Last updated: 10/15/24
Voyage 40 Book
Annual
Santa Barbara Area USNA Picnic (8/15/23)
Chet Kunz's Reunion 65 Poem
How Army Officers Rescued John Paul Jones
Naval Academy Glee Club
'58 Memories From Gary Minar
Col Dick Brinegar, USMC (Ret) (8th
Co) Getting Ready For the Marine Corps Birthday (12/22/21)
Report
From Gary Minar
New Book
About Bruce McCandless (8/13/21)Chet Kunz's
Reuion 65 Poem
George Fennell, '58 Honored at NAS
Pensacola (12/11/19)
Memorabilia
Video: Admiral Smedberg
Distinguished
Graduate Awards
Bob Caldwell Honored by the
Touchdown Club
USNA Columbarium
Tribute To Ben Montoya From Nils Rueckert
Naval
Academy Building Named In Honor of Former Superintendent
Dedication for Ed Browne
Bruce McCandless at theUNSA Museum
USNA Sick Call
Obituary Guidance (Click on this link)
Veteran's
Aid Program
Check Your Military Retiree Account Statement
Copies of Voyage 40
From Fred Victor: I recently came across 6 copies of Voyage 40 that were stored in our attic. Recall that Voyage 40 is a Lucky Bag type book that has short biographies of most of our classmates at the time of our 40th reunion. These are "xerox" copies so the quality of the print is no as good as the original, but the information is the same. If anyone would like a copy, I will send it to you if you pay the postage ($5). I will hold on to these for while, but eventually they will go to recycle. Contact me at [email protected]
How Army Officers Rescued John Paul Jones (2/22/23)
Taylor Keith passed on this interesting story re John Paul Jones. Good Read!!
See Story: John Paul Jones
Chet Kunz's Reunion Poems
Chet Kunz has written several poems to celebrate each of our five year reunions. Here are a few:
See the Reunion 60 Thank You Poem
See Reunion 60 THE FIFTIES REVISITED IN 2018
Naval Academy Glee Club (10/30/22)
Gary Minar came across some of the performances by the Naval Academy Glee Club on the iernet. One of the best ones is shown in the following link
(1) USNA Glee Club: "Blue & Gold" - Bing video
'58 Memories From Gary Minar (6/15/22)
Here is a picture of Bruce McCandless
taken in Bermuda in spring of 1958.
He and I flew from USNA to Bermuda for the
weekend. A grand experience and we were told by the crew to be at the airstrip
at 0800 the next morning. When we got there the plane was all opened up and
the huge boat hull was being loaded with boxes. As we took off in the
water, it must have taken almost a mile for the a/c to get up on the step. We
returned via Norfolk and custom check. The custom guy was older and seemed
challenged by having to climb up the steps into our seaplane. When we finally
got back to USNA, there were a lot of folks happily waiting to get their box.
The contents of the boxes is left to your imagination.
Col Dick Brinegar, USMC (Ret) (8th Co) Getting Ready For the Marine Corps Birthday (12/22/21)
Chet
From Dick's Son: Major Tom Brinegar, USMC (Ret):
Carrying
out the request of my mother, attached recent photo is her husband, and my
father, Col Richard L. Brinegar, USNA Class of 1958, 8th Company.
My explanation below of the event is captured in a single photo taken
November 10th, 2021, Marine Corps Birthday celebration.
Uniform preparations are being made for a
home celebration of our Marine Corps birthday with this photo captured by my
sister. Our father, who had a
30 year career, has late-onset Alzheimer's and while I helped him get his
uniform together, he clearly is mentally aware of the event taking place this
particular
evening and perhaps even recalling a glimpse into his own past life if only
momentarily . My father stood as tall as I'd ever seen him at past celebrations
and
promotions, looking confident and proud as always. Our time together I shall
cherish forever and the continued memories ahead. Semper Fidelis to you, Dad.
Please share with his Class.
Thank you and Merry Christmas.
Major Thomas J Brinegar
USMC - Retired
New Book About Bruce McCandless (8/13/21)
Bruce McCandless's son, Bruce III, wrote a book about Bruce's time at NASA and also the relationships between father and son. The book is available on Amazon. The following is an excerpt from the review on Amazon:
"It’s one of the most powerful and popular images in the history of space exploration: an astronaut in a snow-white spacesuit, untethered and floating alone in an expanse of blue. Bruce McCandless II is the man in that spacesuit, and Wonders All Around: The Incredible True Story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II and the First Untethered Flight in Space is the thoroughly engrossing, extensively researched story of his inspiring life and groundbreaking accomplishments, as told by his son, a gifted writer and storyteller"
Note from Gary Minar Re His Recent Heart Operation (9/10/20
I recently had a heart fix experience and wrote up some info that might be of interest to other 58ers
George Fennell, '58 Honored at NAS Pensacola (12/11/19)
A
memorial was
recently established at Pensacola called the " Walk of Honor". It honors those who
died at Pensacola during operational activities. George Myers, 16th Company,
who
lives in Pensacola saw to it that George Fennell, our first commissioned
classmate to die on active duty, was included.
