Schmitz, Michael D.
Not Pictured
Rincon, Tito M.
Zarro, Valeriano C.
Ketchie, Scott D.
Stryker, Garvin P.
Cecil Jr., Joseph R.
Klugh, Robert B.
Mattea, Joseph G.
Robbins, Richard A.
Buttrill, William S.
Reimert, Larry E.
Rose, Michael P.
Cournoyer, Andre L.
Maley, John P.
Fowler, Thomas V.
Smith, Michael T.
Dailey, Dennis D.
McClain Jr., William C.
Hanvey, Stephan A.
Second Regiment
Spriggs, David A.
Company
Walker, William H.
Fifth Battalion
Hilton, Jarvis G.
Adamson, Robert E.
Mitchell, John G.
Tierney, Denis C.
Fraser, John R.
Casey, Francis M.
Taylor, Jeffrey W.
th
28
Moore, Mitchell D.
Hrabosky Jr., Bryan
Yudes Jr., Alfred E.
Karnos, David D.
Knubel, James
28
Potter, Miles B.
Jadlocki, Ronald
Leveson, James M.
Caption Left for Photo Right
(Bob)
Robert Edward Adamson
Caption Right for Photo Left
1970
Bob and Gail Adamson 2018
Caption Left
My first duty station after graduation was naval flight training in Pensacola, Florida. I left the flight program in May, 1970, having failed the hearing test, and was assigned to USS Berkeley (DDG 15), a guided missile destroyer in Long Beach, California. Prior to joining the ship, I went to San Diego for training and met my future wife, Gail. We were married in March, 1971.
I deployed to WestPac (Western Pacific-Vietnam) in the spring of 1971, and returned to San Diego in September in time to be present for my daughter Karen’s birth in November. I made two more deployments to WestPac. My third deployment began in October, 1974 and ended in June, 1975. During that deployment aboard USS Vancouver (LPD 2), we participated in the evacuations of Cambodia and Vietnam in April 1975. Once we pulled into Subic Bay, Philippines after being at sea for a little over three months straight, I got orders to be a “prize captain” for a South Vietnamese destroyer and went to sea the next day in USS Mobile (AKA 115) to be transferred to the destroyer.
The prize captain orders were cancelled when the South Vietnamese fleet was allowed to make port in the Philippines. However, USS Mobile was redirected because of the Mayaguez incident and we spent a few more days at sea before returning to Subic. Shortly after returning from the deployment I was assigned to the Naval Training Center in San Diego for the last two years of my naval service.
Cras justo odio, dapibus ac facilisis in, egestas eget quam. Maecenas faucibus mollis interdum. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla. Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.
Nullam quis risus eget urna mollis ornare vel eu leo. Donec sed odio dui. Sed posuere consectetur est at lobortis. Praesent commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et.
Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Fusce dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Praesent commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et.
Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit. Cras justo odio, dapibus ac facilisis in, egestas eget quam. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit.
Perry Dunn’s family
Caption Right
Date of Death: Month 00, 2055
Valeriano Carmine Zarro
Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor.
Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor.
Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor.
(Al)
In 1990, a small group of us opened the New York office of an international law firm. I headed that office for about twelve years.
I was chair of the New York Bar Association International Section, and a member of the House of Delegates. I am a member of Pennsylvanian and New York bars, United States Supreme Court bar, numerous federal court bars, and am a registered foreign lawyer in the Law Society of England and Wales.
I was elected to Best Lawyers in America, New York Super Lawyers, Most Honored Professionals and other groups.
I retired in April 2016, moved back to Pennsylvania and am learning to play golf.
Alfred Edward Yudes Jr.
I was lucky to marry the beautiful and talented love of my life, Debby, in February 1970—working on 49 Years.
I served in USS Persistent (MSO 491} as chief engineer and XO. Actually swept mines off the Vietnam DMZ.
The U.S. sold her to the Spanish where she became the Dragominas Guadalquivir.
The Captain changed designators and ended up as Chief of Naval Intelligence.
I served in USS Marathon (PG 89) as XO. I saw lots of Market Time and some Game Warden operations with Task Force115 in Vietnam.
Running out of Guam, never our favorite place but got to do some Asian travel, then transferred to Operation Endsweep in Haiphong Harbor, North Vietnam.
Ashore to California Maritime Academy and started law school at night, graduating from McGeorge School of Law as Valedictorian in 1978.
I worked as an admiralty lawyer in Philadelphia, PA and then moved to New York to a traditional maritime firm whose history included representing the owners of RMS Titanic.
William Henry Walker
Denis Clyde Tierney
Jeffrey Warren Taylor
Garvin Paul Stryker
(Dave)
Over the subsequent 54 years that bond has grown stronger and deeper in ways that I could never have foreseen on Induction Day. Friends will come and go in the course of your life, but Classmates will be a part of your life forever.
You will see them marry, have children, be promoted, assume command, succeed wonderfully and sometimes fail. You will stand at the graves of some who will die much too early, and you can be certain that many will stand at your grave, when you die. I urge you to cherish and nurture your Classmates throughout your life. They are a large part of who you are.
On Graduation Day on June 4, 1969, after we tossed our old combination caps into the air and donned our new ones, I received my first salute as a commissioned officer from some eager young Marine, and I completed the tradition by giving him a silver dollar.
But, then, I received the salute which I will remember and cherish in my heart forever. That salute was rendered by Senior Chief Quartermaster (SS) Arthur W. Spriggs, USN. Dad had often quipped that he planned to remain on active duty just long enough to salute me and then retire. True to his word, that is precisely what he did, completing nearly 28 years of service.
