SiUnKi SissdciaUdK ^dwors TktZ003

V / By Jennifer Lemmert and Ginger Doyel

T! |he United States Naval Academy has a firm tradi­

tion of graduating leaders of uncompromising charac­

ter, duty, honor, and integrity. Its Alumni distinguish themselves as

leaders in the military, public sector, private sector, and other fields. Yet among the Naval Academy's living graduates, a select few best represent the institution's mission and values through their service to the United States, the Navy, and their Alma Mater. In November 2003, four such Alumni will be honored as this year's Distinguished Graduates.

Established in 1999, the Distinguished Graduate Award is given annually to United States Naval Academy Alumni who embody the principles of honor, courage, and commitment. Nominated and selected by their peers, they are living gradu­ates who have provided a lifetime of service to the nation or armed forces, made significant contributions through public service, and demonstrated a strong interest in supporting the Navy and their Alma Mater.

The Alumni Association, along with the United States Naval Academy, is proud to celebrate the fifth class of Distinguished Graduate Award Honorees: Ambassador William H.G. FitzGerald '31; Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey '35, USN (Ret.); Rear Admiral Robert W McNitt '38, USN (Ret.); and Vice Admiral WilUam D. Houser '42, USN (Ret.). The Brigade of Midshipmen and other guests will honor these Distinguished Graduates at a medal ceremony on 21 November 2003 at Alumni Hall. A private recognition dinner will take place in Bancroft Hall the following evening.

Slmlxw/a^or"WftUam. ^•0'- J^iizGtTdU'3i

Ambassador William H.G. FitzGerald's record of service to the nation and to the United States Naval Academy is exem­plary. He intended to serve as a submariner after graduating with the Class of 1931. Yet while he could track a 90 miles per hour fastball as a midshipman, poor eyesight prevented him from pursuing a submarine career. Upon retimiing to civihan life at age 24, FitzGerald achieved success in international investing and became a renowned leader in the field of finan­cial management. He was recalled to the Navy with the outbreak of World War II and served until 1946.

After the war, FitzGerald founded a company to solve tur­bine production problems based on his wartime experience. Under his leadership, the company provided valuable techni­cal assistance to Europe as part of the Marshall Plan. FitzGerald subsequently acquired an expertise in European affairs, which prompted a request from President Eisenhower to serve in his State Department as deputy director, Management ICA (1958-60). FitzGerald has held presidential appointments under Presidents Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and George H.W. Bush.

President George H.W. Bush appointed FitzGerald as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of freland in 1992. Before this honor, FitzGerald held multiple foreign affairs positions including: vice chairman of the African Development Foundation (1990-'92); treasurer of the Atlantic Council of the United States (1979-'92); and U.S. delegate to the Atlantic Treaty Assemblies in Reykjavik (1977), Washington, DC (1979), Rome (1983), Istanbul (1987), and Brussels (1989). He remains active in world events as a member of the Washington Institute of Foreign Affairs and is currently a member of the Council of Ambassadors.

FitzGerald is an equally accomplished businessman, having directed the start of two successful companies. Since 1959, he has served as president of the FitzGerald Corporation and is founder and chairman of the board of the North American Housing Corporation. He has also influenced the direction of several other well-established companies as owner, chairman, president, or director.

A generous philanthropist, FitzGerald is a committed com­munity servant. He established a program through the Washington, DC, Tennis Foundation that fosters self-respect, sportsmanship, discipline, and fitness among inner-city youth through tennis. The program's activities occur in the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center, named in his honor. A FitzGerald scholarship program within the Washington, DC, Archdiocese enables youth to attend Catholic high schools. Since its inception in 1987, 1,500 FitzGerald scholars have

Shipmate, November-December 2003

graduated from 17 high schools in the Archdiocese. Eighty-five percent of those who benefit from his sponsorship go onto college. A graduate of Harvard Law School, FitzGerald provides seven scholarships for deserving students to attend Harvard University.

