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Admiral Rogers
Bob’s widow, Marolyn, wanted me to thank you all for honoring Bob this weekend and would have enjoyed being here, if she’d been able.
Bob was a great Navy man, partly because he had a secret strength -- Bob’s father was a Chief who understood the Navy and helped Bob get to Annapolis. Bob did well at the Naval Academy and made friends foreshadowing leadership talents.
His career highlights are impressive. Here are a few:
1) His naval service spanned more than thirty years – during the time of the Cold War, war in Vietnam, and transition in the Navy.
2) Submarine school and USS Sablefish SS303,
3) Commanding Officer USS Cahokia ATA 186,
4) USS LaSalle LPD 3 – Ops Officer: An inspiration for officers and crew and he designed the ship's emblem – even spoke enough Latin, I guess to create “Facilitas ad Marem”.
5) Commissioning, and Commanding Officer of the USS Lamoure Cty LST 1194.
6) US Naval Academy Instructor,
7) Staff U.S. Military Advisory Command, Vietnam
8) Naval War College,
9) Naval Aide to the Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps
10) Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Amphibious Group Three.
11) Master of Science Degree from George Washington University
12) As a Captain he became the Fleet Intelligence Officer working with Admiral Bobby R. Inman
13) Assistant to The Commander-in-Chief U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Maurice Weisner
14) 1977 Commanding officer of USS Austin (LPD 4), lead ship of Amphibious Transport Dock class.
15) Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations for the Naval Surface Force, Atlantic Fleet, and
16) then in 1980 became the Commander Destroyer Squadron Eight at Mayport Naval Station, Florida.
17) In 1981, he married Marolyn Templeton Fierro and was selected as Rear Admiral, USN.
18) Commander Amphibious Group Two at Norfolk, Virginia, in 1983. became the modern day leader in amphibious warfare
Devoted to Marines – as he liked to describe them – “the main battery of his amphibious ships” – was equal in every respect and affection bestowed on his sailors.
All this official professionalism didn’t make him a stuffed shirt. He was also a good companion on liberty.
Bob’s Story
Let me tell you a story about Bob and Me.
After commissioning and sea trials in LaSalle, we had one last night on the beach.
Bob and I hosted a visiting Brazilian Navy ship Costodio de Mello, on NY’s west side, It was a party. We started back to the Brooklyn Navy yard late.
We were scheduled to leave for GTMO at 7:00 am the next morning and it was already 2:00 am.
On the way to the ship, we had an accident. I hit the curb on the FDR drive and flipped the car 360 degrees to land on its wheels. The windshield popped out. The police arrived, called a tow truck and by 5:00 am the car was dumped in the Navy yard.
Captain Winslow knew what happened and made Bob prepare to get underway then con the ship – for the first cruise – through NY Harbor, down Ambrose Channel and on her way to Norfolk for supplies. No sleep. We were both tired – and maybe a bit hung over.
So again - Duty and character. Bob for carrying out the day’s work well in spite of no sleep and auto accident.
Curiously Bob was never again had occasion to drive with me again.
I miss Bob every day. I get up early to do the same exercises he taught the CIC men each morning.
More than daily exercise his enthusiasm, empathy, caring and professionalism set him apart.
These two men maintained the Navy legacy of which we are a part, and with which we have benefitted ourselves and our country.
If they were with us tonight, and they may be, they would urge us to continue our service to America.
So, let us practice this ethic we share – duty and character.
