Vice Adm. Craig A. “Clap” Clapperton, Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / U.S. TENTH Fleet / Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber (Navy), has agreed to be our Guest Speaker at our Wednesday, 9 July 2025 Class Luncheon at The Fleet Reserve Club in Annapolis, MD.
VADM Clapperton has a very interesting background. He is a 1989 graduate of Pennsylvania State University and became a Naval Flight Officer in 1991. He is a Distinguished Graduate of the Naval War College, and he completed the Navy Nuclear Power Training Program in 2010. His commands include the Shadowhawks of VAQ-141, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), and Carrier Strike Group TWELVE, and the U. S. Sixth Fleet. He assumed command of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. 10th Fleet in August 2022.
The Luncheon will begin at 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. Contact Mike Baird by Thursday 3 July at pmbaird@verizon.net if you plan to attend. As always, should you be able to attend at the last minute, please come as there is always room for one more!
Class ’66 USS GONZALEZ (DDG 66) Leadership Awards Ceremony and Evening Before Gathering.
From Charlie Votava (17th Company), POC for the Tidewater/Norfolk area.
Tuesday evening, 16 September: there will be a ’66 gathering of Classmates, spouses, widows and SO’s.
Wednesday, 17 September: Leadership Awards Ceremony where we are normally invited to coffee, introductions and conversation prior to the ceremony with CO, XO, CMC and sometimes the DESRON Commander, followed by lunch with the officers and the two members of the crew receiving the awards.
Click HERE for more information on the Class of ’66 Leadership Awards.
No later than mid-July I will be asking for commitments to attend both the ceremony and the evening gathering to get a handle on who will attend which or both events.
CONSIDERATION: Please keep in mind mobility issues. Those attending the onboard ceremony will have to navigate two levels of interior ships’ ladders plus a third ladder to/from the fantail as well as ascending/descending the brow to/from the Quarterdeck.
The U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Columbarium – the final resting place for many USNA graduates and their spouses since opening in 1987 – is now out of available niches.
USNA AA&F, in close partnership with the Naval Academy, is actively working on plans to expand the Columbarium. This Columbarium expansion project aims to ensure that those who wish to be inurned at the Academy will again eventually be able to do so. Their immediate plan involves the construction of a new 650 niche wall at the top of the hill, overlooking College Creek.
Project estimated at $2.5 million. $1 million has been raised with $1.5 million needed in additional philanthropic support for it to move forward.
Click HERE for letter from Steve Comiskey ’69, Chair, USNA Council of Class Presidents, for a situation update as of 22 May 2025.
Click HERE for Information Slide Deck presented to Class Presidents May 2025.
AA/F General Fund #: 65590002: Columbarium Maintenance & Expansion Fund. POC: Bill Hebert ’82 Director, Class Legacy Programs bill.hebert@usna.com 410-295-4146
Last Wednesday, May 20th, the Class of 1966 “Band of Sisters” had its 183rd session and celebrated five years together! Above are 2 screenshots (note they are slightly different) featuring 19 ladies in total.
For more details including music and an announcement of the upcoming Summer Reading List discussion, Click HERE.
The 2025 Leadership Awards for USS GONZALEZ will be presented on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, on board GONZALEZ in Norfolk, VA. Al Konetzni (36th Company) will represent the Class and make the presentations. Consistent with previous award presentations, the ceremony will begin at 1100 with lunch in the Wardroom after the ceremony.
’66 Classmates are encouraged to attend as the CO and the entire Crew display the utmost courtesy and hospitality to members of The Class during our visit to GONZALEZ.
Charlie Votava (17th Company) is the POC for the Tidewater/Norfolk area. Please contact him or Chuck Grutzius (33rd Company) with any questions.
UPDATE ON 2 EVENTS CELEBRATING THE GONZALEZ AWARDS
Wednesday, 16 September 1700-2000 (5-8 pm)
Trudy Hoff, widow of Mick Hoff (29th Company), has graciously offered to host the class gathering at her lovely home. NOTE: address will be provided to attendees.
Thursday, 17 September 1100
VADM Al Konetzni will present the awards on board USS GONZALEZ, Naval Station Norfolk, VA, at 1100 on 17 September. We are normally invited to coffee, introductions and conversation with CO, XO, CMC, prior to proceeding to the fantail for the ceremony, which is followed by lunch in the Wardroom. Attendance at this ceremony is encouraged as the CO and the entire Crew display the utmost courtesy and hospitality to members of The Class during our visit to GONZALEZ.
IMPORTANT NOTES
RSVPs for each event must be sent to Charlie Votava NO LATER THAN COB Tuesday, 2 September. This date will allow sufficient time to complete planning for Tuesday evening and to coordinate with GONZALEZ Action Officer participation in the onboard ceremony.
MOBILITY should be considered regarding participation in the Wednesday onboard GONZALEZ ceremony. Those attending the onboard ceremony will have to navigate two levels of interior ships ladders plus a third ladder to/from the fantail as well ascending/descending the brow to/from the pier and Quarterdeck.
For Out of Town Attendees: Charlie Votava can provide information on local hotel, Navy Lodges and MWR oceanfront condo reservations.
For more information on The Class of 1966 Leadership Awards, Click HERE.
NORFOLK, VA. (Apr 18, 2025) – While underway in March 2025, USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) hosted Capt Edward J. Pledger, Commodore of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22 during the final days of a month-long underway to present Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals (NAMS) alongside Gonzalez’ Commanding Officer, Cmdr Katrina Stegner, and witness Sailors being pinned for Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS).
During the 25-day underway, Gonzalez participated in a series of high-level operations including USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7)’s Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT), Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), and Exercise Nautical Twilight involving the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group. Gonzalez performed exceptionally throughout, prompting the Commodore’s visit to witness the crew’s performance firsthand and to celebrate their accomplishments. Click HERE to read more.
The Class of 1966 established a leadership award in 1996 to recognize heroism and tied it to the USS GONZALEZ (DDG 66), a ship with our class number. This award provided an opportunity to maintain a tangible class tie to the fleet as classmates attrited. Click HERE for more on the Class of 1966 awards.
’66 Classmates, wives and widows are invited to the 29 April Zoom at 2:00 pm ET. The topic will be “Veterans’ Diseases Associated with Agent Orange“.
Mitch Henderson, USNA ’65, will share information regarding a support group established for Classmates and their caregiver spouses that addresses Agent Orange-related illnesses from the Vietnam Era to include Parkinson’s. Click HERE for a list of these diseases.
’66 Class Wellness Coordinator, Phil Bozzelli (20th Company), reports that, “In addition to hearing about the support they are providing, we (Class of ’66) will be assessing how we can establish our own support network.
Since a vast number of our Classmates have served in Vietnam and its waters and are part of this eligibility group, this may be not only an informative but important session,” he added.
For information on how to access the 29 April Zoom, Click HERE.
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.
