PAUL L. MELLOTT, JR., LT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Lt. Paul Mellott, Jr. '70, USN was lost on May 20, 1979 when his helicopter crashed while en route to the Brunswick (Maine) Naval Air Station from Norfolk, Virginia. The four other men aboard were also killed; they were all members of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 30. Paul was a native of Funkstown, Maryland, where in high school he played football, baseball, and track & field teams. He married his wife on June 7, 1970; he was survived by her, their daughter & son, two sisters, brother, and a paternal grandmother.

To Honor! ⚓

(We and the Alumni Association have lost contact with the family. If you know how to contact them please email memorial@runtohonor.com.)

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/PAUL_L._MELLOTT,_JR.,_LT,_USN

MELVIN H. BROWN, LT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Lt. Melvin Brown '70, USN was lost on August 23, 1979, when he crashed near Tonopah (Nevada) Test Range airfield. He was piloting a Soviet MiG-17F that belonged to the Air Force's 4477th Test and Evaluation Flight, though he was a member of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 4.

From the Class of 1970 40th Reunion Book:

Melvin Hugh Brown came to USNA from Roanoke, Virginia. His dad was a 30-year CPO, so Hugh knew what to expect at USNA. He adapted effortlessly, or so it appeared to the rest of us. He always seemed bemused by what was going on around him, even when doing pushups into a pool of sweat. Hugh was a gifted athlete, laconic and kind, irresistible to women (a great dancer), and always gracious.

Before flight school, Hugh went to Eglin AFB, and met Linda, a 19-year old girl even more charming than he. In September 1972, several of us attended his wedding in Virginia. On his second shore duty tour in San Diego, he and Linda were joined by Brady and Brian. Hugh loved being a father – even changed his name tag to “Daddy.”

Hugh was a respected, accomplished pilot. As described by his commanding officer: Hugh Brown was a good pilot without being brash … he was a wonderfully warm man with a great sense of humor. He was a great guy to have on your team because he didn’t care who got the credit.

To Honor! ⚓

(We and the Naval Academy Alumni Association have lost contact with the family. If you know how to find them please email memorial@runtohonor.com.)

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/MELVIN_H._BROWN,_LT,_USN

JACK A. FISHER, LCDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Lt. Cmdr. Jack Fisher '70, USN was lost on October 29, 1981 when the EA-6B Prowler he was aboard crashed near Virginia Beach, Virginia. He and the other two crew aboard had just departed Naval Air Station Norfolk on their way to USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67); they were members of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138 based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.

From the April 1982 issue of Shipmate:

Appointed to the Naval Academy from the State of California, LCdr. Fisher was graduated with the Class of 1970 and ordered to instruction as a naval flight officer, receiving his wings in 1971. Naval tours began with VQ-2 Rota, Spain, form August 1971 to August 1974, flying strategic reconnaissance missions as an electronic warfare evaluator, then serving as a geographical area intelligence analyst in West Germany from August 1974 through August 1976.

Later he had training with VAQ-129 at Whidbey Naval Air Station, and from 1976 was a resident of Oak Harbor. He also served with VAQ-133 as electronic warfare officer, making cruises in KENNEDY and FORRESTAL with the Sixth Fleet May of 1977 to November 1979. He was assigned to VAQ-129 as squadron assistant operations officer and later squadron safety officer from November 1979 until July 1981, and then reported to VAQ-138 as administrative officer.

His decorations included the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Commendation, and the Joint Service Commendation.

He is survived by his widow Jane, Oak Harbor, WA; a daughter; his parents and a brother.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/JACK_A._FISHER,_LCDR,_USN

STUART R. POWRIE, LCDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Lt. Cmdr. Stuart Powrie '70, USN was lost on February 22, 1982 when his A-4F Skyhawk stalled and then crashed during Blue Angels practice near Naval Air Facility El Centro, California. He was piloting aircraft #5.

From the Class of 1970's 40th Reunion Book:

Stu was born in Miami, Oklahoma, and raised in Akron, Ohio, where he attended Firestone High School before appointment to USNA. Stu was a competitive swimmer throughout high school and Academy days, and set two USNA records in the breaststroke.

