Dear Classmates and Friends,

Annapolis, like almost all of the East coast and much of the country is in the throes of sequential winter storms with lower than average temperatures, high winds, rain, sleet and. today, our first glimpse of snow, That said, there is a warm afterglow here in the wake of our great 50th reunion. We owe a great round of thanks to Bill Earner, his dedicated crew of classmates and wives, and all those who made our reunion the spectacular event it was from check-in to the class meeting, to the presentation of a legacy gift of over $6.3 million, to reviewing the Brigade on parade, the class dinner with 805 in attendance, a great brunch, and a most moving and memorable memorial service All who attended ensured the success of the reunion and more than validated all the sweat equity that went into making it the outstanding success it was. Well done to all hands!!

Two items of immediate interest:

Naval Academy Cemetery: You are probably aware that Christmas wreaths are laid in Arlington National Cemetery each Christmas season This beautiful gesture is being extended to the Naval Academy cemetery and columbarium. These wreaths are from Wreaths Across America and are paid for primarily by donations. The wreaths are high quality balsam with a hand tied bow. A wreath costs $15.00 and the purchase of two wreaths generates a third one from the Worcester Wreath Company. Wreaths can be purchased for placement in the Naval Academy cemetery and the columbarium. By my count, we have twenty one classmates and spouses in the columbarium and one child of a classmate with another eight in the cemetery. To purchase a wreath or wreaths, call Wreaths Across America toll-free at 1-877-385-9504 and tell them you want the wreath(s) delivered to the United States Naval Academy Cemetery, Annapolis, MD. location ID:MD USNA Credit cards may be used.Or you can go to the Wreaths Across America website at http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/ and accomplish the same thing. The wreaths will be laid by volunteers on 13 December.

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, Fort Worth, Texas, 30 December 2013. The Navy football team is bowl eligible and has been invited to play in the Bell Helicopter Bowl against a yet to be named opponent in Fort Worth Texas on the 30th of December. Game time is 1045 local time,1145 EST. Tickets are available for $30.00 lower level and upper level end zone; $40.00 in the upper level sideline seats; and $50.00 lower level sideline. Tickets at $50.00 are being solicited for midshipmen and enlisted personnel to attend the game. Tickets are available through the Navy ticket office by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY or on line at http://bit.ly/17zldT1. Tickets purchased as a donation are tax deductible.

The midshipmen are away for the Thanksgiving holiday but will return on Sunday night. Exams start the Wednesday before the Army game which is on the 14th of December. That should put a damper on Army week activities--but maybe nothing, not even exams, can tamp that down BEAT ARMY!!

We all have a great deal to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I count each of you as a blessing and the honor of being your classmate and friend are amongst my greatest treasures. From our house to yours, a very happy Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends.

Quality 63

Spencer Johnson

Classmates - The next Class Luncheon is scheduled for Tuesday, December 3 at 11:30am in the Arlington Room of Army Navy Country Club.

The cost will be $27.50 which includes tax. Any drinks are extra. Here is the menu. Please RSVP to Bob Forster at bforster5@verizon.net or Jim Ring at jep.ring@gmail.com.

$25 per person (exclusive of tax) Total $27.50 with tax SALAD
Simple Tossed Greens
Farm vegetables, roasted tomato, dijon-red wine vinaigrette

CHOICE OF THREE ENTREES
The Country Club--House roasted turkey, apple wood smoked bacon, Hellmann's mayo, butter lettuce, beefsteak tomato, house made kettle chips
The Ultimate Grilled Cheese--House made mozzarella, basil, shaved garlic, heirloom tomato, baby green salad
Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Sandwich--Butter toasted brioche bun, homemade tartar sauce, slaw, Old Bay fries

DESSERT
Flourless Chocolate Cake--Raspberry sauce, white chocolate mint ice cream, whipped cream

I've been approached by a woman from church whose son is a Marine grad from 2013. She wants to surprise him by taking him to this year's Army - Navy game. The Athletic Association has allocated its full allotment. Please consider putting a request for two tickets on the class web site. I would be the contact. My cell is (404) 456-0723

Classmates, it is an honor for me to pass on the news that Vern VonSydow has been honored by the AARP Educator Community for his continued service in the San Diego community to help at-risk youths. He was one of only 3 individuals so recognized this year. You can find the citation below.

Vern's self-less efforts on behalf of these youths have gone on for many years and truly represents a sterling example of the highest ideals of public service. I am proud to be his classmate and consider him to be one of our Class's "Distinguished Graduates".

Quality '63,
Phillip
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NRTA: AARP's Educator Community is committed to learning, voluntary service and civic participation. More than a decade ago, the organization formed the With Our Youth! program to provide volunteer opportunities for community service projects with youth. For the first three years of the program, NRTA made a pledge to serve 1.5 million youth in 2,000 communities with a total of 45 million service hours through its affiliated state retired educators associations (REAs). The goal was exceeded.

