Look alive with Seventy-Five!

Dear ’mates:  A boatload of gouge to report this issue, so let’s get going without further delay.

Also, sincere condolences to the family of Kenan Knieriem.  Kenan and his new bride were at sea on his boat with two friends when Kenan fell overboard while attempting to gaff a large mahimahi.  The others were unable to rescue him and (as of this writing) his body has not been recovered.  Thanks to Jim VanDerKamp ’78, John Moran, Mark Milliken and many others for keeping all of us informed.

In happier news, the Flower Children now have the deck and the conn!  Jon Greenert relieved Gary Roughead ’73 on 23 September and became the 30^th Chief of Naval Operations.  A great number of classmates (from Jon’s 14^th Company plus many others) were in Alumni Hall to witness the great occasion.  Hopefully we’ll have photographic evidence for the next issue of Shipmate.

<photo 75#1: “The new CNO”>

<photo 75#2: “Schwarting, Greenert, Klee, and Shannon at the Sea-Air-Space Symposium Ball”>

Regular contributor (and winner of this month’s Coveted Scribe’s Award) Carl Klee wanted to share a couple encounters with classmates that took place in 2011.  (Thanks to Lilia Klee for the photograph.)

“First, at the Sea-Air-Space (SAS) Symposium in April, I saw many classmates.  Darleen and Jon Greenert, Rick Schwarting, Bill Shannon, Diane and Kirk Donald, Nan and Terry Blake, Mark Milliken, Cherie and Tim Heely, Diane and Chris Cikanovich, plus my wife Lilia and I were all at the symposium ball.  [Chick how could you have missed this photo opportunity?]  Soon after SAS I had an operation to repair ruptured bicep tendons.  I had injured my arm while working on the deck of our beach house in Emerald Isle, NC.  I visited the emergency room in nearby Jacksonville, but made an appointment with Frank Frasica, head of orthopedic surgery at Johns Hopkins, to get an expert opinion.  Frank immediately diagnosed the problem and scheduled me for surgery with John Wilckens ’76.  With John’s great care, my arm is nearly back to normal.

When Lilia and I were at BWI in the wee hours of the morning 25 June awaiting the return of my stepson, Justin Mayer ’03, from his deployment to Afghanistan, I ran into a guy with a Harrier polo shirt.  He turned out to be Mike Thumm, accompanied by his wife Patty.  They were there for the return of their son, Doug Thumm ’98, who was in the same MV-22 squadron as Justin.  Small world.  On 30 June, Lilia and I went to USNA to help with our local alumni chapter’s efforts in support of I-Day.  It was 40 years to the day from our induction.  Today’s incoming plebes dress quite casually when they arrive.  In our day, most wore suits and ties in the hot summer sun, except for me and my fellow NAPSters, who were in summer whites.  Steve Curlee, Nancy Burd, Lilia, and I were some of the last visitors in Professor Mark Harper’s outstanding office overlooking the chapel.  Steve and I probably had two of the last beers served by Mark before his departure.  Mark, Laurie, and family moved to Vienna, Austria in August where Mark now works for the International Atomic Energy Agency.  We keep in touch by e-mail and hear that they have settled into their new, stylish, spacious flat with rooftop terraces and a sauna.”

<photo 75#3:  “Class of 75 Leadership Award  -- USS DONALD COOK”>

Rick Tryon did the honors at the class’s annual leadership award to the junior officer of the year on board USS DONALD COOK (DDG-75).  Here’s the general’s after action report:

“I had the opportunity to travel to Norfolk on 28 June and present the award aboard COOK in her wardroom. The Captain—on the left in the picture—is CDR J. Lee Bennett. Captain Bennett was kind enough to open his wardroom to me and allow me to speak with his officers as a prelude to the presentation. (Captain Bennett was the first enlisted sailor selected for the Seaman-to-Admiral Program). You can tell a lot about a ship when you walk into the wardroom and it was immediately clear to me that this was a tight group and certainly well-led.  This year's recipient is LT(jg) William H. “Will” Burke ’08 (on the right). Will hails from a distinguished Navy family.  His father, VADM Bill Burke ’78 (one of our plebes!) works down the passageway from me in the Pentagon and is currently assigned as the DCNO for Fleet Readiness and Logistics (N4).  As they say, the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree.  LT(jg) Burke is an impressive young officer by every measure.  The Class of ’75 can take pride in knowing that the leadership award is highly sought-after and continues to be awarded to only the most deserving of officers.  Thanks for the opportunity to represent the Class of ’75 again!”

And if a Marine can present a sword to a Naval Officer, can a Naval officer present a sword to a young Marine?  Well of course!  Sue and Zack Wilhoit have funded a foundation to help veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who return to school and go on to earn a commission.  The Wihoits’ foundation (as yet unnamed) purchases swords and presents them to newly commissioned officers.

<photo 75#4: “Zack Wilhoit presents a sword to 2^nd Lt Dan Koehler, USMC at his commissioning.”>

The class had a good showing at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) conference at the Washington DC Convention Center in August.  Tom Hill, Tim Heely, Bill Shannon, Grant Begley, Tim Naples, and Les Edgar were there.  Tim H. and Grant are on the AUVSI Board of Directors.  Thanks to Les for the pic.

<photo 75#5:  “Hill, Heely, Shannon, and Edgar at AUVSI”>

Bill Squires had the distinct honor of hosting SGT Dakota Meyer, recent recipient of the Medal of Honor, at the Jets/Jaguars and Giants/Ram games that were played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.  Bill spent some quality time with SGT Meyer—a very special person and a terrific Marine.  SGT Meyer gave Bill’s son a MOH coin.  He told Sean that he was the first civilian to receive one from him.

<photo 75#6: “Squires family hosts a true hero”>

Well, I’ve overstayed my welcome with the Shipmate staff once again.  Can I help it that we are just so darn productive?  …  ’75 Sir!  Larry

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Last modified: February 25, 2011