49 minute read
Feedback
On 24 February, Naval Academy Museum Director Claude Berube and Nathan Huegen from the National World War II Museum in New Orleans gave a virtual presentation on the legacy of the U.S. Navy.
Women’s History Month
The U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation has been looking for new ways to recognize and celebrate heritage months honoring specific communities, such as Black History Month and Women’s History Month, across all communications channels, but especially social media. The first Facebook post recognizing Women’s History Month, a video from the 2016 celebration of the 40th anniversary of women at the Academy, was met with criticism by some alumni, however. Lonelli Gonzalez ’01 wrote:
“I was discouraged when I saw the picture, but heartbroken when I watched the video. There are no women of color featured. There is one picture of a black woman after the eight minute mark of a video less than nine minutes long. We cannot be feminists seeking to empower women if we continue to marginalize Black and Brown women. 40 years. The U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation continues to overlook Black and Brown women.”
The Alumni Association and Foundation’s response:
“Lonelli, thank you for this thoughtful—and accurate—feedback. While this video, produced in 2016, absolutely could have been more representative of the entire community of Naval Academy women, our recognition of Women's History Month will continue throughout March and subsequent content, both curated and original, will be more inclusive of alumnae of color.”
We continue to make representation and inclusivity a priority in all of our communications.
Virtual BZ
While the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation or postponement of in-person events over the past year, the Alumni Association and Foundation remained connected with Academy alumni and friends. Through a variety of virtual offerings—including the Know the Ropes, C Suite and Called to Serve Speaker series— alumni heard from their peers and experts.
On 24 February, Claude Berube from the Naval Academy Museum and Nathan Huegen from the National World War II Museum in New Orleans delivered the virtual presentation, “Speed and Surprise: The Legacy of the U.S. Navy through Battlefield Tours.” The tour paid tribute to the legacy of the Navy from the American Civil War through the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay. Destinations included New Orleans, Poland, France and Germany.
The Alumni Association and Foundation received the following feedback from participants:
“The curator was very knowledgeable and used excellent illustrations.” —Patrick M. Malone ’64
“Speaker was outstanding. Easy to listen to and follow.” —Greg Brubeck ’69
“I enjoyed the mix of history along with the explanation of the tours themselves.” —Captain Thomas Bailey ’83, USN (Ret.)
On 18 February, Jen Swanson ’90 shared her experience as an author of more than 40 STEM-focused children’s books. Swanson’s Know the Ropes “Astronaut-Aquanat” appearance elicited these comments from participants:
“Loved the ease of connection and the great presenter, Jen Swanson!” —Commander Colleen McFeely Shook ’90, JAGC, USN (Ret.)
“Great for kids, my 6-year-old was very engaged with Jennifer Swanson's presentation. It's also good to see USNA alumni who go into atypical careers outside of military and government.” —Dennis Watkins ’00
Finding Bill
“Bill can be found on page 40 of the January–February 2021 edition of Shipmate hiding behind a rock in Undiscovered Ireland. This was a tough one as I had to look through the issue numerous times before finding him.
Your publications are super great.” —Captain Ned Kuhns ’61, SC, USN (Ret.) ®
Thank you for your feedback. To comment, correct or clarify, send your note and name to shipmate@usna.com.
Submissions have been lightly edited for length/clarity.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
LIGHT APPROACHING
By Byron F. Marchant ’78
With spring bringing warmer and sunnier days to the Naval Academy and nation, we can begin to see light through the cloud of COVID-19 that has affected us all over the last year with vaccines becoming more widely available nationwide.
A return to normalcy is slowly occurring as we move toward Graduation and Commissioning for the Class of 2021, supported by their “Another Link in the Chain” counterparts from the Class of 1971. Congratulations to the graduating class for their successful completion of a most unusual first-class year. After a three-week pause, Navy Athletics returned to action in late March, with Yard leadership looking to ease other restrictions on midshipman movement shortly thereafter. For our part, the Alumni Association and Foundation remains conservative in our engagements, maintaining our remote work status and continuing to serve alumni and friends through virtual programming like our speaker series and this year’s Service Academy Career Conferences. Planning is underway for in-person activities this fall, with reunions and other events taking place beginning in September in Annapolis and building toward the Army-Navy game and related festivities in the New York metro area in December. We will, of course, continue to monitor COVID-19 restrictions and protocols and adapt accordingly.
Thank you to all who participated in our recent alumni climate survey for helping us approach the future of the Alumni Association in a more informed, strategic way. We look forward to sharing an in-depth look at the survey and its findings once we’ve had a chance to analyze its results fully.
This issue also marks Commander Craig Washington ’89, USN (Ret.)’s first as editor-in-chief of Shipmate. In each issue going forward, Craig’s “Editor’s Note” on page 8 will underscore how Shipmate—and other communications channels including WaveTops and our social media platforms—support our mission and allow alumni and friends to connect. BZ, Craig—and thank you for the commitment and pride with which you’ve embraced this important new role.
Spring is always a time of transition at the Academy, and this year is no exception. We say hail and farewell in May to Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III ’77, USN (Ret.), chairman of the Alumni Association Board of Trustees. I am extraordinarily grateful to Admiral Locklear for his dedication and leadership during a period of great change for the Alumni Association, and in particular for the support he has provided to our culture, diversity and inclusion efforts and our plans for the future Alumni Association and Foundation Center. He will be relieved by Admiral Mark Ferguson III ’78, USN (Ret.), who was unanimously voted to succeed Admiral Locklear at a 31 March meeting of the Board of Trustees. Look for complete coverage of this board leadership transition in the June issue.
We’ll also witness a change in Commandant of Midshipmen, with Colonel James P. McDonough III ’92, USMC, succeeding Captain Thomas R. Buchanan ’92, USN, who has been nominated for promotion to rear admiral. We thank both Admiral Locklear and Rear Admiral (select) Buchanan for their distinguished service to the Naval Academy community.
