'H' Biographies

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="057285a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <B>VP-21 & VPB-111 Veterans Association</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=150 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="056d4c00dkelyh.png"> <div> <A HREF="http://www.vp-21.org/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.vp-21.org/"><U><B><U>Home</U></B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biographies/Profiles"><U><B><U>Back to Biogaphies Main Page</U></B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <A NAME="_h__biographies"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>'H' Biographies</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="24964390.gif" border=0 width="100" height="57" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="#ben_hacker" TITLE="H Biographies"><U>Hacker, Benjamin T.</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#brad_hall" TITLE="H Biographies"><U>Hall, G. Brad</U></A><A HREF="#brad_hall" TITLE="H Biographies"><U>ford Jr.</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#lyle_f__hansen" TITLE="H Biographies"><U>Hansen, Lyle F.</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#glenn_harkleroad" TITLE="H Biographies"><U>Harkleroad, Glenn</U></A> A.</div> <div> <A HREF="#frank_w__higgins" TITLE="H Biographies"><U>Higgins, Frank W.</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#rick_hully" TITLE="H Biographies"><U>Hully, Rick</U></A></div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="ben_hacker"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><B>Ben Hacker</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="183" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 256 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="29ab0fa0.jpg" border=0 width="176" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >R</FONT>ear Admiral Benjamin Thurman Hacker was born in Washington, D.C., in September 19, 1935. Completing most of his high school in Daytona Beach, Fla., He attended the University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio and Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. He graduated 1 June, 1957 with a bachelor of arts degree in Science. </div> <bR> <div> Upon completion of Aviation Officer Candidate School at Pensacola, Florida, he as commissioned an ensign in September, 1958. He was designated a Naval flight Officer on June 7, 1960. </div> <bR> <div> He served with Patrol Squadron 10<B> </B>and<B> Patrol Squadron 21</B> from June, 1960 to June, 1963. On March 19, 1960, he was promoted to lieutenant junior grade and in 1963, he reported the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., where he completed the Engineering Science Curriculum. He was promoted to lieutenant on October 1, 1962.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> In 1964, he reported to Patrol Squadron 31, Moffett field, California, where he served as personnel officer and a flight and ground instructor in the P-3A aircraft. </div> <bR> <div> He attended Fleet Sonar School, Key West, Florida, in June, 1966 and in August, he reported to the U.S. Naval facility, Argentia, Newfoundland, where he served as operations officer. In 1967, he was assigned to the U.S. Naval facility, Barbados, West Indies as executive officer. He became commanding officer of that station in 1968. He was promoted to lieutenant commander at this duty station.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> In 1970, Rear Admiral Hacker reported to Patrol Squadron 47, Moffett Field, Calif. During this tour, he completed numerous deployments in the P3C Aircraft to Adak, Alaska and the Western Pacific. He was promoted to commander at Patrol Squadron 47. In 1972, he established the Naval ROTC Unit at Florida A & M University, Tallahassee, Fla., and served as the first professor of Naval Science and commanding officer of this unit.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> He reported to Patrol Squadron 24, Jacksonville, Florida, in October, 1973. He served for one year as executive officer, prior to assuming command in November, 1974. During this tour, the squadron completed deployments to Keflavik, Iceland, and was heavily tasked in major exercises in the Northern and Central Atlantic.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> From 1975 to 1977, he was assigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel as director, Equal Opportunity Divisions and special assistant to the Chief of Naval Personnel for Minority Affairs, Washington, D.C. He became a captain on Sept. 1, 1977. In June, 1978, he completed studies in National Security Policy at the Industrial College of the Armed forces, and earned a Master of Science Degree in Business Administration from the George Washington, University.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> In August, 1978, he was assigned as commanding officer of Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine and in August, 1980, he assumed duties as commander, U.S. Military Enlistment Processing Command with headquarters in Fort Sheridan, Illinois. On September 1, 1980, he was designated a Rear Admiral while serving in this billet.