Eight seasons we passed down the brick walkways toward Mahan Hall and the other academic building to cross a few more rivers. We would salute Tecumseh with a left hand and/or throw pennies (some mids allegedly threw their pennies at the young dependents scooping up the coins). But January 1961 was special. As we marched off from Tecumseh Court some clever individual started singing the chorus from the Kingston Trio song - "It takes a worried man to sing a worried song (3 times), I'm worried now but I won't be worried long" . And before long everyone formed up in front of Mother B was singing along.

That memory is so clear to me I can almost hear George Nolan's voice.

A few days later, marching to class ended forever at USNA - and the singing spirit at the Naval Academy started to die. We were lucky !

And a response from Mike Shelley:

Looking back across a 40-year gulf it's easy for me to say this, but: I miss the marching. There was an inherent spirit to it that defies description. You know what I mean. What I miss the most, though, is marching up chapel walk on Sunday mornings with the Chiefs' band playing up-tempo hymns and all of us groggy Mids held very erect by our full-dress or white service uniforms. I feel better each time I remember that scene.

Fast forward a few years to the Second Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, NC. A number of Class of '63 2nd Lieutenants were assigned to the various Regiments of the Division. Besides myself there was Joe Morra, Harry Johnston, Clay Dugas and a few others. A number of Class of '61 and '62 lieutenants were also there. Back then we did a lot of amphibious training off the beaches of Camp Lejeune by boarding and spending several days aboard the various amphibious ships from Norfolk and Little Creek, then we would conduct landings and march back to the barracks.

One time we boarded an old LST for some training, and the captain was none other than Black Jack Scoville. Beside myself there were several other USNA lieutenants aboard, and we were all petrified of Black Jack. We were ready to hide in the tank deck to avoid him, but it turned out that his crew loved him. We hesisitantly introduced ourselves to Black Jack as graduates who knew him from Academy days, and he was glad to have us aboard. We exchanged some sea stories and were very comfortable with him when we left his ship and landed.

So what's the point of all this? Black Jack Scoville's time as a Company Officer at the Naval Academy must have been an act! He was a completely different person in the fleet. Wonders never cease.

  Here's an addendum from Norm Shackelton:

Several of us remember the good side of Black Jack Scoville earlier than his command tour. I don't remember all in the group but Kevin Sullivan was one. For Youngster Cruise (summer of 60) we were assigned to the USS Fiske a DDR that was in dry dock in Boston when we arrived. Black Jack Scoville was our OIC for the cruise. We started off by flying by UF Albatross somewhere - I don't remember anymore - from the Severn River. We got underway from Boston and went to Newport. LCDR Scoville started off by setting up a trip to the Boh Brewery in Fall River, MA, a beach party complete with girls at one of the Newport beaches and several other parties in which he participated with that big smile and cocked cap of his always visible. When we were at sea he always was on one of the bridge wings just smiling. He was a terrific guy on that cruise - everyone liked him. We also went to Norfolk and Bermuda on that cruise.

When we were returning by bus to USNA, we took a swing by to sight the Chapel Dome to officially complete youngster cruise. Then LCDR Scoville spoke to us from the front of the bus. He said, "We've had a great youngster cruise (cheers) but I want you to remember something - Once we're back inside that gate I'm Black Jack Scoville again - (loud cheers)." We got a good look at the USNA and fleet versions of Black Jack Scoville.

  And I actually received the following from Jack Scoville!

I certainly enjoyed the reminiscences of bygone days at Canoe U, as we used to call it when I was a mid a century or so ago. Thanks very much for alerting me to your class's fine web site. The incidents cited therein may well have happened, but the details were a wee bit embellished.

I had a lot of fun playing games as the 14th Company Officer (1958-61). It may have been before your class got there, that a youngster got real cute and put a turtle in my desk drawer. When I arrived that morning, I heard rustling noises and smelled something. The turtle had made his mark by crapping. I laughed a little when I saw the mess and thought it was a clean up job for someone. But, when I looked in my in basket, I found a cute note from "Midn Anonymous 3c" and decided I'd try to find the culprit by matching up the typewritten note with a typewriter in a 3c room. About ten rooms into my search, the match was made. When the 3c reported to the note I'd left for the man in charge of room, I simply asked "Are you the guilty one? The midn smartly answered "Yes, sir!!!" Naturally, in BJ style, I wrote him up. The following morning, while the Batt Officer was reviewing the fraps, he laughed and said, Well, Jack, you've made the LOG again." and cancelled the Form 2.