We may be entering a season of renewal and a better understanding of our “new normal” in a post-pandemic world, but one thing has remained constant throughout these turbulent months and will going forward: our commitment, as your U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation, to continue to adjust, recalibrate and innovate to meet the challenges of our times and the needs of our community.
As always, Go Navy! Beat Army! … Especially in the All Academy Challenge, which runs 16–20 May. Visit www.allacademy challenge.com to show your support. a
Navy women’s lacrosse celebrates a 13-12 victory over Army on 27 March, just days after Midshipmen varsity athletics returned to the field after a three-week pause. ADMIRAL MARK FERGUSON III ’78, USN (RET.), INCOMING CHAIRMAN, U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES Admiral Ferguson’s commands included BENFOLD and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 18. From August 2011 until July 2014, he served as the 37th Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Prior to his retirement in 2016, Admiral Ferguson served concurrently as Commander, Allied Joint Force Command located in Naples, Italy, as well as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa.
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION SHIPMATE
VOLUME 84 • NO. 3
IN THIS ISSUE
MUSEUM QUALITY
Birth of the Ring Dance. 12
NAVY TO NASCAR
Class of 2010 grad balances multiple businesses and life as a Navy Reserve officer with a budding NASCAR career. 22
HALF CENTURY OF SERVICE
Retiring cobbler remembered for his 53 years of service to midshipmen. 26
TWENTY YEARS POST 9/11
Survivors keep Academy alumni memories alive. 14
Get the Goat
This Bill is hiding somewhere in this issue. Find him and email us at getthegoat@usna.com with the correct page number and you will be entered into a drawing for a prize from the Alumni Association. Good luck! The drawing is limited to the first 100 correct answers, so get reading.
DEPARTMENTS
4 Feedback 6 Letter from the President
Byron F. Marchant ’78 8 All Hands 8 Advertisers Index 28 An Ocean Away
Commander Doug Robb ’05, USN 30 Bravo Zulu 31 Clear the Deck 34 Alumni Products/Services 36 Class News 93 Chapter News 108 Shared Interest Groups 109 Last Call 122 Classified Ads 128 Staff and Assistance
Our Mission
To serve and support the United States, the naval service, the Naval Academy and its alumni by furthering the highest standards at the Naval Academy; by seeking out, informing, encouraging and assisting outstanding, qualified young men and women to pursue careers as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps through the Naval Academy; and by initiating and sponsoring activities which will perpetuate the history, traditions, memories and growth of the Naval Academy and bind alumni together in support of the highest ideals of command, citizenship and government.
SHIPMATE is the official alumni magazine of the United States Naval Academy.
On the Cover
Flowers, longer days and other signs of spring have arrived at the Naval Academy. This saluting sailor statue basking in sunshine greets visitors outside the Superintendent’s home.
Editor’s Note
I’ve been reading Shipmate since I was 10 years old, thanks to my brother, Mark Washington ’81. It became my personal connection to the Academy after I graduated in 1989. For more than 30 years, I’ve loved reading the updates on classmates in our class column and every month I look for BZs to catch up on all the amazing things my friends and colleagues are accomplishing. I read Last Call with honor and humility, recognizing the heroes that have gone before me and the contributions they’ve made to our shared legacy. Today, I have two sons of my own reading this magazine: Lieutenant Michael Washington ’13, USN, and Lieutenant Junior Grade Matthew Washington ’17, USN. It is a true privilege to be charged with keeping Shipmate a treasure for them as it’s been for me all these years, and it’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly. I want to get this right for them, for the countless alumni I’ve come to know over the years and for the many more our Alumni Association serves—and who I hope to connect with in my new role.
Throughout our eight annual issues of Shipmate, you can look for inspiring profiles of alumni making their mark, like Lieutenant Commander Jesse Iwuiji ’10, USNR (page 22); pieces that honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, like our coverage of those who have been lost in the Global War on Terrorism (page 14); and much more.
We’re also going to do our part in Shipmate to acknowledge the volunteer leaders who are leading through active engagement with our alumni colleagues across the globe. We want to look for ways to showcase the class, chapter, parent club and Shared Interest Group leaders that make our work possible, like Rear Admiral Alma Grocki ’81, USN (Ret.), of the Women’s SIG, featured on page 10.
Of course, Shipmate is just one of many U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation platforms. WaveTops, USNA.com and our social media presences are other key channels for supporting our mission. I hope you’ve seen our recognition of heritage celebrations including Black History Month and Women’s History Month there, along with many other aspects of the Naval Academy alumni experience.
And we want to be sure you know how to connect with us. You can find a full listing of our entire Alumni Association and Foundation staff on page 128. We want to hear from you, and encourage you to reach out on any topic of interest or concern.
Thank you again for your support for our shared alma mater.
Until next issue, Commander Craig Washington ’89, USN (Ret.) Vice President for Engagement and Communications Editor-in-Chief ®
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
Academy Leadership ............................25 CACI ............................................................1 Herff Jones....................Inside Back Cover Jostens ......................................................21 National Geographic ............................27 Riverside Health System ........................11 The Village at Providence Point ............5 Willow Valley..........................................29 USAA ........................................................13 USAA............................Inside Front Cover USNA Foundation—
All Academy Challenge ....Back Cover USNA Foundation ..................................32 Alumni Products and Services
Alumni Merchandise........................34
Alumni Travel 2022..........................34
Service Academy Career Conference 2021 ............35
Virtual Event Series ..........................35
The new exhibit was virtually unveiled on 4 March in a partnership between the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation and Comcast NBCUniversal and tells the stories of women of color who served in the military.
Barber ’21 Featured in New Exhibit on Honoring Women of Color at Military Women’s Memorial
A new exhibit at the Military Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery highlights the contributions women of color made during their time in uniform and includes a profile of Midshipman Sydney Barber ’21, who in 2020 was named the first Black woman to serve as Brigade Commander at the Naval Academy. The exhibit, “The Color of Freedom: Honoring the Diversity of America’s Servicewomen,” opened in time for Women’s History Month in March and will remain open as an ongoing exhibit and the country’s only historical repository documenting all women’s service.
