He was Searcy Farrior then, and now he is Jim Fair. His first duty out of the Academy was in the carrier ENTERPRISE, and from there he went to LEXINGTON, He saw many minor aircraft accidents, and was convinced that the surface Navy was for him, and he went on for duty in battleships and cruisers. He saw extensive combat in BOISE, as antiaircraft officer during the kamikaze phase near war's end. Besides fighting off the suicide planes, BOISE delivered fire support for landings in New Guinea and Leyte. There was also action in the Battle of Surigao Strait, with main battery fire against the Japanese column attempting to transit the Philippines. Jim also saw service in the battleship COLORADO, where his post was just a few feet below the blast and noise of 16-inch guns.

Jim's health suffered from his war days, for which he earned seven battle stars. He was partially deaf from gunfire and had a spastic colon, and after being treated in several hospitals, he was given a medical discharge as a lieutenant commander.

Jim's post-retirement career has been anything but routine. He went to Stetson College of Law for a time, but decided law was not for him. It was about this time that he decided to change his name from Searcy Farrior to Jim Fair - this seemed appropriate to his adopted role of consumer advocate and defender of the downtrodden, or as he has been called, "Florida's champion of the little people."

The full story of Jim's many and varied activities in pursuit of justice is far too long for this space, but it is worth noting that he became so effective in taking on the powers-that-be in Florida that they fought back by putting him in jail, and even had him committed to a mental hospital. As Jim himself spoke of his new life, "How did a spirited fun person, son of the sea and the South (socialite', per the Palm Beach Past) grow to be complimented by rejections, as corrupt powers feared him and his activism; complimented by incarcerations, as he was active for honesty in government; complimented by institutionalization, as he was active for the U.S. Constitution; complimented by disenfranchisement, as he actively participated in and upset powers' elections; complimented by neutralization (a non-person), as this rebel might rise again.

Jim's fighting for justice was not confined to Florida, but extended to Washington as well. He continues his battles from his present home in Tallahassee. On his 70th birthday on 19 December 1987, Jim was presented with a plaque which read: "In appreciation for a lifetime of courage and patriotism and for his tireless dedication to the ideals of liberty and justice and the principles of the United States Constitution." As Commodore of his own "Salvation Navy", his first headquarters for fighting the good fight, his admonition to his classmates is, "Please help this spirit not get chilled."

Deacon's first duty after graduation was in USS CHESTER and he was still on board in the Battle of Coral Sea in 1942. In that same year, Deacon married Jane Ann Schulte of LaSalle, Illinois, and began his flight training at New Orleans. His first duty out of flight training was as XO of VC-4 in USS WHITE PLAINS, providing close air support for Marine landings from Saipan to the retaking of the Philippines, During one battle, Deacon had to assume command of WHITE PLAINS when the skipper was killed. After a second WestPac tour as CO of VC-4 in PETROV BAY, Deacon returned to the U.S. in 1945 for duty at the Naval Proving Ground at Dahlgren.

Postwar tours included Staff of COMOPDEVFOR in ADIRONDACK; the Naval War College; OPNAV; CO at VS-36 at NAS Norfolk and on board VALLEY FORGE; Staff of COMASWFORLANT; XO of VALLEY FORGE; and XO of NAS, Oceana. During this latter tour, in 1958, Jane was killed in an airline crash. Before this tragic event, three children had been born: Edward III in 1943, Carol in 1946 and Mary in 1953.

In 1960, Deacon reported to Staff, COMCARDIV 16, fleeting up to be Chief of Staff. The next year, he married Julio Andersen Riggs of Virginia Beach, and in the following two years, he had two commands, first ALSTEDE, and then WASP. In the midst of these tours, Leif was born. Final tours preceding retirement in 1968 included Chief of Staff, ASWFORLANT; CofS, Navy Logistic Support Steering Committee, Navy Department; and Deputy Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Plans and Programs.

