July-August 2025

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CLASS OF 1963
Pres:  CAPT W. Spencer Johnson IV, USN (Ret.)
Sec'y: Michael H. Shelley
27 Cambridge DR, Brevard, NC 28712
h: 828-506-2201  e: nstar@citcom.net
Web site: http://www.usna63.org.

For any classmate you can go to the Classmates Page and enter his name to read his current biography if available.

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        With respect for classmates and wives who have departed this life, our custom is to place their names at the head of our Shipmate columns. This month we note the loss of the seven classmates and two widows named below. Be sure to visit the Last Call section of our web site to read classmates' obituaries and other information about their lives and careers. Spouses' obituaries are posted with their husband's Last Call or Current Biography entry.

        Robert L. Nelson passed away on 9 February. We do not have contract information for his next of kin.

        James J. Lamb died on 28 March 28. We do not have contact information for his next of kin.

        John C. Bender died on 5 April. His widow, Barbara, passed away only six days later, on 11 April. We do not have contact information for their next of kin.

        David G. Puckett passed away on 23 April. His wife, Judi, can be contacted at 5872 Stone Lily Lane, Sylvania, OH 43560.

        William L. Penn died on 16 May. Bill's widow, Linda, can be contacted at 1522 Sun Mountain, San Antonio, TX 78258.

        Richard E. Kane, Jr. passed away on 16 May. We do not have contact information for his next of kin.

        Frank M. Wroblewski passed away on 31 May. We do not have contact information for his next of kin. Frank was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (equivalent to the Navy Cross) for extraordinary heroism as an Army officer in Vietnam. Read his citation in the Pride and Tradition - Valor section of our web site by clicking HERE.

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        The remains of many of our classmates, some with their spouses, have been inurned at the Columbarium in the Naval Academy cemetery, which is open to all USNA graduates. Many of the living intend for their remains to be placed there; perhaps you are among them. It was announced recently that the Columbarium, available since 1987, is now full and cannot accept additional remains until an expansion is funded and constructed. Exceptions will be made for a second urn when the inurnment of a graduate or spouse has already occurred. A capital campaign to raise $1.8 million for a 650-niche expansion is now underway. This will yield a 26 percent growth from the original 2,448-niche capacity. Planning has begun for future phases of the Columbarium's growth.
       I urge you to visit the Alumni Association's web site for full information about the columbarium, changes in procedures pending completion of the expansion, and the capital campaign. Click HERE for the Memorial Services page.

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        David Puckett was an admired and highly respected member of the Class of 1963. You will remember that he was Brigade Commander, and you may be aware of his dedicated service in later years.

Brigade Commander David Puckett, Fall Set 1962

       The Celebration of David's life was held on Saturday, 10 May, in Toledo, OH. His companymate Charlie Minter attended and sent a report to members of the Ninth Company. Here is part of Charlie's text.

     Jim Killian, John Aucella, Carol, and I represented the Ninth Company at the Celebration of Life ceremony. It was an amazing and uplifting event with a large number of people attending. The size of the crowd was a testimony to the way David and his family impacted the community over their many years in the Toledo area. The military portion of the ceremony included the playing of taps and speakers citing the highlights of David's time in the Navy, his duty stations, awards, etc. A rifle salute and the presentation of the American flag to Judi ended that part of the ceremony.
    Judi had asked me, as David's roommate for most of our four years, to comment on my memories of him and his time in the Navy. I expanded on highlights from David's obituary, explaining their meaning to a crowd that was almost entirely civilian. For example, I related just how big a deal it was to be Brigade Commander. With regard to David's four years on the Patrick Henry (SSBN-599), I explained the sacrifices involved in serving on a "Boomer," including being incommunicado for months at a time. With some prior help from Jim DeFrancia, I shared how David spearheaded the creation of our class foundation, served for years as its President, and was instrumental in the creation of the CAE and its tremendous positive impact on midshipmen retention. The final part of the ceremony was the beautiful playing of Reveille, as David had requested, by a bugler arranged by our companymate, Bob Tanis.

Charlie Minter, Jim Killian, and John Aucella

John Aucella, Carol Minter, Judi Puckett, Jim Killian, and Charlie Minter

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        The latest annual Impact Report for the '63 Center for Academic Excellence is now available online. The reported statistics include a record-breaking total of 66,700 midshipman visits during the academic year: an average of 1,900 midshipman visits per academic week. Every member of the Plebe class engaged with CAE services. Click HERE to see the report.