Visitors will be able to view unique items from the Military Women’s Memorial collection as well as learn the stories of military servicewomen. For those who wish to visit virtually, the memorial’s website offers the ability to tour exhibits and walk through the grounds. Tickets to the exhibit are free and can be reserved online at womensmemorial.org. ®
Houston Texans Sign Quessenberry ’15
PHOTO COURTESY OF TEXANS WIRE
Quessenberry ’15 spent time on the Patriots’ practice squad until mid-October when he was released. The Houston Texans signed former New England Patriots tight end-fullback Paul Quessenberry ’15 in February following his first season with the Patriots which saw him on and off the roster after going undrafted out of the Naval Academy. Following his commission in 2015, Quessenberry served in the Marine Corps for five years before signing with New England in 2020. ®
Superintendents Address U.S. House on Overcoming COVID-19 Challenges
The three department U.S. service academy leaders testified in March at a U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing regarding the state of their academies. Lieutenant General Darryl Williams, USA, Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy; Lieutenant General Richard Clark, USAF, Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy; and Vice Admiral Sean Buck ’83, USN, Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, addressed the subcommittee and spoke about how their academies have overcome challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Buck focused most of his testimony on how the Naval Academy will continue to use the conversations brought to light by such challenges to eliminate the corrosive behaviors that undermine trust, such as racism, harassment and extremism.
“Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, the Naval Academy has not lost focus on our long-term and ongoing priority of developing leaders of character. The racial justice movement in America that rose this past summer impacted many, many members of our Academy community and the associated events have provoked important conversations regarding diversity, equality and inclusion on our campus,” said Buck. ®
VADM Sean Buck ’83, USN, Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, testified at a U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing regarding the state of the Naval Academy.
“The Naval Academy must be a visible cornerstone of a value-based naval culture of dignity and mutual respect. And that includes improving sexual assault prevention efforts and continuing to strengthen support for victims. There continues work to be done at the Academy so we can attract, retain and develop a diverse cadre of future Navy and Marine Corps officers who are resilient, innovative and equipped to lead in a highly diverse, socially complex and multi-generational workforce.”
—Vice Admiral Sean Buck ’83, USN, addressed the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on the state of the Naval Academy in March.
Hopper Hall is home to midshipmen in the Cyber Operations; Computer Engineering; Computer Science; Electrical Engineering; Information Technology; and Robotics and Control Engineering majors; as well as to laboratories for Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering and Physics majors.
Gibbens ’23 Leads Cyber Policy Simulation During AvengerCon V
Midshipman Elisse Gibbens ’23 organized and led the cyber policy simulation village during AvengerCon V, a free security event to benefit the hackers of the U.S. Cyber Command community. Supported by the Naval Academy Women in Cybersecurity and Computing (WiCC) club, the cyber policy simulation involved multiple teams of students role-playing as members of assigned government agencies in response to a nationwide cyberattack. More than 40 students participated, the majority of them midshipmen.
In addition to the Naval Academy, the University of Pennsylvania, New York University, the University of Michigan and Georgetown University participated in the event during which students role-played as agencies including the National Security Agency, U.S. Cyber Command, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Treasury, Department of Justice and Department of Commerce.
The table-top simulation was made possible by Naval Academy faculty, staff and other officers who volunteered their time to mentor teams. The plot centered around the COVID-19 pandemic and a fictitious field-level attack on ventilators which had been bought in bulk from a foreign country and malfunctioned, causing panic across the U.S. The teams were instructed to perform a myriad of tasks to mitigate the situation including investigating the source of the attack and proposing how each team would use their real-world responsibilities to ease the chaos.
The simulation took more than six months to complete and included Midshipman Sierra Swanda ’21, Midshipman Alexander Douglas ’21, Midshipman Christian Moreno ’21, Midshipman Brigitta Szepesi ’22, Midshipman Chase Lee ’22 and Austen Brennan, a graduate student of American University. Midshipman Kate Asaro ’21 also provided support. ®
More than 80 years of Shipmate are available online to all Alumni Association members. Visit usna.com/shipmate.
LtCol William Conner ’95, USMC (Ret.), nailed one of his primary goals appearing on “The Price is Right”—spinning the Big Wheel.
Conner ’95: Come on Down!
Lieutenant Colonel William Conner ’95, USMC (Ret.), headed to the CBS Television City studio in Los Angeles, CA, on 6 December 2020, ready to make a long-awaited appearance on the classic game show “The Price is Right.”
“I knew it was going to be a special day when the person who let us in the studio that day was wearing a name tag that read ‘Megan,’” Conner said. “This date has always had special meaning to me since my good friend, Major Megan Malia-Leilani McClung ’95, USMC, gave the ultimate sacrifice for her country in a roadside bomb explosion in Iraq on 6 December 2006.”
Conner won $3,500 on Plinko, spun $1 on the Big Wheel and made it all the way to the coveted Showcase Showdown. “My only goals before going on the show were to get to spin the Big Wheel and give a shout-out to my family and friends,” said Conner. “It was a fun day, but it sure would have been more fun had I won that new car or got that $10,000 slot on Plinko.”
Conner’s episode aired on 3 February 2021. Learn more about McClung on page 14 in our look at alumni who have been killed in the Global War on Terrorism. ®
Grocki ’81 Assumes Women’s SIG Presidency
For someone whose journey to the Naval Academy was a “happy accident,” Rear Admiral Alma Lau Grocki ’81, USN (Ret.), has become quite the champion for her alma mater. In the 40 years since her graduation, in addition to building an active duty and reserve career that culminated with her service as the senior Engineering Duty Officer in the Navy Reserve, she has also been a dedicated volunteer for the Naval Academy and the USNA RADM Grocki ’81, USN (Ret.) alumni community. The first woman from Hawaii appointed to the Naval Academy, Grocki spent 18 years as the Blue and Gold Officer Area Coordinator for Hawaii and the Western Pacific, working to ensure that other young men and women from her community learned about the opportunities available to them. She was involved with the Hawaii Parents Club while her son, Lieutenant Daniel Grocki ’16, USN, was a midshipman, and she remains a board member of the Hawaii Alumni Association chapter. And now, she’s taken on a new role: presidency of the Women’s Shared Interest Group (SIG).
