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NEWS LETTER   From Class President  Jerry Miller to  members of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1942.

      INT  Introduction
Being the parent of a member of the Class of 2005,1 have been in a unique position to observe and evaluate the Naval Academy during the past four years. I have monitored two parent "websites" on the Internet, in addition to the regular Naval Academy and Alumni Association websites. With over 3000 parents, one Website produces an interesting picture of the Academy. You would be amazed (and amused) at some of the comments and questions from parents. For example, fathers are often more uptight about the activities of their offspring than mothers, particularly if the midshipman is a young woman. I have had other exposure through classroom teaching and occasional meals with midshipmen and faculty, giving me an opportunity to listen. Also in my new role as the President of our Class, I have been on the receiving end of several excellent briefings by the Superintendent, the Academic Dean, and other members of the Academy Staff. I have formed some opinions in which you may be interested.

  Vice Admiral Rodney Rempt is an outstanding Superintendent. The midshipmen, the faculty and the military staff like him. He has greatly enhanced the "Spirit of the Brigade," aided and abetted by an impressive football season. He is known as the "Singing Admiral" and you can understand why when you hear the midshipmen singing some Navy fight song while standing in formation on the football field before game time. And believe it or not, the midshipmen like The Goat is Old and Gnarly.

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+ The academic curriculum of today is a far cry from our rote response to the material in a textbook. I have listened to several midshipmen discuss the content of their courses with enthusiasm for the lessons being taught and the instructors. As an example, you may remember how we had to make a radio as a semester project in electrical engineering. Today, making a radio is an optional project, taking up two classroom sessions. One lab exercise with which I am familiar has a team designing and building a robot ‑ that will combat another robot being designed and assembled by another team of midshipmen. Another student is working on a continuing project for the development of a heating and cooling system for a new satellite that the midshipmen will be launching to join one they now have circling the earth.

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  BR     Bricks and Mortar.

Hurricane Isabell had a major destructive impact on the Academy. But there are always positive sides to such disasters. Michelson Hall has been renovated and now boasts one of the finest chemical laboratories in the collegiate world. Chauvenet Hall is gutted at the moment, undergoing a similar upgrade and repair of damage from the Hurricane.

The highest priority on the Superintendent's list for "brick and mortar' is a new field house, to be built with "appropriated" funds. In his opinion, the Academy needs more covered space for athletic activities, in view of the impressive emphasis on physical fitness.

 

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 BG       Bad and Good

Primary concerns of the Superintendent are: (I) sexual misconduct, (2) drug/alcohol abuse and (3) honor violations.

Any of us would undoubtedly make some changes were we the Superintendent, but it is pretty hard to argue with the success of a program when it produces three Rhodes Scholars from the Class of '05 out of a total of 32 for the nation. Coupling that with other impressive academic honors, an athletic and physical fitness program that is tops in the country, and graduates heading for combat, we can be proud of our Alma Mater.

Internet Information

If you are on the Internet and desire to keep up with Academy events, go for www. usna. com. When the home page comes up, click on News and Publications on the menu of the left side of the screen.  When that window comes up, click on News.  Then you will see a calendar.  Click on the day in which you are interested and read away. Pretty simple and quite informative. There is a lot of information about the old School at usna.com.
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THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ‑ THE FOUNDATION

You can read many words about the mission of the Alumni Association and its companion, the Naval Academy Foundation. The bottom line however, at least for me, is that the Foundation raises money and the Association works with the Academy for the best utilization of the money. During the past five years, a total of $75 million has been given to the Academy for many projects. Examples are the impressive upgrading of the Stadium, the Sailing Center, Squash Courts, the new Soccer Facility, and the new Jewish "chapel" and learning center all provided with private -not public - funding. The $2.0 million investment portfolio that our Classmate Hap Day started for the Association many years ago, now totals over $100 million.

In addition to funding many of the Academy's needs, the Association provides excellent support for 70,000 members, divided into more than 90 Chapters and 75 active Classes. The Leadership and Staff are outstanding and provide special assistance for many Alumni activities such as Communications, Reunions, Bowl Games, Tailgate Parties, Blue and Gold Officers for recruiting  - the list goes on. The Association has been particularly helpful to our Class in the area of communications, as you will read below.

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Class OF 1942

  Leadership: Our leadership team has jelled well since Jim Small's passing last spring. Several have stepped forward to take on tasks of varying size and nature. My personal role will be expanded somewhat this spring as I become a member of the Board of Trustees of the Alumni Association, a position I did not seek but which came my way by virtue of the By Laws. How this role will affect our Class is unknown at this time. It may help and I may need more support.