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> In 1982, he reported for duties as commander Fleet Air Mediterranean; commander, Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance forces, U.S. Sixth fleet; and commander, Maritime Air forces, Mediterranean, with headquarters in Naples, Italy. </div> <bR> <div> He assumed duties as director, Total Force Training and Education Division (OP-11) on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in October, 1984. In May, 1986, he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Education honoris causa by the George Washington University, Washington, D.C.. Rear Adm. Hacker became commander, NTC in August, 1986. following NTC, he became commander, Naval Base, San Diego.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> He holds the Defense Superior Service Medal; the Legion of Merit; the Meritorious Service Medal; the Navy Unit Commendation; the National Defense Service Medal; and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Cuba). </div> <bR> <div> <B>From a contemporary Norfolk news report:</B><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> Rear Admiral Benjamin T. Hacker, United States Navy (retired), age 68, of Norfolk, Virginia, passed away on December 28, 2003 at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. </div> <div> Born in Washington, D.C., he was a graduate of Wittenburg University in Springfield, Ohio.</div> <div>  </div> <div> After completing Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, he was commissioned an Ensign in 1958. He was selected for flag rank in the Navy in 1980, and assumed duties as Commander U.S. Military Enlistment Processing Command with headquarters in Fort Sheridan, Illinois. </div> <bR> <div> In 1982, he became Commander Fleet Air Mediterranean; Commander Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Forces, Sixth Fleet; and Commander Maritime Air Forces Mediterranean with headquarters in Naples, Italy. </div> <bR> <div> After retiring from the United States Navy in 1988, he served as the director of the California Department of Veterans Affairs and also held posts as a Regional Senior Vice President/General Manager for United Services Automobile Association (USAA) in the company's Western Region headquartered in Sacramento, California, and Mid-Atlantic Region, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia. Rear Admiral Hacker retired from the USAA in 1998 and served on numerous local and national boards.</div> <div>  </div> <div> Rear Admiral Hacker was the first Naval Flight Officer in the Navy to be selected for Flag Rank. He held ten commands over the course of his 30 year military career. Included among Rear Admiral Hacker's personal decorations are the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with three Gold Stars, and the Meritorious Service Medal. In his own life example, he symbolized what was right about the United States military, what was noblest and best. Throughout his military and professional careers he worked tirelessly in support of equal opportunity initiatives. His life touched countless people and his efforts paved the way for many to follow.</div> <div>  </div> <div> A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m, Saturday, January 3, 2004 at Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church, Norfolk, Virginia. Viewing will begin at 3 p.m., prior to the service. A funeral will be held at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors at a date yet to be determined. </div> <div> Admiral Hacker is survived by his wife, Jeanne; mother, Alzeda, and three children, Benjamin Jr., Bruce and Anne. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of American, 1311 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, New York 10605 in memory of Rear Admiral Benjamin T. Hacker. </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#_h__biographies" TITLE="H Biographies"><U><B>BACK TO TOP</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U> <A NAME="frank_w__higgins"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>Frank W. Higgins</U></B></div> <bR> <div> VP 21 JULY 1955 TO FEB 1957</div> <bR> <div> AFTER FINISHING FLIGHT TRAINING IN HUTCHISON I WAS ASSIGNED TO THE US NAVAL JUSTICE SCHOOL IN NEW PORT AND AFTER 9 WEEKS OF UCMJ I REPORTED TO VP 21 IN BRUNSWICK ME JUST IN TIME TO FIND OUT THAT WE WERE DEPLOYING TO MALTA WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.</div> <bR> <div>  l WAS RAISED IN SOUTH JERSEY IN A MILITARY FAMILY. MY DAD WAS IN BOTH THE 1ST AND 2ND WW AND GOT OUT AS A COLONEL AFTER 27 MONTHS BUILDING AIRSTRIPS IN ADAK, SINCE MANY OF MY FAMILY HAD ALSO BEEN IN THE MILITARY WHEN I HIT A COUPLE BUMPS IN MY WAY THRU CORNELL AS A NROTC STUDENT MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS TO JOIN THE NAVCAD PROGRAM.