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