FitzGerald also actively supports the United States Naval Academy and its midshipmen. His zeal for Academy baseball made possible the W.H.G. FitzGerald baseball clubhouse. FitzGerald created the W.H.G. FitzGerald Scholarship Program for graduate studies in the humanities in 1987. This $750,000 corpus enables four scholars to study for two years at Oxford University. Scholarship recipients must demon­strate "scholarly attainment, leadership abiUty, and the capac­ity for devotion to a cause beyond self." FitzGerald is an integral part of the scholarship selection process and serves as a mentor to its recipients.

Beyond investing in the Naval Academy's present, FitzGerald is preserving naval heritage for future generations. He funded a grant through the Naval Historical Foundation to create an oral history program. Through interviews, the pro­gram records the recollections of Navy veterans throughout the country, recording their legacy for posterity.

Naval officer, diplomat, businessman, and philanthropist. Ambassador FitzGerald is clearly a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Naval Academy. As his nomination letter states, "To visibly recognize this individual as a Distinguished Graduate will clearly identify to the public and

developing midshipmen the level of character, duty, honor, and integrity that are traditional values instilled at the U.S. Naval Academy."

'Xtar 6ldmra.l Zmoit "h. ^Uckjty '35, USCN (^dr.J

Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey has lived a lifetime of service to the nation and to his Alma Mater.

After graduating with the Class of 1935, Fluckey served on NEVADA and MCCORMICK before reporting to submarine school in 1938. With the outbreak of World War II, Fluckey was assigned to BONITA, where he participated in five war patrols against the Japanese in the Pacific. He attended

(Continued on page 10)

1 3-3/4" X 19-1/4"

'ing at the United (States U^al Academy Chapel

U^{ancy STammond

fimM/ffmmm\ 6+ 'Mf Or([e

410-267-771 I Mon-Fri 10-5:30 Sat 10-6 Sun 12-5 vwvw.nancyhammondedition5.com

THE US NAVAL ACADEMY

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION proudly presents...

The ^condEdition Collector's Series Wine Portfolio - Mohan HaUzoo}

The second in an annual commemorative series, this year's label depicts Mahan Hall, and features outstanding wine selections from distinguished wineries such as Honig," Clos du Bois, William Hill, Fritz and Buena Vista.

From holiday gift giving to social gatherings and dinners - or as an addition to your wine cellar, USNA wines add a personal and meaningful touch to any occasion.

We encourage you to display your Navy pride and support your Association, while sampling these premium wines!

Start your Second Edition Wine Portfolio collection today! To place your order, call 1-888-YOURWINE (1-888-968-7946),

Shipmate, November-December 2003

(Continued from page 9)

Postgraduate School at the United States Naval Academy and Prospective Commanding Officers School at New London, CT, then was transferred to Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet in 1943. After one war patrol as prospective commanding officer of BARB, he assumed its command in April 1944.

From this point until the war's end, then-Commander Fluckey led BARB in five heroic war patrols as its command­ing officer. Under his direction, BARB sunk more enemy ton­nage than any other U.S. ship command in World War II. It also became the first and only submarine to fire ballistic rockets during the war.

Fluckey received the Congressional Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" during BARB'S 11th war patrol along the east coast of China. In addition, for heroism during BARB'S eighth through 12th war patrols, Fluckey was awarded four Navy Crosses—a feat unequaled by any living American. He is further entitled to wear the ribbons of the Presidential Unit Citation and Navy Unit Commendation awarded to BARB for its actions. Since World War II, Fluckey has been decorated with the Distinguished Service Medal and a Gold Star in lieu of the Second Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and a Gold Star in heu of a Second Legion of Merit, and other honors.

Following the war, Fluckey worked directly under Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal in unifying the Armed Services. He then served as personal aide to in-coming Chief of Naval Operations Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and later as flag secretary to Admiral James Fife, Commander Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet. Between 1950-'53, Admiral Fluckey was U.S. naval attache at Lisbon, Portugal. There, for his dis­tinguished services, the Portuguese Government decorated him with the prestigious Medalha Militar—the first time this honor had been awarded to a naval attache from any country.

