March-April 2024

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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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        I am sorry to begin this column by reporting the recent deaths of two of our classmates and two '63 wives, as noted below. Be sure to visit the Last Call section of our web site to see their obituaries and other information about their lives.

        John P. Burns died on 13 November 2023. Condolences may be sent to his daughter, Sarah Burns, at 917 Hilldale Drive, Royal Oak, MI 48067 or to an online memorial by clicking HERE.

        David N. Hull Passed away on 2 December 2023. His widow, Ruth, may be contacted at 1331 Hecla Drive Apt. 320, Louisville, CO 80027.

     Long ago, "Burnsie" inadvertently orchestrated my introduction to the late Kay Blythe (Tracy) in Mission Beach, San Diego, in the midst of our respective Vietnam tours. He became the best man in our wedding, beginning our precious 52+ year marriage. This photo From the wedding shows our classmates Vern Von Sydow on the left, John next to me, and Sonny Glassner and Felix Degolian on the right.

At George and Kay Tracy's wedding

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        It was a pleasant surprise to receive this email from Matt Sharpe '82 about a remarkable wardroom group that was led by one of our classmates.

USS TEXAS (CGN 39

     George Miller, USNA '63, commanded the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USS TEXAS (CGN 39) in the mid 1980s. Under his leadership, we, his officers, bonded and have remained tight ever since. We meet by Zoom monthly and we got together in the Texas hill country during the weekend of 6-8 October 2023. I thought you might like the attached picture for use in Shipmate. All but one of the officers in our group are pictured. "Texas. Great Ship. Great State."

USS Texas wardroom officers

     Pictured (L-R) are Eric Ringwall (Cornell NROTC 1986), Tim Flanagan (Notre Dame NROTC 1986), Pat Carroll (Notre Dame NROTC 1984), Chris Hatfield (Notre Dame NROTC 1983), Doug Grossmann (USNA 1985), Ian Benson (Minnesota OCS 1983), George Miller (USNA 1963), Steve Snider (MIT NROTC 1982), Bruce Groth (Willamette OCS 1985), Matt Sharpe (USNA 1982), Dan Hendricks (USNA 1983), Dave Hulse (Penn State NROTC 1982), Kevin Apel (Iowa State NROTC 1983), Andy Campbell (Michigan NROTC 1983), Bob Dikeman (Lafayette NUPOC OCS 1983). Not shown is Jim Horner (Miami of Ohio OCS 1983).

     I recently received a question about how to leave an obituary behind for the purposes of the USNA Community. Of course, if you are not concerned about what your classmates and shipmates remember about you then you have no problem. But think about your family. If you die without having prepared an obituary your widow or your kids will have to write it. It often happens that the obituary written with the hometown paper in mind has little or no information on your military past. Over the last 60 years I have read a lot of obituaries in Shipmate that were written by survivors without knowledge or regard for their father's military service. Information that you include in your current biography on the Class of 63 web site will be valuable to your survivors. One of the chief advantages of using the class web site to preserve your information is that you are not constrained by the 400-word limit for Last Call texts in Shipmate magazine. You can emphasize the parts of your life that are most important to you. The time to write your obituary is before you die. Share it with your family. In fact, you may want to write two obituaries: one for your USNA community and one for the local newspaper. If you are not ready to prepare your obituary, add to your current biography the information that will be useful to those who might have to write it. The 1963 web site is an outstanding asset. You should use it to make life easier for yourself and your family.

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The Fluegel Alumni Center on King George Street in Annapolis.

        Ribbon cutting for the USNA Alumni Association's Fluegel Alumni Center occurred on 8 September 2023. Individual contributions to the building campaign were an important factor in the success of the multiyear effort. Four of our donor classmates - Austin Seay, Ken Metviner, Robert Simmons, and Charles Spadafora - and their wives have been recognized as Plank Owners. Austin Seay told me about the Plank Owner plaque he received.

     The plaque was a total surprise as it was never mentioned by the Alumni Association that a personalized recognition would be a part of becoming a plank owner. The plaque arrived at my home on Christmas Eve, so I was very pleased to receive it. As this picture shows, it is signed by Ron Terwilliger '63 in his capacity as Chairman of the USNA Alumni Foundation, as well as by Jeff Webb'95 in his capacity as President and CEO of the USNA Alumni Association and Foundation. I will proudly hang it on my home office wall to be displayed with my other USNA memorabilia.

