Not Pictured
Tricomi Jr., William
Lewis, Billy L.
Younker, Michael E.
Gass (Spencer), J. E.
Burkhalter, Robert E.
Hallett, Michael T.
Company
Lind, Stephen M.
Arnold, Robert G.
Long, Daniel J.
Day, Joseph M.
Heidel, Michael L.
st
Bishop, John E.
Mascari, Guy T.
Gailey, Randall W.
Hutchison, John R.
1
Ribalta, Charles
Bohm, Dwight K.
First Regiment
Parrague’ Opazo, C.
First Battalion
Cairnes III, George W.
Anderson, Gerald J.
Jones Jr., Meade A.
Snyder III, Charles F.
Johnson, David H.
Barry, Brian J.
1
Kokstein, Robert G.
Conkle, William C.
Tippett, Donald D.
Macklin, Crofford J.
Harter, Michael P.
Kopp, William J.
DeNight, Terrence M.
Townsend, Lawrence W.
Pollacek, James E.
Anderson, Gerald John
Cairnes, George W.
He married his academy sweetheart, Terry Culler. Together they had one son, Michael. Naval aviation had been Jerry’s desire from Induction Day. He went to Pensacola in one of the first classes after graduation. It was at Pensacola that Jerry lost his life on July 17, 1970. During a formation flight training the OPS Officer cleared his flight for landing at Whiting Field. Jerry broke his aircraft into low clouds over the airfield. His vision was obscured resulting in crashing into the ground near the airfield.
He is buried in the Barrancas National Cemetery at the Pensacola Naval Air Station with Vietnam on his gravestone. Jerry’s name is also on the plate in the Memorial Hall for Academy graduates who died in the service during the Vietnam war.
Caption Left
Jerry grew up in Tucson, Arizona and graduated from Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana, in 1964. After graduation he attended University of Arizona in Tucson. He was initiated into Delta Upsilon fraternity. He was a leader at Culver and his high school experience in a military environment prepared him well for the rigors of the Naval Academy.
Addison Jones’ recollections:
Jerry was active in Company sports - flag football and his favorite was fieldball. He served on the committee that designed the Class of 1969 ring. He was so unselfish with his time. During one restriction period he collected music around the brigade to create two 1200-foot reels of current rock and roll songs from 1956-1967 for his roommate. He made friends easily.
One night he had a knock on his door. It was a 3/c leaving the academy but wanted to give Jerry a gift for his friendship. It was a bottle of Tequila. Jerry was one the disc jockeys for the Academy radio station.
Each week he would play music he selected for the Brigade. He would get other classmates to join him. He had a Roberts reel to reel player in his room with the latest tapes.
Date of Death: Month 00, 2055
Gerald John Anderson Jr.
Caption Left for Photo Right
Caption Right for Photo Left
Memorial_Hall
Perry Dunn’s family
During the Academy years, I’m proudest about making the baseball team. Coach Duff was a difficult man to know, but it was well worth it. What we learned from him was not so much about baseball as ourselves. I tended to drift while he provided inside baseball knowledge like how we were using a “round bat to hit a round ball squarely”. I never wanted to succeed at anything more than I did at Navy baseball, and still wish I had done better. As good as it felt to hit an occasional line drive, however, returning from the boathouse with Tony, Danny, Mike(s) and others after practice remains the most memorable part of the experience.
Character and integrity accumulate slowly, often at a surprising price. The process is more natural in surroundings that recognize and value those qualities.
Among leaders who have graced the country, Jimmy Carter and John McCain stand out as examples of the consistent moral product that the Naval Academy can produce.
I’m pleased to have survived processes established at Annapolis to produce those characteristics. The habits created in that environment remain a gift, even when practiced imperfectly.
It’s between difficult and impossible to properly credit Naval Academy people who have influenced my life. There was “2.0” Mason (plebe year, American Lit.) who evaluated my first essay on Moby Dick. When Prof. Mason asked us to write in class about Capt. Ahab’s obsession with M.D., I had not yet peeked inside the book. How hard could this be? Perhaps he didn’t know there was a movie. His eloquence in critiquing my work is unforgettable. A singular “F” was prominent atop page one without a single word of explanation. It was my first graded paper at Navy.
I lucked into rooming with Mike Day after Plebe Summer. Mike knew the value of a college education and that we would not find one during evenings in Bancroft Hall.
We quickly became familiar with Mahan Hall Library, particularly on Friday nights when the upper class studied in the stacks with their dates. Mike’s intensity earned him near-perfect grades throughout Plebe year and led him toward a different kind of life after his first couple of months as a Youngster.
When he went to the Fifth Battalion office to resign, LCDR Breen told him to shine his shoes and come back—probably the coolest thing I heard about the commander. Mike thought so too.
Robert Glenn Arnold
Caption Right
Brian James Barry
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John Edward Bishop
My current life: teaching students and flying rescue animals. I’m in the blue ball cap. He’s a rescue, not a student (although he is probably smarter than some of them).
A Cameo from the Life and Times of Jeb Bishop -- Coffee at Mid Watch
Can you remember a scene from the German movie Das Boot: two officers driving the ship [I know it’s called “boat”, Larry, but I was a surface snipe, remember?] on the surface through heavy weather with water breaking over the conning tower – and patently enjoying themselves?
Translate that to the conning officer’s station in a WWII-constructed cable ship; December in the early 70s, two weeks west of Lisbon and about 1000 fathoms above an obscure sea mount in the mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Bohm Family Reunion at Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, June 2018. (L-->R) Caroline Bohm (daughter-in-law) & granddaughter Kathryn Bohm (age 8); Norma Bohm & granddaughter Margaret Bohm (age 6); granddaughter Elise Bohm (age 6) & son Darin Bohm; Dwight Bohm; grandson Owen Lahiji (age 10); granddaughter Claire Lahiji (age 8) & daughter Shannon Bohm Lahiji, son-in-law Ashkan Lahiji & grandson Cameron Lahiji (age 6)
Dwight Keith Bohm
Robert Earl Burkhalter
Sharon and Robert Burkhalter
George Wilson Cairnes III
George in the air over USNA flying a TA4J Skyhawk. The picture was presented to Alison at the memorial service for George by classmate, ball player, Tony Fortino. Tony made a nice farewell speech about George “never running out of bombs and rockets”.
My parents met in Annapolis in 1944 and married in the Chapel in 1945. They hoped I would attend USNA.
My generation got the first transistor radios and we loved listening to rock and roll and the Beatles.
Our parish had lots of Poles and Hungarians. The
Communists were torturing and killing their relatives back home. My scoutmaster’s thumb ends had been cut off. By eighth grade, we were ready to go to Europe and be anti-communist freedom fighters.
During high school I became an Eagle Scout. I worked summers at Boy Scout Camp, played basketball, ran track and cross-country. I worked restoring and repairing old cars, working on hot rods and spent time at drag strips and informal drags on city streets.
Before getting into USNA I spent one year at Ohio State. I worked in a tool and die shop, ran cross-country and track, and was a brother in Sig Ep fraternity.
William Christian Conkle
During 1st Class Year I served in Winter and Spring Set Color Guards – photo shown here is Spring Set Color Guard composed of classmates (L to R) Dwight Bohm, Mike Hallett, CF Snyder, myself and Bob Kokstein
During 1st Class Year I served in Winter and Spring Set Color Guards – photo shown here is Spring Set Color Guard composed of classmates (L to R) Dwight Bohm, Mike Hallett, CF Snyder, myself and Bob Kokstein
Of course, those same officers would have agreed completely with Camus' view that what he knew the most about morality and the duties of men he owed to sports. I had trouble understanding Camus' philosophy despite reading his books. Mike, who seemed to have a deep understanding of Camus and others, kept trying to help me understand him better. I believe that Mike's feeling that USNA was depriving him of the opportunity to learn important things caused him to want to leave. After Mike left, I never found another Midshipmen with whom I could talk about philosophy.
Bob Arnold’s recollections:
Let me start by saying that Mike was a huge part of my plebe year and that I may have related some of this in my own LOC. Since I don’t know what LOC stands for, some of this may be way off topic. And if my story has changed a little since I wrote my own, it’s an age thing, not a HCV.
I have no idea why Mike and I hit it off Plebe Summer, but the two of us decided to room together in the fall. It was a defining choice for me. Mike was convinced that a college education was a privilege too great to waste during Bancroft Hall evenings.
(Joseph Michael Ponce)
Joseph Michael Day
Mike was born in California and went to school in West Covina California. His father died when he was young. As a plebe, Mike remained devoted to his high school girl friend. They later married. When Mike left the Naval Academy in 1966, he joined the Naval Reserve as a corpsman and entered the University of California at Berkeley.
Bill Conkle’s recollections:
In early Youngster Year, Mike and I were thrown together. Our interactions were one of the best and most memorable things that happened to me at USNA. Mike was different from other midshipmen. I guess my resistance to being told by the officers at USNA what to think made us soul mates. Looking back on it, I see a fleeting time of intellectual curiosity.
During the first part of Youngster Year I got to know Mike well. Mike and I sat on the same table. We had endless conversations about philosophy. I had been to college and had studied about arts. Mike felt that at USNA he was missing out on liberal arts. We talked about Albert Camus, a French philosopher from Algeria and his books. Camus had been a member of the French resistance fighter during WWII. Perhaps Camus' pre-WWII membership in Communist Party, an organization that was anathema of the people in charge at the Naval Academy, made him more interesting to us.
Diana and I, taken two years ago on her birthday.
Terrence Michael DeNight
Randy was born August 17, 1947, in Battle Creek, Iowa. Randy’s father was a WWII veteran, serving 1942-1946. Randy entered the Naval Academy from Iowa, joining the 25th Company his plebe year.
Date of Death: February 21, 1969
25th Company Plebes, future members of 1st Company, Class of 1969. Randy Gailey is in the second row standing far left. The photo was taken in late 1965.
Randall Wait Gailey
Dwight Bohm’s recollections:
I roomed with Randy 2nd semester plebe year. He was a pleasant roommate with a positive outlook and happy disposition. The more rigorous part of plebe year seemed behind us. There was less harassment. Our squad upper classmen encouraged us to stay squared away and focus on academics.
James Eugene Gass (Spencer)
When I was in high school in MCAS Iwakuni, Japan I really had no idea what college was. My dad had dropped out of high school to enlist in the Navy and my mom dropped out of high school to marry my dad. There was no culture on either side of college attendance so I was on my own. As I was bumbling along my girlfriend’s dad told me about USNA…and after that my bumbling became more linear.
At USNA I never quite “broke the code.” It seemed like everyone else had a purpose but I just tried to make it through. I remember noticing that Bob Arnold and my roommate Jim Gass (now Spencer) always seemed to succeed by just focusing more than others. Neither seemed to practice the “defensive academics” of wandering around room-to-room shooting the bull. So I tried to copy them and made it through by discovering the “gouge” for each course.
The closest calls I had discipline wise were wandering around town one night in white works, I think First Company had sponsored a hay ride. Could that be right? Then coming back after Christmas leave first class year I discovered a full bottle of wine in my luggage when I unpacked in my room. I panicked (a classmate had been expelled for a near empty bottle) and called my company officer. To his everlasting credit he told me to just get rid of it, so over the quay wall it went.
Michael Thomas Hallett
I married a lovely young woman, Patricia, the day after graduation. It was a great adventure as we were off to Nuclear Power School in Vallejo and enjoyed months of San Francisco weekends. I served in USS Truxtun (CGN 35) and Patricia gave me two great children on my first two deployments to WestPac. For Michael II’s birth (1971) I was in Number 2 Engine Room in the South China Sea. For Megan (1972) I had moved up to Number 1 Engine Room but it was again in the South China Sea. I still marvel that Patricia was doing the hard stuff; actually building our family while I was thousands of miles away thinking I had it tough.
I served mostly in Surface Nuclear billets and was always impressed with the system Admiral Rickover devised, not just the technical side of things, but organizing people.
The most remarkable event of our first 20 years out of USNA was actually the strides our country made in using the potential of women. I went from considering them all “honeys” with limited roles of teacher, secretary, or nurse while at USNA to the ‘80’s in USS Cape Cod (AD 43) where my crew was about a third female and they could perform any job superbly.
This is a sketch of my life… events and influences important to me.
