After nearly a decade of service, with over 2,800 posts and 2.5 million visits, I have made the decision to temporarily suspend Station HYPO. This pause will take effect after February, in honor of African-American Heritage Month.
If you are an African-American who has served, or is currently serving, in the armed forces—or if you know someone who should be honored—I invite you to submit their story. Please include at least one photo and send it to mario.vulcano62@gmail.com. No word count is required for submission.
I want to sincerely thank every individual who visited Station HYPO and all those who contributed over the years. The idea for Station HYPO originated with CDR Chuck Hall (Ret.), who led a small team of plank owners: LT Jason Knudson (Ret.), CDR Kevin Schmidt, CDR David Spalding, and myself. While life eventually took the others in different directions, I remained to carry on the mission.
Maintaining Station HYPO has been a labor of love, requiring countless hours each week. I could not have done it without the unwavering support of my wonderful and patient wife, Joyce. Station HYPO has never been monetized; the only reward I’ve received has been the many kind notes of encouragement, which I’ve truly cherished.
Thank you all for your support over these years.
Mario A. Vulcano

25 January 2025 at 16:51
will be sorely missed and BZ
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25 January 2025 at 16:59
It’s always a joy to read your posts. Best wishes, Mario
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25 January 2025 at 17:00
What the hell is the reason for this?!! Not more tRump, I hope. If so, this is sick.
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25 January 2025 at 17:00
Well deserved. You will be missed. Well done. Salute.
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25 January 2025 at 17:04
I truly enjoy the posts. Please keep them coming.
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25 January 2025 at 17:06
Mario,
Sorry to hear you are suspending this great column online. I hope you will bring it back for the community of ‘Old Crows’ soon.
Gary Walters
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25 January 2025 at 17:58
Your blog has provided a great service to our community. I’ve enjoyed reading and learning from it. It will be missed.
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25 January 2025 at 18:05
Mario, thanks for the many years of great stories, some I knew, most I didn’t. You have greatly increased awareness of the Cryptologic community and its many people and historic legacy. BZ!
Raymond Wick, CTRCM(SW) Ret.
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25 January 2025 at 18:16
I have loved the site. I was an R branched many years ago. Loved reading the posts. I will mss it.
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25 January 2025 at 18:28
I will miss Station Hypo immensely! IMO it’s been a great gift for those who have participated on one way or another in that universe.
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25 January 2025 at 18:31
Dear Mario
Many many thanks for the HYPO blog
Spent the early 60s in the Kami and still miss my CT buds. Many have passed but I still offer applause to those who have served and who are serving in the best part of the U S Navy Salute
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25 January 2025 at 18:44
Thank you for standing up for your principles.
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25 January 2025 at 18:52
I support & defend your right to be an idiot.
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25 January 2025 at 18:56
Thank you. There is always an end to all good things.
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25 January 2025 at 19:03
Sorry to see this, this station/site has been a great source of information and history of our commonality in the CT community. May you have great success in your following endeavors.
CTRC(SW) Randy Thompson, USN, ret
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25 January 2025 at 19:05
Thank you from a ‘60s T-Brancher.
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25 January 2025 at 19:26
w t f ?
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25 January 2025 at 19:33
Thank you Mario, and your Plank Owners staff, for a great contribution to our Cryptologic community. We all look forward to the expiration of the Temporarily Suspended status.
Neil Crowley CTMCS Ret
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25 January 2025 at 19:40
Mario,
Thank you for the many years providing us old CTs with historic information and recollections I know that I speak for all of us when I say that Station HYPO will be sorely missed.
I wish you fair winds and following seas!
BZ!
CTRC Don Menser, USN (retired)
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25 January 2025 at 19:41
I’ve only been following since you featured Women. I’ve truly enjoyed it but know how much work it must be. Thank you so much.
Ruby Richards, CTMCS Ret
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25 January 2025 at 20:00
Thanks, Mario,
Enjoyed your posts for many years. Hope to see it pick up again in the future. Best wishes to you and Joyce. Enjoy, Shipmate!
Warm regards,
Bob Hanshaw
CWO3, USN (Ret)
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25 January 2025 at 20:01
for those who associated the decision with politics in the comments grow up and show some appreciation instead of of being disrespectful
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25 January 2025 at 20:31
to be clear, this decision has nothing to do with politics, my health, lack of time, lack of energy/ motivation.
Very respectful,
Mario Vulcano
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25 January 2025 at 20:41
remember the crew of Ranger 12, 1/25/87
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25 January 2025 at 21:49
Station Hypo has been a joy, Mario. I hope you return as soon as your other commitments allow, but even if you aren’t able to do so, please know how incredibly interesting, valuable and important your postings have been. Your labor of love has enabled old sailors like me to both stay abreast of current events, but also to keep my memories alive. I render you a very grateful Hand Salute, shipmate. CTTCM Larry E. Peterson, USN (Retired).
