ARTHUR W. STAECKER, LTJG, USN & JAMES G. PROUT, III, RADM, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Arthur “Wayne” Staeker ‘66

Two of the Class of 1966's losses occurred on May 17, though they were separated by decades.

Arthur "Wayne" Staecker was a LTjg when he was lost in a mid-air collision in 1968. From the Lucky Bag: "Wayne comes from the city of Richardson, Texas, and stands tall and proud as most Texans do. No one knew Wayne when he reported to the Academy, but his friendly smile, mature attitude, and willingness to help others quickly made him a close and respected friend to all those who knew him these past few years. "Hook" did very well in academics and took a keen interest in Company and Battalion activities in sports such as basketball, cross-country, squash, and tennis. He also shared his interest on a Brigade level as he was a member of the Brigade Activities Committee as well as the Naval Academy Sailing Squadron. He always did his best to get the job done and often succeeded with outstanding results. Wayne's career in the Navy will surely prove to be rewarding as he has every attribute needed to be an outstanding and respected officer."

James Prout, III ‘66

His classmate, James Prout III was a Rear Admiral (the first of his class) and a surface warfare officer who was lost in a plane crash in 1995. The Lucky Bag: "The quiet youth who hails from Andover, Mass. blazed the clay many a Saturday afternoon to become one of the finest legmen the Naval Academy has seen. Jay was always a complacent individual never to let anyone or anything disturb him. This sometimes caused him trouble but he always managed to survive his punishment and come back for more." Jay was the first flag officer killed in the line of duty since WWII. He had begun his career as a SEAL, but left that community after being wounded by a rocket propelled grenade in Vietnam.

We remember both of these men today. To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/ARTHUR_W._STAECKER,_LTJG,_USN

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/JAMES_G._PROUT,_III,_RADM,_USN

DONALD G. DROZ, LT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT Donald Droz '66 was officer in charge of PCF-43, a "swift boat" on the Rach Guong Keo Canal, South Vietnam, when he was killed in action this date in 1969.

Written by Bill Perkey Published Thursday, April 17, 1969 in the Rich Hill Mining Review:

On September 29, 1943, the name Donald Glenn Droz became a reality, then a few days later a few more people had heard the name, then weeks turned into years and it seemed the name was one that was going to be known by a great number of people.

Don Droz was a perfectionist, but not stuffy with a magnetic personality that fit him into any group at any­time. Even in his younger years this was evident. As I remember in the springtime and up into the summer you could find most of the boys in town, playing sand lot baseball over at Don's house, not because his was the only lot in town, but because it was just a good place, to be.

As the years rolled along the name Don Droz became familiar to more and more people, in his school he excelled as an honor student, being valedictorian of his class. He was a talented musician, and he graduated from Rich Hill High as one of its better athletes. And then (as it should have been) Don was accepted into the Naval Academy at Annapolis, (to me Don was "the type of young man that should represent this country as America's finest). While Don was away studying and training at the Academy many people missed the pleasant blond-headed boy often seen in an old sweat shirt, cut off blue jeans fishing pole in hand and heading for the river for an afternoon of "just livin'."

Many people thought that Don, being away from the small town for so long and attending the academy, that when he came home he would be wearing a stuffed shirt. Well when he graduated from the academy and came home in his sparking clean and stiffly creased dress blue uniform he could indeed carry his head a little higher, but it didn't Lt. (jg) Donald G. Droz long to jump into that old sweat shirt and grab that old fishing pole and become just plain old "Don" again.

Don was indeed a brilliant and talented person that still knew how to hold the common touch. And it is for this reason that he will be loved and respected by many and many of us, and I am sure that many will join me in saying that Don will always be one of Rich Hill's favorite sons.

Don was the second Rich Hillian to give his life for his county in Vietnam. A year ago this April 18, Jerry Boyles gave his life that might maintain the cause of peace. I am sure that memory of these two patriots of peace will be held dearly in the future of all of us.

=====

Don was survived by his wife, young daughter, parents, brother, sister, and maternal grandparents.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/DONALD_G._DROZ,_LT,_USN

HENRY R. DOZIER, CDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Henry Dozier '27, from Omaha, Nebraska in the Lucky Bag:

"HANK'S first appearance is very striking. You see a neat, well-groomed young man, medium in height and broad of shoulders. He came to the Academy after a high school course and one year of college work at Creighton University in Nebraska. His previous military training won him a place as adjutant in our Plebe Summer organization. He is very athletic, a devotee of football, basketball and lacrosse, but an injury has held him up in this line of activity.

No, don't give up hope yet, ladies. He was a confirmed woman-hater during his first two years, but after trying unsuccessfully several times, his luck changed and since then he has been quite a ladies' man. Paris and London helped to bring about this change for the worse. Hank is inclined to be brilliant in his studies but doesn't allow them to interfere with his education. A trace of Southern blood causes him to lay aside his books when there is something more interesting on the program. His easy-going pleasant manner has won him numerous friends both in and out of the service. A touch of Satan often causes him to get in trouble, but being a politician, he manages to smooth things over and come out on the top. To sum him up, Hank is a real man, good-natured, strong, both physically and mentally, and above all a good roommate which covers a multitude of sins."

Henry earned his wings as naval aviator #3679 on July 28, 1930; he spent the pre-war years in various squadrons and at the Naval Academy for postgraduate education. Shortly before the war began he was in Washington, D.C. at the Bureau of Aeronautics.

Henry's early wartime experience isn't known to us, but by 1943 he was serving aboard USS Yorktown (CV 10) during her construction and fitting-out. Following Yorktown's commissioning in April 1943, he was still aboard through her first combat operations later that year.