Authority issues... a prime driver from my earliest thoughts… came from my father, a farm kid from Ohio who left home at age 14, enlisting in the military to fight in WWI. A 38-year army veteran, he made a career of pointing out to superiors when they were wrong, a trait apparently respected in the military of that time. My godfather was a four-star general named Van Fleet who slept on our couch when he went hunting with my father. As a mustang, Dad retired full colonel, rare on the unicorn level, by questioning authority and stamping his brand of individualism on his path in life... and on mine.
As young man, I butted heads with my father, showing him no particular affection. Several high school and academy classmates got to know him personally, one being Mike Day who left USNA and enrolled at UC Berkeley, near my parents’ home. Mike moved in for a week and stayed 18 months. A hippie pacifist emblematic of the time, I heard from Mom about Mike’s heated discussions with Dad. But they became friends, 50-years apart in age. It tells much about Dad's approach to life that when Mike decided to marry, he asked Dad to be his best man.
Michael Paul Harter
On 1st Class Cruise, while walking back to our ship from NOB D&S Piers O-club, one of our more lubricated classmates threw up on the hood of a green MGB. A girl jumped out, mad as hell. I stayed behind to apologize. I was apparently convincing because we married after I separated from the Academy just before graduation for a liquor violation. That story, to be told another time, would make a “big, fat wedding” movie. While living in Arlington I went to law school and worked in the D.C. US Attorney’s Office Criminal Division, surrounded by real-deal prosecutors who reinforced my belief in personal freedom and the sacred limits imposed by our constitution on law enforcement officials and authority in general.
One day after getting stuck in traffic on the Roosevelt Bridge, I talked my wife into moving to her hometown in upstate New York, largely a bad decision. I opened a law office, became assistant district attorney and found myself doing the tango with a local detective sergeant who thought himself resident emperor. After being told he couldn't manufacture evidence in cases he was bringing, he directed his attention at me, resulting in temporary suspension of my law license, outrageous considering the infraction. Seeking advice from our county supreme court justice, I was told to be quiet and let the situation resolve itself.
This is the 1969 Brigade Championship Company Basketball Team—1st Company. Mike Heidel (far left in photo) was the manager, which made him responsible for ensuring that nobody on the team was juicing. He's grinning because he's just braced up the little guy to the left of him.
Michael Lynch Heidel
John Rudolph Hutchison
Bill Kopp (left) and J.R. (right) enjoying fun days in Bancroft Hall during 2nd class year
Plebe year was a blur with virtually constant early morning extra duty to work off over 400 demerits [I’ve always wondered what the record was] and an open invitation to attend daily come-arounds at the door of Hamp Tisdale. My memory has never been great and lately it is less than good but events that stand out include the first time I heard “Eternal Father” sung in the chapel which still sends shivers down my spine and brings tears to my eyes when I sing it in church, the pride I felt when performing on the field at the Notre Dame game in South Bend (or was that a dream?), my first Navy – Army game and the honor of being one of several selected to represent the USNA Pistol Team at the national matches in Camp Perry, Ohio after summer cruise on the USS Shelton (DD 790).
Youngster year was the end for me. My vision went south and I was certain I wouldn’t be able to fly. Mental and emotional pressures led to poor academic performance and eventually resignation. I would attend numerous schools and hold several jobs before finally graduating from Virginia Tech in 1979 with a BSEE. I worked for General Electric in Charlottesville, Virginia for 5 years writing software for machine tools and robotic systems and finishing a Master of Computer Science degree at UVa. I left GE in 1984 for three years to go with Netlink, a startup company in Raleigh, before returning to GE in Lynchburg, Virginia in the mobile radio division. After some time in development I moved to technical support and finally to technical training.
My interest in the Navy began in the 1950’s when I read everything I could find on WWII, particularly regarding the Pacific Theatre. I had over 30 aircraft models hanging from my ceiling twisting slowly on fishing line anchors in the household air currents and breezes from the window. Republic’s P-47 and North American’s P-51 Mustang were especially captivating so I was leaning toward dreaming of flying in the Air Force – until the F-4 came along. From that moment I wanted to fly the Phantom.
I wanted to maximize my chances of scholarships and pathways to Naval Air. I enlisted in the Naval Reserve as a rising senior and accepted an NROTC scholarship to the University of Virginia in chemical engineering. I had also managed to qualify as a fifth alternate for a USNA nomination through Rep. J. Vaughan Gary with little hope of being selected. All set to attend UVa in the fall of 1965, that May I received notice to report to Annapolis.
Plebe summer was the most challenging time of my life as it was for nearly all plebes but especially for me at 6 ft., 165 lbs. I truly expected to wash out physically but somehow endured. Highlights of the summer were qualifying expert in rifle and pistol, performing in the Drum and Bugle Corps and for the first time in my life feeling I was a part of a group with a common goal. I believe the comradery was the source of my determination to persevere.
David Henry Johnson
Executive Vice President and Co-owner of TSRC Inc (2004)
My desire to attend the Naval Academy was motivated by three things: my parents served in the Navy during WWII; I wanted to be a Naval Aviator; and I needed help with college expenses. The TV show in the late fifties, “Men of Annapolis”, also captured my interest and challenged me. My first attempt out of high school failed. I had other choices but I attended Randolph Macon College (RMC) in Ashland, VA.
RMC was challenging and classwork was tough. Fraternity life, on the other hand, was great. It was agonizing to leave but Naval Air was still a strong goal; and I left for Annapolis and the Class of 1969.
My perspective was different than other classmates directly from high school. The fraternity pledging experience prepared me for upper class harassment. I found a like-minded midshipman, Jerry Anderson, in my company. He also had attended college and we roomed together for three years.
I had a burning desire to earn a Navy letter. I tried out for 150 LB Football (Sprint). Coach Cloud, an All-American from William and Mary, was an excellent coach. The highlight I most remember was beating Army 3-0 in 1967 at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Field, with my parents, family, and girlfriend in attendance. Academy life had so little free time. Meeting my future wife through another classmate was my luckiest break. Her trips to the academy contributed to staying sane.
Meade Addison Jones Jr.
A recent photo of Bob Kokstein, a.k.a. “Bullet” (source: Bob’s Linked page)
Robert Glenn Kokstein
William Joseph Kopp
Son Joe, Becka and Bill, St. Petersburg, Florida, 2010.
(Bill)
Billy LaRoy Lewis
During my thirty-year career as a Surface Warfare Office, I served in a variety of positions at sea, the high points of which were command of USS Takelma (AFT 113), USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) and USS Thomas S. Gates (CG 51). Between sea tours I managed to spend a year “in-country”, eke out a Master’s Degree in Manpower Analysis at Monterrey, serve two joyous tours in the programming arena in the Pentagon, attend the National War College (Class of 1992), and see more of our political system at work than I ever wanted in my capacity as Director of Senate Liaison in the Office of Legislative Affairs. In 1997, I returned to the waterfront (where I belonged) for two years and retired as Commanding Officer of the Southeastern Regional Maintenance Center in Mayport, Florida.
From 2000 until 2011, I was employed by Concurrent Technologies Corporation, a non-profit, applied R&D company headquartered in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Lee Markey and I were married in 1970, and raised three children – Michelle, now mother of two sons and residing in Parker, Colorado; Michael, now the father of two sons and residing in Jacksonville, Florida, and Matthew, now the father of a daughter and two sons, residing in Palm City, Florida.
Any success I enjoyed in the Navy I owe in large part to the willingness of Lee and the children to be uprooted every two or three years, face the many challenges of relocation foursquare and carry on with good humor. The children’s resilience still amazes me.
Lee and I divorced in 1996, and after nine years of bachelorhood, I married Susan Eckert, a career schoolteacher from Dunedin, Florida. Susan’s son, Stephen, is married and lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife and two lovely children. Susan and I live in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
My time these days is spent enjoying Susan’s company, spoiling the grandchildren and trying to give a little back through a variety of volunteer efforts. I’m ready to wet a hook or tee it up on a moment’s notice, so come on down.
– I have one or two sea stories.
Viet Nam
First real assignment: Helicopter Combat Support Suppoprt-1 (HC 1) at NAS Imperial Beach, CA. Our four Sikorsky H-3 helo detachment made two long deployments to Viet Nam. A few highlights & lowlights at war:
θ When I was at Viet Nam my wife was filling her role and mine, and our children were born and growing up. The lesson? Bad timing we couldn’t avoid.
θ Young sailor wrapping chains around himself and stepping off the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea to drown. Young sailors doing incredible things on the aircraft carrier deck. Picking up body bags in our helicopter. Sitting on a Marine’s borrowed flak jacket off Haiphong. Lesson? Challenges, and Bravo Zulu to the young sailors.
θ One night we were in our helo off the coast of Viet Nam, flying low on the starboard of the aircraft carrier while planes catapulted off the deck. An F-4 launched and its crew immediately ejected. The unmanned F-4, proceeding on full power, dropped until it almost touched the water. It stabilized, then climbed and completed the smoothest loop I’ve ever seen. Flames from the tail were lighting the night sky.
It’s all about the lessons we learn.
I was accepted to Brown University and ready to go, then I was accepted to USNA. My Mom was so excited about Navy, I went to Annapolis. The lesson? Listen to your Mom.
The current Mids will learn their own lessons at USNA. One suggestion. The lesson? Don’t put all your efforts into the silly crap the upper class likes to throw at you.
Flight training at NAS Pensacola
On my first solo flight in the T-34, I was doing fine until clouds developed. Without navigation training, I lost sight of the NAS. After 40 minutes, I admitted I was lost. I radioed for help. The first instructor suggested I head south until over water, climb to 4,000 feet, and bail out. Other instructors were able to locate me, guide me, and meet me when I landed. Humiliating. The lesson? Aviate, navigate, and communicate. I should have communicated as soon as I knew I was lost.
Stephen McCall Lind
Daniel Joseph Long
Dan Long most recently
After graduation I served as a Marine Corps artillery officer including a tour in Vietnam and as an artillery battery commander and completed twenty years of active duty and reserve component service. After active duty I attended law school at the University of Pittsburgh after which I practiced in the intellectual property law field.
I worked for a number of corporate legal departments, most recently in the aerospace and defense industry as senior intellectual property counsel for BAE Systems Electronic Systems in Nashua, NH. One interesting project in which I was involved at BAE was to start a program to license and sell with a license back dual use technology developed for Government use to commercial companies which helped BAE meet its financial commitments during the period of sequestration in the federal defense budget.
I retired from BAE Systems a few years ago, and I am continuing to practice intellectual property law with a law firm in Nashua, NH.
My wife, Maureen, and I live in Amherst, NH, and we have five children and three grandchildren.
Crof came to the Naval Academy from Lithopolis, Ohio, a small town near Columbus. Life at USNA was not what he expected and he resigned after the first semester. He enrolled at Ohio State University and graduated in 1969.
While at Ohio State, Crof entered the reserves and later completed the PLC program to become a Marine Corps officer. After graduation and obtaining a commission, he completed flight school in 1970. After a tour in the fleet, he became a flight instructor in T-28's. While in Pensacola, Crof obtained a second BA.
Leaving the Marine Corps as an O-3, Crof attended OSU law school, graduating in 1976. The majority of his legal career was spent as a partner at Thompson Hine, one of the largest law firms in the U.S.
Crof is retired and lives in Mt Pleasant, SC, a Charleston suburb.
Crofford Johnson Macklin Jr.
Crof came to the Naval Academy from Lithopolis, Ohio, a small town near Columbus. Life at USNA was not what he expected and he resigned after the first semester. He enrolled at Ohio State University and graduated in 1969.
While at Ohio State, Crof entered the reserves and later completed the PLC program to become a Marine Corps officer. After graduation and obtaining a commission, he completed flight school in 1970. After a tour in the fleet, he became a flight instructor in T-28's. While in Pensacola, Crof obtained a second BA.
Leaving the Marine Corps as an O-3, Crof attended OSU law school, graduating in 1976. The majority of his legal career was spent as a partner at Thompson Hine, one of the largest law firms in the U.S.
Crof is retired and lives in Mt Pleasant, SC, a Charleston suburb.
(Crof)
Currently, I am the Executive Director and CEO of the Milwaukee Regional Innovation Center, Inc. (“MRIC”). As the successor to the Milwaukee County Research Park Corporation, MRIC operates, manages and markets the Milwaukee County Research Park and the Technology Innovation Center, a business incubator for start-up technology-based companies. I joined the Research Park Corporation in 1995 and have helped the Park and incubator achieve remarkable growth.