David Arthur Spriggs
How did I choose the Naval Academy and the Navy as my life-long career? My father was a World War II submariner, who remained in the Navy after the war. As a young lad of age six, he and I watched with awe and admiration every episode of “Victory at Sea” on TV.
So, it is not surprising that I never considered any other path for my life than serving in the Navy. With my father at my side, I enlisted in the Naval Reserve in May 1964 and was promptly sent to Basic Enlisted Submarine School in Groton, CT.
While I had already submitted my application for a Secretary of the Navy appointment to USNA, I was preparing for Plan “B”, which was an enlisted career.
Indeed, I had orders in hand to begin my active duty at Fire Controlman “A” School at Dam Neck VA, when my Academy appointment was approved. So, I hustled down to my Naval Reserve Center, turned in my orders and sea bag, and explained that I had received a “better offer.”
So it was that Seaman Spriggs, USNR, became Midshipman Spriggs, USN, on 30 June 1965, and my life was changed forever. It was on that day that I became part of a group of fellow midshipmen, who to this day are my closest, dearest, and truest friends … more than that … they are my CLASSMATES.
Jane and Mike in St. Petersburg, Russia 2017
(Mike)
Michael Turner Smith
Michael Dean Schmitz
Michael Paul Rose
Visiting proud son Adam (USNA ’08) and wonderful daughter-in-law Daniela in December 2018;
l to r Adam, Rich, Luke (5), Lincoln (1), Vicki, Daniela, and Clara (3).
(Rich)
Richard Alan Robbins
Tito Manlio Rincon
Larry Eugene Reimert
Miles Bruce Potter
I grew up on a cotton farm in the southernmost tip of Texas, an area known as the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
The Naval Academy was probably as much of a shock to me as I was to it. I really enjoyed the people I met there and still keep in touch with many. Playing football at the Academy was an experience I will never forget.
Following graduation I went to Pensacola, FL and was proud to become a naval aviator. I got married to Cresa, an Alabama graduate, in 1971 and we have enjoyed college football games ever since. We have two Texas A&M engineer daughters, two engineer sons-in-law and five grandchildren, all of whom live in the greater Houston area.
I got out of the Navy in 1974 and went to work in the electrical power distribution business. I picked up an MBA along the way and after 20 years went to work at Merrill Lynch for another 20.
I retired in 2014 and remained in Lake Jackson, Texas (about an hour South of Houston) where we have lived for 40 years.
Our activities include travel, golf, water skiing, fishing (we live about 10 miles from the Gulf of Mexico), going to the grandchildren’s games and whatever else we can squeeze in.
(Bruce)
(Mitch, Deacon)
An untold story from my plebe year is when I and a couple of other plebes in my company snuck out of Mother B late at night to “borrow” materials from a construction site at the Academy. The upperclassmen in our company needed supplies for the displays they were building as part of the build-up for football games. We were sent on “raiding” parties to obtain the materials they needed. I’m sure if we had been caught our days at the Academy would have been short-lived. “But sir, we were only taking items from one government project to another!”
I was on the plebe soccer team but not good enough to suit up for games or sit on the training tables as I had never played soccer before. After our managers quit, Coach asked us at practice one day if any of us players would consider being a manager too. All we had to do was bring out the balls and water to practice and we would be able to join the training tables. My hand shot up immediately (anything to get away from the harassment of the upperclassmen). Following that season, the varsity manager asked me if I would be the youngster manager the next year. I agreed and thus began my 3-year service as a varsity manager. Although a bit demeaning (picking up socks and jocks), it was rewarding to be a part of a varsity sport. That exposure later led me to become a coach of premier travel soccer teams and a high school junior varsity coach for 10 years.
Mitchell Dee Moore
My USNA journey began when I was 13. My dad asked me one night what I wanted to do when I grew up. I had seen a program on TV called “Men of Annapolis” where young men went to this military school and later to Pensacola, FL for flight training.
I told him I wanted to become a Navy pilot and I would get there by going to Annapolis. He thought that was a great goal. I wrote to the Academy for a catalog and with that knowledge I charted my course for the next 4 years.
Shortly after turning 14, I was hit by a car while riding my bicycle. There were complications in the healing process.
It took 2 years for me to completely recover. Many thought that would deter my goal to attend the Academy but that only made me try harder. In the end, I feel it was meant to be.
Introduction to plebe year was a real shock, as I had no idea of what I was getting into. Those first few of days of plebe year were definitely eye opening. I never knew I could do so many sit-ups, push-ups and jumping jacks and memorize so much stuff in such a short time period.
Realizing how much you could endure and how you could perform under pressure were lessons learned that proved helpful in my naval career.
John Gregory Mitchell
Craig and Elena McClain’s Wedding, Sausalito, California, May 1987.
Mike Casey, John Klokow, Dave Zerfoss, Bob Adamson, Pat Maley, Glen Reid, Elena and Craig, Terry Grumley
William Craig McClain Jr.
Joseph Garland Mattea
Maley – Masica Wedding, September 6, 1969, Mustin Beach Officer’s Club Fountain, Pensacola, Florida -
Bill McCauley, Bob Adamson, Mike Casey, Craig McClain, Jim Martin,
Phil Conti, Jack Stockton, Kate Maley, Jack Stockton, Pat Maley, Mike Masica
John Patrick Maley
(Pat)
Midshipman James M. Leveson 4/c
(Jim)
James Murray Leveson
I first learned of the benefits of attending USNA from a close friend of my family, a Navy captain. His guidance, insight from a midshipman that graduated from my high school, and a visit to USNA did not prepare me for what was in store.