The recipients of NRTA's 14th Annual With Our Youth! awards were chosen for outstanding service to youth in the state, local, individual and impact categories by an independent selection panel. Award recipients include:

Individual Category

California - Vernon Von Sydow Vern Von Sydow has touched the lives of literally thousands of at-risk high school students. His math tutoring has helped turn dropouts into college students, and teachers credit working one on one with him as one of the key interventions to move students ahead. Years ago, he reached out to his Naval Academy class alumni network and asked for donations to start the Palomar Scholarship Foundation, which awards more than 20 scholarships per year to deserving young people. That seed money along with fundraising and donations has supported young people going to college for over 20 years. He is a role model to all teachers for his selflessness in retiring to save the jobs of younger teachers and in his work ethic. Despite being retired, he still comes to school every day to tutor at-risk kids in math. In particular he works with teen mothers to help them achieve their graduation goals. He comes in early and stays late yet always has time to devote to a student who needs him whether it be to teach them how to tie a tie for a job interview or just to listen to them when they are feeling down. He never fails to remind that mistakes are just another step in the direction of perfection. The scholarship fund is a fully functioning 501(c)(3) charity registered with the state of California, and he serves as the foundation's president. He is also on the Sweetwater Union School District's Superintendent's Advisory Committee helping to shape new education policy. During his teaching years, he established an internship program where at-risk teens work in jobs on the local naval base learning career skills and building relationships with naval mentors. The Navy Internship Training Program has served thousands of young men and women and has been recognized with a Golden Bell award from the governor of California.

Click Here.

for a recap of ESPN's USNA coverage

Certain events in history burn themselves into our memories. All Americans of a certain age, and certainly all members of the Class of 1963, can recall exactly where they were when first they heard the news that President Kennedy had been assassinated - 22 Nov 1963. Michael Blackledge suggested we create a new page with classmates' memories of where they were that fateful day. If interested in contributing send to Mike Blackledge your name, USNA company and a short description like:"Ron Walters (6th Co): I remember that day. I was on the USS Cromwell (DE-1014) off the coast of Brazil when President Kennedy was assassinated." If you have a poignant story to tell include that also. Send to Mike@Blackledge.com.

Please get your email input to Mike ASAP and no later than 12/1/2013. do it today.

This show on CBS Sports Network aired last night and was terrific. It covers our years at the Academy from the JFK Inauguration parade, Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy's love of the Navy and football, the 1961 and 1962 Army-Navy games up to the tragic events of November 22, 1963. The last half is all about the '63 Army-Navy game and how it helped heal the Nation. Great footage of Bellino and Staubach.

If you missed it there will be encore presentations at
Friday, Nov. 15, 3 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 16, 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 17, 6 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 3 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 21, 5 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 14, 11 a.m.

June Stone says: A pair of plain black medium sized woman's leather gloves about 10 1/2 inches in length were found on the school bus when it stopped at Country Inns and Suites after the parade. I turned them in at the reception desk but nobody claimed them. Since the bus made several stops, it could be someone who got off earlier on the route. I will be happy to mail them to the rightful owner if found. Contact June at cwstonejr@aol.com.

During the parade at USNA last Friday I watched some of our classmates salute as the flag passed while most of us just stood at attention thinking that saluting was not appropriate as we were not in uniform.. Just read in the latest Military Officer magazine that in 2008 " congress amended the U.S. code authorizing veterans and members of the armed forces when not in uniform to render the military hand salute at appropriate occasions". I did not know that info prior to reading it last night and thought many of our classmates did not know about that legislation.

As many of you know, the sequester mandated we take a very restrictive community outreach posture throughout FY13. Only those events or activities that could be executed locally and at no cost to the government were authorized. As a result, our major outreach programs -- those programs that help us communicate the Navy's mission outside of fleet concentration areas -- were shelved.

That will not be the case this year. Working closely with OSD and the other services, a comprehensive FY14 Community Outreach Plan has been created that supports the requirement to continue connecting Americans to their military, while at the same time acknowledging today's fiscal constraints.

For us, this means that, while we won't return to our pre-sequester level of outreach activity, we will be able to execute our key programs in a manner that ensures Americans outside of fleet concentration areas have the opportunity to see and connect with their Navy.

Specifically, this new plan authorizes the following:

Fleet Weeks in New York City; Port Everglades, FL; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; and Portland, OR

Navy Weeks in Baltimore, MD; Mobile, AL; Pittsburg, PA; St. Louis, MO; Omaha, NE and Dallas, TX

CONUS Port Visits in Baltimore, MD; Mobile, AL; New Orleans, LA; Tampa, FL; Savannah, GA; New York, NY; Boston, MA; Camden, ME; Philadelphia, PA and Los Angeles, CA.

Full Schedules for the Navy's Flight (Blue Angels) and Parachute (Leap Frogs) Teams

Navy and Regional Band Tours and Performances

As Secretary Mabus has said, we're not back to "business as usual." And this plan clearly reflects that. It's tailored and scaled down. Our local command outreach programs will be as well. But the good news is Americans around the country will once again have an opportunity to see their Navy and gain a better understanding of the dedication and excellence of our people. If you have questions about any of this year's outreach events, please feel free to contact my outreach director, Mr. Rob Newell. He can be reached at (703) 614-1879 or Robert.d.newell1@navy.mil.

In closing, I thought you might enjoy this short clip we posted to help us announce the return of the Blue Angels in the coming year.
http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2013/10/21/fy14-community-outreach-connecting-americans-to-their-military-amid-fiscal-constraints/

Yesterday while doing some research I came upon a most interesting book. It contains the complete Class of 1963 statistical data including class make up, attrition and class standing. Click Here to read it online.

At the 50th Reunion, the Memorial Service to honor our deceased classmates will be a big part of the reunion. While none of us likes to consider the inevitable, planning is important, including ensuring wills and trusts are up to date. One option for burial or inurnment is the USNA Cemetery and Columbarium.So far we have four classmates or dependents buried and 21 whose cremains are inurned there. In general all graduates and their spouses are eligible for inurnment but only admirals,general officers or similar high offices can be buried. No advanced reservations may be made. I suggest you take a look at www.usna.edu/Cemetery/ if this option interests you.