As one of the most successful research and science parks in the Country, Research Park has eighteen buildings totaling over 2,100,000 square feet, including the 504,000 sq. ft. global headquarters of GE Healthcare Technologies IT and clinical systems divisions. There are approximately 115 businesses in the Park that employ over 4,500 people.
The award-winning Technology Innovation Center is one of the premier technology development initiatives in the State of Wisconsin and one of the largest technology-based business incubators in North America. The 138,000 square foot facility is currently home to 58 businesses, employing over 250 people. Including the employees of the incubator’s 145 graduates, over 1,500 jobs have been created during my tenure as director. The valuations of the enterprises that have graduated from the Tech Center exceed $570 million.
Guy Thomas Mascari
Guy Mascari - recent head shot
Dwight Bohm’s recollections:
Carlos was born in 1946. He came to USNA from Escuela Naval Arturo Prat in Valparaiso. Carlos passed away sometime in 2005. His obituary was published August 8, 2005 in Santiago, Chile, by the newspaper El Mercurio. A mass in memory of Carlos was held was held September 18, 2005 in the Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary of Quilpué in Valparaiso.
I recall Carlos singing the tango song, Adiós Muchachos, Compañeros de mi Vida… popularized in English as I Get Ideas, sung by Louis Armstrong and others. This song said everything about Carlos – always cheerful, lighthearted, never taking life too seriously. Carlos trekked off to Washington DC from time to time for soirées at the Chilean Embassy.
I visited Carlos and his wife Rebecca in 1984 in Concepción, Chile. They had five children. Carlos was a Capitán de Corbeta (LCDR) working at Talcahuano Naval Base, responsible for Navy electronics programs. Later in life Carlos was awarded several electronics patents.
Carlos' famous father, Roberto Parragué Singer, made the first flight to Easter Island from Chile in 1951, flying a PBY-5A Catalina amphibian purchased from the US Navy following WWII.
Carlos Parragué in Concepción, Chile, 1984, where he and his family lived at the time. Concepción is located ~ 500km south of Santiago.
Carlos Eduardo Parrague’ Opazo
James Edward Pollacek
When the Brigade returned, two really unpleasant Second Classmen were in my squad. I got up early each morning to run “extra duty” to avoid them and their “come arounds”.
Plebes were required to make football spirit signs to put on their door. Conkle and I took pride in making great signs. I owe our success to Conkle who took me into a toy store in town to buy some cheap Japanese toys that had motors and moving parts. We used those parts to make signs that had moving parts. One of our signs had a gun barrel with a projectile that moved in and out of the barrel. There was a piece of rubber hose through which smoke was blown to simulate gun powder smoke. It worked beautifully. Our Second Classmen were impressed with our signs and we got relief from “come arounds” for our great signs.
By Thanksgiving, I had decided I did not want to be in Navy that I saw at the Academy. I decided to leave; however, I wanted to prove to myself and the upperclassmen that I could take all that they could dish out. I delayed my resignation until in 1966 when I had shown them that they could not run me out.
I was born December 1944 in New York City, the middle of three children. My dad had joined Navy in 1939 and was an aviation machinist mate. He learned to fly in high school. During WWII he became an enlisted pilot flying PBY Catalinas. He flew convoy protection duties in the North Atlantic and air-sea rescue missions in the South Pacific. After WWII, he got his commission and served for 20 years.
I became interested in attending the Naval Academy as a high school freshman, prompting me write a report about the Academy. After high school, I attended a local college in Silicon Valley, San Jose State, for a year. Then I joined the Navy and went to Electronics Technician A School at Treasure Island. While there, I learned about the program for enlisted men to go to the Naval Academy. I applied, was selected and got orders to NAPS where I was in the class with Mike Younker.
During Plebe Summer, I roomed with Chuck Ribalta and spent a lot of time next door with Macklin, Townsend and Conkle.
While Plebe Summer was unpleasant, I enjoyed shooting rifle and pistol. Sailing provided an escape from Plebe Summer. When the Brigade returned, I joined the Sailing Squadron and was assigned to a Luder 44-foot Yawl. Each yawl had nine Plebes and an officer. We were able to get away from the Academy on weekends and took cruises throughout Chesapeake Bay.
Charles Ribalta
Outbound on the Severn River, 1968
I was born in New York City and attended Brooklyn Technical High School. Following high school, prior to gaining admission to the Naval Academy, I worked at Grumman Engineering Aircraft Corporation in Prototype Build.
I lived with Jim Pollacek during Plebe Summer and roomed with Jim and Bill Conkle during Plebe Year. While at the Academy I was on the 1st Battalion Championship eight-man crew and also served as Reef Points editor.
Following graduation, I went into the Marine Corps and attended Basic School with Terry Denight and other classmates, after which I went to Pensacola. I left the Marine Corps in 1977 and worked at J. I. Case (now part of CNH Industries NV) in their Engineering Department.
My wife Gail and I live in the San Antonio area.
I am grateful to all the organizations in which I served and all the many people I met along the way.
Grand Canyon Helo ride: C.F. and Mary Jane Snyder boarding at south rim, May 2017
Charles Frederick Snyder III
To quote a country song, “It’s been a broken road that led me straight to….” But first I have to say that I’ve never met finer gentlemen than those with whom I was thrown into this life on 30 June 1965. Thank you to all of you who have enriched my experience with friendship, humor, and set great examples for living.
On the evening of 4 June 1969, I was married to Mary Jane Thomas who was attending her fourth June Week. We have two daughters and three grandchildren. We live in northern Virginia near Dulles airport.
I was privileged (and proud) to serve 44 years in the US Navy after our graduation - 20 in uniform and 24 as a civilian employee. After a year at Michigan State with 5 of our classmates, I spent 2 years in a destroyer, qualifying as a SWO and realizing I was better suited for Engineering Duty.
I served in every area of the ship life cycle. While the majority of my effort was in aircraft carrier design and construction, I worked in early conceptual design of transport and combatant ships as well as submarines. I managed overhauls of surface ships and submarines and planned major maintenance availabilities for surface ships and carriers. Perhaps the most stressful assignment was as the maintenance funds comptroller on the SurfLant Staff.
Donald Dwight Tippett
After a protracted flight training due to pooling, and two deployments to the Mediterranean with VA 75, I was transferred to the NROTC unit at Texas A&M University for a three-year tour. During that time I completed a Master's in Industrial Engineering, began a doctorate, and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. At the end of the tour, I decided to forgo a department head tour and leave the Navy to pursue a doctorate in industrial and systems engineering, which I completed two years later. My NROTC tour uncovered a love for teaching which I was to pursue off and on the rest of my career.
After school, I went to work for Union Carbide as a senior systems engineer, managing a major module of the chemical division's first real time materials management system, serving ten large chemical plants. From there I moved to Newport News Shipbuilding, as Program Manager, Advanced Technology, managing a multi-million dollar project to implement computer integrated manufacturing into shipyard operations.
After several productive years at the shipyard, I accepted a faculty position at the University of Tennessee, teaching engineering management and industrial engineering. After five years, I moved to the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) in a similar capacity.
When I was about 5 years old, my parents gave me a Little Golden Book about the Naval Academy. That little book, along with my Dad's stories about serving as a Naval Officer during WWII (Murmansk run to Russia), influenced a decision at a very early age that the Naval Academy was for me. Looking back, I'd say it was a very unlikely goal for a kid growing up in the small town of Dunbar, West Virginia. But I persisted with letter writing to congressmen and doing well in school. This campaign ultimately yielded a first alternate appointment. When the principal failed the fitness test, I was in. Little did I realize the life-long implications this step would have on my life.
Plebe summer and plebe year were not easy for me. Many, many days I wished I were somewhere else...anywhere else. But somehow, I toughed it out, learning to take it an hour at a time, a day at a time until it was eventually over. This ability, along with the accompanying confidence proved to be very useful during tough times throughout my life.
Three days after graduation, I married my high school sweetheart, Sally Ellen Boggs. She stuck with me for that difficult four years, and for the ensuing 50 years of ups and downs. I have been very lucky.
(Larry)
After graduation and commissioning as an Ensign, my first order of business was to marry the love of my life, Sue, at the Chapel. I’m often asked if we were married right after graduation. My response is, “No. We waited 27 hours.” We have been best friends ever since and look forward to our 50th anniversary on June 5, 2019. We have three children and seven grandchildren. Our daughter works in hospital administration in Savannah, GA. Our oldest son is a faculty member at Virginia Tech. Our youngest son works in nuclear security and nonproliferation within the DOE national lab complex in Oak Ridge.
I came from a Navy family. My father was a career enlisted man and WW2 veteran who retired as a CPO in 1960. I was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and lived there for half my life before entering USNA. Prior to the Academy, I also lived at naval bases in Memphis, Norfolk, and Quonset Point. After graduating high school, I received a Presidential appointment from President Lyndon Johnson. I also had an NROTC scholarship to Vanderbilt, but opted for the better institution.
After graduation, I spent a year in Monterey at the Naval Postgraduate School earning an M.S. in physics in 1970.
Then I was off to the Submarine Officer’s Advanced Course in New London, prior to reporting to USS Daniel Boone as the Gold crew Engineer Officer. Having been in overhaul with both ships, I decided that it was time for a career change. I resigned in May 1977 and left the Navy as an O-4 to return to graduate school. I obtained a Ph.D. in nuclear physics in May 1980 from the University of Idaho. At USNA, I learned to focus and put in the extra effort needed to succeed. I learned that I could pretty much do anything that I put my mind to do. I learned how to mentor, to lead, and be confident in my leadership abilities. I learned not to worry about taking on difficult tasks. My major professor at Idaho often told his peers that I was willing and able to take on any research problem.
After grad school, I accepted a postdoc position at Old Dominion University to work at NASA Langley Research Center on developing nuclear collision models of cosmic ray interactions for use in space radiation shielding codes for manned missions in space. I was hired by NASA as a civil servant 6 months later. My NASA career lasted until 1995 during which time I was awarded a NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal, in 1993, for my work on these interaction models. I also dabbled in gas dynamics involving hypersonic flows and for two years worked on modeling them for scramjet engines.
Lawrence Willard Townsend
Bill Tricomi, the son of William Anthony Tricomi Sr. and Clara Tricomi, came to the Naval Academy from in Niles, Ohio. He joined 25th Company and would have graduated with his classmates in 1st Company. Bill departed USNA in the middle of Plebe Year.
Our attempts to locate Bill failed but it is our understanding that he is living in Madison, WI where he has resided since at least the early 1990’s
Bill’s mother, Clara M. Tricomi, died in Niles, Ohio, at age 100. His father, William Anthony Tricomi is 103 years old. Apparently Bill came from a family with great longevity. We hope to reconnect with Bill someday.
William Anthony Tricomi Jr.
Bobbi and me ready for Christmas
I enlisted in 1963 with a goal of achieving both a college education and commission. In 1964, while training to be an Electronics Technician, I applied for the Prep School in Bainbridge, Maryland. I was very fortunate to be in front of Bancroft Hall that summer day in 1965. My goal setting and persistence had paid off. However, little did I know what awaited.
Everyone has many Plebe Year experiences. Some of my most memorable occurred while living next to two of the most unique Firsties named Doug and Woodie. They always kept us on our toes with their unpredictable methods. I also remember trying to avoid passing certain upperclassmen doors (especially those in the Class of '67), and to never get caught in an unknown hallway in another wing of "Mother B”.
I mostly enjoyed Plebe Year, but quickly realized that many of my classmates had better credentials to excel in both the classroom and athletics than me. Many of them later wore Academic and/or N stars.
Four years at USNA provided lifelong learning experiences. Many years after graduation, a very experienced non-Academy Senior asked if I knew why he was struggling. I answered without hesitation; "Sir you should never bilge your classmates". He didn't realize that he was violating this basic principle taught very early to us as Plebes. He became much more effective and satisfied after applying it.
Michael Elwood Younker
Jerry, prior to a trip to Camptown Races in Hanover, VA. In the photo (L to R) are Jerry and classmates Bob Burkhalter, Addison Jones, Tom Halwachs
I wish not to distribute my eight hundred words among experiences as a Naval Officer. I was happy to get out and gave away my uniforms before realizing that a year of reserve duty remained ahead. Five years of service tended to confirm a statement by one of my classmates in First Company. “Grades don’t mean anything at Navy.” I had poster-child qualifications. Academics, however, did get me into graduate school at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where I recruited Katie Fox for our co-ed soccer team and then chased her around the soccer field and etc. until she agreed to marry. Me. So much for grades not meaning anything at Navy.
