Kings Point Class of 1994

From USMMAF - 7/20/10

On July8th , the Academy welcomed the Class of 2014 and thus began the Indoctrination period. During this period the class is referred to as “candidates.” Once indoctrination is completed, they will be called “plebe candidates.” At Acceptance Day on Sept. 4th the class will be accepted into the Regiment as “plebes.” Recognition Day (determined by the first class officers) will make them “fourth classmen.”

The Class of 2014 started with 346 candidates, the largest incoming class since 1985. The class has many “legacy” children who entered including sons, a daughter, and grandchildren. They are Susan ‘85 and Brad Winfree ‘85 (Alexandra), Fred Ebers ‘75 (Fred), Ed Ferenczy ‘77 (Jesse), James Mathews ‘78 (James), Andrew Garger ‘80 (Stephen), Mark Berglund ‘81 (Matthew), Guy Wilson ‘83 (Michael), Scott Britton ‘84 (Derek), and Tim Weber ‘92 (TJ). Grandchildren were Elliot See ‘49 (Andrew See), Bruce Laubenheimer ‘57 (Dustin Myers), and Richard Adams ‘60 (Shannen Dunn). There were also brothers, a sister, nieces and nephews of graduates and current midshipmen.

Members of the 50th Legacy Class of 1964 were on hand to welcome the Class of 2014 and to let them know they will be there for them over the next four years.

Enjoy this video and perhaps it brings back some memories! Click here to view the video.

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Hello Kings Pointers,

In case you missed out . . . Check out this ABC news clip at Kings Point regarding piracy:

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7302684

…and an email from Maersk Alabama: EMAIL FROM MAERSK ALABAMA CREW MEMBER TO SHIPMATE ABOARD MAERSK ARKANSAS

Hey,

Everyone on here is okay. We’re on our way to Mombasa with Navy protection on board. Captain Phillips is still hostage in the lifeboat with the 4 pirates. I hear they’re flying out reliefs for everyone, but I’m not sure what all’s going to happen once we get to Mombasa . Supposedly the FBI is coming out to investigate the crime. Maybe we’ll be on the next CSI Somalia. I wanted to let you know some of the lessons we learned so you guys can better prepare yourselves for something similar.

The only guys actually captured by the pirates were on the bridge: Capt, 3/M, and 2 AB’s. I don’t really know why they stayed on the bridge until the pirates got up there. Then they had keys to everything and were able to unlock everyone’s rooms. The pirates got up to the bridge very quickly once they were on board. We had a locked cage door over the ladder well from main deck, but it only took a second for them to shoot it off. They then got to the bridge up the outside ladders. By that time we had taken control of the engine and steering down below. Mike stayed in the ECR and the C/M was out on deck tracking the pirates’ movement. We kept swinging the rudder side to side. The pirates’ boat capsized, though I’m not sure exactly when or what caused it. After about 20 minutes the engine was killed, I don’t know by whom. At that point I shut off the air bottles and Mike killed power. He was also able to get outside and trip the fuel shutoff for the EDG. I think this was critical. The pirates were very reluctant to go into the dark. We will be looking at a way to shut off the EDG from the ECR in the future. All the crew had been mustered and secured in the steering gear. Our pirates didn’t have any grenades, so they would have never been able to break in there.

The previous day we had welded a padeye on the inside of the hatch to the fantail so it was secured from the inside. The only problem with the steering gear was the heat and the shortage of water In the future we will store food and water in various spots for emergency usage. I think we will also run a fresh water line into the steering gear. We were able to make a run from the steering gear to the E/R water fountain and fill up some empty oil sample bottles we had back there. The C/M was also able to get some fruit and sodas from the galley and drop them down the line standpipe. The pirates sent the 3/M unescorted to go look for crew members, so he was able to get away. One of the pirates then went with an AB down to the E/R to look for people. Mike was able to jump him in the dark and we took him prisoner in the steering gear. No one else came down into the E/R. As the day went on the pirates became desperate to get out of there. There boat was sunk, and they couldn’t get our ship moving. The Captain talked them into taking the MOB boat. The three remaining pirates went down in the MOB boat with Phillips. We were then able to negotiate with them over the radio. We dropped some food, water and diesel to them. We started getting the plant back on line. Unfortunately, the MOB boat wouldn’t start. A couple of guys got in the lifeboat and dropped it. They motored over and traded the lifeboat for the MOB boat. We were supposed to exchange their guy for the Captain, but they ended up keeping him. They motored off in the lifeboat. They had no way of getting back aboard, so we followed them. The Navy showed up a few hours later. We stayed close by for some time, but then the Navy asked us to head out. I heard that several other pirate vessels were heading our way and the Navy wanted us out of the way. That’s about it. I’ll give you all the details some other time. Just to reiterate the most important points:

• Have a well fortified location with food and water supply.
• Kill all the lights. Leave the alarms going, the noise helped cover our movements through the house.
• Flashlights and radios are very handy, as well as the sound-powered phone.