Dear Classmates and Friends,

When you receive this, we will have less than two weeks time remaining until our fiftieth reunion. It's going to be a really great time, the result of months and months of terrific effort by Bill Earner and his reunion crew. Each of you will contribute to what will prove to be lasting memories past, present and future.

Last week most of the civilian faculty and support staff at the Naval Academy were furloughed due to the present government shutdown. Academic sections were being taught in clusters by military professors. Some critical staff support such as keeping the lights on and facilities running in Alumni Hall were being performed by members of the Navy band. On Monday, most if not all civilian professors returned to work as authorized by the Secretary of Defense and other critical support personnel have returned as well. The Navy football team will venture to Duke for the game on Saturday, but other scheduled intercollegiate contests are still indeterminent. We are keeping a close eye on developments on a daily basis but see no really dark clouds on the horizon. We foresee no major impediments to our reunion activities as planned.

Figures as of a week ago show that we have amassed a total of $6,167,000.00 toward our legacy gift goal of $6,300,000.00 for the 63 Center of Academic Excellence. Donations and pledges are still coming in and I am increasingly confident that we can make our goal in the time remaining until we present our legacy gift check to the Superintendent at our class meeting. You can help ensure this by making a donation if you have not already done so or increasing one already made. All donations and pledges made by the end of the calender year will count.

Ten days ago a beautiful mural was installed on the entrance wall of the 63 Center for Academic Excellence.The photo montage is constructed of pictures from our Lucky Bag. Our Striper Plaque listing those who have contributed $2500.00 or more to our fiftieth reunion legacy gift is centered on the photo montage. It is not too late to ensure that your name is displayed on the plaque along with the over two hundred of our classmates already listed. The names are on magnetic strips that can be moved to reflect additional contributions received. To view the mural photo collage and the Striper Plaque go to http://www.usna63.org/foundation/. It really looks great. As an aside, some midshipman who view the photo montage ask the nearby receptionist what the white stick prominently displayed in the hand of one of our classmates is. She knows to reply that it is a slide rule, the use of which was imparted to only a select few.

Take care. Have a safe trip. All of us in Annapolis are looking forward to seeing you here in only thirteen days.

Quality 63'
Spencer Johnson

A decision was made in the Pentagon last evening to allow the service academies to play this weekend since only non-appropriated funds would be spent in conducting the sporting events. So, the game is on. Our class tailgate tent is up today and I hope to see as many of you at the game as possible.

The DOD decision concerned this weekend's football games. Other intercollegiate sporting events remain cancelled. Whether the football teams will be able to play out the remainder of their schedules is not clear to me yet, but the fact that this weekend's football games are not cancelled seems a good sign that the remainder of the schedule should be good.

The Naval Academy Alumni Association announced this afternoon that with the government shutdown now in effect, the Department of Defense has announced the cancellation of all intercollegiate service academy sporting events.

A decision as to whether this Saturday's Air Force game will be played here in Annapolis is pending. A DECISION IS EXPECTED BY NOON ON THURSDAY. As soon as a decision is released, I will notify you.
Beat Air Force.
Spencer Johnson

Jim reports that we now have NO cummerbunds or four-in-hand ties.
We do have bow ties and ladies scarves. $63 each or 2 of anything for $100.
Way down this page are pictures of each item and ordering information. Scroll down.

Next Class Luncheon is scheduled for Tuesday, October 1st at 11:30am in the Arlington Room of Army Navy Country Club.

The cost will be $22 which includes tax. Any drinks are extra. Here is the menu. Please RSVP to Bobat bforster5@verizon.net or Jim at jep.ring@gmail.com.

menu follows

Thanks Bob

Starter
HOUSE SALAD
Choice of Dressing

Choice of one of three Entrées
PULLED PORK SANDWICH
Homemade Barbeque Sauce, Coleslaw, French Fries

TRADITIONAL DELI BOARD SANDWICHES
Choice of Smoked Ham, Roast Turkey, Corned Beef, or Roast Beef Sliced Cheese, Choice of Bread

CRAB CAKE SANDWICH
Tomato, Romaine, Tartar Sauce, French Fries

Dessert
ICE CREAM
Vanilla with Chocolate Sauce

Click Here for the Spencer's letter

As you know Don Freese died on September 3. I (Ollie) got a call from Sherry Freese last night. She said that Don was a big believer in the Class of 63 CAE and requested that donations be made to the CAE in lieu of flowers.

Here is a link to the form to make a donation:
http://www.usna63.org/foundation/PledgeForm.pdf

Here is a link to Don's obituary and memorial page:
Deceased Data Page

I found this link today to a 1965 film about USNA called "Ring of Valor" narrated by Robert Taylor. I remember an earlier version, but this one includes scenes from our four years at USNA including a spectacular three seconds of me playing tennis with (I think) Dick Danhoff. So if you have thirty minutes to spare see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBbZn8epT-Y. A good prelude to our 50th Reunion!

Michael Blackledge suggest I post this story about my recent heart problem in hope that you will listen to your body better than I did. This all just happened last week and hopefully all is well, except I'm coping with some drug reactions at the moment. It was originally posted on Facebook where Blackie saw it.
Steve C. '63

I had a bit of a health scare but all is well. For the past four weeks I had several instances of severe middle back pain while playing tennis or other strenuous activity. A few times it almost buckled my knees. Finally on Friday 8/2/13 afer three or four "attacks", I quit tennis mid-match and went to my doctor who took an EKG which was normal, but he insisted that I have a nuclear stress test, which I had this past Tuesday 8/13. It showed blockage in my heart and the next morning I was directed to go straight to Wuesthoff Hospital for an angiogram. That procedure confirmed almost total blockage of the main artery to the left ventricle.

