby Parent Representatives to Sarah and Doug Manges (parents of Elijah “Mango” Manges ’25) and Brian and Heather Murray (parents of Ciaran Murray ’26).  Adam and Aileen, thank you for all of your hard work and support for Army Rugby!  You were instrumental in creating and growing our Match Day experiences.  We look forward to seeing you in the future and hearing of Aidan’s exploits as an Infantry officer. Sarah, Mang, Brian, and Heather – thank you for volunteering your time and talents in support of the winningest athletics team at West Point.  We are fortunate to have you and are excited for the start of the new season.

Collen Burke (mother of Nate Gould ’25) continues her role of coordinating Kit & Merch (clothing and other items) and communications on the website.

Team representatives include:

Marshall Neri '25

Thomas Rotello '25

We hope to see YOU soon, as our Team takes on the Beasts of the East this Fall!

Pre-Order Martin Pengelly's Book on Army Rugby

Martin Pengelly's book, Brotherhood: When West Point Rugby Went To War, will be published in the US by Godine on 17 October 2023. Martin's been an Army rugby fan for years, and joined us at Army Rugby Legacy Weekend this year.

In his introduction to the book, HR McMaster hails “a brilliant group biography” of the West Point rugby players of 2002, a book which “reveals the sense of honor that motivates young men and women to lead soldiers in our Army”. 

Thomas E. Ricks, author of the Iraq war studies Fiasco and The Gamble, calls Brotherhood “a memorable and moving book, a significant contribution to the literature of the American military after 9/11”. 

Dan Lyle, US Rugby Hall of Famer and NBC Sports Analyst, says: “In rugby, we often talk of ‘going into battle’ with your team. It's just a game, of course, but in Brotherhood, sport, war, and friendship leap from the pages. Players really do become warriors – and heroes.”

Pre-order available at Amazon, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble and all good books sites. 

For more information and to stay up to date, join the Facebook group for the book: https://facebook.com/groups/255127807002297