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| Dan Hitzelberger and his beach bunny granddaughter |
After graduation in June 1963, Bonnie and I were married that August and started our exciting journey as a Marine family. After duty at USNA during our graduating summer, off we went to Quantico, Virginia -- the starting point for all Marine Officer careers: attendance at The Basic School (TBS). After TBS we went to the West Coast and I reported for duty in the Fleet Marine Forces (FMF), Camp Pendleton, California. I had the normal duties of an infantry officer, Rifle Platoon Commander, and Company Executive Officer. In 1965 my unit, 1/7, shipped out to Vietnam and I was reassigned as an Assistant Operations Officer for the battalion. Later, about half way through my first tour of duty I was reassigned to a rifle company where, again, I took over a rifle platoon and then company XO. Returning to the States I did a tour of duty in the Marine Barracks, Portsmouth, Virginia. While stationed at the barracks our daughter Debbie was born in the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in 1967. Leaving Portsmouth, we moved back to Quantico for a short time and then in August of 1968 I returned to Vietnam for my second tour of duty. Again I had various duties in an Infantry Battalion to include Company Commander of G 2/9.
In July 1969 we returned to Annapolis and USNA for duty. I taught for a year and then spent two years as 36th Company Officer. Following my USNA tour of duty, we continued to live in Annapolis while I attended George Washington University. It was during this time that our son, Timothy, was born in January 1973 at the USNA Naval Hospital. Upon completion of my GW studies and receipt of my MBA, I was assigned to the first of several tours of duty at HQMC in Washington, DC. In 1978 it was back to FMF in the Far East for the next five years. For four of those years the family was able to accompany me.
Returning to the States, living in Annapolis and working in the same HQMC office I worked in before my Far East tour, I was faced with the same questions we all have to face: stay in or get out? Having been in uniform for 27 years, counting my enlisted service and USNA time, I decided it was time to enter the civilian world. So in 1984, I took the uniform off and accepted a position in Westinghouse's Oceanic Division. In 1988 I transferred to Westinghouse's International Program Office and started traveling to Egypt. I made many trips to the Middle East during the next nine years and had the opportunity to make many close Egyptian friends, whom I miss visiting. Even though I enjoyed my international work I decided to obtain my securities license(s) and in 1991 started my own financial business on a part time basis. Finally, in 1997 I quit Northrop Grumman (Northrop Grumman bought our Westinghouse Defense related Divisions) and went full time in the financial field as an investment advisor. I love it and have not regretted one minute, in fact wish I had done it sooner.
We are settled in Annapolis and Bonnie, after having followed me around for all those years, is still as active as ever and enjoys being a teacher in Anne Arundel County. She still enjoys the kids in the Middle School. Our daughter, Debbie, attended the University of Delaware majoring in International Relations and Economics. After graduating from Delaware in May 1989 she married LTJG Jason Cronin in August 1989. She then started her travels as a Navy pilot's wife. Debbie and Jason are currently living in Jacksonville, Florida, where Jason will be joining a squadron for duty. Timothy, after graduating from Annapolis High School, went to Mars Hill College in North Carolina graduating in 1995 with a degree in Biology. Much to my surprise, he decided to become a Marine, entered OCS in the fall of 1995, and was commissioned in Dec 1995. Tim married Holly Sefton in June 1998. They are currently stationed in Okinawa until the year 2002.
As you can see, a pretty normal career with many, many high points! We had the opportunity to see and experience life as so few people can and for that we are truly thankful! Living in Annapolis is great, we get the opportunity to see the changes at USNA, not all of them for the better, our classmates as they pass through, and many of the 120 Midshipmen we sponsored over the years. All in all, a great time to be healthy, alive and able to enjoy it!
