Annapolis, MD
5 February 2015

Dear Classmates and Fiends,

     The Dark Ages are here. The skies are gray, the clouds are low, the air is frigid and the wind off the bay is biting. That said, we have not had much snow to speak of--knock on wood. The Brigade of Midshipmen does not even know what overshoes are--a real sign of progress since we were in Bancroft Hall.
     I recently received a letter from the Superintendent, VADM Walter "Ted" Carter.USN, addressed to you, the Class of 1963.
     The letter is posted on our class website. Click Here. Again, a well done to all of you for your generosity that benefits the great majority of the Brigade on a daily basis. No other class has done what 63 has. Ours is truly a living legacy that will endure long into the future. BZ!
     We are now of an age that requires us to exercise an annual mandatory withdrawal from our IRA accounts. That puts extra cash in our pockets. Please consider contributing some of that money to the 63 CAE. Send your check or pledge to Capt. Richard Goldsby, the Naval Academy Foundation Associate Director for Class Legacy Gift Programs, 291 Wood Road Beach Hall, Annapolis, MD 21402-5001 (tel 410-295-4167). Alternatively, you can send your gift contributions to me : W.S. Johnson at 1604 Trawler Lane, Annapolis, MD, 21409, and I will ensure that they get to the right place. Also please consider a bequest from your estate for the '63 CAE.
     We are all saddened by the now all too frequent announcements of classmates and spouses who have passed from this life to the next. Please let me or Mike Shelley or Steve Coester know of recent classmate passings so we can get the word out to all and offer any assistance desired to next of kin. More classmates and spouses are electing to be buried or inurned here at the Naval Academy. Art Clark and his wife Kim will be inurned in the Columbarium on 30 March at 1130. Richard Bachman is scheduled to be inurned at 1400 on 20 April. I hope many of you can also attend, if possible, to render a last salute to these departed classmates.
     That's all the news from Annapolis where all the Midshipmen are above average and no one seems to get any older. Stay warm and know that we are thinking of you wherever you are.

Quality '63,
Spencer Johnson

Marguerite Spence Gunn

"Music Was Her Name"

Our beloved Peggy, of Austin, Texas, passed away peacefully on January 18, 2015, after a lengthy illness. She was born 2 April, 1943 to Harry Buddig Spence and Florence Glass Davis, the second oldest sibling of five children. She was born in Jackson, Mississippi, and spent her early years in Uniontown, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia.

She attended Grady High School in Atlanta and was a 1965 graduate of Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. It was in Maryland that, on a blind date, she met her future husband, William T. Gunn III at his June Week graduation ceremonies of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1963.

Peggy and the love of her life, Bill, married upon her graduation from college and she spent her early married years traveling to various Naval ports as a Navy wife. While her husband awaited the repair of his ship in the Philadelphia Shipyard, she had the joy of bringing her first daughter, Christina French into the world. She enjoyed living in such varied places as Philadelphia, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Whatever port of call, Peggy created a home that was always welcoming, unique and creative. She also worked as a journalist for the Virginia Beach newspaper and taught college classes as well.

After Bill's resignation from the US Navy, they moved to Dallas where Bill pursued his MBA at SMU. It was in Dallas that their second joy, Carey Spence was born. After graduation from SMU, Bill was hired by the Trammell Crow Co. Peggy and Bill moved to Austin in 1970 so Bill could pursue the expanding real estate interests of the Trammell Crow Co. Peggy immediately became involved in so many ways in the Austin community through charitable and other volunteer pursuits, including early interests in the League of Women Voters and the Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio.

Peggy pursued her dreams and her passions and inspired others to do the same. She instilled the value of a good education and a love of the arts, especially music, in her children and many others along the way. Peggy loved gardening, cooking, laughter and her family. She and Bill both shared a passion for good literature and there were always conversations about whatever good books they were reading. Peggy was a woman of deep faith and was an active member of St. David's Episcopal Church.

Peggy's great love of music inspired her to become actively involved in the Symphony Square Committee and she joined the Women's Symphony League in Austin, through which she was exceptionally proud of both her daughters' presentation at the annual Jewel Ball benefiting the Austin Symphony. Peggy later served on the Board of Directors for the Austin Symphony for many years. Her love of education inspired her to serve for years on the Board of Trustees for her alma mater, Goucher College. Peggy and Bill were also ardent supporters of St. Stephen's Episcopal School, where the middle school is now named Gunn Hall in recognition of their contributions and support. Her love of the arts and further involvement in the arts community inspired her to become involved in the realization of Austin's creative home, the Long Center, where Bill and Peggy are both acknowledged for their contributions to its construction.

