Almost 66 Classmates (62 actually), their spouses and guests, and several widows of classmates convened at the fabulous Alfond Inn in Winter Park for the 2025 USNA 66 Florida Comearound. We enjoyed two and a half days of reminiscence, camaraderie, wining & dining, sightseeing, shopping, golfing and relaxation.
Click HERE to see pictures and read about the fabulous events of the 2025 Florida Comearound.
Many people dream of moving overseas to become an expat. For all those who wish to consider such an option or wonder how a “Year in Provence” would work out, we invite you to join the ’66 Class zoom on Tuesday 15 April at 2 pm ET.
Classmate, Brent Canaday (7th Company) will discuss how he and his wife made that journey to southern Spain several years ago.
Longer term overseas residents including Joe Taussig (30th Company) have planned to join in that exposition.
Joe Taussig lives in Erlenbach, Switzerland.
Click HERE for more information about how to join the Class zoom. Wives and Widows are encouraged to join the zoom, too!
Every year since 1983, the Naval Academy and St. John’s College have squared off in a croquet match called the Annapolis Cup. The legend says an Academy commandant told a St. John’s freshman that Navy could beat St. John’s in any sport. The freshman suggested croquet and the Annapolis Cup was born.
That commandant turned out to be very wrong with St. John’s winning 32 of the 40 matches until 5 April when Navy pulled off a rare upset to claim the trophy.
Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Yvette M. Davids, left, gives the Midshipmen a pep talk before the match. The 41st Annapolis Cup croquet match between the St. John’s College Johnnies and the visiting U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen was played Saturday on St. John’s Annapolis campus. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
The annual Annapolis Cup croquet match between the U.S. Naval Academy and St. John’s College brought out big crowds and friendly competition, with the Naval Academy reclaiming the trophy. St. John’s College was recognized for best uniform, arriving dressed like croquet fields. USNA’s Bill the Goat earned best mascot honors, Naptown Brass Band won for liveliest music, and dancers were awarded for bringing the most energy to the event.
Click HERE for more photos on the 2025 event from the Annapolis Capital. Click HERE for the Annapolis Cup Croquet Fact Sheet. Click HERE for a brief Youtube video on the history of this storied competition.
Charlie Votava (17 Company) shares what he learned through trial and error to save fellow USNA66 Classmates time and frustration in meeting a new VA requirement.
Access to your VA medical records and communication with your VA medical professionals using your “my healthevet” User ID and Password will no longer work after 4 March 2025. Now you need to create either a Login.gov or ID.me account. If you have been accessing your VA account using a DS.Logon User ID and PW you will be able to access your VA account until 30 Sep 2025. After 30 Sep 2025 all must have a Login.gov or ID.me account with a new User ID and Password.
To create your new account just Google “va.gov”. When that page opens, click on “Create Account” in the white box and follow the step by step (lengthy) instructions to create either a Login.gov account or an ID.me account. Each page you open in stepping through the registration offers additional menus to click on to help explain completing each section of the application.
Alternatively, at the bottom of that same white box the underlined “Learn how an account helps you” opens numerous pages of help in selecting and completing your Login.gov or ID.me account.
Before you begin creating either account, have immediately at hand, your:
valid US driver’s license or state issued ID card
Social Security number
email address and cell phone associated specifically with YOUR name and email address
I found it also very helpful to use a PC or Laptop to complete the registration and use my cell phone to receive the one-time codes, read the email instructions and the verification key. Not having to switch back and forth between email, text messages and the application form, all on the same device, finally prevented many missteps and having to begin over again.
Briefly…if you live outside the US and/or do not have a valid US Driver’s License or state issued ID card, you will need to select the ID.me option. It obviously requires additional personal information, e.g., a passport, and is a little more complicated and probably takes more time to complete because it may require using US mail. I do not have any info on the ID.me process. I applied through Login.gov.
Near the end of completing the Login.gov option (and probably the ID.me), you must photograph both sides of your driver’s license or state issued ID card and upload and print it into the two boxes in the on-line page of the registration form. Once you have printed both sides into the boxes, click on “submit” and a notice lets you know it is evaluating your photos. A notice will tell you if they are accepted or not and recommends what to do, if not. You get four tries to get the photos accepted.
I found it impossible to take acceptable photos. One step early in the application process offers you the option of “verifying your identity by appearing at a US Post Office”. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND TAKING THIS OPTION VERSUS TAKING PHOTOS WITH YOUR PHONE! Saves an hour of frustration. After entering your zip code, you see a list of nearest Post Offices; and continuing the registration, you receive an email with a barcode to take to the post office – no appointment necessary. At the Post Office after scanning your driver’s license and the bar code, you are told to look for an email in a few hours validating your identity. Done in 30 seconds!
Now go home and create your new USER ID and Password. Test it immediately.
Join the Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation for a roundtable discussion on 24 April moderated by ADM Robert Natter ’67, USN (Ret.), centered on the emergence of the SEAL community in Vietnam and their unique ability to operate in a guerilla warfare environment. ADM Natter was the officer in charge of a SEAL boat support detachment in the lower Mekong Delta. In 1971, he earned a Silver Star for his actions following an ambush in the Nam Can region of Vietnam while supporting a Vietnamese SEAL platoon.
Panelists include:
CAPT Tom Murphy ’66, USN (Ret.) – Silver Star recipient who served with Seal Team Two in Vietnam and whose post-war commands included SEAL Team One and SEAL Team Six. He authored Beyond the Trident which documents some of his experiences as a SEAL team member in Vietnam and tips for overcoming life’s trauma.
