Monday, June 29, 2009

50 years separate West Point teammates


Good things happen in threes.

It's certainly true in the case of 2nd Lt. Andy Ernesto and Dr. Len Marrella and Gen. Frederick M. Franks Jr.

When Ernesto, of West Lawn, took an internship with Spring Ridge Financial in Wyomissing during his junior and senior years at Wilson High School he got to work closely with Dr. Len Marrella.

About a week into the internship he learned that Marrella, aka the Money Doctor on WEEU and author of "In Search of Ethics," a book extolling the virtues of good character, morals and adherence to principles, was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. Franks wrote a chapter in Marrella's book.

Ernesto had been kicking around the idea of going to West Point and Marrella encouraged him all the more. Ernesto and Marrella also talked sports and Ernesto learned that Marrella had played center field at West Point and had been a team captain.

"It was awesome," Ernesto said of working with Marrella. "He is a great guy."

When Ernesto got to West Point he met Franks, a West Lawn native now living in Florida, who still teaches at the academy.

"It was kind of weird: We went to the same high school," Ernesto said. "He graduated from West Point 1959 and I graduated in 2009, and your 50-year class is a really big thing at West Point," Ernesto said. "They are your class sponsors."


Ernesto also learned that Franks had played baseball at Wilson, and was a center fielder and team captain for the Army Black Knights.

Franks said he is impressed with Ernesto's leadership skills, both on the baseball diamond and in the classroom.

"Ernesto and I both played center field for Wilson High School at the Owls Field in West Lawn and share with Len Marrella all being West Point baseball captains and all from Berks County," Franks said. "I played in the same outfield with Len at West Point for one year."

Marrella, whose book is required reading at West Point, said he was two years ahead of Franks and remembers playing with the general in the Black Knights' outfield.

"I played center field and Gen. Franks took over center field when I graduated," Marrella said.

Franks and Marrella both praised Ernesto as the kind of leader that not only the Army but the country needs.

With lieutenant's bars and a degree in engineering management under his belt, Ernesto said he's off to Fort Rucker, Ala., in August, where he'll spend two years training to become a helicopter pilot.

When you talk about local boys making good, Franks and Marrella are two and Ernesto makes three.

On the Web

To learn more about Andy Ernesto's record-setting baseball career with the Army Black Knights visit www.goarmysports.com.

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