</div> <bR> <div> WHEN I GOT MY WINGS I WAS NOT SURPRISED TO FIND THAT I HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO BRUNSWICK FOR I HAD ASKED FOR WHIDBEY, OR ANY PLACE IN CALIFORNIA. OFF WE WENT TO MALTA AND I REALLY ENJOYED LEARNING TO FLY REAL AIRPLANES (P2V5F) WE DID THE ASW BIT AND NATO EXERCISES AND MANY FAM TRIPS TO ALL AREAS OF EUROPE AND WESTERN ASIA AND NORTHERN AFRICA WE RETURNED TO BRUNSWICK IN MARCH 56 AND DID THE USUAL SCHOOLS AND WEEKEND TRIPS TO WHEREVER TO BUILD OUR FLIGHT TIMES. LATER THAT YEAR WE WENT BACK TO MALTA AND THE MISSIONS HEATED UP WE SPENT MANY HOURS TRACKING THE RED SUBS COMING OUT OF THE BLACK SEA AND HEADING FOR ALBANIA (FUNNY, AREN'T THEY OUR FRIENDS NOW? </div> <bR> <div> WE ALSO DID ASW WITH THE 6th FLEET AND ON ONE TRIP WE HAD PROBLEMS. WE WERE FLYING PATTERNS OFF THE FORRESTAL AND AFTER A FEW HOURS OF THIS WE HAD PLANE PROBLEMS WHICH ULTIMATELY CAUSED US TO SHUT DOWN THE STARBOARD ENGINE. COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE CARRIER INDICATED OUR NEAREST LAND WAS MALLORCA SO OFF WE WENT. AS IT TURNED OUT IT WAS NOT THE CORRECT ADVICE AND WE BARELY MADE IT TO MALLORCA AND WERE BARELY ABLE TO KEEP THE PLANE IN THE AIR. ON FINAL ONE OF THE WINGS DIPPED AND WE COULD NOT MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT AND FINALLY CRASHED IN AN OLIVE ORCHARD. THE PPC WAS TOM SZCZHOWSKI (NOW STACK), I WAS THE COPILOT AND I BELIEVE BANDA WAS ALSO ABOARD. THE WORLDS OLIVE SUPPLY WAS SEVERELY AFFECTED AND NO-ONE WAS KILLED. HOWEVER, I DO RECALL THAT THIS WAS THE 3RD OR 4TH P2V5F TO CRASH IN THAT 12 MONTH PERIOD.</div> <bR> <div> AFTER THE CRASH I SPENT 2 WEEKS IN AN AIRFORCE HOSPITAL IN WIESBADEN AND THEN TO US NAVY HOSPITAL IN PHILADELPHIA FOR APPROXIMATELY 17 MONTHS RECOVERY AND THEN RETIRED FROM THE NAVY. I FINISHED UP MY BA WORK AND GOT AN MBA FROM U OF PA AND WORKED FOR 24 YEARS AND RETIRED FROM KRAFT QUAKER OATS, SMITH KLINE AND FRENCH AND ANDERSON CLAYTON. SINCE THEN I HAVE MUCH TIME TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD. HAVE BEEN BACK TO MALTA MALLORCA, RUSSIA , ODESSA, AND THE BLACK SEA AND I SHOULD NOTE THAT SITTING IN THE HARBOR ALONG THE BLACK SEA IS THE LARGEST SUBMARINE I HAVE EVER SEEN (SHADES OF THE RED OCTOBER).</div> <bR> <div> IN LOOKING THRU THE VP-21 ROSTER INFO I AM SURPRISED TO NOT FIND MANY OF MY GOOD FRIENDS FROM THAT ERA FERD KELLEY JIM WELCH, BUD SCHEMERS, TIM HEALY, JOHN PISTAULKA, SARKESIAN, HERMS, ANDERSON-AND ON IT GOES. THAT IS ABOUT IT. THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE WITH SOME OF THE FINEST INDIVIDUALS I HAVE EVER MET. </div> <bR> <div> FINALLY, I MARRIED IN 1962, HAD TWO CHILDREN BOTH LIVING IN CALIFORNIA AND HAVE FOUR GRANDCHILDREN. I HAVE FOUND THAT BEING IN NEVADA IS A VERY GOOD PLACE FOR GRANDPA TO BE. </div> <div> Friday, August 08, 2003 </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#_h__biographies" TITLE="H Biographies"><U><B>BACK TO TOP</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="lyle_f__hansen"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Lyle F. Hansen</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="722" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 256 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="24da7fa0.jpg" border=0 width="167" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="25137fa0.jpg" border=0 width="311" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="24fe9fa0.jpg" border=0 width="233" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="166"><div> 1980</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 1963: Lt, Lyle F. Hansen, PPC - Front row-left</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="223"><div> June, 2001</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <div> Lyle was born 15 November, 1936 to Leo F. and Martha (Erdmann) Hansen in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He Married Nancy Fowler in Geinig, Nebraska in 1959. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1959 and received his MBA from the University of Southern California in 1980. He was commissioned as an Ensign in the Unted States Navy in 1959 and served proudly as a Naval Aviator until his retirement in 1980. Lyle served with VP-21 from 1962 to 1965. Lyle's  career Navy assignments were:</div> <bR> <div> June 1958-April 1960--USS Kearsarge </div> <div> April 1960-February 1962- Flight Training </div> <div> <B>February 1962-July 1965 --VP-21</B> </div> <div> August 1965-July 1968--VT-31 </div> <div> September 1968-February 1970-USS Kearsarge </div> <div> March 1970-April 1973-VP-48 </div> <div> May 1973-November 1973-Armed Forces Staff College </div> <div> November 1973 September 1976 Navy Recruiting Command </div> <div> September 1976-June 1979 -TACRON One</div> <bR> <div> After Lyle's retirement from the Navy he was employed by Computer Sciences Corporation and worked for them in many management positions. At the time of his retirement from CSC, he was the Configuration Management Director of the F-22 project at Edwards Air Force Base.</div> <bR> <div> After retiring from in 2001 CSC, Lyle and wife Nancy moved to Alpine, Wyoming. He was very active in the Alpine American Legion Post 46 where he served on the Honor Guard and as the Service Officer.</div> <bR> <div> Lyle is survived by his wife, Nancy Fowler Hansen of Alpine; daughter Laura Heume of Maplewood, New Jersey; son Jeffrey Hansen of Yuma, Arizona; brother Robert Hansen of Washington, DC; sister Patricia Bryant of Austin, Texas; and four grandchildren.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#_h__biographies" TITLE="H Biographies"><U><B>BACK TO TOP</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="rick_hully"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Rick Hully</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="799" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 256 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="257bcfa0.jpg" border=0 width="188" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="25b90bb0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="187" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="2655e960.