CLASS OF 1963
Pres:  Stephen M. Duncan
Sec'y: Michael H. Shelley
25 Sweetwater Lane, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
h: 828-862-4245  e: Class.Secretary@USNA63.org
Web site: www.USNA63.org

    Welcome to cyberspace, classmates!  As you see from the heading of this column, the Quality Class of 1963 now has its own "official" web site, ready for your viewing pleasure and for sharing news, information, and sea stories with classmates and others. On their own initiative, our classmates Mike Blackledge and Bill Kennedy began developing the web site this March, with the endorsement and oversight of your class officers.  Bill, a former information technology professional, had the necessary skills and resources to put us on the World Wide Web and volunteered them to give us an Internet presence.  Mike has done wonders designing the look and feel of the site and developing and implementing many of the clever functions within it.  I am confident that you will be pleased with the site’s design, content, and functionality.  There is a lot of varied information available to you, and we encourage you to contribute additional material.  One important request:  When you first visit the site (www.USNA63.org),  please complete the online evaluation form so that we can have your reactions and suggestions for improvements.  Be candid, please.  Our skins are thick and we are anxious to refine the web site in any way necessary to ensure the best possible experience for our classmates and other visitors.
    We’re looking for a spare Lucky Bag that can be cut up to enable scanning of our  1/c portraits for the web site.  (Yes, we do need to remove the pages. Hand-held scanners don't give us the image quality we desire.)  If you can donate a Lucky Bag, please contact Bill Kennedy by e-mail at Bill@WLK.COM to make arrangements for shipping at his expense.  His postal address is Bandera Falls Box 63449, Pipe Creek, TX 78063-3449.  Thanks! 

     We made our headquarters at the home of Sandy and Ollie Donelan, who treated us to REAL southern  hospitality.  As you would expect, many tall tales and sea stories were told – all by the ladies – while the men recounted their true-to-life experiences over beverages of choice.  A few tears were shed at the dog track, and a few eyeballs were strained at the beach, but most of all, the camaraderie and conversation were topnotch.
     The weekend’s activities began Friday with a mighty gathering at the Donelans’.  We strolled through The Pier, a large complex of stores, where our wives engaged in power shopping while the men skillfully ogled the shoppers.  That evening, we invaded Derby Lane, a St. Pete race track, for dinner and to watch the greyhounds run off with our money – at least the food was great!
      Saturday (the only morning it rained) we spent indoors at the Florida Marine Aquarium watching the sea life watch us.  At the Salvador Dali Museum we enjoyed the largest collection of that artist’s work in any one place.  The day was completed with a memorable dinner atop the Holiday Inn at Treasure Island where the beach was beautiful and the food was delicious.  Here is a photo taken there.  Left to right are Liz and Bob Polich, Elise and Vern Browne, and Ollie and Sandy Donelan.

       We spent Sunday relaxing and picnicking on St. Pete Beach (and, of course, doing more ogling!)  Elise and Vern had to leave early that evening, so farewells were exchanged and off they went.  Liz and I were able to enjoy the Donelan’s tremendous hospitality one more night, and then we had to set sail for home.  I would have supplied photos of the Donelans’ home and grounds, but they wouldn’t do it justice; they have to be seen with the eye to be appreciated. We all had such a good weekend, sharing the time together.  All of us are proud to say we haven’t missed a half-year reunion yet!

