News From Fort Schuyler

January 28, 2000 - Volume 4, No. 3

FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON? MUST BE WINTER GRADUATION - Snow greeted the first graduation of the year on January 20. Thirty-two bachelor's and six master's degrees were awarded, along with the presentation of Coast Guard licenses, and the commissioning of some of the graduates into the Coast Guard, Navy and Naval Reserve. The departure of these newly minted graduates was preceded by the arrival of sixteen more cadets of the Class of 2003 who successfully completed the Spring 2000 IDO program, as well as the matriculation of new students to the graduate program.

ALUMNI PROFILE - The December 1999 issue of IIE Solutions, "The Magazine for Industrial Engineers," contains a fascinating article about the varied career of PHYLIPP DILLOWAY since his graduation in the Class of October 1946. Entitled "An unpredictable path," it traces Phil's career as a naval officer, printer, labor arbitrator, politician, engineer and academic. Dr. Dilloway, who received his PhD in industrial engineering from Columbia, is now semi-retired and "spends a few hours each day managing his stock portfolio using technology forecasting, and teaches part-time at the University of New Haven."

QUOTABLE GEORGE RISER (AND FRIENDS) - A Riserism from the 1930's is recalled by FERGIE BYARS, Class of 1939, who quotes Riser organizing a work crew: "Half you go for'd, 'n half ya go aft, 'n the rest a ya come wit' me." A St. Patrick's Day parade of yore was recalled by BOB PRESTON, Class of 1947, who wrote: "Most of you remember the command given to our bandleader, [WARREN] FARGO, by George Riser, 'Mr. Fargo ...one lousy drum.'" Bob attached a photo of classmate and drummer MARTY ZURN, and noted that "...after marching down Broadway in 1946 in a soaking rain ... the 'Boom-Boom-Boom' turned into 'Squish-Squish-Squish' by parade's end." Preston also provided the etymology of one of Riser's commands, writing that: "...'hands horizontal' originated at morning muster and inspection when Mr. Riser noticed Cadet ALVIN TOFFLER's ('47) scruffy fingernails and cuticles, and decided in inspect the grooming of the entire Cadet Corps." DICK BRACKEN, Class of 1956, quotes another Riserism: "Man and boy, all my years at sea, I have never seen anybody as dumb as you !"

Dick also remembers some other "old salts" on the staff in the fifties who contributed their own memorable phrases: "SPEED BIDGOOD, to a mug whistling as he walked into a seamanship class, 'Hey, boy, there's only two kinds of people who whistle, that's bosun's mate and xxxxxx (not a polite word.)' Then there was "JOE SAUVE, our Brooklynese drill sergeant (a Lieutenant in Dewey's Navy), directing the bandmaster to start the battalion review, 'Mista Wawataman, the bataan' at which point 1/c WATERMAN would raise the baton, the band would strike up, and off strode the battalion. These guys were some characters. Can you imagine the reaction of today's college students to some of those degrading remarks ? What, a lawsuit ? As for the boys of the '50's we laughed. A lot !"

SOME WENT ON TO OTHER ENDEAVORS - A deck cadet who spent several years at Fort Schuyler as a member of the Class of 1964 before entering seminary, FATHER JIM HUVANE, is featured in the January issue of "Maryknoll." Father Jim spent many years in Hong Kong and is now back in the United States "... where he does mission education and coordinates a Maryknoll program of U.S. volunteers teaching English in China."

BLACK HERITAGE EVENT - Mariners in the New York area will have an opportunity to celebrate a Black Heritage Month event of national significance on Wednesday, February 16 at a 5:30 event at historic Federal Hall on Wall Street. The American Merchant Mariners' Memorial Foundation will honor The Golden 13 (first African-American officers in the Navy), CAPT. HUGH MULZAC (Master of the Liberty Ship BOOKER T. WASHINGTON), and the U.S.S. MASON (the destroyer escort that sailed with an all black crew during WW2.) For information and reservations call Art Tuttman at the Maritime Association Foundation (212-425-5704)

UPDATE FROM THE SEA SCOUTS - With JACK HAYES, Class of 1947, at the helm, a new Sea Scout program in Beaufort, SC is well underway, instigated by the May 1999 visit of the EMPIRE STATE to Charleston. Jack reports that: "A 12 year old 37' Beneteau, LONO KAI, as fully equipped as a new vessel, was assigned to the group by the Boy Scout organization. It was sailed down from Charleston to a donated slip at Port Royal Landings Marina December 23. A Skipper, three Mates, and three members of the adult council have been appointed and the first organizational meeting was held aboard last Monday evening. The local Public TV Station, WJWJ, has already run a short special on the ship, a short sail to inspect the rigging and take photographs is planned for Monday, 1/17. A $220 wharfage bill at Dataw where the transfer crew made an emergency stop, was changed to a donation, and six students at Beaufort High are lined up to come aboard after exams. We plan to careen the vessel on a bar in the Beaufort River for bottom cleaning, will have the engine and dinghy outboard serviced, and go to work on a program, including an offshore trip to the Bahamas, just as soon as possible." Want to help ? Need more information? Contact jackhayes@islc.net

BIGGER THAN BIG - Visualize the Training Ship EMPIRE STATE VI (17,160 tons, 172.2m long, 23.16 m wide, 3-decks) sitting alongside one of the newly announced casino ships which Fairplay Magazine described in its January 13 issue: 450,000 GT, 430m long, 100m wide, 21 decks with accommodations for 9,600 passengers plus another 10,000 day passengers ! Each of these ships, of which up to 40 are to be built in China, will have 4 catamaran tenders each capable of ferrying 1500 people. Apparently this is no joke. (Thanks to MUG JOSEPH HELLER '03 for reciting some of those TSES specs.)