CAPT Dick Couch ’67, USN (Ret.) – As platoon commander with SEAL Team One in 1970, he led one of the few successful POW rescue operations of the Vietnam War. He has authored several books spotlighting SEALs including By Honor Bound and Navy SEALs: Their Untold Story. CAPT Sandy Prouty ’67, USNR (Ret.) – Silver Star recipient who served with SEAL Team Detachment GOLF, MIKE Platoon in Vietnam. He joined the FBI in 1973 where he would become the agency’s third in command.
The Alumni Association is working with Naval Academy leadership to invite and host many of the 32 1/C Midshipmen who have been selected for Naval Special Warfare. It also is inviting more recent alumni to provide their perspectives on the SEAL community. Registration is now open: Click HERE. Cost is $10 for Naval Academy alumni. The program will commence at 3:30 p.m. on 24 April at the Fluegel Alumni Center in Annapolis. To see content from the Legacy of Valor: Vietnam War series visit Legacy of Valor Vietnam.
Twenty-five Classmates, wives and guests listened to an inspiring and enthusiastic talk by VADM Yvette M. Davids, 65th Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. VADM Davids is a 1989 graduate of the Naval Academy and has served as a SWO throughout her Naval Career. She has held several commands throughout her career, including a Frigate, a Cruiser, and the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group. She is the first woman to serve as the Superintendent of the Naval Academy, assuming her duties in January 2024.
VADM Davids flanked by Class President, Jim Long and his wife, Nancy. Jim and Nancy’s nephew goes to the same school as the Supe’s son, and they are good friends.
VADM Davids described her goals of graduating our country’s future Naval Leaders, stressing Character through Truth, Unity and Teamwork. She also gave an update on the current scholastic trends at the Academy, including changes to the curriculum and culture, to coincide with the recent directive on changes from the CNO.
VADM Davids concluded her update by detailing the infrastructure improvements being made at the Academy to prevent future flooding of Academy grounds and buildings.
The next Class luncheon will be held on Wednesday, 9 July 2025.
NEW: The Daily Shipmate is a new publication intended to share news about the Naval Academy, the Naval Services, and its members. It is apolitical as an organization and strives to bring forward relevant news on a wide variety of issues. Click HERE is you wish to subscribe.
The on-line Tricare Patient Portal medical records sites (TOL PP) has transitioned to a new system: MHS GENESIS Patient Portal (MHS PP). Use MHSG PP for your online healthcare requests and to view your current Health Record (HR) data. Click HERE for more information.
On 1 April 2025, TOL PP will be decommissioned. Prepare now by downloading/printing your historical HR data that is not available on the MHSG PP.
Log in to TOL PP to download and save your HR data to PDF or store in CCD format for uploading into a personal health record (PHR) of your choice. Click herefor instructions on how to print your Health Record data. Instructions to download HR data from TOL PP is also located on the “TOL Health Record” page within the FAQs.
TOL PP will no longer be available to users after 1 April 2025.
Final note: if you use Tricare for Life, it uses a different portal and is not impacted by this transition.
Save the Date – Legacy of Valor: Vietnam War – SEALs roundtable – 24 April 2025
Join the Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation for a roundtable discussion moderated by ADM Robert Natter ’67, USN (Ret.), centered on the emergence of the SEAL community in Vietnam and their unique ability to operate in a guerilla warfare environment. Panelists include: ADM Robert Natter, who was the officer in charge of a SEAL boat support detachment in the lower Mekong Delta. In 1971, he earned a Silver Star for his actions following an ambush in the Nam Can region of Vietnam while supporting a Vietnamese SEAL platoon.
CAPT Tom Murphy ’66, USN (Ret.) – Silver Star recipient who served with Seal Team two in Vietnam and whose post-war commands included SEAL Team One and SEAL Team Six. He authored Beyond the Trident which documents some of his experiences as a SEAL team member in Vietnam and tips for overcoming life’s trauma.
CAPT Dick Couch ’67, USN (Ret.) – As platoon commander with SEAL Team One in 1970, he led one of the few successful POW rescue operations of the Vietnam War. He has authored several books spotlighting SEALs including By Honor Bound and Navy SEALs: Their Untold Story. CAPT Sandy Prouty ’67, USNR (Ret.) – Silver Star recipient who served with SEAL Team Detachment GOLF, MIKE Platoon in Vietnam. He joined the FBI in 1973 where he would become the agency’s third in command.
The Alumni Association is working with Naval Academy leadership to invite and host many of the 32 1/C Midshipmen who have been selected for Naval Special Warfare. It also is inviting more recent alumni to provide their perspectives on the SEAL community. Registration will open April 2, 2025.
On Wednesday, 12 March 2025, the Class will hold its semi-annual luncheon at the Fleet Reserve Club, Annapolis, MD
The Class is privileged to have Vice Adm. Yvette M. Davids, Superintendant of the Academy, as its featured speaker. Click HERE for a current biography of VADM Davids.
As usual, the Luncheon will begin about 1130, buffet lunch at 1200, and our Guest Speaker at about 1230. Cost of the luncheon will be $45 per person. Wives, Widows and Guests are most welcome to join us.
Classmates are encouraged to attend this Luncheon to hear what’s going on at the Academy.
For more information and to register, contact Chuck Grutzius at elexsys.cg@att.net.