In 1969, Deacon accepted a position with Loral Electronic Systems of New York, which proved to be a challenging and rewarding experience. After establishing himself with the company, he was appointed a Vice President - in which capacity he served until his retirement in the fall of 1983.

In the meantime, Julio had been "on the road" at frequent intervals investigating possible retirement areas. Her efforts were rewarded when she rediscovered the beauty and charm of the Virginia Eastern Shore; and it follows that the Fickenschers became landowners in Accomac, Virginia, in 1983. Unfortunately, Deacon had little time to enjoy the "good life", as he suffered a fatal heart attack in February of 1984.

Present headcount of offspring includes Edward III (Class of 1965), Carol Russell, Mary Herlihy and Leif, plus seven grandchildren ranging in ages from preschool to postcollege.

Julio resides at Metomkin Farm in Accomac, Virginia, and welcomes all those brave enough to venture off the beaten track into the country!

After Basic School, Horace reported to Marine Barracks, Quantico. Horace believes we knew, in 1941, that we were going to war. After war came, promotions accelerated - Horace was a 1st LT in March, 1942, CAPT in May, 1942, MAJOR in May, 1943, and LTCOL in May, 1945. In July, 1942, he went to New River (later Camp Lejeune) and in May, 1943, joined the 1st Marine Amphibious Corps, and went onward to New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Aukland, back to New Caledonia and in May, 1944, to Pearl Harbor at Hq., FMFPac and later to CINCPAC staff. War's end cancelled his scheduled deployment to Japan, and instead he went back to Lejeune, to the Engineer School Bn. While on this tour, he married his first wife, Suzanne Falk, in Milwaukee. After two years in San Francisco, in 1949, he went to Camp Pendleton as C.O. of Engineer Bn. In August, 1950, Horace sailed with the 1st Marine Division to Japan and thence to the invasions of Inchon, Korea. In August, 1950, he flew with 125 Marines to Wonsan Airfield, North Korea, to prepare beaches for landing. He used North Korean prisoners captured by South Korean forces to construct jetties for landing craft (with sand-filled, oil drums taken from a Standard Oil refinery. On October 27, 1950, the 1st Marine Division landed, using the jetties Horace had made. Wonsan had to be evacuated, and Horace boarded one of the last ships going south; an ex-Navy LST that had been given to the Japanese, and Horace found the food coming out of the galley a bit strong for his palate.

Rejoining his Battalion at Masan, Horace undertook the challenge of going out 8 miles offshore and persuading the captain of an ammunition ship to proceed into the shallow Masan harbor and go alongside the dock -no large ships had ever entered before. Horace acted as pilot; at 3 to 5 knots the ship evaded all hazards and made it to the dock to unload. In 1951, Horace left Korea for Japan, then proceeded to Quantico, and shortly thereafter was sent to Sandia and Desert Rock, where an atomic test was conducted. Subsequently, he became an "expert" in bulk handling of fuel for the Corps, visiting several industrial companies to learn their techniques and to teach them USMC Bulk Fuel Techniques. In 1955, he sent bulk fuel equipment to the South Pole. Later that year he was transferred to HQMC and while there earned an MEA degree at GWU. In 1957, he was promoted to COL, attended ICAF and completed his active duty at FMFPac, retiring on August 31, 1961.

After retirement, Horace bought and sold gasoline stations, homes, warehouses, office buildings, and bought tracts of farmland by the acre and sold them by the square foot. Suzanne died on February 13, 1968; he married Emily Jones of Brooklyn, NY, on September 5, 1969. Horace's children are: Sands Hardin (Doctorate in Geological Science, now with Chevron); Antoinette; Nathaniel Cheairs; and Robert Bledsoe. His stepson, Edgar Ames Shelton, is a lawyer in Chicago. Horace is a hereditary member of the Virginia Society of the Cincinnati. He and Emily live at Noland's Ferry, on the Potomac near Leesburg, VA.