Two stents were installed.

After an overnight stay I was discharged on Thursday. I am feeling fine, have already walked several miles and ridden my bike several more without pain over the five days since the procedure.

The scary part is that other than the severe pain while exercising which I initially thought was muscular, I had almost no discomfort or difficulty breathing. The doctors were flabbergasted that I could play tennis with that blockage. They indicated that total blockage was imminent which would have caused heart failure and damage or much worse. They said that I was very lucky to be alive.

So the lesson for all of you is to do what I say, not what I did.....If you have unusual pain anywhere see your doctor. It may save your life.

Click Here for the Spencer's letter

The Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium facade is complete honoring you that served there.

In "Recently Changed Pages" you'll note there are several new Deceased Data pages for our classmates. They have minimal data and in some cases photos of the tombstones.

If you have any further information on any of our deceased send to scoester@cfl.rr.com and he'll include it on their page(s).

Several months ago, in anticipation of our 50th Reunion, we put out a request for new or updated current biographies to be published on this website. Response has been good and we're now up to 393 bios (and obituaries). That means over half of our graduating class has still not provided a biography. See /Current Bios/ for the list of those who have submitted bios and for examples of how to write one. No special format is required and you can include a current photo or two if you desire.

Send your new or updated bio to scoester@cfl.rr.com and he'll take care of the formatting and publishing.

I (your webmaster) received the following in an email. I checked out Lisa Lark and she's for real. Our class has so many that served with great valor and distinction in the Vietnam War including our thirteen killed, our two POW, four Navy or Army Crosses, fifteen Silver Stars and innumerable other awards for valor. Hundreds served in theater and have stories to tell. If you want to share your experiences, contact Lisa Lark at lisaalark@googlemail.com. She is primarily looking for photos as described below but also personal stories. Here's her letter to me:

For those of you who don't know me, I have been working to honor and remember Vietnam veterans for the last 3 years. I have volunteered with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund on their Call for Photos project, and have located more than 1,500 photographs of men and women who lost their lives in Vietnam. I am also the author of All They Left Behind: Legacies of the Men and Women on The Wall.

I am honored to be able to say that I have begun work on my 2nd book project. This project, scheduled for release in late 2014, will be a photographic history of the Vietnam War as told through the words and photographs of the men and women who served there. I want to make sure that all branches of service, all service responsibilities, and all moments of a tour are covered, from training to the flight home. This project will require nearly 500 photographs and thousands of words. That's where you come in.

I would like this project to be veteran driven, and to do that I will need volunteers. If you have photographs from your time in the military, whether in training, on leave, or in Vietnam and would be willing to donate them for use in this project, please let me know and I will send you specifications for photos. If you would be willing to fill out a survey about your time in the military let me know and I will send the survey to you.

I will consider every photograph sent in, and will use as many as I can in this project. There are certain visual specifications that must be met, and certain guidelines that we have to follow. Sending in a photo does not guarantee that it will be used in the project.

Please contact me if you have any questions, or if you would like information on how to participate in the project. Please feel free to forward this information along to others who may be interested in contributing.

Additionally, I am available for in-person interviews and photo scanning on evenings and weekends. Currently, I will be attending several Vietnam veteran association reunions. If your group would be interested in having me attend to work with your members please contact me.

Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Lisa A. Lark

I received the following from a West Point '54 friend concerning one of his classmates and felt it was worth sharing. we're a few years behind but catching up:

As I write this, it has been only eight days since I suffered a stroke. I had just finished showering and I stood in front of the mirror to comb my hair. Suddenly, my comb clattered into the sink. I tried to grab it, but my right arm wouldn't move. I tried to call Bettie, but I couldn't speak. Still in my birthday suit, I tried to put on my bathrobe, but my right leg was numb and I crashed to the floor, knocking over a heavy scale. I had cut the elbow of my right arm, but didn't know it at the time because I had lost all feeling in my right arm.

The crash alerted Bettie, who immediately pulled the panic cords in both bathrooms. She called 911 as well as the wellness nurse at our retirement home. Within two minutes, the nurse appeared, as did the security guard who was responding to the panic cord pulls. Another two minutes and a four-man ambulance crew arrived. Even though the bathroom is large, seven people made for a cozy crowd. I could see and understand everything that went on, but I could not communicate with any of my unintended guests. Covered with a sheet and strapped to a gurney, I was promptly wheeled to an ambulance standing at the front door. Even before we were on our way to the hospital, the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) were working on me, collecting blood, starting an IV, taking temperature and blood pressure.

Ten minutes later, I was wheeled into the emergency room at our state-of-the-art hospital. A male nurse stayed with me as Bettie arrived. A neurologist appeared then. He consulted with Bettie, explaining that a "clot buster" medication could be administered, but that there are risks associated with its use. He asked Bettie to make the decision as to what to do. Bettie responded with "How much time do I have?" "Fifteen minutes," the Doctor proclaimed. Within five minutes, she agreed that I should get the miracle drug, after which I was injected with "TPA". The rest is history. Within two hours, I was able to mouth garbled words and soon thereafter was speaking in sentences. I received outstanding care from the nurses in the critical care unit and I was discharged from the hospital in record time: four days.

The stroke was apparently much more likely than it would have been because I had been scheduled for a colonoscopy and had been ordered to stop taking coumadin (blood thinner) five days before the event. It was the fourth day without blood thinner that the stroke occurred.

