Shipmate Article [November ‘05 issue]
Class of 1971
17 September 2005
Mike Longworth
Does time actually accelerate the closer one gets to a deadline? I’m wondering this now as I have heavier than normal office load and a busy time with home projects. My Naval Academy training tells me that time is actually moving at the same rate. I would prefer time to slow down so I can do more! I think, too, that there are times when one doesn’t want to give a sad news.
Here goes the report from Perry Martini: “It is with deep sadness that I report to you the passing of our classmate, Ron DeLoof, who died tragically in a small plane accident on Wednesday 27 July 2005. Ron and his wife, Helen, crashed on takeoff at the Kimble County Airport in Texas. Both perished. Ron, a Delta Airline pilot and a member of our 22nd company, will always be remembered as one of the good guys as well as his status as an All-American on the Navy Pistol Team.” As a career carrier aviator, sometimes things just don’t make sense. I can’t figure this one out. I know he is missed by his family.
There are lots of notes to cover this column. I received the following note from Steve Bruce: “Duke...here is a news flash on our classmate (and former illustrious class secretary) Brian Horais that I thought you would be interested in. As a backdrop,Brian has worked in the advanced technology arena for most of his post- Navy career. Quite an achievementfor an A-6 driver, since we all know that the BN's are the real brains in the cockpit. Brian helped build Schafer Corporation andthen, recently, had the good sense to bring me into the company. Schafer is a medium-size technology company that specializes in advanced science, engineering and program management services for DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), the Office of Naval Research,the Science &Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security and other similar agencies. Lots ofsmart folks with pocket protectors, jabbering cutting edge lingo, and doing all that high brow PhD stuff.Anyway,last monthDARPA finally wooed Brian Horais away from our company. Hehas been recruitedto start up several new programs doing VERY high tech, DODresearch. While I can tell you that the programs involve space, weird science (right up Brian's alley), and spooks, I cannot tell you any more or I would have to kill you. Plus I don't know anyway.
“On top of that...Brian was brought onboard DARPA under a very special (and little known) provision in Federal hiring. Only a handful of really elite are even invited to interview, let alone pass muster for this kind of assignment. Trust me, this is a plot fora Tom Clancy novel. (Ed note: Or, a Dave Poyer thriller!)
“So, congratulations to our classmate, Brian Horais, who'done good' (even if we don't know what he is doing). Let's wish him and his wife Cathy much success on his new career as a Federal mad scientist! Steve Bruce.” Thanks, Steve. Brian is surely wowing us with this one! I know he will serve the nation well! Congratulations, Brian!
Seems our classmates are increasingly moving into defense leadership billets. This is from an industry report: “Fairbanks Morse Engine, Beloit WI, has announced the promotion of Grant Graeber, from 'Director of Engineering' to 'Vice President, Program Management'. Lee has assumed full responsibility for all commercial and Navy engine and generator set design, engineering, qualification testing, production and long-term Performance Based Logistics programs at Fairbanks Morse, including the LSD-41 Class Mid-Life Upgrade, and T-AKE, LHD-8, LPD-17, LCS, and CVN 21 Acquisition Programs.” Another classmate takes a key role in the future of our naval service. Nice work, Grant!
Just in time for this column is another note from our warrior leader, Bob Anderson. I suggested to Bob that he write an article about his experiences. Here’s his note: “I have contemplated writing an article for Shipmate on observations gleaned from a year trying to rebuild an army, but I will need to check with them on their editorial rules, etc.
“It appears my extension request will be approved and I will stay on for the next 6-8 months as the operations sergeant for the new NCO Academy. After working on training and equipping a battalion for combat, the view of now trying to help create a full-blown NCO corps should make for some new insights. I have been advised, back-channel, that the goal is to have me take over the school as commandant, but who knows if that will come to pass. I have to find a good e-mail address for John Sattler as his new position at MCB Quantico may offer me some serious help with getting things done here. The 3rd ACR (my new bosses) are already talking about me starting a junior officer course (not unlike OCS or The Basic School) and John is a master at that as well as effectively 'owning' it by being there now. I manage to read parts of Shipmate online. Thanks for the good press.”
This was followed by the next note in which things changed: “The Army, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that I am going home after all. It seems that a Reservist cannot fill a paragraph and line number in an active duty unit's table of organization. So, when the 80th Division comes in behind us in the next few weeks, they will be echeloning us out of here. I should be home by early October. I have genuinely mixed feelings about it. As I told my wife, if the worst news I can pass along is that I will be home in six weeks...well, I guess the day isn't going so badly. My youngest is 17 and graduates from high school this year. I would have missed most of that by staying and now won't have to. I do have to go back to the COP in Tal Afar for another week as the replacements aren't here and won't be ready to pick up the rotation. My guys in there now tell me that it has quieted down some, but it is still an ugly place. I will see if I can get a couple of pictures, especially if we run any local ops. Take care and good luck with the column. MSG Robert Anderson, Senior U.S. Enlisted Advisor, 3rd Motorized Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, New Iraqi Army, Al Kasik Military Training Base, Iraq.” I’ll admit that I am honored to report on such great citizens & classmates as Bob. He has risked much for our way of life. Thanks seems to be a small reward for your valiant work, Bob. Duces virum is an apt description of your tenure in Iraq. Thanks, Classmate!
