CAPT RICHARD H. BRIGGS, USMC

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Capt Richard Briggs '69, USMC was lost on June 5, 1974 when the AV-8 Harrier he was piloting crashed while landing at Camp Lejune, North Carolina. He was a member of Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 542. "Rick" had recently converted to the Harrier from the A-4 Skyhawk; he had only 44 hours of flying time in the Harrier. He was from "the arid wasteland or plush tropical desert of Arizona, which ever you prefer." He spent a year at Arizona State University prior to arriving at the Naval Academy. He was survived by his wife and parents.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/honorees/capt-richard-h-briggs-usmc/

LT JAMES L. FEENEY, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Lt. James Feeney '69, USN was lost when the A-7 Corsair II he was piloting crashed off the coast of Japan. He was a member of Attack Squadron (VA) 93 and operating from USS Midway (CV 41). Jim graduated high school in Tucson, Arizona and then spent a year at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Following his graduation from the Academy he attended flight school and then completed a master's degree in aeronautical engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School. Jim married in December 1969; together he and his wife had a son and a daughter. All three survived him, as did his father (a retired USAF Colonel), his mother, sister, and brother.

To Honor! ⚓

https://v2.usnamemorialhall.org/honorees/lt-james-l-feeney-usn/

LT DAVID M. LUMSDEN, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Lt. David Lumsden '69, USN was lost on November 20, 1974 when the A-6 Intruder he was piloting crashed during nighttime landing practice near Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. David was a graduate of Encinal High in Alameda, California.

From the Lucky Bag:

A Navy Junior, Dave hails from just about everywhere but calls San Francisco his home. Dave came straight from Encinal High in Alameda, eager to make his mark at the Academy. Not one for numbers, Dave was a management minor in the truest sense of the word. Far more active outside the academic departments, he attended Jump school and became a qualified Scuba instructor. He was just as active in sports, trying his hand at everything from varsity sailing to company handball. His willingness to help, to work, and above all to have a good time will add materially to Dave’s future success as an officer.

Following graduation he served in USS Eversole off Vietnam. After returning to the United States, he enrolled in flight training and received his wings in 1971 at Pensacola. He was then assigned to Glynco, Georgia. While there, he received his MA in Business Administration from the University of Georgia. David was transferred to Attack Squadron (VA) 95 last June.

He was survived by his parents and brother.

To Honor! ⚓

https://v2.usnamemorialhall.org/honorees/lt-david-m-lumsden-usn/

LT NILE R. KRAFT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Lt. Nile Kraft '69, USN was lost on February 22, 1977 when the A-4 Skyhawk he was piloting crashed near El Centro, California. He was a member of the Blue Angels. Nile was a native of Gilman, Illinois, where he was a member the band, dance band, student council, French club, basketball, football -- where he was also captain -- class president, national honor society, and in the senior play.

Following flight training, he flew 223 combat missions over Vietnam and recorded 333 carrier-arrested landings. His decorations included two Distinguished Flying Crosses, 26 Air Medals (three of which were for individual action), 8 Navy Commendation Medals with Combat V, 2 Navy Unit Commendations, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, the Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, and service and campaign medals.

Nile was survived by his wife and parents.

To Honor! ⚓

https://v2.usnamemorialhall.org/honorees/lt-nile-r-kraft-usn/

CAPT THOMAS D. PASQUALE, USMC

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Capt. Thomas Pasquale '69, USMC was lost on July 18, 1979 when the Harrier jet he was piloting crashed in Wettenberg, Germany. He was an exchange officer with the Royal Air Force’s No. 4 Squadron.

From the Lucky Bag:

Tom reported to Canoe U. from Perkasie, Pennsylvania, only to find out that his charcoal curls and his picnic basket would not be tolerated. His intense pursuit of an Aero major at Navy left little time for Tom to practice his soccer or guitar during the week; but always time on the weekends for a party with the fellas or an occasional trip home. His goodnatured personality coupled with common sense, lack of pettiness and a very mature and professional outlook to the future will inevitably lead Tom to a rewarding life in the Navy.

Tom married on July 4, 1970. In August 1978, he was chosen to represent the Marine Corps in an exchange program with the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom. As a Harrier pilot, he joined an English AV-8 Harrier Squadron in Whittering for eight months and then transferred to Gutersloh, a UK base in northern Germany for two years. He was accompanied by his wife Jennifer and daughter Samantha.

Tom was survived by his wife, daughter, mother, and sister.

To Honor! ⚓

https://v2.usnamemorialhall.org/honorees/capt-thomas-d-pasquale-usmc/

LCDR GERALD W. JENKINS, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Lt. Cmdr. Gerald Jenkins '69, USN was lost on March 16, 1981 in some kind of incident aboard USS America (CVA 66). He was a member of Air Anti-Submarine Squadron (VS) 33, but it does not appear it was the result of an aircraft crash.

From the 1969 Lucky Bag:

Jenks opted for Canoe U. straight from high school fighting off offers from the other Academies and many universities. Quickly establishing a reputation as the best crammer in Mother B, he managed to maintain himself on Supt’s List by studying only on odd-numbered alternate Tuesday, leaving his remaining time to concentrate on more important things, such as sleep, company sports and girls. A believer in leadership by example, Wondy was always distinguished by his healthy appearance and his expertly kept hair. With his keen mind, professional motivation and cheerful helpfulness, Jerry will be a resounding success in whatever field he chooses to follow.