Another meanness by BJ was the note I found sticking out of a 2c lockbox. I pulled it out and read a note from the BOOW telling the 2c that he'd left the box open and suggesting he get rid of his cheese and crackers, etc. So, it was a two-fer, the BOOW for IPD and the 2c for unauthorized stuff.

Enough for now, thanks for your alertness and call.

Just plain Jack

  These Jack Scoville stories have rekindled some memories from Jim Ring. He's not sure who the OOD was but it's a good story

After the Farewell Ball at the end of Youngster year, Nick Daramus and I were sitting with our drags in their car.  We were in the parking lot by the Midshipman store.  It was totally dark out with no one else around (or so I thought).  I was in the front seat with my drag and Nick was in the back seat with his drag.  I had just gotten pinned to my drag that was probably sealed with a kiss and that was all, since I was totally naïve about women (still am).  Suddenly there was a knock on my side of my door and OOD said "You and your mate get out of the car".  I thought he meant my drag, so incredulously I asked, "Do you want my drag out of the car also."  He said "No the mid in the back seat."  We got out and he fried us for Public Display of Affection, which carried 30 demerits and 10 hours of extra duty, both of which would rolled to second class year.  Then he sent us back to our rooms about 20 minutes before liberty was up. 

Nick somehow talked his way out the Form 2, but I was never a BSer like Nick, so when I came back at the end of the summer, I was facing 10 hours marching with my M1 and starting Second Class year with 30 demerits. Then something happened that showed God was looking out for me.  The Maharishi of somewhere was a guest of the Brigade in the mess hall and he declared amnesty for all.  My 10 hours of extra duty were wiped out.  I am not sure about the demerits.  It was the only time in four years, that I remember someone declaring amnesty.

As a footnote to my "Public display of affection" charge, a few years ago, I saw a Plebe walking down a crowded street in Annapolis with his drag.  He had his cap cocked back, he was walking on the inside of the sidewalk, and they were holding hands.  Guess the definition of Public Display of Affection changed.

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  This may never end. Most of these guys are of an age that they can't remember what they had for dinner last night, but the old Yard memories are clear as a bell. Here's another Dirck Praegerism: (but for the Class of 1963 Classic be sure to read 18th Co. pre-Christmas Leave party)

Now you've got me going. I should have kept my mouth shut about Black Jack. The scene: Tecumseh Court on the night of our Ring Dance.

As a member of the Ring Dance Committee I was granted an extra half-hour of liberty, thus my arrival in Techmseh Court was at an odd time. Instead of being part of the rush to get back into Bancroft Hall at the normal expiration of liberty, I was all alone in the middle of Tecumseh Court, and found myself in a very compromising position.

Backtrack a couple of hours. After leaving the Ring Dance a significant number of the 6th Company and our drags headed for the cottages at Mayo Beach. In violation of USNA Regs, we lifted a few glasses to celebrate our new class rings. Everybody else left to get back before liberty expired. Not me, having an extra half-hour. My drag and I lifted a few more glasses, etc.

Sometime during the rush to get back to Bancroft Hall, I lost my cover. Thus, I found myself in the middle of Tecumseh Court without a cover, with one shoulder board hanging loose, and with an obvious starboard list from lifting too many glasses. There was only one open entrance to the Rotunda at that hour. The side door on the Second Regiment side was open, and silhouetted in the light coming out from the Rotunda was the OOD and his mate. It was one of the Marines in the Executive Department. I figured I was screwed. I envisioned myself spending the first half of First Class year on restriction. I could imagine the OOD licking his chops and thinking, "Ah ha! A drunk Mid without his cover returning late from liberty." As Black Jack would have said, this was a three-fer; drinking, out of uniform, and late. We stood motionless and stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, and then...AND THEN, the Marine turned on his heel and disappeared into Bancroft Hall, along with his mate. I couldn't believe my eyes! I ran up to the door, stuck my head in and looked around. The OOD was nowhere in sight! I hustled up the ladder to the 4th deck as fast as I could and disappeared into my room and gave thanks to the Creator.

In four years that was the only time I was ever caught in violation of Regs that I didn't get fryed. To this day I don't know who that Marine was. But bless him for giving me some slack during June Week. His action only solidified my determination to become a Marine upon graduation the next year. And so I did, and as they say, the rest is history.

QUALITY - '63  

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