| Graduation Year | Class of 1962 |
| Date of Passing | Jul 13, 1967 |
| About | Randy, My FRIEND, my classmate, my teammate, my hero ... and you are the only man I ever called "hero". I am speaking to as if you were alive. I think people reading this will understand. The best thing to do is to simply post an email which I sent to "2" current WSH "officials". i requested only that they recognize you Randy. They are named in the emails for what that is worth - and it is worth nothing to you and I. *****These "2" did not even respond.***** Here is one of my 2 requests to have you Randy recognized for the wonderful and successful patriot you were and will always be in spite of 2 "guys" like these; To: Dr. James Habel, Superintendent <jhabel@wall.k12.nj.us> To Mr. James Bevere, Principal <jbevere@wall.k12.nj.us> Many months ago I submitted Warren Brundage for inclusion in the WHS Honor Roll. I was told I had to "verify" my nomination. It took me awhile but I found the following on the Princeton University internet page. This can be verified if you will please "Google" "Warren Brundage". There, you will find that the 1966 class of Princeton University has opened and maintains a "Tribute Page" to Warren "Randy" Brundage ... Wall HighSchool class of 1962. This is the "URL" for the Google search of Warren Brundage: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1I7GDNA_en&q=warren+brundage&start=0&sa=N You may want to Google it from the start yourself. The Princeton tribute reads (as you will find) as follows: Class of 1966 Warren Randolph Brundage, Jr. Randy Brundage died in the crash of a Navy plane on July 13, 1967. A 2nd Lt in the Marine Corps, he was training to become a navigator-bombardier when the jet trainer carrying him and four others went down in Georgia. (North Carolina) Randy was born on Oct. 20, 1944, in Brooklyn, NY. He attended Wall High School in Manasquan Park, NJ, before coming to Princeton. (The Brundages LIVED in Manasquan Park). At Wall, he captained the football, basketball and golf teams in his senior year. He was active in the student council, and was a member of the Honor Society as well. Randy was equally energetic at Princeton. Writing his thesis for the Politics department with Professor Falkner, he undertook a study of the Supreme Court's enforcement of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It was his most satisfying endeavor as an undergraduate. Randy played football his freshman year, and varsity golf as a junior. In his second year at Princeton he joined Cottage Club. He held a Navy ROTC scholarship which led to his commission in the Marine Corps. To describe briefly what we lost when Randy Brundage died is impossible. He was an individual, a personality. Probably his most outstanding quality was his sense of humor; certainly he was best known for it. It expressed at once all his great optimism, enthusiasm for living, compassion for others, and confidence in himself. He knew himself well, and was often the subject of his own humor. Evident in his character was a deep spirituality which made him a strong person, yet at the same time an understanding one. Randy Brundage, possed good nature and it was infectious. He was a happy person, and he made others so. He was able to draw one out, to make one forget oneself. For this reason he became important to many people. From him one learned to enjoy things as they were, and not to worry about how they might have been. He gave freely of himself, and we benefited in having known him. Nothing better can be said of anyone. Randy was especially proud of the Marine Corps, and of his part in it. Nevertheless, the tragedy of his death remains undiminished. With his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Brundage, Sr., and his sister, Mrs. Mary Jean Kraft, the Class shares a feeling of great loss. Warren Brundage, Sr., and his sister, Mrs. Mary Jean Kraft, the Class shares a feeling of great loss. The Class of 1966. PAW 11/28/67 ... (Yup, Princeton got it absolutely correct). The DIRECT link (URL) to his Princeton tribute is: www.tiger66.org/sites/PU66/edithtml/ClassNotes/Files/66_memorials.pdf I cannot add anything substantial to the Princeton tribute. But from my perspective I would like to say: "Randy" was WHS Class President and Valedictorian (in my memory) in 1962. He played and lettered in 4 sports. He was captain of most of the teams he played on and was voted "Most Popular" student. I called him "Banjo" because he played magnificently that primary role in the Senior class play "The Man That Came to Dinner". He was graduated by Princeton University in 1966 with honors. As a brand new U.S.M.C. Marine Avaitor Randy's life was sacrificed in a horrible avaition ... event. He was training to become a navigator on a brand new airplane ... the F/A-111, Aardvark. In those early days the Aardvark took many lives because it's terrain guidance computer program was faulty. Randy was not the first, nor the last to lose his life in that plane. His voluntary service was performed with the full knowledge of what was happening in Vietnam. Please read the above Princeton tribute and my feelings from memory (below that). Wall Township and New Jersey lost a future leader that sad day in 1967. And he should be recognized by his own highschool for his "Wall" and "Princeton" academic excellence, his atheletic prowess at both schools and his patriotism and ultimate sacrifice. He was my best friend. I felt very lucky to be home on leave after being wounded in Vietnam when we received the stunning news. I attended his funeral in Sea Girt as did hundreds of other grieving people. I was and am still so proud of him. Proud to have been his friend. Proud of his accomplishments. He was truly a great guy. A great teammate. He was a HUMAN BEING. His mother and father were devastated as you can well understand. Dr. James Habel and Mr. James Bevere PLEASE research this and make a meaningful, lasting tribute to this most outstanding first graduate of the (then) new Wall Highschool, THIS MOST OUTSTANDING MAN. Thank you, John "Pete" McKenzie '62 4261 Breezy Trail Way Cosby, TN 37722 1 423 487 3878 Folks: NO RESPONCE! Habel and Bevere could NOT find it in their hearts to even REPLY to me. Let us see if their WHS "censors" allow the TRUTH at WHS. I would not bet on it. But I will tell you what I will do ... if this is censored, altered or NOT posted ... I WILL send it next to Princeton University and to the Governor of the State of New Jersey. What do you think of that jhabel and jbevere? And that will just be my opening salvo jhabel and jbevere. You will be receiving a writen personal letter from me very soon. You two need, badly some elucidation and revelation so as to assist you in correcting your shortcomings ... as MEN. John "Pete" McKenzie '62 4261 Breezy Trail Way Cosby, TN 37722 1 423 487 3878 DO NOT REMOVE THIS TRIBUTE. IF IT IS REMOVED YOU TWO WILL ANSWER FOR IT. |