No Harry, it can't be fifty years since he and the classmates tossed their caps in the air and bade farewell to academy days -- or is it true that half a century has passed? The mirror reveals that it has been five decades, but the heart keeps returning to spring! Certainly, the classmates could not have served in the Navy during more eventful or critical years in the history of our beloved country. Their service spanned three major wars and innumerable minor "emergencies". They witnessed the advent of the nuclear age and the complete loss of American innocence. But this is supposed to be a personal history, so here goes Harry's own story.

At the outset, Harry feels fortunate to be writing this account. Regretfully, far too many of the brightest and best have not been so fortunate.

The Pacific seems to have controlled his destiny. First ship was SAN FRANCISCO (CA38) based in Pearl Harbor. Had the duty on Sunday, December 7th. Transferred to submarines and made eight war patrols. Subsequent sea duty tours, all in the Pacific: C.O. RONQUIL (SS396); ROGERS (DDR876); Submarine Division 71; POLLUX (AKS-1); and SAINT PAUL (CA73).

Shore duty on the staff, Submarine School, New London; a tour in BuPers; Naval War College -- first as a student and seven years later on the staff; U.S. Forces Japan staff; C.O. Recruit Training Command, San Diego and a final tour as Commander, Naval Training Center, San Diego - a wonderful way to exit after thirty equally wonderful years.

Since retiring in 1970, has enjoyed the good life in Coronado with Flossie, his bride of forty-eight years, and his inspiration for that grand old Navy song, "A Sailor's Wife a Sailor's Star Shall Be".

Neil's initiation to active service was in CINCINNATI, an old four stacker. Across the Pacific to Manila/Cavite, then to the Caribbean -- San Juan and Saint Thomas -- and a short stay at Recife, Brazil. Pretty heady stuff for a North Dakota boy. Commissioning BALTIMORE in Boston in winter was cold-cold-cold. The war years in the Pacific with the Carrier Strike Forces were long, but the short stops in the tropic islands were welcome. No battle damage but took credit for a few hostile planes which were after the carriers. A big thrill was a cruise taking President Roosevelt to Pearl for strategy conferences with Admiral Nimitz and General McArthur. Return trip was by Alaska -- a welcome change from general quarters.

Postgraduate School was next. One year at Annapolis and two at Johns Hopkins produced a Masters in Engineering-guided missile specialty. Next sea duty was as destroyer Exec. Destroyed one mine off Korea and returned (barely) to Sasebo for major repairs and back to Hunters Point. Gunnery Training Officer at ComTraComPac in San Diego, then to NORTON SOUND where PG course paid off. Early TERRIER shots at sea and engineering liaison with General Dynamics. To continue missile work, next assignment was as Program Manager in BUORD (remember that!) for TERRIER and TARTAR. Always considered this as the best billet in the Bureau.

Back to Pacific sea duty as C.O. LOFBERG. This was the best and most exciting of entire career. Plenty of close shaves and sleepless nights, but no loud, crunching sound forward.

Relief as C.O. was executed on the signal bridge at 27 knots doing plane-guard duty, followed by helo horse-collar transfer to the carrier and a catapult flight to the beach at Sangley Point. Following afternoon reported as ComDesDiv 72. No time to catch ones breath. Only eleven months as Commodore, then to the Pentagon for ASW R and D. Sea duty again as C.O. DIXIE. Great duty at Yokosuka. Then to staff COM FIRST FLEET and following that, retirement from the USN.

Fifteen years in guided missile technical areas at Naval Weapons Systems Engineering Station, Port Hueneme, was almost a second career. On 27 July, 1971, Freda Hendrickson and Neil were married in the chapel at Point Mugu, and dropped anchor in Thousand Oaks, California.

Horses, small-time ranching and foreign travel have been the order of the day every since.

Like most of us, Bill says he can't believe it will be fifty years. In retrospect, it was mostly a very wonderful period -- in a career that he thoroughly enjoyed, with a fine and supportive family, and among good friends who have made the years even better. Good health (so far!) has been a real bonus.