Sometime in October or early November 1944 he was transferred to the staff of Carrier Division 26. On November 5, 1944, while en route to this billet, he was aboard USS Ticonderoga (CV 14). That ship had been attacked several times earlier in the day, and was running dark at 2105 when he fell overboard into the Philippine Sea.

Henry was survived by his wife, four children, and brother. (His brother became the TV producer of "Batman" and "Green Hornet" in the 1970s.) One of his daughters passed away in December 2020. His grandson, Gus Colom, graciously provided several wonderful pictures of Henry as a midshipman through time at sea aboard Yorktown.

To Honor! ⚓

http://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/HENRY_R._DOZIER,_CDR,_USN

STANFORD H. SHAW, III, CAPT, USMC

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

Captain Stanford "Ford" Shaw, USMC '06, was lost on March 10, 2015 when the Blackhawk helicopter he was aboard crashed off the coast of Florida. He was a team commander assigned to the 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion. The other ten men aboard were also lost.

A native of New Jersey, he was student government president and captain of the varsity lacrosse team in high school. At the Naval Academy he played club lacrosse and was 6th Company Commander his 1/c year. He twice deployed to Iraq, first in May 2007 and again in 2009.

He was engaged to be married to Capt. Lindsay Pirek '09; he was also survived by his parents.

To Honor! ⚓

http://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/STANFORD_H._SHAW,_III,_CAPT,_USMC

JOHN W. SINCAVICH, LT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT John Sincavich '43 was killed in action when USS Trigger (SS 237) was sunk by combined Japanese air and surface attack on March 28, 1945.

From the Class of 1943 anniversary book "25 years later…": "Sinc was born in Bridgeport, Ohio on 14 May, 1920. He was appointed from Ohio and entered the Academy on 29 June, 1939. Upon graduation, he went to submarine instruction with Commander Submarine Division TWELVE and the Submarine Base, New London. In February 1943, Sinc reported to the submarine USS TRIGGER in the Pacific and qualified in submarines in August 1943. Sinc was on his fourth war patrol with TRIGGER off the Nansei Shoto Archipelago. The TRIGGER had sunk sixteen Japanese ships and earned the Presidential Unit Citation."

"Sinc" was twice awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He was survived by his wife, Betty.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/JOHN_W._SINCAVICH,_LT,_USN

THOMAS P. MCGRATH, LCDR, USN

LCDR Thomas McGrath, USN '40 in the Lucky Bag: "From the sands of Arizona "Tiny" came to the Navy ready for a scrap. Generally as gentle as a St. Bernard, nothing suits him better on the gridiron than a fight. Tom is ambitious in both athletics and academics. Plebe year it was shadow boxing his roommate, the "Shadow;" second class year, playing with a sixteen pound ball. Tiny is kind-hearted, generous, and always ready to render aid to his classmates. Claiming he is always losing weight, he diets on four desserts. A regulation fellow, well-liked, and respected by all, the Navy has in him no better material for a leader, an officer, and a gentleman."

He was the Regimental Commander for both the 2nd and 3rd sets.

Initially stationed aboard USS California (BB 44), sometime after April 1941 he transitioned into the submarine service.

He was lost when USS Pompano (SS 181) was sunk, likely on September 17, 1943, possibly by a mine north of the Japanese islands. Thomas was the boat's executive officer, and was awarded the Silver Star for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action" during the boat's three war patrols.

Thomas was survived by his parents.

http://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/THOMAS_P._MCGRATH,_LCDR,_USN

RANDOLPH B. BOYER, CAPT, USN

Capt. Randolph Boyer, USN '27 was lost on August 16, 1947 when the converted B-17 he was aboard crashed while enroute from Hawaii to Japan. He was a member of "General MacArthur's strategic and operations staff." Nine others were also lost, including Ambassador George C. Atcheson, Jr., the chief political advisor and the chairman of the allied powers council in Japan.

He was awarded the Navy Cross for "extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession" as commanding officer of USS Morris (DD 417) at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in October 1942.

A native of Minnesota, the Lucky Bag said in part: "He has a tremendous attraction to everyone. He is forever helping his roommates. You should hear those two argue. There is nothing they do not talk about, and many Baltimoreans are said to have obtained pointers on Darwin's theory or the like from their low conversations. "Rannie" has those underlying qualities that show the true hard-fighting type, and we know he will go forth to conquer new worlds. A true friend to all, never moody, never cross, we all like him and find him a true classmate and companion."

Randolph was survived by his wife, daughter, mother, two sisters and two brothers.

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/RANDOLPH_B._BOYER,_CAPT,_USN

DONALD D. ALDERN, CAPT, USN

Donald Aldern '52 was lost 50 years ago today, on June 29, 1970, when the A-7 Corsair II he was piloting crashed during a bombing run over North Vietnam. A Commander at the time, he was later promoted to Captain while in a missing status. At the time of his loss he was commanding officer of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 19 aboard USS Oriskany (CVA 34). He was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star, in addition to many other unit and campaign awards.

From the Lucky Bag: "Living in South Dakota where the largest body of water to be found was the cattle's drinking trough, Deane's hereditary love for King Neptune's Domain overcame his environmental love for the land, and he went down to the sea via USNA. Deane's diversions while at the Naval Academy consisted of writing small bundles of greetings to his OAO, sleeping, and playing basketball, in that order. Deane has decided to join the flying arm of the Navy, and time will surely prove him to be a capable and conscientious officer."

Donald was survived by his wife, four sons, parents, and two brothers.

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/DONALD_D._ALDERN,_CAPT,_USN