Recovered from the defunct pages of the West Point Association of Graduates Assembly magazine, Goat Poop – Reflections from the Last Section includes a collection of essays from career soldier and West Point graduate Freed Lowrey (’67).
More than just subtle observations from an old Soldier, Goat Poop provides hilarious, often “tongue-in-cheek” essays on military life―and the human condition―that readers from all backgrounds will appreciate.
Lowrey opines on a range of commonplace topics―from fishing and yard sales, to marriage and bachelorhood―with tales of military life and his beloved West Point sprinkled in for good measure, along with a touching tribute to our heroes in uniform.
Abundant in humor, with a plethora of big words, Goat Poop is a wonderful addition to every library, admonishing us all to keep in step, and Beat Navy!"
Freed Lowrey graduated from West Point in 1967 and was commissioned in the Infantry. He spent the next twenty-three years on active duty, with combat assignments in Vietnam and troop and staff assignments at various posts in the Continental United States, as well as Alaska and Germany, and exchange assignments in Australia and Finland. After retiring from active duty, he spent seven years teaching Junior ROTC in Hampton, Virginia.
Freed hung up his military uniform for good in the summer of 1997 and returned to West Point to work for the West Point Association of Graduates, the Academy’s alumni organization, as a major gift fund raiser in the Development Office. He retired from that career on 31 December 2014. He is still trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life.
Freed has served as the class of 1967 scribe and historian since 1979. In that capacity he authored 207 sets of “Class Notes,” reports on the activities of the class of 1967 for publication in the Association of Graduates magazine Assembly, until the magazine ceased publication in 2011.
In 2019 he published all those articles, along with the accompanying photographs, in a single volume titled USMA Class of 1967 Assembly Class Notes―The Complete Collection. He also publishes The Pooper Scooper, a quarterly news magazine for the class of 1967. In preparation for the 50th reunion of the class, he put together the official reunion book, 744 pages of classmate biographies, photos, and class history. In 2021 he published a photographic history of the class of 1967 titled Faces of Service, Faces of Sacrifice, Faces of Valor: A Photographic History of the Service to the Nation by the West Point Class of 1967.
Freed lives with his wife, Victoria (Vicki), in Fishkill, NY. He has two living sons―Kyle, who lives in Spokane, WA; and Brendan, in Hampton, VA. His third son, Colin, passed away in 2020, ten days shy of his 38th birthday.
He loves fly-fishing, travel, good friends, good books, good food and good drink, and beating Navy in everything.
“For those who didn’t serve in uniform, Freed Lowrey’s pungent observations of military life are a revelation. His essays are penetratingly hilarious, heartbreaking, and everything in-between. Those who did serve will be transported to days that were a mixture of tedium and terror and left all of us with an indelible tattoo on our memories. In either case, you must read this book.” -Colonel Jack Jacobs (Retired), Medal of Honor recipient Author, “If Not Now, When? Duty and Sacrifice in America’s Time of Need” Senior Fellow, Department of Social Sciences, United States Military Academy Military News Analyst, the NBC News networks
“At first glance, Freed Lowrey’s Goat Poop would appear to be a collection of essays intended mainly for those who have endured the military service-related experiences described in the book. However, just like everything else about Freed Lowrey, looks can be deceiving. Goat Poop is about life…all of life: the joys and sorrows, the triumphs and tribulations, the unforgettable characters one encounters on life’s journey. Lowrey combines his finely-tuned observational skills with his wicked sense of humor in a volume that will make you laugh out loud…and swell with emotion…as he takes us on a journey that reminds us all of what is truly important in life.” <B> -Brigadier General Daniel J. Kaufman (Retired) Dean of the Academic Board and Chief Academic Officer, United States Military Academy 2000-2005 Charter President, Georgia Gwinnett College 2005-2013
