The Duzen, USNA Class of 1972

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The Class of 1972 entered the Naval Academy on 26 June 1968, during a time of political unrest,

dissidence and upheaval. Dr. Martin Luther King and Senator Robert Kennedy were assassinated. It

was the summer of the Chicago Eight and violence at the Democratic National Convention. It was not a popular time to be in the military…but nearly 1400 of us took the oath in T-Court that hot summer afternoon to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Arming us with fresh haircuts, white works and alpha codes, the Academy undertook the task of turning us into officers fit to serve in the United States Navy and Marine Corps.  Eight members of the Duzen joined the Marine Corp and four joined the Navy upon graduation.

Nine hundred and five of us threw our caps in the air on a beautiful summer morning at Navy-

Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on 7 June 1972. Our service selections and assignments called us all over the world, often in harm’s way. But the leadership, knowledge, skills and friendships we forged at USNA stood the test of time. Our years of service covered the Cold War, to the fall of the Berlin Wall and establishment of new European democracies. During that time, the United States was called upon to support allies and intervene in crises around the world. From Operations Eagle Pull/Frequent Wind, through Desert Storm, 9/11, Iraqi Freedom, and numerous humanitarian operations, we provided leadership in the ranks of the military, in government and as civilians.

HIghlights Coming Soon