The last 25 years of Peggy's life revolved around her work as the Development Director for the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Whether it was to raise funds for an extraordinary concert series, to provide classical educational programs for over 90,000 Central Texas school children or to sponsor the Annual 4th of July Fireworks and Concert at Auditorium Shores, Peggy will be remembered for her tireless devotion to raising awareness for and helping to fund the mission of the Austin Symphony Orchestra throughout the Austin community.

Peggy is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Mae Mallory Krulak. She is survived by her husband, Bill, her daughter, Ceecy and husband, George E. Robinson III, and their two sons, Bremond and Reed. She is also survived by her daughter, Carey and husband, Eric Venditti and their daughter, Eleanor. She is also survived by her brother, Harry Buddig Spence Jr. and his wife, Martha of Goodland, FL; sister, Christina Spence of Oakland, CA; and sister, Sally and husband, Lee Engler of Raleigh, NC. Peggy was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and mentor. Her memories will be cherished by her husband, children and grandchildren, her sisters and brother, cousins, nieces and nephews and her many friends. She will be missed so very much.

Peggy's family wishes to thank everyone who gave her companionship, love and joy throughout her life. Special thanks to her doctors, caregivers, dear friends and extended family for the loving care, nourishment, good humor, and encouragement throughout her illness.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at St. David's Episcopal Church with a reception immediately following in St. David's Grand Hall.

The family requests that memorial gifts in lieu of flowers be made to:

The Austin Symphony Orchestra
1101 Red River Street
Austin, Texas 78701
www.austinsymphony.org
Obituary and memorial guestbook available online at: www.wcfish.com

Published in Austin American-Statesman from Jan. 20 to Jan. 24, 2015

The Naval Memorial Affairs Coordinator has confirmed that Richard's interment at the Naval Academy columbarium will take place on Monday, April 20 at 2:00 p.m.

A Memorial Mass will be held for Birney T Pease on Friday, January 9th, 2015 at 11:00 am.

Assumption Catholic Church located at 2001 S Ocean Blvd, Ft Lauderdale (Lauderdale-By-The-Sea), FL 33062.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations to be made to the Assumption Catholic Church Building Fund.

Birney has been a member and involved with this church for 25 years and he had been working with the church on building a new rectory and Memorial Garden.

In April there will be a full Military Mass and funeral at Arlington cemetery in Washington D.C. as well as a Memorial service in the summer up in Burlington, Vermont. More information on these 2 events will follow at a later date.

(Click Here) for the interview as Harlan Ullman, author of "A Handfull of Bullets," discusses how the first World War affects us today.

(Click Here) for the interview as Retired Navy Rear Adm. Dave Oliver, author of "Against the Tide," discusses what we can learn from Adm. Hyman Rickover, the "Father of the Nuclear Navy."

Fiori, Pawlyk and Vaughan

Dear friends of Bill Pawlyk,

Bill has asked me to forward his handwritten letter (Click Here) to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I have included a photo of Denny Vaughan , Bill and myself which we took while visiting him in October.

I would also like to thank you for supporting Bill over the years. You may recall that in 2004 we appealed to the Clemency Board to release Bill. They were impressed by him but voted against clemency because society "had not gotten sufficient retribution." They did suggest we apply again in the future. Now (2015) eleven years later we will make another attempt.

Unfortunately the mail system at Monroe is a bit slow and thus I am late putting this out to you. Nonetheless, I know he would be delighted to hear from you.

His mailing address is:

Mr. William Pawlyk, 982921
MCC-WSRU C3-32
PO Box 777
Monroe, WA 98272-0777

I join Bill in wishing all of you a joyous Christmas and very Happy 2015.

Very sincerely,
Mario
Mario P. Fiori

Dear Classmates and Friends,

It is strangely quiet here in Annapolis after all the hoopla surrounding last Saturday's win over Army 17-10 in a hard fought game that proivided enough excitement for both contenders and fans. All that can be heard now is the scratch of pencils, pens and erasers as the Brigade takes exams prior to departing on Christmas leave.

As an item of breaking news, celestial navigation will reenter the core curriculum in the next year or two. GPS systems are vulnerable to cyber warfare , but the sun, moon and stars are constants to reliably fall back on.

