2015 Auttumn Edition Mr. Frederic k W. Smith, Founder of FedEx Corporation, will receive the Admiral of the Fleet George Dewey Award first innovations he said he brought was integrating air-ground operations and ensuring everything was well coordinated, from The recipient of the 2015 Naval Order of the United States the pickup and delivery folks to the pilots. "Lessons learned Admiral of the Navy George Dewey Award is Frederick W. during Vietnam played over and over in my mind when we Smith, founder of Federal Express (FedEx Corporation) and developed the business plan," and part of that plan friend of the Naval Order. The Admiral of the Navy Dewey development, he said, was getting a fitting motto and a mission Award rrecognizes the exemplary service of a senior civilian statement, recalling the famous Marine motto, semper fidelis, or whose record of service sets him apart from his peers. Mr. "always faithful." The resulting motto fits the mission: "I will Smith will receive the award at the Naval Order Congress in make every FedEx experience outstanding.” New Orleans in October 2015, his full biography can be found on the Naval Order website, and the following edited excerpts Mr. Smmiith, in summary, stated his business philosophy, "If you from a recent article in Army News Service will be of interest take care of the folks, treat them right, put good leaders in front to our Sea Service Companions. of them, communicaate with them, set the example, make sure they unnderstand whaat's in this for them, make sure they Fred Smith served two tours in Vietnam with the Marine understand the importance of what they're doing, they'll provide Corps, earning the Silver Star, Bronze Star and two Purple that serrvvice. Keeping that Purple Promise, and profit will take Heart medals. In 1966, Mr. Smith became a platoon leader care of itself." with the 1st Marine Division in Chu Lai, South Vietnam. He FedEx was said there was a shortage of officers, so he quickly became recently named company command er of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Number Eight Marines. His rifle company participated in the epic battle for on the list of the Hue City and he said that commanding those men was the most admired proudest moment of his life. During his second tour in companies, as Vietnam, Mr. Smith was a forward air controller with Marine publisheed by Observation Squadron 2 at Marble Mountain. Fortune magazine. Mr. Smmiith said, During his wartime service, Mr. Smith told Armym News Service "The reason that he was impressed with the effectiveness of wartime logistics happened had and Marine Corps leadership values. He thought he might be nothing to do with able to use some of that experience to build a successful me. It had to do business in the civilian sector. "Everything that went into with those FedEx that made the business that it is today relates to what I 350,000 folks." learned in the Marine Corps and I've always been grateful for that education and for those I've served with," he said. Excerpts from the "There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about the WASHINGTON names of those on the Vietnam Wall," he also said. He served (Army News with some of those. Service, February 28, 2014) When Mr. Smith started Federal Express in 1971, one of the AUTUMN 2015 ● VOL. XXV, NO. 3 WWW.NAVALORDER.ORG COMMANDER GENERAL’S REPORT USCG ACADEMY JUNIOR INSTRUCTOR AWARD Commander Soon, you will be in the very capable hands of Captain Lockwood; she is extremely well-qualified and has many exciting General’s Report ideas about how we can become more attuned to existing to the Order possibilities and new capabilities. Stay tuned! Bless all of you, our Sea Services past and present, and our great For this issue of the Newsletter, nation, the United States of America. distributed just prior to our Vance Morrison Annual Congress in New Orleans, we feature our 2015 Admiral of the Navy George LT Sean A. Munnis, USCG, Receives the Dewey Award honoree, the Naval Order’s 2015 U.S. Coast Guard Chairman of Fed Ex Academy Junior Instructor Award Corporation, Mr. Frederick W. Smith. We are honored that Lieutenant Sean A. Mr. Smith will be joining us for Munnis, U.S. Coast the Award Luncheon and look Guard, was the forward very much to meeting him and to conferring his Award. recipient of the Naval Order’s I point out another feature-filled issue with articles about the annual 2015 U.S. Honor Flight Bay Area Foundation and Hub, the Sunken Coast Guard USS Independence Survey, and the North American Society for Academy Junior Oceanic History James C. Bradford Dissertation Fellowship in Instructor Award, Naval History. There also is a fascinating article submitted by established in 1989 Companion Al Serafini about the day the officers and men of the in cooperation with USS Missouri (BB-63) buried a kamikaze pilot at sea. the