It was a huge honor to be selected and admitted.
But the two years I attended the Naval Academy became a huge challenge. Little did I realize where the road would lead on the day I was sworn into the Navy on 30 June 1965 with the class of 1969.
The struggle I had with academics and the numerous other demands resulted in my departure at the end of my second year. My fondest memories are of my classmates.
While processing out after two years, I made one of the best decisions of my life. My choice to transfer into the reserves as an E-3 during the Vietnam War allowed me to also continue my education at Rochester Institute of Technology.
After receiving my B.S. degree, I continued to serve in the Navy Reserve and pursue a civilian career in advertising photography for an advertising agency in Jamestown, NY. Later, I had my own business. This gave me dual careers.
James Knubel
Robert Bell Klugh
Scott soon deployed to Vietnam with the Marine All Weather Attack Squadron (VMA(AW)) 224 Bengals as part of Carrier Air Wing 15 aboard USS Coral Sea (CV 43).
On April 9, 1972, 1st Lt. Scott Ketchie, Bombardier/Navigator (B/N), and Captain Clyde Smith, Pilot, departed Coral Sea in an A-6A Intruder (Bengal 505) for a combat strike mission in Laos.
Their aircraft, loaded with 12 Mk-82 500-pound bombs and 12 Mk-20 Rockeye II cluster bombs, was carrying out a second dive-bombing attack when its port wing was hit by flak/anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) near Ban Bamram, 10 miles into Savannakhet Province, Laos. Radio and intercommunication systems became inoperative.
Upon sighting flames over his shoulder, the pilot motioned for 1st Lt. Ketchie to eject, and recalls 1st Lt. Ketchie reaching for the secondary ejection handle. That was the last time Scott was seen.
The pilot eluded capture and was rescued four days later. He could not verify whether Scott had ejected or received injuries. Search and rescue (SAR) activities were terminated on April 14, 1972, and 1st Lt. Ketchie was declared Missing in Action (MIA).
Scott Douglas Ketchie
Captain Scott D. Ketchie, USMC
The following was submitted by Scott’s widow, Patti (Ketchie) Smith:
Scott grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, the only child of Bill and Mary Jane Ketchie. As the only grandchild in the family, he was adored by his grandparents. Scott easily made friends with his relaxed disposition, enthusiasm and fun sense of humor.
Scott graduated from the United States Naval Academy in June 1969. Upon graduation he married high school sweetheart Patti Wade, and a few days later reported to The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia.
Following graduation from TBS, Scott entered Naval Flight Officer (NFO) training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, followed by A-6 Intruder transition training at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.
For the recent college grads, it was both an exciting and uneasy time of what was ahead. We were all so young, embarking on new journeys; happy for the time shared with other Marines and their families. Each assignment for Scott was a new adventure. He studied and worked hard – but always found time to have fun with friends and neighbors.
Date of Death: April 9, 1972
David Dennis Karnos
Go Navy Wrestling!
(Ron)
Ronald Jadlocki
Bryan Hrabosky Jr.
Jarvis Gene Hilton
Winning relay team, Spring 1969 at Quantico
(Steve)
Stephan Alexander Hanvey
John Robert Fraser
Thomas Vance Fowler
Dennis Donald Dailey
Andre Louis Cournoyer
Joseph Rudolph Cecil Jr.
On the road to Georgetown in the “Sh*tmobile”, December 1967. Mike Casey is driving, the usual suspects preparing to dive below the seats on the way out of town.
Francis Michael Casey
Date of Death: February 4, 1999
William Sheldon Buttrill
Randy, Rob, Bob, Gail and Ryan (grandkids) in 2018
Gail and I have five grandchildren whom we love and enjoy very much along with our daughters and their families. Karen and her husband Aric live in Florida and have three boys. Katie and her husband Tyler live in northern California and have two daughters. Our favorite vacation spot is Princeville, Kauai. For fun I play golf and go to football and baseball games.
After getting out of the Navy in 1977, I got an MBA from San Diego State University and went to work for Chevron in San Francisco in 1978.
We had a second daughter, Katie, in 1981. I worked for Chevron for 25 years and retired in 2003, and then moved back to San Diego.
Most of my career with Chevron was in the San Francisco Bay area but we did spend two years in the Los Angeles area and three years in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Since retirement I have been doing project management consulting and charity work. I am a director of a charity that has raised and distributed over three million dollars to seriously wounded Marines, Sailors and Soldiers in individual cash grants.
This charity work has wound down over the last couple of years as the casualties from combat have nearly stopped.
Randy, Rob, Bob, Gail and Ryan (grandkids) in 2018
Gail, Summer, Tyler, Kayler, Katie, Bob in 2018
In the 8th grade while watching a submarine surface on the opening of “Men of Annapolis,” I decided to apply to the Academy. I loved chemistry and wanted to be a nuclear submariner. After being appointed by Senator Strom Thurmond from SC, Mackie McClain and I left for Annapolis. Mackie became a nuclear power Trident Scholar and fortunately for me, I went to Patuxent River Navy Test Center before the Class of 1971 Plebe Detail. A Navy lieutenant in immaculate linen Tropical White Longs (TWL) briefed his weapons separation testing on an A-7 showing jettisoned bombs trying to come back over the wing. He left a lasting impression on me about professionalism and testing aircraft. This changed my life’s calling which became 50 years of flying and testing aircraft.