The thirty-five years after that have been great. Katie and I have three unique, admirable children and soon a granddaughter. After some engineering in Los Angeles, I went back to school at Caltech. Caltech is the earthly terminus for people who want to compete athletically—it’s the last stop for “athletes”. There, I was finally a baseball star—well, softball.
The five additional years in school left me fit to teach, or perhaps unfit for other work. It all worked out. I’m writing from my desk at the University of Arizona, where I have taught for more than thirty years.
This set of notes has forced me to briefly examine my life for context. The Naval Academy is among the strongest threads. Continuity is also a product of the great friendships that I continue to enjoy with members of the Class of 1969. Even when we differ profoundly—say we are fans of the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns—I have the greatest respect and affection for my Naval Academy classmates—particularly those who graduated with me in First Company.
I have grown closer to some of you with age—to the point at which, if I am to smoke a cigar and lose at golf, I know exactly where and with whom to do it. On those occasions, bourbon is welcome to join us.
Among those whom I miss already are Bill Kachergus, who never bricked a jump shot without a reflexive shout that I cannot quote here, and George Cairnes, who failed only at teaching me to swim.
That’s my eight hundred. Please don’t show this to 2.0 Mason.
Picture the author clumping forward on the weather deck, bedecked in multiple layers of warm clothing, sea boots and head-to-ankle foul weather gear to take midnight watch on a high, pitching, rolling catwalk grating several feet forward of the ship’s structural bow. Tucked in the folds of his outfit: a thermos of hottest, blackest coffee, almost more important to a six-hour watch than anything else you might conjure. (Getting rid of that coffee’s end product without leaving your watch station – which would definitely be required sometime in the next six hours - I leave that to your collective imaginations).
USS Neptune (ARC 2), God I loved that ship, along with three other Navy cable layers, was assigned the duty of installing temporary arrays of hydrophones across selected underwater escarpment, then anchoring, and spending a week or so as test platform to evaluate that location for installation of an individual SOSUS underwater detection component.
The system, at that time in full operation for many years, was in a process of continuing improvement and expansion.
Site evaluation completed, our job was to retrieve the hydrophone array and its three or four miles of submarine cable. The process could take two or more days of six hour watches – depending on the cable’s condition. Hard bottom could damage the cable’s wrappings, which the Deck Department repaired during cable retrieval, foot-by-foot.
While the OOD maintained safety watch from the wheelhouse, the conning officer’s job was to manage engines and rudder to impart a twist to the cable as it cheeked itself against an immense steel structure of rollers and shrouding in route aboard to one of three cable holds. However huge the dimensions involved, the process remained one of retrieving and coiling a line. Without imparting a twist as you heaved it in and coiled, the cable would kink or even un-lay its multiple stands of jute wrapping, steel armor, polyethylene insulation and copper conductor. The latter event would be disastrous.
At this moment two of us were qualified conning officers: the author as Chief Engineer, and Don G., the ship’s Boatswain, a very salty chief warrant officer. CWO3 Don and I were good friends and worked well together, both on cable watch and in performing our regular ship’s duties.
Laurel, my bride of almost 25 years.
Don’s reputation, though, was for strictness in maintaining discipline, regulations and traditional shipboard routine. Not ever wanting to invoke his disapproval (however tacit that disapproval might be), I made a lot of effort to be circumspect in my conduct around Don.
30 minutes before the midnight in question, I shuffled across the forecastle, took note of sailors passing repair tools and equipment to their watch reliefs and hustling below for midnight rations and a few hours of warm comfortable sleep, acknowledged Boatswain’s Mate Smithwyck, supervising petty officer with whom I’d share our next six hours, and climbed to my watch station to greet Don and get on with the process of watch relief.
Don was more than usually cheerful as we began our usual discussion of weather, sea state, cable repair and the other minutiae of watch turnover.
“Finished bringing grapnel line and Danforth anchor aboard while the Captain was still here. He staggered off to his bunk about 2130. You can see by the counter, there’s about 3200 fathoms of cable left to bring in.”
USS Neptune (ARC 2) - I loved that ship. Neptune and her sister were the last two ships in the Navy to operate using reciprocating steam engines.
“How’s the cable been tending, Don?”
“Easy enough to maintain the lead. No repairs so far, but the part that’s been lying on the bottom isn’t in sight yet. Captain said ‘rocky bottom’. I’m sure you’ll have to start slowing down to re-serve the jute wrappings sometime on your watch.”
“That’s fine. I relieve you, Sir.”
“I stand relieved…uh, Jeb, you want the rest of my coffee?” Don offered his thermos.
“No thanks, Don. Got my own, and it’s hot.”
“Bish, you really should finish my coffee.” Proffering the well-worn container, Don unscrewed the cap.
I sniffed. The normal bitterness was abated somewhat. Has Don gone soft and started to put sugar in his coffee? I tasted. Hmm, coffee liberally enhanced with Portuguese brandy? Something we’d come to particularly enjoy during our days in Lisbon.
“You’re right, Don. Shame to let it go cold and waste it.” Purely in the interest of not hurting Don’s feelings, I accepted the thermos. Prospects for a cold North Atlantic mid-watch were suddenly much improved.
Along the way we had a son and a daughter, now residing with their families in Atlanta. We have six grandchildren. Thanks to the Naval Academy we met. All that came afterwards enriched our lives.
On active duty I had multiple brown and blue-water deployments to Vietnam during 1970-1972. I transferred from Navy Line (1110) to the Supply Corps (3100) in 1972, something I regard as one of the best decisions of my professional life. I found the Supply Corps to be a community of amazing leaders and people working together to achieve its vital mission of "delivering sustained global logistics capabilities to the Navy". Following my SUPPO Afloat tour aboard USS Lawrence (DDG 4)
I attended graduate school at University of Kansas, earning an MS in Petroleum Management. Subsequently I was Director of the Navy's 440-acre fuel facility at Point Molate, Richmond, California. I left active duty from Naval Supply Systems Command HQ in 1979 but continued as a Selected Reservist, serving in CO, Chief of Staff and other roles until retiring as Captain from COMNAVFOR Japan in 1995. I met great people and had fine experiences in the Naval Reserve. I recommend the Naval Reserve to any naval officer or enlisted contemplating leaving active duty.
My retirement from the Naval Reserve, August 1, 1995, at COMNAVFOR Japan, Yokosuka
We have six grandchildren. Thanks to the Naval Academy we met. All that came afterwards enriched our lives.
On active duty I had multiple brown and blue-water deployments to Vietnam during 1970-1972. I transferred from Navy Line (1110) to the Supply Corps (3100) in 1972, something I regard as one of the best decisions of my professional life. I found the Supply Corps to be a community of amazing leaders and people working together to achieve its vital mission of "delivering sustained global logistics capabilities to the Navy". Following my SUPPO Afloat tour aboard USS Lawrence (DDG 4) I attended graduate school at University of Kansas, earning an MS in Petroleum Management.
Subsequently I was Director of the Navy's 440-acre fuel facility at Point Molate, Richmond, California. I left active duty from Naval Supply Systems Command HQ in 1979 but continued as a Selected Reservist, serving in CO, Chief of Staff and other roles until retiring as Captain from COMNAVFOR Japan in 1995. I met great people and had fine experiences in the Naval Reserve. I recommend the Naval Reserve to any naval officer or enlisted contemplating leaving active duty.
My childhood exposure to the Navy and maritime influences of the Pacific Northwest in and around Bremerton and Seattle shaped my desire to attend the Naval Academy. I started contacting my congressional representative and senators from an early age. My Plan B was to become a naval officer by any other means. Initially I was selected for an NROTC scholarship at University of Washington. A few months later I was admitted to USNA as an alternate nominee of Senator Warren G. Magnuson. Two of my Seattle high school classmates also secured USNA appointments. Happily all three of us graduated four years later.
My Naval Academy days were probably not so different from those of my classmates. My recollections are that we strived, endured, matured physically and mentally. More importantly we learned from and supported each other. Our shared experiences bind us together to this day.
I met the love of my life, Norma Frances McAuley, at the Naval Academy on my 20th birthday. The conversation we started in Memorial Hall on a blind date continues to this day. We married four days following graduation and embarked on a lifetime journey that entailed 20+ physical moves; living 22 years abroad in Japan, England, Scotland and Russia; and finally retirement in Asheville, North Carolina. Along the way we had a son and a daughter, now residing with their families in Atlanta.
The Naval Academy was ever-present throughout active duty, the Naval Reserve and my time in the private sector. I found that just being a Naval Academy graduate carried with it expectations from others and from oneself for higher performance and behavior. Consciously or subconsciously, the thought of failing to meet such expectations motivated trying to do right and trying to do best. Thanks to the Naval Academy I learned that higher expectations pose no burden.
They are a gift.
Dwight & Norma - December 2004 in Chelyabinsk, Russia
I graduated from Karnack High School in Karnack, Texas in 1964, having just turned 17. The school had an enrollment of around 350 students in grades one through 12. My senior class consisted of seven boys and four girls. After attending Kilgore Junior College for one year, I was accepted into the USNA Class of 1969. When I boarded the plane to travel to Washington DC, I had never been outside the state of Texas. To say standing in front of Bancroft Hall in June of 1965 to be sworn into the class of 1969 was a traumatic experience would be an understatement! I could hardly imagine the experiences and challenges that lay before me. My Plebe year was one that truly tested my resolve and desire to be a midshipman. During the summer between our youngster and second-class years I was honored to be selected to be on the Plebe Detail helping the incoming class of 1971 “get acquainted” with academy life. My years at the Naval Academy were probably the best three years of my life.
During that time, I learned everything I would need to be successful in my civilian life - discipline, mental toughness, respect for others, etc. I also had the opportunity to develop lifelong friendships with classmates which continue to this day, as a special bond is formed between people who go through common trials. In June 1968 I received an honorable discharge from the Navy and moved back to Texas. In 1971, I graduated from Texas A&M University with a BS in Nuclear Engineering.
In March 1969, I met my future wife, Sharon Davidge. Her father owned the local bowling center in Marshall, Texas. Her mother and I bowled on the same team. Sharon and I were married in June 1971 following our graduations from Stephen F Austin and Texas A&M respectively.
We have three children: Sara, Ryan, and Keri. Sara and Keri are teachers while Ryan is in Information Management for an energy trading company. All three live in Houston, Texas.
We also have two granddaughters. Sharon and I remain committed to each other to this day.
My work career began on a slow note as there were no job opportunities for Nuclear Engineers in 1971. My first job was as a draftsman. In 1973, I had my first engineering job in the oil & gas industry.
Over the next 43 years I served in numerous engineering positions primarily in Project Management in the refining industry. In December 1991 I took a position with Hess Oil in the Virgin Islands and in July 1992 our family relocated to St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.
In March 1969, I met my future wife, Sharon Davidge. Her father owned the local bowling center in Marshall, Texas. Her mother and I bowled on the same team. Sharon and I were married in June 1971 following our graduations from Stephen F Austin and Texas A&M respectively.
We have three children: Sara, Ryan, and Keri. Sara and Keri are teachers while Ryan is in Information Management for an energy trading company. All three live in Houston, Texas.
We also have two granddaughters. Sharon and I remain committed to each other to this day.
While employed by Hess I was able to travel to various parts of the world, including Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Italy, England, and Dubai as part of my Project Management responsibilities. During my tenure with Hess I served as Project Manager, Technical Services Manager, and Turnaround Maintenance Manager.
I retired from Hess in December 2005 and we returned to Houston where our children were residing and I took a position as Project Director with an engineering and construction company, S&B Engineers and Constructors.
Sharon took a position with the local Christian radio station, KSBJ. I worked for S&B for 10 years and retired in April 2016.
Following my second retirement Sharon and I began traveling to locations like Hawaii and Greece. We plan to continue to travel and, of course, to spend a lot of time with our children and granddaughters. I also enjoy fishing, bowling, and playing golf in my spare time.
I remain active in my church and Bible Study Fellowship. We currently live in Humble, Texas just miles away from our children and their families.
Bob Arnold - I can remember George's methods for exam preparation. He would first search for the correct desk drawer--one each for class-specific notes, I guess, and then remove a considerable wad of paper that required extensive flattening and reordering prior to use. At some later point in the evening, after I returned from the library, George would be relaxing in bed with the self-confident look of a satisfied scholar. Who can question a successful methodology?