Grocki was asked to assume the presidency from founding leader Captain Barbette Lowndes ’80, USN (Ret.). “I couldn’t refuse a woman from the great Class of ’80,” Grocki said. “We talked about where the SIG had gone in just a few years, from nothing to more than 2,000 members— not just women, but any interested USNA community members—and all the things we can do to branch out and reach more people.”
One of Grocki’s top priorities is encourage younger alumni to connect with the Women’s SIG. “The majority of our members are from older classes, which makes sense,” she said. “Younger people are busy with their careers and starting families. We want to position ourselves as a resource for them: show them there are people they can connect with where they are stationed, ask questions about where to live, schools, and so on. And we want to create a dialogue where we can learn what younger alumni are interested in so we can build bridges.”
To learn more about the Women’s SIG, visit women.usnagroups.net. ®
DeChellis Named Patriot League Coach of the Year
Naval Academy Men’s Basketball Coach Ed DeChellis was named Patriot League Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year in March. Despite an extremely challenging season leading a basketball program amidst a pandemic and losing players due to contact tracing and positive tests, DeChellis managed to steer the Navy men’s basketball program to a 15-3 overall record, 12-1 mark in the Patriot League and a five-game winning streak to capture the Patriot League regular season championship for the first time since 2000.
“I am humbled by this award. Winning is all about the players and it goes without saying I have an outstanding team of talented young men to coach. Credit for this goes to them,” said DeChellis.
Unfortunately, the Midshipmen’s season ended in mid-March when the team pulled out of NIT Tournament consideration due to a positive COVID-19 test within the program.
The award marks the first for DeChellis during his 10-year tenure at Navy and the fourth in his career. He was previously named 2009 Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year while at Penn State and was a two-time Southern Conference Coach of the Year (2001, 2002) while at East Tennessee State.
DeChellis is the third Navy coach to receive the award. ®
Navy Men’s Basketball Coach Ed DeChellis has been named Patriot League Coach of the Year for the first time in his 10-year tenure.
Shanley ’03 Leads Seizure of Thousands of Smuggled
Weapons on WINSTON CHURCHILL
The U.S. Navy seized a large cache of weapons being smuggled by two small ships off the coast of Somalia in February amid the growing war in nearby Yemen. Guided-missile destroyer WINSTON CHURCHILL successfully intercepted the ships, which were carrying thousands of Kalashnikov-style rifles, light machine guns, heavy sniper rifles, WINSTON CHURCHILL seized illicit shipments of weapons rocket-propelled grenade launchers and weapons components from two stateless dhows [ships] during a maritime security operation in international waters off the coast of Somalia. and crew-served weapons. “These operations prevent nefarious actors from illegally spreading their lethal aid and I am proud of my sailors and crew for their due diligence to ensure dangerous arms are confiscated and destroyed,” said Commander Timothy Shanley ’03, USN, commanding officer of CHURCHILL.
Over the course of two days, the destroyer halted and searched the two ships for illicit cargo as part of the Navy’s routine maritime security patrol in the region. A short video released by the Navy showed U.S. Sailors inspecting the intercepted dhows, a traditional ship that commonly sails the waters of the Persian Gulf region, as helicopters circled overhead. ®
2021 Summer Seminar and Summer STEM to Remain Virtual
Following a national spike in the COVID-19 virus, the Naval Academy announced the 2021 Summer Seminar and Summer Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) camp will be held virtually in order to protect the health and welfare of attendees, This year’s Summer Seminar and Summer STEM Camp will offer enhanced programming built upon the virtual experience as well as midshipmen, of 2020’s Summer Seminar and STEM Camp. faculty and staff. An enhanced program built upon the virtual experience of 2020’s Summer Seminar and STEM camp will instead be offered to attendees and include USNA STEM kits to support engagement during the academic modules. Additionally, participants in both programs will receive USNA apparel and promotional items specific to their program. ®
MUSEUM QUALITY:
DEATH OF A MIDSHIPMAN AND BIRTH OF RING DANCE
By Lieutenant Commander Shannon Martin McClain ’98, USN (Ret.)
Alumni take pride in our traditions and mourn the passing of the “way it always was.” However, those traditions are ever-changing. Tecumseh, the god of 2.0, was once the god of 2.5. A win over Army guarantees Carry On until Christmas, but once offered Carry On only until Thanksgiving. Midshipmen once worried over “semi-ans” and “ans,” then began counting “Rivers.” Now, exams are just another reality of college versus a time-honored tradition of reducing class size. One of the more stable traditions has been Ring Dance.
While the location has changed, the christening of class rings in the waters of the Seven Seas has been a mainstay marking the end of second-class year. The terrace between Michelson and Chauvenet is a common location, with cups of water flown in from around the world. Into the 1980s, though, Ring Dance was held around the Reflecting Pool, once a prominent landmark behind Mitscher Auditorium. At times, it has been in Dahlgren Hall, once known as the Armory. That’s where the tradition began in May of 1925, just shy of the Naval Academy’s 80th anniversary.
The birth of one tradition came at the death of another—and the death of a midshipman. Prior to 1925, “The Ring Christening” involved jumping en masse into the Severn River following their final second-class exam. The 1925 Lucky Bag remembers the last “Ring Christening” with a discussion between two roommates. “S’matter wife [wife was once the term for roommate]? Why so pale and wan? Swallowed some water, Huh? Say, you got away with murder.”
“I nearly drowned! My ring sure got well christened. Of course I expected it to be crowded, for when five hundred men in one bunch jump in the drink as fast as they can, I naturally expect to have to rub elbows with a few. But when they got three deep in the water and new ones kept coming in on top about every three seconds, air began to get scarce—especially if you happened to be on the bottom layer like I was. I’d no sooner fought my way past about two layers and gasped a lungful, when some bozo would jump in on top of me with both feet and down I’d go to the bottom again … When I finally crawled out, I was completely pooped. Believe me, I’m through. Tradition and custom is fine and all that, but next June Week, I’m going to celebrate in my shower.”
