This annual newsletter of the O\u27Callahan Society includes articles about Homecoming Weekend, the 13th annual O\u27Callahan Society dinner, the remembrance for the 50th anniversary of the death of Rev. Joseph T. O\u27Callahan, S.J., and a gift by the Class of 1951 in memory of their classmates who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces

O\u27Callahan Society, College of the Holy Cross

English

College of the Holy Cross: CrossWorks

College of the Holy CrossCrossWorksO'Callahan Society Newsletters The O'Callahan Society2014O'Callahan Society NewsletterO'Callahan Society, College of the Holy CrossFollow this and additional works at: http://crossworks.holycross.edu/ocs_newsletterPart of the Military Studies Commons, Social History Commons, and the United States HistoryCommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the The O'Callahan Society at CrossWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in O'CallahanSociety Newsletters by an authorized administrator of CrossWorks.Recommended CitationO'Callahan Society, College of the Holy Cross, "O'Callahan Society Newsletter" (2014). O'Callahan Society Newsletters. Paper 2.http://crossworks.holycross.edu/ocs_newsletter/2    O’Callahan Society 2014 Newsletter  Body, Mind & Spirit – A Beautiful Homecoming Weekend on Mt Saint James  by Frank Bergin ’91 This past October’s Homecoming was a special day to reflect, remember, plan and pray at Holy Cross. These are exciting times at the College and I am happy to report that the NROTC Unit and the O’Callahan Society are very much keeping pace.  The day began with Fr. Burroughs addressing the assembled breakfast crowd of Class Chairs and Class Agents in the Hogan ballroom on a beautiful early fall morning.  In a sneak peak of the soon-to-be announced capital campaign, Fr. Burroughs outlined the College’s ambitious plans to strengthen Holy Cross’s ongoing commitment to create leaders of tomorrow by distinctly shaping students’ in mind, body and spirit.  On the heels of Cornelius B. Prior Jr.’s (‘56) record $25M gift to create a center for the arts on the campus, Fr. Burroughs also gave a preview of plans to not only purchase and build a retreat center nearby at which to conduct the Spiritual Exercises but to also completely overhaul the Hart Center and Field House. A substantial infusion of scholarship dollars from the campaign is also part of the strategic plan, aimed at successfully attracting talented students from all over the country and from all walks of life – continuing to build on the great work of Fr. Brooks and so many others over the years to make Holy Cross a more diverse and inclusive institution.    Midday brought about the two favorite parts of the day for my kids: a trip to the bookstore and cheering on the football team at Fitton Field.  Though the Crusaders wound up losing in triple-overtime to the Harvard Crimson, the exciting play of freshman quarterback, Peter Pujals, and the enthusiasm from the sizeable purple & white clad crowd left no doubt that Holy Cross Athletics are doing just fine and have a bright future to look forward to.  Also as my credit card can attest…the bookstore is awash in fresh, fashionable gear that can appeal not only to the most discerning 13-year old girls, but also their sports-crazy little brothers.  As we headed into mass in Joyce Chapel, I could not help but pray that at least one of my kids will be lucky enough to someday climb the hills and be shaped by this special place in mind, body, and spirit.   Fitton Field during the Homecoming Game VADM Costello speaking at the Dinner  The O’Callahan Society’s Thirteenth Annual Dinner that followed Mass capped off the day perfectly for my family.  I had served as a junior officer aboard the USS ELLIOT (DD 967) after graduating from Holy Cross and was lucky enough to have had the keynote speaker, then Commander, now VADM (Ret) Barry Costello ’73, as my Commanding Officer, so I knew the evening’s proceedings would be anything but boring.  VADM Costello could have chosen to speak on many topics given his distinguished naval career so it was fitting that instead of addressing the effects of sequestration or the evolving role of the Navy in terrorist littoral warfare, Vice Admiral Costello chose to speak to the Midshipmen and Society Members about the importance and impact of well-rounded leadership in today’s military.    Among other stories of heroism by those who had served under him, he recounted the lasting impression a general on the Joint Staff had on him as a junior officer when he outlined his highest three priorities: Take care of yourself in mind, body and spirit; Take care of your family; and then Take care of your duties.  I had heard a similar version of these directives when Costello first addressed the wardroom of the USS ELLIOT nineteen years ago and they stood out as much then as they did at the dinner.  But coming from a leader shaped during his formative years in mind, body, and spirit at Holy Cross, they were anything but surprising.  As I returned home from the busy weekend on Mt Saint James, I felt blessed to have also grown up and been shaped by Holy Cross and the NROTC Unit there. I am excited about The College’s future and also thrilled to be part of the O’Callahan Society and the role it can play in helping shape tomorrow’s leaders in mind, body, and spirit.     