News From Fort Schuyler

September 10, 1999 - Volume 3, No. 40

This may have been the film that GERD GLANG, Class of 1984, mentioned in a recent note: "I recall a movie of the MORRO CASTLE being made at Fort Schuyler, with the TSES used along with some cadets as extras. Does anyone else recall this ? Would have been made in 1981 or so."

A visitor to the scene of the fire and grounding of the MORRO CASTLE was CHARLIE MILLER, Class of 1953. He recalls: "While a very young child, my Father took me to the Jersey Coast -- north of Asbury Park is my guess to see a large burned-out passenger ship aground in the surf, her port side parallel to the beach. Breeches buoys were still attached. It was an unforgettable sight."

RISER RECOLLECTIONS - A new account by ROBERT SLOTE, Class of 1947, adds details to the legend of memorable officer-instructor, GEORGE RISER, who served at Maritime from 1925 to 1962, with time out for WWII. In granting permission for NFFS to distribute this account, Bob writes: "Permission granted, and an Isthmiam Shipping Company Leather Medal awarded to any former Mug who would like to contribute his remembrance of Ggggggggeorge or any other instructor of his youth." E-mail copies of this 1+ page account are available from rhcorson@sunymaritime.edu Earlier this summer, another graduate, PHIL DILLOWAY, Class of October 1946, wrote this about George Riser. "At our tender ages, anyone not our age was OLD ! It turns out that George was about 47-48 when we knew him in 1946. He was not there when we reported in October 1944."

"What is somewhat confusing is the matter of the decorations he wore. I was always curious about the ribbons on our instructors' uniforms. Riser, as I recall, wore what we called ‘Merchie' ribbons. I believe he wore a torpedoed ship survivor ribbon. There were no WWI or WWII theatre ribbons or Victory Medal. I don't think any of us thought that he was ever in the Navy. I did not know he was a naturalized citizen."

"He came to Fort Schuyler before we were born and stayed long after we left. I am pleased to know there is a memorial in his name." [Ed. - A memorial plaque is attached to the steering station from the Hospital Ship S.S.HOPE in the Maritime Industry Museum located in Fort Schuyler.]

NYMFAF - "On a related matter, some history of NYMFAF," writes ERIK JOHNSON, Class of 1985, "I was a freshman at Maritime between 1981-82, the last year of Rear Admiral SHELDON H. KINNEY's tenure at Fort Schuyler. Needless to say, things were a little loose. One of the Maritime College traditions was to blow out of the Fort as soon as possible on Friday to visit girlfriends/boyfriends at schools up state, or to get back to Long Island. The problem was that a lot of students were blowing off all of their Friday classes to do this."

"When Admiral MILLER [Class of 1953] came on board he pulled back on the reins. Somehow he found out about the low attendance level for Friday classes and came up with the idea to "end the week on an upbeat note" by having a Friday Afternoon Formation, complete with inspections! What a way to end the week. Interestingly enough, by the time these formations ended (about 15:55, 5 minutes before the Throggs Neck Bridge gate closed), the Friday traffic was at its height, and students were understandably ticked off."

"Now, the positive part. Since it was impossible to get home/upstate/wherever because of the traffic, most of the students stuck around campus until the traffic died down. It was then that a classmate of mine - BILL STREIN, Class of 1985 - came up with the idea to have a couple of kegs of beer at the TIV (the Student Activity Center). This gathering was christened NYMFAF as in "Hey, are you going to NYMFAF after Friday afternoon formation?" The post-inspection gatherings, coupled with some Friday afternoon sailing, are some of my fondest memories of Fort Schuyler. Just goes to show that sometimes you can turn a negative into a positive!"

AND OTHER ACRONYMS - "I agree with Tom Connors' assessment of any acronyms containing the letter "F". I'm sure everyone remembers "MFD"'s and "WAFWOT" ! If they don't, please e-mail me and I'll let them know," writes BILL LIEDY, Class of 1969.

MARITIME JOB PIPELINE - In the same note, Bill writes: " I have the pleasure of announcing that .. JOE IAROPOLI, Class of 1961, and ...GOPI RAJU, Class of 1995, are joining my staff at New York Medical College as Director of Facilities and Project Manager, respectively!! This is in addition to having JON DARCY, Class of 1969, (my classmate) working part-time in a project/design engineering capacity. Who says we don't stick together!!! How about FUBAR?"

RINGING ENDORSEMENT - "On my recent visit to Cape Cod," writes PAUL LOBO, Class of 1969, "I was playing in the ocean with nephews when my school ring came off and sank in the ocean - along with my stomach. I was sick at the thought of losing it. We searched with goggles for an hour and gave up. "That ring means a lot to me and I wear it with pride. It is irreplaceable, along with my wedding ring. Any other jewelry I have is of no consequence. I was sick at the thought of losing my ring and knew I could not give up. I hired a scuba diver the next day and gave it a go. Much to my surprise he had "lobo" tattooed on his arm, his nickname from the Army ! Ten minutes later up he came out of the surf with my ring. This was $60 well spent. He said only one small piece of the ring was showing! I was one happy Mug that day, I can tell you."