The local papers were were more serious. The Daily News of Frederick, MD, reported, “Tragedy Marks Ring Christening.” “Leicester R. Smith of Kemp, OH, died after he was pulled from the waters of Dewey Basin … Thirty or more ‘Middies,’ including Smith, were hanging to the side of a small sailboat a few feet from the wall. Suddenly, the boat overturned. All the men except Smith swam away.” By the next year, the “Christening Ceremony” was replaced by a Ring Dance.
On 4 May 1925, The Evening Star of Washington, DC, announced, “Baptism of Rings Ceremony in Naval Academy Passes: Ordeal that Cost Life of Boy Last Year is Abandoned.” “‘The Baptism of Rings,’ a traditional ceremony of long standing at the Naval Academy during which all members of the second class plunge in a body over the seawall will not be held as a part of June week festivities this year, or in any future year, as the result of the death last year during its observance of Midshipman L.R. Smith.”
Instead, with “the full acquiescence of the midshipmen,” Naval Academy authorities introduced Ring Dance. Ever since, Midshipmen have worried about dates, proposals and the weather. The Naval Academy Museum offers a look at the evolution of those rings through a display of rings donated by the families of deceased graduates. While waiting for the museum to reopen its doors to the public, you can check out the Class Ring display as a part of the 100 Objects exhibit at: www.usna.edu/100Objects/Objects/ object-16.php. a
Midshipmen dive into the Severn River in this photo from the 1924 Lucky Bag. Prior to 1925, “the ring christening” involved jumping en masse into the Severn following their final second-class exam.
Since her death 14 years ago, the family of Captain Jennifer Harris ’00, USMC, has been committed to preserving and sustaining her legacy because it is exactly what she would have wanted.
Harris loved her life of service. The first female pilot in the Purple Foxes Squadron, she volunteered at the hospital and library and participated in walk-a-thons and toy drives for needy children in her hometown of Swampscott, MA. As a midshipman at the Academy, she organized a toy drive for children in the Annapolis area.
Harris inspired others with her courage, honor, compassion and commitment to service in her 28 years, so her family honors her by sending children of military families to summer camps.
Capt Jennifer Harris ’00, USMC, with her uncle and aunt Tony and Linda Macone who helped raise her, during a homecoming following her second deployment. The Macones raise money in Harris’ honor to send children of the military to summer camps through the Seven Stars Foundation.
Two decades after 9/11, families of Naval Academy graduates who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Global War on Terrorism are working to keep their loved ones’ memories alive. They are doing it through organizations, scholarships, marathons, books and, in some cases, movies. In total, 34 Naval Academy graduates were among those killed on 9/11 and during the Global War on Terrorism.
LINDA MACONE SAID OF HER NIECE, CAPTAIN JENNIFER HARRIS ’00, USMC
As a Marine, Harris performed her military duties as a casualty evacuation helicopter pilot flying in and out of combat areas to rescue injured soldiers and Iraqi citizens. She is credited with saving numerous lives during her three tours of duty in Iraq. Harris and six others were killed in action on 7 February 2007 when their helicopter was shot down in a field northwest of Baghdad. The crew was ferrying blood to aid wounded Marines.
Following her death, Harris’ family established the Jennifer J. Harris, USMC, Memorial Scholarship to promote leadership development in young adults who exemplify her qualities and commitment to serving others. The trust provided financial assistance for college or military expenses through annual scholarships. The scholarship was subsequently disbanded and the family now raises money for the Seven Stars Foundation, an organization established to honor the seven heroes who died together 7 February 2007. The foundation sends military children to YMCA summer camps around the country for one week at no charge to their families.
Maj Megan McClung ’95, USMC, was promoted during her deployment in Fallujah, Iraq. She organized the first Marine Corps Marathon Forward in Iraq to coincide with the 2006 Marine Corps Marathon.
Photo courtesy of Re McClung
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN
One of the greatest concerns of Gold Star families is that their loved ones will be forgotten and their names reduced to a footnote in historic accounts of the casualties of war.
“Gold Star families just want people to speak their loved ones’ names,” said Chad Graham, president and CEO of the Woody Williams Foundation, named for his grandfather, Hershel “Woody” Williams, one of two living Medal of Honor recipients from World War II.
The nonprofit Woody Williams Foundation recognizes military sacrifices through monuments, remembrance ceremonies and student scholarships. Graham said when he interacts with Gold Star families at a ceremony, he is often told by family members that they express gratitude that their loved ones won’t be forgotten.
“There is a saying that people die two deaths: when they are buried and when people stop speaking their names,” Graham said.
The family of Major Megan McClung ’95, USMC, need not worry about her name being forgotten. McClung held a number of distinctions of firsts, including the first female Marine Corps officer to be killed in Iraq, and the first female graduate of the Academy to be killed. For those who knew and loved McClung, she is remembered for her drive to be the best.
“She’d say a woman should get any job and she never believed in a glass ceiling. She said don’t put yourself in a box,” said McClung’s mother, Re McClung.
Known for her extraordinary athletic ability, McClung was an avid runner and triathlete, completing in seven Ironman Triathlons. Shortly before her death, McClung organized the first Marine Corps Marathon Forward in Iraq to coincide with the 2006 Marine Corps Marathon. She served as race director for the event.
McClung was killed on 6 December 2006 along with two U.S. Army soldiers when their Humvee hit an improvised explosive device while escorting two Newsweek journalists in Ramadi. She was in the final month of her second tour in Iraq where she was serving as the public affairs officer.
To honor McClung’s memory and her passion for running, her family sponsored the Major Megan McClung Memorial Run to benefit the Semper Fi Fund, which provides financial assistance to post-9/11 critically ill and injured members of all branches of military and their families. The run, which ended in 2018 after 10 years, raised $56,000.
Twenty Naval Academy alumni made the ultimate sacrifice as part of the Global War on Terrorism following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Shipmate remembers those who gave their lives fighting for freedom. To read more about these fallen heroes visit the Naval Academy’s virtual Memorial Hall at www.usnamemorialhall.org.