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Rick and Suzy-Q, 2003</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="286"><div> Rick's LH-6, BuNo 13<B>555</B>6</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="311"><div> Rick's N<B>555</B>HG 'Hully Gully'</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> I joined Navy in September 1962 and was discharged in September 1966. Boot camp training was in San Diego. From there to Memphis for electronics training and then to Jacksonville for flight crew training. Sometime around November of 1963, I was transferred to VP-21 in Brunswick Maine. For some reason, I was picked to be a radioman and off I went to radioman school. As many will know well, I loved using the Morse code key (bug), and used it every chance I got. For some reason, our airborne teletype blew fuses every time I got the urge to use the bug.</div> <div> Deployments and Assignments:</div> <bR> <div> Argentina, Newfoundland</div> <div> Keflavik, Iceland</div> <div> Puerto Rico</div> <div> Key West, Florida</div> <div> Guantanamo, Cuba</div> <div> Londonderry, Ireland</div> <div> Halifax, Nova Scotia</div> <div> Rota, Spain</div> <bR> <div> After I left the service in 1966, I moved to Lowell, Massachusetts and enrolled in college at Lowell Technological Institute (now University of Massachusetts at Lowell) and earned a BS in Electrical Engineering . Then I went to Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts and received an MS degree in Computer Science. During my sophomore year at Lowell, I started my own company providing programming and engineering services to Digital Equipment Corporation and their customers. I still have my own company and still programming.</div> <div> Shortly after I left the service, I got my private pilots license (with an instrument rating) and owned my own plane for over 20 years. Since leaving the service, I have lived continuously in Massachusetts.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#_h__biographies" TITLE="H Biographies"><U><B>BACK TO TOP</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="glenn_harkleroad"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Glenn Harkleroad</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="524" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 256 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="26f5afa0.jpg" border=0 width="90" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="271c0fa0.jpg" border=0 width="192" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="273eafa0.jpg" border=0 width="234" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 ><NOBR><div> 1951 Boot</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="191"><div> 1980</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="234"><div> 2002 - Barb and Glenn</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <div> My Navy life as a Recruit began at NTC San Diego in July 1951. Not a bad place to start, I thought, until we were moved from the pleasant Bay climate to Camp Elliot, out on the desert, for the rest of the summer. The sunburned troop managed to survive the heat and scorpions until our return to the main facility by the bay in the early fall. </div> <bR> <div> Out of Boot Camp I was assigned to FASRON-8 at Alameda NAS to await my school billet, a move that turned out well for me because I was able to explore the San Francisco Bay area for a few months. I found this very useful in later years. I was on my way, again, in the spring of 1952 down the usual track for rookie airmen to the Navy school at Norman and AT school at Memphis and eventually VP-21 at Pax River in the spring of 1953. </div> <bR> <div> Due to my prior experience with Morse code, which I had acquired as a teen, I was assigned as 2nd Radio on flight crew 1 under the watchful eye of Warren (Bud) Shelton, AL1, who taught me the Navy and ICAO circuit and message protocols then put me to work. After the Command change that summer, I was moved to crew 7.</div> <bR> <div> Eventually I was reassigned to crew 5 and later back to crew 1 where I remained until my discharge in July 1955. During that time the squadron had two deployments to Luqa, Malta, in 1953 and Halfar, Malta, in 1954 (See my photos in <A HREF="http://pub13.bravenet.com/photocenter/album.php?usernum=1087778288" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://pub13.bravenet.com/photocenter/al"><U>Gallery 8</U></A>). Looking back, I consider my time in the Squadron the experience of a lifetime. </div> <bR> <div> As a civilian, I returned to the Santa Fe RR in Kansas where I worked as a telegrapher out of high school. Once again, I was employed as a telegrapher and soon became a train dispatcher. A few months later I met and married Barbara Danford - my wife to this day. However, before long it became apparent to us that the world was rapidly changing (remember Sputnik) and, maybe, it was time to move on or get left behind - so we sold our new house that we had occupied for only a few months and moved to an apartment near the university campus to pick up where I left off in 