The one time George worried about exams was the Weapons final at the end of our 1st Class year. He and Lewie had a system for that too. LaRoy and I were playing golf in Philadelphia while George sweated out the exam results. He was to transmit the results to the Arnold home by collect phone call, asking for LaRoy if Lewie passed or Mr. Lewis if the result was otherwise. In either case, my mom was to deny charges--we were all pretty cheap. In the end, Lewie forgot the code before my mother was able to relay the message. All's well that ends well.
When George turned 50, Alison threw a big surprise party for him in San Diego. Alison disguised the event as some sort of dinner/fund raiser. The surprise came after dinner, ahead of a few speeches. Conkle and I drove down from LA. Before dinner, George came over and told us, "I thought this was going to be the most boring night of my life, but I bet I know half the people here." Astonishing.
Bill Conkle – As Youngsters, George and I were on USS Columbus, homeported in Norfolk. We spent spare time trying to get rides in Navy planes. Following cruise, we flew Space A to Rota. We visited Madrid, Paris and London and stayed with the family of George’s swim team classmate. We went to a CINCUSNAVEUR party and met Captain Steele, who lent us his car. We drove across France, Switzerland, the Alps and Italy, visiting the Riviera and Amalfi Coast. We drove fearlessly, agreeing never to express fear of each other’s driving.
George got his jump wings one summer. He was great swimmer and thought about becoming a SEAL. He got 4.0 for all PT quals at the end of our second and third summers and never had PT classes those years. We took plebes on morning runs, rope climbs, and chin ups for much of our last two years.
In the 1990’s, George lived 100 miles away. We met regularly. While watching the 1998 Army-Navy game, George announced he had lung cancer and five months to live. George agreed to a mini-reunion with some company-mates in Las Vegas during March Madness. He picked me up and said an experimental drug had shrunken the tumor. The expected somber reunion turned out to be a joyous week.
(L to R) George Cairnes with 1st Company classmates Bob Arnold, CF Snyder and Dwight Bohm at 45th Reunion & Homecoming
George passed away November 8, 2015. George was born in 1945 while WWII was still raging. His father was a Class of 1935 grad and naval aviator. Following active duty George remained in the Naval Reserve (TAR, now called FTS). He retired as Commander. George was a pilot for Flying Tigers and FedEx following FedEx’s acquisition of Flying Tigers. George resided in Cardiff, Encinitas, California during later life.
Recollections:
Billy Lewis - George came to USNA after two years at University of Louisville in the NROTC Program. I was astounded.
Bill Kopp - George was always on training tables. We roomed together final set of 1st Class year. By then we all had other things in mind, so we did not have time to become close.
George was a late appointment and arrived a week late. Billy Lewis was his roommate all of Plebe year. Lewie got George in antiphonal choir even though George wasn’t much of a voice. George was on a swimming relay team that seemed to set a new NCAA records every week.
Following graduation George went to a destroyer operating off Vietnam.
He returned to CONUS, was accepted for flight training and married his first wife, Cookie. George and Cookie eventually divorced. George subsequently married Alison.
I saw George periodically over the years. He stopped once in Cleveland after I got out. We saw George and Alison at our 40th reunion. Becka and Alison took a liking to each other as both had been involved in public education.
Sometime around 2000, George was diagnosed with lung cancer even though he never smoked or drank. He changed his diet and never ate meat again. He was treated in an experimental program at UCSD. His cancer was in remission until 2010 when he had a recurrence. He was successfully treated for the cancer; however, he subsequently developed an infection, had a stroke and passed away. Following George’s death, Alison developed cancer and passed away in April 2018.
George and Alison had a beautiful house in Costa Rica overlooking the Pacific Ocean. They spent a lot of time there. We all had an open invitation but never visited the place. I think we missed something.
George was one of the nicest and kindest persons anyone could ever meet. So was Alison. He truly was an exemplary member of our class.
George Wilson Cairnes, May 20, 1945 - November 8, 2015 – “A life well lived…”
This is the working model Naval cannon made by me in the Isherwood Hall Machine Shop in 1967
I was next assigned to CINCUSNAVEUR in London as political/military intelligence officer. I watched and reported on developments in Europe, the USSR, and the Middle East. I visited much of the UK and made trips to Europe. I played squash at my London club and attended performances, shows and operettas.
I was an Olin Fellow in Law and Economics at UCLA Law studying the economics of monopolies, business regulation and regulated industries.
I qualified as a Registered Patent Attorney and practiced as a trial lawyer. My cases initially involved patents, trademarks and other intellectual property. I expanded into business cases including cases against commercial insurers who denied coverage. I relished jury trials and built a reputation for winning insurance and business cases.
My wife is Christina Olesten, a smart, capable, beautiful Swede. We fell in love and were married in 1982 on the same day she passed the California Bar. We built a law firm, Conkle & Olesten. Over 37 years, our firm succeeded professionally and financially in intellectual matters and all types of business and insurance law cases.
For decades, we have been singing in a traditional church choir. We are Patrons of the LA Opera and provide scholarships at Catholic secondary schools.
Men seeking entry into our class knew they were likely to see combat in Vietnam. USNA would not be a free education, because we were likely to pay in another way: combat service. While our contemporaries might be participating in "flower power" and "love-ins", we like our Spartan predecessors, knew we would soon share the biggest cost of citizenship: combat in service of your country.
I joined Plebe Crew and Catholic Choir. When I lost 50 pounds from having mononucleosis, Ollie North worked with me to regain strength.
After Youngster cruise, George Cairnes and I traveled around Europe on military aircraft. When we got to London, Navy Captain Steel at CINCUSNAVEUR lent us his car for four weeks. We drove it 5,000 miles. I remember his kindness often and my duty to do the same.
During Second Class year, I made a model naval gun in the Isherwood Hall machine shop from a large block of scrap steel. It fired black powder with paper wadding generating an enormous roar and a huge cloud of smoke and burning wadding. We fired it at night throughout Annapolis. The same year, I got 4.0’s in every subject except grease and conduct, a Class A and a trip to the Brigade Retention Board, where only Ollie North spoke in my defense, marring the year.
During First Class year, our Color Guard marched in Chicago before the Notre Dame game, and at the Nixon Inauguration and Eisenhower Funeral
My first ship was the Flagship of the Sixth Fleet. It was homeported in Italy.
I left early for Europe and spent 30 days traveling in Scandinavia and Germany on a Eurail pass. I went above the Arctic Circle. I bought a surplus sedan that the Army in Germany used for undercover work. The door and ignition locks needed no key. I parked it at Fleet Landing, where I let other junior officers use it.
The other 50 Ensigns onboard seemed not to care about the Navy. I got plum assignments from the Captain and XO. I qualified as Engineering Watch Officer and then OOD at sea.
I became the OOD for important evolutions, GQ, Sea and Anchor Detail and UNREP. I got good at handling that big ship at sea and in ports in our regular trips around the Mediterranean.
My next tour was as XO on an MSO that deployed to Vietnam. I became proficient at celestial navigation, shooting morning and evening stars from the pitching and rolling wooden ship.
Christina Olesten Conkle and Bill Conkle at the LA Opera in 2014
My parents met in Annapolis in 1944 and married in the Chapel in 1945. Both had ties to USNA and hoped I would attend.
I was an Eagle Scout, played basketball, ran track and cross-country and worked summers in a Boy Scout camp. I spent a year at Ohio State, paying for it by working in a tool and die shop. I ran cross-country and track and became a brother in Sig Ep fraternity.
Men seeking entry into our class knew that they were likely to see combat in Vietnam. While we would not be required to pay tuition, we were very likely to pay in another way: combat service. Our contemporaries were participating in "flower power" and "love-ins". But we, like our Spartan predecessors, would soon be bearing the biggest cost of citizenship, combat service in war.
I joined Catholic Choir and the Plebe Crew. When I lost 50 pounds from having mononucleosis, Ollie North and Bob Tuttle worked with me to regain strength.
We have two sons, one a lawyer who tries patent lawsuits an another who will join the bar this year.
For over 40 years, running, weight lifting, mountain climbing, and mountain biking, have been a daily staple for me. I love California where I can work out outside year-round.
At age 50, I was lucky to join with younger men in climbing and mountain biking adventures. These years of extreme sports produced strength and flexibility, strong bonds of trust, and the ability to control one’s fears.
During 2018-2019, I worked with classmates, getting their LOC inputs, writing their inputs, and editing their inputs. We found classmates who had been missing. One classmate, a roommate, who had been “run out” now has cancer. He incorrectly thought that we would not care about him. I tried to write an input that would make every classmate understand that he was great man. I tried to do the same for others.
Right after evening meal we were off to the Mahan Hall Library—to escape as much as anything. And it worked. The only freshman course that Mike did not ace was Spanish. He spoke Spanish at home and was fluent, but had never bothered to learn Spanish grammar. He tested into third or fourth year Spanish and was flunking at four weeks.
Mike Day (front row, third from right) during Plebe Year
I remember Mike had an exceptional ability to maintain a straight face, no matter what—similar to Don Tippett in that regard. Some exceptionally bright upper classman caught on to that and started a series of face-off’s between Don and Mike during evening meals. Neither one would have ever lost a single such contest but, one time, Don stretched the rules and decided to drool, albeit modestly, at an intense moment in the competition.
On the way home from first-class cruise, I stopped in and went to a couple of classes with him—something in classical literature.
Shortly before I got out of the service, I drove up to see Mike in Vermont, where he was a counselor for troubled youth. We spent a weekend together—the last time I have seen him.
Mike was/is the best. Sometimes it wasn’t good enough for him.
Mike simply walked away. It was both a very small act of defiance (consider the times) and a large indication of character. I don’t think that you can spend Plebe Year with a person and not have a mixture of memories. Any more of mine will cost you a fair amount of bourbon.
Mike returned after youngster cruise with a purpose. He continued to ace his classes and was on the verge of breaking into the starting lineup of the 150-pound football team. Then things got quiet.
One noon meal during mid-fall, there went the one-minute call and Mike did not get up from his desk. He didn’t say a word and didn’t have to. It took a little time to interview Mike and then to process him out.
Somewhere in there he got a note to see LCDR Breen. When he entered the Battalion Office, the Lieutenant Commander instructed him to come back when his shoes were shined. Mike appreciated that…an unquestioned set of values or standards on which all personal activity was premised. Breen was very kind when the interview later occurred.
I think that my appreciation for Mike was equally blind and, in a similar way, set a standard for my own behavior.
I remember standing in the courtyard of Bancroft Hall on June 30th in 1965, wondering how I was going to find my way around such a huge building. Later that summer when I wandered into the 7th wing that became a very painful memory.
I remember being gathered into the auditorium and listening to one of the senior officers instructing us to ..."look at the guy to the left of you, now look at the guy to the right of you, one of you guys will not be here for graduation". And in fact, we lost a lot of guys from our class, including some very good ones from our company.
Some of my fondest memories included winning the 155-pound boxing championship plebe year summer and being at the controls of an airplane for the first time during our time at Pensacola. Not so happy times included the many demerits I collected, especially my second Class A infraction by October of 1st Class year. It's still a mystery how I ever graduated.
By graduation I had decided I had enough of the Navy, so I went Marine Air. I had the pleasure of walking around in snow and sleet during our 96-hour outside exercise at TBS during (supposedly) the coldest January on record. While there I was lucky enough to be selected for Air Force pilot training so in February 1970, I reported for duty at Webb AFB, Big Springs Texas.
That was a great year with a great bunch of guys and the chance to fly a T-38 was an experience I will never forget. Upon receiving our silver wings in February 1971, we said our goodbyes. I headed to Yuma for training to qualify for my gold wings. Upon completion I put in for any assignment near civilization on the West Coast and received a flying billet at Camp Pendleton. After two years there, I had an assignment at Futenma MCAS in Okinawa followed by Beaufort MCAS.
I was thankful for the military providing a lower middle class kid the wherewithal to succeed in life but the civilian world is where I belonged so, in April 1975, I severed connections. I went back to California and was essentially a beach bum for a year. Reality set in when I found I was running out of money. I went back to of Miami and found a job at $100/week giving flight instruction at Opa Locka.
More than once I thought my career was in reverse - at age 23 I was flying T-38's solo, at the age of 29 I was instructing in Cessna 150's. As it turned out, I was in the right place at the right time because Jimmy Carter's deregulation of the airline industry opened up many pilot opportunities. I was hired by Air Florida as a co-pilot on the DC-9. Six months later I was promoted to Captain - my dream job realized, living on my sailboat across the bay from Don Johnson of Miami Vice fame. Then the DCA crash into the 14th Street Bridge in 1982. Bankruptcy occurred two years later.