'63 Plank Owners

Austin Seay

     Bob and Jan Van Buren (11th Company) and Joanne and I (5th Company) went to Gettysburg following the 60th Reunion and it reinforced the "bonds that bind" us all. USNA Chapel services on Sunday morning of the reunion weekend had reinforced our Academy bonds in a way that only alumni can really appreciate.
    When we visited The Gettysburg battlefields it brought home the sort of feelings that most Veterans have. As horrible as the conflict was, the Gettysburg battlefield evolved into not just a tribute to Union Soldiers, but a Memorial to all Veterans who fought on both sides of the Civil War. Ultimately it celebrates American Valor, Unity, and Peace. Some (and especially those who want to erase history by tearing down statues of those like Robert E. Lee) may only see treason, but others see courage, sacrifice, loyalty, and freedom.
    Here is a photo of the four of us, with Van Burens at the left and Redds at the right. Also here is a photo of Blue and Gray veterans shaking hands during a commemoration years later.

Visitors at the Gettysburg battlefield

Union and Confederate veterans ca. 1913

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        Dave Moore has recently been in contact with his 14th Companymate Frank Wroblewski. He sent this picture of Frank made last October at the assisted living facility where he lives in Tyler, TX. Frank is retired from his career as an Army officer.

Frank Wroblewski

Army Distinguished Service Cross

       I hope you remember that Frank received the Army Distinguished Service Cross (equivalent to the Navy Cross) for his extraordinary heroism in action in Vietnam. The Pride and Tradition -- Valor section of our web site contains the text of Frank's citation and the texts of citations for many of the major awards conferred on our classmates. I urge you to visit the Valor pages and view these honors by clicking HERE.

     I've finally put all the sea stories that I've written over the years in a book titled Leatherneck Odyssey -- from the farm to Annapolis to the Marines and Beyond. Some of the stories are already on our web site, but there are probably 60 or 70 more in the book.

        A few of Dirck's entertaining stories are posted in the Pride and Tradition: Memories section of our web site. See them by clicking HERE.

       Also in December, Jim De Francia wrote to tell me about his book, Saigon Stories, which relates lighthearted tales from the early 1960's after the Vietnamese war against the French ended and before the Vietnam war began in earnest.

       Jim's and Dirck's books are both available from Amazon, where several sample pages from each can be seen. I enjoyed reading the samples and encourage you to follow my lead.

     The tall base, with lights around it, is an 8" gun shell casing from the Cruiser, USS Newport News, fired off the coast of Venezuela some 46 years ago. I secured it while on shore duty there after the ship fired gun salutes entering the harbor. I've been lugging it around the world with me ever since!

Jim De Francia's Navy Christmas tree

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        Jim Metcalfe checked in with several photos from the 60th reunion weekend, plus news about his latest attendance at an Army-Navy football game and a remarkable history of family service.

At the 2023 Army game in Massachusetts

     In this picture are Jimbo Metcalfe (U.Va. NROTC 1994), Jim Metcalfe (USNA'63) and "Chip" Patrick (USNA'94). Chip and Jimbo were Supply Officers on sister LSD's homeported in Sasebo, Japan. Once back in the USA, they began going to A-N Games together nearly every year. Jimbo missed the 2006 game when he was in Afghanistan. They included me in their tradition too. It's been a blast even when we lost. Along the way we had the pleasure of attending during the stream of 14 consecutive Navy victories. Jimbo retired from the Reserves this year. Between Jimbo, me, and my Dad (USNA 1922 -- MIA/KIA in WWII), we totaled 91 years of Naval Service.
    Jim's reunion photos center on his merry mates in the First Company.

Pam and John Pfeiffer, Jim Metcalfe, Bob Van Nice, Ron and Lettie Baxter, Jeff and Marla miles

Win Orgera, Don McCrory, Ron Baxter, Jim Metcalfe

Orgera and Pfeiffer

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SpaceX launch from Cape Canaveral

        Ed Brady offered this reminiscence about his involvement in decisions about using commercial rockets to launch missions into space.

     As we just watched the latest commercial SpaceX launch from Merritt Island, FL, near Cape Canaveral I was reminded of my small role in bringing this about.
    The Air Force had decided that its way of single time use of launch rockets was too expensive and had invited contractors to offer solutions. Part of their input was that the defense market was too small, and they needed to be able to make commercial launches as well. Discussion started around commercial spaceports and Congress got interested in the safety of the populations around where launches would be.
    At the time I was VP for Standards for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) as such I was asked to testify to Congress as an expert witness. During my testimony the Congressman whose district included Cape Canaveral raised several questions doubting that civilians could safely launch spacecraft. I carefully explained to him the two-year effort I had led to integrate the USAF East and West Coast launch safety procedures (because it turned out that they were different) and convert them to civilian AIAA standards -- and how they would be mandatory for civilian launch companies. I ended by saying if he was satisfied with current military launches in his district, he could rest easy with future civilian launches. He stated for the record that he was satisfied.

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That's all for now. Please keep sending news and pictures to be enjoyed by our classmates and other readers.

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