News From Fort Schuyler

October 14, 1999 - Volume 3, No. 48

BAY PILOT- The October 11 Metro Section of The Washington Post features an illustrated profile of Chesapeake Bay pilot, BETH CHRISTMAN, Class of 1987, titled "A Pilot's Passion." According to the article, Beth is only the second woman "in the 147-year history of the Association of Maryland Pilots, a small group of specially trained and licensed maritime professionals who guide oceangoing ships up and down the bay.." (The first was ALLISON ROSS, Class of 1984, who joined the Bay pilots in 1992.) To access the article - and one photo - go to the bottom of the homepage ( http://www.washingtonpost.com ) and enter the word "Christman" in the "Search the Post" box. [Thanks to KEN MURPHY, Class of 1962, for noting this article.]

OUTSIDE THE BOX - One of the most intriguing proposals relating to expanding Maritime's enrollment, programs and facilities comes from a West Coast pilot, BILL BARTSCH, Class of 1984. He suggests that "SUNY Maritime College could use the S/S UNITED STATES as a campus located in downtown Manhattan. Trying to think 'outside the box' I am hoping to find a balance between the necessary academic and enrollment changes that the school is striving for and the need to maintain what is special about a Maritime education. More time on a ship, even if moored alongside a pier, may aid the cadets in retaining the regimental training they desire while allowing the Fort Schuyler campus to evolve into a more civilian body."

In a followup point paper, Bill reviewed the key factors of access, marketing, product, cost and demand, writing, in part: "If the cadets were moved onto the S/S UNITED STATES moored to a Manhattan pier, we may see every key turn to gold. Access - Virtually perfect access to all interests of life and work; Marketing - Kids these days fantasize about living in Manhattan (TV's 'Friends' and 'Seinfeld') The ship would stand out like a jewel amongst the brick buildings; Product - Keep what has always worked intact to create leaders, but allow the brilliance of the city's industries to help fine-tune more specialized programs in international transportation and business; Cost - Wouldn't you agree that this deal is worth 50% more than the current one ?// Demand - ...if this deal was offered I don't think Maine, Mass, KP, Cal or Texas would stand a chance at competing with us. History majors from around the world would come calling.....I'm not positive, but I believe that our Alma Mater started out as simply a ship in Manhattan. We may be able to do it a great service by returning to such."

Bill, who has been following the efforts to save the "Big U", also sent a great deal of material about efforts to preserve the S/S UNITED STATES, too much to reproduce in NFFS. Some of this material is at http://www.ss-united-states.com where you can sign up for "The Info Update" list. In addition the S.S. United States Foundation has just launched their own site at http://www.ssunitedstates.org

KOREAN VET REMEMBERS - "Many of us who were graduated just after WWII ended" writes PHIL DILLOWAY, LCDR-USNR-R, Class of 1946, "did not see military service until the Korean War began in 1950 when the Navy called many reservists to active duty. I was drilling with a Surface Division in New Rochelle at the time and got my orders in the Fall of 1950. With a short deferment to finish college I reported to the destroyer, USS ROBERT L WILSON, in early 1951 for duty onboard over the next two years." "The WILSON is long gone, stricken from the active list and sunk as an aerial bombardment target. But those sailors who sailed in her over the twenty-eight years of her commissioned life still reminisce at an annual reunion. This year the WILSON's reunion was in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. A shipmate of mine on the Wilson was a young naval officer who went on to a brilliant naval career until he was tragically lost at sea on the Submarine THRESHER." Because of his connection to a THRESHER crew member, Phil was invited to prepare a tribute to this shipmate which he read at the Thresher Memorial, located at Portsmouth's Albacore Submarine Museum. Phil concludes his report of the reunion: "...in the absence of the Wilson Association's chaplain I was asked on the spur of the moment to give the Invocation at dinner. I hastily wrote the words.//While not the Gettysburg address, there were a few moist eyes in the audience." (Another multi-talented graduate of Schuyler who may have a new vocation in the making.)

PASSING THE GAVEL - According to ALAN ROWEN, Class of 1965, who has chaired the SNAME Ships' Machinery Committee for the past six years, he will turn the job over to classmate BOB BEHR in January. Alan also reports that classmate, PHIL RYNN, "continues as Chairman of another SNAME Technical Committee, the Hull Structures Committee," and that yet another 1965 graduate, MIKE TONER, "chaired the SNAME Ship Production Committee until last year."

JUST MARRIED - "On Sunday October 10, 1999 I will be getting married," writes ANDRE E. SLINTAK, Class of 1994. "The ceremony will be in Boca Raton, FL. We will honeymoon in Spain for two weeks and then take up residence in Boca Raton. My wife's name is Stacey Lauren. Wish everybody could be here. Pictures will be available at the beginning of November at our website: http://grrams.home.mindspring.com Adios, mi amigos!!! "