My naval air service selection had a training reporting date in August 1969 so I could spend some extra time at home. I was torn between selecting the Marine Corps or Navy (at that time), but this decision also changed my life.
I met my wonderful wife of 50 years, Sara Rice (daughter of Rear Adm. Joe Rice, USNA ‘36) while at home. Our son, Bob, USNA Class of 2000, made it three USNA generations for my wife. Our daughter Mollie graduated from the University of Texas and is the managing partner of her law firm in Austin, TX. We have 4 grandchildren.
During flight school Steve Potts and I took two other sailors with us to compete in the Navy East Coast Track and Field Championships. With 4 people we won the championship and as a result I was able to run in the CISM Military World Games in Italy while I was a student at VT-6. When first squadron selection came I asked to go to San Diego, CA so I could train for the 1972 Olympics with some of my CISM teammates from the Army. I put a letter in requesting that assignment and received the “Sorry, the needs of the Navy come first” letter from the Navy Department six months into my 12-month tour as a Huey gunship pilot in HAL-3! Many of our classmates were in HAL-3 which was unique in being commissioned then decommissioned in Vietnam. We were one of the largest squadrons in Navy history and reportedly the most decorated.
After a year of combat supporting riverine operations in the Republic of Vietnam and Cambodia and taking an unplanned swim in the Mekong River after being shot down,* I went to Pensacola as a flight instructor in a 50% USMC/50% USN manned training squadron.
I decided I had more experience in common with my fellow Marines and could contribute more as a gunship pilot and Marine Corps officer. As a result, I applied for an interservice transfer to the Corps which was approved about nine months later.
One of my most enjoyable programs was helping my team design, test, then win the USN/USAF trainer airplane contract for the T-6 Texan, while at Beech Aircraft as vice president of engineering. The T-6 replaced the T-34 and T-28 airplanes in which I learned to fly. My son subsequently learned to fly in the T-6 as a naval aviation student.
I have been blessed to have served as an elder in my church and work with youth for many years. I see God’s hand at work in my life’s direction changes.
The Academy taught me so many life lessons I can’t list them all, beginning Plebe Summer in showing me I could do more than I ever thought I could. The loyalty and devotion of many graduates I have had the honor to work with both in the military and civilian world is so special to me. Semper Fidelis.
I received an honorable discharge from the Navy signed by President Nixon and reported the next day to the Marine detachment where I was sworn in as a captain. Ironically, to keep the same date of rank as a captain that I had had as an 0-3 in the Navy, the Marine Corps changed my date of first commissioning to 4 June 1968!
I was sent to Amphibious Warfare School in Quantico, VA for a year and completed the Basic School written curriculum. After a tour with HML-167, my gunship time helped me be selected for the USN Test Pilot School. A tour testing the AH-1T and instructing at the school was followed by a tour in Okinawa.
While under orders to the Air Force Command and Staff College and then Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, CA for weapons testing, I was offered a chance to test fly the prototypes of the AH-64 Apache helicopter. I requested separation and left active duty in 1980. I retired as a colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1997. Outside the military I was privileged to be the chief pilot of the Apache helicopter program, spent time with “black” programs, and have held executive positions at aerospace companies and started my own companies.
Huey
*Editor’s Note: On August 28, 1971, then-Lieutenant (JG) Hanvey was a helicopter gunship pilot flying combat missions in South Vietnam with the Helicopter Attack Squadron (Light) 3 (HA(L)-3) Seawolves when his UH-1 was shot down by enemy fire, forcing him to crash land his aircraft in the mouth of the Mekong River. His skillful landing enabled his air crew to swim clear of the sinking helo. As they swam against the incoming tide towards the middle of the river to escape gunfire from enemy troops on the river bank, Steve turned back to aid an exhausted and injured crew man who likely would have been captured or killed. He kept his crew alive and intact until rescue, earning Steve the Silver Star Medal along with a Purple Heart Medal, for his heroism, devotion to the welfare of his men, and courage under fire—one of only two Silver Stars awarded to Class of 1969 graduates.
Student at Pensacola 1970
Ron Moseley and Steve Hanvey at Paris Airshow, 1983
Once completing the first grading period of plebe year with above a 2.0 I felt I could do this; I could do the academics and certainly handle the upper class Mickey Mouse and above all else I knew I was not a quitter.
Graduation brought an opportunity to pursue naval flight training and earn wings as a helicopter pilot in anti-submarine warfare. After 8 1/2 years serving I chose to move to a civilian career in engineering and manufacturing.
USNA had prepared me to be successful and lead in industry and without a doubt introduced me to many outstanding men and friends for life no matter how many years passed between meetings!
First impressions: I knew very little about the Naval Academy except for viewing the Army-Navy football game and had never visited the Academy before my parents drove me toward the main gate and I mused “Is the barbed wire on top of the wall to secure the Academy from outsiders or to keep me locked in?”
I had attended a year at Slippery Rock State College in Pennsylvania and was accustomed to a relaxed atmosphere; I sure had a shock as I walked up to a sharply uniformed 2nd classman and said “Hi, my name is Ron.” I was abruptly informed through a verbal harangue that things were not as casually familiar here at USNA!
I also recall undeniably dreading the thought of getting up at 6 am every morning. Who does such a ridiculous thing? How are you supposed to get nine hours of sleep that way?
Somehow I survived that dilemma and found that I thrived and thoroughly enjoyed all the many activities including marching, shooting .45’s and M1 rifles along with learning to sail.
I was becoming disciplined and regimented to serve within a unit without even knowing it.
