11th Company Friends for a Lifetime
It is said that in times of challenge, unbreakable bonds are formed that last a life time. That is the case at the U.S. Naval Academy. The common experiences and traditions create friendships that reach even across generations.
As I mention in my book, A USNA Mom’s Journal: Plebe Summer through Commissioning and Beyond! What You Need to Know, life at the Naval Academy has been a part of my life since I can remember. Stories of my Dad and his classmates permeate my childhood; being baptized under the Chapel Dome; summer visits to the Yard; staying up late when my Dad’s classmates would visit and hearing the laughter and the reminiscing of old times at USNA are some of my fondest memories. These friendships, forged in challenging times and experiences, are bonds that last a lifetime!
Life was much different at USNA for the Class of 1959. For my Dad, who was an international student, life was different and difficult indeed. The language and cultural barrier posed significant challenges. Yet within the walls of Bancroft he not only found adversity, he found friends that would support each other through thick and thin. Telmo (my Dad), Topo – a distinguished submariner; Hank – an accomplished four star Admiral and his incredible wife Peggy, whose love for the Navy endures to this day; David – an aviator in Vietnam; Miiiiitch – a genius and JAG officer; and my Dad – an international Officer; and Clay – my Dad’s Plebe Year roommate (who had not seen his friends in 50 years!), gathered to reminisce about their friendships and their time on the Yard.
This is the legacy of USNA that spans generations. Join me for this timeless conversation with “old timers” – my Dad and his classmates, as they travel down memory lane, for a conversation about friendships, demerits, stories, and overcoming hardships together. I imagine our Mids when they gather together many years from now in similar conversations… They are the links in the Chain! Listen to The Last Real Plebe Summer with Club Eleven | Episode 11
GO NAVY!!
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