I am at home and there are no apparent aftereffects. I am extremely thankful to have had everything go right after something went terribly wrong.

The reason that I have risked boring my classmates with this saga is that It may convince some of you to pay attention to the signs of a stroke as well as the importance of getting medical care immediately (TPA must be administered within three hours of the onset of a stroke). If your speech becomes slurred, parts of your body go numb, you suddenly lose your balance, do not decide that it will go away with a little rest. Get medical care immediately!

One of my sons (Ken, the guy who was born at reveille in the old hospital at West Point) told me that some guys will do anything to avoid getting a colonoscopy.

Steve wrote: I am happy to report that my new book, Only the Most Able: Moving Beyond Politics in the Selection of National Security Leaders, has received favorable Customer Reviews on Amazon.com. But, on this Memorial Day, I am particularly pleased with the Review which is attached. I have just learned that it will appear in the June issue of CHOICE, the American Library Association's monthly book review for academic libraries. The publisher believes that the Review will generate wide interest.

Click Here for the review

And Click Here

Our next Class of 63 luncheon will be June 4th. It will be at the ANCC in the Arlington Room starting at 1130 for drinks and the lunch to start around 1200. There will be a limited menu as follows:

Cost: $20 plus 9% tax. plus cost of beverages:
Starter – house salad with your choice of dressing

Entrées
ANCC BURGER
American, Provolone, Swiss, Bleu, Cheddar, Pepper Jack Cheese $0.50
Applewood Bacon $0.50 Mushrooms $0.25
TRADITIONAL DELI BOARD SANDWICHES
Choice of Smoked Ham, Roast Turkey, Corned Beef, or Roast Beef Sliced Cheese, Choice of Bread
PORTOBELLO SANDWICH
Roasted Red Pepper, Zucchini, Squash, Tomato, Goat Cheese, Basil Pesto, Fresh Fruit

Dessert
ICE CREAM
Vanilla with Chocolate Sauce

Contact Bob Forster bforster5@verizon.net or Jim Ring (jep.ring@gmail.com to let us know if you can make it. If you realize at the last moment you can make it, please come and join your friends. Spouses and friends encouraged to join us.

I've just created a new page called Weddings. It will have our classmates' wedding photo and a current photo of the happy couple. Seems fitting as many of us near our 50th anniversary. See /classmates/Weddings/ for the new page that just has Yvonne and me on it right now.

Send your then and now photos along with bride's maiden name, place of wedding and date to scoester@cfl.rr.com. If you got married in the USNA Chapel and remember the time include that because I'll try to put the photos in chronologically. And if you want to include more than one marriage, feel free.

I've been in email contact with Bill Haslet and he wanted me to thank all of our classmates for our unwavering support of his daughter, Adrianne and her husband Adam in this horrible time for them after the Boston bombing.

Dear Classmates and Friends,

The Brigade of Midshipmen are in the midst of exams. For our link in the chain class, 2013, there will soon be "no more rivers to cross" and they are ready! They have some administrative work days next week before a short leave period before returning for commissioning week (aka June Week in the old days). You may even see some of them in your neighborhood or areas close to you.

A number of items of class interest:

Adrienne Haslet-Davis is the daughter of our classmate Bill Haslet. She and her husband Air Force Captain Adam Davis were only a short distance from the Boston Marathon finish line when the two bombs were set off. Adrienne suffered severe wounds to her legs and had to have one foot amputated. Her husband was wounded with shrapnel in both legs that required multiple surgical procedures to debride. Adrienne is now in a rehab facility. Her husband may still be hospitalized. You may have seen Adrienne on TV programs including Anderson Cooper. Her fantastic up beat spirit is infectious. A ball room dance instructor, she is determined to return to the dance floor and to run a marathon. She will do it. There is a fund set up for Adrienne on our class website if you want to donate to her recovery needs(See article below). Alternatively, Bill suggests donating to the Semper Fi Fund (semperfifund.org) in Adrienne's name. Bill said they, and the Air Force, were terrific in the days after the incident. Almost immediately the Semper Fi Fund dispatched five wounded Marine veterans, all of whom are amputees, to the Boston hospitals to lend support and inspiration to those who were new amputees. Their effect was enormous. Bill noted that Semper Fi gave Adrienne a check for $1000.00 for immediate needs before more substantial assistance materialized. Bill could not praise the Semper Fi Fund people and organization enough.

Commissioning Week Activities There are number of activities during Commissioning Week. The Jewish Baccalaureate service will be held on Friday evening May 17th in the Levy Chapel. Spencer Johnson has been asked to speak on behalf of the Link in the Chain Class.

On Sunday, the Catholic Baccalaureate service will be held in the main chapel from 0830 to 1000 followed by the Protestant Baccalaureate service at 1030.

On Tuesday May 21st, the Marine Corps Family Orientation and Awards ceremony will be held in Alumni Hall from 1000 to 1145.Doug Davidson will donate his Marine Mameluke sword to a graduating first classman destined for service in the Marine Corps. Doug's sword will be the Class of 1963 heritage sword, and indeed it will be a heritage sword.

On Wednesday evening our class has been invited to attend the Graduation Ball in Dahlgren Hall from 1930 to 2300. There will be a DJ playing a wide variety of music, light refreshments and a cash bar for wine and spirits. Dress for the midshipmen will be Dinner Dress White and formal wear for others (tuxedo and formal wear for the ladies) but a dark suit and cocktail dresses are also acceptable. For those who didn't get enough at last year's ring dance or may have missed it, here's another chance to dance under the roof in Dahlgren Hall.

