CLASS of 1953 SHIPMATE Sept 2021

The Memorial Service for Carl Trost (22) is 1100 Monday September 20, 2021 at the USNA Chapel. The Midshipmen Brigade upper Classes will be back from the summer and many of their cars will be parking in the Yard. Hope you find good spot.

Passing’s

Charlotte H. Maas, widow of COL Bertram A. Maas USMC (Ret) (5), died July 29, 2020 in Vienna, VA. She was a Marine Corps wife moving over states and countries in Japan, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, California, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania, finally retiring in 1980. They were married for 57 years, until Bertram passing in 2011. Charlotte was a lover of the arts. She performed in many theater productions. She also volunteered at her children and grandchildren schools. Survivors included six sons, their wives, and five grandchildren….*

Stanley L. Bachman, CAPT, USAF (Ret) (11), died May 11, 2021 in Alvin, TX. Stanley After USAF retired, Stanley was employed by NASA from 1964 to 1983. He specialized in Navigation. Guidance, and Control for many space missions. He taught Sunday School and volunteered in both prison and nursing ministry. His wife, Doris, and his son, Stanley II, preceded him in death. Survivors include 5 children, 7 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.

Charles H. Wright Jr. CDR USN (Ret) (7) died May 31, 2021 in San Diego, CA. Chuck served on five diesel-electric submarines, including Commanding Officer of the USS CHARR. Shore assignments University North Carolina, the Naval Undersea Center, and a final tour as a Navy instructor for US Army officers at the Command and General Staff college at Fort Leavenworth, KA. Following retirement from the Navy Chuck received a Masters of Public Administration at National University. After the degree he worked for a few years in personal management. Survivors include his wife, Kathy, who he married in 1977, also three children and three grandchildren from their mother Patricia.

Mail Bag

Tom Southerland (24) sent a

A Sea Story - a Fond Remembrance

The comedy movie Operation Petticoat was about a fictional WW II submarine, the Sea Tiger, with five Army nurses aboard escaping from the Japanese in the Philippines. It was primarily filmed in Key West where I was the Diving Officer on the Spikefish in early 1959.

When I learned that our submarine commodore was preparing a formal dinner several days away, I was asked if I would I like to escort the actress Dina Merrill. She was only one or two of the cast who would be attending. So I took it upon myself to go to a rest area near the filming where cast members could often found. Not only did I find her but invited her for lunch on the Spikefish the next day.

When I arrived to pick her up, I was delighted that Janet Leigh would also be coming. Leigh's husband, Tony Curtis, was the other star in the movie along with Cary Grant. So here I was in my bright blue Skyliner retractable hard top convertible with two attractive movie stars both on the front seat arriving for lunch. Back then there were no seat division. And, the top was down. As we got out of the car there were the usual upkeep noises of two other subs. And then it stopped cold turkey. Hatches were open, I may have seen a rising scope. Sailors were soon gawking and who could blame them.

The luncheon was most enjoyable and thankfully uneventful. Merrill was not a bad tennis player and several times we played doubles. Leigh would come out to watch. Several weeks later the Spikefish left for a good will trip to South America to the major eastern countries.

In retrospect, it was a case of being at the right place at the right time. And that's how I met my Margot in Georgetown in 1960 and were then married on 25 November 1960 -- now over 60 years….*

Chuck Walker (21) sent an e-mail from Coeur D Alene, ID: “We are celebrating Father’s Day with the three Walker kids: Pam, Chuck Jr, and Kelly. Pam snapped a picture at a brunch on Sunday at a dockside restaurant of the CDA Resort [on a lake]. As you can see Sue Skerrett (22) is as beautiful as ever and I still have some grey fuzz on my head!

 All the best to all of you, Chuck”….*

*See 50^th Years Legacy Book if you have one….ACB