Harry Roper

Moving once a year, as many Army families must do, didn’t stop him from the usual boyhood hobbies and antics from building airplanes to taking aim with his BB-gun. (He may have gotten in trouble a time or two for shooting a squirrel out of the tree!)

Settling in Sherman, Texas for the 4-5yrs that his father served in WWII, Ken joined the Boy Scouts where he developed the propensity to build (aka: disassemble) the radios found around the house. An Eagle Scout at age 14, Ken’s curiosity of how things “worked” prevailed post scouts (much to the disconcertion of his mother, father and little brother who tended to find their electronics or toys reduced to a pile of parts.)

In 1947, the war at a close and the family re-united, it was back to Washington, DC where Harry, Jr was to complete his senior year of high school at Woodrow Wilson High.

None of the previous moves of his 17yrs would have a greater impact, as here was where he would meet his future bride of 68 years – Nancy Lou Cochran.

The senior year sweethearts would have to delay their nuptials as Ken’s ambition for adventure was never at bay. He had his sights on the West Point Military Academy. Although his father was a West Point graduate himself, that did nothing to ensure the necessary Senate appointment that Harry, Jr needed to attend.

With no appointment available to him, Ken attended Sullivan’s Preparatory school to study for the ridged West Point entrance exam, attempting to earn one of about 10 slot awards for the class of 1952. (Over 300 candidates competed for those 10 spots.)

“Endeavor to persevere!” he would often say and persevere he did; it was off to West Point.

Naturally the military academy taught this restless “boy” discipline and the strategies of war, but it also taught him the useful life-long crutch of drinking coffee! Shivering at the tables in the mess during the frigid up-state NY winters, Ken envied his fellow Plebes huddled over their steaming cup of joe. His lifelong coffee habit was born out of the necessity to keep warm and continued for the….caffeine?!

Ken successfully became a “Ring Knocker” on 03 June 1952.

Nancy and “Kenny” (as she was fond of calling him), were married 14 days later (17 June 1952) and then it was OFF on their own whirlwind military life; starting in early post-war Korea. (COLD! Is what he remembers most about that tour of duty – but he had coffee.)

From there it was on to Germany where they enjoyed the west German culture, intricate wooden Christmas ornaments and acquired their beloved Collie named “Mac”.

Back in the states, Ken gravitated to his next adventure – Army Aviation. He went to San Marcos, TX for fixed wing training in a Beaver and found his true niche while training in the UH1 (Huey) at Camp Wolters in Mineral Wells, TX and Ft. Rucker, Alabama.

At Ft. Rucker, the family grew with the birth of daughter number one: Lou. Daughter number two, Lee, entered picture about three years later at Ft. McPherson, Georgia.

Flying is where his sense of adventure met passion, and he was able to apply his skills as an aviator and his passion for country in Vietnam over two tours of duty (1966-1967; 1968-1969). (“It was good adventure.” was his common reply when thanked for his military service.)

The lifelong bond with those who served with him (and after him) in the 48th Assault Helicopter Company (where, as commander, he coined their moto “Skill, Not Luck”), continues to this day. An unbreakable bond between men who have Duty, Honor and Country in their core.

Post Vietnam, saw Ken dedicating his next chapter to his Civil Engineering skills as (Army Corp of Engineers) Assistant District Engineer in northern California and later as District Engineer in Southern California. Throw in a few stints at the Pentagon and TDY in St. Louis as Chairman of the committee to choose a new helicopter for the Army (Enter the Blackhawk!) and you have the abridged version of the 26 years of dedicated service to Army and country of Brigadier General Harry McKenzie Roper, Jr.

After so much action, most of us would spend retirement relaxing, but retiring at only 48 years old left plenty of room for more exploits so it was off to the next chapter - or if you are a Morris-the-cat fan (as he was) - it was on to his next life!.

An avid sailor since purchasing a Coronado 25 (Rival) in the 1960’s and teaching himself how to sail (“Sailing is simply flying turned 90 degrees!”) – Ken and daughter Lou, competed in many offshore races and events such as Newport (CA) to Ensenada races, the inaugural Marion to Bermuda race (1977) and the Baja Ha-Ha where they took first place in the Burrito division! Having gained this experience, confidence and offshore skills he took off to Tahiti in his 30 foot wooden sailboat, Rival II. (Some people may say they will retire and “sail to Tahiti”, well, he really did!)

On the return sail (1978) he stopped in Kauai and fell in love with the beauty and majesty of that tiny Hawaiian Island. (“More beautiful than Bora Bora and it’s in the USA. Why go anywhere else?!”)

It was there, on the return leg from Tahiti, that fate brought him to “The Tree” where he met the racers of the Singlehanded Transpac, the biennial sailboat race from San Franscisco to Hanalei. He was hooked. Once home he traded Rival II for a Finn Flyer 31 (Harrier) – Finnish made offshore racer-cruiser.

Appropriately dubbed “The General” by the single-handed sailing community, he spent the next 30+ years sailing the Pacific to/from the Hawaiian Islands and to coastal Mexican destinations like Cabo, La Paz or Puerto Vallarta for Christmas. When not officially racing to Hawaii, he was often accompanied by Lee or sailing friends as crew to share the unique experience of being a tiny boat on the “GBO” (Great Big Ocean). He held the record (and probably still does) for being the oldest to compete in the Singlehanded Transpac – his last official race being in 2014 at age 84.5; and known as the guy that has acquired the MOST belt buckles along the way! (SSS belt buckle = completion trophy!)

The 1960’s and 1970’s were the Jacques Cousteau era planting the seed of something else new to try! Ken and daughter, Lee, became certified scuba divers in 1979. Together they’ve enjoyed innumerable underwater adventures encountering many sea creatures while maintaining a particular focus on exploring WWII wrecks. Their most recent diving adventure was in 2019 (Ken at 89 years old) diving the Japanese wrecks of Chuuk Lagoon.

Through the years, between earning enough certificates and diplomas to wallpaper a room (Including a master’s in civil engineering (Cal Tech) and a master’s in business (Auburn)), Ken shared his love for everything outdoors with his family: camping, fishing, canoeing and his love for sports (always rooting for the Washington Redskins or the original Washington Senators). He enjoyed watching Star Trek, Batman, Lost in Space, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (“Sparks”), Hee-Haw and Mission Impossible with his girls. (“Your mission, should you care to accept it, or not” was his variation of the famous MI declaration!)

After nearly a century of feats and adventure, Harry, ‘Ken’, ‘Kenny’, ‘The General’, ‘Dad’, (or ‘Bud’ to his BBQ House ‘family’) will be laid to rest with, well-deserved, full military honors alongside his high school sweetheart and life partner, Nancy, at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC.

Having left this life peacefully on 27 December 2025, he is missed by his daughters: Lou and Lee; grandchildren: Bradley, Gracie and Kevin; great grandchild: Natalie and countless friends who may (or may not) admit to having joined in his exploits along the way. 😊

Well done, Dad!