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25 January 2025 at 22:47
Mario,
Your diligence and steady hand have led us all to deeper understanding of a broad range of topics, more than “just” SECGRU-related matters past and present. Since “discovering” the site only a couple of years ago I have been an avid reader, but a too-infrequent contributor. In that regard, I stand indicted (speaking only for myself) for failing to help shoulder any real part of the load, and for that, I do sincerely apologize. Perhaps more hands could have made the work lighter, and helped forestall this outcome…
Please know that notwithstanding my “soft” voice, I stand with all others in cheering your devotion and commitment to this sacrificial work over the years. We are ALL in your debt, and I’d welcome any future opportunity to shake your hand (and more). In that regard, there’s an open seat at my dinner table any time you find yourself in the northern VA/DC area – I’d look forward to recounting some of the many stories and educational features you have so long used to aid, educate and guide all of us along the way to “the Future of SIGINT”, through preservation of the foundation stones upon which that future will be built.
Smooth sailing, shipmate.
Bill Gravell, CAPT, USN, (ret)
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25 January 2025 at 23:43
Awesome job Mario!! Greatly appreciate your devotion and all the articles you presented over the years!!!
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25 January 2025 at 23:54
Mario,
Thanks so much for the commitment your and your team put into the Station Hypo product. By providing a historical context, you created a sense of community linking past and present efforts. A valuable contribution! Best wishes in your future endeavors,
John O’Dwyer
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26 January 2025 at 04:00
Bravo Zulu – a hell of a good column always. I hope the muse bites you again now and then and there will be more issues of “Station Hypo”. You have covered some great topics. Will the site remain so newbies can see what history they missed and can build on>
Dave Mail
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26 January 2025 at 06:32
thank you, Mario. Reading your articles have been a great joy.
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26 January 2025 at 08:31
Mario,
Truly, your articles and great efforts in doing it all has been a high point in my daily life. Godspeed in all your endeavors.
Anonymous
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26 January 2025 at 13:49
Mario, you kept the memories alive for me to enjoy and now you need to take a well deserved rest to reflect on your great contribution to the CT community.
Thank You, CTRC (ret.)
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26 January 2025 at 14:48
Mario,
You will be missed by all of us. Good things never last forever.
Al May 1960’s CTT1
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26 January 2025 at 15:40
Thank you for your contributions to Naval cryptology and history. Your site was a daily read and really hit home on a large number of articles.
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26 January 2025 at 16:59
Almost hated to click the “like” button for this posting. There’s nothing I’m going to “like” about not having thoughtful, inspirational, and fascinating articles about one of the loves of my life – Cryptology. Following the demise of the Naval Security Group, the Station Hypo blog was my source to rekindle those memories of days gone by. Mario, sir, you’re writing skills, article selection, and dedication to this site will be sorely missed. All I hope and pray for is that the “temporary” suspension is just that, temporary. A thank you to Joyce as well, because I know the difficulty in doing what you’ve done with Station Hypo would have been impossible without her support.
CDR Richard “Sam” Sansom, USN (Ret)
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26 January 2025 at 17:07
I’m sure this has taken an enormous amount of your time. I looked forward to an edition every day and it will be sorely missed. Please know that your time and effort you spent on this has not gone unnoticed.
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27 January 2025 at 00:13
Mario:
You have done a marvelous job and deserve a good rest. I know how challenging it can be to produce material for readers. The fact that you did it almost continuously is amazing. Thank you for all that you have done. I have often found your blog a valuable source of information.
Peter Oleson
Senior editor, The Intelligencer, Journal of US Intelligence Studies, Association of Former Intelligence Officers.
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27 January 2025 at 03:37
Mario,
Thank you for all your hard work. I hope your much-deserved respite is rewarding and refreshing.
Best wishes,
Michelle
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27 January 2025 at 13:19
Thank you from a ‘60s I Brancher.
Jim Reed
Miami, FL
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27 January 2025 at 15:23
great job Mario! Always looked forward to your posts showing up in my email. As a former member of the Naval Security Group (CTR 1970-1976) and providing a great service in keeping “memories alive” as well as providing information which helped to explain and understand the various past operations. Thanks again to you and your wife. Kind Regards, Mike
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29 January 2025 at 16:53
What about formally transferring the Station HYPO blog to the Naval History and Heritage Command: https://www.history.navy.mil/? Surely there are resources and processes that would alleviate the burdens that case stress for you?
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29 January 2025 at 19:28
Mario now you don’t have the burden of being such a pussy about the comments.
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30 January 2025 at 00:00
Great job Mario. The research and dedicated time is much appreciated. The articles were great. Thanks for your time.
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30 January 2025 at 00:46
Mario,
Job well done! From your prior students (like me) to the community at large, this site has had an outsized impact. I regularly point aspiring cryptologists here as the best source of the past, present, and future of naval cryptology.
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10 February 2025 at 15:32
We will miss your posts. See you again in March???
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11 February 2025 at 19:34
Y
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