Although I was not successful as a midshipman, I think that some of my training must have stuck in order for me to stay the course for my years of service. There are usually a multitude of paths to plot in life. If you are unsuccessful on one, find the one that works for you.
During my time at USNA and years of service, I thought my best leaders led by example and had skills in dealing with and motivating different personalities. I was amazed as the years went by of the ever expanding knowledge, education, and skills that many of the junior people bought to the reserve program. They continue to provide valuable insights and capabilities to our program.
he importance of family cannot be overstated. I have been very fortunate to have a loving and very supportive wife, Billie, of 50 years. She was a teacher for 38 years. We have two fine sons, Tom and Jason, their families and two delightful granddaughters. Community involvement over the years has made life even more interesting. We enjoyed supporting our two boys in their sports and other organizations during their youth and now travel to see our granddaughters in their activities whenever possible. Since my full retirement in 2009, we enjoy travel and spend much of the summer at our cottage on Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada. Home has been in western New York for all these years until we moved to Florida in late 2018 for extended winters. The cottage on Georgian Bay remains our summer home.
In spite of my lack of success at USNA, I applied the lessons learned and skills acquired to advance first as an enlisted man then as a commissioned officer with increasing responsibilities.
Through dedication, training, the help of good mentors, and luck, I found success serving in numerous reserve units from Michigan to Massachusetts for 38 years. I served with many great people from all walks of life. Most officers and enlisted had the highest dedication, honor, commitment, and skills to support our mission to designated active duty commands. These commands grew to depend on the reserves more and more as the years went by until we were fully integrated into the active forces.
Many fellow reservists traveled long distances at their own expense to drill and often spent extended duty away from home and their civilian jobs beyond the regular weekend drills. A large percent of us went on active duty after 9/11. At the age of 55 I reported to and spent most of the last three years of my Navy career at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) as a captain before my Navy retirement at the end of 2005. It was hard to believe it was 40 years after taking the oath in Tecumseh Court. Then I was fortunate to continue in a civilian capacity, facilitating a new orientation program created for new employees at DIA that promoted teamwork, collaboration, and networking; essential in both military and civilian enterprises.
Billie and Jim Leveson at the 2001 USO Dinner Dance, Airport, Jamestown, NY
Jim and Billie Leveson on our trip to Washington State. Dungeness National Wildlife,
near Olympic National Park on the Pacific Coast in 2016
I retired from the Navy in 1994 and then taught math at C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, VA for 18 years. After an 18-month church mission to San Diego assisting military families, we settled in Eagle, ID.
I truly loved my Navy experience and hated to retire. There were many highs and some lows but it was all worth it. I’m grateful for the ideals that were imbued in me by the Academy – duty, honor, service, dedication, and integrity – that have served me well in my various careers and throughout my life.
Following graduation in 1969, I did become a Navy pilot with a stint as a plowback instructor in the TA-4 in Meridian, MS, where I met my beautiful wife, Deborah (who has given us 5 wonderful children).
I later served two tours flying the A-7E in Lemoore, CA, in VA-195 and VA- 25. It was while I was flying A-7s that I earned my “Deacon” call sign because of my regular church attendance and adherence to my LDS faith. My greatest flying experience was as an aggressor pilot with VA-127 flying the A-4 against F-14, F-15, F-16 and F/A-18 fighters. My claim to fame was being able to attend Top Gun in 1984.
I had two careers in the Navy—my flying career and my recruiting career. I did a stint as a Navy Officer Recruiter in Oregon and Idaho in the late 70s.
I returned to the Recruiting Command after my flying days to command Navy Recruiting District Albuquerque, NM followed by command of Navy Recruiting District San Francisco, CA, and XO of the Navy recruiting school in Orlando, FL which we moved to Pensacola, FL.
My final orders were to BUPERS in the recruiting section. I enjoyed my time in the Recruiting Command because of the challenge, the opportunity to command and my love for the Navy and the people with whom I served.
Mitch Moore, Docent on the USS Midway, San Diego Harbor, July 2016
The Mitch & Deb Moore family- Darcy, Aaron, Candice, Mitch, Deb, Sean and Kimberly, September 2014
Deb and Mitch Moore, Destin Beach, FL, September 2014
The Miles “Bruce” Potter family taken November 23, 2017 (Thanksgiving) at my daughter and son in law’s Almosta ranch near Brenham, Texas. Back row left to right: Pierre Fillault, Juliette Fillault, Carter Smith, Hank (the dog) Zachary Fillault, Bruce Potter, Eliza Smith, Julie Smith, Jerry Smith, Miles Smith. Front row left to right:
Laura Fillault, Penny Potter, Jean Faulkner (great grandmother), Cresa Potter
Plebe Year ended. I was different. Aside from making life-long friendships, I had learned some hard lessons that served me well in many years at sea;
*The value of the team and trusted teammates --- I could have not made it without my classmates;
*The absolute necessity to be perfectly honest, even when candor paints you in a bad light, and;
*The ability to perform under pressure.
For me the next three years simply built upon and reinforced the lessons and friendships learned and made in the first. The summer spent helping to shape an outstanding Class of 1971 plebes was particularly instructive…I hope to them, certainly to me.
A lot changed during 69’s sojourn in Annapolis. In 1966 Sargent Barry Sadler’s “Ballad of the Green Berets” was number one on the charts. By 1969, the country was in turmoil.
Among the things that were tearing at the social and political fabric of the nation, to many Americans “the war” seemed to be without end or purpose. Faithful to our oaths, we left the Academy to lead Sailors and Marines. Some of our classmates, including one of my best friends, Captain Scott D. Ketchie, USMC, will never grow old.*
Despite, or perhaps because, of growing up in land-locked Hot Springs, Arkansas, I really wanted to become a midshipman.