LTCOL DAVID GREENE ’86, USMCR KIA in Iraq, 28 July 2004 LTCOL WILLIAM WATKINS III ’89, USAF KIA in Iraq, 7 April 2003 LTCOL MARIO CARAZO ’91, USMC KIA in Afghanistan, 22 July 2010 LT KYLAN JONES-HUFFMAN ’94, USNR KIA in Iraq, 21 August 2003 CAPT MATTHEW BANCROFT ’94, USMC Operational loss in Afghanistan, 9 January 2002 LCDR ERIK KRISTENSEN ’95, USN KIA in Afghanistan, 28 June 2005 MAJ DOUGLAS ZEMBIEC ’95, USMC KIA in Iraq, 11 May 2007 MAJ MEGAN MCCLUNG ’95, USMC KIA in Iraq, 6 December 2006 BRIAN HOKE ’96, CIVILIAN KIA in Afghanistan, 21 October 2016 LT MICHAEL MCGREEVY ’97, USN KIA in Afghanistan, 28 June 2005 SGT STEVE MORIN ’97, ARNG KIA in Iraq, 28 September 2005 CAPT JENNIFER HARRIS ’00, USMC KIA in Iraq, 7 February 2007 1STLT RONALD WINCHESTER ’01, USMCR KIA in Iraq, 3 September 2004 CAPT MATTHEW FREEMAN ’02, USMC KIA in Afghanistan, 7 August 2009 2NDLT JAMES BLECKSMITH ’03, USMCR KIA in Iraq, 11 November 2004 1STLT MICHAEL LICALZI ’04, USMCR Operational loss in Iraq 11 May 2006 LT BRENDAN LOONEY ’04, USN KIA in Afghanistan 21 September 2010 1STLT TRAVIS MANION ’04, USMC KIA in Iraq, 29 April 2007 CAPT BRANDON BARRETT ’06, USMC KIA in Afghanistan, 5 May 2010 CAPT DANIEL BARTLE ’06, USMC Operational loss in Afghanistan, 19 January 2012
Her family also attends the annual Marine Corps Marathon in Washington to present the Penguin Award, which is given to the last official finisher of the race. McClung started the Penguin Award at the Marine Corps Marathon Forward in Iraq.
She got the idea from a blogger she followed, John Bingham, who wrote about his love of running but knew he’d never win a race because he was slow. He called himself “The Penguin.”
“For Megan, running was a way to keep mind, body and spirit in balance, a primary tenant in her life,” said Re McClung. “For the family to be able to present the Penguin Award and celebrate with others that same drive and accomplishment in them helps us share Megan’s story, allows her to continue to motivate others and carries Megan’s memory forward.”
A book about McClung is also in the works, although a publish date is not set.
“Meg lived the life she wanted to live, doing what she wanted to do,” Re McClung said.
Pam Zembiec remembers the 12:30 a.m. knock on the door. For the first time since she could remember, she was sleeping so soundly that the doorbell failed to wake her. It was her barking dog that alerted her to the guests standing outside her Annapolis, MD, home.
Peering through the oval window in her front door, she could see a close family friend, now-deceased Colonel John W. Ripley ’62, USMC (Ret.), standing at the bottom of the stairs with his hands in his pockets. He was flanked by four others who were there to break the news that her husband, Major Douglas Zembiec ’95, USMC, had been killed in combat.
At the time of his death, Zembiec was reportedly serving in the Ground Branch of the CIA’s Special Activities Division. On the evening of 11 May 2007, he was leading a team of Iraqi forces on a mission targeting insurgents. Right after warning his troops of imminent danger, Zembiec was ambushed and killed in action.
For two years after her husband’s death, Pam Zembiec said she was numb, but had to pull things together for herself and her daughter, Fallyn, who was just a baby at the time of Zembiec’s death. She found strength in writing about her feelings and experiences. She also began working with other military widows to help them tell their stories.
In 2014, Pam Zembiec authored Selfless Beyond Service: A Story about the Husband, Son and Father Behind the Lion of Fallujah. The book has been optioned for a movie, which will share her husband’s life with the world.
She is also earning a degree from Marian University in thanatology, the study of death and dying and the ways of dealing with it. Her goal in earning the degree is to counsel other military spouses experiencing loss.
When she reflects on what her husband would think of her efforts to preserve his legacy by helping the military community, she said he would be honored.
PAM ZEMBIEC SAID OF HER HUSBAND, MAJOR DOUGLAS ZEMBIEC ’95, USMC
Pam and Maj Douglas Zembiec ’95, USMC, were married 30 April 2005. Pam Zembiec found strength writing about her experiences and works with other military widows to help them tell their stories.
Photo courtesy of Pam Zembiec
RUN FOR OUR HEROES
In the small, close-knit town of Portville, NY, 80 miles south of Buffalo, the Run for Our Heroes race, which benefits the Michael McGreevy Memorial Scholarship Foundation, is a must-do event. Its namesake, Michael McGreevy Jr. ’97, USN, was one of 16 troops killed when their MH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 28 June 2005, on a night mission to reinforce a four-man SEAL reconnaissance squad that was ambushed in a 10,000-foot mountainous terrain. He was 30.
The Run for Our Heroes race has grown from 60 participants when it began in 2015 to as many as 400, and attracts participants from as far as two hours away, said Tracy Hardes, organizer of the event, who attended high school with McGreevy.
“You can’t go anywhere in our town without seeing Mike McGreevy on a shirt or a hat anytime,” Hardes said.
The 5K marathon winds its way around Portville and past the Michael McGreevy memorial located in Pioneer Park.
“It’s more than a 5K. People run by the memorial to pay their respects,” Hardes said. “They do pushups, some say a little prayer and salute while others lay a penny at the memorial so that friends and family members know visitors were there. Mike was an amazing individual and he left a great legacy.”