The Color Parade is on Wordon Field on Thursday at 1100. We will have reserved seating for our class. Please let Ron Klemick (rjklemick@gmail.com) know if you are planning to attend so the we have ample seating reserved.

The big event, graduation, in in Navy-Marine Corps Stadium on Friday morning at 1000. The President will be the speaker. Again a block of seats will be reserved for our class. Please let Ron Klemick know if you plan to attend to ensure tickets and seating are allocated. The stadium parking will open at 0600 ant the stadium seating at 0700. It would behoove (haven't used that word in a long time11) you to arrive early given the extra security expected. Don't forget sun screen and hats for everyone if you do not want to take a sunburn home along with your memories.

We will have twelve classmates distributing new ensign and second lieutenant bars engraved with our class and theirs on the underside along with a coin featuring our class crest and theirs to each new graduate as they come down the ramp from the stage. It is hard to imagine that it has been fifty years since we were commissioned, but it has been--the flicker of an eye.

Swords We have so far donated about forty Navy and Marine swords to graduates in the class of 2013. The transfers have been made all around the country and here at the Naval Academy. Four or five more swords will be transferred before or during Commissioning Week The receiving Midshipmen are both honored and grateful to receive a sword from a member of our class--a sword with a history of service and a standard to uphold. In watching the donors and recipients interact during the sword transfers, I know that friendships and mentorships are being made that will go far beyond graduation--a true link- in- the- chain relationship.

I have had a special request for a sword from a Midshipman who is an exchange student from Lebanon. He would like to have a sword more than anything because it would symbolize all the positive things that he is taking back to Lebanon from his years in the United States. He will perhaps prove our best ambassador and a future leader in that nation under increasing stress from all that is happening in bordering countries in the region. If you have a sword or would like to donate a sword to this soon to be graduated Lebanese Midshipman, please let me know as soon as possible.

Class Foundation Neckwear Beautiful striped four-in-hand neckties, bow ties and ladies scarves are still available for purchase. The beautiful striped pattern was designed for our class alone and executed by the Ben Silver company of Charleston, South Carolina. each tie or scarf is $63.00 or any three items for $123.00. There are no cummerbunds currently available. To order, make checks out to the Class of 1963 Foundation and send to Ms. Dawn Storm, Lowe Enterprises Inc., PO Box 12393, Aspen, Colorado,81612-9207.

The Class of '63 Center for Academic Excellence is a hive of activity as Midshipmen get that last minute help with understanding a key concept or a lingering problem before walking into an exam. Please consider a pledge that will put us closer to our goal of raising $6.3 million for the continuing operating expenses of the 63 CAE. The federal government pays about sixty percent of the operating expenses and our class contributions make up the difference--and oh, what a difference in the lives of so many Midshipmen. The '63 CAE is the embodiment of our class motto--Quality--and a legacy to the future that no other class can emulate. With your help we can make goal.

That's all the news from here in Crabtown, where everything and everybody is above average Quality.

Spencer Johnson

You'd best remember I put out a DVD with about 500 photos of our years at the Academy for the mid-term reunion. I've added about another 100 photos. We don't plan on distributing copies at the 50th Reunion, but it may be playing at one of our events. If you have found any more photos that you haven't already sent me from our four years you can send them to me and I'll include them in the new DVD. Send to: scoester@cfl.rr.com.

"In Their Own Words: A New Look at the Naval War of 1812"

The emotions captured by the War of 1812: patriotic fervor, anxiety, the immediacy of the moment, the joy of peace… all and more abound in In Their Own Words. Whether encouraging peers, issuing orders to subordinates, lamenting a hero’s death or reporting a glorious frigate action, these emotions spring from the stirring contemporary letters, newspapers and broadsides of the War of 1812 assiduously assembled and presented by Vice Admiral George W. Emery, USN (Retired).

See Naval Historical Foundation.

Adrianne Haslet-Davis, daughter of our classmate Bill Haslet, and her husband Air Force Capt. Adam Davis were injured in the Boston bomb blast and she has lost one of her legs. She is a professional dance instructor.Today she has been on several of the news shows on TV and is showing a wonderful feisty spirit.You can read all about it by googling her name.

A fund has been established in Adrianne’s name with the help of friends and her employer at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio Boston. It can be accessed by going to www.gofundme.com/AdrianneFund. As Webmaster I suggest we all go to that site and contribute $63 or more to help out our classmate's daughter and her husband.

Here's a link to an interview film clip: Click Here.

On Wednesday April 10, Eli was one mile from his home on the Maryland Eastern Shore when a car with four teenagers came around a curve at high speed, lost control and ran head on into Eli. The four boys were killed in the accident.

Eli suffered 5 broken ribs, broken left ankle, cracked sternum, a left arm that had part of the door handle in it, and damage to his replaced left hip. Bumps and bruises were numerous. Amazingly Eli is already home from the hospital but in pain and having difficulty walking.

If you would like to write to Eli send it to me at scoester@cfl.rr.com and I'll forward to Eli.

I have an extra 1963 Lucky Bag in new condition, from my father's estate. I will donate it to the class or someone who lost theirs. Please contact me if anyone would be blessed by this gift.
617 538 9411 reomo@msn.com

Dear Classmates and Friends, The Dark Ages still linger here in Annapolis. We had snow on Monday followed by a dark and raw, windy week with temperatures well below normal for this time of year. We hope to break into the 50's for the Easter weekend. Otherwise I expect to see Easter bonnets with ear flaps.

