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- Feb 2, 2008
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I lifted this from an Alumni web site, but it is a marvelous story that indicates what the Ring and the experiences shared at VMI mean to most alums: Enjoy:
“On this day, the night of Feb 27, 1944, Alumnus CPT Stanley R. Navas '41 was in Sessano, Italy. He led a combat raid of 30 men behind the enemy lines with the mission of capturing or killing the occupants of two farmhouses. They were presumably ranking German officers.
During his mission, CPT Navas was hit by an enemy grenade, severing his left arm. Despite this injury, CPT Navas successfully completed his mission. He destroyed an enemy observation post, two machine gun emplacements, and killed about twenty Germans.
Before CPT Navas allowed medics to take him off the battlefield, he insisted that his severed arm is found. A few hours later, a soldier found and brought the mangled remains of the severed arm to CPT Navas.
Using his good arm, CPT Navas slid his Virginia Military Institute Class of 1941 Ring off the severed arm. He kept the #VMIClassRing but threw the severed arm away.
CPT Navas was later presented with the Silver Star "for gallantry in action as a member of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division."
The injury ended CPT Navas's military career. He returned to Lexington, VA and became an Instructor of Military Science and Tactics at the #VirginiaMilitaryInstitute.
Today, we honor the courage and leadership of CPT Navas. Today, we celebrate his loyalty to the Institute, and to his BRs with a ring, he holds so dearly.”
“On this day, the night of Feb 27, 1944, Alumnus CPT Stanley R. Navas '41 was in Sessano, Italy. He led a combat raid of 30 men behind the enemy lines with the mission of capturing or killing the occupants of two farmhouses. They were presumably ranking German officers.
During his mission, CPT Navas was hit by an enemy grenade, severing his left arm. Despite this injury, CPT Navas successfully completed his mission. He destroyed an enemy observation post, two machine gun emplacements, and killed about twenty Germans.
Before CPT Navas allowed medics to take him off the battlefield, he insisted that his severed arm is found. A few hours later, a soldier found and brought the mangled remains of the severed arm to CPT Navas.
Using his good arm, CPT Navas slid his Virginia Military Institute Class of 1941 Ring off the severed arm. He kept the #VMIClassRing but threw the severed arm away.
CPT Navas was later presented with the Silver Star "for gallantry in action as a member of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division."
The injury ended CPT Navas's military career. He returned to Lexington, VA and became an Instructor of Military Science and Tactics at the #VirginiaMilitaryInstitute.
Today, we honor the courage and leadership of CPT Navas. Today, we celebrate his loyalty to the Institute, and to his BRs with a ring, he holds so dearly.”