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Activities:

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Luncheons are still high on the list in the Washington area. Recently, we have included a special feature. Gordon Peterson, a retired Academy grad, got us up to speed on the Coast Guard in the Department of Homeland Security. Frank Andrews, Ken Simmons, and Jack Crawford - three of our most educated Classmates, tested our mental acuity by making a team presentation about "Religion and Science," a project on which they have been working for sometime. The response was interesting. No one went to sleep, and the questions were appropriate. Don't give up on your mind just because the body is aging. One astute attendee commented, "The women should have been there." In that regard, at future affairs, we will be placing more emphasis on the feminine side of our Class/Family association. A schedule for the Washington area lunches during 2005 has been published and distributed to local residents. If you would like a copy, just let me know.

Tail Gate parties at the Alumni Stadium before the fall football games were a success in 2004 with Max and Trilby Duncan serving as the coordinators. Reflecting the Class/Family concept, the Homecoming Tailgate brought together Classmates, wives, widows, children, grand children, and one great grandchild. It was fun, with all joining in singing a few fight songs to the accompaniment of a small Navy band. '42 appears to be the only Class from the '40s that still holds Tailgate space at the games.

Golf: Jack Hill continues to sponsor the annual USNA'42 Mary E. Hill Memorial Golf Tournament in Quantico , VA. The event takes place this year on Wednesday 20 April 2005. Sons, adult grandsons and male members of the Class/Family are invited to play, reflecting our intent to expand the Class/Family concept. If you are having trouble making such events, get one of your male offspring to "get you to the tee on time." If you have not received a registration slip and are interested in attending, just contact J.T. Hill at 954‑493‑9864., the phone number in Lauderdale , Florida where he and Rita spend the winter. Also, we still keep at least one foursome in the annual Bill Morrow tournament at Homecoming at the Academy. Max Duncan, Bob McWethy, Jerry Miller and Bill Morrow himself are the usual entries. The major claim to fame is that we are now the oldest Class participating in that annual event. Reunion : Jake Glick has the 65th under control with a program designed for octogenarians. Letters have been mailed to all on our list and more will follow at the appropriate time. Emphasis is being placed on including family members. We need their support and it is interesting how some offspring are anxious to attend. We have one daughter of a deceased classmate who has already signed up, planning to come from Colorado just to hear some sea stories about her father, Jim Wryick, one of our early Navy Cross winners.

Book Reviews hosted by Dale and Barbara Reed in the Washington area trigger some spirited discussion, particularly if Jack Crawford and Pat Rawson are present. If you are not involved in book reviews, you might start one in your area. They are entertaining, suitable for octogenarians - and the food is always great.

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Midway continues as a Class project. Since our last newsletter, Dick Sewall and the San Diego contingent received a print of the famous R.G. Smith painting about Midway called "Turning Point." The print was made available courtesy of Bill Houser. The '42 team presented it to the USS Midway Museum in San Diego . It now hangs in the admiral's cabin of that famous old ship. Also, Dick Sewall is working on a plaque with the Class crest and names of all of '42 that were involved in the Battle . That should be a neat artifact in the Ship. This spring, Bill Houser will be visiting the Museum in San Diego and meeting with the appropriate authorities to discuss how'42 can help get it moving forward. More on that as it develops.

More Museums. Hap Day mentioned this in a recent issue of Shipmate, but it bears repeating. John Marocehi has become involved in the impressive Virginia War Memorial in Richmond . One interesting program of that Museum is the preparation of short videos recounting the activities of Virginia citizens in wars of the past. Included in the series is one about Nurses in World War II. Under preparation is one about submarine warfare in the Pacific. Another on the agenda when sufficient funds are acquired ($50,000.00), is one about the Battle of Midway. The fascinating aspect of this video program is that copies of the videos are provided to every public and private school in Virginia , with the objective of increasing the knowledge of history. If you want to know more or make a contribution, contact John Marocchi at 540‑987‑8645.

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Memorials. Some of you have heard about the refurbishment of the Rotunda, Smoke Hall and Memorial Hall in Bancroft Hall at the Academy. One significant feature in Memorial Hall is an impressive exhibit containing a listing of all those Academy grads that have given their lives in the Service. A recent article in the Baltimore Sun covered the story well. By coincidence, the picture accompanying the article reflected many names of '42 casualties. It is a sobering exhibit ‑ one that will be included on our tour of Bancroft during the 65th Reunion . And speaking of plaques, the Alumni Hall now has an impressive display of Class Crests, starting with the early 1900s and ending with the most recent Class. As you walk around the second floor inside the auditorium, you can view the Crests of those that have gone before and followed after. '42 looks classy, as always.