         Since this is the first time I have written for Shipmate, I will try to summarize a standard bio.  After flight school, I was married to Connie Mann, a ‘63 graduate from Gettysburg College and from Philadelphia.   We moved to Jacksonville where I reported to VA-15 at Cecil Field, flying A-4’s.  Checked in the same time as Dave Thornhill.  Did two tours to Vietnam flying from the Intrepid CVA-11, which is now a museum in NY City (probably still not air conditioned)!  Then ordered to VA-125 at Lemoore, CA, as a flight and weapons delivery instructor.  When the tour was up, the airlines were hiring and the family expanding, so I decided in 1969 to sign on with Northwest Airlines based out of Minneapolis, my home town.  Big mistake.  I was furloughed after one year when their growth came to a halt, and never recalled.  I took a job with Emerson Electric as a division Human Resources manager; was recruited to SMS in Philadelphia and then to CoreStates Bank.  From there I took a position with Catalina Marketing Corp. in Tampa, FL, and having a great time.  We have two daughters.  We’re active in our church, bible studies and volunteer work.  Doing some flying and scuba diving.  We even tried sky diving.  I had to give up running after two knee surgeries a few years back, so  now it’s biking.  I stayed in the Reserves and retired in 1986 after a tour as CO of a NAVAIRSYSCOM unit that supported PMTC, Pt. Mugu.
[[ INSERT PHOTO 2 HERE.  CAPTION:  The father of the bride, Miller Detrick, gets support from his smiling friends. ]]
         Here is a photo showing Ian Sargent, former roommate Lew Blackwell, yours truly,  Northwest pilot friend Bob Wade, and Lee Tillotson, taken at the wedding of our youngest daughter (Sherri) in April.  Lew and Sarge were also in Connie’s and my wedding in ’65. (Had to include submariners for diversity).  We see  Sarge and Fern frequently and have spent many hours sailing the Chesapeake over the years, formulating "policy" while keeping the keel above the bottom.  Lee retired recently as a flag and is operating the Orlando Airport.  We renewed some of our amazing adventures in flight school.  Maybe this visibility will inspire them to write in as well.  Not!
[[INSERT PHOTO 3 HERE.  CAPTION:  Young folks hittin’ the road in the bright red Healey.  ]]
         Here also is a picture taken right after graduation with Connie and Sarge in my Healey on our way south.  I still have the car!  Remember when you could get everything you owned, plus a few friends, in your car? (Seat belts?)  We would enjoy seeing any of you who wander into the Tampa Bay area.  Space we have.  The phone is (813) 871-6363.  E-mail:  millerd@catmktg.com.