After his tenure in Portugal, Fluckey was commanding offi­cer of the submarine tender SPERRY; and commanded Submarine Division 52, Squadron Five and Submarine Group, Western Pacific. Upon returning from the Far East, he served as head of the electrical engineering department at the United States Naval Academy from 1956-'58, simultaneously chairing the fundraising committee for the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Through his dynamic leadership, the stadium was fully paid for when it opened in 1959.

Huckey was selected for flag rank in 1960 while on duty at the National Security Advisor's Office. His flag assignments included: commander. Amphibious Group Four; president of the Board of Inspection and Survey; commander. Submarines, Pacific Fleet; director of Naval Intelligence; and NATO com­mander of the IBERIAN Atlantic Group based in Portugal. Admiral Fluckey's long and prestigious Naval career ended when he retired from the Navy in 1972.

Twenty years after retiring from active duty, Fluckey recounted his World War II patrols on BARB in the acclaimed book. Thunder Below! John Weller Productions recently acquired the film rights to this collection of memoirs, which won the distinguished Samuel Eliot Morrison prize for Best Naval Literature in 1993. For this and other achievements, and for his superior honor, courage, and commitment, Rear Admiral Fluckey clearly merits being chosen as one of this year's Distinguished Graduates.

Oia(rMmrdOlDl)€H'W.Mc><ftt% liSX (Xd.)

Rear Admiral Robert W McNitt has an "internal compass," one that has guided him well on the sea as an avid sailor, and throughout his exemplary service to the Navy, the Naval Academy, and the United States.

After graduating with the Class of 1938, McNitt began his career at sea as a junior officer aboard the cruiser CHICAGO. After being transferred to RHIND, which took part in the inva­sion of North Africa, McNitt volunteered for submarine school and finished at the top of his class. Next, he served as executive officer under then-Commander Eugene Fluckey aboard BARB where he participated in five heroic war patrols. For his wartime service, McNitt earned two Silver Star Medals and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.

During the Korean War, McNitt commanded the destroyer TAYLOR, supporting the operations of the United Nations. He subsequently commanded Destroyer Division 322, Destroyer Squadron 25, and Cruise Destroyer Flotilla Four. Later, McNitt helped to prepare NEWPORT NEWS for shore bombard­ment during the Vietnam War.

In 1962, McNitt was assigned to the Naval Academy to serve as secretary of the academic board. While secretary, he was responsible for the academic program for midshipmen. During his tenure he helped to establish the Naval Academy's initial Majors Program, introduced humanities courses, and consulted other schools about instituting academic change. As secretary, McNitt was also responsible for finding a qualified individual to serve as the Naval Academy's first civilian aca­demic dean. Following promotion to rear admiral in 1964, McNitt joined the NATO Staff of the Commander in Chief Allied Forces Mediterranean as deputy chief of staff for Plans. He also commanded NATO submarines in the Mediterranean Sea while at that assignment.

From October 1967 to April 1971, McNitt served as super­intendent of the Naval Postgraduate School and director of the Navy Management Systems Center at Monterey, CA. There, he oversaw the advanced degree programs for 2,000 officer students in residence and 500 officer graduate smdents at 50 universities. He received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his performance during this period. McNitt served his final active duty assignment from May 1971 to March 1972 as assistant deputy chief of Naval Operations, Manpower.

Upon retiring from active duty in 1972, Rear Admiral McNitt returned to his Alma Mater—this time as a civilian to serve as senior professor and dean of admissions. As dean of admissions, he developed an advanced admissions system with selection criteria that accurately accessed the qualifica­tions and predicted the success of applicants. McNitt retired

10 Shipmate, November-December 2003

from this position in 1985, and for his service and leadership, received two Distinguished Civilian Service Medals.