Following graduation, he attended flight training and was qualified as a naval aviator in 1971; he simultaneously completed postgraduate school at the University of West Florida. He was initially assigned to a training squadron in 1973, then received training in the then-new S-3 Viking. After an operational tour he served as an aide to Commander Naval Air Test Center and then at the Naval War College. He had been at VS-33 since March 1980, where he was the squadron's maintenance officer.

Gerald was survived by his wife, daughter, parents, sister, and two brothers.

To Honor! ⚓

https://v2.usnamemorialhall.org/honorees/lcdr-gerald-w-jenkins-usn/

MAJ THOMAS W. TYLER, USMC

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Maj. Thomas Tyler '69, USMC was lost on June 26, 1981 when the AV-8A Harrier he was piloting crashed into the Pacific Ocean during a demonstration flight near USS Tarawa (LHA 1). One of the witnesses was his fiancée.

Thomas came to the Naval Academy from Sparta, New Jersey via Admiral Farragut Academy; he was on the battalion boxing and company football teams. He initially qualified in helicopters, flew the CH-46 Sea Knight, and was an instructor pilot for several years before transitioning to jets.

In addition to his fiancée, he was survived by his seven-year-old daughter.

To Honor! ⚓

https://v2.usnamemorialhall.org/honorees/maj-thomas-w-tyler-usmc/

MAJ DAVID G. BUELL, USMC

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Maj David Buell '69, USMC, came to the Naval Academy from New Mexico Military Institute, following in his father’s footsteps. Classmates remembered him as an outstanding leader, a dedicated student, and someone known for his sense of humor, handstands in the hall, and ever-present puns. The 1969 Lucky Bag predicted that the Navy “couldn’t have asked for a finer officer.”

After graduation, David was commissioned in the Marine Corps and earned his wings as a naval aviator. His career included service in Vietnam, Hawaii, Quantico, and other assignments across the country. By 1983, he was serving as Executive Officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 115.

On November 4, 1983, David was killed when his F-4 Phantom crashed into the Atlantic off the coast of North Carolina. He was 35 years old. The aircraft had been participating in a memorial service honoring the Marines lost in the Beirut barracks bombing just days earlier. Air Force Captain Donald Spearel, serving as an exchange officer, was also killed in the crash.

Major Buell left behind his wife, Kari, and their three children.

To Honor! ⚓

https://v2.usnamemorialhall.org/honorees/maj-david-g-buell-usmc/

ROBERT L. LEDBETTER, III, LT, USNR

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Lt. Robert Ledbetter, III '69, USNR was a chaplain attached to the 26th Marine Amphibious Unit when the CH-53D he was riding in crashed immediately after taking off from USS Guadalcanal (LPH 7) on October 15, 1985. Fourteen Marines were killed and four survived; at the time it was the second-worst Marine Corps helicopter crash in history.

From Shipmate:

Born in Watseka, Illinois, he was raised in Norfolk where he graduated high school. He received an appointment to the Naval Academy with the Class of '69. Upon graduation and commissioning on 4 June 1969, Ensign Ledbetter reported to the oceangoing minesweeper USS Skill out of Charleston. He was next assigned to the recommissioning crew of USS Luce (DLG-38) in the yards at Philadelphia, but ultimately homeported in Newport. During 1973 and 1974 he assisted with the inception of the Navy's race relations program in Washington, D.C. After a year at the Pentagon, he resigned his commission.

During his hiatus from active duty, he worked as staff representative of the Officers' Christian Fellowship at the Naval Academy ('75-'77) and at the Coast Guard Academy ('77-'81), and subsequently as youth pastor of First Baptist Church of Wellsboro, Pa., while also serving on the staff of His Thousand Hills Youth Ranch ('81-'82). He earned a Masters of Theological Studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass., in 1979, and a Masters of Divinity from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia in 1984. While completing this later degree, he was awarded a fellowship to work in the Clinical Pastoral Education program at Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia.

In 1983 Mr. Ledbetter received his (conditional) commission as an ensign in the Theological Student Program and attended the Chaplains School Basic Course in Newport, R.I. during the summer. Upon completion, and ordination, he was commissioned as a Lt. (j.g.) CHC, USNR and was recalled to active duty in June 1984 to serve with 3/4 at Camp LeJeune.

Robert was survived by his wife, their three children, his parents and three sisters.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/ROBERT_L._LEDBETTER,_III,_LT,_USNR

DAVID D. PEPPIN, JR., PFC, USMC

David Peppin, Jr., '69, was only a member of his class for a few months; he left the Naval Academy shortly after plebe summer when he contracted double pneumonia. Several years later he enlisted in the Marine Corps and on July 10, 1969 was killed during a fire fight with North Vietnamese forces. He was a PFC and member of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

He was survived by his parents and at least one sister.

http://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/DAVID_D._PEPPIN,_JR.,_PFC,_USMC