Superintendent, U.S. Coast Guard On the particularly good news side, our Commandery Support LT Sean A. Munnis, USCG, 2015 Junior Academy, to Instructor Award recipient addresses the Coast recognize the Team has been hard at work and we are pleased to know that new Guard Academy. Photo by Coast Guard Commanderies are emerging in Memphis and in Hawaii. personal, Photographer PO3 Lisa Ferdinando Organizers also have committed to help us revive the dormant professional and Commanderies in San Diego and in the Philadelphia Valley area. academic leadership exhibited by a junior officer of the rotating Most other Commanderies are doing well, though much work lies faculty. The cadets choose the instructor and the Naval Order ahead as we grow and expand our reach. sponsors the award. This year’s award was presented to Lieutenant Munnis, an It is not too late to decide to join us at this year’s Annual Instructor from the Department of Engineering, at the Coast Congress in New Orleans 21-24 October! Gary Bair, Guard Academy’s Convocation Ceremony on 20 August in New Commandery Commander, Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired), and London, Connecticut, jointly by the Cadet Regimental Congress Host Committee Chair, has heavily publicized the event Commander, Cadet 1/c Samuel P. Roets, and by the and by now you should know that the hotel is centrally located and Commander General, Captain Vance H. Morrison, U.S. Navy the price is right. Plan to come to New Orleans and help us (Retired), in Leamy Hall Auditorium in the presence of the th celebrate the Naval Order’s 125 Anniversary. entire regiment of Cadets, Academy Faculty and Staff, guests, and friends. Finally, it is with mixed emotions that I write this, my final Report as Commander General. At the end of the Autumn Annual Music was provided by the Coast Guard Woodwind Quintet. Congress Captain Michele Lockwood, USN (Retired), will relieve me when I turn over the Official Naval Order Gavel. It has been a The Academy Superintendent, Rear Admiral James E. Rendon, challenging but wonderful journey for me and for my wife, Libby. U.S. Coast Guard, congratulated Lieutenant Munnis who then During these past two years each of you has provided us with offered a very well-received set of remarks to the assembled tremendous support and encouragement as, together, we all have cadets. A reception followed the Convocation Ceremony, which been able to steer the Naval Order on a navigable course into the also featured awards and recognition for a number of other future. Many elements of our Strategic Plan have been members of the faculty - but none as eagerly acknowledged as accomplished or are initially energized, such as the Projects Lieutenant Munnis. He also received a full membership in the process, our Communications Team, and the efforts mentioned Naval Order and now is one of our above to initiate new Commanderies and revive a few flagging newest Companions. Commanderies. For that, you have my eternal gratitude. Submitted by Vance Morrison AUTUMN 2015 ● VOL. XXV, NO. 3 PAGE 2 WWW.NAVALORDER.ORG CHARLESTON COMMANDERY EOD Tournament VC, Charleston Commandery, CAPT Jerry Rovner, USN (Ret.), a former Deep Sea Diving and Salvage Officer, has been involved The Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Association (Navy in the races since 1991, when he and his diving unit of 52 EOD Association) Chapter 6's seventh annual EOD “Hurt- personnel were sent by the Navy to provide under-water support Locker” Charity Golf Tournament was held August 19 at for the races. Jerry returned for the ’93 Ft. Lauderdale ISR with Shadowmoss Plantation Golf Club, Charleston SC. over 100 personnel, 80 of whom were divers. The Charleston Commandery assisted the "Hurt Locker" By 1995 ISR sponsorship had fallen apart, and Jerry was asked to Tournament 2015 through the sponsorship of CDR Mike take over the directorship of the competition. With help from the Navy he was able to switch the ISR venue to the David Taylor Mercer, who is also a member of the Navy EOD Association. Model Basin – the largest test facilities for the development of During the last six years the local Navy EOD chapter has been ship design in the world. DTMB is a field activity of the able to raise and distribute over $90,000 to our brave EOD men Carderock (MD) Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, and women in uniform and their families in support of the EOD which has graciously hosted the racers every other year since. Warrior Foundation. Submitted by Mike Mercer As the program has flourished under Jerry’s directorship, his wife, Sue – also an enthusiastic and dedicated participant in the Charleston Volunteers Charleston Commandery–has overseen the expanding biennial In 1989 the Foundation for Underwater Research and Education, registration process with her usual aplomb and good cheer.