POINSETTIA BOWL The Navy football team has one more game to play in San Diego, California in the Poinsettia Bowl on 23 December against San Diego State University. The teams both have records of 7-5 for the season , so they appeaar to be well matched. Navy's coach, Ken Niamatalolo, became the winningest Navy coach in history, surpassing George Welch, with the win over Army. My betting is that he will carve one more notch on his gun with a win over San Diego State. Tickets are still available if you want to attend the game. Basic ticket price is $55.00 Club Seats are about $70.00. If you cannot go but would like to donate tickets for midshipmen or sailors and Marines stationed in San Diego you can do so on line at www.NavySports.com or by calling 1-800-4-NAVY. The NAA is offering a 30% discount on 2015 season tickets to anyone who donates 10 tickets and the same discount to the class that donates the most tickets. Be sure to indicate the class of 1963 when ordering. BEAT SAN DIEGO STATE!!

CLASS OF 1963 CENTER FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. I just received an update from Dr. Bruce Bukowski, the Director of the 63CAE, on the current status of the center. In AY 2011-2012 only 44% of the Brigade utilized the 63CAE: in AY2013-2014 that number increased to 62% (First Class 27%; Second Class 57%; Third Class 72%; and Fourth Class 88%).The Writing Center was shifted to the 63 CAE last year and that has proven as equally utilized as the sciences and math assistance programs. Academic attrition is now under 3%. Dr. Bukowski writes:

"I would personally like to thank the Class of 1963 for their support along the way. With the help of their patronage , we have continued to develop and tailor our programs according to the needs of midshipmen. As we grow in size, we are constantly striving to improve the quality of our supporting services. Likely evidence of the effectiveness of our programs, Academic Board cases have dropped dramatically in the last three years. Furthermore, the following data serves as evidence that our approach is working:

TOTAL APPOINTMENTS IN THE CLASS OF 1963 CENTER FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

2010-2011 19,200
2011-2012 22,000
2012-2013 33,000
2013-2014 39,000

The full text of Dr. Bukowski's report can be found on our class website,usna63.org with a full rundown on each program offered in the 63CAE along with other relevant statistics.

Our Class clearly impacts the lives of midshipmen each and every day. The need continues and grows. The results are impressive. Please continue to contribute to the 1963 Center for Academic Excellence and consider doing so in your estate planning.

The Class of 1963 is greatly and deservedly admired and revered in Naval Acaademy circles. Ours is a living legacy. Well Done, Classmates!

Andrea joins me in wishing you and yours a very joyous Holiday Season and a prosperous, healthy, and blessed New Year.

Quality 63,
Spencer Johnson

Lot A. $40 OBO + FedEx
Steve Leisge
703-820-5204

Casting the net as far and wide as I can in hopes that we'll get the right guy for the next Approach Editor. Naval Safety Center will be posting the position on USA jobs again in the next few weeks. On the previous posting, we only received applications from writer/editor types...no Naval Aviators applied to my knowledge. It will be a sad day for Naval Aviation Safety if we cannot find someone with Naval Aviation experience to be the Approach editor, so please pass the word! It's only a GS-12 position so I fully understand why that might not appeal to the average retired Naval Aviator, but maybe there is someone out there that would fit the bill perfectly. We are NOT looking for a polished writer...we are looking for a fleet experienced Naval Aviator that can write and edit good enough. If you know of any prospects, please let them know that the job is open. They can contact me directly if they have any questions. Thanks in advance.
CAPT Christopher "SanDog" Saindon
Director, Aviation Safety Programs
U. S. Naval Safety Center
DSN 564-3520 ext. 7225
Comm 757-444-3520 ext. 7225
Cell 360-941-0558

Thanksgiving is always a time for reflection. I am most thankful that fifty-one years ago Yvonne Lind from Sweden agreed to marry me after just five or six dates. I'm also thankful that in 1998 she told me in no uncertain terms that we were going to attend the thirty-fifth class reunion in Annapolis. We had never attended a reunion, nor had anything to do with the Academy or classmates because I was medically separated in 1964 after just one and a half years of service.

Well, we attended the 35th and the rest is history. Shortly after the reunion I thought that we really should have a web presence so even though I was virtually computer illiterate came up with a sample top page which is actually similar to what we use today. I think I sent it to Mike Shelley suggesting somebody who knew what they were doing should develop the site. And boy did they. Shelley, Blackledge, and computer wizard Bill Kennedy got to work and together created most of what is now on our class of 1963 web page. Somewhere along the line they invited me to help and assigned me the Company Maps as my first project. Along the way Bill got sick and eventually passed away. Mike Blackledge started another project and before I knew it I was pretty much stuck with maintaining the great site they had developed. By trial and error I began to learn to write HTML computer language and created a few more pages like the Weddings page, Vanity License Plates, Current Bio and several others. But the whole credit goes to Mike, Blackie and Bill.

