LCDR. JOHN H. BILLINGS, USN - APR. 10, 1963
John served on the USS Wilson. Following submarine school he served on USS Bugara and USS Bonita. He completed his Ph.D. in applied mathematics at University of Maryland in 1960. He taught applied mathematics at the University of New Hampshire while assigned as planning and estimating superintendent at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He was an accomplished pianist, a German linguist and Russian translator. He was a Lt. Commander when lost aboard the USS Thresher on its fateful dive on April 10, 1963.
LTC. CHRISTOPHER BRAYBROOKE, USAF - OCT. 8, 1967
(LB) "A born scholar, he seldom worried about his own academics, but invested his concern in keeping his friends from slipping along the way. His success at the Academy can be traced to his thoroughness of preparation, his reliability, and his friendly and sincere personality." Lt. Colonel Braybrooke, USAF, was lost on a flight over Viet Nam in 1967.
CDR. JOHN J. CHAMBERS, USN - AUG. 25, 1969
Highly decorated in the Korean and Viet Nam wars, Commander Chambers was to take command of Attack Carrier Air Wing 9 at Lemoore, CA, when killed at sea flying an F-4 phantom jet fighter off San Diego, CA.
CDR. ROBERT C. FROSIO, USN - DEC. 12, 1966
(LB) "Florida, where sunshine isn't merely false propaganda, has done herself proud in developing this six foot Adonis - a little Valentino - who passed up a basketball and football scholarship at Vanderbuilt. He constitutes a threat in any sport, was unanimously elected class treasurer - declared a profit, says he, but fails to say from whom." Bob was serving as commanding officer of Attack Squadron Twelve when killed flying an A4E Skyhawk returning to his ship from a night combat mission over North Viet Nam.
LCDR. J. WESLEY HARVEY, USN - APR. 10, 1963
Wes was aboard the USS Coral Sea as Assistant Navigator before beginning his distinguished career in submarines. After submarine school he went to the USS Sea Robin. He was assigned to USS Nautilus for the remarkable North Pole transit, then was chief engineer on USS Tullibee. He later commanded the USS Thresher, which carried Wes and his crew into the depths for their last dive.
CDR. PHILLIP T. JOHNSON, USN - MAY 18, 1967
(LB) " Even with the effort put forth on academics, Phil found ample time for his tennis, handball, sailing and bridge - to say nothing of his extraciricular Chapel choir. With never an unkind word for anyone, PT made the four years seem shorter and the system appear better." Phil was serving in VT-4 when he died at home, with burial at Barrancas National Cemetery near Pensacola, FL.
CDR. SAMUEL KATZ, USN - APR. 26, 1967
(LB) "He was the man to see when some important letter or official form had to be typed. A fiend for hard work, Stan proved himself invaluable with his ability in journalism fostered by previous service in the government and Navy.
LCDR. ROBERT L. KRAG, USN - APR. 10, 1963
In high school he was an accomplished musician and an Eagle Scout. He studied the violin for eleven years and was president of his school symphony, first violinist in the school orchestra, and a member of the drum and bugle corps. He was co-valedictorian of his high school class. After USNA graduation he was assigned the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. He earned his master's degree in Naval Engineering at MIT, graduating highest in his class in electrical engineering. After completing submarine training, he was assigned to USS Albacore. He served as planning and estimating officer at General Dynamics Corp. in Groton, CT, working principally on USS Tulibee and USS Seawolf. He represented the Commander, Submarine Force, US Atlantic Fleet, on all sea trials, and was embarked on USS Thresher in that capacity when the ship was lost.
CDR. ALBERT D. MCFALL, USN - DEC. 6, 1966
Dodge McFall failed to return to USS Bon Homme Richard from a night training flight off San Diego. He was commaning officer of VA-76. Pete Boney closed his remarks with, "Many of us lost a close friend, our class lost an outstanding member, and the Navy has lost one of its finest officers...."
LT. DELBERT L. NALL, USN - MAR. 3, 1960
Del served on USS Boxer, then won his wings at Pensacola. He joined VC-33 at Atlantic City, NJ, studied at the Navy Post Graduate School and MIT. He then joined VF-74 at NAS, Oceana, VA, and met his death there in an aircraft accident.
CPT. WILLIAM G. SCHWEFEL, USMC - FEB. 10, 1960
Bill came to the Naval Academy from Severna School in Severna Park. After graduation, he chose the Marine Corps and served with an armored division in Korea. His decoratons include the Presidential Unit Citation. Bill then left the Corps and entered New York Law School. He received his degree and was admitted to the Bar in 1959. He died after a brief illness.
CDR. NORMAN R. THOM, USN - OCT. 29, 1965
(LB) "Varsity sailing, Company Football, good books, music, and Public Relations occupied his spare time. To know him casually was to like him for his helpfulness (he arranged some indescribable blind dates), his humor (ask Frank Roth) and his unconcealable ability (he wore stars). But to know him well was to respect him; a man whose thoughtfulness, stability, character, and sincerity make him the best."
CPT. CLINTON J. THRO, JR., USMC - JAN. 23, 1968
(LB) "Like a true southern gentlemen, Tojo believes in enjoying all the pleasures of life, such as good music of any type and just plain relaxation. He is endowed with a gift for talk and can expound on any subject that might be the topic of conversation. At the Trade School he was one of the leading lights of the marching band and Drum and Bugle Corps."
LTC. RICHARD A. WALSH, III, USAF - FEB. 15, 1969
A LTC, USAF, he was a turnback to the class of 1951. He was shot down and killed in an A-1 Skyraider Search and Rescue mission in southern Laos. His name appears on the Viet Nam War memorial in Washington, DC.
