CLASS of 1953 SHIPMATE Oct 2021
68th Reunion
My deadline is July 28 for this SHIPMATE Oct 2021. It
is also the same date of July 28, the opening day of our 68th USNA’53
Reunion in Annapolis. There have several registration numbers that have cancelled.
I am one. I have a basal cancer in my left ear that has a big bandage on it
that no one would want to see me. There are others that have medical issues. Chris
Zirps (5) is hopefully that will reach 60
attendees. I asked Al Glazier (15) to take some photos for the SHIPMATE Nov-Dec
2021. Anyone else taking pictures, please send to me..acbivens@aol.com
Passing’s
Arnold J. Orr, LCOL
USMC (Ret) (9) died May 16, 2021 in Alexandria, VA. Arn
enlisted in the USMC in 1947, entered NAPS ‘49, and appointed to USNA’53.
He then returned to the Marine Corp, assigned to the infantry as a platoon
leader, then as an infantry company commander, and then as an infantry
battalion in Vietnam. His military decorations the Legion of Merit with combat
V, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal. Arn
served two tours in R&D, one with the Navy and with the other with the Army.
One more memorable assignment was at the US Embassy in Beirut. Survivors
include four daughters, and seven grandchildren. Arn’s
wife, Midge of 50 years, died from breast cancer in May 2007….*
Bernard Grossman (18)
died May 20, 2021 in Spotsylvania, VA. Bernie attended Tulane before enlisting
in the Marines, entered NAPS’49, and appointed to USNA’53. He opted for the
USAF when he graduated. After six years he left the USAF. He then worked for GE
before returning to the government for a long career as an engineer. Bernie was
preceded in death by wife, Laura of 25 years, and his son, Curtiss. Survivors
include four children and five grandchildren.
Gunnar O. Hansen (9)
died July 10, 2021 in Louisville, KY. Gunnar “Swede” enlisted in the USMC
entered NAPS’49 and appointed USNA’53. He again served in the Marine Corps in
Japan, Korea, and several Marine Corps bases in the USA. He rose to Captain
USMC. He resigned to 1965 and enrolled in San Diego State University and earned
a Master’s Degree in Mathematics in 1968. He taught Mathematics in the U of
Indiana and volunteer work tutoring prison inmates in Mathematics. In 1968 he
married Diana who survived him. Other survivors include two children.
Mary D. Kubiak died
July 22, 2021 in Boulder City, NV. She was widowed in 1963 when her first
husband, James C. Welsh, CAPT. USAF (20) died December 11, 1963 in an
aircraft accident. They had two children. She later married John M. Kubiak,
COL, USAF (USMA) West Point for 50 years. He died June 22, 2020. They had one
Child. Survivors include the three children and three grandchildren.
*See 50th Year Legacy
Book
Mail Bag
There was no mail from Classmates for this October
column so I will use a story from my grandson Andrew Pack. He is a super
adventurer, a graduate of the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, but
he works as a carpenter in Oregon. He sent an email 4/22/2021 as follows: “I
have a new job working as a carpenter for a company called Polar Field Services
contracted by the National Science Foundation funds research stations in the
Artic, North and South.
I’m currently in Kangerlussuaq, a small town in Greenland,
a logistics hub, since it has the longest runway in the country with C-130
Hercules equipped with snow skids. I flew to Summit Station in the middle of
the Greenland Ice Sheet at 10,00 elevation ft where I will live in a little
8’x5’shed without heat or water.” He sent another email 5/2/2021. “The hut
didn’t really keep you warm but it keeps the wind off you. The other night it
was -40F. It’s astonishing how fast our bodies acclimate to the cold, working
in the cold in -5F if there is not much wind. The last season 2020 at Summit Station
was canceled from COVID which means some of the buildings are completely
submerged in snow and ice this season.
My main project
was working raising the buildings to reset them.” Andrew left Greenland July 24,
2021. He had applied for the next exciting job, to work in Antarctica and was accepted.
He will leave September 21, to Christchurch, New Zealand before leaving to
Antarctica October 3 and finish his job Feb 16 ~ 41/2 months. Where next? ….ACB