Thirteenth Annual O’Callahan Society Dinner 5 October 2013  About 110 NROTC staff, midshipmen, O’Callahan Society members, and their families attended the Thirteenth Annual Dinner including four active duty Navy Captains: Calvin Slocumb, Commanding Officer of the Holy Cross NROTC Consortium; Kevin Brew and wife Lisa; James Cunha and wife Josephine; and John Schneider ’86 and wife Theresa ’87.  The Brews, Cunhas, and Schneiders each have a child currently attending Holy Cross.  The highlight of the dinner as previously described was the presentation by VADM (Ret) Barry Costello ’73 whose distinguished career included commanding Task Force 55 (Constellation Battle Group) during Operation Iraqi Freedom, heading up the THIRD FLEET, serving as the Chief of Legislative Affairs, and various roles on the Joint Staff.  Fittingly, he was also the recipient from his class of the Father Joseph T. O’Callahan Memorial Bowl.  During his remarks, the Admiral showed a film clip about Task Force 55 that succinctly portrayed the combat capabilities and firepower of the ships and aircraft of his Task Force.  Also at the dinner, the O’Callahan Society presented a replica O’Callahan Bowl to Commander Jamie Godwin, the Unit Executive Officer, in recognition of his years of service, especially as interim Commanding Officer of the Unit. Unit News  Change of Command  Captain Calvin Slocumb, USN, the 26th Commanding Officer of the Holy Cross NROTC Consortium, retired in February 2014.  The O’Callahan Society would like to thank him for his many years of service and wish him well in the future.  Commander Jamie Godwin, USN, who had served as the Consortium Executive Officer, formally assumed command as the 27th Commanding Officer of the Holy Cross NROTC Consortium.  New Unit Staff Officers  Joining CDR Godwin on the Unit Staff are several other officers who arrived in 2013 and 2014:  CDR Keith Lanzer, USN; Executive Officer, Holy Cross/Yale  Captain Jeff Hart, USMC, Marine Officer Instructor, Holy Cross/Yale  Lieutenant Anson Isaacs USN, Nuclear Power Officer, Holy Cross Lieutenant Derek Marino USN, Surface Warfare Officer, Holy Cross  President’s Review  Held 11 April, the guest speaker was Captain MICHAEL K. SAVAGEAUX, U.S. Navy.  He is currently assigned as the Director of Training for Naval Submarine School in Groton, CT. Captain Savageaux  has completed several sea tours aboard attack submarines, most recently as Commanding Officer of USS Pittsburgh (SSN 720). In 1991 he graduated from WPI and was commissioned from the Holy Cross NROTC program.  Midn 1/c Sarah Conlin, a senior Navy option at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, was awarded the O’Callahan Memorial Bowl by Reverend John Savard S.J., Rector of the Jesuit community at Holy Cross.  The 1st Lt John Power ’41 Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Midn 3/c Samuel Bergstrom, a sophomore Navy option at WPI.  Midn 3/c Jonathan Fitzgerald, a sophomore Navy option at Holy Cross, received the Ltjg Frank Malinski ’62 Memorial Scholarship award.  Class of 2014 Orders  While not every member of this year’s graduating class has received orders as of press time for the newsletter, 16 seniors do have orders:   Marine Corps Basic School  5 (1 with follow-on orders to pilot training)  Navy Surface Warfare  2  Navy Surface Warfare (Nuclear) 3  Navy Submarine   2  Navy Aviation – Pilot   3  Naval Flight Officer   1 Society News  Annual Meeting  Twenty-nine members of the O’Callahan Society gathered early on Saturday morning, October 5, 2013, for coffee and reminiscing before beginning their Annual General Meeting and a day of Fall Homecoming activities.  Co-Chair Bill McCarthy called the meeting to order at 1000 by recognizing the presence of VADM Barry Costello USN (Ret) ’73, the keynote speaker at that evening’s O’Callahan Society Dinner.  After transacting some routine organizational business, the assembled members launched into a discussion of the benefits of establishing a process for reaching out to recent Unit graduates who are in the midst of a change of duty stations or a transition from active duty to civilian life.  The goal of such an outreach program would be to offer networking and career counseling assistance to young officers at a time of change in their professional lives.  This concept was well received by the members and shall be explored further.  The final item of business was the introduction and election of Kara Dallman ’87 and the Rev. Robert L. Keane, S.J. as the two newest members of the Society’s Board of Directors.  Kara Dallman, who retired from the Navy as a Commander in 2008, is presently the Senior Director for Operations of the San Diego-based United Through Reading.  This organization is an innovative non-profit service group that seeks to maintain and strengthen the bonds within military families by offering deployed military parents the opportunity to be video-recorded while reading storybooks for their children.  This concept has been expanded to offer solace to men and women served by the Wounded Warrior Project.  Kara’s work and leadership in this noble endeavor was recognized by Holy Cross in 2013 when she was a recipient of the prestigious Sanctae Crucis Award.  Father Keane joins the Society’s Board as a retired Captain in the Navy’s Chaplain Corps.  Ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1978, Fr. Keane first came to Holy Cross in 1986 as a member of the Modern Languages Department.  