     Members of the 16th Company had such a good time at the 60th Reunion, we decided to have mini-reunion before the 65th. After consulting with classmates, Paul Revere who was originally from New Orleans, planned the whole mini-reunion and what a great time we had there during 6-10 April. Starting with our stay at the beautiful Windsor Court hotel, Paul had our days filled with a tour of the WWII museum and a fabulous minibus tour of all the sights in New Orleans including where the levee broke during Katrina and their above ground cemetery. The Parkers and Konolds also went on a chilly swamp tour.

At an above-ground cemetery in New Orleans

Konolds and Parkers

    At night, Paul set up great New Orleans group dinners with Italian at Gianna's and seafood at Acme Oyster House. We also dined at the legendary Antoine's Restaurant where we were seated in the private Proteus room.

16th Company group at the Acme Oyster House/tr>

    A great time was had by everyone who came to our mini-reunion: Paul and Sue Revere, Jim and Kate Ring, Dave and Beth Konold, Lee and Sue Cargill, Jack and Maria Fischer, Jud and Betsy Pearson, Pete and Grace Optekar, Hunt and Patty Parker, and Erwin Storz, who was solo because Kathy had covid. Thank you, Paul, for executing a great mini reunion. You definitely learned a lot when you were a Pork Chop!

Steve Coester and Ray Ross

     Ray Ross and his companion Judi are on an extended road trip from Colorado to Florida to Michigan and who knows where else. They visited Yvonne and me, and I had the opportunity to lead them around the Kennedy Space Center where I labored for 33 years. After Ray's Naval Aviator career of 22 years, he worked in rocketry like me but more in the design end while I was test and launch. We both worked with Atlas and Centaur during parts of our careers so knew some of the same people and could converse semi-intelligently. Of course, we also had the Academy, 18th company, and post-graduation to keep the conversation going and remembered our living and deceased classmates. Our visit to KSC was on April 12, the date 44 years ago of the very first Space Shuttle launch: Columbia STS-1. I was supervisor of the Orbiter Main Propulsion System (MPS) and MPS Control, CMPS, in the Launch Control Center Firing Room so it was a momentous occasion launching a manned mission (John Young and Bob Crippen) on a rocket that had never looked like that and that had never had an unmanned test flight.
    The next day Ray and Judi dropped by our home to meet Yvonne and we had another nice chat before they headed north for Atlanta. I envy their get up and go as ours has went. It's always a pleasure to meet up with our classmates.

     I was likely not the only classmate surprised by the recent Shipmate column noting the 2022 death of my roommate (9/20th Company), Mathew "Butch" Gretchen. The mystery of Butch's life after death is mysterious as his entire life story after graduation. He was wild as the West Virginia hills where he grew up, the Croatian enclave of Windsor Heights. His Dad, Mike, was a UMW union operative, and his Mom a sweet, generous woman. I visited at the home several times, enjoying great hospitality, and with Butch liberal use of Big Mike's "keys" to local establishments. Butch and I were big-time pals, sharing many adventures and misadventures. As many classmates remember, Butch was fun to be around, center of the storm.

Butch Gretchen

    His start to high level education at the Jesuit Wheeling College set him up for a fairly non-sweat journey through USNA, with excellence in math, literature, and company baseball. Just as importantly, he was a great shipmate, roommate, and liberty running mate. Close pals as we were, our last face-to-face was graduation day when he headed to flight training. It came as a great surprise that he dropped off the reservation after a reportedly unremarkable naval aviation career. Word was that he had served in the Philippines and married a Filipino woman. Nothing more. Long ago, when fund raising for the Class Foundation, Jack Reed and I gained a phone number for Butch in Miami and caught him off-guard with a call. He seemed surprised, guarded, and wanting little more than chit-chat. That phone number never responded again. Word again from the jungle-telegraph was that Butch was possibly associated with CIA or other U. S. agencies in support of clandestine operations, perhaps flying into southern countries. Knowing Butch and his yen for adventure, that would hardly be surprising.
    Thanks to a connection by our resolute keepers of the Class directory, we identified the Florida funeral home that managed the memorial services for Butch in 2022 and his wife Angelita in 2024. To our surprise there was a beautiful and joyful ten-minute online video celebration of Butch's life and family. I struck out with communications with the funeral home, so we are left only with the video which was heart-warming indeed and brought tears to my eyes. What should make our classmates happy is that his wonderful life was filled with joy and purpose, possibly doing great service to our nation.