Below are items of class interest:

SWORDS. Classmates have responded well to the suggestion that swords and mamelukes residing in closets might serve again if donated to a member of our Link class--2013. A number of swords have been donated in informal ceremonies across the country to midshipmen chosen by their proximity to the donor, family affiliation, or other criteria. The midshipman recipients are deeply honored and moved. They are humbled at the thought of carrying the sword of one who came fifty years before. Many of the swords donated will find their way into the hands of a graduate in 2063.

But time is growing short to donate your sword if you desire to do so. We are planning a sword turnover ceremony for sometime the weekend of 11-13 April here in Annapolis. If you would like to donate a sword, please let me know as soon as possible by e-mail wsjohnson63@gmail.com or by phone at 410-626-7934. If you can come to Annapolis, great. If not, we can arrange to match you up with a midshipman with a home address near you. A third option is to send your sword to me at 1604 Trawler Lane, Annapolis, MD, 21401 and I will arrange to have it presented here. If you chose this option, please send me a letter for the recipient with a brief biography of the donor and his service and a message for the recipient so that he or she forms a connection with you and your service to our country.

Reunion Book. The class has decided not to try to produce an expensive reunion book or Lucky Bag Fifty Years Out.. Rather we would like to have every one send an updated biographical note to Steve Coester at Steve.Coester@1963.USNA.com. The biographical updates will be added to your Lucky Bag entry on our class website. Pictures of you and your family can also be part of your update. Our class website which Steve superbly oversees is the history of our class and classmates. We are looking to archive our website with an organization like the Library of Congress where it will become a research asset for families and scholars for many years to come. Please up date your Lucky Bag entry as soon as you can.

Reunion Packets. Reunion packets with all relevant data on our reunion were mailed out two weeks ago. If you did not receive one, Please let me or Bill Earner know and we will get one out to you ASAP. Please include your new or corrected mailing address.

Reunion Gear You can order a wide range of apparel and other items for our upcoming reunion from the Alumni Shop at US Naval Academy Alumni Association.org or from Wedekind Brothers at wedekind@comcast.net. Our class crest can be embroidered on any item you order from either vendor. Wedeking Brothers also have our class crest in silver and gold or multicolored version as blazer badges in either clip on or convenient magnetic attachment versions for about $35.00.

That is all the news at present.

My very best wishes for a Happy Easter and a blessed Passover to you and yours.

Quality '63
Spencer Johnson

I was a member of the class of 63. Never quite graduated and went back into the Navy and served aboard the USS Tusk (SS-426). After I served my remaining enlistment (I came in through NAPS), I attended and graduated from Johns Hopkins in Engineering. I am now retired and am a member of the SubVets in Severn Maryland.

I am the Vice-Commander. We are looking to have speakers at our monthly meetings. We meet the third Saturday of each month. We don't meet in the summer months.

If someone from our class or other years that live in the Annapolis/Baltimore area would be interested in speaking please contact me. Of course having a sub background would be very interesting. We are all submarine veterans having served on subs from WW2 to the Nautilus and other more modern nuclear subs. But other areas of Naval service with a good story would be great also.

Please let me know what ideas you may have or who you could recommend. Many thanks. Richard Brooke Lynch
443-518-8269 c
410-531-3220
3102 Evergreen Way
Ellicott City, Md 21042
rblynch@comcast.net

Dear Classmates and Friends,

On Friday 22 March, our classmate Roger E. Tetrault will be honored along with three others ( VAdm John S. Redd '66; Amb. Richard Armitage '67 and Adm. Tom Fargo '70) as a Distinguished Graduate of the Naval Academy. Roger will be our second Distinguished Graduate, Ron Terwilliger being our first to be selected for this great honor. Roger's astonishing record of achievement and service to the Navy, the Nation and the Naval Academy can be found on our class website as detailed in his nomination package. I speak for us all when i say that we can all be proud to call Roger our classmate and our friend.

We will have reserved class seating at the ceremony in Alumni Hall on the 22nd of March . We are asked to be seated in our class section by 1615 with the ceremony attended by the Superintendent and the entire Brigade beginning at 1630. Dress is civilian informal (coat and tie).I hope that you and yours will be able to attend to lend our cheers and well wishes to Roger for his many accomplishments in positions of great responsibility, calling for the utmost in leadership skills.

In order to ensure we have enough reserved seats in our class section you are asked to RSVP by 18 March using the link https://www.usna.com/ssipage.aspx?pid=845&erid=1679955&trid=03754d9b-dc67-4532-9d7f-c62684b58326 (log in required).

This should also open the gates vat Ft Knox. If you have any difficulty, please call me at 410-626-7934 or e-mail me at wsjohnson63@gmail.com

Parking is available at Navy-Marine Corps stadium for a $5.00 fee and shuttle bus service provided.

Hope to see you on Friday the 22nd.
Quality '63
Spencer Johnson

Items of Ongoing Interest

Click Here for the letter to the Class from Mario regarding Bill's situation and the status of his clemency effort. MS Word required.

The basic colors are blue and gold for the colors of the Naval Academy. We also added red for the Marine Corps, pale blue (sock-bag blue) for the Air Force and a small black stripe between the red and pale blue for the Army. This was done to recognize members of the Class of 1963 who upon commissioning served in the sister branches of the armed services. The main blue and gold stripes are six units wide and each of the three smaller stripes is one unit wide. That way you get a combination of 6 and 3, for the Class of 1963. There is then a 12-unit drop in Navy blue and the pattern repeats itself.