Wanting to stay a Captain, I went abroad. I took a number of crazy jobs, some of which I can talk about and others I can't, and found myself in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in late 1988. I was no longer a solo act as I brought my new bride, Diana, with me. That lasted a year. Diana did not really embrace the Middle Eastern culture. So I sent out resumes and my second dream job popped up: Singapore Airlines. We spent 15 wonderful years living there. The opportunities gave us world travel, friendships with people all over the globe and, for me, being a B747-400 Captain with a great airline. It couldn't have been better. We left there in 2004. Diana headed back to Panama City Beach to set up our home and I went to work for China Air Lines who offered me a job in Anchorage flying freight to Miami. On my 60th birthday, I happily retired to watch the sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico.
Well of course, that couldn't last. Diana's children from a previous marriage were complaining we never saw them. We sold the beach house and moved to Orlando in 2012. It didn't take long to realize they really didn't want to see us all the time. Getting the itch to get back into aviation, I took a job at Flight Safety International in Wilmington, Delaware, deciding it might be interesting to work with corporate pilots for the first time. So, for the last five years I have been a simulator instructor/examiner in the Gulfstream V series program and enjoying it a great deal.
Diana and I, taken in 2008 on our balcony in Panama City Beach, Florida
Randy Gailey’s final resting place, Mount Hope Cemetery, Battle Creek, Ida County, Iowa
I had few interactions with Randy youngster year. We all went off to 2nd Class summer training programs. Randy returned midsummer from amphibious training at Little Creek and departed USNA.
The 2013 USNA Register of Alumni shows Randy’s passed away February 21, 1969, in Bethany, Maryland, which turns out to be incorrect.
The Moberly Monitor-Index newspaper of Moberly, Missouri, published February 24, 1969, reported, "Two accidents Saturday [Feb 22] claimed the lives of two Iowans... [one of them] Randall Gailey, 22, of Battle Creek, died in a three-car mishap on [Highway] US69." That's our classmate, Randy. It may be an irony that Randy passed away on Highway US69.
Randy is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Battle Creek Iowa, next to his father who died in 1989. We don’t know the whereabouts of Randy’s mother. To our knowledge, Randy had no siblings.
The big lesson that I learned at USNA that did not serve me well was the drive to suppress emotions or their expression. Perhaps it was only me, but I think the emphasis on focusing only on the task and maintaining a stoic, uncommunicative approach to stressful situations was something I could never quite compartmentalize to the job, and it cost me a marriage.
I left the Navy on a Friday morning in 1989 and was in a middle school math classroom on Monday morning teaching. I was in an accelerated internship program for second career professionals at University of California, San Diego and had my teaching credential at the end of the academic year. I taught math for 18 years in Oceanside, CA, retired from there in 2007. I now live in Southern Maryland, near NAS Patuxent River and teach part time at Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy. Teaching young people has given me great satisfaction.
My son is a Naval Officer serving in Afghanistan and my daughter is an art teacher and art community leader in Salt Lake City. I have three grandchildren. I met my significant other, Mary, online and we are having a happy life.
Mike and Mary
USNA opened doors for me in realizing my modest potential and I will always be grateful to the taxpayers who made it possible. I wish I could be more eloquent about my experiences at USNA and in the Navy and in the classroom. But it was just a life, I love my family, I enjoy some people, I did the best I could.
Mike and his boys
Mike Harter and his plebe year classmates, then in 25th Company. Mike is in the third row, far left of photo.
I have four daughters, the youngest born in 2000, 102 years after my father. If alive today, he’d love my daughters and be proud, as I am.
Recent health issues are resolved, so my fitness and spirits have been restored. Since 2015 I've hosted festivals and musical events near Cooperstown’s Baseball Hall of Fame.
I’ve not stayed close to classmates but recollections of our time together are dear to me. I’m cursed with a great memory and look forward to reminding classmates of small recollections: my first day of Plebe Summer; walking into the room I was to share with Mascari, smelling our new uniforms, being overwhelmed and mute while we parsed the making of perfect folds in bunk sheets; being horrified when Savage first walked into our room; doubts and minor victories of plebe summer; and other memories that bind us, all best told over a few drinks. Let’s do that before our communal thoughts are lost in time.
Karma being what it is, my mentor judge was later forced from the bench for ethics violations and my nemesis investigator was found to be leader of seven crime scene examiners who were indicted and sent to prison for fabricating evidence in hundreds of cases. Google search “NYS Police Troop C Scandal” for an example still infecting our criminal justice system.
During my suspension I entered the business world, buying into a mining operation. Introspecting, I realized I liked producing things and gave up law as a business, doing legal work only suiting me. The mining operation grew, branched into a paving business and residential site development. I still get a kick out of seeing things I built, realizing they'll be there after I'm gone. But typical of the times and my age, I didn't pay attention to my marriage, worked too many hours and subsequently divorced.
Bachelorhood lasted until I was invited to a mixed doubles tennis tournament to fill in for a last-minute cancelation. I knew the tennis would suck but the food would be good. I was hungry, so I went.
I was matched with an out-of-town woman who liked beer and had a great backhand. Figuring those were compelling reasons to get married, I put in the miles to convince her and she moved in. We married four years later and divorced five years after that. I've been unmarried, ignorantly bliss, since then.
By then Mike was benching a lot more than I. He seemed comfortable with himself in those days. I recall he wore stars. If he was not going to advance far up the midshipman grease ladder, that was all right with him. He was playful and there was nothing meanspirited about him, although he teased his classmates some, including me about just how meaningful Navy grades were.
I saw Mike in Sterling Illinois after graduation. I remember feeling Mike had come a long way from Sterling.
I vaguely remember Mike being avid about flying jets. Lately, when I picture Mike, he’s in a flight suit on the deck of an aircraft carrier. He looks at home, like he finished something that was incredibly difficult for him and he had done his best.
Don Tippett’s recollections:
Like many of his classmates in the early years, I remember “I’m James Bond, Sir!” and the Tarzan yell. We shared an interest in cars and a slightly warped sense of humor. We got cars before we officially should have and went out on Saturday nights, going nowhere in particular, just enjoying our newfound mobility. Mike’s car was a huge white used Chrysler. It looked even bigger with Mike in it.
“Aaaaiiiiaaaugh…[fists beating on chest]…cough, cough, cough. I’m James Bond, Sir.” That was Hudson’s form of humor with Mike. We could laugh at ourselves in those days or we didn’t make it. I’m not sure Mike found it as amusing as Hudson did , but he went at it like it was his job, which it was at the time.
“Attention world, attention world. I’m rough. I’m tough. Nobody kicks dirt in my face. I eat nails and !%^~#*!” Mike must have been about 130 lbs when he got to Annapolis, none of it muscle. Nothing happened easily, even with his own classmates. During first semester swimming, I was a heartbeat ahead of sub-squad and trying not to be noticed. But with Mike present in swimming gear, no one was giving me a second look. Our underwater swim consisted of a surface dive followed by 35 feet underwater to the opposite side. Mike must have had some kind of inflatable bladder or he was half lungs. On his first effort his head popped out of the water before his feet disappeared during the dive. The natatorium was full of plebes, some of whom started screeching, “Heidel, Heidel, Heidel.” The way the natatorium echoed, it seemed like a lot of “Heidel’s”. Mike could never locate their source. The initiator of what became a custom at swim class was Rick Christ of “I, Christ, am the big Kahuna.”
During 2nd or 1st Class year, I started running into Mike in the fieldhouse weight room.
Mike passed away August 3, 1993, in Marin County, CA. Mike came to USNA from Sterling, Illinois. Following active duty in 1976, he was a commercial pilot for United Airlines, a contract pilot for a private company and a firefighter pilot for the state of California. He was a marathon runner, enjoyed camping, fishing and was an automobile enthusiast. Mike is fondly remembered by all of us who knew him.
Bob Arnold’s recollections:
“Attention world, attention world. I never heard of Mr. Mickey Mays or Willie Mantle.” That’s my oldest recollection of Mike. We were assigned to the same squad 1st set plebe year - Kokstein, Macklin, Day, me and Heidel…with Lichtermann, Hudson et al. The 2nd Classmen assembled a memorable plebe experience. I thought that set would never end.
It almost ended for Mike early. He came down with pneumonia and headed to the hospital. When Mike returned, he was still a novelty. His come-around uniforms alternated between raingear over sweat gear and vice versa. One routine was sprints down the passageway. The only way to do it was to reach the far end center post first and push off while changing direction. On one run, there it was—the post—within grasp.
Mike Heidel (left) enjoying his 2nd Class Year – discussing history and philosophy with a young plebe.
A quick pivot and one step before I ran into Mike. I remember his rain cape spreading out horizontally as he headed deckward. I regret not stopping to check him out.
Bill Conkle’s recollections:
I met with Mike when he was flying jets out of Fallon or some NAS in the West. His metamorphosis from small band member from Sterling was complete. He talked about buzzing people he saw in open Western spaces. He overflew them at high speed and low altitude. He believed the first thing they knew was that a loud military jet had blasted over them.
By graduation, Mike and I had become good friends. Mike came to my hometown, Dunbar, West Virginia, after graduation and was best man at my wedding. He took charge of preparations and did a wonderful job.
At USNA, Mike developed a keen appreciation for the Mess Hall’s meatloaf which some of us called “mystery meat” or something more degrading. Mike liked meatloaf so much we began to call him “Loaf Man.” Except for one Thanksgiving dinner, every time Mike visited, we made meatloaf! At some point Mike showed us his meatloaf recipe. I make it to this day.
Mike and I were in Pensacola together. We saw him at NAS Meridian, later in the Bay Area and, for the last time, while I was at Beeville.
Sally and I feel sad not to have been part of Mike’s life in later years. We looked at our wedding pictures recently. There was Mike with his impish ear-to-ear grin. That’s how I remember him.
Mike Heidel in September 1979 when he visited Steve and Terry Lind in Kauai, HI, while Steve was stationed at Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands. At the time Mike was flying for a private company out of Los Angeles.
Originally from Los Angeles, JR grew up in an Air Force family. His father was a B-58 Hustler pilot at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. JR came to the Academy after a year at Millard Prep School. Immediately following graduation JR married and went off to flight school at NAS Pensacola.
During active duty JR logged 4500 flight hours in tactical jet aircraft flown from aircraft carriers and completed 950 carrier landings. He commanded USS TRIPOLI (LPH 10) and USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67), Light Attack Squadrons VA-56 and VA-147, and was Deputy Wing Commander for Carrier Air Wing 14 during Desert Shield/Storm.
Before retirement in 1996, JR was Naval Aviation Warfare Specialist in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics working for Secretary of Defense, William Perry, on special programs for the Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) program which became the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.
From 1996 to 2005, JR worked for Boeing as manager on the Joint Strike Fighter program in Seattle WA and as Director of Navy Programs in the Washington DC office.
From 2005 until 2011, JR served as Director Customer Relations for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Aircraft Carrier programs. He served as Aircraft Rep for Newport News Shipyard to the government customer resource sponsor, the acquisition sponsor (PEO Carriers) and the Congress.
JR joined General Atomics in Washington DC in 2011 as Director Business Development, Electromagnetics Systems Group, focusing on Aircraft Launch and Recovery systems. He also supports General Atomics’ railgun and other programs.
JR resides in Annandale VA.
Bill Conkle’s Recollections:
JR was extremely well prepared to be a Midshipmen. He knew a lot about the military, marched well and always looked sharp. I last saw JR when he worked for Boeing promoting Boeing equipment to the Navy. He had access to the Boeing luxury box at FedEx Field and invited me to watch the Air Force-Navy game there.
J.R. Hutchison in recent years (photo from LinkedIn)
Linda Westenburger and David Johnson ready for some ballroom dancing
I was born to be a technical trainer and it only took me 35 years to realize it. Developing and administering training courses for technicians and engineers was very satisfying. This is where I came full circle back to the Navy. GE was always a distant second fiddle to Motorola in military communication equipment until we developed a system known as HYDRA, Hierarchical Yet Dynamic Reprogrammable Architecture which is currently installed in hundreds of ships. The first HYDRA system was installed on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) around 1996. The Ike was my first visit to a carrier so after 30 years I finally made it onto a flight deck!
