ANTHONY J.R. BILOTTI, LTJG, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LTjg Anthony J.R. Bilotti '77, USN was lost on December 6, 1979 in a A-6E Intruder that crashed in the Mediterranean during practice bombing run at the Avgo Ni Si training range in Crete. He was a bombardier/navigator operating from USS Nimitz (CVN 68) with Attack Squadron (VA) 35. The pilot of the plane, LT(jg) Mark Gontkovic '76, USN, was also killed in the crash.

From the March 1980 issue of Shipmate:

Lt.(jg) Bilotti had recently written to his family, telling of his recognition of the danger in which he and his fellow airmen lived and indicating his dedication to the service. He stated, "In order for the air crew to survive, they must have a supreme degree of confidence in both themselves and their machines. They must push themselves in order to really know their capabilities....In this era of complacency, there are still men willing to face these odds, men who are ready to push themselves far into areas that they are unfamiliar with in order to better prepare themselves for that one time that all of their training will come into play."

While at the Academy he had been an accomplished sailor. Designated a naval flight officer on 26 August 1978, he completed the replacement air group syllabus at VS-42 and was assigned to Attack Squadron 35 on 11 April 1979, based at the Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred A. Bilotti, of Oakland CA; four brothers and his maternal grandparents.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/ANTHONY_J.R._BILOTTI,_LTJG,_USN

JOHN W. SMITH, JR., LTJG, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LTjg John Smith, Jr. '77, USN was lost on December 8, 1979 in the crash of his S-3A Viking near Rota, Spain.

From the March 1980 issue of Shipmate:

Born in Fort Lee, Virginia, he was the elder son in a family of six children and was appointed to the Naval Academy from the State of Virginia. While at the Academy, he was an active member of the karate club. Upon graduation with the Class of 1977, he was assigned to VP-45 as assistant to the administration officer and first lieutenant until reporting for flight training in January of 1978. He was designated naval flight officer on 19 October 1978 and following completion of the replacement air group syllabus at VS-41, reported to VS-30 in September, 1979.

His absence will be deeply felt by his family and friends, the aviation community, and especially by those who grew to know and depend on him — the men of Air Antisubmarine Squadron 30.

He is survived by his widow Phyliss, of Jacksonville, FL.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/JOHN_W._SMITH,_JR.,_LTJG,_USN

STEPHEN D. SCOTT, 1LT, USMC

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

1LT Stephen Scott '77, USMC was lost on February 13, 1980 when the A-4 Skyhawk he was piloting crashed immediately after takeoff at Yuma, Arizona.

From the Lucky Bag:

Daly City, Prep School, and Navy Football all benefited from Steve’s presence. Never lacking a wise crack or confidence, this quiet, dark haired preppy from the Coast won friends from the start. Steve is the only one who can walk through a gale and come out with his hair unruffled. One thing is certain, from the classroom and J.F.K. Stadium he will take the winning spirit and determination that so characterized him at the Academy.

Stephen was survived by his parents, Denzil and Mary; his fiancée Laura Youngs of San Antonio; and his siblings Joanne, Michael, Robert, Thomas, Nancy and Mary.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/STEPHEN_D._SCOTT,_1LT,_USMC

PATRICK J. CONROY, LTJG, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LTjg Patrick Conroy '77, USN was lost on April 17, 1980 when the P-3 Orion patrol plane he was copiloting crashed at Pago Pago, Samoa during an airshow. Five others aboard the aircraft were also killed, as was a person on the ground. The airplane had clipped the cable of an aerial tramway.

A native of Missouri City, Texas, the Lucky Bag noted "Pat is the typical tall Texan except for those 'little baby feets.'… With his blond hair and good looks what could he be but a fighter pilot. After teaching the new plebes sailing he'll be heading down to Pensacola to rough it on the beach during the day and club it at night. He’s sure to turn out to be a good pilot and a good officer."

He was survived by his parents, a sister, and brother.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/PATRICK_J._CONROY,_LTJG,_USN

PAUL J. CAPPELLINO, LTJG, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LTjg Paul Cappellino '77, USN was lost on July 16, 1980 when the CH-46 helicopter he was co-piloting crashed while performing a routine supply replenishment operation between the frigate USS Davidson and the supply ship USS Wichita (AOR 1). Two others were also lost; the pilot was injured but survived. All were members of the helicopter detachment aboard Wichita.