In 1989, he became a Navy Chaplain serving, during the course of his career, with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit during Operation Desert Storm and on board USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) during Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Following his retirement in 2012, Fr. Keane returned to Holy Cross as Director of Special Projects in the Office of the Vice President for Mission.  Both Kara Dallman and Fr. Keane were elected to the Board by acclamation.  The meeting adjourned at 1030, allowing members time to prepare for the afternoon’s gridiron contest between the Crusaders and the Crimson of Harvard at an open house and tailgate party hosted by the NROTC Unit outside Carlin Hall.  Society Facebook Page  Through the efforts of Susan Dooley, ’81, LtCol USMC (Ret), the Society now has a Facebook page which can be accessed by linking to www.facebook.com/OCallahanSociety.  This will provide a more timely means of communicating with members and friends of the Society so keep an eye on the page for updates on events, schedules, and items of interest.  Calendar of Events  Commissionings May 17, 2014 @ WPI  8:00 a.m.  May 24, 2014 @ CHC - Hogan Campus Center 8:00 a.m.   Reunion Open Houses  May 31 & June 7, 2014  9:30 – 11:30 a.m.  O’Callahan Ward Room  Lower Carlin  Homecoming  September 27, 2014  Society Annual Meeting   10:00 – 11:00 a.m.   Hogan Campus Center    Battalion Tail Gate  11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Carlin Quad   Annual Dinner   5:30 – 9:00 p.m.  Hogan Campus Center    O’Callahan Society Initiatives Fund  For two decades the O’Callahan Society has supported the NROTC Unit at the College. Donations from our members and friends fund activities that enhance the experiences of midshipmen and recognition of the achievements of the members of the battalion.  Donations to the College of the Holy Cross and designated to the O’Callahan Society Initiatives Fund support the NROTC Unit. An envelope is enclosed for your convenience.     For more information please contact Jim Delehaunty ’67 at ocallahan@holycross.edu.  Remembrances  50 Years Later the College Remembers Father O’Callahan  On March 18, 2014 the College honored the memory of Rev. Joseph T. O’Callahan S.J. and his service to our nation. It was the 50th anniversary of his death.  Three events marked this day. At noon, more than one hundred gathered in the Mary Chapel to celebrate Mass with Rev. Robert Keane S.J., Captain (Ret) U.S. Navy Chaplains Corps. Fr. O’Callahan’s Medal of Honor was displayed in front of the lectern during the Mass.   For the wreath-laying ceremony, students, faculty, staff, alumni, members of the O’Callahan Society and the College’s NROTC Unit moved to Fr. O’Callahan’s grave in the Jesuit Cemetery.  Nephew Jay O’Callahan ’60 represented the family.  Chaplain Paul Covino opened with words of welcome and then introduced Rev. Philip Boroughs S.J., President of the College. He remarked at the uniqueness and appropriateness of an active cemetery in the heart of the campus. CDR Jamie Godwin, USN, Commanding Officer of the NROTC Unit, made some remarks that were penned by one of his students, Kerry Dunne, the granddaughter of a survivor from the USS Franklin. Retired Navy Captain Thomas G. Kelley ‘60, himself a recipient of the Medal of Honor, read the citation which accompanied Fr. O’Callahan’s award.  Two Midshipmen placed a wreath beside Fr. O’Callahan’s tombstone, TAPS was played and a final salute rendered to the honoree.  Chaplain Covino concluded the ceremony with a prayer.  After lunch in Kimball Hall, more than sixty proceeded to Seelos Theater for a presentation by Dr. John Satterfield from New Castle, Delaware. He is the author of “SAVING BIG BEN: The USS Franklin and Fr. Joseph T. O’Callahan” published in 2011 by the U.S. Naval Institute. The book is available in the Special Titles section of the College’s bookstore (www.holycross.edu/bookstore).  In his audio visual presentation, Dr. Satterfield covered the events on USS Franklin and Fr. O’Callahan’s actions on March 19, 1945 that would lead to the Medal of Honor for the priest, the first awarded to a Navy chaplain. Drawing from his research in the College’s archives and interviews with Jesuits who knew Fr. O’Callahan, he gave a very informative presentation regarding Fr. O’Callahan’s naval service and the years that followed back at the College.    Class of 1951 Remembers  The Class of 1951 has made a gift to the College in memory of five classmates who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Two of these men, Cpl Walter M. Flynn USMC, November 28, 1950 in ground combat and ENS John R. Shaughnessy USN, October 7, 1952 in aerial combat, were killed in action in Korea.  The class recognizes that the risks of military service are not limited to combat.  The others were killed in the line of duty: LTJG Edward Murphy USN, February 26, 1953 during underwater demolition operations in the Bearing Sea off St Lawrence Island, Alaska; 2nd LT Joseph C. Zemaitis USAF, June 27, 1954 during cross country flight operations from Oklahoma to California; and CAPT Robert Delaney USMC March 25, 1957 during fight operations at Cubi Point Naval Air Station, the Philippines.  Although plans are incomplete the College will acknowledge this gift with an appropriate ceremony and marker on campus. 

2014 O\u27Callahan Society Newsletter

https://crossworks.holycross.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&amp;context=ocs_newsletter

2014 O\u27Callahan Society Newsletter

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

College of the Holy Cross: CrossWorks