1951. </div> <bR> <div> With a B.S.E.E degree in my hand in 1961 we were on our way to work in Satellite Systems Test at Lockheed Space Div. in the San Francisco Bay Region, the area that I had enjoyed years before. In 1962 I was offered a job at Texas Instruments in Dallas to work on a NASA satellite proposal and an opportunity to enter the Electrical Engineering graduate program at SMU so we reluctantly packed-up and moved on again. </div> <bR> <div> After earning my M.S.E.E. degree in 1965 we were on our way back to the San Francisco Bay area to continue work in the satellite business, where I specialized in ground/ satellite and satellite/ satellite communications; first, at Philco/Ford (later Ford Aerospace), then at Lockheed to work on classified (behind the black door, so to speak) programs, so I can’t elaborate further. I retired in 1992 and became Master of my Domain (aka, resident handyman, a title I hold to this day).</div> <bR> <div> Hobbies: Care and feeding of a Cessna 182 that carried us far and wide around the Western part of the Country for over 20 years.</div> <bR> <div> Barbara’s interest in photography and genealogy got me into digital photo processing including the restoration of old, abused family images, of which she has many. </div> <bR> <div> We are the proud parents two daughters, both of whom reside in the Bay area and two charming grand daughters.</div> <div> Glenn Harkleroad, 11/24/03</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#_h__biographies" TITLE="H Biographies"><U><B>BACK TO TOP</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="brad_hall"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Brad Hall</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="202" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 266 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="29ec8040.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="260" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="196"><div> <B>Pensacola 1958</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>G. Bradford Hall, Jr.</B></div> <div> <B>A Tribute to a Remarkable Man</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Much of the following was taken from a book entitled, “The Journey Home – Make It a Good One,” published in 1998 under the auspices of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, located in Palm Desert, California. The author, Peggy Herz Smith, assembled a collection of sermons and testimonials as “…a tribute to the great life and ministry of Brad Hall, a parish priest and teacher of soaring intellect and faith.” Unfortunately, the book is no longer in print, and cannot be purchased through any known source.</div> <div> Peggy Herz Smith makes the following comments in the preface of her book: </div> <bR> <div> <B>“Brad Hall died on July 16, 1997, but for all those who knew and loved him, he left a magnificent legacy: the towering strength of his faith, conviction, leadership, intellect…and his joyous belief in his God, his Church and his fellow human beings. He was a thinker and speaker of soaring eloquence. In his remarkable sermons, he left a glorious accounting of the power and clarity of his faith. With words of wisdom, hope and love, he guided and challenged us – spiritually, intellectually and emotionally…and whether his words were read or heard, they never failed to guide, steady and inspire all of us.”</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="202" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 252 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="2a0c8f60.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="246" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="196"><div> <B>Ensign Hall 1958</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Brad Hall? Sure, there was a LT(jg) Brad Hall who served with VP-21 before and after 1960 but, as I recall, I met that Brad Hall when I first checked into the squadron in August 1959. At that time I believe he may have been the co-pilot on Airmail 5. I was impressed by him, but because I had much to learn and many people to meet, I had little opportunity to regard him as anything more than a fellow officer at first. Following the path taken by all new aviators, my tour began as the PP3P/Nav on Airmail 5, flying with <A HREF="id150_jack_frost.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="F Biographies"><U>LT Jack Frost,</U></A> LT Ed Hope, LT(jg) Hank Buczek and LT(jg) Perry Winn, Tom Mancuso, AD2 plane capt. and <A HREF="id134_john_esposito.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="E Biographies"><U>John G. Esposito</U></A> for most of 1960, along with other crewmembers  whose names I have forgotten, The crew flew the SP2H “Neptune” and they made the deployment to Iceland along with a few side trips to Europe, keeping track of the elusive Soviet navy, and scaring polar bears along the East Coast of Greenland. </div> <bR> <div> Sometime in 1961, Brad won a prized assignment to Airmail 5 as the Patrol Plane Commander. Some of the new crew members assigned to him included LT(jg) Jerry Punches as the co-pilot, LT(jg) Ted Pearce as the Navigator/Tacco, and AD2 Tom Mancuso as the plane captain. This crew made the deployment to Argentia, Newfoundland and spent the summer of 1961 patrolling the shipping lanes of the North Atlantic. Brad Hall was a married guy, with a sweet wife named Carol Jean at home in Brunswick, Maine, but he always had time to spend with the aircrew after the flights or to join the guys for a beer at happy hour at the O’club on Fridays. From these associations, Brad made many lasting friendships. He was a career Naval Officer and when he left the squadron in 1962, he was headed for shore duty at the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California. This can’t be the same Brad Hall as Brad Hall the priest; there must be some mistake.  </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="611" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 417 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="2a3589b0.png" border=0 width="600" height="411" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 71 WIDTH="605"><div> <B>Crew 5: left to right- Smith,radar--J.Punches,co-pilot--Brad Hall, pilot--K. Terp,ord.--T.Mancuso, plane capt.--W.Dunphy, radio--J.Carter,elec--W.Stevens, 2nd mech.--(?)-- Schafer Bean,nav. Roosevelt Roads, February 1962</B></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> But, as the book says: “He sounds like two people when you read his resume. He was a twenty-year naval officer who loved to fly. He talked of long night flights over the North Sea tracking Russian submarines -dangerous, scary stuff. He thrived on it and he was good, and his superiors knew it.” </div> <bR> <div> Yes, this is the same Brad Hall. The same Brad Hall who was noted for his intellect and wide range of interests when he was in VP-21. The same excellent naval officer who had an easy rapport with everyone he met and a quiet sense of dignity which instantly inspired trust and confidence in every person with whom he came in contact. There was just something special about him, and everyone knew it. What follows is a brief summary of his life and accomplishments, paraphrased from The Journey Home, with additional information and reflections provided by Brad’s widow, Carol Jean Hall, his daughter, Susan Hall, and other friends and acquaintances who were influenced by this remarkable man.</div> <bR> <div> The story begins in Somerville, Massachusetts in 1934 when Brad and his twin brother Bob were born. He and Bob were Boy Scouts and they loved the out-of-doors. Younger brother Ray came along several years later. Brad graduated high school at age 16 and went to live in South Carolina with an aunt. While there, he worked in a research lab at a textile mill and eventually received a Naval ROTC scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina (UNC). In 1953 he was appointed a Midshipman in the Naval Reserve, and following his graduation from UNC in June, 1957 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics, he reported </div> <div> to NAS Pensacola for basic flight training.</div> <bR> <div> On October 11, 1958 Brad completed flight training and “got his wings.” Sometime before that, a young lady named Carol Jean Suther from Kannapolis, North Carolina, had attracted his attention. He had met her in 1957 when they were both students at UNC, and four weeks after they met, they were unofficially engaged. Carol Jean noted in The Journey: “He was always very active. He woke up sparkling. He could do more in a day than any person I’ve ever seen. He could always accomplish so much and enjoy doing it. He went to parochial school until he was sixteen. He was going to the Episcopal Church when I met him in college.” Brad graduated Phi Beta Kappa; clearly, he was smart in many ways, for he knew when he met Carol that he had found a remarkable woman with whom he wanted to share the rest of his life. On October 18, 1958 Brad and Carol Jean began their life together as a married couple.</div> <bR> <div> In November, 1958 Brad reported for duty with Patrol Squadron 21 at NAS Brunswick, Maine. He was promoted to LT(jg) on December 7, 1958. Some mementos in Brad’s possessions suggest that he began his tour of duty in the squadron on Airmail 4 before moving to Airmail 5. He had several assignments within the squadron until 1962 when he obtained orders to the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California. He had been accepted into the Aeronautical Engineering program.</div> <bR> <div> In June, 1963 Brad was selected by the Navy to attend a two-year course of study in Aeronautical Science and Engineering at the College of Aeronautics, Cranfield in Bletchley Bucks, England. While there, he was on the Cranfield Rowing Team and he was graduated from Cranfield in July, 1965. Following his return from Cranfield, he received his Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in August, 1965.</div> <bR> <div> For the next two years, Brad and Carol Jean were in Norfolk, Virginia, where Brad was flying P3’s. Then it was back to the Naval Postgraduate School in July, 1967 where Brad became the Assistant to the Curricular Officer for Aeronautical Engineering Programs. He held this position until February, 1970. Along the way he earned a Master of Science in Management Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in October, 1969 and the Navy Achievement Medal for superior performance of duty at the end of his tour of duty. He received another bonus of sorts when daughter Susan was born on his birthday, March 1, 1970. Three weeks later, the new family moved to Coronado, California, for their next assignment.