After graduation, Bill and several classmates ended up in Long Beach awaiting a ride to Pearl to join COLORADO. They waited about two months which gave them plenty of time to get acquainted with the attractive young ladies of the area. Bill and Willie Hodnett were buddies for the social outings. The new-found freedom was cut short when a destroyer showed up to take them "back to the Navy".

COLORADO returned to Puget Sound for overhaul before WWII started; the Yard wasn't much fun. Bill Fly and Bill Butler escaped at every opportunity to hunt quail, grouse or ducks. The faraway attack on Pearl Harbor found them on the Hood Canal duck hunting.

In July, 1942, Bill abandoned ship for flight training. There, in New Orleans, he met a lovely young lady, Isabel Morales, whom he finally was able to persuade to be his wife. Next, to Pensacola where wings were "won" in April, 1943. Finally, on to Melbourne, Florida, for operational training. After that, he joined VC-33 and operated off Jeep carriers in the Pacific for the remainder of the war. Meanwhile, Isabel and Bill became proud parents of a lovely baby girl, Sandra.

After the war, there were tours as Exec. of SAN CARLOS (AVP-51) based in Panama; Executive Department, USNA; Naval War College; and C.O. VF-22. While in VF-22, at Jar, they adopted a fine son, Greg.

Following, there were staff tours, including CarDiv Two and First Fleet, plus a delightful two years as Air Group Commander. Finally came the National War College, then two ship commands, and a tour with the Joint Staff, which finished off the active duty. Since 1971, they have been in Virginia Beach; here Bill "retired" from the faculty Tidewater Community College in 1981. Now, as a part-time yard man, handy-man and gentleman farmer (farm near Farmville, Va.), he often wonders how he ever did the "odd" jobs plus pursue a Navy career. Isabel and Bill claim that some day they'll really retire.

Upon graduation, Sam went to USS BOISE in Long Beach with five classmates. They left for Pearl shortly and Sam experienced the usual until just before we became involved in the War, when BOISE escorted a convoy to Manila. The ship was in various campaigns with the Asiatic and Pacific Fleets until badly shot up in the Guadalcanal campaign and came back to the States for repairs, and then on to the Sicilian Landing and Salerno in the Med. In January, 1944, it was back to the Pacific and MacArthur's Navy for the campaign in New Guinea. Sam left for PG School in September of 1944. During the time he served in BOISE, he went from boot ensign to Gunnery Officer (for a few months while awaiting the arrival of the newly designated Gun Boss).

After the PG course at the Naval Academy and MIT, Sam was assigned to the OPDEVFOR staff in Norfolk and served there until 1950 when he went to BUORD in Fire Control R&D. In 1952, he took command of USS HARWOOD in Newport. After two years in the Atlantic, Carribean and Med, Sam left to be Naval Inspector of Ordnance in Rochester, NY, with Eastman Kodak and Bausch & Lomb. In 1955, he was assigned to the Special Projects Office in the Fire Control Branch where they worked with the German Scientists and the Army to integrate the Army's JUPITER missile into a ship and a submarine until it was decided to have the Navy develop its own missile, the POLARIS, in late 1955. At that time, Sam became head of the guidance effort in SP. In 1957, he left SP to take command of a squadron of LST's in Long Beach. After two trips to the Far East and several up and down the West Coast, he returned to SP to the guidance effort in 1959.

In 1960, just after the first successful submarine launch of the POLARIS in late July, Sam retired and went to MIT to Doc Draper's Instrumentation Lab where he was once again involved in the Navy Ballistic Missile guidance activities. In 1961, he became Program Manager of the FBM Group at the Lab where he stayed until he "retired-retired" in 1980. During that time, Sam was responsible for the development of the guidance systems for the POLARIS A3, the POSEIDON and the TRIDENT.