It helped that my only pre-1965 trips out of Arkansas were to drop off my brother (Class of 1963) at Annapolis, and then return to see him graduate. Annapolis seemed a world apart from Garland County.
It was not exactly what I expected. While I knew plebe summer would be a little challenging, what happened after we took our oath in Tecumseh Court and disappeared into Bancroft Hall…..far from the eyes of proud parents….was a shock.
What we endured is not now permitted, but at the time the philosophy seemed to be “weed them out.” The physical and mental pressures promoted that goal admirably. I thought Plebe Summer would be the worst part. Wrong.
The Brigade returned…way too many of them. I recall getting my first interim academic marks at four weeks. Mine were “too high,” and my “leaders” clearly felt they had been remiss in their duties.
Demonstrably not enough purposeful energy was being focused my way. They took care of that
Between sea tours, I was always ashore at the Navy headquarters in Washington, except for a break to pick up a master’s degree at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.
What luck! My good friend and classmate, Jim Kimmel, introduced me to Vicki, a truly wonderful person. We were married in 1975, and immediately left the paradise that is the Monterey Peninsula for my next sea duty. Despite my frequent sea tours, thanks to a terrific, selfless Navy wife, we raised three fine young men--all Eagle Scouts and accomplished athletes, musicians and students.
One is a Virginia Commonwealth University Ram, and two are USNA grads (Classes of 1999 and 2008). Richard Jr. recently completed a highly successful tour in command of a guided missile destroyer. We have, for now, six grandchildren. Empty nesters at last, a highlight of the year for us is spending Navy football Saturdays with classmates, wives and friends at the world famous Class of 2969 tent.
I have long since retired as a Navy captain, but still serve as a member of the Senior Executive Service in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Not as good as going to sea, but the work seems important. And there is hardly a day that goes by that I do not benefit from or use a lesson I leaned in the summer of 1965.
* Editor’s Note: 1st Lt. Scott D. Ketchie, flying an A-6A Intruder as Bombardier/Navigator (B/N) with Marine All Weather Attack Squadron (VMA(AW)) 224 off USS Coral Sea (CVA 43), was shot down on April 9, 1972 during a strike mission over Laos, and later declared Killed in Action (KIA).
I started my commissioned service in USS Rich (DD 820), the culmination of technology that helped defeat the Empire of Japan in World War II.
A little over a year later I had “fleeted up” to department head, leading about a third of the crew.
I was also one of two Fleet Officers of the Deck that the Captain permitted, while he slept, to control the ship during formation steaming. I really liked it all.
That led to about thirty years of destroyer and frigate service, with four years being in command at sea, including that of all the forward deployed destroyers and frigates in the Seventh Fleet.
I personally found command at sea often to be lonely, and sometimes unforgiving, but also rewarding beyond measure.
Celebrating Adam’s wedding December 2012; l to r Mark (VCU Ram), Vicki, Adam (USNA ’08), Rich, Rich Jr (USNA’99)…fast forward….Adam & Daniela, wonderful daughter-in-law, are now the proud parents of Luke, Clara & Lincoln
In-between the 45th and 50th Reunions! At home in Reston, Virginia
April 2018 in sunny San Diego aboard USS Russell (DDG 59)….
Richard Jr.’s change-of–command after highly successful tour;
l to r Vicki, Ashton, Rich Jr, Adalyn,
wonderful daughter-in-law
Erica, Rich, Lily.
I entered the Naval Academy planning on a career in the Marine Corps. My grandfather had been a career army officer but I had imagined the Marine Corps to be more elite and less political.
Having a year of college before entering the Naval Academy and having already been in high school and college ROTC gave me two advantages over most of my classmates.
In high school I had been able to coast without really studying or working hard but my first semester in college taught me that I had to study to get grades that I considered acceptable.
Going through this before entering USNA eased some of the stress of Plebe Year and allowed me to do well academically.
My ROTC experience reduced, but didn’t eliminate, the culture shock of Plebe Year. However, not being athletic and being overweight until puberty meant Plebe Year was still a challenge.
The challenges of that year taught me that I had a lot more endurance than I thought and to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. This has helped me throughout my life.
During First Class Cruise I had an experience that made me feel that the Marine Corps was just as political and petty as all of humankind. I had gotten interested in deep ocean technology and was offered a Burke scholarship so I selected the Navy.
After graduation I served on a submarine for two years and then went to graduate school earning an Engineer degree (between Masters and Ph.D.). While in graduate school I met the love of my life, Jane, on a blind date while visiting my parents at Christmas. After a long distance courtship, we were married a few months before graduation.
I then served on two deep submersibles for five years. The work was often challenging and stressful but there was a sense of adventure and exploration as well as a special camaraderie because of being a small crew alone at sea. After the excitement of being over 6000 feet underwater or landing on and connecting to submerged submarines, my future Navy opportunities didn’t seem as appealing. I left active duty for a career with Exxon and also served in the Naval Reserve. Exxon gave me some interesting experiences planning deep water and other projects including working six years in Norway but I am fondest of my years on the deep submersibles. I owe a tremendous debt to USNA and the Navy for both my formal and life education.
Many of my decisions were based on my selfish personal interests but I sometimes wonder what life would have been like if I had followed the “Non Sibi” on our class crest and stayed in the Navy. It probably wouldn’t have benefited us financially but perhaps my work and contribution to our country would have been more meaningful and paid back more of that debt.