.
Memorabilia Video: Admiral Smedberg Hosts King Saud at USNA Feb 1957
The links below were provided by Jean LeBer. They show the arrival of King Saud at USNA on Feb 2, 1957. The article and video is unedited so it has no sound
and still has the time marks in it, so tyhe video is a little rough. President Eisenhower is shown talking to King Saud at the end of the video.
Photo: https://outlet.historicimages.com/products/cvw26916
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S19WDQ25leE
Exclusive Audio: In New Memoir, Sen. John McCain Rests His Case 5/4/2018
Click on the following link:
Class of 1958 Distinguished Graduate Awards
From Frank Gamboa:
The Great USNA Class of 1958 is one of the
few classes that have five USNA Distinguished Graduate Award (DGA) recipients.
Most have four. None has six. Our DGA recipients are as follows; they validate
our class motto. I had the honor and privilege of drafting each of their
respective nominations.
ADM Chuck Larson, USN 2006
RADM Ben Montoya, CEC, USN 2008
LTGEN Terry Cooper, USMC 2011
CAPTAIN Bruce McCandless II, USN 2012
SENATOR John S. McCain III, 2018
The '58 Board of Trustees also nominated
Otto Helweg, Ph,D. First USNA graduate awarded the Hoover Medal, considered the
engineering equivalent to Nobel Prize. President Jimmy Carter was second.
Otto died of a heart attack in October
2008 in Denver, Colorado while campaigning as a surrogate for John McCain.
He was also in the midst of collaborating with the USNA Academic Dean on
creating an Arabic Studies program at the academy. Otto was an expert in the
Middle East and was fluent in Arabic and Farsi languages. As a midshipman, he
was a member of the varsity football and lacrosse teams and the Brigade
Heavyweight Boxing Champion as a Segundo. I am confident he would have been
selected for a DGA.
Bob Caldwell Honored by the Touchdown Club (2/23/17)
The Touchdown Club of Annapolis is about
history, tradition and nostalgia. It is also about camaraderie and community.
All those characteristics were on display
during Thursday (2/16/17) night's 63rd annual Touchdown Club football awards
banquet, which drew another sellout crowd to the DoubleTree Hotel.
It started with the pre-dinner presentation to
Commander Bob Caldwell, who has been with the Touchdown Club from the outset.
Caldwell was part of the 1954 Navy football team that inspired formation of the
organization.
Navy, led by head coach Eddie Erdelatz,
finished that season with an 8-2 record after beating Mississippi
in the 1955 Sugar Bowl. It was the first postseason victory in program history
and prompted a group of Annapolis civic and business leaders to organize a
banquet to honor what had become known as "The Team Named Desire."
"My long dedication to the Touchdown Club
began my plebe year when I attended the inaugural banquet at St. Mary's
High," said Caldwell, who would later return to the Naval Academy as Deputy
Director of Athletics.
Caldwell received the Jim and Rae Ann Morgan
Award as a distinguished member of the Touchdown Club of Annapolis. That special
award, given to those who have shown longtime dedication and unwavering support
of the organization, has previously recognized past presidents and devoted
members such as Jack Cloud, Frank Brady and Joe Gross.
"I am so proud to have been associated
with the Touchdown Club, which has richly supported our youth, high school and
collegiate football and lacrosse teams," Caldwell said. "This club has
also represented the spirit of teamwork, selflessness and respect."
Caldwell went on to mention numerous other past presidents of the Touchdown Club for whom he had great admiration, including his former football coach at Navy — H. Richard Duden.
Tribute To Ben Montoya From Nils Rueckert (12/30/15)
At nearby Port Hueneme, CA stands the
relatively new multi-million dollar Seabee Museum, which has a permanent exhibit
in the entrance lobby honoring the life and career of Ben Montoya, 5th
Co. With the news of his passing, I took on the personal commitment of
presenting a wreath on behalf of the class. Ben had been the chairman of
the board of the CEC/Seabee Historical Foundation and was the principal
fundraiser, raising some $15 million dollars to build the museum, opened in
2010.
Assisting with the placement of the wreath
was Captain Bob Quinn, ’56, on the left, a trustee on the foundation board,
who was responsible for oversight of the design and construction of the museum.
Thank you,
Nils Rueckert, ’58, 6th Co.