McGreevy was a top track athlete and scholar in Portville, where he set a school record for the 800-meter run. He was also a wrestler and soccer and ice hockey player. Each year, the foundation awards scholarships to students at McGreevy’s alma mater, Portville Junior-Senior High School, and to students in Virginia Beach, VA, where he was stationed. Students are selected based on their accomplishments and character traits of perseverance, kindness, humility, service to community and integrity.
LT Michael McGreevy ’97, USN, with his grandfather James Mackin. McGreevy was one of 16 troops killed when their helicopter was shot down in 2005 in Afghanistan. The Annual Run for Our Heroes race in Portville, NY, benefits the Michael McGreevy Memorial Scholarship Foundation. LT Kylan Jones-Huffman ’94, USNR, with his family at the christening ceremony for RAVEN at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, MD, in September 1998.
Photo courtesy of the Huffman family
‘THE MACHINE’ POET
From early on, Lieutenant Kylan Jones-Huffman ’94, USNR, had a way with words. His obituary stated that he learned his mother’s native German along with English. Jones-Huffman’s father, James Huffman, is quoted saying “And he knew who to speak English to and who he should speak German to.” That command and natural aptitude for languages led Jones-Huffman to learn French, Farsi and Arabic, which would serve him well throughout his career in later assignments.
Jones-Huffman, who lived in Aptos, CA, was killed in action on 21 August 2003 by an unidentified gunman in Al Hillah, Iraq. He was on a weeklong mission to Hillah to brief the new civil administration when the SUV he was riding in came under fire from a lone gunman. Jones-Huffman was shot and killed, according to a military spokesman in Baghdad. The gunman fled, but was later captured, sentenced and imprisoned, said his father-in-law, Dennis Jones ’63.
At the time of Jones-Huffman’s death, he was an intelligence officer assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force where he worked as an Arabic speaker and expert on terrorism for intelligence at Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain. He was mobilized from a Baltimore-based reserve unit and was 10 days away from returning home when he was killed. While in Bahrain, Jones-Huffman earned the nickname “the Machine” for his ability to analyze large amounts of information.
Just as Jones-Huffman was complex and could digest difficult concepts and languages, he also recognized the beauty in simple words, writing about his experiences in haiku, a form of Japanese poetry. Many of his haiku can be found at www.theherons nest.com.
LIEUTENANT KYLAN JONES-HUFFMAN ’94, USNR
Jones-Huffman also emailed members of the haiku group Cricket, where he often offered a candid, firsthand view of the war. To Cricket’s members, he wrote about the things he saw, heard and felt around him. While preparing to travel into southern Iraq, he emailed Cricket members from Kuwait.
“Assuming I don’t wander into any kill zones or run over a mine, I hope to come back with some haiku, adequate or otherwise.” Following that, he sent the group this haiku and they never heard from him again.
Uncomfortable -
Body armor shifting
On the car seat
WE WILL NEVER FORGET
In addition to Jones-Huffman’s haiku on the The Heron’s Nest, family and friends contributed gifts to endow the Kylan and Heidi Jones-Huffman Lecture Fund at the George Washington University in Washington, DC, where he had been accepted into the doctoral program. It was his goal to earn a Ph.D. in history and ultimately become a professor. a
Editor’s note: For more information on Academy graduates who lost their lives serving our country, visit VMH: Killed in Action Panel (usnamemorialhall.org).
NAVY TO NASCAR
JESSE IWUJI ON THE FAST TRACK
By Ellen Ternes
Lieutenant Commander Jesse Iwuji ’10, USNR, wears two uniforms these days. One is the Navy digital camo uniform he puts on for drill weekends with his Reserve unit NBG-1 HQ in San Diego and Ventura, CA. The other is the fitted fire-retardant suit and helmet he wears to drive 180 mph in NASCAR races. Some weekends, it’s a push to change out of one uniform into the other.
“Last year, I raced at Vegas and had drill on Saturday and Sunday in San Diego, so … right after that race was done, I took a quick shower, took about an hour nap, hopped in the car, drove six hours to San Diego and drilled that whole weekend,” Iwuji said during an appearance in the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association’s “Called to Serve” virtual speaker series.
Just another weekend in the life of Jesse Iwuji, but one he wouldn’t trade for an easier schedule. Iwuji, one of only two Black drivers racing in NASCAR, has twice won the NASCAR Diverse Driver Award and finished in the top 10 in overall point standings for a rookie in the 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series. Today, he competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the Xfinity Series. He hopes to be racing full time in the NASCAR Cup Series in the next two years. Maybe one day, Daytona, which is certainly in the realm of possibility for Iwuji.
Iwuji’s success goes hand-in-hand with his commitment to the Navy. As the only current NASCAR driver who has served in the military and still does, and, as the first Academy graduate to compete in NASCAR, Iwuji has made his Navy role and recognition of others who serve as much a part of his NASCAR brand as his skill behind the wheel.
Message to Garcia
The son of Nigerian parents who immigrated to Dallas, TX, Iwuji didn’t look much farther than Annapolis after the Academy started recruiting him for football his senior year of high school.
“I just looked at it as a great opportunity to go to a really great university, play great football and also have a really great education from one of the top universities in the country,” he said in the “Called to Serve” interview.
What he didn’t anticipate were some of the life lessons he learned as a midshipman that would prepare him to do things like build a race team and launch successful businesses.
“The most valuable thing the Academy gave me was the ability to learn how to be resourceful,” Iwuji said. “When you were given an objective to accomplish and not given a lot of resources to figure it out, the first response from whoever told us what we needed to do was ‘Message to Garcia,’ which basically means ‘Figure it out.’”
Navy to NASCAR Iwuji’s first racing experience took place just down the road from the Academy, at the Capitol Raceway in Gambrills, MD, where he quarter-mile drag-raced his Chrysler 300 his first-class year, whetting his appetite for the fast and furious. Driving ships as an officer aboard EXULTANT and COMSTOCK would come in handy for negotiating the curves and direction changes in NASCAR racing.