The combination of a Naval Reserve pension and Exxon earnings allowed me to retire early and we have been able to travel and serve others in various ways.
Seeing the challenges of others in the last 50+ years and leading my church’s part of a homeless ministry for the last 10 years highlight how lucky and richly blessed I have been and how undeserving I am of those blessings.
My challenges have been small compared to many of my classmates but we were almost all very fortunate compared to most people in the U.S. and particularly in the world.
My greatest blessings have been the Grace of my Lord, Jesus Christ; Jane, my wife of 45 years; and our two children. Jane helped me overcome much of my shyness and guided me to become an active disciple of Jesus. I now try to live my “Non Sibi” by serving others.
USNA has blessed me and shaped me in many ways that I recognize but also in many more ways that I don’t realize.
I value integrity, responsibility, hard work, reliability, and perseverance. Much of that must have come from or been strengthened by USNA since I have seen those demonstrated in my classmates.
An example to me of some of the smaller influences we had are small things from Plebe Year like “No excuse, Sir.” How many people’s first reaction to criticism is to make excuses?
Seeing how fast the last 50 years have flown by, and how much faster they go now, I wish that I had translated “Take leave for the good of the Service” to not just take leave (which I did) but to use more of my time and money to make great memories, particularly with family and friends, and to serve others.
Mike with part of his Mystic (DSRV-1) crew and Charlton Heston filming “Gray Lady Down,” 1977
Rachel, Jane, Michael, and Mike leaving Vancouver for a cruise to Alaska 2008
This photo was taken at my home in Glen Burnie, MD in the summer of 1956. My father had returned from work at the Naval Reserve Training Center at Fort McHenry in Baltimore. It had been a very hot day, and his jumper was adhered to his undershirt by perspiration and would not budge. In an uncharacteristic display of temper, he tore it apart at the “V” and removed it. Seeing an opportunity, I salvaged the jumper, sewed buttons on the front, added his dolphins and a ribbon, found his cap, and posed for the photo. Again, my path to the Navy and USNA was unwavering.
I proceeded to my first ship, USS Leary (DD 879) as main propulsion assistant. I completed one Mediterranean deployment and earned my Officer of the Deck (Independent Steaming) and OOD (Fleet Steaming) qualifications.
I was then ordered to USS Ready (PG 87), where I served as engineer officer for one year and, then, became the executive and operations officer. Following graduation from Department Head School, I was assigned to the commissioning crew of USS Spruance (DD 963) as operations officer.
My final sea assignment was in USS Plymouth Rock (LSD 29) as deck department head. That was followed by a shore duty assignment, during which I did not select for O-4 and left active duty in June 1980.
With 11 years of active duty behind me, I had the good sense to request a commission in the Naval Reserve. I served with several reserve units, commanded two of them, received regular promotions, and retired as a captain in 1998.
Along the way, I earned a Master of Engineering Management degree at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA and graduated, with distinction, from the Naval War College, College of Naval Command and Staff.
My civilian career after 1980 was in civil service with the Military Sealift Command (MSC). I was the senior port engineer in the SURTASS Program for 12 years and was responsible for the material readiness of assigned T-AGOS vessels. Then, I was assigned as a liaison between MSC and the U.S. Maritime Administration, conducting material readiness reviews for Atlantic Coast Ready Reserve Force ships, which would come under MSC operational control, if activated for service. In my final year of service, I was the MSC type desk officer and responsible for the material readiness of all fleet oilers in the Atlantic. I retired in 2006.
Throughout this varied career, there was not one day when I did not reflect on my time at USNA and the lessons I learned there in leadership, honor, integrity, perseverance, and devotion to duty. I was and remain ever mindful that I am a life-long representative of USNA and that my actions are seen as a reflection of USNA. Even in retirement, those lessons are still with me, and I try every day to live up to those traditions and standards.
This photograph appeared in the Roanoke (VA) Times newspaper on 23 December 1951. My father was assigned to the Naval Reserve Training Center and had volunteered my services for the recruiting drive photo. At that time I was six years old. I have often wondered if my future in the Navy was foreordained.
This photo was taken at my home in Norfolk, VA in June 2007. I had participated in the retirement ceremony for Captain R. B. Hall, MC, USN (USNA 1967), serving as Officer in Charge of the sideboy detachment.
The ceremony took place onboard ex-USS Wisconsin (BB-64). This was the final time that I had occasion to wear my uniform and seems to complete the arc of my Navy career.
USS Leary
End of the Road for “Sh*tmobile”, President’s Weekend 1968. Craig McClain and Mike Casey pay homage, as unfortunately the third owner Pat Maley was restricting.
During the time Scott was carried as MIA, he was promoted to Captain. On March 5, 1979 the Marine Corps declared Scott as Killed in Action (KIA). A memorial service was held at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia on July 9, 1979. Scott’s class ring, sword, navigator’s wings and decorations, including a Purple Heart medal, were donated to the Naval Academy. Scott would be proud to know his ring represents the Class of ’69 at Alumni House.
In 1992, during Joint Field Activity conducted by the United States and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, a joint team reported no crash site near the last known location. Further review of SAR logs and an interview with the pilot determined the loss was ten kilometers south of the initial investigation. In 2001, an imagery review confirmed the actual crash site, which has since been located, investigated, and excavated. Possible human remains and life support equipment were recovered from what appears to be the correct crash site, but greatly deteriorated due to time and climate.