Because of the 35th reunion and the class web page, I have returned to the fold. I've renewed friendships from our Academy days, made so many new friends and in my webmaster role become a central figure in our class activities. So many others; the class officers, the foundation trustees and others do so much more than me and get too little credit for their tireless work. I'm just the technician who keeps all of you informed of their hard work.

So on this Thanksgiving Day I'm thankful to every member of our class and for the opportunity to keep my brain active on the class web page.

Happy Thanksgiving
Steve C. '63
Webmaster

Phil Rooney needs two tickets.
703-591-1974 (office) 703-573-1379 (home

Four tickets (wiil split them) are available from John Earhart USNA66, 904-234-6995

Combative, provocative and searingly blunt, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover was a flamboyant maverick, a unique American hero. When few thought it possible, then-Captain Rickover undertook to harness the power of the atom to drive the first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, whose trip under the polar ice pack was one of the great adventure stories of the 1950s. Later, Rickover built the world's first commercial nuclear power plant at Shippingport, PA. Rickover's achievements made him into a national celebrity, and he appeared on the cover of Time magazine. Many questioned Rickover's goal of an all nuclear navy, and others questioned his creation of a technocratic elite, his own navy within the Navy. However, few contested that he had transformed the Navy and changed the course of America's technological development.

Today, questions about nuclear power have arisen again, in the wake of the disaster in Japan, yet nuclear power remains one of the main alternatives to fossil fuels. Many wonder whether America can maintain its technological pre-eminence and whether we can still build and manage large-scale projects. To understand these issues, we would do well to consider the story of the man who created the nuclear navy as well as the civilian nuclear power industry: Hyman G. Rickover.

RICKOVER: The Birth of Nuclear Power won Best Feature Documentary at the 2014 GI Film Festival.

I received this today in an interesting email from Randy Orlowski concerning the below entry about the USS Jeannette:

I've started reading the book. My wife, Sandy, has a genealogical connection to the leader of this polar expedition, LCDR. George DeLong. I mention it in my class bio as well as some information about her dad, Col. Earl "Pappy" DeLong USMC who went into WWII as a eighteen year old private and retired as a full bird. It's interesting to note that he is the only Marine that was awarded the Silver Star in all three wars in which he fought. Thanks again for the recommendation.

In the USNA Cemetery is a large cross overlooking the Severn. I seem to recall seeing it across the river although I've never set foot in the cemetery. It is the USS Jeannette Monument. Per the USNA Cemetery web page:

The Jeannette Monument was erected in memory of the men who perished in the Jeannette Arctic Expedition in October 1881. Its design is based on a cairn that a recovery crew built to mark the remains of the explorers in the arctic. The plaque on the monument reads: Commemorative of the heroic officers and men of the United States Navy who perished in the Jeannette Arctic Exploring Expedition. 1881. The ice on the cross is a reminder of the frigid environment in which they were lost. This is the largest monument at the Cemetery.

I just finished a book about the story behind this monument. It is "In the Kingdom of Ice-The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeanette" by Hampton Sides. I highly recommend this book to all of our sailors. In my ignorance I did not realize that even in the late 1800's the prevailing thought was that just beyond the Arctic icepack was open sea over the North Pole. The USS Jeannette expedition pretty much put a rest to that theory at a very high cost in heroism, privation and human suffering.
Steve Coester '63

Nick Nerangis also has two tickets for Navy vs. Notre Dame at FEDEX field, November 1st at 8pm. (section 239, row 3, seats 17 & 18. Face value of 125.00 each OBO)

Contact Nick at nicktheactor@comcast.net if interested.

Steve Leisge also has four tickets for Navy vs. Notre Dame at FEDEX field, November 1st at 8pm. (section 104, row 17)
Plus two in the class section for GA Southern.
Contact Steve at sleisge@comcast.net if interested.

Al Sherman has four tickets for Navy vs. Notre Dame at FEDEX field, November 1st at 8pm. (Section 140, Row 24.)
Contact Al at shermana@erols.com if interested.

The next Class Luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, November 20th 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.

Please reserve the date.

Please RSVP to Bob bforster5@verizon.net or Jim at jep.ring@gmail.com.

Dear Classmates and Friends,

The days are getting crisp here in Annapolis. The skies are clear and the foliage reflects Fall hues It is great football weather.