I trained many military students over 25 years including all the services as well as many Utility and Police, Fire and EMS organizations in the US, Canada, Europe and South America. I retired in 2017 after a 40-year career. I currently reside in Lynchburg, Virginia with my second wife of 12 years. She has resumed playing classical piano after practicing law for 23 years. She now performs recitals in our home and also is the organist at Trinity Episcopal Church where I am the Junior Warden. I contribute time to Trinity and other churches managing Audio/Video, computer and network systems. I also participate in an Interfaith Outreach of Lynchburg ministry building and installing access ramps for folks in need. I began shooting pistols after 50 years and enjoy participating in local matches as an old fart!
The Naval Academy shaped me in many ways and I will always appreciate the opportunities and the classmates that I accompanied on the journey.
Donated Quartet chalk board in a Northern Afghanistan classroom
Moving to Virginia opened a new chapter for our family. I remained active in the reserves and MARDEZLANT at NOB Norfolk. I was also selected the Commanding Officer of HM 1486, a reserve minesweeping squadron. We trained enlisted personnel and provided pilots for HM 14. After being promoted to Captain, reserve billets were tougher to obtain and I took a billet in N88 in the Pentagon for my remaining reserve time. I retired at NAF Washington, DC (Andrews AFB) in 1997.
In 1986 my brother and I created a small office supply company in the Richmond metro area. This was a very gratifying job, growing a small office supply company in Virginia from $3.2 million to over $75 million.
Along the way my son graduated from the Naval Academy and was commissioned a 2nd Lt in the Marine Corps. His experience in Afghanistan engaged me to set up a network to send 35,000 pounds of school supplies via Kellogg Brown and Root to support Child Fund (Formerly Christian Children’s Fund) in Northern Afghanistan. This was a huge undertaking.
The four years at Annapolis helped instill in me, self-confidence that I carried throughout my Navy and business careers. I am often reminded of Shakespeare’s Henry V quote: “All things are ready if our minds be so!”
My next assignment was recruiting for Naval Aviation officer programs in New England. This required training in Pensacola, Toastmaster, and other sales training. This was an important experience. I resigned my active duty commission for a reserve commission and a sales position with Union Carbide‘s Chemicals and Plastics division.
Moving to New Jersey, I was able to join HS 75 at NAS Lakehurst. This was a seamless transition. HS 75’s flying experience was outstanding. We worked with East Coast carriers and chased subs off Andros Island in the Bahamas. We flew into the New York harbor for the tall ship exposition in 1976.
While I was a Second Class, the First Company was Color Company and we attended an away football game at Penn State. Vietnam War protests were in full swing on college campuses in 1967. Penn State was no exception. Protesters at a park near our buses harassed the Midshipmen. There were fights and many in our company had had too much party at the fraternity houses. Our adventures caught the attention of a local newspaper and the Commandant. The whole company met with the Commandant in the L/A auditorium for a “chewing out” and restriction.
The flight training experience at Pensacola was special. I was married, flying and enjoying the area with many other classmates. There were tough spots. I lost my close friend and roommate, Jerry, to an aircraft accident. This derailed my training and his death made me realize that this occupation was dangerous and mistakes could be fatal. Earning my wings was an accomplishment that had been a driving goal long before attending the Naval Academy.
My first assignment was HS 5 (ASW helicopter squadron) in Quonset Point, RI. HS squadrons were always at sea providing plane guard, sub hunting, mail delivery, and medevac from the aircraft carrier. HS 5 was aboard carriers or at sea for 28 months of my first 36 month tour. While at sea our first child arrived and I missed the birth due to fleet operations for the Yom Kipper War in the Mediterranean.
Bob came to USNA from Poughkeepsie NY. He acquired the nickname “Bullet”, likely because he set a plebe track record that withstood challenge for two years. He was also known as “RG”. During 1st Class year, he was a rifle guard in the Winter and Spring Set Color Guard. After graduation, Bob went to Nuclear Power School and was later QSUBW qualified. He left the Navy as an O-3 and attended Lehigh University, earning an MBA.
Bob had his sights set on working in the energy business and he succeeded. In 1975 he joined GPU International, a global energy company based in Parsippany NJ that owned and operated 21 power generation plants in eight countries. Bob worked in the regulated and non-regulated parts of GPU’s business. From 1999, Bob worked for EP Energy in El Paso TX as General Manager during the engineering, construction and operation phases of a gas fired combined cycle electric plant. In 2004 he joined NRG Energy, a leading US integrated power company based in Princeton NJ. His primary work involves improving reliability and thermal performance at NRG’s power generating facilities, developing and implementing the company's gas pipeline safety program.
Bob and his wife Karen live in Langhome PA.
This is the finest group of people with whom I ever have been associated. I am proud of my class, proud of the Academy, and proud of the people with whom we served.
Following graduation I was commissioned in the Marine Corps and then had two overlapping careers of thirty years each. As a Marine officer, I spent eight years on active duty and twenty-two years in the Reserve. I served as an infantry officer in each of the four Marine Divisions, including service with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, in Vietnam.
I left active duty in 1977 to attend Case Western Reserve University Law School. I graduated in 1980 and for the next thirty years practiced law in Cleveland, Ohio, including twenty-seven years with the Office of the U. S. Attorney, where I did civil litigation.
In 1972 I married Rebecca McClure Thomas of Spottswood, Virginia, at the Naval Academy Chapel. The organ at the Chapel broke on the day of our wedding. But despite this inauspicious start we have been together ever since.
The Naval Academy was the most rewarding experience of my life. Undoubtedly the Academy shaped us all in one way or another. For me it was very positive. I grew in almost every important aspect, certainly intellectually and in my sense of self. I made great friends and had experiences that otherwise I might only have imagined. I am so grateful for this remarkable opportunity.
With Susan on a sunny day in Newport, Rhode Island
USS Takelma (AFT 113)
Rescues at Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii.
Two injured hikers stranded on a narrow cliff on the Napali Coast about 1500 feet above the beach. The cliff was so steep we had to lower our crewman down 100 feet to avoid hitting the cliff with our rotor blades. The crew guided me as close as we could get and we made the rescue. Lesson? Trust your crew.
θ A helo full of tourists crashed on a broad cliff in Waimea Canyon. We saw smoke and located the crash. Hovering 40 feet above we started to bring the folks up. The people were between the fire and the cliff edge and we were running out of time. Our crew got everyone out. Lesson? Fly Navy instead.
θ Two nude swimmers were swept out to sea at the Poli State Park nude beach. Surprisingly, we knew exactly where that was. We picked them up unhurt. Lesson? Always wear a swimming suit.
Home
Our children and grandchildren are doing great. My wife and I are still happily married, looking forward to our 50th anniversary in June 2019 and our 50th USNA reunion.
It was, and still is, a wild ride!
The F-4 crashed about 100 yards on the port side of the carrier. We picked up the F-4 crew and returned them to the USS Coral Sea. Lesson? When you have to make a life or death decision, choose life.
θ My crew was the first to fly off the carrier to Da Nang. We were flying under radar control from Da Nang with about 100 ft. of visibility. Without notice we saw trees and a mountain immediately in front of us. I pulled up and right as hard as I could, avoiding crashing. The lesson. I should not have depended completely on the radar guidance from Da Nang. I should have planned the flight path more thoroughly in our per-flight brief. Mea culpa.
θ Rear Admiral R. C. Robinson, U.S. Navy, was Commander 7th Fleet Cruisers & Destroyers. The Admiral was returning in an HC-1 helo to his flagship, the light cruiser USS Providence, after a meeting aboard Coral Sea to coordinate attacks on Haiphong, North Vietnam. The HC-1 helo crashed a few yards from landing on the Providence when it lost one of its two engines. It fell into the sea. Admiral Robinson, his Chief of Staff, and his Operations Officer were killed in the crash. All HC-1 crew members survived. The lesson? The Navy adopted a policy preventing the two officers in command to fly in the same aircraft.
Terry & Steve at home in Olympia, WA
Naval service included line officer duties aboard a guided missile frigate USS Schofield (FFG 3) and staff duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. where I worked for the first African American flag officer in the Navy, Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely, Jr. I served three tours of duty in Vietnam, two afloat and one as the Officer-in-Charge of the Military Sealift Command Unit, Da Nang. I was decorated by the U. S. and Vietnamese governments for the coordination and direction of a successful humanitarian effort to sealift Vietnamese civilian refugees fleeing a major communist offensive in the summer of 1972.
I received a Master of Architecture degree in 1985 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where I was awarded the prestigious AIA Henry Adams Medal as first in my class. In addition, I received “The Chicago Award” for my thesis project: "High Speed Rail Terminal and Transportation Center.” This award goes yearly to the top five design projects from among five mid-western schools of architecture. After practicing architecture for several years, I began my career in commercial real estate.
I serve or have served on the boards or as a member of several technology development, civic, and religious organizations: the Froedtert Hospital President’s Advisory Council, the Wisconsin Small Business Innovation Consortium, the Milwaukee Technology Consortium, the Wisconsin Business Incubation Association, the Wauwatosa Chamber of Commerce where I am currently president, Blessed Sacrament Parish Council, Marquette University College of Professional Studies Advisory Council and the Small Business Committee of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce.
I reside in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin with Debbie, my wife of 46 years. We were married at Saint Bartholomew Catholic Church in Long Beach on January 6, 1973, three days after I returned from Vietnam. As an aside, I spent New Year’s Eve in Saigon with classmate Billy Lewis. Debbie and I have six children, four sons and two daughters, plus fourteen grandchildren.
I love travel and go to England once a year to visit our daughter and her family. This is the daughter that was married in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome in 2007. Recent excursions include visits to Jerusalem in 2010 and 2016, Seoul and Busan South Korea and Normandy in 2017, and Machu Picchu, Cusco and Lake Titicaca in Peru in 2018.
Racing my Cal 25 sailboat, Poggy, on Lake Michigan
Family in Piazza San Pietro 2007 for wedding of our daughter
A mealtime custom I remember was upper classmen wadding their paper napkins and saying “Free shot” before they tossed their napkin at a Plebe’s glass of milk. Unless the Plebe responded “No Sir” before the napkin was tossed, he had to drink the milk with the napkin if it went into the glass. If the Plebe said "No Sir" before the upper classman tossed the napkin, tradition allowed the Plebe to throw the glass of milk at the upper classman if it went in. Someone did that to me once. Reflexively, I yelled “No Sir” and threw my full glass of milk which hit three upper classmen. The thrill of wiping out three upper classmen more than offset the multitude of "come-arounds" I got afterwards.
During the last two years of my enlistment, I was assigned to the heavy cruiser USS Boston (CAG 1) homeported in Boston, MA. After my enlistment I returned to Silicon Valley and got a job with Fairchild Semiconductor, one of the first companies to make semi-conductors. When those who invented the semiconductor left Fairchild to create Intel, I left for Hewlett-Packard. For five years I built test equipment for microwave devices.
Then, I got a job in San Diego running a small company. I enjoyed San Diego and could do a lot of sailing.
I returned to HP in Oregon where I managed the prototype group of its Advanced Prototype Division. Then, I worked in its inkjet business where I got two patents.
In 1990, I left HP and started a long sailing voyage that I hoped would go around the world. I sailed down the West Coast, thru the Panama Canal and up into the Gulf of Mexico. I was injured on the voyage and unable to continue. I sold the boat in Texas and returned to Oregon, where I rejoined HP. In 2001, I took early retirement.
In 1994, I met my wife, Jan Yocom. She is a retired US Government employee who had worked at Bonneville Power Administration Headquarters.
My wife and I are both tournament bridge players. When I left HP in 2001, The Portland Bridge Club asked us to take over its operations. We did and quadrupled the business. In 2009, we sold our house in Washington and the Bridge Club and moved to Portland, Oregon. Since then, we have travelled extensively, making long trips to Europe, the South Pacific, Alaska, the Mediterranean, and the West.
I was diagnosed with a type of cancer in my blood. I am being treated with chemotherapy and remain hopeful that the chemotherapy will conquer the cancer.
Carlos aboard the iron clad monitor Huáscar, now a museum ship, moored in Talcahuano Harbor. Huáscar was captured by the Chilean Navy from Peru in 1879. Huáscar was decommissioned in 1897 but reactivated to serve as Chile’s first submarine tender from 1917 to 1930.
Huáscar
Whichever ancestor it may have been, he went to Italy and bought 5,000 pair of high-end, hand-made shoes which he knew he could never afford to redeem once they reached Chile. So, he packed all the left shoes in one shipment and all the right shoes in another and sent one set to Valparaiso and the other to Santiago. When they went unclaimed and went up for auction... the date of which was the same in each city. It appears nobody seemed overly interested in a great quantity of one-legged shoes, so Carlos' relatives won the bids cheaply, put the shoes together and reaped a huge profit for the effort.
