News From Fort Schuyler

April 3, 1999 - Volume 3, No. 16

TOUGH GUY - There will be a free lecture featuring the noted private investigator and author, Richard "Bo" Dietl, on Tuesday April 6 at the Science/Engineering Lecture Hall. Bo's latest book, "One Tough Cop: the Bo Dietl Story," has been made into a major (aren't they all?) motion picture. He will discuss the crime-fighting scene, both in the US and abroad, from an informed and personal perspective. This Library Lecture Series event, which takes places at 8:00 PM, is co-sponsored by the Regimental Office.

WANTED FOR FAST RESPONSE - Alumni, both venerable and recent (4-7 years out), who are willing to share insights and career tips, are invited to participate in the Career Night for First Class Cadets, Thursday evening, April 8. Cocktails begin at 6:00. If you want to participate you must FAX or e-mail a biography by APRIL 5. For full details go to: http://www.fsmaa.org

FOUND ON THE NET - This academic update for SALVATORE R. MERCOGLIANO, Class of 1989, was posted on the maritime history discussion list, MARHST-L, where he is an active and informed participant: "..ex-merchant marine deck officer, and now a maritime historian....East Carolina University ...MA in Maritime History and Nautical Archaeology. I am currently at the University of Alabama getting my PhD in Military and Naval History." [According to the ECU library catalog, Sal's master's thesis was titled: "Targets of assassins: the American merchant marine during the Vietnam War, 1964-1975"] Sal, now we are waiting for the book.

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE - This note in the current Plan of the Week: " Seasonal Uniform Change - On Tuesday 6 April we will begin wearing the khaki uniform as the uniform of the day, as well as the summer dress blues (salt and pepper) when appropriate."

SERIOUS UNDERTAKING - There will be an induction ceremony for the Order of the Engineer on Thursday April 15 at 4:00 PM in the S&E Building, T249. According to the announcement in the POW: "The Order of the Engineer is a solemn obligation to oneself to uphold devotion to the standards and the dignity of the engineering profession. It is an an obligation to turn to practical use, the principles of science and the means of technology to serve humanity by making the best use of earth's precious wealth." Congratulations to all the inductees.

UNDERGROUND PUBLICATIONS FOR THE RECORD - In response to a plea for underground writings for a library exhibit, two issues of 'The Pain of the Weak' have been provided by BARRY MARSH, Class of 1986. Barry writes that these "...were written and issued by JIM YAHNER," [Class of 1986,] "and I. Our humor wasn't always the greatest, and some of the topics mentioned required an intimate knowledge of life at the Dome, which not all our readers had, but we enjoyed working on the 'Pains.' I understand the 'Pain' may have continued for a year or so after our graduation, but I have never seen other issues."

"I have to make you aware of a serious and sad story regarding the 1985 issue. The real "Plan of the Week" had a column for "'Corpsman.' Our 'Pain of the Weak' had a column for 'Corpse' instead. Cadets that we named as 'Corpse' were either those we either thought looked dead, were generally missing in action for the Regiment, or in a few cases were actually Corpsmen. The cadet we had listed as "Corpse" for Wednesday 3 April was a member of our class, whom Jim and I thought looked like a corpse. Very shortly after our 1985 'Pain of the Weak' was issued, [he] killed himself on campus. Jim and I had a great deal of difficulty with this, initially believing we may have had some involvement in [his] decision. We now know that [he] had other, larger problems in his life. Later, when we were asked to provide a copy of the 1985 'Pain of the Weak' for inclusion in the 1986 'Eight Bells,' we revised the original with another Cadet's name. The copy I'm sending you has not been revised."

BOUNCING NEWSLETTERS - If anyone has a current email address for any of the following alumni, please contact rcorson@sunymaritime.edu Ernest Preeg 56 - Alan Wendell 58 - Andrew Dunne 61 - James L. Parks 65 - Robert J. Ryniker 65 - William G. Berberich 78 - Steve Reynolds 78 - Thomas Gallagher 84 - William Arseneau 85 - Peter Amoroso 85 - Jesse Falsone 91 - Dan Dolson 95 - Brenda Roderig 97