Shortly after VADM T. J. White took command of FCC/C10F he issued serial CW001, dated July 2018. Here’s his opening statement:
“Team CW/CWE/CT … Active and Reserve components, Officers, Chiefs, Whitehats, and Civilians … It is a distinct privilege and honor to be your community leader and the Navy’s senior cryptologist. We have a great tradition and can trace our origins to WWI’s Black Chamber, the crucible of WWII in both TENTH Fleet’s Battle for the Atlantic and PACFLT’s struggle with Imperial Japan, in the Cold War’s strategic competition with the Soviet Union, and the quiet confrontation found in “making codes and breaking codes.” I value our cryptologic heritage, and I know you do as well; together we will honor the past and grow for the future to ensure America’s military strength and security. Be extremely proud of your rating, designator or skill set, and what you bring to the fight as a Navy cryptologist!”
VADM White specifically linked “honor the past and grow the future” to “ensure America’s military strength and security.” So how do the Active and Reserve components, Officers, Chiefs, Whitehats, and Civilians to this?
I believe part of the answer is the U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association (NCVA). I did not know it at the time when I joined the NCVA two years ago, but their function is three fold:
- Conducting an annual reunion
- Providing fraternal, social and recreational activities for members and guests
- Encouraging and supporting the preservation of the history of cryptology by members of the association and appropriate Federal Agencies.
Shortly after I joined, retired Force Master Chief Bob Anderson invited me to the local Pensacola NCVA chapter for a dinner social. About a year later the local chapter held another dinner social that I attended. After developing friendships with some, it became clear the people in this organization are not just socializing, but preserving the navy’s cryptologic heritage!
Unfortunately, the average member is nearly 80 years old with few young members joining. If this trend continues the NCVA will cease to exist and this bridge to our unique heritage will be lost forever.
So how can we stop this from happening and at the same time honor the past?
I believe it goes beyond talking about our past during morning quarters, GMTs and POD entries. I think it is about spending time and developing relationships with those who served before us, writing articles about people and events at our NIOC commands and asking the NCVA to post our stories in their quarterly NCVA CRYPTOLOG magazine. I think it’s about inviting our NCVA shipmates to Navy Day Balls and other command events.
But this is a two-way street. I think NCVA members could reach out to the FCC/C10F community, build friendships and invite the younger generation to local NCVA social events.
The bottom line is both generations of cryptologists need to share their stories and build relationships. Perhaps what the younger generation can learn from the older generation about the Cold War can be applied to the Great Powers competition of today!
There NIOCs located at Kunia HI, Denver CO, Ft. Meade MD, Augusta GA, San Antonio TX, Whidbey Island WA, San Diego CA, Groton CT and Norfolk VA. I’m sure there are NCVA chapters near these locations.
“If we don’t communicate, we don’t have a community.” – VADM T. J. White
Sincerely,
Mario
7 April 2019 at 09:48
How very timely! Last August I submitted my autobiography to NSA for permission to publish. The first half deals with my time in the Navy. 2/3s of that part deals with my time in the Naval Security Group as a Direct Support officer in all 3 programs, including the fleet introduction of the EP-3E, then as the Director for the operational evaluation of the Block III Rivet Joint, and its introductionr, replacing a senior USAF O-6. On 4 April NSA granted me permission to publish!
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7 April 2019 at 10:36
Why is there no mention of the Marines who also served in this capacity? There are many of us who trained at Corey Field and served along side the Navy at many locations around the world. When and how do we find out about the reunions? Do you have a way to reach out to all those who served previously as Croytologists? Thank you.
Tom Hyde, former SSgt, USMC 1966-1971
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7 April 2019 at 20:10
@Guy: Can’t wait to read the autobiography, keep us posted.
@Tom: A good point, since nearly every direct support division I was in had some Marines attached, and almost always they were among the best ops. Perhaps the message should have read “Naval cryptologists.” As we all know, the Naval service has two components – the Navy and the Marine Corps (and a third during time of war, the Coast Guard). Marines are eligible to join NCVA, and there is also a semi-defunct MC CVA. Hopefully some more Marines will step up and help report some of their history. [BTW, I still have a list of unlocated/unidentified Marines who flew in Da Nang — if you were there please contact me].
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7 April 2019 at 21:56
Bob,
My email is gguythomas@gmail.com
Send me an email and I send you the manuscript.
Certainly The Queen Det and USS CHICAGO does have a prominent chapter.
LOVE to have you read it for accuracy.
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8 April 2019 at 01:50
My email is tomhyde444@gmail.com. Be glad to read ir if you want me to, don’t know much about this but I can look for grammatical issues if you like?
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8 April 2019 at 13:08
Sure, thanks. Will send later today.
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8 April 2019 at 13:53
Thank you.
>
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12 April 2019 at 17:10
Excellent and undoubtedly timely memo on bridge building, Mario! As those of the cryptologic community will understand, the danger in forgetting the past is in repeating aspects of the past where lives have been lost at some time in the future. From reading Station HYPO’s blogs, there are plenty of examples of incidents, small and large alike, where lives have been sacrificed on an all too regular basis.
Although I was not a Navy electronic warfare technician, my greatest interest in the history of Pearl Harbor (i.e. U.S. entry into World War II) and the Pacific War itself is in the cryptanalytic aspects that not only were employed to help bring us into the war, but were also used to dominate the battlefield once the United States was fully engaged in the war.
If there is room in the NCVA for non electronic warfare specialists who have great interest in the work you individuals do on a daily basis, I, for one, would love to join this organization.
P.S. Those of us who have studied Pearl Harbor history realize who Alva B. “Red” Lasswell was. On the other hand, far too little is known of the undoubtedly great accomplishments he made via his codebreaking work at Station HYPO/FRUPAC & JICPOA during the Pacific War.
The accomplishments of the Navy & Marine Corps EW community are greatly appreciated!
Sincerely, Andrew “Andy” McKane, former Navy junior & former hospital corpsman, USN.
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