After graduation, Carlos returned to Chile and was on track to be a big deal in the Chilean Navy when Allende took power. We wrote several times during that period, but his letters took on an element of fear as his family's wealth was nationalized and his future became uncertain. One really happy note that came through in his writing was that because his family had lost its elite status, he was in a position to marry his love... which he did. And, for all of us that remember his lack of pretension, it wasn't fake. He made it clear that he was quite happy to give up the great material things in his life for the joy of being with the woman he had always loved.
He warned me in his letters to refrain from commenting in any way on the political events going on in his country. He was not directly involved in any of the transition…in fact was afraid he was going to be found dead if he didn't entirely distance himself from the old regime. He was assigned to the most southern outpost in Chile at Terra del Fuego, where he remained for several years as inconspicuously as possible.
The letters stopped during this period and I didn't hear from him again until Allende had committed suicide, and then I got a postcard with two words... "Viva Freedom".
He came to San Francisco a couple of times on some sort of electronics business, but by that time I had moved back to the east coast so we only talked on the phone. He had dinner with my brother, who told me he seemed very happy and down to earth, which is all I guess he ever wanted.
Rebecca and Carlos at Talcahuano Naval Base, Chile, in 1984. Talcahuano is located in the south of the Central Zone of Chile, ~500km south of Santiago. At the time they lived in nearby Concepción.
Mike Harter’s recollections:
One of the first conversations Carlos and I had as roommates was about a photo in his locker of one of the most beautiful girls I had ever seen. He told me she was his girlfriend, but when I asked if he intended to marry her after graduation, he responded they couldn't be married. The reason...? she was too old. She was Carlos' age. They had been in love for years, but he was resigned to a cultural fact that because his family was aristocratic and wealthy, he would be required to marry a younger girl chosen from one of the other similarly situated families in Chile. The girl in his locker would remain the woman he really loved... more on this later.
Carlos came from one of the top seven wealthy families in his country. He told me the money originally came from his grandfather or great-grandfather being a scammer of world class magnitude. His father was the famous pilot we all know about, but his earlier generations came from working class level. One scam he told me about involved shoes... 5,000 pair to be exact... and revolved around the ludicrously high import tariffs in place at the time.
I was born in New York City and attended Brooklyn Technical High School. Following high school, prior to gaining admission to the Naval Academy, I worked at Grumman Engineering Aircraft Corporation in Prototype Build.
I lived with Jim Pollacek during Plebe Summer and roomed with Jim and Bill Conkle during Plebe Year. While at the Academy I was on the 1st Battalion Championship eight-man crew and also served as Reef Points editor.
Following graduation, I went into the Marine Corps and attended Basic School with Terry Denight and other classmates, after which I went to Pensacola. I left the Marine Corps in 1977 and worked at J. I. Case (now part of CNH Industries NV) in their Engineering Department.
My wife Gail and I live in the San Antonio area.
I am grateful to all the organizations in which I served and all the many people I met along the way.
1st Battalion Championship 8-Man Crew Team: Front row 2nd from left: Chuck Ribalta #5 Oar, 1st Company; Middle row far left: Bill Conkle, 1st Company ; Top row 3rd from left: Rick Bush Coxswain, 2nd Company.
A Marine's Promotion - Chuck Ribalta 1975
I learned at USNA, and had reinforced over the years, that it is critical for us humans to find how to laugh and enjoy our lives, even in the most difficult of situations.
An early CO, CAPT C.D. Hamm (USNA ’53) said, “If we’re not having fun, we’re not doing it right.” He didn’t mean to be frivolous, rather to find positive things in whatever we do.
I was invited to make an “Engineering Career” presentation to Mids from the classes of ’14 and ’15, I advised them to seek the hard jobs, the position that most folks don’t want. I believe this best from my own experience at USNA. I was one of few of us who voluntarily selected the Weapons Department major back when.
It became apparent late in our Second Class year that the Instructors and Profs in Ward Hall were extra-supportive of Mids who had selected the Control Systems curriculum. Some irony in this: I never worked in the technical area in which taxpayers invested a significant amount. It’s a winding road we walk.
As a civilian in the Surface Warfare Center, I performed engineering and cost analysis for several ship acquisition programs. Eventually I became Design Manager for our 2 newest carriers.
I learned in that role that “burn-out” is real, not just an excuse used by some people. A tour in DoD had me convincing the Navy, Army, and Marines to create a joint program office for High Speed Vessels. Interesting work!
My last several years were spent as the Head of the Ship and Ship Systems Design Department at the Carderock Division of the Surface Warfare Center, then the Business Manager, and finally as the Technical Director of the Carderock Division.
This “shared” command of the Navy’s primary R&D center for ships and ship systems was, by far, the most satisfying tour of my career.
What I miss most is the joy (and challenge) of working with and leading the young(er) men and women engineers who are taking on and resolving the fascinating technical challenges facing our Navy and nation.
Thanksgiving 2017: Meagan Snyder, Mary Jane and C.F. Snyder, and Kristen Lockhart.
The three great ladies who have enriched my life.
Mendenhall Glacier: C.F. and Mary Jane Snyder at Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau, AK. June 2016
This turned out to be an excellent move, as Huntsville, with its vast number of high tech space and military R&D related organizations, is a mecca for engineers. I taught and conducted original research in engineering management, program management, and systems engineering for the next 18 years. My crowning accomplishment, of which I am very proud, was serving as chairman for 24 successful PhD graduates and 65 Master's graduates. During that time I published about 100 scholarly works, including peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and reviewed conference papers. I retired from UAH as a professor emeritus in 2010.
I became a runner in 1977, when, admiring myself in a store window, I noticed I was developing an obvious paunch. Over 40 years later, and after some 40,000 miles on the roads, I am still plodding along with that. I go to the gym most every day and try to stay as fit as an old guy can be. My other love is woodworking, which has been a life-long pursuit.
My family has gives me great pride. My son, Tim, graduated with the USNA Class of 1995. He had a super career, culminating in many combat tours in Hornets, and command of VFA 131, before leaving at 20 years for Delta Airlines, flying the Airbus 321.
Tim has two sons and a daughter. My daughter, Heather, has a very responsible position with the University of South Carolina. She has a son and young twins.
Sally and I have been truly blessed. There have been tough times, but we have weathered the storms and enjoyed the good things. After two bouts with breast cancer and the accompanying chemo/radiation, she was left with many side effects that limit her in significant ways. But we are still able to watch our grand kids grow and enjoy this stage of our lives.
The Naval Academy has opened many doors for me throughout my life. I have been blessed with virtually unlimited opportunity. I have come up short on a number of occasions, but that is on me. The opportunity has always been there. I couldn't ask for more.
I have been very fortunate. And it all started on a very hot June day in 1965.
Our Family: Front Row: Grace, Jacob, and Logan Tippett, Oliver Wheeler; Second Row: Don and Sally Tippett, Michelle Tippett, Heather Wheeler (daughter) holding Eleanor, Tim Tippett (son); Back Row: Nathan Wheeler holding Henry.
Don Tippett and son, Tim, sharing a passion for running.
The way we were: Getting ready for noon meal formation second class year: George Cairnes, Brian Barry, Don Tippett, and Bob Arnold
Larry and Sue, Hilton Head, SC, December 2014
NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal
I have some very good friends in the Class of 1969 both inside and outside 1st company. Sue has always been impressed with the fact that when we get together with my company mates and former roommates, there’s no posturing.
We all like and respect each other and have a great time sharing sea stories. The four years at USNA bonded us together. Whenever we host midshipmen at our Knoxville-Oak Ridge alumni chapter meetings, Sue and I share with them that the friendships they develop at USNA will last a lifetime.
As painful as it sometimes was, while we were there as midshipmen, it is a special place that had a significant role in molding us into mature leaders and adults.
During the NASA downsizing in the mid 1990’s, I decided to take an early retirement during one of the buyouts. Earlier, I had bought my 12 years of Navy service into the Civil Service Retirement System, which coupled with my 15 years of NASA service enabled me to take an early retirement at age 48.
My third and final career was as a tenured faculty member in the Nuclear Engineering (NE) Department at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. I was selected as one of a handful of Chancellor’s Professors, the highest lifetime honor the University bestows on a faculty member. In many ways it was my most rewarding position.
I taught most of the required NE courses for a B.S. degree at one time or another. I also taught many graduate courses in health physics and radiation protection, and graduated over 40 M.S. and Ph.D. students.
My teaching skills, which culminated in many UT awards, were honed and developed while I was in the Navy. I retired in 2017, but have continued on with a post-retirement position at UT doing funded research.
A student again, this time at NPGS Monterey CA, I received my Masters in Acquisition and Contracting in 1979. This was career altering event #3. From then on until I retired from DON Civilian Service in 2014, I performed Acquisition/Contracting duties. Each of these positions was interesting and challenging.
Aboard USS Hector, I completed two Indian Ocean deployments. As resident tender in Diego Garcia, we twice provided great support to deployed fleet units. Often, we would fish on our time off. On a few occasions we were allowed to go outside the atoll, directly into the Indian Ocean.
The highlight was one beautiful day in crystal clear water, seeing two 20+ foot manta rays lazily swimming right next to the dive boat, a sight I will never forget. A port visit to Mombasa, Kenya saw several of us on a three-day photographic safari to the Serengeti, very close to Mount Kilimanjaro.
Being right there in their midst was incredible. Any species I knew of was there, including a white rhino. We saw them all up close.
Source Selection found me in Nuclear Power training. That changed after six months when Admiral Rickover's program and I voluntarily went separate ways. Next, I was Weapons/Supply Officer on USS Chehalis (PG 94). Initially behind the power curve, I was able to succeed with both small departments in short order. I also had the great privilege to function as Executive Officer for a short time. This tour led to my second career changing decision to transfer to the Supply Corps in 1972.
My next 4 years were spent exercising the skills acquired in the Athens Supply Corps School. I first served as the USS Alamo Supply Officer completing a Far East deployment in 1974. After 9 years into my naval career, I was truly beginning to see the world. I also became a Shellback. After more specialized training, I performed Aviation Supply duties at North Island and Imperial Beach California.
In 1976 I received orders to Technical Advisory Field Team in Bushehr, Iran. I had two responses: Why there and why me? I experienced a vastly different culture and lifestyle than ever before. I met people from many different countries performing a variety of tasks. The highlight was being able to personally meet the Shah when he visited the Iranian Naval Base one day in 1978. I was very fortunate to finish my tour one month before the Ayatollah Khomeini Revolutionary takeover.
On our return cruise, we rescued over 25 refugees far off the coast of South Vietnam. They likely would have all died had we not seen them. This was a truly rewarding event to everyone onboard.
After this I spent 30 years in both military and civilian service performing some basic supply functions, but mostly Acquisition/Contracting Program Functions for NSWCDD, ATC, ATRC and CSCS in Dahlgren Virginia. I met my wonderful wife, Bobbi there in 1984. We have enjoyed these same 30 years in each others presence.
I am very thankful to have experienced firsthand the cultures of many different countries in six different continents. I met special people in each of them.
I am most proud of our families, my association with USNA all these years and my 50 years Department of Navy service.
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I worked in the private sector from 1979, initially for a multinational specialty chemical company headquartered in Ohio and subsequently for industrial process automation companies in Ohio and Minnesota. I joined Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR) in 1990 and relocated to Japan as President of an Emerson joint venture. Subsequently I headed a wholly-owned Emerson company providing automation solutions for oil & gas, refinery, chemical, power and other industries in the Japanese market. Afterwards I oversaw 22 Emerson businesses as VP& GM Emerson Japan. I relocated to the UK at the end of 2000 to lead Daniel Europe Middle East & Africa, a newly acquired Emerson business engaged in design, manufacturing and sales of flow measurement products and services.
In 2004 I relocated to Chelyabinsk, Russia, east of the Ural Mountains on the border of Europe and Asia. There I headed Metran Industrial Group, a newly acquired business of 1,300 employees engaged in design, manufacturing, sales and distribution of industrial automation products and systems for the Russian Federation and CIS. I departed Russia at the end of 2010 and retired from Emerson in late 2012, my final role being Marine Strategy & Business Development, apparently an appropriate career-ending chapter given my childhood interest in all things maritime.