Do you remember your bridge coat? Do you have any idea where it is or what happened to it? Carol Manganaro knows what happened to Frank’s coat and told me in an email dated 1/14/14.
Daughter Linda Rodrock and husband Jim, Class of ’61, live in Annapolis a short ways from Gate 8. It seems there are always Mids at their house, eating, sleeping, in need of rides or something. Night before Army-Navy game one of the Mids mentioned the expected cold, then said he no longer had coat. We all know the coat was issued but either left somewhere, lost, who knows? In Rodrocks lower level they have a collection of blazers, coats, this and that. Among other things, I had added Frank’s issued, old very heavy ‘bridge coat’ I believe that is what they were called. This year Frank’s Class of ’48 coat went to the Army-Navy game. The old coats are heavy to wear but warmer than the newer issue. The more things change the more they stay the same. So many years ago I met this Mid at 1946 A-N game………….married two plus years later.
cribe’s note-thanks Carol. You caused my gray matter to start working. In 1968 I was finally posted to an area where it got cold when I went to ESSEX in Quonset Point. It was cold enough to get me searching for warm clothes and I unearthed my bridge coat. If you will recall they were very long so I took it to the Quonset Pt. exchange tailor shop where the tailor’s first question was, “For Lord’s sake, how old is this coat?” As I recall he shortened it by 18”. I wore it constantly that winter.
Do you remember the year we wore them as we marched from the ferry to the stadium in Philly and it was drizzling. The coats kept us dry but they also soaked up a lot of water and got heavier and heavier. That was a long march! When my son was in college he asked if he could have the coat and I gave it to him. Yesterday he said he had no idea what happened to it but he only parted with it because he had outgrown it.
Bill Sallada 21st Co. and I were together in NavAir-510 so we correspond by email occasionally. In response to my last email to him he says he is like most 88-89-90 year old Classmates, “Functional”. Scribe’s note: That’s always my answer when asked how I’m doing. Bill further stated - Time around here is filled by committees and other in-house tasks. Busier than while working! Common statement around here, but not really serious.
Scribe’s note: Good to hear from you Bill. Stay busy, that’s what keeps us “functional”.
there was a story recently about an aviation accident, which was traced to poor maintenance. This prompted Harry Bellflower 2nd Co. to send me the following.
I had a nut that was obviously not safety wired come off the bolt to the throttle linkage of my Cessna 140. I had flown over to a small grass golf course airfield in the Shenandoah Valley and was returning to Annapolis Lee Field when the event occurred. I had proceeded East from WVA past Quantico and crossed the Potomac at a fairly high cruising altitude. Entering the Wash DC Control space I reduced power to about idle and descended to 1500 ft. On adding power, at that lower altitude, nothing happened. Yuck!! As the engine was running and the few gages were normal it took me a couple of throttle movements to realize that I had lost throttle control of the engine. I was nearing Waldorf, MD and rural development but spotted a small field and set up for an emergency landing. I made the field okay but discovered at the last minute that it was heavily dotted with stumps. Dead ahead was a ranch house and I believe that I saw a man standing in the patio door/window. At about that same time I noticed a gap in the pine trees and a tiny but clear fenced field just on my left. A quick hard left turn and, just making it across the fence, I put her down safely. I had sent out a Mayday and was in contact with Andrews tower. Told them I was okay and began to take stock. Discovered that I was in the backyard of another ranch house. Knocked on the door and asked to use the phone. They obliged and learned of my predicament as I called my wife and gave her directions on how to find me. Betty arrived about an hour later. Next day, I picked up my A&E mechanic and we drove to the airplane. He spotted the problem (he caused it) and fixed it. I paced off the available distance back to the fence and gap and determined it to be 400 ft. Revved up engine and took off. Popped full flaps as I was approaching the fence and literally picked her up by her bootstraps and struggled up and out of there. Made it to Annapolis and had a lengthy discussion with the mechanic.
BZ Harry. Wouldn’t it be great if we could still fly. If I had to guess I would say that Nick Castruccio 4th Co. is probably the only member of the Class still flying regularly and he says he is flying the small “sport” planes. If there are other Classmates out there still flying, even with a mandatory, licensed co-pilot, I would enjoy hearing from you.
A note from Bob McClinton 11th Co. bringing us up to speed on how he and his crew of INTREPID are doing:
Our Sequim Bay Yacht Club succeeded in raising $21,784 for Hospice this Fall. INTREPID raised $9,070 of that. It’s a great cause. The INTREPID/WEIGH TO GO Team has raced 12 Hospice Races since 2002 and has raised $69,892 to date. Gunvor, my crew and I look forward to supporting Volunteer Hospice once again next September. They do so much to care for folks who are in a world of hurt. Bless ‘em all. It is a privilege to help.
As always now we have to report the loss of very good friends. Since the last column we have learned of the passing of seven Classmates and six wives.
