THOMAS M. ADAMS, LT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT Thomas Adams, USN '97 was lost on March 22, 2003 when the Sea King helicopter he was aboard crashed into another off the coast of Iraq. He had been an exchange officer with the Royal Navy's 849 Naval Air Squadron since October of 2002.

A native of Mount Helix, California, near San Diego, he graduated from Grossmont High School in 1993; he was a National Merit Scholar and valedictorian. He joined the Civil Air Patrol and celebrated his 18th birthday by skydiving.

His aunt remembered him: "He's one of these amazingly clean-cut, all-American kids. He's the kind of kid that if you had a daughter, you would hope that she could snag him. He was just amazingly bright, funny and kind."

Thomas was survived by his parents and his younger sister.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/THOMAS_M._ADAMS,_LT,_USN

FRANKLIN R. HOOKS II, CAPT, USMC

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

CAPT Franklin Hooks, II, USMC '97 was lost on June 27, 2004 when the F/A-18C Hornet he was piloting crashed into the Atlantic ocean. He was a member of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 115, flying from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

Franklin was raised by his maternal grandparents, who adopted him when he was 7 years old.

"He was just supernatural," a neighbor remembered. "You could search the world over, and you wouldn't find anybody better than Frankie Hooks."

Franklin was an Electronics Technician prior to attending the Naval Academy. He earned his wings in September 2000 and had flown combat missions from Truman in early 2003 during the invasion of Iraq.

He was survived by his wife of two years, Cindy, and his grandmother.

His memorial service closed with his reply to his grandmother when she cautioned him to be careful: “Don’t worry about me. I’m having fun!”

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/FRANKLIN_R._HOOKS_II,_CAPT,_USMC

STEVE MORIN, JR., SGT, ARNG

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

SGT Steve Morin '97 was killed in action in Iraq on September 28, 2005 when the vehicle he was in was destroyed by an improvised explosive device. He was a member of the Texas National Guard's 111th Engineer Battalion, 36th Infantry Division.

Prior to attending the Naval Academy he was an enlisted sailor; he returned to the fleet sometime after the beginning of his 3/c year. He served his country in the Navy for 14 years prior to joining the National Guard for two more. Steve had degrees in economics and finance from Texas Tech University.

It was at Texas Tech that he met his wife, Gwendolyn. She said of her husband, "He’s very strong willed, very determined. Humorous, a clown, but he was also very disciplined and very passionate about what he believed in. He always wanted to serve his country."

In addition to Gwendolyn he was survived by his 12 year old daughter, Brianna; 6 year old son, Esteban; his parents, Steve and Audrey; a sister and a brother.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/STEVE_MORIN,_JR.,_SGT,_ARNG