Thread began with Randy McKee's Facebook post. Thank you Randy for this story. The two letters he refers to are at the end of this lengthy post.

Randy McKee '66: “Moon Platoon” Memories

My first year at GMS was the 1963-64 school year - the infamous year of the Moon Platoon. It was exciting to learn that Band Company participated each spring in the Cherry Blossom Parade. We all eagerly anticipated the multi-day trip to Winchester, Virginia.
Before long though the conversations about mooning from the bus began-it was going to happen. It seemed funny during those seemingly endless discussions. So, mooning was not a spur of the moment event, but had been thought about and planned for many months.

On the day of departure for Winchester, Band Company loaded into two buses. Though I didn’t see it, there was apparently a “you’ve just been mooned by a bus” sign on bus one that was forcibly removed before leaving campus. Maybe someone else can provide verification.
Most members of the “Moon Platoon were on bus one. In fact, the only two participants on bus two were me and Bob Holley.

Returning to my seat after exposing my rump in the window, I saw the abhorrent expression on another Cadet’s face. My unbelievably poor behavior clearly disgusted him. That caused me to reconsider my actions and I remained in my seat with my pants firmly fastened for the remaining trip.

Our buses were shortly stopped by the Virginia State Police. We were ordered to return to GMS immediately. As Don Meredith famously said – “turn out the lights-the party is over”. My overwhelming feeling was guilt and fear of punishment.

Back at GMS, all the blame fell on those participants from bus one. They had already met and received the “fear of God” from Colonel W.J. Moore. Momentarily, it appeared that Bob Holley and I might escape detection and punishment.

But Captain Hamrick, our band director told us our only choice was to turn ourselves in.

We fearfully walked to Colonel W.J. Moore’s office and confessed. He looked stunned, then threw his arms up as though avoiding a punch. Then growled in the most troubled voice I’ve ever heard “what kind of people are you any way”? “Why would you do something like this”? Bob, who later told me he wanted to be expelled said “Because he wanted to”. Then Colonel John. threw us out of his office.

Now, for the real consequences-the call to my parents. You can only imagine the shame! Our parents were informed that we could complete the remainder of the school year but could not under any circumstances return the next year.

GMS leadership could and probably should have expelled us immediately. But…they didn’t. I certainly admire them for that. The school year was nearly over, and completion elsewhere would have been difficult.

We were young and stupid kids. This event forced us to grow up. We were not yet men, but we did take our consequences like men. Our punishment was 200 demerits requiring endless hours “marching the beat” during our free time.

We marched in the Quadrangle until we were totally bored, then marched out back of the school laundry building. We were a tight-knit group, but of course had many arguments and even a fight or two. Two of our merry band of brothers bloodied each other’s lips before we could pull them apart. But for the most part, we were mutually supportive.

So, what did we learn?
· Consequences always follow actions
· Stand tall and face your punishment like men
· You can learn from even horrible decisions
· Make better mistakes the next time
I hope to share some further thoughts and observations soon.
Recollections from other participants may differ and are welcome.

Randy McKee '66: As a follow up to my last post, here is the first letter (See Letter 1 below) my parents received from Colonel John about the Mooning incident. Again, not proud of my participation, but appreciate the hard-earned life lessons it taught.

Randy McKee'66: My last post about the aborted April, 1964 Band trip to the Cherry Blossom Parade contained Colonel John's letter to my parents. It stated that under NO CIRCUMSTANCES would "Moon Platoon" participants' be allowed to return the following year.
That letter demonstrated his ability to demand justice and deliver appropriate punishment.

This second letter (See Letter 2 below) permitting us to return showed that he could deliver MERCY as well as justice. I'm forever grateful for the mercy shown and regret that I never told him so.

Hope you enjoy his letter.

Rebecca Moore Howard: Okay, I’ve been thinking about Randy’s post. My brother and I were talking about it this evening, and neither one of us could remember who in the heck the faculty member was who was on that bus. Was he asleep? Complicit? Visiting his Aunt Mildred in Minneapolis? Please tell me somebody remembers who it was and whether his employment survived that little escapade! Because Mike and I do recall that our father was mad as a hornet!

Russell Palmer '66: I was on bus 1. I thought Capt Hamrick was on our bus but was sitting 1st row up front seat.

It happened so fast he was unaware it was happening. He was furious when he did find out what happened. Just my memory.

James Burns '64: There were two buses. The first bus had CPT Hemrick and fist year cadets on it. The second bus had mostly juniors and seniors on it and NO supervision... We got as far as Ronceverte when the state police pulled us over informing Cpt Hemrick to return to GMS. From this second bus group came the "Moon Platoon”.

Ed Haynes '66: as I recall, it reduced the band to a skeleton of people whose morale had been broken and who knew little about instruments - in 1st platoon, "A" company we fell in next to them - they seemed a shattered bunch and, as I recall, sounded like one on parade - poor Capt. Hamrick - I'm surprised the Moores didn't fire him - memories fade after all these decades.