Since retiring as dean of admissions, Rear Admiral McNitt has continued to invest in the Naval Academy and its students. He is a long-standing contributor to its sailing program, both in the training of midshipmen and in offshore racing. McNitt has been commodore of the U.S. Naval Sailing Association, president of the U.S. Naval Sailing Foundation, and elected to the Intercollegiate Yacht Association of North American Hall of Fame. He also authored the acclaimed book. Sailing at the U.S. Naval Academy: An Illustrated History, which details the history of Academy sailing, and has written numerous other articles for professional publications.

Admiral McNitt serves as a role model in lifetime physical fitoess. He is a Gold Medalist in the Maryland Senior Olympics and the international Huntsmen Senior Games for slalom and giant slalom. He also continues to win Maryland Senior Olympic Gold Medals for race-walking.

To honor his lifelong commitment to Academy sailing, the Naval Academy estabUshed the McNitt Award. This award is pre­sented to a First Class Midshipman participating in the CSNTS Summer Cruise whose professional competency and demon­strated performance in seamanship, navigation, leadership, and sailing skill set them apart from their contemporaries.

Through nearly 70 years of service to the Naval Academy, Navy and nation. Rear Admiral

McNitt has truly proven himself Distinguished Graduate.

Clearly, a letter nominating him for this award is cor­rect, as it states, "It would be difficult to find an indi­vidual who has had a greater impact on the Naval Academy, and, in

fact, on the entire culture of this institution over the last

40 years."

ykeSldmndWdlMM 1). HoKser '41, liS>i CXd.)

Vice Admiral Houser has distinguished himself as a naval officer, civilian, and contributor to his Alma Mater. The apex of his naval career occurred in 1972 when he became deputy chief of Naval Operations, Air Warfare—a fitting finale to a lifetime of military service, at sea and on shore.

Houser's first sea assignment was aboard NASHVILLE for three years during World War II. In 1944, then-Lieutenant Houser survived a kamikaze attack that severely damaged the ship, killed 131, and wounded 180 shipmates.

After World War II, Houser became a naval aviator. Assigned to SAIPAN, he was operations officer and later exec­utive officer of Fighter Squadron One-L. From SAIPAN he flew multiple aircraft including the FH-1 Phantom 1, the Navy's first jet.

During the Korean War, Houser commanded Fighter Squadron 44, flying combat missions from LAKE CHAMPLAIN

and BOXER. For his service, he received one Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V," the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Air Medal with Gold Star.

Following Korea, Houser reported to Air Development Squadron Three where he helped to develop all weather fight­ing tactics. He later commanded Fighter Squadron 124—the Navy's largest at the time. In 1964, Houser assumed

(Continued on page 12)

BONE-CRUNCHING TACKLES. - . RECORD-SMASHING RUNS.

'*JAW-DROPPING PLAYS...

^jg J^ open 7 Days a Week! J wwwiCollGgefootBall.org

l.aOO.HHO.FAMEOZeS) Dovirntown South Bend, IN

^ i ^ ' when in South Bend, Indiana for the Navy/Notre Dame^ame, be sure to visit this nationally acclaimed attraction!

Shipmate, November-December 2003 11

(Continued from page 11)

command of MAUNA LOA, where he received a Commendation Medal for making innovations in ammunition transportation.

During Vietoam, Houser commanded CONSTELLATION, for which he received a Legion of Merit. Houser began his final sea assignment in 1970 as commander of Carrier Division Two.

Vice Admiral Houser's accomplishments on shore are equally remarkable. As Captain, he was military assistant to Deputy Secretary of Defense Gilpatric. Between 1967-'68 he acted as director, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Strategic Plans Division. He later served as director. Aviation Plans and Requirements in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. In 1972, Houser became deputy chief of Naval Operations, Air Warfare, a position he held until retiring from active duty in 1976. As deputy chief, Houser made vital contributions to the present and future of naval aviation. To cite just a few: he saved the F-14 fighter aircraft from termination; authorized and enabled the early release of the electronic air­craft, EA-6B, for use in support of die B-52 raids against North Vietnam—an act that led to the release of U.S. prison­ers of war; and saved and reconstituted the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team.