A native of Gouverneur, New York, Paul attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School for a year prior to the Academy. He was survived by his father.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/PAUL_J._CAPPELLINO,_LTJG,_USN

JAMES D. WATKINS, LTJG, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LTjg James Watkins '77, USN was lost on September 11, 1980 when the A-7E Corsair II he was piloting crashed during a practice bombing mission at Naval Weapons Center China Lake, California. He was a member of Attack Squadron (VA) 195.

Jim grew up in Chula Vista, California; his father was a Naval Aviator prior to his death when Jim was 11 years old.

He had earned his wings in September 1979 and had only been in VA-195 since June.

He was survived by his mother and three brothers. Jim was the second of the four boys; the third emailed in February 2024:

Without a father during our teen years, Dan and I looked up to Jim and Bob as role models. Bob was the studious one, whom we mostly went to for help with homework, and Jim we looked up to for everything else. He also made sure nothing bad happened to us. I remember one time when Dan was bullied by some kids around the corner from us. When Jim found out he was going to make sure it stopped, so he took us over there to have a talk with the kids. The issue was resolved peacefully and Dan was never bullied again.

As siblings we got along very well with each other. Of course we had our little squabbles and disagreements like any family, but never anything serious. There was the time I pushed Jim out the bedroom window when I was mad at him, and I had to lock every door to make sure he cooled off before I let him back in. But he convinced me that the longer I waited to let him in the worse it was going to be for me, so I let him in, he gave me a couple of short punches in the arm and that was it. Actually it was all in fun. In fact, we all often played together and had a lot of fun. Jim liked to demonstrate his wrestling moves on us, despite our insistence that it wasn’t necessary.

Jim was always looking for adventure as a youngster and was not afraid to take chances. Once, a friend was showing him how to ride his motorcycle. Jim rode it down the street, but not knowing how to stop it, he jumped the curb at the end of the street and crashed into the fountain in the yard of the house there. Jim never told my mom about it, but after he returned the bike to his friend, he went over to the house to apologize to the man who lived there. The man was impressed that Jim owned up to it and offered to pay for any damage. He said he wouldn’t tell our mom. Years later, when we were celebrating Jim’s graduation from Annapolis the story came up and my mom said it’s a good thing she never knew about it or she would have had a heart attack.

That’s all I will share for now. Jim was a wonderful brother. He was well liked and admired by us as well as all our friends. I still miss him and often wonder what it would have been like to have him around all these years. May he rest in peace.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/JAMES_D._WATKINS,_LTJG,_USN

MICHAEL F. BROWN, LT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT Michael Brown '77, USN was lost on August 4, 1982 when the EA-3B Skywarrior he was piloting crashed in the Indian Ocean during a training flight from USS Ranger (CV 61). Five other crewmen were also killed; one man aboard survived. They were members of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 1.

A native of Dallas, Texas, he attended the Naval Academy following a year at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island. He was survived by his wife, two young sons, and two sisters.

To Honor! ⚓

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

MICHAEL J. OHLER, CAPT, USMC

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

CAPT Michael Ohler, '77 USMC was killed in action in Lebanon on October 16, 1983 during a firefight with militia. He was a pilot who was assigned to the First Battalion, Eighth Marines as an aviation liaison.

In the Lucky Bag: He enjoys "the great outdoors and has been the foremost camping and backpacking authority in the company… A finer and more loyal friend than Mike could not be found."

A native of Huntington, New York, Michael was survived by his wife, two-year-old daughter, three-month-old son, and parents.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/MICHAEL_J._OHLER,_CAPT,_USMC

STEPHEN J. BURLEY, CAPT, USMC

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Captain Stephen Burley '77, USMC was lost on March 24, 1984 when the helicopter he was piloting crashed during a joint military exercise with South Korean marines. Twenty-eight others were also killed.

From the November 1984 issue of Shipmate:

After attending the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas, he was appointed to the Naval Academy Class of 1977 from the State of New Jersey. Upon graduation he was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Marine Corps and reported to The Basic School at Quantico, Virginia. Following his designation as a Naval Aviator on 2 November 1979, he was ordered to MAG-16, 3rd MAW, onboard MCAS (H) Tustin.

At the time of his death, he was deployed to Okinawa with HMH-361. He was a life member of the Naval Academy Alumni Association.

