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Subj: More Than Games At Navy
Refer to: Central Region Letter 08-03
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PLEASE DO NOT HIT REPLY TO E-MAIL ME. I WILL NOT GET IT. E-MAIL ME DIRECTLY
AT MY USNA ALUMNI CLASSMAIL ADDRESS, len.wass@1964.usna.com
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Chapter Officers - Please give this e-mail the widest possible distribution
among your members and other alumni in your area.
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The following message was received from George Watt ' 73,
President and CEO of the Alumni Association. I'm forwarding the text in
its entirety because I think George has it nailed right on. So does the
Annapolis Capital sports writer whose article is also attached. I'm sure
we all have the brave souls of the good ship Columbia in our prayers,
as well as our brave young men and women in the Middle East who are in
harms way. They all are pioneers in the true American spirit-some in space
and others preserving our liberty here on earth. Here's George and Joe
Gross' text:
"Much has been written, and said, since last Saturday
about members of the crew of Columbia. As I'm sure all of the members
of our Extended Brigade and Naval Academy family know, we lost one of
our own: CDR Willie McCool, USNA '83. I didn't know Willie personally,
but those who did, particularly his shipmates and classmates, speak of
a great friend; an enthusiastic and consummate Naval Aviator; and especially
of a leader of great character. One who continued to served the nation
while willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. The Superintendent stated
that Willie " . . . truly exemplified the spirit and dedication of an
American patriot. While attending the Naval Academy, he excelled in academics,
graduated second in his class in 1983, and was a standout Cross-Country
and Track and Field athlete. He was a well-respected member of the Naval
Academy family and we are all very proud of his significant achievements.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and many friends at this
difficult time." Although we rarely single out any member of the media
for his/her coverage of the Naval Academy, I thought that Joe Gross of
the Annapolis Capital got it right in an editorial on Sunday. It seemed
to put certain matters into perspective. I've attached the text in its
entirety.
George Watt USNA '73"
Sports comment: More than games at Navy
Commentary by Joe Gross, Sports Editor, Annapolis Capital
Next time somebody complains about the lack of skill of Navy's football
players or makes fun of the struggles of the Mids on the basketball court,
think about Willie McCool.
McCool was the pilot of the space shuttle that disintegrated as it headed
toward its landing in Florida after spending 16 days on a scientific mission
in space.
Cmdr. McCool, as well as the many other graduates who have died in the
service of our country, is what the Naval Academy is all about. How well
those young men and women fare on the athletic fields is an aside for
midshipmen, not the main focus of their years of training to be in the
kind of position McCool was yesterday.
Sometimes it takes so excruciating a tragedy to instill the reality of
the mission of the Naval Academy. It's easy to forget every young man
or woman that chooses to attend the institution is in a position for that
end. It's a life they choose. We should all understand that. But sometimes
our priorities are skewed.
Football seasons in Annapolis have been difficult in recent years. Fans
are extremely critical of players on losing teams. Other graduates sometimes
become even more upset with the level of talent of the players that come
to the academy. They should know better. So should we all.
McCool was an outstanding runner on the cross country and track teams
in the early 1980s. He was also No. 2 in his graduating class, but more
people knew about him as an athlete who excelled as much on his guts as
on his talent. He should have been praised simply because of his choice
to attend the Naval Academy, for voluntarily putting himself into harm's
way.
Whether or not he finished first or last in his distance races should
have had nothing to do with the assessment of McCool. His dedication to
the Navy, to our country, is what must be judged, not his success on the
athletic field. The Naval Academy is far more than that.
It's easy to be critical of the football players, to think they have to
be great players to represent the Naval Academy, but just the fact they
have chosen to wear the Navy uniform says a great deal about their character.
The advent of yesterday's tragedy puts a different light on the courage
of those who decide the Naval Academy is the right place for them.
There are young men and women on ships and land bases in the Middle East
that participated in sports at the Naval Academy. Some of them might not
have been the most talented or the best athletes, but that will have no
bearing on their heroism on the battlefield. They serve beside the star
performers and are just as important to the defense of our nation.
McCool went into space fully expecting to return to Earth yesterday, but
that's the way servicemen think. They are optimists. Yet, they have to
know their lives could be in danger at any turn. That's the attitude that
comes with receiving an education at the Naval Academy, despite that knowledge,
there are young men and women eager to attend the Academy and to play
a role in the defense of the country.
While McCool was not killed in a war zone he was, as an astronaut, in
a place of pride for any American. His death being more in the public
eye than most battlefield casualties, can therefore can be used as more
of a focal point when judging the young people at the Naval Academy.
Certainly, it would provide a good feeling if the Naval Academy could
have an outstanding football or basketball or any other team. Many Naval
Academy graduates have expressed dismay at the state of the football program.
Some have threatened to stop donating to the Academy, others have promised
to cease their support of the team and even the institution because of
the struggles on the football field.
More than anyone, graduates of the academy should realize that excellence
in the athletic arena does not relate to excellence in the service of
the country that comes after graduation. Naval Academy graduates, and
thereby those still attending the Academy, should have pride in their
athletes, but they should have even greater pride in the quality of the
men and women they send out into the world.
The shocking death of McCool should put people's priorities back into
the right order. What he has done since graduation is what the Naval Academy
is about. What he did on the athletic field, however outstanding or minimal,
means little in the judging of the Naval Academy, its students and its
graduates.
---
jgross@capitalgazette.com Published February 02, 2003, The Capital, Annapolis,
Md. Copyright © 2003 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
GO NAVY!! BEAT ARMY!!!
Very Respectfully,
Leonard R. Wass '64
Captain, USNR (Ret.)
Central Region Trustee, USNAAA
len.wass@1964.usna.com
(W) 630-637-1405 x223
Fax: 630-637-1404
***
PLEASE DO NOT HIT REPLY TO E-MAIL ME. I WILL NOT GET IT. E-MAIL ME DIRECTLY
AT MY USNA ALUMNI CLASSMAIL ADDRESS, len.wass@1964.usna.com
***
Chapter Officers - Please give this e-mail the widest possible distribution
among your members and other alumni in your area.
***
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