Since retiring from active duty, Houser has achieved further success. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) selected him to lead the development and installation of the country's first satellite system for television and radio pro­grams. After declining to run for president of CPB Houser, he joined the Communications Satellite Corporation, where he led a global satellite consulting division. Houser then presided as president of three high technology companies in Silicon Valley. Most recently, he has consulted high technology firms in telecommunications and space related activities.

Houser also continues to invest in the Navy and his Ahna Mater. He raised funds to erect a monument to the Battle of Midway on Midway Island, dedicated on the 50\h anniversary of the end of World War n. He proposed and oversaw a Class of 1942 project to create a monument to the Battle of Midway at the Naval Academy. He organized the annual nationally cele­brated Battle of Midway dinner—one of only two annually held official Navy events. Furthermore, Houser sought justice on behalf of many unfairly accused attendees of the 1991 Tailhook Convention. He was instrumental in helping to mend relations between the Navy and the Tailhook Association, an act for which Senator Warner, Chainnan of the Senate Armed Services Committee, later credited him by saying, "Well done, Sir."

Like Senator Warner, members of the Class of 1942 recog­nize and laud Admiral Houser's accomplishments. As a nom­ination letter from his class reads, "Our nation, our Navy, and our Naval Academy are in a much better condition for the things he has done and for the talent, perseverance, creativity, and demeanor he has shown in doing them."

Each of this year's Distinguished Graduates departed from the Naval Academy at a different time; yet all took forth the same lessons and values of duty, honor, country, courage, and commitment. Furthermore, all have and continue to support the school that sent them forth. In addition to the many ways noted before, Ambassador FitzGerald is a member of the USNA Foundation Board of Directors; Rear Admiral Fluckey is a long-standing supporter of athletic excellence at the Academy; Rear Admiral McNitt is past president of the

USNA Board of Trustees, 1985-'88; Vice Admiral Houser is trustee of the USNA Foundation; and all are life members of the USNA Alunrni Association. The Alumni Association, in conjunction with the Naval Academy, is proud to celebrate these four Distinguished Graduates and is grateful for their continued service, -t

history vjtkc ^istinmiskcd GnUnsiit Siward In the mid 1990s, Rear Admiral Robert McNitt '38,

USN (Ret.), proposed the concept of the Distinguished Graduate Award to Rear Admiral Ronald F. MarryoU '57, USN (Ret.). Admiral Marryott, then-president and CEO of the USNA Alumni Association, brought the proposal to the Alumni Association's Board of Trustees, which approved it. In May 1998, the Distinguished Graduate Award selection committee met under the chairmanship of former Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Carhsle A.H. Trost '53, USN (Ret.), to determine the nomination process.

The Alumni Association began the program in 1999, and Admiral Thomas H. Moorer '33, USN (Ret.), received that year's sole Distinguished Graduate Award. After 1999, the selection committee chose to select multiple award winners annually to inform the public and the Brigade of Midshipmen of the many important contributions Naval Academy graduates have made and will continue to make to their Alma Mater, the Navy, and the United States.

^dmnaUm Critma Class and chapter presidents nominate candidates

for the Distinguished Graduate Award. In order to be nominated, candidates must be living graduates who have:

• Demonstiated a strong interest in supporting the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Naval Academy;

• Provided a lifetime of service to the nation or the armed forces;

• Made significant contributions to the nation through public service; and

• Are of character, distinguished military and civilian service, and stature that draw a wholesome comparison to the qualities that the U.S. Naval Academy strives for, in keeping with values of duty, honor, and integrity, and "through knowledge, seapower."

The award is not given to individuals who occupy or who are candidates for elective office, or who are still on active duty.

12 Shipmate, November-December 2003