     I don't remember too much about First Class cruise except it was on the RANDOLPH (CVS-15) and it was boring. We sailed from Norfolk to the Med. Think I got one S-2 hop. We visited Naples, Palermo and Spain where I saw a bullfight, so the liberty wasn't bad. Can't say the same for the onboard accommodations, an enlisted compartment in the bowels of the ship. I did not learn anything about being an officer until I reported to the USS PRESTON (DD-795) after graduation.

    What I do remember about that summer was SERE school in Maine which was a summer leave option offered by USNA. It was in three phases: classroom for two days, two days of boy scout stuff (tents, making jerky, etc.) at NAS Brunswick, and then five days of E&E and POW Compound in the Rangely Lakes region in the western corner of Maine. Bob "Big Newt" Newton and I were the only mids; the rest were pilots. For the E&E phase I was paired with Bob, a country boy from Ashville, Ohio. Without him, I would still be wandering around in those Maine woods.
    Unlike Warner Springs SERE near San Diego, the theme was Arctic survival. I guarded that completion certificate with my life since it got me out of Warner Springs SERE as a JO. Somehow, I ended up as High Man in the class and upon return to the Academy, my new Company Officer, Captain Slack, told me how much he was impressed by success. All I could think was it's going to be a long year, but Captain Slack was a great Company Officer.
    Why did I choose SERE as a summer leave option? I was anticipating getting into flight training upon graduation but failed the physical (eyes). I tried again after a year and successfully passed. Ended up in helos and loved every minute of it.

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        Two proud '63 grandfathers have sent news about the commissioning of their grandsons in the Navy this May. Phil Gubbins shared this information about his grandson who graduated from USNA as a member of the Class of 2025.

Philip Sing '25 and his grandfather, Phil Gubbins

     Philip Sing was alphabetically the last Midshipman in the 36th Company. Ergo, when his name was announced he received the loudest and longest applause and cheers from all, including JD Vance and the Supe as he was the last to walk and receive his diploma! Phil is going to Nuke Power School. He does not take after his grandfather academically!

     On 16 May, at a Commissioning Ceremony hosted by the Commanding Officer of the Naval ROTC unit at the University of Virginia, I had the honor of administering the Oath of Office to my newest Naval Officer grandson, Christopher Stephen Johnson, my daughter Paige's son. Christopher was the Midshipman Commander of the unit and at an earlier ceremony he received a Naval Officer's sword as an award for his leadership. Like his cousin Tristan, Kelly's son, Christopher is now a Cyber Warfare Engineering Officer. He has received orders to the Naval Academy for temporary instructor duty for the summer.

Ensign Christopher Johnson

    I am very proud to say that I now have three Naval Officer grandsons. The oldest is Tyler, Kelly's son, who is a Naval Aviator currently on a six-month deployment to Japan.

     This picture shows the attendees at Karl's Kozak's funeral service in March. Left to right are Grant Telfer, Lee and Sue Cargill, Mickey Mays, Dave Meyers, Jerry and Rowena Harken, Betty Ray Wilson, Dick and Sue Andrews. (I was at Padres spring training with my son and granddaughter!)

After the Mass for Karl Kozak

    The next photo shows Jim and Pat Fontana with Ted Krohne and me. The Fontanas were in town for a visit with their local family.

    In late April, June Stone, Chuck's widow, hosted Steve Hoy and me to a lovely luncheon at the Havens Country Club in Vista. We had a wonderful time sharing old memories. This photo shows Steve and me flanking June in the clubhouse entryway. As Steve would later remark, "It's like two thorns protecting a rose"!

Phillip, June, and Steve

    A few weeks later a hardy group braved the beautiful weather at the Coronado Golf Course clubhouse for a lunch to welcome Roy and Vicki Warren. As many of you know, Roy and Vicki are certified "Road Warriors" traveling all over North America in their RV. We had great fun getting caught up and telling tall tales. Standing in this photo are Lee Cargill, Lee Tillotson, Jim Lasswell, Jerry Harken, Roy Warren, and Phillip. Seated in front are Betty Ray Wilson and Vickie Warren.

Lunch group in Coronado

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That's all for now. Thanks to everyone who submitted items for this installment of our news exchange. Now it's your turn. How about sending me a note about your summer activities and a photo or two to share with our readers?

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