     Seeing the Washington Post in early April with its photo of the caisson carrying CAPT McGonagle, skipper of USS LIBERTY (GTR-5), to his grave in Arlington and reading the news stories reminded me that our classmate Steve Toth was killed aboard the LIBERTY on 8 June 1967 by attacking Israeli jets.
      I remember Steve well.  When we were growing up in Washington, DC, in the late 1940's, we sometimes played or went to movies together -- my mother and aunt were both good friends of Steve's mother, Margaret.  Steve's father was CAPT Joseph C. Toth, USNA '31, a decorated WWII veteran who retired in 1961.  After we moved to Natchez, MS, and later to Annapolis, I lost track of Steve until we met again on 7 July 1959, the day we were all sworn in as Midshipmen.  Steve had graduated from St. George's School and completed his rat year at VMI, then become a Plebe all over again.  You may question his good sense, but apparently he validated many courses and was getting a dual major in nuclear physics.    After graduation, I lost track of him again.
      On 8 June 1967, the LIBERTY was attacked without warning while sailing in international waters.  She was attacked by both Israeli fighter planes and torpedo boats.  No one came to LIBERTY's assistance in time to do anything meaningful to ward off the attacks.  Only by the incredible skill and bravery of her Commanding Officer -- who was awarded the Medal of Honor -- and the Crew of the LIBERTY was the ship saved from sinking.   Shortly after the attack on the LIBERTY, I saw the casualty list and learned of Steve's death.  I was in VS-32 aboard ESSEX (CVS-9) and we were headed to the North Atlantic and later the Med.  Little was known at the time about the Israeli attack on the LIBERTY.  Not until the 1979 Random House publication of "Assault on the Liberty" by James M. Ennes, Jr., A LIBERTY officer, did I learn of any details of Steve's death.  Today, I reviewed those sections of the book and thought our classmates should know of them.     Steve was the navigator and intelligence officer on the ship -- one of our highly classified electronic and cryptology surveillance ships that operated near potential enemy countries gathering important information.  They were essentially unarmed and unprotected.
      On 8 June 1967, the LIBERTY was off Egypt just as the six day war between Israel and the Arab states began.  CAPT McGonagle had requested an armed escort but -- as would happen again all too soon with the PUEBLO -- the controlling authorities denied any protection for this mission which was known to be going into an area where war was likely to break out at any moment. On the morning of the 8 June, an Israeli aircraft -- a French built transport -- began circling the ship, and soon there were Dassault fighters in the area.  Steve was given the job of drafting the sighting reports of armed reconnaissance aircraft in the vicinity.  Unknown to the LIBERTY, she had been ordered to open to at least 100 miles from the coast -- a message which was unaccountably delayed and did not reach the LIBERTY until she was actually under attack.  Although the transport was identified as Israeli, the fighter aircraft were not identified.  When they suddenly began strafing runs and rocket attacks on the LIBERTY, Steve went out on the bridge wing in the face of withering rocket and heavy caliber machine gun fire to identify the nationality of the aircraft for the skipper.  He was immediately cut down, joining a growing number of dead and wounded.   The recommendation for the posthumous award of the Silver Star reads: "As intelligence officer, LT Toth was on the starboard wing of the flying bridge, 04 level, when the strafing attack occurred.  It became a vital matter to quickly establish the national identity of the aircraft that had initiated the vicious attack in order to inform higher authority.  With complete disregard for his own personal safety he fearlessly exposed himself to overwhelmingly accurate rocket and machine gun fire to obtain this data.  While engaged in this task a violent explosion on the starboard side of the bridge inflicted fatal injuries."
      Steve was buried at USNA.  He was the Toth's only son and, I believe, only child.  His father was devastated by the tragic loss -- a loss which did not reflect well on our government’s handling of the situation.  He died on 1 January 1969.  Margaret Toth lived on into the 1980's.   I believe she died about 1989 in Virginia Beach.
        Unfortunately, the disastrous handling of the LIBERTY mission by higher authorities was to be repeated and played out with even more devastating effects to the PUEBLO in 1968.  I hope that the men of the LIBERTY and the PUEBLO will not be forgotten.  More importantly, I hope they will not have suffered and died in vain.    The memory of Steve Toth should remind midshipmen and naval officers of today of the terrible price paid by the failures of leadership shown in the LIBERTY and PUEBLO incidents.  The price of LIBERTY is indeed eternal vigilance. 

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       I recently visited ex-wife Bill (WJ) Stewart and his friend Elizabeth Truesdail in Santa Barbara. My wife Connie and I had the very special experience of being personally guided by them around the Vietnam Veterans "Remembrance Walk," one of Bill's projects of which I was unaware.
     Some history: at one time, there was a refusal by some persons to allow Vietnam Veterans of the area to march in a parade with veterans of other wars.  Instead of sulking about it, Bill and two West Pointers, one an Army Officer, the other a Marine Officer, organized the effort and to a great extent personally built the Memorial as well as gathered support from others in the community.  The Remembrance Walk is dedicated to Vietnam Vets of Santa Barbara County killed in the line of duty.  They included the names of others from all wars back to the War Between the States.  What class!  They started in 1988, and finished in 1996.  General Westmoreland dedicated it.  As long as I have known Bill, his life has been dedicated to service to others; frequently in obscure areas which no one else seems to be supporting, but important nonetheless.
[[ INSERT PHOTO 4 HERE.  CAPTION:  Bill Stewart at the Santa Barbara Remembrance Walk ]]
     I first met Bill in High School in 1958.  That year Bill had completed his stint as a Civil Defense plane watcher, identifying airplanes coming into Southern California air space. You may not know, as many were busy themselves back then, but Bill was on national news in the 70's (after his return from Vietnam), trying to kick the North Vietnamese Embassy door down (along with Joe McCain '64) in Paris, demanding that mail be delivered to our POW's.  Bill is an Attorney, (providing legal aid for Vietnam Veterans also) but in his spare time teaches school, works at the Transition House (Shelter for the Homeless), is on the Board of Directors for Hillside House (Cerebral Palsy Residency), and is on the Board of Trustees for his church.  Bill is also a Blue and Gold Officer and President of the Santa Barbara Alumni Chapter.  While he's resting, he does graffiti removal and campus cleanup at the local high school.  Bill has also established several scholarships for worthy high school graduates.
     I am very proud to be a friend and classmate of Bill's. His dedication to service to others is a model for all. Bill is a modest man of great achievements, and I wanted to tell our classmates a little of what he's been doing with himself.

