News From Fort Schuyler

March 9, 2009 - Volume 9, No. 11

BASKETBALL FINALE - For the first time in more than ten years the men's basketball team was selected to participate in the Division III ECAC Metro Tournament as a result of its 15-12 record.The Privateers also made it to their second straight Skyline Conference semi-final this year. The season finally ended on Wednesday March 4 with a quarter-final loss to top-seeded Montclair State College. (www.maritimeathletics.com)

SAVANNAH IN BALTIMORE - NFFS received a timely reminder from ERHARD KOEHLER '87 that the NS SAVANNAH, America's first nuclear powered cargo ship, is celebrating 50 years in 2009. On March 11th the SAVANNAH, located at the Canton Marine Terminal Pier 13 at 4601 Newgate Avenue in Baltimore, will be open for a public inspection prior to an onboard meeting to discuss a report on decommissioning activities prepared by MARAD. A major suggestion in the report is to preserve the SAVANNAH's nuclear reactor instead of dismantling it. The press release also notes that the ship will host National Maritime Day activities on 22 May and that "The major 50th anniversary events planned for 2009 will occur over the weekend of July 17-19, in observance of the anniversary of the ship's christening by Mamie Eisenhower, and its launching. The weekend will include reunion events for the retired crew and program staff...and a free open house on that Sunday." A MARAD link for the ship provides full information about its maintenance, including last year's repainting of the ship according to the original 1959 color charts. [And to think that a few years ago SAVANNAH was in the James River Reserve Fleet at Fort Eustis VA awaiting scrapping - See NFFS May 15 1998.] For a complete rundown go to: www.marad.dot.gov/ships_shipping_landing_page/ns_savannah_home/ns_savannah_whats_new/ns_savannah_whatsnewl_page.htm

HARLOW OF THE BIDDLE - Here's a snapshot of an interesting incident in the career of a Fort Schuyler alumnus. The fourteenth commanding officer of the USS BIDDLE, the Belknap-class guided missile cruiser, was LOUIS F. HARLOW 68. After he assumed command on 10 September 1990, the ship continued to carry out vessel diversions, interdictions and boardings in the Red Sea in support of Gulf War operations. On 4 December something unusual occurred - the ship's rudder broke off and sank. This resulted in an unscheduled tow to Toulon for repairs at the French Naval Shipyard, repairs which lasted until 5 January 1991. Making the most of a bad situation, all hands took "...the opportunity to visit the town and surrounding cities, Including Marseilles, Monte Carlo, Monaco, and even Paris, where two day excursions were provided." Then back to work in the Red Sea, where the BIDDLE was "credited with the first boarding of an Iraqi vessel, the first boarding of a Soviet-flagged vessel, the first diversion in the Red Sea" in the 36 boardings, 8 diversions and 1 seizure made prior to returning to home port Norfolk on 27 March, 1991. (Quotes from pp. 245-246 of 'Hard Charger! The Story of the USS BIDDLE' by James Treadway, iUniverse, 2005)

TOWING FAMILY -McAllister Towing, based at 17 Battery Place in Manhattan was founded by James McAllister in 1864. Its current president, CAPT. BRIAN A. McALLISTER '56, is the great-grandson of the founder. After graduating from Fort Schuyler with an engineering degree, he served in the Navy until 1958 and then "...he sailed deep-sea with American Export Isbrandtsen Lines as 3d Assistant Engineer. In 1959, Brian ...joined the family-owned tugboat company ... and switched from engineering to the deck department, sailing aboard McAllister tugboats, ultimately obtaining a Masters and unlimited Pilots license for the ports serviced by McAllister on the U.S. East Coast." Brian's nephew, A.J. McALLISTER III '80, graduated with a deck license and serves as VP of Sales at McAllister Towing. For more go to www.mcallistertowing.com

SEEKS SEA LAWYER ? This is a posting to the legal section of JustAnswer website: "I am 17 years old and a Maritime Cadet at Fort Schuyler. Yesterday, September 1, 2008, while on liberty, I visited a Brooklyn....public beach and was handed an opened beer by a female. Both myself and the female were issued a summons for 'open container'... I gave the officer my correct home address and correct birth date. However, the officer wrote my birth date as 1987. My birth date is 1990. I am a minor. Upon seeing this I visited my local police precinct....I was told nothing could be done and I had to appear [in court] on November 14th....I can not appear on that date, nor plead not guilty as this will result in more court appearances. I can't be granted leave/liberty. If I plead guilty by mail....will I have a criminal record of any kind in the state of New York or other state?" There was not answer provided to this mug's dilemma on the website because users have to be 18 to use it, so the public part of the story ends here. [So, to be young doesn't always mean to be carefree, too.]

SOME WENT ON TO OTHER ENDEAVORS - Attrition at Maritime has always been significant. Records dating back more than 100 years to the days of the New York Nautical School, show that 30% _ 40% attrition was not unusual. People leave for many reasons _ change of career goals, financial, health, academics, family concerns, the regimental system _ to name but a few. For example, MATHIAS PASTORE is now a chiropractor. He attended Fort Schuyler for three years. In 1991 'Dr. Mat' earned a degree in chiropractic and is the founding owner of Breckenridge Chiropractic in Chester,VA. (www.breckenridgechiro.com)

EBB TIDE - The Sullivan County Democrat obituary archive reported the unexpected death on 13 November, 2006 of DAVID WEIGEL 73 at the age of 55. According to the notice Dave, whose nickname was "Grumpy", was a retired merchant marine captain who later worked at the Yaun Company in Liberty, NY. Grumpy was active in his upstate community, serving as an award winning regional leader of the Boy Scouts of America, a library volunteer, and a member of the 'sweat-hog dishwashers' at the Youngsville Firehouse. Grumpy's immediate survivors include two daughters and two granddaughters.
www.sc-democrat.com/archives/2006/obits/11November/11November/2006_1117.html