As for his private life, in 1943, Nancy Kerr of Fisherville, MA and Sam were married. They had three children: Sam, born in 1947 in Newton, MA; Rodman, born in 1948 in Norfolk; and Deborah, born in 1951 in Bethesda. Nancy died in 1961. In 1962, Jeanne Van Tilburg and Sam were married in Hingham, MA, and have lived there since then. They intend to stay there, cheering on the RED SOX and the CELTICS.

Larry's first duty as a Second Lieutenant was as platoon leader of 30 "ground pounding" 5th Marines; his last was in 1961, commanding Marine Air Group 12 in Japan (1000 men and 100 jet aircraft, land and carrierbased). In between, Larry had a full active duty career and an active post-retirement career.

After flight training, Larry piloted Mitchell bombers in the Pacific during the last two years of the war. When the next war, in Korea, came along, he was back in the cockpit, commissioning and commanding Marine Composite Bombing Squadron 612 in 1952, attacking at 200 feet with pin-pointing search and gun-control radar, the first Navy-Marine squadron to employ the Tiny Tim aircraft rocket. After Korea, Larry was back at Headquarters, USMC, introducing the first air-transportable ground control radar for amphibious operations. Serving on the Marine Corps Equipment Board, he established requirements for an all-weather attack aircraft, and in subsequent duty at BuAer, he participated in development of the aircraft for service use. The A-6 Intruder was an advanced version for fleet and land use.

Larry had a heart attack in 1959, and although he recovered and went on to command his air group in Japan, by 1961, the Corps decided against allowing post-heart attack aviators to fly from carriers, so Larry retired to begin a second career. Having earned a master's degree in electronics engineering at the Navy PG School in 1952, he took his expertise to Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in Sunnyvale, as a senior engineer working in R&D. His projects included communication satellite systems, aerospace propulsion equipment and evaluation of advanced ballistic missile systems.

Retiring again in 1978, he took up golf, fishing and gardening, and he and Bernie spent more time with their six granddaughters. Looking back over a sea of memories, Larry found that one stood out: his marriage of 47 years to Bernie, his four children, and later, the chance to see their children. Larry died in Letterman Army Hospital on 17 September, 1989, of pneumonia following hip surgery. Bernie remains in Los Altos, CA; daughter, Kathleen, is in New Mexico; daughter, Mary Ann, is in Navarro, CA; son, James, is in Washington state; and son, John, is in Sonora, CA.

Larry's decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Soldiers Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal, and Navy Unit Commendation.

Ben reported to the Battleship TENNESSEE during June, 1940 in Bremerton and was assigned to the Engineering Department. Later that summer, TENNESSEE joined the US Fleet in Hawaiian waters. He was in charge of the engineering plant during the Battle of Pearl Harbor and the plant pumped a great deal of water to fight fires on ARIZONA astern and WEST VIRGINIA alongside. TENNESSEE then operated as a unit of Task Force One based in San Francisco until August, 1942, when the Force was based in Pearl Harbor, and then in the South Pacific. Ben and Mary Josephine Fortune Little of Washington, DC, were married in San Francisco on 23 May, 1942.

Gunnery duties in the destroyer BALDWIN followed for Ben, then Executive Officer in the destroyer MACKENZIE. Next, Commanding Officer of the destroyer KENDRICK, in which he received a Commendation Medal for the support of the US Army in northwest Italy during April and May, 1945.

Three years in Postgraduate School, Annapolis, merited a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering. By this time, Ben and Josephine had a girl and a boy. Starting August, 1949, came a tour as Engineering Officer of the Cruiser HELENA, mainly in the Western Pacific, followed by a return to homeport in Long Beach. Then to Korean waters and another Commendation Medal.

Orders for duty in the Bureau of Ships and designation for Engineering Duty were next. Then staff, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Quincy; Shipyard, Charleston; and Bureau of Ships. Lastly, a transfer into the materials service as Chief, Defense Contract Administration Services Office, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Return to civilian life came on 1 July, 1966, in Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, as an administrator. Josephine lost her brave and long fight against multiple sclerosis on 16 November, 1974.