Classmates:
11th Co. Falevsky, H.H. 7/4/12
7th Co. Jagoe, W.H. 12/1/13
1st Co. Sawyer, W.G. 12/4/13 *
10th Co. Warren, J.R. 12/10/13 *
9th Co. Pyle, R.E. 12/21/13 *#
21st Co. Hamman, R.K. 12/26/13
19th Co. Robertson, W.D. 1/17/14 *
* 50 year book # 30 yearbook
Wives:
Warren, Marilyn 3/6/11 Wife of Jonathan 10th Co. Marilyn was a probation officer. They had two daughters and a son.
Lipschutz, Anne 6/27/12 Wife of Harold (Deceased 3/25/09) 12th Co. At the time of the 30 year book they had a son, a daughter and one grandson. #
Hawvermale, Hettie 7/12/13 Wife of Joe (Deceased 12/15/95) 7th Co. #
Lochner, Jean 10/12/13 Wife of Ray (Deceased 8/14/96) 6th Co. Jean and Ray both worked hard for the Class and were instrumental in reuniting A&B. They had 2 boys and 2 girls. *
Gregory, Charlotte 11/12/13 Wife of Roger (Deceased 3/13/00) 8th Co. They had 2 daughters and a son; numerous grand, great, and great-great grandchildren. Charlotte was very active in her Baptist Church
Ghormley, Nancy 12/13/13 Wife of Bob (Deceased 6/13/12) 11th Co. Nancy completed two years of college, one at University of TN, the second at American University to be closer to Bob at USNA. They had three daughters, seven grand children and seven great-grandchildren. *
Our condolences to all of the families.
Here is the second half of “The Ice Man Cometh” from Ruby Buck.
There were so many fascinating men at the Symposium for Scientific Exploration in the Polar Regions, but two especially stand out in my memory. Colonel Norman D. Vaughn, 94 years young, had an amazing career. He began as a volunteer with a medical mission in Labrador in 1925, where he delivered medical supplies and handled medical evacuation by dog sled. This qualified him to become a member of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition of 1928-1930, during which he became the first American to drive dogs in the continent.
Dog mushing became a way of life for him. During World War II, he rescued 26 downed aviators by dog sled from the Greenland ice Cap and commanded 17 drivers and 209 dogs in the rescue of wounded soldiers during the Battle of the Bulge.
In his 94th year, he still looked robust. He did not wear glasses, his head was covered with thick white hair, his deep-set brown eyes and ruddy skin made him look every inch what he was……a polar explorer of considerable renown.
Admiral Byrd thought so much of the Colonel, he named a mountain in Antarctica after him. He received worldwide attention when he climbed it at an age most men are content to be doing much milder pursuits, 89. Giving thanks for the award at the symposium, he said, “I am going to climb my mountain again when I reach 100.” Gazing directly at the audience, he added “Anyone want to join me?” In a room of 100 “polarniks” I counted at least 20 hands that enthusiastically went up, followed by thunderous applause for a grand pioneer.
Another treat was to meet some of the men Beau worked with at the Naval Arctic Laboratory through the years. One left an impression with his thank-you speech, which came straight from his heart. His name was Utuayuk Toovak and he lives in Barrow, Alaska. Those who know him, lovingly call him Kenny. He was well known for near miracles he performed on the ice using primitive and rudimentary tools and equipment.
After the awards when Beau introduced me, Kenny gave me a warm bear hug. In his modern suit, he didn’t fit the stereotypical Hollywood Eskimo.
I remember like it was yesterday, many, many years ago, in the summer of 1960, Beau was awarded a medal for his very first of what were to be over 35 trips to the Arctic. This one, in connection with the submarine, SARGO, the third sub to cruise the Arctic Ocean.
Our sons Manor, then 7, Fred 5, and I were invited to the Office of Naval Research in Washington, D.C. where the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Bennett, pinned the Navy Commendation Medal to Beau’s uniform. We had a picture taken that day too. The boys’ standing at attention, backs ramrod straight, just like their dad, only their chests were puffed out in great anticipation. I know what they were feeling….PROUD.
How lucky I was to be in the presence of such bright, adventurous, intelligent men who have given so much of themselves for their country under conditions unimaginable to most of us. In my wildest imagination, I never thought this kid from Brooklyn would be so blessed
Ruby makes it very apparent that collectively, husbands and wives, we have a fantastic story to tell, even if we only tell it to each other. I don’t believe that most of us are now as active as Colonel Vaughn so that should give us time to recall and write about some of the outstanding things we have done or experienced. Please share with me and hence your Classmates. There is no restriction on subject matter. If you thought it was great I would like to read about it.
I am submitting this column today, the 23rd of Jan., and will assemble two more columns before you read it in early April. After you receive this my next deadline is 27 May so you will have time to send me material either by snail mail or email. I hope you will be so motivated.
Dave
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