     … had some incredibly high optempo in the Gulf.  This deployment had a number of "firsts"; namely, an opportunity to participate in the final day of Desert Fox and send some ordnance downrange during the first day in the Gulf during this deployment.  It was very exciting for everyone aboard and something I'm sure they will always remember.  I think your classmate, William Fitzgerald, was smiling from above as he watched this ship on deployment. This crew answered the bell every time they were asked and performed very well.

     I am sitting on the beach in Cocoa Beach, FL, enjoying the sea breeze, warm water, sea shells, and bikinis (along with a martini/margarita/or whatever else might be appealing).  I am consulting at the Kennedy Space Center, advising on how to improve their maintenance practices and implementing a maintenance management system.  My wife, Virginia, has joined me on the beach, though we maintain our home in Atlanta.  When she came to Florida, she brought her job with her (maintaining the books for an Atlanta company) so she is a virtual commuter.  Another Atlanta company has asked her to do the same for them, so she is expanding her practice.  I was on site here for a year, and got a new contract to go on for another year. The first year was a bit hectic since I returned home each weekend.  It is so much nicer now that Virginia is here as well, though Delta has had to look for other financing arrangements.  We have a spare bedroom in our condo unit, so if anyone is wandering in the area, please look us up. My email is tawomble@aol.com.
     Our son, Jeff, graduated from Auburn in 97 and was married this past January (to another Auburnite).  Our daughter, Melanie, graduated from Auburn in 96 and married in January 97 (to another Auburnite).  Note the overlapping college times and wedding expense opportunities.  We are slowly recovering.  We have heard, unofficially, that Auburn is considering naming a building for us.   As with many of you, our high school class is having a 40th reunion; however, since our high school will cease to exist this year, and the 'country' we grew up in, Panama Canal Zone, will cease to exist at the end of this year, the reunion will be held in Orlando.
      I see Teb Bowman at least once a year when the Atlanta Alumni Association holds their lobster fest.  Atlanta has one of the more active USNA Alumni Associations.  Teb is consulting on various projects relating to remediation efforts.  Frank Wroblewski, in Texas, says he is retired-retired, but is getting tired of fishing and hunting on a daily basis.  I ran into Mario Fiori in the Atlanta airport, and found that he has left the Savannah River Site and is also privately consulting.  

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      Susan and I continue to enjoy life on the farm in Georgia.  She is expanding her Dartmoor pony breeding business with some high-tech artificial insemination experiments with the Dartmoor Pony Society of Australia.  I'm still banging away on the book business, with number 5, Zero Option, due out in paperback in July, followed by Trainman in hardback in August.  Trainman has been picked up by Paramount, so now we'll have two projects (Official Privilege is the other) working in Hollywood.  Our son, Daniel, continues as a Navy helicopter instructor pilot at Milton, FL, and our daughter, Sarah, is over at NAS Pensacola finishing advanced training for a RIO slot in F-14's.  We're giving some thought to taking that west coast Orient Express trip this Fall; hopefully we'll see some classmates along the way.  