Stu was designated a Naval Aviator in April 1972. Upon completion of training in the F-4 Phantom, he reported to Fighter Squadron 161, which deployed to the Western Pacific for two years aboard the aircraft carrier USS MIDWAY (CV 41). He served as the Squadron Landing Signal Officer and Quality Assurance Officer during his tour with the “Rock Rivers.” Stu entered the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey in 1975, where received a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Stu was then assigned to the Pacific Missile Test Center at Pt. Mugu, California. While at PMTC, he served as a Project Officer in the Flight Test Division, Flying the F-4, F-14, and T-39 aircraft. Stu then deployed in November 1979 aboard the aircraft carrier USS CORAL SEA (CV 43) to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Stu was assigned to the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, the “Blue Angels” in October 1980, after accumulating more than 2000 flight hours and 320 carrier landings. As their lead solo pilot, his flying was seen by over 10 million people throughout the United States and Canada as he performed the thrilling Blue Angels maneuvers during their 1981 season. He also personally comforted and gave hope to many people who were ill and handicapped as he visited countless hospitals.

He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, and mother.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/STUART_R._POWRIE,_LCDR,_USN

STEVEN A. HAZELRIGG, CAPT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Capt. Steven Hazelrigg '70, USN was lost on August 15, 1990 when the A-6E Intruder aircraft he was piloting suffered a catastrophic flight control failure and crashed near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. The other man aboard ejected and survived. Steven was the Chief Test Pilot of the Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron. He became a naval aviator in 1972 and was Intruder Pilot of the Year in 1974. He had two operational tours before entering the Navy Test Pilot School in 1978. In 1982 he returned to the fleet; in 1984 he was executive officer of Attack Squadron (VA) 128. He next was executive officer and then commanding officer of Attack Squadron (VA) 145.

He was posthumously promoted to Captain a week after his death.

Steven was survived by his two daughters, his mother, father, and a brother. He is buried in Texas.

To Honor! ⚓

(We and the Naval Academy Alumni Association have lost contact with the family. If you know how to find them please tell us!)

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/STEVEN_A._HAZELRIGG,_CAPT,_USN

JAMES L. SMEE, MAJ, USMC '70

Major James Smee, USMC '70. From the Lucky Bag: "First coming to Annapolis from Tehran, Jim, a defector from an Army family, occasionally called Fort Lupton, Colorado, Fort Monroe, Virginia, or San Francisco, home. After spending Plebe year as an intramural jock, he renounced the dusty fields for the musty corner of Maury Hall that houses the debate team, where he became a member of the first string. As the result of his debating feats, Jim managed to avoid the Naval Academy on weekends, but still managed to remain high in the class. Although his workouts were primarily composed of carrying around two bags of file cards, while leaving the more difficult evidence carrying to his nefarious forensic colleague, the Dwarf, Jim managed to try sailing and squash as well. His military and academic prowess, tied with a truly genuine interest in others, will make him a fine officer."

In the Class of 1970's 40th Reunion Book: "Jim began flight training in April 1971 in Pensacola, after completing The Basic School at Quantico. He received his wings in Kingsville, Texas in October 1972. His first assignment was F-4 squadron VMFA 235 in Kaneohe, Hawaii. He was selected for the Olmsted Scholar Program, class of 1975, and spent two years at the Institut d’Etude Politiques in Grenoble, France. Upon his return, he was deployed for a year to Iwakuni, Japan. After attending Amphibious Warfare School in 1978-9, he spent three years in Beaufort with VMFA 122 and 312, deploying to Iwakuni as the Operations Officer of VMFA 312. In January 1983, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk. In August 1983, he was assigned to MAWTS-1 in Yuma, Arizona. At the time of his death in May 1984, he was serving as the Operations Officer of MAWTS-1.

Jim married Susan Garnett in September, 1970, in Ft. Riley, Kansas. They had two daughters, Melissa Kristine Smee Walker and Sarah “Gayle” Smee Minden. Melissa lives in Nashville with her husband Tim, and has three children: James Lawton, Katherine Alexandra, and Margaret Susan. Gayle lives in Denver with her husband, Vaun, and has one child: Zoe Elizabeth. Susan Smee lives in Burke, Virginia. We miss Jim every day."

Jim's family will be joining many others this weekend as we honor their incredible service and sacrifice at the annual Honor Our Fallen Heroes event.

JAMES L. SMEE, MAJ, USMC