Tribute to Navy Veterans

Semper Fortis – Always Strong

 

John Bailey  John joined the Navy in November 1960 and took Basic Training in San Diego. He was accepted into Admiral Rickover’s  Nuclear Training School in Idaho and was then assigned to the USS Haddo, a Thresher class fast attack submarine. The Haddo had short notice of missions and could not be contacted, because missions were top secret. John worked as an electrician in the nuclear area of the Haddo with a crew selected for their intellect, skills, and personality type. He and his fellow crewmembers had to pass qualification tests for each of their tasks, and then master other tasks so they were cross-trained in case of disability or emergency.

 

Ron Cuda

According to Ron’s obituary, he served in the Navy.

 

 

Jim Davidson After completing medical school and training as a trauma specialist, Jim served for two years in the Navy Medical Corps, including  deployment to Vietnam. His trauma skills were perfectly suited to the cases he faced daily. Years later, Jim said that he considered training for certification in other specialties, but could not give up the “rush” he experienced in the Emergency Room, dating back to his experience in Vietnam.

Jack Dunham

After serving four years of active service in Vietnam with the U.S. Navy Submarine Service, Jack joined the Naval Reserves as a recruiter. He retired from the Navy after giving more than 20 years of service.   

  

Ted Frieze  I was a Navy Corpsman Second Class, Surgery technician. I served in Vietnam in 1965.  While in the service, I met a wonderful woman and we were together for 54 years.

 

 

 

Dean Garner served four years in the Navy.

 

 

 

Ron Gooden   After 20 years of service as a Musician, Ron retired in from the U.S. Navy in 1980. He served during the Vietnam Era and completed 13 campaigns and traveled all over the world, living on a ship 13 of those 20 years. His last Duty Station was in Instrument Repair. 

Jim Hamilton  I served in the Navy from 1962-66 as an aviation technician, a specialist in radar, early warning systems, and navigation. From stations in Newfoundland, Iceland, and Rhode Island, I flew on early warning missions from aircraft carriers.

 

 

Ron Hillig served in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam. He is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix.

 

David Kroenlein   As a Naval Officer, I served for three years, my first assignment being aboard the USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr.  Training at the Navy Supply Corps School prepared me to act as the sole Supply Officer on this ship and manage a wide range of supplies and services. Later, I worked as a Budget and Planning Officer. Fortunately, the US Navy has great enlisted leadership that supports young officers such as Ensign Kroenlein.  This was the best education of my life, and a great preparation for my legal career as I learned how to manage complex situations and get along with people who were much different than I in education, background and motivation. 

Virgil Masolf  After graduating from East, Virgil joined the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion, the “Seabees.” 

 

 

Dick Neal   Dick went through Navy Boot Camp in San Diego with George Palmer.

 

 

John Van Slyke I served on active duty as an officer in the U.S. Navy, 1964-68, during the Vietnam War. Following sea duty in the Atlantic Fleet, I was assigned to the computer systems staffs of Commanders of the Naval Forces in the Atlantic.  I was responsible for groups of Navy personnel and civilian contractors who were developing computer systems used by Atlantic Fleet commanders and the Chief of Naval Operations. Our unit developed a comprehensive system that became the standard for managing and developing software and system projects in the Atlantic Fleet. This work was the basis for a Navy Unit Commendation Medal awarded to our department. I received an Honorable Discharge at the rank of Lieutenant (O3) and possessed a Final Top Secret security clearance at that time.

George Palmer  After I graduated, I joined the Navy and spent my four years 1960 to1964 in the Submarine Service, mostly up around the Sub Base in Groton, Conn. Our home port was New London, Conn and our home port away was Holylock Scotland.

 

Rodney Pierce served 24 years in the U.S. Navy, including five tours in Vietnam in helicopter rescue. He retired in 2004 with the rank of Command Master Chief.

 

 

Wayne Sellers joined the Navy after graduating from high school.

 

 

 

Don Trees served in the U.S. Navy after college and before returning to WSU for graduate school in 1967.

 

 

Gary Wagner worked as a First Class Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy.

 

 

 

 

Wesley Welborn served in the U.S. Navy.

 

 

Gary West  served three years in the U.S. Navy in the early 1960s.

 

 

    Jerry Wilcox served in the U.S. Navy.

 

 

Editor’s Note: This list of U.S. Navy veterans from the Class of 1960 is incomplete. Please help us expand the record by sending names and information to Marilyn (mbellert@niu.edu) or Diane (ddzinn@aol.com).