News From Fort Schuyler

September 27, 2002 - Volume 6, No. 28

TRUE BLUE - Once they were black, then white, then gray, then white again, and now blue - "they" being the hulls of the training ships. The EMPIRE STATE VI came back from the shipyard in time for last weekend's Homecoming sporting a new coat of blue paint. According to CAPT JOE AHLSTROM, Class of 1982, "The hull color is 'Holland America Blue' if you like. Challenge any other readers to identify the shade better." [Any takers ?]

HONORING ARNOLD - One of the highlights at Homecoming Weekend was the induction of ARNOLD BOCKSEL, Class of 1936, into the Maritime Industry Museum's Hall of Heroes. Bocksel, 88, survived the Bataan Death March and years in Japanese prison camps. He was profiled in the September 22, 2002 issue of Newsday, 'SUNY Maritime Honors Alumnus: Tribute for a Hero.' (http://www.newsday.com/mynews/ny-livet222934586sep22.story) According to the article: "'He still maintains a great spirit, a fighting spirit,' said JOE GERSON, Class of 1947, and a museum board member. 'He loves the school and he'll tell you, as many of us would tell you, we owe our lives to this school.'" Bocksel reiterates this point later in the same article: "'One of the reasons for my survival I think was the training and discipline I received at Fort Schuyler,' Bocksel said, 'apart from luck.'" [Bocksel's memoir of his experiences, "Rice, Men and Barbed Wire" is available for sale at the Maritime Industry Museum [ http://www.maritimeindustrymuseum.org ]

SOUNDS LIKE FUN - After DEREK RICHARDSON, Class of 1961, and his wife retired in June 2001, they really got away from their old routines and went on an around-the-world trip on a German container ship. We transited both canals, stopped at about 22 ports, and covered 30,000 nautical miles in 88 days. We kept a journal of the activities prior to and during the trip - a rather humorous account of the voyage that contains pictures, and should prove informative for anyone contemplating a freighter trip - Our trip is certainly in tune with the great maritime heritage of the Maritime College." [Editor - Sounds like the Richardsons have written an interesting sea travel book for the right publisher.]

TROPHY WIFE - Those silver skates won by the late GEORGE YATSKO, Class of 1952, in the New York Daily News Silver Skates competition (see NFFS July 14 2002) are coming back to Fort Schuyler. According to classmate ROBERT FEY: "IKE INGRAHAM '52 was kind enough to send me a copy of a recently received letter from Pat Yatsko, George's wife, indicating the whereabouts of the Silver Skates George won while a cadet at the college.. she has the skates and will donate them to the college's athletic trophy case in the near future."

PILOTING THE FUTURE - The previously cited e-mail from JOE AHLSTROM reported that the ". Port Everglades Pilots Association sponsored a scholarship for minorities. This past summer CADET GILES and CADET HARDING, both 2/C, spent a week down in Port Everglades, courtesy of the Association, in addition to this year's annual tuition. The two cadets had a great time in addition to an excellent learning experience. I fully support the Florida State initiative that prompted the scholarship and look forward to Fort Schuyler grabbing another first in the Florida State Pilots."

ESPN DOCTOR - San Francisco Bar Pilot, PAUL LOBO, Class of 1969, wrote in mid-September that he "Ran into GARY JOBSON, Class of 1973, at the Saint Francis Yacht Club Big Boat Series this last week on San Francisco Bay. It was the premier race week of the year. He was on assignment for ESPN before heading down to New Zealand for the America's Cup. I was liaison for the SF Bar Pilots for a day. We were both on the race deck and I spotted him."

"He first sailed with Maritime in the Annapolis-Newport Race (1969) before he entered the Dome. It was my last race at school and the last time I saw DICK CORSO, Class of 1969, before his tragic death at sea. Funny, seeing Gary brought up a lot of memories of my sailing days at school."

VISIT FROM AN OLD SALT - An alumnus who graduated from NYSMA sixty-seven years ago, ALVIN P. CHESTER, Class of 1935, visited the Luce Library during Homecoming. Captain Chester, who is the author of "A Sailor's Odyssey: At Peace and at War, 1935 - 1945" asked the librarian on duty, Cataloger LISA LESCHINSKY, if the library still had his book. According to Lisa: "When he showed me the book I immediately recognized it and told him that I had cataloged it, and yes, we had copies of it in our collection. I also told him that I had cataloged three drafts (parts 2-4) of his book with the same title. I remember these [as yet unpublished] drafts very well because while I was analyzing subject headings for them, I got involved in reading about his company, American Marine Industries, Inc. It was a poignant story. I told Mr. Chester that and about what really moved me in his writing. Mr. Chester was touched by my words and took a checkbook from his pocket and made out a check for the Luce Library in the amount of $500." [BTW - A Sailor's Odyssey is still available for sale at the Maritime Industry Museum.)

GARDEN STATE ALUMNI EVENT - A heads up from CHARLES E. HUDSON JR., Class of 1990: "The New Jersey Chapter of the Maritime College Alumni Association invites you and your friends to its next meeting at Bertucci's Pizzeria, Woodbridge, NJ on Wednesday, October 16th from 6 to 9 PM."

"The new college president, VICE ADMIRAL JOHN RYAN will be our guest. Please join us in welcoming Admiral Ryan aboard and meet and greet fellow alumni. We welcome those who live or work in or near New Jersey." The restaurant is also conveniently located close to Staten Island at 877 St. George Avenue, Woodbridge, at the corner of Rts. 1 and 35.

$20 per person at door with cash bar. Reservations are required. You can contact JAMIE McNAMARA, Class of 1994, via e-mail at JMcNamara@aclcargo.com to confirm or with questions.