65TH CLASS ANNIVERSARY

Posted 4/10/15: (Jack Akin and Yvonne Wright Married on 4/25/15, from Jack Akin)

Jack and Yvonne were married at 1200 Noon (1200 - 1230PM), on Saturday, April 25, 2015 in the Naval Academy Chapel, one day ahead of registration for the 65th Reunion of Jack's class of 1950. Rip Van Kleeck and Dick Goodspeed and their wives attended this most joyous occasion.

I want to tell you how wonderful you are…the best class ever! Two unique points:

First, think back to August, 1945. World War II is over! All over the world, millions of Americans are leaving the Service. Going home, going to school, getting jobs, starting businesses, starting families…but getting OUT. Very few were getting IN – but YOU were! The Class of 1950 is the only one alive to volunteer under these conditions. Teenage PATRIOTS!

Second, think back over the history of the U.S .Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. In combat, when the Navy or Marines go into battle, they WIN! They win because they have a TRADITION of winning. They win because they refuse to quit, no matter the odds. As USNA midshipmen this tradition, this heritage, is instilled in them every day. And the USNA Museum is a big factor in this process, because the Museum celebrates the heroism and courage that builds this tradition. Thirty years ago, YOU – the Class of 1950 -- CHOSE the Museum to be your Class legacy to the Naval Academy. Over three decades you have contributed millions of dollars to bring the Brigade closer to the Museum. No other Class has done this…and YOU’RE STILL DOING IT!

Think back to yesterday morning, in Mahan Hall, when you heard the WWII Battle off Samar described. A large Japanese force – four battleships, eight cruisers, and eleven destroyers – came roaring through San Bernardino Strait. All that lay between them and the dozens of defenseless transports, loaded with troops, at Leyte Gulf was the tiny “Taffy 3” Task Group of four destroyers and destroyer escorts and four jeep carriers with a few fighters and scout-bombers. Yet that tiny force sacrificed itself in attack after attack on the Japanese force. And they WON! They drove off the Japanese force and saved the landing. Probably the most heroic action in the history of seapower!

And it was the Class of 1950’s Museum Endowment Fund that enabled the midshipmen you heard speak yesterday morning to attend the last reunion of the survivors of the Battle off Samar.

Now of course you and your classmates also fought the Korean War from beginning to end, fought four decades of the Cold War, and fought all the War in Vietnam!

When you leave our 65^th Reunion tomorrow, walk with a spring in your step and your head held high!

Our 65^th reunion in Annapolis, April 26-29, 2015, will be one of our last opportunities to meet life-long friends and associates, to renew once-close relationships and get together with those who now live long distances apart. It will be worth making an effort to attend. You will receive your registration forms and complete information about the reunion in late December 2014.

Our headquarters hotel will be the DoubleTree in Annapolis. The DoubleTree is located at 210 Holiday Court, Annapolis, MD 21401, off of Riva Road. It is a full-service hotel with 219 guest rooms. Reunion check-in, our hospitality suite (where all Reunion information notes and changes are posted), our dinners and the Welcome Reception will be at the hotel. There is ample parking at the hotel and our bus transportation starts and stops here; you should not need to use your cars for reunion activities.

To make reservations at the hotel, call 410-224-3150 or 800-222-8733, mention USNA Class of 1950, have your credit card and a piece of paper handy to record the confirmation number. In addition the rooms may be reserved using the internet link below. We have reserved a block of rooms for the Class of 1950; we urge you to make your reservations as early as possible since we expect more attendees than we have in our reserved block of rooms. Reservations will be accepted starting May 26, 2014. Our group rate is very favorable at $119 per room per night plus taxes. Payment is by the individual’s credit card directly to the hotel.

The credit card number given at the time of the reservation confirms the room. Should you decide to cancel before the day prior to the arrival date, the reservation will be cancelled without penalty. However, should the reservation be released within the 24-hour time frame, the credit card will be charged for a one night stay.