Ben retired from Northwestern University in May, 1981. Then, he moved to Mountain View, California.

Frank's first assignment waste USS RANGER(CV-4) for three years. He applied and was accepted for the Construction Corps and in 1943, was ordered to MIT where the normal three year course was shortened to two years. His group graduated with a Master's Degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. The Naval Constructors had been merged with the Naval Engineers and were designated Engineering Duty Only Officers. Frank next spent three years at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, then back to sea as Main Proyulsion Assistant in CORAL SEA (CV-43) as part of the Commissioning Crew. In 1948, he went to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, then 3 years later to the Naval Academy Steam Department. After a tour as Assistant Maintenance Officer on the Staff of Comservlant, Frank was ordered to BuShips in Washington and four years later, in 1960, went to the Naval War College for a year and then to Mare Island Shipyard, ending up as Production Officer. From 1965 to 1968, Frank was Fleet Maintenance Officer on the Staff of CINCPACFLT/COMSERVPAC, made Flag Rank, and went back to Mare Island as Shipyard Commander. He retired in August, 1970.

Family: Frank was still in RANGER when the marriage ban was lifted and Susie (Suzanne Sullivant Chase) and he were married on April 2, 1942. The three children, Diane, Nancy and John, were born in Boston, Portsmouth, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Among them, there are seven grandchildren, with the oldest a LT(jg) and the youngest still in elementary school.

Post Navy: From 1970 to 1975, Frank was at the State Technical Institute of Memphis, ending up as the Assistant to the Director. He left there in August, moved to Annapolis, where the Frankenbergers have been ever since. They keep busy with volunteer work, mainly on various programs for the seniors of Anne Arundel County.

After bilging their final eye exam in March '40, Joe D'Arezzo and Fritz interviewed half-heartedly for civilian jobs and received several solid offers. Their first priority objective, however, was to obtain Regular Army commissions - influenced to a degree by the fact that Joe's brother, Alfred, graduated with USMA '38. Their considerable efforts in this direction were met with consistent rejection. One day, a week or two after graduation, Joe was prowling the corridors of the old War Department when he made a significant discovery - the Adjutant General of the Army, the man who regulated the major personnel actions of the entire service, was Maj. Gen. Ulio, a distinguished officer of Italian extraction! (He was, at that time, the only general in the Army of Italian heritage.) Joe wasted no time in gaining an audience with this fine, perceptive, foresighted, action-oriented officer of extraordinary judgment. By the time Joe left, they were happily conversing in Italian and Joe had a firm commitment in hand for the two of them to enter the Regular Army on 25 June 1940, tacked directly to the bottom of USMA '40.

1940 was an interesting time. The Army was in great turbulence, expanding at a rapid rate. Less than 23 months after USNA graduation, Fritz's artillery battalion, with him as exec, was boarding a ship in New York harbor for a memorable Atlantic crossing. Three years later, to the day, via Algeria, Tunisia, Sardinia, Italy, Corsica, France and Germany, they were steaming back into New York harbor.

In the fall of '47, it was Fritz's greatest good fortune to marry Margaret McCallum and they were, in time, blessed with three fine sons. On Father's Day 89, they suffered their most profound tragedy when John Frederick, their eldest, was killed in an unfortunate home accident.

During '47-'49, it was like civilian life again - graduate engineering school at the University of Southern California - followed by a series of utilization tours at the White Sands Proving Ground, the Pentagon and Heidelberg, Germany.

Subsequently, there were two more Pentagon assignments and a field command, between which a 38-month Vietnam tour was sandwiched. Retirement in June 72 was followed by 10 years as the Adjutant General of the State of Connecticut, commanding the Army and Air National Guard.

Fritz says the Service embraced him and he embraced the Service. Given the opportunity, he'd do it all over again.