The game against San Jose State will kickoff at 1300. Our tailgate will feature brunch type fare and will begin whenever the first of two or three shall meet in the morning prior to the game,

The after game homecoming party is at the home of Andrea and Spencer Johnson at 1604 Trawler lane, Annapolis,MD. 21409.

Directions From the stadium, turn left onto Rowe Blvd and then right onto RTE 50 headed east toward the Bay Bridge. Proceed to exit 30 (a safer exit than 31) and proceed to the stop sign. Turn left onto Whitehall Road. Proceed past McDonald's , Wendy's, and Anglers remaining on Whitehall Road through a stop sign and passed a strip mall to another stop sign with a liquor store on the right hand corner. Turn right and continue on Whitehall Road. Proceed about 100 yards and turn right into the St. Margaret's Landing development on Trolling Way. Go to the stop sign and turn right onto Trawler lane. Our house is a short distance on the left in the cul de sac , number 1604. If you have any trouble or lose your bearings for any reason, give us a call at 410-626-7934 or 410 -271-6586.

If your last name begins with a letter in the first-third of the alphabet, please consider bringing an appetizer, the second third of the alphabet a salad, and the last third of the alphabet a dessert. You will find all else here.

If you have not let us know that you are coming yet, please drop a quick e-mail to wsjohnson63@gmail.com to give us a good planning number.

Hope to see you on Saturday, both at the tailgate, the game and here in our home.

Beat San Jose State.

Spencer Johnson

Jeff Miles has an extra ticket to Navy vs. Notre Dame at FEDEX field, November 1st at 8pm.
Contact Jeff at godzilla14@verizon.net if interested.

I find myself with surplus tickets for the remaining games. Selling at face value with one parking pass per two tickets included gratis for Annapolis games.

25 Oct/1:00 - Homecoming - San Jose State. 2 in class section, upper level, row 20.
1 Nov/8PM - Notre Dame. 2 in lower level, section 104, row 17.
15 Nov/3:30 - GA Southern. 2 in class section, upper level, row 20.
Go Navy! Beat SJS!
Steve Leisge
703-820-5204 (voice or text)

Gordon Peterson '68 is compiling a list of USNA alumni who served in the Seawolves of Helicopter Attack (Light) Three (HAL-3) during the Vietnam War. He has identified 61 alumni so far, dating to the Class of 1949.

HAL-3 is one of the Navy's most highly decorated aviation squadrons. It was commissioned and entered service in RVN in 1966 and was decommissioned there in 1972.

If you served in HAL-3 or know of any USNA alumni who did, please contact Gordon by email at Gpeters621@aol.com or Dan Arnes at dan_arnes@yahoo.com.

Dear Classmates and Friends,

Another academic year is well underway here in Annapolis The weather is beautiful, truly fall weather. The Brigade has staged its first Fall parade. Once again midshipmen are marching with fixed bayonets just as we did well over fifty years ago. Watching them proudly "pass in review" instills a sense of pride that goes well beyond words.

A new Superintendent, VADM Walter "Ted" Carter relieved VADM Michael Miller in July and has quickly made his presence known, ably filling the large shoes left behind by Adm. Miller. VADM Carter comes to the Naval Academy after a year as President of the Naval War College in Newport. He is the Navy's Gray Eagle, the senior naval aviator on active duty, with a most impressive record of carrier duty, combat missions in numerous contingencies over the past thirty years, and command at sea at every level, including carrier strike groups He will undoubtedly prove a great Superintendent and role model for the Brigade. As James Michener wrote in his "Bridges of Toko Ri". others may well ask " Where do we get such men?" We all know the answer to that.

FOOTBALL SEASON is well underway with four games played and Navy with a 2-2 record. The Navy team this year is talented and resourceful, one we can all be proud of, especially as witnessed against Ohio State in the season opener. We had a large turnout for the class tailgate at last Saturday's first home game against Rutgers, a disappointing loss (31--24) that went right down to the wire with NAVY in the Rutgers red zone and threatening to score when we ran out of downs.

Our tailgate is located in plot 12A on the Blue side of the stadium backing onto Farragut Road just beyond the Farragut Road entrance and close to the Class of 68 and the row of porta potties. It is a great spot, the same as we have had for a number of years. Our tailgates are pot luck affairs with everyone bringing contributions of food an beverages. Any left over food is contributed to hungry midshipmen after the game. A hat is passed for contributions to help defray the costs of erecting and maintaining our tent and the stadium plot we occupy. The class gathers at the tailgate two to three hours before the start of the game for a great time win or lose.