Hotel. Our headquarters hotel will be the DoubleTree in Annapolis. To make reservations at the hotel, call 410-224-3150 or 800-222-8733, mention USNA Class of 1950, have your credit card and a piece of paper handy to record the confirmation number. The DoubleTree is located at 210 Holiday Court, Annapolis, MD 21401, off of Riva Road. It is a full-service hotel with 219 guest rooms. We have reserved a block of rooms for the Class of 1950; we urge you to make your reservations as early as possible since we expect more attendees than we have in our reserved block of rooms. Reservations will be accepted starting May 26, 2014. Our group rate is very favorable at $119 per room per night plus taxes. Payment is by the individual’s credit card directly to the hotel. Our dinners and the Welcome Reception are being held at the hotel. There is ample parking at the hotel and good bus transportation; you should not need to use your cars for reunion activities

Byron, John, and Fast Eddie: I think Tom’s added information has narrowed the transportation challenge considerably

Class Leadership Group: For information.

For all: Let’s all keep working, over the coming year, to really stimulate the pre-planning of small-group get-togethers of all kinds. Chuck Mull is thinking of using Shipmate to help organize a “Sixth Battalion Breakfast” (his battalion). He estimates there might be up to about 50 classmates, wives, widows, and guests. Why don’t we think about using Shipmate (plus email and our website) to locate five other volunteers to organize breakfasts for EACH of the six battalions?...different days…different places…etc.? We’ve got plenty iof time.

All the best,

Bob Monroe

[email protected]

703-242-8756

Bob, (no copy-to addees), I think you are getting too complicated on this small groups business. If 2 (up to perhaps 8 people) want to get together, let them do it on their own anywhere in the Annapolis area, with their own transportation arrangements. Any sized groups can be accommodated by the DoubleTree Hotel, at no charge for the spaces, if a meal or reception (snacks and drinks) is paid for by those attending. The hotel has at least ten spaces, many that can be set up for at least 60 people (that I know of); and there are other small public and private areas where smaller groups could meet, with food/beverage service provided by the hotel. Chasing all around Annapolis having groups ( above 8), with bus problems, traffic and crowds, time constraints, reservations, walking/entry problems, etc., is just not practical. The best results for "small groups," in my opinion, will come from holding everything possible WITHIN the reunion hotel. We are paying a lot of money to have the largest and best hotel in Annapolis host our reunion. We should make the most of it! Buses will be busy enough handling the daily transportation to reunion functions outside the hotel, plus frequent runs to USNA and downtown Annapolis. These are my thoughts for your personal consideration, but if you want to refer any of them to Byron Lee for his input feel free to do so. Best regards from sunny Florida! Tom

Since receiving Bob’s “President’s Corner” message to include in our class column for the next Shipmate, I have thought to include in the column a “Sixth Battalion Breakfast Get Together” as a jump-start in response to his PC message, which might also encourage other classmates to move swiftly to create their own Get Together. My idea being that our 24 company plebes were split into two new companies in the 36 company expansion. This would be a reuniting of classmates in the original companies 21-24 and subsequent companies 31-36. Since this would include widows, spouses and guests (if desired), the number in this possible Get Together could be as high as 50 of the 283 folks currently planning to attend the Reunion. Is this too many for a “small” Get Together?

My press deadline is 20 February for the next class column, and the column is now being finalized.

Comments from others addressed in your email and included in this email would be welcome. Would you also pass this email to Milt Schultz since he has a COX address, I cannot sent emails to COX addresses unless special arrangements are made with their local COX provider.

I am back from my travels and am interested in your small-group gathering thoughts. We could facilitate gatherings by reserving tables at our dinners or on the cruise. Our preliminary schedule suggests that small-group meetings could be held at Doubletree on the last morning. I can see no planning problems as long as they use planned spaces and transportation. Byron

65TH CLASS ANNIVERSARY EVENTS