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      Patsy and the kids stayed in Northern Illinois pending the sale of our home.  We anticipate a more stable family life here in the Lonestar State.  Daughter Emily and I sure enjoyed the class reunion last October just prior to my transfer to Fort Worth.  She and our son (Landon III) will be joining me this summer.  Patsy, unfortunately, will wait in Illinois until the house is sold.  I'm sure that having the kids in Texas with me will be a welcome break for her!  

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     Our son-in-law, Bodie Miller, was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident on April 6 when an auto made a left hand turn into him while he was traveling 45 mph. Bodie sustained four compound fractures of the extremities, a broken wrist, clavicle, and most seriously, severe spinal injury.  He is able to talk and reason but is still paralyzed below the chest.  His spinal column was not fractured so there is some possibility that he may improve.  Rehab is expected to take at least a couple of years.  Although he has medical insurance, it has already almost reached its one million dollar lifetime limit.  If anyone cares to help out, cards or checks can be sent  to David B. Miller, 702 White Pine Ave., Rockledge, Fl 32955.  Your prayers and good thoughts are also appreciated. His wife, my daughter, is Yvette and their seven year old is Stephen.  

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     Dottie and I are still in New York City, living in Manhattan, where we moved about a year ago from San Diego.  Sounds insane, and probably is, but we did keep a condo in San Diego so we can get back often to see the kids, and more importantly, our four grandsons.  One of these days in the not too distant future we'll be going back there for good.  Living in the big city is interesting, but it is playing hell with my golf game.  I am still working for Sithe Energies, Inc., currently as Vice President of Operations.   Sithe, one of the largest Independent Power Producers in the world, is at the forefront of the electric energy deregulation that is sweeping the US and the company is growing like topsy.
      One of the real advantages of being back on the East coast is that we have been able to get together more often with my roommates and their wives, Sandee and Lionel Banda and Kathy and Jim Carter.   Lionel is working at a nuclear power plant up on the Hudson River and Jim is still working all the angles around the Pentagon as a consultant.   There are also several other 6th Company rowdies in the vicinity.  Dick Williams' daughter and son-in-law live right down the street so we have seen a lot of Dick and Marion, who live in Fairfax, VA.  We had the pleasure of watching Dick's daughter Shelby run the NY Marathon last year.  She can do 26 miles on foot about as fast as Dick does it on his bike!  We also occasionally enjoy dinner or a drink with Julie and Dick Arvedlund when they come up from Wilmington.   Joe Fossella, who runs his own engineering firm in New Jersey, and I have been trying to get together for a golf game ever since the 35th, but I think one or both of us is working too hard.  We'll just have to change that!  

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    We dropped by Ricketts Hall and were treated to a guided tour by Dave Davis '67.  Melanie was particularly impressed by the two Heisman trophies and the entire football team that was using the new lifting room.  Later in the week, we visited my son, Maj. Steve Waugh '86 who has been temporarily deskbound with NavAir at Pax River trying to make UAVs that go up and down like his beloved Harriers.  We came across an A3J during a mini-tour of their Air Museum and I recalled the A3J was christened on our Youngster Cruise.  Sure enough, the plaque noted its first carrier landing was on the USS SARATOGA in July 1960.  

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     I finished my 10th year of teaching this May and am now eligible for retirement, again.  I plan on putting in three more years to maximize the payout for sick leave bonuses.  After that, who knows?  I am toying with the idea of running for the school board just to keep my hand in.  Of course that could give me a third retirement and with social security, I might become the first quadruple dipper.  That's OK, I will have earned it.  

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I have my own company now, Maintenance Management Solutions Corporation (MMS Corp.).  So, my email address is dhull@mms-corp.com and our web site is at www.mms-corp.com.  We apply advanced information technology to facilities maintenance for greater reliability at substantially lower cost.  We are currently working with the Brown and Root Services Corporation on a huge base operating services (BOS) contract and have begun discussions with the Boeing Corporation to assist them with a multibillion dollar logistic support job.  Exciting stuff. 

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