All home games this year have a kick off time of 1530 except for the homecoming game on October 25th against San Jose State which will begin at 1300. The traditional 63 homecoming party after the game will be held at my house, 1604 Trawler Lane, Annapolis Md. 21409 ( tel 410-626-7934 or 410-271-6586). Directions to my house will be forthcoming as we get closer to homecoming. Andrea and i will provide hot dogs, hamburgers, beer, wine and all condiments.Others are invited to bring appetizers, salads and desserts. If your last name begins in the first third f the alphabet appetizers would be great, second third salads, last third desserts. (If this is confusing, we can use laundry numbers in the future.) We always have a great time and hope that we will see you on homecoming . Please give me a heads up as to whether you can come so that we can ensure sufficient food and suds for the occasion. (wsjohnson63@gmail.com) .

63 CENTER FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE (63CAE) Our "Striper Plaque" just inside the entrance to the 63CAE is being expanded to recognize the donations of even more classmates for whom there is no longer room--- as well as for future qualifiers. The larger plaque will be mounted and up to date by homecoming.

I was told by Dr. Bruce Bukowski, the dynamo Director of the 63 CAE, that in compiling statistics for the Dean on usage of the 63CAE for the Spring term, the numbers showed that eighty-eight (88%) of the Plebe class (2017) used the 63CAE at least once as did seventy-eight percent (78%) of the Youngster class (2016). At the end of the last academic year, the overall academic attrition was under three percent (3%). The writing center, moved to the 63CAE last term has more than twice as many signed up this term as last. Well done '63. You can all take great pride in what you are doing that impacts the Brigade of Midshipmen every day--and they know it. Last Saturday at the football stadium, three second and first class men came to attention and saluted me when they saw our class crest on my ball cap. That salute was for you. Again,Well Done '63

With the apparent great success of the 63CAE a well established fact, please consider additional contributions to the 63CAE including bequests and other forms of contributing. The need to continue the funding of the 63CAE will remain for many years into the future. There is no better cause.

That's all the news from the Severn for now. See you at the games, at homecoming, or anytime you find yourselves in Annapolis.

Quality '63

Spencer Johnson '63

Eli Dabich (18th Co.) has set up a cruise on the Columbia and Snake rivers for August 8-16, 2015. Click Here for the web page.

Eli wrote the following for your Company Webmasters:
Classmates,
I have met with the Alumni Assoc and they have helped us get a better deal on the Northwest River cruise starting Aug 8, 2015. The following information should be helpful to you. Note the Sept 16 booking date for the cost savings of $300 per passenger.

Eli here is the info I promised you for your travelers. Please let me know if I forgot anything.

Below are the current rates on the American Empress for the Aug, 8, 2015 sailing. If rates are ever lowered by American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) prior to the sailing and you have booked with Go Next the lower rates are always honored. Even if your booking is paid in full and it is 30 days prior to sailing, if AQSC lowers their rates you will be refunded if you book through Go Next. There is no paid in full clause for early booking discounts (EBD) if booked thought Go Next.

My comments or suggestions on cabin categories
E - Great cabin for those travelers looking for the least expensive cabin. The room is small and the balcony is not private but there is a fence between your balcony and the walk way - approximately 150 SQ feet
D - I would not sell this cabin to a traveler unless it was the last cabin available and this is the only date the travelers could travel - no balcony (170 SQ feet)
C - Nice cabin with a private balcony - this cabin category is 85% of the boat. I stay in this cabin every time I travel and really enjoy it. (approximately 177 SQ feet)
B - I am not a fan of the location of these cabins, the cabins are either all the way aft (over the paddlewheel) or far forward - Although they do provide a little extra room Approximately 220 SQ feet.
A - Wonderful rooms - Large approximately 312 AQ feet. These rooms have a sitting area and a large balcony. Balcony is not private but there is a fence between your balcony and the walk way
LS - 2 room suite - bedroom and sitting room are separate with a wet bar in the sitting room - they also have a private veranda - (approximately 400 SQ feet)

All rooms bathrooms only have a shower, no tubs on board the American Empress. All rooms have a safe, refrigerator, Keurig coffee maker and TV.

Our contact is Jean Haggenmiller

Her contact info:

Jean Haggenmiller
Product Mgr
952-918-8957
800-842-9023
jhaggenmiller@gonext.com

Thank you and I hope you can join us.

