Bernard "burn" Loeffke

The Least Beastly Among Us Bernard "burn" Loeffke

Burn Loeffke is a West Point Graduate. He has a B. S. in Engineering, an M. A. in Russian, and a Ph. D. in Political Science. He has taught Graduate School at Georgetown University. He has commanded parachute units, Special Forces, and combat infantry units. He culminated his military career as the Commanding General of Army South. In his military service, he accumulated more than 250 para-chute jumps - two in combat in Vietnam. Loeffke has been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds in combat, as well as several Valor Awards. A Ranger and pilot, he is the ?rst foreigner to have jumped with Chinese Army Units - a distinction he earned when assigned as the Chief of Military Mission to China. He was an Army Attaché in Moscow. He has served as a Staff Of?cer in the White House and was the Director of the Commission on White House Fellows. An important ingredient in General Loeffke's life is physical ?tness. He has been an advisor to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and has won swimming championships while in the Army. He also competed in a military decathlon in Russia and ran full-length marathons in China. After retirement in 1992, he went to medical school to become a medical officer. He now serves on medical missions abroad. This special edition honors John Gardner who created the White House Fellows. It is this program that has helped so many of us to live meaningful lives. There is much to be thankful for. Food For The Poor, a South Florida charitable organization, has made the dream of this soldier come true. We have created a circle of Communities of Hope in the Western Hemisphere for the Poor. The dream is to showcase an area where U. S. and Chinese citizens can work together to help the poor. This special edition remembers two soldiers, one from China and the other from the U. S. who exemplify what it means to care for others (see pages 6 and 7). Two of my White House Fellows classmates come to mind. Charles Gentry, a wounded soldier, and Tom O'Brien who is one of the most selfless individuals I know. Former Captain "Ike" Leggett of the 199th LIB, the 2019 recipient of the Legacy Award for his actions to the communities he served. David Sanchez, who financially has made possible for West Point cadets to get to China to teach preventative medicine in elementary schools. Dr. Carmen Queral who has worked countless hours helping to write and prepare our books for the publisher."I am not afraid of others not understanding me. I am afraid of not understanding others." - Confucius