Class ties, both four-in-hand and bow, are available as well as scarves and cummerbunds. The price of each item is $63 or if you order any three items the discounted price is $163 and if you order all four the price is $200.

Orders can be placed with Ms. Jessi Crawford, % Lowe Enterprises, PO Box 12393, Aspen, CO 81812.

Here are photos of Cynthia DeFrancia and June and Chuck
modeling the items.

I added a brief note concerning the death of classmate Dick Bryant who died in an accident prior to graduation. Click here.

If you look at Last Call you'll note that we have no obituary or other remembrance for over half of our deceased classmates.

If you have any formal information for any of these classmates or just want to express your memories of them drop me a line at Steve C. and I'll publish a page for them.

It is a good time to check your entry for accuracy and to update it in the "My Profile" section. Also remember to keep Mike Shelley and Steve Coester informed of any changes >

Put on a catered meal on weekday or weekend.. They will provide a room and tables. The rest is provided by the party putting on the catered meal including silverware. They would invite family members. Could be for 30 wounded and family members.

Provide funds

Semper Fi Fund. Provides every family with money to help them while here. Designated for Marines and NavyCorpsman. http://www.SemperFiFund.org

Yellow Ribbon Fund - Provides family members free taxis, rental cars. http://www.yellowribbonfund.com/yellowribbonfund/

USO - USO hires caterers to provide catered meals. http://www.uso.org/

Armed Forces Foundation - Meets the family members when they arrive in town. http://www.armedforcesfoundation.org/

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society - Pay bills of family members while here. http://www.nmcrs.org/index.html

I have had two types of cancer presumed to have been caused by Agent Orange from my in-country service in Vietnam. It would appear that the VA is now honoring claims for compensation from veterans who also served at sea in the areas near Vietnam. For example, the claim is successfully being made that water sprayed with the poison made its way into the ship's purification systems and into the drinking water.

Based on clinical research, the following diseases are on VA's Agent Orange list of presumptive disabilities: chloracne, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, porphyria cutanea tarda, respiratory cancers (lung, bronchus, larynx and trachea), soft-tissue sarcoma, acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy, and prostate cancer. A regulation is being developed to add diabetes mellitus.

In addition, monetary benefits, health care, and vocational rehabilitation services are provided to Vietnam veterans' offspring with spina bifida, a congenital birth defect of the spine. A new law authorizes health care and monetary benefits to children of female veterans who served in Vietnam for certain additional birth defects.

My advice, if you contract one of these diseases, is to work with an outside service organization, such as the American Legion. They will help with the paperwork and get you your compensation. Be patient - it takes forever. . The VA needs proof of service in Vietnam (DD214, etc) and proof that you have one of these diseases from your doctor or medical facility. My claim for the prostate cancer took six months. My claim for lung cancer was submitted in December and as of the end of March was just approved. I still have another hearing in June before it is considered permanent.

Be sure to also take advantage of the VA health care system. Although I have used my civilian doctors for the major procedures (more for convenience only), the VA doctors are real pro's and the benefit of zero co-pay for prescriptions is worth a lot. For example, after my latest surgery I was still losing weight. My doctor was concerned and told me to drink two cans of Ensure daily, costing about $2 per day. I called the VA and I now receive Ensure at no cost.
Regards,
From Mike Cronin:

Until recently it was true that VA compensation was used as an offset to military retired pay. A retired vet who later received VA disability compensation had his military retired pay reduced by the amount of the VA compensation. Since VA compensation is not taxed, the veteran did receive a tax benefit, but the dollar amount of monthly income before taxes did not change.

That has now changed. Several years ago Congress agreed to phase out that offset provision over ten years. Bottom line: if you have any disability that might be service connected you should apply to the VA and let them decide if you are entitled to compensation. If they decide you are at least partially disabled you will come out dollars ahead even before taxes are considered. Apply now. Compensation is dated from the day you apply even though the VA decision process can take years.

One final note. Military retirees can use VA medical facilities without risking their military retired health care (Tricare) benefits.

From Ken Sanger:

Some who receive disability compensation can double dip.

The following is from the VA website at http://www.dod.mil/prhome/mppcrsc.html

"The Department of Defense has two programs designed to reduce the reduction in retired pay due to receipt of Veteran Administration compensation, for certain disabled retirees.

Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP) provides a 10-year phase-out of the offset to military retired pay due to receipt of VA disability compensation for members whose combined disability rating is 50% or greater . Members retired under disability provisions must have 20 years of service.

Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) pays added benefits to retirees who receive VA disability compensation for combat-related disabilities and have 20 years of service ."

And this from a 2006 document found on the above site:

"The Department of Defense is currently receiving and processing applications for the Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) program. The CRSC program became effective May 31, 2003, for qualified retirees with combat-related disabilities. Payments are retroactive to June 1, 2003, for otherwise qualified members. The criteria of eligibility to receive CRSC payments have been expanded effective January 1, 2004, to include members with any percentage combat-related disability compensated by the VA.C"

Irish Pennants
   Irish Pennants are loose threads that invite attention, or may need to be tied up or cut off.  For the purpose of  this web site, they represent miscellaneous thoughts, threads of discussion and points of view by classmates and colleagues.  To submit [or respond] to Irish Pennants, just send an e-mail to  webmaster@usna63.org without objection from the Class Secretary, they will be published on this site, invite rebuttal or response, and eventually [perhaps] fade away.

Carry On!
Class of 1963 facts and lore, Cannonball recipe, satire, humor

Humorous Thoughts for the 40th

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