Eli Dabich
Quality 63
To contact Eli: edabich@gmail.com

Fifteen years ago our son in law David “Bodie” Miller was in a motorcycle accident when a lady about our age now pulled directly out in front of him. He broadsided her car setting it on fire and he flew about fifty feet breaking most every bone in his body. He had just bought a full face helmet which protected his head. He was airlifted to Holmes trauma center where his life was saved but he was paralyzed from the waist down and his arms were mangled to be mostly useless. His son, our grandson, Stephen, was seven years old at the time. Despite the grave prognosis Bodie survived and eventually gained enough control of one arm to lift a cold beer. Over time infections made it necessary to amputate one leg below the knee.

Many of you members of the Class of 1963 contributed to a fund to help the family immediately after the accident. They were always grateful for your help.

Through it all Bodie remained cheerful and positive. He maintained a great relationship with his son and watched Stephen go to college and become a fine grown man. Bodie was at the high school graduation ceremony and lived vicariously through Stephen’s excellent soccer and tennis exploits in high school. Every Saturday Stephen would pick his Dad up from the nursing home and take him to his grandfather’s home where they would spend the afternoon together talking, watching TV and discussing sports. Bodie had been a great athlete in his youth and passed those genes to Stephen.

The past couple of months have been bad for Bodie and he’s been in and out of the hospital with infections, fluid retention and confusion. Finally a week ago he went to the hospital for the final time and has been on a ventilator and multiple medications. Finally today the doctors said there was no hope and the heart wrenching decision to remove him from life support was made by his father and Stephen. He survived for just seven minutes and now is finally at peace. Bodie would have been fifty-three next month.

Please keep Stephen and his grandfather in your thoughts and prayers.

Rest in Peace

Click Here for a video of the 2018 Induction. Sure to evoke a few memories.

April and Shannon Pekary gave up lucrative careers in High Tech to move to East Palo Alto, where they have created an innovative program that brings together soccer and religion to mentor under-served young people. The Media Center's Local Hero Awards series showcase six people from the Mid-Peninsula for making outstanding contributions to the community or overcoming significant hardship. The videos tell their inspiring stories.
Click Here for video

Team USNA, It is my sad duty to report that Admiral Chuck Larson passed away early Saturday morning here in Annapolis surrounded by his loving wife and daughters.

Admiral Larson was among the most accomplished and influential Superintendents in the 169-year history of the Naval Academy, serving in the position twice - from 1983 to 1986 and again from 1994 to 1998.

His accomplishments were numerous, including the establishment of the framework with the Naval Academy Alumni Association for USNA's largest to date public/private funding venture which led to the construction of the Brigade Activities Center, now known as Alumni Hall. He directed the Naval Academy's 150-year anniversary celebration, and led the effort to build the Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center.

He is also recognized the need for and enabled the eventual establishment of what is now the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership. Among his greatest initiatives was the establishment of the Naval Academy's Character Development Division immediately upon returning to USNA for his second tour as Superintendent. His strong emphasis on providing character and honor instruction to the Brigade was instrumental in leading USNA back from a challenging time in the Academy's history, both restoring public confidence and repairing the Academy's reputation and credibility.

Admiral Larson's death is a great loss for the Navy and the Naval Academy family. He was an exemplary leader in every respect who served his nation with distinction...his influence on the Naval Academy is lasting. Admiral Larson's funeral service will be conducted at the Naval Academy Chapel at 1000 on Wednesday, 30 July - USNA faculty and staff are invited to attend. For military attendees, uniform is Summer White or service equivalent.

Very respectfully,

CAPT Steve Vahsen
Chief of Staff
US Naval Academy

Here's the info on the inurnment for our classmate Bruce Lenz at USNA Columbarium. Date is Friday, 15 August. No chapel service. Attendees congregate at the Columbarium for the 11:30 AM Memorial.

Nancy Heipel Singler of Frederick died on April 7, 2014 at Glade Valley Center in Walkersville, after a seven year battle with brain cancer. She was born October 11, 1940 in the Bronx, New York City. She was predeceased by her parents, Frederick Heipel and Helene Nantel Heipel and two brothers, Frederick and Michael. She retired in November 2001 after working as a Medical Receptionist. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, James; two daughters, Victoria Wilson, wife of Douglas Wilson, and Christine Estelle, wife of Charles Estelle, Jr., both of Thurmont and six grandchildren: Meredith, Matthew and Michael Wilson and Charles III, Christian and Catherine Estelle. She is also survived by her sister, Lillian Whitney wife of Steven Whitney of Virginia Beach, VA and numerous nephews and nieces.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church at 118 East Second Street, Frederick, MD 21701 at 2 PM on Saturday, May 24, 2014. Inurnment will be at the U. S. Naval Academy Columbarium in Annapolis, Maryland at 11 AM Tuesday, June 3, 2014.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Nancy's name may be made to the United States Naval Academy Foundation Center for Academic Excellence (USNA Foundation, CAE), P. O. Box 79169, Baltimore, MD 21298-8838.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.staufferfuneralhome.com