He is survived by his widow Jude, his son Stephen Joseph, Jr., his parents, and two brothers.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/STEPHEN_J._BURLEY,_CAPT,_USMC

WILLIAM A. STUVER, MAJ, USMC

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Major William Stuver '77, USMC was lost on October 25, 1988 when the helicopter he was aboard collided with another and then crashed near Yuma, Arizona. Eight other Marines and an Air Force officer were also killed.

From the January/February 1989 issue of Shipmate:

Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Country Club Hills, he entered the Academy in July 1973. Bill was a member of 25th company and was active in the Glee Club and Protestant Chapel Choir. Upon graduation in June of 1977, he reported to The Basic School and subsequently continued on to Pensacola for flight training. On 8 June 1979 he was promoted to first lieutenant and designated a Naval Aviator.

Having reported to 2D Marine Air Wing, Maj. Stover joined HMH-362 and later HMM-263. While with 263, he made several major deployments. Following the tour with HMM-263, he served with First Battalion Fourth Marines in Twenty-nine Palms, California. Again Maj. Stover returned to 2DMAW and served with HMT-204 and was with HMM-264 at the Weapons and Tactics Course at the time of his death. He was promoted to his current rank posthumously.

He was active in the Boy Scouts and was himself an Eagle Scout. He is survived by his wife, Janice, and his children Christine and Adam.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/WILLIAM_A._STUVER,_MAJ,_USMC

STEPHEN A. GARCIA, LCDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LCDR Stephen Garcia '77, USN was lost on August 8, 1989 when the A-6 Intruder he was piloting crashed near Whidbey Island, Washington. The bombardier/navigator, a USMC Captain, was also killed. They were both members of Attack Squadron (VA) 128.

From the October 1989 issue of Shipmate:

Steve was born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and attended Las Graces High School. He was appointed to the Naval Academy from the State of New Mexico and graduated with the Class of 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. Upon graduation, he spent six months at NRD Albuquerque, New Mexico, on recruiting duty before commencing flight training at Whiting Field in Milton, Florida. On 19 October 1979 he was designated a Naval Aviator and was sent to North Island Naval Air Station, San Diego, California for type training in the H-3.

From May 1980 to October 1982, he served with HC-1 Det 2 on board MIDWAY (CV-41) in Atsugi, Japan as NatOps officer. Safety officer, and Quality Assurance officer. While attached to HC-1 he made three Indian Ocean deployments and his squadron was credited with rescuing 19 people from being lost at sea. Of those at-sea rescues, he was pilot-in-command for two of them, one of which involved rescuing an A-7E pilot who ejected from his aircraft during night carrier operations. In October 1982 he reported to VT-23 in Kingsville, Texas, for jet pilot training, and on 18 October 1983 he earned his jet wings after completing advanced training at VT-22.

In January 1984 he began type training in the A-6E Intruder with the "Golden Intruders" of Attack Squadron 128 at Whidbey Island, Washington. From September 1984 to November 1987 he served with the "Milestones" of Attack Squadron 196 on board CONSTELLATION (CV-64) as Tactics officer. Line Division officer, and Aircraft Division officer. While attached to VA-196 he made a "Pineapple" cruise, two WestPac Indian Ocean cruises, and a NorPac cruise, accumulating over 350 arrested landings. In December 1987, he returned to VA-128 for a tour as an instructor pilot in the A-6E and also served as Personnel officer, Plans and Programs officer, and Crew Training officer.

Since childhood Steve had been an avid outdoorsman and was known to take leave to coincide with hunting season and take every opportunity he could to spend a few hours at the local fishing hole with family and friends. He excelled in sports, earning All-District Honorable Mention at quarterback during his senior year at Las Cruces High School.

He often referred to himself as a "scholastic slave" during his four years at Annapolis. His Classmates, especially those from the 16th company, will remember him as "Perdo" or "Hose," a Classmate and friend that always managed to find the bright and humorous side of almost any situation, and the one whose "care-packages" included joke books as well as cookies to satisfy his appetite for humor. Steve was a model husband, father and officer and will be missed by those who knew him, while at the same time happy to have had the opportunity to have known him.

