08/09/07

---

Transcript of the Videotape-Recorded Interview with JAMES D. WATKINS, (pdf format)
Conducted at Naval Historical Center Washington, D.C. May 11, 2000
Interviewer: Gary Weir

---

Bill Browning forwarded this report from Dan Gillcrist on Admiral Watkins' attendance at the christening of the last of the Nimitz Class carriers, U.S.S. George H.W. Bush (CVN 77):

"I finally found Admiral Watkins, who was one of the fine contributors to my book Power Shift, and when he saw me and just beamed!! A great big smile for me, a former shipmate on Barbero SSG 317. He was my XO under Carlos Dew who we discussed at some length. So here is my report.

He uses a walker and is quite thin and grayer. However, considering how sick he had been, I thought he looked great!! His demeanor was clearly up beat, his great sense of humor is in no way diminished and he looked very happy to be there. If asked, he would no doubt respond (with that sense of humor) that he was happy to be ANY place! He moved slowly around the room visiting with friends and former, fellow cabinet members of the old Bush administration.

I was quite thrilled to see him once more and in such good spirits and humor since I had lost track of his health and condition. So, for all you submariners out there, that is the good news I wished to pass on and I know you would want to hear this."

Captain MikeVanBrocklin, USNR, reports that Captain Clarke Orzalli, USN, has been selected for promotion to Rear Admiral (Lower Half). Captain Orzalli is currently serving as CO of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Captain VanBrocklin served with then LT Orzalli on Snook prior to his transfer in late 1983.

The following article was submitted by Bob Dacko (LTJG 72 - 74)

He had left home, "just a little guy who grew up at Cabrini-Green," convinced that he lacked the pedigree, the social polish, the connections and the "culture" that everybody had told him he needed to succeed at the prestigious institution. "I thought I wasn't going to make it," he admits. "So I found myself working extra hard to get through each little gate along the way." He says that only after he graduated from the academy, where he had distinguished himself as a brigade commander and battalion boxing champion, did the notion hit him that he had "made it through a reasonable number of gates," and that if he kept pushing, maybe he could make admiral. Paralegal John Howard, a Cabrini-Green crony and fellow Jenner alumnus, says that what impressed him most about "Tony" as a boy was the fact that he never let on how exceptional he was. "You'd see him after school and he'd be just like one of the regular kids," he remembers. Watson's ambition after leaving the academy, where he had majored in aerospace engineering, was to become a jet pilot. He soon changed his mind after a Navy pilot took him up 30,000 feet, then turned the plane over and within seconds brought it down to 20,000 feet. "I don't know if I really want to do this for the next 20 years," he told himself and switched his interests to submarines. After the most rigorous training in thermo-dynamics, nuclear energy, physics, mechanical engineering and advanced mathematics at the Navy's Nuclear Power School, Ensign Watson started his naval career as a weapons officer on a nuclear sub.He's been an enthusiastic Navy man ever since, rising from engineer to commander of a fast attack, nuclear sub, to deputy commander of midshipmen at his alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy, to submarine squadron commander in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Married to Sharon Watson and the father of two daughters, Erica, 18, and Lindsay, 13, from a previous marriage, Watson, at age 44, became one of the youngest admirals in the Navy and the first African-American submarine officer to reach admiral's rank when he was promoted.

Some of you will remember serving with James D. Watkins. He was the commissioning XO and later CO of the Snook. Subsequently he became CNO and was the sixth Secretary of Energy under the first President Bush. He was recently appointed by the current President Bush to chair the Commission on Ocean Policy.

Pictures and news provided by Doctor William McMicken, also a Snook plankowner
 
 
 
 

VAdm Nils R. Thunman USS Snook XO '64 - '66  COMSUBPAC '79 - '81	RAdm Jon M. Barr  USS Snook '63 - '66  COMSUBPAC '93 - 96	RAdm Winford G. "Jerry" Ellis USS Snook '67 - '70 COMSUBPAC '96 - '98

Quite a few officers from the 60's and 70's made flag rank. Some, including James D. Watkins and Bruce DeMars made it all the way to four stars and Nils Thunman made three stars. Adm DeMars recently retired as the third Director of the Nuclear Propulsion Program. RAdm Ellis went from COMSUBPAC to Oceanographer of the Navy and it is believed he recently retired concurrent with his relief from OoN. J.D. Watkins, third skipper of the Snook,  went on to become CNO and after retirement served as Secretary of Energy under George Bush.

When Tom reported in December 1962 in Naha, Okinawa he was a numerical replacement for Pete Vogelberger, Upon leaving Naha for San Diego, the Wardroom consisted of:

In addition to Jim Watkins, Ron Thunman, Bruce DeMars and Mike Barr making flag, Stan Anderson and Ralph Bird also made flag. Tom served with all six at one time or another during his tour.

When Snook deployed in January 1964, the Wardroom consisted of 8 officers:
 

When Snook deployed in March 1965, the Wardroom consisted of at least 9 officers (there may have been a 10th officer - Larry Kramer/Cramer?):