Published in The Frederick News-Post on May 14, 2014

As most of you have heard, my wife, Sandy, broke her hip while in Spain, was flown by air ambulance back to the states, has had replacement hip surgery, and is on the mend. Today a copy of the invoice was sent to her by email. The total, most of which was for the flight, was over 100K! She had purchased medical insurance for the trip for a grand total of $41. Medicare doesn't cover most of the stuff overseas, so buy insurance for any overseas trips!!

See Click Here for "Flag Flying Places" including the Naval Academy. To expand on the process for USNA, GySgt Eric E. Salcedo, Brigade Drill Master sent the following: Click Here

I would like to share with you the ABC News - Second Tour story entitled "Veteran-Owned Wall Street Firm Employs Disabled Vets" and interview with Lawrence Doll, the Chairman of Drexel Hamilton, detailing his leadership in founding the firm, a service disabled veteran owned institutional broker-dealer.

The story was produced by Angel Canales of ABC News - Second Tour; it is the lead story on their blog at http://abcnews.go.com/us/second_tour. It is the banner headline on ABC News - Second Tour blog for one week; thereafter, the story will remain in the order listed on the blog.

The story is posted on ABC News' Facebook page and Drexel Hamilton's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DrexelHamiltonLLC​.

The ABC News main website will periodically show the banner to access the ABC News - Second Tour blog at http://abcnews.go.com.

The story is embedded on the Drexel Hamilton website http://www.drexelhamilton.com/ with the video and story ​http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/03/veteran-owned-wall-street-firm-employs-disabled-vets/.

Thank you for your consideration of Drexel Hamilton's mission as we work to build a successful firm owned and operated by service-disabled veterans.

Jack and I welcome your comments as we work to expand Drexel Hamilton's multi-faceted business. kmarkey@drexelhamilton.com

Click Here for the request from Col. Wm Preston McLaughlin, USMC (Ret.) for any information about LCol. Leftwich.

I'm sure all of you have received numerous email hackings and some may have been victims. Dick Kuntz received one supposedly from a classmate in financial distress overseas and asked me to remind all of you to not respond to these emails.

Silver Dollar That Was To Be Flipped By Kennedy At The ’63 Army-Navy Game Will Be Used 50 Years Later

ANNAPOLIS, Md.—The silver dollar that was to be flipped by President John F. Kennedy at the 1963 Army-Navy game in Philadelphia will be used for the coin toss 50 years later at the 2013 Army-Navy game on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on Nov. 22, 1963, eight days before he was scheduled to participate in the ceremonial coin toss on Nov. 30 in Philadelphia at the Army-Navy game.

Though fans had been anticipating the Army-Navy game for months, it would have been cancelled had it not been for the late president's family insisting that President Kennedy would have wanted it played and on Nov. 26 the Pentagon announced that following a one-week postponement, Army-Navy would take place on Dec. 7.

The game was a classic with Navy (9-1) edging Army (7-3), 21-15, thanks to three touchdowns by Navy fullback Pat Donnelly. Army had the ball at the Navy two-yard line when time ran out.

A week after the win, an envelope showed up in the mailbox of Navy captain Tom Lynch. When he opened it, he found a silver dollar. Accompanying the coin was a letter from Secretary of the Army Cyrus Vance.< Attached is the letter and coin sent by Secretary of the Army Cyrus Vance to 1963 Navy football team captain Tom Lynch.

On November 14, I was interviewed in connection with my new book Only the Most Able: Moving Beyond Politics in the Selection of National Security Leaders. The Podcast interview was conducted by Dr. Mark Stout, Director of the Global Security Studies graduate program at Johns Hopkins University, where I teach. The interview is available on the web site of the program and may also be accessed via the following link: http://advanced.jhu.edu/blog/podcast-moving-beyond-politics-in-the-selection-of-national-security-leaders/

I welcome the critical comments of those of you who listen to the Podcast and/or read the book. stephenmduncan@msn.com

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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

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.

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.

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.

Click Here for the Spencer's letter

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.

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

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

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.

"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.

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

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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