Boy Scouts: Art Rawson, our Vice President and the Navy's most loyal submariner, has been the liaison officer between his church and a large Boy Scout Troop for over fifteen years. As a special incentive for the scouts to complete the Trail to Eagle Scout, Art gives each new Eagle Scout, an author signed book on naval history, a neat feature that motivates. Art is also involved in collecting pop‑top caps from canned drinks. They are used in support of a Ronald McDonald House in California . There are many ways in which we can continue to serve.

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Communications:

Emails and the Buddy System. As you know from previous newsletters and our special Communications Letter last fall, we have placed considerable emphasis on expanding our ability to communicate electronically. Frank Andrews, Ken Simmons, and Bill Morrow have been the driving force, with the Alumni Association being particularly helpful.  Bill took an aggressive approach, lined up some "coordinators and facilitators" around the country, and persuaded them to make contacts with all members of the Class, to either get the latter on the Internet or line up a Buddy to cover for them. When Bill started, we had about 80 people that we could contact via Email. The list is now over 240, including those with "Buddies" ‑ people who will receive Emails and pass them on to Classmate Buddies or pass Email messages such as death notices back up the line for dissemination to the whole Class. If you want to get on the Internet, don't hesitate to call for help. We can provide guidance. Incidentally, Don Wilson passed on another method of getting on the Internet and using Emails.  He and Nell live on a farm near Henrietta , TX . He goes to town about three times a week and stops by the town library, where there are several Personal Computers (PCs) available for public use. He has established an Email address and uses the Hot Mail service, which is free. He can send Emails and he receives those addressed to him at the Library, all free of charge. Check him out at dewsr@hotmail. com.

Shipmate: Electronic communications is not the only way we will stay in contact. Hap Day will continue to carry Class News in Shipmate. Space allotted has been reduced as the Alumni Association continues its major effort to concentrate on electronic publishing. Hap will be doing some creative editing to complete his columns, particularly if photos are involved. But send him the news as you have it. Subject content will concentrate on individuals in the Class, as it has for over forty years. To receive Shipmate magazine, you must be a member of the Alumni Association. Twenty - five percent of our Class are not members

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Newsletter: Depending on the response, Newsletters like this one will be published every six months as in the past. Content is intended to include items presented to Class Officers by the Alumni Association. I will continue to screen that material and promulgate via Email if appropriate, but will cover more in the Newsletter itself. This will also give us an opportunity to publish any overflow from the Shipmate column. It would be helpful if you would provide suggestions about the content of these Newsletters. Too much? Too little? Include something about the Navy  - based on material that is made available to those of us in the Washington community? Or just Cease and Desist. For feedback to me, contact points are listed in the letterhead above.

Telephone: The telephone can be very personal and effective in keeping up the morale of those having physical or other troubles. We encourage you to call those that have become lonesome, for whatever reason. It is surprising what a few words from the past can do in raising spirits and easing pain.

A Directory: Now that we have a pretty good account of who is where, you will soon receive a new Directory ‑ similar to the great document Bunky Herndon used to prepare. It will be published by the Alumni Association, using their membership records. By using the extensive amount of information already in the Alumni Association files, a '42 Directory can be published as often as we need it. Of special significance will be keeping the Directory up‑to‑date. The procedure is simple. As you change your status or detect errors, merely contact Jodie Collins at Alumni Headquarters. Phone: 410‑263‑4448, Extension 205; or Email to Jodie.Collins@usna.com; or regular mail: USNA AA, 247 King George St. , Annapolis , MD 21402 . Give her the correct information and she will do the rest. Each Directory that the Association publishes will reflect those changes and provide an up‑to‑date Directory courtesy of modern communications ‑ and the efforts of our Classmates.

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Photos: Rita Hill continues to take many pictures of Class activities and make them available for distribution. Dick Curtis, a graduate of the Navy Photo School many years ago, is into the digital photo business. He now takes pictures of events, and shows the pictures on a lap top computer before the event is completed. We want to exploit his capability and will be developing a '42 Photo Library. We will be able to send you a Compact Disk (CD) with pictures of Class events. You can display them on your computer and make prints as desired.

