[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28472]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY CLASS OF 1957 ON ITS 50TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. ROBERT E. (BUD) CRAMER, JR.

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 25, 2007

  Mr. CRAMER. Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today 
to recognize the proud service of the United States Naval Academy's 
class of 1957.
  One of the noteworthy benefits of serving as a Member of Congress is 
the opportunity to meet with and nominate some of our Nation's best and 
brightest students for an appointment to one of our Nation's 5 service 
academies. Founded in 1845, the United States Naval Academy is not only 
a training ground for our Nation's naval leaders, but also 1 of the 
most prestigious academic institutions in the country.
  Madam Speaker, the class of 1957 consisted of 848 members, 21 who 
went on to achieve the rank of admiral or general. Of those graduates, 
568 were commissioned in the Navy with 160 attending naval flight 
school; 203 served on Navy destroyers; 42 on auxiliary ships; and 94 on 
capital ships, including aircraft carriers. Another 104 graduates of 
the class served in naval submarines. The remaining graduates went on 
to serve in other branches of the military, including 64 who went on to 
join the Marine Corps and 206 who were commissioned into the Air Force.
  Madam Speaker, of the 848 members of the class of 1957, 534 members 
served 20 years or more in their respective military branch. After 
their service was completed, 169 classmates went on to become executive 
officers of their respective businesses with 33 serving as CEO. Notable 
classmates include Huntsville, Alabama resident Fritz Steiner; Apollo 
astronaut Charlie Duke; Brad Parkinson, who developed the global 
positioning system (GPS); and Lee Hyatt, a Vietnam prisoner of war who 
survived 2,050 days of captivity in North Vietnam.
  Madam Speaker, these men have proudly served their country and their 
community for over a half-century. On October 27, 2007, the surviving 
members from this class are meeting to celebrate their 50th 
anniversary. It is my privilege to rise today to congratulate these 
outstanding individuals for their devotion to duty, significant 
accomplishments, and unswerving dedication to the United States.

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