Anyway, it was a pretty stressful situation. I have to say I am impressed with how the entire crew responded. We didn’t have anybody who wanted to give up. I’m pretty confident that Phillips will end up ok. They have to know that if they kill him they’ll be done. I assume the company will be forced into taking some kind of action to assure our security from now on.

Hope everything is going well there. I’ll talk to you later.

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If either you or the company/business you work for are interested in sponsoring some of the key events at the 2009 Kings Point Homecoming, please consider the following benefits:

Sponsorship packages are designed to serve your organization’s marketing needs.

Package includes:

• Either 18×24 color sponsor sign or banner that displays your name or company logo and website information.
• A website banner, which links directly to your company home or related website, will be added to future email and written correspondence.

You can customize your package with specific marketing needs by contacting your Homecoming planners

• Tailgating Sponsor - SOLD - Matt Andrews - www.quincannon.com                                                                               Tim Green - www.faststream.us
• Tent Sponsor - SOLD - Matt Hartzell - www.hartzellindsrvcs.com
• Dinner Sponsor $1500
• Uniform Sponsor $1500

If you would like to become a sponsor, please contact:

• John.Bellissimo@wachovia.com
• TGreen@faststream.us
• James.Power@hklaw.com

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LTJG Francis L. Toner IV, USN, Class of 2006, was killed this past Friday, March 27th, when an Afghan insurgent, apparently dressed as a National Soldier, fired upon a group of Navy Officers running inside the NATO compound at Camp Shaheen, Mazad-E-Sharif, Afghanistan. 

Toner was assigned to the Combined Security Transition Command as garrison engineer training Afghans to assume a security role for their nation.  A Navy Nurse was also killed in the attack and another woman wounded.  It was reported that Toner diverted fire to allow another Navy officer to escape.  LT Matthew Hume, USN ‘02, who shared quarters with Toner, also managed to escape injury. 

While at the Academy, Toner, a Shipyard Management major,   played football (#46) for four years and lacrosse as a first classman.  He dated and married a Long Island girl he met while at the Academy, Brooke Dueling.  He was an extremely popular midshipman and naval officer and brightened the lives of everyone with whom he came in contact.  The family has requested burial in Arlington National Cemetery and a Memorial Service at the Academy. 

Facebook subscribers can join the “Never Forget Francis L. Toner IV” network for more stories, videos and photos.  The Governor of Rhode Island has ordered all U.S. and State flags to be flown at half-mast until Toner is laid to rest.

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Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton today announced the selection of Rear Admiral Allen Worley as Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.  Worley’s career has spanned more than 30 years of public service as a U.S. Navy officer and an educator.  He is currently Superintendent of the Texas Maritime Academy in Galveston.

   “Admiral Worley has a long career of leading, educating and inspiring young men and women in the Navy and as Superintendent of the Texas Maritime Academy,” said Connaughton, a 1983 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.  “His wealth of experience will allow him to positively and immediately impact the future direction of Kings Point.”

   “My wife, Margena, and I are very excited to have the opportunity to join the Kings Point family in continuing our lifelong passion of serving our Nation,” said Rear Admiral Worley.  “I look forward to working with the experienced faculty, staff, alumni and the Regiment of Midshipmen in charting a course for Kings Point as the premier maritime academy in the world.”

    The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y., is operated by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration.  The superintendent of the academy is responsible for the development of scholastic standards which encourage the intellectual, professional growth and physical well-being of midshipmen and effective and economical operation of the Academy facilities.  The position reports to the Maritime Administrator, and is often an influential position in the maritime industry worldwide.

   Worley is a 1974 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and holds advanced degrees from Webster University and the Naval War College.  During his tenure in the Navy, he served in various aviation and surface billets in both training and combat roles such as Squadron Commander and culminating with the position of Navy Base Commander in Diego Garcia.  Worley also held various staff roles throughout the Navy and served as Deputy Director for Programming on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations.  He also served as Professor of Naval Science and Commanding Officer of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps at the University of Illinois.

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