“I took that same thought process over to the car where, if I’m in a tight spot, I would stop using my eyes basically, and I start using my body and feel the car. OK, what’s the car doing right now? I’m feeling like it’s starting to over rotate. I’m feeling like it’s not rotating enough, like I’m spinning the tires. I’m feeling all these different things and getting all these inputs from the vehicle. Now, let me drive according to the input my body is getting from the vehicle.”
Iwuji has shown all his life that nothing is out of reach once he sets his mind to it, but he knows that working his way up the NASCAR ladder will take more than raw driving skill.
“This year, the main thing is to get more seat time and get more get more races under my belt for experience,” Iwuji said. “So, I’m running a lot of NASCAR Truck Series races and plan on running more NASCAR Xfinity Series races. By running both of those series, it’s going to help really advance my experience and give me the opportunity to be more competitive as I continue to try to move up the ranks.”
Racing also takes money. Drivers have to work their way onto a team or build their own team with money from sponsors. Iwuji said the lower budget teams spend $50,000-$75,000 for one race; the higher budget teams can spend $175,000-$225,000 per race.
So, when Iwuji isn’t driving or drilling, he spends about 18 hours every day not just training on his simulator, but connecting with potential sponsors, building his social media following on Twitter and Instagram, and working on his businesses—a real estate firm,
Lieutenant Commander Jesse Iwuji’ ’10, USNR, races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. His passion for fast and powerful vehicles goes back to his first car. He shared his car history with Shipmate. First car—1995 Ford Mustang V6, dark forest green First drag racing car—2007 Chrysler 300 Favorite cars he owns now—Corvette C6 Z06, Corvette C7 Z06, Nissan Skyline GTR (right-hand drive), 2002 Chevy Silverado Car he dreams about owning—Pagani Zonda Favorite car movie—Fast and Furious series
a truck transportation business with his brothers and a company that sets up drag racing events.
As they have been at the Academy, in the Navy and in business, Iwuji says mentors are important for his NASCAR success.
“On the track, a lot of people help me, but one person I look up to and would try to be like is Dale Earnhardt Jr.,” Iwuji said. “The guy is an awesome, super down-to-earth person. He’s the kind of guy where, no matter what, he’s like ‘I remember where I came from. I remember that I’m a human being.’ He puts his pants on one leg at a time, and I really like that a lot.”
Earnhardt Jr. was there for Iwuji’s ceremony when he was promoted to lieutenant commander. He helped pin Iwuji’s new shoulder boards. Navy to NASCAR. NASCAR to Navy. Full circle. a
LCDR Jesse Iwuji ’10, USNR, finished 31st in the 5 March 2021 Bucked Up 200 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Iwuji balances his with reserve duty responsibilities with his budding NASCAR career.
Former Naval Academy cobbler Ronald Smith helped midshipmen with their shoes for 53 years. He arrived in 1967 and retired in December 2020.
HALF CENTURY OF SERVICE
RETIRING COBBLER REMEMBERED AS PART OF ACADEMY ‘FAMILY’
Ronald Smith helped thousands of midshipmen during a 53-year career as the Naval Academy’s cobbler. His favorite part of each year was ensuring plebes were ready for reform.
Smith enjoyed meeting the plebes and teaching them how to properly maintain their shoes, a skill they could carry throughout their lives. Although special moments such as Induction Day required long hours of assisting new midshipmen and fitting them for their shoes, Smith never found it routine. That’s because each new crop of plebes was composed of fresh faces who would soon enough be Navy or Marine Corps officers.
Smith arrived for his first day of work in the Naval Academy shoe repair shop in 1967. In December 2020, he retired with a lifetime of memories and relationships.
Many of these once plebes would return to the Yard long after their commissioning and visit Smith in Bancroft Hall, also known as “Mother B.” He left a legacy for many of the midshipmen who were lucky enough to receive the best shoe care advice.
“I see the midshipmen come back as admirals and captains through the years and they say ‘Oh I recognize you. You’ve been here a long time,’ and I’d reply ‘Yes, I have,’” Smith said. “When I retired, I got a letter from a commander who remembered me and he passed that knowledge on to other midshipmen and that made me feel good.”
Many alumni still wear the same style shoes and possess the skills to take care of them because of Smith. The experiences the midshipmen have with Smith stays with them as they go on in the world, especially those who continue to serve in the Navy and Marine Corps.
“Mr. Smith was more than just a cobbler, he was part of a midshipman’s extended family …” Captain Robert Clark II ’84, USN, former Commandant of Midshipmen (April 2010-May 2013) wrote in an Alumni Association Facebook posting about Smith. “When I returned to USNA as the 84th Commandant, one of the first things I did was reconnect and thank those who were such a positive influence on me … during our time as a midshipmen. Mr. Ronald Smith was right at the top of those I reached out to, as were other individuals in Midshipmen Services, as well as professors, staff and coaches who helped shaped me and my classmates during our time at USNA.
Smith not only left an impact on the Yard, but on the midshipmen who he worked with throughout those 53 years. He said positive interactions and relationships with midshipmen and staff kept him at the Academy long
enough to see 50 plebe classes enter his shop and be commissioned.
Colleagues and alumni describe Smith as hardworking, dedicated and positive. He is admired by those who worked alongside of him. Deborah Firlie, administrative assistant with Midshipmen Services, is a longtime colleague and friend of Smith’s.
Firlie said her favorite memory with Smith came during a recent Plebe Summer. Smith and Midshipmen Services staff worked late into the night, getting the plebes fitted into their combat boots, and they did not leave Alumni Hall until the job was done.
“That was one of my highlights for everyone—getting the plebes through so they can take the oath the next day,” Firlie said.
Throughout the years, Smith was always willing to help—including repairing “exploding heels”—and occasionally helping midshipmen with side projects. Commander Michael Smith ’02, USNR, recalled a time when Smith’s help went far beyond footwear.
“Mr. Smith helped me with my senior project.” Commander Smith wrote on an Alumni Association Facebook post. “I built a remote control for a car that was driven by hand motion with (Lieutenant Colonel) Josh Bringhurst ’02, USMC, and Mr. Smith helped craft a custom leather glove for it!” a