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="202" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 251 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="2a7c8f50.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="245" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> <B>Susan, Brad, Carol 1971</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Brad and Carol and Susan lived in Coronado from 1970 to 1974. He was assigned to the Naval Rework Facility at NAS North Island where he was the Assistant Production Officer for Military Construction, Management Services Officer and Comptroller, and F-4N Program Director. His exceptional performance in these positions earned for him the Meritorious Service Medal. He had been promoted to Commander, USN, on July 1, 1971. Brad was definitely an officer in the U.S. Navy whose career was on the rise. </div> <bR> <div> On April 29, 1970 he went to the Navy hospital in San Diego for what he considered a quick visit with the doctor. The intestinal bleeding he had was a sign of colitis and he was admitted to the hospital for observation. He spent an endless number of days there, waiting, and getting more and more depressed; he’d just gotten a bigger and better job at the nearby Air Station and was about to be checked-out in the new E-2 airplane. The one thing that kept him going during his long stay was the daily visits of his wife, Carol. His extended hospital stay led to a period of personal and mental deterioration in which he began to lose touch with the Navy, his work, airplanes, and life in general.</div> <bR> <div> After he was discharged from the hospital, he went to his home in San Diego and considered his situation. He realized that his insides were falling apart and that he may be nearing the end of the line. He wept for the first time in many years. At this low point in his life, he states: </div> <bR> <div> <B>“I reached over to my bookcase and grabbed a Bible. It was a zippered King James Version which the dean of my college had given to me upon my graduation fifteen years previously. I unzipped the zipper for the first time and within a few days read the whole complex story from beginning to end. It was the start of a seven-year quest.” </B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="202" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 260 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="2aac8fe0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="254" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> <B>Commander Hall 1971</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Later, on one occasion in 1971, he was asked by his Commanding Officer to attend a weekend Navy drug rehabilitation workshop as an observer. The C.O. wanted the program, named Credo, checked out; some of the young lads in his command had been experimenting with drugs. Brad described the experience in one of his subsequent sermons:</div> <bR> <div> <B> “There were about thirty young men and women attending, all of whom were going through incredibly difficult life experiences, all using and abusing drugs. It was a tough and honest workshop and I heard stories of early-life experiences which not only shocked me, but also which I often just could not believe…The workshop began on Thursday evening and by closing time Sunday I was thoroughly beat, depressed and confused…”</B></div> <bR> <div> But apparently there is some truth to the adage that, “The Lord Works in Mysterious Ways.” Brad had met one of the sailors at the workshop named Charlie who was suffering from drug usage. Charlie would lie down in a fetal position through most of the workshop and could not respond to the world around him. A few days later, the Naval Hospital called and said that Charlie was in the hospital recovering from a drug overdose, and that he had asked for Brad to come get him and to take him home. Brad wasn’t sure what to do, but he went to the hospital, brought Charlie back to his home, all 85 pounds of him, and put him on the couch in the family room. Brad didn’t know exactly how to care for him, but Carol did, since she had been trained as a nurse, and they spent several months trying to help Charlie get his life back. It didn’t happen.Brad remarked: </div> <bR> <div> <B>“Finally there came a time when I could stand it no longer, so I sent Charlie back to his unit saying he had to do something about himself. Shape up or Ship out. He went back to the Credo unit to be cared for by them, yet we wound up doing a lot of work together.”</B></div> <bR> <div> Brad and Charlie continued to work together at the Credo for the next three years. As Brad describes it, </div> <bR> <div> <B>“I led a double life for those three years—during the days flying and engineering with the Navy; nights and weekends I was drawn inexorably into the life of Charlie and Credo. Eventually, I entered the world of my own wilderness journey, on a search for myself and my God.”</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>“After about three years of this heavy involvement with Credo, the church, and mostly with myself, I got scared. Something was happening to me which I didn’t understand and wasn’t in my expectations. So I called my Navy Detailer and said, ‘Get me out of here. I need a new assignment.’ Well, he did just that. I wound up with orders to report to Navy Headquarters in Washington, D.C., to help develop a new fighter plane, the F-18. I was going back into the Navy I knew best…I might add that by now Charlie was beginning to do quite well and had even enrolled part-time at San Diego State College.” </B></div> <bR> <div> In 1974, Carol, daughter Susan and Brad moved to Washington, D.C. He’d been assigned to the Pentagon as Aeronautical Engineering Assignment Officer. He was on track, it appeared, to work his way up to Admiral. But, after a surprise visit from Charlie at his Virginia home, he realized that he was not about to shake off Charlie or his Wilderness Journey or his search for God or himself by simply moving across the country. </div> <bR> <div> <B>“The next three years were three years of great joy, deep struggle and decisions. I became quite involved in the ministry of our church (Immanuel, Alexandria), I took evening courses at the seminary in Alexandria and eventually explored with a career counselor the possibilities of leaving the Navy, which I loved so dearly, and beginning a new career in ministry.”</B></div> <bR> <div> Brad made the decision to leave the Navy, but it was not an easy one. He had been selected for promotion to Captain, but had turned it down because his conscience told him that he could not accept the promotion if he was planning to leave the Navy. Because of his exceptional credentials, experience and intellect, he was also contacted by NASA and asked if he would consider going to work for that agency after his retirement. But his heart was leading him to a greater calling, and so on July 1, 1977 he retired from the Navy, after being awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second award of the Meritorious Service Medal. Then, he and Carol and Susan packed their belongings and headed off across the country to enter their new life in seminary at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP) at Berkeley, California.</div> <bR> <div> Before he left Alexandria, Brad got a form letter from the Claremont Graduate School and Seminary in California, which was asking for a recommendation for a young man, named Charlie. His initial response was, “You’ve got to be kidding!” It was some time later that Brad realized what Charlie’s presence in his life had meant. He described it this way:</div> <bR> <div> <B>“I learned that somehow or other we are all in this life together; and though it took five years, it finally dawned on me that my own healing and wholeness, and indeed my salvation, had a lot to do with Charlie’s healing and wholeness and his salvation. What I ultimately discovered, of course, is that I didn’t save Charlie – he saved me. As Charlie grew up, so did I. As Charlie found new life and God, so did I. It’s as simple as that.”</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="202" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 277 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="2acc80f0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="271" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> <B>Rector Brad Hall 1984</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <div> Brad graduated from CDSP with a Master of Divinity Degree in 1980. For the next year he served as Deacon at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Palo Alto, California, and on June 1, 1981 he was ordained into the priesthood and became an Episcopal Priest. He remained at St. Mark’s as Associate Rector until 1984 when he became the Rector of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, California. CDSP awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree in 1992. He served as Rector of St. Margaret’s until he succumbed to prostate cancer on July 16, 1997. His ashes were scattered at St. Margaret’s. </div> <bR> <div> Yes, Gordon Bradford Hall, Jr., was a remarkable man, an officer and a gentleman in the finest sense, a friend, and much more than that. It has been more than 40 years since many of us served with him in VP-21, and yet his strength of character, basic honesty, and leadership qualities have had a lasting effect on many of us to this day. One of the people he affected most was not in VP-21, but he was a former sailor named Charles Bamforth, who wrote these words in an ordination paper in July of 1981:</div> <bR> <div> <B>“It was not too long ago, ten years to be precise, that I nearly died because I had no reason to live. I was lost, confused, despairing. I turned to drugs and alcohol to ease my pangs of guilt and anesthetize my pain. I was lonely, isolated, dying. I lacked faith in God and felt I was a worthless creature. More importantly, I lacked faith in myself. A caring Christian reached out to me and showed me the meaning of love. He emulated Christ in such a way that I was healed through him. He never stopped caring for me, even though I purposely did things to make it difficult for him to care. His name was ‘Brad.’” </B></div> <bR> <div> Gerald N. Punches, shipmate and friend</div> <div> Port Orchard, Wash., August, 2004</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#_h__biographies" TITLE="H Biographies"><U><B>BACK TO TOP</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>