  Class/Family: One new feature of our Class activity is what we call the Class/Family - a "legacy program" in Alumni Association terms. We are adding to our depleting Class population, the family members of Classmates, living or deceased, who desire to keep up‑to‑date on USNA '42. For example, we have four nephews of deceased classmates who were killed in aviation accidents during the 1940s. These young men grew up with their mothers telling them about Uncle So and So, a member of the great Class of 1942. Joe Hunt's nephew, Joe Hunt, is one on the list, along with Greg Lima, nephew of Clive Strangman and Peter Schaefer and Phil Slough, nephews of Bob Seidell. All have been interested in sea stories about their uncles and want to keep up to date. They have been invited to attend our 65th Reunion . We even have a couple of daughters of living classmates on the list at their request, having known the Class all of their lives. The list is small at the moment, numbering only eighteen, but we anticipate that it will expand as the word is disseminated. Current members will be listed separately in our new Directory. If you are interested in knowing more about this program, just call me.

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Awards. The Class continues to receive recognition. The Navy Yard in Washington D.C. now boasts the Admiral Robert Gooding Conference Center , which serves the Department of Defense. It is a first class operation, with visual aids, food service ‑ the works ‑ with a large picture of Bob at the entrance. As many will remember, Bob served as the Chief Engineer of the Navy for several years.

Hap Day received an "Outstanding Service" certificate at our December luncheon in Annapolis . The Award was presented by Admiral Carl Trost, the Chairman of the Board of the Alumni Association. It honored Hap's preparation of Class Notes in Shipmate Magazine for more than forty years.

Joe Hunt continues to be remembered. The 2 January 2005 issue of the Annapolis Capital newspaper contained an article about Joe, recalling his exploits, including his membership in the Tennis Hall of Fame and his untimely death in an aircraft accident in 1945.

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Distinguished Graduate: Many of you know that I was honored in 2004 to join Jack Crawford and Bill Houser as a Distinguished Graduate of the Academy. In addition to yours truly, Brute Krulak '34, Jim Calvert'43. Charlie Cooper '50 and Ron Marryott '57 received the award.  This is an evolving program for the Alumni Association and the Academy. For 2004, the Superintendent reasoned that a major objective for the Program should be to inspire midshipmen. So he ordered the entire Brigade into Alumni Hall for the ceremony.  It was impressive.

To carry on our efforts to identify more candidates for this program, Jack Crawford has taken the reins. With Rufe Porter and Charlie Smith as a supporting staff, the Class has submitted the nomination of Ed Kintner for consideration this year. Ed's career centered on nuclear energy.  One specific example of his service was the cleaning up of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant accident, a major contribution to our country if there ever was one. We intend to submit more nominations for the Award in the future, as candidates are identified. The criteria are simple.  The nominee must: (1) be alive, (2) have demonstrated a strong interest in supporting the Navy and the United States Naval Academy, (3) have provided a lifetime of service to the Nation or Armed Forces and (4) have made significant and distinguished contributions to the Nation via their public service. If you feel strongly about some classmate receiving the Award, get some facts together in support of your nomination and contact Jack Crawford at 11495 Farmland Drive , Rockville , MD 20852 . The Alumni Association is interested in having as many graduates as possible view these Award Ceremonies. In that regard, this year they have produced a video (about 30 minutes) of the highlights as conducted in Alumni Hall. In addition there are videos (about 15 minutes) featuring each individual awardee. If you are interested in viewing the ceremony as performed in the fall of 2004, just call me at 703‑273‑7184. We will have Compact Disks (CDs) that you can use. Viewing the ceremony at a Class luncheon or with friends can serve as another excuse for a party. If nothing else, the performances by the Academy Men's and Women's Glee Clubs are top notch.

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Funds: Rufe Porter reports that all accounts are in good shape. You should know that we do have some operating expenses. For example, this Newsletter will cost about $500.00. The new Directory will cost about $800.00 for preparation and distribution. Most operating expenses for Class activities are covered by voluntary donations from Classmates, who have been quite generous. If you care to contribute, just make out a check payable to the "Association of the Class of 1942" and send it to Rufe Porter at 8012 Falstaff Road , McLean , VA 22102 .

Obits: Again a rather tough subject to discuss. In our Newsletter last summer, I asked that you get a copy of your obit to Hap Day at your convenience, in order to: (1) insure that the words in the obit are as you desire and (2) cut down on the effort required by others when the obit is needed. Last summer, Hap had two obits on file. Now he has fourteen, a sizeable increase but far from the number that are eligible. Give it some thought and get your offspring to help if necessary. Send to Hap Day at 2426 Chestnut Street , Falls Church , VA 22043 .

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History: Dennis Hart Mahan, West Point Class of 1834, was the father of Alfred Thayer Mahan, famous naval strategist and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. 

Conclusion: Enjoy 2005 and rejoice that you are a member of the USNA '42 Class/Family

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