1963 Archives - Tulane Naval ROTC Alumni Association

Two Tours VA-86

Tom Dolan2019-11-09T09:38:49-06:00

Steve Bratton I completed A-4 training and detached from VA-44 [Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida on October 5, 1965. Ten days later, on October 15, 1965 I flew my first combat mission over North Vietnam. My first Vietnam deployment was in 1965. I was assigned to Attack Squadron [VA] 86 [Sidewinders] and flew A-4 Skyhawks off the USS Independence CV-62. In 1968 I deployed again, still assigned to VA-86 and flew the A-7 Corsair II off the USS America CV-66. Class: 1963 Degree: BA Service: USN Years of Service: 1963-1969 Years in Vietnam: 1965 [...]

Two Tours VA-86Tom Dolan2019-11-09T09:38:49-06:00

Earl Higgins(63) Pens a New Book

Earl Higgins(63) Pens a New Book

Tom Dolan2022-06-28T11:13:40-05:00

Pelican Publishers approached Earl Higgins, class of 1963, a few years ago and asked him to write a new book. They wanted to put out a 100 Catholic list to join their 100 Jewish list. Thus was born 100 Catholic Things to Do Before You Die. Earl was an English major at Tulane who went on to get a law degree. After retiring from both the Navy and the US Court of Appeals, he is now a ranger at Jean Lafitte National Park and an author. His other books are Metairie, Ames, High: The Streets of Jefferson Parish and The [...]

Earl Higgins(63) Pens a New BookTom Dolan2022-06-28T11:13:40-05:00

Lt Jg Robert Fobes – Class of 1963

Tom Dolan2019-08-29T15:12:46-05:00

April 26,1967 After service in Vietnam, Lt JG Fobes died in a helicopter crash while participating in a classified training operation. A/C crashed and burned in the Santa Rita mountains about 5 miles from Sonoita while taking part in operation Cloud Gap (classified research project). A/C was attempting a mountain peak landing and at approximately 150' above landing site, rotor RPM dropped to 6400. Pilot applied power for go-around but A/C continued to descend and lose RPM. At 20' AGL, A/C suddenly turned right and settled down to ground, M/R blades hit rock outcropping next to landing area, [...]

Lt Jg Robert Fobes – Class of 1963Tom Dolan2019-08-29T15:12:46-05:00

CVA-41: South China Sea on the USS Midway

CVA-41: South China Sea on the USS Midway

Tom Dolan2020-07-14T11:47:27-05:00

Earl Higgins A couple of weeks after commissioning in May 1963, I reported aboard USS MIDWAY (CVA-41) with homeport in Alameda, California. After the usual operations and one cruise to WESTPAC, the Gulf of Tonkin incident in August 1964 changed our operational plans. President Johnson escalated the war, and MIDWAY was an early part of that effort. Instead of an anticipated peacetime cruise that would have taken us to, among other places, Australia, Singapore, and Bangkok, we were ordered to war. MIDWAY departed Alameda in early 1965 for Subic Bay with a stop in Pearl [...]

CVA-41: South China Sea on the USS MidwayTom Dolan2020-07-14T11:47:27-05:00

Lt Jg Rosolino J Territo – Class of 1963

Tom Dolan2020-05-24T21:46:50-05:00

March 9 1965 March 09,1965: Lt. (jg). Rosolino J. Territo, 23, of NAS Lemoore was killed when his A4C Skyhawk BuNo 147817 crashed and exploded in swampland east of St. Vincent's Hill as it was about to make a radar landing at Hamilton AFB at 7:20 p.m. yesterday. Territo’s plane was one of two making a practice radar approach to the base, to gain experience in landing at unfamiliar fields. He was followed by instructor Lt. Harold D. Barnhart of Lemoore, who said he lost visual and radio contact with Territo minutes before they were supposed to land. San [...]

Lt Jg Rosolino J Territo – Class of 1963Tom Dolan2020-05-24T21:46:50-05:00

Col Robert W.L. Bross PNS 1963-1966

Tom Dolan2019-03-03T18:21:12-06:00

Colonel Bross was the Unit CO of Tulane NROTC BROSS Col. - Robert Bross (USMC, Ret.) of Atlantic Beach, passed away Thursday, January 25, 2007 at the age of 86. Robert was born in 1920 in Babylon, NY, son of William Warren Bross and Lillian Allen Leute Bross. He graduated from Princeton University in 1941 and received his Masters degree in Slavic languages from Tulane University in 1970. For 27 years he served in the United States Marine Corps first serving in World War II in the Pacific Theater. His military career included serving as Assistant Naval Attaché to [...]

Col Robert W.L. Bross PNS 1963-1966Tom Dolan2019-03-03T18:21:12-06:00