Date of Death: April 9, 1972
Scott and Patti’s wedding, June 14, 1969
The Defense Intelligence Agency in Vientiane, Laos has been requested to follow up on possible remains alluded to by Lao nationals (“remains traders”) in a 2012 reporting. The Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Accounting Agency (DPAA) Laboratory is to reassess potential for DNA analysis during 2019.
Patti (Ketchie) Smith continues to receive briefings from the Defense POW/MIA Personnel Office.
Scott’s plans for the future included returning to Alabama, attending law school, starting a family, and a new career. While these plans would never be realized, receiving an appointment to USNA was certainly a fulfilled goal. Scott was so proud to be a part of the Brigade of Midshipmen, Class of 1969 and to serve his country as a United States Marine.
Scott and Patti, Ring Dance, June 1968
Jim Leveson, who left USNA Third Class Year and retired as Captain, USN,
with Pat Maley,
2017 in Colorado.6
On the Wing of a PBY, Naval Air Station Hollywood, Florida - inspiration for Pat Maley
to become a Navy pilot. Wink Winker and Pat Maley Sr.
As my Dad would say “Patrick if you hadn’t gone to Annapolis, you wouldn’t have met Kate (Mike Masica’s sister) and you probably would have been a bum”.
Kate and I met at a party in Norfolk when I was on First Class Cruise and got off to a rocky start but dated, got pinned, got unpinned, then engaged June Week. Neither of us wanted a long-distance romance, so we were married Labor Day weekend 1969 at the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida chapel. We had a fun wedding with many classmates/wives/dates in attendance. It was a memorable day with the full wedding party ending up in the Mustin Beach Officer’s Club fountain. As Kate said, “I am not going to wear this dress again”.
The next few years were flight school, pilot wings at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas in February 1971, and off to fly P-3s in Patrol Squadron (VP) 17 at Barbers Point, Hawaii.
Chris was born at Stanford Hospital, California while I was finishing the P-3 Replacement Air Group (RAG). Kate’s doctor was on the frontier of “Dads in the Delivery Room” so I got on a green suite and saw Chris as he came into the world. Deployments to Naha, Okinawa and Cubi Point, Philippines followed, where Kate, Chris and I “lived on the economy”, which was an adventure.
50 Years Later
Growing up in central Kansas was a long way from “the Navy”. However, my dad was a World War II PB-Y Navigator and when I was five, he was re-called to active duty.
We ended up at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California until the Korean war “ended” thus my introduction to the US Navy.
Later when his Navy buddies visited, he would “light-up” and I sensed there was something cool about “Navy Buddies”. Since I needed to pay for college and thought being a Navy pilot would be cool, I applied for an NROTC scholarship.
By the middle of my senior year I was headed to Kansas University on a full Navy “ride”. USNA was a last minute “qualified alternate” that dropped on me the day I graduated high school.
I resisted USNA, as KU looked like a much better way to “do college” and still have a shot at Navy Air.
In the end, when my Dad said, “Patrick you always go first class and Annapolis is first class”, I sent in my letter and showed up June 30, 1965.
(Pat)
In 1983 some of the Operation Crush leadership left and started Sequent Computers, and I joined as first “sales employee”. It was quite a ride, but as we passed through $200 million in sales, the culture was changing in an unfortunate way and realized I am a “small company” guy.
Using that self-knowledge, I lead three technology companies, worked with some great people, and learned a lot from them. From a work standpoint I ended up saving the best for last as I now coach the next generation of leaders as they work to do what initially can seem impossible. It is an honor to accompany them on part of their journeys. So, I am again using my flight instructor skills and loving “my job”.
Kate recently retired from her 33 years as a Clinical Psychologist, primarily in private practice. Her main focus has been assisting military families, especially in these past years of such frequent deployments and all the stresses attached. As a “Navy Junior” she is passionate that those who are serving our country and their families are also served. Over the years she has developed as a skilled water color artist, and is looking forward to going much deeper there in her next “career”.
Together, we will travel more, renewing friendships, reliving old tales, and learning from new experiences. Next up Scotland and London.
I spent my last 18 months as Pilot Training Officer where I got my first experience of “coaching” and all the flight time I wanted. In the fall of 1974, I decided to be a civilian. We left Hawaii and headed to the University of Colorado (CU) for graduate school, arriving in a snowstorm. In the midst of grad school, Andrew Merlin joined our family.
We are fortunate as both Chris and Merlin live in Denver. Chris is a marketing copywriter turned novelist and Merlin is an architect specializing in public transportation complexes. We were delighted to welcome his wife Ashley to our family along with grand dog “Paisley”.
I graduated from CU with a Master of Public Administration degree and the realization that I am NOT a fit for government work. So, headed to the CU placement office where they got me into “sales”.
My business career was in “high tech” starting in semiconductors, then computers, and finally software. I spent seven years at Intel and helped lead Operation Crush, which sealed Intel’s dominance in microprocessors.
Success came down to getting everyone in the company going in the same direction. I wonder where I first saw that in action?
Kate and Pat - Wings of Gold presentation ceremony, February 1971
Pat Maley greeted at the end of Naha, Okinawa 1972 deployment by Kate and Chris Maley, Naval Air Station Barber’s Point, Hawaii
Kate, Pat, Chris and Merlin Maley atop Mt. Werner, Steamboat, Colorado, for Kate’s birthday, 2009
Merlin, Pat, & Chris Maley, Broncos vs Chargers 2016
Merlin Maley, Pat Maley, Chris Maley, University of Colorado (CU) vs Colorado State University (CSU) tailgate, 2017
Classmates
Help
28th Company
Companies
Events
The Legacy of the Class of 1969
Contents