Go to Pictures of the Wreath and the Museum
Naval Academy Building Named in Honor of former Superintendent
At a ceremony later this summer, the Naval Academy will rename the Administration Building “Larson Hall” in honor of Adm. Charles R. Larson, Naval Academy Class of 1958, who passed away 26 July. The building was built in 1907, renovated in 2014, and serves as the headquarters of the Naval Academy superintendent and immediate staff.
Dedication for Ed Browne (5th Co) - Camp Pendleton holds rededication ceremony for its Child Development Center
From Nils Rueckert
Ed was killed in action in
Vietnam in 1967. His widow Ellie passed away just last year. They
left two children, Betsy and Ted, who were very, very young when Ed died.
In 1962-64 Ed, Bob Topping, Jeff Dennis (’57) and I were all students at the P.G. School in Monterey and came to share a house in Carmel. We all married and moved on but kept in touch through the years, except for Ellie, who withdrew from contact after Ed’s passing. Bob’s widow Lois Topping, who forwarded the attachment to Jeff and me, attended Ellie’s internment at Arlington.
From Betsy:
Here
is a link to the Camp Pendleton News (online News Paper) with a story of
Thursday's (29 January) Re-Dedication ..
Bruce McCandless Signs Space
Shuttle Model at the Naval Academy Museum (12/2/14)
The Naval Academy Museum was honored to welcome astronaut Bruce McCandless, USNA
Class of 1958, who in 1984 was the first astronaut to make an untethered space walk.
He was accompanied by Rupe MacLean '58, with the class flag that McCandless took
aboard the shuttle. Joining them was USNA Museum Curator of Ship Models, Don
Preul. Whenever the museum is visited by an astronaut from the Apollo or shuttle
programs, the Museum requests they sign their models.
 |
 |
| Bruce McCandless with Rupe McLean and Don Preul at the USNA Museum | Bruce signing the shuttle model |
SHIPMATE DEADLINES
SHIPMATE will accept digital photos for
publication in class columns. The
only requirements are that the electronic file must be sent as either a JPEG or
TIFF file, the original photo (if scanned) must be larger than 2.5" wide,
and the resolution of the photo must be at least 300 dpi. Hard copy photos are still perfectly acceptable.
Digital photos that don't get used for the class column will probably be
displayed for all to enjoy on the Class of 1958 web site.
Have you written
your classmates lately??? Submit your items as they occur to relieve Bill
Schramm of the monthly crunch. Adventures, life events, meetings with classmates,
travels, weddings, grandchildren, retirements, Olympic medals, hospitalizations,
and all that are grist for the column. Pictures are appreciated, particularly
with the class flag in them.
The class column length has been cut by SHIPMATE from 4,000 words per column to 2,000 words per column. A photo of three or less persons equals 100 words, said words to be subtracted from the column length. And this after the survey showed the class columns to be the most popular feature! Go figure!
The address for e-mail to Bill Schramm at [email protected] and send the photos to him at 17 Calera Canyon, Salinas, CA 93908., Tel: 831-484-9058.
Because of our unique shared educational and professional backgrounds, alumni are often the best resource for supporting other alumni in times of crisis. To that end, three USNA grads (Bob Martinazzi-’91, Jay Murphy-’93, and Rob Ballister, ‘94) have launched USNA SICK CALL (www.usnasickcall.org) in order to foster support for graduates suffering from cancer and other serious diseases. The site can connect ill alumni with other alumni who may have already won their battles with similar illnesses. In order to maximize our exposure to the alumni population at large, we are asking the following:
1. Check out the website for yourself.
2. If you think the effort has value, please forward to your class by whatever means you see fit. We would be happy to supply verbiage if needed, or you may write your own blurb.
Alumni helping alumni makes us all stronger.
Bob Martinazzi: [email protected]
Jay Murphy: [email protected]
Rob Ballister: [email protected]
New Law Now Allows Retirees and Vets to Salute Flag
Traditionally, members of the nation's veterans service organizations have rendered the hand-salute during the national anthem and at events involving the national flag only while wearing their organization’s official head-gear.
The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 contained an amendment to allow un-uniformed servicemembers, military retirees, and veterans to render a hand salute during the hoisting, lowering, or passing of the U.S. flag.
A later amendment further authorized hand-salutes during the national anthem by veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel. This was included in the Defense Authorization Act of 2009, which President Bush signed on Oct. 14, 2008.
Here is the actual text from the law:
SEC. 595. MILITARY SALUTE FOR THE FLAG DURING
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
BY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES NOT IN
UNIFORM AND BY VETERANS.
