It was my privilege to work for Colonel Westervelt in 1979-80, when he was the Deputy Chief of Staff of U. S. Army Japan, and I was the Secretary of the General Staff. It was a privilege to work for him because COL Westervelt was one of the last of the really good Infantry colonels. He knew a lot, he led by example, and he taught his subordinates how to mature in their positions and profession.
A highlight of our relationship was a trip my wife, Grace, and I took with the Westervelts to Seto, Japan. Seto is the city in which they make the famous blue and white Japanese pottery. We rented a van from Recreation Services and drove from Camp Zama down to Seto. It had to have been late morning when arrived in town and parked. The ladies immediately went into the “shop until you drop” mode. As I recall, each family had a substantial stack of plates, bowls, cups and saucers stashed in the van by late afternoon.
It was then time to look for a hotel. That search ended when we discovered there were no hotels in Seto. COL Westervelt found a Japanese gentlemen who offered to lead us to a hotel by pointing to his heart and saying, “I guido.” Off we went over hill and down dale until we came to the city of Toyota. Our “guido” stopped and ran into the hotel. Soon he came to our van to tell us the price for a night. It was acceptable; plus we had virtually no other choice.
As we checked in at the hotel the lady at the desk kept saying “toasto?” We finally figured out she was asking if we Americans wanted toast with breakfast the next morning. We all told her “hai” and had what I’d call Texas toast with our leisurely breakfast the next morning. Fortunately, the ride back to Camp Zama was uneventful, except for good conversation.
Colonel Westervelt was a leader, a guide and a teacher. He was a great American and a wonderful person.
Tom & Grace Scrivener