Randy McKee '66: Ed Haynes comments seem a little harsh - but perhaps well deserved. I have letters to my parents about the event from Colonel John. One says we cannot return the next year - the second offering the ability to return. (and his reasons for reconsidering) I hope to post those letters but have not yet found a way that provides good visibility. Best regards.

Frank Frashier '69: My first year at GMS was '64-'65. I had joined the band my second year, '65-66.
But... I had heard of the "Moon Platoon" back in Charleston, WV while I attended 7th grade at Lincoln Jr. High.
It was a major "joke" then whenever The Cherry Blossom Festival was mentioned.

Jim Fink '68: Lots of crazy stuff happened that never was found out. The morning of the 68 graduation there was a “riot” with chests and various items thrown over the stoops into the Courtyard. However the mess was cleaned up before the parents showed up. Col Johnny saw the carnage and pleaded for the mess to be cleaned up.

The Letters:

Letter #1 (Goodbye Randy)

1 May 1964
Mr. Darrell D. McKee
Route 2, Box-573
South Point, Ohio 45680

Dear Mr. McKee:

While Randy may have already given you his version of the story some recent actions on his part make it very necessary that we also con­tact you with some information that we find most difficult to handle. Yesterday our Band left for the two day Winchester trip and within a few minutes after their departure we commenced to receive telephone calls from police officers in the towns through which they passed and also from private citizens living in those towns and in the countryside in between towns. The reports were that some of the cadets were removing the clothing from the waist down and were riding in the bus with their bare buttocks projecting from the windows of the bus. We were able to contact the police in Clifton Forge, Virginia, a town approximately forty miles from here, and they stopped the busses and passed on to the faculty officer in charge our request that he immediately contact us by telephone. He was told to return immediately and not continue the trip. Had we not given him those instructions I feel that the Virginia State Police, who had also called by that time, would have refused to permit any further travel on the part of those particular busses.

Since your boy was one of those who was involved and one of those who was exposing himself we feel that a letter to you about the matter becomes absolutely essential. It is my personal feeling that expulsion from school is entirely justified and this is also the opinion of the majority of the remainder of our administrative group. The fact that they are not being immediately expelled is largely my own decision and I quite frankly do not feel that I can explain my reasons for not doing so. It has been decided that the boys will be permitted to remain in school until the end of this year but there is no possibility whatsoever that any of the group involved would ever be permitted to attend in the future. We would prefer that they be withdrawn at this time even though we are not making this a definite requirement.

I personally cannot conceive of a student wishing to remain in a school when his feelings about it would permit him to behave in this manner. The injury to the reputation, the embarrassment, and the other effects of this nature which are inflicted upon the remainder of the individuals in the student body, the individual faculty members, the individual members of the school administration and the school as an intangible entity indicate a complete disrespect and an utter contempt for those beings enumerated above and the things for which they are attempting to stand. Under these circumstances we fail to see how the individual concerned could wish to remain here or how you, as a parent, could wish your boy in an institution or in a group with him feeling this way about that institution or group. In the event he does remain, he will be given the most severe punishment at our disposal and will be very closely restricted throughout the remainder of this school year. He will not only not be permitted to make any visits to town, he will not be permitted off of the school grounds even with you, his parents, for the remaining time. He will be given a large number of demerits and he will be restricted in other ways. Any indication whatsoever of any lack of cooperation with the requirements and restrictions which are placed upon them will necessarily result in immediate expulsion regardless of the time of year at which this incident may occur. In the event there is any such evidence Randy will be placed upon the next available means of commercial transpor­tation leaving this community.

I do not feel that it is possible for us to express our regrets concerning the entire matter or the difficulty with which this letter is written.

Yours very sincerely,
W. J. Moore Colonel,
GMS Superintendent

Letter 2. Welcome Back (sort of)

1 June 1964

Mr. Darrell D. McKee
Route 2, Box 573
South Point, Ohio 45680

Dear Mr. McKee:

In the time which has elapsed since our rather disastrous band trip to Winchester we have given a great deal of thought to the matter and have examined the situation rather closely. In view of the apparent motives, thoughts, and basic intentions of the individuals involved it does not appear that the entire situation is quite as bad as it might have appeared at first glance.

We have also carefully observed the individuals concerned through­out the remainder of the year and I have talked personally with each of them at length during the last few days of the school year. In view of all of the factors involved we have decided that we will permit their return next year if it is your desire that they do so. In doing this there will be no prejudice against the boys nor any further punishment for their past actions unless there is a repetition of something of a serious nature. In the event any serious breach of regulations should occur during the coming year then we will consider this past event and will find it necessary to send the boy home. As a result of my talk with him I do not feel that there is any possibility that this will be necessary.

Since it is our understanding that you wish your boy to return we will definitely hold a place for him and will include him in our thinking for next year. In the event you do not wish him to return we would appreciate hearing from you to that effect.

Yours very sincerely,
W. J. Moore Colonel,
GMS Superintendent

(And so Ends the Moon Platoon Saga. Thanks to all for your contributions.)