The next note is an abbreviated version of a Washington Times tale about our esteemed Marine, John Sattler: “The dog didn’t eat his speech, but maybe the waiter did. Moments before Lt. Gen. John Sattler, commander of I Marine Expeditionary Force, took the podium to speak at a Washington-area dinner Thursday night, an officious waiter took his speech.” Continuing, “But the jovial Sattler — who Commandant Gen. Mike Hagee earlier in the day referred to as one of the funniest Marine generals he knows — charged through a speech anyway, bringing the usual staid audience to its knees with laughter and then again to its feet at the end.” The article continues, “Back this spring from a tour as MEF commander in Iraq in which his Marines fought in Fallujah, Sattler told stories about the important role logistics Marines play in the fight. Sattler talked of the many Marines in non-infantry supporting roles who volunteered to perform security duty during the Iraqi election in January. Called “The Spartacus Battalion” because each stepped up for the dangerous duty, the roughly 600 Marines hailed from nearly all areas of the combat service support world, he said.”
The final paragraph in the article tells us much about our esteemed Marine, “I figured out why I retired as a colonel,” said John Glasgow, Jr., who retired to become the editor of Marine Corps Gazette. “I cannot read as fast as Lt. Gen. Sattler can talk.” Nice work, John! Thanks for all you do for our nation.
For those of you who like to cruise the web, here’s a note from Bob Fritz: “I just ran across this great set of photos which include several of the Class of ‘71’s very own LtGen Johnny Sattler (CG, I MEF) with super radio host, Laura Ingraham at "Rockin' the Corps" concert at Camp Pendleton, CA on April 1, 2005. Enjoy, Bob.” http://www.lauraingraham.com/freephotos?action=viewPhotoSet&photoSetID=20
I checked out the site & agree with Bob that there are lots of good photos. Nice to see Laura in the company of such fine leaders!
I received the following note from Scott Gessis: “Hi Duke, how are you? This is Scott Gessis of the 26th Company Greyhounds reporting in from northern New England. I just wanted to finally write in of a little get-together with other classmates in Merrimack, New Hampshire a while back.I met two 1st Company mates, Jack Balcom and Wally Wagemaker, at a seafood place in Merrimack. Jack is a former state representative who is now quite involved in town politics, there in Merrimack. Wally is still a character, living in north centralMassachusetts.Jack joked how Wally, as a former boomer commander, could once "blow up half the world" but now is a supervisor of country fair amusement rides. To quote Scripture -- "O, how the mighty have fallen!" It was a great get-together, though, and I look forward to some ride discounts when the big fair opens in southeast New Hampshire! Take care, Scott.” Nice note, Scott. It’s always good to hear about classmates. Seems the Northeast is well represented.
Perry Martini & I recently visited the THEODORE ROOSEVELT with a Canadian friend of Perry’s. The visit had two purposes, a tour for an eleven year old who hopes to become an aviator and to discuss a ’71 Leadership Award with the Executive Officer, Bruce Lindsey ’81. Both missions were accomplished. I’ll follow up in a few columns with more news on the Leadership Award. Here’s a photo from the visit.
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This has been a good month as there’s another note, this one from Jim Closs: “Duke, A very small USNA Alumni reunion took place in Eden Prairie, MN recently. At the annual Air Expo Lynn & Jim Ehmer ‘68, Alex Plechash ’75 and I got together to socialize around pieces of aviation history. Two former aviators accompanied by one submariner attending an air show generated several interesting discussions. Greg Maxfield joined the group later.” Thanks, John. I’m of the opinion that there just aren’t enough of these reunions! Keep me posted on the discussion remarks, John.
After plugging our own Dave Poyer in the July/August column he sent this nice note: “Duke, Thanks for the note about my tour in the most recent Shipmate. It was pretty upbeat -- went to a lot of new places. The Hartford Club was really something! I may have sent you this photo of John Phillips '72 reading one of my books on the Space Station earlier this month. If so please disregard.
You mentioned Jim Metzger in your last column, too. Do you have an email for him please? Best, Dave Poyer.” Thanks, Dave. By the way, I sent Jim’s address & hope you’ve contacted him.
Speaking of Jim Metzger, the JFCOM group of ‘71’ers recently gathered for a photo op. You’ll see in the photo below Jim Metzger, Mike Stewart, Tom Travis, John Meister, John Eldridge, Gary Reese & your humble correspondent.
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I received a superb note from Pat Doyle. I’ll include the story in the December column. Here’s the note: “Our oldest son Michael, an Army Captain, survived a year in Baghdad with the 1st Cavalry Division. He deployed in March ’04 as the Assistant Division Commander’s aide-de-camp, and spent most of his tour as XO of a Recon Troop, returning to Ft Hood this March. 45% of his troop was awarded Purple Hearts, but Michael was in the other 55%. It was much easier for me to sail off to Vietnam than it was to watch him head off to Iraq. Of course, now I have a better feel for what my parents probably thought and felt back in the fall of ’71. While he was deployed, I used to send him your column whenever it had something on the exploits of our classmates that made it to Iraq with the Army Reserves or National Guard, just to point out the valuable contributions of soldiers old enough to be his father.”
Pat, your son is a brave young man. I can only imagine you were praying lots while he was in country. I’m encouraging my recently graduated from UVa son to join the Army, but he’s balking. Thanks for the story. We’ll need to compare San Juan detailed notes at the 35th reunion.
It’s that time. There’s much happening around the globe and here at home. I know we are anxious about locating a classmate who lives in New Orleans. Please pray for the success of mission in Iraq & Afghanistan and for the safety of our service personnel stationed there.
I look forward to the next reunion, now only a year away.
Duces virum, Duke