LCdr. Garcia's awards include the Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation (one star), Meritorious Unit Commendation (one star). Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Ribbon, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (four stars). He is survived by his wife Bonita Christine Brown "Bonnie" Garcia, his daughter Jami Marie, and his son, Stephen Kelly, all of Oak Harbor, Washington; his parents Mr. and Mrs. Ben M. Garcia of Las Cruces, New Mexico; his brothers Arthur Benjamin Garcia of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Fredrick Ronald Garcia of Las Cruces, New Mexico; and his sister Joanne Garcia Skillman of Fayetteville, North Carolina.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/STEPHEN_A._GARCIA,_LCDR,_USN

EUGENE T. MCCARTHY, JR., MAJ, USMCR

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Major Eugene McCarthy, Jr. '77, USMCR was lost on February 2, 1991 when the AH-1 Cobra helicopter he was piloting crashed in Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War.

From the November 1991 edition of "Shipmate:"

Born 10 May 1955 and a lifelong native of New York he was appointed to the Naval Academy from that State. After majoring in American Political Systems he graduated with the Class of 1977. While at the Academy he was a member of the lightweight crew team.

Upon graduation he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps and reported to Quantico. After graduation from The Basic School he reported to flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator. His first tour of duty was with HMA-369 at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

During the next eleven years he served with a number of commands including ANGLICO and VX-5, and made several deployments to WestPac. During his tour with ANGLICO he completed parachute training and Ranger School. In July of 1988 he joined the Drug Enforcement Administration and graduated first in his DEA class from the FBI Academy.

While serving as a special agent with the DEA he participated in Operation Snowcap, a special drag enforcement operation in Peru. With the growing crisis in the Persian Gulf, he volunteered to return to active duty.

Following a brief training period he reported to his AH-1 unit in Saudi Arabia at the start of the year.

Survivors include his parents, a brother Dennis, and a sister, Mrs. Anne O'Neil.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/EUGENE_T._MCCARTHY,_JR.,_MAJ,_USMCR

JAMES E. BOYLE, LCDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LCDR James Boyle '77, USN was lost on December 17, 1992 when the F-16N he was piloting crashed during a training flight near Twin Falls, Idaho. He was a member of Fighter Squadron (VF) 126, which was the adversary fighter squadron for the "Top Gun" program.

James was born in Chicago, graduating Lane Tech High School in 1971 as class president. He played varsity football in both high school and at the Naval Academy.

After earning his wings in 1979, he served aboard the aircraft carriers USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), USS Ranger (CV 61), USS Enterprise (CVN 69), and USS Midway (CVA 41), from which he flew combat mission in the Persian Gulf War. He flew 15 strike and eight direct-combat-support missions, accumulated 71 combat flight hours and was decorated three times for heroic and meritorious achievement in combat.

James was married to Jana Marie (Egge) Boyle on December 27, 1981. Together they had a daughter. In addition to his wife and daughter he was survived by his stepson, parents, two brothers, and sister.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/JAMES_E._BOYLE,_LCDR,_USN

Beirut Bombing

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Forty years ago today - October 23, 1983 - four Naval Academy alumni were among those killed in the bombing of the Marine barracks at Beirut, Lebanon.

Captain Vincent Smith, USMC '76

Lieutenant James Surch, Jr., USN '77

1st Lieutenant Donald Woollett, USMC '80

1st Lieutenant David Nairn, USMC '81

All were members of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines.

The annual Beirut Memorial Observance is scheduled for 10:30AM today (Monday, 10/23), at Lejeune Memorial Gardens, 100 Montford Landing Road, Jacksonville, North Carolina. Organized by the Beirut Memorial Advisory Board and the City of Jacksonville (NC) in cooperation with MCB Camp Lejeune, the observance honors those killed and the survivors of the Beirut bombing. This ceremony is open to the public, and will also be live-streamed on the City of Jacksonville Facebook page and available for viewing on G10TV, G10TV.org, and the City's Youtube channel. (Thank you to CAPT Allan Nadolski, USN (Ret.) '77 for this information.)

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/Category:Beirut_Bombing

EDWIN W. CARDIN, CAPT, USAF

Edwin Cardin was only briefly a member of the Class of '77, but after graduating from Southeast Missouri State University in 1975 he continued his service to the country by entering the Air Force.

In 1979 he was a member of the first squadron with F-15s at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. On December 29, 1982 he was flying near Okinawa when he collided with his wingman and was killed.

Edwin was survived by his wife and two-year-old son; his wife established an endowed scholarship to be awarded to a non-scholarship AFROTC cadet at SMSU.

In June 1983 Building 3382 at Kadena was dedicated as Cardin Hall. It was rededicated on December 20, 2013, and is now home to the 18th Operations Support Squadron.

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/EDWIN_W._CARDIN,_CAPT,_USAF