Section 301(b)(1) of title
36, United States Code, is amended by
striking subparagraphs (A) through (C) and inserting the following new
subparagraphs:
``(A) individuals in uniform should give the
military salute at the first note of the anthem and
maintain that position until the last note;
``(B) members of the Armed Forces and veterans who
are present but not in uniform may render the military
salute in the manner provided for individuals in
uniform; and
``(C) all other persons present should face the flag
and stand at attention with their right hand over the
heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should
remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it
at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart;
Note: Part (C) applies to those not in the
military and non-veterans. The phrase "men not in uniform" refers to civil
service uniforms like police, fire fighters, and letter carriers -
non-veteran civil servants who might normally render a salute while in
uniform.
Proton Radiation Treatment for Cancer
From Kent Lawrence (6/9/11)
Hello
J.B. –
Thanks
for this interesting article. Our general age group is certainly “in the
zone” for prostate cancer, so it’s important to learn as much as we can
about the disease and how to prevent it. And as both a survivor and prostate
cancer mentor with the American Cancer Society and Massachusetts General
Hospital, I’ve been fortunate to be able to stay pretty close to the issue.
Back
in 2005 I was diagnosed with a very high-risk, aggressive prostate cancer. My
Gleason is 9 (5+4 and 4+5, with all cores up to 100% involved with cancer). When
we discussed treatments, I asked my team (urologist, radiation oncologist, and
medical oncologist) at Mass General about the proton beam option, since MGH/Harvard,
like Loma Linda, is one of the few sites in the U.S. offering it. They agreed
that proton therapy, with its reduced “collateral damage”, was very good for
medium and low grade cancers (Gleason 7 and below)where the cancer is well
defined and in a “good” position. But it’s not necessarily superior to
other treatments. And for especially
aggressive, poorly defined cancers like mine, a more aggressive combination
treatment was warranted. So I had 9 weeks of daily IMRT external radiation and 2
years of Androgen Deprivation Therapy, i.e. so-called hormones. Ever since then
my PSA (checked quarterly) has been undetectable, and I’m now 6 years out and
in “permanent” remission. Statistically, given the very high-risk nature of
my case, I should have had a recurrence/relapse in 1 ½ to 2 years. I’m very
fortunate.
I
appreciate your enthusiasm for the proton beam option, and why not - - it worked
great for you! However, I must take issue with your statement in your e-mail
“…if you get Prostate Cancer, Please do not use any procedure other than the
Proton Therapy”. Instead I’d suggest that anyone getting prostate cancer
carefully examine all the options available, and talk them over with your
doctors. Find out which therapies are best suited for a cancer of your severity,
and go with what offers the best chances of success. It may or may not be proton
beam.
Tomorrow
I’ll be attending the Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Coalition’s annual
day-long seminar. It’s a great place to get caught up with many oncologists
and urologists (and we have lots here in Boston) and of course get some of the
latest dope on the subject. I’ll pass on any updated info.
Thanks
again for the article.
Cheers…………………Kent
From John Bradley
This information is important to all who may have prostate, breast, brain, eye cancer, or most solid tumors that have not metastasized. It gives the reason where Proton Radiation is better than any other radiation used to cure these cancers. I had Proton done at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, CA for my prostate cancer back in 2006 and have had no side effects what so ever.
Click here for article on Proton Radiation
Veteran's Aid Program - Aid and Attendance (A&A) Pension
This
is a little known/used benefit for vets under the auspices of the
veterans' administration. One does not have to be retired
from the service to qualify, only to have served on active duty in
designated war periods (either stateside or in theater). Other
eligibility requirements also apply.
The Aid and Attendance (A&A) Pension provides benefits for veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing and undressing or taking care of the needs of nature. It also includes individuals who are blind or a patient in a nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity. Assisted care in an assisting living facility also qualifies.
Some of you may have parents/grandparents/spouses who are currently paying these expenses out-of-pocket and may rate such compensation. More on this program at the following link:
http://www.veteranaid.org/program.php
Check Your Military Retiree Account Statement
"Just
wanted to let you know that, the same as many of you, I recently
received my Military Retiree Account Statement.
Please review the back of your statement and verify who you have
designated as the beneficiary in case you die.
Mine has changed to someone I don't even know (Cathy J. McMillin
,"wife") as getting 100%. Based upon the
fact that recently the VA had military retiree personnel information
compromised it is interesting that somehow my beneficiaries
have changed. If you look at the
broader picture of what this means that many veterans probably
wouldn't catch this and
that as we lose more of our fellow servicemen and women each day this
would leave their dependents without the benefit hey deserve. I
will be calling DOD first day they are open as well as the DOD IG and
local congressman. Please send this out to the
retirees you know and alert them to check whether current beneficiary
is. Ask them to pass
it along."
LtGen Chuck Pitman, former Deputy Commandant for Aviation